Cooked slowly for an hour or two

Above my head the throaty, noise of a helicopter. I almost feel like ducking.

Then I remind myself that I am, fortunately, not living in a war zone. The news from Ukraine is grim with news reports on the one o’clock radio news almost too hard to bear. Worse to live in the reality. Beautiful cities destroyed and thousands of beautiful lives destroyed too. War is hell. I carry on walking across the footpath and all around are green shoots pushing up through the earth. Then, as I pass my friend’s house I stop to admire the Firethorn bushes

J has been pruning the willows down by the pond. The goats and the sheep love willow. In bygone years willow used to be grown as cattle and sheep fodder. This is still practised in New Zealand. Aspirin was originally made from willow bark and willow bark was used medicinally by ancient civilisations

It is Defra’s attempt to combat avian flu – yet again

Both of them are worried by the constant bangs from outside

The U3A walk starting and ending at Hatley St George

I put Jeremy’s freshly baked loaf of bread on the dining room table to cool. Usually I shut the door to the living room/dining room to stop the cats being tempted by the warm bread. Tonight, Nigel came into the kitchen to sit by the fire. We were about to eat our supper so I put Nigel outside in the hall whilst we ate in peace. But…….I had left the living room door ajar……

Covered with home made tomato sauce and topped with grated cheese