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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.
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ReplyDeleteMiriam - August 28, 2020 at 7:58 PM
What a laugh, I have had tonight, watching BBC4 and the Sounds of the Sixties - 1968-1969, even though it was in colour.
The miming to the music being played, was just awful, and as for the clothes + hair-styles..
From the Ridiculous to the Sublime, the 1st night of The Proms, even in its very different and new, format.
Miriam - August 28, 2020 at 8:18 PM
What is the BBC up to, broadcasting the Proms on BBC2, clashing with the Edinburgh Tattoo on BBC1. Surely, both these will appeal to the same type of viewers, after months of pure drivel!
Rant Over!
MrsP Ambridge - August 28, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Easier to listen on R3 Miriam.
But I turned the Beethoven off, and finished my book quietly.
Also - thanks for the nag, but the Volturol is doing the job very well and I am walking well again, so I will wait for the time being.
Archerphile - August 29, 2020 at 9:57 AM
We watched the ‘First Night of the Proms’ on TV
It was very strange seeing the musicians all spaced out across the stage and no audience whatsoever. We didn’t enjoy the first couple of items (too modern) but Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony sounded as good as usual and the Finnish Conductor was very smiley throughout.
But, I have to say - the Proms, it was not!
Never been inside the Albert Hall. Now wonder if I ever will!
ReplyDeleteOh Gary, you must, if you ever can. It’s a spectacular experience, especially if you get a seat up in the gods (but definitely not if you suffer from vertigo!)
DeleteI’m afraid your picture is what it looked like last night. Just very spread out musicians on stage, a conductor but nobody else!
I attended a Girl Guide 'rally' at the Albert Hall around 1960 and the guest of honour and main speaker was Olave, Lady Baden Powell. The noise and screaming and cheering was deafening. Our Guide company was in the top tier but we were so excited at seeing our heroine we cared not a jot!
DeleteWhat will the “Remembrance“ 💔 occasions be like this year 🤔 be it The Albert Hall, The Cenotaph or generally around the country?
ReplyDeleteThe Albert Hall has been a constant throughout my life.
ReplyDeleteI made my public debut on stage as a toddler with both parents, in some wartime or post war event. A form of charade. I remember it clearly but have never been able to find out what it was.
Proms of course sporadically through adult years, then on retirement my father became an honorary commissionaire and served there in that capacity until his death.
He would choose his duties according to the musical programme, and since one of his great passions was classical music he was in his element.
We of course would only need to ask for tickets for a particular event and we got them free as his perks for being a volunteer, and frequently had seats in a box.
It is a wonderful building, but I can't say the colours of the picture above does it credit Gary. Makes the auditorium look tacky, when in fact it is magisterial.
Lady R. What indeed ?
A good thought from you. I wonder what plans are afoot.
I will presume and hope, that there will be something from the Cenotaph, this year. It won't be as we all know it, but I bet there will be a socially distanced event taking place.
DeleteIt would not be Rememberence Sunday, without it and to me, it should still be honoured, in the usual tradition.
This is always the day, when I steam a family Christmas Pudding (prepared the day before) for 8 hours, for whoever wants it! It then matures, very nicely, in a dark kitchen cupboard, which is always cold. This will still be done again this year, but will it be needed, that is a very big question. Still, I am not even thinking about that, just yet, far too early.
PS. If it is not used on The Day, it then will be on Easter Sunday.
DeletePlus they only get better with the keeping apparently (says the non cook 🤣) but a good eater so not so long with me around! Which annoys my friend and neighbour as she says I’ve no right to be 9st 6 lbs with all that I eat - she being a cuddly lady who eats little by comparison, mind you she likes a G & T or three etc so there’s her calories 😋
DeleteI used to make puddings and cakes for Christmas on August Bank Holiday weekend until I had too many children to be able to plan long cooking sessions! I was once on an adult training course with a lady who said she made five Christmas puddings at one go and the last one, eaten the fifth Christmas after, was always the best tasting one!
DeleteThis year I have been cheerfully using the produce of my garden and, having time on my hands, have reverted to how I used to prepare for winter months.
Yesterday Jon had to do a large 'shop' for me and today I will be making the puddings. Cakes probably tomorrow. I have the fruit soaking in sherry at the moment.
Having already made jam, pickled onions and picalli the cupboard is getting quite full!
Luckily youngest son who works at JS was given a 10kg bag of dried mixed fruit, which was one of some produce mistakenly sent to his store by their head office depot. The manager gave them out to the employees of the bakery department where son was working after the butchers' counters were closed down. It will certainly cut costs for me this year!😁👍
Sorry missed out 'li' from the middle of picallili!😀
DeleteHow the temparature is now quickly dropping. If the weather forecast is correct, it will only be 5C overnight!
ReplyDeleteI have put my winter 13.5tog duvet back on the bed today, as I woke up in the early hours and I was cold. Luckily, so was pusscat who appeared, and snuggled up against me, so we kept each other warm until morning.
I am now cooking the evening meal.
Tonight it is roast pork, roast pots, stuffing, apple sauce, cider gravy, with carrots, cauli, cabbage + brocolli and there is a nice Trentino Pinot Grigio, chilling outside on the patio table - and this is August!
Don’t keep doing this to me Miriam 🤣🤣🤣😂 enjoy🍴 🍷 (can’t find a white)
DeleteI’ve had the heating on briefly.....
I am still 8st 7lbs!
DeleteI like my food, wine and a "Scruff" + T - or two. I don't now why this is, except it has to be the portion size I eat.
My breakfast is a wheat or oat based cereal, lunch is salad with either tuna, egg or turkey, with crackers (in winter a vegetarian soup + 1 slice of toast).
My evening meal is very much more indulgent for 2 days a week, the rest of the week is still meat usually mince, (beef or turkey), fish, sausages, but always with lots of vegetables plus pasta, rice or potatoes.
I think that I just eat small portions and never eat puddings, rarely eat biscuits, snacks and a home-made cake lasts weeks, as it is cut up and stored in the freezer. I still have half a banana tea bread in there.
