Thursday

It was so much warmer today and the sun was out so makes all the difference.

I decided to get on with making a cake early this morning as the recipe says it takes 75 minutes to cook plus an extra 17 for the topping! The cake is made with apples and dates and then once cooked you add a topping of brown sugar, butter and coconut.

I made the mix and put it in my tin to bake but my tin was a bit smaller than the recommended so the cake rose to the top and when I came to put the topping on it was dribbling down the sides, just as well I stood the tin on foil or I would have had a very messy oven. The cake looks and smells delicious but if/when I make it again I will use half the mix or a much bigger tin!!

I did some washing and hung it out and had a potter in the garden.

The stoma nurse, Gill, arrived to see Jon. We haven't seen her since we moved and she said how nice the house was compared to the other house which was very dark. She checked Jon over and changed his bottle. The drain has now produced 1.7ltr which is a lot. It has slowed a little today but still not nearly enough to have it out. Gill said she would speak to Helen, the stoma nurse at the hospital, to see what she thinks. She came with a student nurse and she was more interested in Totty than Jon!!

I spent the rest of the morning doing my ironing. I have really missed having the radio on since Jon has been 'retired' as I know he doesn't enjoy it so today I set up out radio and iPod docking thing and had the radio on in the kitchen area. I don't need it loud so it didn't disturb him down in the sitting area and I did my ironing quite happily.

We had lunch and then I continued to do a few jobs around the house.

The gardener came and she told me the owner has cut her hours down and she now only comes once a month for two hours. Not sure how they expect all these plants to be trimmed and maintained if she only has two hours. We don't mind doing some but we don't have the tools to do too much. I did ask her to cut a tree down today as it was dead. It was just like a palm tree but mini and with spiky leaves. She also took away all the cuttings from what I cut down and I had not been able to fit it all in the bin so that was helpful.

I took Totty out for a walk and didn't need a coat as it was so warm. I met my neighbour on the way back and had a chat, he is such a nice man.

I made a cup of tea and we tried the cake and it was yummy! I will make it again but use a bigger tin!

I got ready for my Lions dinner meeting and left everything ready for Jon's dinner. I put some of the casserole I made yesterday ready for him to heat in the microwave so hopefully he will manage.

I went to Lions and we had a good evening. We had roast lamb with some lovely vegetables. I am not a lover of a roast every meeting but the vegetables are always very good and interesting. One we had tonight was roasted kumara and it was cooked with a curry flavour and onions and cashew nuts and was really good.

Unfortunately, pudding was not so good - apple crumble. I can make apple crumble anytime at home and when I go out I like to have a nice pudding and it was served with cream and not custard!

The speaker was a man from the Lions District and he will be District Governor in two years but my goodness was he boring we nearly all fell asleep. I thought it was just me but everyone breathed a sigh when he left.

I got home and Jon was fine and had enjoyed his dinner and managed to put things in the dishwasher and put the place mats away so that is an improvement. I know he is still not well though as he has not had a beer for nearly two weeks!!

Early night for me as I have Red Cross tomorrow and Sharon is on holiday so just Les and I.

WEATHER
Sunny 16 degrees