makes you sick

Pensioner Party

2012-01-29T23:28:00.000-08:00

Was invited to a pensioner party where I saw quite a few of our punters. One notable woman, now a non drinker, had thoughtfully brought several half bottles of the hard stuff, including rum, vodka, whisky, gin and Southern Comfort for our consumption, and poured me at least quarter of a pint of neat whisky, which cheered me up rather a lot, particularly after I followed this with a few glasses of red wine.

Thus disinhibited I devoured around six sandwiches, some trifle, crisps and cake. There was an excellent noisy disco, so I staggered to the floor and danced several times, hopefully burning up a few calories. The local MP, my former chairman, the mayor, and three councillors were all present.

There were local lady Morris dancers, but my abiding memory will be of the whole company, including many white-haired ladies shouting 'who the fuck is Alice?' in a resounding chorus to the ubiquitous Roy Chubby Brown version of the song. A couple of the councillors looked rather shocked. Perhaps they should get out more.

Still a bit mis, but good Thai meal and chat with Nibs

2012-01-29T01:47:00.000-08:00

Had a really great evening at Ken's Thai dinner at Thai Silk. Met lots of people again, including Fiona, who was very sparkly and fun, and another interesting woman, a doctor from South London, who had spent three months in Thailand. Thai Silk is a large restaurant with a very good outside area, the service is excellent and the meal good value: two courses for a tenner.

This morning I was thinking about my ex, but have not yet got up the courage to visit Peckham and make enquiries about what may have happened. I found a fairly recent photograph which will help. There is a library in his street which I am certain he must have visited frequently

Long conversation about my ex with Nibs who was very understanding, especially about the shock of the long time lapse between his death and our recent discovery. I have decided to do a little sketch book project, which will help me work through issues I didn't at first realise I had. We shall see.

My front tooth is falling to bits so I shall have to try and obtain an urgent dental appointment next week. I may also recommence the glucosamine. I am feeling the cold quite badly for some reason, and I remember that glucosamine always made me feel very warm, which could be handy in this weather.

Nibby has had a great time, visiting friend in the Cotswolds and Devon, but all a bit exhausting. She is thinking of getting a group together to go sketching, which sounds like a very good idea.

Coffin and Coke

2012-01-29T01:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a coffin (below) from the collection at the Festival Hall. The inside is lined with railway upholstery.

I poured some skimmed milk into diet coke,(right) and this is what it looked like when I turned around again. Nice!

Feeling Blue

2012-01-27T23:19:00.000-08:00

And wearing blue top and specs to match. So went to the Paul Gambaccini recording of Desert Island Discs to die to, accompanied by an excellent exhibition of fantasy coffins at the Festival Hall with my first Artslink meetup. Very good, and bumped into Steve Lancashire, a former Southwark Councillor, who had incidentally seen someone else I knew that day. We had both been trustees of the same charity for years, and it was good to see Steve again.

I have realised that I am going through some grief, not a little of it about 'what could have been' and also reactions of anger and blame, which are typical of bereavement, despite not having been close to my ex for many years. The past is still with us, though.

Curiouser and Curiouser

2012-01-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

Trying to discover more about the circumstances of the demise of my ex, I have now spoken several times to Southwark Register Office (hopeless) Southwark Social Services (hopeless), hospitals (did not die in hospital), police (no knowledge of the death), and finally, a call to his Housing Officer, who is of course on leave this week, but may, just may, contact me on her return. May try and contact a local councillor, and go to Peckham and try to speak to neighbours, etc. The death seems genuine, as someone at Southwark Council (if only I knew who) recorded his death and sent the report to Bona Vacantia.

I can hardly believe that I have only just heard about his death in March last year. I was in contact with him the previous November, when we spoke and he sent me a card. As I mentioned before, he had a mobile phone which I gave him and had only one number on it, mine. He had my telephone number and address, and the numbers and addresses of several members of the family at home. Don't really know where to turn next.

I would obviously like to know why I am only finding out about this, ten months after the event. Really strange. I suspect a visit to Peckham is in order.

Feeling Rather Sad

2012-01-27T00:26:00.000-08:00

My son rang to say he had received an email about an estate. He rang the heirhunter people who had traced him. It appears that my poor old ex-husband (shown above with our son) died in March last year. As we haven't been in touch, we know no more.

Poor old thing. He was so different when young: an enterprising and adventurous teenager, going hill walking and youth hostelling in the Lake District, living abroad and attending a French University, gaining his degree there and working as an assistant teacher in a French School, before getting a scholarship to Oxford and a good Modern Languages degree.

I met him in Paris where he spent time during his Easter university vacation. After completing his degree we lived in Algeria and Saudi Arabia where he taught English. Returning to UK he taught at a Language school in London and Oxford, making friends with a colleague who cooked for the students, Jennifer Paterson, later of Fat Ladies fame. After our son was born he taught at a grammar school in Westcliff, where he was very popular with the children, and spent some weekends in London working for the Simon Community with homeless men.

Unfortunately he went to France in 1968 and was somehow involved in the May riots in Paris and disappeared for the rest of the summer, before appearing again in September, obviously mentally ill, at his parent's house in London. To me, he never really recovered: he had toured France with the Living Theatre during that missing summer, and discovered psychedelic drugs.

We separated after this, and he lived in Barcelona for a few years, with a new relationship and another son, but they split up and he lived alone in London afterwards.

I shall endeavour to find out more about why we did not hear about his death until now, as I gave him a mobile phone which had my number on it, and he had written down several family addresses and telephone numbers. Very strange indeed. And very sad.

And here's the scarves

2012-01-25T05:44:00.001-08:00

Not that they show very well. Should have put a bag over my head. Not in good face today.

Successful Shopping

2012-01-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

This is a rather strange pot, which is quite old I think and has typical regency colours with Greek patterns and images of various gods around it. The colours fade so I had to stop washing it.

Great deal in Tesco - tins of chestnut puree reduced from £2.20 to 45p so purchased the remaining five tins. I shall add these to casseroles, soups etc. Also naturally, a sale going on at Peacocks so purchased two scarves - both black background - one with different sized white stars all over and the other with white swallows. I shall probably wear them together with all my black, white and grey clothes. Made an excellent soup using free range mushrooms boiled and drained, then adding chicken stock and garlic to the water, then a bit of gin and a tin of chestnut puree and some butter beans. Then slicing the mushrooms back in for a bit of texture. I think that's all.

Great to find more cantuccini in the pound shop so purchased three packets to improve my coffee breaks at home and my hospitality. Actually, I hate to say it, but the Torta Andalusa and the Tiramisu from the same source are very popular with guests. Very handy at teatime. They probably taste good because they are not English and have less crap in them. Calorie content not bad either. Thin slices about 150 calories.

An anniversary version of the first Adrian Mole is out. Great though Adrian Mole books are, my favourite Sue Townsend is Number Ten. Talking of books, I have now at last found the free book section by author on my ipad. Decided to read more Winifred Holtby and downloaded some.

Bad sketch

2012-01-25T03:06:00.001-08:00

Another wonky sketch done with my iPad. Less vile than the portraits but still in need of much practise....

Monday Night Jam

2012-01-24T03:04:00.000-08:00

Used up a Groupon with Alice. This entitled us to a cocktail each and £25 worth of bar food upstairs at the Toulouse Lautrec near the Elephant. We had to arrive early, around 7.15 to be sure of a table. I had been rather dreading this jaunt since I am not always crazy about jazz.

We ordered a fish and seafood platter to share, which was quite substantial. The cocktails were a bit weak, but very pleasant. The room filled up quite quickly and at 8.30 the house band started playing, and were excellent, I have to say. We went on to have a pudding each (fortunately I chose sorbets) and some more drinks.

After a short break, a large number of musicians started arriving with their instruments and the jam session started. They all seemed pretty competent, not that I am an expert, and the atmosphere was rather like a mini Ronnie Scott's upstairs, very pleasant. At one point we noticed a guy bearing a striking resemblance to Lembit Opik, staggering about rather tired and emotional. Anyway, we were enjoying ourselves so much it was nearly midnight when we left. I shall definitely go again, and Monday is a really fun night. I shall have a look at their website which tells you what is on when, and they have music of one kind or another every night.

Sunday Lunch

2012-01-23T00:49:00.000-08:00

was enjoyed by Dorothy, Madeleine and me. We went to the Laughing Gravy, which has good food and an excellent atmosphere. Roast onglet for two of us and chicken for Madeleine. Dorothy and I fell by the wayside and had puddings, which were excellent. We limited our wine consumption though. I have always liked Laughing Gravy. Rang Nibby who was going to Arighi Bianchi for lunch. The food there is excellent, and the children are used to it and tend to behave well there. Nibby is going on her adventure to Devon via the Cotswolds today. I hope she has a good time.

I plan to use a Groupon at Brasserie Toulouse-Lautrec with Alice tonight, so wish me luck!

Past Homes

2012-01-21T23:52:00.001-08:00

I blame encroaching dementia, but I find it hard to remember all the places I have ever lived in. Therefore I shall attempt to document these:

1. Paignton, where I was born and lived until my parents separated.

2. Combe Martin, and for a short time Ilfracombe, where my sister was born.

3. Cambridge, where my stepfather was at Uni.

4. Sutton, for a short while after my stepfather graduated.

5. Trinidad, West Indies, where the oil industry flourished, and my stepfather was a geologist.

6. Kensington, after another parental split.

7. Blackheath, where we spent several years.

8. Runfold, near Farnham, Surrey.

9. Heswall in Cheshire, when my new stepfather's company transferred to Liverpool. My brother was born here.

10. Paris, where I became an au pair and met my first husband.

11. Oxford, where my husband was at uni. And Barnes, where his family lived.

12. Algiers where my husband worked at a language school.

13. Battersea, where we lived for a short while when my husband got a job in Saudi Arabia.

14. Saudi Arabia for a short while.

15. Blackheath, when my husband worked at a language school in central London, and I became pregnant with my son.

16. Chilson, near Charlbury, Cotswolds. My son was born at the War Memorial Cottage Hospital, Chipping Norton.

17. Thorpe Bay, where my husband taught at Westcliff High School, then disappeared in the 1968 May riots in Paris. He later went back to his parents' house in Barnes.

18. Barnes, where I lived firstly with my parents, then rented a flat, where I lived with my son for a couple of years, before meeting someone else.

19. Northumberland, near Morpeth. We lived happily here until I became ill with bronchitis and pneumonia caused by a damp flat, and moved back to London with my son.

20. Found a flat in Barnes, which I later purchased, when I remarried.

21. Moved to St Margaret's Twickenham, where I bought a house.

22. Divorced and moved to Elephant & Castle, where I have been living for the past 20 years.

I do seem to have got about a bit. No wonder I can't remember it all.

iPad sketch at lye torng

2012-01-21T23:14:00.001-08:00

I am not getting any better at this. Obviously require plenty of practise.

