Early Risers.

[Tony_S]

3 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

gochujang

I had to Google that but it appears it is available from the supermarkets and delivery services we use. Though it probably won’t be purchased as Aditi isn’t that keen on “hot” spicy sauces. 
I haven’t been to Asia so my consumption of bibimbap has been in London and Dublin. 

[iL Dottore]

4 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

Mrs JJB likes her kim chi fully weaponized........ I love Korean food, wonderful.

I reckon Korean food can be the culinary equivalent of going down the Cresta Run on a Bobsled without protective gear or brakes: dangerous as all get out, but what an adrenaline rush...,

[southern42]

On 22/01/2024 at 03:23, BR60103 said:

Southern42:  for those instruments of the crumhorn family, are the reeds played between the lips or fully in the mouth?  I seem to remember that the zurla/zurna of the Balkans has the reed free inside the mouth, giving a more bagpipe sound.  The place where the reed enters the instrument has a large button around it so that enthusiastic playing doesn't force the instrument down the throat.

 

 

Crumhorn, Iowa SU: Quote// The player's lips did not touch the reed because the reed was enclosed inside a protective cap with a slot at one end. //Unquote 

 

 

 

On 21/01/2024 at 19:40, Tony_S said:

ER hasn't been at its most scintillating as of late:

 

If anyone wants to be "scintillated", try this.The crumhorn makes an appearance here, too.

 

 

[jjb1970]

21 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

I had to Google that but it appears it is available from the supermarkets and delivery services we use. Though it probably won’t be purchased as Aditi isn’t that keen on “hot” spicy sauces. 
I haven’t been to Asia so my consumption of bibimbap has been in London and Dublin. 

 

I recommend giving it a go, it's sauce of the gods. I don't find it that spicy, but then again asking someone whether food is spicy is a futile exercise really as preferences and what we might consider too much or bland are so personal. As Asian spicy foods go I'd rate gochujang as somewhere mid or just below mid-scale. Stuff like mala, some of the hotter wasabi paste (although really wasabi isn't spicy, it's heat) or Malay/Indonesian chilli sauces and sambal are much higher up the scale.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

too much or bland are so personal.

Aditi seems to think about 5 dried chilli flakes in a curry is a bit hot. I have been able to get away with more when I cook if there is emergency yoghurt available. 

Edited January 23 by Tony_S

[BSW01]

Good afternoon everyone 

 

Very late on parade today, due to staying in bed a bit longer than planned and then trying to play catch up for the rest of the day. Anyway, Sainsbury’s Grand Prix successfully completed and laundry also completed. I’ve also managed to make a spiced fruit cake, which I had left soaking overnight. I had my PSA level tested at the beginning of the month, I got the results today, my PSA level has dropped for the first time in over 18 months, it’s now 14.76, last month it was 15.6. I was a little surprised by this as I was expecting it to have risen again, needless to say, I’m delighted and so is Sheila. 
 

Back later.
 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. One of my neighbours just called, he'd noticed that the car was missing and wanted to check that everything was OK. He offered to help if I needed anything but I declined because others are helping me and he's 92 years old and I don't want to impose. Nothing yet from the insurance, if I don't hear from them soon I'll have to call them.

[Gwiwer]

52 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

too much or bland are so personal.

Aditi seems to think about 5 dried chilli flakes in a curry is a bit hot. I have been able to get away with more when I cook if there is emergency yoghurt available. 

Mother used to say "I don't like garlic.  I can't eat anything with garlic in"

 

So dad crushed then chopped it very finely before adding it to suitable meals which she then enjoyed with the words "Oooo - that's nice.  What's in it?" 🤦‍♀️

 

She then turned her attention to "spicy" foods claiming she didn't like them and didn't want any sort of spice.  She never did like anything on the curry spectrum and chilli was far too hot for her.  Even when it had just a few grains of chilli powder; she could taste that all right.  

 

By contrast dad was fine with hot spicy food having done his National Service in North Africa (mostly), Malaya and Singapore.  It took me a while to get enthused because school-dinner "curry" was quite dreadful and involved turning minced beef swimming in oil a lurid shade of green.  But I gained an appreciation and love for Indian "street food" when living in a part of London largely populated by folk from that part of the world.  Mostly North Indian but a goodly smattering of those from elsewhere.  

 

And I do love a hot chilli.  A university friends and myself had an unofficial "hottest chilli" contest over a number of years.  I'll hand honours to her because hers always tasted better but I think mine ended up hottest.  It only counted if you finished the meal and it proceeded through normally.  No returns!  

 

I took BiL to an Indian restaurant in Penzance some years ago.  We had planned a few drinks early in the evening so this was a natural follow-on.  He too likes spicy food from that part of the world and has spent a year in Cambodia. Cambodian food is different to Indian but is also quite fiery.  

