quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:
One of my Dad's favourite sayings! (Background story for another day and probably Another Place.)

Thank you, Wodders. And a Happy New Year to one and all - as midnight winds its way around the globe, let's hope for a merciful dawn.

---

Amen to that!
adding my wishes for a more hopeful new year for all.
 

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Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
And a bloomin' happy New Year to all of you from me too.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Didn't recognise you at first with the new avatar, Amber.

Happy New Year to all the denizens of this thread, those who live here and all the expats.
 

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Posted by Trisagion (# 5235) on :
 
Blwyddyn newydd dda, i chi i gyd, as we say around here

[ 31. December 2011, 19:31: Message edited by: Trisagion ]
 

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Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Please translate the Welsh, Trisagion.

Thanks,
Gwai
All Saints Host
 

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Posted by Trisagion (# 5235) on :
 
Whoops. First hastily bollocking of 2012 - or, more accurately, the last of 2011.


Happy New Year to all.
 

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Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :
 
Happy New Year fellow Brits! Race you to 2012, at least I'll get there an hour before those of you back in Blighty. (OK I know some of you are already in the new year, yes I'm looking at you WW!)

[ 31. December 2011, 21:42: Message edited by: Lucia ]
 

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Posted by blackbeard (# 10848) on :
 
And my best wishes for 2012 from the most perfidious (south) part of Albion.
And be it known that in Greenwich we have the One True Time. Just over one hour of 2011 left.
Surely nothing more can go wrong in just one hour?
May 2012 be a blessing to you.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Blimey, Wodders, that was quick ...

We're not quite there yet although a few premature fireworks have been set off (it's about quarter to nine here), but as we're going out with friends to take in the New Year I'll pass round my virtual bottle of Famous Grouse* now and wish everyone back home all the best.



* or other beverages of choice, obviously
 

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Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Happy New Year and may God bless all who sail in her!

Only one mile from Greenwich here but spent most of the last X hours in the pub having desperate fun with the diverse local community.

My liver wants the party to end, my backbrain demands another pint, and the sensible bit of my head wibbles.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
It rained all day yesterday - it was overcast during the morning walk and spitting a little then when we got home it got serious and rained non-stop until dusk - further south in the state there were floods. Today not a cloud in the sky, bright sunshine, glorious day. Being tropical and coastal such changes are always possible.

We were visited by a party of kids last night all dancing and singing and wishing us a happy new year - two fifteen year olds shepherding a younger gang around, going down to about aged 9 years. All boys, of course, as here girls aren't allowed out in the evening, and certainly not in the company of boys!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Quiet and peaceful New Year's Eve. Church bells started ringing changes at around half eleven then the fireworks broke out at midnight. The rowdy night I thought one of my neighbours was going to have took place elsewhere, the neighbour is moving out soon, and the new series of Sherlock is on tonight.

Heavy rain is forecast for today, but plenty of good things indoors to do instead, and the first is going to be potato cakes for breakfast. So a great start to the New Year so far, hope yours is good too!
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
The New Year managed to come without me waiting up for it. When I woke up at 6.30 am, it was here!

(But other people's lovely fireworks woke me on the dot of midnight, but not sure if that counts!

But happy New Year to all on this thread, and I too missed you Amber, as you've changed your avatar!! But delighted to see you, whatever you look like!
 

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Posted by Jabber (# 9668) on :
 
We had a good evening out at a friends house, but were home by 11pm as the small one wasn't overly settled in an odd bedroom. I was all tucked up before midnight (as was the small one) but woken by fireworks too.

We are now just off for a (hopefully) refreshing walk.
 

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Posted by Gussie (# 12271) on :
 
Just enjoying things getting back to 'normal' after a fortnight of over-indulgence. I've just put the washing on and done the ironing and am thinking of settling down either with a good book or some knitting. A nice cosy start to the New Year.

Hope everyone else's New Year's are off to a good start.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Some rather good fireworks on the other side of the valley at midnight, otherwise pretty quiet. Small numbers in churh this morning though.

I'v got a couple of booklets of Cornish phrases, so apologies to Morlader if it's wrong - Bledhen Nowyth Da - Happy New Year, as we've already had it in Welsh!
 

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Posted by birdsoftheair (# 15219) on :
 
No fireworks here and a quiet night all round. When we lived in Stromness (look here if interested) we were awoken by the Hamnavoe ferry sounding its very loud horn repeatedly at midnight

Today, I actually tried to go to kirk but it was closed due to lack of interest.

Right now I'm feeling very decadent as I'm eating Orkney icecream with Balileys! Ask nicely and I might find some to share.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Serves you right for living in Stromness, doesn't it?

Yes please to Orkney ice-cream and Bailey's ... nom nom nom.

Enjoyable dinner last night with friends (although as the restaurant was very busy, we had a long wait for our food, but it was worth it).

I'm off to have a Sunday afternoon kip now before the carol service this evening.

sleepy piglet
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Afternoon kip?

But you are but a young whippersnapper, you shouldn't be thinking about afternoon naps until you are at least, erm, 60!

Pete and I were wondering yesterday how we managed all those years of not having daytime naps 5 days a week as we were working. Mind you one of my colleagues papered over the glass panels in his office door and we swear he napped every afternoon, after lunch.

But as I was but 48 when I retired I suppose I really shouldn't say too much.

- - - -

Pete was nearly mowed down by a couple of Muslim girls on bikes this morning - they came round a downhill bend and there he was in the middle of the road and they were going too fast to go round him on the official side so had to pass by on the other side, shouting "Hi, uncle" as they went.

Early morning Qur'an class restarted this morning, as did most of the local schools so even the paper boys were around a bit earlier - and the 10th Standard kids only have two months left before the big exams!
 

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Posted by Jabber (# 9668) on :
 
I would heartily recommend afternoon kips if possible, but that might have something to do with being pregnant and running round after a toddler...

It's a lovely day here, so I think we might have to take a trip out to the park, but I'll just have another cup of tea first.

Who else needs a cuppa?
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I'll join you in a cuppa!

Lovely day here too, but I don't think I am that far from you. Lousy day yesterday - only people I saw were similarly dripping wet dog walkers!

Lots of people out today, feeding the already overfed ducks and gulls. Seems the sun is noticeably stronger now.

Or am I just an optimist?
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Lovely sunny day here too, but probably best not to do too much, as I go back to work tomorrow, which means getting up before dawn and travelling home in the dark for the next few days, with daylight really only at lunchtime. This break has been good: I didn't expect it to be as enjoyable as it was.

It really feels as if spring is on its way today - glorious sunshine and you almost expect to see flowers. I'm so grateful that this time, we haven't had a winter like the past two. I like winter but not when it comes to pavements covered with compacted ice, and a five-minute walk turns into a twenty-minute struggle to keep upright and not slip.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
I hope we don't get snow and ice like the last two years! My new job is at an office which is approached down a very steep hill!

We were woken very early this morning by some odd noises - looked out of our window to see that a local pub at the bottom of the valley was going up in flames. Thankfully, no-one was living in it, buut the remains werer still steaming several hours later.
 

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Posted by Morlader (# 16040) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
?..
I'v got a couple of booklets of Cornish phrases, so apologies to Morlader if it's wrong - Bledhen Nowyth Da - Happy New Year, as we've already had it in Welsh!

---

Well ! Good on you for trying. Writing Cornish raises hackles everywhere and I have to say you seem to have one of the more contentious spellings in your book. Have a look and see who the authors are.

In anycase, you have wished "Year New Good" in, I think, "Modern Cornish". "Lowen" is Happy ;-)
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Yes please Jabber - ginger and lemon tea would go down very well.

We got home from Heidelberg at lunchtime after an excellent overnight crossing and set to taking Christmas down - all is clear now.

Work tomorrow - first in my new job - eek!


 

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Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I'm here because I am procrastinating.

Yesterday I removes the strings from 3 guitars and a mandolin and has spent time polishing the frets and oiling the fretboards. The other 3 guitars and the banjo will have to wait. What I need is a guitar roadie to do the boring stuff like instrument maintenance so that I can do the enjoyable stuff like playing.

All I need to do now is remove excess oil before restringing and retuning the instruments. So that's the afternoon, and some of the evening sorted.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
Over 60?....no
Pregnant?....absolutely not
Chasing after a toddler?.....sadly not at the moment

Having an afternoon nap?
YES!

Now, would anyone like a chocolate, there are...oh...four left?


( crumbs the box was massive, where've they all gone!)
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No chocolate for me, thanks - I've just had a small bar of chikki, the local version of peanut brittle but generally a bit chewier.

Kids back at school today [as mentioned above] so some long faces today as their exam results start trickling in - poor lambs. At least they were only school exams preparing for the big ones in March.

Our 25 year old neighbour boy's leave is up and he is off back to Dubai and work in the morning - it has been great having him around for a few weeks and we will miss him when he has gone but at least with the internet and SMSing he will never be far away.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
I'm here because I am procrastinating.

---

Me too. Though mine's a neuroscience assignment, which, from here, looks like a lot less fun than the work you're avoiding.

Anyone want a piece of my Wispa Gold? Quick, before I ....

Whoops,too late. I am such a disappointment to myself.
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
And a Happy NewYear from Bethnei, too!

We actually saw in 2012 In northern Spain, twice....we were on a ship keeping English time, tied up to a Spanish dockside, so we had 2 New Years. Spanish fireworks followed by French champagne and English New Year. Was good!

New Year's Day was passed on the Bay of Biscay, where I'm sure that one or two people blamed Not Feeling Too Well on the bumpiness of the ocean (which it was, very!). I like a stormy sea, me!
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Well there was I thinking the excesses were over - and I arrived to the office this morning to find a box of (very classy and rather expensive) chocolates on my desk from one of my bosses.

Who wants to help me share the box?
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Happy new year folks! We are still in Englandshire, but will return north tomorrow (along with the gale force winds, hooray). Today I have discovered that nowhere in the bit of rural-ish Herefordshire that we are currently in sells pants, although of the few shops that were open several sell socks and tights which is no good, don't they realise people are overrun with socks this time of year but Santa isn't so good in the pants department? Have had to resort to the outlaws' washing machine (it's a bit cold to go commando).
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Yesterday I removes the strings from 3 guitars and a mandolin and has spent time polishing the frets and oiling the fretboards. The other 3 guitars and the banjo will have to wait.

---

And I though we were overun with musical instruments! Though we'e actually passed the harp (3 octave) to a young friend who's learning, and Darllenwr's passsed two guitars to another friend as he had a new 6 string last year, and is currently awaiting a new 12 string. Oh, and I sold the mandolin (just a cheap one) as neither of us was using it.
 

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Posted by angelica37 (# 8478) on :
 
Happy New Year to everyone, and it's back to reality tomorrow as I'm working and 3 out of the 4 schoolage offspring are going back. Still there are a few Christmas goodies left to eat and drink including two bottles of wine and a lot of cookies
 

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Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
Was expecting a quiet day today, then a phone call from my friend to say 'will you come to Shopping Centre on the bus with me to pick up a buggy?' led to a fairly enjoyable day shopping with her (and small person) instead of lounging around at home. I forgot to go food shopping, which will annoy me tomorrow, but I did manage to get some new boots in the sale which I can wear to work and keep my feet warmer than shoes...
edit: how do you have cookies left? we made gingerbread ones, and they lasted less than 24 hours! Still got some christmas cake though. omnomnom.

[ 02. January 2012, 20:26: Message edited by: cheesymarzipan ]
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
For reasons I can't explain I don't have to go back to work until Wednesday; I haven't had two statutory holidays at New Year since I left Scotland.

Consequently, I've been a complete couch-piglet today and spent the whole day curled up in front of the Top Gear marathon on BBC Canada ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Somehow I got my left toe caught in my right trouser leg and tripped on the stairs yesterday, breaking my fall with my bad arm - it was a bit sore! It still is a bit sore so off to physio this afternoon but to the city this morning in search of little bits of not-that-complicated cable not available here.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Poor you, Wodders - if I didn't know you were TT I'd have said put more tonic in it ...

Hope you haven't done any major damage.
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:


Consequently, I've been a complete couch-piglet today and spent the whole day curled up in front of the Top Gear marathon on BBC Canada ...

---

No need to blush about being a couch piglet - you deserve it. But Top Gear? Blush away!!

I am up earlier than expected - I set my alarm to continental time and forgot to re-adjust! Never mind, nice to have plenty of time for breakfast.


 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Wodders!
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Dear Lord, Wod!
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I was just thinking about Smudgie.
 

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Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Are we not having a Scots' one, like we usually have had? It's better as it doesn't get so big and it's easier to get about it's different area. Please give us one.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Oh Wodders, silly sausage, get well soon. This penchant for comedy falls is most unbecoming (seriously though, hope it is fixed soon).
 

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Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
Bonne Année, tout le monde! (TR: Good Year Everybody)
Our visitors (with a very cat allergic but cat loving daughter) have just left. Lovely to see them - but lovely to be alone again. Said daughter decided to go down with a chest infection so was hacking and wheezing away all morning, inbetween cuddling cats. Yes, I know...but at 11 she's old enough to make her own decisions! (Somebody tell her parents, please...She is an over indulged only child.)
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
A wheezy and snotty happy new year from darkest Surrey, where I'm meant to be back at work but in fact am sitting at home wrapped in comfy cardies and drinking lemsips. Sadly, both Macarius and I have been ill the whole holiday - I think it's about 20 years since I've been so ill for so long. Macarius looked at me a little while ago and said, 'You look awful'. Thanks, I love you too.

Aaaargh! I couldn't even ring the old year out/new year in and missed it terribly.

It's been a complete washout and now it's January.

M.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I'm sorry you feel so awful, M. - I hope you feel better soon.

I dashed to the city, got exactly what I wanted remarkably quickly and dashed back again - I was home by 1 p.m.! Very successful little trip. We went out into town this afternoon which means I have had almost no nap time today so I think an early night is indicated.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Now I'm going to have an early night but I've just watched 2 Wallace & Gromit stories, including the one with the villainous penguin - well, we all know about them on the Ship, don't we?

Goodnight.
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Thanks for the kind wishes, WW. I know it's Only A Cold and that I'm Not Really Ill but I am still feeling pissed off and sorry for myself.

Have a nice early night; Wallace and Gromit are good!

M.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Wallace and Gromit are always good - get well soon!

First day back at work. I arrived without problems, then the weather turned up. Rain smashed against the windows, wind moaned through two sets of doors, puddles rushed across the car park, trees danced crazily. A colleague's partner phoned to say a tree had fallen blocking their road, another's phoned to say their gazebo was now a mangled heap of metal at the end of the garden. Needless to say public transport was seriously upset.

It seemed calmer at lunchtime so I went for a short walk, giving up on the umbrella after it had blown inside out twice in first few minutes. Amazingly, the sun came out. The place looked wonderful: sunlight on the wet road made it blaze with gold, leaves dripped with silver, the flooded lane had some beautiful reflections from the houses.

All in all, an interesting start to the new year... how was it for you? We have more of this to come, apparently.
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
More roads turning into rivers, horizontal rain - oh, I hope not.
 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
I'm hobbling in to grumble...

OK, so I know it's been a bad day on the trains, fare increases (mine is 6.2%, on a monthly ticket, 5.9% on a weekly ticket, and 5.75% on a day ticket. All worked out courtesy of my maths students today... their idea, who was I to stop them doing something so useful with a lesson on percentages!) bad weather affecting trains. It's back to work day for loads of us, and also it seemed on my line, loads of people who'd been away for Christmas/New Year returning home, who are, shall we say, less accustomed to travelling on trains.

So, pretty full train, and all spare seats full of luggage/coats/newspapers. And, us regulars taking no notice, but politely standing our ground, or rather insisting on a seat. Yes, I do want to sit down, I'm sorry it means you've either got to get up and let me sit by the window, and put your coat somewhere else, or you've got to move to the window seat so I can have the aisle seat, but tough. I didn't quite get to "Look, I work with teenagers with interesting behaviour issues, and they end up doing as they're asked... you don't stand a chance." but I was on the verge of it!

Then, ten minutes or so late, we reach our destination. To find a seriously overcrowded platform, (previous train out had been cancelled, and we were only two carriages instead of the usual three) and one couple utterly hellbent on getting on the train before anyone could get off. With three large suitcases... my shins bear the bruises, and my ears are ringing with all the names I got called for suggesting they needed to let us off the train first. Fortunately, a member of staff was nearby and dealt with them, but still....

Ouch.

I was going to do things of a useful nature when I got home, but decided on a late afternoon/early evening nap instead.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisymay:
Are we not having a Scots' one, like we usually have had?

---

Here it is.

I'm sorry to hear about all your gale-force fog and horizontal rain; if it's any comfort we're supposed to get about an inch and a half of rain tomorrow, when I'm going back to w*rk, so you have a fellow-sufferer.

M - I hope you feel better soon. If you want that lem-sip to not taste horrid, add extra lemon juice and Manuka honey (which is supposed to be more helpful than taking anti-biotics) and a smidgin of whisky.

I'm still getting through some foodie Christmas pressies - we were given a huge jar of home-made antipasto, which from what its creator said is made almost entirely from Things We Don't Like* but, inexplicably, tastes rather good spread on crackers. I also have some Cumberland rum butter, which is magic spread on toast - do help yourselves.

* like tuna-fish, anchovies ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I didn't know they made rum in Cumberland

Off to the Dr today - blood will be drawn this morning then back for results this afternoon. Pete can't get his head around this get your results the same day idea but here it is just how things are done. The results also belong to the patient and not to the Dr, which seems a novel idea to me but everyone here expects it.

They are right, too.
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
WW, it seems amazing to me as well to get your blood test results the same day! Hope they were OK.

I went back to work this morning and when a colleague wandered into my room and said 'What are you doing here?' (it was meant in a kindly way), I disgraced myself by bursting into tears. Tried to make it into a joke but not very well. Oh well.

I apologised to him and we had an interesting discussion about how the English always apologise for everything (he's Irish). I know that my default option is to apologise, whatever the situation. When I was a teenager and my father was teaching me to drive, it used to drive him barmy that I said 'sorry' all the time - in the end, I was saying, 'I'm sorry for saying sorry...'

Is it just me?

M.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
My default is apology as well although I'm better since I did the assertiveness bit - well, a little bit better.

Blood tests were okay and we'll check again in 3 months but Dr concerned about my high pulse rate, something I have had since birth. He insists I carry on with a Beta Blocker, although he has changed the drug but never suggested exercise which is the only thing that has ever worked for me in the past - but then he is a smoker and possibly just a tad[!] overweight so...

Must get back on bicycle and get more exercise, even if it hasn't been recommended medically.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... The results also belong to the patient ...

---

Well, it's your blood ...

You must have the last surviving Smoking Doctor™ - he's such a rare breed you probably ought to preserve him in formaldehyde and put him in a museum.

As my dad used to say, back to old clothes and porridge* for me today too, but as I only work 2½ hours on a Wednesday it was a nice, gentle transition from being off over Christmas and New Year.
* Not actual porridge you understand ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We like porage, we do - after Mrs E's operation in November 2010 I often made her porage for brekkie and she was a real fan.

There is a man perched most of the way up a palm on the other side of the field chopping bits off it - HWMBO and I both reckon he is welcome, it's not a job we'd do for a big clock - it looks VERY precarious.
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Ooh, porage with banana for breakfast is the highlight of my day at work.

M.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Enough talk of porage please. My dog has been very ill..........

(and he cost me £50 at the Vet just now)

Another wet and windy day. Though funnily enough a windy day cheers me up even if it is wet. Its wet. gloomy and grey still days that get me down.

Coffee anyone? Hobnob biscuits, plus milk choc digestives (we don't like milk ones)
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Oh Nicodemia - I'm sorry about your poor pooch,hope he gets well soon, for his sake and that of your pocket!

Yes please coffee and many virtual biscuits please (the kind with no calories)



I have just had two interesting days in my new job - back to studying now - eek!
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Hobnobs for me, please - I have the drink ready here beside me.

The palm over the way is down now, it looks like they are clearing the land ready for more building - hardly surprising as it was sold as building land. We'll still be sad as it was nice whilst our solitude lasted.

Pete a bit under the weather this morning so not sure if he will be up for a walk later.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Wet and windy day? Some very active gales last night having some fun banging the lids of wheelie bins up and down. Five trees blocking various roads round here and a few more on railway lines so going home will be an adventure again.

And speaking of fallen trees, tomorrow will be the last day of my Christmas tree. I shall miss it – I do like the sparkle of the decorations and the glow of the lights in amongst the dark green. Has everyone else taken their decorations down?
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Tomorrow is the day for us to take our decorations down...most of our neighbours have already done so. We still have a wreath on the front door...

Windy and feels very chilly here. The wind is in the wrong direction, so that rain is being driven into the church under the roof tiles.
 

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Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I'll be taking them down on Saturday. I have a garland wrapped around the curtain pole that I'd like to keep, but Mr D says it's too Christmassy. Shame! (There are no curtains on the curtain pole though...)
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:


The palm over the way is down now, it looks like they are clearing the land ready for more building - hardly surprising as it was sold as building land. We'll still be sad as it was nice whilst our solitude lasted.

---

Awww - I'm sorry. That happened to us a few years ago, instead of fields we now face a housing estate. Ho hum, pig's bum.

Ariel - our decorations always come down before we go back to work, I can't face the job afterwards.


 

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Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
Anyone for tea? Kettle's on. And a whole tin of Sainsbury's family assortment biscuit type efforts. I bought them 'cos the tin looked like a radio. Yes I'm sad...Get in there quick before I eat all the jammy dodgers!

Happy new year to everyone here. I hope the poorly arm wasn't too badly damaged in the fall, WW.

Our decorations will probably be coming down on Saturday - I know it should be tomorrow, but I'm going to work, and tired, and I can't be bothered. I'm such a slattern.

It's so windy here still. The recycling people ought to be coming today and people's bags of plastics and papers are blowing all over the place. Luckily people have been trying to weight them down, and rescuing wayward ones, with the result that I don't think anyone has their own recycling outside their house. Oh well, I don't suppose it matters.

This morning Child A opened the door to my sister & kids just as a huge gust of wind blew through the house - large enough to lift the loft hatch which then swung open, hitting Mr Jt9 very hard on the head. I was rather worried (it was a big bang) but he assures me he's ok. It didn't knock him out, and the resulting language demonstrated he still had the power of speech...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Pete felt well enough and we did walk - I spent much of it peeling a stick to make a switch but why is it that when I threaten little kids with a switch all they do is laugh?

The good news when we got back is that I tried my right hand on the brake lever of my bike and I can manage to pull it okay - tomorrow I may actually get to ride for the first time since the beginning of last August! I may try a little ride around the block between the morning walk and breakfast.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The wind is, at last, easing a bit, though a coworker's car was hit by debris on the motorway this morning and he needs a new windscreen. It's not a good time for cars: friends had theirs written off just before Xmas, daughter's is having its CD player replaced (under warranty, I should hope), my team leader's car is just plain sick while ours wheezes and creaks as usual.

If we leave the window open for ten minutes the weather might still blow the Xmas decoraations down.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Our bedroom window is usually ajar, and I got home today to find it had blown fully open and the net curtain had blown outside the window. Thankfully, it hadn't been raining - or if it had, the wind had dried the curtain.

We'll be taking our Christmas tree down this evening.
 

---

Posted by Tubifex Maximus (# 4874) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Our bedroom window is usually ajar, and I got home today to find it had blown fully open and the net curtain had blown outside the window. Thankfully, it hadn't been raining - or if it had, the wind had dried the curtain.

We'll be taking our Christmas tree down this evening.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... after Mrs E's operation ...

---

Remind me never to come to you for post-operative care ...

Nicodemia - Poor wee dog. Hope he feels better now.

