Over the last few days I have baked/created/roasted/casseroled/

sour dough bread-twice, mince pies, of course, treacle tart, tomato soup-twice (Tom Kerridge) lemon curd, meringues, wild boar steak cooked with thyme and garlic, a rosemary-infused lamb casserole, welsh rarebit filo parcels, red cabbage (Valentine Warner), carrots braised in butter and star anise ( Kerridge again), cranberry and port sauce , and creme brulee (Nigella).

A cookathon indeed.

Love it!

A bit of R+R after eight hectic weeks.

Beautiful beaches at Bude, even in stormy weather. And I couldn’t resist playing with filters.
Relaxation takes practice. I think I need to spend more time on it.

My days ‘ Up North’ are few, now. Tomorrow I begin my relocation ‘Down South’. New home, new job, new life.

Written for children.

Picnic

‘Let’s eat here!’
Making the most of the spring sunshine, the family unloaded the basket. Sandwiches, salads, desserts and juice soon adorned the tartan rug.

Buzz watched from afar until, tempted by agreeable aromas, he dared to move in closer. Would they, could they, share their meal with a starving stranger?

He hovered, knowing the answer. Beggars are unwelcome at banquets.

But sugary smells proved irresistible. Overwhelmed by hunger, Buzz ignored the risk, targeting the fruit flan. He never made it.

The blow, when it came, slammed Buzz into the long grass.

‘First wasp I’ve seen this year!’