We had a okra and shitake mushroom Thai curry with noodles for tea. You were supposed to sprinkle mild red chillies on the top. I have a large box of chillies in the freezer so used one of my golden cayenne's instead. Rather too hot to be used a garnish. This season I think I'd better grow something that would work better on top of curries.
On the subject of neighbours @Bishops Finger I think this is the first road I've lived in where people are neighbourly. I've been friendly with the people next door in a few places I've lived, but most of the people round here say hello and look out for each other. It might be to do with living in a small town or the fact we're a no through road so most people out and about live in this road or the closes off it.
I’ve done a little work since I got back and now should do either some study or re-arranging in the conservatory, possibly both. But there’s a warm cat currently sitting on my lap delaying me.
If you ensure that you have all your study materials to hand before sitting down, then a warm cat can be an effective study assistant (because you can't move the cat, of course, so you are limited to the things that you can do without moving, and oh look, here's the paper you needed to read...)
It was such a shame that my laptop was on my desk in the study and that cat had ambushed me in the lounge…
But I will be writing my essay Saturday morning, cat willing and if I can work up an interest in post revisionism and the Reformation (not my choice of subject).
Both Mrs Twang and myself are feeling ropey today, the lurgy we had over Christmas seems to have made an unwelcome return.
We did manage lunch (nice sarnies) out at a cafe ( not feeling up for a pub one) with a Seaview. Dinner was jacket potatoes or left overs.
Some work has been achieved including handwriting a viola part in the alto clef as my guitar centric notation software doesn't have more unusual clefs. I'm quite chuffed to have done it the old school way. I do hope it's legible!!
Chucked not one but two Scotch Bonnets into the Chilli, which was agreeably lip-tingling. Staying in the south-western vibe with bourbon digestive.
I always think of our one visit to Santa Fe in earlyish Spring - mostly sunny and quite warm but then suddenly snow. Mr F had tooth trouble but the hotel arranged a dentist and afterwards we toured a liquor store for a bottle of bourbon to bring to our next stop - friends in New Haven.
That too was an epic, driving up from New Jersey and thinking Nearly There and then crossing the state line and the road number resetting and then roadworks. Finally getting in about 10 pm to the most welcome G&Ts ever.
(Have I mentioned how nice it is not to have to wait in the freezing cold for a bus that might not arrive?).
Huh. I walked to the supermarket and then waited for a bus home which didn't come, so walked round to the other bus stop only to just miss the bus there which was running to time.
So I walked home - probably good for me! This was at 10am so sunny and actually rather pleasant.
What a brilliant idea that cat flap sounds. The late Georgie-Porgy was a terror for importing birds into the house at the dead of night. Aroha isn't allowed outside after dark or before dawn, and I have never seen her catch anything bigger than a moth, so that's no longer a problem thank goodness.
I was going to Pilates this morning till my husband pointed out the it was -4, the roads would be icy and I'm very good at falling over. I thought I could get there OK, but the thought of how cold my hands would get made me change my mind.
It's been zero and below all week - but fortunately it was dry, so no ice save in puddles. Nevertheless I've ordered up a pair of those pull-on ice grips for shoes.
Just off to ransack the veggie drawer and turn everything I can find into soup.
Even Arkland the Ramshackle looked lovely in this morning's very heavy frost - real January weather!
Once the frost had melted, I tottered gingerly to the car to see if it would start. It did - first turn of the key - and I was able to give Neighbour S a lift up to the port-and-lemon shop pub in the village.
I skipped the morning walk due to the heavy frost. A long intense day of planning and writing tutorials, and then assignment marking plans - no time for marking though and I am too tired now so that will have to wait til Monday.
I’m going to treat myself to an Indian takeaway tonight. Mr Heavenly is back from his trip tomorrow.
Shepherds pie and sprouts for us. There's no such thing as too many sprouts.
My day has been mainly taken over by household Ings. Except for lunchtime when my friend dragged me out for lunch and to peruse a new art exhibition. 😊
A few housey Ings remain, but not many. I should soon be able to knock them on the head tomorrow.
