The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Morning All

I woke at five this morning and have been browsing the news and getting side-tracked for the last couple of hours. It's addictive isn't it?

Then of course there's Ancestry.com. Everytime I go on there's more hints to look at. I've got half way through copying all of the names and dates onto a very large piece of card but its getting a bit of a mess trying to squeeze everyone on as I get further back. It was a cousin's suggestion as I don't want to keep paying out to Ancestry forever! I've saved screen shots of several of the records. Looking at the crosses on a 5xgreat grand parents wedding certificate gives a wonderful feeling of continuity or even seeing the deaths of most of the family in the early 1700s when there was a small pox epidemic bringing history to life. I'm hooked! I'm more than a bit peeved though that I can't see the new census as its not available to Ancestry. I suppose I'll need to wait another year - or pay Find My Past!

I was intrigued by the recipe for cranachan Grammaretto, it sounds just like something my DGM used to make. She was lady's maid and companion to a Lady Yarrow in Glasgow and several things which are regularly made in our family I now discover have Scots origins. I don't think she put booze in it though. My DGF was a bit of an alcoholic so there was never spare whisky in the house!

Doodle, like you we have loads of photos which I really should be sorting through, but equally rather too many saved on old computers. I was worried about loosing them until I decided to save them to the iCloud. Which worked fine. Just photos go there, not documents. But, having given permission for them to be uploaded I then discover that Mr Google has been saving everything to the Google Cloud all the time! You may already have a lot on a cloud and not know it!

All good progress Grammaretto .
The gathering in the Town Hall sounds excellent, particularly the photos of 'how it used to be' - always fascinating.

My lovely books had already been stored for 6+ years, since I was unable to read. So it was a happy thing to pass them on to my family. Some of them will eventually go to Gubbins and dgs - another bonus.

What they'll do with 43 years worth of journals is another matter entirely!!

Feeling a little sad tonight. Someone I’ve known on GN for a long time has PMd me to say she is leaving due to things happening on other threads. It is someone that I have shared a great deal of laughter with over the years and I will miss her company.
Slightly tipsy tonight as I have cut back a lot on the wine recently but tonight we have shared a bottle. So I’m warm and cosy. (Would be warm and cosy and indulging in brownies if I’d remembered to take them out of the freezer where they got stashed at Christmas ?)
Boadicea that’s a sad tale about your sister’s childhood friend
I suppose it’s really a matter of what you’re used to. I find the thought of earthquakes, cyclones and snakes and sharks scary but if I’d been brought up with these things I may have felt differently. Plus you have such beautiful scenery and lovely climate. I suppose it’s swings and roundabouts.
Hope you and your family and Kiamoana’s and Grammareto’s all keep safe.
I too have been reading about Tonga. Thinking of all the people there. I remember the King of Tonga I think at the Queens coronation.
.
Kaimoana I expect you are missing your DGS. Our place always felt quiet after the children left.
Books are always lovely to receive . We have quite a collection. I have a feeling they will be added to soon as DH is developing a real interest in astronomy and is looking at buying a gadget for his camera that can track the stars. (I see more cold nights for me in future as his ‘beautiful assistant’)
Grammaretto I will cross my fingers too if it helps.
I remember you talking about your Community group before,
I hope it is successful as local ventures mean so much to people who can’t get out and about as much as some.
Glad the roof has been fixed. That’s one thing sorted. Hopefully the cooker will be fully functional soon.

