Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything! Showing 3,601-3,650 of 9,227

[suzysunshine7]

Nighty-Night x Sleepy-Tight x and very Sweet Dreams x

[[deleted user]]

Now that the wind has dropped, I can go see where the bins ended up - probably in the bushes!
On the bright side, at least all the rain clouds have been blown away and it looks like being a nice day. Now all I've got to do is get past the geese to go and see the nurse for more blood tests :)

[suzysunshine7]

Fingers crossed for good results ... x ;o>

I've just got a Letter informing me of an ESA Health Assessment on the 12th of March. I SO wish I could refuse but, of course, I need the money to live on so I've got no other choice but to go.

So in a week's time I will have to go and sit in another 'orrible Room and bare my Heart and Soul to another complete Stranger about just how badly disabled and incapable I am, and how utterly cwap my life is now, just so he/she can tick Boxes on a Form to see if I really do deserve to receive any Benefits.

And I know, and I fully accept, that it is only right and fair that I be assessed when being in the receipt of such Benefits but does it really have to be SO often? Plus it really is such an unbelievably depressing and degrading experience that obviously focuses everything on all of the deeply distressing negatives of my life - the things that I consciously choose not to focus on, day in and day out.

Because of the changeovers from DLA to PIP, followed by several Benefit System changes, an upgrade to a higher rate on ESA, and then further updates to their Records - I've had to undergo 6 of these Assessments already over the last 4 years ... and I can't quite decide if they are resolutely determined to find any way that they can to get around my high levels of pain and disabilities somehow so they can find me fit and capable? - or trying their best to pressurise me to beyond breaking point in the hope that I will just give in and give up?

As daft as it may sound, I don't think that the Benefits System was ever set up for or actually knows quite what to do with any genuine Claimants?!!

[suzysunshine7]

Anyways, that's all happening on the 12th of March - and so I am absolutely NOT going to think about it anymore until then! ;o>

The Sun is up and the Sky is blue
Our Garden's a mess 'cos Storm Freya blew thru'

We have got several Plant Pots tipped up and Soil spilled all over the Patio and we also lost a couple of Roof Tiles as well - so I'm very grateful that it was an almost burnt-out force before it reached us as the Winds were more than strong enough last night that we might have had a Tree down if it had been any worse.

[suzysunshine7]

I found this online! - LOL!!! ;o> ...


Q : What should I do if a Goose lands on my Head and smacks me in the Face repeatedly?

A : Just like being in a fire, you should stop, drop, and roll. This makes it very difficult for the Goose to maintain a hold on your Head. If you roll fast enough it also makes the Goose dizzy.

Q : There is a Goose who doesn't attack anyone but me. What can I do?

A : Always travel in a group so the Goose will not be able to single you out.

[Val]

Facebook chatter seems to indicate that this is an Australian only product:

[Val]

Suzy - you have my sympathy. I'm convinced the so-called welfare systems (which are supposed to provide support for those in need) exist solely to make things so difficult that many people are deterred from applying for benefits that they are rightly entitled to. The proliferation of forms, the proof you have to supply, the rounds of specialists who are required to attest (or more likely not) to your incapacity, it just goes on and on. The queues, the lack of parking around most offices, the officious staff - it makes my blood boil. I promise not to mention it again until after the 12th but in the meantime, good luck with your appointment.

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, thank you and Bless you, Val ... x x x ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Val wrote: "Facebook chatter seems to indicate that this is an Australian only product"

I'm not sure about a rectangular-shaped Bar? - but we do have something very similar here in the shape of a normal-sized Bar (as in a Mars Bar) of a Crème Egg product. I shall have to go look ;o>

[[deleted user]]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "I found this online! - LOL!!! ;o> ...


Q : What should I do if a Goose lands on my Head and smacks me in the Face repeatedly?

A : Just like being in a fire, you should stop, drop, and roll. This..."

Reminds me of the old joke;
Q: How do I stop my dog chasing people on a motorbike?

