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 Friday 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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Can I bring to all Froggers鈥 attention a few comments posted by Cammelia, Lady Dromedary on the last Beach:
"... however, what intrigues us is the inference that we are not welcome at the beach bar. You may be unaware of a recently, little lauded piece of legislation called the CDA - Camel Discrimination Act, making it a statutory requirement to make ALL reasonable adjustments to make us camels happy..."
I would ask that all Beach residents, old and new, honour both the sprit and letter of this legislation and treat our humpy friends with the dignity and respect that we offer each other.
*blearily opens eyes*
oh, morning everyone! The beach appears to have moved already...
Right, I', in a bit of a celebratory mood, as the presentations that I had to do yesterday in May went well, so I'm making breakfast for all froggers. Who wants what?
I can't be the first one here, can I?
No footprints ... ahaaaa ... hoof-prints leading away from the Nick Clarke Bar, and a trail of fudge cake crumbs!!!
Fifi ;o)
Anne P.;
Continuing from the previous Beach...
Try www.metcheck.com click on 'More' button near the top right-hand corner. Then the 'Europe' link down the left-hand side. Click on 'Norway' in the country list and you are presented with a long list of destinations in AB order. This gives you the short range forecast, look down the right-hand side to find a button for 'Next 7 days'. And you can go on from that for another 7 days.
Currently forecasting snow for Tromso on Saturday and freezing temperatures. 7 - 9 degrees around Bergen and Stavanger and near freezing at Hammerfest (North Cape).
Take plenty of woolly jumpers! :-)
Si.
Sadly Mario had to pack up his treatment table and depart. :-(
But his cousin Luigi is here today offering a range of beauty treatments, all of them non-surgical, non-chemical and non-bacterial. So book yourselves in now and feel wonderful for the weekend. That includes you too chaps, don't be shy. Seaweed wrap and a mud bath anyone?
There is also a portable charcoal oven, so the rest of his family will take your orders for fresh, hand-made pizza and pasta (made before your very eyes!) for lunch with antipasti and a selection of Italian wines, including a cheeky little Barolo and fresh, crisp and well-chilled Pinot Grigio. Italian dairy ice-cream and Tiramisu for dessert, with strong espresso and cappucino to finish.
Si.
Oh - I forgot it was Friday! A fresh new beach, and we can leave all last week's moans behind, not to mention the mess that the camels made. Perky - perhaps you shouldn't have brushed them up the wrong way :o)
Aperitif - are you packing boxes? Do drop in and tell us how the plans are going.
My New Beach Resolutions are as follows:
Ummm, actually, can I get back to you on that one?
Fifi - how did you get on with vanquishing the Troll?
RJD(1)
indeed! And those straws are so short...
n-n
xx
hi y'awl....
..continuing with RJD @ 1...we should perhaps call today 'HUD' day....'Hug Your Dromedary' day?
....so lets hide behind the sand dunes and leap out and give Cammelia loads of Frogging Hugs when she returns..
((((((((((Cammelia))))))))))
Simon, you and your Italian friends are spoiling us. An aromatherapy facial I think, and some of the Pinot Grigio. Lovely.
I'll pop along with some home baking later.
Morning FFred,
Thanks for the breakfast offer.
Can I have onion custard sprinkled with chives please. Best to use the big skillet over medium heat - don't forget to stir. Cheers!
:-)
Fred, Thanks for the breakfast - that was so kind of you.
To thank you I've done what you suggested :-)
so just for you ....... .... .. ..
Our Carrie
Val - the troll eventually rang about 8pm. Polite as pie. Agreed a date, I said I'd sort out a venue for our meeting, and rang off pleasantly.
Theory is that, particularly since his stroke, he can't think quickly enough so under pressure he lashes out first.
Hence, when it was me ringing him, he was straight on the attack.
So, maybe the meeting won't be quite so bad after all....
.... er.....
Thanks for all your support guys. I could feel you all at my back, encouraging me to be brave!
Fifi
Morning fellow froggers, lets all kick off our shoes and have a paddle - time to enjoy this lovely sunshine before the cold, wet and windy weather apparantly descends on us this weekend...
Speaking of weather Anne P - another one you could try is accuweather.com - I have found that pretty useful in the past for checking holiday weather.
Annasee - just wanted to say how much I agreed with a comment you made on the glass box about the Mitchell and Webb trail - I am a big fan of them, both on radio and tv. And Eddie's quip at the end did make me laugh out loud.
Well I really must share my very exciting news with you all - after leaving aforementioned (on t'other beach) mouldy stained top soaking in stain whatsit for a couple of hours I came home to find the marks had all completely disappeared!! I could not believe how well it worked - I really thought it was a goner. I am very impressed. Not sure quite why I am sharing this with you all and yes, before anyone points it out, I am painfully aware that I do need to get out more often :)
Right time to head back to May for now I guess
Ah, a Luigi plus Linch fabulous. SiW - thanks so much for inviting them!
ValP - as per earlier beach - mixed the bicarb with borax and some water in to a paste, applied to siad grouting, left for a bit then scrubbed off. HAving lived in a student house though I'm not sure what will shift that level of grime. (Though when I was in Oz cleaning backpackers hostels we used something called Exit Mould; highly toxic but very good).
Fiona- how are your cleaning efforts going?
Fifi - how did THAT conversation go? (((( )))) just in case!
Ok - who's for yoga as I really can't be doing with all the Insurance cr*p back in May?
Oh Fred -- you probably worked out that Carrie was from me --
Incidentally I've changed the link when you click on my name -
do pop in for a cuppa but watch out for the University film crew that have invaded till 4PM :-(
Who else heard grumpy guts Oddie on the Today programme this morning? What was the matter with him? The interviewer, however, managed to remain calm and polite, despite the man's incredible rudeness. I'd have pulled the plug on him, quite frankly. He didn't deserve to be heard.
And I always liked The Goodies!
Happy Friday Froggers.
Late to the beach, as usual. Is it too late for breakfast? I could really go for a crisp bacon sandwich, with brown sauce, naturally.
A frug for Feefs {{{{{{#}}}}} sounds like your call went as well as can be expected. Remember we're right behind you kiddo. And a general frug for anyone else in need of one {{{{{{%}}}}}}.
Just to advise you all that I'm probably not going to be on the beach much after today. I've got a week off back in May, not that I'm going anywhere, just doing jobs around the house. Will someone water the petunias for me? I'm leaving a bottle of 1953 Glen Grant behind the bar at Nick's - if you've ever wondered what liquid alcoholic fruit cake tastes like, this will tell you! ;o)
Right, is there an appointment for a prescriptive facial this afternoon?
Knotted hanky on, trousers rolled up, paddling to commence now...
;o) []
Fiona and Fifi - crossing messages in the bogosphere, but glad that all has worked out well!
Did anyone catch Mitchell & Webb last night on our fave station; there was a sketch that I think was written with Froggers in mind!
Right, I'm off to help with the pizza dough....well, watch the boys do it :)
Glass of rioja anyone?
Ah, the lovely Carrie :-)) *sigh* Thanks for that, jonnie! Thnaks for the wave last night :-p
Little Miss P, the custard's done. If you wander over to the bar, you'll find it there for you :-)
I stumbled over this box that had washed ashore earlier. There's a mix of "normal", fruit, and green teas, along with some Jamacain Blue Mountain coffee beans ready for grinding. So, I'll prepare the beverage nook....
One bacon sarnie coming up, Wonko. I'll not say a thing about choice of sauce, as I remember the discussion we all had about this a little while ago {where the lovely Appy declared I was "sick" :-( }
Afternoon, all. Been a long time since I managed to post on the first day of a clean beach.
This morning I've been asking two of my clients to act as referees for me in my job app and both said very flattering things, which was nice. I'm not sure quite how their approval of my shirt will help my job chances but there you are.
As I tuck into my beef sandwich and a couple of sausage rolls I am thinking I should improve my diet. Any recommendations for weight loss that does not involve utterly depressing food?
What I want to know...is the sand in when the tide is out...or is the tide out when the sand is in?
Big Sister -
I thought exactly the same about Bill Oddie - what a misery the man was.
I'm glad John read out the e-mail comments at the end !
I left some freshly fried bacon early this morning, but I guess the camels ate it....;-(
Afternoon all.
xx
ed
All,
I wish to rush to Bill Oddie's defence. It was an incredibly stupid question, "Does it matter?" and he said so and followed with an excellent answer.
xx
ed
Tom Harrop (22) - That is a really inane and silly question! Do doubt it will spark a bit of debate - welcome to the Beach.
For what it's worth I think that when the tide is in, the sand is under.
Jason G - I suggest supressingfood intake, rather than depressing it ;o)
re Bill Oddie - wow and I thought that I was bad-tempered first thing in the morning??
Witchi - thanks for tip, I'll pass it on this afternoon after the exam has passed. Not that he's paranoid, but he phoned last night convinced that he'd given himself food poisoning by eating tartare sauce that had been lurking at the back of the fridge. Tum was feeling a bit iffy. Briskly suggested it was more likely to be imagination, and definitely not an excuse to miss the exam!! Tough love, that's what they call it, eh?
Right, over now to see if Luigi can live up to Mario's attentions!
RJD (1) and Lady Cammelia,by association: Please don't be offended about the whole camel/food/bar issue. I'm quite happy for us to designate a section of the beach, near the bar for camels to graze, and to bring camel-friendly food for them to graze upon.
Any suggestions welcome - but for the sake of general beach hygiene, I do feel that frog-food and camel-food should be separate.
Having said that, I've quite gone off food today. My son's school has just celebrated World Food Day, and I don't think I've ever seen so much food in one small school hall. There were plenty of leftovers, though, so I've smuggled some out for you to try:
Jasmine rice with coconut milk and mango
Fresh guacamole
home-made lasagne
Greek salad
Treacle tart
Sushi
Vegetable stir-fry
Enjoy! xx
Tom Harrop (22)
Do you know how to remove a tide mark off my red leather handbag? I spilt apple juice on it. It smells like a cider press now. :-(
Another of those postings for the attention of DIW that the rest of can ignore, but probably will not. :-)
DIW I thought that I would give you an idea of how to spot Humph this evening. The hair on top of my head is shorter than the hair on the rest of my face. Said hair is brown in colour although parts of the hair on the rest of my face are showing their, and my, age. If you see me arrive I will be wearing a light coloured outdoor jacket and carrying a small red back pack with blue trim although they will not be visible once I sit down at a table. My shirt has blue and white narrow vertical stripes but I will not be wearing a tie. My trousers are quite a light colour (I think the catalogue calls it 鈥渟tone鈥) and I am wearing black shoes. With the forecast poor weather for this evening, I am going to catch a bus to the pub and would expect to get there at about 7:30pm. I hope to see you later.
H.
;-)
EdI: I totally disagree with you, I'm afraid, and hope you wouldn't behave in that way yourself in a similar situation.
However clever or stupid the question, Bill Oddie was extraordinarily rude to respond in the manner he did. He showed up the reporter on air - very unprofessional, particularly since her attitude was entirely polite and friendly. Not only that, but he wasted a great deal of time venting his spleen on her/her question, while failing to address the point of the interview.
I was extremely disappointed. There were many worthwhile things he could have said, instead he chose to be ill-mannered.
DI Wyman (everyone else, look away now) :
I would only add to Humph's description at (30) that he is tall and handsome, and the beard is a thing of beauty.
Oh, and he has very twinkly eyes except when cornered! (When I offered him the chance to sing, I'm afraid he turned rather pale....)
Good luck tonight! I'll be back at me folk club again .. yes it's a whole month since Humph and I met.
Fifi
With apologies to Humph at (30)?
In the beginning of years, when the world was so new and all, and the Animals were just beginning to work for Man, there was a Camel, and he lived in the middle of a Howling Desert because he did not want to work; and besides, he was a Howler himself. So he ate sticks and thorns and tamarisks and milkweed and prickles, most 'scruciating idle; and when anybody spoke to him he said 'Humph!' Just 'Humph!' and no more.
Presently the Horse came to him on Monday morning, with a saddle on his back and a bit in his mouth, and said, 'Camel, O Camel, come out and trot like the rest of us.'
'Humph!' said the Camel; and the Horse went away and told the Man. Presently the Dog came to him, with a stick in his mouth, and said, 'Camel, O Camel, come and fetch and carry like the rest of us.' 'Humph!' said the Camel; and Fido went away and told the Man.
Presently the Ox came to him, with the yoke on his neck and said, 'Camel, O Camel, come and plough like the rest of us.' Yes you've guessed it 'Humph!' said the Camel; and the Ox went away and told the Man.
At the end of the day the Man called the Horse and the Dog and the Ox together, and said, 'Three, O Three, I'm very sorry for you (with the world so new-and-all); but that Humph-thing in the Desert can't work, or he would have been here by now, so I am going to leave him alone, and you must work double-time to make up for it.'
That made the Three very angry (with the world so new-and-all), and they held a palaver, and an indaba, and a punchayet, and a pow-wow on the edge of the Desert; and the Camel came chewing on milkweed most 'scruciating idle, and laughed at them. Then he said 'Humph!' and went away again.
Presently there came along the Djinn in charge of All Deserts, rolling in a cloud of dust (Djinns always travel that way because it is Magic), and he stopped to pow-pow with the Three.
'Djinn of All Deserts,' said the Horse, 'is it right for any one to be idle, with the world so new-and-all?' 'Certainly not,' said the Djinn.
'Well,' said the Horse, 'there's a thing in the middle of your Howling Desert (and he's a Howler himself) with a long neck and long legs, and he hasn't done a stroke of work since Monday morning. He won't trot.' 'Whew!' said the Djinn, whistling, 'that's my Camel, for all the gold in Arabia! What does he say about it?'
'He says "Humph!"' said the Dog; 'and he won't fetch and carry.' 'Does he say anything else?' 'Only "Humph!"; and he won't plough,' said the Ox. 'Very good,' said the Djinn. 'I'll humph him if you will kindly wait a minute.'
The Djinn rolled himself up in his dust-cloak, and took a bearing across the desert, and found the Camel most 'scruciatingly idle, looking at his own reflection in a pool of water. 'My long and bubbling friend,' said the Djinn, 'what's this I hear of your doing no work, with the world so new-and-all?'
'Humph!' said the Camel.
The Djinn sat down, with his chin in his hand, and began to think a Great Magic, while the Camel looked at his own reflection in the pool of water. 'You've given the Three extra work ever since Monday morning, all on account of your 'scruciating idleness,' said the Djinn; and he went on thinking Magics, with his chin in his hand.
'Humph!' said the Camel.
'I shouldn't say that again if I were you,' said the Djinn; you might say it once too often. Bubbles, I want you to work.'
And the Camel said 'Humph!' again; but no sooner had he said it than he saw his back, that he was so proud of, puffing up and puffing up into a great big lolloping humph.
'Do you see that?' said the Djinn. 'That's your very own humph that you've brought upon your very own self by not working. To-day is Thursday, and you've done no work since Monday, when the work began. Now you are going to work.'
'How can I,' said the Camel, 'with this humph on my back?'
'That's made a-purpose,' said the Djinn, 'all because you missed those three days. You will be able to work now for three days without eating, because you can live on your humph; and don't you ever say I never did anything for you. Come out of the Desert and go to the Three, and behave. Humph yourself!'
And the Camel humphed himself, humph and all, and went away to join the Three. And from that day to this the Camel always wears a humph (we call it 'hump' now, not to hurt his feelings); but he has never yet caught up with the three days that he missed at the beginning of the world, and he has never yet learned how to behave in polite company.
