Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

That looks soooo good @AuntyRach and beautifully presented.
We have most of the Katy apples harvested and pressed for cider making.
I ran the dogs ragged in the garden, so we should all sleep well tonight.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday @Busy-Lizzie and @Liriodendron (though yours is more of a working one)
Going for lunch tomorrow to the place we had to cancel last week. My new raincoat will be needed.
OH is supposed to be cooking Chinese tonight, but he looks done in. Guess it's me, then.

 

We had a lovely day in Paleokasritsa, a pretty place with several small bays with beaches. It was warmer and sunnier than the forecast said. We took the bus from Corfu town, about 50 minutes through the mountains.

I actually swam in the sea! There were some rocks underneath that took me a bit by surprise but better when I went further up the beach. It got deep quite quickly.

We had a yummy lunch, Mediterranean vegetables in olive oil with Gambas prawns on top. It was all very pretty but many more villas, souvenir shops and restaurants than in the 1970s.

I hope you aren't all fed up with my holiday pics.

 

Good evening all. Speaking personally @Busy-Lizzie, I never get bored seeing your pics - keep 'em coming please! Glad that the weather has picked up for you too. I love sea swimming but it has to be warm. I enjoyed my cuppa and cake at the GC but was highly frustrated as I couldn't see anything that grabbed my attention and I came away with nothing. Not to worry though as I am going to meet up with sis and friends on Monday morning at another GC so hopefully I will spot something there. Before I went out I managed to get the last of my bulbs planted - all 74 of them so thats my bulb planting for this Autumn complete. I have been busy knitting in my spare minutes and have knitted a tiny pumpkin

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I am going to give this one to my Bestie for her Halloween dekkies. @AuntyRach your afternoon tea looks - as others have said - scrummy. Such pretty presentation. I am going to sign out for this evening and will be going to read as there is nothing I wish to watch on TV. Good night everyone.
p.s. The pears you gave me @Penny_Forthem are just starting to soften nicely now.

 

Well, I'm enjoying seeing your holiday photos, @Busy-Lizzie! Glad you got some better weather today.
What a delightful afternoon tea, @AuntyRach!
Very impressed with the knitting, @Ladybird4, you are very talented.
I so sympathise with you, @lizzie27, I’d have burst into tears too after such a stressful journey. This is our second visit to Royal William Yard, we came down in July and stayed in the on site hotel, the Admirals House. This time we have rented an apartment in the old Brewhouse building. High ceilings and exposed stonework, the view is from our window. We have been walking round the area today, really getting our steps in plus some quite steep climbs.
Home tomorrow morning, but it feels as if we have been away for ages.
This was this mornings view from the window!

 

Tired Obxx here but all the pots have been tweaked and weeded and top dressed or potted on and moved to the veg plot. I've also wateerd all the pots at the fornt of house, the roses still waiting to be planted and the ones already planted and washed the the dining room and kitchen floors before cooking Korean fried chicken for dinner.

Pity about the GC failure to excite @Ladybird4 and hope Monday will go better.

Your birthday treat looks amazing @AuntyRach and i enjoy your pics @Busy-Lizzie. That second one with the moody clouds is a cracker.

Brain and muscles fried now. Have a good night's sllep all.

 

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Good morning all. I really wish I could say that my morning skies were like my picture but a) its too dark and b) its obviously blowing a hooley as my security light outside the back door is being constantly triggered by leaf movement. Top of 'to do' list is to remove these triggers today. I've some more seeds to sow and the usual tidying up in the garden which seems to expand exponentially every day! Whatever you have planned for today, enjoy! @Obelix-Vendée, I think you are due a little rest today after all of your hard work. Safe journey home @Ergates - I think that ship looks a little bit like a Blue Peter cardboard cut out! Hopefully you can get the rearranged trip to Paxos fitted in today @Busy-Lizzie.

 

Good morning all.

We are on the boat to Paxos.

 

Its good to see that you are able to make that trip today @Busy-Lizzie. Have a great day exploring.

 

It is finally grey here and has just started to be very slightly damp but we won't be getting the downpour anymore. On the other hand, they do seem tothink it will be showery for the next 3 or 4 days and we'll now get 35mm.

My leg and hip muscles protested by giving me serious cramps just before bed and then woke me up again later. Ended up doubling up on magnesium and taing a big paracetamol which did the trick.

This morning I was up early to go to a garden group visit 10 minutes away from me. Our host was François who is half Spanish and a good cook so always interesting nibbles from him. He's a plant collector so his plot is full of rare and interesting specimens, especially trees and shrubs, but a gardener he is not, in the sense of weeding and refereeing, and he has no fences so has regular visits from rabbits, hares and roe deer who tuck into his treasures. He shrugs his shoulders and tries again with some chicken wire round the trunks. He also has beds full of teasels for the goldfinches. Loads of glorious autumn colour just starting but not yet glowing under the grey skies so no photos.

