Month: October 2020

I popped into Tesco Metro in The Square yesterday to pick up a couple of bits. I noticed there were several offers for Tesco club card owners but of course I didn’t have mine with me – again. I do get a bit peeved that the offers are only available for customers who actually remember to carry their card with them. Then I read that some customers who have had home deliveries have also missed out on the discount even though they entered their number on the order. I can see that Tesco is about to lose some friends.

Meanwhile Primark have been selling a puffer coat for £35 which has the internet in a veritable frenzy. I must say it looks rather good. Too late though, it was so popular that it’s sold out everywhere. You might manage to pick one up on Ebay as some canny buyer is selling one on for £80 or maybe more if it goes into the auction. Not a bad profit for not much work.

And in Liverpool Lidl is in trouble for selling copies of  The Sun newspaper in their new store. I didn’t know but this tabloid is boycotted in the North East of England ever since the Hillsborough disaster when they reported fake news or more accurately outright lies. The people haven’t forgotten and they don’t even like seeing the paper on sale.

The Trump was out in front of the White House today speaking to supporters. He came out wearing a mask but quickly pulled it off and stuck it in his pocket. He proceeded to tell the guests that the pandemic was disappearing. The audience of hundreds from around the country were invited by a group known as Blexit who aim to persuade black and latino voters to leave the Democratic party and vote for Trump. Why would they? I have to ask myself. My real question though is where is the Flotus? It was said that The First Lady had come down with covid at the same time as her husband and we haven’t heard a word since. Did she survive? Did she have it? Did she get hospitalised? These questions and many more will probably never be answered, not truthfully anyway.

Please note, we now have Brexit, Blexit and Megxit, try not to get confused they are not the same. I think.

Back to the subject of shopping, did I mention that I have bought myself some red western cowgirl boots? It’s wonderful what we find to cheer ourselves up in lockdown. Goodnight bargain hunters everywhere.  😴💤😴

Thank you everyone who read and commented yesterday. Janice asked if I got the recipe for sough dough bread. Well, I’m afraid not. Christian, in between playing the piano, was carefully preparing and watching the dough for a good 36 hours. Then he was up early on Sunday and baking before the rest of us opened our eyes. He had some requests from people and then there was the loaf for our breakfast. I wouldn’t have the patience any more. Spanish tapas is more my style. I remember when us three couples used to get together and take turns preparing dinner.Lovely times.

Talking of food there was a write up in the news today about the food being delivered to Uni students who have been made to quarantine. I think it’s time we all stood up for a better deal for our young people. They’ve paid fees and are only getting online lectures. Campus facilities are closed except for the library and they are paying for accommodation which it could be argued they didn’t need. Now in some areas they are being forced to stay in their small rooms in quarantine. They can’t wash their clothes, they can’t mix with friends and the photos of the food being delivered – well, I wouldn’t serve it to a dog. And, they have to pay for it. Our kids deserve better and somehow we should make government know that it’s not good enough. Maybe all the grannies need to start travelling and turning up with food parcels or baskets. Just like in Red Riding Hood. I can see me starting a revolution.

Did you know that September 2020 was the hottest on record? Not surprising really as we were all enjoying an Indian summer and hoping that it might just carry on. Looking back we also enjoyed the sunniest Spring and Europe also had some of the warmest temperatures on record. Although it rained this weekend, the only one when I went on a visit, it’s still not too cold in Bournemouth.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t break any records this winter. I can do quite nicely without snow and ice. I have to say that I didn’t even notice any frost last year but maybe I just didn’t get up early enough.

Two female researchers have jointly won the nobel prize in chemistry. A biochemist at the University of California and a French microbiologist have managed to work together across the ocean and developed a gene-editing tool that can change the dna of plants and animals with absolute precision. Scientists say their discovery is going to change the world and how diseases are treated. The two Drs  Charpentier and Doudna won about $560.000 each. The University of California at Berkleley also gave Doudna a free parking space. I just hope she has a license and a car. Good night everyone  😴💤😴

Here I am, back blogging again after a very short break. Went to visit The Blandfords at the weekend and had a very enjoyable couple of days with lots of lovely food. I think the highlight in that department must have been Christian’s sourdough bread. Best bread I’ve tasted in a long time. Peter was busy smoking everything in his new smoker and we had some very tasty fish. Mustn’t forget Mrs B. who had made chocolate tray bake with caramel topping, lovely. I was surprised to find I hadn’t put on weight when I weighed in on Monday morning.

