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

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  • True enough! I worked at Laporte, @Heavenlyannie , but I have no idea where that was relative to Marsh Farm.

    Mrs. S, geographically challenged

    Laporte was near the town centre, I think, Marsh Farm is a 60s/70s estate in the far north of the town so miles away.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    Down with teeth :grimace:. Especially Captain Pyjamas’ tooth n° 3, which is almost but not quite through his upper gum, and woke him (and us) up at 4:45 this morning in a state of much grizzliness.

    It’s gone much colder here today. I would very much like to be curled up under my duvet.
  • Yes, cold (but sunny) here, after a clear, but frosty, night.

    Did anyone get up to see the lunar eclipse? I arose blearily at 6am, forgot to put on my Spectacles, and so (a) missed the totality, and (b) did not see our beautiful Satellite in the full glory of her unusual Dress.
    :angry:

    There are some lovely photos elsewhere on the Web, though.

    It's cold here (did I mention that?).....but I have discovered a Remedy!

    There was an Old Man on the Coast,
    Who placidly sate on a Post.
    When the Weather grew cold,
    He relinquished his hold,
    And called for some hot buttered TOAST.
    (Edward Lear)

  • As it happened, I had to Pay a Visit at 5 am and should have been able to see said Celestial Obscuration at its maximum totality. But it was cloudy.
  • I was awake at 4am briefly: the eclipse was due at 4:30am. At that time we had a deep frost, total cloud cover and no moon in sight, so I went back to bed rather than getting dressed and going out to see what was going on. It was still clouded over at 6am, so I didn't miss anything.
  • O, that's a shame. AIUI, quite a few parts of Ukland were reported to be cloudy.

    I blame the 'government', denying us even the simplest of pleasures.
    :rage:
  • Husband got his telescope ready but it was too cloudy.
  • I blame the 'government', denying us even the simplest of pleasures.
    :rage:
    No, Brussels is to blame, surely ...

  • I blame the 'government', denying us even the simplest of pleasures.
    :rage:
    No, Brussels is to blame, surely ...

    :wink:

    O, I think not. All Brussels is to blame for is Sprouts.

  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    Stood outside in my dressing gown at about 5.45 (yes, it was very cold), only saw a little bit of the Moon poking out above the clouds.

    Gave up and put the kettle on instead.

    MMM
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    MMM wrote: »
    Stood outside in my dressing gown at about 5.45 (yes, it was very cold), only saw a little bit of the Moon poking out above the clouds.

    Gave up and put the kettle on instead.

    MMM

    The dressing gown suits you better :tongue:

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Well done, Zadok - does an Interesting Career beckon?

    Poor Captain Pyjamas - hope his tooth decides to make a proper appearance very soon.

    We got so snowed in we had to remove the fly-screen from the front door in order to get it open: storm doors (stupidly, imho) open outwards, so when you get two feet of snow against them, you're stuck. Fortunately, there's a sliding glass pane in the door that's big enough to get through, so D. managed to get out and we've been taking turns to shovel ourselves out.

    Because we had several hours of freezing rain on top of the snow, to clear it away you have to bash the top of it with the blade of the shovel (same principle as breaking the top of crème brulėe with a spoon) and then shovel out the softer snow underneath.

    It's still a total pain in the arse, and it's my turn to do the next bit.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Piglet wrote: »
    Well done, Zadok - does an Interesting Career beckon?
    He’ll be studying computer science at uni next year and I suspect he’ll take some cyber security options. I’m encouraging him to apply for a GCHQ work placement!
    He gets it from his father, he’s a quantum physicist.

    Oh that sounds a horrible work, Piglet.
  • Boogie wrote: »
    MMM wrote: »
    Stood outside in my dressing gown at about 5.45 (yes, it was very cold), only saw a little bit of the Moon poking out above the clouds.

    Gave up and put the kettle on instead.

    MMM

    The dressing gown suits you better :tongue:

    :lol:
  • The two younger members of the family did a tag team of keeping us up all night but at no point did I go and look at the moon which would have been a rather better idea than what I was doing.

    Currently trying to persuade the senior junior Ferijen to go to sleep. He cannot seem to understand that for this to happen he needs to stay still and twitching his toes does not count. He is so tired but sleep has never come easily to him... the smallest ferijenet is also struggling but I’ll forgive her at her age...

    On the subject of the last page, Our New House has a ridiculous number of toilets, but the downstairs one is in the cupboard under the stairs though (but purposefully built that way) and rather small, a pity as it is likely to be the most used and it currently also includes a potty, childs step and child seat.

  • A lovely clear night, and I was also Paying A Visit at 5am, so peeped out of my west-facing bedroom window, but could see no moon at all - returned to bed and woke again at 06:45. Looked out of the window again, and there was the super-moon, but not red at that time,
    Judging by its position, it must have been exactly behind the very bright street lamp opposite our bungalow at 5am.
    I should have looked more thoroughly at that time , but was too tired and just thought I'd missed it.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Taking up the theme of teeth and sleeplessness... I broke a back molar yesterday, of which I was uncomfortably aware all last night. Additionally, a chap was coming ‘about 9’ to estimate for wotks to the kitchen and bathroom. I should know that in Builders’ Time ‘about 9’ = 10. But I was awake at 6 anyway.

