Early Risers.

[petethemole]

One charity shop in Eastleigh has been shut for over a year and still gets stuff dumped outside.  I assume what doesn't get nicked gets picked up by the street cleaners/bin emptiers and dumped or incinerated.

 

Pan Yan Pickle was our usual pickle at home in the mid-late '60s and I sometimes bought it after leaving home but it began to disappear from the shops.  I switched to Haywards Miltary Pickle for a while but that went the same way.  I was left with Branston, Heinz Ploughman's Pickle, or own brands, some of which were/are dire.  I use Branston now, plus Waitrose Mustard Piccalilli, which is quite intense, and various chutneys.

 

Yesterday wasn't good.  I filled the spa pool up, no problem.  Then I started the pump, no problem.  Starting the heater however tripped the RCD on the power cable, the RCD on the exterior socket, And the socket circuit trip on the consumer unit plus the main trip switch.  I has clearly developed a fault, presumably due to running it too long into the cold weather.  Time to fault-find, hopefully on the maker's website or YouTube.  It will need a service engineer though, unless it's something very simple.  In the evening the printer had a paper jam while I was printing postage labels.  Words were had.  It didn't listen.

 

Lunchtime now, then hang out washing and head for the post office and shops.  I did a big shop yesterday so today I will stock up on beer and cider.

 

Best wishes to Gordon.

 

Stay elfy,

Pete

 

 

[TheQ]

We normally didn't have shop bought pickle at home, Mum made a lot of chutney etc..

I've made a few chutneys myself, and they do keep if sealed in a jar while still hot.

These days it's definitely sugar free chutneys as well..

need to do another batch soon..

 

The last currant shunt is done, and I've got an hour left.. er um.. prepare next weeks spread sheets..

[Barry O]

When they rebuilt one of the Branston Pickle factories a company I worked for was involved. The steel pipework had to be a specific steel as it "added to the flavour"!

I avoid nearly all chutneys and pickles unless home made now.. lik @The Q says.. too much sugar.

 

 

Shame that Peince Philip has died before his birthday. He would have had a laugh with the Queen at the breakfast table when he had opened his "Telegram from the Queen"..

 

Farewell to a great Hussar! RiP Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 

 

Baz

[JohnDMJ]

Good afternoon from the last day of early finishes (to date!)

 

Firstly, Best Wishes to @gordon s for a good recovery.

 

Then, what was becoming inevitable (but, nonetheless, still a shock!), RIP Prince Philip.

 

To more mundane business, culinary fare:

 

On 08/04/2021 at 06:52, chrisf said:

Ahead of me lies the need to make a batch of beef mince in supermarket own brand pasta sauce with onions and mushrooms and a shake of Worcestershire sauce.

 

8 hours ago, chrisf said:

Ready hard boiled eggs indeed!  Bear’s discovery makes me even more convinced that some people will buy anything.  It is bad enough having ready washed lettuce leaves and ready sliced apples, about which I have been cussing for years.  No doubt those who take our money with such glee are working on pre-digested food or something equally revolting.  Do those who buy this stuff not realise that they are paying through the nose for it?  It seems paradoxical that the more convenience food is available, and I use the term with good reason, the more time on TV is taken up with cookery programmes of one sort or another.

 

With all due respect, Chris, take gun, aim at foot, pull trigger!

 

Pasta sauce - tin of Tesco's economy peeled Italian tomatoes mixed with, maybe, some cornflour for thickening, then season to taste with whatever takes your fancy.

 

On 08/04/2021 at 06:52, chrisf said:

She does give a recipe for rissoles though.  That takes me back!  Week after week my mother used to put the mincer together and feed chunks of cold roast leftovers into it.  With a few magic ingredients she would produce something very tasty and most economical which her wayward son, me, would plaster with ketchup.  I think of bygones like that whenever there is something on the news about the amount of food wasted.   I am still horrified when I see frozen bubble and squeak on sale in supermarkets.  Is that dish not the very essence of recycling?  A few years ago I stayed in a hotel near Southampton and was both surprised and delighted to find that breakfast was served with the option of bubble and squeak.  I rather fear that it came from a packet via the microwave.

