The crema della crema

Miss Jean Brodie's girrls might have been called that if she had used Italian instead of French. She was quite keen on Mussolini and his Fascisti,  wasn't she?

I have re-learned how to make coffee with crema. I use decaf beans, though these ones were actually ground in the factory. I like Colombia Medellin ( bet you didn't know that they also produce coffee there!) and the trick seems to be not to pack the coffee in too tightly. It tastes better, too, when not as strong. For me, it's the little things that give me the most pleasure. I'm a cheap date, though it's true I've always fancied a ride in a hot-air balloon....

Anyway, I'd decided to work today, to catch up with the case work I missed being to having been on a course, and because of going on holiday next week. I thought I could get all the calls made in two hours, but I had to do a safeguarding referral as well, and the email kept bouncing. I finished around 3pm. 

I started to make lunch for myself (a boiled egg and some toast; I am my mother's daughter) as CleanSteve was finishing a late breakfast! He'd been out watching the Tall Ships approaching Gloucester via the River Severn and the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. They can only travel on the incoming tide. I have not seen his pics yet, but I saw them once before on the canal. It's a peculiar sight. I had hoped to go to the Tall Ships festival in Gloucester tomorrow, but it's 19.00 a ticket, and I've seen tall ships before, always for free. 'll save my money for my holiday. 

I had a little task to do, so I listened to a 70s-80s not very hard rock playlist that Spotify created for me while I did that, then went out to the cabin to sort out some washing (did two loads today). As the sun had finally come out, I basked and read a bit, and watched the woodpecker on the bird feeder. It must have young to feed, it's making many approaches. Picture in extras. I was shooting into the sun and possibly my cam lens was dirty. It's blurry, but my name is woodpeckers so I thought I would include it. 

I have just remembered that, as well as the wee task I did earlier, I also set myself another goal today. It's part of a 30-day challenge. Today is day 1 of actually doing something. I'd better get my laptop out!

Still feeling very happy that I found my earbuds last night. I ordered a bright green case on eBay last night, then cancelled it in case it tuned out to be dark green and easily camouflaged. Ordered a bright red one instead. That should be less easy to lose under a chair in a dark room. 

Tomorrow I will test out my currency card to make sure it still works, and pack for my holiday to Ireland. I shall be in the North, mainly, but with a wee trip to Dublin at the end. I lived in Dublin for my first ten years. I will be surprised if I recognise anything apart from The Liffey, Trinity College  and St Stephen's Green. As the GWR ticket buying app says , 'outward travel can not be in the past '.