The Beach.
"The PM Blog Beach is whatever you want it to be - a place to hang out with other bloggers, and be completely off topic.
"Over time it has developed its own identity, complete with camels, sand dunes, and a permanently stocked bar, but fundamentally it is a place to relax and have fun."
Listen to PM
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~35~RS~)
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Quiet.
I'll set up the coffee...
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Sorry my little 'old' broadcasting Frogger. I over slept!
Thanks for the coffee, toast will be reeay in about five.
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Fifi, sorry about straddling that hammock flailing his arms and legs like that episode, but mittfh had super glued my rubber ring to the hammock. I was actually trying to attract your attention as I need a hand to get out.
Still no real harm done, mind you my ring is shot to pieces!
BTW, how did your evening with the thigh length boots and whip go?
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Morning. How's everyone today? Builders' tea here for all non-coffee drinkers. Anyone else working this weekend? :-(
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GM (4) tea please - I'm gasping - thanks.
As for working this weekend, the trouble with retiring is you are always working (or not). Anyway hope it's an interesting one for you, not too quiet either.
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Mornin' all. Tea - yes please!
Eddie - unlike "the other place", we're not all up and about before 6am! Give us chance to wake up and saunter in!
Now - anybody doing anything 'interesting' for BBC CiN? Unsurprisingly, work's having a dress-down day, with the catch that you've got to wear something yellow or spotty...
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I have a crate or to of Champers so everyone can have a glass 'cos (cue cockney singing)
I'm getting married in the morning...
Well more accurately tomorrow afternoon, but that doesn't scan!
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Stephen:
CONGRATULATIONS!
I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for the pop.
Eddie:
That was welcome. Nice blend you're using, it really woke me up.
Sequin:
Good morning, and welcome back to the Blog.
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Stephen, Leader of STROP, good on you mate, you'll make an honest woman of her yet!
DiY :-)
BTW, why do brides usually dress in white for their wedding?
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..... To match the rest of the kitchen appliances!
(I'll get me coat)
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Definite congrats to you, Stephen! There's a stock of vino collapso pronto ordered for the celebrations on the Beach tomorrow :-)
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Stephen (7):
Congratulations and best wishes to you and the soon-to-be Mrs Leader of STROP!
Mittfh (6):
I'm happy to contribute to Children in Need, as long as it's Children in Need of a Clip Round The Ear; I've been practicing my backswing. I'm also prepared to take Pudsey to the vet. He's had that head-wound for how long now? He's clearly not healing and should be put out of his (my) misery.
...I'll be over on the Grumpy Dune, away from people dressed as bears, pirates and John Sergeant.
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Cat: There's an episode of Taggart tonight - I for one will be watching it. CiN night for me is almost as bad as Eurovision, or Comic Relief night (worthy though both charities undoubtedly are).
Perhaps you'll join me at 9? ;o)
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Big Sister (12):
Sorry, I could never go Taggart, even when the lad himself was on it. It was the way they'd be in a part of the city I knew, they'd turn a corner, and be in a completely different part of the city.
Annoying assistant: "There's bin a murrrderr!"
Taggart: "That's OK, we'll just pop through this wee hole in the fabric of space-time and get there in nae time at a'."
...actually I'd rather have watched that. A mix of Rab C Nesbitt, Sliders and Crime Traveller...
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Sorry, Cat, I can't offer any alternative for tonight!
Funnily enough, one of the reasons we like to watch Taggart is the Glaswegian landscapes (SO was born there), but I acknowledge that the continuity can be a bit dodgy.
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SSC(13) and BS(14) That's one of the things that used to make me laugh about Morse (and to a lesser extent Lewis). As someone who lived in Oxford for the best part of 6 years, I used to have fun watching the old Mk2 Jag turn left onto the High Street, heading into the centre, only to appear going up Headington Hill in the next shot, then finally make it into Botley! Still makes me smile to remember it...
I'll probably avoid CiN as well...
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FF 15, I've seen bits of St Albans in Morse, and Foyle's War, and Eastenders, and John Deed, and Johnny English, and Life Begins, and First Knight, and.....
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SSC (11): Not only does he still have that eye wound, but it looks as though a few years ago someone gave him a fur transplant AND replaced his bandage...
Now you'd think if they had that amount of money to throw around, they'd throw in an eye op as well?
Meanwhile - you've guessed it...
# I'm busy doin' nothing
# Working the whole day through
# Trying to find lots of things not to do!
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Does St. Alban know that some of his bits are being spread around like this, David?
:o)
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PS to 18 - Not to be interpreted as irreverent.
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Coffe downed. Builders tea drained. Now going brown and crispy at the edges, thanks to caffeine poisoning.
DiW; re: your tattered ring. Try Preparation H.
GM; sort of. We're popping down to Hampshire to show one happy couple their wedding photos. Did one this Wednesday and another two Sundays ago both locally to us. Delight all around. Hoping for a hat-trick this weekend.
'Interesting' for CiN? I'm joining BigSis and others in avoiding it. SO wants to see the 'Strictly' bit, and the BBC News journos making musical fools of themselves are usually the highlight of the show.
Eddie, any chance of you putting in an appearance one year? Ratings would certainly rise substantially, which would benefit the charitable push.
STROPmeister; congrats old chap. I'm sure all will go well.
DiW; you forgot 'Why are women's feet smaller than a mans?'
'So that she can stand closer to the kitchen sink!'
Cat; you shouldn't criticise the immortal John Sergeant. He's got it absolutely correct. If the public vote for him (which they are doing in huge numbers every week, he has to be top of the public vote or thereabouts merely to stay in the show) then it's his right to remain in the show. The 'Strictly' judges are throwing hissy fits about him being saved by the public, and criticising the same public for daring to think differently to themselves. So what they want is for the public to be denied a vote and for them to have the only say. At which point the public interest in Strictly vanishes, and so does the show.
They've already gerrymandered the vote by introducing the 'dance-off' concept where the judges get to select one of two acts to eject from the show. Previously this didn't exist and the couple with the lowest aggregate vote was summarily ejected. That was changed after a previous 'bad dancer' episode which riled the judges. Didn't work though, Sergeant remains in the show.
Sergeant is giving the public what they want. His continued participation helps to maintain public interest in the show. An ordinary man with no dancing talent who's not afraid to look a damned fool every weekend in the cause of charity. He shows us that dancing is not only the preserve of good dancers. He shows that dancing can be for men, a point which needs making because if you look around any dance night or dance class and it's 80 percent women. He shows that older and retired people can get involved. In losing over two stone since getting involved he demonstrates that exercise is good for you.
Everyone can get something positive from Sergeant's continued participation in the show. Except the idiot judges, of course. personally I hope that he wins the thing.
(Right, 'Strictly' rant over, must calm down now. Shouldn't have had both tea and coffee, it's driven up my blood pressure). Sorry about that, it's not very Beach-y.
Accept this Friday fry-up by way of an apology. All welcome.
WR.
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BS 18, Alban was a person, St Albans (no apostrophe) is a place.
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BS 18, PS to 21, Irreverent no, irrelevant, yes.
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WR (20):
On Strictly Dumb Chancing:
"...At which point the public interest in Strictly vanishes, and so does the show."
Oh, I do hope so, along with all those other cheap public-participation shows (yes, still on the grumpy dune).
Big Sister (18):
Saints' relics do have a habit of turning up all over the place.
David (21):
Isn't St Albans the heavenly equivalent of the Beverley sisters?