Oh my goodness! Just catching up with the news online, and reading about the eruption in Tonga - those poor people. Last night, I heard strange booming noises like the bass of a sound system - turns out it was the sonic boom of the volcano, 2,300 km away! Tsunami surges on the coast here too.
Grammaretto - I hope all went well for your community group. Good news about the progress being made/about to be made. A working hob! That's a real advance. Yes, it was said in early NZ that there were only 2 ways to die -drink or drowning. Not surprising really, given the amount of water here. I've been transcribing these old letters - mainly because the writing is illegible in places-and the one I'm working on now is from my Gt-Uncle (killed at Gallipoli) to his brother in Nigeria in 1913. In it, he describes in great detail how he and my grandfather rode 120 miles down the East Coast. This involved crossing 4 major rivers, without bridges. One of these, the Motu, is notorious for its size and swift current. Their horses, fortunately, were sure-footed and swam the rivers confidently, but on the Motu, their dogs were swept away in the current. Fortunately, they managed to swim ashore further downstream, but it could have been nasty - no sheep farmer can manage without his dogs, specially in mountainous country. Gt Uncle managed to get mild scurvy from eating tinned meat and no veg. He describes a bush boarding house, where the bushmen would come in from months of backbreaking slog in total isolation, for a few days of R&R. One he wrote about came in with 6 months' accumulated wages - 90 pounds, and lost it in an afternoon of playing Two-Up. He then had to go straight back out into the bush and start all over again. Such a hard life.
Kaimoana - I hope you are well, and not missing your lovely boy too much. Your family lunch sounded delicious! How generous and brave you are to give away your precious books, even knowing that they will be treasured. It's quite a wrench to part with beloved friends.
Time to feed cats and chickens, folks. Bye for now x.

Thanks Kaimoana I believe in crossed fingers.
Our Community group open up in the Town Hall today. This is the first time since before the Lockdown in March 2020. Be interesting to see if anyone turns up.
We serve coffees and soup , hence the Hygiene certificates which we all passed it is impossible to fail . There is an exhibition around the walls of the Town as it used to be.

My cooker now has the gas hob working but nothing else. The leaky roof has been fixed. I would show you a photo of the roofer at the top of his ladder but I think it could be illegal. A painter and decorator says he will come in Feb or March. Things are definitely progressing.

I can believe your DM had all those red jumpers Doodle
My DGM always wore brown because someone once told her it suited her. it didn't

I don't know if the NZ clan are being battered by wind. It is cooler there than up your way for sure. BJ He was wearing a sweater I noticed. Such a terrible tale of your sister's classmate.There were many drownings in the early days. DGGM's first DH drowned and the body so badly eaten by "fishes" she wasn't allowed to see it.
When we were children we were forbidden to swim deeper than our waists. Amazing that so many of us survived.

The house is very quiet now the constant chatterer dgs has gone. Don't know what to do with myself

Made a salad lunch for the Family Gubbins, preceded by seafood chowder, my Dil and Dgs favourite - with apple & blueberry crumble (everyone's favourite) to follow.

They were very pleased with the books I passed on: my son had actually been thinking he'd buy books on plants as well as container gardening - now he has both.

He also 'inherited' a number of cookery books, some of them with old-style recipes for Cream Crackers, or Digestive Biscuits. He was delighted.

Dil loved the art books and a number of other, special interest volumes. It's good to know my books will be valued.

BJ do you know the Miles Kington, 'Franglais' livres?
Tres comical if vous parler le vieux française.

The recent earthquake was just a baby of a thing at 2.9 but apparently the high-rise building in the CBD felt it a little.

Don't worry for us Doodle since 1st January there've been 30 quakes - most not even felt.
www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake

They happen all the time.

Fingers crossed for Grammaretto's cooker, roof and tenants all to turn out well.

Hmm, up in the dark-light, as the sky was very overcast first thing. The strong winds have subsided, and the clouds are now clearing. Not sure what's going to happen about the storm today, but I think Northland might be spared the worst. So has your DS been battered, Grammaretto? Wellington is always tricky, with the roaring 40s roaring on through the Strait, and earthquakes every so often. Having said that, there was a quake a couple of days ago, felt over most of the North Island - allegedly up here, too, but nada for us. Yes, Doodle, NZ does have geological issues, but at least it's not like Oz or Africa, where everything is trying to kill you, even the grass. Sharks are pretty rare here now, too. One of my sister's classmates was killed by a shark going on for 60 years ago now - aged 10. She was rescued by a very brave teenaged boy with a surfboard, but died of blood loss on the beach. Her mother died a month later, of a broken heart-her only child. So very sad.
Back in the days of Zane Gray, NZ was a very popular destination for game fishing, and sharks and marlin, in particular, were overfished. We used to go to have a fresh-from-the-sea fish lunch at the Game Fishing club across the harbour, and there was frequently a boat coming in wth a massive marlin. Such wonderful, majestic animals, it seems criminal to see them strung up for weighing.
Grammaretto - how exciting for you that everything seems to be swinging into action, at last. A new cooker, new kitchen, everything sparkling and fresh for the summer coming up.
Mamissimo - the walk sounds wonderful. Hiding the DGD's neon pink shoes?? And venison sausage, red wine risotto and Cicero- a heady combination.
The wind is getting up, though the sky is clearing-talk about mixed messages. Time to be off. Have a warm one, girls.