A: Take away his motorbike :)

BP now down to 127/80, so much improved from previous results :)
No more monthly checks now, they will contact me in about 3 months to make an appointment. I saw a different nurse today than I normally see and was subjected to a barrage of lifestyle questions, the answers to which obviously pleased her - "keep up the good work", she said.

I drove to the doctors today, no - not to avoid the geese (honest), but because I went shopping afterwards. Before going out, I managed to get the laundry out on the line, replenished the bird feeders (they're certainly getting through them at the moment, the greedy buggers), fed and watered the pets, cleared all the washing up that mysteriously appeared overnight and even squeezed in breakfast :)

Since getting back, I've cooked dinner (quick fried pork fillet medallions and mushrooms served with cauliflower cheese), wash up the resulting mess (how many pans does it take to make cauliflower cheese?), get the laundry in and wave Mrs grizzly off to work. Now I can sit down and relax for a bit. Then it'll be off to bed before going to work later.

Looks like I got the laundry in just in time - the sun has just been mugged by some angry looking grey clouds!

[[deleted user]]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Fingers crossed for good results ... x ;o>

I've just got a Letter informing me of an ESA Health Assessment on the 12th of March. I SO wish I could refuse but, of course, I need the money to live o..."

Best of luck for the 12th - hope you manage to get through it quickly. You probably know the routine better than they do!

[suzysunshine7]

YAYYY!!! - well done, Kid!!! ;o>

Now you obviously tried your very best to ever-so-casually sneak my favourite Cauliflower Cheese passed me in your Post - but I'll have you know that it takes far much more than that to distract me! ... (*holds out Plate*) ... "where's mine?!!" ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Grizzlygrump wrote: "Best of luck for the 12th - hope you manage to get through it quickly. You probably know the routine better than they do!"

I just want a proper Assessment with an honest Assessor this time around, Poppet.

I'm so worn out with having to repeatedly deal with their shockingly incompetent System and then getting grovelling Letters of apologies from the DWP afterwards as though that somehow just miraculously makes everything alright again ;o<

[Val]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "I'm not sure about a rectangular-shaped Bar? - but we do have something very similar here in the shape of a ..."

It's 180g so quite a big block. We also have this:

[suzysunshine7]

I can't quite work it out, Val? - we used to have a Bar called 'Twisted' which was a Crème Egg filled Bar of Chocolate but it seems it might have been discontinued? I've seen Trifle Pots, Biscuits and Cakes, and I'm fairly sure we have the Ice Cream as well - but I don't think that we do have any Bars anymore? ;o>

[[deleted user]]

... (*holds out Plate*) ... "where's mine?!!"

Erm ... (quick, think of something!!) ... erm ...

It was horrible, really horrible .. I don't know what I did differently but it was like Mrs Grizzly cooked it!

It was so bad, we had to eat it as quickly as possible to spare anyone else the misfortune of trying it.

(that'll do - she'll believe that) :)

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh really?!! ... what a shame! ;oO

(*Gets out Notebook*) ... so that's yet ANOTHER Cauliflower Cheese that Grizzlygrump owes me! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

I've just told Tia your Dog on a Motorbike Joke and she lay down and rolled over and put both her Front Paws over her Face ... and she only does that if she really likes or really wants something ;o>

[[deleted user]]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "I've just told Tia your Dog on a Motorbike Joke and she lay down and rolled over and put both her Front Paws over her Face ... and she only does that if she really likes or really wants something ;o>"

I reckon she wants her own motorbike :)

[suzysunshine7]

Ohhh NO!!! - she hurtles Hell for Leather around the House at 100 miles an hour as it is without any need whatsoever of a Motorbike!!! ;o>

[Lez]

Suzy, you’ll like this! A silly video posted on Talk Classical.

https://www.talkclassical.com/18479-f...

Scroll down to Post 1478

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, I absolutely love little Dogs with Attitude! ;o> ... ;o> ... ;o>

Tia prefers to steal Treats and Tissues out of hung-up Coat Pockets and to knock things to the Floor off the Kitchen Worktops and Lounge Window sills ... then she will sneakily eat the Treats, or bring the things to show them to me, or to hide the evidence under a Blanket in her Box ;o>

[Lez]

I wonder why animals like hurling things to the ground? I know all cats do it and both our budgies did it. One of them being particularly fond of cutlery.

