Amazon exiles discussion
Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything!
Re the Lockdown's lack of access to hairdressers, our youngest now has a kinda Ian Brown type hairdo. Reckon it looks really good but his mother aint impressed. There's been talk of the clippers coming out but NO, I shall not allow it. Truth is I'll have no say in it but it'd be a shame. Liberate your locks, that's what I say!!!
Hide the Clippers and all of the Scissors too! - LOL!!! ;o>
Good idea Suze but J always manages to produce a pair of scissors somehow; it's like she's got em hid all around the house or something... or flicks em outta thin air! Maybe it was some kinda Samurai extra add-on to her nurse training? Tis a sure-fire way of putting me in me place y'see - just threaten to cut off my locks as I sleep. : )
Blastronaut wrote: "Maybe it was some kinda Samurai extra add-on to her nurse training?"I couldn't possibly comment on that as what we learn in Nurse Training stays in Nurse Training! ... LOL!!! ;o>
Good news about the cake Suzy! That's a load off your shoulders!
Awww, thanks Val ... xIt's felt like such an uphill struggle to try to make the day into being as special as it could and should be. It would have only ever just have been us celebrating on the day regardless of the Lock-down - but we would have gone out somewhere for a Meal and at some point Mum would have also had a girly lunch out with a few friends that she's known for quite a few years now.
They all apparently bring every single conversation back around to yet more non-stop talk about all of their Grandchildren these days but, although she finds that very hard deep down inside as she invariably ends up in feeling increasingly left out of having anything to contribute, nevertheless she will still miss getting to go out with them all the same.
My Dad is being as shut-down and as utterly indifferent to it all as he always is. Before I could even print off the Menu for the American/Italian Takeaway he was immediately pulling such 'orrible faces and resolutely saying he wasn't interested and wouldn't be eating anything. And, to be honest with you, if I hadn't absolutely insisted on him picking out a Card online and then buying it for him, it wouldn't have occurred to him to even bother with trying to do so.
He has refused to consider buying her any kind of a Gift so I've just ordered a load of beautiful Plants to be delivered from our local Garden Nursery ... and I've actually paid for them in his name and on his Credit Card! - so there! - LOL!!! I wouldn't have dared to do this previously but I've decided that enough is enough and I'm not having him ruining yet another special day in this House ever again. It's a 'big' Birthday, it deserves to be celebrated, and it's all about my Mum and not him.
He won't even care that I've done this on his behalf - but my Mum will be absolutely delighted - and it will help to keep her distracted and busy in one of her most favourite places - the Garden ;o>
Ohhh, all that talk of Cheese?!! ... I had some yesterday, and at Lunchtime today, and here I am now sat here eating Cheddar Slices topped with Piccalilli on Krackawheats! ;o>I'll be waking up and wanting a Buscopan in a couple of hours! - LOL!!!
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Ohhh, all that talk of Cheese?!! ... I had some yesterday, and at Lunchtime today, and here I am now sat here eating Cheddar Slices topped with Piccalilli on Krackawheats! ;o>I'll be waking up an..."
Reading your post and eating a cheese and coleslaw sandwich :0
NO?!! ... STOP IT!!! ... I was just wondering whether to have Pizza for Lunch before I had to give myself a quick mental slap and remind my Head that my Body is on it's 3rd Buscopan now! ... ;oO
Another Food Box is now available from Morrisons! - a BBQ one ;o>I know I keep on flagging these up but, if you are shielding and getting low on basic rations and can't manage to get yourself any Supermarket Home Delivery Slots any time soon (or even at all), then it's always good to know that these Food Boxes are available via just a quick and easy order - and that they will be delivered within a day or two at the most and for a very reasonable price too considering all of their contents ...
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/...
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/...
The BBQ Food Box for £35 contains ...
Morrisons The Best Scotch Burgers 4 pack 454g
Morrisons The Best Pork Sausages 6 pack 400g
Chicken Drumsticks 1.1kg
Sizzle Steaks 350g
Morrisons Finger Rolls 6 pack
Morrisons Soft White Rolls 6 pack
Morrisons Cheesy Slices 200g
Morrisons Cypriot Halloumi 225g
Heinz Tomato Ketchup 250g
Flava-It Barbecue Marinade 35g
Flava-It Garlic and Herb Marinade Seasoning 35g
Morrisons Crisp Leaf Mix 230g
Morrisons Corn Cobbettes 4 pack
Morrisons Baking Potatoes
Morrisons Closed Cup Mushrooms 300g
Morrisons The Best Sweet Baby Peppers 250g
Morrisons Baby Plum Tomatoes 250g
Morrisons Creamy Coleslaw 300g
Morrisons Deli Potato Salad 300g
Morrisons Classic Houmous 200g
Morrisons Twists Cheese 125g
Morrisons 24 Flapjack Mini Bites
Morrisons 24 Double Chocolate Brownie Mini Bites
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Another Food Box is now available from Morrisons! - a BBQ one ;o>I know I keep on flagging these up but, if you are shielding and getting low on basic rations and can't manage to get yourself any..."
