Inception

I've mentioned blackcurrants a few times ... this morning I spent three hours over the allotment. I did some weeding then picked some more blackcurrants. Here is today's crop - they're now very ripe, plump little globes of goodness packed with vitamin C - and this bowlful represents about two thirds of one plant's harvest.

After a busy day it was nice to be whisked away to Woking to see Inception. I found it gripping - it didn't have many relaxing moments! Amazing cinematography and special effects - absolutely incredible! Very clever stuff, with an intriguing theme and storyline. I liked how the cast handled it. They seemed natural together and likeable, helping to draw you into the film. The friend who took me recognised a building in the film and on the way home we detoured to see it. That was pretty neat, too.

That Berry's Busty!

Recently I introduced myself over the fence to the neighbour who borders the rear of my garden and he invited me to go round and see his wooden figures. Today a friend and I took him up on the offer, and were delighted by his collection. He makes them all out of Lime wood. The Polar bear is bleached Lime. The key and chain is carved out of a single piece of wood. Also delightful was the collection of stories with which he regaled us. Besides the wood-carving, his other hobbies include radio-controlled boats and making dolls houses, then at Christmas as if all that wasn't enough, he dresses up as Father Christmas. A natural born raconteur!

I took him a little dish of freshly picked strawberries from the allotment - excluding this odd shaped one. Don't you think it looks like it has breasts? I think if 'That's Life!' was still on TV, it would have had a starring role.

Labouring in the summer sun

Knowing the day was going to be sweltering, I went down the allotment early whilst it was still reasonably cool. I was there from 7.30 am to around 9.45 am then went on to the dump to dispose of all the weeds, and from there to Dave's house. He's had the week off working on the construction of his garden room, and he was quick to rope me in as general labourer for the day. We went to Wickes and bought some more ballast, then on to a woodyard - Covers in Aldershot. The guy there was extremely helpful discussing the selection of timber and construction methods. Dave bought 10 hefty beams (see photo for an example) and they helped him load it onto the roof-rack. We took 6 the first trip and came back for the other 4. Between us we managed to get them unloaded and through to the construction area. Then I got on with digging out the holes for the last three footings whilst he mixed the concrete. Some careful measuring, and finally the last three padstones were in place. It was hot, thirsty work. We stopped several times to cool off, drink some water and munch our way through a large bunch of cherries from his neighbour's tree (with his neighbour's permission, of course).

Afterwards he treated me to a KFC for dinner - ahhh, we know how to live! Odd though it sounds, I enjoyed the day. I haven't done so much manual labour recently, and it feels good when your body proves it's still capable.

The photo is a post-script, taken a week later and showing one of the padstones I helped lay, with some of the building's timber framework in place.

Concert, favours, synchronicity

Last night I went to see Suzanne Vega in concert at The Anvil in Basingstoke. It was my friend's choice - my knowledge of the music scene isn't as extensive as his and I didn't recognise any of her work. Very talented lyricist with a pretty voice. Suzanne told the story behind many of the songs, which made it more interesting. One about New York being a woman led to a conversation with the audience, explaining that at the previous gig in London, she had asked the audience if London was male or female, and been told 'female' ... then asked how that female would be characterised. Someone retorted that if New York was a woman, London was a whore! She put the same question to Basingstoke - would people of Basingstoke characterise the town as male or female. It seemed the majority agreed 'male' and one lady in the front stalls suggested Basingstoke is a 'conservative pig', which had the audience laughing. Suzanne pretended to find inspiration for a whole new song in this.

Today was a nice day. It began with my accustomed reading/meditation on a lesson from 'A Course in Miracles' on the theme of being led by the Voice for Truth: "I will step back and let Him lead the way". I had an early morning phone call from a friend asking if I could do her a favour, and happily I was already planning to visit the place where she was asking me to go as I had an appointment there, so that was an easy favour to grant.

After the phone call, I took some stuff down the municipal dump and went from there to (son) Dave's house. He wasn't at home, but whilst I was parked outside his house a delivery van arrived with something he'd ordered. I unlocked the garage and the delivery man carefully unloaded the large item, delighted that he wouldn't have to come back again some other time. The timing couldn't have been better. I sent Dave a text letting him know and he phoned back equally delighted.

Later still I went to the allotment and picked a handful of ripe strawberries, then back home I had a super text from (daughter) Vicky letting me know she has been offered the job she interviewed for on Monday and asking if I could help her out with something which again was very easy to grant. We arranged that as she's coming up this way at the weekend to attend an old school friend's party, she'll come to visit on Sunday.

