Photo diary: week 42, project 366

The week began with an anxious email from Eddie's school to say that one of the younger classes has been closed for two weeks due to Covid. The remaining classes are expected to attend, though I don't see the logic of that, as the siblings of kids who go to the affected class, still go to school, but then I suppose it's tricky to decide where to stop the chain.

I haven't published a single blog post since the last Photo diary, even if I had good intentions. I have started a few blog posts, they just need to be edited.

My blog turned 10 years old last week.

From other non-news, I've watched the whole season of The haunting of Bly Manor. It wasn't as jump-scary as The haunting of Hill House, and rather touching. It's based loosely on The turn of the screw. Creepy children, a vulnerable governess and plenty of ghosts. It was rather uneven. One of the episodes, with the back story of the original ghost of the lady in the lake, was a self-indulgent drivel, going on and on (if you watched it, you know what I mean, that incessant: She slept, she woke, she walked...).

We've spotted this egg on the ground outside the clinic, it must have fallen from the tree. The next day it was gone.

For three weeks in a row I'm posting a flower in a bottle from The Blue Boar, sorry, I know it's a lazy snapping, but I'm usually so knackered after the weekend, that I have no energy or enthusiasm to find any new subjects. And I do treat myself to a latte first thing in the morning, after I accompany Eddie to school.

Last week my husband has found out that one of the secondary schools in town is offering tours (not just the virtual tour), he booked an only available session left for Eddie and me to visit on Tuesday after school. We had an hour to kill, but rather than go home, went to the book shop and Costa for a little snack. While talking to his father on WhatsApp, Eddie did a screenshot of our heads.

Visiting the school and talking to the teacher who took us around was very helpful. We couldn't go inside the school, but it's a pretty big campus, with many buildings, sports and art facilities, and a great library. The original school dates back to 1660. We were able to have a peek through the windows and ask questions about the school. 

I wish the other school also offered the similar tour, to help make up our minds.

The last episode of GBBO saw the contestants baking brownies. I believe that brownies don't need one zillion fancy ingredients. If anything, too many ingredients in the brownie dough spoil the texture and flavour. Eddie and I watched the episode together, and the next day I baked a batch of salted caramel brownies. They are so lovely, still warm, with a bit of whipped cream and some fresh berries.

It was a chilly morning, when I walked with my ninja to school.

If my shopping bag is not too heavy, I like to walk back home through the flood fields and cross the bridge over the Windrush. It is so peaceful there, with lots of birds and other wild life.

Photos from 5 years before have popped up among my Facebook memories, including a series of images from taking part in Grana Padano Top Chef blogger competition. 

I can't believe it's being five years. I was crowned the winner. I remember how reluctant I was to go to London in the first place, as I am not confident travelling on my own. My family and friends had to push me to go. It was such a fabulous event, we had to cook three dishes in a set amount of time, and our food was judged by the celebrity Italian chef Francesco Mazzei.

It was a huge surprise for me to be chosen a winner, as I'm not Masterchefy at all.

I still keep in touch with Federica from Pasta Bites, who posts mouth-watering photos on Instagram.

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