5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

ampersand

Good morning all, have started to catch up reading this page[others for later] but mustn't stay long.
I have been posting odd OS moments in my cerebral putah[again, for later]but they have have been not so much drowning, but edge-teetering at what is always just the worst time of year for me.
The collision of the year's downturn and R's suicide[2000] will ever coincide and this is the first year since that I have not taken myself right away. I know now that I will not make this mistake again. It has been a hideous passage. I need to be out of England at this time, no matter how oily-rag-smelling my flight....and at oily-rag I am expert.
My quickly coming to keyboard starts because:
1.HOO-JOLLY-RAH AS ALWAYS FOR AUNTIE BEEB'S JOURNALISTS' STRIKE because the chain of replacement programmes uninterrupted by the usual self-regarding grind of Newds is SO much better. Feels like intelligent likeable company...This morning began with a great prog from Ian Hislop and others on Kitchener[Iwould not normally think it a 'me' one] Then came 2 wonderful pieces from Peter France about birds on The Wash. Joan Bakewell's on now...
I wonder if these stand-in pieces will be on i-player? Recommend.
And, even more hooray, it's a 48-hour strike, so another happy day ahead...The only downside is the constant announcement that 'normal BBC programmes are being disrupted because journalists are on strike'.

2.A pair of jays have been coming. One stays in the elderberry tree while the other comes down and charges peanut after peanut down gullet . . .top count so far is 13! He/she has tried 14, then 15, but they start tumbling out. Off flies the laden one, returning after a short time to maintain watch while other flies down to gather.

3. 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie' -Alan Bradley. Pure delight - I don't recommend, merely INSIST, you read it. His acknowledgment page mentions well a Louise Penny, who I will also seek. Then come pp6>7 of afternotes, entitled The Story Behind 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie' and this for me[maybe just because of how things are atm]is an epiphany, with tears welling up although there is no sadness in it and I feel myself needing to tell this writer to hie himself to Kettles Yard, acquaint himself with Alfred Wallis, for something more of same.....

4. Still can't find my carefully safeguarded tax disc, bought 15 Oct, but NOT left in car while still awaiting new, costly[£80] lock barrels to arrive. Didn't dare leave it in unlockable car, but where is it now? At least learn that replacement will be £7, not the complete cost I was fearing. I absolutely know it will turn up when I have paid for no.2...:mad:

5. Enjoyment of Debenham's £5 voucher spends, done on bus pass journeys, with cabin fever striking deep, dark, often just now. One voucher remaining.

7. Have held to early a.m. gym attendance for 18 weeks now despite natural loathing/antipathy... can/will never pretend delight/enjoyment but the feeling of 'Yes, it's done', as I walk back, is a bonus and test results prove Good Is Being Done.

8. After 3 long sessions with Joewel at Primus[another near 2hrs yesterday brings us to 11 hrs now]putah and phone are reasonably, but not always, working as they should. Still have unexplained slowness and shutdowns, but he's on the track of these, too, also cheaper pkg as I think I'll pay Skype for my most frequent calls>France mob.

9. Lovely neighbour's birthday on 3rd. Departed from usual and did incredible Trifle Royale with candles[+£20 gift helped by a Deb £5voucher felt v.g. as it was swanky, but sweetly old fashioned Lily of Valley gift set down to half-price - 'packaging revamp' said Dear Boy assistant]

10. Call from L just now re: our Charity showroom opening tomorrow - 7am. It's so good over there and such a different way of working.
Love it! - can be creative free agent and it is good that L and I are in complete accord over ways and means and pricing and practise. We have an inventive atmosphere that is positively remarked upon. Have to sort out the baking which has become known on our days there. Met a chap on Wednesday, who said he'd missed out on his piece of Dutch Honey cake the day before and called me to account;).

11. Desert Island Discs is replaying Lang Lang's choice from The Yellow River which I loved last Sunday and will obtain....and can hear again on blessed i-player.

12.Have been here over an hour now, so must go..knowing that more of The Larkin Letters follows...oh! Wireless for moi has a whole 'nother meaning.

Gentle pleasures and comforts to all today - thinking very much of a number of you for whom this time of year is also seeming to throw up darkness and mole-like tunnellings.
##############
Dear marmite - just saw your 'The tin of condensed milk expired at the end of July 2010,'....I am of the school that believes that such numbers are a human construct and a nonsense, by and large. And yes, condensed milk sammies are a New Zealand childhood glory, with stickiness and overspill descant:D.
...which triggers another recall. Lovely milkshake lollies, still available via SANZA website for NZ, Oz and Bok ex-pats, - I'd hidden some under my pillow, to gluttony scoff with book in bed. Fell asleep>>>fast forward to morning....and Mummy having eventually to carefully scissor me free of skin/hair/lolly/pillowcase glob cement:D:eek:.

