Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace, Hail the Son of righteousness.
Happy Christmas to you all
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Joyeux Noel
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Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
Hello Dear Peeps!
I hope you had a lovely Chruistmas Day, whatever you were doing and whoever you were sharing it with!
I managed to make it to the Christmas Eve service at church, with my MiL, although Mr FD didn't come. He stayed at home and popped the stilton stuffed mushrooms into the oven, so they were ready when we got home. They were very delicious too. I'd planned on following a recipe, but in fact when I read it I realised the mushrooms were deep fried, which wouldn't have suited MiL. So I made up a stuffing - spring onion, mushroom ends, crumbled stilton, a smidgeon of creme fraiche & a splish of cognac. That went very well in the mushrooms,which when baked created their own little sauce. Very nice.
On Christmas Day we got up at about 8.00 and had croissants from the bakery, with redcurrant-and-cherry jam, home made by a friend. We are looking after the dogs of our friends, so it was my job to pop down & give Roxy her tablets in half a Knacki. Marvin just gets half a Knacki so he doesn't feel left out! They love their Knackis!
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They are gobbled down so quickly, Roxy doesn't realise she's been medicated!
After the dogs had been "done" we opened a couple of our presents, and then set out for a walk in the amazing Spring-like sunshine. We took Marvin with us. We drove a few kilometres above the village...
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Of course, it never seemede quite "special" enough, so finally we decided to open it this Christmas and make it a "special occasion" by enjoying it. Which we most certainly did!!
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After a pause while Mr FD & MiL prepared the vegetables, we opened our other presents and then moved on to foie gras, and faux gras. MiL doesn't eat meat, so I made a paté called Faux Gras from lentils, mushrooms and walnuts. Apparently it is very good (although I'm not convinced!)
A lengthy pause while family were telephoned, and then we moved on to our main course...Mr FD and I had guinea fowl (bought ready-boned and rolled) and MiL had sea bass. She made a caper-and-lemon sauce to go with it. Roast potatoes, red cabbage, carrot and romanesco cauliflower completed the feast
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I hope you had a lovely Chruistmas Day, whatever you were doing and whoever you were sharing it with!
I managed to make it to the Christmas Eve service at church, with my MiL, although Mr FD didn't come. He stayed at home and popped the stilton stuffed mushrooms into the oven, so they were ready when we got home. They were very delicious too. I'd planned on following a recipe, but in fact when I read it I realised the mushrooms were deep fried, which wouldn't have suited MiL. So I made up a stuffing - spring onion, mushroom ends, crumbled stilton, a smidgeon of creme fraiche & a splish of cognac. That went very well in the mushrooms,which when baked created their own little sauce. Very nice.
On Christmas Day we got up at about 8.00 and had croissants from the bakery, with redcurrant-and-cherry jam, home made by a friend. We are looking after the dogs of our friends, so it was my job to pop down & give Roxy her tablets in half a Knacki. Marvin just gets half a Knacki so he doesn't feel left out! They love their Knackis!
After the dogs had been "done" we opened a couple of our presents, and then set out for a walk in the amazing Spring-like sunshine. We took Marvin with us. We drove a few kilometres above the village...
looking towards the mountains of Le Puy
Mr FD, FD and Marvin. The plain of the Loire is behind us.
MiL & Mr FD striding ahead
With the Lyonnais mountains behind.
It was a lovely walk, and Marvin had a great time exploring smells and running about. We couldn't take Roxy too as she has a heart condition & can no longer go for walks.
When we got home it was time for smoked salmon...and champagne. Our friends Rob & Mel gave us this bottle quite a few years ago, and we saved it for "a special occasion"
After a pause while Mr FD & MiL prepared the vegetables, we opened our other presents and then moved on to foie gras, and faux gras. MiL doesn't eat meat, so I made a paté called Faux Gras from lentils, mushrooms and walnuts. Apparently it is very good (although I'm not convinced!)
A lengthy pause while family were telephoned, and then we moved on to our main course...Mr FD and I had guinea fowl (bought ready-boned and rolled) and MiL had sea bass. She made a caper-and-lemon sauce to go with it. Roast potatoes, red cabbage, carrot and romanesco cauliflower completed the feast
(not my favourite, but Mr FD wanted it!)
Pomme has come to join the feast!
I popped down to prepare the dogs' dinner while the others tidied up. Then we had cheese and cake with Strictly, Call the Midwife and Doctor Who.
My home-made cake - not very well decorated, I'm afraid!
It was a delightful day! I received some lovely presents - a Vent du Nord CD and Pandora charms from Mr FD, a gorgeous handbag from my nieces & theuir men, a pair of lovely earrings from MiL plus a Pandora charm. My mum sent a little bag too, plus some money. I also had great fun opening my swap parcels. I'll write a post about them over at The Teapot, later on today, or maybe tomorrow. Here are two of the lovely decorations that Diane sent me though...
The top left is a flying reindeer which we bought in Lyon Christmas Market our first year here in France. One wing dropped off, which makes it perfect to hang against a wall/door. Top right is a wooden cut-out decoration, from an earlier swap. Bottom middle is a little heart from a Christmas swap last year, which stays attached to the cupboard door all year round. And finally bottom left & right are the two quilty Santas sent by Diane this year. Thank you Diane for these, and for my other lovely gifts.
So, as you can see it was a lovely day. Today we have chilled this morning, we have a vegetarian curry for lunch, and Mr FD & MiL are going for a long walk. I'm staying at home to watch some of the hours of Coronation Street that are rtecorded (since I was working so much during the Autumn I couldn't keep up with the action. I've got everything from the beginning of December to watch!), to cleahn up a bit and to prepare for our visitors this evening. Our friend Corinne, her partner and her mum are coming for drinks and eats. Richard may also pop in.
Wot larks!
And, finally, as it wouldn't be a Fat Dormouse blog post without a LolCat:
Happy Christmas, dear Peeps!
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Swopsies!!
I think you will like to read about my lovely swopsies. You can finds out about them over at The Teapot
Here's a taster...
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Here's a taster...
Isn't it cute?!
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On the first, second and third days of Christmas...
...my Swap partner sent to me...
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I joined in another Christmas swap, in which you are partnered up, and send 12 gifts to your partner to be opened, one a day, in the days after Christmas.
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I was paired up with Pam, from A New Life in Wales and I sent her various goodies (which you can read about on her blog - I've forgotten what I sent her!!). Here are the lovely things she sent me...
The first day (I opened my first on Boxing Day) Mr FD chose a parcel which revealed this sweet little coaster, made from Welsh slate
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Apparently, according to Google, "cwtch" means "to cuddle". Good advice in an emergency: Keep calm and cuddle someone!!
The second day MiL chose another parcel from the box. In this was a lovely handmade drawstring bag and some chocolate treats
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Although the fabric is quite Christmassy I think I will use it all year round. I'm not quite sure what for yet...But I'll think of something!
On the third day (today!) I came down to breakfast and a parcel was already laid out and waiting for me...
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A dinky little pincushion with some fab heart-topped pins. I'm not a sewer, but I have two friends who are, so I'm sure Pam won't mind if I pass this gift on to 2 people who will use them more than I will.
I'm off to Paris tomorrow, with Mr FD and MiL. We are staying overnight and then putting her on the train home. She was worried about changing stations in Paris, so we said we'd go up with her. So I'll be opening my 4th, 5th and 6th day parcels all in a rush on Thursday. Or maybe I'll spread them out over more than 12 Days...!
Thank you for my lovely gifts so far Pam; I look forward to opening more!
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I joined in another Christmas swap, in which you are partnered up, and send 12 gifts to your partner to be opened, one a day, in the days after Christmas.
I was paired up with Pam, from A New Life in Wales and I sent her various goodies (which you can read about on her blog - I've forgotten what I sent her!!). Here are the lovely things she sent me...
The first day (I opened my first on Boxing Day) Mr FD chose a parcel which revealed this sweet little coaster, made from Welsh slate
The second day MiL chose another parcel from the box. In this was a lovely handmade drawstring bag and some chocolate treats
On the third day (today!) I came down to breakfast and a parcel was already laid out and waiting for me...
I'm off to Paris tomorrow, with Mr FD and MiL. We are staying overnight and then putting her on the train home. She was worried about changing stations in Paris, so we said we'd go up with her. So I'll be opening my 4th, 5th and 6th day parcels all in a rush on Thursday. Or maybe I'll spread them out over more than 12 Days...!
Thank you for my lovely gifts so far Pam; I look forward to opening more!
