The Beach
What is the Beach?
It鈥檚 a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you鈥檙e the only one around, but you can leave your 鈥榝ootprints鈥 for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Monday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
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I've just got back from my walk in January to find a lovely new clean beach. I'm having a cup of tea under a plam tree, then I might go in for a dip.
I was going to bring some breakfast muffins to the beach but my oven has packed up! *sob*
Mary
Never mind, madmary, here are some muffins.....banana, blueberry or as it's Sunday, double choc. chip. There's a pot of fresh coffee to go with them. Good morning everyone.
Belinda, I do hope your husband is okay this morning, and you didn't need to go to the hospital.
Kidney stone update: The contractions are now 3 minutes apart and an epidural has been administered.
I'm thinking of bringing across some scones later on.
Did anyone else catch Englebert Humperdinck murdering his new single 'Jerusalem' at the end of the otherwise excellent Heaven & Earth Show this morning?
Either he hadn't bothered to warm up his voice or he needs to hang up his sideburns!
He still has charisma though. And lives somewhere between HelenSparkles and me, in deepest Leicestershire!
Fifi ;o)
He should really go back to writing fairy tales.
So, the 大象传媒 weather forecasters think snow has finally arrived, eh?
I hate to tell them, there was snow in my old stamping ground, the Firth of Clyde, last week! And they've had horrible cold wet blowy weather up there since mid November.
Ah. No. He's quite right.
That's not 'England' is it.
Silly me.
Fifi :o(
Morning all,
Isn't this beach a day early?
No objections from me, of course: It's nice to have a quick paddle before I head back to January to go and meet some pals.
Belinda -- are you smiling through the pain? Does our other half appreciate this??? Hope all is well soon.
A, x.
oh, how lovely! I get back from the gym to find Eddie has left a pristine beach for us :-)I think I'll partake of the coffee. Thanks Gillian, just what I need. Ah, and a sunlounger too. How relaxing!
D'ya know, I think it's Margarita time. Anyone got a recipe?
And in the same vein, I shall rustle up a small batch of very hot salsa, and warm up some salty tortilla chips to go with it.
Mmmmmm!
Just after I have this little nap.......
Fifi
Delighted to find the New Beach this morning, but I'm going back to find out what was happening yesterday. I've been stricken by the lurgy this weekend (so much for my boasts earlier in the week) and on my one hop onto the lilypad last night, I couldn't find any posts from yesterday at all. Was I hallucinating?- or the opposite of that de-hallucinating?
Still am I think, excuse the confusion. I'll go now.
Belinda - I'm surprised NHS Direct didn't just tell him to take a paracetamol and phone his GP in the morning.
That seems to be their usual advice, even if you're seriously ill. So it ends up with people who don't like to make too much of a fuss phoning NHS Direct and being given naff advice to fob them off, while others phone an ambulance every time they stub their toe (anyone else visiting ?)
Hope the stone finds its way out uneventfully, mind he doesn't crack the pan!
PS....I'm going in behind the bed with the hoover....I'm hoping to find an Old Master down there.... hold my ankles....Whhhhoooooo
Aha - i see that the convo was going on at the Beach, and I think I had so much to catch up on that I fell asleep at the PC!
Sorry to hear about various ailments and catastrophes, everyone.
Fifi - I have noted the same lens/onion phenomenon, I reckon it's to do with your sinuses (waves hand vaguely around facial area) and the phenols (??) from the onion entering though the aqueous stuff round your eyes. The contact lenses would acta as a barrier then. Just my theory - Stewart M, optical professional extraordinaire, help?
I'm rambling, so I'm going for yet another snooze.....
Fifi (10) Margarita
1 and a half measure tequila
1 measure triple sec
1/2 measure lemon juice or lemon and lime mixed
Shake ingredients well with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass. To salt the rim rub the inside and outer edge with a wedge of lemon, dip the glass evenly and gently into a saucer of salt, making sure the rim is neither too thick or to thin.
Enjoy!
Mary
Ah, thank you Mary.
I have lined up several margaritas following your recipe to the letter, along the bar at Nick's.
And the salsa, warmed chips and cream.
Do dig in, everyone!
Fifi
Hey, my cold is better!
Still a bit croaky, and will be missing one of my regular folk clubs tomorrow night just to be sure, but feeling tons better.
Big Sister, you should market that chilli recipe as a cureall!
Thank you everyone for your kind wishes, cuddles and sympathy.
I'm just popping back to the FB for some gravadlax and port in front of the fire.
Fifi :o)
The snow started here just over half an hour ago - I hope Lissa has got settled into her new home.
re Jason (18) - see post under Eddie's comments about my leaving do!
PS The digital radios work at the top of the house with a slight bubbling noise so it's back to analogue downstairs. Definitely no luck with the freeview box but at least we have broadband.
Lissa (19) Woo-hoo! Welcome to the county.
An external aerial might sort things for you - you probably know already that the Pure's can take an aerial lead connection if you unscrew the telescopic indoor one.
Alternatively the bubbling upstairs might be due to a leaky roof - perhaps you are flooded up??
How about Pi~na Colada and Mocha Shakes?
Roberto (21) : 'How about Pi~na Colada and Mocha Shakes?'
That sounds delicious, and timed perfectly for sun-over-the-yardarm time, here in the UK.
How clever of you! And yes please!
* holds out hand for glass *
Lissa-with-an-A (19) : Good, you've arrived. We have all been thinking of you, as you'll have seen from 'your' thread. This must be quite unusual treatment for a former 大象传媒 producer, isn't it?
How soon do you start the new job? Did you manage to save a little time to get the house straight first? And has Mr Knibbs forgiven you yet?
All in all, it's been quite a week here on the frog.
Fifi xx
Welcome home Lissa - now with the politeness over, we get down to the real business - how is his Knibbs?
xx
Lissa, lovely to see you on the Beach!
Have a cocktail!
Mary
Good evening everyone - nice to see that the Camels haven't made too much mess yet. Is there any of the tortilla/salsa/cream combo left? I need an hour of serious relaxation at the end of this weekend.
We have no snow back in January, but yesterday, we were the victims of a massive bolt of thunder/lightening, which fried my computer, my hi-fi amplifier and the Sky set top box. The cold water pipe feeding the washing machine has been leaking steadily, although we only found out when the water finally seeped under the machine and formed a swimming pool on the floor and my SO is beginning a new job 250 miles away tomorrow, which means that tonight is the first of many weeks of commuting until we join him.
I know that all of these things pale into insignificance when compared with others, but right now, I need a strong drink and some comfort food. I've brought along some Ardbeg for those who enjoy a dram - it's on the bar along with a small jug of water.
Oh, and Lissa - I hope your move went without a hitch and you're all settled in.
Fifi,
Hope you caught my "no cry" onion chopping method on the last beach - stick them in the fridge beforehand. Although I find raw onion/garlic is a good way to get rid of the symptoms of a cold.
Val P/Fifi, the lens forms a barrier between volatile juices from the onion and the natural tear layer in front of the eye (and underneath the contact lens); the volatile elements desolve in the tears, forming an acid and hence you weep to get rid of the acid. I'm not exactly sure of the name of the acid; one web site says Sulphuric, which is possible, but I doubt because the original compond is rather more complex.
Welcome to Frogger's World, Lissa-with-an-A [and a double S], soon to be snowed in in Derbyshire. Get yourself a decent valve radio, and listen to R4 on LW (and keeps you warm at the same time).
Spent a cold and exhausting afternoon at mother's (more on my blog), so want to relax, drink in hand and soak up some evening rays. Are there still the cocktails and salsa? I'll be at the hammock between the palm trees facing the sunset...
Perky, your luck's in. I had a secret reserve-tank of salsa and cream hidden under the bar.
Voila!
I'll decline the whisky if you don't mind though, and indulge in some of this rather yummy looking tempranillo which I've had breathing for the past hour or two.
Anyone else fancy some?
Fifi x
Sigh. Another frustrating day waiting for the evil house painter from hell who doesn't turn up and doesn't ring. Slimeball slug.
An hoping for a quiet day on Wednesday to catch up with stuff. Yawnnnnn...
Oh, how remiss of me.
I couldn't be remisser
By not saying 'hi!' to Lissa
Goodness, I'm going to have to chop a lot more onions and tomatoes and garlic and chillies at this rate!
Yes thank you John W, I have noted your advice .. but am far too disorganised to put onions in the fridge in advance! There is more chance of me putting in contact lenses at the weekend, and believe me that isn't my normal practice unless I'm out gallivanting somewhere.
Nice to see the Beach lightening up again, intellectually speaking. It's been getting a tiny bit serious here of late, and frightening off the frolickers.
Just time for a quick moonlight swim before bed, I think. And then slump under that picnic table with a bottle of cabernet shiraz and any other froggers who are similarly inclined!
Fifi ;o)
Onions and eyes. I was told you chop them underwater! Pretty pointless suggestion eh!
I find a very very sharp knife is the best way to stop the lacrimation. Contact lens could act as a bandage but wash you hands before taking then out!
Even better is get your SO to chop the onions ;-)
And HOW did I get your colds from the BLog?? So much for the flu jab ;-(
Hot toddy for supper. I tend to do rum ones and not Whisky ones. I only have malt and that's a waste of malt whisky.
Lissa - you've certainly picked a good week to move to the frozen north! Was it not a little chilly kite flying this afternoon? Not to mention wet? If you're into all that outdoorsy stuff, you must climb Mam Tor soon, if you haven't already done so. Especially on a windy day. It's quite an experience, & an amazing view when you get there.
Did Mr Knibbs sing all the way to Derbyshire?
The snow here tonight is still lying a bit. Not terribly deep but I guess if it freezes overnight again, on the ungritted roads, it could make tomorrow's rush hour interesting. I'm feeling smug that I don't have to work. Nothing quite like shifting a harp in & out of the car in snow. Like some kind of SAS test.
Fifi, glad your cold responded to the chilli treatment, & you're feeling better.
Frances O - I presume your housepainter doesn't read the blog? Because if he does, I wouldn't bother waiting in too much longer if I were you. Not now you've called him Slimeball Slug. Unless he was christened that, of course.
Hiya Lissa - a-ahchooo-oo - sniff sorry. Well I do have the cold, but at least we still don't have any snow. We were kind of ringed in by it on thursday, but it never actually reached us. What have we done to deserve that?
Exam-type vibes in the house and the student-house-at-a-distance, all this week. So I shall be mostly being solicitous and morally supportive. Recommending lots of bananas before and sips of water during (not too many of the latter during a 3 hour exam in case of leakage!).
Then next week it'll be back to normal - whip-cracking, verbal-jousting etc.
Just time for a night-cap.
Oh dearie me! Get well soon to all who need it!
Vodka & Lemsip anyone?
FF date news? or am I behind the times. Hope it was ok anyway.
Morning, O Sparkly one! News can be found on last weeks' beach. I won't repeat it here, as I don't want to blog up the beach so eary with gossip :-)
I'm off now for two days, and I doubt I'll get a chance to hear either of te programmes. Hope you all keep Eddie on his toes!
FFred
鈥楶eckham Rye, Loughborough, Elephant, St. Paul鈥檚,鈥
Every morning the porter bawls.
