Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything! Showing 7,751-7,800 of 9,227

[Anita]

Lucky Mitzi.

[suzysunshine7]

;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh yeah!!! ;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

Me and Mitz every day these days ;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

So Mitz isn't inside and talking to me today because she is spending the day outside in her Day Box on the Back Garden Lawn under the shade of our Pear Tree - apparently busy supervising Mum digging out one of the Flower Beds while only pretending to be fast asleep?!

Hey? - it's a very important job, you know?!! - and one Mitz takes very seriously indeed! ;o>

So instead of sitting here and talking out loud to myself I thought that I'd come on here and do some typing online to myself instead - LOL!!!

Is there anybody there? ... and how's everyone doing? ...

[Helen The Melon]

I'm here, Suzy. Took me ages & ages to sign in today. Had to do the captcha "I am not a robot" thingy and it was endless, photo after photo. Don't think I've had to do it before when signing in.

Anyway, you'll be delighted to know that spider season has started with a vengeance in the last week or so:-

Jumping spider on my kitchen table.
Small spider on the stairs (going clip-clippety-clop on the stair).
Medium one sat on top of my sheet when I went to make my bed (after leaving duvet turned back to air it out for a hour or so).
Medium one sat on my toilet cistern, staring at me, when I got out of the bath.
Jumping spider sat on my pillow when I went to bed one night.
Humongous hairy house spider ran underneath my bedside table - I fished it out.
Smallish one bungee jumping from a skylight.
And on...

Buggers are everywhere again. Oh well, good job I'm used to them.

[suzysunshine7]

How weird, Helen ... I also had the captcha "I am not a robot" thingy too. I hope that Goodreads aren't going to make this into a daily way to Log In because I can be pretty hopeless when it comes to being able to work out exactly what's in some of those much more grainy Image Boxes? - and it isn't always that easy working out what some of the Images are either when they seem to rely a little too heavily on American culture and Lifestyle as a standard ... ie: all of the Taxis seem to be the yellow cars whether they have got obvious Taxi signs on them or not? ... !

Yep! - Spiders! - they're back!!! ;oO

Only last night my Dad had a Shower first and then went off to Bed. I set up all of his Pillows for him, quickly finished off the last couple of mouthfuls of a Mug of Tea and bobbed into the Bathroom around 10 minutes later to set up the Shower for myself ... and found TWO Spiders busy enjoying having a random wander around the still very wet Shower Cubicle!

One was a quite small but heavy-set one - chunky Body and thick Legs - that I only spotted on the inside Hand Rail just before I almost put my Hand on it! ... and the other was a large skinny one with a smaller body yet extremely long spindly Legs that was sat in the far corner of the Cubicle Floor seemingly examining a small puddle of leftover Body Wash Bubbles!

I managed to scoop them both out easily enough on a large sheet of Kitchen Tissue and then I put them down into the Bath (one at each end) while I had my Shower ... just in case they decided to shoot across the Floor to get back into the Shower with me!!!

I didn't want to leave them stranded though so, once I was dried off and done, I scooped them up again and set the little one down on the Windowsill by the open Window and the large one on the Floor near where there is a slight gap between the Corner Bath Panel and the tiled Wall as I've often seen Spiders surreptitiously sneaking in and out from behind there.

Sadly I found the large one had chosen to commit suicide at some time during the night - by climbing or falling back into the Bath and then drowning itself in the only barely discernible small puddle of Water that was in there ;o<

But the small one is probably not too far away on the other side of the Window - propping up an Insect Bar in an Insect Hotel somewhere - and telling a Bumble Bee all about his big adventure! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

I've just finished ordering my Birthday Cake on the insistence of my Mum who wouldn't let me get away with not bothering with one this year.

I did it through Facebook Messenger and ... after going through all of the options on the design, the size, the numbers of Layers, the kind of Sponge and the kind of Filling that I wanted with the lovely Girl who made my Mum's magnificent Cake ... I closed down Messenger, ended up back on my Home Page and ... right there?!! - I only went and found this waiting for me?!! ...



