|
Post by paperman on Feb 18, 2023 8:25:51 GMT
Good morning & hello, I think we ought now to be 2023 so have started this new thread, I hope everyone is happy with that. Tina started the 2022 thread and I feel somewhat that we are saying another farewell to that lovely lady. I hope this finds you well on what here in Ruritania is a mild morning 11/12 degrees.
More follows later.
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 18, 2023 13:05:46 GMT
Good day once more on a still mildish but windy day here in Ruritania. I hope this finds you well.
Last night we enjoyed lovely pieces of cod with chips (alv) and tonight I am cooking Chicken & Tarragon Dauphinoise.
Went shopping this morning and of all things forgot to get the crème fraiche so will have to get out there again this afternoon, very annoying. I even took a list with me but somehow missed it.
Not sure what is on the box tonight, will probably watch something on Prime.
Take care all xx
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 18, 2023 14:51:45 GMT
Oh well, start again ... I was in the middle of typing when this window closed .. came back, everything is lost. Chris, thank you for bringing us up to date, and now in 2023 . Sometimes I swap cream for sour cream and vice versa, as I keep some small long life boxes of cream handy. I'm not too sure whether if it is possible to tell the difference when the meal is being cooked. The carrot cakes I made yesterday for both us and our poorly neighbours were not as nice as I'd hoped. I think I'll stick to my tried and tested recipe in the future. This one tastes more like bread pudding, and not as light. The recipe I have used is from a Sainsbury's little book that I must've bought some years ago. Iris, so good to hear that most of the legal stuff is coming to an end, that must be a relief. Would it be possible for your OH to go along with you if you wanted to do a bit of Tai Chi, and sit and read his paper? Well done on the baby knitting - this baby will be well-kitted out. Have a good afternoon/evening all, x
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 19, 2023 15:20:33 GMT
Good afternoon peeps, I hope this finds you well. It is a lovely sunny day, somewhat fresh out of the sun but at 12 degrees whose complaining?
This morning we went down to Sainsbury’s in Ipswich as I needed to get one of the keys sorted that I had cut the other day and we took advantage of the trip to do some shopping there. Having just the other day made a brilliant purchase of rump steak, heavily reduced in price, I went straight to the counter and we have bought 5 chicken quarters for £2.00 and a big tray of low fat beef pieces for casserole, we’ll probably get 6 meals out of it in total and that was just £6.00. I will pop up to the farm during the week and get some lambs kidneys to do with it so I can make a big casserole dish of steak & kidney.
I will also go over to Claris and check whether the key now works, the problem is that the body is too thick and won’t go into the lock……he has machined off a smidgen but says if it still doesn’t fit get back to him and he will order in some thinner key bodies.
Tonight I am cooking Pork Chops with Apples.
I have also been in touch with Fiona about CSH as she seems to be sorting out the software/website and you might find it worth having a look, it is still a bit clonky but getting better.
Now to get out and enjoy some of this sunshine before I start.
Please take care xx
|
|
|
Post by irist on Feb 19, 2023 16:47:42 GMT
Afternoon folks from a chilly but dry SW. Towels have dried on the line and I've even done the first weeding this gardening year of the raised bed outside the house. Very satisfying!
You mentioned the Lappa Valley Railway, Chris. I am ashamed to say that in all the 36 years we have lived here we have never visited it (: Our children were just into their teens when we came here and were far too "cool" to want to visit a miniature railway. Our daughter took the grandchildren when they were small and has now taken Keira and we still haven't been there!
Thanks for suggesting I could take OH to a Tai Chi class Val but this would not be very relaxing. I'm going to try to get him into a day care centre for a few hours each week so that I can have some worryfree "me" time while he is being looked after and entertained. I just need him to agree to go and for the organisers to have carers who can deal with his physical ailments. As such care is like gold dust these days I'm not sure it will happen unfortunately.
I'm going to have a look at the CSH site. Thanks for alerting us to it's resurrection, Chris. Hope you can get the Claris key problem sorted. You certainly found some good CFC bargains.
Off to get a sandwich for tea as we had a roast for lunch so don't need much before our customary weekend Zoom call with our son. Bye for now.
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 19, 2023 21:49:48 GMT
Evening all,
Your bargains are great, Chris, just the sort of thing we do, and having a freezer, it's good to be able to freeze some of the bargains, too. I think I shall wait a while before returning to CSH, I found it a bit of a muddle. Good luck with the Claris key!