Mamissimo your walk sounds nice. Like Grammaretto I would love a beach walk. What only one chip for Honey Beagle, she won’t be happy with that. How’s the new bed situation is Fergal still hogging all the space.
Our grandsons daft puppy fell asleep at Christmas with his head in his food bowl (food still in it). He’s a bit clumsy and gets covered in mud at every opportunity but is very sweet natured.
Are you making any progress with the census?
Hope the missing trainers turn up………does Honey beagle look guilty?
Grammaretto at last your new cooker is getting close to seeing some action. It seems ages ago you had it delivered.
Did you say you were getting new cupboards, have you decided on a colour yet?
Lovely sunny day here but heavy frost this morning. Going to a toy shop this afternoon for the first time in years. DGD wants a particular kind of stuffed toy for her birthday. They are all the rage apparently. I’m secretly pleased to be looking at toys again. I loved finding things for them when they were smaller.
Just roasted three chicken breast joints, one for tonight and two for the freezer. DH’s question most days…….what’s for dinner tonight…….don’t tell me…..it’s chicken ? ?

Hello Lob-stars,

I should be celebrating. The gas plumber has been and connected up the cooker hob (it is dual fuel so the rest of it still needs the sparky to get the wiring sorted) The Roofer has said he'll come after lunch. So things are really happening.

For some reason I would much rather be walking on a beach like Mamissimo .
Not sure if I would want to be on the beach in a cyclone. Batten down the hatches if you haven't already BoadiceaJ DS is in windy Wellington so he is used to gales.

Hope our gang are doing not bad. I look forward to news from you all.

Good evening ?

What a nice day! Mr M and I attended the dump and then took H Beagle to the beach for a walk and a chip. It was gloriously sunny and with almost no wind it was warm as long as you kept your coat on and joyful. We came home and Mr Zm had a nice snooze while I poked around the dead relatives did some Latin translations. A venison sausage and red wine risotto for dinner.....Perfick!

I think it's going to be nice again tomorrow so a little light fruit bush pruning and general titivation. DS is popping in for lunch so tomorrow looks promising too.

DGD 1, who is 3 and 10/12 has lost her trainers. They are neon pink and normally on her feet.....DD1 rang to ask whether I'd hidden them......? as if!

Grammaretto no it wasn’t on the roof thankfully. Yes we have a management committee and in conjunction with the management agency that we employ we look at all the work that needs to be done to keep the building safe and up to spec.
I think an art project with your bread boards is a good idea. What a shame the deeds weren’t there too.
Crumbs I would be scared if my family were near the great
white. Good job it’s been caught. Life in NZ sounds wonderful but fraught with dangers.
Hope you had a good lunch with your MIL.
Boadicea hello. Every time I see the words Kia Ora I think of the orange drink we used to have as children.
I haven’t come across coucou in my French yet. Something to look up later. When we cleared my mothers flat after her death we found 20+ red jumpers. She had dark hair and red was a colour that suited her. No idea she’d been bought so many over the years. Also many pairs of slippers and lots of dressing gowns. Every time Christmas came around she must have thought ‘Oh not again’ ?. I must admit DH is a bit of a hoarder and so am I in my own way. I am a sentimental hoarder in that I can’t throw out things that mean something to me. DH is a paper hoarder. He has a variety of interests and collects articles and news clippings on anything that interests him.
What a nice idea, we could have our own little reunion. ?
Keep yourself and everything tied down in case of cyclone and keep safe.
Had friend round for a chat this afternoon and we indulged in chocolate cake and hot chocolate (well it was a bit chilly) . Nice to have a chat about our Christmas gatherings.

