General Chat

Ann I didn't sleep well last night, no idea why although I was probably busy planning my packing for the four days away this week in my head.

Mel I have saved the recipe as I like ginger tea, I haven't got any fresh ginger at the moment but I will get some and try it.

Vera, hope all goes well with the garden party, it is slightly overcast here but 20 degrees and the wind has dropped.

Good morning everyone

I had my fan on all night again. I tried turning it off at around 2 this morning but 15 minutes later I was so hot and sweaty that I put it back on again. OH assures me it doesn't use much power so I don't feel too bad about having it on. I didn't sleep well and was up early.

I hope you get what you want in your Tesco delivery AnnG. I am still alternating Tesco and Sainsbury as I like some things from one and other bits from the other one., Years ago I only had Tesco every 4-6 weeks for all the dried goods and stuff that I could freeze. Then I went out once a week for fresh fruit and veg. I am now trying to gradually get back to something like that and I've gone 3 weeks between deliveries for the last two. I'm having to get back into the way of thinking further ahead but so far, so good.

I like the sound of the ginger and cinnamon tea Mel but I would have to leave the honey out. Even taking the lid off a jar of honey makes me feel sick. I absolutely can't bear it. I've always got root ginger in the freezer and cinnamon in the cupboard so I'll give your tea a try sometime.

What a shame finding those young dead gulls Gwyn. You'd have thought DEFRA may have wanted to test them. We haven't seen any dead birds here thankfully as there has been quite a lot of Avian flu in poultry farms in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Today it's very warm but quite overcast which I'm glad about as we have this garden party to go to and I don't want to be sitting outside for hours in the blazing sun. I'm going to throw a hat into the car just in case. I have a plate of cooked meats ready decorated with parsley sprigs and baby plum tomatoes so it looks colourful and I also have the Mandarin Dream I made. It may be more Mandarin Nightmare than Dream as it didn't look as light and fluffy as usual when I whisked it up.

I showered about 3 hours ago but am still in a dressing gown. As we need to go out in half an hour I had better get myself moving. Enjoy the rest of your day folks.

:-(

Morning All,

I woke up hot again with the duvet in the night, so it was back to a sheet again and I slept ok again.

I'e kept a copy of the tea recipe Mel as fresh is always best and better than the lemon and ginger tea we buy. Having dodgy knees I knew that ginger was anti inflammatory and I put cinnamon on my porridge as it helps weight loss. I didn't know that ceylon cinnamon was better though. How big are these drawers you have as they took a while to put together didn't they. It was nice of Mark to call for a chat but we do change over the years and you can feel a twerp if you don't recognise someone! No more rain here and everywhere is getting very dry again.

good morning all. Waiting for Tesco one sub that will go back because it is not good value. Gin on offer at £18 a litre instead of £21. sub one bottle 70cl at £16 Looked on the listing for next week and offer is still there so, as usual they ran out I suppose. Normal sub would be a different make or 2 bottles.

Morning all,

Sunny now but the grounds wet so must have rained in the night.

Went back to bed at 7.25 and slept again tilljust after nine.

How to Make Cinnamon, Honey and Fresh Ginger Tea
Ingredients

Fresh ginger

Half a teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon

Half a teaspoon of honey
Method

Start with a ginger rhizome that is firm and relatively blemish free. Give it a good scrub under hot water and then, with a sharp knife, carefully cut off between five and 10 very thin slices. Put these in a mug with half a teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon and half a teaspoon of honey.

Boil the water in your kettle but let it sit for a minute after it is boiled to let any sediment settle before you pour it. It’s also worth cleaning out your kettle with vinegar regularly to minimize those crusty deposits, particularly if you live in a hard water area.

While the kettle is boiling, mix up your ginger slices, cinnamon and honey in your cup. Try and crush up the ginger a little with your spoon to release even more of the beneficial oils.

To make the tea, simply pour hot water into your mug and stir it up well. Allow it to steep for a couple of minutes and then you can remove any floating pieces of ginger with a spoon, strain it if you like or simply blow them to the other side before you drink it as I do.

True Ceylon cinnamon is superior to the more common Cassia cinnamon in both taste and health benefits. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties, regulates your blood sugar and appetite and can even help reduce elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Like ginger, cinnamon is definitely a herb worth getting more of in your diet.

I hope you like this spiced ginger tea recipe. I think it tastes and smells great and with all of the health benefits of ginger it makes a very healthy substitute for coffee. Please let me know what you think if you make it up for yourself.

I don't like orange jelly much but oh loved it and I was making it for him with manderines in it every three days.

BIL turned up this morning and started putting the drawers together for me and it took him all day nearly. He left about 3.45 so I got the eggs together to drop around to Em as she was going out this morning so would'nt have been there when I did the shop trip when a car drove down. I looked out of the window and then answered the door to a tall white haired man I did'nt know. He said to me you don't recognise me do you its Mark Ali's hubby. Its years since I saw him and in that time he has gone white. He stayed talking and having a coffee for ages telling me about the three boys and what they were doing now and he even has a granddaughter now too from his first son. His wife taught us to ring and their youngest was only about three when we first knew them.