Oh and I eat lot of chicken...
DeleteMiriam, you are an example to us all. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of swimming, cycling and organ-playing I'm a mass of muscle gone to seed! The last time I weighed 8st 9lbs I was about 12 years old!
DeleteI am cooking this weekend, as my family visit will not be happening. This is due to family members, on a staycation last week, being contacted by Track + Trace, due to someone in the Pizza Express they went to on Tuesday, having a +ve test. They are now in isolation, plus Big Sis + Hubbie who they visited yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt is worrying, but I am not overly concerned, but the kids start back to school will probably be delayed by a week. They so need to go back!
I know my family have taken all the required precautions, when eating out and keeping social distancing. We have all, been so strict about this, to not only protect ourselves but others also, hard though it is.
Oh what a bummer for your family Miriam and of course the return to school delay. Did you hear of the air passenger who got such a text just before take off. He owned up to getting it but one heck of a to do. All the plane seats around the person had to sprayed and other such procedures carried out he was taken some where to be isolated until he could leave the airport to go home!
ReplyDelete.
I don't understand my Big Sis.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand she wants to see her grand kids, and moans when she doesn't see them regularly.
They wanted to go + see her yesterday to tell her about their time away, which she was so happy about.
Now she is complaining, as thanks to their visit, she + hubbie are now in isolation for 7 days - so this means no golf for a week!
She needs to think about her priorities - grand kids or golf.
Miriam, really sorry to hear that. So many ripples...shows how careful we still need to be.
ReplyDeleteI had a roofer round to check my leaking skylight yesterday and I hated having to let him in the house. We had to ask him to wear a mask and sent him back out into the rain and wind as quickly as possible!
Albert Hall: had my first graduation ceremony there in front of Princess Anne.
When at my sister's for a couple of days I saw the family but the young ones kept their distance from us the oldies. My sister and her husband drove me to a hospital appointment and on the way back I offered to spread an old bin liner on my seat in the back but she said don't be daft, not everyone is infected. Anyway, only the children sit there at times and then in their car seats.
ReplyDeleteIn my region the masks are now obligatory in all public places in the towns of population above 10 thousand, it doesn't bother me as I put it on when leaving the house and take it off on return.
The last time I weighed 8.7 was at age 16 and now prefer not to know with BMI at 15.
Complete change of topic .... and we may have discussed this before.....
ReplyDeleteBut yesterday I was very surprised to read an article by one of the Telegraph’s main correspondents which included the phase “are bored of..’
I have just heard the same “I’m bored of..” on the radio this morning.
Is it just me or does this irritate anyone else?
I have always used “am bored WITH”, not “OF”
Do any of our grammar experts have the correct answer please?
Archerphile, you’ve got me pondering. I will confess to using “bored of...” it at be a case o either being acceptable, I will be interested to see what others say.
ReplyDeleteI say 'with'; 'of' certainly grates. However, the latter is often used, so maybe the purist in you & I, AP, & doubtless many others, should give in !! After all, saying/writing 'of' does not alter the sense of what is meant whereas, for instance, 'could of' instead of 'could've' or 'could have' certainly does.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete"Bored of" seems to be a more recent thing used in speech. I prefer "bored with". Some nuances of the British language are being lost.
ReplyDeleteI looked this up and bored with and bored by are traditionally correct . However bored of has been accepted but wouldn't be used in formal English.
ReplyDeleteMy all time pet peeve is using "good" as an adverb.
How are you? I'm good.
😠😠 sets my teeth on edge
Bored of, could of, de-cayed (instead of dec-ade), are all pronounciations and usage which have me shouting at the radio or tv.
ReplyDeleteThe McDonald's advert 'I'm loving it' and sadly, the lovely and talented lady on the Repair Shop, who says in the trailer 'I'm liking what I see!' also annoy me. Incorrect grammar again I'm afraid! Sometimes I wish I hadn't trained to be a TESOL teacher after retirement, then I would not be so concerned or, as my sisters say, 'pedantic!' 😁
Tired of, bored with, I would say. Hate “l’m good “ and don’t like being referred to as “guys”. I correct folk on the tv all the time. Most recent dislike is the use of across as in “we will keep you across the news as it happens”. However as a linguistics graduate who knows that language is a living thing that moves with time and culture, and mindful that if I can understand what is being communicated then it probably doesn’t matter, I try to temper my pedantry (not very successfully though).
ReplyDeleteI wasn't trained as a TESOL teacher, Spicy, and I'm equally irritated by the creeping use of the present continuous and all those other bugbears, I was just fortunate to have been educated by teachers who knew and understood their craft. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the last writer on earth who knows where to employ a colon - and I don't even know whether I'm good or not!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if I'm the last writer who knows where to employ a colon.
DeleteWell that's a relief! 😁😁
Sorry couldn't resist.
'I am loving'(wince...) the colon, semi colon, dash & ( ).
Delete(BTW, Autumnleaves & Sarnia, if you've ever read my posts, you will see that is true, of all four punctuation marks.)
AL , 12.55pm - sorry, I don't understand.
DeleteI don't like "I'm good", it's American but Archerphile says that's what the young use nowadays, I wait with apprehension and feel pleasantly surprised when people answer: I'm fine/very well.
ReplyDelete‘twasn’t I, Basia! But I dislike ‘I’m good’ too. Sadly, all my grandchildren say it. 😕
DeleteSpicycushion, I'm one of those who says: could I have a coffee please (you once objected to this), what should it be, may I or I'd like to?
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with Could I in my book Basia.
DeleteI find it irritating however the exaggeration of everything. Again thanks to the Americans. Everything no matter how banal the favour or gesture is given "thank you SO much".
What would you say if someone did you a real favour.
Another one ( I'm on my high horse now), is the use of " I love you" every 5 minutes. My parents never said it, nor have I said it very often to my children. If Mr 🍁🍁 said it to me all the time I'd think " what's he up to" 😁😁.
Actions speak louder than words and if the words are overused they lose all the meaning and just become an empty phrase.
