WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey), SUNDAY November 29, 2015

Happy new week.

I"m sampling the Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream. Back in a bit to report!

  • (so of course he's now British again!)

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • I was watching earlier, OG, but when it looked like it was going to be a long match, I shut my eyes for a needed nap. Then I missed the end!  Grr!!

    Well Done, Andy, anyway!  I saw the final minutes on The News, in the end.  (Of course he's British, OG! -  only Scots when he walked to the altar this summer!)

  • AQ: Oh that's just awful to read about the loss of homes, farms, hay and livestock - all destroyed in a matter of minutes after so much work and so many plans. Glad your family farm survived but a real shame your Mom's childhood home burned. I know what your sister means by "black, all black."  I've driven through areas here after fires and it's so barren and lifeless and depressing. I know the rebuilding of homes and buildings will take a while, but what I'm always amazed at is how plants reclaim the land so quickly.  Here, our redwoods apparently depend on fire to release the seeds for new trees. - don't ask for the scientific explanation.  Do hope the fire(s) can be controlled when the temps rise again. Are they wind-driven?  I know intense fires can create their own weather, which is another serious complication.  Will watch for more news....

    Lindybird: That's it! No puppies for us. Bonnie has convinced us we're fit only for arthriticky cats and squeaky guinea pigs!  Have put ST Pudding on the "hazardous materials" list. :-)

    Heather: Glad the rash is on the wane. Sleeping with a rash is awful. Any luck with Calamine lotion?

    Got the bedding in the washer and also need to put away the fans we had up all summer, but must wash them first. I can't believe how much dirt collects on forward edges of the blades!  

    On another topic, I'm clearly losing the plot.  I have a humidifier running in the living room in the so-called winter coz we have natural gas heat and it dries out the air (and skin and hair). It was up and running fine but I couldn't figure out why I could smell vinegar. Then my OH complained that his eyes stung when he walked by it.  On closer inspection, I realized I grabbed the wrong large white container from the garage shelf!  Two were Distilled Water and the other two were Distilled White Vinegar, but "Distilled" was in larger type on all the bottles and I reached for the nearest (didn't bother putting the garage light on either).  Note to self:  Put on (new) glasses, switch on lights, read all labels, whether on Sticky Toffee Pudding or Distilled Whatever...

  • Oh ANNETTE,I know that I shouldn't laugh but....

    My brother's train is running 36 minute late because of a tree on the line near Sheffield. He may miss his connection to Inverness. He is VERY grumpy. Bet he wishes he had taken up my offer of a flight! If he misses connection I will book him into a hotel near the train station. Even the Station Hotel which on a scale of grottiness is - I'll leave it for you to guess.

    And yes, the sticky toffee pudding is so rich. Not for every day eating!

    Some of the family are coming for dinner tomorrow. I'm not going crazy, just cottage pie and apple crumble.

  • Hi, all. Thanks for starting the new thread, Annette. I've just returned from my brother's house today. Stayed a couple of days longer than I intended. Will read up on all of your news and catch up later. Take care, everyone.

  • Hi Diane!  Glad you're home OK.  Take care, yourself.

  • I checked Mr Google for sticky toffee pudding to find it is what we call sticky date pudding DownUnder.

    Brits won Davis Cup! When I was a kid, I thought it was merely a competition between US and OZ as for so many years they alone reached the finals.

    Warm windy day expected, not good. They hope to send interstate CFS tomorrow. Meanwhile a volunteer group called Blazeaid is beginning work. They help farmers with fencing, removing destroyed buildings, etc. Whatever needs to be done. Then there are the vets caring for singed pets, horses. A piggery and chicken complex was burnt, so ham will be in short supply for Xmas.

  • Welcome back Diane!  Pleased you stayed the extra days – I am sure the company will have been good for you, especially your Nephew and Niece!  I hope you get time for grocery shopping before bad weather sets in again – take care!

    AQ – the devastation in that food-producing area sounds so horrible – pleased the farmers get some practical help.  I hope the increasing wind will not be from an adverse direction!

    OH moved the main light in the big shower room today – with extra light fittings in there, it was no longer in the right place.  Took a long time, but pleased with the result.  Grouting should go ahead tomorrow.  J has day off (St Andrews Day) and is going to make bacon pancakes for our lunch, and I shall do roasted veg with haggis for dinner.

     

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • OG - Set an extra place, I'll be there for dinner! Haggis, yum. Lunch sounds good too.

  • AQ: You can eat my share of the haggis.