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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteAutumnleaves - June 1, 2020 at 9:01 AM
Thanks Seasider..I really don't know most of your choices except Winnie and I do think I remember Alan Bennett being on Jackanory many many years ago reading the Pooh stories.
Love fish Seasider so smoked salmon and bream are given a thumbs up👍👍👍
stasia - June 1, 2020 at 9:57 AM
Seasider. Books.
I have never read any Winnie the Pooh. When I was very little it books on Rupert the Bear.
I have always found Wuthering Heights fascinating and when I first read it aged 11 It scared me witless.
My sister did Hardy for A Level so we had to read him with her.
Like some others here I have never heard of Meadowland.
S Heaney. Another product of the Land of Saints and Scholars. He reminded us that we “as humans are the hunters and gathers of values, that our solitudes and distresses, are creditable, insofar, as they, too are an earnest of our veritable human being” So apt for the world we live in today.
I’ll give the sea bream a miss, but would happily eat everything else. With lots of wine.
These film and book choices are very interesting! Something new to add to a semi-lockdown day! Actually this morning I ventured into town for the first time to go a Latin-American-Asian shop that sells Marmite and Quaker oats and PG Tips .....and okra and avocados and sometimes granadillas and mangos. Few people around, mostly with masks. I felt rather forlorn.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I enjoyed rewatching Sense and Sensibilty - the only film I have been able to find. It is on Netflix. I have a dvd and also a vhs cassette of Amedeus which is on my list too!
And I have found Winnie The Pooh as an audiobook available on youtube. I have The House at Pooh Corner but not Winnie so I am looking forward to that although I too remember Rupert Bear annuals from my childhood. When I was more grown up I graduated to Princess Annuals!!
I always found Rupert the Bear and all of his chums really creepy! (And still do...)
DeleteWith you there, Gary!
DeleteI didn't!
DeleteApparently he's 100 in November.
Mum used to read the stories to us at bedtime - always the rhyming couplets, never the longer prose!
Once OMiaS wanted to buy some checked trousers. My comment? 'Well, if you want to look like Rupert the Bear'. He's never forgiven me. But at least the trews stayed in the shop : )
And I bought Wildwood too ten years ago and loved it. I also like Thomas Hardy.
ReplyDeleteStasia, thanks for the Heaney quote. The book l mention is an anthology of other poets but I am a great fan of his poetry.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about youtube is that you look for one thing and then lots more interesting things appear! I found Seamus Heaney reading his "Beowulf" - mesmerizing.
DeleteGG Yet another wonderful heading. It is so creative and spot on.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about Winnie the Pooh - is playing pooh sticks, with the youngsters. I think that I enjoy it more - just a big kid at heart.
Sadly, due to that fence fire, many of my plants have been damaged and have shrivelled. This means a lot of missing flowers, so no pollinators will be visiting my garden, this year. I will miss seeing a small tree, totally covered in bees, getting the nectar from the flowers. It is now brown, but still alive..so will survive 🤞
ReplyDeletePS I still have no fence at the bottom of my garden, but I am being patient...I am not paying and it isn't a major problem, for me.
Three magpies are now destroying the sparrow nest, which is in a neighbours hedge. It is not nice to see, but it is nature...
ReplyDeleteMy eldest niece is not allowowing her kids to go back to school, until September. She works in a local council (as I have said before) and has been very involved with the coronavirus, from the beginning. She is responsible for registrars, coroners, mortuaries, libraries, social housing etc. so is very involved. Her attitude is - it is far too soon - and so she is keeping the kids home.
ReplyDeleteShe knows so much (which I can't tell) and is very involved with how things are progressing, both now and in the future.
It is difficult what to believe + understand, but I think that this is far from over, so I will stay cautious.
Caution...... along with an awful lot of other people Miriam.
ReplyDeleteBUT Let's leave it at that as further comments may be construed as political.
I've had a pretty productive day so far despite not getting out of bed until almost 12.30.
ReplyDeleteI've agreed to support a young local woman in a coercive and controlling marriage and contacted local council to get an appointment with housing department.
Wrote and posted S in Laws B'day card.
Organised my shopping by a 'helper'.
Walked dog and had two lengthy ( socially distanced) conversations on the way.
Went to my 90 yr old and sorted five different elements of her care as well as exercising her.
Then walked the dog in a new to us area for nearly two hours. Different views.
Home and eaten supper, but yet to listen to TA.
Amused by the posts on the other thread, hence my contribution here.
I'm off to meet a friend in Bibury tomorrow approximately halfway between each of our homes.
Dare I try to make a quiche this evening ? I've been thinking about it for days.
Cooking frightens me now, although I was considered a good cook once.
We have spent the evening in our next door neighbours garden having a lovely barbecue. Just the four of us, keeping 2 m apart at all times, using our own crockery etc.
ReplyDeleteThey did the main course, all the barbecued stuff - I did my sugar-free lemon cheesecake and it was wonderful to spend an evening chatting, being convivial and watching the sun go down - and it was all perfectly legal!
It almost felt like old times and was a great psychological boost for us all.
Nice to find another Jude fan, Seasider.
ReplyDelete'Done because we are too menny'
My O level English lit included a long essay on Jude and Tess and then The Mayor of Casterbridge for the exam. I wanted to go on to another of his but my teacher suggested it was time to visit another author. I also did Under Milkwood. Can't recall my third exam book, I think it might have been Macbeth.
If anyone wants to renew/increase their knowledge of great literature, I heartily recommend 'How to Become Ridiculaously Well-Read in One Evening'. A host of pithy, witty summaries of the classics, including an Agony Aunt's advice to our friend Jude. I seem to recall W the P also makes an entrance.
ReplyDeleteFor a similarly brilliant summary of all of history, nothing beats '1066 and All That'.
I discovered that last in the school library aeons ago ( alerted by a friend whose dad knew one of the authors) The set up there was total hush, silent study, & I was completely convulsed. Had to leave the hallowed place, we stuck to the rules then, more or less....A wonderfully hilarious & clever read. Bet historians sniff at some of the assumptions now, despite the humour.
DeleteI read 1066 and all that in school as it was recommended by a teacher. I still have my old and very battered copy. Perhaps it's time to get a new one.
ReplyDeleteWell that's 3 books ordered from Ebay now! Meadowland and the above two. I am treating myself! I don't know about anyone else but I have found I have been saving a lot of money during lockdown because of not using the car and not having to pay for petrol.
ReplyDeleteLike several others, 1st read W Heights in teenage years, totally gripped. W the Pooh is one of several classic children's books that are still my companions, love the Alan Bennett audio book. Haven't read Meadowland, but have read & really enjoyed The Running Hare that follows on, also The Old Ways by Robert MacFarlane (still have Alfred Watkins' The Old Straight Track from yonks ago...) Seamus Heaney 's Beowulf is on the shelf, tried but can't get on with Hardy, apart from the poems.
ReplyDeleteVoilà pour moi !
Talking of Alan Bennett, I have all his Talking Heads and they are so good. The Thora Hird one 'Waiting for the Telegram' still moves me to tears.
DeleteBream & /or duck for me!
ReplyDeleteMy new fence is in the process of being installed. It is not what I would have chosen, but then it is free.
