Away From The Madding Crowd

Organgrinder

Humboldt said:

Morning all.

@Organgrinder the UK has such a diverse history, culture, and landscape, all of which make it a very special place.  I personally feel that it is vital we retain and embrace all that this unique country has to offer. I have the greatest admiration for you learning to speak Welsh as an adult.   An interesting fact - apparently Welsh is the oldest language in Britain and has been spoken in some form for the last 4000 years. 

I was so pleased that you were inspired to cook a rendang, and thank you for sharing the results with us. 

@Nebulous2 as per @bluenose1's earlier comment, learning a new language has the additional benefit of giving the brain a new challenge, so definitely worth the effort...dare I say "at our age" lol.

@mark55man I found that book to be an interesting read.  I am in the process of reading Ultr@-Pr0cessed Pe0ple by Chr!s van Tullek£n, but finding it hard going for many reasons.  

Today's simple pleasure - watching a robin making use of the bird bath whilst enjoying my morning cuppa.

I agree we need to retain and embrace everything. Sadly everything is so centred around London and dare I say it the English language.

One of the great things about speaking another language is the culture and history you learn about along the journey.

I doubt many outside of Wales are aware of "Brad y llyfrau gleision" for example (the treachery of the blue books) or how in only a generation or two the Welsh language was lost in many families due to immigration, English only education and business owners who demanded that English be the only language within the workforce.

These days the demand for Welsh medium education outstrips supply. Though the naysayers rubbish it's usefulness despite having no exposure to the language or the areas in which Welsh is still the majority language.

However, I best stop as otherwise I'll end up on a political rant which will get me a ban! Annibyniaeth. Yr unig opsiwn sydd ar ôl i ni! ;-)

bluenose1

That looks lovely @Organgrinder. I am making a Basa one pot curry for tea tonight, a Gousto recipe that my lot enjoy and easy to make ( my cooking criteria)

Very interesting and sad that, just googled it, had never heard of The treachery of the Blue book. 

I  think in general the working classes / poor from all  countries were treated terribly by the wealthy/ political leaders in general, my dad was Scottish and mum Irish so there was quite a lot of debate in our house!!!!
Thats why I decided on French @Nebulous2 as I had learnt it in school as well, I was hopeless at it but  thought out of all the languages it would be the easiest for me. Can’t see it being of much use for holidays but I only do 10 minutes a day so not much of a commitment.

Organgrinder

Well my cookery half term continues! Tonight.....

Nebulous2

Organgrinder said:

Humboldt said:

Morning all.

@Organgrinder the UK has such a diverse history, culture, and landscape, all of which make it a very special place.  I personally feel that it is vital we retain and embrace all that this unique country has to offer. I have the greatest admiration for you learning to speak Welsh as an adult.   An interesting fact - apparently Welsh is the oldest language in Britain and has been spoken in some form for the last 4000 years. 

I was so pleased that you were inspired to cook a rendang, and thank you for sharing the results with us. 

@Nebulous2 as per @bluenose1's earlier comment, learning a new language has the additional benefit of giving the brain a new challenge, so definitely worth the effort...dare I say "at our age" lol.

@mark55man I found that book to be an interesting read.  I am in the process of reading Ultr@-Pr0cessed Pe0ple by Chr!s van Tullek£n, but finding it hard going for many reasons.  

Today's simple pleasure - watching a robin making use of the bird bath whilst enjoying my morning cuppa.

I agree we need to retain and embrace everything. Sadly everything is so centred around London and dare I say it the English language.

One of the great things about speaking another language is the culture and history you learn about along the journey.

I doubt many outside of Wales are aware of "Brad y llyfrau gleision" for example (the treachery of the blue books) or how in only a generation or two the Welsh language was lost in many families due to immigration, English only education and business owners who demanded that English be the only language within the workforce.

These days the demand for Welsh medium education outstrips supply. Though the naysayers rubbish it's usefulness despite having no exposure to the language or the areas in which Welsh is still the majority language.

