Chitchat thread #24

[lottie dolly]

Good morning all,just got up ,more rain here,but is better than snow as long as it not freezes over,it does feel a lot warmer,not put the heating on yet ,but will later,must go make a start on whats left of the day,if feel i go into hybernation mode this time of year,have a lovely afternoon

[greenishfing]

Good afternoon.

It has eventually just stopped raining, temporarily, I think. All the remnants of snow have been washed away now and the weather is just dank and miserable.

I have been browsing the internet this morning, supposedly looking for Christmas presents. There seems to be sales on everywhere. I have bought a few items and some might end up as presents.

[greenishfing]

Well, I've just, belatedly, realised it is stir up Sunday. I've now got some butter in the freezer, to grate, and I'm defrosting some bread out of the freezer ready to zap into crumbs. I've got all the other ingredients so after our evening meal I'll make four small puddings and put them in the electric steamer for about 3 hours. The level on my brandy bottle seems to be dropping inordinately quickly lately, and I never actually just drink it. It either gets used in baking/cooking or hot toddies when I'm under the weather.

I've also just cut into our second Christmas cake and it looks and tastes just as good as the first.

[bramble]

Good evening all. I have just taken in a line of laundry thank to the wind from storm Bert.
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good...my grandmother always said this.

[Nicos]

Evenin n’all
Just popping in as we’ve got back from the Xmas Fair.

Such a strange few days…no electricity until late yesterday afternoon, nor internet.
15cm snow dump and very high howling winds. Most unusual….and now Storm Bert has started kicking off

We didn’t realise the Xmas Fair had been cancelled until we got the message to say it was back on!

We have a big branch down in the garden, which has taken out about 1/4 of our favourite apple tree Not seen any other damage so far….

Hope everyone is ok?

[Bren In Pots]

Evening

Hope you sold out at the fair Nicos No damage here just a few things blown around the garden.

All the snow from our garden and road out front has been washed away with the rain. It did stop raining briefly here just enough time to get some kale and parsnips.

Enjoy your evening.

[Florence Fennel]

Evening Hope the Fair was a success Nicos. No damage from Bert here, just rain and a very blustery day. I've been in my Escape Room all afternoon with a jigsaw. I've just ordered an electric blanket for my youngest GG, her request for Christmas. I hope the others follow suit and let me know what they would like.
Have a good evening

[lottie dolly]

Evening all,that was lucky Nicos,hope you did well,sad about the tree,FF i like that one escape room,GF do you ever stop lass,you have a lot of energy,i have had a very relaxing zzzzzzzzzz afternoon,and feel better for it,hope to still get a sleep tonight,and be refreshed for choir,

[greenishfing]

Oh Lottie, if only I was full of energy these days. In my younger days I really was.... but not any more.

I ended up mixing my puddings earlier than planned as I read that it was better to grate butter after only a couple of hours freezing. It seemed counterintuitive, but it was actually far less messy than normal. I nearly forgot to add the eggs. It was only when everything was mixing away in the Kenwood bowl, and I thought it didn't look right that I realised my mistake. At least I spotted it in time. If I ever double or halve a recipe, that's when I usually make mistakes. One ingredient is bound to go in at the original amount.

Anyway, I've now unplugged the steamer, and the puddings can cool at their leisure. I did buy some new seasonal festive red pudding bowls this year.

How did the Christmas fair go, Nicos? I hope the power cut didn't cause too many problems.

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Cloudy, windy and ridiculously warm. 17 ºC and it's not even 8.30. I saw butterflies and dragonflies yesterday. And lots of wasps about too. What a strange storm Bert is: cold and wet up where most of you are and in north-west Spain, but warm here.

Sorry to hear about your tree, Nicos. Will you have to do any remedial work so it's not imbalanced or to help the wound?

A relatively busy day today, but not out of control, thank goodness. Job number one: bring a dog bed out into the kitchen so that our now aged dog isn't lying directly on the tiles.

Have a great day, everyone.

[lottie dolly]

morning all,it looks bright outside for now at least,GF you put me to shame with what you get up too,i have gone lazy,Snoop you are owed some better weather after recent events,on looking back over the last few weeks,were i live seem to have fared well to other parts of the uk,have a good day all

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

Its bright here as well lottie along with gusty winds. Enjoy your warm weather Snoop hopefully you'll be able to spend sometime outdoors.