Catch up

I joined Vinted and sold some of my Anokhi dresses (which I bought years ago on EBay so have actually made a profit!).  I've been shopping on there too, a copper bangle - I love copper.  When I Googled this one I found it was made by a British designer of the 60s and 70s, Moda of Malta, specialising in hand beaten copper jewellery.

I had a lovely week of lunches with sons ... Lunch made at my place by younger son and his girlfriend, a really nice afternoon together chatting and chilling out.... then on Friday I went on a train trip to  London to see my older son, we took a bus over to Spoons in Wimbledon and visited the Buddhist Temple, wandered the very peaceful grounds and asked a monk to do a prayer and blessing for us (and for a friend who is currently building her house in Sri Lanka) and we came away relaxed and refreshed.  

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We've been having breakfasts like this and skipping lunch to lose a little weight.

Below is the Wimbledon temple.

On the subject of my Sri Lanka friend I am sharing a little of her house build which s in the Sri Lankan hills where it is cool and green (she spends half the year there, half in the UK.  She is rebuilding her family home.  The workmen prepared the area before starting work with ceremonial food offerings and smudging (smoke) from coconut leaf woven lanterns around the four corners of the plot, to keep away any lurking evil spirits, an astrologer determines the exact date work can start.  Some pics/video below that she sent me.

Swimming is becoming a regular event now I'm retired and I am now up to 50 lengths per visit.  I have made a few friends at the pool and there's usually a nice chat in the changing rooms after :)

I got a mixed  pack of seeds from 'Chiltern's at a reduced price.  they have given a lovely selection, radish, beetroot, carrot, dill, a variety of lettuce and tomatoes - should be fun seeing what pops up... last years pack gave me this beautiful.mallow in the mix.

I enjoyed reading The Bones of You,   A really good thriller and first book by a new writer, Debbie Howells Found in a charity shop.

Back soon with travel.news!

 

Middle of May

 Hi bloglanders, in the merry month of May I am beginning to relax into month 3 of retirement and not counting.

My first major retirement achievement has been to actually read a book without cheating and jumping pages.  The book was gifted to me last year by my friend *Vix* and I had tried to get into it several times last year and failed because I have a short attention span.  Im glad I tried again as it was a really good read: about a journalist who finds the love of his life in Egypt; the book gives a window into the social and dating scene, expectations and restrictions/taboos for modern day Muslim women in Egypt.  It was superb  and I like true stories. thank you Vix! 

I have been to Brighton twice this month.  I tried out my pensioners free travel bus pass - it took 3 1/2 hours! two buses, both taking a very long and winding tour of local towns and villages, it was a very rattling, bumpy ride and I wouldn't do it again!  Second time I took the train which is only 40 minutes into Brighton.   Both times involved a big afternoon sleep on the beach.  I love browsing The Lanes and this time bought a collar necklace from.my favourite All About ,Audrey.  These are my favourite stones (they aren't real unfortunately).   

There were a lot of colourful characters around who just loved having their picture taken!  

Up at the allotment things are beginning to sprout and due to the unusually high temps in the UK, watering has been almost daily.  We now have a group (Sprinklers) on Whatsapp. we volunteer to water for each other during holidays/absence on a rota.  I have been doing 2 other allotments and it is a great way to see what others are planting, how they space things out, companion planting,  the recycled resources they use to cover their seedlings (wire freezer drawers are popular to deter birds from pulling things up) and what grows well together - I'm learning from the experts, some of whom have been there about 10 years.

On my 60 x 60ft plot I have planted:

Potatoes (early and maincrop)
runner beans
dwarf beans
red onions and garlic
carrot and beetroot
radicchio, cauliflower and celery
sweetcorn
pumpkins, gerkins and tomatoes.

I cut two thirds of my huge rhubarb crop and froze in chunks to make crumbles.  I left a third to die down so the crowns have enough nutrients to give a good yield next year.

I have started planting on some of the little paths on the plot as the soil is good and it's wasted space.  Also stocking up on spent filter coffee which hubby gets from the airport coffee shops for me - they are happy to give bags away which would otherwise be disposed of and they make great slug deterrent and compost.

In the garden - I planted about 50 flower bulbs, a few are surfacing - we have poor soil as the woods is directly behind our fence and the trees take a lot of the nutrients, also it's north facing/shady - but it looks neat and I am enjoying afternoons under the trees.

At the end of last year I had my brows microbladed and my lips tattoo'd (I had almost no natural brow and used to draw them in - time consuming - also I lost a lot of natural pigment in my lips).  It takes some months for things to settle down and see the benefit, I am very pleased with both as had asked for a natural look.  I have never been one for wearing makeup so this is ideal for me.

We postponed our trip to India this year, there is unrest so it's just as well, but we hadn't planned the trip enough and decided to go to Thailand - soon!  Although we have a huge 30k luggage allowance on Emirates, the internal flights allow 20k so I am thinking carefully about what to pack.  

My oldest brother lived in Thailand for 10 years and brought his Thai wife and 2 children to the UK some years ago.  I remember his wife (who used to run a small Thai cafe in the North) bringing a tiny little suitcase when the famly came to stay here; it contained not her toiletries, but her herbs and spices for cooking, she took over our kitchen during their stay and cooked some delicious food and I watched carefully, but as she spoke no English the recipes are still.a mystery!

I've just swum 50 lengths at our local pool and am off to relax in the garden now.

What's happening in your part of the world? how's your garden growing? Where are you travelling to? Comments welcome.

