Well I never!

Yyiippeess abound

2011-01-27T11:34:00.000Z

Hello World
*hugs, Kisses, and nods*

Yippee weighed today at 104.1KG, That's; 229lbs, 16st 5lbs,
I was surprised as I had treated myself to a huge cod and chips yesterday, Haven't had that since 2009 at least.

Note to me must find a conversion App.,
(Application, or a computer/phone program that does a specific job),
I thought I would add that for my friends who may have wondered .

World is being reasonable and only worry is a Cystoscopy due on Feb 1st afternoon,
Wonders will I be walking as John Wayne ??
I sincerely hope not.
I also have a CT Scan on Feb 17th.
interesting both family birthdays.
Now to those who do not know?
My Vic, is with child.
As of yet the gender is unknown but when I garner that I will pass it on,
Vick said they wanted to know so that the correct colours can be purchased with out a resounding "Hue and Cry" ensuing.

Well Love and kisses to you and all your loved ones

XoxOxoX

Les

Merry Christmas everybody

2010-12-25T00:25:00.002Z

I hope the big guy in the red coat remembered your good times and forgot the naughty one.
I had a sneak look and I saw several parcels for me.
I am all excited.

Well I am coming to the end of a pretty unusual 4 months.
There are many positives and few negatives.

I am looking forward to the New Year
Knowing I have no need for new year resolutions as I have already made a couple of New Life ones that are holding up very well.

So on those notes

I once again wish you all
A very Merry Christmas and a Generous New Year.
To you and all of those you love and care for.

Help yourself to what ever you want from my

*hugs*, *kisses*, *smiles* and thank yous

Les

weds 101110

2010-11-10T08:40:00.000Z

Hi to all my followers and every one else.

Just weighed now down to 106.6 KG, 234 lbs, 16st. 10 lbs. That's good.
As the world is different the triple weight is given
For interest starting weight was
125 KG, 275 lbs, 19st 9 lbs
Got a sniffle today. That's not so good.
Chatting with people world wide autumn sickness is every where so I am not being picked on.
I have had my flu jab so it should be only a cold.

Felling better in my self will keep an eye on this developing cold.

The weather has turned cold, so heating on.
Seeing my friend Sue today, looking forward to that, as I am typing this she has just texted/SMS'd me, coincidence or what?? *Spooky*
Another check tomorrow, checking my mobility.
Fingers crossed not been bed ridden since coming out of hospital,
Although have had an odd day of stay home’s am starting back into my old daily routines from next week.
As much as I would like I can't just laze around.

Les

Another week

2010-10-31T11:36:00.000Z

Dear Chaps and Chapesses
Last week was not fun.
Appointments every day bar Thursday which was cancelled as i had my B/P test Wednesday
Results so far nothing horrific but gentle tweaks needed.
Current changes in life style are to be kept to.

This week much quieter
Tuesday: Colorectal Mayday Croydon.
Friday: Doctor AM Funeral (My Aunt) PM

So if body willing I shall try and start getting ready for Christmas.
Must remember to send Xmas Cards early mentioning no Alcohol presents.
Thinking Cash, to go to Zoe, for new clothes in the New Year.
My Daughters have said they will take me out for this.
Have broken through the 110 KG
Now 109.1 KG

Knee seems a lot better but the tablets can only be taken 4 days on three days off, today first of the off days .
It does mean I shall have info for Doc Fri.
Now time to shop and see what’s on special for tea.

Les

Knearly

2010-10-29T04:21:00.000+01:00

Well the tablets from the Quack have helped.
The improvement is gratefully received.
a bit of a run around with Hospitals
.

Weight is on a plateau at the moment
110 to 111.

Les

On My Knees.

2010-10-27T08:44:00.000+01:00

Good morning chaps and chapesses.

The pain in my knees is escalating so off to see Doc today.
Will report back later.

Les

proddings and probings

2010-10-26T07:49:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Chaps and Chapesses.

Knee kept me awake most of night, more comfortable sitting in my chair, which is why an early morning update.

Today's weight 110.8KG

This week is a run of medicals,

Yesterday Monday, Two Months to Christmas.
Was Oncology at PRUH Farnborough. for a 6mm/quarter inch spot on lungs.
This was found during a MRI scan.4 weeks ago.
The prognosis is unsure but rescan in February, if it grows then maybe a biopsy.

Afternoon Saw Doctor about bad knee, More Paracetamol's plus Piroxicam Gel.

Today blood test and X-ray on knee. At Beckenham Beacon This has started to play up and none of my now current medications can touch it.
I was Gel I was given only feels cool, still shall persevere.

Wednesday nothing so a catch up with jobs indoors.

Thursday off to Doctor for Blood Pressure check.

Friday James and Anneke's birthdays
Morning Diabetic eye Check, At Beckenham Beacon,
Afternoon Urology Nurse PRUH Farnborough.

So a busy week travelling around.

TTFN
Les

He aint heavy

2010-10-17T19:55:00.001+01:00

To all and sundry

I have been persuaded by my Zoe to check my weight daily.

I bought some new digital scales for a cost to me of ;

£4.99 RRP £29.99 that was half price then a ten pound voucher from the gas repair firm.

Yep my hot water is back fine and dandy

Anyway the scores on the doors are;

Weds 113.4KG

Thurs lost details

Fri 113.3KG

Sat 112 .7KG

Sun 112.4KG
Mon18th 112.0 KG

Blood test tomorrow but not a faster so I can have breakfast first. then maybe a sneek peek At the refurbished Tesco at Elmers end

The bus stops outside the hospital

Still running slow but can keep up with snails now.

Thats all folks

TTFN

Les

A P.I.B

2010-10-14T13:35:00.000+01:00

Hi all

For some reason can't send texts so that is the project for today.

Feeling better must be running around 50% now.

Only promblem Co-Codomol have done their usual and given me constipation.

Who said convalescence was relaxing.

I was going shopping but daren't in case the dam is unexpectedly breached .

Rost chicken sandwich for lunch and lamb chops for tea.

Weight this morning 113.4 KG

TTFN

Les

Doctors and Nurses

2010-10-11T16:34:00.001+01:00

Note the The days since Alcohol auto updates the be correct the day you view it

Visit with the nurse
Blood pressure up
160/90 Left ****154/94 Right
That was expected as I am taking zero medication for this.

Weight
29/Jul/10 120 KG ***11/Oct/10 115 KG my scales 113 KG
That is 5 KG lost.

Wee wee test fine I.E. no protein found.
Flu jab given
Nurse happy

Next Nurse Full review end of January

Seen the doctor given reduced dosage B/P tablet.
Due blood test next week and B/P check a week later.
Next Doctor 1 - 5 November

Feeling fairly well if a little tired .
I tend to get tired quite quickly.
So gently does it.

I have to go shopping for some beer,
Ginger beer etc, and frozen veg.

So a slow trip to Penge and then home again.

Spoke to James yesterday he is finding that Universities are not just booze and parties.
Some work needs to be done as well.

Les

Feeling better

2010-10-10T09:07:00.001+01:00

Good morning world

I stayed at home all day yesterday,

I did not feel tired until midnight.

So I shall do the same today.

Perhaps going out takes more out of me than I realised.

As all last week I was dozy most of The day and unable to keep my eyes open by 10 - 10:30 in the evening.

Also i only woke up properly once.

Instead of 3 - 4 times.

Well one result does not make a theory just an inkling of an idea.

TTFN

Les

Sorry

2010-10-09T21:32:00.000+01:00

To my band of followers et al.
The first few posts were a little wordy and over long
If anybody wants clarification send me a comment and I will do my best.

As I have to go to doctor and nurse on Monday
I am taking it easy today and tomorrow
As I went out every day last week
To test my self and be able to bring problems to their notice.

All is well and I have only foot and knee pains to report
As the most effective Anti-inflammatory/Pain killer has been stopped.

Had chicken sarnie for lunch and blue steak for tea an apple is for supper.

Still no alcohol so i am as well as my kids happy.

TTFN

Les

getting better

2010-10-08T16:33:00.000+01:00

Night sleep is suffering less wake ups over night .
I am still getting tired and going to bed around 10:30 - 11:00 and getting up between 7 and 8.
routine of cereals for breakfast sandwich for lunch and a cooked evening meal becoming a habit and not a chore.
easing back on fluid intake.
blood sugar levels nicely below seven I will be happier when its below six.
the out patient appointments starting to come in.

all in all well to the good.
TTFN

Les

My Bed

2010-10-05T07:59:00.000+01:00

Good morning every one,
Had a comfortable night if a little restless.
This morning knee is giving trouble not too bad though.

Today also marks a full week of no alcohol,
I am drinking diet drinks instead.

Gas man back again today, a leak appeared after the repair.

Early morning shop as I have to be back for midday.
Homemade burgers tonight.
TTFN
Les

A New Week

2010-10-04T06:19:00.000+01:00

Good morning everybody.

Well a new week starts.
Today I go home .

I have the gas man coming this afternoon to repair the boiler, so have to be home by midday, let's see if it is fixed this time.
The problem is intermitant hot water, been on going since July!
They're sending an engineer and a supervisor, still have fingers and toes crossed.

As I record all programs as a matter of course I have nearly a fortnight of catch up, that will keep me from being too active.

TTFN
Les

Feeling Better

2010-10-03T09:15:00.000+01:00

Good Morning to one and all,
I shall continue my recovery here on my blog and not post else where or send emails to save forcing my ails upon yourselves.

Well feeling good this will be the end of the first week .

I have booked a combined doctor and nurses appointments for monday week.
Then we start checking to see if and which drugs will need to be restarted or newly introduced.

I am maintaining 5 a day and three meals a day seem to have more energy, and no bad side effects.

Does seem strange taking so few pills after the years of plenty, but I was told that some of them were stopping being so effective or causing problems of their own.

TTFN

Les

finally the definative "I was unwell" post

2010-10-02T00:22:00.000+01:00

This Monday 27/09 I collapsed again.

This time in the PRUH after being admitted for feeling dizzy again.

I was kept in until Thursday 30/09 yesterday.

Facts

I did not have a heart attack. My heart is fine all the tests prove this.

It was thought I had a heart problem
As there was a twenty point difference with the B/P in my left and right arms.

It is believed I had an allergic reaction,
Evident as an angry rash to legs arms and torso,
To what we do not know for as far as I know
I am allergic to nothing whatsoever.

This reaction caused my blood pressure to start to fall
And as I was on multiple medications to control my B/P
It dropped like a stone on steroids,
Causing panic all round and with the arm differences serious panic.

So I have spent three days in CCU.

A couple of other minor problems have been identified
And are being dealt with as an out patient.

The Future

I am consuming nil alcohol and want to continue this till Christmas.

I am making serious changes to a healthier lifestyle,

Being in a Cardiac ward certainly changes your view on life.

Les

Princess Royal Hospital

2010-09-25T21:48:00.001+01:00

This is difficult to choose between to be or not to be wordy.

Here I am at A&E 1:40 PM

I am Blah blah, Blah? blah, Blah blah? Blah blah blah blah, Blah? blah, Blah blah? Blah blah.

So now we are in

”How are we today?” The nurse asks

“well “as I repeat part 1

Lets check you over B/P okay.

Now an ECG.

As I lay back numerous pads and leads are attached to my body and limbs.

I quip “Will this improve my sex life”

“No, but if we don’t fix you up you won’t have one”

One minute later all sorted.

The Prep and de-prep taking 15 minutes the test 30 seconds.

Any way I pass the heart is fine and dandy.

Next a new nurse comes in the;

” A&E Girl”, Ta Dada.

I am taken to A&E proper and ensconced in a cubicle.

She the proceeds to question me this time stopping me frequently and ask supplementary questions.

I am then told to lay down as I am given an intense prodding an probing carried out with practised ease. Frequent smiles no frowns.

Then we go through the Q&A again.

Right I need blood test

I explain I have already had loads so of to PC she goes.

The results are found and perused.

On her return I ask to go to the loo.

“Good take these”

As a handful of pots and vials are given to me.

I returned from a non performance.

And ask for a drink.

A little plastic cup arrives and only serves to activate a raging thirst.

I hobble over to the water point and 5 cups later return partially satiated.

As I am laying down my B/P is taken again

110 / 75 a little low

I am asked to stand up

Th cuff again inflates, as the results show A&E Girl frowns for the first time.

So it is taken again another frown “how are you feeling?”

Slowly spinning I reply

What was the reading

55 / 30 twice.

“That’s low” I say “Very” is the agreement.

The Doctor/Consultant/?

Arrives and starts to explain

“We believe that you are suffering from severe dehydration either brought on by or made worse by the sickness and diarrhoea.

“While your blood pressure is this low I can not permit you to go home.”

“However we are going to put you on a drip, if your blood pressure returns to “Your Normal (135 / 90)” by 9pm you can go home”

I am hooked up and the flow adjusted

“You will be told this is too fast, keep an eye on it, keep it at this speed.

“Nearly two drops a second.”

I am wheeled off to a communal ward and rechecked Still low

In front of me is a full jug of water and by 8 PM the drip and the two jugs are empty and I have been wee wee three times.

My skin has turned pink.

A doctor is called I am checked over and sent home.

Yippee

Conclusions observations and musings tomorrow.

Les

Things said in jest. Can come back to bite you.

