Change of plan!

The fridge of the fridge freezer in the kitchen has been on the blink for a while, making weird noises etc. but in its favour it used to be very cold, almost too cold. We had a brief power cut last night and Darren and Tina said that it made a very weird noise! This morning everything was warm and the fridge part had finally given up the ghost. Tina has ordered a new one to arrive on Tuesday. She and Darren are away at the weekend and Tina was busy all day today so I decided to set to and get stuff moved out and it cleaned. Also got a couple of things out of the freezer part to defrost before going to see Bel doe and hour or so a planned. I did a few minutes on the jigsaw first thing, very, very slow progress!

The rest of the day was pretty much kitchen bound. I prepared the vegetable I had in the fridge and put them on to make soup. I had put ready made pastry and sausage meat out to defrost and managed to make some reasonable sausage rolls in the Ninja Max.

I had mince put to defrost as well and went to the sh to get a few more potatoes then made a cottage pie. Managed to cook that in the new machine as well. I emptied the fridge, cleaned it all out and stored perishables I my little fridge upstairs. It is surprising how much time I spent with not a lot to show for it.

May catch the bus into Beverley tomorrow if it has stopped raining by then. Not complaining, we had some proper rainfall today which is great news, and I don’t really mind if it continues tomorrow,

Repair and experiment!

As I am happy to wash the old fashioned way and not use the shower I decided to order one of the rubber hoses that can turn your taps into a mixer tap, if they still exist! As I find the hair washing easier in the shower rather that with a jug over the sink! Anyway a hose arrived yesterday but not designed to fit on modern taps, so the water pressure was pushing it off. I tried pushing it on harder and broke the plastic washer underneath the tap, so had a usable, but very wobbly tap! I walked up to the DIY shop this morning and on good advice didn’t buy a new washer but a tube of silicone that doesn’t go in a gun. With my wrists as they are I couldn’t get much through the nozzle and it didn’t work, so then just squeezed it out of the tube without the nozzle. So far so good, haven’t used the tap so that it can really set hard, but fingers crossed!

Tina got us a Ninja Max air fryer and some baking tins. No cake recipes in the small book supplied to I copied one out for a Madeira cake on line and this morning after getting a couple of ingredients made one. A little well done but like most things you have to get used to new appliances, but it tastes good so a positive start.

I checked the library times for today and it closed at 1.30 pm, so arranged with Jean to go and visit her a bit earlier after collecting my ordered book. By the sea so took pictures on the way to Jeans house.

I did about half an hour on the jigsaw, the jury is still out on whether it gets completed. I watered the plants that have almost expired under the trees, we did have some rain today, but not enough to make any difference.

Tina suggested we had fish and chips for tea and as it was a lovely evening we drove to the sea front chippie so that we could see the sea, glad we did. It was chilly so we brought the food home to eat it!

We had a brief power cut this evening but all will be well for All That Glitters on tv this evening,

Jigsaw and gardening

The day did involve a little more than jigsaw and gardening but they were the predominant activities!  I was out feeding the birds just after 6.30, not many birds about to be honest, a couple of blackbirds and my cheeky squirrel who comes near waiting for some peanuts! I went out to post a letter at about 8am and decided to make it into a walk so went through the park before coming home.

There was an unusual display of tributes to the Queen still there.

I collapsed some boxes and did a bit more sorting in the kitchen and then thought I would do a bit to the jigsaw in daylight. I have to admit that this jigsaw has come very close to defeating me. I did manage to get the stone wall finished but have started on a tree and am thinking I won’t be finishing it again!

I spent quite a while in the garden, the bed next to the pub next door was my target today. Lots of self sewn foxgloves which is great, but a lot of unwanted stuff too and some dead stuff to remove.

Pulled a gladioli up by mistake and was interested in the number of ‘babies’ it had!

This gladioli had snapped so it in a vase indoors now!

I redid the edges and dug the front of the bed, the gladioli are at the back and didn’t want to dig them all up! So was out a good while and should be able to leave it alone now.

Although we have had some light showers I noticed that plants were wilting under the trees at the bottom of the garden. So reluctantly did some watering with the cans. I did plant Chinese lantern at the side of the garden, it hasn’t been very happy in the shade and being so dry but it has managed to survive and produce two lanterns. I will move it to a different position for next year.

I was quite weary then so did a couple of puzzles in my magazine.

Think I will sort out winter clothes this evening and get the summer stuff packed away.

Kitchen blitzing!

A lot of the day has been taken up with cleaning and re-arranging the kitchen as Tina ordered an air fryer, a bit piece of kit, and it needed to be somewhere so that we could still have a working area. A lot of stuff for the charity shop now or a new home to be found for it! I managed to cook some edible jacket potatoes so that’s a start. Would like it is going to take off when it is getting up to heat though!

Before I on the kitchen I got some washing done and do go out into the walled garden and hoes up the weeds.

I did walk to the library this afternoon as the book I had ordered had arrived and went via the sea. A strong breeze today and cold first thing, but the sun is still pretty warm in the middle of the day. 

Our library has limited opening hours so I checked on line before I set off, only to find that it was closed for a training session! Oh well, the sea looked good today.

I have tried to do a bit of the jigsaw, have the edges down and a few other bit in, but it really is difficult so have given up now.

Will write a letter and then decide what to do for the rest of the evening.

Most of the day on buses and in a Hull!

I went to the shops and did a few chores before catching the bus to Hull just after ten. An interesting journey with folk with their feet on seats, a rude lady slamming the window shut near where I sat and a man with headphones on whistling very badly to whatever he was listening to! I went to a couple of stores in St Stephens first and then made my way to Smiths in the Prospect Centre. The shop with the fabulous masks in is there, difficult getting shots because of the reflections. Sadly the parade has been and gone.

I walked into the city to go to Lush as I wanted to try their hair conditioner. After that I thought of catching an earlier bus as my knee was quite painful, but in the end decided to take a walk to Holy Trinity church, had thought I would have a snack in the cafe near the church but it was closed!

Then went to Princes Quay past the funky bridge.

Had a snack in the cafe there, they have a ‘outside’ area, although outside the cafe rather than in the open air. A cheeky pigeon obviously lives in the shopping centre and appeared three times with the staff chasing in off and saying ‘it will be back’. 

I walked a different way back to the bus station and found yet another puffin. A few pics of it as some interesting artwork.

I got back home just after four so quite a long outing. 

When Tina and I had our couple of days away we bought a jigsaw in a tube. I took the picture out today and it looks like it will be near to impossible, but I bought some sorting trays recently and have separated colours as I looked for the edge pieces!

Have been to visit Sarah and David this evening, may try a new drama which starts in a few minutes.

Early bird today!

Yes, I was up quite early, soon after six, but really referring to the blog which I am writing way earlier than usual! Went with Darren to the boot sale as usual and out regular breakfast hut was open again today which was good. We didn’t spend a lot but got some good bits. Darren go this very useful wooden storage box for £2 and I got the table, also for £2. Not sure where it will go but too good a bargain to miss and will look good with one of the pot plants on it. 

I also got two lovely books for 20p each and a little duck ornament which is a Tetley collectible. The illustrations in the wild life book are fabulous so have added a couple of shot of the inside.

Almost forgot the plant!

This afternoon I have been in the garden, I went out with the intention of getting the last few bedding plants in but ended up over an hour pruning things back and tidying before I got them in. Again, doesn’t look like a lot to show for it, but I know it is better!

I had a robin for company as I was finishing off, a good way from me and the phone doesn’t zoom much, but quite clear so will put a few as I was quite chuffed with them!

Off to sort dinner now then who knows?