ReplyDeleteIt is looking good and so much better, already.
I had a chat with the workers this morning, in a very friendly way, but with some concerns, and it worked. They have consulted with me, even though it is my neighbours insurance paying for it!
I will wait to see how it ends up, though.
I did my "single female" act and I was the innocent party, and so I needed to know what was happening etc..
And the Oscar goes to.....🤣
I am excited about my tea tonight - a quiche- but why?
ReplyDeleteIt has a pastry case, made by myself, as my supplies have finally been re-stocked.
Little things.....😏
PS and I hope not a "soggy bottom".
DeleteJanice - wouldn’t you just know that petrol would go down to 99p a litre (at our local Sainsburys) just when you don’t need to buy any!
ReplyDeleteSod’s law I suppose!
AP - Is it!!! I need to buy some as we have been having some “safe” rides out and I was down a bit as lockdown came into force. I will let you know what our local branch of the same store is charging - usually more than other branches.
DeleteIt’s raining, ☔️ rain,
ReplyDeleteHallelujah, it’s raining ☔️ ☔️ RAIN.
Coming my way in the next 24hrs!
DeleteThe forests are disappearing at the rate of the size of Belgium per year.
The size of a football pitch every 6 seconds and I just sit here and when it the fire comes to my door I'll say oh, how did that happen?!
It rained heavily in Glasgow last night.It was fantastic to see, hear, smell and feel! And of course, it meant that we didn't have to spend ages watering pots and troughs...
DeleteDear Gary - please can you post or courier some down to us - our lawn is parched and I’m having to water my runner beans 3 times a day. The lawn will survive, but I spent ages nurturing those beans from seed to 4ft high and I’d hate to loose them . 😢
Delete🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
DeleteBasia re your comment I was just looking at a piece online encouraging everyone to plant a tree each, but apparently to make a real difference we would each need to plant 160 trees and somewhere where they couldn't be cut down, but every little helps. 🌳🌴🌲
DeleteSo far just “spitting” here in our part of Hampshire but so lovely and fresh outside. We are due some heavier rain later I believe. I am happy to see sun but so many weeks of it beginning to get me down not being a summer babe (or babe of any type come to that 🤣 )
ReplyDeleteNot raining here in Kent yet but Tomas Schafenacher did say it would arrive this afternoon so I took him at his word and didn't water this am. TS is the only presenter I've noticed who is looking so different, due to no barbers plying their trade! He looked very 70s! Me ? - I've gone very grey over the last 12 weeks! 🤣
ReplyDeleteArcherphile - Youngest son texted me that he had filled his petrol tank from red for £29! He only has a little car; a 'Street' Ka, (2 seater with a soft top, which he calls 'Desire.' Some of my English teaching must have rubbed off somehow!)
Sorry to disagree with many but I absolutely hate Wuthering Heights! I think the Brontes are vastly overrated! Having read various biographies of them they were not very nice women and I believe quite limited in talent. Some of Emily's poetry is not bad but the stories! Both hers and Charlotte's magnus opus are largely autobiographical. As the saying goes "Everyone has one book in them. Question is have they a second?" Personally I think not in Emily's case.
I had telephone consultation yesterday with original consultant who believes the disease may be under control now; no new blisters! He has sent a new prescription to my GP so hopefully Jon can collect from Boots this evening.
However because of the 2 blood tests done last week there are now more tablets to fit my day; potassium was one, Vitamin D another, but can't remember the other.
I am taking 13 tabs a day at present and many of them have restrictions i.e. with food, not within 30 mins of other medication etc, so Jon will help me tonight to work out a timetable. Add cream for 'flareups' and an asthma pump for morning and evening I am well and truly medicated! Oh and I have to eat a banana every day as well for the extra potassium!
💊💉💊💉💊 🍌 sums up my life at the mo!
Right I'm going to have a little walk round the garden then come in and start work on my tax return! Stay safe
Spicy.
I was talking about the boy Schafenacher's hair last night Cushion! I don't think I like it tho'...
DeleteOnwards & upwards with those tablets eh? x
Sorry for long post but have just remembered something else I wanted to share.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was thrilled to see a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers fly into the 30ft Christmas tree on the edge of the patio. (It was planted over twenty years ago in the vague hope it might survive, It did!)
The birds were feeding on either insects or seeds in the tree. I have had a single one come to the bird table but never seen the male with his very bright red plumage on his head. Seeing the two together really showed up the difference. I wish I had been quick enough to take a photo!
Much as I love watching their antics I do wish the squirrels would stop planting the peanuts in my potato bags! There'll be more peanuts than potatoes in them come the summer!
There was a 97% chance of rain at 11am this morning.here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of rubbish.
Not a drop..
Very disappointed.
Well now Spicycushion I loved Wuthering Heights but can't understand why people think Seamus
Heaney is so marvellous.
His "poems" neither rhyme nor scan.
Give me John Betjeman any day .
Call me a Philistine If you like but I do not like modern poetry.
It seems you are getting there Spicycushion .
Really pleased to hear that your Consultant thinks the disease is under control.
Glad you are taking the vitamin D.
We swear by it -and a banana a day.
Glad things seem to be improving, Spicy, though managing all that medication with varied instructions must be a nightmare !
DeleteCautious optimism in order, then ?
Spicy, yes, before, after at mealtime, add some topical medications which should not be used at the same time you are well and truly occupied but in a good cause.
ReplyDeleteI first knew of Wuthering Heights from Kate Bush. I also read about the Brontes recently, they as women appealed to me but not The WHs. The one I really disliked was George Elliot. (It was a collective biography called Outsiders).
I don't appreciate opera (apart from the occasions well in the past), classical music or poetry.
Janice, what a task ahead of us!
What I like most about the rain is the smell of wet earth!
I dread the onset of every summer and listen with horror to the rising temperatures!
PtbY, you've been absent lately, are you undergoing the eye treatment?
Hi Basia.
DeleteNo, no eye treatment going on.
I’ve got to admit I’m a philistine re the book subject. I like a bit of chick lit otherwise I’m a thriller reader. Love lee child and I’m working my way through them all. As for chick lit I’m a Millie Johnson fan. She’s from Barnsley so her books are full of Yorkshire humour.
Don’t do poetry, classics, Shakespeare or classical music really. So just been reading posts and not putting my penn’th worth in.
We’ve had rain overnight and this morning. My water butt is half full. But it’s freezing cold.
I’ve spent my morning trying to get my printer to connect with our new broadband router. I’ve failed miserably. Going to go for round 2 with it now.
My DVD of Cinema Paradiso has arrived.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to learn how to use the DVD player.
Hopefully we still have the instructions.
This could be a whole new beginning for me .
I don't know when I last watched a film on TV and have never watched a DVD.
The weekend rush to get out of lockdown has resulted in copious amounts of litter. Our much loved (by us and dogs!) Appley beach has been defiled by beer boxes and empty bottles some broken. I have seen it online as we haven’t ventured there yet. It is dreadful that some have so little regard for others. I couldn’t believe the amount of people at Durdle Door and Brighton beach all packed together again seen online. Unfortunately some people have seen the latest small step out of the lockdown as a green light to do whatever they want. I fear this stupidity will result in a bad second wave as many no doubt travelled for miles to get to a beach and then if infected took the virus home with them. You can’t cure stupidity!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree Ev - sheer folly 😡
DeletePlus another wave of plastic pollution from disposable masks and gloves!