Food Again

2012-01-20T03:10:00.000-08:00

OK I will stop about food soon. BUT just try this: 5-600g any old stewing beef, trimmed and diced, 2-6 carrots quartered horizontally, 2 medium onions quartered, 1 pint chicken or beef stock, 1 tin Heinz cream of tomato soup. Bay leaves, pepper, salt etc optional. Chuck all into a large covered casserole and stick in the oven heated to 160 for an hour, then down to about 140 for another four hours. Delicious and dead easy!

Pastures New

2012-01-19T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well, new departures anyway. Went to my first meetup and paid a tenner for membership. This entitles me to find out about any of Ken's meetups. Ken is a middle-aged Irish chap living in Lewisham, who runs lots of these groups, doing anything from walks during the day to dining in the evening and plenty in between. Ken has been doing this for a year and now has over 3,000 members, which showed there is a demand, and is very adept at introductions, having a great memory for names. A free glass of wine was provided for newbies, which made it pretty cheap. An interesting crowd of people met in the wine bar, more men than women, but plenty of both, with a very varied social and ethnic mix which was good. I chatted with a medical secretary, a senior civil servant, a doctor and someone who had been a dustman for 30 years. Ages ranged from people in their twenties, but most were in the range of 35 to 50 and I was definitely the only old lady, which was fine. People bought their own drinks, and I nursed a diet coke until I received the free wine, so it was a cheap night out. A card was passed to me by a guy who is interested in doing film extra work and I promised to let him know if I could find a reputable agency. Several people I met are also going to the Thai dinner next week so I shall see some familiar faces.

I left quite early, being unused to evenings out, and was greeted outside the house by the Kookster, mewing loudly as he followed me home. Two missed calls from Dorothy, who was eating dinner by the time I called back at 9.30. I shall catch up with my soaps this morning on my ipad.

Ugly me

2012-01-19T08:05:00.001-08:00

Was trying to take a snap to upload for film extra stuff but I keep getting these mad staring eyes. Maybe there is a tv ad forthcoming requiring mad old warty staring bats,who knows?

Palms

2012-01-18T09:24:00.001-08:00

Bus Pass Outing

2012-01-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

This time two people showed so went to Tate Britain and staggered about a bit. Looked at the Turners and some Romantic stuff and saw lots of students looking at abstract expressionists and Francis Bacon. Then looked at some contemporary stuff, but masses of work going on and not that much to see, considering. But large chandelier thingy, above and another thing with potted palms quite fun.

Vegged out in the afternoon, but made some sustaining pea and ham soup which will last for days. Purchased some flowers and chocs for Antonia. Must remember to get Louise some Turkish delight from Borough Market maybe on Saturday.

The Impresario

2012-01-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

Here's Barrie, still at it!

Fireside Maud with Tiger

2012-01-17T23:29:00.000-08:00

Soho

2012-01-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

is where I spent some time this morning. Auditionees? for a commercial were foregathering, including Victorine, to play parts of a wedding party, mum of the bride etc. It was quite funny because the camera person came out and assumed I was there for an audition. He commented on the elegance of my coat, so I shall not chuck it out just yet. Victorine wore a very low cut suit and a rather jaunty fascinator, shaped like a little hat, a bit burlesque in style. They paired her up with a tall, quite good looking actor, and the audition went on for some time. We then escaped to Da Aldo for a very good lunch, after which, fortified with too much wine we battled on to the Charing Cross Road to see Barrie and Keith. I purchased Barrie's novel:'Only One Leaf Left on the Old Oak Tree' - a sparkling ditty about old ladies in a retirement home, a sure bestseller. I then admired the new Maud, an elegant young tabby, who was lounging against a large toy tiger in front of the fire. We then received absolutely enormous pint sized cups of tea with biscuits.

For some reason the name of Terence Davies came up. Unfortunately, because of the wine I had drunk I foolishly admitted that when I had seen him at the NFT a few years ago, he had denied any knowledge of Christophe and Victorine. Victorine was amazed to hear this, as she and Christophe had provided almost a second home for him, having him to dinner almost weekly for several years before he became famous. This is where I had first met him, and I knew he was a frequent visitor and we had all four met up locally for lunch at a place called the Zanzibar (now closed). I had also been rather puzzled and a bit embarrassed at the time. I had deliberately not mentioned it before because I thought it was hurtful, considering how much they had done for him. I blame the wine. I decided that the poor man may have a really bad memory. Another possibility is that he had become so famous he had forgotten his whole preceding existence. Oh well. I did not arrive home until around 6pm - very late for me. Must learn to keep my trap shut. Probably too late in life for that, but will try harder.

I shall decide tomorrow whether to brave another bus pass outing. Today was bloody cold outside and tomorrow promises rain.

Bit of a Bummer

2012-01-16T08:46:00.004-08:00

using Brushes. It may be some adjustment I have not made, but using it there is quite a time gap between my drawing something and it appearing so I have no idea where the marks will appear and they get quite carried away leading to a very clumsy result. I shall keep practising though. Also the fine drawing implement Julian gave me just does not work with Brushes in that it often fails to make any marks at all. Also Brushes seems to move about, enlarging suddenly in front of me so I have to use the rubber to bring the page back to normal. Teething troubles no doubt. We shall see.

I got quite carried away and joined some more Meetup groups. Also told Nibby about them and there seem to be a few oop North, mainly in Mankie but she may start a sketchbook one in Macclesfield which should be fun. I hope she does.

I am eating too much with this cold. I really must try harder to restrain myself. Pickled cucumber beckons.

And here is another

2012-01-16T05:48:00.001-08:00

Very trying

2012-01-16T05:23:00.000-08:00

Trying to use blogsy. Equally tiresome using brushes which is my excuse for such poor stuff as this.

Or this

Surprise Visit

2012-01-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

There's something about my Sunday involving my flat being even more of a mess than usual, so it was with slight horror that I received a call from Alice to say she was nearby on a bus, and was it OK if she came to see me today rather than tomorrow? Since nothing in particular was happening I agreed to this, and started darting about the place in a vain attempt to disguise my sadly sordid surroundings.

We chatted over coffee and cakes (though I had purchased some profiteroles from Marks at a knockdown price as part of their meal deal, Alice preferred the Tiramisu layered thing from the £1 shop, which was fine by me). I may chuck out these sinful treats later today (Monday).

Having told Nibby that I never get colds, there has been a suspicious tickling in the throat, combined with a runny nose, occasional sneezing and feeling somewhat below par, so I suspect I told a lie. Oh well.

Have now booked the Hope & Anchor for Sunday lunch, which should be fun, and am in the process of using up my last Groupon for some kind of evening session at the Toulouse-Lautrec, if they ever answer their telephone.

Feeling rather housebound, I joined about three Meetup groups: Ken's Meetup, which seems to be mainly going out drinking in the evening, probably not entirely my kind of thing; a London Dining group, seems to be mainly Thai places, again in the evening; and for some reason probably associated with my newly found brother's interests, a folkie group, which will embarrass me no end I suspect. Still, onward and upward! These groups seem to cost about a tenner a year to join, and events are either cheap or free, which suits me fine. Should help occupy my time and provide some kind of social contact, but we shall see. Perhaps I should have stuck with the SE1 Come and Dine group, but the one and only one I hosted was such a nightmare.

Saturday Afternoon

2012-01-14T23:53:00.000-08:00

Had a brief drink at Lye Torng, then met Dorothy at Pain. Dorothy helped me with my ipad a bit, and we had a long chat over a coffee. Later Julian turned up for another coffee at the Monmouth, before we parted, me clutching a bag of apples and pears which Dorothy had purchased earlier.

Last night I decided to have a bit of a wander, and found a rather odd little place in the back streets of Southwark called 'Salamander'. Intrigued by the darkness within, just punctuated by a few glowing lights, I couldn't resist going in. Once inside I could see that the only light was provided by lamps placed on tables. No music playing, but just a few people drinking cocktails. There was a long bar down the side, with a couple of bar staff busy shaking cocktails. The whole place seemed very old fashioned, a bit like a thirties bar. I settled down to consume an absinthe, and observed. Such a strange place to find in Southwark. By my second absinthe, more people had arrived, and a small jazz band had assembled in the back. A little dance floor was revealed, and a few customers, enlivened by alcohol, danced about a bit, quite slowly and unsteadily. Reminded me of the 'trad jive' of the late 'fifties. I decided to leave before things became too lively, and staggered back home.

Actually, I just made all that up. My life is so dull. I will now confess that I watched TV for about an hour or two, then went to bed to read for a while before nodding off. Tragic really.

This horrible snap was inspired by Cecil Beaton who used to photograph the Queen with a huge and powerful light behind her. Not quite the same with one of my not very bright lights and me in the front. Must try harder.

Freedom Friday and Saturday Morning

2012-01-14T00:32:00.000-08:00

A desultory glance around the horrendous mess that is my flat, before settling down to arranging the huge vase of flowers in my living room. Then I started reading the food history book, in between reading bits of the Alan Clark diary on my ipad. Did a sketch using the Brushes app, was almost pleased with it, but in attempting to save I somehow deleted it. I am writing this on Saturday.

Madeleine's birthday on Friday. She had no plans, so I said she was welcome to come around after work, but I suspect she either had a better offer, or was planning to have a birthday mopefest at home, fuelled with booze, chocs and rubbish TV. Am green with envy just thinking about it, though I am doing quite well myself with the gin and books. In any event we are planning a birthday Sunday lunch in a week or two.

Not sure whether I am meeting Dorothy today, but if so I shall collect my bits of printing which Julian has ready for me. Otherwise today, I may try a further bit of tidying up my art materials, which are untidily scattered around the spare bedroom at the moment.

Fond Farewell

2012-01-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dinner at Lye Torng last night with all the Trustees, Romy's husband and my successor. Everyone was so kind and I felt totally inadequate. Not used to being the centre of attention. They presented me with a vast and elegant bouquet, a book on historic English Food by Clarissa Dickson Wright, and a much appreciated bottle of gin. My weaknesses nailed.

This morning I woke early and determinedly rang the tax office and my pension providers, both state and NHS, which took around three hours to get some answers. The tax people now tell me they will change my tax code asap so from April things should improve. Rang Nibby and sorted out tickets to the David Hockney for March.

An email arrived from my old friend David who is busily painting away, and hope we might meet to catch up soon.

Tax etc

2012-01-12T03:26:00.000-08:00

Rang the damned tax people. Unfortunately I have managed to lose my P45 and anything else which tells me how much I have earned in the past year. I probably lost it with the Groupon vouchers. Seems that I will be paying too much tax for some time, and it may not be adjusted until next year, or when someone decides to send them the information which they do not have yet. Oh well. Apparently because I am over 65 I am supposed to have some age related allowance I am not getting, but the tax people say I would only get it if I were not paying tax anyway which sounds a bit wrong to me. If it is only a tax allowance, surely it would only apply against tax you were actually paying. Since I am 70 I should have probably been getting it against my income for the past five years??? I just do not understand these things. I suppose I should not complain as Nibby is only getting £380 per month. I am trying to get her to claim pension credit but so far no luck. Actually I have just looked up the tax thing and I seem to have not been entitled to it because I was working and because my total income was therefore over 24k. Dear me, I can now earn nearly 10k without paying any tax. Must find a way to get some tax-free money.

