Chilli con carne made by Macarius a few weeks ago (and frozen, I hasten to add) with rice and garlic bread and a nice bottle of something.
Still feeling rather sorry for myself. The doctor obviously didn’t think it was serious and said I had probably done something when doing some housework last weekend (note to self, don’t do housework any more). She thought it was ‘remarkable’ that I’m not on any long term medication, which rather surprised me.
So I’ve got chunkier anti inflammatories and something to stop them upsetting my stomach. And as I’m over 60, I don’t have to pay of course!
I still think my wheat bag/hot water bottle combo is the bestest, though.
This morning was my first outing on my new wheels (still unnamed) through Storm Gareth who is still making his presence known. Even with a very heavy basket of shopping on the back rack I made it further up the hill than I’ve ever managed on the old wheels, so I’m quite chuffed (rather than puffed).
This afternoon I shall be planting snowdrops in the back lawn with a few clumps from the allotment (on the way home I had what looked like a mayfly on the car windscreen - a March fly?)
Just back from trip to Plettenberg Bay to have lunch with old friends. The beach was exactly as I remember it many years ago!! A new restaurent on the beachfront serve an excellent meal. Weather was also great. So no complaints!
This morning was my first outing on my new wheels (still unnamed) through Storm Gareth who is still making his presence known. Even with a very heavy basket of shopping on the back rack I made it further up the hill than I’ve ever managed on the old wheels, so I’m quite chuffed (rather than puffed). [...]
What's the reason for this remarkable feat, daisydaisy? Is the bike lighter, and/or has it got better gears and transmission?
I'm very happy that you like it and it does do the trick!
I'm having a minor chuckle regarding the naming of your storms (not, I hasten to add, about the storms themselves).
A few years ago, we were in Orkney on holiday when the first storm to be given a name over there was due. It was called Abigail, which amused an old schoolfriend with whom I was having a catch-up, as her daughter is called Abigail. Now they've named one after her son as well ...
We're not having any storms here, but we are getting quite a lot of rain and a spot of fog, which is a Good Thing*, as both are efficacious in the dispersement of sn*w.
I'm currently waiting for a batch of chicken stock to do its thing, and later we're planning on making a chicken, bacon and mushroom PIE for tomorrow's lunch (D. will do the pastry, and I'll do the filling). I know we're a bit late for what our friends in the US call "pi day", but we're with them in spirit.
* although a certain amount of moderation is to be desired, as we don't want any floods, like we had last year ...
Just back from trip to Plettenberg Bay to have lunch with old friends. The beach was exactly as I remember it many years ago!! A new restaurent on the beachfront serve an excellent meal. Weather was also great. So no complaints!
Dinner by the beach - what a lovely dream!
It was still blustery here this morning but has now calmed down. I was working til about 9.30 and I’m tired out so is bath and bedtime here.
@Piglet, that snow you’re missing - it’s falling on Edinburgh with an enthusiasm worthy of a better cause. I wouldn’t mind, but I have to go out in it shortly and get the train to the Borders...
We collectively held our breath for several hours yesterday, and the river just stayed between the banks behind our house. This is good, because I don't think the insurance company would have bought us another car (I did park it a little higher up this time). It's always exciting to see masses of ice and the occasional tree hurtling past, but I can do without it.
It's quite a strange, springy day here today - suddenly, forecast is 17-19°C, and idle sunshine! Blue sky all over, only the odd cloud! Rather windy though, still.
Sunday should mean an end to this brief episode, and a return to the blustery, rainy and in part snowy weather of the last few weeks, in part close to, or below, freezing at night. Now, if the weather just could make up its mind, that would help! - Luckily no flooding to occur in these Continental climes, or so it seems. <votive> for all in danger zones!
A first worl country!!! Dont you believe it. Today, as every day, we have had a power cut. except that we v had two today. Nothing has vchanged since we were here 3 years ago. Last night in Sedgefield tonight so we are going out for dinner. Back to Cape Town tomorrow.
This morning was my first outing on my new wheels (still unnamed) through Storm Gareth who is still making his presence known. Even with a very heavy basket of shopping on the back rack I made it further up the hill than I’ve ever managed on the old wheels, so I’m quite chuffed (rather than puffed). [...]
What's the reason for this remarkable feat, daisydaisy? Is the bike lighter, and/or has it got better gears and transmission?
I'm very happy that you like it and it does do the trick!
I have no idea. Maybe having only 7 gears, rather than 16, helps. It’s slightly lighter but it could be that because the crank is further forward than a regular bike there is more of an angle for oomph, rather like on a recumbent (but less extreme).
