Monday, 30th November 2015 - From Alex by Sophie

I have eventually planted the last of the daffodil and tulip bulbs. I was rather enthusiastic in my estimate need. They last hundred or so I have put in plastic pots, I do prefer a bit of terracotta but run out, with the optimistic hope of having flowers to cut for the house I the spring.

Brett's brother, Alex, has been staying and working with Brett for the last couple of weeks. He stayed in a bnb room when it was free from guests. Thankyou for my beautiful thankyou flowers.

Sunday, 29th November 2015 - Thorn and Latch

This afternoon we braved the wind and went for a walk with Tony and Wendy. They are no fools and had left a car at the pub in Sandhurst where we ended up. I don't think my legs could have gone much further. While walking Tim got a thorn through his boot into his heel and Tony did a repair on a gate latch.

Saturday, 28th November 2015 - Hetty, Bella and a Penguin

I spent the majority of the day at Christmas Fayres. How great is that. The first was Benenden Primary School in the Village Hall. Just how you would cartoon a country village event. It was packed. Hetty and Bella went to Elf school and visited Father Christmas in between activities a few sweet treats were consumed. Candyfloss is evil in the way it spreads it sticky sweetness. The joy on their little faces is just a delight to see. What a happy Grandma. The second was at Silcocks. Great little place. The girls were pleased to see that the Three French Hens has not sold their Boar Head yet.

Friday, 27th November 2015 - Christmas Kiss

I whirred - was going to put whirred but got auto corrected. Whirred is much more appropriate. - about today getting a room ready for guests, making them bread and cake. They did not want cake so it is in the freezer if you want any.

This evening I have the kitchen table relieved of the door I have been painting. Now finished and looking rather gorgeous. It is covered in Christmas cards now.

Thursday, 26th November 2015 - Steaming Quinces

I have been steaming quinces to make into jelly. I now find out they are one of the driest fruit and produce very little juice. Not a good start to my steam/juicing adventures.

I have had a fasting day today. It is meant to be very good for you. I felt incredibly hungry a few times, managed to decline Pippa's crumpet (very tempting) and shut myself in my studio for the evening away from the fridge and larder. I am feeling quite ok.

Wednesday, 25th November 2015 - Nelson

Tim and I went to London. Yes, it is worth noting as it is a rare occurrence.

Tim went for lunch with old colleagues. I had an inspiring time wandering around The National Gallery. I do like a bit of Hogarth. He is most amusing. His paining skills are ok too.

We met in Covent Garden which is festooned in festive lights then wandered back to The Portrait Gallery for a drink in the bar overlooking London where we watched the sun setting.

Tuesday, 24th November 2015 - My Charges

It was a first for me today. Harriet has gone to a Lecture in London about Rheumatoid Arthritis and other auto immune diseases. It is our Christmas present to her which includes looking after Hetty and Bella for the day.

I dropped Hetty at school, no problem, and Bella at playgroup. She stood by the door with such a sad look on her face and said "Goodbye Grandma" that I was in tears by the time I got home. They did some serious colouring and stickering when they got home. Bella drew a picture of a crying face. I asked why they were crying. She said, "Because they are missing their Mummy". Hold it together Grandma. They were little angels for me.

Monday, 23rd November 2015 - Rabbit and Fox

I have a front door on my kitchen table that I am painting for Little Holt.

Also, I finished the shawl/ hoods for Hetty and Bella with a few added pom-poms. I loved making them.

Sunday, 22nd November 2015 - Tonbridge

I am a bit torn about today. We are going to a very old friend of Tim's for lunch. He split with his wife a while ago. Today we are to meet his new friend. There will also be another friend of Tim's who is in a similar situation. I am still in contact with the ladies they left and feel a sense of loyalty to them and also Tim. Hence, I feel torn.

It was a pretty afternoon as Tim and I walked on the bridge over the River Medway back to the car.

Friday, 20th November 2015 - Friends, Food and Drink

We met Si, Lesley, June and Barry for a meal at The Wheelwrights. It was a traumatic event. June and Lesley were drinking Chapel Down rose. I am still off alcohol. How cruel is that. They serve Si's sausages and cider so I felt not too distraught.

Wednesday, 18th November 2015 - Nineteen Litres of Cider

My hand has reacted to yesterday's bee sting. It is now red and swollen. Most charming.

I was delighted to collect Sarah from Benenden Hospital and take her home after a minor operation. Nigel was out of signal range in an orchard somewhere. Thankyou for my Scottish gloves. I love them.

We have bottled our cider which tastes no too bad already. Hopefully after a bit of a lie down it will be delicious. 

Tuesday, 17th November 2015 - November Sky

A bee should not sting the hand of the one who feeds you your sugar syrup. Some lessons to be learnt by the now dead bee, not to sting and not to wear flappy sleeves that they can crawl inside.

The advantage of cleaning a very dirty house is that it shows.

Monday, 16th November 2015 - 'Looking Through/Looking At'

Another great evening at my art class. I was shocked to find it is our last lesson next week. We are having a Christmas party. Really. In November. That's not quite right.

I have finished my project piece of work. The theme was 'Looking Thriough/Looking At'. It was a combination of reality, imagination and just because I want to to. 

We syphoned the cider when I got home. It is smelling and looking like cider.

Sunday, 15th November 2015 - Post Walk

Busy, busy day.