I'm having an Age Crisis™ - as if the prospect of turning 50 next month wasn't bad enough, I had an e-mail from my nephew last night to say that he and his wife are expecting a baby in July, so I'm going to be Great-Auntie Piglet.

Haven't yet plucked up the courage to broach the subject of her forthcoming grannyhood with my big sister though ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A friend in UK had a SAGA brochure actually ON his 50th birthday!! He was NOT amused!

In March I'll be 63 - does that qualify as mid-60s?
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
A friend in UK had a SAGA brochure actually ON his 50th birthday!! He was NOT amused!

In March I'll be 63 - does that qualify as mid-60s?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tubifex Maximus:
I slept all the way through the gale last night. When I got to school everyone was saying "Wasn't the wind terrible" and I said, "Nope, slept through it...

---

Me too!

I am VERY thankful that our North Sea crossing was Sunday night, not any other night this week! (Visiting son in Heidelberg for New Year) It was choppy - but 'rock you to sleep' choppy - not 'shake you out of bed' choppy. We always have a window cabin so that I can check the sea.



Morning all, I have plenty of hot beverages and warm croissants.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Sod what any ****** doctor might say - I'd love a warm croissant - or several!

I am terrible as I like to put even more butter on them and then some really sharp marmalade.

Gosh, I love food!

- - - -

I didn't cycle before breakfast but I did do a circuit of the local block afterwards, only about 1.5 km but I managed it and showed to myself that I can brake ok although the wrist position isn't yet comfortable - if I cycle more it should be good physio for the wrist. I'll book the geared bike in for a full service and use the single speed for the time being.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tubifex Maximus:
I slept all the way through the gale last night. When I got to school everyone was saying "Wasn't the wind terrible" and I said, "Nope, slept through it...

---

Me too!

---

Me three!

What revoltingly clear consciences we must all have. Or we're going deaf. Or it's the drugs.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
I think it all depends how tired you are. One morning this year at Taizé (camping) I got up and everyone was talking about the thunderstorm overnight.

rouge: Was there a thunderstorm then?

(I think it was also quite a small thunderstorm compared to the one I had camped in a couple of years previously which literally went for about 8 hours and where the lightening was so bright it was like broad daylight inside the tent)
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
MoT and service today. Got away with the minimum charges and nothing needing to be done - huge relief. Now I can start to plan for a holiday

Decorations still up. I'll be packing them away tomorrow morning, but I'm keeping them up for Old Christmas Day. It's been a beautiful day - went for a walk today and it felt like spring with a deep blue sky, strong sunlight, clouds scudding across the sky and birds darting here and there. Really pretty.
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
I slept through the Great Hurricane of 1987 - even though a tree fell across the road two doors down!
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Ooh, yes, Macarius and I slept through the Great Hurricane* too. I vaguely remember half waking and saying something like 'Bit windy tonight'. I wish I slept that well these days!

We had no electricity and had to sit in the car the next morning to put the radio on to find out what had happened.

*I imagine many countries would laugh at us calling it that

M.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
We slept through it all in 1987 too. I remember idly thinking that there was quite a bit of debris on the road on my way to work the next morning, but hadn't a clue what people were talking about when I got there.

Same this time, too. I'm not really sure how bad it was here, but we did lose two branches - one quite large - from one of the trees in our garden, so I guess it must have been quite bad overnight.
 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
Wandering in shivering to blag a cuppa and some biccies. I had my first day off since December 23 yesterday (OK, I got all 3 English Bank Holidays as leave too), so, of course, I had to fix a puncture, our boiler was misbehaving again, so the plumber was in for a fair chunk of the day, then he had to confer with the landlord, then he rang to apologise that the replacement boiler won't be able to be fitted till Tuesday...

So of course last night the old boiler died and we had no heating bar my little space heater. Have now borrowed another one from a friend, so 2 rooms vaguely warm. Current temperature in the bathroom is about 12°C. Where's the shivering smilie when you need it?
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:
... SAGA?

---

Saga is a travel company catering for over-50s. They used to use the hall of residence where I lived in Aberdeen during the long summer holiday, and some of my friends worked there as domestic staff. They referred to it as "Sex And Games for the Aged" ...

Talking of sleeping through silly weather, I was in Italy on a school trip in 1978 - in fact when the Pope died in 1978 - and I apparently slept through a terrific thunderstorm in Rome. I was quite annoyed to have missed it.

I spent this evening listening to two sorts of music I'd never normally choose to listen to - blue-grass and bagpipes. The local Presbyterian church was having a fund-raising concert and D. was asked to play, and the other acts were a local blue-grass band and the St. John's City Pipe Band. Much as I dislike bagpipes (especially indoors ) I got quite misty-eyed when they marched in playing Scotland the Brave, and even more so when they played Highland Cathedral, as the cathedral in question is St. Magnus.

almost homesick piglet
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Piglet travels down memory lane:

quote:

---

in fact when the Pope died in 1978

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:
Piglet travels down memory lane:

quote:

---

in fact when the Pope died in 1978

---

Which pope was that?

---

Probably the Roman one, I don't think the one from Antioch died that year - neither did that nice Canadian Pope, whose name I forget.
 

---

Posted by Yam-uk (# 12791) on :
 
John Paul I ??
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
2 popes actually died in 1978. One was Paul the somethingth, and the other was John-Paul 1. JP1 died at the end of September, and I can be that specific because I heard the new on my radio while I was on my honeymoon!
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
I was on holiday in York with my parents and wondered why the flags on the convent were at half mast.

If anyone lives near Monmouth, or is going to be near on holiday, the Shire Hall is worth a visit. The courtroom is open, and you can do a sort of video tour of the trial of John Frosr, one of the Chartists involved in the Newport Rising. Very interesting, and extremely good value for the princely sum of £2.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It was John Paul I - he'd only been Pope for a few months. Was he the one Dan Brown bumped off in Angels and Demons (sort of)?

It was a very peculiar feeling being in Italy at that time - the whole country seemed to close, even the weather broke (we'd had a week of glorious weather before the thunderstorm). We were travelling round doing an opera that had been written for the school by Peter Maxwell Davies; the day the Pope died we were supposed to be on in Milan, but that show was cancelled. We did our last performance in Rome the night after the thunderstorm, but to a half-empty theatre and in a somewhat subdued mood. There was one member of our party who was a Roman Catholic (they're quite a rarity in Orkney) and he was allowed to go and file past the catafalque to pay his respects.
 

---

Posted by birdsoftheair (# 15219) on :
 
Gosh piglet, that experience is one to remember!
Nothing much to report at Birdsnest recently except for seemingly incessant rain and gloomy skies.

I really don't like this time of year and am desperate for the first hint of spring like snowdrops. We don't have any in our garden so I will have to scout around in other folk's to find any. Probably too early yet anyway. I used to have some made out of glass in a little vase that looked so real, but I can't find them and think they may not have survived all the house moves.

edited for spelling.

[ 08. January 2012, 16:39: Message edited by: birdsoftheair ]
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
We have our first snowdrops in the front garden! It's always lovely to see. So you can come and look at ours, birdsoftheair, but I'd rather you didn't look at the rest of the garden...

M.

[ 08. January 2012, 16:56: Message edited by: M. ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Odd sort of day, by half eleven it was bright sunshine and I wavered between taking the car out somewhere and going for a walk. I did the latter instead. Lovely blue skies and a real early spring feeling to the day, the trees and hedges almost seemed to glow in the light, the water sparkled, lots of birds around, and you could really feel that not only spring, but summer was just around the corner and that it would be glorious.

As I started to walk back the sky began to cloud over until we were back to the normal shades of pearl greys and the breeze dropped a couple of degrees of warmth, and everything started to look drab once more. We were back in January again as if it had never happened.
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Have just had a skype session with my youngest child, from an alley in London. B4 is finishing a European trip, and after spending Christmas and New Year in the UK was calling from outside her hostel to send exciting news. What was this earth shattering information?

Apparently she rules at Beer Pong.


 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
BL, you must be so proud ... What the blazes is Beer Pong?

All this talk of spring and snowdrops and such is all very well, but here in God's Province™ we haven't really had winter yet.* Spring is scheduled for the second Tuesday in June, at about half-past two in the afternoon (if wet in vicarage).

* The foot of snow we had a few weeks ago doesn't count, as it went away.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We're off to get new identity cards today - not at all sure why I am asked to go as I'm fairly sure, being a mad foreigner, that I am not eligible, but I will take all my paperwork and see how soon they send me home again. On the form they spelt my name completely wrong [I don't recall ever being called Rose before] but they got the date of birth and gender correct.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
If they called you Rose, are you sure they got your gender right?

I really must stop messing about here and go and turn that chicken stock into soup.

not quite motivated piglet
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
You might need to be identified as a friendly foreigner!!!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Yup, that's me - the local friendly foreigner!

They did it, I now have a sort of Indian identity thingummybob - now that is SO cool!

Can you imagine the complexity of registering 1.2 BILLION people? They have quite a system going, it must be costing an absolute fortune. The finger-printing was inkless and the iris cam was painless - AND we were out by 9.30!

The bonus is that I am no longer known in their system as Rose - I am now known by my rather better known lifelong name, as known to the Special Branch in UK and India - though for rather different reasons.

...and I drove the jeep there today, first driving since the accident and I managed fine - this is good as we go away on Thursday and I want to be able to share the driving.
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Rose burbled:

quote:

---

...and I drove the jeep there today, first driving since the accident and I managed fine - this is good as we go away on Thursday and I want to be able to share the driving.

---

I will be clutching my rosary for sure!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... Can you imagine the complexity of registering 1.2 BILLION people?

---

Especially when they all speak different languages.

quote:

---

... known to the Special Branch ...

---

Do you really want to admit that?

Soup is now made - help yourselves.

industrious piglet
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:
You might need to be identified as a friendly foreigner!!!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:[QUOTE]... known to the Special Branch ...

---

Do you really want to admit that? ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:
...Re the driving: hope you're on good terms with St.Christopher, Pete.

---

Thank you F(r)iend.

[ 10. January 2012, 07:02: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I would not be too worried if I was PeteC, HWMBO must also know this. I somehow suspect Wodders is going to have to put up a determined effort if he does not want to be chauffeured the whole way.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I would like some sympathy please. I have had a really nasty cold since Saturday...it started in my throat, went to my chest (yukky coughing) up to my nose and back to the chest (dry coughing) It is presently residing in my sinuses.I went to work yesterday but was wiped out by the end of the day, so today i've cancelled my lessons.
The trouble is that MrD also has caught a cold,but from a different source to mine, I suspect. His isn't so bad and he's accused me of "enjoying suffering" . I think he thinks that if he doesn't feel so bad then I mustn't feel bad...and I'm just malingering.
Please show me some sympathy so I don't feel the need to attack MrD with a blunt instrument ( or a mug of honey and lemon!)
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Poor you - sounds awful.

I'd retreat to my bed...
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Whether or not this will work depends on the savviness of Mr. Dormouse - but could be worth a try…

If it's a cold, it may not be worth going to the doctor's but if you take a trip to the pharmacy and look suitably sorry for yourself you should walk out with a satisfyingly large paper bag full of stuff. It is a stereotype that when you go into a French pharmacy for one thing you always come out with at least four things, but the stereotype is TRUE

Then when Mr Dormouse says there's nothing wrong with you, you can point to all the stuff that the zealous pharmacist has kindly supplied you with - cough medicine, nasal rinse, maybe even some eardrops if you're lucky - and convince him that you're at death's door.

You're welcome.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Lots of sympathy from me, Dormouse - I am horrible when I have a cold and feel just so lousy. Pamper yourself and get well soon.

Much [fairly languid] activity chez nous as we get ready to go away tomorrow. I must remember to pack a couple of t-shirts as it can be cool up there in January and at night - daytime no problem.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Dormouse, ISTM that you have A Bad Cold, but Mr. D. has Man-flu (i.e. a slight cold) and he can't quite get his head round the fact that you feel worse than he does. There probably isn't much you can do except let it take its course, keep warm and take hot drinks with Manuka honey at regular intervals until it goes away.

There's something going round these parts called ILI which stands for Influenza-Like Illness. Presumably when a woman gets it it's a cold, and when a bloke gets it it's flu.

We seem to have had a slight attack of winter here; it started snowing at about 8 o'clock this morning and carried on most of the day, so now we've got about six inches, but it's blowing about and some of the heaps left by the snow-plough are closer to a foot.

Not enough for a snow-day though ...
 

---

Posted by justlooking (# 12079) on :
 
On the subject on cold remedies, I've found a Bad Cold responds to the whisky/honey/lemon juice/hot water treatment. You need generous amounts - a double whisky, tablespoon of honey, juice of a large lemon, all stirred together and topped up with hot water. A couple of aspirin helps as well.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Get well soon, Dormouse. Someone I know has had a cold since the middle of December, only starting to clear up now.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Good morning all - windy windy windy windy today. The cladding has blown off the front of our house, grrr - it just missed my car - phew!

In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

We need at 'Keep the endangered apostrophe' campaign. Mind you - apostrophes where they shouldn't be are far worse!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Very windy here too, though the SUN has come out! Its been rather an endangered species round here lately.

Though I suspect this is the brighter but very much colder weather arriving which has been forecast.

Which I prefer.

I could[put the kettle on and get the hobnobs out if anyone is around?
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
BL, you must be so proud ... What the blazes is Beer Pong?
.

---

I now have it on good authority that Beer Pong is played by setting up 10 glasses half-full of beer at each end of a large table (billiard/ten pin bowling style). Then each player uses a bat and ping pong ball to see who can 'score' by getting a ping pong ball into one of their opponent's glasses. The object is to make the opponent have to drink all ten half-glasses first.

You hear it here first....

[ 12. January 2012, 09:49: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
 

---

Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Ahem: you heard it here first. I sincerely hope the ping pong balls have been washed before play.

[ 12. January 2012, 09:53: Message edited by: Banner Lady ]
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
...In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

We need at 'Keep the endangered apostrophe' campaign. Mind you - apostrophes where they shouldn't be are far worse!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Good morning all - windy windy windy windy today. The cladding has blown off the front of our house, grrr - it just missed my car - phew!

In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

We need at 'Keep the endangered apostrophe' campaign. Mind you - apostrophes where they shouldn't be are far worse!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

---

Depressing, but people will probably still continue buying book's.

---

arrrrgggghhhhhh!

Yes - and CD's, DVD's and banana's!



 

---

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
Tell yourself that they are just changing their name to something about stones that are made to go in the water?
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Hello, again all, home a bit early this evening, so enough time to look at the Ship before bell ringing practice. The first time I've been able to ring since the Carol service before Christmas (still not quite better from my horrid cold).

Originally posted by Welease Woderick, ages ago

quote:

---

My default is apology as well although I'm better since I did the assertiveness bit - well, a little bit better.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by M.:
... my default option is to say sorry ...

---

You're not Canadian* are you?

Regarding the disappearing apostrophe in Waterstone's: why? Does it use up too much ink? Poor little thing, what harm had it ever done anyone?



Next time the post of Apostropher Royal comes up, I think I'll apply.

* Canadian n. someone who apologises when you stand on his toe.

[ 13. January 2012, 02:25: Message edited by: piglet ]
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by M.:
... my default option is to say sorry ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You're not Canadian* are you?


* Canadian n. someone who apologises when you stand on his toe.

---

(edited for the relevant bits)

A thing the British are also often accused of. I think it's a pleasant trait - it's just a nice way of seeking to defuse any possible irritation and help oil the wheels a bit.

M.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
It's the same in South Africa - 'I'm sorry' denotes sympathy, not guilt.

Good morning all - frosty and sunny today, proper winter at last!


 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
In other news, Waterstone's is going to drop its apostrophe. :shock:

---

Depressing, but people will probably still continue buying book's.

---

This made me laugh: apostrophe fallen on hard times.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Excellent, JtL! Thanks.

Just about to venture out into the freezing cold for my book group. I chose the book, so I have to go.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
What book are you reading? It's my book group night this evening, it's a new group to me and I am a little nervous...I don't want to seem too thick, plus I've read the book on Kindle, so I won't be able to flip through it ( my uni trick!)
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Freezing cold it may be but I haven't seen the stars so clearly for a long time as I did tonight. Normally cloud or light pollution drowns the constellations out, but tonight on the way home they were all out in fine display, and I could see some I hadn't seen for years, bright and clear as anything. Frost is going to have to be scraped off the cars tomorrow, but worth it for that.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Yes, the stars were great. My friends live on a hill above the river with not much in the way of street lighting on the other side, soI got a good look.

The book was Iain Banks' Whit; I was thinking of suggesting it for the ship book group, but I no longer have my own copy.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Very frosty here tonight, and the few stars that can still be seen (because of light pollution) are glittering brilliantly in the inky sky...
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I'll take your word for it, St E. Though it's too cold for me to look for myself.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Slushy, mucky sort of day here - it was snowing quite earnestly when I left for w*rk but by the time I came home it had turned to freezing rain and the water was cascading down the hill in front of our house.

Having been -13° yesterday morning, it's supposed to go up to +8° overnight tonight.

I think the Great Meteorologist™ is having a laugh ...
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Misty now - and not in a particularly picturesque way. The Beeb says only -4, What do they know?
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
What an utterly beautiful morning. Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, frost everywhere. Leaves in little silver fur coats, benches covered in diamond powder. Mists rising off the river, chimney smoke and steam that looks like chimney smoke. Puddles frozen into cracked ice, dogs chasing each other across the park full of the joy of the morning. Shadows stretching out across the grass, impossibly long. I hadn't realized my fingers had gone numb until I went to change the lens on my camera.

And yes I did have to spend 10 minutes scraping frost off my car, but at that hour and in that weather the trip to the supermarket is hardly busy at all so it was worth it.

[ 14. January 2012, 10:01: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
Beautiful sunny & crisp morning here - just right for hacking back the honeysuckle that has taken over a fence - it'll recover in time for the summer when it makes the garden smell wonderful
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Same here - frosty and minus temperatures. I'm at the farm looking after Mum and the views are lovely.


 

---

Posted by mrs whibley (# 4798) on :
 
Is there a Society for the Promotion of Tasteful Website Design that we can report the Apostrophe Protection Society to?
[Or to whom we can report the APS for grammar pedants.]
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Oh dear, that is bad, isn't it! Somehow I would have expected the APS to have a much classier website.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
What an utterly beautiful morning ... I hadn't realized my fingers had gone numb until I went to change the lens on my camera ...

---

From rose-tinted to normal? Love your descriptions.

I quite agree about the APS's web-site - what horrid colours and nasty fonts.

We had enough of a rise in temperature (and some rain) yesterday that quite a lot of the sn*w has gone, which is a Good Thing, as you never know when the next lot'll arrive ...

I've made raisin cake, which should be cooled off by the time you read this - help yourselves.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Warm raisin cake sounds lovely!

Another gorgeously sunny morning again, though a heavy frost and still bitterly cold! Better like this than cold grey and damp!

Happy Sunday, everyone!
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
Don't you know what the Bible says about raisin cakes?

Moo
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
Don't you know what the Bible says about raisin cakes?

Moo

---

eeeek! does the same go for Chorley cakes?
 

---

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Allow me to complete the Kerygmaniac invasion

(after consulting Wiki)

So, Chorley cakes are kinda like Eccles cakes? I still daydream about the Eccles cake I had in Portsmouth.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 


Yes - but Chorley cakes are much better.

Eccles cakes are made with thin flaky pastry and have a sugary coating on the top. Chorley cakes are made with short pastry and are dry on top. The filling is raisins or currants.

Chorley is in Lancashire and Eccles is in Greater Manchester.
 

---

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
(sigh)

See, the priests knew what they were doing when they forbade raisin cakes. They knew the congregants would get way too distracted by the urge to gobble them up.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
Don't you know what the Bible says about raisin cakes?

---

I knew the Old Testament had some barmy dietary rules, but that's A Bit Much.

My Better Half loves my raisin cake, so I don't actually give a stuff what Hosea thought.

It's gone down to -10°C here tonight - **brrrrr**
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:


Yes - but Chorley cakes are much better.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by M.:
Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by M.:
... my default option is to say sorry ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You're not Canadian* are you?


* Canadian n. someone who apologises when you stand on his toe.

---

(edited for the relevant bits)

A thing the British are also often accused of. I think it's a pleasant trait - it's just a nice way of seeking to defuse any possible irritation and help oil the wheels a bit.

M.

---

I know a woman (British) who apologises to lamp-posts if she bumps into them.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's still bl**dy cold here (-10°C as I type this - **brrrrrr**), although it was a gloriously sunny day.

Due to a 50%-off sale at Canadian Tire (I'm sorry - they really do spell it like that ) we've become the proud possessors of a bread-making machine. D. has fancied trying it out for quite a while, and after asking the advice of a couple of friends with experience of them, we decided we'd go for it.

I'm going to mention this in the Recipe thread upstairs to invite advice; I don't want to upset the Hosts by turning this into a more foodie thread than it normally is ...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
When we had Sky and that happened regularly they told me to remove the Sky card and turn everything off for 10 minutes, then reconnect and turn back on. Might be worth you trying the turning off (at the mains) part - maybe disconnecting the aerial cable too (can't remember if that was a part of it).

Good luck!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
It's still bl**dy cold here (-10°C as I type this - **brrrrrr**), although it was a gloriously sunny day.

---

And I thought cycling home from w*rk last night at -5° was bad.

If you don't like -10, think of it as +14. Farenheit always sounds warmer. Whisk(e)y helps too.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We had some colder nights whilst we were away - probably down to the mid-teens Celsius! Now we are back down near sea level and we are warmer again, I'm glad to say.

Four people away for nearly a week create a deal of laundry - the poor machine has done one load and will probably face several more tomorrow.

...and I did get to drive, although none at all today. Yesterday I drove the bad roads across the plateau and then the good road as far as the ghat road down the hill - my arm is still not fully fit and I didn't fancy 27 hairpin bends in the space of 9 km!
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
When we had Sky and that happened regularly they told me to remove the Sky card and turn everything off for 10 minutes, then reconnect and turn back on. Might be worth you trying the turning off (at the mains) part - maybe disconnecting the aerial cable too (can't remember if that was a part of it).

Good luck!

---

Thanks. I did in fact try that for the best part of half an hour on Sunday with no great success. It took an hour and a half for it to settle down tonight - a combination of factors perhaps - but it got there in the end. In quite cold weather, the key for my car doesn't work well either so it may be something to do with physical location.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
We had some colder nights whilst we were away - probably down to the mid-teens Celsius!

---

You poor things. As I cycled into work this morning, the gears on my bike froze. And as for my hands ...

eta: but the bit along the river bank was very pretty.

[ 17. January 2012, 19:37: Message edited by: QLib ]
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Ariel might have TV gremlins; we've got washing machine gremlins. It washed the sheets and (eventually) agreed to spin them after a fashion but has resolutely refused to tumble dry them, so they're hanging over the bath at the moment.

Bah, humbug.

M.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Busy day today: came home from w*rk, made chicken stock, chopped veggies to make soup, took minutes of the committee for which I'm the secretary, came home, typed up minutes (while I could still read my handwriting ), turned veggies and stock into soup, which is cooking as I type. Should be ready for virtual tasting by the time you read this, along with a couple of virtual slices of freshly-baked bread ...

... as the bread-making machine absolutely rocks! D. met me at the door as I came in from w*rk proudly brandishing a slice of his very first loaf, and it was utterly yummy.

I was so complimentary about it he let me add the yeast to the machine for the second loaf.


 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:


... as the bread-making machine absolutely rocks! D. met me at the door as I came in from w*rk proudly brandishing a slice of his very first loaf, and it was utterly yummy.

---

Yes, ours does too. I make a loaf every day - so we have fresh bread the day it's made, toast the day after and the birds get the leftovers on day three. Lots of different types of loaf too.

I worked out it costs 20p a loaf - brill!


