Early Risers.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Patches of blue sky, clouds and a bit of sunshine and that is forecast to continue throughout the day. A warm day is on the cards, 16°C now rising to 24°C.

Eggs & bacon have been consumed and coffee is being sipped.  Plans for today include doing what I meant to do yesterday, i.e. visiting The Shed and hanging lights outside and playing with the toys inside.

Rugby was disappointing if you're a Quins fan like me, we woz 'ammered by Brizzle.  Didn't get to watch the other match I recorded as I knew the result and saw clips whilst watching Quins.

Peace hasn't lasted as The Boss has just "had an idea."  "As you're going to be in the garden today do you think you could just.......?"   Double Pah!!

Looks like Ibettagettamoveon.

Have a good one,

Bob.

[grandadbob]

@Grizz Roger Allam, great as Inspector Fred Thursday in Endeavour.   He was also great as Inspector Javert in the original London cast of Les Miserables along with Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Michael Ball as Marius and Alun Armstrong as Thenardier.  

Edited May 19 by grandadbob

[jjb1970]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

In all my dealings with the RN the pronunciation of lieutenant was always the same as that in the Army and RAF, i. e., leff-tenant.

 

I quite agree with DaveF about the new Rebus - I won’t be watching any more. Apart from the things he points out it was a mixup of several situations and I found it annoying.

 

Dave

 

There must have been a change in recent decades, these days the RN pronunciation is much closer to the American one, and sometimes is indistinguishable from the US one. Though I never heard 'L-T' used.

[jjb1970]

Do the Army and RAF have the equivalent of 'falling off the Captains list'? I knew a couple of excellent guys retired because they didn't make the cut to gain further promotion. I get that some churn is needed to freshen things up and maintain opportunities for the whipper snappers but it always struck me as wasteful to get rid of guys with highly specialised hard to replace Knowledge on the basis on an arbitrary time system.  Though some of them do quite well as consultants if they don't want a job with BAE or Babcock.

[Barry O]

Ey up!

A long but successful day yesterday at our Club Open Day.

 

Our friend arrived last evening so we went out for a Curry.. excellent meat buna with a tandoori roti.

 

Today involves watching England Women v Pakistan women in a T20 cricket match at Headingley. 

 

Nowt wrong with cucumber sandwiches.. especially if they include a bit of smoked salmon...

 

Time to gerronwithit.

 

Enjoy your day!

 

Baz

[Hroth]

Just browsing through the Aldi leaflet for next week.

They are offering their own-brand Gin in a "paper" bottle.  Its supposed to be eco-friendly...

 

How long do you have before the gin eats its way out?🤔

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Had a l-o-n-g lay in this morning and have just had breakfast. That means I have to getamoveon so I'll be back later.

[iL Dottore]

15 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Why is the cucumber sandwich on this list?  Who eats those things? Disgusting. (I'm not sure my Lab would eat them! Just kidding, of course it would, but ...)

Freshly made with quality bread and unsalted butter, cucumber sandwiches are nice with a cup of Earl Grey (made with loose tea, not teabags). You have the pillowy softness of fresh white bread and the crunch of thinly sliced (and deseeded) cucumber

15 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

CNN: 24 of the world’s best sandwiches

 

You'll be happy to know the chip butty makes the list.

God knows why.

Carbohydrates and fats sandwiched between carbohydrates and fats. Only in Britain.

 

15 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

No hot dogs or burgers on the list. And yes, they are sandwiches.

Well, yes they are - technically, but they seem to have become a meal type all on their own, especially the burger.

 

Nearly all the Anglo-Saxon/US cookbooks that I have each contain at least one recipes for a burger (apropos of nothing, I wonder how many under 50s refer to a burger by its original moniker: the Hamburger? “Burger” seems to have become ubiquitous)

15 hours ago, polybear said:

No Marmite Sarnie

No Jam Sarnie

No Crisp Sarnie

 

The list is Cobblers.

Two points Bear:

• The list is for people with functioning tastebuds
• The list is for people who appreciate proper food for “grown ups”

It’s fascinating to note how many of Britain’s popular foods are either nursery staples (bread and jam, rice pudding etc.), cheap skoolboy treats (basically chips, crisps and chocolate) or reminiscent of skool dinners (the same few veg types [more or less just cabbage, peas, carrots and spuds] plus meat of some kind and - of course - stodge and custard). 
 

