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Part of the honey fungus in our garden
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Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 10:48 AM
ReplyDeleteStrange development re my pilot encounter. There was a Matthew on my flights who was known for kindness to his passengers, but it's a different name, and his photograph is not the man I saw.
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Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 11:05 AM
The man I remember so clearly doesn't exist.
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AmbridgesMrsPOctober 29, 2023 at 12:14 PM
You sent him something Sarnia, was it a poem, I can’t remember.
Did he ever reply ?
Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 12:25 PM
ReplyDeleteIt was a copy of my first book, and no, he didn't reply. However, seeing as it was the wrong name and the person I sent it to never existed, that's hardly surprising, is it?
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MistralOctober 29, 2023 at 11:46 AM
Sarnia ?? Sounds very odd....
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Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 12:29 PM
It is, Mistral, it is. My daughter sent me a photo of the actual pilot who flew us and I didn't recognise him at all. The one I remember so clearly left the company in 2017 and had no recollection of ever meeting me. Yet he's the one I still see so clearly.
I suppose I must have been more affected by grief than I though and my senses were playing tricks on me
Cheshire CheeseOctober 29, 2023 at 2:55 PM
ReplyDeleteThat's very weird Sarnia
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Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 3:09 PM
It's the sort of stuff that sometimes happens to me when I've played a funeral, so I've got used to that over the years, but then it's not personal. I don't know what to make of this, because while whoever he was gazed and gazed at my brother's photo and name on the service sheet I showed him, I could smell my father's pipe tobacco, and he died when I was nine.
...and anyway, other people's dead relatives make themselves clear, they don't leave me with riddles!
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Lady ROctober 29, 2023 at 4:59 PM
Oohhh Sarnia how very strange. Did you travel alone? ( I can’t remember ) maybe you were
sent comfort in the form of a dream, if so it certainly worked so treasure that! After all mysterious ways etc etc
Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 5:13 PM
ReplyDeleteNo, Lady R, my son was with me, and when I sent him the photo I recognised , Daniel didn't know who it was.It must have been a very long dream in four episodes, because there were four separate encounters with the pilot, on two different journeys, and me seeing him on his way back from the air terminal when my son insisted that we'd just left him at the bottom of the steps.
It rather suggests that we were seeing two different people and it's doing my head in!
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Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 5:16 PM
And, yes, it was a huge comfort until this morning, when I discovered that it must all have been in my mind!
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JaniceOctober 29, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Was the Matthew's surname Knight or was that different as well as the different appearance you saw? I think our deeper minds will try to preserve and protect us in times of stress, but having ready various books about there being a universal network of energy I do wonder if we can reach out into that network and make connections when help and comfort is needed.
Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 6:22 PM
ReplyDeleteThank you,Janice. Matthew Knights is the photograph I recognised on LinkedIn, but he left Blue Islands in 2017. As July was the first time I'd ever flown with them, clearly we have never met.
This has been almost like another bereavement, because the pilot who must actually have done the comforting is someone I've never seen before in my life, and I feel no connection with him at all.
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Sarnia October 29, 2023 at 6:33 PM
The Matthew I saw, who looked like MK but wasn't, bore a faint, elusive resemblance to my father and brothers, but with the wrong colouring - too pale and fair. He was also very serious.
I know that after bereavement sometimes senses can't be trusted, especially the sense of smell, but I really wouldn't expect a reaction as exceptionally strong as this for a brother who hadn't been part of my life since early childhood and whom I hadn't seen for nearly 35 years.
Maybe that was exactly the reason Sarnia your mind at last being given permission to release stifled emotions due to S-i- L quashing your relationship with your brother for such a long time…..
DeleteThat's quite feasible, Lady R. Looking through a family album I saw a child's version of that face, with the same intense, serious look, but it was my brother Leslie aged 7, whom I didn't meet until I was 9 years old and only saw about half a dozen times after that.
DeleteWe have a massive amount of honey fungus in our garden at the moment, aesthetically pleasing in a sculptural way but rather bad news for a fair number of trees. When an old apple tree died a few years ago we suspected honey fungus although the tree surgeon wasn’t sure, we lost a large ash tree to die back a year later and the stump (too large too grind out) obviously provided a good food supply so along with the wet Autumn we now have a stump completely covered and multiple clump on the lawn. Looking online there is very little we can do except admire the shapes for a few weeks. Oh well.
ReplyDeletePity it looks so attractive, KP
ReplyDeleteReminds me of our trips to The New Forest in years gone by for Autumn photography re leaves and fungi. In the days when one could squat or even lie on the ground to take shots
Delete🥲 in our camera clubs days, me very much a novice but Mr R extremely good.
A beautiful photo KP but a real menace in a garden full of trees. We had it some years ago and it led to several trees dying and having to be removed. You have my sympathy.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely photograph KP but I will also send sympathies along with the compliment.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, on Linked In, I found Mathew Knights ATR Pilot Blue Islands, underneath it said '2012 - present - 11 years', which I took to mean he still works there, and has been in that job since 2012. All very odd indeed. I think at the very least the experience made you happier at a very difficult/stressful and gave you the impetus to complete your book, and a fascination with aeroplanes, so I would think it was positive on the whole?
ReplyDeleteYes, Mistral, that's where I found him. However, my daughter has located him on Facebook with exactly the same photo and he told her he left BI in 2017. Of course 'up till the present' means when the site was last updated, and many of them are notoriously out of date.
ReplyDeleteThe fact remains that the man I remember is an older version of that photo. When my daughter showed me a photo of Matthew Whitfield, the man who was actually doing all the comforting, I had never seen him before in my life and felt no connection with him at all. That seems very ungrateful when I consider how much he has done for me. The book will now be dedicated to my brother, as it now seems that he, not this nebulous Matthew, was the catalyst in kick-starting it again.
Sarnia, This is fascinating, thank you for sharing it. I've never dismissed other people's experiences, I think there is too much we don't know or ignore. I hope it gives you peace of mind :)
ReplyDeleteSarnia - don’t know if this is of interest to you but MrA and I were delighted to see that the famous little Islander aircraft is to be made again on the Isle of Wight, at Bembridge.
ReplyDeleteWe have flown in this little aircraft and I think it does, or did, duty in the Channel Islands
For some years now it has been made abroad but manufacture is coming back home and the factory is offering many job opportunities and apprenticeships to young people interested in aircraft construction.
That’s a good bit of news ARCHERPHILE-
DeleteLots of innovative stuff happening on the island.
Does any one else remember the flying boats that were made on The Island in the early fifties I think.
My dad was very interested and we had to go to the yards to see them.
When my daughter was restoring her Georgian house at Seaview I went with them on one occasion to visit some specialist kitchen manufacturer and the old dockyard were they were felt very familiar in its position and layout. I think it was somewhere in Ryde, but I felt sure it was where we went to see the flying boats being made when I was about nine years old.
I have been so very lucky as to not have been in the path of recent storms.
ReplyDeleteNever the less, my garden is still a squelchy quagmire, and after some torrential but short rain bursts today, water quickly accumulated again in garden this afternoon.
Hope those who have suffered more, are OK.
No news, except Little Sis + Hubbie after 7 months have finally got the keys for their new + forever home today.
The sad thing is that their lovely black lab. is not with them now.
Hope all are doing well and will not be affected by the next storm.