2010-09-25T15:27:00.000+01:00

Before I start this series of posts

I was very ill but it is not attributable to any life threatening Diseases/Conditions.

More how signs can be missed.

I am safely on the road to recovery.

It is my fault for refusing to give up.

Things said in jest. Can come back to bite you.

I am often heard to quip

I must be careful or I’ll have too much blood in my alcohol stream.

Well I this was found to be so, this week, at the Hospital.

“Huh” I hear,” Yep” I reply

“Too Much Blood.”

“Shall I explain?” I say.

“Yes Please” you shout back.

I enjoy a drink always have.

Recently I was advised to cut down, not all at once (phew), bit by bit.

Well this did prove difficult but I have managed to half my consumption.

This I achieved by gradually cutting down the number of drinks I had

This was not easy being a hardened drinker of almost forty years the body whinged.

But over the last five six months I managed this.

All together now “Hurrah well done Les”

I would cut a drink out and stay like that for a week or so.

Occasionally I would go back a step, wait a little while and move forward again.

Remembering the old adage “Slowly slowly catches the monkey.”

Then recently I had round of tummy upsets upstairs and downstairs.

Not every day and never both ends at once

A couple of times forcing me to cancel meetings etc.

I thought it was bad food, so I cleared out the fridge, freezer and larder.

And restocked, all seemed to settle down then at the beginning of this week it all came back with avengence.

Now normally if I have a “Gyppy Tummy”

I only have to wait an hour or so and all is fine, no special diets needed.

Wednesday I was due a medical revue, so I would bring the subject up.

Well Tuesday night I was sick three times . But waited to see the Doc, told him what I’ve told you

A few questions later and I was sent off with a bottle to fill and told to take it and go for blood tests at the hospital. One of these requires fasting. No problems I know about this nil but water for 12 hours. Being an old hand I knew every body fasts early evening a goes early morning. Consequentially the hospital is heaving until after 10 o’clock. Now I start my fast at 20:30 and so miss the crowds.

Well Wednesday evening I felt a little peckish and had a piece of chicken, Which stayed down 30 seconds.
About six thirty I stood up and the next thing I knew I was on the floor the other side of the room.

Strange I thought , still I pulled my self to gether and sat still for a while, had a glass of water and went online and booked another doctors appointment. As I am diabetic and my diet had been a bit of a mish mash lately I took my Blood Sugar readings thinking I had had a Hypo, unusual for tablet controlled but not impossible. 10.89, way to high, must tell the doc. I drank very little and had an early bed .

I had a sleepless night thinking “Did I pass out with a heart attack ?

Is my trouble weeing from prostate cancer?

Is my being sick from ulcers or worse.

Thursday morning I felt rough Still went to the hospital and gave the tests needed.

As I was feeling better had a pub lunch including a burger and chips.

Took it nice and gentle reading a book.

And in the afternoon I made my way to the doctors, feeling much better and relayed part two.

I was told he wanted a urine sample, I said I gave one in this morning; no he said “I want one now.”

25 minutes later no joy.

I was told off for not calling an ambulance and going to hospital, I meekly replied sorry I will call in future. A round of more intense than normal prodding probing tapping and listening.

B/P taken ok, B/S 9.89 So I am sent away with another round of blood tests and to make an appointment for an ECG.

That evening I left apologises on forums etc saying I would only be lurking not active for a while.

Now we come to yesterday Friday.

Got myself off to the hospital to have my tests done,

While I was there a mum brought her daughter in for blood test and little one was distraught , I told her that I found it helps if you concentrate on breathing

Breathe in count 1, 2, 3

Breathe out count 1, 2, 3

She did this a few times and smiled a weak thank you.

While I was there I popped into the drop in centre given a quick once over and told if I feel bad go to A&E.

Thought well I might so went to Bromley the town to change buses felt a lot better so as I hadn’t eaten for 24 hours I would have a MacD.

Felt even better so had a walk around the town popped into the library picked a book and sat down .

When I stood up an intense dizzy spell sent me nearly crashing into the book cases.

That’s it Farnborough Hospital it is.
Les

The Next Seven hours.

To follow

2010-09-25T13:02:00.000+01:00

I was very ill far worse than I thought
How ever it is NOT heart or cancer.

I have been to hospital and been given a jump start.
I am back home and will be recuperating,
I need a slow recharge.
And so doing more lurking than participating.

full details will go up on my blogg over the next few days

Thank you for all your kind thoughts

Les

Ponderings

2010-09-15T10:02:00.000+01:00

Dear everyone et al.

I've been a little under the weather.

More than likley coming down from the euphoric weekend I had.

So I am getting back to normal again.

A busy week of appointments and visitors should keep me on my toes.

Just wanted to let you now if I am quite on some of the bloggs and forums.

I am just taking a little time out.

Hope to back to full pain in the A mode soonest.

Les

My Blogg

2010-09-12T19:45:00.000+01:00

I mention frequently about staying safe
Well yesterday the cab could not find me with my full address and telephone number.
When we arrived late even after my daughter
He quoted full fare I said no,
He said it was his milage i said if your car costs £3 mile to run you should change
it

I said you and your office are blaming each other
I believe your office as our whole family use this firm and have done so for years.
sort it out and you will start to make money
full fare paid no way

les

Mr and Mrs

2010-09-12T10:54:00.001+01:00

My younger brother got married yesterday.Third for him second for her.

The actual wedding was only attended by Tony &Koren Well they had to be there.
Along with his son Tom & girlfriend Charlotte,
As multi tasking Best man, Maid of Honour as well as Witnesses and Congregation.

The evening was a dedicated bun fight complete with Champagne toasts, beautiful buffet.

Finishing off with the ubiquitous disco playing Abba and the Bee-Gees amongst other popular renditions.
A most enjoyable evening amongst family and friends catching up to date the various bits and bobs of news.
Having this strange condition of mine i never have a hang over.
I awoke sans headache .
We have just finished a smoked salmon and scramble eggs breakfast.
Geoff is of to visit more friends before returning to Doncaster tomorrow.

Les

Brides Nighty

2010-09-09T16:02:00.002+01:00

Some of you may have noticed some posts are only about for a day or two.
This is because I can release a temporary contact that is Spam Proof.
The title refers to the phrase
"Up and Down Like a Brides Nighty"
Referring to wedding night frolicking.

Loadsa Les

Les

Protest offer MP threatened with arrest

2010-09-09T14:15:00.002+01:00

Protest offer MP threatened with arrest

(UKPA) – 2 pm today

An MP has revealed how he was threatened with arrest after he offered to remove two anti-war protesters who climbed up the side of one of Parliament's buildings.

Tory Tobias Ellwood said he was greeted by the sight of the protest as he cycled towards the entrance to the House of Commons.

He said he was told the pair, who have unfurled banners on scaffolding saying "Troops Home", could not be removed because of health and safety fears.

Speaking during questions on future business in the Commons, Mr Ellwood (Bournemouth E) said it was a "strange day indeed" when an MP was threatened with arrest "whilst a protester sits on our roof having breached the security".

The former Army officer said: "I cycled into Parliament this morning, only to be greeted by yet another protester who had breached security and remains as we speak on the side of the scaffolding of this building.

"I then approached the police who were standing underneath and said 'Why hasn't an arrest been made?' and they came back with that British ubiquitous justification for inertia - health and safety.

"I then offered myself to go up and make a citizen's arrest and I was told to move on - or I would be arrested.

Commons Leader Sir George Young commended the "robust response" of Mr Ellwood.

In 2009 Mr Ellwood was punched and suffered a swollen ear after he tried to stop a group of youths from playing football in a shopping precinct.

The year before he confronted a gang of youths who had urinated in a garden and was verbally abused and had stones thrown at him. He said at the time that he felt more people should be prepared to confront anti-social behaviour.

Cook or Not

2010-09-06T12:19:00.000+01:00

The KFC advert last night/early morning intimated that for a family of four to buy a "Family Bucket" for around £15.
Mum and dad would have so much more time to play in the garden with their children.

As a single parent I did deliberately serve a meal or two at a substandard for me to keep from being annoyed/questioned while cooking.

Also I only had to do it twice when James and Vickey were putting too many "Treats/wants" in the trolley I took them by the hands and walked out leaving the shopping behind.
James would thereafter sit by the comics reading until I picked him up

Now cooking a chicken Costs £1.50 I do not believe it

Go to
Carbon Footprint - Household Energy Consumption

Using their figures on average
A gas oven costs 5.6p per use.
An electric 15.6p per use.

The problem today is people blindly accept the electronic answers.
without checking.
After all Computers don't make mistakes unless it's a Computer error that suits.

Forgetting all about "GIGO"
Or "Garbage in Garbage out"

Like Statistics
Most news papers
Seem to use statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts,
For support rather than illumination.

For an example saying the 15 percent of people don't like something.
So therefore it must not happen.

As if the other 85 percent who do like something never existed.

TTFN
Les

Socking Hell Or For Sox Sake

2010-09-02T15:50:00.003+01:00

Socking Hell
Or
For Sox Sake

Here in London we have a local radio presenter who only every wears
M&S Socks and pants.

Fine I hear you say.

But and its a "BIG BUT"
He wears them once and throws them away,

Now I learnt a secret years ago.
I buy my socks at least a dozen preferably fourteen pairs at a time,
But all exactly the same,
Pairing up is never a problem.

Just got sidetracked
By the Michael Ball Show
See
YouTube - Mobility Scooter Formation Display

Also
redwheelies

Now are Shirley and "Norris" up for it??

Les's thought of the day

Where does Energy go?

2010-05-19T13:38:00.000+01:00

Dear Shirley et al

I haven’t really been following the Story of Science programme as I kept losing interest.

But I will try and help you with your query.

The Universe is made of energy and matter.
Matter is divided up into atoms.
Atoms combine to make molecules,
Molecules combine to make the things we recognise,
Like water
Or two atoms of Hydrogen, plus one atom of Oxygen.
H2O

If you burn Hydrogen with Oxygen the result is a colossal release of heat plus water as Steam.
You have seen this when the NASA Rocket Engines fire.

I hope you are happy with this concept.

Now to split water back to Oxygen and Hydrogen,
You need to add energy.
We do it by “Electrolysis”
We add energy by the way of electricity.
To change water back to Hydrogen and Oxygen again.

When the Earth was formed it was a ball of molten rock.
As it cooled it started to solidify.
In fact I am sure you know the Earths core is still molten.
As shown by Volcanoes.

Nowadays the surface receives all its natural energy from the sun.
This is kept in by the various gases and particles in the atmosphere.

Some is converted to matter by Photosynthesis in plants so produce vegetation and edible products.

Now all these conversions do not actually produce new matter just new molecules from the available atoms and other molecules.
But this is still important as in helps with the original query,
What happens to energy?

An awful lot of this energy is stored as Gas, Oil and Coal.
The problem we are having is that we are now releasing these energies and by products at an ever increasing rate

It is possible to directly change matter into energy this is how the sun works.
And also our Nuclear Bombs and Atomic Power Stations.

I hope you are all with me class.

Thus I believe the current global warming is helped (sic) in more ways than one by mankind.
Adding increasingly more and more energy and by products into our environments.
So bringing an unnatural unbalance in the stability of the world.

Now to the Big Bang.

This is my way of understanding it.

In the beginning of our current Universe
A previous one collapsed and all the energy and matter was forced into the mother of all black holes.
This caused energy to change to matter, matter to energy until it became unstable and exploded.
The result of this has been shown as our universe as still expanding.
I believe it will reach a limit and then collapse again.

Resulting in another Big Bang

Again and again.

Phew
Les

This has been posted on both “theclevercloggs” and the “Shirley Goode” blogs

Protein V Carbohydrate diet.

2010-04-29T22:53:00.000+01:00

It is my understanding that the body obtains most of its energy from Carbohydrates.

The excess of which it stores as fat.

If an insufficient input of these occur,
The body slows down and very slowly uses up its fat reserves.

Then when Carbs are reintroduced,
The body stays shut down and restores fat levels as fast as possible.

The body also needs Protein but use a large amount of Carbs to process.
If the diet is deficient in Carbs it robs the fat reserves for this action.

This goes some way to explain why

Low Carb diets tend to work,
But you do tend to feel hungry.

High Protein and no Carbs diets
Work faster but tend towards malnutrition.

With a healthy level of Protein, Carbs, and other foods,
The side effects are removed and weight is stabilised.

So I suggest increase Protein slightly and reduce Carbs slightly for a slow a continuous weight loss.
Around two pounds or one kilo a week is considered the healthiest.

I did try to explain this in a previous comment
But I failed to make myself clear.

So in conclusion
More Protein more weight off
More Carbs more weight on.
Balance by trial and error
For a gentle loss,
Then stabilisation.

However “Gluttony” is something else.

Note this is a simplification.

A little tidying up of thoughts.
Carbs come in many forms

From simple, “Sugars”
To complex, starches.
They are easy to produce and use and so tend to be cheap and readily available.

The simpler the Carbs the less “work” the body has to do to absorb them.
Cooking and processing of food reduces Carbs from complex to more and more simple sugars.

Even though the food still shows the same “Calories”
The changes in “G.I.” are to the detriment of the diet.

Easily digested
Also means
Easily absorbed.

