WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Wendyf]

Exploding tea bags when I was attempting to make Colin's early morning cuppa.

[Cathy]

Oh do tell Wendy . I’m having visions .

[PostmanPete]

It could be this stuff that Wendy is using..?

https://coffeeteakingdom.com/what-is-gunpowder-tea/

[Wendyf]

Well, not gunpowder tea, but badly crimped tea bags so that when I poured hot water into the mug they expanded, floated to the top and then went pop spraying tea powder out!!

[Cathy]

Glad you are OK Wendy , it’s too much to go thru first thing in the morning.
Return the teabags, you might get a new box.

[Wendyf]

Physically OK Cathy but mentally damaged, it was too much to cope with at 6.30am!
Colin is the shopper, he is very skilled at returns!

[Whyperion]

Well, not gunpowder tea, but badly crimped tea bags so that when I poured hot water into the mug they expanded, floated to the top and then went pop spraying tea powder out!!

these days tea bags need a little pre soak with a dash of hot water. Then slowly add the remaining hot water, use a plastic tea bag squeezer to push floating teabag back into cup hoping it wont cast the sweepings into the liquid. Ideally use a teapot with a lid to avoid power rupture too.

[Stanley]

Tea powder Wendy? Tetley are still using fine tea leaves and no problems with explosions....
What grabbed me this morning was the fact that the CH is on, wed appear to have slipped back into the heating season!

[Stanley]

My chiropodist Robin has been and spent an hour on my feet. My one piece of luxury but actually of course it's essential. If your feet aren't good, none of the rest of you can be right.

[Wendyf]

A Facebook post from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse showing a video of the paddle steamer Waverley passing the lighthouse today with dolphins playing at the bow. I didn't know that the Waverley was now touring the UK doing day trips all around the coast.

https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/plan-y ... imetables/

[Stanley]

A wonderful survivor Wendy. Funny thing is she is in reverse on the website picture!

[Wendyf]

So she is! I hadn't noticed that.

[Stanley]

You may remember earlier in the year I was sounding a note of gloom and doom about the cost and availability of home grown food later in the year because of government negligence and the supermarkets using their power in the market to force producer's prices down to the point where, combined with the inflation in input costs, it simply wasn't worth it to plant crops.
Looking at what's available, we may be reaching that point. The cost of vegetables has gone up, we have all noticed that but availability has gone down.
We are getting reports that the supply of common food crops like potatoes is going to be at least 10% down on 'normal'. I hope I am wrong, but it begins to look as though some pigeons are coming home to roost.
I also predicted that the return of food rationing was possible. That has come true, food is being rationed now but not overtly by regulation, it's happening covertly by price. If you don't believe me, ask anyone on a low fixed income.....

[Stanley]

Margaret and Mick fly out of Perth tonight. I don't know the flight number yet....

[Stanley]

I've just watched them take off from Perth. M&M are in the air en route to Dubai. A ten and a half hour flight. I am a happy bunny.

[Stanley]

I think Mick and Margaret are in Dubai. Susan and Mick are at Harrop Fold near Grindleton on a small site run by the Methodist Chapel.
Later.... I have checked on M&M. They leave Dubai in 2 hours and will be in Manchester at Noon.
Later at 05:00. I have watched them leave Dubai and they are en route for Manchester.
Who could have imagined that this would be possible in my lifetime? It's a miracle!

[Stanley]

They are at 40,000 ft above Pitesti in Romania and on time.

[Cathy]

[Stanley]

They're over Maastricht in the Netherlands now Cathy. They are in front of schedule. In not a lot more than half an hour they will be in Manchester. Very exciting!
11:50. They have landed at Manchester.

[Stanley]

I had a nice visit from Susan and we did useful things like change the duvet covers and vacuum all round. I cooked veggies and washed the bedding. Now we have to arrange a meeting so I can have two daughters and two great grand children together on Wednesday. Very exciting stuff.....

[Stanley]

A day of visitors! Margaret and Mick first, lovely to see them and we had plenty to talk about! Then after they had gone Susan arrived with great grand daughter Lily who was sleepy and clung to Susan while she ate her lunch. We are all meeting up in the Town Square this morning at about 11:30 and we'll have lunch together.

[Cathy]

Have a great day Stanley. Pic Please

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

Here you are, all of us together and full of fish and chips!

[Cathy]

Lovely pic of you all, and it’s not raining..