8C - Birds - Vichysoise - Computer

I thought you all deserved a rest from our holiday-snaps. They have a reputation (well deserved) for being boring. There was a lovely cartoon some time ago of two cavemen in the Altimira caves. One was pointing to a piece of a cave-painting and saying "This is me and Ernie hunting bison". The other caveman looks suitably disinterested.

Managed a better goldfinch picture this morning. Also, a wren put in an appearance and the long-tailed tits who are so camera-shy I despair of 'snapping' them. The great-tits are the opposite and I think now I could walk up to them to do a close-up and they would just glare at me.

Although Google tells me it is 8C on the 'Air Ministry Roof' in Nottingham there has been a strong wind so, with wind-chill it feels much colder. If the reference is lost on younger readers, I should explain. Way-back-When on the BBC Home Service (before Radio 4) they used to publish a national weather-forecast and say "The temperature on The Air Ministry Roof is.....". It is said that one can always recognise a Radio 4 listener by the large amount of disconnected information he/she possesses. A gem this morning was that the hollow space in the top of a house-brick is called a 'frog'. I didn't know that !!

A chap on one of my forums was discussing some matter and said he remembered "Horace Bachelor" who used to feature in a Radio Luxemburg advert. I reminded him of the "H.Samuel Everite Watch" and he came back with "The Ovalatinies". We stopped there because we were way off 'thread' and moderators are (quite properly) keen on these things.

Talking of computer matters I have installed Acronis True Image which I bought from Serif for £7. Sometime ago Ray said it was a good thing to have. But now I've got it, I don't know what to do with it, as it arrived as a disc-in-an-envelope. No manual or anything. I shall work it out though.

This morning I made Leek and Potato soup (large amount thereof) and used some fresh rosemary and thyme which I 'shredded' with this open herb-mill which has been in the family since my childhood. It has survived because it is so efficient. It works better than a Moulinex or any of the other methods I've tried. The other simple solution is to use a sharp knife on the chopping board, holding the herbs together with your fingers. My warfarin dosage makes this latter method too risky for me at the moment. The little machine shown is called a 'Tala' and was 'Made in England'. No criticism of Moulinex intended because I am a fan.

It's a Karen day tomorrow so we are planning on going out while she has a blitz. We've both got things to do in Eastwood and may venture down Nottingham. Depends on the weather.

See ya' all.