Today I had a glass of beer with my light lunch of brie and apples.
I have some difficulty in finding small bottles of beer and try to grab one when I see it. They have some fascinating names - and a wide variety of alcohol content; I showed one bottle to TBSITW and she said "Did you notice that that one was 8%?" Well, of course I hadn't, but now I look more carefully.
Today's was Brew Dog Punk IPA.
And then the memories came flooding back.
Of when I was a student nurse and then a staff nurse and spent most of my social life with other nurses, rather younger than me.
The drink 'du jour' was beer, in pint glasses, straight glass, none of those half pints or fancy glasses with handles. I remember Theakston's Old Peculiar was much sought after, however IPA, or India Pale Ale was what was most commonly available,
You could add, as our tastes matured, 'real ale' most of it being 80/-.
And then we progressed to making our own in 5 gallon buckets, initially with beer kits from Boots or someplace, then moving on to acquiring real ingredients. I remember a great shop in the old village of Corstorphine, Edinburgh which sold wonderful ingredients.
Home made wine was absolutely dire, even for cooking, but we were poor then and had to get our alcohol somewhere! However, home brew beer was excellent and we acquired proper bottles and stoppers.
The last memory of drinking beer was when I went in for diving (sub aqua) and I used to get back to the clubhouse with a very dry mouth from breathing in all that compressed air. A pint of 70/- went down almost as fast as I can type it!
After that I mostly gave up as a 'beer belly' is not so named for nothing.
Nowadays I have only an occasional glass on a hot day. In Scotland these days are few and far between.....
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
The Thunderbolt Kid
I finished The Thunderbolt Kid by bill Bryson.
I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would as I had become a bit bored with his other books. It seemed to give a very good picture of a small boy growing up in a small town in Middle America.
I grew up slightly earlier going to an all-girls’ school in a city in Scotland, so his experiences were quite different from mine, although I too remember the fear associated with the American stand-off against the Russians and the fear that the world might be coming to an end.
The Bay of Pigs, The Vietnam war and the draft did not touch me directly at all, although on this side of the pond we still had National Service. My then fiancé managed to miss this by the skin of his teeth by being at University until it was discontinued.
Here my worries were about exams, career options and those strange creatures, boys.
Do read this book if you have not already done so.
It is so hard to believe that a time so recent appears so far distant in the past.
I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would as I had become a bit bored with his other books. It seemed to give a very good picture of a small boy growing up in a small town in Middle America.
I grew up slightly earlier going to an all-girls’ school in a city in Scotland, so his experiences were quite different from mine, although I too remember the fear associated with the American stand-off against the Russians and the fear that the world might be coming to an end.
The Bay of Pigs, The Vietnam war and the draft did not touch me directly at all, although on this side of the pond we still had National Service. My then fiancé managed to miss this by the skin of his teeth by being at University until it was discontinued.
Here my worries were about exams, career options and those strange creatures, boys.
Do read this book if you have not already done so.
It is so hard to believe that a time so recent appears so far distant in the past.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Vegetable Box Delivery.
It is quite some time since I have been so pleased to see the organic vegetable box delivery; my fridge has gone down to NO vegetables of any description. I still have a bowl of potato salad and a serving of macaroni cheese.
The contents were potatoes, carrots (lots), 4 white turnips, broad beans, cabbage, broccoli, courgette, 2 lettuce and 4 tomatoes; the fruit was 4 apples and 4 bananas.
I think I may have got the wrong fruit bag as there was a label on the string saying “apples and bananas only. £2.5o”, whereas I pay £3 for the fruit and usually get oranges, fewer apples and fewer bananas. However, I shall sort this out with them later.
They always enclose a newsletter telling of the work at the farm and often giving a recipe. The recipe this time is for Cabbage with Potatoes, Cheddar and Feta Cheese. It looks good and I think I shall give it a try. If I like it I shall post the recipe on my recipe blog.
The contents were potatoes, carrots (lots), 4 white turnips, broad beans, cabbage, broccoli, courgette, 2 lettuce and 4 tomatoes; the fruit was 4 apples and 4 bananas.
I think I may have got the wrong fruit bag as there was a label on the string saying “apples and bananas only. £2.5o”, whereas I pay £3 for the fruit and usually get oranges, fewer apples and fewer bananas. However, I shall sort this out with them later.
They always enclose a newsletter telling of the work at the farm and often giving a recipe. The recipe this time is for Cabbage with Potatoes, Cheddar and Feta Cheese. It looks good and I think I shall give it a try. If I like it I shall post the recipe on my recipe blog.
Striptease
I am a very cold blooded person. In the winter months I can go and visit my daughter, who probably has the central heating on, and have to wear all my winter woollies and my fleece too, while she is wearing a t-shirt.
During the “summer” in Scotland I gradually reduced the layers, one by one, first losing the cotton polo shirt and thermal vest and the thermal long johns (in varying order), then removing the woollen polo neck and wearing instead a t-shirt topped with shirt (to hide the bulges) and cardigan, and yesterday with t-shirt topped with cardigan.
It was so hot that I had to remove the cardigan too.
When I returned to the ranch, I joined the Scrabble players for a very welcome cup of tea, and removed my cardigan, saying “Look, I have arms!”
“Yes, and chicken wings, too”!, was the response….
Someone else remarked that it was the first time they had seen my neck (and kindly didn't mention the wattle!)
Afterwards I was going to pass a jigsaw on to one of my friends, and when we got to my flat I showed her one.
And also offered her a Gin and Tonic.
It is such a long time since we had a G&T together and was good to catch up. She has not been well and I have concerns for her health, even though she is younger than me (but by VERY LITTLE).
During the “summer” in Scotland I gradually reduced the layers, one by one, first losing the cotton polo shirt and thermal vest and the thermal long johns (in varying order), then removing the woollen polo neck and wearing instead a t-shirt topped with shirt (to hide the bulges) and cardigan, and yesterday with t-shirt topped with cardigan.
It was so hot that I had to remove the cardigan too.
When I returned to the ranch, I joined the Scrabble players for a very welcome cup of tea, and removed my cardigan, saying “Look, I have arms!”
“Yes, and chicken wings, too”!, was the response….
Someone else remarked that it was the first time they had seen my neck (and kindly didn't mention the wattle!)
Afterwards I was going to pass a jigsaw on to one of my friends, and when we got to my flat I showed her one.
And also offered her a Gin and Tonic.
It is such a long time since we had a G&T together and was good to catch up. She has not been well and I have concerns for her health, even though she is younger than me (but by VERY LITTLE).
Monday, 28 July 2008
Gadgets and Customer Services
This morning my order to Lakeland Limited has arrived. My cleaners call me “Mrs Gadget Woman”! This time I have ordered battery operated can opener, jar opener and whisk, together with a “good grips” peeler and a scissor block with 3 (badly needed) new scissors of assorted sizes.
This is all to make life easier for my hands, which have difficulty gripping things.
At the Bridge Club, I tried out a curved piece of wood with a slot for holding the cards; it was not a great success, largely because of my tremor as I kept missing the holder or else knocking other cards out; so I gave up on that idea – nice to get the chance to try it without having to pay for one first.
I have found most of Lakeland’s products excellent and if you need to phone them you get a nice friendly English voice (which I can hear and understand). Recently I found one item to be less good than its predecessor and wrote a comment rating it.
I got a very nice email offering me my money back.
Now, that’s the way to do it.
I am almost ready to go to the Bridge Club now….
Later:
Used the peeleer and was somewhat disappointed. Washed it and left it to drain. dried it and there was a little bubble of water caught between the blades. Mopped the bubble but it wouldn't go away. Investigated more closely and it was a strip of film used as protective packing.
Oops, there's another IQ test failed!
This is all to make life easier for my hands, which have difficulty gripping things.
At the Bridge Club, I tried out a curved piece of wood with a slot for holding the cards; it was not a great success, largely because of my tremor as I kept missing the holder or else knocking other cards out; so I gave up on that idea – nice to get the chance to try it without having to pay for one first.
I have found most of Lakeland’s products excellent and if you need to phone them you get a nice friendly English voice (which I can hear and understand). Recently I found one item to be less good than its predecessor and wrote a comment rating it.
I got a very nice email offering me my money back.
Now, that’s the way to do it.
I am almost ready to go to the Bridge Club now….
Later:
Used the peeleer and was somewhat disappointed. Washed it and left it to drain. dried it and there was a little bubble of water caught between the blades. Mopped the bubble but it wouldn't go away. Investigated more closely and it was a strip of film used as protective packing.
Oops, there's another IQ test failed!
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Bits and Pieces
Today, after Church (where the sermon was on the Parable of the mustard seed, not the easiest of texts to understand, particularly as it is only 2 verses long), I collected the communal watering can and filled it at the outside tap, bringing it back to water all my pots.