Iris, we had a Zoom with our son and daughter this evening, too. Daughter, E, and family arrived home from Athens this afternoon. She tries not to worry me, but it seems that she was late to the Zoom as she was being checked out at the local hospital. On Wednesday, apparently she fainted in the toilet, and fell on her face, and she is sporting a real shiner on her left eye, and was told she has fractured her cheek bone. In the hotel, she was sharing a room with her daughter, while her OH was in another room with their son, but her daughter had been using the gym every morning and wasn't in the room so was unaware of the situation. Luckily E was wearing her fitbit (or whatever it's called) and recorded her blood pressure which went very low.
Our son, A, on the other hand had received some passion fruits in his Oddbox delivery, so had decided to make some passion fruit curd. So this evening when we started chatting he had just made three layers of a chocolate cake, and was putting the curd between the layers. Then he made a chocolate ganache to coat it all - at the same time as chatting to us.
I have an ottoman box in our spare bedroom, and I went through it today to sort out yarn that I don't need any more, as one of our quilting group, J, actually doesn't quilt, but knits for charity, so I thought it'd make good use of the unwanted yarn if J can use it for scarves or hats. It is quite therapeutic having to go through things and get rid of anything no longer needed. I should do this throughout the house actually ...
Sleep well everyone, x
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 20, 2023 13:13:08 GMT
Good day all, I hope this finds you well on what has been a glorious morning here in Ruritania, brilliant sunshine and a warm 14 degrees, not that we have done much apart from a quick dash up to the garage to get some fuel and a paper.
Regarding the CFC bargains, it was you Iris & Val that gave me the idea when you spoke about the savings you were able to make. I'll be doing it some more in the future too so thanks.
Whilst ‘A’ was away last week I found a pot of cream cheese in her fridge which got me thinking and I have this morning been scouring through an old Philadelphia Cheese recipe book that has been on the shelf since the last ice-age and I think I am going to do something from that one evening soon. Frankly I think sometimes we get stuck in a rut/rota producing the same dishes week in and week out and it will make a change. More anon.
This afternoon I am going over to test the new key on Claris, although I may be happily surprised I think the chap is going to have to order in some thinner body key blanks for this one, we’ll see.
Regarding CSH I don’t think at the moment it is quite ready for ‘traffic’ but hopefully it won’t be long before it becomes more straight forward; certainly it is worth keeping an eye on.
Tonight we are having fish & rice using a couple of off cuts the fishman threw in our bag when we last went up there and stocked up; that should be enough but if not we will add some cod-cheeks which is what ‘A’ usually uses for this dish anyway.
Don’t like the sound of a fractured cheek Val, what do they do for that? They can hardly put one’s face in plaster……..hope it all sorts out OK.
Iris, there are places galore round us that we have never been near either but I guess if you have small kids you need to do something to keep them occupied and interested.
Now to have a cup of tea and a read, that’s it for now, please take care xx
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 21, 2023 10:31:29 GMT
Good morning & hello peeps, I hope this finds you well on what is a rather grey and depressing morning here in Ruritania, rain isn’t forecast until later in the week but it sure looks likely right now. It is 8 degrees and noticeably different to the last couple of days.
Today, my cleaner is here so this will be brief, this morning I am going over to check the key on Claris and this afternoon we are going to Tai Chi in Westleton.
Last night’s fish & rice was lovely and there is a small amount left over which I am hopeful of having for lunch today.
Tonight we are having Chicken Kiev (my style) but I am not too sure whether to call it Kiev or Kyviv from here on. Whatever, it is the same dish as normal. On the way to Westleton after lunch I’ll pop in to the farm shop and get some lambs kidneys to go with the beef I bought (CFC) in Sainsbury’s on Sunday for the casserole I want to do for Thursday evening and at some point I’ll decide on one of the ‘Philadelphia recipes’ for Saturday night.
So, now to beat a hasty retreat, please take care xx
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 21, 2023 12:53:09 GMT
Morning all, (just a bit late to call it morning, but hey-ho).
Chris we have been threatened with sunny spells this afternoon, although currently it is a tad dull, though dry.
It transpired after a doctor's visit that daughter's cheek is severely bruised but not fractured- thank goodness. As you say, how on earth are you meant to deal with that? So it is good that it is not as bad as previously thought.