I thought it might be tough on my mum, who's in Cornwall, getting good food during the lockdown.
Quite the opposite, in fact I'm quite jealous.
The local butcher is delivering for free. The newsagent is delivering her paper daily. Local fish veg shop also delivering.
As well as the supermarkets.
As well as this there's at least 4 local pubs and the chipper all delivering.
She sent me a photo of the sunday roast she got, piping hot, big yorkshire pudding, gravy...the lot....
Then fish and chips another week, chips still crispy, all hot and good quality.
I'm hungry even thinking about it.
Ohhh, that's lovely to hear - that your Mum is managing so well ;o>We tried out our local Chippy a week ago, although we had to make special one-off arrangements to do via Phone Call and Doorstep cash collection as they were resolutely saying at first that they would only accept orders and payments via an App.
But it turned out that the App can only be installed and used on Android Phones or on Chromebooks and not on a Laptop with Windows 10 IE or Windows Edge on it ... which is what we have here.
Three Regular Cod & 1 Large Chips ended up costing us a whopping £24! - which I appreciate may not sound to be all that much to folk depending on where they live and how much they may pay but we usually only pay £4.50 for each Fish + £2 for a Large portion of Chips! ... and, sadly, we were rather disappointed with what turned up as well.
The Fish was a bit too overcooked for us and there was also barely much more than a small handful of Chips each - plus I think Pedro (the Delivery Guy) had probably done quite a few Deliveries before he came to us because it wasn't even all that hot ;oO
We made the best of it but all agreed that we wouldn't be trying it again.
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Ohhh, that's lovely to hear - that your Mum is managing so well ;o>We tried out our local Chippy a week ago, although we had to make special one-off arrangements to do via Phone Call and Doorstep..."
That's disappointing, what a shame, and that is V expensive.
Ireland's rubbish for takeaway food, so I'm always jealous of what my family can easily get in Cornwall. Last time I visited I ate fish and chips and pasties constantly :0
Now there is one Thai place I go to over here, that's incredible. Very fresh and authentic.
I miss it now, as it's too far away to be able to travel to in the lockdown. Their Yellow Fish Curry or Pad Thai......................yum...
Well, I've spent quite a few days now in endlessly deliberating and dithering and in trying my very best too to not to give into any sudden and impulsive episodes of middle-of-the-night-and-no-sleep-for-days panic buying for Mum's Birthday - but I think I've managed to get there on putting it all together now (without going too nuts!) on trying to make everything as special as I possibly can for my Mum on her big day ;o>And the Free Amazon Prime Trial that I'm using right now has been such a fantastic Godsend! ... as I've used over this last week again and again to order ... an absolutely stunning top quality Card for my Dad to give to my Mum, a sweet and funny Card from Mitzi too, plus I've ordered some pretty dark pink & gold coloured Paper Napkins to dress the Table with, a box of extra tall thin metallic rose coloured Cake Candles - just in case the Cake doesn't come with any, a metallic rose coloured spare Glitter Cake Topper saying 'Happy Birthday Mum' - just in case Mum objects to the 'Happy 80th Birthday Mum' that is coming with the Cake (LOL!!!), a few bottles of Fentimans delicious Rose Lemonade to drink with the Cake, and, for want of a special and sentimental gift to be able to wrap up for her as well (as I can't do that with the Cake or the Bouquet of Flowers) I decided on buying Mum an Eternal Rose which was something that I've been looking at for quite sometime now.
I decided on a beautiful looking Rainbow Rose for it's maximum colourful impact and, thanks to Amazon Prime, it has arrived within just two days and ... O.M.G. ! - it is just SOOO beautiful and SOOO perfect that I simply can't wait now to get to see the look on her Face on Friday when I give it to her!!!
A couple of Reviews have suggested that some of them don't seem to have been 'treated' well enough for them to last as long as they claim to do (about a year apparently?) but if it only just makes it up until Christmas then I'll still be delighted with it ;o>
It came at 9pm and I can't stop admiring just how beautiful it is! ;o> ...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Ohhh, all that talk of Cheese?!! ... I had some yesterday, and at Lunchtime today, and here I am now sat here eating Cheddar Slices topped with Piccalilli on Krackawheats! ;o>I'll be waking up an..."
