 I woke at 3am and just couldn’t get back to sleep - having heard five bongs I didn’t then hear a single bong so I must have been back to sleep sometime between 5am and 5.29am…
Awoke again just before 7am, with Richard bringing me a cup of tea soon after, and then getting to my desk to upload the last four days worth of my bleatings to this blog. We’ve Gerald Dickens this evening at the Great Green Barn, and I’m surprisingly anxious, and just don’t know why… I guess it's been a busy few weeks and there's been an awful lot going on. My morning is spent at the allotment, and then back at home for a bath and lunch. I put the hot tap of the bath on and get some meat-free sausage rolls from the freezer and into our pre-heated combi-oven they go; they’ll be cooked by the time I’ve had my bath. Richard's already had a bath and his ablutions are all done and dusted, so once we've had lunch and got some water for the journey and Richard had got all his camera stuff, it was off down to the Great Green Barn. There was a big diversion on the way, though we were only diverted to a way that I've been before, and we arrived shortly after 4:30 to set up the bar and get the venue ready for opening doors just before 7pm. Gerald was doing two of his shows, the first being called Mr Dickens is Coming! and is really a celebration of various of the characters and books that Charles Dickens created. After an interval the second show was Doctor Marigold, a Charles Dickens piece which is a really touching and lovely story of a traveling salesman and the relationships that he has through his life. To say I shed a tear at the end would be completely true. The appreciative audience left, many chatting with Gerald and thanking us all on their way out, and after putting various things away and getting the venue ready to close up, and with Gerald now having gone to a B&B nearby, Richard and I said goodbye to Vanessa and wended our way home; with a different diversion on the way we came in through our front door just before midnight, and just before Sunday Chat went live. Weather: Sunny from the start, and warm at around 16°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, and banana Lunch: Lidl Sausage Rolls (vegan) and tinned baked beans Supper: A packet of Two Farmers Garlic and Mushroom Crisps!
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 27, 28, 29 & 30 May 2025 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) I'm not quite sure where the last four days have gone, and in this time I've also broken my stretch of writing something every day. My aim this year has been to write something every day in terms of creative writing, rather than writing for my work or work work. Until this week, that had happened. It might not have been many words, though as part of this blog it was some words. For some reason for the past four days I just haven't written. I could say that it's because I haven't had time, though that sort of wouldn’t be true. I could say that it was because I've been extremely busy, and even though this is true I'm sure I could have found time for a few words each day. So what is the real reason? I guess the real reason is that my head just hasn’t been in the space to do it, and free time hasn’t presented itself enough to allow my head to be in this space. There’ve been times where I've just sat and thought about things, or watched TV to unwind, or been traveling in a car where I could have made notes at a toilet break, though I didn't. Yes, the real reason is that my head just wasn't there. Tuesday was very much a day of work work, and with Gerald Dickens being at the Great Green Barn at the end of the week there were things to do again for that, which I got done. We also had a delivery from Morrison's in the afternoon, after which I went to the plot to tidy away the plants from the Gate Sale on my plot, though it started raining, so… I sowed some Cheeky Prince seeds instead. Wednesday was a work work day too, and I was up early and driving down to Vanessa. Despite it being half-term, it still took almost two hours to get down there. Of course, as per usual, it was a full, full day both with stuff to do in the shop and thinking about things for the Great Green Barn and the weekend, though we did have time to sit outside for lunch on Vanessa's new terrace and have an omelette with some toast, salad leaves and cherry tomatoes. Thursday again seemed to vanish. I was down early at the plot to water and check on things in a neighbouring plotter’s greenhouse (as she’s away and I promised I would!), and then got back home, had a meds review by phone and did work work at my desk. After lunch, and a chat with Vanessa, I got down to the plot again and sorted and tidied most of the plants on my plot leftover from the Gate Sale, and cleared the bed that had had chard and beetroot this year. I'd let this bed get completely overgrown, which was against my plan this year of not letting too much nature take hold. However, with a good bit of effort that bed of flowering chard and one beetroot, a self-seeded mallow and a chicory that was about to flower is now cleared, and so something can go into it. Friday again was busy, and an early start, this time at my desk. Each time we have an event at the Great Green Barn we send each person that’s booked details of where to park and how they walk across to the theatre space. It also has details of what time doors open, the bar serving wine and soft drinks and some nibbles available before the show and at the interval, and what time the event is likely to end. Each of these is personalised and I’ve not worked out how to do a mail merge on Outlook. I've used Outlook for decades now, and I've still not worked out how to do a mail merge. When we're sending out newsletters, they go out via MailChimp, though I don't think I can do this without segmenting the list or adding them as separate list, which I don't think I can do without paying more. So, on Outlook it's currently a bit of a copy and paste job, though it doesn't take too long. As we’ve a busy weekend ahead, we'd decided to record Sunday Chat today rather than tomorrow, though Richard also wants to try a recipe - a Puttanesca sauce - this morning and film it, and I've got stuff to do at my desk first thing and then an important job to get done at the Post Office Almost a week’s gone by from our Gate Sale, and the donations have been rolling in for the leftover plants that have been by our communal shed. I've waited until now to pay in the cash taken; I’ll pay it into our allotment association's high street bank account via the Post Office as I did last year - though I also seem to remember that there was an issue last year in doing this, though I can’t think what it was… Anyway, I pop off up the road to the Post Office with