tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49915033400248092412024-03-14T01:04:39.464+00:00Daffy's GardenPottering in a tiny gardenJenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-69321528398871400742011-09-03T18:28:00.003+01:002011-09-03T18:55:06.887+01:00sunsets - and an announcement<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2xU2Se8f10DrDFiUaYNVGlh347_49uAEg266RkDS2LqVMwWdsuQsXJe26aRDMDDfMw-1v-WTfsJeCO-t9qchrWO1VgM0THUPoXxh9F-7Jv7Nm1pmDKTJCzQ3AIAbjrmbozYKk7mCH9RN/s1600/IMG_6534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2xU2Se8f10DrDFiUaYNVGlh347_49uAEg266RkDS2LqVMwWdsuQsXJe26aRDMDDfMw-1v-WTfsJeCO-t9qchrWO1VgM0THUPoXxh9F-7Jv7Nm1pmDKTJCzQ3AIAbjrmbozYKk7mCH9RN/s400/IMG_6534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648189369910327506" /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45tj1UZvb_uV-eWO3hsOm_8STBkhH5-fcxyV92xkYOtUNFsO-6ymeKrOFQtftnAx9crpo2mgFzT29bv1kwgDT9A0tzIWBqvKI_gAJzZgsmH3n4_AdWZaKK6APr0x2SGnu1xjDoDxtG43m/s1600/DSCF7427.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45tj1UZvb_uV-eWO3hsOm_8STBkhH5-fcxyV92xkYOtUNFsO-6ymeKrOFQtftnAx9crpo2mgFzT29bv1kwgDT9A0tzIWBqvKI_gAJzZgsmH3n4_AdWZaKK6APr0x2SGnu1xjDoDxtG43m/s400/DSCF7427.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648189370007129490" /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7wGe_ApYs5GYnu_TpXWFXoUUoKLwajrgyejvADIopP7cuuGz_KNBX7tPopK8-zFNH1g4MKM17FfvloyKtNneiQ8j5PN8jT9utTbzB44gj2KKpu2wZ-sfoGRB1wzTeS-OEmiEhtgtuwrr/s1600/DSCF7407.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7wGe_ApYs5GYnu_TpXWFXoUUoKLwajrgyejvADIopP7cuuGz_KNBX7tPopK8-zFNH1g4MKM17FfvloyKtNneiQ8j5PN8jT9utTbzB44gj2KKpu2wZ-sfoGRB1wzTeS-OEmiEhtgtuwrr/s400/DSCF7407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648189364420318706" /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It seems fitting to use a post full of beautiful holiday sunsets to announce that I'm winding up this cheery little blog. This will be the last post here. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's been nearly 3 years of jolly fun for me, and hopefully a little light entertainment for those of you who've read some of it too. I've read and appreciated every single comment made, and it's lovely feeling there's others out there sharing your life, so thank you. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkTHrO206cddIb7N-vhze88wzBuVru0Ohgq0w8kra4SD8i1BCGyfSmi0Bf7364P_oVpDA7ultLFWmRwaNNNOC-BsXQcV1UirNkZNZHm4gkOdZ4sbmzpFWc9lMwUjZjiipvq8CPeDFEH92/s1600/IMG_6485.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkTHrO206cddIb7N-vhze88wzBuVru0Ohgq0w8kra4SD8i1BCGyfSmi0Bf7364P_oVpDA7ultLFWmRwaNNNOC-BsXQcV1UirNkZNZHm4gkOdZ4sbmzpFWc9lMwUjZjiipvq8CPeDFEH92/s400/IMG_6485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648189359606370818" /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The good news is that I'm not disappearing, just moving down the way slightly, to a new virtual home! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Please do pop over and join me, I'd love it if you would! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'll be heading off on </span></span><a href="http://acheerfullivingadventure.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a cheerful living adventure</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9LlZOLax9TUxng4O2F9prQKjnNxzCEKPrK6W35TLm7Nbo-3L2RtJaUL9Us4UlR8-59QqKZyfH2ME01lBwNNieBimp6OxkY4QM4FhQYGqlDoQki1aR13mZTtxS6MV4RWKwgnvt68wLTu0/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9LlZOLax9TUxng4O2F9prQKjnNxzCEKPrK6W35TLm7Nbo-3L2RtJaUL9Us4UlR8-59QqKZyfH2ME01lBwNNieBimp6OxkY4QM4FhQYGqlDoQki1aR13mZTtxS6MV4RWKwgnvt68wLTu0/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9LlZOLax9TUxng4O2F9prQKjnNxzCEKPrK6W35TLm7Nbo-3L2RtJaUL9Us4UlR8-59QqKZyfH2ME01lBwNNieBimp6OxkY4QM4FhQYGqlDoQki1aR13mZTtxS6MV4RWKwgnvt68wLTu0/s400/IMG_6496.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648189363352713458" /></a></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-20278627300620631722011-09-03T08:31:00.002+01:002011-09-03T08:46:57.423+01:00Orkney in august - the sea<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHssXUTHtcjTMw_LLsKwWUfnms7Aw1QUugvh9_-GUpitb_sUCqY6eRIYcJUuL4kzlun2Csdr5pba612bhA-vXMpVZsTFe0sfV0_m1BEyBoeJY5l66j0_FnR2MH-iPlv0k5Rjw94X3X1E2k/s1600/DSCF7355.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHssXUTHtcjTMw_LLsKwWUfnms7Aw1QUugvh9_-GUpitb_sUCqY6eRIYcJUuL4kzlun2Csdr5pba612bhA-vXMpVZsTFe0sfV0_m1BEyBoeJY5l66j0_FnR2MH-iPlv0k5Rjw94X3X1E2k/s400/DSCF7355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648036159529015330" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-61175218276140469282011-09-01T23:08:00.005+01:002011-09-01T23:30:20.941+01:00orkney in august - the home life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2QlnnZVkigAFVr_0vn_JuhVHh1dpFvJ-9Vj-cQlos1grzkB_xzZp37DeziEDLbtO5kcILOgSNJhrzUzU1QaWWHSx_SeGHBXB5R3H3cRXh777r5otyi1Mr3w5n9c5c-KuR5Cu_myR-Y4B/s1600/IMG_6232.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2QlnnZVkigAFVr_0vn_JuhVHh1dpFvJ-9Vj-cQlos1grzkB_xzZp37DeziEDLbtO5kcILOgSNJhrzUzU1QaWWHSx_SeGHBXB5R3H3cRXh777r5otyi1Mr3w5n9c5c-KuR5Cu_myR-Y4B/s400/IMG_6232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647519627959667154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrUqxBZwTuta_CTS7_FiNWEpDfAbSIqhxLWrlesd_TNNqjrQAed5_uawbeLITFTh4WICiqgNm1x5P6t3Ustf0Xco8hqtuDRP2hSxHtMOqneLzebw0NG6J_5sDYQes4laB0cCX8x7HDLwA/s1600/DSCF7486.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrUqxBZwTuta_CTS7_FiNWEpDfAbSIqhxLWrlesd_TNNqjrQAed5_uawbeLITFTh4WICiqgNm1x5P6t3Ustf0Xco8hqtuDRP2hSxHtMOqneLzebw0NG6J_5sDYQes4laB0cCX8x7HDLwA/s400/DSCF7486.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647519628525219858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WQmgLhIMV2Nftgz_YmpXop70HPS0K0I5Bm8OSQjvMPJ27rW4W6TW16KmlAoESO5s9imFCWehR8VHTuP-DoHdo8DVrpLixnSmsg0FClYMxhKdlcXfn7AlNP7eonCrL8bpPkmblFZts_G/s1600/DSCF7445.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WQmgLhIMV2Nftgz_YmpXop70HPS0K0I5Bm8OSQjvMPJ27rW4W6TW16KmlAoESO5s9imFCWehR8VHTuP-DoHdo8DVrpLixnSmsg0FClYMxhKdlcXfn7AlNP7eonCrL8bpPkmblFZts_G/s400/DSCF7445.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647518570629484194" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOenQuqEOq25Y-4oTUFMkEgZ6gyI_sjy1zUsILfYfw4erFXkCgbFTE1YP8E4GB7RVJJlzggh2f20uG6GGJaIlHYE8Ptw-keIN0ruFoR310kswbK2GfekY0z3RzY6co-TUz_XiaeD3rek-/s1600/DSCF7439.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOenQuqEOq25Y-4oTUFMkEgZ6gyI_sjy1zUsILfYfw4erFXkCgbFTE1YP8E4GB7RVJJlzggh2f20uG6GGJaIlHYE8Ptw-keIN0ruFoR310kswbK2GfekY0z3RzY6co-TUz_XiaeD3rek-/s400/DSCF7439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647518564066737458" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPL9C5BwQnFHI5ASNNDuV9uYmqPRXIUv-etCQIObixx9p3KsUGUd3jVHkHRtwaQ9MHni3UBIKXuVOHT4_5gy32KgQzlxlU-A_UHeA8Lk-p9anv1mITaJE3XR7ozsJDPwexXScEq90Gbev/s1600/IMG_6218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPL9C5BwQnFHI5ASNNDuV9uYmqPRXIUv-etCQIObixx9p3KsUGUd3jVHkHRtwaQ9MHni3UBIKXuVOHT4_5gy32KgQzlxlU-A_UHeA8Lk-p9anv1mITaJE3XR7ozsJDPwexXScEq90Gbev/s400/IMG_6218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647518562565323954" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Please just indulge me while I stick up a few photos of our lovely holidays. This is the 'at home and eating' set mostly... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That up there at the top is my attempt to sunbathe on our first day - *under* a blanket as well as on top of one... I do so much love being outside! (wasn't a big fan of the midges though). Then we have the lovely Peedie, cheerful dog extraordinaire, who we're missing very much. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Couldn't resist a photo of my washing, blowing in the breeze, something it sadly doesn't get to do much of round here! And it got a nice view of the sea too - also sadly lacking round these landlocked parts.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And oh! chickens! How I love opening the back door and being set upon by a pack of marauding chickens, sticking their beaks into anything and everything. I even spotted one in the car one day... We did carefully check before we left... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Of course, there was plenty of sitting around in cafes drinking tea and eating scones, although bizarrely I seem to have only taken one photo of that in the whole fortnight I was there. Still, a mightily cosy cup of tea it was too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYk9aJOJZCE4pbpQxHRUFZngxHm82eB24GbCnFOfWvqHlUyy4XZHxuxNBu4zDW-m_XJhf8XzjCWZXJZMzYlJhzER3xzh4Fqj6eOdL2uXydaj9H3VKTEwMaJdBhlMEFhLTMz_7nWun_hyf/s1600/DSCF7185.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYk9aJOJZCE4pbpQxHRUFZngxHm82eB24GbCnFOfWvqHlUyy4XZHxuxNBu4zDW-m_XJhf8XzjCWZXJZMzYlJhzER3xzh4Fqj6eOdL2uXydaj9H3VKTEwMaJdBhlMEFhLTMz_7nWun_hyf/s400/DSCF7185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647518559242301746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6ENo_nJvChl-cU0gF4aU9um6IQ4vxXmGUO24e7AsnbJhV9VKMvtgtnnDB8_vJU3M4jTfXITGa6qrZkqte7pBHqHK6rSA1iArmPfShjHlzbgPyM08DD_h64jxqU1hGDZdy4znrgwAkLIW/s1600/IMG_6343.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6ENo_nJvChl-cU0gF4aU9um6IQ4vxXmGUO24e7AsnbJhV9VKMvtgtnnDB8_vJU3M4jTfXITGa6qrZkqte7pBHqHK6rSA1iArmPfShjHlzbgPyM08DD_h64jxqU1hGDZdy4znrgwAkLIW/s400/IMG_6343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647518556935091922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hmm, a bit of a mixed bunch now I've put them all here! But plenty colourful, I'm sure you'll agree. You'll have to bear with me, I've still got a sunsets post, and a beaches post, and a flowers post (oops, some little flowers sneakily sneaked in this one too...). And then we'll get back to normal, although there might be a few changes around this little blog too, you'll have to wait and see.. </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-18318265721644553122011-09-01T07:29:00.003+01:002011-09-01T07:37:48.185+01:00back home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeL4v1JXi0zAM0ZxIWjP0jPK2dV-EVTl84Z5J0pXzqAPD28LAwb5uIjqUAdjgMYJHLbN2nBtlr3KyxekeCdFkVa5A5ppKLuoPNGUtgmnOv5zhTC6xZkT45TICLfwtCpE8hoAn6vjhOkBi/s1600/DSCF7669.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeL4v1JXi0zAM0ZxIWjP0jPK2dV-EVTl84Z5J0pXzqAPD28LAwb5uIjqUAdjgMYJHLbN2nBtlr3KyxekeCdFkVa5A5ppKLuoPNGUtgmnOv5zhTC6xZkT45TICLfwtCpE8hoAn6vjhOkBi/s400/DSCF7669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647275198140757170" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Goodness me, that was a lovely long break! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We've spent the last couple of weeks staying with the lovely </span></span><a href="http://orkneyflowers.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fay</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and had such a marvellous time that I never wanted it to end. Do you think she would have noticed if we'd have sneakily moved into her house, hiding amongst the chickens and the flowers? We could have been very quiet... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, we weren't quick enough, so we had to come home (after being housebound by some very rickety gales indeed). And it appears the tomato elves have been very busy while we've been away, turning a whole little pile of tomatoes red for us - how delightful! And there was me expecting the garden to wither and die every time I turn my back - seems it does rather better when I'm not here interfering... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So September (September!) means back to work, which I'd best do in a second. And a whole raft of projects and exciting things to do. I'll be back later with some lovely holiday photos for you to see.</span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-59065892509495696872011-08-07T23:09:00.003+01:002011-08-07T23:12:26.657+01:00sunday evening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThepGcujKQrEVirqMKAaSDCL5zLbpX6blYVU_MZ7vwPiMWcTkwRIIHxtaLR5k9k7hhQ5ixERJw1XFj_fZ_LRwf9hsCecLD-kzX8OJFaY1ncNFHiDmeEmR8NrUJ0qLFa2gfgT3ZLSkCnsW/s1600/IMG_6108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThepGcujKQrEVirqMKAaSDCL5zLbpX6blYVU_MZ7vwPiMWcTkwRIIHxtaLR5k9k7hhQ5ixERJw1XFj_fZ_LRwf9hsCecLD-kzX8OJFaY1ncNFHiDmeEmR8NrUJ0qLFa2gfgT3ZLSkCnsW/s400/IMG_6108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638239865764493090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well... </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">... let's just say I sat on a stool on a paving stone in the general vicinity of what will become my lovely new seating area, and leave it at that, shall we?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No point aiming for perfection I say!</span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-63143413859539229122011-08-07T08:47:00.003+01:002011-08-07T08:59:52.095+01:00sunday morning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy70NHJS7_aXpEX8aNa6W_nk7DfqVnZBRtyh0Uf6xw4gCbUGCkkuRdzEtDq039USGeYsChmnkTm9-8T5X5Ss05kFBXNdkO1SjR2VFWL1KWQm0UZnPju_Xnny4DsB2JWg36k9gyEpOjUE7h/s1600/IMG_6106.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy70NHJS7_aXpEX8aNa6W_nk7DfqVnZBRtyh0Uf6xw4gCbUGCkkuRdzEtDq039USGeYsChmnkTm9-8T5X5Ss05kFBXNdkO1SjR2VFWL1KWQm0UZnPju_Xnny4DsB2JWg36k9gyEpOjUE7h/s400/IMG_6106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638018240978595234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Generally Sunday mornings in this house are pretty lazy. Breakfast in bed, perhaps a call to or from a friend to suggest meeting up for lunch, then a mid morning, mid afternoon trip to a cafe, or a friend's house, to drink tea and while away a few hours nattering and plotting. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today I woke relatively early, and sneaked downstairs. The house was pretty tidy, which is rather unusual, but felt good. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We don't have much of a view from our kitchen, and the sun only hits the window early in the morning, and I often miss it. Today I didn't.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It feels like a day for an adventures. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Getting-things-done adventures, these, though. Doing-of-things-that-have-been-hitherto-put-off adventures. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been inspired this morning, in a roundabout kind of a way, by a lovely friend who I met through the internet, and who I've only spoken to once in real life, over several cups of tea in a cheery little cafe (of course) at the seaside. I ambled over the fence to her blog over breakfast, and found <a href="http://cherisong-plaskellymac.