Humph - you paint a lovely picture. It sounds like you stepped out of a Boden catalogue.
wrt Oddie: it wasn't the most intelligent question, but the journalist was only articulating what a decent proportion of the audience will have been thinking. Oddie could have given the substance of his answer without being quite so rude about it. Still, it made my kitchen laugh.
Oooh, sand between the toes. Wish I was spending the weekend on this beach. Instead, back in May, I'll be desperately trying to persuade three miserable children that getting cold and wet while cycling to the North Norfolk coast is a jolly adventure. Whose silly idea was this anyway? (Oh yes, mine, sorry) Must go and pack some waterproofs and extra biscuits.
Mmmm, a lovely pat on the back for Eddie on Feedback just now. A listener who thought very highly of his chairmanship on AQ - and who is asking for Jonathan to step down!
Well, I'm with him on that one.
Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair! Eddie for Chair!
Let the Healing Begin.
[This does all begin to sound rather familiar, doesn't it?]
Oh the temptation!
I was going to give a detailed description of myself and my attire as per Humph (30). But beautiful, beardless, besuited and beguiling was just too much alliteration.
RJD: Alliterative or just plain alluring? ;o)
Your fan club is large enough already, don't you think?
Big Sister (34):
I read that as "Chair for Eddie! Chair for Eddie! ..." and was ready to do my best Mr Lucas impression: "Glass of water for Mr Mair."
Re: the newsletter:
A man from Penzance holds the new record for the amount of time anyone's stayed awake. Tony Wright claims he hasn't slept a wink for eleven days - now more than 265 hours. He broke the record just after 6 this morning, and has told us he's really starting to feel it
...but will carry on doing his job as an A&E junior doctor until the end of his shift.
O Besotted, besmirched and bedouin.......
Ho, Simon, I think I'll have one of the non-bactrian treatments please, and Perky - erhem -frog food IS camel food.....section 32(a) ss 17 CDA...
Sis,
Well, we don't have to be together on everything, but you have to admit it was a totally inane question. I believe it provided him with an opportunity to use his irritation to express just exactly how much it matters, and he took the opportunity.
I've heard he is inclined to be difficult and unpredictable, but I admire him for his work and particularly with the emphasis on what's around us all in our immediate surroundings, rather than jetting to exotic locations like some nature lovers I could mention.
I don't know how I would have responded, probably by rolling my eyes and "D'oh!".
xx
ed
Big Sis - More a-lying than alluring!
36. I too heard that message. I thought the caller was going to allude to Freddie Grisewood for a moment.
There was an interview with Richard Bacon about standing-in for regulars, and he mentioned the fact that they can get worried lest the stand-ins prove more popular. The real problem with having Eddie on AQ is that he misses Friday's PM, and that puts extra pressure on Sequin. Mind you, those "Caught on a train" snippets are good. Perhaps they should be put forward for a BAFTA award...
Humph @ 30
For Your Eyes Only..
1..I shall be wearing a cheeky little pink chifon number wot i got in a garage sale at a certain hotel in Bournmouth.
2...Footwear will be Dr M's 36 eyelet.
3...The hair on my face is greyer and slightly longer that the hair of mit head, but not as long as the hair on my legs.
4...I do not use rouge, but will have a Cheery colourd gloss lipstick.
5...In certain lighting conditions my thong will show through....but wot the heck....throw caution to the wind i say.
6...There will be a Box Brownie on the table for the recording of the inaug'l meeting of the Froggers East (Norwich Div) Association.
7...Sorry 大象传媒 East won't do an OB though, S. White Esq stuck in the Forum.
....might not get there 'till 19:50 or so......a laydee should NEVER be early on her first date....
catch u later big boy...init
P.S...all make up advice via Gillian!!
Fifi (33) You forgot to remind everyone of your ability to tell false-hoods when you were describing me as tall and handsome. However, dear Froggers, I am afraid to tell you that the bit about turning rather pale is totally true and I was totally afraid! I hope that you have a good time at the club this evening. After your concerns about the Troll, you deserve it.
H.
Rachel (35): "it made my kitchen laugh"
Good heavens! a laughing kitchen? Whatever next ....
Big Sis & Ed I - I missed that bit with Bill Oddie. What was the question and what did he say and why?
Betty (34):
Peg-Leg Pierre is having a drink in the pub when Quasidmodo runs in.
"Sacre bleu!" he shouts, "it's a miracle!"
"What is?" say the barman.
"Look!" says Quasimodo and turns his back.
"Where's your hump gone?" exclaims Peg-Leg.
"I was walking through the graveyard near Notre Dame when a big spooky voice came out of nowhere. It said, 'I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE GRAVEYARD! WHAT'S THAT YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR BACK?' I said, 'A hump' and the voice said 'GIVE IT TO ME' and suddenly I had no hump!"
"Brilliant!" says Peg-Leg Pierre. "I'll give that a go and see if I can get my leg back."
So he walks slowly through the graveyard. Suddenly a huge voice booms out of nowhere.
"I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE GRAVEYARD! WHAT'S THAT YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR BACK?"
"Um, nothing." Says Pierre.
"WELL HERE," says the voice, "HAVE A HUMP!"
So can anyone give me two salad recipes that are (a) easy to make and (b) delicious? Seems I am overdue making food for the beach bar.
Many thanks FF for the bacon sarnie, it was delicious.
Well, I'm off back to May (hopefully in time to pick up a bit of the Test Match). I'll see you guys the other side of next week.
Toodle pipski.
;o) []
My kitchen has been known to snigger when I try to cook something elaborate
Hello, fellow beachfrogs! I'm glad it's the weekend.
Which one of you will be carrying the rolled up copy of the Times, and which the rose between the teeth?
Now, all we need is for all the regulars of the blue bare to turn up in one or the other and we have the bones of a Norwich Comedy.
I almost wished I lived near Norwich.
.
.
.
.
.
.almost
Jason - Rocket, Avacado, baby plum tomatoes - and a few chopped up rashers of bacon all covered in a little balsamic vinegar.
Mmmmmmmm
RJD,
On Today, 20 minutes in on this link:
/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today4_20070525.ram
Listen and give us an opin ion.
xx
ed
Jason....jonnie forgot the olives.
even more Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm now don't u agree?
Off I go back to May - see you on the other side of the bank holiday; hope you all have a lurvely time xx
Ooohhhh - just got a page of code when I tried to post...may end up multipled , which, on rfelection, could be fun :)
jonnie.....youv'e left Rupert switched on again...haven't you, you naught boy?
DIWy (44) Don't forget to use the concealer I let you borrow. Please let me have it back asap as I need it to cover up my moustache.
I hope you and Humph will be very happy ;o)
Humph, I think you are very brave! Good luck!
witchi w...i got a bit of a code and stuffed up node......as well........ahhhhh tissshhhoooo
Ed I - Thanks for that.
I agree with most of what Bill Oddie said but I think he could have got his point across just as well without questioning the professionalism of the interviewer. I'm also not sure that the question was as inane as you suggest. I'd be pretty confident that at least 50% of the population would ask exactly that question -"Does it matter?"
In any event the question was apposite in that it gave Oddie the ideal platform to explain exactly why he thought it DID matter. I suspect that most people listened to the tone and nature of his response rather than the actual content. Pity.
Gill (58)..
I tried it, but it slides off the trowel, have you been thining it down dearheart.
Humph ....brave......wots that about like a lamb to the slaughter.....pass the mint saucey.....
RJD,
I agree he was probably unnecessarily abrasive, but the first question was also inane, "Were you surprised...?" Really!
More appropriate questions would be "What does it mean...?", "Why is it important..?", "What does this tell us...?", "Are you pleased with the viewing levels...?", etc., etc.
xx
ed
Right, that's one salad sorted. Another, please.
And is NASA still the best place to get some rocket?
Since it only apears to be me and thee Jason - jersy royals, home made mayonnaise, garlic and parlsey. The spud must be anointed with the mayo whilst they are still warm
Tuna and butter beans (cold) mixed with garlicky vinaigrette on a bed of rocket (the best always available from the carpet in front of my C.O's desk - even better than the ones from the HeadMistress)
Or, st michael's caesar with freshly bought anchovies from another upmarket emporium - why cook when you can buy much better?
have a lovely weekend
Jason, why not try a really good coleslaw. Cabbage shredded, grated carrots, celery finely chopped, and lots of lovely mayonnaise.
Actually I get all my mixed salads from Waitrose!
Mary
Jason - forget salads, you'll just be hungry again in no time.
Avoid carbs (spuds, rice, pasta, bread) and go instead for protein (meat, cheese) which will fill you up better.
Three stone of Fifilessness can't be wrong! Contact me direct for more details....
Fifi xx
Jason, you're a very clever chap! I suppose you've been emailing Delia or Jamie as well?
Aunt Dahlia and Madmary on the blog! I'm so happy I can't think of anything to say!
So pleased to be the cause of half of your happiness RJD!
Mary
Jason, you might like to alternate Fifi's carb-less meals with protein-less ones and veg any time. There is a thing called the Hay diet which involves quite complicated separation of foods, but basically boils down to eating carbs and protein at separate meals and not mixing them. SO lost 2 stone doing it and believes it's not actually to do with the supposed theoretical basis at all, but just that you eat less of anything when you have only one type of thing in a meal. Has the benefit that you can still eat pretty much everything you like!
Si and Fiona, thanks for the weather links - looks like we may have it sunny some of the time if not especially warm. Shame I don't have time to knit myself a cashmere jumper though....
The difference between men & women is ,that women know EVERY -SINGLE-THING about their children .
Men,on the other hand, are vaguely aware of some sort of short PEOPLE hanging around the house...
:.)
mPB
As someone whose radio switches off at 07:15, I've missed the Oddie interview, and not had much time to "listen again" before now. Reading the beach, the mind boggles. What on earth was it about? Surely not Robin nests? (a current topic in the anth household, and should we accommodate the Great Tits that tried to get into a Blue Tit's nest box).
Annasee (67): Rumbled!!
As the Mutley I have tattooed on my arm (much to the disgust of the tattooist) would say...hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.
On the diet front I am thinking of switching to a meat and dairy free diet for a year or four. When I was a veggie student I lost a load of weight. I was renowned for being able to make a packet of Rolos last a fortnight such was my will power.
And Miss pooh bear (71), some of us do most of the childcare you know. And most of the cooking. Sadly also much of the eating...
ooohhhhhh......ow......ow.....ow..ow.......ow.......ow........................ow.....ow.ow...ow....ow.....ow.....ow......wo.......wwwwwwwwwwwwwooooo........................ow......ow.....ow..ow.......ow.......ow........................ow.....ow.ow...ow....ow.....ow.....ow......wo.......wwwwwwwwwwwwwooooo........................ow......ow...ow....ow..ow......ow.....ow..ow.......ow.......ow........................ow.....ow.ow...ow....ow.....ow.....ow......wo.......ooooowwwwwwwww.....ffs.....mind the step..............god I hates dem platfom shoes....GILLIAN GET YER 'RSE.........
Miss Pooh Bear (71) - Really sorry about this, but for the first time on the blog I'm going to be quite forthright and risk being moderated by saying that I think you are being quite insulting and talking absolute crap! That is an "opinion" that you have expressed - how about some evidence?
No, on second thought, I don't really want a response. Your first opinion was quite enough!
Miss p b..well thanks dearheart for that..
a few retorts:-
Women are like elephants to me, I like to look at 'em but I wouldn't want to own one.
.......WC Fields.
Women should be obscene and not heard.
......Marx (Groucho)
There is nothing similar to one poodle dog as another poodle dog, and that goes for women to,
........Pabblo Pacso.
She got all her good looks from her father.....he's a plastic surgeon.
......Marx (again {{astute fellow that Marx}} )
..finially de paece de resisteeeeooooncee....
No Muff too Tuff, we dive at five...
.....me......bobbing up for the 3rd time... G8013319 Jones CH, J/T. HMS Devonport, SCD course...circa 1974.
Evening!
I am going to be over there, in a hammock, and, though my eyes might be 'resting' and speach virtually nil, I am totally with you....
n-x-n
Anth (72): I recommend going to one of those places that measures properly. They will only be uncomfortable in the wrong sized housing.
'zzzz'
Have just checked back to last weeks beach and so glad to see that I am not the only person suffering at the hands of the bank with 4 letters in its name. Honestly if you made this stuff up people would say it was too far fetched to be credible.
Jason why was the tatooist not happy doing Mutley? He was great. Husband and I still occasionally do a 'Mutley' laugh, usually when we want to embarass the children.
Oh and to all those froggers who are fans of a certain J Depp Esq, - Woolworths is curently selling the DVD of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for three quid.
Salad - celery and apple coated in plain yoghurt
or rice with chopped peppers.
Night all.
RJD - you seem to have beaten me to everything I was going to comment on as I progressed down the beach - but anyway let me say
"Welcome back Madmary, where have you been?"
Now I see that in May it's 1.15 in the middle of the night, and I'm getting up to go to a funeral in not too many hours time, so I may as well sleep in the hammock under the stars. Why can't I see that planet that's been hanging around the moon this week? One night it was to the left, and the next, to the right. Perhaps it's behind it? I'll think about that, nite fronds.
" Hey nonny... hic! "
Fifi
It sounds like Fifi had another good night at the Folk club this week. This is the picture that she would have taken last month if she had remembered that she had picture taking facilities on her mobile phone. A nice chap, that DI Wyman.
H.
Rjd... I... am...speechless!!!
Well really (if u want the truth) it wasn't my
opinion. So there!!!!!
Someone sent it to me.I thought it was funny.
Sulk, sulk.
So did my dad .When he remembered who I was!!!
Mpb
X
Frances O - where are you? Would you mind sending me an email thru my website? I just wanted to ask you something.
Thanks.
Humph (83) Brilliant! Thank you! I shall not believe another word you say about yourself! On the other hand, everything DIWyman said about himself is sadly true... ;o(
Meet me at the Cransley later, and you can whisper what you really think of him!
Miss Pooh Bear (71) - I think I should apologise for my last response. On second reading I'm sure your comment was a bit tongue in cheek. Next time I'll think twice and respond once. Sorry.
morning Froggers........Fifi......there r Andys Liver Salts at NC's for you!!
yewl all be pleased to know that the Narfolk Constab'y riot squad were not required at the Blue Bear last evening.
The social interfacing of the Humph and the DI Wyman went without a hitch and a v v good time was had by both parties, well I think they did, things got a bit hazy after the 5 th pint of Sheep Sha**ers Glory......only kidding....it was after the 3 rd.
Well.... I'm 'duty dog' again this weekend so may not be able to be at the Beach as much as i wood loike...
..jonnie....have yew unplugged Rupert yet?
'cor that Humph.....nice chap him.
'ad 'im in the back of me cab once..wanted to go to Africa....sorry guv i says only got insurance as far as Mornington Crescent...
.....ttfn.....init?
Morning everyone --
So what news of DIwyman and Humph ?
Have I missed something - it seems DI was on the beach most of this evening?
Plenty of left over sausauges and four rashers of bacon.
Fifi and Jason should restrain themselves.
Fifi - you are looking better now the weight is finally coming off ;-)
It sounds like Fifi had another good night at the Folk club this week.
This is the picture that would have been taken last month after one of her after dinner speeches
Jonnie, you are too cruel! :oD
In fact, I stayed on plain water all evening and only resorted to the wine cellar on arrival home well before midnight.
Eventually staggered off to bed around 2am, 'tired but happy'.
Two new faces at folk club which is always nice ... one, all the way from Wisbech! And it was someone who used to run a folk club in Germany, which another of our 'regulars' used to attend, so it was a bit of a reunion for them too.
Don't you love it when a plan comes together?
Humph ... just as I remembered you!
