Life outside Ambridge
View from Singapore
Lif in Ambridge
Archer Family tree up to 2000, (pre Helen, Pip & Tom’s off-spring)
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Life in Ambridge
An upcoming storyline methinks!
Life in Ambridge
This is how village cricket should be…
First proper day of trip, Singapore is fascinating, the orchid gardens this morning were beautiful. We had afternoon tea at Raffles this afternoon, tomorrow we set off for New Zealand. We’re going to be exhausted by the end of this holiday.
ReplyDeleteMiriamOctober 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else's garden taking on a new lease of life?
After the long dry spell, I thought so many plants had died as nothing was left.
Now these are producing green shoots above soil level - my gorgeous poppies have reappeared as has a lot of others and a gaillardia is now in flower, as is a Calla lily with huge yellow flowers, which are fabulous. Even my dahlia has new flowers.
Sadly though the weeds and dandelions are also growing quickly again as is the lawn!
REPLYDELETE
ArcherphileOctober 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Mrs P - the insoles are called SLIMFLEX. You can either have ones that run the whole length of the foot, heel to toe; or you can have just the heel part which stops just beyond the arch. They are very thin apart from the arch support part and can easily be trimmed with scissors to fit your shoe/boot exactly. I didn’t think I had fallen arches either and was quite cross when told this was the cause, especially as I always made perfectly arch-shaped footsteps on the bathroom floor after a bath!
But that was the cause because the orthotic inserts did the job perfectly. You could try googling SLIMFLEX insoles and see all the different types available, including special plantar fasciitis ones .
However I found the lowest priced (£5 /£6 ) did the job perfectly. I have about 10 pairs in our boot box ready to be fitted into any of my boots/shoes. Hope this may help.
AmbridgesMrsPOctober 23, 2025 at 10:32 AM
ReplyDeleteThanks ARCHERPHILE
I think I’m going to ask for a referral to podiatry.
And I will get on to Slimflex.
DELETE
ArcherphileOctober 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
What on earth is Queen Camilla wearing on her head at the Vatican?
REPLYDELETE
Cheshire CheeseOctober 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I've just read the news about Tess and Claudia leaving Strictly after the Christmas special this year. It'd going to be a big change for the show!
Can't imagine Strictly without them. Didn't realise Tess was as old as she is,
DeleteHappy birthday Lanjan if I've got that right. 💐🎂🎉
ReplyDeleteKPNuts enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHello! Son of Sarnia here. Just to let you know that Sarnia's health has taken a turn for the worse and they won't be able to reply to any emails. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry to hear that. Thank you for letting us know.🙏
DeleteA sad time for all. My thoughts are with you and family.
DeleteThank you for letting us know, I'll thinking about her.
DeleteSarnia and family - you're in our thoughts.
DeleteIf it’s possible please send my love and heartfelt thoughts to dear Sarnia. She has been a long friend to us all here.
DeleteLove from me too.
DeleteThinking of you Sarnia with much love Soz
DeleteKP, that photo brings back a lot of memories of our visits to Singapore when our daughter lived there. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure how much longer I will be able to say this but in answer to Miriam’s comments on colour in the garden, my dahlias are still blooming well and I have many Michaelmas daisies in flower. Also my hardy fuschia - a pinkish white slender flower, is looking good. I love to see the fuschia hedges in Cornwall. Have you any Janice? I find them very calming there is such a stillness about the way the delicate flowers hang down.
ReplyDeleteI've got gladioli starting to flower today! Crazy.
DeleteThe dahlias, Michaelmas daisies and fuschias are not a surprise - it depends when the first frosts arrive - but I am still picking sweet peas!
DeleteYes I have got several hardy fuchsias dotted around the place. Mainly the usual dark red ones but also a couple, possibly the same as yours Soz, with pretty dainty pink flowers. They seem to show up well in the dusk. I pruned a red one one back yesterday because it was overhanging the gateway to the veg garden. Still have a few roses left.
DeleteI like the way the turning of the year is marked by the different flowers, lots of camellias starting christmas through Spring, snowdrops and daffodils, then summer roses, then the fuchsias.
Dear Sarnia our lovely friend sending thoughts and 🙏🏼 to you and your family family xx
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Sarnia. Xx.
DeleteMrs P & Miriam thank you both as always for your support and very kind wishes such a lift at a very emotional time. Mr R will be going into care from next Wednesday quite honestly it is almost unreal to me and I knew that when I came on here to put it into print I would break. I know with my head it has to be for both our physical sakes and more. I will of course see him every day and so long as he settles and is happy I will adjust myself. He always interacts so well with his daily am carer so that is a good sign. My first marriage was not the best although a long one, the last nigh on 30yrs though have been so special with a caring and loving man. The care home is in the village of Bentley about 10 mins by car. It was the subject of a tv documentary for sometime and actually started on radio 4. It has a shop/ post office, pub and a tearoom / cafe called “Archers” would you believe 🫢
ReplyDeleteArcherphile so sorry to read of your recent health issues and hospitalisation’s please keep in touch when you can I think of you both often and have also sent my thoughts and love to Sarnia and family. Not the best of times for some of us but as Liverpool FC sings at every home match we will never walk alone, talking of Liverpool FC could someone please update LANJAN and also send her belated birthday wishes from me 🎂❤️
That’s it for now - phew!
I’ll let her know Lady R.
DeleteI’m sure your husband will settle into his new home and it will be the start of an easier phase for you both. I’m glad you’ve got him into somewhere so close.