Still feeling grotty.
But did the dreaded tax return which left me feeling melancholy due to the liabilities!
Making fish and chips for dinner and listening to records.
Can't decide whether to have a beer tonight or not.
Husband en rouge has had a very nasty lurgy for most of the week, although he's now recovering. I've now caught it as well, but not so badly. I still skived off the orchestra last night though, because it finishes late, it was freezing cold out, and it seems to be pretty damn contagious.
I woke up feeling rather grotty, but did at least get moderate Clean Ing and Iron Ing done. Monkfish for dinner.
What are you going to do to the monkfish? It's one of the contestants for a w/end dinner. The other possible is stone bass, for which I have even less of a repertoire, having only recently discovered it at local posh fishmonger.
There's a lot of nasty lurgy about. I don't feel that bad, but continue to cough.
Spaghetti bolognaise for the second day running here. Usually on Day 2 I do jacket potatoes with the sauce, but I fancy spaghetti again, and will be washing it down with red wine so the evening ahead is looking positive. We'll be catching up on The Traitors on TV, it being one of the few things we watch together and it makes for conversation with the Nenlets. I actually hate the whole premise of it, but can't deny that it makes for interesting viewing in a "can't-look-away-from-the-train-wreck" sort of way.
I was out for coffee with friends this afternoon and got very cold on the walk home. Glad I don't have to go out again.
I recently had monkfish at a posh Indian restaurant as part of a taster menu where it was marinated in a green tikka sauce to make hariyali (hence my current love of chicken cooked this way - Waitrose have both green tikka paste and a lovely zhoug dip alternative). I would serve it as chunks in a similar way using a green spicy/herby paste of some sort.
Friday is normally fish in this house but yesterday my meal plans were totally disrupted, so I needed to eat the pre-prepared meat I had taken out of the freezer. Although I thought it was going to be bolognese it turned out to be sliced pork, which I reheated in gravy together with lots of veg.
... Can't decide whether to have a beer tonight or not.
It's Friday; of course you must.
As it's Friday, I had what our friends in NZ would call "fush & chups", washed down with the last of the Chardonnay (it wasn't exactly horrid, just not my favourite thing, and it didn't cost me anything ... ). I have now opened one of my cut-price bottles of Villa Maria - much nicer!
Still very cold here; pavements looking decidedly sparkly, which is very pretty but a tad treacherous. Walking was done in a very careful fashion. Work, however, was very doable, and I'd done pretty well all of it by about four o'clock. I do like leaving a clear desk on a Friday evening.
Although it's still only early January, it wasn't completely dark when I left the office. Very nearly, but not quite - the remains of what was probably a very decent sunset were still visible. All is not lost!
Hooray for getting home in the almost light, @Piglet! Being further north that’s not happening for me yet, but it will. It wasn’t totally dark at 8 this morning despite the snow that was falling. So today I began making a lining for my bedroom curtains, which are very thin, because in January I am looking forward to the light nights.
A fairly lazy day, I did finish my Christmas jigsaw which was a nostalgic 1950s snow scene. I don't like Christmassy things hanging on much past Epiphany, so glad to get it done. I did go out this afternoon to meet with my husband and discuss our kitchen plans at the kitchen shop. The intention was to pare things back a bit, but we seem to have added things instead! Our road was a bit icy but the rest of the town was well and truly gritted. A lot of it seemed to end up in my boots.
The water is still slowly rising in our garden even though the river is nearly back to normal. I'm hoping the sluice gates to the dyke open in the next few hours and our garden returns to normal too.
We’re slowly getting our Christmas stuff away (having been elsewhere at the weekend). I’m pleased to have operated in our big string of battery-powered LEDs cutting out 4 dud sections, two lights in each, and rejoining and soldering the wires to restore the remaining string to full function - 142 instead of 150 lights.