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Visiting Paris with Mr FD & MiL
We had a lovely time in Paris.
Here's a taster
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but you'll have to go over to The Teapot to read about the rest of our adventures.
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They do not include break-dancing cats.
Here's a taster
but you'll have to go over to The Teapot to read about the rest of our adventures.
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Happy New Year!
I wish for all my dear Peeps a peaceful, blessed 2016. I wish the same for the world, but to be honest I'm not that hopeful! I just pray that God knows what's going on, because I don't think anyone else does!
Here in Dormouse Towers we are almost back to normal...There's a pannetone to eat and rather too many chocolates, but otherwise it's business as usual. No New Year's Day parties for us, just an opportunity to breathe, pause and do whatever we fancy. I've caught up on a few episodes of "Coronation Street" (only about 15 more to go!), I'm blogging, and sorting some recipes and maybe doing some crafting later on. Work starts again next week, so I will just enjoy the pause.
Foodwise, we had a nice meal last night before going to bed at about 11.00 as usual. We had mini vol-au-vents, full of garlic butter and snails, followed by a duckling stuffed with morille & armagnac stuffing (courtesy of Lidl) . We had this with roast potatoes, honey-&-mustard glazed parsnips & carrots and buttered cabbage. Little ice-cream verrines completed the meal. Very nice.
So, Mr FD wants to re-start 5:2ing, as he wants to lose some weight before the Cycle Club "training camp" in March. I'm not sure I'll go the full fasting but will try to eat less generally and even less on the fasting days for Mr FD. We will limit ourselves to one chocolate each an evening - it will make them last and won't add too many calories to the day's totals.
I got a huge box of these yummy chocolates from one of my students at the end of the course. Very unexpected and very generous. Thank you, Olivier!
So menus this week are as follows:
TODAY: Duck-and-potato hash. Using all the leftovers from last night I'll make a kind of hash thingy which we may have with beans.
SATURDAY: Mushroom crepes - a creamy leek-and-mushroom filling in crepes. Chicory salad with this.
SUNDAY:Hairy Dieters Cajun Chicken, with wedges and coleslaw. Yes, I'm back with the Hairy Dieters again!!
MONDAY: Creamy Pasta Bake (from an old Slimming World magazine) - basically roast a chopped courgette, onion and red pepper. Combine with cooked pasta and low fat fromage frais. Top with some grated cheese & bake for a bit. I'm adding some mushrooms and chorizo & probably using creme fraiche instead.
TUESDAY:Hairy Dieters Salmon with chilli and ginger
WEDNESDAY:Hairy Dieters Lamb Dhansak (scroll down for the recipe) which I'll pop into the slow cooker before going to work...Or Mr FD can cook it for when I get back from dancing and working.
THURSDAY: Squash with red bean sauce This one will definitely go in the slow cooker so it will be nice and hot when we get back from shopping (and teaching) in the evening. We go to Lidl together and then, while I'm teaching Adal, Mr FD goes to Carrefour to get the other things that Lidl don't sell.
Thank you to those who sent me Christmas and New Year greetings - Pen, Sandra (at Thistle Cove Farm), Amanda, Fishcake Random, Jan, Kezzie, John Grey and PomPom.
Thank you too for other comments about our Paris trip and my lovely Twelve Days...presents. I have two more to show you, but I'll save those for another post, or for over at The Teapot.
So there you have it! Christmas is done and dusted; New Year is celebrated. Now we are back to the normality...
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Trying to be Healthy - and news of a Giveaway
First, the Giveaway...No, it's not mine, but over at Amanda at Crafty in the Med
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For those of you who are woolly crafters (not me, I'm afraid) there's a nice Giveaway going on.
This morning I have been going through my Good Food and Let's Eat! magazines and cutting out the recipes I might actually use. Lots of the recipes in these magazines sound quite tasty, but I know deep down thyat I'll never cook them; otherts I know immediately I won't cook...so it seemed daft keeping the magazines for just a few recipes.
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I've sorted them out and stuck them into a folder, and itemised them into recipes under 350 calories & those unknown or over 350 calories. This will be useful when choosing recipes for Mr FD's fasting days. At the end of the post, I'll put the list of recipes (I've tried to insert the contents page as a table, but then I found it tricky working out how to continue typing underneath! Techno-idiot!!) I'm going to try to plan two or three vegetarian/fish based meals a week: I'm not a great fish fan, as it always seems like too much faff and a bit too much smell. Salmon is okay though, as long as I get organic, so I'll try to do that.
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If any of the recipes appeal then let me know and I'll type them out for you (if they're not too complicated!) Is anyone else trying top eat more healthily in the New Year?
Here is a list of said recipes:
For those of you who are woolly crafters (not me, I'm afraid) there's a nice Giveaway going on.
This morning I have been going through my Good Food and Let's Eat! magazines and cutting out the recipes I might actually use. Lots of the recipes in these magazines sound quite tasty, but I know deep down thyat I'll never cook them; otherts I know immediately I won't cook...so it seemed daft keeping the magazines for just a few recipes.
I've sorted them out and stuck them into a folder, and itemised them into recipes under 350 calories & those unknown or over 350 calories. This will be useful when choosing recipes for Mr FD's fasting days. At the end of the post, I'll put the list of recipes (I've tried to insert the contents page as a table, but then I found it tricky working out how to continue typing underneath! Techno-idiot!!) I'm going to try to plan two or three vegetarian/fish based meals a week: I'm not a great fish fan, as it always seems like too much faff and a bit too much smell. Salmon is okay though, as long as I get organic, so I'll try to do that.
If any of the recipes appeal then let me know and I'll type them out for you (if they're not too complicated!) Is anyone else trying top eat more healthily in the New Year?
Here is a list of said recipes:
OVER 350 CALS/UNKNOWN - vegetarian | OVER 350 CALORIES/UNKNOWN – meat /fish | ||||
Aubergine/lentil bake | 2 | Sweet jacket potato with piri prawns | 1 | ||
Pasta Alfredo Florentine | 6 | Firecracker turkey skewers | 3 | ||
Oven baked red pepper risotto | 17 | Beef rendang | 6 | ||
Spinach/ricotta pancakes | 17 | Beef supper | 8 | ||
Sweet potatoes with mushrooms | 18 | Baked leek & bacon risotto | 8 | ||
Spiced veg with lemony bulghar | 19 | Sticky Chinese chicken | 15 | ||
Herby chickpea balls with tomato sauce | 22 | Pork/mushroom casserole | 17 | ||
Cheese & tomato pasta bake | 30 | Tomato/bacon gnocchi | 18 | ||
Aubergine & black bean stir fry | 35 | Pepper crusted salmon | 19 | ||
Mushroom, walnut, chestnut soup | 43 | Honey-mustard chicken pasta | 19 | ||
Chicken, tomato, olive casserole | 22 | ||||
Baked sausages | 23 | ||||
Korean pork burgers with chips | 25 | ||||
Haddock in tomato sauce | 27 | ||||
Sweet & spicy sausage & mash | 30 | ||||
One pan chicken | 38 | ||||
Spicy pork & bean stew | 39 | ||||
Chorizo/chicken stew | 40 | ||||
Veal stew | 41 | ||||
Lamb moussaka | 41 | ||||
Italian pork chops | 42 | ||||
Chicken & pepper pasta | 43 |
UNDER 350 CALORIES - Vegetarian | UNDER 350 CALORIES – meat /fish | ||||
Cauliflower crust pizza | 4 | Pork & bulghar stuffed peppers | 5 | ||
Vegetarian cottage pie | 7 | Sweet chilli pork | 8 | ||
Falafel & haloumi burgers | 8 | Harissa stuffed peppers | 9 | ||
Artichoke/red onion risotto | 10 | Middle Eastern Moussagna | 9 | ||
Mexican bean burgers | 16 | Chickpea & Chorizo Stew | 10b | ||
Mushroom stroganoff | 20 | Pork meatballs | 14 | ||
Vegetable strudel | 20 | Thai pork burgers & wedges | 18 | ||
Squash & harissa couscous | 22 | Pork & butternut squash stew | 19 | ||
Aubergine lasagne | 22 | Honey-mustard chicken pot | 21 | ||
Parisian red peppers | 23 | Chicken, peanut stir fry | 30 | ||
Majorcan Tumbet | 24 | Orange & herb chicken | 30 | ||
Mushroom & aubergine curry | 26 | Salmon with salsa verde | 31 | ||
Mushroom, tomato curry | 28 | Harissa chicken & chickpea salad | 32 | ||
Not meatballs | 29 | Stuffed tomatoes | 35 | ||
Aubergine/kidney bean burgers | 29 | Chilli spiced lamb | 35 | ||
Chickpea stew | 32 | Brazilian chicken | 36 | ||
Quick mushroom curry | 32 | Moroccan turkey meatballs with couscous | 36 | ||
Curry spiced veggie burgers | 34 | Piri-piri sausages (just!) | 36 | ||
Brazilian vegetables | 36 | Moroccan spiced chicken | 37 | ||
Leek & broccoli bake | 38 | Thai fish cakes | 37 | ||
Mixed mushroom frittata | 39 | Foil baked fish | 37 | ||
Stuffed peppers | 39 | Sweet chilli beef stir fry | 38 | ||
Lemon & thyme roasted cod | 39 |
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Twelve days stretching into many ...!