Thank you 🙏🏼
DeleteThe Village was the subject of the documentary not the Care Home just to be clear 🫢
ReplyDeleteDear LADY R
ReplyDeleteThank you for updating us.
Of course you will be feeling conflicted by the decisions you have needed to make, but it is encouraging that you can say, even at this early stage, that you will adjust.
A very positive statement.
Good for you !
As I have written before, allowing a loved one to become embraced into a caring environment, other than one’s own, can be a positive change, however guilt inflicting it may feel at the time of relinquish.
You will have a new daily regime from next week, and I wish you the very best in the changes wrought upon you over the coming weeks.
And for LordR, you can watch him slowly come to terms with his new environment, and hopefully feel that you have made the best decisions for him.
The home and the village sound lovely and I hope for you that this is the start of a new and comforting chapter in your life.
As you are well aware you are able to gain some considerable support from us on this forum, as well as those personal friends that support you in a practical sense.
I wish you well.
LadyR - as you say, you're never alone here and please let us know how you are whenever you can.
ReplyDeleteLady R my thoughts are with you. The separation is hard but also a new start - you will no longer be his carer so can go back to simply being his wife. I am glad you have found a home so near to you and the fact that there’s a cafe called “Archers” must be a positive sign.
ReplyDeleteFor both of you, I hope the move goes smoothly, he settles in well and you find some peace knowing he is in safe hands.
Lady R.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hard time in your life is happening and one you didn't want to happen
It will certainly be different for you both from now on. The residential home sound so suitable for everything. I expect that you are thinking that you have let Lord R down, but it is the opposite.
You are showing your love for him but perhaps you don't realise this yet.
It will take time to adapt to this new way of life, but you will and most importantly, get some time for things to suit you.
Take Care.
My dear Lady R - I read your news with great sadness but also with relief. Relief that you will have some of the physical burden taken off your hands, especially at night. And as Soz said above, you can once again take the role of loving and devoted wife instead of nurse and carer.
ReplyDeleteI know Bentley quite well, often used to stop there to buy picnic stuff for a visit to Alice Holt Forrest nearby, with the children.
Ever since we accidentally met at Hinton Ampner and you introduced me to Mr R, a tall and distinguished gentleman, we have felt close to you both, almost neighbours as it were. Knowing the local hospitals ( and other places of interest!) has been a link between us.
Take care my dear, please keep in touch when you can and remember we all support each other here
What dear dear friends you all are - thank goodness Ruthy took up the baton post BBC and rescued us all and that Gary and now our own KP have all been so kind as to ensure we have never been shipwrecked. I am going to screen shot your posts so that when (as I surely will) I “have moments” your kind / words of encouragement and support will be at hand. Bless you all ⭐️🙏🏼⭐️
ReplyDeleteLady R There was a new Mortimer and Whitehouse programme tonight. I hope you could both watch it; they were fishing not far from you on the Itchen. If you missed it, worth watching on iPlayer. The chalk rivers and streams are so clear.
DeleteDear Soz yes it is such a delightful & funny programme and we were able to watch it. Ted the dog is a real character and has become an incidental star of the programme in the same way Monty Dons’s Labrador Nigel did in his day! Thank you for thinking of us as you watched it 🥰
ReplyDeleteLady R .
ReplyDeleteThis week will have so much emotion for you.
Just remember, when you want to talk or give your feelings, you know what to do.
Thinking of you both. Miriam Xx💛
How right you are dear Miriam 🙏
DeleteAlthough I am an Archers fan and have been for a few decades, I don’t contribute often to these blogs. However, I feel moved to offer my very good wishes to each of you who are making changes to their lives with such good grace. I wish all Archersfans good health and kindnesses for their future.
ReplyDeleteDear Easter your kind words mean the world to me thank you 🥰
DeleteOops Esscee
DeleteI wish the same for you Esscee. It's nice to have your contributions from time to time.
DeleteLady R I hope you both enjoy this evening together in your own home before tomorrow’s upheaval. Has Lord R accepted the move? If so, it will be much easier for both of you. You never mentioned whether he listened to TA with you. If he did at least that will be one topic that you can discuss on your daily visits. I will be thinking of you both How far is Bentley for your goddaughter?
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today Lady R and hope all goes as smoothly as it can do.
ReplyDelete🙏🏼 🥰
DeleteThinking too of this most emotionally important day in the life of you and LordR, LadyR.
ReplyDeleteI hope when you leave him today, that you feel comfortable and confident of his care, now in the capable hands of professional compassionate others.
And, you will see him tomorrow.
🙏🏼 ❤️
DeleteWhat a bargain I got in the s/market today. A pack of 10 poshoulder steaks for £5. Now that's what I call a good buy.
ReplyDeleteOff to pack into portions for the freezer, which will do me well in allsorts of ways.
My mum taught me how to cook in a meaningful + tasty way, whilst keeping costs down! A lesson that I still do esp if I batch cook on a Sunday when I get half-price electricity for 5 hours.also got the
Last Sunday oven was on for the full 5 hours as the bread was last thing to go in I also got all the
What an awful post. I keep having a proble but only here, that after a short while, everything just freezes a can't continue or edit. It's starting again.
DeleteOh well this will stop me waffling
DeleteIt was pork shoulder steaks.
DeleteI know next to nothing about cuts of meat and wondered what a poshoulder was:)
DeleteHello everyone I will be in touch soon, a very emotional time and no doubt will be so for awhile yet.
ReplyDeleteAs always thank you 😇 for being here with your wonderful support.
