Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything! Showing 1,151-1,200 of 9,227

[suzysunshine7]

Are the Eggs on him? ;o>

[Martin]

Yes, all ova!

[suzysunshine7]

(*GROAN*) ... ;o>

[Lez]

Martin wrote: "Have you got any Ronay?

If not try some french cuisine, after all one egg is an oeuf for anybody!"

Groan.....

[[deleted user]]

Having overindulged somewhat yesterday, I daredn't drive anywhere today so haven't been shopping. We have decided to order takeaway instead and are having kebabs :)

[[deleted user]]

Lez wrote: "I’ve just won 500 Nectar points in Sainsbury’s prize draw. £2.50!
Wow!"

Well done Lez, but I can top that - I've just won a tenner on the Postcode Lottery :)

[suzysunshine7]

Grizzlygrump wrote: "I've just won a tenner on the Postcode Lottery :)"

So what is Mrs Grizzly going to treat herself to? ;o>

[[deleted user]]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Grizzlygrump wrote: "I've just won a tenner on the Postcode Lottery :)"

So what is Mrs Grizzly going to treat herself to? ;o>"

Two whole days in my company is treat enough for Mrs Grizzly, so the money stays in the bank :)

[[deleted user]]

The bird bath in our garden is suddenly extremely busy - there are Sparrows and Starlings jostling for a place either round the edge or actually in the middle, splashing all the rest as they squabble.

It's almost as if they waited for Phoebe to stop drinking from it before trying to get a bath :)

[suzysunshine7]

Phoebe drinks from it?!! ;oO

Is it a very low Bird Bath?!! - or has she taken up Abseiling?!!

I hope she doesn't catch anything off them? - the Pigeons here are devils for cwapping in ours after they have used it as their own personal Spa Pool.

[suzysunshine7]

[[deleted user]]

It only stands about a foot and a half high and, being made of concrete is quite heavy even though it comes in two pieces - the pedestal and the bath.
The only time Phoebe goes anywhere near it is just after it has been cleaned out and filled with fresh water.

[suzysunshine7]

Ahhh, thankfully a very clean and particular kind of a Cat! ;o>

[[deleted user]]

Another glorious day here - I had the laundry out by six o'clock and it's already dry. All the little jobs around the house are done as well so now that Mrs Grizzly is up, it's off to the shops for us - going to have a look at another butchers in our quest to find a decent one :)

[Lez]

There are 2 award-winning butchers within walking distance here. Pity I no longer buy meat!

[suzysunshine7]

Have you tried Google searching for a good local Butchers, Grizzly? I'm sure that you probably have, but still, I just thought I'd ask anyway as not everyone always thinks of doing so.

It can really help enormously because it not only lists local places you might not even know about yet - but it will also pull up any Ratings and Reviews or even Newspaper or Magazine Articles that have been posted anywhere online about them ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Lez wrote: "There are 2 award-winning butchers within walking distance here. Pity I no longer buy meat!"

You could set up a 'Post A Pork Chop' online business, Lez Lee?! ;o>

[[deleted user]]

Lez wrote: "There are 2 award-winning butchers within walking distance here. Pity I no longer buy meat!"

Do you reckon you could chuck a chicken as far as Peterborough for me Lez?

[[deleted user]]

Hi suzy;

Yeah, I've tried googling for decent butchers, but these things are all down to individual tastes though, aren't they?
The one we've been to today was recommended by the CPC/driver trainer/union shop steward at work and it's the best one we've seen round here so far - plenty of variety and all cut to order. We've come away with pork loin chops,steak mince, a couple of lamb shanks, two thick fillet steaks and two hot Cornish pasties, which were very nice :)
They also have a limited range deli counter, which is not much more than cooked meats, pork pies etc. I think that this one will do for us, and 15 miles up the road is an acceptable distance for me, given that I have to go at least 8 miles from home for the nearest supermarket :)

[suzysunshine7]

YAYYY!!! ... a happy ending - and I just love happy endings ;o>

[Lez]

Grizzlygrump wrote: "Hi suzy;

Yeah, I've tried googling for decent butchers, but these things are all down to individual tastes though, aren't they?
The one we've been to today was recommended by the CPC/driver traine..."

Do you have a local market? They usually have good quality meat and will take orders for anything not in stock.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Lez;

The firm round here that has three or four trucks going round the markets also has three outlets. I tried them and wasn't overly impressed - they mostly stocked pre-packed product and didn't have much variety in what wasn't pre-packed. With all the frozen ranges as well it was more like a freezer centre with a bit of a butchers counter.
Despite trying to order in October, they were unable to supply what we wanted for Christmas either - it was a case of turkey: take it or leave it!