However, I best stop as otherwise I'll end up on a political rant which will get me a ban! Annibyniaeth. Yr unig opsiwn sydd ar ôl i ni! ;-)

I was brought up speaking a version of Scots called Doric. It was looked down on and denigrated by the establishment, literally beaten out of us at school. Many locals, for whom it is their daily language, feel obligated to modify their language in formal occasions, and worry they will be judged for using it. I've spent my life adapting my speech to suit others, compared to the rich language I use with my relatives and locals. 

When I was at school there were two English O levels, English, and English as a foreign language. I argued at school that I should be allowed to sit English as a foreign language, as it wasn't my first language. I didn't win that argument, but hopefully it made people think. 

There is the beginnings of a resurgence, pupils are taught it at school, and universities study and promote it. I'm not convinced however. It is still very much alive, in a diluted form, and doesn't need to become a museum piece.  

Organgrinder

Nebulous2 said:

Organgrinder said:

Humboldt said:

Morning all.

@Organgrinder the UK has such a diverse history, culture, and landscape, all of which make it a very special place.  I personally feel that it is vital we retain and embrace all that this unique country has to offer. I have the greatest admiration for you learning to speak Welsh as an adult.   An interesting fact - apparently Welsh is the oldest language in Britain and has been spoken in some form for the last 4000 years. 

I was so pleased that you were inspired to cook a rendang, and thank you for sharing the results with us. 

@Nebulous2 as per @bluenose1's earlier comment, learning a new language has the additional benefit of giving the brain a new challenge, so definitely worth the effort...dare I say "at our age" lol.

@mark55man I found that book to be an interesting read.  I am in the process of reading Ultr@-Pr0cessed Pe0ple by Chr!s van Tullek£n, but finding it hard going for many reasons.  

Today's simple pleasure - watching a robin making use of the bird bath whilst enjoying my morning cuppa.

I agree we need to retain and embrace everything. Sadly everything is so centred around London and dare I say it the English language.

One of the great things about speaking another language is the culture and history you learn about along the journey.

I doubt many outside of Wales are aware of "Brad y llyfrau gleision" for example (the treachery of the blue books) or how in only a generation or two the Welsh language was lost in many families due to immigration, English only education and business owners who demanded that English be the only language within the workforce.

These days the demand for Welsh medium education outstrips supply. Though the naysayers rubbish it's usefulness despite having no exposure to the language or the areas in which Welsh is still the majority language.

However, I best stop as otherwise I'll end up on a political rant which will get me a ban! Annibyniaeth. Yr unig opsiwn sydd ar ôl i ni! ;-)

I was brought up speaking a version of Scots called Doric. It was looked down on and denigrated by the establishment, literally beaten out of us at school. Many locals, for whom it is their daily language, feel obligated to modify their language in formal occasions, and worry they will be judged for using it. I've spent my life adapting my speech to suit others, compared to the rich language I use with my relatives and locals. 

When I was at school there were two English O levels, English, and English as a foreign language. I argued at school that I should be allowed to sit English as a foreign language, as it wasn't my first language. I didn't win that argument, but hopefully it made people think. 

There is the beginnings of a resurgence, pupils are taught it at school, and universities study and promote it. I'm not convinced however. It is still very much alive, in a diluted form, and doesn't need to become a museum piece.  

Another piece of history we should know about.

It sounds very much like the Welsh not.

I won't say much more other than hope that in time, people get to understand that language is more than a means to communicate.

Murphybear

mark55man said:

I love rendang - its one of the dishes in the Michael Mosely low carb diet books - always goes down a treat, and that looks a fine example - its only just been breakfast and I'm already hungry

Many years ago OH bought me a cookery book entitled “Terrific Pacific”.  Recipes from the Pacific area all over the world.  One of my favourites is their Beef Rendang.  It’s utterly gorgeous.  It’s very time consuming to make, the ingredients list takes up half the page.   . I make a big batch and freeze it in individual portions.  Things like that, especially curries, actually improve with freezing.  

2 moves ago we emptied our chest freezer and found all sorts of things.  One was a homemade chicken curry, about 5 years old.  It was really lovely.  The freezer bods always say things like that should only be frozen for a short while.  Not in our house  

Humboldt

@Organgrinder and @Nebulous2 thank you for sharing some of your own experiences and that of your culture. It is so important that our history/culture is not forgotten.

