AS: Tea and biscuits and GIN, the British thread

1323335373864

Comments

  • I've been delighted a few times at English train stations that if there is not a lift (or if it's out of order), they will very nicely help you across the tracks if you're hauling luggage or physically unable to climb the stairs.
  • Assuming it's a station that has staff - many don't.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    It is true what Curiosity Killed says, and other people have told me that too - though they have said it more in terms of the station itself rather than the train company, that some stations are better for assistance than others. When I phoned the passenger assist phone number, I think it was an overall phone number rather than a particular company. The guy I spoke to was really helpful, but they didn’t have autism as a category, and he apologised that he had to tick that I had a learning disability instead. But my details are on their system now and I can phone if I am going on a train journey. I suppose, Bishops Finger, that even if you don’t specifically request wheelchair assistance, you could maybe ask for someone to help with your luggage, and just help in general. I hope your neuro-oncology appointment is helpful. Prayers for you. 🕯

  • Positivity is definitely the key. Concentrate on what you can do, and even then, what you think you can't do can often be managed with a bit of thought and adjustment!!!

    Good luck with the walking!
  • Thanks again, all.

    Hopefully, my walking problems are only temporary, although (on reflection), I've had restricted mobility since before the brain surgery in 2016.

    Ah well. There are plenty of folks far, far worse off than I. <votive> for them!

    IJ
  • Hurrah for passenger assist.... and for friendly staff on the small station and the branch-line train even if the message about me needing their help didn’t get through to them. I was able to make an Epic Journey using my (now sold - hurrah again) knee scooter. However, the planning of the journey wasn’t helped by different websites contradicting one another on which side of the station the train would go from. Thankfully the one that I chose went (unusually) from the side where the ticket office is rather than the other one accessed either by stairs or via a 5 minute detour to use a ramp.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Nenya wrote: »
    ... Piglet, I thought the job was in the bag. Have I missed something?.
    I thought so too, but it turned out the Associate Dean had to have the chance to see me as I'd be working directly with him, and he in turn has to get approval from the Dean and the financial/HR boffins (and the office manager has been on holiday this week).

    This is Canada, where bureaucracy is never simple! Still keeping my trotters crossed.

    Nice lazy (and mercifully much cooler - 19°) day today - all I've done is coloured my hair and had it cut. Bread-making is currently in progress, and there's some damson JAM in the larder, so you can help yourselves in a couple of hours.

    BF, don't feel bad about availing yourself of any help you can get. 67 isn't at all old, but that's no reason not to take advantage of whatever help is available - it may well hasten your recovery. Still sending virtual hugs. :)
  • Roots tangled for you, Piglet, to go with your crossed trotters.

    Damson jam is delicious - there is a damson tree in the hedge opposite my house and I collect windfalls, stick them in the freezer and use them in the winter, usually for crummmmble because there isn’t enough for jam although I have occasionally added them to plums.

    I woke this morning with an urge to get on with the annual garage tidy up so I won’t have to climb over things to get what I want - so far I’ve managed to put an empty bin bag by the door, so let’s see how enthusiastic I am when I get back from church.
  • Damson gin is also good and there's a chutney in Delia Smith that uses damsons. My parents had a damson-like tree that produces 30lb or more of the fruit on a fruiting year, so I used to leave with 3 or 4lb every time I went, had to go and pick them and process them myself. I miss free fruit at this time of year. I also used to make the chutney and return it as presents later from the fruit I'd been given free.

    I got to the Globe last night, so glad the nights are drawing in and it's not so bright; to see Emilia which tells the story of Emilia Lanier/Bassano. Amazing woman, fascinating story, all woman cast, playing both men and women - not entirely sure about the treatment in the play, which used each and every possible theory in the Wiki article and lacked subtlety in the treatment so losing the feminist message it was aiming for by being too polemic. I also found the witty anachronisms more distracting than amusing.
  • In my last church we had a gentleman who invited folk to his house to plat croquet. I have to say that he had his own rules and usually won! More to the point he had a very prolific damson tree and invited visitors to collect as many as they liked as he had no use for them. My wife was able to make a lot of damson jam over several years, until he sadly died.
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    Yesterday I sampled my homemade pink rhubarb gin - very pleasant neat and/or with tonic.