 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
My garden is the end of the world - a thick mist has come down and there's nothing there. Usually I can see a rather large church in front of me, but I think it has been raptured.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
...what? and not taken the choir?
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
They think we're far too worldly, I expect.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... as the bread-making machine absolutely rocks!

---

Yes, ours does too. I make a loaf every day - so we have fresh bread the day it's made, toast the day after and the birds get the leftovers on day three.

---

The problem with breadmaker loaves is that they are not stuffed full of the preservatives like commercial bread. This is a GoodThing™, but has the side effect of going stale very quickly.

Don't let it go stale. Time it so that you eat the bread newly cooked and still warm.
#oneofthebestthingsintheworld
 

---

Posted by angelica37 (# 8478) on :
 
Breadmaker bread makes the best toast.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
... Don't let it go stale ...

---

I suspect it won't get the chance.

We had some with the veggie soup for lunch today and it seemed just fine; we put the second loaf into the deep-freeze, so it'll be interesting to see how it does when we de-frost it.

These first two loaves were made with flour called "bread mix" which came with its own little packets of yeast and had quite a list of chemical-sounding ingredients which are presumably there to keep it fresh. So far they seem to have worked; in the unlikely event of it lasting beyond the toast stage, there's a pond with ducks just outside where I w*rk ...

I really ought to stop messing about here and go and make potato salad for the pot-luck we're going to tomorrow night.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A breadmaker sounds tempting but with HWMBO and Pete being diabetic I'm not sure it would be a good thing; plus the power here is not hugely reliable; plus we can get really nice 7 grain bread for not a lot of money - about 30 pence a loaf.

All that dust on the trip back on Monday and Tuesday is making us all feel lousy and bunged up - slowly coming out of it but we'll be very glad when they have finished widening that road, not that we intend going that way again for a while.
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
If the bread does go stale, slice it and let it dry thoroughly. Then convert it into bread crumbs.

Home-made breadcrumbs taste better than store-bought.

Moo
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
much talk about bread which is funny because I've just had some eggy bread for lunch! Now I need more bread. Ah well, I was going shopping today anyway.
(No, we don't have a bread maker - our kitchen is small enough already without filling it with more Stuff)
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
.. we don't have a bread maker - our kitchen is small enough already without filling it with more Stuff

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

Ah well, it's still a little warmer than life over there in UK-land - I don't think topless with the windows open would be on the cards over there, would it?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
... our kitchen is small enough already without filling it with more Stuff ...

---

So is ours.

D's Breadmaking Adventures, Chapter 2: Candlemas Cookies
D. is getting quite brave; we've only had the machine for a few days and already he's adapting recipes ...

We'd had a recipe for these (a sort of cross between a sweet bread and a biscuit) for ages and he'd always wanted to try them. I was more impressed than he was, but he couldn't quite work out what wasn't right about them. We may have to try them out on some friends who know about that sort of thing.

PS Wodders, I doubt you'd be going topless here at the moment; we're supposed to get about 8 inches of sn*w tomorrow ...
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... we're supposed to get about 8 inches of sn*w ...

---

I suppose if we average it out ...

The other side of our road has so little you can still see the ******* pavement. We have about a foot and a half.

When I got up I checked the University's web-site and was relieved to discover we had a sn*w-day. A couple of hours later D. dug out the car so I cleared a bit of space for it to go when he gets back.

Then the ******* plough came past, so now we've got a three-foot sn*w-bank in front of the pavement.

******* idiot, ******* sn*w.

Sorry for all the asterisks. I've made a beef casserole* - help yourselves.

* Well, what else does one do on a sn*w-day?
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I love snow.

I was the only person who didn't want it to end last winter.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
You can come and dig us out any time you like, DS.

If I'm honest, I liked snow when I was a kid - a snow-day was fun and the snow rarely lasted longer than a few days*. Here, once we get a real "weather-bomb" (say, about 2 feet of snow in the space of a day) and it freezes, it could be with us until Easter, which is a rather depressing thought.

It could be worse. Last winter I was working in a shop, where snow-days are but a dream; working at the university, when they get a snow-day so do I (and I still get paid for it ).

* except for that time in 1978 when the schools were closed for a week ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
None of the kids here get snow days, they are just not on the agenda - but then snow here is a bit of a rarity.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Finally took the plunge and joined Facebook, I've had enough requests now to make it worthwhile. But what a pain it is to get around and amend things! I suppose, like anything, once you're used to it, it's second nature.

Very windy here today - have had to close the windows because they keep blowing wide open. But so mild that I really feel Spring is on its way. The snowdrops are out now so it's only a matter of a few weeks before colour (a riot of yellow spring flowers everywhere) starts to return to the land.
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
I'm confined to the house, having put my coat in the washing machine before checking what the weather was doing. It's raining, lots, and the sky looks ominously slatey-grey.

Not that I really need to go out until tomorrow... so I might just as well enjoy my temporary confinement! There's cake, books, piano...


 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Ariel - be warned and don't do what I do, I tend to friend Shipmates on facebook then forget their Shippie names.

I recommended the Ship to a well known Host the other day - said I thought it would suit them well.

Oooops!



 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Giggles at Boogie.

One of my colleagues said yesterday I seemed to have the most eclectic set of friends on Facebook, and she enjoyed reading some of the bizarre conversations that arose on my status updates. I think it was a compliment..
 

---

Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
Hi all

As it is National Hug Day, I thought I'd nip in and leave a nice cup of something for people (since, being British, we don't often do the hug thing )

I do read...just don't post much...


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Thanks amber., I'm a great hugger so I shall make sure I hug a few people today.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Met up with Lord P at a rather nice pub at Beckhampton today - couldn't resist toffee apple bread and butter pudding -mmm! Passed him more clothes - I didn't realise just how many clothes he has, partly because most of them were in an amorphous layer on his bedroom floor . It was good to catch up and see that he's OK and that he had got his new phone (See Prayers of the faithful)We tried to go into Marlborough, but couldn't find 2 car park spaces, so we went our seperate ways.

I'm signed on to Facebook, Darllenwr isn't. It's the only way we find out what Lord P is doing! I've got a couple of Shipmate friends, mainly people I've met in real life, but there are a few in foreign parts. It can become very addictive. There are no proper instructions, so you just have to muddle through if you want tto do anything in particular.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
I quite like Facebook...I like following links other people have posted and catching up with what people are up to.

But I only know people on board by their Ship names, so have No Idea if I "know" anyone on FB as well, if you see what I mean.
And I equally have no clue if I know anyone in RL who is also on The Ship (apart from those special few I met at a Ship Meet last May).

Thank you for the cuppa Amber - hope you have had a nice day too.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I quite enjoy Facebook - it's given me the chance to catch up with people I haven't seen since we all left school thirty-something years ago ...

Still in sn*w-plough rant mode - someone was farting about with a plough at the top of the road at three o'clock this morning but despite there being no cars parked on our side of the road he didn't have the wit to shift the bank of sn*w in front of our house. Moron.

Amber, I'll have a cup of tea and a virtual hug, and I've still got CAKE.
 

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Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
Ooo, cake! Thanks!!

I love Facebook. Very highly visual, which works for me, and it works really well as a fairly safe "circle of friends*" for someone like me for when I need to say something but need it to be amongst people who understand what I mean and can cope with the clumsiness. Wonderful stuff

Shall be pondering the garden today. I may build up to actually doing something in it, too.

*"Circle of Friends" is a model of a safe group for people with learning disabilities or autism... where people commit in an informal way to being gentle and wise friends, and benefit from a shared friendship and journey through life with the person at its centre too.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I'm finding the interface of Facebook a bit tricky to find my way around. I haven't yet quite got the hang of it - I hadn't expected it to be this complex and am at the stage where I'm still trying to memorize what I have to click on to get various options, as things seem to be not where I thought I'd last seen them.

Anyway - Chinese New Year this weekend! I was thinking about going to Birmingham for the occasion, but the photos of last year suggest I wouldn't get near the Chinese Quarter anyway for the crowds. It's the Year of the Dragon, so it should be a really colourful event.

I'm guessing the London event will be pretty spectacular with lots of colourful dragons snaking through the streets chasing the huge pearl-shaped lanterns on sticks, to the sound of drums and firecrackers...
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I can't be arsed with FB - I seem to have got myself two different accounts (without knowing how) but can't get to see any of my friends' pages from either account. I also get messages about updates but then can't find them when I look. So most of the time I give up. From time to time I go in, click random buttons, explode with frustration, say a few choice words and come back onboard The Ship.

I think I might go and make some soup.
ETA - anything other than do my quarterly tax return which I need to post off tomorrow!!!

[ 22. January 2012, 09:00: Message edited by: Dormouse ]
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Dormouse - as it's nearly -10°C here, I think a bowl of tax-return avoidance soup would go down very nicely. Would you like some home-made bread to go with it?
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
I'm finding the interface of Facebook a bit tricky [...] things seem to be not where I thought I'd last seen them.

---

They aren't. They are changing it all the time. A major rewrite every two years or so, a couple or more of big changes each year, and minor tinkering almost every week.
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I discovered that my online declaration form was available so I declared in about 30 seconds and it was done! Thanks due to MrD for moral support.
The butternut squash soup was good...but homemade breadwould have added more deliciousness! I had some coconut milk left so I made a coconut cake as well and some honey spice biskits
I tried to make Hugh Fearley-Whittingstall's flatbread tonight. An unmitigated disaster. Sticky unworkable dough which just flobbed about. It went in the bin.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
D's breadmaking adventures continue apace: today he made a raisin and cinnamon loaf, which was v. nice (there's plenty left - help yourselves).

Back to normal after the faux long-weekend created by the sn*w-day on Friday. Why does one's bed (and one's teddy-bear ) take on all the properties of super-glue at 7:30 on a Monday morning?

sleepy piglet

[ 24. January 2012, 00:51: Message edited by: piglet ]
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
There's nothing like a warm teddy bear. Does yours get even softer and cuddlier when he's warm too?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Which reminds me that Pete's teddy is still up here in the office, Pete hasn't asked to see him at all since he arrived about 5 or 6 weeks ago but I still hug the teddy so he doesn't feel too upset - actually I think he'd rather stay up here with us and I'm not surprised, given the way he has been treated!
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
You suffer from selective amnesia, Weasel dear.
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:
You suffer from selective amnesia, Weasel dear.

---

He doesn't seem to be suffering. I think he's enjoying it.

Moo
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I could have done with a warm and cuddly teddy bear this weekend. The central heating died on Friday, and we have only just got it fixed now (Monday afternoon)

It has been VERY cold here.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I'm sorry about the heating Nicodemia and am glad it is now repaired.

We have an alienated Canadian Teddy and a small Christmas Koala from Aussie-land who might be looking for a new home after they go through counselling - I think they may prefer to be placed together.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Isn't there a small well-travelled moose somewhere in South Wales who might appreciate a visit?
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
Of course, a teddy can be one of these
which makes WW's statement that Pete's teddy is still up here in the office a little bit

I'm not sure I can get my head round PeteC in one of those!!!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dormouse:
Of course, a teddy can be one of these
which makes WW's statement that Pete's teddy is still up here in the office a little bit

I'm not sure I can get my head round PeteC in one of those!!!

---

Oh, I don't know, he might look rather chic!


 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
There are reasons why I always refer to them as teddy-bears. And yes, the more you hug them the softer and more cuddly they become.

For some reason as I was typing this the thread-title crept into my peripheral vision and I read it as Perfidious Albino ...


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
In retrospect my response to Dormouse might have been better as:

quote:

---

To the pure all things are pure

---

Mind you, I suppose that could be taken as referring to our guest
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Glum start to the day as I discover that I have well and truly ****ed up an entertainment booking that everyone has been looking forward to for months. We may have to cancel.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
You have my sympathies, Qlib. Lets hope you can rescue something.

Dull grey day again, and I can look forward this morning to sitting for ages in an overheated hospital in a chair that has seen better days long ago to see the Consultant I should have seen 2 months ago, but clinic was cancelled.

Oh Joys!
 

---

Posted by Pooks (# 11425) on :
 
Hi everybody. I am not a regular visitor to this thread, so I hope you will forgive my intrusion. The reason that I am here is because I saw something beautiful written about this little island of ours - by people who are of foreign origin. I felt pride and joy and thought how fortunate that I can live here. I thought you might enjoy it too.
 

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Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Just off to choir now. I can't say I like Durufle's Requiem...
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
You have my sympathies, Qlib. Lets hope you can rescue something.

---

Thanks - not as bad as I feared. It's going ahead and I just feel so All the other troubles suddenly seem very small.

Thanks for the links, Pooks.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
Just off to choir now. I can't say I like Durufle's Requiem...

---

You have my sympathy. I've never sung in it, but D. accompanied it a few times when we lived in Ireland and he says it's the hairiest organ part in the entire repertoire. I can vouch for this; it was even difficult to turn pages for ...

I'm just back from choir practice; among other things for Candlemas we're rehearsing the Nunc Dimittis from the Service for Trebles by Weelkes, which is gloriously Tudor and full of wonderful English cadences.

Glad you got things sorted, Qlib - hope it goes according to plan.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
My journey home tonight took twice as long as it normally does. I left work a little early, saw it was sleeting and thought "this won't stick" WRONG!!! By the time I got to the Heads of the Valleys road, it was whiteout. I prayed my way home, and thankfully the roads got clearer the further down the valley I came. Darllenwr was quite srprised to see how much snow there was on the car! I'm hoping it'll all melt by the morning - either that, or that we have a good foot of the horrible sruff overnight.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Whoever's in the parking space next to me has just driven in from somewhere where there's snow. We've only had rain, so they're clearly not local.

Stars are as clear as anything again tonight - no sign of the Aurora Borealis though, so I'm giving up and going to watch my new Sherlock DVD instead.

Pooks - do come and post again, you're always welcome on this thread, don't feel like an intruder. I liked your link, thanks for posting it.
 

---

Posted by Pooks (# 11425) on :
 
Thanks Ariel!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
VICTORY!!!

Between us we have shamed Pete into reclaiming his teddies who, it must be said, were a little reluctant to leave their companions up here and the friendly environment we have created for them.

In other news I am thinking I might start a thread somewhere on unnatural practices - first on the list will be being bright and cheerful first thing in the morning!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Wodders - if you have traumatised teddies, I would recommend hug therapy, which is very beneficial for Small Bears.

St. G. - are you really likely to get a foot of sn*w? That's quite impressive - it would be enough to give us a sn*w-day ...
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
St Gwladys - there's snow at the Heads of the Valleys?! It's quite mild here and we're not that far further north.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The 'tops' to the north of Newport (1200-1500 feet) were white this morning. There was snow around, but not down our way.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We saw our tenant again today, poking his head out of the hole in the tree. He seems very content.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Blimey, what a day!

So far today I have phoned an employment agency to find that the CV I sent when I "registered" online does not exist in their files... then been called by another, and found that the records they were using for my contact details were four years out of date despite me sending regular updates... then tried to get in touch with HR at a company to discover (in tones of "What a twat for even trying") that I cannot contact anyone without a name... even though there are no names on their website (so I got the bugger going, then rang off in mid-flow).

Got home to discover that some genius had decided that all my freshly-washed and stowed away flowerpots were waste put out for recycling - despite the fact that they were in the boxes the council told residents they could use for their own purposes two years ago as they were being replaced by wheelie bins... and the wheelie bin was out on the pavement... so all my pots are now in a bin lorry and to top it all off I open my credit card bill to discover two fraudulent transactions on it!

Bugger a cup of tea, pass the GIN!

AG
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Todays selection on what Britain is like outside London by those who are not British.

Jengie


[coding amended - WW]

[ 28. January 2012, 01:40: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
...and to top it all off I open my credit card bill to discover two fraudulent transactions on it!

---

The perfect end to a perfect day - what a horrible surprise! I hope you weren't stung for a lot.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Thankfully, no snow today!
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I got home from university an hour ago (a good day) - lots of white stuff on top of our hill - but none anywhere else!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Large GIN on its way, Sandemaniac - I think you need it.

D. said it was my turn to use the bread-making machine today so there's raisin and cinnamon bread (which really came out rather well though I say it what shouldn't). Help yourselves.

We've got about 6 inches of snow in the forecast for Saturday - what the hell use is snow if you don't get a snow-day?

Hmph.

disgruntled piglet
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Fortunately we are not far enough up the moor for snow, though the higher Pennine passes are closed. A good day for staying in with a single malt(the dregs left from Christmas 2010).

It'll soon be time for a new bottle or two. I fancy one of the Orcadian ones, probably Scapa.

(What sort of spell checker is this that doesn't recognise "Orcadian?")
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
We've got about 6 inches of snow in the forecast for Saturday - what the hell use is snow if you don't get a snow-day?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
... What sort of spell checker is this that doesn't recognise "Orcadian?" ...

---

One with no taste whatsoever.

The sn*w could have been worse: D. dug out the sn*w-bank that the plough had left so he could get the car out, and I made the space a bit bigger. Then sundry ploughists came past (some from the council, some in their own lorries fitted with ploughs) and it's not too bad now. It really wouldn't have been sculptable - it was very heavy and wet when I was shovelling it.

I've now had my first go at making ordinary bread, which is baking in the machine as I write - once you read this it'll probably be ready for virtual tasting with jam or honey.

Marmite is also available for the clinically insane.

Enigma - yes please to chocolate, but definitely no thanks to popcorn - horrid stuff.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Nice cold foggy morning, and fog getting thicker. Not really the weather for a day trip, but at least it isn't icy.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Another glorious day here in paradise - blue sky, sunshine and soft breezes - it's a pity I was awake half the night coughing!

I know I've said this before [with my memory it might have been as recent as yesterday] but one of the things I love about being here is that pretty much everyone takes religion seriously. A gang of lads walking along together could well be heading for temple or mosque or church - and the vast majority of folks respect other people's faith.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
HELP!!!

HWMBO has just been in here singing to me!!
 

---

Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
You sound peturbed, WW! Here, have a cuppa, or would gin be better? Or earplugs? What was he serenading you with?

It's really jolly cold here, but at least it feels like January ought to. It's been far too mild lately. But, oh my, minieggs are on sale. I'm really hoping MrJt9 is in soon to save me from myself.
 

---

Posted by mrs whibley (# 4798) on :
 
I wondered whether I could start a new spiritual discipline of eating mini eggs and creme eggs on alternate Sundays. Some people fast on Fridays all year round, don't they?
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Ahhh - thank you for reminding me that I have a 6-pack* tucked away in the cupboard. (V good deal in Waitrose.)

*Creme eggs, that is.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Creme eggs? They're a bit like Marmite - you either love them or loathe 'em - personally, I can't stand them.
 

---

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
Creme eggs are an acquired taste - one which I, as a type-1 diabetic, do not propose to acquire!

Disgusting things!

E.T.A. If I wanted to tap-dance my way up one wall, across the ceiling and down the other, eating a creme egg might be a good idea. Otherwise, emphatically not.

[ 29. January 2012, 20:50: Message edited by: Darllenwr ]
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Thanks for the GIN, it was a great help!

No, I wasn't stung for much - £40 all told, but it's a PITA filing in all the paperwork. Luckily, I was past getting mad when I opened the statement, and had to laugh.

AG
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I used to like creme eggs (about 30-odd years ago), but I doubt very much if I could eat one now - they're so sweet I can feel my teeth rotting just reading about them.

Jolly good music at the Cathedral today - in the morning Haydn's Missa Sancti Johannis de Deo (hummable tunes, beloved by the punters) and at Evensong lots of Byrd (beloved by me) - Responses, Second Service and Teach me, O Lord with me doing a spot of solo-singing.

Wodders, whether or not you need help may depend on what HWMBO was singing ...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
I used to like creme eggs (about 30-odd years ago), but I doubt very much if I could eat one now - they're so sweet I can feel my teeth rotting just reading about them.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Same here. Also, aren't they smaller than they used to be?

---

Everything is, everything is
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I'm not.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Me neither, DS.

Mars bars are. I have a recipe for those squares made with melted Mars bars and Rice Krispies that calls for 3 Mars bars to however many ounces of Rice Krispies, but it worked far better with four.

This is a bummer: they come in packets of four, which would have left one for me ...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Mars Bars aren't the same either. They made them softer and sweeter about 10 years ago so they'd appeal more to women. A proper Mars Bar is something you could sink your teeth into. On a cold day, you had to basically saw a chunk off it. The current version is more like Milky Way. (Yes, I do know it's supposed to be a take on that.)

Even nostalgia isn't the same as it used to be.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I agree, I miss the old-style nostalgia so much!

A trip to the city this morning - I got off the bus when I got there, walked up the road from shop to shop then arrived at the next bus stand and caught the bus home having bought all that I required bar the diabetic marmalade* that was out of stock. My actual time in the city was under an hour!

*No, I didn't know that marmalade could be diabetic, either!
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Mars Bars aren't the same either. They made them softer and sweeter about 10 years ago so they'd appeal more to women. A proper Mars Bar is something you could sink your teeth into. On a cold day, you had to basically saw a chunk off it. The current version is more like Milky Way. (Yes, I do know it's supposed to be a take on that.)

Even nostalgia isn't the same as it used to be.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dormouse:
A sort of tangent on the Mars Bar - chopped up, melted and with a bit of milk added to keep it soft, it makes a great topping for a chocolate cake.

---

<tamgent two>

If you like Mars Bar good and hard, put it in the fridge for half an hour, then take it out and cut it into slices. Excellent, and it lasts longer!

</tangent two>
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I've not had a Mars Bar for 20 years!

*
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Me too, Boogie!

Have just been into town to try and get money for A Certain Host and the machine didn't want to play - I think it had run out of ink. Hopefully it will give some tomorrow or rent won't be paid then he'll have to move into the woodshed!

As we all know there is always something nasty in a woodshed!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I don't usually post on the Ship at w*rk, but they've closed the University because of Inclement Weather™ (and I should have left half an hour ago anyway), but the weather's so inclement that D. phoned to say would I wait for a bit until it's not a complete white-out.

Me? Feel guilty?

Hmph squared.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
Trouble is, the soft version is the only one our teeth can manage these days!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
... "Teeth will be provided" ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
... still no snow.

---

I've got lots - would you like some?

D. eventually picked me up from w*rk about an hour later than usual; with the visibility being little more than the end of your nose, the traffic was somewhat mental. When we got home, we had to dig our way into the house - the 6 inches predicted by the Westher Channel turned out to be 2-foot drifts ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I do enjoy reading about everyone's winter travails - such an eloquent reminder of my previous life.

My eldest brother and his new[-ish] wife are thinking of moving from south Manchester down into northern Shropshire - I spent a winter down there once on a placement and that area can get really cold!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I do enjoy reading about everyone's winter travails - such an eloquent reminder of my previous life.

---

It's why we do it - we're sure you'll appreciate these evocative little reminders of the country of your birth.

Apparently it's warmer in Antarctica today, a fact the papers are making much of, but I remind myself it's summer down there so probably warmer than it usually is. Piglet - yes please, so long as it doesn't hang around and turn to ice on the pavements. A light dusting will be fine.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Hooray for hot water!

Our boiler has been dead (pump u/s)for almost a week but Keith, The Man Who Does Stuff fitted the replacement yesterday so we have hot water and central heating again. Just in time for a cold snap too. The dodgy electric heaters and the kettle on the landing can go away again. Mind you, it took a while to warm the house.

eta: we consoled ourselves by looking up the weather in Winnepeg! How the he** do people manage in -27?

[ 01. February 2012, 09:29: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Ooooh, oooh, yes please Piglet. Can I have about 18 inches please, and can it last for a few weeks, and cling to the trees? I've counted the toilet rolls, and if there's more than 18 inches that will be fine too.


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We've been shopping today! It was supposed to be shopping for trouser cloth for Pete but then turned into general cloth shopping - Pete has three trouser pieces, already with the tailor, and two hats - HWMBO has four shirt pieces including an amazing bright blue linen, and a I have just a solitary bit of cotton shirting and a new hat.

