The Autumn debate - When to put the heating on?

Every year we have the same argument in our house, when should we put the heating on? It’s like a family tradition now. Some people visit pumpkin patches and go on autumn walks, we have thermostat wars.

I’m stubborn one and I always have been. I will hold out until I’m sat there, teeth chattering, wrapped in about three jumpers, a blanket covering me with thick socks on and a hot water bottle before I even think about flicking the heating on. I don’t know why but it feels like a challenge. How many days can I suffer before giving in? I like to think I’m saving a few pounds while slowly freezing to death.

My eldest, Becky would have the heating on at the start of September if she had her way. The first slightly chilly morning and she’s ready to whack it on full blast. If she even so much as feels a cold toe she’s asking to switch it on without even thinking of putting a pair of socks on. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to tell her. Eesh!

Then there’s my youngest who is the complete opposite! She moans when the heating is on. It’s too hot, I can’t breathe, I’m melting, we get it all. While I’m sat there finally thawing out my frozen fingers she’ll crack a window open just to make a point. It's madness that one kid wants it tropical, the other wants it arctic and I’m stuck somewhere in the middle trying not to start World War Three over the boiler.

You would think my fella would have some say in the argument but he really doesn’t care. If it’s on it's fine and if it’s off also fine. He just goes with the flow, sitting there with his cup of tea completely unbothered while the rest of us are almost fighting. Sometimes I look at him and think how can you be this calm about something so important? I swear if the boiler exploded he’d just say put a jumper on then. He is so calm about everything!

We’re not one of those households who just stick the heating on all day. It only ever goes on in the evening, once we’re all home and that proper chill has set in. We don't bother to set it to come on in the morning, none of us would want to get out of bed if we did. We have learned from experience. lol The only time it does go on during the day is when it's really, really cold. We might put it on for an hour just to take the edge off but that’s it. There’s no leaving it blasting from morning until night. When I put the heating on in the evening I do get comfy and take a layer off but there’s always that voice in the back of my head screaming Do you know how much this costs!!

No one in this house will ever admit they’re cold first it’s like an unspoken rule. We’ll all sit there pretending we’re fine, even my eldest who would have the heating on given the chance. Then someone finally snaps and says "Shall we just put the heating on for a bit?" Then suddenly everyone agrees like it’s the most obvious idea in the world.

So when is the right time to switch the heating on? I don’t think there is one. Some people say wait until the first frost, others do it as soon as the calendar flips to September. Me, I’ll keep holding out until I literally can’t feel my fingers, while my eldest is secretly plotting her next mission to sneakily put it on. My youngest will carry on complaining it’s too hot whenever it is on and my fella will just keep shrugging his way through it all.

When do you put your heating on??

Our weekly meal plan! 29th September - 5th October! #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went really well. Monday set the bar high with Stu doing the cooking, even the simplest meal feels like a feast when you don’t have to make it yourself. We had steak pies, mashed potato and baked beans. Nothing fancy but it was delicious. I swear food just magically tastes better when someone else does the hard work. We stuck to the plan for most of the week apart from Friday. The idea was fish, chips and mushy peas but by the time Friday night rolled around the kitchen was the last place I wanted to be. We ended up getting a takeaway from the chip shop instead, spam fritters, chips, and beans. After my trip to Birmingham on Thursday I was still shattered so the takeaway was very much welcomed!

Can you believe it’s October this week? Where has this year gone? It feels like September just started and now here we are already talking pumpkins and hot chocolate. I don’t have too much planned this week but I do want to try some baking. I’ve been watching far too many cosy autumn videos on TikTok and now I’ve convinced myself I need to make cinnamon buns. Whether they’ll turn out looking like the ones I've seen online or end up more of a disaster is yet to be seen but I’ll give them a go.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Crispy Chicken Katsu Curry Burritos.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Sausage Meatball & Tomato Sauce With Fresh Orecchiette.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Creamy Pork, Apple & Mustard Casserole.

Thursday - Tomato soup with cheese toasties to dip in. Just out of a tin but an easy meal.

Friday - Fishcakes, chips and peas.

Saturday - Home made pizza.

Sunday - A Sunday lunch of some sort.

What about you? What’s on your menu this week?