About 2pm and still awaiting delivery, which can stretch into the evening, but I have a date at 7pm so let's hope it comes soon. No paper so bored into yet another search for any tax info and groupons, hopeless, must have chucked it all out.

Missing Groupons

2012-01-11T22:52:00.000-08:00

These will be printed for me by Julian, since I have hidden them away so carefully that I cannot find them. Julian came and gave me a tutorial on my ipad. Unfortunately not much of this sank in, as I took it to the Lye Torng and somehow pressed a wrong button so that it would not connect to the internet there. Now it only connects at home. Bit of a nuisance really, but less of a worry since I am not likely to drop it at home. Had been hoping to take it out to cafes though. And with me if I went away anywhere. Oh well.

Visited the quack, who agrees that my back problems point to a nerve disorder somewhere. She has referred me to a back pain clinic at the hospital for further investigation. I suppose now I am retired I have no excuse for avoiding hospital appointments. Must also go to the damned dentist soon as my teeth are in need of expensive treatment.

Someone rang me last night. Must have been Nibby, but I did not get to the phone in time to take the call and my phone does not tell you which number called you last nor a message taking facility. Of course it could have been someone trying to sell me something. Made me burn my cooking, anyway, so I just had some soup and lettuce for dinner.

Quiet day today, awaiting what will no doubt be my last delivery of clothes from the sales.

Cancellations

2012-01-11T02:53:00.000-08:00

Been cancelling all my memberships and mags: Art Fund, RSPB (spending the money on fat balls instead), The Week, and Period Living. That just left the Oldie, due for renewal of £37 in February, but saw an offer of 12 months for £12 plus a free Oldie Annual, so rang them hastily to take advantage of this. So spent £12 so far today.

Was working out that if I pretended to be two people, I could still get quite a good value midweek four day break at Littlecote House. Must find out about train fares to Marlborough or Hungerford. I would have to pretend to be 'Mr and Mrs' since they don't really seem to cater for singles, unless in a vast coach party. They would do well on this since with my diet, I would only be eating for a very small 'Mrs'. Don't suppose I will really go, though.

Wednesday

2012-01-11T01:13:00.001-08:00

Spoke too soon. On Tuesday evening I downloaded two books - another £8 in total. At least they were long ones, if rather eclectic choices: Alan Clark's first Diary, and My Shit Life So Far by Danny Boyle.

Above is some uraniun glass, illuminated by a UV torch. Xander was a bit fascinated by this stuff at Christmas, though dubious about drinking out of the glasses.

Madeleine has kindly pointed out some free lectures in London which I may attempt to attend. Though at the moment, my whole time seems to be spent in turning rubbish out of drawers and discovering things I did not know I had.

Visiting the quack today about my back, but I suspect that there will be no answers, but we shall see. A long chat with Victorine, who is rapidly losing weight. Somehow she finds it easy to starve all day, and then eat in the evening. I told her about the trick of just having under 600 calories on two days, and not worrying so much about the rest, and the recent advice to have two alcohol-free days a week. I was also surprised to hear someone say on Radio 4 that two units, the recommended daily max for women, is a large glass of wine, so that means the weekly total would then be five glasses a week which seems very low. I say this not having touched a drop since New Year's Eve, but still,...

I loved the explanation for the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie from Coronation Street the other night. Seems that cottage pie is always beef, and should have potato slices on top to represent the roof of the cottage, and shepherd's pie is always lamb, with fluffy mash on top to represent the fleece. Sounds like a rural myth.

Tuesday

2012-01-10T04:40:00.000-08:00

Saw Easter eggs for sale the other day. Lunch with Ken and Romy today - Romy has kindly given me another bottle of PX which will considerably brighten my retirement. I shall consume this while continuing to read my Fat Duck book. Had a virtuous lunch purchased by Romy, of smoked salmon and prawn salad.

I only spent £2 today: £1 on a newspaper and £1 on some low fat mayonnaise. I wish I could do this every day. My previous two days have been quite appalling. I cannot bring myself to say how much I spent, but I had an Ocado delivery one day and bought some M & S Fuller Longer meals the next day. These work out to £3 each which isn't too bad though they are not as good as home cooking of course, even my cooking. Handy to keep a couple in the fridge just in case, though.

Made another fruit jelly with raspberries. I am wondering whether, if I replaced some of the water, after it has set a bit, with cold custard (cream would curdle) and whizzed it in the Magimix it would make a kind of mousse on resetting. May try it. We shall see.

Monday Still

2012-01-09T06:12:00.000-08:00

Nibby rang and suggested we went to the David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy some time in March. She could stay overnight with me, so I shall make the bed up soon in anticipation. Which reminds me to wash the sheets.

Have been reading the enormous Fat Duck cookery book etc which Romy purchased for me. The story is very interesting. When I am off diet some time I may try thrice cooked chips. Seems you make fat chips, boil until soft, run under cold water before refrigerating them to dry out (apparently a dessicator helps, but I can't imagine being able to get one of these) before frying them twice again. Should make the outside fabulously crispy with soft fluffy insides. Mmmmm... I must stop thinking about food...

Meanwhile I will continue bagging up summer clothes so that my wardrobe is more manageable.

More Monday Morning

2012-01-09T00:23:00.000-08:00

And here's all the mess by my bedside today. On the left there is a 'Stratton' compact which I picked up in Marlborough. I may have mentioned this before, but when my 21st was coming up, these things were very popular. I mentioned to someone that I would like one and received 12 compacts, at least three of which were identical. I can't remember what I did with them, but now they are collectable again.

Woke up ridiculously early, i.e. 4am, having gone to bed around nine. Breakfast at 7am. Trying to decide what to do today. Because I am not at work, I seem to make more mess around the place, which is rather worrying. I must try and get out more.

Monday Morning

2012-01-09T00:21:00.001-08:00

Here's a glass of water by my bedside. I was fascinated by the shapes made by a brush behind it.

Blogsy failed

2012-01-07T23:51:00.000-08:00

Did another post on Blogsy which has dismally failed so may give up on this.

I just don't really know how to do it. Anyway, I can't be bothered to try and remember all of it. Suffice it to say that I have lost 3lb of the 6lb gained over December, so onwards and downwards, hopefully.

Had a good long meeting with Dorothy and briefly saw Julian who was rushing off to see the Gerhardt Richter at the Tate Modern with a friend. I was going to see it today, but unfortunately it finished yesterday. I am toying with the idea of visiting the Museum of Childhood, but may leave this until next week. Now off to M & S to grab a paper and maybe examine their steaks. I have decided to record what I spend each day in order to frighten myself into living within my income - being a spendthrift and a poverty-stricken pensioner somehow don't go together too well. We shall see....

Saturday Morning Early

2012-01-07T00:21:00.000-08:00

Awaiting Ocado. I cooked the Heston-style steak. It was indeed very juicy but not pink enough inside. Apparently I should buy a meat thermometer to test it. I was afraid it might be a bit 'off' so overcooked it, but it was still good. Almost forgot to rest it for five minutes. Bored to death with TV so had an early night.

Back and hips and backs of legs still hurting a lot despite getting up three times and trying to get comfortable. Not a good night's sleep, but still waking fairly refreshed at 6am. Kook absolutely on time and came flying in, mewing loudly to be fed. I am now reading Blood, Sweat and Tea - by a London Ambulance driver, on my ipad.

Texted Dorothy about a possible meet today but no reply so far.

I have decided (yet again) to try and sort out my clothes. I really need to separate summer and winter clothing more strictly. More black bin bags called for. I actually tried some cheap boots on in Peacocks and found I could actually do the zips up. My black suede flat pointy boots which go right up over the knee, my favourites, are so loose in the leg that they slip down which is annoying. I may purchase some of the fairisle kind of Norwegian type woolly knitted leggings which should fatten my calves and keep the boots up. We shall see.

Yesterday, I had a go at the cobwebs with my feather duster. I also dusted the lampshades and realised that the one in the downstairs hall which is a long paper one, was deeply encrusted with dust, and when dusted, holes were revealed. I am reluctant to replace this since it is such a good shape. Surprising how much filth is revealed considering I actually have a cleaner. I cleaned the salt pig in the kitchen and a few of the appliances too. I suppose at least the cleaner does the floors, which is the worst thing for me. Basically the whole place needs decluttering, the damp dealt with, redecorating, ( ha ha) and later in the year, another assault on next door's so-called 'garden' which now resembles a jungle with huge brambles coming over to my side. I have purchased some extra strong garden gloves to hold these while I cut them but it is a bit of a losing battle. I am wondering if there is some kind of industrial killer I can just pour over the fence which will kill everything from the foliage. Without harming the cats.

Bloody hell, Ocado has arrived fifteen minutes early! Must go.

Friday

2012-01-06T05:44:00.000-08:00

Collected my repeat prescription. Saw Dancing Fred at the GP surgery. He wants me to make sure he is invited to the Christmas party and tells me the meals on wheels are no good, so he throws them away. He is looking for somewhere to have lunch. I must try and find somewhere for him. I once saw him in a transport cafe in East Street, but maybe this has closed.

I had a coffee at the shopping centre, and did my Ocado order online later. I shall try and economise a bit by only ordering tins and heavy stuff such as cat food from Ocado. The order still came to over £60, but will hopefully last a couple of weeks. Lunched at home today, since I had plenty of casserole left. Saw my upstairs neighbour and her son who is walking well, came into my flat for a short stagger on his way out with his mother, and attempted to engage me in conversation by burbling away for a few minutes. He was very excited by the rattly handles on the bathroom cabinet.

Tonight I shall cook a steak, purchased cheaply at Tesco, in the Heston way. I have left it in the fridge on a cake rack uncovered for a day, normally should be two days but I bought it on sale near the end of its shelf life. This will dry and harden the outside a bit. I shall rest it for a couple of hours out of the fridge later. Then I shall fry it on a very high heat in oil, with salt but no pepper, turning it using tongs every 15-20 seconds until ready, then resting for five minutes while I make a salad. Apparently it should be dark and crispy on both sides and very moist and tender inside. We shall see. I should have used sirloin and it is a rump steak which is a bit tougher, but may have more flavour.

Nibby is lunching today with old friends from childhood in the Wirral. I quite envy her going back there. Though I no longer have friends living there, I have lots of happy memories of a mis-spent youth. Apparently it only takes an hour or so to drive there from Macclesfield.

I must text Dorothy. I am hoping we can meet tomorrow for a coffee at Pain Quotidien or some other suitable venue. Dorothy is too grand to come to my place at Elephant & Castle, and Borough Market is near their address.

A bit nippy outside today. I am struggling a bit with the ipad, but have downloaded a few books, and am currently reading 'The Celtic Twilight'a free download by W.B. Yeats, a collection of Irish folklore and legends which is quite interesting.

