Well, I am another year older tomorrow, so it's probably time for some 'New Year Resolutions'.  But more of that later.
During a pretty challenging week gone by, I found lots of old photos which had been hidden away for years.  When Sam saw this one, his response was particularly cheering for someone approaching their birthday.  This is what he said.  'Is that really you?'  '  It must be, they are wearing your clothes'
and, best of all, 'I didn't realise how young you looked when Sarah was young'.

Good job my child was able to identify me in the end, and at least he didn't say 'And you look really old now'

So here we are in Northern Cyprus, Sarah and I.  Probably 13 years ago, when I looked young!

As I enjoy the last day of being 53, I have decided that I must have at least one full day a week ensconced in my shed, as productivity has fallen recently.  And, joy of joys, next week I am allowed to swim again!  Doing very little physical activity is definitely not good for the soul.
And also next week, I am allowed to work again, much to the relief of my ever increasing overdraft.
So I should be worn out at the end of next week, what with all the swimming, painting, working and decorating I am planning to do.  Will there be time to write a blog?

And, in order to clear the decks in readiness for my surge of creativity, I finished a knitted birthday present for a friend.  Started in May, and completed in October!  Now all I have to do is wrap it up and deliver it, hopefully before next May.

In between all the upheavals that happened last week, Mr Cooper and I enjoyed an unexpected oasis of pleasure, which encapsulated all the good bits about living in the English countryside.
We decided to walk to Chidham on Sunday, and then to call in at the 'Old house At Home' pub.
On our walk through the fields, we came across Chidham's annual ploughing competition, and spent a really enjoyable time watching numerous old tractors working away. (And numerous old drivers, too, with a sprinkling of young ones.)

The weather was perfect, the hot dogs smelled delicious, and there was the promise of a good pint in the air.

And even better, as we went to leave, we found two pairs of horses enjoying a short break, complete with that heavy horse saggy lower lip.

Here are two beautiful Clydsdales, Dolly and Belle enjoying the sunshine.

Of all the heavy breeds, that is my favourite.  I used to have a lovely Clydesdale cross, an extremely gentle and large strawberry roan, not surprisingly called Strawberry.

Then off to 'the Old House At Home.  http://www.theoldhouseathome.co.uk/
 It was just perfect to sit outside in the sunshine, drinking not only a perfect pint (Chidham bitter) but to have chosen the perfect pint out of a range of many.
It is not often I choose another pint over Timothy Taylors!

So we sat in the sun, drinking and chatting, and waving to various tractors as they chugged past us from the competition.  The second drink called for a bag of crisps, and even that was perfection!
A flavour I hadn't tried before, but will be enjoying again.

So Sunday continued to be an English pleasure.  Roast chicken, Countryfile, the 'Strictly' results and then Antiques Roadshow.  What could be better than that?  Particularly if you are 53!

And to end this blog, a picture of a wonderful sculpture.  George gave this to me the last time I worked in The Greyhound, and as it sat on top of the dishwasher during my long, hot shift it turned my steamy corner into a little shrine for the arts.  It might be Icarus, it might be a diver, but what it is, is wonderful.

It might have to return to work with me next week, to keep my mind focused on all the art that is to be created in my head and then in my shed.
But before returning to work, I am visiting The Greyhound on Thursdayfor dinner, and a night in their best bedroom. A birthday treat.  And what is even better, no charge for the room.  Thanks Lucy, much appreciated!
And what a treat it will be to see the other side of the kitchen, the one I rarely see.  The only thing that would make the event as perfect as Sunday would be if I were able to hand-pick the waiting team.  Oh well.

And when I told Mum about the ploughing match, she told me a fact that I didn't know.  My Granddad was noted for his skill with the plough, pulled by horses.  He really didn't like animals, my Granddad.
But in his earlier farming years, his days were spent feeding them, milking them, working with them, fattening them up, and eating them.  I think he was very pleased when tractors appeared.

So in the week to come, I have to assemble Spam and Smash for an exciting art project, and find my painting dungarees.  I will tell you if I got as far as wearing them, and better still, working in them
Till then, I hope you have a productive week ahead, interspersed with fun and laughter.
I would quite like a week like that too!

