I was going to say I can't see an alternative to oil for roasting veg, but then I did potatoes in duck fat on Monday...
A girl needs her own kitchen.
Mine is due to be comprehensively overhauled next week. Or at least that is the date I was given. However I am uneasy that, on present form, it may slip. I don't doubt it will happen - what are they going to do with 4k's worth of units otherwise? - but I like to be reassured.
Anyway. Today is the morning for the Fish Van, and the evening for the Merluza en salsa verde.
Good luck with the flat hunt, piglet, I hope you find something that is right for you.
Last night’s tea was a a red split pea curry. I used a paste and underestimated it’s power - my, it was hot! But good.
I’m tired this morning, having done the Waitrose shop last night at 9pm.
I’ve decided I need something to get me enthusiastic about working again so today I am having a go at designing a poster for my thesis. It’s something I need to present this year so may as well get going before term starts. It gives me a chance to gather my ideas together and be creative.
We had a totally unplanned Chinese last night, having popped into Waitrose and found a take-away for two on the reduced display, £3.95 instead of £10. Very satisfying all round. So the steak pie, peas and mash will be tonight.
I went to the job centre equivalent to sign on today. The lady was surprisingly nice and helpful. I floated the idea of starting my own business, and she said that if you want to set up as self-employed there's compulsory training, but I can get it paid for because I'm a jobseeker.
After that we went to the brasserie and I got croque Madame (like a cheese and ham toastie with a fried egg on top) and CHIPS.
Very smart, Boogie!
I don't think today's flat was The One, although it was very nice; it was in a relatively new estate, but it seemed a bit detached from the town and I thought I might have been a bit isolated.
After we'd looked at it, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's and had v. nice SOUP for a late lunch, and we were talking about other potential locations. I mentioned that I'd had coffee the other day with my bridesmaid, who lives in Linlithgow, and we all got our mobiles out and looked up places there. It turns out there are a few really rather nice little flats there, so we're seeing one on Friday and another one (or maybe two) on Tuesday, so we'll see.
It would also be nice to live somewhere where I actually know someone!
Just after we got back, No. 2 niece arrived with Larry, so we had a lovely amble round the reservoir as the sun was setting.
Linlithgow, where, tiring of waiting for forces from Robert the Bruce, the enterprising citizens under the leadership of one William Bunnock are said to have smuggled a small band of men in in a load of hay and jammed it in the gateway, overpowering the guards and enabling their fellows to come in and drive out the English garrison.
That sounds good, Heavenlyannie! You were bemoaning the fact that the house was too busy these days, so there's hope you might find some of the calm of before.
I know what you mean. I am rather partial to a bit of quiet atmosphere myself!
Hope your son enjoys the first day of college @Heavenlyannie . Is your other son back to university soon too.
Today is the day my husband finds out the details of his voluntary redundancy. Hope the package is as generous as he's been led to believe and that they want him to go sooner rather than later.
I'm having a lazy day. After my jaunts to the East Midlands and Italy in August I'm deliberately trying not to go out so much at the moment. I've been enjoying the Tour de France. When the innumerable ads come on I go off and carry on with a jigsaw.
Younger son will be in college alternate weeks; there are two college years so they are separating them out. Older son will go back to York uni in about a week. Some contact with the outside world will be good for them, they need the space to grow as adults.
Hope your son enjoys the first day of college @Heavenlyannie . Is your other son back to university soon too.
Today is the day my husband finds out the details of his voluntary redundancy. Hope the package is as generous as he's been led to believe and that they want him to go sooner rather than later.
I'm having a lazy day. After my jaunts to the East Midlands and Italy in August I'm deliberately trying not to go out so much at the moment. I've been enjoying the Tour de France. When the innumerable ads come on I go off and carry on with a jigsaw.
Press ‘pause’ while you do, then you can fast forward the ads 🙂
May the Amblage be kept dry, and may the Viewing of Flats result in a successful outcome!
(BTW - I see that the local Piskie church in Linlithgow has a monthly Thursday Choral Evensong...a rather unusual day, but I expect there's a good reason for it! Mind you, possibly it's not happening just at present ).