Basia _ My objection was to the Americanism, when asked by a waiter/waitress, "Can I get a coffee please?" It is something I really object even correcting one of my adult sons in a restaurant, which is something I hardly ever do!
DeletePersonally I would say "May I have a cup of coffee please?" but to me "Can I" is acceptable. Dictionaries indicate 'May' is more formal.
A very prim and proper Aunt was forever upbraiding me with;
ReplyDelete“ You CAN have another biscuit, but the question should be ‘MAY you’.
I wish they would use it more on Countdown, and completely eliminate
“Can I GET a...”
which drives me to distraction.
Basia and Autumn leaves, I completely agree. “Can I get a coffee?” I have to bite my tongue not to say “no, but the barista can get it for you”.
ReplyDeleteSorry Archerphile, posting at the same time. Great minds! Get was a banned word at school, along with the aforementioned Enid Blyton, because neither were thought by our head teacher to improve our language skills. (He didn’t mention the other reasons for EB).
DeleteMust say, I like 'I get the point' though not keen on 'go get...' Am not averse to 'I'm good' either, a neat modern way of being succinct about physical & mental health. Also like the American way of saying, 'I'm done', meaning 'I've had enough of....whatever it is'.
DeleteOne thing that has driven me mad over the past 6 months is almost every single person on TV & radio saying "vunrable" instead of "vulnerable". I have resorted to correcting them out loud each & every time it happens.
ReplyDeleteNow you've said that, Gary, I recognize it happens ! ( Oh dear, even in myself when speaking, not writing..(VULNERABLE)
DeleteIssues have now replaced problems
DeleteAnd that's been going on for years. Inaccurate & euphemistic - don't like it either. Bit similar to people saying they have mental health problems ( only more likely they say issues rather than problems !), Or, worse, just ' mental health'. Nonsense - who wouldn't want to have mental health ? What they mean is mental illness, imbalance, disturbance. ( Sorry if I've written that last point before - one of my bugbears)
DeleteThere was a wonderful line in Seinfeld about a person being follicley challenged.. meaning bald.
DeleteFor me it is ‘of off’ and sayings, usually by politicians, going forward, ramping it up, day and night. Round the clock. Meaningless.
ReplyDeleteI’m not fused about misspelling or apostrophes, similar colons and for me the colon sits in the body.
I don’t carry a red pen in my head.
Politicians are trained to use cliches and set phrases to cover up when they don't know the answer. Same here in Italy. There must be a special course.
DeleteHow to talk a lot of shit and make the people believe you.
Open to politicians, used car salesmen and insurance men.
In other words anyone who is trying to sell you something.
I have noticed “super” being used many times lately. For instance in an animal programme “we will have to be super quiet”. A person is now super rich, super sad etc.
ReplyDeleteNot forgetting “so” at the beginning of a sentence in reply to a question and “like” used every other word......
Another phrase I have noticed being used a lot recently - often by young people when asked their opinion on something - “Oh yes, a hundred percent”
DeleteI think it’s beginning to replace - “Absolutely”.
(Which might or might not be a good thing)
Today is the last sunday of August and in my village it's the sagra (festival) of San Valentino . He is the patron saint of our village. There are many in my husband's family who were named valentino including my husband's grandfather and cousin.
ReplyDeleteI know what you're all thinking that st Valentine's is in February but they decided to move the celebration to mark the last festival of summer.
Usually the bones of st Valentine (which are in our church) are led through th village in a procession with a local band, the mayor and the young people of the village dressed in traditional costumes.
There's a concert and a large market . It marks the end of the summer season as tomorrow everyone packs up to go home.
This year however there was no San Valentino because of covid. .the tourists started to leave on Thursday and just to add insult to injury we've had 3 days of violent thunderstorms. ...tomorrow is another day.
Isn't it such a shame, that these wonderful traditions, cannot take place at the moment.
DeleteAt least, it is only this once, will resume again, and will not forgotten.
Autumn leaves, your festivals so so much more exciting and special than our very boring “August Bank Holiday”!
DeleteShould have been ‘sound so much more’, of course.
DeleteRe 'mental health'
ReplyDeleteIn my work I have to ask people about their mental health, then document it. I usually write 'no history of mental ILL health' if that is the case.
Surely we would all hate to have no history of mental health.
Yes, it's so ingrained in our language now, like saying "he's mental or a mental case".
DeleteGlad you do that, Zoetrope !
DeleteI've just listened to a soppy romantic drama on Radio 4. I didn't like the one by Agatha Christie yesterday and there's more next week. You may remember the woman whose husband tampered with her parachute five years ago. I'm reading her story which started as Helen & Rob x 10 and nearly ended in her death. That's why I enjoy happy fiction.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fascinating story and one I recall well.
DeleteRe language - what I hate is the youngsters saying " it's cool", or "it was cool".
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely due to, the large generation gap and the so-called, english language. 😵
It is just normal to hear now.
..or even, 'wicked'.
DeleteI heard cool as well as wicked used 45 years ago, cool has even made it across the channel.
DeleteI was convinced my new neighbours, would have moved in this week-end. There is still no sign, but it has to be imminent.
ReplyDeleteIt is still lovely having an empty adjoining house, though.
I put a card through their door on Friday night, as I was so convinced that they would be taking up residence, this weekend, but I have been proved wrong.
I found it hard choosing a suitable card. Many were so sickly and gushing. I did find a brilliant one, showing two pandas sitting on a sofa with their paws resting on the arm rests, with a caption of "Relax in Your New Home".
I thought this was ideal for a male couple.
Sadly, I was too early.
Don’t worry Miriam, your card will still be there when they move in and I am sure it will be appreciated. Finding suitable cards is always a challenge, I am always conscious of choosing something that won’t cause embarrassment if read by the recipient’s family or friends.
DeleteI interspere detective novels which I so love, with what I call "deckchair" reads. These are easy reading and so predictable. The last I read in this style was called The Beach Hut Wedding.
ReplyDeleteMy latest in this style, which I have only just started is, My One True North by Molly Johnson. It is looking good, well so far but time will tell.
