Books and Berries

   I didn't stay long at tennis this morning - it was very busy and hot so after three sets I came home to have a swim (very chilly but refreshing) and watch the US Open. I saw several good matches but, unfortunately, it's now raining in New York so there will only be the matches on the court with a roof this evening. We could do with some rain here!

   I have just finished a very peculiar book - "The Ocean at the End of the Lane". I would describe it as fantasy. It really was very confusing and did not have a satisfying conclusion as I still did not understand it. However, it was compelling reading and I finished it over a couple of days. I can't say I would recommend it but if you want something out of the ordinary, try it.

    The blackbirds have started to devour the berries in the Mountain Ash so I thought I had better get a photo before they are all gone. There is a huge crop this year!

This is just one branch - the whole tree is similarly loaded!

Same Old, Same Old

     I had a bit of a late start this morning (the only morning I get to lie in) but it was actually due to not managing to drop off quickly last night. It must have been 1:30 a.m. before I fell asleep, having had to get up for a glass of milk and some cheese and crackers some time after midnight. I read for a while until my eyes got heavy.

   Also the only morning when I have a cooked breakfast - today a boiled egg, with OJ, toast and coffee. Then the day proceeded as usual, laundry (I hung it outside), grocery shopping, lunch, a nap, a swim and some gardening. Lunch was a bowl of soup and a small tomato sandwich - still trying to keep ahead of the mounds of ripening tomatoes.

   I walked up to the mall to pick up a library book this afternoon (4,000 steps each way) and found there were three books waiting for me! I just took two and started on one only to realize it is the story on which a movie I saw last year is based. I have forgotten the name of the movie but the book is "The Price of Salt" by Patricia Highsmith - seemingly a classic, written in 1952. I will give it a try but since I already know the plot, it may not hold my attention.

   The TV guide had promised tennis this evening, but they are showing baseball instead, so I will have to resort to reruns. Never mind, I will play Bridge on my computer with the TV on in the background!

   Garlic shrimp and green beans for dinner, and strawberries from the freezer for dessert. It will be an early night, methinks!

Dieting

   A long morning at the tennis courts - I left home at 8:00 a m. and was home just after noon. A quick dip (it was chilly!), lunch and a nap then some gardening. Another bin filled. My only other chore was to make a pot of soup - celery - and it's just about ready.

   A friend at tennis and I got talking about diets - her question was: how to get past the late night nibbling. This is also my downfall but I try to have a late dinner and only nibble on things like fruit, cheese, nuts or dried fruit. Cranberries are my favourite. Since I have been trying to lose weight by eating less or no carbs, I find I feel full sooner so I think my stomach is shrinking!

   Yesterday's fish with a panko topping for dinner tonight and a few extra peas. I have already had some crackers and cheese topped with red pepper jelly that was lurking in the fridge. Not exactly what you'd call a well balanced meal but I had lots of veggies yesterday.

Cool but sunny

   Susan and I played singles this morning (I won) so we were well and truly tired after an hour. I managed to hoist off my old printer on her, hope she can get it to work. It was not compatible with Windows 10 but she is using an older version so it should be fine.

   Lunch with the RODEO ladies at Nova Restaurant. I was very restrained and just had a Mediterranean salad and bruschetta. It was quite a small meal so I am cooking a piece of fish in a cheese sauce tonight. I will have it with peas and the rest of last night's broccoli casserole (no carbs).

   I was working in the garden this afternoon and decided to pick the last of the rhubarb.  There was just enough to make a batch of rhubarb chutney but when it had cooked down to the right consistency, it only filled one and a bit jars. I filled two bins with garden debris - next week is the pickup - but the garden is looking a bit tidier.