"There's three of them... They're all the same man... And they all have the voice of an angel. (Accept no imitations)"
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Rat (20) Welcome back. You asked: Eddie, any chance of you putting in an appearance one year? in reference to CiN. Call me a conspiracy theorist, if you like, but it is CiN night tonight and Sequin needs to stand in for the Ed Master for this evenings show. So what is Eddie doing?? Put two and two together and get 22.
H.
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Hi all, brief visit to the Beach before going off to work.
GM - yes - doing 2 shows of the ballet on Sat. Went to the pre-show talk last night to find out what it was all about. Rather weird to sit in the pit and not be able to see ANYTHING of the on-stage action. In fact apart from the occasional thump from above, it's quite easy to forget there is anything else going on besides the orchestra!
Good to see you again W Rat! And many congrats Stephen. Hope it all goes smoothly. I always like to quote a little tip I heard somewhere to the (many) grooms I meet in my line of business. And it's a useful counter-irritant to DiWy's seditious mutterings.
"Always remember, a husband's place is in the wrong"
Good luck!
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SSCat - Well Grumpy, you may not like it but I don't think that you could classify Strictly as 'cheap' - at least not in financial terms. Costs for participants, professional dancers, guests, orchestra/singers, presenters, judges, production team, costume design and production, TV studio time, dance studio time, and all the other things that I can't think off, must be quite substantial. Cheap it certainly ain't. And it is drawing in the viewers in their millions - including me, to my surprise.
I echo White Rat's opinion re John Sergeant. He's playing the game according to the rules, as are the voting audience.
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Sorry, I forgot. Congratulations Stephen and best wishes.
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Humph (24):
That's it. I wondered who the chap in the Pudsey costume in the railway station this morning was. Well done Eddie! Good to see you're putting your talents to a good cause.
The paw-waving needs work though.
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Me (28):
Or maybe Eddie's tired out after his debate programme last night, which I missed due to watching The New Avengers on the telly...
...Oh. Now I'm thinking of Sequin as Purdey and Eddie as Steed. (Not Gambit, he always annoyed me, but Steed was cool.)
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What ho Froggers!
Gosh is it new Beach time already? What a week I've had, barely had time to fit in the commute to work I've been so busy. here's hoping for a quieter Friday (fingers crossed). I've brought some of my special chilli and taco shells for lunch, together with appropriate decorations, vegetation, sauces, etc.
Before I go any further may I add my congratulations to Stephen, welcome to the club mate!
Mrs Wonko and I have invited the neighbours round for a games console evening tonight, we take turns about once a month to host. All three houses own a certain console the name of which may be considered snigger-worthy by those of a less sophisticated outlook - like me!*
Anyway, pausing only to swig some rather cold coffee, I'm off again. See you later.
* Other ways of suddenly realising it's 3 in the morning are available.
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Before I get summarily drummed off the beach for my second comment - many congrats to you and Mrs StropLeaderToBe, Stephen. Check for those red and white polka dot shoes, and if that's what she's wearing tomorrow then you won't go far wrong. Eh, FrancesO??
Okay *ducks*, not only do I like Strictly and watch it every week, but I've also discovered Strictly2 on weekdays at 6.30. Oh, and while we are are it, I shall be watching Children In Need too....
Sigh, is there no hope for me?
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Congratulations oh STROP Leader and Mrs STROP Leader to be ! Hope you have a lovely day.
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QLoon, I got suckered into watching Strictly the year my sporting hero Darren Gough took part. I can state with total honesty that I picked him to win as early as week 2, he was just enjoying it soooooo much more than the rest. The judges tried to fix the result that year too, consistently placing Zoe Ball top, to keep her in the competition, when she plainly wasn't good enough.
I retained my interest the following year when Mark Ramprakash won the thing. His Argentine Tango with Karen Hardy was exactly what it should be, passionate, precise, somehow erotic even? They both played out their respective roles perfectly. I'd pay to own a DVD of that 90 second routine.
I even kept going last year when Alesha Dixon took the honours, although I thought that Matt di Angelo was completely robbed.
Despite the (expected) comments from the judges that the standard this year is 'higher than ever' I'm unconvinced. The competitors, with a couple of exceptions, look flat-footed and heavy. My sole interest is in watching Sergeant fumble his way around the floor, being ritually slaughtered by the judges and then retained by the public for another round of judge-baiting.
WR.
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As for CiN, I'll probably be half watching it - have the volume just about audible most of the time, whilst watching all the stuff I've downloaded on iPlayer until something vaguely interesting comes on, at which point the laptop lid will go down and the TV volume up.
As for Strictly, the format has now been sold to 38 different countries, including China (!), so it probably provides a nice little supplemental income to the license fee. The second most exported format from the UK is Simon Cowell's Britain's (Not?) Got (Much) Talent...
Mind you, at least they've tweaked the rules so the lines are only open for a few hours after the show, as opposed to the old system whereby you could continue voting practically all week. And whilst the judges may be harsh, at least they generally reward celebs who can actually dance.
Whereas I seem to recall a show on the other side where the judges continually gave high marks to some celebs who spent more time being lifted above the ice than on it...
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Just a quick ''Congratulations'' to Stephen before I drive down to Wiltshire. See you all on Monday - have a good un ;o)
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Enjoy the weeding Mr STROP.
As for pudsey. Patching eyes after about the age of eight won't improve his vision.
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Stephen, are you mad???
Only joking! Have a wonderful day, and our best wishes to you and the missus-in-waiting.
I'll be Taggarting tonight. SO and I love playing Spot the Location, and find it hiliarious when they link up places that don't belong together.
We went right off CiN when it emerged that Wogan takes his full fee for compereing. He's also driven me back to Today on the clock-radio this week, because his sarcy comments about how little his listener was bidding in the Auction were even more irritating.
These charity telethons are a pain, unless you are lucky enough to be asked to work in one of the call centres taking donations.
Budge up, Cat. I'm with you today!
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White Rat - I've seen it repeated on the box at least a dozen times, but the sight of John Sergeant marching across the dance floor, trailing his partner Kristina Rihanoff along the floor behind him, creases me up every time.
With an early comedy grounding in Oxford University, Edinburgh Festival and working with Alan Bennett and all his experience in talking unscripted to camera, he knows exactly how to get the audience on his side. Apart from that, I think he honestly is just a nice guy.
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Any coffee left?
Just finished a mjor number crunching session and finally been able to press 'send' on an e-mail with 14 attachments. I hope the recipient has a wonderful weekend reading it all.......
As soon as I've revived myself I'm off to Manchester for sis-in-law's birthday. Must try to remember I'm still 'dry'. Have a great weekend all. I'll wave from the M6 - bound to be at a standstill at some point.
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UtT - I do hope you didn't forget to send a further email - this time with the attachments actually attached!
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UTT - You're ''dry' and you're heading to Manchester?
Bet you're not dry for long!
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SSC 23, No, he was beheaded.
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SSC 23, We recently had a bit of Alban returned from Cologne.
PS The city is St Albans, the person is St Alban.
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43: Presumably a contraction of St. Albanus?
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Actually, the settlement was called Verlamion before a chap called Alban lost his head...
Then depending on who you ask, a well either sprung up where his head landed (after rolling down the hill), or the head landed in the well, which already existed (eek!)...
The wonders of Wikipedia...
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With the increasing commercialisation of everything, the town will soon be known as "St. AllBrans". (Twinned with Cornflake, Nebraska and Redibrek, Finland.)
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Verulanium.