Then when he left I got the eggs together again and went round Em's with eggs and brimbles. Came home and the car park up the village hall is full as its my neighbours 60th party in the hall tonight. I can hear the music right down here.

Next our friend Graham rang and was on the phone for about an hour. I was just going to find something to eat as so far today I had only had a bacon sandwich with Robert. I had one of the biscuits Em baked me and a cake so I really need something else but don't know what to have.

Oh dear, the council have said that dead birds are being found on a daily basis at or near waterways here now including 2 swans. Two Peregrines from the Cathedral now which are being tested by DEFRA.

Well it took me ages to advertise some things to sell on ebay and I wonder if it's worth it unless you sell something quite valuable.

My trifle ended up a flop, literally! lol Somehow I must have misread the liquid measure for both the jelly and the angel delight as only the custard set properly. I don't usually have a problem..........maybe I'm spending too much time in the kitchen. :-D I bet OH will still try some when he gets home.

Morning All,

It's 20 here now and sunny, so more shredding of those papers is on the cards for me. I nipped out earlier for a paper and some bits, but couldn't park anywhere near the letterbox to post my card so thought I'd post it at the end of the close on the way back. Typical I sailed straight past the box so OH will post it for me on his way to the match.

We must be getting telepathic on here! I used a jelly and mandarins to start making a trifle yesterday Vera. I am putting custard on mine today and topping it with chocolate angel delight as that is all I have. Chocolate and orange usually go together and an added scoop of icecream with a serving should help. I do love jelly using evap though. A work friend years ago used to whisk them so they set with a fluffy top and solid bottom.

Another coincidence......... last night looking through a drawer in here for something, I unwrapped something and it was the lovely wooden pen your OH made for me Mel. It was kind of him and is beautifully made. He had so many talents.

Don't know if I said before, but the lovely lady who led us participants in the hospital research meetings is leaving to live in Austria. She encouraged me so much and persuaded me to do filmed interviews which I would avoid doing at all costs at work! Even OH was stunned that she persuaded me! lol. She's abseiling down one of the hospital buildings next month and we recently sent messages to be put on her leaving card. She hasn't had the card yet but has now sprung a surprise lunch for those of us at a swish hotel next month. I can't decide, as I haven't been to any meetings for a few years and have just done some of the online things so I doubt I'll know anyone, especially since they have now merged 3 research units into one. OH is cock a hoop as wild horses wouldn't keep him away, but as well as not knowing anyone now, there could be a few hundred attending and I don't know if I will have had my long overdue 4th jab by then or whether the virus will be increasing by then. :-S

I'm surprised too that DEFRA didn't want to test the gulls Gwyn. They've closed one of the Pet's Corners here to limit the risk of spread. Just as things are more normal we get threatened by something else!

That is the sort of 'find' that catches you out Mel <3

Make sure you eat something regularly, small meals are fine and just what you fancy Get yourself treats in your on line shop. Try and keep your strength up as you don't want to be ill.

I have frozen all mine Gwy. They freeze well but I don't wash them till I am going to use them.

Just having some toast amd my mate. One of Frank's favorits. I never used to have breakfast but with not eating much I thought I better have something.

I found in his study this morning a roses tin and when I opened it it had 4 outers of fountain pens he had turned on his lathe and loads of wine bottle stopper in wood and a seed case that has holes in it. There are pulls for light switches too. Its years since he did turning.

Good morning all.

Annx
Interesting regarding the instructions about bird feathers... They are everywhere lately outside our house from the resident noisy seagulls.
Unfortunately, they nest on many house or bungalow roofs locally and are very vocal of late :-0
When we got back home after a week away on holiday, there were 2 dead young gulls in our garden. They seemed to be unmarked, ie. not mauled by cats etc.
I reported this to DEFRA, as it was unusual to find 2 at the same time and I was aware of bird flu. The chap on the phone gave me a case number and asked me to notiffy them if I found more, but thought the birds could have suffered from heat exhaustion ( it was the week of the hottest UK heatwave)
I thought he might want to collect them for testing, but he seemed happy with his own analysis of the situation and just told me to carefully wrap them up and dispose of them in the household bin.

A beautiful sunny morning here and Mel's post about fruit picking has made me think I ought to check out the local blackberry bushes. I have margarine pots saved in readiness to take some up to my son and we will probably have ours in a crumble, although, to be honest, I haven't used the oven much lately with it being so hot..... It's been mostly variations on a salad for us.
I could always freeze the fruit for cooler times though.