Proteins especially animal types.
Take a lot of effort to produce and care in their use and preparation,
And so tend to be expensive.

Vegetable proteins are cheaper,
But still take more effort than ordinary vegetables..
Animal types are often preferred,

When proteins are eaten the body wants and needs the nutrients contained within and
Will expend a lot of energy and effort absorbing them.

Animal often needing less effort than vegetable.

The result is
With the “Atkins style of diet”
Carbs negate the benefits of high protein and thus reduces weight loss.

With the “G.I. style of diet”
Protein negates the absorption of Carbs and thus reduces weight gain.

I hope this help clear things up.

As a basic rule
A varied diet is best,
Never just one type of food,
All in moderation.

Seezya
Les

Compost

2010-04-23T18:08:00.000+01:00

Some Tips on Making Compost

Using your own compost is the best way towards making a beautiful organic garden.

Why not recycle your organic kitchen and garden waste by making compost and then using this to feed your plants or use as a mulch? First you'll need some sort of compost bin/container.
Your choice of composter is very much determined by how much space you've got for your compost bin or how big you want it to be. Up to a point larger is better but If you make your own remember you may have to get it through doors or gateways to its final site. Try to site it where it will be convenient to access. If you want to buy a compost container, there are several companies on our Composting page selling a range of different types: wooden ones, plastic ones, worm composters; there are also sites you can visit giving information of how to make your own composter. You can make compost in a plastic bin liner/sack but it takes a long time; see the end of this page for some details.
If you have a small space for a composter, then a plastic one may well be the most practical; these can be fairly compact; they have a lid at the top to fill from and usually a 'door' of some sort at the bottom where you can remove the rotted compost. And you can buy one made from recycled plastic. Some councils enable you to buy a plastic composter (usually one per household) at a reduced price, or even free.

The art of making good compost seems to be a bit of a black art.
Some people appear to have the knack, others don't. In our experience, compost doesn't always turn out like that shown on TV gardening programmes! Below are some suggestions, hints and tips that should help but its likely that you'll have to experiment and find out the best methods to suit you. If the compost is not perfectly as you would like don't despair, dig it in as early as possible and the end results will probably be very rewarding.

What's Good to Compost

* Basically, all organic waste from your garden and kitchen.
* All fruit, vegetables and waste from these, flowers and leaves, tea and tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells (preferably crushed).
* Weeds, grass, soft cuttings and prunings.
* Shredded twigs, prunings and cuttings.
* Waste paper including tissues, kitchen towels, newspaper, printer paper, corrugated paper/card and cardboard but not too much; it should all be torn up or crumpled and well mixed in with the rest of the compost.

What's Bad to Compost

* Meat, fish, dairy produce, fat, egg, bread, cake, biscuits, pastry and things containing these; they rot and attract vermin.
* Nearly all cooked food, for the same reason.
* We think you shouldn't compost tomato plants and tops of potato plants; we understand that they can transmit disease (the actual tomatoes and potatoes are fine).
* Cat and dog faeces, because it could carry/transmit disease.
* Plastics, shiny paper and card.
* Coarse cuttings, prunings, stalks and twigs, as unless they are shredded they'll take too long to decompose.
* Big roots and roots of dandelions, ground elder, mares tail, couch grass, bindweed etc as these will re-grow.
* Diseased plants or leaves, like those with black spot, mildew, rust or other visible diseases.
* Grass cuttings, moss or other garden waste recently treated with chemicals; you should follow instructions on the packet/tin etc regarding composting following treatment.
* Soil. Small quantities are acceptable, and may be beneficial if well distributed, but you should shake or knock excess soil off plant roots before composting them.

Tips to Improve your Compost

* You should compost things with a range of textures; you need a mix of soft waste material as well as coarser rougher stuff. This helps to aerate the compost.
* One way to aid this is to compost waste paper/card and cardboard but not too much; it should all be torn up or crumpled and mixed in with the rest of the compost. The Composting Tip Sheet from CAT (see our site) gives more details, emphasising the benefits of composting paper and card, stating that you should recycle what paper and card you can and compost all the rest that's suitable.
* Mixing and turning the compost also helps it decompose faster.
* Organic waste will turn into compost faster if it's in small pieces. A compost shredder is useful to chop up larger and coarser material so that it's suitable to put in the composter.
* The above tips all help to introduce and maintain oxygen into the compost; this helps the organic matter to decompose faster.
* Grass cuttings can be composted but you should not put thick layers in the compost bin without mixing other, coarser materials in with the grass to get oxygen into the mixture. Grass cuttings in large quantities will compact and form a thatch, restricting air flow and slowing down decomposition of the grass as well as other waste and will eventually end up as a slimy, smelly mass.
* The compost in the container should be moist, but not too wet. If it's too dry, you can just water it. If it's too wet and soggy, maybe liquid cannot drain away from the bottom; you could try standing your compost container on paving slabs with a slight slope and small gaps between; this will also make it easier to to remove your compost from the bottom. It can be helpful to pack small pieces of tile or slate under the legs to get the container upright and also delay the onset of wet-rot if they are wooden.
* Organic waste turns into compost faster if it's warm. Positioning your composter where it gets some sunshine is beneficial; if it's in full sun this may dry out the compost too much.

Making Compost in a Plastic Sack

We haven't much experience of this method, but we have found it useful when collecting large quantities of leaves because the woody stalks are slow to decompose. Putting them into bin bags for a few weeks, or even months, starts the process, then they are mixed with the main compost.
However, you can make compost in a large plastic bin liners with the normal garden and kitchen waste. It is likely to take a long time, about six to twelve months, for the organic matter to decompose into reasonable compost. This is because you are making compost without oxygen and this slows the process down; it's called anaerobic composting.
All you do is fill up your plastic sack with organic waste, see What's Good and Bad to Compost above; try to ensure there's a mix of textures, add some crumpled/torn paper if necessary. We've read that to improve the compost, to each bag mix in about 15ml (1 tbspn) garden fertiliser and 225ml lime. Close up the top of the bag and leave it. When you open up the bag, you'll probably find what's in the bag is a bit (or a lot) smelly and could be soggy, especially if the mixture was quite wet; however, it'll still be good for the garden in the long run!

This is a straight lift fro m this site

Making Compost, Information and Tips

Please visit them for more information.

I hope this all helps with your endeavors and helps to save even more money while growing your own produce.

Like many good (Goode) diy savings the benefits take time to accumulate and do not always appear beneficial immediately.

Seezya
Les

My house

2010-04-09T17:54:00.000+01:00

I am an enthusiastic cook.
Yes I live on my own.
Yes I live in a flat.
I have two and a half bedrooms.
One for me, one for visitors and the tiny one used as a study but still has a single bed.

Separate loo and bath.

Tiny kitchen eight foot by eight,
Containing a brick built larder, complete with a concrete shelf, which stays cool year round, included in the measurements.
Washing Machine, Cooker, Dishwasher and a Fridge Freezer (Fridge smaller than Freezer), Mini Oven, Microwave and Toaster.
And of course a kettle,
and a one and a half sink and drainer.
This means I only have two, two foot square sections of work top.
One of which has a raised wooden chopping board,
Although I always place a plastic board on top when preparing food.

The hall is larger than the kitchen and is used as a serving area with a bench, hostess, hot plate and small fridge for temp food storage for bun fights.
storage of the eight dining chairs.

The bench is used for DIY projects otherwise.

The front/living/dining room is nicely sized and has the TV, cable boxes etc.
Two three seater chesterfields and gate leg dining table that seats eight.
Along with another fridge freezer (Fridge larger than Freezer), for the very, very temporary storage of food,
But is permanently dedicated to drinks, of all persuasions.

Together with one wine rack in each kitchen, hall and larder.

Note re previous post.

If could keep only one thermometer,
Without question it would be this one.

Wireless Meat Thermometer.

Seezya Les

More Cooking

2010-04-08T10:58:00.000+01:00

I did a comment on Cooking Methods

And Shirley reminded me about thermometers.

As you must have gathered I am a Gadget Freak.
And yes I have several.

I have a small “Mechanical Oven Thermometer” that stands up in the oven
It is accurate but has a really annoying habit of falling over at the most inappropriate moment making it some what of a “P.I.B.” in use.

I also have a “Mechanical meat Thermometer”,
Which is left in the joint for the whole of the cooking time,
I try and position it so it can be seen through the glass door of an oven.

I have since found a “Mechanical Oven Thermometer” with a meat spike to measure the internal temperatures of a Joint etc. and the oven temperature simultaneously.

Now a good idea when you get your first thermometer, or if you haven’t done so, is to turn the oven on for an hour for the temperature to stabilise,
And then check the temperature in several different spots and shelves. So that you can cook two or even three items needing slightly different cooking temperatures at the same time.
Gas ovens tend to be hotter at the top and electric at the bottom.

My favourites are the “Digital Thermometers”
These can measure huge ranges from minus 50C to plus 300C in some cases.
To check their accuracy fast boil a pan of water and check for 100C or 212F
If it is out by more than a degree or two take it back.
A faulty tool gives faulty results.

One of mine is an instant read (well 5 secs) probe with a plastic case so can not be left in situ. But still is more than useful.

I now have one that has the probe on a wire, so the probe can be in the oven and the temperature read outside.
It also has a second wireless unit so the temperature can also be read in another room.
Along with an alarm if a preset temperature is reached, a real boon when entertaining.

Some of these probe on a wire will read up to 300C, some 200C, and I even found one that only goes to 100C.

The 300C ones will measure meat, sugar, deep fry fat, and oven temperatures.
So I suggest you only buy a 300C one.

When you use thermometers regularly you will find the guess work drops away,
And begin producing “Top Dollar” results time and time again,
Your and your loved ones, taste buds will love you.

The wired probe will also check your fridges and freezers with the door shut.
(And yes I have three fridges and two freezers)
This way you can accurately set the thermostat to two degrees Centigrade and all your goods will store for a longer time.

When you have set the thermostat,
Take at least a week of checking,
Mark the dial with a marker pen as it will be knocked and moved.

Seezya Les

More Knives

2010-04-07T13:55:00.000+01:00

Knives Part Two

First before we start.

As in most skills in life,
You need to progress.

The best tool in the world is useless in Inexperience hands,
And can all too easily be ruined.
For example you do not put a learner driver in a “Formula one race car” and think he won’t crash.

That is an extreme I know,
But it makes the point.

All too often expensive knives are purchased but the “Knowledge” of how to care and maintain them is unknown, which is a shame.

There are many knives in various shapes, sizes and compositions.

For general house hold the use of cheaper knives may be better as they are of a softer metal,
Which will sharpen easily.

You will need to start with a 6 or 8 inch cooks knife.
Two small knives, one for close work and a serrated one for dealing with soft items.

As your skills progress purchase new ones of a style suited to your needs.

Most of the time, you should use the largest knife that comfortably does the job, as it will take less effort.

One of my favourite is a £4.99 Sainsbury cook’s knife, It is a little light in weight, but will tackle most domestic chores with ease. And has lasted many years

The ”Sabatier” type is made of high carbon steel which takes an edge well,
But if not meticulously looked after tends to darken an look horrible even if it still more than capable of performing well.

The dearer “Stainless Steel” E.g. “Global” will hold a fantastic edge but are difficult to sharpen as they are so hard.

I was left a “Global” by an old friend who was a chef before he retired.
As he was left handed and I am right handed it was a swine to use.

So I reground it and it took six, one hour sessions over three days to get it satisfactory and is slowly improving with regular use and tuning.

I also have a couple of “Japanese knives” which are made by hand by beating out and then folded again and again.
These are truly razor sharp but are sharpened flat on a stone on one side only.
They nearly cut just by resting the blade on the item to be cut.
The slightest of movements is often all that is needed to start cutting.

The Chinese use cleavers and if you can find a true “Chinese Cleaver” they can be a delight to use.
But are unsuited to some of the western techniques.

Ceramic knives hold an edge longer than any thing else but it rarely achieves a razor edge.
And even “diamond sharpening” needs great care or the edge is ruined.

My ceramic knife was dropped and the tip broken,
I have reground the end to the “Japanese” style,
But again that was a lengthy task.

Some foods do discolour if cut with metal so either tear, or cut with ceramic or a plastic knife which is available specifically for lettuces.

This has been an enjoyable discourse,
Brought to mind by Shirley mentioning she couldn’t use a “steel”

Seezya Les

Toys and Gadgets

2010-04-06T12:07:00.001+01:00

Number one,

The knife

These need to be sharp.

The Steel which is quoted frequently is a very hard tool to master,
And even the most capable will send their knives away to be “Reground”,
As the edge dulls even with the constant tuning.

I personally use various methods,
But the constant is that all my methods use “Diamonds”,
From the Steels, Stones, to the pre-set sharpening systems.

My preferred for easy use and superb results is
OZITECH™ Knife Sharpener

Read the instructions for the first time,
Be gentle, too much pressure makes a bad edge and ruins an expensive tool.
Patience will out.
Then use it every time you use the knife, just a stroke or two no more.

Most demonstrators show how easily a their knife cuts a tomato,
Why do they do it is it hard?
Must the knife be razor sharp?
No it is technique the knife moves with a slicing action at an angle,
Often a slight sawing action is used to get started.