Madame Strap
aka 'Fifi' xxx
Miss Pooh Bear (71) Nice to see you again. Here, come and share my breakfast - oaty muffins - and we'll share stories about those men who have no sense of humour, and the positive side of being a short person....I speak from experience, as you will see!
its raining in May...just managed to finish cutting the lawns b 4 it started. Mrs DIY has gone shopping for the day, parting words were...'keep and eye on the washing'....so i am, i can see it from here...looks fine to me..just hanging there in the drizzle....
...jonnie....no we 'ad a great time but Humph had to leave..like you he had left the dog plugged in....tee hee...
...what a beautiful day on the beach! I just love the breeze wafting the sea-scent, a slightly salty lip-licking hair-tousling and yet envigorating breath, full of the sounds of the waves lapping, the gulls calling and the tops of the trees rustling, a fully five sense-stimulating walk down to the water...
...truely the interval between birth and death is the best time to be alive! And I intend to make the most of it!
Just popping along for a stroll...!
n-n
xx
...got to do a beef curry for dinner this eve....anyone got some really hot chillies i can borrow?
...otherwise its off to :-
..to purchase some...
.....cycling in the rain....dontcha jus' luv it...
I'm afraid these bacon rolls I've brought (and the full selection of sinful sauces) will be my sole contribution to the Beach this weekend.
Today I'm providing live music at a local charity gala thingy, tonight playing a charity gig out in the Fens, tomorrow back at the local thingy, and tomorrow night doing a singaround at the pub where it's based.
On Monday, if I can stand any more music, I'll be off to another village fete to sing a little trad jazz with some other chums.
(Or maybe having a lie-in, before tackling the weed-fest that is my front garden...?)
So, do dig in folks. See you later!
Fifi xxx
Miss Pooh Bear (84) - Looks like my apology (87) and your message (84) passed each other on the way to the Blog this morning.
When you can't hear a person's voice it is sometimes possible to pick up the wrong tone in a message.
Once again, I apologise.
.....fresh chillies...dontcha jus luv em.....just watch which body parts u touch after chopping em up....!!
Fifi (95)....re weeding....have u tried concrete?.....works wonders i'm led to believe...
.....:)
Who is doing what this bank holiday?
I'm working till 1.00 pmthen off till tuesday.
Working all day Wednesday cos someone has booked a clinic that I cancelled in MARCH!!! I have proof that its their problem but relented and am doing a half day extra as my consession.
Wil probably do some retailing on Monday before my Hols next friday.
What do you think?!
Shall we join in with fifi's 'local charity gala thingy' from here?!! I know the beach is a long way from there, but a little might go a long way.... especially in my case!!
Anyway: first up:
"yum tiddle tiddle diddy yum tiddle aye!"
(repeat chorus, then key change, then reverse)
nikki
Hey DI Wyman - that cheeky little pink chifon number you bought at the our car boot sale wasn't for sale.
Simon (SO) had taken it off and left it on the side. Now I'm in hot water :-(
That and Rupert has been manic all day -- left him on charge all night.
Re Stewart and Bank Hoidays. I shall just be er..... busy.
jonnie....i am sooooo sorry dearheart....i will get it dry cleaned to get mit stains out and pop it in the post pdq.....
.......re: Rupert, well i did try to warn u, but would you listen.....no.....dash it all man get a grip on yourself, stop moapping about, stick him on the 4 o'clock to Weymouth and let him find his own way back. thats sure to discharge his batteries.
(Rupert, if u is readin' this my man, ignore the above para, if you do get the 4 o'clock to Wey'h don't worry, i'll take you to my little Korean friend he just sooo loves doggies)
.....init?
Hi Froggers,
Just to say if you are free between 7PM - 9PM this evening please feel free to drop in to our live streamed concert (internet and wireless connection willing.)
It's coming from Chris Jarvis's place over the road.
Recital For Violin and Piano
Elisabeth Perry-violin
Melita Kolin-piano
Sonata No.1 in B minor Bach
Sonata No.6 in A major Beethoven
Sonata No.1 in G major Brahms
.....blogage alert.......can we all push.............................................................................now............................tah..!
jonnie...wot u on me main man?
...wots with da Brahms, Beethaven unt Bark..?
...where u put de Bob Marley...dat Rupert fella....eee's got more taste n yo man.........init?
Annasee (85) - here! 'Course I will.
Frances
Hello All,
Aside from the house moving stress (and it has become very stressful) my home ISP has been off all week! Grr and double grr!
Just popping in for a quick hello. Hope you're all well. Do have some of these lovely chocolates.
A, x.
* gasp! pant! *
One (gig) down, one to go .. grabbing mic stands and leads and stuff and running back out of the door again.
Nikki ... was that YOU I heard during the Hedgehog Song? Because I should have told you, for the little kiddies, we changed the line to:
" You can TICKLE the bear
" If you do it with care... " etc
Some of the Grannies looked a little confused!
Good luck for tonight Jonnie. Sorry I have to miss it ... will you be on Listen Again??
;o)
Fifi
*sprints for exit*
Hi Fronds
Just a quick visit before we pop off out for a luvverly Indian dinner... eldest+girlie and middle+girlie are all here for eldest's 23rd birthday. It's Folk Festival weekend in our town - I just LOVE it - takes me back to the days of being in a folkie group back in the RAF. The atmosphere is fab and hippy-folky-ish.
Fifi - glad to hear things aren't as sanity-threatening as they were revving up to be with The Obnoxious One!
Humph & DIY - hope you found each other ok and had a memorable time!
DIY - your name should be Jacob...because you're crackers.
Off to Wales on Monday to watch the puffins on Skomer, so will drop in again next week, if not later tonight.
Croak
xx
Jason #78,
It's not the size of the box; it's the size of the hole into the box.
The Great Tit's spent some time hammering away with it's beak around the entrance hole, trying to enlarge it to get in.
Have to admit that I'm (secretly) glad it's raining this weekend, as I'm having to work on Monday. It's so much harder when the sun is out, you know the world is out their having the day off catching rays, and I'm stuck indoors with nose to grindstone.
I've updated my blog if anyone ever reads it anymore since it is nearly two months since the last post...
Thanks to Ed I #54,
I've now heard the Oddie interview. Considering what I read here, I was expecting verbal fireworks; I thought Oddie was quite measured. True he took the question in a relatively bad way.
Does spring coming early matter; well, if the fruit trees blossom before the bees are ready to pollenate them, bang goes the apple/pear/cherry crop. (An example of the kind of reply he should/could have given, IMO).
Oh that's better.....I needed some fresh air. Oh, my aching ribs....
I have just returned from Bournemouth where and several other on-line listeners and I were being entertained by Jonnie's sister Liz, a superb violinist, and her friend Melita, a superb pianist. It really was a privilege to be (virtually) in CJ's house, listening to such a wonderful performance.
Jonnie....I must apologise for my disrespectful behaviour - however, if you insist on seating me, DIWyman, and Simon together on the back row, what can you expect? I can only say in my defence that I was led astray. :o(
I also apologise for my deleted expletive. CJ promised the modelling session I did for him would be our little secret....and there was the result, broadcast worldwide, with you telling everyone it was me. I was so surprised, I quite forgot myself. I am so sorry. There....I'm named and shamed. Am I forgiven?
hope the concert's gone well, jonnie!
And your's too fifi!!! - please pass on my *most* sincere apologies to the grannies...I ought to have realised, TICKLE, of course, silly me...!!!!
Appy, your chocs were lovely, moreish and tempting. I got tempted time and time again!! Keep on going with your Big Shift!! We're all rooting for you - connected or not!
And a happy evening to all the froggers! Especially those away this weekend - we're eating and drinking your good health & your share too!
n-n
xx
Just checking in on the beach, and sorry I missed the concert at CJ's. Today's not been the best in May but the funeral was uplifting and overflowing.
Appy, how clever of you to bring a box of chocolates with an extra hidden layer underneath, and it's still got all my favourites too :o) Best of luck with the shifting - need a hand?
Humph - and a charming pair you look too!
Fifi - slow down girl, or you will whirl yourself into a greasy spot!
Miss PB - well I for one thought it was REAL funny, and I'm a short person too remember Gillian! How do you think we all fit on to that Naughty Corner?
Mmmunch, another chocolate I think.....
Gillian /DI Wyman - Glad - hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliments about my sister and Melita, I'll point them out in the morning.
Simon (SO) has filled me in on all the back row antics. He was back at the Hotel (as you know) watching with our friend James. They both said that DI Wyman needs his own show as he was sooooo funny and quick with the remarks. I only wish I'd been able to read the comments but I was tethered to a cable away from the laptop ;-(
Re: Feefs .. Hope yours went down equally well - I'm sure it'll have had a younger 'in house' audience. Perhaps if your next venue has a broadband connection - take along a webcam, and your laptop and stick it out live on the Froggers webcam stream?
Re: anth :- When I heard Bill Oddie live in the morning he sounded very rude and grumpy.
When I played it back to my SO we both agreed he didn't sound too rude.
My conclusion can only be that we (as humans) have grumpier ears at 8-30 AM in the morning. I suppose to a certain extent ' the question 'Does it matter'? is somewhat lasy journalism?
Well ED I will be pleased anyway :-)
Re; Val P.
I did enquire about your funeral yesterday - but a number of my posts disappeared into the ether. I'm glad it was upliftiing and always serve to remind us how transitory life is. At least we cheer ourselves and support each other on the beach.
With that in mind I'd also like to quickly thank the owner and developer of camstreams 'Patrick Cornwell'
who personally e-mailed me back immediately -on requesting increased bandwidth - and upped the streaming limits so everyone had a seat tonight.
Thank You Patrick.
The concert was truly outstanding and I think we all want more. Excellent, well done Lis
jonnie, can you put an excerpt on the unofficial blog?
morning fellow froggers...bit damp in May so popped down to have some quality time with mit towel.
jonnie...brill concert last evening. Mrs DIY kept popping into the kitchen to see wot all the fuss was about only to find me creased up with the giggles!
Gillian, i trust yer mascara didn't run to much!
a well done and a gold star to all involved...
catch u later....init......VOT?
Jonnie, sorry I missed your concert last night, was busy calming aged mother about non-appearance of tickets for our holiday and changes to the arrangements for picking her up. Specifically chose this holiday as it would pick her up by coach from near her home to go to the boat - now they say she's the only one from there so they won't and she'll have to travel miles by taxi to meet the bus....grrr.
As for Camstreams, local conditions permitting, they will be powering the tomorrow. Technical problems in the pub meant the first one was not streamed, but I'm assured it's all fixed now.
Trouble is that no-one in Derby will have their mind on the climate tomorrow except in the very local sense of what the weather will be like at Wembley!
Meanwhile an assortment of teas with croissants and toast next to the coffee pot on the bar. It's the last of my grape jelly till the autumn so make the most of it.
DIWyman (118) My running mascara was the least of my problems last night. My decorum will certainly never be the same again ;o(
Thank you Nikki N and Val P, and glad you enjoyed the chocolates. Val, hope you contiune to feel uplifted, and sorry for your loss.
ISP is back on, but still up to my eyes with work and packing up the house, so I shall be an infrequent blog/beach-visitor for the next couple of weeks, I'm afraid.
Breakfast buffet for all interested -- hot and cold; treats and healthy.
Here comes another frantic day :-(
Ap (121) - Frantic? Nice and relaxed here!
Can I have two croissants?
Whew! Soaking in May. Might as well have a dip, then. See you all in a bit!
Jonnie #115,
Interesting point. I "listened again" in the evening to the Oddie bit. Maybe my reaction also would be different if I was in my morning rush to get out, or stuck in traffic (if it was around 8:30).
I also did not explain fully my point. It appears that some species are adapting to the fast change better than others. So whereas a fruit tree used to be pollenated by bees, if they flower early, and the bees had not yet adapted to the earlier spring, then there's nothing to pollenate them and no fruit.
Gillian (120)
re: decorum..is that posh Latin for decorating?....if so i'm yer man....have brush will travel....no job to small....
..https://www.forthbridges.org.uk/railbridgefacts.htm
....was a recent job..used the Mr Bean approach...just a bit bigger....2,649 x 5 gallon tins of grey paint.........5,298 sticks of Alfred Bernhard Nobel's finest mixture....a dark night and hey presto...one bridge, gloss grey, even the D*lux doggy would be proud......
Another lovely day!
I, too, Val P am both sorry about the death, and glad that the funeral was positive...sometimes they can draw people closer together.
Right: I'm going to take my spade, and dig out a wopping huge sand-whale, before the tide comes in...
n-n
xx
Am I all alone here? (3.10)
Or do we need to...
PUSH!
Tea break -
Well - I marked it out, a big whale shape, and I've started at the tail end, as you can see...
Do you think I've been a bit over ambitious?!!
n-n
Oooh, nn, think you'd better hurry up...
here ,Rjd,this one just for u.
"married men should foget there mistakes.after all,
there's no point in two people remembering the same thing ...!"
Mpb
XXX
Miss Pooh Bear - Nice one! But can I tell you that no married man is ever likely to be allowed to forget a mistake! :o)
Bloggage? or have I done something to upset the mods?
I'd offer them some of this lovely sloe gin I've made if I knew who to give it to. Anyone else?
AnneP. - oo yes please! Sounds good, did you get the sloes yourself?!
Done all the spade work for the whale - and I'm just going to pat it down before I give it all up to the waves...Frances O how about a couple of stones for eyes?!
n-n
xx
DI Wyman #125
Is that an offer to submit a quote for exterior decoration (somewhere in London)? Am tearing my hair (singular) out trying to project manage this looming disaster...
Anne P #132,
I trust your Sloe Gin is not at "commercial" strength, i.e. well under the 40% that Gin is sold at.
Meanwhile, the collapse of one off-licence chain, beginning with U, deprived me of a source of rum - a Carribbean sounding brand - at over 50% proof. We normally make a Rumkopf every year, with our excess fruit, but they are supposed to be made with alcohol over 56% proof; we appeared to get away with the 50%, but don't really want to risk with 40%. Do froggers have any ideas?
In my last post, there is a "not" that is not needed; but unfortunately the sentence still makes sense with it included.
My first Rum topf was using austrian Strohe (I think) rum. It kicked! SInce then just used normal strength but have not had the oppertunity to make one in the last few years. If you have any spare fruit. send it on. Mango works a treat as do Strawberries and rasps.
Glad the concert went well. COuld not get to attend. Kids and I forgot. Should have had pc just on in the corner.
Bottle of Cab/sheraz/merlot Har_ys Crest if you are interested. Open and going down. Got a deal on a dozen. As my Birthday BBQ bash ended in profit re alcohol. i.e.. at end of party we ended with more bottles than at the start we are having to drink it to make some space. hic
nikki, that was perfect. A sublime moment as the whole whale was glimpsed for a moment, then vanished beneath the waves. You should get a grant for that.
Except the grants for art are drying up so that we can pay for the blasted Olympics (grouse, grumble, as are those for charities, etc. And indeed some sports.)
I am watching "Big Brother: According to Russell Brand". Am I barred from the Beach?
Ap- Yes!
The weekend just gets more and more surreal!
1. Last night, a poacher is asked why he's bidding in a charity auction for legitimate fishihg gear
2. Not until midnight does anyone askabout encores ... it's a 45 minute drive to/from the gig
3. I 'pulled' twice. Details will not be divulged on this blog!
4. Today I was nearly brained by a falling speaker toppling on to the stage
5. I also narrowly missed having toes cut off by the knife cutting /God's birthday cake ( who knew Pentecost was such an important date? ).
Explanations anyone?
Fifi xxxx
Just popping in briefly .. god I'm tired!
Totally surreal weekend; will fill you in tomorrow!
