We are back...

Ohhhh.. are YOU still there any of YOU?  I have not written for such a loonng time.. it has not been a bundle of fun here the last two weeks.. SHE has not been in a great space and YOU know how that distresses ME..

WE did have some nice friends to stay which was fun and jolly but underlying those happy days.. it was all a bit gggrr. 

Anyway, here WE are.. but with no tales of 'derring-do' to report.. the weather is gloomy but still warmish.. HER fruit trees still have their clothes on, very weird, they have not even gone yellow yet, except for one little Pear tree who has decided to go to bed on time, her leaves are golden and dropping fast.. but the others are larking about in various shades of green.. very silly,  they will have a shock as 'winter' is forecasted for next week-end!

The Asparagus ferns are still green, SHE is only able to weed the edges of this big 13 square bed as SHE is too stout to wiggle amongst the ferns without breaking them! Same with most of HER beloved Peonies, only a few stems are looking as if they are going to sleep and, of course, the longer YOU leave them, the more nutriends they go to sleep with.

But.. how about this for being very chic! 

At the top of the driveway at plot is a HUGE pile of manure.. horse manure from The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace! SHE has been scurrying up and down that driveway with poor ole wheelybarrow, on it is a massive bag into which SHE puts manure or wood chips from another pile, this way, poor ole wheelybarrow can hold much more.

All the beds that SHE will use next year for beans etc are getting  
manure, meanwhile the beds that have fruit bushes or fruit trees in 
them are getting a mix of manure and wood chippings, the earth 
worms are in heaven.. with these cosy quilts to make their beds all 
snuggly-warm for winter, they are already dragging it down.

Meanwhile back at home.. Well, SHE has never been SO excited 
about housework as SHE is about gardening but WE are getting 
there slowly.. slowly, very slowly! SHE has Silverware to polish this afternoon.. it is supposed to be a gloomy wet afternoon.. SHE is staying home.. which is much more fun for ME!  As I get to sit on ole Goosie head perch in and see what's a'goin on.. 

But Dear Readers, it is not all doom and gloom as WE do have 
something really, really lovely and very happy making to look forward to.. yes, for Joanna has asked if she and JJ could visit with us for a few days in December.. OH.. Wooooopie-de-doo!

And now WE are off for a late snacket of lunch of Portugese perpetual Cabbage and some Spinach with a couple of Meatballs left over from last nights supper..

Bye bye.. hope that YOUR day is pleasant wherever YOU are..

OH.. before WE forget.. it is such a treat to read a 'good' book.. and SHE read a book last night that made HER squeal with laughter!

'THE MATCHMAKER OF PERIGORD' by JULIA STUART, PUBLISHED by DOUBLEDAY.. the author's first novel, what a 
delightful read, get it from YOUR Library or buy it.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 21st, 2012.

GROVEL. GROVEL..

No posts for ages.. so sorry.. many feather plucking apologies.. WE have, as YOU know, had guests and SHE was tired.. So no Blog written.. 

SHE went to try to find trousers for winter.. as I regret to say that the trousers SHE wore ALL last winter.. which were VERY comfortable..  now do not close around HER waist by, at least, five inches, oh dear.

GULP.. I am so glad that I don't have this problem!

However, SHE refused to buy this 'enormous new size' and instead, bought three balls of pretty wool with which to knit a pretty snood.. and a new cafetiere! 

Came home and ate squiddley-diddley.

SHE changed flat over to winter accents today, the sitting room window blind is now red and yellow instead of blue and white.. and the throws are dark red and yellow.. snuggly colours, the upstairs neighbour is here, with her central heating going full blast.. makes our flat very cosy!

And a cosy place is where WE are a'going.. to bed.. SHe has two new books to read and I have a new Pomegranate to molest.. yum.

Hopefully WE will be here again tomorrow, SHE has promised some family photographs to HER cousin Stephen.. So there will be a wiggle or two to get those together, SHE will take them to Snappy Snaps who will email them to him for his wedding book.. sigh..

Good night Dear Readers.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 10th, 2012.

OUT ALL THE TIME..

Which is exactly how it should be.. but it does mean that YOU, Dear Readers, do not get a daily post on MY Blog... 

I will write tomorrow about last night at The Royal Albery Hall.. suffice to say.. the seats were wonderful and so was the evening of Beethoven!