I paid particular attention to the "Two Sisters", and not just to the flowers but also to the body of Mammouth as well in case it gets too dry and blows over in the wind as it is intrinsically rather light. I was admiring Miss Pig. TBSITW planted some ivy at the front to form a fringe, and it has thrived and grown sufficiently that it could act rather as the hair of Rapunzel, which was long enough to let down from her tower to allow her favoured prince to climb up.
Coming out of Church you immediately appreciate that the weather today is warm and humid. It is not as summery as earlier in the week, but the Church is so cold that it was like coming out into a warm bath.
I am going to make potato salad this afternoon, but otherwise have nothing planned. "The Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson awaits, following a recommendation on another blog, but at this moment I can't remember whose.
Later: I went to Wikipedia to look up the story of Rapunzel, which was even darker than I remembered and I had quite forgotten that it was the witch who called out "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair" and the Prince overheard her and thus found out how to reach Rapunzel in her tower. If you want to know more, go to Wikipedia.
I paid particular attention to the "Two Sisters", and not just to the flowers but also to the body of Mammouth as well in case it gets too dry and blows over in the wind as it is intrinsically rather light. I was admiring Miss Pig. TBSITW planted some ivy at the front to form a fringe, and it has thrived and grown sufficiently that it could act rather as the hair of Rapunzel, which was long enough to let down from her tower to allow her favoured prince to climb up.
Coming out of Church you immediately appreciate that the weather today is warm and humid. It is not as summery as earlier in the week, but the Church is so cold that it was like coming out into a warm bath.
I am going to make potato salad this afternoon, but otherwise have nothing planned. "The Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson awaits, following a recommendation on another blog, but at this moment I can't remember whose.
Later: I went to Wikipedia to look up the story of Rapunzel, which was even darker than I remembered and I had quite forgotten that it was the witch who called out "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair" and the Prince overheard her and thus found out how to reach Rapunzel in her tower. If you want to know more, go to Wikipedia.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Trying to Become a Good Housewife
I started off this morning with a washing "oh, not again!" you cry, but I was thinking about what I was doing as I put the wash into the tumble dryer and carried two wool jumpers that can't be tumble dried upstairs and laid them on a large towel on my bed.
So, what I was thinking was that I was actually starting to get organised with cycling my jumpers. Instead of just hanging clean ones away next to others (which were clean of course, but not newly washed) I am hanging the washed ones on the other side of the wardrobe, with the idea that I wear only the ones that are on the not-washed side of the wardrobe.
And to think it took me 67 years to get that far!
Mind you there was a long time in my life when I didn't have enough clothes to make that necessary....
So, that done I went to prepare the evening meal and was torn between making a macaroni cheese or a potato salad. I decided on the potato salad and had all the work done (including frying the lardons) when I discovered that I had no shallots or even onions. So the cooked potatoes are now in a jug covered with foil and the lardons are on a covered plate.
So it was back to square one again.
Now the macaroni is boiled and the cheese is grated, so all I have to do now is make the cheese sauce. I felt I was due a rest at this point so I came to talk to you lot out there.
Never mind, shallots will arrive tomorrow and otherwise nearly all the work is done for that meal too.
So, what I was thinking was that I was actually starting to get organised with cycling my jumpers. Instead of just hanging clean ones away next to others (which were clean of course, but not newly washed) I am hanging the washed ones on the other side of the wardrobe, with the idea that I wear only the ones that are on the not-washed side of the wardrobe.
And to think it took me 67 years to get that far!
Mind you there was a long time in my life when I didn't have enough clothes to make that necessary....
So, that done I went to prepare the evening meal and was torn between making a macaroni cheese or a potato salad. I decided on the potato salad and had all the work done (including frying the lardons) when I discovered that I had no shallots or even onions. So the cooked potatoes are now in a jug covered with foil and the lardons are on a covered plate.
So it was back to square one again.
Now the macaroni is boiled and the cheese is grated, so all I have to do now is make the cheese sauce. I felt I was due a rest at this point so I came to talk to you lot out there.
Never mind, shallots will arrive tomorrow and otherwise nearly all the work is done for that meal too.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Mouldy Old Dough (Type B)
At lunchtime today I went to make boiled eggs and toast, getting everything ready; the table set with place mats, the egg cups, the egg spoon, the plate for the toast, the butter out of the cupboard and the knife and spoon out ready; also the mug, earl grey teabag and milk; and the pan plus two eggs.
I was just about to put the pan on to boil, and the bread on to toast when I noticed unmistakable signs of mould on the bread.
So I measured everything out and put on the bread maker to make a super loaf. I find that it tends to overheat so I set the cooker timer for 15 minutes before the bread was supposed to be ready.
At that time I had a look and it did not look ready so I tried to put it on for an extra 10 minutes.
Umm
What the machine did was start the whole process from the beginning and could be seen stirring the dough.
This was not a sign of a loaf almost ready.
Aaargh.
Looks like the bread maker has had its day.
So off I shall have to go to get some bread in for the morning.
I was just about to put the pan on to boil, and the bread on to toast when I noticed unmistakable signs of mould on the bread.
So I measured everything out and put on the bread maker to make a super loaf. I find that it tends to overheat so I set the cooker timer for 15 minutes before the bread was supposed to be ready.
At that time I had a look and it did not look ready so I tried to put it on for an extra 10 minutes.
Umm
What the machine did was start the whole process from the beginning and could be seen stirring the dough.
This was not a sign of a loaf almost ready.
Aaargh.
Looks like the bread maker has had its day.
So off I shall have to go to get some bread in for the morning.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Mouldy Old Dough
My shower had developed quite a lot of mould, mostly on the sealant, but it was also starting to climb the grout. TBSITW gave me a bottle of mould spray with strict instructions that I must not use it myself.
It certainly is powerful stuff, but it has cleared virtually all the mould. I left the light on so that the fan would get rid of the fumes, but I still feel as though my mouth and sinuses are coated with the stuff.
With the mould gone, it has become obvious that the sealant is in very poor condition. This is a very poor show as the shower has not been erected that long. It looks as though it needs stripped out and replaced, and the obvious solution would be to get the plumbers who installed it back to fix it.
This would be fine if it were not for the fact that I would not have them darken my doorstep again.......
It certainly is powerful stuff, but it has cleared virtually all the mould. I left the light on so that the fan would get rid of the fumes, but I still feel as though my mouth and sinuses are coated with the stuff.
With the mould gone, it has become obvious that the sealant is in very poor condition. This is a very poor show as the shower has not been erected that long. It looks as though it needs stripped out and replaced, and the obvious solution would be to get the plumbers who installed it back to fix it.
This would be fine if it were not for the fact that I would not have them darken my doorstep again.......
To a Friend
Yesterday I lost a very good friend. She was a dog who had not quite reached 10 years of age.
A working dog, she soon inveigled her way into the house and from there burrowed her way into all our hearts. A few months ago she had a leg amputated for a bone cancer, and made an excellent recovery, able to make a dash across the countryside to round up a straying dog, thereby beating all the four legged dogs in the chase.
On one occasion she was over to visit and her owner (hah! Who owned whom?), TBSITW, left her with me while she popped out to the shops. I went through to the computer for a couple of minutes expecting her either to stay put or to follow me, but when I went back, there she was up on my settee lying with her head comfortably on its cushioned arm. When her owner came back she said she didn’t believe that it was possible for her to jump up like that, but I certainly did not help her!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I could tell you so many stories; she had no interest in dog toys, and when the other dog (a puppy) tried to get her to play by dropping a toy in front of her, she would studiously ignore it and, literally, give it the cold shoulder. Off he went for another toy and the whole sequence would be repeated until she had a semicircle of toys in front of her.
Over the past few weeks she started being sick but was afterwards fine and still wanted to go out for walks, but gradually she became weaker and weaker and latterly had no interest. TBSITW and her partner took her to the vet today, after blood results had come back abnormal, for an X-ray and scan, but she was found to have a large palpable mass in her stomach and sadly the decision had to be taken to have her put to sleep.
She had become an important part of our lives.
We shall all miss her.
There is a dog-shaped hole in my heart.
A working dog, she soon inveigled her way into the house and from there burrowed her way into all our hearts. A few months ago she had a leg amputated for a bone cancer, and made an excellent recovery, able to make a dash across the countryside to round up a straying dog, thereby beating all the four legged dogs in the chase.
On one occasion she was over to visit and her owner (hah! Who owned whom?), TBSITW, left her with me while she popped out to the shops. I went through to the computer for a couple of minutes expecting her either to stay put or to follow me, but when I went back, there she was up on my settee lying with her head comfortably on its cushioned arm. When her owner came back she said she didn’t believe that it was possible for her to jump up like that, but I certainly did not help her!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I could tell you so many stories; she had no interest in dog toys, and when the other dog (a puppy) tried to get her to play by dropping a toy in front of her, she would studiously ignore it and, literally, give it the cold shoulder. Off he went for another toy and the whole sequence would be repeated until she had a semicircle of toys in front of her.