Perhaps your sister and husband will get another dog once settled into their new home Miriam.
DeleteI read of another storm on its way this morning.
No more flights from the Islands for the time being - 'my' aeroplanes are all being parked up at Liverpool airport until after the storm to avoid damage.
ReplyDeleteYes, AP, good news about the Islander, although we saw more of the Trislanders in my neck of the woods. I'm a bit surprised there's still a market for them, though, as Aurigny have replaced them with the larger Dorniers and Scilly and the Scottish Islands now have Otters.
Apparently the Islander is used a lot in the Falkland Islands where they are used for government duties.
DeleteAh, I didn't know that - thank you.
DeleteWoke up this morning expecting to battered by high winds and lashing rain, but so far, not even a leaf is trembling!
ReplyDeleteI think we will be hit around 10 am and the worst will be over the middle of the day - just when Mr A has to get to the hospital for his long awaited heart appointment. I just hope the cardiologist can get there too.
It has well and truly hit us. The lovely old laburnum that has been here longer than I have is down. It is always a stunning sight in May/June, dripping with golden flowers. It grows in what is normally a sheltered part of our little orchard and is (was!) the largest laburnum I have ever seen. I can see it from the window but haven't ventured out yet because of the wind. My son has just Whats Apped to say their guttering is down. I am utterly fed up with what seems like endless weeks of torrential rain. Even the puddle at the bottom of our track is more like a lake nowadays, and has become too deep for little Max to splash around in in his wellies.
ReplyDeleteHope the wind dies down in time for Mr A to get to hospital for his appointment Archerfile, and hope everyone else is safe and keeping warm.
All safe and quiet here on the North Somerset coast. I slept through it all.
ReplyDeleteI am protected by North Hill, and no news so far of how the town has fared.
Text from daughter down on The Lizard that trees down on roads but they themselves appear to be OK. Most of there woodland is in a valley so again I imagine they are unlikely to have much damage.
So sorry Janice to hear of the fall of your glorious Laburnum, one of my favourite trees. Perhaps you can plant another for your grandson ?
Do hope Mr AP gets his appointment today AP. So important !
My son phoned last night to say that Jersey is in 'lockdown', people told to stay at home, schools and shops shut today. The BBC online reported that people there are hoarding food, waitrose was stripped bare! So I will pack some pasta and garlic in my case, and hope that the ferry crossing goes ahead on Monday, all crossings have been cancelled for the last two days.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter leaves near Exeter and that area was on the storm path too, although up here it is amother wet, chilly day. Like Janice I am fed up with the damp dreariness.
Hope everybody is ok, and that Mr. A has got to his appointment.
Guernsey and Alderney are in a similar situation with all schools closed. Our local airport has all flights cancelled from 10am-4pm and it's very blustery here, although I have seen worse.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that 'my' aeroplanes have appeared on the Liverpool departure schedule for 7.10am tomorrow and Guernsey Airport is due to reopen at 10am, so hopefully normality is on the horizon. I also hope that Mr A's appointment remained unaffected.
The storm reports on the lunchtime news were just awful from Jersey to parts of Southern England.
ReplyDeleteCertainly some People had very narrow escapes from dire consequences .Janice how sad to lose your wonderful old tree 😒
AP do hope all has gone well for Mr AP at the hospital today with reasonable journeys to and fro 🤞🏼
I hope all of you have experienced Storm Ciara, are safe and well and your properties are not affected.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I have been lucky, just rain and strong winds for just a couple of hours and now passed over.
I have read some bad consequences from it, both here and in N. Europe.
When I ventured out it was to discover another old tree from my great aunt's time was down. A crab apple that always had little apples about the size of cherries,that were sweet and good for jelly making , and the flowers good for pollinating the rest of the apple trees. Fed up, would rather have had slates off the roof than lose the trees.
ReplyDelete...also the birds in winter love crab apples, to supplement their food.
DeleteLast winter, which was a cold one, the crab apple tree in my neighbours garden, was stripped of the fruit, including a whole flock of redwings at one time.
I had a flock of redwings one year and felt very privileged until I realised they were stripping the cherry tree bare and we're absolute thugs towards the resident birds. Then I wasn't so keen, but there was nothing I could do about it.
ReplyDeleteWERE! The apostrophe was my phone's idea!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the loss of your lovey Laburnum Janice, they are such beautiful trees. Strangely we also lost a very old, but prolific Laburnum in the big 1987 storm - perhaps they are prone to weakness in high winds?
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you all for your concern, Mr A did get to and from his appointment safely. Apparently they think his 4 bypass grafts are all OK but he probably has a blockage somewhere else, so he has to go for an angiogram in a few weeks time. Hopefully it will a more simple procedure to deal with this time
We’ve got a new shop opened this week.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a cafe / pet shop for dogs.
Aha I thought !
This might be a help in socialising Lady.
So after the park we trotted off to our new emporium.
Lovely welcome, lots of dogs and plenty of anxious barking from Lady, but after some time and a peanut butter biscuit she settled and was quiet.
We will be returning !
That’s lovely. I bet the same people will keep going and not only will Lady be socialised but you’ll get to meet a new lot of people.
DeleteOur local cafe we frequent allows dogs downstairs and up the few steps past the kitchen and coffee area there are more tables where no dogs allowed. We’ve met a number of people we now talk to that are regularly there with their dogs.
If cafes don’t allow dogs in they are losing a lot of trade nowadays.
The owner said she has another business, cafe, in town and lots of visitors were moaning about dogs being allowed in, so she decided there was room for another cafe for dogs. I do hope it becomes a viable business for her.
DeleteWhen I was in Stroud a cafe opened for cats. I never went in but it didn’t last long.
Archerphile good to hear Mr A made it to and from his Basingstoke appointment safely and that a treatment plan is now (finally) in place.
ReplyDeleteMiriam “All creatures great and small” tonight 😢 bit of a tearjerker (Mr R always has a smile at me when this happens 🤭) At least puss cat was saved and Mrs Pumphrey has accepted uncle Herriotts colleague to attend T. Woo(?) for the duration. Last episode next week, but a Christmas Special to come with some home leave 🤞🏼for James and maybe Tristan 🤔
Lady R. I have been recording "All creatures" and will start watching it when I have the series complete.
ReplyDeleteThis will be my Sunday afternoon watching in the dark and glooming Sunday afternoons, as it gets colder + darker.
What I watched last night and thoroughly enjoyed was:-
Inside The Tower of London.
This new series was filmed in the build-up to our new Kings Coronation.
It is quite fascinating.
I had new side fences on my driveway installed today, the old side gates gone, a new fence panel + side gate put in which is far further forward than the old tatty ones.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference and am so pleased with the result.
There was an interesting find though.
The old fence panels were 37yrs old. On removing these and between them and the fence at the bottom of the garden, which abuts onto my property, an old air pellet rifle was found. It was completely rusted up and the wood was rotting, that it was not worth reporting to the police.
A neighbour of mine has a rifle as he does clay pigeon shooting, so he identified it, has got it locked firmly in his gunsafe, and will get it disposed of safely and correctly.
What a mystery though, as to why it was where it was and why 🤷♀️
That’s an interesting mystery Miriam.
DeleteA gun hidden away for decades.
Presumably longer than you have lived there ?
