Peachy

What a perfect day. It's been sunny nearly all day, cold and quiet. I listened to the weather forecast in the rest of the UK and smiled. We'll get our share of gloom and rain, but not today. This morning I did some gardening, piling up the contents of the compost into a nice mulch around the shrubs. Nick had emptied the rich humous onto the beds and left it for me to distribute. The old energy was there, as it had been when we strode out earlier around the fields, and very grateful I am too. Hugo hovered around me as I worked, sitting gingerly on the grass with his bottom barely touching the ground and looking at me plaintively with sad whippet eyes. He couldn't find anywhere dry to rest, and could see no reason to stay outside. Eventually we both went in, and I spent much of the rest of the day cooking. I have friends coming for lunch tomorrow, vegetarians, and so I made a cashew, mushroom and parsnip roast with a tangy tahini sauce to go with it, plus a large quantity of tomato sauce for the freezer. The latter was mainly to use up a third of a bottle of red wine that I had forgotten to drink, and will make the basis for various Italian dishes. I enjoyed it so much, another of the pleasures of winter which I'm happy to revive. Summer cooking is more straightforward and simple, but winter stews with or without meat are a joy to make and eat, and they freeze well for future use.

In the evening Penny and I went to a concert at Snape, free usher tickets to hear Tenebrae sing the music of Parry and Taverner et al. I left my cosy kitchen, dog curled up on the sofa, and for two pins I'd have gone back in, lit the fire, and settled down in front of Strictly. I was glad I hadn't, though, as it was a good event, pure, clear voices singing in harmony for Remembrance Day. In the interval we had the most divine brownies that Snape always have in the cafe, but I've got to stop indulging my need for sugar. My wobbily midriff is a constant rebuke to me, as are too tight trouser waist bands, and the fat has to go. Not tomorrow though. I'll start on Monday. Or Tuesday.