Over the past few weeks she started being sick but was afterwards fine and still wanted to go out for walks, but gradually she became weaker and weaker and latterly had no interest. TBSITW and her partner took her to the vet today, after blood results had come back abnormal, for an X-ray and scan, but she was found to have a large palpable mass in her stomach and sadly the decision had to be taken to have her put to sleep.
She had become an important part of our lives.
We shall all miss her.
There is a dog-shaped hole in my heart.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Daughter
Today daughter came over to visit. This is a rare event as she has two children and a job, not to mention a partner, so it is easier if I go to visit her.
It has been a lovely warm day, with the sun shining and the temperature up over 20 degrees. We headed off to the big garden centre where we had lunch, both settling for a salad where you could take two items of meat or fish and as much salad as you could put on the plate. I had a glass of wine as a change (usually I am driving) and she had a rather nice looking apple and something drink.
After lunch we spent a good long time "mooching" round all the aisles and I bought a little plate shaped like a teapot which is just the right size for holding a teabag. TBSITW gave me a lovely ceramic one some years ago, but it has disappeared somewhere along the way as good things do.
I also got a pot pourri for the bathroom as it is smelling a bit of mould, which has got its way into the shower. TBSITW has given me a spray of stuff that is supposed to be death to mould, but has made me promise not to use it myself because of my chest.
Finally I bought 2 bottles of beer - I find it difficult to get hold of small bottles and the bigger bottles hold too much for me to drink at lunchtime.
So daughter and I had a grand time doing what we both love, chatting and shopping (and eating too, of course)
It has been a lovely warm day, with the sun shining and the temperature up over 20 degrees. We headed off to the big garden centre where we had lunch, both settling for a salad where you could take two items of meat or fish and as much salad as you could put on the plate. I had a glass of wine as a change (usually I am driving) and she had a rather nice looking apple and something drink.
After lunch we spent a good long time "mooching" round all the aisles and I bought a little plate shaped like a teapot which is just the right size for holding a teabag. TBSITW gave me a lovely ceramic one some years ago, but it has disappeared somewhere along the way as good things do.
I also got a pot pourri for the bathroom as it is smelling a bit of mould, which has got its way into the shower. TBSITW has given me a spray of stuff that is supposed to be death to mould, but has made me promise not to use it myself because of my chest.
Finally I bought 2 bottles of beer - I find it difficult to get hold of small bottles and the bigger bottles hold too much for me to drink at lunchtime.
So daughter and I had a grand time doing what we both love, chatting and shopping (and eating too, of course)
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Exercise Class and couple of Purchases
Today I went to the exercise class again - and my body is telling me that I did a good job.
Stopped off on my way home for the usual cheese scone.
In the food hall I bought some mushrooms and also an egg slicer. I always used to be dubious about the value of these things, but I quite often now use a hard boiled egg or two in a salad; I also found quite a nice simple photo frame for the photo of younger son and wife.
Still waiting for a photo of elder son and wife -they have a super one taken for her parent's 70th birthday and I would love to have a print of that. (Is this a subtle hint, I ask myself?)
When I got home I found a parcel containing a ceramic garlic pot into which I placed a very smelly garlic from TBSITW's garden. I have been looking for one ever since I read that garlic should not be stored in the fridge.
Stopped off on my way home for the usual cheese scone.
In the food hall I bought some mushrooms and also an egg slicer. I always used to be dubious about the value of these things, but I quite often now use a hard boiled egg or two in a salad; I also found quite a nice simple photo frame for the photo of younger son and wife.
Still waiting for a photo of elder son and wife -they have a super one taken for her parent's 70th birthday and I would love to have a print of that. (Is this a subtle hint, I ask myself?)
When I got home I found a parcel containing a ceramic garlic pot into which I placed a very smelly garlic from TBSITW's garden. I have been looking for one ever since I read that garlic should not be stored in the fridge.
Monday, 21 July 2008
The two sisters
For those who demanded to see the "two sisters", one of my neighbours kindly took these photographs this afternoon.
If it's Monday, it must be Bridge!
... and it was. There were only eight of us today, so we played in two teams. My partner has some difficulty in keeping the game going. The "boss lady" said something about reading body language, and I commented that her body language indicated a need for some beta blockers!
Nevertheless a good afternoon.
I saw that last Monday when I played with a partner I had never played with before that we came 3rd out of 5. Not bad!
Haven't been able to find the results of last Tuesday evening's game.
It is a beautiful sunny day today, and I returned to a cup of tea with the Scrabble group.
Looking out of the window as I type I can see that, although my car is parked within its bay, it is at something of an angle. I have difficulty in telling the gap between the opposite side of mine to the side off the one next door - I always think I am about to hit it, but I am within walking distance of it ............... ;-)
Nevertheless a good afternoon.
I saw that last Monday when I played with a partner I had never played with before that we came 3rd out of 5. Not bad!
Haven't been able to find the results of last Tuesday evening's game.
It is a beautiful sunny day today, and I returned to a cup of tea with the Scrabble group.
Looking out of the window as I type I can see that, although my car is parked within its bay, it is at something of an angle. I have difficulty in telling the gap between the opposite side of mine to the side off the one next door - I always think I am about to hit it, but I am within walking distance of it ............... ;-)
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Supermarkets Revisited
You may remember that I bought strawberries from T**** today as they were from Scotland.
Well, when I looked more closely as I was opening the pack, there in tiny print it said packed for T**** in Cheshunt!
So, these strawberries have travelled all the way from Scotland to the South of England to be packed and then shipped north to Scotland again.
It beggars belief.
On a lighter note, the two "sisters" on the patio are still doing well. What do you mean you don't know what I am talking about?
Pay attention at the back!
Well, when I looked more closely as I was opening the pack, there in tiny print it said packed for T**** in Cheshunt!
So, these strawberries have travelled all the way from Scotland to the South of England to be packed and then shipped north to Scotland again.
It beggars belief.
On a lighter note, the two "sisters" on the patio are still doing well. What do you mean you don't know what I am talking about?
Pay attention at the back!
Supermarkets, love 'em or hate 'em
At Church today, I was once again reminded of my advancing years! The sermon today was based from the parable of the wheat and the weeds - of course, I immediately recognised it as the parable of the wheat and the tares...
After Church, I took my car to the car wash (badly needed); this will have two inevitable effects: the nice shiny car will attract the immediate attention of an overflying albatross and of a a dirty great rain cloud.
Following on I went to a little local supermarket (A***) but there were no disabled parking bays; it is not just the distance to walk that matters but also the need to open the car door wide to allow easy ingress and egress. So, on to big supermarket (T****) where I got what I needed, in other words chicken thighs to make a casserole. I am still not at all sure whether organic is better than free range - in other words, can organic mean horrible shed raised but fed on organic meal? What I really wanted was organic free range and in the end went for organic. I wish I had bought some at the Farmers' Market the other week.
While at T**** I saw strawberries at half price and went to make sure they were Scottish, as were the raspberries, so I bought some of them too.
I am not being xenophobic here, it is merely a matter of food miles. Just to demonstrate this, I bought blackberries from Hants. One of the few disadvantages of the particular veg box to which I subscribe is that you never seem to get soft fruit.
I find it quite amazing how my ideas about food have changed over quite a short number of years, starting with the influence of Farmers' Markets and then of organic veg box deliveries. Some ideas have come from press items, but most is from thinking about things myself.
After Church, I took my car to the car wash (badly needed); this will have two inevitable effects: the nice shiny car will attract the immediate attention of an overflying albatross and of a a dirty great rain cloud.
Following on I went to a little local supermarket (A***) but there were no disabled parking bays; it is not just the distance to walk that matters but also the need to open the car door wide to allow easy ingress and egress. So, on to big supermarket (T****) where I got what I needed, in other words chicken thighs to make a casserole. I am still not at all sure whether organic is better than free range - in other words, can organic mean horrible shed raised but fed on organic meal? What I really wanted was organic free range and in the end went for organic. I wish I had bought some at the Farmers' Market the other week.
While at T**** I saw strawberries at half price and went to make sure they were Scottish, as were the raspberries, so I bought some of them too.
I am not being xenophobic here, it is merely a matter of food miles. Just to demonstrate this, I bought blackberries from Hants. One of the few disadvantages of the particular veg box to which I subscribe is that you never seem to get soft fruit.
I find it quite amazing how my ideas about food have changed over quite a short number of years, starting with the influence of Farmers' Markets and then of organic veg box deliveries. Some ideas have come from press items, but most is from thinking about things myself.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
I'm Losing My Memory!
... but it is not as bad as it sounds. I went to do a task today that I have been meaning to do for far too long, and that is to back up my files. I was particularly prompted to do this as TBSITW, elder son and younger son's wife all had computer problems and it is dangerous to assume it won't happen to me.
A bit like smokers thinking that lung cancer and all the other respiratory diseases will not happen to them.
So what happens?