Bus pass outing no. 2

2012-01-04T06:16:00.001-08:00

My lampshade frame, bulbs, and fake windowsill flowers.
I set off this morning, clutching a sandwich and a tangerine. Met up with about twelve other oldies at Waterloo action centre. I was given instructions with a map on a piece of paper and we set off in the opposite direction to that indicated on the map. I just followed them onto a bus and got off when they did. They all raced off and I struggled to keep up but after a more than bracing walk (it was freezing cold and windy on the embankment), we arrived at 2 Temple place for the William Morris exhibition. I chatted with a couple of people and we found a room to have lunch in. I think they were going off to somewhere else later. However, by this time I was completely knackered, and resisting the temptation to leap into a cab, caught the tube from Temple station back home. These oldies are far too energetic for me.

Tuesday

2012-01-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

Thank God my GP surgery is open today - though why they put that sign up, God knows.

An interesting thing happened at the theatre yesterday - putting my coat on I felt some hard thing sticking out of my chest - on further investigation it turned out to my bra wire, which had broken loose and was trying to escape altogether. Put it back in the loo but must sew it in firmly.

First lunch at Lye torng - chicken Massaman, excellent. There was a huge tropical type of downpour and unbelievable wind outside - all over the country too, apparently. Andrew gave me a lovely pot of gourmet Turkish jam for a present, so nice.

I may not bother with tomorrow's bus pass outing in view of the current weather, maybe next week or the week after, we shall see.

Later Monday

2012-01-03T01:17:00.000-08:00

Met Kate who eventually found QEH, 'looking very dapper from her napper to her feet' literally, with a new hat, and funky new socks and shoes. After a coffee we watched Murmurs, which was OK, but not nearly as good as the parents' show, Le Cirque Invisible, and not a patch on Slava, but quite good moves and dancing, just not enough substance and far too long, I thought, though Kate seemed to like it more, thank goodness. We chatted for an hour or so before leaving for home. We may plan some excursions with sketchbooks to coffee places during this year.

Tip: since my GP stopped my HRT a few years ago, my hair has become horribly thin and sparse. I have discovered that, if I brush it 'upside down' then add a large bobble of mousse, rubbing it into the hair but avoiding the scalp, scrunching too, then leaving my head untouched (but the right way up) until it is completely dry (naturally, not using a drier), then brushing it into shape, this seems to add quite a lot of volume and looks quite natural.

New Year No NHS

2012-01-02T04:35:00.000-08:00

Popped over to my local GPs since my prescription is running out, only to find the place firmly locked with a sign to say they are closed until 28th January!!! Some National Health 'Service'. Rang NHS direct who were only taking urgent enquiries and taking four hours to return the call, then Seldoc who laughed - they think it is a mistake and tell me all GP surgeries are open tomorrow so I should try again then. Pathetic. The notice looks as though it is not a mistake. GPs would not have been allowed to close for this length of time in the past. If they really are closed until then I suppose I shall have to go to Casualty and try to drag a repeat prescription out of them. Dear me.

Hello

2012-01-02T00:23:00.000-08:00

Itsmeagain

New Year Overeating Habit

2012-01-01T13:19:00.001-08:00

Dear me, I can't stop eating: went out after a large breakfast for a ridiculously large lunch with Alice. We played Scrabble and ate Stollen with tea after the large lunch. Came home to toasted sandwich liberally spread with Stilton and then ate an overripe banana. Oh dear. This will all have to stop.

Tomorrow I shall see Murmurs. I do hope the audience keep quiet. Apparently it is a silent performance, marred only by people coughing and sniffing. Hmmm. We shall see.

Last Post of 2011

2011-12-31T04:08:00.000-08:00

Today I shall stagger out and see if I can find a few things for a small buffet supper, which is what I shall have tonight. I doubt if I will stay up for the New Year.

I purchased a couple of cheap frozen lobsters from Aldi. I shall position these around a pile of prawns with lemon tonight. I also have some Spanish cold sliced saucisson and ham of various kinds. Some salads etc and made some more of the almond and blueberry cake. This time I added some Amaretto - a good improvement, which with the preponderance of ground almonds over flour, keeps the slices moist. I overdid the fruit on the top and added a few Amarena cherries and flaked almonds and sugar, which again vastly improves it. Dorothy and Julian will bring more stuff from Borough Market and something fizzy to drink. I made a very rich soup, blitzing in the remains of the pate and some cream, and have frozen this. Dorothy and Julian apparently have no interest in any of the seafood so I am going to have to force a couple of lobsters and a load of prawns down myself. Dear me.

Tomorrow I am having lunch with Alice, and will hear about her Christmas adventures. On Monday Kate is coming to Murmurs with me at lunchtime.

Around 10pm. Dorothy and Julian came bearing vast amounts of excellent food. We had enough to feed at least three more people, but made valiant inroads into all this stuff. I am going to bed while they go off to a party. Goodnight and Happy New Year to my reader.

Friday 30th

2011-12-31T03:52:00.000-08:00

Seems that Madeleine had a problem in that her car broke down in the Mall on the way home the other night, and she was approached by several police saying it was a 'sensitive area'. Dear me. I have not heard the full story yet but it sounds a nightmare.

Meanwhile I have had a quiet day at home. Spoke to Nibby, who told me you can freeze Stilton. This is just as well as I bought a huge half wheel thing at £4 which was half price in Tesco, with no idea as to how to use the rest of it. I have now cut it into sections, wrapped in kitchen roll, and frozen it for later use. After dinner with port comes to mind. Or PX. Hmmm.

Lots of laundry done, and the sheets on the bed are fresh in time for New Year. I suspect that, as usual, this will be a 'home alone' affair. I may play 'Dinner for One' on Youtube, yet again, still trying to understand the joke, which is plainly a cultural thing, but maybe you catch on if you watch it year after year, like the Germans, who find it hilarious. Oh well we shall see. A very dreary day, pouring with rain, but Kook being rather cute.

Just finished my first e-book by Jo Nesbo, on my ipad, which seems to take a lot of power so I have put it on charge again. I think the book was free, so may try to find more free books which are actually readable. Still thinking of the freedom and accompanying poverty before me. I should try and make it a point to see how little money I can spend. Madeleine's Christmas present 'Frugal Food' should help. Unfortunately she also gave me a book about old fashioned puddings, all laden with calories. Since I have not dared weigh myself since before Christmas when I had already gained two or three pounds, and have no doubt gained at least half a stone by now, I may need to keep this book firmly on the shelf for a while.

Thor's Day 29 December

2011-12-30T01:02:00.001-08:00

Purchased some bits and pieces of food in the sale at Tesco to supplement stuff I had already purchased. Madeleine, after several message to say they were arriving late, arrived at around 3pm for lunch with several other family members. We had quite a jolly lunch with a couple of bottles of champagne and fortunately I had provided plenty of food, though I have to say there's at least a kilo of Stilton in the fridge still, and plenty of ham and chicken, too. I may roast a couple of leftover potatoes, make some gravy and serve these with heated ham and chicken and some frozen petits pois for lunch or dinner. May purchase one last bottle of fizz for New Year before austerity sets in.

Dorothy turned up later, so we had quite a house full. Apologies from Julian who was in the throes of domestic duties, but sent some chocs for Madeleine and her sister, whose son, Leckie, enjoyed the cake fountain so much we set another one off. These are quite spectacular, from Ocado, and I saved one for New Year. The others set off to meet the rest of the girls at the NFT, but by this time I had been up and down the stairs constantly all day and evening, so decided to veg out and watch the soaps. I would love to have met the girls again, but my back had been so bad the night before and was still being very painful, I think I made the right decision. I am a very old 70.

Today I have started clearing up and will change sheets soon, either today or tomorrow. I may text my nbf Alice, to see how her festivities went. I know she was going to do Crisis over the Christmas period.

- and a clown spraying the audience with water

2011-12-29T00:15:00.000-08:00

And here's the snowstorm

2011-12-29T00:14:00.001-08:00

Wodin's Day: Twixmas

2011-12-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

Staggered around cooking and shopping before realising that the family were due to arrive the following day. Did not matter because Julian and Dorothy would come around and make some inroads into the food mountain after Slava.

The Snowshow was absolutely fantastic, just as I remembered it. The giant spider's web covering us all, then the 'snow' everywhere, and finally the giant balloons. What a superb show, with incredibly skilled clowning, humour, pathos etc etc. If you haven't seen this, and can't get a ticket, go next year. Definitely.

When we got back we settled down to a long snacky dinner with champagne and much overindulgence. My diet vanished in seconds. Dear me.

Boxing Day and Bank Holiday

2011-12-27T06:24:00.000-08:00

A quiet day. Just as well with the lack of sleep. Did masses of dishwashing and washing clothes and tablecloths. A call from Romy, who was taking an afternoon kip, so I thanked her for the fantastic Fat Duck Cookbook, which will give me plenty to look at for the foreseeable future. A call from Nibby to say they had a successful Christmas oop North. Watched plenty of TV and kept falling asleep. Dorothy texted to suggest they might pay a call at around eight or nine in the evening, but whereas I had been prepared to cook and entertain earlier, by this time I had undressed and was considering a very early night. I managed to watch the most ludicrous episode of East Enders ever, and found myself laughing outright at all the galloping tragedy as it ripped across the screen in front of me. What utter tosh!

Fell asleep shortly after 9.30 and awoke again at 5am. Tried to Skype Nibby without knowing how to do it and thought I had to ring her telephone number but that did not work. She did not have it properly installed, and when we tried later it did not work. Oh well. Popped into the shopping centre and purchased a couple of bits and pieces and a paper before vegging out yet again today.

Later Christmas Day Evening

2011-12-26T02:19:00.000-08:00

Dorothy arrived alone, but we soldiered on, and managed to make a fair job of the cooking. We started with tea, and carried on with gin and tonic. Here's the table before we destroyed it.

We decided to drink the red Astrales Ribera del Duero, a tempranillo, a good choice as it turned out to be the best red we have had for years. It had matured satisfactorily in my flat - it was a 2004 vintage. Very good with the chicken and even better with the Stilton. Dorothy had purchased some young Colston Bassett which was excellent. I should draw a curtain over the gluttony, really, suffice to say we had large quantities of Gelupo ice cream bombe to follow all this, and then coffee. We talked until late at night. I was sorry Julian wasn't here to see the decorations and enjoy the food, but hope will put in an appearance again soon.

I have to confess to watching East Enders in bed on the iplayer at about 1.30am, then of course, woke up at 5am to feed the monster. It is now Boxing Day, and Nibby rang me early to tell of her Christmas which was good fun with the grandchildren.

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T03:07:00.000-08:00

Woke up betimes -5am to be precise, then tormented by Kook until 6am, when I forced myself up to feed him. Slowly got up by around 8am, had breakfast, bathed and dressed. Email with greetings from Madeleine, text from Jon, and call from Nibby. Listened to the Archers on radio 4 and packed the small gifts I purchased for Dorothy and Julian. Decided that money was my best larger gift option, after the Gieves & Hawkes cashmere scarf disaster last year.

Nespresso, made a very strong lungo, then topped with generous single cream and added some glugs of Amaretto. Delicious, recommended. Keep hearing programmes on the radio about these poor old people spending Christmas day alone. Me too! but somehow the booze makes up for it and anyway, my rellies/relly will no doubt show up later. Now listening to carols on the radio.

