Cooking for one

 

Yesterday my cousin Ruth came for lunch.  Pork, apple sauce, new potatoes, ratatouille, peas, cauliflower cheese, roast parsnips.  She's struggling a bit at the moment as her husband has Alzheimer's disease and has recently moved into a care home.  This is devastating for Ruth, as I am sure you can imagine.  Quite apart from her grief for her husband's condition, she is now struggling with living alone for the first time in her life.  

One of the hardest things for her is learning how to cook for one.  Actually, many of my friends have had the same difficulty.  There is less motivation to cook a proper meal, it's difficult to buy suitable small quantities, a meal is no longer an occasion to be shared with someone special.

So, yesterday we shared Sunday lunch and she said it was the best meal she'd had in ages and we talked about how to improve her own food routines.  She noticed I have a meal plan on the fridge door.  I explained that I have to plan how to use things which are not available in small enough packs.  Sometimes they can be frozen but sometimes I need to plan when to eat them.  

She rather enjoyed the ratatouille which I served, so I talked to her about bulk cooking and freezing.  I mentioned the range of soups lurking in my freezer

She loves cauli cheese so I showed her the bag of frozen cauli coated in cheese sauce from which I had taken a small quantity, plonked it in a dish, covered with grated cheddar and bunged in the oven with the pork.  No way would I prep cauli cheese for one, but this way I can cook just as much as I need.

She was impressed by the home cooked parsnips so I mentioned bulk preparation so they can just tossed in oil and cooked in the oven or air fryer but they can also be bought ready prepped.  I mentioned the huge variety of commercially frozen vegetables which could improve her diet.

And I suggested she use a proper butcher so she can get just as much meat as she needs rather than rely on the supermarket.

We talked everything through over some fresh fruit salad which she agreed is much more interesting than a banana or yoghurt, and proper coffee for which I showed her a small cafetiere although I used a big one. And she has decided she will invite me to go for a meal.

Cooking for one has always been the usual thing for me.  What other tips and wrinkled would you add to my list?

A Bit of Betjeman

 

Diary of a Church Mouse

Here among long-discarded cassocks,

Damp stools, and half-split open hassocks,

Here where the vicar never looks

I nibble through old service books.

Lean and alone I spend my days

Behind this Church of England baize.

I share my dark forgotten room

With two oil-lamps and half a broom.

The cleaner never bothers me,

So here I eat my frugal tea.

My bread is sawdust mixed with straw;

My jam is polish for the floor.

Christmas and Easter may be feasts

For congregations and for priests,

And so may Whitsun. All the same,

They do not fill my meagre frame.

For me the only feast at all

Is Autumn's Harvest Festival,

When I can satisfy my want

With ears of corn around the font.

I climb the eagle's brazen head

To burrow through a loaf of bread.

I scramble up the pulpit stair

And gnaw the marrows hanging there.

It is enjoyable to taste

These items ere they go to waste,

But how annoying when one finds

That other mice with pagan minds

Come into church my food to share

Who have no proper business there.

Two field mice who have no desire

To be baptized, invade the choir.

A large and most unfriendly rat

Comes in to see what we are at.

He says he thinks there is no God

And yet he comes ... it's rather odd.

This year he stole a sheaf of wheat

(It screened our special preacher's seat),

And prosperous mice from fields away

Come in to hear our organ play,

And under cover of its notes

Ate through the altar's sheaf of oats.

A Low Church mouse, who thinks that I

Am too papistical, and High,

Yet somehow doesn't think it wrong

To munch through Harvest Evensong,

While I, who starve the whole year through,

Must share my food with rodents who

Except at this time of the year

Not once inside the church appear.

Within the human world I know

Such goings-on could not be so,

For human beings only do

What their religion tells them to.

They read the Bible every day

And always, night and morning, pray,

And just like me, the good church mouse,

Worship each week in God's own house,

But all the same it's strange to me

How very full the church can be

With people I don't see at all

Except at Harvest Festival.

A whole new experience

 I had a very new experience yesterday.  I was stopped for shoplifting!

I need to say for starters that the "accusation" was entirely understandable.  I can't use a shopping trolley like everyone else so I put things into the front basket of my mobility scooter.  I went into a supermarket yesterday and put a punnet of strawberries and a tin of custard into my basket where there were already four carrots obtained elsewhere.  I went through the self service checkout, scanned the strawberries and custard, and paid for the goods.

