What is this flower?

What is this flower? Another of the mysteries from my 'lucky dip' selection of seeds planted last year. There are several such blue flower heads developed each with a blue stem.

First flowers of 2014 appeared some weeks ago and now there's plenty to see in the garden.

Begone Bad Blisters! (or Compeed is Not Enough)

Anti-blister kit

My new anti-blister kit!

Keeping feet in good shape is essential for a walking trip long or short.

Blisters and foot pain comes from friction. Reduction of friction must be a priority - and is something Compeed and the newer specialist blister plasters do not address.

Also a priority is to keep dressings in place - despite friction, perspiration, and wet.

Moleskin provides friction reduction. Leukotape is the medical version of Duct tape - super sticky. Friars' Balsam provides the Benzoin which help guarantee good adhesion to skin.

A few more grams for my pack!

Friday Bread - with lift!

The first sourdough bake of the year!

Dough overnighted in the refridgerator before shaping this morning. Then a couple of hours resting at room temperature in bannetons. Slashed and sprayed before baking.

Oven at 250C, steam from a roasting tin in the bottom for the first 15 minutes. Lift helped with granite slab on one shelf and a pair of ceramic floor tiles on the second shelf. Temperature reduced to 200 after 20 minutes.

There's more coming!