Archerphile - I have just read the Stephen Booth book, "Drowned Lives". I really enjoyed it, but it was so very confusing, so much so I had to go back + re-read some chapters. Would I recommend it, that is debatable, and I am not sure. Still, it kept me out of mischief.
I've enjoyed reading all the comments about word usage. I also prefer bored with and not bored of which sounds wrong to my ears. 'Love you' every five minutes also drives me nuts. Mum and Dad never said it to us but we knew we were loved all the same. It's funny when I heard a couple having an argument on the phone and one said 'I've got to go' but still had to add the obligatory 'love you' but it was said in a furious tone. People now begin every sentence with 'So.....', when did that start?
ReplyDeleteAlbert Hall memory - Dad took the family to see a Russian dance company in the sixties. I remember it being very grand.
My Albert Hall memory - is that I sang there, in a Proms concert, very many years ago and as a very minor participant, in a massive choir.
DeleteI remember it well, and is a memory which will never disappear, even after these so many years.
Miriam I wondered previously if you had ever sung at the Albert Hall.
DeleteEven as a very tiny little girl the majesty of the place has never left me, as it has not left you.
I too have enjoyed yet another discussion on The English Language and I too always use bored with and wince at bored at.
As a child I had an ' aunty' who had been a ladies maid at Holcomb Hall in Norfolk. She always corrected me if I said, please can I have instead of ' may I have'.
And like others I am appalled at all the 'so' 'like' ' super' and so on.
But I also accept that language has and does evolve, and so try not to be pedantic about it. But it is hard not to be so.
The thing that drives me mad is the misuse of the apostrophe! I remember being taught about it at primary school but obviously not on the curriculum now! Some grammar we were taught was a bit tedious though as in dividing sentences into seven columns! What use was that?!!
ReplyDeleteIts and it's = a losing battle!
DeleteNot really, Basia. Apostrophe either denotes ownership, (before for a single thing, eg the dog's dinner or after it for several, eg the bees' knees) or letters missed out for contraction, ie should've (should have) gone to Specsavers.
DeleteIt's (it is) quite straightforward really: no ownership, no contraction = no apostrophe.
Any help?
As far as I remember something belonging to it is its not it’s just to complicate things! Often nowadays an apostrophe is used in plurals so a sack of potatoes becomes potato’s. Aargh!
DeleteWhat I'm saying is that its and it's to some people are one and the same.
DeleteTo me its denotes ownership and it's is a contraction, though I wasn't thinking in those terms.
I didn't want to get technical but since you mention it Ev, nowadays the 'ownership' apostrophe only applies to nouns, not the pronouns that refer back to them. Jane Austen would have written 'that little dog is not her's' and 'the cat was licking it's paws'. Thank goodness that usage died out, so that now the little dog still is not (isn't) hers and the cat can continue to lick its paws.
DeleteTesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Stasia, looks like you are in, did you sign out in error, or just suffer from a computer glitch?
Delete123’
ReplyDeleteMorning KPnuts. Signed out by mistake and had to go through the whole rigmarole again. My own fault.
DeleteMiriam.... you mean Milly Johnson, author of “one true north” I love all her books. She’s from Barnsley and writes in a right good northern way. Lovely, light reading in a time when it’s mostly misery.
ReplyDeleteI’ve got to admit that I’m useless at grammar. Our teacher was an old lad, about to retire and he couldn’t control the class. I hardly learnt a thing. All I know is that if you can put “to” in front of a word it’s a verb and an adjective describes something.
I apologise to you all for my awful posts. Especially considering that I often start a sentence with “so”.
Soz.
Ha! I apologise for far too much punctuation in my posts - I'm so guilty of it....! (especially "!" "-" & "...")
DeleteOh dear - me too Gary. Also lots of -‘s and .......’s
DeleteDon’t think I will ever be able to manage texting without punctuation either!
(Whoops, there we go, more brackets and exclamation marks). 😂
Anyone else listen to the Simon Schama great gallery tours that have been on radio 4? They were excellent. Quick google of the pictures to be discussed beforehand and away.
ReplyDeleteA lovely way to learn about art instead of just standing looking at the picture in a gallery.
Like Autumnleaves we also had a very violent thunderstorm yesterday which has made the air feel very fresh. September and October are my favourite months as they are warm but not unbearably hot. The Italian children are due to go back to school in two weeks. They will have to wear masks and keep social distancing. I'm not sure how that will work out. They haven't been to school since the end of February. My 11 year old grandaughter will be starting middle school and is feeling very apprehensive. I am still living in my temporary accomodation waiting for the new house to be completed. Hopefully it will only be for another 2 months.
ReplyDeleteYes I've been listening to S S but haven't been looking at the pictures. Know some of them but not all. Time ?
ReplyDeleteBut will listen again at some point and look at them then.
Punctuation, me ?
Hopeless.
See entry at 1.26, Mrs P, which might be of some use.
DeleteI have booked flights today for my painting holiday in June next year which hopefully will go ahead! Flights are with EasyJet and seemed relatively cheap but by the time baggage was added and seating near the front paid for, the cost had mounted! I also booked an airport lounge to avoid crowds and to have a bit of breakfast as it is a nine o’clock flight. Flying on my own, I like to make it as easy and comfortable as possible! I’m staying overnight at the Premier Inn which is just across the road from the Terminal at Gatwick which means you are there with no travel worries. I’m glad we’re not travelling this year and just hoping for the best in 2021!
ReplyDeleteWell Done for being so brave, in booking something for next year, now.
DeleteI wish I could feel so positive, as to booking a holiday for 2021.
How I wish I had a crystal ball!
Good on you Ev!
Delete"I'm going to the zoo, zoo, you can come too, too" 🎶 but sadly you can't join me.
ReplyDeleteI have a members full-day, entrance for tomorrow, which I booked in July. I was lucky in that, I managed to book when the September bookings became available in July.
This will be my first visit since February/March. The last time I was there, the new baby elephant was only a week old. I expect to see a big difference, as she is now is over 6 months old.
