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Post by irist on Jul 25, 2023 19:41:45 GMT
Hello folks. Not sure where the time has disappeared and I don't seem to have accomplished much since I last posted. We've had some horrid weather but that often seems to happen when the schools break up. Today has been the best for about a week - it started off damp but by lunchtime the sun had come out and it became quite warm. Granddaughter and partner plus the little ones called in. Keira had a bike for her birthday and spent a little time practising her steering but hasn't mastered pedaling yet! Brings back memories of her Mum and Uncle using our large, flat patio and lawn to start their cycling careers!
Yesterday OH had an appointment at the surgery with a nurse to complete a questionnaire prior to his follow up meeting with the GP next Monday to get the results of his blood tests and for a review of his extensive medication requirements. We had a light lunch out before returning home. This afternoon I've cut the grass around OH's raised beds but not the lawn which hasn't grown as quickly. Luckily the pain in my foot is subsiding and I can walk almost normally now.
All the talk of cooking has made me feel hungry! This evening I made escalopes (pork for OH and chicken for me) and served them with cubed and spiced air fryer potatoes and salad. I used the spice mix in your link, Val, to make roast spiced veg (not just courgettes) the other day and we both enjoyed them. Haven't made rissoles for years but they were a staple on Monday when I was young, made with leftover meat from the Sunday roast.
Hope you soon get some news from the hospital, Chris. It must be frustrating, especially as you would like to take a break before your op.
Will pop back in when I can. Bye for now.
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Post by paperman on Jul 26, 2023 9:32:27 GMT
Good morning Ladies, I hope this finds you well.
It is a lovely sunny morning and the forecast is for it to continue today, we’ll see. It did snap down to 9 degrees again during the night and my heating popped on for a short while this morning first thing and to be honest I’m glad it did.
Sadly yesterday ‘rain stopped play’ so a walk round wasn’t going to be likely also when we got to Loddon we found our favourite tearoom cum restaurant had closed and the premises were up for sale. So we went back to Beccles and made the mistake of trying The Urban Jungle Café, we will not be going there again which is a shame because it looks and was physically really interesting as was the garden centre, albeit expensive, but the lunchtime food offering was very poor.
As we had expected to have a proper lunch we actually made no plans for what we would eat last night so in an emergency we had bacon, egg, chips & beans!!
Tonight we are having cod cheeks and rice.
How were your rissoles Val?
This morning is our village coffee morning and we have our weekly post-office this morning too and I need to get some cash as the window cleaner came yesterday whilst we were out and having just now paid our gardener I am short. Not that actually I use much cash generally as most payments seem these days to be by debit card.
Val you asked about the operation, I will message you and Iris.
I have reported the earlier post and asked if the forum people can/will delete it, it’s a shame you never heard back Val as if we have admin in our control we would simply delete.
Iris you said rissoles were a Monday staple, it was the same in our house when I lived at home but over the years somehow they got left behind and now have more of an air of refinement about them than I ever remember back in the day. But with both my parents working weekday meals were always somewhat rushed but having said that Mum always made pies and cakes. Out of the blue I just had a thought from way back then; I remember us getting our first fridge.
Right, that’s it I am off to the post office. Please take care xx
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Post by brightspark on Jul 26, 2023 10:31:02 GMT
Morning all,
Oh Chris, what a shame about the café - they advertise delicious locally produced cakes and pastries ... maybe they need to have a re-think ! Our rissoles were great - again, hubs told me more than once that he enjoyed them! With the mixture that I made, we ended up with 10 rissoles, so I suggested to freeze what was left, but no - hubs wants them this evening with egg, chips and tomatoes* .. So, a resounding success I would say. *Looks like we will be having something similar to your lovely comfort food supper last night!
My parents both worked full-time, and to be honest, I really don't know how my Mum managed it all - to have a full-time job, and to get there she had a bicycle, and used to go via the shops on her way home, carrying the bags on her handlebars. That was to feed not only five children, but Grandma as well when we were young. However, I don't remember rissoles at all. I think Mum used to do pastry to help fill the hungry horde, and things like rice pudding.
"it’s a shame you never heard back Val as if we have admin in our control we would simply delete." Shall I write again to her, just to say that it would be most helpful if she could pass the admin to you, Chris?
