Saturday

This morning I did my usual load of washing, hung it out and had my breakfast. We sat about quietly till no 2 son came down and we all had a coffee. We decided to go to Wells next the sea for our lunch 

( fish and chips washed down with cider ). They were lovely, then after a walk round the harbour we drove to Holkham for a walk round the park. It was lovely in the sun but the gale force winds had a chilly bite to them. When we arrived back home it was time for me to get tea. We all had a ' cuppa ' and I threw a salad together for our meal. After that we watched the latest James Bond film ' Spectre ' and it was very good. We also had a nice glass of wine. While we were by the lake we saw a pair of ducks with 8 or 9 tiny little babies paddling between them, they are so early in the season, I hope they survive. I took a photo of them but I only had my phone with me and they were so far away I don't think you will be able to see them, the same goes for the deer. It's the most I have ever seen in one place but they just kept moving ahead of us and I couldn't get close enough for a good picture. My washing is all dry again and smells lovely, Lovely fresh air.

Friday

We went for our weekly shop as usual this morning but before we went I put on a load of washing and also the dishwasher. The washing was done when we came back so after I had unpacked and put everything away i hung it out. We had a coffee and then I emptied the dishwasher and put all that away as well. No 2 son is coming home tonight for the weekend so we will probably be ' doing stuff ' at the weekend so I thought I would blitz the house today. H vacuumed downstairs while I dusted, then I cleaned the downstairs cloakroom and kitchen and vacuumed and dusted upstairs while he cleaned the bathroom. We had our lunch, corned beef sandwich with brown sauce and a hot cross bun. After lunch we popped to the chicken farm for eggs and when we came back I used 4 of them to make a coffee and walnut sponge. We had paella and potato wedges for dinner. My sponge turned out well.

Payday

I packed my lunch. Put on a load of washing and got ready to go to work. It was the same as usual, a few sprouts, 60 bunches of carrots, 2 boxes of loose ones and then leeks.i trimmed 7 boxes before lunch and then I was taken down to help wash and pack everything. It all took until 2.20 so then I went back on to the leeks to trim more till I was picked up again. 3.30 my lift came, I had trimmed another 3 boxes so we had time to wash and pack them before hometime. For dinner tonight we just had scrambled egg on toast. We had a huge dinner last night and I felt uncomfortable all evening.  ............  

............. A photo of last nights meal.

Wednesday

Another good day for me, after breakfast I did all my ironing up to date, vacuumed all through the house and did a load of washing. We had a coffee and then H went on his turbo trainer and I went for a walk on my way to the shop for a magazine and while I was there I bought a French stick, some bacon and a packet of crisps each. When I got home I hung my washing out and we had our lunch which was French stick with tuna mayo and lettuce with our crisps. I walked 2.3 miles and it was lovely, dull but warm. When I arrived back home I had a message from our daughter to say she would be in the area looking at ' lets' for our grandson who is moving back to Norwich from Chester after uni' with his girlfriend who has managed to get a job at the County council offices. So they would pop round. It's always nice to see them. For dinner tonight we are having eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and chips with the rest of our French stick which I am going to crisp up in the oven and then butter.      Here are a couple of photos I took on my walk. I think this graphite was done by an artist!!!!!!

Tuesday

Today is a good day for me, I had a really good nights sleep which I really needed because I was so tired. I got up at 6.40 which is late for me and the tea was made so I had a cup with a slice of toast, then a little later a cup of coffee. We decided to go out on our bikes even though it was rather dull and very windy. We are so glad we did, it was lovely to get out. We rode 27 miles and managed to get back just before the rain came. We had a cup of soup, plus cheese and biscuits for our lunch and another cup of coffee. For dinner tonight we are having quiche, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes with 'patatasbravas '  and for pudding it's apple pie with ice cream which will make a change from yogurt. I am at home again tomorrow so I will make it a housework day, I think it will be too wet to garden.

Monday

I did a load of washing,had my breakfast,packed my lunch etc.and went to work. It is taking me 10 minuites longer to get to and from work because of the road closures and new 30 mph limits where they are getting for the Northern bypass. I had to pick 60 bunches of carrots and then trim leeks. We went down to wash and pack everything at 3 and an order came in for another 50 kg of loose carrots so we just had time to go back to the top of the field and pick 2 more boxes and when we came back to the yard it was time for me to go home. H hung my washing out and managed to get it all dry for me. We had pork chops, sprouts, carrot, mashed potato and gravy for dinner and I am about to watch my soaps. I don't have to go to work again till Thursday.