I will be keeping to the outside areas, until I work out how things are being controlled. I can see so much - elephants, meerkats, prairie dogs, rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers, bears etc
My little rucksack will have the usual things in it, such as drink, snacks, phone, purse but there wiil also some new and vital, necessities. These are gloves, masks + hand sanitiser, just in case..
At least normality is resuming, but not quite as we know it.
Tomorrow is just a "feeler" trip, as I have another one booked for next week.
DeleteHave a lovely time, Miriam 🐒🐒🐧🐧🐘🐘🐘
DeleteYou're going to have a blast Miriam - enjoy!
DeleteI will 😁. I feel like a kid, who knows that tomorrow I will be let loose into a sweet shop, and get a fix.
DeleteI will go straight to my favourites, the elephants and the gorgeous, red pandas.
Then, it just depends...
That's me for today.
ReplyDeleteI am trying out + cooking a new recipe. It is brown rice, with onions, red peppers, chorizo, garlic, mushrooms and wine (but I substituted cider), chicken stock, herbs, paprika, tom. puree. Browned chicken breasts are put on top, along with peeled + depithed, orange slices and then a slow oven cook.
It will be either delicious or a disaster. I hope, the former, but I don't know yet.
It will be ready in time for TA, along with carrots, runner beans, cabbage + brocolli.
It's 🤞 at the moment.
A quick up-date.
ReplyDeleteMy new recipe was delicious.
The recipe was for 4 portions, so I halved it to do 2 meals, but even half was far too much!
Next time, it will 1/4 of the recipe, to do 2 meals to suit my intake. I can easily tweak the recipe accordingly, for my needs.
PS Left overs will make a nice rice + chicken salad cold lunch. Waste not, Want not..
DeleteIs it your birthday treat to the zoo tomorrow or is that next week Miriam?
ReplyDeleteNeither, but a very good guess. It is just not quite yet ..and I am not saying when..😁😁
DeleteMy visit next week, is on a memorable day, for me,though. It is when I officially become a pensioner, as it is the date when my state pension finally starts, after a very long wait of nearly 6 years.
This is only shortly before my 66th birthday, but that day is still being kept quiet.
Ahh but is it Miriam - I will say no more for a while yet 😉
DeleteI bet Lady R. will know. I shall say "happy birthday" when she does! 😊
ReplyDeleteHow weird Janice we must have been posting at the same time. If I am wrong I will look a right wally 🤣
DeleteHave a wonderful day Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI belong to a group of 15 ‘virtual’ friends who all play a computer game called Junes Journey ( it’s all about gardening and decorating an island - yes, I know it’s sounds a bit juvenile for a 75 yr old, but it’s very enjoyable and has been a boon during Lockdown)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we all ‘meet up’ online at 11am every morning for a brief chat, much like here. Until about 4 weeks ago, from whence our President and 2 members have been totally silent. The rest of us have been very worried about their unexplained and un-notified absence.
Until yesterday, when it was discovered that the 3 of them had gone on a weekend hiking trip in the Lake District. Their minibus was involved in a serious accident, overturned and the 3 are very. seriously ill in hospital. The President in a coma and all with broken legs and other injuries.
Because we all use pseudonyms (like here) it was very difficult to find out what had happened.
The point of this post is that it has made me realise that, should something similar happen to any of us (heaven forfend) and we didn’t hear from them for several weeks, how would we know what had happened?
Mr A knows I post about TA, but wouldn’t have a clue how to find or access this site. Has anyone else given details to a friend or relative about how to contact the group, or even Gary as our administrator.
Would it be advisable to give, say, Gary or someone else here our email adresses so that enquiries could be made?
I should hate to loose a member of our group because they were very ill, or in hospital, or even worse.
What dose everyone else think?
It's a thing that I have often thought about AP, especially when people drop off the radar for a bit or have actually disappeared. (I do know that most of the bloggers who have been on our meet-ups have email addresses for each other.)
DeleteI have a vague idea of how to gather people's contact details without them having to post them on here for others to see. I could post my email address on here for a limited period at a set time for others to email me any details they wish OR they could just take down my address and pass it on to their family/friends so that (heaven forfend) anyone needed to pass on info to me to pass on to the group. Make sense?
I have already instructed Jon to post here, do a general post to my email addresses and notify facebook before de-activating it. Typical Virgo at least trying to be prepared for the worst scenario!
DeleteHe also knows the little book that I keep all my passwords in for those which are not already saved in Firefox!
That is excellent planning Spicy. Think I might have to do the same, though Mr A can only use Windows10 and refuses to learn how to use all my Apple devices.
DeleteRegarding these Archers Blogs, I’m more than happy to give my and my husbands email address to Gary if he decides to set up a register. Probably my husband’s would be more useful as Gary could mail him and say ‘we haven’t heard from Archerphile/ my real name for a while, is she OK?’ That would save husband from having to try & log in here himself.
Yes Gary, your idea makes sense, though I thought you might have access to our email addresses through the site because we can opt in for receiving emails every time someone posts. I suppose you could also set up a separate address for receiving our information rather than disclose your main one. You know more than I do. I have announced my full name on Radio4 more than once but I don't expect anyone to listen to everything.
DeleteLast year after I had been ill and wasn't sure how things would turn out I made a list for my son of people to notify if I died and included this blog plus password on it. I have progressed so well that now I have every intention of making it to a ripe old age. I would be happy to be on a register if Gary started one, but as a person who values freedom greatly I wouldn't ever want Gary, a comparatively young man, to feel tied down to looking after us and the blog.
ReplyDeleteSuberb planning, Janice, but very glad the progress has been so good.
DeleteI agree Janice.
DeleteMy thoughts have been posted, in my way!
Gary is just a wonderful and lovely person, who is the administrator of this site.
ReplyDeleteThis is what he does brilliantly, keeping the two different blogs going, alongside.
Anything else, such as the suggested register, is out of this boundary. He has his own life to live and enjoy.
I think what he does now, is far + beyond a normal administrator, which I so appreciate.
Surely it is up to bloggers, to let their loved ones know the details of their accounts etc. Not Gary.
