Early Risers.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Tried to phone my brother but there was something wrong with his phone, when he answered it went dead. It's most likely that he hasn't charged it so I'll give him a call in the morning. I hope you all had a good Christmas. 

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

It was raining when I surfaced and now overcast and now >6°C. Except for little nooks, there is no longer any sign of Thursday night's accumulated sleet and roads are wet but clear.

 

This evening sees plans for Christmas dinner with my eldest and his family. Younger son is driving.

 

My assignment for the evening is to bring cheesecake. It has been a long time since I prepared (even an easy no-bake faux-cheesecake) and intended to purchase one. Road conditions and Christmas Eve dinner preparations led me to sortie this morning while my youngest slept. Mission accomplished at a second location of a chain of diners. The closer location was unfruitful. I'll spare you the saga where I ended up leaving in frustration. All's well that ends well.

Seems strange that things are even open on Christmas Day. Here unless a service station sells them you'd be totally out of luck. Maybe have to use your imagination and end up with a  cheese and bacon pie that might be  still sitting in the  servos pie warmer from Friday.. 

 

34C forecast for today and not a cloud in the sky.  The beach beckons but we have guests, so it'll be a BBQ and a shady tree out the back. Oh well theres the Boxing Day test on in the air conditioning if they get boring.

Edited December 25, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[Erichill16]

Evening All, A longer day than even I predicted but I managed not to fall asleep at the dinner table.
Had Sydney for most of the day and  we bumped into SWMBO’s dad who we haven’t spoken to properly for over ten years when we took Sydney back to bils. We were invited into bils and spent an hour taking to fil. Things may be improving.

Goodnight,

 Robert 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Erichill16

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

 

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[iL Dottore]

Good Morning All,

I trust you had a splendid Christmas Day with friends and family and that Santa brought you everything (or a reasonable portion thereof) on your Christmas List.

 

A CORRECTION

Contrary to what a certain Supervillain may have said, Christmas Eve was spent in the company of Mrs iD’s cousins enjoying a light repast of smoked salmon and a rather nice Swiss rosé. For pudding, I was allowed into their kitchen and I whipped up a rather decent berry crumble and custard. Much enjoyed by Cisca’s Swiss cousins* At NO time was I inebriated, or anywhere close to it (as CC well knows, he was just stirring things up - the rascal).

Yesterday, for Christmas lunch, I did a simple meal of turkey breast cooked sous-vide**, duck-fat roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing and steamed broccoli (Mrs iD’s request). Followed by Christmas pudding and skoolboy custard. As Christmas pudding is rather rich and as I always forget to make one a year in advance (apparently you should make a Christmas pudding in January for the following December), I resorted to a mini Christmas pud I bought in January 2022 - which had a “use by date” of December 2024! 

 

Tonight’s dinner will be duck, but I’m not sure how I’ll do it: with puy lentils? wokked with spring onions? Peking style? A la Orange?

 

But first a hearty breakfast of turkey and stuffing sandwiches, with leftover roast potatoes, pan juices and chopped turkey trimmings for the doggies.

 

Enjoy Boxing Day!

 

* Cuisine anglaise : dix points. Cuisine française : nul points 😆

** sous-vide gives you perfect turkey breast every time, what’s more it won’t dry out if your veggies aren’t ready in time.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from the Charente.   We enjoyed the day.  The kids were talked to.  Young Emily was on sparkling form and enjoyed opening the presents from her stocking.  After mushrooms on toast for lunch we went for a pleasant walk round the village.  A good chat with no 1 son mid afternoon then the quack bird was carved and eaten along with honey roast parsnips and carrots and home made stuffing.  I was entrusted with making the sauce to go with the 2 yr old Christmas pud. We couldn't find any rum so Cognac was used instead.  I think my hand might have slipped pouring it in but it tasted fine.  An evening watching TV rounded off a good day.

 

We are off to a friend's for lunch today.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by jamie92208

[iL Dottore]

Thanks to Swisscom TV I can view the major British television channels, which means I can get to view decent programmes without having them dubbed into German or - worse - having the German commentator talk over the person talking on screen (often done in documentaries)
 

Anyway, is it me, or have the Christmas TV offerings been particularly dire this year?