DMcN (16), what bits of St Alban have you seen in Morse? Mainly dots or mainly dashes?
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Albans
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But, more importantly, I'm so glad Pluto finally has a 'first lady'.
Congratulations, Stephen!
Hope you're not going to that rather chilly planet for your honeymoon.
ValP, I'll be wearing the Special Shoes for perhaps the last time in the season, as they're not winter gear.
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Hello folks,
Its good to know I am not alone in my underwhelment with all charity telethon-type programs. I understand that its for cheery-dee and that everyone is probably putting in their time for free and - yes - you do get John Humphrys in a unitard every so often BUT...
Does it have to be so utterly tedious? Why does every possible 'comedy' moment have to feel so forced and unfunny...I mean, its not as if the BBC don't have decent comedians (oh hang on a minute, they just suspend/fire the good ones).
Not only that, being in Scotland, we get the even poorer Scots-only version - how does Jackie Bird still manage to be employed?
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Cos it has to be 'family' entertainment, ie sops soaked in milk.
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Many congrats Stephen - best wishes for a lovely day!
I'm watching the TOGmeister as I type, along with all the other fab folk drawing in funds that should be provided by the Government for our kids... Seeing Pudsey once a year is no problem to me, as I don't mind allowing graphic reminders of how lucky my family and I are to be healthy and able-bodied into my lounge.
No apologies for sounding righteous!! I do get why folk become irritated by so many televised charity events, but I guess I'm just lucky not to be bothered by them.
Am I going to be drummed off the Beach, or can I smooth all the Frogbrows furrowed by CIN with some relaxing facial massages??
=D
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Look, there's 4WAAFuneral on one side, Lauren O'Rder on another, and Taggie and the murr durr squad on another. Who needs to watch BBC actors guesting in each others' programmes on the other side??
Plus the Beach of course. ;o)
Come on... last one in the water for the moonlit skinny-dip's a hairy kipper!
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...and when we get back, Pickly Chris'll give us all a lovely face massage!
See? who needs the nasty graspy Togmeister for an evening's entertainment!!
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I'll be on the naughty step then...
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Is Stephen out on his stag night? Is the future Mrs. STROP polishing up the lenses of her astonimical telescope?
Hope tomorrow goes well and that you share a lifetime of happy planet strolling.
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Sis, I'm not one to comment on heavenly bodies, but...
I'm sure Mrs Pluto is inimitable, but wot is astonimical? Doesn't like a certain football (yawn) club?
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I don't think I have a heavenly body... but it is round and rotates quite a bit? (Especially after a glass or two.......)
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Congratulations to Stephen and Mrs Strop, and hope you have a lovely day today!
Well I channel-hopped between CiN and FWWand a F, can't miss the bit where the deaf brother (does anyone else agree he's much nicer than Hugh G?!) taps on the pew to stop the wedding to Duck face. Classic!
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JC 50, You could have watched BBC2 and Ch5 like I did.
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F_O 47, Learn how to spell Verulamium and I'll get back to you.
Near the west end of the Cathedral. St Albans, that is, not St Alban. You are an iggerunt lot!
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Mrs Wonko and I didn't watch any gogglebox last night. Instead we played with our latest purchase - a console game involving sort of playing musical instruments, except you're not, if you see what I mean. I have to say it can be hilarious, frustrating, delightful, and challenging all at the same time. I'm guessing somebody who works for a certain Japanese Consumer Electronics Manufacturer who came up with this idea is going to get a very large Christmas bonus this year! Top marks for the handbell ringing game! We started playing when I got in from work just after 7:30pm and realised it was rather late at just after 1:00am (hence the lie in this morning).
Now off to do some Birthday shopping and then go to a party. See you Froggers later!
;o) []
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Wonko, put the bells down and step away, some peeps are trying to sleep!
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Congratulations to Stephen and the Mrs Strop today. If they appear on the Beach, (unlikely) there is a bottle of chilled Scrumpy on the bar for them !
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I wrote using an onscreen keyboard. Does everybody have one?
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A massive big shout out to the newly weds, Congratulations to Mr and Mrs S L of Strop, pluto awaits your arrival!!!
And a champagne crate from me, on the occasion of my strapline!!!!
Cheers!!!!
n-n
xx
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DMcN, not iggerunt, just a little hasty in posting. You are, of course, right. Verulamium.
I'd do a hundred lines, but it might look like a post from a different person who frogs, so I won't.
n-n, congrats to you for strapping the line; and wishes for a long and happy marriage to the STROP 'first couple'.
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I'm so sick of Christmas already!
Does anyone have a spare Easter egg, just for a change?
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Oh, Feefs, me, too. Our local $n@isbruys has put a tree and plastic garlands up. In mid-November, FGS.
Just to balance things out, they've put the prices of even basic foodstuffs up, too; eg 20p on a 39p tin of (quite decent) soup because it has the word 'British' on the label now.
Shame, cos I won't buy them now. Always used to be a store cupboard staple.
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Frances (69!) yes I've also been wondering why a certain supermarket's milk is labelled 'farm assured'. Where else do they think we imagine it came from? I bet they add 10p (for their own profit, not the farmers') to that too!
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Just a fleeting visit folks, busy weekend here in RL. But have popped a couple of bottles of champers in the fridge for tomorrow (well 57 mins), when I celibrate (or not!), turning another year older (and def not wiser!!). Enjoy xxx
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Of course I mean celebrate....oops! Had a couple of glasses of sauvignon already. Happy b'day to me!!!
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Well, Happy Birthday, littleFluffyFi! Glug, glug, glug ...
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Morning Froggers, the kettle is on! And a Happy Birthday to littleFluffyFi
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Oh, and a Happy Birthday to Noddy today, he is sixty!
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Happy another year older and def wiser LFF.
H.
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Happy Birthfay Fluffy Fi ;-) xxx
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F_O 67, Is that like hasty pudding?
Fifi 68, I'm sick of it too. Nothing but Christmas ads on TV now and shops are full of it. (In a manner of speaking.)
F_O 69, And they have upped the pricve of the tunnel/bridge crossing to 1.50 pounds just in time for Calais shoppers to get to Dover.
EVERYBODY!! WELL, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THE ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD????? (I don't know why I bother.....)
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FluffyFi: Many happy returns! Hope today is very special and that all you loved ones make you feel extremely special xxx
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Happy Birthday LFF!
Hope you're having a lovely day!x
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Happy Birthday fluffy one. Be good. If you cant be good, be good at it!
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David ... NO I HAVEN'T AND I DON'T WANT ONE EITHER.
There... will that do??
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David, This is using a bluetooth keyboard. Playing with my PDA
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Fluffy birthday, little fi!
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Gossy, Feefs, it's a rip-off and it's wrong and I'm going to boycott that kind of cynical nonsense as much as I can.
Thank goodness I learned from my mother the art of making good soup, though high energy prices mean that the old way of boiling up bones, scraps etc is no longer viable.
DMcN, that channel crossing price hike is just as nastily cynical, though do you really mean that the 'pricve' of a channel crossing is upped to '1.50 pounds'? Cos that seems very reasonable... (OK, just batting the ping-pong ball of pedantry back. Speaking as one who makes mistakes... Truce?)
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How good to get back on to a Beach and soft furrows in the sand from the waves.
In RL, have just returned from a Warwickshire suburban saga.
A journey marred by cars or rather by both their being accommodated too much and also too little.
First we had to endure scalloped pavements in front of every garage drive way. So difficult for prams, pushchairs, wheel chairs and impaired walking.
