working from home

I've completed my first full week of working from home. Of course it's been very different from being in the office each day but I've managed to stay busy and have tried to form a routine. I am luxuriating in the small lie in I'm now able to have because of not having a commute but am still sticking to my rule of logging on at 8.30am. I feel lucky to have a lovely desk set up in our sunny sitting room and whilst it is truly freezing in the mornings (old Victorian house with single glazing does not make for a cosy sitting room!), I am finding by the afternoon it warms up as the sun streams through the shutters. And gosh, am I glad to have sunlight. I can't help but think this situation would be 5000 times worse were it grey and raining outside. So at least the weather gods are on our side. 

This week I planted more seeds, including tomato and carrots. Hopefully with the warming sun and some water they will start sprouting soon. My spring onions, cucumber and lettuces are shooting up well and my bulbs are still providing blooms. I've ordered some more seeds from Sarah Raven, which I hope will arrive some time next week but I am sure they will be delayed. These include some spinach and kale but also sunny cosmos which my mum grew so brilliantly last year and who has inspired me to grow my own this year. So all in all, I'm finding solace and comfort in the patio and hope to have plenty of plant friends in the coming months. 

Food wise, we have been very mindful of what we're consuming as I don't want to get into a situation where we don't have any left. Our evening meals haven't changed that much, albeit I am having to be even more creative with recipes. But it is lunchtimes that are proving trickier than first thought. Whilst Ian and I always bring our lunch into work normally, we often top up our options with a few snacks and goodies bought from the local supermarkets near our offices. I tend to cook up batches of lentils or quinoa with roasted veg for my lunches but of course that has had to change due to the national shortage of beans and pulses. This week I've been enjoying German rye bread with hummus and pickled beetroot. Perhaps a little bland but it's kept me full. I think this week, I'm going to have to swap this up for cheese and soup. Worst things have happened. 

I've managed to bake another lemon drizzle cake this weekend, which we look forward to enjoying each afternoon with a cup of tea. And the rule of "when it's gone, it's gone" is certainly gospel right now. I simply don't have the eggs to bake more than one cake a week - or sugar actually! 

^^ This is the lemon drizzle recipe that I used today. I found it on Rosanna Falconer's Instagram and my cake seems to have come out well! It's also left me with enough butter, eggs and sugar to make another one later this week. 

^^ My tulips from last weekend hanging in there for a few more days. I daren't touch them as I think all the petals would instantly fall! 

This coming week I plan to cook sticky pork with rice and vegetables, spicy red lentil and coconut soup and perhaps omelettes. What are you planning on rustling up? 

Keep washing your hands.




L.