@Murphybear hello and welcome.  We are so lucky to have such a vast array of food choice these days. Great tip about batch cooking time consuming, but delicious recipes, and then freezing them to enjoy another time. 

Humboldt

Hello and welcome.

Motivational quote of the week.

Reading forces you to be quiet in a world that no longer makes a place for that – John Green.

Money saving.

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £250 per month.  Week 5 spend for October was £38.97. Total spend for October was £280.04.  Over budget this month.

Gained an extra 300 Nect@r points by completing task 1 in the S@insbury’s ‘Count up to Chr!stmas Ch@llenge’.  I generally buy most of our shopping at Ald!’s, but for the period of this challenge, I am buying items from S@insbury’s that are price matched to Ald!’s.

Took advantage of a good price on a winter sun holiday for 2026.  The offer included a few extras, one being only a 10% deposit required. 

November’s premium bond win was £150 (2024 total to date is £1,250).

Took advantage of a couple of offers via my mobile provider.  We were able to purchase a 1-year rail card for only £10 using the promotional code, and a free sample bar of T0ny’s chocolate is on its way to us.

Treated myself to a Wh!te Stuff shirt that was reduced by 27%.

This week’s main menu.

Monday – Spicy chicken and sweet potatoes (from one of my recipe scrap books).  To utilise the oven, I also will bake a batch of cheese and chive scones.  I will use half-fat mature cheddar cheese and whole-grain flour to make the scones a little healthier.  Chives are homegrown.

Tuesday – Spicy lentil and tomato soup (Br!tish He@rt Foundati0n recipe) with a warm homemade cheese scone.  I will reduce the liquid and cook the soup in the slow cooker.

Wednesday – Cottage pie (H@iry D!eter’s recipe) with lightly steamed cabbage.  I will top the pie with a vegetable mash (carrots, swede, and parsnips).  I will use half beef mince and half lentils, not only does this make it a little healthier, but also reduces the cost.

Thursday – Ping meal – as above (cook once, eat twice – saves time and energy).

Friday – Homemade wild garlic pesto and goats cheese pizza.  The pesto is homemade and from the freezer. I will utilise the oven by cooking a homemade sourdough loaf.

Saturday – Super squash lasagne (Wom@n & H0me recipe) with a lemon dressed green salad. I will utilise the oven by baking a homemade pear crumble (pears were free).

Sunday – Ping meal – as above (cook once, eat twice – saves time and energy). 

Healthier lifestyle.

Completed 2 free online workouts.

Completed 4 free meditations.

Step count last week was 39,667.

Simple pleasures.

A stunning bunch of oriental lilies that I bought in Ald! (reduced to £2.14).

Homemade pear crumble and chocolate custard on the menu this week.

It is that time of year again, and I have begun reading The Christmas Chr0nicles by N!gel Sl@ter.  I was gifted this book several years ago, and have read it every year since. I use it like an advent calendar, reading each part on the date shown. For anyone who has not read it, I have included a snippet below:

‘This is the story of my love for winter, the scent of fir and spruce, ghost stories read with a glass of sloe gin, and beeswax candles with shadows dancing on the ceiling.  With recipes, fables, and quick fireside suppers from November to early February, I take you through my essential preparations for the Christmas and the New Year and everything you need to enjoy the winter months.’

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

Murphybear

I had 2 simple pleasures this year.  Sometimes simple pleasures can be things you have experienced by someone else saying something or doing something to you 

I was waiting for my husband outside the supermarket and a young girl, about 2 or 3 came up to me, gave me the most wonderful smile and handed me a daffodil.  She then skipped off to her mother, turned  round and waved to me.  I hadn’t been feeling at my best, I’d just had a B12 jab and they can feel a bit more painful than other jabs.  I forgot about my arm and waved back.  I felt good for the rest of the day

We were wandering around the shops and suddenly a young man said to my husband “your wife is very beautiful”.  I can’t imagine any woman not feeling brilliant after that.  I was on Cloud 9 the rest of the day.  

Humboldt

@Murphybear thank you for taking the time to share your simple pleasures.  Finding the joy in the every day things has been proven to have a profound impact on our happiness and wellbeing. 

Today's simple pleasure - I received my free sample of T0ny's chocolate, and very nice it was too.