Every person I know who has used a properly sharpened knife for the very first time is most impressed as to the ease of cutting raw potatoes not the ubiquitous tomato.

Whenever I visit I am always asked to tune up their knives,
Don’t tell them it is easy for me,
As it gets me out of more arduous chores like washing up.

I was taught by an expert in the scouts.
And after more than a few failures the skills clicked and have stayed with me ever since.

(As an aside sheath knives are now banned and all utility pen knives are held by the leader until used under supervision.)
(When ever I was at a camp all the boys brought knives to be sharpened and the uses demonstrated one on one.)

My knives at home were held on a magnetic holder six feet (1.8 metres) high up.
And all my children taught to use them when they could reach them unaided.

Nowadays they are mainly stored in one of two knife blocks on the work top,
With a few on the holder.

Knife skills are not so hard but you need to be patient in learning them and gentle in their use.

It is pressure that causes a blunt knife to slip unexpectedly,

It is pressure that causes a blunt knife to slip unexpectedly,

It is pressure that causes a blunt knife to slip unexpectedly,

Necessitating the use of at least a plaster,
Blue so it can be spotted if it falls off and into the soup etc.

There are many knife skills videos on the internet.

Watch a few and follow the one you like best.

Well this is longer than I expected.

I hope it helps you to use a knife with more confidence with a safer and a more positive attitude.

Seezya Les

What Does That Cook?

2010-04-05T15:08:00.000+01:00

All Methods of cooking,
As all things in life,
Have plus and minus bits,
With a few maybes as well.

Pressure Cooker,
Fastest for stews and casseroles,
But very easy to over cook,
Especially foods that normally cook in lest than 30 minutes.

PS They do not go BANG

Micro wave,
Brilliant for “Steaming veg”
Good for reheating.
Turns off after the set time.
Overly fast with fats and sugars.
Doesn’t brown properly

Oven
Very good for an all round even temperature,
Temperatures can be finicky.
Fan Ovens have an even temperature throughout,
Gas oven has the greatest variation of temperature spots inside,
Top, bottom, front and back,
If understand a boon else a major “P.I.B.”
But better consistency of temperature set,
Electric oven relies on sensitivity of thermostat so temperature may fluctuate wildly.
Every oven is different and takes time to adapt to different recipes,
When sorted set timer and take it easy.

Deep Fryer
On a flame DANGEROUS FIRE HAZZARD
Timings critical.
Imparts, when done well, a flavour and texture unable to be recreated any other way,
E.G. (Not Oven) chips.
Badly done a health hazard.

Steamer,
Normally one and half times longer than boiling.
More delicate and fuller flavour,
If an Electric model is over filled timings wildly erratic.

Slow Cooker
Again good for casseroles and stews,
Fill in the morning,
Eat in the evening.
Very difficult to over cook.
Sometimes meat can be cooked before root vegetables.

Toaster
Does toast
Toaster bags?

George Forman Grill
Very good, cooks top and bottom at the same time.
Adverts often tend to show Juices released as ”FAT”

MacDonald’s use similar called a “Clam Shell”.
Don’t get me wrong,
MacDonald’s spend a fortune on training,
And equipment,
For a consistently excellent product world wide,
And deservedly so,
It is a world beater.

But please an occasional treat,

Never a staple.

Breville Sandwich Toaster
Similar to above,
But doesn’t do Sausages.
Often to be found hibernating at back of cupboard until long lost daughter returns home starving.

All foods bring out their best in,
Different methods of preparation and cookery.

We are blessed with a greater diversity of foods and techniques than ever before.

Look learn and experiment,

Give your food the best help,
And you will be richly rewarded,

Any food cooked well the right way
“BLISS”

Else “Where is the bin?”

Seezya Les

Cheaper food

2010-03-24T12:25:00.000Z

I tend to treat food with the following thought.

The more an ingredient is going to be "mucked about with", the cheaper it can be.

Roast chicken a little butter and "Free Range",
just remove the wish bone.
Chicken "Curry" / "KFC" cheap chicken but fresh spices.
The delicate advantages of free range would be overwhelmed by the spices.

Grill Fillet steak, I like my with the moo left in.
Or fry and de-glaze with double cream and a little "French Mustard" for a sauce.
Stewed beef / Steak and Kidney I use shin, even available in the super market but labelled as "Stewing Beef", but not pre diced.

I normally buy and joint my chickens but you can get the occasional bargain with frozen chicken breasts.
I also buy whole pieces of meat then trim and dice myself.

If you want rump steak for a group,
buy a joint and slice it yourself.

The savings on home butchery are amazing.

Here is a link for a master class of 12 mins for jointing a chicken.
It takes me less than 5 mins.

How to butcher a Chicken Video

Seezya Les

Petrol Prices

2010-03-16T18:37:00.001Z

We are being warned that petrol prices are rising.
Ah not news but speculation.

I believe they will continue to rise in the UK.
Until once again a "government tax rise" will take it over a major milestone.

Then the poor poor oil companies will lament;
" Its not our fault we didn't take the price over, it was taxation".

Wait and see £5.50 a UK Gallon.
Oh that's 121.14 p a litre.

Les

Food for thought

2010-03-13T15:11:00.000Z

Until 1800, cookery was so dangerous that it was the second commonest cause of death among women (after childbirth).

Their skirts caught on the open fires of the hearth.

Deaths were dramatically reduced by the invention of the closed range by

George Bodley in 1802.

But this was not the AGA

Dr. Gustaf Dalen, a Swedish man, and also a Nobel Prize Winner, was the great mind behind the aga.

AGA actually stands for Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator, the name of the company. It was the year 1922 when the design was complete,

and it was the aga cooker.

A kitchen appliance that could handle every culinary technique,

heat the house with it’s constant heat and also aid with the washing,

drying and pressing of clothes.

The hotplate and the rails on the front of the aga enabled the quick drying of clothes, and it could also allow for the clothes to pressed.

It was on constantly, heating the house during the cold months and could also be used to heat water for washing, not just dishes and laundry, but for personal washing as well.

Les

A Roast Chicken

2010-03-11T16:04:00.002Z

The other evening I fancied Roast Chicken, for one!

So here is a full step by step.

Remember this is for ONE

Potatoes

Peel and steam a two or three potatoes until fully cooked, they don’t break up when steamed, and steam times are one and a half boil time.

So that’s 20 mins + 10 mins = 30mins from water boiling.

Note boil water while peeling cutting and rinsing.

Keep cooking water.

Remove potatoes, in the steamer insert, cover with tea towel until dry.

Find just right size tin, a “Frey Bentos pie” (must ask Shirley which pastry they use?) tin does just for me for this quantity, try to find the tin after peeling and cutting and before any cooking then you can always add an extra to fit.

Add one cm to half inch fat I use dripping but it’s only once a month.

Chicken

Put

half a lemon (wax free)

Half an onion

Pinch dried sage

Inside 1 Kg chicken, Brought to room temperature.

Note roasting time 75 mins at 180C so 15mins each breast up, left side, right side, back up, finally breast up again. Plus 15 mins extra to rest.

Veggies are frozen, I prefer frozen as then have I have zero wastage.

I keep cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, peas, special mixed, in the main.

Steam and keep water again.

Yorkshire pud for one

one egg, quarter cup each plain flour and semi skimmed milk.

I have found the standard egg is one quarter cup in volume. So 2 eggs = half cup, 4 eggs = full cup.

Sometimes I use part milk and part, beer / stock/ water, up to the total liquid volume.

A sprinkle of cheese as the Yorkshires go into the oven are often appreciated, try when doing individuals half and half, and gauge response.

Whisk milk and egg together, sieve and whisk flour in stages too much at once goes lumpy. whisk until frothy.

Or sieve flour into bowl and add egg/s and beat well then add rest of liquid in steps.

Leave as long as possible, overnight is not too long, in the, refrigerator, re whisk from time to time i.e. leave the whisk in to save washing up.

Another FB tin needed no fat yet.

When adding batter to fat do on the stove top to keep fat very hot.

Right that’s the prep and notes done:

Times for a 5:00 sit down

2:30 oven on, peel and leave cut pots under water.

Make up Yorkshire batter.

3:00 boil kettle put pots in steamer, add boiling water bring back to boil cover and start 30min timer.

3:15 chicken in, potato tin in, yorky tin in.

3:30 turn chicken check pots.

3:40 or Ping dry off pots

3:45 Shake to roughen the edges. Add to hot fat baste. Turn chicken.

4:00 turn chicken, baste pots,

4:15 last turn chicken, strain 3mm to eighth inch fat into yorky tin on stove top,remove all possible fat from pots replace pots in oven, heat yorky fat very hot pour yorky batter into tin and straight into oven.

START 15 MINUTE TIMER

Why? Because if you open the door earlier the puddings will collapse.

Ping quickly remove chicken, close do not slam oven.

Cover chicken and rest.

Panic is now over restart timer

Reheat veg water add veggies of desire, leave to steam

Ping turn off oven and crack open door. Too allow slow cool down, that darn yorky again.

Remove steamer insert drain chicken juices into veggie water. Bring to hard fast boil taste think about seasoning but do not add, yet a splash of alcohol something is okay.

Cut chicken in half with shears, plate one half, plate veggies, plate pots, plate yorky.

Taste gravy again, pour into a gravy separator (I use this one), pour over or round, according to your foible, the meal and add a twist of sea/rock salt, twist of pepper, twist of chilli flakes for a little kick, enjoy.

Thoughts etc

Please try without adding anything else to the gravy you will be surprised how fresh it tastes.

I told you to taste again and again to understand this isn’t just “Gravy”.

I do not use salt in cooking; I find that the twists gives sudden bursts of flavour intermittently throughout the meal, rather than a overall background.

If you add granules you have wasted the stock, boil a kettle and use a jug if you must.

And I find Bisto, tastes like Oxo, like Supermarket own, false.

Other times the veggie water will always help these pretenders.

What ever I cook I keep the real and pretend apart.

Use slaked corn flour to thicken, gravy browning to darken, if you must, as these add no taste.

When steaming use your eagle eye and use as little water as you can.

Bones simmered, after removing the lemon, for a little stock, if you didn’t interfere with the gravy yesterday add this as well.

Boiled bones go cloudy, boil to reduce after straining, don’t be greedy try and recover too much from the bones as the result is horrid.

To prove to yourself keep just the juices from the roast and compare to an over cooked carcase.

Definitely a case of less is more.

Then a nice soup for another day or a booster for something else.

The Next Day?

Fresh rolls needed for roast chicken rolls, must use butter.

With a little side salad, don’t hide the chicken.

Definitely a cure for back to work Monday!

Although I have done lunch and supper on a piggy day. Pass the wine Hic, oops.

This will be posted on both Shirley and my blogs, as it fits a common theme.

And knowing Shirley she will tell me how I could have fed the five thousand for a fortnight on these quantities.

Les

Editing a blog in word.

2010-03-09T12:48:00.003Z

When a cut and paste from word to blogger is attempted.

What happens is not the desired result.

If you paste into “Blogger HTML” all formatting is lost.

If you paste into “Blogger Compose” Blogger has a hissy fit and by repeatedly forcing after while may publish. Sometimes not.

There is a way around this but so long as you can cut and paste it is relatively easy.

The cause of the problem is that blogger does not recognise all the “Hidden Tags” that word adds to describe the formatting of the document.

So these need to be removed.

How do we do this?

Compose and edit your post in word when you are happy Save if wanted.

Copy and paste into “Blogger Compose”.

Click on “HTML” there will be errors, do not worry

Copy the error riddled code.

Open wordoff web page

(http://wordoff.org/)

Paste the dodgy code and click clean up.

Now copy the clean code

Paste back into “Blogger HTML”

Click preview to check.

Publish

If you need to edit a blog.

Click”Compose”

Copy and paste into word

Then repeat above.

So in conclusion,

You need to move to and from word via “Blogger Compose”

You need to move to and from wordoff via “Blogger HTML”

Compose is the pretty way we understand the text

HTML is the way web sites know how to put the pretty onto a web page.

Les

Bogus iPad Offer on Facebook

2010-03-08T15:11:00.000Z

Bogus iPad Offer on Facebook

A fake offer regarding the upcoming gadget from Apple, the iPad.

The team behind the spam sets up a Facebook page where it encourages a user to become a fan of its page. Then, it encourage the user’s friends to become fans of the page by letting the user invite them via a handy button. When a user do this process, it would supposedly increase his or her chances of being accepted for the iPad’s “Research Team”.

After all of those things occur, the next step shows a page that looks like an official Apple webpage. However, a pop-up survey would show up right after.

The pop-up survey includes a form to fill in a user’s contact information and it is trying to sign up the user for a premium rate cellphone service that charge approximately $10 a week.

Scams like these also happen on other social media sites such as Twitter. Five screenshots are included in the article. They show the Facebook page, a user’s invite form, the survey, the twitter post, and the webpage that users would see after clicking on the twitter post.

Different methods of cooking :

2010-03-07T10:48:00.000Z

Bake : Cook in an oven

Bake in a bag - also called baking 'en papillote', to place something( normally fish) in a sealed foil or paper bag with seasonings and a little liquid and baking it in the oven until cooked.