👍
ReplyDeleteLady R Thinking of you and your dear husband. Also Thinking of Sarnia and her family. Don't think l have forgotten about you Archerphile and dear Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lizzie Dee - I’m not doing too badly.
DeleteAnd thank you from me too Lizzie, it’s very comforting to think that someone you have never met, is thinking of you.
DeleteLizzie 🙏thank you for your kindness 🥰
DeleteLady R and Mrs P…..
ReplyDeleteLanjan has been tracking down the nursing home Lady R. The one your husband was very helpful. Lanjan has left her number at the reception/someone in charge there. They are going to enquire to you lady R if you know someone called Lanjan and then give you her number. She would like to get it touch as she thinks you have a lot in common.
Just letting you know Mrs P so you needn’t join in on the hunt.
I am at the care home right now ptby and LanJan’s message was given to me straight away and I shall ring her this evening. I am bowled over by her
Deletethoughtfulness. Mr R is settling in well apart from the first evening a delirium episode at about teatime only to be expected really. It is such a friendly home and only 10 mins by car. A lovely little village and yes the tearoom is called Archer and in their bookcase here I have spotted an Archers book so …..
Of course blips may well still happen but right now I am nearly on my knees with relief.
So much love and thanks to you all once again, I cannot express how much you are all helping me 🥰
Lady R, I’ve just popped in to offer a comforting hand on the shoulder. Warm thoughts are on their way to you.
Delete🥰 thank you so much Stasia
DeleteNice to know you are still there in the background Stasia.
DeleteAny jigsaw lovers here, apart from Archerphile + myself?
ReplyDeleteDue to an afternoon of torrential rain I started a new one. It's a Wasgij, when all is not as expected + the picture is of no help.
Well I've sorted + completed the outside plus got some other pieces in, but no idea what I'm doing. It's a good one as is based on a "Drag Queen" event so am seeing pieces of feathers, flowers and goodness knows what else
I’m on with a jigsaw now. Stamps of the world. Got it from charity shop.
DeletePTBY - EMERGENCY ‼️
ReplyDeleteWhat happened there! The Care Home have obviously written down Lab Jan number incorrectly. Please can she ring again and ensure she asks them to repeat it to her - so disappointing.
ReplyDeleteHow did she know who to ask for 🤭 anyway l will put it out there George!
Will sort it.
DeleteSo sorry my fault I muddled the numbers up! Lan Jan and I certainly had
Deletequite a natter 🤭😊
and will keep in touch!
Well done LJ and LadyR.
DeleteGood to hear that you have at last spoken.
And LadyR, I wish you a calm and peaceful first weekend with your new regime.
Pleased you finally got in touch lady R. She’s ringing me Saturday afternoon so I’m sure I’ll hear all about it. 😊
Delete😉
DeleteNiece + family in OZ had a surprise when they got up this morning - 3 kangaroos grazing in their garden!
ReplyDeleteWhere they've come from is unclear as they're not usually native there.
Photos sent over, were brilliant.
Goodness me, kangaroos in the garden, beats our deer grazing on occasion.
DeleteI assumed kangaroos were evident throughout Australia, your post suggests not Miriam.
We live and learn.
It beats our cows and sheep which we had many years ago, before the farmer retired and sold up to builders.
DeleteI am trying to get onto this site again.
ReplyDeleteYou have succeeded LanJan
DeleteTry again …. And welcome.
DeleteI can't believe this.
ReplyDeleteI could not get onto the site although I kept trying and then although I could see what everyone had written I couldn't post anything myself and then this week when I spoke toPTBY and found out about Lady R I decided to try again.
Still couldn't
My birthday and her's and my late husband's birthdays are all in October. Lady R always remembers.
I have just scrolled back brieflly and find that Janice remembered. too.
Thank you.
Yesterday morning I put on my Miss Marple hat and at the second attempt at phoning Care Homes I found Hercule Poirot who is now called Jake.
He was so helpful and said straight away that he thought he knew who I was talking about!
I did say that although I had never met Lady R I imagined her to be very glamorous !
That must have clinched it!
As she has already said ,we spoke for over an hour and a half .
Most enjoyable so thank you PTBY for your help and Mrs P also.
I was very sorry to hear about. Sarnia and my thoughts are with her and her family .
I see KP is in Singapore.
I love it there.
My son was working there so I was able to visit him several times.
It is spotless and there is virtually no crime .
Now he is a volunteer on the North Yorkshire Railway so he meets up with PTBY and her husband when he goes over there and with them has also met up with Cowgirl..
So this blog has been very important to me .
I hope I can now get back onto it.
I have to admit though ,I have stopped listening to The Archers because I seemed to dislike more of the characters than I liked and thought some of the storylines were ridiculous.
I have to see now if this will be published.
Fingers Crossed.
Lovely to see you posting again Lanjan. Hope the internet gods are kind to you. I remember about your son being connected with the N.Y.Railway and I have been seeing quite a lot of it recently. I have been catching up with the repeats of the whole Heartbeat series, shown on ITV3 nightly. The railway features a lot in the programmes and stands in for Ashfordly station where any characters arrive and leave.
DeleteHave you been keeping up with cricket since we last heard from you? I’m not a fan of the colourful 100 series, though it is attracting the youngsters, but have watched the one day internationals and are looking forward to the forthcoming Ashes series.
PS when I was trying earlier today I could only get back to when KPNuts took over from Gary.and then eureka I get 2025 .
ReplyDeleteCouldn't believe my luck.
Again LJ, well done.
DeleteYou must keep posting so as not to lose your connection with us.
