Friday

 In the garden ...

... the new rose, Eden, is fast becoming my favourite! The fuchsias are still full of flowers and the pomegranate is keen to flower but doesn't have much luck as it gets to this stage and then loses the battle with the winds. Two more plants arrived yesterday, a perennial sweet pea and an obedient plant (physostegia virginiana 'vivid').

I missed the Bollywood Dancing class yesterday which is a shame. I just forgot the time and, as it starts at noon, it's not a particularly good time for me to take part anyway but I'll try again next week as I'd like to at least have a go. I did watch the Indian cookery class though and may be a convert to okra (bhindi) ... only may at the moment but it looked absolutely delicious so I will have a go as soon as I can get hold of some okra. The thing I like about this class is that she also gives tips for when shopping, so we all now know how to test the okra for freshness. The dish is bhindi dopiaza so it's a dry dish rather than one with the sauce/gravy, and she also showed us how to make a simple and quick side dish to accompany it - she used carrots today  but it will work for most veg so it's a good addition to my recipe folder. Does anyone know which supermarkets sell fresh okra please? I know it's possible to get frozen but I'd prefer to use fresh if I can. 

I'm not having much luck getting out and about this week. I'm waiting in for another delivery this afternoon and this morning I have someone coming to look at some of the card making supplies and am waiting on another person to confirm what time she is coming to look at a selection of music theory books. 

Apart from that I'm hoping for a relatively easy day. I'll have to water the garden at some point and there is probably deadheading to do and then, after my usual piano and Italian daily practices, I'll be settling down with a new book - 'Death Comes To Bishops Wells: The Shire Mysteries 1' by Anna Legat which is set in my home county of Wiltshire. If I remember correctly, the setting of Bishops Wells is based on Devizes which is a town I know very well so will be looking to see if I recognise any of the locations in the book.

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My August decluttering challenge:

• 1st = a set of plastic measuring spoons (I never use them)
• 2nd = a white shirt (band uniform that is now too big) 
• 3rd = odd balls of wool (going to my sister, who can make use of them)
• 4th = a map quiz book (completed and unlikely to want to do it again)
• 5th = blue cardigan (big holes in both elbows so only fit for the bin!)
• 6th = a pile of half completed puzzle books (going to my friend's sister)
• 7th = large fruit bowl (I don't like it but K does, so it's going to her!)
• 8th = a broken Filofax cover (only fit for the bin!)
• 9th = unopened toiletries (unwanted gifts, so going to a friend)
• 10th = 3 small terracotta indoor pots (gifting them to K)
• 11th = old duvet set (to be donated)
• 12th = 5 Pyrex divided containers (to be donated as I never use them)
• 13th = two impossibly hard jigsaw puzzles (to be donated gifted to Joy)
• 14th = books, garden fleeces & growing bags (gifted to Joy)
• 15th = a box of carbon paper (gifting to E)
• 16th = tin full of pencils and crayons (donated to a woman's refuge)
• 17th = DVDs I never watch (gifting to E)
• 18th = broken metal whisk (to be recycled)
• 19th = brand new under sink waste bin (to be donated)
• 20th = 2 pairs of specs (to the collection bin at the recycling yard)
• 21st = winter coat (now too big, gifted to K)
• 22nd = old makeup (only fit for the bin) 
• 23rd = tatty tea towels (wanted by T for use in his garage!)
• 24th = laddered tights (only fit for the bin)
• 25th = socks that are more holes than sock! (only fit for the bin)
• 26th = flash cards and rhythm cards (teaching resources going to C, the piano teacher)
• 27th = 3 large and brand new white picture frames (will probably be sold, unless my sister wants them)