Wednesday 16 September 2020

Washing Coal.

I must say that my mobility and my agility do improve with exercise.  If I sit about then I have trouble getting up from my chair when the doorbell rings.   But today I have been busy doing 'this and that' all day and now, late afternoon, I am moving about much more freely.   First of all it is my day for using my new soup-maker, which makes enough soup for four helpings - one today and one tomorrow and another two frozen for later in the week.  Today I made sweet potato and red pepper soup, with an onion, a dash of tabasco and a little bottle of white wine to add a bit of flavour.   It was delicious and very filling so that the ham and mushroom quiche I intended to afters with a salad was too much and I put half of it back in the fridge for tomorrow.

 

After lunch I really had to water the violas I planted last week.   There has been no rain and two really hot days(not hot today - cloudy and cooling down) and after that the electrician came to take the two bulbs out of my electric fire so that he could fix replacements - they had gone about a week ago.  And so I took the opportunity indicated by the title of today's piece - my fire has artificial coal (I hate it but it was there when I moved in and is a perfectly good fire) - he scooped the 'coal' out on to newspaper and carried it into the kitchen for me and I put it into hot soapy water.   So now, when he returns with the new bulbs the coal will go back all bright and shiny.

Tomorrow is another busy day for me - hairdresser (including a cut tomorrow),, the men are arriving to finish my patio they say (eight tons of gravel are set to arrive first thing in the morning) and in the afternoon the gas man is coming to service my gas boiler for Winter. I love busy days.

We had a scare because we thought we had Covid in the village where my son lives but it transpires that a family had to quarantine for a fortnight but no one has developed it.  My son, who lives in the village,is relieved about this.   Things do seem to be a bit chaotic at present with people having to go miles to be tested.


 

15 comments:

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

That soup sounds delicious...And you are inspiring me to be more active.

Rachel Phillips said...

I hope you know where you want the 8 tonnes of gravel tipped. That's going to be a fair heap of gravel.

Terra said...

Your sweet potato and sweet red pepper soup sounds delicious. Active days can be fun, I agree, and it is good to keep moving.

Sue said...

It sounds like you are getting on well with your new soup maker.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I used to make soup like that but I'd forgotten all about it. Thanks for the inspiration. I hope you're not intending to wash all that gravel! :)

Sue in Suffolk said...

8 Tons of gravel is a heck of a lot!

Washing coal sounds like people had to do for punishment years ago

angryparsnip said...

The soup sounds lovely.
Can't wait to see the garden.



Librarian said...

You see me nodding vigorously at your statement reg. feeling better and more active when moving as opposed to merely sitting about. If only my Dad would understand it, too! He is more than 10 years younger than you, but nowhere near as active and independant.
The soup sounds good, and I hope there will soon be pictures of your new patio.
Glad to know your son's village is still covid19-free.

Heather said...

You are certainly well organised and prepared for colder weather. I should track down an electrician to replace a broken element in one of my heaters. It went last autumn and someone came out to look at it, then returned to measure it for a replacement, and that was the last I saw of them. I made several phone calls but none brought any action so I left it. However, I can't bank on this winter being another mild one.
The soup sounds delicious.

The Cheat said...

I hope the delivery driver is handy with the wagon, they should be able to get pretty close if so. I suspect you will have the big 1 ton bags, and a handy driver will place them right where they are needed :)

The Feminine Energy said...

I am always more agile when I walk on my treadmill regularly. The operative word is "when"!! I hope all goes well tomorrow... with your hair and your gravel. I really should do something about my hair too but the virus is so prevalent in our county that I think staying home would be the wiser idea. ~Andrea xoxo

Joanne Noragon said...

I would have worked out a way to wash that coal, too.

The Furry Gnome said...

We old codgers have to stay active or these old bodies will just seize up!

Pipistrello said...

I thought Washing Coal was going to be a northern expression for some kind of messy & futile exercise you were undertaking!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone for your support