Speaking of cheese..my brother mentioned to me today, that his wife has been biding her time, learning how make some from scratch. Me brother gave her a cheese making kit.....and apparently she's had a go making some Mozzarella.
Gotta wonder though...where did she get the buffalo milk from??!! ;-)
... well? - it's only just a guess but I'm thinking from a Buffalo! ;o>
One for Isabella ... x ... the last Super Moon of the year will happen tonight. May's Super Flower Moon is also known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon ...
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co....
"where did she get the buffalo milk from??!!"just don't milk the bull!
I'm back with yet another addition to the Morrisons Food Box range! ;o>I must admit I'm a bit surprised that it's taken them quite so long into the Lock-down to finally put together this Box as well as the Meat Eater and the Vegetarian? - but nevertheless, The Gluten Free Food Box is here at last! ... and it costs £35 and contains ...
1 Litre Semi-Skimmed Milk
Cheddar Cheese
1 kg Morrisons Carrots
1 kg Morrisons Onions
Morrisons Potatoes
Morrisons Peppers
500g Morrisons Free From Fusilli
390g Passata with Onion and Garlic
Morrisons Chopped Tomatoes
8 Gluten Free Vegetable Stock Cubes
Morrisons Free From Digestive Biscuits
Eat Real Veggie and Kale Straws
250g Basmati Rice
Morrisons Free From Cornflakes
Morrisons Free From Original Crackers
Free & Easy Cheese Sauce Mix
Genius Gluten Free Soft White Farmhouse Loaf
Genius Gluten Free Brioche Burger Buns
Morrisons The Best Thick Pork Sausages
Morrisons Chicken Breast Fillets
Morrisons Market Street British Minced Beef 12% Fat
Morrisons Free From Chocolate Biscuits
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/...
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/...
It never occurred to me that I could freeze Rhubarb?! - but Google tells me that I can - and so I'm going to be experimenting with trying it out today as I've just found several packs of Rhubarb in our Porch (a very kind and welcome gift from one of our Neighbours) and want to enjoy eeking it out when we fancy having some rather than having to binge eat it all while it is still fresh.I've been constantly worrying about running out of my favourite Pineapple - 'Dole'. Even before this Lock-down I was starting to struggle to get myself a regular supply - as for the last couple of years I have only occasionally ever managed to get it in bulk-buys from Waitrose.
I've seen it elsewhere in Catering sized Tins and for such silly prices on Amazon and always ruled out on buying it - but the prices on it have finally suddenly become worth considering over this last week.
It comes in 822g and 3kg Tins - so I've opted for a slightly dearer option of 6 x 822g to try out as each Tin contains about 2 and a half times the amount of a standard Supermarket Tin and I usually open two Tins at a time to make up my weekly Fridge Box of Fruit Salad anyway.
Google tells me that I can also freeze Pineapple too - which I sort-of knew about as I've seen it in Frozen Smoothie Packs of Fruit but had never considered trying out freezing it myself. So, I am also going to be experimenting with freezing the extra portion of Pineapple that I will have leftover from each of these larger Tins to see how it turns out.
If it works? - then I'll be buying the 3 x 3kg Tins next time around and will be saving myself quite a lot of money on my daily Pineapple fix in the future! ;o>
Sounds like someone is struggling to fill their new freezer? :)
Regarding pineapple, I always buy fresh and hack it into lumps myself. A pineapple lasts me four days as I take it in my packup, along with grapes.
Regarding pineapple, I always buy fresh and hack it into lumps myself. A pineapple lasts me four days as I take it in my packup, along with grapes.
I am struggling a little ... to make sure I still have just enough room for all of the exciting things I am now filling it to capacity with - LOL!!! ;o>I'm such a MASSIVE Dole fan - I absolutely LOVE the stuff! - but finding anywhere who is still selling it these days is almost like going out and panning for Gold.
I really wanted to go for the 3kg Tins because the price really is just too good for me to miss out on - but I'm the only one who eats Pineapple here and 3kg certainly won't keep in the Fridge for long once it is opened. If the experiment fails on freezing the few extra leftover grams of it from the 822g Tins because I find that it won't freeze nicely enough for me then at least I'll have given it a go without losing out on trying doing it with several Kg at a time ;o>
I'm still trying to get my Head around wandering into the Lounge last night and catching the end of the Weather Forecast for this Weekend ... a very warm and sunny 19 to 22°C over most of the UK (23 to 24°C over the London area) for the next couple of days ... then suddenly we may be having Snow showers on Sunday?!!Did I just dream this?!! - or was it a real Weather Report?!! ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "It never occurred to me that I could freeze Rhubarb?! - but Google tells me that I can - and so I'm going to be experimenting with trying it out today as I've just found several packs of Rhubarb in..."I usually end up freezing any excess rhubarb - I cut it into chunks of about 1" and blanch it first. Has always worked fine for me.
