Baking and budget.

 

I have been reading that from  January 26 the government have decided to put another substance in our flour. Folic acid. Sounds well intended to reduce babies born with spina bifida or similar. On researching it a bit more it seems it isn’t the natural kind but a synthetic one which may behave very differently in some individuals. I remember pregnant women were given supplements but that seems to have stopped and they are encouraged to buy their own. What with this and boaver in British dairy products I wonder what will be next.

I decided to have a baking day and although I know flour at the moment is fortified with extra things at least it doesn’t have this yet. I’m trying to eat well and be mindful of what chemicals are in food but it is becoming harder. Sometimes my heart sinks when I read the label. So glad I grow as much vegetables as I can but I don’t think I can manage a wheat field and my own cow on my allotment.

As for today’s budget I am speechless. I recently parted with precious savings to buy national insurance contributions so I can claim a full state pension. I thought this was the right thing to do and I would be slightly better off. It now seems I will be a taxpayer as the new state pension will exceed the tax allowance which is fixed until 2031. I wish I hadn’t bothered.

Gorgeous Gloucester

 Another spontaneous outing yesterday. The sun was shining and the air had a frosty nip. We decided on a visit to our second nearest city. The journey took about 50 minutes and we were parked up alongside Gloucester Docks.

We wandered towards the city centre and came across The Tailor of Gloucester shop from the Beatrix Potter stories. 

Through the archway we could see the majestic cathedral behind.

We were amazed at the size of this place as Gloucester isn’t a huge city.

We enjoyed a stroll around the cathedral and admired the detail and splendour. I always think of the men who worked to create these wonderful buildings without the tools and technology they have now.

There were some interesting shops.

This clock shop clock chimes every quarter of an hour. The figures move around. It was like something you might see in Germany or Austria.

The Gloucester and Sharpness canal is wide enough for ships to go up to Gloucester. None today. We went over the bridge to the Gloucester Quays shopping outlet centre. Just to look. Our budget doesn’t run to that kind of shops. We had brought our coffee with us in our flask. It was cold sitting outside. Another sunny drive home.  We appreciated our toasty house when we got back.

Christmas sprouts.

 

Such a lovely day today. Warm sunshine on my face. I went down to the allotment to check on things and the Christmas sprouts are looking good. I’m not really fan as I’m quite sensitive to their unwanted side effects. However, homegrown sprouts will take pride of place on the Christmas table this year. 

It has been a busy week so far. We had a new. Central heating boiler installed on Monday so I’m feeling very  nervous about spending coming up to Christmas. Although I had a contingency fund, I’m still reeling at parting with a huge sum of money at once. 

Today’s lovely weather is apparently the calm before the storm. Very wet and windy here tomorrow. Also talk of colder weather and possibly some snow in some areas. We often get snow in the higher areas of the Cotswolds. Good thing we have central heating at the ready with our new boiler. 

Babysitting duty tonight as the parents are having a night out at the Farmer’s Dog, Jeremy Clarkson’s pub. You have to book 2 months ahead for the restaurant. I have been there back in the Summer for lunch outside in the pub garden. There is a fantastic view. So busy though. People are still visiting in vast numbers. Very expensive of course but delicious food all produced locally. I wonder if sprouts are on their  menu? 

Recycled she shed

OH has finished work now and is a retiree. To keep him busy the challenge was to build me a small shed at our allotment where we can sit in the dry or shade of need be. We have a small shed for tools but no window in it. The challenge was to build it for free out of recycled items and what we already have. The base and back wall was collected from a skip. He had to borrow a friend’s van to collect this. The sides and roof and window were free from various Facebook marketplace local posts. The door is made from my old garden table. The small folding table hanging on the wall comes from the worktop extension in our caravan. I never use it and it was getting in the way. The old folding chairs are still hanging on with many years use. All other wood bits and paint are from our shed at home where OH gathers useful bits and pieces. Now he’s finished it I need to think of another project. Got to keep him busy. If he is bored he sits and watches tv all day. 

A spontaneous outing.

 While watching something on YouTube last night the OH said. I would like to see that. Coventry cathedral was bombed in the war and only parts remain.  A new cathedral has been built near the ruins. As it is (only just) under 50 miles away we tootled down the Fosseway past Stratford upon Avon and turned off to Coventry. I have never been there in my 64 years so I was interested to see what it would be like.

Such a shame a beautiful building had been bombed but the resilience of Coventry shone through with the impressive new building next to the ruins.

Very modern but warm and welcoming. A community event was being set up while we walked around. The space is obviously not just used for worship. 

OH had a voucher for Wetherspoons and luckily we saw one opposite the cathedral entrance, so we treated ourselves to a small fish and chips and unlimited tea and coffee.

We walked towards the town and saw the statue of Lady Godiva.

I had forgotten that story was linked to Coventry.

I love a canal and saw the sign for the canal basin so we went to have a look. I was sad that it looked uncared for. There were a couple of empty cafes but it seemed unloved and a far cry to what it might have been in the past. Just a couple of empty barges and a few bedraggled ducks. 

Bear in mind this was drab November day. I’m glad I visited Coventry but glad to get home as it was getting dark. Walking around felt safe enough. There was a diverse mix of cultures here. An interesting day out.

Gathering Winter Fuel.

 

Thinking of the Christmas Carol Good King Wenseslas, I learned today that all wood belongs to someone and it is theft to remove any lying on the ground. So when you go for a walk in the woods, any wood lying there can't be gathered by a poor man. In my childhood I remember going out with my mother with an old pram. We went across fields to some woodland and got dry sticks for firelighting. There was plenty to go round if you could be bothered to go and get it. I loved the woodland smells and crunchy leaves. It was a lovely thing to do on a crisp Autumn day.

In Aldi and our local Home Bargains a small bag of kiln dried logs is £4.99. It is too warm really to light my logburner so the next best thing is to pretend. I put some battery powered hallowe'en fairy lights in the fire place. A rug over my knees and I'm enjoying the warm glow.

Thought of the day.

 

I'm noticing as the years to by that my flower beds in November are as colourful as in the Summer. There are loads more buds on these cosmos and no sign of them dying off yet. I'm sure a frost might see them off but for now I'm enjoying the colourful garden. In the Summer they were all green foliage and sparse flowers. 

I just had an email from Thames Water thanking me for my patience with the hose pipe   ban in our area. Apparently we haven't had enough rainfall yet for our needs and they will continue with it. You couldn't make it up could you. Every day I have been drawing off some water from my rainwater tubs to stop them overflowing everywhere. I think Water Companies need some serious investment in water storage in the UK. I read somewhere that we have a non functioning desalination plant that is going to be too expensive to ever get running again. I can see water rationing on the horizon as the population grows. Meanwhile my water direct debit gives me a sinking feeling every month I check the direct debits. As for my electric and gas, well I will be scared to put the lights on soon let alone the heating. 

My mother turns 90 soon and she said I am the wasteful generation and that it I had lived through the war I wouldn't be moaning and would just have to get on with it. No words of comfort from her, she tells it like it is. I can't help but being a bit put out though. I worked and paid tax for as long as I could but the future looks bleak going towards my state pension. Hey ho, I'm a lot better off than some so I should cheer up and put the kettle on... Oh wait, how much will my cup of tea cost me?