Not much going on here today, it is a day for just getting on with things. I cooked up a batch of beef mince yesterday, and we had a sort-of Bolognese - only with spirally pasta, and some creamy cheese sauce poured over the top of the mince, and was quite acceptable. Tonight I shall make a cottage pie. This amount usually provides three meals for us, and if that is the case, then the third day I shall make into a chili, with a veggie rice. We have some peppers so they will go very well with the chili.
Oh well, back to my blanket sewing (I shall be glad when I can get on with my own projects!), so I'll bid you good day, and have a good afternoon and evening, x
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 22, 2023 10:42:44 GMT
Good morning & hello peeps, I hope this finds you well on what is another rather grey morning. It is a trifle cooler than yesterday at just 7 degrees.
We didn’t get the kidneys yesterday from the farm on the way back from Tai Chi so that is a task for today. I have also to get some diesel for the car and do a bit of shopping, it’ll be interesting to see what the effects of the apparent shortages of fruit & veg will have in Tesco this morning.
We are changing the food plan and are going to have carbonara this evening from the Philadelphia cook book, at least that is the current plan. I’ll post a copy of the recipe later.
This afternoon ‘A’ is having her pneumonia jab, apparently they didn’t have any in stock a month ago when she had her shingles jab, apart from that nothing is planned or expected. We are leading exciting lives!!
Glad your daughter’s cheek is not quite as serious as feared Val but no doubt it is no less painful for all that, I guess she will have at least one black eye. The Claris key problem continues and I will need to go back to Timpson’s and get them to order a thinner gauge key body, although the chap ground it down and it now fits with a lot of wiggling it needs to be right.
Now for my morning coffee, please take care xx
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 22, 2023 12:09:44 GMT
Morning all,
Chris, that's a real pain when you pay for something and have to keep going back to sort it. Same with our car a couple of weeks ago. As long as it sorted in the end, that's the good solution!
A quick rant - last week, and yet again this week, I have had my card refused by Tesco. More recently when you checkout, the process continues to your bank. Sometimes, not always, they ask you to confirm who you say you are by sending a code to the mobile. This week again, as last week, I wait, and no code comes through, and I receive a message to say, "thank you, we have your order". This morning, because we use a flexi-time slot, they would normally send the receipt of anything missing, or substituted, and also give the approximate time of delivery. Today - nothing. I have just phoned them and I was told they didn't get a code, so they cannot supply the order without payment. Obviously. Another phone call to the Bank. The Bank said they don't always ask for a code (??what??), so how can we possibly know whether it will arrive, or when (?) but Tesco didn't let us know of the situation. We were waiting for information and it wasn't there. Somehow the system failed us. I wonder how many others are in the same situation. Rant over (just getting it out there!).
After our cottage pie last night, being Shrove Tuesday, I made pancakes - with a bit of lemon, sugar, and cream (very naughty), lovely and light. Tonight it will be a chili. Oh, and by the way, all of my vegetables ordered from the Tesco shop today, will be arriving - quite pleased that there doesn't seem to be an issue at the moment with Tesco*. Having said that, I suppose it may get more difficult, as, looking at the news, Morocco and other regular providers seem to be suffering from a blanket of snow! *Actually when I searched for tomatoes, they were all unavailable, so they were not in my order. OH has gone into town for something else, and he said he would pop into Sainsbury's to see if they have any.
Iris, have you had any luck with sorting out a day care centre for OH. It would be good for you to have some time to just relax and enjoy some 'me' time. Interesting that you mentioned that you hadn't visited places despite living there so long, but considering we had our French house for 21 years, we were the same. We only went with the family when they wanted to see places, but we didn't go sightseeing for sightseeing-sake. In fact we tended to have lots to do at the house to keep it ship-shape, and that kept us busy!
Well folks, I am nearing the end of my blanket sewing, so hopefully today, it will be finished so that I can crochet around the edge, to hold it all together!
Time for a late coffee and cake. Have a good day all, x
|
|
|
Post by paperman on Feb 23, 2023 11:47:40 GMT
Good morning (just!) peeps, hope all is well on this brightly grey morning touching 7 degrees.
Val this beast of ours is over 30 years old and you get used to ‘fiddling’ parts to fit; for instance when the windscreen wiper motor packed up a couple of years back, no longer available, so a Renault 5 wiper motor was fitted as it was closest to the original although some ‘bodging’ was needed. The keys are the same story, it is a bit annoying but you get used to it….a sense of humour is the most valuable piece of kit one can have.