Compared to the others I am so restrained!

eta: today the ATM courteously deigned to give Pete some money so he is saved from the woodshed at least for a little while.

[ 01. February 2012, 10:59: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Oh frabjous day!! I visited Marks & Spencer on the Champs Elysées this lunchtime. (It opened just before Christmas but you had to queue to get in so I decided to wait.)

They have flipping everything. I went in there to buy some tea, I may have left with one or two extra things - they have bacon, crumpets, biscuits, custard, in short everything a little exiled expat Brit could possibly wish for. And the stuff is not that expensive - I was pleasantly surprised.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Mmmmmmmmmm! Crumpets!!
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
There are sometimes advantages is being disabled.
Where I work, there is a leaking gutter just by the main entrance, and it was very icy yesterday - sufficiently so, that when I reported that I had nearly fallen on it, my boss went to get grit. I reported it to the centre manager today, and just before I left on a visit, she was expecting workmen to fix it within an hour. That guttering has been damaged and leaking for at least 18 months!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
... Piglet - yes please, so long as it doesn't hang around and turn to ice on the pavements ...

---

Too late. We now have Patches of Treachery™ and enormous heaps of snirt.*

quote:

---

Originally posted by La vie en rouge:
I visited Marks & Spencer on the Champs Elysées this lunchtime ...

---

I'm so jealous. There was an M&S here which closed shortly before we arrived - in fact we were talking about it in the pub after choir practice this evening - and I can't tell you how much I want one of their prawn and mayonnaise sandwiches. Right now.

deprived piglet

* snirt n. snow + dirt
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
The bit of their range I was most excited about was the bacon and sausages. I cooked a gigantic fry-up last night (when it was minus eight degrees, just the weather for a load of greasy fatty fried pork products). I can feel my arteries hardening as we speak, but I'm going to die really happy.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
What I forgot to say yesterday is that when we got to new posh shop in town the lift was out of service so we had HWMBO, various assistants and me running up and down two flights of stairs bringing stuff for Pete to see and wonder about - I think he quite enjoyed his role as the lord of all he surveyed. One of the salesmen was a little pushy for a while but I think he got the message that that might not be the best way to proceed.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
O the pleasure of a hot meal on a night as cold as this...! Went for a walk at lunchtime, sunny though it was my fingers and nose went numb pretty quickly. One of those days where once you get cold it takes a long time to get warm again. The air is sufficiently cold to smell cleaner than usual, no mean feat on a railway platform.

Here are some pictures of the cold weather across Europe - enjoy.

[ 02. February 2012, 18:21: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
We had a dusting of snow on Tuesday - I needed it for the final shot for the January Treasure Hunt on 365, and was far more excited than the teenagers I was supposed to be teaching ICT at that moment, so when we had a break I dived out and got a few photographs.

But it's bitterly cold and I'm really not looking forward to catching a 5:30am tube, that's an outside end of the line tube, on Saturday morning.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We had some more sn*w this morning too; it was generally reckoned that we should have had a sn*w-day but didn't.

It's -8°C here at the moment, and we've got some pretty spectacular icicles hanging from the roof chez Piglet.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 


It's a lovely morning here.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
It's -8°C here at the moment, and we've got some pretty spectacular icicles hanging from the roof chez Piglet.

---

None here so far, but I still remember last year's vividly. I don't think I'll forget them in a hurry. They were like taloned goblin fingers that crept slowly over the edge of the roof while I was inside looking out, and then over my windows, forming bars that prevented me from fully opening the window. Most were about 2-3 feet long, but there was one monster by the drainpipe that was 8' long.

The fun part was going out underneath these things, as periodically they would fall off without warning and a long spear of solid ice would shatter noisily as it met the ground. Luckily nobody ever was underneath at exactly the time. The 8-foot-long one worried me a bit - but made a gloriously resounding crash when it finally did come down.
 

---

Posted by Aelred of Rievaulx (# 16860) on :
 
Lovely, sunny and frosty here. I am tired of being told about "that Siberian weather" that is coming our way - no forecast I can find says we will have worse than -3° at night and nothing under 0° in the day. Now I hardly call that a winter.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
You might. It's 17°F or -8°C here at the time of writing, which means it was colder when I left home this morning.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
In an inversion of the normal run of things, I see Stornoway is being described as a 'hot spot' - at a sweltering 5C. Embro is supposed to be 0C, but I don't believe it - we have cloud cover and no frost (unlike yesterday).
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
-7 to -8 here (the two sides of the max-min disagree by a degree). It felt savagely, finger burningly, cold last night going home, yet was only -2/3 by the same device. Make sense of that...

However it's hard enough underfoot to let me commute up the river again. This morning was cloudy, but the sun poked through the one streak of clear sky on the horizon and a burning dagger flashed down the Thames. I love that as a commuting route!

Hoping it stays cold until sunday - showing someone the joys of Port Meadow, and it'll be much nicer if it's still hard underfoot.

AG
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
-5 overnight and the bloody boiler's acting up again! It seems that once a hot water system starts to misbehave it will never be quite right again.

I expect it will be OK this evening, for a few hours anyway.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Holy COW it's cold. Once again -8° here this morning, and not going to be going over zero for at least the next week on current predictions. Add in the windchill and it apparently feels like -15°. Very bright and dry, so no ice or anything, but if anything does come down from the sky it'll definitely be snow.

In one way, I think it's more bearable than British cold, because it's drier, but when it's this brutal it hurts to breathe (which I feel is somewhat of a problem, what with breathing being a generally rather necessary activity ).
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Hoping it stays cold until sunday - showing someone the joys of Port Meadow, and it'll be much nicer if it's still hard underfoot.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
[QUOTE]
I ike the idea of commuting up the river, and sailing into work. Or possibly, given the canal, barging into work. Though in this weather, one might skate in...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Though in this weather, one might skate in...

---

It's getting close - there was ice up the edges anywhere the water was still!

---

Although I've never yet managed to drag Sandemaniac to an ice rink...

Spent yesterday curled up with a miserable cold. Phoned in to tell work I wasn't fit to come in this morning either, and got told I sounded worse than yesterday so probably shouldn't be trying to come in anyway! Don't you just love bosses sometimes

Feeling somewhat better, so about to put the kettle on. Tea/coffee/hot water/hot Ribena for anyone else?
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Poor you, CK. Have some Lem-sip or similar made palatable with lemon juice, Manuka honey and a wee drop of whisky.

We're sort of bracing ourselves at the moment for the blizzard that was supposed to start a couple of hours ago but hasn't. As D. said, it can go on not snowing as long as it likes.

What's the use of a blizzard at the week-end? And anyway, where the **** are we going to put another foot of snow?
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Damned if I know where to put another foot of snow. I haven't had that problem in recent memory.


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Erm, I think the best place is on top of the last lot.

Yup, that's me, always trying to be helpful.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Snow is forecast here this afternoon, but only if we are high enough.

Previous experience has assured me we are High Enough for quite a lot of snow.

Being a weekend, the sledgers will be out in force once there's about a centimeter (half inch for our metrically-challenged friends! )

I remember one snowy weekend the (then very small) grandsons came over, but all shops had sold out of sledges. So we dug out two big tins for roasting large turkeys in, and they went down the hill on those!

Ah, happy days!
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Frozen pipes.

Not happy - thought we'd got this problem sorted last winter...

Off to deal with them.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
No snow yet here, but I reckon it'll arrive earlier than expected - I'm guessing about lunchtime for this corner of the world.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Mad rush at the local shops this morning, as the snow started coming down at about 10 o'clock. I went out to stock up on milk and fresh fruit. Couldn't resist getting more bread, even though I have a (small) freezer full of the stuff because I'm supposed to be hosting a soup and rolls lunch tomorrow. I was guessing that that wouldn't happen, but it's stopped snowing now.

Not sure whether to be glad or sorry.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
No snow yet here, but I bought a snow shovel this morning so I'm well prepared.

Mr Boogs set off for Mexico today, I'm joining him on Thursday.


 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Pipes unfrozen, and heating going again. I learnt the defrosting lessons well!

Now off to keep warm, and recover from all this activity on a Saturday. I need to conserve my energy for the Six Nations Rugby later on...
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Snowing here in a half hearted fashion - enough to stop us going out, but not enough to cause major problems yet.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Here we go - I think: we've been getting snow in instalments of 5 flakes a time. Another of the council's cutbacks, I suppose.
 

---

Posted by Ceannaideach (# 12007) on :
 
The snow has started here, well I say snow it looks more like icing sugar at the moment. But either way I'm sat snug in front of an open fire.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Snowing here in a half hearted fashion - enough to stop us going out, but not enough to cause major problems yet.

---

Its doing so here, I am below the Sheffield snow line where it does not normally settle, but it seems to be having a go. Question is do I need to be on standby for church. Worship will happen, but if there is snow in the morning a number of people won't make it including some elders. It is Communion Sunday.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Do you need me to report in with the weather from here?

I'll spare you and just say that it is a lovely, moonlit, tropical evening. I don't think there will be any snow delays locally tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Now, mind you, it can be just a tad coolish at dawn. Does that count as inclement weather? Those poor paperboys on their bikes all bundled up against the weather!


 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Do you need me to report in with the weather from here?

---

What, and spoil the fun of a mug of hot chocolate and a toasted teacake with melted butter soaking into it, while the snow falls gently down outside? The pleasure of mulled wine to come, a rich, satisfying winter casserole and one of those sponge puddings or substantial crumbles that are really best enjoyed on a cold winter's day?

It's not all bad, you know.
 

---

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
Snow has turned to drizzle here - trouble is, we have been warned that the 'rain' might freeze on impact - not too healthy with the sort of gradients we have round hereabouts.

In consultation with the relevant Wardens, we have decided to cancel Morning Prayer in Brithdir tomorrow - I was due to Officiate and Preach - even if the rain should stay unfrozen and wash the snow away. One of the peculiar ironies of this parish is that St David's church in Brithdir is the most readily accessible of our buildings under ordinary conditions, with level access straight off the pavement. However, if it snows or freezes, St David's promptly becomes the most dangerous of our churches - all approaches involve dropping down steep gradients. Add to this a congregation who are mostly over 60 and nearly all of whom live outside the village and drive to church on Sunday. Cancelling the service tomorrow was a no-brainer.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Just wet where I am - but very cold so if it freezes it won't be pleasant. I chose a very good day to have my hair cut a lot shorter didn't I?? I know I shouldn't have accepted the offer of a lovely head massage which made all sensible thought depart. Methinks my ears will be cold in the coming days.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Erm, I think the best place is on top of the last lot.

Yup, that's me, always trying to be helpful.

---

Well always trying, anyway ...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Mr Boogs set off for Mexico today, I'm joining him on Thursday ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
Leave a cold tap dripping in your house while you're away in case your cold snap continues - the last thing you want is to come back to a flood.

---

Luckily the dog sitter will be around to look after the house.

Mr Boog got away just in time - lots of flights cancelled from Heathrow today. We are taking a team of ten to work with street kids in Ensenada, Mexico. Mr Boog gone ahead to prepare the way as he's the boss. The rest of us fly on Thursday.

My part is staff training for behaviour management.

Of course, we are finishing our trip with a small holiday in California.



[ 05. February 2012, 07:23: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Boogie - I reckon you had more than your fair share of snow up there, judging from the news reports!

How very sensible of you to go to Mexico at this time of the year! And enjoy your break in California - soun ds a great idea!
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
We've got about 5" here too.

It started snowing in Nottingham properly about 3pm, and I knew I was going to be in trouble getting home, but also I couldn't blag my way onto an earlier train when they didn't see there was a problem. 19:28 train out of Nottingham was fine, but you could see how much snow we'd been through when we arrived in the London snowstorm at 21:15. Tube was fine and running OK when I got on it and I was hoping I'd just make it, but the train I was on got stopped 5 stops from home because there was a derailed tube a couple of stops up. And it took a while for the information to filter through. The trains started shuttling back and forth from where we were and wrote off the final 5 stops! Nothing coming through from further east at all.

No buses, they'd been cancelled as too dangerous earlier, very exciting shared cab drive home from there, with me relaxing gradually and certainly when I reckoned I was now in walking distance from home, 2 miles out and before the last horrible hill up - with the cab driver helping the two cars in front of us to move so he could continue.

One of the couples who was also trying to get to where we are, at the end of the tube line, to collect a car to go on to somewhere on the mainline rail system, looked at the 45 minute queue for cabs and tried to go back in and get a mainline train from central London to find that the tubes weren't running in any more either.

I'll put some photos up later - from yesterday and today on 365 and Flickr
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Thanks Nicodemia! We have a computer there, so I'll be in touch.




Spot the dog!

Spot the car!
 

---

Posted by chive (# 208) on :
 
Several inches of snow today so took an executive decision that today was going to be spent in jammies watching Borgen on iplayer. I know Sunday mass is an obligation but...
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Well, Macarius and I had to leave to walk to church at about 7.15 for the 8 am service - Macarius was preaching and the car wasn't going anywhere (he was preaching at the 10.30 too but I came home... and he's meant to be doing evensong but I'm wondering if that will be cancelled).

It is melting just a little but I think it will freeze again as the evening draws in. Perhaps with any luck the trains won't be running tomorrow and I won't be able to get to work?

M.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
As usual in cold weather, TV reception has gone for the duration, no picture and only staccato sound. Hope this weather clears soon, I do resent paying the full whack for a licence fee when I'm only able to see television now and again.
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
It's cold here too...we reached -14° on Friday night.Together with two other ladies I feed the Poor Cats(stray cats) of the village. I feel SO sorry for them in this weather and really, really hope they have somewhere relatively warm to hang out. I fed them pasta, mixed with cream, cheese and duck fat, plus two big tins of cat food. Most of the food was eaten, but what wasn't was frozen into a solid lump - this morning I found two of the cats licking the lump, trying to get something to eat!
It's a beautiful day now, all sunshine and blue, cloudless skies - but, of course, it's bitterly cold. I'll be snug in my study making birthday cards, I think.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Boogie, I didn't realise your dog was called Spot!

Pete and I have just got back from a walk in the evening cool down to a riverside temple and back - most enjoyable. There was a marriage halfway there so there was a slight delay whilst a photo of gang of kids was taken - Pete pushed on through giving me a great excuse to leave and follow him!
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
The estimate I heard was six inches here and that is below the snow line, people are snowed in above it but it is melting and main roads are moving. Yes Communion happened, no I was not called on to serve.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
No freezing rain overnight, but the temperature did fall low enough to put an icy crust on everything this morning. Spent quite a lot of time spreading rock salt over the steps down to the church this morning. St G effectively house-bound - it simply isn't viable getting her scooter out in this stuff. As it is, I had to do urgent running repairs to her scooter yesterday morning, when the drive belt broke its internal steel banding and stretched out of shape, leaving her stranded in town. Be thankful for mobile phones.

Temperatures are high enough for there to have been a significant thaw today and are forecast to stay comfortably above freezing overnight. All being well, St G will be able to get to work in the morning.

I hope she does - she rapidly succumbs to cabin fever when she can't get out and I can't cope with coming home to find her climbing the walls!
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Hope you're all OK and surviving.
It seems somewhat paradoxical to me that north of the border seems to be positively balmy by comparison. No snow here, though we had rain yesterday, and it was a little icy this morning. Didn't stop anything though... (Of course further north may have copped it too - I don't know)
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
We're surviving. I went out briefly to the shop at the corner of the road, partly to check what state the pavements were going to be in pre-dawn for the morning trip to work. Bits of them are fine and clear - a lot has melted today - but there are some potential ankle-twisters if it freezes over tonight.

Some kids were playing with the snow in the road this afternoon - "Let's build a snowman!" suggested one, quickly followed by another's, "No, let's make a Hello Kitty!"

Whatever it was they made, it didn't look a lot like either...
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Not a single flake in Stirling either - I took this picture in the garden earlier, it's not tropical or anything but is fairly mild.

Listening to the BBC news is interesting, it keeps talking about "large parts of the UK" being covered in snow, when what it means is "large parts of England". When I first moved here I wasn't convinced of the charge of London/England-centric national BBC, but I do notice it more these days.
 

---

Posted by angelica37 (# 8478) on :
 
Several inches of snow here, enough to close the container port and delay some trains and also make the garden look really pretty.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
We're still freezing here, and no melt of snow except a bit of falling from roofs - not sure what's happening tomorrow - some pictures of Nottingham yesterday and here today.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Great pictures CK - I love the one with the girl in the orange coat
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
I hate my computer! I was trying to watch "Call the Midwife" - actually saw about half of it as my computer wouldn't strem it properly
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
No change really in the weather here except the icicles are getting longer ... I spoke to my dad in Orkney yesterday and he said they'd just had rain but no snow.

We did a cracker of a Candlemas service this morning - the Dean told D. it was one of the best services we've ever done. Though I say it what shouldn't, I made a not at all bad job of the "mean"* solos in the Nunc dimittis from Weelkes' Service for Trebles.

That's Christmas really over now.

* mean - a sort of second soprano/first alto line.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I'm trying to sort out my flights to UK for May but it really is a maze - I may give in and go to a travel agent!

So many airlines, so many choices - it is quite bewildering.

Once I have firm dates and an itinerary I shall consider a possible Shipmeet whilst there - watch this space!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Gentle thaw in operation now, but it has left the paths like ice rinks, so I am housebound until snow clears.

Thank goodness for computers, books, central heating and Tesco deliveries!

All yesterday was really foggy, but didn't stop sledgers. Quite weird seeing ghostly parents watching ghostly sledgers!

But dog did a runner on me and then got lost and disorientated in fog. Luckily Mr.N came to rescue and found him.

Dog was not popular.
 

---

Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I'm trying to sort out my flights to UK for May but it really is a maze - I may give in and go to a travel agent!

So many airlines, so many choices - it is quite bewildering.

Once I have firm dates and an itinerary I shall consider a possible Shipmeet whilst there - watch this space!

---

You're coming to the UK. Yay.
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I just informed him that he will be the courier for pure chili powder this year.


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Yay, I made it! Been out of communication for some weeks as I made the big move from New Zealand to England.

I'm living with my husband's Aunt and Uncle in Somerset and we're looking for jobs in Bristol/ Bath. Will be looking for a flat once we're closer to getting the job thing sorted.

Was *very* excited by the snow the other day but am also enjoying it being a bit milder so I can walk about without being wrapped up from head to toe. Maybe by next winter I might've toughened up a bit?

Cheers,
EJ
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Welcome to Blighty, EJ!
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Welcome, EJ! The snow is going, so make the most of it!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I'm trying to sort out my flights to UK for May but it really is a maze - I may give in and go to a travel agent!

---

I know, it's a real headache trying to book anything on the internet - too many provisos and contradictory special offers with attached conditions ("This flight only £2.50 but you must be at the airport for a 3.30am departure. Standing only, no seats. Baggage allowance nil. Sandwiches £10 each on board, please reserve 30 days before travel.")

Eleanor Jane - welcome to England, hope you have a great time here! I'm sure there'll be a bit more snow for you yet.
 

---

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Beautiful photos Curiosity.
I'm very relieved that we just have slush now. Roll on spring.
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Ye gods and little fishes. I just checked the weather for tomorrow and the low is going to be somewhere between -12° or if we're lucky merely -9°.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

(I played a concert this weekend (Mozart's Requiem ) in a church with rather, ahem, cursory heating. I had on five layers of clothing (yay for thermal running bottoms that fit under trousers) and was not warm. For Saturday's rehearsal I took a thermos because I am English and there is no problem I will not try to solve with tea. People thought this quite hilarious but were still quite happy when I pulled out the extra paper cups )
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
All the best for your new life in Bristol, EJ, and good luck with the job-hunting.

Wodders, do you have to go to England in May and not April, when we'll be over?

It's warmed up to -3° but still feels jolly cold; it's been snowing in a half-hearted fashion all evening, enough to make the clear bits of road white again.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
Maybe by next winter I might've toughened up a bit?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
...Wodders, do you have to go to England in May and not April, when we'll be over? ...

---

Give me your dates and I'll see BUT Pete is still here until mid-April.

Speaking of Pete, one of his favourite expressions is My Goodness - which in his case may be the ultimate oxymoron!
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Welcome to the You Kay EJ!

Hope you feel very much at home here.


 

---

Posted by Telepath (# 3534) on :
 
I have just had an email about further delays to something that is an absolute priority to me. I'm now extremely worried and having trouble not losing my cool.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Thanks for the kind wishes all!

I've already tried tights under my jeans, but thermal running bottoms are a good idea if it gets really severe.

I'm afraid I'm never going to be Bristish enough to like actual tea (sorry!) but I've taken to herbal teas in a big way.

Hugely looking forward to getting settled and being able to join a choir and some other activities... going a bit mad cooped up in a small town in Somerset with not much to do but apply for a job once a day.

Sympathies, Telepath. Hope your messy thing sorts itself out quickly.

Cheers,
EJ
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:


I'm afraid I'm never going to be British enough to like actual tea (sorry!)

---

Give it time, give it time - it's an acquired taste but once acquired, totally addictive!


 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
There are only two ways to drink tea.

One is in from a china teapot poured into china cups, the tea can be fairly weak, and perfumed (but no perfume for me, thanks). A lace tablecloth helps.

The other is transport cafe tea. (It is pronounced transport KAFF.) Very strong served in a pint pot.

Anything between these two extremes is JustNotBritish™

[i]coding [/b]

[ 07. February 2012, 11:59: Message edited by: Balaam ]
 

---

Posted by Telepath (# 3534) on :
 
I apologize for whacking my prayer request into completely the wrong thread this morning.

I found my cool, thanks. But now I seem to have mislaid it again.

Just pretend I'm not here.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... thermal running bottoms are a good idea if it gets really severe ...

---

I can't imagine it being cold enough in Somerset to justify thermal anything, but I'm a very warm-blooded piglet.

If you've conquered herbal tea, it's but a small step to Earl Grey, which is Proper Tea.

Wodders - we should to be over from about 9th April for a couple of weeks, although if I'm honest whether we'd be able to fit in a ship-meet may be doubtful as we've got to do both ends of the country.

We bought a new TV today and I can't imagine anything more frustrating than trying to get the damn thing to work. You'd think that connecting a TV set, a DVD machine and a digital-box wouldn't be rocket science, but all I've managed is a blue screen.

Oh well, it'll match the air ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
It's not a problem to me, Telepath - don't worry about it.

piglet, I can't make those dates at all, sorry - it's a shame but these things happen.

As we were out late last night at the village frolics we have foregone our walk this morning - it looks like being another lovely day. Spoke to friend in Birkenhead yesterday and Merseyrail had ground to a standstill because of frozen points. Should we send notification to all British transport agencies in early December warning that winter is due to arrive soon - it might remind them to be prepared!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
We bought a new TV today and I can't imagine anything more frustrating than trying to get the damn thing to work. You'd think that connecting a TV set, a DVD machine and a digital-box wouldn't be rocket science, but all I've managed is a blue screen.

---

Oh dear. Yes. I completely understand this.

You have consulted an almanac, haven't you? You need to find a propitious moment when the celestial forces are in proper alignment, otherwise no matter how often you try plugging in the equipment, it won't work.

After that you need to figure out what order you approach the plugs in and when you turn what device on (see almanac as above). These things are capricious, but you don't need me to tell you that.

Good luck. I've avoided buying any new equipment so far for this reason, the set-top box was hassle enough and I still remember the hours spent tuning the video when I first got it.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Grandchildren did something to my almost new TV and two channels dropped right out. First set said No Signal, then disappeared altogether. I was assured I would not miss those two channels and I agreed with people. But the set was new. I didn't want to have serviceman out. Eventually, after I had tried everything I knew, #1 son came over and did something with remote control, then did what I'd done before. All now works.

