Thread: Various Islands in the North Atlantic Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Welcome to the UK thread - come along and chat about the weather!



(Title edited)

[ 31. December 2014, 16:10: Message edited by: Firenze ]
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Well, it's a lovely warm evening here, windows open, ceiling fan gently wafting the air about. The temple is making a racket and doubtless lots of kids will be round soon to wish us a happy new year and beg sweets from us.

I am supposed to be out at a sort of celebration but, frankly, can't be bothered. I will do a walk later instead then have an early night.
 

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Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
IN the meantime I've been wondering what the new title should be for the Scottish thread or (shock horror) if there should be a separate one at all.
Better together , etc etc.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 

quote:

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IN the meantime I've been wondering what the new title should be for the Scottish thread or (shock horror) if there should be a separate one at all.
Better together , etc etc.

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You could have a separate thread for those who voted "NO" and let those who voted "YES" join ours!

 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Wet Kipper:
IN the meantime I've been wondering what the new title should be for the Scottish thread or (shock horror) if there should be a separate one at all.
Better together , etc etc.

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It would be good to have a generic North Atlantic thread, though the UK bit in the title would need to go if it's to include Ireland. How about renaming it "North Atlantic Islands"? It would have a broader scope, and people can then sort out for themselves whether they want to be on it or not.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I got the title form Wiki - I rather liked the 'various' as it covered all bases, I thought

"Britannia was used by the Romans from the 1st century BC for the British Isles taken together. It is derived from the travel writings of the ancient Greek Pytheas around 320 BC, which described various islands in the North Atlantic as far north as Thule (probably Norway)."
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I too would favour an all-inclusive thread for England, Ireland, Scotland, the Faroes, Greenland, Iceland and sweet Rockall.

Mind if I edit the title, Boogie?
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Firenze:
I too would favour an all-inclusive thread for England, Ireland, Scotland, the Faroes, Greenland, Iceland and sweet Rockall.

Mind if I edit the title, Boogie?

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Not at all
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
There was me wondering why there was a thread for Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by balaam:
There was me wondering why there was a thread for Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Firenze:
I too would favour an all-inclusive thread for England, Ireland, Scotland, the Faroes, Greenland, Iceland and sweet Rockall.

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Surely everyone knows that Rockall is part of Scotland? [/canofworms]
 

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Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :
 
Weather here today? Howling wind, pouring rain, thunderstorms, hail and about 5 deg.

Did I mention that I'm actually in North Africa?! Clearly the weather wants to remind me of what I have to look forward to when we eventually move back to the UK!

[ 31. December 2014, 16:57: Message edited by: Lucia ]
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
We are watching Jools Holland, and are thankful we didn't get tickets for Stirling's Hogmanay bash as it got cancelled at 8.30 this evening due to the weather - high winds meaning the stage was unsafe, portaloos were being blown over, etc. It's also too windy for the official fireworks.

I have had half a glass of pink bubbly (which has been in the cupboard since our wedding 7 years ago). That, combined with my cold, and the fact that so far Jools's programme has been a bit underwhelming, means I might well be fast asleep before 12...
 

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Posted by Doublethink. (# 1984) on :
 
I have celebrated with new pjs, furry slipper boots and a slug of baileys - plus afternoon / early evening party with small people & an assassins creed club competition mission and crap telly. Now goong out to first foot myself.
 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
Happy New Year all, from chez Arachnid.

Am currently under a duvet in front of the telly watching Skyfall with a glass of Kir Royale and a packet of crisps, and listening to fireworks going off in all four directions. Not exactly partying the night away, but there are worse places to be.
 

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Posted by Doublethink. (# 1984) on :
 
Preach it, insectivore !
 

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Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 
I have discovered Tenessee Honey. There could be worse starts to the new year.

Jengie
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Just back from ringing out the old year and ringing in the new - happy new year, erveryone!

M.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Happy new year!
We've just had a party of 8 adults and 9 children, I'm surprised we all managed to last past midnight. All good friends so great fun eating and chatting and the kids played games together happily. I'm just polishing off some champagne before bed.
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
It's half past two. I am definitely going to bed. Any minute. Soon as I can get out of this armchair. The fireworks were particularly pretty this year. Just check one or two more sites. Then go to bed. Oh look, it's twenty to three.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I was in bed by 10 last night then up and out walking before 6 this morning - another lovely dawn. Just as I was heading back home I met two local lads heading off to work and the sensible one went to bed at 8 last night whilst the other, who looked like death warmed up, partied the night away and went to bed at 2 a.m. for a 6 a.m. start!

Silly boy!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's coming on for 2 a.m. here in Newfoundland (can that be an honorary North Atlantic Island?), and I'm not long in from taking in the new year with friends from the choir.

I wish everyone back in Blighty (and associated islands ) a happy new year.

quote:

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Originally posted by Nicodemia:
You could have a separate thread for those who voted "NO" and let those who voted "YES" join ours!

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I think you may have got your "yesses" and "noes" a bit mixed up there, Nicodemia!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Just as I was heading back home I met two local lads heading off to work and the sensible one went to bed at 8 last night whilst the other, who looked like death warmed up, partied the night away and went to bed at 2 a.m. for a 6 a.m. start!

Silly boy!

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quote:

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I think you may have got your "yesses" and "noes" a bit mixed up there, Nicodemia! [Eek!]

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Er, yes!

Put it down to post-Christmas lethargy and too many mince pies!!
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A long time ago Uncle Pete introduced me to a reputable dealer in secondhand books and I have just been on their website again.

Poor, poor credit card!

Delivery to my best mate's address as he will be out in March and it looks as if half his baggage weight will be stuff for me!

Thanks Steve!
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Happy New Year everyone!

I give you the 31st December menu from Château en rouge:

Aperitif: grapefruit liqueur/pink champagne kir royal, foie gras, a delicious crab/bacon paste that someone brought round and petits fours

Entrée: home-made pork and chicken liver paté and salad

Plat de résistance: pigeon flambéed in cognac, roast potatoes and beans

Cheese: let it be known that there was one French cheese that we got off the Christmas market on account of its being bright blue (i.e. blue food colouring, not blue from mouldiness. It was flavoured with lavender). The rest of the cheese was BRITISH - two Welsh cheeses that my auntie gave us for Christmas and some Stilton. There was universal agreement that the British cheese was nicer than the French cheese . Some Brazilian guests also brought "Romeo and Juliet", slices of cheese wrapped around guava paste.

For all the above, a bottle of 2003 Bordeaux that we found on the market for the princely sum of 3€.

Dessert: Brazilian dulce de lecche and apple/calvados tart. More pink champagne.

Coffee and chocolates

I am feeling rather delicate this morning and no longer wish to look at food or alcohol for at least a week. Unfortunately our fridge is full of leftovers...
 

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Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by M.:
Just back from ringing out the old year and ringing in the new

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quote:

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Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Plat de résistance: pigeon flambéed in cognac, roast potatoes and beans

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That (together with the rest of your menu) would not have met with much, if any, resistance from me.

I do enjoy your dinners (vicariously)
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
After all these years I have just had a Kingfisher stay still on a branch whilst I was able to photograph it. The shots ain't perfect at 42x [1000mm 35mm equiv] but they are not too bad.

Very chuffed.

In other news desperately hoping that Uncle Pete will be wanting a haircut almost as soon as he arrives - mine is really bugging me as it is so scraggy but am trying to hang on one more week so we can go together - I have to go with him anyway.

But I might give in tomorrow, no promises.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Just tie it back in a pony tail Welease Woderwick

I went and had a posh hair do for our New Year party for 16 people last night. I have grown it really, really long so that I have a choice of styles for my son's wedding in June.

Yesterday's 'updo' was quite nice but didn't last the course (the party ended at 3am ) So I will have to find another occasion to get a posh 'do' as another practice.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Wodders!

Let me know if you give in - I pass the barber on Monday and hair is driving me nuts.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
This new year was the first in a while that we've been at a party and it was great fun - about the only people we knew were the hostess and one other, but we soon got to know everyone else and managed to stay up till about half past four chatting about fantasy books, computer games, face paints (I got flowers on my face) and various other of our favourite things. Our heads are somewhat fuzzy today...
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Very quiet hereabouts...a few fireworks but not as many as last year. Mug of tea...and to bed. As a result of which, I now feel quite awake...but then, it is after midday!
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
Wodders!

Let me know if you give in - I pass the barber on Monday and hair is driving me nuts.

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quote:

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Doesn't it take a while to get the muffles off?

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Yes. It takes ages to put the muffles on, then ages to remove them and to reach the muffles you have to ring the bells down first and then up again and it's all a complete pain.

I'm not ringing at present but we used to ring the minor 5 bells before midnight and then the major 6 (or all 8 if we had enough ringers) afterwards. That sounded nice.
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Surfaced about 10 am to a day of wind and rain. The first cooked meal of 2015 was a stew of chickpeas and tomato topped with ginger, green chilli, raw onion and lemon juice. Then I had a little nap. Meal two is going to be steak'n'chips.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Happy New Year!

Unexpected treat yesterday evening in the shape of a pantomime. Plenty of boo-hissing, it's behind you, oh no it isn't, and a really good Welsh dame ("When I say 'Alright or wha?' you've gotta say 'alright!' Alright?"), and jokes and songs about farting ("Let it go"). Unfortunately no girl dressed up as a boy, but nothing's perfect.

P.S. My top tip is buy up any M&S Spicy Christmas bacon you may find being sold at a discount. Though maybe not if you're not keen on cloves.

[ 01. January 2015, 16:11: Message edited by: QLib ]
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
We managed to stay awake to see in the new year, and had a fairly late morning. I had my cold as an excuse to veg out till about 9.30. We did our usual New Years Day trip to the cinema, this year to see The Hobbit. We were supposed to see it in 2D, but the cinema got it wrong, and showed the 3D version, so had to provide everyone with complimentary 3D glasses.
Goiod thing we had taken coats though - we came out into torrential rain
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Having renewed our season tickets for a local attraction a couple of days ago, we went for another walk around the lake this afternoon. A two mile circuit, followed by a cuppa and a massive although very flat toasted teacake. It was dull and drizzly.

Edited to say that the weather was dull...the teacake was very nice!

[ 01. January 2015, 17:53: Message edited by: St Everild ]
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Happy New Year, everyone!

I've had a sofa day today, after being out till about 3a.m. this morning - the first time in years I've really "done" New Year. Weather's wet and windy here, so a quiet day of drinking tea and snacking on festive leftovers has been just the ticket for me.

Back to work tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
We're just waiting for a takeaway to be delivered after being up early to take part in the London New Year Day Parade.

We decided it was deserved after a busy few days getting things ready then up there for the parade today. It was good, and the weather was much better than it could have been, and certainly better than the pouring rain of last year!

Feeling very now though.
 

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Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Chamois:
... we used to ring the minor 5 bells before midnight and then the major 6 (or all 8 if we had enough ringers) afterwards.

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We are fortunate to have nine bells, so we ring on the front (Dorian) eight before midnight, then gradually drop one out in sequence, slowing gently. Stand. All take one step to the left. Time check from Westminster, twelve blows on the tenor and pull off on the back (major) eight. Very nice too.
 

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Posted by Bene Gesserit (# 14718) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
Just watching the Vienna New Year's Day Concert - lovely, with some beautiful scenes from the city.

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quote:

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Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
... Plat de résistance: pigeon flambéed in cognac, roast potatoes and beans ...

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Résistance is futile ... **drool**

After a very lazy morning, we had a first-footer (not really something you get around these parts): a friend from the choir turned up on our doorstep in the afternoon, and we spent a pleasant couple of hours chatting, drinking* and eating biscuits and cheese.

* In honour of the occasion, D. even had a wee dram - his first in Heaven only knows how long.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Another walk this morning but a slightly varied route, I think it is doing me good and I certainly enjoy it once I get out there.

Haircut last night which was both a relief and a disappointment - I knew Saheer had moved to work in the Gulf but his nephew had taken over, nice lad, so no qualms but he has now sold the business on, or leased it off, to this really grumpy guy so I won't be going back, nor taking Pete there, so now have to find an alternative. Several ideas, one even closer! My spies are out and will report back.

Off to see a friend this weekend so no walk now until Tuesday [I leave crack of dawn tomorrow and back Monday evening] unless I walk from Hotel, as I may do.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Happy new haircut, Wodders, and have a good trip away.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
A new year a new routine here.

I walk both dogs separately most of the time as Gypsy's training is so specific. My first walk used to be 9:30 but that's really a bit late - so I have moved the day forward an hour.

Gypsy's walk will now be 8:30 then Tatze's 11:30 then Gypsy's afternoon shopping/rain/bus/tram/socialising session at 3pm and Tatze's lead walk 5pm.

Do I spend most of my day walking?

Yes! And I love it!


 

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Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
We are off to Zimababwe tomorrow and going to spend a week on an island in Lake Kariba. Nothing there except crocs and mosquitos and elephant and all manner of buck. Then to Capetown for 10 days. Should be good.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Went to Chipping Campden this morning, "Jewel of the Cotswolds". It still is, but hopelessly clogged with cars and finding anywhere to park was almost impossible until I found a side lane with a space.

It was cold enough for my fingers to go numb within a few minutes of arrival, but a beautiful sunny day none the less. Lots of pretty Christmas wreaths on the cottage doors, and amazingly, roses still blooming in the front gardens, though they looked a bit frostbitten. The town is lovely, but every square inch of possible road space seems to be packed with as many cars as it can hold, which did rather detract from the beauty of the place.

I'd originally thought about going to London as there are some interesting exhibitions on, and Rembrandt at the National Gallery finishes on the 18th, but that will have to wait for a bit. Has anyone seen the Rembrandt yet?
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
No - but I saw the Late Turner at Tate Britain - absolutely amazing. I would go again if I could. But an essential part of the deal is to see the free ones upstairs as well. Sorry to miss the Rembrandt, though - that doesn't seem to have had as much publicity.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I passed a poster for the Rembrandt today. I hadn't really taken in it was on, I'll have to try to get to see it before it closes.
We went for a walk today, not that long, but I felt rather ill by the end of it - obviously toally out of practice.
The weather has been lovely here in South London. Hope it's the same tomorrow as we're off to see the view from the top of the Shard as my husband's belated birthday treat.
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
The weather here has been vile: wind rain and sleet. It has exposed the fact that the repairs the roofer did on Christmas Eve still haven't rendering the house watertight. I can only get the door of this room to stay shut by jamming the footstool and a pile of cushions against it. I would put the heating up another notch, but the bill for this quarter will already be roughly equal to the GDP of Ecuador.

I want Spring and I want it now.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by shamwari:
We are off to Zimababwe tomorrow and going to spend a week on an island in Lake Kariba. Nothing there except crocs and mosquitos and elephant and all manner of buck. Then to Capetown for 10 days. Should be good.

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Have a wonderful time
Another lazy day here, my bil and his wife visited earlier for homemade crumpets and cake and we've just watched Wuthering Heights (Ralph Fiennes and Juliete Binoche version).
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by shamwari:
Nothing there except crocs and mosquitos and elephant and all manner of buck.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Firenze:
I want Spring and I want it now.

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You need to move further south. This morning was full of sunlight; blackbirds were chasing each other flirtatiously along the top of a hedge, a ram was mounting sheep in a field, the buds are already starting to show on some of the trees, and the snowdrop shoots are coming up. It didn't feel a lot like January.
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
First Day Back today...a day of desk work. Don't feel as though I have accomplished very much, though. Can't see the surface of the desk yet...

Ah well...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
What does the surface of a desk look like?

It's a wee bit less chilly here today - it got up to 0° this afternoon.

I started prepping things for a chicken casserole for lunch (stripping meat from a cooked chicken, chopping veggies, defrosting stock) when I discovered that we didn't have any bacon, which is part of what makes it so nice.

So D., suggested going out for lunch today and doing the casserole for tomorrow, and as he got a couple of vouchers for Milestones for Christmas, we spent one of them: a shared goat cheese, roasted garlic and flatbread platter to start, then an absolutely delicious chicken and mushroom thing with thin pasta and seriously good roasted red peppers and courgettes* for me, and an equally good chicken burger (actually two huge pieces of chicken breast in a bun with usual garnishes) for him.

Then, while I went to the Cathedral office to produce the bulletin for Sunday, he finished off making the casserole for tomorrow.

* I don't often put the words "seriously good" and "courgettes" in the same sentence, but these seemed to have taken on the flavour of the sauce, but kept a bit of "bite", and they were lovely.
 

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Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I have just set up mynew birdtable 5(thank you Mr D for putting it together) with fat balls & seeds. Hopefully it is far enough away from the trees to deter cats from stealth attacks but not so far that tthe birds feel too exposed.
I am typing this on my new tablet hybrid - I've never had a laptop before so this is a new experience. Hence the random words-joined-together. It's odd using the touch pad not a mouse too.
 

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Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Getting ready to go. I have warned my Churches that any attempt to mount a coup while I am away will be met with severe reprisals.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

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Originally posted by Firenze:
I want Spring and I want it now.

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You need to move further south. This morning was full of sunlight; blackbirds were chasing each other flirtatiously along the top of a hedge, a ram was mounting sheep in a field, the buds are already starting to show on some of the trees, and the snowdrop shoots are coming up. It didn't feel a lot like January.

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Yes, it definitely felt more like March in the morning, though in my neck of the woods we were back to January by mid afternoon. And so dark this morning! I managed to get into town and get most of my shopping down before the rain started up again :smug:
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Heavy rain here this morning. I'd hoped for a day of general mooching around, going for a nice healthy walk, that kind of thing - but not until the rain stops. If it ever does. So it's been a morning of random internetting and a bit of reading (J.H.Newman and St Benedict - pretty darned spiritual, huh?)
 

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Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Or Gosford Park is on ITV3 in a bit.

It's wet down this way too, on the plus side following windowsill replacement a few months ago it seems to have sorted the leak (a.k.a. The indoor water feature) that we had had in heavy rain. We weren't entirely sure where it was getting in so tried a few things but this seems to have sorted it. As much as the cats enjoyed watching the drips!
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
After a few days of lovely clear weather it was very cloudy and rainy here, which was a bit of a pain as I'd booked to take my husband up to the top of the Shard as a birthday treat. We went anyway, couldn't see a thing, but were given tickets to come back another time. Having looked at the photos we've decided that sunset will be the best time rather than midday.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've definitely had a "mooching around" day - apart from loading the dishwasher after lunch, I've done the square-root of bugger-all today.

According to the Weather Channel, the temperature's going down to -13°, but feeling like -25 with the wind-chill overnight and tomorrow morning.

Even by my standards, that's a bit "brrrrrr" ...
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Last day of the holiday, back to work tomorrow. At the time of writing the view from my window's completely disappeared into thick fog, the cars beneath are covered in frost and it's cold outside.

I'm going to miss having the time to watch television, the pleasure of not having to get up while it's still dark, and the Christmas decorations, which will come down during the week. That's the point when you realize that Christmas is done, and Easter's a long way off yet.

Oh, and watching "Tudor Monastery Farm", which is a cracking series. If ever I'm stranded in the Tudor era, I'll have a fund of useful knowledge to see me through.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:

I'm going to miss having the time to watch television, the pleasure of not having to get up while it's still dark ...

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Now you can count the days to retirement, when life is one long holiday!



I have been 'head hunted' to work one day a week (Friday) which actually means I'll also work a bit every day (preparation, marking) but I am looking forward to it. Although I never thought I'd be starting at a new school at this stage of my career - all those names to learn!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Boogie:
Now you can count the days to retirement, when life is one long holiday!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
I wish. But to keep a roof over my head, I'll need to stay in employment as long as I can, which is currently 67 instead of 60 as it was when I first started work.

Could be worse: today's generation will probably have to work for even longer.

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Too bloody true. The retirement age at my employer is already 68, giving me another 25 years, and I can't imagine that it'll be much less than 30 years by the time I've actually done it. This is not a good time to be stuck in a long-standing career crisis... (which reminds me, I should go and poke the Job Search thread back onto the front page).

AG
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Increased retirement age is one way of cutting the pensions bill. In some ways, I'm glad I took ill health retirement. The pensions bill muight decrease, but I suspect the NHS bill will increase.
Talking of which, our house is a bit like a plague pit at the moment - all three of us have colds, Lord P has a really bad cough, I feel like I'm wrapped in fog with a head full of cotton wool - my cold has gone to cattargh.
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Increased retirement age is one way of cutting the pensions bill. In some ways, I'm glad I took ill health retirement. The pensions bill muight decrease, but I suspect the NHS bill will increase.
Talking of which, our house is a bit like a plague pit at the moment - all three of us have colds, Lord P has a really bad cough, I feel like I'm wrapped in fog with a head full of cotton wool - my cold has gone to cattargh.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:

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Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Increased retirement age is one way of cutting the pensions bill. In some ways, I'm glad I took ill health retirement. The pensions bill muight decrease, but I suspect the NHS bill will increase.
Talking of which, our house is a bit like a plague pit at the moment - all three of us have colds, Lord P has a really bad cough, I feel like I'm wrapped in fog with a head full of cotton wool - my cold has gone to cattargh.

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Just a word on the NHS pension (as someone who'll be retiring, early, later this year) - it's actually been in surplus for about the past twenty years. Yes, employers and employees between them are paying more into it than retirees are getting out of it. What's more, the surplus doesn't get saved up to go into future pensions. No, no, this is the UK government we're talking about here - the surplus on the NHS pension "fund" gets skimmed off into what's called the "Treasury Contingency Fund", i.e. the pot of money that the Chancellor can spend on what he likes, such as funding wars or - ooh, I don't know - buying votes.

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What?! So, they've up'ed our contributions, reduced what we get out at the end, and are making us work longer to get it and they're taking the surplus?! Words don't fail me, but I'd be planked if I put them here.
Man I miss TICTH.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Over here people seem to either retire quite early (one of the other altos in our choir retired at 51, having got her 30 years in as a school-teacher, with a good pension) or very late - I've known doctors and surgeons who carry on well into their 70s or 80s if they're able. I even have a friend whose father came to Newfoundland to do an extra 5 years because he'd reached the retirement age in Ontario but wanted to carry on ...

If I had the choice I'd probably go at 60, as D. is 6 years older than me, and we'd have a chance of a bit of retirement time together, but I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to go on as long as he's able. As he puts it, he gets paid for doing what he loves doing, so he probably won't want to give it up if he doesn't need to.

After Evensong today we had a v. nice evening at the house of one of the tenors in the choir, and when we came out there was quite definite sn*w - about 4 inches and falling steadily.

Pretty, and difficult to negotiate the hills, but probably not enough for a sn*w-day tomorrow.

Better head off to bed soon - need to get used to waking up again. It's amazing how only a week-and-a-half can get you completely out of kilter ...
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I retired early. When I did the Maths, so long as I live to 82, it made little difference to the amount as getting it early meant I was getting it longer.

Well, well worth the drop in monthly income!


 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Those of you who went back to work this morning: believe me, you’re better off starting work today. I was in the office on Friday and it was like the Marie-Celeste. I have never been so bored in my whole entire life.

The HR insist on at least one of us being here to man the fort so I agreed to do Friday and let the others take the day off. In one way it suited me to come in, because I want to keep my holiday days for later on, but man it was slow. Normally my secretarial pool has four people in it. I was the only one in the office, so the phones of the other three were all redirecting to mine. It rang ONCE the entire day.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
My kids are still home but I've decided to start back at work today just so I can sort out a routine again (I work flexibly, part time, from home). It also means I can get the urgent things out of the way (like work emails) to allay my normal anxiety issues and reassure my students of my presence. Then hopefully tomorrow will be free to plan tutorials and other work with a clean slate.
I started back at my yoga class today and am now feeling exhausted but very relaxed
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
I retired early. When I did the Maths, so long as I live to 82, it made little difference to the amount as getting it early meant I was getting it longer.

Well, well worth the drop in monthly income!

---

That's how the NHS does it. Roughly speaking, you get the same amount of money between the day you retire and the date of your average life expectancy - so early retirement doesn't put any more burden on the pension provider. As a system, it has a certain entertaining Grim-Reaper-ishness about it.

I'll be 53 when I retire (if the Lord spares me). I realise just how lucky I am to be able to, being debt-free and dependent-free, and I already have some plans to make the best of it by applying myself to Good Works. I won't have much to live on, so there won't be much lying around on Caribbean islands sipping Pina Coladas, but I'll probably invest in a new pair of slippers and study the art of being a sort of benign curmudgeon.

Meanwhile, it's a pleasantly busy day in my place of work - let's call it the Adeodatarium - and I'm typing this while nibbling on a rather good seafood salad sandwich.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
I haven't yet retired and still work full-time (although working part-time and taking some pension early does look attractive!), but my friends who have retired don't seem to have much more time on their hands. So long as one is basically debt-free, or paying a modest rent, the finance aspects look pretty neutral.

It's keeping the grey matter ticking over that looks more necessary. I think we'll put some kind of timelocks on the TV and the 'puter.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I get the impression that some people are much better at retirement than others.

My dad (who's now nearly 90) retired at 61, while still in rude good health. He and my mum (who was a housewife) had a wonderful 10 years or so of jetting about all over Europe in their dormobile and doing the odd Exotic Place as well, before the gradual onset of Mum's dementia took over. If he'd gone on to 65 they'd have had that much less time to enjoy themselves, so I think he did the right thing.

His next-door neighbour, on the other hand, took early retirement/redundancy at 55, spent most of his time mooching around the 19th hole of the local golf club, and died about a year later.

Retirement seems to be what you make it.

I'm not yet retired, so now that I'm back at w*rk, I'd better go and do some ...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Those of you who went back to work this morning: believe me, you’re better off starting work today. I was in the office on Friday and it was like the Marie-Celeste.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

Having read through the job search thread earlier it reminded me somehow of the other day when I was at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office and a young guy came in all cocky about having arrived in India with no money and needing some registration help [so he may not have had sufficient visa] and trying to push for them to make an exception in his case. The office is staffed by some really nice folks BUT they are all experienced police officers, probably seconded from Special Branch. They remained courteous, which I would have found a struggle, but just put a few blocks in his way. It was a joy to watch. He was a very silly boy! With the attitude he had I'm surprised he wasn't put on the next plane out of the country!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
... they had taken ... about a third of the total take. Why bother opening?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Daisydaisy:
... a few months of not having to set the alarm ...