Sunday

This morning H and I got up together and had our breakfast. Today he was going to ride a race on his turbo at 10.30 so we had a lazy morning till then. When he went upstairs to ride I made a loaf of bread which has turned out great, then I made a plate of biscuits. When they were cooked I went into the garden and worked for an hour and a half weeding. I only have a small garden but after an hour and a half you can't see what I have done. I have a lot of hours work out there. When H had finished he had done almost 72 miles ( 71.9 ). He is so good. While he was showering I got spaghetti on toast for lunch. We didn't do much all afternoon and for dinner we are having roast chicken. Roast and mashed potatoes cabbage and carrots with onion gravy. 

It's work for me tomorrow.

Saturday

We did all our normal stuff for a Saturday and then H told me the course on Zwift island was the one I rode yesterday so I changed into cycle gear so I could ride it again. I hate riding 2 days in a row ( it gives me a sore bottom ). Well today I rode 17.4 miles in an hour which was almost a mile further but it was really hard and I don't want to do it again for a while. We had turkey sandwiches for lunch with a hot cross bun and grapes for pud. For dinner we had steak and red wine pie with carrots, cabbage and potatoes. It was all nice. Our daughter and son in law went out on their bikes and rode almost 50 miles which makes my ride look silly!!!! 

Shopping day

We were up early and at Asda by 6.55. I spent £76.47 and £10 of that was on a thin, long sleeve top to wear about the house ( I am always too hot and H is always too cold.) We had a coffee when we came back with a hot cross bun, nice. Then I changed into my cycle gear to ride on H's turbo trainer. I rode for an hour and did 16.5 miles. It was on a course called Richmond so when it's next on I will ride again for an hour and see if I can go further.

We had tomato soup for lunch and this afternoon I was going to the hairdressers at 2 pm which means I come out around 4 so we were going to get fish and chips for tea but the hairdresser rang and asked if I could go in at 1.15 instead which meant I came out too early for the chip shops!,!  So we had pizza, chips and a side salad. It was ok but not a patch on fish and chips. 

Thursday

No work for me today so I had porridge for breakfast for a change. I did a load of washing and hung it out. It had only been out a few minutes and it all froze on the line. I spent a bit of time cleaning up and a lot of time reading! This afternoon we went round to see no1 son and our daughter in laws new puppy. He is lovely, he is going to be a big dog, he is only 13 weeks old and in this picture his hind legs are standing on the floor and he is laying right across the dining chair. 

We had cheese on toast for lunch and for dinner we had a huge jacket potato, mushy peas and haddock.

Yesterday

Yesterday I forgot to blog!!! I have recently been allowed to join a page on Facebook called East Anglian photos and I was so engrossed last night looking at all the amazing pictures I just didn't think. I must say looking at the photograph's makes one realise what a lovely area of the country we live in.

 I was at work all day and with the sun and little wind it wasn't too bad. My hands were a bit cold now and again but that is expected when you spend 8 hours outside in January. I was trimming leeks almost all day with a short break from it when I had to pick a box and a half of rhubarb. We had a nice dinner, mushrooms, chips, tomatoes and I had sirloin steak ( which was yummy, so tender ) and H had 2 pork slices. ( he has gone off red meat !!!) 

MOT day

We were up at 6.30 and after breakfast we stacked and started the dishwasher. H put on a loaf of bread but he put it on the timer because we were going to the City. It was our cars mot so we got ready and went to Robinsons ( our car is a V W. ) from there we walked into the City. First I went to ' bo jangles ' for a couple of scrunchies for my hair for work,then to a bank so H could pay a bill and then to Jarrolds for a coffee and a cheese scone and butter. From there we went to W H Smith for a paper and my tv magazine. After that we walked to John Lewis to look at televisions. From there we went Chaple field for a wander round and to Holland and barratt for 2 huge tubs of peanut butter and some dates. It was then only midday so we went to the Forum where we sat and read our mags. We then began to wander back when H had a text to say the car was done. It passed with flying colours. So that's 4 mot's in a row with nothing having to be done. When we arrived home there was a lovely aroma of baking bread to greet us as we opened the door. We had a few cream crackers and cheese with a coffee when got in and I made a chicken curry for dinner.

Monday

Last evening my boss rang to say it would be frosty in the morning and the leeks might be hard to get out of the ground so he said I should go in at 10 instead of 8. I had a lay in, had time to hang my washing out, an extra cup of coffee and even time to cut a load of dead plants down in the garden before packing my lunch and going. I did leeks all today, well till 3 when we went down to wash and pack them before home time. I feel worn out so I should sleep well tonight. 

