The day didn't start well. While I did the animals this morning I left the Peugeot running to clear the frost from the windows. I went out with all my stuff dumped it on the seat and set off up the road only to stop after 40 yards. I got out and found my rear offside tyre was completely flat. I drove it back to outside the house and started up the Land Rover transferred all my stuff over and after fifteen minutes it was frost free and ready to drive.
When I got home early this afternoon I made a mug of coffee. I took a new kilo bag of sugar from the cupboard, opened the top and promptly dropped it on the worksurface from where it spilled all over the floor.
The third thing, because they do seem to go in threes don't they, was when I went to collect a camera from the door pocket of the Peugeot to find that water had got into the lens and even after drying it out it doesn't want to work. So, it looks as if it will be going to the repairer. Let's hope that's the last rubbish thing to happen for a while.
Having made several jars of
marmalade several weeks ago which hadn’t set, I decided to start again with
it. I emptied all the marmalade into
heavy based saucepan poured quite a bit of sugar in and brought to a rolling
boil for about fifteen minutes. I then removed
the scum which always forms, and ladled the resulting amber liquid with chunky
cut orange peel into newly sterilised jars.
I’ve just test tipped the jars and success – the marmalade has set into
lovely golden jelly.
Signs of Spring in a neighbour's garden - these beautiful golden yellow crocus.
And the ubiquitous catkins - these are growing at the entrance to my field.
I love the light catching the raindrop on this peach tree twig in my opposite neighbour's boundary.
I went to collect paperbacks from a friend who lives twenty minutes away. She wasn't in but had left the books for me in her porch area. I took the opportunity to take a photograph of her palm. I love the texures in the trunk.
This is the stream at one end of the village, now in full spate.
On my way to Physio this week I took this photograph of the bell tower of a church in one of the villages I passed through. The cloud formations were lovely in the sunshine.
I, however, have had a fairly lazy week, partly due to my neck still being in the neck collar, although the muscle relaxant, corticosteroids etc. do seem to have increased my movement and lessened the pain so that's good news. I sat out in the sun with an almond croissant and a mug of sweet, black coffee - lovely!
A few village details - the door of a woodshed, lace at the bottom of a curtained window and unused roof slates being taken over by nature.
Purrdy in her usual place chilling out and Grace washing in a sunny place on the carpet.
Three things I like:
1. Getting a bargain piece of Brie from the supermarket today. Just perfectly ripe and tasting divine.
2. Finding my propelling pencil which I only bought last week but which had done a disappearing trick.
3. Reading through a whole pile of English magazines which a bowler's wife kindly sent into the club yesterday.
If you have a bag of rice or those silica bags you get in handbags and shoes they could help get the water out of the lens
ReplyDeleteYes - thank you, Sol, that's a thought. I have had it drying in the heat from the woodburner - at a safe distance - and it appears dry but I think the water has just got right in. There is a on line company I have used before with the same model camera who charge £59.99 to repair something simple so I may try them if nothing else works.
ReplyDeleteWell the marmalade success certainly looks as if it turned your luck...but what a rotten thing to happen to your camera.
ReplyDeleteYes, I still can't make it work. I'll give it a bit longer and then will probably send it off when I'm back in England. The same company fixed an identical model for me last year after I dropped it. I have other cameras, but like to have one in every pocket and car! I can't bear to miss the chance of a photograph! The marmalade is great though and I'm so pleased I boiled it up again. The original recipe used much less sugar than normal and it definitely needed more to get to a decent setting point.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a better week next week , great read, love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul. Too cold here to take photos today except quickly on the thrice daily walk on the lane to the animals. The wind is arctic and really cuts to the bone, thank goodness for the warmth of the woodburner when I get back inside. I did manage to take a couple of photos on the "wet" camera yesterday, but it doesn't want to know again today. The display - when it displays - shows up as if there is water staining the screen, but it must be dry now - it's over 23°C in here and even hotter by the woodburner itself.
ReplyDelete