What are you going to do to the monkfish? It's one of the contestants for a w/end dinner. The other possible is stone bass, for which I have even less of a repertoire, having only recently discovered it at local posh fishmonger.
I was not responsible for the dressing of the monkfish. Husband en rouge cooked it in a sauce that involved shallots, cream, cider and Espelette pepper (good news for my sinuses).
Talking of adding things that may not be exactly necessary, as I went past the Cancer Research shop on my way home, I noticed they had a chicken brick in their window, and I may well go back tomorrow and buy it (they were just closing as I went past).
David and I had one many moons ago (until it cracked - I suspect because he may have forgotten to soak it) and we found it quite useful for doing things like St Clement's chicken or chicken with 40 cloves of garlic ... 😋
I'm not sure I can justify it (space being at a premium in the château), but still ...
Cold (-4) and sunny here with a heavy frost. I’m going to have some porridge and then decide if I have the courage to go for a short walk. Then it’s nose to the grindstone again writing that wretched essay.
Mr Heavenly is on the long plane journey home from Las Vegas and has been upgraded to first class so he has been indulging in posh food and champagne. A starter of fried prawns in a creole okra salsa anyone?
Cold (-4) and sunny here with a heavy frost. I’m going to have some porridge and then decide if I have the courage to go for a short walk. Then it’s nose to the grindstone again writing that wretched essay.
Mr Heavenly is on the long plane journey home from Las Vegas and has been upgraded to first class so he has been indulging in posh food and champagne. A starter of fried prawns in a creole okra salsa anyone?
Hold the slimy okra thanks but nice that he scored an upgrade.
I'm in a bad mood with Royal Mail since I got a text promising delivery of ice-grippy things for my shoes yesterday. But according to the tracking information the parcel's only just reached Embra. And of the calendar coming from Germany, due between Thursday and today - not a whisper.
So I shall have to venture out presently and hope the pavements are not too perilous. Bah humbug.
We were given a jar of chicken liver pate at Christmas and have a lot of left over Christmas cheese in the fridge so I thought a lunch of oatcakes / crackers and pate / cheese / chutney would be fine today. The NE Man is off out to buy more food to turn this into a "proper lunch". My main aim was "clear the fridge" but I think I am about to be thwarted.
Today is Day 9 of the NE Man's retirement. So far the lingering after-effects of bronchitis have prevented us from getting into our new routine, but hopefully this coming week will see us transmogrifying into the new "us".
I have had an explanation of how to use an ATM, as the NE Man seemed to think that this technology was new to me. It will be interesting to see what else he thinks I need to know.
I have had an explanation of how to use an ATM, as the NE Man seemed to think that this technology was new to me. It will be interesting to see what else he thinks I need to know.
I’m amazed I lived an independent life for over a decade before getting married given my apparent need to have things explained to me. (I suspect I can wire a plug better than my sons, who both studied electronic engineering!)
I have had an explanation of how to use an ATM, as the NE Man seemed to think that this technology was new to me. It will be interesting to see what else he thinks I need to know.
How does he think you've been getting cash out of the bank? Holding the staff at gunpoint?
In fairness, the NE Man has gone above and beyond while I've been unwell, cooking, shopping, cleaning and generally cossetting me. It's been wonderful.
But there is definitely a period of adjustment ahead while we both find out what the other regards as "normal life."
We are a one-car family. I could have the car any time I needed it if I dropped him off at work and picked him up, but on an average day I didn't have the car. Last week we needed to go to the Post Office, which is only half a mile away. I assumed we would walk, he assumed we would drive. Driving had not crossed my mind as a possibility, walking had not crossed his.
We were looking at each other in mutual incomprehension: Why would we drive, when it's only a mile there and back? Why would we walk, when it's cold outside?
I asked him how he thought I had been getting to and from the post office on cold days up till now, and it clearly hadn't occurred to him that I hadn't spent my winters in hibernation.
A choir friend admitted yesterday that her husband had just started to involve her in the finances and had shown her how to do an online bank transfer. She says she needs to teach him how to cook. They are younger than me, with young grandchildren. Hard to believe the division of labour is so traditional still.
