Thinking I wouldn't be able to get up at all I decided to trawl recent folders for pictures. The first is from Tuesday's trip along the A60 to Mansfield. I had been following the rainbow for some miles and in the end couldn't resist the temptation to draw my trusty Casio from my shirt pocket and hold it to the windscreen
.Naughty - but it was a lovely bright 
rainbow.
rainbow.The dark marks are on the windscreen and not on my sensor.
Today I can report some legs- improvement. I can now stand for a couple of minutes, but no more, and I'm afraid Rob and Elaine's reception was just not possible. Reg rang early evening and I asked him to present our apologies. I feel bad that, yet again, I have had to let Y down over something she was looking forward to.
Picture 2 shows what a day it has been. I set the lay-figure to do a jaunty little Michael Flatley type jig to represent my head rather than my body. I hope you open the link, it's good to see Riverdance again.
Picture 3 is my 'Book of Proverbs' which I recently recovered from lost in the garage. The compilation of the book must have been a mammoth undertaking. Each proverb is cross-referenced in separate sentences, and alphabetically too. Even on a computer you would need much careful thought.
Y has been ace in the Galley and in the tea & coffee department. But I masterminded cauliflower cheese, with bacon bits, whilst sitting in the kitchen. The recipe is from my very old British Cookery and takes ages. It always proves worth it though. Unfortunately it leaves a heap of washing up.
Comments
bungus ....... Glad you are going to keep Google Chrome handy. I think they are onto a winner - but that's nothing unusual for Google is it? I've been on WebUser and the statistics show an enormous % take up just on the first day. No-one reports major snags and everyone is thrilled with the sheer speed, efficiency and ease of use.
I knew that rhubarb leaves are poisonous to pigs - giving them what pig-men call the 'skitters', but I don't know what they do to humans. Strangely enough, I also recall that you should not put rhubarb leaves on a compost heap.
Like you I can only hope that there was some break in the weather for Rob and Elaine, and that Incy Wincy managed a couple of half decent snaps.
4 ticks ...... A warm welcome to the blog-comments column.
Without tasting Helen & Julian's 'chard and stuffed marrow' I couldn't possibly comment on the flavour. I think you and Bungus have given them a bad time when the dish was probably delicious.
Re its 'carbon footprint'. The footprint would have been tiny. 'Cos its called Swiss Chard doesn't mean it came from Geneva. It only travelled here from Boughton and the marrow I guess would have travelled a matter of yards only. Of the stuffing I cannot speak.
Jill ..... The Rosemary/Lavender mistake is quite understandable. There is quite a variety range within each and the green plant and blue flowers can be very similar.
You 'tiring' day was obviously a very enjoyable one for you, I know the RHS Hall quite well having been to exhibitions there in the past.
I shall enjoy (and I expect other readers will too) your Yarn Harlot link. She sounds quite a gal ! ............. So glad also that the stalls were such good fun and so 'catholic'...... When I've had a good shop in similar circumstances and you unpack when you get home, it's like playing with ones toys I suspect.
You certainly wont have bored anyone with your comment - it was 'delightful, delicious, delovely' - if I'm quoting the musical correctly.
Jill ..... The Rosemary/Lavender mistake is quite understandable. There is quite a variety range within each and the green plant and blue flowers can be very similar.
You 'tiring' day was obviously a very enjoyable one for you, I know the RHS Hall quite well having been to exhibitions there in the past.
I shall enjoy (and I expect other readers will too) your Yarn Harlot link. She sounds quite a gal ! ............. So glad also that the stalls were such good fun and so 'catholic'...... When I've had a good shop in similar circumstances and you unpack when you get home, it's like playing with ones toys I suspect.
You certainly wont have bored anyone with your comment - it was 'delightful, delicious, delovely' - if I'm quoting the musical correctly.
.................................................
I don't think I published a link to the Swiss Chard Soup recipe which I used. So that is it, under the name.
Quotation time ....... This appeals to me...............
"Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature".
A bit like the old Horace quote that no great poetry was ever written by water drinkers.
...................................................
Sleep tight everybody ----------- Catch you tomorrow
n.b. I've had to re-publish the pictures in each blog-post back to Wednesday, when I first used Google-Chrome. Fortunately I checked in my 'preview' page and found that they were NOT enlarging to a left click !!
Presumably they haven't been working for you readers either. Sorry.
Back to Firefox till they've sorted out the glitches.
Presumably they haven't been working for you readers either. Sorry.
Back to Firefox till they've sorted out the glitches.
.............................................
.
The old Casio still does a good job.
ReplyDeleteI sympathise with your predicament but it reminds me of the story of the call girl who went to the doctor. After examining her he said,
“A few days on your feet and we’ll soon have you back in bed again”.
Sandra and a friend to Riverdance at the Theatre Royal some years ago and could only see the performers above the knees.
For this evening’s meal Sandra did me mixed ‘leftover’ veg (cauli, calabrese, carrots) with a cheese sauce and jacket spud followed by apple and blackberry pie with cream. Very nice.
