The Trivial Round, The Common Task - the British thread 2026

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  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    We have arrived in Britanny. The temperature is 23°. I might have to put on a sweater :wink:

    Top end of the Porcine Comfort Zone! 🙂

    After a blissfully lazy morning, I ambled along to the hairdresser's and observed that the statue of the Black Bitch (a faithful dog in a local legend) has been "Weegied" - adorned with a traffic cone like the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow (and several statues in America during the World Cup).

    It wasn't me - I wouldn't have the nerve - but I was quite pleased to see it! :mrgreen:

    Salmon and salads for supper.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Sounds a very interesting wedding @puzzler. I do like the different ways people celebrate getting married or getting married again. I went to one where the couple had been married quite a while, but had both returned to the Catholic Church so had a religious wedding to renew their vows. After the vows the groom grabbed a guitar and started singing Oh Happy Day. We had a Catholic/Quaker wedding and over the years I've had various people tell me how much they enjoyed that.
    We headed into town today for a mooch and ended up getting a t-shirt for our son's upcoming birthday from a shop we haven't been in before. This afternoon was devoted to making several salads for tea tonight. The tomato one is probably worth doing again, but the one of various griddled vegetables was probably more trouble than it was worth.
    The weather here has been warm but bearable. I do wish it would rain though.
  • PomonaPomona Shipmate
    @Puzzler I think men and boys in flat caps for formalwear is quite popular nowadays, I think inspired by Peaky Blinders. I haven't seen a woman wear a hat at a wedding since I was a child.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    Pomona wrote: »
    @Puzzler I think men and boys in flat caps for formalwear is quite popular nowadays, I think inspired by Peaky Blinders. I haven't seen a woman wear a hat at a wedding since I was a child.

    Flat caps must be good quality caps, like a Failsworth, but I bought a lovely cap in Santiago de Compostela last year.

  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    Pomona wrote: »
    @Puzzler I think men and boys in flat caps for formalwear is quite popular nowadays, I think inspired by Peaky Blinders. I haven't seen a woman wear a hat at a wedding since I was a child.

    I wore a hat last month to my godson's wedding which probably means I am really old!
  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    Perhaps it’s place dependent.

    A few years ago, I went to a wedding in the Surrey countryside, wondering if I was too dressed up, wearing a hat. Every woman was wearing a hat.

    So the next wedding I went to, in a town in another county, I felt quite comfortable in a hat, until I got there and discovered I was the only person wearing one!

    MMM
  • We have arrived in Britanny. The temperature is 23°. I might have to put on a sweater :wink:
    Where exactly? We were in Pont-Aven (hot) and Perros-Guirec (cooler) last month.
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    MMM wrote: »
    Perhaps it’s place dependent.

    A few years ago, I went to a wedding in the Surrey countryside, wondering if I was too dressed up, wearing a hat. Every woman was wearing a hat.

    So the next wedding I went to, in a town in another county, I felt quite comfortable in a hat, until I got there and discovered I was the only person wearing one!

    MMM

    Interesting theory. We're in West Sussex.
    There were a handful of women wearing hats at the wedding I was at (the majority were hatless) and I think we were all in the above 50 age bracket.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited August 9
    I've just had a look at our wedding photos :heart: and there were certainly a few hats, but not on everyone. That was in Orkney in 1988.

    Also quite a few gentlemen in kilts.
    In other news, it's grey and damp here, which is not conducive to ambling to Tessie's to get garlic, out of which I have run.

    Time to have some brunch, and set the laundry* going.

    * I'm at the "strategic laundry" stage of pre-holiday preparation: (a) what will I need to cover a long bus journey in possibly 25° heat and arriving in Orkney to somewhat less; and (b) what will I not need between now and Wednesday? 🤔
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    We have arrived in Britanny. The temperature is 23°. I might have to put on a sweater :wink:
    Where exactly? We were in Pont-Aven (hot) and Perros-Guirec (cooler) last month.

    We are in Quiberon, a bit further out into the Atlantic.
  • Have you used the Tire Bouchon train?
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    A soup sort of day (as @Piglet says, both chilly and damp), but having largely lived off tins of the stuff during chemo, even Baxter's finest wasn't calling to me.

