A quick few words and a picture before I go to bed.

Have caught up with a wonderful friend.  (They are the ones that are truly worth having - we all have them but sometimes don't know it until we lose them. True friends allow you to ramble and splurge out your words without engaging brain.  Cherish them.)

I talked to you tonight - you know who you are.

Book completely edited again.  Another print run done.  Printer wasn't too happy with me for using previously used paper, but then you have to recycle - it doesn't grow on trees you know...  Unless the printer was trying to give me feedback on my novel?

Will spend the weekend busy, occupied with doing something, missing out on the fabulous weather.  That is what most women of my ilk do and then wonder what happened.  Some things can really wait.  The world as they/we know it will not stop.  I know it but, who else is going to paint that room, or move the furniture, or replace the toilet roll?

Bought some wonderful aubergines.  Couldn't freeze them because the freezer is playing up (hey, it is a bit hot, so what do you expect?)  A friend had given me loads of jars.  So I made pickle.  A tad too much chilli but still delicious.

Just need a few friends who like fiendishly hot aubergine stuff in jars.

One door closes, another opens :)

The sun shines and the lawn gets cut,

The smiles widen and the heart gladdens;
What can be better - than that...?

(I don't do poetry).

Shame there wasn't any washing that needed to be done. Oh, well.

Two chapters remain to be edited.  Then another print.  And a read through.  Correct/edit.  Another print and pass on for friends to be honest, but sort of kind - no pressure.  Love them.

I have been working on the novel - honest!

  

Working on chapter 10 of Goods By Hand (may keep this title, who knows, not me, sometimes I change my mind just because I can), and when I have finished, half way house will have been reached. 

Yay....yippee....or whatever the modern term is.  They do keep changing don't they... 
(I love ellipsis).

Took a little time out last night to entertain friends.  The good news is that we are all still standing (or sitting at the moment to type this if I'm being honest) and nobody has been in touch to say they are moving abroad or changing their contact details.  So all is still well.  And the bonus is; the sun is out.  There is a song isn't there, The sun is out, the sky is blue, there's not a cloud....actually forget it, who in their right mind would invite the remainder?  However, it is a beautiful song and already I know I am going to remember it for the rest of the day.

Oh, well, back to food.

Starting with the nearest and dearest (have you checked out the price of rice recently?):
Boiled rice - every grain light, fluffy and separate.
Aubergine and potato curry.
Carrot, pea, potato and sweetcorn curry.
Chicken and green pepper curry.
Salad (barely touched - I wonder why?)
Spinach, onion, potato, aubergine pakora (none leftover - I wonder why?)

A good all round evening, with lots of intelligent conversation ranging from the personal to the political.  What better way to see in the weekend?

Forgot to mention, I also write and am currently editing my third novel.

First and second novels?

It's complicated but not unexplainable :)

Delaying the D.I.Y. (It isn't difficult!)

It can be worth it.

Take some potatoes, onions, aubergine, spinach, gram flour, yogurt, cooking oil and a few spices and the following will be the result:

Should there be any left, you are lucky.

Home Made Samosa

Made my first ever Samosas today.  Normally it is a choice between going to my mum's or the local supermarket (always disappointing), or a restaurant (better), and once a mini supermarket for Asians in Wolverhampton (not bad at all).

Made the pastry around lunch time and put it in the fridge (plain flour, oil, warm water).  Then cooked the potatoes and peas.  Made mash.  Flavoured with a bit of salt, garam masala and chili flakes.  Ensured it was well mixed and left to one side.  Filled the large steel pan a third full of  sunflower oil.

Went to the library because they had a visiting author.  Came home.  Around 8.30pm(ish) decided I was hungry. 

Delicious.

AIMS ARE EASILY OVERTAKEN BY LIFE.....

I have lost count of the number of days that have passed since I started the DIY mention.  I could look it up but that would be like a spoiler.

The hall is finished and looks good.  More roomy.  I really want to rearrange the furniture - that is a true love of mine - but daren't until I have help.  The back is too precious.

As money is tight, I treated myself to flowers - for my hard work - from my garden.  There is an excellent argument that the outdoors should stay there, but occasionally beauty has to be where the beholder is.