 

Rissoles and Bubble and Squeak - fond memories! How do the factories gather the leftovers to make these properly?

 

6 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

The restaurant trade uses a lot of this sort of thing. For a small restaurant on a limited staff budget they can either pay the staff to cook or to prep, so buying ready prepped items allows small restaurants to use their staff for cooking food (instead of preparing it) and thus be able to make a small profit (something even more difficult nowadays).

 

Tetrabriks of ready-for-scrambling eggs have already ben mentioned on this forum, IIRC! Usually cooked 'off stage' but cooked in the breakfast room at one of our frequently-used hotels in Chur! Only snag is that the mix in the carton may have been past-your-eyes'd! Instant appeal for Groan Button, hat, coat etc., you're all familiar with / guilty of the Drill!

Edited April 9, 2021 by JohnDMJ

[The Lurker]

Greetings all from Sidcup where there are patches of blue among the grey.

 

I have been using my time off clearing some of the gutters, interrupting it to deal with some work emails; we have to make a tax payment before I am due back and I need to sign off on it!

 

sad to see Phil the Greek go; another few months and he could have got a telegram from his Mrs. She’ll miss him.

 

we watched a comedy show on zoom last night in aid of Tusk, a charity Mrs Lurker supports. It was quite fun and a bit different.

 

have a good day and hope those who are working manage to POETS

[chrisf]

32 minutes ago, JohnDMJ said:

With all due respect, Chris, take gun, aim at foot, pull trigger!

 

You've really got it in for my foot, haven't you?

 

Chris

[simontaylor484]

Good Afternoon all 

 

What a strange but sad day this is turning out to be.

I never finished my Gold DofE badge due to A levels but enjoyed Bronze and Silver which i did through Cadets.

Why is it that whenever some one mentions Tusks or even the odious Donald Tusk i always think of the marching band on the Fleetwood Mac video of Tusk.

 

 

[Ian Abel]

Best wishes to Gordon, hope everything goes well.

RIP Prince Philip...

 

POETS. That looks like a happening, though a missive from the Long Island client requires some work/creativity again

 

Nothing much on the agenda for the weekend, some garden work and getting some large shades for the porch down from the garage rafters. Never used them last year, so need to inspect them and see if they're fit for purpose. Doubtless will require some handy work especially since the hangers were removed when the porch was painted, so as a MINIMUM will require obtaining new items from the hardware store.

 

6 cloudy and damp first thing, expected to clear up later, maybe some "partly sunny" and a high of 11 expected. Weekend forecast to be much of the same

 

Enjoy the start of the weekend everyone.

[polybear]

2 hours ago, Barry O said:

Farewell to a great Hussar! RiP Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 

 

Baz

 

Bear would consider himself to be kinda "middle of the road" when it comes to the Royal Family (in practice I'd much rather have them than not).  Personally I'd rate Prince Phillip as one of the best ones - I would have shared a LDC with him anytime (that's one of my own LDC's, by the way).  RIP

 

2 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

Rissoles and Bubble and Squeak - fond memories! How do the factories gather the leftovers to make these properly?

 

That reminds Bear of a joke that my Uncle Psycho used to tell:

 

"Waiter, I'll have the Pis*oles and chips"

Waiter:  "That's not a "P" sir, it's an "R"

"Ok, I'll have the Ar*eoles and chips"

 

In other news:

A morning spent doing the first colour coat on the last (and largest) two kitchen walls.  Final coat tomorrow....

The afternoon was spent fixing the outside tap in the back garden - the Y-shaped hose outlet had cracked over the winter; just wear and tear I think, as the tap is drained down for the winter and insulated too.

