No Cooking Saturday

Chocolate pot with floater coffee
This was my round-up course at yesterday's lunch out with Joe, the first time since May when we had the big birthday celebration.  Guess you can tell I was excited to be out with him again.  Happy Sunday to you all.

Lunch out... with plenty to look at

A friend and I went out for lunch in the local park and were given a corner table with a two way view of the lake. What a surprise, though, to see so many cows coming down to the water. Mixed breeds, which is unusual, so we guess there was more than one owner. Every year the cows are allowed in this vast park where they spend the summer munching and roaming the entire area.

Eventually though they wandered back to the forest and as they retreated so the Canadian Geese swam in. There were a lot more than can seen on this picture and we think they had actually just flown in. There's not usually that many geese on the lake.

Eventually the cows returned and the birds swam away. 

It was all going on while we ate. Just look what came in next.

Closely followed by this 

 And this ... can someone actually get in that that thing?

Apparently so!

Catching up with events....

Apart from the fortnightly visits to the chiropractor, I almost joined the Townswomen’s Guild (otherwise known as TWG) but had to cancel because at long last we were having the real Broadband installed at home. I say real because for four years I had been operating on mobile broadband by way of a DONGLE.

The telephone system proved to be very complicated when we tried to install Broadband twice before. The first time we applied to have it was just after we had our driveway paved and the engineer said he would have to dig it up to install the new system. We turned it down and decided not to bother.

However, we tried for Broadband again at a later date, this time going through AOL with whom we had accounts. Okay, fine! Things were put in place for the installation. The router arrived and a man from the telephone company called to install a box in the porch.  Please don’t ask me what the box was supposed to do.

After that was done we tried getting on line ... and failed. We contacted AOL who said the fault lay with the phone company. The phone company said it was AOLs responsibility. After several weeks of arguing (by phone) we felt disheartened by the whole thing. It seemed there was nothing we could do but demand our money back.

The financial side was sorted and I cancelled my account with AOL. Didn’t need an account anyway since everyone was offering free email. Hotmail, Google, Yahoo, and even AOL.

Then I heard about the newly introduced DONGLE and promptly bought one. My Guy followed suit a short while after, specifically to use on his own laptop. Admittedly the speed for getting on line was not high but it suited us.

And so came the time when my computer bit the dust and I was obliged to buy a new one. Unfortunately the new acquisition only had two USB ports. Don’t manufacturers realise that people like me need about five USB ports to survive? I do, of course, have one of those hub things, well several actually, but one has to remember that it also needs a USB point to operate, and when there are only two there are problems.

By the time I’d connected everything via a hub (including the dongle) I couldn’t connect anything else. By this time we had acquired iPads and needed to log on to iTunes before we could work them. We managed, but only after considerable difficulty on my part because of the lack of USB ports.

So we contacted our own telephone company and asked them to provide to Broadband, knowing that whatever was wrong with our system they would have to put it right. Which they did. We got the new Fibre Optic Broadband, no less. No digging up of driveways, no blaming anyone else for anything.

And to convince us that they were the cats whiskers in providing peace of mind, the phone company also installed CALLER DISPLAY, so that now we don’t need to answer the phone to unwanted callers. I have great satisfaction in ignoring INTERNATIONAL NUMBER UNKOWN.

I did get back on track with the TWG and to date have attended three meetings. I also paid a visit to another WI ... feeling the need to spread myself around. My own institute has got a bit dull lately and there doesn’t seem to be any prospects for livening things up. Added to this there was the Federation’s Annual Council Meeting to attend. That was really enjoyable. The afternoon entertainment came in the form of Two Blokes and a Piano with songs made famous by Flanders and Swann and Richard Stilgo. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a picture of them or of the women singing their heads off.

Hubby's birthday went off like a birthday should, with nice presents, a call from Australia, and good food. He was also pleased to see all the good wishes on the blog from you lovely people. Thank you so much. Here are a few pictures to give you a flavour of the celebration meal.

Mixed Vegetables

Fillet Steak with peppersauce

Pan fried veal with mushroom sauce

Pinot Grigio

Dessert Menu

The Gavino family knew it was a birthday lunch but they didn't let on until the end of our meal. This was their way of wishing him a Happy Birthday.

Not only did they produce the surprise plate but they sang the usual birthday song accompanied by five people at the next table. The next picture shows a nice touch for the star of the day.