DeleteSpicy at 11.12am
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad somebody else had the courage to admit they hated Wuthering Heights!
Me too! I thought it was an absolutely miserable book!
Conversely, I got on OK with Jane Eyre and read it at a very young age by using my Mum’s leather- bound copy she had received as a school prize in 1912. It had beautiful illustrations which helped, I think.
Wuthering Height, I wrote as much also. I get the wildness, rejection of narrow views & staid virtues are well done, but found no appeal in the characters at all, or in the melodrama. Charlotte for me ! Especially Jane Eyre, gothic moments, yes, but a thoughtful coming of age novel, & much prefer an articulate heroine.
DeleteAnne's 'Tenant of Wildfell Hall' is unashamedly gothic throughout, if I remember correctly, but such fun to read !
Sorry Spicy and Archerphile, I don't hate Wuthering Heights.
DeleteBut that might be because I have never got around to reading it, so I have no opinion of it whatsoever ; )
I watched Tenant of Wildfell Hall on TV or DVD ages ago. I think I probably went on to read the book but I'm not certain.
Jane Eyre I came to late, after reading Wide Sargosso Sea for my OU degree. I spent large parts of the book saying 'No, that's wrong' and having to remind myself that Bronte wrote her side of the story way before Rhys got in with Antoinette/Bertha's version.
I also very much enjoyed The Eyre Affair (Jasper Fforde) which credits Thursday Next with engineering the ending we all know. (Another one for you to find on Amazon, Janice?)
*** THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS ***
ReplyDeleteMrsP, you're next! Enjoy!
Archerphile our “Sainsbury’s “ PETROL 107.9 per litre 😱 (2p cheaper than nearby BP)
ReplyDeleteOh golly !
ReplyDeleteHave only just opened up my IPad, read through yesterday and today's posts and now see that I'm next on the list.
Sorry not ready but have had thoughts, so will post later.
Not a good day so far, feel utterly drained and couldn't drag myself out of bed until after one o'clock this afternoon.
But did have a lovely day yesterday meeting up with a very old mate in Bibury.
William Morris's famous most lovely village in England.
It is lovely and it was a good day. Lady paddled in the river Coln shallows several times and we walked around slowly, admiring the NT perfection.
Lots of Indian people from Gloucester also visiting and some interesting conversations with elderly Indian gentlemen.
BUT .... it was very hot and although I wore a hat so my head was protected, my arms now have no natural skin colour, totally without any protection, and when in my bath last night I realised I was badly burned.
My vitiligo has been on the March again since my knee surgery and now cover my head completely, my hands feet and arms and most of my legs.
My torso has been without any protection since early childhood and I now anticipate that I shall be completely without any protection anywhere by the end of my life.
Summers have always been difficult for me but I fear now that in future it will be completely impossible for me to be out at all when the sun is shining.
Somebody please supply the word I'm looking for as I can't remember it !
Spicy, I really do hope that your horrible condition is now under control and that this is not another false hope.
Your challenge with the various medications must indeed take all of your day to negotiate.
You are such a stoic.
An inspiration !
I've never liked Wuthering Heights either.
All the characters have always seemed rather stupid to me.
Jane Eyre was tolerable but I haven't read it again now for decades.
However I have always found the Eyre family to be fascinating psychologically and can and will read endlessly about them.
Sorry about the above long ramble.
ReplyDeleteAnd please note..... not looking for sympathy. I've lived with having vitiligo since the age of six so am well used to it, and fortunately have never felt self conscious about it.
However I am very conscious of it now as it is increasing at a greater rate than at any other time in my life.
And the word I cannot recall is for the condition of not having any colour at all.
Of course it is on the tip of my tongue, but won't emerge.
I see Mrs P is next out of the hat (or is it a mortar?).
ReplyDeleteI hope she only posts, when it suits her and feels better.
I can wait to read her choices - after all - there is no rush.
🤗😀
The new back garden fence has been completed today. This was organised by my neighbours insurance company
ReplyDeleteAlthough it looks a lot better, it is perhaps not what I would have done, but it has been done at no cost.
Perhaps it is just a case of adapting + getting used to it.
At least there was rain today, which should help the scorched plants, try + recover.
At least my garden is secure again.
PS my evening meal is the same as last night - another portion of the gammon/apricot quiche I produced, yesterday, with my home-made pastry. It was tasty...and I enjoyed eating it, whilst enjoying last nights TA.
Delete✔️ 🌺 🌻 🌸 🤗
DeleteStill can’t get printer to connect to the WiFi. That’s a whole day wasted trying to sort it.
ReplyDeleteGot to point where I could pull my hair out and throw the ruddy thing out of the window. I knew we shouldn’t have changed broadband provider.
Some printers are not compatible with some computers. We had that trouble and had to change the printer.
DeleteMy printer is still a plugged in one, into my PC (which is WiFi linked). It is now an antiquated set up, but it still works well, so I will not change until necessary.
DeleteMy cartridges need replacing, so I am off to sort a supply out, via "tinternet", of course. 😀
Printer been fine with my laptop and mr ptby’s older laptop. It just won’t recognise new broadband setting.
DeleteI’ll try again tomoz.
Tech is great.....till it doesn’t work. 🤦♀️
....& that's when it's mega stress.... Can't get zoom to work on my computer but can, sort of, on Mr C's newer model.
DeleteWhat make is it PtbY?
DeleteWe tend to get Canons. Great printers but I always have to look up online to check how to get them to talk to the router!
Generally, there's usually a button to press on the printer then a WPS button to press on the router within a minute ot two. Then, lo and behold, they're best buddies and talking to each other as though they'd never had any differences!
Fortunately, this method also worked for the large TV screen that a shoe-dweller currently at home from university 'needed' for his Xbox. Typing in the password wasn't working and things were threatening to get rather fraught ...
I’m pretty anti tech/ computers having spent over an hour trying to send an online referral, got there eventually, thank goodness for “ live chat “. Now relaxing with G&T
ReplyDeleteI am sooooo happy that I am married to someone who not only understands technical electronic things, but seems to LOVE it when there's a problem to solve! I couldn't care less about computers and phones and broadband & crap like that.
DeleteGary, you're a dab hand at setting up this website, where would we be otherwise.
DeleteHow upset I am tonight.
ReplyDeleteIt is due to The Zoo I love, and which I am a member of. This is Chester Zoo, shown in the Ch4 series, The Life of the Zoo.
It has put all the necessary social distancing lines, limiting visitors on a time basis, hand sanitisors to hand, one-way systems, plastic screens to enable to view animals safely, picnic places sorted, no restaurants, cafe, food places allowed to open, ready to re-open in a limited way.
All was approved by the local government, the enviromental health authorities, but central government has today, said NO and this is indefinate.
Bankcrupty is now looming fast, yet shops, like Ikea, Next, Primark, Clarks and shopping centres + outlets, can re-open, very soon. Also one can go into parks, go to a beach, visit garden centres, NT gardens etc. so why not a zoo, with the new + approved scheme??