 

Now watching the endlessly repetitive media circus following today's sad news - no doubt they'll be milking it for weeks and doing their very best to squeeze every last drop out of the news.

Edited April 9, 2021 by polybear

[JohnDMJ]

1 hour ago, chrisf said:

 

You've really got it in for my foot, haven't you?

 

Chris

 

Try not to be so defeatist!

 

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

Pasta sauce - tin of Tesco's economy peeled Italian tomatoes mixed with, maybe, some cornflour for thickening, then season to taste with whatever takes your fancy.

Not even that.  Squeeze a tube of any supermarket-brand tomato paste / concentrate onto the pizza base.  Sprinkle with further flavour-enhancers if you wish such as chilli powder or similar.  Or just leave it at that.  

 

Afternoon all.  A day of very mixed feelings.  The planet has lost a great man, often under-rated and seldom given the recognition he perhaps deserved for stepping down and taking the role of Queen's Consort in his stride.  Yes he was renowned for gaffes but to make a marriage last 73 years under the pressures ....... I'm proud to have shaken his hand.  

 

And what a cold start - again - for April although the sun warmed things up enough that I was definitely super-heated in the long-johns by mid-morning though needed them first thing.  It was even (just) warm enough for a T-shirted beer on the lawns to celebrate Friday Drinks in the past hour.  

 

Tomorrow shall see the replacement of the old red sofa-bed with a new blue sofa (no bed).  It shall also see the arrival of another dozen cans of the local Jawbone Brewing's finest to ensure a healthy supply for afternoon-on-the-lawn enjoyment in case the weather warms up.  

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Is it worth switching on the news or reading a newspaper for the next few weeks? Not that I read much of the newspapers (crosswords/sudoku) or watch much TV news (except for the weather) anyway. I'm neither one way or the other about the royal family but we could do worse. I was in Tesco's when the news was announced and didn't hear about it until I heard it on the car radio.

[simontaylor484]

If you think the media are milking it yet just wait till Harry comes home. It will probably get worse then we will get speculation wether HM will abdicate or carry on 

[PupCam]

11 hours ago, chrisf said:

Giving the customary half an ear to the news as I compose this, I learn with dismay that those who rule us now plan to make us pay through the nose for expensive Covid tests on the way home from overseas holidays in the event of such things ever being permitted again.

I'm afraid Chris we'll have to agree to differ on this.     Personally, I can't see that an overseas holiday is actually that essential just at the moment as we attempt to extract ourselves from the grip of this evil pandemic (unless of course you run an airline or hotel in wherever ...)  and, bearing in mind that the country (and the world) has just about been bankrupted by it, I think that the cost of a test imposed by a self-inflicted trip away is not actually that unreasonable.  Yes we all need/want a change of scene and a holiday to cheers us up but overseas at this precise moment? Really?    I need to get out on my bike for some relaxing change of scenery to help my sanity, perhaps the country should pay for my petrol and a new tyre ......

 

[PupCam]

50 minutes ago, polybear said:

Bear would consider himself to be kinda "middle of the road" when it comes to the Royal Family (in practice I'd much rather have them than not).  Personally I'd rate Prince Phillip as one of the best ones - I would have shared a LDC with him anytime (that's one of my own LDC's, by the way).  RIP

Puppers takes the same view.   No system is perfect but, I think the current Sovereign has done an outstanding job, aided and supported, as is so often said, by HRH Prince Philip.    Given his great age it is inevitable but still sad - RIP

 

24 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

If you think the media are milking it yet just wait till Harry comes home. It will probably get worse then we will get speculation wether HM will abdicate or carry on 

Now that is something I can wait for!    If they could just hold off for say 30 years that will suit Puppers fine.

 

Alan

Edited April 9, 2021 by PupCam

[polybear]

30 minutes ago, simontaylor484 said:

If you think the media are milking it yet just wait till Harry comes home. It will probably get worse then we will get speculation wether HM will abdicate or carry on 

 

And will Meghan come with him......