Lovely evening..

Today has been a day for jaunts.. to see Debbie aka Ellie of Goaty fame.. WE do hope those Goaty folk enjoy those three bags of herbs.. plenty more where they came from! Cheese bought.

Then to Waterstones in the Kings Road to find special books written by one of HER all time HEROS.. Valerie Ann Worwood..

Back home, cheese into fridge, out again to Columbia Road.. Yes Joanna, SHE did pick YOU up a sample of Precious Two from Angela HERSELF for YOU and it will go into the post to YOU tomorrow!

Then to Trumans on Brick Lane for lunch.. such a clever, clever place. Probably 20 different stalls all serving the MOST fabulous HOT food being cooked for YOU.. Malasian, Venezuelan, Mexican, Indian, Burmese, Moroccan, Indian... YOU get the picture? Big tables to sit at and happy atmosphere.. perfect.

Home via Spitalfields.. then into Artillery Passage to view Angela Flander's new shop at number 4. Artillery Row.. SO CHIC!

But SHE expected nothing less.. Angela's 'eye' is as good as her 'nose''.. the shop is beautiful.

Back on 11 bus at Liverpool Street, whoosh.. past The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.. aka The Bank of England.. past St. Paul's.. so beautiful.

Off at Royal Courts of Justice on Fleet Street, up side street, past King's College, The Law Society.. wiggle, wiggle up onto the Theobalds Road, onto a 19.. off at HER favourite branch of book shop Waterstones, the ole Simpsons shop in Piccadilly.. found another book by Valerie Ann Worwood.. and home.. to a strong coffee!

Ooooh.. I was so pleased to have them all back and I got to sit on everyone's head after large snacket.. and suddenly.. it was nine of the clock!

WE have early start tomorrow.. mail to collect from Sorting Office, MY food to buy, then they are all going to visit Leigh, Otto and Phoebe at Kew Gardens at one of the clock for coffee.

And then they will come home via HER Library, they need to find some titles of books for research.

Bed time.. sleepy.. busy day and they were quite late last night after walking home from that glorious musical evening..

GeeGee Parrot.

October 7th, 2012.

THREE BAGS OF HERBS LATER....

SHE waddled down the steps.. jurst before sky opened and down came the rain!

But SHE had managed to pick quite a lot of herbs for HER Goaty friends.. one bag of Melissa aka Lemon Balm with a small amount of Golden Oregano, one bag of Rosemary and another of Rosemary with Purple Sage.. it was all SHE could carry.

Ravenous WE WERE.. well, SHE was and I am always ready for something delicious to eat.. what is on offer, I thought?

Umm.. goodie goodie, for out of fridge came large tub of truly scrummy anchovy fillets, tub of small octopus, some funghi in garlic oil, some of those peppers SHE did a couple of months ago.. plus a beautiful tomato that Robert, friend at garden, gave HER last weekend..

What a feast.. quick and tasty, SHE lit the ring under red cabbage, added smoked bacon lardoons, stirred well and put lid back on.. that will cook down for about another half hour... SHE took a Duck breast out of the chiller.. and that is what WE will have for our supper.

But now.. WE are eating the 'snacket'.. jurst to keep norty ole Wolf from door as it were.. SHE ate the eggs and salmon at 8.45am, so it has been a loonng time not to have eaten any yumyum.

SHE cut off two thick slices of Spelt and Seed bread.. drizzled some good olive oil onto them, added crushed garlic and sliced tomato.. I got a bit too.. whooo.. there will be no vampires in THIS house tonight!

But SHE is taking life slowly.. it sounds as if WE are doing a lot but SHE was very sad to have to tell two friends that 'problem' is back.. at least WE know 'it' is NOT Cancer.. but specialist called HER and said "that he is now thinking surgery and most probably towards end of the month"..

Fiddle-dee-dee.. boring as it scuppers marvellous plans for end of month with family... many rude words.

But WE are off to read two magazines SHE was given by friend.

It is so nice to have a pleasant day, get all the work done and then have something to look forward to tomorrow as well.. Royal Albert Hall and Beethoven's 9th symphony.. 

What a lovely treat... and Danish Susan and our two friends are of the same career! There will be lots to talk about when not listening to this glorious music..

Good evening to YOU all.. I hope that YOUhave happy plans for YOUR weekends like WE do?