---

I had seven years of what I called "practice for retirement" when we moved here, as I wasn't eligible to work. At first there was a certain luxury in not setting the alarm (after 20-odd years of having to set it), but it was more than offset by the lack of funds that could be used for actual, tangible luxuries, and the novelty rather wore off ...
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

But I knew Christmas had to be over once the fairy lights on the tree blew up.

---

That sounds… exciting . We badly wanted to dispose of our Christmas tree by throwing it out of the (fifth floor) window at the end of our New Year’s party. Would have been so much easier and more fun that getting it in a Christmas tree disposal bag and down the stairs. However there was a car parked right underneath and we didn’t dare.

Among our guests were a Brazilian couple having their first Christmas in Paris. We were going to tell them that defenestration of Christmas trees was a Parisian tradition and see if they believed us.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Apparently the lions at the zoo regard Christmas trees as a wonderful treat. It makes them as happy as catnip.

Alternatively, here are some New Year traditions for your consideration. Your plan of throwing the Christmas tree out of the window would fit right in with some of these.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Iceland is perhaps the most worrying, since NYE apparently brings on talking cows, seals taking on human form, the dead rising from their graves and elves moving house. The place sounds like an eldritch Piccadilly Circus.
 

---

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Iceland is perhaps the most worrying, since NYE apparently brings on talking cows.

---

Just as long as there are no talking donkeys I'm OK with that.
 

---

Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
I was at work a few days last week and up to Christmas Eve but it was much quieter and so a good chance to catch up on stuff, and the roads are so much quieter I got a little lie in (15 minutes is still 15 minutes!). And I get to use the annual leave later on
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
I went back to work today after a fortnight's break and there's so much correspondence to catch up on that I wish I'd gone in for a day or so after Christmas to keep on top of it a bit. I've always taken the fortnight as leave to be around when the kids are on holiday too, Nenlet1 is married to a teacher so she tends to take as much time off as she can, and up until this year Nenlet2 has studied locally and lived at home. This year he was home for Christmas but abroad with friends for New Year and as Mr Nen was working most of last week, but doing it from home and being grumpy when it wasn't going well , I would have been better out at work, at least for some of the time.

I love my job and have no plans to retire any time soon. Mr Nen is planning for his retirement although how that will turn out is anyone's guess. He went "part time" in the autumn but still spends a lot of evenings and weekends (as well as daytime hours) working. Last week that included (but was not limited to) New Year's Eve till after 11pm and most of New Year's Day. So it's going really well.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Iceland is perhaps the most worrying, since NYE apparently brings on talking cows, seals taking on human form, the dead rising from their graves and elves moving house. The place sounds like an eldritch Piccadilly Circus.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
I have just gone through a whirl-wind voluntary redundancy (a month ago I had no idea!!),

---

Much the same thing happened to me 18 months ago, daisydaisy, though I was already of pensionable age*. And Mr. S, who will have been retired 5 years at the end of this month, is officially old enough to draw his pension in July His employer - an American company - decided he was no longer 'on the bus' and paid him handsomely to stay away - result!

The issue we have is how much routinely to schedule in a week. When the weather is horrible and you can't go out and walk, or garden, it's great to have something to get out of bed for. However last year we missed the chance of a cheap sailing holiday at short notice because we had too much Stuff to reschedule, which is ironic (not good, but ironic).

Mr. S seems to work almost as hard as he ever did fixing people's IT issues, especially among the older members of our church!

* I had gone to work one Monday morning, knowing that I had to leave again late morning to go to a funeral. This led me to consider retirement, and giving my manager time to reorganise my job etc, so I decided I'd go in a year. Got back from the funeral to find my desk covered in notices - mandatory all-hands call at 2 pm. Voluntary redundancies, yippee

Mrs. S, retired but by no means retiring!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
...Actually, that could be the parting gesture of the house-moving elves, I suppose. "We're not taking that fridge to Iceland with us. One, two, three, heeeeave."

---

Last time I was in Iceland it was full of freezers!

Okay, sorry about that, I'll leave now before I'm pushed.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
They've swopped the geysers for the freezers? I hope the flagon with the dragon still holds the brew that is true.

[ 06. January 2015, 10:59: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I do puppy walking (as you know!), which I decided I wanted to do long before I retired.

It fulfils many needs for me.

It gets me out of bed in the morning (literally!)

It keeps the brain working - lots of problem solving and training to think through.

It gets me meeting lots of lovely like minded people.

Gypsy is boarded when we go away and costs us nothing to keep/insure/feed etc.

win win win!

(I know the down side will be saying goodbye in June, but that's also a positive as she will be moving on to do excellent, useful, enjoyable work)


 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
When Gypsy starts work, will you know who her new human is, and be able to stay in touch, or is that a Big No-no?

It's colder and a bit blusterous here today - apparently it went up to +9° yesterday, but it's back to -5° now.

Bloody January again ...
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Reading all these retirement/post retirement threads got me to thinking. When I retired, I spent the first year at home waiting to see if my fragile health would strengthen, Then I got bored, and looking around I thought my old friend Wodders would enjoy a visit. And so I discovered India (and by extension the rest of the world) And now on Friday Wodders will discover me again.



And at Easter Smudgiekins will have the pleasure of my company,

[ 06. January 2015, 14:50: Message edited by: Uncle Pete ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
When Gypsy starts work, will you know who her new human is, and be able to stay in touch, or is that a Big No-no?

---

We will get lots of updates from her trainer when she's at Big School (assuming she makes the grade, 1 in 3 don't)

Then her owner will be given our details and encouraged to keep in touch, but it's up to them.

I was given the Brood Bitch keeper's details and we keep in touch every week - she's very keen to know how 'her' pups are getting on.


 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I hope Tatze will be able to visit with her as well.
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
We will get lots of updates from her trainer when she's at Big School (assuming she makes the grade, 1 in 3 don't)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
...And now on Friday Wodders will discover me again...

---

I thought it was next week!


 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Sudden flurry of activity at Woddering Heights?

Christmas decorations taken down (without any explosions), except the candle-bridges and the Nativity scene, which will stay up until Candlemas.

It always makes me feel a little sad, as everything's going back to normal and the place looks so empty.

In other news, I've booked my flights to go to Orkney in February for Dad's 90th birthday. The mob from Edinburgh are all going, but D. isn't going to be able to come, as he can't find anyone to cover for him on the Sunday. If I'm honest, it's filling me with dread: I absolutely hate travelling alone, but I feel that I should, as it may be the last time we'll all be together.

Added bonus: I get to see my great-niece, who is deeply cute.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
I have just gone through a whirl-wind voluntary redundancy (a month ago I had no idea!!),

---

The issue we have is how much routinely to schedule in a week. When the weather is horrible and you can't go out and walk, or garden, it's great to have something to get out of bed for. However last year we missed the chance of a cheap sailing holiday at short notice because we had too much Stuff to reschedule, which is ironic (not good, but ironic).

---

Fortunately all the activities I'm planning are not commitments but more the things I wished I'd had time for. So impromptu holidays are not impossible - apart from all the holidays I'm planning !
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Laundry done and sorted, French sticks (hopefully) rising and almost ready to go in the oven, and festive teddies* (which I forgot about when I was taking down the tree last night) returned to their window-sill in the spare bedroom.

* assorted small bears with Father Christmas hats and suchlike, who live along the back of the sofa during the Christmas season.

Domestic Goddess Piglet is back ...

[ 07. January 2015, 20:55: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
As she's a regular poster on here sending La Vie En Rouge best wishes to her, her friends and family.
Also to any other posters living in Paris.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Yea and amen, Chocoholic.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Thirded from me as well.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Piglet - I met you in a book I am reading by Ronald Blythe. It was such a surprise, and like meeting an old friend suddenly!

Grey, cold and dank here. Just waiting for the fierce gales and rain threatened for tomorrow. Time to batten down the hatches, I think!

Made an interesting Moroccan cardoman and orange cake yesterday. Very yummy - there is a bit left for anyone who wants it!
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Thanks all. It’s raining here at the minute. Feels like it should be somehow.

People here are very shocked, but in another way seem to be carrying on pretty much as normal. OTOH, as long as the perpetrators are still at large, our new goodbye to each other on the way out of the office is going to be “Are you getting the metro? Be careful.”

I have to get a flight tomorrow (to foie gras land for a pointless interview at the Town Hall before they’ll accept our marriage file) and I’m expecting a long wait to get through airport security.
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
So pleased to hear you are okay, LVER!

Mrs. S, just plain grateful for a change
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Safe journey, LVER
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Glad to hear you're safe, La Vie - take care on your travels.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Piglet - I met you in a book I am reading by Ronald Blythe. It was such a surprise, and like meeting an old friend suddenly!

---

Really?

Ronnie Blythe is an old friend of D's mother - they worked together when they were young - but I had no idea I featured in any of his books; I only met him once as far as I remember.

He's a nice old boy, and AFAIK still going strong at over 90.

In other news, we've got sn*w. Lots of it.

On the up-side, we've also got a sn*w-day - first of the season.

[ 08. January 2015, 18:21: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Yes, really, piglet! He was talking about organists, mainly your D, but mentioned you by name, as being àn Orcadian. He was at the same time referring to the northern parts of the world - positively I might say
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
When I told D. about your post he said he recalled that we were mentioned in one of Ronnie's books after he'd visited Orkney. I didn't remember meeting him up there, but I suppose I must have done.

After a completely lazy day, I'd better think about turning in - I'll have to w*rk tomorrow, and do the Cathedral bulletin, which I would have done today but didn't ...


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The [bald] Eagle Has Landed!

Collected from the airport about on time this morning and now sorting himself out in his bedroom, if he hasn't already fallen asleep. He told me at breakfast how he wanted to stay up all day so sleep well tonight - I have to say that even when he is not jetlagged he never goes a day without a nap so I am expecting the snores to resonate all the way up here shortly.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Hope you both enjoy his stay WW

I have w*rk today at a new school - all those new names to learn, and I mean the staff, I'm fine at learning the children's names. I just have a chart of them where they sit and soon get to know their names.

It's every Friday so I will have the rest of the week to recover/prepare/mark etc. Ideal!
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Uneasy night last night. Strong winds - 90 mph - roaring in the chimneys, car alarms going off, unidentifiable thumps and bangs. The memory that past storms of this ilk took down our 40ft cherry tree, and tore up part of the roof...

However, all seems still standing this morning. More gales forecast for tonight and tomorrow though.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
to all shipmates in Scotland- keep safe.
A bit blowy here but nowhere near as bad. I've got a dull day ahead of me giving telephone tutorials and sorting out tomorrow's study day. I need to go for my daily walk too but am trying to predict when it will be less blowy/no chance of rain.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
The [bald] Eagle Has Landed!

---

I suspect you mean that the Maple Tree has been planted?

Bald eagle indeed! Is outrage! Probably just as well he's asleep ...

Back to the coal-face after the sn*w-day yesterday, and of course, because there was a sn*w-day yesterday I now have no idea what day it is ...

At least I haven't got the sort of job where things pile up if you miss a day, and D. reckoned that doing the square-root of bugger-all yesterday probably did us no harm at all.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Just managed to get a replacement monitor for my pc, the previous one having displayed the Black Screen of Chittering Death. For several days I've had to resort to the old CRT I had about 25 years ago, 800x600, 2.5 tons in weight, and looks like an old-fashioned television set, though not quite as many buttons. I don't know how I managed all those years.

I now have a nice secondhand one that's actually better than the one that just died, thanks to my local repair shop. Lovely and clear and more fits on the screen. If only all problems could be sorted out as quickly.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Turns out my son has been in Paris all week. I'm glad I didn't know.

He has to do flight simulator assessments every 4 months or so (practicing fires in the hold/losing engines/undercarriage not working etc etc - stuff that can't be practiced on the real thing), and that's what he was there for. He said the whole place felt very subdued
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Having had a spot of rain and quite a lot of wind on Friday, by this morning it was sn*wing like buggery again, so we're kind of back to square one. Temperatures set to plummet somewhat tomorrow, so not much chance of getting rid of it either ...

I decided to express my solidarity with the people of Paris by adapting a French recipe for a lamb-chop casserole, which we're going to have for tomorrow's lunch. If it's any good I'll post the recipe upstairs.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I've been prompted to improve my French, which I haven't spoken for years. Reading publications is surprisingly easy, with only a few words needing to be looked up, but listening to radio broadcasts is proving quite challenging. It is just practice, I suppose. I'm recognizing more words now than I did when I started, but a lot of the high-speed stuff passes me by.

Fingers crossed that today's marches pass without incident.

On a lighter note, my Christmas tree has now been taken down and put away. Other people in the neighbourhood still have theirs up, including the flashing lights on the outside of houses. It's quite nice actually. It always seems a bit abrupt and bleak when everything's whisked away on 6 January, and Easter seems remote.
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
My money i on Easter Eggs going on sale for next weekend.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Chocolate Easter bunnies and MaltEasters have already been on sale since December 26. I haven't looked for Easter eggs as such, but expect they're already there.
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Chocolate Easter bunnies and MaltEasters have already been on sale since December 26. I haven't looked for Easter eggs as such, but expect they're already there.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
*****craves a crème egg*****

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
I bought a bag of Cadbury's Mini Eggs yesterday (you know the little ones that look like birds' eggs but are really chocolate in a speckled sugar coating shell). I originally intended to bring it in for the office but you know, sometimes you have to do quality control on something you haven't had for a while, to make sure it's fit for consumption.

---

I was going to offer help with the quality control, but it looks as if I'm too late ...

Karl, I'm absolutely with you on the proxy-toothache brought on by Crème Eggs. Boogie, dear, you can have my share.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

Karl, I'm absolutely with you on the proxy-toothache brought on by Crème Eggs. Boogie, dear, you can have my share.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
*****craves a crème egg*****

---

Shall I let you know when they start deep frying them round here. A chip shop has been doing that for the last 20 years, but only near Easter.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I rather fancy deep fried creme egg! (Though not today as I'm fasting).
 

---

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
It is amazing what food people crave when they're fasting.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Another one passing on the cream eggs. When I've been given them in the past I've tended to get rid of the central sugary muck (rinse it out with cool water) and eat the chocolate. The news that the chocolate is no longer proper Cadbury's because Kraft decided poorer quality chocolate would fine means that it isn't going to be worth eating the chocolate any more either.

I wonder if the sugar coated eggs have had the Cadbury's chocolate downgraded too? That might explain them tasting nastier.
 

---

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
I can't bear the thought or the sight of creme eggs. Now offer me a caramel egg and I wouldn't resist!
 

---

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
All this talk of creme eggs is making me hungry! But surely everyone knows that eggs come in sixes and twelves not fives! (The other news being that they've changed the boxes of size you used to be able to get, to five in a box)
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Changing the topic, I wonder if, since this thread apparently includes Newfoundland, it would also, by default, include Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, not to mention Iles de la Madeleine?

Pete, cheerfully sending back bits of Canada.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
How about Iceland and Saint Pierre & Michelon?

I suspect that Newfoundland gets in, not just for geographical accuracy (one can hardly deny it's an Island in the North Atlantic) but, dare I say it, for my dual loyalty.*

That and the fact that we're always talking about the weather ...

* which I hope will become dual citizenship one day.

PS Pete, how was your trip across the planet?

[ 13. January 2015, 00:46: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by marzipan:
All this talk of creme eggs is making me hungry! But surely everyone knows that eggs come in sixes and twelves not fives! (The other news being that they've changed the boxes of size you used to be able to get, to five in a box)

---

Blame metrication.

Five is a stupid number to put in a box, because you're always going to have one over to rattle around unless you either put in padding to fill the gap, which will look obvious, or change the shape of the box, which is extra expense with repackaging. They could have gone for four and made them slightly bigger i.e. to weigh the same as five, though perhaps it might have complicated the pricing a bit.

[ 13. January 2015, 04:52: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Can't bear creme eggs - or anything with milk chocolate in or on!

But we should definitely include Newfoundland (would love to go there one day) and Iceland, and any other odd islands hanging around.

Any Faroese out there?
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Back from foie gras land where I spent the weekend holed up among the ducks far away from all the excitement in Paris.

We flew out of Orly where it was surprisingly quiet – although if we’d left a bit later on, I think we would have a lot of trouble because they closed down the Boulevard Périphérique (the ring road that goes round the outside of the city) and I don’t know if we’d have been able to get there.

We had to go for a pointless fifteen-minute meeting which the right-wing foie gras land Town Hall imposes on all foreigners to make sure you’re not getting married just to get a French passport. Yes really OTOH, the sun was shining and we made the most of it to go and see the florist, who I am reassured to discover is lovely, and (IMO of far more interest to the fine folks of this thread) The Caterer™.

So here it is: the most keenly awaited culinary announcement of the year… <trumpet fanfare> …Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to affix your virtual napkins as I give you… <drumroll>… The Menu™

Apéritif: Champagne and hot and cold canapés

Entrée: Duo of foie gras (I mean, of course there’s foie gras. This is the South-West. We’ll have a revolution on our hands if there isn’t ), fruit chutney, toast and mesclun salad.

Meat: Veal steak with white vermouth sauce, parcel of seasonal vegetables and new potatoes

Cheese: Assortment of Roquefort, Cantal and Brie.

Dessert: Champagne Gourmand. This is based on café gourmand which is a popular confection consisting of several miniature desserts and a cup of coffee. A while back we came across a brasserie which has a version replacing the coffee with Champagne, which in our opinion turns it from very nice into flippin’ amazing. Not sure what all of the desserts are going to be, but we have made it clear that if the caterer doesn’t include her moelleux au pain d’épices (a gingerbread flavoured cake with a gooey centre which we tried in her restaurant), we aren’t signing the contract. It is the most delicious thing ever.

Coffee

The knees-up is being knees-upped in a vineyard. Because it’s out of season, the nice man has given us 40% off his price and thrown in the wine for free. So with the exception of the Champagne, the wine is Château Shindig all the way (a sweet white for the foie gras and red for the meat and cheese).
 

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Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
Just excuse me while I drool, LVER. It sounds wonderful!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
... and thrown in the wine for free ...

---

Now you're talking!

That all sounds utterly divine, La Vie; glad to hear you've got everything sorted.

Now, do you need an organist?*

* who will obviously need a page-turner
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
LVER, that sounds amazing!
On a very different tack, we're having our first snow of the year. Darllenwr has been outside and says it's very wet stuff, but it's starting to cover the car. The forcast says heavy snow all night. I'm so glad I don't have to drive to work in Merthyr tomorrow. There are definite advantages to early retirement.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Lovely food and free wine too, I'll book the train tickets

We're having a bit of a gourmet evening here too. I've adapted Rick Stein's Cambodian fried fish in garlic and ginger (I've steamed some Tilapia fillets over the coconut rice as a nod to health instead of frying) and turned his fried aloo matar samosas into baked filo parcels. I'm currently downing a gin and tonic whilst waiting for it to be ready.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
A delicious menu! and especially the Roquefort.

Cold night here - came out of the supermarket to find the car's windscreen half covered in melting snow. Can't be bothered to cook dinner, so I'm just finishing off the rest of the lobster bisque and some bread and cheese with sundried tomatoes. Sometimes all you want is just soup and a sandwich.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
Here we've had snowy showers (plus some hail) today. I spotted a girl on my way home trying to remove snow from her car with a can of de icer... I think a scraper might have been more effective.
I'm hoping the snow will have dispersed by Thursday when I have my driving test. (Eek)
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
The menu sounds lovely LVER - and one can never have too much champagne.

When I eventually got round to marrying (there comes a time when a girl's most attractive feature is her pension plan), the reception venue was a friend's back yard, and the food run up the day before BUT we had a case of vintage champagne (and white and red of course). People still enquire wistfully whether we're going to do it again.
 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by marzipan:
...I'm hoping the snow will have dispersed by Thursday when I have my driving test. (Eek)

---

Good Luck, Marzipan. Everything crossed for better weather on Thursday.
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
No organist, piglet, although there will be a grand piano *

Heavenly Anarchist, you're better off flying. Paris to foie gras land takes 7 or 8 hours on the train. It's a big rip off because the TGV only goes as far as Bordeaux and then from Bordeaux to Toulouse it goes down to the normal speed, and then you still have to get another train... It is the journey from hell and I hate it with all of my heart .

*Played principally by fiancé en rouge's Dad, who is a retired concert pianist. If everything works out, someone else is going to play it to accompany my cello teacher, who is going to play Elgar's Salut d'Amour in honour of Ingerland.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
No organist, piglet, although there will be a grand piano ...

---

Heretick!

We've still got most of the snow we got last Thursday, plus a few extra inches that arrived at the weekend, and a light splat from this morning. As the temperature's currently -12° and falling, it's not likely to be going anywhere ..

Good luck with your driving test, Marzipan!
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
We've got snow here this morning, so I hope you don't live in these parts, Marzipan! Good luck with your driving test!

Its also a lovely sunny morning, but icy cold. Best viewed from indoors, I think!
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
It's sunny here I'm about to go for a nice walk. we seldom ever get snow these days.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Don't knock it, HA - when you get it in January and it doesn't go away until April, the prospect of "no snow" is very appealing.

It's a beautiful day here (apart from the snow) - clear blue skies, bright sunshine and the temperature hovering around -10°, but feeling more like -20 with the wind-chill.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I was chatting to a Polish friend on Monday about the lack of snow here. Even 10 years ago I remember heavy snow for building snowmen and tobogganing. now it is rare and only lasts a day or so when it does come.
She loves the mild winters here, compared with Poland
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Well, my father, who was born in St.Petersburg and survived two post-revolution winters when they were burning books to try and keep warm, used to say that - leaving aside consideration of repressive regimes - he would rather spend a winter in Peter than a winter in Lancashire. The damp means the cold gets into your bones, was his theory.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Good luck, Marzipan!
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:
... he would rather spend a winter in Peter than a winter in Lancashire. The damp means the cold gets into your bones, was his theory.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I've heard people say the inverse about places like Egypt and Tunisia: it may be 40°C, but when it's a dry heat, it's much easier to cope with.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I've heard people say the inverse about places like Egypt and Tunisia: it may be 40°C, but when it's a dry heat, it's much easier to cope with.

---

When it's dry heat your sweat evaporates and cools you.

Moo

---

I've been in Corralejo on the island of Fuerteventura when the temperature was somewhere around 38-40C, and I loved it. I felt very energised. By contrast, I'm here now in damp, not-too-cold Lancashire and it's horrid.

Darwin was wrong. Some of us are descended from iguanas.
 

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Posted by Ferijen (# 4719) on :
 
Another survivor of Lancashire weather here. When you can see Darwen tower, its about to rain and all that. Its so different in the rest of the country (since leaving Lancashire I've been in the north east, and various bits of the south).

Anyway, I've just booked a few a few days holiday at keilder water, in march. Clearly the weather doesn't scare me. Any suggestions (apart from appropriate clothing and star gazing stuff) welcomed.

Anyone made cake recently?
 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
There's a plate of my Mum's fresh black pasty (like a cut-and-come-again eccles cake). Please help yourself; just the thing to keep out the cold.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've got some cherry CAKE in the freezer, and my Better Half also pointed out today that we have four eggs left, which is the number required* for making some more (and the ones in the freezer will keep, whereas the eggs won't last for ever.

* Four shall be the number of the eggs. Three eggs shalt thou not count, excepting that thou then proceed to four. Five is RIGHT OUT.

Sorry - had a bit of a Monty Python moment there ...
 

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Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ferijen:
Any suggestions (apart from appropriate clothing and star gazing stuff) welcomed.

Anyone made cake recently?

---

Blasting round the trails on a mountain bike would see me happy there for a week

I made a proper parkin, like a brick made from oats and black treacle. Better than expensive yoghurt for clearing your backlog!
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
No cake here as I'm dieting but it is our Friday Feast day so I do have some exciting food to cook. We are having a Caribbean feast courtesy of a recipe and spices purchased from the lucky dip at The Spicery; Trinidad Tomato curry (I'm adding squash and sweet potato as I'm not a big tomato fan), curried chick peas, bara bread (alas not fried but griddled) and some sauces in the form of mango chow, hot pepper sauce and green sauce.
First though, I need to get a little work done and then I'm going to make a golden snitch bow tie for my other half to wear to a posh Harry Potter themed do tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ferijen:
Anyone made cake recently?

---

Different people have different callings in life. Some people are called to make cake. I am called to eat it.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Mrs Sioni has made Nigella's easy almond cake a couple of times recently. It really is a doddle of a recipe.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I made a gorgeous Moroccan Orange and almond cake, gluten-free. Fat free too, it uses a whole cooked orange whizzed up to a pulp instead of fat.
Am going to look up Nigella's easy almond cake now.

Good day for cooking, its sleeting hard outside.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
CAKE may ensue later, depending on how tired I feel when I get home from w*rk.

The Cathedral vestry had their annual pot-luck last night, and very nice it was too, with a good variety of dishes. My contribution was a paella, which seemed to go down quite well, although there was enough left over that with a bit of augmentation it'll feed us for lunch tomorrow.
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Not cake exactly, but this weekend I have a longing to have a go at making a tarte tatin. I saw one on the TV last weekend and have itching to try ever since. I’ll let you know how it goes.
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
Tarte tatin is easier than it looks.

Best tip I was given: blanche apple slices before arranging in the pretty pattern - this removes the time pressure and ensures they stay a uniform colour when the whole thing is cooked and turned out.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Not cake exactly, but this weekend I have a longing to have a go at making a tarte tatin. I saw one on the TV last weekend and have itching to try ever since. I’ll let you know how it goes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eigon:
marzipan - you can make chocolate cake in the microwave, you know. It only takes five minutes. At the bottom of the recipe I have, it says how dangerous this is, because now you will never be more than five minutes away from cake!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
La Vie, can you recommend a recipe for the moelleux au pain d’épices? It sounds like something I'd be interested in making. I don't mind if the recipe's in French.

---

Unfortunately I'm not sure any such recipe exists in the public domain - I think it's the caterer's invention. I've never seen it anywhere else. You'll have to take a trip to foie gras land and go to her restaurant

If you wanted to make something like it, I think you would need to look for a basic moelleux/fondant recipe (not the chocolate one - something like a moelleux aux pommes or moelleux au citron) and add the appropriate spices from a pain d'épices recipe. Last time we went there, I saw she had some on the counter that hadn't gone in the oven yet. She had made a sort of well in the middle and filled it with orange sauce and dark chocolate chips, which is what gives it the gooey centre.

Don't know if that helps...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Yes, thanks very much. Like a melting middle gingerbread - could be a lot of fun to experiment with recipes
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Talking of recipes, cherry CAKE is baking as I type this, and should be ready for virtual tasting soon.

