The New Year's Beach
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The blog for the afternoon news and current affairs programme presented by Eddie Mair.
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Happy New Year Beach Froggers and Peeps Worldwide!
Coffee is on, tea is brewing and the porridge is just starting to simmmer.
DiY :-)
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Wonnnderful. Just what I need.
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Happy new year to all in the PM family; those who make it, and those who listen to it :-) Now, where's that coffee?
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I left peanuts out for the birds before Christmas - so far untouched. Are they getting more picky these days?
The dawn is broke
The sun is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?
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Happy New Year, Eddie!
Happy New Year PM Team!
Happy New Year froggers and froglets!
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Happy New Year!
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Ah DIY thank you, that must've been your porridge I ate!
Happy New Year to one and all, and extra good wishes to all those who're (is that allowed??!) working today!x
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Anybody else have haggis last night?
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Och aye. Parp! The noo
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MMMMmumble, coffee please....Happy New 2009 to all :o)
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Val P, 12:12pm and still in your PJ's!
Lunch anyone?
Today is a Tomato soup and dash of sauce from Worcester day!
Or as our colonial cousins, the Merrycans say, Worcestershireshire!
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DiY - Any hints on getting Brilliant White Stain Block Primer off human skin? I've just answered the door to the neighbour and scared the life out of him! I've tried virtually every fluid in the house apart from Irn Bru, Chilean Merlot and hydrochloric acid.
By way of explanation I was "priming" the ceiling and was "surprised" by the doorbell. Fortunately none went onto the carpet as I got in the way. The neighbour deserved to get scared...
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Karen (12) no idea really, have you tried white spirit, swarf*ga or nail varnish remover?
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GM - Yep - tried acetone and surgical spirit and made more of a mess although it did get the magnolia out of my hair last time I painted something. I am limited in being able to go out and buy something at the moment as I look more like I'm celebrating Hallowe'en than New Year's Day.
I'm now thinking about letting it dry and peeling it off and hoping it doesn't take too many layers of skin with it. I've tried it tentatively on my left arm and it doesn't look too bad. We bought the water based primer in anticipation that I'd tip it over myself.
I am much more careful and less cack handed with medicines. I feel I need to add that point.
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12. Suggest another viewing of Dad's Army - The Turkey Dinner.
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happy new year, froggers!!! heres to another year on the beach!!!
i'll be in the hammock, til about 5 o'clock at this rate...
n-n
xx
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RxKaren..... I suggest full imersion in a bath of "The Ptent DiY Stain Removing Embrocation'. This is mainly a Sprout based solution that seems to work for race horses, pigs, donkeys / Merrycans!
If that fails to do the trick then I suggest fa our week course of "Madam Fifi's Best Rubbing Solution", well known in the East midlands for removing the most stubborn of stains and Ferret Worrying peeps!
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'a'
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Heeeyyyy - after about 5 hours it sets to a jelly which peels off easily and painlessly. The bit on my nose should be ready at about 5.15!
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karen - I think you should post a photo of your nose.
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GM - I'm going to decline that kind invitation! Think of me at the 5.15 headlines though - I'm taking that as my cue.
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I'll bet that other than, possibly, anassee, I am the only person who listened to the new year's day concert from Vienna. Also, I think I'm the only person who reads my posts.
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Quit putting yourself down. I hope you enjoyed the concert from Venice.
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Tjs 23, I enjoyed it from my sitting room.
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Happy New Year my buttocks. A*L decides noy to connect and I have to use ie. What am I paying monthly payments for?
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The New Year's Day Concert from Vienna is the highlight of the festive season for me. I listened to it whilst painting things this morning.
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Tjs 23, Don't you have anything better to do than read my posts?
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RxK 26, You obviously listen to the first half on the radio as well as the second half on TV.
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Yeah - I'd reminded my grandmother that it was on and so had the radio on upstairs (in the area where I was throwing paint in the general direction of a bedroom wall) and the TV on downstairs.
My all time favourite was Lorin Maazel conducting in about 1992? Loved the Kaiserwaltz - real fluidity to it.
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Happy and prosperous New Year to Froggers and the PM team!
Smoked salmon sarnies (left over from last night) on the Bar.
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Oh, and dome S@vl0n for Karen's nose.
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Did the stuff peel off your nose karen? (now 1758)
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RxK 29, I suppose I shoud pick Maazel as well because he used to conduct in Cleveland, But I preferred Carlos Kleiber. A rather odd person, from what I've read.
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Came off beautifully! It just takes patience. If I was less clumsy with paint it wouldn't even take that. It was a bit odd every time I walked past a mirror this afternoon.
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David - I quite liked the exuberant Japanese guy they had one year. His name escapes me now.
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Karen, does it double up as a peel-off face pack? Is your nose now peachy-soft and blemish-free?*
DMcN, dlooby dlooby doo.....
* Not that I imagine there were any blemishes there to start with, of course...
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It's a fairly extreme measure to take but it does seem to have worked.
The clumsiness continued this afternoon - I nearly fell headfirst into the roller tray which had magnolia paint in it.
The irony of the whole situation is that I'm used to washing and gelling my hands loads of times a day at work so three days of having paint all over them and it really not being worth cleaning up until I've exhausted all possibilities of spilling something else on me has been really difficult! I've just remembered that I've got a roller in the sink in a fabric conditioner rinse so I will be getting messy again before the night is out.