    🙂 🍸
  • Ooh, rhubarb gin sounds amazing
  • Any rhubarb GIN not required in the Boogie household will be very carefully looked after in the Episcopal Palace.....*hic*

    The same applies to any surplus damson JAM.

    Or damson GIN, for that matter....

    :grin:

    IJ
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Damson gin. Mmmmmmm.
  • Rhubarb GIN is scrummy, as is Gooseberry, Raspbery.... any fruity GIN.... mmmmm
  • Welcome back Heavenlyannie! I was St. Gwladys, and wish I still were ☹️. Any hope of a name change amnesty in the future?
    With the floods in Kerala, is there any news on Wodders?
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Damson GIN is one of the proofs that God loves us. :smiley:

    I don't think any news has come through about Wodders - prayers are continuing to ascend.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Priscilla wrote: »
    Any hope of a name change amnesty in the future?

    I think name changes give the New Ship's software the heebie jeebies.

    This is a technical term.
  • With all due respect, Priscilla is at least easy to pronounce....

    I'll get me coat, and shut the door from the outside.

    IJ
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    We're off to see my MiL next weekend. With the lovely weather we've had this summer I am hopeful her damson trees will have loads of ripe fruit for GIN and other nice things. We went out for a walk this week and found a park with loads of sloe bushes. It isn't very near where we live but not too far from our son's. We were encouraging to go and get some and make some sloe gin as well.
  • We've had a shipment of windfall apples from a family at church that will go into a batch of jam, possibly of the pear variety. I may steal one for the gammon-based meal I'm making at the moment.

    Welcome back Heavenlyannie. I remember you well, you remind me of ninjabread men :smile:
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    🙏 Wodders 🙏
  • SmudgieSmudgie Shipmate
    I had a missed call from India today which turned out to be WW letting me know that they are OK. They are safe and the water seems to be receding. Their lost power has been restored. Food is in dwindling supplies but there is enough to be going on with. They still seem to be isolated by the flood. Though.
  • Thanks Smudgie
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Thanks Smudgie - when I saw that you had posted I hope it would be about Wodders, We had prayers for Kerala at church yesterday - it was the only part of the service worth waking up for.
  • neandergirlneandergirl Shipmate
    edited August 2018
    Yay for news/weather updates from Kerala!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Thanks Smudgie - good to hear that he's safe.

    It was the turn of the diocese of Kerala in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer this week (according to our lectionary anyway), and I sent up an extra prayer for Wodders and his friends.

    Perhaps the cumulative effect of a whole chunk of Anglicans all praying for that part of the world didn't fall on deaf ears!
  • Well, it would indeed be encouraging to know that prayer (whether Anglican or not!) is efficacious. It's good to hear that WW is OK, though, and, hopefully, food supplies will soon be adequate again.

    Lawks a mussy - we moan about the weather in Ukland, but at least we don't get the extremes suffered by other parts of the world. Having said that, there is a caveat - things are changing, and we seem ourselves to be getting worse weather, one way or t'other...
    :fearful:

    ION, Friend from Church, and her Daughter's Friend, came today to paint parts of the exterior of the Palace, and have done a Great Job (at the expense of their fingernails.... :confounded: ).

    :smiley:

    IJ
  • @Bishops Finger We currently have precipitation descending, which if it's heading your way next, may test the repairs somewhat.

    Much rejoicing here as I no longer have to hie me to a distant county court at sparrow's fart tomorrow morning to appear as a witness. I am no longer needed. That made me very happy.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Oh, that's good news, Curiosity. Really happy for you. :smile:
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Good to hear, CK. Can the trial still proceed without your testimony as the victim, or will a statement from you (plus medical evidence) be enough?

