It's definitely autumn

[Note: this is my first proper "back-blip", having written and published this on Sunday afternoon.]

It's so autumnal that I felt I must make a crumble: apple and blackberry, with some of the apples from the community orchard in Dunkeld (and some braeburns from the shop), and the blackberries from some shrubs by the railway line, which have been in the freezer for the past month or so. For the third time, I “cheated” by using a pre-made crumble topping from Tesco. You get 450g for £1.10, and it takes no effort. Since the crumble is just for me, I don't mind taking advantage of that, despite the slightly lower quality.

I also made a big batch of my favourite curry, lamb rogan josh, but it didn't turn out very well this time. I'm a little disappointed. I'm not sure what I got wrong: the previous time that I made it, at Alan and Sophie's in September, was possibly the best one I've ever made (out of dozens and dozens of batches over the years). But there are always variations: in what I include, in the precise quality and quantity of those ingredients, and certainly in my technique. Never mind, it's inevitable, and it's still totally edible. Just not mind-blowing, as it occasionally is, or delicious, as it often is. (A tub containing a portion or two of that curry is visible just in the upper-right of today's photo).

In other news, I had a quiet day of chores, and exchanged some messages with my new friend, the one who invited me on a date yesterday, if you remember. That date is happening tomorrow: we're meeting in the afternoon at Dunblane and we'll go for a walk. Let's see!