Nibby tells me they are having a large fillet of beef for Christmas. Since her favourite is turkey she will also purchase a chicken and cook and eat with the trimmings later, something I have usually done. May look out for a turkey crown in the sales myself.

Christmas Eve Later

2011-12-25T03:02:00.000-08:00

Watched a bit of East Enders, then Dorothy arrived, laden with food and gifts, like an early Father Christmas. Seems Dorothy and Julian had had a bit of a domestic, so Dorothy came alone.

We had some wine, cheese and pate and a little fruit, and chatted until late. Either one or both will come around again tomorrow to celebrate Christmas. A provisional time of 3-4pm has been arranged, though no doubt it will probably be later. Gives me time for a further declutter in the kitchen and to feed the fish and refill the pond which has a permanent slow leak, despite the lining being renewed.

Christmas Eve at E & C Shopping Centre

2011-12-24T00:33:00.002-08:00

Had a short stagger around Tesco. I saw an elderly former neighbour who now lives on an estate called Draper I think. She was struggling to do the last of her shopping, and I was horrified to see she had a very bruised face and a black eye, also one arm in a sling. Seems to have been caused by a gang of small children heaving bricks around. Apparently one was arrested, but she tells me the three year old told to police to fuck off. Sweet little things, eh? Then working at the checkout there was a cute girl with a pretty headband. The customer in front of me, a cool looking black guy buying lots of healthy salads, reduced in price, asked her if he could pay less for Christmas, before kissing goodbye to his £20 note: 'I didn't know you long, but we were really close' he said (to the note).

I purchased a huge ham roast leg thing, probably a large hock, on the bone, reduced from £16 to £8, so I sliced it up and stuck it in the freezer. I used the bone to make some stock, then made some pea and ham soup for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.

Arriving home I found more cards, and one from my ex-college pal. We had fallen out through some misunderstanding years ago, but I had spoken to him again a few months ago, and sent him a card. He has rented a studio in Deptford and is painting again. Says he will send me some images so I shall email him and see what arrives. Nice to hear from old friends again.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

One of the recent joys in late life has been heaving my huge, sagging tits into a size 40H wired balconette bra. It has taken me until 70 to find out the great support (and what would have been a glamorous look 40 years ago) of the wired balconette bra. Today I am wearing a translucent gauzy mauve spotty one edged with lace and tiny satin bows. Such fun. Almost worth getting run over for. Hard to find an H cup but they are selling them on Amazon. Correctly named.

Christmas Eve Early Morning

2011-12-23T22:50:00.001-08:00

I wonder how many old people have been killed by their cats? Kook is always sitting on the stairs and does not move if I want to pass, so I have to grab at the banisters and miss steps going up and down. If not doing that, he weaves between my legs, then, particularly on the stairs, just stops, so I have difficulty in not falling upstairs. Hmmm. I have been getting my revenge by leaving masses of birdfood outside so he is tormented by the tiny birds feeding just out of his evil reach. Actually fat balls in cages are being sold in the pound shop, which seems brilliant value. I may have mentioned this before. Which reminds me, I may look in there for some more, and see if there are any more bargains, such as pepper and salt grinders, and cantuccini or pandoros. Apart from that I just have lemons, hair foam and spray, and newspapers to purchase today, but as I said, might get some meaty stuff for the freezer.

Maybe it is being old but I keep cooking the same thing: thinly sliced and well fried chorizo, then adding onions and garlic, frying for a bit longer, then adding chicken stock, spices and herbs to taste, before chucking in lentils or beans or chick peas etc with a good squeeze of tomato puree and simmering until it thickens before serving. Oh, and my addition of chunks of beetroot and lots of carrots. With a whole chorizo ring and a tin of lentils it adds up to about 1500 calories, so three very generous helpings are 500 cals each, but less will do nicely. More carrots won't do any harm. Comfort food for the cold weather.

Friday 23 December

2011-12-23T22:50:00.000-08:00

Found out recently that Romy and the Trustees are planning a dinner for me at Lye Torng in January which will be fun. I do hope a fight doesn't break out, or do I? It could be quite exciting, I suppose.

Marks & Spencers, where I was quite restrained, just purchasing a paper, some onions and garlic, but forgot the lemons. Large queues of people in front of me at the tills having purchased the rest of the stock.

The Nigel cake thingy I made was quite delicious. I have frozen it in individual slices, but have succumbed and defrosted three slices to eat with coffee so far. Basically it is a shallow sponge, but only 80g plain flour and 150g ground almonds, a couple of eggs, sugar and butter. When mixed, you drop in 100g of marzipan chopped into little squares. Line sponge tins with parchment and drop the mixture in. Drop blueberries and raspberries and a bit of sugar, almond slivers and currants if you like over the top and bake at 180 for about 35 minutes. Remove and let them go cold. To serve sprinkle the top with icing sugar. Delicious, unfortunately. Must remember not to make again.

As you will gather the diet has vanished, I hope temporarily. I keep trying to fool my metabolism by having a 650 calorie day twice a week. Unfortunately I am having a 2000 calorie day seven days a week. Oh dear. Look like a giant sausage in my 'shapewear'.

Another Christmas tree related incident: I was trying to hang more chandelier crystals on this, when I heard the distinct dripping of fluid behind me, and on turning, realised that my fat backside had connected with some sticks from a lavender reed diffuser stupidly placed on a low table, and which had fallen over. The floor and curtains were now covered in lavender liquid, which I rushed to mop up before placing the diffuser on a high surface in another room.

It may be that relatives will call in on 29th which will be quite exciting. Otherwise I shall continue with the last few bits of shopping, silver cleaning, and trying to tidy up a bit before Christmas. May buy some more meat and stuff to put in the freezer, cannot live on cake alone.

Christmas Russshhh

2011-12-22T22:32:00.000-08:00

Did washing, polished even more silver, dug out huge plate candelabra and started to clean this pair, before discovering I did not have enough candles. I am sure I purchased a job lot of candles from IKEA at some point, so may dig around a bit. I have decided on a plain white linen tablecloth, so have laid this beneath several others to save ironing. On Christmas day I shall just whip the others off, revealing a pristine white cloth, unless I tip pints of red wine over the whole lot beforehand.

Rather a disaster with the Christmas tree which I was advised via Radio 4 to water with at least a pint of water a day. Unfortunately the water went straight through the tub and over the tray onto the ancient thunderbox supporting it. Rushed around with kitchen roll, and hopefully the tree will suck back some of the water now surrounding it in a puddle on the tray. I shall then recover the tray with foil and hope that water has not leaked through the thunderbox to the fake wooden flooring. Everything is far too heavy to move the tree and have a look. If the floor is ruined, I shall just place a piece of furniture over it. Dear me.

I shall win a prize no doubt for the most boring blog ever.

Dorothy has asked me to purchase some fresh garlic and some onions. I shall do this today. Not sure whether to buy cream, but may get a small pot.

Retirement At Last

2011-12-22T01:22:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, back at work to try and sort out last bank problems. Unfortunately this did not include the large number of changes, such as people who had not received their pension, changed bank, moved, etc. but hopefully the mandate is now sorted. Staff Christmas lunch at the Leather Uppers and my successor invited, all good fun. Yesterday was my last day, so made a desultory attempt at tidying drawers - not successful, and deliberately left a little filing for my successor so that he could familiarise himself with the filing 'system'. Sorted out one punter who was owed two payments, and had somehow fallen off the bank payments. Then we had lunch at the Royal Oak with the chairmen and met a few people in there. Back at the office, the other charity presented me with some gifts which I shall put under the tree, and thanked me for my company. I am quite sure they were delighted to see the back of me really, since working in an office has never really been my strong point - shopping and chattering is, though.

Romy and I set off to dump all our stuff at my gaff before visiting Sensational. Not a lot there, though Romy managed to find a couple of good buys. We then popped into Lye Torng for a quick cava, but Tom had bought us another before disappearing around the corner so we had 'drink taken' before we arrived home. Do hope Romy is OK as her leg was not behaving itself yesterday, and had not been good for a couple of weeks.

Washing clothes and making a Nigel recipe, almond and marzipan cakes covered in fresh fruit. I have made them as larger cakes, and will report back if they are edible. I topped them with blueberries and raspberries before cooking.

Christmasstress

2011-12-20T00:03:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, I have just found the card I wrote for Madeleine. I have had to email her to ask if she either received an empty envelope or someone else's card. Tragic. I should have listened to Nibby who advised me not to send cards. Next year (if I am spared) I may try and produce a Christmassy image and take a snap of it to email around. We shall see. I am just a failure. And Dorothy is in bed ill, which does not bode well. On the other hand I have managed to write a card to my one reader and hope it arrives in time.

Last batch of cards going out today. I think it's the last day for posting anyway. After working today and tomorrow I shall get on with polishing the silver and may purchase a bottle or two of something fizzy.

Sunday and Monday Morning

2011-12-19T01:24:00.000-08:00

Damn cold on Sunday. I ventured off to M & S, trying to restrict my purchases, but finally bought rather a lot. I saved £20 on the bill with the offers available and they called a cab, who loaded all my stuff up for me.

The very expensive tree in a pot had arrived on Saturday. I decorated this to within an inch of its life in silver decorations plus some clear glass bits, not that this shows in the snap. This somehow looked inadequate so I added several crystal chandelier chains and droplets. The huge set of lights I purchased last year had looked very ugly since there were masses of obtrusive wires. I took these off and curled them in a large glass vase where they look fine in the hall. I found some tiny sets of lights in Marks, three for two, so bought six sets. The advantage is that they are battery lights. The disadvantage is I have to switch five sets on, so I may restrain this activity to Christmas Eve, Christmas day evening, and Boxing Day evening. The extra set I have run along the mantelpiece. I am still not satisfied with the large bucket holding the tree. I put it on a tray on a stand and covered it and the tray in tinfoil, and then piled up various silver baubles around it. I may remove these. We shall see.

I hauled down some silver: drinking mugs, teapots, fruit dishes, jugs and sauceboats, pepper and salt things etc. to have fun polishing over the next few days. I shall use my white lace tablecloth and white linen napkins with silver candlesticks. I have a large tureen and may fill this with things as a centrepiece. If I could find a large piece of unframed mirror I would put it on this. My niece uses unframed mirrors very effectively in this way. All this activity and the place is still a tip. Decluttering will loom closer in the New Year.

I tried to go on a Waterloo Action bus pass outing today. Packed something to eat and drink and went to Baylis Road to set off as advertised to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Ha ha. When I arrived the receptionist said the outings were only on Wednesdays. I really began to believe I had galloping dementia, since there was nothing on any of the publicity leaflets she showed me, so I slunk back home in shame, only to discover they were advertising the outing on their website. I wrote an email pointing out that if they cancel, there seems to be no way of letting anyone know about this. No reply yet. Shan't try again though. Happily it meant I could have lunch at the Lye Torng and it pissed with rain later. Louba insisted on paying for my rye bread at the Elephant & Castle, and we had a coffee upstairs. She pressed a box of chocolates on me as I left, after regaling me with the complicated details of her love life.