Welcome Summer Weather

I made the most of yesterday's sunshine by getting the potatoes and climbing bean plants in and sowing two rows of parsnip seeds. Whilst I was over the allotment I received a call to my mobile. A couple of weeks ago I interviewed for a secretarial position at a small company, and it was the director letting me know my application was unsuccessful. Once again I received some very positive feedback - my CV was great and laid out well, etc. etc. - it's just the fact I've not been in paid employment for three years now and being a small company they weren't quite willing to take a chance on me, but they will keep my details on file in case their appointee fails to perform to expectation.

Today I went down the gym. It's been a while.

The gym has a large car park: a few spaces immediately alongside near the front entrance, many more at the back of the building. Years ago you could use the back door to enter the building from the rear car park but these days that door is out of general use with a big sign on it "No Exit! This door is alarmed". If you park in the rear car park, you've a walk of about 100m, maybe a little more, to the front entrance.

So I'm going to the gym. I'm going there to get some exercise. Where do I want to park? Well, in one of those spaces near the entrance of course, to save myself the 100 metre walk. But hey, I'm not alone! Some people are so keen to save themselves that extra walk that they'll abandon the car on the pavement rather than drive round the back and park in a legitimate space. Now where is the logic in this? It's the sort of human foible I can imagine Michael Mcintyre poking fun at.

Ok, today I drive past all those illegally parked cars feeling a little smug because I'm going to do the logical thing and ENJOY that 100 metre walk in the glorious sunshine. Aren't I the smart one!

Once you've gone in the main entrance, you then walk all the way through the building to the back where the members' changing rooms are located. The ladies' changing room has lockers round three sides, two cloakroom/changing benches in the middle and a mirror and shelf along one wall with three hairdryers.

I don't know what it's like in the gents' changing room - in my mind's eye, I picture men strutting round naked all but doing Mr Universe poses and wearing signs round their necks proudly pointing down at their tackle - but on the whole, us ladies tend to be a modest lot. In fact one acquaintance who came with me for her first visit last year took one look at the communal changing room and never set foot in it again! Normally you'll find we're fully dressed when standing at the mirrors drying our hair - hence my surprise today to find a scene like a lingerie advert: a very shapely lady drying her beautiful long dark hair wearing only sexy red underwear. I suppose if I had her figure (and underwear!), I might feel inclined to expose myself too.

Back home the postman brought yet another rejection letter. The jobhunt continues.

Accomplishments rewarded

Today seemed a rewarding day where I was 'in gear' from the get-go. Scraped frost off the windscreen and went down the gym first thing, then got on with the laundry and other housework before settling at the computer and applying online for a couple of audio-typing jobs, and fine-tuning my CV to apply for a super career position.

After lunch I went over the allotment with Louise. I probably haven't told you about Louise and the allotment ...? Well, back before Christmas vandals burnt down the two sheds on my allotment and the loss of the sheds and all my gardening tools etc plus my plans to return to paid employment made me decide it was time to draw a line under the whole thing. However ... my other allotment-holder friends really felt I would miss it if I gave it up entirely and after due consideration I finally decided to keep it on for at least another year, but share the work with a couple of others: Roger (a church contact) and Louise (a near neighbour). This afternoon we all spent some time digging the ground over getting it ready for the new season.

Afterwards I came home and planted some anemones in the garden then cooked a tasty meal for myself and a friend before we went to see 'Leap Year' at the cinema. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, it kept me chuckling all the way through - a real treat and a great end to a nice day.

Aerogarden

I planted up the aerogarden on January 8th. Along the back row left to right there is mint, basil, dill, thyme. Front row: purple basil, chives, parsley (which so far annoyingly has failed to germinate). Didn't realise until the herbs had germinated that thyme has now been substituted for the coriander (cilantro). Bit of a nuisance as more of the recipes I use regularly call for coriander than thyme.

This morning the sun is beaming out of a clear blue sky and reflecting off the scattering of white. I had planned to go over the allotment but I think it's going to be a cold one! Maybe I should just stay here for the morning and finish the online application I started yesterday for a secretarial job.

Dancing in the Streets

Just got in from an evening of live entertainment at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, and when I say 'live', there was so much energy it was electric! This fantastic show features many of the old Motown classics. If you ever enjoyed music from The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes or Stevie Wonder, I can recommend it. Certainly had the audience on our feet dancing in the aisles if not the streets, and brought some 'sunshine on a cloudy day' to my life, after another depressing stint over the allotment clearing up from the arson attack on the sheds.

Glorious Sunshine!

