Early Risers.

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

Bear "may" have had some Pizza whilst in Lisbon (purely for scientific purposes you understand....) - one of which was, well, quite frankly CR@P and most definitely an offence under the trade descriptions act 🤬.

Sad, very sad. All the way to Lisbon just to eat pizza. Coulda stayed at home with a sunlamp, a few boxes Dr Oetker’s pizza and saved £££££ 🤣

 

I’ve never seen the point of travelling long distances only to avoid the local food.

 

One would have thought that if one wasn’t both a bona-fide and an  omnivore, one would research the food culture?
 

Let’s face it, not liking tinned baked beans AT ALL it would be kinda stupid of me to travel all the way to the Republic of Bearystan (national flag: two tins of baked beans on a green background) and then find out ONLY when I’ve arrived in that local food consists of baked beans at each and every meal.

 

It would then be even more stupid for me to complain that the locals are making little or effort to accommodate my dietary “needs” of Champagne and Caviar, with me not knowng (or worse not caring) that neither alcohol (like champagne) or seafood (like caviar) are an acceptable part of Bearystan culinary culture…

1 hour ago, polybear said:

As for @iL Dottore's rule never to eat in any restaurant that gives the menu in both local language as well as english - good luck with that one in Lisbon. 

That’s true of any place infested (and I use that word deliberately) by cut-rate tourists and the instagram addled cruise ship inmates. In many places, like Lisbon and Venice, locals are starting to realise that AirBnB and cruise ships cause more damage than benefit. So anything truly authentic and local - prized by the locals - is both off the beaten path and kept well below the mass tourist radar horizon.

 

[Tony_S]

4 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I’ve never seen the point of travelling long distances only to avoid the local food.

There are other reasons to travel in addition to eating. The local,cuisine in Iceland isn’t the reason we are going. We would like to see the puffins, whales and sharks not eat them. 

[iL Dottore]

1 minute ago, Tony_S said:

There are other reasons to travel in addition to eating. The local,cuisine in Iceland isn’t the reason we are going. We would like to see the puffins, whales and sharks not eat them. 

Local food is all part of the experience. For some it’s the lesser part, for others an equal part of the experience - up there with museums, sights and attractions. For the travelling Gastronaut, local food could be the major part of the experience.

 

Furthermore, in many countries food is a far more important part of the national culture than it is in the UK (in the UK, booze rather than food is the cultural unifier and “going down the pub” still a major part of UK life) and it is by eating local and with the locals that you can immerse yourself further into the environment you are visiting

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

5 hours sleep, medium awake, short doze, couldn't find a  comfortable position, then I did, 1.5 hours sleep.

 

Ben, 

Yesterday during the night he had got up from bed, had a drink then moved to his cool place.

But in the morning he refused to get up, he had a vets appointment today anyway. So we carried him out on a  "stretcher" of Vetbed. At the vets carried him in.

He was slowly suffering from kidney failure anyway, he had a high heart rate, we knew he was feeling hot and panting a lot, the vet said he was collecting liquid internally. Nothing more could be done.

 

Once we got home I cleared the next place in our doggy grave yard, and did a lot of digging. For once no tree roots were hit, so the biggest problem was getting back out of the hole. He was then laid to rest.

 

 

This morning, I'm now waiting for the new pill, to have it's lonesome half hour, before breakfast.

Peering out of the window, it's dull grey, and there are puddles..

 

Plans for today,

More accounts,

Making plans for a new gate, work out a purchasing plan.

 

Almost time to make breakfast.

[Erichill16]

Never thought about choosing a holiday destination on the basis of the local cuisine. 
When we went to Antarctica with Hurtigruten most meals featured reindeer which I believe is only to be found (alive) in the northern hemisphere.

 

[jjb1970]

I couldn't help thinking these signs on opposite sides of the road slightly incongruous.....

 

[polybear]

40 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Sad, very sad. All the way to Lisbon just to eat pizza. Coulda stayed at home with a sunlamp, a few boxes Dr Oetker’s pizza and saved £££££ 🤣

 

I’ve never seen the point of travelling long distances only to avoid the local food.

 

One would have thought that if one wasn’t both a bona-fide and an  omnivore, one would research the food culture?
 

Let’s face it, not liking tinned baked beans AT ALL it would be kinda stupid of me to travel all the way to the Republic of Bearystan (national flag: two tins of baked beans on a green background) and then find out ONLY when I’ve arrived in that local food consists of baked beans at each and every meal.

 

It would then be even more stupid for me to complain that the locals are making little or effort to accommodate my dietary “needs” of Champagne and Caviar, with me not knowng (or worse not caring) that neither alcohol (like champagne) or seafood (like caviar) are an acceptable part of Bearystan culinary culture…

That’s true of any place infested (and I use that word deliberately) by cut-rate tourists and the instagram addled cruise ship inmates. In many places, like Lisbon and Venice, locals are starting to realise that AirBnB and cruise ships cause more damage than benefit. So anything truly authentic and local - prized by the locals - is both off the beaten path and kept well below the mass tourist radar horizon.