BTW I blame Robert Peston for the sink being a mess. I was happy to throw the roller things away until my father visited and started on about the credit crunch and how I should save myself £1.99 and wash them. Robert Peston apparently was giving that advice to survive the credit crunch. I don't know when or where - I think Dad imagined it but I didn't have the strength to argue.
My other "expert" who is coming up with painting advice blames Jeremy Vine for all the misery in the world (that's Grandmother who might want "a broadband"). Things got worse once JV started on Panorama.
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Hang on a second ... is that a traffic warden loitering near my SproutMobile?
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Sid - she seems to have been put off - maybe it was the smell...?
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Sorry if I sounded grumpy on the parking fine thread.
I'm so pissed off!
One cold and thingy on top of another - and then Simon managed to contract conjunctivitus from a visit to see his family and Neices in Yorkshire,
... and now my left eye is as red as the Sun setting in an old photo from some left over glorious holiday¬¬ - many years ago!
Happy New year anyway!
Antibiotic drops at the NCB!
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What a poetic description of your sore eye Jonnie - here, have some doggy eyedrops!x
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It's very quiet on this beach. Is there a new one?
Jonnie - is that near Halifax?
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Morning, beachfroggers!
Looks as if we need some fresh coffee - here you are - and some herbal teas for anyone detoxing. Also croissants and pain au chocolat, and porridge, because there's plenty in the pot.
Oh, jonnie, that sounds hideous. Poor you and Simon. Get better soon.
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I got The Bible; I got Shakespeare. Who wants to listen to Piaf? Thanks Frances, you're the only thoughtful one around here - I'll have a croissant - as hot as they come. No marmalade.
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Ha ha GM! Sounds like he needs some chocolate drops to cheer him up. Anyway, how do you know he wasn't using the dog's eyedrops already? I mean, in these credit crunch days we all have to make economies where we can. I'm sure Rupert had some old medicines lurking at the back of the cupboard.
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Right! - I've had a cold since before Christmas. It must be someone else's turn now. Who wants it?
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DrFrankFurter: Not I, thanks, but I will lob a bottle of best single malt in your direction to cheer you up ;)
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RxK 35, Probably Seiji Ozawa.
F_O 36, There are just some words you aren't allowed to use here.
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oUCH! careful with that, Big Sis!
Jonnie- nasty! hope everything is better soon.
Belated Happy New Year,froggers.xxxx
Mollyxx
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Sorry, Molly, didn't spot you there.
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Don't worry, Big Sis- no one ever does.....
Mollyxx
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If we cant have a picture of Karen's nose how about one of jonnie's conjunctivitis?
Usually antibiotics clear up conjunctivitis in a week. If you leave it alone it'll probably settle in seven days.
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In honour of the deja vu thread elsewhere ... how about:
deja brew - tea's ready
deja blue - young conservative
deja flu - I was off work last week
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... and deja knew, for the smartypants amongst us ;)
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I was aiming for a Popeye on every thread, but I'd rather have a beer with you lot.
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Sid - You missed out:
deja glue - instant fastener
deja stew - ready meal
deja chew - pre-masticated
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This is turning into a dejacle.
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Annassee (45) he might have picked up the B*b Martin's anti-flatulance drops by mistake!
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Sid - You also missed out:
deja roux - prepared sauce
deja grew - adult
deja choux - I've eaten your profiteroles!
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deja Few - Battle of Britain memorial flight.
H.
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Delija - Tom Jones.
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Day -glo paint.
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Deja chewing gum lose its flavour on the bed-post overnight?
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And not forgetting...
Deja who - the new Dr, tomorrow
Oooooweeeeoowww!
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And for those sufferers in the current norovirus outbreak, it is, of course
deja spew.
Sorry. Somebody had to do it.
Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.
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What ho!
Sorry I haven't been around for a while, Crimbo got a bit hectic and then all of a sudden it was New Year and that was a bit hectic too. And in between I had to fit quite a lot of work in.
This is also to let you know that I may not be contributing regularly again until February. Mrs Wonko and I are going to New Zealand for three weeks on Wednesday for some family birthday celebrations (and to have a good nosey around, naturally). I promise I'll send a postcard.
I'm fighting an urge to write copious lists of instructions, hints and workflows to the people who will be covering my job while I'm out of Blighty. One doesn't wish to blow one's own trumpet, but as I'm the only person doing what I do, and I've sort of made myself indispensable, I'm worried in that "have I left the iron on?" way. I'm having visions of the scene in Father Ted where Dougal does a funeral. Never mind, it'll all be fine...
Deja crew - the same gang as last time.
;o) []
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Deja vue,
one we've had already.
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Morning Froggers, tea is brewed and the coffee just about ready.
Who's up for a Full English and a fried slice?
(other equally tasty regional breakfasts are available)
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Radio 4: It is just not healthy to think about food. I intend to do more thinking today therefore about psychometricians and their place in society, when I've had a fry-up. 'Morning DI. Strong please.
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I know everything there is to know about psychometrics, but I'm a techno-philistine and I have all these rubbishy icons at the top of my screen. I don't know what they're for and I'll probably never use them. But how do I get the important ones up there - the bold and italics ones. Please let me know. I'm sick of trying to crack this problem.
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Morning, froggers!
Fresh coffee on the bar, and the kettle's boiling for tea.