As I prepared to leave a shop assistant came, asked to see my receipt and asked why I hadn't paid for the carrots in my basket.  I explained that they were not from that store.  She walked away without a further word and went back to chatting with another assistant.  As I passed I suggested that a smile and a "sorry" would have been appropriate.  All I got was "humph" and a rather angry look.  I think she felt deprived of her prey!

As I say, the original accusation was not unreasonable but I feel the store should train its staff to handle such situations better.

Feeling very fortunate

 

Yesterday the gas engineer came and checked the central heating boiler, the gas hob and the carbon monoxide alarm.  This is an annual visit arranged by my wonderful landlord.

Over the year I have built up a very large credit on my energy account so I know that, no matter how cold the weather is, I will be able to have my heating on or wrap myself in a heated throw.

I haven't yet switched on the heating this year but as soon as I do I will go around each radiator and bleed them as I was taught many years ago.

A great landlord.  An adequate income (and the know-how to budget).  Knowledge acquired over the years.  I will not be cold this winter.

Others will be cold.  I am fortunate that I do not have to choose between heating and eating.  

Photographic memories

When I was a little girl the appearance of a camera was a very rare thing.  My parents used to buy a reel of film when we went on holiday and that would result in eight photographs.  I have no photographs of birthday parties, few of picnics or days out.  The record was in my memory.

I have precious photographs of my grandparents and great grandparents and those would also have been precious to them as so few photographs were taken

These days phone cameras are everywhere.  Videos are taken of baby's first steps, of every day out, of fairly ordinary meals.  It's very useful too for remembering where we parked our cars, taking a picture of the shopping list, recording garden produce.

I was listening to a podcast recently when a proud dad said he had over a quarter of a million photos on his smartphone.  OK, within the last couple of years he had got married and become a dad.  Others involved in the podcast had up to fifteen thousand.  And I've sat and waited while someone has found a special photo hidden among thousands of others so they can tell me about their grandchildren.  

I checked my phone.  I have twelve photos on it, mostly taken in preparation for blog posts!  When I've taken a few photos I choose the ones  like best and have a session deleting.  The photos I want to keep are labelled and on my laptop. Who among my readers has the most or the fewest?  Do you label photos?  

Fewer than one hundred sleeps

You know what I mean!

I'm finding it hard to get going with Christmas preparation this year.  I've had several attempts at making my cards but it's just not happening.

I've bought most of the ingredients for making Christmas puddings - the current order list is for sixteen - but I haven't started weighing and mixing.

There's fabric and patterns waiting to be combined but my sewing machine stands idle.

I did say that I would try and do something each month but I have definitely failed at that one!  I've bought and collected a few bits but not enough. 

How is everyone else getting on?  

End of summer

 Jack came yesterday and the garden is now transformed!

He removed the tomato plants and tromboncino and tidied my veg plot.  He took home the green tomatoes and I had the red ones.  It's been my best ever year for tomatoes and I didn't want to ripen the last few.  I've got a few beetroot and carrots still to harvest. 

The ripe tomatoes will become yet another batch of tomato puree which I use for soup. 

He disposed of the runner beans and sweet peas and tidied the flower border.  Runner beans haven't done very well this year and we've decided to grow climbing French beans as an experiment next year.  He's planted some wallflowers too.  

He had his usual bacon buttie and I made some crumble for him to take home to top some fruit he has already.  I had invited him to lunch but he had also been invited out for his evening meal.  He has the remains of a cottage pie given him by a generous hostess.  And he will get the leftovers from a local carvery delivered as well.    He missed out on lunch.  

So I had a solitary meal of salmon, new potatoes, peas and a generous dollop of home-made tartare sauce. 

Don't worry, Jack.  I know you hate waste so I'll eat your share today.

Changing

 

Yesterday afternoon was distinctly brumal and I had to add an extra layer of clothing.  Autumn is definitely arriving after the long, hot (and dry) summer of 2025.  It’s right back-end now.

Leaves are definitely turning.  The horse chestnuts have been on the turn since mid-August but other trees are beginning to go brown now.  The world is becoming aureate and the chiaroscuro is wonderful in the early morning.

 Just so you know

Aureate – golden-coloured.