The train grinds out...and I gaze on lots
Of sad back gardens and chimney-pots
Factory stacks and smoky haze
Showering smuts on the close-packed ways.
But, trapped and imprisoned as I may be,
I lift a latch and my thoughts go free,
And once again I am running down
On a winding track from a Cornish town
And I dream the names of the stations through-
鈥 Moorswater, Causeland, Sandplace, Looe. 鈥欌
The line twists down through patches sweet
Of soft green pasture and waving wheat
And the stream spreads out to a river wide
Where ships creep up at the turn of tide,
Till a tangle of spars on a blue sky spun
Gives me the sign of the journey done,
And I stand contented on the quay
And hear the surging song of the sea.
So runs the dreamlike journey through,
鈥楳oorswater, Causeland, Sandplace, Looe鈥:-
But every morning the porter bawls,
鈥楶eckham Rye, Loughborough, Elephant, St. Paul鈥檚.鈥
鈥 Bernard Moore, on journey that鈥檚 enchanted travellers for over 100 years; escaping the smoky city for the green Looe valley
So I dug my car out of the snow only to find that someone had come along behind me and built a snow hill that I couldn't then drive up. I cleared the snow hill only to find someone had gone and buried my car again. The really odd thing is I saw no one and the only footprints in the snow where my size 10s!
Now I have an image in mind of Toyah singing "It's a mystery"...
A poem composed on a beach by my uncle c 1962 (c) E. G. Harvey
The common Cormorant or Shag
Catches fish in a paper bag.
He hold his chips in paper, too -
Oh, what a silly thing to do.
The Heron, much more graceful bird,
Thinks that this is quite absurd;
He catches fish with a knife and fork,
Suspended from a piece of cork.
The seagull, circling in the sky,
Is often heard to heave a sigh,
"Oh, what a way to catch a fish.
I catch mine in a butter dish!"
It's snowing on the Timintoul to Cock Bridge road. Pass with care!
Lissa: How lovely to hear from you and Mr. Knibbs! Sorry Southern Boy had such a shock ... I'm sure Nik will soon get used to real winters. I wish we had them down here (Sussex) - particularly snow, which I adore until it turns to slush. My senior citizen dog, born to the wilds of Wales, hasn't seen proper snow since he came to live with me in Sussex over 15 years ago (he's now in his 17th year). I'd love him to have what will probably be his last winter with a bit of real snow as he's a dog who enjoys larking. And I'd love to go sledging again while still young enough to enjoy it!
Fifi: Did you and SO eat all the chili yourselves? Boy, didn't your head fly off its shoulders? But I'm glad you liked it - it is a really good recipe and, with adjustments to chili according to personal tastes, goes down really well. I'm intrigued by your comment to me that you really can't tell there's no meat in it. I think it's the chocolate (or cocoa powder, if you prefer) which adds the depth of flavour, along with the rather less usual spices. And it is, per portion, a very economical dish.
Well, it is nice to be back on the beach. Yesterday we were over in Salisbury meeting friends in the city and, boy, was it cold! But such a glorious day - if you were out of the wind.
Here on the Beach we sprawl untroubled by such considerations. I think FFred was right, though, the camels have definitely been eating figs and I'd keep away from the dunes everybody - it's a bit pongy behind!
Its Sunny here in Bradford.
Car had dusting of ice/snow stuff this morning.
I was about to put we could do with a good 6 inches to get the snow/winter thing out the system. But I know what you folk are like:-)
Brennan on the Moor,
Brennan on the Moor.
A brave undaunted robber
Was bold Brennan on the Moor.
Naughty Stewart! Now we're all going to be troubled by that image ...
My husband is now the proud owner of a bouncing baby kidney stone. I am at work, recovering from the weekend. Who's up for a coconut?
Hello Lissa *waves*
Hope this will work. Click on the link and follow the instructions.
Morning All!
My mum's just made a batch of shredless orange marmalade - are you ready for elevenses yet?
Hope you all liked the snow, and the snowdogs.
Ah - Big Sis - that's lovely, I'm going to try to file it somewhere for next Christmas!
Sun's shining as brightly in January as it is here at the Beach. Blue skies too - but there's still, what looks from where I'm sitting like, daisies all over the grass. Frost I presume.
I'm off for a walk with Sam, along Fido's Run as far as January and back. Who's for a little snackerel when I return?
Big Sister (44) - thank you for the card - lovely, especially since we haven't any snow here yet. Really do want some - I love snow, at least at first and as long as I don't have to be somewhere in a hurry.
Thought the beach could do with something new, so I've brought along a selection of beach parasols one for each colour of the rainbow and a large multi-coloured beach towel to go under each one.
mmmm that's nice. Do feel free to rearrange them if you like.
BTW a belated welcome to Lissa with an a.
Big Sis (44)
Are you very late for Christmas '06 or obscenely well prepared for Christmas '07.
In January, our accountants are happy, therefore I am happy. I鈥檓 so happy I will undertake a major clear-up of the camel deposits and then I鈥檓 going to seep in the big hammock.
Now, where鈥檚 the wheelbarrow?
Umm... has anyone seen that that container that's been washed up along the far end of the beach? Maybe we should report it so that there's no looting.
[SSC drives away in brand new BMW with back-seat 56" flatscreen telly.]
Big Sister (44) That was lovely. I had three Jacquie Lawson e-cards at Christmas and they all have the same ''Aaaahhhhh!'' factor.
It's lovely and sunny in Staffordshire today...cold, but blue skies all morning, though it had obviously rainned last night. I think Derbyshire had our share of the snow.
Stewart M (42) A good six inches is exactly what my daughter needs.....she misses the snow since we left Scotland!
Congratulations Belinda (45). I think it's Fearless Fred climbing up the coconut palm.......a coconut to go with his dates?!
Belinda (45) have you thought of a name yet?
Hi Everyone,
Only have a sec as it's virtually impossible to get on the 大象传媒 site. Very slow connection.
In a nutshell our beach is nicer than this one. I walked down it (off the Hotel premises) and was savaged by a local dog -- so spent all day last Thursday at the Doc's getting cleaned up and now on a course of Rabies jabs! -- Oh dear !
Sounds worse than it is but a bit worrying in a third world country.
Hotel is nice as is food but if I eat another salad I may turn into a lettuce,
See you all soon,
Jonnie xxx
RJD: Neither. I was sent an e-card from this site today, investigated said site, found the snowdog and thought it highly appropriate on account of the talk of snow.
And it cheers me up, as I hope it does you!
If you look on their website, there are other doggie cards. Rather nice ones, I thought! No collies though.
SSC @ (52)
Can we have a word with you please?
Thanks Gillian (currently 53). We had a few dodgy moments when the patient went very pale, clammy and dizzy but, bless him, he held his own. Which is just as well as I rang the local hospital (5 minutes away) and was told that we couldn't have gone there due to lack of facilities/consultants (despite having a renal unit) and would have had to travel 30 miles (90 minutes away on these roads) to the big hospital. I can't drive and there are no buses on sundays.
Eddie, you wanted to talk about customer service?
BTW that ragged out of tune wailing you can hear is me behind a sand dune singing the words of the Raggle Taggle Gypsy O wot dear Fifi sent. It's driven Smudger out into the cold cold garden o so I may have to stop before someone starts chucking stones at me
tee hee
Belinda (45)
Have you thought about selling it on e-bay?
GM(55): I wanted to call it "Yoda". My husband's suggestions were a little more colourful.
Thanks to everyone for their good luck messages. I'm sure Mr Belinda will be thrilled that a large set of people on the 大象传媒 know all about his new arrival.
Jonnie (in Sri Lanka) 56 - so sorry to hear about the encounter with the dog. Do take care. Hope the rest of the holiday is less eventful.
Jonnie in Sri Lanka. (56-ish)
How's the dog? :0)
SSC hands Crown Agents (58-ish) a filled-out form, similar to those being handed out on a certain other beach, declaring:
Name: Edmundo "News" Mair
Address: c/o The PM Programme, The 大象传媒
Items removed from beach:
1) BMW 12 Series
2) 56" Frodosung LCD Flatscreen TV
3) Case of whiskey (Volume: bottles galore)
4) Flip-flops (1 pair, politicians for the use of)
5) 5 crabs, ready for cooking (pre-coated in oil)
Jonnie:
Adding my commiserations to Anne P's. Bad dog! Sadly, probably a reflection of how the dog has been treated (not by you, I add!).
And your bodyclock is probably not up to too much lettuce at this time of the year .....
RJD (51) -
Seep? In a hammock? Have you got some sort of Embarrassing Condition you've so far managed not to mention?
xx
LadyPen
Me: (64-ish)
Not that I would really steal jetsam and blame it on Eddie...
...I'd blame it on Lissa!
;o)
adyPen (66)
Pease accept my apoogies. I have a mafunctioning keyboard. I wi have it repaired presenty.
As it happens, I have severa embarrassing conditions but not that particuar one.
Belinda - (62) not just "on the 大象传媒", but nationwide! In fact Eddie is probably even now preparing an item on kidney stones, or hospital customer services, and your SO could be first witness.
Perhaps he could get the stone mounted in gold, as some sort of gruesome jewellery? Might remind him to drink a LOT more water in future? Do let us know what he decides. Very glad that there's a happy ending anyway, not involving hospital. Think of the saving to the NHS budget at least.
Jonnie - very sorry to hear about your encounter with the dog. Hope the injections aren't too horrible, and that you've got good travel insurance!
SSC - very funny.I bet Marc has been sent to the beach already, the excuse being to report on the story. But really to see if there are any bottles of fizzy stuff lying around that won't be missed in they're taken back to the ofice for someone... Memo to Marc - it might be a good idea to get Eddie something calming this afternoon if you've got a moment to pop out of the office? I imagine he's getting a bit worked up over the newsletter again, and if there are also customer service encounters, well - a packet of beta-blockers probably wouldn't go amiss!
RJD - "apoogies" sound worse than the previous condition! I would have left it at "seep" if I were you.
RJD (68):
That's odd, I also have a keyboard with a letter that teds to stop workig sometimes ad actually makes me soud like I have a cold.
However, if I give the thig a good BASH! it then begins to function wonderfully well for a while, util a few miutes have goe by ad the it's ot oly that key that's u the sout but other kes hav dislogd as we, so evtuall I isaear omlety...
RJD (61)
:-)
xx
LadyPen
I need a lie down.
I have just had a lovely day. First of all I drove up and over a very nasty hill to a school to find they had decided not to open for the day as it was too snowy. But sadly no one thought to tell me.
Then I found out that my largest customer (and I'm not talking belly here) hasn't paid my last two invoices and the money won't now reach me until February and I was counting on the money to pay my income tax.
The reason they haven't paid me is because the secretary has been too busy to process them...
I would urge you all not to move your sunbeds any closer to mine or my cloud will blot out your sunshine.
The only glimmer on the horizon is the sundried tomato, proscuitto and pea risotto I am about to cook. When I build up the motivation to move.
Isn't saffron expensive?
It's getting on for that special time of day, when we all get a little breathless and listen more attentively to the radio.