And I can't pretend otherwise and must admit that my very first thought on seeing this was ...

"Damn! - I SO missed out on thinking through SUCH a brilliant choice there!!!" ;o>

[Anita]

The first time I've ever seen a dead animal on a birthday cake.😀

[Serial]

That is a savage birthday cake.
I can just imagine some of the young birthday guests breaking down and wailing in horror,

[suzysunshine7]

It's an inspired idea - a Cake no-one else feels like wanting a piece of ;o> ...

[P]

I'm here, as well, Suzie!!!

Inspired thinking about a birthday cake! Spiderman being squished underneath a huge boot? Teddybear with head missing? Caterpillar being eaten by a bird?

Summer has arrived. Enjoy it everyone.

[suzysunshine7]

Hiyah P!!! ... x x x ;o>

Yeah, it took a 3 year old to suddenly make me realise that I've been going about this in completely the wrong way for all of my Birthdays so far?! ... by making, or ordering in, an absolutely beautiful and utterly irresistible Cake that everyone will be wanting to have a huge slice of! - LOL!!! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

And talking of Cake! - LOL!!! ;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

There are two rather stunning Photos that have been posted up on a local Community Group's Facebook Page.

This one is a Photo of Stockport Viaduct being widened sometime in 1887 ...

[suzysunshine7]

And this was taken by a Neighbour only a couple of days ago and is an absolutely beautiful Photo of The Central Library in Manchester ...

[Val]

I love historic photos (and modern day ones too) but it's the old ones that really get to me. Did you see this one?

[Val]

I don't spend a lot of time on Facebook but this site often has interesting old photos (American)

https://www.facebook.com/HistoryInPic...

[suzysunshine7]

Val wrote: "I love historic photos (and modern day ones too) but it's the old ones that really get to me. Did you see this one? ... "

WoW! ... no I've not seen that Photo before, Val.

I also love old Photographs but I think what really got me about the Stockport Viaduct one is that we have such a lot of Viaducts in so many of the Villages and Towns all over the Borough of Stockport but somehow it had never fully occurred to me as to just how old they are or as to how they were created either?

So, seeing Pictures of the HUGE wooden support structures for the Brickwork not yet built and all of the Men busy working on them and wearing full Suits and Caps(!), is something that I find to be particularly fascinating.

And I love the Manchester one because I had almost forgotten just how beautiful and also quite unique a lot of the Buildings are - and the Photographer managed to catch such an incredibly beautiful shot ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Just sat watching our Shed ... always known to us as the 'House At Pooh Corner' ever since my Dad painted it such a revolting Brown colour ... finally being repainted in a rather gorgeous shade of Mid-Olive Green for us by a lovely guy called Steve ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

I had one of my delightfully wandery kind of dreams last night ;o>

I was taking my time slowly walking along our main Road in the centre of our Village until I finally got to the little Woodland Park and spotted a Bench to sit on so I could have a Picnic. On my Wheelchair, that I was pushing in front of me like I usually do when out and about while trying to keep upright and keep on walking, was a HUGE Wicker Hamper and I was increasingly getting more and more excited as to what might possibly be in it.

At some point, around about halfway there, Anita fell in step alongside me and was telling me a really funny story about Treacle who was perched on her Shoulder and purring away. Then, just as we walked through the Park Gates, Helen came out from behind a Tree and joined us ;o>

We decided against sitting on a Bench in favour of spreading a large Blanket on the lovely cool Grass beneath the shade of one of the massive old Oak Trees instead and all sat down.

I opened up the Hamper and lifted out lots of absolutely fabulous looking Platters of Sandwiches, and Savouries, and Sweet Treats, and Drinks ... and then Val sat up and climbed out of the Hamper as well! ;o>

I didn't exactly see you all in any detail as such? - I just knew who you all were, and that you were there, and we were all having such a lovely relaxing Picnic together.

Isabella took a break from planting out Roses in the Flowerbeds and Treacle raced off and started playing with Snowdrop when Collette turned up ... and I woke up with such a HUGE Smile on my Face that has stayed with me all morning!!! ;o>

[Val]

That must have been one very large picnic hamper!! We were obviously all sending positive vibes for your birthday tomorrow!

