h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[LIL]

You know, every year I get into an arguement with B about cherries. Russians have two names for cherries, and the ones we bring home, which I personally would call cherries, being red and tasting like cherries, he says "aren't really cherries". Now I'd never really had the other tyope, cos they are rarer and moere expensive, but the other month I had some. They were blacker (aha, thought I, black cherries), but tasted a lot like blackcurrants (with a smidgen of cherry taste), though didn't look like them. Any thoughts?

Your vodka method, FG, sounds a lot like what the Russians do instead of making home made wine.

We have bilberries growing on the moors within a twenty minute walk from my home....I can never be bothered to pick them though.....

Going to Leeds today for a look around the charity shops and to visit my favourite cosmetics shop, Lush

What's the charity shop situation like in the USA? Do you have them (surely you must!) and if so, are they as much of a pauper's goldmine as they are here? I them - you never know what you might pick up!

We have the Salvation Army and Goodwill, and a lot of second-hand stores that call themselves "antique" or "vintage". Other than Goodwill and the Salvation Army, very few charities use resale shops as a means of support, although there are a few here and there. There's one in Missoula that supports the YWCA's battered women's programs....but that's about all I can think of.

Mostly, it's Goodwill, which, come to think of it, I can't remember what they support....I think it has something to do with children's health? And Salvation Army is a Christian multi-purpose charity. I must say, this last year, during the Christmas bell-ringing period, I did NOT support them. Last year they announced that they would not allow gays and lesbians to assist them in their good works, and while I know they have a right to do that, I have a right not to support their discrimination policies.

Oh, dear. That was a bit too much information, wasn't it? I just remember the charity shops around Devonshire, and we really have nothing of the sort in the US. Sometimes, however, you can find a treasure or two!

Sounds like morellos, Sol...

Bilberries - Vaccinium myrtillus - seem to be the kind we have in Scandinavia:

http://www.arctic-flavours.fi/english/mustikkaen.htm

Charity shops - mostly selling clothes - I've just seen shops run by the Salvation Army and UFF (an organization for foreign aid)

...however, UFF recently lost it's 90-account (a postal giro account where the account number begins with 90 that grants that the financial reports of charity/aid/ organizations are being checked by an objective part to make sure that whoever has a 90-account *does* spend the money on what they say they do)

...because all their money this year will be needed to pay off debts and administration, nothing will go to foreign aid...

{[caer csd] I have got some spring and autumn flowering bulbs to go into the shady border today, I expect the autumn ones will decide to flower whilst we are away.

There is a bumper crop of berries of all varieties this year, due to the mild spring and lack of frosts. My ex made wonderful blackberry wine one year. He did all the boiling, ph testing and stuff. Boots the Chemists sold wine making kits which is a good way to learn the basics.

My mother used to make ginger beer which would explode in a spectacular fashion, usually in the dead of night. What beer that did survive was not half bad.

Starting to get Xmas card catalogues through the post.}

With wine making I find that the more precise and scientific I get, the worse the wine.

*waves at Candi* I won't get into town today so breathe deeply in the Lush shop for me. My favourite is the Blue Skies and White Fluffy Clouds bubble bar.

Amy

[Munchkin]
Me and my significant other (who I wouldn't be at all surprised if she wasn't lurking as I type) have been thinking of buying a car for a while now. Not for travelling to work, I'll stick to the train, but for the odd weekend to something interesting and for booze shops (). Anyhoo, looking round we decided on getting something interesting and so on Saturday we were in a MG dealers showroom up in Nodnol. We found a very nice looking car, which comes with a warranty, and is older than me. So we have arranged to get it checked out by a second garage on Thursday. I am somewhat nervous at the whole idea of making rather an expensive decision, especially when my car knowledge isn't great but I am looking forward to being able to tart around with the roof down. No more relying on the for me.

{[caer csd] No1 son will be green with envy, Munchkin. No2 son is trying desperately to keep yet another car on the road, he has gone over to Woking as I type looking for an auto electrician. So if you need scrapyards for parts, he tell you where.

As for Lush, they are an offshoot of Cosmetics To Go after a difference of opinion within the company and I always feel guilty at going into the local Lush branch. The original company was in Poole, Dorset and was a lovely shop to visit.}

I would be nervous about getting a car older than me (or you, Munchkin). My car is not quite as old as Zeppo even, although my last car made it to the ripe old age of 10 and is still going, driven now by my brother who is much better with cars than I am. I don't like to touch the engine because it's dirty

Maybe it isn't a 'car age' thing - maybe it's a 'owner' thing, d'E...

[LIL]
who knows of a vintage mgb right here in Lincoln

I once owned a Mk 4 Austin Healey Sprite (same as a Mk 3 MG Midget). It had such big holes in the floor pan that you could see the road whizzing away beneath you .

Well, I only recently bought a 6 year old car, but it was quite well taken care of, so I have no problems with it's usefullness to me.

Mabey Ti has a point

I think that in a few weeks I will start a wine batch just to try my hand at it. I will keep the Atelier regulars informed of it's progress.

One of my friends' first car was a Volkswagen beetle (the old model) - one day when she had taken it to the motor vehicle inspection, the inspection guy stepped on the break - and pushed his foot through the floor!

She wasn't allowed to drive home, of course - had to leave the car right there and then...

My first car was a silver Plymouth Barracuda. Wish I still had it. Thought I was totally foxy. Times sure have changed. A girlfriend had Beetle. We had great fun in it. Good cars.

*Aside to Munchkin*

Oi took me hours to Lurk

Hello Toccata. Are you Munchkin's registered owner?

Very much so.
Actually, it was a friend of mine with a MG Midget that really set me on the road to getting this MG B. Odd as I spent the weekend pushing it whenever it stalled.
I'm actually looking forward to the idea of being able to tinker with the engine, it having none of this new fangled computery stuff in it. I wonder how long this enthusiasm will last when I actually need to replace something.