AS: Tea and biscuits and GIN, the British thread

1272830323364

Comments

  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    I was one of the lucky ones that sailed through all the childhood diseases being ill for one day and then feeling fine but having time off school. I thought it was wonderful; I'm not sure what my parents thought about it.

    When I had chickenpox, though, the doctor deliberately scratched off one of the poxes (pl?) on my forehead. My mother was outraged and never quite forgave him. I still have the scar. Well, I just checked, as I wouldn't want to mislead Shipmates on such an important point- it is just about visible among the wrinkles!

    MMM
  • Wesley JWesley J Shipmate
    I'm afraid I can't chip in here really, as I don't remember much of my childhood illnesses, but from what I am told I did have a fair few, as one did back then. It's great when you get pampered and looked after, and for once aren't told 'it's your own fault', like 'you shouldn't have played outside in the cold in damp clothes' etc. etc. ... - silly grown-ups! :smiley:
  • Another one who sailed through chicken pox, mumps and German measles (rubella). Youngest sister and I didn't catch measles, even though youngest sister used middle sister's toothbrush while middle sister was very ill with it, lying in a darkened room for weeks. Middle sister was ill for mumps and German measles too. Us other two were bouncing around enjoying time off school and had to be hushed regularly, so we didn't disturb the poor sick sister. We caught chicken pox from friends on holiday, so came home from the sun and sand, where it was hoped we'd wander round drying out spots, to wake up with our first spots on the stop off point part way home.

    My father was working away when I had mumps and I remember the phone conversation as to whether he'd had it, so was it safe for him to come home or not. And my mother caught German measles, while pregnant, and fortunately miscarried because the GP was agin abortions; she's right, mother had no patience for disabilities.

    My daughter had chicken pox when I was covering a preschool for a friend, who had two of them home with chicken pox, so when my daughter succumbed, I swapped the older daughter for mine, who stayed with the younger spotty daughter, and I went to preschool; much to my daughter's irritation. Daughter has had the MMR, so missed out on those delights.

    The downside of having had chicken pox is that I now have dormant varicella-zoster and had shingles a couple of years ago, which I wouldn't wish on anyone.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    I also had mumps on Christmas day, and in spectacular fashion. There are six glands around your throat in which you can get mumps, and most people catch it in one or two at a time. I had it in *all six*. I was three years old and not a happy camper.
  • Mr. S had chicken pox and scarlet fever at the same time, puzzling his doctors, terrifying his poor mother, and necessitating an entire term off school :anguished:

    Mrs. S, hoping never to see the like
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    edited July 2018
    My youngest son had chickenpox at 18 months old, every last millimetre of his body was covered in spots. He was really poorly, little scrap.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    I somehow didn’t get chicken pox as a kid - maybe not sufficiently sociable to have got close enough to any other kids who had it! Then I got it at 21. I remember being seen by a student doctor, who scrupulously informed me of every possible complication that can happen when an adult has chicken pox. My eyes widened, thinking I was doomed! But it was quite uncomplicated in reality. Just itchy.
  • I had very mild chickenpox at about age 5 (there were 13 spots, My Old Mum told me), but mumps a year or so later was scary, as I became delirious.

    Part of the door frame of my bedroom (we lived in an inter-war Council house) was chipped or damaged in some way, causing it to resemble the face of an Evil Imp. IIRC, I spent quite some time talking and gesticulating to this Daemon, in order to placate It, and to prevent It from Carrying Me Off.

    All unbeknownst to My Old Mum, BTW.

    IJ
  • ThomasinaThomasina Shipmate
    in 1960 I lived in a bedsit, in next door bed sit was a young man who worked at London airport. He caught the pox, goodness knows where from, and I, having been the Good Samaritan with light food and calamine, also caught the pox. I was 26, and had just gone home for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, as had my sister. Yes, you've guessed it, sister caught it too! We were both very poorly, but I did end up marrying the young man!!
  • My son got, not chicken pox, but measles at the age of 31. It hit him quite hard (he blacked out in the incubation stage and had to go to hospital) but fortunately we were able to get some emergency medication on the day the spots appeared, so it wasn't too bad in the end. He was off work for 3 weeks though.

    Returning to the WEATHER, it's fairly grey and much cooler here at the moment, after a bright start.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    Measles can be nasty. I horrified some mums that were thinking the vaccination wasn't worth the possible side effects that the reason I'm deaf is measles aged five. I remember my grandmother standing at the end of my bed and saying 'you're going to lose her' to my mum. Cheerful soul my grandma!
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    edited July 2018
    I’m playing ‘loud thunder’ to Spencer on full volume, he’s fast asleep 😴

    We are due thunderstorms later today, we’ll see how he is with the real thing.

    Crash bang!
  • I had all the usual childhood illnesses but only really remember mumps when my dear Papa (who hadn’t had it) took himself off to the other side of the world on a work trip. Certainly far enough for him to be safe. My main medical memories would be having fillings aged an embarrassing 2 (“fairy pie”) and an eye op aged 10 (I don’t remember the ones at 1 & 2, thank goodness, as my parents weren’t allowed to visit, apparently because I cried - thank goodness this isn’t how Things are done now)
  • DarllenwrDarllenwr Shipmate Posts: 47
    I (I was told) had chicken pox as a child - I have no memory of it.