Took Lady back to the dog cafe again today.
There was a dog there that she knows, Guinness, but as he is only ever interested in fetching his ball, he is not really a friend, as he simply does not interact with other dogs.
She settled down far more quickly after the initial barking today.
Unfortunately yesterdays peanut butter biscuit treats gave her a very dodgy tummy upset. So a sausage treat today instead.
Was given a new builder contact last week. A Polish guy.
I called him yesterday early evening and he said he would call me back today. Not only good for his word, but came and looked at the jobs I want doing, and says he will work out a slot for me in January/ February.
Fingers crossed.
My holiday let from Monday, Landmark Trust property, has cancelled me due to no elecricity and sand blown inside, but I have arranged to keep in touch with the caretaker just in case it is sorted whilst I am over there. Had several offers of accomodation with lots of people I don't know, so now looking for a bnb just in case. I prefer to be independant, I really hope the electricity suppliers get their skates on. The fast ferry is cancelled, the slow one might be o.k. All very exciting....
ReplyDeleteWishing you good luck finding another opportunity Mistral.
DeleteIs it the unpredictability that is exciting you ?
That'll be the Commodore Clipper then, from Portsmouth?
DeleteHello Mrs. P, Yes, I usually have quite a dull time so I like this degree of excitement, it wakes me up a bit, I like finding soutions.
DeleteSarnia, yes, the Clipper has been cancelled again today, the info is put out a day ahead. I am leaving tomorrow for Portsmouth, hoping to sail on Monday, if it is cancelled, (another storm due today), I will hang out until I can cross. I have booked alternative accom in St. Helier, gone from moody gothic tower to city slicker apartment...
I remember saying how nice it would be to hop on a ferry, you were sceptical, now I know why! :) :)
I’m so pleased Mistral to know that you will be staying in a Landmark Trust property.
DeleteWhen the Landmark Trust was first formed I was very keen on their vision, and even got there original brochure, which I still have.
Unfortunately I’ve never been in a position to stay in one of their properties, as I’ve rarely had a holiday.
I do hope you enjoy yourself once you get there.
We 'hopped' on and off ferries on Greek islands all the time; the Channel Islands, now that's a different matter altogether.
DeleteMrs. P, I have never stayed with them either, but also like the vision, they do a lot to employ craftspeople and keep skills alive, Sadly not for me this time, but it was called Nicholle Tower, adapted by the Germans in WW2, their lookout room is now the bedroom. The administration have been very good and flexible. They offered me a tour of the tower when I am over there, providing the electricity is reconnected. There are some good links on their website showing new restoration projects, I imagine their stock has grown a lot since it was founded. What a great legacy.
DeleteRain, rain, go away!
ReplyDeleteFed up with having our windows washed with dirty water flung up by passing traffic zooming along the flooded road outside. 😡
My bag of compost has gone all soggy!
ReplyDeleteYou should see my bedroom ceiling! Scaffolders coming Tuesday, I hope it will be watertight by the time I get home. Its a bit like a colander at the moment. wasn't this bad until I started getting estimates....I have strategic buckets.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you get your ceiling sorted out soon Mistral!
DeleteThank you CC, I sent the roofer a short video this morning with some new proplems for him to look at, but this time on the pitched tiled roof where I have never, ever had trouble. I did wonder if they are making work for themselves, but surely not?
DeleteSarnia, after this my 'ferry-hopping' days might be over. I've never been to Greece or the islands, but it looks beautiful from what I have seen. Would you go again?
That's all from me for now, not taking my laptop and can't use this site on my phone.
TTFN.
I had my Covid Jab at our local hospital yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI feel at a bit odd this morning.
Can’t really describe how !
I expect I will feel better as the day progresses.
What views on Strictly this week? I personally thought Angela R should have gone. She has done very well but I think she has been consistently over marked and can’t help wondering if she was ‘saved’ due to ‘influence’ from the Beeb. I thought the Adam’s Rhumba was a much more difficult dance than Angela’s waltz and he should have been kept in the show.
ReplyDeleteI simply can’t seem to get very enthusiastic about the programme this year. It doesn’t seem to have the same attraction as previously, possibly due to the fact that most of the contestants stil in it are unknown to me and the awful screaming of the other competitors upon the interview platform.
I thought that each of the dance offs were pretty evenly matched but, on balance, agreed with the judges. I didn't see much of rhumba in Adam's dancing. I do agree that Angela R has been consistently overmarked though. I've liked Ellie from the start and am pleased to see her keep improving. Like you Archerfile my enthusiasm for this year's Strictly isn't great, maybe I'm getting bored with the whole thing.
DeleteArcherphile and CheshireCheese - I feel the same about this year’s competition. Usually I vote most weeks and record the show to rewatch some dances (also to skip over the nonsense bits) but this year I don’t seem to feel enthusiastic about it.
DeleteI usually vote if watching live but so far I’ve only voted once.
The judges have their favourites and sometimes their views are not mine. When I was a teenager I took ballroom dancing classes and even got some awards so when I see mistakes that aren’t picked up by the judges I’m disappointed.
Also the dancers seem to be very excitable which gets on my wick.
As per usual I loved both the Strictly Shows. At this stage in the competition, ie halfway through, the DO result always upsets many..
DeleteI just accept the result as I didn't vote for either of the couples in the dance off.
It was very 50/50 in my opinion.
This year is so totally enjoyable with so many talented performers. I also just love all the pre-recorded pro dances.
The African themed one last night, choreographed by Oto Matbuse, was such fun to watch and enjoy.
Like you Miriam we are enjoying SCD this year but a couple of years back hit a time like others now when we didn’t particularly gel with the programme. My only niggle as stated for their down in reply to Archerphile post is with Tess but that’s my reaction to her. My big sis (as you would say) likes her very much and why not that’s what democracy is all about.
Delete“further down” of course!
DeleteSorry, AP + others, but my thoughts about Strictly this year are sadly very opposite to yours.
ReplyDeleteI think, as Craig always says - it is Fab-U-Lous.
Those are my thoughts only.
So sorry for the general air of disappointment, but I'm glad you managed to enjoy it, Miriam.
ReplyDeleteWe all have our own opinions and rightly so. It is just great that these can be posted, in whatever way.
DeleteIt would be a sad day, if all agreed. It is healthy to air different thoughts and I often on reading others thoughts, think- I hadn't thought about that aspect and gets me thinking!
Somehow Google (or the blog) has stopped me from signing in for the past month or two, so I came to Germany and my son Chris has found a way round it. Sadly he has posted a message to check it and when he finished he said 'Your friends will think you are having another stroke !' I'm not and have resteed enough with family in Germany for a month. I am feeling really refreshed and back to UK on Wednesday. I then have to manage my medical appointments !
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you back Spicy! Three cheers for Chris getting you back online with the blogs. And very glad to hear you are feeling in good health. Have a safe trip home. 😊
DeleteAgree 100% Spicy ⭐️ 😍
DeleteI’m a bit like others and not loving strictly this year. I thought Ellie was good and Bobby and his Argentine tango….love this dance. Apart from that I can’t remember the rest. Will keep watching though. Never watch the Sunday show. I just google strictly spoiler website on Sunday morning. Saves time.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I seem to enjoy the Sunday show more than the main one! I have to get dinner ready early so we can sit down and watch the results whilst eating. I always vote and enjoy seeing if my choices match the rest of the audiences. This year I have agreed with the judges decisions, all except for this week. My only dislike on results night is the pawing of the loosing couple by Tess Daly and the pseudo-heartbroken voice she puts on!