Good news. Just had an email to say that the Lay Clerks will return to our local cathedral this coming Sunday for Sung Eucharist and there will be Evensong starting on Saturday 19 th Sept. The boys and girls will start rehearsals this week and will sing services from after October half term. Deo volente.
Enjoy the flat viewing @Piglet.
Husband's redundancy package has been confirmed. Leaving early November and the pay-off is what he calculated, so all well and good. Knock on of that is that we intend to move north. I'm getting a couple of estate agents round to value our place, so exciting and scary at the same time. I've also ordered a posh meal from a restaurant's 'dine at home' menu to celebrate this evening.
We've had a bit of good news. My son and daughter-in-law both work in the theatre industry, where the future is very bleak. Work has dried up almost completely for my son, though d-i-l has had some part-time work. They have a small son. Neither is eligible for the Furlough Scheme, however my son has been able to claim under the Self-Employed Scheme.
D-i-l was not eligible for that scheme as she had claimed maternity benefits within the last three years. This affected a lot of women and strong representations have apparently been made in High Places with good result as the criteria have now not only been changed but backdated. D-i-l has therefore been able to make a claim, which (as she says) will see the mortgage paid for the next six months. (To avoid questions, the Sel-Employed Scheme is different to the Furlough one as you're still allowed to pick up work if you can get it - although this is subject to income tax, which only seems right).
In different news, I am a Trustee of a Charity Shop which was unexpectedly hit earlier in the year by a huge demand for Business Rates. Our Chair has been appealing this, and yesterday we got notice of a very significant reduction (over 80%) for both the current year and last year.
Not as far as you @Cathscats , though it's tempting given the state of the government here at the moment. We're aiming at the East Midlands where we used to live and still have family and friends.
Good news about your DiL @Baptist Trainfan. My sister in law is in film PR and all her work dried up due to Covid. She's got a gig working at the moment on an American TV series that will pay the bills till the end of a year, after that who knows.
My daughter was eligible for the Self Employment grant as she runs a holiday let. Although technically she would be eligible for the second grant as there are additional costs involved to be Covid- secure, she has decided not to take it as she is so busy with bookings now. Morally she may be right, but in these uncertain times, I would be taking what is legally available. It is taxable after all.
Her husband has not been eligible for any help and his business is not doing well this year.
I woke early today so did some work about 8am and then walked to the garden centre for a new bird feeder. Now relaxing with a cup of tea before doing some more work.
I woke early today so did some work about 8am and then walked to the garden centre for a new bird feeder. Now relaxing with a cup of tea before doing some more work.
Ooooo - a new bird feeder. Now that’s exciting in my book ( no sarcasm). I’m constantly trying to entice the small birds back to our garden. Our huge Rowan tree blew down during the Beast from the East and we’ve not seen many since then.
Any ideas welcome. My bird feeders are squirrel proof.
I like the Gardman steel feeders as they don’t break or deteriorate and are easy to fill, but I don’t have a squirrel problem (just a cat one).
I’ve re-organised our feeders as I noticed we had fewer birds this year, presumably due to the new housing estate behind the house where we used to have farmers fields. We did just have a feeding station viewable from the house but I’ve put up feeders at the end of the garden now among the fruit trees and wild flowers. I have just started a monthly delivery of bird food from wiggly Wigglers, the people I get wormery things from. The small box of feed is huge though!
We have a bird box near our original feeders and have blue tits every year there.
Re: bird feeders - S. put one of hers (it's a pole with four hooks at the top and a couple of trays further down) beside the Leylandii hedge that separates her garden from next door's.
Lots of the smaller birds (mostly sparrows, starlings and assorted tits) seem to have their nests in the hedge, and it's an absolute delight to see them poke their little heads out and hop across to the feeder. There's another pole feeder at the other side of the garden, but it's not nearly so well-used; I suppose the birdies aren't going to fly any further than they have to!
Sadly, it's not squirrel-proof, but tbh I actually like seeing the squirrels chasing about on it - they're so athletic!