Sorry, this is meaningful for me...in more ways than one, as to what will happen to the animals??
Oops! I went a bit OTT.
DeleteAccept my sincere apologies. 🦁🐒
Don't think you are being OTT at all. It's a shame as it sounds as if the zoo has been working hard to ensure safety, &, morever, will suffer from the lack of income that visitors bring. Do hope the next review in 3 weeks will enable your zoo to let people in. Depends on the stats at that point, I suppose, & also if the zoo can present their case effectively.
DeleteYes they are in debt by £1.6 million as each month goes by and are purely a charity based enterprise, bit do such brilliant conservation work with rare + very endangered species. I am very biased though.
DeleteThey recently have bred, and have let free (in a secret site near Manchester), a species of butterfly which has been extinct in UK for 150 years, hopefully to reintroduce it again, by setting up a new wild, breeding colony.
A certain young shoedweller decided a new Ikea cabin bed was a better option than getting their mother to fix their current wooden frame bed.
ReplyDeleteSaid bed duly arrived last week. Small Person in a Shoe set to work with OMiaS as gopher. (OWiaS is usually the Ikea supremo, OMiaS can't be trusted with a screwdriver.) Much frustration when it was realised that a whole bag of screws, etc were missing!
The screws were duly ordered and arrived today 😀😀😀😀😀.
Instructions (also missing) were printed off and we set to work.
Two pages in .... the side of the bed was missing 😖😖
Further investigation, and further missing pieces, brought the conclusion that instead of boxes 3, 4 and 5, we had been sent boxes 4, 4 and 5!
More phoecalls to Ikea tomorrow 🙄🙄
Moral of the story?
Either, when fellow shoedwellers complain of missing pieces, always check through exactly what is / is not present before allowing them to contact Ikea
Or, when your bed breaks, it's far more efficient to let your mother fix it than to go hankering after new ones from Swedish furniture stores!
Priceless, owias! Thought these things only happened to us! Having problems with Buddy tonight who refuses to settle down to bed, has stormed the lounge which is off limits to him overnight, tried to bust into my room, upset Dudley who is currently snuggled up next to me( on top of duvet!) but all is quiet now so hopefully he has gone to sleep. I’ll have to move Dudley though as I need room to spread out! They had a small pancake each this morning as we had some left after breakfast so maybe it caused hyperactivity! 😁🤔🐶🤞🤞Katy just came in. He has busted the lounge again and is trying to hide his toy piggy in his tepee! Dudley now has his head on my leg! I have a 5’6”.bed and currently have about one foot of it! What fun!! Mike would have put them out in the shed!!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAfter buying IKEA beds for my daughters when we moved to a new house, separate bedrooms for the first time, I vowed never to buy a bed from there again!
We went to the store then collected the boxes. I hadn't realised that every part of the bed had to be bought separately! Had to go back for the bases.
Never again 😳
OWIAS. It’s an HP deskjet. Tried the button pressing. Doesn’t work. My friend had the same carry on when he changed to Vodafone broadband and has the same printer. He’s sorted his. Just have to wait till he can come to ours and sort mine out....sometime in the future. Thanks though.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad has just set up his new HP, took him ages!
DeleteHave you put the ink cartridges in yet? Apparently Dad had to do this before it would cooperate with the internet.
We’re so lucky on the island to have a broadband provider, Wightfibre. If you have a problem you phone them and instead of being in India they are in Cowes! I have an HP printer and subscribe to HP instant ink. They send new ink cartridges when running low in ink which they detect from the printer being online. I have their lowest tariff of £1.99 a month which allows me 50 sheets of printing. If I don’t use that many they are carried over to the next month. It works well, you never run out of ink and I don’t print that much so the 50 sheets is more than enough. I didn’t have any problem in getting my PC and printer together but hope, ptby, that you can get yours sorted as I know how frustrating these sort of problems can be!🤞
ReplyDeleteWe'd certainly be paying more than £1.99 for the amount of printing we do.
DeleteWe used to have a very convenient refill shop up the road - perfect for emergency ink purchases. When it closed down we started buying refills online, I try to make sure I always have the next cartridges ready before the current ones die.
Our previous printers had separate cartridges for the colours. This one has them all in one - frustrating, but the old printer died and money was tight so we went for cheap and cheerful.
By the time this one dies, I'm hoping that the printers with reservoirs of ink that you just top up will have come down in price and be equipped with useful functions such as double-sided printing.
(Years ago I used to refill my own cartridges. But then they started chipping them and it all got too much faff.)
There are other plans if you google HP instant ink which may suit you. In the past I found some refills were good and others didn’t comply with printer. The actual are so expensive! The inks sent under this plan for some reason last forever. It makes you think that it is a money making thing if you buy them online or from a shop. The printers are relatively cheap but you can pay forever more in ink!
ReplyDeleteI don't do much printing but when I needed a new printer and saw that I could get a half price one from Curry's I decided to do that.
DeleteDid you know if you have an HP printer and buy a new one they give you a certain percentage off as well?
In the end I paid less than £30 I think
HP are really helpful too if you have a problem .
I think they are based in Switzerland.
I have free cartridges because I use fewer than 15 sheets a month but if I want more I pay £1 or something.
Unbelievable value for someone like me.
We often print more than 15 sheets a day : )
DeleteI haven’t seen any posts from our friend CowGirl for some time. I hope she is OK
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have contact with her?
I know she said she was going to have a break for a while. Hope both she and Emerald are alright. If she was still around I would have liked to have had a chat with her because when my brother retired his cattle were sold to a farmer who has rented his farm. His land adjoins my brother's, so the herd could stay in their home fields or right beside them. He didn't offer the most rent but the clincher for my brother was that he offered to also take on and look after 2 old cows. My brother is one of a vanishing breed of farmer, virtually organic , beautiful meadows, and keeping cows that had produced calves over many years into their old age ,even after they had stopped having calves. One lived until 22 and kept having beautiful strong calves until she was 20. In factory type farming dairy cows are put to calves with no natural gaps and they are so heavily milked they are worn out and sent for slaughter at an early age. I know Cowgirl had a cow that lived until an advanced age.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard though seeing cows and knowing they are now looked after by someone else, even though they live out in pasture through most of the year. This man and his son in law and grandson are nice, but the kind of farmers who farm well over a thousand acres and everything is done for efficiency. "Weed and feed" type sprays so the grass is lush and green but the wild flowers are destroyed, and in the field by us the ancient ashes that were along the hedge in the way of where he wanted to fence have been cut down. Felt like weeping to see it. The children used to sit in the trees in the dusk and watch badgers playing underneath .The cows would browse on the leaves, and shelter in the shade under them in hot weather. My brother has been heard to say "I don't know what on earth father would have said about me giving up" but he couldn't go on, not through another Winter's mud anyway, his knee are done for. I know Cowgirl would have understood what a wrench it was parting with animals that had been here since they were calves as it was a closed herd. He always bred his own other than occasionally buying in an unrelated bull.
P.s. I decided not to rent out my few little fields, so I had better get planting some new little trees to make up for the ones cut down!
