±«Óãtv

Morning Chris,

Am I the first??

Glad you had a good weekend, sounds like fun. I'm afraid I didn't watch anything to do with Victorians, although I might take my Mum to see the Young Victoria when we have out girlie weekend in a few weeks time.

Can't wait till 5:00.

AliB
xx

Well now, Richard Madeley...I can't do enough to avoid him frankly, but I do like the ol' DID on the occasional Sunday!

For m'self, I'm looking to change our routine to a stroll on the beach...whether the weather...but this all depends how long it takes to sort a parking permit...else we have to keep going back to the car!

Sunday, lovely Sunday...sounds like a cue for a song...

happy monday
love
hazel
x

Chris, you're weekend sounded perfick, except for RM - not my cup of tea i'm afraid.

Hope you found Noah btw!

Penny x

That should have been 'your' of course! lol

Hiya,
Sounds like a fab weekend - and like you are coping well with the little one!

We switched on 10mins into DID and then spent half an hour arguing about who it was! Finally twigged when he mentioned about nicking stuff from Tesco - then spent the next half hour arguing about whether he did nick it, or whether he was genuinely forgetful!

Love the show - keep up the good work.

Norah_Batty in coldest Holmfirth

Hello.

I agree Chris there seems to be a lot of Victoriana around at the moment, but for me I can't seem to move for Shakespeare. Could be because I've recently read the Bryson book, or because my younger teen is off in Stratford this very day performing The Tempest at the Courtyard, but I picked up my Sunday Times yesterday and there was old Bill on the front page! Apparantly they have discovered the most likely, genuine portrait of the Bard, and Bryson said there probably wasn't one!

Doh.

All's well that ends well and all that.

A x

Hi Chris,

Sounds like you had a lovely weekend. Mine was dire. Hey Ho!

I do live Desert Island Discs, but it's on at the same time as Michael Ball, so it's no contest really. I suppose I could Listen Again, if I could find the time!!

How fantastic that Noah is allowing you a normal life .... eating with the family, watching the telly, time to workout - I think we managed to get round to that sort of stuff when MsS was about 3!

C xx

err .... love Desert Island Discs!

Must try to read what I've typed before posting!

x

Morning guys,

how are you all? I had a really nice weekend, Drinks (lots!) and a singsong with friends sat nite, and my little sis and her family over for a roast yesterday. Been studying today but am about to break for lunch I think and catch up with Brothers and Sisters from last week.

I love Richard Madeley but always end up missing Desert Island Discs, I think it's such a shame you can't Listen Again to it, I know cos I once tried to listen to yours Chris! His book is in pile next to my bed, I'm currently reading the Bill Bryson Shakespeare one you all recommended weeks ago, really enjoying it so far.

Right better go, take care all,

Em xx

PS Gingembre - thought of you yesterday x

Listening to DID whilst you're at it?

Whatever floats your boat, I guess...

Hi Bloggers CLP & family! Back from the piste and just checking in. Not caught up yet so don't know what's been going on yet. Hope you're all well. Luv Lyndyloo xx

Welcome Back Lyndyloo - hope you had a great time.

Never listened to DID in my life - usually at church. Not over keen on RM, but at least on the radio you can't see him scratching his head!

Off now to my next job. Will log in again when I get there.

AliB
x

Hello

Bored here today, it's too quiet but only an hour to go and I can go home.

Didn't watch much tv over the weekend so didn't see anything about the Victorians. Managed to get my Dancing on Ice fix though.

Had a horrid row with Mr Debbie yesterday which has left me a bit down today :-( Going off now for a walk around the bakery and to get some crumpets for micro testing.

Laters.

Debbie x

...further to the Victorian Question...it was all Second World War a few weeks back...with a bit of a Jane Austen fest lot long before that...I think all the TV and media companies are taking us through subliminal history lessons...can't wait for the Industrial Revolution (yes really...bring on the looms)...during the meanwhilst, Grissom is leaving CSI.

The Badger is bereft!

understandably
love
hazel
x

Plum, hope you had a fab birthday

Gingembre, x

Hi all

Happy Monday to you all!

