But also...

...just in case you think I've got the life of Riley here, other commitments in the coming weeks include

a number of meetings,, most of which will have a distinct focus, likely to be...

...the imminent OFSTED inspection

planning, prepping and facilitating several training sessions

three other workshops to plan, prep and deliver

a serious, professional training programme to complete

finish some samples for display

three speaking engagements

a report to write

two competitions to judge

and all the fun of the fair here at home, where I'm trying to have a bit of a sort out.

Life is never dull - and that's just the way I love it!

A circuitous route home

Little did we know, when setting off from Chiang Mai last night, that our route home would be via Osaka! But the BA plane which had developed an oil leak couldn't be repaired and so we gratefully accepted the alternative offered and flew JAL to Heathrow via Kansai. We arrived home at around 4.30pm this afternoon and our luggage landed at 6.30pm, having come separately on board a Thai flight today. Omar, the most efficient JAL baggage manager has worked wonders and has already identified our bags, collected them from the carousel and taken them to the baggage delivery people who will bring our suitcases here tomorrow and deliver Edward's to him in Finsbury Park too.

Sometimes, the easiest thing is to sit back, relax and let everyone get on with doing what they do best. Last night, of course, we had no choice but to do exactly that and I'm pleased to say it all turned out fine in the end.

It's good to be home.

By the way

the cake turned out very well indeed, in spite of the small hiccup.

Disaster averted

I enjoy cooking and like any excuse to spend a morning in the kitchen with Radio 4 and no time constraints. This morning, I had to make one of my brown rice salads to take to Cherington later, where my WI is entertaining a party of Highgrove garden visitors to lunch. Whilst I was listening to Desert Island Discs (Richard Ingrams, surprisingly interesting and entertaining I thought) I decided to get on and bake an apple cake from the Ottolenghi recipe book. Ottolenghi in Islington is one of Edward's favourite restaurants and having shared a great, relaxing meal there with him I bought the book intending to give it to him. No chance though - when I saw the yummy things inside I hung on to it and have made a couple of things very successfully already.

So, with friends coming over for supper tomorrow and a few things from the book chosen, I gathered the ingredients for the Apple and Maple Syrup cake and set to following the rather unusual recipe which begins by whisking sugar, vanilla and eggs into olive oil.

As I peeled the Bramley apples, I had the same thought I always have when I do this: I thought of my Nan who baked several apple pies almost every Saturday for friends and family. she'd peel the apples using an ordinary knife and would always challenge herself to get the peel off in one long strip - no breaks. On the odd occasion when she did this, she'd pass the peel to one of us to throw in the air to see what letter formed - that would be the initial of our husband to be! (I've just googled this and found a few variations on this story here It would appear that it's wasn't just my Nan who did such things)

I can't peel anything using a knife and struggle to get the peel off in one go using a peeler, even. Perhaps apples these days don't have such tough skins? who knows... But today, I did it. For the first time I can remember, I managed to peel one of the three apples in one go. I threw it into the air and watched it fall and tried to interpret the letter on the kitchen floor just for old time's sake - a bit late to identify a husband!

I continued through the recipe, stirring in the apple mixture, folding in egg whites and poured the batter into the prepared tin. I thought that the instruction to level the top with a knife was a little superfluous since the runny batter needed no levelling at all and put it into the oven. As I gathered up the bowls for washing up I found the bowl of sifted flour, spices and baking powder!

I quickly opened the over door, poured out the mixture into the bowl again thinking how surprising just two minutes (or even less) in an oven starts the cooking process - quickly folded in the flour, greased a new tin and shot it back in the oven as quickly as I could.

We'll see how it turns out!

As for the letter on the floor - you'll have to go here to see.

View from a desk

Following Jordi's request to share the view from our desks, I took a few photos in the studio just now. To the left of my computer screen, I can just about see what the weather is doing through the blinds - raining, as usual. I can also see that pile of paper which needs dealing with. I wonder what excuse I'll have this week?

There's also the old computer which is connected to my sewing machines - comes in handy when Mark needs a taste of the old Win98 days too.

To the right of my screen, I can look over to my worktable, where there are a few things needing attention, homes to be found and some newish books I want to read before putting them onto the shelves.

Swivelling round on my chair a little more to the right and I can see what my nearest and dearest is up to. Notice the screen is tiled a little away from me? Hmmm...if I sit forward I can see what's on it though!! This corner is where our best friend Roomba lives too - he who zooms around picking up all those dust bunnies when we're not there.

Next stop, immediately behind me, the door to the laundry reminds me that I could be ironing or dealing with the washing - but notice I stash all that out of sight (out of mind?) The travel bookshelf is a far more interesting place to rest my eyes.

Last stop is the door to the storeroom (best kept closed...believe me!) and the main door, out to the hall and upstairs. Telephone, fax, modem, security system and all of that in this corner...charge-central.