Kia ora, everyone. Or coucou, since I'm just back from my French group. As always, lots of fun and laughter, comparing French French with québécois, as we have a Canadian member. Just don't call your children "gosses" (kids) in Quebec...it has a whole different meaning there!
Another warm one, but at least not as bad as it has been. There's quite a breeze, which may herald the arrival of the tropical cyclone tail. Could be that we're in for a wet and windy few days. Is it too breezy for your dawn coffee, or supper in the evening, Kaimoana? Yes, it's hard to know what to do with books, isn't it? Having cleaned up my mother's houses just recently, I'm definitely going to get started on the Swedish Death Cleaning...no way would i wish to dump on my kids the task of cleaning out newspapers from the 1980s, magazines from the 60s, 10,000 Chinese takeaway containers, jars of rubberbands, pieces of string and old keys, boxes of expired medications, rusted tins, hundreds of polyester garments , junkjunkjunk...you get the picture. Not that I have those things, but my mother did, and so much more.
Doodle, if you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find some NZ family. Then you can suggest to them a reunion at the racecourse. Or else we could have a MN one, if we could find a small enough racecourse.
Grammaretto - love the photos. What a great place to watch birds. However did you lose all those breadboards? Some must have considerable value as vintage items, surely?
Managed to get an appt this morning, and had the offending semi-detached flesh from under the nail burned off, which hopefully will stop it from bleeding. No more Marigolds, shortly, but not yet.

Good evening Gang,

Poor Doodle getting so cold at the roof meeting. At least it wasn't on the roof. But perhaps it was? Do you all have to agree on what needs doing?
Reminds me that the roofer hasn't come here yet.
You are right I can't think how I lost so many boards without missing them. I now have about 20. DD thinks I should make an art installation.
NZ family are home again but now they tell me they were swimming exactly where a great white shark was caught on someone's fishing rod a few days later. It's the stuff of nightmares.
I'm heading to bed soon.
Lunch with DMiL tomorrow.
I'm even too tired for hot chocolate. Zzzz

Mamissimo Nice to be on granny duty. I always had fun with ours when they were little. Exhausting but fun.
It’s funny what a mixture children turn out to be.
Several of DH’s habits and ways of doing things are spotted in our grandson.
From what you say, it sounds as though the census has been run through one of those translation devices that just makes it up as they go along. Your grandfather would be justifiably upset at being called a cart gatherer (if there is such a thing)
Oh Honey beagle is being pampered with a new bed. I did wonder if you’d bought it as somewhere for MrM to sleep when he’s in the doghouse. ?
Grammaretto shame they couldn’t get the census transcribed properly. Some names will be obvious mistakes but others less easy to spot.
I must see if I can trace some relatives in NZ. I wouldn’t mind a reunion in a racecourse.
What a fabulous view from the hide. Such clear blue sky too. You could take a flask of coffee and happily sit there for hours.
9 bread boards ?. Didn’t anyone wonder where they kept vanishing to?
Hug a pet, do star jumps and eat porridge to keep warm. Try doing that all that at the same time and I can imagine the state of the kitchen after.
Baodicea wouldn’t it be funny if you and Grammaretto turned out to be long lost cousins. Are meetings in racecourses the usual venue for family gatherings?
Only 26 Kaimoana positively chilly ?
Oh that’s not good about your appointment. Do they always run so late? Oh well at least they had the grace to phone and arrange for your blood taking at home.
What a lovely time you must be having with you DGS. Precious times to remember. It must be good for him to help out with you too. He sounds a smashing young man.

Went to a meeting about our roof here today sitting in a cold room. It’s taken most of the rest of the day to warm up.
Keep nodding off. I think it’s the cold so early night for me.
Take care all.

Hello from an ever-so-slightly cooler Glen Eden, thanks to Doodle waving her towel in our direction. It's a mere 26°C.

Nortsat Banana ice cream is a great favourite with we two who must steer clear of sugar, as it's simply frozen chopped fresh bananas with a squirt of lemon to stop it browning. When we need a cooler, its easy to blend and add liqueur which never contains sugar

Sending comforting thoughts for Missy in the hope they work as well as my spell on Grammaretto's electrician. Although I didn't reckon on the breadboards!

Oh Doodle it sounds as if you have the puncture not the bike. Take the winter's days easy and enjoy your photo memories.

I too am wary of the Cloud and certainly don't trust or understand it but I have so many pictures of Gubbins, they have to go somewhere.

I used to print them out but can no longer see them, so that's a useless exercise now.

Never got to consult the doc on Monday - waited 50 mins over my appointment time but Karen had to be at another client's at 1pm so I had to leave.