Because of my trip to Paris, I didn't open my 12 Days presents for Days 4 and 5...So they were late! But they were:
Day 4
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was a lovely little zippered bag, some shiny glittery gold ribbon (which you can see used on some cards over at The Teapot ) and some chocolate coinage.
Day 5
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was this lovely little recipe book, some more chocolate coinage, and a Cadbury's hot chocolate drink sachet! The book is full of lovely recipes, most of which I could happily make for myself, never mind for gifts! I'm definitely going to try the elderflower cordial, I really like the sound of grape jelly, and some of the other chutney and jam recipes, and there are lots of baked goodies too - fudgy coconut brownies,chocolate-chestnut cupcakes, and loads more! Not so good for the healthy eating kick though!!
Day 6...well, I actually forgot Day 6. And Day 7! I didn't open anything yesterday and it is only as I type this that I realise I haven't opened one today!! I'm really stretching this out aren't I ?!
I'll let you know what else I've got in a couple of days!
I almost forgot - I need to welcome Flourgirl and Trudie.
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Day 4
Day 5
Day 6...well, I actually forgot Day 6. And Day 7! I didn't open anything yesterday and it is only as I type this that I realise I haven't opened one today!! I'm really stretching this out aren't I ?!
I'll let you know what else I've got in a couple of days!
I almost forgot - I need to welcome Flourgirl and Trudie.
Trudie's blog is over at Trudie's Cottage but I don't have a blog to link to for Flourgirl...do let me know if you have a blog, Flourgirl. Thank you for following mine!
MrsNesbitt left a comment last post - good luck on your hjealthy eating, Mrs N! Do you have a blog I can find you at? Please let me know!
Jan - thank you for your best wishes. And also thank you to Amanda,who is holding a Giveaway at her blog. She promised to tailor it to me if I win - very kind, Amanda!
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Goats in Trees
What do you do with your old calendars?
I like a big wall calendar in front of my desk. I know that there's one available on my computer, but I find it quicker & easier to just lift my eyes to view the calendar on my wall (with pretty pictures) than faff around opening outlook, clicking on calendar etc. etc. Also my wall calendar is decorative.
But what do you do with the old one, when a new year rolls around?
A few years ago we received a beautiful one for Christmas from my brother. It is photographs of West Yorkshire, and at the end of the year I couldn't bear to throw it away, so it is used as a decoration. I turn the page every month, but I don't use it as a calendar.
In 2015 my wall calendar was "Goats In Trees" - I couldn't resist buying it. Well, actually, first of all I did resist buying it, when I first saw it in Noz. As soon as I got home I wished I'd bought it, but when I went back there were none left. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I went to another branch of Noz and found just one remaining copy of the Goats In Trees calendar!!
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It contained pictures of - yes, you've guessed it - goats in trees! Quite a niche market for such photographs one would imagine...
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You'll find out that you're wrong!!
But it's now 2016 and my wall calendar is of donkeys. What to do with that old calendar?
Well, I like to have a cardboard envelope folder for each of my students/groups of students, especially if there are several in one company. It helps to keep all the administrative documents/photocopies etc together. With my work in ISEKI last term I had eight groups, and by the end of the term the folders I was using all looked a bit tatty. Usually I'd bin them in this condition, but I decided to use my goat calendar to jazz the folders up a bit, and make them usable for another group. So I cut out the pictures and stuck them on the folders, using both glue and sellotape to strengthen the folders where they had torn.
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Look! Goats in Trees folders! What fun!!
My other calendar, from the kitchen - useful to see what day use-by dates are - was a jolly little "Colourful Creatures" one
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I can use the pictures on this for the background of various cards. That's why I chose it. This year's thin calendar for the kitchen is views of Wales.
I like a big wall calendar in front of my desk. I know that there's one available on my computer, but I find it quicker & easier to just lift my eyes to view the calendar on my wall (with pretty pictures) than faff around opening outlook, clicking on calendar etc. etc. Also my wall calendar is decorative.
But what do you do with the old one, when a new year rolls around?
A few years ago we received a beautiful one for Christmas from my brother. It is photographs of West Yorkshire, and at the end of the year I couldn't bear to throw it away, so it is used as a decoration. I turn the page every month, but I don't use it as a calendar.
In 2015 my wall calendar was "Goats In Trees" - I couldn't resist buying it. Well, actually, first of all I did resist buying it, when I first saw it in Noz. As soon as I got home I wished I'd bought it, but when I went back there were none left. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I went to another branch of Noz and found just one remaining copy of the Goats In Trees calendar!!
It contained pictures of - yes, you've guessed it - goats in trees! Quite a niche market for such photographs one would imagine...
Just try googling it...
But it's now 2016 and my wall calendar is of donkeys. What to do with that old calendar?
Well, I like to have a cardboard envelope folder for each of my students/groups of students, especially if there are several in one company. It helps to keep all the administrative documents/photocopies etc together. With my work in ISEKI last term I had eight groups, and by the end of the term the folders I was using all looked a bit tatty. Usually I'd bin them in this condition, but I decided to use my goat calendar to jazz the folders up a bit, and make them usable for another group. So I cut out the pictures and stuck them on the folders, using both glue and sellotape to strengthen the folders where they had torn.
Look! Goats in Trees folders! What fun!!
My other calendar, from the kitchen - useful to see what day use-by dates are - was a jolly little "Colourful Creatures" one
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Whatever. I'm the star.
Hello, hello, dear Peeps. I hope you are all well, and that you are sticking to any resolutions that you may have made. I didn't really make any, so I'm alright! Mr FD is trying very hard with his 5:2-ing.
I suppose if I do have a resolution it is to sort out my paperwork and find somewhere appropriate to keep it. Shoving it in a box isn't really sufficient. I think Mr FD gets a bit frustrated that I can't find relevant bits of paper quickly. "Yes, I know it's in this box somewhere" probably isn't sufficient.
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Mr FD will be in charge of cooking/assembling this dish as I've got a new teaching rendezvous at 17.30. Not my ideal time, but there you are. It's some distance away, so I'm guessing I'll be home around 19.00/19.30.
WEDNESDAY:Mushroom & aubergine curry. Oh, I've just realised I may need another aubergine!! Again, as I'm teaching all day Mr FD will be making this.
THURSDAY: Hairy Dieter's Chicken Cacciatore. This recipe is not quite it, but near enough. This will be popped in the slow cooker before we go shopping/teaching so it's ready when we get back. No starch with this recipe, but I may have a piece of bread with it.
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FRIDAY: Haven't decided yet!!
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I suppose if I do have a resolution it is to sort out my paperwork and find somewhere appropriate to keep it. Shoving it in a box isn't really sufficient. I think Mr FD gets a bit frustrated that I can't find relevant bits of paper quickly. "Yes, I know it's in this box somewhere" probably isn't sufficient.
I haven't got much other news, and as I've had time to blog a bit more recently, what little has happened has been blogged about - except my 12 Days of Christmas presents... I still haven't finished opening them (!!) so when I have opened the last couple I will post about all the lovely things that I've received in the last few parcels.
This afternoon I think I will be taking the decorations down from Christmas. Sad face....but it is time, I know. Otherwise they won't be special for next year.
Our food is trying to be a little healthier now. This is what is planned...
TODAY:Harissa Stuffed Peppers with salad. As Mr FD is cycling today I might provide him with some potatoes too. But maybe not, as it does contain rice, so he doesn't need that many carbs!
SUNDAY:Turkey Ragout. Although this is a 5:2 recipe, I'm going to add more to it, as it's not a fasting day. We're having it with mashed potatoes and some more vegetables.
MONDAY: Sweet chilli pork - not quite this recipe - mine's a bit simpler - but you get the idea. With stir fried leeks and courgettes.