Today I took an 8yo friend to the university in the Big City for their science and engineering day where he had a great time doing “stuff” and filling his backpack with goodies. At one point, when we stepped out of a building the wind blew him off his feet! He came away happy with his loot (especially with a straw made into a double reed) but I think I am even happier as I found I am healthier than I thought I am. During one of the activities we each had a Doppler ultrasound test done on our ankles where I learned that my pulse/heartbeat is much better than most adults, let alone a (ahem slightly) senior one - it has 3 spikes (which we are born with - I was told the term but it went right over my head) rather than the 2 of most adults. Also, considering my little escapade and fractured leg of last spring, apparently this is Astonishingly Good News. We also tried out a researcher’s new gadget, showing the pressure we put on different parts of our feet when standing and walking, along with centre of gravity. Again I found that despite having white pink hair and starting off childhood with dodgy ankles this all looked remarkably good, and when I mentioned being a Tai Chi newbie the researcher said she’s looking for volunteers like me for her research. So I’ll wait to hear from her.
I'm just back from a spot of minor retail therapy (just some new eyeshadow), and actually went out with just a linen shirt, denim waistcoat and jeans. Admittedly I was only outdoors between house and car, car and shopping centre, but I'm very glad I didn't put on a coat - it was bloody hot in there, and not really too cold outside either.
* * * * *
We're now chilling ou in front of an episode of The Antiques Roadshow from Northern Ireland, and a friend of ours has just been interviewed about an occasional table.
We'd just both said we were looking out to see if we recognised anyone, and thinking of people who might be likely; I suggested M. and A., as possible candidates, and lo and behold, the next shot was of A.
I didn’t make it to the Borders. It seemed reasonable, when the train before the one I was due to take was cancelled, to call off. By the time the snow was resolving to sleet and rain, and the trains were running, it was too late.
I would nevertheless have got thoroughly wet getting to the station and have had to spend a good part of the day in damp shoes/clothing. A prudent decision,but a sad one.
Storm Gareth has moved on, apparently, and what we are now experiencing isn't strong enough to warrant a name, according to the weather forecaster I heard this morning.
As there doesn't seem to have been a break between Gareth and this anonymous one I fail to see how we can tell the difference here on the ground.
My niece is due to visit tomorrow with her fiancé - Gareth.
There is a slight lul in the rain today, it rained hard all day yesterday. The river rose and was very close to bursting its banks - we’ll see what today brings. More rain is forecast. Our gym is unusable as the car park is under water, and some roads are closed, but that’s the only damage so far.
Local Community quiz night last night, and I thought of you all as I won a large bottle of local GIN (which costs almost twice as much as the local WHISKY). I don't like GIN, so you are all welcome to a glass.....
Still snowing - that's three days now, but it's not lying much.
Ooh - painful!
A dull day here yesterday, I sent back my completed objective form from my work appraisal and then did several hours of marking, followed by a blustery walk in the afternoon.
I need a decent day off next week as this batch of marking has been time consuming but, alas, I have evening teaching and more marking to look forward to.
Bright sunshine after a violent hail storm, but huge dark clouds rapidly approaching. Think I'll wait until I go and fill the recycling wheelie bin up for collection tomorrow!
Luckily most of our town is on a hill, and the river in the valley down below only floods in fields. AFAIK
For the uninitiated, a mandolin is a rather scary gadget for making very thin slices. I quite like the idea of having one for slicing the potatoes for Gratin dauphinoise, but they give D. the creeps. Considering that I managed to give myself a ridiculously tenacious cut the other day while attacking an avocado with an ordinary kitchen knife, I'm not sure that he isn't right. It caused very little pain, but bled like a stuck pig, and required several applications of sticking-plaster.
Not quite up there with M. en rouge's exploits, but a damn nuisance all the same.
It's a lovely sunny day, but has gone back to being cold (-4° at the moment), and where there aren't Deep Puddles, there are Patches of Treachery™.
Chicken PIE for lunch - as D. wasn't feeling the best on Friday, we made it last night instead, so it just needs to be baked and given the company of some mashed potatoes.
And a glass of WINE, I think, to propose a toast to St. Patrick (after all, we did live in Ireland for 15 years).
eta: cross-posted with BT and BF - I don't think vegetables are something you're supposed to give up for Lent. Anyway, St. Patrick's day is a feast-day ...
We have friends coming over for a meal this evening, so I've got beef and Guinness stew in the slow cooker, it being St Patrick's Day and all.🍀And lots of vegetables - roast potatoes and roast parsnip, steamed cauliflower and broccoli, as well as the carrots and mushrooms in the stew. (So I know it should be celery and not mushrooms, but there was none when I went shopping.)
