Getting fruity

In England, last year was the hottest year on record. This April was the hottest April on record. June was the wettest June on record. July also looks set to be the wettest July on record. I’d be happy if August was the most average August on record…

Climate change? It’s certainly looking that way.

Whatever bad things might be happening to our planet as a result, I can’t complain about how it’s affected my fruit. This year has seen more strawberries than you can shake a stick at, over 400 so far and still counting. I know it sounds a bit OCD to count my strawberries as I pick them, but I was really just curious as I could hardly believe how many had come up this year. I am also currently harvesting my blackcurrants, about a gazillion of those so I’m not bothering to count, but all this rain has made them bigger and juicier than ever. In a few weeks I will have apples and pears. The apples are always plentiful, though it’s only a tiny tree, this year will be no exception, about 50 or so I would guess. And my pears, never before have I seen the like. It’s only a small pear tree too, but there must be over a hundred pears on it, most I’ve ever had is 30 or 40.

So the polar ice-caps may be melting and we’re all doomed, but at least I’ll have had a healthy diet.

There is nothing better than fresh organic fruit eaten the moment it is picked, and surely stuffing myself with lovely fresh fruit every day for 4 months is a good run up to my forthcoming SRS. I will also have been alcohol free for about that long, the longest period of abstinence since I started drinking, about 30 years ago. I guess it’s about time I had a break from it.

I could, as I speak, be recovering from a tracheal shave, but I'm not. The NHS gave me an appointment on the 10^th July. Up until a few months ago, I couldn’t imagine turning down the chance to reduce my Adam’s apple for FREE, but it’s just too close to my SRS date. I’d probably be recovered and fine, but if there’d been any problems it would have totally screwed my plans, deposit paid, flights and hotel booked, etc…

Besides, the NHS surgeon didn’t exactly fill me with confidence at my consultation. And it’s probably better anyway to have it done at the same time as SRS, thus avoiding two general anaesthetics close together, and hey, what’s a couple more months wearing a scarf round my neck…

Me and the girls (Gillian, Stephie and Laura – some of my local TS gang), went shopping in Manchester on Saturday. Shopping is so rubbish where I live so it was like Christmas for me, and I spent over a hundred quid which was a bit naughty, but nice. I did find a couple of fantastic bargains. A short sequinned skirt (which will be stage-wear) down from 45 pounds to three, count them, THREE pounds, from Debenhams. And from Warehouse a nice purple top for a fiver, down from 25. Found a lovely white summery dress, not a bargain at 30 quid, but worth it nevertheless. I just wish it would stop raining so I can wear the bloody thing. Anyway, 3 tops, two skirts and one dress later, I came away a happy girl! A super day out, I love shopping.

Just over two months to go before SRS, I wonder if I ought to be getting jittery by now. I’m not though, not yet anyway, just really looking forward to it, even though I know full well it’s going to be pretty tough.

Bring it on.

xx