[suzysunshine7]

I think it maybe that they like the satisfaction of doing/making something happen? - or the noise that it makes? - or, better yet, the reaction that they get from their Owner when they do these things? ... if you laugh they will see it as a green light to do it again and again ;o>

I've just asked Tia and she has put her Head on one side and is looking at me as if to say ... "DUH! - because it's FUN, that's why!" ... ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

WoW?!! - there are some absolutely fab photos of Scones (made from Recipes out of that NT Book) turning up on Facebook! I'm not sure if I am allowed to share them on here though as they are being posted on a Closed Group Site.

There have been no complaints at all about any of the Recipes so far ... I got my Dispatch Confirmation Email a few minutes ago and can hardly wait to get my Hands on mine now ;o>

[Val]

We are all waiting on samples.

[suzysunshine7]

;o>

[suzysunshine7]

In the meantime though, tomorrow is PANCAKE DAY!!! ;o> ...

[suzysunshine7]

HA HA HA HA HA!!! - a few mischievously mutinous members of the Facebook Group have posted, alongside all those that are ecstatically enthusing about the NT Scone Book, that they are not planning on buying the Book - and a couple of them have said that they have bought it but aren't really into Scones or they don't rate it all that highly themselves and does anyone want to buy it off them?!! ;o>

I am still looking forward to getting mine but I am wondering if I might possibly find I already have most of the Recipes as I have a couple of NT Baking Books in my Bookcase. It only cost just under £4 though so it won't exactly be the end of the world if it isn't worth keeping ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Well, our resident moaning Minnie, Madam Mitz, had us all up and down all night long! ... with what seems to have been just an episode of trapped Wind!!! ;oO

She is currently stretched out lying on her Back on her big Bed in the Lounge half-dozing and half-watching 'The Professionals' on TV - while we all sit here bleary-eyed and muzzy-headed and wondering whether it's too late to send her back to the RSPCA in Chesterfield for a Refund! ... HA HA HA HA HA!!!

[suzysunshine7]

Has Everyone seen what Ikea are selling for Easter this year?!! ;oO

Self-Assembly Flat-Pack Milk Chocolate Bunnies!!! - LOL!!! ;o>

At £2.95 for 90g of Chocolate they certainly aren't cheap but I just love the novelty of Ikea selling them alongside their Flat Pack Furniture all the same. I wonder if they need assembling with a Chocolate Toolkit and whether there will be any unexpected extra Milk Chocolate Screws left over once they are put together?! ;o> ...

[Lez]

Have you got any chocolate Allen keys, Suzy?

[suzysunshine7]

Bits of Chocolate? ... just left lying around in my Mum's House? ;oO

... I think not! - LOL!!! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

It turns out the Bunny just slots together ...



Funny? - I'm feeling a little bit disappointed in it now! ;o>

[Craig White]

i do hope they provide assembly instructions!

[suzysunshine7]

Insert Panels A, B and C into Mouth then chew and swallow ... ?

[suzysunshine7]

I've only just noticed that Amazon are now selling their own Brands of Grocery Items ... Coffee, Sweets, Biscuits, Toilet Rolls, Protein Powder, etc ... called 'Solimo' and 'Presto', 'Happy Belly' and 'Amfit Nutrition' ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_st_...

And the varieties of 'Solimo' Chocolate Bars are all on special offer at the moment as well - offering up 1.2kg of Chocolate for under a Tenner ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

In celebration of Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, here are 10 fascinating facts about the age old tradition:

1. The biggest pancake ever made was 15 metres wide and 2.5cm deep. It contained two million calories.

2. The first pancake recipe appeared in an English cookbook in the 15th century. It is said to have originated in Olney when a housewife was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time. When she heard the church bells ringing for mass she ran out of her house, still carrying her pan and pancake. Olney still has a pancake race every year.

3. The largest number of pancakes tossed in the shortest amount of time is 349 tosses in two minutes, which was achieved by Dean Gould at Felixstowe, Suffolk in 1995.

