Tuesday 23rd November

Well it is just gone 2pm and so far I have done very little of what I had intended.  I was trying to have a half-hour day so that I could do jobs and get plenty of “me” time.  I am really into my family history research right now and have already found a few new things with the ancestry.com account. I wanted to get on with that and also to post the photos of Flynn’s birthday party.

I had done the kitchen and got some dough rising in the bread maker ready to make rolls later when Coralie phoned me.  She has just taken delivery of a brand new bike complete with trailer for the boys.  Of course she wanted to come over and show me and she was also going to cycle to the new hospital to see the route before she moves over there next week.

In a fit of total madness I agreed to get out my bike and go with her.  I haven’t ridden my bike for years.  I did get Simon to check it out for me back in the summer but then never got round to using it.  We probably did a round trip of maybe 4 miles and I am in a sorry state.  My knees ache, my bum hurts and I have a real nasty pain going through my thumb into my wrist.  I think that comes from the way I hold the handles and use the breaks.  As you all know I have really dodgy wrists as a result of breaking each one several time in my teens necessitating several operations.  I was told maybe 10 years back that they would probably need operating on again in the future but so far I have been lucky.  I try to be careful of them and they don’t often play up.

I did have a go on Coralie’s new bike and it is fantastic.  Very light and easy to ride.  You are not aware of having the kiddy trailer on the back.  I also like the very upright position because it is less back strain.  I think the boys liked it.  Evan didn’t seem overly sure although he did eventually go to sleep! He wasn’t too keen on going up or down kerbs as it was bumpy.  I guess it must be because they are very low to the ground and there is no suspension!

I had a bit of trouble with my bike when trying to change gear and the chain came off.  Luckily Coralie was able to fix it back on.  I don’t do stuff like that.......its mans work! 
Right, in an attempt to get some jobs done this afternoon I am now disappearing for half an hour.  I will be back soon.  I need to move from here anyway as it is so dark I need a light on.  I am guessing that it is now raining.

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I’m back!  It wasn’t raining just very grey and cold. I heard one of my Merikan friends use the expression “tit nipply” the other day and I think that is hilarious so I shall try to remember it when it is really cold. I can’t believe that it is pretty much dark outside now and it is only a quarter past four.  It is dark by half past.  I hate this time of year.  No wonder people get seasonal depression. 

I have been working on the list of photo challenges for December and January.  Decembers one is done and as you may expect there are quite a lot of seasonal challenges!  January is pretty much there and I have used a few ideas from some of you.  It is going in to February where I am beginning to run out of steam so please keep suggesting things so that I can add them.  Ok you won’t see them for a while yet but I figure if I can keep the list ongoing anyone who wants to continue with it can.  I shall put the name of the person next to their suggested challenges to enable us either to thank them or curse them!

I have been really thrilled with how many people are enjoying what is basically a very simple idea.  I know there were some at the beginning who didn’t like the so called lack of organisation but I think it is exactly that which has made it a success. Every other photo group I have come across has a gazillion rules.  With the photo a day challenge there is no pressure at all.  You dip in and out as you see fit.  I have also been amazed at how each of us interprets the days theme.  It is so interesting to see all the different photos.  You peeps are really inventive and creative and you take some bloody good photos too.

This afternoon I have made a chocolate tray bake cake which has not risen and sunk in the middle but will no doubt still taste yummy. Also made some white bread rolls. The rolls are to go with some homemade courgette soup which I got out of the freezer.  I made it back in the summer with courgettes from our allotment. 

I wanted a quick dinner as Simon wasn’t entirely sure what time he would be home because of some meeting that may drag on.  He likes dinner to be ready promptly on Tuesday so he can go play in his barn. Soup is nice and filling but if he is still hungry he can have cake and custard.  I was going to ice the cake and let him take it into school tomorrow but it’s not good enough.  They all love my cakes there!  He says if some of the other teachers see him getting out of the car with a cake tin they are all swarming like vultures!

I’m really cross that the cake has not turned out as expected.  I got a new tin recently specially for tray bakes.  It is a different size to my old one.  It is also a different size (larger) than most recipes require.  I did it last week and it was quite flat so today I thought I would double the ingredients but that seemed quite a lot so I went with increasing them by 50%.  Seems it still isn’t right.  The tin came from Lakeland which is a big kitchen supplies shop in the UK. I think I might contact them and ask if they can supply recipes for that size tin.  I have looked everywhere and they are always for smaller tins. My one is 25 x 37 x 5.5cm H. (10" x 14½" x 2¼") Most recipes seem to be for tins of about 20 x 30. It’s really annoying.  Other than that it is a great tin which comes with a lid with a carrying handle.  I got it because I thought it was ideal for Simon to take to school or for picnics and things.

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It is now nearly 10pm.  I can report that the bread rolls and courgette soup were delicious and the cake scrummy!  I have also now put the photos of Flynns birthday in an album.  There are also new photos in the Jessica album and the Hotdogs if you want a laugh.  Plus a very short video clip of Coralie trying to turn her bike around!