Quiet Saturday

2011-12-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Almost finished doing my cards. A short visit to Lye Torng, closing on Thursday until 2nd January. Just as well, because, according to Alice, I shan't be able to afford a modest Thai green curry there any more. I may try and find some creative recipes for bread and water, and see how many layers I can wear to avoid using the central heating so I can surprise Alice by being seemingly able to afford social events. Years ago, I was acquainted with a fashionable couple in Algiers, who drove a very expensive car so were always given good restaurant tables when they parked outside. Later, someone told me that they lived in one tiny room and were fashionably thin through not eating much at all at home, but regularly drove around town, just for show. I suppose they had once had enough money to purchase the car, good jewellery and smart clothes, and could now just about afford to eat somewhere smart once a week or so.

Met Dorothy at Borough Market for a coffee and a wander where we met Julian. They purchased an expensive and terrifying looking poulet de Bresse, complete with head and innards and feet (intestines etc apparently removed though). They may cook this chez moi tonight. Hmmm.

I am feeling very optimistic about my successor. We have always had an awful time dealing with the bank. They told me it would take two weeks to make an appointment to change the mandate which needs to be done by the beginning of January, with only a few working days left before the Christmas break. My successor then rang them and was very forceful. He made them see us on Tuesday, happily. Their 'customer service' should be rechristened 'Customer Contempt', they are such a nightmare. Not my problem soon, hurrah! I shall not mention their name as I cannot afford to be sued, as I am sure Alice would remind me.

Very enjoyable drinks with the upstairs neighbours. Met some other very pleasant and normal neighbours which quite restored my faith in human nature.

SE1 Dinner

2011-12-17T00:48:00.000-08:00

was great fun last night. A select 15 of us there, which made it easier to chat with people. Had far too much to eat and drink, which I shall pay for. I gave Alice some cute little slippers for her 60th birthday, and a miniature alarm clock because she is still working. She said she was worried that I would not be able to afford to come to things like the SE1 dinner when I am only receiving a state pension, and that my lack of money would really hit me in January. I thanked her for reminding me of my impending poverty, but declared that I should somehow manage to exist, along with many thousands of people who receive no more than a state pension. I am constantly surprised by Alice.

I think Dorothy has fixed my email because I had lots of emails in my box. Unfortunately the bad news was that not only are my upstairs neighbours having their drinks party in the afternoon,when I am meeting Dorothy, but also they have invited my nasty neighbour. Actually, apparently they haven't, they mentioned someone with the same name, phew. I may pop up later then.

And this one came from Buratta's

2011-12-16T09:46:00.001-08:00

when on an outing with the punters. Round and cute, it is made from linen union fabric and I thought the print was quite well done. They were all snapped in artificial light which does seem to fade them a bit.

This came from France

2011-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

via Ebay. It is blue velvet on the reverse. Looks a bit faded in this image, but in fact the colour is quite vibrant.

Friday Again

2011-12-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Kook helped me up at 5.15 this morning so I arrived in plenty of time to get my hair done. Did a little Christmas shopping afterwards and fell exhausted into the Lido at around 2pm. Had soup, steak and a glass of wine, all excellent, and tried to take a tube home, but the entrances were all closed because of flooding, apparently. Electricity cuts in nearly all of the shops on one side of Regent Street near Oxford Circus, losing plenty of money for the owners, no doubt.

Fed Kook once back, and unpacked my shopping. I shall fall into a bath soon before changing for tonight's dinner. Yet again a failed delivery, this time from Hermes, but can't remember what I ordered. Oh well.

Can't remember whether I showed you these cushion covers, some hand done tapestry and some printed linen. This one is a tapestry of a cat's head I picked up in a charity shop in Eastbourne.

Last Days of Gainful Employment

2011-12-15T00:16:00.000-08:00

Straight back to work the next day after being away, so somewhat knackered. Although the time passed almost without incident, there seems to be some stress from wondering if everyone will be all right, given that people are in a strange place and not aware of where steps and turns are, particularly during the night. So relieved to get everyone back in one piece.

Things are even worse at work: a new computer, and also an updated Word package means that it takes me twice as long to find documents etc. Having told my successor how the old one worked, I shall have to let him try the new package, which is really the blind leading the blind, but fortunately he is a bear of large brain, unlike myself, so will pick things up much more quickly.

Hairdressers early tomorrow morning, and SE1 Christmas dinner in the evening. My newish neighbours upstairs have kindly invited other neighbours and me for drinks, but have fortunately not invited the difficult one, so I shall be pleased to go. Sir Kook may come back tomorrow, am quite looking forward to seeing him.

Long Weekend

2011-12-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

Despite all my problems, less than five hours sleep for several nights, and forgetting my phone lead, our weekend was one of the most successful breaks yet.

We stopped at the Tutti Pole in Hungerford for a good lunch, and I darted into a charity shop and purchased a new skirt and dress before arriving at Littlecote House. This is a very impressive property, approached through a long tree-lined avenue, apparently first built in the 13th century but rebuilt or mainly completed in the fifteen hundreds. There are Roman ruins and a large mosaic in the grounds and the main entrance to the house, above, reminds me of Hogwarts somehow.

Everyone seemed to have a good time - the food was very good, the rooms large and comfortable and so on. Romy had opened her French windows when she arrived, to turn around and find a large peacock in her room. She managed to shoo it out again, but we quickly learned that the biscuits in the room attracted large numbers of various birds, including the peacock.

It was a very relaxing weekend, and Romy and I sampled the mediaeval banquet on the last night, with an excellent jester. We had a shopping trip into Marlborough where I purchased a Christmas wreath for the front door, and some new scent. I spent quite a lot of Sunday hogging the enormous fire in the Great Hall and lobbing giant logs onto it.

There was reputed to be a haunted bedroom, which we visited without discovering any unquiet spirits. However a couple of punters were wandering around looking for this, and found someone in a mediaeval bedroom, before the embarrassment of discovering that they had accidentally stepped into one of the historic rooms, complete with resident guests. There was much lively entertainment in the evenings and I returned home exhausted. Kook will be away for a few more days with Dorothy and Julian, so I shall catch up on sleep.

Chaos

2011-12-09T00:45:00.001-08:00

Over the past week I have filled in forms wrongly, filled in the wrong forms, forgotten where I have filed stuff etc. The last straw was last night: Julian and Dorothy came to collect the monster because I was taking the punters away for a long weekend in the country. I had bought a neat little cat carrier and with the taxi waiting outside, it was impossible to get him into it. I then remembered that I had kept his old basket, and amid much panic we stuffed him into this and off they went. Shortly afterwards a call came from Dorothy - in the panic they had left a bag behind with money to pay the cab, so Dorothy would return to collect the bag etc. It was at this point I suddenly remembered I had left the office without the cheque book, debit card, and petty cash, so was all set to leave London in the morning without the means to pay for anything! I leapt into Dorothy's cab when it arrived, handed the bag over and collected cheque book etc. from the office before coming back to finish my packing and go to bed. I suspect that had they not left the bag behind I would not have remembered my stuff at the office.

Either I have absolutely galloping Alzheimers, or having an extra person in the office is completely confusing me, which I suspect to be the case. I have never been able to multi-task, and need peace and quiet to be able to concentrate and actually achieve anything at all. Had I not had a lot of stress for the past six weeks or so, I was hoping to write a short paper on the minute details of what I actually do at work, but of course this has not happened, so it is all a bit of a rush running up to my retirement. Well, that's my excuse anyway. I pity my poor successor, trying to pick up the job from the ramblings of an old bat who has practically forgotten her name. I shall sign off as 'confused of SE1'.

New Look

2011-12-07T22:41:00.000-08:00

This blog has a clunky and difficult to use new look. Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for you, I have been able to revert to the old look, but no doubt this will change.

Had a delicious dinner at Jamie's Italian at Westfields, including a fantastic starter served on a long wooden board - out of focus (wine) snap above. It was a nightmare to find because we went into the wrong entrance to Westfields and had to walk around in the freezing cold for ages. The Christmas decorations and lights at Westfields are most impressive. Strange, a place like that full of luxury shops in the middle of a pretty rough area. I wonder if Elephant & Castle will have one when it has been improved. Weird.

I had purchased a rather fine warm flannel shirt for Christophe, which he wore, but I must remember to buy a smaller size if I see anything in the future. Victorine was looking splendid and glittery and had lost lots of weight, the bitch. They were laden with gifts for me, Christmas and birthday. I must get back on the wagon. I wonder if I can find a restaurant which will restrict customers to one glass of wine, and serve low calorie delicious food only. My dream. The nearest I have got is to have a so-called six course tasting menu with tiny amounts of food on the plate. Perhaps I shall open such a restaurant. Might call it 'Maigrette' or some such. Oh well. Bloody cold outside now. Off with the punters to the countryside tomorrow. Must pack warm things.

Sunday Early Morning

2011-12-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

After Nibby's flowers, Madeleine arrived bearing gifts: a superb bottle of Jo Malone Red Roses bath oil from Antoinette, and a fabulous smart black radio from John Lewis with a docking station on the front. We drank hazelnut Baileys until Julian and Dorothy arrived bearing gifts and cakes, so we had to then have tea and cakes, delicious. My present with lots of extra bits and pieces, was an iPad, which they will set up for me. So exciting! Another bunch of flowers from Michelle's in Borough Market, is now improving my old flat.

We then set off for Islington and found Candid Arts and Margot's exhibition. Met Evon, Kate, Julia and Jocelyn there which was fabulous. Margot had produced lots of artwork and Margot's husband Pat was DJ. They had an excellent singer and wine and cupcakes were served. I purchased a book full of reproductions of Margot's small paintings done on nearly every day of the year in 2009. Interesting that the first painting, which inspired the rest, was one of a little green robot,one of two I had previously bought. There were notes about each painting under the reproductions, very interesting.

After chatting for a while and admiring Margot's work, we set off to Latium in Berners Street. This is a totally fabulous Italian restaurant. I started with crab salad, went on to grouse and finished with a superb pear sorbet. What with the strawberry prosecco cocktail, the red wine, then the coffee and petits fours, I somewhat overdid it. Altogether a great birthday evening.

officially bloody old - 70 today

2011-12-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

Pains in the back awoke me at 3am, then 4am, then drifted off for another hour from 5 to 6am. At this point the Kookster burst through the catflap and screaming noisily, leapt upon me demanding to be fed. When I felt a large wet tail like a foxes brush sweep over my face I knew that it was time to get up, and also that it was pouring with rain outside.

Happy birthday, me!

Cards arrived from Ivana and Val, urging me to visit next year. If I can manage the fare, I may just do this. A further card came from Nibby, with a hand drawn image of Yours Truly, sketching at the restaurant of the NPG. After a bit of shopping at Elephant, coffee, then lunch at Lye Torng, I returned home to relax a bit and a lovely bunch of flowers arrived from Nibby: pink roses and white lilies. I now have two vases of flowers in the place, the other from some kind punters who delivered to the office. I am so spoiled. Another two Christmas cards came: one from Pierre in Canada, and one from a friend from college, Jocelyn. Seems that Jocelyn is down for the opening tonight so hope to see her there. Madeleine, Julian and Dorothy are due here late this afternoon, so we shall all travel together tonight.

