Chitchat thread #24

[greenishfing]

Good morning all.

A non-existent night's sleep! After tossing and turning for hours, I am now considering turning the heating on, making coffee, raiding the fridge, and then having a hot shower. Weirdly the thought of doing all this is now making me yawn.

Part 1 accomplished. I've turned the thermostat up.

It's 4°C and drizzling here, which is at least a little warmer than it has been. I went outside to put something in the wheelie bin a couple of days ago, only to find that it was frozen shut.

Rary, it's nice to hear that Mrs Rary is starting to improve. I hope that you are okay too.

Getting old doesn't have a lot to recommend it, but I suppose that it's better than the alternative

I'm now trying to decide what I fancy to eat. I've not thought of anything yet, but I think that I'll get a pot of paté out of the freezer to defrost.

As is was getting dark last night I was watching ehat I thought was a pair of magpies inspecting local "building plots". I then realised there were three magpies. I was just thinking, " Oooh, interesting, a ménage à trois", when two more of them appeared. A ménage à cinq?? Or two couples and a friend, or all singles?? I have realised that when it comes down to birds and bees, my education regarding birds is decidedly lacking. Do birds pair up before choosing a nesting site? Who builds the nest? Are magpies monogamous?

Still an hour to go until sunrise.

Coffee made, and a beef and avocado sandwich (because I've been fancying one all night). Hardly standard breakfast fare but who cares. It still feels a bit on the cool side for a shower🥶, although I am lovely and warm.

I think that I might do a couple of Duolingo lessons and fine tune my list for tomorrow's grory hop delivery.

Back later. Look after yourselves and keep warm.

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

I don't think there's any such thing as standard breakfast fare, GF. Maybe I can say that because I don't generally have breakfast (not hungry), but when I do it could be anything. The best thing ever, though, is leftover curry. Which Mr Snoop is having this morning (enough for one left). The only thing I regard as an abomination at breakfast, or indeed any other time, is leftover pizza. What's delicious when hot and fresh is like cardboard coated with wax and fat (that's the mozzarella) the next day, I reckon. Even reheated in foil in the oven, it's still not great, though Mr Snoop does not agree with me and will happily wolf it down.

That said, I did have breakfast this morning, but I'm ashamed to say out of sheer greed rather than hunger. A piece of my latest loaf (granary and white flours with walnuts) with a bit of peanut butter. So good even the cats wanted to try it.

Paid work on the cards for most of the day. Tedious stuff in the extreme. Mr Snoop is going to have to help me out with the revision. I've translated it and read over it once, but I cannot bring myself to check it again. Half a paragraph in and I'm already groaning with despair. Much rather be outside, but even though it's quite bright, it's blowing a gale still.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All You must be due some silver GF! Raining again here. I don't have breakfast - only Sundays these days Snoop. Have a good day

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all
Well…it’s finally stopped raining after a night of heavy downpour.

My breakfast tends to be porridge and various fruit with honey,seed and nuts on the top- often with cinnamon too.
Cereal and fruit with kefir
Toast and jam/ honey or croissants ( neither very often)…
or eggs with mushrooms/ spinach/ tomatoes and toast.
But the staples are mostly the first two

I used to merrily eat left over pizza, curry etc for breakfast…talk about a wonderful flavour burst first thing in the morning! These days I can hold off until lunchtime

Lots of sorting on the books for today…and goodness me….OH is suggesting another bike ride seeing as it’s half term and the swimming baths will be full of kids shouting , jumping and peeing in the water

I best get a wiggle on then!…
Enjoy your day peeps- don’t get too wet and cold…and keep those lovely smiles of yours coming!

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

Snoop I'm always ready for breakfast, my 'go to' is porridge after that it would be toast, both nice and quick to make. Our eldest daughter used to struggle to eat breakfast we compromised with a digestive biscuit even then she would eat half taking the rest in her pocket to school for later.

enjoy your day

[Bren In Pots]

Waves to Flo and Nicos who both popped in while i was off sorting laundry.

[Nicos]

Waves back!
It’s a tumble dryer day here today Bren. I know it’s expensive but I love how fluffy the clothes come out!

Food?…well, in all honesty I could easily munch all day…but I’m training myself not to by drinking tea or water when I get the munchies.
Needless to say , I revert back to ‘factory setting’ over Xmas

ooo…speaking of food..it’s Chinese New Year tomorrow…I’ve plenty of dim sum in the freezer…mmm…

[Bren In Pots]

Nicos thinking about it I eat every couple of hours between 8 am and 7 pm.

[rary]

Getting old doesn't have a lot to recommend it, but I suppose that it's better than the alternative

As is was getting dark last night I was watching ehat I thought was a pair of magpies inspecting local "building plots". I then realised there were three magpies. I was just thinking, " Oooh, interesting, a ménage à trois", when two more of them appeared. A ménage à cinq?? Or two couples and a friend, or all singles?? I have realised that when it comes down to birds and bees, my education regarding birds is decidedly lacking. Do birds pair up before choosing a nesting site? Who builds the nest? Are magpies monogamous?

GF, better planting daisys than pushing them up
As for magpies they seem to pair for life and are quite monogamous, though not always, they go about in a groups of five or six, I have watched them a number of times hunting a gray squirrel through the hedge row

[greenishfing]

Thanks for the info, Rary. I know that last year we had a group of young fledglings hanging around all Summer. The reminded me of a gang of unruly teenagers.

[greenishfing]

GF, better planting daisys than pushing them up

No pushing daisies up for me. Every time I see a programme on TV where archaeologists dig up a body/skeleton/human bones I just find it so disgusting and disrespectful that it is allowed. I know there is no logic to this as they are dead, and usually have been for centuries, but I just can't stand the thought of being buried.

[Nicos]

Love that phrase Rary…ever so true…

There has been a short break in the rain and the sun came out….so guess what we went and did?… just a short, more gentle bike ride…ending up in the village bar having a hot chocolate and a chat with the owner.
It’s nice having someone to cycle with…but I do sometime wish he wasn’t so enthusiastic about it!!!…
Still, it feels great to have done it and I already feel a bit stronger…little and often is good isn’t it?…here’s hoping my back will behave itself better in the garden after all this!…that’ll certainly make it most worthwhile

[Bren In Pots]

Afternoon

It’s tea and hot cross bun time here, toasted ones my favourite.

Nicos you’ll have to get a tandem and let Mr N do the majority of the peddling he might not be so enthusiastic then.

The sun came out briefly earlier I moved a few pots about then ran back indoors as the rain started

enjoy your afternoon

[bramble]

Goodnight all.It looks as though I am back on the vine again. Consistently telling me to register as a new member...my fingers are crossed.

[Snoop Puss]

So good to see you back, bramble.