ReplyDeleteP.p.s. my brother hasn't rented out the fields right beside the farmhouse, and told his wife he wanted to keep a few sheep just to keep his hand in and keep the grass down. He told her 20 which she thought was far too many. Hope she doesn't count them. There are 30, probably the ones he handreared.
ReplyDeleteIt’s such a problem knowing what to do when a farmer cannot carry on. I presume your brother did not have any family he could have passed the work on to. And it must be heartbreaking that those precious trees have been felled.
DeleteWe decided to retire from farming because of two things. First, wretched Edwina Curry and her false information about eggs and Chickens virtually wiped out our market for fertile eggs which were sold to hatcheries. So many chicken farms went out of business because of her statements about eggs being the source of food poisoning, that hundreds of farms closed down and nobody wanted chicks.
Then the pig rearing market went through one of its notorious downturns and so much Danish and Dutch bacon and pork was being imported ( thanks to the EU Agricultural policy) that nobody wanted to buy British any more. In spite of ours being organic and Old English breeds, it was more expensive to rear than imported stuff and shoppers didn’t want to pay the difference.
In the end we were making a loss on every animal we bred which couldn’t go on.
To this day I refuse to buy anything but British bacon and pork in an effort to support the remaining farmers!
Archerphile, I keep forgetting that you used to be a farmer.
DeleteThese days there are Hen Retirement Homes where they are allowed to die a natural death after their egg production slows down (18 months), while their life span is up to 6 years. Of course it raises the price of eggs from such farms. Thank you for buying British.
Announcement......,
ReplyDeleteHaven’t a clue how I did it but printer, WiFi and laptop all up and running!!!
Off out for a dog walk to celebrate.
Well done, whenever I resolve something to do with my computer I never know how I got there, always trial & error.
DeleteI am in touch with CowGirl.
ReplyDeleteShe is fine but is having a break as far as I know, from The Archers and from the blog.
Janice I will be emailing her some time today.
I do not have the technical proficiency to copy or paste etc, but I can take a photograph of your post and re send that to her.
Hope that is OK with you.
Sorry I haven't yet done my ' choices'
I had a very low energy day yesterday and need to catch up today.
Will try to post later today Gary.
Don't worry about it in the slightest MrsP!
DeleteI was also thinking about Cowgirl yesterday and wondering whether to email her. Mrs P, do send my regards if that’s alright, otherwise I can email her myself. I don’t want to overwhelm either of you.
ReplyDeleteHello Archerphile Janice and Seasider
ReplyDeleteMrs P alerted me to the fact that you were asking after me.
I am well as is Emerald, I took a break as I was spending far too much time on the computer
and not getting enough work done ! In fact being generally lazy.
Janice
Emerald is quite young by your cows standards, she is only 17. She was never the strongest of cows having had a poor start in life.
She had twins, then after that a very difficult calving, as did her friend Rasheen who subsequently passed away, I took the decision not to put either in calf again, partly as I had had a knee replacement and I was moving. After Rasheens death, I bought in a jersey calf to keep her company, she loved him till he got to be a little bully, and he subsequently went for meat. On the whole I think she is happiest on her own, I did think of getting her an older companion, but rejected the idea as she is so easily bullied. Trying to keep her slim is the hardest !
Best wishes to you all
Good to hear you are keeping well. Thanks for looking in to update us. Greetings to North Yorkshire.🤗
DeleteGlad you +Emerald are both well in these strange times. 17 is a good age and hopefully she will keep going for a few more yet. Someone once said to me that if a horse reaches 20 it will go on to 30. Not sure that is always true though as my horse went at 25.
DeleteEv - How is your brother doing?
ReplyDeleteIt must be so difficult for you, as you are both, so far apart in this difficult time.
Miriam Xx
He has had his first chemo followed by 84 tablets, six a day. Next week he goes to Manchester 3 times for bloods, seeing the doctor and chemo on Friday if bloods OK. He is quite calm about it all and thinks when life flings these things at you you just need to accept it and carry on. My thoughts exactly. He does have a sense of peace and myself and younger brother are just keeping in touch by phone. Younger brother also lives in Crewe so hopefully not too long before he can see him. Thanks for asking, Miriam! Oh, so far no ill effects from the chemo so hope he is one of the lucky ones who get through it not feeling too bad.
Delete🌈 🤞🏼 🙏🏼 Ev.
DeleteHe has such a good attitude. Wishing him well.
DeleteI have just put my very full (and very smelly), green garden bin out - the 1st time since March 19th.
ReplyDeleteIt will need a good sluice out, after it is emptied tomorrow. Note to self - find the waterproof trousers! 😀
Will they fit though? I have put 4lb on, since lockdown started. Too many snacks: - cakes, chocolate biscuits, and crisps, not forgetting the dry roasted peanuts.
DeleteNew food regime starts tomorrow 😁
Ruddy hell Miriam I can do that in a weekend. Wouldn’t worry about 4lbs.
DeleteTo show how times have changed -
ReplyDeleteA parcel was finally delievered to my family in OZ, which was posted 11 weeks ago!!
At least it has arrived, and not lost.
I am feeling a bit down tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I hugged + kissed some-one, was way back in March, about the 9th, when 10 of us had a great meal together, to celebrate my ģrand-nephew Harish, with his 6th birthday. It was brilliant fun, but so long ago.
Oh Well, I have to accept the change in all our lives, but it is hard, at times.
I just need to keep positive. 😁
Sorry all. I am just a bit down tonight...it will pass. Tomorrow is another day, so onwards + upwards.
DeleteUnderstand Miriam and as you say the feeling comes and goes but not much fun whilst it is with you! ☹️
DeleteWill there be clapping and bell ringing tonight or not?
I will tell you how to lose weight Miriam whilst eating biscuits and teasers.and more alcohol than usual.
ReplyDeleteGet yourself a pond .
Buy a preformed one -larger than the original
Dig out lots of stones and soil to accommodate it and cart them in a wheelbarrow down to the bottom of the garden
Then sort and collect pebbles from the rubble to put into the bottom of the new pond
Would I recommend doing it?
Definitely not.
I weighed myself this week and I have lost a pound.
Mind you I dare say that you are doing plenty of exercise in your garden and I know from what you have told us you are slim so a few extra pounds won't matter .
Enjoy the extra treats you are having.
Thanks 🤗
DeleteNow the garden bin is finally being emptied, I can now chop back all shrubs etc.as I can now get rid of the debris Hopefully this will help...
My cleaner, working again with social distancing, says she has put on half a stone but don’t know where it is as she is as thin as a pin!😙😁
ReplyDeleteI am slowly replacing the weight I lost over the last weeks. I don't have scales, too scary, but my trousers stay up now. I don't drink anymore, sugar is melasses. At age 16 I used to weigh 8.7st, now my BMI is 15?
ReplyDeleteI am the heaviest, I have ever been. This is 8st. 9lb.
DeleteYou’re a featherweight, Miriam!
DeleteTHESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE FILMS
ReplyDelete1: never ever anything but number one
Les Enfants du paradis
When an usherette at the original British Art House Cinama The Academy I watched this so many many times.
I do not have any language other than my native tongue, but know reams of the dialogue and in French.
Such a sweep of love life and intrigue.
