April... ing

I am done with  April and will happily skip into May. Not long now so better post my April ...ing post before it is completely over.

Walking daily. I like to walk the same loop on auto pilot, listening to a book or podcast. Alistair and I also went for another countryside with our friends. 

Wondering who came up with the 10,000 step a day goal? A 5 km walk gives me about 8000 steps (with my short legs). Probably the same people that state we need to drink 6-8 large glasses of water. That has been debunked as a marketing stunt at least 10 years ago but still makes the rounds. 

Marvelling at the green oasis that our garden has turned into. A few weeks ago, brown was the predominant colour, now all is green and lush and there are even some early flowers. Oh how I long for the bright blooms of summer. I need colour in my life,

Listening to a new to me crime fiction series set in St. Andrews. It is by by Marion Todd. I like her detective, Clare Mackay. No corrupt police force and psychotic serial killers in this series, just how I like my crime fiction. 

Weaning myself of listening to serialised crime fiction by choosing something quite different: Still Life by Sara Winman.

Spotting unusual birds in the garden. I saw a black cap. My neighbour saw it, too. Also a corn bunting. Neither are common sights in Scotland.

Wishing for a new orchid, a type that I spotted at the orchid fair at the botanical garden. It is Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii or Sarcochilus hartmanni, if you happen to have a spare one on your windowsill. 

Also wishing to feel on top of things for a change. Do the chores ever end? 

Eating a lot of purple sprouting broccoli straight from the garden. It is so good, my current favourite vegetable. Also eating cake. The cake here is a coconut mango dream from Nadiya Hussain's cookery book. Annie made it, it was scrumptious.

Visiting the green houses at the botanical garden. I always love exploring the orchid house, and also the arid cactus house and the food producing plant house. I am not that keen on the large begonia section. 

Feeling frustrated about the fresh produce aisle in two local supermarkets. There was not a single tomato in sight, no salad greens of any kind or many other greens, except an abundance of a pointy cabbage variety. Shopping for fresh produce is quickly becoming a chore, too.

Welcoming our Swiss guest, the son of a good friend. He wants to spend time in an English speaking family. 

At the same time, worrying that he will be bored stiff. Annie might take him up to St. Andrews for a couple of days, that should be fun for him. 

Looking forward to a sneaky day off this week. We are going to Edinburgh for the kids Swiss passport appointments. Might as well make a day of it!

And now I must return to my work. I already turned up late to a meeting because I was faffing with something in a new lecture....

Thanks for visiting. I hope one of these days I have enough energy to visit and comment on all your blogs 😊