Struck again by accuracy of Blue Monkey's sig. comment that 'it all looks alright until you hit the 'send' button, as I -hopefully-complete typo corrrections....NOOOOOOO, even that word just came out as 'occrections':o. My usual 'flying fingers' things, as A calls it.

ampersand

13. Oh botheration! - shall make this a separate one, which lots of people don't like because of pets cowering, idiot behaviours etc.etc....

but I fireworks[originally typo-ed as FIRWROKS].

I swear nobody can step outside, see a skyrocket soar and not feel heart do same -

.
:T

14 .http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11699678

....hmm, yet again I say 'My usual 5, I see'

Caterina

Hi Ladyhawk,

My quince recipe is really simple and it varies depending if I have "real" quinces e.g. the big appley-looking ones (which I peel and core before cooking) or the little "japonica" ones (which I quarter and chuck into the cauldron seeds peel and all, then sieve). I am afraid everything is really higgledypiggledy and quite haphazard in my style of cookery so here goes:

Wash a few jars with hot water and soap, rinse and then sterilise by pouring hot water into each jar. If you are using a pouring jar to decant teh finished product from the pan into the jars, put the lids inside it and pour hot water in that, too. Otherwise use a bowl to sterilise the lids. Empty and drain at the last minute before the jam is ready. You can do this while the jam cooks.

"Real" quinces: peel, core and cut in chunks, add a cupful of water to keep from sticking to the pan and pressure cook until soft. Mash, then while still simmering, add a quantity of sugar approximately the same volume of the cooking quinces. Keep on simmering until it gets to a "jammy" consistency. To test this, I put a saucer in the freezer and when it is very cold I spoon some jam on it and let it set. If it is too runny I keep cooking, if it solidifies after a few minutes it is ready.

"Japonica" decorative quinces: they are so small and hard that peeling and coring would take most of the pulp away (and your time, too!), so what I do is I quarter them and pressure cook them with some water until soft, then I sieve them to an inch of their life in a metal sieve. Then I treat the sieved pulp like for the real quinces, see above.

Hope this is not too imprecise, but that is the way I cook, a bit of this a bit of that, it works most of the time and occasionally I have spectacular disasters, but always have fun in the process. My last disaster was grape jelly, which I overcooked by far and turned in a solid block of caramel, it took me a week to melt it out of my lovely Kilner jam jar!

Hope you enjoy the recipe!

Caterina

Good morning,

Thank you to all of you for your kind words about my writing, and also for more congratulations re. resignation (I am still on 7th heaven about that, it must really be the right thing to have done, not a shred of doubt, nothing other than sheer joy about the prospect of being a SAHH!)

Dundeedoll, ah I understand now why you have porridge the "illegal" way, good for you! LOL

Frugalpam, thanks for reminding me of the "craft room project", I am on to it (sort of.....hehehe).

Frith, sorry about you feeling stressed and glad that Mr N is bringing some comfort to your life!

Beachbaby, don't be deceived by appearance, I am much madder than anyone I know!

Ampersand, what a lovely list of pleasures - I have to say, I am 100% with you and Marmite re. use-by dates, in fact I have recently become an aficionado of Approved Food!

Off to do house stuff now, see you all later for pleasures! Have a great day x

BlimusOreilly

Caterina wrote: »

Blimus, thank you for the pattern (and for the kind words about my resignation, too!). I wonder if the nylon/plastic side of the scrubber could be knitted using plastic bags cut into ribbons, I might give it a try, among all the other craft projects I have in mind!

I thought about that too - but do you think it would still be okay to put in the washing machine?
Welcome pollys :wave:
Frith - Aaaaw - your son! How sweet

Here are mine from yesterday:

1) Lovely mild day and so windy - perfect line-drying day.
2) Nice fire in the evening. watching tv and crocheting sitting beside DH in front of it. Companionable silence
3) A delicious pasta bake made from sauce that was lurking waaay in the bottom of the freezer.
4) I'll shush about Amigurumi soon, BUT, I posted some photos on FB of what I'd made so far and two people have asked if I could make them some :j I feel a bit of a swizz making stuff for other people cos I'm not a 'proper' crochet-er but was everso pleased that lots of people liked them.
5) Another quick pop into the charity shop to buy some more small oddment balls of wool. £1.50 the lot!

Hope everyone has a great day.

Caterina

Originally Posted by Caterina
Blimus, thank you for the pattern (and for the kind words about my resignation, too!). I wonder if the nylon/plastic side of the scrubber could be knitted using plastic bags cut into ribbons, I might give it a try, among all the other craft projects I have in mind!

BlimusOreilly wrote: »

I thought about that too - but do you think it would still be okay to put in the washing machine?

Hadn't thought about that, but I suppose yes why not, if you do not wash much hotter than 60 it should not melt! I tend to put my dishcloths in the dishwasher and in the past I have put scrubbers made of the plastic netting from packs of oranges, onions etc.. and they were ok. Let's experiment!:T

beachbaby_2

I'm going to post now as I may have a glass or two of wine later tonight! Thank you again for the good wishes. My five for today,
1. Going out for a happy hour meal with a friend and DD1 & 2
2. Going to watch the fireworks with DD2 (DD1 going to watch with boyfriend).
3. Done my cleaning and tidying today so no housework to do this weekend.
4. A feeling of calm.
5. An unexpected phone call from a friend just to check up on me, and her telling me a funny joke.
Have a lovely evening everyone. X

Ginger_Snap

Mine for today:

1. Went for a swim this morning, first one for a couple of weeks as hadn't been feeling well. REALLY enjoyed it, reminded me how much better I feel for some exercise, so I will make it more of a regular thing...