This is my 50th Green Donkey blog, so quite a cause for celebration, on my part at least. My first blog was published on the 5th November last year, so almost one a week.
Still no closer with writing my cookery book.  Remember, this blog was about all the creative things I am doing that are stopping me writing it.  But, I am thinking about writing it a lot more.

Last Thursday saw me and Mr Cooper visiting Guildford, but only the NHS aspects of Guildford.  Luckily, after having been laid low for a week, I was well enought to take Mr Cooper for his 'procedure', as these things are called now.  All went well, and more of that later on.

Happily, he was well enough for me to leave him for a while on Sunday, when I went to see my first ever hedge-laying competition.  Sounds a very strange thing to opt to watch, but it was a fascinating and restful experience, and it wasn't raining!  A bit like fishing really, things happen very slowly.

I was there because my son John was competing in the novice section.

There were about 20 hedge-layers taking part, all laying a section of a beautiful mixed hedgerow.
 I saw the most amazing fuschia coloured flowers nestled in the hedge, looking so tropical, and almost un-English with its shocking pink and vibrant orange colour combination.
 Euonymus europaeus, or 'spindle' is what I was looking at, and here it is, below.

The colour combination reminded me of Mr Cooper's brightest shirt.

Last week I was talking about my drawing that had been accepted by
The Stride Open Art Competition.
 Here it is pictured below, to the right of the artist.
It is entitled  'Pieces From My Life, Last Year.'

And here it is again, a little larger.  Last week I was talking about the part of the jigsaw that featured the chefs at Woodfire, including son Sam, chopping away in between the other 2 chefs. This week, look at the jigsaw piece below Sam, showing an anatomical drawing within a couple holding hands. 

 Last year Mr Cooper was  diagnosed as having a very slow growing form of prostate cancer, and months were spent not quite knowing the outcome of this discovery.  That formed one important section of my life last year, and this year. 

So that part of the drawing is a cross section of a prostate gland, the hands being held are those of 

me and Mr Cooper.

Last Thursday, as a result of 'the procedure', Mr Cooper's prostate became implanted with 75
tiny radioactive beads,  so much so that when he flies now, he has to have a covering letter.
 When x-rayed as it looks as if he has an explosive device nestling in his under-crackers! ( Something that I discovered for the first time many years ago now)
So now Mr Cooper is not 'Feeling too clever' but he should be fine next Thursday when we head to The Greyhound to dine and to stay overnight, as part of my birthday celebrations.  The week after that I have to return to The Greyhound to resume washing up for those who are lunching and dining, so it will be lovely to enjoy the life as a guest for a few hours.


This week I had a rare days outing with son John, who wanted to go to Finkley Down Farm Park.
It has been a very long time since we were last there together.
Here is John perched on a tractor, after an intensive chicken feeding session, 23 years ago.

So after having bought a bucket of animal feed, we were let loose on the animals.
 First stop, the brown fuzzy-faced sheep.  A very gentle nibbler.
 Totally unlike the male turkey who drew blood!  I don't think many small children feed him.

As a cat lover, I was very happy with the animals there…………...

And John, with his love of rabbits, was happy also.

There were no animals there on Tuesday which had been there 23 years ago,

but all the tractors were still there.

Luckily john decided to sit on the seat this time, not stand, or we might have been asked to leave.
We were the only mother and son combination there where the son kept stopping for a smoke.

Next week, another 'Creative Writing for Gourmets' workshop.  Our focus this time will be 'vegetables', and Mr Cooper kindly said I could write about him.
Also, my last week of enforced rest, before I can start to earn money again.
And last but not least, birthday celebrations!

 I know you have to 'take the rough with the smooth', but I am so looking forward to a couple of days of smooth!
 And in the coming week I hope your roughs are not too raspy, and your smooths are 'just right'.
See you in a weeks time, I will be the one looking a whole year older.

Sorry to have missed you last week, I was bed bound for a little while, and not feeling terribly creative.
In the words of a childhood neighbour,  'I wasn't feeling too clever'.

But back now to feeling clever (if not actually being clever) and creative.
Last week there was good news for me on the creative front.  I had submitted three works of art to the Stride selection committee.
Two works were rejected,

                                               rejection one…….

Awakening Conscience…….Is That It?

                                                            and rejection two…….

Deepening Conscience………..Ironing Away my Dreams.