In honour of Belinda's happy event, and Jonnie surviving his mauling, and Fearless's date being palmy, and Lissa arriving safely oop north, and .. and ..
I have brought quite a lot of Big Sister's Chilli down to the bar, split equally between here and the FB. Lots of plain boiled basmati to go with it, and a huge can of soured cream - believe me, you'll need it!
Absolutely yummy, and not bad going for a cook who at the time had little sense of taste and no sense of smell at all!
Thanks again Big Sister. Now, do dig in.
Oh, and Aunt Dahlia ... I think you'll find BnB's cell down on Day Two is quite, quite soundproof for your Raggle Taggle Gypsy practice.
Fifi xxxx
RJD,
Can you just dump the camel deposits in a heap over there next to the vegetable patch, please. In case of computer breakdown.
Jonnie,
Keep an eye on the meat portion of meals. You may get your revenge.
ed
22/01/2007 at 17:52:10 GMT
Jonnie - sorry about your injury. I hope you've managed to snuggle down a few G & T's to ease the pain? If it's any consolation, the rabies post-exposure course is extremely effective - the Dr at the local Tropical med schoool told me there were no known cases of failure. So I hope it doesn't dent your holiday enjoyment too much x
Belinda - I hope father of stone is doing well. I was going to suggest calling it 'Mick' if it rolled out rather than bouncing...but maybe that's too corny:-/
Jason (73) yes it is. But tumeric is cheaper. And still yellow. And when your tax bill is looming, you can't tell the difference. Really.
Annasee (77): Where were you at 2pm this afternoon when I was in $ain$bury$ and needed you?
Things ar looking up, Jason. I have it on good authority (Mark Lawson) that today is officially the most miserable day of the year.......so enjoy the misery while you can, because you know things can only get better!
Jonnie....count your blessings,,,it could have been an elephant rather than a dog. Hope you enjoy the remainder of your holiday.
..and turmeric has all kinds of medical benefits so they say (pages of the stuff if you giggle it)
...yellow and good for you, who could want more.
Jason (now at 74), re Saffron,
As recorded in the past on the Frog, I grow my own...
(ducks while large number of glasses wizz by)
Also know your problem about people not paying invoices, and yet still want yet more work from you...some of my customers are now on pro-forma invoice, as they're so appalling at paying on credit; unfortunately that does mean that one cannot be late on delivery ....
Anyway, just popped by for a few minutes, then back to work (still got another hour to do tonight, *sob*) for that job on pro-forma invoice...
Jason, I get paid by the Legal Services Commission and occasionally they don't pay on time or have a glitch in their system. I just get on the phone and tell them to pay me straight away. They will talk about payment dates on their computers and tell me that the payment will come in later when they next put the general payments through their system. I tell them no, they will pay me immediately. Heels get dug in, I get the money.
There is always someone higher up the chain to crack the whip to.
Mary
Jason (74) and deepthought (83). My worst payer is a local hospital trust. Once the service was great but in the NHS world of efficiency invoices are paid by a central shared services agency. So invoices disappear.
They reach the dept I send then to who cross check and submit it the hospital accounts dept. I understand they send to the shared services people who put in on the system and then return it to the hospital trust to be authorised!.
When I chased today my Nov and Dec invoices will be paid tomorrow. But they have no record of the October one. If they were telling the truth I'll have money for my tax bill. :-) If not I'll join Jason under his cloud :-(
Stewart M (85)
One of mine is dated July 2006!!!! It's a large sum, and the B'stard asked me for a favour today...unfortunately rather hard to take EU countries to the small - or not so small in this case - claims court.....they're on pro-forma next time.
(One recent settlement was one year overdue - what can you do against a French state institution?)
And yes, I also have a tax bill to pay...
**back to the grindstone again**
Someone said we should 'start thinking '
about our film list.
well, I'm thinking-have we started ?
Something's happened to my spacing...
Molly xx
Deepthought (86) French and institution. Two words that just go together so well.
HAve you read "A year in the merde" ? A whole book on French institutions
I say, Deepthought - do you really grow your own saffron? Seriously? And is it edible? You could be selling it to us, if so! Never mind those dreary old company invoices - at the rate that stuff sells per gram at $ainsbury$, you could be undercutting them , making a profit, & we'd still get a bargain.
Re invoices - agents are my main bugbear. I've waited for a year before now. When agents invoice hotels, and everyone takes months to pay, it's a bit hard on the blood pressure. When I'm the person who's actually done the work, exactly as requested & to the best of my ability, is it too much to ask to be paid as well? GRRRR. We self -employed have a lot to put up with sometimes.
ooh yes, it's film day.
but first congrats to Mr Belinda, that must have been a relief, welcome to Lissa now a fellow beachcomber and Jonnie, really sorry to hear about the dog etc I am terrified of rabies so you have effectively put me off holidaying in Sri Lanka.
Anyone else watching The Search?
OK films in no particular order
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Godfather Parts 1,2 & 3
Crossing Delancey
Kenneth Branagh's Henry V
The House of Flying Daggers.
(And Depp,J and Cage, N conspicuous by absence amazingly).
Anne P (82) Your last line could also apply to The Simpsons!!
Molly (87) I wondered about films too, so here goes I'll kick off ....
1. Amelie (I'd like to be her!)
2. Local Hero (Dennis Laswon -yum- and that music!
3. Far from the madding crowd (Alan Bates & Julie Christie version with the sword practice on Maidan castle)
4. American Beauty
5. The Wrong Trousers - has to be the best and most exciting train chase ever!
Get well soon Jonnie dear - and enjoy the rest of the holiday :o)
Annasee (89)
Saffron; Yes, it's home grown around here.
Well, not here, as in Richmond, but here as in mother's place, which I now run...
But they're determined b*ggers, prima dona's is just the start
of it. I tried digital photos of the flowers this year, and even they were failures...
...please ignore the extra " ' " in previous post. Apols...
madmary: sadly payment is devolved to schools and the secretary terrifies her boss (the headteacher). I am in there again in 10 minutes. I will be expressing extreme disappointment that my previous complaints and repeated bending over to fit in with their system have come to nowt.
The truth, I fear, is bad time management and a lack of compassion for a (very) small businessman.
I would walk away, but who would feed the fish?
Jonnie
When I lived in Sri Lanka as I child, my dear Father would always wade into the sea wearing huge shorts, face the beach and then we would be allowed in the water.
Any dog in the area would be seen off with much shouting and waviing of a big stick! I wouldn't advise this, however..
I,ve just been looking at some photos- happy days...
Have a lovely time.
Mollyxx
Hmmmmm. Films eh?
Ok. Here we go:
Shine
Schindler's List
Blade Runner (Directors Cut)
The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover.
Harvey
Would love to spend some time on the beach chilling out and chatting nicely but, I cannot. I could not be nice if my life depended on it at the moment so am going to withdraw again to my gloomy place in the swamp. But I will be watching!
Jason
Get on (or threaten to !) to the Chair of Governors- that should get things moving!
Mollyxx
Films (not in order and with the usual "I can't just pick six" caveat)
The Fisher King
A film full of contrasts and an interesting exploration of the imperfections of life. At various times through life I've felt like each of the characters in turn.
Arsenic and Old Lace
Wonderfully cast, wonderfully lit. Great story.
Brief Encounter
Possibly the most romantic film I've seen. I love the story but also the way it portrays it's time so well. A very perceptive view of female desperation inside marriage in that era.
Leon
(Also known as The Professional or The Assassin in various countries.)
A very disturbing yet warm, dark yet light film. I love most things with Jean Reno (Les Visiteurs being a particular favorite not to make this list) and was impressed by Natalie Portman's debut. But the show stealer is Gary Oldman - has he been in a bad film? Sometimes ludicrously over the top, some times sentimental. The "international" version has some extra bits of assasin training for Matilda that make a little more sense of the story but were deemed unsuitable for the UK version.
The Italian Job
(The original Michael Caine version)
Just great fun. Another film evocative of it's era. It has lots of weaknesses, but much brilliance. I loved it so much I once bought the car.
Lots missing from that list. There should be Schindler's List - the most moving film I have ever seen - but it would depress me on my island. There should be 50 First Dates or Charlie's Angels purely for Drew Barrymore. Passport to Pimlico and The Ladykillers from the Ealing comedies. The LIfe of Brian, Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery.....
You could go on all day, really.
Admin Annie (90ish): That's cheating! You have 6 films in your first two choices!!
It's that woman versus men thing from the music round all over again...
One day, a big boat carrying presents to Portugal got its weather forecast a bit wrong and fell to bits in the sea.
Lots of presents, not all of them broken, washed up on the shore of a nearby island.
"Oh dear!" said Mr Penpusher from the Council. "It's going to be very expensive to clear that lot up and store it neatly, before Ms Clipboard the loss adjuster can go through it all piece by piece and declare each present 'rubbish'. And then we'll have to landfill all of it - who's going to pay for that?
"Whatever shall we do?"
Mr Penpusher was very anxious, because the Council had to balance its budget or else he'd get the Naughty Cap.
So he prayed for a miracle.
Look what happened next, children! Out of the burrows and cottages, out from behind gooseberry bushes and leafy tussocks, there crept lots and lots of Little People.
Without asking to be paid or even thanked, they picked through the broken presents and spirited away 4x4 cards, motorbikes, barrels and nappies.
Night after night, they stripped the untidy beach of bottles of shampoo, wing mirrors, garden furniture and wine bottles.
Mr Penpusher was convinced it was a miracle, partly because he tended to be facing the wrong way to see anything. When he turned round, all he saw was the pile of broken presents getting smaller and smaller.
Then Ms Clipboard arrived. She looked at the beach and said: "Oi, matey, where's all me stuff? I've got to account for it you know, or the insurance companies won't pay out."
Oh dear. Poor Mr Penpusher. He was even more worried now. He decided he had better get very angry and make a lot of noise, in case anyone thought he had been a bit silly before.
"All you Little People!" he shouted at the top of his voice. "Stop it, you must leave that stuff alone, it's not yours!"
It was as if Mr Penpusher weren't even there. The Little People couldn't hear him and carried right on tidying the beach.
Ms Clipboard stared at Mr Penpusher. "Who are you shouting at?" she asked.
Because suddenly, she couldn't see the Little People either. In fact, she had written on her clipboard:
'A big wave carried the whole lot away and we all lived happily ever after. Recommend full payout.'
THE END
* another amazing madey-up from Fifi *
Welcome Jonnie (56). How hot is it on local beaches there? Bet they're not littered with goodies like ours...
Oooh, I see the police have cordoned off the beach now. So how long was that response time? 24 hours or so? Isn't that about right for a non- violent burglary/ theft situation? Obviously it's an expensive operation - they can't just throw manpower at a beach like that, and there was probably an awful lot of paperwork to be filled out first, requests for extra resources etc. Good to see they're on the case at last, anyway. Perhaps they were listening to PM last night?
Molly (98): Sadly the board of governors is a puppet regime run by the headteacher, who is run by his secretary. Ofsted even commented as such.
A small victory has been won in that a "new arrangement" has been agreed whereby I invoice in advance and then the money should arrive not so long after the work is undertaken. Or something.