In other news, it's what BF describes as "wit and Wendy" here today, so I don't think I'll be ambling very far (unless Linlithgow turns out to be a parking nightmare). Thanks for the good-luck messages - I'll report back!
Update: the first one we looked at was a total non-starter: it was beautifully decorated, but microscopic - there wasn't really anywhere you could have put an armchair or a table for eating. As a friend in Belfast used to say, cat-swinging wasn't an option.
However ...
The second one was gorgeous. It's on the top floor of a Victorian building right on the main street (and it's a really nice main street - just the sort you'd hope for in a civilised Scottish town - it even reminded me a bit of Kirkwall), it's been beautifully done up and would suit me perfectly.
Small World Moment: the middle floor of the building is occupied by a firm of solicitors - one of whom is married to my bridesmaid. He happened to be coming out of his office as we were going upstairs, and said hello. He recognised me (despite my wearing a mask and us not having seen each other for at least 20 years) - serendipity or what?
I really want this one - much more than I did the one in Dunfermline - so please cross everything crossable!
That does sound perfect for you I do hope you get it.
I managed to finish today’s project and did some tidying of other paperwork. Husband is out to dinner this evening so I’ve just ordered pizzas for me and the boys. I fancy an espresso martini but the resident maker of cocktails is out on the town so I might have some white wine instead.
Why should the unrighteous get all the good stuff? Please the nice apartment to @Piglet because she obviously deserves it.
Amen.
That aside, you know what I miss? I know it's really no big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I miss my lipstick. No point wearing it under a face mask - no one can see it and it just messes the mask up. I think I'm going to have to push the boat out on the visible part of my face. Today I went wild with a turquoise eye shadow. I admit that makeup tutorials on YouTube are one of my guilty pleasures, and I think I'm going to have to give some serious attention to the subject of the perfect smoky eye 👁.
Today we went to Montmartre to buy fabric and habadashery. I have some nice red jersey and Captain Pyjamas is going to be getting new pyjamas. That child grows like a weed. He also has a cold, and is currently the snottiest infant in the world (I'm 99% sure it's not Covid - principal symptom is the snotty nose, which isn't a Covid symptom, especially in infants.) I'm fairly sure he's picked it up playing in the park - little kids are natural Communists and any toy you take to the park immediately becomes everyone's toy
Hope Captain Pyjamas gets less snotty soon. I had the whole snotty nose thing the other week and felt rough. I was certain it wasn't covid but tried to book a test to make sure. Of course none were to be had, and I felt it was not something worth pursuing, when others obviously needed test more.
Our posh take away yesterday was very nice, specially the wine (Corbieres) and the dessert, praline crepes. It was made even nicer by a flying visit from my sister in law who was PRing for a TV series filming in the area. She could only stay for ten minutes and refused to sit down in case she never got up again, but it was lovely to see her properly for the first time since February.
I had a worrying e-mail from my solicitor last night, saying when she checked on the sellers' website it came up as "sold" - I really don't know what's happening, and I won't until Monday.
It's possible the agent has taken it off because I was so keen, and said I'd offer over the asking price if they did, but it's going to be a nail-biting weekend.
Sorry about Captain Pyjamas' snuffles. He's in good company - Archie's in snotsville at the moment too. His mum's a nurse, and he had to have a Covid test, which, Deo gratias, came back negative.
Hope all is well on the flat front @piglet, everything crossed.
We've just had a lovely long walk across one of the Royal Parks to a farmer's market. We have fresh pasta and spinach for tea, husband had a long chat and brought some beans from a fellow coffee geek and I brought a very large slice of coffee and walnut cake which we eat while waiting for our train home. I now feel slightly stuffed and too full of sugar, but it was very nice while it lasted.
Comments
Hope one of the flats is The One...
A girl needs her own kitchen.
Mine is due to be comprehensively overhauled next week. Or at least that is the date I was given. However I am uneasy that, on present form, it may slip. I don't doubt it will happen - what are they going to do with 4k's worth of units otherwise? - but I like to be reassured.