    Whatever happens, prayers continuing to ascend for a good outcome.
  • On the question of Damson gin, I recently discovered blueberry infused vodka. It tastes rather like slivovic (Balkan plum brandy). Fortunately, bars here in Toronto often stock this vodka. Decent substitute for when I'm in the mood.
  • @Bishops Finger We currently have precipitation descending, which if it's heading your way next, may test the repairs somewhat.

    Much rejoicing here as I no longer have to hie me to a distant county court at sparrow's fart tomorrow morning to appear as a witness. I am no longer needed. That made me very happy.

    Yes, light showers/drizzle are forecast, but it's quick-drying paint (said he, hopefully - well, that's what It Says On The Tin).

    And, as others have said, best wishes for the court business....

    IJ
  • The assault court case didn't happen as the assailant pleaded guilty at the last minute - found out on the day I wasn't needed at the crown court for that one. This county court hearing is to be an eviction hearing ...
  • I love rhubarb gin, I’m currently on the gin and tonic but there is some homemade blueberry gin on the shelf.
    Mm, ninjabread, perhaps that’s something I can make tomorrow.
    A dull day here catching up on post-holiday laundry and tidying. I really need to get down to some work as my summers are very unstructured. I need to write a research proposal soon so maybe I should start that tomorrow? I’m hoping to start an education doctorate next spring at the grand old age of 49.
    Glad WW is ok.
    Annie
  • Very glad about WW though it still doesn't sound a barrel of laughs. Also good news, CK, definitely something you could do without.

    It's a bit moist here too, off and on. Am currently busy making plans for a mid September visit from far off rellies. This has reminded me to make weather-proof contingency plans. Cousin would very much like to visit Kew Gardens; I've told her to pack an umbrella.
  • CK I am glad you do not have to appear in court. Enough trauma and angst alreaady tolast a very long time. I hope your assailant can get the help needed and that she sticks to anything given to help.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited August 2018
    Yea and amen to that!

    Glad to hear the paint's holding out, BF! .

    As it was another lovely day I had a nice early-evening amble over the bridge and back; although I inadvertently picked the hottest time of day (6 o'clock), it was only 23°, so really not too bad.

    When I got back, in a fit of domesticity, I made a pot of SOUP, so that's tomorrow's lunch sorted.

    Still haven't heard anything back about the job.
  • Sorry about the job, piglet. Hope something is sorted soon.

    As well as lots of cooking, necessary to cater for my very allergic daughter, and the clearing up necessitated by the catering, my current domestic goddess kick is yielding a lot of dressmaking and craft work, although yesterday was more mending and recreating garments - I now have three pairs of knee length shorts gained from beaten up trousers and a pair of culottes taken to pieces so I can make a pattern from them.

    One thing I did find yesterday were some very edible gluten and dairy free equivalents to Oreo biscuits.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I'm one very pissed-off piglet: they've decided to offer the job to someone else.

    I must have really shot myself in the trotter at the meeting with the Associate Dean.

    Back to the drawing-board we go ... :cry:
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited August 2018
    O dear - sorry to hear that, Piglet.
    :confounded:

    The Associate Dean is clearly an Eejit....
    :rage:

    Hopefully, the next attempt will be both Successful, and Better In Every Way, IYSWIM.

    IJ
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    Sorry to hear that, Piglet. Seems unfair, after they'd told you that you'd got the job.
  • Oh no so sorry to hear that Piglet. I hope something even better comes up very soon.
  • That’s rubbish Piglet. Not meant to be...
  • I’m so sorry Piglet, that is a terrible way to treat you. I hope you can find somewhere to work where they will treat you with more respect.
  • Oh Piglet! ☹️❤️
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    Oh Piglet, but it sounds like a place you wouldn't want to work anyway if they are that disorganised that one set of people can offer you a job without checking with the other set first. Has the other possible job opportunity sailed?
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    When the shop person phoned to ask if I'd go in to see them, I politely declined, thinking that I'd got something in the field I'm trained in. Talk about hubris coming back to bite me!

    I suppose I could go back to them and grovel ...
  • :heartbreak: Piglet - so sorry :cry:
  • Fingers crossed for a better, bright prospect to open for you!
This discussion has been closed.