As I said, I don't essentially mind how long it takes to get the money as long as I have some clue how long it's going to take to get the money. It's the repeated weeks like this one where everything needs paying and nothing has come in that are difficult.
My problem is the secretary sees the hourly rate and makes assumptions - like that I get paid 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. I actually earn (without the use of clever accountancy) less than a newly qualified teacher.
And I really am ready to throw it all in and get a paid job with a pension (which I can't currently afford to contribute to), sick pay (ditto) and regularity of pay. And SO has just taken the day sick as she is stressed out...
Someone pass me some chocolate, quickly.
Annasee (78): Or should that be 'Heresy'?
There is a world of difference between saffron and tumeric when it comes to flavour. Colourwise, I agree, you can substitute one for the other, but the flavour of saffron is unique, and I for one would always know the difference.
Perhaps that comes from years living in Spain. No self respecting Spaniard would ever substitute, and it's for the very good reason that they'd taste the difference.
Saffron, while very expensive, is wonderful and inimitable. And you don't need a great deal of it.
Jason: I can't remember the name of the company, but I am able to get little sachets of powdered saffron, cost around 25 -30p, which work a treat and the amount in each sachet is adequate for even quite a large paella. I also buy it whole, but the sachets have the added advantage of preserving the aroma, etc., particularly well. Just a thought!
They're not 'scavengers', they're thieves.
Any way my films -
Local Hero (But for Peter Capaldi GMx - we practised that hand flap run for months!)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Gregory's Gurrrl ( for Chick Murray)
Bellville Rendezvous
and a toss up ( if you'll excuse the expression) between Bicycle Thieves and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Although as I am an intellectual lightweight I'd probably have to go for PotC
Fifi (101): Lovely fairytale, but sadly that's just what it is. In real life, the little people carry off the bits they want, and leave the real litter behind. Just as is happening in Lyme Bay right now. And, if it were possible, making a bad situation even worse environment-wise.
I can barely conceal my anger at yet another example of the 'Me me me' mentality which blights life and which, sadly, is today regarded as something aspirational. It is theft, these goods belonged to others - and even if they were big multinationals (which wouldn't have been the case for everything), there is absolutely no excuse for theft.
What a pity that these folk didn't put their energies into helping to mitigate the effects of the wreck upon the environment, the birdlife, etc., instead of pandering to their worst instincts and leaving behind them piles of packaging, unwanted items to bob out into the sea, etc., etc.
Jason-
I know how awful school secs. can be- they can ron a close second to G.P's receptionists (not all, I hasten to add!). Little 'Tin Gods". As someone said earlier, there'salways someone further up the ladder- I'd refuse to deal with anybody but the head where pay is an issue- they get paid enough themselves, don't they!
Good luck..
Mollyxx
Big Sis - thanks for the card! Love it.
SSC - loved your no 65. Excellent. But no whisky? Only Irish or bourbon?
Aunt D and I-gorget-who-else, Yes to Local Hero, not least because a lot of the interiors were filmed in the Lochailort Inn, one of my favourite-ever places to stay. Open fires, malt on the optics, peaty bathwater, glorious food and a most original owner. Burnt down (the Inn, that is) a few years ago and now bog-standard off-the-shelf. I'll probably never go badck. Sob!
Oh, blast, typo again. A gorget, of course, is:
gor路get Pronunciation (g么rjt)
n.
1. A piece of armor protecting the throat.
2. An ornamental collar.
3. The scarflike part of a wimple covering the neck and shoulders.
4. A band or patch of distinctive color on the throat of an animal, especially an area of brightly colored feathers on the throat of a bird.
[Middle English, from Old French gorgete, diminutive of gorge, throat; see gorge.]
Sorry, wasn't around yesterday, so didn't get the films list kicked off on time.
My five choices are;
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (extended editions). Is there a better film than 'Return of the King'? Crunching battle scenes, brotherhood, courage in the face of ultimate evil, strong female characters, magnificent speeches (especially from Bernard Hill and Viggo Mortensen). "Now it is come, the film of our time" according to the 'Times' critic. He got that one right.
Star Wars (especially Return of the Jedi). Redemption from evil to good of one of the nastiest characters in the Galaxy, causing the downfall of evil, all through the love of a son who never lost faith.
The Blues Brothers. I love the anarchy and the music. Worth watching for Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker and that car chase alone.
National Lampoons Animal House. More anarchy. I'm sure that I knew some of these characters and these antics at 6th Form?
and
Jean de Florette / Manon des Sources. French pair, set 15 years apart. A story about the destructiveness of greed.
And like everyone else I could go on forever.
Si.
Edward Scissorhands
A wonderful fable and Johnny Depp at his best (not just eye candy, ladies!)
The Tin Drum
Just brilliant. And, of course, another fable. So perhaps I should say 'Fabulous'
Anything with Buster Keaton
Apocalypse Now - Great to see a critique of American imperialism, and Martin Sheen adding real depth. This film works on so many levels.
I don't want to commit to a fifth, because - like the rest of you - there are many more I could nominate.
well Jason, Si has also got LOTR in trilogy form and my argument for this is that you can get them as boxed sets to take to the island. If you push me to take one from each then it would be Part 2 of The Godfather -, although 1 would run it close, and The Return of the King from LOTR for all of Si's reasons plus the totally gorgeous David Wenham almost crying when his dad says he wishes he'd died instead of his brother - the equally wonderful Sean Bean.
Aunt D (106) The Peter Capaldi hand-flap run shouting 'Marreeennaa Marreenna' - the stuff of legend in our house too!!!!
In the excitement of receiving some huuuuuge
deeply unpleasent jeans in the post( internet shopping--bah!) which now have to go back, I forgot to do my films- lots already chosen .
Anyway:
Les enfants du Paradis
Brief Encounter- Trevor Howard looked like my
Dad.
Wizard of Oz
Monsieur Hulot's holiday- still so funny.
Jules et Jim- my favourite of all!
Truly,Madly,Deeply- Alan Rickman in that coat !
And I now have my own copy..
Withnail and I
Whoops!!
Could choose so many....(and I did! if I have to,get rid of Les enfants- so long anyway.)
Mollyxx
Police cordoning off the beach! I hope they don't view the slices of cake we have on Eddie's beach as looting.
All the talking of bringing 5 movies is depressing too - I just want to relax, with a drink, a pice of cake and watch the camels at play.
Sorry about the sticky mess on the bar guys. It's my birthday so I thought I would make everyone margaritas. I remembered fifi using madmary's recipe so I looked it up and, like fifi, followed it to the letter but when I tried to get the salt onto the rim, all the tequila poured out all over the bar. I'll get the hang of this...
Fortunately someone had left a towel over one of the barstools so I used that to clean up as best as I could. I suspect I have only managed what my wife calls a man-clean. And I have no idea whose towel it was.
I haven't had any cards yet - what time does the post arrive?
where the hell did all these barrels come from??
Films - even more embarrassing than my musical choices but well, after blathering on about my husband's urinary system, then we have no secrets:
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.: Glorious 1967 adaptation of the stage musical with fantastic songs starring Robert Morse. I always watch the film and end up singing the songs for the next week.
- Buried on Sunday: I should be ashamed for liking this so much as the film itself is pretty awful, however the lead actor is gorgeous and the atmosphere is wonderful. It's a strange Canadian film, rather like Passport to Pimlico, about fishing rights.
- Same Time Next Year : Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda in a lovely little quiet film about two married-to-other-people who meet up one weekend each year for 27 years, for bunny sex and talking. Ellen Burstyn in particular is just radiant.
- Lured: Now this is a strange one. Lucille Ball, before she turned into zany comic lady, was a B-film star in the 1940s. This film is a murder mystery set in a Hollywood-ised London where Lucy gets involved working for Scotland Yard to try and find the killer of her best friend. It's a great film, although let down by the fact that the very obvious killer looks like Jack Benny.
- Kramer vs Kramer: Needs no real explanation but is about the only film where I like Dustin Hoffman and co-stars a vulnerable Meryl Streep before the rather boring 'multiple-accent epic' portion of her career. It is also the only film starring a child where I didn't want to hit the kid over the head with a shovel after 5 minutes.
- Two Way Stretch/I'm Alright, Jack: I'm coupling these two together as they were done around the same time and starred a Peter Sellers at the height of his powers, before he sold out to Hollywood. The first is a brilliant light comedy about prisoners, which is VERY similar to Porridge made a decade or so later, and the second is a work-place film about the gradual modernisation of industry. Funny but bittersweet, and Sellers is excellent.
Hi Froggers,
Thanks for all your kind words!
When I said (our beach is nicer than this one) I meant the Froggers beach.. impossible to get on the beach here without getting bitten and hassled by the locals.
I have managed to get on line again. It's 19:07 here which is + 5.5 hours ahead. Off to the capital tomorrow where I will avoid the Elephants.
The dog (I believe) is still in an alcholic state after injesting a high amount of Gin. Another Rabies jab on Friday :-)
Ed: I've left a bottle of Arac near the Camels,
Love, Jonnie xxx
Alan (116);
No problem. One great thing about this beach is the way it is big enough for us to hold our own version of the Cannes Festival without disturbing the peace and tranquillity of yourself and others who only want to relax.
Todays screenings will be on the new 60-inch flat-panel TV screen with full surround sound, popcorn, drinks at your reclining seats, etc. The TV comes from the new 'Branscombe' range by well-known manufacturer ORW (Official Receiver of Wrecks). Please forgive the slight container-scrape damage and the gurgling sound from the speakers. It'll dry out eventually. As will the popcorn and the seating.
If you'd like one of your own to take home try that container over there..... it's where I found this one. Also available on my eBay site. Look under my username of 'I'llhavetenofthoseplease'.
Showing today: 'Whisky Galore' (a subject dear to many Froggers hearts on the beach, and quite appropriate in the circumstances). Screenings at all hours, ignore the police trying to stop you sitting down in the 'new' seats. They're just a bunch of killjoys, even if they are only doing their job in returning the seats to the rightful owner.
Bottle of Amaretto and a rich Chocolate Torte on the bar for indulgers.
I'm a bit worried about the camels. The big male has a strange dreamy look on his face. When does the camel 'rutting' season begin? (silly replies below please)
And does anyone know when the reindeer vanished?
Si.
Hi Jonnie: Waving wildly from Sussex to Sri Lanka and hoping you're not feeling too bad. We miss you :0)
Yo Jonnie (currently 120) -
So the locals are biters as well?? Blimey.
And re the cat/dog conversation before you all got started on films, I learned from a book I was reading at the weekend that the Ancient Egyptian word for cat was 'myw' (you have to say it out loud to get the full effect). It didn't say that the word for dog was 'wf' (ditto), which was a bit disappointing . . .
xx
LadyPen
Belinda (119): Two way stretch - a fantastic film. Not seen the prison one - I'll look out for it if it is anything like as funny.
I've done this by not looking at anyone else's because I have a strong affection for films, & can find good in most, so I would just be too easily swayed.
(Gena Rowlands is exotically blown into town & the film is beautiful to look at as you would expect from Terence Davies).
(Pure film noir & Joan Crawford at her best).