    So I simmered onion, fresh tomatoes, chilli flakes, chickpeas, fresh coriander and veg stock, whizzed it with a stick blender and tipped in more coriander. It was, though I say it myself, delicious.
  • Have you used the Tire Bouchon train?

    I had to look this up:

    https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/plan-your-stay-in-the-bay-of-quiberon/tickets-in-tourist-offices/the-tire-bouchon-train

    The train uses biofuel - an interesting development, and one hopes it becomes viable for widespread use away from electrified lines.

  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    We did indeed arrive on the Tire-bouchon. We got stuck for a while because of a problem with a level crossing and poor old Captain P got all discombobulated because he thought we might have to turn round and go back to Paris :cold_sweat:
  • Poor lad - but you get there in theend!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Another warm day and apart from walking to and from Mass this morning a lazy one. The sum total of things I have done this afternoon and early evening are finish a jigsaw, write a letter to the local paper and water the garden.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    what will I need to cover a long bus journey in possibly 25° heat
    I was wondering how you're going to travel. Is it a bus all the way north until you have to take a ferry?

    We went to Breakfast Church at Our Place and then headed out to a relatively local flea market, taking with us a couple we're getting to know who live in a nearby village. They are not yet quite "friends" but getting pretty close. There we sweltered in the heat (no shade apart from in the very large and busy hall), Mr Nen made a few purchases which he was pleased with and we then got invited back for lunch with our Very-Nearly-Friends and had a good time sitting in their cool front room drinking wine and eating and having some interesting conversations. As lunch was late and substantial I declared this evening to be a No Cooking for Nen night, which is always A Good Thing.
  • AravisAravis Shipmate
    On the Brittany tangent: we were there in May and it was cold enough during the first week that we needed to put the heating on in the mornings! The hot weather arrived on our last few days. (This was just outside Treguier on the Côte d’Armor. We also visited Perros Guirec.) I gather the weather there has been very similar to that in South Wales for the last couple of months.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    Aravis wrote: »
    On the Brittany tangent: we were there in May and it was cold enough during the first week that we needed to put the heating on in the mornings! The hot weather arrived on our last few days. (This was just outside Treguier on the Côte d’Armor. We also visited Perros Guirec.) I gather the weather there has been very similar to that in South Wales for the last couple of months.

    South Wales, well, South East Wales, has joined with the rest of England and Wales in the hot, dry weather. Cardiff Bute Park set the U.K. record night time temperature of 23.5c a few weeks ago

  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited August 10
    And we've had the fan on in our bedroom. Having said that, the day before yesterday, I donned short-sleeved shirt and shorts in anticipation of hot weather and felt slightly chilly all day!

    Re Brittany: we visited Treguier Cathedral (splendid) and just missed a free organ recital we knew nothing about!
  • Another hot day in Arkland the Dustbowl, with Heatwave The Whatever forecast for tomorrow...

    Tess Coe was braved at midday, because Monday, with little traffic en route, and a not-too-busy store.

    I see we are to be favoured with a partial eclipse of the Sun on Wednesday evening - AIUI we Southrons won't get quite as good a spectacle as those of you further north, but hopefully the Sky will be free of Clouds.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    A pleasant day here, not too warm -that's due later in the week. Still no rain though. I'm enjoying not doing very much today, though I did go to Pilates this morning and expect to have aching arms tomorrow as we were doing reverse planks.
    I really ought to get on with a bit of research I need to do ahead of a meeting tomorrow.
  • PuzzlerPuzzler Shipmate
    The decorator is here. Tomorrow I go away to summer school till Saturday, but as he is my son’s best friend I am ok with that.

    I am not looking forward to travelling and being away from home in the heat. My north facing rooms here at home are reasonable, but the rooms at the university are hot and stuffy in normal heat and I will be very lucky if I get a north facing bedroom. If it hadn’t cost me a lot, I would cancel, but as I am not actually ill, my insurance won’t pay out.

    It is my daughter’s birthday today. She is at the coast, but working, cleaning her holiday let. Her daughter is with her so no doubt they will be celebrating tonight.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Nenya wrote: »
    Piglet wrote: »
    what will I need to cover a long bus journey in possibly 25° heat
    I was wondering how you're going to travel. Is it a bus all the way north until you have to take a ferry?
    Yes - about four hours to Inverness, a break of about an hour and then another four hours or so to Scrabster, where the bus allegedly connects with the boat.