A very controversial film in its time.
2: Charade - the two leads both at their very best and a stellar cast to support them.
Thievery intrigue and style in spades.
Pure coincidence that the first two are set in Paris.
3: Vertigo - seen and NEVER forgotten, but a wait of forty plus years to see again.
Utter mystery in the form of Kim Novak ably supported by the wonderful James Stewart.
4: Midnight Cowboy - no mystery here but friendship and loyalty of the highest order.
Plus New York and that great soundtrack of music.
5: Bonnie and Clyde - an uncomfortable ride through rural America showing poverty of existence and poverty of choice during the years of the depression.
Extreme casual violence existing beside exquisite cinematography.
Having created my list and considering the films not chosen today I realise that many are about friendships and relationships between two people, and nothing to do with sex or gender. A selection would be as well as Midnight Cowboy, Butch Cassidy, Some like it Hot, African Queen, Bringing up Baby, The Lost Weekend, Who's afraid of VW and probably many more.
There is one film not chosen but which the impression left with me at the time has stayed for many decades. It took me ages to find it, and am now viewing it and trying to work out why it left such an impression on me at age twenty. So far I'm mystified.
It is Il Mare (The Sea) and won an award at the first NY Film Festival.
My favourite food would be my mums Irish stew with scrag end of mutton, no dumplings when a child and adolescent but have discovered that I like them in later years.
Haven’t heard of the first film but love a good foreign one so will research it.
DeleteLove charade, both actors and saw it two or three weeks ago.
Must watch vertigo. Love a Hitchcock film.
Only seen midnight cowboy once but thought it was fab.
Is Bonnie and Clyde the one with that hunky actor and Faye dunaway? Can’t think of his name now.
Like the others you’ve mentioned too.
I’m an old school golden era of Hollywood fan.
Brilliant choices Mrs P. 👍
Warren Beatty!!!
DeleteYup !
ReplyDeleteHe's the one.
And I've probably only seen Midnight Cowboy once too PtbY.
Probably in the Kensington High Street cinema which was my local for a large slice of my life. Along with many many other films.
But I did and still do have the soundtrack music.
Les Enfants is not like any other 'foreign'' film .
Beware, you may find it magical, you may find it very strange.
Thanks MrsP!
DeleteOnly ever read about Les Enfants du paradis and never got round to watching it. Will remedy that soon. The rest are stunning! Watched Vertigo again quite recently, nearly watched Charade again a few weeks ago & I quote Midnight Cowboy on a regular basis. And Bonnie & Clyde has one of the best endings ever...
And I'm sure you're Mum's stew was delicious MrsP, but the thought of mutton gives me the shudders!!
Cow Girl - so pleased and relieved to hear from you. Don’t blame you for taking a break and please don’t feel I am nagging for you to contribute more often , if you don’t feel like it.
ReplyDeleteBut it would be nice to check in every so often so we all know you are OK 😊
Oh I love mutton so much Gary but have to make do with lamb mostly now.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely my favourite meat, but my favourite food and taste is lamb fat.
My mum always told me that she would tie a piece of lamb fat with string to my high chair and I could be left for any length of time.
The string of course is to pull it out if the child choked.
Probably a practice globally in one way or another.
Yuuuuuuuck!!!!
DeleteInteresting choices, MrsP.
ReplyDeleteReally admired Bonnie & Clyde at the time ('like' not being the right word !), the most shocking/inevitable ending ever, marvellous, uncomfortable film.
Midnight Cowboy didn't hit the spot with me, but that's immaterial. Tick, tick for Vertigo & Charade --oth gripping.
Your no1 is only a name to me, but you've clearly tickled the curiosity of some of us already !
The only one of your films Mrs P I have watched is Midnight cowboy, and Butch Cassidy from your second list. Think I preferred Butch Cassidy. I will try Charade now.
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned Those magnificent men in their flying machines and we found that really funny, and were really impressed by the stunt with the two biplanes near the end, which is apparently classed as the best, most difficult stunt of all time. Hope they paid those stuntmen well!
This is nothing to do with films but read in a magazine that if you put a hard boiled egg in a jam jar with cold water and give it a good shaking it will then peel easily. Tried it and it works.
ReplyDeleteJanice it works as well if you put the hard boiled egg in a small dish of water, or put cold water into the pan that you've boiled the eggs in then pat the egg gently against the side of the sink to crack the shell up, then peel.
ReplyDeleteSTASIA
I didn't understand your comment at the end of the TA blog re an email and comment.
Can you explain ?
My two ' live in ' friends are getting closer and closer.
Puss is spending many more nights, or part of the night on the pillows above my head while Lady is beside me, and they are both sharing the day bed almost daily now, and lying quite close together, as they are at the moment.
Spicey - thinking of you now in this cooler time. Hope all is still improving.
Carolyn - yes, admiration rather than like. My admiration was for the direction and cinematography. The vision of the flatlands of middle America have stayed with me forever.
Last paragraph - absolutely.
DeleteStasia's ref.was to irrepressible Susan mentioning a Mrs P phoning/writing in to 'Radio Borsetshire', I think.
It's lovely that Puss & Lady are hunkering down companionably with you these days !
I'm very sad, because much loved Percy Cat is on his quiet way out, confirmed yesterday by the vet. A brain lesion ( not cancer), no effective treatment, but no pain. Could go on for months, we'll keep him comfortable but I can't pretend I'm bearing up well at this point.
💔💕
DeleteOh carolyn, what a terrible shame about Percy. Pi & I are sending him & you a hug. x
DeleteCarolyn, so sorry to hear this news. 💕
DeleteJanice, I mentioned The Magnificent Men seen on a rainy holiday in Cornwall aged 10 and Archerphile watched it recently; I haven't seen it since but I'm glad it's hasn't dated.
ReplyDeleteAs to eggs: if/when you mix boiled raw ones together and want to tell them apart, the boiled one will spin and the raw wobble. Also you probably know how to check for freshness: very fresh will sink in water, less fresh stand, not fresh float.
Can't log into the BBC website...
Mrs P :
ReplyDeleteLes Enfants du Paradis, wonderful, on the shelf under the télé 3yds away, along with La Traversée de Paris, La Grande Vadrouille...
Charade, Vertigo, 👍👍
sorry, but not keen on Warren Beatty 😉
have to admit to never having seen Midnight Cowboy 😮
Irish stew was known in my uncle & aunt's as Parrot 😉
MrsP, from your selection I don't know the first two, as for the rest only Midnight Cowboy stands out, the plot and the soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteAh yes. The MrsP mention. I did notice the reference but she was from another village.
ReplyDeleteParsley, I'm pleased that one other of us has a copy of Les Enfants.
Will look up your other two. Arletty perhaps ?
I'm not too keen on Warren Beatty either.
And eventually neither was Julie Christy I believe.
But we can't just leave him out of the Hollywood pantheon.
Carolyn, so sad to watch a beloved cat die, just as it is with humans. But you will know that you have given him the best of life and a dignified and loving end.
We took on a dying Persian from Battersea at a time when their very basic cat house was struggling with giving him the best. He had five months of kind and loving domesticity, and a gentle end.
Parsley -
ReplyDeleteAh I see. WW11.