Baste - to spoon hot fat or stock from the roasting tray over whatever you're roasting to moisten it and to encourage caramelisation

Bat out - to bash a piece of meat with a wooden mallet or a metal meat baton even a saucepan to make it thinner, before cooking.

Blacken - to coat a piece of fish or meat in a mixture of seasonings and cook in a hot pan without oil so the surface burns and turns black giving a charred flavour.

Blanch - to immerse briefly in boiling water either to cook (for vegetables) or to remove fat or salt (for meat)

Boil - to cover with cold water, bring to a rolling boil and cook until tender.

Braise - to cook meat or veg slowly, in a pot with a little liquid and a lid on until tender, either in the oven or on the stove

Broil - To grill

Brown - to fry or roast something in fat until it caramelises on the outside

Caramelise - to get the sugar on the surface of something to turn into caramel by frying, roasting, grilling or even blow torching in the case of tarts, poached fruit, meringues or crème brulees.

Ceviche - thinly sliced fish marinated in lemon or lime juice to partially cook it before eating. A method of cooking without heat.

Char - to burn part or all of the surface of whatever you are cooking until it turns into carbon

Chargrill - to cook something on heavy iron bars above a charcoal or gash eat. The surface of the food touching the bars chars and gives a smoky barbecue flavour

Cook down - to cook an ingredient or mixture of ingredients in a pan with the lid off until it reduces in volume

Deep fry - to immerse in hot oil and cook until crisp

Emulsify - to combine fat or oil and other liquids to make a stable suspension, often using egg yolks (mayonnaise)

Fry - to cook by placing in hot shallow pan with a little fat. Whatever you are cooking should end up slightly crisp and caramelised.

Grill - to cook by placing under a hot electric or gas element

Infuse - to immerse aromatic things like lemon zest, cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods or bunches of herbs, in hot liquids so that the liquid will take on their flavours.

Marinate - to immerse meat or fish in a seasoned liquid (a marinade), possibly containing oil, lemon juice or vinegar, spices, herbs and sometimes wine to tenderise and flavour it before cooking.

Par boil - to cover ingredients (normally vegetables) with cold water, bring to the boil and drain, to part cook them, often before roasting.

Poach - to immerse in hot liquid and simmer gently until cooked and/or tender

Pot roast - to roast in a pot with the lid on or off, with a little liquid added to baste the roast, keeping it moist and helping it caramelise.

Puree - a very smooth vegetable mash usually passed through a sieve to remove any lumps.

Reduce - to boil a liquid in a saucepan without a lid so that it evaporates, reduces in volume and concentrates in flavour.

Refresh - to immerse in ice cold water after blanching to preserve colour( in vegetables), and stop the cooking process.

Render - to cook a piece of fat, or meat with fat around it by a frying, steaming, boiling or roasting so that the fat melts and can be either discarded or kept for cooking purposes.

Rest - to take a piece of meat out of the oven once it's finished cooking and keep it warm for 10 minutes or so before serving. The fibres of the meat which are tensed up by the heat of the oven relax and the meat becomes more tender.

Roast - to cook in the oven with fat to help whatever you're cooking caramelise and crisp.

Roux - a mixture of butter and flour fried together to thicken a sauce (like Bechamel), stew or soup.

Rub - mixture of herbs and spices which is rubbed on food before cooking to give it a tasty crust.

Sear - to fry in very little oil, briefly on a fierce heat.

Season - to flavour with salt and pepper before or after cooking.

Simmer - to boil very gently so only a few bubbles appear on the surface of the liquid .

Slowcook - to roast, simmer, braise or stew very gently for a long time.

Soak - to immerse dried things like beans, lentils, salt cod or mushrooms in water until they're ready to be cooked.

Steam - to place ingredients in a pot or basket with small holes in the bottom over a pan of boiling water so they cook in the steam.

Stew - to cook meat or veg slowly, covered with liquid, in a pot either in the oven or on the stove.

Sweat - to cook vegetables, gently, in a pot until they are soft and squashy without any colour. A lid and a cartouche help this process by keeping any steam generated inside the pot.

Tray bake - a method of cooking where the meat or fish and the accompanying vegetables are all cooked in the one tray in the oven.

Les

Food again

2010-03-06T14:00:00.001Z

Names do not matter

Don't get confused with names. They are diabolical inventions to ensure you remain puzzled. Do you honestly believe a half a foot long French name has any function but offer an excuse to rip you off ?

Let's look at a salad and a sandwich. Salad conjures up a certain image and Sandwich conjures up a different image right? Now remove the crusts of bread from the sandwich. Has it become more like a salad? Or take any salad and place it between bread. Do you see the metamorphosis of a salad becoming a sandwich ?

Let us continue on the salad theme for a while. A soup is nothing but a liquid salad or risotto is nothing but a salad where rice dominates. Or if you think in-terms of sandwiches, risotto is a sandwich where rice takes the place of bread as a major ingredient.

The basics can be learnt in a few minutes

Eat them raw.

If you are hungry, you can snack on many veggies, fruit, even raw boiled pasta or raw cooked rice, cold tinned beans. All tinned food has been cooked.

Now as most of us aren't exactly starving when we sit for a meal, we need stuff slightly fancy to make it more edible. We learnt to heat foods to improve their tastes. Now this heating can be done in many ways like baking, stir-frying, microwaving, frying, steaming etc etc. But the basic principle of heating ( or cooling ) food to improve its taste hasn't changes in a million years.

So if you cant eat the raw, you cook them.

The less hungry we are, the more fancy the meal we demand. Maybe that explains why Cleopatra drank pearls dissolved in vinegar. As we prospered, we grew less hungry and went beyond raw food to cooked food. Now the next step was flavour.

If you cant eat them cooked either, try flavouring them

A ton of spices have been discovered and cultivated with the sole aim of making foods palatable.

If you cant eat them still, try mixing a few stuff together.

If they remain inedible, probably mixing them with better tasting stuff will make them edible.

So I guess we went through four phases, each phase becoming shorter and shorter

Phase 1 : Eat them Raw
Phase 2 : Eat them cooked
Phase 3 : Flavour them
Phase 4 : Mix stuff together.

Foodstuffs and way of cooking the evolved in different countries , in different ways, leading to the 'cuisines' we have today.

Les

I

2010-03-05T16:08:00.000Z

We have all said

"I must"

I am Able.
I Can.
I Do.
I Endevour.
I Have.
I Love.
I Must.
I Never.
I Quit.
I Rarely.
I Shall.
I Trust.
I Will.

Are these the same?

Seezya Les

Help

2010-03-04T22:38:00.000Z

Be Smart

• Be very careful when clicking on any advertisements, many are fake and will take you to a virus download
• Be very careful when “googling” anything, just because it’s at the top of your Google search, doesn’t mean it’s “virus free”
• If you see any type of “scan” started when you go to a website, do not touch anything! These are definitely fake and will download a virus if you touch any part of the screen. Right now, it’s “fake” (appearing to be real)
• Change all of your email passwords, make sure they are unique and are not the same as your Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn accounts
• Many email accounts are getting hacked into, so be very careful when getting emails from friends with “just a link” in it. The hackers are getting lazy and not even sending out text anymore. Just a link, be careful!

If you happen to see an attack/infection going on, your best bet to stop it:
• Press the “Alt and F4” at the same time on your keyboard.
• This shuts down the active window.
• Repeat until back to desktop.
• OR
• Press the “control, alt and delete” buttons” at the same time on your keyboard or…put your mouse down on the bottom of your screen (the task bar) and right click
• Press the “Alt and F4”
• Start “Task manager”.
• Go to the “applications tab” and then you will see what you have going on with your computer.
• Click on the Internet E or Firefox and then hit “end process”. Do it for all of them.
• You will see the scan windows go away.
• Update your antivirus software and do a scan
Now, you may or may not be infected still. If you do all of the above and see symptoms of a new program on your computer or it acting very slow, then you probably have a virus.

You can do the following:
• Ignore it and it will get worse, no question
• Fix it yourself, some of you can do a good job with that
• Get a kid to fix it, not a good idea
• Send me the details for more help
Les

The Quack

2010-03-03T19:02:00.000Z

I have been put under a new regime of tests and drug changes.

Some of which require me to stay indoors.

If you think I am ignoring you.

You are correct.

Don't take it personally.
I am ignoring all but,friends and family.

I will deal as and when.

Sorry chaps and chapesses.

Seezya
Les

COO

2010-03-02T22:27:00.000Z

I watched Horizon on BBC2 tonight.
It was about food and cooking.

A couple of the experiments stood out.
Firstly a human could not eat enough raw food to be able to extract sufficient day to day energy.
Secondly if mice were given cooked yams to the same weight as raw, they could trundle the exercise wheel far further and put on weight.

This tends to suggest, logically to me, that cooking is a pre digestion activity.

So the act of cooking, along with processing, makes the food more digestible, taste better and make many toxins safe.
As we throw so much food away it could also explain the dramatic rise in the urban fox population.

To calculate the amount of calories in food, it is burnt and the energy released is measured.
Cooking food does not add calories to food.

So could it be that it is not the amount of calories contained in a sample of food that is the problem.
But the quantity of energy derived by the body from food, that causes you to get fat??

Also as we have been cooking food for such a long time it may well explain why our gut is too short to be vegetarian and too long to be carnivore?

Les

Hospital Food?

2010-03-01T23:16:00.000Z

The NHS has come under fire for undermining the fight against obesity by allowing Burger King restaurants inside hospitals.

Fat's not right: Campaigners say NHS should be leading by example.

Out of 170 NHS Trusts, 40 rent space to chains including Burger King, Starbucks, Subway and Upper Crust. More are expected to open.

Is this to supplement to poor food served by the Hospital?
Or is it a money making exercise?

Department of Health said in a statement

Obesity is on the up
"Our obesity strategy says that we expect the public sector to lead by example. The NHS has a responsibility to provide healthy and nutritious food for staff, patients and visitors.
"The NHS locally can choose to have shops and catering outlets in their hospitals. These outlets provide important services for patients, visitors and staff as well as generating income for the NHS."
Profits must go back to local health services it, added.
"It is for the local NHS to decide which outlets are given space and to enter into appropriate contracts, but goods or services should not conflict with the ethos and objectives of health and well-being," the statement said.
"Hospitals need to honour historic contracts that they have already entered into, but given the importance of the obesity strategy today it would be hard for any NHS organisation to justify entering into a new contract with a fast food restaurant."
Mayday hospital Croydon confirmed it had a Burger King outlet but said its own restaurant offered low-fat foods.
"Mayday's main entrance is leased to a private company which rents retail space to a variety of food and non-food outlets providing choice for visitors, staff and any patients who may be well enough to leave the ward," a spokeswoman said.
Last year, 8,085 people were admitted to hospital in England for obesity related conditions, according to NHS figures.
The health service's website advises people to "cut down on high fat snacks, junk food and ready meals, as they are often packed with fat, high levels of sugar and salt".

Les

Just a Thought

2010-02-26T18:40:00.001Z

On the news tonight, worries about our Olympics.
We are on budget.
But, you knew a but was coming

No use for the stadium, I mentioned this a while ago.

The sale of the competitor’s village reliant on the property market.

Now this village will be one of the most secure areas in England just 10 minutes from central London.

Why can't suites be made available for all our MP’s and their staff.

To save having second homes, and the implications this gave in recent times.

The cival service is very good at giving different standards according to hierarchy.
Also having a internal communication system for government business.

After Parliament finishes for the day only one or two trains need to be guarded.
I understand that the Palace of Westminster has a problem with office and media space.
There is a purpose built media centre at Stratford with no future use envisaged.

Or is this too simple a solution for our bombastic servants.

Seezya Les

Music on the move

2010-02-23T22:59:00.001Z

I have a Pure DAB 2000
This is a DAB radio, FM radio and mp3 player.
It also uses standard AA rechargeable batteries.
When on a long journey I just carry a few spares.
I have had this for a few years and I got it so I can listen to the test matches on DAB,
Local radio on FM
My choice of radio or book etc. as mp3
Also because when using the under ground there are no radio signals.
Another bonus of the underground the dreaded mobile phone doesn't work either, oh bliss

Now I had the intermittent sound because of a dodgy headphone connection and being lazy I had wedged it with an elastic band.

Now having a bit of spare time today I decided to fix it.
This took all of 10 minutes five of which was waiting for my soldering iron to heat up.
I should have fixed it 6 months ago, but I kept putting it off as too much trouble silly me.

Now due to "health and safety" concerns all solder now days is lead free.
How ever this is physically weaker than the original lead tin alloy of the last century.
This goes some way to explain why intermittent connections occur in parts subject to physical stress.
Fortunately for me I still have a tiny supply of "old solder" which I use in these circumstances, so the repair should be stronger the original.

Another case of "health and safety” gone mad?

Well yes and no, it was found that soldering with lead solder did release fumes that were toxic and so workbenches and even some soldering irons had an extract system to help draw the fumes away but it was a clumsy solution and so lead free solder was introduced.

Which I use for all other jobs.
But I will still use leaded where the different properties are a benefit and hold my breathe, for the ten seconds needed.

Seezya Les

Curry again

2010-02-22T01:44:00.000Z

I do like a curry and I cook for four and divide by three eat one freeze two.

But clearing up after the last curry party, I decided to further divide the portions for freezing in half again.