 

BiL timidly went for the Butter Chicken while I ordered the Meat Phal.  He bet me I wouldn't finish it.  He lost.  Darned good it was too and well cooked.  Even the chef emerged from the kitchen to make sure it had been enjoyed.  It had.  And I don't recall any of the allegedly-typical  after-effects occurring.  

 

 

[Gwiwer]

50 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

He offered to help if I needed anything but I declined because others are helping me and he's 92 years old

There are some out there like that.  

 

Our neighbour is 96 but insists on doing stuff himself.  Bins?  No problem.  He even went to the trouble of putting our bins out for the first couple of weeks "in case we missed the collection and because we were new".  

 

Lately he's been easing his porch door which is sticking because it's old and getting damp.  On his hands and knees with the tool kit.  

 

Speaking of which mother was a couple of weeks shy of 92 when she passed away.  Four days before she went she was still on her hands and knees gardening.  

[Barry O]

4 hours ago, Ohmisterporter said:

 

Thanks for that insight iL Dottore. The word that Kath was puzzled by is pheochromocytoma which we have looked up and found no mention of cancer in any form; and with surgical removal there is a good chance of full recovery. I am not saying cancer is not there just that it is not written in terms that an average person would fret about.

Stay safe all.

Yes

 

my release notes from hospital include reference to a "major heart attack, a stroke and diabetes   TEST" but it is not as clear as it can be.. and my sister has to go for the same test due to COPD.. yes.. Medical Practitioners have the communication skills of a banana!  I am still waiting for the feedback from my ECG undertaken the first week of December.. no one from the hospital has contacted me.. the Marie Celeste are not privy to what is going on......

 

Baz

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl,

on the laptop because the tablet has finally died...

a poor nights very broken sleep, but finished with 2 hours solid ,then I forgot it was a Tuesday and was late setting off for the Museum.

 

today we were sorting the History room as half the floor has now been carpeted. so half the equipment was put on the carpeted correct places, and half place in the spare space of carpet. tomorrow the other half will be carpeted.

 

Then we removed and planed off the bottoms of two doors. these are heavy fire doors, Heavy military fire doors, Heavy Military fire doors on a building bomb proof except for a direct hit. Very heavy moving them to some trestles to be worked on and then back again.

 

found another lorry kit of a type i don't have for the radar convoy. Again its out of production and the manufacturer is long gone , so I'll have to make a mould and make some copies once it arrives.

 

Time I went and found something for dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

[Barry O]

3 hours ago, southern42 said:

 

Crumhorn, Iowa SU: Quote// The player's lips did not touch the reed because the reed was enclosed inside a protective cap with a slot at one end. //Unquote 

 

 

 

 

If anyone wants to be "scintillated", try this.The crumhorn makes an appearance here, too.

 

 

very nice till the Hurdy Gurdy (another instrument of the devil like the ukulele!) chipped in..

Baz

[DaveF]

I'm glad I decided to stay in, it started to rain a few minutes after my earlier post and it has continued all day.

 

The morning passed peacefully and enjoyably.  I wanted to check which photos I have resized and captioned to put on here and on flickr but it is so long since I've needed to do any I couldn't find the piece of paper with the numbers on.  So I had to go through photos until I could work out where I had got to, which was not quite where I thought.  If I live a long time I might get them on the web!  At least now I know which to do, I also know which countries I need to concentrate on so I don't run out.  It seems that the first batch to do will be Switzerland  in 1990 and 1992 followed by 1989.  The first two years only have a few to do.  Then it will be back to UK photos, in my case from 1996 on, a bit earlier for Dad's.  I must also sort out Mum's railway photos and use them. I have now started notebooks to record what I put on here and flickr so I don't lose track again.  Meanwhile on here I will continue to replace the ones which went missing.

 

With a break for coffee that took until lunchtime.  I got my old negatives out of the loft so I can check which ones to use, I have to be careful not to post ones I sold almost 20 years ago!

 

During the afternoon I just sorted out some old papers, some will go in the bin, others need to be kept.

 

The package came on time, I also had a delivery of frozen ready meals to try.  I know I have plenty of ones kept at room temperature but the offer was for 5 meals at almost half price, too good to refuse.  The freezer is now very full, it was well stocked before.

 

I've had the details about preparation for my surgery next month, I am very pleased it is confirmed.  In due course it must be paid for.

 

This evening should be a bit of reading, possibly a DVD and then the French version of Maigret if I can stay awake.  By then the wind should be up to full strength so I may need ear plugs again tonight.

 

David

Edited January 23 by DaveF
To remove surplus spaces.