Good morning AnnG and all

I might be wrong but I thought the Tesco problem was national and seems to have been some sort of systems failure. I hope they have got it sorted now and your delivery turns up. I checked on some old photos and found we went to Lacock in 2014 and I think it was a day trip by coach. It must have taken well over 3 hours each way so I am surprised we went. Nowadays we don’t usually do day trips if they are more than 2 hours from here. I do remember we enjoyed it and it was a very hot day.

Your OH definitely sounds as though he’s clearing space for more books Ann ;-). I read Gone Girl a few years ago as well. I have a vague recollection of the story but I’m blowed if I can remember the ending. I shall have to reread it. I think it may have been made into a film.

Bramble jelly was one of my favourite jams when I was a kid Mel. I’ve never done jam in the microwave. Apparently I can make jam in my breadmaker as well but I haven’t tried it yet. I rarely make jam these days but maybe I should do more.

Mandy, you asked what dessert I am doing for tomorrow’s garden party. I kept changing my mind but decided on Mandarin Dream. It’s light and people seem to like it. It’s also very easy to make with just mandarins, a jelly and a tin of evaporated milk. It came from a recipe leaflet from an old Woman magazine of 1963, supposedly written by Jean Metcalfe. There’s a name from the past!

I’ve been having a lot of problems with my left eye recently so have made an appointment with the optician for Thursday. I go annually and it’s only 6 months since I last went. The receptionist warned me I might have to pay for this check up but apparently it’s down to the optician to decide whether payment is required or not.

I got up at 7.15 and made a cup of tea which I brought back to bed but it’s time I was up now. Have a good day everyone.

Morning Anng and all,

It cloudy but british here this morning and at the mo its 18 degrees and pc says partly sunny. Its funny here because I can have sun to the south and clouds to the north.

BIL is coming this afternoon to my second set of draws together for me so I better have a bit of a tidy up today. I have papers all over the place.

Good morning all. slept well last night, even had the duvet back over me.

Mandy Is that just local Tesco to you? I have not seen anything here, mine is due tomorrow.

Quite bright out there, yesterday was sunny, temp now is 15 degrees.

I wonder what's happened at Tesco's Mandy. Some will be relying on their deliveries. Yes, you have OH weighed up! :-) When I jokingly said at least he'd have some space to get new ones he said 'that's what I thought'. He's a devil! lol. I know what he'll be wanting from Santa!! He seems to have got the bit between his teeth and says he's going to sort some more before he goes out tomorrow. I've still got my provisional licence I think.

Mel I watched the first of the farming prog and have it recorded. I've seen the 2 farmer brothers in another farming prog and I like Ruth anyway. Wasn't it good! There was a lot about wartime that I didn't know. I forgot to record the Owen family one, but must see if I can find it.

The geese are flying morning and night now, but we need to be careful cleaning their presents off the cars as we have Bird Flu in the county. The advice is to not even touch any feathers we see on the ground.

Mel, yes it had water. Cynth said it was running across the road so moving fast and it would have been when it got cooler. I don’t suppose we will know.

I cleaned the big girls out this afternoon and they surely needed it. Then I had a G & T by my pond like we used to and now I feel all sloppy. Think I will have egg bacon and beans tonight.

Mandy there's a program on on channel 5 about farming with Rob and Dave Nicholson who have that farm in Yorkshire and I watched it last night and then afterward i watched Ben Foggle and he was at Ravenmeet with the Owen family and they showed him when he visited 5 years ago and now. I know you like that sort of thing.

Anng hogs can sqeeze under a very small space so don't worry it could'nt get in there. It may have been feeling the heat from the last couple of weeks or could'nt get any worms to eat. Were you leaving water out for it?

Anng did Cynth notice if he had a suitcase with him ,he might just be off on his hols :-D :-D
Sounds like you had a nice day out yesterday, good idea to take something for your lunch as it saves queueing for something and I expect the price of a sandwich has gone up like everything else.

Ann i bet OH has his eye on some new books and that's why he's having a clear out :-D

Oh blimey Mel you can't go through that jungle you'll have to leave if until they all die off a bit .
Have you checked the license isn't in with any bank cards OH had ,if its a card license it might be with them .
I still have my paper one and the one before that in a little red book type thing .

Had a good dust and hoover round mopped the bathroom floor and the hearth in the front room which was so dusty .

Well the rain soon cleared and it turned out to be a nice sunny day ,we sat out for a while thuis afternoon and I could quite easily have nodded off .

Looks like Tesco has problems ,all delivery's cancelled from one o'clock today ,how long for a don't know .

Mel I have done that, put the house right next to the compost bin. forced the bin cover closed at the bottom and put some bedding inside the new house. The entrance looks small but all the houses had the same sized entrance so they must be able to squeeze in. I did see on TV in Country file I think. Talking of hedge hogs and this was a rescue centre. she said if you see a hedge hog out during the day report it as they are only out if they are in trouble. But I Had not seen Cynth since Monday to talk to so it was several days ago that she saw it. I didn't usually check it as I didn't want to disturb it.