5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

Ladyhawk

mhagster wrote: »

Ladyhawk Thank you, have just googled jacarandas & that is what they are ,they are beautiful!

I love jacarandas! Where I grew up a lot of the roads in the town centre were lined with jacarandas and as they came out at exam time, legend had it that if a jacaranda flower landed on your head when you were studying you would pass your exams. I'm getting home sick just thinking about them

ampersand

sparrer wrote: »

Just dropping by to accept a bedtime cuppa from ampersand before I, as my location says, go up the little wooden hill to Bedfordshire.

Having no end of probs with the keyboard, keys coming loose:mad:, having to bash to type,:eek: it's driving me mad :eek::mad:so I'll wish all the poorlies well again now and everyone a good night with sweet dreams.

In the morning I'll be super techie and I WILL repair this thing!!

S x

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sparrer - no wonder you're having probs. You have MY keyboard; esp d'accord with you-can-see-which phrases.

I'm listing a pleasure straight off -
1. Have twice now heard the Metropolitan Pleece Head neologise - 'We will not resile in our efforts....' Not sure where he thought he was headed with this one - recoil? retreat? somewhere in between?
2. I'll make 5 quickly anyway, of which 2nd was a few snowflakes fluttering on me as I redid icedisc>water exchanges, birdie brekkers just now.
3. Sheep are out looking ultra-woolly winter wonderlandish and maa-ing nicely in response to me. I say this because they do look up and look at me as they 'answer'. A has called me Witchwoman when animals respond to my 'talking' to them., but I never did take to Dr Doolittle in kiddie reading.
3. No gym, no dashing off/out, no committments today - just last 2 ebay parcels to post and will make a happy bag for F and son, drop it off, thanks to Bus Pass. BUT, need to capitalise on this day and sort car for journey - fit that big armchair and footstool in for a start.
4. Might have to zap tea, although pain rustique with new lime marmalade is sitting on top of it. I'll have to see - so nice, yet again, to realise I'm not zooming somewhere for something. Gym and blood tomorrow and dentist Friday though...
5. Hearing good talk from Rachel Campbell-Johnstone on R4 earlier, re:Christmas card images. Will now Google Caravaggio's The Dying Virgin. We can do these amazing things, so simply.
Oh...and Tom Petty? Picked up a tape because I liked the images and sound of song titles[don't have CD thing in car]and have played it in car since. Like very much.

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beachbaby - I now think of your Mr N as Mr CP[ ' ...a certain person' quote from you on here.]

mhagster

Okay, Tablet is a Scottish sweet ,similar to fudge but a firmer consistency, has more of a bite & then melts in mouth. It is not like toffee.
My recipe is : in a big pan , as it will boil up, 1kg white sugar, 125gr unsalted butter, enough milk to dampen sugar( but not to soak it) and 1 tin of condensed milk, melt altogether,then bring to a slow boil, stirring frequently. you do not want mix to stick to base of pan........brown bits are not good! The mix will rise & bubble so do be careful. It will start to turn from a pale colour to a golden brown colour & will thicken.
Switch off heat.You then need to beat furiously for a good 5-10 minutes. I now use the electric hand mixer. then pour into a lined tray, leave to cool, mark into small squares & try not to eat too much!
Everyone I know would probably have their own way of making this.


Today has been lovely:
1. we got a bus then train to city centre, it's been a lovely sunny day about 25o so not too hot form me to cope with. This was my first time on a train in Australia! woohoo!

2.We went to a carol service at a Church in the city and small world but the acting minister is a friend of a dear friend back home! It did my heart good to hear familiar words & sing carols. I know church isn't for everyone but it was a very happy part of my life back home and I have missed the familiarity of it since being here.

3. we then sat & had lunch & watched street theatre, these guys are so good at what they do & so funny. My dd2 got 'chosen' to join in & earned herself a tenner! She has already been picked twice before by the same guy when we were here on holiday at easter so knew exactly what was coming next & was chosen as she had her hand up first!!

4. wandered along by the river & had ice creams & a drink to cool down & watched more funny street performers.

5. Got picked up by OH & went out for dinner to our favourite Chinese restaurant in city.

So then we came home, absolutely stuffed and tired but all happy having had a good day!

Keep warm & safe, we have seen on our news the conditions on roads & airports ,looks grim!

frugalpam

Hi everyone - hope everyone's keeping warm and safe.
I really hope you fight off those bugs Broomstick and feel better soon.
Reading the 'tablet' recipe, mhagster, reminded me of cartoon books I used to love reading when I was little - Oor Wullie and the Broons. I remembered how Mrs Broon (or was it oor Wullie's mother) used to make 'tablet' and always thought how yummy it sounded. Maybe I'll have a go at making some - not great for my WW diet though :eek:
Haven't done much today so struggling a bit with the pleasures, but here goes:-
1) Lovely long lie in, and puddy tat didn't wake me up for her breakfast at the usual ungodly hour :j
2) Had a lovely walk - some nice countryside nearby. The sky was clear blue and it all looked incredibly pretty
3) All Xmas preps well and truly finished, can now sit back and enjoy the days ahead
4) Only -2C today - positively mild compared to recent times!
5) Planning a trip out to our local market town tomorrow - shall catch the bus, and enjoy getting out and about.

Keep safe and warm everyone,
Pam x

Caterina

Hi all

Frith, I am sorry to read from a couple of days ago about your nightmare and feeling down (((HUGS))) I hope that something really good happens to you and you get a lovely cheering feeling!

