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Hello Chris.

Hurrah!

MM xxx

Nobody can cook like our mums Chris.

Even if you do finally discover the recipe it won't taste the same. I've tried to copy my mother's delicious Sunday roasts, I make them in exactly the same way as she did using exactly the same ingredients but they never taste quite the same.

I'm now thinking about home made fishcakes, delicious stews, steak and kidney puddings & pies and many more. Yummy!

Maybe the food in the shops these days is not the same, too much processed stuff.

MM xxx

Hi all

I'm sorry to say that my mum (bless her), like me, could not cook. She just about managed a roast dinner (except for the memorable occasion that she used oil that fish had been cooked in for the yorkshires...eughhh). She would panic as well if there were any more than 3 for dinner - as you can imagine C word dinners were especially stressful.

I can do a passable chilli or spag bol but anything else is beyond me. Mind you I don't get the chance to try because the OH is very set in his ways as far as food goes and actually prefers pre processed stuff to freshly made (apart from the aforementioned chilli and spag bol).

Nice to see a new blog at last.

Laters

mtd ffb xxxx

Evening

I cook loads but I get that from my Gran rather than Mam. Gran was a bit of a tyrant type where "nobody can do it as well as she could" so my poor Mam was never allowed to cook but I do remember she made wonderful pastry when I was young.
I still prefer baking to cooking meals but needs must.

Must venture out in that dreadful wind but keep trying to put it off.

Back later - I hope!

Susan xx

Having worked full time for a zillion years, cooking has taken a back seat in my life. By the time i get in, I am happy to eat just about whatever I can summon the energy to burn. Maybe, when I retire , In a further zillion years, I will wander round the supermarket and inspect the stuff that fascinates me & I have always wondered what you do with it. Actually, i will strive to be in the supermarket more often , especially at lunch time when the workers are in a rush. I will stand at the front of the queue , fumble for my purse, rummage for my 1p off coupons ,forget my pin number , and have a lovely discussion with the cashier about the price of nothing in particular . Then I will shuffle off to spend the rest of the day in the post office.

MC xx

Well I made it back from spending a fortune filling up my car! Could have been blown back home tho and hung on to the petrol thing for dear life in between gusts.

Lovely to see you MC - that was heartfelt. Sounds like many a lunchtime expedition in to town when in a rush trying to fit it in during a very short lunch hour. Why do they always shop then? What is so fascinating about that two hours when workers are trying to do all that and get back to work on time.
We could share the ranty pants if you like lol xx

Sus x

Hi Chris: your lovely mum was just fantastic on the show this morning. Her lesson in pastry-making will stay with me always. Perfectly obvious that she absolutely loves you, and how wonderful that she has such a great relationship with Tash. What a lucky guy you are to have the love of two such great ladies in your life. xx

On the subject of cooking, I am truly awful. How MrS, MsS and I have survived, I have no idea. The best cooking I ever tasted with my Mum's, and that's not just nostalgia, it's just a fact.

Maddy: the one thing I discovered about making fishcakes is, for the dressing, use crushed C*rn Fl*kes. Honestly, they are utterly delicious: fish, potatoes, seasoning, and the aforementioned flakes, fried in oil. Ooooh, I'm just sorry it's so late at night, or I may be tempted to make them now!

Right, switching off for the day: there's a choc ice with my name on it! See you all on the morrow.

C xx

Hi Susan , nice to see you too. Blimey , how could i forget the bank!!! I will need to make sure i am there between twelve and two !!!! MC xx

MC: don't know how I managed it, but I missed your terrific post - just so funny, and so true!

Hi Susan: just dreadful out there, isn't it?!

Going now!

xx

Well said MC - I think we should have to buy stamps on a Thursday or something in revenge....

It's windy here and a bit chilly but nowhere on the scale that you have got up there. I hope it clears up next week, when we head north in the ship. Oooops now I've put a jinx on that - beware those of you north of the border, batten down the hatches the td's are coming your way and you know what that means - yep hurricanes at least......

mtd ffb xxx

Hi Chrissie , hope your return to work goes well. I will be thinking of you. Love MCxxx

Chrissie.

That sounds like a good idea using crushed corn flakes for fishcakes, I must try it. Unfortunately my fishcakes these days are in the freezer :)

Enjoy the choc ice!

MM xxx

Minnie was lovely on the radio wasn't she!! Really made me smile

My Mum's cooking is lovely too but now my Dad does most of the cooking and he's not too bad either!

