After a lovely day yesterday I spent today defrosting the big chest freezer in the garage. By the time I got to the bottom there was a miscellaneous collection of peas, prawns, sweet-corn and blackcurrants scattered in the frost, as well as a large number of UFOs (Unidentified Frozen Objects).

Everything is now tidy, and we have eaten a strangely unbalanced meal of chicken legs (possibly tandoori or maybe some other spice), chicken kiev, some sort of pasties (probably chicken and vegetable) and chocolate eclairs all of which were too defrosted to return to the freezer once it was cleaned out and ready to receive them. The cat has feasted on prawns, and Helen will soon be the recipient of large quantities of pet meat since Albert is an eater of processed cat food (the expensive sort in envelopes) while his predecessors liked raw meat meals alternated with tinned. Helen's dogs eat everything not nailed down so they can have all the stuff which has gravitated to the bottom of the freezer - some of which may date back to Inga who died nine years ago although most of it will have been bought for Cally.

I seem to have vast quantities of assorted fruit purees, and tubs of fish stock which I never seem able to find when I want to cook paella. In fact, with a freezer full to bursting, why is it I can never find anything when I need to have a meal ready in a hurry? Dressed pheasants and joints of venison are all very well, but they're not exactly short order food.

Anyway, the job is done. Now for spring cleaning the sewing room which is knee deep in ironing waiting to be done. Just finding the floor will be a step in the right direction!