Weekend was good for us...specially the footie! Blue V Red at Wembley, cant' wait.

Had a day at MK Saturday with beloved and GD and her mate. Way too much purchasing by moi inc LBD for a 40th bash. Need to loose an inch or too before tho!

Cheer up Debbie. We had a row the other day and it felt horrid too. Then to try and make up he bought flowers on the way home. Bless him. Totally un-necessary but nice.

Forget the micro testing and toast crumpets instead. Lashings of butter and syrup, yum, sure to put a smile on the face.

Steffi
XX

Steffi

The chances of him bringing me home flowers are nil. And it's taken me an hour to eat half a bacon roll as my tummy is in knots today.

I want a hug and I'll have to wait until I pick up LM for that.

Ho hum.


x x x

Debbie #13

How do you micro test a crumpet? LoL x

JTT

Debbie - virtual BIG HUG! Sure LM will do the trick.

XX

Sentimentations Of...... Peace..... And Love..... And...... And........... And.......... Can't Remember The Next Bit.... Ter CLP And ALL,

Bingo Star ere,

CLP And INDEED ALL - 'ope all 'ad a most productive weekend, sounds like yours was good CLP!!!!
Me..... errrr I 'ad anoother U2 weekend!!!
Yeah watched me U2 Vertigo Tour Tape of their July 2007 gig live in Milan!!!
If yer get a chance ter get a copy of their DVD for this gig (which they made a special DVD of the world Vertigo Tour at this particular gig in Milan) It's absolutely brill!!!!!
It shows U2 in at their best.
I love Bono, so eccentric and the way 'e works/ communicates with the crowd is brilliant.
The gig must be ter 40/ 50k or more in a footy stadium!!!
Bono starts talking ter the crowd in italian aswell as english... really funny if yer see it!!
Then at the start of one song, 'Still 'aven't Found What Am Looking For'... while The Edge is gently repetitively playing the guitar intro... over and over again... Bono starts going of on one, in sort of deep, philosophical way.... saying "italy kind of invented the movies... such beautiful cinemas... glass stained windows of the 'ighest beauty.... such colour".... the crowd are silent.... wondering what 'e means... then 'e says...... "actually I 'aven't gotta clue what am talking about!!"... the moment is just so funny and uplifting, what with the brilliant music too!!!!!
Later in the gig 'e sings in italian and MAN can Bono really sing. It's the first time ave 'eard 'im stretch 'is voice and 'e actually sounds like a tennor, 'itting some very powerful operatic notes... VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!
Near the end... 'e spots someone in the audience with a t-shirt... 'e asks them ter throw it to 'im... they do and 'e takes off 'is leather jacket and puts on the t-shirt over 'is.... it's a blue London Underground t-shirt with the famous symbol on the front... it's just a mixture of brilliant and crayzee... funny the way 'e does it!!!
Yer can see the expressions of The Edge, The Mullen and The Clayton looking amused and yer tell their thinking 'what's 'e up to now!!!'
Ave 'eard them say in previous interviews talkin about Bono, ribbing 'im at all 'e gets up to with 'is charity work and eccentricity, they never know what 'e's gonna do next!!!!
At the recent ±«Óãtv gig a noticed Larry Mullen looking a little amused at a presume Bono's antics!!!!
At the recent ±«Óãtv coverage the way Bono took a photo of pregnant lady in the audience with 'er friend/ partner just an example of 'ow 'e interacts with the crowd brilliantly!!!
'onestly all if yer like U2 get their Milan 07 Vertigo Tour DVD - U2/ Bono at their absolute best!!!!
Also listening ter a one 'our U2 special interview on commercial radio Sundee. They were saying 'ow they wrote a lot of the new songs. Two of my favourites are Breathe and Magnificent, of which Bono waz saying 'e loves Magnificent... singing it takes 'im to a different place!!!
Soon az a 'eard Magnificent... it instantly became a fav of mine!!! The words, the guitar riff.... the feel of it!!!
Could be me second favourite U2 tune after Walk On!!!!
A tell yer 2009 iz gonna be a brill year R2 music wise... if all these tunes are gonna be released az singles and CLP and all keep playing them az they become playlist regulars!