They accepted my largest and most autobiographical piece from this year, which I will show you next week, when I have attended the Preview Exhibition.
 It's on at the Oxmarket Centre for Arts, Chichester, 20th October - 1st November.
Then it is your turn to go and visit. https://www.facebook.com/oxmarket

There is a strong link with the accepted work, and Woodfire, where chef son Sam works, as the 3 chefs who work there form an important part of the drawing. 2 out of 3 of them  love being featured, and the third is, luckily, oblivious to that fact.
And more good news, Sam is no longer the junior sous, he is now the actual sous chef at Woodfire.
And here I am at Woodfire in my supporting role, for one day only……….

………..K.P extraordinaire, pictured here just finishing some extremely tasty gorgonzola ice cream.
Served with poached pears, it is only delicious if you love gorgonzola cheese!

My other son's job at Butser Ancient Farm draws to a close, as the Saxon Longhouse nears completion.

the house is becoming wattled before being daubed…………

with a beautiful thatched roof topping all.

And as this job ends, so begins another part of John's career, as he begins another apprenticeship, this one given by the Hampshire Coppice group.

I did take an atmospheric photo for here of John with 'Old Ken', who will be one of his two mentors, but it was at a time when 'I hadn't been feeling too clever' and had managed to take photos without having a memory card in place. 

 So as well as teaching John about life as a coppicer and hurdle-maker, eighty year old Ken is also keen to get John to 'Keep them trousers up' and 'Lose that there belly'.  Good luck with that, Ken!

So as a small celebration, Darren, his other mentor, pictured above, came round with John for a 'festive feast' and red wine festival.  In honour of the occassion, I made a pat of butter embossed with a cow design, and also added to the decorations John's Easter gift to me of the Polish butter lamb.  

It is still looking just the same, but smelling rather different!

A lovely night of good music, good food, and best of all, great company.

In my bed bound few days I did an awful lot of reading.  So much so that I had to send Mr Cooper out for supplies.  He tried really hard to get books I would enjoy.  So much so that I had read a few of them already, but this one was a real treat, my best book for a long time.

Warning, do not attempt to read this book unless you find the following reviews deeply enticing.

'Playful and intensely imaginative' and 'A breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell.'  

Just right for the bookclub!  And thanks again for the beautiful flowers, girls. 

And, books are cheaper by far from Havant charity shops, rather than Emsworth.  

A thrifty fact to share with you from Mr Cooper.

Just before my enforced reading holiday, I attended the creative writing workshop at Tuppenny Barn, advertised as 'Creative Writing for Gourmets'. http://www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/

 It was such fun, and so lovely to write and to share writings.  There were seven of us there, all not knowing what to expect. We all enjoyed the 4 hours so much that we will be meeting every month.  We all had different reasons for being there, but united by the fact that we all want to write, and we all really enjoy to eat.  What lovely 'common ground' to have.

So do stay tuned ready for my offering next week.  I leave you with an almost closing picture of the Saxon Longhouse already nestling into the magic place of Butser Ancient Farm………..

Don't worry, next week there will be a more diverse selection of images. I do know this week has been a little 'Butser heavy', but the photo I must leave you with features Mr Cooper. 

 When I was feeling 'Not too clever' and definitely not clever enough to drive a car, Mr Cooper took me to Butser, the first visit to the Saxon Longhouse for him. 

 And here he is, looking thrilled to embrace the magic of timber frames, wattle, thatch….

See you all next week, now both me and my camera are up and running again!  

Take care, look after yourselves and each other, and have fun!

From Puglia beaches, back to pots and pans. Last week, lunchtime squid.  This week, lunchtime sinks!
But, on the positive side, when I returned to work on Tuesday, everybody was really pleased to see me. Tuesday turned out to be a really happy day in the kitchen.

In fact, when Mr Cooper rang me as usual  at 5.30, to see how my day was going, I replied that I was having an unusually lovely day, and I said that "everyone is pleased to have me back."  

"Have you back?" he questioned, sounding surprised.  "Why, where have you been?" 

Luckily, when prompted, he remembered the lovely week's holiday we had just returned from!

This week, I submitted three pieces of work for the Stride Open Art competition.  http://oxmarket.com/stride-open-competition/  For the past 5 years I have entered at least one piece for it, which have always been accepted, until last year.  My first Oxmarket rejection.
The downside about being a 'creative type' is the fact that you have to get used to picking yourself up, and dusting yourself down.

