What are you all up to
Comments
-
You live and learn, Rocky😀.
As DK said, swede and turnip are often interchangeable in terms of name and the SW is another area where swedes are known as turnips, especially to us older folk. To my mind, the yellow flesh of the swede has much more flavour than the white fleshed turnip.
I believe they are all part of the same family as the mangel-wurzel (mangold/mangol/mangel - various spellings exist according to Mr Google) which are used as animal fodder and often confused with swedes. You can see the similarity.
0 -
Swede mash, mixed with a dollop of Philadelphia Cheese and plenty of black pepper is delicious👍
0 -
We have had a lovely weekend here. Last night we went out for a meal with 3 of our sons our daughter their partners and 3 of the gkids a lovely meal although a large bill for us but it was lovely to all be together. Then today we took my classic Merc a drive out to Cardwell bay garden centre in Gourock which is about 35 miles from us it was very busy nice to see people out enjoying themselves we had lunch in the cafe there which was nice and a lot cheaper than last nights meal although we had to wait 30 mins for our meal as it was so busy.
Hope everyone else has had a nice weekend too
1 -
Oh Dear Oh Dear Oh Dear
Just had a phone call from aged sister ~~ The 91 year old grandmother of the Groom yesterday ~~ with the news that a seven year old nephew of said Groom is reported as having Covid 19. All fans are now being put into storage to avoid the obvious ~~ at least BT should be getting some income
!!Bride & Groom should be in Rome until Thursday -- will they get home? or into yet another Hotel But at great Expense. Should I go & park my camper by the airport Or, Or, Or
Right Now I'm off to shove a stick up my nose
0 -
Oh dear is right, hope that your test, and subsequent ones prove negative, Brian. Of course the same goes for all others that were at the wedding.
0 -
That's all well and good, but it still doesn't answer the problem of both producing in this country the products that we import at present, and can't grow here at the moment, and how do we get sufficient pickers without employing overseas workers.
0 -
This isn't really the thread to discuss this Nellie but I'll answer your question and then that will be my final word on the matter.
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/broccoli-cauliflowers-flowers-rot-cornish-1636604
2 examples relating to the same problem. One a warning form 2018 that there may be staff shortages after Brexit and another from 2021 showing the result of those staff shortages. We can produce basic food produce, such as brassicas and other vegetables in large quantities. Our potatoes are excellent products.
How to get them picked? Well that is another problem. Personally the Government should have had a plan but it's obvious they didn't. How would I do it? That's hard to answer mainly because I am not privy to the country's finances and am not Chancellor so cannot make a proper budget. However I would at this moment prioritise incentives to workers in key areas. here we are talking about produce so I would lift minimum wage above the national level and bring in tax breaks for producers. I would open up the licencing requirements to a much longer visa time for lorry drivers until we can train enough of our own. Give lorry firms tax breaks again to pay for the training of these drivers. In the grand scheme of things it wouldn't cost a nuclear submarine. Just 2 small ideas but I'm not the answer as I don't have all of the facts. If necessary I would also bring in a reduction of unemployment benefits, not straight away but would highlight it to make it worthwhile to look at getting into these better paid but hard working jobs. There must be some of the nearly 1,500,000 unemployed who are capable of hard work in the field.
This discussion is getting way off course for this thread and even getting political so it's best if we discuss it further over a glass of beer sometime rather on here.
0 -
Frustration abounds here.
First dry day for a week so thought we'd get to know the new bikes, except the numskulls at the bike shop have given me, in a smart black hard case, all the information including the battery charger for the wrong model bike! The charger won't work on this model. Sure I can use the one from Mrs WNs bike but obviously not at the same time, plus I can't register it as the code is usually included in that black case.
We intend to get away for a few days this coming week, taking the bikes with us and let the sellers sort out the mess. You'd think we were paying peanuts for it.
0 -
You are not alone, when .we bought ,OHs mobility scooter later on a Friday, we got home and realised they had not given us the Batt charger and the showroom was closed Sat and Sunday
there was only one store open over the weekend and we were going on one of our long tours on the SundayThey wanted us to go to this store in Hampshire to pick a charger up
After a quite heated conversation ,the store agreed to getting one sent to us by motor cycle courier company
0 -
Snooker, F1, bring it on and now for the altered Christmas marathon...just when I thought it was clear to go. Very sadly our son's friend died recently in Scotland but his funeral is in the SW next week. So the family and over sized and over enthusiastic whippet will be here earlier than expected. More meals to plan...less time to think.