However, I'm in his good books, have managed several sorts of complicated technical manoeuvres and got other stuff going without his aid.

Piglet, don't forget to hold your head just in the right position and have tongue pointing out of mouth. All such things are part of getting TVs etc to work.

[ 08. February 2012, 06:43: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I got so cross when I was waiting for a cab on Saturday night to get home when the queue was moaning about how unable Britain was to cope with the weather. It was bad, those conditions would have taken down countries that are used to snow - we had 6 inches in about 3 hours. I was amazed they kept the trains and tubes running as long as they did - I reckoned the points had frozen on the open section of track and that was everyone else's first thought. Driving conditions were atrocious. I got so fed up I pointed out to the moaning woman, that in Canada in these conditions they'd only be keeping the main roads open and that they'd be having to send a squad of ploughs and gritters down the carriage way every hour - and the Canadian in the room backed me up.

Did you know, that same weather coming through on Thursday took out the Swiss transport system and caused delays?

Did you know that areas in the States had no power for 3 weeks with the snow storms in October / November and real problems for a couple of days?

Countries that are used to these conditions take the snow warnings seriously and stay in, batten down the hatches and aren't out on the roads causing chaos. People don't do what my idiot colleague and various other people I was trying to get home with did - go out for their Saturday night out and expect the tube to still be running. They arrived in London as the snow started falling and didn't have the wit to turn around and go straight home.

And yes, I knew I was probably going to be in trouble on Friday when the forecasts were warning snow chaos, but was stuck with prepaid, prebooked tickets and a need to get stuff up to my daughter.

[ 08. February 2012, 07:04: Message edited by: Curiosity killed ... ]
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Keith and His Boy spent all day in the house removing the recently repaired old boiler (only five years old mind you) and installing a new one. We therefore have hot water and central heating again!

This coincided with a meter reading: the meter reader was horrified to see the meter out-of-circuit so the work could be done, so there was a bit of a discussion between him, Keith and Mrs Sioni; we'll see what follows.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
I got so fed up I pointed out to the moaning woman, that in Canada in these conditions they'd only be keeping the main roads open and that they'd be having to send a squad of ploughs and gritters down the carriage way every hour - and the Canadian in the room backed me up.

---

Yes, but at least they would be doing that. There wasn't any sign of any gritters round our way, let alone snow ploughs. We just got snowed on, full stop (and look what happened on the M40). Luckily it's almost entirely melted and we haven't had any more to create further problems on top of it, but it's the basic lack of anything being done that annoys people. Every time this happens we get the same response from the powers that be: this isn't typical of our winters so we haven't thought it necessary to prepare for it. Then the country grinds to a halt.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I bet the gritters were out, just it will be one gritter whizzing up and down the roads, not the squads that take over all the carriage ways at once, ploughs followed by gritters, which the PtB do have a point, we don't warrant stocking up with. But it wasn't just the conditions, it's also all the idiots who won't take the snow warnings seriously are out too!
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
There is still lying snow outside here, crisp and slippy where it has semi-melted and then frozen over again. And it is cold....

EJ, Im a Brit by birth and Im very particular about my tea...and I drink it extremely weak with no milk...a lemon slice if I'm feeling decadent.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
My brother has solar panels and it's great to see the metre going backwards at mid-day, even in the middle of winter!

Minus 4 here today, I've put warm water in the bird bath and a robin is sitting in it having a nice warm up.


 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I was surprised to see lots of snow, often biggish bits, as I walked up the canal on my way yesterday. It seems to not melt there the way it's melted in most of our area in central London.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
I nearly posted this in Hell, but it's not worth it.

Sainsburys is being a smartarse for renaming Tiger Bread. It is now 'Giraffe Bread'. Some customer suggested this, based on the pattern.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
I nearly posted this in Hell, but it's not worth it.

Sainsburys is being a smartarse for renaming Tiger Bread. It is now 'Giraffe Bread'. Some customer suggested this, based on the pattern.

---

Awww. It's been all over the news, and has been highly acclaimed as formidable reaction to kiddo feedback.
 

---

Posted by frin (# 9) on :
 
It's proper manipulation. They press released a cute reply to a child, were pleased to see the press release forwarded all over the place through social media, then renamed the product and claimed that this was the public's idea.

'frin
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
I nearly posted this in Hell, but it's not worth it.

Sainsburys is being a smartarse for renaming Tiger Bread. It is now 'Giraffe Bread'. Some customer suggested this, based on the pattern.

---

Awww. It's been all over the news, and has been highly acclaimed as formidable reaction to kiddo feedback.

---

Kiddo feedback my arse. Guardian reading, Radio 4 listening parents more like. I'll bet Lily* goes to Center Parcs (ie, Butlins for the middle-classes) for holiday.

*the name is the giveaway for parent ID.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I agree. Just teasing. Sorry about that.

I'm sure giraffe bread tastes just as lovely as tiger bread. Please carry on.
 

---

Posted by ElaineC (# 12244) on :
 
What's wrong with holidays in Centre Parcs?

Oh wait ...

... I'm middle class!
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
I agree. Just teasing. Sorry about that.

I'm sure giraffe bread tastes just as lovely as tiger bread. Please carry on.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
...Traditional bloomers keep their shape better.

---

Surely that depends on who is wearing them!


 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
You can still get tiger bread elsewhere and it's a lot nicer at M-------s. You can actually taste the tiger - I mean, sesame on the top, and I found the bread compulsively more-ish when fresh. I had the giraffe bread a while ago and wasn't impressed by it, it seemed fairly ordinary and a bit tasteless so haven't bought it since. Real tiger bread is great with most things - seems to bring out the flavour.

I think I might even get some tonight on the way home, now.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
You can still get tiger bread elsewhere and it's a lot nicer at M-------s.

---

I'll have to agree with Ariel that -orrison- Tiger bread is better than the S**nsb*ry's equivalent.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I didn't know you could make bread from tigers. Or giraffes for that matter. Do they work in bread-making machines?

Wodders - sorry about duff dates - we'll have to content ourselves with waving across the ether.

TV is now sorted - my best friend and her husband (who have every electronic gadget known to man) came round and pointed out that the remote-control that came with it is un fat lot de bon on its own - you have to use the digi-box one as well.

Unfortunately, the new DVD machine will only work in black-and-white unless you connect it with the right sort of cable (which costs more than the machine did), so we're exchanging it for one that has the cable included ...

What a faff.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
...Unfortunately, the new DVD machine will only work in black-and-white unless you connect it with the right sort of cable (which costs more than the machine did), so we're exchanging it for one that has the cable included ...

What a faff.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
I didn't know you could make bread from tigers. Or giraffes for that matter. Do they work in bread-making machines?

---

If you can put a tiger in your tank, you can put one in your bread-making machine.

Though it could be that the bread is made by tigers - you know, one of those "handmade by members of a tiger community in the wilds of Sumatra" types of bread. I must look more closely at the labels some time.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
<dog/house sitter sorted, sunhat packed, passport and tickets in bag - check>

We're off!

See you in sunny Mexico!

**waves**


 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Though it could be that the bread is made by tigers - you know, one of those "handmade by members of a tiger community in the wilds of Sumatra" types of bread.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Vaguely apropos of which, I was given a small gift in SA - an item produced by some struggling fraction of society. It is embossed brass, about 3" long, shaped a bit like a teensy-weensy crozier and with a pendant bead on the end. I have absolutely no idea what it is - does anyone else?

---

It's funny you should say that – I was sent something similar once for my birthday years ago, with a rather fancy bit of jade green knotwork at the end and a nice jade (or lookalike) drop hanging from it. To this day I have no idea what it is or does, and was obliged to write a thank-you email that went something like "thank you very much for the lovely jade thing." Mine is about 6" long and silver-coloured, btw. Taking the jade (or more likely, jadeite) into account, I'm guessing it's not from SA.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Well, I think it is a teensy-weensy crozier thing and with a pendant bead on the end!

I think Canadians must be designed a bit different from other folks - at supper tonight Pete informed us that his legs were aching from his head to his toes!
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
It's funny you should say that – I was sent something similar once for my birthday years ago

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lily pad:
Are you sure it is not a bookmark?

---

It could be used as a bookmark, but why not straight and tapering, instead of curved and a bit fatter at the end? If I ever come across some old jewellery findings (which I know are somewhere), I'll make it into a brooch.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
I did wonder if it was a bookmark but it seems a slightly odd one. I don't think I've ever had a metal one before with - hmm, now that I've managed to get it out of the drawer and look closely - a jade bead, the aforementioned fancy knotwork, a small jade frog (how could I have forgotten that?) and two long tassels.

I should really have asked what it was at the time but am perfectly content to accept the archaeologists' standard interpretation of a cultic object. As is clearly borne out by the frog.
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
Something like this is what I thought of when I first read your description.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Yes - apart from it being blue and frogless - that's it.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Similar but longer have been sold in $2 Shoppes (TM) for some time. I have two, both gifts, with enamel butterflies on hook. They don't work very well and I don't use bookmarks anyway, I remember page numbers.
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
It's a bookmark--we used to sell them in the place I worked as a teenager. And no, they don't work very well. Though I've never tried to use one as a cultic object.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Just back from dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday (50th ) which is on Friday. Good food, good company and a little drink or two.

It started sn*wing about half-way through dinner, and if it carries on like this we might get a sn*w-day, which would be quite nice ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
It's Friday here so Happy Birthday piglet!
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Happy Birthday,piglet.

And happily a no-snow day here, as my car is in dock and the person due to give me a lift to w*rk can't get out of her drive in the event of significant snow.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
We have snow, again - it's very pretty! but I want it to go away, I have to move an offspring's goods and chattels to Nottingham next week.

Happy Birthday piglet
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
Just back from dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday (50th ) which is on Friday.

---

You'll find you don't look any older than you did the day before. As with 40, it's the start of another new decade, you're still alive, still able to move around and do all the things you did yesterday. Enjoy your birthday!
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Cold, but no snow. Cloud down to the ground, mizzle and general dampness.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
For me I think the best thing about being in my 50s, if I can remember that far back, was feeling even less concerned with what other people thought of me than I had been in my 40s.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Happy Birthday, Piglet! 50 is just so 'in' now!

Cold, cold, cold here, and anything that was snow/slush/water is now frozen solid. Hard work taking the dog out, I have to keep to the grass as otherwise I am likely to fall over.

Trying hard to think of something sensible/newsworthy to say, but the only "interesting" email I have received is one to say my library books will be overdue in three days time.

There must be more to life somewhere.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Snow! So pretty but of course it's the day we're hiring a car and driving for an hour or two. It doesn't look like *much* snow so hopefully we'll be okay.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Happy Happy birthday Piglet!

***Waves from sunny Mexico**

Husband not pleased as I'm tapping away on the computer at 6am - body clock not adjusted yet - hehe!

He came over last weekend to prepare stuff (we are doing charity work with street kids followed by a little holiday in Palm Springs, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and San Diego)

Now I'm going to annoy him further by finding Chris Evans breakfast show on the computer.



[ 10. February 2012, 13:08: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Another inch of snow last night so had to dig the car out -- again

come Monday and it will be 33 degrees in Cape Town.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by shamwari:

come Monday and it will be 33 degrees in Cape Town.

---

So cooled down a bit since a couple of weeks ago.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
We had about 3-4" of snow here. Most of which melted, so the roads are mostly clear, though what's left of the slush is turning rapidly to ice. TV reception is now virtually non-existent except for fragments of subtitles appearing now and again. I bought a more expensive set-top box today, hoping it would be better, and it completely failed to find any channels at all. Ho hum. Roll on spring.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Hipy papy bthudy Piglit!

Hope you had a great one - as the shoe advert says "Act your shoe size, not your age"...which only works if you take your UK shoe size pre-metric. Although now I come to think of it my continental shoe size would be quite good too!

Still frozen slush here...had enough of it now.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
happy birthday Piglet! Hope you've had a good day.
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Happy Birthday, piglet!!

I'm deeply miffed that the snow was as pathetic as it was.

We'd had the usual "What to do in snowy weather" e-mails and reminders, ("Don't even think of thinking you can't make it into work" being the general gist and "Living 30 miles away is no excuse", though my line manager is sympathetic to that one for me, as I've got the best attendance and punctuality record this year!!)and as it was only today left before 9 days mostly off, I'd girded my loins, and psyched myself up to battle through the snow, prepared to be Very Late, or lost in a snow drift, or stuck on a train unable to move anywhere...or even hopeful of no trains at all.

I was 2 minutes later than usual. Snow's almost all gone.

I will now go and love and cherish my outside pipes, though. I do not want to sacrifice a second Saturday morning running to persuading them they do not wish to remain frozen.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... we might get a sn*w-day ...

---

... then again we might just get some rain which was enough to create four-inch puddles but not really enough to displace much of the accumulated snow. Mind you, they're forecasting up to 45mm (about 1¾ inches in English) of rain on Sunday - that could facilitate some heap-diminution.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. You're quite right - I don't really feel more than a day older than I did yesterday. D. and I are planning to carry out some research tomorrow at a restaurant we've been meaning to try for ages - will report back.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Glad you had a good day, Piglet. Relax and settle into your new decade.

Another very cold but bright day today. A bright orange sun in the sky this morning, with frost, snow, ice and mist everywhere, plumes of smoke and steam rising up from chimneys to greet the dawn. Everything white, silver, shades of coral and peach, a really pretty winter's morning. The birds have turned up the volume and are shouting away now - what a racket.

Went to Stratford on Avon yesterday hoping for pictures of snow-covered Tudor houses, but most of the snow had melted by the time I got there, so that will have to wait for another occasion.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Most of our snow has gone, but on the "roofs" particularly not of homes, there is still lots of snow. I wonder what will be good or bad for the place by us that is being mended indoors and is very snowey on it's "roof"....
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
The heating was off all night and put it on this morning. Then discovered no water coming out of the cold tap!!

But all is well now.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A BIG storm moved in about 23.30 last night - it last a couple of hours but we must have been on the fringe as the pyrotechnics were a lot more visible than audible. We always welcome these storms and could do with some more. I was tempted to get out of bed to go and dance naked on the roof but fell asleep again instead
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
...and, if I'll permit myself a DP, when we got back from cycling to the village this afternoon, there was a medium sized snake in the front garden - at first we thought it might be a krait but then decided it was probably a young rat snake and thus harmless. Anyway, it made off through the hedge into the empty plot next door, but as that is where a family of mongoose live that might not have been a wise move.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Wow WW - impressive!

Glad your heating is back on Shamwari! - brrrrrrrrrrrr!

It's morning here in Mexico - sunny and bright. We are just about to set off for the project (shanty town on top of the hill) I will be chatting to the staff and getting to know the new members.

Then burritos for lunch!


 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
WW - hope you are writing a book about your adventures - if not why not!!
Just spent frustrating time trying to tax my car on line. System doesn't like me because my insurance and tax date are close - I bought the car from new so wouldn't that always be the case??? I must seek advice from the people I work with who look after said computer system
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Then burritos for lunch!

---

I'm not sure why, if a burro is a donkey, a burrito isn't a smaller donkey.

Anyway, I expect you're hungry enough to eat a horse, so enjoy
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... I was tempted to get out of bed to go and dance naked on the roof but fell asleep ...

---

I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies.

Well, the research at the restaurant had to go on "hold" as there was a hockey game in the stadium downtown and we couldn't get parked within miles of the place. So D. said he'd heard that the food at a hotel with a spectacular harbour view (and a car park) had improved in recent months, so we tried that.

It hadn't. They were having a "Valentine's Day buffet" which was ordinary in the extreme (and that which was meant to be hot wasn't) and they had the worst pianist I've ever heard tinkling away on the ivories. He was so bad he was funny - we were in stitches for much of the time - and we also ran into some friends and ended up having quite an enjoyable evening. As the Terrible Pianist™ had buggered off (and the place was about to close) by the time we were paying our bill, D. sat down at the piano and started to play, and the girl at the desk was so impressed she asked him if he'd be interested in coming back, so he gave her his card.

As he said, three nights a week doing that, and he'd almost double his salary.

One for the book, I think.
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
On the tightest of schedules today. Two services then home. get changed and immediately off to airport heading for the tip of Africa.

Hope to catch up with the Ship as she sails past Robben Island.
 

---

Posted by Ann (# 94) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... and they had the worst pianist I've ever heard tinkling away on the ivories. He was so bad he was funny - we were in stitches for much of the time ...

---

That takes me back. Many years ago, some friends and I would occasionally go to a certain pub whose entertainment was "The Kent Trio". This consisted of a (bad) pianist and a worse singer - I think the third of the trio had died - of advanced age. One of their repertoire was Tom Jones's "Delilah" - complete with dropping weights into the grand piano for no discernible reason apart from making a discordant noise.

All this was background music - not a concert - people carried on with their conversation regardless, pausing to applaud every time the music stopped.

One evening, we were talking about old children's programs and one of our group remembered a song or something from Children's Hour; when he'd got all the way through, we clapped him. The tables around us started clapping as well and the trio stopped what they were playing and took a bow!
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Sunday morning here - we are off to Church, which is a very in-your-face Mexican Pentecostal.


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Then burritos for lunch!

---

I'm not sure why, if a burro is a donkey, a burrito isn't a smaller donkey.

Anyway, I expect you're hungry enough to eat a horse, so enjoy

---

Couldn't let this gem go without appreciation! Burritos are usually filled with mince, so it could well be minced donkey! (Unlikely, though)
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... minced donkey ...

---

EJ, please tell me that isn't a Kiwi delicacy you've brought over.

Minor embarrassment at the end of the morning service today - it's nine years today since D. took up the post of organist, a fact the Dean announced to the congregation, just after announcing that it had been my 50th birthday on Friday.

Revenge is a dish best served cold - I told him that come his next Significant Birthday™ he should be Very Afraid* ...



* although as he's only a few months older than me, he's got quite a long wait.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Surely at that advanced age EVERY birthday is significant!
 

---

Posted by daviddrinkell (# 8854) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Then burritos for lunch!

---

I'm not sure why, if a burro is a donkey, a burrito isn't a smaller donkey.

Anyway, I expect you're hungry enough to eat a horse, so enjoy

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... minced donkey ...

---

EJ, please tell me that isn't a Kiwi delicacy you've brought over.

---

No, no... we only mince possums (there are just too many of the buggers, gotta do something with them all!)
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
There were donkeys, on the beach - just like Blackpool!

It's morning here so we are having a quick coffee then off up the hill. We have 4 people building and fencing a playground, 4 people doing kids work and 2 doing staff training.

The temperature has dropped to 17 and it has clouded over.

Mr Boog has borrowed a bike and goes for a 20K ride each morining. He's cycling Seattle to Boston in the summer for the charity.


 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
... The temperature has dropped to 17 ...

---

Goodness, that's nearly cool enough to be civilised.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
17C is darned near freezing!!

BRRRRRRR!!!

I think it is in the high 20s here at the moment, so a little cool, but we are managing by sitting watching the cricket.
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
posted on wrong thread oops. arrived after long sleepless flight and knackered. Nights sleep helped
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Virtual quiche now available. It's surprising how quick it is to make with ready rolled pastry, ready sliced mushrooms and ready grated cheese!
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I missed this:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
minced donkey!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
I missed this:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
minced donkey!

---

[Runs and hides]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Just a note in case any Londoners are interested - a documentary called "A City Falls" will be screening somewhere in London on 22/2. It shows footage of the central city area of Christchurch during the large quake on the same date last year.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by shamwari:
Quiet day in Cape Town. Weather perfect. Already getting browned off

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
It would be nice if you could fit a western ship meet in Wodders - we don't all live within easy reach of London you know!

---

quote:

---

Just sunburn M!!

---

Oh! I've never heard it used like that, only to mean cheesed off!

M.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Hey hey all - I am up at the daycare centre waiting for the staff to arrive. The sun is out but a COLD wind is whistling round the hill!

The behaviour management training is being very well recieved, which pleases me a great deal.


 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
It would be nice if you could fit a western ship meet in Wodders - we don't all live within easy reach of London you know!

---

If we're in the Forest Taurus might be a [very good] possibility! I'll e-mail my friends and see what is planned.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
It would be nice if you could fit a western ship meet in Wodders - we don't all live within easy reach of London you know!

---

If we're in the Forest Taurus might be a [very good] possibility! I'll e-mail my friends and see what is planned.

---

Taurus would be great - there's a nice restaurant there and some nice shops, also a very good garden centre.It's nice and easy to get to from quite a big area, and also has a big car park. To paraphrase Darllenwr's father, all you want for a tourist attraction is a car park, toilet and tea bar!

---

Where is that then? Pardon my ignorance!! I only know of it as a sign of the zodiac with which I am not interested.
 

---

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
"Taurus" would, I think, be "Taurus Crafts" between Aylburton and Lydney on the southern fringe of the Forest of Dean. If you follow the old A48 east from Chepstow heading for Gloucester, you will find that Taurus is on your left just before the roundabout for Lydney / Lydney bypass. Very easily accessible, with a nice cafe, a large (free) car park and some very interesting things for sale (some of the foods are very interesting).

In other words, an excellent meeting place.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Sounds lovely - I would be up for that, date permitting.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
When are you heading north, Wodders?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I will be starting a Meet thread soon so as not to take over this thread. I think Taurus [or Bristol] will be 5th or 6th or 7th May and a northern meet [if it occurs] sometime between after that and before I fly to London about 16th. If there is a southern meet that will be 16th or 17th, probably at The India Club. I fly home here on 18th May - for a rest!

BUT I also have work to do whilst over and other friends to see so nothing is written in stone yet.

I will also be bringing this year's supply of chilli powder as Pete is not travelling via England this year, though he has offered to pay for it - I will start a thread for that somewhere as well.

- - - -

In other news the newly maintained roads round here are proving very quick for Pete on his twice daily perambulations - I think I shall have to plan some tougher routes

14 year old neighbour boy who broke his arm at Christmas and is only recently plaster free was trying to elicit sympathy last night as he now has a dressing on the big toe of his right foot - he still seemed to be able to run and cycle as well as ever!

[ 17. February 2012, 02:30: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Starting travels tomorrow. First to Cape winelands to visit friends who live in the middle of a vineyard near Robertson. Then along garden route to Sedgefield near Knysna. My sister has a house on the lagoon
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Ooh, India Club sounds great - look forward to meeting you then!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
All this talk of travels makes me yearn for somewhere warmer, sunnier, nicer, or just different!

Dank, grey, foggy here - you are not missing a thing, Boogie!
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Hope not 5th May, Wodders, as I have a wedding to go to.
 

---

Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 
17th May is my birthday. A shipment with Wodders at the India Club would be a mighty fine way to celebrate it.
 

---

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
Would love a meet at the India Club too. My birthday is 16 May*, Yangtze!

M.

*One day and several years before yours...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Dates should be settled within the week - I doubt if a choice of dates will exist for most meets, sorry about that. London will be 16th or 17th May. I am told that whether or not we go to The Forest will be open to a democratic vote of those present so am hoping to subvert the process and canvass to ensure we do go as Taurus Crafts sounds better to me as a venue than the Watershed or the Arnolfini. I'll open the threads as soon as I have the dates.


[spelling - again! Of a two letter word!]

[ 18. February 2012, 02:18: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's just possible that our UK dates will be changed as well - we might be postponing our holiday until May, but I'm not sure exactly when. This may be just as well, as I've got application forms ready for a new passport which really need to be posted, or we won't be going anywhere ...

Just back from a v. jolly dinner party in the company of the church-wardens, the Dean (and their spouses) and a couple from the choir - good (if plain) food and good company.

I'm going to have to negotiate some time off on Monday as we've got the funeral of a much-loved retired archdeacon (lovely man, tended to preach for too long) which will require all the resources we can muster.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Reported conversation [in translation] between HWMBO and a local 7 year old:

HWMBO: How are things going?

7 year old: Ok but I prefer it at school.