By now yer might ave guessed a like U2 and still aven't come down after seeing and meeting some of them in London 10 dee's ago!!!!
Just it waz such a MEGA experience/ GIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though it waz short!!!!

PS CLP - a moustache aswell!!!!!

Chowa..... addio....... errrr.. ARREEEVER.... DERCI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Noot many paragraphs.... but it looks ok.... and noot to short!!!!

Am 'appy with that one!!!

Noot too long either!!!!

Debbie - big {{{{hug}}}} to you xxxx

jillygoat x

Afternoon

Any room for a hyper-over-excited Deev in the house?

I'M GOING TO THE EMIRATES NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT TO WATCH ARSENAL AGIN HULL IN THE FA CUP!!!!!!!

Just this min got the tix - right on the half-way line, upper tier.

Excited? I think I may well just combust before then ... !!

Victorians: we tuned in to the re-run of Heston's Victorian Feast last night on Ch4. I have to say .... what a very odd little man he is. Not so much Chef, in the vein of Gordon, Jamie, Hugh etc ... more someone who messes with your mind (and your plate) as nothing is quite what it seems.

Certianly in no hurry to dine chez Heston. Will be sticking to The Ivy. Or a hot dog at The Emirates!!

Deb {{{HUGS HUNNY}}} x x

Lunch now .... laters!

Deev x x x x x

and breathe ......

Thanks for the hugs....I feel awful today!

Cheryl I don't like that Heston man, gives me the creeps. And in my opinion he's more scientist than chef. Yuk.

Debbie x

Afternoon All,

Chris, what's the secret......how do you manage to do anything remotely normal with Noah around???? We're just about stating to do other things and the boy is 16 months!

We had a lovely weekend, t'other half was home (in Navy so away in week) and the boy on good form (running around naked upstairs with us following with nappy in hand!!) only to have to spoiled last night...

Thanks to a domestic down the road, three cars (mine included) now have scratches all along the side.......the dog was kicking up a fuss and I told her to shut up, only to have a knock on the door by a policeman going 'is this your car, think you should take a look at it'................

Not a great way to start my week off, but crime number in hand I've phoned the insurance and they're getting back to me.....

Ho hum, better go try and get toddler to have a nap - not going to be easy, as he is currently playing Grand Prix with his Ferrari aroung the house!

ebx

Oooooo get you Deev. How exciting! Enjoy the experience. Hope the result goes your way.Beloved wishes his lot got them in semi's!

X

Wish I'd had a lovely warm Sunday in front of the TV! Spent it on top of a hill in Halifax, getting battered by the elements (rain/hail/sleet/gales), watching DS playing in hockey tournament. Why o why does his team always have to be the last to play? Just about warmed up now - some 24 hours later!

You've got all this to look forward to in 12 years CLP. Your life is no longer your own!

Any crumpets left Debbie-C? Sure could eat one right now, washed down with a mug of hot tea. Mmmm - comfort food here I come!

PiPx

Crumpets.

Toasted and slathered with lemon curd.

Lovely! xx

excited!!

Oh no. I feel a dash to the crumpet shop coming on. I'm supposed to be revising but I'm so easily led!

Resist....!!!!!

Pip

Resistance is futile!

Deev xxx

Talking about me??? Oh sorry, you said crumpETS!

Gonna say - me slathered in butter and lemon curd would require a vat of both!

Morning and afternoon everyone from a wet, windy and cold upstate NY. We put our clocks forward at the weekend, so tough to get up and going this morning especially when it's another day full of meetings let alone loosing an hours sleep. Oh well..... Hope everyone had a good weekend.

I let the side down - vanity/hunger over craving/desire won :-(

To go out for crumpets would have involved putting my 'face' on and digging out decent clothes - rather than too-short-in-the-leg-baggy-at-the-knees 'leisure' trousers and mismatched fleece with fluorescent pink slipper socks!

I compromised with a couple of poached eggs on hot, let's-pretend-it's-butter-but-it's-not buttered toast.

No-one can see me as egg yolk dribbles down my chin! This is the life!

PiPx

Hiya

Just got back from a wonderful weekend away with a bunch of friends. There is something very special about relaxing with friends.

