General Chat

Oh happy birthday Pat, well remembered Tec.

Actually Tec, while you were posting, I was just sending you an email, spooky that.

It is sunny here as well Pat, but only about seventeen degrees,so not as warm as it could be.

I am not here, I am only popping in while I am supposed to be getting changed before going to the allotment. I have had my hair done though, so am no longer sporting the shaggy dog look

I seem to have scared you all away, the haircut isn't that bad honestly.
i am off to the allotment to thin out the beetroot,so catch you later .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pat (better late than never) :0)) I hope that you have has a fantastic day.

CC, April 1st will be fine. I'll just pop yours in the oven to keep warm

*now starts to sing "What kind of fool am I?"*

Tec it's good to see you posting. Is the Duchess OK?

Linda, now thats real culture: having your hair done for a visit to the allotment

:0))

Allan

Well one has standards to keep up you know Allan.

We have been on cinema duty tonight, hence my late arrival and it is almost bed time now

Good evening Linda

It is nice to know that standards are being maintained :0))

Allan

Have you been perambulating this morning?

Hello all, I'm hoping that there is someone left in here. It's 7.57am here and I've just finished reading the posts since I was last here.

We are a diverse lot, aren't we? Very interesting.

Allan, lamb stew sounds amazing. At the moment I'm trying to find a decent lamb shanks recipe. I've never made them before but had them at a restaurant and would love to make them here at home.

Happy Birthday Pat. Hope your day was what you'd hoped it would be.

CC Thank you for asking. He's doing OK at the moment and we can only hope it will continue.

This recycling the fish pond and using the styrofoam boxes sounds good. I just wish I could find a way to stop the wildlife from thinking my place is smorgasbord. Even the snakes think so; our birds seem to attract them like a wedding buffet. We lost 2 rainbow lorrikeets to a snake last week. Found where it had dug it's way in under the wire. Darn it. We breed and hand raise these birds and it's really sad to lose them like that.

Happy snake, though, which has now been relocated where it can't do us any more harm.

Pam

snakes, hmm, i think I have enough trouble with rabbits on the allotment. The little blighters have managed to get at the cabbages and eat the emerging hearts out of them

Good morning Pam.

No Linda, had a lie-in this morning. I didn't get up until 4.30 am.

Pam perhaps with smaller types of containers you could control the access by wildlife? I think that it may be easier to protect a small area rather than a very large area.

Recycling containers is a fantastic way to go, particularly for those like myself who only have a limited space.

Of course living in a town helps as we don't have the same problems with animals etc.

We doo have 'roos which visit the front of the house but can't access the back. Our main problem is from birds.

Allan

Linda, we don't have a problem with snakes....the spiders eat them all :0))

Allan

4.30am is not a lie in Allan, that is the middle of the night, time for serious sleeping!

It is 11.15pm here so way past my bedtime, so I will say goodnight and sleep soundly until the alarm goes off at 7am.

Good night Linda: sleep well

Allan

I'm just in time to say goodnight to Linda.
I have only one tablet left, so I decided not to take it last night but will take it tonight. After my experience earlier in the year, I have decided to 'come down slowly' on any course of medicine. However, that is probably the reason why I awoke earlier to-day.
Linda - I'm sure you did the right thing, having your hair done to go to the allotment. You know, Hyacinth would have said she 'visited her estate'.

Good evening Berona

How have you been today?

Allan

Still very slow at going away, Allan. It is more bearable now, but the soreness is still there, as are the marks where the rash was. Now, thankfully, I am able to move around without feeling it, and I can usually manage to get into a comfortable position when I lie down - but that's 'heaven' to what it was a month ago!
(and I can chase you around the threads again without any problem!).

lol Berona, I look forward to the chase :0))

I'm pleased that are feelin a bit better. it has been a long haul for you.
Allan

For Pam

Lamb Shank Stew with Creamy Mash
INGREDIENTS

8 french-trimmed lamb shanks (1.6kg)
8 cloves garlic, halved
2 medium lemons (280g)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large brown onions (600g), chopped coarsely
2 cups (500ml) dry red wine
3 medium carrots (360g), quartered lengthways
3 trimmed celery stalks (300g), chopped coarsely
4 bay leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
1.75 litres (7 cups) chicken stock
½ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint
2kg potatoes, chopped coarsely
300ml cream
100g butter
METHOD

Pierce meatiest part of each shank in two places with sharp knife; press garlic into cuts.

Grate rind of both lemons finely; reserve. Halve lemons; rub cut sides all over shanks. Preheat oven to moderate.

Heat oil in large flameproof casserole dish; cook shanks, in batches, until browned. Cook onion, stirring, in same dish until softened. Add wine; bring to a boil, then remove dish from heat.

Place carrot, celery and shanks, in alternate layers, on onion mixture in dish. Top with bay leaves and thyme; carefully pour stock over the top. Cover dish tightly with lid or foil; cook in moderate oven about 3 hours or until meat is tender. (Can be made ahead to this stage. Cover; refrigerate overnight.)

Meanwhile, combine reserved grated rind, parsley and mint in small bowl.

Boil, steam or microwave potato until tender; drain. Mash potato with warmed cream and butter in large bowl until smooth. Cover to keep warm.

Transfer shanks to platter; cover to keep warm. Strain pan juices through muslin-lined sieve or colander into medium saucepan; discard solids. Boil pan juices, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half.

Divide mashed potato among serving plates; top with shanks, sprinkle with lemon-herb mixture, drizzle with pan juices. Serve with steamed green beans, if desired.

To "french" a lamb shank (or rack or cutlet) means to clean away excess gristle,

Pam the recipe can be modified to suit yourself


Allan

I found out something interesting yesterday and I wonder if Genes couldn't apply the same methods - as they are linked.
I went into a thread on FriendsU and as the subject was one which took my interest, I decided to post a comment. My comment contained the word paedophile and after I submitted it, I read it and the word was replaced with garbage (@#$%^). I brought it up again in Edit mode and the word was still there spelled as I had done it - so I submitted it again and got the same garbage as before.
I then deleted one copy, but I was very interested to see that it could be done.

Perhaps if Genes could do this, a few people might not bother to use certain words - and would not argue so much and get themselves banned.

That's a very good point, Berona.

Allan