A Happy New Year!
I'm starting my detox early with some of this champagne ...


moar funny pictures

Its harvest time, and these are some of my chillies! My allotment is very windy and the summer has been pretty cool anyway, so I was glad I had put the two chilli plants in Dad's porch. We tried a couple in a bean stew and they are just the right heat. There are still a few to pick, but meanwhile I have put a bag full in the freezer and have strung a few up to dry, like this.

I like spicy tomato sauces and stews and such like, but any recipe suggestions gratefull received!

I was visiting an old neighbour this week, and saw that my old house is up for sale. I had woken up one day a couple of weeks ago, and for a split second was convinced I was in my old house - I wonder if we're still connected. I really loved that place, but couldn't afford to keep it going.

Someone told me you can look up property details by doing a search on rightmove.co.uk, so of course I had a look and am happy to report that the people who bought it from me obviously had enough money to do the place up - I was pleased to see it has a lovely new conservatory and kitchen, so it will be quite smart and des res for its future owners. Still miss the place, though.

More fruit-related news ...
I made a huge blackberry crumble during the week (plus custard - the weather was so cold it felt like the right thing to have!).
Mr S and puppy dog went out picking again this morning while I was at church, and this afternoon he made a lovely blackberry and apple pie (Mr S, not the dog). A very successful first attempt at making pastry, even though a lot of swearing was involved in the preparation!

It's a good year for blackberries this year, so we decided to make some jam yesterday. Problem no. 1: the kitchen scales decided to stop weighing things, and problem no. 2: the jam thermometer seems to be resigned to stopping before the jam reaches the setting point. Problem no. 3: problem 2 didn't occur to us until we started to realise the fruit had been cooking for a considerable length of time.

Blackberry sauce, anyone?

A very soggy bank holiday ... Have spent today doing some clearing out in the junk room - oops, sorry, - I mean the office! Taking bags of paper to recycle was quite cathartic really. If I continue at this pace I will be able to find my desk by this time next week!

Missing my cat - it would have been his 19th birthday last week. As no other can take his place, I have adopted a cyberpet!

adopt your own virtual pet!

The dreaded migraine strikes again ....