“What??”

On our way down the drive for a walk I had to stop and grab a photo of the dahlia bed which is still going strong and giving me pleasure each time I pass it. 

Bean couldn’t believe there was a delay …

It started off dull and wet and has gradually improved. As I Blip this evening there is barely a cloud in the sky, the birds are warbling fit to bust and I have doors and windows open. 

Pah! Take that, wintery weather of last week.

I launched into making a Manchego cheese today, after enjoying my habitual Sunday morning participation in “Ask the Cheeseman”: a YouTube live chat from Australia. It is always useful and enlightening.

Despite going over the recipe and the timings carefully, it turned out I’d not been careful enough and I won’t be able to press it for the prescribed 6 hours (I’ll be fast asleep by then). 

So I have busked a bit by reducing the pressing time a bit, and increasing the weight of the press slightly, in the hope that the latter will make up for the former. 

I’ll only know in a few weeks’ time when I cut it if this risky behaviour has paid off. 

Incidentally Bean shunned apples in favour of extra plums during our walk. I have little idea what goes on in her head sometimes…

Thank you for the kind words about my peely wallyness yesterday. A long sleep (during which I dreamt vividly about neat stacks of tiny multi-coloured boxes and piles of suitcases) seems to have helped. Nevertheless I do suspect the antibiotics are messing with my entire system somewhat, and I’ll be glad to complete the course tomorrow and get back to normal.