The choir turned out in force this morning for the funeral of the mother of one of our tenors (she was 90 and had been in a home for some time). The service went very nicely, and the tenor concerned was very pleased.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Another cold, bright, sunny day here.

D. and I had a v. good (although v. slow - there was something not quite functioning in the kitchen) lunch at Milestones today (using the second gift card he got at Christmas).

Who knew that adding grilled prawns and avocado salsa to Eggs Benedict would knock it into the next league?

Well worth the wait.


 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Bee Vomit!

For some months, possibly for a year, there has been a hugumungous bees nest hanging from a branch of a tree in Himself's mum's garden and then this morning the bees all upped and left - I didn't see it but apparently it was quite a sight, like a big cloud heading off south from here - I presume the queen was dead and the new queen wanted to relocate to a better neighbourhood, or something.

Anyway Himself and Herself and mum and everyone decided to get the nest down, which wasn't quite as easy as it sounds but was managed eventually. Have you ever tasted fresh honey, I mean straight from the comb? Delicious doesn't cover it, it was/is wonderful!
 

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Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :
 
Yes, I used to have beehives at the bottom of the garden. It really makes you wonder what they do to the stuff between collecting and putting it in a jar for the supermarket shelf.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Oh yes! When we lived in South Africa a friend kept bees. He's give us combs dripping in honey - lovely!

The high school near us has bee hives as a project for the kids, so we get lots and lots of honey bees in our garden
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
...and the few remaining bees didn't even attempt to sting any of us!
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
It’s brass monkeys in gai Paris at the minute. They’re forecasting snow for later in the week.

Busy weekend for me. On Friday night and Sunday afternoon we played a concert with the orchestra – the Grieg piano concerto by Grieg, which went down very well.

On Saturday afternoon I organised an afternoon tea with my witnesses/bridesmaids to take the measurements for their frocks, which gave me the excuse for producing my tarte tatin. I made my own pastry and everything because I was feeling that virtuous. It looked quite triumphant when I turned out, although it kind of fell apart when I cut it into slices, so I think I need to have another go. I think my apples were too big so I couldn’t pack them together tightly enough. Also it could have done with being a bit more caramelised. I shall have to make another one at some point to perfect it.

On honey - a while back I saw a programme on the BBC about natural wonders of the Commonwealth. One segment featured men in India (I think – although it might have been Sri Lanka) trekking through a forest in search of honey. Said forest is home to a not inconsiderable number of man-eating tigers. I guess it’s got to be quite something if it’s worth the risk of getting torn limb from limb by a tiger.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
mmm honey... My grandad used to have hives so we would have lots of honey and 'sections' of honeycomb to put on toast. One day I want to have bees but probably will never have a big enough place for them in reality.

It's very cold here today (for here, anyway) - frosty this morning, colder than last week when it snowed. I'm wearing two jumpers at work today (the heating's not great though at least we have some)
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Many moons ago my dad was the science teacher in a village school, and he kept a beehive as a school project, although I was too young at the time to know anything about it.

I remember someone giving us proper honeycomb honey once in Orkney and yes - it was absolutely delicious.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
It's the perfect night for finishing off the Christmas Pud and mulled wine I've been saving for sub-zero temperatures.

I caved in and bought heat-active thermal leggings (to wear under trousers) and a long-sleeved thermal vest last week. I may go back and get a second set, they're very comfortable and light and worth it.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Timely reminder. Tomorrow I am leaving Scotland (which is cold) for northern Germany - which is even colder. Think it may be time to strike out the thermal long johns I bought for Canada last year.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Sorry, Firenze, but that brought to mind a vision of a pair of long-johns big enough to cover the whole of Canada ...

In this little corner of a Rather Large Country, the temperature has soared to +2°, and there's melting snow gushing merrily down the hill outside Château Piglet. It's forecast to go up to 5° tomorrow morning, but it probably won't stay that warm for long enough to get rid of that much snow.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Beautifully sunny here this morning with a lovely crisp frost - my favourite kind of morning
Boring day of admin here, I need to gather together my paperwork for my tax return, compile a file of stuff for CE testing some soft toys I'm making, check up on one of my students and then I need to catch up on my own studies. I might make tandoori-ish chicken this afternoon though.
 

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Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:


On honey - a while back I saw a programme on the BBC about natural wonders of the Commonwealth. One segment featured men in India (I think – although it might have been Sri Lanka) trekking through a forest in search of honey. Said forest is home to a not inconsiderable number of man-eating tigers. I guess it’s got to be quite something if it’s worth the risk of getting torn limb from limb by a tiger.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... it probably won't stay that warm for long enough to get rid of that much snow.

---

It's cleared most of the snow from the roads, but the pavements are covered in serious Patches of Treachery™. A council lorry pulled up on the other side of our road this morning and started putting down salt, but they didn't bother with our side.

We pay the civic taxes with the same sort of dollars* as they do (probably more so, as most of them are on benefits of some sort or another).



* i.e. too many. Further
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
It's snowing now, after a day when the monkeys completely abandoned their brass ball and hurried off in search of hot drinks, baked bananas, etc. But not settling, so far.

The cold cut effortlessly through the four layers I was wearing today, including the thermals. I need to rethink for tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
In the interests of research, we tried out a new Vietnamese restaurant just up the road from our house today, and it was very good indeed. D. had a pork/vermicelli concoction with a spring roll, which was very subtle but with a little bit of a kick; I had a quarter duck with steamed rice, decorated with an apple sliced in the shape or a swan (sounds odd, but the sweetness offset the salty duck skin beautifully). The only thing that could have improved it would have been the removal of the rather awkward bones.

Maybe not somewhere to eat every day, but excellent when we fancy Oriental-but-a-wee-bit-different.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Piglet, I do love reading your posts! You have a wonderful time cooking, eating and singing, and sometimes going to work!

Not being rude, but do you have time to do anything else?? Wish I was as good a cook as you are! Forget the singing, I can't read music and croak like a frog!

Saw a photo of St. Johns yesterday - is it really as colourful as it said??
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Piglet, I do love reading your posts! You have a wonderful time cooking, eating and singing, and sometimes going to work!

---

That's one of the many reasons I enjoy this thread - the glimpses you get into the moments of other people's lives and the mental picture it gives you of them. When I think of Piglet I see her singing in her church or cooking in her kitchen with whales and icebergs floating past outside the window. I see Ariel in the Cotswold lavender farms and in the country pubs. I see Boogie out walking with various labradors. I see WW enjoying the shade of a verandah, clad in not a great deal, or taking a gentle walk along a dusty road. I see la vie en rouge eating cheese and drinking wine.

I, meanwhile, have been to work, had coffee with a friend and am now home trying to feel enthusiastic about this evening's Pilates class. Mr Nen and I have signed up for a series of 6 and I'm counting them down. This is week 3.

Nen - who would be interested in the mental pictures other people have of various posters.
 

---

Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:
I see WW enjoying the shade of a verandah, clad in not a great deal, or taking a gentle walk along a dusty road.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Piglet, I do love reading your posts! You have a wonderful time cooking, eating and singing, and sometimes going to work!

---

You make me sound far more accomplished than I really am (it's just as well that technology hasn't yet found a way of you being able to taste things via the interweb).

Having said that, I'm competent enough at singing and cooking that they give me lots of enjoyment, and I count myself lucky to live where I do - as D. says, coming here was really the best thing we've done.

I think Nenya has a point - my vision of WW involves a verandah and a sort of toga arrangement ...

We're having a couple of the chaps* in the choir round for supper on Friday, so extra cooking will ensue (I'm thinking beef casserole and possibly a very simple chocolate mousse I saw someone do on TV a while ago).

* One of them is a grass-widower at the moment - his wife's gone to visit her mum, and he's a bit lost, as his culinary skills only extend to making cups of tea.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I can't remember what it was called but when I was still carnivorous I used to make a Belgian style beef casserole with beer and then, about 20/30 minutes before the end, slice some baton's of "French" bread into rounds and spread it on one side with mustard and push them into the casserole, mustard side up, then a sprinkle of herbs over the top and then back in the oven - the bread would rise to the top and be crispy on top and soft and gooey underneath. It worked rather well.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Carbonnade of beef. My mother used to make that too, and it is very good on a winter's night.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
That's the word I was looking for, thanks Ariel.

It goes well with something simple like carrots and broccoli.

Yum, yum.
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:
[QUOTE]
I, meanwhile, have been to work, had coffee with a friend and am now home trying to feel enthusiastic about this evening's Pilates class. Mr Nen and I have signed up for a series of 6 and I'm counting them down. This is week 3.

Nen - who would be interested in the mental pictures other people have of various posters.

---

Nen, aren't you enjoying the Pilates? I love mine, but nearly missed it on Tuesday when I got so engrossed in a jigsaw I was doing that I mistook the time and had to go to the later class. It'll be a long time before Mr. S lets me forget that *sigh*

I do t'ai chi as well, and was very relieved to get my instructor back from sick leave yesterday, albeit with a chemo pack attached. His replacement was so fussy about finger positions and yet ignored people's foot placement, which - given that most of us were there to address balance/stability issues - seemed perverse to me .

Sorry about the rant, but my main theme is to wish people would take up this sort of stuff earlier in life, rather than waiting till they can't move their shoulders properly, or they've had hip replacements. Use it or lose it, I suppose, and then when you've lost it, wish you could get it back (see Aging Parents thread!)

Mrs. S, fat but flexible
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
As a representative antique T'ai Chi-er - yes, I should have kept it up over the years and not let the 20 year gaps develop. But, as you mention, it can be difficult if your teacher disappears for a while, or moves away entirely. In one instance, the entire organisation relocated all its classes to a distant part of the city.

I'm hoping my present class/teacher lasts at least until I have the short Form down pat. There's still the problem though of keeping up practice between times if you don't happen to have access to a few square yards of unobserved open space.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I can't remember what it was called but when I was still carnivorous I used to make a Belgian style beef casserole with beer and then, about 20/30 minutes before the end, slice some baton's of "French" bread into rounds and spread it on one side with mustard and push them into the casserole, mustard side up, then a sprinkle of herbs over the top and then back in the oven - the bread would rise to the top and be crispy on top and soft and gooey underneath. It worked rather well.

---

I've made something similar before but the kids complain of eating soggy bread This I find very strange as my parents were working class Lancastrians and several times a week as children we had hot pot type dishes of which the highlight was soaking up the gravy at the end with a slice of cheap white bread.
I have a fast day today on my 5:2 diet and I might make pease pudding as a low cal meal. Everyone else can have flat breads with theirs.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I used to do Pilates but now go to Iyengar yoga with a fantastic teacher who is friendly but very hands on. I really like her, she corrects everyone constantly but isn't showy like some yoga teachers. The class is 90mins long and on a Monday morning and I feel it really sets me up for the week, both mentally and physically. Iyengar uses lots of stretching poses and props so I feel I get a good workout too.
 

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Posted by Beethoven (# 114) on :
 
I tried Pilates in the next village along from here and really enjoyed it (quite to my surprise!) - but then the instructor moved to Italy, which somehow limited the options to continue! There's now a weekly session in the village where I live, but it's during the day while I'm at work.

It's a cold, damp, grey and misty morning here. Perfect for sitting in front of a blazing fire with a hot drink and a slice of something freshly baked. And I'm in the office.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
I used to go to Pilates too and loved it. I started the classes to get in tip top shape for cb's wedding and kept going until a family crisis meant my time and energy was needed elsewhere.
The class I used to attend is still running but an hour earlier which is too early for me.
It intrigues me how each Pilates teacher has a completely different way of teaching it.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
I've long wanted to do Pilates and Mr Nen and I did a taster session when we were away in December which we both enjoyed and I felt it exercised lots of muscles I didn't know I had but that needed exercising. In these sessions now we spend all the time on the floor contorting ourselves into extraordinary positions that make my neck ache and leave me thinking - "Just... why...?"

I've heard a number of t'ai chi recommendations and might look into whether there are any sessions round here.

Nen - fat and not particularly flexible but willing to try.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm v. excited to find that I'm going to be Great-Auntie Piglet again - my nephew and his wife are expecting their second baby at the beginning of August.

Gives us a good idea of when to take our holidays ...


 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Congratulations I started my own great auntyness early, what with having 7 siblings. I was an aunty aged 6 and a great aunty aged about 27. Mind you, my sister wasn't that impressed at becoming a grandmother at 39 (though that was her own fault for getting pregnant aged 17).
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Nen, this term we are using Swiss balls, and some weeks we get to bounce on them, which is surprisingly hard work but good exercise for the pelvic floor muscles The sight of 12 mainly middle-aged people bouncing like kids on spacehoppers is a real treat

On the other hand, sometimes we lie with our spines aligned along solid foam rollers, which our instructor says have the amazing effect of making a hard floor feel like a posh mattress when you finally fall off them

Mrs. S, aka Roo -'look at me bouncing!'
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I am so looking forward to Pilates - it's high on the list of what I'll be able to do when I am no longer tied to a desk, which will start in 2 weeks time . Joining an orchestra is also high on the list - for the last 16 years or so I've not been able to commit to evenings, so later today I'm visiting one to see if they like me and I like them. I think I'll adapt easily to my new life
 

---

Posted by Ferijen (# 4719) on :
 
Daisydaisy, there is a local flute choir you may want to check out, if you've not come across it yet...
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Yay for orchestras! I play in an amateur Symphony Orchestra. I am principal cellist, which is not quite so impressive as it sounds. I probably do play a bit better than the rest of the section, but (amateur) cellists tend to be distinctly unambitious. AIUI, if I am not there, my colleagues argue among themselves for the right not to sit in my chair. Anyway, orchestras are awesome.

Funny Nenya pictures me with cheese and wine – this pretty much sums up how yesterday evening panned out. Neither fiancé en rouge nor I are really meant to eat large amounts of cheese (high cholesterol and sore joints respectively) but we figure if you binge out on a whole week’s worth of cheese all in one go, you must absorb less of it, right?
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ferijen:
Daisydaisy, there is a local flute choir you may want to check out, if you've not come across it yet...

---

I think that's the one I'm going to
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Well what a cold morning! All the cars in the car park turned grey overnight. Delays on the railway this morning, and by the time I got to work it was a balmy 18°F which is several degrees below freezing.

It didn't stop us going out to, yes you guessed it, a country pub with log fires, for lunch. I had a very nice venison pie.

It's been a good week for eating out - Tuesday saw one of the best lunches I've ever had, with grilled lobster, grilled king prawns and scallops with lemon butter and fries, a delicious glass of sparkling rose, and a chocolate fondant pudding with amaretto cherries, plus a glass of amaretto to finish off with. It really doesn't get much better than that.

(Sorry, I don't have anything orchestral to contribute.)
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Cold here too and I realise that I haven't gone for my daily walk Lamb and spinach curry in the slow cooker though, so that'll warm us up later.
A lazy day here, I did some work earlier but really should be studying now.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Yes, this morning's cycle into work was distinctly chilly! My max-min thermometer made it -5/6C (helpfully, the two sides are a degree out) when we left the house. Port Meadow was beautiful... but bloomin' cold!

AG
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We got about 6" of wet, splatty snow last night - enough to make it messy and awkward, but not enough for a snow-day.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Another lovely day here, I thought I'd better say that in case you were worried, and I am just back from my evening walk to the post office and back to post a letter for Pete. Himself and Herself are off to some sort of local extravaganza in town but Pete and I declined - I reckon I'll be sound asleep before they get home.

Tomorrow no morning walk with Pete so I'll get up early, I hope, and do a brisk walk round the villages before breakfast. It's a good start to the day.

...and I bought myself a Smartphone today! I can't use it until next week* as I'm porting my current to it and that takes a little while as it will be with another provider - I couldn't face having to learn a new number and change all my stationery so I decided to go the shower route.

*I'm not convinced that I will be able to use it at all but then I look at some of the guys around here who manage stuff like that and reckon I should be able to get away with it, given time.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Yes, this morning's cycle into work was distinctly chilly! My max-min thermometer made it -5/6C (helpfully, the two sides are a degree out) when we left the house. Port Meadow was beautiful... but bloomin' cold!

---

Yes, my colleagues were saying their car temperatures showed the same. While waiting for a bus at the station, I noticed a young lady on her way to catch a train who appeared to be wearing bare legs, high-heeled, light, strappy beige summer shoes and a not particularly substantial jacket and skirt.

I've been wondering whether she was just one of those hardy types, or whether they're still defrosting her after this morning's commute.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We went to the supermarket last night at about 8:30 (when the temperature was -4°C) to get in some bits and bobs for this evening, and there was a woman behind us at the check-out with the shortest dress* either of us had ever seen, bare legs and high-heeled peep-toe shoes.

In Newfoundland. In January.

I'm now at the just-about-post-swearing stage of preparation - the casserole's in the slow-cooker where I hope it's going to cook, and the chocolate mousse (which I've never tried before) is chilling in the fridge, which is why I'm messing about on here, while the iron heats up (I suppose I'd better have decent-looking napkins ...)

* Actually the word "dress" is an exaggeration - it was shorter than most of my shirts.

[ 23. January 2015, 18:37: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
On the other hand, sometimes we lie with our spines aligned along solid foam rollers

---

But - why? My back serves me very well and I'm sure I wasn't given it in order to lie on a foam roller. See, I'm sure if the Pilates teacher explained why we do things and which muscles we're exercising it would help.

I am not in a good mood, having had an immensely unproductive day at work and feeling bad about that... they don't pay me to sit in their office achieving virtually nothing... but on the plus side Mr Nen's going out shortly so I can catch up on the Winterwatch I missed last night.

Nen - very taken with the idea of bouncing.
 

---

Posted by Garasu (# 17152) on :
 
But it feels so good when you stop!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... the casserole's in the slow-cooker where I hope it's going to cook ...

---

It did! I've now discovered that about 4½ hours on the high setting of the slow-cooker works just as well as 8 hours on the low. It was generally pronounced to be v. flavoursome, and there was only a tiny little freezer-bagful left over.

The chocolate mousse wasn't bad either, although next time I'll whip up some cream to put on top, so it doesn't look quite so scruffy.

We had a v. nice evening, and I'm now moderately zonked.

Much sleeping tomorrow, I think.
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
On the other hand, sometimes we lie with our spines aligned along solid foam rollers

---

But - why? My back serves me very well and I'm sure I wasn't given it in order to lie on a foam roller. See, I'm sure if the Pilates teacher explained why we do things and which muscles we're exercising it would help.

Nen - very taken with the idea of bouncing.

---

According to our teacher, the foam roller - like all Pilates - is all about balance and muscular control (then again, what isn't? especially if you take away the word 'muscular' )

daisydaisy, is it possible I may see you at Pilates in future then?

Mrs. S, working up to a Good Long Walk
 

---

Posted by jugular (# 4174) on :
 
Hello, fair people of Britain! I will be in the UK during August this year. I am looking forward to ship-meeting where possible. But right now I'm mainly trying to find someone who has experience of the inner workings of Greenbelt. I'd like to put myself forward to do a presentation/workshop/whatever, but as a Greenbelt virgin, it's hard to find out what sorts of submissions they accept and how much support is offered. For those playing at home, it would most likely be about the Love Makes A Way movement, though I have other mad skillz.

Is there anyone who might like to PM about it and help a poor shipmate out? I will pay in egg sandwiches (stale).
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
Piglet, I thought you would enjoy seeing how the Swedish chef makes chocolate moose

Moo
 

---

Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Had a nice morning mooching around with my husband buying random things such as asafoetida, knitting wool and a toilet seat. Came home and booked a pre-Easter break to Sicily.
I still have some walnut and halva cake (an Ottolenghi recipe) left if anyone fancies a slice.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
Piglet, I thought you would enjoy seeing how the Swedish chef makes chocolate moose

---

Obviously, living where I do, I saw that one coming ...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sarasa:
... random things such as asafoetida, knitting wool and a toilet seat ...

---

Things don't come much more random that that!

I indulged in a spot of retail therapy today too: a pair of jeans, a really rather smart jacket for $40 (about £21.50), a couple of ball candles and a 90th birthday card for my dad (I'm going over to Scotland at the beginning of February to join in the celebrations - I'm apparently the "surprise" ).
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs
daisydaisy, is it possible I may see you at Pilates in future

---

Maybe - although I'm not sure that I'm quite ready for swiss balls or foam rollers - I'm looking for one where I can use arm bands or have a safety harness

As I dug up rather a large amount of Jerusalem Artichoke yesterday, today's cooking has featured this. Just waiting for the after effect to kick in, but so far so good. I'm wondering how many of my friends and neighbours would like some - there are plenty more waiting to be dug up - it might provide the alternative to the solar farms that people are muttering about.

Getting ready for a day tomorrow counting birds and making quince jelly (found some windfalls ) and gooseberry chutney.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
...I'm apparently the "surprise" ).

---

If you are to jump out of a cake be sure to wait until after they have cooked it before you climb in!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
"... four and twenty piglets
Baked into a cake
When the cake was opened
One Piglet began to sing:
Now wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before a king?"

Quiet weekend so far, fine by me. It's been a long, cold week of sub-zero temperatures, but at least some snowdrops and blossoms are now starting to show.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Ariel and WW -

Found out today that Dad's in hospital - nothing life-threatening, just general frailty and being assessed for appropriate "care packages" (horrid expression). When I spoke to my sister and brother they were fairly upbeat about the whole thing, and everyone's still going up to Orkney next week as planned.

Filthy weather here today - it blew a gale this morning, causing quite interesting sound-effects during the morning service, and chucked it down with rain, but at least it's cleared away a good bit of the snow from the roads and pavements.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Squeeee!!

I'm going to see Brian May playing the guitar tonight!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Wow - "squeeee!!" doesn't really cover it. Lucky you!
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
I thought you’d be the one interested in that news, Piglet . He was *phenomenal*.

Roger Taylor was also on good form. I last saw him about ten years ago when I thought he didn’t look all that well (I suspect as a result of doing too many drugs in the 80s), but last night he seemed pretty spry (said drugs have had longer to work their way out of his system ). His son has joined them as second drummer. Spike Edney was also back on keys. I don’t remember the name of the new bass player.

I liked their new singer (Adam Lambert). He wasn’t trying to be Freddie, but in some ways I think he’s a lot like him – very flamboyant and camp. He sang Killer Queen lying on a chaise longue fluttering at his face with a golden fan . Incredible voice.
 

---

Posted by Ferijen (# 4719) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jugular:
Hello, fair people of Britain! I will be in the UK during August this year. I am looking forward to ship-meeting where possible. But right now I'm mainly trying to find someone who has experience of the inner workings of Greenbelt. I'd like to put myself forward to do a presentation/workshop/whatever, but as a Greenbelt virgin, it's hard to find out what sorts of submissions they accept and how much support is offered. For those playing at home, it would most likely be about the Love Makes A Way movement, though I have other mad skillz.

Is there anyone who might like to PM about it and help a poor shipmate out? I will pay in egg sandwiches (stale).

---

I'm not sure I've seen her on the ship recently, but I think Tractor Girl may well have some insights. I'll ask her to check this thread...

There's also usually a GB thread somewhere, I'm sure someone there will know someone with connections.

If you're up for a south coast meet at any point, would love to meet you.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Rush of brains to the head yesterday when I dusted my bedroom and cleaned my bathroom. I didn't do the mirrors which are [already!] looking as if they need it - possibly tomorrow.

It's been a frustrating day with two appointments for taking photos which both fell through for different reasons but it's okay - I have enough to occupy my time. If I get desperate I can always have a nap.

This morning I was trying to explain to a friend in his mid-twenties that worrying about stuff is a waste of time and energy but realise that at that age it is a difficult thing to accept.
 

---

Posted by Tractor Girl (# 8863) on :
 
Further to Ferijen's post the website lets people know what is happening each year re submissions and how to submit https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/about/
Last year they had an open submissions application process which they selected talks from. Not involved this year and so not sure procedure, other shipmates may be able to help you.

There is normally a Greenbelt thread on the boards and there we tend to have atleast one ship meet over the weekend.

Hope all that helps a bit
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Glad you enjoyed it, La Vie.

Envious? Moi? Too right!
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Welcome to the UK thread - come along and chat about the weather!



(Title edited)

---

 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Well, after that invite - it was drizzly here, then sunny but now we appear to be having a sudden storm and it's blowing and hammering down.

Today my eldest turned 14, I can't believe how the time has flown. He requested a spicy stir fry for tea (he's a rather liberal eater and I suspect he made this request as his younger brother is veggie phobic) followed by carrot cake. The carrot cake is currently cooking and I'm just making some chapatis (or possibly Chapstick, as the auto correct keeps insisting ).
I need to get round to doing some study eventually...
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
After snow and freezing rain last night, we've now got rivers running down the steeper roads, and more patches of treachery on the pavements.

Apart from that, it's quite a nice day.
 

---

Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
That's it, it's official. We've had all the weathers today. Hail, rain, sleet, bright sunshine, snow in both gentle showers and then driving sheets (in that order) and now thunder and lightning. It's definitely not boring.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That looks fairly familiar, A in E. Are you sure you don't live in Newfoundland?

Made a batch of French sticks this afternoon and did a bit of adjustment to the jeans I bought last weekend (they never make the ones that fit me in quite the shape I like).

I got a 40%-off birthday voucher in the post today from Addition Elle, the Canadian generously-proportioned ladies' shop. The thing is, it has to be used during February, so if I want to get something that I can take with me when I go away, I'll have to get it on Sunday afternoon, as my flight's on Sunday night, which is a bit of a pain.

I shouldn't really complain - 40% off is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We had some less sugar carrot cake last night at supper - it was yummy. Sadly we had no sugar-free ice cream to go with it. Must buy some more. I can eat any but Himself and Pete are both Type 2 so have to be careful.

We all agreed that carrot cake is definitely counted as a serving of vegetable.

Last night, as well as emptying the box of bandwidth so I was forced off-line until I ought some more, I also managed to format my new phone - wasn't that clever? I am happy to give online instructions if anyone else wants to have a go. I shall take it in today and hopefully get it back in a week or so all restored. I shall ask them if it can have a newer OS put on as well as it has Jelly-Bean, superseded yonks ago; hopefully I can get Kitkat.

Luncheon so I'm off to eat.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
We are back from our easyJet flight to Glasgow with my youngest son in the pilot's seat. It was my Christmas present - a lovely surprise.

It was surreal! I felt weirdly responsible for all the passengers. Of course, we were also 100% proud. It was a very windy day and he landed it perfectly. We had a cockpit tour after the flight and took lots of photos. Andy is first officer at 25 years old but the captain was only a year or two older!

