Welcome to April! I hope you had a very Happy Easter and maybe the chance to enjoy a couple of days off work? I’m never very sure how they calculate the date for Easter each year although I’m sure it’s for seasonal reasons as well as religious? I seem to have a memory of it being towards the end of April a few years back, but at least Saturday was beautifully sunny and I managed to get a long walk in and dry all the washing! Do you have any idea what the date is based on?
Thank you for my lovely birthday wishes, and also for the HUGE amount of support for Cancer Research UK’s Skipping Challenge that I signed up for at the beginning of the month. I skipped my last 100 skips yesterday and at the final count had managed – with your help – to raise a mighty £820!! I am absolutely thrilled and have really enjoyed taking part, especially knowing that 82p out of every pound will go towards the vital research required to eventually find a cure for cancer. My skipping speed has doubled and my shoulders definitely feel stronger, and, as a cancer survivor myself, it has felt good to give a little back…
Well, it’s over a week since Colin and I got back from our holiday in Morocco at the seaside/surfing resort of Taghazout, although to be honest it feels a lot longer! For the most part we were lucky with the weather although the temperature dropped quite dramatically towards the end of the week but we were blessed with at least four days of bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine as these photos show! It can be very windy though and chilly in the evening, but having been to Morocco before, I brought a couple of jumpers and a jacket with me that kept me cosy. Taghazout is in a very quiet but beautiful location on the Atlantic with a massive two and half miles of sandy beach. It’s a favourite for the surfers because of the fabulous waves and although I paddled a couple of times, Colin and I tended to just walk the stretch of sand rather than swim in the sea.
I always seem to go through this crisis of confidence before we have a beach holiday, and having just turned 64 years old I wasn’t certain that a bikini was still on the cards… That said, I found a beautiful blue green and yellow one in Accessorize at Gatwick Airport so treated myself, and it was heaven to feel the sun on my skin ☺️ There were four pools at our resort set amongst beautifully tended gardens, and the food and accommodation were very good as was the entertainment in the evening. I have to take my hat off to the ‘animation’ team as they moved seamlessly from Irish Dancing, to Latin, Spanish and of course Moroccan! We even had a karaoke on our final night, and Colin belted out Bohemian Rhapsody and I plucked up the courage to perform “Hopelessly Devoted to you”. I actually got a standing ovation!!
At least I hadn’t had to worry about asking someone to come in and water my pots while we were away as there was a fair bit of rain. I spent time last autumn planting out my bulbs and have been rewarded this spring with a fabulous collection of daffodils, tulips and Narcissus. As the rain has been relentless I’ve picked quite a few of the blooms to save them from being battered and it’s lovely to have them indoors. I added the damson blossom and some bluebells too! I’m thinking of creating a herb garden closer to the house, as my purpose built vegetable and herb bed that Colin made for me is almost permanently in shadow and it’s only the mint that seems to thrive. I can still grow potatoes and tomatoes there but am determined to find a sunny spot for my thyme, sage and rosemary. Do you have any suggestions for me?
I used a fabulous mix of flavours when I created a Moroccan chicken tagine last week. We had friends over for dinner and I was unable to buy the Moroccan spice – Ras el Hanout – so I made my own and followed a Tom Kerridge recipe. I’m delighted to say it went down a storm along with my couscous and roast vegetables, and is definitely something I’ll make again. On Thursday we went out for dinner at a Turkish restaurant with Kathy Tayler and her husband Olley and the food was fabulous there too so I was glad to get out and walk it all off on the Saturday! Easter Sunday was our grandson Corey’s third birthday and this is the cake that I baked and Colin decorated. “Spidey Man” is Corey’s favourite character and he loved this. Next birthday cake is for Honey’s 9th birthday!! I have yet to decide what that’s going to be. ☺️ What’s your favourite type of cake?
I’ve got a busy couple of weeks lined up, with two days at Ravensbourne University in Greenwich where I am helping the media students put together a TV magazine show for their final year. I’ve already prepped with them via Zoom, but it will be good to meet them in person and get involved properly. I’m also heading to Swindon to look after Honey and Lucy, when Lucy has to go to hospital for her spinal operation. Honey will be at home as it’s still the Easter holidays so I’m hoping to plan a few treats with her. There’s a fair bit of travelling involved so I will be catching up on my audio books and, having finished Tom Lake by Ann Patchett while I was away, I would highly recommend it. This is the month that Richard Osman’s fourth novel in the Thursday Murder Club is published so I’ve got that pre-ordered and am currently listening to an Anita Shreve novel. Colin and I watched a beautiful film ‘Tell it to the Bees’ starring Holliday Grainger who also headlined alongside Tom Burke in the TV series Strike. Strike is set to return for a sixth series I’m delighted to have found out, but the film I’m recommending was set in the 1950’s and is a poignant story, beautifully shot. Check out the reviews and see what you think.
I shall leave you to your week with this fab sunset photo I took just after we had a downpour on holiday, and I will definitely try to get my two blogs in this month. Thank you for your lovely comments last time and I look forward to hearing from you again this month. Take care,
Love Ali xxx
Roz says
Hi Alison. Your holiday looked and sounded very restful and what is sometimes needed. Yes quite a lot of rain has been seen just lately so when the sun does come out it feels great to feel some warmth. I to am happy to learn “Strike” will be returning and found the last series really good. Books – I have just started reading “Mrs Harris goes to Paris” – I know from your previous blog, you saw this at the theatre. Yes, I agree about the bikini for holidays! I too feel that a swimming costume is more comfortable although I guess it is how you feel inside.