Agree, Miriam. 😊
DeleteI agree with Janice's final point (1.26pm).1t is bit much to ask for Gary's constant vigilance, monitoring if a blogger hasn't been posting for a month or so.
ReplyDeleteAdd to that, many occasional bloggers, or even regular ones, may not wish the rest of us to be notified.
I go with Gary's suggestion to leave his email ( or a different one for the purpose, as Basia suggests), for a pre signalled, limited time & that he also asks if he may pass the email of anyone interested to those of us who have met & know each other's addresses.That way, the burden of checking is shared, & not just left to Gary.
There are 7 of us, I think, &, of course, we would have to agree the sharing of our addresses. Personally, I'm ok with that.
Aren't there more than 7 contributors here?
DeleteAlso there are many who read, and then suddenly post again, after quite awhile.
Not everyone is the same, and I for one use a very different e-mail address here, rather than my normal one.
I actually like being anonymous, as I often say far too much, both in my own thoughts + feelings. I know, though, that I can do this here.
The 7 I referred to are the posters who know each other's emails .
DeleteI now understand, as I totally misinterpreted your comment.
DeleteWhat could you to be called - The Sensible Seven, The Serious Seven or just Similar?
Just the folk who've met each other ! (Certainly not similar, not people who take themselves too seriously, I hope - maybe reasonably sensible....)
DeleteI had a lovely zoo visit today, but I was caught out with the weather, as it was hot!
ReplyDeleteI checked the met. office forecast this morning, which said sunny to begin with, but then cloudy + about 16/17C. I dressed accordingly, and went off with snacks etc. How wrong it was as by 11.30am it was bright blue skies, sunny + 23C. I wore a long sleeved cotton top, jeans, and a light jacket (which I tied round my waist) but I was definitely wearing the wrong clothes!
It was a great time in the sunshine. I noticed a lot of differences, such as one-way systems, masks having to be worn in certain "outside" areas, the constant markings to keep 2m apart.
I was there for 2.5hours, but although not that long, was just what I needed. As the schools start tomorrow, there were very many family groups around, but how well behaved they all were. The parents were telling kids to wait their turn, don't go too close etc. and they did just that. I didn't venture to the most popular places, but loved what I saw, particularly the "Prairie Dogs" as the whole pack were very active - the cheethas, zebras, camels, and as to the two baby meerkats..
These were so cute and so very small, like little rats! The new baby elephant is still very small, still very much the baby of the herd, and still so cute!
I go again next week, but today's visit showed me how things are being done and controlled, in such a great way.
It was a good visit, in so many ways, which I so enjoyed, apart from wearing the wrong clothes..😣
That sounds a wonderful 2.5 hrs., Miriam ! Seeing the animals do what they do, (with a fair amount of space to do it in that zoo, I hope), catching up with the latest arrivals. Did you manage to get coffee & cake as well ?!
DeleteKaty’s first full day back at school. She had a risk assessment which said she should take her own food and use her own plates, eating irons etc. In any case she isn’t keen on mingling at the food station! I guess a lot of office workers etc will feel the same so sandwich and coffee bars etc returning to normal probably won’t happen in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mr A’s first session back at the Cardiac Re-hab gym in Alton , which he has attended weekly since 2002 after his quadruple heart bypass operation.
ReplyDeleteThe facility has, of course, been closed throughout lockdown. Most of the people who attend are elderly and obviously have, or have had, heart problems.
But he didn’t enjoy it at all. Instead of attending with the same group on Tuesday mornings which had become almost a social event, clients have a timed appointent, only 2 at a time in the gym. no changing bags allowed or showers after exercise
Not the same at all. But at least it has opened again at last, so that’s some progress.
I suppose all facilities will have a slightly different approach to the new rules.
ReplyDeleteI've been to two of my Tai Chi classes which are being held now in the very large Gym instead of the exercise studios, and with the same number of attendees, 30 in each class, with spots on the floor to denote distance to be kept. Ive booked this morning for next Monday.
Sorry that Mr A found his session to be dispiriting.
So glad you enjoyed your visit to the zoo zoo zoo Miriam.
Lanjan, what have you been doing? Even if I don't comment I scan the blogs and notice when some regulars don't show up, I know sometimes it's just no news which is good in itself.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if Lanjan is having contact with her grandson at present, as he was coming to this country around the 23rd ? August.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Janice, to start a new job.
DeleteChange of subject -
ReplyDeleteDid anyone watch the first episode of the newly made series of All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5?
I was dubious about a remaking of this much loved series, but we were delighted with it.
Beautiful dales scenery, the same house used for the vet’s home & surgery. The opening scenes in James Herriot’s family home in Glasgow when he gets the invitation for interview was beautifully handled. The same beautiful music and vintage cars accompanying the vets on their way to farm clients.
I thought Sam West (son of Tim and Prunella) was excellent on the role of Siegfried, and much nearer the book description than the rather over-the-top
Robert Hardy was.
I shall definitely watch the rest of the series - but by recording it, to skip all the irritating adverts!
I was cross with myself, as I now realised that I hadn't put it on to record, as I had planned to. I always record this type of series, to skip the ads.
DeleteIsn't it lovely to have such a new series to watch and indulge in, though.
DeleteI am surprised that it is being shown on a weekday. In my opinion, this should be Sunday Night viewing.
Perhaps though - this is an old-fashioned idea, i.e. the Sunday Night Serial.
I've recorded it so that I can fast forward the adverts too. It's very rare that we watch anything on TV "live" now, unless it's on the BBC. Can't bear ads.
DeleteI remember it from the '90s, I recently read the book and I'm glad the remake is as good if not improved.
DeleteWith my Recorder, I can just press once, a button on the remote, which skips the ad break in it's entirity. I don't have to sit with a thumb or finger, pressed firmly on the fast forward button.
DeleteI only bought this one, as it was cheap - but it was a brilliant buy.
I agree Archerphile I was very dubious having loved the original series but we also throughly enjoyed it for all the reasons you stated. I thought Mrs Hall the housekeeper looked a younger person than before but could just be my memory. Either way it did not detract from my enjoyment at all 🤗 🐈 🐕 🐄 🐎
ReplyDeleteI need to find it on "catch-up".
