Early Risers.

[Barry O]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

That's a long way from Estuary-Land.

It was in that area where I last had chips fried with beef dripping. What killed off beef dripping for frying was mad cow disease.

Round here it was a major lack of availability and some people can have quite adverse results of eating beef dripping fried chips.

 

The two Fush and chip shops at Beamish are very different. One is coal fired and uses beef dropping. The other has an electric range and uses veg oil.

 

Of course you can run a diesel vehicle on used cooking oil..  not sure used beef dripping would work...

 

Baz

[Gwiwer]

One from the evening trip last night. 
 

After a fission-chip supper I hopped on the open-top bus along the coast to St Ives.  A fine sunny day turned into a mystically misty evening as we twisted and turned, climbed and descended into and out of the fog.  Among a modest number of fellow travellers was a Chinese-American hoping to reach Newquay later in the evening (optimistic but possible) and two Australian-American women on an unplanned “going where the mood takes us” European trip. 
 

We got talking. I was asked about the local history and was able to answer some questions.  I left the bus in St Ives for an hour’s sunset wander around. The place was bustling. 
 

Onto the next bus an hour later for the return home the long way round via Penzance. Who should get on in Marazion - having walked the causeway over to St Michael’s Mount and back in the dark - but the two young women from before.  We resumed the conversation and had found all sorts of common ground before we finally parted in Penzance. 
 

We all gained new friendships and two travellers left very impressed that they could still get a bus to their camp site at 11pm in such a place.

 

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening out which ended at 23.50 on the last bus home. And I probably passed @Coombe Barton somewhere in the dark too.  
 

Here’s Porthmeor Beach seen from The Island in St Ives.
 

 

[Gwiwer]

5 hours ago, Barry O said:

beef dropping

Sounds like bulls hit to me 🤣

 

💩

Edited August 1 by Gwiwer

[PupCam]

Morning,  

 

Rabbits, white, for the use of.

 

Another walk walked this morning.

 

Another consultation this afternoon.

 

It's all go being retired isn't it?

 

TTFN

 

 

[BoD]

3 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Weather radar shows considerable precipitation over north-east UK, (my old neck of the woods) so I shouldn't complain

It wasn’t telling lies.  It has stopped now and is forecast to brighten up soonNot that it particularly matters as we are off to do the weekly shop shortly.

Edited August 1 by BoD

[45156]

Morning All,

 

Managed the unaccompanied trip round Ludlow this morning - walked to bus stop, bus to town - strange driver due to illness/holidays went the wrong way round a loop of side streets, and discovered why the loop is the other way - the exit to the loop is a SHARP left turn when taken on the wrong direction - four reverses round, and I reckon he'll not do that again.  Walked to the secret bakers (we call it that because the locals keep its presence to themselves - down a narrow back street) for a large sausage roll, a lovely beef and veg pasty, four rolls, a viennese shell, and a country fruit cake - visitors if asking for a bakers usually get directed to Greggs in the high street.  Then on to bank to get a statement, and back on the bus at the bottom.  Also picked up my will from our previous solicitors as my recent illness revealed some areas where clarification and amendment were needed - our existing solicitor wanted £900 plus VAT to redo two simple wills - found a well recommended practice in town who did them for £500 plus VAT.

 

Meantime, 30747 and I crossed as she got the next bus to go to Church Stretton where our second favourite bakers is located - she was instructed that no purchases were necessary (thereby saving us a couple of quid as the Church Stretton shop is MUCH dearer).  According to Bustimes.org she's on her way home, which means we can soon tuck into the comestibles.

 

As to naughty  foods, see above.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

Edited August 1 by 45156

[Sidecar Racer]

19 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

I was going to comment/explain as follows;

a) I don't think they allow unhinged individuals to compete

b) I don't think multiple magazines and an AR15/AK47 is allowed

c) there are probably no live innocent people down the range

 

but that would possibly seem too cynical/stereotypical, so I thought twice about it... then couldn't stop myself!