Glasgow was fun with some Celtic Connections concerts to enjoy. We went on the coldest ever open top bus city tour
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Glad you had a good time Boogie.

WW, my carrot cake has at least 2 vegetables in it. Sugar is a vegetable, made either from a grass or a root veg (obviously root here, I'm in Silver Spoon territory). Obviously the chocolate bunnies that featured on the top of my cake provided the added benefit of beans as well.

I spent half an hour in my studio today preparing glass for my kiln without a single breakage or hand cut then promptly dropped a full milk bottle on the kitchen floor and spent ages picking up little splinters of glass
I must go and check up on my students (essays due in yesterday and today) and then get back to my own studies as an essay looms for me too.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
HA, how do you find the time to do all that you do?? I am totally amazed - you come up with something new that you are doing/making all the time!

Cold, very snowy and a day to stay indoors. So I took the dog out and then have to go out (if I can get the car up the snowy drive) to an appointment at the Medical Centre.

Where is a magic chariot when you need one!
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... better than a slap in the face with a wet fish ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wet Kipper:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... better than a slap in the face with a wet fish ...

---

you called ?

---

In Belfast, the usual expression was "better than a slap in the face with a wet [Belfast] Telegraph".
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
There must have been all of 5 minutes of snow in the city centre this evening, none of which settled. Somehow, we all coped with this ferocious blast of winter (to the sound of delighted squeals from a group of Brazilian students: by the time they'd got their phones out to photograph it, it had stopped). It's official: winter has arrived.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Five whole minutes, Ariel?

If that were all the snow we got I'd be a very happy piglet - five months is nearer the mark.

Well, not five months of it actually snowing, but once it falls in big enough heaps, it takes a very long time to go away.

[ 30. January 2015, 04:01: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I took my phone back to where I bought it yesterday and saw the man who then called the boy who sold it to me - he cured it in about 90 seconds! Thus no chance to ask for more modern OS - and anyway they didn't charge anything so I'd have felt a bit odd asking for more. It's working fine now and I'm slowly getting used to it - my fingers are still a bit clumsy.

My Right of Residence stuff has taken a temporary tumble as they have just rationalised the system from the previous two parallel schemes to just one scheme, and I won't be eligible to apply until September so they gave back my application papers and the money, which is now back in my account. The single scheme, as it now stands, is the better of the previous two by far so I am not at all unhappy about this, it is worth waiting awhile to get it right. The one drawback is applying for a further visa extension in May to take me to the application date but that is really no big deal and by then the process should be mainly online so it's a win-win.

Plus yesterday afternoon I did something I've been planning for years - I have taken a few photos in for printing as 12x8 and then delivered them to a local framer, collection early next week, and then putting some pictures up around the place. I have 90+ thousand photos in the folder here so I'm happy that a few seem worth exhibiting.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I'm about to set off for work (6:30am) we have about 4 inches of snow, but was very slushy and it's frozen solid overnight. The car park at work is up a steep hill. I'm really not looking forward to -

a) digging the car out
b) negotiating our hill which doesn't get gritted
c) the journey, which usually takes half an hour and will be much longer
d) finding somewhere to park
e) the journey home, which usually takes an hour but will be much longer

Ho hum, pig's bum - moan over!

The actual work I enjoy
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Just a light snow here, about an inch. My chickens are not impressed though, so extra grain rations for them.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We've got freezing rain and Patches of Treachery™. While I was getting ready for w*rk, I watched a bloke getting out of his car across the road and he was skeetering about all over the place, so when I had to brave it myself, I was walking very gingerly indeed.



[ 30. January 2015, 14:08: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Yaktrax, that's what you need. They're fantastic for stopping you skeetering.
I love mine (and I never ever expected to need to use that smiley)

[ 30. January 2015, 15:07: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I survived!

It was 4 inches at home - only a dusting at work

It's rather nice only working one day a week - you can still have that 'Friday feeling' without any of the weekly graft!

To be fair, I know I'm now to old for teaching full time - it's a young person's game for sure. I am eternally grateful that I could afford to retire.

Now for the weekend - is it WINE O'clock yet?
 

---

Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
...Now for the weekend - is it WINE O'clock yet?

---

Don't you know, Boogie: it's always Wine O'clock somewhere in the world
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I'm keeping my bottle of mulled wine for this weekend. If the weather lives up to expectations it'll be just the thing, and if it doesn't, it'll be nice anyway.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I'm on beer, a home brewed Belgium Christmas beer.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Not much snow here in chilly Bethnei....I feel rather disappointed!
 

---

Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Rainy sleet that turns to snow for a minute or two then back to rain here. The plan for today included going to our local outdoor lido. it's lovely and warm once you are in the water, but I'm not sure I fancy the walk from the changing rooms.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
There's what looks like a very half-hearted dusting of icing sugar in the car park. The weekend's shopping was done last night in case. Today's forecast has now changed to cold and rain, but I don't fancy going out when the world looks so dismal. I have a pile of historical novels and a supply of chocolate to work through but somehow I think I shall cope.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
It was deep and crisp and even round here yesterday and day before! But its slowly thawing now and getting slushy and slippery. I'm only thankful it didn't freeze last night as it makes it so dangerous for me to walk!

But it was very pretty!
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
I'm keeping my bottle of mulled wine for this weekend. If the weather lives up to expectations it'll be just the thing, and if it doesn't, it'll be nice anyway.

---

I like your style.

A grey dismal day here too, but the snowdrops are out. Also the daffodils in some places, which is Just Plain Wrong.

Domestics and decorating mainly today for Mr Nen and me, then out this evening to Nenlet1 and son in law for a meal.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
We had snow overnight on Thursday. I walked home through it falling at 10:45pm, woke up to a dusting on the roofs and grass, wet pavements. I'd been in the audience for the recording of this week's The Now Show.

This morning we had a couple of hours of snowfall that hasn't settled other than a bit of icing on roofs, here and there. A good day to stay in and do domestic things

I am feeling very pleased with myself. All the news on the deadline for self-assessment tax returns prompted me to check if I was supposed to do one. (I got caught in a funny way of taxing temporary roles through umbrella companies which was explained as working self employed but failed to send me any pay slips, P45 or P60). Apparently I'm due various tax refunds. And sorting out my tax is a whole weight off.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Nenya, I noticed daffodils out on some of the local roundabouts. It was a positively tropical 7.5C in Cardiff!
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
For reasons too complicated to go into, I'd arranged that Mr. S and I would drive 90 miles to the Dowager's to meet Former Miss S and SiL, so we could all go out to lunch together (incidentally celebrating Mr. S's 5 years since retirement - another 6 months and he'll be able to draw his State pension )

Even at the beginning of the week the Dowager was fretting about sn*w, but I pooh-poohed that idea till this morning when I saw a yellow weather warning so I insisted we take a shovel, a blanket, water, food, hiking boots ...and we drove the long way round to avoid the back lanes we usually travel by.

Not a flake of sn*w to be seen all day though the weather was very odd with that strange hectic light that sometimes accompanies very changeable weather. I was very relieved though I think Miss S would have liked some sn*w so they could practise with their new 4x4

Mrs. S, who also spotted her first daffodils of the year
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
You were obviously the beneficiaries of Piglet's Umbrella Principle, Mrs. S. - if you hadn't taken the shovel, blankets etc., there would probably have been a blizzard. It was a nice day here today - cool but dry - and most of the Patches of Treachery seem to have gone for the moment.

I've had a really quite busy and productive day: I coloured my hair in the morning, made paella for lunch, then went and got my hair cut and copped a couple of bargains at the shops while I was at it - a pair of shoes that I hope will be comfortable enough to cope with chasing round airports, and a decent-sized handbag with lots of compartments - just the sort I like.

Then after much swearing managed to get the computer to print the order of service for tomorrow's Candlemas Procession - it was being decidedly belligerent, but I managed to bring it to heel, which made D. think that I'm a very clever piglet ...

I was going to try and check in for my flights on-line, but discovered that you can't do it more than 24 hours before your flight, so that'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon.

There will probably be more swearing*.

* although possibly not as much as is engendered by those hateful check-in machines at the airport.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
1st February! In 4 weeks it will be the first day of spring. Meanwhile, you might still have time to say "Rabbits", if you're quick...

Still no snow here, just the cold, not helped by an east wind that seems to be enjoying flattening any plumes of chimney smoke into the horizontal.

[ 01. February 2015, 07:46: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Snow disappearing slowly, but all crisp this morning which makes the slush slippery

Still beautifully white on the tops and hills though. Probably still white in Boogie Land??

Seems a long time until Spring. The daffodil we had that bloomed on the 27th December has just died.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
We still have quite thick snow on the grass but the roads are clear.

I took the dogs on the moors today as the sheep are all tucked up inside - they loved it, so did I.

Gypsy found an unfrozen bog, of course and needed hosing down when we got home as she's off to Church with me soon
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Sadly, Piglet's Umbrella Principle let us down badly for The Wedding - we bought three white umbrellas in the sure and certain hope that they would keep the rain away. However we emerged from church to find it drizzling, and by the time we got to the reception it was frankly p*ssing down

Never mind, if they didn't stop it raining at least they kept the rain off in the other sense

Thought of you this morning, Piglet, while walking near the Solent - it was a toss-up whether my ears were colder than my toes, or vice-versa! Hope all goes well for your trip, too

Mrs. S, quietly tiddly-pomming to herself
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The Good News about rain is that it usually comes with an overcast sky, which is better for outdoor photography than bright sunshine which gives awkward, if not devastating shadow.

[ 01. February 2015, 16:09: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
(Sigh) I was given a sample of Shropshire Blue Cheese last week, something I haven't tried before. Suffice it to say I bought a large chunk of it and have now gone through an entire packet of crackers as a delicious accompaniment in the past three days. There ought to be a Cheese Addicts Hotline I can ring. What is it about blue cheese?

In other news, a bitterly cold day. Went to Stratford on Avon this morning as it was supposed to be a bit warmer than where I was, but it wasn't so I gave up and went home again.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
It has indeed been savagely cold this weekend (by Southern UK standards, at least, the Newfoundlanders and Faroese are allowed to laugh). We went to Wantage on Saturday, and popped out to Kingston Lisle and the Blowing Stone. Popped out of the car - quick look - blew into the likeliest hole - popped in the car again!

BBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

AG
 

---

Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
It's due to be very cold over night for the next 2 nights. I do value my windscreen cover to reduce the time needed to scrape the car in the morning. It also means less stretching over the car to reach as I'm not very tall.

I saw some very small flakes of snow earlier which is the first I've seem so far this winter
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Mmmmmmm! Shropshire Blue! Mmmmmmm!

Do the Cheese Addicts people organise tastings?

How do I join?

The other morning for breakfast Herself presented me with croissants stuffed with different cheeses and then warmed so the cheese was just at the point of melting into the bread but without being runny - Pete seemed to think he was entitled to some as well, which was annoying, so I allowed him a tiny morsel. One of the cheeses was some Gorgonzola that had been hanging around for a while and was seriously ripe.

Bliss!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
We get a nice bit of Shropshire Blue nearly every week, from our local Cheese-and-lots-of-lovely-other-things Shop, which is, appropriately enough, called The Cheshire Cat.

Tried some Cheshire Blue last week, but found it just too strong. If you like a very strong, salty blue, then hunt for it!

Tasty Lancashire is good too.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Stop it. You're making me hungry. And I don't even like blue cheese (a tasty Lancashire on the other hand...)
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
The other morning for breakfast Herself presented me with croissants stuffed with different cheeses and then warmed so the cheese was just at the point of melting into the bread but without being runny...

---

That sounds like heaven on a plate.

Bitterly cold just now and a landslip on the railway line means that stretch of the line is closed for at least a week, while they shift 350 tons of earth. It also means that my train home is cancelled and I have an hour's wait for the next, on the Platform of Winter, with its frosted metal seats. Ah well.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I'm on my 5:2 fast today and very jealous of the blue cheese! But I will be content with my bowl of lentil and veg laksa.
I buy Jus-rol croissants sometimes and roll up the pastry with diagonal half slice of cheddar for a lovely oozy cheese croissant. Though sometimes I put in jam, chocolate or marzipan instead. Obviously on non-fast days
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
I'm not good with dogs. We're looking after Nenlet1's in-laws' dog while they're out for a long day. She had a long walk this morning before they went, so I've taken her for a couple of short ones. She's had her tea. She has a bowl of water. She's had lots of fuss. Now she's just sitting about sighing heavily every so often and getting tremendously excited when I get up to do something mundane like go to the loo. I feel I'm an immense disappointment to her.

Mr Nen and I occasionally toy with the idea of having a dog; indeed he was so keen to see her when he got in from work that he marched straight through without giving me a kiss. He then sounded very surprised that she had not yet been for her second walk and when I offered him the lead and the poo bags he immediately announced that he had work to do this evening.

Nen - cat person.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've arrived safely in Edinburgh, no major hiccups despite the flight from St. John's being a bit late in leaving, making me panicky that I wouldn't have enough time to change terminals, but everything went just fine.

Had v. nice supper - veggie chilli cooked by my niece, who's a vegetablist - who knew that quorn could be that good? Also got lovely cuddles from my great-niece, who is the cutest two-year-old on the planet.


 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Currently the world is prettily iced with snow. I suspect that means a slushy walk to the tube later and sadly I've got too much to do to bundle up and take the camera out.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
A light covering of snow where I live turned gradually into a good 2-3" by the time I reached the office. Hadn't expected that, but got some pictures anyway. Railway stations always look better in the snow, especially country stations and old-fashioned trains.

I just hope it all melts by tonight because the pavements will be lethal otherwise.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
An inch or two here but no road problems. I chose today to start wearing a pedometer so I suppose I'm going to have to go and take a walk in it before I start work.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I've arrived safely in Edinburgh, no major hiccups despite the flight from St. John's being a bit late in leaving, making me panicky that I wouldn't have enough time to change terminals, but everything went just fine.

---

Welcome to the UK Piglet - enjoy your stay!



 

---

Posted by Beethoven (# 114) on :
 
A couple of inches of snow here, and you'd think the world was ending! School buses an hour late, cars sliding off the road, kids having a day off school because their parents didn't want to trust the bus driver, or take the car out themselves... Me, I'm relieved both DDs made it to school eventually, and enjoying the pretty
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
A light covering of snow where I live turned gradually into a good 2-3" ...

---

Where I come from 2-3 inches is a light covering ...

When I was flying up to Edinburgh yesterday, once we came down below the clouds I looked out of the window and thought, "ooh, snow!", not really having much idea of where we were. Then, all of a sudden, the snow just stopped. It was as if a borderline had been drawn (it may indeed have been the Scottish border, or a bit north of it), and south of the line the fields were white, and north of it they were green.

Once I was back at ground-level I realised that there were still patches of snow on the ground, but they're just that - patchy.

Having been very good and not slept until normal bed-time (early for me, but more-or-less normal), I slept like a log until about 7 a.m., woke briefly and slept like another log* until about noon. I suspect that's the right way to sort one's jet-lag.



well-rested piglet

* actually it may have been the same log - I didn't notice, as I was asleep.

[ 03. February 2015, 13:42: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
Pilates night again.

But only one more after this one.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Pilates not floating your boat, Nenya? I wouldn't know - I'm not even sure what a pilate is.

I'm just back from my very first Ship-meet, and a very nice one it was - thank you Cottontail, North East Quine and Wet Kipper.

Then a nice mosey along Princes Street (well, a wee bit of it) and back out to my sister's place.

No real plans for the rest of the day, although I may do a bit of dozing off - I could feel my eyes closing on the bus, but had to stay awake in case I missed my stop and ended up in Kilmarnock or somewhere ...
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
Were you able to procure and safely deliver the cake, Piglet?
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
There are primroses out in our church grounds and a daffodil in bu and other daffodil shoots in the flower beds. OK, the church grounds are quite sheltered, but I can see daffodil shoots starting to appear on the bank below our house. Spring might just be on it's way!
Meanwhile, it's so cold, I've been really glad of the knitted shawl a friend gave me wich I can wrap around my neck like a cowl.
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Pilates not floating your boat, Nenya? I wouldn't know - I'm not even sure what a pilate is.

---

Something best kept between the covers of a Bible, Piglet, and occasionally preceded by the word "Pontius."

Sounds as though you're having a great time in Scotland.

Nen - worn out and off to bed.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Pilates not floating your boat, Nenya? I wouldn't know - I'm not even sure what a pilate is.

---

Something best kept between the covers of a Bible, Piglet, and occasionally preceded by the word "Pontius."

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
There are primroses out in our church grounds and a daffodil in bu and other daffodil shoots in the flower beds...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
After tomorrow I'll have plenty of time to experiment - I hand in the tools of my trade and walk free.

---

Retirement?

My day off today - grocery shopping, lunch with Mr Nen who is working from home, coffee with a friend this afternoon. Also hoping to shake off the Post Pilates Backache. It took my zumba class on Tuesday to sort out last week's. Fear not, my friends - this time next week I'll have done my last Pilates class and the moaning will stop.

Nen - loves part time working.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Alas, today is a heap of marking and studying, with an online tutorial to teach this evening too. I'm just off for a walk in the snow first.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Over there - beyond the plate glass - the sleet is falling as steadily on the Viale Vittorio Emanuele as it has been for some hours. I've been to the Duomo, and the church where St Augustine is buried and the market and the shops selling posh handbags and expensive perfumes. This bench seat is not that comfortable, but the one in the room is no better. Ah well, this time tomorrow, in transit...
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Cold, miserable and grey here, and walking the dog across the park is like trudging across the Russian tundra!

Definitely not a 'me' day
 

---

Posted by Beethoven (# 114) on :
 
For the second time this week, I went for a run in the evening, and less than twelve hours later white stuff was falling from the sky. I don't think there's a connection, but... So far today though it's gone away as quickly as it's arrived, so it's just grey and damp. But the snowdrops and aconites are looking lovely, and hinting that the cold grey damp may at some distant future point give way to mild grey and damp.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Trip to the Hypermarket in the Mall today where, after a mega shop, Pete consumed a meal big enough for a family - but he's not a quitter and soldiered on until it was almost all gone - then he manned up and forced down an ice cream sundae as well!

What a Star that man is!!

We spent about 90 something quid and I have to remind myself that in UK that amount of money on a supermarket trip is not at all unusual.

Yes, we did buy some cheese but not a huge amount - some Gouda with Wild Garlic - I think it is really chopped Ransom but it still tastes just fine.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
After tomorrow I'll have plenty of time to experiment - I hand in the tools of my trade and walk free.

---

Retirement? ........

Nen - loves part time working.

---

Not yet - voluntary redundancy. So at some point I'll be looking for something light-weight and enjoyable, but not until I've had some fun first
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wet Kipper:
Were you able to procure and safely deliver the cake, Piglet?

---

I was able to procure a cake, although it wasn't the exact one that had been asked for, as the shelf marked "extremely chocolatey birthday cake" was notable for its emptiness. Getting it home was a breeze, as it was a long, loaf-shape and easy to carry in one of their carrier-bags; my brother's taking it up to Orkney, as he's going by car and the rest of us are flying.

It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Edinburgh, although I've missed most of it so far - whenever I woke up I kept dozing off again ...

I'm almost packed and organised, and just messing about here waiting for my sister and niece to get back from w*rk, at which point we'll get a taxi to the airport.

I just took a phone call from the girl in the car-hire office in Orkney, who turned out to be someone who was in my class at school.

Orkney is such a delightfully small place.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Getting it home was a breeze, as it was a long, loaf-shape and easy to carry in one of their carrier-bags; my brother's taking it up to Orkney, as he's going by car and the rest of us are flying.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Demo with drums outside: hopefully it'll remain peaceful.

---

Drums.......Peaceful ??
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Better than some of my local ones with drums and fifes.....
.
.
.
.
.... and marchers in orange collars.....

[ 06. February 2015, 13:18: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Booo booooo boo Marine le Pen is a very bad person. Booooo.

---

She was on local radio this morning explaining indignantly that she was a true patriot who loved democracy and had been misunderstood.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Looking forward to a nice peaceful day relaxing with a little light housework and baking ... hmmm ... maybe not ... The twins, Jack and Mary, are coming at 3pm - they are 18 months old!


 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
We had planned to venture to some mid-sized shops today. The weather is, however, alternating between horizontal drizzle and cold grey overcast, so we've been as far as the local corner shop, then retreated home! Sorting random paperwork and listening to Fairport CDs.

On the much better side, the tub of snowdrops are flowering. I was given a clump of bulbs by Mother Knotweed last spring, and they have managed to survive benign neglect and a north-facing, tree-shadowed driveway. Spring may yet arrive.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
We went over to Abergavenny this afternoon after our monthly tune club, and were amazed how much snow there is alongside the Heads of the Valleys road and also on the Blorenge. Mind, it's a good few hundred feet higher than us.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Spending most of the weekend in bed fending off a cold and chest infection. Catching up on some reading: Anya Seton, William Fiennes and Ian Mortimer's "Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England". I should be digging the allotment but that's going to have to wait until next weekend.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Sunny but cold. A pleasing contrast to yesterday, which began with us dragging wheelie cases through rutted slush - and snow still falling - to the bus stop at a quarter to 7. The view from the coach was of a surreal landscape of grey-white fog punctuated by geometric plantation of spindly poplars. The airport was wet and snowy and our gate changed three times. Eventually a plane showed up and flew us over the Alps to a sunnier Netherlands. And then on, with the Forth Bridges floating in a shimmering mist. Home to a freezing house and the immediate need to go trudge round Morrison's for an hour. A very early night.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Fog here today. More grey

Went to see if the snowdrops in the park were out, last year they were spectacular. But this year there are hardly any, and they are still in bud. What has happened to them??

Definitely Grim up North!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Beautiful sunny day - cold but bright.

I'm trying to arrange a Tesco's delivery of food for my elderly mother, who doesn't like answering the phone or the door. It's due this morning and I haven't been able to get through to her to let her know it's on its way, so I'm hoping this will go all right, as she doesn't have much in. I did warn her on Friday that she would have to answer the door and she'd have to sign for it and she seemed happy with that, but - oh, dear, some elderly folk
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Yesterday morning a housewarming then yesterday evening the first part of a marriage of a neighbour's daughter [mainly a big nosh up at both events] and today the marriage proper, followed by another nosh up - and it would be impolite to refuse to eat - seriously people would be most offended and they would certainly notice.

Himself and Herself have gone on to the next feast at the groom's place but Pete and I ducked out of that so I've had a little sleep and then got the interweb thing working again - Pete is still sound asleep. Yesterday afternoon he slept for 5 solid hours - he denied this and said it was nearer four and a half!

Ah well, if self-delusion makes him happy...
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
And getting my oar in before Wodders fabricates more lies, today I had but two hours, for 4-6. Woke up at 6 to a dark silent house, and lay quietly until just on 7. Pottered about a bit then decided to see if the Internet was behaving. This is the result.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
And getting my oar in before Wodders fabricates more lies, today I had but two hours, for 4-6. Woke up at 6 to a dark silent house, and lay quietly until just on 7. Pottered about a bit then decided to see if the Internet was behaving. This is the result.

---

The Kraken wakes!



 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Inspired by the recent media storm in a teacup about a yellow car "photobombing" Arlington Row in Bibury, a scene so fundamentally British it is now included on the passport (along, no doubt, with "mustn't grumble", stewed tea and petty xenophobia), what else can you do, but go and look for it!

AG
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Nice shot That car makes the cottage look quite small.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Back safely in Edinburgh after a nice few days in Orkney and fairly jolly celebrations of Dad's 90th birthday.

I discovered after we'd landed that my sister and I had had the exact same thought just before the plane took off this afternoon: that our entire family (apart from my dad, brother and D.) were all on the same plane, and if anything happened we'd be wiped out - it makes you understand why they don't let too many members of the Royal Family travel together ...

I'm planning a nice lazy day tomorrow, as I've got a disgustingly early start on Tuesday (the first of three flights leaves at 7 in the morning ).
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Glad it all went well, piglet.
I've had stomach upset/food poisoning most of the weekend and feel crap. However, I am now about to start on 8-9 hours of essay marking...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The one thing I really hated was marking! Talking the students through essays was fine but when it came to actually marking them -

Worse than ordinary marking was second marking when a colleague had a problem with a piece from one of their own students and wanted a second opinion.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm very glad my job doesn't involve anything as difficult as marking other people's work, especially if the answers aren't a clear-cut right or wrong.

It's a beautiful day here in Edinburgh - the sun's splitting the trees and there's the merest breeze ruffling the branches.

I suspect it may not be quite like this when I get back to St. John's tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Good luck Piglet and have a safe journey. It sounds quite tiring.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
8 essays down, 6-8 more to go this evening. I don't do second marking but could do if I wanted to for extra pay as the university has a system of random second marking for moderating purposes.
Today's essay subject is the effect of long term health conditions on relationships.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
A lovely day in this suburban garden, at breakfast we were visited by a muntjac deer who obviously hasn't noticed the building site currently being erected behind our house (huge new estate) and I've just seen a group of goldfinches feeding on our dead solidago (a good reason not to weed).
A profitable morning, I've marked another long essay, done some admin, caught up with students online and I've drawn up the marking plan for the next lot of marking - 39 mini essays on subjects ranging from self help groups to diversity in the care system. That'll keep me occupied for the next couple of days.
How's everyone else today? Are you home yet piglet?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Well Pete and I both have colds, mine being slightly more advanced than his, so neither of us is madly chuffed but we'll get through it. He has suggested a bowl of soup for supper, not a bad idea even for someone like me who tries to avoid supper wherever possible. I think it will end up with quite a bit of both garlic and ginger in it as a sort of kill-or-cure. I like ginger - we both like ginger - and garlic is a food group all of its own.

My bank has arrived in the 21st Century and now allows requests for Foreign Transfers to be made online - the problem is that I am lacking a piece of hardware to do it so am arranging for it to brought out by my bessy mate next month then I won't have to phone the bank every pay day - today's call for 702 seconds cost just under 22 rupees so about 25 pence - not too bad.

This morning the I asked the lad in Skelmersdale what the weather was like there [at 04.00 GMT when I called] and he said that I didn't want to know and when I suggested that I share with him what the weather was like here at the time [09.30 IST] he said he didn't want to know.



