Today I had to get my craft on helping at the Marwell Hotel Pancake day celebration which was in aid of Rose Road. There were lots of activities set up and myself and another volunteer was tasked with helping with different ones and keeping the supplies stocked up. I am very bad at making paper garlands, but can make a good chef hat! There were 130 people who joined so we were very busy keeping everything going. There were lots of happy crafters and everyone went home filled with pancakes too!

Four Super Slugbusters at Aldermoor Farm this evening on a mission to hunt for slugs, gathering them in a bucket ready to feed to the ducks in the morning. Wilson arrived about thirty seconds late — a rare event, given how often they preach about being early — so Abby and Ellie took full advantage, pressing their faces against the gate and insisting they’d been waiting ages. This ended up being a bonus though, because it meant they’d already had time to do a quick litter pick before Wilson had arrived. Plenty of slugs were found, especially on the infamous “slug tree,” the slug buckets were filled and carried well by Sarah and Abby making the whole task a slimy but satisfying success.

Inspired by watching someone spend a long time kicking a large bit of wrapping paper away from their car before they got into it (when they could have just picked it up!) I decided to do a quick litter pick before slug hunting at the farm. It wasn't long before i had a full bag of litter. We will have to return as there is so much more to pick!

Together Ms J and I worked out her grocery list in English as she said she knew the English words, but not how to write them. It was then off to the local Polish supermarket to get her preferred items. Her English was way better than my Polish! I was not so good when trying to work out the labels, but fortunately had taken some photos of items to match what was needed. The most tricky one, however, was the ham as it wasn’t sold in packets and there were loads of choices of meat in the delicatessen that all looked the same to me. The person behind the counter was very helpful and said I could try the ham to see which one to get, but not being a ham eater and not knowing Ms J’s preferences it wouldn’t have been much help! We went with the most popular one and then I headed back to deliver the goods. Ms J seemed very pleased to be stocked up again as she is not able to get out easily herself. I completed two miles nearly walking, but that was partly me going the wrong way looking for the house at the start!