Winter drawers on!

Wake at seven thirty to a clear morning, let Norman into the garden and then make breakfast. My chest still isn't clear, so will avoid swimming for a few more days. Wash, dress and collect the dogs for ten o'clock and then make our way to the Westwood. It is cool and windy as we set out, but the clouds break, the sun comes out and suddenly it's another lovely autumn morning. As I am not swimming, we have time to go a bit further again this morning, so we make our way to the far end of the Westwood, cross Newbald Road and then stroll down hill for half a mile back to the car. Norman loves to be out with the pack and he handles the extra distance without any problems. We get back to Cherry for half eleven and I prune three more trees in the back garden, one false cherry and two maples. The way is now clear to prune the hedge, which consists of a row of Western Red Cedars that I planted ten years ago. Two of my four neighbours are gardening slobs, and every year I have to prune their trees to stop them invading the hedge, it adds a couple of hours to the work. We stop work at a quarter to two clear away and drive back to Tickton. It is sunny outside so make a pot of tea and then take the Bolognese sauce and some cannelloni into the garden, where I proceed to stuff them. While the oven is warming up, I add a layer of grated mozarella and then make a bechamel sauce to top it off. It only takes 30 minutes to cook, which gives me just enough time to mix, roll out and cut a batch of oaties. I still have ten minutes to spare, so experiment with the mixture for Deep Dish Dutch apple pie, except I am making crumble. I noticed from my daily sampling of apple pies during my recent holiday in Holland, that the filling is a combination of apple purée and thinly sliced apple, with sultanas and cinnamon added to complete the effect. I just happened to have a jar of apple sauce and a large Bramley apple, which I peeled and cut into thin slices. Then having greased a pie dish, I layered purée, cinnamon and raisins with alternate sections of apple. The only difference is that I used sweetener instead if sugar. When the cannelloni came out, I put the crumble in for 25 minutes. The cannelloni were very good, I ate about eight and Normy had three, washing mine down with a glass of Italian red, Normy just had water. The crumble looked nice, but when I ate it, the apple slices were not completely cooked through. The flavour however was spot on, next time it will get half an hour in the oven. It needs long enough for the fresh apple to cook but not so long that they too turn to purée. It starts to rain heavily, so sit with Norman on my knee for an hour letting our dinner go down, while we listen to the news. Later, I make a start on packing my summer gear away and bringing the boxes with my winter clothes from the garage. Hull are at home to Blackpool tonight, so I listen to the match whilst I work. As I am packing my summer running shorts and vests away, I wonder whether they will ever be used again? I guess that is down to me, perhaps if I limit myself to just a couple of times a week my joints will put up with it. Hull go a goal down within minutes, but manage to pull one back just before half time. Norman is fascinated by all the palaver, as I carry boxes too and fro between my bedroom and the garage. Eventually I have done enough for the night and put the empty boxes in the garage. The shirts I have unpacked are clean but they will need ironing. A job for tomorrow. Hull briefly lead after half time but then leak two further goals to lose 2 : 3 , their third defeat in a row. It has stopped raining, so I let Norman into the garden for his last toilet break of the day and then turn in myself at around half past ten.