AS: Cool Britannia (sort of): the British thread 2019

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  • Moroccan lamb shank sounds delicious
    We had pasties for lunch. One of them had, on the packaging, "Moroccan Vegetable Pasty" and, underneath, "A Taste of Cornwall" ....??? My wife said it was very nice (mine was Cheese and Bacon).

  • Grandson made chicken kiev, potato bake with sweet potato and beans. I will have leftovers tomorrow at some time. Not all of us have the appetite of a 13yo boy. It was good, just too much.
  • Mad few days over, spent sorting out stuff for the Guides Handicraft show which was yesterday afternoon. Our Guides had made those individual water globes and dream catchers, as well as group made imaginary gardens and biscuit Egyptian pyramids. The girls did well, and came back with rosettes in various classes, so not such a bad deal.

    I also put together friendship bracelet kits which I sat and did, selling all the rainbow ones I took and some of the chevrons. I took a rainbow kit with me and had one of the Guides demonstrating that one, after I started her off. I was reminding myself how to tie a chevron version.
    Being reluctant to use single-use plastic to package the kits, I drew instructions on a page that I photocopied and folded into bags, using a paperclip to fasten them. I had to redesign an origami bag pattern I found to work on A4.
  • That does sound very impressive - well done for all that effort you put in, Curiosity killed
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    <sings> I’m all alone, there’s no one here beside me…

    Husband en rouge has left for foie gras land, taking Captain Pyjamas with him. Apparently he’s behaving himself on the train thus far – I guess it’s new and interesting enough to keep him quiet.

    Now it’s me, myself and I until the end of the week. I’m out of the habit.
  • Well, I’d be heading out for a few art galleries and maybe a nice lunch and a glass of wine in a cafe.
  • I was just thinking yesterday that I hadn't made a friendship bracelet since I was a Scout! A chevron bracelet in the colours of our necker (black & gold) used to be de rigeur for both Scouts and Guides in our group. Time for them to make a comeback, fun and ultimately biodegradable!

    Something is afoot, I have no Scorpion Death Chocolate (habanero chili flavour) left and several people in the office are crying. I suspect grand theft chocolate!
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited April 2019
    Calm down, Bob.....perhaps you have eaten all the CHOCOLATE yourself (unknowingly - it's the chili wot duz it), and your Weeping Colleagues are weeping for you, now bereft of both CHOCOLATE and wits....
    :worried:

    That was BF's Whimsical Thought For The Day™.....
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited April 2019
    <sings> I’m all alone, there’s no one here beside me…

    Husband en rouge has left for foie gras land, taking Captain Pyjamas with him. Apparently he’s behaving himself on the train thus far – I guess it’s new and interesting enough to keep him quiet.

    Now it’s me, myself and I until the end of the week. I’m out of the habit.

    Are husband en rouge and Captain Pyjamas on a TGV (French very high speed train)? If so, I don't blame the Captain for being quiet and interested. Actually, you hardly have a chance to get bored, given the short time it seems to take for these trains to traverse the whole of a large country!

    Last time I went on a TGV, it was one of the latest double-deckers, and my eye was caught by the speedometer on the bulkhead at the end of the carriage. The driver (mecanicien?) managed NEVER to exceed 320 kph, (AIUI the maximum for these trains) though we did touch 319 kph on several occasions.
    :sweat_smile:
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    Our TGV is very high speed as far as Bordeaux, and then slows down a bit after that. There are a few that do Paris-Toulouse in three hours, but most of them aren’t that quick.

    I was reassured to get another photo update of Captain Pyjamas fast asleep. You see, Captain Pyjamas is like the Duracell bunny – the batteries just never run out. He does have an off switch, which can be activated by putting him in his bed, alone in the dark. At this point, he usually has a brief protest, and then thinks, “Oh well, I might as well go to sleep since there’s nothing better to do.” Being a very nosy individual who can’t possibly go to sleep while there’s more interesting things to do, I feared he would stay awake interminably on the train. But it’s all going well apparently.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited April 2019
    “Oh well, I might as well go to sleep since there’s nothing better to do.”