This means when I reheat later I can have two or three portions of different curries, which is why I enjoy cooking for a group.

I love the variation of tastes and textures.

I am considering Mexican for my birthday as May 5th is a Mexican holiday.

Next time you have a chilli put a teaspoon or two of cocoa in, in this case less is more, you must not taste chocolate.

It gives a depth of flavour that is difficult to place.

Another that does this is a dash of ketchup in any dish with tomatoes in it.

Also remember a curry or stew is always better the following day, even a take away.

As an aside, and a gloat.

When I cooked curry for Christmas Eve.

All the curries were precooked and saved in foil dishes for reheating and serving, as per usual.

Vickey was asked by a couple of friends which take-away she used as they wanted to use them.

Vickey was disbelieved when she said “my dad cooked it”.

Seezya Les

How secure is your password?

2010-02-21T10:30:00.000Z

With most websites requiring you to create an account, do you find yourself in a bit of a pickle when it comes to inventing passwords?
Many people use the same password for all their online accounts and often forget the password they came up with months ago.
Hands up who doesn’t feel like banging your head against the wall trying to remember the password you created months ago?

Let’s face it - everyone has problems with creating and remembering secure passwords.

Tips on how to create and remember your passwords:

Use the first letters of a sentence that you will remember, e.g. "I have 3 cats: Fluffy, Furry and Shaggy" gives: Ih3c:FF&S, or “Bouncing tigers have every right to ice-cream” becomes: Bther2I-C.

Take the name of the website and then add your personal twist, like your height or your friend’s home address, a car registration plate (not personalized) (e.g. “AmazonOceanRd6’2”). Avoid using your own contact details like your phone number or house number.

Remove the vowels from a word or phrase e.g. "I like eating pancakes” becomes: Ilktngpncks”.

Replace the letters from a word or phrase with numbers e.g. "I like eating pancakes” becomes:” 1l1k334t1ngp4nc4k3s. Here a=4 b=8 e=3 i=1 o=0 etc

A very old coding trick was to split into groups of 5
"I like eating pancakes” becomes: “ilike_eatin_gpanc_akesx”

Use a phrase from your favourite book and then add the page, paragraph or chapter number.#

The Do’s and Don'ts of creating passwords

DO

Mix letters, numbers and symbols, and use case sensitivity (upper and lower case letters)

The longer the better. Use passwords that are longer than 6 characters.

Change your passwords at least every 60 days, cycling the numeric values up or down makes the new password easy to remember.

Try copying and pasting at least some of the characters in your password that way key loggers won’t be able to track your keystrokes.

DON’T:

Don’t use words or phrases or numbers that have personal significance. It is very easy for someone to guess or identify your personal details like date of birth.

Avoid writing your password down, use a reputable password manager to manage all your passwords.
I use last pass, for IE and Firefox
An example of a generated pass word is

1hhFn5fYdn#$W5k2@pUd

Don’t use the same password for several logins, especially if they involve sensitive financial or other personal information.

Don’t tell anybody your password.
When registering on websites that ask for your email address, never use the same password as your email account.

Remember no password is unbreakable
You just have to make it not worth their while.

Seezya Les

Acronyms

2010-02-20T18:26:00.000Z

Acronyms are form of shorthand and some of these have come from normal usage.
They are used in all forms of typed (texted) electronic communication.

AAMOF as a matter of fact
BBFN bye bye for now
BFN bye for now
BTW by the way
BYKT but you knew that
CMIIW correct me if I'm wrong
EOL end of lecture
FAQ frequently asked questions
FWIW for what it's worth
FYI for your information
HTH hope this helps
IAC in any case
IAE in any event
IMCO in my considered opinion
IMHO in my humble opinion
IMNSHO in my not so humble opinion
IMO in my opinion
IOW in other words
LOL laughing out loud
NRN no reply necessary
OIC oh, I see
OTOH on the other hand
ROF rolling on the floor
ROFL rolling on the floor laughing
ROTFL rolling on the floor laughing
TIA thanks in advance
TIC tongue in cheek
TTFN tat ta for now
TTYL talk to you later
WYSIWYG what you see is what you get

RULES FOR WRITERERS

2010-02-19T22:36:00.000Z

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don't use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words> however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
24. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
25. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
26. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
27. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
28. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
29. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
30. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
31. Who needs rhetorical questions?
32. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. And finally...
33. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Olympics

2010-02-19T09:24:00.000Z

Now, as residents of London we pay a levy towards the cost of the Games via our Council Tax. What benefit do we get from this at all? I've had a bit of a Google to see if as we are paying for it, we may get free/subsidised tickets but I can’t see anything. If not, does anyone think this is unfair?

Whilst on the subject, it appears that our Olympics Minister has rebuffed the idea of the Olympic Stadium being used for football, as we have committed to providing a legacy, to provide a 'Grand Prix' 25k seat Athletics stadium. Apparently we 'promised' this to the IOC and played a big part in us being awarded the games. Firstly, what the IOC do post 2012 if we announce that the OS would be used for football? Retrospectively take the games away from us? And secondly don't we already have a 'Grand Prix' athletics stadium next door to Dulwich and West Norwood? With a bit of investment and TLC you could have a cracking stadium.

I think it's a bit short sighted to dismiss the idea of having those nasty football types move into the site. Who or what entity, apart from a football club could afford the freehold or rent costs for that stadium which under the 'legacy' would get used a handful of times a year. How many 'grand prix' events are there a year anyway? White and Elephant spring to mind.

Hopefully, there'll be a change of government come May so these comments will become irrelevant.

Seezya Les

While I have been ignoring you all.

2010-02-16T02:39:00.000Z

I have had my doctor’s review.

A little tinkering with pain killers has helped with mobility.
I still normally need to rest the day following a day out but I am getting used to that.
All my path lab tests are good.
Still over weight but stable only a drift of a couple kilos, up or down, over the last few years..

Learnt a new trick for blood tests, I was told to relax,
How I said I hate them, needles and all.
My very first test found me waking up on the floor.
If one of my girls came with me they had to take all their rings off first.

I was told to concentrate on my breathing.
Go slowly
So I breathe in counting 1 little second, 2 little second, 3 little second.
Breathe out counting 1 little second, 2 little second, 3 little second.
And it works.

Talking of counting, when driving, try and keep two seconds behind the car in front.
Say “Only a fool breaks the two second rule”.
In bad weather say it twice.

Further to driving in the UK, front fog lights may only be used in fog or falling snow.
Dipped head lights to be used in bad visibility.
So if you use side lights in daylight you are technically breaking the law as you have admitted you need lights!!.

The mobile phone offence is “holding a mobile phone with the engine running”.

Seezya Les

I am Sorry

2010-02-14T18:47:00.000Z

Chaps and Chapesses,

I have Had a few bits and pieces demanding my attention.

Hence my lack of posting.
Perhaps some may be revealed.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

For the mean time imagine the potters wheel.
As I whirl around.
Keeping the dervishes at bay.

Loadsa
Les

Another Health Scare

2010-02-03T14:56:00.000Z

This time for Dementia and Alzheimer's

The exact causes are unknown and at the present time there is no cure to this, progressively debilitating condition.

It appears the easiest way of contracting dementia in the first place is to be a couch potato eating junk food, worst still ordered by phone.

So the answer is easy do not do that.

How?

Stop watching no brainer programmes.
Demanding programs or reading is better.

Stop watching cookery shows to build an appetite, and then ordering a take away.
Start watching cookery shows to build an appetite and then cook your own inspired food.
Buy ingredients not meals.

Stop lying around start moving about.
Go shopping, buy ingredients not meals.
15 minutes walking is better than 5 minute drive.
Plus there are no parking fees.

Healthy foods need not be dear it’s the “Health Foods” that tend to expensive, and they purport to be better for you than they may be.
Good foods take time, effort, care.
Not always all at the same time.
I am reluctant to say but a lot of the time you can put your feet up and wait.
Pre-prepared food you rely on someone else’s time, effort, care.
Are they on piece rate?
Do they care for you or pounds in their pocket?

Alcohol can help but not at the start of the day.
Get all the jobs done first.
You make fewer mistakes this way.

If your Doctor recommends medication take it/them.
If you are worried say so.
Let the Doc explain the need for his prescription.
If you have side effects good or bad say so.

Seezya Les

Julie Andrews

2010-02-02T17:34:00.000Z

To commemorate her 69th birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.
One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favourite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'.
Here are the lyrics she used:

(Sing It!) If you sing it, it's especially funny!!!
So all together now.

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
these are a few of my favourite things.

Cadillac’s and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favourite things.

When the pipes leak, when the bones creak,
when the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
and then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinning,
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning,
and we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
when we remember our favourite things.

When the joints ache, when the hips break,
when the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel soooo bad.
******************************************

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.

Seezya
Les

Just a Quickie

2010-02-01T09:12:00.000Z

Fire insurance

A North Carolina man, having bought several expensive cigars, insured them against... get this... fire.

After he had smoked them, he then decided that he had a claim against the insurance company and filed.
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason that the man had consumed the cigar normally.
The man sued. The judge stated that since the company had insured the cigars against fire, they were obligated to pay.
After the man accepted payment for his claim, the company had him arrested .....
for arson.

Seezya Les

Pass The Butter... Please.

2010-01-31T10:12:00.002Z

This is interesting. .. .

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings...

DO YOU KNOW... The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and
only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine...

Very High in Trans fatty acids.

Triples risk of coronary heart disease.
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times...

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here’s the most disturbing fact.... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine  is but ONE MOLECULE  away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny micro organisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends..... (If you want to butter them up')!

Chinese Proverb:  When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.
Pass the BUTTER    PLEASE

Currying for more flavour

2010-01-30T08:25:00.000Z

I strongly believe that good food takes time, care and some effort.
Expensive to buy food supposedly saves you time and effort.
Most of the signature dishes of world are peasant dishes.

When I cheat at a curry I use Pataks sauces and pastes, but I still try to cook and mature.
I cook four portion sizes and divide by 3 for my serving size.

When I scratch cook the usual method is:

Gently dry fry the whole spices, to release the oils, if you burn them throw away and start again, grind, add pre ground, put aside.

Fry chopped onions, ginger, garlic and chillies as required; add a drop or two of water as needed to prevent catching, put aside, puree if required.

Chilli notes: it is the seeds and membranes that are hot, remove for chilli taste/ flavour without burning heat.
For a do-piaza fry separately additional sliced onions put aside and add after maturing.

Fry meat/ vegetables
If I am using a fatty meat like mince or lamb, I will drain the fat off in a sieve.

Add back the onion mix, half the spices.
Now I add the liquid part e.g. tomato, coconut, stock.
Bring up to boil then reduce to simmer for 30-40 minutes.

Now taste add some of the rest of spices simmer 3-4 mins taste again, if all ok leave to cool.
Put in fridge to mature 24/48hours. Then you can either use or freeze.

For a curry party I make each curry, separate into four portion sizes put in separate foil dishes and label, so I can reheat them in the oven.
I allow two and a half portions per person plus two extras and rice, party fever encourages the appetite.

On D day cook/ reheat/ assemble/ adjust seasoning of, the accompaniments and curry.
Sprinkle chopped coriander leaf on curry serve and enjoy.

Currying for flavour

2010-01-28T12:39:00.000Z

Now I love a good curry.
My dad was a post office engineer.
I can see all your hands up and pleas of sir sir
What’s a Post Office engineer?

In the early days of telephones in the UK
The telephone was government owned and as it dealt with communication it was run by the post office.
Later it was renamed British Telecom and sold off.

Now as my dad was a telephone engineer he spent WW2 in India.
A sad note every one else in his class at school went into the RAF and were killed.

Digression over, it was in India that dad developed the taste for curry, which mum learned how to cooked an appreciated version with minced beef.
Now mince is versatile but often takes longer to cook than often given, it is almost impossible to over cook, and what ever the recipe, curry, cottage pie, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carne etc, tastes far superior if cooked one day and left to mature then eaten a day or two later, even a couple of hours will help.
Is garam masala the same as curry powder?
Well the true answer is yes, no, maybe.
Garam masala is a mix of spices sometimes with chilli for heat
Curry powder is a mix of spices sometimes with chilli for heat.
Not all curries need to be hot.

An easy curry is cooked with curry powder to start, then garam masala added towards the end, or when reheated the following day, to give a better depth of flavour.
You may find you prefer to use Garam masala first then the curry powder later.
Thus you can see several curries with the same ingredients but a different end results.

Seezya Les

Hotels / Bed & Breakfast /etc

2010-01-26T23:25:00.000Z

Now children are you Laying down ready for a good nights sleep over?
Then I’ll begin.

Before your go further have you read?
It’s my holiday

When we arrive at a hotel, we are shown to our room.
Have you ever been shown the way out?
I haven’t.
In fact I have even been directed only to the lift for floor “X” and sent on my merry way.
You have had you card swiped so the hotel will get paid, often lodging an estimated amount to lock your card limit.
Now you are your own.
If I have been at this location before, step one is drop case, rinse face and head for a bar.

Else I read the information card carefully, normally found on the back of the door.
Then explore and locate/find/findout the:
Light switches
Bath / wash, room.
Lifts/stairs, floor numbers/names.
Some flight crew go as far as to count the steps and turns for the fire escapes.
Check bed for pillows and comfort etc.
Meal times especially those pre-paid or inclusive.
This is all very easy and takes maybe 10 mins in most cases.
Problems are always easiest solved while the day staff are at work.