Fifi xxx
Perry : no-one is barred, shurely? I'm watching Hugh Laurie in a film about the Samba.
New resolution - learn some Samba (I can't dance, three right feet, so it'll be one of the cowbells - rhythm of "I would like a cup of tea", apparantly. Must be easy!).
Must a-bed to go, put this filum on record and watch tomorrow.
btw : everyone is invited to a private view of Art in Wimborne (Church House) today (Mon) at 6:30 pm. There'll be some music and wine and art. Can't go wrong :)
Night night.
Ax
top of the mornin' froggers........lordy its wet in May..
....fresh coffee and a selection of muffins on the bar....just going for jog.....will do a fry up on my return...i trust everyone likes Black pudding?
anth (134)
re quote.....how about "There's no underestimating the intelligence of the American public"?
.....
Fifi......
re: pulling.....go on give us a treat.....!
I pulled once or twice, but I have taken a solomn oath not to start Wittering on about it!
....oh well back to May..Per Ardua Ad Astra....
AndyCr: Lovely to see you here again! ;o)
Would love to come to your viewing today, but fear I'll probably not make it as we've already got a mountain of stuff on, but am thinking of you and hoping it all goes well.
One of these days, Andy, one of these days ....
Big Sis x
Back in May the sun's just trying to get through and the rain seems to have stopped. So there's hope for us all.
Not much of the sloe gin left I see, must look out another bottle. Meanwhile some freshly brewed Java and a large pot of English Breakfast on the bar next to the muffins.
Riding the favourite at Cheltenham, a jockey was well ahead of the field. Suddenly he was hit on the head by a turkey and a string of sausages.
He managed to keep control of his mount and pulled back into the lead, only to be struck by a box of Christmas crackers and a dozen mince pies as he went over the last fence.
With great skill he managed to steer the horse to the front of the field once more when, on the run in, he was struck on the head by a bottle of sherry and a Christmas pudding.
Thus distracted, he succeeded in coming only second. He immediately went to the stewards to complain that he had been seriously hampered.
I was half watching the BB thing last night also so thats two of us on the Naughty step. Half watching tends to be what I do with all sorts now. Apart from House & Dr Who I am usually being unproductive in front of a PC when the TV is on. Will have to start putting Radio on again instead. Must get kids washed so we can do stuff back in May.
Andycroak (142) Your shimmies may be suspect, but your Shimmers are wonderful!
Please remember that the froggers' expectations were raised by Jonnie's broadcast on Saturday .....when you say ''everyone is invited'' to the Art Exhibition, I expect that to mean we can see it via Camstream! Details to follow?
Hope it goes well for you anyway!
thanks RJD! That's really tickled me for some reason...
cheers Frances O - and the bit I quite liked earlier, was when the waves rushed in towards the 'mouth' and a huge spume spouted out the blow hole!!! [just a bit of hose really, but the effect was funny!] !!
A HUGE toast rack has appeared in the NCM bar...?!!! I'll make a start at putting some bread under the grill
n-n
xx
Andy R (142)
re: the art in Windburn.....best u put me, Gillian, Simon & prob'y jonnie at the back...we have been known to be a bit vocal, well all except Gillian.....she will just crack up at the first double auntaund..bless.......:)
..Humph...those creases in yer socks ain't straight mate...!!
....got to go, again....init & VOT?
All together now.
Three German Officers crossed the line...
Anth: re stonger alcohol. You need fractional distillation using Leibrig's condensor. Just break into your nearest secondary school's chemistry lab and you will find it gathering dust in a corner beneath a pristine copy of "Teaching Science in the National Curriculum".
Of course, this frogger does not condone or encourage criminal activities.
Re: The art in Windburn Hurumph!
Sorry - DI Wyman is a bad influence on me.
Re: Andy's art in Wimborne (Church House) today (Mon) at 6:30 pm.
I'm popping over there armed with the Froggers videocam for a future broadcast - though I suspect I won't be allowed to use it - anyway I'll toast you all with a glass of wine.
Re Fifi - can't wait for you to fill us in! Are you still recovering?
Re: DI Wyman -- did you remember the washing?
Anne - I'll confess - I did have rather too much of the sloe gin. I'll look out a bottle and replenish the bar. Goodness me that was a huge toast rack wasn't it !
Gillianian : ee gads, I didn't think about that!
You'll have to make do with a photo, if I remember my camera. And anyway - being there means you get to take real pictures away with you at very reasonable prices. For a change.
Big Siss : thanks for your kind words, and I'll think of you while I'm there, sipping the wine, listening to the live musician (hope he's not too dull, but then I do like hardcore techno, and he's probably going to be a guitarist. All I know is "it's 70 quid for the musician" so probably not Elton John, which is something I suppose) and wrapping pictures ...
Oooh, they're playing 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' on the quiz on R4.
Fiendish idea - let's all go to 'Spamalot' and drown 'em out singing the Froggers' Song
Hey, Molly got the strapline (sorry only just noticed) congratulations!
...indeed, I would know whom to ask - someone who had practical experience and produced a surprisingly good result, until his place was raided. Ah, the chemistry lab, the things we used to get up to in there... are they still allowed bunsen burners, or is a naked flame no longer allowed?
For a reason I don't know, it is very hard to get any spirits over 40% at all. Pl*m*uth Gin is about 41%, this rum I used to be able to get was the only thing I had found above this.
Contrary to earlier postings, I have found out that the dark rum I used for Rumtopf was 57%, (I mis-remebered,I thought it was ~50%) but it is extraordinarily expensive (probably duties). I've been unable to find it in a shop for about two years now.
Also, a comment about Gillian's Sloe Gin - I noticed that the commercial version available side by side with it's base - has considerably less alcohol content than the base.
my #159 was in reply to Jason's #154, by the way.
Meanwhile, I've dug out this spare Rumtopf which I'll put behind the Nick Clarke bar. Then when there is fresh fruit left over, we can add it in (remembering the sugar, and how could we forget the rum) ready for xmas celebrations.
All I need to do is find a regular supplier of the strong rum. I believe that the normal stuff is not strong enough to ensure safe storage of fruit (perhaps someone else can confirm or correct me?)
Andycroak (156) You've missed a trick there you know.....we could have have an on-line auction. I'll put my credit card away then :o(
As for photos - well just one will do - one of Jonnie and the picture he told me he's going to buy!
Anth (159) MY sloe gin?????
You lot didn't even leave me the empty bottle to have a sniff of ;o(
When ANNE P brings another bottle, I'm going to have to get in quick. Hide a glassful for me please, Anne.
n-n, that was a masterstroke/masterspout!
Andycraft, welcome back. I hope all goes well in Wimborne. Is that the one with the Minster?
AndyCroldpal - wishing you all the best for tonight. Do let Jonnie in with his webcam, you know you're far too far away for me to get down to Dorset at this short notice! Keep us posted? Watch your Inbox for reply, life's been, life.....
Btw I found myself watching the Samba film too, but had to go to bed just after the washing machine incident, it all got too much for me ;o) I take it he did get to meet up with the Girl from Rio from the poster then?
I just caught the whale flicking its tail as it disappeared below the waves - what a feat, well done n-n.
Anne P - have a great holiday, do hope the bus fuss doesn't upset your Mum too much. I suspect we are getting the cold weather travelling down from Norway to May in SE Scotland. It's dry and bright but a freezing wind is blowing the May blossom off the trees. It was looking so beautiful too, as I said elsewhere I took some photos with my phone and may have to email them somewhere to get them out. What's the frog email address?
Ooh 'eck! I've been off the beach for a couple of days (trying to get secondary PC set up with L!nux, don't ya know!) and there's people talking of breaking into schools to enhace the alcoholisity of you beverages! Plus, Fif says she's scored twice??? What's the world coming to?
Simon (SO) is too tied up with the books to see Andy's artwork - However James is going with me instead.
James is dying to find out if Andy really looks like this:-
/blogs/pm/2006/10/andy_cragg_and_anne.shtml
Gillianian : I'll ask Jonnie the webwizz how to do that :) So don't be too far from your credit card!
O Frances : yep, that'll be Wimbone Minster, the full name of the town with it's own Town Crier and militia and a lovely Mayor and a brilliant drama group (https://www.wimbornedrama.co.uk/ - prize for find a pic of me there. clue : wearing a fuzzy hat and gazing into the distance, oddly).
ValP : Ta! I'll let Jonnie in with his camera, there are other (far finer) artists showing their works as well as me, so special permissions might have to be sought, but if his camera is unobtrusive enough ... :)
FF : If you want any help with Linux then ask me, but the whole "fun" of it is the near vertical learning curve :)
Oh dear.
I posted my little competition after Jonnie's post, James will be, er, disappointed.
Ffred (165) '' Scoring twice''.........do you have anything to tell us? ;o)
Hi Gillian, not me, I'm afraid to say. I was just referring to Fifi's comment in 142!
grrr I'm not malicious!
yo..jonnie....all dried and ironed..and thanks to the Humph for the hints on ironing of socks and dish cloths..
..Simon all tied up again...SNATU...then...
Jonnie - you'll have to be patient, sorry. My motorbiky pal is coming over for supper and drinkies, now we're back from the pub (mostly water, in case you're wondering...?) so it'll be tomorrow before I can reveal any of the weekend's antics.
But by golly it's worth the wait. I guarantee at least some of us won't believe a word of it!
Later folks....
Fifi xxx
Gillian #162,
sorry, Anne P's Sloe Gin. Strong stuff....
Psst! Is RJD looking? He said I was barred! I'll just sneak over here to this hammock and curl up, cheers!
Hello everyone!
AndyCrHello me old matey! Long time no chat -- How are you? Hope all is going swimmingly tonight and Jonnie captures every little detail!
Stewart, nice to have your company on the Naughty Step, but I don't think he's looking, so here, come share a secluded hammock.
Fifi, for goodness' sake, spill the beans!
Champagne for everyone on the bar -- I'm celebrating having allowed myself a day off from everything, even though I really didn't have time.
LOL,
A, x.
And the sun slowly paints the sky scarlet and gold over a beautiful beach...
[Strewth! the high tech know how here puts me in the shade...
...streaming whats?!!
And to think I believed I was doing quite well to find the blog and send in a comment!]!
thanks Val P & Frances O!! The beach is where I seem to find things happen a lot more 'simply' than elsewhere!!! I mean: a whale?!!!
Reminds me of the conga - (!!!!)
n-n
xx
摆卢闭!
PS Good luck with the Art in Wimbourneshire
woe...woe and thrice woe....it will rain for forty days and forty nights, the sky will be dark and the earth shalt be covered with water. the beasts of the air will be webbed of feet and man will be at one with his kayak.......
....oh just a normal bank holiday Monday then..
FFred I have Linux set up on wifes Laptop (my old old laptop) What version? I've got novells version set up and intsalling was a breeze. Did a partion first (PQ magic or download freeby partitioners but then again you know IT).
For browsing etc its great. The free office suite software works well. Loads MS files. I can not get it to print to the Lexmark printer thats attached though and can't get the graphics as high a res as I can in windoze XP. Wife hates it as she has to be quick to boot pc up into windoze. Suspect will have to remove it soon for a bit of peace. Should have a spare PC soon to do what you have done and play linux.
*waves to all froggers*
Hi Everyone - just putting my head above the revision dune before hitting the z's - big horrid one tomorrow, small last one on Friday. Then it's partying all the way - well, as much as I do these days (tickets to the Who in Swansea and a hotel afterwards - yippee)!!
Sounds like there's been some fun and games around and about in May for peeps - I'm not going to revise tomorrow afternoon - just wait with bated breath for Fifi revelations.
nn's been a stalwart over a very secluded beach this weekend - well done on the whale - that blow hole was really impressive.
Mr Wyman - you make me laugh, I have no idea what you are talking about half the time but I laugh manically anyway (time for the funny farm....?) What is VOT or vot or Vot or.......
Really wish I'd had the time to join in with the concert on Saturday - sounds like you had a ball with the backdrop of fantastic music. Jonnie, you're a master of the techie stuff. I'm like nn - just got to grips with posting and the like. I am in awe!
Hugs and kisses to everyone - sorry, not enough time for something more substantial on the NCM Bar.
Izzy xx
P.S. If anyone knows the rights of entry under the environmental protection act for statutory nuisance, will you please keep it to yourselves, cos it's far too late for me to work it out and far too complicated!
e - a - a - h !!!
.
j - u - s - t
o - n - e
m - o - r - e
g - l - a - s - s
o- f
s - h - a - m - p - e - r - s
.
..
...
c - h - e - e - r - s !!
.
n-n
Appy This hammock is comfy. As good as the one in my back garden. Pity May has been so poor. Not been laid on since start of the month.
Did I mention I'm off to France end of this week, Via belgium so Cases of Champagne being sorted as well as lots of belgian beers. Will only take my speedos to save on luggage space. Not sure where the passport will go though. No pockets in my speedos
Stewart M #177,
I find linux boots up far faster than windoze.
Personally I strip out KDE and Gnome, and use afterstep as the windows manager - cuts out an awful lot of time. But then I'm an old f*rt who used UN*X. I don't have icons littering my screen.
I've had no problems with display resolution, and use CUPS for printers with no problems - indeed, had to teach the person who introduced me to Linux re CUPS.
But if anyone knows were to put .pk TeX font files in more 2.4.x onwards....
Lovely evening - beautiful art - Andy Cragg is lovely -
Lots to stream when I download it tomorrow.
Now - a new fully charged bottle of sloe gin has been left at the end of the NCMB --
Watch out for the toast racks still left out from this morning.
Re: Fifi - Dying to hear the antics - and as for water - Fifi! - such porkie pies.
Izzy - good luck!
Just popped in to say hello - I don't know if I dare admit it, but I've had a weekend of fantastic blue skies and crisp sunny days in Aberdeen! What a fantastic time!
For any 'Local Hero' fans, you will know what I mean when I say that we went on a Pilgrimage to the phone box in Pennan and made a call
:-))
OKactualone in the film, but I did pretend.
Have also seen more castles than you could shake a stick at! Might try building one just here in the sand.....
Psssssst! RJD! Did you see the Choughs on Springwatch? (Unfortunately they are 'titless'* this year though)
*Don't moderate me - it's bona fide ornithological!
Well Set up my own pointless blog. See what you think!
Anth will have to try this CUPS thingy!
AndyCrcomp - well I can't copy and paste your photo from the Government Inspector, but here's your other mention in
"Dial M for Murder
by Frederick Knott
17-19 May 2007
Margot Wendice TRACEY NICHOLLS
Max Halliday STUART GLOSSOP
Tony Wendice RICHARD NEAL
Captain Lesgate DAVID BROWN
Inspector Hubbard JEREMY AUSTIN
Reporter/Williams ANDY CRAGG
Thompson JOHN BRUTON"
I claim my prize!
Glad you took the day off Appy - 'twill have done you good. Btw - see other thread, was it Tommy Cooper jumping off the roof!!?
n-n - yay, a Bank Holiday Conga! 卢卢卢
Gossipmistress (183) - No - haven't caught it yet! btw I love the photographs.
Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww - SPLOSH splutter splutter
Hello all - sorry about the dramatic crash landing but that really does sum it all up! The croissants have survived (very carefully packaged) along with the pain au raisin and I'll just pop the coffee machine on. Now, is there anything I need to know? Good news especially welcome - Fifi, hows the Troll??
anth;
In your quest for overproof rum www.thedrinkshop.com will solve the riddle.
Look to find Goslings 151, Inner Circle, Bundaberg (good old Bundy!), Stroh 80 percent and lots of other goodies.