Iris, that's a good idea to spice up the roasted veggies, and while growing a few in the garden, it makes it a bit more interesting. Hubs brought in a lot of spinach last night, which I duly cooked, and then he complained that perhaps he picked too much (!). Still, with all the rain, a lot of the stuff growing are looking remarkably lush. He also picked some rhubarb, and I made another five jars of rhubarb sauce - so it looks like I shall have some through the winter this time, as the rhubarb seems to be loving this damp-ish weather.
Iris, you mentioned a new baby due in September, and will this be a brother to the two little girls? I hope your recovery from the conjunctivitis continues, as your foot, too. These things seem to take longer to heal, don't they? A few days ago, while walking past our dog, she suddenly got up, but my momentum was still going forward, and I instinctively dodged to the side, and in doing so, banged my leg on the coffee table corner, I have a nice bruise on my leg now ... !
Today I am trying out putting white vinegar in the wash for softening the towels - I'll see how it works - ha ha - the advice I followed also added "Don't worry, your towels won't smell like a bag of chips!" ... I hope that's true!
Have a good day all, x
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Post by paperman on Jul 26, 2023 10:45:55 GMT
"it’s a shame you never heard back Val as if we have admin in our control we would simply delete." Shall I write again to her, just to say that it would be most helpful if she could pass the admin to you, Chris?
Would be worth trying again Val.
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Post by brightspark on Jul 26, 2023 16:39:52 GMT
Have sent a brief email - just hope she will respond as it'd be good to be able to delete some of these scam posts.
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Post by paperman on Jul 27, 2023 8:30:56 GMT
Good morning Ladies, rain overnight and continuing today too, according to the forecast and is currently around 18 degrees. I went to our Parish Council meeting last night to hear discussions on roadside verges and their maintenance. This is not actually a Parish Council responsibility and it is, to say the least, a muddy confusion between our district and county councils as to who is responsible for what and where. Residents wish to see these verges well-kept and planted with wild flowers rather than just left to go wild and overrun which isn’t benefitting either pollinators or residents and judging by the amount of road kill nor our local wild life with deer, badgers, foxes et al frequently lying dead by the roadside. Quite honestly I am not sure that much will result from this discussion except the PC are going to experiment with a corner of our recreation ground skimming the top soil away and planting wild flower seeds and if successful invite the superior councils representatives to discuss what then should be done with the verges etc.. I sometimes think Nelson has more chance of getting his eye back but hey if you don’t try etc. etc.. Last night’s cod cheeks and rice was really good. ‘A’ has perfected a recipe for Cod Creole over the years to this. Tonight we are having liver, bacon, mash and onion, the gravy for this dish is a particular favourite of mine. Nothing much is planned for today, if it relents we may go for a walk, there may even be a bit of shopping needed but otherwise it’ll be a quiet day. Morning coffee calls, please take care xx
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Post by paperman on Jul 28, 2023 11:24:32 GMT
Good day Ladies, I hope this finds you well on a brightly grey almost sunny day so far, it is 21 degrees and not at all unpleasant. Last night’s liver was good, a grossly under regarded item in my opinion and if one likes it, at the price it is a bargain. Tonight, Friday, F & C (alv). This afternoon we have Tai-Chi and after that will do a bit of shopping, just hope it’s not too crowded and whilst in Saxmundham I’ll get the car valeted too. You will have seen my video on the current state of the ‘Squirrel Wars’, I do not want to go back to having a dome thing half way up the pole like before but right now the persistent little perisher is earning a mixture of respect and resentment from me in equal measures. Now for some lunch, nothing exciting, just some brie and crackers with a couple of small tomatoes. That’s it for now, please take care xx
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Post by brightspark on Jul 28, 2023 17:23:07 GMT
Hi all,
Yes, Chris, I have seen your squirrel wars video, the squirrels are a bit cunning - if they want the food, they'll find a way of getting it.
I have to admit that hubs loves liver and bacon, while me - meh - not so keen. I think it has something to do with it being 'offal' - I know, silly but also, hubs loves kidneys and hearts - nope not for me.