I thought the same about that boat @Ladybird4. Hope you have a clear trip home @Ergates and that the sun shines on Paxos for you @Busy-Lizzie

Have fun everyone. I'm off to sew but I've been down my own garden to see the chooks and let them in the polytunnel and I collected some of the fiery red California poppy seeds to sow later.

 

I also ache all over @Obelix-Vendée but it's been raining here since early morning so it's probably due to the damp, either that or I overdid it yesterday in the garden (again!). Walked down to the paper shop with OH earlier but gave up half way and hobbled home again. Coffee and a paracetamol have helped. The washing's on (which I didn't have time to do yesterday) but as it's grey outside, we're not generating leccy which is a shame. There'll be ironing to do later.

Hope you enjoy the boat trip and Paxos @Busy-Lizzie, more pics please.

Our front lawn is covered with leaves today but it's too wet to rake them up today @Ladybird4, good luck with your efforts.

I've just got the eggs and butter out of the fridge to warm up before making a pear cake with the last 4 pears we've got left. I'm a bit dubious as I think they're overripe but OH is very keen for me to have a go. It might have to turn into a pear pudding if it's too soggy!

Enjoy what's left of your Sunday folks and have a good journey home @Ergates.

 

Just had one of the worst Sunday lunches.
I never want to go out for them as, generally, I can do better, but because this place has an excellent reputation, I agreed.
I chose crispy chicken wings as a starter. They were breadcrumbed, southern chicken style and over done. I'd imagined them plain with a crispy skin. I was very disappointed.
Then I chose sea bass with a dijon, caper and lemon dressing and coconut and coriander rice. The fish was lovely, but the dressing was overpowering and the rice, tasteless.
OH's beef was overdone and the veg either over or under cooked.
Our Saturday meal there last time was fabulous.
It's always packed out. Maybe I'm being picky.

 

Afternoon folks from wet Wales. It’s definitely roast dinner weather so I’m just prepping the veg. I never have a steak or a roast dinner if I dine out as I believe I can do better too @Penny_Forthem. This has arguably back-fired over the years as we rarely dine out! I maintain that the money saved there can go on plants though!

I’ll start my Sunday prep routine early as after nearly a week off work I’ll have the blues come bedtime, so being organised and ready for the week ahead will help.

I hope everyone is doing ok this Sunday and any outings, baking, travelling or jobs go well.

 

Well, the pear cake has just come out of the oven and smells divine. Rather puzzled over the recipe though as smaller quantities of butter and flour than I was expecting so it turned out more of a batter I suppose. The recipe was off the internet, in kg and cup sizes which is American so I wondered whether the conversion to kgs was correct.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating so I will let you know after dinner, I fancy my portion with some vanilla icecream!

Hope the week ahead isn't as bad as anticipated @AuntyRach.

Shame about your Sunday lunch out @Penny_Forthem. I must admit we don't eat out much either, no wonder the restaurants are suffering.

 

Home safely, although the journey took an extra half hour because of the inevitable traffic jam on the M5. What is it with that road? Had to crawl along at about 5mph from south of Exeter to our turn off, no sign of what was causing the holdup.
The weather had turned this morning, raining since the small hours, so glad we were heading home. The trip away was fun, lots of walks and enjoyed the fresh air and the views. However, we found the local food offerings too limited for our liking, I should have taken food to cook in our apartment but I was hoping to have a few days off. Sadly, after a very disappointing takeout last night, I am now suffering from a bad stomach upset. Relieved I got home before the effects made themselves known!
We don’t eat out much these days either. I won’t visit anywhere with less than a 5 star hygiene rating, and OH is not an adventurous eater. Our appetites have shrunk too, so our current favourite cafes are those happy for us to share a portion ( and even offer an extra plate!) At least at home, I know how fresh everything is, where it came from, and can cook it the way we like.

 

Oh my goodness @Penny_Forthem, how very disappointing for you. I hope you complained about the mediocre lunch. Going from the sublime to the ridiculous in the same venue means something is not right there. I do go out to eat once a month - you will have heard me mention our 'First Friday' lunches and we take turns in choosing a different venue every time. On the whole I would say that 95% have been either good or very good. We have returned a few times to places we have been before because we have had such nice meals there. Sorry that your return home was such a pain after your super break @Ergates. Hope your stomach upset settles down soon.
Try not to get too blue @AuntyRach but I do hope tomorrow isn't too horrid.
I am signing out for tonight everyone. See you all tomorrow.

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