all of the cash counted out, the paying-in-book written up and the card that we have for the allotment association's bank account. I hand the money over, which is now well over £700, to the usual lady at the Post Office who’s always extremely chatty and smiley and helpful. When I pop in the card for our bank account, for whatever reason it doesn't allow whatever needs to happen to happen for the money to be automatically paid in. For some reason, the Post Office system also can't find our account. So, I decided that it’s best to pay the cash into my own account… although I've left my own bank card at home, I have to go back home to get the card, to go back to the Post Office and put my card into the machine so that the Post Office lady can pay the money into my account. As I do this, I remember we had to do the same last year… Back at home, I transfer the sum that's just been paid into my account into the account of our allotment association. I then log on at my desk to make sure that the sum has arrived in the account, and also notice that the credit card payments that we’d taken have gone into the account, less the percentage transaction that gets taken by the card company. I then sent a WhatsApp message to the chair of the allotment association and also to another of the committee members, just to let them know that money has been paid into the account, how it's been paid in, and what the total take for the Gate Sale is, which is now over £810. I know that there's about £5 of loose change in the commonal shed jar, and by the time I get to the plot in the afternoon, checking the jar on the way, I notice a £10 note in there which I take out. Any money that now comes in I'll just transfer across from my own bank account, and keep the cash at home; it's unlikely to be more than another £20 or so. At the plot, I carry on weeding. Today, weeding is of the long bed that’s going to have the tomato plants, and also a bed by the poly. I also check on the wheels of a pull along trolley that we have, taking the code number from the side of the tyre, which I think is size and diameter or something like that. Two of the wheels have been broken for quite a while and it's well past the date to replace them. As I don't know much about wheels on trolleys, I put a message on our WhatsApp group define out whether the wheels need to come off or whether the inner tube and tyre can be added without the wheel being removed, and another plotter comes back with the answer that I need to ensure all can be fitted correctly. Back at home, Richard did a Live at 6pm, and as it was nearing the hour mark I put the oven on as we were going to have a quick supper of smoked tofu and red kidney bean burgos from the freezer, frozen oven chips and salad. The evening was a bit of a chilling out session with several old episodes of Top of the Pops, and then an average episode of Have I Got News For You. Early to bed as it's a full day tomorrow, and a couple of chapters of my book, which at the moment is Peter James's Picture You Dead. Tuesday 27 May Weather: Wet start, middle and end, and very breezy. Around 15°, though feeling cooler. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and some mixed nuts Lunch: Richard's Easy Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice Supper: Scrambled eggs, tinned baked beans and a slice of rye bread  Richard's Easy Vegetable Curry Wednesday 28 May Weather: Wet first thing though drying later with a strong breeze, and temps around 17/°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Vanessa Omelette, cherry tomatoes, salad leaves and toast Supper: Richard's Easy Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice Thursday 29 May Weather: Rooves damp at the beginning of the day, though no rain and a drying breeze. Temps around 20°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Egg Mayonnaise, crackers, cucumber, radish and some olives Supper: Richard's Puttanesca Sauce with wholewheat spaghetti and grated Cheddar
Friday 30 May
Weather: Grey with sunny spells, yet still breezy. Around 22°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Cheddar wraps with lettuce and homemade coleslaw Supper: Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Beans Burgers from the freezer, oven chips, lettuce, cucumber, radish and some olives.  Monday 26 May 2025 Where did yesterday go? I know Sunday’s often referred to as a day or rest though I was sure I wrote something!! Anyway, today's the late May Bank Holiday, though with being in Swanage for a few days last week the order for one of For Earth's Sake’s suppliers needed to be done this morning so that the delivery happens tomorrow, so… I'm at my desk checking on things for that quite early, and also updating my blog and doing some writing. I also popped to Lidl first thing, not because I really wanted to but because I'd rather do it today than do it tomorrow, which for me will be a full work work day. After breakfast, I get on a call with Vanessa and we do the order both for the delivery that needs to arrive at the shop tomorrow and also check through all the fruit and vegetables we still have; doing this, Vanessa can have a think about what we need before she puts the order through tomorrow to arrive first thing on Wednesday - usually about 6am! Whenever we do the ordering from our three main suppliers there's always a bit of checking that we’ve the right product; it can be quite easy sometimes to order the wrong one! Since I’ve been involved I’ve kept and updated a spreadsheet which has the individual codes of each product that we order from each supplier. By doing this it means that ordering the wrong items has been greatly reduced. I also keep track of when we last ordered each item, and if we think that there might be very little stock of a particular item left, I can check back on the date that the last order was put through and pull a report to check sales from that date to the present. Sometimes we might think we’ve little stock though by checking we can see we should have more, and a more thorough check of the cabinets in which we store items brings about a small amount in the bag of whatever we have left; often it’s been hiding invisibly behind a few other large packets of other stock. At the end of the week we’ve a friend and past work colleague of mine, Gerald Dickens, bringing his two shows Mr Dickens is Coming! and Doctor Marigold to the Great Green Barn. Now, for the events there’s always a bar at the back serving wine and soft drinks, plus some snacks, so we also need to ensure we’ve enough stock for the bar, which Richard and myself will run. I also need to do some socials and a newsletter which will be going out tomorrow. So, getting ahead of the game I decide to try and sort this all out before lunch, which largely I do.
