Chitchat thread #24

[greenishfing]

Good morning again

It's chilly out, but the sun is shining.

I hope your hospital visit is okay, Nicos. Enjoy your picnic and find lots of berries.

I have managed to wake Mr GF up at a reasonable hour this morning. I'm pretty sure that he has swallowed his painkiller this morning ... amid much muttering and moaning. I thought he had yesterday morning, but due to the amount of moaning and groaning later in the day, I think that he had somehow disposed of it. He has now got his glasses on and hearing aids in and is in smiley mode. I think I'll give him his razor next, and see if it still works

I've got a grory hop delivery due between 11am and noon and evidently everything is available. Just as well as my chocolate supply is running low.

I think I'll get the washing machine earning it's living next.

Mothhawk, that Holly tree sounds amazing. I have vague memories of a massive one covered in berries every year in the grounds of a museum/ex stately home that was in the roaming area (a couple of miles away by footpath) of "our gang" when I was at junior school.

Evidently I have an Amazon parcel that is only 8 stops away now. One of the things in it is a couple of shell shaped dishes to make my coquilles St Jacques in as they now seem to be a firm favourite on the menu.

[greenishfing]

Back again. I think I'm just trying to delay my next job.

I thought my next job was going to be dismantling the u-bend on the kitchen sink! However I had a 💡moment. I found an ancient half bottle of drain unblocker, put that down the plughole, and it seems to have worked..... for now...... I will keep my eye on it.

I was going to put drain cleaner on my next supermarket delivery. As expected I got a couple of choices. But then there was a lot of "similar" items. I was racking my brains to work out why tinned tuna was classed as a drain cleaner. Eventually I realised it was just because it said "drained weight" in the listing

I got my little scallop shell dishes. They are exactly as described and very pretty, but they would just be too small for what I planned for them I will keep them anyway as I really like them and they will be suitable for dips or olives, etc. Unfortunately they don't make a larger size. I was just thinking that we must be greedy pigs when I realised that I make the Coquilles St Jacques as a main course rather than a starter.

The grory hop delivery has also arrived and the District nurse has been.

[bramble]

Good afternoon all and its a lovely sunny d
Got to spend a bit of time tidying up the garden,
Rary, I hope the morphine eyes Mrs Rarys pain, when I hadn't operation thdydiscovered I had an allergy to it.

Nicos, have pleasant afternoon, it sounds very relaxing,
Collecting my grandson from school so that's my afternoon spoken for.
Have a good day all.

[bramble]

Sorry Nicos, yes, I managed to get all my cards written yesterday. Put on one of my favourite Christmas music while I was doing it. I don't make my own cards but buy them from the local Catholic and Protestant church who put them on sale every year to raise money for charity.

[mothhawk]

Morning all.

It's misty murky outside, not really heavy enough to be called fog though. I can't remember the last time we had a real pea souper, they seem to be a thing of the past now. No plans for today except writing some Christmas cards then a walk later on in what I hope will be sunshine. And I'll get my old tree out of the loft for this year, which means re-arranging the furniture in the living room, but it is a pretty tree.

Have a good day all, whatever you have planned.

[greenishfing]

Morning all.

Not a good night's sleep. At 2am I was sitting in bed drinking a glass of cold milk and helping myself to a tub of Celebrations
I then put the TV back on and eventually drifted off to sleep.

I will get up and put the central heating on shortly. When things have warmed up I'll eventually think about coffee.

When I used to host the elderly in-laws and a couple of others for Christmas dinner (they are all now deceased or housebound) I used to put decorations up but as time has gone on they have got less and less. In fact I am struggling to even think of something that Mr GF will enjoy for Christmas Dinner that is "special".

There is a nurse calling today to give Mr GF his flu jab.

I am feeling a bit down this morning but I'm sure I'll start to feel better when it gets light, particularly as we have a forecast for sunshine. It is only 2°C outdoors at the moment🥶

I know what you mean about a proper pea souper, Mothhawk. It's a good few years since I encountered one. I was driving on the M1 in the early hours and it was really scarey, so much so that I got off the motorway. It's also a few years since I've had to drive in proper snow I'm glad to say. I must be turning into a "Sunday driver." That is NOT the sort of criticism that has ever been levelled at my driving however

I have now made a quick trip out of bed and turned the thermostat up. I don't think daybreak is too far away and I'm sure that I'll be ready for coffee by the time things have warmed up enough for me to venture to the kitchen.

The thought of coffee is now tempting me out of bed.

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all
Wow GF…never thought of rubbing Celebration chocolates on me to help me get back to sleep!. Must try it sometime

I was knocked out all night. No idea why but I did have a dreadful migraine yesterday which left me exhausted.
Anyway I’m awake now supping on a mug of tea.