In case any of you are worried it has been a lovely warm clear day with hardly a cloud in the sky though it was only about 23C on our morning walk so no hanging about.
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Garlic and ginger soup sounds heavenly. I hope the colds get better soon.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I went to a painting demonstration today by Carl Jacobs - excellent, I'm inspired!

But I forgot my phone at home - then lost my car! Gypsy had an extra walk while we wandered round the streets looking for it! I was beginning to feel sure it had been stolen and to wonder what to do with no mobile.



In my defence, all these Lancashire stone terraced streets look the same, we found it eventually.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Well Pete and I both have colds, mine being slightly more advanced than his, so neither of us is madly chuffed but we'll get through it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
... Are you home yet piglet?

---

I am - I left Edinburgh at 7 this morning and arrived safely in St. John's at about 9 this evening (12:30 am UK time). No hitches at all on the way - I reckon St. Christopher must have been keeping an eye on me!

I ought to have a relatively early night though - I'm back to w*rk tomorrow (luckily Wednesday's my shortest working day). Apparently there's a Bit Of A Do after choir practice on Wednesday to celebrate 12 years since D. moved here.

Oh yes, and they're forecasting about a foot and a half of sn*w for Thursday ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
...Oh yes, and they're forecasting about a foot and a half of sn*w for Thursday ...

---

We still haven't had any this winter

Colds progressing. The soup last night was wonderful and certainly made me sweat a bit - garlic, ginger and mushroom with lashings of black pepper!

I'm now in the I feel lousy and would be happy to pop my clogs at this very minute stage but know it will pass in a day or two and I'll then be fine but right now I'm heading back to bed with my misery. I am widely known to be a lousy patient, like most men.
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Back online again after a Small Domestic Issue ie. Mr S managing to wreck both the USB ports on my laptop. He desperately wanted to scan something, the scanner wouldn't work and he borrowed the laptop to test it out, in case it was the desktop playing up. A combination of haste and poor lighting (I told him to put the top light on) led to the following exchange:

Him: which USB port do you use for your mouse?
Me: either, they both work.
Him: not any more they don't.
Me: £$%^&*()!!!!!

Adding insult to injury, he then plugged the scanner into a mouldy old laptop that was lurking under the stairs, and it worked straight off. Then he plugged it back into the desktop and - you guessed it - it worked first time.

To be absolutely fair, by lunchtime he'd tracked down (not an easy task) and ordered a new Windows 7 laptop, and it was delivered Monday afternoon. And because, mirabile dictu*, I had done a back-up at the beginning of the month (years working at the Big Corporation of which daisydaisy speaks will do that for you!) it was remarkably easy to get up and running again

* wonderful to relate

I feel a bit like the guitarist in Spinal Tap - this one has four USB ports!

Anyway the moral of the story, as construed by Mr. S - 'next time I ask to borrow your laptop, Just Say No' Oh, and do regular back-ups!

Mrs. S, feeling smug
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Another 10 hour marking day today but this should be the last for a couple of weeks, with the exception of a couple of late submissions. I'm already over my work hours for this week
Alas, I have an essay of my own to submit in 2 weeks so it'll be back to studying on Friday.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
My cold of the end of last week seems to be pretty much better. I can’t fight with garlic (doesn’t like me) but suitable amounts of chili were consumed. More to the point, I went in all guns blazing right at the start and nuked it with lots of (over-the-counter, legal from the pharmacy ) drugs so it never got really horrible.

Fiancé en rouge, OTOH, decided he wanted to tough it out and let his immune system fight it off all by its little self sans my copious supply of drugs. A week later he’s still full of cold. Fine, be ill if you want to.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
... garlic doesn’t like me ...

---

Crikey - you live in France* and can't eat garlic???

In other news, I'm now back at w*rk, but thinking I'd be sensible and take my keys out of my handbag before I went away, I forgot that I had, so had to be let into my office by the nice Campus Enforcement bloke.

brainless piglet

* Actually living anywhere and not being able to eat garlic would make me .
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Lunch today faced me with the dilemma of choosing between French onion soup, which I love, and a really delicious-looking, rich golden-brown and piping hot ham, tomato and mushroom lasagne, which has never featured on the specials board before as far as I know. I went for the soup as it was cheaper.

It certainly was. It turned out to be glutinous, tasted largely of salt, and had two whole particles of onion in it. It was then that I remembered I'd encountered this particular soup months before and it was still revolting. It went down the sink in the end - I hate doing that but it really was awful.

I've spent the afternoon regretting my lunch choice - first world problem but the mental image of that lasagne and the beautiful rich golden-brown colour of the cheese on top bubbling away still haunts me. Missed opportunities that might never recur for a second chance, sigh.
 

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Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Inspired by the recent media storm in a teacup about a yellow car "photobombing" Arlington Row in Bibury, a scene so fundamentally British it is now included on the passport (along, no doubt, with "mustn't grumble", stewed tea and petty xenophobia), what else can you do, but go and look for it!

AG

---

quote:

---

That's a nice shade of yellow - just about my favourite. I'd like a car like that and I'd be very happy to park it outside our stone house.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
... choosing between French onion soup ... and a really delicious-looking, rich golden-brown and piping hot ham, tomato and mushroom lasagne ...

---

There would have been no contest - French onion soup is always something that I can either take or leave (and would as soon leave), but the lasagne sounds lovely.

I hope they put it on again so that you get the chance to try it.

The post-choir-practice bash was quite jolly - lots of nice nibbly food, and everyone was welcoming me back and asking after my dad, and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me for yesterday, which was kind of them.

Bracing ourselves for a big snow-day tomorrow - if it's going to come, I hope it does so in time for the University to be closed before I go to w*rk ...
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Barnabas Aus:

quote:

---

That's a nice shade of yellow - just about my favourite. I'd like a car like that and I'd be very happy to park it outside our stone house.

---

My wife's car is an even brighter shade of yellow, which she deliberately ordered because it means she can find it easily in busy carparks.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... Bracing ourselves for a big snow-day tomorrow ...

---

Big snow-day has duly arrived - although the snow hadn't started when I went to bed, D. had a look out at about 7 o'clock and said it was just beginning. I looked out about 5 minutes later and it was blowing around nicely, so I checked the web-site and sure enough we're closed.



Re: silly-coloured cars, ISTM that small, cute cars like Beetles (especially original ones) and FIAT 500s can look good in any colour.

I've always fancied getting a red original Beetle and painting black spots on it, or giving a pink one a piggy's nose and a curly tail ...
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
I have a bright blue Fiat 500 (like this ). There are a number round my way, but not so many... And yes, it's relatively easy to spot in a car park, except when overshadowed by much larger cars.

[ 12. February 2015, 14:42: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I've always fancied getting a red original Beetle and painting black spots on it...

---

That's something I've wanted to do for many years -- since the original Beetles were new.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I picked mine partly because it was a distinctive colour and sure enough it's instantly recognizable in a supermarket car park, in amidst a sea of grey cars interspersed with red or dark colours. However, take it out to the countryside and it looks perfectly at home in rural surroundings, whereas the grey and red ones are the ones that suddenly look really out of place and artificial.

I don't know why anybody buys grey cars when they could have a splash of colour and a bit of style, instead of what often fails to look sleekly, metallically elegant and just looks like a tin box on wheels with no personality.

I quite like seeing cars with distinctive colours and wondering what it would be like to test-drive them. There was one parked nearby recently that made me think it must be a lot like driving an aubergine.

[ 12. February 2015, 18:26: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
The only car of which I've ever been the official owner (handed on to me by my dad when he replaced it, but after 15 years couldn't quite bear to part with it) was a David Icke-turquoise Volvo 145 estate like this.

Losing it in car-parks was virtually impossible, as was having it stolen, as it was the only one in that colour in the county and everybody (including all 12* policemen and the crew of the ferry off the island) knew whose it was.

* I suspect the Orkney constabulary may have expanded since then.
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
What is this 'choice' of car colour?

IME you buy the car you find in the small ads/ at a reliable second-hand dealer and it comes in the colour it comes in.

My present vehicle is a bronze-ish colour: the one before was a spectacular bilious yellow-green.

If I had a choice I'd quite like a red car.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Anything but silver.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:

If I had a choice I'd quite like a red car.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
... I'd quite like an aubergine one or possibly custard.

---

You could have both.

I've just printed the order of service for Sunday's ordination (about which we're v.v. cross because it's depriving us of Evensong ), and despite the vagaries of our word-processing system, it appears to have done it in the right order at the first attempt, which makes me feel just a tad smug.

As it snowed* for most of the day, I decided on a spot of therapeutic soup-making. I made a big pot of bacon, lentil and tomato soup, which I really like, but wasn't sure if D. would (he prefers his soup chunky, and this one's whizzy-whizzed), but he had a mug of it and pronounced it very nice.

* We got at least a foot, most of it on our front steps, with the imprint of the front door panels clearly visible in the drift when we opened the door.

[ 13. February 2015, 00:07: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I've always fancied getting a red original Beetle and painting black spots on it...

---

That's something I've wanted to do for many years -- since the original Beetles were new.

---

What, since 1938?


 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:
What is this 'choice' of car colour?

IME you buy the car you find in the small ads/ at a reliable second-hand dealer and it comes in the colour it comes in.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Noooo. Colour is personality. I have to feel comfortable with what I'm going to be driving for the next few years. I need to feel a sense of pleasure, anticipation and pride when I look at my car, not gloom, indifference or embarrassment. Or wondering how I'm going to tell it apart from all the rest.

---

So, now that I have a shared car is it worth the fight to get the next one with my choice of colour??

Probably not - but I love the idea of it standing out in a car park.

We have had VW Passats for years. I said I'd hate driving it when we got rid of mine, as I loved my little cars. Nope, wrong - I really like it, especially the cruise control which I use a lot.


 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
So, now that I have a shared car is it worth the fight to get the next one with my choice of colour??

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
So, now that I have a shared car is it worth the fight to get the next one with my choice of colour??

---

Yes. Life is short. Do it!

---

 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 

quote:

---

posted by Boogie:
So, now that I have a shared car is it worth the fight to get the next one with my choice of colour??

---

quote:

---

I've always fancied getting a red original Beetle and painting black spots on it...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
... I'd quite like an aubergine one or possibly custard.

---

You could have both.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:

A few years back I bought a 1993 Fiat Cinquecento metallic blue, with a sticker saying 'Powered by fairy dust' in pink letters on the side. A few people did ask me why I didn't take the sticker off, but it seemed like part of the car's character to me, so I thought it deserved to keep it.

---

 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:
... I am generally looking for a car for under £500 ...

---

A whole one?

In other news, back to the grind today - the snow-heaps are making getting about a total pain. And why couldn't the Almighty occasionally make the drifts gravitate to the other side of our road? They're piled up to the top of the railings of our front steps (about 6 feet) but on the other side of the road you can actually see the pavement.

disgruntled piglet

[ 13. February 2015, 13:43: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:
I didn't know what a Volkswagen Passat was like so have just looked on the Volkswagen website. Either they have a lot of customers with the same taste as Boogie's husband, or else they don't offer much choice. All of the cars shown are gray !

---

Do they offer 50 different shades?

To be fair, I did spy a dark red one: it made a cameo appearance at the bottom of the page.

[ 13. February 2015, 13:50: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

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Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
I would appear to have made Lord P.'s day. His birthday is coming up (a couple of weeks away yet) and he pointed out that his bass guitar was showing signs of disintegrating (true enough, I'm afraid), was there any chance of a new one?

I told him that he could have a budget of [I won't say quite how much] and it was up to him to find what he liked within that. I also suggested that he should not buy the first instrument he saw.

We took a trip to Hereford today, to the most cluttered music shop I know (Nilam Music, for those of you who know Hereford). Lord P came away clutching a Cort B5 electric bass - for £300. I think that I may have trouble persuading him to put it down for long enough to go to bed tonight ...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I wish Lord P. health to enjoy his new guitar (not knowing anything about guitars, I have no idea whether or not you got a bargain).

Moderately busy day, for a Saturday, here: we sang for the funeral of an old lady from the congregation, where the pre-service tribute took 20 minutes.

I've heard Baptist sermons that were shorter than that (pace BT!).

Then D. and I went to a place called Wingin' It for a bit to eat (messy but nice). When I got home, I finished what had better be the final draft of the order of service for tomorrow night, and D's away down the road to print it off.

Fortunately, so far nobody has asked me to provide anything for the post-ordination bun-fight, and I haven't offered ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Slight pain in right groin this morning so was tempted to use it as excuse for not walking but within half a kilometre the pain had gone and I had an excellent walk then home to face neighbour boy [his mum told him I was passing outside] and his angst about the equivalent of A Levels starting tomorrow with the practicals then the full exams in March. Poor lad gets himself so wound up that he can't perform to best advantage. He's coming here later to get some photos transferred to his phone so I'll try and work on him then. When he gets a consistent 80% on his term work but down in the 20s and 30s for exams it surely shows something.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
WW - Bach's Rescue Remedy was suggested to get me through my driving test when I was doing something similar. It worked so well that the driving instructor started recommending to others who were failing for no apparent reason. You have to play around with it for a bit to find out how long it takes to act, but it worked to just take the edge off for me.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Before I clicked your link, I imagined Bach's Rescue Remedy was going to be something like this.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I knew there was a reason that I had to give the link Much though I love Bach's Toccata and Fugues the one you linked to really wouldn't rescue me from anything.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Darllenwr:
We took a trip to Hereford today, to the most cluttered music shop I know (Nilam Music, for those of you who know Hereford).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Japes:
Ooh... now I'm getting ideas for a Day Out - Hereford being only a few stops along a train line.

---

Hey! Let's have a meet!

And check out the Borderlines film festival.
 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Hereford Meet sounds like an idea.


 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
We'd probably be in for a Hereford meet, as long as it's a Saturday. we keep forgetting to contacty Qlib when we know we are going to Hereford.
I'll post in a seperate thread, but we're going to the Cotswolds for a week in April. Anyone fancy a meet?
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
My son lives in Bristol, so Gypsy and I may be able to visit him and come along

In other news, I was fed up of my (too long) sleeves on my jumper getting wet when washing up. So this morning I simply chopped them off to the right length! Now I have comfortable, but frayed sleeves.

Impulsive? Who me?
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I was put in my place last night - one of the neighbour boys [17 years old now] came round to get some photos loaded on his new MicroSD card, his previous one having succumbed to some dreadful plague or other. As we were sitting letting the computer do its stuff I said to him:

You don't have to call me uncle, you know, you can call me by my name or chetan [big brother] if you want.

He replied quite simply

I like calling you uncle.

Fair enough.

Then this morning I lost a shop! I went into the city to buy some new bedding and couldn't find the shop I have used for such things for the last nearly 20 years - I had managed to walk right past it without noticing.

DUH!!
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
It's half-term week for most schools in England and Wales so the journey to work was far smoother than usual. OTOH, we're at about half-strength because so many staff are at home looking after their kids.

Anyone else in this situation?
 

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Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
St Gwladys, when are you going to the Cotswolds?

WW, perhaps he should be calling you Grandad instead!

SS, I am relaxing in the knowledge that my boy is up in Scotland skiing with him uncle, so I am a freeeeeeee woman. On the other hand, whilst my broken shoulder is mending I am unable to drive, so my journey anywhere is rather more difficult than usual whilst my chauffeur is away.

How half terms change as your kids (if you have them) get a bit older!

[ 16. February 2015, 12:06: Message edited by: Smudgie ]
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I'm in the situation of having to work at home (as I usually do) and look after the kids. Luckily their computer games are usually far more interesting than me and they keep out of the way if they are regularly supplied with food. Just as long as they aren't fighting about whose go it is...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
When we lived in Carrickfergus (about 13 miles from Belfast) we used to notice a hell of a difference in the traffic when the schools were off.

Strange that, because when they weren't, the cars didn't seem to have any schoolchildren in them ...



We seem to be getting a slight thaw before the next snow-storm (scheduled for Wednesday, which could have an adverse effect on the Ash Wednesday service); there was melting snow cascading down the hill outside Château Piglet this morning, but I doubt that it'll last long enough to make a huge difference.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
As there are a number of teachers in our congregation, we can always tell when it's half term. That, and the fact we don't get cars blocking our street and back lane at school delivery and pick up times - we have a school at the other end of our street.
(Smudgie, we're off to Charlbury on 18th April - I've started a seperate thread)
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
When we lived in Carrickfergus (about 13 miles from Belfast) we used to notice a hell of a difference in the traffic when the schools were off.

Strange that, because when they weren't, the cars didn't seem to have any schoolchildren in them ...

---

I believe the heavy traffic before school opens is caused only in part by parents taking children to school. Far more is caused by parents getting their little darlings* up, washed, dressed, fed and equipped before they themselves hurry to work at exactly the same time children go to school.

*little darlings can be between four and 19.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I think you've probably hit it, SS. The strange thing we noticed was that we could leave home a minute or two before or after our "usual" time, and it could make all the difference between being early or just making it - we referred to it as "hitting the right minute".

Considering that it was only 13 miles, and the last 5 were on a motorway, you wouldn't think that you'd need 45 minutes* for the journey.

* not allowing for hold-ups arising from bomb-scares ...
 

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Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
If there's going to be a Hereford Meet, I'd be quite interested, too
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Eigon - there's more about the Cotswold meet on this thread.

As a newbie to Ship-meets (I was at my first one a couple of weeks ago) I can heartily recommend them.
 

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Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
When we lived in Carrickfergus (about 13 miles from Belfast) we used to notice a hell of a difference in the traffic when the schools were off.

Strange that, because when they weren't, the cars didn't seem to have any schoolchildren in them ...

---

I believe the heavy traffic before school opens is caused only in part by parents taking children to school. Far more is caused by parents getting their little darlings* up, washed, dressed, fed and equipped before they themselves hurry to work at exactly the same time children go to school.

*little darlings can be between four and 19.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Eigon - there's more about the Cotswold meet on this thread.

As a newbie to Ship-meets (I was at my first one a couple of weeks ago) I can heartily recommend them.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Japes:

Shall I start a Hereford Meet thread, as there seems to be some enthusiasm for it?

---

That would be a 'Beef' thread then

(picks up coat, leaves room)
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Japes:
... Charlbury and Hereford are about 70 miles apart ...

---

geographically-challenged piglet
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I think once you're west of the M5 you aren't in the Cotswolds any more, and this is where the Malverns take over, but the exact boundaries generally are a bit elastic.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Ashes have been imposed; Allegri and Byrd have been sung.

Roll on Maundy Thursday, when we're singing the first part of Tallis' Lamentations during the stripping of the altar.

We tend to do quite a lot of unaccompanied stuff during Lent, much of which is Tudor or Renaissance and makes me a very happy piglet.

Who can feel miserable while singing the music of Byrd, Tallis or Gibbons?

Oh, and it's been snowing again, although it's now turning to rain (no bad thing).
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
I'm with you there, Piglet.

Wash me throughly from my wickedness is delighting another generation of youngsters at my place, while the adults get their teeth into the better bits of Batten, Farrant, etc. And Henry Purcell's Hear my Prayer is always a useful standby at this time of year.

But Tallis Lamentations? We'll be using the Bairstow.

[ 19. February 2015, 11:16: Message edited by: L'organist ]
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Tallis Lamentations. It's sublime (the version we're doing has been re-voiced and re-pitched for SAATB).

I noticed when the You-tube link came up that fairly near the top of the side-links was the soundtrack of Fifty Shades of Grey; as a Facebook friend pointed out, it was odd that it took a film like that to make people aware of Tallis's music.


 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Tallis really is sublime - Piglet have you got any of the Eton Choirbook discs? Glorious!

The last two days we have had a security guard with us on our walks - well, actually a 7 year old neighbour boy who walks along with us - and what a little sweetie! 7 year olds delight in everything, don't they?

I checked with his mum and he had asked if it was okay so it would have been churlish to refuse him but by the time we got back to the house yesterday we felt like a pair of Pied Pipers with a little group of littlies following us.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Our current CD in the car is a collection of Tallis's music, including the first part of the Lamentations (the men's voices version) and Spem in alium - I'd need to look to see who the singers are.

I think it's really nice that the kids round your way can join you and Pete for your walk without anyone thinking anything amiss; it's awfully sad that in so many places an adult (especially a bloke) who as much as says hello to a child who isn't their own is viewed with suspicion.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Having been in social work for 26 years I have had to unlearn a lot of the stuff I learned, particularly in the 1990s - but it is good.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I usually work on Fridays but it's half term so Gypsy and I are off to puppy class.

She is doing her KC silver test, she is nine months old today so pretty young for silver - and we are not allowed to use treats for the test!

Fingers and paws crossed
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Good luck Gypsy!

I'm not having the greatest day today. I have to call the plumber at 12 to sort out a time for him to come round and look at our poor possibly-dead boiler (it is old, we were just hoping to get a bit more time out of it before the inevitable happened, but of course it packed up just before the weekend's predicted cold snap). And I am also having to get onto the support services for my new laptop (bought at new year) as the USB ports don't work. So far they have talked me through refreshing the PC to try and sort the drivers out, but if not then it will probably end up having to be a return and replace job. Luckily for me my old laptop still works, although I have to have the keyboard propped up nearest to me as if I have the screen back in a normal position it goes black (which is why I bought the new one - TME couldn't find anything obviously wrong when he took the old one to bits so I think it's also just showing signs of old age, but at least it's still functioning).

Maybe we should all just go back to sleeping under the stars and washing in streams and communicating by smoke signals. The joys of technology (ancient and modern...).
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
My doctor hit me!

Well, he gave me a little slap on the thigh because I have a chest infection and treated myself to an ice cream the other day and apparently that is a no-no with chest infections. He said I can have some to celebrate when the infection is gone.

Three more days of these horse pills and this dreadful strawberry flavoured muck - it is getting tolerable after so many days of it and it isn't as bad as some of the stuff I was given from Great Ormond Street when I was a little lad. A quick swig of medicine and then a Fisherman's Friend to take the taste away.

Good luck Gypsy - remember, no piddling on the floor!
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Amazingly, the refresh might just have worked - the laptop has just recognised my phone, for the first time. Muted hooray (still need to check it sees the eReader).

Somehow I don't suppose the boiler will be so easy to fix. Sigh.
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
After all the fun we had when Mr. S wrecked the USB ports on my old laptop and then bought me a replacement, we actually found someone to replace them for a relatively modest sum

Still, in accordance with Piglet's Umbrella Law, if we'd tried to get the ports sorted out *without* buying a replacement, you know for sure the motherboard would also have gone so now we have three laptops, a tablet, a netbook and (I think) two desktops cluttering up the place.

So good luck, JtL!

Mrs. S, busy dusting computers
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
...it isn't as bad as some of the stuff I was given from Great Ormond Street when I was a little lad.

---

My daughters learned to swallow pills at a very young age because they couldn't stand the taste of orange-flavored penicillin liquid.

My husband, who grew up in Florida and South Carolina, was given sweetened quinine liquid for malaria at the ages of three and five. (This was in the 1930s.) As an adult, he could not stand the combination of sweet and bitter tastes.

Moo
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
The children were hospitalised with bad gastroenteritis when they were 2 and I remember telling a nurse that the sons wouldn't tolerate the sweetened versions of Dioralite and suggesting she use either the plain version alone or mix it with some warm Bovril.

When I arrived back on the ward (having left for 30 minutes for fresh air and to make calls) it was to see oldest son biting nurse and drawing blood as she tried to force him to down so-called blackcurrant-flavour stuff.

Felt both proud and mortified: as I said, I had warned them...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Good luck Gypsy, and good luck with the boiler and computer JtL!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... treated myself to an ice cream the other day and apparently that is a no-no with chest infections ...

---

Really? I'd have thought the ice-cream would act like a gentle anaesthetic on your sore throat.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... A quick swig of medicine and then a Fisherman's Friend to take the taste away.

---

Crikey - if a Fisherman's Friend is an improvement, the medicine must be really foul ...

In other news, the city council came and took away large amounts of snow from our road (making large amounts of noise in the process, at five o'clock in the bl**dy morning ), but left most of the heaps on the pavement on our side. How come they can navigate round the lamp-posts on the other side but not on ours?


 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
It's Rhubarb Festival time again! I've just come back from town with rhubarb (obviously), rhubarb and ginger brack, rhubarb pork pie, black pudding and goat, kangaroo and moose sausages. Should see us right for a bit.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
...it isn't as bad as some of the stuff I was given from Great Ormond Street when I was a little lad.

---

My daughters learned to swallow pills at a very young age because they couldn't stand the taste of orange-flavored penicillin liquid.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
It's Rhubarb Festival time again! I've just come back from town with rhubarb (obviously), rhubarb and ginger brack, rhubarb pork pie, black pudding and goat, kangaroo and moose sausages. Should see us right for a bit.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
My husband, who grew up in Florida and South Carolina, was given sweetened quinine liquid for malaria at the ages of three and five. (This was in the 1930s.) As an adult, he could not stand the combination of sweet and bitter tastes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by balaam:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
It's Rhubarb Festival time again! I've just come back from town with rhubarb (obviously), rhubarb and ginger brack, rhubarb pork pie, black pudding and goat, kangaroo and moose sausages. Should see us right for a bit.

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We'll be there tomorrow.

What I don't understand is why it is a Food, Drink and Rhubarb Festival. Is rhubarb not food?

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quote:

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Originally posted by balaam:
Quinine (in tonic water) and sugar (in dry ginger) makes a very refreshing drink ...

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So does quinine (in tonic water) and GIN.

I don't imagine that I'm in grave danger of developing malaria in Newfoundland, but I have a GIN and tonic every so often, just in case.

I must confess that I can live very easily without rhubarb; there's a patch of it in a corner of my dad's garden, and we were always subjected to it for a couple of weeks in the spring when I was a kid, but I never developed a taste for it.

Moose sausages, on the other hand, can be very nice indeed.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I love rhubarb in any shape but it has to be straight rhubarb, unadulterated with apple or such which dilutes the flavour. Plain rhubarb, rhubarb crumble, rhubarb and cream. I chop the stalks, give a good wash, shake off excess water. Microwave for 3-5 minutes depeniding on quantity. Then I stir through just enough sugar to takeaway the strongest part of the tart taste. I do this in several goes as I like it still fairly tart.

Using the microwave means I don't lose yet another saucepan to burnt on rhubarb.