Curiosity satisfied, Jordi?

First Harvest

The early days of June usually find us keeping a watchful eye on the elderflowers in our garden. As soon as the big, showy blooms blossom, we brave the little clouds of pollen and fill bowls with the glorious scent of summer.

It's always a time tinged with sadness, for I was standing at the kitchen window, making elderflower cordial when the phone call came from Cyprus, with the dreadful news that Daddy had suffered a fatal heart attack. But the process reminds me that though life changes, the seasons come and go and the little family routines continue.

Until - crisis - the recipe is lost! Though I have made this dozens of times, the first batch of the year is tricky, when it's so long since the last time and quantities are uncertain.

Fortunately, Mark was a little more diligent in searching the recipe folder and before long, the crisis was averted.

And just in case the little newspaper cutting goes missing again, a recipe monitor has been appointed. Congratulations on your new responsiblity, Hobson!

Tuesday

In answer to Sue's question about my photo of the day yesterday, the answer is "journal jewellery" for the big craft project I'm doing right now. I'm getting on ok with that and nearing the home straight - just need to run out in a min to replenish some supplies.

I chickened out of doing more to my bag last night. Instead, we sat in front of the TV and watched a couple of Gilmore Girls episodes on DVD. We're savouring these, in the knowledge that we're on Series 6 of a total of 7, but the cliffhangers are such that as one episode finishes we look at one another and ask "just one more?"

Anyway, hands are recovered, a long car journey this afternoon might offer a chance to work a little more on it. We're off to Hull to begin a bit of a sort out. Can't say I'm looking forward to that prospect.

Cup final day

It's Saturday and the day of the FA Cup Final (is it still called that? Maybe not...) As neither of us is really interested in football (though with Hull City in the play-off for promotion into the Premiership, all that might change...) I am planning to use the time to relax and do something more interesting.





Like read a book perhaps. I have just one or two on the current pile including next months bookgroup choice "The Other Side of the Bridge", "Notes from an Exhibition" which I seem to have been reading for ever and "Singled Out" which is absolutely fascinating and needs concentration to grasp all the detail inside. There's the guidebooks enthusing me about our next-but-one-trip in August, the amazingly comprehensive Textiles book I bought as a result of the Red exhibition in Basel and the Gocco Guide which came last week. Finally, the new Gordon Ramsay cookbook, for although I don't care for the man himself and watching his F word show last week made me twitchy, his recipes are pretty good and the monkfish from the programme is on the menu chez nous this evening.




Or I might just browse through one or two magazines. The new Selvedge arrived yesterday and the Marie Claire Idees this morning. I intended to concentrate and read some articles from the two German mags I picked up on the Swiss flight a couple of weeks ago, and then there are the favourites bought on a rare Borders visit last Saturday in Birmingham which still haven't been opened.




Or perhaps I'll do some knitting. These socks, progressing nicely after a hiccup last week - Embossed leaves pattern from Favourite Socks



Or perhaps I'll fiddle some more with a bit of domino knitting in the multicolour cotton.


There's the paper to read





sudoku to finish





and I have a fairly major craft project on the go which I'm sorry, I can't show you just yet.




Of course, I'm doing none of that. I'm sitting here at my computer writing a blog post. And whilst I'm here, I spot the two CDs which arrived yesterday from Gwen Hedley, which looked fascinating on a quick glimpse earlier and which I'd like to look at more closely, when I've done with reading, knitting, working in the studio and getting a meal together.


Don't you think that could be the reason why so many people find it far more fun to just plonk themselves down in front of the TV and watch the Cup final?

English Summer

One of the things we love about living in England is the weather. How boring it would be to have the same old sunshine every day with no surprises. How much more interesting it is when all four seasons can be experienced within 24 hours!

We had torrential rain throughout the night and woke up this morning to find a very wet garden. Everything is looking so fresh after a good downpour, though, and the grass must have grown an inch overnight!




Only thing is, there's no washing going out on the line today. Shame about that.

Glorious sunshine (cough splutter)

We have what the weather forecasters are telling us is the last of this series of warm, sunny days and we've really enjoyed being outside in the fresh air, sorting out the garden and looking forward to a fine summer.

But look what happened then. OK, so our neighbour did telephone to ask if we minded if she lit a garden fire (at about 1pm this lunchtime), but what could we say?

I think we know what we'll say next time. And for Bob and his son, our trusty window cleaners, I'm afraid it was so horrendous, they beat a hasty retreat. Who can blame them?

Whodunnit

We've been out in the garden all day, sorting out things ready for the summer. Mark's cleaned all the outdoor furniture, jet washed the paving stones and paths and I've sorted out all the picnic stuff we keep in our summerhouse - you might say that we are prepared for some sunshine!