It wasn’t always like this. Alexis Soyer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Soyer) was probably Britain’s first “Celebrity Chef” (despite being originally French) writing popular cookbooks for all classes.

 

It seems that Soyer was very much a “top bloke” - with many good works to his name, plus he invented the famous lamb cutlets reform recipe (for the Reform Club). 
 

Here’s a simpler version of the original recipe: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/lamb-cutlets-reform-2105836.html

 

Edited May 19 by iL Dottore
Spelling

[jjb1970]

In Indonesia some of the US burger chains which use corporate marketing materials in their outlets put adhesive labels over 'ham' in hamburger. They're not so dumb as to realise the absurdity, but don't want the hassle of people who don't realise the absurdity causing problems.

[iL Dottore]

3 hours ago, Grizz said:

@Ozexpatriate I have given your question some serious consideration. It is a worthy question that definitely needs answering. 
 

And, so far, I have come up with some suggestions that possibly fit the bill…..

 

Question. Who eats cucumber sandwiches? 

Possible Answers.

Pretentious, wannabe posh wknackers ?
Actual posh wknackers?
Jacob Rees-Mogg?
Lazy gits with only bread and cucumber in their house, at exactly the same time as they are really really hungry? 

1920s re-enactment societies.

The Hercule Poirot Appreciation Society 

People with little imagination 

The Cucumber Growers Association 

The Bread Makers Association 

Francis Fulford (plus offspring) the basis for Tim Nice-Butt-Dim).

Jeffrey Howard Archer

Previous Cucumber Sandwich Munchers.

Brian Alfred Christopher Bushell Sewell

Norman Antony Francis St John-Stevas, (Baron St John of Fawsley).

Inverse snobbery at its finest...

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

Inverse snobbery at its finest...

Personally I have nothing against cucumber sandwiches, with or without the crusts cut orf. Although I have found that the doorstep cut of bread does require a proportionate cucumber filling…if that makes sense.
 

Actually I haven’t got anything against cucumber sandwich eaters either, whether they be posh or aspiring to be posh. 

 

Mrs Grizz grows cucumbers every year and bakes bread periodically. 
 

Now I know that you are going to find this hard to believe @iL Dottore…. but I was being ever so slight mischievous.😏 

 

Actually, apart from a fried egg, chilie chutney sandwich, which a have used as part of a cure for many a stonky wonky hangover.

 

….one of my favourite sandwiches, but I’m only permitted a couple per year…..is Mrs Grizz’s fresh baked bread, with lashings of real butter, with generous slices of fried, locally produced, black pudd, adorned with braised peach slices in red currant jelly (Mrs Grizz makes that too), with taramasalata.  
 

Mmmmmmmmm…….bout as healthy as jumping off a cliff. But if you are going to jump, then you may as well put bricks in your pockets. 

 

 

[Grizz]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

Just browsing through the Aldi leaflet for next week.

They are offering their own-brand Gin in a "paper" bottle.  Its supposed to be eco-friendly...

 

How long do you have before the gin eats its way out?🤔

 

Our home made gin eats the enamel off of the bath! 
 

It has a certain robustness that demands attention……possibly medical. 

Edited May 19 by Grizz

[Hroth]

4 minutes ago, Grizz said:

Our home made gin eats the enamel off of the bath! 
 

It has a certain robustness that demands attention……possibly medical. 

 

Quick rather than sloe gin? 🤔

 

🤪🤪🤪

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Quite warm and sunny at the moment, 21C. according to the thingummy at the bottom of the screen. But its a bit on the muggy side, not surprising as the humidity is 88%. I think some eyelid inspection is due this afternoon.

[PhilJ W]

7 minutes ago, Grizz said:

Our home made gin eats the enamel off of the bath! 
 

It has a certain robustness that demands attention……possibly medical. 

Bathtub gin?

