Titbits... and problem of the week

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is wonderful but sometimes I prefer to organise IT instead of the other way around. For example, my calendar. I used the Yahoo calendar for a while but frequent hiccups but a stop to it.

Cloud makes sure everything I put on the calendar goes to all devices, no matter which gadget is used. If I add a date on the computer it goes quickly to the phone and tablet and the same applies whichever gadget I’m using. No sweat! Then Yahoo performed one of its miraculous techno updates and now EVERY time I switch on the phone calendar it wants my password. Not content with that it wants the password every time I click a key, no kidding. It so got on my nerves that I removed every engagement recorded on the Yahoo calendar and moved across to Google. I’m not a fan of all that Google does but it sure is a lot simpler than Yahoo.

picture courtesy of
tdcjbackgate.blogspot.com

PROBLEM OF THE WEEK ... OR MAYBE LONGER

I am in the middle of making plans for the forthcoming birthday bash. Hmm not exactly a bash, more a leisurely meal with family and friends. It will be held in a private room at the New Hall Hotel, my favourite eating place. 

Below is a picture of the New Hall. I don’t have a picture of the actual room so you’ll have to take my word for it that it is elegant. Hopefully one will follow after the event.

The New Hall moat

Preparing the guest list and place names for use on the day is the current task, doing it early to avoid a rush nearer the time. Addressing the invitations wasn’t easy. Those to married couples were fine, but what about those unmarried folk who live with partners? In a lot of cases I don’t even know the surname of the partner; they’ve been an item for so long I didn’t need to know. Example: Mrs Smith living with that nice gent called Tom, or Leonard, the charmer, now residing with an attractive lady known as Betty. Are the friends informed of new partners’ surnames? Apparently there’s no need, until someone wants to invite them to a do.

What are the rules when it comes to addressing envelopes or place names or preparing a seating plan? If (in this case) ladies are known by different names I might not even recognise them on the list! I mean, you can hardly put Liz & Sid on the same chair. It happens that there are two Ann’s, two Judy’s, two Mike’s and two or three John’s coming to my party ... imagine the chaos if I don’t get things right.

          

And then there’s the neighbours. Arthur who? And that lovely couple down the road known only by Christian names ... how do I name them on a seating plan? To get over my predicament I have to go sleuthing, hopefully acquiring information indirectly rather than admit to not knowing the surnames of couples known for fifteen years or more.

          

Modern partnerships sure make things difficult.  

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Anniversary Meal

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Ours started early because our wedding anniversary was two days before Christmas Day.

This year my Guy and I celebrated with lunch at the New Hall, though why it's called 'New' is a mystery when it was actually built in the 13th Century. Regular bloggers will know that it is one of my favourite eating places.

After parking the car we walked across the moat

and were shown into the dining room overlooking the garden. I think of it as the conservatory. It's not such a delightful room as the Bridge Room but it's very much okay. I like the contemporary look of the solid wood tables. Since it was Christmas there was a Christmas tree and crackers on the tables, an upmarket variety with decent contents.

We hadn't been sitting down long before the rains came. I was thankful that I could only see it by looking through the window. No matter what the weather is like the examples of topiary that you can see through the leaded window are a joy to see in real life.

After studying the menu my Guy decided to start with soup and I chose the smoked chicken gnocchi. Goodness only knows why this picture is sideways on ... it was taken straight and was straight on the computer but Blogger decides otherwise lately. It was delicious ... Blogger couldn't change that.

Next for me was the fish pie

served with hand cut chips and spinach

The pie was a mixture of different kinds of fish, including salmon. Very tasty. I particularly liked the way the potato was piped on top.

Hubs had rib-eye steak which he said was delicious.

Then for afters, I had the orange pannacotta

and himself chose the sticky toffee pudding

A final touch was cappuccino served New House style

Perhaps I shouldn't have shown a foodie blog right on top of Christmas, when you must all be feeling full of food. Soon I will show the content of my Christmas cracker. That should help the digestion! Have your thinking caps on ready because it's one of those 'what is it' objects.