    Got dentist appointment for 11, so managed to fit in builder before going for own cement work. Took the opportunity of being in that part of town to buy posh groceries. But there wasn’t a No 5 bus for another 13 minutes so I thought I would take the one approaching to the bottom of the road from whence I could get the even better 24. For which I had then to wait 16 minutes.

    Never mind. Lunch and then out to the first of this term’s watercolour classes, with my big satchel of art materials. Tutor spends the entire time discussing What We Want From the Course and I come home, not a brush dampened.

    Make not very successful salmon and pasta thing for dinner.

    But otoh sleep may be more forthcoming tonight.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Husband got his telescope ready but it was too cloudy.

    Innuendo alert. *giggles childishly*

    I got up in the night as well, and gazed out of the window onto cloud.
  • :lol:

    Clear and frosty again tonight, but there is a Halo around the Moon, which presages Ra*n.....or perhaps Sn*w....
    :grimace:
  • :lol: that did occur to me after I wrote it

  • Finally, back online! Have had a strange month, my laptop battery (and therefore my internet connection) dying somewhere around Boxing Day, and then my Dad being admitted into hospital with diabetic complications with a 3hr round trip every couple of days to visit and answer medical questions as he has only just become completely lucid after a post-gangrene infection. Being offline for the period has been a pain, especially when I could have done with being on the Ship for a whinge and getting a sad surprise on hearing about Leo. Glad to be at sea again.

    A very belated Happy New Year to all.
  • SipechSipech Shipmate
    I was brought up in Luton, on the sink estate of Marsh Farm. It’s dingy without the snow.

    I could see Marsh Farm (including the occasional burning vehicles, when there was a riot on) from my lookout on Dunstable Downs!
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    Welcome back, Arachnid.

    Lo, it snoweth. Coldly and wetly.
  • I blame the 'government', denying us even the simplest of pleasures.
    :rage:
    No, Brussels is to blame, surely ...

    :wink:

    O, I think not. All Brussels is to blame for is Sprouts.

    Brussels can stand up tall and be proud of the humble sprout.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Well, YMMV! (Actually, Belgium as a whole can be proud of many Good Things, like CHOCOLATE, and certain makes of BEER).

    ION, I'm just back from my 'taster' Pilates session, and feeling encouraged, if a bit achey...

    The charming young torturer instructress (sp?) started me off by ascertaining that my top half was OK, and then introduced me to the Reformer machine. She is of opinion that my 'glutes' are not being properly utilised, owing to instructions not being received from Head Office, and so I am now condemned recommended to have weekly sessions on the said Engine of Torture machine.

    Pray for me, Shipmates...
    :anguished:

    Actually, I do feel encouraged, inasmuch as it seems something useful can be achieved, so that I may someday walk more easily, using the proper muscles.

    It's also a positive thought (as expressed to me by a friend) that I now know that there's only one thing physically wrong with, to wit, my Wonky Head.
  • Have you sprout lovers (and indeed, non sprout lovers) tried Kalettes? They seem to be a cross between curly kale and sprouts, so look exactly like frilly sprouts, the same size but taste nothing like the old brussels, or bitter like kale.

    Find out all about them here https://www.triedandsupplied.com/saucydressings/kalettes/

    Sorry, forgotten how to do links!
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Well, given that I Really Need To Eat More Greens, they might be worth a try! I shall enquire at Tessie Cohen's corner shop tomorrow.

    'Sweet and nutty' sounds good (describes Me, at any rate)...
    :grin:

    Must go now, to boil up the Gravy for lunch (PIE).
  • I had just popped in here to say that there will be kalettes in my organic veg box this week! I think they were mentioned here last week.
    A productive morning so far, I have been marking essays and answering student queries and am now having lunch before tackling the next avalanche of essays.
  • To continue my comment in the previous kalettes discussion; I unearthed my steamer, and cooked the next lot of kalettes in it - with much better results.

    I actually like brussels sprouts, but I find we eat more greens through the winter if we can have a greater variety, so kalettes have been a boon in the last couple of years, along with tenderstem broccoli). I prefer the stems to the 'flower', even in the ordinary head variety, and have always eaten the middle stalk of cabbage and cauliflower, raw. as a 'cooks treat' when preparing them for cooking
  • balaambalaam Shipmate
    Husband got his telescope ready but it was too cloudy.

    Is this a euphemism?
  • balaam wrote: »
    Husband got his telescope ready but it was too cloudy.

    Is this a euphemism?
    Nenya beat you to it.
  • As far as I understand it,
    hypo=low
    hyper=high

    It would be truly awful to be hyper-manic and fortunately very rare but being hypo-manic i.e. not quite fully manic is bad enough.
    Hypoglycaemia i.e. low blood sugar means it's below what it should be.
    Hyperglycaemia means it's above what it should be.
    And just plain old "hyper" is generally used as shorthand for "hyperactive" which though it may appear like hypomania is not quite the same thing.