[Tony_S]

50 minutes ago, Grizz said:

but I was being ever so slight mischievous.😏 

I assumed you were. The inclusion of Jacob R-M in any list is as good as a smiley.  
We were having our usual breakfast of buttered toast a few days ago and I commented  that there was something wrong with the butter. Unsalted had been put in the butter dish. I consume very little added salt and am aware of hidden salt. However I really do not like unsalted butter other than for using as a cooking ingredient. I don’t like non butter spreads either and would rather leave them off. So I like salted butter and it isn’t harming me. According to my latest blood electrolyte readings if my sodium were any lower I would need supplements! I can’t get excited about cucumber. It is one of those things that it makes Aditi happy if I eat them, though they don’t get peeled or deseeded. If Aditi makes a cheese or ham sandwich she will sneak in some salad items!
We haven’t ever successfully grown cucumbers though we did try a long time ago. The first tomato seedlings have just poked through the compost. Our neighbours  have allegedly planted loads of things but have just departed for a couple of weeks to Wales. Aditi has volunteered me to keep an eye on them and water if necessary. 
Tony

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, Grizz said:

Now I know that you are going to find this hard to believe @iL Dottore…. but I was being ever so slightly mischievous.😏 

You ARE a naughty Bear! ( perhaps not as naughty as The Other Bear, but still a naughty-step candidate 😁)

 

1 hour ago, Grizz said:

Actually, apart from a fried egg, chilie chutney sandwich, which a have used as part of a cure for many a stonky wonky hangover

Now that does sound intriguing,  Now, I am assuming that the egg is "sunny side up" - which means it will be runny and if you are as fragile post-hangover as your post suggests, then the risk of getting egg yolk and chilli chutney everywhere but inside of you seems dangerously high.

 

My twist would be to lightly scramble the egg (adding a few chopped green or red fresh chilies in the process) and "butter" the bread with the chutney. I suppose you could use a white bap, but all that rolled up in a still warm naan will certainly see you right for the day. Adding some crispy bacon wouldn't go amiss (there is absolutely nothing that can't be improved upon by the addition of crisp bacon - even CAKE [there is something called candied bacon and good it is too])

 

1 hour ago, Grizz said:

….one of my favourite sandwiches, but I’m only permitted a couple per year…..is Mrs Grizz’s fresh baked bread, with lashings of real butter, with generous slices of fried, locally produced, black pudd, adorned with braised peach slices in red currant jelly (Mrs Grizz makes that too), with taramasalata. 

I'm not convinced about the taramasalata, but black pudding (one of the foods of the gods) plus semi-sweet fruit sounds like a great combination. Fruit and meat is still popular in the Levant, as it used to be in Britain until quite recently (it was either in Victorian or Edwardian times when meat with fruits fell out of favour, it was still popular in Georgian times) - although stuffed prunes wrapped in bacon (Devils on Horseback) is still often seen.

[DaveF]

A normalish Sunday here, it has stayed cloudy and cool all day, it reached 14°C at lunchtime and has now dropped back to 12°C again.   I think the heating may be on this evening for an hour or so.

 

I went to church as usual, being Pentecost it was a different somewhat longer service but it went quite well though the visiting vicar was not used to the service we used.  

 

On the way to church the tyre pressure warning light came on, I checked the pressuresand found  they were all a bit high, the refinished wheel about 3psi higher than the others.  After lunch I corrected the pressures and then reset the monitoring system, the first time it said another tyre was wrong but eventually it seems to have sorted itself out.  Coming home from the garage on Friday I had thought the pressures were a bit out but hadn't thought to check them.

 

Since then I've done more gardening, some daffodils which didn't flower this year have been removed along with some self seeded yellow Welsh poppies which were in the wrong place.  It looks better now.

 

Nothing is planned for the rest of the day, it will probably be a bit of TV, some reading and perhaps working on photos.  I notice Countryfile is in Nortumberland so I will watch it.

 

David

[southern42]

20 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Now your just showing off.

 

You will be pleased to learn that mine has also flowered. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it when the sun was shining, so you'll just have take my word for it.

 

Ps mines not as good as yours.

 

Thumbs up that your iris also flowered.

 

Most of my photos were taken against the light and I had to use full editor exposure and a bit of brilliance to get it even close to the original! Sadly, the flower went all limp and fell off at 5 o'clock - now lying on top of a flower pot outside! I await the fate of the last three buds. Whatever happens to these, it was still a great pleasure and a privilege to see it opening during the day. I would hardly have noticed the changes had it been in the garden. If only some were as kind to their neighbours...

