Bramble season...

Has arrived :-)

The temperature has dropped a little and I have reached that stage where I have made peace with the fact summer is over and autumn is sneaking in.  

It's always a relief when I make that psychological season switch, as now I can look forward to the months between now and Christmas (yes, I dared mention that word! ;-) and all the arrangements in place to spend time with family and friends.  The calendar is filling up at an alarming rate and I have much organising to do.  Just exactly how I like it :D

We have Esme's 5th birthday on Saturday.  I can't believe it's four years since this 1st birthday nonsense! :-)) then best friends Agnes and Adrian visiting on Sunday.  Afternoon tea with friends here next week then making plans for the Golf Widow's get-together the following week when the golfers are in Spain.  It's all go :D

Alan had an appointment at the Gastro Clinic at Ninewells this afternoon.  After his ileostomy in 2016 he was seen six monthly then annually but it all came to a halt with covid  and he hasn't been seen since.  Given that we've been concerned with his general health for a few months now, we and his dietician thought it would be good to speak to the Gastro consultant for advice. 

He had a very positive appointment.  Some tweaking of his medication and a screening test to test him for Crohn's / UC markers.  He was a bit grumpy at the start of the appointment but cheered up when the Consultant confirmed he was only there for a chat.  I don't think he believed us!  

One of the reasons we were keen to chat to the Gastro consultant was Alan's recent weigh losses.  D decided to weigh him this morning so he could update the consultant, and he was back up to his previous weight.  Hmmmm....I wonder if the fact D had changed the batteries in the scales this morning might have something to do with that! Oops!  Either way I am happy he's back to where he was.

Had duck breasts that had to be eaten today so we had a fancier than normal dinner for a Tuesday - duck breast with red wine, red onion and redcurrant jus, D's creamy mash potatoes and orange roasted carrots.  Yum.

D was back at his group singing rehearsal tonight, a sure sign that autumn has arrived.  Time to look out the soup recipes :-)