Thursday 30th January 2025

Thursday at Chez Jelltex, and the new that our time in work is quickly running out.

All this means that the usual January melancholy has not appeared this year, and we are all bright-eyed and bushy tailed.

That being said, the daily grind does go on, at least for Jools, as I have not been given more tasks for the final few weeks of work, just follow up on what I have done.

And maybe deliver some training on the areas of the business I know better than other in the department, so the knowledge isn't lost.

After a cloud start, it was a glorious day. Bright, sunny but cold, and someone had been promising all week he would do some gardening when the weather allowed.

Me and my big mouth.

So, down to work and the usual stuff.

I call round colleagues and tell them I am leaving, and when, so that they know. I then empty my calendar from 22nd March onwards, cancelling or declining meetings.

That felt good.

I have a brew with a tine of grapefruit, then fill up the feeders, being so slow in doing it, apparently, the blue tits sit a foot away and chirp their lack of patience.

As I walk away, birds fly in from all directions to feast on the fresh seed. They are also going a good job in turning the lawnmeadow over in their quest for lost seed.

The afternoon, or part of it, was taken with preparing dinner: Spanish style green lentils.

The other half was spent clearing the dead plants from the front garden, and putting the clippings in the bin.

I am doing this so the Witch Hazel which is just about to produce its crazy flowers so can be photographed.

It took less than an hour, and stand back in a job pretty well done, and how good that and the border beside the drive is.

Onion, tomato, pepper and courgette are cut finely and fried. Wild garlic sausages and chipolatas were fried, then diced and added before the rinsed lentils added before topping with smoked paprika and stock.

Cook for half an our on simmer after boiling, season to taste and its ready.

Could not be simpler, and it was fabulous.

I open a bottle of XV to help it down and feel like a million dollars.

More football to listen to on the radio, but distracted as we had to isolate Scully after ten, so she does not eat as she was going in for a urine test in the morning, and needed to be sedated, possibly.

I had to wait until ten fifteen until she came in. I let her eat then put her in the porch with a blanket, water and litter tray.

And then to bed.