HWMBO: Why is that?

7 year old: School is peaceful but as soon as I come home mum starts shouting at me!

Rather young to be so wise!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm not sure who that says more about - the wee boy or his mum.

We were given a huge piece of baked ham (about 4½lbs) by my boss (she had more than she could use), and after dividing it up into bits and putting them in the freezer we've got enough to keep us in Piglet's Pancetta Pasta for a very long time indeed.

Our freezer's ridiculously well-stocked at the moment - she also gave us some smoked haddock (which is very hard to find here) for making kedgeree, and someone else gave us sundry bits of moose (which makes a very nice beef casserole, if you see what I mean) and some smoked salmon, so I'm going to be quite a busy piglet, culinarily speaking ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Why do you need a freezer? I thought you hardy folks just dug a hole down into the permafrost!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 


Not at all - they're forecasting the dizzying heights of +3° on Thursday.
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Arrived in Sedgefield and housed opposite the lagoon. Great

If you want an unexpected story check Purgatory
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Huge funeral today went off very much according to plan - they all thought the music was wonderful. The Archdeacon's widow even made a point of coming and thanking D. and saying how much he would have loved it.

The Fauré Requiem isn't my absolutely favourite thing, but the punters love it ...
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by shamwari:


If you want an unexpected story check Purgatory

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
Huge funeral today went off very much according to plan - they all thought the music was wonderful. The Archdeacon's widow even made a point of coming and thanking D. and saying how much he would have loved it.

The Fauré Requiem isn't my absolutely favourite thing, but the punters love it ...

---

Ooh, I'm a punter and I love it too!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Friend e-mails and says "if you are online let's Skype" so I go to Skype and no sign of the blighter! I haven't got him down as a friend in Skype so I remedy that and send him a message and so on - nothing! He may be a Senior Police Officer but that doesn't preclude him being a plonker!



My plans for UK are moving apace, everything is falling into line and I have all accommodation arranged except a choice of two places on Merseyside - and they are friends with one another as well as friends with me - who do I disappoint by staying with them? Who do I delight by staying elsewhere?
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
How long are you going to be there? Maybe you could spread yourself out a bit - one night with one, one with the other ...

I'm doing something I don't usually do - Shipping from my w*rk computer (I've already done an extra 2 hours), as D. has got stuck waiting for things to happen at the music festival where he's acting as an accompanist for some of the pupils of a friend, and they're running late. I hope it doesn't get too silly, as I've got to go to a meeting this evening and I'd like a bit of breathing time in between.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
<Boogie waves from Las Vegas>




Long Drive to San Diego today then flight home tomorrow - see you all soooon!
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Went to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay today. Friends have a super wooden house right on the beach. The waves were huge.

Back to Cape Town tomorrow (6 hour drive) and home early next Sat morning.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
My parents honeymoon was at Knysna.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Today I had bare arms. T-shirt weather in February, and its only a few days since the canal was frozen solid.

So that's summer 2012 over.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
In the 1970s in one of the kids' homes I worked in we had a boy from the town where my parents lived - a really nice lad who should not really have been there at all. After he and I had both left we became friends and stayed friends for a long time then we lost touch - a few years ago we got in touch again and then I lost his e-mail address in a crash and had no back up. This morning I got a message from him on Facebook - now married, 2 kids, well settled - I am ridiculously happy about this, he is such a nice guy. Being a friend on Facebook even a crash won't lose me his address.

The shock is that the photos show a guy in his early 50s - but then I was in my 20s back in the 70s and am in my 60s now! I doubt I've seen him since he passed 30.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's all relative, Wodders - yesterday I sent 40th birthday greetings to a Facebook friend who was David's head chorister when we moved to Belfast. We're none of us getting any younger ...
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Anybody in? /waves/

No...
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I am now (**waves back**).

Messing about on the Ship while waiting for the chicken stock to cook; veggies are chopped up and in the fridge, so soup should materialise in the morning.

We've got a big music festival going on here at the moment and D. is playing for several of the competitors*, including my boss's daughter, who's in a class at some godless hour (for a Saturday), so it would be a Kind Gesture if there was a nice pot of soup waiting for him when he comes back, wouldn't it?

* This is a Good Thing, as it involves Remuneration.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I know this question has been asked before but why does anybody BUY soup, either tinned or in powder form - home made soup is so easy and needn't take much time - and it is so much tastier than the bought stuff!
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
I grew up with canned tomato soup and buttered toast as comfort food when I'm sick. So I'm still partial to it.

I get pretty fussy about soup (probably gone off it after eating it too much for lunch at work) and there's nothing like the smell of a boiling carcass to put me off the soup it's been made into. But then again, many canned or even fresh packaged soups are pretty revolting too. It's a pest 'cos soup is so very good for you!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
For supper tonight we had pakoda/pakora [vegetables in batter and deep fried] - mainly mushroom but HWMBO and Mrs E also peeled some large cloves of garlic and battered and fried them - YUMMY!!

Piglet, you have to give these a go some time - a simple and fairly thick gram flour and rice flour batter with a few pinches of spice. Were we to do them again I might add a few finely chopped herbs to the batter too.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
For supper tonight we had pakoda/pakora [vegetables in batter and deep fried] - mainly mushroom but HWMBO and Mrs E also peeled some large cloves of garlic and battered and fried them - YUMMY!!

Piglet, you have to give these a go some time - a simple and fairly thick gram flour and rice flour batter with a few pinches of spice. Were we to do them again I might add a few finely chopped herbs to the batter too.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Additional:

They were fried in a wok, but I don't know how authentic to Indian cooking that was.

---

The thing we use is like a wok in shape, can't remember it's name here, so probably pretty authentic.

That soup sounds good, Nicodemia, except, being non-meat eaters, we'd leave out the bacon but when we make tomato fry [with onions and garlic and stuff] we make too much and whizz the excess to form a base for soup.


[wherever did I learn to spell so badly?]

[ 25. February 2012, 14:41: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Thali, isn't it? As far as I know, the nearest you can buy to a thali in most of the UK is a wok. (But there are areas where they are available)
 

---

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Sounds like a karahi to me
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Do deep-fried garlic cloves have the same sort of sweetness you get when you roast them (as in chicken with 40 cloves)? I don't think I've ever actually deep-fried anything - we used to have an electric deep-fryer, but D. was always the one to operate it as I'm a wimp.

EJ, I rather wish you hadn't mentioned tinned tomato soup - I think you might have given me a craving. In a general way, I much prefer home-made, but Heinz tomato soup ... mmmmm ...
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No, definitely not a thali as that is basically a plate.

In North India it is indeed a karahi/karai/kadai but, and I have just consulted the kitchen staff about this [i.e. HWMBO and Mrs E], in Kerala it is called a cheena chutty - which means only that it is a Chinese pan! There has been trade between here and China for at least two thousand years, probably closer to three thousand, so there are a lot of Chinese influences in things, e.g. the famous fishing nets all over the place.


eta: yes, piglet, the garlic was wonderfully sweet and so flavoursome!

[ 26. February 2012, 03:35: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Back home to a proper cup of tea.

And a game of hunt-the-laptop!

Anyone else hide things when they go away and completely forget where? I remembered where the car keys were quite quickly - phew!


 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 

quote:

---

Anyone else hide things when they go away and completely forget where?

---

Oh yes! Once put a whole lot of stuff (very non-edible) in the oven! Luckily I found it before I turned the oven on!

Welcome back, Boogie! Have you found the lap top?
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Went to watch a Super 15 rugby match yesterday evening.

Sat high up in the gods. 50000 people there. We were too far away from the action.

Last week in Cape Town then home. Will be good to get back.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Ah well, my bad, a karahi it is. But the cheena for China is interesting, just because it's so similar to the English China.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by shamwari:
Went to watch a Super 15 rugby match yesterday evening.

---

Would you not mention rugby - we got stuffed again ...

Welcome home Boogie - hope you had a good trip! When it comes to hiding things in Silly Places, my mum's strategy for stopping me and my dad from eating the grapes she'd bought for the cheese-board at a dinner party takes some beating - she put them in the tumble-dryer.


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
When it comes to hiding things in Silly Places, my mum's strategy for stopping me and my dad from eating the grapes she'd bought for the cheese-board at a dinner party takes some beating - she put them in the tumble-dryer.

---

My mother once lost her pearls for about 10 years by hiding them in the chest freezer! Not sure if it would have done them any good...

I'm the 'finding things' genuis in my house. My lovely husband couldn't find the cheese on a cheeseboard labelled 'cheese' but I tend to have inklings where things might be.

On another note, I was extrememly excited to find the park where all the squirrels hang out yesterday. I guess they're not a big deal to you native Britons, but gosh I love their furry little selves!
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Grey squirrels? Vermin...they have driven the native red squirrels almost to the point of distinction. Tree rats - shoot 'em, I say...

...but I'm glad you are entranced with them, EJ!

Where has the sun gone today?
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Went to the Waterfront this morning. Fascinating place.

A bit of advice to all travellers. Check your times and dates. I thought I was leaving Fri pm for overnight flight. Turns out the flight is a day time one and we get back to London 17.45 on Fridaay. About the time I thought I was going to leave CapeTown.!!!!

So check dates.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
Grey squirrels? Vermin...they have driven the native red squirrels almost to the point of distinction. Tree rats - shoot 'em, I say...

...but I'm glad you are entranced with them, EJ!

---

It wasn't my grey squirrels that did it, so I'm not going to blame them for the sins of their ancestors... I'm just going to enjoy them chasing one another up and down the trees at breakneck speed and doing the odd back-flip.
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
almost to the point of distinction.

---

Would that be A- or B++? Or are such distinctions extinct?


 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:

On another note, I was extrememly excited to find the park where all the squirrels hang out yesterday. I guess they're not a big deal to you native Britons, but gosh I love their furry little selves!

---

I like them too.

Get a 'squirrel proof' nut feeder for the birds and watch them squirrels work it out - they are very clever and great to watch.



I've just taken the pooches for a walk - damp and drizzly out there. One of them has overeaten at the dogsitters, so he'll be on a strict diet (like me!)

quote:

---

Originally posted by shamwari:

A bit of advice to all travellers. Check your times and dates. I thought I was leaving Fri pm for overnight flight. Turns out the flight is a day time one and we get back to London 17.45 on Fridaay.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
almost to the point of distinction.

---

Would that be A- or B++? Or are such distinctions extinct?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
... I still have a touch of jet-lag today, snoozed most of the afternoon away ...

---

I always find jet-lag's much worse after travelling west-east. The flights from here are quite often overnight (leaving around midnight Canadian time and arriving early in the morning London time) and if I'm still awake when we hit the M25 it's a minor miracle. Then we get to D's parents' place in Essex and I wake up long enough to say hello and have a cup of tea, and the eyelids start to stick together ... I know you're supposed to stay up until the time you'd normally go to bed, but bugger that ...

... zzzzzz

...

Regarding squirrels - my brain tells me they're vermin, but my eyes (and my heart) tell me they're cute.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
I think there in something funny in the tap water. This morning I saw Darth Vader marching into the local primary school as I cycled past.

Any other shipmates in Oxford seen weird things? No, I'll rephrase that - anyone seen anything weirder than usual?

AG
 

---

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
We had a cat whose life's ambition was to catch a squirrel. One day there was a particularly stupid squirrel sitting right in the middle of our lawn munching on a nut and completely oblivious to anything going on round it. Enter the cat, who snuck silently up, right within pouncing distance - and suddenly realised just how big a squirrel is (he'd never actually got that close before). The cat stalked away again, wearing an expression that said "I never really wanted to catch one anyway".

The only place I have ever seen a red squirrel is at Taizé - it was very early in the morning (I was up at 6:15, mark you, to go running) and I think they hide away once there's more people around.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The Best Dog In The World&trade, now long departed, nearly met his end chasing a squirrel in Arrowe Park many years ago. Squirrel sitting in the middle of the field fails to spot the approach of big lolloping German Shephard/Collie mix until nearly too late and then takes off for the trees - when it realised it wasn't going to make it it turned to fight and bit the offending pooch hard on the lip. Pooch then backed off and came back to me, bleeding quite nastily. I got him in the car and to the vet for a BIG jab of antibiotic but still he had a VERY sickly weekend and took a couple of weeks before he was back to his usual self - my mate the vet said squirrel bites are always dodgy as they are infected with all sorts.

- - - -

On a happier note, yesterday I was in charge of feeding Pete for both breakfast and lunch. For the latter HWMBO had left prepped around 20 - 30 cloves of garlic! I was making a Spanish style omelette so I thought "what the heck" and used all of them as well as potato and onion and mushrooms and all sorts.

It was okay!

As piglet says, you can never have too much garlic.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
I think there in something funny in the tap water. This morning I saw Darth Vader marching into the local primary school as I cycled past.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
We had a cat whose life's ambition was to catch a squirrel.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... potato and onion and mushrooms and all sorts.

---

Presumably not liquorice ones.

quote:

---

As piglet says, you can never have too much garlic.

---

Did I say that? I thought it was you ... I mostly agree though.
 

---

Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
Damn and blast. My e mail address book was hacked into and all manner of people got spam.

Hope to have sorted it now.

One day of the holiday left. Not looking forwad to arriving at the same time as M25 Friday rush hour
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

By shamwari
Damn and blast. My e mail address book was hacked into and all manner of people got spam.

---

Never post your email address online where a web robot can read it. And never use the same password for your email as you do for the rest of the web (I know this from having my email used for distributing hardcore gay porn ).

If you pubicise you email address a form similar to shamwari AT emailprovider DOT com works as web robots ignore it.

[ 29. February 2012, 11:34: Message edited by: Balaam ]
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Happy St. David's Day - Dydd Dewi Sant - tomorrow
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Further evidence surfaces of the distorting effect this place has on reality.

Today, while a hole in the ground was being dug in our road, they had temporary traffic lights put up. Leading up to some more temporary traffic lights... which are replacing the original set of temporary traffic lights on the bridge as wot have blown up!

Recursive temporary traffic lights... whatever next?

AG
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Happy St. David's Day - Dydd Dewi Sant - tomorrow

---

Same to you, St. G., and all our other Welsh chums.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Happy St David's Day indeed!

I have a cold, I am a lousy patient, I feel absolutely crap! It is all the fault of 14 year old neighbour boy who had a cold last week and has obviously passed it on with malicious intent - when I blamed him yesterday he just giggled. We were going out for the day today but I have managed to b****r up everybody's plans. I shall now go back to bed and feel magnificently sorry for myself - I'm very practiced at that.

Happily it promises to be a shortlived event and I should be back to being my usual sweet and lovely self in a day or two.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

I have a cold, I am a lousy patient, I feel absolutely crap! ...

Happily it promises to be a shortlived event and I should be back to being my usual sweet and lovely self in a day or two.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Further evidence surfaces of the distorting effect this place has on reality.

Today, while a hole in the ground was being dug in our road, they had temporary traffic lights put up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Lots of red shirts etc and our team leader made about four dozen Welsh Cakes to mark St Davids day.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:


(Normally English roads are much better than NZ roads. It is a bit disconcerting that they're not really lit at all, but otherwise...)

---

There is nothing wrong with British roads, it's the volume of traffic that causes the chaos - one little bump and major disruption ensues. Our town was totally gridlocked yesterday, many journeys abandoned. My husband teaches piano on the other side of town - he had to cancel.

The disruption was due to a bump on the motorway, traffic was diverted, it was rush hour - so that was it, nothing moved!
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
So why was it called rush hour? - there wasn't much rushing going on, it seems!

[ 02. March 2012, 13:20: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That's a good point, BT - I never really thought about it before, but the slowest driving one ever does is during rush-hour, isn't it?

For those of you in need of comfort, there's cherry CAKE ready for virtual tasting - help yourselves.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I rarely seem to make cake these days since HWMBO became diabetic so a sample of yours is most welcome!

End of school year exams start on Monday, with the big ones, for Standards X, XI & XII a week later - lots of kids heading off to the temple this morning as we did our walk, hoping for Divine intervention, perhaps.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
I love cherry cake, so thank you kindly Piglet!

I don't make cakes now, as Mr. N is diabetic. But my cherry cakes used to turn out more cherry layer cakes, with the cherries all lying on the bottom, leaving plain cake above!

It was amusing to see how various family members ate it a) neatly sliced with a bit of plain and a bit of cherry in each slice, b) eating cherries first and fiddling with plain cake afterwards or c) eating plain cake and saving cherries till last.

I'm sure it was all psychologically significant!
 

---

Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
Ah yes, my cherry cakes have all the cherries at the bottom, even if I flour them first. That, and the jaunty angle of the cake, make them quite, er, distinctive.

Morning all. I have been very absent. I'm sort of here, but in a lurking way. All this ongoing folderol with the medical stuff means my brain is coping best with being vaguely intelligible in just one place, rather than lots of message boards at once, IFYSWIM. But reatment is still working, so I'm not complaining.

Been rushing about like a mad thing this week, with visits to Parliament, English Heritage, Riding for the Disabled and Dogs for the Disabled to set up autism guidance and training etc. Brilliant fun! but probably not quite what my specialists had in mind when suggesting I take life a bit easy... (Can't do a thing with me...!)
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
Lots of sympathy to those of you with colds - I'm at the tail-end of a minor sniffle kept in check by Piglet's Patent Cold Remedy™ (lem-sip or similar made palatable with Manuka honey, lemon juice and a wee drop of whisky).

---

I'd say that's three ingredients too many. Only the last one is essential.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I've been taking zinc diligently for two years now - NO colds NONE!, and I work with primary aged children who cough and sneeze all over the place.

I often get a 'tickle' - then it goes away after a few hours - another one fought off.

Go zinc!



[ 03. March 2012, 13:12: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Hi Amber - great to see you here, even if you cherry cakes are a little short of vertical!!

You do seem to have been rather busy for someone who has been told to take it easy! When I read your post I thought at first that the dogs had autism.

But, on the other hand, that could explain the way our dog is!
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
I've never actually had cherry cake, but it sounds good. Maybe I can have a go at making one when we've got a proper kitchen etc...

Also, British weather rocks! They keep saying it's going to rain then it doesn't. It's only rained about twice in the last month. In New Zealand it pretty much rains for about three months in winter/spring (at least it did in my part of it).

But your cold bugs suck. *Still* resting and getting ever so slowly better...
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by amber:
Ah yes, my cherry cakes have all the cherries at the bottom, even if I flour them first.

---

I'd turn the cake out of the cake tin when done, apply icing over what would normally be the bottom side of it, stick some extra large glace cherries on top in a pleasing pattern and tell people it's a cherry-upside-down cake.

There is actually a dodge for getting the cherries to distribute themselves throughout the cake mix so they don't all sink, but I can't remember what it is. It might be taking the cake tin out of the oven a few minutes after it's gone in and stirring the mixture, but I can't swear to it.
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
How nice to hear from you, Amber!

Cherry cake = good, wherever the cherries are in the mixture!
Is there any left? I've just come back in from singing (among other things) Durufle's Requiem, and I'm Quite Pickish...
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Hello Amber! **waves** Good to see you back!

There's plenty of CAKE left, and the cherries are actually not too badly distributed - coating them in flour certainly helps. I used glacé cherries this time (the recipe calls for maraschino) but D. had been shopping at the Bulk Barn and brought a tub - his way of saying "it's time you made some CAKE".

There's also a pot of chilli con carne bubbling away on the stove, if anyone wants something a bit more savoury.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Oh dear - my pooch Callum has had a stroke in the night. He is OK, but it's another sign of how old they both are and that they're not far from the rainbow bridge :-(

When we got him the breeder said 'I want you to have this one' - I replied 'I can't afford another' She said 'No, I want you to HAVE him, he's got serious heart problems and will only live 18 months at the most' That was 12 years ago.


 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Poor little dog, glad he's OK, but hope he feels better very soon

Snowing here, in amidst the heavy rain, but not settling. Bitterly cold, yet another Sunday when the weather puts you off going anywhere.
 

---

Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
Snowing here too!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No sign of snow here
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
No snow here either

Yesterday I was chatting with my father-in-law who was telling me that they were having a beautiful day (in Herefordshire), whilst we were stuck with grey and wet mizzly yuckiness. Today we have blue skies and sunshine, and on fb and here I am reading of snow down south. I am beginning to wonder if the UK has turned itself upside down overnight.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Well, the weather has prompted me to open a bottle of wine, have some hot buttered fruit scones with jam, and spend a very pleasant afternoon in the kitchen cooking a few things that will mean I don't have to cook anything for the next 2-3 days.

I wouldn't have done any of that if it had been warm and sunny, I'd have felt obliged to go out somewhere instead. The sky looks quite ominous in the east at the moment, so it might be time for another scone.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
for Callum - poor wee dog.

It's been quite a nice day here - it was 5° and really quite spring-like at lunch-time. D. and I went to a downtown restaurant for lunch and had a nice walk along the street on the way to and from where we'd parked, which is something we haven't really done for a while.

Mind you., they're forecasting sn*w ane then freezing rain overnight - probably not quite enough to justify a sn*w-day.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
I don't know where all this snow is coming from... it's a bit chillier here but fine and certainly nowhere near snow (as far as I can tell from my limited experience).

I think we chose a good bit of England to live in, weather-wise. It was one of the key factors as I get a bit down with overcast grey skies.

Boogie... my sympathies for the dog situation. It's hard when they get older...
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Bright sunny day here...bit breezy, but as long as the sun is shining, I don't mind.

One of our Elderly cats who has been being treated for kidney disease is looking very sad and withdrawn. I love my cats, but don't enjoy this stage of their lives...
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
St Everild for your poor old cat.

Thanks all, for your sympathy for Callum. He was unable to walk for a while, but he seems to be back to normal now. Apparently strokes are nothing like as serious in dogs as in humans (Because they don't have a Cortex?)

Sunny and chilly here. Coffee/tea and newly baked bread on offer.



<edited for spelling - can't spell, never could!>

[ 05. March 2012, 13:48: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... I'm at the tail-end of a minor sniffle ...

---

Unfortunately said minor sniffle has found a boomerang and come back with a vengeance. Is a computer virus when you communicate with people on the interweb and then get their colds (MENTIONING NO NAMES )?

Tea, sympathy and GIN will all be appreciated.

snuffly piglet
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Sorry about your cold, piglet - everybody else here now has, or has had, the one I had last week!

A great day yesterday, we were whisked off to see the new Church of St Thomas at Malayatoor - a splendid Syro-Malabar Catholic church on the banks of the Periyar river. It is quite stunning inside. During Holy Week it will be packed out with pilgrims who will then head off to climb to the other church on top of the mountain and past the 12 Stations of the Cross.

We had lunch on the way back then I slept most of the afternoon
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
... I'm at the tail-end of a minor sniffle ...

---

Unfortunately said minor sniffle has found a boomerang and come back with a vengeance. Is a computer virus when you communicate with people on the interweb and then get their colds (MENTIONING NO NAMES )?

Tea, sympathy and GIN will all be appreciated.

snuffly piglet

---

Ooops, hope that wasn't me! I'm still sinus-y but SO pleased to able to get out of the house and walk about without being too exhausted and sick.

Anyhoo, seeing as it's virtual, have some tea with a chaser of GIN from me! The sympathy is real.

Cheers,
EJ
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Not sure I like the sound of tea with a gin chaser...gin goes better with tonic and a dash of bitters...
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Plenty of tonic, ice and a slice of lemon in the GIN for me - thanks EJ.

If the weather forecasters are right, I may well get the chance to sleep off some of my cold, as we're due to have a blizzard overnight and in the morning, which is expected to dump about a foot of sn*w on us; that should be enough to justify a sn*w-day.

It's now 10:45 p.m. and nothing's happened yet though ...
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Dear Piglet

Given that Canada is pretty near the Arctic, which means snow, ice etc. for quite a few months, do they actually go to work in the winter??

