No More Cheap Veggies and Still Broken Dishwasher

Awoke betimes (5.30am to be precise) this morning to more Kooky torment. I am so soft with him, I'm mushy peas. Oh well.

Last day of the farmer's market - not enough customers. Purchased a huge bunch of carrots with tops, also edible, a punnet of raspberries and a pound of russets for £2.45 the lot. People are obviously a bit slow on the uptake around here, or they don't recognise anything that's not in a can as food. Met one of the punters who said he couldn't attend the Turkey & Tinsel break at Thoresby Hall because he'd be on his Caribbean cruise - most annoyed because he has to fly to Barbados first rather than cruising from Southampton. My heart bleeds.

Naughty lunch of green chicken curry at Lye Torng. BUT, only ate a tablespoon of rice and picked the chicken and veg out, leaving the sauce, so not too bad, but had the flavour at least.

Now back home, I shall do some washing and some washing up. I must phone the Bosch people since my washing up is not very good, compared with the dishwasher. Need to tidy up quite a lot, too.

Ai Wei Wei and Gauguin

I have to say my 'elder' visit to Tate Modern has only confirmed me in my low opinion of Gauguin's work. Most people seem to be very keen judging by the huge crowds queuing up to get in. I am a bit of a philistine no doubt despite eight years of art education. Was more impressed by Ai Wei Wei. Just looks like a huge field of grey gravel, but like sunflower seeds close up, and on picking up, individually made ceramic seeds, which are quite heavy. China is a big place.

Had lunch at Lye Torng, and a quiet afternoon doing the washing and watching daytime TV, which everyone pours scorn on. Oh well, suits me, anyway.

Masses of junk mail, but can't resist looking at lots of catalogues before discarding them.

Cat Litter, Tesco and Big Society

Oh dear. I was hoping to stick to Sainsbury's for groceries, but they don't do my smart pack of Catsan, which has now become essential because Kook is staying in at night. Ocado do, of course, who I must avoid for as long as possible, since they have offered me no incentives whatsoever to return, and guess who else? the accursed Tesco. I shall now have to put up with Tesco's inefficiency for at least one order, when I will stock up on my cat litter. Incidentally, Kook has not bitten me for a couple of days. I have purchased his favourite catnip drops which may have some bearing on the matter.

Those Southwark Circle people, part of Participle, on radio 4 this morning. Seems they are trying to replace the welfare state by encouraging self help among the elderly poor. The Big Society in action. Dear me.

Kook, Poo and Lip Stain

Of course, I am a weak woman. When I left my living room to go to bed, Kook was sleeping peacefully on the sofa, so I didn't have the heart to move him. However he woke me up at 3am, having done a very offensive poo in his litter tray, which I covered. I shut him in the kitchen with a large cushion to lie on. He mewed and mewed for what seemed like hours. I woke, slightly more refreshed than usual, at 6.30, when I set him free. I fed him and let him outside, and hope he will refrain from pooing in his tray, which he only did because his catflap was locked.

Having spent some hours wandering up and down Oxford Street on Friday, in pursuit of a really red lip stain, and after purchasing several unsatisfactory contenders, I finally made the interesting discovery that a permanent red marker which had been left in my flat by some builders, was best. For your information it is Staedtler Lumocolour. Others may wish to do a skin test, but I shoved it straight on my lips and applied some (optional) red glittery gloss over the top.

I have also discovered a rather foolish (and tiny, but fun) Christmas present idea for any unfortunate females I know. You will see. I have been shopping online.

Internet Deprivation

Been without internet and home phone for a couple of days. Now connected to O2 fortunately.

My ex husband rang to say he had some money for his sister, so knowing I would meet her today, I agreed to relieve him of it. However when I rang her she denied that he owed her any money. Turns out the whole thing was my fault as I had thought she had loaned him money many years ago which he had not repaid. Seems that she was complaining about his asking for money, but she never actually coughed up. So he has saved himself a few hundred. However, I was stuck with meeting him, and having basically nothing to say, regaled him with the misdeeds of some of his extended family, so some sheep were even blacker (morally speaking) than he. Turns out he has had quite a stroke of good fortune financially, and may move abroad to live, which I thought was rather a good idea.

Today I met Madeleine for lunch at Livebait. It was quite good, but rather calorific. I hope my only misdeed as I only lost 1lb this week. We shall see. Kooky has bitten me twice in the last couple of days. I don't know how funny he will find it when I shut him in the kitchen for the night.

Socks, Tesco, and Crabby Old Bat

Just returned three pairs of navy knee-highs to mytights.com. I have been ordering these things for years, and they have started making them so short that they slip to the ankles quite quickly. I suspect a money-saving device to save on materials, but this would be rather short sighted as people will stop buying them . I am only 5' 1" with equally dumpy legs, so cannot imagine what these would be like on someone with long legs. Mind you, nothing is as bad as Tesco.

Finally, I have now had an email from Tesco, very belatedly refunding my delivery charge and offering to investigate the mouldy porridge. I'll believe that when pigs fly.

Gosh, I am getting crabby in my old age. Being cross all the time is quite envigorating though. I shall try and maintain a good level of crabbiness and remember to grumble on every possible occasion, which somehow, I don't think will be a problem, and fits in well with the name of my blog. Things really do make me sick. So there.

Miner's Gift and Horchata de Chufa

Just heard that the miners who have been trapped half a mile below ground in Chili have started to be brought up, one bearing a gift of small rocks which he distributed among his rescuers. I do hope they all come up safely and eventually manage to adjust to 'normal' life.

At work again yesterday, and Romy back, bearing a large bottle of Chufi horchata for me. There is a story that King Jaume 1 of Catalunya, when visiting Valencia, was offered a small glass of this refreshing drink by a little girl, and asking what it was, she said 'tigernut milk'. He replied 'Axo no es llet, axo es or, xata' - 'This is not milk, it's gold, kid'. Hence the name Horchata. That's the story, anyway.