In Safe Hands, Sulking and Books

Someone asked about the animals while we were away, well for the third time this year we left them at home in the capable hands of pet sitters ... from reputable companies twice and once with Uncle Jason and Aunty Tash when we nipped back to Wales for a couple of days.

Sonya, Andy and their daughter Hannah, a lovely family from Queensland, Australia were originally pet-sitting their way around the UK before Sonya was offered a job with the NHS.  Now they are visiting Ireland and then she's re-entering the country this time on a work visa, and they are all staying for two years ... our motley crew and little town didn't put them off the British way of life then!!

To say our animals fell in love with them would be an understatement.

Mavis sulked and refused to eat for 24 hours and spent all her time sat on the doormat after our return waiting for Andy to come back.  Ginger has taken to sleeping on Hannah's bed, her staying obviously brought back happy memories for him of his first owners and he spent every night with her.

They have obviously just about forgiven us now that we have been back home for four days.  Going away and leaving them, although knowing that they were in the safest of hands was hard.  So much so that we have decided that any breaks that we decide to go on next year should be dog friendly and Ginger can go off on his holidays to Blackpool and stay with Uncle Jason.

You can almost hear Mavis asking, 'Where's Uncle Andy?'

In other news ... I have to hold my hands up and say that while we were away on our travels two more books arrived for me.  These look really interesting ... now I just have to get around to reading all my new acquisitions.

If I ever go on Mastermind my specialist subject could be Rationing During the War Years. 😄

Sue xx

A Holiday We'll Never Forget

 

They say when you hear of a death or something equally shocking you will always remember exactly where you were and what you were doing.  

I was wallpapering my shop walls when I heard on the radio that Diana, Princess of Wales had died, I was sorting through a delivery in the upstairs stockroom of the Scope charity shop when the Twin Towers went down ... and when the news broke that our beloved Queen had died we were sat waiting for our evening meal to be brought to the table before going into the show lounge to watch ' A Tribute to Queen' ... the group not her Majesty.

Of course, the show was cancelled, and all entertainment stopped for the evening.  The staff all changed into black dresses and suits and the huge screens all over the hotel showed the news until the last guest departed for their rooms.  We sat quietly drinking our wine, both deep in thought at times and reminiscing at others.

Such a sad end to what was a lovely holiday.

Each day had started with a lovely breakfast.

We had a game or two of giant chess in the gardens, then puzzles in the lounge.  Alan enjoyed the swimming pool and steam room every day over in the Spa, and I got lots of reading done.  We took part in some of the quizzes in the afternoons and generally relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.

We went out to an Antiques Centre one day and Alan enjoyed a cream scone, oh he does enjoy a good cream scone. 😄

I decided on something more tangible than a cake, although I did enjoy a coffee while he chomped away.  I bought this lovely butter knife and three 1930's Solian-ware Soho Pottery plates as my treat for the day.

The rest of my holiday 'souvenirs'.

Half used toiletries, excess sachets and napkins ... and an apple and a banana that we took one day for a snack and never got around to eating.  The VIP cards and the stars were left on our table each night to show that we had the VIP package and get us a drink of our choosing from the bar free of charge.  On the last night with the sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II we drank our bottle of wine to toast her life but decided that any extra drink would just be too much.  Instead, they are souvenirs of a lovely holiday ... but one that will always be tinged with loss.

RIP Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II   

🌹 ♥ 🌹

Sue xx

Fessing Up ...

 

I have to confess ... after my big book post of the other day and getting to the final count, I had literally just pressed Publish on the post and there was a knock at the door.  It was the postman with these purchases.

I had forgotten about pre-ordering the latest Miquel Barclay book many weeks ago, but here it was on the day of publication fresh from Amazon.  From Ebay there were these Be-Ro books.  A bang up-to-date edition and a really old one from just after the war years. 

 I couldn't believe the fantastic condition of the old one, it had literally never been used.  I doubted its authenticity for a moment but the old staples and slight rust marks where they are give its age away nicely.

Front covers.

I bought one of each so that I could compare how things have altered over the years.

Back covers.

And inside.