    Because of this, when we were told by our friends, with whom we were holidaying for a fortnight, that their young son had developed chicken pox, I thought nothing of it - "I've had chicken pox; won't catch it again!"

    The drive home from that holiday (about 280 miles) was complicated by me being in no state to drive …

    On arriving home and reporting to our doctor, I had the remarkable experience of seeing him poking his head round the door, asking that I remove my shirt, identifying the scourge, and beating a hasty retreat. I learned afterwards that he had never had it and didn't want it now!

    The second time around was no fun - I remember it vividly and wish I didn't. I also suspect that it triggered my type 1 diabetes which surfaced 18 months later.

    Isn't chicken pox wonderful ...
  • This thread is making me itch...
  • I had all the usual so-called childhood illnesses (pre vaccines.). That’s datin g myself. Measles was especially bad and i was sick for weeks as were my siblings. Must have been a nasty strain. These illnesses are usualy much worse for adults than for children, although some can be quite ill as we were .

    My mum had a rotten winter. Dad had bad bronchitis several times. The three of us somehow managed to get mumps one after the other while also incubating chicken pox, also one after the other.
  • Sarasa wrote: »
    Measles can be nasty. I horrified some mums that were thinking the vaccination wasn't worth the possible side effects that the reason I'm deaf is measles aged five. I remember my grandmother standing at the end of my bed and saying 'you're going to lose her' to my mum. Cheerful soul my grandma!

    not worth the possible side effects? It horrifies me that people can be so silly and selfish. I read a FB post from a doctor that began

    'What will you tell your daughter when she is pregnant and catches rubella?'

    and it made me shudder.

    Mrs. S, no patience with anti-vaxxers
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    It is actually raining. I wonder if the grass in my garden will revert to its usual green state, or stay brown and scorched.
  • Grass down here recovers quickly. Dead as dead, a storm and next morning it is green.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    Holy cow it's hot. 36° yesterday and the same forecast today. This has left us shut up in the apartment with all the shutters closed and no possibility of going anywhere or doing anything. Apparently tomorrow it will "only " be 27, which is going to feel quite clement, I suspect.

    Melting I'm melting 😰
  • One night of thunders storms possibly fifteen minutes of rain, here.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited July 2018
    We had 3 Rumbles (I counted them) and about 20 drops of Rain (I tried to count them, but fell asleep....).

    Tonight's predicted* Thundery Strums are, alas, likely to impede our view of the Blood Moon eclipse.
    :frowning:

    It's 33C here at the moment, which, as LVER says, is a bit too hot for doing anything...(how's bebe en rouge coping, BTW?).

    IJ

    (*They can predict all they like, but the Strums still seem to pass us by every day/night. I blame Blump. Or Putin.)
  • I'm up here in Leeds and it has been thundering all day but we only had a short shower around mid-morning. As I'm in an A/C'd office I don't know how hot it is outside, but I will be driving home (down in Derbyshire) soon so will get the benefit then!
  • My landlord's office is A/C'd, so, as I hobbled in to pay the rent, I let out an involuntary 'O!'. The receptionist said 'Nice, isn't it?', accepted my ££££££, and said 'Enjoy the heat!' as I hobbled out....

    :grimace:

    IJ
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    If nothing else the South Wales Fire Service will be relieved when it rains because arson is something of a recreation hereabouts. A couple of kids very nearly came unstuck when they misjudged the speed at which fire can spread.

    We expect rain this evening which might perk up the grass, which is like straw at the moment.
  • I understand that Welsh police (and presumably those elsewhere, if occasion arises) have powers to arrest anyone who returns to a fireground after being told to go away....

    I have to confess to being fascinated by fire, as a child, but still....
    :grimace:

    IJ

  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    I read on f/b last night that Gwent Police had issued a dispersal order in the area of one large fire (near you, SioniSais) as the local talent had been verbally abusive to the firemen ☹️😡
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    It just rained here in West Sussex, hurrah!
    A few claps of thunder and some lovely warm rain.
    For all of three minutes...........I love the smell of rain.
    It reminded me of a hymn by Timothy Dudley Smith.
  • Why, do his hymns have a distinctive smell?
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    I'm up here in Leeds and it has been thundering all day but we only had a short shower around mid-morning. As I'm in an A/C'd office I don't know how hot it is outside, but I will be driving home (down in Derbyshire) soon so will get the benefit then!

    Just over the Pennines from you we have no thunder but it’s very close. Much better temperatures are forecast for tomorrow :mrgreen:

  • Here in South Wales we have had some Ominous Dark Clouds but nothing more. My wife thinks it's "close" but I'm actually finding it quite chilly! Allegedly it dipped to 18 degrees at noon but it's more than that now; 25 degrees in my study but feels less.
  • Lawks a mussy me!

    32C + here in my study, with Thundery Strums forecast for moonrise at 2100hrs....