April

 The month went fast, 2nd month of retirement and not counting.  I spent all my spare time at the allotment breaking up clay soil and planted potatoes and the sweetcorn that I had raised on my windowsill.  I also planted beetroot and carrot.  It's turned really cold so I doubt much will germinate just now and have therefore planted bean, squash and pumpkin seeds for window propagation to be on the safe side.  Tonight is the weekly gathering of likeminded plot holders, we rarely discuss the obvious topic and drink plenty of alcohol.

I reorganised my wardrobe (again due to OCD I do it often) other half did too.  We found our clothes are too tight and we need to get out more, use our rowing machine and eat less.  Should be straightforward.  A clear sign that we are now thinking comfort before fashion is that we both now have Crocs (shoes).  I have so far resisted elasticated trousers though.  I bought a weighted hula hoop and returned it - it says on the box causes bruising - it certainly does -- that can't be a good thing?  Back it goes.

Crocs (Amazon) great for home, garden and ...holidays?

Over Easter both sons plus girlfriend were here and I went mad and made cakes, chocolate chip muffins, carrot cakes, rhubarb crumble (allotment crop) and roast dinner followed by a fiddly curry the following day.  Everyone ate well but I exhausted myself, think I really must stop thinking the way to a mans heart is through his stomach - something my grandmother swore by - my husband and sons will still love me if I don't feed them to excess.

I have been on several walks to see bluebells around here, there are plenty - my favourite wildflower I think.  Wood anemone grow in the same places and the combination of both has been spectacular in the nearby woods.

We  have been watching Feud on Channel 5 (UK)  it was very good, but the ending was rushed.  We also tuned in for the new series of Race Across the World Series 5 (BBC1 UK).  This is epic, travelling across China, Nepal and India.  I want the young Welsh kids to win, they remind me of hubby and me at that age, full of eagerness for travel and adventure, a whole World to explore .... and to be fair we have explored a lot of it, and still going...

Our neighbours are having a feud over a kitchen extention and a tree that is in the way.  It's an elderberry and, of course, I am fond of them so you know what side I am on.  There are a surprising number of closet pagans in our road and so we have been furtively sending vibes and circles of protection for the tree.  

Cicily Mary Barker, Flower Fairies of the Trees, 1961: source: Google

Thats all my news for April, what's yours? feel free to fill this blank space with your news...

Easter

 Wishing blog friends spiritual renewal over the Easter break.

Bluebells!

I have been longing to see the bluebells this year, for me that means Spring.  It is still quite early but I wasn't disappointed ... I went on a walk with a couple of ladies from the Allotment walkers group, to check out a route we are doing later in the week with others.  We went to Glovers Wood, Charlwood, which I have been to before (see my old blog Wood Fairy)

This old yew tree in the churchyard dates back pre 1080, the original church was built of wood in 1080 and the tree was already there - yew trees were often on pagan sites and churches were built on these sites, this tree is apparently female and is protected.  Charlwood 349 - Ancient Yew Group

Walking on into Glovers Wood there were early bluebells, wood anemone and wild garlic, primrose and more.

Above - anyone know what this one is?

Below bluebells

Curious cows knew it was time for milking and were on their way unheeded.

above; wood anemone.

Above mares tail. I hadn't seen this before but a lady dressed in black with a black leather hat marched out of the woods and as she passed, shouted out 'mares tail'.

celandine above, violets below

primrose below

recent pagan offerings for Ostara, the vernal Spring equinox,  in the woods.  

algae pond above and hawthorn blossom below

Yesterday I had builders round for quotes on a bathroom upgrade, we would like a shower instead of a replacement bath (ours has gone rusty) and the downstairs cloakroom has a rotten floor so needs an upgrade.    As I was housebound for the day I batch cooked vegetarian lasagne, made with THIS isn't mince

THIS™ ISN'T BEEF MINCE - THIS™ | Plant-Based Food

I was using Quorn before, which is also good, but THIS mince is better as it's moist.  I also made beetroot humous, which requires no cooking, just blending chick peas, raw beetroot and seasoning (corriander, toasted cumin seeds, salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, raw garlic cloves all whizzed up).

Today I have been up early to draft some listings on Vinted.  I haven't got to grips and still have to upload photos.  

On Sunday I went to my old baptist church - I hadn't been for about 7 years.  I felt compelled and off I went.  I used to enjoy singing with sign language but nobody else was signing.  There were many familiar and welcoming faces, but they all looked shockingly older, which means I do too I suppose.

I will go again, but don't want to commit to the housegroup, tithing, regular attendee type stuff.

At the weekend I was in Brighton, shopping for my 'should have been sister in law' who has a birthday coming up.  I sat on the beach, slept for a bit, explored the lanes and bought this book!

 (what else but India, my favourite destination) with a recent birthday voucher from my son - who knows I love Waterstones, Brighton for its window seats and cosy atmosphere.  

I started the Random Acts of Kindness challenge on 17th February - hadn't done it for a long time - if only it became something we did automatically but I have to really think to find ways to fulfill this - and also of course you don't want the recipient of your effort to know as it would be very contrived!  I'm still doing it ... sometimes folk are suspicious if youre too obvious!  - i.e. not taking the best parking spot at the supermarket.

random acts of kindness 2025  

Today I am off to the allotment to plant some beetroot.  We are still getting morning frosts so I am not planting too many things yet. If I dont have you on my sidebar. Please leave your blog details in a comment. It's fun to visit new blogs.

Chat soon....

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