Chitchat thread #24

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all
cloudy and dull from what I can see.
It suits OH OK as he’s smoking some bacon in the bbq for Xmas and he needs to keep popping out to check it’s not gone out. It’s maybe got a tad damp , so he’s remicrowaved the dust to see if that helps.
At least it’s not raining! And he smells amazing when he comes back in from checking it!.

The very last bits of Xmas decorations going up today…fresh greenery. I had a bit of a mishap yesterday in that one of the reindeer antlers balancing onto of the mirror slipped off and fell to the floor smashing what I thought were plastic baubles which shattered everywhere under the dining room table. TeenyTiny shards everywhere
They were given us a few years ago by a Sami herdsman we helped out for the day whilst staying in Sweden with friends who lived near the Artic circle. It was a fantastic day…nothing touristy just helping him chainsaw through frozen bales of hay and distributing it - and nuts from state owned hoppers- to troughs over quite a large area. It was great fun as the reindeer kept trying to clamber onto the snow scooters and trailers to help themselves
Literally hundreds of them ( but you can’t ask how many they have as it’s like asking ‘How much money do you have in your bank’ apparently.
It took us several hours and then the Sami lit a fire using birch bark and we had a picnic together, sampling dried reindeer meat.
An absolutely fabulous experience and , although it was March when we were there, when I look back it really has a festive air to it.
Anyway- back to the antlers- I like to hang red baubles off them and just couldn’t quite make that last clumsy stretch

Anyway- those are my plans for today
Have a great day everyone…I can already feel your smiles Jay from here!.

[Nicos]

A few photos !…

[Nicos]

Oh…and apparently….those with antlers are girls at this time of the year ( shedding theirs after their calves have been born) The boys losing theirs Autumn/ early winter…so Rudolf and team must be a female!

Anyway, I thought those piccies may raise a festive ‘awww’ and bring you a smile

[Florence Fennel]

Definitely awwww Nicos, enchanting

Good Morning All Fine and cold here. About to put the pans on for a FEB. Have a lovely Sunday

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Lovely photos, Nicos. And what an experience that must have been! Sorry about the baubles, though.

FEB is new to me, Flo... How embarrassing! Mind you, no idea when I last had one.I should remedy that soon I think.

Very dull here today. Rain due this afternoon, followed by storms for the next couple of days. But I don't care as our helpers are outside sorting out drainage and finishing off the guttering Mr Snoop started before he got poorly. We're very lucky to have these guys. Starting to feel a bit more optimistic about finishing our building plans here after all.

Right, plenty for me to be getting on with, so better shake a leg.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Nicos]

Gosh that must feel like a massive relief Snoop. All that hard work you’ve put in over the years really does need quality time to enjoy the ‘finished’ project xx
( I say ‘finished’ cos it never really is is it?)

Ooo…Flo…FEB/ FIB - not had either for many years. We can get hold of something like white pudding here as well as black pudding, so it is doable, even though the sausages are very different.

We had porridge today for the first time in ages- with cinnamon apple. Yummy yum. Very much enjoyed.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

A pinkish sky earlier not seen one that colour for a while.

Lovely phots Nicos thanks for sharing

Not a full breakfast here for me Flo just a egg and mushroom Cob.

enjoy your day

[greenishfing]

Good morning.

I don't think I read or made coffee earlier. I just drifted back to sleep and got another three hours or so.

Nicos, your trip to Sweden sounds amazing. What great photos!
Even if you broke the baubles, at least you've got the memories.

I must still be half asleep. I had to google FEB. I think the last time I had one, at breakfast time, was the last time I stayed in a hotel. I'm not generally a breakfast person .... just coffee. I have now, eventually, got round to my first dose of caffeine of the day.

It sounds as if your helpers are doing a great job, Snoop. I hope Mr Snoop is doing okay.

I've just rung my brother on law. He'd asked me to order him something off Amazon. Amazon have just sent me a photo. They have dumped it in the reception of his building

[bramble]

Good morning all.dull with rain and wind forecast.
Nicos, lovely pics and what a wonderful experience.

FiB here, we have it every Saturday and Sunday.

Snoop, good to hear you're getting some help with the building work, stay positive.

Nothng on the cards just going to the church.
Happy Sunday all.

[greenishfing]

Good morning.

Another sleepless night. I've given in now, thrown some clothes on and made myself coffee. Help yourselves. My contrary brain will probably decide to drop to sleep once I've drunk the coffee

It's very wet and it's forecast to rain all day. I'm sure that I heard on the news this week that we no longer have a hosepipe ban here 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Really??

Christmas really is creeping up on us. I've just got one present to buy. Something for my lovely young neighbour who keeps putting my bins out for me. I really do appreciate it.

Coffee has been drunk. I'll try and relax for a couple of hours.

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Hope you managed to get a bit of extra sleep in, GF.

Rain all day here today as well. Thunderstorms apparently today and tomorrow. It poured in the night, but the new guttering and drainage seems to be working very well and the big logs are all under cover. So you'd expect me to be smug. Except I forgot to top up the kindling... Enough in the house for a couple of days. Will have to get more and hope it dries out indoors.

Off out on errands to a nearby small town this morning. Will buy some cream to see about making butter after MH's advice. But I'll also buy butter as well just in case, as I do want to bake some gifts for all the people who have helped Mr Snoop and me over the last few months. Couldn't have managed without them. And then out for lunch round at our Italian friend's. I'm taking Bakewell pudding for afters, so mustn't forget to get the pastry out of the freezer soon. And work, mustn't forget work...

Have a great day, everyone.

[mothhawk]

Morning all.

Rainy here too, though it seems to be tapering off to drizzle now. Not cold, well not cold for December.

Good luck with the butter making, Snoop. I can't get over how good mine tastes. It's nice to be able to control how much salt goes in, too. there's very few things I add salt to, but it does enhance the flavour of butter no end. Mmm... Bakewell pudding, not had one for yonks. It's something I've never made, though I have made Bakewell tarts in the past.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

I've never made a Bakewell pudding either but have eaten plenty from the pudding shops over in Bakewell. I do make tarts at Christmas along with a few mince pies.

Heavy rain here for the day so no gardening just nipping to the GH for lettuce and spring onions

Enjoy your day

[bramble]

Good morning all.dull with hazy sunshine but its to rain later.
I need to get out to the front garden this morning to cut down the dahlia foliage.
I had ear marked a day's shopping in town today but my daughter in law is visiting so I must replan my week.
Have a good day all.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All Raining here too. I love Bakewell tart. One of my favourite places is by the river in Bakewell. Have a good day