And so unnecessary. Why not just bevel the curb stones.
Then, walking the more rural roads was dangerous because there were no cats eyes and the white lines were dirty. Cars regularly crossed the boundaries between the foot paths and the roads themselves.
I expect none of the Cabinet members of the County Council ever walk and all only drive on roads they know like the backs of their hands. And I bet the pavements outside their homes look like a Furrowed Brow.
Maybe you could bring it up with iPM if it's a general problem and you are someone they take any notice of.
For now, back to an evening of Xmas pudding testing. Which shop bought pudding is best? It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
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Frances_O
I have my old grandfather's soup stone, somewhere. He got it from an itinerant oriental man.
Apparently, you just put the stone inside a thick bottomed pan, add boiling water, cover, and in about half an hour to an hour, it makes the most amazing soup!!
Sometimes, my gran used to add the odd carrot or potato, or sometimes some chicken stock or a scrag of lamb... I recall one time she suggested just a hint of seasoning or herbs too, to make the soup just perfect....
:-)
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pml - re Xmas pudding testing
please let us have (a summary?!!) of your tasting notes!!
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I make a mean turkey broth.
Now as Fuel prices have dropped what are the odds on the Freeze in the fuel tax escalator being reviewed.
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Happy Birthday LFF!
Bet you thought I'd forgotten!
Me, miss a birthday bash?
Not likely....
Mollyxx
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n_n
Believe me, I would, but it's not easy.
Did that 5th one taste as good as I thought, or that 11th one?
And then there's the cream v. custard problem, and with/out mince pies and brandy butter.
This could take weeks.
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Hm, lots of sagging hammocks, and a few snoring camels, but otherwise the Beach seems to be deserted.
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The Beach is deserted ... and the desert is beached. Ho hum ...
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Quick dasy along the shore while RL allows. A Belated Hippo Bathday, LFF :-) Here's a large pot of fressh coffee for those partaking. Hopefully I'll be able to frog a little more later on....
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Fifi 82, Maybe you do, maybe you don't. I only discovered it by being inquisitive whle other people were being 'froggers', and discussing inane things like speedos, sprouts, coffee, scrumpy, etc.
I recently had provider and Microsoft updates and think it might have appeared then. Or maybe not. Anyhoo, there is a hand holding a pen/pencil at the bottom right of my screen, or top right if I click on restore, or bottom if I put it back again, or top, or bottom, etc, etc. Or a screen if I click on the hand enough. If I then click on the screen, or the hand if you don't have the screen yet, up comes a list including an on-screen keyboard, whether you want it or not. There is also a keyboard with symbols like accented letters (usless on this steam-powered blog) and a writing pad that produces useless etch-a-sketch type writing (Did you know that that toy was made by Ohio Art [probably not, and couldn't care]?). That is your lesson in up-to-date computer advice for today.
Stewart M 83, I SAID ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD!! (See above for details). Yes, I can plug my camera into the computer and send photos. Playing with your PDA can make you go blind.
F-O 85, No, the price of going over the QE2 bridge or back through the tunnel under the Thames has gone up to 1.50.
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If I could grab and empty hammock and some coffee that would be much appreciated. Am feeling a bit rough around the edges today (and sadly it's not the result of excessive celebrations). Thank you all for your kind birthday wishes..........much appreciated xx
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obviously I meant "grab AN empty hammock"..........I really need some sleep!
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Belated (sorry...not in country!) birthday wishes to you Fi. Hope the hammock was suitable rest. And can I extend my thanks to Witchi....nice cheese....x
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\ /
I'm sure this post is way too long.
Brief and to the point though it is.
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It's point being \/, and it being a lot thicker before this bunch of electronics drove it into the ground.
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Again ,why can't I put \ next to /?
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it won't even let me type /, the other way round.
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I'm hungry. What's for lunch?
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Thank you Eddie......
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Flying visit, RL being a right royal pain on the helldesk!
Feefs, you can share my tomato sandwitches if you want!
Anyhoo, a pot of Redbush is brewing, help yourselves.
(other teas are available)
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Afternoon Froggy-sorts... Does anyone know of an effective, fast-acting cure for back pain caused by learning how to belly-dance??
Stop chuckling, it's serious! My rear-end feels as though it's been kicked by several overweight elephants, my lower back has lost the will to bend, and my legs feel as though they belong to someone else...not sure who though.
Any suggestions gratefully received, on behalf of the incapacitated.
:^)
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ChrisThePickle: a very hot bath with Old Bus Oil might do it. Or nip over to Saudi and buy a pot of Tiger Balm, which can then be rubbed into the affected parts. (That's where my SO got his from, but I'm not sure where our jar is any more...)
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ChrisThePickle you shouldn't have to go as far as Saudi to get Tiger Balm - try any health store. It's in tiny hexagonal pots with gold lids and comes in red and white varieties ( not sure which is the belly dancing one!).
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While we're on medical conditions - anyone know how best to get sand out of one's navel?
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ChrisThePickle, it sounds like a self inflicted injury, so serve you right.....that is unless you have any pics to go on FB?
Sid, mix with a teaspoon of cement, a drop of water, insert a length of stout twine and when it has hardened...TUG!
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Ta everso Fifi and AnneP, I'll look for some Tiger Balm on the way home... I wonder why it was invented? Did the tiger mind having balm rubbed in? Do tigers get backaches? Which bits of tigers are in the balm? Are tigers balmy? Or barmy?
Anyway, off to find some - I'll report back tomorrow with the outcome!
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No pics DIY, no pics. I try not to do those, they're are nasty and should be banned!
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Chris - you'll be fine in a couple of days. Panic not. Our yoga teacher ("our" as in I drag the SO, a long-term back-pain sufferer along too) says, after strenuous (he calls "strong") exercises "Any pain in the joints is bad, don't do the exercise. Pain in the muscles is fine and will go away"
More exercise will increase your mobility and reduce any stiffness in the muscles. Lots of good physio/ yoga examples on the net. Last time SO went to Dr he referred him straight back to the internet and some exercises to be found there!
A hot water bottle on the lower back is also comforting. Or a sleeping cat, (which doesn't need refilling.)
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I came in for a quick paddle and spotted a barmy tiger chasing the camels - where did it come from and what drove it mad?
Re the solution for getting sand out (110), I found that excess fluff plays havoc with the setting time of the cement and you can be lying there for ages, giving the appearance of indolence
Happy birthday Feefs, I'm still getting over my 60th
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Well, I see it is back to the booooooring rubbish. Bye.
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ChristhePickle, if you can't find Tiger Balm, Elliman's Embrocation smells much the same, feels much the same and comes in larger containers.
The difficulty is persuading someone to rub either of them onto your back, really. That smell is an acquired taste...
And if you hate hot-water-bottles because you have had one explode in the bed, you can make hot-grain-bags to heat in the microwave instead of messing about with boiling water: make a bag out of any soft strong cloth, about eight inches square, and fill in with half-a-pound of millet from the pet-shop, then sew up the open end and there you are. Works a treat, give it four minutes at medium heat, and it's less unpleasant to lean one's back against.
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I don't think David McN has fully grasped the ethos of the Beach!
;o)
So you can get tiger balm in the UK? Never knew that! I agree that the smell is something very special ... you might prefer the hot water bottle or just the pain, Chris.
Is it Pimms o'clock yet?? I've been slaving over a hot computer all afternoon and I'm pooped.
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What ho!
And if you can get hold of some, adding a handful of dried lavender flower heads to your millet will make it release a lovely relaxing smell. A more masculine alternative is dried sage, which is also good in a hot bath, especially mixed with some rosemary.