Seriously, I often feel like shouting from the rooftops to married people that they need to be prepared to take up any roles ready for when their other half is no longer able to fulfil them, especially cooking and finances. Some jobs can be outsourced to professionals but basics, no.
Having sometimes been married, and also being a singleton, I can fulfil most domestic roles...which is just as well, as Angels Of The Lord can't be expected to do everything !
Arkland the Bright is once again Sun-Shiny and Frosty, with Mist forecast for later today.
Our Place is having its monthly Community Cafe/Stalls event today - the calm sunny weather may hopefully tempt people out to visit our nice warm Hall, and enjoy our nice hot Brunch!
Apart from the basic fairness of equal sharing of household chores among us four children, when I was growing up, my mother insisted that my brother and I learn how to cook and to deal with our own laundry (and basic mending) so that, as she put it, “you won’t marry the first girl who can wash your socks or cook you a meal!”
Heavily frosty and foggy today in West Lothian; after choir practice I had another look at the chicken brick, but it looks as if it isn't glazed on the inside, so I thought better of it; it would be a total pain in the arse to clean, and I really don't think I could justify the space it would occupy. After all, how often am I going to cook a whole chicken?
I can't understand the NE Man thinking you wouldn't know how to use an ATM; they've been going for about 50 years (remember the adverts for the Royal Bank Cashline with (I think) Ian Cuthbertson looking at the machine and saying "Is the manager in?")? I remember being horrified that my m-i-l said she never used one and didn't know her PIN (this would have been in the early 90s).
On 27 June 1967, a summer on from England's footballers winning the World Cup and two years before man first set foot on the Moon, the first ATM was up and running at a branch of Barclays Bank in Enfield High Street, Middlesex, UK. It was one small step from pavement to cashpoint, but one giant leap for time-conscious members of the public after quick and easy access to their savings.
He thought I knew how to use one, but not how to use one efficiently. He said (and I quote) I was taking "long, interminable seconds" to push the buttons and he thought I would benefit from him providing a refresher course in "how to use an ATM". Suffice it to say I have stored the phrase "long, interminable seconds" away for future use.
I was paying in a cheque from my mother. Mum writes in cursive and the machine sometimes struggles with her 1s, 4s and 7s. The cheque didn't actually have any 1s, 4s, or 7s, but I was still checking carefully that it hadn't misread the cheque before I pressed the OK button. At which point the NE Man stepped in and starting explaining the procedure to me.
@North East Quine you sound much more patient than me. My husband knows not to explain things unless I ask!
I haven't heard of chicken bricks for year @Piglet. Did you go back and buy it?
Frosty but sunny here. The water has gone down in the dyke but the garden is still flooded as the water has frozen solid. Very sunny at the moment so I hope there is a enough warmth to melt the ice a little bit.
Today we walked along the cycle track on the route of an old branch line to the cafe in the new housing estate at the edge of town. The vegan breakfast bap at the end was worth the walk. We came back via the main road which is shorter but not so scenic.
Comments
On the subject of neighbours @Bishops Finger I think this is the first road I've lived in where people are neighbourly. I've been friendly with the people next door in a few places I've lived, but most of the people round here say hello and look out for each other. It might be to do with living in a small town or the fact we're a no through road so most people out and about live in this road or the closes off it.
If you ensure that you have all your study materials to hand before sitting down, then a warm cat can be an effective study assistant (because you can't move the cat, of course, so you are limited to the things that you can do without moving, and oh look, here's the paper you needed to read...)
But I will be writing my essay Saturday morning, cat willing and if I can work up an interest in post revisionism and the Reformation (not my choice of subject).
We did manage lunch (nice sarnies) out at a cafe ( not feeling up for a pub one) with a Seaview. Dinner was jacket potatoes or left overs.
Some work has been achieved including handwriting a viola part in the alto clef as my guitar centric notation software doesn't have more unusual clefs. I'm quite chuffed to have done it the old school way. I do hope it's legible!!
