It has been the best part of a week since my last Journal entry. I'd claim that it has been a busy week, but, on reflection, I'm not sure that it has.
When I was working I was forced to sit at a laptop for several hours each day, yet I still managed to cook, walk the dogs, socialise and complete various DIY and gardening tasks. However, now I'm retired I have close to forty hours more free time, and am still claiming that I am far too busy to make a daily Journal entry.
So, what have I been up to?
Tuesday, 24th February
30% returned from Rhayader late in the morning and we were joined by Mr & Mrs Tweedy for lunch. We spent a couple of hours at the "Tuesday Afternoon Club" listening to a talk about the Gloucester and Warwickshire Steam Railway.
The real reason for attending was so that I could have another attempt to connect 30%'s ancient laptop to the AV equipment in the Parish Education Centre, as I will need it for a talk I will be giving in April.
The laptop, once again, refused to cooperate, and I am now considering either borrowing, or purchasing a new machine.
Wednesday, 25th February
Virtually all of Wednesday was taken up with slicing and packing the bacon, that I have recently cured and smoked.
We did take an extended lunch break and joined Mr & Mrs Tweedy for lunch at the Redditch Catering college restaurant. We had a splendid three course lunch for the ridiculously low price of £8 per head. The food was lovely and the portions were huge. I was asked if I didn't care for my dessert, as I had only eaten half of it. I had to point out that it was lovely, and that I just couldn't manage it all.
Wednesday also included another equipment failure. Our vacuum packer has become very temperamental. This was bloody annoying as I had more than twenty packs of bacon to vacuum pack. I did manage other complete the job, but a new packer is now on order.
Thursday, 26th February
We have Rosie & Jim, and Gizzy & Jules coming over for dinner on Friday night.
Our chosen menu has a Swedish influence; starting with gravlax served on rye bread with cream cheese, followed by meatballs in a cream sauce with mashed potatoes and green vegetables. The dessert will be carrot cake served with homemade vanilla ice cream.
This morning was spent making the carrot cake. Once that was set to cool, I attended to the gravlax. Half of it was vacuum packed and frozen and the other half was sliced thinly, wrapped and left in the fridge.
I think we may have managed a short walk with the dogs too.
Friday, 27th February
Most of today was spent preparing for our guests, which basically came down to tidying the house and laying the table. 30% focussed on the meatball dish. I was tasked with domestic ambience!
The party was great fun, and we had a lovely time. Our menu choices were complimented and both Gizzy and Rose were keen to have the recipes for the gravlax and carrot cake.
I should also point out that a fair amount of wine was consumed and it was gone midnight before we retired to bed.
Saturday, 28th February
It has felt like we have been rushing around all week, so Saturday was taken at a very gentle pace. We both had lengthy snoozes in the afternoon, before we headed out again!
This time we were out to see B&H for a catch up and to start planning our 2027 holiday. B is sixty next year and is very keen to go on safari. We were flattered and delighted to be asked to join them, and the evening was spent working out some high level requirements.
We were also entertained by their two granddaughters, and shared a lovely supper, before heading home at a reasonable hour.
Sunday, 1st March
After several food and entertainment focussed days, we did very little today.
I did manage to walk Hobson and TB as far as Pete's house, and that was about it.
30%'s friend 'Chelle paid us a visit in the late afternoon ... basically the lure of a carrot cake could not be resisted!
So that brings me up to date.
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