48. Fitbit

The proud possessor of a Fitbit Flex and pair of hot pink Skechers Go Walk shoes. Now the only thing to stop me getting fit is my love of chocolate and natural laziness!

47. Learn to Crochet

Last night I went round Laura's and she taught me to crochet - and believe me, it is a bit harder than it looks!

She made it look so easy as she demonstrated the different stitches - but I struggled a bit. It might be as I'm left handed, but my piece of work looked a bit lumpy by the end!

However, her home made sponge cake was light, fluffy and delicious. I must confess we spent more time chatting and gossiping rather than crocheting, but it was a fun evening.  

I am going to practice and persevere as my aim is to make a crochet ladybird like the one above!

46. I cooked a curry!

Yes, I have NEVER made a curry before, in fact the only curry I have cooked has been in a frozen meal! So yesterday I cooked a Chicken Korma from scratch. First I had to buy all the ingredients, as I didn't have any of the spices needed.

I used the 'good food' recipe from Tesco online as I don't own any recipe books either. Jared came round to help me and I was pleased with the result - a very mild, but tasty Korma

In fact, it went down so well that Libby (who had declared she didn't like curry and wouldn't eat it) had a whole plateful!

45. All Alone in Reedham, Norfolk

Whilst visiting Pat & Brian in Acle yesterday, we decided to take a trip to Reedham nearby. Pat warned us that it gets very busy there and we may not be able to park.

However when we arrived it was deserted! 

There was no-one in sight, just a few people pottering about in boats on the river. We walked up to the swing bridge ( in the background of the photo) and back and had the place to ourselves. The Lord Nelson Pub is shut for major renovations, the cupcake cafe was closed and the only place open was the Post Office where Brian bought an ice cream. It was like the village had been evacuated and no-one had told us!

Admittedly, there were a few clouds in the sky and it did rain on the way back, but it is hard to believe that no-one else wanted to visit it on a Sunday afternoon in July!

Update on No 28 - Wacky online bet!

A while ago I won £10.88 on betting on Italian Volleyball games and its been sitting in my account with Skybet. 

 I decided to blow it all on another obscure bet - so chose to wager it all on 2 blokes called Inglis and Jennings to score a try in the Queensland v New South Wales rugby match. 

And guess what they did! So I won £59.84 from my original stake of £10. I've now withdrawn my winnings and going to quit while I'm ahead.

For those who are interested Queensland won 52 - 6!

44. Visit to HMS Ganges Burial Ground at Shotley

Mum and I visited the quiet churchyard of St Mary's in Shotley to visit the sailors graves there.

There is a section for the men and boys who died whilst stationed at HMS Ganges and also a special memorial to the early Submariners who died in World War 1

Godfrey Dykes has a fascinating website about the burials which showed that many of them died from illnesses such as pneumonia, TB, whooping cough and measles rather than being  killed in action. Many of the graves are for young boys of only 15, 16 and 17 years old.

We have a link with HMS Ganges - as my great grandfather Edward James Goodall carried out his naval training there in . The HMS Ganges Association has an interesting website on the history of the establishment.

This is the separate memorial to the 52 men who died  from the 8th & 9th submarine flotillas in the First World War. 

There are also the graves of 13 Germans who died when their ship laying mines was sunk near Orford Ness in 1914 - and then the HMS Amphion which had picked them up, hit one of the mines and sunk too! These became one of the first casualties if the war

43. Pigeon Burger

Oh boy, is it hot today! Just the day to sit in the shade in a garden deep in the Suffolk countryside, chatting with friends, sipping a cold drink and eating pigeon!

Today at Clare and Jonathan's BBQ, I tried their pigeon and bacon burgers - which were tastier than I expected! You may not be able to get pigeon at ASDA or Tesco's, but apparently you can get them at your local butchers, including the one in Needham Market!