I always think of our one visit to Santa Fe in earlyish Spring - mostly sunny and quite warm but then suddenly snow. Mr F had tooth trouble but the hotel arranged a dentist and afterwards we toured a liquor store for a bottle of bourbon to bring to our next stop - friends in New Haven.
That too was an epic, driving up from New Jersey and thinking Nearly There and then crossing the state line and the road number resetting and then roadworks. Finally getting in about 10 pm to the most welcome G&Ts ever.
So I walked home - probably good for me! This was at 10am so sunny and actually rather pleasant.
I find it's not so much the lips as the roots of the hair. And the eyelashes ... 😳
Just thinking of Scotch Bonnets is making me feel a bit tingly.
Just off to ransack the veggie drawer and turn everything I can find into soup.
Once the frost had melted, I tottered gingerly to the car to see if it would start. It did - first turn of the key - and I was able to give Neighbour S a lift up to the port-and-lemon shop pub in the village.
BACON SANWIDGE for lunch.
I’m going to treat myself to an Indian takeaway tonight. Mr Heavenly is back from his trip tomorrow.
My day has been mainly taken over by household Ings. Except for lunchtime when my friend dragged me out for lunch and to peruse a new art exhibition. 😊
A few housey Ings remain, but not many. I should soon be able to knock them on the head tomorrow.
But did the dreaded tax return which left me feeling melancholy due to the liabilities!
Making fish and chips for dinner and listening to records.
Can't decide whether to have a beer tonight or not.
I woke up feeling rather grotty, but did at least get moderate Clean Ing and Iron Ing done. Monkfish for dinner.
Spaghetti bolognaise for the second day running here. Usually on Day 2 I do jacket potatoes with the sauce, but I fancy spaghetti again, and will be washing it down with red wine so the evening ahead is looking positive. We'll be catching up on The Traitors on TV, it being one of the few things we watch together and it makes for conversation with the Nenlets. I actually hate the whole premise of it, but can't deny that it makes for interesting viewing in a "can't-look-away-from-the-train-wreck" sort of way.
I was out for coffee with friends this afternoon and got very cold on the walk home. Glad I don't have to go out again.
As it's Friday, I had what our friends in NZ would call "fush & chups", washed down with the last of the Chardonnay (it wasn't exactly horrid, just not my favourite thing, and it didn't cost me anything ...
Still very cold here; pavements looking decidedly sparkly, which is very pretty but a tad treacherous. Walking was done in a very careful fashion. Work, however, was very doable, and I'd done pretty well all of it by about four o'clock. I do like leaving a clear desk on a Friday evening.
Although it's still only early January, it wasn't completely dark when I left the office. Very nearly, but not quite - the remains of what was probably a very decent sunset were still visible. All is not lost!
The water is still slowly rising in our garden even though the river is nearly back to normal. I'm hoping the sluice gates to the dyke open in the next few hours and our garden returns to normal too.
I was not responsible for the dressing of the monkfish. Husband en rouge cooked it in a sauce that involved shallots, cream, cider and Espelette pepper (good news for my sinuses).
David and I had one many moons ago (until it cracked - I suspect because he may have forgotten to soak it) and we found it quite useful for doing things like St Clement's chicken or chicken with 40 cloves of garlic ... 😋
I'm not sure I can justify it (space being at a premium in the château), but still ...
You brave soul!!
Sage advice.
I've had just the one in the hope it aids restorative slumber...
That would be procrastinat-Ing, then?
Mr Heavenly is on the long plane journey home from Las Vegas and has been upgraded to first class so he has been indulging in posh food and champagne. A starter of fried prawns in a creole okra salsa anyone?
*is still a bit confused ("chicken under a brick"??)
Sounds as though Mr Heavenly is enjoying a good start to his weekend!
Mr Nen is out for a Hearty Walk with his Hearty Walking Friends. I'm planning coffee and lunch with friends.
Cold and bright here.