DeleteThank you AP re Tess - my feeling exactly! It’s all personal taste of course but she says the same things every week:
Delete“Look the audience are all on their feet” and following constructive criticism “well we all loved it didn’t we?” and the attempt at hand grabbing of the celebrities after their dance 🙃
That was one good thing during social distancing she was not allowed to do this. Results show she has cards to hold and therefore seems more relaxed. Of course Bruce had his stock remark of “You’re my favourites” if a couple did not do so well that week, which always raised a smile (for me anyway) as you knew it was coming!
Claudia may be an oddball but like Bruce can react quickly to the unexpected and I like her quirkiness although she is probably like Marmite overall!
I watch Strictly but if I had to choose between it and the Bake Off it would be the latter, no contest. No so called celebrities just very talented ordinary people.
ReplyDeleteNow there’s a thing Janice. I have watched Bake Off enthusiastically every year from the very first one, but not this year. I think it is because of the changes in the ‘cast’ and the fact that the programme is now 90 minutes long. It has changed a lot from the early days with Mary Berry, Mel and Sue. I just don’t feel I want to invest that much time every week watching a programme about cooking. An hour was fine, one and a half hours is too much.
DeleteAnd I felt last year that some of the rounds were a bit silly and nothing to do with everyday good baking.
Or perhaps I’m just getting old with a shorter attention span!
Must admit I liked the Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and company combination. I did get a good idea for a Christmas present for my daughter in law last week. The bakers had to make something I had never seen before, a layered jelly cake using a special syringe to create flowers etc in a clear jelly. Some of them were real works of art. So I found a set of syringes and shape making fittings online and bought it for my daughter in law as she has become a very good cake maker. Have given my son instructions to steer her away from any thoughts of getting similar herself, as she watched the programme with me.
DeleteGood to see Spicy with us again.
ReplyDeleteAnd pleased for you that you’ve had a month with family in Germany.
Welcome back !
My OZ niece is having a worrying time, as her cat had to be rushed to an emergency + costly vet. hospital. It had a paralysis tick (common in OZ but none in Europe), which does as it says, due to the injection of a paralytic toxin.
ReplyDeleteShe got it there in time to get the anti-toxin, but it's still touch and go, 3 days later.
I have just had a funny moment. I put the wrong things in a recycling bin. On trying to sort, I forgot my glasses were on my head, so these inevitably ended up in the bin!
It was a good job no-one could see me head first, bum in air, trying to fish them out!
😳. 😂😂
Delete👓 oh Miriam what a picture you paint 😂 well retrieved though!
DeleteBake-Off.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying this series more than the previous ones. The contestants are a great bunch and it's back to the more traditional weeks.
I always record it, so can watch it so skip the ad.breaks. It makes a big difference to the viewing time, which goes down to an hour or less.
I'm enjoying Bake Off this year as well. We record it like Miriam so can get the programme down to about 50 mins by skipping the bits we don't want to watch. My main gripe is the inane wittering of Noel Fielding.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that I saw the neurosurgeon today and he's confirmed that I have a slipped disc. The good news is that he thinks it will settle without any intervention.
DeleteThat’s great news CC - and you forgot to say! 🤭
DeleteGood news, though painful CC …… keep moving !
DeleteThat’s excellent news CC.
DeleteHope it settles soon.
DeleteThat’s really good news CC. Not that having a slipped disc is good, but at least better than something more serious. Hope it will sort itself out very soon
DeleteI’m pleased to report that my reaction to my covid jab lasted one day only.
ReplyDeleteI’ve felt fine today.
I found that like previous Pfizer jabs I was too zapped out to get off my bed for 2 days and felt tired for another 3 days afterwards. Not as bad a reaction as both my son and myself had to the Moderna though, and I wouldn't have that one again. I suppose everyone reacts differently.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter reckons it is good to get a reaction as that means our bodies are doing what they are supposed to and going into fighting mode.
Fighting and learning mode.
DeleteI had virtually no reaction at all to my Pfizer booster whereas the previous one (Moderna) had me in bed for a day and a very swollen itchy arm. Perhaps because all our initial jabs were Pfizer we did not react to having it again.
DeleteI agree with your daughter Janice. Those little soldiers are doing their job.
DeleteBake Off - having read the positive reports about this years series I shall record the next edition and see what I think. I had resisted doing that because I have so many series recording it is difficult to keep,up with all the episodes of everything waiting to be seen!
ReplyDeleteBy the way - did anyone watch the first episode of the new Shetland series last week?
It has always been one of my favourite programmes (as were the original Anne Cleeve books).
I was very wary about JImmy Perez being replaced by a woman detective but willing to give it a chance. However, the extremely bad swearing, using words I have never heard on TV before and the gratuitous violence have spoilt the programme for me. I really don’t think I want to watch any more which is a great disappointment.
I was disappointed with Shetland, I don't mind change but I missed the essence of the old Shetland. I also agree that the the bad language was unnecessary.
DeleteI originally recorded Britain's Best Woodworker for Mr CC as he does a lot of woodworking. I found that I quite enjoyed it and am continuing to enjoy the latest series.
I also am watching it. I know nothing about woodwork but I still am enjoying it, as I did the jewellery one way back last year. I loved Sewing Bee and Pottery Showdown - all of the same format.
DeleteIt is interesting to just see such different expertise in so many other fields.
Wot, nobody about? Then I'll tell you all about my excursion to Sainsbury's, at which I did not come away with the bargains that Miriam regaled us with last week.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I did manage to exchange some batteries without the receipt.
Last time, I took what I thought were C batteries off a hook very low down on the display only to find that someone had put the wrong ones back on the hook so I had square ones instead.
They located the sale with my nectar card and refunded the £3-odd difference. How's that for service?
You must now all feel better for knowing that!
I have been taking advantage of the large savings, like Miriam, for several months now.
DeleteMost weeks I save anything between £4 and £12 on the goods that I always buy anyway.
It is all down to having a Nectar card, which I have used for many years.
Each week I get an email with that weeks ‘nectar prices’. Always things that I buy regularly anyway + some new ones I can try or not. I must have saved a considerable amount over the past few months.
My nectar points tot up quickly and I use them to buy things either in Sainsburys or at Argos, in the same store. This year they have bought me a lovely new garden bench, a new kettle, a brilliant non-stick frying pan and I will be using them to buy a folding guest bed before Christmas. I am greatly in favour if Nectar. Sainsbury keeping tabs on what I buy doesn’t bother me as it has great advantages.
I bought a Villeroy Boch frying pan from the late lamented Wilko - £99 down to about £20. It's a lovely big heavy one. Who knows, with fewer small people in the shoe, perhaps it will survive longer than my lovely ceramic ones that they still managed to overheat and ruin!
DeleteMind you, I can't blame them for the lovely, easy peasy cleansy pan from TKMAxx - the handle sheered off that one. As it did from two of the matching pans : ( Fortunately the two small pans are still going strong and are large enough for my morning porridge.
Been in bed most of day with a migraine and slept a lot.
