An Ordinary Day

this year's new growth, the burgundy leaves, on the pieris

 

Yesterday turned out to be a very quiet day when, despite good intentions, I actually achieved very little.

In my defence I was tired after meeting with J the previous evening. We had a lovely meal in the Kings Arms in town and then back to J's for a coffee and a chat ... we both like the food but it is a very noisy pub and conversation is difficult as a result. We had an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of doing the exact same thing every time as opposed to trying something new every time. The topic came as a result of us eating in the same place for the third time running and both of us choosing the exact same meal each time (without even considering doing anything different), and then questioning whether we were stuck in a rut. We decided in the end that some consistency and comfort in familiarity was a positive and only of concern if the freedom to make choices is overridden by a strict routine and rigid thinking that doesn't permit changes, thereby restricting your life. Seeing as neither of us lives to such a strict routine like that we decided it wasn't an issue so J ordered her usual chicken fajitas and I ordered my usual fish pie!

I had one slight disappointment yesterday. I'm booked on a coach trip to Swanage and Corfe Castle on Sunday but the coach company phoned to say that they'd just found out there will be no access to Corfe Castle as it is booked for the sole use of the villagers for their coronation party, so the coach would only be going to Swansea. I had the option for a refund but I decided to go anyway. I like Swanage and there is plenty to do there rain or shine, but I was planning to visit the model village in Corfe Castle so can't help feeling a little twinge of disappointment. The trip is mostly about wanting to see the sea again so that's still on the cards and I will spend some time today searching online for other new-to-me things I can do while I'm there. If the weather plays nicely I may go on a boat trip to see the nesting seabirds, but I'm not the world's best sailor so it will need to be completely calm for that to happen. 

I'm expecting a delivery from Tesco today. This is the monthly big shop to restock cupboards, fridge and freezer as well as some treats to enjoy when I watch the coronation tomorrow. I've also ordered the additional ingredients I need to use up some of the Simply Cook kits so there will be chicken makhani, penne alla rustica, Goan fish curry, firecracker chicken noodles, and lamb keema matar on the menu over the next week. The kits are supposed to give two portions but I always add extra ingredients and end up with three or four portions from each kit. Most of the extras will go in the freezer but I will keep the firecracker chicken noodles out and use it up for lunches/dinners as it didn't freeze too well last time I tried.

Apart from that and some piano practice, I don't have anything else planned. I will check the TV listings to see if there are any pre-coronation programmes I can watch but if not I think it'll probably be a day cuddled up on the sofa with my nose stuck in a book!