What surprises me is the amount of farm shops round here that really aren't up to very much, at least not by my standards anyway.And, of the ones that do look decent, they are too far away to use on a regular basis and I can't get my truck in or near them either - believe me, I've tried! :)

[suzysunshine7]

We've had similar experiences around here.

It seems to be fashionable to run occasional or pop-up 'Artisan' Foodie Markets in almost every large Village around us now - and sadly I have not always been all that impressed with the quality either ... and don't get me started on the prices of things at such Markets as well!

Charging £4 - £5 for a single Sourdough Loaf, and seemingly just because everyone should apparently expect to have to pay more for 'Artisan' items does not also mean that it is actually worth the extra cost ;o<

[Lez]

There’s a Farmers’ Market in Stirling once a month, they had beautiful local fish, not too expensive, but I can no longer get there.
I went to a French market in Falkirk a few years ago, and their less than wonderful caulis were £2 each which put me off rather!
Seems to be down to luck where you live - I’ve been with my sister to Knaresborough market a few times, excellent quality and not too dear. Fantastic breads.

[suzysunshine7]

We had one of the best Local Markets around, Lez Lee, in the middle of Stockport back in the 70's to 80's and through to the mid 90's. It was huge Stall after Stall of everything that you could ever even just think of wanting, and all great quality and at great prices, and was such an incredibly busy, friendly, lively and thriving Market place.

Then the Council decided to interfere and completely destroyed it - and they live in Cuckoo Land about the Market that we have now because there really is no Market at all anymore - and it seems that no amount of extensive and expensive advertising by them is ever going to make it into being anymore than what it is now as well?

First they closed down the external Market place by denying permission on all of the many Street Stalls, then they shut down the Market Hall and spent a fortune and also years on restoring it to the empty and sad-looking monument of a Building that it is today. Then they wanted to charge a fortune to come back to the few long-time and loyal Market Traders left who had so patiently waited those years for it to eventually be all it was supposed to be. And, with that last nail in the coffin, we finally lost all of their interest and goodwill, their tolerance, and their Trade.

For the last decade we have had a huge beautifully restored Market Hall that is only open a few days a week and is full of empty Stalls. If you are very lucky, then most of all of the five Stall Holders that do still use it might just turn up and open up, but they rarely ever do with any consistency even despite the limited time on them in doing so every week.

The separate fancy Food Hall has now been shut-down as well for the same kind of renovation which is very odd because it only opened about 5 years ago - and it is far more likely that it is closed because the complete lack of custom has closed it down instead.

After all, who in their right mind is ever going to want to take time to travel into the centre of Stockport for a Market that, even when it is open, has only just got a handful of rather odd and random Stalls?

Regeneration really is not all that it cracks up to be - it killed Stockport Market dead by effectively wiping out such a booming and popular place that just can't seem to be able to recover from it ;o<

[Derek]

Well summer has finally reached France after several weeks of changeable weather. Thirty four degrees today and set fair to continue until we come back to the UK at the end of next week.

Just finished doing the ironing out on the shady side of the terrace while watching the nearly complete swimming pool slowly filling with water, a process similar to watching paint dry. We should actually be able to use it this weekend!

About to feed the dog next and then it's warm steak salad for us with some very nice rump steak from the butcher down in the village.

[suzysunshine7]

... this weekend?!! ... well? - it'll be a challenge hiring a Coach for the whole Group Forum at such short notice and then picking everyone up ... collecting Granny should be a doddle as she only lives in the USA but tech and Lez Lee live miles away in Scotland, you know?!!

However, I think we'll manage it all somehow and so we'll see you on Saturday, Derek! ;o>

[Derek]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "... this weekend?!! ... well? - it'll be a challenge hiring a Coach for the whole Group Forum at such short notice and then picking everyone up ... collecting Granny should be a doddle as she only ..."

Well we only have two spare bedrooms so you'd better bring tents and some industrial strength tent pegs as our garden is largely rock with a thin scattering of earth.

Tomorrow night is the Catus annual hog roast, an aperitif, five course meal, as much wine and water as you can drink, a band and a raffle where you have the chance of winning a live piglet all for 18 Euros each (raffle tickets extra. We're expecting to have a great time although my pidgin French may cause some difficulties!