 

It wasn’t that long ago that both the BBC and ITV had at least two or three “must watch” specials each. This year seems particularly bereft and barren, with - as far as I can find - only the old, old repeats being watchable  (although I’d be very happy to be proven wrong by suggestions from ERs).

 

I made a point of watching the King’s Speech and I was very impressed: as I saw it, His Majesty very ably, and very sophisticatedly,, made his views known about a number of issues - and which were very much a subtle rebuke to those in power. Whilst the montage of working Royals was definitely a message to certain Californian residents 😮 In all, I think you’ve got yourself a damn decent King.

 

Returning to Christmas TV, I suppose I mustn’t grumble about British Christmas TV, at least parts of it are watchable - even if the performers are long dead. In comparison, Euro-TV is mostly unwatchable (especially the advertising heavy, privately owned, channels).

 

Quite frankly, you’ll never know what despair truly is until you’ve been stuck in Clermont-Ferrand on a wet winter’s Sunday evenng with nothing to do but watch the A-Team dubbed into French!

Quelle horreur! Quelle horreur!

[Ozexpatriate]

8 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Seems strange that things are even open on Christmas Day.

Most places are closed. Some supermarkets are open until late morning*. Many of the 24** hour diners are open. They are busy with a mixed bag of people - like groups where people don't want to spend time in the kitchen, individuals who live alone, etc.

 

* One I swung by on the cheesecake quest which I mistook as being advertised as open until 11:00am per "the internet" was very much closed.

 

** Or almost - like 7:00am - 2:00am.

 

Places run by people who don't celebrate Christmas (traditionally like Chinese restaurants) might be open. This is a bit mythical these days and most of them will be closed - their kitchen staff would not want to work on Christmas.

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Ozexpatriate

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3 hours sleep, sofa, pink pills,  4, hours sleep.

The pills were required due to forepaws indicating a change in the weather. 06:00 ish we got that change a huge squall came through, high winds though no rain.. it's still windy out there, though reducing.

 

Ben I'm comfy here Collie was happily in his pit when I decided to move, he then got up for a morning patrol. This he enjoyed. Charging around, tail wagging on high, the tip of which was often all I could see in the darkness, until he disappeared off into the distance. Eventually he came charging back, going on ahead, stopping looking back, with his hurry up look.. hmm house just shook a little with an additional gust of wind..

 

Ben's back in his pit, I've just finished a bowl of porridge, in a half an hour, I'll get ready for the traditional boxing day sailing event. 

Forecast 15mph gusting 30mph, sunny, low tide at 09:00, so incoming all day.

Two races today. With mince pies and mulled wine or a rum punch between.

 

So I have to rest for another half hour before setting out..

 

Time too.. do nothing.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Survived Christmas Day. My cooking was appreciated. Today we will be having lunch cooked by Dr Eldest Herbert while youngest Herbert and his fiance join us for lunch. Drinking could be a serious problem...

 

Recorded a couple of items yesterday as the schedules over lapped. This is typical for the UK when the programmers reckon no one will be watching.

 

Time to.. brew the tea and set off into Boxing Day!

 

Stay safe!

Baz

Edited December 26, 2022 by Barry O

[NGT6 1315]

Moaning awl. Caffeination to roadworthiness level in progress!

 

In light of Annika having been ill, we had decided to postpone the Christmas dinner with SiL and hers until after our end-of-year vacation. Like almost everywhere else in Europe, stomach bugs and others are making enough rounds already, so getting that as an unwelcome gift wasn't something we wanted to entreat them to! With that said, the kids are looking forward to the trip, so that prospect will certainly speed whatever recovery may yet be required.

 

I suspect the next time I'll be posting will be from oop narf, so, enjoy whatever you're up to.

 

TFN...

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

A cool start to the day here with mainly clear skies and a fine, dry day is forecast.  Currently 4°C possibly rising to a sweltering 8°C.  😂

Yesterday was very enjoyable spent just in the company of Nicki and Darren but we had a great time.  Food was excellent, (ate too much) drink was excellent, (possibly drunk a little too much) which did result in a bout of indigestion around 02.00 but I recovered fairly swiftly and had a good night's sleep.