Now this technique is used for all further parts and points of my stay.
Restaurants, bars, clubs, car parks, shops and so on.

In fact I do it day by day, my eyes roving around like demented laser beams.
But I can still miss the obvious.
I have however surprised many times, that on hearing “where is ???”, I have correctly replied “try there”.

If you do enjoy a drink use your own booze/duty free, and only use a glass and the ice.
Mini bars can be dearer than clubs and bars.
Many all night porters have a stock of beverages for sale after the hotel bar shuts.
Being pleasantly discreet yields the best results.

Night Night sleep tight
Les

Who am I?

2010-01-25T21:14:00.000Z

National Identity cards are being touted for London’s 16 to 24 year olds.
Apparently they will be able to tour Europe with it instead of using a Passport.
The reasoning for this is that this age group are most likely to lose their Passport while using them as ID.
Now the information kept for the identity card seems to be one most detailed available.
But why a card can’t be issued, as is with a driving license, with the passport.
Surely a card is cheap, costs are under 22p for each for a full colour photo ID cards in just 20 seconds, (info from Digitalid), it is the data processing that costs the money.

Also for day to day use is the full biometric data needed?
In most cases various agencies, institutions, and companies require proof of address and other additional information as well as the photo ID.

Now chaps and chapesses did you know that a UK photo driving license is only valid for ten years, the renewal cost of the photo is £20.
A Passport is also only valid for 10 years, so we must assume a National Identity card will be no different.

This is because we all look different as we age, some older, some younger and some “my god what were you thinking of?”
So we have a photo card with unbelievable information about you, with an on going charge.
Will extra information be gleaned at each renewal to protect us from another Government perceived threat?

OMG

2010-01-24T17:46:00.000Z

Every religion appears to have a Supreme Deity, along with hierarchy of lesser gods/angels/assistants and numerous cohorts.

Imparting knowledge and rules to ensure “THIS LIFE” is more tenable.
The effort that these rules impart are required/necessary, to make the “AFTER LIFE” all the more pleasurable, and desirable.
So further inspiring, believers, followers and the masses.

Can I as a class one cynic see “MacDonald’s et al, advertising”?

I feel that the “different religions” have there own ethics based on the locale of inception.
This perhaps explains some of the underlying differences.

But if they are apparently proclaiming “Peace and Goodwill”, one way or another
Why are others so often vehemently opposed?

Just a short one but thought provoking.

I bid you all adieu.

Les

What If?

2010-01-23T20:54:00.001Z

Just the one, as Mrs Wembley said.
So that I do not over whelm you.

Now the ideas and beliefs that I mention are based on my ongoing search for knowledge and understanding, with taste of experience to help along the way.
Some things I explain are a safer way to do it when you have to get it done due to circumstances.

For example imagine this scenario.
You are behind twenty foot snow drifts.

Then
“If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me “kicks in.

So the best thing to do is,
“Stop, Look, Listen, Deep Breath, Action”.

Now children are you sitting comfortably?
Then I’ll begin.

What is one of the most common causes of modern day domestic fires?

CHIP PANS

Why do we use chip pans?
“Simples”
They make nicer chips and things than the oven.

Why do they catch fire?
They are left un-attended.

What must we do?
Ring 999 UK / 112 EU / 911 USA; for help, as soon as possible.

If you sometimes wonder what would happen if you dial 911 from a UK landline or mobile? Do you get redirected?
Nothing happens; you would need to dial 999 or 112 to get the desired response

What mustn’t we do?
Add water it will immediately boil, carrying oil upwards, allowing the droplets, to mix with air and explode into a ball of rising fire.

Well Les what have you done?

I put cable TV in the kitchen so I don’t have to wander off to see a show.
My kitchen timer has four simultaneous timers.
I have installed, and check regularly, a smoke alarm.
I use a purpose built electric fryer. The temperature settings have been checked with a digital thermometer probe to ensure perfect results.

Perhaps Most importantly.
I was taught how to put a chip pan fire out.
And made to practice before one ever happened.
Firstly every thing cold and safe and learn to go through the motions.
Then with hot water to ensure an element of danger and get used to using the “shield”

Here goes my how:
I have done it for real read later.

Step one turn off the heat. You stove top does have the controls in front / side of the hobs / burners doesn’t it.

Step two cut off the air, smother it with a tightly fitting lid, use it as a shield as you move to cover, which you did have to hand before you started cooking didn’t you?

Step three open the windows and let the smoke out.

Step four when all is cold you may now move the pan out of the way.

If you add water it will immediately boil, carrying oil upwards, allowing the droplets, to mix with air and explode into a ball of rising fire. (The repeat is deliberate)

Notes:
Step one if you can’t reach the controls; turn off gas / electric at the mains / source.
Step two is to use a damp not wet tea towel, again hold it in front of you as a shield, think of “Zorro”.

Further thoughts;
If the oil is getting worrying hot what next.
Not on yet on fire, turn off the heat.
Now leave to cool, you may carefully add some cold oil.
Now finally you can move things.
If you try to move whilst hot I can almost guarantee oil will be spilt.

I have had to put out a chip pan fire when I was on call one day and it took less than 20 seconds including damping a towel.
The lady now keeps the lid close by.

But how do you stop getting into trouble in the first place?

Do as I do.

Or go to MacDonald’s.

I prefer my option.

When I have a Curry Party I like to deep fry pupadoms myself in a wok.
I attach the probe to the wok, with the tip in the oil, my probe has a wireless temperature alarm, set 5 degrees low, and so I can leave the oil under electronic supervision, the alarm on me.
”BEEP, BEEP, BEEP” means I move now.
The party carries on, without me, until I return with the pupadoms.

Now for the science.
Fire needs heat (the stove), fuel (the oil), oxygen (in the air).
Remove one it will go out, remove two it will stay out.

There endeth the lessen today.
I hope you never need to use it.

Seezya Les

yuck

2010-01-23T01:16:00.002Z

When we are born we must trust implicitly on consuming what we are given.

But as we age we find we prefer some things more than others.

Now I was born when rationing was in force.

If I didn’t eat what I was given I would go hungry and my brothers got seconds.

There were no sweets, crisps, snacks.

But it is as true today as it was then,

No child has ever deliberate starved them self to death, even if they felt that they would die if they did eat certain foods.

No they quickly learn that more often than not a refusal leads to something different.

The local circumstances dictating what actual foods are available.

When my brother was a teenager I took him for an Indian, he chose omelette and chips.

But over the years he has become one of the biggest chilli heads I know.

So far I have found few things I won’t eat Okra being one but I suspect it was badly cooked.

I enjoy raw potatoes, baked beans cold out of the tin, but not struck on salads.

Mostly I prefer hot food and cold drinks, ice cream and Irish coffee being exceptions.

We are omnivores our gut is too short to be purely vegetarian, although cooking helps vegetables to be digested faster.

It is also too long to be purely carnivore, which is why strange things may occur down there if too much meat is consumed.

Over the years we have learnt that to cook food makes it safer and nicer to eat.

But some foods are an acquired taste either as a child in our formative years or learned later in life, by choice, dare, or necessity.

As we grow up you will be surprised how many childhood “Yuck” foods are actually quite enjoyable, if given a chance.

If we all ate the same there wouldn’t be different restaurants and different menus.

Or even the need for the huge selection available in most supermarkets.

Seezya Les

Thinking

2010-01-22T19:59:00.000Z

I feel the next blogg may well be "YUCK"
Les

That Free Lunch Again

2010-01-21T21:31:00.000Z

I have said before there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Even a meal from your mother or loved one,
Should be repaid with, a kiss, a cuddle, or even a plain thanks mum.

Yesterday I received a call from one of my energy suppliers.

“Hello Mr **** this is just a quick call, to advise you that, if you take up direct debit, you will save 6% on your bills.”

I then advised my caller that I had stopped the direct debits after I found myself being massively in credit after last years reconciliation had resulted in a £200+ refund followed immediately with a 30%+ increase in direct debits.
This has meant I am still in credit and not paid a bill since June.

I do not have an ordinary light bulb in my house.
I even have a low energy bulb or two that are brighter the now outlawed “100W Tungsten”

My gas is in a lesser but similar state.
I have a modern, condensing boiler, alongside, double glazing and an “open fire” for backup.

I have since thought why is this man trying to save me money.
He does not work for a charity,
His company will not pay him to give away profit, is it a tax loss?
No he is paid to make the company money by ensuring I am always in credit.

With effort by submitting “customer readings you can hope to lessening the credit.

But by law the Gas can obtain a court order to force entry to check the meter if not read for 2 years. It’s called a “Safety Check”
I have no reason not to believe something similar is in place for the Electric as well.
Maybe even the water when meters become more common?

Don’t forget they were both once Government owned thus having extra powers over others.

PS
Best non swear word “bumocks”

That’s all Folks
Les

Back to a gentle Simmer

2010-01-21T08:23:00.000Z

We are now to get “poly clinics”

These appear to be a return to “Cottage Hospitals”, but with restricted opening times?

These were the next line of help, after the doctor, but before the longer journey to a real hospital.
It looks as if more and more Hospitals are to specialise.
This will mean longer journeys for both patients and staff.

When my mum was having a heart attack we were taken to Bromley hospital (Now a housing estate).
It was decided to send her to Lewisham Hospital.
An Ambulance was seconded from Maidstone!

Stone Park Maternity Hospital where all my family, not just my children I mean all my relatives, except Vickey (Click here for reason), were born was also shut, the land sold and a housing estate built.

Now does this mean some surgeries will be closed?
I can remember when a Doctors Surgery was a part of his own house.
Then they were encouraged to amalgamate and a “Proper Premises” was supplied.
The surgeries are “owned” by the Doctors, but will the clinics be paid for by the Government!
Does this mean even more Accident and Emergency departments closed?
I can remember when a Doctors Surgery was a part of his own house.
Then they were encouraged to amalgamate and a “Proper Premises” was supplied.

Plenty to think about chaps and chapesses

Seezya Les

Blood boiling

2010-01-20T19:05:00.000Z

By the time you get to read the follow up.

I will have left as much time as possible, while fuming, to pass.

So as not to be just be a “NO NO NO" without coherent thought "NIMBY"

See you tomorrow boys and girls.

Seezya Les

Shopping

2010-01-20T11:08:00.001Z

Food is sold in supermarkets are grouped

Luxury, Branded, Own Brand, or Value

Lidl and Aldi are different in stocking only one or two brands of each product but are always of a good quality.

Martin Lewis has shown that by downsizing only one level will give an average saving of 33% on supermarket bills.

Try it, go slowly only drop a couple of items at the same time go and be prepared to go back up if you get a turned up nose on anything.

If you try to change too much too soon it will be noticed and then everything will be viewed with suspicion.

Over a few months Nanny gradually substituted brand corn flakes for Kellogg’s. Topping up and mixing in the Kellogg’s Box. Then after a few more months she opened an own brand box said “try these?”

After watching them pour from the box and a very tentative taste Grandpa said “Definitely not as good as Kellogg’s, but really not that bad, let’s give them a try don’t want to waste them eh.”

He really hates change.

Thus proving we do eat with our eyes I suppose.

Lidl sell their Freeway cola for around 40p per 2 litres and my kids always buy in preference to Coke or Pepsi, though James still reckons Cherry Coke is the best but deliberately only has it occasionally to keep it that way.

I tend to Switch between Sainsbury, and Lidl, mainly now days as I get off the bus outside Lidl, and get back on to go home outside Sainsbury’s.

Today’s blog was inspired by an article on:

Taste the Goode Life

Seezya

Les

Medication

2010-01-19T19:28:00.000Z

I take several tablets, more than twenty a day on troublesome days.
Still as I tell the doctor.

“It’s when I can’t take the tablets any more I shall have to start getting worried.”

So here is my method.

For my regular daily medications I use a “Tower”. I bought it in Lidl for a couple of pounds but have seen them for £9.99 or more in some chemists.
Not to be confused with those looking like a book, though the principal does hold true.
This holds seven boxes Mon-Sun with 4 compartments each, stacked in a sleeve, to be slid out of the bottom and replaced in the top.
I load it with a fortnight’s pills for morning and evening.
So week one is compartments 1 & 4 week 2 compartments 2 & 3, odd numbers for morning.

In the morning I pull that day’s box out and take the morning pills, leaving the box resting on top, at an angle. In the eve take those pills and replace box.
I can tell with a glance at the tower whether or not I have taken the relevant tablets.
Tilted box in morning or flat top evening, you missed.

As my repeat prescription last eight weeks and the calendar packs are in strips of fourteen days, when I come to refill the tower on week seven I order my next repeat.
I also have at least an additional fortnight’s worth as backup.
During a hairy times you can run 8 weeks in front, you doctor will approve, he has you health in mind, you may need to make an appointment first though.
If you just order your repeats after 7 weeks instead of 8 a couple of times you will build a back up stock, remember to rotate the stock from time to time.
Count the tablets and next time one of you goes to the doctor ask for an adjusted prescription to bring all your different tablet’s repeat dates in line.
I even once refused some of my prescription from the chemist to make this so.
Some chemists will even collect the prescription and deliver the tablets direct to you on time. Sadly, for geographic reasons, not for me.
The tablets that I take as and when needed, pain killers etc, I keep in my wallet with my sweeteners.
I found Canderel dispensers that fit a credit card slot in my wallet.
One of which says “Given the choice of two evils I will always try the one I haven’t tried before.”
These I refill. {Lidl £1.20 per 1200.}

When I go to see friends and relatives and I may stay over. I carry a spare box with 48 hours worth, which I refill from my tower on my return home, thus keeping all in line.
In practise this is easier in use, than in the explanation took to explain.