 

 

Bear isn't a great meat eater, and fish/seafood (with an odd, rare exception) is definitely off the list so this does kinda limit Bear's options somewhat.  There was one or two local dishes I did have (a soup was one of them); others included a Veggie Burger and also a Lasagne, both of which I suspect that iD may accuse of being "not local cuisine".....

They did taste rather good though, so that's a Tick in this Bear's Scoff Book.....😁

 

In my defence I did sample one or two dozen Pastel de Nata - and you don't get much more authentic than that.....

[Gwiwer]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

There are other reasons to travel in addition to eating. The local,cuisine in Iceland isn’t the reason we are going. We would like to see the puffins, whales and sharks not eat them. 

Absolutely. 
 

I would love to see a volcano in eruption but have no desire to barbecue my reindeer steak upon it. 

[DaveF]

A very fresh cloudy morning after last night's rain.  If it doesn't warm up soon I'll need a thick sweater and the heating back on.

 

I had an e mail from a bank I use yesterday saying they are closing the local branch, it will be only about 7 miles to the nearest one.  I'll be honest, the only time I go to the branch is when I receive a cheque which won't pay in the with app, usually when the cheque writer has not made out the cheque exactlty as instructed with my name correct.  It is still a nuisance not havng a local branch though. I may open an account with the bank which says it will not close any branches until at least 2028.

 

Shortly I shall be visiting the dentist for a routine hygiene session, then I expect to work on yesterday's photos.  It is too wet again to do much in the garden.

 

David

[The White Rabbit]

Morning all. Apologies for mentioning a naughty subject but if I can offer one piece of advice for tomorrow:

 

[Compound2632]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

 

Appalling misogyny.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning world.  Back on the rock after a good journey yesterday, no kippers on the ferry were apparent so made do with scone and coffee.

 

Q, my deepest commiserations.  We have had 4 cats but can no longer take the hurt of their loss.

 

Our holiday declared a success, 18 days in the van is the longest we have done, it was sort of in celebration of our 40th welding anniversary (copyright Oldudders) as opportunity arose for Mrs NHN to have a longer break from work than usual.  It is our National Day - Tynwald Day - on Friday, and as she no longer work Wednesdays, three days leave brought another week off work.  Met with MrsNHN's bestie from when she was at school in Guernsey, haven't seen them for some time so that was really great.  She's a nice girl who has made some poor decisions with husbands in the past, but number 3 is really good for her and they are deliriously happy.  Got there in the end.  This was a real upper for Debs as she thinks a lot of her friend and has really worried about her in the past.

 

Not only that, but while we were away a box was delivered with a half price 6 wheeled O Gauge device in it - GDB knows what!  I may in trouble over than one though. Oh-oh.

 

So now back to washing, more washing and yet more, and back to diet as we have been a bit naughty while away eating things we really shouldn't - I daren't do my blood sugar.  Prepare for GP bollocking......

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

We've had some overnight rain, but that had stopped by the time I was up and dressed. It was sunny a few minutes ago,  it now looks like it could chuckitdarn at any moment. My first job of the day is to have a look at the motorised valve on the hot water heating system as I think it’s stuck! After that, I’m not sure, but the weather may make my mind up. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Late today, I didn't get up until 08.05, disgusting state of affairs!  

Grey skies here and it looks like we had some rain earlier, a few spots at the moment with more to come and it's breezy.  15°C rising to 20°C.

Nicki and friends were due to take off from Palma a few minutes ago but the flight seems to be delayed, not surprised at that. 

Some admin work needs doing and then I'll probably watch some cycling and to see if Cav can pull it out of the bag this time. 

Tonight we're off out for a meal, some friends gave us a gift voucher for a local eatery for our birthdays last year and we've only just got around to using it.  Looking forward to that.

Time is moving on, I'd best be about it.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

Edited July 3 by grandadbob

[TheQ]

Accounting, bank demand some details to be uploaded, with a link to upload each document, but one of the links is not what they asked for...

 

Online text help links back to itself, and chat online reverts back to faqs.

 

Edited July 3 by TheQ

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

I couldn't help thinking these signs on opposite sides of the road slightly incongruous.....

 

 

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Appalling misogyny.

The same rule is also applied in orthodox synagogues.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. It was pouring down early this morning so the G word is out. Plenty to do indoors though. Had an announcement this morning that tomorrows garden railway opening is cancelled, 'due to illness'. I do hope it's nothing serious, the owner is well into his eighties but seems as fit as a fiddle. Which reminds me about an item on BBC breakfast this morning. There is another England soccer team due to play an international match, to qualify for the team you have to be 75 years or older. 

[jjb1970]

13 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

The same rule is also applied in orthodox synagogues.

 

I just found the contrast between the religious puritanical attitude and permissive culture of what seems to be a rather raunchy club facing eachother across the street rather odd.

Edited July 3 by jjb1970

[TheQ]

Oh joy, a MRC member I was in a room with has reported with COVID, I believe he's just back  from holiday too.

 

 

[PupCam]

 Morning (Pre-munch)!

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Local food is all part of the experience. For some it’s the lesser part, for others an equal part of the experience - up there with museums, sights and attractions. For the travelling Gastronaut, local food could be the major part of the experience.