    This is, of course, dependent on the co-operation of the traffic on the A9 ...
    After another nice lazy morning (what are holidays for?), I ambled down to Tessie's in the glorious sunshine, got the necessary garlic and a few other bits and pieces (the WINE stock was getting dangerously low), and am now about to cook a STEAK for supper.
  • PomonaPomona Shipmate
    Much like @Bishops Finger 's Arkland it is dry and arid around here - not happy about yet another heatwave coming when there was no rain in between.
  • Today started off grey and cool but the sun has just come out.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    Nenya wrote: »
    Piglet wrote: »
    what will I need to cover a long bus journey in possibly 25° heat
    I was wondering how you're going to travel. Is it a bus all the way north until you have to take a ferry?
    Yes - about four hours to Inverness, a break of about an hour and then another four hours or so to Scrabster, where the bus allegedly connects with the boat.
    That's a fair old way - hope it all goes smoothly and the bus connection with the boat works fine.

    Safe travels today @Puzzler and I hope the summer school is worth the journey. Also that your daughter enjoyed her birthday - did I read that she's had to have more surgery on her hand?

    I can't believe how hot it is already here - I've put the washing out and walked to the postbox and back and am feeling boiled. It's awful to know The Worst Is Still To Come this week.

    I'm planning easy pasta for an early tea and am then out to try the line dancing at the village hall for the first time. I am usually doing other things on a Tuesday evening but happen to be free tonight.
  • Piglet wrote: »
    About four hours to Inverness, a break of about an hour and then another four hours or so to Scrabster, where the bus allegedly connects with the boat.
    Slightly naughty question - do you have to pay for the buses or do you have a concessionary pass?

  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Purgatory Host
    Pomona wrote: »
    @Puzzler I think men and boys in flat caps for formalwear is quite popular nowadays, I think inspired by Peaky Blinders. I haven't seen a woman wear a hat at a wedding since I was a child.

    I wore a hat at the last wedding I attended, but I was in a minority.
  • For a moment I thought a minority was a type of clothing. Then it clicked ...
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    I love hats and wear them all the time, to keep my head warm in the winter, and to keep the sun off in the summer. My skin is very fair and burns in no time so I almost always wear one in the sun. I have a wide brimmed straw one from Uniqlo that I like best (keeps the sun off my neck as well), but this one is easier to travel with because it doesn't get squashed in the suitcase. I made it out of beige cotton with white stars on.

    I would love for hats to be more popular.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited August 11
    Pilates, because Tuesday. A good session, with the Torturer pleasantly surprised (as was I) at my mobility. The usual afternoon of Doing Nothing At All™ is now under way, however, assisted by BEER and various slices of CHEESE and SALAMI.
    :yum:

    I see that Heatwave The Fifth is upon us, and that Arkland the Gobi Desert Annexe is promised 94F or thereabouts on Thursday. I've promised to take Neighbour S with me to Tess Coe on that day, at our usual time of noon (he doesn't drive), but the heat might well keep people away from Shopp Ing. We may therefore find a disabled parking space near the door of the air-conditioned store...
    :smiley:
  • It was chilly this morning when I went swimming, necessitating the car heater (!) on the return journey. It is now hot and sunny. Two men spent three hours at the hottest time installing solar panels on the roof - much water was drunk during the process!
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    edited August 11
    I love hats and wear them all the time, to keep my head warm in the winter, and to keep the sun off in the summer. My skin is very fair and burns in no time so I almost always wear one in the sun. I have a wide brimmed straw one from Uniqlo that I like best (keeps the sun off my neck as well), but this one is easier to travel with because it doesn't get squashed in the suitcase. I made it out of beige cotton with white stars on.

    I would love for hats to be more popular.

    And Quite Right Too. I wear a hat outdoors, a flat cap from Spain in the cooler weather and a sort of Panama when the sun is out (I resemble my avatar). That way I don’t get too damp and my scalp doesn’t burn.
    It gives me something to raise to ladies 😊

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    About four hours to Inverness, a break of about an hour and then another four hours or so to Scrabster, where the bus allegedly connects with the boat.
    Slightly naughty question - do you have to pay for the buses or do you have a concessionary pass?