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-my-mind.html">this beautiful post</a>, talking about following your dreams, in which, right there at the end, she says this cheery little blog is inspirational. I'm blushing! How utterly wonderful, and what a lovely thing to wake up to! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I figured I'd best get on and do something inspirational, if you can call digging holes and visiting the DIY shop inspirational, that is, or else I'll be thought of as a fraud!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And so, my tea is in hand, my wellies are on, and I'm heading out into the garden to level the soil, ready for laying my pavings. I've not eaten Sunday breakfast out there, but I very much intend to eat my tea sat on that patio later this evening. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(of course, that involves a trip to the garden centre, laying pavings, building a fence and numerous other things, so we'll see, but that's my intention!) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There's also bikes to fix, and presents to make and wrap (just in case you thought it was turning into a little bit too much of a building site round here). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Progress report, with photos, later.... </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-26118141786417766262011-08-01T19:16:00.003+01:002011-08-01T19:24:19.041+01:00on saturday I drove to Wales...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">... I very nearly didn't, because I'd spent all week dashing about the country on trains, and I really didn't feel like doing more dashing. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, sometimes you just have to, because you know that when you get there, you'll appreciate having made the effort. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And when I lay in the back of the car with the door open, looking out on this (slightly murky, I admit) view, I knew I'd made the right decision. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYiQByXCR6PD53OjoyCOtIQLtAS6u4Id291fVw08uVLfLpFeGY46CIQC_nCdsjwCYIs6sfQOPM198-b2Jib8qIwAVSiJldhKr2c_PKZ6B9FS3TlDWvTzAz1Fomem07zMm1V1h2LpoI_fd/s1600/IMG_6057.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYiQByXCR6PD53OjoyCOtIQLtAS6u4Id291fVw08uVLfLpFeGY46CIQC_nCdsjwCYIs6sfQOPM198-b2Jib8qIwAVSiJldhKr2c_PKZ6B9FS3TlDWvTzAz1Fomem07zMm1V1h2LpoI_fd/s400/IMG_6057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635953654190075634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bizarrely, the only other photograph I took all weekend were of breakfast. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPn9TGZ5Uz031-16dNm2OSsMB8nui8pM__r_HWAcNR8wcR7El00CzIga2V0PwL0mJUeqUSwoTR8CVj-9Ds7Lis4GYvYYc68k5PMD_otDAwR9tRHbaGKvFQKyoHRuET2DxebOHWxVNccWy/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPn9TGZ5Uz031-16dNm2OSsMB8nui8pM__r_HWAcNR8wcR7El00CzIga2V0PwL0mJUeqUSwoTR8CVj-9Ds7Lis4GYvYYc68k5PMD_otDAwR9tRHbaGKvFQKyoHRuET2DxebOHWxVNccWy/s400/IMG_6078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635953650928177634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Strange, that. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today has been altogether more mundane - a working at home day, with a short break in the middle for shifting a load of soil over that there hand-built wall. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrE1q8cQMRgWKl-QZSzUVnL5-3fxJXyGv0zYygie8ePXy1l4YJLnWHa9htn-tbNRHQkwY5b1Pe8BkdJb1v-1v_c7G83PmJkY7DazcHg4o7R7JaAUKNOArmn0TZjP6FwlZNteS4OqfiqqW/s1600/IMG_6091.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrE1q8cQMRgWKl-QZSzUVnL5-3fxJXyGv0zYygie8ePXy1l4YJLnWHa9htn-tbNRHQkwY5b1Pe8BkdJb1v-1v_c7G83PmJkY7DazcHg4o7R7JaAUKNOArmn0TZjP6FwlZNteS4OqfiqqW/s400/IMG_6091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635953648191414930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'it'll only take you 5 minutes to shift that lot love' said the driver, as he drove off.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I should have given him a spade.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Needless to say, it took two of us a fair bit longer than 5 minutes, but it's all in place now (good job as it was blocking half the road). I'm planning to eat my breakfast outside on Sunday morning - think I'll make it?? </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-90190179270105472562011-07-27T23:43:00.002+01:002011-07-27T23:54:40.910+01:00a week in photos<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Much as I'd love to spend a while waffling on about what I've been doing this week, I just don't have the energy right now! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, here's a selection of photos so you can see what I've been up to... celebratory cakes, learning new wall-building skills (and finding out that putting cement on with your hands, er, isn't a very good idea), disco balls and fabulously painted ceilings, an evening trip through beautiful countryside to an old haunt (and an old friend), a walled pub garden, a whole-city free music festival, a picnic in the park, and a lavender cake in a little London cafe. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkGomEJGi8l19ROt14K4odSnMGJMD5RpKuV6-dww0nz7QR27ikbux3HXi6dDXs16tGKcb8ISryZag4-nbjO0p6pbN6Lh0Ta7540hM2LFP2vzi_9lSIkVlfPT7tT-05D4J7dSO9ttpWTiW/s1600/IMG_5878.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkGomEJGi8l19ROt14K4odSnMGJMD5RpKuV6-dww0nz7QR27ikbux3HXi6dDXs16tGKcb8ISryZag4-nbjO0p6pbN6Lh0Ta7540hM2LFP2vzi_9lSIkVlfPT7tT-05D4J7dSO9ttpWTiW/s400/IMG_5878.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634168107140611410" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD9FtJvlj27uGX8gk0M9mrxoaAioEMbFRr-DUO9PBtWLBi9Z3QJXC756BHS2m3NrTM__Gw-2ZZCUnqVBk4Py56UWtSJyXqWS_b7uY-vTFCGjGh7lGmILU16BqG5aqZc3CvppFeKira221/s1600/IMG_5880.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD9FtJvlj27uGX8gk0M9mrxoaAioEMbFRr-DUO9PBtWLBi9Z3QJXC756BHS2m3NrTM__Gw-2ZZCUnqVBk4Py56UWtSJyXqWS_b7uY-vTFCGjGh7lGmILU16BqG5aqZc3CvppFeKira221/s400/IMG_5880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634168101239385938" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wKvUM5l9LDJQZcOyOgmla2eI3HwCpMwpwgnuyDtpG9DtthctnCAdxvk5OHyBbQQeZ_TuJUcY74RrtiTa2Viqx18RtGeM5_Xgg-XRLDTAIMOsTWGyI8OZd5pgaATtnt24P22owKrt5zGI/s1600/IMG_5881.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wKvUM5l9LDJQZcOyOgmla2eI3HwCpMwpwgnuyDtpG9DtthctnCAdxvk5OHyBbQQeZ_TuJUcY74RrtiTa2Viqx18RtGeM5_Xgg-XRLDTAIMOsTWGyI8OZd5pgaATtnt24P22owKrt5zGI/s400/IMG_5881.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634168103015764034" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZKY5OJCc2xm2SQvpA0GTZjpmfXfnOEofPsMtYytiwCl2Nm6r03ImXanwUj8R1q8h71l2tZ7uTbjPEHJAiBe3_iDNpgch_kXy3HAH485iugunY7WdnfZIHdoxQuxn1Fn77TXd52JYKC3j/s1600/IMG_5888.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZKY5OJCc2xm2SQvpA0GTZjpmfXfnOEofPsMtYytiwCl2Nm6r03ImXanwUj8R1q8h71l2tZ7uTbjPEHJAiBe3_iDNpgch_kXy3HAH485iugunY7WdnfZIHdoxQuxn1Fn77TXd52JYKC3j/s400/IMG_5888.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634168098276543378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTOwb6cuKNw1qpNmZ7mk6C2ztUKB57c-KU2bSlHIxoryKiV92qkZqeUDe-T-w4oL6wQwgY8cOFjGa6Rdir1vmwS_9fE7pLYuavGqB0t8nedI0FiBIOSgIUMh8AzD83WpfI9googbA5nDe/s1600/IMG_5958.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTOwb6cuKNw1qpNmZ7mk6C2ztUKB57c-KU2bSlHIxoryKiV92qkZqeUDe-T-w4oL6wQwgY8cOFjGa6Rdir1vmwS_9fE7pLYuavGqB0t8nedI0FiBIOSgIUMh8AzD83WpfI9googbA5nDe/s400/IMG_5958.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634168095764894114" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GBM4g1_yYdozFgjXa9Hd0145wGAo4tkdAJWpZ0Xxif5DQ70HHDMqCC2zJAFVs3jzCkIQtRLqONXWPQElcBpvwIoHd16-Q261Dhxkb2_pUU7IYdAmZqPmbVeKaVhnhXOzQna5cnW8X9hF/s1600/IMG_6034.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GBM4g1_yYdozFgjXa9Hd0145wGAo4tkdAJWpZ0Xxif5DQ70HHDMqCC2zJAFVs3jzCkIQtRLqONXWPQElcBpvwIoHd16-Q261Dhxkb2_pUU7IYdAmZqPmbVeKaVhnhXOzQna5cnW8X9hF/s400/IMG_6034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634167558553379922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Wpeh1vgaGfh2CUkYP3mAC2Gk2XYA8Z4Kv-Et5GsJWlbXlj2uruvZxYXz2wMwpGzcBAoefqtiH9nMUKddcnYxAnessk4rMj-1uJBvA5kl-qHMdESR0znXe9MvwNbr1wbS61aVkwo7bvC_/s1600/IMG_6037.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Wpeh1vgaGfh2CUkYP3mAC2Gk2XYA8Z4Kv-Et5GsJWlbXlj2uruvZxYXz2wMwpGzcBAoefqtiH9nMUKddcnYxAnessk4rMj-1uJBvA5kl-qHMdESR0znXe9MvwNbr1wbS61aVkwo7bvC_/s400/IMG_6037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634167553965438498" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53NLq1I7HkTHjLpT1v7SAeUG7QN4QLPXi8GhpCB4qFn5xjaFfgTnt5cDGC_xPAYjuVOcR3iBREx97-iFyI3uQCYArCudnASFwb7lwkVqKKXZ3I2qptp531fbBAxcYhszudDo-AjNHBq9x/s1600/IMG_6038.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53NLq1I7HkTHjLpT1v7SAeUG7QN4QLPXi8GhpCB4qFn5xjaFfgTnt5cDGC_xPAYjuVOcR3iBREx97-iFyI3uQCYArCudnASFwb7lwkVqKKXZ3I2qptp531fbBAxcYhszudDo-AjNHBq9x/s400/IMG_6038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634167552781609698" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9IeMXyFTYjEPI1B_ykFBnWTtComnJGsnbrAA5w1XvnbAS_mNT0t6-gQgkcLqT60IHxd95R79d7wChtjHUeADnBa0kcQ4AYevTqEPWN_HoFV58d-TQPTiFuZAJCgP-_JJp0ZBwI_FZdq5/s1600/IMG_6047.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9IeMXyFTYjEPI1B_ykFBnWTtComnJGsnbrAA5w1XvnbAS_mNT0t6-gQgkcLqT60IHxd95R79d7wChtjHUeADnBa0kcQ4AYevTqEPWN_HoFV58d-TQPTiFuZAJCgP-_JJp0ZBwI_FZdq5/s400/IMG_6047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634167543099434402" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO7hp_4Oh9Essh19q-KsTdHRvnzfIX5XlYnA0ZKZk7xUxPsVEeAc3UC_mFkhA5L-Vp9j466azaiVl06qsy43FJcbPqG8w3bYErnXHcvPKtPb-2mxB_dL2oV8ZzEustQ4KZmktdLi1Xg6Z/s1600/IMG_6048.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO7hp_4Oh9Essh19q-KsTdHRvnzfIX5XlYnA0ZKZk7xUxPsVEeAc3UC_mFkhA5L-Vp9j466azaiVl06qsy43FJcbPqG8w3bYErnXHcvPKtPb-2mxB_dL2oV8ZzEustQ4KZmktdLi1Xg6Z/s400/IMG_6048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634167541763973314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And trains. <i>Lots</i> of trains. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Speaking of which, I've got to be on another one in 7 hours, best go to sleep.... </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-55961342913199398172011-07-20T16:10:00.001+01:002011-07-20T16:14:06.056+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK3HghceKKO4wxI5j6O6R9Qy6gKZf57TF76mvtsafRj6RmfiUSl4f2yG_GNuA3B5rKrvGtAvcYXNv1zKydxm0_73bKO4xfWm3fEsgxArcF1X_CD86e62a2RKgAhCkA7lf7rUbGxhdOjkV/s1600/IMG_1975.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK3HghceKKO4wxI5j6O6R9Qy6gKZf57TF76mvtsafRj6RmfiUSl4f2yG_GNuA3B5rKrvGtAvcYXNv1zKydxm0_73bKO4xfWm3fEsgxArcF1X_CD86e62a2RKgAhCkA7lf7rUbGxhdOjkV/s400/IMG_1975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631452465579646082" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today I have been mostly swanning around looking like a bit of a pillock. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And being glad that this is (hopefully!) the third and last time. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And eating jam roly poly and custard, because you can't possibly expect me to spend the entire day looking like that without treats. </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-68909331660370068652011-07-17T09:26:00.002+01:002011-07-17T09:50:23.130+01:00sneaking up early (and hula hoops)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMd5DkZ4FR0d8o8yYap7Rlly3S8JKeVONQ0pALyTgRpERKR2hA0tdyAp02UQ5-QJC1vWa6k97XIIEnjKdrDXtf_lT9IqoDlmVcVPcj09q1_WRWra-9pBxHX9ZNfzE5_3oB1-sA2ZdEC1d/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMd5DkZ4FR0d8o8yYap7Rlly3S8JKeVONQ0pALyTgRpERKR2hA0tdyAp02UQ5-QJC1vWa6k97XIIEnjKdrDXtf_lT9IqoDlmVcVPcj09q1_WRWra-9pBxHX9ZNfzE5_3oB1-sA2ZdEC1d/s400/IMG_5811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630235729796148258" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Would you just have a look at this <i>adorable</i> Viennese butter kiss I had at the Women's Institute yesterday morning! So tiny, and so perfect. That wrapper! Just when you start to think the WI is all jam and sturdy fruit cake, they pop something like this in to surprise you. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(although on the whole I do prefer a piece of sturdy fruit cake myself).<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, that wasn't what I came here to tell you. I came here to talk about <i>getting up before everyone else gets up</i>. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because that's what I've just done. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As it happens, there's only one other person here to get up before - and I do often get up before him, because I work a long way away, and he often works in the evenings rather than the mornings. But that's everyday getting up before someone. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is <i>sneaking out of bed</i> trying not to wake them up. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have no idea why it felt like that this morning, but it did, and I like it. I like that feeling of slipping downstairs, trying not to make the floorboards squeak (utterly impossible in this house, I tell you), looking around at the mess of camping equipment and wondering if you can tidy it before he wakes up, trying to catch the boiling kettle before it starts whistling tooooo excitedly, and then drinking tea and sifting through yesterday's photographs, remembering that I actually sneaked in a little fun project while he was having a nap yesterday afternoon.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(I should point out that obviously I do fun things when Peter is awake too, but there's something quite exciting about a furtive bit of sloping round with the house to yourself, not entirely sure when you're going to be disturbed). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, shall I show you what I did yesterday?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First of all, I opened ALL the curtains and windows, so I could see and hear the rain. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I put Pride and Prejudice on the tv. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I pulled out the two bits of plumbing pipe I bought the day before and made a collapsible hula hoop.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4sUIEHx11UvsHmqQb9YT3eRxMoH5H_Esm9Ot5kKCHr7AWLdXl4LMm3ME7rAKcDefpodo3a6yYWoygudUx69CaKgVhsgf63CgiWcs9kymK2nbajKTGEVUfWDxYUYnyYL1lhZdt4SZP6NK/s1600/IMG_5825.