(Who wouldn't be moved by that last Hubble from Babs?!)
(because it is an fabulous epic)
(for the feistiness of both the main players)
I could also write a whole list of french films because I was lucky enough to live in London when French cinema became really popular & I don't mind subtitles! I am guessing that a list written tomorrow could be entirely different, & that this reflects my mood, because today I want to sit on the sofa & watch old films. I shall resist & work but might have a look to see what is on Film 4 today too...
Si:
I think the reindeer disappeared about the time that strange look appeared on the big male camel's face. Hardly surprising really.
Camels rutting? You'd think it would be too hot for that ....
Films.
1) High Society: Rich folk living effortlessly but it appeals to me somehow.
2) Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie: for Stephane Audran alone
3) LOTR Return of the King: nuff said
4) Band of Brothers: I've always been fascinated by war. My father would never talk about fighting in Burma in WW2.
5) Das Boot: I have a particularly morbid fascination for submarines...
6) 2001 A Space Odyssey: ...and spoceships
7) Shakespeare in Love: God am I lightweight.
Wot, no Marx Brothers?
Mikes
Are the locals biting you johnnie?!
& Mike, are you being greedy? I thought it was top 5 films, which is much harder!
Jason (124): Two Way Stretch is the prison film. Do you mean I'm Alright Jack? It isn't quite as laugh out loud funny as TWS (more of a satire really), and some points are quite poignant, but Peter Sellers is just incredible in it, playing the pinko-communist trade union leader. I think he got a BAFTA nomination or win for it as well.
Hey - what's this all over my towel?
Hi Lissa! Hi Jonnie! and Happy Birthday to Mikes the Pikes.
Interesting selection of films - don't we have a wide variety of tastes! All are great, though. I see we can choose six, so here goes (not in any particular order, and they will probably change in an hour or so anyway!):
1. A Beautiful Mind
2. The French Lieutenant's Woman
3. Death in Venice (can you see that beautiful boy wading in the sea just over there?)
and because those are all a bit serious:
4. The Graduate
5. Life of Brian
6. Shrek
Mind you, if we are supposed to be taking these to a desert island somewhere (or even bringing them down to the beach for sharing) then I ought to ditch no. 1. To my mind it's a brilliantly clever film but you probably wouldn't want to watch it over and over again.
btw has anyone seen "Spamalot" yet? What's the verdict if so? My daughter gave me tickets for Christmas so we'll be off down to the big smoke in April to see it.
Dear MIke - welcome to the beach unless you are someone familiar under a new name, not that that would make you unwelcome - what is all this 'I am lightweight' deprecation. You are not the only one to make this comment. It doesn't matter
Films should entertain before they do anything else (unless they are British films in which case I think they are often written to depress - and then the people who make them wonder why no-one flocks to see them. Sory this is a bit of a hobby horse of mine).
What is wrong with liking colourful witty well scripted well acted fun films? And besides you say it of Shakespeare in Love which isn't particularly lightweight and contains one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in the cinema - the one where the horrible voyeuristic little boy says he wants to write plays when he grows up and when he is asked his name he says John Webster. Even when I know it's coming, I still find it funny.
Top Five films:
Toy Story...the first one, brilliant script
The Shipping News....Dame Judi and Kevin Spacey, beautifully understated story
The whole Star Wars series
The whole Lord of the Rings Series
The Matrix trilogy
P.S. I've brought some popcorn - salted, sugar, and especially for me, toffee
Presumably the locals that are biting and harrasing jonnie are the ones that come with two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs.
H.
Belinda...yes, I got the film names the wrong way round :-( Sums up my year thus far!!
On call again tonight. It's freezing cold, snow is forecast and I just know I am going to end up trying to get back from Buxton in a blizzard.
Still, worse things happen at sea.
A lot of sci-fi/fantasy films amongst this lot.
Hello everyone...........and a big belated hello to Jonnie, hope you are managing to avoid any more dogs - rabid or otherwise!!! My sister had her very first solo holiday in Sri Lanka last year and totally loved it.
Anyway have hesitated to post my 5 films (of course struggled to restrict to only 5 like all others) due to what seems to be my fairly shallow and mainstream taste in cinema but hey, I know you are a friendly bunch and won't judge so here it is....
In no particular order.
1. The Godfather Trilogy (am with you on this Admin Annie - and like you if pushed to select only one it has to be Part 2)
2. When Harry Met Sally..........am practically word perfect I have seen it so many times!
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. 12 Angry Men
5. Its a Wonderful Life
that's it for today - but like my music list will probably change by tomorrow x
Annie: No I am new (and old - it is my 59th birthday today!) at the same time. Thank you for your warm welcome to the beach. You have assuaged my feelings beautifully. The Webster line is my favourite along with Will picking up "A plague on.." from the preacher.
Valerie: I am so sorry. I will try to get your towel clean. Is the washing machine perhaps the one with the round door? Only I put my ice cream in there and it all melted so I am a bit confused.
HelenSarkles: I saw someone else with more than 5. I was only going to bring 4 because I couldn't decide on the 5th but the other three just sort of fell into my beach bag.
Anyway...I'm leaving this bottle of limoncello on the bar in the hope that someone can find something interesting to do with it other than pour it over icecream. Especially as I haven't any ice cream left now.
Still no cards. Is Postie on strike?
Sara - Thanks - that's one at least.
I'm off for a snooze in the old hammock. Back for cocktails later.
I just posted a comment to a thread for the beach and the thread disappeared. Has someone nicked it? Did it fall from a marooned and hijacked container? Without the thread will the internet become unravelled? If you have answers to any of these then you may require therapy.
What I actually stopped off for was to leave a few bottles of rather fine Rioja for the SSCat who appeared very stressed on another thread (not the one that was stolen). Fear not cat. This Rioja comes from Spain, not the Devon coast so you can drink it with impunity - and if Impunity doesn't like red I'll leave a bottle of Chablis as well.
Cheers SSC.
Mark
M the K: Great website!
ValP/Mikes: Dirty towels - reminds me of the Groucho Marx line "Get out of here and don't darken my handtowels again!"
Dr. H, please note!
Gillian I really like the Shipping News too but was amused/bemused to see last week in Radio Times* that Kevin Spacey was described as 'miscast' - posibly even 'hopelessly miscast' in it.
Other listings magazines I understand are available.
Fiona, I'm with you
1 The Shawshank Redemption
2 Shrek, 'cos it still makes me laugh
3 Lord of the Rings Trilogy, it's been said before
4 The African Queen, I'm a sucker for Hepburn
5 In the Bleak Mid Winter, so bitter sweet.
Mark
Mike, holding you to 5 was in jest, much as most things are on the beach. I see someone has trilogies & series' which is very enterprising & I actually like limoncella on ice, because it reminds me of Positano last summer 鈥 big sigh, oh but this beach is lovely too!
Admin Annie(142) I don't get the R.T. which is just as well since I'm so out of synch with its Film Critic!
M the K (138) Hope you are having a lovely birthday. Here's a chocolate birthday cake....complete with 59 candles. Just as well it's a big cake as there's quite a gathering of us here today. Any sign of Stephen Frears yet?
By the way, M the K, I have to say the beach is definitely more friendly than your web-site!
A representative but not definitive five:
1. The Last Picture Show. Filmed in the 70s, set in 50s mid-Texas and in monochrome, by far the best picture by Peter Bogdanovich.
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo鈥檚 Nest. Another 70s film with Jack Nicholson in his best ever role.
3. The Green Mile. The only Tom Hanks film I鈥檝e ever enjoyed.
4. A Man for All Seasons. The story of Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII. Paul Scofield is superb.
5, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Funny and with superb music.
Happy Birthday Mikes.
A tip from me regarding salting the glass, do it before putting the cocktail in.
My top films
Hitchcock - 39 Steps
Hitchcock - The Lady Vanishes
Brief Encounter - has me crying my heart out every time
An Affair to Remember - also has me blarting
A Star is Born - with Judy Garland.
I have a lot of favourite films and I noticed that Belinda nominated "Same Time Next Year" which is wonderful not in my top five but a rare treat when it's shown on TV.
Mary
admin annie: Other listings magazines I understand are available.
Could you explain them to me, then, please? I can't understand any of them...
Argh, top films? Well, definitely Cabaret and Casablanca, but I'll have to think of three that don't begin with 'Ca'
Wow Gill, thanks! It looks awfully nice and I adore choccy cake. Look at all those candles. Hope this doesn't lure another ship ashore.
Here goes......
Hufffffffff Puffffffff Blooooooooooooooooooooow
There! Oh damn - anyone got a knife?
Evening all
Jonnie I hope you're getting some pleasure in Sri Lanka and feeling good.
GMx, just finished watching Local Hero on Film 4 - it's as good as ever
Frances - why didn't you enter Mike Rosen's word game, I'm sure any one of yours beats the one which won - Kweddle - to rock a chair onto its back legs (???!!!!)
Mikes - LOVE the website, assume the blog is as good.
Assume there'sa bloggage so see you all later.
admin annie (142) - afraid I agreed over the miscasting of Kevin Spacey in 'The Shipping News'. I enjoyed the book but was disappointed in the film. Spacey was physically nothing like the character in the book and since his physical appearance was important to the plot, it just didn't work for me.
As for my five ( don't suppose I can have more?... it's hopeless...but here goes) in no particular order:
1. The Shawshank Redemption (most under-rated film ever at the time)
2. Spellbound (for the Dali eyes and Bergman)
3. Life is Beautiful (for its incredibly life affirming
feel)
4. Sleepless in Seattle (because I'm a sucker for romance - could have had 'Brief Encounter' here)
5. How the West was Won - have to have a western of some sort (must have Cinerama for the buffalo stampede)
When you start something like this you realise just how many great films there are out there - a different kind of 'five a day' for the rest of the decade and still never see anything twice!
I could also have had Brief Encounter on mine as well. I adore all that buttoned up lovely angst, and Trevor Howard in a trilby is a thing of beauty.
We used to play a game when waiting on trains or train platforms, where we did a short version of Brief Encounter mimicing the voices - including those dreadful children "Mummy, I want you to come here mummy!", and the tea-shop owner "oh look at me banburys, all over the floor!". Oh, how the winter evenings just flew by.
RJD
Great films- why didn't I think of 'O Brother'?
Just listening to the Be Good Tanyas-music from the film- fabulous!
Mollyxx
Belinda did you say your native tongue was swedish theh other day?
I'm considering the purchase of a trilby, to cover my male pattern baldness, as well as having something to raise in the presence of women..or indeed Celia Johnson...
Now, now, Deep, keep it nice.
Salaam, etc.
ed
admin annie (155): I did indeed. I probably should have clarified that my imitation was with a slight accent (Celia Johansson?), but I tried my best.
Belinda (158): My favorite accent story. I was in Leuven, Belgium in a bar with a group of European researchers. A Glaswegian lass working at a Danish business school was having a discussion with a Norwegian lad in English and her boss in Danish. They reached the bar and she ordered drinks for everyone in fluent Flemish.
But all done with a Glaswegian accent.
Now, here's a point for debate (Valery, are you listening?)