You have been missed and will be very welcomed back I’m sure.
It's great to have you posting Lanjan after such an absence, long may it continue 🤞
DeleteBrilliant Lanjan! You have been missed. Have a G&T and keep on posting.
ReplyDeleteJust had a whisky to celebrate Liverpool's win!
DeleteWell blow me Lanjan here you are 👏🏻 🫢 what a joyful surprise! Oh dear I really am not glamorous just fortunate enough to have smooth facial features (so far) but probably the very recent admission added to our age difference clicked with Jake. (Who was not on duty today and I did not hear anything from anyone regarding your second call!)
ReplyDeleteGeorge was a little quieter today but been a very busy few days for him and overall going well. His room is very homely and comfortable with his own riser recliner and upright fireside chair from home and it has a quirky shape so does not feel institutional at all. It does feel so strange at home though and I get moments of emptiness mostly in the mornings. So many phone calls to make regarding his change in circumstances so I expect that contributes to it!
It will be strange for a while Lady R, but give it time and you will come to terms with the different ways of being.
DeleteSo pleased you and LanJan got to spend time talking directly to each other.
I hope you can give each other comfort in your friendship.
How nice that you appreciate Lord Rs new room, and he will come to terms with his new environment soon and I hope will be comfortable and calm without the anxiety all the recent changes have wrought.
🙏🏼 thank you as always for your understanding 🙏🏼
DeleteThank you for welcoming me back.
ReplyDeleteLovely to be among old friends again.
I have tried several times to get back onto the blog without success and then when PTBY copied the comment from Lady R I really wanted to get back onto the blog or at least get in touch with her.which I now have..
Pusscat is just awful!
ReplyDeleteThis morning she regurgitated her kibble onto the lounge carpet.
I know to let this dry out, as easy to move then without any marks.
What is she doing now, only eating it!!🤑🙀
Wonderful to see LanJan back. MrNuts & I are reaching the end of our whistle stop tour of New Zealand. We started in Auckland, travelled down through Rotorua and Napier then on to Wellington. Across to South Island & Christchurch for a a couple of nights then into Queenstown where we are for a couple of days. Today was an early start to drive to Milford Sounds for a cruise around a stunning glacial lake. Now back in our hotel having a light supper of cheese & crackers washed down with a very acceptable pinot noir. The cheese is made from deer’s milk and very tasty, now there’s an idea for Adam. Fabulous holiday so far, a quiet day tomorrow the up to Australia on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lady who used to comment here who lived near an albatross sanctuary in New Zealand and sponsored a chick each year. Just mentioned it in case you were near the sanctuary.
DeleteHello Archerphile .
ReplyDeleteI have just read your comment .
I don't watch Heartbeat but I have been to Goathland -Asfordy?-several times where my son stays when he goes "to work"in the signal box there.
It is a lovely quiet village where everyone knows everyone and folk are very friendly .
As for the wretched Hundred cricket ,I did try to watch it and hated it.
Players who should be playing for their Counties get paid large amounts of money to play for such teams as Manchester Marauders .
I also tried to watch Celebrity Traitors which PTBY recommended .
Couldn't stand that either !
Didn't like or know most of the so called "celebrities"
Bah humbug
However I really enjoyed" Riot Women "which I binge watched as I did "Blue Lights ".
so I am not a complete misery.
Oh and the series which Andrew Flintoff did called "Field of Dreams" is excellent viewing whether one likes cricket or not .
.
Agree with you wholeheartedly about 100 cricket though my teenage grandson loved it - that’s who it’s intended for I suppose. And agree also about Field of Dreams, so good to see those mouthy lads (and lasses) change into engaging, friendly, helpful young people with a love of cricket. Well done Freddy!
DeleteThanks KPnuts..
ReplyDeleteWe met when we shared a taxi to the Barbican all those years ago where we had our second Archersfan meet up
I will look forward to reading about your trip to Australia .I have been fortunate to visit that Country several times both to visit a friend and to watch England Cricket.
My elder sister + hubbie are off to OZ at the end of the month, and have tickets for Day 2 of the Ashes match in Brisbane.
DeleteHer daughter finally managed to get these for them, as Australian citizens had first booking and they weren't available to overseas visitors, until a week later.
Even so, it was all done by areas, so as soon as her area came on-line, she sat in a queue for hours but was successful.
I’ve had my covid jab today, and for the first time I have a reaction.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been feeling very sleepy and now feeling cold.
It will pass of course.
I hope that it passes quickly MrsP. I was concerned when we had our flu and Covid jabs as we were driving up to Edinburgh the following day to visit our daughter and family for the weekend. Thankfully we were both fine and, for once, didn't catch anything from the children!
DeleteThanks CC.
DeleteI was in bed by six o’clock last evening and drifting in and out of sleep with the wireless on. Slept throughout the night with about six bathroom visits and through this morning. Up just before midday and feeling little more than lethargic.
Unusually too, my arm has been, and still is very sore.
Not complaining tho’, definitely worth it to avoid covid IMO.
Do you know what vaccine it was Mrs P? Moderna knocked me for six and after that I deliberately opted for Pfizer even if I had to travel further for it. I have been told it is Pfizer being given here in Cornwall this year, but I shall still check before the nurse jabs me on November 13th. Probably the different vaccines affect people differently.
DeleteNo Janice, don’t know, and on this occasion no information given either.
DeletePresumably could find out as it was a walk in clinic at my GP health centre.
I’ve been fortunate to not have any reaction in the past so, as said, I have no complaints.
