This weekend, it’s the Deckhand’s Birthday. He’ll be 24. Where does the time go? I always ask if there’s anything he’d like as a gift, and invariably I give him money though this year he decided he’d like a bottle of nice cognac. A certain supermarket had this at a hugely reduced price, if the online site is to be believed, but by the time he asked for it, it was out of stock. For the past two weeks I’ve tried to get it but to no avail. Thursday, I tried 3 different supermarkets and did a little shopping anyway, but no cognac. I hadn’t planned to go to the third supermarket, but the shop I did my main shop in had no pineapple which I need, and no eggs, again, unless you wanted duck eggs which I don’t care for, or packs of 15 eggs. As the only person who eats eggs, now and again, I have no use for 15 of them. I had resigned myself to ordering the cognac off Amazon when he decided maybe he shouldn’t have it because he’s cutting back on alcohol anyway; after I’d been to 3 supermarkets… I love him. Remember that. So, I sent him money – my account to his.

He’s barely left the house for weeks, except to walk the dog and has no interest in going to any shops until things calm down here. He didn’t even want a takeaway for his Birthday meal so we’re making beef curry with lots of extras, and I have a bottle of white sparkling wine cooling already. Not the same as a meal out though we’re both competent cooks so it’ll be good, I’m sure. I’ll be making a sunken chocolate cake today and once it’s cooled, it goes in the fridge where it becomes more and more fudgy over a few days. We have vanilla ice-cream and also a small tub of clotted cream to go with it. A feast! Once we’ve had enough cake, we cut it into slices, wrap it in foil, then plastic, and it freezes really well to be enjoyed at a later date after microwaving it briefly. I’m often not sure which is best: fresh cake, or later from the microwave. Rigorous testing is needed lol.

Thursday, after a few bad nights, and the hunt for cognac, I was shattered and had an early night. I was watching a wildlife program and could barely keep my eyes open. We’ve had some really hot days here which make for a very uncomfortable night, and my bedroom had topped 24C which is not nice. We have a fan each, but mainly they just move the hot air around and I can’t sleep with it on anyway; the noise keeps me awake, and the thought of the electric bill too. It’s rare I’ll sleep with the window open due to bats and bugs that invaded a previous house; I just can’t do it. I had a fitful night, same as previous night, though when I awoke, I could see it had been raining a little. We’ve had less than quarter of an inch so far though we have grey skies now with gusty winds forecast and cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday; I’m not complaining. The sunshine is lovely, don’t get me wrong, and it’s great for the laundry, but now and again we also need some rain to damp down the pollen and road dust, and for the plants too of course. It can rain all day today for all I mind.

Enjoy what’s left of the week and have a great weekend. Be safe.

Additional: In checking a previous blog for my son's age, I note that some blogs have had a lot of views by 'anonymous' people. How does that work? Can anyone shed light on that please? Makes me wonder if I should be making them 'private.'