I'll give these a good look through when I get back, even I don't take cookbooks on holiday with me ... well rarely.  😁  

Then later in the day another book arrived via the Amazon delivery driver.  Now this one looks really interesting ... although is one week on rations enough for anyone to really get a taste for it?  I don't know, when we did it last we did it for a month and that seemed just about right.

Anyway my book total now stands at - 340 ... a nice round number in my opinion. 😀

Oh, if you were wondering why I have two of the latest Be-Ro editions it's because it's how this particular seller was selling them, and I thought it would add to my little collection of giveaway items that I'm putting together for my other blog, ready for when I start the new rationing Challenge.  Just a chance for some of the Subscribers of that blog to perhaps win a little something related to what I'm doing.

Sue xx

Chop, Chop, Shoot and Relax

 

What's the last thing you do before setting off on a little holiday?

With me it's always checking through the fridge, chopping and freezing anything that just won't last the distance and making sure that nothing is going to be wasted.

Once that's all done and I've whizzed though with the hoover and wipe, it's time to throw the bags in the boot of the car and head off to which ever destination is next on our list.

And this time it's Alvaston Hall Hotel in Nantwich, Cheshire.

I've booked us a room in one of the more modern wings called The Limes.

And seemingly it's going to look like this, I'll take some photos for Instagram and see how they compare.

Alan is really looking forward to this particular break as there is a swimming pool and steam room for him to use, I've also booked him an archery lesson as he loved it last time he had a go at firing arrows during an event in Scorton.

While he does 'his thing' I will have peace and quiet to read a book or two and maybe even make notes about my upcoming Challenge ... on our own private patio if the weather is nice for us.

And then in the evenings there is a three-course meal with wine each night and entertainment.  It sounds like it could be a very relaxing few days away ... but I did make one biggish boo-boo.

I'll tell you all about that another time. 😆

In the meantime, while we are gone, and hopefully enjoying ourselves, the house and the animals are in the safe hands of a family from New Zealand who are house-sitting their way around the UK.  It's something we are having a think about for the future, it sounds like a great way to have holidays in all different towns and countries just for the cost of your fuel and food.

Sue xx

Out of Date Leaves, Sad Veg and Green Soup

 

I've been sorting through the salad drawers of the fridge this morning as we are about to go away.  Rather mysteriously I found a bag of salad leaves in the fruit drawer ... no wonder they've not been used ... oops!!

So, my first thought was time to make a 'pan of soup'.  I rounded together everything that won't last the week we are away without turning to mush and set to chopping.  I also used two stems of a very fresh looking bunch of celery, the rest will last the week easily, but I wanted the lovely flavour of some of it for this soup.

Just having those two sad little carrots in it immediately brings a splash of colour to the pan and a smile to my face.  I brought it to the boil and then simmered on a lower temperature for ten minutes.  

Then the bag of out-of-date salad leaves was tipped on top of the rest and left to steam as they gradually sank into the liquid.

Are you as happy as me that so many of the supermarket are actually going to be taking Best Before dates off most fruits and vegetables and at last leaving safety to our own common-sense?  Although bagged salad leaves might not come under this new idea as these had a Use By date.

This gloriously green coloured soup just has to be good for you doesn't it.

It's very tasty now that I have adjusted the seasonings and is currently cooling ready to go into the freezer.  I reckon I should get three good bowlfuls of soup out of those sad looking vegetables.  I'm definintely getting my head into gear for at least a month on rationing.

Sue xx

A Rummage Through My Bookshelves ... Books, Books and More Books

I wanted to get some of my books sorted out and put into the same place, predominately this was to get all the wartime rationing type books and other inspirational books of the same ilk in one place ... and because sometimes I just like to play with my books.  😀

This one wouldn't fit upright on any of the shelves, so I took its photo for posterity here with some of the laminated posters that I found tucked inside it.

I know I love a good look at other people's bookshelves, so I thought once I had them how they were going to stay for a while I would take a photo of each shelf and area that I have my books on and in.

Top shelf of the living room bookcase.

Second shelf of the living room bookcase.

Third shelf of the living room bookcase.