I have always assumed it be far too juicy a Fruit to be able to cope well with being frozen - and, to be honest with you, I'm not into expending any energy on preparing stuff these days like I always used to previously. I saw Rhubarb could be frozen in stalk form and unblanched too and thought ... "Yep! - that'll do me fine!" ... ;o>I wanted it still as Stalks and in a long thin tall Bag if possible as I knew that I had still got a long thin tall space that I could make for it in one of the Drawers of the new Freezer - LOL!!! ;o>
EDIT: I should explain that, given half a chance, M&D just pile everything in that can rammed into the Freezers - all shoved in anywhere that something might fit - and it drives me crackers having to pull every Drawer out just to go rummaging and searching through them. I can easily pack almost twice what M&D can get into a Freezer and find them immediately whenever I want them. I'm known for my expertise in packing skills - LOL!!! ;o>
It's been such a bloody awful day here in Stockport today ;o<Ahhh well ... I need to not be thinking or feeling anymore right now so I'm off to Bed early tonight in the hope of trying to get some Sleep instead ...
x Nighty-Night x Sleepy-Tight x and very Sweet Dreams Everyone x
suzysunshine7 wrote: "One for Isabella ... x ... the last Super Moon of the year will happen tonight. May's Super Flower Moon is also known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon ...https://www.manchesterevenin..."
Thanks, Suzy. Lovely clear night for it.
Thanks, Lez.On a different subject... Any bird watchers on here?
Twice, now I've spotted a goose-like bird on the river, once a quick glimpse of it flying, once just paddling out of sight. (Ain't it always the way?)
It's mostly black, with conspicuous white wing tips. They show very clearly in flight and as a v shape on its back when on the water. It's not much bigger than a mallard but the bill is quite 'goosey', pale orangey-pink with big webbed feet, same colour. The head is a messy mix of black/grey/white. I can't find anything with such prominent white wing tips. It's not a tufted duck, which I see often, nor anything like an oyster catcher which turn up very occasionally. Possibly it's an escape, we did have a black swan paddling about some years ago.
Suggestions gratefully received...
Isabella wrote: "Thanks, Lez.On a different subject... Any bird watchers on here?
Twice, now I've spotted a goose-like bird on the river, once a quick glimpse of it flying, once just paddling out of sight. (Ain'..."
Can’t find anything like your (excellent) description in my books.
SussexWelsh is good at birds, I’ll see if I can track him down.
Thanks (again), Lez. I've tried my books and the rspb identification tool but nothing. It's the wing tips that are confusing me. They're so prominent in flight and quite big relative to the rest of the wings. Unmissable!
Isabella, someone on the Radio 3 forum suggested a Muscovy duck.They hybridise with Mallards too, and can look pretty "messy"
suzysunshine7 wrote: "It's been such a bloody awful day here in Stockport today ;o<Ahhh well ... I need to not be thinking or feeling anymore right now so I'm off to Bed early tonight in the hope of trying to get some..."
hope you had a better day today, suze
roaring hot here allday.....why am I cooking Curry I ask myself?
Hiyah Everyone ... x x xI'm still struggling to try to take in the sheer bloody awfulness of what happened here in Greater Manchester yesterday. There were 44 reported deaths and, in one of the most tragic and saddest days for all of us here in Stockport so far, we lost 29 people within 24 hours at our local Hospital ;o<
BUT - it's finally here - it's Mum's 80th Birthday today! ... and so today is all about celebrating that and for feeling so grateful and so blessed for us all still being here and still being able to do so ... x
Life is SO short, SO precious, such a Gift to us all. Live it, love it, and enjoy it! ... x x x
Lez wrote: "Can’t find anything like your (excellent) description in my books.SussexWelsh is good at birds, I’ll see if I can track him down."
Hi, Lez, Isabella, I don't think I can help. The white wing tips are the problem. Without those, it sounded like it might be a goosander.
I'm glad all went ok for your mums birthday Suzy.
SussexWelsh wrote: "Lez wrote: "Can’t find anything like your (excellent) description in my books.SussexWelsh is good at birds, I’ll see if I can track him down."
Hi, Lez, Isabella, I don't think I can help. The whi..."