 

 d) Clint Eastwood's past his best for accuracy .

[Sidecar Racer]

19 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

 Never mind gravel rash, they should google 'de-gloving'. 

 

 

 And then open images .    🤢  🤢

[Tony_S]

36 minutes ago, PupCam said:

Rabbits, white, for the use of.

The first school I taught in taught Rural Studies. The course had to include some rural livestock so rabbits, bees, ducks , geese and chickens were kept. It was made quite clear that the rabbits (big white ones) were not pets. However whenever the Rural Studies teacher mentioned that the rabbits were off to the butcher next week they were all purchased (please Mum , can we save a rabbit…) and lived out their retirement as pets. 

[Tony_S]

29 minutes ago, BoD said:

we are off to do the weekly shop shortly.

It is 27C here, not really sunny, but with a gentle breeze. We have got to go out. Aditi had a doctors appointment this morning but she was telephoned quite early to inform her that the GP she saw last time (the senior partner) who had made the follow up appointment had made it for a day he wasn’t in! They have made another appointment for this afternoon. Parking shouldn’t be difficult as it is school holidays but I will drive so she doesn’t have to look for parking. The surgery closed their car park a couple,of years ago except for staff and blue badge holders due to some dreadful incidents by patients who seemed to park where not allowed or run  people over. They will lift the barrier for dropping off though. 

Edited August 1 by Tony_S

[New Haven Neil]

A quick into town for the library (Val McDarmid murder mysteries) resulted in a naughty sausage roll from a local baker, Welsh Dragon filling, yum, then a walk was walked but hips said to stop after a mile and a quarter, luckily when relatively near my starting point.  Really stiff this morning, not sure why.

 

So now polishing my backside upping the caffeine intake as I neglected to do so earlier.  This afternoon's entertainment not yet chosen.  No orders left, so that's a plus!

 

Busy day tomorrow, old farts breakfast then hospickle to discuss foot surgery V3.0 (or not) with orthopaedic surgeon, I think hips are higher up the list now.  Certainly hurt less.

[polybear]

40 minutes ago, 45156 said:

Morning All,

 

Managed the unaccompanied trip round Ludlow this morning - walked to bus stop, bus to town - strange driver due to illness/holidays went the wrong way round a loop of side streets, and discovered why the loop is the other way - the exit to the loop is a SHARP left turn when taken on the wrong direction - four reverses round, and I reckon he'll not do that again.  Walked to the secret bakers (we call it that because the locals keep its presence to themselves - down a narrow back street) for a large sausage roll, a lovely beef and veg pasty, four rolls, a viennese shell, and a country fruit cake - visitors if asking for a bakers usually get directed to Greggs in the high street.  Then on to bank to get a statement, and back on the bus at the bottom.  Also picked up my will from our previous solicitors as my recent illness revealed some areas where clarification and amendment were needed - our existing solicitor wanted £900 plus VAT to redo two simple wills - found a well recommended practice in town who did them for £500 plus VAT.

 

Meantime, 30747 and I crossed as she got the next bus to go to Church Stretton where our second favourite bakers is located - she was instructed that no purchases were necessary (thereby saving us a couple of quid as the Church Stretton shop is MUCH dearer).  According to Bustimes.org she's on her way home, which means we can soon tuck into the comestibles.

 

As to naughty  foods, see above.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

£900+vat??

That’s robbery

[Barry O]

For those unfortunate  ERs who don't  live in or were born in Yorkshire 

 

As it happens the sun is now cracking the flags here..

 

Baz

[The Lurker]

Warm day here in Southwark. The office is fairly quiet and the deal we all hoped would signed at some unearthly time last night appears not to have been signed yet. At least the meeting where they were going to hold now has been cancelled. I'm off work for over a week after today which feels a good thing.

 

Guilty food pleasures - quite a few really, and probably not all bad for me.