Last night we went to daughter's house to celebrate granddaughter's birthday - now 17 - where the time has gone, I don't know! Daughter and SiL had set up an outdoor cinema for her and her friends, with a set of comfy chairs - all on their deck in their garden . Quite impressive actually. Half of us had fish'n'chips, the other half had sushi, but it was a lovely get-together.
So, this morning as I usually make a cake for our quilting group I had to make it this morning, and typically, I didn't get up with much time to spare , but I managed to get a lemon drizzle (Mary Berry recipe) tray bake cooked. Out of the oven at 09.50, and at quilting by 10.10 - the cake was burning my legs on my lap!! The really good thing about that is, that everyone was commenting on how lovely the cake was - well, I don't think you get it any fresher! From the 25 pieces I cut, I came home with just 3 !
It looks like hubs has sold his car - he had a visit from a potential buyer who has now given hubs a substantial deposit, so he is returning tomorrow to collect the car - all very fast. Just like Claris, Chris. It is then that one worries if it was undersold...
Oh, my towels didn't smell of fish'n'chips, but I didn't see any noticeable difference either, whether it would have an effect if I did it again, I don't know.
With references to verges, Chris, I have always thought that this contributes majorly to those who suffer from hay fever. The way we live has an impact on our health, as I also feel that with more and more pollution, we seem to have had an increase in dementia, with CO2 and particles from diesel being a part of the problem too.
This evening, it is mussels and chips (alv) this evening for hubs - not sure yet what I'll have, perhaps an omelette.
Rightio all, have a good evening, x
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Post by paperman on Jul 29, 2023 15:21:20 GMT
Good afternoon Ladies, so far it has been a much better day than forecast, plenty of ominous looking cloud but also bright patches of sunshine. It is warm at 23 degrees and a little close but not overwhelmingly so. This morning we did a little shopping up at the farm and collected a piece of steak for tonight, which we’ll have from the griddle with mushroom, tomato, jacket potato and asparagus. Last night’s fish, seabream, was really good. We have been out for a short walk this afternoon and as you do in the village, bumped into people and had a chat. Village life really suits me. Both ‘A’ & I grew up and played amongst the bomb sites of South London but we have really taken to life here in Ruritania. Clean air, safety, friendly surroundings and people. Whilst I have lost some of my interest in Formula 1 I have started watching cricket which under this regime has become a darn site more entertaining than in days of yore and I have been watching the hour’s synopsis of the days play on BBC. ‘A’ isn’t so keen and I have been recording it to watch whilst I have breakfast. Glad the car sale seems to have gone through so easily Val, actually after a sale it is too easy to think you under-priced something but it’s done and time to move on also I thought the outside cinema sounded a brilliant idea. Right, now to clear up; have a good evening and please take care xx
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Post by Arleen Scotto on Jul 30, 2023 10:47:07 GMT
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Post by paperman on Jul 31, 2023 8:25:05 GMT
Good morning Ladies, I hope this finds you well. 19 degrees and rain which is forecast for the rest of the day too.
I have the Openreach engineer expected here sometime this morning to have a look at my internet connection which is both slow and intermittent although as you can imagine it is working just fine right now!!
I had a yen on Saturday for sausage sandwich for lunch, so when we went to the farm to get our steak for that evening I also bought some sausages and we are having the balance of them in a pasta dish this evening for which I will make the passata shortly.
I seem to be going through a spate of cooked lunches because yesterday I made myself a banjo (in this house that’s a bacon and egg sandwich). Last night we went out for supper with a couple of friends from down the road to our local pub, The Poacher’s Pocket, which under new ownership and management has been revitalised over the last 6 months or so and had Sunday Roast which was quite good. Thus there is no cold cut for scrubble or whatever tonight.
Not quite sure what the rest of today will have instore, the engineer is supposed to be here by 1:00pm but if it is still raining after he has been I cannot see us going out for a walk.
At this point I am going to finish before the man arrives and all service is curtailed. Hope you have a good day, please take care xx
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Post by brightspark on Aug 1, 2023 17:54:30 GMT
Evening all !
First thing this morning, my chiropodist came, so this meant I was walking on clouds today.