    This shows what a Sensible, Pragmatic, and Philosophical, individual Captain Pyjamas is.

    <notworthy>
    :grin:

    There is Hope for the World.
  • Wesley JWesley J Shipmate
    [...] I’m out of the habit.
    A nun no more!

  • Wesley JWesley J Shipmate
    “Oh well, I might as well go to sleep since there’s nothing better to do.”

    This shows what a Sensible, Pragmatic, and Philosophical, individual Captain Pyjamas is.

    <notworthy>
    :grin:

    There is Hope for the World.

    Captain Pyjamas for PM!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    ... Apparently he’s behaving himself on the train ...
    Husband en rouge or Captain Pyjamas? :mrgreen:

    Hope you have a lovely relaxing week - and Heavenlyannie's right - it should definitely include WINE.

    It's a beautiful, sunny but blustery day here - the river's still higher than it should be, and the highway's still partly closed: a friend who was at a funeral out in the country said they'd had to take quite a detour to get there.

    I've had a frustrating afternoon trying to sort out our Permanent Residence renewal - they really do seem to make it wilfully awkward. We've decided to cut our losses and go to the local immigration office and ask for their advice: for one thing, the fee appears twice on the website, with one quote being more than twice the other ... :rage:
  • "Permanent Residence renewal" sounds like an oxymoron. If something is indeed permanent it shouldn't have to be renewed. Good luck!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    It's just the cards that need to be renewed every 5 years, as they have photographs on them, but the form is four pages of questions where you have to list every time you left Canada in the last 5 years (among other things) - last time our forms were returned because there was something wrong with the photographs (which had been taken and stamped by a registered photographer), but they didn't specify what it was!

    Hence the proposed trip to get advice from someone who ought to know what's what.



  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    I’m not feeling the WINE so much. I don’t really do drinking alone.

    Public holiday tomorrow. I think a tour of the market is in order. The markets are one of my absolute favourite things in Paris.
  • The markets are supposed to be fabulous in Paris!
    I have marked loads of essays, each taking an hour. I’m now resting before cooking dinner and then teaching an online tutorial this evening.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited April 2019
    Right, i’ve just finished the tutorial and am now having some organic cider. Not something I usually drink but I fancied a change. I feel like a teenager again, lol.
    Tea was a jazzy version of Lancashire hot pot made from left over roast beef with garlic, olive oil and herbs. It didn’t taste anything like my mother’s original.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Possibly more like Aquitaine hotpot? Sounds lovely anyway.

    Lunch chez Piglet today was the leftovers of the lamb-shank, and although it wasn't quite as nice as the original, it was pretty good. There was rather a lot of it, and I didn't really want to keep it for another day, so I rather overindulged ...

    I did, however, redeem myself somewhat with the first amble of the season, as it was such a nice day. I think my body's forgotten that it's supposed to amble, because as soon as I got back, I sat down on the sofa and was out like a light.

    Must go and get myself organised now though - there's a trio from a nearby university giving a concert in the Cathedral tonight, and D's picking me up in about half an hour.
  • Enjoy the concert!
    I didn’t get out for my amble today as I was too busy marking. Oh well, by Sunday I will be released from my chains. This is my last lot of module marking and I only have some dissertation marking in June left to do. I only have two more official tutorials to teach as well, both next week, so work will get quieter (I’m only employed for term time anyway).
    Cider, despite being medium dry, is far too sweet. I’ve needed some kit Calvert Wednesdale to subdue it.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Something which could definitely be construed as sunlight is washing across Asknish Bay. Yesterday was, as they say at home, a fine soft day. But for the west coast, anything short of horizontal rain is a plus.
  • It must look beautiful there.
    I’ve walked to Waitrose with my trolley and done the weekly shop, and I’m now resting with a cup of tea and prevaricating before starting marking again. I’ve decided today will be a diet free day so it’s a large samosa for lunch and pizza for tea, followed by a nice peach glazed vanilla tart.
  • I was out with Yangtze last night at a recording of The Kitchen Cabinet at the British Library (and came home to woeful Kitten, who started texting me as I hit the tube home). This is why I don't get out much.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    The concert was very nice - a well-thought-out programme of Baroque music for flute, soprano and keyboard (organ and harpsichord), and there was a decent, appreciative audience.