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4sUIEHx11UvsHmqQb9YT3eRxMoH5H_Esm9Ot5kKCHr7AWLdXl4LMm3ME7rAKcDefpodo3a6yYWoygudUx69CaKgVhsgf63CgiWcs9kymK2nbajKTGEVUfWDxYUYnyYL1lhZdt4SZP6NK/s400/IMG_5825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630235717856126386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yep, that's right. I LOVE hula hoops. We have one </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-sunny-saturday.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hanging in our shower</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. But that one's a little bit too small for proper hula hooping. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've got a friend with a HUGE hoop, it's so lovely to twirl round in, but there's just nowhere to put it round here, and it won't fit in the car for camping trips (if we ever manage to get on any, that is). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I wanted to make a collapsible one. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think the guy in the plumbing shop was a little bemused, but he played along gamely, even when his mate came into the shop while he was trying to bend the pipe round his waist. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The two blokes in the hardware shop took my requests all in their stride - they're used to me ambling in saying 'have you got any magnets? I'm trying to attach them to cardboard fish' and the like, so this was perfectly ordinary. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSAPtySIOX24-1WKCTdAJv10JQpdAM7xy4DEFLJaEgLepRexVLQhdPZ7PJKGyNXylqBcUOujoGiNvHoLCaKrCDusknchaSA9sPenq9stZ8HN7vEBKUWAh-K-zAj0b29u9ELW-OQhYOyy-/s1600/IMG_5829.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSAPtySIOX24-1WKCTdAJv10JQpdAM7xy4DEFLJaEgLepRexVLQhdPZ7PJKGyNXylqBcUOujoGiNvHoLCaKrCDusknchaSA9sPenq9stZ8HN7vEBKUWAh-K-zAj0b29u9ELW-OQhYOyy-/s400/IMG_5829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630235712989588194" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So - one length of waste pipe (cut in half), two easy (well, reasonably easy) quick-connector things, one roll of black electrical tape, and one roll of jaffa tape (*<i>love it*</i>) later, and I'm all set - for the princely sum of £8.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Have you got any idea how difficult it is to photograph a hula hoop? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or how many dusty mirrors I have in my living room? (a lot, it appears). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvTswByiTWwg3_3yAgrh1RV5xMpK6JdCwugTiavD_o9rlTOwUB1CZFDlP_scdRkch7wh9erWahTBg8hgs6cTbu3gCFcNGJ7iVSBJnniXI6vjCuGZfjJ0iRnbojmw5LfSddfjKzoI-jOn6/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvTswByiTWwg3_3yAgrh1RV5xMpK6JdCwugTiavD_o9rlTOwUB1CZFDlP_scdRkch7wh9erWahTBg8hgs6cTbu3gCFcNGJ7iVSBJnniXI6vjCuGZfjJ0iRnbojmw5LfSddfjKzoI-jOn6/s400/IMG_5832.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630235703592967666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(obviously it's <i>entirely</i> necessary to keep one's wellies on while making hula hoops - just in case)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So - by the end of Pride and Prejudice, and the end of the roll of jaffa tape, and the end of Peter's afternoon nap, I had myself a nifty tiger-striped hula hoop. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvTMmj8_rwj8XmVDoPZgD_7bC2NQJ1AA62Fzcv7gULBnsRE8FbvDrdBKNsaI-SBCXNEy6rw8aiaX_ZIyPmJ2lLZoGRLpg2YXztzSx5i-eYESpXfFXA5atx1qj27Z41-QOFxbGIZXtjQH6/s1600/IMG_5833.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvTMmj8_rwj8XmVDoPZgD_7bC2NQJ1AA62Fzcv7gULBnsRE8FbvDrdBKNsaI-SBCXNEy6rw8aiaX_ZIyPmJ2lLZoGRLpg2YXztzSx5i-eYESpXfFXA5atx1qj27Z41-QOFxbGIZXtjQH6/s400/IMG_5833.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630235696113827106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That just about twirls round in the living room, as long as there's nobody else in there too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wonder what little mini adventure I can get up to this afternoon while he's asleep?? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Speaking of which, I should probably wake him up with a cuppa in a minute - we're off to our current </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/not-that-im-starting-series-of-cafe.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">favourite little cafe</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for breakfast treats and he won't want to miss that... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You up to anything exciting today? </span></span></div></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-78316971849195714122011-07-16T09:44:00.005+01:002011-07-16T09:56:47.259+01:00an(other) attempted camping trip<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKCbkdgSfpLLWKJlECWC9wX-FZC5edlOGEP-_Bt7mPUitCoIWJqQo22dibwuuMq7XqWZ9TKGBJSw0XlpL596t-HniacO-NaYXNkyclfRy4BrIEWOOnP8cLEt2smgzTlfRVooQqZ-6QjQP/s1600/IMG_5790.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKCbkdgSfpLLWKJlECWC9wX-FZC5edlOGEP-_Bt7mPUitCoIWJqQo22dibwuuMq7XqWZ9TKGBJSw0XlpL596t-HniacO-NaYXNkyclfRy4BrIEWOOnP8cLEt2smgzTlfRVooQqZ-6QjQP/s400/IMG_5790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629868531510271122" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's me, at 11.15 last night, standing in the toilets at McDonalds, a place I haven't been seen for at least 13 years. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were attempting to go </span></span><a href="http://www.ushagap.btinternet.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">camping</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the Yorkshire Dales, altogether more pretty than a service station on the A1M, but, well, life kind of got in the way, as it does. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We'd planned to take our car, and sleep in it (because it really is </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/has-it-really-been-that-long.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Most Cosy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for sleeping in, our car), but, well, it was making a rather peculiar noise, and the garage advised us not to take it anywhere far away because the wheels might fall off. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(those may not have been their *exact* words, in case you were starting to panic, but they had a similar effect, and we decided not to go)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway - last minute, we realised we could get a lift with some lovely friends, which involved an hour of dashing round the house, finding tents, figuring out what to sleep ON (the futon out of the car seemed a bit extravagant for a tent), and generally packing. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And then, hooray! we were off. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For an hour and a half, at least, until there was a loud bang, and lots of smoke. And an hour standing at the side of the M1 (which was kind of like a mini (and very bad) camping trip itself. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The whole thing turned faintly ridiculous when we spotted a bloke </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">walking towards us</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> down the hard shoulder of the motorway (!) and then realised we knew him! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, the RAC man towed us to the industrial park, where we spent an interesting half hour drinking insipid tea and reading the Knaresborough Post. </span></span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY-Iq768Y9_PWB3sFNVmHPPRPkRbjE3y094TxMbxXZZhYjaY2dtIIbtrnX8CCRv3ubYmLxs5hHEG7jeMOP1EOr5Up7g5EWREfrOLf7ghURgFWE7L3A44LgDM0LL78U5_PdqH4WxHPSU7l/s1600/IMG_5787.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY-Iq768Y9_PWB3sFNVmHPPRPkRbjE3y094TxMbxXZZhYjaY2dtIIbtrnX8CCRv3ubYmLxs5hHEG7jeMOP1EOr5Up7g5EWREfrOLf7ghURgFWE7L3A44LgDM0LL78U5_PdqH4WxHPSU7l/s400/IMG_5787.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629868720719929922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally got back home about half past midnight, after a ride in a GIANT exciting rescue truck. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm thinking that somebody, somewhere, doesn't want us to go camping this weekend...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(still, plenty of other exciting things to get up to, and it'll give me a chance to catch up on a few blog posts of things I've been meaning to tell you about!)</span></span></div></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-40496392244800858652011-07-10T21:33:00.004+01:002011-07-10T21:57:14.968+01:00weekend adventures (and more spring cleaning)<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x7UQey0uc0zj-ir7Y29eL2NMtplV42J2wbLq2tfiznwluEwKJwVqgY14g7sX4OVX4aTOn2kp-gUwf3FLuspSqzuM3QYqsd0t8TU_10L0ZMMQ_5KTCm5TJSE96yOF5CuxsI3yzoU66-hC/s1600/IMG_5461.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x7UQey0uc0zj-ir7Y29eL2NMtplV42J2wbLq2tfiznwluEwKJwVqgY14g7sX4OVX4aTOn2kp-gUwf3FLuspSqzuM3QYqsd0t8TU_10L0ZMMQ_5KTCm5TJSE96yOF5CuxsI3yzoU66-hC/s400/IMG_5461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627825887157010274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Another weekend of fun and frivolity here. I do love the summer, altogether more sociable somehow than the other seasons. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anyway, I've been trotting about all over the place! Hopped on a train for a mini adventure on Friday night to see the lovely </span></span><a href="http://orkneyflowers.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fay</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, who was only an hour or two up the road rather than the usual 13 hours away. Couldn't miss an opportunity like that! And I do love train adventures, especially ones to new places, that involve meeting some new people too. Altogether a jolly evening!<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then up early on Saturday morning to take part in the local </span></span><a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">park run</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - didn't take photos (too busy puffing and panting), but this is going to become rather a regular Saturday morning feature I think. I had a lovely time galumphing along at the back with an extremely cheery fella getting fit again after a triple heart bypass (yep, that's how slowly I was going). Anyway, he was very jolly, clapping everyone who went past us (which was, er, everyone), and also very chivalrous, and let me go before him through the finish funnel, so I wasn't *quite* last, which makes a nice change... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then off to the WI (of course - can't let running get in the way of cake eating!) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And then a wedding! Busy as bees here!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, after the wedding we sloped off for a little sneaky duck feeding... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyz7zV_5c-omNECCSnni4bWdvEPHtYzwEAxyXOiDnrCXvjuQxw-kTsbRN6o0m26jSb1rtVGYvHObWUXgUtNQy55_GokXezb_XfTjrrq0bDEtuZUJfvLa0y8KdJd6A9KEeLlMqdrQIR0L2/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBo1a0FUdITPqMXZlKOfLuS06_DFHnrQAwO2dlQebJEAJmNPrnbcxMakxrQ0v6lpmLz-w5diFuk03tR31nyOc9-Y8iSRyn_fM0QiTeVl48smqDFZtG4yNH0K_OPuTOncx01BgJsiwTX1-/s1600/IMG_5563.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBo1a0FUdITPqMXZlKOfLuS06_DFHnrQAwO2dlQebJEAJmNPrnbcxMakxrQ0v6lpmLz-w5diFuk03tR31nyOc9-Y8iSRyn_fM0QiTeVl48smqDFZtG4yNH0K_OPuTOncx01BgJsiwTX1-/s400/IMG_5563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627825896944974866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyz7zV_5c-omNECCSnni4bWdvEPHtYzwEAxyXOiDnrCXvjuQxw-kTsbRN6o0m26jSb1rtVGYvHObWUXgUtNQy55_GokXezb_XfTjrrq0bDEtuZUJfvLa0y8KdJd6A9KEeLlMqdrQIR0L2/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKDLHflKMylxQoyhudn_3NzCtZNfyn590Xb-3xdNm0kQFoTkwXy_Lxhu9uLgIOGP6VwTG7_QPkiYkDyxX09m55Jg0Y-hwUBG0taQ2Qc-OT6TzY4ppx1CYLyqzFncJm58N-uJjbRd8EAGe/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKDLHflKMylxQoyhudn_3NzCtZNfyn590Xb-3xdNm0kQFoTkwXy_Lxhu9uLgIOGP6VwTG7_QPkiYkDyxX09m55Jg0Y-hwUBG0taQ2Qc-OT6TzY4ppx1CYLyqzFncJm58N-uJjbRd8EAGe/s400/IMG_5635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627825902392087922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There really is something Extremely Jolly about feeding ducks, I find. Their little beady eyes, their little legs waddling over when they detect the slight rustle of a paper bag, the gentle little quacking noises... </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyz7zV_5c-omNECCSnni4bWdvEPHtYzwEAxyXOiDnrCXvjuQxw-kTsbRN6o0m26jSb1rtVGYvHObWUXgUtNQy55_GokXezb_XfTjrrq0bDEtuZUJfvLa0y8KdJd6A9KEeLlMqdrQIR0L2/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We finished off Saturday with the most glorious buffet, and a whole load of dancing (and then a nice cup of tea, of course). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today has been rather more sedate - one of those days when I wake up slightly grumpity and petulant and decide that EVERYWHERE is a Complete Tip, and despite it not having bothered me for days and days, declare that Something Must Be Done - </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">right now</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You know, one of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">those</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> days. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Peter, fortunately, had a pre-arranged musical project happening downstairs, which pretty much restricted my flurry of activity to the attic so my banging and crashing and cursing didn't disturb the creativity in the kitchen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The attic has several purposes in this house. I work at home several days a week, so my desk is up here, and the printer. It also houses all my sewing related paraphernalia, and assorted things-that-don't-live-anywhere-else. And it houses the spare bed. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So... I started by pinning up these ludicrously ancient and daft curtains that we found in a house that a friend bought (she declared she couldn't live with them, and I squirrelled them away with some vague plan for a skirt - which fortunately never happened). Bravo! A place to hide things - point 1 on the list of vital things for tidying up. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyz7zV_5c-omNECCSnni4bWdvEPHtYzwEAxyXOiDnrCXvjuQxw-kTsbRN6o0m26jSb1rtVGYvHObWUXgUtNQy55_GokXezb_XfTjrrq0bDEtuZUJfvLa0y8KdJd6A9KEeLlMqdrQIR0L2/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyz7zV_5c-omNECCSnni4bWdvEPHtYzwEAxyXOiDnrCXvjuQxw-kTsbRN6o0m26jSb1rtVGYvHObWUXgUtNQy55_GokXezb_XfTjrrq0bDEtuZUJfvLa0y8KdJd6A9KEeLlMqdrQIR0L2/s400/IMG_5668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627825910829472658" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The shelves are looking a whole lot better too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3ARsflXkaM-JfL1ETeMegVUmybfbCdMp8-XqMlNuiWO-_Pd6ZkBpTUDpbJpNFMvU5ag4WIjRgylbg3fKdktONZDzb3z-11cKoSyU0r8t6G8-Wf7HkAL-bUGKTMPBRGHKPs2Tx_MDpqdd/s1600/IMG_5669.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3ARsflXkaM-JfL1ETeMegVUmybfbCdMp8-XqMlNuiWO-_Pd6ZkBpTUDpbJpNFMvU5ag4WIjRgylbg3fKdktONZDzb3z-11cKoSyU0r8t6G8-Wf7HkAL-bUGKTMPBRGHKPs2Tx_MDpqdd/s400/IMG_5669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627825920007573522" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of course, there's still several miscellaneous bags and boxes of things-that-need-to-find-a-new-home, but we're down to 2, rather than 8 or 9. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And you might notice that you can't see much of the floor in these pictures... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I also discovered just how much stationery I own. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">lot</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I had planned a little bit of sewing, which never *quite* happened. Maybe next week... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But I've had a lovely pottering day sorting things out, tearing things up, stashing things behind curtains, and I'm actually looking forward to spending the day up there tomorrow. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hooray for spring cleaning whims I say!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-91336029650872841422011-07-07T20:55:00.002+01:002011-07-07T21:22:19.264+01:00a little amble around blog land<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's an absolutely gorgeous evening here, and I've just been for a Most Marvellous run across the hills (which makes it sound far more strenuous and gazelle-like than the huffing and puffing around the local hilly park it was...). I'm all excitable and full of beans now, so while I wait for my tea to cook I thought I'd take you on a little tour around the strange hotch-potch corner of blog-land that I hang around in. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First of all, a confession. I don't actually subscribe to or follow any of these blogs - I actually haven't yet figured out how, and a seized by an irrational fear that my inbox will fill up with messages telling me to go and read such-and-such a blog, and I'll never get anything done. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, I never did say I was entirely sensible. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, the way I mostly keep track of the things I read is using that blog list over there --------></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Which isn't to say that they're the only things I read, oh no. But they are the things I keep coming back to. They also keep changing, you might have noticed... Depends how I'm feeling at the time, and whether I've irrationally decided to have a clear out, or whether I've just found something new and am all excited about it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The list is in order of who's posted the most recently - so when I pop in here I can see if anyone's posted that day, and pop over to have a look. Does anyone else use their own blog to keep track of their life?!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(this isn't going to be a giant blog review of who's-best, rather a little look at some things that I like and how I found them)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, let's start at the top, shall we? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Down to Earth</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the blog that prompted me to start my own blog. I have absolutely no idea how I came across it in the first place, but it's a lovely mix of tutorials for things like soap making, writing about simple living, and the occasional pep talk. I remember reading the entire archives (er, I think I was avoiding writing my phd at the time...), and then writing to Rhonda telling her how inspirational she was. She wrote a lovely email back, and I've read her blog ever since. There's a whole forum attached to it now too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">************************</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, so much for that lengthy amble! The phone rang, and now the tea's about to come out of the oven, and we'll have to continue this little trip round blog-land another day! I was looking forward to that too (although I'm looking forward to food perhaps a little bit more....) </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-47026836155370950472011-07-06T23:35:00.004+01:002011-07-06T23:58:47.891+01:00oh! weekend!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jqq7OJUQcA1YH7VAazZNYIbAyhvyc5WZwWck_WiXrwbbpp7j-V9zvu1mN7E5o3OjduQ9ywZ2RRcMTSZ6rk1fvPQrr7wv5EtOHeuTzRTsPjDeIJuRCZ5uEVhpsA1vOx8m0f2tisfT8Xg/s1600/IMG_5330.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jqq7OJUQcA1YH7VAazZNYIbAyhvyc5WZwWck_WiXrwbbpp7j-V9zvu1mN7E5o3OjduQ9ywZ2RRcMTSZ6rk1fvPQrr7wv5EtOHeuTzRTsPjDeIJuRCZ5uEVhpsA1vOx8m0f2tisfT8Xg/s400/IMG_5330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626374146839674930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The weekend started with a rainbow on the living room ceiling.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A bunch of garden wild flowers, herbs, er, assorted weeds, were galumphed across the city to a garden party (which housed much more beautiful flowers, but everyone was very nice about it)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYToMmzUVZMxkPqWfvP9hjUbvR3Z7PStpuOOWwYZ2we1Dqm9jApcEEQO0I37SHGVwRiNvACPRhU4CNb2YGT3MSaLbeHhd8TXHQGU36t4HN_cZq6YyW9nYS2mo_0dLRQKzpMOj6WsDCpQ/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYToMmzUVZMxkPqWfvP9hjUbvR3Z7PStpuOOWwYZ2we1Dqm9jApcEEQO0I37SHGVwRiNvACPRhU4CNb2YGT3MSaLbeHhd8TXHQGU36t4HN_cZq6YyW9nYS2mo_0dLRQKzpMOj6WsDCpQ/s400/IMG_5331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626374144982945618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I did manage to stop myself squealing with excitement on spotting the picnic table, but only just... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm0JVBgRLEnAqnOYTw_0jlLESnUT6Hfsglo944r025SM3U_IsC-3n9lIv8McLKu8rf7h_zZHBKwVfL58T9jsjX4OcvArKegUNj97_GKQZOoaAhDWBQcZL3EhVii8wKLljdWm1h1BVMeU/s1600/IMG_5334.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm0JVBgRLEnAqnOYTw_0jlLESnUT6Hfsglo944r025SM3U_IsC-3n9lIv8McLKu8rf7h_zZHBKwVfL58T9jsjX4OcvArKegUNj97_GKQZOoaAhDWBQcZL3EhVii8wKLljdWm1h1BVMeU/s400/IMG_5334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626374135392217330" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See that green stuff in the white bowl with the blue spoon? Fresh peas and cottage cheese. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Try it</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> - it's absolutely divine. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Really!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyMjjAkENNc5Qa6qHMuPxXCxRpnpIjOmSNPw1n4sbARzob8DjvxtUQHDhpKGvNju5hnTi9FIU2ECrFeOaXvmsGNnsip1x1AJsHnBWoGAlymfGxrzRMG2mR1hWgoZL9UZEWxBY8XG_AXM/s1600/IMG_5335.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyMjjAkENNc5Qa6qHMuPxXCxRpnpIjOmSNPw1n4sbARzob8DjvxtUQHDhpKGvNju5hnTi9FIU2ECrFeOaXvmsGNnsip1x1AJsHnBWoGAlymfGxrzRMG2mR1hWgoZL9UZEWxBY8XG_AXM/s400/IMG_5335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626374132937302578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTYgVOZVnI34seMy2RtEJOmfMCUz_6sjbRi8zDDgp-SljAiFOOfqBIv9IgSIoKP5R5lDm95oR9Ok83gYKZxbB33hs9CCWRV4q1jDuaugjONfWcyxZgzLGGBVTqHAEqGykQEHvadL6WNs/s1600/IMG_5336.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTYgVOZVnI34seMy2RtEJOmfMCUz_6sjbRi8zDDgp-SljAiFOOfqBIv9IgSIoKP5R5lDm95oR9Ok83gYKZxbB33hs9CCWRV4q1jDuaugjONfWcyxZgzLGGBVTqHAEqGykQEHvadL6WNs/s400/IMG_5336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626373035605714258" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm also not sure how I managed to stop myself from eating ALL of those little fairy cakes, but I did. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Only just, mind you... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcKPXMv1iSK33iXjvV7WLpDuWG1SLuAxr_3m63mtiNv3xCEC1aFWu81JI_jxWbsDV-0TjUQSRGETs3Ui9jC09_sspCSvmyCdGV0KYLxzG6aIr6b6BY-cZnwyI92ctvtXgF0vSmVdJ098/s1600/IMG_5337.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcKPXMv1iSK33iXjvV7WLpDuWG1SLuAxr_3m63mtiNv3xCEC1aFWu81JI_jxWbsDV-0TjUQSRGETs3Ui9jC09_sspCSvmyCdGV0KYLxzG6aIr6b6BY-cZnwyI92ctvtXgF0vSmVdJ098/s400/IMG_5337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626373029514168706" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunday was a slightly less sedate affair, involving far more children - my youngest nephew's second birthday. Two, already! No idea how that happened (clearly - since I nearly won the World's Worst Auntie Award by FORGETTING his birthday...)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUJK2g7tYUuDMtwLL-Bvbi7gkZV9mTF6kSGbYbNaF8rdaPG_nDcK4oqrUvHgU5CLYRg8iF9N0C5kDIl0AOan3oC_VsZcpruxshW2PyRaoXzYsWUoPt3didGKbfZ4ms0m-guXQ_QdQvYE/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUJK2g7tYUuDMtwLL-Bvbi7gkZV9mTF6kSGbYbNaF8rdaPG_nDcK4oqrUvHgU5CLYRg8iF9N0C5kDIl0AOan3oC_VsZcpruxshW2PyRaoXzYsWUoPt3didGKbfZ4ms0m-guXQ_QdQvYE/s400/IMG_5343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626373019003989378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lots of splooshing around in water, of course, and my eldest nephew, aged 5, asked if he could borrow my camera for a while... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you know, I might just do a whole post full of his photos, not only are they fabulous, but a cheery insight into what a 5 year old thinks is important ('I don't want to take pictures of people, Auntie Jenni, I'm taking pictures of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">things</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...') </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdGEGQCzta2K2buyVuh8HYrnyhSuZmDcSU1OsN4-2esGzxIdNrUnreWZI0KEUFNEBjf1ORYPLbpi4jx85Rhgs-gufJHWvDJ6xn-f2M8Vrtt88UvmcqERiuWiHedsMONndlFdnKkPXTUU/s1600/IMG_5356.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdGEGQCzta2K2buyVuh8HYrnyhSuZmDcSU1OsN4-2esGzxIdNrUnreWZI0KEUFNEBjf1ORYPLbpi4jx85Rhgs-gufJHWvDJ6xn-f2M8Vrtt88UvmcqERiuWiHedsMONndlFdnKkPXTUU/s400/IMG_5356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626373004161364178" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzCFPHTv0bMWOboAptDHJYcK7fngnM5Leu_nryBZ4JeCc8vez6BbV2W2097lV6_we3ZnNkREnBGlCXGREFPV7cljV4H0Viu18dJRxAuViWnraqZBsru1jpdHc0NAgMLl_VyWFDkcyO5s/s1600/IMG_5374.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzCFPHTv0bMWOboAptDHJYcK7fngnM5Leu_nryBZ4JeCc8vez6BbV2W2097lV6_we3ZnNkREnBGlCXGREFPV7cljV4H0Viu18dJRxAuViWnraqZBsru1jpdHc0NAgMLl_VyWFDkcyO5s/s400/IMG_5374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372999050358898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LOTS of chocolate dinosaurs, of course (resulting in a few very chocolatey beards)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOGf2eybs_8PfaXgX3aXDp3KxN8JUSWOGCLuLj61MWCVz1RZYtDEd57kYkciuYrgbnTyKJnuOvGVl78Y0m98pyD7hmN5GXUTfXGw0XotVoNHztVfEs_axaOWObsMFBy7WHzI8fTfgTdw/s1600/IMG_5378.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOGf2eybs_8PfaXgX3aXDp3KxN8JUSWOGCLuLj61MWCVz1RZYtDEd57kYkciuYrgbnTyKJnuOvGVl78Y0m98pyD7hmN5GXUTfXGw0XotVoNHztVfEs_axaOWObsMFBy7WHzI8fTfgTdw/s400/IMG_5378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372502220866658" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And fuzzy felt, and an impromptu beach on the living room floor.. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoRylTzW94Ou2ABphyphenhyphenV3n_tF-p9AJlm9Qn0f7QNmQiXA6Tec4AhRt5e4Vz9pVRxpNF-hzdbgbBaoNhKmDsDmGemNDUpyUCuPlBFUvTkZtISLkkdprY4p2W_RX27RYMP8FNVscPbdjhmU/s1600/IMG_5410.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoRylTzW94Ou2ABphyphenhyphenV3n_tF-p9AJlm9Qn0f7QNmQiXA6Tec4AhRt5e4Vz9pVRxpNF-hzdbgbBaoNhKmDsDmGemNDUpyUCuPlBFUvTkZtISLkkdprY4p2W_RX27RYMP8FNVscPbdjhmU/s400/IMG_5410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372495372549202" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ooh, and speaking of beaches, a wrong turn on the way home found me at the seaside! I honestly don't know how it happened, really I don't, but I took full advantage of it and stomped around on the sand for a while. The sea was far too far away, and I felt a little like I was in a giant sandpit, but I'm pretty starved of beach round here, and I'll take anything I can get. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq6MASj6USMUR7dsbOGCNYxsOVPpHEkwiBgZWRgyFL1AZv9osEa6q0H7Ux3KfGCVzsoBzQdzPm4Vb7BMqQSMCZKsu-3VWBjU3IC5O98NDygfi7Tv7P2GXKfGGCMGUgJKuCEKG1UqyTno/s1600/IMG_5442.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq6MASj6USMUR7dsbOGCNYxsOVPpHEkwiBgZWRgyFL1AZv9osEa6q0H7Ux3KfGCVzsoBzQdzPm4Vb7BMqQSMCZKsu-3VWBjU3IC5O98NDygfi7Tv7P2GXKfGGCMGUgJKuCEKG1UqyTno/s400/IMG_5442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372491999606930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh I'd SO much love to live by the sea</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf3bryzpaTDM2Hwl1CKuV_30xEOC5aeirx21Oc7D6z51lg0H6IJ_2Yfv1Js1hOiQZflxzld7q5AImBS35yCTAz_9w6DyUxvpQ3-7Ywqrs7YUFJHcQbXtcOGHucB6mOfF_KLqctwu5ItQ/s1600/IMG_5444.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf3bryzpaTDM2Hwl1CKuV_30xEOC5aeirx21Oc7D6z51lg0H6IJ_2Yfv1Js1hOiQZflxzld7q5AImBS35yCTAz_9w6DyUxvpQ3-7Ywqrs7YUFJHcQbXtcOGHucB6mOfF_KLqctwu5ItQ/s400/IMG_5444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372486605786850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ7TNRbJwr66yB3Dc5UxKDd9UTmU9KHDXwdZse3CcBwg-VdgMYaxUy88nNya5swPuvDyAuu6rp3lHKi4r-BjIU5eq3fA-MUHOv6FURy7gBsPQfMaCG5_1PBWTBn0k8nF-jSvTSghn8Qg/s1600/IMG_5446.