There were some very nice gifts left by Santa for yours truly including something olive green called a Maunsell BCK  (there I didn't mention the forbidden r#####y word) and a rather hefty book on Nelson's Navy which I've been hankering after for a while and will take some reading.  Also in the pile was a bottle of Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera which I suspect, IIRC,  would get approval from at least one of our members here.  Certainly gets my approval as I've had it before and rather like it.   Also got sundry other items including 3 DVDs.  All in all very generous and I'm told there is more to come because the rest of the family arrive later this morning for lunch and are staying a couple of days.  There will be a lot of fun and laughter here and we're looking forward to it.  

People talk about the over commercialisation of Christmas and have we forgotten the true meaning of it.  Yep maybe and we're not a very religious family (that's probably putting it mildly) but what my family do believe in is showing a bit of love and peace and goodwill to all.  Forlorn hope in this day and age but we'll continue to do it our way and ....we just like Christmas!

Enough of that, I'm being told  to "gettamoveonthere'slotstodo!"

Merry Boxing Day and have a good'un.

Bob.

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by grandadbob
Punchewayshun and speellinking

[PeterBB]

Early church service before visit.

 

Modern 'families' being what they are we ended up at young son's and the first time for over 50 years with no children present but still represented by three generations although there was not much difference between my age and the eldest compared with the vast difference down to the youngest represented generation.  (In times past me being older than young sons wife's great grandparents).

 

This because it was the Christmas turn for children's mothers and also meant that the grandchildren have had two Christmas days, one with dad a day or two ago and one with mums. 

 

For us at young sons it meant relaxation as the youngsters prepared the meal and afters, a very pleasant day.  

 

Cannot comment on television showings as apart from King Charles III speech there no viewing.  We did however help a bit with the 'clearing-up'.  

Edited December 26, 2022 by PeterBB

[Gwiwer]

Welcome, one and all, to the Feast of Stephen.  I’ll have mine 🍕deep-pan, crisp and even. You’re welcome. 
 

 

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

Contemplating getting up as we’re meeting sister, bil and Mum at Clumber Park for a walk with Hovis and sister’s dogs. May turn out a disaster as Hovis doesn’t get on with most other dogs, neither does  one of sis’s, Mums not very good on her feet, SWMBO’s got a nasty cold and I’ve developed a cough. Fortunately the weather does look favourable so at least we shouldn’t get wet!
Didn’t watch any tv last night so can’t comment but I may try and find a transcript of the Kings speach. (Not the film!) Didn’t drink much alcohol yesterday. Didn’t feel particularly good first thing, balance/coordination a bit off and after a glass of Buck’s Fizz at breakfast at bils, it got quite a bit worse. As there was just going to be SWMBO,myself and mil (who sits about waiting to be fed) for Christmas dinner I thought I’d better ‘preserve’ my faculties for the sake of domestic harmony.

Anyway, better get a shuffle on, meeting at 11.00 so need to be off be 10.00. Bath needs running and hovis needs a quick walk.

Spoke too soon, it’s started rain here.

Have a great day all,

Robert

[BoD]

Morning all

 

I seem to have a heavy cold as evidenced by a waste bin of soggy Kleenex next to my chair.  My throat is crying out for a whisky and Crabbie’s green ginger wine but it is a bit early for that.  
 

Thankfully the symptoms held off until this morning although I did feel their approach last night.  This meant  that yesterday’s festivities could go ahead as planned with family Christmas dinner at my daughter’s place - with our young grandson (only his second christmas) providing all the entertainment necessary. 
 

A quiet day beckons for me then. Enjoy yours whatever you are up to.

[Gwiwer]

So yesterday. 
 

We were expecting, based on recent trends, that at least one among us would produce two red lines on the test strip. But no!!!  By the Deities (or Deltics) of Choice all seven of us tested negative for the Woohaa so off we set for Sunny Sussex-by-the-Sea. 
 

Two Christmas Cockwombles were encountered on the 70-mile drive. One refused to go faster than a steady 24mph even ina 50mph limit which only took patience to deal with. The other, a black Nissan Qashqai, I had spotted some way ahead lane-weaving and driving at very erratic speeds.  I approached warily, waited until I had a clear right-hand lane to overtake and went for it. Qashqai drifted into my path and slowed to 20mph again. A long toot on the hooter and they drifted back to the left allowing us safely past. 
 