TUESDAY: Mr FD's fasting day - Moussagna. This uses the filling from the peppers (I'll make extra) and then made into a kind-of mossake/lasagna hybrid with aubergine and courgette layers.
WEDNESDAY:Mushroom & aubergine curry. Oh, I've just realised I may need another aubergine!! Again, as I'm teaching all day Mr FD will be making this.
THURSDAY: Hairy Dieter's Chicken Cacciatore. This recipe is not quite it, but near enough. This will be popped in the slow cooker before we go shopping/teaching so it's ready when we get back. No starch with this recipe, but I may have a piece of bread with it.
FRIDAY: Haven't decided yet!!
Thank you for your lovely comments as usual!
Kezzie, Maria and Michelle all commented on my Goats in Trees calendar-to-folder recycling. The goat pictures really were too good to not use again!
I've also had comments admiring my 12 Days...gifts. What, Kezzie? NO chocolate coins? Disgraceful!!
Thank you everyone for taking the time to comment. It is appreciated.
Right! Let's go and root out the box for the decorations, and then spend some time putting things away carefully. The house will look awfully bare after this, I know.
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So how many Days of Christmas is that?!
I have really stretchedout my Twelve Days of Christmas swap! The idea was to send your partner 12 gifts to be opened one a day for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Lovely idea, but somehow I kept forgetting to open a present (forgetting a present - how?!) or I wasn't here for a couple of days.
So my Twelve Days stretched into many. I've already shown some of my gifts, but here are the final ones - mixed up, I'm afraid. I can't rempember which day was which:
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Two lovely pieces of jewellery - some gorgeous handmade earrings and a pearly bracelet.
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Craft supplies - ribbons, lovely butterfly stickers, sequins and papers. I will be making some cards this week, as I haven't got too much work at the moment, so these will be used! I want to send some cards as presents for my next two swaps.
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More chocolate-y goodness! I've popped these in the Chocolate tin on my desk...when I'm flagging I'll help myself to a chocolate coin or two! Mr FD doesn't know about this supply. (If he reads my blog - which I don't think he does! - he will know now!)
Thank you so much Pam for all the lovely presents that you sent me. I hope you liked yours as much as I liked mine!!
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So my Twelve Days stretched into many. I've already shown some of my gifts, but here are the final ones - mixed up, I'm afraid. I can't rempember which day was which:
Craft supplies - ribbons, lovely butterfly stickers, sequins and papers. I will be making some cards this week, as I haven't got too much work at the moment, so these will be used! I want to send some cards as presents for my next two swaps.
More chocolate-y goodness! I've popped these in the Chocolate tin on my desk...when I'm flagging I'll help myself to a chocolate coin or two! Mr FD doesn't know about this supply. (If he reads my blog - which I don't think he does! - he will know now!)
Thank you so much Pam for all the lovely presents that you sent me. I hope you liked yours as much as I liked mine!!
Yesterday I made a card (I could have done with the butterfly stickers which I hadn't opened by then!) for my friend's birthday. I used a new die which I bought at the sales for the Big Shot. I'm not sure I like the card that much...I still need to keep practicing I think. There are much lovelier cards out there on the Internet!!
Looking at it, I think that the butterflies should have been on another contrasting colour strip of paper, rather than just plonked directly on the main card. Still, I like the butterflies, which I think will get a lot of usage.
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Sadness at another passing
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Possibly the most important tortoise you'll ever meet
Hello dear Peeps.
The very first thing I want to do is share this. Please watch it, as a tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman. One of the last things he did was to do the voiceover for this video - it is helping refugees.
I've put it on my Facebook page. If you are so inclined, perhaps you could put it on yours too.
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We'll have this with gnocchi and green beans. And possibly carrots too.
MONDAY: Aubergine lasagne - except with my lasagne I'm not actually using any pasta! The aubergine is the layering material. I think it involves a bit of crumbled feta in the sauce too (I don't have the recipe handy, and Bib the cat is resting on my arm so I can't disturb her to go and see.)
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Again, Mr FD is in charge. I was going to choose another curry recipe, but I'm a little wary of Mr FD's curries now. When he made the curry last Wednesday I couldn't eat it! It was too spicy. In fact, he agreed it was too spicy, as even he - who likes a hot curry - couldn't finish it. I managed to pick the veggies out, and eat those. But his flatbreads were absolutely delicious!!! I couldn't fault those.
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The very first thing I want to do is share this. Please watch it, as a tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman. One of the last things he did was to do the voiceover for this video - it is helping refugees.
I've put it on my Facebook page. If you are so inclined, perhaps you could put it on yours too.
Thank you.
I've been making cards this week - if you wish you can see them over at The Teapot.
Yesterday evening we had a very enjoyable dinner - a really easy oven-baked risotto, with bacon and leeks. Similar to this recipe but with leeks instead of onions and no cherry tomatoes. I also stirred in a big spoonful of cream cheese near the end of cooking which added to the creaminess. We had it with a chicory based salad.
TODAY I have planned baked sausages with two onion marmalade. I will pop a couple of potatoes in the oven to bake and probably squeeze in a dish full of endives for good measure.
SUNDAY: Hairy Dieters' Beef Stroganoff
MONDAY: Aubergine lasagne - except with my lasagne I'm not actually using any pasta! The aubergine is the layering material. I think it involves a bit of crumbled feta in the sauce too (I don't have the recipe handy, and Bib the cat is resting on my arm so I can't disturb her to go and see.)
Eeeew - triple chins!!!
TUESDAY: Chicken-and-olive casserole I'm teaching so will be late home. Mr FD is in charge. I started with this student last week - he is a real sweetie! Loves talking - which always makes life easier! On Thursday I had a phone lesson with someone who gave one sentence answers to all my questions, which made for a difficult 45 minutes! Daniel does not have that affliction - the problem may be stopping him talking long enough to teach some grammar!!
WEDNESDAY: Pepper crusted salmon with garlic chickpeas
Again, Mr FD is in charge. I was going to choose another curry recipe, but I'm a little wary of Mr FD's curries now. When he made the curry last Wednesday I couldn't eat it! It was too spicy. In fact, he agreed it was too spicy, as even he - who likes a hot curry - couldn't finish it. I managed to pick the veggies out, and eat those. But his flatbreads were absolutely delicious!!! I couldn't fault those.
THURSDAY: Tomato and bacon sauce, with mashed sweet potatoes(cooked in the microwave) and salad. This is a quick throw-together meal for when we get back from shopping.
So there you are! The menus that are planned for this week.
As always, thank you for your comments.
obviously going with the tortoise theme this week!!
POMPOM - Thanks for the dinner invite last week. I don't often eat shellfish & crustaceans so lobster will be a treat!
I assume KEZZIE doesn't like mushrooms! How can you not like mushrooms?! (Well, I understand how you can't like mushrooms, as I don't like brussel sprouts, but all the same...)
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Welcomes, Work and What-We're-Eating
Hello, hello Lovely Peeps!
Firstly, I need to say abigFatDormouse Welcome to two new Followers. First there is Rae from Felt By Rae who is my swap partner for Mad About Bags's Send A Little Love swap. Then we have Jo from A Whole Plot of Love .
It is lovely to have you both along for the ride!
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I've been quite busy this week. A couple of weeks back I organised my craft shelves to make them more user friendly (although I am still finding myself , hand hovering by the shelves, thinking "Where did I put that?")
Then I decided I needed to sort out my teaching shelves - I have SO many bits of paper and folders full of lesson plans from various companies. As so many teachers may recognise, I have a "well, it might come in useful one day" mentality. Having gone through folders and thrown out (or rather, put into a bag to be taken to the recycling skip!) things which haven't come in useful in the last 5 years (possibly because I'd forgotten I had them!) or things of which I discovered I had 10 copies, I have reduced the amount of shelf space taken up with folders. It's taken me about two days to do, but I feel I've made inroads. However I do have a very large pile of "Filing" - that is to say the things that I do think will be useful, but which require putting in the appropriate folder. Not looking forward to that job one little bit!
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Teaching is going well, and I'm starting to pick up some more jobs. One I'm not looking forward to though is on Monday. It's with a nice group that I taught last year, BUT in 2014/15 they had 50 hours planned, but only completed 34 of those hours before stopping in April (too busy, I believe) Which means I am now having to do 16 hours with a group who, if I'm brutally honest, didn't get very far in their first 34 hours. I'm going to spend all the time revising what we've already done, only to run out of time so we don't progress much further. It's been, difficumlt planning the first 4 hour lesson (aargh!) because I have no idea what they will have remembered & what they will have forgotten. Added to which, there was a definite split in abilities. Oh well. It's work. Which is always nice!!