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ7TNRbJwr66yB3Dc5UxKDd9UTmU9KHDXwdZse3CcBwg-VdgMYaxUy88nNya5swPuvDyAuu6rp3lHKi4r-BjIU5eq3fA-MUHOv6FURy7gBsPQfMaCG5_1PBWTBn0k8nF-jSvTSghn8Qg/s400/IMG_5446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626372484476965426" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I really don't know how it's taken me to Wednesday to get round to posting about the weekend, I had SUCH a lovely time, such a cheery variety of things happened, every one of them marvellous (yep, even falling asleep in the back of the car at the service station, that was marvellous too...). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and now it's nearly next weekend! And a wedding is looming (not mine, I hasten to add). Best dust off my party frock... </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-28808608504630457822011-07-01T09:15:00.003+01:002011-07-01T09:25:16.527+01:00ooops, there I go again...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyanV7lcUntdW3lawCHVs7pVqzBX34u3HnA3e-fyjbar9Alg2pYo7fbXcR9p17t9T-zkg_s-Uz8AxqaXY5T61oZoePnJkSTafL1Anj0qQWlO4l6H8jU8vcxLOUhT24XDYAFthyAvbLg0/s1600/IMG_5286.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyanV7lcUntdW3lawCHVs7pVqzBX34u3HnA3e-fyjbar9Alg2pYo7fbXcR9p17t9T-zkg_s-Uz8AxqaXY5T61oZoePnJkSTafL1Anj0qQWlO4l6H8jU8vcxLOUhT24XDYAFthyAvbLg0/s400/IMG_5286.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624295151505191522" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh dear, yes, that's another cafe. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bettys.co.uk/">Betty's</a> in York this time, super-posh, queues out of the door, waitresses in aprons calling you 'madam' (madam indeed!), and £3 for a pot of tea. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Needless to say I don't go there very often! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But they are well known for their delectable cakes (and piano player, no less), and this was for *work*, don't you know, so I <i>had</i> to. No avoiding it at all. Absolutely none. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No cakes on this day for me though, it was SO hot, we'd walked a long way, and it was the middle of the working day (ahem), so lunch it was. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Poached eggs on toast (£5.95! Gosh) - with the toast cut into little triangles with the crusts cut off, no less. Very tasty it was too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just not too often... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">anyway.... it's been absolutely GLORIOUS round here lately, it really has. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG54PxF65d5rQ9usPL-aZ4dHgxTx40m6-9oR-tnTNh10jO5sXp5kq4O-FEoBETkclWKuMjosWzf-ViXJmN6puf3yNIgkjFETArfv3NJCbe1qLX1Q8EkMGf_i7EpLa1ry0LRC_EJZZmz5k/s1600/IMG_5298.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG54PxF65d5rQ9usPL-aZ4dHgxTx40m6-9oR-tnTNh10jO5sXp5kq4O-FEoBETkclWKuMjosWzf-ViXJmN6puf3yNIgkjFETArfv3NJCbe1qLX1Q8EkMGf_i7EpLa1ry0LRC_EJZZmz5k/s400/IMG_5298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624295076131627922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been walking around the hills and fields pretty much every evening I can, this is so close to home, and it's so quiet up there, you can see for miles, and watch the sun setting, and I always come back feeling so peaceful and like everything's right with the world. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl_ySp6rSHZh4u1PwqTLJq9ZUwOlKNRPxReWgicTK1v6GeJqJ4hyWysA6tFzJjlV7qp3hckpfFQ-kGZU26h4SLps3FLXPmV5FJqIWD806uAXTA4NSvc0iYIJCiOjUitrjPCvtZhNcdX8/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl_ySp6rSHZh4u1PwqTLJq9ZUwOlKNRPxReWgicTK1v6GeJqJ4hyWysA6tFzJjlV7qp3hckpfFQ-kGZU26h4SLps3FLXPmV5FJqIWD806uAXTA4NSvc0iYIJCiOjUitrjPCvtZhNcdX8/s400/IMG_5302.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624295072695964962" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can't beat that feeling really. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Exciting weekend plans afoot here, mostly involving lazing around in the sunshine I hope. Hooray! Are you up to anything exciting?</span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-46043638397462620092011-06-26T19:57:00.004+01:002011-06-26T22:18:26.434+01:00abundance, and spring cleaning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieFPSd2KUY2OQbFMNzsFmV1rMutnGIAu9R0eFThIatG4TGC2LK57LgVgkPpYHm1j77tsZnk4v5BS7h30p2wNp-n-UjumXHvV0Clqo18JZcv2YAnJHmvi9E51RtSvKt5JmsMKPAtgpivQ/s1600/IMG_5167.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieFPSd2KUY2OQbFMNzsFmV1rMutnGIAu9R0eFThIatG4TGC2LK57LgVgkPpYHm1j77tsZnk4v5BS7h30p2wNp-n-UjumXHvV0Clqo18JZcv2YAnJHmvi9E51RtSvKt5JmsMKPAtgpivQ/s400/IMG_5167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608547971899762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today has been utterly glorious. The weather, of course, but also the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">time</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, the whole day with nothing in particular to do, nowhere to be - that's quite a luxury at the minute!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I picked these flowers from the garden last week, and they've sat in a glass jar on the kitchen windowsill cheering me up for the last few days. What is it about flowers from the garden that just lift the spirits? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's been a whole weekend of pottering really, although today was rather more calm than yesterday. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Friday night we ate cherries, picked from a friend's tree.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EsDD26iUd5j3D5blJrjxkgwKhj2kb9tAIGb2jANZ-0fPUkxGyUeICkZ7EQ5E8k-aA3qFAAxWgHRwLLnABx625Fr2BZJ3H1M480Og1EMdoxF0sbQkHcDOVwdM1s7oM33Y8aP_4u4gOgg/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EsDD26iUd5j3D5blJrjxkgwKhj2kb9tAIGb2jANZ-0fPUkxGyUeICkZ7EQ5E8k-aA3qFAAxWgHRwLLnABx625Fr2BZJ3H1M480Og1EMdoxF0sbQkHcDOVwdM1s7oM33Y8aP_4u4gOgg/s400/IMG_5174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608546177491490" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And then a trip to the women's institute, of course. Lots of knitted things on sale this week, and a Most Delicious almond and apricot sponge cake. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0JYeKLK1ZuHYJHxe0M2jI5vkmTCpB-melt5Wca5Xe50TH_XdE9ln0Uv9-thqUIdHtAQXsqe2kRzkzEAOFTVnoRkzEeZYyyjgQd2QPBZfYVbFZYepM8aKVoiekn7hmfLGwd5MBiPzQH8/s1600/IMG_5180.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0JYeKLK1ZuHYJHxe0M2jI5vkmTCpB-melt5Wca5Xe50TH_XdE9ln0Uv9-thqUIdHtAQXsqe2kRzkzEAOFTVnoRkzEeZYyyjgQd2QPBZfYVbFZYepM8aKVoiekn7hmfLGwd5MBiPzQH8/s400/IMG_5180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608180607242978" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then off to the </span></span><a href="http://sheffieldismyplanet.co.uk/events/2011/6/sheffield-green-fair"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">green fair</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, to hang around on the </span></span><a href="http://www.sheffieldlets.org.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LETS</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> stall. I'll talk more about LETS one day - maybe when I've pulled my finger out to use it a little more... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JLRp4D4U1375n641ztk6T8zWmVBmp2qdxwHvux1zpcJ3U3_6-HLZWy6M5OUfU_SZ8SKDyDPu3yswy_KZ8ihyIAHBvxoxirKZvuAfmcmrWi5oTUnL2wiEOgWDeAT4FJtd-yhklssa6-w/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JLRp4D4U1375n641ztk6T8zWmVBmp2qdxwHvux1zpcJ3U3_6-HLZWy6M5OUfU_SZ8SKDyDPu3yswy_KZ8ihyIAHBvxoxirKZvuAfmcmrWi5oTUnL2wiEOgWDeAT4FJtd-yhklssa6-w/s400/IMG_5181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608174489065074" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This morning, bizarrely, I woke up with an urge to do a bit of spring cleaning. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know - very strange. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Maybe it was the sunshine streaming through the skylight, showing up all the dust. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whatever it was, I thought I'd best take advantage, and I've ambled around the house washing and hoovering and dusting and clearing drawers and making space. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXVzR22EIz4BgATpjir2ScJfpKAPBQ0kPmv_w9Nc1-s1cVQqLunYUPD2VUp0hwzalaHnUY092iTKavfHfrU-UWz9efUMqWjlDKdHguhCUW4jPyKWl77OfTObBBO8OWt5au6hxKJmFIlA/s1600/IMG_5251.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXVzR22EIz4BgATpjir2ScJfpKAPBQ0kPmv_w9Nc1-s1cVQqLunYUPD2VUp0hwzalaHnUY092iTKavfHfrU-UWz9efUMqWjlDKdHguhCUW4jPyKWl77OfTObBBO8OWt5au6hxKJmFIlA/s400/IMG_5251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608169880429490" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm not sure it meets normal folks' standards of cleanliness even now, but it's much better than it was. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I do love hanging washing outside, even if we don't have the traditional blowing-in-the-breeze washing line... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNZiflm0Zv_6LdpM3UYlSXb5c2swWeO6wJmlEPYS3aPGvLn5rGaLK4GchfizO0hSdWZw2Cq7RW8uG2ciWzv4ABGzKQ8csawTTOCfA1Y5xP1Uy8CofhJFDZHYqJbPkw16K3E_lm6HojE/s1600/IMG_5252.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNZiflm0Zv_6LdpM3UYlSXb5c2swWeO6wJmlEPYS3aPGvLn5rGaLK4GchfizO0hSdWZw2Cq7RW8uG2ciWzv4ABGzKQ8csawTTOCfA1Y5xP1Uy8CofhJFDZHYqJbPkw16K3E_lm6HojE/s400/IMG_5252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608159713910642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oooh, speaking of washing, I realised I never did share this exciting parcel that arrived a few weeks ago! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A while back, I signed up to take part in a dish cloth swap, over at the <a href="http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/">Down to Earth</a> blog, and was paired up with another <a href="http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a> right round the other side of the world (hi Jennifer!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I duly knitted my dishcloth and dispatched it (late, as usual) off on its little adventure, together with some home made soap. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then, excitement of all excitements, a parcel arrived!! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvqf0sNkGf_3nvi6_EoaezdRkUtdVOUuRFBhQkT6a-Bt9JouJJgoapJo6cepwXe3pfyA2m3B2LUdgg1aqhT9Bdr4QoIujwglQk4wnPRQtkL6RZKwglfxMrhCjz1G1PpKZQmBcEHakqLw/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvqf0sNkGf_3nvi6_EoaezdRkUtdVOUuRFBhQkT6a-Bt9JouJJgoapJo6cepwXe3pfyA2m3B2LUdgg1aqhT9Bdr4QoIujwglQk4wnPRQtkL6RZKwglfxMrhCjz1G1PpKZQmBcEHakqLw/s400/IMG_5264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622608155446399106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Would you just look at those beautiful dishcloths! Five, all different colours! And such a thoughtful parcel! A copy of the local newspaper, so fascinating to read the local news from somewhere else, so different to here! And some locally grown pistachios - mmmm. And a big pile of leaflets for local attractions, and keyrings, and postcards, and all sorts of things! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I *love* parcels, they are just The Best. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Of course, now I'm concocting a more elaborate parcel full of local stuff from round here to post back. SO much fun! </span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-84798837232894276902011-06-20T21:58:00.002+01:002011-06-20T22:15:00.058+01:00for today...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYm9FVDfTKOO37BF2Um9r4jadfAlhWMS7IbfDePUxxMLHazdl8mmZ9YGK1uPmvVNBm-jKnRI1zx-Tl2eh1DJd1vq7hCGEKC_b0aGwT78sMk-_-II8vNkwgdz7ulVOF7-qPjPlezKcg1s/s1600/IMG_5039.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYm9FVDfTKOO37BF2Um9r4jadfAlhWMS7IbfDePUxxMLHazdl8mmZ9YGK1uPmvVNBm-jKnRI1zx-Tl2eh1DJd1vq7hCGEKC_b0aGwT78sMk-_-II8vNkwgdz7ulVOF7-qPjPlezKcg1s/s400/IMG_5039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620409731689382754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><b><i>Outside my window... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">it's not-quite-dark, and the rain's falling steadily</span><br /><br />I am thinking... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">about the poor young sparrow I saw get hit by a car this morning</span><br /><br />I am thankful... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">for a quiet half hour, just me and the rain, in this busy week</span><br /><br />In the kitchen... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">lunch is ready for tomorrow, and the washing up is done - a rare feat in this house!</span><br /><br />I am wearing... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">gorgeous little button hair slides I got from the farmers market yesterday for 20p. 20p!</span><br /><br />I am creating... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">an 18 month plan of Exciting Things to do and learn</span><br /><br />I am going... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">on a train every day this week. Every single day</span><br /><br />I am wondering... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">whether I will ever get bored of travelling on trains. I doubt it very much - I love trains. Good job really (see above)</span><br /><br />I am reading... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">inspiring tales of people leaping headlong into new adventures even when they're a little bit scared</span><br /><br />I am hoping... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">that I'll make it through this week without being too grouchy, and that Thursday will turn out to be as exciting as it could be</span><br /><br />I am looking forward to... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Wednesday, when I'll be staying with a friend I met through the internet, and who I now work in the next building to. And Thursday, when I'll be staying with a friend I used to work with, and now only talk to through the internet. Funny old world. </span><br /><br />I am hearing... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">the rain. I love listening to the rain, especially in the dark. I'll be off to bed soon to listen to it pattering on the skylight.</span><br /><br />Around the house... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">it's pretty quiet. Unusually, things are calm and still here tonight. </span><br /><br />I am pondering... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">what the future will bring - and doing my best to make sure it's something exciting. </span><br /><br />One of my favorite things... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">steady rain outside, while I'm all cosy with a mug of hot chocolate inside. Perfect. </span><br /><br />A few plans for the rest of the week: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">trains. workshops. friends. maybe a little knitting. and certainly some plotting and planning. </span><br /><br />Here is picture for thought I am sharing... </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(actually, my picture is at the top, and in no way reflects how I'm feeling right now, which is quite calm and pensive, and not at all swirly and lollipoppy. But I couldn't find a calm-and-pensive picture, and this one is after all rather jolly, so it'll have to do)</span></b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sleep well! And pop over to <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/">the simple woman's daybook</a> to join in! </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-21152725115459779582011-06-19T22:07:00.002+01:002011-06-19T22:22:36.323+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBqtGeOua6w6ZrujHvCtFAbNilpjplMYsxR8IuRMJ7m7POegCFdivr6wMgkK7Rklj2impPoLiQllFzUn1JOd3cMsrogfEJ7rsAzpWmWMQbsNB8EYTXyVlRCNkVgVvb6tc_b0rG1G49mw/s1600/IMG_5131.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBqtGeOua6w6ZrujHvCtFAbNilpjplMYsxR8IuRMJ7m7POegCFdivr6wMgkK7Rklj2impPoLiQllFzUn1JOd3cMsrogfEJ7rsAzpWmWMQbsNB8EYTXyVlRCNkVgVvb6tc_b0rG1G49mw/s400/IMG_5131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620041121918542450" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been smiling every time I've walked into the living room this week and spotted these flowers (rescued from the reduced bin at the florists), popped into two old china cups from a picnic basket. How extremely jolly!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've finally managed to get out into the garden this week - I must confess to avoiding it, because it's still a mess of rubble and pavings, and it makes me ever so slightly grumpy every time I see it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But what kind of an attitude is that for a cheery person to have?!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A daft one - that's what. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, I armed myself with trowel, green bin bags (the council collects garden waste here and turns it into compost), and a camera (and a cup of tea, of course)<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9N1Xxi5RtRx4Hlfcb25hhY2xabDgNeU06YofK4LE8iIyLSim8U62O37lm9BRYSNzdAbs0j7ZjDSWfhBu9qR_4okhKhQMSPdSeRbd_6X7bolr6zWEglG9pzwRx4s8XmIlt7Sa6x0NZ8g/s1600/IMG_5146.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9N1Xxi5RtRx4Hlfcb25hhY2xabDgNeU06YofK4LE8iIyLSim8U62O37lm9BRYSNzdAbs0j7ZjDSWfhBu9qR_4okhKhQMSPdSeRbd_6X7bolr6zWEglG9pzwRx4s8XmIlt7Sa6x0NZ8g/s400/IMG_5146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620041111089997266" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While staring in a slightly grim fug at the beetroots refusing to grow on the windowsill, and the basil that just won't get more than 3 leaves whatever I do to it, I had a revelation. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We've got a small garden here, and we are NEVER going to grow a substantial part of our food. Last year we had an abundance of yellow courgettes, and one broad bean pod. One. I like plants - but I never was very good at keeping them alive. Every year I plant things (late), forget to water them, then put them outside for the slugs to eat, while I stare on morosely thinking about what a terrible gardener I am. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The things that do best in my garden are the things that look after themselves. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So - my revelation. Why on earth do I do this to myself every year?? Because I want a beautiful and productive garden, that's why! Because I like the idea of growing my own food and I believe gardens should be useful as well as beautiful.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof1VkdRh1cZ-hvan4-0CQiuf0z3n5vkkAPNL2LX0N3CXS1JCCM8bPKGH2tzctWdRFeIIeECmVpicv5nE-9s7tl6FUYQLyyvBuJ-koA3JIxyFx8W1LB5R8AG5yhBTyTf7wCQ5rNgx0YE8/s1600/IMG_5149.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof1VkdRh1cZ-hvan4-0CQiuf0z3n5vkkAPNL2LX0N3CXS1JCCM8bPKGH2tzctWdRFeIIeECmVpicv5nE-9s7tl6FUYQLyyvBuJ-koA3JIxyFx8W1LB5R8AG5yhBTyTf7wCQ5rNgx0YE8/s400/IMG_5149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620041101744368610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, guess what? The fruit bushes are looking great - they look after themselves. Maybe if I watered them more they'd do better - but they manage. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There's plenty of herbs that are flourishing, all on their own - sage, rosemary, chives, lemon balm, st john's wort, all come back year on year, as well as the rhubarb, and masses of mint. The honeysuckle spreads over more and more of the house each week, it seems. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfXekUefp9BiuxnsL36a-cAKNZxtqjcz9iWZ-UC5sDaHf2OVjo9mAj35_2eoyvzxMJsU8r0aDHddWydWWC0Rqm6k7gx0PbYASCzu4cAxCirEGNevBk_YD9cv60r0jdkcBe76DLwkRhEw/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfXekUefp9BiuxnsL36a-cAKNZxtqjcz9iWZ-UC5sDaHf2OVjo9mAj35_2eoyvzxMJsU8r0aDHddWydWWC0Rqm6k7gx0PbYASCzu4cAxCirEGNevBk_YD9cv60r0jdkcBe76DLwkRhEw/s400/IMG_5151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620041089936584610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, as of now, my garden is getting low maintenance. Well, aside from the major seating project, that is. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm not going to try a big pile of annual veg any more. I'm going to plant the whole thing up with fruit bushes and perennial herbs, and spend more time sitting out there admiring the view, eating rhubarb crumble, sipping herb tea, and scoffing blueberries. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why on earth didn't I think of that before?? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And now, flushed with my own ingenuity, I'm heading for the bath. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1v9SAHE_m4MI5ZOHIOEGfp-1GVDFrR10Lg-1Tw5sAHL9aD0LTvCVB0QADSR7KUMupBtV6_1wuI7TKK0O-jEhGyx3LEsYKgVEnTx3b6ISAxlOeHb6ZF9bPrxXW50OXsdpQba1kAMB7Bs/s1600/IMG_5155.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1v9SAHE_m4MI5ZOHIOEGfp-1GVDFrR10Lg-1Tw5sAHL9aD0LTvCVB0QADSR7KUMupBtV6_1wuI7TKK0O-jEhGyx3LEsYKgVEnTx3b6ISAxlOeHb6ZF9bPrxXW50OXsdpQba1kAMB7Bs/s400/IMG_5155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620041088474331042" /></a><br /></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-12235378942578382852011-06-15T23:07:00.002+01:002011-06-15T23:26:05.477+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tMIAnz29zNVJ8WZ-ECopANOvqz7G4-y8MZKwSoUxVyok1CIMV043w2k07f3L7wtT6pWXCSUBIYg3Zk5o4K0RueGZBDMoEfJeLCqDvBB5JNjr3c6tdFPm6SzFqKfYsve9P5pbb1vvnPM/s1600/IMG_5108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tMIAnz29zNVJ8WZ-ECopANOvqz7G4-y8MZKwSoUxVyok1CIMV043w2k07f3L7wtT6pWXCSUBIYg3Zk5o4K0RueGZBDMoEfJeLCqDvBB5JNjr3c6tdFPm6SzFqKfYsve9P5pbb1vvnPM/s400/IMG_5108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618572654312595666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been neglecting this little space of mine lately, blaming full time work, and all manner of other things, for my absence. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today I've realised that one of the reasons I've been staying away is because I haven't taken any nice pictures to post. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah, perfectionism rearing its ugly head yet again! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not that I only ever post 'perfect' pictures on here, of course... but I do rather like them to be sunshiney, cheery, happy pictures, of colourful things, pretty things, not blurry round the edges, or gloomy, or have dust on the shelves and piles of washing in the background. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZpAuHkdMuOLuZe5kuAND3_C6z0tlTJXjkGp5OY1jExytFwUTyugIxsDG6mJ53yNkt-ifBv3ncDDxdVhFs-oc-WXvokgTfCzoH1vwQ-NN6CcR1hei79yeV_846L5nqwc4VPKhOsFnlLk/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZpAuHkdMuOLuZe5kuAND3_C6z0tlTJXjkGp5OY1jExytFwUTyugIxsDG6mJ53yNkt-ifBv3ncDDxdVhFs-oc-WXvokgTfCzoH1vwQ-NN6CcR1hei79yeV_846L5nqwc4VPKhOsFnlLk/s400/IMG_5119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618572656041097618" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, guess what? As we established in <a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-i-dont-do.html">this</a> post, my life does have dust on the shelves (rather a lot of it, as it happens), and washing festooned over the banister, and the sun doesn't always shine, and sometimes I can't take a decent photograph to save my life. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a shame to stay hiding away because of that! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I like pottering about in here, talking nonsense about what I've been up to! I do love to look back at the pretty photos, and the finished projects, and the flowers in the garden - but if I avoid popping in here until I've got something fascinating to say, or have completed the world's most wonderful project, or taken a fabulous photo, well, I'd probably never come here again! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNOhxm8XtEUWPIMJmWi7k-9pbFSHC-wiDW0TJVSTognjWBkK3C4OTt25kpFIlwFxiljrrGilKkrHclaVc2Nsks2NuUk1SbhMM6TdQAYCqqxx4JlvSy4lcan3ynq_KFfeEcOSNtRvhpgI/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNOhxm8XtEUWPIMJmWi7k-9pbFSHC-wiDW0TJVSTognjWBkK3C4OTt25kpFIlwFxiljrrGilKkrHclaVc2Nsks2NuUk1SbhMM6TdQAYCqqxx4JlvSy4lcan3ynq_KFfeEcOSNtRvhpgI/s400/IMG_5120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618572646286098578" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So instead - here's to slightly blurry photos, that don't look quite as good as they did in real life. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's to half finished projects, slightly sunken cakes, flowers that are past their best, and walls that aren't decorated. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's to gardens that are still full of rubble, blackbirds that eat your strawberries, and slugs that sneak into the living room at night and slither their way across the carpet (hmmm...). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And here's to chasing tonight's lunar eclipse across the hills, and not finding it, but instead finding a very pretty sunset that, guess what? Looked much better in real life than it does in the pictures. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfdkX7kRXA6JVe6HOL43YGktGkiapc0JAcfTzq-Q1Qid8m35Q691fIauLbAjV-k3qVOa1Bm9ctBN1Hk9vWWlqxyEWY7Fh_-ZIigQym-NsYHLFzArxjwblk8L_MzyLSfmaW3QGqUGe72w/s1600/IMG_5127.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfdkX7kRXA6JVe6HOL43YGktGkiapc0JAcfTzq-Q1Qid8m35Q691fIauLbAjV-k3qVOa1Bm9ctBN1Hk9vWWlqxyEWY7Fh_-ZIigQym-NsYHLFzArxjwblk8L_MzyLSfmaW3QGqUGe72w/s400/IMG_5127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618572640586582850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm practicing folks!</span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-61420142991318096932011-06-09T20:44:00.003+01:002011-06-09T21:04:57.575+01:00not that I'm starting a series of cafe-related posts or anything...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ubhpWdix0aU6DnUvhvZ_VmghgqrUUeONFpv5Uy0uJScwQrghQN80J2V0GwqqGgSs6xy_zYVnr8_seOQDQYvPUIJI7790vQcYRRHmUy9oh6EENQnKsQjoviurUjPQNxVJ-d1LNmx6P_o/s1600/IMG_4927.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ubhpWdix0aU6DnUvhvZ_VmghgqrUUeONFpv5Uy0uJScwQrghQN80J2V0GwqqGgSs6xy_zYVnr8_seOQDQYvPUIJI7790vQcYRRHmUy9oh6EENQnKsQjoviurUjPQNxVJ-d1LNmx6P_o/s400/IMG_4927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616309084614056850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, one day we were out in the street, admiring </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/chickens-and-photographs.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> gorgeous yellow scooter, when we got chatting to the bloke who owned it. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And he told us he was opening a <a href="http://www.okehcafe.co.uk/">new cafe</a> on the other side of town. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And that it was going to be a great cafe, with a jukebox, and lots of other fabulous things, and we should go down to the opening celebrations, </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/has-it-really-been-that-long.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">which we did </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- but we couldn't get through the door so had tea and cake </span></span><a href="http://daffysgarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/nice-cup-of-tea.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">elsewhere</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> instead. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week Sunday morning was rather dreary and rainy, so we decided it was high time we headed back to the new cafe. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUSdRj5-8xYLbL2yf9EiLiDEQc_PbmsOVOdADhrcHgNLXX8kuXrs26q78ilUeknSku3I5tbB_Wxjye4OG1PE135BzxnoQ4W-XqKd9L7PB10jHQzRwa5Z-mY-C6UJuTBRLCQLPU-68lRc/s1600/IMG_4921.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUSdRj5-8xYLbL2yf9EiLiDEQc_PbmsOVOdADhrcHgNLXX8kuXrs26q78ilUeknSku3I5tbB_Wxjye4OG1PE135BzxnoQ4W-XqKd9L7PB10jHQzRwa5Z-mY-C6UJuTBRLCQLPU-68lRc/s400/IMG_4921.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616309068938769506" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJptnCkrL3RWaYtDpx32pTWHzZoSYrYVJ6LLDWuZhT7nMxcAbrXOaLQpnXuivKy8O-OjqQv44EWtC6xwAvLbgRyzGhFnIa99IY27MSCwly2RVdcSeNHppwUGr0T8aCjsG_jwYN0RN1aM/s1600/IMG_4922.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJptnCkrL3RWaYtDpx32pTWHzZoSYrYVJ6LLDWuZhT7nMxcAbrXOaLQpnXuivKy8O-OjqQv44EWtC6xwAvLbgRyzGhFnIa99IY27MSCwly2RVdcSeNHppwUGr0T8aCjsG_jwYN0RN1aM/s400/IMG_4922.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616309066157184578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The jukebox! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The music! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That combination of turquoise and red! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The most divine scrambled eggs! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8YiRMa1QQ7DeuevzyjANlDGEa2uha0KPADfp0IYwuDmeo6WU560DHe_icE3wUauUN5Gqu2EDFgSRqruDEC6iLK9nEqo3NbJHyRNT5IV-Nv2RHlG14PQ8sM0NFQd5v7MT7P1aPVtvmh0/s1600/IMG_4933.