Good grief. Is that the time? I'm getting fed up with this RL interfering with quality Beach time. Anyway, sun's well over the yard arm, I'll get the Pimms on the go (other fortified wine and fruit based drinks are available).
Can someone lend a hand chopping the fruit?
;o) []
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Fifi 117, It says at the top that I can be completely off topic. As far as I can see, the ethos seems to be that you have to be part of a clique that discusses balderdash and piffle. I'll bet you didn't even check to see if you had the on screen keyboard. Much better to discuss fake food on a fake beach.
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Standing outside a pub in London over the weekend, overheard the following snippet of conversation. " Holiday? yes South America, pool table on the beach, little touch but it meant so much".
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Feefs - you must have read my mind! Here have a glass with my compliments (and if you're really lucky I'll put some Pimms in it too!)
;o)
Redcamerashy - that sounds like my kind of Beach! Perhaps we should get one installed on the veranda at the Nick Clarke Memorial Bar?
Pip, pip!
;o) []
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The main ethos thing is that we're nice to each other, Mr McN. Have a doughnut.
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99
Goodness, a joke! A diagram of a post that is too long. From me. Geddit.
Someone referred it.
Well, :-) to you, whoever you are?
And why haven't my posts 6 and 246 of 10th and 3rd (resp) of October not been Mod-assessed YET!!!
David McNickle, you are the first Beach martyr devoted to seriousness.
Those who see you as one who first fetched up at an archeological dig, when something really wierd was uncovered, and now know you as an over ripe trifle from St Albans, deserve their eyes should fall out.
You ARE Saint Serious of St. Albans (Verlamion) and, as Saint Serious the Serious, you make many a martyr to it.
This post is not as long as the one with a diagram.
It was like this | |, only all down the page, with a V at the bottom. So it looked like a very very long post. 'Is this post too long, I asked?'
Ho, ho, I thought.
100, 101, and 102 look lost without it. (I'd made the V from two opposed oblique strokes)
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David - we're not a clique, because anybody is welcome to join in the silliness. If you don't like the brand of silliness that's evolved here over the past 2 years, then you don't have to come. It's just a fun place to relax and be daft as a box of froggers.
I've lost count of the number of friendly invites you've had, to pull up a lounger, order the tipple or nibble of your choice (had to retype that twice!).
What is so offensive about pointless piffle, anyway? That's what the Beach is FOR!
If I were interested in an on-screen keyboard I would have said so. For the record, yes I do have one but because I touch-type on the real keyboard, and don't have the patience for using the mouse / pointer, it isn't that enticing to me.
I, for one, am going to open that bottle of 'mulled wine' that was in the huge hamper I won on Saturday. David, Sid, Chris, anyone else ... you are welcome to join me in getting gently mulled beside the campfire. A singsong may ensue, especially now that Humph has supplied 2 more verses for the song Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin!
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I must say, D McN, it's very lucky you aren't of a slightly paranoid turn of mind, because otherwise you might start thinking people here were talking about Pimms and food just to annoy you! ;-)
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Feefs - I don't like mulled wine in RL, but I'm sure it's fab on the beach (with ice??). I'll join you in a glass if you're offering to fiddle about with it....
p.s. well done on your win - I won something once .............. a wooden chopping board (and a very plain, boring, ordinary one it was too - is that 'very' ungrateful?) - woo hoo ;o)
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'fiddle about with it'? I mean fiddle about making it!!
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Just catching up... blooming real life gets in the way of beachfrogging too much occasionally.
I'm with annasee; muscle grumble probably ok, with rest, joint pain means stop!
All that cobblers about feel the burn and no pain, no gain; um... nope. Listen to the body. Pain's evolved to tell us: "This is not good. Stop it." As I understand, anyway.
I love the idea of the millet bag, and esp with the herbs. Thanks, selkie.
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Oh, btw, tiger balm's been on sale round here for ages, but in teeny weeny pots at about £1.50, so you'd probably need at least 3-5 a week.
I had an Egyptian dancing lesson once, it was huge fun, and felt really good. And I'm going back to my yoga classes.
Anything that stretches you, mind and body (and spirit, for many who do yoga; wasn't that part of the original idea????!!) is good stuff, I think; and if you can laugh, too (while doing yogic breathing, of course... no, maybe not) even better. You can keep your step aerobics and the 80s stuff, AFAIC.
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Ah, DMcN isn't happy unless he's being miserable. And he will do do what he do do do and there's no doing anything about it.
Somewhere over by NB there is a small cupboard in which I saw a flail (for flagilation) and a hair-shirt...
Different strokes for different folks. :-)
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Settle down, Izzy is fiddling with it and S-P is busy stroking,
COld showers all round I Think.
DIY in his speedos should calm us all down. Especially with the added two sprouts and a parsnip.
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DMcN - You might want to consider that there is more than one sense of humour and that yours is not universal.
As for having an on-screen keyboard, I have no idea if I have one and I have no intention of ever finding out. I also have no intention of discovering;
if Poland doesn't permit divorce;
if Afghans drive on the left;
if icebergs taste of salt;
or if foxes are colour blind.
I'm also of the opinion that the world doesn't actually revolve around you.
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Morning Peeps, Froggers and Frogging Peeps.
Can't stay long as RL and software testing is eating into Frogging time. Still, good to see we are all in good humour!
Sid, did you mange to clear the naval sand?
Anyhoo, Coffee and crossaunts now available at NC's for all, even the good peeps of Herts!
Will pop back with Speedos, Sprouts and Parsnip later......if I get a chance.
Oh....and Happy Birthday to Mr M Mouse, 80 and still not out!
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DMcN Anyone using Windows XP will have an on-screen keyboard. It's buried away in the Programs menu. I don't know why anyone who's able to use a physical keyboard would ever want to use it, though, as they're titchty, and take longer even to type simple messages....
As for the Beach being where people talk off-topic, then this seems to be exactly what people are using it for. As with life, people talk about what they want to. It just happens that here, people don't seem to want to talk about on-screen keyboards. Sorry!
Still, off to RL, I'm afraid. I'll try and pop back for munchies a little later on....
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Morning all....
Can I interest anyone in some fake croissants? Freshly baked in my fake oven? There is also some fake butter and fake strawberry jam to go with (other fake preserves are available), and of course there is a pot of fake blue mountain coffee brewing..... David, care to join us for a bit of breakfast? Or perhaps you are a bit busy collecting up the toys that were thrown from the pram?? Anyway, do join us if you can :-)
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By the way, why do the spaces that I always put in between my full stops and new sentences when typing always disappear when I post?
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Izzy_Tme - I won the ''stage presents'' at a certain musical entertainment I went to at the weekend!
I wear my ''I love Bellingham'' badge with pride ;o)
Now, where's my ukelele?
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QL - 132. Of course the world doesn't revolve around him. It revolves around his cats!
On the subject of cats, our supreme example, (Gordon, you will all remember) this morning started to claw the leg of a most beautiful oak table we have been given. (Barley-twist legs, little porcelain wheels, perfect patina....) Now, we could just kill him, but we spent a lot of money on cat food at the supermarket last week, and I'd hate to see that as a loss. Anyone got any methods for deterring cats from furniture ruination? I mean, it's not like he hasn't got a garden full of trees to scratch!
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Righteo, apologies for my absence, but FB regulars will know why...