Did Trevor Howard wear a trilby, or was it a fedora? I'd have said the latter, but it apparently is a fine distinction.
And having thought about it further, I concur. It was a trilby. What do others think?
Frances O - I'm with you 100& on Cabaret, and I think I'll use my fifth choice to elect for that, too. It doesn't matter how often I watch it, I find it electrifying, enjoyable, thought provoking, and highly entertaining.
Oops, in last posting I meant 100%. Memo to self: don't type in the dark.
Oh, and I've thought of another film that really hits the nose for me: Paris, Texas. I may have to substitute it for Apocalypse Now if I'm forced to stick to five.
Paris, Texas. Bittersweet, highly unusual, lovely acting, and Ry Cooder. Great.
Molly (154)
I have both the Film and the Soundtrack for O Brother. You would have thought with all the George Clooney fans that are on the blog, someone else might have mentioned it.
ah well, Anne P I haven't read the book so had no standard of comparison there, I'm quite willing to believe that if you have then KS wasn't a perfect choice. My son says he is a rather unpleasant person but he's a good actor for all that. I too am often hopelessly our of sync with the RT film critics, and indeed other film critics in general.
Jason (159): Hehe. That sounds a lot like my family gatherings. My mother is Scottish by way of Oban, my father is Swedish. Subsequently I am a Swedey-Scot (Scotty-Swede?) who has lived in England for many years*, and my husband is east-coast Canadian. So we all speak the great language of Shakespeare with various accents.
*When tired, my accent comes out like "Elo, I am in ze hoos, yoo noh eh?".
Exactly RJD (162), why didn't I think of it! Its a great film and as you say there is a lot of love for Mr Clooney on this blog.
And Jason (159) - I used to live in Leuven! Sadly I don't speak Danish, Norwegian or much else but I do speak a bit of Flemish.
Anne P (152) very nearly listed Sleepless as one of mine, its my perfect "night in by myself" movie. And I adore Tom Hanks - don't know what it is about him, he just has great screen presence and warmth (RJD will disagree with me here I feel!)
Don't the Scots call Swedes Neeps? That would make you a Scotty-Neep then Belinda!
I just came back with a knife and my cake has disappeared. Nothing but a few crumbs left. I suspect it was madmary getting back at me for the margarita thing ;P
Don't know if I missed something but did someone say something about bringing some CDs to the beach? How many do you think we should each bring?
Whatever, I've left a big bowl of Japanese rice crackers on the bar. Let's see which ones get eaten first. And no remarks about urine traces either you horrible lot.
And yes - I've removed the link the my website because of the abuse I was getting. Hrrumph!
I'm back!
Well, London was fun(!) for the tradeshow, but it's nice to be back...
I haven't had a chance to go through all the postings here yet, but I see we're talking movies. Well, without any thought whatsoever, I'd like to nominate the following:
Of course there are lots of honourable mentions that didn't quite make the cut: Serenity, The Bourne Identity/Supremacy, Some of the Bond films, 2001, Seven Samurai (& The Magnificentt Seven by implication), Forbidden Planet, Seven Days in May, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and on and on I could go!
Whoops! I didn't mean for that to happen with the HTML coding, honest! (Memo to self: Don't do the MENU tag again!).
FFred: (in total amazement) How did you do that?
Was that something someone taught you in foreign climes?
M the P(166)
Well, I don't think I should say, but I cannot tell a lie , I did see............................(moderated out) with more than a few crumbs on their chin.
But I was wondering if you'd like the Limoncela triffle which I've left as the bar for you-jolly nice in spite of or thanks to Nigella.
Gosh, I suddenly feel a bit........
Mollyxx
Belinda (164): When tired, my accent comes out like "Elo, I am in ze hoos, yoo noh eh?".
Confusing for all concerned, I would imagine, at times when you are tired but not actually in ze hoos.
Well, I don't think I should say, but I cannot tell a lie , I did see............................(moderated out) with more than a few crumbs on their chin.
Hey! I told you that was only for medical reasons.
Big Sister 160
TRILBY- definitely- my dad would never have said 'Pass me my Fedora' . That's why.
Mollyxx
Molly (175). Just write their name in the sand (or the snow - but let's not go there) so it can't be moderated out. I never even had a sniff of Gill's cake.
FF(168): Yes I couldn't believe I found no room for the Marx Brothers.
FF(172) Apart from good writing and acting, this was one of two filmd was used on a management cousre I once did in the section on Group Dynamics. Gripping stuff! The other film was The Dirty Dozen.
This limoncello trifle is something else. Well done Molly (and a nod to Nigella). Unlike whoever-it-was-with-crumbs-on their-chin I shall leave some for the rest of you to try. Either the greedy so-and-so has got to Moll or the tide has been in but I can't see anyone's name in the sand.
I see no-one has touched the rice crackers yet. Am I ploughing a lone furrow here?
No, Molly, but MY dad would never have called his hat a trilby. Well, to be accurate, he had a hat that he called a trilby, and another one, with a wider brim, which he never called his trilby, but which I later learnt was a fedora.
Ken Clarke wears a fedora, I believe, and it is known as such. I've attached a link for you to judge:
To be honest, Big Sis, I was trying out a new HTML tag I spotted. It was meant to show all the list as indented and a black solid circle at the start of the paragraph. I honestly didn't mean it to come out like that!
BELINDA! Just you wait. Next time you show your crumby chin down here - watch out! I will say nothing more predictive than that.
Which reminds me of the first law of frisbee....
Mind you, I do feel pretty Molly-fied by the limoncello trifle, so I shall be magnanimous and sweep the choccy cake (and its crumbs) under the carpet.
Now who on earth put a carpet here?
Belinda (159) (See - I have forgiven and forgotten! )
Talking of accents - my brother, Jem, (so he says - you just have to believe me on this one) was in Tokyo on business and coming to the end of a meal with colleagues asked the waiter for "Separate bills please". The waiter returned a few minutes later with a bottle of Sapporo beer.
Mike (183): I usually just show my crumby* messages on here!
(*crummy? crumby? crummby? Help!)
Mike re the rice crackers: I'm using mine as an environmentally friendly coaster for this pint of (brand name) I'm drinking and will eat it when the inevitable munchies strike. It will be an appetiser for the "chicken-tikka in a naan bread" kebab I plan to eat on the trek home.
And you would not believe the struggle I just had to call the word "kebab" to mind - I am seriously worrying that I may have CJD...
Hippo birdie two ewes, Mikes. You seem to have settled in really quickly .. you weren't born on the Beach were you?
My top 5 films would be :
* Blues Brothers Movie : the first one was amazing, and I still laugh and sing and boogie all the way through.
* Rocky Horror Picture Show : as students in Glasgow we used to go in fancy dress to see it at the Grosvenor, and then do audience participation. I'd love to throw a Rocky Horror party sometime - in someone else's house!
* Young Frankenstein : SO and I have scores of in-jokes and catchphrases from this. Used to be alternated on the Grosvenor's 2 screens when they were showing RHPS.
* Fellowship of the Ring : my favourite out of the books, and of the films. Pacey, funny, beautifully lit. And don't even start me on the subject of Viggo Mortensen....
* Name of the Rose : because you've got to have Sean in there somewhere. And it's a faithful rendition of the book.
* Number six if I'm allowed one would be the World According to Garp - again because like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and so few others, it is faithful to the book.
This is quite a video library we're collecting here!
Er.... does anyone know anything about this half-a-chocolate cake I found on the corner table in Nick's Bar?
Fifi
Belinda: Crumbs - No, 'scone.
(with thanks to Jason for the loan of his daughter's favourite pun! Hope she approves of my embellishment.)
You see Belinda, really I was being nice. I differentiate thusly:
crumby = with crumbs on - my birthday cake crumbs if you recall. (Oh bother - I said I had forgiven and forgotten, didn't I?)
whereas crummy = awful. Which I did not mean.
I have put a link to my flickr site this time, since my website went down so badly.
So here I am at the bar, all alone and - I can't see the camels. Have they gone fishing? Did the council take them when they took all those containers away?
This is all too much. And there is something moving in the rice crackers. Back to the hammock then.
Mike the Pikes - And there is something moving in the rice crackers.
Empathy?
M the P...your flickr site. Now that's better! Love your pics. I too have a Hannah who I miss, but she's only in London, and she and her boyfriend are coming here for the weekend. Big hugs from me.
Mike the P
Well, I'm glad to see that the birthday boy is man enough to put certain things behind him...
Like Gillian, I loved the pics- made me yearn to see my daughter who is in India for six months..
Mollyxx
Big Sis 101
Definitely NOT a trilby, I'd say!
I am intrigued by the unusual two-tone collar on th Man's shirt .
Where can I get one?.....
Mollyxx.
Thanks guys - I feel all warm and loved. I am actually going out to see my daughter in March. And we shall be spending most of the time on the beach. May even go to The Beach (no,no, the one in the film, not this one) Then I can give Jonnie a big wave because I will be closer to him than we are now.
I feel a bit of a fraud because in fact we went out to see her in October. Oh my - is that big black thing out there MY carbon footprint? I didn't dare do the Grauniad's calculation today. Have any of you calculated yours?
Can I add to the films, please:
1. The Pawnbroker
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. The Lion in Winter
4. Annie Hall
Quick wave to you all and I'll drop off this joke on the corner of Nick's Bar (SO, in a most unusual act of non-workaholicity, forwarded it on to me today, from work, of course!) (When you've read it, you'll be unsurprised to hear that he's an engineer through and through)......
It's entitled:Why Men Don't Write To Agony Aunts"
"Dear Abby,
I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice on What
could be a crucial decision.
I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me.
The usual signs ... phone rings, but if I answer, the caller hangs up.
My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I
ask their names she always says, "Just some friends from work, you don't
know them."
I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she Always
walks down the drive. Although I can hear a car driving off, as if she
has got out of the car round the corner. Why? Maybe she wasn't in a
taxi?
I once picked her mobile phone up just to see what time it was. She went
berserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again and why
was I checking up on her. Anyway, I have never approached the subject
with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth,
but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her.
I decided I was going to park my 2006 Yamaha R1 motorcycle next to the
garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole
street when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my
Yamaha R1, that I noticed that the valve covers on my engine seemed to
be leaking a little oil.
Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the
dealer?"
Every 5 minutes since he got home tonight, he's been bursting out laughing! Men eh? Easy pleased.
M the P - aw, that's ok about the towel, I shouldn't have left it lying around - you know what Douglas Adams used to say...
Big Sis - I don't know what Ken's is called, but imho it's too small for him! Shouldn't it rest on one's ears?
Or is that just mine?
Aw gee, I'm still working on the 5 song thing...., maybe I'll just stun everyone in a few weeks by giving you my top 5 of everything all at the same time? I keep thinking of songs/tunes and forgetting who they're by and by the time I've remembered to go and hunt them out, I've forgotten what I was looking for :o(. Should I really be carrying all that stuff around in my head? does this make me a Bad Person? or am I merely reluctant to commit?
O Brother, great choice RJD, how could I have forgotten it or the soundtrack!