We are off to our “peaceful haven” in Dorset tomorrow for around 8/10 days and feel lucky we are able to take off as and when now we have retired. Will be taking some books with me. We are babysitting the following week so will be back then. I hope your daughter’s op goes well. We are having renovations to our home carried out shortly and will be escaping these when they begin! Bye for now.
Alison Keenan says
Hello there Roz, I very much hope you have been enjoying your peaceful haven in Dorset? I’m heading there myself tomorrow for a flying visit as my friend Roz is taking me to the theatre in Bristol along with a few friends to see Johannes Radebes from Strictly Come Dancing in his fabulous show! We saw him last year too and was so impressed we booked again. I’m sure you will enjoy Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, and no doubt it will be true to the musical I saw. I hope the babysitting has gone well? Unfortunately Lucy’s operation was cancelled so plans were changed yet again, but I will bring you up to speed in my new blog. How lovely for you to be able to escape the renovations! We are there as I said on the homestretch now, so hopefully I will have some photographs for you next time. Take care, love Ali xx
Mary Morphy says
Dear Ali,
Thank you so so much for your very kind words..I am not good at listening to others give me compliments and i did shed a tear but your words were so kind and thoughtful.
The Reunion was absolutely brilliant. To be fair, we have all aged pretty well, and all loved listening to our reminiscent stories and tales. One of the team now has a house in Spain, so we are going to do an interim 45th anniversary in Spain.. a long weekend for those who can make it. God willing, I can, even if it’s in term time as I will be retired!
On that note I’ve slightly adjusted my plan..I am going to reassess in September 2025 when I’ve seen students I have worked with from year 7 leave at the end of year 13…as I’m taking my Kent County Council pension early taking it 6 months earlier than I planned has very little impact on my figures so if after next school year I really have had enough then I’m off. A little job in M and S will be perfect!
Your holiday sounded wonderful, and rested you fully ready for your very busy April. I hope Lucy’s operation goes well.
I managed to get some fence panels painted on Easter Monday..in between the rain showers that were not forecast. I painted my cabin and fences at the end of the garden dark grey last summer but had to leave two trellissed fence panels as my clematis and flowering blackcurrant were covering them. So, as soon as I could I cut them back in march and got the fences painted, had a bit of a rejig with plants and it looks lovely. My bulbs are now slowly opening, my giant aliums look like sweetcorn and my peonies are growing very quickly. I moved them around last year so it’s always a surprise to see where I planted them as I never remember! I’ve moved some dahlias so where they are is a complete mystery ay the moment!
My grandson Arthur has just gone home after a few days here so I’d better start putting the toys and books away. He’s full of energy, and loves emptying the toy cupboard and my kitchen cupboards! We are waiting for his Autism assessment date which will help him get the support he needs. But to me and his mum and dad he is precious and whatever extra support he needs we will fight for.
I went out with friends to a Greek restaurant near me for my birthday..I love Greek food and I love a lamb tagine too..I cook mine with apricots, tomatoes, lots of spices and serve with roasted vegetables and cous cous too…my mouth is watering!
Hopefully, the weather is improving. Enjoy your family time. Much love Mary
Alison Keenan says
Lovely to hear from you Mary, and as you know I meant every word 🙂 I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the reunion and how wonderful to have a 45th anniversary in Spain to look forward to! I’m glad that you have time to reassess your retirement plans. If it makes sense, and you will be happier and less stressed then I would leave early if you can. A little job in M&S sounds great! Unfortunately Lucy’s operation did not go ahead and was cancelled with only an hour and a half to go… Upsetting for everybody but I will fill you in in my next blog. Well done for painting the fences – definitely the right time to do it before the plants get too tall! You made me laugh with your comment about forgetting where you’ve planted things – I’m exactly the same! It’s lovely that you get to spend so much time with Arthur and I appreciate what you will be facing with the assessment, but it is so worthwhile to give him the support he needs not just now but in the future and at school. He is a lucky little boy to have so many loving folk around him. Your tagine sounds like mine – I’m definitely going to make it with lamb next time. Take care, and I hope you enjoy the sunshine this weekend, love Ali xx
Loraine plumb says
Hi Alison glad you had a great time an weather was ok more than we can say here it’s very up and down isn’t it? Well done on your skipping challenge the most exercise I do is Pilates which I do enjoy and has vastly helped my shoulder problem think I told you about along time ago. I do hope you’re daughters operation goes well very painful I would imagine., hope she recovers quickly. I’ve had a bad ear I think it stemmed from a cold but as a result I had tinnitus too a nurse came out and I had the suction method and it’s a lot better the tinnitus had improved but I understand some people live with it, I didn’t even know doctors don’t do it anymore so it was £65 . Well must go I’m actually of f to pilates now. Take care and Thankyou for keeping in touch. Love Loraine. Xxx
Alison Keenan says
Dear Loraine, I hope you enjoyed your Pilates class? I bought the Pilates reformer from QVC many years ago but it is in the container along with so many other things so I am making do with my exercise bike and the skipping rope for now! Lucy has had the procedure on her back before, but this time her operation was cancelled. Very unsettling but they have rejected for the middle of May. I’m sorry you’ve been struggling with tinnitus – I didn’t realise that the suction method would improve it! Very glad for you it has. Thank you for writing to me, it’s lovely to hear from you. Take care, love Ali xx