Anyway - on-screen keyboards - I think there's one included with Windoze by default, tucked away somewhere in the Accessibility Settings (where you can also disable irritants like StickyKeys and FilterKeys which try to enable themselves if you hold down certain key combinations for too long...)
But there's an amusing story in that a couple of weeks ago, someone released a "Smartphone" (i.e. mobile that thinks its a PDA, or vice versa) using Google's new "Android" software. Unfortunately, it had a little bug...
Everything you typed into the on-screen keyboard was interpreted as a command - so if you included the word "stop" in a text message, your phone would lock up until you removed/replaced the battery, and if you typed "reboot", the phone would comply :) It's been patched now, but you'd think someone would have noticed that bug before release...
Anyway, back to the fun and frolics, and I've put a few bottles of red wine behind the bar and a bunch of bananas on it. Plus, for sheer amusement value, the drill-powered cocktail stirrer featured on a certain C5 programme last night... but if you want to use it, you'll have to supply the drill, or an alternative means of high speed rotary motive force...
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Oi, littleFluffyFi, your fake croissants taste better than my crossaunts. 'Snot fair! Don't want to play with you anymore!
annasee,
1...put cardboard tubes onto the table legs?
2...put cardboard tubes on Gordon's legs?
3...put the table in the graden and keep Gordon indoors.
4...put Gordon in the garden and keep the table indoors.
5...employ a table minder?
6...employ a Gordon minder?
7...put the table in D_McN's pram?
8...put Gordon in D_McN's pram..
I could go on, but it would only get silly.
DiY :-)
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Ooh! I just noticed I got the Strap Line today *beams with pride*. Here's an extra large plate of pastries for elevenses...
LFF (138) I'd suggest barbed wire, but I'm sure I'd be accused of being cruel....
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FFred (141) I am not sure that the use of barbed wire would have the desired effect of preventing the table legs from getting scratched. ;o)
H.
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diy (140), you - silly? Never!!! ;-D
x
(ps. am I going mad, are there now spaces in my post!? They weren't there before, honest guv'nor!)
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Thank-you all for your congrats.
Wedding went V. well, good time had by all (though Bridesmaid was peeved 'cos her thankyou was omitted)
There are left-over nibbles dotted around the dunes, help yourselves.
BTW - I'd booked the Bridal Suite for the honeymoon, but I can't find it. Any ideas where it's been put, or we'll head up to the lakes instead.
Mr and Mrs LoS
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Oh and Happy belated birthday LFF.
There's a left-over champers here somewhere...
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What ho!
Gosh, two days in a row I've managed to get on the Beach. That's an achievement!
Morning all, is there any coffee (fake or otherwise) left?
On the subject of computers and commands... a friend of mine once got very frustrated with the computer system at her University. In the end she typed "s*d off". To which the computer replied: "s*d not on". Technology eh? Don'tcha just luvit?
;o) []
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Thank you Stephen....and belated congrats and best wishes to you and Mrs LOS.. Is it too early for a champagne toast?
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It is never to early on the beach...
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A question, Stephen. Does Mrs Stephen realise just how many people there are in this marriage? Her, you, and all the rest of the froggers? Or have you kept us as your slightly shameful secret? Just wondering! :-)
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*pops head up above the assignment writing dune*
Belated congrats to Mr and Mrs LoS.
Fi - mine do too, even when I put in two spaces, wierd.
Wonko - you made me laugh so much, I've pulled a muscle! Thanks....
Gill - ah, glad you had a good time.
I'd be very interested in any answers to Annasees question - my sofa and chair are shredded. I don't want to get replacements until I can figure out how to stop him. Foil worked for a while, but not for very long and it looked like a poor attempt at sci-fi-ing the living room -hmmm.
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Stephen are there photos?
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Fluff (136): The blog won't let you put more than one character-space anywhere.
Anna (138): How about a scratching post (or a less precious bit of furniture) and a little bottle of catnip spray? Daisy goes mad for it!
;o)
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Fifi, re little bottle of catnip spray and Daisy goes mad for it!
Is she drinking it or snorting it?
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Oh, definitely snorting, DIY. Leather footwear has the same effect on her, mind you. I've seen her fall asleep with her head completely inside one of SO's size nines...
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Please, does anyone have a rule book for Ker-Plunk...? There's a small dispute going on over here.
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Mrs Eff (155)
Have you lost your marbles?
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Izzy - Glad you liked that little tale, it amused me!
Regarding felines and furniture; I've heard tell that double sidded sticky tape can work. I would imagine the cat won't like the stickyness on their paws. Bear in mind I can't guarantee this method though, it's not one I've tried. Not to mention the tape will probably attract cat hairs, so you'll probably have to replace it quite often.
;o)[]
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Wonko, re double sidded stick tape. Isn't it meant to be applied to the offending feline's paws.
In the same vein I suppose setting each paw in a small tub of plaster of paris would also work quite well?
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Can Sid be doubled? I am not convinced.
However, applying a solution of lemon juice (or any other substance that smells citrussy) should deter Gordon ... cats hate citrus.
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Re Table and cats. Can you not move table to roomwhere cat is (technically) banned from?
As all cat owners know you think the cat is banned from certain rooms but the cat will get in there.
If we ever left the linen cupboard door slightly ajar the cat would manage to jump up and open the door fully and deposit himself out of arms reach and be asleep in about 3 seconds.
Same if he ever got under the bed.
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Fifi, re doubling of Sid, it is a space / time continuum thingy.
Rumour has it in polite circles he moves so fast that can appear in two places at once, especially after a dose of Sprouts!
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Afternoon all.
Do your know there's a tigerskin rug over on that dune, and a bald tiger wearing speedos paddling about in the sea?
Wonko (146):
Computers running Unix are good for that sort of thing. A few examples:
% cat "food in cans"
cat: can't open food in cans
% man light cigarette?
man: No match.
%man woman
No manual entry for woman
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DIY - Possibly. ^O^ (That's my best attempt at an emoticon for a shrug).
All I can say is what I was told was to stick it to the item you wish to deter the animal from scratching.
;o) []
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LOL....^O^, looks like a large Bat to me!
DiY :-)
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DIY (158):
Someone once stuck double-sided sticky tape to my paws. I was rooted to the spot for two days.
To protect tables from scratching, try a citrus-scented furniture polish. Mint works for some cats too.
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SSC (162): Try these for size:
Here's how creation *really* happened:
http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/creation.html
The UNIX virus:
For the benefit of UNIX users who are feeling left out by the recent explosion in Windows viruses, our technical experts have devised a virus for UNIX. It works on the honour system:
1) Send a copy of this message to everyone you know.
2) Delete all the files from your hard drive (hint: sudo rm -rf /* )
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Thanks mittfh. I love Unix commands, because - as a Stainless Steel Cat - it's the operating system I myself run on. Let's just try that command you have above...
...+++ Error Brain not found +++...
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My over long post has been driven into place by hte Mods. Hooray.
And with a proper \/, at least on this system.
Which makes my DMcN - length posts look silly. But then so do most DMcN - type things.
For older viewers:
Back on the RL Beach today. Swam about a bit. Got cold. Chattered. Shivered. Went into internet cafe. Hot coffee v. welcome.
Am in training for Xmas and New Year Days swims.
PS Talked withour local recycle operatior at Lutterworth site in the week.
An excellent woman.
A wonderful example ot all women trying to get through the glass floor.
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I'm just wondering if that Unix virus would work on my Mac ... I'm sure I could cobble something similar together.
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Sid (169):
Just be careful about using "rm mac" in a public place...