A photo every day for a year! 21st - 27th September! Week 39 of #Project365

What a week I have had, in a good way! I got over the cold I had last week. There’s nothing better than that first day when you wake up and realise you can actually breathe through your nose and have a little more energy back. I got on top of the jobs around the house that had been piling up just in time to have a big day out to Birmingham to visit the biggest Primark in the world. I had a lazy day at home on Friday, I needed it and yesterday Ellie and I had a little shopping trip together. We did more browsing than buying but sometimes it’s just fun to potter about the shops and people watch.

Today, I’m taking things slowly, there is just some washing to get through and maybe lunch out if we can be bothered. As I’m writing this I feel like I could happily crawl back into bed and snooze the afternoon away. It has felt like a busy week but from now until January things are only going to get busier! I've just realised next week we head into October, September really is the quickest month. It's like blink and you missed it!

Now for a photo every day!

263/365 - 21st September

The carvery is back on at the pub and the kids were out doing their own thing so Stu and I treated ourselves to lunch out and it was good. It might not look amazing on the photo but trust me it was and the bonus was there was no cooking or washing up to do for me!

263/365 - 22nd September

Just a pumpkin shaped and scented candle. Tis the season!

263/365 - 23rd September

I made 14 banana and chocolate chip muffins! They didn't last 24 hours as they were so good! I had compliments from everyone who tried them and a backhanded one from Ellie. She said they were good but not as good as Aunty Jean's. I will take 2nd best, no one makes better muffins than my Great Aunt did.

263/365 - 24th September

It is the season to rewatch The Gilmore Girls! It is such a cute show, no big drama or shocks just cosy TV.

263/365 - 25th September

I am Kim and I have a mug addiction! I was in mug heaven in Primark, there must have been about 100 to choose from. I'm actually surprised I bought just one.

263/365 - 26th September

Months ago I was looking for the Minecraft bathbombs in Lush but our local one didn't have them in. Birmingham didn't let me down though, I found them there and had a lovely soak in the bath with them on Friday.

263/365 - 27th September

Ellie and I were feeling fancy shopping in the food section of M&S. She treated herself to some salmon, I bought some Percy Pig sweets. The only reason we went in was for the Christmas food catalogue!

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This week my Word of the Week is: Birmingham! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has been all about getting back to normal after being under the weather last week with a cold but to be honest I was just going through the motions waiting for Thursday to arrive when my day was not a normal day. I went on a bit of an adventure to Birmingham! I did think of Anne and Joleisa when I was sat on the bus, knowing it's their city! 

My dad's partner and I hopped on a bus, not literally as we had booked it as a coach trip to visit the biggest Primark Store in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest fashion retail store. Spanning five floors and approximately 160,000 square feet, it’s like Primark on steroids. It’s also not just clothes and homeware either. Inside there’s a Disney cafe, a beauty studio, a barbershop and even a vintage clothes shop. You could spend a whole day in there and still not see everything, we totally missed the vintage clothes.

Before we booked the coach we looked at the train prices and wow, I am glad we did. A train would have cost us at least £70 each and taken nearly three hours, plus the faff of changing trains and fighting to get a seat. The coach cost us £21 each, with reserved seats and took about two and a half hours. Bargain! It was way less stressful too, we got to sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving. The coach itself was lovely and the driver was brilliant, so cheerful and helpful. The only rookie mistake we made was not packing any food for the journey. Everyone else on the coach seemed to have thought of that. At one point I spotted a couple of women sat there with croissants and cans of wine and it wasn’t even 10am yet. They were clearly living their best life while I sat there wishing I’d at least brought a packet of crisps!

It took two and a half hours for us to arrive in Birmingham but it was totally worth it! We got dropped off right outside Primark and headed straight in! I had seen photos and videos of the store before but nothing really prepares you for just how big it feels when you’re standing in it. It’s overwhelming in the best way. We had a bit of a plan, head straight to the top floor, check out the Disney cafe and then work our way down floor by floor. We could have eaten anywhere in the city centre but we had heard so much about the Disney Cafe. It was so cute and the banoffee milkshake and the hot dog I had tasted good, so were the tater tots, how American!

One of the best things about that Primark is the baskets. You get options of either the usual bag you carry or one of those pull along baskets on wheels. I went straight for the pull along one and thank goodness I did. We started off in the Home section and I could feel my arms getting tired just looking at all the candles, mugs and Christmas decorations. I resetrained myself. I could have spent a lot more than I did. We spent about the next three hours browsing and putting things in our baskets.