 

38 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Is it worth switching on the news or reading a newspaper for the next few weeks? Not that I read much of the newspapers (crosswords/sudoku) or watch much TV news (except for the weather) anyway. I'm neither one way or the other about the royal family but we could do worse. I was in Tesco's when the news was announced and didn't hear about it until I heard it on the car radio.

 

Don't worry, the BBC1 has been pretty much dedicated to the story from 11-45 this morning until 0600 tomorrow morning.  Apart from the 6pm and 10pm news that is.....which will no doubt cover the important news of the day....

Plenty of time to catch up....

 

6 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Puppers takes the same view.   No system is perfect but, I think the current Sovereign has done an outstanding job, aided and supported, as is so often said, by HRH Prince Philip.    Given his great age it is inevitable but still sad - RIP

 

Alan

 

Bear notes with great celebration the news that the Palace has asked that people don't leave flowers but instead make a contribution to charity if they wish.  Common sense at last. 

The "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Memorial MRI Scanner " has more of a ring to it than a few dozen wheelie bins full of dead flowers, don't you think?

Bear spies some very p1ssed off Florists.....

 

[PeterBB]

RIP a great man, Philip of Greece and more recently Duke of Edinburgh.  My eldest is Philip ...

 

As Gwiver I think he has been underrated but has done a fantastic job, just a pity he could not have reached the century.

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by PeterBB
typo error

[PhilJ W]

Just a little reminder, its Phillip with two L's.

[jonny777]

10 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Just a little reminder, its Phillip with two L's.

 

What is? 

 

I think your presence is required in the Tower Of London. 

[PhilJ W]

9 minutes ago, jonny777 said:

 

What is? 

 

I think your presence is required in the Tower Of London. 

 HRH Prince Phillip. 

[jonny777]

23 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 HRH Prince Phillip. 

 

Repeated treasonable behaviour? Now that is something I never expected. 

 

Here is the official Buckingham Palace announcement from earlier today - 

 

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

Further announcements will made in due course.

The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

 

Someone is incorrect, and it will be 'off with the head' of the person found to be in error. 

 

 

[tigerburnie]

Evening all, we took advantage of the new rules and what looked like a nice day and went to our local Glen, took my camera and big lens looking for signs of spring wildlife. It was 6 degrees when we left, but by the time we made it into the Cairngorm National Park it was 3 degrees and trying to snow, so instead of a walk we had a slow drive with the windows down taking pictures using the car as a bird hide, worked out quite well with Lapwings, Curlews and even a couple of Woodcocks.

 

[Coombe Barton]

... and the bum on the sofa has been a little productive ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2021/04/09/models-change/

[PeterBB]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Just a little reminder, its Phillip with two L's.

I was brought up that that first name Philip was 1xl and the surname was 2 x l.

 

Two (h)ells as in Allison for a first name  was told that it came into being because FiL was drunk on registering the birth so for me Alison ... is the correct first name way and Allison for surname.

 

One of the great problems in recent years with student names was that so many of them were incorrectly spelt and caused no end of problems not to mention others with such long names that the official proper name was spelt one way, they registered as students with only part of the name and on class registers with yet another different name and then were not happy when they received their certificates. 

 

On reflection I think this registers as a rant!.

[PhilJ W]

13 minutes ago, PeterBB said:

I was brought up that that first name Philip was 1xl and the surname was 2 x l.

 

It can be spelt either way, my name is spelt with two L's. That is referred to as the 'royal' way of spelling it as thats the way the royals always spell it.

1 hour ago, jonny777 said:

 

Repeated treasonable behaviour? Now that is something I never expected. 

 

Here is the official Buckingham Palace announcement from earlier today - 

 

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

Further announcements will made in due course.

The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

 

Someone is incorrect, and it will be 'off with the head' of the person found to be in error. 

 

 

Its the official announcement that is wrong, it should be two L's.