[ 21. February 2015, 05:26: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I'm another rhubarb fan. I like to cook it with preserved ginger, the sort that comes in syrup. I chop the ginger up finely, sprinkle it in and pour some of the ginger-flavoured syrup over the rhubarb in place of sugar. Works a treat.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
I'm another rhubarb fan. I like to cook it with preserved ginger, the sort that comes in syrup. I chop the ginger up finely, sprinkle it in and pour some of the ginger-flavoured syrup over the rhubarb in place of sugar. Works a treat.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
I'm another rhubarb fan. I like to cook it with preserved ginger, the sort that comes in syrup. I chop the ginger up finely, sprinkle it in and pour some of the ginger-flavoured syrup over the rhubarb in place of sugar. Works a treat.

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H
I love ginger too so that sounds good. I was given a large amount of fresh ginger a while ago, so chopped it into smaller pieces and put in jar. Covered it with sherry. I have used it in sweet and savoyry dishes with success,

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quote:

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Originally posted by daisydaisy:

quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
I'm another rhubarb fan. I like to cook it with preserved ginger, the sort that comes in syrup. I chop the ginger up finely, sprinkle it in and pour some of the ginger-flavoured syrup over the rhubarb in place of sugar. Works a treat.

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H
I love ginger too so that sounds good. I was given a large amount of fresh ginger a while ago, so chopped it into smaller pieces and put in jar. Covered it with sherry. I have used it in sweet and savoyry dishes with success,

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I love rhubarb and ginger too, and last year discovered that rhubarb tastes good with rose syrup. As well as the usual rhubarb & ginger jam, I made rhubarb and rose jam - yum.

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It's worth adding rhubarb cooking liquid, with or without ginger or rose, to sparkling wine, a la Kir Royale or Bellini.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Definite signs of Spring today - we saw quite a lot of catkins and the trees alonside the main road are getting that slight fuzziness that comes before the leaf buds. On the other hand, we had what can best be described as "wintry showers" on the way back from Cardiff except one was definitely snow.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
We had snow today, very white this morning, but it didn't last, though the tops (of the moors) are still white.

And I roast my rhubarb.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
It seems that I am in a minority here, but I can't stand rhubarb. School dinners put me off for life. Ugh ugh ugh. Horrible stuff.

Our boiler is now an ex-boiler, shuffled off this mortal coil etc. Thankfully we are getting a new shiny one on Monday, so not too long to wait, although I'm not looking forward to the next couple of nights till we get it. Thank goodness for the electric blanket. We've not seen snow yet (although earlier today in Glasgow there was a brief sleety shower) but the forecast for tomorrow isn't very promising
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Rhubarb is an abomination unto God, and is not a food but an instrument of torture, so that is your answer, balaam.

I had asked the little guy whether he wanted to go for a walk. He said ok, but I suggested he go ask his mummy first. He was back before we got to the road. Not too many kids I would tolerate on my morning walk, but he is a total sweetie and he walked!

The first day, big brother (and I mean BIG*) and mummy and granny were all waiting in the forecourt for him (with all the other kids trailing, they must have heard us the minute we turned on their road.) The second day, he had to unlatch the gate and open the front door...

* he can rest his arms on the wall when he talks to us. I fear for when he hits his growth spurt (he's only 15!)

[ 21. February 2015, 23:48: Message edited by: Uncle Pete ]
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I love rhubarb, even the tinned stuff - it doesn't grow here so tinned is the best we can get, but with everyone around me being diabetic, or in danger thereof, the tins on the shelf [all rich in sugar] are in danger of running past their use-by date.

The wall of which Uncle Pete speaks is about level with eyes so it is not just a little wall and Big Brother is a big lad - in this Land of Hobbits he certainly stands out. Lovely lad.

I'm sure there was more I was going to say but the breakfast bell has just gone and if I don't get down there soon that Canadian will eat it all!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It was a bright, sunny but v. windy and cold day here; I did a spot of Retail Therapy in the afternoon and was more-or-less blown across the shopping-centre car-park (and I'm fairly well-planted ... ).

I love the habit shops here have of sending you a voucher for your birthday (especially as mine falls when a lot of things have been drastically reduced in the winter sales). I got a rather smart pair of shoes in one shop: they were already less than half-price, and the $15 voucher made them quite affordable; and a sort of tunic thing in another: with the sale reduction and a 40%-off voucher I only paid about $11! You couldn't be bad to that.
 

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Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on :
 
Happy memories of my grandmother's rhubarb wine. At a tender age and unknown to my parents, it was the first time I ever experienced mild inebriation, and found it to be quite agreeable.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
My dad tried his hand at making rhubarb wine, and most of it exploded. The bottles that survived were OK, in a fizzy sort of way, but it wasn't really a success, and the shed where he'd kept it stank like a brewery for months afterwards.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I had a lovely day yesterday. One of my closest friends lievs in York and we rarely see each other. She suggested we meet half-way, so I travelled up and she travalled down to Newark where we had a jolly day of shopping, eating and catching up. We intend to do it again in the summer when it's warmer.
 

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Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
Another anti-rhubarb vote from here, too - honestly, what do you folk see in the horrible stringly slushy sweetly sharp but sharply sweet greeny red concoction?

Had a lovely day in the big city yesterday with my sister who had come down from the Midlands for the day. Far more sitting drinking coffee and chatting than actually sightseeing, of course. Just how a day should be.

The weather today looks cold but is enticing me out for a walk in a bit.......... coffee and a good book whilst soaking in a bubble bath seems essential beforehand as it would be wrong to go out before getting clean and shiny, wouldn't it?
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Out today but there were so many cyclists on the roads that driving was really slow going - at least two Sunday cycle clubs out in force, labouring up some seriously steep hills and clearly struggling with it. They didn't look as if they were enjoying it much. Then it started to rain increasingly heavily so I gave up at that point and went home again.

quote:

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Originally posted by Smudgie:
Another anti-rhubarb vote from here, too - honestly, what do you folk see in the horrible stringly slushy sweetly sharp but sharply sweet greeny red concoction?

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Rhubarb cooked to mush can be horrible, with little fibres in amongst the glop. Any stewed fruit is unpleasant at the best of times anyway - the flavour may be fine but the texture isn't. It needs pastry, sponge or crumble topping to make it work.

Cook it properly in a crumble with ginger and there's the pleasure of the tanginess offset by the right amount of sweetness, the fire of the ginger, and the crumble topping. A pie is good too. A tart fruit sauce on a sweet sponge pudding can be wonderful.

The stalks of uncooked rhubarb can also be pretty, especially when you slice the long stalks and end up with a palette of subtly different shades of red, from pink to near purple, some speckled with green.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
You have hit the rhubarb nail on the head Ariel!

(Was anyone given raw rhubarb and a pot of sugar as a child? I loved it!)
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Today I have phoned UK three times.

I love my new mobile phone service provider - the third call was 1889 seconds, which is about thirty one and a half minutes and cost an enormous nearly 60 pence! I don't know what costs are like phoning within UK these days but even by those standards I'd think this was reasonable - and I am 5,500 miles away from sunny Birkenhead! When I was first here it cost over 2 quid a minute to phone my dad!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
You phoned the UK from India on a mobile??? We can't even use our mobiles in the UK without it costing a fortune - when we asked our provider about getting them to work over there the girl said, "well, you could, but it'd be $70 just to make them work." (and God knows how much per minute). I think it may be a Pond thing - North American providers don't seem to make their phones work outside North America.

Quite a busy day at the Cathedral today - the Great Litany in procession at the morning service, then a bit of a farewell bash for the interim priest who's been with us for the last six months while the Curate and then the Dean had sabbaticals - the Dean comes back next week, so with any luck there'll be a re-commencement of grinning.

Then a really nice Tudor evensong - Morley responses and canticles and anthem by Gibbons.

contented piglet
 

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Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
You phoned the UK from India on a mobile??? We can't even use our mobiles in the UK without it costing a fortune

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Buy a cheap PAYG phone and SIM card at the airport when you arrive. You can probably pay 20 quid or so for a cheap phone + SIM + some minutes.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Pete is undisputed King of the SIM cards except sometimes they run out of validity if not used. His Indian one died when he was in Canada so he is giving his new one to me to keep in a spare slot in my phone whilst he is away then I'll use it for a local call once a month and give it back when he comes back next time. As he leaves here and gives me that SIM he will be loading his UK SIM and then as he leaves Heathrow later he will load his Canadian SIM - specially toughened to survive the permafrost.

My old phone took 2 SIMs and a UIM [CDMA equivalent] and at one point I had Indian UIM and both UK and Sri Lankan SIM loaded. It makes sense when travelling and if you can get in the back of the phone then you can change your SIM. Some phones have preloaded stuff that you can't change which is when you need to do as LC suggests and buy a cheapo phone on arrival. I'd advise against buying anything at an airport as the prices are a complete rip-off - lots of great cheap deals available in UK on pay-as-you-go, just ask the newsagent or whoever.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
A lovely day here, bright but chilly. I've just got back from my yoga class and am about to start writing the most dull essay I've ever had the misfortune to have been set
Oh, and there were redwings in the park which has cheered me up a bit.

[ 23. February 2015, 10:34: Message edited by: Heavenly Anarchist ]
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
I am a Party Animal™

Saturday night was my best friend’s birthday party. It was fancy dress and the theme was things or people beginning with A (which is the first letter of her name). I went as Wednesday Addams (I thank my favourite second-hand shop for providing me with the ugliest enormous-collared blouse in the universe). My best friend is a professional fashionista so the party only really got going at about ten o’clock at which point the *karaoke* began. After which, being the highly spiritual person I am ( ) I got up and went to church yesterday morning (yes, I was on the rota for something or I might have stayed in bed a bit later…). I then spent the afternoon crashed out napping on the sofa in order that the fiesta might continue...

Yesterday was fiancé en rouge’s birthday, so in the evening I arranged festivities of a different kind at a restaurant called Au pied de cochon (“The pig’s foot”), where the speciality, unsurprisingly, is… pig’s trotter and other random bits of the beast. Being, as he is, the Frenchest French person in the whole of France, he thought this was awesome.

They also have a dish called “the temptation of Saint Antony” which consists of the snout, trotter, tail and ear of the pig. I wasn’t all that surprised to see fiancé en rouge’s best mate order this (also a ridiculously French French person – there’s a reason why they get on so well), or one of our friends who is Chinese. OTOH, I was extremely surprised to see an American friend go for the pig’s foot. I think he now has the picture on his facebook to scare his family back home in Texas. I ordered a more conventional bit of the pig, but it wasn’t all that special and on reflection I probably should have gone for the trotters as well.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Pete not feeling so well and talking of a possible visit to the doctor sometime tomorrow. I suggested instead that I might take him to see the local priest for an exorcism but he seemed to think this idea flippant.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Will somebody please make La Vie and her un-piglet-friendly fiancé go away?

LC - D's sister bought a couple of v. basic PAYG mobiles which we can usually borrow when we're home. It just rather annoys (and puzzles) us that British mobile companies manage to make their phones work more-or-less anywhere* without it costing an arm and a leg, and ours doesn't.

* When my niece was travelling in the Far East she had no problem phoning home.

PS I hope Pete feels better soon.

[ 23. February 2015, 13:05: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
You phoned the UK from India on a mobile??? We can't even use our mobiles in the UK without it costing a fortune

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Buy a cheap PAYG phone and SIM card at the airport when you arrive. You can probably pay 20 quid or so for a cheap phone + SIM + some minutes.

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Actually less -- 18 months ago the mobile cost just over 10 quid and the rest was PAYG.

John
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
D. made a lovely variation on the paella theme for lunch with chicken, sausages, red peppers, tomatoes and saffron, and after a nice, snoozy sort of afternoon, I made an industrial quantity of chicken stock.

Am now feeling moderately virtuous.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
what is it with birthdays at this time of year? last night in the pub there were four people with birthdays either yesterday or today (two of the four being me and Mr Marzipan), I know two more people whose birthdays were yesterday and another friend has one tomorrow!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Dunno, but it's an odd coincidence that all the people born in March that I've ever knowingly met have all had birthdays in the same week of March, 14-21st.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
My friend is 60 on Sunday - what on earth do I buy her?

My budget is £50 - any ideas?
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by marzipan:
what is it with birthdays at this time of year? last night in the pub there were four people with birthdays either yesterday or today (two of the four being me and Mr Marzipan), I know two more people whose birthdays were yesterday and another friend has one tomorrow!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
Dunno, but it's an odd coincidence that all the people born in March that I've ever knowingly met have all had birthdays in the same week of March, 14-21st.

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It makes you wonder whether there are not some interesting Summer solstice celebrations going on.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I was meant to be a March Piglet*, but I was a few weeks early and arrived in February. I do seem to have a lot of FB friends with birthdays in March though; maybe the post-midsummer theory isn't so daft ...

Many happy returns to Marzipan and Mr. Marzipan.

* sort of like a March Hare, but not quite so mad
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
In the United States weddings and honeymoons traditionally take place in June...


That doesn't explain when a second, third, etc. child arrives in March.

I've worked in two parishes -- both had a far higher number of March birthdays than any other month.
 

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Posted by JB (# 1776) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
My friend is 60 on Sunday - what on earth do I buy her?

My budget is £50 - any ideas?

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
In the United States weddings and honeymoons traditionally take place in June...


That doesn't explain when a second, third, etc. child arrives in March.

I've worked in two parishes -- both had a far higher number of March birthdays than any other month.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Boogie:
(Was anyone given raw rhubarb and a pot of sugar as a child? I loved it!)

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Yes! Om nom nom nom nom!

Would your friend appreciate one of your lovely paintings?

It's been a pleasant, if cold, day here but the wind and rain are starting up again now. I'm off to my zumba class shortly, which I really enjoy; some of you may remember me moaning about Pilates but fear not, my friends - I have not signed up for the next course.

Nen - Pilates-free.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
]In Britain in the Good Old Days, February & March were favoured for birthdays because one got a tax allowance for each child. Your child might only be a week old on April 5th but you got a full year's tax allowance. Is there anything similar where you are?

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
In the United States weddings and honeymoons traditionally take place in June...


That doesn't explain when a second, third, etc. child arrives in March.

I've worked in two parishes -- both had a far higher number of March birthdays than any other month.

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In Britain in the Good Old Days, February & March were favoured for birthdays because one got a tax allowance for each child. Your child might only be a week old on April 5th but you got a full year's tax allowance. Is there anything similar where you are?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Our deadline for tax deductions is December 31st, so a little one who comes along at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st is deductible for that year's taxes, but if his/her twin were to arrive at 1:01 a.m. on January 1st, no deduction for that one.

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Along those lines, here's a distribution of American birthdays. You see a few features - a clear excess of births nine months after those snuggly winters, a shortage of births at Christmas (nobody schedules an induction or c-section for Christmas), and what looks like a small excess of births in the last few days of December and a corresponding lack of births in the first few days of January (tax credit inductions?)
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Good year for garden bird spotting so far. The blue tits have already arrived in our bird box, last week there were goldfinches on the dead golden rod in the garden and redwings in the park and today a long tailed tit has made several attempts to get in the conservatory (presumably after my embroidery threads for nest material.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Morning, all (well actually for most of you it's probably afternoon).

Life seems to have been very quiet round here lately - anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend?

We're going round to a friend's for a curry this evening - and I'm hoping his heat tolerance is more in line with mine than (say) with WW's - when it comes to spices I'm a total wuss ...

I'll let you know (assuming that my computer doesn't melt when I breathe on it).
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I have bought some champagne and put it in the fridge as I'm hoping my husband will be bringing home some good news to celebrate
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Tell them in advance that you are a wuss with spices and ask for a small dish of plain yoghurt with the main meal to either mix in or to take the odd spoonful. Also lemon/lime juice squeezed on to spicy hot food will bring it down quite a bit.

Here the usual food is generally mild with one or two hot dishes on the table then people can self-regulate. To serve all the dishes spicy hot is thought of here as just weird and also as bad manners if you don't know other people's taste.

eta: We went to the mall today and bought quite a lot of lovely cheese then Pete and I ate several quids worth of a rather nice [but not wonderful] Brie with crackers for our supper. Not good for my arteries but it tasted fab!

We are on our own for lunch tomorrow so I have promised him a cheese and onion omelette, which might also include a little soupcon of garlic. I have some mature Cheddar which will fit the bill nicely.

For several days I had been thinking that the little lad that walks with us round the lanes in the morning was very [extraordinarily?] well co-ordinated for 7+ - then I found out that he is 8+ so it all made sense.

Off to bed now, no afternoon nap was enjoyed so it is all catching up with me.

Goodnight.

[ 27. February 2015, 14:24: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I'm off for a pizza a gossip with work colleagues in a bit. Nice in that we never have time to catch up with each other at work, but a bit of a pain as it means travelling the same journey that I do on the other four days in the week to meet up with them.
Tomorrow we are off to the Shard to try and actually see the view. We went in early January and all we could see was grey, so we were able to swap our tickets for now. It includes champagne which we didn't have in January as my husband wasn't feeling too good. As it was suposed to have been his birthday treat it would have been a shame for our son and me to drink his share. We are then going to dinner in a vegetarian restaurant that a friend highly recommends, so all in all should be a good weekend. It will be even better if I manage to do all the homework for my writing class as well, but I fear that might not happen.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Are people in the British Isles (and parts of Northern Europe) aware of the solar eclipse on March 20th?

Here's hoping for a sunny day. Take care everyone.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Tell them in advance that you are a wuss with spices ...

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Are people in the British Isles (and parts of Northern Europe) aware of the solar eclipse on March 20th?

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I saw something about it on the Orkney pages of Facebook - it looks as if they're going to get a pretty good chunk of "totality". Wish I could be there ...
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
It's been a surprisingly nice day. Sunlight, a lovely lunch out in a country pub with some colleagues - we enjoyed the last one so much we've decided to do this once a month - and a very timely delayed connecting train home which saved me an hour's wait. After struggling to the top of the stairs at the station we were all unexpectedly offered a large cookie apiece, courtesy of the railway company. Mine is, I think, sultana and spice. Getting home early has meant no queues in the local Chinese for my favourite takeaway (duck with plum sauce), and it's still daylight.

For those wot are keen on food (I'm sure there must be one or two) lunch was Welsh rarebit with Paris mushrooms and and a side order of chips, plus a really nice cider that actually tasted of apples. Eaten at a table in the sun with a view of fields, horses and a sunlit valley. These days I find a starter with a side order of chips is about the right size and usually more appetizing than the larger main courses.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
When the eclipse happened over northern France in 1999 we drove via the tunnel and got a lovely clear view on the coast, my husband (boyfriend then) took some amazing photos.
For supper we are eating sea bream stuffed with peas, broad beans and feta courtesy of the local Waitrose.
 

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Posted by moonlitdoor (# 11707) on :
 
I was also in northern France for the 1999 eclipse, in Beauvais town square. But I haven't married any of the people I was with at the time.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Yes, I was aware of the total eclipse and forgot to list it this afternoon in the tutor meeting, damn. (Along with World Book Day, Red Nose Day, National No Smoking Day and Mothering Sunday).

WW - news story here recently on cheese was that the health warnings were all wrong (Torygraph link, to save you from the Daily Mail, which were the links that came up first when I checked, but it was all over the BBC too). Also Canadian research showing the health benefits of eating cheese.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I remember the 1999 eclipse. Everything went eerily quiet, including the birds, as this strange, delicate, lunar kind of light passed over the city. Pretty much the only sound was some bloke in the distance shouting "The end of the world is nigh".

March 20th is a Friday and a lot of us will probably be at work. Hopefully we will see something of it from the windows.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

---

WW - news story here recently on cheese was that the health warnings were all wrong (Torygraph link, to save you from the Daily Mail, which were the links that came up first when I checked, but it was all over the BBC too). Also Canadian research showing the health benefits of eating cheese. [/QB]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
WW - news story here recently on cheese was that the health warnings were all wrong ...

---

V. enjoyable evening eating quite, but not too, spicy curry; it was a biriyani style, with the chicken pieces, rice and sauce served in separate dishes and mixed on one's plate. It had quite a kick, so I'm glad I brought the tomato-and-onion raita, which cooled it down just nicely.

I may have had slightly more New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc than I should though ...
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
New Zealand Savignion blanc -hmmm, my favourite white wine, I'm more of a red wine person myself. I had quite a lot last night as I had a couple of glasses early evening with friends from work in a good but very basic pizza place (all tumbles and bare wooden tables, only five sorts of pizza on offer) and then a bit more when I got home.
HA, exciting news about your husband - did you enjoy the champagne?
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sarasa:

HA, exciting news about your husband - did you enjoy the champagne?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
[QUOTE]


All is happy in our household tonight, my husband has resigned from his job of 15 years today so as to start a company of his own with a former colleague.

---

Excellent - I wish them all the best.

My brother did the same two years ago and hasn't looked back
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

V. enjoyable evening eating quite, but not too, spicy curry; it was a biriyani style, with the chicken pieces, rice and sauce served in separate dishes and mixed on one's plate. It had quite a kick, so I'm glad I brought the tomato-and-onion raita, which cooled it down just nicely.

I may have had slightly more New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc than I should though ...

---

quote:

---

Heavenly Anarchist: He has all the knowledge and experience to make this work well but we were waiting for the financial aspects to fall into place before he made the jump.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:
Does anyone know what percentage of the sun has to be covered in an eclipse for it to get noticeably dark ? I know it's very high as your eyes automatically adjust to the lower light levels, in the same way as they do indoors.

Ryanair has got Stansted to sort of Osloish airport for 9.99 each way. I've got a couple of days off the following week, but wondering about asking on Monday if I can swap them. The eclipse will be about 97% there, the same as Orkney.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:

quote:

---

Heavenly Anarchist: He has all the knowledge and experience to make this work well but we were waiting for the financial aspects to fall into place before he made the jump.

---

Does he have potential clients?

---

Yes, they already have work lined up and his business partner is dealing with them as he resigned his job a while ago. He is confident of future business as he is very experienced with lots of patents to his name (he designs sensory technologies), though he needs to be careful who he approaches for a few months as he has some exclusions built into his current contract.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I was at w*rk in Belfast during the 1999 eclipse, and although it was a cloudy day, the sun broke through enough that we could see the shadow clipping the edge of it.

It seems slightly odd to me that I remember knowing from when I was very young that there would be an eclipse in 1999 that was "total" in Cornwall, but I've only recently discovered that there'll be a 97% one in Orkney in a few weeks ...



HA - best of luck to Mr. Anarchist and his colleague in their new venture!
 

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Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

Heavenly Anarchist: Yes, they already have work lined up and his business partner is dealing with them as he resigned his job a while ago.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chocoholic:
Mum (Angel*) and I went to see the orchid exhibition at Kew gardens today which was very nice. Obviously we had to have coffee and cake in the cafe as well!

---

Oh, that sounds lovely! I used to keep a variety of orchids in our conservatory but unfortunately they caught a virus (and now the conservatory is full of craft stuff instead!). Cake would be nice too.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
The Great Tapestry looks wonderful, JtL - I wonder if it's likely to be anywhere where I'll be the next time I'm home? What an amazing project.

Ariel - what is this "spring" of which you speak?

Actually it was a bright and sunny, but cold day here today and although a good bit of the snow's either been cleared or gone of its own accord, I'll be surprised if we've seen the last of it.
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
Dydd gŵyl Dewi hapus!
Happy St David's Day!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Ariel - what is this "spring" of which you speak?

---

It's a gloriously sunny and even mild morning and the first day of spring. The birds are shouting enthusiastically to each other, and when the shops open I'm going to get some daffodils and spring flowers in. Begone dull winter!
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Hmmm! No spring here yet. I have loads of crocuses (?croci) which refuse to open in the absence of sun. I reckon they will keel over before they open, which is a shame, both for me and the bees.

If I see another day of grey overcast I am going to SCREAM very loudly!!
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:
Dydd gŵyl Dewi hapus!
Happy St David's Day!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Hmmm! No spring here yet. I have loads of crocuses (?croci) which refuse to open in the absence of sun. I reckon they will keel over before they open, which is a shame, both for me and the bees.

---

Same here - grey, overcast, cold and very windy!

I have 100s of crocuses in the front garden - all tight shut. Humph! We have re-done our back garden to dog proof it (put car park rubber holey stuff all over the grass) the grass seed has been scattered - now we need some SUN!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I might have known. I washed the car, left it there and went shopping, and emerged from the supermarket into icy rain and a chill wind. And I had no umbrella.

March coming in like the proverbial lion. We are due a hot Easter again, though, which will be something to look forward to.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
We had Nenlet1 and son-in-law to a meal yesterday evening. On the menu was Piglet's Curry and sticky toffee pudding - the latter not home made and it showed. Also it turned out they have given up cake and chocolate for Lent so we had to get round the problem by saying it might look like cake but pudding was what it said on the box so pudding was what it was. Note to self, stick to fresh fruit salad for pudding in future - I've never heard of anyone giving that up for Lent, or at any other time.

I meant to get some daffodils for the house for St David's Day but didn't get my act together.

I made several muck-ups at work on Friday so need to get in early tomorrow morning to rectify those.

Finally, I got into a discussion with someone at church this morning and did a particularly poor job of explaining my take on The After Life which left her more confused than when she started.

Currently wondering whether to go to the evening service to get out of Mr Nen's way or to stay in and avoid inflicting more confusion on the world.

Nen - feeling demoralised.
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
posted by Sioni Sais

quote:

---

I hope supporters of Welsh rugby (ie, all of the Welsh and a fair few besides) are recovering after a pretty dramatic win in Paris yesterday.

---

Four on the trot - mae Duw. And I've just watched the match from Dublin which has added interest to the proceedings.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
Evening service has it. Mr Nen is In A Mood.

Nen - on the run.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Happy St. David's Day - the daffodils are coming out and we have a Welsh win!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's still St. David's Day here (just) so I'll wish the Welsh contingent a good one and add well done against the French.

eta: the less said about the Scottish rugby team the better ...

[ 02. March 2015, 01:57: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Happy St. David's Day - the daffodils are coming out and we have a Welsh win!

---

And we had leeks with the roast beef for dinner last night, both cooked along with some carrots in an oven bag. Delicious. David was remembered along with our Patron Saints at the end of theintercessions as well.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
I'm finding it very difficult to concentrate on work today because we've just put an offer in to buy a house and I keep hoping they will call me back about it!
I'm far too excited about it, which means that it will probably fall through in the end
*bounce* *bounce*
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I hope you get good news soon, I'm terrible when waiting for news, I can't do a thing.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Good luck, Marzipan - been there, done that, got the battle-scars.