Bottom shelf of the living room bookcase.

In the cupboard area of the living room bookcase.

A basket of booklets and ephemera from WW2 from the cupboard.

On the sideboard.

On the radiator shelf.

Also on the radiator shelf.

The kitchen bookshelf ...

... and the other half of it.

Oops, I nearly missed out these three books on the wire shelves in the kitchen.

On my bedside table.

Top shelf of the bedroom bookcase.

Middle shelf of the bedroom bookcase

Bottom shelf of the bedroom bookcase ...

... and the other side of it.

It's hard to photograph this shelf as it's less than a foot away from the side of the bed!

The little shelf in the living room, near my chair.

The basket that lives on top of the living room bookcase.

Once I had photographed all the shelves and areas I went around counting the books, I thought I might as well while I was in a booky mood.

I got to 335 ...

But when I moved the papers off my footstool, look what I found!!

So, I have 336 books in total, which although seems a high number is a lot less than when I counted them in 2015 HERE and got to a grand total of 619.  If you want a nosey at those particular bookshelves you can click on the link and then you will have to keep clicking on Newer Post, Newer Post at the bottom of each entry as I spaced them out over a few days.

I enjoy looking back at old photos of my bookshelves and seeing which have stayed with me and which books have gone.  I have a lot less fiction than I used to have for sure.  This photo was the shelves of fiction books at Berecourt Bungalow when we lived in Berkshire.  The non-fiction were in the alcove at the other side of the fireplace and on the shelves of the long bookshelves we used as a tv unit.

As well as some of my cookbooks in the cold conservatory style lean-to we had there.

It's been a lovely trip down memory lane, and it's nice to know that I can look at all my books both past and present just by clicking on the search box on any of my blogs ... as can you on any of the blogs that you are a follower of.

Sue xx

Autumn, Cold Feet, Cherry Cakes and Plans

Wow, it's September!!  

Time for me to turn over yet another page in my calendar and think about a change to what already feels like a whole new season.  The cooler mornings and evenings of the last week have made me start to think of cardigans and cosy blankets for the sofa.  Already my old patchwork quilt has been draped across the bottom of the bed to keep my feet warmer while the summer-weight duvet is still in the duvet cover.

What's that got to do with the photo at the top I almost here you shouting!

Well as most of you are most likely aware if you've read my blog this week.  I have been considering resurrecting one of my older blogs and taking a trip back in time to the days of rationing.  But a more modern style of rationing, mixing the old with the new and doing it my way.

This little shop-athon after my trip to the hairdressers highlighted to me oh so well just why I need to do this.  I called into Booths for some yoghurt and buns, but because I had time to spare I wandered the shelves and somehow acquired a few more things in my trolley.

You'll never guess how much this teeny tiny shop cost me ... go on guess NOW ... I'll tell you at the bottom of the post!!

Of course, I totally blame the cake 😆

I saw it as soon as I rounded the corner to pick up my buns and immediately thought 'that's something Alan will love', so without even a glance at the price tag into my trolley it went.  Alan loves cherries.

I didn't even spot the price of my shopping at the checkout, I waived my magic card over the card reader, refused the paper receipt as it comes through as an email before I even leave the shop and travelled on my merry way home.

Then I left the shopping for a minute while I sat down to rest my back ... and that's when I checked my emails.  Bloody hell I thought they've over-charged me.  Sadly, a quick check through and some basic maths proved that to be wrong ... £4.50 for a cake!!

I mean, I can't even see the makings of a complete meal there ... unless it was a weird pizza-y type thing with buns, aubergine and cheese draped with tagliatelle and smothered in yoghurt. 😝

I could eat for a week or more on the money I spent on this little lot, I could even eat for a week on the money I spent on the cake!!  It showed me once and for all that I have to nip this stupid extravagance in the bud before it gets to be a habit.  So, some modern-day rationing IS on the cards, when I will start I'm not sure but it will be soon, very soon.

It has to be or I'll be going bankrupt.

Alan loved the cake by the way ... and the shopping came to a total of £25.83, did you get close?

Oh yes, and you all know how much I needed the pasta.   😅

Sue xx