Sunday, September 11, 2011

Went foraging last week, collected loads of blackberries and some cob nuts too.  Last year I made damson jam and it set rather too hard, it's really chewy.  In fact, I could make fruit pastilles out of it, if only I could get it out of the jar! 

However, this year's blackberry jam was much more successful and really delicious!


Having a bumper crop of tomatoes from the garden this year...


...already made tomato pasta sauce, still got some of last year's tomato chutney in the cupboard, what else shall I do with them?  Tomato puree, tomato soup, I wonder if tomato jam is an option! lol

And, joy of joys, this year's Strictly Come Dancing has started!  Well, they had the taster session where they partner up celebrities with their professional dancers.  It starts properly in 3 weeks.  Yeay!  I'm so excited!! (how sad am I?!!??). 

Anyhoo, my first impressions (they'll change as the series goes on, look how I came to love Jodie Kidd!):

The blokes:
Robbie Savage the footballer - we always say "Savage by name, savage by nature" on the football pitch, I'm looking forward to seeing another side to him and I want him to do well for some reason (maybe the hair, it is lovely!)
Dan Lobb the Daybreak sports reporter (I think) - didn't seem to be taking it too seriously. 
Harry Judd the McFly drummer - seemed a bit bewildered by it all.
Rory Bremner the impressionist - I'm expecting him to be amusing.
Jason Donovan the actor/singer - now there's a man that's going to take it very seriously!  "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail".  True enough!
Audley Harrison the boxer - he's so tall!  And he said he has size 17 feet!  Reckon he'll be good at the latin, he looks like he's got rhythm!
Russell Grant the astrologer - reckoned he'd recently lost 10 stone!  I wondered what he used to weigh!  However, he did alright in the group dance.
The ladies:
Holly Valance the singer/actress - she seemed nice, hope she does well.
Lulu the legend - ooo, she didn't like getting Brendan as her partner, did she!  Mind you, the way he picked her up, slung her over his shoulder and flounced off, I'd have been livid!  How undignified for her! lol  Hope she does well too.
Alex Jones the TV presenter - for some reason, I've never warmed to her, perhaps Strictly will change that?
Edwina Currie the ex-Tory MP - aaarrgh!  Poor Vincent!
Anita Dobson the actress - I've not seen much of her on telly but I rather liked her last night, I hope she does OK.
Chelsee Healy the actress - I've seen her on Waterloo Road playing a teenager.  She's had some "work" done since, airbags inserted where her breasts used to be and a trout pout.  Why?  She's only 23.  She looked as fake as Dolly Parton (much as I love Dolly!)
Nancy Dell'Olio the "celebrity", famous for shagging Sven Goran Eriksson (surely you'd want to keep that quiet!!) - she seemed a bit out of sorts last night, maybe nervous?  Or maybe she didn't like being one of many!  I mean just another glamorous diva amongst loads of other younger hotter tottie!  
Ooo, I'm such a bitch!

Friday, September 2, 2011

No posts for a whole month!  Well, I've been busy, had a trip to Beeleigh Abbey Gardens near Maldon, well worth a visit...

Beeleigh Abbey
Beeleigh Abbey garden shed

Beeleigh Abbey garden pond!

Enjoyed a trip to Heybridge, now that was a lovely warm day, we had a pub lunch and a stroll along the canal in the sun. 

Heybridge Basin

Also had another outing to Hyde Hall for their Flower Festival with some fellow plant enthusiasts.  Lots of stalls with wonderful displays...



Hyde Hall flower festival display
gladioli
rockery plants

My partner had his long-awaited hospital visit, 5 days of tests at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery.  They've decided he has Cerebellar Ataxia, but they don't know why.  More tests in October and, hopefully, an Occupational Therapist & Physiotherapist home visit to see how life could be made easier for him chez nous.  A diagnosis at last, after years of head-scratching by local consultants.

Had a trip to Borough Market in London, foodie heaven!

veggies
saucissons

giant meringues & portuguese tarts

 Had another camper trip to Beccles last weekend, stayed in the same campsite as before.  The weather wasn't great -poured with rain all day Friday so confined to the van as his mobility scooter can't be used in the wet.  Weather better Sunday, we had a river trip on along the River Waveney, very relaxing.

Beccles
typical Bank Holiday weather
River Waveney

I've been taking an occasional early morning walk along our local beach...