After lunch, I do another hour at my desk, and then get to the allotment to look at all the plants that are on my plot and leftover from the Gate Sale on Saturday. There's a whole load by our communal shed, which people can take and leave a donation for in a jar; all monies going towards the allotment associations funds. The plants now on my plot will either be planted out into communal areas of the site or into the wildlife area and along the river bank, or if they can remain in pots until next year, like young fruit bushes can, they’ll be looked after by myself and a few other people. During my mooching of the plants and occasional very heavy showers, I noticed that my wheelbarrow was missing and couldn't quite work out where it was. I searched the whole plot twice before realising that I used it for the Gate Sale on Saturday - moving plants that had been overwintered on my plot since last year down to the tables. So, down I went to the communal area where all of our site wheelbarrows are kept, and sure enough there was my wheelbarrow tucked in between all of them. I quickly repatriated it back to my plot!! At this point, a person who’d been ill and unable to come to the Gate Sale but had asked me to keep some plants for them turned up, so we had a chat and I helped her to her plot with the plants… then another plotter turned up who I'd promised some of my squash and courgettes and cucumbers to, and was delighted to geta lovely red lettuce in exchange… and then one of my immediate plot neighbours turned up and asked whether there were any fruit bushes left, which of course there was, and she bought six of them… So, step by little step the funds being raised from the Gate Sale are increasing day by day. Anyway, given all of this activity on the plot and lots of people and chatting, plus lots of heavy rain showers, I didn't actually get round to doing the things that I’d planned to do, so the plot remained festooned with various boxes and plants and drugs. Maybe tomorrow… Sweet Red Pepper Twice-baked Potatoes I knew we had some really large potatoes so I thought I’d do twice-baked potatoes; something I really like yet something I rarely do. I pricked the potato all over with a fork, and then put it in our microwave on high for eight minutes, and then turned it over and cooked for another 4 minutes which for this size potato meant it was cooked through. Using a clean T-towel I removed it from the microwave, put it on a chopping board and cut it in half. Cradling the uncut side of the potato in the T-towel with my hand, I scored across in two different directions almost to the edge, and not deep enough to cut through the skin. I then used a spoon to take out the cooked potato and added it to the bowl which already had three or four tablespoons of leftover homemade tomato pasta sauce (which I now remember I made for supper yesterday!), half a chopped red onion, two chopped long red peppers, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a heaped teaspoon of miso paste, and some cracked black pepper. I gave it all a gentle though good stir. I’d already grated about 80g of cheddar cheese, and added half of it to the mixture and gently stirred it through. I then spooned the mixture into the now empty cups of potato, which I’d already put onto a baking tray. When all the mixture was spooned out between the two halves I topped off with the rest of the cheese, and baked in our combi-oven at 180c for 25 minutes. A nice few salad bits completed this yummy meal. Weather: Grey, breezy with some heavy showers, and around 17°. Breakfast: Lidl Rye Bread toasted, with Flora ProActiv and yeast extract Lunch: Hmmmm… can’t remember Supper: Sweet Red Pepper Twice-baked Potatoes, lettuce, cucumber, radish and lightly vinegared beetroot  24 May 2025 (Saturday) It would’ve been lovely to have stayed another day or two with Vivi in Swanage, though with today being our allotment Gate Sale, raising funds for our allotment association, it was important to get back yesterday. I set the alarm for 7am, as we normally set up from 9am, opening our gate at 11am and usually going through to 3pm. Over the previous years I've been one of the main organisers of this day, though with me no longer being on the committee it was left to others to sort. Unfortunately, the lovely new plotter and excellent committee member doing the messaging had some of the timings wrong, with the setup messaged to be starting at 10 rather than 9 - not her fault, she should have been told about the timings of previous years. Fortunately, several of us were down at the earlier right time to set up, though needs must and I had to put a post on our WhatsApp group to ask for muscle to get trestle tables out, plants carried across to them, sorted in to vegetables and fruits one side and house plants and flowers the other side of our hard standing, pricing everything up, making sure it all had labels, plus many other little jobs that you just don't think of as they're just part of the routine. There was no way all of this would’ve been done in the hour that had been allotted, though with people turning up earlier we got everything sorted and done ready for the gates to open at 11. It had been decided at the last committee meeting that we’d try and take card payments as well as cash at this Gate Sale - not