Anyway, what's the Food plan this week?
TODAY:Pasta bake, using bits and bobs from the fridge. I had planned something different but then forgot to buy the vital ingredients!!
SUNDAY: Honey Duck Breast with broccoli. I bought 3 duck breasts at half price a few weeks ago, and put them in the freezer. Time to pull one of them out, I think! I love duck!!
MONDAY: Monkfish kebabs (but we're having them with noodles and stir fried veggies, not with rosti)
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Mr FD will be cooking this one, as I'm teaching until 7.00 in Montbrison, so I won't get home until 7.45.
TUESDAY:Root vegetable Boulangèrefrom the Hairy Dieters, plus grilled pork chops. We're going to Ikea today, where I hope to pick up one of their frozen hams. They sold them last Christmas - ready boiled for roasting. It's hard to find a gammon joint here, so these are useful. I'm hoping they will have some from this Christmas.
WEDNESDAY: Shepherds Pie - the recipe from my Slow Cooker bok, involves slow cooking a shoulder of lamb, then shredding the meat and topping with potatoes. I'll start off the joint in the slow cooker before I go out in the morning, then Mr FD will be in charge of the rest before I get home from dancing.
Last week I had a lesson cancelled and so was able to do all the Debutant AND all the Novice dance sessions. I was knackered at the end. I really do have to practise this weekend as the new dance we learned was easy-but-complicated. Should you feel inclined to watch what I get up to, here's another group dancing this one
THURSDAY: Using up some of the shepherd's pie mix, we'll have "ding" cuisine when we get back from shopping/teaching tonight. With rice and vegetables.
FRIDAY: I haven't planned this yet as I do the next week's plan on Thursday before going shopping. Last Friday we had Spanish-style chicken done in the slow cooker - peppers, olive, chorizo.
Thank you for your comments!
Lovely Grey clicked on the Tortoise link from last week...If you haven't, please do. I don't know if you made the salmon & chickpea dish, but Mr FD did. It was lush. I recommend it.
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Sorry there's nothing more exciting for me to write about. Hey-ho! I do admire people who can find things to blog about every day. Mind you, starting from February 10th I'll be blogging about 40 Acts again, over at The Teapot!
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I'm looking forward to this again - it has certainly made a difference in my life - not a big one, it's true, but I have learned to look at situations through more generous eyes (from time to time)! Still a work in progress , of course!
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Firstly, I need to say abigFatDormouse Welcome to two new Followers. First there is Rae from Felt By Rae who is my swap partner for Mad About Bags's Send A Little Love swap. Then we have Jo from A Whole Plot of Love .
It is lovely to have you both along for the ride!
I've been quite busy this week. A couple of weeks back I organised my craft shelves to make them more user friendly (although I am still finding myself , hand hovering by the shelves, thinking "Where did I put that?")
Then I decided I needed to sort out my teaching shelves - I have SO many bits of paper and folders full of lesson plans from various companies. As so many teachers may recognise, I have a "well, it might come in useful one day" mentality. Having gone through folders and thrown out (or rather, put into a bag to be taken to the recycling skip!) things which haven't come in useful in the last 5 years (possibly because I'd forgotten I had them!) or things of which I discovered I had 10 copies, I have reduced the amount of shelf space taken up with folders. It's taken me about two days to do, but I feel I've made inroads. However I do have a very large pile of "Filing" - that is to say the things that I do think will be useful, but which require putting in the appropriate folder. Not looking forward to that job one little bit!
Teaching is going well, and I'm starting to pick up some more jobs. One I'm not looking forward to though is on Monday. It's with a nice group that I taught last year, BUT in 2014/15 they had 50 hours planned, but only completed 34 of those hours before stopping in April (too busy, I believe) Which means I am now having to do 16 hours with a group who, if I'm brutally honest, didn't get very far in their first 34 hours. I'm going to spend all the time revising what we've already done, only to run out of time so we don't progress much further. It's been, difficumlt planning the first 4 hour lesson (aargh!) because I have no idea what they will have remembered & what they will have forgotten. Added to which, there was a definite split in abilities. Oh well. It's work. Which is always nice!!
Anyway, what's the Food plan this week?
TODAY:Pasta bake, using bits and bobs from the fridge. I had planned something different but then forgot to buy the vital ingredients!!
SUNDAY: Honey Duck Breast with broccoli. I bought 3 duck breasts at half price a few weeks ago, and put them in the freezer. Time to pull one of them out, I think! I love duck!!
MONDAY: Monkfish kebabs (but we're having them with noodles and stir fried veggies, not with rosti)
Mr FD will be cooking this one, as I'm teaching until 7.00 in Montbrison, so I won't get home until 7.45.
TUESDAY:Root vegetable Boulangèrefrom the Hairy Dieters, plus grilled pork chops. We're going to Ikea today, where I hope to pick up one of their frozen hams. They sold them last Christmas - ready boiled for roasting. It's hard to find a gammon joint here, so these are useful. I'm hoping they will have some from this Christmas.
WEDNESDAY: Shepherds Pie - the recipe from my Slow Cooker bok, involves slow cooking a shoulder of lamb, then shredding the meat and topping with potatoes. I'll start off the joint in the slow cooker before I go out in the morning, then Mr FD will be in charge of the rest before I get home from dancing.
Last week I had a lesson cancelled and so was able to do all the Debutant AND all the Novice dance sessions. I was knackered at the end. I really do have to practise this weekend as the new dance we learned was easy-but-complicated. Should you feel inclined to watch what I get up to, here's another group dancing this one
THURSDAY: Using up some of the shepherd's pie mix, we'll have "ding" cuisine when we get back from shopping/teaching tonight. With rice and vegetables.
FRIDAY: I haven't planned this yet as I do the next week's plan on Thursday before going shopping. Last Friday we had Spanish-style chicken done in the slow cooker - peppers, olive, chorizo.
Thank you for your comments!
Lovely Grey clicked on the Tortoise link from last week...If you haven't, please do. I don't know if you made the salmon & chickpea dish, but Mr FD did. It was lush. I recommend it.
Sorry there's nothing more exciting for me to write about. Hey-ho! I do admire people who can find things to blog about every day. Mind you, starting from February 10th I'll be blogging about 40 Acts again, over at The Teapot!
I'm looking forward to this again - it has certainly made a difference in my life - not a big one, it's true, but I have learned to look at situations through more generous eyes (from time to time)! Still a work in progress , of course!
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I won't be impressed with technology...
Good morning to all you Dear Peeps!
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I see I've lost a couple of Followers...maybe it's something to do with the change in BlogLovin' (or whatever) that has been flying about the Blogosphere recently. As a self-confessed Techno Idiot I didn't really understand what it's all about. I don't "follow" many blogs, but I have bookmarked my favourites to return to over and over. Maybe it means I'll no longer be able to comment - I don't know.
Of course, I could have just lost followers because they are bored with my blog! Perfectly possible!! I know it's not the most rivetting blog around, but I enjoy writing it, and I hope there are one or two people who enjoy reading it. And I hope too that it inspires a few people to try new and different recipes.
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Mr FD is on the phone to his mum. He chats for hours to his mum. Me and my mum, we're on the phone for about 10 minutes before we run out of things to say. A quick exchange of news and it's finished!
And there's never much news, as this blog testifies!
This week, I've been preparing lessons, and teaching. That's about it... We had a little apèro at one of my students' homes - he's going to be renovating our bathroom, so Mr FD popped in after the lesson to discuss the quote and to have a little drink. I tried Japanese whisky for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised.
We went to Ikea and I bought some neat little shelves to put some crafting stuff on. They fit very neatly between my desk and my existing shelves, without blocking the vent for the chimney. I'm very happy with them (although they did need to be "tied" to the wall, and have a pad of about 1 cm height shoved under the front feet, to counteract the slope on the floor!)
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I'm doing a little bit of craft work, but I can't show you as
(a) it's for a swap, so I'd like it to be a surprise for my swapee
(b) I can't find the camera. No idea where it might be. So I can't take any photos at the moment.
So instead I'll tell you about planned food.
Yesterday we had a rather unpleasant moussaka, made with leftover lamb from the shepherd's pie. I did it in the slow cooker, so it should have been unctuous and gorgeous, but it was watery, and almost tasteless. We ate it, but not with much pleasure, it must be said.
