Blogtober 2020 :: Day 19

I have felt a bit out of of sorts today, nothing drastic, just a low grade weariness of body and mind that I don't often experience on a Monday. I felt a weensy bit irritable to be honest, and that's not like me at all. Maybe it's the hidden pressures of the weekend catching up with me, or maybe it's just the damn hormones, who knows?

After we dropped Little B at school we took a slow walk to the bakers for a loaf of bread, walking along the narrow pathway that runs between the canal and the beck. This is the same pathway (and beck) that eventually winds it's way up into the woodland. The building on the right in the above photo is a row of very old terraced cottages, they are extremely cute with windows that look out directly over the water. Some are permanent homes and a few of them are holiday lets - I actually booked one of them for my Dad and Lady B to come and stay in the Spring but of course it had to be cancelled when Covid arrived. Next year I hope.

Coming home from the shops I felt like I couldn't decide what to do with myself. I didn't particularly want to be indoors but J said he didn't want to go for a walk and fancied a quiet, slow day at home. I didn't have enough concentration or patience to get to work on my Granny Josephine crochet bag, so instead I decided to bake.

I don't bake nearly as much as I used to but every so often I will turn to an old recipe that I know by heart and produce something sweetly edible. It was flapjack today with dried apricots.

This is my recipe from my blog archives of 2008 ::

Fruity flapjacks

Into a heatproof bowl, put the following ::

80g soft brown sugar
100g butter/margarine
60ml Golden syrup

Into the microwave for a minute or two until the butter and sugar are melty. Stir well.

Add 200g porridge oats and 80g dried fruit (snipped apricots, sultanas or cranberries are my usual choices)

Press into a lined tin (make the flapjack around 2cm deep) and bake for 20mins at 180C.

Press down the mixture to firm and cut into flapjacky size squares.

Leave to cool in the tin before hoiking them out. Consume with a steaming hot brew/glass of milk, depending on age. Indoors or outdoors, preferably not in rain. 

On the spur of the moment we did venture out in the early afternoon, driving a few miles out of town for a short amble across the moor tops. This is one of J's favourite places, it's quite a bleak place in many ways but there is such a peaceful atmosphere up here and it's remarkably good at "blowing the cobwebs away".

We heard the unmistakable sounds of red grouse doing their thing as we walked along the track. They're such comical birds to listen to and I found a short clip ((HERE)) if you wish to familiarise yourself with grouse language.

You can see one in the photo above as it ran across the track in front of us.

We didn't have enough time to do a full circular route so we simply walked and talked and admired the view until we'd had enough fresh air and scenic therapy, then turned to walk back again. 

I felt a smidge better when we got back to the car, but the feeling of mental fatigue is still with me. Hoping very much that I'll feel more like my normal self tomorrow.

I guess that if I wasn't committed to Blogtober, then today would be a definite no-show for me in Blogland as I find it very hard to write when my energies are low. But I do think it's good to be honest and let you know that I don't feel full of beans all the time, I have my off days, of course I do. My instincts are usually to retreat until I feel more like myself again, but as it's Blogtober (which I am really, really enjoying by the way) I am here in the Attic giving you the slightly washed out version of myself today.

Keepin' it real, my friends! ;)

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Comments

[Diane Ruel]

I have days like you’ve had today Lucy and really push myself to do anything but more often than not always feel a little better for it. 2020 has been strange for us all. You just need to go with the flow and take care of yourself 🥰

[Tineke]

Oh dear, it happens, does it? I still can't walk after the umpteenth knee operation. I miss my riverwalk. Luckily my fluffy men came to me this night, when I toss and turn, to hug me. One sleeps close to my face so I hear the snore going through the mattress, and the other lies against my belly giving that deep vibrating feeling of utter comfiness only cats can give you. I stood up way happier than when I went to bed because of them. I send you some cat vibes to comfort you. Lucky people, we are with crochet and cats to keep us straight <3

[Carol]

I also love and admire your honesty, I am also really enjoying your daily logs. We all have down days, that is life. The current times are also stressful for everyone. Cut yourself some slack and accept that “this too will pass”.

[Becki]

I’m sorry you’ve felt out of sorts today, I definitely get those days just recently but hopefully you’ll feel much more yourself tomorrow. I really enjoy your posts and your red grouse clip did make me smile, thank you! I’ve not heard them before , very funny little things.The flapjacks look very tasty too. Take care and catch up again with you tomorrow. Love and hugs, Becki xx

[Ruth]

Thanks for sharing-even on your "blah" day! We are all having them during this time of covid! It is ok!!

Take care of yourself.

[Heather coady]

I felt down on Saturday I think it is the increase of COVID that doesn’t hel

[Irene A]

Hope you feel more like your usual self soon and thank you for still sharing with us despite how you are feeling. I feel inspired to bake up a little flapjack now too!
I've had a few off days recently and catching up on your bogtober posts last night was a real joy and spirit lifter. I made some homemade soup today because of it! Going to settle down now to some lovely colourful Aria hookey this eve ... nearly half way through the squares!
Be gentle on yourself and enjoy a cosy night. 💛

[Tessa B]

My boys, on days like that, used to say 'go withe flow mum's and I try to remember their wise words.(doesn't always work!) Hope tomorrow feels a bit better

[Jo]

I really appreciate you sharing your off-day. It’s so easy on social media to only share the happy things, the positive things. Life isn’t always like that but even off days can have good bits🙂

[Louise Blackwell]

I love your honesty. We all have down days. Thank you for the recipe it's made me feel I need to bake which I usually put off because of low mood or energy. Take care my friend x

[Josephine]

I have been the same today Lucy!!! Snap. X