Speaking of which there is a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne cognac lurking under the bar, ask for it by name. At nearly 拢30 a shot it's almost worth it's weight in gold. And a half case of assorted overproofs for the very large spare Rumtopf you so kindly donated to the Beach. Now, does anyone have the fruit to put into it?
Oh, and Ed I, if you're out there, I've put a bottle of 29 year-old Dalwhinnie where only you can find it. Don't drink it all at once.
Big fry-up brunch serving now. The only way to kill off the weekend and ease yourself back into work.
And Fifi, you are naughty, keeping us in suspenders half the weekend, waiting to hear abut your exploits. Dish the dirt!
Si.
Just had a quick peep at the past few days- what a lot 's been going on- any chance of cathing uo on your lovely concert, jonnie? like one or two others, the techno bits are way beyond me- posting and staggering from site to site are enough!
izzy- good luck! just been placating my undergr. offspring whose finals are mid -stream as we talk! Wish I could do them for her- good to see your -upbeat approach....good to have light at the ... etc via the Who...UO off to Glastonbury- same sort of attitude as you!
AnneP((158) - did I really? Hey, missed it can you remember what it was? Instantly forgettable, no doubt!
fifi- don't ttease-come on now !
RJD- knocked off my perch ,eh! Good strap. anyway!
Mollyxx
GM (183) I'm glad to hear at least some froggers managed to have a nice w/e weatherwise. Nice pics too!
Now, I'm setting up the beverage corner for elevenses. Who wants what?
Slow start today, after a mad, somewhat soggy and oddly sober weekend.
RJD - cool strapline!
Jonnie - how dare you! When I'm driving, or performing, I selflessly drink tapwater while others enjoy fine ales and wines. (Afterwards I more than make up for it though - I'm only human!)
AndyCrmistcha - welcome back, sweetie pie! Hope you like the improvements to the Beach since your last sojourn. Only thing to watch is the camels, especially if you're barbecuing a herby cumberland sausage... ;o)
Now, gossip monkeys, I must leave you for a few minutes. When I get back, there may be a new Beach here (haven't had time to check yet) in which case that's where I shall lay bare the shameless events of my bank holiday weekend.
See you soon, froggers!
Fifi xxx
Blinkin' flip, Val, you can't win every prize! But thankyou for finding the pic. I will, of course find something lying around to send up to you ...
THe private view/preview thing last night went very well, Jonnie and James turned up and said fine things about my work, for they are fine people with exquisite taste. Watch out for the exclusive interview with The Artist on Jonnie's site soon, I expect.
Linux peeps : I had to do this to get CUPS to work : "lppasswd -q sys -a andyc". Just thought I'd mention it. Stewart M : try increasing the timeout value in /boot/grub/menu.1st to give your SO more time ....
Fearless - coffee would be grand thanks!
Nice strapline RJD. You did say it was sunny in NI yesterday ;o)
Gossipmrs - lovely photos, we saw in the New Year when I was extremely pregnant with No1 Son, at a wee village close to Pennan - but the weather wasn't nearly as kind to us at that time of year. I was mighty concerned as the village was smaller scale than Pennan and we had to wheel our belongings to the house in a wheelbarrow - no road for jeep. I had visions of having to be wheeled up to an ambulance at any point!
Stewie M - once again I've forgotten my G**gle info so I couldn't leave my mark on your Blog. I have to re-set it each time I try to reach someone, wouldn't you think I'd learn to write it down :o). Answers on a postcard please as to what anyone thinks I may have chosen as a password last time?
Hello all you strangers - any croissants left?
Something funny going on with my computer ... got booted out in mid-sentence!
So. Saturday. Black clouds but no actual rain. Set up my music impedimenta on the stage in the marquee in pub garden, plugged into the PA, and sang a few songs to the families enjoying a drink in the tent or neighbouring beer garden.
Outside the charity stalls were doing a brisk trade, and friends kept bringing me cups of tea from the bar (I seemed to be the only person not drinking beer!).
Eventually Kneel the guitar player arrived, with all three of his boys: the Tall Teen, the Talented 13 (who looks 16) and the Cute Ten.
All the boys can play but they were all being shy. So Kneel and I did the duo thing, and treated the event as a rehearsal.
At five Big John Mac arrived to take over entertaining the troops, and Kneel, Tribe and I departed for our evening charity gig in the Deepest Fens.
So far, no pulling. Not even any beer, nary a drop of wine so much as inhaled by yours truly.
In the next instalment, Fifi's charms are released on an unsuspecting fenland community and the band finds itself relegated to being its own support act.
Fifi
Episode Two: Saturday night
It was Punktrainspotter the bass player who'd got us this gig, in aid of the local Air Ambulance. P'spotter works shifts and has recently been unavailable for rehearsal or even cheeky emails, so communication was minimal.
I knew that P'spotter's pal Mat was bringing and operating a PA ('Cyril') more portable than ours ('Nigel') 鈥 none of us currently has a car we'd dare try to transport Nigel in. Following Belvoir Castle Folk Weekend I still had custody of nearly all our kit 鈥 what to bring, for a pub gig?
So I stuffed into the car a load of mic stands, all our mics, all Nigel's cables, and my guitar bodhran tambourine. On arrival P'spotter's first words were: 'You did bring the monitor didn't you?' Er, no. :o(
We unloaded all the kit and set up next to the door to the Gents. The pub was dark and locked firmly in the 70s: beige everywhere that wasn't dark wood. Probably white once, but now nicotine-stained. It was certainly very smoky.
Jo, a lovely bosomy woman who'd organised the event, came over to thank us for coming and her husband bought a round: diet cola for Kneel, tapwater for Fifi (yes, Jonnie, really!) and a pint for P'spotter.
The pulling starts in Episode Three.
Fifi
FFred;
Any chance of a v. strong mug of tea, splash of milk, no sugar. Thanks very much! It'll go with this Sausage and Egg buttie in my other hand.
Si.
Hey, BELINDA! Lots of croissants left.
Lovely to see you - how's it going?
Episode Three: the pulling begins
The pub was full and very, very smoky. Kneel's Tribe sat at a table the other side of the Raffle Table, next to the door to the Ladies.
The landlord was a large man called Ted Watt and he announced us saying: 'If you think they're any good I'll even PAY them to come back another night!" Hollow laughter from audience. Bodes well, thought Fifi.
We rattled through our first few songs. Harmonies going well, lyrics remembered (thank goodness for the run-through at the daytime event!) and bass sounding as smooth as if he'd been practising!
Audience politely clapping between songs鈥 hmmm.
We took a break, during which T.Watt conducted the raffle and auction. Accepting bids for a fishing rod, he stopped and said: "What are YOU bidding for Pete? You poach!" Sitting with P'spotter and Jo, I learn that Jo's hubby has been raving about my voice all evening. Jo had said to him: "You fancy her, you do, don't you!" Whereupon Mr Jo went bright pink and said: "Oh no, no no, I don't, really I don't!"
* ker-ching! *
In Episode Four, the pulling continues, there is debate about a species, and the main act is demoted.
Fifi
This is not going to be a shaggy dog story is it FiFifi?
Now then Andy, all in good time. :o)
Episode Four: the pulling continues
There were an awful lot of raffle prizes, and an awful lot of lots. I got comfy in my corner. Kneel was with the Tribe, one of which wanted to sing a song in the 2nd half; P'spotter and I were fine with that!
I was introduced to a lad called Nick, sitting nearby. Nick was a sweet boy, probably much older than he looked (what we used to call 'mentally handicapped'鈥 what is the correct jargon now?), and still in the care of his parents. He seemed to communicate a lot in sign language, which was handy because a) it was a noisy pub, and b) I'd learnt some BSL.
Nick had been very affected by the music and kept throwing shy little come-hither glances in my direction. We got chatting. He'd won the only raffle prize I'd have given house room to (other than the bottle-shaped ones, obviously) which was a huge cuddly snow-tiger cub. Nick was convinced his tiger was a dog 鈥 no it's a cat 鈥 no it's a dog, ha ha 鈥 OK it's a dog but it's still a cat 鈥
* ker-ching! *
Meanwhile the auction finished and Talented 13 stepped up to the mic. I hoped the audience would be kind to him. He blasted straight into a Red Hot Chilli Peppers song 鈥 and the audience sat up and paid attention. Rapturous applause.
More Chillies, more applause. More! More! (that was me and P'spotter) Talented 13 tried some Oasis and the audience sang along with him! P'spotter and I exchanged a look: it was obvious that this crowd liked TT's stuff much better than ours 鈥 and it's an entertainer's highest duty to be as entertaining as possible. ;o)
So we let TT carry on, latterly joined by Tall Teen on another guitar, till eleven. Kneel did a Paul Simon number on his own, I did a verse or two of the Hedgehog Song (by request!) and we were finally permitted to stop playing around 11.45pm, only when I promised that we'd play All Around My Hat if ever we played there again鈥
In Episode Five, the weather takes centre stage.
Fifi
Izzy - hope it went well. Ugh, I hate exams.
RJD - great strapline!
Goss, I'm glad it was pleasant in Aiberdeen. Fit like, quinie?
I'm a Local Hero lover. Have been to the Lochailort Inn (interiors) several times. It burnt down a few years ago. New one is soul-less. I won't go back.
By the way, that was our Ed Iglehart on the Springwatch thingy on Radio Four!
Well done you!
Fifi xxx
Have brought some nibbles along to keep us going through the Fifi saga, and toppped the Brown Betty on the bar....anyone for flapjacks?
VOLES!
Has anyone seen a vole recently?
(I notice the vole has disappeared from the picture gallery, to be replaced by some human females. Tsk.)
'Springwatch' on telly said that there were a lot of voles around this year, hence many owls (o how topical!).
Oh, WW, that sounds lovely. Any hot buttered toast there? I have a sudden fancy for that.
Episode Five: weather not permitting
On arrival at Day Two of the charity gala, I found that all the stalls had moved into the marquee to escape the torrential rain. A line of gazebos now attempted to shelter the beer garden and provide a dry route from marquee to pub.
Kneel was due to be late as he was returning two of the Tribe to their homes. I set up and went straight into Summertime, followed by Billy Connolly's fine tribute to the Wellington boot, followed by my friend Jan's inspired re-working of a folk classic, the Wild Biker. The stall-holders were looking less glum, and were joining in with choruses, by the time Kneel and Tall Teen arrived.
The wind was getting up now, and under the gazebos it was very squelchy. My shoes were soaking wet, and remained so all day long. ('Aaaaahhhhhhhh'!) In a nice show of unintended irony the vicar started selling ice creams next to the barbecue. Kneel and I played on, determined to make things at least sound like fun鈥
Outside, in slow motion, one of the gazebos turned turtle.
Sometimes when disaster strikes it's so unexpected that you simply don't react. It looks like bravery .. it isn't.
An enormous speaker, standing on a 4-foot tall tripod next to the stage, was nudged once too often by the flapping marquee and crashed smack on to the stage in front of me. It missed me, missed my resting guitar, missed the public.
We finished our song (yes, we really did!) then scrambled to assist in clearing the marquee. A tent pole behind the stage was slipping, and the wind was getting a real grip. Alex the Italian landlord abandoned the Barbie and with Tim struggled to get the pole back in place.
Kneel packed up the PA, I packed up our instruments and handed them to Tall Teen to carry into the pub. The marquee was flapping all around now. Alex had a drama-queen moment, and screamed at the rather listless stallholders: "Get ze cheeldren aht of zee tent! Get ze cheeldren to safety!"
I could hardly move for laughing鈥
In Episode Six, a vicar pretends to be a farmer's wife.
Fifi
Molly - I think it was along the lines of "PM - it's what we do".
What's this about Ed I on Radio 4 - can I listen again somewhere?
Episode Six: I'll have a glass of Dunkirk spirit, please
There was an hour to go before Kneel and I had agreed to play at a service for Pentecost. On my last run along Squelchy Avenue with rescued equipment, I nearly mowed down the vicar who was gamely heading for the marquee with a box of musical instruments. Nobody had told him, and he clearly hadn't noticed, that the marquee was out of bounds.
Indoors, I was stashing speakers cables cases and instruments under tables already groaning with fancy goods due to be auctioned that evening. The stallholders either went home to dry off or stood in the bar getting hammered. Meanwhile children and smartly-dressed (dry!) adults were gathering for the service.
The vicar had worked out a lovely spiel for Pentecost. He described it as 'the Church's birthday', and had brought a card, a present ('how to speak Italian') and a cake with candles. We handed out percussion instruments and everyone played and sang along with a happy-clappy hymn, and then Mrs Vicar cut the cake and handed it round to everyone.
Afterwards, the vicar was collecting up his props to take home. At the bottom of his armful of stuff was the plastic cake box with a few last slices and the large knife. He proceeded to drop the box, and the knife came within an inch of skewering my still-wet right foot. "That's all right," he said, "everyone's had cake鈥."
In Episode Seven鈥.. no, I'll spare you!
Any of that redbush tea left? OK I'll brew some more. Thank you all for listening!
Fifi xxx
Stewart (180) Poor You! Don't worry -- we froggers will all lie on you. Hey everyone PLIE ON!... Oh, is that not what you menat Stewart? Oops, sorry...
Val (185) Thanks, it most certainly did. Behind with work now, but would rather do a long day today having had a break yesterday.
Belinda! Welcome back -- how are you? Big hug.
RJD, Nice strapline. Clearly you are some sort of God, falling behind only the lovely Fifi as strapline hero/heroine now.
Oh dear, back to the grindstone. Save me a glass of bubbly for later chums?
I haven't had a chance to read through all the above posts yet - just popped to the beach to alert everyone to Andycroaks art exhibition.
I recorded some of it on video and it's currently streaming here for a couple of days
It's around 13 mins long - don't forget to chat to any other beach lovers if you pop in.
Either click on my name or :
Belinda- good to see you. Have this box of Champaigne Truffles- ALL FOR YOU :-)
anne P- thanks- utterly embarrassing! still, no threat to Fifi- yet!
Now, who do I phone at 16 00 hrs again?right, press return, scroll down......:-(
Where does time go -is blogging addictive- must just keep up with fifi's saga.....
Mollyxx
Hi all!
Good luck Izzy! Belinda - hi any news?! I hope all's good so far!
WW - yum yes please, flap jacks with an early lunch and much tea!!
Fifi - what a novel weekend!! Could turn it into a sitcom, who shall we cast?!! How about some of the froggers as main characters?!
n-n
[and for Val P. 卢卢卢卢!!]!
No-not 16 00- I mean 18 00, dont I!
Phew! wrong prog- sorry Eddie- silly me!!!!
Mollyxx
just popped in from May, where thankfully it has stopped raining.
Mind u there is some geezer over in the Wroxam boatyards by the name of Noah building the biggest Broads cruiser i've ever seen.
I have popped Doughnuts on the bar, they are sooo moreish, if I eat anymore i'll never get into a size 12.
....bad news jonnie....tried everything, but cannot get the stains out of the little pink chiffon number, tell simon i'll get him a new one when the autumn Louis Vuitton collection is shown...
....perhaps something in sackcloth?
..oh well back to may and the hel(p)desk...ttfn...init
Argh - malicious and haven't posted for hours!!
Fifi - sounds like a great deal of fun (if fraught at the edges). Did you find the toast I left for you? Theres a pot of marmite knocking around too.
Belinda - hello sweetness; a glass of whatever you fancy most on the bar. Mario is standing by with massage table and oils at the ready (a session was put by just for you!)
Val - that sounds scary - it's steep enough round there with 4 wheels and an engine! I presume they didn't have to cart you off in the wheelbarrow? Sounds like something out of a film!
Aunt D - I am honoured to know one so famous! The friend of the friend of the owner of the dog in Local Hero! Respect!