GeeGee Parrot.
October 5th, 2012.

BUTTERED EGGS & SMOKED SALMON FOR ALL OF US!

YO HO HO... oh Dear Readers.

I lurve it when WE have friends to stay.. for SHE pushes boat out and WE get to eat scrummy ( more than usual ) food with which to break that norty fast! 

This morning WE had Smoked Salmon with our Buttered Eggs... ohhhh... I am jurst crazy and mad about that smokey ole salmon.. yumyum.

Now SHE has Red Cabbage with apples, red onion and spices in pan, will add smoked bacon lardoons about half an hour before end of cooking time.

SHE and guests are going to be very busy.. last night they kicked off with Pizzas.. yes, of course, at HER favourite place..

Pizza@home on The Old Brompton Road, London SW5.

SHE has sad to hear that man who was SO welcoming to HER the first time SHE went in.. looking very grubby.. is leaving London and going back to Pretoria.. but his sister.. who between YOU, ME and the front door.. makes an amazing Pizza is staying.. phew.. that is a relief!  

SHE thought that new folk would be taking it over and SHE would not get same Pizzas as they serve now.. for they are truly, truly very yumyum scrummydumptious.. if YOU like or want them really crisp.. that is what YOU get!

Then guests have invited HER and Danish Susan to go with them to listen to Beethoven's Nineth at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

Next it is an early Sunday morning start for they are all off to meet Debbia aka Ellie of Ellie's Dairy at The Parsons Green Farmers 
Market.

Swiftly back home with the cheese that Asmaa is going to buy, then
off to Columbia Road Flower Market to introduce them to HER most favourite Perfumer, Angela Flanders, 96. Columbia Road.

Lunch will be Vietnamese food on The Kingsland Road.. delicious.

Meanwhile SHE has promised those Goaty folk lots of Herb 
clippings and SHE is thrilled to have someone to give them to! So 
much nicer than putting them onto a rubbish heap, as Rosemary 
never breaks down, there will be lots of Melissa, aka Lemon Balm, 
Oregano, Mint of different varities, and lots of Sage and HUGE amounts of Rosemary!

SHE is off with several strong plastic sacks and taking string 
with HER to tie up the sacks so SHE can carry them on the bus.

So, there YOU have the order of activities for the next few days.. oh, what are our guests doing.. why, they have gone Culture Vulturing at The Natural History Museum. Five minutes walk away.. YES, WE are very lucky to live where WE do.

I am off to perch on a door, lick and smack ole Beaky and to think about that breakfast and SHE is off to garden to pick first two bags of Herbs for our Goaty folk friends.

GeeGee Parrot.
October 5th, 2012.

TOMORROW...

So sorry Dear Readers.. no Tale of derring-do forYOU tonight.. SHE went out with lurverly guests to eat Pizza.. yum, chilli-billy on HER breath and now falling into bed with stuff to organise.

SHE has much to do at garden but not tomorrow as weather forecast says "rain".. but that saturday and sunday are to be sunny.. 

I promise YOU that YOU will have big, loonng post tomorrow.. including one of HER favourite recipes for Autumnal days.. yes, as autumn is most certainly here now.. it was never above 60 degrees fahrenheit today..

Good night.. enjoy YOUR evening.. paperwork for HER now as SHE has to do this before it gets out of control.. YOU know that two pieces of paper can make ten in a nanosecond! Well, they do in this house!

GeeGee Parrot.
October 4th, 2012.

Compassion.. Ellen.. Royal William & Savoy Hotel are all in a pretty vase.. sadly Gloire de Dijon does not like being picked.

Hello Dear Readers.. Yes, lots of Roses to pick, so many in fact, that SHE brought them home in a bucket with lots of water. And the names in the Title are the names of what SHE cut and brought home.. 

It is a GREAT pity that Gloire de Dijon does not 'do' well if YOU cut her.. She goes floppy and hangs her head.. much better to leave her on her bush where she pleases everyone who passes by.

SHE did four trips up to a HUGE pile of leaf and wood mould that is at the top of the track, it takes half an hour there and back with a full wheely-barrow.. two big beds now look fat and cosy, rather like a freshly made bed with clean quilt cover.. 