I'm playing a bit of a waiting-game at the moment too, but nothing like as important as yours. On Friday a parcel arrived in the post from Ortak, from whom I'd ordered a pair of earrings when I was home. Unfortunately the earrings in the parcel were not the ones I ordered, so I've e-mailed them and am waiting to find out if they'll let me bring them back with me when I go up in August (to save on international postage). Although we've been customers for ever, I don't know if they'll entertain the idea ...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
After struggling to the top of the stairs at the station we were all unexpectedly offered a large cookie apiece, courtesy of the railway company.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
... On Friday a parcel arrived in the post from Ortak, from whom I'd ordered a pair of earrings when I was home.

---

What passes for our local (at Meadowhell shopping centre) Ortak shop has gone Online shopping is nice but I liked RL window-shopping.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
... Ortak shop has gone ...

---

Last spring Ortak went into receivership and closed the factory and all their shops, and then in the summer a buyer was found who has re-established the brand with a factory and the original shop in Kirkwall, but I haven't heard any plans for re-opening anywhere else. I suspect that what sent them into receivership in the first place was spreading themselves too thinly; they seemed to have a hell of a lot of outlets, many of them in shopping centres where the rents were probably exorbitant. I had a reply from them today to say that the goof with the earrings was their mistake, they're happy enough to let me bring the "wrong" pair back when I go over in August and they're sending the right pair ASAP.



I'm being goddessish this evening and am currently waiting for a batch of loaves to prove, and there's a pot of veggie soup bubbling merrily on the stove. Both should be ready for virtual tasting by the time you read this.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Baking bread here too, but a seeded cottage loaf (I've been making baguettes recently too, your enthusiasm has obviously caught on).
Quiet day for me as I got my work done yesterday. I might do some sewing and a little housework. This afternoon I have a work appraisal but that shouldn't be too stressful.
 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
... Ortak shop has gone ...

---

Last spring Ortak went into receivership and closed the factory and all their shops, and then in the summer a buyer was found who has re-established the brand with a factory and the original shop in Kirkwall, but I haven't heard any plans for re-opening anywhere else. I suspect that what sent them into receivership in the first place was spreading themselves too thinly; they seemed to have a hell of a lot of outlets, many of them in shopping centres where the rents were probably exorbitant. ...

---

Aha, that makes sense. Am glad they found a buyer for the business but sad for the shop: one of the few worth visiting at Meadowhell.

I won't be too sad though, as I'm just waiting for Mother Arachnid to get ready to go to the cinema to see Shaun the Sheep.

[ 03. March 2015, 11:24: Message edited by: ArachnidinElmet ]
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Gypsy had her nine month assessment this week and passed with flying colours.

I am now actually teaching her to guide! I didn't expect that, but if they progress well then puppy walkers are given the next stage. So I am now teaching her to walk ahead, with her rump by my leg. I'm teaching her to notice obstacles in our path and to weigh up whether to wait (if it's a group of people) or go round (if it's a sign, dug up path etc)

Here is a You Tube clip of someone being guided by a dog - the dog has sooo much to think about, but the benefits are very clear. The clip shows the route taken using a white stick, then the same route taken with a guide dog.

The benefits of a guide dog.

The down side of Gypsy's progress is that she may go to Big School early, at 11 months, which would be the end of April - next month!

I will be heartbroken when she goes, of course. But the way I see it - I would never have met her if I hadn't puppy walked her, she would have gone to someone else. I just hope she gets a really active owner as she isn't a couch potato at all - she loves working.

If she does leave early the new pup will arrive in June. I have asked for another yellow girl
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
What rewarding work that must be, Boogie I worked in Ophthalmology for over 15 years (and my twin is partially sighted) so I know how vital guide dogs are to the visually impaired.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
Well done, Boogie, for all your hard work with Gypsy. She's a credit to you! You are a Guide Dog Goddess.

To all the Domestic Deities here, Mr Nen and I had a nice soup and bread lunch courtesy of the local supermarket.

I am off this afternoon to meet some other ladies about being part of a new small group. Slightly apprehensive as it won't be so easy to keep quiet about my non-con-evo ideas in a small group setting.

Nen - quietly strange.

[ 05. March 2015, 12:21: Message edited by: Nenya ]
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Congratulations Boogie and well done Gypsy too!
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:
...I am off this afternoon to meet some other ladies about being part of a new small group. Slightly apprehensive as it won't be so easy to keep quiet about my non-con-evo ideas in a small group setting.

Nen - quietly strange.

---

That reminds me of the line from Sir Henry at Rawlinson End about the brother being 42 and still strange.

And some of the other ladies may well be harbouring the same doubts but having the same fears about voicing them.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Congratulations, Boogie and Gypsy!

Of course you'll miss her, but you can console yourself with the thought that (a) she's going to bring a shed-load of happiness and security to somebody who needs it; and (b) you're going to get stuck in again training another dog.

Good on you!
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
That's an enlightening video. I'm in awe of these wonderful dogs and of course their trainers.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Guide dogs are not just for the blind. My grand-niece uses a service dog to help her deal with the real world and her autism. Deaf people use service dogs to alert them to sounds. People in wheelchairs use use dogs to help them with physical barriers and many daily tasks. Recently I have seen a dog being trained to help people with PTSD and other anxiety disorders.

Being differently abled myself, I am often approached by trainers walking in malls to help the dogs deal with crutches and canes and chairs.

My grand niece's dog also takes care of me. She is very empathic. One day, when visiting, I fell, very early in the morning. She heard my calls for help and barked until my niece came to see what was wrong. She headed to the stairs but noticed the dog had stopped outside the room I was using .

I am in complete awe at all the various service dogs, and know that the list I put above is by no means exhaustive.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
Recently I have seen a dog being trained to help people with PTSD and other anxiety disorders.

---

That sounds brilliant. How do the dogs help (other than by being a trusty companion)?
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Well done Boogie and Gypsy! You both have done so very well!

And I'm sure Gypsy will be and great blessing to someone, and you will fall in love with and train another puppy!

How did you get on Nen? It can be difficult in a con/evo group, but they've got used to me now and I just keep quiet, or argue gently with another view.

They do tend to say stupid things and then pray for me!!!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I heard somewhere about helping dogs for diabetics and tried to imagine how they'd work, in particular relation to a friend who's a type 2 diabetic but loves his food, particularly sweeties and cookies:

Type 2 Diabetic: I wonder if I should have a cookie?

Dog: WOOF!!!


 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I heard somewhere about helping dogs for diabetics and tried to imagine how they'd work, in particular relation to a friend who's a type 2 diabetic but loves his food, particularly sweeties and cookies:

Type 2 Diabetic: I wonder if I should have a cookie?

Dog: WOOF!!!

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quote:

---

Diabetic Alert Assistance Dogs are a specific type of Medical Assistance Dog that has been trained to use their highly sensitive scent capabilities to identify the changes in blood chemistry that occur during rapid changes in blood sugar levels.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:

( it goes against the grain to call biscuits cookies on a British discussion but as piglet has started it ... )

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by moonlitdoor:
... it goes against the grain to call biscuits cookies on a British discussion but as piglet has started it ...

---

Quite right - but the friend I was thinking of is Canadian, and the confection I'm thinking of is what he would call a cookie, and most Brits would call a tray-bake (think of things like tiffin, Nanaimo bars or (Heaven forfend) date-squares).

I usually call them "wee buns".
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
The only cookies in the UK were called Dadd's (I think, not Daddies?) Cookies and you bought them loose in the Home & Colonial (later called International) Stores.

When biscuits were sold loose by the pound you could also get Harvest Biscuits - so-called, I suppose, because they had a picture of wheat stooks on them; whatever, they were wonderful. The nearest I've found is malted milk biscuits but there's still something lacking.
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
I remember Harvest Biscuits! But I don't think I liked them very much

If they ever come back, l'organist, you can have mine.

M.
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
Recently I have seen a dog being trained to help people with PTSD and other anxiety disorders.

---

That sounds brilliant. How do the dogs help (other than by being a trusty companion)?

---

I think they start with a very empathic dog and work with it to pick up cues of stress and anxiety - in some ways not too different from an autism service dog, but there are differences.

ps - re autism service dogs - My great niece Katie had to go to the hospital one night for observation after an an evening of increasing breathing problems. The dog, in harness, lay down on the stretcher with her and we have a wonderful shot of Katie using the dog's butt to prop her laptop (which has 95 million Dora websites bookmarked )
 

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Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
I've just had what I'd class as a cookie. From the fresh bakery section in M&S which is all soft and chewy in the middle.
I'll let you guess what flavour it was
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chocoholic:
I'll let you guess what flavour it was

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chocoholic:

I'll let you guess what flavour it was

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
I heard somewhere about helping dogs for diabetics

---

That might have been Eigon and I both mentioning on the Ship that we'd spotting a diabetic dog at last years' World SF Con in London. I saw it sat on it's owner's lap (a much smaller dog than gypsy) during the orchestral concert, completely unflustered by the loud brass, timpani and live Theremin. Very impressive.

There's an excellent article in today's Guardian about the different types of guide dogs, including a bumblebee nest detection dog!
 

---

Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Double chocolate
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Went out to Anne Hathaway's Cottage today as it was such a beautiful day. A bit too early for spring flowers and blossom, and even tourists, so mostly had the place to myself. Also had the first al fresco meal of the year at a table in the sun: Tudor pottage. Just very nice to get out and to be able to enjoy some warm sunlight. Over the winter months, that sort of thing tends to fade into a distant memory, but hopefully the first of many.

Saw the first butterfly of the year, too: a pale yellow one.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chocoholic:
... what I'd class as a cookie. From the fresh bakery section ...

---

That sounds more like what I'd have called a cookie, as sold by the bakers at home (and the school refectory at morning break).

They were soft, sweet bread-rolls, and IIRC came in three varieties: "cream" with the top split and filled with baker's cream; "iced" with the top glazed with white icing, and "coconut" - similar to the iced ones but with desiccated coconut mixed into the icing (my favourite).

Rats. Now I want one ...
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
Some of us were stuck in a rehearsal taking a load of rhythmically challenged men through the finer points of Stainer's Crucifixion

I suppose I should be grateful that Alfred Gaul's The Holy City fell out of favour after WWII
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
But Maunder's Olivet to Calvary is still around (I know, I've sung it).
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've so far managed to avoid Olivet to Calvary; TBH I can live quite happily without the Stainer as well. I know it's a good piece, but it just doesn't float my boat.
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:
Some of us were stuck in a rehearsal taking a load of rhythmically challenged men through the finer points of Stainer's Crucifixion

---

quote:

---

But Maunder's Olivet to Calvary is still around

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:
posted by Baptist Trainfan
...Maunder - rarely do people live up to their name so completely.

---

So did Stainer come from there or just leave them?
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
You need to know some of Maunder's oeuvre to understand...
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Today is evidently Kamikaze Pheasant Day. What's the matter with the little perishers? No less than three trying to get squashed on the road this afternoon and verges splattered at intervals with the unfortunate successes. Plus a huge dead fox in the middle of the road, not far from where the last one was two weeks ago.

It does make going for a Sunday afternoon's drive in the countryside a bit depressing. Still, I suppose it's better than having deer suddenly crashing through your windscreen, as happened to a friend of mine.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Might I suggest madeira sauce?

We did lots of lovely Tudor and Renaissance music today: Hassler and Tallis in the morning and Ayleward and Farrant at Evensong. The Dean's back from his sabbatical, and there was a fair amount of Decanal Grinning™.

I've said it before, but it's just so nice to be appreciated.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Maunder was a regular in my parish when I was still an Anglican, as was Stainer - both eminently forgettable Victorian blah!

Particularly when sung by a choir that is not quite [not nearly?] as good as it thinks it is.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Bright and sunny today, I hope it stays that way. I am off to Manchester to search for the dress (mother of the groom).

My personal shopper will be with me so I'll be fine (a good friend who knows what I like)

It's a bit of an adventure for me as I don't do shopping. I go in plenty of shops for Gypsy's training - but shopping? No.


 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Bright and sunny today, I hope it stays that way. I am off to Manchester to search for the dress (mother of the groom).

My personal shopper will be with me so I'll be fine (a good friend who knows what I like)

It's a bit of an adventure for me as I don't do shopping. I go in plenty of shops for Gypsy's training - but shopping? No.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Be careful. At eldest son's wedding I had just about settled on one particular outfit. Something stopped me. Wedding day arrived and DIL's mum had bought identical, down to the colour I liked.

---

Help!

But I know for a fact that his new MIL will be wearing a trouser suit - she hasn't been seen in a dress for 20 years.


 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
It never rains but it pours …

- I have to move house next weekend and am dealing with the drama of getting all my crap in boxes and holy cow how do I have so much STUFF and where was it all hiding? Are my cupboards the Tardis or something?

- I worked overtime all day Saturday and then had to get up on Sunday morning and go to church when I wasn’t planning to (someone else was sick) so I didn’t get to rest at any point this weekend.

- Fiancé en rouge has the flu. Not man-flu, actual proper raging influenza that the doctor has prescribed anti-virals for.

I want to crawl into a hole until it all goes away.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
... It's a bit of an adventure for me as I don't do shopping ...

---

Are you quite sure you're a woman? At our wedding, my mum and D's both had outfits in similar colours (turquoise with navy accessories), but they were different enough for it not to matter. We were at a wedding in Orkney last year where the bride's and groom's mothers had what appeared to be co-ordinated outfits - both the same colour (a pale lilac trimmed with lace) but in slightly different styles, and with different, but equally elaborate hats.

Poor La Vie - that does sound like a duff weekend. Hope Fiancé en rouge feels better soon.
 

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Posted by Chocoholic (# 4655) on :
 
Well Choccie is currently at about 30k feet and very much liking on board wifi!

I'm off to Sweden where the weather is due to be a little cooler than home but above freezing, I was rather hoping for just a little of the white stuff but I think I'm about a week late. Still it meant having to bring less cold weather gear.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Free flapjacks at the station this evening

Anyone see Poldark last night? It was all right I suppose, but a bit too lighthearted for me, with a smiley Ross Poldark coming across as caring and selfless. Robin Ellis still firmly on his pedestal as far as I'm concerned.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Robin Ellis is the definitive Poldark.
On a different note, we are having a silver Abyssinian kitten in about two months and can't think of a suitable name which all three of us like. Has anyone any suggestions? (We won't guarantee to take them up!)
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Do you mind if I start a thread for this in Heaven? It should get lots of ideas.

(Some more inventive than others... )
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Sure! Lord P came up with the idea of translating "Who did that?" into Welsh.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Done! Hope you get some good suggestions
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Right. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Still feeling bummed out and highly stressed, with the added problem that the Chef™ is dying of the flu, I decided that the only thing to be done was head to Marks & Sparks for lazy comfort food.

I ate beans on toast and then raspberry jelly. My inner eight year-old feels much consoled.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Beans on toast can be a dish fit for a king, if it's what you feel like. And apparently it has all the nutritional amino acids that you need as well as being comfort food.

Win-win.

I hope you've been dosing Fiancé en rouge with lots of Manuka honey, lemon juice and whisky/ginger/Lem-sip*.

* delete as appropriate.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Beans on toast with grated cheese on top then flashed under a hot grill is amazing - particularly if you add herbs and a dash of Worcestershire Sauce to the beans when heating them.

I've just had breakfast and am now hungry again and it's all your fault!


 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Beans on hot buttered toast with a couple of slices of bacon is my perfect combination.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Bright and sunny today, I hope it stays that way. I am off to Manchester to search for the dress (mother of the groom).

My personal shopper will be with me so I'll be fine (a good friend who knows what I like)

It's a bit of an adventure for me as I don't do shopping. I go in plenty of shops for Gypsy's training - but shopping? No.

---

How this takes me back to this time three years ago, shopping for my mother of the bride outfit for Nenlet1's wedding. I don't do shopping either and everyone who had been mothers of the bride/groom were telling me how they went to this and that large retail outlet and shopping mall to find their outfits. I even had one friend who told me I wouldn't find anything in such and such a place as she had already looked for me. Great was my determination therefore to find the outfit in such and such a place. Which I did; on the first shopping trip I did for myself. Picture if you will the subsequent conversation between me and NenFriend - Did you get your outfit on Saturday? I did. Where did you get it? Such and such a place.

I named the colour I wanted to wear beforehand to avoid clashes. I hope you found something you will love to wear, Boogie.

Beans on toast - yum!

I have not yet seen my first butterfly of the year but according to Moomin lore if the first you see is yellow you'll have a happy summer. If white, a peaceful one.

Nen - hoping for a brimstone.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

I hope you've been dosing Fiancé en rouge with lots of Manuka honey, lemon juice and whisky/ginger/Lem-sip*.

* delete as appropriate.

---

Almost. A French hot toddy (known by the charming name of "grog") is made with *cognac*.

The over the counter cold cure is a product called Fervex, which works pretty well (I don't think it's available in the UK, which is a shame because I think it works better than British cold cures), but it's only really meant for colds/mildish viruses, not full-on influenza .
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Went to Costa Coffee yesterday and tried one of their chocolate teacakes. It's about three times the size of a Tunnocks one, and even has jam inside at the base of the mallow. I'm normally a Café Nero fan - their coffee and cakes are definitely the best IMO - but would enjoy having one of those again.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I put some raisins to soak in port this morning, so CAKE may well ensue this afternoon; we have eggs that could do with being used, and CAKE is the best way I can think of using them.


 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I come to All Saints in the morning, and the first thing that happens is I feel hungry!

The shops are full of Hot Cross Buns now, but I am trying to resist them until Easter. I doubt I will manage that - Mr.N would eat them all year round given the chance! If I can find a really spicy recipe for them, I might make some, minus the cross, and eat them anytime!

Lovely sunny morning, looks really spring-like, but a strong wind and rain is forecast to arrive later, so I am trying to make the most of it by sitting in the sun indoors!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Here, Nicodemia, have a piece of raisin CAKE.
 

---

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 
Nicodemia

M&S do an orange and cranberry loaf. If it is the same as the one I recall then it is very similar to their rather wonderful orange and cranberry hot cross buns.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
I don't normally join in on the culinary discussions here (TME does the bulk of the cooking in our house, as we both know we'll eat better that way!), but I am mid-way through having a go at something new to give to the Elf Lass for finger food, and the mixture tastes brilliant though I say so myself. They're black bean and sweet potato patties, and if the finished product is anywhere near as good as the mixture I licked off the spoon then the Elf Lass may not actually see too many of them... (diet, what diet?).
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
Piglet's Curry with saffron rice is on the menu here at Casa Nen, we'll be eating once Mr Nen gets back from Pilates. Then he's out so I get sole control of the TV remote.

Nen - feeling peckish.

[ 11. March 2015, 18:16: Message edited by: Nenya ]
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Sometimes the simple pleasures are the best.

A friend of mine was complaining he was charged £8.70 for a glass of wine (Pinot) (yes, ok, I don't know whether it was Noir or Grigio) at a London theatre yesterday. The online conversation that followed led me to look up a local place which I knew wasn't going to be cheap and see what they charged for a glass of Pinot Grigio. The answer is that small was £6.50, medium £9, and large £17.50. Can you imagine! The mark-up on a glass of wine is ridiculous sometimes.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
That depends on a) the wine and b) the glass. I have a half-bottle glass (375ml) while a friend has one that hold a whole bottle (750ml).

It could be poor value or a bargain.
 

---

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
How big is a large glass? Is that 250ml? May as well buy the whole bottle!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
The large glass is actually 500 ml. It is cheaper at £17.50 than the £25 they ask for the whole bottle. That's the Grigio (white) by the way. If you wanted the Noir (red) the prices would be £9, £12.50, or £24 per glass and £35 for the bottle.

[ 11. March 2015, 19:29: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Most pubs here have glass of wine at 175ml and the large 250ml. Many do a deal where you buy 2 glasses and get the rest of the bottle free.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by balaam:
Most pubs here have glass of wine at 175ml and the large 250ml. Many do a deal where you buy 2 glasses and get the rest of the bottle free.

---

Really?

Over here I think the most I've paid for a glass of wine in a restaurant was $16 (£8.40). I think it was 9oz, or a little over 250ml; a bottle of the same in the off-licence would cost about $11.30 (about £6).

That's quite a mark-up - at that rate a bottle would cost about $48 - and you'll be lucky if a white wine is properly chilled, as most people here drink beer, and most eateries haven't a clue about wine.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Don't forget they have to factor in storage and possibly spoilage cost as well as service. That said, most of us in my damily usually frequent BYO.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Sadly, BYO as a concept doesn't exist here; the off-licences are all owned by the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, which is a Federal Government department (so they all carry more-or-less the same stock ), and bringing your own wine is Strictly Forbidden™.

We have fond memories of a little café in Belfast called Piglet's* which was a greasy-spoon and breakfasterie during the day and a rather nice place to drop into for an early supper after w*rk. It had no licence, but there was a very good off-licence next door, and we could buy a bottle of ready-chilled white at offy prices and enjoy it with a nice, very reasonably-priced supper.

* yes, really
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Sales of spirits in Canadian provinces is a provincial matter (Unless you are harking back to the glory days of the Dominion of Newfoundland).

I have been in some Ontario restaurants where you were allowed to bring your own bottle, but not to open it yourself. The restaurant charged a corking fee. This may have been an experiment. I haven't heard of any for years.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
Sales of spirits in Canadian provinces is a provincial matter ...

---

My mistake.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It seems to have gone very quiet beside the teapot; I hope everybody's well. There's still some raisin CAKE, so do help yourselves.

It was a beautifully sunny but very cold day here today - I don't think it got above -10°C - and according to the Weather Channel we may brace ourselves for a blizzard on Monday. This may result in a snow-day, but as Monday is a holiday anyway (nearest Monday to St. Patrick's Day) it probably won't make any difference.

It's a bit of a bummer though, as I was planning to work on Monday anyway to build up hours for taking holidays.

Ho hum.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The Curse of the Migraine!

So there I was sitting in church when the flashing lights began so I closed my eyes for much of the service then on the drive home it all came back full force - well, thankfully not but it hit - got home, went to bed, cold compress on head and sleep. Thankfully woke up 3 hours later and almost completely gone. Before retirement got them on a frequent basis until I was introduced to Feverfew tabs/caps but haven't needed them since as they are so infrequent and because generally when they start I can go to bed immediately. Now just a light throbbing above right eye - why do flashing lights appear one side and then the pain on the other?

Anyway, I've missed lunch but I reckon I can afford to do that one in a while.

* * * *

In other news, not a lot really - life carries on. I was told off yesterday by a 27 year old for referring to myself as old and I was told off last week by a 17 year old for saying that it is okay to be stupid when you are retired.

Well, I am 66 so think I can claim the title old, which he can't, and I enjoy being the age I am - I certainly don't want to be 27 or, Heaven forfend, 17 again! And the 'stupid' thing was that when I was working I always had to know stuff - people were forever asking me questions or coming to me with their sexual hang-ups* or something or other and I had to listen or answer or suggest where they might look for answers or help - being paid and being seen as some sort of expert I couldn't afford to be stupid. But now I can! It's bliss!

Being old and stupid has vast compensations!


[* - in the world of sexual health you would be amazed at the things folks tell you, the most intimate details of their private lives bared to a colleague - it was pretty scary at times!]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Poor Wodders - I hope you feel completely better v. soon. I'm lucky enough never to have had a migraine, but I used to suffer from fairly debilitating, nauseous headaches, which would come in batches - I'd get one, take some tablets (Solpadeine™ were the most effective for me) and go to bed. Wake up next morning feeling fine, and by lunch-time the bl**dy thing would be back again.

Mercifully they're a rarity these days.

In other news, there was a fair amount of Decanal Grinning™ today, but whether it was because he was enjoying the music or because he's just acquired a new grandson may be open to debate.

Possibly a bit of both ...
 

---

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Yesterday was such a dismally grey sort of day that I was reduced to baking CAKE to combat it. The result was my best lemon drizzle cake ever, made with the third recipe I've tried I hope it freezes well, as two-thirds of it went straight into the freezer (I know Sundays are feast days, but it is still Lent, after all).

There is some in the tin, though - help yourself!

Mrs. S, domestic demi-goddess
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I adore lemon drizzle cake - but with a diabetic husband it does not appear here very often! But I do have a gorgeous recipe for Moroccan cardomen and orange cake, which is more or less fatless and not much sugar which I have just made again.

I'll have a piece of Mrs.S's lemmon drizzle and help yourself to said orange cake!

The sun has just appeared here but I fear it will be a fleeting glimpse.

Though you never know....... (emoticon for hopeful placed here)
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
So what did everyone get up to for Mothering Sunday?
 

---

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Lemon drizzle cake is especially nice if you make a lemon cake and then add gin to the drizzle instead of lemon juice I'm sure it would also work with whisky and orange.
A quiet Mother's Day here, my youngest had a vomiting bug so no church for us but I was bought plenty of chocolate and dessert wine to accompany it.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I had a lovely weekend being indulegd by my husband and son. They both cooked me some lovely food, in which lemons (though not gin) featured, a mozzerella salad and a lemon meringue pie.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by L'organist:
So what did everyone get up to for Mothering Sunday?

---

Not qualified.

We had the Service for Young People from the Prayer Book (it's a sort of truncated version of Matins), and distribution of flowers (to all the ladies, not just mothers), and simnel CAKE afterwards.

The threatened sn*w-day happened with a vengeance: the Council have ploughed a sn*w-bank about 6 feet high and the same wide right in front of our house.

However, a kindly neighbour helped D. dig it out while I made pancetta pasta for lunch, so we should be able to get out tomorrow (assuming we don't get any more f****** sn*w).


 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Mrs Sioni was away for the weekend with the daughters while I played "bears with furniture" at home with the boys.

A colleague has passed on a vile cough/cold/throat thing. It must be bad as he's absent too and he's a contractor.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I spent the weekend partly doing an online retreat, partly reading novels, catching up on housework and watching re-runs of the first version of Poldark, which knocks the new version into the shade as far as I'm concerned.

It was a quiet weekend with a lot of food for thought. The phones were off and internet kept to a minimum; by Sunday I was quite getting into it and started to realize just how much "distraction" there is in everyday life. As a Lenten exercise it was well worth doing, though the actual retreat sessions didn't give me a feeling of the numinous or connection with the divine. With hindsight I think I could have done with longer although I was getting a bit fed up at times. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, though.

[ 17. March 2015, 11:10: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
We have fond memories of a little café in Belfast called Piglet's* which was a greasy-spoon and breakfasterie during the day and a rather nice place to drop into for an early supper after w*rk.