ReplyDeleteHence can’t sleep now.
Wordle in 2!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Obviously all that sleep did your brain a power of good ptby, however joking aside I do hope you feel much better now 💐 migraines are just dreadful, thankfully for me very very few and far between but can recall how debilitating they can be.
DeleteHard luck PtbY. I used to get migraines regularly but fortunately they got bored of me. My sister still gets humdingers and can't take most of the medication because it does nasty things too her. A couple of years ago she started on Bottox which is working wonders.
DeleteWell done on the Wordle, I haven't tried it yet today.
I got it in two too : )
DeleteWell I’m a disgrace 5! Got 3 but in wrong place first time, then 3 in correct place, then four correct twice just needed to come up with the right word first time with the four 🙃
DeleteIt took me four goes today, but then I'm not a doggy person.
DeleteI used to get regular migraines but only get them occasionally now. When I’m especially tired.
ReplyDeleteBeen on a dog walk with a friend this morning. We always used to go on a Monday morning but haven’t managed for about 4 years when I started with thyroid trouble. It was like old times. 3 mile walk round forest tracks and then a coffee in the visitors centre and a good catch up chat. Really enjoyed it.
A three mile trek after a sleepless night isn’t at all bad PtbY !
DeleteBut I’m very sorry to hear of your migraine.
I’ve only ever had one, but my mother suffered throughout my childhood with regular ‘heads’, so I do know how debilitating they are.
Can’t remember if I did Wordle last night !
Wow that sounds great ptby bet that has cleared your head 👍
DeleteSounds like a lovely morning PtbY.
DeleteI met up with a friend at quarry Bank today and was quite pleased to manage a short walk without too many ill effects followed by lunch in the cafe.
Perfect CC.
DeleteGood to hear of your improvement CC well done
DeleteI had a big disappointment today. For all my married life I have used Campbells Concentrated soups as a staple ingredient - not as soups but as sauces in a myriad of dishes. I have a super little Campbells cookery book, years old, with a myriad of dishes I still make regularly - Chicken Gougère and David’s Noodles are family favourites.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite flavour soup is Celery, a wonderful sauce in which to cook pork chops or chicken but Sainsburys haven’t stocked it for ages and I have had to make special visits to Waitrose just to buy this particular flavour, 6 cans at a time! This week Waitrose said they no longer stock Campbells, no demand for it they said. So I emailed Campbells soups to ask where I could get it.
Reply today - Campbells Soups are no longer being marketed in in the UK - anywhere! No explanation why. And so another famous brand, originally made famous by the Andy Warhol paintings, has hit the dust, like so many others over the years. What a pity!
That explains something I have read in the last couple of days. This was tins of Campbells Condensed Chicken soup were being sold somewhere, for £5 a can.
DeleteI feel for you ARCHERPHILE - yet more of the life we knew diminished.
DeleteFewer and fewer of those elements of life that allowed us to keep step with our past whilst continuing to keep step with the future too.
And one more thing to feel sad about.
In my youth, when taking part in a modelling course ( Lucy Clayton no less )
I was introduced to the Cyclax range of skin care which I continued to use into my late forties. It then went the way of your Campbells soups and I still miss my best ever skin care range.
On the subject of soup, I will be getting some chicken stock (made from a carcass in the pressure cooker) out of the freezer tonight. No idea what I will make, but have the remains of a swede, some sorry looking carrots, plus some celery that needs using up. No idea what else will be added, except lentils will definitely go in.
DeleteI will enjoy making it, but just hope it will be tasty.
It is getting soup weather now and I have thick mist forecast soon.
Strangely the trees I look out onto from my kitchen, window, are nearly all green still.
Autumn seems late this year.
I still have some new bulbs to plant, but many garden plants are still in flower and don't want to pull the or cut them back up, whilst these are still giving my garden colour.
Mrs P in reply to AP, above,talked about something she so loved but is no longer available.
ReplyDeleteDo any others have much loved things, which are no longer able to be bought?
What I miss most is not products but shops!
DeleteI so miss Wallis and Principles, as I could always buy clothes to suit me and also fit!
The other dept. store I also miss is Debenhams.
I struggle now to find places with what I want.
In reply to Mrs P - yes I remember Cyclax too, I loved their lipsticks and had several very pale colours which were popular in the early 60s
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Miriam - I thought I’d try looking for Campbells Soups on Amazon, even catering size ones would be worth getting
All I found was one can of Cream of Potato for £13.75
And one can of Chicken Noodle at an unbelievable £29.99 !
Mr A says I should keep my remaining 3 cans for a few years and send them to auction for a small fortune! 😂
😂😂😂😂
DeleteI can’t think of anything in particular for Miriam’s request - but recently tried to find Vim or Ajax in the supermarket but with no success.
DeleteI asked an older female assistant- being the most likely to know what I was talking about -, she did, and confirmed that they were not only no longer available but had not been for a very long time. ( I’m not an obsessive cleaner so don’t use up products that quickly)
However a couple of days later unpacking a box I came across a brand new container of Vim. So I was delighted.
At my rate of cleaning it might last me till my end !
Mrs P. My go to cleaner is bleach! I do have some others, namely those to clean my leather 3-piece suite plus those to clean the ceramic hob on my cooker!
DeleteWhat a bloody sight Angela rippon looked. Dreadful hair and make up.
ReplyDeleteThought Ellie was good and Angela scanlon, annabel and Nigel.
ReplyDeleteMuch as I disapprove of Leyton, an experienced show dancer, appearing in the programme I have to say that Argentine Tango was superb and the choreography fascinating to watch.
ReplyDeleteAgree that hair and makeup went over the top with Angela R and still think she being overmarked by the judges. Not sure who should eave this week, they are all so good.
Oh well, my attempt to get others talking about things missed and no longer available, was such a damp squib!
ReplyDeleteI tried but to no avail. 🫢
Well I missed something yesterday evening. We went to Hatherleigh carnival and tar barrel run as we usually do each year, and afterwards I did my usual thing of going to the stalls to buy a toffee apple and there was not one to be found anywhere. Had to make do with doughnuts instead!
DeleteI miss Woolworths and their sweet counter where you chose the ones you liked best. My mum liked soft centre chocolates and I would pick her out a bag of them at times like Christmas and birthdays.
DeleteJanice I love toffee apples too.
DeleteTesco does them and I’ve had two this year.
Thank you Mrs P, next time I am out and about I will have a look in at Tescos. My daughter made some for Halloween but the toffee for some reason or other melted and the apples were left sitting in a puddle, nice tasting but definitely not hard toffee.
DeleteMiriam, I miss Bon Marche as it was. I loved Mark Heyes' designs, which were so my style. What stores are left now have a different designer and promote choices by someone called Lorraine, and they are ghastly - wouldn't be seen dead in them. Mark Heyes' designs for Freeman's look very ordinary now.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree Sarnia.. I used to get most of my clothes from Bonmarché. Not only did I love their designs but they had them in my large sizes too.
DeleteNow almost everything is in polyester which I hate and dresses are much too short.
Only today I sent back a parcel of 2 dresses (having kept a cardigan) because they were poorly made, too short and made me look like a barrel.
I noticed that the packaging is labelled ‘Peacocks’ so I assume they took over when Bonmarché went bust last year. They kept the name but not the style and quality.
