Chitchat thread #24

[greenishfing]

Jay, on my 60th, one of my sister's collected up of selection of photos of me from over the years. Some I'd never seen as they weren't mine. She had them made into a photo album/book. I've just had a look . The company was photobox. Just an idea. If she lives local take her out for a meal. My husband's favourite ever present however was a flying lesson booked through a nearby aerodrome. He got the voucher and we used it when the weather improved, I went up with him in the back (four seater) with a camera.

[bramble]

Good morning all.
Its dull and dark and just 2 degs.
No Christmas decorations up yet.
I am working my way through the house cleaning and polishing.
When that's all done it will be Christmas in our house.
Grandson is super excited this year as he has turned 5 and knows aoo about Santa.
Have a good day all.

[Snoop Puss]

Afternoon all.

Miserable start to the day here, but it has brightened up. Mr Snoop is outside pottering and gathering building stones. Me I'm about to go out and get more firewood.

Had a good time yesterday with the neighbour, boning and stuffing my chicken. Nowhere near as difficult as I expected it to be. Will definitely do this again.

Dreadful week ahead, though. M has invited mutual friends to stay and it will be nice to see them, but it hasn't half thrown out my work schedule and deadlines... Right, moan over. Better just get on with it.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Bren In Pots]

Jay I liked GF’s idea of taking your sister out for a birthday meal.
As for Christmas shopping I’ve not started yet either it shouldn’t take long once I get around to it.

[mothhawk]

It's been drizzly wet all day today, so I did some baking - mince pies

My breadmaker broke at the weekend, there was the normal chuggling sound as it beat the dough, then an ominous tinkling rattle. The connector joint had broken (the bit that turns the paddle inside the pan). I finished the bread by hand, then searched online and found and ordered the part. It looks fairly simple to replace, so hope it comes soon, my wrists are getting too old to be hand kneading. The breadmaker has done good service, it must be pushing 15 years old now.

[bramble]

Good evening all.
It's been a grey and miserable day here.
Make a beef stew in the slow cooker first thing.
Spent the afternoon washing my dinner service, glasses, cutlery and tidying the drinks cabinet.
Not much Christmas shopping done here either.

Jay, It would be a nice treat for you, and your sister in law to go out for a meal.
My daughter in laws birthday is coming up on the 15th and like you, I am totally stumped.
I dont mind gift shopping, it's just a pain when you cant think of anything to shop for.

Have a good evening all snd wrap up well.

[rary]

Good evening, we had some rain earlier but not enough to shift the snow, haven't done much today, was up at church this morning helping put up the Christmas tree, then back home where I got a couple of loads of washing done unfortunately it all had to go into the drier, however it all dried and put past, I note some of you mentioning Christmas shopping, fortunately OH had bought all presents required before she went into hospital, she knows of course if it was left to me it would never happen, same with Christmas cards, I would prefer to put the money into a charity, rather than send cards, I will be going out in a wee while as the Burns Club has a monthly meeting where there is a speaker giving a talk about the changing farm practices in the district, so looking forward to that. Have a pleasant evening, and if feeling cold remember shared heat with your partner works wonders Goodnight

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

It rained quite hard in the night, so no frost this morning. Blue skies again, though, now. Phew, as I fancy making some more bread. For reasons beyond my control, yesterday's offering (sourdough Sicilian bread) was well and truly over-proved, so it sank in the oven. Tastes the part but definitely doesn't look it.

Got a busy day ahead, so better get on with it. Not wishing to make a big song and dance of it, but it's my birthday tomorrow and people keep making arrangements without consulting me and then rearranging them, so meeting work deadlines is even more difficult than usual. I know I sound very ungrateful, but I'll be very glad when this week is over...

Have a great day, everyone.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All Raining here. I'd like to say something profound to cheer you up Snoop, but all I can find is Soft Kitty, warm Kitty, little ball of fur, Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, Purr, Purr, Purr. Hope your week gets better x
Have a good day

[Snoop Puss]

Good Morning All Raining here. I'd like to say something profound to cheer you up Snoop, but all I can find is Soft Kitty, warm Kitty, little ball of fur, Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, Purr, Purr, Purr. Hope your week gets better x
Have a good day

Thanks, Flo. Just the job. x

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all
Loads more sploshy going on here. The roofers have arrived next door as they are replacing their tiles and installing solar panels at the same time. Going to be a bit noisy for a while….several weeks apparently….and they don’t take a Xmas break either - just Xmas Day. Oh well.
Our chimney is still leaking - so the guy is coming back either today or tomorrow depending on if it’s raining….

That’s frustrating Snoop - I can understand your anxiety - you need to be professionally reliable when you give a finishing date.
They mean well, but clearly just don’t understand the implications.

Rary - your talk sounds interesting…what info did you take away from that?

Cant decide whether to do a grory hop or start putting up a few decorations….
Whatever you get up to…have a good day peeps.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning, rain here as well Flo, I've not heard Soft kitty for a while it always makes me smile, thanks.

Snoop i hope you manage to get your work completed amongst all those unplanned arrangements.

Which will it be Nicos ? I think you'll be starting those decorations.

[Florence Fennel]

I've just sharpened my scissors, now I'm wiping down kitchen units. I should be buying gifts, but inspiration has left the building

[bramble]

Good day all.
Damp and cold here.
Out for lunch today with my husbands siblings and their partners.

Snoop, you have my sympathy, I dont do stress very well,
I hope it all works out for you.
Have a good day all.

[rary]

Rary - your talk sounds interesting…what info did you take away from that?

There were several things I noted Nicos, for instance there are still signs of community farming, where fields were devided up into run rigs, that's the field being devided into broad strips running the length of the field and worked by individual families, this of ours took place a long time ago but evedence of such things can still be seen especially when using a drone to photograph the area, also in the more recent years most of the farmers around this area were tenant farmers, the fields being used for growing different grains, both for human and animal consumption, for example there would've been a field where a mix of crops was grown to feed the horses, this changed after the war when seed from Italy was imported,, it then became a monoculture where the horse got fed the one type of grain, the example was, like getting fed weetabix every day, it was also shown how drainage was important and how this increased the output, also how the farmers wealth increased when the trains came into the area in the past the milk was used to make cheese and butter mostly for local consumption, though there were some haulage companies who collected such products to take to the city markets, also that cheese was used as payment of rent, there were a number of other things but this might give you a flavour of what the discussion was