    We're having a frustrating day. We had lunch at our nearest Tim Horton's, where they said they'd run out of chilli (one of their staples), and didn't have the sort of soup that would have been my next choice (although it was appearing on the menu screen). I made do with chicken noodle soup (boring) and as D. went to pick it up, one of the staff said to another customer that they'd have chilli ready in five minutes. Now why couldn't the bloke who served us have told us that???

    Then we spent half an hour trawling around where we thought the immigration office was and couldn't find it - we'll have to have another look at Google Maps ...

    I probably ought to go for an amble to put myself in a better mood. :angry:
  • Am just chilling before an early night ready for a 6am start tomorrow. Very unusual (thankfully) for me, but I'm working as a poll clerk in the elections and need to be pinning up posters and constructing booths by 6.30 for a 7am kick-off. Here's hoping for a busy, but uneventful day.
  • I was working til 10pm and am tired out. Had some green tea (matcha) to soothe my head.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    ... I probably ought to go for an amble to put myself in a better mood. :angry:
    I did, and it did. :smiley:
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited May 2019
    Popped out to vote at 8am, turn out much the same as usual here by the look of things. I went with my 18 year old son as he was voting for the first time (so one extra!).
    I’m off to yoga shortly then another day of marking.
    Beautifully sunny and warm now but light showers later. Do I put the washing out?
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited May 2019
    Only if you want those showers to definitely happen. (PS I've just put mine out - I'm living dangerously!)
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    What are you voting for? My next vote is for the European elections, for which I have sent for a postal vote. Spent some of last night persuading my daughter to do the same as it is IMPORTANT that we vote (always and especially this time)!
  • England has local government elections today so district and county councils. And the European elections in three weeks, assuming we get to vote in them.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited May 2019
    Yes, local and county elections in Cambridge.
    Washing out. Let’s live life on the edge, eh.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    I have a white card to vote today, and an orange card to vote on 23rd May. Well, I had two orange cards, because they also posted through my door one with a neighbour's name and address on as well as mine, but I posted it into my neighbour's door.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    I also had a guy from the Labour party knock on my door last week to give me a flyer and talk to me and such. I asked why he knocked on my door when I have a 'no cold callers' sign, and he said sorry, he didn't see it. I told him that people selling double glazing have stopped knocking on my door since I got that sign, but politicians haven't. I asked if they don't classify themselves as cold callers, and he said no, maybe not, as they are not selling anything. I said I don't know him and he came without pre-warning, and I thought that's what made someone 'cold.' I honestly thought politicians were cold callers, but I asked if I needed an extra sign saying 'No politicians' and he said yes, I probably do.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Go for the set: No Tramps or Hawkers (what happened to hawkers?). No Religious Proselytizers. No Chuggers. No Offers to Clean the Rones/Tidy the Garden/Tarmac the Drive.

    You can tell I don’t like answering the door.
  • And No Plastic Bags (to be collected later) for Dubious Charities which May or May Not Exist.

    I can understand "no cold callers" - they can be a real pain. But why "no junk mail" - it doesn't invade your privacy in the same way, and you can just shove the stuff in the bin anyway.
  • Firenze wrote: »
    Go for the set: No Tramps or Hawkers (what happened to hawkers?). No Religious Proselytizers. No Chuggers. No Offers to Clean the Rones/Tidy the Garden/Tarmac the Drive.