 

 

[polybear]

5 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Two points Bear:

• The list is for people with functioning tastebuds
• The list is for people who appreciate proper food for “grown ups”

 

Big Ouch

So a jam sarnie made with fancy “proper” bread and pukka jam (that meets iD’s criteria for being “proper” with no E numbers etc. ) doesn’t equal good?

 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

You ARE a naughty Bear! ( perhaps not as naughty as The Other Bear, but still a naughty-step candidate 😁)

 
Recognition at last!!  😁

[Barry O]

Cricket has been enjoyed.

Sun has been shining and it was very warm... Nice!

 

Still nice and warm here.. my joints appreciate the heat and dry air.

 

Our garden has suddenly gained open flowers.. from Cala Lillies, through Roses to Alpines and Peonies.. wonderful!

 

Baz

[Ozexpatriate]

6 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I wonder how many under 50s refer to a burger by its original moniker: the Hamburger? “Burger” seems to have become ubiquitous)

Hamburger is still used regularly here, though not ubiquitously. It is still a menu item at McDonalds so GenZ will use the term. With cheese it does become a "Cheeseburger".

 

The reference to Hamburg (as Hamburger steak) is known, but in the same way that Frankfurter sausages are widely abbreviated to "Franks" (which are of course not ground-up medieval French people) "burgers" is common. 

 

Braunschweiger / Brunswick sausage (mettwurst) is known, but gets confused with liverwurst in the US.

 

I noticed the change decades ago in Australia when people started using terms like "Steak burger" or "Chicken burger" to refer to sandwiches using the same buns - making Ham burger confusing to some.

 

The culture of 19th century German immigrants was (slightly) less repressed in the US than it was in Australia, though it took a big hit in the wake of the Great War. Many may not realize that it was anti-German sentiment that helped the passage of the 18th Amendment (prohibition) in 1919, since German immigrants were very visible in brewing in the US - names like Eberhard Anheuser, Adolphus Busch, Adolph Coors, Friedrich Pabst and Friedrich Müller still have brewing entities named after them.

 

Rather than "burger", in the US it is more common to see the term steak/chicken sandwich and of course McDonalds calls their fish sandwich the Fillet O' Fish. There's a whole subgenre of spicy fried chicken sandwiches - with eateries dedicated to that dish. Despite using the same buns they are called sandwiches. If they use a small roll they are called sliders.

 

Edited May 19 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, Grizz said:

….one of my favourite sandwiches, but I’m only permitted a couple per year…..is Mrs Grizz’s fresh baked bread, with lashings of real butter, with generous slices of fried, locally produced, black pudd, adorned with braised peach slices in red currant jelly (Mrs Grizz makes that too), with taramasalata. 

 

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I'm not convinced about the taramasalata, 

Nor was I. It's not often I encounter a food that I did not recognize but I had to look that up. I am a big fan of fishiness, (anchovy paste was a staple in mum's cupboard) but that doesn't sound like it 'goes' with the peaches and red currant jelly.

 

I could imagine some red chilies being incorporated in the peaches and red currant jelly.

[Coombe Barton]

... Domestically, sorting out chaos, but chaos is refusing to be sorted, or at least is very reluctant. ....

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/19/covid-infections-possible-inconsistency-strawberries-and-domestics/

[Winslow Boy]

57 minutes ago, southern42 said:

 

Thumbs up that your iris also flowered.

 

Most of my photos were taken against the light and I had to use full editor exposure and a bit of brilliance to get it even close to the original! Sadly, the flower went all limp and fell off at 5 o'clock - now lying on top of a flower pot outside! I await the fate of the last three buds. Whatever happens to these, it was still a great pleasure and a privilege to see it opening during the day. I would hardly have noticed the changes had it been in the garden. If only some were as kind to their neighbours...

 

 

They are quite delicate flowers if truth be told. In my previous garden I had several clumps of them in various colours as the ground was ideal being very free draining.

 

Here though it's not so good as it's more overshadowed. There used to be a lovely sky blue one, but it hasn't flowered years despite my best efforts.