First off, I was sensible and said "yes" to overwriting existing files of the same name so that the most up to date version of any file was on the pen drive. So even with my attempt to overwrite rather than write sequentially I ran out of memory quite well before the end.
I suppose it was inevitable with a 512MB drive (and to think that this used to be a lot of memory for the PC!), so now I have ordered a 4GB pen drive.
And promise to back up everything as soon as it arrives.
New Year (or at least 19 July) resolution - back it up every week.
A bit like smokers thinking that lung cancer and all the other respiratory diseases will not happen to them.
So what happens?
First off, I was sensible and said "yes" to overwriting existing files of the same name so that the most up to date version of any file was on the pen drive. So even with my attempt to overwrite rather than write sequentially I ran out of memory quite well before the end.
I suppose it was inevitable with a 512MB drive (and to think that this used to be a lot of memory for the PC!), so now I have ordered a 4GB pen drive.
And promise to back up everything as soon as it arrives.
New Year (or at least 19 July) resolution - back it up every week.
Sisters, Sisters....
.... of an unusual kind.
As I looked out at my patio today, I saw that the rain had cleared and the paving was dry.
Apart from damp patches below the pig and the mammoth (Pig and Mammouth).
It looks as though the rain has been sufficient to soak the straw of the mammoth and increase its weight somewhat.
At any rate it is still standing and the "two sisters" are standing side by side.
Awww, cute.
So now the sun is shining and I think I shall have a go at the jigsaw.
As I looked out at my patio today, I saw that the rain had cleared and the paving was dry.
Apart from damp patches below the pig and the mammoth (Pig and Mammouth).
It looks as though the rain has been sufficient to soak the straw of the mammoth and increase its weight somewhat.
At any rate it is still standing and the "two sisters" are standing side by side.
Awww, cute.
So now the sun is shining and I think I shall have a go at the jigsaw.
Friday, 18 July 2008
..... These are a few of my Favourite Things.
Today Hustle Hag has a picture of a sky with rain ahead which looks very like the sky TBSITW and I saw yesterday while driving to Big City. The rest of the picture is, of course, completely different! I have put in the link as I thought TBSITW might like to see it. Hustle Hag has many posts showing different sky photographs.
After yesterday's trip, it is a quiet day today. I was eating my breakfast while looking out of the window at the "two sisters" sitting on the patio. TBSITW was somewhat concerned that the mammouth one might get blown over as it was rather light, while the pig one that she gave me for my birthday is quite heavy. I was going to go out and water the plants, and also water the mammouth planter, but I hope the rain has soaked in and made it rather heavier.
There is a rose bush which has got top heavy and has fallen over almost to the ground. I think it might benefit from pruning quite well back (and picking some roses too!!!!)
The weather can't seem to make up its mind what to do - it is either rain or a watery sun.
I am reading Matter by Iain M. Banks; I enjoy all his books, whether they be the science fiction ones or the novels. This book is the latest in the "Culture" series. It has taken me a little while to get in to it, partly as I felt I needed to re-read all the previous Culture books first and then because I never seemed to have enough time to get to grips with it. However, after going back to the beginning and speed reading back to where I left off, I have caught up with it, and know that I shall not be able to put it down.
I also have 2 new jigsaws from TBSITW and am looking forward to getting on with them. If I am not out and about, I try to move from computer seat to the living room and my very comfortable chair for reading, to the jigsaw (ie dining room) chair, to the kitchen to prepare a meal or make a cup of tea. In this small way I endeavour to avoid the perils of sitting in one place for too long. To do the jigsaws, I have a new jigsaw mat (which zips up to store a jigsaw in progress and also has two half size boards inside to allow for sorting pieces or even doing a 500 piece one. A further benefit is that I can open it out and lean the top half on the opposite dining room chair at an angle of about 45 degrees so that I can perch the lid of the puzzle with the picture so that I can see what it is meant to look like.
I also try to do some walking every day and have bought a stepper to try to improve the circulation in my legs.
After yesterday's trip, it is a quiet day today. I was eating my breakfast while looking out of the window at the "two sisters" sitting on the patio. TBSITW was somewhat concerned that the mammouth one might get blown over as it was rather light, while the pig one that she gave me for my birthday is quite heavy. I was going to go out and water the plants, and also water the mammouth planter, but I hope the rain has soaked in and made it rather heavier.
There is a rose bush which has got top heavy and has fallen over almost to the ground. I think it might benefit from pruning quite well back (and picking some roses too!!!!)
The weather can't seem to make up its mind what to do - it is either rain or a watery sun.
I am reading Matter by Iain M. Banks; I enjoy all his books, whether they be the science fiction ones or the novels. This book is the latest in the "Culture" series. It has taken me a little while to get in to it, partly as I felt I needed to re-read all the previous Culture books first and then because I never seemed to have enough time to get to grips with it. However, after going back to the beginning and speed reading back to where I left off, I have caught up with it, and know that I shall not be able to put it down.
I also have 2 new jigsaws from TBSITW and am looking forward to getting on with them. If I am not out and about, I try to move from computer seat to the living room and my very comfortable chair for reading, to the jigsaw (ie dining room) chair, to the kitchen to prepare a meal or make a cup of tea. In this small way I endeavour to avoid the perils of sitting in one place for too long. To do the jigsaws, I have a new jigsaw mat (which zips up to store a jigsaw in progress and also has two half size boards inside to allow for sorting pieces or even doing a 500 piece one. A further benefit is that I can open it out and lean the top half on the opposite dining room chair at an angle of about 45 degrees so that I can perch the lid of the puzzle with the picture so that I can see what it is meant to look like.
I also try to do some walking every day and have bought a stepper to try to improve the circulation in my legs.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Planters' Punch
... well, not really.
TBSITW gave me as one of my birthday presents recently a straw "pig" planter which sits on my small patio. There is a particular resonance here as she was born in the Chinese Year of the Pig. I love him (or her, I can't make my mind up regarding the sex).
So today in the supermarket we saw several similar (although not of the same quality) animal planters. TBSITW suggested that the appropriate one for me would be the woolly mammoth.
For many years, my grandchildren have called me Grandma Mammouth because, every time I went to France I shopped there. While I lived in the South of England, this was very often, as it provided a change from Sainsburys.
So, on the patio are the Pig (her) and the Mammoth (me).
Wonderful!
TBSITW gave me as one of my birthday presents recently a straw "pig" planter which sits on my small patio. There is a particular resonance here as she was born in the Chinese Year of the Pig. I love him (or her, I can't make my mind up regarding the sex).
So today in the supermarket we saw several similar (although not of the same quality) animal planters. TBSITW suggested that the appropriate one for me would be the woolly mammoth.
For many years, my grandchildren have called me Grandma Mammouth because, every time I went to France I shopped there. While I lived in the South of England, this was very often, as it provided a change from Sainsburys.
So, on the patio are the Pig (her) and the Mammoth (me).
Wonderful!
A Shopping Opportunity
TBSITW came over at 1pm (after my cleaners had left) and drove me to shopping mall at outskirts of Big City. She drove my car (as she doesn't like being a passenger when I am driving - can't think why :-D)
First stop was to buy 2 bottles of Noilly Prat with the voucher sent by younger son and daughter in law. Of course we both picked up a few other things.
Then TBSITW loaded that lot into the car and we both headed towards Marks and Spencer, but we met the Ancient Mariner en route - she stoppeth one of two instead of three, but was very persuasive about the marvels of a wonderful nail buffer, not to mention various other related things. I have to say that we were both very impressed with the quality of the sheen, but felt that £25 was a bit steep. We said we would catch her on the way back, but we lied, and managed to avoid her.
In M&S she bought a couple of things and having had a brief look round we had a welcome cup of tea. I had a sticky pastry, but felt it was really a bit late for breakfast!
Coming home, the skies were just chucking it down and it looked as though it might even develop into a thunderstorm, with no sign of it abating. Now as I look out out of the window, the sun is shining.
First stop was to buy 2 bottles of Noilly Prat with the voucher sent by younger son and daughter in law. Of course we both picked up a few other things.
Then TBSITW loaded that lot into the car and we both headed towards Marks and Spencer, but we met the Ancient Mariner en route - she stoppeth one of two instead of three, but was very persuasive about the marvels of a wonderful nail buffer, not to mention various other related things. I have to say that we were both very impressed with the quality of the sheen, but felt that £25 was a bit steep. We said we would catch her on the way back, but we lied, and managed to avoid her.
In M&S she bought a couple of things and having had a brief look round we had a welcome cup of tea. I had a sticky pastry, but felt it was really a bit late for breakfast!
Coming home, the skies were just chucking it down and it looked as though it might even develop into a thunderstorm, with no sign of it abating. Now as I look out out of the window, the sun is shining.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Bridge plus The Prequel and The Sequel
Returning from my friend's house yesterday, I decided to suss out the whereabouts of the Community Centre where we were due to play bridge that evening, so I exited the motorway at the northernmost point to go into my town and headed all the way into the centre. At the big roundabout, where I was due to take the fourth exit, I was paying so much attention to which lane I should be in that I failed to spot a red light before the third exit and continued until jolted by the loud blaring of car horns.
