So near, yet so far...

I could in theory get on the bus into Leeds tomorrow, then a regular bus from Leeds to Skipton, and go to the amazing Art Exhibition, TAM on Tour, at Skipton Town Hall. It looks fantastic and I love the chance to perhaps afford something original and beautiful, especially by K J Sutcliffe, who is kind enough to sometimes comment here and who is absolutely wonderful.   Then I could get one of the frequent buses home. 

On the other hand, I am nervous that I might meet someone who sort of 'knows' me, that I won't be able to get out of the door (still haven't posted the birth certificate) and that my back will go.  My back is 'going' on a regular basis. I can manage about ten minutes of movement before I get like a cramp in the muscles in my back so getting to the nearest bus stop is a challenge. 

On the third hand (I could get an Olympic medal at dithering) I love Skipton, the castle is wonderful (though expensive), the church is lovely and does teas, and there is a wonderful small but free museum in Skipton Town Hall and I wouldn't mind having another look there.  There may also be some rather nice yarn shops in Skipton together with a shop near the bus station that sells off cuts and remnants of stunning fabric at very reasonable prices called the fent shop but I am skipping over them.  If I remember from the last time I went in the Fent Shop, it doesn't have much cheap fabric, but it has amazingly lovely and expensive fabric at a reduced price.  By the way, I have only heard the word 'fent' meaning 'remnant' in Yorkshire.  I don't know if it's common elsewhere. 

I don't know if I'll be able to go but I recommend anyone in the area to pop in.  Also, sending best wishes and good luck to the artists there. 

I Made 'Some' Dinner

Last night I was going to do Morrocan Lamb.  I wasn't sure about the recipe because I had half remembered it and couldn't find the one I liked, but I had got some apricots in and thought I could go with it.  I was planning on making it the night before but failed and the lamb went off.  So I cut up a couple of chicken breasts and put them in a plastic food bag.  Then I added around a tablespoon of flour (gluten free here), plus 'some' turmeric, cinnamon, mixed spice and cumin and shook the bag until the chicken was well coated.  After that I browned it with 'some' onions and 'lots of' garlic, added a tin of chopped tomatoes and let it simmer.  It took a few attempts to get it simmering as I'm still getting used to the hob, but it worked. 

Bear is refusing chicken that isn't breaded and treated the chicken with complete disdain so he had a couple of sausages with his rice and peas.  He is getting extremely picky.  I am desperate for him to get some nutrition into him but it's getting close to the 'eat it or go hungry' line.  There's been some genuine stomach issues which have lead to some incredibly annoying eating habits.  I am tearing my hair out.  DH practically inhaled the chicken and I thought it tasted very pleasant indeed.  Next time I may add ginger and perhaps some chilli.  I didn't make it to the post office, I'll make another attempt today. 

Last night I had nightmares about my dining room being infested with undead spiders.  I think my subconscious is telling me something so now I'm off to give it a good clear out. 

I Forgot the Pancakes

I forgot to pick up pancakes, and I certainly forgot all about making them.  No-one complained so I may just make them a day late.

I didn't go out today but I will have to go out tomorrow.  I paid extra for the post office passport checking service.  Apparently when I asked if they needed my birth certificate and the lady said 'no', she should have said 'yes'.  I was so grateful that a very nice lady in the passport office rang up and asked me to send it.  I've dug out the birth certificate (which I had with me in the post office ready to send) and I will be sending it by the fastest and most registered way tomorrow.

Otherwise it has been a very quiet day with bear explaining video games to me.  I still don't have an idea, but he enjoyed explaining and I enjoyed his enthusiasm. 

Bear and I have been working through the Bergomot and Nettle tealights - rather like this but on a slightly better offer.  The room now smells pleasantly green.  I suspect that they are an acquired taste, but bear and I approve.  Next week I have a number of trips planned (though I'm not sure I'll manage all of them) and I plan to raid Home Sense as the Christmas candles should be coming into the bargain shops and I will be keeping my eye out for more of them. 

Out Again!

I don't know what's happening, but I was out again.  I drank again for the first time last night and I hit hard so I wasn't feeling like a ray of sunshine.  Regardless, bear had an appointment with the dentist and so off we went.

The dentist we go to is in Harehills.  We don't live anywhere near Harehills but the bus route is easier than nearer dentists.  Harehills is one of the least salubrious places in Leeds.  It is not respectable at all.  Bear did not approve of us going there.  As with many deprived areas, an effort has been made to brighten up the place but what effect this psychedelic bunny would have on someone already on drugs is anyone's guess.

Bear has the start of a cavity but it's in a baby tooth.  Bear's teeth have been very slow to come through, so at least his adult tooth was spared.  The dentist decided to leave it for now, and I was grateful.  I was unsurprised as bear can be very creative when it comes to avoiding brushing his teeth and does not spare either sweeties or fruit.