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Staying on the computing theme:
"In a world without walls and doors, who needs windows and gates?"
cd \
deltree /y *
Unfortunately "deltree" appears to have disappeared from recent incarnations of DOS (sorry, the Windoze command prompt) - but at least xcopy still lives on (allows you to copy large amounts of files, and won't fall over if it encounters an error, unlike Explorer...)
To err is human...to really foul things up requires a computer.
You've all heard of GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). I don't know the extent to which this corollary is true today, but:
If you put garbage into a computer, nothing comes out but garbage. But that garbage, having passed through a very expensive machine, is somehow ennobled and no-one dares criticise it.
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More!
Everyone's favourite software megabillionaire (who I'll call B) died. God couldn't decide whether to place him in heaven (because of his philanthropy) or hell (because of Win ME), so he decided to show bill both and let him choose.
First stop: hell. Lots of scantily clad women on a tropical beach, pleasantly warm.
Next stop: heaven. Angels sitting on clouds, playing their harps and singing. Nice, but not nearly as enticing as hell, which B chooses.
Two weeks later, God decides to check up on B, and finds him shackled to a wall, screaming amidst the flames in a hot cave whilst being taunted by demons.
G: "How are you doing?"
B: "This is awful - it's not what I expected at all! What happened to the beach and the beautiful women?"
G: "Oh that - that was just the screen saver!"
(Note some versions call the first version of hell the beta version...)
An artist, a lawyer, and a computer scientist are discussing the merits of a mistress. The artist tells of the passion, the thrill which comes with the risk of being discovered. The lawyer warns of the difficulties. It can lead to guilt, divorce, bankruptcy. Not worth it. Too many problems. The computer scientist says "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. My wife thinks I'm with my mistress. My mistress thinks I'm home with my wife, and I can spend all night on the computer!"
(Thus confirming the urban legend that computer scientists have no life!)
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Has anyone else noticed that huge superdupertanker moored a mile or so offshore?
Is that Johnny Depp I can see, silhouetted against the sunset?
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What's that little rocky shelter at the far end of the bay? Looks like it has a tiny barred window, but no door. Almost as though it could be a hermit's cell!
Hang on, I'll get my glasses. Why, there seems to be a computer screen on a shelf under the window.I can just make out a sign - it says "Please use the on-screen keyboard to leave me a message. When I wake up I'll get back to you."
How very mysterious! Who could possibly live in such a place? And I can just make out a couple of very pretty cats sitting under the window. It must be time for their tea soon. I suppose their owner gets his supplies delivered by his supermarket.Orders off his on-screen keyboard, I shouldn't wonder. Technology's a marvellous thing, in the right hands.
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"...and then here we have the Nick Clarke Bar... what was that, Johnny dear? ... oh yes, oodles of Black Stump for us landlubbers, and plentiful rum for you jack tars.
"Now, on your left, we have McNickleville, which houses the only on-screen keyboard on the Beach... nobody ever uses it but it's a huge talking point...
"The elegantly slender lady over there is our resident harpist... or harpissed, as we like to call her..."
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Now, on your left, we have McNickleville, which houses the only on-screen keyboard on the Beach... nobody ever uses it but it's a huge talking point...
David must be great fun at a 'real life' party ;-)
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just why is that pram over by McNickleville always surrounded by small toys?
Anyhoo, in celebration of it being Wednesday and 1/2 way though the RL week, coffee and lunchtime doughnuts for all!
DiY :-)
BTW..which frogger is hosting iPM..jonnie?
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Afternoon all!
Wow, that's three days in a row I've managed to find a few minutes for a quick stroll on the Beach. I must be doing something right.
I've brought some scones for tea later; plain, fruit and cheese, together with a variety of preserves and spreads to go with them.
;o) []
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Looks like I'm having tea all by myself then. Oh well, all the more for me!
There are pots of Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Assa, and Builders keeping warm under their respective tea-cosys (I've taken the tea bags out, so they won't stew).
Shall I be Mother?
;o) []
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Wonko - 'Builders keeping warm under their respective tea-cosys'
What a picture you paint!
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As the Big Yin would say: "Never trust a person who when left alone in a room with a tea cosy does not try it on as a hat."
;o) []
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Yours looks ridiculous, Wonko. Keep it on!
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Ahhh, the Tea Cosy. The fore runner of Speedos......happy days!
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Thought I'd stray back to leave some footprints. RL been rather hectic with moving house/job etc
Now is this tea-cosy-hat lark part of someone's autumn collection, and where can i get one?
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Evening Frog-folk
Well, I must say, this barmy tiger stuff is a bit of a miracle in a little tin!! The belly-dancing after-effects have diminished substantially, so thank you to the helpful Froggers who recommended the cure... I've also got some Badger sore muscle rub too, also in a tin.
Seem to be building my own tinned zoo... are they as good for you as fresh ones??
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ChrisThePickle - This badger sore muscle rub - do you go out and look for badgers with sore muscles or do they come to you with their complaints?
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Little Red - welcome back! I can fully sympathise with RL getting in the way of quality Beach time.
Tea cosy hats available from the dressing up box now situated just inside the door at Nick's. In a variety of colours. And shapes. And sizes.
Toodle pipski, time for my bath!
;o) []
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Not quite sure yet QL, haven't read the instructions... hope they come to me though as it would be easier for me, what with my belly-dancing after-effects and all.
I don't really want a visit from a barmy tiger though.
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...just catching up....
uh huh...
yup....
HAHAHA!!!!
A what?!!!!
on his head??!!!
a zoo in a tin??!!
Badgers with muscle complaints?!
Have they tried accupuncture?!
more please!!!
this is a site for saw i's
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St. Hellyer pear cider on the bar for anyone hot and bothered...
I think I've been subliminally messaged by the advertising boards pitch-side at the England/Germany match (that I'm trying hard to ignore). I'll be opening an account with Nashunwide or going to compare things if I'm not careful.
Other fruity alcoholic beverages blah blah blah are available.
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Who saw you n-n?
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Blast. My order for tiger balm got re-interpreted in the call centre in China. Whisper it not... I've got a crate of barmy tiggers, who all want strengthening medicine (and who wouldn't?), and a hold full of tickly barggers. Not quite sure what to suggest for them.
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Oh, Feefs*, and all others : I hate to say it, but C-word** dilemma:
urgent message: saw Johnny Depp (in pirate guise) calendar today. Do I give this to 13-yr-old god-daughter? Too corny? Too sexualising a girl who (AFAIK) isn't yet? Do I ask her parents and spoil the slight naughtiness of the secret?
* I know... we can but sigh in vain... and sigh in relief that we'll never have to deal with anyone like him in real life, if we're lucky
** Christmas. I'm very anti C-word stuff this early in the year but there might be a rush on the blasted things and oh, blast, I worry about missing something she'd like. Early teens? Nightmare.
At least later they'll be disaffected, spotty and foul.
You know where you are then. In the wrong. Kool.
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Frances,
My SO - is appauled by the C-word -
I trust you mean the one I'm thinking about and not ending in P
It wouldn't offend me as much.
However they are just words.
SO is from Yorkshire I hasten to add.
The Radio presenter I used to produce used the word T-w*t always on air - as in "you silly " twit" third letter being an (a)
This is totally normal in London - just like saying 'Idiot' -
In Yorkshire however it's far worse.
Personally - and to avoid any problems I'd choose another card - just incase.
I recently thought I'd done a rather innocent thing and ended up in boiling water - so I'm bound to err on the side of caution rather than parents (in your case) bouncing back and saying "What were you thinking of when you bought that card!)