TODAY: Mediterranean Sausage One-Pot.I shall add a courgette and maybe some mushrooms to add to the vegetable content. I'm using merguez sausages this time, rather than Toulouse sausages, so it may be a bit spicier.
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FRIDAY: I haven't decided yet, but it's likely to be a slow cooker recipe that I can prep before going to Montbrison to teach...but as I only have an hour between getting back from one lesson and having to leave for Montbrison, I may choose something that Mr FD will have to cook himself. From scratch. Which is no problem for him! But in that case, whatever it is, it won't involve chilli of any kind. The last two times he has cooked something involving chilli, he put in too much and I found it almost impossible to eat. He has a higher tolerance for spicy food than I do.
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I see I've lost a couple of Followers...maybe it's something to do with the change in BlogLovin' (or whatever) that has been flying about the Blogosphere recently. As a self-confessed Techno Idiot I didn't really understand what it's all about. I don't "follow" many blogs, but I have bookmarked my favourites to return to over and over. Maybe it means I'll no longer be able to comment - I don't know.
Of course, I could have just lost followers because they are bored with my blog! Perfectly possible!! I know it's not the most rivetting blog around, but I enjoy writing it, and I hope there are one or two people who enjoy reading it. And I hope too that it inspires a few people to try new and different recipes.
And there's never much news, as this blog testifies!
This week, I've been preparing lessons, and teaching. That's about it... We had a little apèro at one of my students' homes - he's going to be renovating our bathroom, so Mr FD popped in after the lesson to discuss the quote and to have a little drink. I tried Japanese whisky for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised.
We went to Ikea and I bought some neat little shelves to put some crafting stuff on. They fit very neatly between my desk and my existing shelves, without blocking the vent for the chimney. I'm very happy with them (although they did need to be "tied" to the wall, and have a pad of about 1 cm height shoved under the front feet, to counteract the slope on the floor!)
I'm doing a little bit of craft work, but I can't show you as
(a) it's for a swap, so I'd like it to be a surprise for my swapee
(b) I can't find the camera. No idea where it might be. So I can't take any photos at the moment.
So instead I'll tell you about planned food.
Yesterday we had a rather unpleasant moussaka, made with leftover lamb from the shepherd's pie. I did it in the slow cooker, so it should have been unctuous and gorgeous, but it was watery, and almost tasteless. We ate it, but not with much pleasure, it must be said.
TODAY: Mediterranean Sausage One-Pot.I shall add a courgette and maybe some mushrooms to add to the vegetable content. I'm using merguez sausages this time, rather than Toulouse sausages, so it may be a bit spicier.
SUNDAY:Steak with blue cheese parpadelleI won't be using fancy-named pasta though! It's whatever pasta we have in the cupboard from Lidl! I'm not a great blue cheese fan, but there are one or two recipes where I find it tolerable, so I thought I'd try this one.
MONDAY: Mr FD's fasting day...so today it's "No meatballs" - made with aubergine. I'll make these with a tomato/onion sauce and we'll have a bit of rice with them too. The recdipe suggests "sizzling" them in olive oil. We have just bought a new non-stick pan, so I may try browning them in just a mist of oil in the new pan, to save on calories.
TUESDAY: Another vegetarian meal! Parisian red peppers. I have a pack of chilli halloumi cheese that I bought in the UK in summer (I haven't seen it in France) with a use-by date coming up. It seems like this would be a good opportunity to use it.
WEDNESDAY: Slow Cooker beef cheeks in aleUnfortunately we couldn't get beef cheek, so it's not as economical as it could be, but I'm hoping that the quantity will do 3 meals for 2. I'll be putting it in the freezer. Mr FD will be in charge of the accompaniements of mashed potato & carrots.
THURSDAY: Orange & herb chicken - but with just oranges and chicken legs. I can put this in the slow cooker before we go out teaching/shopping. As it's another fsting day for Mr FD, I'll probably have some bread, but he'll just have veggies.
FRIDAY: I haven't decided yet, but it's likely to be a slow cooker recipe that I can prep before going to Montbrison to teach...but as I only have an hour between getting back from one lesson and having to leave for Montbrison, I may choose something that Mr FD will have to cook himself. From scratch. Which is no problem for him! But in that case, whatever it is, it won't involve chilli of any kind. The last two times he has cooked something involving chilli, he put in too much and I found it almost impossible to eat. He has a higher tolerance for spicy food than I do.
As always I want to say Thank You for your comments...
Kezzie: when I left teaching in mainstream education I had cupboards full of Just-in-Case resources which, truth be told, I hadn't used in many years...A lot had come from my mum's resources when shez left teaching! It pained me to have to throw it out, but not many of the staff wanted any of it. Did your advisor make any comment about your paperwork mountain?!
Dawn: Thank you for your comment - and yes, the teaching was fine! It was a bit tricky as the two lower level students had forgotten almost everything and the other two hadn't, but at least I had enough to keep everyone occupied. They like me as a teacher, which helps, and they have intimated that they want to have further hours with mle. I suggested they might like to consider splitting the group.
Maggie: I used to do ballroom dancing, but it was by myself, as Mr FD refuses to dance. It didn't work, as I never had a regular partner. Line-dancing suits me better as you don't need a partner for that!
Lovely Grey: I hope you enjoy the salmon!
Jo: I hope you decide to join in with 40 Acts. I found it inspirational last year. Here's this year's video...
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Sad face: Sore throat
Mr FD has had a horrid, horrid sore throat for the last four days, so bad that he has had to get up in the night because lying down is so painful. He has not been a happy bunny.
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Today I am feeling a slight discomfort in my throat and a little bit of burning pain when I swallow. I think it may be creeping up on me. Just in time for a very busy teaching day tomorrow, and then the weekend! Huzzah.
But that's not all...
This Sunday is going to be a special one for me. I'm being recommissioned as a Licensed Lay Minister at church - Archdeacons coming from Marseilles and finger buffets after the service and I suspect that Sunday will be when it is at its raging high point. Fantastic.
What's a girl to do?
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After my next lesson (oops, about to start!) I'll be popping out to see what the pharmacy can offer me, but I fear that I'm just going to have to let it run its course, and put up with the pain on Sunday.
I find this advice very helpful though:
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(not!)
Today I am feeling a slight discomfort in my throat and a little bit of burning pain when I swallow. I think it may be creeping up on me. Just in time for a very busy teaching day tomorrow, and then the weekend! Huzzah.
But that's not all...
This Sunday is going to be a special one for me. I'm being recommissioned as a Licensed Lay Minister at church - Archdeacons coming from Marseilles and finger buffets after the service and I suspect that Sunday will be when it is at its raging high point. Fantastic.
What's a girl to do?
After my next lesson (oops, about to start!) I'll be popping out to see what the pharmacy can offer me, but I fear that I'm just going to have to let it run its course, and put up with the pain on Sunday.
I find this advice very helpful though:
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Muffin top!
At the moment my sore throat is being held at bay. Mr FD says he feels better after "getting rid of stuff from behind his soft pallette". I really don't want to know quite what "stuff" he is referring too. Suffice to say, he is brighter today.
My planned "hard day's teaching" was curtailed by 4 hours when (rather belatedly) I received an email from the company saying they needed to cancel the lesson. Theoretically I should count it as a late cancellation (less than 24 hours in advance) and charge them for it, but they'd lose 4 hours of their lessons then. It hasn't really inconvenienced me, so I'm not going to bother....Mind you, if they do it again I might be tempted...!!
So, instead of teaching, I did some baking! My Friday afternoon student and I have started a tradition of providing cakes to buck us up late afternoon. So today, finding three pots of purée de pommes/peches in the cupboard I decided to make muffins! One of the pots must have had a tiny hole in the lid as there was a big spot of mould on top of the purée. If it had just been for us I might have scraped off the mould and risked using it, but for someone else I decided not to.
I used this recipe
Makes: 8 muffins
- 110g butter, room temperature
- 135g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tablespoon ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
- 235ml apple sauce
- 190g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon dark brown soft sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- In a large bowl mix together the butter and the sugar until the mixture is creamy. Beat in eggs and mix well.
- Next add the nutmeg, allspice, baking powder and the bicarbonate of soda. Mix in well. Then add the apple sauce and the plain flour mix it in all in and make sure it is light and fluffy. Put the mixture into muffin cases.
- Mix in bowl the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the muffins.
- Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
The recipe said it would make 8 muffins, but I actually made 14 good sized ones with the amount of mixture - which Mr FD is very happy about as it means there'll be some for him too! I added some dried cranberries to the mixture as well. I'd've taken a photo but my camera is still mislaid. I think I'm going to have to spend Saturday having a really good look around the house. I can't imagine what has happened to it, as I don't often take it anywhere....
Yesterday afternoon was spent making a card for a friend. I'm rather happy with it, but it did take ages, just because I couldn't decide what to do. The final card was an easel type card, with a couple of rather neat rosettes on it. If I find the camera before I give her the card, then I'll take a picture. My inspiration was this card:
but it turned out quite different in the end!
P.S. I sent Daniel (my student) a quick text to let him know I had made cake. He has just replied:
Yummy !
You know I am greedy.
Bless!
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Any ideas for an attention grabbing title? No, me neither.
This is a quick post today - I have a lot of ironing to do, including my surplice and cassock.
My sore throat is developing but it's developing quite slowly so I'm hoping that tomorrow might be okay. So far today I've taken throat syrup, gargled with soluble aspirin, gargled with apple cider vinegar (yuckity-yuck) and drunk a lot of pineapple juice. I also have an antiseptic mouthwash to try gargling with as well. I shall keep up with this to try to keep the infection at bay. Mr FD resorted to the Very Strong Painkillers last night which gave him a bit of respite, and he's in less pain today, although he is suffering with earache now. He's a martyr to the Ear-Nose-Throat department!
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I'm relieved to hear that the Very Strong Painkillers work, so I can use them tomorrow if necessary.
Food has not quite been as planned due to not-feeling-like-it. I think today's planned Creamy Chicken Pots -delicious as they sound! - are going to be abandoned for pizza-from-Natasha's-van. The chicken can go in the freezer for another time.
SUNDAY: There's a finger buffet after my re-commisioning service, so I'll probably just have beans on toast in the evening. Mr FD can have something that I find rooting round in the freezer!
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MONDAY: I'd planned a frittata, but we had one on Thursday night so that's out. I could do the chicken pots but it's Mr FD's fasting day, so they're not quite appropriate. I think I'll go for Hairy Dieter's Bean burgers with a chicory/orange salad.
TUESDAY:Baked fish with red peppers and tomatoes This is a link to a PDF of some of the recipe book, so you get some other recipes too! You'll need to scroll down to find the fishy recipe.
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My sore throat is developing but it's developing quite slowly so I'm hoping that tomorrow might be okay. So far today I've taken throat syrup, gargled with soluble aspirin, gargled with apple cider vinegar (yuckity-yuck) and drunk a lot of pineapple juice. I also have an antiseptic mouthwash to try gargling with as well. I shall keep up with this to try to keep the infection at bay. Mr FD resorted to the Very Strong Painkillers last night which gave him a bit of respite, and he's in less pain today, although he is suffering with earache now. He's a martyr to the Ear-Nose-Throat department!
I'm relieved to hear that the Very Strong Painkillers work, so I can use them tomorrow if necessary.
Food has not quite been as planned due to not-feeling-like-it. I think today's planned Creamy Chicken Pots -delicious as they sound! - are going to be abandoned for pizza-from-Natasha's-van. The chicken can go in the freezer for another time.
SUNDAY: There's a finger buffet after my re-commisioning service, so I'll probably just have beans on toast in the evening. Mr FD can have something that I find rooting round in the freezer!
MONDAY: I'd planned a frittata, but we had one on Thursday night so that's out. I could do the chicken pots but it's Mr FD's fasting day, so they're not quite appropriate. I think I'll go for Hairy Dieter's Bean burgers with a chicory/orange salad.
TUESDAY:Baked fish with red peppers and tomatoes This is a link to a PDF of some of the recipe book, so you get some other recipes too! You'll need to scroll down to find the fishy recipe.
WEDNESDAY: Slow Cooker lamb stew I won't be worrying about the gluten-free ingredients mentioned though! Thank goodness I don't have to take that into account!
THURSDAY:Chicken & spinach curry This will go in the slow cooker so it's ready to eat when we get home from teaching/shopping on Thursday evening. It will just need fresh spinach adding for a few minutes.
...for your comments
Michelle and Trish both said they fancied the look of the no-meatballs. I made them and they were very acceptable. I sprayed them with oil and oven baked them, rather than frying them and they were fine. I hope you enjoy them too.
Maggie liked the look of the sausage one-pot. That was good too. I think the extra veggies that I threw in (mushrooms and courgette) helped, as did using merguez sausages.
Angeljem& Trish both liked the Lolcat I used - I do like Lolcats, although the "cutsie" Lolspeak can be a bit annoying. But I can usually find at least one that fits nicely with the theme.
Thank you for your reassurances regarding blogs, lost followers and oither such nonsense, Kezzie! And Jan , thank you for your good wishes both for my health & for tomorrow.
And so I must trot off and do my ironing, in the company of Kermode & Mayo's Film Review podcast. It always makes the time go quicker!
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Energy saving mode?
Hello to all you lovely Peeps. I hope you are all well and sparkly.
I think today I must force myself to get outside - it is (so far at least) a lovely looking day and I have been uber-lazy recently. Although I slept well, I'm feeling dopey and drowsy, so I probably need a bit of a shake up. I probably should go now - as it's good weather - but secretly I'm hoping that if I leave it, the weather will change and there's a good excuse not to go!!
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This week has been nothing special - teaching, planning, a bit of time wasting (I'm good at that!) and my dancing on Wednesday. This weekend Mr FD and I are going to try to initiate ourselves into the mystery of Tarot, as we have our fortnightly card evening on Monday with Monique & Michel. We taught them Cribbage last time, they are going to teach us Tarot this week, but we thought it might be worth trying to get ahead of the game by at least having a vague understanding of the rules.
I have been involved in 40 Acts, so if you want to read what I've been doing there, you can go over to the Teapot.
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We had pancakes on Tuesday - bizarrely the recipe that I used said that I would be able to make "about 12" pancakes from the quantity of batter. I made 4! I'm not sure if my pancakes were substantially thicker than the ones Mireille Johnson made, or maybe they were bigger. Still, 4 was really a better quantity for 2 people than 12!
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Last week's food was very nice - the pizza from the van turned into a frozen pizza, as sadly I fear the van has gone out of business, or at least stopped trading. We didn't have the curry on Thursday, but had ding cuisine from the previous evening. And Tuesday's baked fish was very nice. We're not fish eaters really, but we both enjoyed this recipe, as it was hearty and not very fishy!
This week's menus are looking like this:
TODAY:Firecracker turkey (but not on skewers), noodles and stir fried veggies
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I haven't been following 5:2 for quite a while, although Mr FD has (except for the last couple of weeks when he's been under the weather) but I noticed I was beginning to get porky again. I need to be more careful, I think, and try to semi-fast on Mondays & Thursdays...That is, eat less, no biscuits & snacks, and no alcohol. I'm already choosing low fat recipes to help Mr FD with his fasting, so it shouldn't be too tricky for me to cut down.
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I think today I must force myself to get outside - it is (so far at least) a lovely looking day and I have been uber-lazy recently. Although I slept well, I'm feeling dopey and drowsy, so I probably need a bit of a shake up. I probably should go now - as it's good weather - but secretly I'm hoping that if I leave it, the weather will change and there's a good excuse not to go!!
This week has been nothing special - teaching, planning, a bit of time wasting (I'm good at that!) and my dancing on Wednesday. This weekend Mr FD and I are going to try to initiate ourselves into the mystery of Tarot, as we have our fortnightly card evening on Monday with Monique & Michel. We taught them Cribbage last time, they are going to teach us Tarot this week, but we thought it might be worth trying to get ahead of the game by at least having a vague understanding of the rules.
I have been involved in 40 Acts, so if you want to read what I've been doing there, you can go over to the Teapot.
We had pancakes on Tuesday - bizarrely the recipe that I used said that I would be able to make "about 12" pancakes from the quantity of batter. I made 4! I'm not sure if my pancakes were substantially thicker than the ones Mireille Johnson made, or maybe they were bigger. Still, 4 was really a better quantity for 2 people than 12!
I rarely make pancakes, and if I do, they're usually savoury, and filled with leeks-and-mushrooms in cheese sauce. But I really enjoyed the ones I made, which I had with lemon and sugar. Classic filling!
It's Valentine's Day tomorrow - we won't be doing anything special, or giving cards, but I'm thinking I might make a heart shaped fruit pie - or jam tart - just for fun. Or maybe not. Can I be arsed?! Or perhaps I should take this as my inspiration...?!?!