Plenty of porridge, too. Toast to order, so that it doesn't get cold.
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Cheers, DIY and F_O!!!
Is it elevenseseses yet?!!! Yumpsk!
I dont know, jester, anything about iconography. Nor psychmoetrics, tbh. Or much else, really.
But it IS definitely time for a little something!!!
n-n
xx
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Well nikki, it's last-chance-day to finish off my chocolate log, mince pies, shortbread and Christmas cake.
I think the birds will be having a feast tomorrow.
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Tjs 70, Like you, I just stumble along until I find something that works. I assume you mean the italics and bold thing on Microsoft or with your provider when sending emails. Maybe they differ from provider to provider. I can do all sorts of things with mine (No advert provided! I pay enough by the month as it is.), but not on this blog. Er, not that I know of, that is.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I hope you all read 75 before it was removed.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I guess they aren't big Reeves and Mortimer fans here.
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Who's for coffee. I'll do a special trip to CostBucks.
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Somebody else try saying the 'E' and 'U' words from Shooting Stars.
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DM I missed it. I've noticed that we have a smattering of wise men and women on the blog as some of them use bold and italics. I guess I'll just keep trying although I think I've bust my hmail inbox in the process. Did I tell you all that I'm now an international celebrity? Ref: whiffle-hen gogle page 8. This may put me in with a chance of being a late and surprise choice for Who.
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Thejestersang (81)
Italics
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Put a lower-case i in pointy brackets before the bit you want in italics, then a forward slash and a lower case i in pointy brackets at the end of it.
For bold, replace the i with a b.
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Oh...and don't leave any spaces between the characters.
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Show off!
You'll wonder where the froggers went
If you post your blog recalcitrant!
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But thanks Piper. It'll take me a couple of hours to master this technology, so I'll probably practice at 2am or similar when there's little action and all the mods have gone to bed. But you will be mentioned in despatches.
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Sorry Gillianian, a froggian slip.
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Show-off? I'll show you show-off!
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Afternoon all. Am fairly lurgi-ridden at the mo, so don't come too near. I'll just slope off with the industrial strength lemsip to the blue hammock. Before I go, here's a few bits of HTML info.
Italics are fairly benign, as Gillian says. Use the Lesser Than, an i, then a Greater Than symbol before the text you want to italicise, and the same with an extra / before the i to finish.
Bold works the same way, but with a b instead of the i.
To do both, invoke first one then the other, and then afterwards, invoke the "closing" statements.
Other HTML things are possible. There's a good reference HERE
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afternoon all. i'm hot and sweaty after a morning in the garden. it's roasting here (not that i'm rubbing it in!) but good news is there's a fridge full of ice cold drinks. think I'll have a quick dip then settle in the purple hammock with a cool fizzy grapefruit. plenty to go round on the NC bar - a great thirst quencher.
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fearless, does underlined work too?
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apparently not
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Nope, Little Red (91 and 92). For some reason that one doesn't work. Plus, I notice the List options seem o have disappeared too. Shame, I used to like playing around with that one....
Aaaaatchooo
Sorry, I'll back away and retire to the blue hammock to avoid infecting anyone...
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A-ha hello Wonko welcome back! And sympathies to all those with lurgies - I seem to have escaped with mild snuffles and an itchy throat so I'm counting my blessings.
Having said that, I did buy a lovely bottle of wine this morning only to drop it right outside the shop, so it's not completely my weekend :-(
While we're on techno stuff, can anyone tell me how to draw shapes which stay the same when they're posted? When I put spaces in, they're always in different places when the message came out. Hence my 'microwaved' cat last week!
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tjs 81, Just make a word from the firat letter of each word in the following nonsense sentence to know what I said. Underwear Flies All Very Underwear Elephants.
I'm an international Bonvig celebrity.
When FF 89 says "....the same with an extra /...." where was the first unextra one?
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Gill 83, All I get is this:
There has been a problem...
Your comment contains some HTML that has been mistyped.
The 'i' start tag on line 1 does not match the end tag of 'GUIDEML' on line 1
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Eat Really All Nice Underwear.
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95.DM- thing is you're nothing these days unless you're iconic, and..
You're showing too much underwear.
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Tjs 98, OK, you try to get away with using those letters to spell a word, smarty pants.
I can't get the thingy to work.
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Italics
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Tjs 98, Now it works, but only if you do ( i ) italics ( / i ) without spaces. And ()s being greater than and less than thingys.
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Bold
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Tjs 98, Same with Bold but b instead of i.
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Tjs 98, Don't know what happens if you use other letters. word
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Tjs 98, Don't bother with 'a'.
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wordwordwordword
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Tjs 98, Or 'c' 'd' 'e' and 'f'. Time for a drink.
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Italics
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Tjs 98, But don't get confused.
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Tjs 98, This is when they usually ban me from a forum.
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I can totally recommend finding the iPM programme and taking a listen - if you can get the BBC iPlayer to play it for you!!!
noodle
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I don't mind if I do Frances, that's very civil of you. Make mine a creme de menthe - in a pint glass, filled to the brim. No cherry.
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Tjs 112, So, not virgin creme de menthe? BOLD!
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I've finished my decorating! Well, Phase 1 anyway. Phase 2 starts in about 4 weeks.