Another Week Over

2011-12-02T02:38:00.000-08:00

so it is Friday. Things have improved a little but retirement has never looked so attractive, apart from the lack of money, of course. I may have to take a part-time job running the country. I might make a better fist of it than the present incumbent, though I would have to try and fit it in between lunch at the Lye Torng and the soaps at 7pm. I think this would work out well.

Meanwhile I need to pack for our festive Friday to Monday next week. Julian is taking Sir Kookster away to their residence in Borough. Good luck with that. Pierre is kindly going to send me some money for the last time before my period as an oil heiress finally ends. So complicated finding out how to receive electronic transfers from overseas, and quite amusing that in this day and age it still takes four to five working days to reach one's account. Oh well. Very nice to receive some money at this time of year.

Spoke to Nibby, the other heiress, who has a bit of a cough and has thereby managed to avoid the 'flu jab. Since she has had the cough for several weeks I have told her to extract some antibiotics from the GP if it goes to her chest, since she is not immune from all our English bugs yet, and grandchildren seem to pass virulent infections onwards. I do hope she will eventually have the jab, though suspect it will take a nasty dose of 'flu to convince her. Oh well. Horses to water and drinking come to mind.

My 70th birthday tomorrow. I hope I shan't suffer the fate of Revd. Brian Brindley, who had organised a wonderful dinner for his 70th at the Athenaeum, then died suddenly between the dressed crab and the boeuf en croute. Seems he may have actually fallen into the boeuf en croute. Frightful waste since no one finished the dinner. Shame really.

Already I have received several cards, and this morning, a lovely necklace from my friend Catriona. Strange, it has very pretty red beads with a sprinkling of turquoise, and goes perfectly with the red Gudrun top I am wearing today. Catriona must have second sight.

More Invitations

2011-11-28T02:02:00.000-08:00

Christophe and Victorine have invited me to a Jamie Italian place in West London to celebrate both my and Christophe's birthday. This will be fun, but I shall have to restrain myself alcoholically and try and leave early since this is a very heavy week at the office.

Christophe also asked me to design the cover of a book he is writing. He sent a synopsis which sounded very dramatic. I may be able to scribble a bit, but designing a book cover is rather a responsibility, best left to the experts, and since he has someone who can do it, I declined. Very kind of him to offer though.

The birds are settling into eating the food I put out for them after our trip to Polhill. Tomorrow we go to Twyford to the King's Head where we eat at Buratta's, maybe followed by a trip to Henley. Buratta's is so fantastic, great food and lots of very good value antiquey bits and pieces. I must restrain myself though. Hmmm....we shall see.

Disappointing Calls

2011-11-28T01:44:00.000-08:00

I still get excited when the telephone rings, but while my hand is reaching out to pick it up, realise it is just another spam call saying my bank account, internet connection etc is about to be closed, so steel myself to be quite rude, not acknowledge my name or address, and to deny having a computer or bank account before slamming the phone down crossly. Unfortunately if it is a genuine call, I inevitably sound very angry when answering the telephone, and sometimes almost hang up before I realise this is the case.

I have cleared out the airing cupboard, piling the contents in the spare room and now have the exhausting task of going through drawers full of papers and sorting them, then all other drawers full of garbage in the house. This will definitely take months. Then I shall do the kitchen. Then I shall do the bookcases, ruthlessly chucking all but essential books and some of my nicer Folio Society ones.

Yesterday Kate came around and we had a long chat about impending retirement and consequent poverty etc. A bit dismal until cheered by the consumption of Baileys and mince pies. Kate also brought some rolls, salad, goats chees and chorizo which she made up. This did seem to be the wrong thing in my house, but very kind. We were later joined by Alice, whose son is also a copywriter. They might well meet up. We drank more Baileys, followed by coffee. Alice is planning a huge birthday party for her 60th, starting with a film in the Short Wave cinema in Bermondsey Square, followed by dinner for 40 at Del Azziz. The cinema is costing £400 and the dinner £500 is. Gosh. I shall miss this, being away with the punters but Alice is going to send me an invitation designed by one of her clever sons. I wouldn't know 40 people to invite, so am relieved to be having my much more modest celebration for my 70th, just with close family. After the others departed in the early evening, I settled down to watch the X-factor and promptly fell asleep, missing whoever was kicked off, and more annoyingly, missed Garrow's Law, which I quite like. I keep missing Rev all the time through watching some trash, so irritating. What a telly addict I am. At least I lost 4lb this week, before the excessive consumption today.

Something New to Try

2011-11-24T00:24:00.001-08:00

I have just read somewhere that G.K. Chesterton said that there are only three rules for living: the first is 'be kind'; the second is 'be kind' and the third is 'be kind'.

I may attempt this, though it sounds like a tall order, doomed to certain failure. We shall see.

Successful Jaunt

2011-11-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

Took the punters to Polhill Garden Centre. Two coaches and a successful venture. Romy terribly organised as usual. I managed to purchase some kind of things with white bobbles on, and arranged these around the mirror in the living room as a start of the Christmas decoration attempt. Not a very good snap I am afraid. There will be tealights along the shelf and in the lanterns hanging from the deer's antlers eventually which will brighten things up a bit. Oh, and my first Christmas card - on the left of the shelf - has arrived already.

Waiting for a delivery again tomorrow. Seems to be an occupational hazard. Must stop shopping very soon. Mysterious call from Christophe this morning, but I couldn't talk so no doubt he will ring again. Might be birthday related since he also has a birthday in December.

The Rest of Sunday

2011-11-21T02:04:00.000-08:00

Arrived in Oxford Street at around 10am only to discover that nothing was open until around 12. I strolled up and down a bit and found Cafe Lido in a back street so settled down with a latte to read my papers. Went to the loo downstairs and discovered they have a huge dining room there. Must remember that they do lunches if I am stuck in town. BHS opened early for 'reviewing' so I looked around and found a black short sleeved stretchy lace vest thing for a tenner, which I eventually purchased. Handy to wear under sleeveless or chilly evening clothes. Eventually I picked up the watch at Debenhams and looked for a refill for the very good handbag scent Romy had given me, only to discover that Prada have stopped selling them. Oh well. I did try Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis so I suppose they are right about this. I popped into John Lewis Food Department and purchased some cooked and pulled ham. I bought some leeks and lentils and cooked a stew thing when I arrived home.

It had been very cold and misty when I went out. The weather has definitely become a bit chillier in general. All the walking had worn me out a bit, so I vegged out in front of the telly in the evening and did another bad sketch.

Sunday

2011-11-20T01:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a bit of the other tape, plus bits of the box of lip stuff Julian bought me. I really do think the bees are rather good.

A vile night last night wondering whether I had cauda equina, myeloma, or was just unbalanced from the back down. At my age and weight one would normally suspect furred up arteries, but the symptoms would normally be cold feet, swelling and ulcers etc. which are not there, so some kind of compression of the nerves would be a plausible explanation. But the cause is a mystery, so far. Oh well. At least things are much better during the day. Health is such an obsession of old age, and so boring.

Today I shall go to Debenhams to collect an old watch. I had forgotten that I left it there five months ago and they rang yesterday! Old age strikes again. Anyway it will be fun to go up to Oxford Street and will make a change from my usual visit to Marks & Spencer. Must just find a paper and somewhere to have coffee.

Caturday

2011-11-20T00:51:00.001-08:00

Surreal morning - i had crossly waited in the flat all day on Friday because the post people had rung my mobile promising two parcels, but in the event, no post came, despite ringing Royal Mail and being told I had to expect post up to 6.30 which confined me to barracks. The next morning, the postie arrived and asked to use my loo! Seems he was the manager of the post office, had been working all night, the postman had not turned up to do deliveries on Friday and he was doing deliveries himself after being up all night. All is not well with Royal Mail, but the long awaited packages arrived. One was a purple skirt from Ebay and the other contained excellent tape (as above)from Rob Ryan via Etsy. A sweet little handwritten card wishing me 'happy taping' came with them. I hope all this does not sound naive. Oh well.

With my new found freedom I purchased more Lithuanian bread, Louba was not working, and I also bought what seems to be a handpainted Christmas apple in blue and white for a fiver, which I shall fill with chocs or a gift. May buy a couple more of these as they are rather sweet.

Then met Dorothy, looking very slim indeed, at Pain Quotidien. We had some coffee and purchased the ingredients for the goulash to be cooked chez Julian and Dorothy that evening. We discussed my forthcoming birthday, and agreed to all meet at my place before cabbing up to Islington for the evening. That way, Madeleine can come straight to my place and have a drink with the others before we set off.

Old Hand

2011-11-19T04:04:00.001-08:00

Here's the left hand -obviously unaware of what the right hand is doing. You don't need a medical qualification to observe the antiquity of the hand, fingers bent with arthritis.

Bought some more frozen fruit in Iceland today and made more jelly. This is obviously going to become my latest obsession, though I was hearing about some machine which fries things without any fat called 'air fry' Hmmm, sounds strange but may be true. I shall investigate further.

Slimfruit

2011-11-18T04:36:00.000-08:00

Found some frozen 'summer fruit' in the freezer. This seems to be redcurrants, blackcurrants, blackberries and raspberries. I made some low calorie (supposedly 8cal per serving)raspberry jelly in half a pint of boiling water, stirred a bit, added a quick sprinkle of sugar and a cupful of said frozen fruit. Topped up with cold water and put in fridge. When set, I forked it all up and though this snap does not look that good, I think it makes an excellent pud. Can be added to ice cream, yoghourt etc. or simply served in a wine glass. Probably less than 40 cals per serving. The fruit is only 27cals per 100g, and 500g in the packet. Used less than one quarter of a packet of the fruit, tipping it into the jelly still frozen, to make a pint. There does need to be plenty of fruit to make it look good, and I suppose you could add a little elderflower or wine. May do this next time. You could put in a jelly mould or pour straight into glasses, but I prefer it looking forked up and wobbly.

Quiet Wednesday

2011-11-16T08:18:00.001-08:00

Trying to use up my annual leave. Spent most of today pottering about and reading, awaiting a delivery, which finally arrived: two Gudrun dresses. At least I shall not go naked in my retirement. However there was no post. Seems that the days of a daily post delivery are finally over, since I know I normally have post every day, and others have commented about the lack of post. No cleaner by after 4pm either. She may be very late, or not coming. We shall see. Also no Alice, who was to pop over for a coffee. But she has now texted, and instead of arriving at coffee time will no doubt arrive this evening. Time will tell.