And the Lorraine is Lorraine Kelly from morningTV who has been brought in to promote their designs, as has Alex Jones to promote Cotton Traders. I doubt either of them do any designing, but are just paid to pose for photos.
DeleteI do occasionally buy from Cotton Traders as many of their styles are so similar to the old Bon Marche that I wondered if that was where Mark Heyes had gone. However, I am wary of buying mail order as items I like may not suit me at all. The convenience of Bon Marche was being able to try things on in the store. I prefer disappointment to be immediate!
DeleteOn the subject of things no longer available, I remembered Miriam saying that M&S did deliveries of a gift of fruit. I thought it a good idea for a friend who's just had an operation only to find that they no longer do fruit. I did find something else but it wasn't what I really wanted.
ReplyDeleteAll very quiet on here. As we are being inundated with Christmas adverts I have not yet seen in the shops that most seasonal of foods, Cheese Footballs! I only saw them a couple of times last year so I fear they may be on the verge of extinction.
ReplyDeleteThis year will be only the fifth in 32 when I’m not cooking my Christmas lunch as my younger daughter wants to host. It is going to be difficult for me not to interfere, but I will strive to sit back & enjoy it, she is planning on raiding M&S so we should be fine.
One of the foodstuffs I very much miss is the type of tapioca my Mum used to cook with.
ReplyDeleteNot the little frogspawn stuff they used to serve up at school, it was big chunks of tapioca which made a lovely gooey pudding. Served with a bit of golden syrup and cream, it was delicious, the best of the milk puddings.
I have tried everywhere to get lumpy tapioca but don’t think it is made anymore, I miss it.
Try Google entering Lumpy Tapioca where to buy? Seems quite a few possibilities 🤔
DeleteNot been around as Mr R has been in hospital - home yesterday afternoon. Collapsed in the bathroom Saturday morning after being violently sick 999 came within the hour thank goodness as naked when fell post wash down. Has also had a few other episodes of sudden pain in his many ops right leg. His surgeon was going to see him tomorrow but will now phone instead. Since hospital admittance this has not happened I think it was due to the A Fibrillation that was found and 3 different tabs given so 🤞🏼…
The leg issue had resulted in our own prior A&E visit and also another 999 home call. It has been a worrying and distressing time but hopefully now after some good sleep things will settle.
Have popped into the blog to find some solace and check what you have all been up to which has helped as a distraction.
So sorry to hear about that Lady R. It must have been very frightening for you both. I wish there was something I could say to make the worry easier but hopefully it helps just being able to read our inconsequential chat on here. Do wish Mr A well from us both, we’ll be waiting to hear good news from you soon. 😊
DeletePoor Lady R. That brought back some memories so I know exactly how frightening it is. I feel for you, I really do.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarnia so kind. Hopefully now the condition has been picked up and treatment commenced a much worse scenario will be avoided 🤞🏼
Delete🤞 for a speedy recovery Lady R.
ReplyDeleteLady R, I'm so sorry to hear about Mr R. I do hope that things do indeed settle down.
ReplyDeleteWent to M&S this morning mainly to get the free coffee on my Sparks card. The cafe has had a makeover. You now have to go to a station to type in your order and pay. Then you pickup a pager thing to take to the table and wait for the order to be delivered. I wasn't sure at first, but it was nice not to have to queue or carry one's own tray to the table.
Not expecting to find what I wanted I had a look at the jeans and was pleasantly surprised to find some that I liked in my size which fitted well. Ended up buying two pairs, on black one navy.
Thinking of you both Lady R and hoping Mr R is better soon. It might make him smile to know what my toddler grandson has been up to. He has taken a liking for "bicits" ( biscuits) and tries to reach the biscuit barrel on the kitchen table. My son is quite keen he doesn't grow up with too sweet a tooth so I put it out of reach, and didn't realise what Max would do when I told him I was putting biscuits down in the bowl on the floor for the cats tea. Everything went quiet, which is the time you know he is up to something, and there he was with a happy smile saying "bicits" and sitting on the floor munching cat biscuits with Bella patiently waiting her turn!
ReplyDeleteApparently as a toddler I partial to our cat’s food, there is a photo of me with a big grin and smears all around my face (although as it’s a black and white photo it could be chocolate) No long term harm as far as I can tell
DeleteThank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes for Mr R they are much appreciated by us both (especially as he often asks what you have all been up to)
ReplyDeleteJanice he/we were uplifted by your grandsons tactics 🤭 to get bicits of any sort! So thank you for that.
At last I've got round to having a new kitchen mixer tap. In the beginning, before Mr S began his final decline, all it needed was a new washer, which didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteBy last week and the s-i-l's visit it was green and corroded, dribbling round the base and permanently dripping, it I suppose it had been like that for so long I'd got used to it.
With their encouragement I tried with two separate stores to book on-line planning appointments to have the whole unit replaced, neither of which worked.
Eventually I just got the church cleaner/local odd job man to install a new tap. He saw the paintings I was working on, and then discovered that three of the books in the church lending library were mine, which he hadn't noticed.
We finished up with Martin lying on my kitchen floor with his head under the sink fixing the plumbing while (at his request) I recited poems from my as yet unpublished fourth book.
Now there's a mental picture for Lord R to get his head around.
It certainly is Sarnia and we are impressed by having such a talented online friend ⭐️
DeletePlease don't be, Lady R. As I have no publicity machine hardly anybody ever reads my books. I have to give them away to get people to notice them.
DeleteThis is why the only poets you've ever heard of are all dead - it takes at least two hundred years for the right people to discover that you existed in the first place!
Ive had an annoying domestic problem too, very small really, but frustrating.
ReplyDeleteWe have LED strip lights under our kitchen cupboards to shine light down on the work surface and illuminate the whole kitchen (We have an exceedingly low ceiling so can’t have ceiling lights).
Yesterday on of these strip lights was hanging down at one end - the tiny plastic bracket fixing it to the cupboard was broken.
Tried all sorts of things to fix it back up, nothing worked. Went online to see if I could buy a new bracket - not available, not sold separately, would have to but entire new light. Expensive.
Contacted manufacturers and after about 15 emails between us with me constantly pestering and playing the elderly helpless female, they have agreed to send me a new bracket gratis, even though they don’t normally sell direct to the public.
Result!
( would be much better if they made it a metal bracket, instead of flimsy plastic one only 1” long)
Result ARCHERPHILE - well done !
DeleteAnd Sarnia too with new tap.
Lady R - so sorry to hear of your recent worrying time. But good to hear that it may be resolved.
Have not looked in for twenty four hours so apologies for late condolences.
Having refused to wear my organising hat for a number of years - keeping my powder dry ! - I’ve now accidentally been tipped into a position of forming a new social group within the Street Choir that I recently joined.
We had a our first get together yesterday with more to follow with me as the ‘organiser ‘.
Onward and upward, Mrs P. You've positively blossomed since your move to Minehead - such an enormous risk, but it certainly paid off!
DeleteThanks Sarnia
DeleteA quick look in.
ReplyDeleteLady R. Hopefully Lord R. will do well with the right pills. A Bro-in-Law (75yrs) has, not sure if AF or VF, but whatever meds he takes works. He does 18 holes of golf at least once a week often more, maintains a 1/4 acre garden (lawn mowing, a lot of hedges etc.) plus also does the same for another property.