In answer to your question re: veggies/grace, probably. Especially Brussels sprouts, dark green cabbage and boiled-to-buggery green beans* (ugh!).
But Brussels sprouts are LUVLY as is the dark cabbage if cooked fairly lightly (and think of all the Good it's doing to you). I'm with you on the beans though.
Mmm, all sounds good. I usually do a big cook on Sunday evenings and freeze the rest, but can't seem to be bothered to cook much tonight. Is it already quarter to six?! Where did the weekend go??
And it is it is a wonderful thing
To be a pirate king.
Thanks for this ear worm - a welcome change to Shine Jesus Shine which has been going round my head since a conversation about Graham Kendrick over the meal table this evening.
And those who do not fully adhere to Lent are true Pirates of Penance.
Oh go away!
* * * * *
D. decided after church that what he really wanted was SOUP, and as making it on the spur of the moment isn't really feasible, we went to East Side Mario's, a New York/Italian chain that does unlimited soup, salad and warm, slightly garlicky bread, which was really quite decent (especially as mine ws accompanied by a generous glass of WINE). The PIE will wait happily in the fridge until tomorrow.
A perfect day! Sun shining. warm and no rain anywhere in sight. It was an eventful trip back in the car yestersay. Rear tyre blew out for some unknown reason. Lost a lot of tread. So putting on the spare delayed us by quite a while. Cape Town is very short of water so my son is having a borehole sunk in the middle of the driveway which seemed to be the only place where water was located. I shall maybe go for a swim in the pool a bit later emanwhile its a case of getting tanned.
Sun shining here yesterday, and warm enough to sit in the garden for our morning cuppa. Also clear enough for our visitors to appreciate our sea view. A sudden hailstorm, out of the blue, caused those still outside to dash quickly indoors, but it was very brief.
As well as my niece (and fiancé Gareth), my brother and SiL came too. As SiL is Irish I added a few Irish elements to the menu in honour of St Patrick - and we still have some chocolate Guinness cake left
Comments
Still feeling rather sorry for myself. The doctor obviously didn’t think it was serious and said I had probably done something when doing some housework last weekend (note to self, don’t do housework any more). She thought it was ‘remarkable’ that I’m not on any long term medication, which rather surprised me.
So I’ve got chunkier anti inflammatories and something to stop them upsetting my stomach. And as I’m over 60, I don’t have to pay of course!
I still think my wheat bag/hot water bottle combo is the bestest, though.
MMM
Alas, just as Morrison's let me down earlier, so too did my friendly local Farmer-Sea, so I shall have to hobble further afield.
This afternoon I shall be planting snowdrops in the back lawn with a few clumps from the allotment (on the way home I had what looked like a mayfly on the car windscreen - a March fly?)
Why, back in February, I saw Queen BumbleBees on the wing already.....
I'm very happy that you like it and it does do the trick!
A few years ago, we were in Orkney on holiday when the first storm to be given a name over there was due. It was called Abigail, which amused an old schoolfriend with whom I was having a catch-up, as her daughter is called Abigail. Now they've named one after her son as well ...
We're not having any storms here, but we are getting quite a lot of rain and a spot of fog, which is a Good Thing*, as both are efficacious in the dispersement of sn*w.
I'm currently waiting for a batch of chicken stock to do its thing, and later we're planning on making a chicken, bacon and mushroom PIE for tomorrow's lunch (D. will do the pastry, and I'll do the filling). I know we're a bit late for what our friends in the US call "pi day", but we're with them in spirit.
* although a certain amount of moderation is to be desired, as we don't want any floods, like we had last year ...
It was still blustery here this morning but has now calmed down. I was working til about 9.30 and I’m tired out so is bath and bedtime here.
It’s proper peeing it down over in north-west England too. I’m using it as an excuse to hibernate and read.
That’s where I am - NW England.
Floods forecast.
We are lucky, we live on a hill, but the town centre is very vulnerable to flooding.
Sunday should mean an end to this brief episode, and a return to the blustery, rainy and in part snowy weather of the last few weeks, in part close to, or below, freezing at night. Now, if the weather just could make up its mind, that would help! - Luckily no flooding to occur in these Continental climes, or so it seems. <votive> for all in danger zones!
Ouch to the flooding. We are on the Lancashire plains so know what that’s like!