    You can tell I don’t like answering the door.

    i haven’t heard of this scam lately but it was nasty. Cold callers offering to clean roof tiles and renew paint etc for elderly home owners. Certainly they went on roof after receiving over inflated payment. However, what they put on tiles washed off in first shower, by which time they were suburbs or more away,
  • We still get hawkers occasionally, sometimes travellers but more often ex-cons selling cleaning goods. I’m home all day so meet them all.
    We had some cold calling travellers pave our drive and they did a fairly good job of it but needed the firm hand of my husband when discussing how and when they were getting paid.
    I think chuggers probably wish I did have a sign on my door as I’m afraid I give them a lecture about cold calling vulnerable people for money. They usually then tell me they are trained to spot vulnerable people, at which point I ask them to guess which mental health disorder I have...
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    Heh, 'No hawkers' reminds me of The Tanglewood's Secret - where the two kids go round houses selling wild flowers to raise money for a camera, and they see a 'No hawkers or circulars' sign on one house. When the woman scolds them for not heeding it, they say 'But I'm not a hawker' and 'I'm pretty sure I'm not a circular.' I've never come across those words in this context, other than in that story. Loved that book as a kid.
  • FredegundFredegund Shipmate
    The ones I really hate are the blokes (not being sexist, they are always male) who offer to "prune that tree out front, love" I ask them what it is - they don't know. It's a magnolia which flowers twice a year. They seem not to notice the buds...
    For the record, I have my own chainsaw and a son or two to wield it.
  • Bob Two OwlsBob Two Owls Shipmate
    edited May 2019
    ... I'm working as a poll clerk in the elections ... Here's hoping for a busy, but uneventful day.

    I have just taken some sandwiches to a friend who is working near a polling station today. She said there have been six people in since seven o'clock. Either there is going to be a rush after work or some councillors are going to be elected on double figures. She is going to be in the chair for the European elections in a few weeks as well, can't see much going on then either.
  • I went to my local Polling Station today, and overheard the chap in charge asking the clerks how many peeps had been in? This was at about 130pm.

    The answer was 250.....since 6am!

    Local elections in Ukland generally have a poor turnout, but one gets the impression that Uklanders are just BL**DY WELL FED UP with Polly Ticks and Polly Titians, no matter what sort.

    Wonder why?

    What 'may' the answer be? (said he, whimsically.)
  • This all seems so strange as we have no elections in Wales!
  • I always find these local elections a bit strange as it's only about a third of wards in England. We have no elections where I live but my next-door neighbour has been to the poll today.
  • I went and voted this afternoon. Somewhere in the region of 14 candidates to choose from in our ward, divided between town and district councils. As we only got leaflets from three of them put through the letterbox I presume that the rest didn't want my vote.

    If the rest of the town got the same amount of information from their candidates I don't see that they can be blamed for not turning out. Why bother to go out to vote, if nobody lets you know they are standing?
  • Quite so. The only ones I heard from were the bl**dy T**ies.....

    I didn't vote for them. Too Much Information, I know.

    Meanwhile, ION - THE SKY IS LEAKING!

    Urgent advice required, please, as to what to eat for Tea/Supper, so as to stave off adverse moistness....
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited May 2019
    O, BTW - on a more cheerful note. The church grounds at Our Place are now being looked after (mainly) by a local gardener.

    He was busily mowing and strimming when I called by today, and has done a Splendid Job. All grassy areas, and edges, neatly mown, and our splendid Bluebells suitably enhanced thereby!
    :smiley:

    I used to do most of the mowing and strimming myself, until I was overcome by disability a couple of years ago, but it makes Good Sense (IMHO) for the PCC to pay a reasonable amount of £££ each month to a reliable local chap to do the work our own peeps cannot (for various good reasons) do themselves*.

    *It's not through lack of interest, BTW, bur simply that many of our peeps are busy with RL during the week!
  • PuzzlerPuzzler Shipmate
    Independent candidates have to fund their own publicity, I understand, which may explain the lack of it.
    I have put only four crosses on my ballot paper although I was told I could vote for up to seven candidates in the local elections.
    The alternative for me was None Of The Above.
This discussion has been closed.