Busy mornings

It seems strange. For some unaccountable reason the Fox is getting up early in the morning at the moment. I would say bright & early in the morning but it's so dark, wet & grey that we're still needing the lights on on this particularly gloomy day & it's already after 9am! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that all this extra rain isn't causing yet more damage further north in the Lake District.

Yesterday we made the most of the Fox being around & of a spell of dryness, to make a trip into Lancaster. For shopping, Lancaster tends to be a better place than Morecambe. For some time I've needed some new sandals so we've finally got that sorted. We also popped into Sainsbury's to buy some okra & some champagne for Christmas (a Which best buy this year).

At the moment the Fox is busy preparing a lamb stew for this evening. The okra will be added later. We've never seen, let alone bought, ladies' fingers before, so this is quite an experimental meal. In fact, I think, the only time I've ever had okra is pickled as a side dish at an Indian restaurant. It will be interesting to find out how we like it.

Okra is the sort of thing that is impossible to buy in Morecambe. Lancaster has a far bigger ethnic community, especially with there being so many foreign students at the university, so it justifies stocking more ethnic foods even in more mainstream shops.

I just wish the weather was that bit better. It would have been nice, while the Fox is up so early to have had a few trips out - a walk along the prom together, explore Happy Mount Park (it's supposed to be well worth it but we've just never found the time), see other examples of the Tern Project (the artworks based on the theme of birds that are scattered throughout Morecambe, some in places only accessible on foot rather than visible when passing in the car), or a day into the Lakes (preferably not under water) or the Trough of Bowland. Instead it's just too wet do anything much. At least I've had the time to complete the sewing of our wedding present for Den & Fran. Now I just need to press it before we're off to the framer's shop.