Hold the slimy okra thanks but nice that he scored an upgrade.
Ditto.
I'm in a bad mood with Royal Mail since I got a text promising delivery of ice-grippy things for my shoes yesterday. But according to the tracking information the parcel's only just reached Embra. And of the calendar coming from Germany, due between Thursday and today - not a whisper.
So I shall have to venture out presently and hope the pavements are not too perilous. Bah humbug.
We were given a jar of chicken liver pate at Christmas and have a lot of left over Christmas cheese in the fridge so I thought a lunch of oatcakes / crackers and pate / cheese / chutney would be fine today. The NE Man is off out to buy more food to turn this into a "proper lunch". My main aim was "clear the fridge" but I think I am about to be thwarted.
Today is Day 9 of the NE Man's retirement. So far the lingering after-effects of bronchitis have prevented us from getting into our new routine, but hopefully this coming week will see us transmogrifying into the new "us".
I have had an explanation of how to use an ATM, as the NE Man seemed to think that this technology was new to me. It will be interesting to see what else he thinks I need to know.
How does he think you've been getting cash out of the bank? Holding the staff at gunpoint?
But there is definitely a period of adjustment ahead while we both find out what the other regards as "normal life."
We are a one-car family. I could have the car any time I needed it if I dropped him off at work and picked him up, but on an average day I didn't have the car. Last week we needed to go to the Post Office, which is only half a mile away. I assumed we would walk, he assumed we would drive. Driving had not crossed my mind as a possibility, walking had not crossed his.
We were looking at each other in mutual incomprehension:
Why would we drive, when it's only a mile there and back?
Why would we walk, when it's cold outside?
I asked him how he thought I had been getting to and from the post office on cold days up till now, and it clearly hadn't occurred to him that I hadn't spent my winters in hibernation.
Well, you have a car now, so why would you walk??
Seriously, I often feel like shouting from the rooftops to married people that they need to be prepared to take up any roles ready for when their other half is no longer able to fulfil them, especially cooking and finances. Some jobs can be outsourced to professionals but basics, no.
Having sometimes been married, and also being a singleton, I can fulfil most domestic roles...which is just as well, as Angels Of The Lord can't be expected to do everything !
Arkland the Bright is once again Sun-Shiny and Frosty, with Mist forecast for later today.
Our Place is having its monthly Community Cafe/Stalls event today - the calm sunny weather may hopefully tempt people out to visit our nice warm Hall, and enjoy our nice hot Brunch!
I can't understand the NE Man thinking you wouldn't know how to use an ATM; they've been going for about 50 years (remember the adverts for the Royal Bank Cashline with (I think) Ian Cuthbertson looking at the machine and saying "Is the manager in?")? I remember being horrified that my m-i-l said she never used one and didn't know her PIN (this would have been in the early 90s).
It's +4 degrees here and Quite Nice.
From the Guinness Book of Records:
On 27 June 1967, a summer on from England's footballers winning the World Cup and two years before man first set foot on the Moon, the first ATM was up and running at a branch of Barclays Bank in Enfield High Street, Middlesex, UK. It was one small step from pavement to cashpoint, but one giant leap for time-conscious members of the public after quick and easy access to their savings.
I was paying in a cheque from my mother. Mum writes in cursive and the machine sometimes struggles with her 1s, 4s and 7s. The cheque didn't actually have any 1s, 4s, or 7s, but I was still checking carefully that it hadn't misread the cheque before I pressed the OK button. At which point the NE Man stepped in and starting explaining the procedure to me.
I haven't heard of chicken bricks for year @Piglet. Did you go back and buy it?
Frosty but sunny here. The water has gone down in the dyke but the garden is still flooded as the water has frozen solid. Very sunny at the moment so I hope there is a enough warmth to melt the ice a little bit.
Today we walked along the cycle track on the route of an old branch line to the cafe in the new housing estate at the edge of town. The vegan breakfast bap at the end was worth the walk. We came back via the main road which is shorter but not so scenic.