Did I mention that I went to Sam and Paul’s last week to watch GBBO and for dinner. i must have behaved myself as I got invited back this week. Great to see them all and Izzie was visiting and her and Alex made cookies, delicious but too many calories this week. It was bread week on the Bake Off and they made some very strange looking loaves which I wouldn’t have paid any money for. Another lovely evening though.

In Kent on Saturday a 16 year old boy jumped into a canal to save a baby. It seems that he and his friend suddenly saw a pram roll off the path and into the water. They shouted to the mother but it was too late and she didn’t seem to know what to do. The young man pulled off his clothes and jumped in swimming a few strokes to reach the pram which he then managed to get back to the mum. He said it was his worse nightmare jumping into the dirty water but the baby was in danger. The mother said they lived close by and everyone went home. The boy never even found out the name of the mum and baby that he had helped. He deserves more than a gold star for that quick action.

10pm curfew is under attack. The owner of Soho’s G.A.Y. nightclub is seeking a judicial review to overturn the curfew. He and several other business proprietors say they spent large sums of money to protect their staff and customers and therefore be able to open and now they have lost most of their business for a second time. They called the ruling nonsensical and they are being forced to follow legislation without any explanation as to how it will help the pandemic. I have to say that I agree and haven’t been able to see any logic in closing at a certain time. I liked the joke about the virus lurking around outside waiting for the clock to strike ten.

I don’t think I’ll be posting every day as I have been doing, maybe just a couple of times a week from now on. Mainly because there isn’t currently much news and I don’t want to bore you all any more than you already might be with the virus regulations. I might find time to do some painting or even work on the recipe section of my blog. Meanwhile, nighty night. Sleep tight.😴💤😴

Our lovely Jessie was 10 years old today and tomorrow I shall drive up to Kent to see her and the rest of the Blandford family. Haven’t seen them since Christmas so it will be a real treat. It does mean that I probably won’t be blogging while I’m there so this will be on hold until at least Sunday. Weather forecast is dreadful so I imagine I’ll be driving in the rain both there and back. One day at a time, one mile at a time.

So, a new bit of legislation came into force today, plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers are now banned. I have to say that I rather believe that most places have stopped selling or using them anyway. It’s a long time since I saw any in the shops or cafes around Bournemouth. I was surprised though when I was having a bite to eat in the square with my friend Jeannie today and the cutlery was single use plastic. Next thing to deal with is single use masks and how to dispose of them. They can be seen thrown away on the beach, in streets and parks. I have no idea what they are made from or if they can be recycled.

A 17 year old learner driver was taken to court for not stopping in time at a red light. It seems he drove on for 14.8 seconds and managed to get caught on camera. I was trying to imagine what length that might have been in feet and inches unfortunately my brain isn’t working in that direction right now and also I would need to know his speed. He was in the car with his driving instructor who was able to take control of the vehicle. The magistrates gave him an absolute discharge – no fine, no points. I take my hat off to the young man for contesting the ticket and going to court. Would put most people off.

An ex pat living in Luxembourg over twenty years ago bought Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to read to his daughter at bedtime. As she was going to school where they lived and learning English, the dad wanted to teach her his language and ordered the book through the post. He came across it recently on a bookshelf at home and wondered if it had any value so sent it to an auctioneer to find out. It has been valued at between £20k and £30k  but could possibly fetch £50k as it is in excellent condition. The dad will use the money to pay off his daughter’s student load and leave her in a good position financially. Wish I’d had parents like that.

Don’t forget I’m not around over the weekend, have a good one. I think it’ll be indoor sports for most people with rain forecast. Just think of all those tv re-runs you can catch up on. Nighty night.😴💤😴