We'll try again next Monday.
The doctor phoned later and apologised and will arrange a phlebotomist home visit on Thursday. oh, goodie.

Like Mamissimo I'm still on grandma duty but it's very easy with a 12 year old - just point him at the food - then the books....
But I must admit he's very helpful and looks after me as much as I look after him.

I've decided to give my books away rather than leave them for my son to deal with when I croak.
There are a few he'll appreciate and some I know my art-loving DiL will value; plenty for Gubbins, from now until she's grown

BJ as per your advice, I sat out in my east-facing garden with coffee, as dawn was a little overcast.

The other garden, north and west-facing gets full sun but I have a beautiful Manuka tree to shade part of that deck, so if it remains a cool 26 I may have tea out there as well.

Stay cosy, LobStars.

Must be a NZ "Thing" BJ to hire a racecourse etc.

We held one in Edinburgh for DH's clan in the yr 2000 and 100 or so came , some from USA & Australia. Not the racecourse but the Whisky Society

The electrician has gone home at last. He found 9 breadboards down the back of a cupboard and a teaspoon , from our Wedding present set, stuck into the top of a kitchen unit. The kitchen needs to be stripped out and begun again but we shall do something on the cheap.

You have been busy Doodle with the photos. What a nice thing to do for your DGD.

Mamissimo I can just imagine the cat spread out leaving no room for Honey Beagle
We are supposed to hug a pet , eat porridge and do star jumps to keep warm apparently according to an energy supplier. It said on the news.

Grammaretto! Would that it were! It would be wonderful to meet another cousin. Sadly, though, this was in 2009, and not all of the traced 2,500 descendants actually turned up - many have returned to the Old Country, and yet others are scattered all over the world, as the Scots are wont to do. But yes, we had the racecourse and a 3-day event, too. Such fun! We had the centenary of the family's arrival back in 1959, and the baby of the large family, Uncle Sandy, was still alive. Imagine that! His father was born in the year of Waterloo, 1815. He was a busy chap, was old Black J McK, producing babies well into his old age. Lucky his wife was 40 years his junior...

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-320147-img-20220111-123756559-hdr.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-812472-img-20220111-123647749.jpg

There are plenty of mistakes on the 1921 transcriptions I'm told and even on the index I have found some obvious errors. It was done in India apparently.
I found this family member: first name:
William Alebander Krith Napier.

I am impressed by your enormous reunion
BJ
Cousins of mine did something similar and DH and I went out to NZ in 2012. They hired the racecourse and held a 3 day event. One focus was to repair the graves of Gt grandparents who, like yours had 12 DC. it wasn't the same family by any chance?

The walk was lovely today. We saw 2 mallards and a buzzard so not especially exciting but the log book in the hide suggested plenty of birds are seen there.
The electrician is actually here and busy in the kitchen so although past my bedtime, I will have to stay up for progress reports.

Good evening ?

I've been absent on Granny duty for a couple of days and now will have some peace for a few days....the little people are a joy and it amazes me that DD1 has managed to bring into the world one who is a cross between my father and myself.....even down to the left handedness and love of marmite. In personality she is the doppelgänger of my DS so I wish DD all the patience in the world!

I am utterly disappointed in the 1921 census transcription quality. I think they got random global citizens to transcribe it! Mr M's family apparently came from Cornwell in Oxfordshire rather than Cornwall, my surname has sprouted letters never seen in it before and my cartographer grandfather has become a cart gatherer ?.....

I have bought H Beagle a new bed as F Cat claims hers as his so often. I know it won't work and they'll both want the same one. We bought Fergal a matching bed and most mornings the beagle is awkwardly perched on the cat bed and the cat is lounging on a vast cloud of comfort. Cats always win don't they?

Early night for me after the rigours of the last few days!