SHE stuck a fork in to the one that SHE did on Monday, Misters Wiggly Worms are very busy taking leaf mould down into soil.. already there is noticeable difference, they are very clever those wiggly people.. the more worms YOU have in YOUR garden, the healthier YOUR soil is, did YOU know that?

SHE had a nice chat with another plot holder.. Peter, who is 
married to Elena.. they are 'grown-ups' with three children and 
SEVEN grand children.. SHE said "you are very greedy".. he 
laughed! 

Nice man.. he jurst LURVES his Chickens.. they have, like HER, a 
big plot and grow everything that they eat.. healthier than buying 
stuff that has been 'fiddled' with.. ugh.. who wants 'waxed' apples?

EXCUSE ME.. WAXED APPLES? Why would they do that, and they do! UGH.. Why can't they, whomever 'they' are, keep them properly?

Change subject.. these people make US SO VERY CROSS..
Back to ME.. always a good laugh or run for YOUR money.. and as YOU pay nothing to be amused by MY blethering, I think I am  
'pretty' good value!! 

HeeHee.. ok, whilst SHE was out, I had a RIPPING time with that 
box.. I managed to destroy nearly one whole side, sadly, I am not 
allowed to play with Mr. Dyson.. so those minute munched-up bits 
were all over bedroom carpet when SHE came back.. SHE was 
VERY good.. SHE jurst looked at the mess and laughed.. NOT 
many mothers would do that, SHE is a very understanding Maman.. 

"Tomorrow is another day GeeGee" SHE said which is true.. WE 
will be back tomorrow as SHE has to hoover carpets and clean bath etc before our guests arrive in the mid afternoon.

So now WE are off to YumYum HQ and then to bed.. to eat and read.  WE like a selection of delicious YumYums before WE turn out the lights and I do not see why there should or would be any exception tonight!

Good night, Dear Readers, wherever YOU may be..

GeeGee Parrot.
October 3rd, 2012.

OFF TO PICK ROSES FOR TWO GUESTS ARRIVING TOMORROW.

SO this post will be short.. but I will be back later.. SHE has to go to garden to pick 'smelly' Roses for guests who arrive tomorrow..

Lovely things autumn Roses.. their smell is wondrous and perfume a room beautifully without being too over powering like Lillies can be sometimes.

WE will have a very pleasant four days with our guests.. they have a kitten called Blackberry.. why such a name, have YOU never looked at a kittens paw? Their puds look jurst like the Blackberry symbol!

SHE will take them to Animal Fair, Abingdon Road, London W8.  This emporium is supplier of wondrous things for birds, cats and dogs, SHE has known shop and all the staff for ages.. it is where I go to stay if SHE goes away and I do not go with HER.

I suspect that MANY items will be purchased for young Master Blackberry.. they sound as if they are as soppy about him as SHE is about ME.. and that is quite right for all 'children', animal or human should be lurved and played with.

Sadly they are only with us for such a short while.. they leave on the 9th to go back to work. But.. that is what happens.. friends come and go.. it is jurst lovely to see them whilst they are here.

Now.. which door am I going to perch on today? SHE has closed a couple.. to stop ME going in and molesting clean rooms, I suspect!

Or, I suppose I could go and finish destroying that cardboard box..

Now there's a thing... ooh, for I lurve to rip cardboard.. so very satisfying to crunch it with ole Beaky.. sharpens Ole Beaky too.. yes, that is the order for today.. a good crunch and munch with ole Beaky.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 3rd, 2012.

RED SOUP AND GRAHAM HURLEY'S CRIME FICTION THRILLERS..

Cloudy.. dull.. overcast.. cold.. sunlight.. bright and warm.. Hello? Would YOU like to make up your mind? What to wear... galoshes or slip ons with no socks? Raincoat or a cardigan?  

WE are very confused.. mind YOU, between YOU, ME and front door.. it doesn't take a lot to get HER confused as SHE has had to do 'dreaded' housework.. proper stuff.. polishing furniture, mirrors, washing backs of doors when I perch.. sorry about that.

WE have two friends coming to stay so their room has to be made neat and tidy.

What a day.. housework, SHE spoke with lovely Leigh in Kew, more housework, is it not strange that it doesn't go on doing itself when YOU are on the telephone.

Then Danish Susan called, HER lovely friend who makes the most delicious biscuits in the whole world, with dreadfully sad news.