[Barry O]

1 hour ago, BSW01 said:

Good afternoon everyone 

 

Very late on parade today, due to staying in bed a bit longer than planned and then trying to play catch up for the rest of the day. Anyway, Sainsbury’s Grand Prix successfully completed and laundry also completed. I’ve also managed to make a spiced fruit cake, which I had left soaking overnight. I had my PSA level tested at the beginning of the month, I got the results today, my PSA level has dropped for the first time in over 18 months, it’s now 14.76, last month it was 15.6. I was a little surprised by this as I was expecting it to have risen again, needless to say, I’m delighted and so is Sheila. 
 

Back later.
 

Brian

Good news Brian!  Hope the scan goes well!

 

Baz

[Ian Abel]

Chewsday.

Missing a few days but with nothing much to report it seemed appropriate!

 

Weekend was another quiet one again down to pretty cold weather. We did manage a nice dinner out Sunday evening with friends.

Was somewhat of a revelation that several of the restaurant "choices" are now closed on Sundays. Still, managed a favourite that would be a walk in better weather.

 

Work rumbles on, ramping up supposedly for the great audit season!

Mrs off this afternoon with Jemma on a Costco run, Whitney will have to put up with me while they're gone. Jemma will be having dinner with us apparently, once they're done with Costco.

 

Weather is on the up-tick, -4c first thing though overcast, high of 1c expected. Rest of the week supposed to even have lows only at 0c and rumors of 8c or HIGHER within 7-10 days!

 

Carry on.

[pH]

8 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

It made me think about why rats have such an image problem, I think they're nice looking animals, seem to be quite clever in their own way and don't bother people. Considering a lot of other wildlife which gets much better press despite being a lot more hazardous to people or no cuter it seems rats always get a raw deal.

Tell that to a friend who had got to the stage of doctors having a discussion with his wife about switching the machines off! Fortunately, one doctor came up with the correct diagnosis - a rare bacterial infection caught from rodent faeces and/or urine.

Edited January 23 by pH

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Aditi seems to think about 5 dried chilli flakes in a curry is a bit hot. I have been able to get away with more when I cook if there is emergency yoghurt available. 

Hmm, sounds a bit like Mrs iD. When I met her, waving a picture of a chilli at the cooking pot was considered spicy enough.

 

Careful reward based training has gotten her to the point where she can eat a mild korma. 
 

Further advances are unlikely, I for one, recognise that everything that can be done has been done.

 

Edited January 23 by iL Dottore

[Coombe Barton]

... but only 50% of students showed up. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/01/23/covid-enquiry-in-scotland-whatsapp-drinks-and-denial/

[iL Dottore]

26 minutes ago, pH said:

Tell that to a friend who had got to the stage of doctors having a discussion with his wife about switching the machines off! Fortunately, one doctor came up with the correct diagnosis - a rare bacterial infection caught from rodent faeces and/or urine.

Practically every member of the order Rodentia carry diseases that are zoonotic (i.e. jump from animal to human). Zoonotic diseases include such fun things as anthrax, salmonellosis, tuberculosis, (bacterial), rabies,  AIDS, Ebola (viral)  trichinosis, toxoplasmosis (parasites).

 

More worrying are bats, not only are they a huge reservoir of unknown viral and bacterial disease (we don't know a fraction of what they carry) but they are also related to the Primates, (the mammal taxon that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans) which probably explains why they are such a concern to virologists (easier zoonotic transmission??)

 

In this regard it makes sense to protect bat habitats: you don't want to destroy a bat habitat scattering bats to god knows where carrying god knows what....

 

 

[iL Dottore]

@PupCam I sent you a PM but the system says you're not receiving messages!

 

What gives?

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, pH said:

Tell that to a friend who had got to the stage of doctors having a discussion with his wife about switching the machines off! Fortunately, one doctor came up with the correct diagnosis - a rare bacterial infection caught from rodent faeces and/or urine.

 

 

And there was the small matter of that plague thingy back in the day!

Edited January 23 by monkeysarefun

[Gwiwer]

57 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Careful reward based training has gotten her to the point where she can eat a mild korma

Dr SWMBO is not dissimilar. 
 

Likes the mildest of Indian foods but has to be very wary of cream and fat contents due to other medical issues. 
 

If we visit our favourite Indian chef’s premises she will have a chicken korma. I’ll usually have a meat (i.e.lamb) vindaloo. With a biryani because it’s more interesting than plain rice and the delightfully-named sag aloo as a side. 

[PhilJ W]

One for our two wheel ER's.

[PupCam]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

@PupCam I sent you a PM but the system says you're not receiving messages!

 

What gives?

Test message sent ….

[Andy Hayter]

5 hours ago, Tony_S said:

Aditi seems to think about 5 dried chilli flakes in a curry is a bit hot. I have been able to get away with more when I cook if there is emergency yoghurt available. 

 

I'll guess you'll not be wanting my recipe for Thai Chilli sauce then - and especially the variant where I substituted Antillais chilli (aka Granny's bonnet)  for cayenne