something we’d done before as we’d only ever accepted cash, and I do accept we need to move with the times. The issue is that various networks’ mobile signal can be pretty poor at some areas of the site, though not usually the one on my own phone. Also, unfortunately, despite being the Treasurer I hadn't been told that the committee had agreed to trial card payments, and it came as a bit of a surprise when another committee member (the same fabulous and lovely one) mentioned it to me. Now the thing is, I've set up many card payment systems in my time, and know how to do it from scratch and which provider takes the least percentage, is easiest to work with when things don’t go right etc, etc… so when I was told it was happening and hadn't been included in the decision making I was somewhat surprised - maybe I’m just too precious! Anyway, earlier this week I’d got the chosen payment system working on my phone; downloading the app and logging in, it all seemed to be working - a case of ‘so far, so good’! It had also been decided, sensibly, that another person would also have the app on their phone to take payments, and as I’d been busy over the past week and away for the past three days we’d decided to do it this morning…. However, with all the kerfuffle and impromptu organising of much on Saturday morning, when it came to setting up the app on the other person's phone I’d completely forgotten the password and it just wouldn’t come back to me. Also, on the other plotter’s phone’s network the signal seemed to be particularly poor, and mine also a tad more intermittent than usual. By the time we were ready to open the gates, I still couldn't remember the password and I didn't want to log out of the app on my phone in case I couldn't log back in. At this point I was getting pretty stressed about the whole day, never ever wanting to be any part of the Gate Sale again, and just wanting to hide in my shed and let the day go by… anxiety really taking hold. Trying to be helpful, several plotters were suggesting what the password might be, “What about the code of the old padlock?”, “What about changing the password?”... “What about logging out and logging back in?”... “What about….”. In my mind, for years we've done well enough with cash, and hopefully the app would work on my phone to take payments so it wasn't too major an issue if we didn't have another phone able to take payments. My anxiety rose… and rose… and it got to a point with everyone making suggestions and going on about card payments that I lost it, and I said, “What about… if anyone says anything about card payments again I just walk away and don’t come back?” It’s fair to say this somewhat surprised and silenced all. I rarely lose it, though I did this time… However, the gates opened… and we got on with selling the hundreds of plants on offer.
In the end, we took around £700, which with a few extra promised pennies to come in will make this year’s Gate Sale record breaking, being the best plant sale that we’ll ever have had. AND, just under 10% of this was card sales on my phone - certainly not to be sniffed at, though there was only one person who’d not had cash with them and therefore wouldn't have bought if we didn't have the system up and running. Of course I now remember what the password is, and I totally agree that having the option to take card payments is worth it. Though at that particular time on this particular day it was just too much for me to take on board and sort out. Being the person I am, I apologised to those plotters that matter to me… it’s the right thing to do. Most plot tenants are incredibly supportive of the plant sales that we've had, with many sowing seeds and growing on plants to raise money for our association funds. This year was no exception, and the event on the whole went extremely smoothly, and despite grey skies people trickled through steadily and readily wanting to buy plants for the gardens, growing spaces and allotments. When it came to packing up at the end of day, there were plenty of bodies and hands to do this, and we put some plants aside that will over-winter fine for next year's sale. They're mainly on my plot at the moment, though I’ll ask some others when time allows to take a few off my hands to look after for next year’s Gate Sale. Coming home, Richard and I had a chat and decided to do Sunday Chat tomorrow morning, rather than today. So that allowed me to get back to the allotment after lunch and do a final segment of A Week at the Plot, which I’ll edit in the morning. Richard had so far spent his day going over the footage that he’d taken in Swanage and sorting out photos, developing them, creating socials and uploading them to our Ko-fi shop, where you can buy a little memento of our first trip to Swanage and Vivi’s Cottage by the Sea. Weather: Raining to start the day, then dry but grey skies throughout. Around 17°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Snack: Packet of Cheddars, and cups of coffee Lunch: Microwave Frozen Mixed Veg omelette, pitta and cucumber Supper: Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Beans Burgers, Lidl French Fries, lettuce, cucumber and radish  Richard, the master photographer at work 22 & 23 May 2025 (Thursday & Friday) Thursday morning, and I was up early, making a cuppa or two