 

Pork pies

Full English

Burger (decent ones, I am not talking Maccy D's here).

Pizza (something nice and spicy)

Indian food (I had a thali from Gujarati Rasoi for my lunch today https://boroughmarket.org.uk/traders/gujarati-rasoi/ )

salami/chorizo/saucisson sec etc

 

and occasional sessions of biscuits, chocolate, sweets

 

 

 

[Barry O]

Visited the Marie Celeste to get a follow up appointment. One person in the  waiting room.. Next available appointment.. end of September. 

 and that's before they work to rule...

 

Does anyone understand what a salaried job means??

 

Baz

Edited August 1 by Barry O

[jjb1970]

8 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I'm surprised they don't just market them as beefburgers - even if the term is silly. Unless it is some processed patty*, non-beef "burgers" are almost always called sandwiches in most US chains - chicken sandwich, steak sandwich, fish sandwich, etc. Unless it's a hot dog (which of course is a sandwich).

 

* Like a 'salmon burger' using some processed patty that is almost entirely unlike actual salmon. Grilled salmon on a bun would be a salmon sandwich.

 

Most places do, it seems to be an issue with certain multi-national chains/franchises. The marketing stuff and restaurant furnishings follow a corporate standard, I suspect it's a lot cheaper to just tape over offending bits than alter designs. Japanese restaurants get around it with Hamburg steak which is more obviously derived from the city. And in fairness some places don't bother and use hamburger with no issues, which may indicate it is more corporate risk sensitivity than a real issue. Though I think always of Jakarta which is quite liberal minded, I can better understand it in some of the provinces like Aceh where religion exerts much more influence. Indonesia is like most countries in that attitudes in the capital can be very different from rural areas.

[jjb1970]

3 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

 

It may be incorrect but I've always called them beefburgers. Or beef patties. 

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/313633561523499811/ 

 

In Carlisle a patty was mashed potato mixed with either mince or cheese then deep fried in batter. Not sure if it's a Cumbrian thing as the idea doesn't seem very common elsewhere and seems to be dying out in Cumbria as most chip shops are now kebab shops, Chinese takeaways etc.

[monkeysarefun]

20 minutes ago, Barry O said:

For those unfortunate  ERs who don't  live in or were born in Yorkshire 

 

As it happens the sun is now cracking the flags here..

 

Baz

 

Famous things from Yorkshire that came here.

 

Captain Cooks Cottage

Geoff Boycott

Michael Parkinson Down Under.

The TV series where that vet  goes around sticking his arm up cows bums in the 1950's.

Baz The Droughtbreaker.

Edited August 1 by monkeysarefun

[The White Rabbit]

7 hours ago, Hroth said:

...  Any suggestions on how to cook the white rabbits from your knowlegable taxi driver? 

 

 

Step One: Marinade said rabbits in cider and calvados, to be applied internally until thoroughly soaked. 

 

There is no step two. 

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

The first school I taught in taught Rural Studies. The course had to include some rural livestock so rabbits, bees, ducks , geese and chickens were kept. It was made quite clear that the rabbits (big white ones) were not pets. However whenever the Rural Studies teacher mentioned that the rabbits were off to the butcher next week they were all purchased (please Mum , can we save a rabbit…) and lived out their retirement as pets. 

There are Agricultural Colleges here that specialise in rural studies, a hangover from when the rich graziers of the western plains etc would send their sons to boarding school to learn the finer points of agri-business.

 

The Sydney Royal Easter Agricultural Show - up until the 1990's -  had a competition where the various colleges would present their prize cow for judging  on its fine pedigree in the morning,   and then in the afternoon would present it again neatly cut into bits in the butchering part of the event.

Edited August 1 by monkeysarefun

[Gwiwer]

The First of 0rgy-lust!  Albino Leporidae!  
 

Dr SWMBO reports that she has been crowned. Queen of Everything?  Kew the Unexpected?  Whacked firmly from above?
 