Once I went into the road I wanted, what did I see but a police car in my rear view mirror, flashing his headlights at me. I was not surprised as I had spotted him a few cars behind me on the roundabout, and my error was somewhat obvious.
So I indicated, pulled over and wound my window down. The nice policeman said "Do you know what happened there?" and I replied that I had missed a red light. He then went on to advise me to take care as I wouldn't want to damage my nice new car.
Never mind damage me, which would have been far more important.
A lucky escape methinks.
The bridge was great fun. My partner and I had never played together before so there were one or two misunderstandings. I made mistakes but the only hands I remember (naturally) were the one where I bid a small slam (as later proved to be correct), but my partner failed to make it and the one where opponents doubled us into game and my partner did make the contract.
The sequel is that I am now having to catch up with my washings (is it really that soon again?)
Once I went into the road I wanted, what did I see but a police car in my rear view mirror, flashing his headlights at me. I was not surprised as I had spotted him a few cars behind me on the roundabout, and my error was somewhat obvious.
So I indicated, pulled over and wound my window down. The nice policeman said "Do you know what happened there?" and I replied that I had missed a red light. He then went on to advise me to take care as I wouldn't want to damage my nice new car.
Never mind damage me, which would have been far more important.
A lucky escape methinks.
The bridge was great fun. My partner and I had never played together before so there were one or two misunderstandings. I made mistakes but the only hands I remember (naturally) were the one where I bid a small slam (as later proved to be correct), but my partner failed to make it and the one where opponents doubled us into game and my partner did make the contract.
The sequel is that I am now having to catch up with my washings (is it really that soon again?)
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Friends and Bridge
Yesterday afternoion I got a telephone call from the Bridge Club Secretary, asking if I wanted to play tomorrow (Tuesday) evening; of course I was delighted, particularly when I found out it was someone I knew and liked. It is being held in a Community Hall as the Bridge Club building is closed this week.
Today I went to visit a friend of long standing, CW; we met when I went to work as a "temp" - this was after I "retired" - in the company where she was working. We have kept in touch ever since. Today she fed me the most enormous 3 course lunch and I am "stappit fu". On the way home I went to find the Community Hall and was also reassured to find plenty of car parking just next door.
Home now and sorted out the organic veg - potatoes, carrots, onions, a whole celery, broad beans, 2 courgettes (which have obviously benefitted from last week's rain), curly kale, broad beans.
No cooking this evening as I could not face another mouthful!
Today I went to visit a friend of long standing, CW; we met when I went to work as a "temp" - this was after I "retired" - in the company where she was working. We have kept in touch ever since. Today she fed me the most enormous 3 course lunch and I am "stappit fu". On the way home I went to find the Community Hall and was also reassured to find plenty of car parking just next door.
Home now and sorted out the organic veg - potatoes, carrots, onions, a whole celery, broad beans, 2 courgettes (which have obviously benefitted from last week's rain), curly kale, broad beans.
No cooking this evening as I could not face another mouthful!
Monday, 14 July 2008
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it...
...I have achieved an Internet connection again, although I had to talk nicely to it (next step is kicking the wretched thing.) and it connected on the 5th try.
This morning I decided that I had been enough of a slut that I could not wait till Thursday for my lovely cleaners, so I gave the kitchen surfaces a good clean and also the sink, bowl and draining board - even washing the poubelle de table (no, I am not THAT much of a slut, it had just got marked a bit and now it is shining.
After that I sat down and finished Engleby by Sebastien Faulks. I found it not an easy read at all. There was some resonance in my mind with The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, although probably only because both focused on people who looked at life from rather unusual viewpoints. Engleby is certainly different from the rest of Faulks' writings, and I am not sure I would look forward to another like this.
Anyway, having got that far, I decided to "hoover" the living room carpet as it was a bit messy from dropped crumbs. This is a marvellous machine: it has no dust bag, and has instead only what I would call a crumb tray; the "sweeper" end has brushes on all four sides, and it swivels through 360 degrees; it does not have a power cable either, just a battery charger and so it is really incredibly light.
Having done all that I came through and sat at the computer and realised that the bedroom carpet could do with a sweep (stuff from opening boxes and envelopes and so on (no biscuits!))
Tough luck. After I finished the living room, I had put the battery on to charge.......
The weather is not very enticing, so the jury is out as to whether I read another book (and, if so, which) or go back to my jigsaw.
Decisions, decisions.
This morning I decided that I had been enough of a slut that I could not wait till Thursday for my lovely cleaners, so I gave the kitchen surfaces a good clean and also the sink, bowl and draining board - even washing the poubelle de table (no, I am not THAT much of a slut, it had just got marked a bit and now it is shining.
After that I sat down and finished Engleby by Sebastien Faulks. I found it not an easy read at all. There was some resonance in my mind with The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, although probably only because both focused on people who looked at life from rather unusual viewpoints. Engleby is certainly different from the rest of Faulks' writings, and I am not sure I would look forward to another like this.
Anyway, having got that far, I decided to "hoover" the living room carpet as it was a bit messy from dropped crumbs. This is a marvellous machine: it has no dust bag, and has instead only what I would call a crumb tray; the "sweeper" end has brushes on all four sides, and it swivels through 360 degrees; it does not have a power cable either, just a battery charger and so it is really incredibly light.
Having done all that I came through and sat at the computer and realised that the bedroom carpet could do with a sweep (stuff from opening boxes and envelopes and so on (no biscuits!))
Tough luck. After I finished the living room, I had put the battery on to charge.......
The weather is not very enticing, so the jury is out as to whether I read another book (and, if so, which) or go back to my jigsaw.
Decisions, decisions.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Aaargh!
Just in case, I have been having a few problems accessing the Internet over the past few days. I think I know what the problem is, but am reluctant to grovel round on the floor to sort it out. The external modem has to be connected to the PC (obviously) and to the telephone socket via a splitter (also obviously, however those wonderful people at T***co haven't worked out that your computer might not be absolutely against the telephone socket.
My desk is, but the PC is below the right hand side of the desk.
Not exactly a million miles, is it?
However the two cables necessary to complete the connection are rather short, so I suspect that the modem now has rather a loose connection, and probably at the USB port.
As long as I can continue to work this is OK, but I may well be "missing in action" at some point.
When I log on I keep getting a message that the PC could not get a dialling tone.
Moving swiftly on, it has been a lovely day, bringing with it a very pleasant walk to Church.
Our minister has been preaching a series of sermons about the letters sent by Paul to the different Christian communities of the early Church. Today it was to the people of Ephesus; this city is now completely in ruins, but is a fascinating archaeological site. I had no idea that the Temple of Ephesus was one of the Wonders of the World, due to its size, which dwarfed mere humans, and its splendour, particularly for its statue to the Goddess Artemis, or Diana.
At the end of my last post, I had meant to mention that I had made 413 posts since I started! This is now the 414th!
My desk is, but the PC is below the right hand side of the desk.
Not exactly a million miles, is it?
However the two cables necessary to complete the connection are rather short, so I suspect that the modem now has rather a loose connection, and probably at the USB port.
As long as I can continue to work this is OK, but I may well be "missing in action" at some point.
When I log on I keep getting a message that the PC could not get a dialling tone.
Moving swiftly on, it has been a lovely day, bringing with it a very pleasant walk to Church.
Our minister has been preaching a series of sermons about the letters sent by Paul to the different Christian communities of the early Church. Today it was to the people of Ephesus; this city is now completely in ruins, but is a fascinating archaeological site. I had no idea that the Temple of Ephesus was one of the Wonders of the World, due to its size, which dwarfed mere humans, and its splendour, particularly for its statue to the Goddess Artemis, or Diana.
At the end of my last post, I had meant to mention that I had made 413 posts since I started! This is now the 414th!
Happy Blogiversary to me!
In the beginning, I read Blood Sweat and Tea by Tom Reynolds, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The book gave his blog address, so I started reading his blogs.
Then I followed links to read other (mostly medical of some sort) blogs.
After a while I felt that I was lurking in the undergrowth, and that if I were reading blogs, I should start one myself.
So I did.
On 13 July, 2007
At first I was certain that nobody would be interested in my ramblings.
Then I found that elder son read it every day and was concerned if a day passed without a post. He would then telephone to ensure that all was well.
This was a good way for my family to check up on the aged relative.
Gradually more of my family read the blog and that was very useful for the same reason..
However, I was convinced that nobody outside my family would be in the least bit interested, but since then I have found comments from quite a wide audience, not just in the UK but abroad too, which means that other people read my blog and you feel that you are touching other people in terms of a kind of friendship.
