<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/driveway-lakejan21.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6614" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/driveway-lakejan21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>After several days of cold, wet miserable weather it was, at last, sensible to get outside if only for a short time. The wet weather has flooded the area alongside the drive. It has been wet before but I don't think it has ever been as waterlogged as this.

It's along this strip of land that the holly trees died and I'm wondering whether the fact it is so wet might be the cause. Maybe I should start planting mangrove trees or better still a willow. Jane and I planted a willow in the middle of the lawn at Rothersthorpe because it was quite wet and that soon drained the soil.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/challahjan21.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-6617 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/challahjan21-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>I've been trying my hand at baking bread in the bread machine since October with mixed results. I think I've got the hang of the standard loves so I tried making Challah which is a Jewish recipe.

This is my second attempt after the first one failed to rise and was heavy and uncooked in the middle. This one looked good from the outside but was still heavy and only "half baked". I did eat some of it and it tasted really good, but then it should because it has a lot of caster sugar and honey in it. I eventually put it out for the birds. The woodpigeons loved it but looked very bemused when they could no longer fly due to the weight of their intake.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/briochejan21-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6615" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/briochejan21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Never to be put off by failure (story of my life) I tried my hand at Brioche using the bread maker.

As you can see, apart from the boring shape, it has risen well and has a lovely, golden baked crust. It tastes delicious but then it should because it has masses of sugar, butter and three eggs in it. Bread is my greatest weakness when it comes to eating sensibly.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/rock-cakejan21.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6612" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/rock-cakejan21-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>Dave, my friend and neighbour has a birthday soon so Lucie baked him some rock cakes. He generously brought one over and carefully left it on the seat by the front door.

It was deliciously light and went really well with a cup of tea after lunch.

We're planning to have a coffee out on the drive tomorrow afternoon - 2 metres apart of course No doubt we will share rock cakes and brioche to celebrate.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mazdacx30jan21.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6613" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mazdacx30jan21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The Mazda CX30 is approaching one year old so I thought I would give it a wash as a treat. It was only when I was half way round that I realised it goes in for its first service next Wednesday and will be cleaned at the garage. I do enjoy cleaning cars and it's also good exercise when stretching up to the roof, across the bonnet and squatting down to clean the wheels. It was almost like doing a Joe Wicks workout which I continue to do in between online personal training sessions.