It is so lovely that you are doing the family bit... oh I just realised I would have missed Natashas blog and a new photo.........

*goes back to Friday*

The whole Victorian thing started off with Victorian Farm on ±«Óãtv2 from New Year, it was filmed about 5 miles up the road and was easily the best of them... along with What The Victorians Did For Us with Adam Hart Davies (How much of a legend is that man?!)

Oh I really like Saturday Kitchen. So everyone what's your idea of food heaven or food hell? Got to with this week's choice of hell "salt cod " lordy I'd rather go hungry . Heaven ? Got to be sea food .

Food heaven - beef stroganoff
Food hell - tofu

Afternoon!

Tomgriff, I LOVED Victorian Farm, it was brill wasn't it?

(((Debbie)))

I too am curious to know how one micro=tests a crumpet?! (or a crumpy for that matter!!)

T xxx

Ooooh that's a tough one ....

Food Heaven - Tapas (can I have that?)
Food Hell - porridge

Deev x x x

Too many options really but .....

Food heaven - Lobster
Food Hell - Curry

Thunder

CtD, not to make you jealous, but we had Russell Brand on the Tonight Show last week. He was on with Gordon Ramsey. Gordon was trying to teach Russell and the host how to make crepes. It was absolutely hilarious. Of course Russell was on the show to promote his new book which was very funny too.

Food Heaven - Chicken

Food Hell - Fresh tomato

AliB

Food Hell is easy - avacado
Fodd Heaven - there's just too much to choose from! Possibly my mum's bacon and spagetti....

Hi 007....How's it going?

ebx

Hi Bondy

Russ posted a Tweet about being on the Tonight show with Ramsay. Apparently he nicked a truffle from him?

I can highly recomend the "new" book - even tho it came out over here at the end of 2007! Booky Wook is what you're searching for.

Did you see I'm going to football next week too? Soooo excited!

Deev x x x

Aww Ebb - you've just reminded me - I hate avocados with a passion (but like guacamole, which is odd .... )

On being invited to my mother-in-laws for a meal a few years back, I advised her I was avidly Weight Watching at the time and for starters she managed to combine quite possibly two of my worst foodstuffs to make one starter: avocado filled with cottage cheese!! ugh!!!!!!!

Anyone who knows me well enough (or has followed this ere blog for any length of time) will have already read about my complete state of abohorrance for what I call "cat yak food" ..... porridge, macaroni cheese, cauliflower cheese, cottage cheese ..... ugh!! The mere thought ....

Hi eb, did you have a good weekend.

CtD, Ramsay gave the host (Jay Leno) and Russell a truffle to grate over their crepe, but russel put his in his pocket....... very funny. I did see you're going to the game next week. Is this your second game of the season? Who do they play?

Food Heaven: Fish and Chips

Food Hell: Mushrooms

CtD,
Can't understand you getting excited going to the Emirates........

.....does anything exciting ever happen there? ;-)

Ctd - always hated hated the green sludge, just tastes of fat to me.........unfortunately the boy loves them! Especially mashed up with banana.........hope his taste improves with age!

My strongest memory of childhood is fighting with my mum over tomatoes, I couldn't leave the table till I'd eaten them.......and to this day I buy and eat them even tho I don't like them - my nephew looked at me strangely when I told him that!

ebx

Afternoon............can I play too please?

Food heaven - Chocolate (preferably dark and expensive)

Food hell - anything which can be termed offal (for years as a child I though it was 'awful' - which it is in my view). The experience of school dinner liver has scarred me for life!

Haven't had time for a full weekend blog catch-up but did anyone else nearly get blown away? Yesterday we had all 4 seasons in about 5 hours. Sun, rain, sleet, gusts of wind all mixed up!

df

Ebb - I used to have that battle with fried eggs. Hated them until into my teens. Now its a Sunday morning ritual - bacon and fried egg sarnie!!

Thunderclap - I'd go there even if it was empty! Been there 4 times now (Springsteen, 2 x matches and a Stadium Tour with Charlie George - pics on FB) - the place is AWESOME!!