Frosty Sunday

I was up just after 6 am and made myself a bowl of porridge. We had a cup of tea and a little later a coffee. H went outside to clean all the inside of the car while I did all the clearing up indoors. He then rode in a race on his turbo trainer with Zwift. He rode the masters race which is for over 60s ( he is nearly 78 ). He was the only master over 60 who entered!! So he won his section but masters begin at the age of 40 so he was riding round with people nearly half his age!!! When he had finished he but my bike on and I rode 23.1/2 miles but I wasn't as fast as last time only averaging 16.6 mph for the first hour, last time it was 17.3 mph. Today I wasn't really in the mood. After showering I made chicken mayo sarnies for lunch then sat and read all afternoon. I made meatballs for dinner, just mince with chopped onion mixed in, I fried them to seal them then I made a nice sauce with a chopped onion and mushrooms ( fried ) a tin of chopped tomatoes a veg. cube,some frozen peas, yesterday's leftover gravy, a glug of white wine and 4 oz of pasta. It was really tasty. It's been a lovely day with loads of sun but very cold. I am not looking forward to working out in it tomorrow. No 1 son sent me a text at 8.51 last night to say they were back safely from their round trip to Belgium and the Puppy is lovely. They have called him Vincent.

Saturday

I got up at 6.40, H was already up, had stacked the dish washer, put it on , made the tea and sliced off the bread for my toast. I put on a load of washing and had my breakfast. We had a coffee and then H went out to clean the car. However he couldn't do it because it was frozen up so he put emulsion on the inside of the garage walls instead. By the time he had finished the car had thawed out so he cleaned it. It looks lovely. While he was doing all that I washed up what wouldn't fit in the d/w, hung out my washing, swept and washed the kitchen floor and wiped all the cupboard doors,vacuumed and dusted all downstairs, put on a loaf of bread and kept plying H with coffee and buns to keep him going.when my washing was dry i brought it all in and did all the ironing. We had egg mayo sandwiches for lunch and left over chicken for dinner tonight with veg. 

No 1 son has gone to Belgum to get his new puppy and no 2 son is on Portland having a climbing weekend.

Shopping

I got up at 6, had toast and tea for my breakfast, stripped my bed and put the duvet cover and sheets in the washing machine. I will have to wash the 6 pillow cases tomorrow.( the duvet cover is so big and heavy ). Then I dressed and went off to Asda to do my weekly shop. I spent just under £55 !!!!! I don't know how I managed that! One of these days I will wake up and all my cupboards will be empty. I didn't buy any booze which helps keep the bill down and I am lucky not to have to buy any veg. apart from potatoes because we don't grow them at work.

I hung all my washing out when we got back home and we had a coffee. Then it began to snow again so I had to get my washing in again. I put it all in the tumble drier because I want to get it back on the bed tonight. For lunch we had cheese and biscuits with a cup of soup and later our last bottle of Christmas cider. Tonight we are having a roast chicken with roast potatoes, veg and gravy with tiramisu  for pud.  H rode 30 miles on his turbo trainer while I made his favourite ' raspberry rocks '. 

Lazy day

No work so we both  laid in till well gone 6. I had porridge for breakfast, a coffee and a biscuit at 10, home made soup for lunch and for dinner we had sausage's,baked beans, eggs, chips and bread and butter crisped up in the oven. H was busy all day working in the garage, he has put insulation up on the walls, one of which backs on to our lounge and the other the dining room and it feels warmer in the lounge already. I sew up the little coat I knitted and then knitted a matching pair of bootees. I can knit till the cows come home, I love it but I hate sewing it all up. When my mum was alive I used to knit and she used to sew everything up for me, it was great. I did a load of washing this morning, hung it all out, came in, looked out of the window and it began raining so back I went and got it all in again.

Wednesday

It was work again for me but it was my last day this week and it was not a bad day. First I had to fork up and bunch 150 bunches of carrots, then I had to pick a sack of sprouts and I spent the rest of the day trimming leeks. It was chilly but the sun made all the difference and the day went by quickly. We had such a lot of stew left so we had it again for dinner tonight. As I said our son and daughter in law are getting a new dog at the weekend. He is only 12 weeks old so I think on this photo he may be only 11 weeks. As you can see he is going to be a big dog.