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh, lucky you! - I SO wish I was there! ;o>

And Rig is going to absolutely love it if you win a live Piglet!!! ;o>

[Lez]

I hate to think what you’re supposed to do with a piglet!

[theDuke]

Lez wrote: "I hate to think what you’re supposed to do with a piglet!"

Feed it with lots of Twiglets! :)

[Derek]

Lez wrote: "I hate to think what you’re supposed to do with a piglet!"

Feed it, kill it, eat it probably.

[Lez]

I really hope you don’t win it :-(

[suzysunshine7]

Well, if he does win it then Derek is going to have quite a job getting it a Pet Pig Passport in time for coming back to the UK next week?!! ;o>

[theDuke]

Could try training him to be a sheeppig! Worked for Babe, didn't it?! :)

If you win it..will you name it Pig? Goes nicely with Rig! Rig & Pig! :)

[P]

Main prob is, they don't stay piglet-sized forever!
'No dogs allowed, other than sight dogs'. Wonder if that would also apply to piglets?

[suzysunshine7]

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/30/tr...

[Derek]

You'll all be relieved to hear that we didn't win the piglet (we're relieved as well), but it was a fun night out:-)

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, I was hoping you would and then raise it to have a long and happy life ;o>

[[deleted user]]

Currently 27 degrees here and I'm melting faster than a snowman under Mrs Grizzlys' glare :)

We were impressed with what we got from the butcher, so that's where we'll go in future as we pass a Morrisons on the way back.
Only went as far as the nearest Tesco today as it's close to Poundstretcher, where we buy suet balls for the birds in bulk as a box of 150 is only lasting a month! Right next door to Poundstretcher is Poundworld, which is having a closing down sale - 50% off everything - Mrs Grizzly will be going bargain hunting tomorrow on her day off. I managed to get my bargains in Tesco; two packs of chicken drumsticks in the 'reduced to clear' section for under 70p per pack and a pack of salmon reduced by about £4. That lot all went straight into the freezer when i got home.
Best of all, I managed to blag a free cool bag - they are supposed to be given away with every purchase of a Kopparberg keg but I had picked up a twelve pack of mixed fruit cider. When I asked the girl at checkout if this qualified, she said "Yeah, why not - it's close enough". I was expecting her to say no and was prepared to put it back as there's no way I was paying £8 for it :)

[Lez]

Grizzlygrump wrote: "Currently 27 degrees here and I'm melting faster than a snowman under Mrs Grizzlys' glare :)

We were impressed with what we got from the butcher, so that's where we'll go in future as we pass a Mo..."

50% off everything at Poundworld? Don’t forget to give Mrs G. a calculator 🤓

[[deleted user]]

Lez wrote: "50% off everything at Poundworld? Don't forget to give Mrs G. a calculator"

No calculator necessary, Lez - just a spending limit :)

[P]

Well, what do people think of our heatwave?

Have been working indoors in a school this week, so missing the most of it, but, wow, it's like walking into the draft from a furnace when you do step outside. Yearly record set on Monday and then has been beaten each day since.

Nice to be able to eat outdoors though. Not the weather to keep dogs inside cars.

[Craig White]

it's been shockingly hot up here, and to add to the fun i've got a team roughcasting my house, and a brickie building front and back step arrangements - i spent most of yesterday furnishing them with fluids, and encouraging breaks - said if they felt the need they were welcome to spend time in front of the industrial fan in the kitchen! today to be even warmer!

[Helen The Melon]

Boiling up here too. 31°C yesterday & today.

[Craig White]

the poor workies are melting! the brickie hasn't turned up yet! don't blame him.

[[deleted user]]

This heatwave is wonderful when viewed from the comfort of my air conditioned cab or the back of my refrigerated trailer. It's all the bits in between those two places that are causing me problems - one minute I'm seeing my breath in the air in front of me and the next, I'm trying not to collapse in temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
Trying to get to sleep in the afternoons is definitely the worst bit, even with a 20" fan at the foot of the bed which hasn't been switched off since Sunday.

[Martin]

Not so long back we were all carping about the cold and snow! Personally I'm quite happy to endure a few weeks of sunshine and warmer weather for a change.

[Lez]

It’s been 30° outside today and a lot of trains have been delayed or cancelled because of the heat affecting the tracks. I’m fine in the house though.
There are 7 bats whizzing round by the back door. Never seen more than 2 before. I love bats 😀

[Craig White]

crazy bat lady!