Tinsel time

 We're just back from dropping a load of destashed stuff at a local charity shop. While we were there we bought a whole load of tinsel to decorate the garden with at Christmas time. I'll be using my little obelisks as Christmas trees and they'll be strung with lights and tinsel.  In the dark they look just like Christmas trees and the garden will look fantastic 

Blimey it's cold today

 Tony and I popped down to the library this morning and blimey was it cold.  We're currently destashing again and are working our way through the bed linen. We're getting rid of the spare bed after Christmas and turning the room into a proper craft/workroom where we'll both have space to create. The small spare room does have a single bed in  case of emergency but the room is now a dressing room filled with clothes. I really can't believe how many clothes we both have and many of them don't get worn now that I'm no longer working in an office.  I need to cull the clothes at some point. 

And a little kitchen tip if you use garlic.  When you cut the base plate off it'll regrow

 I've no idea whether a bulb will form but even if it's only fresh green shoots I'll be pleased

Star gazing

 Last night Tony and I drove up to a beautiful place high up on the moors to look at the stars.  It came about because I'd read about the expected meteor shower. We didn't see a single meteor but the sky was absolutely studded with stars. Now I'd like to go up to somewhere as remote as possible so that the light pollution wouldn't dim the sky. If you have any recommendations let me know and we'll book a short break there. I quite fancy Scotland and the great part about being retired is that we can go at the drop of a hat. 

I'm anonymous

 I've just got a lovely new phone and I've been trying to find out how to change my settings so I'm no longer anonymous when I leave a comment somewhere. Unfortunately I  haven't been able to sort it so if I leave a comment for you I'll let you know that it's me... Cherie... and if anyone knows how to do it I'd be grateful for some advice. 

The ceilidh

 Last night was the twentieth anniversary of Tees Valley ceilidh club and of course we danced our little legs off.  I ache this morning but that goes without saying really. We don't often have entertainment during the break but last night we were entertained by a Morris dancing troupe.  The were fantastic and here's a couple of short videos of last night's display 

Retired at last

 Well yesterday was the end of an era. I've finally retired from invigilating.  It was a little sad to know that I was using my pass for the final time but I actually feel retired at long last. I was given a lovely card which I'll keep for a little while.  I'm trying not to keep cards anymore and recently got rid of pretty much all my old ones. It's hard letting go of sentimental things but I asked Tony to throw them in the recycle bin for me. We're thinking of booking a little break in Dorset or Norfolk when the kids go back after half term. My garden won't need any attention at this time of year and I feel comfortable leaving it. 

Kitchen Garden magazine

 I recently subscribed to Kitchen Garden  magazine. The offer has cost £15 for 6 months and it came with ten free packets of seeds.  Each month I'll receive a free packet of seeds with the magazine. That's around £2.50 a month. Over the six month period I am certain that the cost of the seeds alone would far outway the £15. Here's my ten free packets that arrived today. I've never tried scorzonerra before so it will be interesting to see what it tastes like.

Beautiful fresh carrots

 Yesterday I thinned out some  carrots and used them along with some other fresh picked vegetables to make a chicken and veg soup. The chicken drumsticks are an absolute bargain in Aldi but I can't help thinking that the producers get paid very little.  

I'm so looking forward to my new Greenstalk arriving in December though I can't have it till Christmas.  When I bought my very first Greenstalk at the beginning of last year I put it in the porch and planted it up with all manner of things. I now have four but they are all in the garden.  My new one will live permanently in the porch and I'll be planting it up in early January. My aim is to log everything that I harvest from it for a whole year. 

Rooted in Bolton

 The other day I mentioned that I'd ordered another Greenstalk and I've just had a lovely message from Jude at Rooted in Bolton. It's so nice when a company acknowledges a purchase isn't it.  I'm determined to shop with companies in the UK whenever possible and now that I've decided to fully retire I'm hoping to spend even more time growing vegetables all year round. If only I could persuade Tony to get rid of the two motorbikes that he never even looks at but pays to insure every year. They been declared off road for more years than I care to remember. Grrrrr. Just think of the growroom I could set up in the space. 

Free magazines

 Tony and I have just popped to our local library to swap my books and choose some others. The librarian knows I'm a keen gardener and pointed out some gardening magazines that someone had left. She asked if I'd like them and of course I said yes. When I finish reading them I'll return them to the library for someone else to read. They're last year's magazines but of course that makes no difference to me