Tuesday

I have had a nice day today. I was going to have porridge for my breakfast but when I got up I couldn't be bothered to make it, so I had my usual toast and marmite with a huge mug of tea. A little while later I had a cup of coffee and a biscuit. I hung out yesterday's and today's washing and then I got ready to have a ride on H's turbo trainer. I began my ride at around 10 past 9 and the next minuite began to rain so H had to get my 2 full lines of washing in. I rode 32.3 miles on my bike in 1 hour and 58 mins which is the longest I have ever sat on a static bike. We had a dippy egg for our lunch and another coffee.No I son popped round on his way to work ( he is on lates this week. ). He had time for a coffee and a couple of cookies. When he left we went out for eggs from the chicken farm and to a shop for me to buy a light to put on the dining room windowsill. I found a nice one shaped like a candle stick with 2 candles. H thought it wouldn't be bright enough but he is  pleasantly surprised. When we came back he said he was hungry again so we had a turkey sandwich. We are having turkey stew for dinner tonight, it just won't have quite as much turkey in now. ..... A picture of me on my bike......

 

Work

Yet another unpleasant day to be working in the middle of a field, it was cold, muddy and rained for the  biggest part of the day. I had to do leeks till coffee break at 10, then we washed and packed them and I went back up the field to pick 24 bunches of carrots and 4 boxes of loose ones, then back on leeks. I went down to have my lunch with the men after which we washed and packed some more things and I went back to the leeks for the third time. At 20 to 4 we washed my last lot and at 4 I came home. I soaked in the bath and had a huge mug of tea but I still feel chilled. We had curry for dinner and I have come upstairs to watch my soaps but I don't suppose I will stay awake.

Our no 1 son who lost his dog Ollie just before Christmas rang with great news yesterday. They have managed to locate a puppy. It's 12 weeks old, called Glen and on Saturday they are off to Belgium to get him. He is actually in Austria but the woman is meeting them half way. They are so excited. 

Sunday

I thought I had better do a bit of housework today so after a load of washing and hanging it out I cleaned and cleared up all downstairs. For my birthday, for one of my presents I was given a " cookie cutter " with a cookie recipe so I tried it out for the first time this morning. I was very pleased with the results. It's such a simple recipe but the results are delicious. I will add it at the end of my blog. After lunch, ( poached eggs on toast ) L and J arrived with Js bike so H could help sort the wheel out, while the men worked on the bike L and I sat drinking tea and gin and tonic. They both went well with the cookies. We had a healthy dinner as a change from a Sunday roast, jacket potato, grilled mushrooms, peas and haddock. I have finished knitting my little matinee coat and it is looking nice. I still have to sew it up and add buttons so will take a photo when it is completely finished, I have enough yarn left to knit some matching bootees....... This is a photo of my cookies.......

Recipe .....ingredients......

225g butter, 110g sugar, 275g plain flour ...... Method, preheat oven to 170 c / gas 3, cream butter in a large bowl add sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, sift flour and bring the mixture together to form a firm dough, roll out to approximately 6 mm, cut out the cookies,place on a baking tray slightly apart and bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes until they are golden brown and slightly firm on top.

Mine took a few minutes longer to cook so it depends on ones oven, next time I will have my oven a tad hotter. 

Saturday

When we got up it was damp and miserable so we decided not to go out on our bikes, we both went on the turbo trainer instead.i rode for 1 hour 1 minuite and 30 seconds. I did 16.5 miles. In the hour I rode 15.8 miles so that is my average speed.H went next and rode 20 miles in well under an hour. He is so good. We had soup for lunch and for dinner we had pizza, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and chips. L and J went out on their bikes and got really muddy!! That doesn't happen indoors but I would rather have been out with them. They also did 16 miles but L had an average of 15.9 so that was better than me. J' s single speed broke so they are coming round tomorrow afternoon to see if H can fix it. My knitting is going well, I have done the back and sides up to the armholes, finished 1 sleeve and almost finished the other. It only leave's the yoke and the sewing up to do. I only bought the wool on Tuesday so I am very pleased with my progress.

Friday

I went shopping this morning, it was another cheap week, 2 in a row!! I spent just under £60 so I treated myself to a lottery ticket. After I had put everything away we had a coffee and I did a bit of clearing up before I sat down to do a few rows of my knitting. We had poached eggs on toast for lunch and after that, as it's all I have heard about on tv today, we had a glass of wine.!!! For dinner we had steak and kidney pie with cauliflower, sprouts, carrots and potatoes. It was nice. When H goes to bed I am going to knit. I can't concentrate when he is here, he keeps talking to me. It's a very difficult patten, 16 rows, all different so you don't really get to learn it. The baby is due on the 24 th of this month so I need to get a move on.