[suzysunshine7]

It was SO funny, Val, because none of us were at all surprised when you sat up and climbed out! It was as if we all fully expected for you to come to the Picnic like that! - LOL!!! ;o>

By the way ... it wasn't all THAT big a Hamper although the inside clearly had very similar dimensions to a Tardis - and I lifted it off the Wheelchair with considerable ease before opening and unpacking it ... so you must tuck up small and weigh as light as a Feather, Val! ;o>

[Isabella]

Wouldn't it be great if we could all meet up for that picnic? :o)

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh it would! It was such a wonderfully happy and carefree dream ;o>

[Helen The Melon]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "It was SO funny, Val, because none of us were at all surprised when you sat up and climbed out! It was as if we all fully expected for you to come to the Picnic like that! - LOL!!! ;o>"

Oh yeh, it's well known that picnic hampers are actually teleportation portals to and from Australia. The F&M on the basket doesn't really stand for Fortnum & Mason: it means Food & Melbourne. Obvs. ;-)

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh yes!!! ... and wouldn't it just be even more fantastic right now if we all had one during this Pandemic?!! - a Covid Self-Sterilising Portal that we could simply step into, close the Lid, and then pop up and step out again in each other's Homes or Gardens anytime that we fancied having a quick Chat or a lovely long Picnic with Forum friends? ;o>

[Anita]

one of my favourite things a picnic ,and I'm sure Treacle would appreciate it as well .

[suzysunshine7]

I'll be sure to remember to pack some extra Tuna and fresh Chicken for Treacle and Snowdrop (and Mitzi too!) if I ever find myself having a similar dream ;o>

[Anita]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZY.
I hope you're having a lovely day with lots of cake.x

[Val]

Many Happy Returns Suzy! We want photos of that cake!!!!

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, bless you both and thank you!!! ;o>

I'm unfortunately having yet another one of my incredibly slow starts to the day at the moment - but I hope to be getting up, and washed and dressed, and about in the next hour - and to be up to celebrating my Birthday later on this evening. The Cake should be arriving here in the next hour or so - and Mum is planning on doing a special Tea for me as well ;o>

[Anita]

Have a lovely evening .

[Helen The Melon]

Happy Suzy Day!

Here have some delicious cake:

https://cakerstreet1.s3.amazonaws.com...

Edit: Sorry, cannot get images embedded at all today :-(

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, thanks Helen! ... my Cake has just arrived in real-life - LOL!!! ... so I'm off now to attempt going downstairs so that I can unwrap it all and see how fabulous it looks! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Just to let everyone on the Forum know ...

I've been in contact with Gordon a couple of times over this last week - and he has given me permission to let everyone know that he is okay - but sadly he is unfortunately going through a really rough and incredibly unpleasant time at Work, and also at Home too, right now and that is why he has not felt up to be wanting to put any Posts on the Forum recently.

He is so horrendously busy, mostly due to the ongoing nightmare of all of the changes at Work brought about by the Pandemic - and he is also spending almost all of his now extremely rare spare time in providing extra care for and in supporting his Mum.

As a result of all of this, he says that he doesn't feel like chatting or up to contributing anything - and that he knows that he would not be good company at the moment.

He is, however, still continuing to oversee the Forum - and says that he is planning to be back to posting again in the future when he feels far more up to doing so ... x

[Post Soviet]

Best wishes Suzy from Ireland! (almost added "...and 12 points go to....")
'0)

[nocheese]

Thanks for letting us know Suzy. Give him my best next time you’re in touch.

[Anita]

Please send Gordon my best wishes,I completely understand how difficult it can be with work commitments and caring for your mum as well.

[Isabella]

Hope things work out better for Gordon soon.

[P]

Hope you had a great birthday, Suzy, and that the cake was at least as good as some of those piks you've posted up.

Gordon: if you are overseeing the thread, I hope easier times return very soon. Acting as a carer can be very difficult at times - been there, done that.

Never mind the hamper teleportation, how about the suitcase used by Eddie Redmayne in Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them? He's already set the precedent.