However - in reality - she is 13, and I'm sure she'd find it amusing.
xx
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Fran and all,
Remember the Glorious 29th!
Peace and Humbug
ed
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I can recommend acupuncture - very good if you have problem with water retention.
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Morning all,
In a bit earlier today (since 8:00am) in order that I can go home a bit earlier. Mrs Wonko and I have been invited to a little soiree, and it would be nice to arrive before halfway through - TfL not withstanding.
I'll put the coffee on; Kenya AA alright with everyone?
In the mood for bacon sandwiches too. Place your orders please.
;o) []
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Morning Wonko, brown sauce on mine.
BTW, it's really good to see Ed Iglehart on the Beach again. How's life Ed?
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I was waiting for someone else to reply to Wonko - so thank you DI_Wyman ... now I can just go:
ditto
ditto
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Wonko:
Two rounds of ditto for me too.
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Ditto, which at first glance seems a handy and insignificant sort of word, actually has a Roman past, for it comes from dictus, 'having been said,' the past participle of the verb dcere, 'to say.' In Italian dcere became dire and dictus became detto, or in the Tuscan dialect ditto.
Italian detto or ditto meant what said does in English, as in the locution 'the said story.' Thus the word could be used in certain constructions to mean 'the same as what has been said'; for example, having given the date December 22, one could use 26 detto or ditto for 26 December.
The first recorded use of ditto in English occurs in such a construction in 1625. The sense 'copy' is an English development, first recorded in 1818. Ditto has even become a trademark for a duplicating machine.
But you all knew that anyway, didn't you?
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Diddley dee, diddley dah... diddley dee... diddley dah... diddley dee... I'm on the train...
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*whispers*
(I think the QualifiedLoon needs to get out more!)
DiY :-)
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Quiet, DiY, he's busy counting his dittos ;o)
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I think he might be out now ... so, how are we going to get him back?
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I think Q L has been browsing in the wikipedia shop again. You can always tell.
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Eddie - I've seen a wee van this morning. It had The Plasterer of Ballantrae written along the side of it.
:0)
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Annasee, I'm disappointed that you would think that I would consult such a low-brow offering as Wikithingy.
In fact, my information came from:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved..
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annasee - more likely the OED shop, I think ...
I think I've mentioned before that most of us will be able to access the OED (and other goodies) via our local council library sites. This seems to me to be a valuable but under-publicised resource.
While I'm here - doughnuts and coffee ready for all to stave off those mid-morning pangs.
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Mmmm, yum. Doughnuts...
Cheers Sid!
Hope you all enjoyed your sarnies for breakfast/brunch - be the filling bacon or ditto.
I'm feeling in a silly mood, who's for a game of boules later?
;o) []
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Ooooh, QL! That's me told then!
Wash my mouth out with soap for mentioning the w- word!
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Any of the bacon butties left? I'll have mine on toast, with mustard on one slice and red sauce on the other (Don't tell Appy, she thinks I'm a pervert for liking bacon butties like that....)
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Annasee - Actually it was much worse than Wikithingy. I just Googled it, picked up the first reference to The Urban Dicionary, and quoted what they quoted.
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fresh baguette for all and a host of fillings: egg mayo, cheese, peanut buter and jelly (and no i don't mean jam, this really is jelly - of the bramble variety), and i'm not sure if there's any bacon left for you meaties. oh and some cold chips left over from last night which might make something tasty given enough sauce...
i only managed 8 pain au raisan so you'll have to fight for them. First one's mine!
have to build up my energy to sit through a gruelling afternoon of powerpoint followed by an evening of scottish dancing. here's hoping for a powercut!
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Fearless - I'm going to email Ap and tell her what you are up to!
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Greetings folks, had my favourite breakfast this morning - wholemeal toast with marmite and a fried (or poached) egg on top seasoned with black pepper and tabasco sauce.....yummy. Much needed today as I have no taste buds whatsoever. I have my tub of vicks and my lemsip, now if I could just find a quiet place to lie down that would be just grand...any hammocks free?
So Ed's back on the beach? Where? ..........."Coo-ee Ed!!" *waves frantically"
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Actually, not all wikis are bad things ... for example, wikileaks has all sorts of interesting stuff ... about things that go bnp in the night.
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FFred - that has to be the most complex bacon butty requirements I've ever seen! Hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for the lunch Little Red, I love Bramble Jelly! Yum.
Think I'll need a little snooze in a hammock this afternoon after all this food...
;o) []
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Afternoon tea and scones on the bar. Little Red I'll see your bramble jelly and raise you some elderberry and crab apple.
Hi there Ed I. lovely to see you - waves madly.....
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It's funny, but I was only wondering where you'd gone, Ed - how strange that you should pop up!
Spooky...
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Did someone mention boules? Only, I really fancy a game tonight. For those too idle to rise from their loungers, we have a mini-set that can be played in the sand whilst lying down.
Nobody seems to have opened the bar yet so let me be the first (for a change): a round of Asp Nibbles is now lined up, nicely chilled.
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I'll get the game going shall I?
Here goes the little round object...
o
And now I'll do the first throw...
@
o
Who's next?
;o) []
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I'll have a go -
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
o
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Sorry, Wonko - I forgot I was supposed to throw it, not roll it!
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....me next, 'ang on while I puts me glass of Scrumpy down...right...
....Hup..o.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
right into the Purple Hammock!
(whoops..sorry, exits stage left)
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oooo!!! I am always up for it!!!
is it my go?!
I shall try to get it to spin right, cos the weight always gets me confused....
Here goes - @
o
@
pah!
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Er.... n-n.... a wee tip for you: there isn't a weight!
Me now:
. . . . . . . @
o
Drat!
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Ok... here goes...
o
*sheepishly looks round*
Well I suppose we'd al best put on a tea cosy because I'm not sure where or when that'll come down...
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You're mad you lot, aren't you?
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QL - Unquestionably. ;o)
My go again before I climb the wooden hill...
o
@
Hmm, not bad.
;o) []
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* BOINK! *
[ lengthy pause ]
You can all take off your tea cosies now.
* falls over *
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[Fifi]
@
o
* raises head groggily from sand *
Did I win?
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Eddie seems to be a little late this morning. Perhaps the first three coffees weren't strong enough.
Here have this one:
. /.
¦ / ¦
¦ / ¦---
¦ / ¦ ¦
¦ / ¦ ¦
¦ ( ) ¦--=
------------
thick enough to stand yer spoon up in...
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oops. clearly i don't have the hand of "drawing" at all...
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Ou est le cochonnet?
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I've made unconscionable quantities of vegetable lasagne - far more than we 2 can eat. Aubergine, capsicum, garlic, red wine, roulé, mozzarella, oregano, basil....
It's due out of the oven at 8.15 if anyone wants some?
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While you're thinking about that.. I wish I could post you a link to a wonderful ewe tube video of an engineer's guide to cats but it's got an ampersand in it.
Those who can, please email me if you haven't seen it already.
Alternatively, if you are on a famous social networking site, hunt down lying scotsman and message me there!
If you love cats, and have a healthy attitude to engineers, you'll giggle yourself into a puddle....
Just ask DIY!
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While things are quiet, I'll just top up the bird feeders in the Bill Oddity Wildlife Garden, down at the far end of the island.
Here's a handy tip to keep the squirrels away from the birdies' food:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-202877
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Fifi - no wonder you think things are quiet - you're at the wrong side of the island again ;o)
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