Just wondering!

A faithful reader.



[ 07. March 2012, 08:22: Message edited by: Nicodemia ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
amber - you inspired me to make a cherry cake! The cherries are evenly spaced, I used Delia'sadvice. (But didn't cook it as long - more like 40 mins)



I also have choc chip cake - I'll leave both on the side for you to help yourselves.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Could I have a bit of each, Boogie???

Lucky its virtual cake! But they sound delicious. Do the choc chips stay where they are supposed to??
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Hehe - yes they did! Here is a photo of it - the cake tin liner didn't fit so the cake has frilly edges, I've glazed it with orangy stuff.


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Hehe - yes they did! Here is a photo of it - the cake tin liner didn't fit so the cake has frilly edges, I've glazed it with orangy stuff.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
Dear Piglet

Given that Canada is pretty near the Arctic, which means snow, ice etc. for quite a few months, do they actually go to work in the winter?? ...

---

Dear Nicodemia,

Latitude of St. John's, Newfoundland: 47°N
Latitude of Manchester: 53°N

Who's close to the Arctic now?

It's true that there are bits of Canada that are very close to the Arctic, but St. John's isn't one of them; we're actually about the same latitude as the north of France. The reason we don't get their weather is they've got the Gulf Stream and we've got the Labrador Current. We got about a foot of snow last night and yes, I did get a snow-day.

Was v. sad today to learn that a former choral scholar had taken his own life. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Piglet, sorry to hear about your friend - may he rest in peace.

On a lighter note, it's International Women's Day today. Some of us are wearing pink, and some have brought in pink cakes, to help us celebrate our inner (and outer) femininity. Enjoy the day, however you spend it - hope it's a good one for you!

Cake (OK, it's not particularly pink but it's one of our office favourites.)
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 

quote:

---

quote:Eleanor Jane posted:
Originally posted by Boogie:
Hehe - yes they did! Here is a photo of it - the cake tin liner didn't fit so the cake has frilly edges, I've glazed it with orangy stuff.


Yum! That looks delicious! I propose a shipmeet at Boogie's house (though I guess it'd be prohibitively expensive to get there...)

---

I could get there - take a while, but I am sure there is a bus/tram/train or all three that would do it!!

Looks scrumptious, Boogie. Wish Mr. N could eat cake (he's diabetic) I love baking.
 

---

Posted by chive (# 208) on :
 
Day off today. Stayed in bed til eleven then since then I've been curled up on the sofa reading books. I should have more days off.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by chive:
Day off today. Stayed in bed til eleven then since then I've been curled up on the sofa reading books.

---

Marvellous!
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Opposite of a day off here - only just got back home.

Someone's given me Herman the German sourdough soul/friendship cake - we're on day 4(ish) now and he seems quite happy, but he didn't like travelling to me in a glass jar on day 1, and nearly exploded. I'm wondering how best to pass him on.

Does anyone else have Herman experience? I'm skeptical about his claim that he'll die if I put him in the fridge - are fridges usually fatal to sourdough? I'm guessing not.
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
Gracious, I can't believe I can answer this, but yes, it needs to rest at room temperature and it doesn't like being shaken.

When you get to day ten, if you don't feel like bestowing your friends with all that pressure, you can divide it up and freeze in portions.

A quick search of the internet will give you tons of recipes. As I kept all five of my portions, I have tried out a variety of recipes - some great, some not so great.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I had to look up Herman the German on the interweb, but it seems to me that if putting him in the fridge is going to kill him, freezing him might not do him much good either.

Does anyone actually get to eat him?

I think I'll stick with cherry-cake - much less responsibility.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Yes - you quarter him and then cook him (with added ingredients) on day 10 - then he gets eaten. Yeast doughs can be both fridged and frozen, so I don't see why sourdough can't be. It also seems odd that my recipe doesn't give him time to ferment after adding the final lot of flour, sugar and milk. I'm going to experiment on Herman.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Oh Gosh! I remember Hermann from my daughter's school days - probably the same Hermann!

We seemed to have an awful lot, and everybody around us had Hermann as well, so it was very difficult getting rid of him.

Though he's nice eaten - but not everyday for two or three weeks!

And then there was the ginger beer plant.........
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I kept my sourdough San Francsico culture in the fridge for months. It just slows them down. Take out and feed and it will spring back to life.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
I kept my sourdough San Francsico culture in the fridge for months. It just slows them down. Take out and feed and it will spring back to life.

---

Just like worms!

(I keep worms for the birds in the 'fridge)
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Herman the German is quite plesant. Ours lived on a window box in our front room, but wasn't easy to clean it off it when it erupted! The problem with these sorts of things is that you run out of people to give them to - it's a wonder that the planet hasn't been taken over by friendship cakes and ginger beer plants. In fact, it would be very inteesting to trace the ancestry of any particular batch. Is it like human ancestry, where we're all supposed to be connected within - is it 7? - a small number of relationships.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We had a lovely couple of nights in the mountains followed by a difficult journey back but we made it. I was put on breakfast duty this morning to make porage! I added some raisins and had mine with honey - the diabetics had an artificial substitute. Lucky them!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Welcome back, Wodders. I'll have a substitute for the porridge - any substitute ...

I know you're not going to believe this, but the temperature here reached +12°C this afternoon - beating the previous record high for this date by more than a degree.

Hasn't lasted though - it's now back to 0°.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by chive:
Day off today. Stayed in bed til eleven then since then I've been curled up on the sofa reading books. I should have more days off.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
...and I have bought a new vacuum cleaner online (that counts as housework, doesn't it?)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by chive:
Day off today. Stayed in bed til eleven then since then I've been curled up on the sofa reading books.

---

Day off for me today - I'm avoiding all marking and uni work.

(Can't stay in bed 'till 11 - my body bounces out of bed at 8am without my permission )

So far I have bathed one dog and chopped the worst of his matts off - the groomers are booked up for two weeks! Anyone needing work, set up as a dog groomer. Business is booming!

Fresh bread and Lancashire creamy cheese here for all who would like a little lunch.


 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
I'll add stilton and celery.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No celery here, sadly - I hope to get some nice braised celery hearts somewhere whilst I am over in May.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Herman done good. Very tasty.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Lovely mild spring day. Also the National Trust places that closed for the winter have mostly reopened this weekend.

I was greeted at the gate of one place this morning by a friendly black cat, who led me along a steep woodland path. We paused at intervals to admire the view, then without warning he quite suddenly shot up a tree at about 80mph in pursuit of an equally speedy squirrel. Half a second later the squirrel had easily reached the topmost branches, with the closest thing to a grin on its face, while the cat philosophically shrugged, dived headfirst back off the tree to earth and rejoined me for a sedate walk as if nothing had happened.

I suppose cat owners are used to this kind of thing.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
Lovely mild spring day. Also the National Trust places that closed for the winter have mostly reopened this weekend.

I was greeted at the gate of one place this morning by a friendly black cat, who led me along a steep woodland path. We paused at intervals to admire the view, then without warning he quite suddenly shot up a tree at about 80mph in pursuit of an equally speedy squirrel. Half a second later the squirrel had easily reached the topmost branches, with the closest thing to a grin on its face, while the cat philosophically shrugged, dived headfirst back off the tree to earth and rejoined me for a sedate walk as if nothing had happened.

I suppose cat owners are used to this kind of thing.

---

Nope. I think it depends on your cat, but ours never walked anywhere with us. She mostly lay about in sunbeams and occasionally rolled over displaying her tummy enticingly (but more fool you if you stroked it, 'cos then she'd pounce!).

Also, we didn't have squirrels in NZ and possums are far too much for any sane cat to tackle!

Sounds like a jolly nice day anyway.

We drove up to the Midlands to visit a sick relative. My first time driving in the UK - went just fine. We're heading out to a wildlife park tomorrow which should be a treat.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Lovely day. Did nothing much all morning, cheered the Welsh rugby team to victory this afternoon!! Grand Slam anyone??? Then a bit of food shopping, visit to the parents and home to put not quite finishing touches to a talk for next Thursday to Ladies Meeting at church. There are 4 days left for final polishing yet, right??? Procrastination are us (or could it be waiting for a further word of revelation). Think it's the former to be honest - I know what I have to say - it's just concentrating to find the right words is the hard thing. How all you who do this week in week out manage I know not.
 

---

Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
Nice enough to put washing out on the line Found my rubber resistance band - well pleased*


*easily pleased
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
... I have bought a new vacuum cleaner online (that counts as housework, doesn't it?)

---

Only if you actually use it ...

We had such a lazy day today that we were woken at about quarter to lunchtime when my dad phoned, and pretended to be apologetic about getting us out of bed. Went for a spot of (not really successful) retail therapy in the afternoon.

EJ. did your driving experience include changing gear with the door-handle and going the wrong way around roundabouts, or do they drive on the correct (i.e. left) side in NZ?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Don't worry, piglet, NZ is a truly civilised country thus they drive on the left, as God intended and as we do here [at least vaguely].

We took sweets to church this morning as it is my burfday, not a significant but everyone seems to be making a bit of/far too much of a fuss. One little girl came back several times for more! I must brave the neighbourhood soon to dole out more sweets!
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
We took sweets to church this morning as it is my burfday, not a significant but everyone seems to be making a bit of/far too much of a fuss.

---

Happy birthday! Hope the day is a good one. Lovely sunny morning here.

(And apparently I'm spending it defrosting the fridge. Great.)
 

---

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Happy Birthday, WW!
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Thanks, folks.

Ariel, one of the best inventions ever was frost free fridges and freezers!

Just had lunch which included both Garlic curry [with spinach, green coriander and carrot top] and Garlic and carrot pickle. I think I'd better avoid breathing over anybody for the rest of the day!
 

---

Posted by chive (# 208) on :
 
Just bought train tickets to Scotland for May. Can anyone explain why standard class was £72 each way and first class £65? Ah well that will be free wine and food for me
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Happy Garlicky Birthday! WW

Train fares are a total mystery, but maybe the Second class return is an open return, ie come back when you like, but the 1st class specifies a date and train??

Just a thought, but enjoy the free wine!
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Happy Birthday Welease Woderick
 

---

Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 
Happy Birthday, hope you had a lovely day.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
I think it depends on your cat, but ours never walked anywhere with us.

---

One of our past cats wouold follow us considerable distances - he once followed us up to my Dad's, so at least half a mile. Others have followed us along the back lane and had to be shoo'd home. As you say, depends on the cat.
We've also had retriever cats - they would bring back anything thrown for them.
 

---

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
Happy birthday Wodders - looking forward to meeting you at Taurus!
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Happy Birthday, Wodders.

A good gardening day. Planted strawberries and outed the Christmas hyacinths.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Happy birthday Wodders, sounds like it was a good day.

We went out to Doune Castle today, location for lots of scenes from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. It was a really nice day, not especially warm but dry and not freezing, so we had a good wander about the place, lots to see there both in the castle and the grounds. I should award myself a proper day off more often!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Happy B-day, WW!
 

---

Posted by mrs whibley (# 4798) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:
Happy Birthday, Wodders.

A good gardening day. Planted strawberries and outed the Christmas hyacinths.

---

I'd have thought with hyacinths it was pretty obvious, and I have NO gaydar!
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Happy Birthday WW - just got in before the (UK) deadline I hope. Sounds like you had a great day!

On the subject of cats following you around in embarassing fashion -- I had a cat that followed me round when I was younger and trying out the knocking on doors evangelism route. She was very cute but when she started weeing on front lawns I felt the gospel was being compromised!!

P.S. I'm better now.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Many happy returns, Wodders - 29 is it?

Enigma - glad to hear you're feeling better.

As it's Commonwealth Sunday, and to mark the 60th anniversary of Brenda's accession, we had a cracker of a Matins this morning. Te Deum by Howells, Zadok the Priest (OK, I know Handel was German, but he wrote it for the coronation of a British king), responses for the Accession of a Monarch by William McKie and wonderfully jingoistic hymns: Vaughan Williams' arrangement of the Old Hundredth, I vow to thee, my country, Cwm Rhondda with James O'Donnell's magic descant and Jerusalem. And, of course, God Save the Queen, O Canada and the Ode to Newfoundland.

And, as we were v. short of sopranos, I got temporarily promoted which was fun, especially in Zadok - it must be nearly 25 years since I last sang first soprano in that.

As might have been expected, there was much Decanal Grinning™.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
29?

OMG, NO!! I'd hate to be that age again! Fancy having all those years to go before Blessed Retirement?

No thanks, I'm quite happily 31 - or possibly even 31+ - reality has me at [31 x 2 +] - and I love every minute of it!
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
29?

OMG, NO!! I'd hate to be that age again! Fancy having all those years to go before Blessed Retirement?

---

Hope you had a great birthday.

I'd like to be 39 and retired.


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:

On the subject of cats following you around in embarassing fashion -- I had a cat that followed me round when I was younger and trying out the knocking on doors evangelism route. She was very cute but when she started weeing on front lawns I felt the gospel was being compromised!!

P.S. I'm better now.

---

A cat sounds like a valuable evanglism tool to me- I'd actually talk to a door knocker who brought a cat along, instead of a quick 'no thanks' and shut the door as usual.

In other news, I patted a policeman's horse today. He (the horse) was huge- probably at least 18 hands. The policeman was fairly small, I'd've thought.

And we had an amazing day at Slimbridge Wetlands yesterday - I think I've seen about a year's supply of ducks! (But that doesn't mean I'm not tempted to try out some of their other centres around the British isles).

Just bought some hot cross buns if anyone wants one...
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Yes please, I'd love a HCB


朋友家的小孩在塗鴉上色用的畫冊...

I just read this on 365 and Google translate translated it for me - amazing world we live in! (It means 'The children of a friend's house with graffiti colouring book ...' )
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:
On the subject of cats following you around in embarassing fashion -- I had a cat that followed me round when I was younger and trying out the knocking on doors evangelism route. She was very cute but when she started weeing on front lawns I felt the gospel was being compromised!!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:
On the subject of cats following you around in embarassing fashion -- I had a cat that followed me round when I was younger and trying out the knocking on doors evangelism route. She was very cute but when she started weeing on front lawns I felt the gospel was being compromised!!

---

I read this rather too early this morning and was mystified by the idea of an evangelical cat going round knocking on doors (then - presumably if the message wasn't well received - weeing on the lawn before walking off).

---

Unfortunately it was the other way round - she was walking off while I was apologising for the behaviour!! Sorry for my cat and by the way can we talk about faith/Jesus etc -- not the best!!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... I think I've seen about a year's supply of ducks ...

---

I see quite a few ducks every morning on my way in to w*rk - there's a pond just beside the car-park where D. drops me off, and we sometimes bring left-over bread for them and say hello.

Ducks rock.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I love ducks, I reckon it is pretty near impossible to see a duck on land and not smile.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
I used to work in a special school which kept chickens, ducks and goats. If the boys were 'acting out' outside the classroom block, the ducks would waddle over to watch, from what they judged to be a safe distance. Sometimes,they would seem to be discussing it amongst themselves: "Well, I never did in all my days..." etc. When the show was over, they waddled off again.

Pity they're so delicious.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:
I used to work in a special school which kept chickens, ducks and goats. If the boys were 'acting out' outside the classroom block, the ducks would waddle over to watch, from what they judged to be a safe distance. Sometimes,they would seem to be discussing it amongst themselves: "Well, I never did in all my days..." etc. When the show was over, they waddled off again.

Pity they're so delicious.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
There is a clear line in my mind, though, between animals that are food and animals that are pets.

For those wondering, it's about naming them, and how you treat them and how many of them there are. I could have pet ducks, or I could farm ducks for eating but I'd have to treat them and think about them differently from the start.

---

I heard of a family that bought three piglets to raise for meat. Just to make sure the kids remembered what they were for, the parents named them Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper.

Moo
 

---

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :
 
There was a major upset in our church about 18 months ago when, over tea, one of our teenagers (who keeps pet guinea pigs) learned that our Peruvian Lay Worker (who was at tea with them) had frequently eaten guinea pig and considered it good eating. Our teenager, who very much liked our Lay Worker, was severly torn about her feelings regarding said Lay Worker for several days.

Lord Pontivilian got to hear about this and promptly remarked (in said teenager's hearing) that he was going to keep guinea pigs when he had the opportunity and give them suitable names - yes, you've guessed it - "Breakfast, Lunch and Supper." For some reason, he failed to tell me what was the reaction to this ...
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
... three piglets ... named Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper ...

---

D. has just brought me a cup of tea and a piece of cherry CAKE. I was going to offer some round, but if you're going to talk like that about me, I won't.

**flounce ... oink**

I've been Domestic Goddess Piglet today - I made a pot of veggie soup and a loaf.


 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Well done Dormouse - you goddess!!
I have cooked nothing at all - it being Tuesday (or it was when I was eating anyway). I have the pleasure still of my mother's cooking on a Tuesday evening.
It's lovely - but today was interesting because very green spinach which I really enjoyed was proclaimed by my Dad to be kind of black looking and strange and he'd never had it before and why was it a bit wet? He bought it apparently!! He's 85 and a little more (cough) discerning than he used to be.
I enjoyed the meal - so did he to be fair but I don't think he'll be hastening to the spinach department any time soon.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
won't.

**flounce ... oink**

---

That forms a great mental image
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
**flounce ... oink**

---

That forms a great mental image

---

Yes, and reminds me of the saying that one can eat every point of a pig except the squeak. Or, indeed, the oink.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Being a non-meat-eater of 30 years standing I find that a rather disturbing image!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
You need to sit down, Wodders.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
**flounce ... oink**

---

That forms a great mental image

---

Yes, and reminds me of the saying that one can eat every point of a pig except the squeak. Or, indeed, the oink.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:
Well done Dormouse - you goddess! ...

---

I'm sure she is, but I'm not Dormouse, I'm Piglet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderick:
I find that a rather disturbing image!

---

And we haven't even met ...

It's been the sort of beautiful, v. sunny but v. cold (high of -4°) day here today, just the sort of weather I like (mainly because you don't have to shovel it).
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Enigma:
Well done Dormouse - you goddess! ...

---

I'm sure she is, but I'm not Dormouse, I'm Piglet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderick:
I find that a rather disturbing image!

---

And we haven't even met ...

It's been the sort of beautiful, v. sunny but v. cold (high of -4°) day here today, just the sort of weather I like (mainly because you don't have to shovel it).

---

 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Oops - got myself stuck in a quotes loop! Piglet, you're quite right you're not Dormouse - sorry - multi-tasking at my strange age I shouldn't try. But you are a goddess, as is she!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 


D. has just brought me a carton of blackberries - anyone want one? With ice-cream?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
How about Blackberry and Apple Crumble?
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Blackberries, in March The blackberry is one of natures free gifts. They always taste better if you have foraged for them yourself. I'm looking forwards to this year's foraging season.

But today I'm tired. I had to be at the dentists at 9, which is too early when you work the 2 to 10 afternoon shift. I'm not used to being up before 10 (except in Sundays.)
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Hi All,

Some British- specific advice if you would...

What is considered a reasonable amount of work/ hoops to jump through when applying for a job?

I had no problem with a 30-40 min online personality test or with doing a 10 min presentation on a general topic.

I'm struggling with having to come up with a hypothetical project for the organisation and do a hypothetical trust application to a specific trust. To me that seems like a bit much to ask an applicant. (And I've only got three days to do it...)

Thoughts?

Cheers
EJ
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Qlib - Herman the German arrived in our office this week. I declined the honour.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
I'm struggling with having to come up with a hypothetical project for the organisation and do a hypothetical trust application to a specific trust. To me that seems like a bit much to ask an applicant. (And I've only got three days to do it...)

---

Three days is not enough time. I'd expect at least a week, more likely 10-14 days, and I think the short notice says something about the company you've applied to.

As for the hypothetical project and proposal - employers seem to ask for all sorts these days. In my time I've had to research and write marketing copy, do a detailed critical review of a project proposal including an assessment of usability and markets, write various damage-limitation letters for hypothetical scenarios, and draw up a tactful memo implementing unpopular personnel measures, all before the interview. I've always had at least a week to a fortnight to do it, though.

Interviewers here are faced with a lot more applicants than they used to be, so I guess it's one way of winnowing out the pool - see how people approach a particular task. I suspect they're not necessarily looking for all the right answers so much as the right frame of mind and approach. Good luck!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That makes me feel quite glad to be as far down the food-chain as I am; I've never had to do anything scarier than a typing test.

This evening we sang Evensong at the old people's home where we do a carol service at Christmas. They're inundated with people wanting to sing at them in December, but no-one thinks to do anything any other time, so we thought it would be nice to go up there and do a proper choral evensong, and I think they enjoyed it. We certainly did. Afterwards it was back to the house of a couple in the choir for seriously good Irish stew and soda bread and equally good craic.


 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
That makes me feel quite glad to be as far down the food-chain as I am; I've never had to do anything scarier than a typing test.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
That makes me feel quite glad to be as far down the food-chain as I am; I've never had to do anything scarier than a typing test.

---

Wot no role play, no "live" phone conversations with someone posing as a particularly difficult caller? (Luckily I wasn't involved in that last.)

---

I've done the role play! I had the whole board take on crazy personas for me to try and convince to do a certain thing within about 15 -20 min! It was actually quite fun, in a silly kind of way.

Struggling with this damn application, but at least now I've found a trust and invented a project. Just trying to fill in convincing yet concise details...

I don't have much time tomorrow due to church in the morning and my lovely (yes, really) mother in law coming to visit for Mothering Sunday.

Piglet - good idea about singing during the year. I expect those of them 'with it' enough to notice enjoyed it a great deal.

In other news, my mood was improved a great deal this morning by hearing that we got the flat we were going for! I love and love the location (on the river in Bristol, 10 min walk from town, in a quiet development with trees and cats). Hugely looking forward to having our own space again after about two+ months toddling about various places.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Congrats on the flat, EJ!

St Patrick is not much celebrated over here but Monday will be St Joseph and we will heading off to eat too much at one of the churches we attend regularly - they both have Alms Feasts, but not on the same day - tomorrow we got to the other church to check when their feast will be!
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... I expect those of them 'with it' enough to notice enjoyed it a great deal ...

---

Absolutely - while the Curate was intoning the final Collects (they were printed in the order of service) we realised that someone was saying them along with him. Nice to imagine that they were hearing something familiar that they may not have heard for a long time.

Health to enjoy your new flat - Bristol riverside is beyond cool.


 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
What a glorious morning! A flood of bright sunshine lighting up the world, a light gold mist layering the view with the silhouettes of hills, trees and even streetlamps looking pretty good. We've had frost overnight, which has left some pale fern-like patterns on car roofs, now glinting in the sun, and where it's evaporating in the sunlight, steam coming up around the cars as if they're all about to start off at once into the spring morning.

A good day for going somewhere, though rain is forecast. Is anyone going to see the parade in London this afternoon? If I lived nearer I'd like to go.
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Ariel, you must live somewhere very North!

The raindrops glistened prettily along my clothes line this morning, but it is clearing up now, although showers are forecast. Will probably try to do more gardening later, as we still have shrubs to plant which we bought yesterday.

Spent some time rigging up a chicken wire "fence" of a very wobbly nature to try and keep the dog off the garden where said shrubs are planted. When he found it last night he retreated in a very puzzled huff.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Sunny and showers here but warm enough to have the heating off. I'm off to Mum's later with lots of lovely cup cakes - plenty spare if anyone fancies?


 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We've been to a wedding today - we went to mass first, of course.

It was a Hindu wedding at a temple I've never been to before - not far away, perhaps 5 or 6 kms. Lovely to see some of the relatives one only sees at such events, less lovely to see some of the others but that's life. I am now in the embarrassing position of having completely forgotten the bride's name so will have to hunt for the invitation

Anyway, the food was quite good so that's okay; it is, after all, the main thing most people remember.