My favourite buys were the candles because can you ever have too many, a Christmas mug and The Sims Nightdress!

I also bought some things for Stu and the girls but the they will have to wait until Christmas to get their treats. I spent a lot less than I thought I would. I think I was just so overwhelmed by it all that I didn’t want to make too many snap decisions. I’ve already decided that I need to go back with the girls though, they’ll absolutely love it. I’ve told them to start saving now because once they see everything they’ll want to buy half the shop.

By the time we had finished in Primark it was close to 3pm. We went outside to get some fresh air and of course stopped to get the classic photo with Birmingham’s famous bull.

We also had a quick wander around the market stalls outside. The food stalls were incredible, they had pretty much every type of food you could think of, including corn dogs! I don’t think I’ve ever seen corn dogs for sale in real life before so that was a bit of a novelty. I regret not getting one.

We headed back onto the coach at around 4pm and were back in Scunthorpe by about 7pm after hitting some traffic. It made for a long day but such a good one. For me it wasn’t even really about the shopping even thought it was fun, it was more about the experience of going somewhere different, seeing Birmingham and having a proper day out. It definitely brightened up my week and gave me something to look forward to after feeling a bit rough.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 39. #FridayFavourites

I’ve had such a great week and more importantly I finally feel back to my normal self after being hit with an annoying cold. Normally I sit down on a Thursday afternoon to write this little weekly post but yesterday I was off out on a bit of an adventure so I had to shuffle things around and get typing early. It felt like the week was only halfway done and there I was writing my end of week post, very strange! Anyway, here I am today with my list of things I’ve been loving and of course I am linking up with with Erika and Andrea to share them.

Sunday at the Carvery!

The pub near us has started doing their carvery again now the season has turned and it's so good! You queue up, pick your meat then it’s basically a vegetable heaven where you pile your plate with as much as you can carry and there are of course giant Yorkshire puddings too. I always have to stop myself from just filling my plate with roast parsnips because they’re my favourite. This time I went for roast gammon with creamy mash, red cabbage, parsnips, honey roasted carrots, peas and sage and onion stuffing, all drowned in a proper flood of gravy.

The Chronicles of Narnia!

My Sunday films are becoming a bit of a tradition now and I like to keep them themed. This time I went all in on The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will always be my favourite nothing beats that first magical step into Narnia but I actually enjoyed the other two more than I remembered as well. There’s something really cosy about settling in with a film series on a Sunday and Narnia was just the perfect pick!

Banana and chocolate chip muffins!

I was making the Bolognese for tea on Tuesday and while I was waiting for the mince to brown I spied some bananas which were going brown so on a whim decided to make some muffins, they were going to be just banana until I noticed the chocolate chips in the cupboard. They weren't the prettiest! I wouldn't be getting the Paul Hollywood handshake but they did taste amazing!

Autumn clothes!

You know that line from Gilmore Girls "I am an Autumn"? That’s exactly how I feel about clothes this time of year. I absolutely love wearing dresses with tights and boots, it’s such an easy outfit but makes me feel so put together. My wardrobe is full of autumnal coloured dresses with all those deep reds, greens and warm browns. They feel so cosy but also stylish. Autumn fashion always feels like it's my time to shine!

Having a catch up with my dad!

On Monday I had a walk out to see my dad. I missed my visit last Friday as I didn't want to pass my cold on to him so it felt like ages since I had seen him. When I got there he was pottering about in his usual way, busy doing something completely different from what he was supposed to be doing. He was cleaning an engine for his vintage car. It was actually really satisfying to watch. The engine went from being completely black and grimy to looking silver and shiny, almost brand new again. He was so chuffed with himself and I loved just being there to see it.

Conkers!

This one might be a bit random but I can’t help myself, every time I spot conkers on the ground I have to pick them up. We’ve got loads of horse chestnut trees around here and they’re dropping conkers left, right and centre at the moment. By winter, I usually have a whole bowlful sitting around the house. I don’t do anything with them, I just like how shiny and pretty they look when you first pick them up. They’re such a small but simple joy of autumn!

Strictly Come Dancing!