This viburnum was looking so gorgeous in the sunshine, layer upon layer of frothy white flowers. We're not really gardeners at all, but it's lovely to see things growing and thriving. Our pond was positively heaving with life - tadpoles, newts, dragonflies, pond skaters, water snails and every so often, a frog would pop out from under the water and sit and take the view in for a while.

A veritable hive of activity as we all went quietly about our business for the day.

So, when I went to put the broom away, I was staggered to find that it had not been all peace and quiet for some. At some point during the afternoon, whilst we were happily getting on with things, a murder took place, the evidence being a large scattering of pigeon feathers but no body (thankfully).

Whodunnit?

We have no idea. Surely, we would have spotted a fox strolling through our garden as they do frequently - but not usually when we are outdoors. Perhaps it was a sparrowhawk or similar? The last time that happened, however, the sounds of squawking and horrendous squeals from the poor victim (a blackbird) upset me no end. We didn't hear a thing.

So, we have no idea. Just goes to show though, that on a peaceful Sunday afternooon in a Cotswold garden, all kinds of dark and mysterious goings on occur without our knowledge. We'd better be careful!

Problem solved

Ever since our garden room was finished, there has been an empty space above the double doors which lead into our sitting room. In direct sun for much of the day, this was not a place to put textiles or anything precious - in fact, we struggled to think of what to put there at all. But a large gable end is a big space and we always felt the need for something there.

We once saw a quirky wire sculpture in Brewery Arts, Cirencester, but we dithered and dallied and it was gone before we had made up our minds and of course, we've never really seen anything we liked as much. so, the wall has stayed empty.

Until now.

Whilst in Basel, at the Vitra Design museum, we spotted this Algae and fell for it immediately. It's made of individual components which fasten together with pegs and can be arranged in whatever shape suits. It's simply plastic and could be used indoors or out - in fact, since we've been home and done a google of it, we rather wish we had bought more...but of course, we had to limit ourselves to what we could carry.

Now, I think we might rather like more and wish it would grow a bit, though maybe not quite as fast as its living counterpart in our pond. Perhaps we'll just have to make another purchase.

Weird but gorgeous

It's been raining on and off all day, but in between the showers, the sun has come out and a little fresh air was called for. Wandering around the garden, in search of a 365 photo for today, I spotted two or three little clumps of tulips amongst some rather bigger shrubs. These were planted the year before last and I'm fairly sure they were pink when they came up last year.

This year, however, they are rather strange. Some parts are more leaf than petal, and the structure of each flower doesn't seem quite how it ought to be.

But I don't really care, for the overall effect is pretty gorgeous, and the colour is fantastic - my favourite rhubarby combination.

I think I need to get the Inktense crayons out!

A day to play

Today, two friends came to play and oh my goodness, what creativity was in the air!

Sue was working on a project for a competition, and worked on the Embellisher for much of the day. Myfanwy, we missed you!
Liz explored the bind it all machine, having watched the DVD to get the tips and hints first. Sensible lady... As she was doing this, our friend Dorothy Skyped in to see how we were getting along. Of course, it was all her fault we got into the bind-it-all in the first place - wasn't it Dorothy?

As for me, well I had a new toy to play with, thanks to Liz - and did I read the instructions first? Since they were in Japanese that wasn't really an option, but with an expert on hand, I dived right in and with her help, look what we made!

Twenty-four cards for our friends...

Such fun to get together and share ideas and enthusiasms. We'll do it again soon (I hope)

Quiet?

I've been quiet since we arrived home, but things around here have been anything but.

I'd already agreed to teach on Monday, in Devon, which was fun and the Spring weather made the drive rather more enjoyable than it might have been. Even the M5 looks great in sunshine! Tuesday was set aside for a full day's commitment to work - always good to be amongst colleagues, especially in such comfortable surroundings. So it was Wednesday before I even opened my suitcase!

A charity lunch meant that the middle of the day was a sociable affair and I'd planned to spend morning and late afternoon sorting out the washing, putting things away and all of those post-holiday jobs which result in piles of stuff which need to be dealt with. A phone call soon denied me that pleasure!

To cut a (very) long story short, a TV channel wanted to do a report on the new "make do and mend" - could I gather some friends together to darn socks and so on. Sure I could - but for tomorrow morning? A challenge I could have done without but being a "say yes, wonder why later" kind of person, I agreed. Then immediately regretted, because the rest of the day was taken up by making phone calls, calling in favours and trying to rally the troops. Not easy at less than 24 hours notice.

After a restless night and panicky morning, I got a call to say they'd decided not to run the story after all. Thanks.

Why do we do it?

Somewhere in there, too, I agreed to participate in a mammoth knitting project for a TV company as well. Will I never learn?

Once I'd settled down yesterday morning, I took a walk around the garden. Though the sun was shining and it looked glorious, it was freezing cold, so my walk was a brief one. Not too brief to miss an amazing display of self seeded primulas which have been flowering since Christmas but seem to be coming to the most glorious finale right now.

It's good to be home!