Conjunctivitis - as previously said antibiotics available from your friendly local pharmacist will work within about 72 hours. Without antibiotics it will normally clear within a week (if you have an unfriendly local pharmacist).
Various coughs and colds and flu-like symptoms - there are plenty of people wanting to separate you from your money. I still maintain that 2 paracetamol tablets with plenty of fluids is the best remedy. If you have a sore throat and are OK with it - add ibuprofen. Weird cough things that don't clear up but aren't producing stuff which is strange colours - take an antihistamine. I'm also quite "into" Olbas Oil tissues - they're good! Honey and lemon made at home is as good as anything you can buy IMHO. NHS Choices/Direct website has some good information on it too.
I've probably shared this before but here it comes again - when I was at Uni we had a chap come from one of the pharma companies. All the packs which are black/silver/gold or contain the words "Max Strength", "Flu Strength" or "Extra Strength" or have a lightning bolt on the front of the pack are aimed at men. They often contain nothing more than 1 and a half paracetamol tablets and a half dose of a decongestant with a bit of vitamin C and you get the full combo whether you have the symptoms or not. Some of them are better than others - I personally don't use any of them because it's cheaper to buy generic paracetamol and generic decongestants.
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Karen - but when should one take the Bob Martin's anti-flatulence drops GM was recommending? Not to mention the canine eyedrops?
I agree with you as far as avoiding the blandishments of the medicine manufacturers. And don't forget the inhalation over the bowl of hot water and olbas oil. That's virtually free too.
I'm also a bit prone to digging out expired prescription drugs (like co-codomol) when things are really desperate. When I had flu a year or so ago, I remember finding them, only a couple of years out of date, and taking one thinking "If it kills me it will be a merciful release at this time.I really don't mind" Then a friend said old drugs probably won't harm you, but you just won't get the proper dosage, so they might not work so well. What's your expert opinion?
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The risks with expired medicines are basically as follows:
1. Over time the ingredients change due to exposure to the environment. This might mean that the amount of "active" is reduced resulting in underdosing.
2. More worryingly some things change to less pleasant things which do have the potential to cause harm. Anyone ever smelled aspirin that's gone off? Strong smell of acetic acid. We used to get that with the big dispensing packs of 1000 tablets.
Obviously this depends upon the medicine and the form it is in. Adrenaline (e.g. Epipens) have really short dates and the active does break down relatively quickly.
One of the issues that the flu pandemic planning triggered was the proposal that, in certain situations, out of date medicines could be sold and that medicines that patients have returned to pharmacies could be supplied to another patient. This has all sorts of quality issues but it was being put out for discussion. I'm pretty relaxed about food that's passed the use by date but wouldn't dream of using medicines that have gone past their dates. Having said that I did, in desperation, debate whether a paracetamol tablet was still OK given that some hydrochloric acid had leaked across the foil and made the foil bubble. The surface of the tablet looked a bit fizzy and I decided to rummage for a better tablet than risk that one!
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Karen - what on earth were you doing with hydrochloric acid??
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Headache. Can't think why. Must have been that third little nightcap. I'll start the fire. I suppose we should think about taking the trimmings down.
Karen - how do we get this silver spray stuff off the trees?
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TJS - surely we have to wait until tuesday before removing stuff...
Fresh pot of coffee on the side and croissants etc from the boulangerie.
Also Frances I finally got iplayer radio to work on my mac....! All I did was put my r**lplayer onto the desktop instead of in my applications folder. give it a whirl.
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The balminess of the morning puts me in mind of a song. I may as well sing it while the fire catches:
As I roamed through the dockside
one evening so rare
to view the still waters and
take the salt air,
I heard me a fisherman singing this song
'O carry me up boys, me time it's not long.
Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper
no more on the docks I'll be seen,
go tell me auld shipmates I'm taking a trip mates
and I'll see you sometime in Fiddler's Green.
Now Fiddler's Green, it's a place I heard tell,
where fisherman go, if they don't go to hell,
where the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free,
and bottles of rum hang on every tree.'
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I'm with you on the decorations matter, Little Red. Especially for those of us who don't 'start' Christmas until Christmas Eve, it is particularly hard to have it shortened by two days .....
And in any event, I just don't have the energy for climbing (or dismantling) trees this morning. Yesterday, not having entirely shifted the chest infection, I realised I was coming down with laryngitis. I think I could do with an extended visit to a 'real' beach somewhere warm for a couple of weeks ...
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I'm a 'put them up on Christmas Eve, take them down on 12th Night' decorations type, too. It's how I were brung up...
Little Red, clever you! Now to find a version of r**lplayer that's compatible with my OS (10.2.8). Not easy, I find.
Now when you're in dock and the long trip is through
There's pubs and there's clubs and there's lassies there too
And the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free
And there's bottles of rum growing on every tree.
(Sounds a bit like the Beach, but without the Young Macallan)
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I don't want a harp nor a halo not me
Just give me a ship and a good open sea
And I'll play me auld squeezebox
As we sail along
with the wind in the rigging
I'll sing me this song...
Altogether now..
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Hydrochloric acid! Doesn't everyone have some of that hanging around for emergencies?!
I have it for testing rocks on geology summer schools although it is also good for getting limescale off things.
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TJS (118) I normally start with acetone as that shifts most things - patch test first. IMS or vodka (methanol or ethanol) may work if acetone does strip the silver but also strips all the other pigments.
