ToadyI have been mainly Vol. 7

They weren't under the sink, they were on the window ledge over the sink! Lurking behind the washing up liquid and the dishwasher tablets!

Bet they were looking at you galen

Dull here so quite nice to have things to do in the house - DH still outside but he has abandoned the shorts for a bit anyway. I have stewed a lot of apples ready to bottle and have made two apple and cinnamon crumbles and a plum one for the freezer. Jars are sterilised so now I just need to fill them with plums and apple before doing the water bath bit. We have decided to go shopping late this afternoon and eat out before coming home.

Visited a hip consultant today and it looks as though he and I are of similar mind. Makes a change after the last one I saw got really angry with me for disagreeing with him. Really pleased because at long last ( after two long years+) I know where we are going if it proves necessary.

Had a phone call from the hospital this afternoon, offering me Oct.8th for my knee replacement op, don`t know how we`ll sort it out, but will cope somehow I suppose.

That's good news, just a bit of a shock to the system if they told you it would be a long wait I expect.

Go for it number, you and DH have had such a lot of health problems that to get them all sorted could mean a shorter time altogether dealing with hospitals etc. You spoke of perhaps doing a cruise and this could bring that day nearer. Get all the help you can though.

Good luck, number! We'll be thinking of you.

I've had a lovely day doing ordinary things. It has been warm and sunny but with towering cumulus clouds softly rolling in from the north (of all places!) and now dropping rain. I cleaned another corner of the Den, including washing windows and sorting, sorting, sorting certain other people's chaos. Satisfying. Now it's just a case of waiting for the "Where did you put my...?" Archery stuff in the archery bag, bike stuff in the bike shed – really revolutionary stuff like that

Two corners to go. The autumn colours all around are getting interesting and every day I can see a little bit more of the loch through the trees which are quietly divesting themselves of leaves.

I have been "commissioned" to do a first birthday cake for DGS. Nothing too professional looking. DD suggested sticking smarties on a Ganache base.
So for the first time I tried making a Ganache with some very late dated double cream from the fridge and the dark cooking chocolate I bought last Christmas.
If anyone can advise on how to spread so it looks really smooth I would welcome this. Cake decorating is not really my thing.

The Ganache worked, so I went out and bought a £1 Jamaican Ginger cake to try spreading it on.

I can totally recommend Ganache coated Jamaican Ginger cake. I am thinking of patenting it.

I have to try that, nellie!

As I predicted: today I found the toys I was looking for in the small toyshop about 200 yards down the road. So much for John Lewis and ToysRUs!

Sounds yummy Nellie. I have had a day of sorting out emails and general admin, and now I have done it I feel so relieved .I have a tendency to let those sort of things pile up. After getting all that away I have had a pleasant hour or so looking on the Internet for a wedding anniversary present for DH. We are second time rounders, so we haven't been together for years and years,but it is 10 years together and actually married 6 years next Sunday. He is quite difficult in that he never wants anything, anyway I have chosen a bottle of malt whiskey, with his name on the label,now I have written it it sounds a bit naff! He will enjoy drinking it though"

Phoenix ((hugs))

Sure he will love it Grannyeggs. Hope he gets you something lovely too.

@Galen at least I pointed you in the right direction. I know these things

grannyeggs, I bought Mr Bags a whisky blend called Sheep Dip when I happened to be away from home on his birthday and in sheep country. He said it was excellent.

Today I have mainly trying to convince myself that I don't really mind not getting the job I recently interviewed for. Twice.

Bit I do mind, very much. It wasn't much in the way of money, £10k a year less than my most recent job, but they were lovely people and I feel that I would have enjoyed it so much.

phoenix they were not that good if they couldn't see what an asset you are x

You are so right, glass!

After the second interview last Friday I really thought that they were going to offer it to me, the MD even asked how I would feel about taking over responsibility for their blog. But when I didn't get a phone call on Monday I did start to doubt. That'll teach me to be so optimistic.

It is so disheartening to keep looking and getting kicked back - but it could maybe have turned out not to be for you anyway. DD has just changed jobs and it took a pod while to find anything at all suitable. Jobs seem to be thin on the ground everywhere. I am sure the right niche will come along before too long - good luck phoenix

To day I have been bottling plums - got them in the waterbath now coming up to heat.

that bags I have one called Pig's Nose.('Tis said that our scotch is as soft and as smooth as a pig's nose' is written on the box) Some local friends have it distilled and bottled for their company; I have a feeling Sheep Dip may be theirs too

I took a sports bra back to a shop today, as I realised I didn't really need one, and went into the second hand designer clothes shop next door. Tried on a t shirt come bra thing that was made for doing exercise in and couldn't get out of it. Nearly had to call the shop assisitant for help until I found a way of rolling it down and then feeding my arms through it . I felt soo stupid.

Tegan I can't imagine that - you are so slight!! I can't even try things on if they don't go easily over my head - I get all claustrophobic and panicky