Today we should have been setting off for a visit to the Black Forest. Our plan was to drive there this time and take our bikes.
Once we arrive, the car stays put and we mostly walk, and rely on the (very good) local buses and trains for going further afield. The modest daily tourist tax provides free travel on public transport throughout the region, which we normally use for at least one trip to another town or city. It also provides free use of some local facilities, including the outdoor swimming pool (now solar heated, and with lovely surroundings for relaxing around the pool). I do wish our local council would implement something similar – so much of the tourism Bath’s economy relies on is based on car travel, when all the features are in place for Bath to reinvent itself as a ‘green’ tourist destination.
Anyway, my point in mentioning this now is that we plan to spend the next 9 days (not) being in Germany. There are now other things we also need or want to do, so we’ll be fitting those in alongside the (virtual) German trip, but the weather forecast is good and we’ve planned several forest and woodland walks, a trip to a favourite garden, and meals to match. Think rye bread, cheeses and Black Forest ham, fresh vegetables and strawberries, and of course cake. We may even try to make our own approximation of Schwartzwalder Kirschtorte. Or not.
The icing on the cake will be a much-longed for visit to the farm to see youngest son, d-i-l and granddaughter (planned for today but postponed for weather-related reasons).
Today was a kind of ‘bonus day’ – the one where we might have been in a car all day, but weren’t, so were able to do other things instead. I spent some of it dealing with admin, then the rest of it on the allotment. The ground was perfect after all that rain, and I got most things planted out – the leeks, ssme squash, more beetroot, some celeriac (first time with that, let’s see how it goes). I picked more salad, more blackcurrants, and plenty of strawberries. Over the weekend I should be able to plant out the rest of the things sitting waiting for me – sweetcorn, more squash, cabbages.
Today/s harvest
Yesterday’s redcurrant jelly, waiting for labels
This evening we watched the first half of The Magic Flute being streamed from the Royal Opera House. It was wonderful. A production we saw live there some years ago. Beautifully (and wittily) done. The music is sublime, especially if you don’t worry too much about the bonkers plot and what on earth it’s all about. We’ll enjoy the rest tomorrow evening. Which we couldn’t do if we were seeing it live.
I hope you’re managing to find some silver linings, and that I’ll see you again tomorrow xx
the magic jug 