DeleteTo Archerphile as to a health issue, so others scroll over.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile. How is your eye doing?
I hope things are progressing and you will definitely have the 2nd one done.
I made "notes" after mine, just to remind me of issues to tell hosp. if I needed to. These I still have and are intereseting, in that I made a note on about day 6, as how sensitive the eye was, how irritated it was especially after the chloramphenicol drops and before the steroid one.
I also noted, how blurry my vision was in comparison to the first day and if I still had a contact lens in, it would need to be removed + cleaned.
I think the steroid drops had an effect, as it was only after 4 weeks, when all drops had finished, that my vision became crystal clear. I had a follow up appointment, after 5 weeks and all was fine.
Don't give up and get the 2nd one done.
PS I had far fewer problems with the 2nd, as this was the "good" eye in comparison, but still not that good.
DeleteListen out for: we should *also* mention that it can happen *too*, hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI finished my book today:-
ReplyDeleteMy One True North by Milly Johnson.
It was a good read, with quite a few twists, but the outcome was predictable. I enjoyed it, but felt the story could have been told just as well, with at least 50 pages less.
It is, what I refer to, as a great deckchair read.
What is next - the next in the Agatha Raisin series - simple but so fun!
That must have been an 'unexpected surprise' for you, Basia.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I mean Esscee.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just read “The Child who Never Was” by Jane Renshaw. It was a good read classified as a psychological thriller which kept me reading to see what happened next. It had an unexpected twist at the end. All good ingredients for a satisfying story!
ReplyDeleteArcherphile was today eye check day ?
ReplyDeleteMiriam and Lady R
ReplyDeleteYes, today was checkup day. My surgeon thoroughly examined the eye and declared the op had gone perfectly.
He asked me to describe my ‘journey’ since op day - which was just about identical to yours, Miriam. Perfect sight for first 6 days, then awful redness & irritation from chloramphenical Drops, blurring of vision, improvement when Drops stopped and now, blurriness in morning gradually clearing by lunchtime.
He said ‘ you have given me an almost word perfect account of what we would expect to happen after a cataract operation! Pity I didn’t know all that before, I thought.
Anyway, I am going ahead with the other eye next Thursday, after another Covid test on Mon.
He did warn me that this 2nd op will be a bit longer and more tricky because of needing a toric lens to counteract astigmatism. It needs very precise aligning, otherwise I could have distorted vision.
So not looking forward to it, but will be glad when it’s all over. Oh, and he said to only use the antibiotic drops for 5 days to avoid too much irritation, plus the steroid ones for 5 weeks.
Archerphile, sending you very best wishes for next week. 🌻
ReplyDeleteWonderful news Archerphile as you say a pity that you did not have full understanding of the post op stages which would have saved you some angst. Glad not long for you to wait for 2nd op then for the first time ever perfect sight 🤗 👀 . Also unlike some ops will never need to be repeated in a certain number of years. Your sight will be that of a young lady to match the young you in spirit 🤣 👏🏻
DeleteGary, does the Glasgow lockdown affect you?
ReplyDeleteYes - but like everyone I know, I am completely fine with it.
DeleteBasia and Janice and other bloggers.
ReplyDeleteBriefly
Mr LJ was taken into hospital as an emergency case last Friday evening where he stayed until last night.
Back home now but follow up at hospital tomorrow and Friday.
He is just having a long shower and will feel better I am sure after he has had a shave.
Janice -re my grandson.
He is in London now but has had to self isolate so haven't seen him.
Hopefully starts work on Monday in his new job.
The good news.
Son's house In Canada except for smelling of smoke is intact .
They are back there now and the water bombs for the fires and the 40 degree heat have done wonders for the garden vegetables.
Lanjan so sorry to hear of Mr LJ’s emergency visit to hospital as I know the feeling when that happens. What a year this is - not being able to see your grandson as well such a shame for you all. Very very best wishes to Mr LJ (my fellow Libra 🤗) and to you. Take care and relax quietly for a few days🌻
DeleteGood news from your son 👏🏻
Relax between the check up visits....
DeleteLanjan, so sorry to hear about Mr LJ’s hospitalisation and for the stress and worry it must have caused you,.
ReplyDeleteVery glad to hear he is home again where, I’m sure, he will receive excellent care from you.
I very sincerely hope he is recovering well and that you are able to carry on doing all the things you both enjoy.
Good news about your son’s home (and the burgeoning vegetables) and wishing good luck to your Grandson in his new job. Hopefully you will catch up with him soon.
Lanjan Lovely news about Mr LJ. Ignore text message!😀
ReplyDeleteLanJan, I hope you and Mr LJ are able to have some rest and recovery after the last few days. Sounds as though you have had a lot to contend with recently. Thinking of you 💐
ReplyDeleteLanjan, thank you for your update. I'm glad Mr LJ is back home and your son's house has no damage. Hopefully you'll be able to see you grandson soon. Hope to hear from you when you're ready.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you both, LanJan.
ReplyDeleteLanjan, what a worry for you both. As others have said, you can both relax again, and eagerly await seeing your grandson.
ReplyDeleteWere you able to go hospital visiting?
When shopping this morning I spotted some lovely orchids. The smaller were quite pricey, but there was a shelf with the taller ones, I actually prefer. These were only £10, so I decided to treat myself. I chose one, but on lifting it down from the top shelf, there was a most gorgeous one at the back. It has 3 flower stems with 14 flowers, loads of buds and is a wonderful deep purple with cream stripes. Even though I am quite tall, I struggled to reach it, but I did. The icing on the cake was the price, only £5 - I do love a bargain..😀
ReplyDeleteI went to the supermarket shortly before 9.00am, as now the schools are back, Mums are doing the school run at this time. It was great, but the car park was filling up as I was leaving. I also noted that some of the more "senior" staff were back working again, probably as their furlough has ended.
