Nature table 2

My collection of round stones is growing.

Firework fury

I don't often have a rant but I want to know why . . .

I can't buy a beer and drink it on the street in my town

I can't walk my dog on the beach in summer

I can't own a television without having a license

and yet . . .

I can buy hundreds of pounds worth of explosives and let them off late at night.

For every evening of the past week, fireworks have been going off at all hours of the night terrifying My Jack Russell and leaving him cowering and shaking under the bed and there's still 2 weeks to go until November 5th. Why can't the sale of fireworks be banned to individuals leaving organised displays only? From now until the New Year we have to put up with this outrage . . . I'll say no more.

Surprised

It was a lovely surprise - for my birthday Gray bought me an Angie Lewin print - my favourite one - Salthouse. We'd been to Norfolk in July and went to a local gallery to try and find one of her prints - they had all sold. So it was a great surprise to me that Gray managed to track this one down in another Gallery and bought it for my birthday in August. I've had to wait a while but it finally arrived today and I love it. Thanks Gray. xx

Chasing squirrels

We've been having fun chasing squirrels this morning, My Jack Russell and I. Running through the crispy Autumn leaves in the cemetery to try and catch one. He has never caught a squirrel yet, the nearest he's come to it was when he chased one up a tree - it lost its footing and fell back down on top of him. I don't know who was the more startled the squirrel, MJR or me but the squirrel's instincts were the fastest and it quickly recovered and escaped back up the tree!

© Photographer: Shaday365 Agency: Dreamstime.com

Making membrillo

A friend gave me a bag of quinces the other day and I remembered a recipe I'd torn out of a magazine for Quince paste (membrillo) but the problem was where had I put it! I eventually found it after searching the house and decided to make some today. It was pretty hard work & I certainly worked up a sweat pushing 1.5kg of cooked quinces through a sieve. After managing not to burn it by stirring for 40 minutes I turned it out into a tray and it set perfectly. The fascinating thing is how the quince flesh turns from a creamy white to a deep red during cooking. I couldn't wait to eat a piece and it was delicious with some cheese and biscuits, a little like a solid peach jam. Of course since I found the elusive recipe every magazine I've read has had articles about quinces! Does that ever happen to you?

smooth suave sophisticated!

Happy Birthday to my lovely dad - shown modelling in this photo about 50 years ago - he's the one on the left! This picture is so typical of the era in which it was taken - it makes me smile whenever I see it.

This sums him up for me: modern jazz - good food - jokes - generosity - 'here's that rainy day' - parties - stylish dressing - 'oklahoma' - lobster - silk ties and handkerchiefs - horse racing - garlic soup - sancerre - kindness - french holidays - brer rabbit - card games - frank sinatra - love of life - encouragement - south of france - candy pink shrimps - restaurants - french dressing - love

Autumn leaves

Leaves collected on the Chatsworth Estate © Nicky Linzey 2007

Have been away to Derbyshire - walking the hills and dales. It's beautiful and spectacular countryside and I could go again now, as there are still so many unwalked paths and untried pubs. As usual when I get home I feel imprisoned. I love to be outdoors in the fresh air and it takes a while to get used to sitting at my computer again.