I don't recommend acid for that one.
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Karen. I'll tell Mrs J when she's finished pointing the chimney. But will it work on beach trees?
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Tjs 188, Spray them green.
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David (127) - Good call. Probably less dangerous.
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Tjs 120, Speaking of songs, as you were, I was listening to Loose Ends (I think) yesterday because the radio was on and Clive Anderson was presenting it. (I like him a lot. Not sexually, though.) Anyhow, it was yearly review of the program and had a lot of stand-up comics from down the years from Barry Crier to Denis Norden to Bob Brydon to Jack Dee to etc (forgive misspellings, she was ill and couldn't be here.) (In case you haven't guessed, this is a build up to the big event. I've discovered that posters here are like children and need a bit of excitement to get them going. If you say to your son, if you have one, I don't, "Georgie -if he's under 10 - I want you to read this interesting book called The History of Dung, he won't do so unless you give him some to play with. So go get some dung.) (I'll bet you thought I'd forget that ending ), didn't you.
Moving on, a man called Tim Minchin sang a very moving song called Bears Don't Dig on Dancing which I highly reccommend.
This is the link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wLHVjOos8Y
or just Google youtube bears don't dig on dancing.
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hehe!! Whatever did you have for breakfast, 129 DMcN???!!!
Have some more!!!!
n-n
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Hello everyone, and a happy new wotsit to one and all!
We finally got back from Scottieland last night, utterly knackered and relieved that the season is more or less over at last. And we had lovely weather, too.
How's things at the best beach in the world, then?
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Karen: How did Thelma fare during the Christmas period? Is she still looking her perky self?
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Thelma was still there on Friday morning. Pathology brought back Louise along with the glittery apple we gave them (in a blood sample bag!) so the twins are reunited.
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Phew! I've been worrying about that all Christmas, Karen! No doubt it was a very fond reunion ...
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Doesn't anyone wait until twelth night anymore?!!!
n-n
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nn 130, Toast and yeast extract. At least somebody read it.
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If you all enjoyed the bear song, and I assume you all listened to it, well some of you, I suggest you now listen to Wilson Dixon sing The Man With no name on youtube or go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmgkpCUt6D0
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nn 135, We do.
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Itiesliccornettos
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David McN (138)
Don't you think it's great to get 'shipshape' after New Year?
Everything looks so jaded. but perhaps I'm missing something by not waitingl till Twelvth Night....
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... and it's no, nay, never, [clap clap clap]
no, nay, never, no more ...
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I don't wait till 12th Night. Mainly 'cos its just easier to take stuff down and put away over the weekend during daylight!
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Jester this is another link to give simple instructions about bold , italics etc.
Thanks to Ed I.
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I wait till 12th night because I like the lights. The clutter, however, goes before then - but you'd never notice, because it's the lights everyone sees.
And as all I have put up this year IS lights, that means the whole lot is staying up till Tuesday!!
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Karen, Anasee,and others,
Well the antibioyic eye drops took 3.5 days to stave it off!
Well we wont know - but that's when things started to improve!
Now - another problem!
83 Kilos on the scales.
I will really try -so no more scones at the NCB bar for two weeks!
This time next nest year before the 'yet to be announced Froggers party I pronise to be 70 Kilos!
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You understood my English above then? ;-)
Apologies - laptop on sofa with dog!
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What's this? Snow on the beach? Coffee and tea will be ready soon, muesli and fresh fruit are ready, croissants will be here soon ...
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G'day Sid. Well catered, and in the Latin department too. I wouldn't have known, I got as far as Amo before they ejected me from the class. I would've rendered a short selection from The Scaffold at this point in appreciation but I'd get into trouble.
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That was a lovely breakfast - thanks, Sid
I'm glad of the company here today.
My house is depressingly quiet, and the cat's not very amusing ;o(
My house looks bare - for the same reason as Stewart (142)
I rely on a tall person to shove the packed boxes into the loft, and carry the tree outside, and neither of mine can be relied on to be around during the week.
I'll start on the Elevenses - does anyone else fancy cheese and crackers?
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Yes, please, Gillian! They might even tempt Eddie out of an uncharacteristic Monday morning silence. Maybe they haven't got any stories today.
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You may be right Frances. And no newsletter either. Why don't we make some news up, and see if any of it gets used?
Top story: a friend last night presented me with a beautifully wrapped parcel. Inside was a pair of slippers, made out of sanitary towels and decorated with a pretty earring on the front of each!
;o)
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Crumbs, Feefs, how can anyone top that???
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PRESS RELEASE
Frances O had all the washing from last night's load hung up before 0900 this morning, except for a thick wool jumper.
She comments: "I never thought I'd get it all out to dry, but it's amazing how a breakfast of porridge and strong tea can give you the energy and motivation for these mundane tasks.
"Woollens are another matter, though. This jumper will need to be dried flat, so I'll have to wait till one of the drying-rack-thingies is empty before I can tackle it."
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This just in from REUTERS.
The Association for Woolen Jumpers has issued a statement condemning recent comments made by Ms Frances O about one of their members.
The Association's Press Officer, Hank Yarn, said: "We don't claim that woolen garments are the brightest in the world - in fact some of ours are decidedly and deliberately dull. But we do object to them being referred to as "thick". Such a remark is needlessly offensive.
