October Month 9

I’ve set myself another challenge (I still need two more). This one is a little silly. I’ve been on lockdown here, and when the end of British Summer Time was approaching I decided that I didn’t want to deal with the dark afternoons that the time change would bring. So, out came the computer, I drew up a chart, and I’m not going to change the clocks until at least a decent time after the equinox. I imagined this would fail almost immediately, but it’s been a week and has been surprisingly easy. And it’s still daylight at 6pm! It’s working partly because Pavel has joined in too. We have discussions at ‘odd’ times during the day about whether it’s coffee time, lunchtime or Channel 4 news time, but we’ve missed nothing yet!

On the first day of the month I completed task No 46. All 5 peaks reached – Table Mountain, Skirrid, Blorenge, Pen y Fan and now Sugar Loaf. It’s been a delight. It was Pavel’s birthday and we left very early in the morning with a plan to be back down to the Sugarloaf Vineyard for lunch. I thought we would be on top on our own, but no. At least another 5 people arrived while we were there. People get out and about very early!

Walking the Brecon Monmouthshire Canal Day 2. Talybont to Crickhowell. Who would build a canal half way up a mountain? I’m glad they did. The views are stunning. I understand the canal boaters love it too because, unusually, the canal contours the hills, so it is not straight, and navigation is therefore more interesting. Unfortunately the next stage – Crickhowell to Abergavenny – is not possible for a while due to local travel restrictions and now our lockdown.

Bird watching! My lovely friend Jocelyn turned up with another bird feeder to join the one that Kathy sent. This one had fat balls in it. We struggled to attach it in the garden but managed and then watched. My ptarmigan – recently picked up from Arts Alive where I made it last year in a pottery summer school – did not go for the fat balls, but, after a few pretty tits had done their thing, the local jackdaws found them. That was very sad because Jocelyn confirmed that once found, they would not forget. As mean as it sounds, I really don’t want to feed and gaze at jackdaws and so that particular feeder has been abandoned. The apple on the heart still attracts a few small birds. Our garden is not the best place for bird watching though – we have an over-abundance of pigeons. I look to the Spring to work on this challenge. All being well I’ll be 70 by then and the blog will have finished. That is, unless I decide to stay 69 for another year……..

No. 67 completed too. We went glamping! I feel it may be a bit cheating as it was rather luxury glamping. In a treehouse, in the middle of Wales. Just us, sheep, books and a hot tub! How luxurious is that? I always forget how lovely mid Wales is. Wild, empty and beautiful.

Music. Scales are progressing. I’ve tackled nearly all of them now and have moved on to more complicated arrangements. This month 3 against 2. Not easy.

I haven’t studied a composer. I don’t know why, I just didn’t feel like it. Instead I’ve been listening to minimalist music. Arvo Part’s Spiegel im Spiegal is 10 minutes of total peace. That, or it will drive you crazy! Have a listen.

And then there’s Steve Reich’s (short)) clapping song. Go on……

The chocolate course Lecture 2. Make truffles. I watched the lesson, made the water ganache (I had no idea there was such a thing) and ended up with a total fail. The ganache, even after a day in the freezer – where you’re not supposed to put it – is still too soft to turn into a truffle! We’re eating soft (not)frozen balls of chocolate with creme fraiche. Highly recommended! I’ll try again next month.

Matt sent me a hip hop CD. Marlowe. I had to ask for a copy of the lyrics as my head was baffled. I’ve listened. I don’t mind it but it’s probably not going to find it’s way to the top of the pile. It doesn’t matter.

I’ve cooked, as always. After last month’s blog, my vegan friend Annie suggested I try making ‘fake’ Rolos. Remember Rolos? They probably still exist! Anyway, chocolate covered soft chewy toffee. The vegan ones have a mashed date and peanut butter centre. I sprinkled sesame seeds on them for a bit of interest. As if mashed dates are not interesting enough.

It’s clearly a ‘sweet’ month as I made a rice pudding cake. Rice pudding cake you say? It was quite delicious, but actually not hugely more delicious than rice pudding itself.

I also made a spicy lamb dish and a chicken bake. Even though we’re almost vegetarian. Strange times.

This month’s donation has gone to the Longtown Mountain Rescue team. Chosen because a friend’s husband volunteers with them. They do great work and depend on donations.

Books. Only one this month for a bookclub. Patrick Gale – Take Nothing With You. A charming coming of age novel about a young gay man who plays the cello. The joy of music in the novel made it for me, but then I got close to the end and discovered the absolute best recipe for pasta tomato sauce ever. For some reason I thought it must be Patrick Gale’s recipe, but it turns out that it’s Marcella Hazan’s very own. Simmer a tin of tomatoes with a whole onion cut in half with three ounces of butter for 40 minutes. Discard the onion. Eat. Absolutely delicious. Pavel ate the discarded onion!

I’ve started to paint another picture. You really don’t want to see it.