At the Quaker meeting I went to this morning one of the Friends spoke of the difficulty we have when something like the terrible earthquake in Haiti happens, in reconciling such cruel events in Nature with a belief in a kind and loving God. She brought a reading from a Quaker scientist which turned to this difficult topic and spoke of how two irreconcilable truths can become the stepping stone to new knowledge. As I contemplated the words, my thoughts turned to how, if we look in a mirror and see a flaw reflected there, we don't blame the mirror or the mirror's maker, rather we use what we see in the reflection to make a decision or take appropriate action. As I thought on the implications of this, I found the question surfacing: but if the created world - if nature - is merely reflecting the face of the observer, whose is that face: God's or humanity's? Rather than an answer, another question arose in my thoughts: what makes you think the two are different? Various bible verses and doctrine came to mind, such as Jesus saying "I am in the Father and the Father is in me", and that Christians are "One in Christ". As these thoughts were busy in my mind, another Friend stood and spoke about Love, the concept that God is Love, and brought the bible reading from Paul's letter to the Corinithians including the verse I had in mind when I named this blog: now we see in a glass darkly ...


After lunch I decided to make the most of the beautiful weather (mild and gloriously sunny with a clear blue sky) to go and begin the task of clearing up the allotment. Regular readers will remember I wrote last month that vandals have burnt down both of the sheds on my plot. It's dirty work but somebody's got to do it, right? It proved more tiring and dis-spiriting than I had ever imagined, disposing of the metal skeletons of gifts from my loving offspring, etc. I had toyed with the idea of hiring a skip but finally dismissed that idea in favour of using cardboard boxes and rubble sacks to cart the stuff down the dump. The past few weeks of inactivity have impacted my fitness level and I'd had enough after barely an hour's work. Then there was a 20 minute queue at the dump. By the time I got home I was nearly in tears with tiredness and despondency over the sad waste of it all - very unusual for me.

The one bright spot on the horizon is that another allotment-holder approached me. It seems she has also recently separated from her husband, and is thinking that the full plot will be more than she can reasonably manage single-handedly along with working full-time. She knew I was thinking of giving up the allotment and she suggested I'd miss it if I gave up totally - how about I take on a spare corner of her plot? At the moment it sounds like an offer too good to refuse (but I'll sleep on it a while to see if it still sounds good when I'm not feeling so down).

The Thaw Continues

Rain overnight has begun to make a difference, chasing away the white stuff to reveal the greenery underneath. For the first time since the heavy snowfall, I made it down the gym today. Boy, did that feel good, not least because the car started first go, despite having sat out in the cold unused for over a week. From the gym I went on to do some grocery shopping at the supermarket. Not such a good plan as by then the place was heaving at the seams. Might have been better to do the supermarket early, before the gym. Oh well ... live and learn as the saying goes.

The rain continued much of the morning, combining with the melt to flood the roads in places. With the snow gone, the pothole damage to the roads becomes only too apparent, making the drive home something of an obstacle course trying to avoid the worst of the potholes and the floods. It was also noticeable how many trees have shed large branches under the weight of all that snow. The thaw might be well under way but the country will take a little longer to recover from the consequences of the weather ... and the wheelie bins still haven't been emptied.

I had hoped to get over the allotment and start clearing up the debris from the fire but it was far too wet today.

Bad News

I received a phone call today from the Secretary of the Horticultural Society to let me know that vandals have been at work over the allotments again, and this time have burned down the two sheds on my plot and the one on my neighbours plot. On the left is her photo of the remains, above is the potting shed when it was newly constructed in December 2007. At the moment I don't have the heart to carry on with the allotment next year. Although plot-holders pay towards the insurance for the allotments, wooden sheds are specifically excluded (and my own home insurance doesn't offer cover for anything off-site). My uninsured losses probably amount to around £2,000.

Tomato

Over the allotment this tomato ripening on the plant got me excited as I think it's the first time I've successfully produced a ripe tomato on the plant!

French Beans

This year I grew three varieties of french beans: dwarf greens, climbing purples and dwarf yellows. Here you see one picking - they are abundant croppers!

New Toy

I'd always promised myself that if I ever had a big enough kitchen, I'd get a Kenwood Food Processor. Last week I looked on ebay and sure enough, there was one for sale which had been an unwanted present. I put in a bid and won it. Today I carefully unpacked it, washed all the accessories and then used my new toy to make this gluten-free sponge cake. What with the speed of the food processor and the speed of the fan-assisted oven, it only took half an hour!

Last week I harvested the wonderful crop of blackcurrants from the allotment and made blackcurrant jam, which is very yummy! As you can see, I used it in the cake. I'm thoroughly enjoying my new kitchen.