in Vivi’s kitchen, taking one out onto her patio garden which we’d gently walked through yesterday. Standing still, slightly honey sweetened tea in hand, the view is just divine; the still waters of the bay, imposing chalk headland, borrowed landscape of rose covered walls, rooves and chimneys, a steeple and crenellations - this is something I’d not tire of, ever! Back in the kitchen, Richard joined me and we had breakfast, starting with our cereal then putting on some thick toast for us when Vivi joined. Lots of chat, a little more chat, then a little more chat, then up, dressed and out, walking further up Cardiac Hill, along, then up Cardio Hill which seems even steeper. Our mission… a not so little walking tour up to the South West Coast Path, down along to Peveril Point, then carefully step by stone step down to the harbour-to-headland promenade, across the fronts of houses and backs of marine businesses, over a small beach and then behind the Yacht Club with its glimmer of exclusivity and warden-manned gates, then breathing in the sights and glorious scent of roses and mallow in an elevated border as our feet trod along at ground level once again. All the while the breeze blew gently, the sun shone brightly and the salty smell of the sea brought back happy days of buckets and spades, and seaweed and sand… and grease-proof paper wrapped sandwiches in Tupperware with no branding. Happy Days indeed! With Vivi and Richard taking a seat in the sanctuary garden, I went off passing restaurants and day trippers to the seafront facilities to do what seafront facilities allow before returning to the two of them, reading a few restaurant menus on the way back as time was less pressing. Back at Vivi’s and after a delicious lunch we were out back, in the garden, pulling ivy and planning a lightbulb change which required a quick trip down the street and across town to the hardware store, where we met the lovely Wendy and her sisters; she’s a subscriber to What Vivi did next and was just so delighted to have met Vivi whilst on her holibobs with her sisters. Lightbulb bought, we popped into the train station to watch the smoke rise as a steam train left the platform, then off to the Co-op and up to the Mill Pond, then down again back to the High Street, passing on the way a hotel that was once a nunnery, and antique and bric-a-brac shops, and pubs… there are quite a few pubs! Then it was home to change the outside bulb, which we did and found out worked once it was dark… although Vivi told us by the next evening the lower one wasn’t working though the upper one we changed on Friday morning was - maybe a loose wire. A delicious bits and pieces supper with a glass or two, much chat, then bed.
Friday, and again I was up first, though not as early as yesterday, and then Vivi, and then Richard. Cups of tea for Richard and me, and the same routine of breakfast as yesterday and then we were back out in the garden with the view pulling more ivy, gently though firmly; it’s a fabulous plant, but you really don’t want it to take hold in and through your Purbeck stone walls, of which there are many thousands in the area! After a vibrant, tangy, and salty Greek Salad a la Vivi, it was time to wend our way back up Cardiac Hill and Cardio Hill, check Fenella was fine and dandy, depress the clutch, turn the key and start our journey back to London, leaving Vivi and a little bit of ourselves in Swanage. I doubt it will be long before the three of us, Fenella included, will be back south to visit once again Vivi’s Cottage by the Sea. Thursday 22 May Weather: Swanage was a little warmer and gorgeously sunny. Around 18° Breakfast: Bran Sticks, oat milk, and Richard's bread machine wholemeal loaf as toast with Flora ProActiv and honey Lunch: Vivi’s Chickpea Curry with thick slices of Richard's bread machine wholemeal loaf Supper: Crackers, oat cakes, hummus, blue cheese, cheddar, orange Friday 23 May Weather: Swanage was a little cooler and greyer than yesterday. Around 16° Breakfast: Bran Sticks, oat milk, and Richard's bread machine wholemeal loaf as toast with Flora ProActiv and honey Lunch: Vivi’s Greek Salad Supper: Wholewheat Spaghetti with broad beans, basil pesto and grated cheese, and radish  21 May 2025 (Wednesday)
Up early as we were off to Vivi… off to Swanage! Yay!! Tea, breakfast, tea, snack making, packing cold items, packing, tea and then we’re on our way out west and south, down the M3 and onwards. As we got near the end of the M27 I suggested we stop and swap driving, Richard was fine to carry on… truth be known I needed a wee and had no idea once you left the motorway service stations with loos would be few, far between or in our case seemingly non-existent… note to self, next time no extra half cup of tea before we leave! So, by the time we were going through Corfe Castle I was busting, then we hit roadworks and traffic lights… by the time we got to Vivi and bumped up outside it was a quick “Hello… Loo!”, me rushing yet shimmying through the tiled entrance hallway, blinkering myself as I wanted to see the new home fresh when I was, well, fresh!! After the longest wee in a long, long time, with extra time allowed for those last few dribbles, I flushed, washed hands and blinkering myself again, went back to the front door, where by now all the bags were in