    Our larger small one is due to go for an assessment for hyperactivity (and attention deficit) on Weds, following a year's painful wait; and the ferret of old has diabetes leading to both the other kinds of hypo/hyper. We just need one more for a full house.
  • While I can't compete with Piglet (in oh so many ways), we have snow here. The ground is too wet for it to lay - I will be watching out for ice tomorrow - but it was sticking to my coat in great big flakes. My man likes to declare his belief that winter is nearly over and that we've had the last of the cold weather for the year, but I fear he is going to be disappointed.
  • My cousin R has just announced to me from Norf Lunnun (innit) that they have a Raging Blizzard there (though I can't see what it's got to be so cross about).

    Some w*ntry sh*wers are on their way here, I believe.
    :grimace:

    Fortunately, I am in the happy position of being able to hibernate tomorrow, if necessary.
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    Snow here - the wet, icy kind.

    ❄️
  • chukovsky wrote: »
    We just need one more for a full house.

    You can have mine if you like - I have recurring hyper-thyroidism (although looking at me you would think it was hypo-)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Smudgie wrote: »
    While I can't compete with Piglet (in oh so many ways) ...
    You're too kind! :blush:

    Big, wet flakes are fine - they very rarely stay long. Big flakes = wee snow, wee flakes = big snow. We're apparently getting some rain in the next day or two, although I'll be surprised if it's enough to shift much sn*w.

    I've been posting pictures taken from the sitting room window on Facebook in reply to people back home who think they've got snow ... :mrgreen:

    Made a beef casserole for lunch - cut up a small steak that had been in the freezer for ages and added potatoes, veggies and red wine* and it really wasn't bad.

    * leaving enough for a glass to drink with it, obviously.
  • There was, briefly, a lot of snow. I was out in it. It has settled, but not on the roads which are being used. Past and bitter experience of the points that freeze overground on the Tube means I am grateful my offspring wasn't feeling well enough to be left for me to go out tonight, because coming home might not have been that easy.

    I got out to a recording last night, the last of the current, 19th, series of The Infinite Monkey Cage discussing the universe, which was fun. I did have tickets to see the Bottle Factory Opening with Diane Morgan and Maxine Peake tonight, but it wasn't to be.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Wet snow here, we’ve just driven back from a bible study in it.
    The Infinity Monkey Cage must have been good, I’ve seen Robin Ince speak at Greenbelt.
  • Still just a bit drizzly here, TBTG, but do beware of Icy Patches in the morning, peeps!
    :grimace:
  • We had a lovely frost yesterday morning, but not today - just wet from overnight rain. Cold morning, but sunny enough for me to spend a short while in the garden cutting down the group 3 varieties of clematis. Not good for my back, so didn't add the layer of manure that should have gone on them about 3 weeks ago.
    Had rain this evening, but another frost might make it down to the coast by tomorrow morning. I think it's unlikely.
    Eldest Grandson might come down to us for a cup of tea and a biscuit tomorrow, as he has a day off college. Most likely not, if it's cold and wet.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I made some chock-lit CAKE earlier, so do help yourselves! :smiley:
  • Why, thank you. Choclit cake is a favourite.
  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    It was snowing as I came home from work last night but nothing really this morning, just a scattering on the grass.

    According to national rail, my trains are meant to be on time today but tine will tell....

    MMM
  • Yummy Choclit cake for breakfast! Thank you :)

    I was wrong about the frost - shed roof didn't look particularly frosty, but the lawn has patches of white, and underneath it, 'earth as hard as iron'.
  • Only light frost here, one load of washing out enjoying the sunshine and another on the go.
  • SipechSipech Shipmate
    No frost in central London. Though that didn't stop me from having a fall yesterday. in my smart (no grip) shoes, I managed to find a particularly smooth bit of pavement and sort of rotated mid air, landing on my shoulder blades.

    All my family are insisting it was ice, but it's nowhere near cold enough for that here.
  • Not icy here but cold, I have naughtily decided not to go for my morning walk and have been browsing instead. Shortly to start another batch of marking.
  • Sprinkling of snow on the fields and trees, but not a lot, and less than when it fell last night, when I regretted not having a camera. The falling snow around the street lights was spectacular. I have been out into the fields for a bit of a wander, but not for long or far. A variation of fish chowder is cooking for lunch.
  • Sipech wrote: »
    rotated mid air, landing on my shoulder blades.
    Wishing you a speedy recovery. I am still having problems from the fall I had before Christmas there is improvement, but it is sooo slow!

    Eldest grandson visited, just in time to save my back by carrying a heavy bowl of washing out to the tumble dryer in the garage.
    We had a cup of tea and a nice chat. I don't often get to see him on his own, so it was good to see how he is maturing, and how well his social skills are developing (he has multi[ple disabilities, including autism).



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