Belinda! How are you? Welcome back! Here, have a hammock and stretch out your toes in the warm sand!x
Sorry I haven't got time to read Fifi's tale on my 20mins lunch! Will look forward to it later, likewise Andycroak's interview with Jonnie - can't wait!
RJD - do you talk posh like your strapline?
Ohmigoodness Fifi! Yes, write a sitcom about it!!
Psssst! Silverfox is at the Cransley...
Fifi
;o)
Gossipmistress (216) - I am exceedingly posh and have a voice like cut glass!
Appy, it's all too unbelievable. I haven't exaggerated anything. I even left out some things that happened!
I remember standing on what remained of the stage, holding up canvas with my hands while Alex and Tim wrestled with the tent-pole, and giggling to someone who was grabbing mic stands:
"It's like being in your very own disaster movie!"
Fifi xx
There's an outbreak of Kevin at the Cransley.
First Bigbertha changed her name to Kevin.
Then a lower-case kevin arrived, and when Kevin told him to change HIS name he went away.
Now JessicIa has changed her name to Kevin.
Now guest, formerly labelled silverfox, is claiming to be eddiemair.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAGHGHGHGHGH!
Fifi
* lies down with cold towel across eyes *
Andycoak and Fifi......this is serendipity!
Before my fingers were prised away from the keyboard, we were talking about punk on the Jonnie cam, and I mentioned Big Audio Dynamite - a post-Clash band, fronted by Mick Jones, ex-Clash. Biggest hit was probably E=MC squared. I'm listening to it now, having my own private bop.
Anyway, the opening lyrics are
Somebody I never met
But in a way I know
Didn't think that you could get
So much from a picture show
Kind of apt, eh?!
This from the Cransleycam.....
Fifi: I DON'T believe a word our friend Kevin says, do you??
TheArtist: Nope
TheArtist: Um, I got an email from Annaseed just now.
Fifi: Oh yes?
User guest entered the room.
Fifi: It's such a shame she's emigrating.
TheArtist: Indeed.
guest: Who?
Fifi: Annasee. Hello again foxy!
TheArtist: How do we know "guest" is silvery?
Fifi: * taps nose mysteriously *
guest: Yes, how do we know?
TheArtist: Great Camstream!
Fifi: * looks at TheArtist ... looks at guest ... looks back ... can't tell them apart! *
guest: Love the zebra top that was on the screen
TheArtist: I'll have to wait 13 minutes to see it again
Fifi: Yes I missed it too. Rugger!
guest: Ohhh, Sailing By again.
User jessicIa entered the room.
User guest left the room.
User jessicIa changed their name to Kevin.
Fifi: Huh?
Fifi: Jess, you are NOT Kevin!
User guest entered the room.
User guest changed their name to eddiemair.
Fifi: Oh yeah, right! Prove it and I'll believe you! ;oD
Fifi: * lies down in neighbouring darkened room... *
User TheArtist changed their name to fififi.
fififi: Hee Hee
User fififi changed their name to andycroak.
eddiemair: I've just come out of the 16:00 in the Glass Box
eddiemair: This is great fun!
Fifi: * opens one eye, very suspiciously... *
andycroak: Hello eddie
Fifi: Hands up everyone who is actually Eddie Mair?
andycroak: What's the lead story then Eric?
eddiemair: Hello andycroak.
User Fifi changed their name to Sheslostitcompletelynow.
andycroak: Its all gone quiet here - we must be mesmerised. Excellent work!
Sheslostitcompletelynow: All set for five then?
eddiemair: Probably on the five Britons seized in Baghdad, but there's still 35 mins to TX
andycroak: Ooh FiFi : there's a rude word in your new name
Sheslostitcompletelynow: If you know any croatian there's more than one!
andycroak: Nothing on the move to create les clumsy robots?
User andycroak changed their name to TheArtistWhosWorkIsForSale.
Sheslostitcompletelynow: I'm very disappointed that the saga of my weekend hasn't made it in.
eddiemair: See you on the ice.
Sheslostitcompletelynow: Cheers Eddie. xx
TheArtistWhosWorkIsForSale: Have a good one Eric
User eddiemair left the room.
TheArtistWhosWorkIsForSale: Well, maybe it was him
Sheslostitcompletelynow: Used all the right jargon.
TheArtistWhosWorkIsForSale: Didn't say much
User susieQ entered the room.
User Sheslostitcompletelynow changed their name to NoImKevin.
User susieQ changed their name to kaley.
NoImKevin: Hi Susie, how are you?
User TheArtistWhosWorkIsForSale changed their name to ImKevin.
User kaley left the room.
NoImKevin: Quite right too!
User eddiemair entered the room.
ImKevin: Hello Eric
NoImKevin: Ha! still think it's fun???
User eddiemair changed their name to guest.
User guest left the room.
NoImKevin: This is turning in to a rerun of my weekend! See Beach for details...
Kevin: whats with all these kevins
ImKevin: At least it's not wet
NoImKevin: Do we think Silver Fox is Eddie?
ImKevin: Unlikely
NoImKevin: I dunno Bertha/Kevin, you started it!
ImKevin: Eddie could be SilverFox though.
NoImKevin: I did wonder about Nick Robinson, especially now I've seen him on Have I Got Nudes For You.
NoImKevin: Am I the only one waiting expectantly for guest8 to change name to Kevin?
User guest15 entered the room.
ImKevin: Hello Kevin
User Gillian entered the room.
NoImKevin: Glad it's not too silly in here. For that would be awful.
NoImKevin: Hi Gill.
ImKevin: Guest8 is probably going to change to 9Months ...
NoImKevin: You missed Eddie!
Gillian: Pooh!
NoImKevin: He took over the guise of 'guest'.
Gillian: I go away for half an hour............
(argh)
Fifi
NEWS UPDATE!!
NEWS UPDATE!!
NEWS UPDATE!!
VOLE WATCH: nil
EAGLE OWL WATCH: lots
"are they related?"?!
I think we should be told! Send out the roving PM reporter Snow White with her green wellies and seven small* sound recordists to track down this story...
n-n
*
By the word small, I am in no way denigrating sizes which are even smaller than this, nor implying that sizes slightly larger are in any way oversized.
Sizes can go down as well as up.
n-n:
I fear the relative owl and vole totals may, indeed, be related.
Kill the owls now!
Kill the owls now!
PUSH!!!!!
Fifi x
Wow !!
...peace.
[Ed I, you'd love it on the beach at the moment!]
I can't decide whether to take a stroll along the beach, or just head straight for the NCM bar; i think I will just wander down to the water's edge and gaze...
n-n
P
U
S
H!!!!!!!!
Fifi
One quick email to The New Blog Prince and the bloggage is unblogged.
Coincidence?
Fifi
Nice PUSH Fifi!
Hello all,
Thank you for the croissants, hammock, champagne truffles and Mario. He really is thorough isn't he?
Been a little rough over the last few days for some reason and the chemotherapy hasn't even started yet! (that is tomorrow's joy). On the plus side, the big people tell me that I won't need as many rounds/bouts of the chemo as they first thought. My family are taking bets on whether I keep my hair or not.
I loved hearing jonnie and seeing andy on the Cransley video thing, and Fifi, I was on tenderhooks when reading about your weekend.
Anyway, thank you all for your support and thank you Eddie for your continuing services to broadcasting. You are the radio equivalent of Muhammed Ali surrounded by a gaggle of Lester Piggotts.
Thanks to GM, Molly, Francis O and nn for their best wishes re the exam. Big sigh of relief that this morning one's over. Only one more viva to go on Friday and then freedom from the revision dune.
Does anyone have a sure fire way of identifying fish (or the innards of farm animals, but I'm not very hopeful about that one!) - I have a list of fish to learn that I've never seen, which is not the best!
What an epic from Fifi - you seem to have more lives than a cat (flying pa's, knives, mad vicars etc)!
Poor old Appy - keep your pecker up gal, you'll get through in the end.
Off to decide whether my chicken has bumble foot or synovialitis....(no better reason to become a veggie than doing this course, I can tell you!)
P.S. Belinda - the very best of luck for tomorrow. Big (((((frugs))))) to you.
Belinda,
Sorry its been rough - but the news does sound so promising! You'll have to keep us updated re your Heidi bunches (!!!)
And what an excellent image: Eddie fighting tall, floating like a butterfly, with a sting like a bee, and all the little LP's round about - hilarious!
Hope all goes well tomoro
n-n
fifi - I think your water-logged feet have somehow addled your noodle!! In the nicest possible way...!! :~)
n-n
xx
Rumtopf instructions found. Here are the Q&A's Beat these Marc the new blog price
Q. What is Rumpot
A. A puprose made ceramic vessel for preservung fruits in rum. Rumpots should keep out the light and be heavy enough to keep the contents at room temperature
Q. What type of sugar
ANy (Ive abbreviated this answer)
Q. What rum?
A. Not less than 40% volume
Q. Mould in the rumpot (or fermentation)
A. Ripe not overripe fruit, Clean pot, More than 50% of liquid to be Rum so avoid watery fruits. Keep top covered with cling film. Keep Cool
Q. What will prevent my rumfruits getting lower in the pot?
A. Lock up and hide the key.
Its very easy to make these.
First fruit. Wash and dry and cover with equal weight of sugar and stand for one hour. Add to pot cover with Rum to thickness of one finger (I presume above fruit level). Keep fruit submerged. so put small saucer on top of fruit to keep it sunk. Cover with cling film and store in cool place.
Next fruit only use half the weight of sugar but do as above.
Repeat till full. Leave 4-6 weeks minimum but best 3-6 months.
Eat/drink
Hope all goes well Belinda.
S
Good luck for tomorrow Belinda. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to explain this one for me:
You are the radio equivalent of Muhammed Ali surrounded by a gaggle of Lester Piggotts.
Utterly puzzled!
A, x.
Hello peeps, just passing by for a quick visit - won't be around this week much. Its half term of course and am off with the kiddiewinks - then am back for my very last week before I become officially unemployed....yay! Wish I could frog more from home but with one little one getting up about 6am and t'other one refusing to go to bed till nearly 10pm (aarrgh!) it's kind of hard to get quality frog time at the moment - but you are in my thoughts. Worst still I have not had a chance to listen in either.........Eddie I miss you (sigh...)
Anyhoo - have done my best to catch up quickly on the week's comings and goings.
Hugs for (((((((Belinda)))))))) Good luck with the chemo honey - will be thinking of you.
Sorry I missed your concert Jonnie - only just read about it today, hope it went well
Fifi - your weekend? Blimey mate! Hope you are ok x
Gossipmistress - glad you had a good time in Aberdeen. My dad was in Local Hero you know!! Well ok he was an extra - but he was on screen. There is a scene at the airport (can't remember how it goes exactly, its been a while since I saw it) but you just see my dad's back walking through the airport.....look out for him next time you see it.
Well bed is calling so I better love you and leave you all. Hello to you all - i think there are a few absent frogs at the moment aren't there. Not seen much of Big Sis or Witchi on this beach? Anyway hello again and good night all.... see you soon
Hi Belinda,
Thanks again for your complimentary remarks about Andy and our little video.
I hope you didn't think my remarks on the other thread - about thinking of you in the bath - were flippant.
They weren't !
And I was
Andy is busy this weekend - but perhaps on Saturday the 9th June - I'll try and pay him another visist on behalf of the Froggers.
We can have a poroper chat with him - so think of some tricky questions that we can ask him :-)
For those that haven't checked out his website it's on the link if you click on my name.
For anyome who missed 'The concert' - I'll put it back out on Friday evening.
Patrick from Camstreams is keeping me on a large bandwidth till Saturday.
However I haven't got all the funny bits of Chris Jarvis's house and freezer contents -- or all the funny comments from Gillian- DIYman - etc -- most of which I've only heard about! But if you just want the nuts and bolts - I kept the tape running.
Let me know if anyone does wan't to see it - and give me a time and I'll play it out. I think it's around 1 hour 10 in total.
The sloe gin in the NCMB has changed in to a litre bottle of port tonight.
Help yourselves ;-)
Fifi and all participants!
Just seen your transcript :-)
Well that must be enough to put anyone off ever visiting the froggers cam again !!!
Alas I missed all the fun -
But this bit made me laugh :-
andycroak: Hello eddie
Fifi: Hands up everyone who is actually Eddie Mair?
andycroak: What's the lead story then Eric?
eddiemair: Hello andycroak.
User Fifi changed their name to Sheslostitcompletelynow.
andycroak: Its all gone quiet here - we must be mesmerised. Excellent work!
Sheslostitcompletelynow: All set for five then?
eddiemair: Probably on the five Britons seized in Baghdad, but there's still 35 mins to TX
------------------------------------------------------
The funny bit I mean !
Sheslostitcompletelynow.
--------------------------------------------------------
I mean Fifi using THAT name ?
- -- - - - - - - - - -
C'mon Fifi - You didn't need to tell us :-!
Forgot to say last night, did I miss our Ed I on Springwatch on R4? Can we listen again? And will you be on the tv version, Ed - we'll be looking out for you :)
right must dash - taking two 5 year olds out for the day.......and its raining, off to the farm I think - there are indoor and outdoor bits there and the kids love it.
Oh, morning all by the way
xx
Belinda - all the best (((frugs))).
Oh jonnie, you can think about me in the bath any time you like. But if I were you, I would think of something better looking.
Thanks for all your kind thoughts!
Appy (238): Talking about metaphoric size of talent there. Nothing do to with riding Mairs. ;0)
Belinda, I hope it goes as well as it can for you today. Lots of love xx
Jonnie (240) I hope anyone who missed Lis's and Melita's recital will watch it on Friday. It really is a virtuoso performance, and the quality of the recording is first class.
I will be watching and listening again, but I will also be sitting on my hands, or disconnecting the keyboard!
Oh dear, even the mods think I'm malicious ;o(
Belinda - thinking of you, many frugs (((((( x ))))))
Belinda, lots of (((frugs))) available for you if/when you need them. I'll set up a range of relaxing/soothing beverages for you in the breakfast nook.
AA, I left this comment on the Police Stop! thread, but I thought I'd add it here: Neverwhere is apparently avalaible now on DVD! I've had a copy from the US for a couple of years, but it looks like Auntie Beeb has now released a UK edition. on a certain well-known online retailer's website (think long river in South America), they give a delivery estimate of 7 to 10 days. If your DVD player & tv can cope with US discs, however, the Region 1 edition is better, in that it has an optional commentary throughout by Neil Gaiman, the writer....
Jonnie
"However I haven't got all the funny bits of Chris Jarvis's house and freezer contents -- "
Not sure if I want to know his freezer contents! No frozen ex Cbeebies presenters aka desparate housewives?
Hi folks,
Busy enjoying summer weather, gloating about all the stormy stuff going South. (((((Belinda)))))
The Nature thingy is available to 'listenagain', from the Nature bit at bbc. They used a feminine voice for my bits, but I'm getting used to that. Is it something about my mode of expression, I wonders... It won't be on the TV bit, but I found it an interesting listen, besides listening out to see if any of my contributions got in.
"" was from me, but a reference to a wonderful wee thing from Lewis Thomas. They also used one of my lists of Spring signs - Wheeee! Anonymously famous for a few seconds!
Loved the transcript!! Haven't had a chance to see Andy's stuff. Hope it remains available.
Leaving loads of fresh wild salad things, including wild garlic leaves as well as a haunch of road-killed venison Off to sort some outdoor stuff, see y'all later!
xx
ed
Thankyou Jonnie and Belinda and peeps who've said luverly things about my work. I feel quite 'umbled and proud (is this metaphysically possible?).
