dottyspots

It’s been a busy old time just trying to keep up with life! It seems that with the coming of the warm weather life takes an upswing and things get manic again So this is sort of a list of what we’ve been up to fairly recently:

Saturday: My first parcel from my Secret Pal (knitting) arrived. It was lovely to receive something in the post and the items were well picked, being a bar of Green & Blacks (not in the photo as I ate it before it had the chance to have its photo taken), 2 skeins of mohair boucle from the Natural Dye Studio, a pattern to make a scarf from the mohair, 2 copies of Gardeners World and a selection of organic veggie seeds for the lottie. In addition my Secret Pal had also sent a present for each of the children: sunflowers, different sorts based on his/her perceived idea of the children (e.g. Ned got ‘Teddy Bear’ as the sunflowers are small and round whilst R. got ‘Nature Walker’, etc.) Clearly a lot of thought went into the parcel! So thank you Secret Pal!

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In the evening we watched the Eurovision song contest (I wanted either Finland or Lithuania to win, so was pleased Finland got it!) We munched on a selection of dippee things with hummus and also some dolmades (sort of honouring the Greek thing as Eurovision was in Athens this year – plus I love dolmades!)

Thursday and Friday: I was working, J. (the little boy I look after – I am a registered childminder) is very *attached* and cries if he’s not carried or has me sitting directly next to him. As he only comes a couple of days a week for the morning it is a bit difficult for him to get used to me, but then that doesn’t exactly appear to be the problem - he likes me - unfortunately so much so that he cries if I try and do anything that doesn’t involve focussing attention on him (which is a little difficult with other children here). Still, we’re muddling along and he’s usually happy towards the end of the day with me and confident enough to toddle about and do his own thing. We went for a walk to the market and bought a couple of fresh pineapples amongst the usual local stuff. Two of Kris’ girls came for the afternoon, so Nin had a good day with lots of small people to play with.

Wednesday we went to town to get to the Farmer’s Market, bank some money and also pick up some stuff for the spoilee that I’m being Secret Pal to. Annoyingly the *nice shop* selling candles etc. wasn’t open, so I’ll need to find some bits and pieces elsewhere (we’re not really very well served for that sort of thing in town – and certainly not in the village). So I was a bit disappointed. We bought some more ‘Gruffalo’ cheese and I picked up a tin of okra salad which will be nice to try later on.

It was also the 17th May which is a day of celebration in Norway, although in rather un-Norwegian fashion we had a nice meal of a selection of Indian foods

Tuesday we went to the market before Sarah and Co. came round along with two of Kris’ girls (and Kris popped in for a bit too).

Monday we went to the allotment, something that is difficult to know with how busy it has been of late! Anyway, here are some updated pictures (we’ve done a lot of work down there!) They’re not up to date though, being older than the last time I went down there.

The nettles are rampant! R. has made a great compost bin (which I will take a photo of when I next remember to bring the camera with me).

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We’ve cleared quite a bit and got various bits planted - but actually this photo is a few weeks old and now the radishes, beetroot and broccoletto is coming up.

Must go so will blog more later!