 

Furthermore, in many countries food is a far more important part of the national culture than it is in the UK (in the UK, booze rather than food is the cultural unifier and “going down the pub” still a major part of UK life) and it is by eating local and with the locals that you can immerse yourself further into the environment you are visiting

 

For some*, eating is but  a necessary chore and thus the only point of consideration might be;   Are there any facilities available at all that provide acceptable to the user  scoff?  Where it came from,  how it was prepared and even what it contained might not be of the slightest interest whatsoever.

 

* Note not Puppers.  I think Puppers lies smack on the centre of the Bell curve in terms of what he eats and somewhere to the right of centre on the quality Bell curve.

 

3 hours ago, polybear said:

Bear isn't a great meat eater, and fish/seafood (with an odd, rare exception) is definitely off the list so this does kinda limit Bear's options somewhat.  There was one or two local dishes I did have (a soup was one of them); others included a Veggie Burger and also a Lasagne, both of which I suspect that iD may accuse of being "not local cuisine".....

They did taste rather good though, so that's a Tick in this Bear's Scoff Book.....😁

 

In my defence I did sample one or two dozen Pastel de Nata - and you don't get much more authentic than that.....

 

There, sorted the formatting error of your post.   And you didn't even make very special Beary arrangements to bring a few back for Puppers!

 

BTW I hope you get shot of Virgil the Virus PDQ.

 

31 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Oh joy, a MRC member I was in a room with has reported with COVID, I believe he's just back  from holiday too.

 

Hmm, holidays are sounding dangerous.     SiL and hubby have just come back from Dorzett stuffed with Covid too.

 

Fingers crossed you don't cop it @The Q.    That would be the icing on a not very nice cake!  😢

 

ION

 

Hospital appointment this morning;  "Our work here is done" or words to that effect.  This was expected as I've been "taken over" by the large hospital "Up the smoke"  for this matter.

 

Hospital appointment this evening;   I hope they can get started on finding out what's going on 🤞

 

Hospital appointment tomorrow;      I hope they are going to use a new blade in the Swann-Morton!

 

It's great getting old isn't it?   But so much better than the alternative.   I'm beginning to think the hospital should provide me with an allocated, reserved, named parking space🤣 

 

Munch Time

 

TTFN

 

 

 

 

Edited July 3 by PupCam

[PupCam]

By the way,  Am I the only one seeing a large Banner add at the top of the page?   

 

           I've paid good money to make those go away!

 

Edited July 3 by PupCam

[grandadbob]

Admin stuff done, mainly counting tokens and placing some in another account to deal with upcoming expenditure.

Russ from next door popped in for a brief chat and to thank me for watering his garden whilst he was away.  Mustn't forget I've got another garden to tend for the next couple of weeks.  We've had a couple of spots of rain, I'm hoping we get quite a bit more later on which will then save me a task.

Nicki's flight was 31 minutes late taking off but only expected to be 11 minutes late landing so that's not too bad.  Apparently she's caught a cold whilst away, I hope it's nothing worse.

The Boss is preparing lunch and then I'll probably settle down and watch some bicycling.

[polybear]

9 minutes ago, PupCam said:

There, sorted the formatting error of your post.   And you didn't even make very special Beary arrangements to bring a few back for Puppers!

 

Bear would've liked nothing better - sadly extensive enquiries all confirmed that "There lies food poisoning" if not scoffed in 24 hours or so.

 

However, and if it's any consolation, Bear did think that "Yum yum...Puppers would really....yum yum...like....yum yum....these rather....scoff scoff scoff.....a lot....."  😁

 

 

9 minutes ago, PupCam said:

BTW I hope you get shot of Virgil the Virus PDQ.

 

Thanks Puppers - and may your exploits with our good 'ol NHS go well.....

[polybear]

Bear here....

 

The joys of ironing accomplished - that's a Tick.

Then it was packing up a Motorcycle Luggage Rack that's just been sold on the 'bay - fortunately I'd kept the original box it arrived in 39 years ago, so I reckon that's worth another Tick.

Din dins scoffed - only soup and a slice of bread today ☹️ as I need to get back on the straight n' narrow again.

Right, two more items to pack ready for posting - but I s'pose I'd better phone Mickey's fixit team first....

 

BG

[Winslow Boy]

32 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Admin stuff done, mainly counting tokens and placing some in another account to deal with upcoming expenditure.

Russ from next door popped in for a brief chat and to thank me for watering his garden whilst he was away.  Mustn't forget I've got another garden to tend for the next couple of weeks.  We've had a couple of spots of rain, I'm hoping we get quite a bit more later on which will then save me a task.

Nicki's flight was 31 minutes late taking off but only expected to be 11 minutes late landing so that's not too bad.  Apparently she's caught a cold whilst away, I hope it's nothing worse.

The Boss is preparing lunch and then I'll probably settle down and watch some bicycling.

Afraid not with the watering duties. Even with quite heavy down pours pots and tubs do not receive enough. This is especially true with hanging baskets. The only advantage of damp weather is that the plants don't dry out as fast but they still need water.