Bloody cold today so I put the heating on during the day. Made a casserole from cupboard ingredients: chopped a chorizo ring fairly small and fried with chopped onions and garlic. Added two bay leaves, some rosemary, chicken stock, tomato puree, hot smoked paprika,a good slug of gin, a sprinkle of sugar, and simmered, then added a vacuum pack of beetroot, a tin of lentils, a tin of broad beans, more seasoning and left to continue simmering in a casserole. Tastes quite good. Oh, and a pack of mushrooms, too. Will make this last for a bit. Here it is though this snap is not great. I may do the Catalan bit and eat the solid stuff as a meal, then add more stock and a handful of pasta to make the rest into a soup. The Catalans do it the other way round and serve the soup first, followed by the sausage and vegetables as a main course. I may have mentioned this a few times before, but if not, the ingredients are a bit different but the principle the same and it is called Escudella and Carn d'Olla. Often served at Christmas.

I have started eating more eggs again since they have been absent from my diet for a bit.

Messing About with Chandelier Chains

2011-11-14T07:21:00.001-08:00

Forging ahead with Vernon Coleman. He may be a nutter, but does write some sense. Seems everyone except me knows about him since he wrote for newspapers, was on radio etc etc etc. Can't be all bad because he likes cats.

Anyway, went to Laughing Gravy with Madeleine yesterday for lunch. We both held back and left potatoes and Yorkshire pud - and ate no pudding. Madeleine kindly relieved me of some tablecloths and granny blankets which are surplus to requirements.

Today has been very quiet. I have been hypochondriacally googling my back and leg symptoms with little enlightenment. Some glass chandelier bits arrived today with little curly metal things to put them together which took ages. I also bought some with aged clips which are much easier to deal with, so may purchase more of these. However the result of all this labour is a bit naff on the bare lampshade frame I chose to adorn. I am going to get some more large green droplets to perk it up a bit. Actually, I may buy one or two small lampshade frames and have a go at these when I am retired. We shall see.

How To Live

2011-11-10T01:47:00.000-08:00

Had a long chat with one of Julian's ex tutors the other day. During the course of the conversation he recommended a book: 'how to stop your doctor killing you' by Vernon Coleman, which sounded fun and which I purchased from Amazon secondhand. Some of it is fine, but I think the best part is chapter 32 - how to live to 100. Regardless of wanting to live to 100, it has some brilliant tips, if rather odd, to make you feel better. One of them is if you are feeling low to take a deep breath, meanwhile, hold your tummy in as hard as you can and count to five, then relax. Repeat this several times. Actually it is very relaxing. There is advice about not eating meat as it gives you cancer, which I shall ignore, but otherwise, some quite good ideas. Apart from getting up early, one of them is to keep the house well lit as it will look more cheerful, wear daring and sexy underwear for fun, wear bright colours etc. etc. Anyway I think this particular chapter alone is worth buying the book for. With that in mind I have purchased some more bright clothes from Gudrun Sjoden, though Dr. Coleman is not keen on consumerism. Oh well.

Feathers

2011-11-09T00:53:00.001-08:00

Another work week. I am amazed by how much I have yet to do. I must bag up more clothing but would do well to try and lose some more weight. It might well help the back pain. I have purchased some more sketchbooks and found a good source of these on Ebay. I may have a day off tomorrow and will hopefully get something done. We shall see. I watched Jamie make a rather extraordinary version of an arctic roll on TV. It did look quite fun as nursery food. Basically it involved making a cake base of vanilla and chocolate sponge marbled a bit. Covered in blobs of softened vanilla and choc ice cream and jam, more jam and then rolled up and frozen. I suspect a plain vanilla and home made jam version would taste better, but would look more visually boring for TV. Ho hum. I must stop thinking about food. Ha ha.

Trees Card

2011-11-09T00:52:00.000-08:00

another version

2011-11-09T00:50:00.001-08:00

here's another version of the Gaywood Street card. A bit blurred.

coin mystery

2011-11-09T00:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday

2011-11-07T02:12:00.000-08:00

Went to Marks to get a paper. I also purchased some Fru Grains in Holland & Barrett. I am giving up my glucosamine, malt and cod liver oil capsules since before taking all that I did not have the pains in the backs of my thighs which have become much worse recently. Restless night last night. I decided to walk back to try and improve my lack of exercise. I was just passing Elephant Road when I spied several shops under the railway arch which had not been there before. I took a look at the first one, called something odd like Chatica, and it turned out to be an excellent looking latino place serving coffees and so on, very clean and shiny. I may well pop in there at some time. I bought some more black bread, and Louba apologised for not contacting me as she has been very busy (so have I) but threatens to call on me next Friday. We shall see. At least I can offer her a decent coffee. Am supposed to be seeing Madeleine on Sunday.
I just happened to be passing the Albert Arms pub which looked closed, but has recently apparently reopened. A pleasant guy taking food in introduced himself and his wife as the owners of the Great Little Pub Company (or some such name) and said they were closed today to get the kitchen sorted out as they will be doing food, including Sunday lunches. Madeleine and I may sample one of these next week. I have always thought this pub was very pretty, but needed a substantial makeover, which seems to have been done. It will be good to have a decent pub around the corner.

Saturday 5 Bonfire Night

2011-11-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

Romy's Ebay shoes arrived today. I have to say they look rather small, so the size may have been mislabelled, but we shall see.

Lunch at Lye Torng as usual, and treated myself to a Pad Thai which was delicious.

I went to Specsavers and saw a couple of punters who are going on the winter break, and my friend Beverley, looking very chic, with her grandchild. Beverley had been made redundant. She had been happy about this at first because the job had been very exhausting and she needed a break. After another two months of being less happy and more broke, she secured a job. This was less well paid, but local, so saving time and money. I picked up my specs which will add to my wardrobe.

Dorothy and Julian popped in last night. Seems my Christmas cards are too morbid, but they liked the badly drawn Christmas at Gaywood Street ones so I shall see if I can do more like this. We shall see. I may examine some previous sketchbooks to see if I can find something else, too. D and J had been to see the fireworks at Blackheath, which were excellent but with vast crowds so hard to get away again. I had stayed in and watched TV as usual.

Here's the tail end of the Kookster's mangled toy. I may have to purchase a new one for his Christmas present. Since we are going to Polhill Garden Centre in November this may be my chance, and with any luck they will have an amaryllis bulb, too.

Tea Caddy

2011-11-06T01:18:00.000-07:00

I love this cheap old tea caddy. No doubt a promotional item in the fifties or so, it is made of cheap metal with a red plastic inner and knob on top. I found it in a car boot sale, and have seen hundreds since. I don't know why I am so keen on it. My liking for kitsch no doubt. If anyone knows more about it, please comment.

Friday 4th November

2011-11-05T02:37:00.000-07:00

Bonfire night tomorrow. Cheap clothes from Ebay arrived today. The secret of buying is to go for a minimal quality label such as Marks, and the goods are likely to be fine.

Ocado delivered and I made a huge casserole containing: half a chorizo ring, sliced finely and fried with shallots, then two pints of chicken stock added, then carrots sliced and a large sliced cabbage. Seasoned with smoked paprika, bay leaves, rosemary and thyme, three cloves of garlic and quite a lot of tomato puree. Later I added a can of lentils and another of broad beans. Cooked on a gas ring until considerably reduced. I had lunch at Lye Torng and a chat with Louise. Tom was there, so I bought him a drink.

Dorothy had some bad news from a civil court case which will cost around £2000 which may preclude spending a fortune on dental crowns for a bit. Then an email from a close friend who has just become a grandmother - seems the baby was over eight and a half pounds - a big boy. Sent Nibby the Christmas pudding recipe. She has made two Christmas cakes but devoured one because it was so delicious, dear me.

Did another atrocious drawing above with wobbly oranges which look rather like potatoes. Then found some inks with the appalling result revealed for all to see. Just hope no one is looking. The small shrivelled thing on the right started as a lemon. Tragic.

Thor's Day

2011-11-04T01:19:00.000-07:00

Ho hum. Last working day this week and all as well as could be expected, etc.

Desultory sketch of the mess on the table: lampstand, jug, vase, hangers, book, deeply wonky as usual with dodgy elipse etc. last night, but never mind. It's all practise.

Fell unconscious twice in the middle of soaps, so retired to bed and reading Waverley, which is quite hard going, full of whimsical Scottish stuff, all a novelty to me.

Woke at 3am in a certain amount of agony, so tried to find a comfortable position in bed. Then at 4am, Kook started screaming loudly outside. I let him in and put some dry food down, but he had come in to use his litter tray to have a pee. He then disappeared and returned, absolutely drenched and ravenous, at about 7am. He submitted to a vigorous towelling and slumped around, later being groomed and I took the opportunity to drop some antiflea treatment on his neck, after which he disappeared again. Waiting for Ocado this morning, and will have to await a postal delivery, too.

Stressed

2011-11-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

After an anxious day yesterday, I was all prepared to go to the opening at the Mayor Gallery, but, despite getting ready and putting on a smart dress, suddenly felt very tired, and somehow intimidated at the idea of meeting a room full of strangers. I put this down to accumulated stress, and decided to stay at home and watch television instead, though rather disappointed.

I quite enjoyed the Imagine programme with Grayson Perry, who seemed a typical (if there is such a thing any more) English eccentric. I sketched a sketchbook I had purchased from Ebay (above). This morning I found a message from Romy, who I will see later today.

Quiet Sunday

2011-10-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Purchased a top and skirt from Marks this morning, which was a bit extravagant but it was a pretty printed velvet which I thought would do for the winter.

Also bought a lunch deal for £10. Instead of the wine you could choose two glasses of chocolate Irish cream so I did. Main course was a lamb bake thing with roasted veg. Profiteroles for pud which I shall take into the office tomorrow, ditto some biscuits I must dispose of.

Cleaned out the pond and fed the fish. Watched Downton Abbey, which is getting more and more boring. Must get back to my journal, so did two foul little sketches (above) to start me off again. Sorry, first is portrait, second landscape, so on its side. Must learn to draw. Just realised it is a bit out of focus. Dear me. Although I had severed relationships with my very difficult ex, I sent him a few quid in a card for his birthday because I knew no one else would. I do hope that will not result in a rash of phone calls or worse, visits to my house. With any luck he has forgotten the address, poor sod.

Here's the Result

2011-10-29T11:52:00.001-07:00

Rather jolly, I thought.

Was reading about the increase in world population. It does seem rather alarming. Perhaps some huge catastrophe is imminent, or maybe that is just wishful thinking, not that I am any kind of misanthropist, you understand.

Saturday Evening

2011-10-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Lunch at Lye Torng where Tom, above, was doing a cartoon of a cocktail drinking couple to go above the bar.

Coffee at Pain Quotidien with Dorothy, and purchased some toasted Marcona almonds, plus some medlars, which I roasted without bletting, and was chatting with Nibby on the phone. they ended up rather burnt and with a deeply unspectacular taste. Apparently I should have bletted them for a couple of weeks in a cool, dark cupboard. Oh well.

Long chat with Kate. We plan to have dinner at Les Trois Garcons in November, since I have a Groupon to use up. I must also contact Alice because I have a teatime voucher for tea and drinks at some riverside hotel in Clapham, which sounds vile, but may be fine. We shall see.

I now have to go into work on Monday, tiresomely, but may possibly take Tuesday off. We shall see.

The clocks go back tonight so must try not to get up at 5am tomorrow morning. May actually change the damn clocks - I have so many all over the house.