I know that my blog is no great work of literature, but it is maintained only as a personal journal about my daily life and thoughts.
I have titled the blog “Old Age Is A Bitch”, which was prompted by some of my health problems. Currently I feel I am living on borrowed time and have been for quite some time (hope the interest rates aren't too high!) Not to be gloomy, as I still feel well in myself and get around as much as I can and pursue my interests - bridge, wine, cooking, wine, bridge, wine, and, of course the famous Noilly Prat.
My sister (the best sister in the world) took me for a weekend to a health spa for my 60th birthday, and we had a great time until the day we were due to leave, which was the day of my birthday. She came to my room to post my birthday cards under the door, and I was just able to attract her attention and tell her that I was really ill. To cut to the chase an ambulance took me to a near by hospital, and before the day was out I was on a ventilator (diagnosis pneumonia) and remained on it for 10 days. I am now a proud member of the Tracheostomy Survivors Club
At that time I gave up smoking (apart from a short relapse near the beginning).
Since then, I have never seen the pale horse, but did feel the brush of death’s cloak passing by on several occasions. Funnily enough my family were keen for me to move to a more secure environment than the block of flats I lived in then, and also to move to a place closer to them – at least that would reduce the distance they would have to travel every time I was admitted to hospital.
At my last address that meant 11 admissions in two and a half years.
Here I have had only one admission in three years, and that almost three years ago.
I am working on the principle that having a positive attitude helps, so I keep positive (nearly) all of the time.
The thing that amazes me is that I still find new things to say (or new ways of saying the same old thing!) I never thought that this blog would last a week, never mind a year.
I particularly enjoy getting comments and following the links to still more blogs. I know that I read more blogs than I leave comments on, so imagine I have more readers than I know of. Recently I updated and reorganised the list of blogs that I read, most of them on a daily basis (all right, I know I should get a life!)
I reckon the whole thing is rather like Topsy, it “just growed”
Happy Blogiversary to me!
And thank you to my 3 readers for keeping up with it.
The book gave his blog address, so I started reading his blogs.
Then I followed links to read other (mostly medical of some sort) blogs.
After a while I felt that I was lurking in the undergrowth, and that if I were reading blogs, I should start one myself.
So I did.
On 13 July, 2007
At first I was certain that nobody would be interested in my ramblings.
Then I found that elder son read it every day and was concerned if a day passed without a post. He would then telephone to ensure that all was well.
This was a good way for my family to check up on the aged relative.
Gradually more of my family read the blog and that was very useful for the same reason..
However, I was convinced that nobody outside my family would be in the least bit interested, but since then I have found comments from quite a wide audience, not just in the UK but abroad too, which means that other people read my blog and you feel that you are touching other people in terms of a kind of friendship.
I know that my blog is no great work of literature, but it is maintained only as a personal journal about my daily life and thoughts.
I have titled the blog “Old Age Is A Bitch”, which was prompted by some of my health problems. Currently I feel I am living on borrowed time and have been for quite some time (hope the interest rates aren't too high!) Not to be gloomy, as I still feel well in myself and get around as much as I can and pursue my interests - bridge, wine, cooking, wine, bridge, wine, and, of course the famous Noilly Prat.
My sister (the best sister in the world) took me for a weekend to a health spa for my 60th birthday, and we had a great time until the day we were due to leave, which was the day of my birthday. She came to my room to post my birthday cards under the door, and I was just able to attract her attention and tell her that I was really ill. To cut to the chase an ambulance took me to a near by hospital, and before the day was out I was on a ventilator (diagnosis pneumonia) and remained on it for 10 days. I am now a proud member of the Tracheostomy Survivors Club
At that time I gave up smoking (apart from a short relapse near the beginning).
Since then, I have never seen the pale horse, but did feel the brush of death’s cloak passing by on several occasions. Funnily enough my family were keen for me to move to a more secure environment than the block of flats I lived in then, and also to move to a place closer to them – at least that would reduce the distance they would have to travel every time I was admitted to hospital.
At my last address that meant 11 admissions in two and a half years.
Here I have had only one admission in three years, and that almost three years ago.
I am working on the principle that having a positive attitude helps, so I keep positive (nearly) all of the time.
The thing that amazes me is that I still find new things to say (or new ways of saying the same old thing!) I never thought that this blog would last a week, never mind a year.
I particularly enjoy getting comments and following the links to still more blogs. I know that I read more blogs than I leave comments on, so imagine I have more readers than I know of. Recently I updated and reorganised the list of blogs that I read, most of them on a daily basis (all right, I know I should get a life!)
I reckon the whole thing is rather like Topsy, it “just growed”
Happy Blogiversary to me!
And thank you to my 3 readers for keeping up with it.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Farmers' Market again.
I got back rather late yesterday evening from the bridge class, and so slept in a bit this morning. I was just about to step into the shower when the telephone rang and it was TBSITW calling to remind me that the Farmers' Market was on again today and did I want to go?
Of course I did so I managed to get showered, hair done, teeth cleaned, bed made and dressed in very short order and she arrived to take me there. We did a quick stop at the bank first as I had less than £10. Of course, I did not have my cash card with me, so she withdrew some from her account and I transferred funds to her on our return. Because we both bank at the same bank, the transfer is instantaneous.
So what did I buy?
2 double loin chops, some local organic free range eggs, a shin of beef *** two packs of chopped bacon, which I shall fry and use in potato salad, some lambs liver, 2 lemon sole, some carrots and a cauliflower, not to forget a pack of four cheese scones, which we agreed to share.
*** I am going to make a Tinker's Casserole, which was in my recipe blog, but which Sage changed to use shin of beef and I thought it was an excellent idea.
The lemon sole were "whales", so I cooked one this evening and shall do another recipe tomorrow.
Of course I did so I managed to get showered, hair done, teeth cleaned, bed made and dressed in very short order and she arrived to take me there. We did a quick stop at the bank first as I had less than £10. Of course, I did not have my cash card with me, so she withdrew some from her account and I transferred funds to her on our return. Because we both bank at the same bank, the transfer is instantaneous.
So what did I buy?
2 double loin chops, some local organic free range eggs, a shin of beef *** two packs of chopped bacon, which I shall fry and use in potato salad, some lambs liver, 2 lemon sole, some carrots and a cauliflower, not to forget a pack of four cheese scones, which we agreed to share.
*** I am going to make a Tinker's Casserole, which was in my recipe blog, but which Sage changed to use shin of beef and I thought it was an excellent idea.
The lemon sole were "whales", so I cooked one this evening and shall do another recipe tomorrow.
Friday, 11 July 2008
Muchos Gracias
Three things to report:
Firstly, I have managed to figure out the manual for the clock, and am trying to see if the alarm will waken me so that I would need only one alarm clock on the go at a time. The only thing that I still haven't sussed is how to keep the time projection on all the time (I know it is a feature, but haven't managed it yet.) Without that, I have to reach over and press the snooze button, so no big deal!.
Secondly, I had a telephone call from nephew to say that his wife and the baby are both home and doing well. I also had an email with photos attached of baby, mother and baby, father and baby, sister and baby (looking so proud) and one of baby with a HUGE yawn.
Awww, cute.
Thirdly, TBSITW brought me a bag of baby beetroot from her garden. Some were like the usual beetroot, but some were white - I have never heard of this before. Anyway, I made a salad for this evening's meal as I am going to the bridge club later, and both the types of beetroot were delicious.
Firstly, I have managed to figure out the manual for the clock, and am trying to see if the alarm will waken me so that I would need only one alarm clock on the go at a time. The only thing that I still haven't sussed is how to keep the time projection on all the time (I know it is a feature, but haven't managed it yet.) Without that, I have to reach over and press the snooze button, so no big deal!.
Secondly, I had a telephone call from nephew to say that his wife and the baby are both home and doing well. I also had an email with photos attached of baby, mother and baby, father and baby, sister and baby (looking so proud) and one of baby with a HUGE yawn.
Awww, cute.
Thirdly, TBSITW brought me a bag of baby beetroot from her garden. Some were like the usual beetroot, but some were white - I have never heard of this before. Anyway, I made a salad for this evening's meal as I am going to the bridge club later, and both the types of beetroot were delicious.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Breaking News....
.... I heard this morning that I am become a Grauntie (Great Auntie) again.
This time, my nephew and his wife have given birth to a baby boy, making the family now 1 girl and 1 boy.
I am absolutely delighted!
This time, my nephew and his wife have given birth to a baby boy, making the family now 1 girl and 1 boy.
I am absolutely delighted!
WOW!
When the door entry bell went off in my flat about an hour ago and it was the postman, I let him in, but could not think what he might be bringing as I had no memory that I had ordered anything.
It was my new clock from elder son.
Already!
I think I might need help with the manual, I am trying to follow our family watchword "RTFM", but suspect I shall need help, along the lines of someone reading a bit and someone else doing that bit and so on. I suspect my memory is not as retentive as it once was.