Boadicea I would be able to sort my photos more quickly if I didn’t get lost in memories. ? I used to do lots of crafty type things with them and looking back at the photos made me smile to see all the things we’d made together.
Your garden sounds quite productive. Reading your post made me think of my dad going out in the garden with my mum’s ‘shopping list’ of things she wanted picked or dug up for dinner. ? Sorry I can’t help with the fennel. I had a beef burger in a posh (ish) restaurant once that was flavoured with fennel …….it was awful.
Grammaretto glad your food hi Jean course went well.
I have often seen quails eggs on menus. I had one once but it was a bit runny and I prefer my eggs more cooked.
Hope you had a good walk. Any pictures? Did you see any birds from the hide?
I find that after lockdown, anything out of the ordinary seems to affect my sleep, even a planned shopping delivery.
Hope your DD is feeling better soon.
? roofer ?? plumber and electrician.
Kaimoana I’m a bit wary of the Cloud. I know we have a lot of stuff (technical term for computer type things) up there but photos I like keeping an eye on. I know it’s daft but I don’t trust these things really (I do realise it isn’t really up there ?☺️)
Lovely you’ve still got your DGS with you and obviously enjoying yourselves.
I’ll pop out on the balcony and waft a towel in your direction. It’s freezing here. Perhaps the coolth will reach you some time next week ?
Nortsat thank you for keeping us up to date on Missy. Hope she’s comfortable.
I have seen something about Wordle in the paper. It’s very popular I think. Thanks for the article.
I can see a crane from my garden too but it’s a mechanical one on the building site opposite ?. I have got green parakeets though and magpies and ducks and geese and swans .
Now you’ve made me think of my bike and I really ought to get going again. Can I claim it’s had a puncture do you think?
Baodicea you family reunion sounds amazing. Was it a long time ago? I’m amazed you could trace everyone.
Right I’m off to dust down the bike.

Nortsat - I hope dear little Missy continues to eat and rest well...and further news from the vet? Thank you for the salad idea, but as Kaimoana says, I really don't think I could bring myself to eat their eggs, so will have to find a good home for them.
Kaimoana - what a coincidence about the fennel and hemlock! The banana icecream sounds delicious, and just the thing for this time of the year. At our previous place, the lovely neighbours used to give us bananas from their trees, and I froze quite a lot, but had to throw some out when we left. They would be nice right now. Don't talk to me about birds! They would devastate my garden, given half a chance. I've solved the problem, for now, of the tomato thieves by putting the Christmas tinsel over the tomato plants, and for the last few days, have had some lovely, untouched beef steak toms. Unlike our 85-yr old neighbour, a tough old bushman who made a living from hunting venison, I won't blast away at the blackbirds on the fruit, though in my young days I had no qualms about going out at night and bagging quite a few possums. The moreporks at night are delightful, and we have had no more piwakawaka in the house. Like you, Nortsat, we have collared doves who have taken up residence partly in the chicken hotel.
Grammaretto - I'm going to try your pud recipe, and will try to find the Food programme online. When we had our 150th family reunion (150 yrs since the McK clan arrived from Arran), various cousins did so much work, compiling all the various branches into a detailed book - 2,500 descendants from the original 12 children! My lovely cousin who lives locally undertook to make the haggis from scratch. Her husband was a sheep farmer, so he killed and butchered the animal for the ermm..required organs and bits and pieces, and she did the rest. It was delicious! Not something I'd like to tackle, personally, though.
Another hot day coming up. Like Kaimoana I measure the heat in showers - probably at least a 3-shower day, depending on whether I can sneak out without MrJ noticing and chastising me, to get some gardening done. I see we have the possibility of another tropical cyclone coming this way. Hot and sticky and sleepless in Northland.

Good morning Gang-stars from me, Ollie and Missy.
Missy is resting comfortably, ate all her breakfast and I am waiting for some further advice from the vet.

A friend recently introduced me to a very simple word game, which the Gang-stars may be interested in.
www.theguardian.com/games/2021/dec/23/what-is-wordle-the-new-viral-word-game-delighting-the-internet?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
This is a short article from the Guardian about it.

BJ all your garden produce and all the sunshine sound wonderful, particularly as it’s grey and drear here in London.
You could make potato salad with quails eggs and anchovy.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/potato-salad-anchovy-quails-eggs

Gramaretto do let us know if you try the bird hide. Do you enjoy bird watching? Let us know what you see.
Here in our urban environment,we get wood pigeons, collared doves, sparrows, tits and an occasional cheeky robin. Sometimes we see a crane.
Didn’t you post photographs last winter of deer in your garden? They were lovely.
Kaimoana banana ice cream sounds perfect to cool you down. It’s 11.00am here on a grey, chilly day, but I feel I could easily eat a bowlful.
How wonderful to swim in the sea.
Oh, I was sorry to read that Kerri Hulme died. I remember we talked previously about her fascinating novel The Bone People.
Doodle, so pleased to read that you had a lovely evening with your family on Sunday.