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PRESS ASSOCIATION
In an attempt to diminish the 'jumpergate' row, a spokesman for Frances O states:
"Ms O deeply regrets any hurt she may have caused the jumper or the AWJ. She was merely talking about the attractively bulky nature of the wool used to make the jumper. Ms Owen apologises to the jumper, which she will, in future, wash separately with special wool wash."
The jumper issued this statement in reply: "I wash my hands of this whole yarn. All I wanted was to be taken out of the washing machine, but now I feel I've been hung out to dry".
ENDS
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F_O 152, As a former archaeologist, I can only say that there is nothing worse than an unsanitary trowel.
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Molly 140, I just returned from helping undecorate St Albans Cathedral.
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Yon canny Highland crofters keep
A flock of crease-resistant sheep.
They weave wee woollen shirts and slacks
And flog 'em to the Sassenachs.
Wool keeps its shape, it's bound to please,
(Ye nae seen sheep wi' baggy knees)
At birth bairns learn the Golden Rule,
There's nae substitute for wool!
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REUTERS.
Welcoming the latest statement by Ms Frances O, an AWJ spokesman said: "The Association is pleased that this has been resolved. This latest episode fits the pattern of woolen garments being needled. We are sorry to hear that Ms O feels she may have been stiched-up but the AWJ will always respond to any ribbing of its members."
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ROTOROOTERS:
A stitch in time saves nine.
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Fifi-
Ugh! Don't remember that/those on Blue Peter....
Well, I've just cancelled myself at Yoga thereby breaking another N Y Resolution...
What a dismal start to 2009.
I need something to ' pick me up'\ now.
But what? Gloom is setting in.
I'm going to make some scones for Jonnie......and go to yoga tomorrow. ;-)
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Jonnie, complete the course of drops. Now then for the Kilo thing. Not sure how to help. Virtual scone reduction will be a start. Diet till Easter is another option.
We could do a group weight loss scheme. So we just look at the average of lots of us doing various diets/exercise regimens.
Advantage is (hopefully) the group looses weight.
How we get the data into a spreadsheet anonymosly may be difficult.
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Stewart-
What a brainwave. Couldn't we have just numbers secretly kept by someone very discreet ?
Gosh, I feel perkier already!
Mollyxx
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I see what you mean about getting the data ,thouugh.E mail addresses would give us away...
Hmmmm! A bit of a problem, as you say.
Mollyxx
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I wondered a while ago about us doing a group weight- loss / exercise challenge. It's awfully hard to stay motivated by oneself, isn't it? I hate the feeling of being creaky and unfit, and clothes feeling tight. Not that we overate at Xmas - I think it's just a general sedentary job/ cold weather type of problem.
But how to be anonymous with the data? I know - lets not be anonymous! Jonnie has already spilled the beans. My scales said 3 more kg than they did last time i looked - months ago. It's all very well when one is covered up by jerseys etc, but what about when we get to NZ in a few weeks and the temps are in the 20's. I need to do SOMETHING!
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I know it's not traditional for the male of the species to worry about their weight, but since my waist has grown an extra 2 inches over the past year, resulting in me having to buy new jeans / trousers...
This time last year: about 11st 6lbs.
Just before Christmas this year: 12st 6lbs.
Now: 12st 10lbs.
I think it's time I rediscovered the meaning of the word "exercise", and possibly relocate the biscuit containers at work away from my desk...
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I don't believe in scales. But I do believe in the clothes I can't get into any more!
Count me in. Exercise is the key for me. Alas, I get bored easily, and the only form of exercise I enjoy is cycling locally where I would normally take the car ... in nice weather.
Hmmmmm!
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I can't reach the desk.
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I can't get out of the habit of having something to nibble with every cup of tea ;o(
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Oh - and I forgot my news - my first sighting of mini Easter Eggs for sale in the supermarket. Two whole end-of-aisles full of them. And more to come. Soon.
And at the same they're still trying to flog their left-over Christmas selection boxes.
And we haven't had Twelfth Night yet.
*sigh*
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A very belated Happy New Year to all you froggers out there.
Sorry, have been absent of late - that's what happens when I take time off work, I don't get the chance to wile away the hours on the 'net!! Anyway am back from Aberdeen, where we spent New Year, and am back to work once more :-( But only for another 8 weeks :-)
Gillianian, yep I made the same observation myself - the eggs are out in force!
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This is sounding like a meeting of "Overeaters Anonymous". Funny how we all obsess over the same things, isn't it?
Anyone hear that girl on Saturday Live last weekend, talking about being happy with her size? Which, presumably since she was being interviewed on the radio about it, must have been bigger than average. She certainly had some interesting thoughts on the size/ looks obsession in today's society, but I didn't agree with her further down the track. I mean, it's just not comfortable carrying a lot of extra weight. I remember that from pregnancy - the effort involved in bending down to pick up something you've dropped, or tying shoelaces. And you have to think of the strain imposed on joints as you get older, if you're asking them to carry a lot of extra weight.
Also, for women, there's a fairly well-established link between being overweight, and increased risk of breast cancer (hormones apparently...). All reasons not to get any bigger.
As there is icy snow on the ground here now, I can't quite force myself outside even for a walk. Motivational advice, anyone?
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Awfully quiet, isn't it. Has everyone succumbed to the 'flu? or is the shock of the first day back at work just too much?
Fresh tea and toasted teacakes on the bar.
