I made @nigella.bsky.social Apple and Almond Cake. No flaked almonds to be had so I topped it with cinnamon sugar and crystallised ginger. It smells wonderful. I'm thinking custard.

I once went to a proper old-school Italian on Valentine's Day. Roses on the tables, Dean Martin on the speakers. In a restaurant of couples one bloke had brought his girl out to break up with her. She cried. We were devastated. I've never seen so many lads watching their promise later disappear.

I'm hiding upstairs so I can't be dragged out to help concrete fence posts in. This village is full of blokes in shorts and fleeces who live for that kind of thing. I'll leave it to them.

It's my friend from school's birthday today. She's still holding a grudge that her parents chickened out and called her Valerie.

These came so early the delivery driver was treated to the sight of me bleary-eyed in a ratty dressing gown. He probably thinks "if she can get flowers there's hope for us all." 💖

There should be a triathlon where the do the skiing and shooting, and finish by dropping Milk Tray by a lover's bed.

Watching the Winter Olympics and remembering something Ahir Shah told me once. Posh people do dangerous sports, like skiing, because if they break a leg and have to spend weeks in bed off work, they don’t stop earning. Think it might be as good a class test as what you call your settee.

No work today. It's full of IMPORTANT PEOPLE. As someone who used to be I.P. they're welcome to it. I'll just sit here in my dressing gown eating avocado.

The first episode of Small Prophets was as good as I hoped. Resisting the urge to binge-watch. I think it's one to savour slowly.

Finally my job came in handy! #Pointless

My daily plug for my prints. Every print is under £30 and I’d just like to point out that I too have never been close with Peter Mandleson. marswasrubbish.etsy.com

I've just been on hold to a company who commissioned their own hold music. Very jaunty. "Quality sensation, seamless lubrication." What the hell am I paying for??

One of my neighbours has a mobility scooter and an adorable spaniel. The spaniel always walks ahead with a lot of jaunty tail action. I'm not sure if she thinks she's actually pulling the scooter along or if she's cosplaying being a husky.

Emailed my MP @samrushworthmp.bsky.social about this. I'm appalled.

Filled a skip with a cut down tree, created a rotten-log pile habitat, hung the nesting material "feeders", emptied and skipped an old compost bin. The birds are outraged about the tree but enjoying the new all-you-can eat buffet.

Is there no other event they can switch to? That poor woman's hanging off a helicopter. She deserves privacy.

This is horrible to watch.

John Burton died. Tony Blair's agent and a proper old-school Labour man. One of County Durham's finest. He'll be missed in Fishburn and the Trimdons.

Newcastle Theatre Royal this afternoon to see Inspector Morse. Tom Chambers was Morse. The whole cast was excellent. Really enjoyed it.

There's a man in my garden with a chainsaw taking down a beautiful cherry tree i planted 30 years ago. I can't bear to watch.

Starting a rumor that eating a billionaire gives you the power of flight

Purple manicure and pedicure. Had my brows done. Got soaked. Now at home with the heating fecklessly on.

Saying "It's really 5 o'clock though" twice a year.

I've remembered to park my car on the road. Mad Dog is coming tomorrow with my skip. You really don't want to inconvenience a man called Mad Dog.

‘A Black Afternoon’ Charcoal & Varnish sketch. 'Over wide open stretches of undulating fields the wind blew furiously, icy cold cutting like a razor. Clustered here and there were oases of timeless pools within black wet forests that fractured the driving force, dissipating it for sweet relief.'

The new people in the (ex-pit) village put out a cry for help on the WhatsApp group. "We've killed our sourdough starter! Can anyone help?" There was a deafening silence but the message alone put 10 grand on the value of my house.

I've won something on the Postcode Lottery. Not half a million quid, something even better. 3 tubes of handcream in a gift box. That'll be life changing that will.

Breaking: The number 1 detective in Paris has been dispatched to Elon Musk's offices.

We all have niche interests so bear with. The fingering for E Major arpeggio 1st inversion will be the death of me.

When Mandelson was a Hartlepool MP the football club mascot H'ANGUS stood for mayor as a joke, promising free bananas for all. Unbelievably, he was elected and gained Mandelson's hatred. Stuart Drummond did such a good, conscientious job he was re-elected TWICE. Mandelson was loathed.

You simply won't see a better film today than Went the Day Well? playing today (Sat 4.45 Jan 31) on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social I reviewed this classic British movie under the title 48 Hours and I'll post a link every time this stunning film screens. #TPTV film-authority.com/2020/12/12/4...

I've had a lovely afternoon poking about the historic library at Ushaw College. So many ancient books and manuscripts. Some of the books are kept behind locked doors. They weren't seen as suitable for priests in training - female anatomy, Protestant philosophy. You can peep at them through a grille.

@mooseallain.bsky.social Just wanted to say I'm thinking of you all. No need to reply.

I didn't think I could love Bruce Springsteen more. But it turns out I can. Always one of the good guys.

Stitches out. All going to plan and that's it for 6 months. Happily I can use my electric toothbrush again. Sadly I can start exercising again.

At the expensive dentist to get my stitches out. Hopefully the cow bone graft was successful.

Close up of the scary shelf woman. I'm hoping she stays away from the MR James on the bottom.

Decorating all done. Treated myself to a new bookcase and coffee table and a scary woman sitting on a shelf.

Sort out a proper pension. 55 will come round very quickly and you need to know you have choices before you enter Sniper's Alley.

The astronomical debt from student loans puts kids from lower income group families off going to university and discourages others from studying courses that won't offer "a return." That was obvious from the start and it's also turned some university courses into little more than finishing schools

Do you know who leaves their car lights on auto on rural roads in thick fog? PRICKS. That's who. How I haven't rear ended somebody...

Lovely to see the photos of Mark Gatiss opening the new library at his old primary school. A County Durham lad.

Just watched What Not To Eat and wishing I could get into the telly to lamp that bloody man-child with a 2 litre bottle of Coke. That poor woman was knocking herself out to feed him healthy food. Whiny bugger.

Planned power cut postponed until tomorrow. That's the second time. I've dates blokes like this.

Taking @nigella.bsky.social Christmas Rocky Road to pottery. Silver AND gold glitter on top. Extra sparkle for a very grey day.

Planned power cut 10 - 2. I'm 2 teas deep to offset it.

@kateweb.bsky.social hope you feel better today xx

For those that want to read more about my whole cancer palaver, I've finally got round to writing my first blog post - only four months late. You can read it here and you can also subscribe (it's free) if you want to be emailed when I've written a new post. open.substack.com/pub/janehill64

I've had the last of the Christmas pudding with tinned custard and a big glass of the last of the Christmas sweet sherry. On a cold, grey January day I can't think of anything better.

Done the #biggardenbirdwatch. All the usual suspects. Not a golden eagle in sight.