However, I have at least made out that it is a radio controlled clock, which is marvellous. On top of that, it gives the day/date and the temperature. The wonders of modern technology.
Many, many thanks to elder son.
It was my new clock from elder son.
Already!
I think I might need help with the manual, I am trying to follow our family watchword "RTFM", but suspect I shall need help, along the lines of someone reading a bit and someone else doing that bit and so on. I suspect my memory is not as retentive as it once was.
However, I have at least made out that it is a radio controlled clock, which is marvellous. On top of that, it gives the day/date and the temperature. The wonders of modern technology.
Many, many thanks to elder son.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Clocks
Well, so, my biological clock ran out of steam many years ago.
My internal clock is currently all out of synch. This has something to do with getting up late on Monday evening and getting showered, doing my hair and getting dressed.
Then sitting down and opening the curtains behind my computer to find it was rather late in the evening and not morning.
I survived yesterday, but today I am no better at all.
Is this a further sign of advancing years, or just the equivalent of jet lag?
There seems to be some approval of a second clock which shows 24 hour times, and there was some mention of a grandfather.....
Or, of course, I preferred the notion of a toy boy. Mind, I think you have to be seriously rich to attract one at my age.
Elder son just phoned and said he was giving me a clock that projects the time (24 hour format) on the ceiling, as a belated birthday present
My internal clock is currently all out of synch. This has something to do with getting up late on Monday evening and getting showered, doing my hair and getting dressed.
Then sitting down and opening the curtains behind my computer to find it was rather late in the evening and not morning.
I survived yesterday, but today I am no better at all.
Is this a further sign of advancing years, or just the equivalent of jet lag?
There seems to be some approval of a second clock which shows 24 hour times, and there was some mention of a grandfather.....
Or, of course, I preferred the notion of a toy boy. Mind, I think you have to be seriously rich to attract one at my age.
Elder son just phoned and said he was giving me a clock that projects the time (24 hour format) on the ceiling, as a belated birthday present
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Survival of (not) the Fittest
This morning I felt as though I had been run over by a road roller (okay, I used to know them as steam rollers in the dim and distant past). My mother always told me that the first word I said was "steamoally", so I am having my comeuppance. I did manage to go to class this morning and on to the hairdresser - where the most important piece of shopping was a bottle or two of Noilly Prat; it cannot be obtained in this town.
I did feel better getting my hair washed and my scalp massaged (not to mention the slight application of colour)
So here I am back home and I have had a lovely roll opened, buttered and liberally covered with two of the special cheeses I bought when visiting elder son, I also had some quince jelly with it.
Yummy.
My head still feels full of cotton wool, and I am glad this is not a bridge day; in fact the challenge is going to be to stay up until near enough to a civilised bedtime!
I did feel better getting my hair washed and my scalp massaged (not to mention the slight application of colour)
So here I am back home and I have had a lovely roll opened, buttered and liberally covered with two of the special cheeses I bought when visiting elder son, I also had some quince jelly with it.
Yummy.
My head still feels full of cotton wool, and I am glad this is not a bridge day; in fact the challenge is going to be to stay up until near enough to a civilised bedtime!
Alarums and Excursions
TBSITW left a comment on my last post and I felt the reply just about warranted a further post.
Yes, I did get back to sleep again, but it was still rather a short night.
I think part of the problem is that my last (and excellent, radio-controlled) alarm clock showed the 24 hour clock. Trouble is, I reached the stage where I couldn't hear the alarm and had to give it away.
This one is VERY, VERY loud (great), but I still sometimes don't realise whether it is morning or evening when I wake up, especially if I wake up suddenly. This is not helped by the fact that my bedroom window overlooks the (private) car park and this is lit at night, so that the light coming through the curtains is much the same in daylight or not.
Yes, I did get back to sleep again, but it was still rather a short night.
I think part of the problem is that my last (and excellent, radio-controlled) alarm clock showed the 24 hour clock. Trouble is, I reached the stage where I couldn't hear the alarm and had to give it away.
This one is VERY, VERY loud (great), but I still sometimes don't realise whether it is morning or evening when I wake up, especially if I wake up suddenly. This is not helped by the fact that my bedroom window overlooks the (private) car park and this is lit at night, so that the light coming through the curtains is much the same in daylight or not.
Monday, 7 July 2008
It's an Age Thing....
Last night, after I had gone to bed, I realised I had not set the alarm for this morning (I know, but bear with me), so I checked the alarm time and changed it to 8.15am, as I needed to be up in time for my physiotherapy class, after which I was due to go to the hairdresser.
Imagine my horror when I discovered I had slept in till 10.40. I leaped to my feet, knowing that there was no chance of making the class, and that I would have to hurry to make the hairdresser's appointment.
So, I had a shower, and got dressed very quickly.
Then I opened my bedroom curtains.
And wondered about the twilight.
Ah, you're ahead of me here.
It is 23.06.
I need to wait for my hair to dry, but meanwhile I shall set the alarm correctly.
And go back to bed.
"..to sleep, perchance to dream..."
Imagine my horror when I discovered I had slept in till 10.40. I leaped to my feet, knowing that there was no chance of making the class, and that I would have to hurry to make the hairdresser's appointment.
So, I had a shower, and got dressed very quickly.
Then I opened my bedroom curtains.
And wondered about the twilight.
Ah, you're ahead of me here.
It is 23.06.
I need to wait for my hair to dry, but meanwhile I shall set the alarm correctly.
And go back to bed.
"..to sleep, perchance to dream..."
Bridge and Cooking
Today I went to the Bridge Club again, and thoroughly enjoyed the bidding and play, with a new partner, my usual one being on holiday.
When I came back I had a cup of tea and a slice of Swiss roll. I then went on to make a new chicken recipe.
I have a very good tin opener which involves placing the head against the edge of the tin, then squeezing he arms together, and then rotating the head to open the can. Unfortunately, on this occasion, I caught a bit of my palm between the two handles, causing rather a nice blood blister.
I am now trying out my arnica sample.
The meal was scrummy after all that!
When I came back I had a cup of tea and a slice of Swiss roll. I then went on to make a new chicken recipe.
I have a very good tin opener which involves placing the head against the edge of the tin, then squeezing he arms together, and then rotating the head to open the can. Unfortunately, on this occasion, I caught a bit of my palm between the two handles, causing rather a nice blood blister.
I am now trying out my arnica sample.
The meal was scrummy after all that!
Sunday, 6 July 2008
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Yesterday TBSITW took me for a run in the country , to Moffat eventually, but using a number of roads I had never been on or had not been on for many a year.
We went first to the street where she lived before moving to her present house.
It would break your heart.
TBSITW has always taken pleasure and a pride in her garden (as in her house), and had put a lot of work into making the front and rear gardens beautiful, with some landscaping and much planting.
We didn’t see the back garden obviously, which was probably just as well, but the front garden is completely overgrown. With plants left to grow wild, the cherry tree untrimmed and left to darken the front of the house.
And the WEEDS!
What can I say? I still have the mental picture and it grieves me sorely. TBSITW must feel it even more so.
However on the way there we went along a road parallel to the main road, which always used to be a “rat run”. The Local Authority has certainly put a stop to that. We reached 30 speed bumps (and counting) – perhaps a little excessive, but it must certainly have worked.
Continuing on, we took a road that I haven’t been on in years, and decided that, as both of us had wanted to visit New Lanark, and neither had done so, we would take a look. We didn’t go in, but reckoned it was worth a visit, but would be better as a day trip. At this point both dogs were taken for a walk (in what was the heaviest rain of the day) and one decided it was a good idea to have a swim! Oh well, they were wet already.
On we went to Moffat where we stopped for fish and chips (very good), started off towards home and then did a quick u-turn when we spotted a shop with home made ice cream. TBSITW went in and bought each of us a cone of plain ice cream. Delicious.
We wended our way homeward, passing the Devil’s Beef Tub, which looks just as forbidding as ever….
… and so on to my home. TBSITW was somewhat tired and didn’t come in for a cup of tea, but went straight home, dealt with the dogs and wrapped herself round a well-earned whisky.
A great day, even though it rained most of the time the cloud cover was quite high and we had good visibility for the views.
We went first to the street where she lived before moving to her present house.
It would break your heart.
TBSITW has always taken pleasure and a pride in her garden (as in her house), and had put a lot of work into making the front and rear gardens beautiful, with some landscaping and much planting.
We didn’t see the back garden obviously, which was probably just as well, but the front garden is completely overgrown. With plants left to grow wild, the cherry tree untrimmed and left to darken the front of the house.
And the WEEDS!
What can I say? I still have the mental picture and it grieves me sorely. TBSITW must feel it even more so.
However on the way there we went along a road parallel to the main road, which always used to be a “rat run”. The Local Authority has certainly put a stop to that. We reached 30 speed bumps (and counting) – perhaps a little excessive, but it must certainly have worked.
