Last blog for September

Since yesterday seemed to be the only reasonable day in the forecast, the grass is cut and the laundry is done.  Shame they don't stay in that condition for long, eh?   I've finally chopped down the tomato plants, which have done really well - as indeed they damn' well should, at almost a quid a seed!  Two of them threw side shoots from low down while we were away, and one of them is heavy with ripening fruit, so I've chopped down the long stem and will leave them to get on with it for a little longer.  The roses are soldiering on: the Justice of the Peace, planted this year, is doing extremely well, as are Queen Elizabeth and Geoff Hamilton (aka Edna hereabouts, because we planted it the day after Ma-in-law died).  Of the others, Peace and Fragrant Cloud have done quite well, as have a couple of prolifically flowering patio roses at the front door.  Less good marks for Sunblest and Red Devil at the front, and Piccadilly, which we planted this year at the back.  We really must stop dithering and get some goodness into the soil.  It's not as though we have an excuse, given that we have a bin full of compost and a friend down the road with livery stables.

We went to see Barbara on Monday: she has made excellent progress since last time we saw her.  She had to go for an x-ray while we were there, and was able to get out of bed and into a chair largely unassisted.  While we were there she got the good news that she can move back on to a solid diet, and was to have the feeding tube removed next day if all went well.  

Lunch with Peter and Elizabeth on Wednesday was very pleasant.  Of the cooking, curate's egg.  In deference to Elizabeth's currently limited diet, we poached some fresh haddock - and will do it again.  onions, carrots and celery in the poaching water, together with a good glug of extra dry vermouth, lemon juice and a bit of seasoning.  Served with carroty mash and a mushroom sauce.  But I've definitely lost my touch with crème brûlée - hideously sweet and runny.  Far better fare at Celia and Andy's on Friday - a delicious fish pie with Rösti topping followed by an apple and blackberry crumble.  Glad to say we have the recipe for the crumble topping!

Not sure whether the daub I started at Thursday's art class will go a lot further.  We shall see.