I always do a lot of thinking and planning at The Greyhound, and last year, whilst washing away,  I imagined how lovely it would be if Mr Cooper, on his free day, would appear at the window with a bunch of red roses.  

 I created a watercolour study based on this idea, and titled the image 'Totally Unexpected'.

And once, to surprise me, Mr Cooper did just that! He appeared with red roses, and we spent my break together.  I think the chefs were also surprised later, as we had spent the break over the road in 'The Three  Cups'  But nothing got broken…...

So last year I created a more finished watercolour based on this.  The stacks of plates have not been exaggerated, but I might have knocked a decade or two from my age!
But hey, I am the one holding the paintbrush.

And this is the image that 'The Stride' rejected.
Next week I will be able to tell you if any of the three I entered this year were accepted or whether I am picking myself up, etc etc.

When I was in Puglia, I was so excited by the different plants that were there, in particular the different varieties of cactus, a secret love of mine.

This was a huge cactus, as tall as an adult, which we watched every night whilst enjoying 

our  'Couples Come Dine With Me' experience.  We were watching, not because there were very long breaks between courses (well only once, really) but because the beautiful flowers on the cactus opened fully only at night time.

I took a holiday sketchbook with me, and used it to write down shopping lists for us all. But also to create some studies of this beautiful plant, thinking I might paint it on my return.

Here is one of the studies…….

………….and here a photo of another cactus.  Luckily, this blog contains only 2 holiday snaps!
Perhaps these will become the idea for next year's entry.  Anyway, tune in next week for the results.

Friday saw me and Mr Cooper back in training for next year, when we hope to walk the South Downs Way in 9 consecutive days.  We have only just realised that we will have to walk twice weekly throughout the winter, but in the meantime let's enjoy walking in the sunshine.

We set off from Chalton, climbing to the top of Chalton Down to enjoy extensive views on the Isle of Wight, the Spinnaker Tower etc.

This is the view of St Hubert's Chapel, Idsworth, built in 1053, which the walk took us past.
Inside the chapel are some amazing frescoes.  One lot dates from about 1300, and another created to mark the millennium by fresco artist Fleur Kelly.  Well worth a visit.

 A little known fact about Fleur is that she has a recipe for lovely bread which she calls a 'Roman Loaf.'  Very easy, an overnight rise then straight into the oven.  In fact, I will share the recipe with you, if so desired, at the end of this blog.*

So after 5 miles of stunning scenery, gorgeous weather, and only one serious uphill, we return to Carlton, and to the Red Lion.  It is very picturesque outside.  Inside there are a couple of lovely old bars at the front of the pub, and then an extensive modern dining area.  My advice, a great place for a drink in the old bars, or a snack in the garden, enjoying the view, which is truly beautiful.
 I would not eat there again, as I dislike food that is overcooked or served cold, and I was given both.
It must take a certain amount of skill to get something wrong at both ends of the spectrum!
Peanuts for me, next time (but I will definitely check the expiry date)

On a more cheerful note, here is a cake that was not overcooked. I baked it for my Mum's 83rd birthday, using a recipe from her Mum's cookery notebook. 'Orange Drizzle with Melted Chocolate Topping.  Rather like a Terry's chocolate orange cake. (And yes, I am still in the process of writing the 'Green Donkey Cookery Book'.  Or at the moment, still in the process of baking the contents of it….. )

It was lovely to spend the weekend with Mum, and lovely as always to see Mark, Ella and Jem.
 And Snowy was pleased to spend some time with his various furry cousins.

As well as baking, I continue to sew.  On this picture of the boys, autumn images and train tracks now surround them.  Only one more textile photo to complete now.  Then hopefully the 'Memory Cushion' project will begin to gain momentum, after the summer break.

I need to gain some momentum now, as in an hours time I am taking part in a 'Creative Writing for Gourmets' event.  Mr Cooper and I decided to try different experiences, so next week I will tell you just what this experience involved, as I have no idea what is to happen!

In the meantime, enjoy your week ahead, and make the most of the sunshine.  I will catch up with you next week, with news of acceptance, rejection, and news of just what gourmets write about, creatively!