That her most beloved sister-in-law has advanced Pancrearic Cancer.. and has been given, maybe, a month to live. Susan's brother and her much adored sister-in-law live in Santa Barbara.. 

But Susan has to go to Denmark the day after tomorrow as her other brother is in 'bad shape' and not eating.. ages 85.. "Lovely friend, how very tough it is when family and friends start ro become seriously ill and pass on.."

This makes ME say it again.. tell the ones YOU lurve that YOU LURVE them.. before it is too late.

Bbbrrrr...  shake head and move on.. to RED Onion Soup!

When YOU make Onion Soup, I hope YOU put the skin in to the 
pot, for they are what give the soup the delicious colour.. WE had
run out of White Onions, so SHE used Red ones instead.. and what 
a glorious colour was produced!

WE are still on that 'strict' budget of eating at home, using rice and 
lentils and Bulgar Wheat to pad 'our' meals, the weekend Chicken 
carcass was put into smaller of two stockpots with carrots, garlic, 
potatoes and red onions plus a couple of litres of water and allowed 
to boil and then simmer.. top off.. oooh, how pretty!

And tasty too.. WE have had an extremely early supper, as WE did 
get up much earlier than normal.. and that was a bit of a shock to 
HER system as SHE was very, very late to put out HER light last 
night.. 

SHE was reading a thriller by Graham Hurley called 'BORROWED LIGHT'. OH DEAR, he has 'killed' off one of his main characters.. 
and it appears that this book was the latest in this series.. so now 
SHE has to wait for him to write another novel. 

But in the meantime, there are 'Winter, MacKenzie and Suttle', all 
characters in the excellent series, what is going to happen to them, 
SHE wants to know? 

Oh.. panic over, SHE has jurst checked on line and there IS another book out already.. phew.. it is called 'HAPPY DAYS' and starts off with the funeral of Farraday, the character who was died in the last book.

Gripping stuff..

WE have a new book to read.. well, SHE reads, I will loll on HER head and wind down after a very busy day.. up and down the hall I flew, HOW many times today?

Sleepy, weather change and lots of excercise.. "good night".

GeeGee Parrot. 
October 2nd, 2012.

HER PERFUMER - ANGELA FLANDERS - HAS WON 'THE PERFUME 'OSCAR'!!

WHOOPIE-DE-DOOOO.

Ooohh, SHE is thrilled as SHE has jurst found out that Angela Flanders, a marvellous Perfumer, who makes that glorious perfume CASPIAN SHE lurves so much - was awarded the Best Fragrance by FIFI, aka the powers to be in the fragrance industry!

The perfume was created for Angela's daughters shop, Precious, which is situated in the heart of Spitalfields.. the perfume is called Precious One.

SHE has a friend from California coming to stay and Patsy is coming especially so that her visit will coincide with a Sunday, the day that Columbia Road Market happens. SHE introduced Patsy to Angela last year.. now Patsy is coming back to purchase lots more of the perfume she fell in lurve with last year.

"Well done Angela.. congratulations on that award and the recognition that it brings from FIFI.."

Oh, this is such happy, happy news.. SHE lurves it when something 'nice' happens to friends..

Now.. where is a mug of LappySan with which to celebrate!

GeeGee Parrot.
October 1st, 2012.

OH FIDDLE-DEE-DEE.. for life is too short to stuff a mushroom!

Oh really, Dear Readers.. SHE is not up to all this technology! 

As SHE thought that writing in 'Pages' meant it was like a draft and that it would be easy to press 'Publish' and it would show on MY Blog as a Post.. well, it didn't!

So, there, on the right hand side of this page is a thing titled PAGES, then underneath HOME and then underneath that is title of PAGE is 'WHEN THINGS GO WRONG', YOU click this which will give YOU all this morning's Page / Post!

And now do YOU understand meaning of this Post's title?

Sometimes SHE feels very silly.. as rest of HER family are all up to speed on singing and dancing with 'Apple'. WE jurst grow them!

SHE is off in drizzly rain to give those wiggly worms another layer of leaf mould. ME, I am snuggly-buggly warm and staying here, I hear poor Otto in Kew has to go to see Vet today.. hope that Leigh wraps up warmly, it is not very pleasant out there.

GeeGee Parrot.
October 1st, 2012.