I look forward to Jonnie's next probing interview :)
What's Neverland all about then?
that's Neverwhere andyc... It was a book & TV series made about 11 years ago by the Beeb. It was written by Neil Gaiman (a very well known fantasy author, if you're not aware of his work). It's a bit difficult to explain exactly what it's about, but it is generally thought to be one of the "lost" classics of drama, particularly in the fantasy genre. I'd rank it alongside the 80's version of Day Of The Triffids as proof that british TV could make some wonderful "scifi/fantasy" when it's done properly... Check it out on either amaz*n or pl*y for more details...
andycroak - Neverwhere. Neverland is summat else entirely - though worth the watch!
Thoroughly enjoyed (even more than usual) the Thinking Allowed Newsletter which fell into my Inbox earlier, and since the frog seems to be accepting large contributions (large and hilarious!) I thought you'd enjoy this:
/radio4/factual/thinkingallowed/
"I rang my sister in Wales over the Bank Holiday weekend. Although I know that her farm house in Ceredigion is probably no more than three hundred miles away from my flat in Clerkenwell, I always find myself speaking to her with a peculiar urgency as though I fear that the line connecting me to her might at any moment be cut by marauding natives. My urgency might also have something to do with a wish to persuade my sister of the exciting pace of metropolitan life. (Sorry, but I can't speak for long. I have to dash off in a minute to catch a new film, a new play, a new exhibition.)
My sister responds by being excessively languid. 'The sun's just peeping through the clouds', she tells me, as though living in the country gave her a proprietary claim on the elements. 'And there are swallows swirling round the duck pond.' (I do my best to envisage the scene. But fail. The truth is I've never quite got my swallows and my swifts properly sorted. The last time I ventured an identification - 'Gosh look at those swallows' - was at sunset in a Tuscan villa. 'They're bats', my companion told me with unnecessary firmness).
I tell my sister briskly that her country home sounds lovely. She takes this as encouragement. 'It's so bright now', she tells me, 'that I can see for miles and miles'. I hold my tongue. I've never quite understand the country dwellers fascination with long-distance views. Being able to see things that are a long way away might have advantages in military circumstances but it seems slightly redundant to an urban life, where one's main concern is the more proximate sight of a cash machine, a letter box, an Italian restaurant, or a bar selling Harvey's Sussex bitter.
'One thing about the country', my sister says, as though recognising that my silence implies criticism of her decision to bury herself away miles from, well, civilization. 'One thing about the country', she says, 'is that when I'm feeling anxious or worried all I need to do is go for a long walk in the open-air. And suddenly I feel much better'.
I'm still biting my tongue. Why do country-dwellers (people don't just live in the country, they 'dwell' there) - why do country dwellers insist that they have a monopoly on the so-called 'open-air'. Isn't urban air 'open'? What does 'closed air' look like? In any case didn't I read somewhere that there was more pollution in the country than in the town because the wind blew it there? And didn't I also read that there were more varieties of birds (including swallows and swifts) to be found in towns than in the country because of the extra tit-bits provided for them by narrow-visioned, closed-air, urbanites.
But these are matters I choose not to mention to my sister. Our continued relationship depends upon my not questioning her rural idyll. I'm simply not allowed to talk about the amount of rain she has to endure, the distance she has to travel to buy a bottle of third-rate wine, or the claustrophobic intolerance of village life.
I might, though, have a chance today to raise a few of these rural impediments when I talk to the author of a research paper called 'Is the rural idyll bad for your health? Stigma and exclusion in the English countryside'. Join me for that at four o'clock today when I'll also be with the author of a book about how the media shape the world around us which Norman Mailer describes as having 'the same liveliness and intense intellectuality as Marshall McLuhans's Understanding Media'. Quite a review. Quite a prospect. All that at four o'clock (or catch our repeat after the midnight news on Sunday).
Laurie"
Just watched the vid. Splendid work - both andy and jonnie.
Have you done fractals Andy? saw an exhib not to long ago - some of it was great.. more programs to master though....
Belinda (244) Oh, I see... Although you can no doubt imagine my slight disppointment... Big frugs for today. Hope you get time to relax on the beach (real/here/in your head) afterward.
A, x.
"the claustrophobic intolerance of village life" (252)
When the Edinburgh gay couple who had transformed our village pub over the last btwo years departed to set up home in Shetland, there were grown heterosexual males crying real tears.
Village culture doesn't reject incomers unless the incomers reject (or feel superior to) the village culture. Simple isn't it?
xx
ed
P.S. I've always thought the home of Robert Burns could have thought of a better term than 'incomer'. The Irish, for example, call such folk "blow-ins". I think of myself as having spent the first thirty years as a bit of thistledown....
;-)
Thank ValP - definitely worth the listen - as a rural 'dweller' I can't help but feel Laurie protests too much! But I suppose being sociological is a bit difficult when you've only got a field of sheep to pontificate at.....although as he's a University teacher, one does have to wonder.....
Not that I'm competitive or anything ... but I've sent another pile of straplines off to PM today.
Humph, Molly, Nikki, Carl, Rosie et al ... bring it on!
I'm testing to see whether they actually check them before they use them. One of them is a tiny bit naughty!
Just a smidge of home-made ham & lentil soup left from lunchtime, if anyone fancies a small bowlful.
Fifi xx
Fifi - don't talk to me about straplines! I submitted several really good ones (imho) and have they ever appeared...no.
Am going to sulk in the hammock. With a large cup of Earl Grey - anyone wish to join me for/in either?
AnnaR - are you ok??
Ffred, how was dinner last night? I've never tried cooking that Greek recipe for rump steak but the idea was making my mouth water!
Fifi
Beach is quiet today, where is everyone?
At the risk of competing with Fifi's wonderful accounts of village life under storm siege, here's episode one of the Norwegian fjord saga. Actually it's about episode 101 but in the circumstances I'm all for condensed books.
Many moons ago my mother decided to continue her policy of grabbing life with both hands while she still can and booked a cruising holiday to be taken in her 92nd year. She picked a company which offered pick-up very close to home, a luxury cabin with window, lifts between decks. Then she decided that if the cabin had two beds they might as well both be occupied and invited me along.
Months later, after numerous calls by the travel agent, and several conflicting messages about which boat it would be she was eventually sent the paperwork and told the tickets would arrive at least 10 days before travelling. By the end of last week with a Bank Holiday looming (why do Bank Holidays loom by the way?) she was frantic - no tickets, no information.
Finally today the tickets arrived BUT we are not travelling on the boat originally booked, which has a lift, but on a different boat which she's been told does not and so would not have been chosen. Today the agent had a letter saying that the provider had overbooked and she can't have the luxury cabin she had paid for. They offered one with bunks until the agent asked which one they expected the 91 year-old to sleep in? Silence at the other end of the phone. So it will but a much smaller cabin with no window. Another reason for choosing the holiday was the local pickup but now they've refused that on the grounds that she's the only one from there, and so she'll be picked up miles away. And they haven't sent any luggage labels.
Small financial compensation has been offered together with a free excursion and we've decided not to pull out. I'm sure it will be alright really (said with conviction and everything crossed鈥ell I'm cross for sure). Anyway we're due to leave at dawn on Friday, so unless the ship offers Long Wave and Internet access I shall be out of touch after tomorrow.
Looking forward to the fjords. Photos and episode 2 in just over a week鈥atch this space.
Whatever RJD says about Fearless and Fifi, it's a lie, OK???
Fifi
;o)
Cooo eeee!
Over here!!!!
I've just been for a long long long treck round the bay, just to get rid of the cobwebs, and back to the beach for tea!
Who's that doing the bbq?!!! Smells gorgeous!
n-n
I second that, Feef!
:-)
I have been writing a vitriolic letter to the Honkers and Shankers. Much to my surprise (not) lots of you appear to be having trouble with this bunch of inhuman-grasping-two-faced-slither-tongued-
responsibility-avoiding-bureaucrats. They may understand the Chinese but know s*d all about their long standing, now long gone, customers.
And to my certain knowledge RJD has never lied. Well, just the once. Oh and then there was the other time, and... oh.
Perhaps Fifi is right.
and I'm not being malicious, inane maybe.
O AnneP, that is a tale to wring the withers. I hope the suns shines, your Mum develops a taste for aquavit and there are some gorgeous sailors to make up to both of you. It will be stunning scenery, and being on board a ship is just wonderful. (Providing they give her a pole to vault into the bunk with)
Where are RJD and Appy when you need themxxx
I'll buy that, Fifi (262), after the number of lies that you told about me being handsome and all that. This place is full of lies from one Frogger about another. So what is the truth about Fifi and Fearless?
H.
Just reread Aunt D's post - phew!
Did i miss it?!!
btw, anyone help out with this one: local rag cross word: '15 across - Over worked postman.'
n-n
xx
n-n (267) How many letters? Do you have any letters already? Is it cryptic or supposedly quick? We will help where we can but the more info you give us the better.
H.
how many letters, N-N? (or is that the reason the postie's over-worked?)
"how many letters" I hear you ask??!!?!?!
Bl**dy hundreds.....!
tee hee!!! Sorry peeps, that was a joke! Apologies to humph, FF, and possibly others...!
But its had me chuckling away here, as I tuck into a second helping of lemon merangue pie, oh the joys of sweet deserts!!
n-n
xx
Anne P. Looking forward to chapter 2!. I had to phone my travel agent this pm just to check my booking reference for our car ferry. Overnight crossing not as good as a nordic cruise (hello Sven). Took 15 mins to find that they could not confirm the reference I had hastily scribbled down in March when I booked. The girl I spoke to was very nice about it and promised to phone back in the morning but she was a star and phoned to confirm 5 mins later. Thank youi A!拢 M!le$.
My Holiday adventure also to be continued. ...
Thats what I've set my blog up for. But I don't yet know if i'll be able to post on my jollies. I shouldn't , I should enjoy being away from technology for a week.
Fifi (257ish)
A challenge, huh?
What do you mean by 'pile'? how many?
Just wait till you see my heap.....
(no real threat to your talents!!!)
Mollyxx
Hello All,
I've just been to see Pirates 3, so forgive me if I'm all a quiver this evening. Here's some rum in celebration.
Nothing will ever surpass the original but it was lovely to be gazing upon Jack Sparrow again (and Orlando Bloom looked pretty good all wet and angry at the beginning, whilst waiting for Johnny to emerge).
Now then, I'm off for a snooze in that there hammock. Wish me sweet dreams!
Sweet Dreams Appy - TD went to see it last night and was in much the same state!
What's all this about Fifi and Ffred then?
Anne P - all the best of Nordic luck to you. Spare a bit for me too, I'm going to try your cake again tomorrow!
Night all xxx
Appy - oh, sweet dreams my sweet! (You can keep O.B. and frankly I am only interested in J.D. when he's acting!
Now then... who's up for some sociological studies of the platonic bonding of frogs under socially virtually pressured circumstances?
(And let no-one believe anything RJD might have to say, unless Ffred or I say it's kosher!)
er.... Fifi xxxx
Come on then Fifi -- what have you and Fearless been up to and what does RJD know about it?
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
G O S S I P M I S T R E S S
There's a silver bucket full of ice with a magnum of your favourite bubbly (in that magic way) sitting atop the NC Bar, and it's got Gossipmistress' name on it! Once you've opened it and had some - pass it round dear will you? C H E E R S!
And then good night again to all xxx
Gossipmistress!
BATH YARD HIPPY
THAI HAPPY BYRD
BAY PATH DRY HIP
HARDY HAPPY BIT
PATH YAP HYBRID
HABIT HAPPY DRY
BYPATH HARD YIP
Oh bogger
OK one last try!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Yo!
Happy B' Day (bidet?) GM.
H.
WOWWW!!!!
Thank you so much! A champagne breakfast! Anyone like a glass? It's just the thing before work m'dears!xx
Have left an ENORMOUS cake (a quarter each of victoria sponge, chocolate, maple & pecan and coffee & walnut, to cater for all tastes) on the bar also! It goes really well with the fizz.. hiccup.....hiccup.....
RJD are you sure you haven't had a few glasses already? And were you saying that with your best cut grass accent?
Humph - my bidet is delighted!xx
Gossipmistress-
Hippo ,birdees, 2 ewes!
Hippo, birdees, 2 ewes!
Hippo ,birdees, 2 ewe-hoooos!
Hippo, birdees, 2 EWE!!
Mollyxx
Happy Birthday Gossipmistress!
Morning everyone.
Humph, any chance of a greeting for my shower? It's feeling a bit left out...
Thanks Gossipmrs - I don't mind if I do have cake for breakfast! This morning in May, when the sun is shining and I could be catching up with some gardening (though in all honesty I probably wouldn't) I have to take the car in to get a new Back Box fitted to/as the exhaust system. Now here's a thing - exhaust got noisy at Easter time but they said it was just noisy and not yet inoperative (and that boy racers would pay good money to have their car sounding like that, hmmm...I though oh well I'll have a go at being a boy racer till it drops off - rjdstopit - although I didn't win the Indy 500 at the weekend, I was close to it), and gave me a quote of 拢173, discounted to about 拢150 as I'm such a good customer :o) .
So this morning when I phone up and say that I can stand the noise no longer, also need car to be in reliable form for a weekend trip to Englandshire, they look up the computer and quote 拢122.
Just exactly how likely is that? With my luck a price always goes up over time. So was I being ripped off first time around, or has he quoted for the wrong part? Watch this space when I get back this afternoon.......
By the way, purely in the interests of saving you all from yourselves, I watched BB the Live Launch last night so that you didn't have to. Girl Power (that's a bit last century ain't it?)
Hmmm, where's Anne P's cake recipe, I'm sure I filed it under the NC Bar, don't say someone's tidied up since March?
GM - happy HAPPY birthday! And I never say to champagne, thank you so much!
Appy - Pirates 3....hm, Captain Jack *big sigh*. Not normally keen on OB but he looked quite something as he was sailing away at the end...all brooding, bandana-ed and scarred....hmm, happy thoughts for a thurdsay morning!
AnneP - hope you have a lovely time; by the sounds of things I think your Mum can cope with all of this, hope I'm still doing things like that at her age. A game old bird as some word say!
Right, swim, stretch and brekkie in the hammock - cereals, fruits and hot drinks on the bar (for those not partaking in bday fizz)
GM - I echo Molly (my dear old mum sent me that card, years ago and it's been my fav ever since!)
Hippo Birdy 2 Ewe
Have a good one - when you're ready there's a big parcel behind the NC bar with a big red ribbon on......
Happy Birthday, Gossipmistress. You beat me to it with the cake! Never mind.....I've arranged for the Young Macallan to attend to your every need today.
Big fat rich birthday greetings GM. Have a lovely day.
xx
Happy Birthday GM!
Psst. Pssssssst! PSSSSSSSSST!!!!!
* peeps out from behind large parasol *
Fearless, are you there???
* hides again *
Fifi
Happy Birthday GM!!!
I did have a large cake organised for you, with Mario and Luigi inside, ready to burst out and do their Chippendales number for you.
But having seen the splendid confection yu've brought along I think I'll put it away for another occasion.
Instead I'll sling this deluxe model hammock over *here* for you, with two chaps in loincloths, who look suspiciously like D. Craig and S. Bean, ready to pander to your every whim. So relax and take it easy. You deserve it.
BTW; has anyone seen our BigSis around the Blog recently?
Si.
Many Happy Returns, GM!!!
Molly (273) - a challenge, it is then!!
Get your heap together, Ready Steady Go....!
and good luck Izzy for the last little one?!!
What shall I (we?!) do on the beach this morning?! I think May will intrude after lunch, but that still gives me time to....