[Val]

I wish there was a HA-HA button I could add to Post's post.

Suzy - I do hope you got through your birthday without too much pain - and bother with M & D. May that cake last for days and get better with every mouthful.

And thanks for updating us on Gordon. We all wish him a good outcome from his current problems and responsibilities. Like you, he is much missed when not around. Now, has anyone seen Sera69???

[Craig White]

suzy - happy yesterbirthday!

gordon - ffs, just get on with it! 😮 no, with you on that, take great care of yourself while you do what you have to.
i dealt with my similar issues by ceasing to care about work, still don't (someone else can do my job, no-one else can be my mum!)

[Helen The Melon]

Val wrote: "...Like you, he is much missed when not around. Now, has anyone seen Sera69???"

Yes, I have, but it was a few weeks ago now. He said he's ok, just busy with other stuff, not enough time etc. I'll check in again with him v soon when I have more time.

Gordon - I hope your situation improves soon.

[suzysunshine7]

Post Soviet wrote: "Best wishes Suzy from Ireland! (almost added "...and 12 points go to....")
'0)"

Awww, thanks Post ... I may live in England now - with no plans to ever live anywhere else than here - but nevertheless I still have such a wonderful wealth of precious memories of our old Family Home in Tipperary ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

I've passed on the good wishes to Gordon ... x

And hopefully it won't be too long before he will be back to posting again ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

I've also made contact with Sera over the last few days ... and I'm sure that he won't mind me letting everyone know that he's ...

"all good, strong and well and safe. Just not finding the time or getting up to speed to participate"

[suzysunshine7]

P wrote: "Never mind the hamper teleportation, how about the suitcase used by Eddie Redmayne in Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them? He's already set the precedent"

I've not seen that Film yet, P, although I have heard of it quite a few times now. I must look out for it the next time that it gets shown on TV.

I know that it'll sound really old-fashioned and out of touch but I've never got into the borrowing or the buying and collecting of, and the watching of DVDs ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

So, I've been having a rather weird week all week this week ... but the Icing on the Cake as it were and one that wasn't any part of my Birthday came at 5.15 in the morning yesterday ... when I was suddenly woken up by the urgent, frantic, and utterly panic-stricken sounds of a Bird managing to very noisely fall off the Roof and down the inside of one of the Chimney Breasts!!! ;oO

I had to spend over 10 minutes carefully moving things including some rather heavy Furniture first before I could get to open up the Cover that fits over the Ventilation Hole in my Bedroom.

It all went very quiet then and i was worrying I was too late and it had died from injury or from fright - but when I looked in using a Torch I could see a pair of Eyes staring straight back at me and I thought that it might be a Starling.

I managed to just about get one of my (thankfully quite small Hands) into the Hole in the Wall and to feel my way along the barely even there Ledge that it was so desperately trying it's very best to keep holding on to - in the hope of at least preventing it from falling any further down and into the blocked-off portion of the once open Fireplace downstairs in the Lounge!!! ;oO

Thankfully it was extremely co-operative with me, possibly due to it being in extreme shock by then, and it actually allowed me to very carefully put my Hand around it, lift it out, and very gently carry it over to release it out of the Window that I had already opened for it - just in case it decided to fly out straight out of the hole into my Room all by itself and in a terrible panic.

A very sooty and still rather ruffled looking large baby Magpie(!) then spent most of the rest of the day on our Back Lawn being fussed over, and pampered, and lovingly fed lots of Bird Food by his devoted Mummy - even though he was quite clearly more than capable of flying and of feeding himself - LOL!!! ;o>

I suggested to my Mum that it was such a wonderful and lovely example of the true depth of a Bird's motherly love for her growing Chick? - but my Mum completely cracked me up by saying that, as the Mums often try to drive them off and away when they grow up and still won't leave Home yet, it might possibly be down to a guilty conscience instead?! - because she was possibly the one who was actually somehow responsible for him managing to topple backwards off the Roof and fall down the Chimney?!! ... LOL!!! ... HA HA HA HA HA!!! ;o>