Anemones & Sweet Peas

The anemones and sweet peas provide a pretty, colorful, fragrant accent to the allotment.

Success!

I just picked over 2lbs strawberries from the allotment! Anyone want to share them with me?

Today we successfully exchanged contracts - next Friday is moving day. Lots to do.

Allotment Delights

We've been feasting on strawberries from the allotment this week. I was over there doing some weeding today and enjoying the fragrance of the sweet peas, and the vibrant colour of these Californian poppies.

Pleasant days, pretty night

The weather has been delightful recently and I've been making the most of it over the allotment, sowing seeds, planting out seedlings, doing the weeding and pulling some rhubarb. Rather a lot of rhubarb, as it happens. So much that, having made a rhubarb crumble, I bundled the rest of the sticks into small packages and gave them away after Church on Sunday.

Today a friend came over for lunch and then we walked into town for an amble round the shops. It was interesting to note that neither of us was particularly thinking of buying anything for ourselves, but we would look at things and think of other people. I looked at a lovely picture of an African elephant with two baby elephants in the foreground, their trunks intertwined, and thought how much Vicky would like it. My friend looked at an abstract picture of chickens and decided to buy it for another friend. I saw an attractive silver butterfly necklace and bought it for Vicky. My friend saw some wooden ornaments and bought them for her grand-daughter. It was a very pleasant shopping trip, with the added delight of anticipating the pleasure our purchases would bring to their recipients.

In the cookshop there was an apron with a message printed boldly on the bib: 'I kiss better than I cook'. It seemed an odd motto to choose to wear on an apron considering the possible consequences: would readers take it as an invitation to sample the wearer's kisses? Would that distraction at a critical moment make it a self-fulfilling prophecy? Alternatively if the reader had his/her own judgment on how good a kisser the wearer was, might it put him/her off sampling the cooking? What do you think? (This is not a rhetorical question - I'm curious to read your answer. For example, are there any circumstances you can think of that would call for someone to wear an apron saying I kiss better than I cook? Or what motto would you prefer to wear on an apron? There's a comments facility below).

Tonight another friend phoned and had been chatting for some time when I glanced out of the window and realised how stunning the night sky looked with the moon peeping into the garden through the clouds and the branches of the trees. When I came off the phone, I went out into the garden and tried to capture it with the digital camera. The scene doesn't look quite as beautiful in the photos as in real life, but the camera didn't do too badly, all things considered.

Spring has sprung!

Here are the crocuses blooming beautifully in the garden. Over the allotment I did a bit of weeding and helped unload a delivery of organic compost. The bags were suprisingly warm.

Have a nice day y'all

The day didn't get off to a great start - somewhat overcast, and the meter reader knocked at the door whilst I was still swanning about in my nightclothes. After he'd left I had a bath and refocused, and the day got better.

The mild, dry weather tempted me over the allotment where I had a nice chat with one of the regulars. I'd heard he'd been very poorly, and it was good to see him looking fit and well. I pulled some leeks, picked some sprouts and some gorgeous purple sprouting broccoli, did a little weeding and then began to walk home for lunch. In town I found a debit card lying in the street, took it into the issuing bank and approached a young man in a suit. "Do you work here?" I asked him. "I try to" he said. Smiling at his disarmingly modest response, I handed him the card, explained how I'd come by it and asked if he could contact the cardholder to let her know it was safe. He thanked me and assured me he would be very glad to do so. I carried on my way feeling in a very mellow, peaceful mood, glad when I resisted the temptation to pick up a KFC.

Further along my way, a little out of town a lady stopped me and asked about the Spiritualist Church - she had seen a sign pointing to it and had walked down the road but not found it, and wondered what it was. I explained that the Spiritualist Church is about speaking with those who have 'passed over' via a medium. Was that what she was looking for? From her expression I could clearly see it wasn't, so I spoke about being a christian and hearing from God in church, and that we'd love to have her in our church. She asked about the church - she works in the local nursing home on Sundays and was wondering if there were church meetings at other times. I told her about our midweek meetings in each other's houses and gave her my phone number. She explained she is church of England and I was able to tell her where the local C of E church is. As we parted she said, "You've made my day!" I felt really good after the encounter - it made my day, too! My only regret was that I hadn't done the obvious: I had neither asked her name nor asked for her telephone number.

I walked on and as I was about to enter the street where I live, a car drew up alongside me and the young lady driving asked me for directions to the local doctor's surgery. Again I was able to help. Doesn't that feel good, when we are in the right place at the right time with the right information to be able to help someone!