This week's menus are looking like this:
TODAY:Firecracker turkey (but not on skewers), noodles and stir fried veggies
SUNDAY: Pork and mushroom casserole, rice and carrots
MONDAY:Falafel and halloumi burgers. I used some of a pack of halloumi last week, so need to use up the rest. We'll have these with salad
TUESDAY:Beef Rendang with rice and green beans
WEDNESDAY:Honey mustard chicken (in the slow cooker) I haven't got so many lessons this week, as it's school holidays, so I can prepare this before I go to Roanne. Mr FD can cook some potatoes/rice as he wishes.
THURSDAY: Mushroom and tomato curry - I'll cook & prepare this before we go to Roanne shopping, & pop it in the slow cooker to keep warm, rather than to cook it, if you see what I mean...
FRIDAY: Not really sure yet. Maybe chilli - I have kidney beans and mince in the freezer, so it would be easy to do. We have some tortillas that need using, so we can maybe have burritos. Between us, Mr FD & I should be able to make it the right spiciness - I'm usually too sparing and he's sometimes over-the-top!
I haven't been following 5:2 for quite a while, although Mr FD has (except for the last couple of weeks when he's been under the weather) but I noticed I was beginning to get porky again. I need to be more careful, I think, and try to semi-fast on Mondays & Thursdays...That is, eat less, no biscuits & snacks, and no alcohol. I'm already choosing low fat recipes to help Mr FD with his fasting, so it shouldn't be too tricky for me to cut down.
as always for your comments...
TRISH...the lurgies have been fended off. I feel a bit guilty as Mr FD has had the viral infection (identified as such by the doctor) very badly, while I have had a minor discomfort. Mine has followed the same pattern as his, but with nothing more than a slight pain in the evening, wheras he has been nursing "agonising pain" (His description. I am saying nothing about men exaggerating. I can't feel what he can feel)
The service last week went well. I hate pictures of me, but this one is bearable
although my surplice makes me look enormous!
KEZZIE: Thank you for your suggestion of an alternative title - I wish I'd thought of it. And while I do try to use up all left over food I don't think I would really expect Mr FD to eat something he found rotting...But, what he doesn't know won't hurt him...!! We actually both ended up eating steak and chips as I didn't eat very much at the lunch afterwards
although there was plenty!
Oh well, that's about it for food and news. Do please let me know if you've tried any of the recipes I link to; it's always good to hear if people enjoy their food!!
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Meals and Musings...
Oooooooh! I've lost another Follower. Sorry I wasn't interesting enough, whoever you were. Or maybe there was some disgust that I hadn't blogged in a week - I know I sometimes get frustrated, clicking on a favourite blog and finding it hasn't been updated for a while. No problems there with Ang's blog, somehow she always finds something to blog about every day!!
Today she is blogging about smoking, and a particular brand of cigarette/tobacco, Balkan Sobranie. I won't steal her thunder, you can go and read the post yourself, but I commented on how much I enjoyed the episode of "Call the Midwife" where the doctor's son used reverse psychology to get his dad to give up smoking. As I said, I wish someone had done the same to my father, but back then, it was the few who recognised that smoking was the root cause of so many cancers and chest problems.
Dad used to smoke Gitanes on holiday in France & Switzerland, because we all thought how cosmopolitan and sophisticated they made him look (in his sandals and socks!!), but the rest of the time he was mostly a pipe smoker.
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I have also been enjoying this series of "Call the Midwife" because it was in this era that dad was practising as a GP. In Fazakerly, in Liverpool, so not exactly the same area as Poplar, London, but it helps me to imagine some of the things he was dealing with. Mum was the receptionist for a while, as she would not have been alloowed to be a teacher with the children...
I have been blogging every day over at The Teapot, as I am taking part in 40 Acts: 40 acts of generosity during Lent. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep blogging every day, but I'm making the effort at the moment!
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This is a clue to what we're having for dinner this evening! One of the Actions for 40 Acts was to shop local - so that's what we're doing!!! I planned to use the pizza van a couple of weeks back, but Natasha wasn't there. Apparently though she was just on holiday, so we're hopeful for this evening.
SUNDAY: Spicy pork and rice. This is a favourite of mine, to be honest, simple to make, low fat and very tasty. It already has lots of veggies in it so I don't need to add more...although (somehow) we have loads of little gem lettuce, so perhaps I'll make a side salad too.
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MONDAY: Herby lamb and chickpeas....Chickpeas similar to this but I'm going to add the gremolata ingredients to the chickpeas, and somer spinach too. Lamb similar to this but just done with two chops, not entire racks of the stuff!
TUESDAY:Celeriac cakes and merguez sausages.
WEDNESDAY: Vegetarian lasagne. There's no dancing tonight, as it's half term, so I don't need to use the slow cooker. However, the SC has produced a very nice lasagne before now, so I may do it anyway. I'm using a tin of ratatouille as the base for the vegetarian bit of the lasagne.
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THURSDAY: I really don't know. I gave up planning when I got to this point! There's some chicken in the freezer, so I may do something with that. It rather depends on how my teaching pans out this week, but it may be that I'll be shopping and Mr FD will stay at home, so he can do the cooking!
FRIDAY: Again, not sure. I'll probably root round in the freezer to find something. I seem to remember seeing bits of cooked guinea fowl in there,; so I may do a quick-and-easy mostly-vegetable stir fry.
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As usual I want to say thank you for your comments...
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and what better way than with a cute kitten?
SANDRA was a bit concerned by Tarot - It isn't initiation into the occult, however, just a rather tricky card game! I think I understand how it is played, but the strategy is beyond me at the moment, particularly as it helps if you can remember which cards have been played. With a deck of 72 cards, rather than 52 this is a bit much for me. I am a Bear of very little brain!
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POMPOM missed choosing her dinner last week - what will you have this week, Pompom?
I hope that my dear Peeps will pop over to the Teapot if they are missing me here. I promise not to push you into the teapot, as ius happening to the poor Dormouse here:
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Today she is blogging about smoking, and a particular brand of cigarette/tobacco, Balkan Sobranie. I won't steal her thunder, you can go and read the post yourself, but I commented on how much I enjoyed the episode of "Call the Midwife" where the doctor's son used reverse psychology to get his dad to give up smoking. As I said, I wish someone had done the same to my father, but back then, it was the few who recognised that smoking was the root cause of so many cancers and chest problems.
Dad used to smoke Gitanes on holiday in France & Switzerland, because we all thought how cosmopolitan and sophisticated they made him look (in his sandals and socks!!), but the rest of the time he was mostly a pipe smoker.
I have been blogging every day over at The Teapot, as I am taking part in 40 Acts: 40 acts of generosity during Lent. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep blogging every day, but I'm making the effort at the moment!
SUNDAY: Spicy pork and rice. This is a favourite of mine, to be honest, simple to make, low fat and very tasty. It already has lots of veggies in it so I don't need to add more...although (somehow) we have loads of little gem lettuce, so perhaps I'll make a side salad too.
MONDAY: Herby lamb and chickpeas....Chickpeas similar to this but I'm going to add the gremolata ingredients to the chickpeas, and somer spinach too. Lamb similar to this but just done with two chops, not entire racks of the stuff!
TUESDAY:Celeriac cakes and merguez sausages.
WEDNESDAY: Vegetarian lasagne. There's no dancing tonight, as it's half term, so I don't need to use the slow cooker. However, the SC has produced a very nice lasagne before now, so I may do it anyway. I'm using a tin of ratatouille as the base for the vegetarian bit of the lasagne.
THURSDAY: I really don't know. I gave up planning when I got to this point! There's some chicken in the freezer, so I may do something with that. It rather depends on how my teaching pans out this week, but it may be that I'll be shopping and Mr FD will stay at home, so he can do the cooking!
FRIDAY: Again, not sure. I'll probably root round in the freezer to find something. I seem to remember seeing bits of cooked guinea fowl in there,; so I may do a quick-and-easy mostly-vegetable stir fry.
As usual I want to say thank you for your comments...
SANDRA was a bit concerned by Tarot - It isn't initiation into the occult, however, just a rather tricky card game! I think I understand how it is played, but the strategy is beyond me at the moment, particularly as it helps if you can remember which cards have been played. With a deck of 72 cards, rather than 52 this is a bit much for me. I am a Bear of very little brain!
POMPOM missed choosing her dinner last week - what will you have this week, Pompom?
I hope that my dear Peeps will pop over to the Teapot if they are missing me here. I promise not to push you into the teapot, as ius happening to the poor Dormouse here:
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