    I have to confess that it's beginning to Get Me Down. I'm supposed to be on a Safeguarding Course tomorrow, at the Diocesan Office (which is not far away), but I honestly don't feel well enough - what with the heat, and my twisted leg muscles making me hobble - to even get from the car park to the meeting venue.

    Stop press - it's just started RAINING!!!

    IJ
  • Having been very keen not to complain about the weather too much, as of yesterday I give in and am now complaining!

    We had some rain & thunderstorms in the night but it was still blazing hot this morning - even in church. I now have a migraine which felt rather inevitable given the weather, I’m surprised I haven’t had one earlier.

    I’m off to bed with a fan, a pint of iced squash, and a good book (and my pills!)
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited July 2018
    O.
    Bu**er.
    :angry:

    A few minutes later, and it's STOPPED raining....
    :grimace:

    IJ
  • Good sermons for Sunday might include Noah and the Flood, or Elijah and the Drought.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    Good sermons for Sunday might include Noah and the Flood, or Elijah and the Drought.

    Given The Mess We Are In, a combination would be a viable option. Something about the amount of provision mattering less than its distribution (careful not to get political here ....)
  • Kyrie, eleison.

    As from now, we're on an AMBER WARNING as to thunder, lightning, rain, floods, pestilence, plague etc......
    :flushed:

    Frankly, I'll believe it when I see it. Recent headlines in what passes for 'the press' in the UK have included such anthromoporphic gems as 'UK At the Mercy of Killer Thunderstorms' etc., and suchlike rubbish.

    I hope, though, that you will remember me as my corpse is washed out to sea....

    IJ
  • DarllenwrDarllenwr Shipmate Posts: 47
    Interesting conversation with Tesco's delivery driver this evening. As has been mentioned above, there is a significant hillside fire a few miles from Newport (Gwent). The nearest 'major' centre is Risca, which has its own branch of Tesco. The driver was telling me that Tesco Risca have been supplying the firefighters with food and drink over the last few days. The firefighters' major complaint is that, as fast as they put one part of the fire out, they see (and I stress that word) the local talent deliberately starting a fire in a different area. And, it appears, there is nothing they can do about it. Yes, the Police will "have a little word" with the offenders but, as we are all aware, this makes no lasting difference.

    I expect that we can anticipate an increase in hillside fires now that schools have broken up for the summer - that's the usual pattern around here.
  • It's a pity, in a way, that the said offenders can't be press-ganged into fighting the fires that they've started.

    Very non-PC, I know, but the burnt hand fears the fire.....
    :rage:

    IJ
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Putting them in wicker cages in its path is another idea. Plus it might improve the harvest. Worth a try.
  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    But will it bring rain?
  • I'm travelling through rain and thunderstorms now. Lots of water from the skies
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Overcast here so no chance of seeing the lunar eclipse :disappointed: but no rain yet either. :disappointed:

    Grass has amazing powers of regeneration but according to our amazing lawn treatment people you mustn't cut it in hot weather or when hot weather is threatened, unless you're committed to diligent watering. In dry conditions grass pulls the moisture and other good stuff - this is a botanical term - down into its roots so while it looks dead it actually isn't. If you cut it there's nothing for it to draw on.

    We made this mistake last year and ended up with a nasty brown slimy thatch on all the lawns which required a lot of raking and treating to restore them to anything like their former glory.

    Adding my best wishes for le petit bébé in the heat.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    Not sure baby en rouge is the unhappiest of us. He gets to wear nothing but a nappy and to lie on a blanket that's been in the freezer.

    We've had a bit of a storm here so it's cooled down slightly.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    It's still very hot and sticky here too: currently 30° and feeling like 36.

    We decided to research a new restaurant called Rustico for lunch and apart from being seated too near the pizza oven (it's one of those places with a visible kitchen, and we'd have been better off in the bar area which seemed a little cooler) it was very good indeed.

    We started off with a shared platter of local charcuterie and cheeses, which was lovely - we'd go back for that alone. Then D. had an excellent chicken and prosciutto pizza, and I had a beetroot and goat's cheese salad, also v. good.

    It's the sort of place where you could spend a fortune - they were offering paellas at $30, which is a lot for lunch - but we really couldn't fault them for what we had.

    Definitely somewhere we'll go again.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    Glad to know I shouldn’t be mowing my lawn - now I don’t need to feel guilty for the fact I haven’t!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    The one upside of such hot, mostly dry weather* is that the grass doesn't grow so quickly - I think we've only cut ours three times this summer so far, and it hadn't got to the hay-field stage in between.

    * We've had a few bursts of fairly heavy rain, but it either gets swallowed up or evaporates almost as soon as it falls.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    Firenze wrote: »
    Putting them in wicker cages in its path is another idea. Plus it might improve the harvest. Worth a try.

    Did I mention that ground fire can outpace any man on earth? Ok, not ground fire itself but embers can be blown along by the fire very rapidly. Too fast for motor vehicles even 😢
  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    How, after all the publicity and discussion, can we both have forgotten to look out for the blood moon? But it was on-and-off raining all evening, so I console myself with the thought that we probably wouldn't have been able to see it anyway.

    MMM
This discussion has been closed.