WN I hope there are no more hitches with your new bikes.
ABM hope you and your family don't have any problems after the Covid news.
As for veg growing I know that more mechanisation is coming in so I think we'll be growing more of our own in the future. I had a mango from Brazil on the last food order, it was totally rotten...but the UK pears were good!
0 -
Thanks for you reply WN. We can certainly discuss this further over a pint, or two, some time hopefully.
Shame about the bike battery charger, guess you will be having a word or four with the dealer. Fingers crossed that you get it sorted out and can get away for a few days and give them a good trial.
0 -
Thank you for your kind thoughts, Brue, I'm ok at present but will do another test tomorrow after I've had a good evenings session with my Kindle ~~ that should build up lots of good things in me
!!T'was strange really, that some of us were using masks as the signs requested, All the staff were using too except when it was not feasible, over 50% of guests were NOT ~~ it was the usual problem of the sensible not daring to challenge the non-sensible ~~ but if I have to forgo my Christmas porridge etc I will be a very grumpy M/homer
0 -
I hope all goes well for you and your family ABM. If it is any consolation our SIL (a teacher) got covid in September and we had been with him over the weekend before he tested positive on the Monday. We tested ourselves every day for the next 10 days and we were fine as were all the rest of the family. We too are amazed and angry at the people we see in enclosed spaces not wearing masks, especially in shops and supermarkets. OH challenged a guy in our local shop last week who said he was a delivery driver so was exempt 😡.
Sorry to hear about your change of plans brue.
1 -
I tend to test on a daily basis these, at the moment, Millie - especially as we are out and about virtually every day... However, apparently you can get false positives up to 90 days after having Covid. It was the beginning of October when we both had it. I haven't quite worked out what to do should I suddenly test positive again. I guess, as I've been testing negative for a while, a positive result would now need to be seen as such....
I sympathise with your thoughts about mask wearing.
Fortunately I have a relatively quiet day today. Just one Carol Service to play for this evening. Hopefully, I will write all my Christmas Cards today and get them in the post.
David
1 -
We had a wonderful weekend. Our youngest son and family came up from Derbyshire and the house was full of children and dogs (well, only one dog). I'm now officially the shortest in the family. Even our youngest grandson (11) is taller than me. I have to stand on the step to hug them. But I feel very grateful to have someone to get things down from high shelves.
Usually when family come to stay I cook a big meal for all of us. But this time my daughter in law from next door, and visiting daughter in law asked if I would be offended if they did the cooking! Offended - no! Very grateful - yes!
We have an converted building that we use as a classroom for school visits etc, and they totally transformed it with decorations and amazing food. Plus when the tables were moved away, the television was connected to a gaming device to play highly competitive games.
Now it's back to reality with dinner to make and bills to sort. And maybe this afternoon I'll make a start on Christmas Food, and stash away in a freezer.
0 -
We went to a big wedding in October, lots of mixing and I didn’t feel too comfortable. Lovely wedding though and we were fine after. We both did a test before we went but no idea if others had. With the present situation I personally don’t think that guests would be offended if the happy couple asked all their guests to take a test before attending.
0 -
I've often wondered about the connection between root vegetables and literature when people speak of a "turnip for the books"
2 -
Sounds really good Goldie, I'm envious of your break from cooking and entertaining!
I'm now planning extra days of food for our lot arriving well before Christmas although if all goes to plan they'll spend some time with in laws and friends.
I though I'd treat everyone to some nice "party" food and my order today contained substitutes that no-one would enjoy...so back they all went. (Even the delivery chap noticed the difference.) Luckily my next order is early enough next week to dash out and find spares if things are missing. Everything is also hinging on Covid tests...do hope plans go well for everyone on CT. 🎅
Just had a round robin in a card from someone who lives ten minutes walk away!! We have spoken but she obviously hadn't told me everything over the year.