So- a quiet day ahead of me.
I might just start writing up a rough menu for the Xmas period to make sure I have the nonperishables in.
GF…how about a selection of blinis with philli cheese and smoked salmon/ prawns for staters( or your meat paste) plus a few pigs in blankets or sausage rolls, followed by an open fish pie putting pastry stars all over it instead of a crust? Serve mashed sweet potatoes , roasties ( including roasted parsnips) and your favourite green veg of the day?
You could of course have a croissant sandwich with a slice of Turkey and stuffing at some point?
Thats what I would offer you both having looked back at your previous posts
Speaking of food- did you get those Xmas puds made and in the post to Australia?

I was just thinking that I need to try and find a few large spuds I can use as the centre of wreathe into which I can stick bay and rosemary twigs. They are strangely hard to find here- they mostly seem to be small/ medium sized.

Right…wriggle time on.
Have a great day everyone, share those lovely smiles…see ya later …

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

The early morning mist is clearing hopefully the sun will be out soon.

The oddest fog I've come across was driving along a country lane then reaching what looked like a curtain stretched across the road, it was the start of the fog.

Not much happening here today leaf collecting, domestics and a stroll.

enjoy your day

[Nicos]

Interestingly GF…. I mentioned your famous beef paste to OH just now and he’s asked if you have a recipe please!

I know you’ve share it before but I can’t seem to find it!
( we are having beef and ale pud tonight so he might just pull some meat out and give it a go!)

[greenishfing]

Nicos, my beef paste is hardly famous! After I have made stew I take some of the beef and enough gravy to make it easy to blitz with the stick blender, it doesn't matter if some veg ends up in there too. I add about a quarter of the amount of melted butter and some ground nutmeg and blitz. Adjust the amount of gravy remembering that it will be more solid when the butter resolidifies. I put it into small pots and either fridge or freeze.

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Hope the day is looking a bit cheerier, GF. Thinking of you.

And I was thinking about asking about those wreaths with potatoes, Nicos. What happens when the potato starts to go a bit soft and wrinkly? Do the bits fall out?

A very cold night last night and supposedly bright today, but the clouds have got other ideas. I need to go and gather some kindling today. Never as much fun when it's grey and miserable. I thought I'd gathered enough to see us right for a bit the other day, but Mr Snoop seems to have been rather liberal with his use...

Loads of work on the cards today, but I'm feeling a bit more up for it. Exhausted yesterday so went to bed really early. Woke up for a chat with Mr Snoop about GF o'clock and then fell back to sleep till just about normal waking-up time. And so jolly was I that I relit the fire in the bedroom and we had tea in there. Very nice start to the day. Must do that kind of thing more often. Really sets me up for the day in a good mood. So much so the smiles set off with a flit and a skip. Hope they spread it all about as they do their rounds.

Oh, well done on doing all your cards, Bramble. I went into our local shop on Monday and they had Christmas music on in English. So I had a little sing-along, possibly even a little wiggle and a shake. Fortunately no-one saw!

Have a great day, everyone.

[Snoop Puss]

Nicos, my beef paste is hardly famous! After I have made stew I take some of the beef and enough gravy to make it easy to blitz with the stick blender, it doesn't matter if some veg ends up in there too. I add about a quarter of the amount of melted butter and some ground nutmeg and blitz. Adjust the amount of gravy remembering that it will be more solid when the butter resolidifies. I put it into small pots and either fridge or freeze.

Don't undersell yourself, GF. Your beef paste is famous on here. I've been meaning to ask how you make it too. Thanks for the advice. Have you ever made it with anything other than beef? This is more of a pork, chicken and rabbit area and wondering if it would work with those.

[Nicos]

^^^^^. Absolutely GF…your meat paste will most deffo be world famous by now

Thanks for the recipe…I screen shot it and printed it whilst OH was at the computer and when he spotted it he was really chuffed- so many thanks for that- you have certainly put a smile on his face and consequently mine

[Nicos]

Snoop - the spuds last longer if they aren’t cut in half so I try to find flattish ones so they lay more flush to the door.

My wreaths last a good 4 weeks outside without the spuds giving way. Even then they still hold together well.
Once I take them down, I cut the stems of the herbs and hang them in the kitchen to dry for cooking with later. So, apart from the spud, nothing goes to waste!
I think any greenery with solid stems would work. Sometimes a metal kebab stick comes in handy to create the holes in the spud. ( remember to cut the stems at an angle to make them easier to pierce into the spud.)

[Nicos]

Te he Snoop….I can just imagine you jiggling away to music