Sat on the beach. All alone. Contemplating sunrise. Golden sky, with pastel rainbow colours fading into the horizon. Sun not quite up yet. No clouds. Tiny waves hissing over the pristine white sands. Vague wisp of a breeze. Lazy smell of coffee wafting from the bar. Peaceful. Quiet.
Apart from the parakeets squawking in the coconut plams.
Pass my shotgun and a box of birdshot, someone.
Si.
Lunch today will be locally-farmed, spit-roasted parakeet, served with a chestnut stuffing, a medley of winter vegetables and lyonnaise potatoes. With gravy and cranberry sauce.
I hope that you all appreciate the artistry involved in creating todays brightly coloured table decorations. Made from *cough, cough* , pardon me, feathers.
Si.
Morning Si, so peaceful this morning.
Glad the parakeets thought better of it and moved off the beach - noisy blighters. Don't think they'd make good eating, so glad you didn't have to shoot them. Perhaps you could get us something a bit bigger and we'll have the down for pillows and a barbecue for supper. Or perhaps do a bit of pit cookery like Ray Mears taught us to last night.
Meanwhile, croissants and marmalade on the bar by the coffee pot.
Si: What are you up to now? Leave the wildlife alone ... ;o)
Belinda...yes, I got the film names the wrong way round :-( Sums up my year thus far!!
Sorry Jason, just found this!
Two Way Stretch is far broader in comedy than I'm Alright Jack and, as I said, is almost exactly like an extended episode of Porridge, where Peter Sellers plays the Fletcher role, Bernard Cribbins is like Godber, they have a nice but ineffectual prison director, a nice, gentle but ineffectual prison officer, and even a very good Mr McKay-type character who is the adversary. Very funny stuff.
Morning Si and Anne P and Big Sis and Belinda - how are you all this lovely day?
I wish I had something useful and/or edible to offer but it all seems perfectly well organised and generally whizbang already . . . except I'm a bit concerned about the newly arrived plam trees. Is this some kind of genetic modification, Si?
If so, I wonder what'd happen if we attempted to mute the parakeets (if they're still there) by crossing them with the camels? Paramels sounds like a new brand of chocolate. Carakeets?
You'd still have to pluck them (but it'd take longer as they'd be bigger - unless you had to skin them instead in which case we'd have to get EdIgle in) and they'd make a growlygrunty noise instead of squawking so maybe that's not such a brilliant idea after all . . .
Am feeling silly this morning. Can you tell?
xx
LadyPen
Anne P (202);
It wasn't so peaceful for about 30 minutes. The things kept on flying around while I was shootin' at 'em.
The parakeets didn't so much move off the beach as fall onto it..... Fortunately Slinky, my Springer is a good retriever!
They're not bad tasting, a bit gamey perhaps. Mind your teeth though, there might be some of that steel shot still in there.
As for noisy blighters, I'm sorry about that. It took nearly the entire box of cartridges to get the last ones. If they'd stayed still I'd have done it quicker and with less fuss.
Thought about the pit cookery (but didn't see Ray Mears). Not convinced there's enough fat on them to have them slowly clay-baked in a Luau. So settled for getting the barbie set-up for a spit-roast instead.
Si.
LadyP: Carakeets - Is that a mutation of Caramac? (You'd have to be of a certain age to know that one!)
(N.B. have just checked and found that said product is, apparently, still available, but the packaging is oh so different.)
Si, I appreciate all the trouble you've been to, but - how can I say this? I've gone veggie for the day.
AA (207);
Well if you can get soya protein to have the look and texture of meat I'm sure we can make these parakeets look and taste like fruit & veg!
I'll get onto it....
Si.
Ladypen (205): Hello! I am fine this lovely day.
I did have an anxiety dream though that I was MD of a company in London which was hit by a plane. Not in the 9/11 sense exactly, but the wing of the plane clipped the building and was crashing, and it was down to me to sort everything out and get all my employees evacuated in a few minutes.
The most vivid memory I had of the dream was looking outside the door, seeing the plane, then seeing the Erotic Gherkin in the distance and thinking "oh ****, what on earth am I doing back in London??!". So clearly, my subconscious priorities are as mangled as my real-life ones.
Big Sis (207) : Caramac?? Next you'll be telling us you remember paying 6d for Mixed Bathing on a Saturday when it should have been 1/- but you had just swum your length so you got in half price for a year.....Errr.. is someone messing with my head? Or is it something you put in the Parakeets, Si?
Stop prevaricating Val. Let's get on with the partay!
I say everyone should bring a compilation of their top 10 songs/tracks/pieces/movements (with reasons if they wish?) plus their favourite 5 CDs.
Or is 10 too many?
Gone fishing...
Hi all
I have just realised that I have not sent in my top five films. As I have never been one to follow fashion, it is possible that you might not have heard of some of these and so I think that a little description would help. In no particular order:
The Spanish Prisoner 鈥 A con film seen from the point of view of the person being conned rather than those setting up the con. There are one or two twists that mean you gain some more from the film by watching it a number of times. If Steve Martin is this good at straight acting, why does he try to do comedy?
Dick Deadeye (or Duty Done) 鈥 An animated film based on some of the characters from a variety of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas (operettae?). It uses a number of the songs by G&S either straight from their works or slightly altered (鈥淚鈥檓 called little Buttercup, dear little Buttercup, which I would much rather not. But Ma called me Buttercup, Pa called me Buttercup. Parents like that should be shot!鈥) and does so in a way that tells a complete story.
Chicken Run 鈥 A typical Aardmann film. 鈥楴ough said.
Any John Grisham novel turned into a film (if I need to nominate only one then it would be 鈥淩unaway Jury鈥). There is something about Grisham鈥檚 books that means the films based on them are invariably top entertainment. I have not seen them all but all that I have seen have been good. The books are a good read as well.
Simone 鈥 Poking fun at the star-studded illusion that is Hollywood when an actress who doesn鈥檛 exist takes the film industry by storm.
H.
Great joke Val P (196)! Ny SO will appreciate that one as well x
MtP
ten? TEN? I can't remeber the one i learned on Monday.
Ten....... Good grief. I shall be off the plage for some time with this.
The films were instructive, but music, with some very serious musos should be even more entertaining.
Go to it frog frolikers.
BigSis (207) - my sister (who's one year less of a certain age than me) used to LIVE on Caramacs! Never saw the point of them, myself. And I know we've had the Curly Wurly conversation before, but exactly what's the reasoning behind anything chocolate with holes in?
'Chocololate? With a figure like yours . . .? Name that product. And the one you can eat between meals without spoiling your appetite?
On a more serious note, I've brought these zhuzhi (sp?) satin linings for the hammocks. Apparently you don't wake up with creases in your face if you sleep on satin. Though I cannot vouch for this personally, I thought it might be worth a try.
All different colours and patterns, and my uncannily accurate assessment of everyone's taste (based on their expressed movie and musical selections) will have ensured that you'll all find something to suit.
Oh - and they're self-cleaning between uses, too, so will always be fresh and fragrant. They will even behave in this miraculous fashion when folded up and put tidily in the cupboard beside the shower after you've finished your sleep/read/watch/listen/sunbathe and, because they're invisibly microchipped with a voice-recognition thingy, they will come when they're called AND put themselves away :-)
I hope you like them.
xx
LadyPen
PS Are all these CDs and DVDs going to be audible/visible to all? Can we still have a Tranquillity Corner where we can hear nothing but the kiss of little waves on warm sand, please?
Speak of Caramac reminds me of Texan Bars, which made a brief recent return but I managed to fail to get my paws on one.
One of life's pleasures as a child was to get a caramac, carefully peel off the foil (possibly for use as insulation for my 1/72 scale Airfix Lunar Lander) (other childhood hobbies that I should have grown out of by now are available) and, small bite by small bite, get the entire bar into my mouth in one go and enjoy it as it ever so slowly melted away into nothing but a delicious memory.
Another was to buy a box (how decadent) of Maltesers or a large bag (ditto) of Revels and sit on my bed eating them one at a time until there was nothing left but a sick feeling at the back of my throat.
They were simpler times...
Humph, how amazing that you should pick Runaway Jury which I rewatched only last week. I think JG's books are better as films and this one certainly had a cast to die for. Being sad I bought it for Leland Orser...but leaving that aside, it's a good watch adn soem wonderful views of new Orleans before katrina are now a bonus.
MtheP....you did yourself no favours by admitting that you use your daughter as an excuse to have exotic holidays! No more sympathy from me now - I feel manipulated!
Auntie D (151), thank you. I did think up words but missed the deadline (rather typical, I'm afraid).
Gorget is a real word, though. But I might fossick up some for the next series.
Vyle, I haven't seen you for a while but I wanted to yell 'thankyou' across the dunes for the Economic Cows which you posted somewhere else. What a hoot. I heard a bit in the morning and am v.v. glad to have the whole lot.
Oh! I'm exhausted! I've been working so hard the last couple of days I haven't had time to catch up on the blog and having tried to catch up it's made me all giddy. I'm going to get into one of the hammocks and sip my white wine. Just shut my eyes for a few minutes! zzzzzzzzz
Mary
Lady Pen - thank you so much for my hammock lining. I have been giving that hammock a wee bit of stick lately and this will make it even more comfortable. I may not make it down to the beach as often. And the pattern - 70000 Britannia in full steam emerging from Harecastle Tunnel - how did you know? I feel spookily sussed.
Gill - that's your spin on the daughter/holiday thing. But it is a slight recompense I have to agree.
I think we ought to agree to move the music and films to the far end of the beach. I do so agree we need the beach to be sound pollution free.
Someone give me a hand with the equipment? The solar power unit really is heavy...
I found this tin of "Milo" in the cupboard behind the bar. What on earth is it?
Sorry about the multiple posts. Its a bit untidy I know. I meant to ask - has anyone actually seen their own "Window on the World"?
It's a great way of making sure you get to see as many as possible, even if about 30% are exactly the same subject as your own - mine was my computer shutting down as I prepared to leave work. Perhaps you could put a link to your own pic here?
Ah, Friday morning fry-up time! Full works please, but hold the bacon and tomato. Big mug of tea and lots of toast and butter.
Thank God it's only once a week. I can feel my arteries furring up and hardening under the impact of all that cholesterol. Not to mention the grease content and the high level of Trans-Fats. Lovely!
What is a Trans-Fat anyway? Is it the particular kind of cholesterol to be found in Greasy Spoon food?
Si.
From the 大象传媒 article about Spain resizing all their models, mannequins and clothing:
"For the first time the National Consumer Institute will measure Spanish females - more than 8,000 of them to be exact - between the ages of 12 and 70."
How is "more than 8,000" an exact figure?
Simon (224): Trans fats are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils - a process that makes them go gloopy a la margerine.
Wiki has an enourmous entry about it if you are interested.
Mikes the Pikes (277) -
Toot toot chuff. All part of the service :-)
Milo is a Horlicksy-type drink isn't it? When I was teaching in Jamaica in the 70s they used to drink TONS of it. It came in a green tin, as I remember . . .
xx
LadyPen
PS Is anyone else listening to the wonderful Dylan Winter on R4 at the moment? (It's 3.19 pm on Fri 26 Jan as I write. If deliveries to the beach are as slow as they were yesterday, this should appear at about midnight on Monday . . .)