Strictly is back on our screens and I will be sat here every Saturday evening watching. I loved seeing all the new celebrities take their first steps on the dance floor and this year’s line up has already hooked me in. I’m secretly rooting for Stefan Dennis, Paul Robinson from Neighbours because how brilliant would it be if Dianne won two years on the trot and as the first pregnant pro at that!! Realistically I think that Lewis off Emmerdale or Ellie Goldstein might win, either way, I’m just glad it’s back!

A day out with my dad's partner!

Yesterday myself and my dad's partner went off a bus trip to Birmingham to visit the biggest Primark store in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest fashion retail store. Spanning five floors and approximately 160,000 square feet! I am going to have to write more about it over the weekend as I was in no rush to get in last night and switch my laptop on.

What have you loved over the past week?

How to make Blackberry Jam!

It is blackberry season here and I do love it. One minute you are walking along minding your own business and suddenly you notice the berries among the brambles, begging to be picked! I always go to my dad's and pick them. Usually they end up straight into a crumble or get eaten by the handful as soon as they have been washed but this time I went old school and made jam.

There’s something fun about making jam. It feels a little old fashioned like you should be wearing an apron and humming in the kitchen. My fella rang from work when he was on his lunch break and I had no intention of making jam but by the time he had rang when he was on his way home I'd made it. He thought I was mad, some sort of want to be domestic goddess but it’s one of the simplest things that I've ever made and I am going to tell you how!

It takes just two ingredients: blackberries and sugar! That’s it! With no fancy extras, no long shopping lists or fancy equipment needed. If you’ve got a bowl of blackberries and a bag of sugar you’re halfway there.

What You’ll Need!

Blackberries..

Granulated sugar (same weight as the blackberries).

Method!

Prepare the fruit!

Give your blackberries a gentle rinse and pick out any bits of leaves or stalks that snuck in. I like to soak them in a bowl of cold water for a few minutes to make sure any tiny bits of dirt or bugs come away. Let them drain well, you don’t want loads of water sitting in with your berries because it’ll water down your jam.

Weigh your ingredients!

Weigh your blackberries. However much they weigh you’ll need the same weight in sugar. So, if you’ve got 1kg of blackberries, you’ll need 1kg of sugar. I had 400g of berries so used that much sugar. If you don’t have scales don’t panic, you can just estimate by using cups. It’s roughly one cup of sugar for every cup of berries.

Start softening!

Pop your blackberries into a big saucepan and when they have been simmering for a few minutes use a potato masher or even the back of a fork to squash them down a bit. This releases the juice and makes it easier for the sugar to mix in. Don’t worry about getting every single berry completely smooth a bit of texture makes it nicer.

Add the sugar!

Pour in the sugar and stir well. It might look like a lot at first but it balances the tartness of the blackberries beautifully. Keep stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. At this point your kitchen will start smelling amazing! Sweet, fruity and a little like summer wrapped up in a pan.

Bring to a boil!

Turn up the heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Let it bubble away for around 10 minutes. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick or burn at the bottom. You’ll notice it thickens quite quickly and the colour deepens into a dark purple.

Test it!

To see if your jam has set drop a little onto a cold plate. You can keep a plate in the fridge for this. Push it gently with your finger and if it wrinkles it’s ready. If not let it boil for another minute or two and test again.

Jar it up!

Once your jam has passed the wrinkle test, take it off the heat. Carefully pour it into clean, sterilised jars while it’s still hot. Screw the lids on tightly. To sterilise jars, wash them in hot soapy water, rinse well, then pop them in a low oven (about 120°C) for 10 minutes. Lids can be boiled in a pan of water for a few minutes.

Tips and Tricks

Seeds or no seeds!

If you don’t like the seeds you can sieve the blackberries after mashing and before adding sugar. It’s a bit more work but you’ll get a smooth jam.

Fridge storage!

Even without sterilising this jam will be fine in the fridge for a couple of weeks. If you go through jam fast this is perfect.

Don’t panic if it’s a bit runny!

Slightly softer jam is still tasty and it makes a great topping for yogurt or ice cream.

Frozen fruit works!

No need to hunt for fresh blackberries if you don’t have them. Frozen blackberries are great just be sure to thaw them a bit before using!

Adjust sweetness!

If you prefer your jam a little less sweet you can reduce the sugar slightly but remember it helps with the setting.

Small batches are easier!