No. Just a Deltic double-header paid over to the tooth wrangler pain for the relief of. 
 

We might still arrange an official Coronation party. There’s already Coronation Chicken in the fridge. 

 

In other news the cottage is spick, span and ready for the next ten days. She has rearranged some travel so as to attend a friend’s bridal shower which is on a Sunday. She would normally be here. So for the next full week she is WFH and then spends ten days away. 
 

A little tidy-up spot-painting has been done. The garden looks fine and attracts favourable comments from folks passing by. 
 

My next mission - should I choose to accept it - is to discover the happy Abba song.  Even the up-beat ones have an underlying sadness. There must be one, surely? 
 

 

Edited August 1 by Gwiwer
Flippin’ filters

[The White Rabbit]

12 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

In Carlisle a patty was mashed potato mixed with either mince or cheese then deep fried in batter. Not sure if it's a Cumbrian thing as the idea doesn't seem very common elsewhere and seems to be dying out in Cumbria as most chip shops are now kebab shops, Chinese takeaways etc.

 

A corned beef fritter was mashed potato and corned beef and fried. I'm not sure that fritter is the correct term - doubtless il D will know - but it's what the local chip shops and butchers/supermarkets call them. Occasionally beef fritters with either salt beef or beef pieces subbed for corned beef. Salt beef and cabbage fritters were good. Beef pieces tended to be very small, almost pizza topping varieties of poor quality meat. I've done similar dishes but as I don't have a deep fryer it's an improvise shallow fry and in the oven job. 

 

Pork and beef patties are terms sometimes used round here when what looks and tastes very much like a burger isn't called a burger - for whatever reason. Perhaps sort of like a Lorne sausage?  

[monkeysarefun]

I just did my tax - the financial year here ends June 30.  The estimator at the end says I get back 15.6 sound equipped Deltics, which I have absolutely no use for, (in fact I finally got around to  googling what  a deltic even is and I've got to say that if anything   they look  a little bit on the effeminate side)  but more importantly I could in theory buy 9 more 3D printers!

 

AS a bonus I logged into the ATO website  an hour after I lodged  it and my status is "pending bank balance" which their FAQ says means that the money is on its way, no questions asked so I'll be living high on the hog this weekend until the cash  runs out. 

 

 

Edited August 1 by monkeysarefun

[jjb1970]

I was mis-assessed in my first tax demand here (there is no PAYE, taxes are paid in arrears), when I called the tax department I was told the best way to deal with it was to pay then ask to be re-assessed and the over payment would be refunded and it'd be dealt with very quickly. I thought 'right, yes, of course it will.....', I had confirmation of being reassessed after two days and the overpayment was transferred back the following day. Splendid.

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

My next mission - should I choose to accept it - is to discover the happy Abba song.  Even the up-beat ones have an underlying sadness. There must be one, surely? 

 

 

 

It'd be Rock Me or that bloody Dum Dum Diddly thing for sure. 

 

My dad hated "modern music" and we grew up on a musical diet of Val Doonican and Des O'connor and Frankie Lane. He'd buy various bloody Readers Digest Collections on cassette and  play them in the car wherever we went - James Last,  Eartha Kitt, that bloke who did the Baby Elephant Song. These days we'd have been taken off him and put in a foster home or something. 

 

He was a big fan of radio station 2CH on a Sunday morning where they had this programme called "family Favourites " where you could write in and request a song to be played for your relatives in the UK and vice versa. It always seemed to be "A Walk In The Black Forest" or that whistling song "I was someone or others bat man" or "A puppet on a String".

 

Then about 10 years after everyone else, he discovered Abba who somehow bypassed his "modern Music is rubbish " filter so we then had to put up with the boxed set of THEM every car trip, so I feel I am suitably qualified when I suggest that Dum Dum Dilddly song, or Rock Me.

 

Edited August 1 by monkeysarefun