Still on the subject of films, does anyone else remember 'Woman in a Dressing Gown'
ReplyDeleteI must look it up.
Yes - Kay Kendall ? An actress I rated at the time, but she died quite young, alas.
DeleteCarolyn I feel your pain 🐈 the price of the love you have both shared for so long ❤️
ReplyDeleteCarolyn...so sorry to hear about Percy. It is awful to watch a good companion slowly fade away. Sending warm thoughts to you all. xx
ReplyDeletePoor Percy and you too, Carolyn. All you can do is to keep him comfortable. That’s what we are doing with Gypsy. She is 13 in September and whilst Shih Tzu ‘s have a life expectancy of about 16, she does have a lot of issues not least her Cushing disease. At the moment though she is enjoying life and we have had her for two years now. She has a lovely personality and I would have loved to have had her from the start of her life but we can only do our best with her for the rest. I can’t remember whether Percy is an only cat but even if not you will feel the loss when it comes. They do become a big part of your life and losing them is not easy so thinking of you.
ReplyDeletecarolyn. My sincere heartfelt thoughts to you and Percy.😢💧💧💧💧❣️When we invest love into our faithful furry friends they will return It with interest.
ReplyDeleteWhat we love, we can never lose. That love is part:of us. I’m sure Percy feels 💓 that love.
Carolyn my thoughts are with you.
DeleteSome of us have been there,as you have been recently with your hens and P tbY with Hattie and a year ago with Charlie.
Pets give so much pleasure and Percy has such a lovely life with you.
He won't be complaining if he feels he is not well enough to carry on.
He will just want to know he is still being loved and cared for as he has been all the time he has owned you .
'owned' is the word, Lanjan !
DeleteCarolyn - what sad news about Percy. My thoughts are with you totally, as I dread the day this (or similar) to my pusscat.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have been forewarned, so you enjoy Percy for as long as he has left. 😿
Percy and Carolyn, thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful films - Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteI only didn't know, was the 1st one.
Here am I, thinking I know nothing about films, but I have surprised myself, as to how many I have not only seen, but can actually remember!
Charade is so good.
DeleteI went to see Bonnie and Clyde primarily because I really liked Warren Beattie .
ReplyDeleteI saw him and Natalie Wood in the early 1960s in Spendour in the grass .
That was the first time I had ever heard of pizzas .
I think in the film he may have been the son of Italian immigrants.
Lamb stew,Mrs P?
Have you ever tried Lancashire hot pot with red cabbage ?
Wonderful.
LJ. What a delicious feast, which I know well (and cook)....even though I am not from Lancashire. There are also "chip butties" to enjoy.
DeleteThese days (before lockdown) it is on pub menus as:- battered fish gourgons, served in home made bread, with mayonaisse or a tomatoe sauce, to taste! The fancy name has a fancy price.
I know Miriam! We once took a drive up to the Highlands on New Years Day and we found a little pub that was open so we stopped for lunch. We both ordered the "Handmade, Line Caught Fish Goujons, Enveloped in Panko Breadcrumbs and Lovingly Smothered in a Tomato Reduction, Presented in Artisan Sourdough". What I would call a fish finger sandwich with tomato sauce...
DeleteThe rub is, I used to run restaurants back in the day - I took great pride in coming up with the most pretentious, ridiculous piss-take names for simple dishes like that! It was great fun.
😆🤣 First laugh of the day - thanks, Gary!
DeleteGG Brilliant. 👏👏
DeleteLove that menu description Gary. Funny stuff.
DeleteMrsP. Have seen all the films. The one that moved me most was Midnight Cowboy. Hitchcock was the master in making psychological films. Fear without blood and gore.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that the brilliant farm shop on the M5 just south of Cheltenham/Gloucester sell Mutton in their butchery? I buy it for stews and curry’s.
Many thanks for kind thoughts & support, really appreciated ( more snivelling followed) but, as all of us who are 'owned' by our pets know, grief in anticipation, or after the event, goes with the territory.
ReplyDeleteThank you again !
Indeed it does - but it still hurts 🥰
DeleteMidnight cowboy is a classic with the music of Harry Neilson..it shattered the image of the "American Dream".
ReplyDeleteCharade..loved the style and the music ..good old Henry Mancini.
If I could go back in time it would be in the 60s..such class.
Vertigo ..well I'm a Hitchcock fan..enough said
Mutton..sorry Mrs P but no thanks..my mother would cook it for hours and it was still like chewing an old boot..but food conjures up memories and I understand Mrs P s choice.
Carolyn..I don't have pets anymore for this reason. It breaks my heart when they go. They're always by our sides no matter what and especially during these hard times. They are wonderful. Carolyn give your wee friend all the love you can during his last days.
Chip butties, Miriam are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOnce when I was primary school age I went to the swimming baths with a friend and we called at her Aunties on the way home and I was offered a chip butty.
It was fantastic.-white bread ,chips ,white bread,margarine,salt and vinegar.
When I told my mother about it she was appalled .
My mother was not from Lancashire and I was never allowed them at home.
My husband, a southerner who before he met me thought there was nothing north of Watford, was appalled by the thought of chip butties and would never partake. However I did introduce him to sloppy (or mushy) peas which he loved. Fish and chips were never complete without them! Love chip butties especially the way the hot chips melt the margarine or butter! They sell them in the market at York but Mike would not try one even there! The best black pudding I ever had was from Richmond market. They made it in a big tray and just cut off a big slice for £1. Magic! Oh, I did also introduce Mike to meat and potato pie! That is now obtainable down south in Morrison’s which was a northern firm originally.
DeleteCan I take a moment to go off-topic. We have been watching "My Brilliant Friend". It is based on the novels of Elena Ferrante recounting her friendship since primary school in Naples in the 1950s . It has literally taken my breathe away it is so beautifully done and the acting is superb. This is definitely "a must see".
ReplyDeleteIt is also on my reading list for this summer🌴🌴
DeleteThank you all for encouragement and best wishes. Yes I'm definitely feeling more optimistic. I can climb the stairs upright most times in the day, not so easy in the evenings though. I'm doing more of the cooking, preparing vegetables whilst sitting down etc.
ReplyDeleteMrsP Mutton stew was a special dinner of my Mum's. She also added pearl barley and I can remember the appetising smell on winter evenings, coming home where the large saucepan had been simmering for hours on the Rayburn range (Like an Aga, only cheaper and smaller!). A very filling and nourishing dish.
I do hope you are feeling a bit better. Hopefully the cooler and cloudy weather will help you too.
Carolyn I know just how you are feeling about Percy cat. It is so heartbreaking when our beloved pets enter their final months. I have been there so many times and like Autumnleaves I decided, after I had to take beloved Grey Cat to the vets in 2016. I vowed I wouldn't have another pet.
Love him, take photos and spoil him!
One sister has just lost her three laying hens and female duck to a fox. She is obviously very upset and debating whether to replace (she still has two rescued drakes) or reclaime some space for a bigger vegetable plot.
I remember when Bonnie and Clyde was released in the cinemas we had headlines on our local paper that two young men had passed out at the bloodshed in it. When I saw it many years later on TV I thought it very tame compared to what we see in films nowadays!