Chrissie, crushed flakes is a good idea, I might try that

Maddy, you sound brighter this week. Hope you're starting to feel better

MC, are you sure you haven't already sneaked down to my local post office?

Sezza xxx

I've just listened to Minnie as I missed her this morning. I knew that ferris wheel that she was stuck on the top of at New Brighton, spent my youth in the fairground there. Sadly no longer there.

Sezza-I'm getting there, my plan is to venture out on Thursday depending on the weather.

MM xxx

Evening all,

Was listening to you this morning Chris while catching up on the blog ,but I must have missed your lovely mum,can anyone tell me what time please it was on please??

Hope that Monday has gone well for you all, I've had pottering day catching up on the laundry ,It stayed on the line albeit a bit blustery ,not as bad as some of you have had it .

Baking and cooking ,I like to cook ,dont have much time to bake I just wish Mr B was more adventuresome in his tastes as hes quite a meat and two veg type of man .but he does like several pasta dishes now ,just got to get him on the chinese and indian and then we're flying.What do you think the odds are???

Crissie ,lovely to see you posting today ,I hope all goes well for you tomorrow ,will be thinking of you {{hugs}}
.

Now I must be aware of what time I need to be at the shops for heheh!!! loved it.

It feels strange here today being back home and not being pampered .Oh well !!! back to the grind eh!!!

Take care....Bids.xxx.

Hello Maddy ,
just seen your post ,you couldn't tel me what time Minnie was on can you ,I heard them talking about something but it was falling on deaf ears.

Nice to see that you're getting back to your old self again and I hope that this time you stay well.

Bids.xxx.

Bids.

Chris's mum Minnie is on the i player at 02.06.30 (just after 8.30)

MM xxx

Hello everyone.


Bids, Minnie was on between 8.30 and 9 o'clock as I heard it on the way to work in the car. Glad you had a relaxing weekend, lovely pics on fb.

Chrissie, the first day back is the worst, but I'm sure your colleagues will make it as easy for you as possible. ((()))

My mums fruit cake was the best, sadly she never passed on the recipe, and she never measured anything anyway!

Hubby does the best roast spuds, but had never cooked a thing until 15 or so years ago, when I had to work away from home for a while. It was either cook or starve!

The wind has droppped a bit here tonight, but I was glad to see my garden waste bag had been wedged in the tree to stop it taking flight after being emptied today!

Have a great hol Mtd, Jealous? Moi?

Take care all and stay safe,

Ta ta Lin x

Arrr ,thanks for that Maddy ,I can have a listen ,I was atrying abit after that.
will have a listen later.

Bids.xxx.

Girl racer ,
lovely to see you popping by ,and thank you for that ,trying to hit the right time can be a nightmare...
Hope that works going well ,you're coming up to your busy time aren't you ??.

Did you see the news last week about the escaped wallaby,thought of you when I saw that .
He didn't follow you out of that park you visited?? lol.

Take care Bids.xxx.

night night all .

Bids.xxx,

Good morning lovely peeps in Blog-land. I hope you lot 'oop north' have survived those terrible winds ..... and now the ash cloud?? Mr CG & I (and the dog) are heading to the Mull of Kintyre next week, it was meant to be a walking holiday, but I won't be doing any of that yet!! Still, a relaxing week is still the order of the day.

Bruises fading, ribs still sore & knee painful - hey ho!

Chrissie - thinking of you today, just keep the happy memories close to you {{hugs}}

My Mum's cooking was AWFUL! I think that is the only thing about her I don't miss. I don't know how I came to be a decent cook, but Mr CG & I always cook from scratch every evening, no matter how tired - we find it relaxing sharing the kitchen together.... a glass of wine & a moan about the day at work.

Yep, I know I'm odd! :-)

Have a good day out there, and mind the wind .................

CG xx

Morning Team Blog!

We need to do this in instalments again – just typed it and it won’t let me post in one long post ….

I love cooking, and am in my element preparing meals - the reward of the finished product is always worth the effort. Cookery (Home Economics!) was the only O Level I passed first time round and my mum was a great teacher. I was also fortunate enough to be aware of world cuisines from an early age - I can remember being taken to chinese restaurants when I was as young as 6 (remember, this was the 1970s).

Nic's mum makes me smile - she won't eat anything "foreign" - so MTD, as lovely as it is, your spag bol would be a definite no go area!