Ampersand, thank you very much for the fancy restaurant link from Travelzoo, but I tend not to go to fine dining restaurants simply because they have very limited choice for someone like me who eats an almost vegan diet (except for occasionally having fish without a face, such as fish and chips or fish fingers!). The thought is much appreciated though. The radio programme was great!

mhagster, when my family and I drove around Scotland (a good few years ago) we practically lived on tablet! Unfortunately now I no longer eat dairy so tablet is out for me, more's the pity!

Here are my pleasures for yesterday and today:

Tuesday

1 - A friend of DS's turned up in the morning saying that she had been partying all night and today was her birthday, so I invited her in and made pancakes for her, DS and another couple of friends who had been hanging around overnight (in DS's room). This is so like when they were little kids, I used to make pancakes for lots of kids after school. They all loved it, then and now too. Great fun!

2 - NSD

3 - The snow is melting so it is possible to walk about without breaking one's neck slipping on iced roads.

4 - Tuesday dinner at a friend's with DH, but I went earlier in the afternoon to help her cook (she has 4 children so I felt it is best if I give her a hand).

5 - Her kids loved the gifts I brought for them

6 - She gave me a great Christmas gift, Barry's tea, the best in the world (from Ireland and almost impossible to find in the UK!).

7 - The soda bread I made for her came out great and the dinner (veg sausage casserole) too.

8 - The champagne flowed nicely!

Today (Weds):

1 - Lots of laundry done, DS and his friend cleared the path from the last slushy snow, DD cleaned the stairs and corridor and the house is starting looking bearable (if not exactly clean).

2 - M&S booze shop for Christmas and New Year, using the £5 off leaflet, meaning that the pizzas I bought for the kids came free - and I got nice Champagne, wine and port. We are now sorted for the rest of the year.

3 - Got lots of M&S "£5 off a £25 spend" vouchers for January. I hope to find special offers and yellow stickered goods in Marks so I hope I shall be able to get a good deal for a few weeks next year.

5 - Visit to a friend who was having an Open House, lovely to see her but especially her 2 year old little girl (who I saw being born!) and hear her speak fluently and sing in tune, what a poppet!

6 - In a minute I am getting ready to go to another friend's birthday party!

My social life is spiralling out of control, not that I am complaining but I am also looking forward to some down time with DH and kids in the holidays.

Have a great evening everybody xxx

BlimusOreilly

Had a very lazy day today. Lots of planning in my head but no actual action!
Here are mine for today:

1) Despite the near-constant snow today, we managed to drive safely where we needed to go.
2) Enjoyably side-tracked following links to new blogs which left me feeling excited about future home, cooking, reading and education projects.
3) Watched 'Honey I shrunk the kids' with DS2 this afternoon.
4) Have absolutely, completely finished all the christmas shopping.
5) A close-up view (which made me jump at the time) of a bat which swooped towards the windscreen of the car this evening. It luckily swooped back out of the way again.

gratefulforhelp_2

Will try to do 5, but hassleous day, 5 hour trip to supermarket! Its 17 miles....snow still here.

1. Post for the first day in nearly a week.
2. Love driving my new-to-me car
3. Got wrapping and tags half price
4. £5 off groceries with nectar points
5. Curtains for DD1's bedroom arrived, £26 off ebay, Laura Ashley, lined and perfect. Result!

Love and hugs to all.

marmiterulesok

In a rush again,but for today hopefully I'll find 5:

1 Work really quiet so had a relatively relaxed morning,then got off a bit early.

2 Weather forecast promising,so hopefully my folks will get here without any hiccups.

3 They forecast snow for Christmas Day.Much as I hate the snow,this appeals to me!

4 Just made some lemon curd for myself and two friends.It's so good,I must make it more often.(Had a nice time with the scrapper).

5 Am going to sit down with a nice cup of decaf. tea.

Good night to you all x

Ladyhawk

Evening all,

Just a flying visit as I am in baking mode!

1) Everyone at work liked the sugared pecans I took in today (I made another batch this evening as well as some sugared almonds)

2) Chatted to my middle brother on the phone and got things sorted for Christmas.

3) Did my expenses. It's an absolute chore and took me over 2 hours to do but at last they are done. I just have to submit them now but I can't do that until I get my new laptop. Hopefully it will be configured for me tomorrow so that I can pick it on between Christmas and new year.

4) Made mince pies this evening with my HM mince meat and they are yummy!

5) Wandered into town at lunch time and treated myself to a subway... they are my very guilty pleasure and the only fast food that I'll eat.

Night night all... sleep well

L

Primrose

Just popping in briefly - seems everybody is on the run at the moment.

1. Relieved that next door neighbour finally home safely last night after a 48 snowbound delay on the continent. She lives alone and was so pleased we had cleared a pathway to her front door through the snow as she's rather unsteady on her feet.
2. OH has just gone out to get in the remainder of our Christmas food supplies. He's a real treasure and I constantly remind myself how lucky I am.
3. Having travel plans for post Christmas/pre New Year but knowing we can cancel them without cost or inconvenience if the weather forces us to.
4. Feeling warm and cosy wearing my thermals indoors as a result of which we've been able to keep the thermostat down, so hopefully won't have too horrendous gas bill in New Year.
5. Plenty of books, jigsaws and other indoor activities lined up for over Christmas so looking forward to a relaxing time.

Happy Christmas & a peaceful New Year to everybody !