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

Wnet to bad last night with that feeling at the top of my throat that a cold was on it's way. Hope I've taken some VitC with Zinc in time.

The tree got decorated yesterday and is looking wonderful. Just hope it doesn't lose it's leaves before all the family come over on 2nd Jan.

Hi all, and a Merry Christmas to one and all!
Cookware wise, one of the most useful items I ever bought is an old fashioned steel frying pan from a professional catering shop. Totally non stick but tough as old boots, a simple handle riveted on with large rivets, you could drop it from the moon and it wouldn't break/dent. Lots of cookware these days has finishes that come off or colours that tire. And all this for only £6!

Lentilla: good reasoning with the bitter thing

Dark and stringy? Rabbit's a game meat (duh), and if you don't eat a lot of game, it can taste too heavy. Try soaking it in lightly salted water before cooking. Also, if the rabbit's over about 6 months old, then stewing really is the best way to go.

Bugger: Z- I find the cuter an animal, the better it tastes .

There was something else... It'll come back after a few more s.

Right, I'm off home now, so probably won't be able to pop in to the Salon for a while. and

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas or whatever other holiday you may be celebrating and an exciting and prosperous New Year!



David

It was one of those 'I'm really a soft townee' moments when we went to the local market in the town near B's village house and say everyone selling cute little fluffy young rabbits... which you take home and butcher yourself. The trouble I've had trying to explain to Mother in Law that we never ate our family's pet rabbit because... I do like rabbit though.

Our tree is a bit of an embarrassment. I'd picked out a nice modestly sized and modestly priced one from the Homebase accross the road - the important part of this being 'accross the road' as we don't have a car or anything, but when it came to it, we were so late (ie last weekend) that all they had were huge ones - though still medestly priced as there was a sale on. So I now have the biggest tree I've ever had, which I had to rearrange the furniture in the living room to fit in. It is rather cool though. And I got to decide that that was probably enough as far as decorations went.

I am providing the edibles for the family road trip to Grandad's tomorrow - it being decided that apart from eating on the way it's a bit harsh to expect a rather doddery 85 year old to do the feasting. I'm going for salads and cold meats, and a wintery soup with squash, ginger and apricots in, which I feel is suitably festive. Not sure what I'm going to give the aged Ps when they turn up to pick us up. Pizza perhaps...

My family are revenging themselves for all of you becoming and appendage to your man. Most of our cards have been sent to Mr and Mrs Female Version of Our Surname.

Have a good one David

I'm here at work hoping to be let off early. Even if they don't I'm meeting MC for lunch so that should be good.

Ag, perhaps you should have asked the person who did all the duff shelving why they did it like that in the first place when you were asked about the rearranging of it all.

*snags a large slice of stollen from the kitchen hatchway*

Happy holidays, David! *waves to the owl*

*limps back to the fireplace*

Now, there's something I need to get off my chest... or, more precisely, off my leg... and even more precisely, it's the back leg on my right side we're talking about here. There is a large, painful swelling on my thigh: I've never had such a thing before and it cannot be a coincidence that the last time I spent any time here at the Salon you were all talking about swellings, abcesses and nasty infected things .

Is Vinnie ok, btw?

I'm finding it very hard to stop w*rking and take some time off but I must tidy the Nest just in case I get visitors and I suppose I ought to go out shopping but I really don't want to. M&S will be packed - the cars are queuing back as far as the Nest as it is.

If it's painful and has been there for more than a day then you should have it looked at Amy.

There's no hope of getting an appointment with a or today. The swelling will probably have gone away of its own accord by the time the world gets back to what passes for normal in these parts.

I had better go and get on with things ...

Hope the swelling goes down soon Amy, try not to do too much on it so you don't make it worse!

Mum just called, she thinks her retina has detached again after her latest eye surgery this week I hope it hasn't, she will hate having to deal with the treatment for it again - they put a bubble of gas in the eye and she has to sit in a position such that the bubble holds the retina in place until it can heal. This process takes months

It also means I might be getting a late-notice call to take over christmas *sigh*

She is seeing the eye doctor this afternoon who will be able to tell her if it has detached so please everyone cross your fingers that she is just overreacting and it isn't another detatchment. Poor mum

*waves to David as he flies away*

Sol, how long a drive do you have?

Lil, this stollen is wonderful. My compliments to Matina. Thanks.

Hope the swelling goes away and it isn't painful over the holidays.

Kelli, I'm hoping for good news about your mom's eye.

My holiday is turning out to be 'not as planned'. First, my brother and his wife, who VOLUNTEERED to bring the food for Christmas Eve at Mother's and do the cooking, have given me a menu. They plan to bring a loaf of bread, one package of ham for sandwiches, one package of cheese, and a bag of potato chips. Excuse me, but that is not cooking. I asked what they wanted me to bring and was told a jar of mayonnaise and a head of lettuce. So, since Mother will not be having a proper meal on Christmas Eve, that means that I will have to come up with something for Christmas Day after they leave. I thought there would be leftovers for her and I could have the day off. Silly me.(And I am still trying to decide what to say to him if he brings his dog.)

Then for Boxing Day, my niece's husband had a death in his family yesterday, so unless the funeral is tomorrow - which is unlikely - she won't be able to come. The best I can hope for is the older of the great nephews, who may come with Lady C. The younger one would never be happy making a long trip without his mother. But I will enjoy having Lady C, so that is still ok.

Still at w**k and there hasn't been a call in two-and-a-half hours.
What's wrong with this picture?

Best of luck, Kelli.

I'm stuck at work too, Mr. D. NOthing to do (well there probably is, but I'm not doing it) so I'm sitting here reading SFX.

I'm working today until 5. Better get out of here and get it over with.

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Clean cups! Clean cups!