We've got some friends who are a nightmare to cook for when they come over for dinner: he doesn't do pasta, or vegetables, or fruit. She doesn't like "owt fussy", nowt too spicy, or chocolate. Bang goes my signature dishes of lasagne, curry etc, and dessert is a nightmare - I discovered she's not a chocolate fan after making a lovely chocolate mousse, and that he didn't like fruit after knocking up a mango fool. Cheese and biscuits next time then .....!

Food, glorious food. Oh how I love it!

Deevs
x

Off to lie down in dark room now ..... x

Morning all

How's the dark room Deevs, is it working?

Bright and blowy here today but sounds like a real night mare in some parts of the country so take care all of you

Anyone think that between Minnie and Tash, Chris has got it made!

Sezza xxx

Morning Sezza

I don't know why the blog won't let me post more than a paragraph or two at a time - tis proper annoying.

Struggling today to be honest - I feel really tired. And off out tonight with fussy-eater-mentioned-above mate whilst Himself goes to the quiz with her hubby. Oub meal, wine, girly catch up natter. Perfick!

Deevs
x

Morning All,

Nice and sunny again down South, I'll try and gently blow some your way. Sorry to all those who are having a terrible time with the weather xx

I had to listen again to the Minnie bit, she sounded fab and right made me chuckle when she used a naughty word.

My Mum is an excellent baker and not too shabby a cook either and I learnt everything from her. The only thing that lets her down is her mash and Yorkshire puddings! My Granny made the best mash and my brother can make a good Yorkshire, perhaps that's something to do with being married to a Yorkshire Lass! My Mum belongs to the WI and has won many a certificate for her jam, cakes, scones etc.

As for me I like to cook and most of the time I do it from scratch. I also bake something every week to have with my lunch, it's much cheaper than shop brought cakes.

I am off up to Peckham this afternoon to attend my first ever Board Meeting for the project that I am involved in in Zimbabwe... exciting.

Best do some work before hand especially as my lovely boss is letting me have the afternoon off for free!

AliB
xx

Morning each

Chrissie, thinking of you. xxx

Only heard the show yesterday till about 8am, when I arrived for baby-sitting duties so missed CLPs mum, must have a listen again.

Couldn't get home last night as the blessed bridge was closed because of the wind, and miles and miles of tailback, so I slept on the sofa and headed out this morning at 5.30. Boy, am I tired.

Just listened to Chris's mum, what a woman and so nice to hear her calling him 'Love'.

xxxxx

Hi everyone:

Well, even though it was with great reluctance, I am at work today. Thanks so much for all the lovely support - it really means a great deal.

Loving all the food chat - I keep promising myself that I will learn to cook properly - surely it can't be too late to learn? The thing is, I hate mess - absolutely hate it. Blending anything makes me feel queasy, and if the recipe calls for tomato puree, then that's me completely put off! Crazy I know, but there you have it.

Sezza: yes, I absolutely agree that Chris has got it made - since he married Tash, he is the happiest I have ever heard him, it's just lovely.

Annie: what a nightmare you couldn't get home last night. I could not believe the weather yesterday - first time in my life that I saw horizontal rain! And, yes, it was so nice to hear Chris's mum call him "love" - he's a lucky boy.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

C xx

Hiya

Annie, sorry to hear you couldn't get home but so glad to hear you're safe and sound

Chrissie, my boy2 will cook anything but he won't eat half that he cooks!

Ali, a board meeting - how very high-powered!

Deevs, like the sound of your evening! I'm out for a quiz tomorrow - best start polishing my brain!

Sezza xxx

ps I have to make the Yorkshire Puds when we go to my Mum's house!

Hi everyone, Guess what - it's raining and windy again! Not nearly as bad as yesterday though, it was awful, there were branches blown off trees everywhere, a real mess.

Listened to Minnie this morning, she sounded lovely.

Off to the barnet fixers now, so have a good afternoon everyone.

X

Gail.

Chris

Unless you start blogging more frequently, and actually writing something of interest, then more and more of your loyal bloggers with transform in 'Blogpoppets' and this blog will wither and die, which would be a shame.

Quiet here today

Anyone around or have you all been blown away or drowned in an ash cloud?

I've done my taxi run for tonight so am contemplating a cheeky glass of vino

Good idea?

Sezza xxx

Evening Sezza

Great idea, enjoy.

