Monday 17 August 2015

Monday Miscellany

  
 
 


 

I've been re-reading Nina Stibbe's book 'Love Nina.' Have you read it? I rarely laugh out loud at books. Bill Bryson and Jason Sedaris make me giggle. The Adrian Mole books too. Anyway, you know that it's a good one, when you keep quoting bits from it to your nearest and dearest. For example:

Stella was worried she'd be late (9 am start). I said I'd ring her just as I left NW1 to wake her and give plenty of time to get in. Which I did. She turned up looking flustered, ten minutes into it -
 we were discussing 'Why comedy matters' unfortunately.
 
Me: How come you're late? I gave you an alarm call.
Stella: My kimono sleeve caught fire on the grill pan.
Me: what were you cooking?
Stella: I was lighting a fag.

After the fifth consecutive quote yesterday morning, Marc turned to me and said "Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for Emma's wedding party?" Well of course I was, but I never see any point in taking too long over these things. The blue, slightly Amish looking dress that I had planed to wear hadn't arrived (it plopped through the letterbox this morning), and so I wore a yellow linen number.

I pulled a brush through my hair, had a go at a bit of eye make-up, moisturised my legs and was out the door. I sashayed down Stennack to catch the coach with my friend Liz. We had pre-coach cocktails at The Alba (v posh. Grey walls), and then travelled to Perranporth on the party bus. We bagged the back seats, but didn't moon or flick the bird to passing motorists through the back window, because we are now middle aged. Did you ever do that when you were at school? I was reminded of this sketch by French and Saunders:


Too good!!

Anyway as you can imagine, there was lots of love and laughter. Shrewing aplenty (I'm sorry, but there was a lot of shrew material wandering around Perranporth beach) and Emma had thoughtfully sat me next to the pic n mix station. I think it was for the children, but a few stern stares and they left the white chocolate jazzies well alone ;)) No photos unfortunately, they are all on my camera phone. There are a few floating around Facebook. They aren't too terrible.

In other news, we were visited by a rather gorgeous dragonfly this weekend. He buzzed and hung around for hours. I trooped each of the boys out in turn to look at him. They all thought he was rather fab. And because he stayed for so long, I did indulge in some photography. He was very generous, and let me get very close indeed. In fact he seemed to like the attention. I even felt the need to touch him ever so slightly.

I have a huge glut of tomatoes, and am unsure what to do with them. I'd quite like to roast of bake them somehow; do you have any suggestions, or lovely recipies that I could try? Either that or I may make some chutney, and start stockpiling for my annual Christmas hamper presents.

I have started to learn to crochet. After the initial fingers and thumbs disaster and lots and lots of under-breath swearing, I have got the hang of the initial process. My neighbour is coming over this evening to assist me in the next step; single crochet. I am pleased at my perseverance, because usually if I don't 'get it' straight away, I just discard whatever it is that I am learning. A teacher once referred to it on a school report by writing:

 "Leanne finds it nigh on impossible to grapple with this subject. Her understanding of Mathematics could be greatly improved if she applied the same tenacity that she does at swinging on her chair."

Thank goodness that Sam does not show my lack of courage when it comes to grappling. He has secured his place at Liverpool University to study History and Politics. I am overwhelmingly proud of him. His A Level results were amazing. It also means that he is definitely leaving home in September. Many of you may be in the position that I am now. Or you have been through it all. I have cried a lot this week. I am happy and sad and bereft and excited and scared all at once. Sam is very cool about it all. He is glad to be going, and I think big city living will suit him very much indeed. He has never seemed entirely at home in St Ives, and I think that he will like the anonymity that a city can offer.

Here's hoping that Monday is as bright and sunny where you are as it is here. Olly and I are off to the beach in about five minutes. I just need to top and tail the kitchen and plump up the cushions.

Have a lovely day, friends.

Leanne xx







 


22 comments:

  1. Hi Leanne. Bright and sunny here! School reports used to be so much more to the point back when we were little, I rather like it. I need a jargon buster for my children's school report. I am trying not to giggle at the thought of you swinging on the chair (sitting in an office with 6 blokes, pretending to get on with my job). I roast tomatoes with plenty of garlic, onion and herbs until until they look good (I am not very specific, sorry), then I whizz it all up (not too smoothly), 'rinse' the roasting tin with a good amount of stock to get all the sticky yummy tomato goo off. Add this to your tomatoes and hey presto, a lovely roast tomato soup. Freezes really well and is generally liked by children, even those who would not touch a fresh tomato. Hope your hangover is not too bad (you mentioned it in your comment on my blog). Mine is. It was Jacks Birthday party yesterday. Have a great time at the beach with your lovely lovely boy. Christina xx

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  2. Love the Dragon (of course). Migrant Hawker (I think). HUGE congrats to Sam- that is brilliant news. We have same thing with J heading off in a month to Exeter. They are ready, I think. We'll get used to it, I think :o)

    Lots Love xx

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    1. I was thinking female migrant hawker too, doesn't have the shoulder flashes of the southern, and the males are much bluer. I think.