0 -
Sounds like a wonderful day Goldie, especially after the last 2 years.
We have been rushing around as usual. Town for prescriptions and food then a dash around the village for Mrs WN as she had been nominated to deliver cards, very kindly by the elderly lady we normally deliver for.
Meanwhile I've been packing ready for the off tomorrow. Decided we might need to book somewhere! Fortunately that worked out ok.
Bike company apologetic, as one would hope. Fortunately Harrogate store still had our box of tricks and will send it by same day delivery but next Monday when we're back. Local store offered to deliver a spare battery charger but we'll make do with the one until we get the other one. What a palaver. I did wake up at 2.30 this morning wondering whether we had the correct bike. Such is one's mind at that time of the morning. Got back to sleep a couple of hours later.
Looks like a lockdown may be coming down the line. Hopefully not.
0 -
Just had a round robin in a card from someone who lives ten minutes walk away!! We have spoken but she hadn't told me everything over the year.
0 -
We are supposed to have Christmas lunch at DD's house, our son and family are supposed to be coming too.
On the 23rd we have arranged some party food at DD's and invited her in-laws and any of SIL's sisters and partners that want to come.
We are now hoping that there are no untoward happenings before then, or restrictions put in place to disrupt these plans, otherwise there will be a lot of food to find freezer space for! And there is some stuff that cannot be frozen.
Unfortunately, DD got word from Callum's nursery on Saturday that one of the staff has had a positive LFT, now awaiting the result of a PCR test, so they are waiting to be told what steps have to be taken now. Could be that his "room" all have to self isolate, and all contacts too.
The other problem IMO is that our SIL is a very sociable person, often meets friends and family for a drink or meal out, is round at his parents house several times a week, so lots of opportunities for catching Covid. Our son is a cautious person and if he thinks SIL is a "danger", they will call off coming for Christmas. Plus neither he nor his wife have had boosters yet.
After a serious chat about this, DD was telling us that SIL had called off a meal out on Saturday with his Dad and BIL, as one was not feeling too great (not Covid) and one had dental problems. However it transpired that the meal out did go ahead on Saturday after all, which was disappointing to say the least!
I can see Christmas lunch might just not happen at this rate.
0 -
We do a Round Robin every year for those that live away. Sometimes we get similar back but often hear nothing! I stopped doing them one year and was surprised that someone complained they had not had one, so you can't win. I feel I need to continue the tradition in memory of Simon Hoggart the late Guardian journalist and broadcaster who wrote a book mocking "Round Robin" letters! It was very funny though!!!
David
1 -
Round Robins at Christmas (not the one chirping in the porch) -
We've only ever sent then if it's been a momentous year, the last was over 10 years ago. We get very few and often they're just dry accounts of what they have done. The best come from my cousin in Australia - thousands of miles away, but the only relative I keep in touch with.
But I decided to break the gap and selected some photos to send in the cards. When I'd put them in a Publisher file with a bit of commentary it was too big to send in with the cards, so I selected two photos (OH leading our daughter down the aisle, and both of us talking to The Princess Royal at The Westmorland Show). And in a day or two I'll email the full document with the story of our year.
That'll do for the next ten years.
1 -
You do sometimes wonder why people send cards when all they say is that? Perhaps just letting you know they are still alive!!! On the other hand we have one friend who rather than write a separate note he crams everything, in tiny writing, onto the Christmas card sometimes changing directions. We always look forward to it as often it is a bit of a puzzle and we are pleased with ourselves if we work it all out.
David
0 -
Well that's us completed and passed
our Antigen test for flying back on Thursday. Not sure I want to it's much safer hereChristmas cards, all done before we left and given to my sister to post out. Will probably be the last year I send any by post, it's getting silly the price of postage.
Its been a good break away from all the horrible weather, all being good we should be back again in 9 weeks time to do it all over again
. 0 -
E mail today from Test & Trace, so I'm confined to barracks until next Tuesday unless, IIUC, a clear daily LFT is conducted. I think I'll batten down for the most part to avoid too much throat and nostril stabbing. Did a test yesterday after the E-Mail from the vicar, who had been a passenger in my car on Thursday evening. It was clear so it seems he is not following the practice of the Christians in Acts 2:44.
0