A family Christmas was had after all with my sister, BiL, the two younger nephews and middle-nephew’s young lady. 
 

Turkey and ham, roasties, pigs in blankets, stuffing, gravy, bread sauce and, for the health-conscious, roasted carrots and parsnips, mashed swede and steamed brockly. Followed by trifle (always made by youngest nephew in the manner and in memory of my late mother), lemon cheesecake (made and transported by Dr. SWMBO) and Christmas Pudding (made by someone called Tess Coe). 
 

I sipped one glass of merlot throughout dinner, we one by one retired into our respective food comas and, late in the afternoon, we drove home. A night on the sofas was one step beyond our comfort levels. 
 

The drive back was uneventful but in atrocious conditions. Heavy rain, blinding spray, floods and - on the Dorking by-pass - a fallen tree all of which were negotiated safely albeit at slower speeds than might normally have been the case. 
 

A merry Christmas was indeed had. 

[New Haven Neil]

Good morning all, from a windy but dry rock that feels chilly at 5c and a lot of wind chill.

 

I like the idea of Rick's deep pan crisp and even, unfortunately pepperoni pizza has proven to be about the worst possible food for my diabetes, along with rice.  As the NHS doesn't see fit to provide T2 diabetics with test meters I bought one of my own and learned very quickly with it's use what foods are and are not good for me.  Without actually testing your blood sugars, others without meters just have to hopefully follow the NHS 'eatwell plate' which can be anything but - it has pasta in it, I quote: PLENTY OF POTATOES, BREAD, RICE, PASTA AND OTHER STARCHY FOODS end quote, which is another no-no for me.  And yes, that is a rant.

 

Our day yesterday was as prescribed, a picnic in the car, this time on the highest road on Fraggle Rock.  Beautiful views.  Donk brought chocolate cheesecake, I had a very small piece that did not adversely affect my blood sugar!

 

Long chat with daughter Charlotte (who was more excited than 2 y.o. Phoebe - as usual) and Gareth,  who we will see later today, then a very long Whatsapp video was had with great niece and nephew in South Wales, as they unwrapped an awful lot of gifts, 2  1/2 y.o. Grace was so funny with wrapping paper going over her shoulder. 3 1/2 y.o. Oscar was doing fine until a large r/c Range Rover was discovered, that was the end of attention to anything else for the rest of the day.  Car guy.  Grace preferred the Brio trains - shows promise!

 

Then a relaxed evening messaging friends around the world, and trying to avoid the TV.

 

 

[PupCam]

 

Morning All!

 

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

** sous-vide gives you perfect turkey breast every time, what’s more it won’t dry out if your veggies aren’t ready in time.

 

Sorry, got to disagree with that ID.     The perfect turkey breast is one that's still running around on a turkey (and I'm no Veggie!), the most over-hyped, over-expensive, least desirable to munch form of flesh there is irrespective of how well or badly it is cooked IMHO.    Why is turkey so expensive at Christmas; 'cos few wish to be polluted by it throughout the rest of the year I should imagine.

 

2 hours ago, TheQ said:

.....  I'll get ready for the traditional boxing day sailing event. 

Forecast 15mph gusting 30mph, sunny, low tide at 09:00, so incoming all day.

Two races today. With mince pies and mulled wine or a rum punch between.

 

That'll be good if a bit nippy.      Looking out the window; the sky is blue, it's relatively dry and the sun is out.       Think I'll leave the AJ tucked up safely in the garage though.    Besides, I'll be playing with Junior, Junior Puppers later on.   No doubt the Brio Tr*in S*t well get a good hammering! 😀

 

Have a good day

 

Alan

 

[iL Dottore]

35 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

…..others without meters just have to hopefully follow the NHS 'eatwell plate' which can be anything but - it has pasta in it, I quote: PLENTY OF POTATOES, BREAD, RICE, PASTA AND OTHER STARCHY FOODS end quote, which is another no-no for me.  And yes, that is a rant.