After lunch we went into town to collect a prescription, then into Sainsburys for a couple of things, then hubs dropped me off at a friend's house - a distant relative of hers who was a very competent quilter had passed away, and the family offered 5 boxes of fabrics and half-completed pieces of work, so my friend invited me to have a sort through. What an idyllic afternoon, surrounded by fabric but also friend had relatives there - and the wife is a quilter, too. Such a great fabric sort out and chatty afternoon. Very enjoyable. Now I just want to get on with some sewing ...
Bless him - how times change ! I couldn't find the semolina in Sainsbury's, so I asked a young man, and he responded with "What is semolina?" I bet he wouldn't know what tapioca is, either.
I had a bit of a hiccup (hiccough?!) yesterday. I decided to make some muffins, and found a Delia recipe. When I mixed it all up, it seemed - well, just wrong, yet I had followed her recipe completely. They turned out to be only 1cm deep and not very enjoyable .. Later on, and cooking something else, I realised the electronic scales were not working properly, so I tested them a with 200g weight (from my balance scales), and it recorded the weight as 500gms. Then I found a recipe to make brownies, using leftover cake ... we now have brownies !! (This time weighed everything on the balance scales.)
Chris, The Poachers Pocket looks a popular place, have you been there before - it seems familiar?
Well, Aly hasn't responded, which is a shame, but it looks like we will have to put up with the occasional random post, unless we decided to something else.
I'm off now to dream up something for dinner!
Have a good evening, all, x
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Post by paperman on Aug 2, 2023 14:49:21 GMT
Good afternoon Ladies from monsoon county; at least in patches that is how it seems although right now a cheeky sun is poking out to mock us.
The Openreach man came on Monday and was really thorough doing tests here and there, the problem with an intermittent fault is how hard it is to trace but after checking the line connection here in the house he then proceeded to look more closely at the externals and thinks he located a fault in the line from the telegraph pole which he traced back to the junction box in the street. Since then it all seems to be working OK but just to be on the safe side Utility Warehouse have sent me a new router as well, which arrived earlier today and which I will do battle with tomorrow……I hate connecting those things up as you have to change all the settings on everything that works off the wifi. In my case here that is the fire alarm & security reporting system, computer, Hive heating control, satellite receiver/recorders of which there are 2, smart tv, mobile phone & tablet and Alexa!! Last night we had a chicken traybake and tonight I am cooking a pork tenderloin dish that I haven’t done for quite a while.
Regarding semolina Val; we have quite a problem sourcing it as neither Waitrose nor Tesco here in Sax stock it, I have even in the past ordered it on-line out of desperation. Last time I asked a shop assistant for it she took me to the cans of semolina pudding!!
This morning we had our village coffee morning and also ‘A’ has been this lunchtime to tai-chi in the next village, she said the monsoon followed her and she was trapped in the car in the carpark there for about 10 minutes waiting for it to ease.
OK., that’s it for now, please take care xx
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Post by brightspark on Aug 2, 2023 17:09:40 GMT
Evening all,
It has been wet here too, Chris, but at this moment, like you, we have the sunshine. When hubs took the dog to the Gallops, the dog came back looking like a drowned rat! Last night's dinner was a good old standby - smoked haddock poached in milk, with cheesy (think creamy) mashed potatoes and peas, but with an egg poached in the haddock milk. Very good it was, too. This evening I have some chicken inner breasts to cook - I haven't decided what to do with them though !
Yesterday afternoon, hubs took the dog to the vets for a check-up. After her eye operation, they like to keep an eye on her - they said. The vet wants her to have a scan for a heart murmur, and also said that she has two broken teeth, and should be removed ... all I can see is a lot of these - £ £ £ . It's no wonder that a lot of folk just don't go to the vet.
I plan to make a lemon cheesecake, so today I made some lemon curd to top the cheesecake. I have also cooked a smoked bacon joint. When I cooked one that had a sachet of sauce, with instructions recommending baking it, we really didn't enjoy it. Remembering that, I have gone back to my regular way of cooking, which is boiling it with bay leaves, peppercorns and black treacle. I leave it in the saucepan until cold - then this evening I shall put it in the fridge to make it easier to carve tomorrow.
I think Chris, that if it were left to me to sort out the WiFi etc - it would get left, and I would have to wait for son, perhaps. As it is, hubs is excellent at sorting out this kind of thing. I am so lucky. And grateful!
I guess it is time for aperitif, or whatever takes one's fancy, so have a good evening all, x
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