007 - it's the F A Cup Quarter Final match against Hull City. They beat us at home earlier in the season so may not be a walk in the park!

Food hell - Liver or any other offal!!!

Food heaven - too many to mention but will go with asparagus, dripping with melted butter and loads of black pepper and parmesan cheese shavings.....yummy

XX

Steffib - a kindred spirit!

df

Food Hell- McDonalds
Food Heaven- Most other stuff!

oh derbyfi, I am going to have to change my selection now.

My Food Heaven is going to have to be Chocolate (how could I think otherwise...)
Food Hell is still mushrooms

LOL Thunder..... good one!!!

Doesn't wenger look like the eagle from the old muppet shows?

CtD, FA Cup Quarter Final tickets..... GET OUT!!! Should be a good game, if Hull turn up to play.......

Eb

I can eat tomato's any other way except fresh. I couldn't bite into a tomato or eat one in a salad - Yuck.

AliB

Food Heaven - chocolate, chips, roast dinner, Chinese food, stew and dumplings, steak & kidney pud.

Food Hell - custard, blancmange, rice pudding, semolina, glace cherries, goat's cheese.

Sorry, just couldn't narrow it down to one foodstuff per category!

Em xx

oohh Steffib1 - gonna have to change my fav now........

007 - still fuming over the car, see #25 but a day with the boy always makes me smile!

ebx

Food heaven when drunk: doner kebab.
Food hell when sober: doner kebab.

How on earth does that work?

x

LOL Obamarama! Good one!!!

Also food hell ... anything prepped by James Martin!

Not one of my faves, it has to be said .....

Afternoon all

Food Heaven - Cheese and of course Sunday roast with all the trimmings

Food Hell - Chicken

...and it shows!!

x

AliB

It's the same for me......but I still do - I'm old enough now to make my own mind up, but still make myself eat them with salad etc,
can cope with them if I take the seeds out and load the fork up with ickle bit of tom and lots of everything else!!

And the new research is the fresh ones aren't the best for you anyway, why can't I just give them up??......

ebx

eb, sorry to hear about the car. Will the offenders insurance cover the damage? At least you weren't in the car when it happened.

Hi Bondy

My youngest used to love mushrooms and now she hates them - what's that all about?

Mr df hates prawns and any other seafood except 'proper' fish (his words) and I love it. So I have lots of prawn things when he's away with work!

df

derbyfi, I have always hated mushrooms.... don't like the texture or taste.

Anyone listening to SW right now, this Britney Spears song always makes me think of doctor who....... for what it's worth....

Food hell - soft, runny eggs of any kind. Pretty much can't do eggs unless they are cooked to taste not much like eggs and smothered in salt

Food heaven - crisps, dips and olives. but if we're talking 'real' food then it's paella.

dreamer
xx

dreamur...... oooooo haven't had a good paella for years....... good choice.

Hello again.

#35, Tomgriff22, I'm sorry to correct you but I think the whole Victorian thing started off with her coronation in 1837!

Students today, I don't know...

Soz mate couldn't resist.

Food Heaven - either pizza in Italy or cheese and crackers.

Food Hell - tinned tomatoes mingling with scrambled eggs. Not in my house thank you.

Steffi, me also for liver.

Ebbworth, am "grrrr"ing on your behalf, what a pain in the bum.

Lyndyloo, welcome home.

Everyone else, howdy doody.

A x

Mmm yes, love paella.

Ah, No Tasha Blog on Friday and no photo of the little fella. Not to worry.

Food Hell - Tripe

Food Heaven - most things now that I am not allowed to eat them.

Hells x

Paella. My signature dish to wow! people at dinner parties.

And my lasagne. That's awesome!

hi boleygirl....... I forgot about pizza. I would also have to add shepherds pie to my list

lyndy..... YOU'RE BACK!!!!!! We missed you!!!

I do a great coq au vin.

A x

007, so easy to make. give it a whirl if you haven't already.

like you say CtD, people very impressed by it! But i just love love love it.

dreamer
xx

Okay, now I am going to have to find an idiots recipe for paella so I can make it........

So...007, are you sure it's not cottage pie you prefer???
xx

dreamur we must have been typing at the same time.....LOL

Actually I like both, but sheps is my favourite....