If you’ve only got a little bowl of blackberries don’t worry. Making jam in small amounts is easier and avoids the stress of huge pans of bubbling fruit.

Get creative with serving!

This jam isn’t just for toast. Try it swirled into porridge, spread on scones or even spooned into a cake mix.

A lot of recipes make jam sound intimidating but this one proves it doesn’t have to be. Two ingredients, about 20 minutes and you have a jar of homemade jam that tastes way better than shop bought. There’s something satisfying about knowing exactly what’s in it with no weird additives, no preservatives, just fruit, sugar and a squeeze of lemon.

Have you ever made your own jam before?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #28

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall?

There is so much to love, it is the cosy season!! The jumpers come out, the blankets appear on the sofa and every hot drink tastes better. The food is so good with soups, stews, pies and mountains of mashed potatoes. Even TV feels cosier in autumn with lots of dramas on, The Great British Bake Off and of course Strictly Come Dancing!

2. What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?

I want to try some new recipes, maybe some new flavours of soups. Soup is perfect for this time of year and if I make it for our evening meal there's always leftovers for the next day. This has just reminded me about the pea and ham soup which we have not had in ages! That might be something for next weeks meal plan! 

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently?

Apples are my favourite and are something that I always cook with. I do love to make and eat apple pies or crumbles. I made mini apple pies a couple of weeks ago which went down well. but also use them in savoury dishes. I've even been known to make my own apple sauce to go with a joint of pork.

I only tend to use cranberries in December, it is more of a Christmas type food for me. I love cranberry sauce with roast turkey. I rarely cook with pumpkins. I remember years and years ago when it was hard to buy one here, they were so expensive but then they became more popular at Halloween so are easier to come by. The only pumpkin thing I do enjoy is a Pumpkin Spice Latte but I am determined to try cooking with pumpkin this year.

4. 'Fall is proof that change is beautiful' is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate.

I get why people say that "fall is proof that change is beautiful". There is a lot of beautiful things about it with the colours - golds, reds, oranges, cosy evenings with candles flickering and pretty lights and that low autumn sun which makes everything glow but personally I don’t usually like change. Real life change feels messy, unpredictable and sometimes stressful not all magical and Instagram worthy but Autumn is one change that I don't mind, we sort of just slide into it without any fuss and there is so much to love about this time of year.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping...of those listed which would you most like to visit?

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

I have never gone out of my way to look at leaves and leaf peeping is a new phrase to me. I live in a more rural area with lots of trees so get to see the changes happening without having to travel far. My dad's place is surrounded by oak and horse chestnut trees and I do love being there seeing the leaves and conkers that have fallen off the trees.

I would love to visit any of those places but think I would have to choose Stowe, Vermont as I have just read that it is in New England which is top of the list for leaf peeping!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Sticking with the autumn theme. I’m one of those people who opens the back door every morning, like a little ritual and the other day I did and shivered, it was a proper crisp autumn kind of morning. I am not a fan of cold weather but those mornings are nice especially when the afternoons are still warmer so I can peel off my jumper and feel the sun on my skin. I like this time of year and the difference between the morning when I take things slowly, sitting under my blanket enjoying a cup of tea and the afternoon where I have the motivation from the sunshine to get things done. My family are not loving it, they leave the house in big coats and by the time they're coming home it's too warm for a big coat and have to carry it. hehehe

Why I absolutely hate washing dishes!

I’ve always been honest about my dislikes but the number one thing I really, truly hate doing around the house is washing the dishes. I am not lazy and I like to think I pull my weight around the house. I do just about everything and more than I probably should but washing dishes, that is my personal battlefield and it’s not because I’m lazy. Everyone hates washing dishes but for me it’s more than just a mild annoyance. It’s full blown hatred and my hatred comes with a backstory so dramatic it could be a teen horror movie with blood and trauma. lol

It all began one evening after tea when I was about 15 years old. I was washing the dishes, doing what I was told, for once! I can’t even remember what we had for tea but I do remember that it was the 1st of April, April fools day because my brother and I had been on top form trying to pull pranks all day. There was the sink, the bubbles and hot water. I put a few glasses in the sink to soak for a few seconds and we guess a glass cracked with the hot water and as I put my hand in and turned the sponge in the glass the glass shattered and sliced my hand! There was blood everywhere, I was screaming and my brother was shouting to my mam saying "Kim's bleeding to death", dramatic as always but my mother didn't believe us. We had been trying to prank her all day, if I was her I wouldn't believe us either. My dad came in from walking the dog just at the right time and sprung into action, grabbing a towel, wrapping it around my hand and shouting he was taking me to hospital.