the hallway and the two of them were chattering away… then leaving Vivi it was off to find a parking space where Fenella would be quiet and safe. Twenty minutes later, after a mini tour of some roads above Vivi’s, we parked up, locked up and walked around the corner and… the view!! Wow!!! Swanage is really hilly, in some places a bit like an old amphitheatre with houses perched on the edge of their seats looking down on the bay, beach, boats and bathers, with a backdrop of the cliffs acting as scenery. Anyway, understandably the next hour was a step by step walkthrough of Vivi’’s new abode… “Oh, this room’s bigger than I’d thought”, “Lovely, lovely” and “What a fab garden, view and borrowed foreground landscape of rooves and shrubs and roses.” A cuppa, or two, unpacking of gifted plants - a Verbena bonariensis gifted to me by an allotment neighbour of mine, one of our two-year old rambling rose cuttings that's just about to flower, a yellow courgette, Uchiki Kuri squash and, of course, a Vivi cucumber, and a little self-seeded marjoram for good measure. A change into slack pants, then comfy on Vivi’s fabulous new sofa, chat, more chat… and more chat. Then, back on with jeans and off for a little wander down to the seaside… but, before that… I’d left my sunglasses in Fenella’s safe keeping, so I pottered up the remainder of Cardiac Hill, across and then up an even steeper hill I named Cardio Hill. My heart was beating fast as my hand clasped the driver's door handle to open Fenella, and grabbing my glasses I did have a momentary thought of sitting in and with her for a while, though it wasn’t necessary, as my heartbeat was soon back to normal and I tottered back down to meet Vivi and Richard who were seated on Viovi’s wall waiting for me. We walked down to the seafront via a shop or two, and also an ice-cream stand… and it would have been so rude not to have offered Vivi an ice cream, and to keep her company the two of us had one too. Happy Vivi Days!! Weather: Raining to start, and through much of the morning. Sunny in Swanage later, around 16°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Journey Snack: Rice Cakes, Flora ProActiv spread, yeast extract and very thin slices of cheese Lunch: Vivi’s Warm Bean, Spinach and Tomato Salad Supper: Vivi’s Fassolada with thick slices of Richard's bread machine wholemeal loaf I’m up before Richard, in that period where things swing around for an unknown time and I’m up first and making tea.
The day is another sunny, dry one. Work work at my desk in the morning, lunch, further work work and then to the plot to do watering - I need to give things a good watering, right across the plot. The forecast is for the weather to change, though when I look at the bone dry paths, I wonder when… we haven’t had any decent rain for months. I’ve had an informative reply from the British Trust for Ornithology re the magpies potentially (definitely!) feeding on the ladybirds who themselves are feeding on the aphids of our broad beans: “Thanks for your interesting email. I am afraid it is quite possible that your Magpies are responsible for the disappearance of the ladybirds! Magpies are extreme generalists, by which I mean that they will eat whatever they can most easily find and access at any given time, rather than seeking out particular types of food. We know from dietary studies that invertebrates form the major component of the diet of Magpies during the breeding season, and that beetles (Coleoptera) are among the most important insect groups within their diet. Ladybirds are, of course, a type of beetle. They have specifically evolved adaptations to discourage birds from eating them, but they are nonetheless eaten by some birds (for example, one study showed them to be a major component in the diet of Tree Sparrows). I have not found any studies that specifically report consumption of ladybirds by Magpies, but on the balance of evidence I think it would be very possible that they would be eaten, given the chance. Fingers crossed the ladybird larvae do indeed develop - the larvae are themselves voracious predators of aphids so I'm sure they will still be doing some good, even with the adults now gone!” So now we know, and as if to prove a point I video one when I am down looking for ladybirds on the broad beans. And not finding many as it has eaten most already! Back home, and stuff to do, and a bath. Richard’s making supper, a vegan cauli cheese! Weather: Warm and sunny from the off. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Lidl demi-baguette, quorn ham, lettuce, mustard for Richard, plus cucumber and radish Supper: Vegan Cauli Cheese using his Yeast Flakes Sauce, and I steam some frozen broad beans, green beans and peas in the microwave  19 May 2025 (Monday)