Anyway. Today is the morning for the Fish Van, and the evening for the Merluza en salsa verde.
Last night’s tea was a a red split pea curry. I used a paste and underestimated it’s power - my, it was hot! But good.
I’m tired this morning, having done the Waitrose shop last night at 9pm.
I’ve decided I need something to get me enthusiastic about working again so today I am having a go at designing a poster for my thesis. It’s something I need to present this year so may as well get going before term starts. It gives me a chance to gather my ideas together and be creative.
Lunch will be chicken and ham pies.
After that we went to the brasserie and I got croque Madame (like a cheese and ham toastie with a fried egg on top) and CHIPS.
Yes! It's great
I don't think today's flat was The One, although it was very nice; it was in a relatively new estate, but it seemed a bit detached from the town and I thought I might have been a bit isolated.
After we'd looked at it, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's and had v. nice SOUP for a late lunch, and we were talking about other potential locations. I mentioned that I'd had coffee the other day with my bridesmaid, who lives in Linlithgow, and we all got our mobiles out and looked up places there. It turns out there are a few really rather nice little flats there, so we're seeing one on Friday and another one (or maybe two) on Tuesday, so we'll see.
It would also be nice to live somewhere where I actually know someone!
Just after we got back, No. 2 niece arrived with Larry, so we had a lovely amble round the reservoir as the sun was setting.
I’m off for a walk then need to get some work done while he’s gone and it’s quiet, writing a research consent form and info sheet.
I know what you mean. I am rather partial to a bit of quiet atmosphere myself!
<votive>
Today is the day my husband finds out the details of his voluntary redundancy. Hope the package is as generous as he's been led to believe and that they want him to go sooner rather than later.
I'm having a lazy day. After my jaunts to the East Midlands and Italy in August I'm deliberately trying not to go out so much at the moment. I've been enjoying the Tour de France. When the innumerable ads come on I go off and carry on with a jigsaw.
Younger son will be in college alternate weeks; there are two college years so they are separating them out. Older son will go back to York uni in about a week. Some contact with the outside world will be good for them, they need the space to grow as adults.
Press ‘pause’ while you do, then you can fast forward the ads 🙂
It seems to be a dry day, so amblage will happen forthwith.
(BTW - I see that the local Piskie church in Linlithgow has a monthly Thursday Choral Evensong...a rather unusual day, but I expect there's a good reason for it! Mind you, possibly it's not happening just at present
Husband's redundancy package has been confirmed. Leaving early November and the pay-off is what he calculated, so all well and good. Knock on of that is that we intend to move north. I'm getting a couple of estate agents round to value our place, so exciting and scary at the same time. I've also ordered a posh meal from a restaurant's 'dine at home' menu to celebrate this evening.
D-i-l was not eligible for that scheme as she had claimed maternity benefits within the last three years. This affected a lot of women and strong representations have apparently been made in High Places with good result as the criteria have now not only been changed but backdated. D-i-l has therefore been able to make a claim, which (as she says) will see the mortgage paid for the next six months. (To avoid questions, the Sel-Employed Scheme is different to the Furlough one as you're still allowed to pick up work if you can get it - although this is subject to income tax, which only seems right).
In different news, I am a Trustee of a Charity Shop which was unexpectedly hit earlier in the year by a huge demand for Business Rates. Our Chair has been appealing this, and yesterday we got notice of a very significant reduction (over 80%) for both the current year and last year.
Not as far as you @Cathscats , though it's tempting given the state of the government here at the moment. We're aiming at the East Midlands where we used to live and still have family and friends.
Good news about your DiL @Baptist Trainfan. My sister in law is in film PR and all her work dried up due to Covid. She's got a gig working at the moment on an American TV series that will pay the bills till the end of a year, after that who knows.
Her husband has not been eligible for any help and his business is not doing well this year.
I woke early today so did some work about 8am and then walked to the garden centre for a new bird feeder. Now relaxing with a cup of tea before doing some more work.
Ooooo - a new bird feeder. Now that’s exciting in my book ( no sarcasm). I’m constantly trying to entice the small birds back to our garden. Our huge Rowan tree blew down during the Beast from the East and we’ve not seen many since then.