Nephew person's mum was there so I suggested I talk to her about it being about time for her to start looking around for a bride for him, he is 24, but he didn't seem too keen on the idea yet. I assured him I was only trying to help but he didn't seem to believe me very much.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Wodders Matchmaking Services Ltd. not quite taking off then?

Service for Young People this morning, so the choir didn't really have much to do except half a set of responses and the Britten Jubilate in C. Simnel CAKE afterwards.

Was a wee bit sad to learn that our oldest parishioner, a retired surgeon (he was really the father of surgery in Newfoundland) died this evening at the grand old age of 104. He was an amazing old boy; when he was 99 he had D. and me round to his house for the best roast beef I've ever tasted.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
104 - Wow! for all who will miss him.

Today is one of those days with lots to do and little motivation to do it. Kick up the backside needed!

My dog Callum has been poorly over the weekend, making me very concerned. But he's bucked up today, so much so that I think he's fit to go to the groomers for a gentle wash and brush up.

My new job didn't work out The school, and the way they dealt with behaviour just didn't wash with me. They were completely inconsistent, confusing children and staff alike. I have trained whole schools in behaviour management in my time and just couldn't stand to see it done so badly. Luckily they were very dilatory in drawing up my contract so I was able to leave with no problems.

I have another job now just two days a week at the wonderful school where I do my research.

What a relief! But now I MUST get down to that marking!

Coffee, tea, orange+lemon cake and croissants are all just there on the table for all in need.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Congratulations on the new job, Boogie!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Great about the new job, Boogie!

And croissants would be very nice, thank you.

And now < sigh > I have to try and sort out the mess of notes and doodles I took at the rather trying and very argumentative committee meeting I went to yesterday.

There must be a better way of running organisations. And the fact that "we are all volunteers" doesn't wash with me as an excuse for doing a job in a sloppy, half-hearted manner. Am I the only one who thinks that if you take on a job, paid or unpaid, you do it as well as you can, and when you need to ( not tomorrow, or the next week)?


 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Yay for the job Boogie! I totally understand about the behaviour management and you were definitely right to leave.

Ah, volunteers, Nicodemia... great fun, eh? I try to look at it as character developing as we all get rubbed against each other and maybe rub off a few rough edges (or maybe just get irritated and rubbed raw!).

I had a good job interview yesterday, so I'm quite excited and hopeful...

It *was* a lovely day yesterday, wasn't it? So warm, I had one layer of clothing and a light coat and was even a bit too warm in the sun.

I'm all kind of in limbo waiting to be able to move into the flat and waiting to hear about the job. I should make a wee To Do list and do something today... Will start with a shower.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:


I had a good job interview yesterday, so I'm quite excited and hopeful...

---

Well done - fingers crossed for a good result.



 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
So glad about the job, Boogie - I'll have a croissant, please, filled with cheese and reheated so the cheese melts into the bread.

Our young friend working in UAE, or one of them, is fed up - he has chicken pox so is feeling terrible, is on his own in the hostel all day so is bored and can only eat bland food so is even more bored! I tried to reassure him on the phone that he will feel better in a week but it is a bit hollow under the circumstances.

Sleepy day today, I think I'm still reacting to eating so much yesterday!
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Our young friend ... is fed up ... and can only eat bland food so is even more bored!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
... I have to try and sort out the mess of notes and doodles I took at the rather trying and very argumentative committee meeting I went to yesterday ...

---

Virtuous Piglet checking in ...

I'm just home from a meeting of the committee for which I take the minutes and did them before I came on to the Ship.

Mind you, they pay me an honorarium, so I suppose I'm only doing my duty ...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
... So warm, I had one layer of clothing and a light coat and was even a bit too warm in the sun ...

---

Not here it bloody isn't. It sn*wed this afternoon - the phenomenon known locally as Sheila's Brush - a snowfall just after St. Patrick's Day. Mind you, it wasn't really that much, and if we get the 6° and rain they're offering us on Thursday maybe it won't last.

PS Hurrah for good job interview - hope the result is good too.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
I seem to have a faster internet connection as promised by BT after a couple of re-boots of my hub. Now I am worried that I cannot keep up.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Sorry Piglet, it was another gorgeous day today! About 17 degrees C. I spent the day driving all over the South of England (from west to east then north a bit and back). Lovely countryside!

Also, I saw the whole bum of a uni student wearing semi-opaque wool tights with nothing over them, not even a gesture towards a tunic (and obviously nothing under them)! Call me old if you will, but what is the world coming to?!
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
I think it's been a good day. First thing I heard when I put the radio on this morning was Nellie the Elephant, and then as I stopped on my way in to work to take a photo of the haze over the river a kingfisher went rocketing past. Hard to make a day that starts like that bad! After work I went for a wander with the camera, and met up with the Knotweed for a meal.

Now I'm (metaphorically...) buggered, and going to bed!

AG
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Night-night Sandemaniac! **waves**

I had quite a busy day too, although not a work day; I took the day off for the funeral of the late surgeon I mentioned further up the page. Very well attended (the nave was full), and we gave rousing renditions of the Old Hundredth, Jerusalem, He who would valiant be and Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (with the magic descant of course) and the Nunc dimittis from Sumsion in G.

Afterwards D. and I went for lunch to a restaurant called Aqua which we've been meaning to research for ages, and we think more research is needed. We really couldn't fault it in any way at all - the food was v.v. good and the service attentive without being fawning.

And they do a cheeseboard! You may not think this so remarkable, but they're only the second restaurant we've been to here that does. We didn't sample it, because we were running out of time on the parking-meter, but we certainly will next time.

At least 9.999/10.

EJ, I don't blame you bragging about the weather. I've come to the conclusion that the only place on the planet that isn't having a heatwave at the moment is Newfoundland. It's apparently been in the high 20s Centigrade in Halifax, Fredericton, Ottawa and even Winnipeg in the last few days, which is Just Silly.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
No heatwave here, just the standard high 20s and low 30s Celsius.

Pete decided to turn our morning walk into a route march this morning, storming off ahead - neighbour boy [who walks with us] and I had to try and keep up - but Pete slowed a bit on the gradients, though he declined help.

HWMBO and I are off to the city again today - it's all go, innit?


edited to make sense

[ 23. March 2012, 02:15: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
No heatwave here, just the standard high 20s and low 30s Celsius.

---

Yer - right! <whispers to WW, remember - that temperature is what constitutes a heatwave over here in the Isles of Albion!>

Very pleasant day here - not sure what to do with it. I'm having Saturdays off university and school work. Should have made a plan!


 

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Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
It sure is all go WW! We're moving out of our lodge/hotel thing into our lovely flat today! And, I got a job!

So we're going to hand over huge wodges of cash to the property manager and I won't get paid for at least another month so it's trying to set up a flat on a zero budget, but hey... Another beautiful day here and we're meeting our only local NZ aquaintance for lunch.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Cheers,
EJ
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
Congratulations EJ - very well done!!

And I hope your into-flat-move goes well - its a lovely day for it!

Weather wise, that is!

[ 24. March 2012, 09:01: Message edited by: Nicodemia ]
 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
Congratulations, EJ! Hope all goes well.

And, good morning all!! I don't seem to have been here much lately, but this has been the most manic half-term, ever, and this is my first weekend free of observation/inspection spectres haunting it. So, I shoved the work bag into the cupboard under the stairs and am determined not to think about work until Monday morning.

I had been intending to sleep as long as I could this morning but small next door neighbours are suddenly both very verbal and vocal in the early morning now, and two loud screams from them woke me at my normal weekday time.

Might well poddle off somewhere interesting later, but for now am just enjoying re-acquainting myself with my sofa, my own home, and a whole day with nothing to do!!
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Congratulations EJ! What a relief for you.

What a beautiful morning - went out early before the shops had opened. Sunlight everywhere. The normally busy town car park had only one car in it, the birds were incredibly vocal in a way you don't hear later when it's normally busy.

The grass by the canal sparkled with dew. It seems to be the violet season: lots of little violets in the shadier grass, small purple ones and tiny white ones; daffodils also covered in drops of morning dew. Hedges full of life with blackbirds, sparrows, robins, bluetits and so on scampering everywhere, watching humans with curiosity, and trying to find breakfast. The water as still as a mirror, reflecting the boats beautifully, and hardly a soul to be seen.

Staying put for the moment - a whole day with nothing in particular to do - wonderful.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
And, I got a job!

---

Fantastic news - well done!



 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Great news, EJ.

My garden is starting to look like a garden, and I have found a well-recommended builder who is cheap and honest. He quoted me £80 for a couple of jobs, which I was already quite pleased about, and then knocked it down £50 because it didn't take as long as he thought. The money situation is easing up a bit and so I am finally able to start ticking off items on my 'to do' list. Small steps, but it makes me feel more settled. Just hope I don't have to start job hunting - ominous noises at work.
 

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Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
EJ - fantastic news - well done!!
This morning was spent cleaning and dossing around reading. This afternoon I concentrated my attention on how to engage a class of 11 year olds in Sunday School on John 12 where Jesus talks about Dying in order to Grow. Usual teacher is away! I have bought seeds and popcorn!!
Looking forward to a relaxing evening in front of TV - The Voice versus Britain's Got Talent. Who will get more viewers I wonder - I am aiming for both!
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
EJ - bazillions of congratulations, and good luck with the flitting.

I'm just back in from belatedly celebrating a friend's birthday - dinner at the Peppermill, another v. nice St. John's eatery. Portobello mushroom salad to start, scallop and prawn fettucine and a berry-crumble sort of thing with ice-cream shared with D. for pudding, and the company of good friends. Couldn't beat it with a big stick.


 

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Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
Congratulations EJ! That's wonderful news. Hoorah!

Weather is lovely here. Sunny & fairly warm, the daffodils are out and we have acquired a pair of very friendly sparrows in the back garden. They keep hopping down to sit on the windowsill & door handle. We've put food out which they don't want, so I can only assume they're coming to say hello.

I really must do some homework for my evening class and then potter into the garden to cut back dead stuff. Any minute now....
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Weather still lovely. Daffodils, blossom and tulips are everywhere now, sheep are in the fields, there are blue skies, fluffy white clouds and warmth. The boats are out on the river after the long winter - all sorts from little rowing boats and kayaks to narrowboats; and the ice cream vans have emerged from hibernation.

I don't know what it is about the sort of ice cream they sell - the sort straight out of a machine that swirls into a cone, with the option of half a stale Flake stuck into it - but it always seems so much more delicious than the shop-bought kind.
 

---

Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
I have heard 2 ice cream vans this afternoon, but neither has turned into our road! Despite the kids playing really noisily. They could make a packet from us.

It's a real shame, it's a good 30 seconds since I last ate anything unhealthy.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Our "other" church had its Alms Feast today so we went along and ate too much but all in a good cause, of course. They can feed about 200 people at a time in the parish hall and I think there were probably 5 or 6 sittings - that is a lot of people! It is also a heck of a lot of [fairly healthy] food.

I might treat myself to an ice cream tomorrow, I haven't eaten anything properly unhealthy for ages!
 

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Posted by Nanny Ogg (# 1176) on :
 
It must be Spring

The sun has been shining, the clocks have gone forward and the cat has brought me a dead robin.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Poor robin. Nasty cat.

It's not exactly spring here yet (I believe it's scheduled for the third Tuesday in June at 2:30 in the afternoon) but it was a lovely bright, sunny but cold day. There's a small, flat iceberg in the Narrows (the entrance to the fjord that is St. John's harbour), so we went up Signal Hill to have a look after lunch. When we looked out to the ocean, almost the entire horizon was occupied by a huge sheet of ice - no wonder it felt cold.

It's very early for icebergs - we don't usually get them this far south until at least May or even June.


 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 

quote:

---

It's very early for icebergs - we don't usually get them this far south until at least May or even June.

---

That's Global Warming for you! They say the Arctic will be free of ice in the summer in a few years. Can't remember what number the few was - but it didn't seem very far away.

Lovely warm days here - we sat out on the patio for lunch yesterday - and it seemed funny to be doing that with no leaves on the trees!

Still, plenty of time for March to surprise us yet!
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jemima the 9th:
I have heard 2 ice cream vans this afternoon, but neither has turned into our road! Despite the kids playing really noisily. They could make a packet from us.

It's a real shame, it's a good 30 seconds since I last ate anything unhealthy.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
They are butcher's vans, not ice-cream vans. That's what my parents told me anyway.

---

Cue to jump up and down clamouring "Can we have sausages for tonight??"

Still sunny. Curiously, although the crack of dawn commute was an hour earlier today, no problem getting out of bed. Though there were rather fewer people at the station this morning. I expect by Friday we will all feel a bit shattered.
 

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Posted by Nanny Ogg (# 1176) on :
 
It's another sunny day and the man has come round to take me metal detecting Probably only find fish hooks and ring pulls.

[ 26. March 2012, 12:02: Message edited by: Nanny Ogg ]
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nanny Ogg:
It's another sunny day and the man has come round to take me metal detecting Probably only find fish hooks and ring pulls.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nanny Ogg:
It's another sunny day and the man has come round to take me metal detecting Probably only find fish hooks and ring pulls.

---

And teaspoons. Where do our teaspoons go??

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:
Silly boys! Teaspoons are in the same location as sock singletons.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
No extra teaspoons have ever turned up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nanny Ogg:
It's another sunny day and the man has come round to take me metal detecting Probably only find fish hooks and ring pulls.

---

It's been a good afternoon - 3 fishing weight (one broken) and 2p.

Fisherman are real litter bugs though, lots of carrier bags, bottle tops and food wrapping around. Why can't they look after the countryside?
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
This morning I went to take more photos of neighbours' cows so they can be registered and insured and whilst doing that another neighbour appeared with his pet mongoose so I got to take some photos of that, too. They are cute little things but with ferociously sharp teeth - I made sure I was well out of biting range.

Tenth Standard exams all finished today, these are the equivalent of GCSE but taken at the end of Year 10, not 11 - the 15 year olds I saw later are all relieved it is over but the 9th Standard ones have more exams, starting tomorrow morning. The long vacation starts next weekend.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
... No extra teaspoons have ever turned up ...

---

A couple of years ago when the Choir was doing its turn running the Cathedral tea-room, it was suggested we take in posh teaspoons for serving the jam and cream with the scones. I brought in a set of little coffee-spoons that had belonged to my granny and one of them got lost - if they want them again they can whistle for them.

On a happier note, I've been baking - help yourselves to CAKE.
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:
Ballpoint pen lids, umbrellas, hats, gloves (especially left-hand gloves) and scarves will be in the same place. Along with a surprising number of seven-of-spades cards, unused sticking plasters, the password to your old Yahoo account you never use any more, and that money you were sure you loaded onto the Oyster card.

---

They are all in the mini dresser thing with a drawer in the back of the chapel I attend - together with several pairs of spectacles. All with a claim contact me - if you can name you can claim!!
 

---

Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
If anyone in the UK has been watching "The Tube" on BBC2 - were you, like me, absolutely astounded at the amount and gobsmacking variety of the lost property there???

Feel sure your teaspoons have mysteriously migrated there.

Though we did once find my favourite knife, long and tearfully lost, in the compost when we spread it on the garden.
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nicodemia:
If anyone in the UK has been watching "The Tube" on BBC2 - were you, like me, absolutely astounded at the amount and gobsmacking variety of the lost property there???

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nanny Ogg:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nanny Ogg:
It's another sunny day and the man has come round to take me metal detecting Probably only find fish hooks and ring pulls.

---

It's been a good afternoon - 3 fishing weight (one broken) and 2p.

Fisherman are real litter bugs though, lots of carrier bags, bottle tops and food wrapping around. Why can't they look after the countryside?

---

Every now & then I help with a beach litter clean where we make a note of what we collect so that the organisation that runs it can use the information when lobbying. And yes, on the beach too the shore-based fishermen are responsible for most of what we pick up, with boat-based ones and whoever leaves 1" lengths of rope coming a close second.
 

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Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
After a lovely, warm, sunny day, the temperature dropped considerably last night so Maggi-Mittens came and slept on my head (taking up most of the pillow). This made her happy. When Maggi-Mittens is happy, she dribbles. Last night, she was so happy, she dribbled up my nose.


 

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Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
We accidently invented a teaspoon finding machine - our cat had a magnetic cat door and she had a fairly large, strong magnet on her collar. Not only did she drag teaspoons about, but nails, chunks of rust and anything else small and metallic that she'd come across in her travels.

Piglet - what kind of cake? We've just had sumptuous roast chicken so a bit of cake would round it off nicely.

Cheers,
EJ
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Raisin - there's plenty left, so help yourselves.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
ATMs here are all inside, rather than just a hole in the wall, and they are all air conditioned - it is a real shock to walk in somewhere and suddenly be faced with a rather chilly 22˚C! Thankfully I wasn't in there long.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Blazing sunlight down by the river, bouncing back up off the path, bringing the heat of midsummer with it. You'd hardly think it March, except that leaves are still in short supply and the ducklings and new waterfowl haven't emerged into the world yet. Blossom everywhere, the drone of a hundred bees at once working on it, people in shirtsleeves out in rowing boats and punts, tourists drifting around in summer clothes. Cows resting quietly in the shade of trees. This is as good as last spring, except that it's earlier this year - I wonder if that means a wet summer again?

What a contrast to only a couple of weeks ago - or indeed even the frost of this morning. Drought it may be but it's just lovely right now.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
It's been a nice day here today, and feels almost spring-like at +2°C.

However, the Weather Channel is promising nearly a foot of sn*w on Saturday.

On a Saturday, when we won't even get a sn*w-day.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
When my dad died in 2006 my brothers and I went through his books and I chose some to keep with the view of eventually shipping them over here. This year was the intended get them shipped year, they currently reside in the basement of the house of some friends. I have just received a quote for their shipment which is approximately a thousand quid more than I have any thought of spending!

I have a 30 kg weight allowance to and from UK this time and I usually travel pretty light so I think I will have room for about 20 kg of books so I reckon I'll sort my favourite 20 kg from the boxes and then take the rest to the Oxfam Bookshop just down the road from the house in Manchester. I can't remember exactly what is there but I really can't think there is anything beyond 20 kg for which I am absolutely desperate - or not £1000 desperate!
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Oh dear, I hate getting rid of books, though I usually only have to do so in small quantities - and family books are often hard to part with. If I have anything that I think might have special value I tend to take it either to Oxfam or to another local charity bookshop that has the necessary specialist knowledge.

Got to get rid of all my kids' old books over the summer - I don't have house room, and they say they're not bothered. It's not that I'm in a hurry to have grandchildren, but I'm just not looking forward to parting with so many old favourites.
 

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Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
Shipping things around the world is ridiculously expensive... it tends to be cheaper to buy more when you get there, but it is hard to give up one's favourite old things. We managed to get rid of about an eighth of our books - the rest are stored. And I bought four more for the flight over and now we have a shelf full.

I'm conscious now that everything we buy we may have to either abandon or pay the earth to shift back to NZ one day... or we may just stay. I am liking it so far! We'll see how I do in mid-late winter.

Ariel - your description sounds a lot like Bristol, but we don't have punts. Still, stunning weather and very pretty by the harbour here with ferries and barges toddling about, people cycling and ringing their bells, tourists looking at maps and taking photos etc. In fact there were decorative half-naked tourists today! Senior high school or Uni aged boys in their boxers playing in the fountain.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
This weather won't last much longer, though - there's already a drop in temperature.

How are people doing for fuel - our local garage has run out of diesel and the other one has queues to fill up with petrol. I've postponed filling up the car until the weekend, when hopefully it should be a bit quieter.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
...How are people doing for fuel - our local garage has run out of diesel and the other one has queues to fill up with petrol. I've postponed filling up the car until the weekend, when hopefully it should be a bit quieter.

---

I'm hoping to do the same, Ariel - on the way to work this morning, the motorway overhead signs were informing which of the services had run out of diesel. Hopefully I have enough unleaded to get me home
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Good luck. By the time I left for work this morning, our local garage had run out of everything (except air).

And we're not even having a fuel strike.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
My son is due to drive home for the weekend from Oxford today. When he phoned he was running low on fuel and decided to fill up on the way.

Hope he manages it!


 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
Gggrrr - trying to connect my new navigation device to my Mac = apparently impossible.
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
I filled up yesterday, even though all my local garage had by then was 'Super' diesel at 5p per litre extra. I should have filled up on Wednesday before things really got going, but the people who serviced (& MOT'd) my car stuck a locking fuel cap on it and didn't tell me where they'd left the keys and the instructions, because they thought they were in an 'obvious' place.

Anyway, I don't use it all that often, so what I've got now should see me through the family visit at Easter. Then I'm lending it to friends who are off on honeymoon and will hopefully get it back (full) in time for the first weekend in May.
 

---

Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
No car at the moment - my feet have as much fuel as usual (i.e. not a great deal, but I need to get places so I walk there and back).

Gosh, imagine being so powerful that if you mention 'go and do this thing' everyone crowds around to do it! What if the PM said 'go and buy a pasty'? Greggs would stop complaining for a bit, I guess! (Being a bit facetious...)
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
I shall be (virtually sight) singing (at very short notice) the St John Passion tonight in Ashbourne.
Small choir, one of their sopranos has gone sick...someone who calls themselves a friend mentioned that I might be available.
Prayers - please! But I am quite excited really...
 

---

Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eleanor Jane:
No car at the moment - my feet have as much fuel as usual (i.e. not a great deal, but I need to get places so I walk there and back).

Gosh, imagine being so powerful that if you mention 'go and do this thing' everyone crowds around to do it! What if the PM said 'go and buy a pasty'? Greggs would stop complaining for a bit, I guess! (Being a bit facetious...)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
I shall be (virtually sight) singing (at very short notice) the St John Passion tonight in Ashbourne.
Small choir, one of their sopranos has gone sick...someone who calls themselves a friend mentioned that I might be available.
Prayers - please! But I am quite excited really...

---

All the best. I was singing alto in the Messiah one year when the conductor realised his bass section seemed to have fallen apart. My son who is a very good bass singer was called in like you, at last moment. We had score and tape given to us. Car trip in saw cassette being played over and over and score being perused at red traffic lights. Fortunately he is very good at sight singing and also playing a keyboard instrument the same way. he frequently while still at school found himself called in to play at a funeral where he could do old hymns by sight which no one else could do.

Enjoy the experience.
 

---

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Hope it went well, St. E.

I can't quite get my head round the fuel crisis - are the tanker-drivers on strike or aren't they? And considering that they're paid £47,000 a year, if they are on strike, then why?



In other news, the sn*w that they've been giving us Weather Warnings about so far hasn't amounted to much - long may that continue.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Birthday cake with butter icing at 7 a.m. is not good for my system!

Little boy in the village was 5 earlier in the week but his mum translated the birthday to Saturday and we stopped in for cake and sweets on our morning walk. I think I may well have a nap soon.
 

---

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
You also?

Two inch icing with glacé cherries My poor blood sugar!

I got a handshake when I gave him two cards. Then I said and and presented him with a seriously big tourist jeep. Now he was paying attention. When I said and again, I gave him a KinderJoy® Then I said and again and gave another to his mummy. His eyes followed that one too!

I do so love little VK!

[ 31. March 2012, 04:57: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

---

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by piglet:
I can't quite get my head round the fuel crisis - are the tanker-drivers on strike or aren't they?

---

quote:

---

And considering that they're paid £47,000 a year, if they are on strike, then why?

---

Terms and conditions.

Anyway, it looks like drivers from the Armed Forces will be starting training next week to learn how to drive tankers if needs be. Meanwhile, I'm rethinking my travel plans for the weekend.

Incidentally, speaking of snow, the papers are saying Easter will bring an Arctic Freeze - that'll be something to look forward to.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ariel:
...Incidentally, speaking of snow, the papers are saying Easter will bring an Arctic Freeze - that'll be something to look forward to.

---

I'm so sorry
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

I'm so sorry

---