The cut on my hand was bad but not as bad as it seemed in the kitchen. When blood mixed with the water from washing the dishes it looked like a lot more blood. It was still bad to 15 year old me, I had an x-ray to check there wasn't any glass in the wound and it was steri-stripped together and I had a huge bandage on my hand. They weren't keen on stitching it as it was right on the knuckle of my index finger. I spent the Easter holidays from school not going swimming with friends. Hmmf but thankfully they changed their plans for me and we had cinema trips and hung around the park.

The scar on my hand doesn't look like much. I used to hate it but now it's just part of me.

Ever since then dishes have been my nemesis. It’s not just about the danger. I’m still a bit cautious around glass but it’s the memory. Every time I see a sink full of dirty dishes I sigh, if there’s a way to avoid washing dishes I will take it. Every single time! Here’s the kicker: we don’t even have a dishwasher so that means every plate, every mug, every pan needs to be washed by hand and more often than not by girls hands! My girls are the designated dish washers now and while they roll their eyes sometimes I get my peace of mind.

A lot of people say it’s just dishes, get over it but it’s never just dishes when you’ve got a story attached to them. Every time I reach for a sponge, my mind flashes back. So there you have it, my lifelong, ongoing and completely justified hatred of washing dishes. 

Have you had any silly accidents that have put you off doing every day things?

Our weekly meal plan! 22nd - 28th September! #MealPlanningMonday

Last week’s meal plan actually went surprisingly well which I’m counting as a win considering I spent most of the week feeling a bit sorry for myself with a cold. We had the curry on Monday as planned and I threw in some extra spice to see if it would blast away my blocked nose, it didn't but I soldiered on. By Saturday I was feeling a bit more human which worked out perfectly for our homemade Chinese takeaway which is one of my favourite fakeaway meals. We get all the fun of it without spending a small fortune. Everything else on the meal plan was eaten but not on the day I had planned.

This week is mostly a normal week for us as a family. Work, college and me catching up on everything that I didn't do last week when I had the cold. lol I do have one very exciting thing happening which I will probably talk more about over the weekend!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Stu’s is in charge of the cooking which basically means I have no idea what’s going to appear on the table. Sometimes he goes all out and other times it’s beans on toast.

Tuesday - Spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread. It’s one of those meals everyone in the house actually eats without moaning and there's always leftovers...

Wednesday - Leftover Bolognese in wraps, covered in cheese. Messy but delicious!

Thursday - A help yourself evening, I have plans so everyone can fend for themselves.

Friday - Fish, chips and mushy peas.

Saturday - Burgers in buns with onion rings and salad.

Sunday - A Sunday lunch of some sort. Now that the pub has started their carvery again I’m very tempted to take the easy route and go there. No cooking, no washing up, just piling a plate high with meat, veg, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. Perfect!

What about you? Have you got your meals all sorted this week? What are you eating?

A photo every day for a year! 14th - 20th September! Week 38 of #Project365

I've had a good week despite the fact I’ve been under the weather with a horrible cold this week so it’s mostly been tissues in one hand and a cuppa in the other. Snotty, sneezy, and feeling very sorry for myself is how the week has gone with a few surprises along the way but I’m glad to say I’m on the mend now. Phew!

The weekend has cheered me right up though. Stu had Saturday off work and the girls were both home too. We worked it out it's the first full Saturday Ellie has had at home since May time. lol It was so lovely having them all together. We haven't done anything exciting but that’s what made it so nice, just pottering about, eating together and settling down to watch the start of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. That really does mark the start of autumn for me!

Now for a photo every day!

257/365 - 14th September

Jam sandwiches for my lunch on Sunday, with the blackberry jam I had made! It was so good, better than any I have ever bought from the shops! You simply mash equal parts fruit and sugar in a pan, boil for about 10 to15 minutes until thick and pour into clean jars!

