Hello again!  I've been beavering away in my little office for a few months now, with the door closed from eight till five.  I have to w...

When I started blogging I felt like a bit of an outcast.  Many of the people who were blogging about simplifying then had a political agenda...

I grew up in a much slower time.  A time when bread was delivered by horse and cart and a ginger beer merchant sold his product, from a cart...

If you were wondering where we were yesterday, Hanno and I were out volunteering.  After an early breakfast of tea and toast, we travelled u...

Thanks to everyone who helped with the house affordability question last week.  I was heartened to see that many people thought living on on...

Well, here it is, the first full non-holiday week of 2011 and I'm pleased to be back.  ADDITION: I've just been told it's a pub...

A feeling of renewal always comes calling at this time of year.  The new year is looming, an old year almost gone and life is telling me to ...

The last weekend before Christmas - it was slowly busy and relaxed here.  I worked on the book on Saturday and kept yesterday as a pottering...

I had two emails recently from women who are new to all this and they're hesitating to dive in because one is not a good cook and the o...

Last week, one of the ladies here ask me to show my preserving kit. Here it is in our brick garden shed. I also store excess jars and bott...

I came to the computer this morning without much of an idea of what, if anything, to write today but a comment from yesterday has me here ta...

I crept out of bed early with the sound of rain still falling, put the kettle on for a cup of tea while I let Alice out, then in again, mad...

The end of November. This year has gone so fast, and soon we'll be faced with the new year and all it will bring. It doesn't feel ...

Yesterday ended a very important chapter in my life. It was my last day as co-ordinator of our neighbourhood centre. True to form, it was ...