I was just about to write about the joys of pickling onions when I read the intro to The Beach and discovered that jarring comments aren't particularly welcome...
I guess that rules out jams and chutneys too?
re RADIO RECEPTION
Jason - Nik and I are bemused. What do you mean? Plug the Pure into the telly aerial socket?
On the subejct of reception (and related to Eddie's post about clock's changing), we've just bought one of those light clocks that wake you up with light instead of a noisy alarm but the analogue radio doesn't tune in. They are sending a new one. Still, even if I'm late for work I won't be depressed.
Just got back from first shopping trip to Manchester and off to meet Annasee who apparently lives not too far away. Will be late if we don't get going.
L
re RADIO RECEPTION
Jason - Nik and I are bemused. What do you mean? Plug the Pure into the telly aerial socket?
On the subejct of reception (and related to Eddie's post about clock's changing), we've just bought one of those light clocks that wake you up with light instead of a noisy alarm but the analogue radio doesn't tune in. They are sending a new one. Still, even if I'm late for work I won't be depressed.
Just got back from first shopping trip to Manchester and off to meet Annasee who apparently lives not too far away. Will be late if we don't get going.
L
re RADIO RECEPTION
Jason - Nik and I are bemused. What do you mean? Plug the Pure into the telly aerial socket?
On the subejct of reception (and related to Eddie's post about clock's changing), we've just bought one of those light clocks that wake you up with light instead of a noisy alarm but the analogue radio doesn't tune in. They are sending a new one. Still, even if I'm late for work I won't be depressed.
Just got back from first shopping trip to Manchester and off to meet Annasee who apparently lives not too far away. Will be late if we don't get going.
L
Pfuff. My 227 actually appeared at 4.50pm. Only 90 mins, then - sorry for doubting you, modders . . .
xx
LadyPen
I suspect there may be a bloggage occuring on the moderating front.
I wonder if I could do it from home. Do the 大象传媒 still do pensions?
Zzzzzzzzz
Frances O - WAAAAAKKKKE UP!
Lissa: re the radio.
You can get an external DAB aerial and the Pure has a socket hidden away where the telescopic aerial attaches at the rear. You need a small spanner to undo the telescopic one and it reveals an "F" type female connection (apparently).
But you can't just attach it to your telly aerial - you need another "special" DAB one. There are two types - "dipole" and "four element", non-directional and directional respectively .
The first picks up signal from all directions (my best guess is this is what you'll need where you are), the second has to point to the transmitter (so make sure there isn't a hill in the way).
Places like Maplin sell them I believe (there's one in Stockport and several in Manchester) but I have yet to get around to it myself.
On the A6 towards Disley there is a TV and Satellite place called D&C Satelites (must've been named by a man...) who do aerials - perhaps give them a phone?
Hope you are all settling in well.
Lissa (229-231),
If you cannot get to a shop, you could try ; although predominantly trade, they accept credit cards. Start by searching for "DAB aerials" Their terminology is slightly different to Jasons, but appears to be self-explanitary. Then expect a UPS van to chug it's way to you the next day. And there are plenty of toys for boys (Nik) if you want to avoid the delivery charge....Radio Controlled Meccano cars over xmas!
Alternatively, get a valve radio, and listen to R4 LW. Oh, forgot the Krikkit!
My goodness, the Blog is Slow with a capital S and an LOW to boot.
What is happening up there?
Have the moderators come out in sympathy with BA cabin crew? Are they BA cabin crew modding in their down time?
Ooooh, I've just done caffeine withdrawal, now we have frog withdrawal....
aaaaaargh......
Big Sis
Re trilby/fedora, I happened to catch, on HIGNFY last evening that Trevor Howard , in Brief Encounter, was only 29 at the time! 29!!!!!!
can you believ that?
Mollyxx
Molly (240),
I think you mean the News Quiz; and the fact that Celia Johnson was 31 at the time...
Molly (240) yes 29! I heard that too! Unbelievable - he looks/acts nearly twice that age!
Are all the postings getting lost in quicksand?
Maybe a new Beach tomorrow will help?
BTW anyone up for some Salsa dancing later? Inspired by a cuban experience in the early hours I'm ready for some dancing tonight... (avoiding the quicksand!
Argh! What happened?
Oh, it's you, RobbieJohn. It was so quiet then, I just dozed off.
Slept right through John W, Big Sis, Aunt D and Molly.
I do hope it's not an oil slick from Dorset bunging up the beachblogmachine thingie.
Right, it's 1.42pm, let's see how long it takes for this to arrive.
Big Sis,
Thanks for what you said, in another place. It's wonderful to get support when you're "alone".
Brian x
D John W and gossipmistress
Thanks for correct info -CJ -31! incredible....
Do hope
Big Sis comes to the beach soon--she put me onto the hat business, if you know what I mean.
BIG SIS! BIG SIS! Something to interest you.....
Mollyxx
D John W and gossipmistress
Thanks for correct info -CJ -31! incredible....
Do hope
Big Sis comes to the beach soon--she put me onto the hat business, if you know what I mean.
BIG SIS! BIG SIS! Something to interest you.....
Mollyxx
D John W and gossipmistress
Thanks for correct info -CJ -31! incredible....
Do hope
Big Sis comes to the beach soon--she put me onto the hat business, if you know what I mean.
BIG SIS! BIG SIS! Something to interest you.....
Mollyxx
Bill 'n'Ben
I was wondering where you were..,,,
Good to see you back.
We're never alone here...
Mollyxx
Parents, eh?
I've been trying unsuccessfully to catch up all week with the blog! I've been working all sorts of very unsocial hours and I can now officially tell you that not all courts are refraining from locking people up!
I'm still on call till tomorrow morning, so no booze for me tonight except of course virtual drinks on the beach.
How is everyone? Where is everyone?
Mary
Mmmm.
Very quiet here. I wonder if the police have cordonned off this beach as well. Better check the bar to see if the looters have been down here.
... Well I've put some chilli lights around the NCM Bar and the Camels have their cuban heels on but either I'm just all alone or the modders seem to have got lost in the quicksand....
Maybe I'll just lie down in this hammock for a while...Mmm that's nice...mustn't forget to get up for work tomorrow.....
Hi GM, if you're still around at this ungodly hour? It's REALLY quiet around here today, hardly any comments on any of the lilypads.
Spookily quiet on the Beach too. I thought that I'd find a bonfire going, Fifi playing her instrument, Appy singing a two-part harmony and everyone else humming the bits they know. Where IS everyone?
Ah well. I've just finished moving the contents of SO's lounge around for her back in January. Had a glass of an acceptable Cotes du Rhone there and thought I'd bring the rest and leave it on the bar for the late-night tipplers.
Went to a tres-posh Country House hotel this afternoon. I'm thinking about trying to get in there as a preferred supplier for their wedding business. Gorgeous coffee, SO took an instant liking to her Latte. Very pleasant home-made biccies. Checked out the wine list (surreptitiously). One of the best and most complete lists I've ever seen. Maybe the best.
You'll have gathered, perhaps, that I like a really good (but not top-class, can't afford that) claret. Flipped to that section of the list for a quick peruse. Started off at around 拢20 for a year or two old bottle. Went all the way up to 拢1200!!! for their most expensive (that's for one bottle!). 'Sacre bleu'! I cried as the blood left my extremities. The 1966 Chateau Latour seemed an absolute bargain at *only* 拢850.... Mind you they also had a decent 1982 (superb year) Moulis-en-Medoc for 拢140....
*Departs to hammock in tears*
Si.
Hello, where is everybody.
I can see Gossipmistress curled up in the hammock.
I've left some pillows under the duvet so they don't know I've gone.
Ooh I see a bottle of Sapphire on Nick's Bar, I think I'll just have a little one and throw some logs on the fire.
I'll just curl up a bit while fire brightens up.
01.50 Sunday
Brian
I've come back for a lie-down....kept popping in to the new beach form work today but either the quicksand or the tide has covered my footprints... only 1 of 4 postings appeared at all!
I did have a nice cup of coffee there first thing before work - the place waa deserted so I don't know how it got there unless Eric left it when he created the beach - it was quite a lively brew so I'm wondering if he added some of his dodgey whiskey to it....
I think I'll just lounge on the sunlounger and watch the lovely sunset with the waves gently lapping on the shore - bliss!
What a gorgeous day! I'm afraid I've been fast asleep in my hammock with its beautiful liner. (Thanks again Lady P x)
I also found a couple of pillows in one of the other hammocks so I'm afraid I pinched one and I slept like a baby. (Oooh! I just felt my dear late Ma tutting at my use of the word "pinch".)
I'd got a haggis left over from the 25th so I've put it in the fridge behind the bar. I think you can barbecue it although I have to admit I have never tried. I have seen it offered deep fried alongside Mars bars in a chip shop in Lochgilphead. I've also left a bottle of Caol Ila. Enjoy.
I'll try to catch up - I wish I had Mary's excuse but I've just been really lazy this weekend...
Well , that's worn me out. Laters guys
Mx
Dear Kind Ladies and Gentlemen
I need your help. As a boy living in war torn England I was required to learn the poem " Peckham Rye- Loughborough - Elephant - St Pauls, every morning the porter bawls. The train grinds out and I gaze on lots of sad back gardens and chimmney pots" That's as far as I can remember.
I googled the opening lines and came upon your lovely web site. I was "Gobsmacked" at such a beautiful concept. A Nirvana in this troubled world, A retreat which you people seem to have created. However, I digress. Although your opening site detailed a few words of the poem. I was hoping to find the full poem. Can any one assist ?
As I am now living in Australia, I now have your site to visit for the mental stimulation and Google earth to visit My Dear England for the physical changes. I must try your margarita recipe
Regards Brian T
Brian Tranter - Is this it?
"Peckham Rye, Loughborough, Elephant,St.Paul`s"
Every morning the porter bawls
The train grinds out.....and I gaze on lots
Of sad back gardens and chimney pots
Factory stacks and smoky haze
Showering smuts on the close-packed ways
But, trapped and prisoned as I may be,
I lift a latch and my thoughts go free
And once again I am running down
On a winding track from a Cornish town
And I dream the names of the stations through
"Moorswater, Causeland, Sandplace, Looe"
The line twists down through patches sweet
Of soft green pastures and waving wheat
And the stream spreads out to a river wide
Where ships creep up at the turn of the tide,
Till a tangle of spars on a blue sky spun
Gives me the sign of the journey done,
And I stand contented on the quay
And hear the surging song of the sea
So runs the dreamlike journey through
"Moorswater, Causeland, Sandplace, Looe"
But every morning the porter bawls
"Peckham Rye, Loughborough, Elephant, St.Pauls"
Mary - I've emailed you, so good to know you still trawl these shallows!
Bill 'n Ben - likewise, my dear pal!
Oh pooh, what am I still doing, frogging at nearly 2am??
Frugs to all who are similarly not blessed with a better offer at this time. . . especially my mate Pam who had to face putting one of her kitties to sleep today, after several months of injections for diabetes.
They're worth it, pets and family and pals, but it's awfully hard when they run out of steam.
Fifi xxx