Here’s this month’s Happiness Calendar. We’ve had a happy day as the lovely young men have been installing the solar panels and appreciating the cookies. I’ve had a steroid injection in my hip which hopefully will have the desired effect.
It’s Blueberry cake for the volunteers tomorrow.
Blueberry Cake
It’s been raining so hard we have a carpet of orange pettals under the California Poppies. Happily, there are many more buds.
Loving the rough pattern of the bark and the lichen.
Photo taken from moving car
I’ve baked a batch of Choc Chip Cookies today for the workmen who will be fitting the solar panels tomorrow. 
Last night’s sunset was beautiful.
It was so hot (28C) today, too hot to work at Community Roots but I had baked a cake for the volunteers so I went along to deliver it to the few hardy (or foolhardy) folks who were there doing their thing. They were glad to have some ginger cake to look forward to!
Mary Berry’s Gingerbread Traybake
It’s only three days since I planted the seed bombs and two of them are sprouting already.
Having missed Community Roots for two weeks while we were on holiday, the growth of everything in the poly-tunnels was wonderful to see.
I spotted a little pollinator where I was working today.
We visited many galleries when in Amsterdam and here are a few of my favourite paintings.
I loved this one as it reminded me of my lovely Dad’s beautiful beard.
Isaac Blessing Jacob by Govert Flink 1615-1660
There’ll be more.
We had some delicious courgette soup in the sunshine before going into the very interesting H’Art Museum in Amsterdam.
That evening, wanting to eat Dutch food, I had Boerenkool Stamppot and being a big fan of mash and gravy, absolutely loved this meal.
Tonight we have been to the Hall for Cornwall for a talk I really wasn’t interested in, A Gun Through Time by the historian David Olusoga. However, the subject was made quite fascinating by him concentrating on the social history rather than the military history of guns. 
On one of our walks around Amsterdam we came across an alley lined with arches and in each a book store. They were so tall, a very long ladder was needed to reach the higher shelves. 
As you will probably know, bikes are an important mode of transport in Amsterdam. Pedestrians really need to keep themselves very aware of the silent speeding velocipedes, bells being very few and far between! It was lovely to see whole families riding, the baby in a baby cart, the toddler on a frame in the front and children of all ages cycling along. There were also flower decorated bikes.
Parking for many bikes
WEdding bike
I really wanted to try Dutch Apple Cake and succeeded – one more a pie and one with a crumble topping – both absolutely delicious. We also shared a scrumptious tiramisu after an excellent Italian meal in Antonio’s.
Today’s Redruth Market was lots of fun with the maypole dancing in the Buttermarket being done expertly.
Beginning the maypole dance
All plaited up
Undoing the ribbons
Coffee cake for the cake stall. Thanks to C for the photo.
Flowering Rocket in the Incredible Edibles trough in Fore Street
Today we took a washing up bowl and some toy ‘crockery’ and ‘cutlery’ up to Community Roots as the new mud kitchen was about to be made by one of the volunteers. It really pleases me that the toys used by our children and their children will now have a new life with the children who come to Community Roots. .
And here is the finished kitchen for the youngsters who come to Roots to have fun with.
All the tomatoes are in their poly-tunnel, just waiting for the stringing up.
The onions in their outside plot are coming along nicely.
Some time ago the garden was full of yellow, now it’s full of blue and white. There are Camassia, Bluebells and lots of Forget-me-nots and the white blossom of the Choisya Ternata and the slightly pink tinged whites of apple blossom.
Just look at the first row sown and the others are starting. We love shallots even more than onions.
The first message to come through on my birthday (31/12/2025) was an invitation to Afternoon Tea at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth and this afternoon we went with our Dear and very generous friends to celebrate my birthday with a splendidly delicious afternoon tea and the most wonderful views. Enjoy the gallery and imagine our tastebud joy!
Thank you so much N&G – that was a wonderful afternoon with you two and what a truly lovely birthday present!
Bluebells on the way home
Commentator Award