258/365 - 15th September

Becky had her very first funeral to attend which of course felt quite daunting for her. Before she went we were chatting about hymns and I mentioned how I’d want cheerful ones at my own funeral. Something like All Things Bright and Beautiful. Strangely enough that very hymn was sung at the funeral she went to along with Morning Has Broken which is another one of my favourites.

259/365 - 16th September

Becky came down with the cold so at least it didn't feel like I was so alone in feeling rotten, misery loves company. lol She decided we both needed a treat so ordered in for lunch! KFC. I am not usually a fan but it hit the spot!

260/365 - 17th September

In my desperation to unblock my nose I gave Otrivine nasal spray a try. It worked but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that horrible sensation of spraying something up your nose. I won't be rushing to do it again!

261/365 - 18th September

Late afternoon I looked outside and there was so much going on in the sky with the clouds. The whole thing was constantly shifting and changing, I could have sat and watched it for ages.

262/365 - 19th September

A few weeks ago I thought my garden was just about done but with all the rain we've had my garden has came back to life. According to my Plant Identifier App these flowers are Lavatera?

263/365 - 20th September

It really is spider season and as much as I hate spiders they are amazing creatures. Their webs are works of art and even more so when it has been raining and they really show up! This is the type of spider I don't mind, one that is outside! hehehe

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This week my Word of the Week is: Surprise! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

Life threw quite a few surprises my way over the last week, not bad ones but surprises all the same. There's nothing life changing or that exciting but this was my week with takeaway mix up's, Ellie’s sore arm antics and me channelling my inner Mary Berry.

Stu and I had Saturday evening home alone. Ellie was out with friends and Becky was at work so of course we decided to treat ourselves to a takeaway. What could be better than a cosy night in with pizza in front of the TV. The order arrived late which I could forgive since they were busy but when I opened the box I was greeted by chicken and sweetcorn instead of the beef house special that I had ordered. It was a total first world problem but I was hungry! No offence to chicken and sweetcorn lovers but if you’re expecting beef, cheese and all the extras you can understand how let down I felt. So I had to wait another half an hour for the right one to show up. Poor Stu had to put up with me being hangry. I tried to be patient but the temptation to swipe a slice of his food was there. The surprise turned into a reminder that sometimes waiting makes things taste even better because I really did enjoy my pizza.

Ellie has had her fair share of surprises too. She had a little medical procedure on her arm, it wasn't anything to worry about but she was surprised at how much anaesthetic hurt being put in. I don't know what she was expecting but a needle in your arm is going to hurt. She struggled with normal everyday things which seemed to surprise her like putting a ponytail in her hair, not having a shower for a couple of days to keep the dressing dry, getting dressed and putting make up on. I shouldn't laugh but she made it so easy. She’d forget about her sore arm, try to use it, yelp and then burst out laughing at herself. She's fine now and her arm is back to normal apart from a huge bruise.

The garden decided to surprise me this week too. Only last week I found tomatoes after I thought the plants had died and while I was out checking on my cucumbers I spotted what I thought was just a very round cucumber but curiosity got the better of me so I popped it into my plant identifier app and surprise! It wasn’t a cucumber, it was a melon so the app says, happily growing among the vines like it owned the place. I did plant melons but I didn't think any survived. I'm still not convinced it really is a melon but time will tell.

Here’s the biggest surprise of all, I made jam and it was/is amazing. The smell while it simmered away, seeing it set and then that first taste!! I felt like some kind of domestic goddess. It’s not something I ever thought I’d do but now that I have I can see why people get hooked on it. There’s something so wholesome and rewarding about making something completely from scratch that you've never made before. Of course I didn’t stop there because then I was in the baking mood. I made mini apple pies and an apple cake. The kitchen smelled incredible all weekend. If someone had walked in, they’d have thought I was auditioning for Bake Off. Everything disappeared quickly too which is always a good sign! I’ll be sharing a blog post next week about my jam making adventure.

Becky and I have both been struck down with a cold this week which came as a surprise because Stu caught the cold from work, had it for about a week and was over it when I started feeling yucky! I thought I had got away with not catching it. Hmmf. I won’t go on about it here because I already wrote a whole post about the things which have got me through my poorly week which was published yesterday. It hasn’t been fun but came at the perfect time, after all the birthdays and before the plans that I have next week.

Surprise really sums up the whole week. It’s been full of little moments I didn’t see coming! How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!