And here is the bread recipe.  I have often made it, and now usually make 2 loaves from it, not one huge one.  Try it, and see which you prefer.

*Recipe taken from "New Pauper's Cookbook' by Jocasta Innes and Kate Harris, 1992.

Fleur Kelly's Roman Loaf.

Makes 1 large loaf.

I bag strong white flour.                                1 tablespoon salt
1 sachet fast action dried yeast.                     1 tablespoon sugar

Mix together all the ingredients in a vary large (9 litre/2 gallon bowl)
Add enough warm water to make a loose, sticky mixture.  Stir the mixture rapidly with your hand, just enough to combine the ingredients.  Cover the bowl with a clean, damp cloth and leave to rise overnight, or even the following lunchtime, in the warm near the Aga.
The next morning, give the mixture a quick scoop round with your hand, then turn it into a baking sheet sprinkled with flour.  Put it in the bottom of the Aga's top oven for 45-60 minutes, or until the crust is firm and the loaf feels springy.  Stand the loaf up sideways after taking it from the oven, or the base is liable to become soggy.

The last two weeks have seen me and Mr Cooper embark on a journey from Portsmouth to Puglia, and mainly on public transport.  Be warned, this blog is longer than usual, and contains some holiday snaps!

On the Wednesday before our week in Puglia, Mr Cooper and I got on the train, and descended upon the Historic Dockyards again. This time, we had refined our visit to an hour or so on HMS Warrior, followed by a harbour cruise.

I love The Warrior, especially the fact that you can wander around her at will.  And the weather was beautiful, what better way to spend a Wednesday morning?

Whilst we were on deck, we heard the sound of a brass band playing, and getting nearer.
The brass band was on the deck of HMS Argus, a big Naval hospital ship as she returned to Portsmouth from Africa.
 Nobody was waving from this vessel, they were all standing to attention on the decks.
 It is sometimes easy to overlook the importance of Portsmouth as a Naval base, but not when you are standing on HMS Warrior, witnessing this spectacle.

After that it was time to join the harbour tour, but not before taking an artistic  shot of me in my holiday dungarees, and my amazing holiday crocs.  After years of being dissuaded to buy a pair by my loving sons (they kept pointing out the type of women who were wearing crocs) I decided to break out, and join the ranks of middle-aged croc wearers.  Retro turquoise, what a treat!

There are two things that are really good about a harbour tour.  One is, that it is very informative about all the ships that are in dock.  The other is that it then goes over to Gunwharf Quay, where you can alight for a spot of lunch, and a little light purchasing (today, a lightweight green waterproof jacket, to match my holiday shorts.  The last item needed for my Puglia wardrobe)

Friday saw us back on another train, this time heading for London Victoria, and from there to London City Airport, to stay overnight in the Travelodge nearby.
The view from our window was of the runway.  It was fascinating to watch an assortment of jets and passenger planes land and take off, one side of the runway being a stretch of water, the other a busy road.  Quite a surreal setting.
And on Saturday morning, we discovered what a great airport nestles in this surreal setting.  Minimum queueing and fuss, a good choice of breakfast, and a small but perfectly formed range of shops.

And, when you take off, the ascent is so steep, and the view of London, so spectacular.

Onwards to Rome, then aboard another Air Italia plane to Brindisi, then into the hired cars to the very bottom of Puglia, to a village called Torre Vado.  We were too late to stock up at the supermarket on the way down, and I must admit, as Mr Cooper and I sat in the back of car number one, admirably driven by Rachael, we were both envisaging an evening where there was either black tea, tap water or gin on offer, full stop.
After an hour and a half driving through the darkness, we arrived in Torre Vado at 9 pm, to find two shops still open, full of amazing fruits, cheeses, wines, bread etc.  Gone were the thoughts of a slightly miserable evening as we bought provisions for that evening and the next morning.

The villa was amazing, and the most beautiful accommodation I have stayed in.  We didn't fully appreciate this though till the morning.  The villa was on three layers, with many little stairs connecting various terraces.  The only time we were actually in the villa was to cook and to sleep.  The rest was spent on the large terrace overlooking the olive groves leading down to the sea, or sitting in the outside dining area, doing the same as darkness fell.

Plus add to that the infinity pool, and we were all getting very excited about the week ahead.
The four youngest members of the party were mainly pool-based during the day, with the odd beach excursion added to this.