I paid my occasional gardener to trim cut down a large shrub in my front garden,and also cut back an overgrowing plant from a neighbouring property, which was hanging over my new fences and driveway.
Two days later, the owners of that property have completely removed that plant!
At least there will be no future problems.
I had a very genuine phone call from my own bank, relatin to my payment for the new fencing via a credit card with them, which was refused on security measures as it was an unusual transaction.
This was fine, but since then I have been inundated with scam calls.
I have found this very creepy + spooky.
I know my call from my bank was 100% genuine, but 🤷♀️
Apologies for wittering on, so off to start preparing my evening meal - lambs liver, bacon, mushrooms with mash and "greens" plus other veg. with a lovely gravy.
True cold weather food.
Thanks for reminding me about liver and bacon Miriam. I used to cook this years ago and loved it but haven’t had any for a long time. Is it possible to get liver in Sainsburys ? Now they no longer have a butcher’s counter, I am wondering. Pre packed I suppose?
DeleteYes. I bought British lambs liver in S/bury's and it was pre-packed, finally found it on a top shelf.
DeleteThe pack I bought was £1.42. It will do me at least 2 if not 3 meals, as I always eat loads of veg.
Cheap but nutritious + tasty 🫰
DeleteAP. Liver was very mild, very lean + delicious. I will definitely be buying again.
DeleteMany thanks Miriam. Going to Sainsburys tomorrow so I’ll look out for it.
DeleteIn the area in the Philippines that my daughter in law comes from chicken liver is regarded as a delicacy and a treat and when a chicken is cooked the youngest child in the family is given the liver. My daughter in law, who was the youngest of seven, can still remember the sense of loss and disappointment when some younger relatives came to live with them, and the liver was not put on her plate. The chickens there are often more like a game bird and wander up and down the streets. She says our free range chickens taste a bit more like them. Sadly cock fighting is popular there, almost a national sport, and accompanied by gambling. 8
ReplyDeleteThe 8 was accidental!
DeleteJanice, I may be repeating something I mentioned before -about chickens in the Philippines. Apparently there is a very rare all black chicken, even its beak is black. The chicken is specially bred and chicks cost a fortune. Its meat is considered a great delicacy and is only served on special occasions.and is very expensive. I wonder if your d.I.l has heard about it?
DeleteAyam Cemani chickens, apparently rare because difficult to breed. Mabel has a brother on a smallholding up in the mountains who breeds cocks for fighting as a side line. She once thought of paying for a really well bred Cockerel to help him out. Think my vegie son put a damper on that idea. The family have been adamant Dan should not go up into the mountains of Ticao to visit the smallholding, their childhood home, because anti government rebels are based there and do sometimes abduct Westerners for ransom, although Dan who has come across them in the coastal area said it is more like giving them what you happen to have on you at the time.
DeleteAnyway back to chickens. I asked Mabel and her reply was that yes she knew of black chickens and that they were sacrificed to appease evil spirits. Sometimes things she says makes me realise how much our present day underlying cultures differ. She is a very intelligent young woman who was a teacher and yet she can half believe in evil spirits who might need appeasing. She was very careful during pregnancy not to have her path crossed by any very old woman, because that apparently can be an evil spirit in disguise who will take away the life of the baby. Her friend had a miscarriage and blamed it on having her path crossed. My guess is that in cities like Manila people are more modernised but that in areas where there is more poverty and less medical help people need to have something to blame. Maybe something similar to our culture's accusations of witchcraft centuries ago.
Fighting cocks, because they are more valuable, rather than being left free to roam in the street are tied by a long string to a post and somewhere I have photos of them Mabel sent when they were last on Ticao, and if I can find them Archerfile I will put one on here, although I don't think there were any of a pure black Cockerel.
Thinking about it our culture must be very strange for Mabel. She loves having a washing machine instead of, before marriage, spending her Saturdays washing her family's clothes using hands and feet in a tub, but the other day when as usual I cooked roast potatoes with Sunday lunch she said rather sadly well eventually I expect I will get used to eating potatoes. At home she cooks rice for herself. This week they went to Exeter to have her fingerprints taken and for Dan to pay the quite considerable sum to cover any nhs care she might need while here in order for her second 2 and a half year visa to be granted. I can understand why people try to enter Britain illegally. Doing it properly is very expensive and such a lengthy bureaucratic faff.
DeleteSarnia, at least you're still available online - with a little hunting. I'm looking forward to the arrival of your sonata and stream : )
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, you might find this little bit of literary criticism helps you polish your style:
https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2013/07/17/emily-dickinson-attends-a-writing-workshop/ : )
Wow, thank you for that. I'm astonished! You think my style needs polishing? There are huge gaps between the publication of my books, so Sonata is originally from 2,000. where the illustrations had to be re-worked as line drawings and didn't reproduce all that well. You'll get the 2012 Magic Flute edition, which has a much nicer cover. 'Stream' (2016) is book 3, by which time Bryan had invested in colour software, so the artwork is redeemed!
ReplyDeleteThe next one (Ships Passing) was started in 2017 and I can't find the cover painting anywhere!
I'm looking forward to them.
DeleteThe comment about polishing your style was completely tongue in cheek. If you haven't followed the link yet, do take a look. I think you'd enjoy it.
OWiaS, you've given Bryan a nice surprise. He's just emailed to report your order. He's not used to receiving orders for my books!
ReplyDeleteArcherfile just to say I have tried to change my photo here. If you click on it it may bring it up a bit bigger in my profile section, but the cockerel will still be small. No picture of a black one I'm afraid. This one is a black and white fighting cock which is kept tethered near the owner's shack. They are more like our game birds. There were several others in the same street. Chickens are allowed to roam freely.
ReplyDeleteI meant click on my name and then on the view larger size bit.
DeleteI remember that from the West Indies, Janice, chickens all over the place. I also have an abiding memory of goats patiently waiting at a bus stop, but I'm sure that was just coincidence.
DeleteThanks for the photo Janice. That cockerel looks very skinny, not much meat on him for supper! Unlike the huge white ones we had on our farm which would fly up at your back and dig their claws in, when we were collecting eggs. (We had to have cockerels in with the hens as we were producing fertile eggs to go to hatcheries)
DeleteOuch!
DeleteI have just been accepted for my energy supplier "peak save" costs.
ReplyDeleteMine is, any electricity used between 11.00am and 4.00pm on a Sunday is half-price.
I can do my weekly wash, my weekly bread make which needs my food mixer + a hot oven, plus other things like any ironing and some vacuuming in that time period.
I doubt that I will save a lot, but any saving is a bonus and every little will help.
Why pay more, if things can be just be done differently and if I organise myself.
We just had our water bill which was much less than last year. We had used considerably less water…….now I wonder why that was? Not having to water the garden I suspect!
DeleteWe had a lovely evening at the RHS Bridgewater Glow event yesterday. The light show wasn't as spectacular as the one at Dunham Massey but it was a lot less crowded making it easier to appreciate what was on offer. We were lucky with the weather as it wasn't too cold or windy and we finished the tour just as it started to rain. I was pleased that I managed to do the whole thing but I'm quite achy today.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful and a lovely event, which must have been so delightful to have experienced. 😃
DeleteReckoning it’ll be Nigel and Angela Rippon in the dance off.