    Not naughty in the least - I do indeed, as does everyone in Scotland over 60.

    The total cost of my bus journey was £3: £1 for booking online plus £2_ for reserving a specific seat. It'll be the same on the way back. The ferry fare as a passenger without a vehicle was £46 return.
    It's another corker of a day here: 22° and sunny.

    Supper will be pasta with prawns and green beans, because Going Away and Need to be Used.
  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    Re hats - I had to wear one as a St John Ambulance officer..
    I had a fascinated for a posh wedding at Bath Abbey and a fancy hair band for Lord P’s
    I do wear a sun hat though


  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I've been forced into hats this last while because of chemo hair loss. I could have done with something like the @la vie en rouge one. As it is, I have a length of stretchy stuff that can be turned into a sort of turban, or a soft fabric cloche - neither of them particularly flattering. Best one is a Nepalese smoking cap, but that is too light to wear outdoors.

    Two months on, I could perhaps compete with a gooseberry, but the hair is very fine and white, so doesn't really register.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    If you want a hat like mine I would be happy to make you one :smile:

    I can't promise I'll have it finished before your hair grows back though...
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    I'm another hat wearer and certainly would wear one if invited to a wedding, but I haven't been to one of those in ages. Love that pattern @la vie en rouge .
    A nice day, after catching up with some housework I headed to city to the east to pick up a scarf I'd ordered and to have a general mooch and a cup of coffee. I finished the final jigsaw in a set of four this afternoon and then this evening I've been to our Ramblers sports day, which is an adult re-run of the sort of things we did in Primary School. We left at half-time as my husband had a meeting to go to and I didn't fancy walking home in the rather warm evening.
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    Firenze wrote: »
    I've been forced into hats this last while because of chemo hair loss. I could have done with something like the @la vie en rouge one. As it is, I have a length of stretchy stuff that can be turned into a sort of turban, or a soft fabric cloche - neither of them particularly flattering. Best one is a Nepalese smoking cap, but that is too light to wear outdoors.

    Two months on, I could perhaps compete with a gooseberry, but the hair is very fine and white, so doesn't really register.

    Personally I like to rock a flat cap, you can get them in good woollen tweed for the winter and linen for the summer. I have a friend who is always seen in a beret, she has quite the selection.
  • SipechSipech Shipmate
    I just went to the small shop to get some ice cream to help cope with the heat. I saw this - I think some shipmates may have an opinion on it.
  • Firenze wrote: »
    I've been forced into hats this last while because of chemo hair loss. I could have done with something like the @la vie en rouge one. As it is, I have a length of stretchy stuff that can be turned into a sort of turban, or a soft fabric cloche - neither of them particularly flattering. Best one is a Nepalese smoking cap, but that is too light to wear outdoors.

    Two months on, I could perhaps compete with a gooseberry, but the hair is very fine and white, so doesn't really register.

    Personally I like to rock a flat cap, you can get them in good woollen tweed for the winter and linen for the summer. I have a friend who is always seen in a beret, she has quite the selection.

    I once had my choice of hat commented favourably upon by no less famous a hat sporter than Phil Harding of Time Team fame.

    Was bloody gutted when I left it behind after a cricket match, never to be seen again.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    I dislike hats as I don't think they suit me and they seem to make my head hotter, but that's a lovely one @la vie en rouge . I wore a fascinator for Nenlet1's wedding and a floral band for Nenlet2's, the wedding was woodland themed. Probably the last time I'll get away with wearing flowers in my hair, but never say never I guess.