Back-end – a Lincolnshire dialect word for autumn, meaning the “back end” of the year

Brumal – wintry, but often used to describe the creeping chill of autumn.

Chiaroscuro – interplay of light and shadow

Little Gidding (extract)

 

Little Gidding Church

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all out exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown, remembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning;

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple-tree

Not known, because not looked for

But heard, half heard, in the stillness

Between the two waves of the sea.

Quick now, here, now, always--

A condition of complete simplicity

(Costing not less than everything)

And all shall be well and

All manner of things shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one.

T S Eliot

Angels tea room

 

It's been my week for going to tea rooms!  I'm taking a service at St Michael and All Angels Church this Sunday and had to visit there yesterday so, of course I called at Angels Tea Room which is run by the church.

Angels is open just a couple of days each week and serves very simple food like paninis, toasties, cake and scones.  The prices are kept very low as they want as many local people as possible to use the place.  It's very chatty and everyone talks to everyone so there's no point in being stand offish!

There's also our charity shop simply called Thrifty's.   This is run by the same team of volunteers as Angels.  Yesterday I bought a couple of small vases and my companion went home with about five jigsaws.  

This fine fellow was screeching just outside.  He will also join in our worship on Sunday!  He's one of a flock of feral peacocks who give the village extra interest.

Curiositeas.

 

So many High Street shops have closed but I've noticed one type of establishment continues to flourish, and that's small, independent eateries.   We've got a lovely one in Brigg called Shipley's Curiositeas.  It's a tea room and cake parlour (that's their own description). 

Curiositeas has gloriously kitsch decor.  Bunting, old china cabinets, lacy tablecloths and wonderfully mismatched china all set the scene for some great local food.  It tend to appeals to an older clientele and both staff and customers are friendly and chatty.

Yesterday I met with a cousin and we went to Curiositeas for a lovely relaxed lunch.  We each had salad followed by Lincolnshire Plum Bread with cheese but we could have had soup, sandwiches, toasties, baked potatoes and fantastic cakes.  There's nothing very fancy or "messed about", just simple home cooking beautifully served.

When I first retired Shipley's was a greengrocer's but it struggled to compete with the likes of Tesco.  Shipley's Curiositeas has a special place in Brigg.  Long may it serve.

Alone

I enjoy my own company which is fortunate as I live alone.  I accept lots of invitation but not all.  I know that my supplies of energy are not as good as they used to be, so I plan how much I will do.  Last week I did very little: this week I will be doing some dog sitting so I shall be more active.

A couple of years ago someone said I was turning into a hermit, possibly because I had declined an invitation to a very noisy family lunch.  And that made me a little defensive so I now record my contacts and make sure that I maintain an interest in the outside world.  

I use my phone and make voice calls but these days FaceTime is often how I keep contact.  I don't write as many letters as I used to but I email and send e cards.  I use zoom a lot: I was in a group chat on zoom last night and have a one-to-one with a friend this morning.  I find this to be great.

But the solitary life isn't easy for everyone.  I phone several people who really don't like alone-ness and experience it as loneliness.  I feel deeply for those who are widowed and who remember days when "alone" meant being with their husband/wife and who find really being alone to be hard.   

The Postie

 

I shop on line - a lot!  I have at least one grocery delivery a month especially when I want frozen food.  I get most of my clothes on-line.  The list could go on for quite a long time.

Most delivery staff are good but both Sainsbury and the Royal Mail are brilliant.  Sainsbury came Saturday and for £1 my groceries were delivered to my kitchen.  Their delivery staff are always cheerful and helpful.  I'm well organised and ready for them and we always have a cheery chat.

The posties from Royal Mail are always lovely too.  They know mine is a dog free house  and there is a seat by my front door which is good as it takes me a while to get to the door.  My recliner chair can be a bit slow getting me to ground level.  I always apologise and they always tell me not to worry.

I had a little giggle on Saturday as when I went to the door the postie was half way down the drive.  Apparently the cat from Number 12 was lurking.  It is known to all the local posties as it attacks them.  I suppose it makes a change from dogs.  

I am most richly blessed.

 

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

 

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

 

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

 

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

 

I got nothing that I asked for,

but everything that I hoped for.

 

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered;

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

Source: unknown.

Getting the hang of it

Yesterday was chilling mark three.  My third consecutive day without any appointments, any "must-do's"

And I'm getting the hang of it.

