Things I've done this week

Saturday- Lazy morning, ate Vegetarian bacon for the first time from the Milkman- it was really tasty! It smelt like Frazzles but I really liked the texture.  We ate it with eggs, tomatoes, homemade fried bread and rocket.  In the afternoon, we drove over to CBC's old housemate's home and had delicious hot chocolate and marshmallows courtesy of Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser and had some nice chats.  We returned home to eat delicious left-over Thai Green Tofu and vegetable curry and also naughtily supplemented it with Salt and Pepper prawns and pancake rolls from the Chinese!

Sunday- CBC went off cycling and I watched the Youtube church service and did some watering.  His brother and partner came over via train.  They sat in the garden drinking a cup of tea and then we drove (everyone wearing face masks!) to Lion's Creek where we did a lovely walk along the creek and the river Crouch to Paglesham.  We went via the Coop to get some lunch for a picnic.  Excitingly, we reached the Pillarbox where we intended to have our picnic and the people there had spotted seals!  We saw the odd seal popping up all over the place quite far off. One guy got in and waded and I noted it as a possible future swimming point.  Everyone else departed and we sat and ate our picnic.  Excitingly, all of a sudden, a seal popped up right in front of us a bit further out and stayed in position, his head popping up and grinning at us for a full 10 seconds!!!    After this, we walked into Paglesham and had a cup of tea in the beer garden.  In advance of this walk, CBC's brother had commented on my Instagram post of Blackberries saying he loved fresh blackberries so I had come prepared with 3 takeaway containers in hope of finding blackberries en route!  I was explaining to M and showing him how to spot fresh blackberries and then we found an absolutely massive glut of huge ones!!! M and I were excitedly collecting them (his first time collecting them) and then CBC and his brother joined in.  We ended up completely filling all 3 takeaway containers AND the Quorn Scotch-egg box from lunch!  It was a beautiful walk and we sent them home with 3 out of the four tubs! It was a mighty fine haul!

Monday- We headed off to Walton-on-the-Naze to meet my friend Lara and her husband for the day.  Her parents have a beach-hut and we were going to spend the day there.  We arrived at around 12pm.  We went for a wander along the beach, then ate our picnic in the beach hut which was wonderfully quaint- finally I got to be a smug beach-hut 'owner'!  The weather was very changeable going from wind and rain to sun!  We walked along the beach past the rapidly and quite dangerously eroding cliffs - wanting to tell off 3 children who were wacking at the cliff with their spades- they could have brought the whole thing down on their heads.  We admired a beautiful old tree which was precariously hanging (roots actually swinging) off the edge of the cliff, then walked to the Naze tower where we had an ice-cream.  Walking back to the beach hut, we had our 3rd cup of tea of the day (oh how wonderful to be able to make tea at will at the beach!) plus Lara's homemade dairy-free chocolate brownie biscuits and then I had a paddle.  Lara and I beach-combed lots of whelk shells for her crocheted hermit crabs.  We then packed up the beach hut and went along to the pier for a walk to the end.  We then bought fish and chips which was freshly cooked in really clean oil (I worked in a chip shop- I know!) and sat on a bench to eat it under the watchful eye of a line of seagulls.  We drove in convoy back homewards, L and I exchanging silly texts as we drove, and went home- it was SUCH  a lovely day.  The brilliant thing was, because the day had started out with torrential rain and was windy, the beach was very much deserted so there were no worries about having to stay distant from hoards of other travellers. We agreed that we would go back later in the year together.  L enjoyed her first outing as beach hut hosts - she said it was like seeing it with fresh eyes taking visitors!
Tuesday- We woke up early and drove to Norfolk to Hethel where CBC went to have a bike measuring at Factor Bikes showroom/warehouse.  I slept and read in the car whilst he was having his tests.  We then drove to Norwich to go and have some lunch whilst his own bike was being adjusted based on the tests.  We ate some delicious pasta in Al Dente which was blissfully empty, compared to Wagamamas which we passed which was super full. I was very pleased to see everyone wearing face masks there.  We headed back to Hethel and CBC went out to try the bike of Factor Bikes' Owner/founder.  Whilst he did that, I went for a walk.  I got talking to a very friendly farmer over the fence after I went to watch as the cows all lovingly galloped up to  him as he fed them.  After my walk, I returned back with CBC. We then drove back to Essex.  CBC made a delicious Butternut squash, bean, courgette and chard risotto.
Wednesday- After a quick breakfast, we drove over to my Mum's.  We went to the Heights, a country park not too far from her along with my niece.  We picked several boxes of blackberries together, we also found some trees full of apples which we picked AND a big patch of Wild Rocket! We went home laden with our spoils!  We ate lunch in the garden- cheese, bread, home grown beetroot and tomatoes plus the foraged rocket. For dessert, we ate homemade Blueberry and Lavender (all home grown) Sorbet.  We had fun with my niece- I squirted her with the hose which she appreciated very much. It is always a delight to look round my mum's garden.  She sent me home with a pump spray, a big pot and 3 Cucamelon plants which we were given by my Grandad's old bee-keeping friend who my Mum has been friends with ever since he died.  In the evening, CBC heated up the rest of the Risotto with added vegetables.  It was delicious!
Thursday- I awoke at 7.10am and phoned the Doctor and amazingly got through first time. I asked for an appointment and they asked me to come at 8.25!  Result!  I got dressed and cycled into town to the Doctors where I was seen by the Nurse Practitione.  I had a big swelling under my arm which had grown in a week and it seems that a pore or duct has got blocked or infected, which is what I suspected.  As I left, I nipped into Gregg's in town to grab a Bacon and sausage baguette plus two Vegan sausage rolls and then cycled to the Pharmacy to get my antibiotics.  My Brompton bike was admired by many.  In the pharmacy, a lady came in who was panicking over having a face mask on- she was hyperventilating because she hates having things over her face.  They allowed her to take her mask off because they were worried she might faint - I edged right to the side of the shop whilst awaiting my Pencillin.  Back home, CBC was still in bed, after watering the garden and doing epic washing up, I ate my Baguette and tea in the garden.  CBC came down and we both ate a bowl of blackberries, nectarine and then homegrown raspberries and blueberries.  After a lazy morning of reading and playing Scrabble Go on my phone, CBC went out for a cycle. I did two loads of washing and did all the washing up and did some sorting out of clothes- I discovered a few items that don't fit me anymore sadly- so bagged those up for giving to my sister and to charity.  The dress I wore to my Mum's wedding- a beautiful Coast dress embroidered with ribbons- no longer fits- I was sad as this is such a pretty dress! And the dress I wore for my first ever concert with CBC!
Tonight, CBC made a delicious Vegan dinner of curried Romanescu cauliflower with tumeric and spices along with a delicious Dhal using tomatoes and our own homegrown Swiss chard.  It was delicious!
Tomorrow- we are going over to my Mum's to take my Niece down to the beach front early to have a quick swim, trying to avoid the hoards- we will have to make a decision if it is too crowded or risky- and rethink if so.

What have you been up to?