Any ideas welcome. My bird feeders are squirrel proof.
🐿
I’ve re-organised our feeders as I noticed we had fewer birds this year, presumably due to the new housing estate behind the house where we used to have farmers fields. We did just have a feeding station viewable from the house but I’ve put up feeders at the end of the garden now among the fruit trees and wild flowers. I have just started a monthly delivery of bird food from wiggly Wigglers, the people I get wormery things from. The small box of feed is huge though!
We have a bird box near our original feeders and have blue tits every year there.
Re: bird feeders - S. put one of hers (it's a pole with four hooks at the top and a couple of trays further down) beside the Leylandii hedge that separates her garden from next door's.
Lots of the smaller birds (mostly sparrows, starlings and assorted tits) seem to have their nests in the hedge, and it's an absolute delight to see them poke their little heads out and hop across to the feeder. There's another pole feeder at the other side of the garden, but it's not nearly so well-used; I suppose the birdies aren't going to fly any further than they have to!
Sadly, it's not squirrel-proof, but tbh I actually like seeing the squirrels chasing about on it - they're so athletic!
In other news, it's what BF describes as "wit and Wendy" here today, so I don't think I'll be ambling very far (unless Linlithgow turns out to be a parking nightmare). Thanks for the good-luck messages - I'll report back!
However ...
The second one was gorgeous. It's on the top floor of a Victorian building right on the main street (and it's a really nice main street - just the sort you'd hope for in a civilised Scottish town - it even reminded me a bit of Kirkwall), it's been beautifully done up and would suit me perfectly.
Small World Moment: the middle floor of the building is occupied by a firm of solicitors - one of whom is married to my bridesmaid. He happened to be coming out of his office as we were going upstairs, and said hello. He recognised me (despite my wearing a mask and us not having seen each other for at least 20 years) - serendipity or what?
I really want this one - much more than I did the one in Dunfermline - so please cross everything crossable!
I managed to finish today’s project and did some tidying of other paperwork. Husband is out to dinner this evening so I’ve just ordered pizzas for me and the boys. I fancy an espresso martini but the resident maker of cocktails is out on the town so I might have some white wine instead.
Why should the unrighteous get all the good stuff? Please the nice apartment to @Piglet because she obviously deserves it.
Amen.
That aside, you know what I miss? I know it's really no big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I miss my lipstick. No point wearing it under a face mask - no one can see it and it just messes the mask up. I think I'm going to have to push the boat out on the visible part of my face. Today I went wild with a turquoise eye shadow. I admit that makeup tutorials on YouTube are one of my guilty pleasures, and I think I'm going to have to give some serious attention to the subject of the perfect smoky eye 👁.
Today we went to Montmartre to buy fabric and habadashery. I have some nice red jersey and Captain Pyjamas is going to be getting new pyjamas. That child grows like a weed. He also has a cold, and is currently the snottiest infant in the world
Our posh take away yesterday was very nice, specially the wine (Corbieres) and the dessert, praline crepes. It was made even nicer by a flying visit from my sister in law who was PRing for a TV series filming in the area. She could only stay for ten minutes and refused to sit down in case she never got up again, but it was lovely to see her properly for the first time since February.
I had a worrying e-mail from my solicitor last night, saying when she checked on the sellers' website it came up as "sold" - I really don't know what's happening, and I won't until Monday.
It's possible the agent has taken it off because I was so keen, and said I'd offer over the asking price if they did, but it's going to be a nail-biting weekend.
Sorry about Captain Pyjamas' snuffles. He's in good company - Archie's in snotsville at the moment too. His mum's a nurse, and he had to have a Covid test, which, Deo gratias, came back negative.
We've just had a lovely long walk across one of the Royal Parks to a farmer's market. We have fresh pasta and spinach for tea, husband had a long chat and brought some beans from a fellow coffee geek and I brought a very large slice of coffee and walnut cake which we eat while waiting for our train home. I now feel slightly stuffed and too full of sugar, but it was very nice while it lasted.