2. My anxiety referral from my GP in May finally resulted in a call from a stress counsellor today. I hour 50 minutes later I felt exhausted from explaining to her when (and some of the whys) I get anxious..but it felt so good to have someone to talk it through with.
I have ordered a self-help book that was recommended and am to receive another phone call in 2 weeks to see how I am progressing with my "homework"!:eek:
One of the self-help techniques the counsellor suggested I do was to write a list each day of things I was happy about!!! I just had to tell her about this forum...

3. Popped to a local Designer Outlet store with OH (no work for him today) and had a gingerbread latte in Costa. Real treat and made me feel festive!

4. In same outlet at Gap found a lovely grey cardigan for work. Have been looking for a simple cardi in this colour for AGES! :j

5. DD came home from school with her first senior school mid-term report. SHe seems to be doing well so that's a relief.

6. OH is cooking tea and then I will drag the kiddies round the block for a walk to blow away the cobwebs before a night of X factor on the tv.

Hugs to all who need them.

CCP

Evening all.

Ginger Snap - :drool: at your gingerbread latte. I shouldn't really drink milk but, at least once a year, I crack and treat myself to a gingerbread latte - I always feel lousy afterwards but it's worth it - they're so good. Good for you for recommending this thread to your counsellor - hopefully she'll pass it on and we'll get some new visitors.

ampersand - I quite agree with you about fireworks - I love them and they never fail to cheer me up. I love the sparkly fonts, too. Hope you find your missing tax disc before you send off for another one.

Ollie - please don't stop doing your wonderful posts - I love reading them, although I always wonder how you do it - I've replied to everyone once or twice and it takes ages (it is fun though, I'll admit ).

fairylittle - that's really good of you to take some water round to your neighbour. I wonder if I would have thought of that in your position?

sparrer - I'd be interested to know how you get on with a gas cooker if you do decide to try it. I had an electric one at my first flat and hated it, and have always insisted on having a gas cooker since then (it's a bit sad that that's one of my criteria for renting a flat, but there you go ). I find gas cookers are much more flexible than electric ones, but I guess it all comes down to what you're used to.

Frith - that note from your son is so sweet. I think I might have said 'awww' out loud in the office when I read that this morning - oops!

dundeedoll - I can't add anything to what Caterina said, but - welcome! Come in, put your feet up, and post some pleasures.

missmoneysave - ooh, a new puppy - you lucky thing! I hope he's settling in OK.

Pollys - welcome to you, too. :hello: And :T to your DS2 on the comment in his school journal.

***********************

Right, pleasures:

1a) Charity cake sale at work today. It's a shame my suggested charity didn't get chosen in the end, but the ones that were chosen are good causes and we raised nearly £200 for them - that's a lot of cake!
1b) I was so busy trying to ensure my cake got to work in one piece this morning that I didn't have time for breakfast, so I had a yummy and semi-healthy breakfast of apple and blackberry compote and an Anzac cookie when I got there.
1c) There was so much cake that even four departments working together couldn't eat it all, so I've bought home two and a half slices of my HM carrot cake to eat over the weekend. (The half slice is solely due to my utter incompetence at cutting cake, I should add - it's not that someone had some and left the rest!)

2) Treated myself to some HM soup from the little sandwich shop down the road from the office for lunch. It's not as good or as OS as making my own, but it's considerably tastier and healthier than instant soup, and I like to support local companies when I can.

3) Found my usual brand of stock cubes in the supermarket on double special offer - reduced price and extra free. Little things...

4) The purple and red sky when I came out of the supermarket - very pretty.

5) Freezer challenge dinner tonight - breaded fish and HM potato croquettes, with some mushy peas. :drool: I must get the freezer emptied before my meat delivery arrives in a couple of weeks' time. :eek:

Have a lovely, fireworky evening, everyone.

pollys

Thank you so much for the very warm welcome.

My 5 for today

1. Managing to walk round the supermarket albeit hanging onto the trolley feeling very shaky. I feel much better for getting out of the house, sciatica is at last fingers crossed, improving.

2. Recieving a big bunch of flowers from a child at school because he is missing me.

3. Having a simple tea for Bonfire Night - jacket potatoes, beans and cheese. Followed by parkin and toffees!

4. Having a few fireworks and having a sparkler and writing my name with it. (years since I did that)

5. Sat with my family relaxing and feeling comfortable.

6. Missing my DD who is at University - but she has just phoned to say "hello" and she is off to a bonfire and firework display with her new friends.

Enjoy the evening everyone whatever your plans.

Pollys x