Fortunately a new lady dog walker who has recently come on board, visited this afternoon for tea, before taking Lady out, so I’ve been able to indulge myself with a relatively lazy day.
I certainly don’t feel up to scratch !
We've always been given a card informing us of what vaccines we've been given when we attended for our jabs, I'm surprised that you weren't told. If you have an NHS account the information will be in that MrsP.
DeleteI've just heard some worrying news, as a niece of mine is to have her thyroid totally removed in two weeks time. She has two large tumours and enlarged nodules on it but luckily nothing sinister. The decision is to remove it completely now, for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteShe's only going to be in hospital for 2 nights.
That is worrying Miriam, like all health issues. This area of medicine must have advanced quite a lot, since thyroid problems are quite common. There will be side effects no doubt.
DeleteI had my thyroid removed 6 years ago now. Hope your niece has better luck with her thyroxine monitoring than I seem to get. Her weight will no doubt increase too.
DeleteThis is the one in Australia so she'll have no family around. Her Mum is already booked to fly out at the end of November but they can't change their travel arrangements, which have been made for months and everything paid for.
DeleteThere's been a problem as her medical plan didn't have enough cover, but things have been wangled some how.
Australia has I think, a two tier system but not sure how it actually works.
You and me both PtbY.
DeleteMy endocrinologist has always said that GP monitoring of thyroid levels is rubbish.
It is, I believe, to do with the labs which do not seem to do the same tests - or perhaps in the same way - as the endocrinologist ( hospital labs ) do.
I’ve been thinking about this in recent months, trying to think of the right words to challenge my GP who has consistently asked me to reduce my thyroxine intake little by little over the last two years, due to the results from my tests.
Others may feel differently to you and me !
I think I don’t convert T4 to T3 enough. Drs only give you a TSH Reading. When I had this done when I had my gall bladder out 5 weeks ago the private hospital TSH results were much different to my usual nhs drs levels. They advised me to see a dr or endocrinologist about it. So off I go to my drs to request an appointment and bloods. 4 weeks it took to complete this and for my results to come back the same as normal on the nhs tests. Also dr said she wouldn’t refer me to an endocrinologist if test results came back ok. They won’t check T4 and T3 levels.
DeleteSorry but…..ruddy nhs.
Yup !
DeleteI feel the same way as you.
And forgive me for saying this…….
But…… I’ve been in this position on and off for almost sixty years.
Time for Wordle PtbY
ReplyDeleteGot it in 3
DeleteWell done PTBY .
DeleteIt took me 4 .
I did get Nerdle in 3 though.
Does anybody else apart from Mr PTBY and me do Nerdle?
I prefer that as it is more logical .
Not as much guess work and it makes no difference whether one is American or English.
Do you still support Liverpool ,Miriam?
DeleteThey were brilliant last night.
I don’t do nerdle or wordle but I do Word Salad which is a bit different. You have a grid of 16 squares with letters in and a clue at the top - like ‘V is for…’ or ‘Things with wheels’. You have to track from letter to letter to find the number of words asked for. Sometimes it’s easy and I finish in a few minutes. Other times it’s very difficult and may contain American things I haven’t heard of or may Have American spellings. The daily puzzle is free but you can pay for more complicated games if you want. I enjoy it more than the wordle type games.
DeleteI do Wordle every night - got it in two last night.
DeleteShall have to look for word salad.
I still do Wordle, Nerdle & Quordle daily. I’m 11 hours ahead so have just completed 6thNov, I won’t offer any spoilers! I have only gone down on Nerdle once in the several years I have been doing it, usually in 3 or 4.
DeleteI do crosswords but not cryptic ones and have a couple of books of Daily Telegraph general knowledge ones which suit me but I'm a big suduko fan.
DeleteI'm not sure I should thank you Archerphile! I have gradually cut out several puzzles (I used to do the Wordles up to 32, plus various others) but now I shall have to investigate Word Salad. *And* I have just discovered there is a 64 word sexaginta-quattuordle!
DeleteIn retaliation, I offer you wafflegame.net and, on the same site, Stack Down.
Meanwhile, I carelessly missed a day the other week so lost my 293-day Wordle streak 😞. I'm currently on a measly 11 days, but I have at least now converted to Hard mode.
Local S M has brought my attention to Great British Rail Journeys from Above, and last weekend's edition, my local Heritage Line from Bishops Lydiard to Minehead.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been here three years now and still haven’t travelled on it.
I do enjoy the sound of the choo choo choo as it leaves Minehead Station however, as well as occasionally being caught as the train crosses our main road leading to the supermarkets.
The programme includes a great deal of information about Brunel himself.
Did any of the railway buffs watch ?
I was "mad" in the supermarket today. I went to get a pack of the 800g frozen mince I always use. This is free flowing so just what's needed can be taken out, I do 400g a time. It works out cheaper and can be used from frozen.
ReplyDeleteOf course what was there - turkeys. I looked long + hard, no space, no label for this was found
There was a bloke filling up the freezer section the answer, some things have now gone for seasonal products, so I told him.to pass on my thoughts to his manager, that I wanted everyday mince not a once a year turkey!
To add I also saw a stand - the bottom 3 shelves Hot Cross Buns the top 3 Mince Pies.
Has the world gone mad?
Best not to answer that!
BTW I then got stopped for an item check (using a scanner) and it took ages for this to be done which was 10 items. I was not a Happy Bunny by then.
Rant Over.
We are spoilt and privileged and disappointed when we can't get what we want.
DeleteLife is far from perfect and the mad world is not some other place, we are a part of it and have made it such, ha ha.