Thanks for trying. It's the wingtips that I can't fathom. There's nothing I know that looks so distinct but I'm certainly no expert. I don't think the Muscovy duck is the answer, there doesn't seem to be any wattling but the bill is a bit greyer than I thought and some of the black is iridescent like a magpie. Saw two of them this evening but we're on the fourth floor and the river bank is quite deep as well, so even with bins, it's an odd angle and size hard to judge.
If I spot them tomorrow I'll try for a photo...
Isabella wrote: "SussexWelsh wrote: "Lez wrote: "Can’t find anything like your (excellent) description in my books.SussexWelsh is good at birds, I’ll see if I can track him down."
Hi, Lez, Isabella, I don't think..."
Now have pic of one on my profile. Seems possible they're Muscovies from the sheer variety of images on the net, perhaps with a bit of mallard? The iridescence doesn't show up well on the pic and I'm still not convinced there's any wattling but the white wingtips are clear enough. Only one there this morning but they're pretty alike in general.
Otherwise, not a clue. :o)
Today, after three weeks of trying every day, I've finally managed to get a new flea collar onto Phoebe :)
It's always the same - a battle of wills from the moment I open up the packet of a new collar;
Me - you WILL be wearing this new collar
Phoebe - I WILL resist for as long as I can!
After much yowling, spitting, scratching, hiding and general stubbornness (Phoebe, not me) I caught her unawares whilst asleep on a cushion next to me in my chair and succeeded in clicking the new collar in place but then couldn't get the old one undone so that one ended up being dragged over her ears to remove it as a result of Phoebe furiously backing away and me refusing to let go of the old collar!
As soon as that collar was off, Phoebe disappeared like a shot to her favourite sulking place - hiding under the edge of a runner on a low unit in the lounge. To complete her humiliation, I even managed to get a picture of her there looking very hard done to, which I've added to my profile :)
It's always the same - a battle of wills from the moment I open up the packet of a new collar;
Me - you WILL be wearing this new collar
Phoebe - I WILL resist for as long as I can!
After much yowling, spitting, scratching, hiding and general stubbornness (Phoebe, not me) I caught her unawares whilst asleep on a cushion next to me in my chair and succeeded in clicking the new collar in place but then couldn't get the old one undone so that one ended up being dragged over her ears to remove it as a result of Phoebe furiously backing away and me refusing to let go of the old collar!
As soon as that collar was off, Phoebe disappeared like a shot to her favourite sulking place - hiding under the edge of a runner on a low unit in the lounge. To complete her humiliation, I even managed to get a picture of her there looking very hard done to, which I've added to my profile :)
Grizzlygrump wrote: "Today, after three weeks of trying every day, I've finally managed to get a new flea collar onto Phoebe :)It's always the same - a battle of wills from the moment I open up the packet of a new co..."
All that takes me back... none of out cats consented willingly to the collar and as for pills, I still have the scars.
Your Phoebe is so much like our late lamented Coco, loved and lost like so much else.
Isabella, it just looks like a hybridised duck of some kind, an Allsort perhaps? ;-)Btw, what river do you live by?
Helen The Melon wrote: "Isabella, it just looks like a hybridised duck of some kind, an Allsort perhaps? ;-)Btw, what river do you live by?"
It's the Ely, between Penarth and Cardiff.
Could be Allsorts, there are two of them, though.
And they both look exactly the same?Edit: The only other thing it vaguely looks like is a Snow Goose/Blue Goose (blue morph), but the bill on your photo looks more ducky than goosey!
They're N. American birds but can occasionally get "lost" & visit Europe maybe. Or they're escapeeeees 😁
Two experienced birders on the R3 Forum are certain you have domestic/farmyard Muscovies hybridised with mallards. I copied the photo.
Lez wrote: "Two experienced birders on the R3 Forum are certain you have domestic/farmyard Muscovies hybridised with mallards. I copied the photo."Thanks, a friend has also suggested the hybrid idea. They don't look very exciting on the water but in flight they're quite eye-catching with the strong contrast in the wings. Must have made a bid for freedom from somewhere, perhaps! Lockdown deniers... ;o)
Amazon exiles
Books mentioned in this topic
Ten Poems about Snow (other topics)And So This is Christmas: 51 Seasonally Adjusted Poems (other topics)
The Tiger Who Came to Tea (other topics)
The Quangle Wangle's Hat (other topics)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christina Rossetti (other topics)John Keats (other topics)
Joan Aiken (other topics)
The wonderful Cake Lady ... she say "YES" ... ! ! ! ... WOO-HOO ! ! !
Mum is going to have everything on her 80th Birthday that I was SO hoping and wishing for ;o>