Bits and pieces; random thoughts

Not sure why I haven't blogged for a few days.  There's quite a bit going on in our lives at present, just odds bits and pieces, but it seems to create a somewhat disjointed sort of feel to the days.  It'll pass in due course, I know.  In the meantime we potter along, doing what needs to be done.

We've had the obligatory 'April showers' for the last 3 or 4 days, filling the water butts to overflowing and encouraging all those pesky weeds.  And talking of the garden, it seems it's not just us who are partial to purple sprouting broccoli:

Something (we suspect the pigeons) has had themselves a tasty meal of all the florets!  And, actually, looking at the photos, the leaves have been attacked good and proper as well :(  Thankfully we can see the 'funny' side to this, and as N pointed out, we grew the brassicas more for a supply of leaves through the winter - the broccoli sprouts were a bit of a bonus.

We watch our little bluetits every day and we've persuaded ourselves we can recognise the male - he has rather scruffy feathers on the top of his head; he's obviously not ducking his head enough as he darts in and out of the nest-box!

Although the stormy weather of the winter is over, the legacy of fallen trees is evident; huge branches ripped off, trees completely uprooted, fences damaged.  We've noticed quite a number of people are having trees and hedges cut back, and in some cases removed completely, opening up new views.  It always looks so bare to start with.  Perhaps people are realising the damage that a fallen tree can cause, and are taking action to prevent that happening.  Whatever the reason, you can hear chain-saws being used on a very regular basis.  

Since returning from Spain, N and I have had an on-going discussion about the price of food, and the availability of fresh, seasonal produce.  And today we happened to see an advert on TV * encouraging people to abandon cooking and instead order takeaways via their mobiles!  A bit disheartening, to be honest.  We were at the supermarket yesterday, and I'm getting more and more depressed by the amount of 'convenience', in all it's guises, that is being offered to us.  It's very easy to pick up read meals - and we do it ourselves, occasionally - but there's a danger people will forget how to cook a meal from scratch, or worse still, have never learned how to.   

Finally, and with more than a bit of relief, I have found some fabric for my dress for the wedding - phew!  I'm really pleased, it's a pretty 'floral-ish' patterned viscose in lovely summery colours, and it will drape beautifully.  I'm looking forward to making it up.

*(We have been enjoying our annual dose of IPL - Indian Premier League - cricket, and the World Snooker Championship).