O M G

WELL !!!! today I had to go to work and it was unbelievable, I have never kown it to be so muddy. We all got stuck so many times and we were all falling over. The mud was so soppy and deep it was half way up our Wellington boots. I was wet through by 10 but we all carried on until we had harvested enough veg to cover all the orders. We all left off early ( 150 ). I rang H to tell him I was on the way home so my cup of tea would be ready. As soon as I got in he ran me a bath and poured me a cuppa so I was soon warm inside and out. We had a pasta bake for dinner tonight. Any one who reads my blog knows at work I live on cucumber sandwiches but today I had a change and took a salad. No more work till Monday for me so I hope it dries up a bit by then. 

Back on my bike

We got up our usual time, had our breakfast and then a coffee. I sat and knitted for a while while H got the bikes out, pumped them up etc.ready for us to go out. We put our cycle gear on and left home at 9.30. We rode almost 39 miles in under 2 1/2 hours. It was hard work,there were no really big hills in it but a lot of long drags. Our daughter swam a mile in 48 minuites and our eldest Grandaughter rode 13 miles in 42 mins at the gym. We are the ' fit family ' !!! Mind you I don't feel very fit at the moment, my knees hurt and my legs are stiff. We had cheese on toast for lunch and tonight we had one of our ' road kill' phesants which I cooked all day in my slow cooker. It was lovely, the meat just fell apart. I have to go to work tomorrow. 

Damp Tuesday

We were supposed to go out on our bikes this morning but it was raining so we chickened out. H had a parcel to collect from a pickup point so we went out to get it and while we were out I went to a shop to buy some wool and a patten to knit a matinee coat. My hairdresser is having a baby girl so I bought a very pale pink. It's ages since I have done any knitting and I had forgotten how much I enjoy it. We had soup for lunch, ( I had porridge for breakfast ) and for dinner we had cod, jacket potatoes, peas and bread and butter. I made a loaf this morning so the bread was lovely and fresh.

While we were out I bought a pair of running shoes. I don't run but they are great for biking in. The ones I have been using on my bike are the same. This time I have bought a darker pair, my old ones are a pale blue and I can't get them clean any more. They are so light ( weight ) and comfortable I don't know I have them on.

Monday

Well today it was back to packing cucumber sandwiches and picnics on an upturned box in the middle of a field. Yes I was back at work, we were nice and busy so the day passed quickly and the weather was good. I picked 4 boxes of loose carrots, 6 dozen bunches of carrots and 10 boxes of leeks. The rest of the day was taken up with washing and packing everything. We had a cheese and mushroom omelette for dinner and I had fresh fruit for pudding. I took these photos of our curly kale, I think it looks like a row of palm trees.

Last day of hols

I have taken it easy today as its work tomorrow. I did 2 loads of washing, got the first one dry outside but the second had to be brought in before it was dry because it began to rain. I finished it off in the tumble drier. I also took down the Christmas tree and all the decorations and cleaned up. We had a fried egg sandwich for lunch and for dinner we had pork slices, chips, scampi, baked beans and oven bread. I washed my hair and let it dry naturally so I have very kinky hair, I hope it will straighten out a bit by the morning.

Saturday

We had to go shopping this morning but I didn't spend much. I needed coffee, milk and some fruit and salad things. My back is still sore but I think it's improving a bit. We had home made soup for lunch, I put some red cabbage in and it turned the soup a very strange colour, a greyish purple but it tasted alright. No 1 son rang to wish us a happy new year and have a chat and no 2 son left after lunch to go back home to his. We are having one of my butchers pies for dinner tonight, it's steak and kidney. We will have it with broccoli, carrots and potatoes. Tomorrow is my last day off, it's back to work on Monday. 

2016

New Year's Day!!! I am amazed at how fast the last year passed by. In 2015 I rode 3,076 miles on my bike. This year I am going to try to go further. This afternoon we went to our daughter and son in laws for tea and a good time was had by all. They did a lovely meal, garlic mushrooms, with salad for our starter and then enormous 6 oz beef burgers with pulled pork, beef tomatoes, onion rings, cheese slices and baked potatoes. They were lovely. We were really full so we had a game of scrabble before our pudding. Pud was a chocolate fudge cake, made by our eldest Grandaughter and it was delicious, the fudge all melted and with the vanilla ice cream it was perfect. We played a couple more games, one new game called destination Norwich,which we all enjoyed. I enjoyed the last game of scrabble most of all because I won!!! H didn't think much of that he is a bad looser. We arrived home at 10 pm, just in time for me to see ' Eastenders ' on plus one. It was so good I am glad I didn't miss it.