Continuing on, we took a road that I haven’t been on in years, and decided that, as both of us had wanted to visit New Lanark, and neither had done so, we would take a look. We didn’t go in, but reckoned it was worth a visit, but would be better as a day trip. At this point both dogs were taken for a walk (in what was the heaviest rain of the day) and one decided it was a good idea to have a swim! Oh well, they were wet already.
On we went to Moffat where we stopped for fish and chips (very good), started off towards home and then did a quick u-turn when we spotted a shop with home made ice cream. TBSITW went in and bought each of us a cone of plain ice cream. Delicious.
We wended our way homeward, passing the Devil’s Beef Tub, which looks just as forbidding as ever….
… and so on to my home. TBSITW was somewhat tired and didn’t come in for a cup of tea, but went straight home, dealt with the dogs and wrapped herself round a well-earned whisky.
A great day, even though it rained most of the time the cloud cover was quite high and we had good visibility for the views.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
The Longest Day
Oh yes it was.
Yesterday, brother came for a cup of tea and some biccies. Thanks to the farm shop I was able to offer a change from the usual. It is always good to see him and to catch up with family events. We await with bated breath the arrival of another grandchild for him (already past due dates. Don't babies always take you by surprise?)
Then in the evening it was off to the bridge class where partner is discovering that her bidding is not always correct (although she keeps blaming me). I did not get pulled up for anything (she says smugly.) By the end of the evening I was really starting to tire as it was long past my bedtime!
However I slept very well and now feel on top of the world.
Yesterday, brother came for a cup of tea and some biccies. Thanks to the farm shop I was able to offer a change from the usual. It is always good to see him and to catch up with family events. We await with bated breath the arrival of another grandchild for him (already past due dates. Don't babies always take you by surprise?)
Then in the evening it was off to the bridge class where partner is discovering that her bidding is not always correct (although she keeps blaming me). I did not get pulled up for anything (she says smugly.) By the end of the evening I was really starting to tire as it was long past my bedtime!
However I slept very well and now feel on top of the world.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Independence Day
The Fourth of July!
Happy Independence Day to all my American readers.
This day is in commemoration of the day we Brits got rid of our American colonialists.
(Oops, sorry, they got rid of us.)
I would love to hear any tales of extra special celebrations. Is this a turkey day?
Anyway, have a lovely day. Isn't it good when it falls on a Friday, so you have the whole weekend to recover from any excesses.
Happy Independence Day to all my American readers.
This day is in commemoration of the day we Brits got rid of our American colonialists.
(Oops, sorry, they got rid of us.)
I would love to hear any tales of extra special celebrations. Is this a turkey day?
Anyway, have a lovely day. Isn't it good when it falls on a Friday, so you have the whole weekend to recover from any excesses.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
That Mince Again
It is, of course, lamb mince and that is always rather fatty. I left it to chill overnight and have now scraped off most of the fat. I have added a tin of Baked Beans (second childhood) and, once I have eaten some, I shall put the rest in a bowl to chill thoroughly before removing the rest of the fat. After that, I divide it up into portions and put it in the freezer.
Last night I was greedy (again? - Ed) and had 2 mini strawberry pavlovas. They are hardly worth a post, but I have described how I did it and also added a recipe for Bombe Surprise to my recipe blog. If you remember Diamonds are Forever, the villains gave themselves away by offering a Claret (emphasis on the second syllable) and 007 said "A Claret? With fish?" and immediately grabs the Bombe, pulls one villain's hands down between his legs, attaches the Bombe - which is, of course a bomb and tosses him overboard. He is then followed by the other villain. There then ensues a most satisfying blast!
Today I finally caught up with a very good friend (CW) as I would get her answering machine, then she would get mine. Sadly she does not have anything to do with the Internet - not even email.
I am going to see her for lunch on the 15th after my physiotherapy class. Great!
Last night I was greedy (again? - Ed) and had 2 mini strawberry pavlovas. They are hardly worth a post, but I have described how I did it and also added a recipe for Bombe Surprise to my recipe blog. If you remember Diamonds are Forever, the villains gave themselves away by offering a Claret (emphasis on the second syllable) and 007 said "A Claret? With fish?" and immediately grabs the Bombe, pulls one villain's hands down between his legs, attaches the Bombe - which is, of course a bomb and tosses him overboard. He is then followed by the other villain. There then ensues a most satisfying blast!
Today I finally caught up with a very good friend (CW) as I would get her answering machine, then she would get mine. Sadly she does not have anything to do with the Internet - not even email.
I am going to see her for lunch on the 15th after my physiotherapy class. Great!
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
A Quiet Day.....
..... after all the excitement of yesterday, catching up with blogs, washings, and my 2 readers know how much I love that latter job ;-(
I am in the process of cooking my lamb mince and have prepared the onions and mushrooms. The potatoes, carrots and kohl rabi are in the sink awaiting my input with a peeler and a knife. I have discovered that it makes sense for me to prepare 2 days' worth of veg and keep half under water in a jug in the fridge (Laziness is the mother of invention).
I forgot to mention yesterday that I received a most delightful and unexpected extra birthday gift - a tail feather from the neighbourhood peacock, so that I now have two. I spotted him at the weekend walking purposefully across my little patch of grass towards my herb and flower pots. I bet he was looking for my, now non-existent, parsley and a tail feather must have got caught, probably in one of the lavender plants - I have two, bought last year at a bargain price of two for £5 and they are really growing apace.
I am in the process of cooking my lamb mince and have prepared the onions and mushrooms. The potatoes, carrots and kohl rabi are in the sink awaiting my input with a peeler and a knife. I have discovered that it makes sense for me to prepare 2 days' worth of veg and keep half under water in a jug in the fridge (Laziness is the mother of invention).
I forgot to mention yesterday that I received a most delightful and unexpected extra birthday gift - a tail feather from the neighbourhood peacock, so that I now have two. I spotted him at the weekend walking purposefully across my little patch of grass towards my herb and flower pots. I bet he was looking for my, now non-existent, parsley and a tail feather must have got caught, probably in one of the lavender plants - I have two, bought last year at a bargain price of two for £5 and they are really growing apace.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Happy Birthday to Me
The latest vegetable box contained potatoes and onions plus some lovely new carrots, two kohl rabi, a handful of courgettes, a bag of broad beans and a bag of broccoli. The fruit was 2 apples, 2 oranges, 2 kiwi fruit and a banana. Once again the delivery arrived after I had left for my physiotherapy class, however our wonderful House Manager took the bags in and gave the driver the 3 weeks' worth of empty bags and 3 weeks' worth of cheques.
Today I am another year older, which must be worth some sort of congratulations. I have had a lovely day, with a smashing present from TBSITW - a raffia pig filled with flowers. You might see the point of this if I tell you that she was born in the Chinese Year of the Pig. Le Chef gave me a mug from Culross Abbey to remind me of the wonderful choir there recently.
I should say that I had asked for photographs of everyone to expand my "rogues gallery", and elder son gave me a rather good photo frame which can hold 7 small photos.
TBSITW arrived just before 12, closely followed by the chiropodist (too much information) and then we went to a super farm shop between her home and daughter's home. We had a grand lunch and daughter gave me a lovely necklace of the kind that you put over your head, then double it round and put it over your head again. It was very thoughtful as she knows the difficulty I have with my hands. Her two sons gave me a photo frame (with the requested photo to follow at some point.)
The farm shop was good and I am glad to know how to get there. I didn't spend too much money as I had been shopping at the end of my week away.
After that we went to Sainsbury's - this may sound like nothing, but we have no access to any supermarket apart from A*** and T**** so I bought a few more things.
Now why did I forget kitchen roll?
An easy meal tonight after such a great day and tomorrow I have to start on a washing and a cook-in of lovely mince.
Today I am another year older, which must be worth some sort of congratulations. I have had a lovely day, with a smashing present from TBSITW - a raffia pig filled with flowers. You might see the point of this if I tell you that she was born in the Chinese Year of the Pig. Le Chef gave me a mug from Culross Abbey to remind me of the wonderful choir there recently.
I should say that I had asked for photographs of everyone to expand my "rogues gallery", and elder son gave me a rather good photo frame which can hold 7 small photos.
TBSITW arrived just before 12, closely followed by the chiropodist (too much information) and then we went to a super farm shop between her home and daughter's home. We had a grand lunch and daughter gave me a lovely necklace of the kind that you put over your head, then double it round and put it over your head again. It was very thoughtful as she knows the difficulty I have with my hands. Her two sons gave me a photo frame (with the requested photo to follow at some point.)
The farm shop was good and I am glad to know how to get there. I didn't spend too much money as I had been shopping at the end of my week away.
After that we went to Sainsbury's - this may sound like nothing, but we have no access to any supermarket apart from A*** and T**** so I bought a few more things.
Now why did I forget kitchen roll?
An easy meal tonight after such a great day and tomorrow I have to start on a washing and a cook-in of lovely mince.
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