    I enjoyed the line dancing and found it fairly easy - I have done it before, only for a short time some years ago, and the teacher this evening took things very slowly because of me being new and because of the heat. It's very uncomfortable here and has been all day. It's just getting to the point where outside is cooler than inside so we have flung all doors and windows open. It's quite scary to think that the next two days are going to be even worse :flushed: .
  • PuzzlerPuzzler Shipmate
    This morning I had a phone call from the carpet shop inviting me to choose a different carpet as the one I’d ordered will not be available in time, so I had to fit in a quick journey to do so before departing.
    Local bus then train from city to city for summer school of Early Music. On arrival it is a good 15 - 20 mins level walk and so, given the heat, I decided to treat myself to a taxi. The bedrooms are stifling, though thankfully there is a breeze, meaning the blinds rattle. The bar and refectory have air con but the rehearsal rooms don’t. There is a seating area ( benches with no backs) just outside the accommodation block which is shady and catches the breeze.
    Nothing to do now, so an early night in the hope of some sleep before the delivery lorries arrive and the nursery opens.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Firenze wrote: »
    I've been forced into hats this last while because of chemo hair loss. I could have done with something like the @la vie en rouge one. As it is, I have a length of stretchy stuff that can be turned into a sort of turban, or a soft fabric cloche - neither of them particularly flattering. Best one is a Nepalese smoking cap, but that is too light to wear outdoors.

    Two months on, I could perhaps compete with a gooseberry, but the hair is very fine and white, so doesn't really register.

    Personally I like to rock a flat cap, you can get them in good woollen tweed for the winter and linen for the summer. I have a friend who is always seen in a beret, she has quite the selection.

    I once had my choice of hat commented favourably upon by no less famous a hat sporter than Phil Harding of Time Team fame.

    Was bloody gutted when I left it behind after a cricket match, never to be seen again.

    I once wrote a poem called I've Lost a Lot of Hats because I have. I too wear berets in the winter and I have a pretend fur one which I wear with a long black coat for my Anna Karenina look when it is very cold.

    Safe travels tomorrow @piglet. I hope all the timings work out and you have a fab time when you get there.
  • PomonaPomona Shipmate
    Safe travels @Piglet !

    @Firenze there are lots of people on Etsy making custom bucket hats and other fabric hats. I personally am eyeing up this hat made from a Hampshire-themed tea towel. There is also this shop making some very nice-looking linen sun hats with ties.
  • I love hats and wear them all the time, to keep my head warm in the winter, and to keep the sun off in the summer. My skin is very fair and burns in no time so I almost always wear one in the sun. I have a wide brimmed straw one from Uniqlo that I like best (keeps the sun off my neck as well), but this one is easier to travel with because it doesn't get squashed in the suitcase. I made it out of beige cotton with white stars on.

    I would love for hats to be more popular.
    Ooh, I might make that in some muted floral upholstery linen. I’m quite tempted to make a floral flat cap too.

    I’m also a hat wearer, mostly in winter where I wear a variety of soft slouchy hats. I used to wear hats for weddings but I have often found formal straw hats too big for my head and I tend to wear fascinators these days. I’m currently travelling and have been wearing a muted pink Tilley Airflo hat which I treated myself to a while ago for travelling/hiking. It is packable, waterproof, sun proof and even floats. I fix the strings across my forehead and under my hair bun so it stays put in the breeze too. https://www.tilley.com/products/ltm6-airflo-sun-hat?variant=54078446174376
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    I love hats and wear them all the time, to keep my head warm in the winter, and to keep the sun off in the summer. My skin is very fair and burns in no time so I almost always wear one in the sun. I have a wide brimmed straw one from Uniqlo that I like best (keeps the sun off my neck as well), but this one is easier to travel with because it doesn't get squashed in the suitcase. I made it out of beige cotton with white stars on.

    I would love for hats to be more popular.

  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    Come to Oz, skin cancer capital of the world. Years ago people only wore hats to church; now few people are churched and hats are universal in the summer and mandatory for kids in the playground.

    Your hat looks cute but not great protection for the nape of the neck. Kids’ school caps here resemble the French Foreign Legion kepi.
  • Sicut CervusSicut Cervus Shipmate
    Also from Oz, I remember going to country picnic horse races, in May, that is Autumn here, in the early 60s, and all adults wore hats. Private school children wore hats to and from school, I had a rather Salad Days straw boater. My school dropped these in 1971, just as the hole in the ozone layer started to emerge. In recent decades there has been a concerted campaign about sun protection, and I keep a soft hat in my bag to put on outside.

    I was surprised while in Europe in May and June that there were so many people outdoors without hats on.

    Like many Australians I get checked annually for skin cancers and have had a number of BCCs excised, and I am not really an outdoors person.
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