I have also had problems with Tesco payments, I usually pay with my phone but there is no signal at the Saxmundham branch so these days I interrogate the phone before we get there to try to make sure it is going to work. If I pay by card and they want to send me a code, it doesn’t arrive as there is no mobile signal so in that case I rush outside and use the cash machine to withdraw the cash to pay. Quite a palava.
Last night’s carbonara was quite good, not the best and we probably won’t be doing that recipe again but there are loads more in the Philadelphia Recipe Book for the future, albeit that right now we are a little disillusioned.
Tonight we are having steak & kidney casserole and I put that on slow at about 9 this morning, we are going up to Lowestoft this afternoon so I’ll turn it off before we leave and all it will need is to warm up when we get back.
We completely forgot about Shrove Tuesday so maybe sometime over the weekend we’ll indulge in a pancake or two. I have to confess though that I still harbour memories of the very best pancakes I have ever had from when I was in the States some years back, The International Pancake House (as was back then) was a frequent stop off as was Dunkin Donuts back then, before I worried about my diet, playing squash twice a week and swimming seemed to burn it all off.
Now for an early lunch before we go up to Lowestoft, please take care xx
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 23, 2023 20:42:40 GMT
Evening all,
Yay, I have finished the crochet around the edge of this blanket - that's two now finished. Although, not quite true, I am going to sew on the small labels in the corner this evening - a more delicate little job! I shall take photos tomorrow.
This evening, we had the last of the beef mince as chili (I didn't use up the last of it last night - it sure goes a long way as we don't have big platefuls. Adding lots of vegetables makes it go further, I guess). I cooked, for the first time, the giant couscous, Chris. I decided to cook it in vegetable stock. I added some lovely green beans and little broccoli florets, and it was a very tasty dinner. Thanks for introducing me to them.
The cauliflower spare parts (!), I made into a soup which we had for lunch today - I added a teaspoon of mustard powder, and a sprinkle of ground ginger, as well as salt and pepper. If anyone was struggling to make ends meet, this was definitely something to make cheaply, and nothing went to waste. Still, I suppose pure green is not that appetising !
My friend and neighbour who drives us both to quilting is now Covid-positive, so I shan't be going tomorrow (she is though !!), but I would rather not be enclosed in the car, and I can certainly do without catching it again!!
So, not much to report, and Iris, I hope everything is okay with you, so I'm off to watch some tv and a little bit of sewing! Have a good evening, what's left of it, x
|
|
|
Post by brightspark on Feb 24, 2023 18:59:48 GMT
Evening all,
I have taken some photos of the two blankets, but I am going to have another go tomorrow - it is difficult to find enough space to lay them out on the floor, so perhaps I will lay them on a bed to see them better.
It's Friday - OH is having mussels for dinner and naan bread, with chips (alv), I shall have my jumbo fish finger with chips and peas.
Otherwise not a lot to report - have been chatting to family on/off, organising get-togethers,
Hope everyone's well.
Have a good evening all, x
|
|
|
Post by irist on Feb 24, 2023 20:34:32 GMT
Evening folks. I'm still alive and kicking! Just been busy as usual. On Monday OH had an appointment for Newquay hospital at 2.15pm but at at 10.30 am I had a phone call to say the radiographer was ill and could I take him to Bodmin hospital instead for an 11.30 am appointment. It's not easy to get OH ready in a hurry but we made it with 10 minutes to spare. We had lunch at the hospital cafe before doing some shopping in a nearby supermarket. Tuesday I had to go to the surgery to collect some of our tablets so took the opportunity on the way to the Carers Club to call in at the MS Centre to drop off some paperbacks and pick up more reading material. In the evening I went to the Village Hall AGM and quit the Committee. On Wednesday afternoon we went to our Garden Club meeting which included the AGM and I am officially no longer Secretary - but of course I had to take the minutes and no-one has volunteered to take over. What a surprise. Yesterday and today I've been getting ready for our son's visit next week. Tomorrow we have the local family coming round for lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I am not cooking as such - I've cheated and bought in ready made lasagne so only have to pop it in the oven and present with a fresh salad and garlic bread. I figured I deserved a break from all the prep as it's our special day. Look forward to seeing the photos of your blankets Val. Will you now be able to get on with your own projects? I do hope your daughter's injury is continuing to heal and that she has no more fainting episodes. No I haven't managed to sort out any day care for OH yet. However, I did chat with a "Wayfinder" from the Council at the Carers Club who is going to do some research for me. I'll call back in when I can. Meanwhile keep safe.
|
|