I sympathise, I haven’t worked in diabetes for the best part of 25 years, but even I am aware of the significant changes in the past two-and-a-half decades in the diagnosis, management and pharmaceutical/non-pharmaceutical treatment of DM.
 

I suspect that what you’re seeing is the fact that unless you are dealing with a particular disease/illness on a regular basis, it’s easy to “fall behind” in one’s knowledge. In my case, for example, I haven’t worked with hæmatological cancers (e.g. the lymphomas, the leukæmias) for at least 15 years - so if my next project was in Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, I’d need to do a lot of reading pretty “toot-sweet”.
 

Another complication, relevant to the NHS, is the speed at which new information is incorporated into updated guidelines and those updated guidelines disseminated through a very large organisation.

[Rugd1022]

Morning all, Mrs.Rug took this through the kitchen window last night...

 

 

 

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, PupCam said:

Sorry, got to disagree with that ID.     The perfect turkey breast is one that's still running around on a turkey (and I'm no Veggie!), the most over-hyped, over-expensive, least desirable to munch form of flesh there is irrespective of how well or badly it is cooked IMHO.    Why is turkey so expensive at Christmas; 'cos few wish to be polluted by it throughout the rest of the year I should imagine.

 

I do, actually, agree with you. There IS flavourful and edible turkey out there, but it is hard to find and expensive to boot. As you rightly point out - turkey generally has all the foodie appeal of wet cardboard - and that’s before you consider the myriad ways in which it can be badly cooked…

 

Just across the border from us, in France, is a poultry farmer who raises - as a profitable hobby/sideline - a few free range turkeys, ducks and geese. They are not monstrous (usually 3 - 6kKg), have a slightly gamey flavour (as did turkeys did have before industrialised breeding and production) and couldn’t be fresher. One year, the farmer had forgotten our order - no worries: he just went outside the farm shop and some squawking and industrial machinery noise later, returned with a still-warm, plucked turkey with legs and head attached, gutted but with the giblets put back in.

 

THAT was definitely a turkey with taste. But not cheap (I won’t say how much, but certainly more expensive than even a “top end” mass produced bird). As for being “hard to find”, the farmer didn’t advertise and you had to know someone who was one of his existing customers and make an appointment to collect your fowl - all a bit hush-hush, really.

 

If, Puppers dear boy, you are forced to cook turkey (family pressures, societal expectations 😁 etc.), you could do worse than brining it first (which will firm up the meat and, if using an flavoured brine, add much needed flavour) then cooking the breast on the crown and cooking the legs confit*

 

Alternatively, make a Mexican turkey mole - guaranteed bags of flavour!

* that’s cooking by immersing food in olive oil, duck or goose fat. Surprisingly the end result isn’t greasy or fatty…

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by iL Dottore
Putting in the Kg

[iL Dottore]

Those of you who view my posts on all matters culinary, know that not only do I have a few pet hates when it comes to food (“No! Really?” asks @polybear), but I am also very much a purist when it comes to recipes (I’m OK with “inspired by”, but if the dish claims to be “Poacher’s Badger’s Nadgers Pie”, then it better have Badger’s Nadgers in it, or it ain’t a proper “Poacher’s Badger’s Nadgers Pie”)

 

So I was particularly delighted to discover Uncle Roger (warning: strong language)

 

Uncle Roger is the inspired creation of the Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng (and YouTube has an interesting video on how he came up with Uncle Roger as a comic creation). The thing is, Uncle Roger/Nigel Ng he really does know how to cook Asian food properly and is particularly scathing of certain celebrity chefs (and suitably so in most cases).

 

Why mention Uncle Roger now? Because I want to do an asian inspired duck dish tonight and went to YouTube for some tips and found the above.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A very late start this morning, but as  I had nothing planned for the day, it doesn’t really matter. For breakfast today we had egg, bacon, black pudding sausage, tomatoes (out of a tin) and (this won’t please everyone) hash browns. This was followed by some toast, with both orange marmalade and home jam, we really enjoyed it too! As for the rest of the day, well, there’s nothing planned, so a bit of online retail therapy (well I did get quite a bit of dosh for Christmas) May be the first thing to look at. 

 

Back later. 

 

Brian