This evening’s meal.  Well. As Nick says, “it’s all in the presentation”.  Advice I blatantly ignored, as you can see.

Had a very nice day which included a late afternoon bath, book and nap.  Ideal.  Had the forethought to stick an old baker in the oven before I napped – hence dinner below.  Looks shit, but tasted good. There is really nothing more to say about today, other than watching Waking The Dead on your own in a dark house is probably not that great an idea.

I mean,  Filipo Berrio?!  (Special offer).

It was a beautiful and classic ‘indian summer’ day, autumnal and soft, and the sound of chainsaws, lawnmowers and hammers could be heard across the neighbourhood. Suddenly there seemed to be hope in these grim times, and spending a bit of money on DIY was obviously on everyone’s mind.

Out on Harborne High Street the grim reality of the economic climate is more stark.  There are now around 15 vacant shops, the latest victim being the rather highbrow (and badly judged) ‘Oho’, a sort of upmarket organic deli – which frankly was never going to be sustainable in Harborne.  And as if vacant shops doesn’t tell you something, the busiest shop is Home Bargains, doing a roaring trade in standard household items at 50% the cost.

Well, after taking Ceri and her mum to The Cotton Patch – a veritable treasure trove – and to my allotment (you really, really do not want to know) I came home to do some DIY home based activity myself.  Less DIY and more ‘emptying shed, mowing lawn, raking leaves’.  Now, I don’t know how this has happened, but if anyone wants any of these, please do let me know.  I seem to have *rather a lot*.

Now I know you will be concerned about what I’m eating – that’s the whole point of this blog right?  Well, truth is I’m feeling a bit dicky, so am taking it easy on the big massive dinners.  Suffice to say I had a very healthy lunch (see below) and my old friend “tomatoes on toast” for dinner.  One thing that is intriguing me though, why does shop bought bread (full of preservatives) go mouldy within days, and my own bread (no preservatives) stays pristine for days? It’s blimming magic is what it is.

My work colleague and friend, Ceri, very kindly invited me round to dinner tonight which so no need for me to fend for myself – and no dinner photographs. I know you are all (well, I know at least two people read this blog) dying to see my culinary disasters so I am sorry to disappoint on this occasion – but you know there will be more than enough opportunities to laugh at me coming up over the next month.  Or should I say, 28 days.  I’m not counting.

Anyway, I was too distraught for dinner but my overworked frontal lobes did allow me to bake a loaf of bread, which I must say came out rather well.

Oh – that was Springwatch, not my dinner.

Cooked a bit of steak tonight – I’d like to see Nick’s expression when he sees this.  I don’t think it will be one of approval.

Chris Packham’s getting a bit carried away on Springwatch but I love him – thank god someone on TV is passionate about conservation and not just focused on talking about what’s hatching now.  Having said that, I would really like a pet badger. Clearly that would be mad but they’re very lovely. I wonder if ‘badger steak’ will be on our menus in the future …  Wow – an erythristic badger on SW right now – a ginger badger!!

Have reached new depths of boredom and I don’t just mean my cooking

* note, that isn’t really true.

However:

I have no recollection of it.  What I do remember is that I proposed a mass picnic at work for lunchtime, which we duly had – me supplying the bagels, rolls, cheese, ham, tomatoes, salad, chocolate coins (they tempted me at the checkout) and crisps for about 15 of our staff on Chancellor’s lawn – to celebrate the sun. It was very pleasant and everyone paid their £2.50 for the privilege.  I also got so many thanks it became embarrassing – honestly, it really was nothing!  I didn’t take a camera though – unusual for me – but the DARO lot are too shy shy.

To make up for the lack of pictures, here are a couple from the garden this evening.

Nice, and mostly healthy.

Got this evening’s dose of Springwatch – incredible footage of red kites near Lake Vyrnwy in Wales – a place I have been to in the last year, surprisingly.  Loving Chris Packham and now also Simon King has taken on a certain allure.  I really need to see my boyfriend.