4. The longest race in the quickest time was held in Melbourne, Australia. Jan Stickland covered 384m in 59.5 seconds on 19 February 1985.

5. On average, people in the UK eat two pancakes each on Pancake Day. That means that 117 million pancakes are eaten on the day.

6. In France it is traditional to touch the handle of the frying pan and make a wish while the pancake is turned, holding a coin in one hand.

7. On Pancake Day in Newfoundland, Canada, people place items in the pancake batter before it is cooked to tell the future for family members.

8. 52 million eggs are consumed in the UK on Pancake Day. That's 22 million more than a normal day.

9. In the olden days, cooks would use snow in their pancakes as it made them soft and fluffy in texture.

10. Pancake Tuesday is known as Carnivale in Italy which comes from the Latin for ‘goodbye to the flesh’" ...

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink...



10 weird Pancake Toppings for 2019: tasty Recipe ideas that will make Lemon & Sugar look dull ...

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink...

[Val]

So I was googling SCONES "VEGETABLE FAT" and found this site which I think is delightful. I love that students in Britain are introduced to the most important dishes (scones, shortbread, roast, fruit cake, Christmas cake, trifle, crumble) and shown how to make them in pictures. Their gravy seems rather bland without any meat juices but I'm sure it works. I think many of their advisors may be a bit long in the tooth because it does err on the traditional side (Breakfast : "melon, grapefruit or fruit cocktail are popular" - really!)

http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Britain/...

[suzysunshine7]

I really dislike Gravy made without Meat Juices in it - and the Breakfast of Melon, Grapefruit, or Fruit Cocktail sounds just like a flashback to the 70's to me - LOL!!!

They are also rather expensive Items for your typical Student as well who would probably far rather prefer to live off several Bowls a day of cheap Cereal instead ;o>

[Lez]

Hotels here usually have melon and grapefruit along with blueberries, bananas etc. I think the fruit cocktail’s gone though.
I’m beginning to realise that my mum was perhaps unique in making triangular scones. She made rounds which she cut into pie-type slices.

[Val]

Scottish bran scones (which I have never been able to replicate entirely to my satisfaction) were always triangular. Please tell me they still are!!

[suzysunshine7]

My Nan was one for either rolling out with an old Milk Bottle as a Rolling Pin or just shaping Dough with her Hands - and if she had to use a circular Cutter then a Tea Cup out of the Cupboard would do.

I bought myself all of the usual Baking Utensils - but can still only aspire to be satisfied if my Baking manages to turn out to be half as good as hers always was ;o>

[Lez]

Never encountered bran scones, will look out for them.
According to my dad who very rarely praised anything and certainly nothing of mine, my omelettes were better than my mum’s. No contest with anything else.
My mum bought both my sis and I all the basic things - spud peeler, sieve, colander, mixing bowl etc. Great idea.

[suzysunshine7]

I sometimes make Triangular Scones and also Square ones as well ;o>

[Val]

I am trying to keep the purchase of new kitchen appliances/tools down to a minimum (space concerns) but I'm thinking of buying a thermometer for deep frying/sugar syrups and maybe a potato ricer. Any thoughts?

[suzysunshine7]

Bedtime ... if Madam Mitz will permit us to get any Sleep tonight?!!

I've given her an Antacid to see if that might help to prevent Trapped Wind ;o>

x Nighty-Night x Sleepy-Tight x and very Sweet Dreams x

[suzysunshine7]

Val wrote: "I am trying to keep the purchase of new kitchen appliances/tools down to a minimum (space concerns) but I'm thinking of buying a thermometer for deep frying/sugar syrups and maybe a potato ricer. A..."

I have a Potato Ricer, Val, and I do get to use it quite often.

See you all tomorrow ... x x x ;o>

EDIT ADDITION : an American Site but it explains the benefits of using a Potato Ricer and what to look out for even if you find that you can't buy these particular Brands in Australia ...

https://www.reviewed.com/cooking/best...

[Val]

Sending zzzzzzs for a peaceful and uninterrupted night's sleep.

[suzysunshine7]

X ! X x x ;o>