A usual Monday, with work work in the morning and ordering from one of the suppliers of For Earth’s Sake to get the delivery tomorrow, plan an order from a second supplier for delivery on Wednesday, and a third one for delivery on Friday, plus bread orders to do, and organic fruit and veg, and messaging to out local shopping hubs to say what we’ll have this week. I grabbed two hours at the plot in the afternoon, checking on our broad beans which seem to still be well saturated with blackfly, a moisture sucking aphid that means that the beans will likely develop poorly. I had been hoping that the many ladybirds that had arrived would feed and breed, and that their larvae would voraciously munch on the aphids… BUT, I also noticed magpies in the broad bean bed a few times, and I think they are feasting on the ladybirds… I spoke to a fellow plotter about this, and he said he had never heard of magpies eating ladybirds, especially as ladybirds are foul tasting for this very reason. He suggested I contact the British Trust of Ornithology with my findings - which are basically that I had a plethora of ladybirds one day, and the following day having seen magpies feasting in the broad bean bean… I spotted most of the ladybirds had disappeared. I decided to drop an email to the BTO, and we will see what happens. I grabbed another block of smoked tofu from the freezer early in the day as I fancied a Smoked Tofu & Red Bean burger for supper, with our own lettuce, and some radish, cucumber and non-homemade oven chips (they were a free item at Lidl!). We had some leftover cooked green lentils from a pasta sauce Richard made a few nights ago, so I used those in addition to the drained red kidney beans, adjusting seasoning and adding just a little bit of extra gram flour. They were delish! If you want to watch Richard making them than have a watch of the YouTube upload! It was a late supper as I got caught speaking to a lodger at the neighbour where I’m feeding and injecting her cat, so after supper just a few episodes of As Time Goes By, one of Benidorm, and then to bed and a read of my book - It’s a Peter James Roy Grace one, Picture You Dead - when I read this I try not to think of John Simm… Weather: Chilly and grey to start, warming up with some sun in the afternoon. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Cottage Cheese, crackers, cucumber, radish, and beetroot Supper: Smoked Tofu & Red Kidney Bean Burger, lettuce, cucumber, radish and Lidl French Fries  Modular sown well-rooted cucumbers going into the raised bed by the shed on Saturday. 16, 17 & 18 May 2025 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
I really don’t know where the last three days have gone… of course, we’ve both followed the usual routine of getting up, tea, work work for me, breakfast, work and work work for me and work for Richard, lunch, plot time, thinking about what to make for supper, more plot time, supper, TV, read, bed… not quite a merry-go-round, but also one just the same. We were hoping to get out to the Chilterns on Friday, though that didn’t happen as we had quite a few things to do and Sophie (our niece on Richard’s side) of Sophie Stock Art coming to stay overnight, and coming a few hours earlier to spend some time with us. I was at the plot when she arrived, though on coming through the door both Sophie and Richard were sitting on sofas with blankets over them… and I was hot from working in the sun! A quiet evening with lots of chat, and Richard made a delicious lentil and soya pasta sauce which was truly delish!! Saturday… our usual day for filming Sunday Chat, though as we were up VERY early at 4am as Sophie needed to get a 5.30am train into London to then get a 6.30am train from Victoria to Chichester for Goodwoof I think we were both a bit tired, which sort of comes across! Anyway, after filming I got to the plot to do a final segment of A Week at the Plot; not initially the sowing and planting out I thought I’d be doing as I needed to do some remedial work on the greenhouse! When I got down to the plot on Friday afternoon I noticed our greenhouse doors were out of kilter, jammed and akimbo, so I needed to try and sort that… which I did, somewhat! Rather Heath Robinson, must beggars can’t be choosers, and people without an engineering degree need to work it out themselves! I was back to the plot in the afternoon and got our cucumbers planted out, which is what I’d intended to do as a job for the day, and various other jobs sorted. Sunday was a somewhat quieter busy day, for me at least. I’ve been feeding and, whilst he’s been eating, injecting a neighbour’s cat with insulin morning and night for the last three days. It has to be done, and I don’t mind - the neighbour’s away and whilst I’m sharing the duty with another of our neighbour’s friends, for various reasons this weekend I’ve done morning and evening rather than just evenings. I also did quite a bit at the plot, and am thankful that the cucumbers did well overnight, with slugs and snails CURRENTLY leaving them alone. I potted on the spare cucumbers, courgette and squash I have, as I know they needed either planting out or potting on with the benefit of extra compost. There is some seed sowing to do, though that will have to wait until next week. I’d taken some smoked tofu out of the freezer this morning, intending to do something with it for supper - and it turned out to be tofu bacun wraps. Then it was the usual TV, some episodes of As Time Goes By, then something else, then bed, and a quick read before lights out. Recipe: Tofu Bacun Wraps After removing the defrosted smoked tofu from the packet I gave it a really good squeeze, gently but firmly, to extract as much liquid as I could. I then cut it into eight long slices, and marinated in this mixture: 3 tbsp Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (use others aminos