Shopping for herbs. Getting rid of sycamore seedlings.

On a shopping trip to the town centre yesterday to choose new glasses for Phil, we stopped off at Oldham’s soon to be relocated Tommyfield Market. I’m not sure where they are moving it to but it’s all part of the refurbishment of Oldham town centre. There’s been a market on the Tommyfield site for a long time, even though the current market hall only dates back to some time in the 1980s when it was rebuilt after a fire. 

In the market I bought a huge bag of plum tomatoes so that I can make my much appreciated tomato and basil soup. But THEY HAD NO FRESH BASIL!!! What to do? Tomato and basil soup without fresh basil is not the same!

I had half a plan to get up this morning and, instead of running round the village, run to Uppermill where I could almost certainly find basil at the Italian greengrocery and then catch a bus home in time for breakfast. Then I remembered that we had a gutter-man coming this morning to clear our gutters, which were full of random plant growth and mess. The gutter at the front, I noticed the other day, seemed to be growing a veritable forest of tiny sycamore seedlings. It’s clearly that time of the year again. I keep pulling them up out of my various plant pots, and the side garden is full of the things! 

So the trip to the  Italian fruttivendolo was postponed and I ran round the village as usual. It was a fine morning for a run, but rather cold!

The gutter-man duly arrived mid-morning and we now have clean gutters once more. For the last 12 to 18 months the builder next door has been promising to organise one of his men with a long ladder but nothing came of it and the prospect of a forest in the gutter led to our accepting our daughter’s recommendation of Andy the Gutter-man! 

Around midday I finally caught a bus to Uppermill, where I did indeed find fresh basil. I walked back along the Donkey Line. 

Phil set out walking from home and met me half way. En route I took a look at the ‘eco-house someone has been building close to the bridle path. There used to be a tumble-down house there, a house that we often admired and speculated/hoped that someone might restore it to its former glory. Then one day we saw it was demolished … gone almosr overnight and turned into a pile of rubble. Now there is a new building, seemingly made of environmentally friendly stuff and sporting solar panels and other such innovations. Interesting stuff!

Now I have soup to make.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well everyone!