Of the four older members left, two opted for a combination of sight-seeing, pool and beach, and the other couple opted for beach and local bar. Can you guess which couple we were?

Below is a picture of Mr Cooper engaged in one of our favourite holiday pastimes.  Lunch, with beach either side of it. (For me, always squid, salad and grilled vegetable, and for both of us, always beer)

And here is the local beach, expertly taken by me standing waist deep in the Mediterranean, what a hardship!  It was a very small beach, but as it was not in the school holiday period, there were really us and a few locals there.  So, here began 6 days of a combination of sunbathing, swimming, reading and lunch, with quite a bit of dozing included.

The beach art was fascinating.  Mr Cooper and I thought it seemed to say that visiting Torre Vado will ensure your have a really big erection…….

And if you have to go to the loo on the sand, somebody will be there to clear it up for you.

We thought we were really funny, but apparently we were not, we were very silly and childish.
Well, another thing we have in common then.

What with swimming and dozing, I did manage to slow down my reading.  Always a good point, as I had only four books with me.  Of the two I completed, this was my favourite.

On this holiday, there were 4 people all aged between 30-34, 3 more, parents of 3 of them all being 62.  And me. And, at the tender age of 53, I was a bit surprised to be lumped in a group called 'the oldies'.  Hang on, my shorts are bright green, my crocs turquoise, my toe nails bright blue……….this was not an accurate description of me, surely?

But the above book which follows several generations of the same family, so tenderly describes aspects of growing old, and also the perception the young have of the old.  At the bottom of this blog I am including an optional to read passage from the book that I found so moving.*

And as well as reading, I spent a little time each day sewing ready for the 'memory cushions' project.

Here I am with John and Sam again, but now fixed onto fabric, with blue beads
and embroidery stitches suggesting the sea.

And in the evenings we had our own 'Couples Come Dine With Me', after a jolly good gin.
Bruschetta, risotto, tonne e fagioli, melon with prosciutto, and they were only some of the starters!
As the only thing we hadn't eaten by Friday evening was a pizza, we went out to a pizza restaurant in the southernmost town of Leuca.

'Would you bring us a selection of starters?' Werner asked, as we were deciding which pizza to have.
Well, after carpaccio di tonne, octopus and potato stew, tuna tartare, seafood salad, mixed fried fish, fresh anchovies, mussels with a broad bean puree and deep fried cheese and olive balls, we were not quite so ready for the brilliant pizzas they gave us.  But we munched manfully and womanfully on, till we were completely fully.
Then we drove back to the villa for the last night, too full, and so sad to be leaving.

Here is the final photograph I took on Saturday morning, before we left for Brindisi airport.

And yes, the sea really was that blue.  But what the photo does not show is that it is also 35 degrees C!

As well as being surrounded by olive trees on the hill where we stayed, when we drove to Brindisi, this time in the daylight, we found that almost the whole countryside was planted with olive trees.

So I will end with a lovely painting which was hanging in our bedroom.
 We had a lovely week in Puglia, full of lovely things; our fellow holiday-makers, amazing food, long lunches, beautiful beaches and swimming in the Mediterranean sea.  And always, the backdrop to all these happenings were the olive trees with their twisted trunks and leaves both dark and silvery.

Well, back to work tomorrow, and back to rain today!
 At least we can look forward to planning our next holiday, whilst now eating mainly fruit and salads.

I hope you all have a good week ahead filled with sunshine as well as rain, and I will see you all again soon.  Till then, have fun with waterproofs and umbrellas!

* 'Abby had a little trick that she used any time Red acted like a cranky old codger.  She reminded herself of the day she had fallen in love with him.  "It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon," she would begin, and it would all come back to her - the newness of it, the whole new world magically opening before her at the moment when she first realized that this person that she'd barely noticed all these years was, in fact, a treasure.  He was perfect, was how she'd put it to herself.  And then that clear-eyed, calm-faced boy would shine forth from Red's sags and wrinkles, from his crumpled eyelids and hollowed cheeks and the two deep crevices bracketing his mouth and just his general obtuseness, his stubbornness, his infuriating belief that simple cold logic could solve all of life's problems, and she would feel unspeakably lucky to have ended up with him.'