or soy sauce if you don’t have Braggs) 1 tbs maple syrup 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp smoked paprika I mixed all the above together in a wide flat dish, and laid each slice of tofu into it, coating both sides as I did. I turned the tofu over several times, making sure each side of each slice was well coated. I then fried the slices for about three minutes on each side - they did not crisp up as much as I’d hoped, though as there was to be lots of crispy and crunchy things in the wrap that was fine. Into a wrap I put three washed and spun leaves of our own lettuce, cubed de-seeded cucumber, thinly sliced radish and some chunky slices of sweet long red pepper. Then went two slices of the marinated and fried tofu, and then the wrap was rolled up, folding one end in to ‘seal’ the bottom. It was all rather lovely, though next time I may coat the tofu in flour and fry that up, and add the marinade at the end, and bubble it all through. Friday 16 May Weather: Warmer and sunnier than yesterday, though VERY breezy. Around 22°. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Leftover Cheezy Topped Potatoes mixed with Minestrone Soup (tin) and Lidl demi-baguette Supper: Lentil & Soya Pasta Sauce a la Richard, with wholewheat spaghetti and grated cheese Saturday 17 May Weather: Sunny, and hot, though also feeling just a degree or two cooler. Breakfast Snack at 5am: Chris Sourdough, Flora ProActiv Buttery, Yeast Extract Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Leftover Lentil & Soya Pasta Sauce with a tin of Lidl Minestrone, Lidl demi-baguette with grilled cheese Supper: Microwave Spinach Omelette, lettuce, cucumber, radish Sunday 18 May Weather: Overcast, though some sunny spells later in the afternoon. Around 20°. Breakfast: Chris Sourdough, Flora ProActiv Buttery, Yeast Extract and Peanut Butter Lunch: Homemade Hummus (defrosted), sourdough toast, radish and cherry tomatoes Supper: Smoked Tofu marinated in bacon sauce and fried, wraps with lettuce, cucumber, red pepper and radish  15 May 2025 (Thursday)
Up early with the alarm at 6am as I had a day at Vanessa; doing stuff for both For Earth’s Sake and the Great Green Barn. The drive was sort of OK; I think two hours needs to be allowed for, with a pee break at one of the service stations included on route! These days are usually very tiring, both mentally and physically, maybe feeling more tiring due to the driving. If we were just down the road it might be a breeze, maybe, though it’s not. There was to be an event in Great Green Barn in the evening, a Women’s Health talk and Vanessa’s regular handyman and tech person was stuck unexpectedly on another job, so there was quite a bit of carrying around of tables from the dell up to the barn, moving chairs around too, tidying things, plus as there’s an event on Sunday for which bottles of wine and soft drinks are on Sale or Return, these had to be sorted and put in the fridge - though not the red wine and crisps! We popped out to lunch to a local garden centre, which always gives us time to chat - what needs ordering, staff rota, Midsummer Revels plans for later in June, immediate and upcoming events in the Great Green Barn, planning much further ahead, requirements for next Tuesday’s Afternoon Teas under the beams of the Great Green Barn, seeing shows for programming… the list isn’t endless, though sometimes it feels so! Late in the afternoon, with much of the work work day done, I got a text from Richard; I was just about to leave and read with some glee that he was going to use up the thrown together chilli I did a few days ago and turn it into something for this evening - fine with me!! He usually cooks something for us when I’m out for the day, which is always very welcome. The drive back was OK, though in two spots where vehicles regularly wrongly cross lanes whilst going round a roundabout and then again at a junction further on I had to brake to stop the car next to me coming into Fenella - we know these trouble spots well, even if others don’t or are just too ignorant to care, so we drive accordingly, knowing crossing lanes is a regular occurrence. Back home and swiftly off down the road for a quick feed and injection of a neighbour’s cat, and then we settled for supper (delish!) and a few episodes of As Time Goes By… which I still often find laugh out loud despite knowing the situations and storyline so well. Going to bed I just had twenty pages of Death in the Dordogne to read, which I did. It was rather more chilly than recent nights, so a spooning snuggle was called for by Richard; with my head at an angle I can still read my book whilst he goes to sleep and gently snores… until it’s time for me to put my book down and the light out, at which point I gently shove him over to his side as I’ll just get too hot otherwise! Weather: Noticeably chillier today, at only about 16°. Sun behind clouds all day. Breakfast: All Bran, yogurt, sultanas and banana Lunch: Panini with mushrooms and something else, at a garden centre local to Vanessa Supper: Cheezy Potato topped leftovers of my Thrown Together Chilli |
Paul SavidentFollowing on from A Guernsey Gardener in London, I've decided to try and write a regular blog, and we'll see how it AND 2025 go! Archives
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