Today I took an 8yo friend to the university in the Big City for their science and engineering day where he had a great time doing “stuff” and filling his backpack with goodies. At one point, when we stepped out of a building the wind blew him off his feet! He came away happy with his loot (especially with a straw made into a double reed) but I think I am even happier as I found I am healthier than I thought I am. During one of the activities we each had a Doppler ultrasound test done on our ankles where I learned that my pulse/heartbeat is much better than most adults, let alone a (ahem slightly) senior one - it has 3 spikes (which we are born with - I was told the term but it went right over my head) rather than the 2 of most adults. Also, considering my little escapade and fractured leg of last spring, apparently this is Astonishingly Good News. We also tried out a researcher’s new gadget, showing the pressure we put on different parts of our feet when standing and walking, along with centre of gravity. Again I found that despite having white pink hair and starting off childhood with dodgy ankles this all looked remarkably good, and when I mentioned being a Tai Chi newbie the researcher said she’s looking for volunteers like me for her research. So I’ll wait to hear from her.
Stay safe everyone in these high winds!
Did you make it to the Borders?
I'm just back from a spot of minor retail therapy (just some new eyeshadow), and actually went out with just a linen shirt, denim waistcoat and jeans. Admittedly I was only outdoors between house and car, car and shopping centre, but I'm very glad I didn't put on a coat - it was bloody hot in there, and not really too cold outside either.
* * * * *
We're now chilling ou in front of an episode of The Antiques Roadshow from Northern Ireland, and a friend of ours has just been interviewed about an occasional table.
We'd just both said we were looking out to see if we recognised anyone, and thinking of people who might be likely; I suggested M. and A., as possible candidates, and lo and behold, the next shot was of A.
Small world moment!
Wit and Wendy here again, and I'm losing track. Is this still Storm Gareth, or are we into Storm Hilda, or Storm Ignatius, or Storm Jezebel, or what?
I would nevertheless have got thoroughly wet getting to the station and have had to spend a good part of the day in damp shoes/clothing. A prudent decision,but a sad one.
As there doesn't seem to have been a break between Gareth and this anonymous one I fail to see how we can tell the difference here on the ground.
My niece is due to visit tomorrow with her fiancé - Gareth.
He'll be fine, but he now has a giant bandage and is henceforth banned from using any dangerous kitchen equipment.
There is a slight lul in the rain today, it rained hard all day yesterday. The river rose and was very close to bursting its banks - we’ll see what today brings. More rain is forecast. Our gym is unusable as the car park is under water, and some roads are closed, but that’s the only damage so far.
Still snowing - that's three days now, but it's not lying much.
It happens so quickly. Am super careful with mandolin but tonight I just missed gratin finger with microplane.
I hope the cut heals well.
A dull day here yesterday, I sent back my completed objective form from my work appraisal and then did several hours of marking, followed by a blustery walk in the afternoon.
I need a decent day off next week as this batch of marking has been time consuming but, alas, I have evening teaching and more marking to look forward to.
Luckily most of our town is on a hill, and the river in the valley down below only floods in fields. AFAIK
A nice sunny morning, with a good turn-out at Church.
Chicken and Roast Potatoes beckon......
Not quite up there with M. en rouge's exploits, but a damn nuisance all the same.
It's a lovely sunny day, but has gone back to being cold (-4° at the moment), and where there aren't Deep Puddles, there are Patches of Treachery™.
Chicken PIE for lunch - as D. wasn't feeling the best on Friday, we made it last night instead, so it just needs to be baked and given the company of some mashed potatoes.
And a glass of WINE, I think, to propose a toast to St. Patrick (after all, we did live in Ireland for 15 years).
eta: cross-posted with BT and BF - I don't think vegetables are something you're supposed to give up for Lent. Anyway, St. Patrick's day is a feast-day ...
BTW, is the eating of certain vegetables considered to be an Act of Penance, conferring Grace?
In answer to your question re: veggies/grace, probably. Especially Brussels sprouts, dark green cabbage and boiled-to-buggery green beans* (ugh!).
* the sort that come ready-sliced and frozen, not the nice squeaky Kenya beans that are lovely with sesame seeds and oil.
Yes, indeed, as Piglet so sagaciously observes.
But, alas, the chicken etc. might as well have been Dust and Ashes. Maybe the LORD is trying to tell me something....
And those who do not fully adhere to Lent are true Pirates of Penance.
To be a pirate king.
Thanks for this ear worm - a welcome change to Shine Jesus Shine which has been going round my head since a conversation about Graham Kendrick over the meal table this evening.
* * * * *
D. decided after church that what he really wanted was SOUP, and as making it on the spur of the moment isn't really feasible, we went to East Side Mario's, a New York/Italian chain that does unlimited soup, salad and warm, slightly garlicky bread, which was really quite decent (especially as mine ws accompanied by a generous glass of WINE). The PIE will wait happily in the fridge until tomorrow.
For this relief much thanks!
As well as my niece (and fiancé Gareth), my brother and SiL came too. As SiL is Irish I added a few Irish elements to the menu in honour of St Patrick - and we still have some chocolate Guinness cake left