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Just back from the first foray to local supermarket since returning from Scotland. How nice that all the Chrimbo-tat seems to have vanished already!
I've lavished 7p on a block of jelly, which I will combine with a tin of fruit cocktail I won in a Tombola, and the leftover custard I brought back from Mum's, to make half a dozen mini-trifles.
If eaten while running on the spot, these mini-trifles actually work out at several minus-calories each. Trust me!!
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OK I wasn't being sarcastic about it being quiet - something very odd happened with 'refresh' from this morning and it didn't....
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Since you all obviousy liked the two pieces of music I posted, here is another one.
http://polizeros.com/2008/03/18/leningrad-cowboys-do-sweet-home-alabama-backed-by-red-army-choir/
Back to choosing the coffee you want....
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Gill 169, Drink coffee. That will be fifty pounds.
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Stewart (162), having listened to the splendid R4 series called, I think, 'More or Less', I have to ask: is that a mean average* or a median average?
* friendly averages, I fear, were not covered, nor were generous ones
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Easter eggs. It had to come. I saw hot cross buns in S'burys on Friday. Sigh.
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Hang on Frances, I haven't even started our Dundee cake yet!
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Round here we have hot cross buns all year round. Which I think is a shame, as, although I'm not a believer, I do think we should acknowledge our past and the traditions which have made us what we are.
On a different topic - I liked 'More or Less' too. I have the good fortune to be married to a statistician (what are the chances?), so she keeps me on the straight and narrow. And at the risk of sounding evangelical, may I recommend Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos - a very readable overview of how innumerate western society is at present.
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We could 'Weigh in" on a regular basis and then one of us could record the weights as they are passed on.
For example, say I weigh 9st 4 ozs week1, this is passed on to someone trustworthy who then emails it to the ''weight clerk'' who makes a record without knowing the identity.
Then, apart from the "'trustee'', annonymity is preserved!!!
See- simple!!!!
Bored already?
Mollyxx
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Frances, I was going to be simple and do arithmetic mean (I think that's mean average). i.e all numbers added together and divided by the total.
We could also do a combined body mass index. Hopefully the combined group BMI will NOT be obesce.
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Seen on the same shelf of the same aisle at the same moment in time in one particular supermarket in Coventry:
Leftover Finest* Panettone Christmas Puds AND Creme Eggs.
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I've got a cupboard full of chocolates, biscuits and cake.
I've worked out my strategy - I'm going to eat them all very quickly, asap.
The quicker I get through them, the sooner I'll get rid of the temptation!
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"I can resist everything except temptation" - Oscar Wilde.
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it" - Mae West.
“Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them” - John Bunyan (English Minister and Author. 1628-1688)
“Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it.” - Sam Levenson (American Author and Humorist. 1911-1980)
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself." - Oscar Wilde (again)
"Most people would like to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch." - Robert Orben
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"Beauty is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations.
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Heaven 17 -
All I desire
(Temptation)
Keep climbing higher and higher
(Temptation)
Adorable creatures
(Temptation)
With unacceptable features.......
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or, alternatively, Gillianian, (185) bring them down to the beach, and just put them on the bar!!!!!!!!
Let me start with a mince pie.....
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"Marriage is popular because it combines the maximum of temptation with the maximum of opportunity." - George Bernard Shaw.
I'm not sure that he would write that today!
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Gillianian - I was just contemplating exactly the same solution! The faster I eat the 3 boxes of chocolates, unopened mince pies, giant bag of cashew nuts, 2 packets of absolutely addictive gruyere butter twists from A*di, etc etc, then surely it'll be better? The speed with which I eat them may well use more energy therefore burn more calories?
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Gillian - my sister in law in Oz has exactly the same philosophy. We usually bring some chocs when we visit. She puts them out after dinner, and makes a big effort to get through them as quickly as possible "So they're not in the fridge looking at me" (you have to keep them in the fridge in Queensland, unless you want a chocolate fondue).
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I don't think Stewart's idea will take off, somehow!
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The answer is Celery. I think that it the only food that uses more energy to eat and digest than you get out of it.
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Irish coffee. Contains all four essential food groups: alcohol, fat, sugar, caffeine. Works for me!
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Sid, what about Vitamins? Or do you have a cointreau chaser with it?
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Cointreau chaser! Pah!
Ginger wine, diluted with Cointreau. Now THAT's an indulgence!!!
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I have to recommend the Cointreau factory (well its not really a brewery) trip. Well worth it for the taster at the end. Plus the Orange smell is wonderful.
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Morning all!
Coffee, tea and Smoked Salmon and scrambled eggs on the NCM bar, special delivery from the less-frozen Northwest!
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I see Christmas has come and gone. Seen in Sainsbury's on Sunday - Hot Cross Buns. I got some and they're on the bar.
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Yo! All. I just had a rant on the other channel. Is it too early for a tiny cognac with that crispy bacon butty from yesterday?
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Ooh, Jester, take the weight off your soap box and kick back with a butty and a snifter.
It's too early to be that aerated! ;o)
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You're right Fifi. I'll just let it all wash over me. Just me and thee then? I have to say that a picture of Albert E would have been rather appropriate with the formulae
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There's a competition on the iPM link, but (yet again) no prizes. Not even a pen.
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If Dracula had had a twin brother would they have been Draculae?