....hmmm: how about this:
There once was a woman I met,
Who cried - 'The main thing I regret,
Is the night that I had,
With a tall pirate lad -
Oh, and that ensemble male-choir quartet.'
n-n
(inspired by RCLong's one about Perth)
SiW -
She has been most conspicuous by her absence...was there mention of a holiday??
Just checking in for a quick visit on my way back to May....
Big birthday greetings to GM - have a truly fab day.
Appy - re Pirates - am totally with you on that one! Have been a JD fan for years, OB does not really do it for me I must admit - bit too pretty boy. But as for Jonny..........sigh!
Sorry - am back with it again.
Talking of Big Brother (it wasn't me - it was Val P who brought it up, honest :)) I must admit I did watch the first couple of series. Back then it was quite interesting to see how they all interacted. Now it is just all about desperate fame hungy wannabees grabbing their 15 mins. However it got me thinking about how much more interesting the BB house would be if it were filled with our froggers! There could be a tree in the garden for Ed - he would provide the self sufficiency expertise. Si is a fountain of knowledge on many subjects - and is not afraid to put forward a controversial point of view (could have a few arguments going on with Ed if past threads are anything to go by), Fifi and Annasee could provide music, DIY would bring - well madness really! The possibilities, as they say, are endless! Me? I would be the quiet one in the corner making endless cups of tea for all....
Right back to May, bye for now x
OH, nearly forgot - happy holidays Stewart M and Anne P
n-n
Right then-
"PM--to be............''
You nust be joking! (hugs heap of straplines close to chest ..)
Mollyxx
I was wondering about Big Sis too. It's just not the same without her is it!
Oh, Penguin Cafe Orchestra on R4! One of my favourites.
Fifi
Happy Birthday, GM. As a fellow gemini I wish you many more. A week and a bit till mine.
Just bought a green cone recycler as mentioned on the bins/recylcing thread. Also bought some compost bins as the local authorty have a deal with the supplier making them very very cheap.
Also just gone out and measured the garden... I'm looking to turn half the back garden into an allotment to try to reduce my reliance on T拢$鈧琽. Bought Carol Klein's "Grow your own Veg" after recording the 大象传媒 series earlier in the year. Just seems I am about 3 months too late to start!
Can anyone recommend a decent cookery book that has seasonal recipes in it? I have no clue anymore what is in season when and no idea what is worth growing without an accompanying meal idea or three.
It's Stewart's birthday as well?
Heeeeey, I think that calls for a party!!!
We have cake already, so I'll bring a case of Black Stump and a pile of percussion instruments for the singsong later.
What else can we have?
Fifi
PS Happy birthday tew Stew... happy birthday tew Stew......
;o)
Happy Birthday Mistress Gossip!
Here's a picture of some just for fun!
xx
ed
Frohlich Geburtztag ( I think) GossipM.
And I'm not quite on my jollies. But don't worry fiona we will enjoy them. I'm alomost looking forward to EuroDi$n拢y.
As for cars, Mine had two ignition coils die last year and both then ones that were replaced have since died again. First one changed under warrantly then second one dies a year since it was fitted so my very Nice mechanic is trying to get this one changed for free also.
As he told me though, these things just stop working for the hell of it. Just as well its a french car and I'm off to France. If it goes again I should be able to geta spare and I know how to repalce it!
Not going to tell you which french car. But Nicole drove another of their cars.
Jason Good-
Nigel Slater's 'Kitchen Diaries" is lovely- you can get it half-price at some shops, so worth shopping around. All ingredients are seasonal and it is a lovely 'browse' anyway!
Mollyxx
Jason, I think broad beans are in season now, put them in some boiling water for a few minutes. Lovely.
For an even better recipe, take them out of the pods first :)
This is the limit of my culinary expertise - I can boil things.
Jason - Gordon Strachan did one. I'll look up the title, ISBN etc when I'm downstairs making lunch.
Or I can give you a rundown of the Spring recipes and you can pick one?
Fifi
Pssssst!
I'm in the blue hammock, Fifi!
*ducks under panama hat again*
Hey, Fifi, it looks as if RJD is going to keep quite about the . . . what was it again?
F.
Just dashing by in between packing and stuff. Can't swim today as I've already packed the swimsuit.
Happy birthdays to those who have them!
Jason you can still put quite a lot of stuff in if the ground is already dug. If not cover it in black plastic for 6-8 weeks to kill the grass/weeds and then turn over. Meanwhile you can start winter veg such as cabbage, brussels, leeks etc in pots ready to plant out later, or you can buy plug plants for a headstart. If you can plant now it's not too late for any kind of beans except broad, sweet corn, squashes, beetroot, salads. Lots of stuff really. Helps if the packet tells you how many days to maturity so you know whether there's still time for a crop before the autumn. With the warm April and all this rain things will just rampage away.
Right - one last chocolate cake on the bar for the birthday folk and then we'll see what I can bring back from Norway.
Hardly slept last night worrying about whether the coach would turn up and whether Mum would remember her passport, the tickets etc. How daft is that.
Take care all and make sure the camels behave while I'm away. TTFN.
Hi all,
In the middle of a bit of heavy duty cleaning & garden tidying. About time the estate agent sent someone round to view this ideal home, I feel.
Happy Birthday GM, hope you have a lovely day today.
Re Big Sis, I think she said she was going to a country where she couldn't blog this week. Somewhere like Monaco but with worse weather, & more sheep, if I remember rightly.
Jason. Why buy a book when you can probably find all the info on the net? Books just clutter the house. Goodness knows, we've got enough of them. Fed up with "stuff" after doing 3 car boot sales in the last month. Don't want to possess more "stuff" generally. But try telling that to SO who in last 2 week has bought a little recording thingie (don't ask what it's called. It's silver & that's all I know), a flight case to carry stuff around in, & today a battery pack, for the extra batteries for the recording thingie. Oh, & hasn't finished yet. Apparently it needs an extra flash card too. I am fighting an uphill battle here!
Fantastic photos of the squirrel, Ed I. We had some of the grey sort with babies at the bottom of the garden recently. Realised they were babies because a) they were smaller than usual & b) they were rubbish at jumping. Kept falling down the fence when we frightened them by daring to approach the compost heap. Quite funny really.
Especially bunnies.
Is a flash card a special version of the Get Out of Jail free card from Monopoly?
Jason - Hugh Fernley Whittingstall is always a good bet and agree with Molly, Nigel is a delight (I have consulted my Mom's but she won't let me remove it from her kitchen!)
Oh and an old book called the Cookery Year - very dated in places but useful, prob pick one up in a charity shop.
Witchi - oh I've got the Cookery Year, but you're right about it being dated. I can't part with stuff though (see previous saga of new Garden Building to store surplus stuff).
Ed - the red squirrel photos are superb. I'm so enjoying Bill Oddie and the girl who SO thinks is the naturalist version of Jilly Goolden (sulks... or is he thinking of naturists?)
Car did cost 拢122, but what do you know, as soon as they put it up on the ramp they started sucking their teeth, and one of them shot over to tell me that the nearside shock absorber is leaking badly (of course, more convincing that way) and they could "do me one" for 拢97 and it would have a lifetime guarantee. Well,
a} the car's done 126k miles
b} it's had more shock absorbers than Eddie posts threads on one of his manic days.
So I've come home to check the file and see when the last ones were fitted.............
Jason - according to my mate Gordy S, the following are in season:
peas, carrots, broad beans, baby leaf spinach, pak choi, white asparagus, green asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, morel mushroommmmms, garlic, parsley, whiting, spring chickens (I'd better hide!), lamb, Granny Smiths, apricots, mangoes, rhubarb
Let me know what you fancy cooking with any of those, and I'll have a look for recipes.
Fearless - cover me, I'm comin' in! (good job RJD's not here...)
Fifi
THANK YOU to everyone for the birthday wishes, cakes, fizz etcxxx Ed I - hahaha bare breasts indeed!
Stewart - is it your birthday too?
Val - at least it wasn't your big end! (boom boom)
Anne P - I left a message about your Mum's trip but it didn't appear. It was to the effect that it made me mad when psople treated someone's special trip of a lifetime like that, especially for a 91 year old. However, having read Aunt D's comment about pole-vaulting into her bunk bed, well I can't add any more! I hope it really is the trip of a lifetimex
Now I'm off to my hammock with Mr D Craig and Mr S Bean (ShhH! don't tell Big Sis!) - I may be some time..........
Squirrel dqancing at
xx
ed
Wow, ValP(284), you would do that for us? I am very impressed. I realised at the time that I had no inclination to watch BB but I did not know that it was because a friend was making such a sacrifice. Thank you very much for doing that. Tell me, are you intending to continue this service for the whole of the series, or do we need to set up a rota where an individual Frogger watches an episode to save all the other Froggers? Hey, maybe we could get the camels involved. They have not been doing much lately to justify all the food that they keep nicking.
Sorry, Appy (283), but I do not usually send greetings to items of bathroom furniture or fittings unless it is someone鈥檚 special day. Unless you have a special reason why I should send greetings to your shower, I feel that it would be inappropriate to do so. I hope that your shower will not be in floods of tears when it finds out.
H.
One of the following statements is true:
A) I have tried several times to post on the blog the true story about Fifi and Fearless Fred but it has been consistently moderated off because the facts are too shocking.
B) I haven't a baldy notion what they are talking about.
C) I'm thinking of blackmailing them and am biding my time.
Just seen your squirrel EdI - a real privilege, thank you.
aaargh
Just had a client who wants to know how to sue his travel company as they are in breach of contract because he went on hols to italy, staying at an italian hotel, and the menu was in italian. and they had to guess what they were eating. And no-one told them if they could drink the water.
Yes there were lots of english speakers there, but it wasn't their job.
I repeat aaaargh
Aunt Dahlia (317)
I read what you wrote.
I know what is expected of me.
The temptation is almost unbearable.
But only "almost"!
Lovely squirrel film, Ed. I.
We only have tree rats here - always seem quite sweet, but pinch all the bird food and wreck the feeders given half a chance and of course not a red squirrel anywhere.
Err .. Fifi I presume you're not talking cover as in mares and stallions....?
RJD - that'll teach you to pay more attention when lurking at the Cransley then!
Fearless - ha, we got away with it. He wasn't looking! Fancy trying it again? I'll bring the ironmongery this time, you bring the booze......
;o)
Fifi
Valp, you wouldn't be the proud owner of a Special Awfully Antique Brm Brm, would you? I've just moved to an Honourable Ordinary Nerdy Dull Automobile which has no gizmo's and how I miss my heated seat!
I'm up for that, Feef! I'll remember to hunt out the red cotton...
Thanks n-n for the good wishes for tomorrow. Went to the fish monger and butcher for a poke about and am now trying to remember the differencet between actinobacillosis and actinomycosis.
I had a break to watch Ed's squirrel - how sweet. I'm particularly impressed that Ed can listen to music and talk radio at the same time!
Anne P - have a fab time - pole vaulting 90+ year old, atta girl!
Fifi - are you sure RJD's true statement isn't C?!! ;o)
Humph - that's a little harsh isn't it? Don't you know how sensitive showers can be?
Off back to the revision dune now (for the last time [this year, anyway] - yippeeeeee!).
Malicious x 2, am I? Grrrr
Fifi (312): I've got to grow the flippin' stuff first. Can you remind me again in a year's time? Hopefully I'll have some of the aforementioned to hand by then.
Jason - I may be wrong but I think you're allowed to buy the seasonal food the first year. I'm sure Gordy doesn't grow his own whiting!
Gossipmistress - How very DARE you? This is Ffred and me you're talking abo.... oh, I see what you mean. Ermm............ ?
Izzy - he says it's (B) and I believe him. But then I always believe what the Irish tell me. (I never tell lies either, so that's OK then.)
Fearless - I have to go Troll-hunting in half an hour but I'll see back at 'our spot' once I'm done, all right? Don't forget the spoons this time, will you? That was soooo embarrassing before...
Fifi
Actually Humph (315) it is just about my shower's very own 6th birthday (well, it was last week) -- oddly, I remember exactly when it was installed. It's also been crying a lot lately as I am moving away and leaving it behind. Could you possibly reconsider?
A, x.
Happy Birthday, GM (I tried to post this earlier, but was given multiple malicious postings).
Belinda, Hope all's going well.
A couple of bottles on the NC bar for you (and all other froggers) to relax with.
Sorry Izzy, but rules is rules (excluding rules of grammer, obviously). All the best for tomorrow. There should be a brand new beach here tomorrow with all hints of revision notes washed away like those words written in the sand below the high tide mark. Then we will be able to have a real Frog beach party.
H.
Fifi (327),
Speaking of ,,,,
xx
ed
In an idle moment I just had a wonderful thought -- what if they made a 4th Pirates film and George Clooney was in it as well???
Off for a dip in the cold water!
RJD
I guess its (B), but i think it might have something to do with post number 259 - not that any beans are being spilled here, you understand, at least not by me anyway!
Is it me, or has the tide come in a long way tonight?!
I am going straight for the bar, and a single malt, if anyone wants to join me...
n-n
This looks like one of those occasions when a brief review could prove useful, Appy (328). After offering a comment towards a certain Frogger, for which I queried how my own comment might be read, you asked me to make a totally unrelated comment towards an item in your bathroom. I explain my reasons for not generally making such comments but, it would appear, you are still not satisfied. I get the impression that today is not a particularly important day in your calendar. Apparently there was an important day in your shower鈥檚 calendar last week but that has been and gone and I do not think it relevant.
Can I just say, here, that I have never met your shower? I doubt that I will ever meet your shower. Your shower is nothing to me. I am sorry, if that hurts your shower鈥檚 feelings, but that is how it is. You have met your shower on a number of occasions each week for over six years. You and your shower have something, if I may put it like this, of an intimate relationship. And by your own admission the reason that your shower has been crying a lot lately is down to your decision to move away and leave it behind! I hope that you and your shower can come to a suitable arrangement, whilst you still have the time to do so, but I do not believe that I should be required to get involved in this situation.
H.
PS All the best for the move, when it comes!
Ok Humph - I see, rules is rules.
Off to get some zzzz's but..
I'm thinking about my glad rags for tomorrows' party....
"Iiii'mmm putting on my glad rags
straightening my fishnets
pain-en-ting my nails....
dum dum.. diddle diddle.. dum dum,
diddle diddle.. dum dum
diddle diddle dee..."
Humph - yes indeed I would, and I did, but I shan't be making a habit of it! So if anyone needs updated, then we'll have to make up a rota. Sigh.
In case anyone's interested, TD says she'd like to stab the twins on BB and shan't be watching it either. Hmmm, let's see if she sticks to that shall we?
Aunt D - alas and alack, although we did have a humdinger with heated seats, and way back before that a sporty thing made out of fibreglass (related to a Robin but more interesting), I now have a sporting p*nto, which just has to get me from a to b and sometimes c. Usually as a taxi service :-(. Anyone wishing to censor my carbon footprint should look away now - 5 trips today. Eeek. Neither wonder I don't get enough frogging fitted in. Oh yes, and work too.
Did anyone else have wild thunder and lightning today in May? Ah, but did they have it just as they were opening the oven door and putting two tins of cake mix in? and did they have a power cut too? :-( Sheesh. Y'all know I'm not a natural born baker, the first time I baked Anne P's cake I made enough of a noise, but why have the gods sent this extra hurdle for me to trip over the second time I try?
I'm just going to drain the dregs out of this bottle of pinto g and then stagger off to my hammock. Busy day tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep.
Geroge Clooney as a pirate eh? Great idea Appy.
Appy (332) now HOW am I going to concentrate at work today now?? :-)
Ouch Humph (334) -- Harsh but fair, I suppose :-)
Val, Gossipmistress, it's a great thought innit? Oh to be the filling in that partcular sandwich...