We were also given on the house drinks, the name of which I cannot remember, but I do remember how potent they were. 

The last time we were there was in May, for my birthday treat. I blogged about it at the time and was pleased to be told that the blog had been read by the family. What a lovely family they are. I do so love Italians.

That was the week, that was

This week we splashed out for some new curtains, both nets and main. The old nets on the two road-facing windows were made of pure cotton which certain moths took a liking to. I was appalled when I took then down to wash and saw how much they’d eaten, it took me all my time to remove the wires because the cotton threads were so entangled. We live in a fairly narrow road so people in opposite houses are able to see right into the front bedroom. You can see why net curtains are essential. I’d hate to think people were peering at the body beautiful.

We decided to replace the main curtains as well. Not an easy task when all the curtain shops have ceased to exist. I didn’t fancy ordering on line, I mean how can you feel the quality when you buy that way? A friend told me about The Range, a recently opened store fairly near to where we live. We went to explore.  What an amazing place that was, I don’t think there was anything they didn’t sell. The array of curtains was vast, reasonable quality and respectably priced. My Guy is an accountant so he’s acutely aware of costs but he couldn’t believe the prices.

Now for the decorating! 

We have accepted the quote for a professional decorator to do the kitchen, lounge and hall, for starters! Whilst appreciating that these jobs need doing, I dread the upheaval. Wouldn’t it be good if we could move out while the jobs are done?

The lounge is a sunless room and always seems very dark, so we’ve decided to go with white walls. We’ll have the new style anaglypta (can’t remember the name of it) so that future decorating will just be coats of paint. Next in line for the lounge is to change the style of lighting ... ssshhh I haven’t broached that subject yet.

a dish of smothered chicken

Saturday we had our usual lunch out at the Horse and Jockey, an Ember Inns establishment.  I had smothered chicken and himself had the gammon, both served with chips and peas. 


I have just discovered that they now do a take-away service which should make a nice change from the local chippie. Not that I want to go down that route, but it's worth knowing ... just in case.

We have got to know a couple of the barmaids quite well although one of them recently left to return to her homeland, Australia. Chatting to the girl she left behind we discovered that she had been in communication with her friend, using her mobile phone, for free. What?

Apparently Skype isn’t the only freebee phone facility, now smart phone users can download Viber from Apple. The girls talked for an hour and it cost nothing. This is definitely something I must investigate. Isn’t technology marvellous?

Both girls have university degrees in Sport and Social Science and I wondered what sort of work the Australian girl was doing ... would you believe she’s back working in a bar? I come from the old school where people with degrees had plenty of opportunities but it’s not so these days. Seems to me that qualifications are a waste of time; what’s the point of studying hard to get one when there are no jobs available?

Apparently both of them were advised to take on voluntary work, but that is no good when they need money to survive and repay the student loan. There is so much store set on going to university these days. Whereas at one time youngsters left school and got a job, now it is the practice to move on to university. Thankfully apprenticeships are becoming more popular. A much better idea in today’s climate ... work experience as well as earning a wage is far less worrying for our young people.

Picture courtesy of www.sterling-adventures.co.uk

One of the young foxes has taken to sleeping at the bottom of the garden, Last time he was there for at least a couple of hours while a woodpigeon got on with eating his food. Wildlife is so interesting!

I recently downloaded the game Scribe on the iPad, a game which is certainly addictive. Beating my targets has almost become an obsession. You will see in the picture that I have been promoted to Legendary Wizard. Is that something to be proud of, I ask myself, well at least it made my friend jealous.

All week we’ve had attractive skies, thundery looking, yes, but nice to look at. 

That’s all the news for this week. It’s been fun recalling all the things I have done.

Yesterday's Lunch

Had a fantastic and unusual lunch yesterday. My friend decided straight away that she wanted the curry but I'd seen the above on the menu and couldn't resist. It was called the Pie Collection and consisted of four mini pies (they look bigger in the picture), one cottage pie, one steak and ale, one chicken and mushroom, and one spiced steak and kidney, all in pastry that melted in the mouth. The pies came with a dish of scalding hot creamed potato, a dish of mushy peas, and a jug of delicious gravy. It's a pity the camera didn't capture the wooden platter which had ornate carving on the ends. I ate like a king and could hardly move afterwards .... ooooh but it was worth it. The wine was a new one called Divine ... it was too!