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I've got a couple of paninininini and some lovely drycure bacon for lunch... shall I put an extra one on for you Jester?
I need fortifying. I have a date with a vicar later today!
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Cucumber sandwiches again, then Fifi?
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Fifi: I don't think I could eat such a long panini. Re: date with vicar - go back to 'Diversion' on 31/12.
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Oh, dilemma. Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or panininini and bacon?
Ummm...
I know! Both!
Sid (195), you forgot cocoa. I'll put some coffee liqueur chocs on the bar later. Mustn't spoil our appetites, must we?
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M 200, Did you know that Hot Cross Buns were 'invented' by monks at St Albans Abbey?
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And if you read hot cross buns backwards it almost says Stub Sore Toe
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Mr Ang 81, Figured out the italic and bold thing yet?
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Tjs 187, Beauty is only skin dope. Estee Lauder
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To follow the panininininini (only because it takes longer to make) there is carrot soup bubbling on the stove. Am thinking of adding tomatoes to make it heartier ... it already has beef stock and mustard to give it a bit of a 'kick'.
Anyone fancy some mini-trifling while we're waiting for the soup?
;o)
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Fifi; some of us have been mini-waffling all morning.
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Ah, but mini-trifling is soooooo different to mini-waffling!
;o)
Come over here behind this sand dune and I'll show you...
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... and as you see, the mini-waffles are oblong and in my case clarted with golden syrup and whipped cream, whereas the mini-trifles are invariably round and topped with custard.
(Why are those camels sniggering?)
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and the turtles burping?
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Clarted. It's been a while since I heard/saw that word.
When you're back from the sand dunes, Feefs, I'll trifle a little with you.
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Fifi (217) - Sniggering camels were once quite common here.
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Gosh, haven't seen that stuff for ... er .. donkeys! I wonder if it still stays sharp to the bottom of the glass?
(Time for a sharp exit I think.)
;o)
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Stewart M@194. Whatever the question might be, celery is not the answer.
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Don't the reindeer look dull without the fairy lights in their antlers! And the camels without the tinsel on their humps.
Ah well, that's that for another year. Who's for a game of beach volleyball...?
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I'll play, Fifi. Anything to avoid having to hoover up the Christmas tree needles and decide whether to make a proper list of all cards received, for cross-checking with those sent.
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Oh, Anne, those card lists! Arghh!
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Im always up for a hot cross bun, it;ll go with the mince pie....
n-n
xx
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Nice one Nikki. I'll have a bun. Are there any secular buns in the oven?
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I've dashed all over the Beach collecting baubles, tinsel, fairy lights, Santas, fairies, angels and both halves of the tree. It's all packed away ready for next year, along with the sequinned Elf costume and a slightly battered-looking Santa suit in Eddie's size.
There weren't any cards of course. Because to send greetings cards to a blog would be silly, wouldn't it.
Ahem.... moving on....
Anne trounced me at the beach volleyball last night, as you all saw. She also looks a lot better than I do in a sawn-off bikini! (You WERE watching the GAME, weren't you?)
I am now nursing my bruised pride (I'm rubbish at Scrabble too, mostly) and wondering if I've got the energy for a game of Prone Statues.
Rules: 1. Contestants pick a sofa or hammock and lie down in it. 2. First one to move loses. 3. Extra points for hammocks, as there is potential for it to move even if contestant doesn't. 4. Game ends when someone notices that nobody's playing any more.
;o)
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Fifi; never mind all that stuff. Did you trifle with the vicar?
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Well Jester, his son was there as well as the 2 dogs ... it hardly seemed fitting this time.
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Fifi this time? You've trifled with the vicar before?
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I almost said that. The statement is packed with innuendo.
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Doesn't everybody? No seriously, doesn't 'everyone' play with their vicar from time to time??
With me it's usually an annual charity event in May but last year he also got an Advent Sunday service out of me.
...or did you think I meant something else?
;oD
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I was always told that if I played with my vicar I would go blind.
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I came across this very funny youtube thing the other day and in case anybody missed it the first time (busy busy)(gotcher head up yer bum), here it is again. I told Minchen that nobody (well, one person) watched the first time and he was very sad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wLHVjOos8Y
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235
How awfully amusing!
Is it always this much fun on this thread?
I laughed all the way to the woods.
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I do not think that I have ever played with my vicar before. There have been many occasions when I have played with a couple of Bishops but that was on a chess-board!! BTW why is half the team of a chess match pure pawn?
H.
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'morning all! What a beautiful day! Coffee bubbling, gulls squawking, sun shining. Snow gone. Help yourselves!
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Morning! Coffee sounds great.
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As a student we played with the Chaplain's Liver. We always made him pink gins with no water in it. Gin and Bitters only.
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Re Hot Cross Buns, Could we have Hot Crescent buns and Hot Buddah Buns also. As for the athiests,you will just have to have tea cakes.
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Oh No! Hell hath no fury like a woman's scone.
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I've got a stinking cold - anybody want it? Meanwhile a large glass of hot honey and lemon with a shot of Scotch will do me nicely
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yagwia 236, Yes, it is a real riot here. At least someone looked at it.
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241 Stewart: hot crescent buns are called croissants rahnd 'ere.
And what about hot Hindu buns, I'd like to know? Jain? Zarathustran? Wiccan?
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Frances: Jains don't knead any dough.
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