I'm back

So busy at the moment, will try to update quickly and share along the way.

The elderflower cordial hasn't come out as well as last year and I don't know what's wrong. It has a slightly bitter after taste and is darker and cloudy. I did use a slightly different recipe this year but the difference is so minimal I don't think that can be the problem. I regret making so much at once but I will try to remedy it and get back to you on that one.

The elderflower wine is going ok and should be ready to go into demi-johns either tomorrow or Friday.

 The mint syrup is bottled and labelled and in the pantry my DH restored for me as a Christmas present.

Part of the reason I'm so busy is DD is doing her GCSE's at the moment. She is past the worst part where she had 6 exams in a week but is now on study leave. However, she still has to attend compulsory revision sessions which means I have to take and collect her if it's not convenient to catch the school bus. Today, I usually go to quilting class but I've put it off till Friday as I would have just enough time to set up then have to leave to collect her. I guess I should look up getting her a bus pass for the regular bus, a certain lack of forward planning here.

I am also making a small quilted present for my BIL. I will post pictures when his birthday has passed. It's not very frugal (I don't think?) but it is personal and justifies my time quilting : ) He is also the man who has everything or could buy it if he wanted to so presents are a nightmare. I was lucky enough to get a late cancellation place on a quilting workshop last Friday (3rd). One of my fellow quilters was stuck in hospital and wouldn't have been able to make it. So clutching my remaining birthday money in hand, I volunteered to take her place and refund her the money otherwise she would have lost it. It meant I only had from Wednesday to Friday to prepare all the materials for the workshop so I had to work every spare minute. I did it, just, I was so proud of myself : ) I had never been to a quilting workshop before and was quite unnecessarily excited about it. The pace at the beginning was very challenging and I made the mistake of trying to keep up. I should have worked at my own pace and got it right, something I worked out as the day progressed. However, I did complete a block which I liked even though I will unpick it and remake it at some point and I really liked the technique and way of working.

The garden is demanding more and more time although DH has to do the heavy lifting etc, I do what I can. It's lovely to spend time pottering about in the garden and greenhouses (yes, greenhouses, long story I will share soon). I really miss the horses, just for the excuse to get outside everyday, so our garden has become my sanctuary from the madness. And it supplements our diet for very little money, even better!

Good weather has also meant more drying outside days, yay!!!

We had another successful car boot on Sunday. I have updated the 'Saved from Landfill' page and will share the details soon.

DH rides a motorcycle to work everyday. He enjoys this form of transport and it saves money in fuel, etc. However, even the frugal motorcycle requires parts from time to time.

He bought an MUZ Skorpion off his sister last year. It was a non-runner with a mysterious problem like most of his acquisitions. He got it back on the road and it was his current ride-to-work. But after a maintenance session, he decided it really needed a new back tyre. Unfortunately, this would cost over £100 so has been put on hold. He wheeled out one of his beloved classics, the Norton 19S from 1956, and is riding to work on that. Even though it is a classic, it will do it no harm to have a run out in the summer.

 His Indian Enfield Bullet, which is his normal ride-in-all-weathers-bike, has been laid up awaiting an engine transplant and other fairly major maintenance and repairs, has now come to the top of the list for his attention. It is cheaper to resurrect this bike than to buy a tyre for the Skorpion, as he has most of the parts gathered together. So he spent every free moment of last weekend and every night this week working on it, which has meant that I have been unable to call on him for help in the garden or around the house. As the chief breadwinner, his ride to work has to take priority.

Anyway, I really must crack on.

Back soon x

P.S. This post had lots of lovely, freshly squeezed photos but it wouldn't save. Will post later when I have time to work out what the problem was.

P.P.S. It didn't like the captions.