Agree BASIA…….. Collective responsibility !
DeleteAnd just to reassure you Miriam, that’s not having a go at you.
I agree with your post 100% but the fact remains WE collectively have allowed this to happen.
I applaud your speaking to the shelf stacker.
I also noticed how much Christmas stuff there is in the supermarket when I did a shop this morning.
DeleteI was doing my online Sainsbury shop this morning, looking for cubed braising steak to make a beef casserole at the weekend. I was horrified at the price of beef, especially some steaks. There was a steak at £65 for one piece!! Also a beef wellington, presumably for one person, for £45. And I couldn’t find humble braising or stewing steak anywhere on the list. So no lovely winter casserole with dumplings this weekend 😒
DeleteI got in-store, a pack of shin of beef, now in the freezer, for just that, a hearty beef casserole.
DeleteThese days I buy joints when they're on the half-price offer. I cut these in half, one half for roast, the other half cut up for casseroles. It works out cheaper believe it or not, but then I'm only cooking for one which makes a big difference of how long something lasts and how many meals I get out.
Not long ago I bought a huge loin of pork joint for something like £7.90 half-price cost.
DeleteHalf did 4 roast meals (2 still in freezer complete with stuffing, apple sauce, cider gravy), the other half is chopped up and in two bags for stews etc. All in all, I'll have got at least 10 meals for me out of that slab of meat. As said cost efficient, even with all the extra things added in. I base things now on cost per meal.
Before we left the New Forest after a few days there I went to a farm shop to try to get some wild venison, mainly as a present for our neighbour ( without the chickens and ducks now, hungry foxes with cubs! so she gave the rest of them away to live somewhere safer) for looking after our cats. I asked for loin steaks but they had sold out and he offered me fillet steak, which is much more expensive, at the same price as loin. So incredibly lucky there, and I had enough for us as well as our neighbours, and it was beautifully tender.
ReplyDeleteI think he was clearing his freezers to make way for the arrival of pannage pork, when free ranging pigs that have been foraging the forest acorns are culled.
I've just had my orders:-
ReplyDeleteA Christmas Pudding is expected!
Luckily I don't need to buy much, just the Guiness, Barley Wine and Rum, which are fundamental in the recipe I use, plus some more traditional suet.
That's my task for this weekend, do the mix on the Saturday, leave overnight, then a good 8hr steam on the Sunday.
I don't know why, but I always do this on Rememberance Sunday, perhaps it's because I use my mums recipe, so a memory of her.
Sounds good Miriam, to have some lifelong traditions.
DeleteThis recipe is a traditional family one which isn't just from mum, but who it originates from, I have no idea. It never disappoints.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe only traditional thing which isn't now included, are the silver 3d bits which went into the mixture every year.
DeleteI searched long + hard for these but sadly never did find them. 😪
There are loads on ebay, Miriam. Although it does have to be said you'd pay rather more than 3d to get them!
DeleteI collected the old silver six penny pieces ( I’m going back sixty years here ) and re used them for several years.
DeleteWhat a final of celebrity traitors. Loved it.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI did try it ...........
ReplyDeleteI know I am in the minority but it is not for me.
I went back to binge watching "Outrageous.".
Watched Traitors all the way through - only started because Stephen Fray was in it - and got hooked. But although it was exciting, I didn’t like who won, so ended up very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteWatched first episode of ‘celebrity’ Race Around the World but don’t think I’ll bother watching any more. The only couple I enjoyed watching were Anita Rani and her lovely Dad. The other contestants are unknown to me and I have no interest in how they do.
Oh dear, I’m turning into an old grouch!
Stephen Fry
ReplyDeleteHe was one of the reasons I didn't want to watch it!
DeleteI didn't know 9 of the so called "Celebrities"" and wasn't keen on 5 of the others but I appreciate that most people did like it.
Give me "Rave Women" any day of the week.
On a Thursday evening I was watching "All creatures great and small"which unfortunately has ended although I think there may be a Christmas Special.
Bake off finished, Traitors finished. ☹️
ReplyDeleteThere is Christmas - I'm immune to all, but don't mind others enjoying.
DeleteThe news about ITV looking to sell it's broadcasting arm to Sky makes me wonder how long it will be before there are no more free to air channels on TV.
ReplyDeleteI decided to watch the final of Traitors, mostly to feel that I was part of the nation.
ReplyDeleteI felt bemused throughout, emotionally disengaged, and by the end convinced, as I’ve always been, that I’m definitely out of step with most others.
However, on reflection, I can now see that it’s clearly not all about being vicious and horrible ( as I have previously said it is ) but is clearly about strategic planning.
However, I will continue to march to my own drum and will not be drawn in again to watch future programmes.
MrsP - You've tried it and didn't like it, but it's good to know what "the opposition is doing".
DeleteI am a huge fan of Traitors but loathed the most recent series. I didn't know who most of the so called celebrities were and l actively disliked at least 2 of the recognizable ones ( to me ) JR should never have been on the show and SF is so pleased with SF As for the winner!!!!! At least a good, deserving charity received the money.
DeleteAnother Rant - this time about Guiness! All I wanted was one single can or bottle (for the afore mentioned Christmas Pud). I tried 3 different supermarkets, two off-licences but none. I ended up at my local Co-Op buying a pack of 4 cans, as could not be bothered searching again.. No-one I know drinks it, so it's a good job I like steak + guiness stew, well when I have suitable beef at a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing was that it was a lovely, warm sunny morning, so didn't mind all the driving around I ended up doing.
