A full on day!

Seed trays appearing on the windowsill is a strong indication that Spring has begun in earnest in the Hogben household! The hyacinths are perfuming the entire house alongside Andy's lilies which are still going strong almost two weeks after they were delivered. I ventured outside to check on the spinach which I had sprinklied liberally with slug pellets a fortnight ago and then promptly forgot about them.....yep still surviving...Rhubarb is doing its stuff and the cherry plum is unfurling it's leaves. The chickens, spotting my approach, start hopping up and down hopeful for corn to be thrown with gay abandon in their general direction...I oblige, Hattie makes her thank you noises, the others simple dive in....I collect 3 eggs, seems like a fair exchange.

Earlier today, having taken Dick to the bus station for 8am, I drove home, went into manic ironing mode until 9am when two of my work colleagues called for the weekly stride around the block. I always return red and puffing, but I need their committment to keep this up. Part of the problem is that I talk and walk which is tricky striding up Marsh Lane. I am always thankful for those moments when we have to stop and let a van go by so that I don't embarrass myself too much catching my breath....pathetic.. I stop briefly at S's house and she shows me her knitting, Yay, someone who doesn't smirk at the word. I haven't got a project at the moment and I realise I need one...

Then it was hey ho, hey off, it's off to the tip I go...up to my ears in cardboard and plastic, looking forward to the approaching kerbside collections....

Had a delicious lunch out in Mudford, with a friend. Our third attempt to make this happen! She has a story to tell, a story of hope and restoration, freedom and life, I wanted to hear it.

I came home to see the Yeovil Express had printed the Press release, the Western Gazette did it justice last week (page 8) Stuart and Harry the Monkey feature in the Express, glad The Entertainer got another mention!



The wine appeared with Alex who came to collect her excess baggage which we had divided amongst the team on our return from India. Seemed strange seeing her in the UK after three years with Asha in Delhi.




and finally the piles....which are still there...in some semblance of order. Appalled to discover there were still Christmas cards amidst the chaotic dumping ground that is my Out Tray....find myself slightly twitchy by all this lack of order. How did I let it get like this?! Team India took over once the New Year kicked in and the daily list making was kicked out...





Sat down with a big mug of Assam, realised the girls A and K were coming in shortly and I hadn't made them dinner, so got up, opened the kitchen cupboard for inspiration and a bottle of black bean sauce falls out, smashes over the worktop, spills everywhere, down the doors on the carpet, glass and black bean mixture...lovely... Mop up with kitchen towel, cut finger...not impressed..need bigger cupboards...need kitchen make over....need to get things into perspective...
Sounds of girlie chatter, front door opens, in they come. Thankfully, both are keen to help with dinner. I show then the pork stir fry strips and between us we concoct something, which includes the other unsmashed black bean sauce. I gradually retreat and they take over, I'm relieved, had no inspiration tonight!

Dick texts to say he is on the bus home. I'm still full of venison cassorole from earlier, so I sit here and type....read the Chancellor's budget highlights online and am still bemused...can't get the TV to work....and we are digital before anyone says...perhaps we still have to tweak something.....leave it for the man to do.

Finally, today I heard that Mike Pike, the guy who really encouraged my sons with their acting fifteen years ago, has died. A lovely gentle man to whom we already owe so much, thank you for recognising what you saw and having a quiet word with me...