My Bro-I-Laws has also, but he has wisely decided, not to return to work. He is a very fit and active 71 yrs (with a heart condition though). His job was as a mini-bus driver for a day-care centre, transporting those with disabilities and Alzheimers, doing the "meals on wheels" lunchtime service, plus the maintaining of the gardens, along with general handy-man duties. He only worked 3 days a week, but he hasn't missed it! Hence his decision, of which I so approve.
He feels that he cannot now contribute in the way he would like. As "Big Sis", he is just being silly. She owns the house outright, pays for the maintenance etc and she is happy for "Hubbie" to pay half the normal utility bills, plus his Sky subscription and to maintain his car. She asks for no more, as she is the major income provider. Hubbie has his own pension, but still owns a property (outright) which is let, so gets the rental income from it, though keeps some towards maintenace on his property.
DeleteThey have a great understanding and relationship, and hubbie keeps the garden, absolutely emmaculate.
He will never sell his house, as this is the inheritance for his 3 children, from his former marriage.
Very glad Mr LJ is home now, Lanjan - a relief for you both, despite follow up visits to come. All the best !
ReplyDeleteAt least your grandson has arrived though the self isolation pretty tiresome.
Great news that your son's home is still intact - phew
Tried to respond earlier, but was on the train to London & wifi connection cut ( can't think why, we weren't going through a tunnel...)
A local friend received a picture of her grandchildren on their first day back at school. The girl in her new secondary school uniform.
ReplyDeleteI received a photograph of my middle granddaughter in her new ' smart casual ' outfit off to her first day in sixth form at her brothers school.
Having been through years at a girls school I hope she enjoys the interaction within a mixed group. She is a very sensible sixteen year old.
( another Libra, Lady R)
Have others received there ' back to school/college ) photographs ?
I have, and it was great. Both went back to school today.
DeleteThey had to self-isolate, last week, but as neice said, the contact was 10days ago and was very minimal with the person, who then tested +ve. He was sitting on the next table to them, which was outside with social distancing in place.
She decided, that it was safe for the kids to return today as it was so needed. I think she was right.
What I loved were the new school uniforms - to be grown into!
I’m sure you’re granddaughter is a more confident Libra than I was at her age Mrs P.
DeleteI was quite shy (not that anyone can believe that these days 🤣) However my love of people and having close friends soon drew me out. I wish her well and would love to hear how she adapts to her new situation.
Heard from my daughter, back at her school to teach. She (and the other staff) were given free coffee, pastries and a free curry for lunch. Sadly they were not given any PPE which would have been more important and more welcome, she said.
DeleteDid have a short video of my youngest grandson in his new class in Dubai. Desks really spaced out, all children wearing masks the whole time and with earphones wired up to a huge screen at one end of the classroom so they can easily interact with each other and the teacher. I think he found it very strange. But he said he was smiling under the mask!
Certainly agree with your first paragraph Archerphile and how lovely to receive the footage from Dubai of your youngest grandson in his classroom smiling behind his 😷
Deletebless him.
Lanjan, hope the follow up visits went well for Mr LJ. There seems to be so much going on in your families lives at the moment - I hope you're finding the odd moment or two to sit down and experience a bit of calm. X
ReplyDeleteVisited my mother yesterday. Local secondary school had just turned out - hundreds of children pouring up the street in large groups. No sign of distancing or staggered time slots. And there’s talk of a North East lockdown.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest niece is in Leeds, an area of concern now, with the possibility of new restrictions. She is sensible, but lives in a flat in a development. The worry is the communal areas such as lifts etc. I am sure she is being very careful.
DeleteI wish LJ and Mr. LJ well, with their circumstances and following hospital appointments.
ReplyDeleteI do not know what happened, but that immaterial.
I just want to say - My thoughts are with you both. 🤗
When I shopped yesterday, I needed an authorisation, as I had two bottles of wine in my bag. This I got, but I was looked at. I responded - I am well over age - and the lovely bloke replied "only just"! What a smooth talker...
ReplyDelete🤗 I know what you mean Miriam a lovely boost to morale having such banter.
DeleteI am watching the British Athletics Champonships, which is very watchable and exciting.
ReplyDeleteIt is different though, no spectators, all officials wearing masks and when the winners do the post race interviews, they also have to wear a mask.
Still, this is normal as we now know it, but it is sad.
I do wish the BBC would swop Gardener’s World presenters - make Adam Frost the weekly lead, with Monty Don just doing the occasional programme.
ReplyDeleteI am bored to tears with Monty, his claustrophobic garden and his wretched dogs following him everywhere.
I much prefer Adam’s more open garden and his more casual style of presentation. Last nights programme was entrancing and we especially liked the visit to Dan Pearson’s beautiful countryside garden and the lady growing those amazing snake gourds and Thai vegetables.
Monty Don has been fronting GW for a very long time now and it’s time for a change.
Let him go on his trips abroad (always wearing some floaty scarf or other) and let Adam show us the weekly jobs in our own gardens and other inspirational gardens around this country.
🤣 oh Archerphile I said to Mr R last night that you would be saying just that 😂 I don’t mind Monty as a person but regarding GW Adam Frost is bright and very personable. Puss cat makes an appearance but I enjoy that and confess I did loved Nigel.
DeleteLove Nigel of course 🤩
DeleteOh dear! I/we must be the only people in the entire country who didn’t love Nigel!
DeleteAfraid, as you will have gathered by now, we are definitely cat people, not dog lovers!
I only listen to GQT and yesterday I found out that if ginger sprouts it can be planted. I told my sister about and she said she's done it already, how avantgarde is that! It can take up to a year to grow, so I'll see how she gets on. Mine though organic has not sprouted, perhaps it's the long flight from Peru and storage that prevents it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Basia, I might try that. Last nights TV gardening prog showed a lady who grows loofahs to eat (not use in the bath) and a very strange snake gourd, several feet long and looking exactly like a snake curling round. Very weird,
DeleteAlso can report that the Tamarind seeds I bought back from Dubai 18 months ago have grown into 4 pretty little trees (only 10 inches high so far) with feathery leaves. They are supposed to be perfect for bonsai, so as they will never survive outdoors in England, I shall gave a go at bonsai-ing them.
Delete