Just buy some paella rice (arborio) and often it will have a recipe on the packet. Well at least it does over here!

x

Saffron, you'll need that bondy. I think saffron is magical.

A x

Thanks dreamur and boleyngirl. I'll give it a try..... if I'm not around for a few days you'll know it didn't go very well...LOL

Dreamur, I use arborio rice for risotto, but ordinary long grain for paella. Doh, have I been doing it wrong all this time?
A x

lol 007. timing is everything....

the cottage/shepherds pie thing is a family joke as a certain person didn't know there was a difference. Mind you also thought pantomime was pantomine up until about 5 years ago....

xx

Just that the arborio soaks up all the juicy stuff....

xx

I love watching the arborio glisten when you're frying it with the onions and garlic. And with risotto, the next bit is sloshing in the white wine, what a smell.

A x

Bondy - you need to infuse your saffron in your fish stock. I do a seafood and chicken paella (thighs) altho it also works well with seafood and rabbit (rustic spanish version).

Then garnish with those whole tail-on longuistine and mussells in their shells.

To serve with: a day old french stick, cut in 1" rounds, lightly toasted on both sides and left to go cold. Then, rub a raw clove of garlic over the toastie bread, drizzle with a very find Olive Oil and rub room-temp tomatoes into the garlicky oily mix.

Trust me. Divine doesn't even begin to describe it.

Deev x x x x
MasterChef 2009

boleyn all this is making me hungry already and now after your blog i'm dreaming of risotto.... i can smell it! please can we change the subject as its a while til dinner!
x

find? fine!
was drooling over keyboard xx

Yes, and me too after Chez's paella description.

Time for a cup of tea. Mmmm, tea, mmm cake...

A x

CtD, thanks I'll give it a try....o'er......

Sorry - blinkin' work got in the way.

CtD - that paella sounds great to me but I'd be the only one in the family who'd eat it!

Do like a nice risotto too!

Oh dear..............am very hungry now and dinner's at least 2 hours away!

df

Afternoon peeps
Just in from work - early today - and just wanted to catch up with 'what's occurring'.

I can see we are still on food.

Food heaven - almost anything Italian
Food hell - custard - unless it's trifle then it doesn't taste of custard it tastes of trifle!!

Crumpy xx

CtD - when are we all coming for dinner??

The best Paella I ever had was in Barcelona and I'm not a huge sea food person, but it was out of this world. Probably the best meal I've ever had in a foreign country.

I feel quite inspired now to cook something nice for my tea - but alas I think it will be fish fingers!

AliB
x

AliB

Trust me - I'd like nothing better than to cook for you all. Sadly my ickly 2 bed house prevents entertaining on a grand scale.

One day .... when I have a sep dining room and at least one spare room tho ....

Deev x x x

I'm cooking a prawn, squid and chicken chilli stir fry tonight.

Nice and easy for a Monday.

Ooh deev that sounds fab.

see what happens when I go and walk the dog...and reading it has just made me hungary......I've tried to do paella and it's just not the same as on holiday!!

007 - not sure what's going to happen, the police haven't interviewed the stupid mare that did it yet, she was too drunk........
I want to move now, I love this house and one day it will be beautiful but this is the last of a very long line of the local idiots causing me and mine hassle that we didn't ask for - I don't want my son growing up round here...........

If that makes me a snob, so be it........

Sorry, rant over (just had to walk by the car, got my hackles up again)

Right, dinner for toddler coming up. Spag Bol coming up.....

ebx

Hi everyone,

Chris its great that you and Tash have the self discipline to hold off from everything you want until you've done the gym thing. Am in admiration

Debbie-C - big hugs winging their way across to you.

Ctd - not surprised you are so excited - enjoy the match.

Reading about all the wonderful food you are all describing, when I'm hungry is almost as bad as going round the supermarket without a listbefore having your meal. You want to buy everything. Its the same here I want to cook all these wonderful dishes. The smell and flavour is floating out of the blog into the room - mmmm!
So will have to say goodbye, dash off and get some food.

Mx

eb - forgot to say how sorry I was to read about what happened to your car.

Mx