I arrived home to find "my man" had been to give the long, wet grass, it's final cut this year and the overgrown shrub in my front garden, beautifully trimmed back.
This shrub is a lovely variegated wiegelia, which in May has lovely pink flowers. It was 6feet tall this morning, 4ft tall this evening which is right for this time of year.
I had my 'flu jab this morning and now my arm is starting to swell, That's a normal reaction for me, as I always end up with a swelling like a hard boiled egg!
I was not impressed with the pharmacist who jabbed me, he was obviously bored + it showed. I felt I was just a number and not a person, as he hardly spoke to me except to ask the questions needed, which were done in a bored, monotonous tone.
He did his job though.
A thought for next year, re Guinness, go to nearest pub & ask for pint or half of Guinness and transfer into jam jar or other lidded container…
DeleteI'm looking forward to Celebrity Masterchef starting soon, but I'll give Celebrity Apprentice a miss.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone still watching Strictly? We have not watched at all this year for reasons given before, just wondering if there is anyone famous still taking part.
ReplyDeleteRe Traitors - must admit I only watched for the people taking part. I don’t think I could find much enthusiasm for complete ‘unknowns’ i.e.members of the public. The interest was sparked by at least knowing some of the competitors fairly well and a bit about them beforehand. I learnt a lot more about David Olosoga and am looking forward to his new programme.
We're still watching Strictly Archerfile, it's pretty competitive this year. Alex Kingston is doing well if you know her.
DeleteI’m still watching strictly. Alex Kingsley doing great. I like George. No idea who he is though.
DeleteStrictly is great this year and I'm loving it.
DeleteAnother big fan of Alex as well. I was so amazed that she had uterine cancer last year and look at her now.
I also love Vicky, but she's like marmite - "love or hate". She though is giving it her all and trying + progressing well.
Out of the males, none really grab me but it has to be George though. Alexis needs to stop making it all about her and to show him in a much better way.
I could go on + on + on....💃🕺🥱
Yes so am I Archerphile .....
ReplyDeleteI can recommend something recommended to me by PTBY !
"Outrageous " .
I will be honest.I almost didn't watch it because she and I often have different tastes regarding TV programmes (like The Traitors and Strictly!)
It is about the Mitford sisters and I thought it was excellent .
Oooh. What a thing to say. Just cos I’ve got taste and you haven’t!!!!!
DeleteThat reminds me that I recorded Outrageous and have forgotten all about it.
DeleteNow I need to find where I have it, as I have two HDD recorders at the moment, so not sure which one it's on.
Saturday morning greetings to all. I’m so enjoying reading all your posts and empathise with all who have ongoing struggles 🧡. Re Outrageous- it’s very entertaining and mostly chimes with the books and biographies.
DeleteA fascinating and controversial family who marched to their own drum.
To others like Archerphile and myself, who so enjoyed reading the books written by Stephen Booth about his police detective Be Cooper, the TV dramatisation starts on Ch 5 on November 18th.
ReplyDeleteIt's titled Cooper + Fry, and I just hope that the original books have not been messed around with, so are barely recognisable.
This happened with the some of the Vera ones, when put into the TV series resulting in a totally different S/L which was nothing like originally written.
I'm not sure about it as they have cast rob James-Collier as Ben Cooper and I can't imagine him fitting that role.
DeleteI'll certainly give it a go.
DeleteThanks for the heads up re Outrageous - always interested in the Mitford girls.
ReplyDeleteHave just watched some of episode one.
It’s about time drama schools introduced, at the very least, their pupils to the RP of former times. Not one character so far speaking in the ‘posh ‘ accents of yesteryear.
And please don’t tell me that it’s all gone ( or perhaps ‘ gorn ‘ ) I still have some friends who retain those accents.
Nevertheless I’m sure I shall enjoy the adventure.
Even if it's not used much these days MrsP actors should be able to do it when required, it's their job.
DeleteThought strictly was really good tonight. Capped for Vicky being top of the leader board.
ReplyDeleteShe did well.
DeleteMy votes all went to Alex, as I just don't want her to leave just yet, and besides I love JoJo!
All my votes were for Alex too.
DeleteJust finished watching The Remains of the Day.
ReplyDeleteSuch a moving film, as was the book.
Painful to watch the restraint of former times. So revealing of human nature and emotions withheld.
If remembered by others as a film worth watching its on IPlayer for a couple more weeks.
I follow Stephen Booth on Facebook and he has published photos of the cast of Cooper and Fry. Having read all the books, neither of the actors look remotely like they do in my imagination. So I will give the Tv programmes a miss - I prefer to think of them as I see them in my head.
ReplyDeleteThe same happened when the Peter Robinson books about inspector Banks were televised.
Stephen Tompkinson was simply not my Inspector Banks, far too tall, not dark haired enough, a complete miss-match in my opinion.
On the other hand, Douglas Henshall was perfect as Jimmy Perez in Shetland and I miss him dreadfully in the new series.
Interesting Archerfile, Douglas Henshall didn't look anything like the Jimmy Perez, as described in the books, but captured the character and personality of him very well. Maybe I should give the Cooper and Fry ones a go, but I'll try and find out where the series was filmed first because the Peak District was a big part of my enjoyment of the books.
DeleteSpeaking of Jimmy Perez, it was nice to meet up with him again in Ann Cleves' new series about him, set on Orkney.
DeleteArcherphile, I too preferred Douglas Henshall in Shetland but I’m still watching anyway.