I binged on YouTube and iPlayer.

I had a favourite lunch.

I let myself play spider solitaire for longer than I'm actually prepared to admit to.

But that's it (for the moment).  I'm out at (yet another!) birthday party today, leading worship tomorrow, swimming Monday.

It was lovely but I'm glad I now have things I really must do.

Chilling day: take 2

 Wednesday chilling didn't really happen but how about Thursday?

I woke with more pain than usual so that limited my activities, although by mid-morning the pain had largely subsided.  I fancied doing a little cooking so I made soup and froze it, made mayonnaise and coleslaw.  I'd got dwarf beans in my "Waste Not" box earlier in the week so I cooked those and a couple of chicken thighs and made a chicken, carrot and green bean cheesy bake and froze that too.  I find a certain "housewifely" satisfaction when I put meals into the freezer.  I think Mother may have had a similar feeling when she surveyed the fruit she had bottled when I was a child.  

I finished my food prepping around lunch time and celebrated with freshly made soup which was very yummy.  Those boxes of tomato soup are definitely the promise of summer sunshine in mid-winter.

The afternoon was much more leisurely.  I had a snooze.  I knitted.  I did a few puzzles. I had a video call with a friend, and did a WI course in the evening.

I think my legs took out of my control the decision as to whether to chill out.  Thank you, legs.

What happened?

 

A visitor on Tuesday had brought me some flowers so I arranged them.  I have never claimed that flower arranging is one of my talents.  

I had a leisurely time doing puzzles.

Then I had a call from a friend who was very sad so I suggested she put the kettle on and I went to her.  

I had a couple of hours there just listening and came home in need of a snooze.

And somehow I just couldn't relax so I made soup.  A lot of soup.  

I remembered I had two hours of half price electricity so I did the laundry.

Then one friend rang.  And another called.  Then another rang.

So my day of quiet chilling didn't work out quite as planned.  But I am grateful to all my friends.  I felt loved, needed, appreciated. 

And guess what?  There's nothing in my diary today.  I can choose how to spend each and every minute.  😉

Who's a lucky girl, then?!

There's nothing I must do today!  Nothing at all in my diary.  I can choose how to spend each and every minute.

I know I will eat and I know there will be a couple of phone calls but basically no-one else is expecting me to do anything and there's nothing really pressing which I have to do.

So today is a luxury!  I could craft, cook, pamper myself.  I could read, listen to an audiobook, knit.  I could stay at home or go out.

I had a tricky day yesterday helping a reconciliation between two women so I feel rather happy about that.  I've got most of the preparation done to lead worship on Sunday.  I've got a dog sitting stint booked but that's not until next week.

These days don't happen all that often.  How would it make you feel?  Would you want to undertake a project, go visiting, or just be?  Does it ever happen for  you?

Tealby

 I don't often go to Tealby.  Or rather I don't often go to Tealby Church.  The King's Head at Tealby is one of my favourite eateries.  

The King's Head

On Sunday I lead a Holy Communion service there for the first time since January 2020.  It was great fun, especially as we were visited by a scatty cocker spaniel which ran several laps around the church before deciding to settle down in a pew and have a snooze.  The congregation was greatly amused, as was I.  (It had come to check on its humans.)

Tealby Church is rather nice.  It's got associations with the Tennyson family whose vault is under the chancel.  

And the congregation is rather nice too.  As well as welcoming a cocker spaniel they welcomed this stray vicar too and fed her coffee and chocolate bikkies.  I don't know what the spaniel got but I suspect she was happy too.

And so to September

 

I suppose it's autumn now but maybe we can enjoy summer  a little longer.    I've got plans for September.

Swimming is planned for several Mondays.  I don't want to go when there are fewer than three mermaids so we don't often know before Sunday whether we'll be having a splash.  Today the dip is on!

I've got a fiftieth birthday party to go to.  I'm rather looking forward to this one as there will be three of my cousins plus lots of other relatives so a lot of talking will get done.

I'm booked to lead worship on a couple of Sundays.  

I'm hoping to get my Christmas cards made.  I can't remember when I left that job so late in the year.  I've also been collecting the ingredients for puddings.  The list for those gets longer every year.

I'm hoping to do a few craft classes with the WI on line.  (The picture above was from a course last September.)

And that leaves quite a bit of time for deciding to do something on the spur of the moment.