Marty

Great question. I simply loved the variety of answers. ❤️

Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious, Albert.

Who? Clo's dad or the deer?

I've only just finished a Zoom training session that ran overtime. So for dinner I'm going to steam some home grown vegetables and have them with a side salad and a few wedges of vintage cheddar cheese.

Good morning, Page.

Morning, bro Same here. There's a Status Yellow rainfall warning suddenly appeared for the northwest of Ireland. In place till 5:00pm today. Makes me wonder just how sure the Met Office can be for the settled weather they promised to start around this weekend...

That's probably an everyday occurrence in California...

Score? FOUR! FOUR! FOUR! FOUR! FOUR!

Brilliant news!

How's the smokey weather today, Albert?

I'm steaming the vegetables I had picked for last night's dinner. Going to make a cheese omelette to go with them.

Well, when I unlocked the gate leading out from the back of my property to look at the driveway, I found that at the far end of it (furthest from the main road) there is riot of wild blackberries growing. So that meant that all thoughts of strimming were put aside, and I headed into the house for a small bucket to put the juicy berries in. Three quarters of an hour later I had picked a kilogramme of them; enough to make several jars of jam. They're in the fridge at the moment. If I don't find time for jam making in the next thirty-six hours, they'll probably get moved to the deep freeze until I do. I've since strimmed the drive down as far as just past the gate into the back of my property. I've left the bramble patch for the time being. I'd say I'll get a few more kilos of ripe fruit off them before they get past their prime. . Unless the neighbourhood kids find them...

I bet you freaking do! Hi, Gary.

Sleep well, Mr B.

Hi, Page!

Happy Tuesday, everybody! Reasonably sunny day here, with no sign of rain. Currently around 17°C/63°F, with a high expected of 19/66. There may be a bit of rain overnight, but the Met Office are suggesting that high pressure might be arriving around the weekend; so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for spell of dry, settled weather to come. Raked up a lot of dead leaves that have fallen from the ivy I cut on the old cottage and dug the second last row of potatoes this morning. Am planning on getting the strimmer out later, put the blade attachment on it, and clear the weeds and brushwood in the driveway between my property and the empty next door house. My builder is due back with me shortly (hopefully by the end of this week), and one of the jobs on his list is to hang a gateway at the entrance to that driveway, which will mean I can start parking my car off the main street. Currently there's just a fixed wooden fence across the entrance. Hope everyone has a great day.

Thanks, Gary! ❤️ I can particularly relate to Sacrifice.

Before Val gets in....

My dinner:

For dinner tonight, I am having homemade beef curry (from the freezer) on a bed of boiled rice. A late dinner because I was involved in a Zoom meeting this evening that ran on much longer than had been promised. Hence the "convenience meal." The vegetables I brought in from the garden can be used for tomorrow evening's dinner.

Albert! How are you, my friend?

Hi, Page! By the way, did you know that there's evidence that watermelon contains a chemical similar to the one in viagra that helps overcome erectile dysfunction?

What Gary said! Blessèd be, and stay safe, dughlas.

I did wonder the same, myself. Apple, gooseberries, and blackcurrants are good sources of natural pectin. I reckon apple would probably be best for watermelon jam, as it shouldn't mask its delicate flavour too much. I often add a little grated apple when I am making the likes of raspberry jam. Of course, you could use jam making sugar, which has added pectin. But (a) it's far more expensive than simple granulated sugar, and (b) I like to know the origin of the ingredients I add to my recipes.

Wow! You know me so well, bro! And I also usually bring my thermos flask with me to a hotel breakfast as well. And fill it with either freshly brewed coffee or chilled orange juice (depending on the weather), to help wash down the apple (and banana) I picked up for lunch.