From Garden to Hive, Campervan to Storytime – A Catch-Up from Encore Endeavours

Some weeks are for new adventures, and some are for pulling up a chair, pouring a cuppa, and having a good old catch-up. This is one of those weeks. The garden has been generous, the bees have been dramatic (more on that in a minute), and family life has been as lively as ever.

So, let’s wander through the highlights — a bit like flicking through a greatest hits album, only with more courgettes, more honey, and the occasional motorhome detour.

Garden’s Greatest Hits – The Courgette Chronicles & Fruitful Feasts

If there were a Vegetable of the Year award in my garden, it would be no contest: the courgette has taken the crown. Not just any courgette, but one so enormous I suspect it was secretly training for a strongman competition.

From this green giant (and its slightly less intimidating friends), I’ve whipped up:

• Mary Berry’s Courgette Cake – Moist, sweet, and proof that vegetables can absolutely masquerade as dessert.

• Courgette & Garlic Soup – Using my own garlic and onions, so every spoonful tasted like the garden was giving me a hug.

• Courgette Fritters – Golden, crispy, and perfect for those “I need lunch in 10 minutes” days.

And earlier in the summer, the garden fruit bowl looked like something out of a painter’s still life: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and redcurrants. They became fruit flans and pies that barely lasted long enough for photographs — though, miraculously, I did manage to snap a few before forks descended.

Bee Drama & Happy Endings 

While I was away on holiday, a message pinged in:

“Your hive has no laying queen. It will be next year before you can have your own colony.”

Not exactly the postcard-from-paradise moment I was expecting. I pictured my poor bees milling about aimlessly, wondering if they’d missed a memo.

But then the magic of the beekeeping community kicked in. Enter Becky — dedicated bee society member, fountain of knowledge, and all-round queen (pun fully intended) of bee rescue missions. Thanks to her, it now looks like my hive will have a colony after all.

I’ve been to visit, seen the queen with my own eyes, and it seems they’ll be buzzing home with me before too long. Becky has taught me so much — from spotting the subtle signs of a healthy hive to understanding just how quickly bees can turn you into a proud, doting beekeeper.

Grandparenting on the Move 

Of course, life isn’t all vegetables and bees. There’s the joy (and occasional chaos) of grandparenting — especially when the grandchildren live far away.

One of my favourite moments this year was our campervan trip together. They’re still little — our granddaughter is six, our grandson just turned four — but they took to life on the road with the kind of enthusiasm only children (and maybe very excitable puppies) can manage.

For his birthday, I sent my grandson a photo book of our adventures — a visual souvenir of campervan picnics, new places, and wide-eyed discoveries. It’s now one of his bedtime favourites.

And because we can’t be together all the time, the stories keep flowing. I’ve been reading The Enchanted Wood and recording the chapters for them — finishing the book together even while miles apart. We might start another one soon. It’s not quite the same as snuggling up on the sofa, but the magic of sharing a story travels surprisingly well down a phone line.

What’s Next on Our Encore Endeavours ✨

While this week’s post has been a little trip down memory lane, there’s plenty of new excitement on the horizon. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing:

• Travel Adventures – new destinations, hidden gems, and motorhome journeys.

• Volunteering Stories – I’ve done it before, but I’ve started something new for retirement and can’t wait to tell you about it.

• Learning to Play Golf – because why not?

• Art & Painting Projects – my brushes are ready, even if my technique needs a laugh or two along the way.

• More Motor Adventures – because once you’ve had a taste of life on four wheels, it’s hard to stop.

• Healthy Retirement Living – how I’ve focused on becoming fitter and healthier, and what that’s meant in real life (spoiler: not all kale and push-ups).

  
  

I hope you’ll stay with me for this next chapter of Encore Endeavours. There’s so much more to explore, learn, and laugh about together.

Looking Ahead

So that’s the state of play: the garden’s still feeding us, the bees are coming home, and the grandchildren are still the best adventure of all.

If your own garden has produced something wonderful this summer — or your own “hive” (bee or otherwise) has given you a story to tell — I’d love to hear it. After all, Encore Endeavours is as much about your journeys as mine.

Until next time, may your courgettes be plentiful, your bees be busy, and your motorhome trips full of unexpected joy.