Chitchat thread #24

[Florence Fennel]

Happy Birthday GF. Andraste is right, you are dealing with your grief with great courage x

[Nicos]

Afternoon n’alln’all
Gosh…another late start after a very rubbish night’s sleep followed by a very long soak in the tub.

Sending you Birthday Wishes GF…do remember to treat yourself to something…anything be it a cream egg or a nice plant for the garden .
It’s your special day…how did you celebrate it as a child? Any traditional routines?…any particularly memorable birthday celebrations with your OH? Enjoy the memories xx
We always go out for the day and buy something special to eat….yeh…my stomach always rules
I felt a bit glum the other day and whilst out shopping I decided a treat was in order…so nipped into a high class chocolate shop and bought a bag of tiny Easter chocolates which cost a fortune…just one a day and they make me smile….such a luxury
The shapes are very traditional…fish, shrimps, mussels etc…not something I would ever have associated with Easter..and when I asked why , was reminded about ‘The fisherman of men’. They also sell chocolate bells…all French church bells fly to Rome on Good Friday for the Pope’s blessing and return at midday on Easter Sunday, dropping chocolate on their way for the children. ( absolutely no church bells ring during that time and it’s strange how you actually notice they are missing)
Both ideas still make me smile after all these years and it’s rather nice to be part of a slightly different culture.

Today is dry and windy …making up for the downpour during the night…so I best go and do something out there!
Enjoy the rest of the day peeps - and GF - I’ll raise a glass to you this evening xx

[Andraste]

Your nautical shaped chocs remind me of a school trip to Belgium when I was probably about 11 or 12 years old.

I bought some like that (I guess what we now have in the UK as Guylian brand chocs although you couldn't by them here then) as a gift for my grandparents - by weight in a paper bag.

I was so excited to give them these exotic shaped chocs that tasted so different to any I'd tried before - only to find that in the warmth of the coach's baggage hold, they'd melted into a big lump!

I was assured they still tasted good when the paper was peeled off the outside but looking back I'm pretty sure my grandparents were just to lovely to want to see me disappointed.

[Nicos]

Cor…can you imagine munching your way through a big ball of chocolate?..I’d be in heaven…a bit each day…yum!

[Florence Fennel]

I've just listened to The Kitchen Cabinet and they were discussing what has been done to hot cross buns. My mum loved them, but what she would have thought about adding chocolate to them, I can't imagine!

[Bren In Pots]

Happy birthday GF xx

[mothhawk]

Happy birthday GF. I hope you've treated yourself to a cake.

[greenishfing]

Thank you for all your birthday wishes.

I did go out this afternoon. I went to a real live supermarket. I forgot to pick up my Argos item, but I'll get it tomorrow. I think my brain is half asleep.

This afternoon I started .... and finished...... a jigsaw that one of my sisters bought me for my birthday. It drove me mad!

I had bought myself steak and nice wine for a celebratory meal but didn't fancy it when the time came so settled for cheese and cucumber sandwiches, because I'd got some of the baby cucumbers which for some reason I love. I paired it with a can of Speckled Hen (IPA). It went down a treat. They do say a bit of what you fancy does you Good. I'm much more a savoury food lover rather than sweet, apart from chocolate, and I got a lot of nice chocolate for presents.

Regarding trips across the channel in our younger days, I once took a weekend trip to France with my flatmate and a couple of workmates back in the late seventies. My flatmate bought some snails! I remember clanking through customs, due to a good few bottles of Chateauneuf du pape,🤫. I forgot all about the snails, as obviously did my flatmate, until maybe a week later when our kitchen stank! She had unpacked them, put them on top of the fridge and then somehow knocked them onto th floor behind the fridge!!!! The STENCH!!!

[Nicos]

Te he GF- cor, I can just imagine….ewww…

That reminds me of when We had a fairly ripe Reblochon in our back pack as students returning to the uk. No one stood within about 6 feet of us as the ‘perfume’ intensified with the warmth of the ferry. Talk about getting through customs quickly as footpassengers!
Although…one time we had about 3 trays of ripe nectarines and half a dozen cantaloupe melons in the car all the way back from the south of France….and the scent was heavenly!

Sounds like you enjoyed your birthday feast…sometimes the simple things are the best!

[Andraste]

I love the little cucs too GF. We grew Mini Munch last year & they were lovely flavour thin skins & just the right size to use up in 1-2 days. I'm growing them again this year

[Containergardener]

I'm growing some too Andraste. Perfect size for my mum though I got her some really small ones in sainsburys which were even better
Pleased you've had what you fancied for your birthday gf.

Morning
The birds are in fine song at the moment , mostly blackbirds.
It's supposed to feel warmer today even if it's grey so we shall see. Maybe I will get in the garden and gh yet yesterday's weather was an April showers day again.

Kettle is on.

[Nicos]

Premornin n’alln’all
And another Rubbush night!
We have our old fridge being collected this afternoon…a guy getting a divorce and having to set up home afresh. Glad it’s going to be helpful to someone.

You know, I’m rather interested in those tiny cucumbers - I’ve not see them sold in the shops or market here…they sound very much worth growing…do they crop fairly heavily?

I’ve been listening to the Dawn chorus steadily warming up - it sounds so lovely, but strange to think they are actually saying ‘This is my patch….keep out ( unless you are looking to set up a family with me!)’
We’ve had deer barking more during the night…not sure what that’s about though as don’t they rut in November?
Not heard many owls recently- hope they are ok.

Right…one more time at trying to sleep…wish me luck!…I just need to stop chatting in me head!

[Nicos]

Ooo…mornin CG…we cross posted there.
I’d love a brew please…maybe a warm tummy might help me nod off again!

[Containergardener]

Here's a cuppa Nicos ☕

Yes mine were growing along the roof of the gh last yr.
We hear deer barking usually when I'm in the forest, it's also used as a warning to others. So when they see us they disappear but start barking.

Enjoy your extra sleep . I'm off for a dog walk shortly.

[mothhawk]

Morning CG and all.

I'll have a cuppa too if I may please, CG. No plans for the day except the daffs need dead-heading and the grass could do with a cut.