Is it time for my holiday yet?

Summer seems to be over here in the UK. Not that it ever really got going this year. So much rain. We actually had as such as everyone always thinks we get. And still its not yet time for my holiday.

Not long now though and I am counting sleeps. Jamal is still on his way to Brazil, should arrive on 22nd. Sadly not joining us on  hols this year. Fahed is still in Lebanon but will be back next Monday, ready to fly out again on the Friday. He sounds stressed up to the eyeballs but miraculously his sister is actually looking a little better.

I am very productive with Fahed away and have been stripping the hedge rows and trees, making infusions, beer and now cider. I would prefer to make jam but being diabetic it didn't seem wise. No-one really drinks in our family but we always have lots of Christmas visitors so they can all be my victims :)

Talking of jam I heard a programme of Radio 4 yesterday where someone made jam with 1200g fruit to 400g sugar, which might be something good for me to try. Diana Henry was hosting the programme but I didn't catch the name of the low sugar jammer sadly, so back to google, Or I might even buy her book

Keeping myself busy

Family is still spread out across three continents. Poor Fahed is still sitting with his poorly sister and I wish I could see a good ending for this. And I won't even dwell on poor Fahed's family as i think everyone knows about Syria now.

Jamal is heading south from Texas to Brazil. He tells me he is chasing hurricane Erica. Happy days. I hope the hurricane goes faster than his ship.

So instead I try to avoid the TV and the news pages and keep myself busy.

I bought a fermenter and 2 pressure barrels from ebay for a bargain price, i think it was £16. Inside was also a thermometer, a hydrometer and a funnel. And a kit for making some sort of Mexican style beer. Result. I wont dwell on the fact that no-one around here drinks beer :) I assume it doesn't go off too quick so hopefully I can give visitors over the coming months.

I have gathered more plums, sloes and blackberries from the hedge row. My lvoely best friend came over from the island at the weekend to keep me busy and my parents and eldest son are also dragging me here and there.

I bought some chalky duck egg blue paint to repaint some folding chairs which look rather sad. So far I haven't got far as I need to herd all the cats into a different room before I open the tin or they just come straight over and jump on the chair

Lastly I mentioned before that the fridge died. It was, i think, more than 23 years old so it did well. Its hard to dispose of fridges so I am thinking maybe use it as a smoker, following these instructions from youtube? I mean, what could go wrong??

or perhaps we better stick with this one?