---

A bit like Adam's Cafe which we used to frequent when living in London. It didn't have a licence in those days, but does now - although you can still BYO.
 

---

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
So today this particular island is bright green for a certain saints day. I'm not objecting! I've made chocolate stout cake with baileys icing if anyone wants some (it's lovely :-))
 

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Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
Yes please! Baileys icing sounds lovely. I think much of my introduction to underage drinking involved Baileys....Quite a bit of my legal-age drinking involves stout, now I come to think of it.

I have less glamorous but functional banana bread, if anyone wants some.

I should be doing housework, but went to a jolly fine gig last night and was up past my bedtime so am too lazy.
 

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Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :
 
We don't do Mothering Sunday as the Smudgelet, who is adopted, finds it too difficult. So we just had a lazy day. But he did decide it was a good opportunity to try out a new cake recipe he'd discovered... and I'm rather pleased he did. A beautiful three-tiered raspberry and rosewater cake with fresh cream! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The best Unmother's Day cake I've ever tasted. And oh dear, the fresh cream meant we had to eat it in huge slices!

I did feel sorry for all the families who had nice things planned for the day which were thwarted by what miserable weather we had. And we were a bit shocked at how many people were out in their cars, particularly at the supermarket.
 

---

Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 
I was ill in bed on Mothering Sunday, so we're having the celebration a week late. Planning to go to our favourite Italian restaurant for lunch after church.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Smudgie:
We don't do Mothering Sunday as the Smudgelet, who is adopted, finds it too difficult. So we just had a lazy day. But he did decide it was a good opportunity to try out a new cake recipe he'd discovered... and I'm rather pleased he did. A beautiful three-tiered raspberry and rosewater cake with fresh cream! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The best Unmother's Day cake I've ever tasted. And oh dear, the fresh cream meant we had to eat it in huge slices!

I did feel sorry for all the families who had nice things planned for the day which were thwarted by what miserable weather we had. And we were a bit shocked at how many people were out in their cars, particularly at the supermarket.

---

The cake sounds scrumptious. mmmmmmmmm.
I had the perfect Mother's Day trip - the usual Sunday queue at the dump vanished for the day so I was there and back in a flash, leaving more time in the garden.
 

---

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
So many tasty cakes! (The boozy paddys day cake is somewhat improved by a day in the fridge, oddly enough)
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Mothering Day is not a custom here, Mothers' Day being in May. But we do observe Laetere Sunday with the Mothers' Union playing a role in leading the intercessions. We say the Mothers' Union prayer, and members distribute simnel cake.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Mmmmmm ... Bailey's icing ...

Now it just happens that the head of the theological college where D. teaches was dishing out miniatures of Bailey's on Tuesday in honour of St. Patrick - any chance of posting the recipe upstairs?

Smudgie - the Smudgelet's cake sounds deeply wicked. In a good way, of course.

And if it's got raspberries in it, it counts as one of your five-a-day, obviously.
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
What I learned last night: I hate flat-pack furniture. Why aren’t the holes opposite the holes? I may also have smacked myself on the thumb with a hammer
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 

quote:

---

And if it's got raspberries in it, it counts as one of your five-a-day, obviously. [Big Grin]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
What I learned last night: I hate flat-pack furniture. Why aren’t the holes opposite the holes? I may also have smacked myself on the thumb with a hammer

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Why aren’t the holes opposite the holes? (

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
What I learned last night: I hate flat-pack furniture. Why aren’t the holes opposite the holes?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sharkshooter:

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Why aren’t the holes opposite the holes?

---

Because you have got something backwards ...

---

About 30-odd years ago, D. and my dad (with me as the gofer) installed a little pipe-organ rather like this in a church in Orkney, and they couldn't understand why the big pipes on the side wouldn't fit in the holes. I looked at it for a while, and realised they were trying to put them in in the wrong order; I was quite chuffed that I could see what they couldn't.

You're quite right about flat-pack furniture though - there's nearly always a mysterious screw or bolt left over after you've finished.

In other news, our department at w*rk is moving to a new building over the next few weeks: I saw my new office for the first time today and was v. impressed. A whole office to myself (admittedly without windows, but I haven't had those for the last four years, so I'm used to that), with my name on a board outside it! They mis-spelled it, but it's a start.

However, there are apparently structural issues: they allowed for the weight of filing-cabinets, but only if they were empty ...
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Hi ho hi ho, it's off to w*rk I go ...

I only work one day a week (someone has to earn enough to pay for doggy treats and toys) but even then I am beginning to wish I was at home!

I think 'proper' retirement looms!

We had a lovely day at the Guide Dogs training centre in Atherton on Wednesday. They did some talks and long service award presentations. Then we saw the dogs put through their paces - amazing. We also had a talk by the dog care manager which really, really put my mind at rest. They showed us what the dogs' first days and weeks involved. They care for them wonderfully. I have told Gypsy she is in for some real pampering at Big School!
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Is Gypsy off to school early? It is going to be a real wrench for you, Tatze and the rest of the family (aside - typing z on my keyboard reminds me I need to clean it, sticky, yuk!).

Today is my day off as I work four days a week, but I've just decided to go down to two from September. That should be OK money-wise as long as I can sort out HMRC who have suddenly decided I should be paying 40% tax on my megre income - I had nearly £200.00 less than I was expecting this month!
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
However, there are apparently structural issues: they allowed for the weight of filing-cabinets, but only if they were empty ...

---

I'm not sure how true this story is, but at the university where I did my PhD the story goes that the entire top floor of the library is empty, as they hadn't taken into account when they laid the foundations and built the library how much the books would weigh.

I suspect the same brains of Britain who designed the library are in charge of thwarting my every attempt to do something vaguely efficient in my new job (started this week). Today's not-frustrating-at-all-oh-no-really experience was trying to log a call online to the IT helpdesk, as a cock-up has meant that I can't log onto my own computer and I have to use somebody else's with someone else again's ID (not dodgy at all, guvnor). As I'd not done it before (being new and all that) I didn't have a login ID, but there was a helpful note on the screen saying if I didn't have an ID to call this number to get one. So I called it, to get an answerphone message telling me that I should log my query online. Thanks for that...

Oh well - at least it's the weekend. No more work-related numptiness till Tuesday
 

---

Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Does the name on the door mean you've got a permanent contract Piglet?
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sarasa:
Is Gypsy off to school early? It is going to be a real wrench for you, Tatze and the rest of the family.

---

It's a distinct possibility and yes, we'll be heartbroken but I would never have met her if I hadn't puppy walked her, she'd have gone to someone else - and she's off on a wonderful adventure.

Tatze will be fine, she's a real Mummy's girl - she doesn't worry at all so long as she has me.

I have asked for another yellow girl, any time after the 22nd June (My son gets married on the 20th)
 

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Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
Went to The Deep in Hull today and a good time was had by all. A very clever design means that you get to see the largest tank from several different angles, including from one of the lifts, which was useful as we watched a diver feeding some sawfish (half-shark, half-chainsaw) from a large stick.

There were also penguins, a giant ray and numerous Amazonian poisonous frogs in varying colours.

Is it very wrong that we finished the day with fish and chips?
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Well, I suppose Fish and Chips is better than a Penguin Burger - but only just!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Originally posted by Jack the Lass:

quote:

---

I'm not sure how true this story is, but at the university where I did my PhD the story goes that the entire top floor of the library is empty, as they hadn't taken into account when they laid the foundations and built the library how much the books would weigh.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
I only work one day a week (someone has to earn enough to pay for doggy treats and toys) but even then I am beginning to wish I was at home!

---

I wonder how much of that is because your work day is Friday? I work part time and I love my job, but one of my working days is Friday and I've always disliked it. I'm hoping my hours will change soon, however.

Keep us informed about Gypsy - will you be able to visit her after she's moved on? And did you get an outfit you're happy with for your son's wedding?

I'm intrigued at how they got the spelling of your name wrong, Piglet. Piglit? Pigglette?

I've got a lovely day ahead. Coffee with a friend, lunch with Nenlet1 and her husband and in-laws for Son in Law's birthday, then home to watch "The Musketeers" on catch up. And I'm going to walk everywhere as it's such a gorgeous day and it will mean I can have a glass of wine with my lunch.

Nen - prepared for afternoon doziness.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Nice day yesterday. Someone bought me a mocha as a surprise in return for the coffee I'd bought her earlier in the week. I hadn't the heart to tell her I can't really drink non-decaff or to pour it away, so drank half of it (it was delicious) and spent much of the day with what felt like caffeine overdose in consequence.

It didn't stop me going to a lunchtime art class which I thoroughly enjoyed, or for going out for dinner in Oxford later and sitting at a table by the window, watching the world go by and sipping my favourite cocktail as the sun went down.

The art classes look to become a regular thing. It hasn't been formally arranged yet, but hopefully we'll be learning how to draw, taught by a retired teacher who is now a freelance art teacher and artist with his own studio. He introduced us to drawing by using a grid yesterday, which is something I hadn't tried before and of course it works better than freehand. Then we moved on to tonal shading. Great fun!
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Enjoy 'The Muskateers' Nenya, we watched it last night, and it's really cranking up to a explosive finale next week. I'll miss it when it goes, it's extremely silly but good Friday night fun.
It's darker here than it was during the eclipse yesterday. Off to buy the incredients for a fennel and orange soup that'll be ready later if anyone fancies a bowl.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nenya:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
I only work one day a week (someone has to earn enough to pay for doggy treats and toys) but even then I am beginning to wish I was at home!

---

I wonder how much of that is because your work day is Friday? I work part time and I love my job, but one of my working days is Friday and I've always disliked it. I'm hoping my hours will change soon, however.

Keep us informed about Gypsy - will you be able to visit her after she's moved on? And did you get an outfit you're happy with for your son's wedding?

---

Of course I was fine when I got there - the thought of doing it is always worse than doing it!

We won't get to visit Gypsy unless her owner gets in touch - and that's up to them, I will be sending details and a photo book of her puppyhood with her. (That's assuming she graduates from school, 1 in 3 don't make it the whole way)

I got a wedding frock for a wedding I'm going to next Saturday, but not THE frock. I want to lose a few more pounds before I get THE frock - 'tho I saw lots of lovely ones
 

---

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Originally posted by Jack the Lass:

quote:

---

I'm not sure how true this story is, but at the university where I did my PhD the story goes that the entire top floor of the library is empty, as they hadn't taken into account when they laid the foundations and built the library how much the books would weigh.

---

I've heard that story about Dundee University Library extension, where many of the bookshelves are only half-filled. Not sure I believe it, though.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sarasa:
Does the name on the door mean you've got a permanent contract Piglet?

---

Sadly no, though it's a nice thought. AFAIK our boss has told the PTB that she wants to keep all of us on, and the funding is available, but none of us has it in writing yet. Such is the peril of being paid from research grants.

On the subject of building structures, D. tells the story of a brand-new student union building in the 1970s with the swimming-pool on the top floor, but they hadn't allowed for the weight of the water, so it could never be filled. What they did with the hole doesn't seem to have been recorded.

How did these eejits become qualified architects/engineers?
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
It's a beautiful sunny day here in Boogie Wonderland. I shall take the pooches for a run in half an hour (they will be doing the running - not me!) Then off to Church. Shame to sit inside on such a lovely spring day after all the dull rain!

Never mind, hopefully it will stay like this all day - I may even need to feed the fishes for the first time this year! My fishes all have names you will be pleased to hear
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
It did stay lovely all day over here, Boogie! Did a fair amount of gardening, tidying up etc. until my back complained so much I had to stop! It was actually warm enough to sit in our summer house, allbeit with coats on, and read the papers!

Cloudier today, but it has plenty of time to clear up yet!

Tried a slow-roasted shoulder of lamb yesterday - it worked a treat But next time I will be braver with the marinade, though as Mr.N cannot tolerate spicy things I have to be careful

Don't do church on a Sunday - not my idea of worshipping God (if there is one) nor do I like being lectured for three quarters of an hour!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm delighted that you're all enjoying such lovely weather. It was blowing a gale and pouring freezing rain here this morning - I got soaked just going 10 feet from the house to the car to go to church.

It was worth it though - in the morning we sang Batten's Communion Service, Tallis's sublime O sacrum convivium and Cwm Rhondda. What more could a (mostly) discerning piglet ask?

Oh, and I've just made some French sticks, so help yourselves.


 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
After a week of the Chest from Hell I have returned to work to find that a fair few others were off too, but progress has been made on a number of fronts. I cannot however remember what I was doing, so I hope tomorrow will be better.

[ 23. March 2015, 11:33: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 

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Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 
Jack the Lass:

quote:

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I'm not sure how true this story is, but at the university where I did my PhD the story goes that the entire top floor of the library is empty, as they hadn't taken into account when they laid the foundations and built the library how much the books would weigh.

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I think it's a generic university library story. I heard the same thing about the university where I did my first degree. And at the university library where I worked for 14 years (the scars still show sometimes) the extension really did have to be underpinned because it was moving away from the original part of the building, presumably due to the weight of books.

NEQ, if the extension at Dundee University library has only just been built it is not surprising the shelves are only half full. There wouldn't be any point in building an extension that was only just big enough to house the books you already have - not if you are planning on acquiring more, because books accumulate in a university library faster than you can persuade the average academic to dispose of the older ones.

Architects are not the only people who fail to take the weight of books into account; the designers of bookshelves don't, either.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No gale here, Piglet

Bestest Mate in all the World arrives tomorrow morning, now somewhere over Eastern Europe on an A380. We are all a bit excited as he is such a tonic when we see him - and he's bringing books and opera DVDs that I ordered online to be delivered to his place - he's also bringing crumpets!

Yum-Yum.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
D's been searching for crumpets* off-and-on for weeks - they're a post-Evensong supper chez Piglet when we can find them (not very often). I'm not a huge fan, although they are nice with M's Cumberland rum butter; perhaps I should consider trying to make some in the bread-machine.

* WW, wash out your mouth with soap ...
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Piglet, I have a Paul Hollywood recipe for crumpets - would you like me to pm it to you?

Mrs. S, slavering
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I use Paul Hollywood recipe for crumpets too, very successful.
Hmm, I'm tempted to make crumpets now, despite having 8-10 hours of marking to do today.
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
Piglet, I have a Paul Hollywood recipe for crumpets - would you like me to pm it to you?

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Why don't you post it on the recipe thread.

Moo
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Wouldn't Mr. Hollywood send raging thunderbolts if I were to use a bread-machine for his crumpets?
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
It doesn't need to go in a bread machine, just stick it in a mixer. Here's the recipe Crumpets
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Using both yeast and bi-carb soda sounds, well, very different, and the quantity of yeast seems high. Has anyone found why the different flours are needed? All flour here is strong.

Madame used make some crumpets form Elizabeth David's English Bread and Yeast Cookery (think I got that right) . I'll see if I can dig that out sometime.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm hitting some buffers here: although I've got a food-processor, I haven't got either a stand-mixer or crumpet-rings ...

Oh well, back to the supermarket we go.

There's a snow-plough bleeping away merrily below the window as I type: if they don't clear the snow-heap in front of our house this time, I'll be strongly tempted to drop something on them.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Gee D:
Using both yeast and bi-carb soda sounds, well, very different, and the quantity of yeast seems high. Has anyone found why the different flours are needed? All flour here is strong.

Madame used make some crumpets form Elizabeth David's English Bread and Yeast Cookery (think I got that right) . I'll see if I can dig that out sometime.

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I have made crumpets from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Bread Book. It has both yeast and baking powder in it. I think the book explains why, but I don't have it handy at the moment.

Piglet, the only rings I could find down here were egg rings, much smaller than I wanted. I eventually found a tiny, non-stick frying pan which was a good size. I don't think I will make them again. They were very messy and time consuming. I have made bagels from the same book. One of the best books on bread currently around.

I think there is a pond difference here too. The UK recipes I found, suggested toasting crumpets if not made that day. Crumpets here are always toasted.

To my family's thinking, there is only one brand here worth buying. When that was taken over, the recipe was kept. The other brands are rubbish. My family also believe that anything other than butter and vegemite is sacrilege as a spread.
 

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Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :
 
Piglet --

I'm told that a standard tuna or salmon tin can be turned into an acceptable crumpet ring (a little small, but okay) by removing the flat ends and, presumably, smoothing out the edges.

John
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
Thanks HA - saves me typing it out! That was why I hesitated before posting to the recipe thread - if Piglet didn't actually *want* it, it would be a waste of time!

Madhur Jaffrey's naan bread recipe - which I do make in a breadmaker - also uses yeast and bicarb. It works a treat

And Gee D, strong plain flour is for bread and pizzas etc, ordinary plain flour for things like cakes and puddings - it's finer, I believe, with a lower gluten level (???).

Anyway, for the Greedy Mrs S it's back to yoghurt and muesli for breakfast, ready for a school assembly, featuring puppets, on 'Symbols of Easter'. Wish me luck!

Mrs. S, fingers crossed
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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And Gee D, strong plain flour is for bread and pizzas etc, ordinary plain flour for things like cakes and puddings - it's finer, I believe, with a lower gluten level (???).

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Australian flour, as Gee D points out is already strong. Varieties which suit our climate produce strong flour. Some is sold as bread flour but all our flour is strong to start with. Plain flour down here just means not self raising.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
If you want crumpets but don't fancy faffing about with rings how about these?
I went to a Quaker Bible study group last night. The Meeting House is only five minutes walk from my house and though no longer a Quaker I thought I'd enjoy doing Bible study with them, and so I did. Three of us were deaf and the evening was full of the sort of unintended comedy you get when people don't quite hear each other properly. Starting with trying to make tea and being told off by the Buddhists in the next door room who were meditating for being noisy.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I believe the baking soda is to produce the bubbles at the top and this recipe does work well for that. I requested crumpet rings and an iron griddle for Christmas especially to make crumpets :)You can crumpet rings on Amazon. I don't toast mine if freshly cooked as there is no need, they are hot and crispy and perfect to eat straight away, but would toast them if re-heating later.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Thanks, everybody. The pikelets look rather good; I have vague memories of buying them in M&S when we lived in Belfast, but they don't really look any harder to make than pancakes.

My apologies - I seem to be turning this into another recipe thread. I'll post any other queries I've got upstairs ...

In other news, it's a beautiful day here. Not a very warm one (-3°C) but lovely and sunny.

I'm wary of mentioning the word "spring" - that probably won't arrive until about the third Tuesday in May, and will last for about 10 minutes.
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I'm sitting at the computer having sorted and prepared 16 double essays to mark and the outlook here is definitely looking gloomier by the second.
 

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Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
THere are some hints of blue sky here, and the rain has stopped.
Considering we are getting new windows and doors put in today, this improvement in the weather - however slight- is very welcome.

hope you can hear me above the sawing/hammering/drilling noises
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
Glad it isn't raining for your window fitting
I've just had a wet walk to Waitrose to get a break from the marking marathon and fill up our Mother Hubbard's, I haven't left the house since Monday. I excelled myself yesterday and got 18 essays marked, so just twelve left today and an evening tutorial and I am free to have a life again. Or at least return to my studies.
How is everyone else faring today?
 

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Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 
I am in the middle of making Paul Hollywood's savoury brioche couronne with parma ham and cheese. Hope it turns out as well as the one Other Half made a couple of weeks ago or I'll never hear the last of it...
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
I make his apricot couronne at Christmas (too rich for the rest of the year, I think ) and it is YUMMY - the ham and cheese one does sound good though ...

Mrs. S, slavering again
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
The ham and cheese couronne sounds delicious!
 

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Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 
Just got it out of the oven - busy slavering over it.

Now, the problem is going to be resisting the temptation to eat it until teatime. Perhaps a small slice - for quality control purposes, you understand...
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Absolutely - you wouldn't want to give it to Mr. R. without knowing it was OK, now would you?

We're going out for dinner with a group of friends from the choir this evening - there are four couples, and we always try to go out to celebrate birthdays, but Life tends to intervene, and what usually happens is that the winter birthdays (five of us from mid-December to mid-March) get celebrated at some point in the winter or spring, and the summer ones (three from the end of July to the middle of August) sometime in the summer.

We're going to Get Stuffed (I think I've mentioned it before ) as their menu can cater for one of the group who has a very restricted diet, and I'm rather hoping that they're on better form than they were last time we were there (music was too loud and they wouldn't turn it down, even when asked politely).

Will report back later ...
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
I have a day free from work
I've made the batter for crumpets and am pondering making a Swedish sticky chocolate cake my 10 year old saw in this month's Waitrose magazine (his idea of reading is looking at pictures of cakes). I might do some textile stuff later, I'm experimenting with making wrist cuffs of painted velvet.
I might also have a kip this afternoon.
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
Now all my days are Saturdays it's easy to forget what day of the week it actually is. Today's Saturday has so far seen the parsnip bed dug over at the allotment (ran out of oomph to plant the seedlings so that is for tomorrow) and now I'm about to continue a charity shop trawl for a black blouse with sleeves & collar which I need for my very first concert tomorrow - it's the orchestra uniform if we don't have the actual uniform.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Happy hunting, Daisydaisy, and good luck for the concert!

We had a very nice evening yesterday - the food was definitely back on form, and a good time was had by all.

In other news, I got a letter today extending my w*rk contract until the end of 2016, which is a huge relief, as our recent extensions have mostly been for either three or six months.


 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 
That is good news
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Great news about the job Piglet - have they sorted out your door sign yet?

It's the first day of my holidays today. So far I've been to my creative writing class, done a bit of shopping and am in the midst of making pandolce. Should be eady this evening if anyone fanices a slice.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I doubt that they'll have sorted out the sign yet; I was over in the new building this morning delivering tea to my boss, but I didn't go up to my new place. I'm supposed to be having a measuring-up session on Monday (for the aforementioned filing-cabinets) with the secretary who's doing the organising, so I'll see how things are going then.

Spiced Winter Soup has been made and is merrily doing its thing in the slow-cooker for feeding people post-palm-cross-making tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Palm crosses have been made, soup has been consumed, and slow-cooker is now the repository for a couple of lamb-shanks which are merrily marinating. I'll sear them in a frying-pan and set them going just before I go to bed, and on a low setting they should be ready for lunch tomorrow.

The sn*w, which was beginning to be somewhat absent, appears to be giving us an encore.


 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Piglet, your slow cooker must be huge! How many does it feed with soup!

Very excited, me and daughter are taking ourselves off to Spain for Easter - she needs a break and I need sun!! Just pray for no delays at Airports!
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
I was doing the laptop for morning Service today and everything went wrong - the text changed to black, which it does sometimes; the backgrounds to the songs all disappeared (I pressed the wrong button ); someone had turned on the light over the screen, bleaching all the colour out (till I noticed and went to turn it off); and there was a minor melee over whether I was playing the correct part of the DVD (I was, but had to stop it and restart).

All nerve-racking enough, and then in the prayers the leader referred to the part of the lesson where Jesus 'went into the Temple, and looked at everything'. Oh My God, I thought, the ultimate Mystery Worshipper , and he'd be thinking 'Two thousand years they've had, and they STILL can't get it right!'

Mrs. S, still breaking out in a cold sweat
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
It's been an eventful week. From the bus window earlier this week, I saw two men beating up a cyclist and stamping on his bicycle. Had to wait until the next day to find out from the local paper what happened - I thought they knew each other but it was apparently an unprovoked attack where they just dragged him off his bike and attacked him.

The next day (again seen out of the bus window) there was a man with a very bloody nose lying on the pavement with an ambulance and stretcher nearby and the police hurtling up towards the incident. The local paper said afterwards a child had been knocked down, but it looked like there was more than that.

I also had to unexpectedly deal with some mental health situations. As a result I've signed up on a waiting list for a course on mental health awareness, though that won't happen until the summer.

It has been difficult to stand back from this sort of thing but getting out into the countryside, both on Friday evening to see the new lambs in the fields, and today for what I can only describe as an "elemental" walk, has been good. The wind is roaring in the branches, the leaves are scudding, there are showers of blossom like confetti, and sudden drenches of heavy rain mixed with fitful sunlight. Surprisingly enjoyable.
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
From the bus window earlier this week, I saw two men beating up a cyclist and stamping on his bicycle. . . . The next day (again seen out of the bus window) there was a man with a very bloody nose lying on the pavement. . . .

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Remind Miss Amanda to take a different route.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
I was doing the laptop for morning Service today and everything went wrong - the text changed to black, which it does sometimes; the backgrounds to the songs all disappeared (I pressed the wrong button ); someone had turned on the light over the screen, bleaching all the colour out (till I noticed and went to turn it off); and there was a minor melee over whether I was playing the correct part of the DVD (I was, but had to stop it and restart).

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Sounds like a bit of a nightmare. Mr Nen was on the projection for one of our services this morning but fortunately it all went rather more smoothly for him.

Rather too much going on at present - I quickly reach saturation point and am easily overwhelmed - but Nenlet2 is coming home next week for Easter so really looking forward to that. We are decorating and the house is a tad chaotic but we're working to get his room back to a state where he can sleep in the bed and work at the desk. It will also be nice to have a break from work. I love my job but there are changes happening there, including a possible change to the hours I work, and I want it all to be sorted out now please.

Nen - change averse.
 

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Posted by moonlitdoor (# 11707) on :
 
I missed church due to running in a half marathon which was also a bit elemental like Ariel's walk. It was raining and very windy and running uphill into a strong wind it seemed as though I would come to a standstill. Still, it's a good way of pretending that I am 30 rather than 53.

Church will be tomorrow night as I am trying out stations of the cross for the first time.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Piglet, your slow cooker must be huge ...

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It's quite big - 7 quarts - like this one and came with a little one for doing hot dips. I wasn't the only one catering yesterday - there were four pots of various sorts of soup on the stove-top as well. I reckon I got maybe 8-10 generous bowls out of it, and it wasn't more than about two-thirds full.

I did lamb-shanks in it for today's lunch; once you've put in veggies and a couple of decent-sized shanks, it's surprising how even a big slow-cooker fills up.

Our Palm Sunday services went really well - Weelkes' Hosanna to the Son of David (what else?) in the morning, and Choral Evensong with Meditation (lessons interspersed with anthems and hymns instead of a sermon) in the evening.

To those having issues with their power-points, overhead-projectors and similar instruments of Beelzebub - hymn-books don't go on the blink.



[ 30. March 2015, 03:49: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:

To those having issues with their power-points, overhead-projectors and similar instruments of Beelzebub - hymn-books don't go on the blink.

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:
To those having issues with their power-points, overhead-projectors and similar instruments of Beelzebub - hymn-books don't go on the blink.

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