The latest from 'At the Sign of the White Hart' is up here and the story from the beginning is here.  I had far too much fun writing it.  I hope it cheers people up. 

Barb from Canada - I am definitely going to try that! 

Cooking and Books

I am so buzzed because my pal Tom, aka Thomas Marlowe and writing as Finn Cullen has finally got his book out there!

Check it out

It is an awesome read, I really recommend it.  I love the way it covers so much intrigue and so many different backgrounds.  And I got to read it almost first - I feel smug about that! 

Today has been a cooker challenge.  The new cooker has two ovens and today I used both!  I had chicken in the lower oven and crumble in the top oven.  I got quite giddy.  However there is a slight issue.  The old cooker was, frankly, useless.  The old fridge was a lot sturdier.  Now I have a working oven next to a modern fridge.  This worries me.  I've kept a few inches of air between them but when I tested the gap by putting my hand against the fridge it wasn't cold.  It was mildly tepid, only very slightly above room temperature, if at all, but not cold.  It worries me.  The fridge is in a spot between the cooker and the wall.  The only other places in the kitchen are in front of a radiator, in front of a cupboard or in front of the sink.  I'm going to have to reorganise a lot of things and I think that includes my dining room with the extremely sloping floor.  I ought to say 'Challenge Accepted' but I don't really feel up to the task.  I'll worry about that tomorrow.

And I am buzzed on cola and going to try and get the next instalment of Tales from the White Hart up tomorrow.  It's been planned as a smaller chapter after the drama of last time but sometimes things get away from me.  I've already junked one version.  Then I will be working on another novel that is a proper one that will come out in one go before going back to work on the oncoming Tales from the White Hart.  Thank you for all the awesome support.  I can't tell you how much it means to me.  I am incredibly flattered by your comments, especially those who say that it cheers you up.  That is a wonderful gift, thank you. 

I Went Out Again!

I'm getting a gadabout! 

Today I went into Leeds.  I want to get a passport to make it easy to get a provisional driving licence to learn to drive to take bear to school when it would be around twenty minutes each way in the car and over an hour on the bus.  There have been issues with the pictures, so today I took it all in again and hopefully will here soon.  I used the passport checker, and they seemed to think that there would be no trouble. 

I also had another go with the thing where you get money back by scanning your receipts.  I'm not entirely convinced, but if it's stuff that I'm going to get anyway then I may as well go for it. I picked up a few bits in Sainsburys and then I came home. 

Perhaps it's just as well that I came more or less straight home as there is an axe man wandering around one of the Leeds Universities, though, according to the Daily Mirror, he only used the axe to steal a bike. 

So That was Friday

It's been a meh sort of day.  I managed to get out of the house first thing as bear has suddenly decided to get through vast amounts of milk.  He only got through around a pint today.  Yesterday when he and his pal both tucked into cereal and those milkshake straws they got through two litres and left me without any milk at all.  I'm taking the view that there are worse things and nipped out to the Nisa to pick up supplies so bear could have a decent breakfast before school.  There are also better things and I need to stock up on fruit.  I also got through a huge heap of paperwork.  There was a stack of letters that had built up and I got through it all, shredding lots and lots of statements. 

Apart from that I haven't managed much.  I've finally decided to knit the hat kit that I picked up from one of my less sober visits to eBay (haven't had a drink all week).  It's a kit from the 'Art of Knitting' and I'm glad I never subscribed.  It's not a bad hat but the pattern isn't helpful to a beginner.  It tells you that you need particular needles (4.5mm and 5mm) and sets out a very basic pattern but it doesn't tell you about the yarn which is supplied.  As far as I can see it is an aran weight, or possibly between DK and aran.  This means that you may have the pattern but it would be a challenge to repeat it unless you were willing to take some guesses and knit a lot of tension squares.  I hope to finish it this weekend as my head gets cold when I am out and the weather forecast isn't good. 

Hester - counselling is a really useful tool for a lot of people and I'm not ruling it out for me permanently.  I know it can really open new ways of thinking and give a positive boost in all sorts of ways.  I've had experience of a few different counsellors.  One was somewhat predatory, one left me hysterical and traumatised after every lesson (great when you're taking a bus home, trying not to sob too loudly) and one (who was actually very good in lots of ways) felt that perhaps I should take a course of action that I didn't feel comfortable taking.  She was an amazing person, and I think I may have continued a little longer as she wasn't particularly pushy but then bear was born and it was too far to travel.  I would still consider counselling at perhaps another time or in other circumstances as it can be so helpful, but not right now.  I'm really grateful that you took the time to suggest it.  I'm considering meditation but I'm actually feeling quite chilled after knitting some hat and listening to a podcast on the fall of the Roman Empire.  I'll take it as a win. 

btw I posted another poem based on the picture here.  Personally I think the picture is the best part, but for anyone interested, the poem is here.  And I wrote it sober.