7th June

You will see that this post is from a few weeks' ago - sadly the black dot was the least of our worries.

This is Chivers aka Popsie, No 1 cat and John's boy.  We reckon he is now about 10 years old as he arrived into our lives the first summer we were here.  Laura and Mark will remember when we thought we had lost him but he was hiding behind the TV in the lounge.

Anyway, we are a bit worried about him.  In the centre of his nose he has the smallest black dot which originally we thought was a claw mark.  A tiny little dot like that should heal pretty quickly and disappear but it didn't, the scab came off and it bled.  We weren't too worried the first time but this has now happened three times - yesterday it bled again but this morning it is back to a dot.  I am lucky enough to have my cousin Michelle who is a super dooper veterinary nurse in a cat only Vets and I sent her photographs and she confirmed what we thought, that this could be skin cancer so poor Popsie is going to have to go to the vets ASAP which will now be Tuesday as tomorrow is a bank holiday.  It doesn't seem to bother him but we have seen photographs where something like this has been left untreated and we don't want that for our lovely boy.

Today is Sunday and Mum is coming up for lunch as she normally does.  It is very hot today so we don't reckon we will get in a walk - there is no point going out in the heat.

Mum had asked for something light for lunch so I had it all under control and basically the only thing I needed to sort out was to heat the new potatoes in the microwave for a few minutes once we were ready so this meant I had a bit of time to do a bit of tidying in the garden and to get the outside dining table ready for our lunch.  We really feel we should be sitting out and eating but poor Mum seems to become lunch for the iggies we have at the moment - these iggies are silent but deadly - 'noseeums'.

This is not my photograph but it will give you an idea of what we had for lunch today - Coronation Chicken - I chose this recipe because it included apricots and I know that Mum is partial to apricots!  I know that she loses her appetite when it gets warm so I try my best to find something that will tickle her tastebuds.  I served the chicken with minted new potatoes and a salad which I knew Mum would eat and there was enough for her to take some home for tomorrow.

Again this is not my photograph but for today's pudding I had made poached pears with vanilla ice-cream.  We had three pears which were a bit soft so as part of my zero waste policy they were to be turned into dessert.  Normally I poach in a pan but today I thought I would try in the microwave and it was very successful and much, much quicker.  Basically the pears were steeped in a mix of red wine, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon and thyme.  I started them yesterday and left them in the liquor overnight and turned them so that the pears took on that lovely ruby red appearance.  Then I reduced the liquor so that it was slightly thicker and stickier.  I thought it was delicious and three empty dishes seem to reinforce that was the case.  Now I have a job on my hands as Mum is bringing Lilian up for lunch next Sunday and I want to make something simple, light and tasty - ideas on a postcard please!!

We did not get our walk - it certainly was too hot - Mum had been to the cemetery before coming to us and said it was exceptionally hot up there but at least the flowers are still surviving - just!!  Klaus you will never know how much we miss you - for the watering alone!!!

I had earmarked the programme on Channel 4 tonight about the 1966 World Cup.  John and I were talking about 'stuff' we have had over the years and got rid of and then wished we had kept.  I remember being obsessed with the 1970 World Cup (I was in love with Bobby Moore even though I was only 10 at the time) and I had a complete collection from ESSO of the commemorative 'coins' that were issued.  I remember being absolutely gutted about the incident with Bobby Moore and the bracelet in Bogota,  I should have kept that collection along with my PG Tips cards which I loved - them were the days!!!