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  3. Nigel Slater cooked a rather nice tomato dish once from an allotment. It consisted of tomatoes fried in a bit of oil some garlic, herbs & a touch of cream. I think it was to be served with pasta. Anyway I've tried something similar it was rather good. The best of luck to your boy when he starts uni, my eldest adored his time at uni & it was the absolute making of him. I'm a lot closer to Liverpool than you my dear so am happy to send my contact details if need be xx

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  4. Well done indeed Sam! It's a funny old day when they collect their A2 grades isn't it? With L, I remember a brief moment of euphoria that she'd done it and then promptly bursting into tears at the prospect of her going away! The first week he is away will be awful but you'll soon get into the new routine and Christmas will be here before you know it! Lovely photos as usual. xx

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  5. Oh Leanne, I know how you are feeling, when my eldest went off to Uni I felt like part of me had been ripped away. I cried all the way back to Cornwall. Sending you hugs xx

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  6. Those dragonfly pictures are brilliant. Glad your son has his place at Liverpool - he'll very different to Cornwall but it's a good place to be a student.

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  7. Well done to Sam, that is brilliant, I hope he has a wonderful, wonderful time. Your photos of the dragonfly are absolutely fantastic, I'm so impressed. How well your garden is doing at attracting insects. Lucky you on the tomato glut. I aim for a tomato glut every year, and every single year it fails to happen. I'd make lots of simple tomato sauce ready for pasta in the winter. And if you're pressed for time, just throw them whole into a bag and into the freezer. When they thaw, the skins come off really easily and they're ready for throwing in a sauce. CJ xx

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  8. Sam is going to do so well. He's going to be great. I enjoyed your photos and literary references. Love, Nina is one of my new favorite books. I read it twice in rapid succession, just finished and flipped it over and started again. I'd like to buy a copy, that was from the library. I love what your teacher said about you. That's the kind of commentary I hear about my son. I, on the other hand, once had a comment from a teacher on my report card that said, "Jenny is a teacher's dream come true." Really! I think she was exaggerating a LOT. I was good but not that good. :)

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  9. Congratulations to Sam!!! I am sure that he will have a great time even if you cry a lot too! The wedding sounds like great fun! Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with the crocheting!!! Remark about me from a teacher "Amy is a complete scatterbrain!" personally I don't see what her problem was! xx

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  10. Well done to Sam it's such a stressful time for them but it sounds like it has all paid off. I couldn't believe that photo of Mr Dragonfly when I first saw it on Instagram it absolutely brilliant. He was very accommodating wasn't he. I see a lot buzzing through our garden but they don't tend to settle. I think there are too many birds around who may think him a lunchtime snack. I think Sam will love Liverpool and I'm sure you will cope once he's settled in.

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  11. Congratulations to Sam, it's such a relief when all the hard work has paid off and they do so well. It's a time of mixed emotions for us and them, it's a big step they're taking moving away from home but having gone through it all with Daniel (he's about to start his final year at uni) I can honestly say that it's a brilliant experience for them and a new chapter in our parenting life too. Eleanor's just about to start her A2 year, we had tears on Thursday when she got her AS results, she'd put so much work and effort in but her grades haven't reflected this. Still, she's got options and we're just working out what's now in her best interests. Your photos are great, I love the dragonfly one, I'm never quick enough to capture them when I see them. Good luck with the crochet, I learnt a few years ago by watching You Tube tutorials, I'm still not brilliant but I've managed a few blankets.

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear about Eleanor. I hope that there is a positive outcome to it all. Best of love and luck from me to her.
      L xx

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  12. Good luck to Sam...there will be tears but the great thing is you can FaceTime or Skype and really see how they are doing it certainly helped me when my three sons were at uni.

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    1. I am kind of contenting myself with all the ways I can contact him. But I have a feeling that he'll be a hard man to get hold of ;)
      L xx

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  13. Such great news for Sam - it's such an exciting time. Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall has some good tomato ideas from his guardian column. That dragonfly is wonderful. Hoping to comment more and be a bit more present...have a great week...xx

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  14. Hugest congrats to Sam. (I've been offline, reviving a dead laptop and blog, I've missed so much!)

    When my older ones flew the nest I consoled myself with the thought that all was as it should be and (shameless mixing of mataphors ahead, sorry) that I would always be their port in a storm, and so it is.

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  15. Oh, Leanne, this post is such a delight! You made me laugh, that sketch made me laugh (god that was brilliant, thanks for sharing it). I need to read Love Nina. Do you like David Sedaris? He always cracks me up, especially when he's reading his work on Radio 4. xx

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    1. Have just googled Jason Sedaris but can't find him - did you mean David Sedaris? If so, I always knew we were mates. :-)

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    2. Yes I did mean him! Xx what a chump! I really should check my posts before I hit send....
      L xx

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