ReplyDeleteLoved Angela Scanlons Argentine tango and Bobbies jive.
They all did well though.
Still enjoying Ellie and Vito. It was a good night although I found the extra dancers distracting at times.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the other dancers.
DeleteYes I reckon Angela R and Nigel in the dance off. Angela has definitely reached her sell-by date. Nigel looked very deflated after the judgement. My fave was Angela Scanlon, but I am finding some of the staging very distracting especially in such a big place as Blackpool. So many lighting and colour effects and other dancers joining in. I found it difficult to concentrate on the footwork.
ReplyDeleteWe used to take the children to see the illuminations at Blackpool when they were little. We visited the Tower Ballroom once, it looks bigger on TV than it is.
DeleteBusy day today, making the most of my half price electricity deal.
ReplyDeleteWashing done, ironing done, chicken stock for soup made, chicken curry made, a steak/onion/ale/mushroom casserole made + cooked, bread made and cooked, and downstairs vacuumed through!
The kitchen is a mess, so off to do yet another lot of washing up.
Was it worth it?
I checked my gizmo at 11.00am then again at 4.00pm.
My saving, if I have worked it out correctly, is £1.37p over the 5 hours.
Still a lot was done in the time, and any saving is better than nothing!
It shows though how energy efficient my applinces are.
To add the big Christmas Pudding is still steaming away, but not sure if it will be needed this year.
Miriam, I feel worn out just reading that! Perhaps it's the flu jab.
ReplyDeleteI will sleep definitely well tonight! 😃
DeleteAs I said, was it all worth it - not sure yet, but it was a good experiment to try + do and was worth to give it a good go.
Yikes Miriam I admire you like Sarnia I am worn out just reading your post! You can now take your ease for the rest of the week at least 🤔 worth the saving? - unless you really enjoyed your busy few hours I would say not worth it for such a minimal saving.
DeleteMr R doing pretty well, eating and drinking as normal which is good. The confusion which hit in the hospital for the first time ever cleared but he cannot remember his time there maybe a good thing. The day after his discharge the Basingstoke Anticoagulant dept rang to make a telephone appointment for Dec 5th to discuss his prescribed med (EDOXABAN)
He has also been given Bisoprolol and Digoxin. He has a card for his wallet regarding the blood thinner but I have also ordered a silicone “bracelet” in order to add 2 items he is allergic to as well.
Last Thursday his Orthopaedic Consultant rang for his appointment chat and as well as discussing his side of things has asked me to keep in touch by e.mail to let him know how Mr R is getting on and even sent him his love! Mind we have all been together now since 2010,…..
💃🏼 right time for Angela to leave but did so amazingly well! Loved Angela S Argentine Tango and Annabelle’s beautiful dance so pleased she is being supported in the voting - me included.
Lady R, that caring consultant must make all the difference.
DeleteFlu jab: I couldn't have the one for over-65s because it's got formaldehyde in it, so they gave me the one for under-65s - and it's knocked me flat!
ReplyDeleteMy son's on his way for his first visit since the funeral in July, and I've just been instructed to go to bed and leave him to it.
Sorry to hear about that Sarnia, I hope that you feel better soon 🤞
DeleteI do hope you did as you were told Sarnia, and after going to bed, felt all the better for it.
DeleteMy covid jab knocked me for six a couple of weeks ago, but it was only for one day fortunately.
Sarnia 💐 sending warm wishes for a quick post jab recovery pleased to hear your son is coming to support you.
DeleteThank you, kind people. I did wonder if chiropractic treatment and a flu jab within days of each other was a good idea, and I think I got my answer.
ReplyDeleteAnybody watching I’m a celebrity?
ReplyDeleteNot me!
DeleteI's Bake Off, Professional Masterchef, Handmade, and of course Strictly.
I am also enjoying the Ch5 programme Inside The Tower of London.
Dare I say, I like "The Voice" !! 😔
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere are, well to me, some lovely listens on R4ex at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI am listening to The Change, King Street Juniors, the omnibus editions of The Old Wives' Tales, The Destuction Facture and have subscribed to The Curiousity Cupboard, the latest of Daphne Du Maurier, Edgar Allen Poe and HG Wells series + stories, some not started yet and sone not yet strarted listening to.
I will be sad when R4ex is closed down, which I believe is next year, but not really sure.
I was listening to King Street Junior too Miriam, one of my real favourites on 4x, also several other series that accompany me doing my jigsaws. Just bought a new one on EBay that is very difficult, but entertaining, because the picture (of a busy airport scene) is in mirror image….so the things on the right and left are transposed! Just been sent a brand new puzzle from my son which is made by Eurographics, called Masterpieces. 22 famous paintings by the likes of Monet, Klimt, Degas, Van Gogh etc. Really looking forward to doing it.
DeleteI would be interested to know Miriam and CCs opinions on the news today about pharmacists being given the responsibility of prescribing for certain conditions in order to lessen the burden on GPs.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the guide-lines are extremely strict and adhered to at all times, then there shouldn't be a theoretical problem.
DeleteHowever there is a big BUT to this:-
Can a busy Pharmacist have enough knowledge to spot a potential problem? It helps knowing a regular clients precriptions and so medical issues, but not if he/she is an unknown walk-in, trying to avoid potential problems, to get what they think they need.
Plus also can a Pharmacist spare enough time to consult a client in the best way possible?
I doubt this.
I say this as a long retired and now out-of-date Pharmacist and so glad that I am!!
I remember a time when Chloramphenicol eye-drops/ointment were newly available to buy and on a Saturday morning one of the hospital pharmacists I knew, popped in to buy some for his mother. I refused to sell, as the rules were I had to consult the person who needed them face-to-face.
He acknowledged this and an hour later I met his Mum - who I sent to A+E as had glaucoma, a very sore red eye which was definitely not in my NHS guide-lines. She just hadn't told her son the true problem and needed emergency eye care, which only the hospital could provide.
Thank you Miriam.
DeleteYour reply mirrors the concerns discussed on R4 when the news was announced.
Apparently pharmacists need to apply and pay a fee to access the scheme, so one would expect any pharmacy operating the scheme to have thought through the ramifications.
As a doctor who worked in sexual health and contraception I have a lot of concerns. I totally respect pharmacists as professionals in their field but worry as great deal about the loss of clinics of the type which we used to run, staffed by professionals with years of training and expertise. The pill is only one method of contraception and not suitable for everyone. We were able to discuss all options with our clients and help them to choose the best one for them and then deliver that to them in one visit.
DeleteWe are losing a very valuable asset. Providing a good, comprehensive contraception service has been shown, time and again, to be very cost effective. We also used to provide outreach services including domiciliary ones for those who had difficulty getting to clinics for all sorts of reasons. We also visited mother and baby units, women's refuges, units for those with physical and learning disabilities, mental health units and prisons. Those sorts of services either disappeared or are much reduced.
my other concern is, if pharmacists are doing the job normally done by doctors and nurses who are there going to be enough of them to do pharmacy job. It just doesn't make sense to me to train people to a high standard in a particular field then expect them to a job in a field that requires different training!
Apologies for the typos!
DeleteNew thread opened. Look for the butterfly 🦋
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