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8YiRMa1QQ7DeuevzyjANlDGEa2uha0KPADfp0IYwuDmeo6WU560DHe_icE3wUauUN5Gqu2EDFgSRqruDEC6iLK9nEqo3NbJHyRNT5IV-Nv2RHlG14PQ8sM0NFQd5v7MT7P1aPVtvmh0/s400/IMG_4933.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616309049514646866" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think you can probably imagine just how excited we were. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And just how many times we will be going back in the future. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've also started a new campaign, having discovered that Peter *owns* a jukebox, which is currently languishing in a garage somewhere, because it won't fit in our kitchen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aarrgghh! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can we get rid of the table? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The stove?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Build some kind of extension out into the garden?? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You'll probably see me stalking about like a woman possessed with a tape measure in the weeks to come, figuring out just how we can get an enormous 1970s jukebox into our kitchen. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because it's got to be possible, right? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7fZZv-lpBeGCdb7xRrLXk8wCyIbObzhR9uRS6-DKDgWm0pN8mfjJ2hMJTMt9GtFZAgFjlCRGDNDubq5cFk-bMsqaoiXHbVt5dlPjhH61QW_seqXOFgDQ6tMmPDgTLyjyMU2HjpF8ODQ/s1600/IMG_4926.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7fZZv-lpBeGCdb7xRrLXk8wCyIbObzhR9uRS6-DKDgWm0pN8mfjJ2hMJTMt9GtFZAgFjlCRGDNDubq5cFk-bMsqaoiXHbVt5dlPjhH61QW_seqXOFgDQ6tMmPDgTLyjyMU2HjpF8ODQ/s400/IMG_4926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616309042017630818" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Right?? </i></b></span></span></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-47225638414802586792011-06-04T08:52:00.002+01:002011-06-04T09:08:48.515+01:00writing letters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzfe0n_wF7HC9WCoQ6SiHaQiQtxef-hqGoDHOwJC4SO1pzRBkv2us1xXjxD_hxNFMOr9xjigDMZGRQQ1ZjF5HoP0enBhcCYsXoU4epMqMfQANT7avullf3_qoMkUjmOfigH_AiTEzAoU/s1600/IMG_4934.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzfe0n_wF7HC9WCoQ6SiHaQiQtxef-hqGoDHOwJC4SO1pzRBkv2us1xXjxD_hxNFMOr9xjigDMZGRQQ1ZjF5HoP0enBhcCYsXoU4epMqMfQANT7avullf3_qoMkUjmOfigH_AiTEzAoU/s400/IMG_4934.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614270505595682770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is there really anything more exciting than running to the door after the post has been delivered to find a letter, a <i>real, handwritten letter,</i> waiting for you? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A letter that's not inviting you for an eye test, or to the dentist, or offering you a credit card, or telling you how much electricity you've used, but a real letter from a friend, with news, just like a rambling chat over a cup of tea? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm hard pushed to think of anything more exciting than that. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Over the years, I've written a fair few letters, and received plenty, and they were all thrown haphazardly into a shoe box in a cupboard. This week I decided it was high time they got sorted out. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(this is part of a MUCH bigger sorting-out-of-the-house, which has FAR too much stuff in it, but that's not very interesting, so let's talk about letters instead). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCkKxwrtnbOyaPVdTu5bV0q-28gV5Yad_lNR9741lGOBO8_Kf4BHkeH2SaF0OYL5jSXu1xfa0KNT7Bmn5BOzYI9b0I6pxpoLpJYcjTvMRWSgWl5N79h46ol16eO850vqh8n3JTqDljgU/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCkKxwrtnbOyaPVdTu5bV0q-28gV5Yad_lNR9741lGOBO8_Kf4BHkeH2SaF0OYL5jSXu1xfa0KNT7Bmn5BOzYI9b0I6pxpoLpJYcjTvMRWSgWl5N79h46ol16eO850vqh8n3JTqDljgU/s400/IMG_4936.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614270501477256402" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was interesting to look through all these and see who they were from. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had a pen pal when I was young, a girl who lived near Newcastle, and was a year or so older than me. I found her through the pen pal section in a magazine when I was about twelve, and we wrote quite a lot (most of her letters, and I suspect mine too, begin with 'sorry I haven't written for so long...). That fizzled out when we were in our late teens I think. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A fair few letters are from friends at school - who I spent all my days with, and some of my evenings, and lived round the corner from - we used to write letters late at night and hand them to each other the next day. They're full of in jokes that I occasionally struggled to remember, Father Ted references (which have just got more funny over the years), and silly little drawings. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some of the letters are from when I was at university. Friends I haven't thought about for years telling me things I'd forgotten about. Letters from family (including a memorable one from my sister saying something along the lines of 'ok, I admit, I was mean, but you shouldn't have been horrid first because you KNOW I have to do something back'). There's the odd newspaper cutting, bits of gossip about people we knew, and lots of idle chatter about what people were up to. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My grandma and her friend used to send me food parcels, tins of peaches, biscuits, a quarter of chocolate limes. SO exciting to get a parcel in the post, especially when it contains special treat food. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I found a card that came in between parcels from grandma's friend, a very well spoken lady who used to send boxes of Sainsbury's multi coloured pasta (I'd never heard of such extravagance before!) - it used both of my first names (I knew I was in trouble) and said 'a little bird tells me you a yearning for a letter from home. Get a grip! You are at university, not in the trenches!'</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's me told then!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, they're all nicely bundled up now according to who sent them, and I'm thinking that I need to get on the case with another letter writing campaign. It's so easy to send emails these days, or a quick phone call, and while they're marvellous things, they don't quite beat a letter...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the meatime, more tea, and a nice home made jam tart by the river in the sunshine. </span></span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwOfxQBy2DjCe5UC5wiAdgDyKeyuD5uQFS51SJ_I4d1jpjgCG8lB2G2YJIENS3uH9DYL7Dj2d4kfOkuwQSiAuzOdUaVVNfl4-rsLS7L8PAmSrvvtpHDlihPIgLlCmLQ6pCrQoWr8rKko/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwOfxQBy2DjCe5UC5wiAdgDyKeyuD5uQFS51SJ_I4d1jpjgCG8lB2G2YJIENS3uH9DYL7Dj2d4kfOkuwQSiAuzOdUaVVNfl4-rsLS7L8PAmSrvvtpHDlihPIgLlCmLQ6pCrQoWr8rKko/s400/IMG_4785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614270495567867858" /></a><br /></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-65054660724246299522011-05-29T18:39:00.003+01:002011-05-29T18:57:15.295+01:00toddling off (and then back again)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0embTbyeYpGD9knUvATv7XIRmZ4YEAeqjbUs0UuXj-jsnuBWgVswIcFkZad-YfbqhGR0xaErv6zMhj1Jv1fSBKTx1Gb2cSKhQZd4RoNEIu2fmd7yx7U3FGNCwJVpHwPsAjDfARsbvTk/s1600/IMG_4832.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0embTbyeYpGD9knUvATv7XIRmZ4YEAeqjbUs0UuXj-jsnuBWgVswIcFkZad-YfbqhGR0xaErv6zMhj1Jv1fSBKTx1Gb2cSKhQZd4RoNEIu2fmd7yx7U3FGNCwJVpHwPsAjDfARsbvTk/s400/IMG_4832.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195809940983074" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'd love to tell you this is where I've been all week, lounging in <a href="http://www.thepuddingroomderbyshire.co.uk/70163/info.php?p=6&pno=0">a field</a> in the sunshine, drinking tea and taking photos of my own reflection in the camping kettle. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sadly not, although I was there for a short while yesterday evening, and it was ever so good. Lots more of it required I say. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not this weekend, however. The rest of our 'weekend' away mostly looked like this:<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdZBhkwYH_gjZgQ-W8RxaRtbg4lbfSRcro9HDzOLfsQx38BytCkgHICtgjPUgSFNmNzidAAshSmo-29iuH8WuA2BWRhIMinRPKLTnmEticGR9eIqKyGOnKU6aXlQyTPQ2pxOP7y2qapo/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdZBhkwYH_gjZgQ-W8RxaRtbg4lbfSRcro9HDzOLfsQx38BytCkgHICtgjPUgSFNmNzidAAshSmo-29iuH8WuA2BWRhIMinRPKLTnmEticGR9eIqKyGOnKU6aXlQyTPQ2pxOP7y2qapo/s400/IMG_4833.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195810116398226" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">... which kind of explains why we're home less than 36 hours after we set off. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We're also warm and dry, and not stuck on a bank holiday camping site with (what feels like) 500 raucous children and drunk people. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Still, a cheery time was had while it lasted, boiling up the tea on the picnic stove, and eating breakfast from a mug having forgotten to take the bowls. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK8rTlvccTVYg2ax9No-FVC-Y6mX5O2bs93g9Xz-C4av8JLEtyeTUVP40sHapvQYEspcUIq2VzI4GrvDL5VSvDdQovOGs_jou_67FgxTHTwk1J2_2NYN2XhhDn76KGMm4Uau4qpvVCmY/s1600/IMG_4851.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglK8rTlvccTVYg2ax9No-FVC-Y6mX5O2bs93g9Xz-C4av8JLEtyeTUVP40sHapvQYEspcUIq2VzI4GrvDL5VSvDdQovOGs_jou_67FgxTHTwk1J2_2NYN2XhhDn76KGMm4Uau4qpvVCmY/s400/IMG_4851.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195582996478434" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We did try a little cycle ride, but, er, well, it was a tad windy (that's my stop-taking-photos-of-me-now-please face - I don't always look like that).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnDuSkIydbTjvZQoD-zjMqD00vC5tiRqwi1vtNQaWPd1kvSqKKTy4Ghgk0PuGTKTdjwi-2AkNWa1Qsi02m3-qUlhemR1Cx8AQr9y2LB6DEmN8spUrVDgNBdxjsXRpikJHAPLwLxOld30/s1600/IMG_4863.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnDuSkIydbTjvZQoD-zjMqD00vC5tiRqwi1vtNQaWPd1kvSqKKTy4Ghgk0PuGTKTdjwi-2AkNWa1Qsi02m3-qUlhemR1Cx8AQr9y2LB6DEmN8spUrVDgNBdxjsXRpikJHAPLwLxOld30/s400/IMG_4863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195550740235266" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was a very pretty <a href="http://www.carsingtonwater.com/">reservoir</a> we were meant to be cycling round, but since it's not that far from home, I reckon we can save it for another day. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVsZ1vg8KmNnoH2mSL98uSf-gbAQw-WEyRpCjBIzTvNdMhIsV_J1sU65Kla4R-y9bBtGDYw9T5v_lGnbnWYE5ONMLIaqSqcS8eaZNNZXEbnda-ZWfPldb6YR5vM1-nJCqsHvhqWMTBDM/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVsZ1vg8KmNnoH2mSL98uSf-gbAQw-WEyRpCjBIzTvNdMhIsV_J1sU65Kla4R-y9bBtGDYw9T5v_lGnbnWYE5ONMLIaqSqcS8eaZNNZXEbnda-ZWfPldb6YR5vM1-nJCqsHvhqWMTBDM/s400/IMG_4871.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195548474126210" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Unsurprisingly, the sun came out on the way home, so we stopped for a picnic in <a href="http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/see/matlock.aspx">Matlock Bath</a>, which, despite being right in the middle of the country, and nowhere near the seaside, has a proper seasidey feel to it, with amusement arcades, chip shops, and 24 (yes, we did count) large plastic ice cream cones. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's a haven for motorcyclists, and we escaped to the other side of the river to have lunch. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqsCzKZuHkqAIq1QegW85PsvOCT78Z6XzJ3hACVZks62yAf8OLTTLEFAEAT3u-mCLKAP5sTPW6ixqFJ6yZ0MZ4J78YI-iGqhqEwt_y3q8jpVFVaxy-0zHNoHYJQINnBbcEoFd0Jasl7g/s1600/IMG_4919.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqsCzKZuHkqAIq1QegW85PsvOCT78Z6XzJ3hACVZks62yAf8OLTTLEFAEAT3u-mCLKAP5sTPW6ixqFJ6yZ0MZ4J78YI-iGqhqEwt_y3q8jpVFVaxy-0zHNoHYJQINnBbcEoFd0Jasl7g/s400/IMG_4919.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195538949769986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a9ux_oi0RShkzLd4t5w_BDeFcmcyT80NRCYsrrb2Ai9th_OfLqDxG5WzOODHpRzL5HL6LxrjmT2PXH5WQpNSuA0_1gaXNE-p4ED4xeO2vgZiBfjzaMCGKcgiSfHmQmle61d3VkkXGCo/s1600/IMG_4920.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a9ux_oi0RShkzLd4t5w_BDeFcmcyT80NRCYsrrb2Ai9th_OfLqDxG5WzOODHpRzL5HL6LxrjmT2PXH5WQpNSuA0_1gaXNE-p4ED4xeO2vgZiBfjzaMCGKcgiSfHmQmle61d3VkkXGCo/s400/IMG_4920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612195534318900082" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now we're home, I'm feeling a little bit daft for having abandoned a weekend away half way through - that's really not the kind of behaviour I expect from myself! But I'm warm, dry, about to get in a nice hot bath and eat a tasty risotto, and nobody is going to be throwing footballs at us, or playing bad pop music late into the night, so I'm really feeling rather justified. Ah, bank holiday camping, I'd forgotten all about it.... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Might even get out in the garden with the spare day I've acquired tomorrow! </span></span></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-71031389171812870102011-05-20T19:50:00.000+01:002011-05-20T19:58:11.203+01:00a nice cup of tea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ou9FzEojcDmQwhz509-i7wDc6faMHzbFrVHfJOI3c50it50tC3LCwJmkWmdNDzv5stJc2npujwSSI71SNMXuTeppXBDoR0B4yEXw8wdXZxTxeEA812_oqZQih7tx9xWBeA8dwKqbIA8/s1600/IMG_4379.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ou9FzEojcDmQwhz509-i7wDc6faMHzbFrVHfJOI3c50it50tC3LCwJmkWmdNDzv5stJc2npujwSSI71SNMXuTeppXBDoR0B4yEXw8wdXZxTxeEA812_oqZQih7tx9xWBeA8dwKqbIA8/s400/IMG_4379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606481432933856738" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Come with me to the other side of town, we're off to have a nice cup of tea in a</span></span><a href="http://www.therudeshipyard.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> fabulous little cafe. </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Perhaps you'd like to sit outside in a stripy deckchair and watch the world go by? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFebeBHNCMe0xGBMbZcSLBqchn9fkcxqnuic21zSeV_X84s6XeD3BvQ73_MiB_P7tKH5Pyt5pjnhGJi5spkhVRE4XjZA_sz9rESQzFjY7_s-h0-3v9BtzJbWqMMEPRPjyo7xPl7bQrdo/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFebeBHNCMe0xGBMbZcSLBqchn9fkcxqnuic21zSeV_X84s6XeD3BvQ73_MiB_P7tKH5Pyt5pjnhGJi5spkhVRE4XjZA_sz9rESQzFjY7_s-h0-3v9BtzJbWqMMEPRPjyo7xPl7bQrdo/s400/IMG_4395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606481426133414386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Or snuggle up on the rocking chair inside with a book, and have a bit of lemon and rosemary cake? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeyYl_4jvwaUtMkG0VaSLwPNpxb5bkeb4P8FeNnL6nhyphenhyphenup9fVMTDgyoVD2T-to8dpBt8VvbagXZFxWa9ZN8K2jg0ZPhH9wsf71Px3cg5sZYRSgeyE5x4VGgasDvID_ymprEVe0g2ydHM/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeyYl_4jvwaUtMkG0VaSLwPNpxb5bkeb4P8FeNnL6nhyphenhyphenup9fVMTDgyoVD2T-to8dpBt8VvbagXZFxWa9ZN8K2jg0ZPhH9wsf71Px3cg5sZYRSgeyE5x4VGgasDvID_ymprEVe0g2ydHM/s400/IMG_4389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606481423471620658" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Which is exactly what I did, in fact. Although it was a close run thing between that and the Guinness cake, I can tell you. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNC_w1KIe7RYbaV9nhkw0fbymaTN6yruJy4wPsQHdMWPxch29RDl2bPtJr3cChwo_9hlEqY6R3MUME8OmknVlQqZf9DF3Pv6HcqZbfsRhKo68h07leMGYhfJHWQWA9vuWzxYq4QZRb5c/s1600/IMG_4381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNC_w1KIe7RYbaV9nhkw0fbymaTN6yruJy4wPsQHdMWPxch29RDl2bPtJr3cChwo_9hlEqY6R3MUME8OmknVlQqZf9DF3Pv6HcqZbfsRhKo68h07leMGYhfJHWQWA9vuWzxYq4QZRb5c/s400/IMG_4381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606481418637237170" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anyway, there we sat, </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daffysgarden/5704023001/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">drawing hedgehogs,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and watching people popping in and out. Lovely Sunday morning fun. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(I don't think they recognised me as the same person who, when in the upstairs room at a little tiny gig once, put the heel of their stiletto through the floorboards, and made a BIG LOUD NOISE in the middle of the beautifully quiet music. At least, I hope they didn't, and they were awfully nice to me anyway if they did. Just goes to show why I don't wear stilettos very often.)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR1Z06h7m_Z1vISFySmxKD8KPnFQr6-IPNtr-lOqnTvSYeEOzX7cmoCnXQ911uFNWgumJ0I00poSvxdheoyE1_fK8a6kcrYuykSc0KlAfeLaVM1bq00mqRtVmNpXjD-ZQuvgVL3XVzBo/s1600/IMG_4394.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR1Z06h7m_Z1vISFySmxKD8KPnFQr6-IPNtr-lOqnTvSYeEOzX7cmoCnXQ911uFNWgumJ0I00poSvxdheoyE1_fK8a6kcrYuykSc0KlAfeLaVM1bq00mqRtVmNpXjD-ZQuvgVL3XVzBo/s400/IMG_4394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606481419860745922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's a good job this cafe's not any closer to my house because I'd be in there </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">all the time</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and would be both extremely poor, and extremely full of cake. </span></span></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-25264252156704075962011-05-15T18:25:00.003+01:002011-05-15T19:56:42.634+01:00what I don't do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZo1Mt6Hy8M8NxWr8-MsmsCnP_v8RV4kQD2XQnQEjIbFi0ITNblV5BZuGFr2-9K3-H0nYc6S9yN2wl4VNpYybjTxATF5KfdRni4Zm8LhyphenhyphenUx6l05xyj_VejaWn65_hp7g_dONyJQxaVV0/s1600/IMG_4752.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZo1Mt6Hy8M8NxWr8-MsmsCnP_v8RV4kQD2XQnQEjIbFi0ITNblV5BZuGFr2-9K3-H0nYc6S9yN2wl4VNpYybjTxATF5KfdRni4Zm8LhyphenhyphenUx6l05xyj_VejaWn65_hp7g_dONyJQxaVV0/s400/IMG_4752.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606995798509632578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ooh, just look at those scrummy redcurrants, all waiting to ripen! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My mum's been visiting this weekend, and we've spent almost all of the weekend in the garden. It was starting to feel a little overwhelming, but a weekend's work has sorted that out, and it feels half manageable again now, although there's still plenty to do. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stupidly, I didn't take many 'before' photos, and now it's gone all gloomy so my 'after' photos all look like 'before' photos anyway... </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbfU2oQrYGPS7t_k_uuzagQ1UFwxImO-9zdu62YGMs2_vaTVCKwSGWqccaqmD321u4DkMx2wBN82A9Gt_bDsrIVuokxsNs4w4RiYjBzpgHTLWY6KV6EZdNf6JkvAHiMjjKnpdFRD2UUY/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbfU2oQrYGPS7t_k_uuzagQ1UFwxImO-9zdu62YGMs2_vaTVCKwSGWqccaqmD321u4DkMx2wBN82A9Gt_bDsrIVuokxsNs4w4RiYjBzpgHTLWY6KV6EZdNf6JkvAHiMjjKnpdFRD2UUY/s400/IMG_4753.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606995794010928290" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In fact, I debated whether to share these at all, they're so uninspiring! And I do like to be inspired when I look back over my little blog. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But then I got to thinking that the reason I started blogging in the first place was to share photos of my garden as it changed over the seasons, and if I was only going to share pretty photos, then I wasn't going to share many photos at all, because my garden mostly *isn't* pretty... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">then</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I got to thinking about something I've been thinking about a lot lately, about how I witter on here and elsewhere about what I've been up to, and post photos of cakes I've made, and things I've knitted, and that, along with how I'm pretty good at spouting off with life changing advice for </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">other people,</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> sometimes gives people the impression that I'm up to something exciting </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">all the time</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It all came to a head when I read </span></span><a href="http://simplemom.net/the-great-myth/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the other day - goodness knows how I ended up over there, but I did, and I read lots of people's lists about things they *don't* do. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, for the record, here's some of the things that I *don't* do (and this is by no means an exhaustive list): </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't iron. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't change the bed every day. Or even every week. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't have a very clean and tidy house. There's one room I can barely get through the door of. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't always remember people's birthdays</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* Sometimes, even when I do remember, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don't get round to doing anything about it for ages</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (oh dear, this is the worst one!) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't watch much tv</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't clean the car, ever</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't replace things when they break</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't go abroad for holidays. Not a big decision, I just generally don't</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* I don't keep on top of the garden as much as I should</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'd best stop there before I start making myself feel bad!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm writing this list, not to beat myself with, and not because I think I give the impression that I have such a fabulous life, but as a reminder that sometimes we have more choice about how we spend our time than we might think we do. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looking at my list gives myself permission to remember that I have choices about how I spend some of my time. If I'm tempted to feel bad because my house isn't as tidy as someone else's, or my vegetables are still all crowded in little tiny pots on the windowsill when they should be in the garden, I can remember that I threw the duster to the wind, left the seedlings to fend for themselves, and went for a bike ride instead. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, if someone brings up even the (completely laughable) </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">possibility</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of me washing the car, I will always think 'what else could I do with this time?'</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Invariably, I think of something else I'd rather be doing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Which is why my car is rather grubby, and I bake quite a lot of cakes. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hmm. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, as if you needed yet more evidence of how I'm not the perfect gardner, take a look (peeking through hands over your eyes if you like, which is what I'm doing) at this... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShhGC-S24KqqvBwac3NFiZQ9ODFf9jnWio1XaZb_p4ZXKAIap4EEGS0r1mtNv5o47vJd_OZkigat4ryCQE3EVI-ArntQe8aDFmTPXRxw1YrofTG349yBOAjF7sHHU6u0kHcLVjqO38KE/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShhGC-S24KqqvBwac3NFiZQ9ODFf9jnWio1XaZb_p4ZXKAIap4EEGS0r1mtNv5o47vJd_OZkigat4ryCQE3EVI-ArntQe8aDFmTPXRxw1YrofTG349yBOAjF7sHHU6u0kHcLVjqO38KE/s400/IMG_4756.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606995787214207762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bleurgh! Concrete and rubble, and a whole load more work left to do! Pah! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Still, one day soon I'll be sitting on top of all that, drinking tea and eating more of those cakes, and all this will be a distant memory. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let's hope it's *very* soon... </span></span></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991503340024809241.post-5983581074270266602011-05-09T19:34:00.002+01:002011-05-09T19:48:27.013+01:00has it really been that long??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWYFmUy7O0L4KLDlWIfdF4D3sLC72UcImTio6sQZSm43fakHqwz86jS1Rs9C5eXUUrTyjmkY3rBdZRvzx83Nq9nlfG9tkwc5jYppV5sLgLjZrKUT2BlT2t0wSrywT_SY4yhSa-3Gwfhs/s1600/IMG_4600.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWYFmUy7O0L4KLDlWIfdF4D3sLC72UcImTio6sQZSm43fakHqwz86jS1Rs9C5eXUUrTyjmkY3rBdZRvzx83Nq9nlfG9tkwc5jYppV5sLgLjZrKUT2BlT2t0wSrywT_SY4yhSa-3Gwfhs/s400/IMG_4600.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604787398100835474" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Has it really been that long since I was last here? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I blame the weather. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or work. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or perhaps just idleness. (Yep, that'll be it). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, I'm back now, and there I am grinning stupidly at my PhD certificate which arrived in the post (appropriately dated April Fool's Day...), which is now hanging proudly in the kitchen.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, in amongst lots of other slightly-less-interesting things, I've been off having an adventure this weekend. I've been up in North Yorkshire, hanging around with a </span></span><a href="http://scandimoot.wikispaces.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lovely bunch of people</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and learning a few traditional Scandinavian tunes for no useful reason at all. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That poor old flute of mine has hardly been used for 15 years, and then had 8 hours of heavy usage in 2 days! I think it might need another 15 years resting now. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As well as being my first foray into Scandinavian music, it was also my first time sleeping in our new van, which is technically a car, and which is far smaller than our old cheery van. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSg5wcJm7m-U0TE8KDGV_HFvMlcAIxd_7b0UCOPrUVlZOiVKUsaNvWKdeiim2ev5GKgbWnX0SDHiy0eUDVfC0AVKK_HVBEeJnIwmrXv0CagzSUX1dIBujQA3dkemdLVaVQH9NuqXvZls/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSg5wcJm7m-U0TE8KDGV_HFvMlcAIxd_7b0UCOPrUVlZOiVKUsaNvWKdeiim2ev5GKgbWnX0SDHiy0eUDVfC0AVKK_HVBEeJnIwmrXv0CagzSUX1dIBujQA3dkemdLVaVQH9NuqXvZls/s400/IMG_4725.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604787394288858578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As you can see, I wasn't altogether without comforts, and I was so cosy I very nearly missed breakfast. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More Adventures Coming Up... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ooh, and speaking of adventures, we spent a happy morning on the other side of town noseying at a lovely little cafe our neighbours have opened up. How very lovely of them! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Somehow I seem to have failed to get a picture of the cafe itself (oops!) as I spent rather too much time outside ogling the old scooters that had turned up in style to celebrate the opening of the cafe. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What fun!<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdu_QZMM82EjbvOM8jr1l5-wDlk_Jnp_xK2YVpuclqHXCi1t3UeCZsJ1c7htzxOefXctk2BOoQWPqN8tjSuWiIkuOKNM8qYgRNGhZzAV6cNbM44CTMoOubh9Q2loNJ77fqCP1FRONRD4/s1600/IMG_4377.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdu_QZMM82EjbvOM8jr1l5-wDlk_Jnp_xK2YVpuclqHXCi1t3UeCZsJ1c7htzxOefXctk2BOoQWPqN8tjSuWiIkuOKNM8qYgRNGhZzAV6cNbM44CTMoOubh9Q2loNJ77fqCP1FRONRD4/s400/IMG_4377.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604787391339517442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How many times now have we considered acquiring a terribly impractical, noisy and expensive scooter to toddle off on picnics with? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, so many... </span></span></div></div>Jenni @ NotReallyAFarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699782031004116836noreply@blogger.com6