I'm off for an early night with a camomile tea. Night night.

xxxxx

Annie, hope you're in your own bed tonight not a sofa!

Sleep well

sezza xxx

I'm here, again...sorry Concerned LP

I'm just watching the Gary Neville thingy...

Have finally sorted out all the bank accounts, all in our own name...finally!!!

Hope all are ok...

JG x

JG, There must be so much to do. Good to hear it's getting there.

Is that the footie match Chris was talking about this morning?

xx xx

Don't know Sezza, haven't heard it yet.... but a good player, deserves it!!

JG x

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Liam747

I don't twitter either, but Doddy does!

Hello everyone

Liam747, sorry don't have enough time to be here let alone on twitter.

Just cooked my lovely husband a birthday dinner and now having a glass of champagne, also all our family came round to give him a nice surprise when he got home from work.

Chrissie , thinking of you. Lots of love. xx

csn. xx

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

A friend of mine recently went to see a Ken Dodd show.

He realised he was in for a long night when he saw that everyone else in the audience had thermos flasks and packs of sandwiches!

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Liam 747 and CLP.

Now I know why I don't come here anymore, just keep chatting together. LOL!

Night everyone.

Take care and try to sleep well.

csn. xx

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Thank you Liam747.

csn. xx

Good morning all,

And what a beatiful morning it is,I know I shouldn't brag but here the sky is wall to wall blue and the sun is well and truely out,and we don't have a breeze today.
I'm sure that some when I'm going to pay for those words.

Chris ,it was lovely to hear your mum on monday , and how sweet is she ,you do realize that you have turned your mum into a blog icon.

Don't know what your plans are for the day ,but whatever they are I hope they work out for you and that you have a good one.

Take care and see you later .

Bids.xxx.

Morning all, morning Bids - loving your photos on FB by the way :-)

Loving Minnie on the radio - she sounded exactly like my nan - especially the way she kept calling him love - bless

Just time to say hope all went well at work Chrissie - great to see you back on here.

and to CG - glad you are on the mend, take it easy on your hols and dont try to "power through" the sore knee

Right work to be getting on with - catch you later
debs
x

OMG - Neil Diamond ................!!

Morning all

Lovely evening with friend dahn the pub last night, and a happy man at home as they won the pub quiz again (without me!!)

Stuff to do today but will dip in and out of Lake Blogland. Also building a plan for something nice in the summer. Watch this space!

I love a good tickling stick, me!

Deevs
x

Sorry everyone, got too excited, I'll start again ...........

Morning All,

Brilliant show Chris, I don't normally get a chance to listen to it all, but being poorly does have it's advantages!!

Wow - Neil Diamond, I have been a fan for years and seen him live 3 times now, just luuurve that man.

Happy hump-day everyone

CG xx

Morning All,

Tis beautiful in North Kent too, and long may it last.

I think that Concerned-LP has a very valid point, the Blogpoppets are romping away in the blogging stakes!!

CG, I hope you have a lovely holiday and remember to take it easy, don't run before you can walk xx

MM, Are you going out today? I hope the wind and rain has stopped, so you can get out and about xx

I enjoyed my Board Meeting yesterday, for two reasons - one I didn't have to take the Minutes. It's the first meeting I've been to for years where I didn't have to do that and secondly, it was followed by a lovely mean cooked by a Nigerian, so lots of fancy and different food. Roll on the next meeting in October! It was also great to see my friend Jenny who runs the project in Zim. It has made me more determined to go back as soon as I can.

Come on Chris lets have a blog that gives us something to think about and discuss.

Right let's get back to work.

AliB
xx

Hello Bids, Debs, CG, Deevs & AliB.

AliB-My plan is to go out tomorrow for my prescription, it might not be ready today. I hope that I haven't missed the best day as the wind and rain has stopped.

I'm well stocked up with food as I did an online delivery (and this time I was here to get it.) Hurrah!

MM xxx

Chris - Where are youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For Concerned & Liam747

Hello, long time no blog. Nice to see familiar 'faces', how are you all?

D x

Hi Debbie, Lovely to see you back, hope all is well with you!

Hi everyone else, hope you're all having a good day so far.

X

Gail.

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LOL Liam747 Sweetie!

From now on this is my favourite version too!

MM xxx

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

LOL but Cliff looks a lot like John Lennon there! ha ha!

MM xxx

PS I won't have either Cliff or John being called geeks!