I need to get back on the exercise bike, as I am having good days, health wise (touch wood) I must do some cycling.
I went for a walk yesterday and saw that the snowdrops in the park, were peeping their heads up.

Good wishes to all the Gang-stars (present and absent) and good thoughts to Panache.

I've been doing something similar Doodle but putting things in the Cloud. Much easier.

Grammareto that was a good programme, especially the Haggis component.

The bird hide will be wonderful.

When I lived in the country I used to spread nuts and seeds on the grass then lie there on my tummy with a veil (old net curtain) over my face...watching the wild birds come down to peck.
As long as birds can't see your eyes, they will come within inches of you. Remain very still.

BJ would you really eat the eggs of you wee quail? Wouldn't it seem like eating family?
I'm astonished that you mention fennel & hemlock as my DGS and I were discussing that only hours before I read your post!

It's going up to 7pm and still 28 degrees and I am melting in the HOT sun of the west-facing computer room.

It's been a 4-shower day but I made do with a 3 and a quick head splash instead as I was making pizza for the boy...which of course took kitchen temperatures up to "beyond human endurance"
l'll put frozen banana in the whizzer to make ice cream which dgs and I will have after supper.
Will it cool us down? I very much doubt it but I have my sage capsules to save me from a complete melt down.

So many Gangstars missing atm, where are you all?

I am casting spells for the artisans Grammaretto is expecting, to be drawn in and do a good job at a good price.

I could do with some coolth......

Hello Gang,
I am here too.
I've just had my hot chocolate. Thanks Jeeves..I survived my food talk and people were kind about it. Some shared their family stories and recipes too.
By coincidence there was an episode of "Thinking Allowed" last night on the subject of Food. Identity & Nation. Radio 4
It was very good.
Hearing about your hot days and summer harvest Boadicea while we are in the the dark winter is wonderful.
Someone sells quail eggs in the storehouse in the summer. I have bought them once or twice. They are tasty and decorative in a salad. I don't use fennel seeds though.
Tomorrow I am planning to go for a walk to a new place I've never been before. There's a bird hide which sounds exciting.
The plumber and electrician both say they are coming this week so I hope I am here. The roofer didn't show up.
Hope our missing Lob-stars are all ok.
Doodle You have been enjoying family time recently which sounds good.
I must catch up with mine soon. DD has had a bad reaction from her booster. She sounds miserable.
Off to bed soon. I hardly slept last night. I must have been worried about the talk. I wasn't conscious of being anxious. Why is that? It is very annoying.

I'm here! You are amazingly dedicated, Doodle, to spend so long on sorting photos for your DGD. But such a worthwhile project, and she'll bless you for it. If I had the energy, I'd be doing it too, but it's just too hot for anything.
I so enjoyed making things out of boxes and sparkly paper for my daughter, but my DGDs' mother would throw them away as rubbish if I did it for them.

I picked under-ripe plums this morning, because if I don't, the birds will ruin them all. The pears are showing some signs of coddling moth or similar, because I try not to use any sprays at all, other than organic oils. I might have to be a little tougher at petal fall.
This morning I picked corn, tomatoes, a cucumber(last one because the patch has been decimated by drought), a few beans and two courgettes. We had our first new potatoes yesterday, and though I don't eat them normally, I had to try them - they were truly ambrosial. My little quail are spoiled rotten, eating mealworms every day, and keep producing their tiny little eggs...but I don't know what to do with them...any ideas? They seem too ridiculously small and fiddly to do anything with.
Has anyone ever tried fennel seeds in cooking? I have fennel coming up everywhere , like an invasion of aliens, and it seems a waste not to use the seed. When I was a child, fennel grew everywhere, and the smell reminds me of being told not to eat ANYTHING in the fields and bush around our house - there was hemlock and Cape tulip and other poisonous plants. I love the sharp and spicy smell, but it evokes some negative memories too.
Right, next load of washing to go out on the line.
Have a lovely day, all, and keep warm or cool, as the case may be.