Tim and Brett continue with Little Holt entrance construction. Now it has upright timbers.

Charming guests left purchasing one of my cards and a jar of picked crab apples. No honey today.

Steve and Zoe were with us for a walk to the pub and pheasant stew. We also had fish soup and apple tart left over from Tim's birthday bash. I just love it when the freezer produces prepared food.

We squeezed onto the sofa and watched a very strange film. It was adapted from an Alan Edgar Poe book. It was about an asylum where the patterns had take over

Friday, 13th November 2015 - Tim and Rob

Tim and I went to The Cranbrook Art Show. It is a great little exhibition but only on for three days. I could have come away with a couple of pictures, one or two sculptures and a bit of jewellery. I decided to leave them for others to buy.

Thursday, 12th November 2015 - Deep Concentration

There are some interesting fungi along the path I walked today. The yellow ones were charming.

I popped next door to find Bella and Hetty working hard. The depth of their concentration is wonderful.

Wednesday, 11th November 2015 - Fun Train with Bella

At the same time as scrambling and poaching eggs I was baby sitting Bella. That's wonderous multitasking. Ok so Bella was asleep and all I was doing was supervising the baby monitor but I may have been needed.

Somehow I ended up at a toddlers music class this morning. It is a long time since I skipped around in a circle. It was delightful to see Bella's musical skills.

I have an appointment with The Apprentice and a fox this evening. Sounds thrilling? Maybe not but I am looking forward to it.

Tuesday, 10th November 2015 - Tim in the Woods

Blimey, bit of a shock having to cook breakfast for guests after a few days of abstinence. Only one incident this morning of fusing my eyelashes together when peering at the sausages under the grill too intimately. The mascara with the fibres in is particularly efficient.

I have a bit of a fungi obsession (well more of an admiration). We found loads of the little stunners on a walk this afternoon. I am going to try and incorporate them into my art project.

I got a bit weepy watching Dr Who - for goodness sake - while we ate our free salmon. Tesco delivered it by mistake. I rang to tell them. We got to keep it but some poor person has no fish for tea.

Monday, 9th November 2015 - Aloe Vera

Tim is home from Atlanta.

I think I may rub my Aloe Vera plant into my head to remove the pain.

I have new guests - they ate my chocolate brownie. 

My evening art class was thoroughly enjoyable. We must drive our tutor mad as we are all doing different things but based on the same theme. She has a clever way of guiding questions so that you come up with your own answer. Inspirational night.

Sunday, 8th November 2015 - Eco Lodge

Benenden Girls School has a wonderful Eco Lodge in their grounds. In the many times I have walked passed it today was the first time I have seen it being used.

Friday, 6th November 2015 - Tea Tray

We had our electricity supply isolated this morning. They were tree cutting. I get some pleasure in the fact that it went off twenty minutes later than scheduled and annoyed when it came on half an hour late. Weird simple thoughts.

My guests did not want my chocolate brownie. Now I have to eat it.

Benenden Girls School put on a mighty fine firework display. I watched it from the end of our drive. I turned round to go back home to find Harriet with Hetty wrapped in a blanket had been too. Hetty was thrilled by them. Nearly as much as myself.

Thursday, 5th November 2015 - Little Blooms

I was contemplating going to Rob and Caroline's Farm to join in their bonfire celebrations. It was cancelled due to the horrendous weather. Shame. Then I found out they carried on without me!!! At 51 you can still have that 'unpopular girl in the playground' feeling.

Harriet called in at Astilbe and Sorrel to see Sophie. I have had my milk bottle filled with a variety of delightful flowers. I love the orange thistles.

My evening has been spent divided between painting and knitting. Perfect on such a wet and windy night if you have no friends.

Wednesday, 4th November 2015 - Rabbit in Process

Tim is on his way, or possibly arrived at the time of writing, to Atlanta. He has booked a bnb in the woods. What a fool I am for not going with him.

I have made an error with my knitting and run out of wool for Hetty's fox hat so I have started on Bella's rabbit hat. 

Tuesday, 3rd November 2015 - Mum with her Great Granddaughters

Harriet, Hetty, Bella and I visited Mum this afternoon. We had a lovely time. Mum had found some cards including the ones sent to her for her 21st birthday. The ones from Dad got increasingly bold with the number and size of kisses.

Mum has decided to give up driving. At a reasonable price I now have a pretty blue car.

Monday, 2nd November 2015 - Art Prep

Our art project for the coming term is 'looking through' combined with autumn colours. I have a great plan for an amazing piece of work in my head. Now to get it down on paper.

Sunday, 1st November 2015 - Considering and Ma Grief

Harriet, Hetty, Bella and I went to The Powder Mills in Battle to see The Pure Arts Show. There was some beautiful work and some which had me wondering which I always enjoy. The girls were incredibly well behaved and settled themselves on the floor with paper and pastels provided by the organisers - such a great idea. We headed to the hotel for coffee. Hetty asked if there was a wedding. White cloths and lots of glasses. We decided to go to Hartley Dyke for a more informal refreshment.

This evening Si and Lesley picked us up and we had a meal at The Milkhouse. I had delicious chicken livers - that was a lot of chickens. The skinny chips are always a disappointment to Tim. I like them. We talked of the difficulty of taking holidays when you are in the tourist sector, sheep, grandchildren and many other delightful topics.

These were sculptures by Molly Williams made with felted wool fibres. They reminded me of Brett's statues.