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Aye up.

Is it home time yet? I've been taken over by tiredness and feel very achey - can't wait to connect with the sofa tonight, to be honest!

Debbie - great to see you back. I think we're overdue a catch up soon, and yes, I think of you every time I toast a crumpet!

Deevs
x

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All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

True "Liam". There are some total utter Fruit Cases on the web .....

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Hi DM and Deevs, definitely due a catch my dear by the way! Good to hear that you're still on the crumpets.

Dx

Low fat Debs - what's not to like!?!?

My car's in for its MOT today, and as yet, I've not heard owt from the garage .... could be walking to work again tomorrow if it fails which would mean missing yoga .

Boooooooo!

Deevs
x

WooHoo! Car back from MOT - passed, so we're on the road for another year at least!

Deevs
x

Evening each

Deevs, well done on the MOT - micras are great wee cars. Although, have to say, my tank's road tax is due this month - £30!!!!! Can't be bad.

Debbie C - so nice to see you - how are you?

Teeniest grandchild's first birthday today, he was ecstatic when he saw the cakes I delivered.

xxxxx

Happy Birthday teeniest grand-child!

The thing that makes me laugh with my car Annie is that it's got one of those secret button mechanisms to lock and unlock it (you don't need to use the key, it can be in your bag/pocket etc) and you don't have to put the key in the ignition to start the engine. This always totally foxes our neighbour who works at the garage (he takes our cars to work when we have anything done to them). And he drives a mahooooosive scary Volvo!

Right, my gorgeous chap is at long last on the way home from work, so I'll bid y'all a healthy, happy Good Evening.

Apprentice at 9pm. Happy Days!

Deevs
x

Here's one romping back!
How do all? Had to join in the foodie convo!
The secret to perfect roasties?
Steam the spuds for about 5 mins first
Then score with a fork, sprinkle with salt and pop them into the fat you've roasted your meat in. YUM.
Been nothing but blue skies round these parts just lately.
Me freckles are back with a vengeance!
T x

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Good morning all,

I knew that bragging yesterday would backfire on me ,it has done .A bit cloudy here today and cooler ,think also that we may have some rain.
Well that jolly well serves me right doesn't it. Note to self ,don't brag.

Have a good day all, in what ever you're doing.

Bids.xxx.

Good morning everyone from another rainy day here in Ayrshire, we haven't had a dry day for ages!!

Stopping today for a week's holiday today, we get the train to Newcastle tomorrow morning and start walking Hadrian's Wall on Saturday, finishing next Friday, getting the train back up from Carlisle next Saturday, then on the Sunday it's down to the Borders to collect Denny, hopefully it will be dry for some of our walk but even if it isn't, we've got plenty of waterproof gear!! We walked The West Highland Way in 2006 and 2008, the first time it rained every day except one and the second time it was dry every day except one, so it's just your luck.

Have a good day, weekend and next week, I don't imagine I will be near a computer till Tuesday 7th June when I come back to work, so "see" you all then.

X

Gail.

p.s. I will be raising a glass of something pink tonight in memory of our dear friend Beez. XXX

Gail ,

Have a super holiday and i do hope that you do get good weather.

Bids.xxx.

Morning troops.

Damp start to the day here, and that's just my nose ..... full of cold!

I've just posted an idea for a blog meet on FB - please take a minute to have a look. If you want any more info, feel free to email/message me.

Stuff to do and feeling rank.

Deevs
x

Thanks Bids. XX

Morning everyone.

Bit chilly here and very cloudy.

Gail, have a lovely holiday.

Deevs, hope you feel better soon.

Hi Bids.

Hope you all have a good day.

csn. xx

CG.

Happy Birthday, hope you have a lovely day.

csn. xx

Morning,

Like Bids I am suffering for my gloating yesterday with the weather, as today is dull and windy! Also the hay fever has started with a vengeance.

Thanks FOM for backing me up though re the weather in Kent it has been glorious the past few days.

Sad news - the cygnets are no more :(( I passed by this morning and chatted to a chap who said they had disappeared earlier on in the week. She does have 6 more eggs but it's not looking good. But I guess that's the circle of life, as sad as it is.

Happy Birthday CG xx

Gail, Have a super holiday, it sounds exhausting :) xx

Beez, Miss you xx

Deevs, Hope you feel better soon xx

Hi csn and Bids xx

Laters
AliB
xx