Have a good weekend everyone doing whatever you want/need to do!
I have a little problem......my nose!
ReplyDeleteI have spent the afternoon with my sewing machine and a downloaded copy of the Government’s instructions for making face masks.
Very simple really - 20cm wide strips cut from the bottom of old t-shirts, hemmed all round, channels sewn at each end to thread knicker elastic through - and Bob’s your uncle.
Try on.
Fits quite well except...I have a very short turned- up nose (retroussé as my Mum used to call it)
In order to cover my nose properly with the mask it goes across my eyes too, rubs on my
eyelashes and it very uncomfortable, certainly couldn’t go shopping with it on.
Tried pulling mask down a bit to miss eyes, but then it just slides off my nose which makes wearing it pointless!
Any ideas?
My problem is, the "knicker" elastic in my sewing box has deteriorated, so it is now non-stretchy + the sewing machine, has also seized up. Still some-one is making one for me. Grey with little white spots...
DeleteStretchy t-shirt material?..
DeleteI had a look at an online video on making face asks and she sewed a straightened out paper clip into the top hem so that it bends over the top of your nose and gives rigidity. Maybe that would work for you, Archerfile. Katy has bought us a face mask each so I don’t have to tackle making one!
DeleteOh, many thanks Ev. Yes that might do the trick. I think the height of your ears, in relation to the height of your eyes makes a difference too. I might try attaching ribbon ties instead of elastic as well.
DeleteSpicy.
ReplyDeleteSome-one I know lost her 4 hens, to what she is sure, was a stoat (for the 2nd time).
She made the decision, no more. She misses the fresh laid eggs, but that is all she misses about the hens and there is now, a new veg. patch instead. Crops - runner beans, strawberries and swede, to compliment the other veg. areas.
Autumn leaves, in what form are you watching this? I loved the books and would very much like to see the tv/ film version
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that some appreciated Midnight Cowboy and for much the same reasons as mine. I've used two of the pieces in productions quite successfully myself.
ReplyDeleteCaroline - no not the wonderful KK but Yvonne Mitchell. Another lost too young.
Watched a bit on line today.
Yes LJ, I have tried L HotPot and don't like it much. I don't like what happens to the
Potatoes and I prefer my red cabbage with Russian and Polish dishes.
( so over to you Stasia )
And Stasia thank you for the tip re the butchers at the SS.
I've only been there once. I took one look at the wonderious display of food and fled, knowing that I could never afford all that I would want to buy.
Spicy, my mum always put pearl barley in Irish stew and I do too when I make it.
And thanks for good wishes.
If I do have Hay Fever then it's not been so bad today. Less itchy eye and no weeping till up on Selsley Common in the cold wind this evening.
Ev ,regarding black puddings.
ReplyDeleteThe very very best place to go for them is Bury market in Lancashire where they sell "The world famous Bury black puddingS".
Archerphile, as Parsley says, t-shirt is more stretchy and I find it has more room to breathe. My sister also uses left over spool for laces and not elastic. The masks that doctors wear have a nose built in. Mark Miodownik from UCL says they show how to make one which won't steam your glasses but I couldn't see it at first glance, it mostly happens when it's raining. I don't need glasses in the street but to avoid touching my face I put glasses and mask on before leaving the house and remove (after a hand wash) on return. There are always queues outside haberdashers these days. It's a new fashion, I sometimes think which mask to wear to match my clothes and hat!
ReplyDeleteThank you Basia. I found the double layer of t-shirt quite hot, apart from sliding into my eyes. I would be constantly touching the mask to pull it down so I’ll try the ‘nose clip’ idea to see if it works.
DeleteIn today’s Telegraph they show a selection of ‘designer’ masks ranging in price from £12.50 for a blue& white stripe adjustable one to £95 for one made from Cashmere!
I’ll persevere with making my own! 😷
The lining of my t-shirt one is from a light cotton/mix? shirt and the other colourful cloth ones have plain cotton lining. Since you know how to use a sewing machine I'm sure you'll get there. Look forward to see the result on your profile picture, with or without your face!
DeleteNow there's a challenge. I’ll see what I can come up with.
DeleteMinty..re My Brilliant Friend, it was made by HBO and RAI (the Italian national network ). They made 2 series of 16 episodes altogether and are in the process of making a third. It's not on Netflix but you may find it on streaming. Good luck and enjoy. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Autumnleaves, I'll investigate. And you have a treat in store for your summer reading.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait I've already ordered the books. I always went to the library but I'm not sure that's such a good idea since the virus.
DeleteI've just spoken with my daughter (you know how savvy t the young 'uns are. She said go on raifiction /hbo
DeleteHow sad libraries are still closed, unless they can provide full social distancing rules. This must be difficult to do due to the set-up, browsing etc.
ReplyDeleteThere are none open in my area just yet.
I am having even more problems, getting onto this wonderful site.
ReplyDeleteI can't sort the problems out and so correct them. I am baffled as to why.
I will keep battling on.
Take Care All. Xxxx
PS My area is showing a massive spike in Covid 19 cases, and Full Total Lockdown, might be happening again soon ie No shops opening, no meeting up, no excercising outside for more than an hour only if alone etc. Back to March 24th.
It is wait + see though.
Schools have not been opened yet, and the advice is now, not to.
DeleteIt is scary!
At least my Puss Cat is OK. She has given me a major worry - as for 2 days, after eating she then vomited, about an hour later.
Today all seems normal, but I am monitoring her very closely. 😸
Today should be the last day of school here in the province of Reggio Emilia instead of the end of February when the children stopped going. I have just left my 10 year old granddaughter at an ice cream parlour where she is meeting her teachers and school friends. They were all wearing masks and keeping their distance instead of hugging and kissing as they usualy do. It made me feel so sad to watch them. On the other hand I am thankful that nobody we know has been taken by this awful disease.
DeleteI hope it won't be long untl you are all able to hug your families.
Apologies.
ReplyDeleteI have been a bit too vocal today.
It is a habit of mine, as you all know well 😂
Oh well, tea to cook - a chicken with sage + onion stuffing, roast pots and loads of veg (carrots, cauli, brocolli, green beans) and a gravy of sorts.
At least in these strange times, I still love to prepare meals, to suit me.
Quick extra - before I go and hopefully, join in again....
ReplyDeletefor those who like art, CH5 at 8.15pm. It is the Mona Lisa tonight. It could, or not, be interesting.
Thank you Autumnleaves - I think I'll have to consult a younger person about this, and see if I can go on those sites. You probably know that bbc4 have been showing Montalbano, which is made by RAI. The Elena Ferrante books have been so popular here I hope that they too will come to mainstream tv.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, libraries are still closed here too - can't see them opening again any time soon. Apart from the social distancing issues I suppose it's the problem of books being handled and potentially in a corona virus household. All very difficult .....
ReplyDeleteHere in Italy the libraries are now open with strict restrictions and the books go into quarantine once they are returned.
ReplyDeleteAm currently v concerned with the future of choral singing.
ReplyDeleteToo depressing.
Wrong time of night.
Le choeur tient à ton coeur, courage!
DeleteMerci Basia ❤️
DeleteThe sun is shining this morning!