From Google:
THE POISON IN RHUBARB
Oxalates are contained in all parts of rhubarb plants, especially in the green leaves. There is some evidence that anthraquinone glycosides are also present and may be partly responsible. It is not clear as to the exact source of poisoning from rhubarb, possibly a result of both compounds. The stalks contain low levels of oxalates, so this does not cause any problem
During World War I rhubarb leaves were recommended as a substitute for other veggies that the war made unavailable. Apparently there were cases of acute poisoning and even some deaths. Some animals, including goats and swine, have also been poisoned by ingesting the leaves.
The biodynamic (toxicity) mechanism by which oxalic acid works is somewhat different from organic poisons and is more analogous to heavy metal poisoning... There are many molecular substances in foods which offer no nutritional benefit, and must be processed and excreted. Oxalic acid, for example, is excreted in the urine, and its crystals are commonly found in microscopic urinalysis. Too much oxalic acid in the urine will result in kidney or bladder stones. Calcium combines with oxalic acid to form the less soluble salt, calcium oxalate, which is also found in kidney stones. Plant leaves, especially rhubarb, cabbage, spinach, and beet tops (and chard, I'll bet, says Bungus), contain oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is also found in potatoes and peas. Vitamin C is metabolized to oxalic acid; it contributes to over-saturation of the urine with crystals and possibly to stone formation.
I have never come across a rule barring rhubarb leaves from the compost (and I’ve just googled it). The only uncooked vegetable matter I recall being advised not to use is potatoes and potato peelings (risk of disease, esp blight). I know it is advised to not overpick rhubarb and to allow the plant to decay naturally each year.
A pity for Rob and Elaine that the weather changed after a reasonable start. But I suppose the photographers will have been skilled enough to cope with the lack of sunlight.
Are photographers like Horace’s poets by the way?
I suppose to speak ill of 'chard and stuffed marrow' without having tasted it IS a bit presumptuous but there is no way I could have faked enthusiasm. I suppose I could have said nothing, but where is the fun in that?
The Swiss chard actually came from Newark via Boughton so had a slightly larger footprint than you thought. And the gas used to cook it probably came from Russia.
Sports corner:
I am sure Stags continued success at home will have made Rob’s day and compensated a little for the absence of RG and myself from his celebrations.
England had a great victory over Madagascar or somebody.
I’d go along with the Tom Robbins quote. A bit of disrespect for pomposity never did any harm.
And Dylan Thomas certainly did everything he could to support Horace’s belief.
4 Ticks:
It sounds a bit as though 'stuffed marrow & chard' wouldn’t be your first selection from a restaurant menu?
I suggest you scroll back through RG’s blog to Aug 6 and Macmanaman’s website. The roast tomato soup recipe therein is excellent .
If you knew my pedantry you would not be surprised when I remark upon your two emm omelettes
Lovely rainbow photo - did you ever get to the end of it? - or over it?
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what was so challenging about your cauliflower cheese with bacon bits. When I do it, I just add bacon bits or chopped ham to my cheese sauce and pur it over lightly cooked cauliflower broken down a bit (that's what I felt like last night, come to think of it). Breadcrumbs/grated cheese on top and into the oven. What is your special Olde Englishe version then?
Pleased there is some improvement.
You are quite right, my new acquistions were just like new toys - you have your dongle, I have my yarns......
It actually appears to have stopped raining, it has poured/drizzled/precipitated all day here.
I might actually go out and post a letter - to Y!
Hello everyone. After a bit of a break due to the webding, I'm back for a short while before we fly to italy for what is now the honeymoon.
ReplyDeleteWe had a great day yesterday; I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The only disappointments were the absence of RG and Y, Bungus and Sandra and the rain. Our mighty photographer did a fantastic job under very trying circumstances; not just the appearance of the rain but also the disappearance of half the guests who were sheltering in cars. The rain was bad enough but it turned cold as well. Those with young children could not be blamed for seeking a warm place. Nonetheless we managed some photos outside and there will be a number that are highly original in webding photo terms. Thank you Denis.
The food at the reception was first class and we had a good party afterwards. My wife and I finally made it to bed about 2.15am. Our legs are worn out from dancing.
This morning all of Elaine's family visited us before they made tracks for home; they are brilliant and know how to (as Frank Gallagher says) have a party. I love 'em all to bits.
Amongst the guests at the wedding was a good friend of mine who came from France for the occasion. We also had people from Lincs, Manchester, Dorset and London as well as an Austalian.
Many thanks to those who came along. We had a very generous, and humbling, joint present from RG and Y, Reg and Mo, and Roy and Ann. Also thanks to 4 ticks for coming along and for the pressie. We'll catch up with you in the Dixies.
Elaine looked stunningly beautiful as she entered the chapel in Newstead Abbey. I hope to be able to post a photo in due course.
Beacuse of the day itself and today events, Bungus, I've only just learned of the Stags success yesteday. Top of the league now, excellent. To add to the feeling of celebration, Panthers won their opening game in this season's Elite Ice Hockey League away to Newcastle yesterday (always a tricky fixture) whilst the Steelers were losing at home to Edinburgh. Panthers have won again today! Woo hoo!
Life is sooooooo good.
Rob