DeleteI felt the same way about the Inspector Lynley Mysteries - the main characters were nothing like they are described in the novels.
When I saw that our new Reading Group book was written by the author of "The Remains of the Day" I thought the book would be good.
ReplyDeleteHowever when I saw it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize I had my doubts..
The book is called "Never let me go"by Kazuo Ishiguro
I got to about page 40 and gave up .
I left it for a couple of weeks and tried again but again I gave up.
We meet again tomorrow and I will see what other folk thought.
Lanjan, we discussed the book here some time ago - I let it go never to pick up again.
DeleteA novel - however good - that I never want to read.
DeleteThe very clear content and message are well rehearsed in my head and my imagination and should the outcome of the book ever materialise I shall not be here to know about it.
We can only hope that the scientific community makes sure the scenario of this book does not become reality, however my own hope in this matter is slim.
I read the novel many years ago and found it horrific. What made it so depressing was the fact that the plot is believable. Why do we read? If I am to invest hours of my time getting to know new characters and exploring various scenarios or developing situations I want to enjoy the.experience or at least find it a positive one. ‘Never let me go’ gave me nightmares.. However I do appreciate that many people enjoy horror stories and dark depressing tales but they’re not for me.
DeleteI wrote a comment yesterday evening that has vanished. For some unknown reason Google has started telling me to sign in every time I want to comment.
DeleteOooh Janice, that does not bode well.
DeleteI seem to remember that several of us had that problem - being required to sign in - a couple of years ago, leading to - I think - not being able to access the site at all.
I do hope we don’t lose you.
Yes it is most odd Mrs P. I am going to ask my son later if he knows why it is happening and if it can be sorted.
DeleteIt is most odd Mrs P . and not behaving as it usually does. I am hoping my son can work out what's happening later.
DeleteI had a not very nice experience on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteIt was early evening and I'd been busy in the kitchen for quite awhile, by which time it'd been dark for ages. I went into the lounge to close the curtains + put lights on, to see someone shining a 'phone torch light through the window. I hurriedly closed the curtain + put the top light on, at the same time there was loud continuous knocking on the door. I did open it to have this light shine in my eyes, as someone lurched forward waving some sort of identity card under my nose.
I politely said No, Thank You to then get a stream of verbal abuse as I firmly shut the door.
I am normally a strong person but this spooked me.
Strictly was just about to start, when a warning notification came through on my local community group, to which many responded.
I was not the only one who had such an experience and mine didn't seem as bad as others. It was reported to the police as some had doorbell camera footage, basically for information only.
It seems there was a group of blokes in the area and many felt intimidated.
All I'll say is - a bottle of wine was opened early, and tea was late!! 😆
DeleteWhat a frightening experience Miriam. You did all the right things. My son had a similar experience around Halloween one year. A group who were supposedly trick or treating, demanded money from him. He refused and his front door was then pelted with eggs.
DeleteI thought of you when Alex got through in Strictly. The dancing line up would be much poorer if she went though there are some promising dancers this year. It doesn’t worry me whether I know of the celebrity or not. George is of Tik Tok fame - what does that mean???
Very sorry to hear about your horrible experience on Saturday Miriam.
DeleteAs Soz said, you acted well and kept yourself safe.
I’ve had similar experiences and it does shake one up, no matter how strong a character you may be.
However, if you know that other nearby people had similar issues perhaps you should all be reporting those incidents to your local police.
Of course some may have already done so.
Janice I hope your daughter in law’s family are safe in the Philippines with the latest super typhoon
ReplyDeleteThey are fine thank you Anrol. It didn't hit their island. They are used to typhoons but not to the present day very severe ones.
DeleteThat is really weird. My reply to Anrol is still here but my original earlier long comment that my son copied and posted from a page I kept open in case it vanished again is once again nowhere to be seen. There is a glitch in the Google matrix somewhere!
ReplyDeleteI won't write it again but just say I agree with Soz about the book.
DeleteWe had our Reading Group meeting this morning.
DeleteWe meet at the local library and the library get the books for us.-not literally but you know what I mean! - and provides the kettle and boiling water for drinks and we bring our own mugs and we have a kitty to pay for biscuits milk ,teabags and coffee.
There is quite a good range of books
We meet once a month.
We make choices as to which books we would like and sometimes if the book is very popular we have to choose something else.
There are 10 of us - we range in age from mid 60s to mid to late 80s.There are 9 women and 1 man.
We give marks out of 10 for readability ,characterisation, plot and literary merit and have a discussion about the book.
Then we say whether we would recommend the book in question
Two people actually read all of "Never let me go " .
Most of the marks were either 2 or 3 out of 10 .
Nobody recommended it.
The meeting ended early!
Next month's book is Jane Austen's "Emma".
“Emma” was one of my books for A level English, which sort of ruined it for me!
DeleteBut strangely suitable seeing that I was in Austen House at school, have ended up living next to the village where Jane Austen was born, and had children who went to school in Oakley Hall where Jane had attended balls and assemblies. Our whole area is dedicated to Jane Austen with the council erecting a statue of her in the centre of town and her name on every signpost welcoming you to Basingstoke.
I had a lovely morning yesterday visiting cowgirl for a long overdue catch up. We really put the world to rights. Came home with half a dozen eggs, she has chickens, and a bag of home made biscuits for husband. Had a call in at sainsburys and b and m on the way home. Really quiet. Had a good look round. My first solo trip since op. Freedom at last. 😊
ReplyDeleteWell done you, and nice to hear about Cowgirl again.
DeleteNew thread open, with very cute koala
ReplyDelete