I also hate waiting for a year or two to remember what I have yet to do today.
But that may be another story.
If I can recall it.

Seezya Les

Further to: It doesn’t hurt to be polite

2010-01-19T17:05:00.000Z

It may well be the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.

But it is the cherished classic car that gets the full service.

Seezya Les

It doesn’t hurt to be polite

2010-01-19T09:24:00.001Z

I had an opportunity to purchase a product yesterday, but it was only available in a 5 minute window.

I do hate wasting an opportunity.

The Emails went like this:

They have been edited.

I wanted to purchase your offer on Ustream tonight

but I was to be charged over $90 shipping to

England

.

Please advise

Les

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us.

We offer a few different shipping methods. It sounds like that would be the rate for UPS. We also offer shipping as low as $4.50 for regular USPS. You would need to use the drop down to select the other options.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. I am also happy to place the order for you. I can do this via email or phone.

Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Melissa
Customer Service help desk

Dear Melissa

Thank you for you kind and prompt reply

However as the offer was on a time limited response.
I feel that by now I may well have missed your deadline.

Les

Hello,

Considering you were on the call today, If you wish to take advantage of the discount for the Program, you can call the office.

I am also happy to place the order for you. I can do this via email or phone. Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Maggie
Customer Service help desk

Dear Maggie
Am I correct in thinking that I may still purchase at the offer price of $29.00?
Will this be by download or mail?
If it is to be by mail what is the ETA to London

England

at $4.50 p&p?

Les

Hi Les,

Yes, I am offering you the discount if you want to purchase the product. You would need to call the office as the coupon is expired now. Either Melissa or myself can help you when you call to place the order.

Shipping can take anywhere from few days to 2 weeks. I can not give you a specific time and with the $4.50 shipping rate, we do not have tracking available just so you are aware.

Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Maggie
Customer Service help desk

Dear Maggie and Melissa,
I am unable to call your office.
Can this be done by email?
And download to save the delay to do it now?

Thank you again for your continuing help.

Les

Hello Les,

To make things easier I have created a coupon called "****" This coupon will give you the same discount as the Ustream code.

You are now able to get the program for $29.00. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

Have a great day!

Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Melissa
Customer Service help desk

Dear Maggie and Melissa

Re order ******
I appear to have made a typo of my email address

Please tell me I have not given you girls a problem.

Les

Hello Les,

Not a problem. I fixed it for you.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Melissa
Customer Service help desk

Dear Maggie and Melissa

Please tell Wendi you deserve a gold star.

In a little while I may stop getting any more "oh Dad!"
Thanks again girls for your help and understanding.

Les

Hello Les,

You are very welcome.

Haha thanks! : )

Have a great day!

Let us know if we can help you further!
~~~~~
Melissa
Customer Service help desk

Dear Maggie and Melissa

Thank you
for the
thank you

Les

Now the offer was only available from 9:00 – 9:05 pm

time

The normal price is $79.90

And the emails were three hours later.

I could have shrugged my shoulders and missed out.

However I chanced my arm.

In being polite and the generous use of thank you, you can see I won through.

This type of method nearly always seems to work with service desks verbal or written.

The person you are dealing with has any number of customers problems to deal with most of which are served to them in an angry and abrupt manner.

I don’t know about you but I don’t like be shouted and sworn at but I like people who are nice, and so tend to help the latter in preference. Doing as little as I need to for Mr Shouty.

My current email signature is as follows

---------------------------------------------

Seezya

Les

See my blog

Start with a smile it usually goes quicker.

Always ask for assistance in a friendly way with a smile.
You'll get a better, more helpful response.
Show gratitude at the response
Or as the response starts to be forthcoming.
Always finish with an additional thank you for their time and trouble.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Now my mum said it is rarely a bad time to say “thank you”.

You can see that it works.

Seezya

Les

Alcohol revisited

2010-01-18T09:36:00.000Z

High street Penge has only four public houses on it entire length.
But there are at least ten shops selling beer etc. one of which is open 24/7.

In my youth there were still four pubs, and I believe off sales also only available from these pubs. So beer etc. could only be bought 10:30 – 2:30 and 5:30 - 10:30 except Sunday 12:00 – 2:00 and 7:00 – 10:30.

If you were approaching drunkenness a polite landlord would quietly admonish with an “I think you’ve had enough Les”. As he knew he could loose his license if he carried on serving.
A few pubs would serve afters to a select well behaved clientèle.

Mum always knew, that as we would all be back home by 2:30, she could time Sunday lunch accordingly.

Nowadays with six cans for £5, a bottle of Vodka for less than £10, around 30p a shot. Alco pops that taste like fruit juice. As it only takes one of a group, to be able to make the purchase, instead of all having to pass the landlords’ scrutiny for entrance.
Too many young people now start their initiation to drinking out side the pub, on the cheap, with little or no supervision or restrictions.
With a I can drink more than you attitude.
Penge is now a “public alcohol-free zone”

Seezya Les

Returns

2010-01-17T19:44:00.001Z

This is a difficult one.

Number one rule.

Open goods as slowly and carefully as you can.
If returned goods are looking as if new, and complete, it will always makes life easier.

All companies have variations on their apparent and legal terms.

A very few have no time limit, any reason, rights of return.
I know of only one, and they do tend to be dearer than some.

Nearly all will “if proven faulty at point of sale we will exchange”. As a rule of thumb.
This may not be strictly legal.

My rules are:

When shopping on a whim,
Meander round all stalls/stores in window shopping mode.
Then go back and make your purchases.
Open the box at point of sale, before purchase, if this refused leave well enough alone.
Get a receipt. Take a name of the sales assistant.

Check before you buy that it does what you want it to do.
You can’t reject a lawn mower because it does not trim you toe nails the same way as your chiropodist can!

I always put the receipt in the relevant box and keep it with all packaging, even the wire ties, just in case.

In England Products/Services over £100 may have additional guarantees to a limit, if using a CREDIT card.

I have a few checks to make and will return to this at a later date.

Seezya Les

Alcohol

2010-01-13T08:44:00.000Z

Once upon a time drinking in England was easy.
Beer, lager and cider were sold in pints or halves.
Wines sold at 6 glasses to a bottle.
Spirits 32 shots to the bottle.
There were 8 pints or 6 bottles to the gallon.

An English pint is twenty ounces giving a 160 ounce gallon.
An American pint is sixteen ounces, giving a 128 ounce gallon.

Then Metrication reared its head!

Pints stayed at the same volume but now 568 ml, although sometimes in third pint as a taster.
Shots change to 25 ml or 30 shots a standard bottle, with 35 ml, and 50 ml options.
Bottles changed from a standard 750 ml (3/4 litre) to 700, 750, or 1 litre. Plus the 3 litre box.
Wine glasses from 125 ml or now small, adding 175 ml standard with 250 ml large.

Now units of alcohol are easy one litre of 10% alcohol = 10 units, and 40% e.g. whisky 40 units or 1 unit per shot.

So two cans of lager at 500 ml = 1 litre and at 5% = 2.5 units per tin.

I common practise a 500 ml tin poured into a pint glass gives a pub pint!

Thus my conclusion is that one of the problems with modern day drinking is you are often given the same drink in vastly varying quantities.

Seezya
Les

Jack Frost is still dancing with the Ice Queen

2010-01-10T23:39:00.005Z

When I am driving:

Stay legal;
Everybody is looking for an excuse to charge you for having the audacity of owning a car.

Road tax, Insurance, MOT.

Parking , speeding and various other fines and charges.

"Holding a mobile phone while the engine is running!"

Please have a rescue plan, RAC, AA ETC.

Carry spare petrol, water, Anti-Freeze, jump leads and a tow rope.

Check the spare tyre, lights.
The basic tools that come with the care,have they been borrowed?.

Check the engine levels before a trip of 50 miles or at least weekly.

When Jack Frost is dancing with the Ice Queen.
You can not put too much anti freeze in a radiator.
Anti freeze is cheaper than a new engine.

A shovel, Wellington boots, a hat.

Pack a warm coat, spare dry clothes, and a torch plus a cyclist flashing lamp, you do not want a lorry in your boot.
A bin bag will keep you dry if used as a smock.

Keep food and drinks in the car not the boot, to prevent freezing.

High sugar products, will keep you warm.

A diabetic hypo will happen as your body struggles to find sugar for energy.

You can always restore sugar levels tomorrow.

It is prolonged elevated sugar levels that are the problem.

You can't blow a diet in one day.

At least a blanket each, plus a spare or two.

A fully charged with battery and credit mobile phone.

Stop arguing a cuddle is warmer than having the hump.

If money is a problem

IS THE JOURNEY REALLY DESPERATE

Or a whim.

Be careful hi visibility lights in times of hi visibility they will be dazzling to others,don't you know it, only in use in the extremes of bad weather.

I have been driving for many years and I feel many drivers now days feel they have absolute right to drive their way and for you to let them get away with it.

Often showing an attitude of "I can't go anywhere then why should you??!!"

Seezya Les

Am I too late

2010-01-09T19:09:00.001Z

With the “NEWS” reporters reverting back to their, now familiar / comfortable, role of “speculation”. Facts tend to deter debate, putting pundits out of work?

Apparently we are running out of gas, power cuts will strike any time soon, road grit has been rationed, public transport on its knees, etc.

What could / should we have done?

Please give grave thought before using, anything unusual to you, naked flames in doors.

Ensure you have a phone that will work during a power cut.

We all need back up:

Mine include some of the following.

You may be surprised.

A store cupboard as previously mentioned.

Wind up torches. Most times a torch is needed for less than minute, with batteries costing pounds for this, and then leaking and so torch becomes dysfunction splat.

A portable, (AM / FM, DAB) radio or MP3 player, with fully charged batteries. Rechargeable batteries, last up to three times as long as, an alkaline per charge. Initial costs are about double but a thousand charges for pennies.

Candles and lighters. Always on offer somewhere. Use tea lights on a saucer, with a reflector to direct the light where wanted.

Never fall asleep by candle light, if you must keep the monsters at bay, use a battery powered light.

A coal fire, I buy my coal in the spring when reduced to clear.

A small portable gas barbecue, Primus / Gaz stove for cooking.

Blow up / camping / settee, bed with sleeping bag for use in the living room living room.

My cooker has a gas hob with an electric oven.

I make sure I have a fortnight’s medication in hand when getting a repeat prescription.

Out and About with Jack Frost

2010-01-08T23:11:00.003Z

Clothing I wear layers.
Remove layers if you start to warm up, you must not sweat.
Add layers as you cool, you must not get cold.

Below is an extreme set up, if any more is needed I try to stay in, and will be reduced according to forecasts.

Fluffy sports socks under walking socks inside boots.

Jogging bottoms, inside wind and water resistant, "outdoor", trousers.

Tee shirt under thermal vest under two layers of fleece with a breathable water proof outer hooded jacket.

Woolly hat, scarf, lined leather gloves and waterproof hat on all outings, except in high summer perhaps, even if may not be needed.

As I walk with a stick I use a Leki hiking pole with a walking stick style handle, this also has a tungsten tip under the rubber feral which digs into the ice, and a spring shock absorber for comfort. I have put a couple of rings of reflective tape around the barrel for high visibility after dark.

I attach this to my right wrist so I don't drop it by accident.
On my left wrist hangs my bus pass in a luggage tag, no struggling to find it.

I use a bag on wheels as it can work as a second stick for additional support, besides saving the need to carry shopping...

When the circumstances dictate I also use a shoulder bag for items needed on the voyage.

Seezya Les

Food shortages

2010-01-08T11:12:00.003Z

Sorry for no Blogg yesterday,

Had to walk home Weds evening and then I needed a day in bed to recuperate.

Spoke to doctor on phone and she raised a new prescription which my Vickey picked up, brought over and then cooked dinner. So an enjoyable evening ensued. Followed by a full night’s sleep these new tablets seem to be working.

It would appear that as we have some white stuff and Jack Frost has come to play, panic buying has reared its ugly head.

I hate to think how much of this food will be thrown away while causing the very thing the purchasers were worried about “Shortages”.

Every body should have a store cupboard.

“What do I store?” I here you ask.

Nothing that you have not tried and enjoyed before.
In fact I believe some luxuries and treats should be held back for, exceptionally, bad times

I keep teabags that are boxed and in individual foil packages of 40’s.

Dried skimmed milk.

Long life skimmed milk.

Tinned tomatoes whole you can chop them yourself.

Try and buy tinned, fresh and frozen goods as an ingredient rather than a meal. Otherwise you are paying for somebody else to assemble the ingredients. In most cases with a pre-prepared £5 meal less than a pound is spent on the ingredients.

Think about this,
When you go for a Chinese, or Indian meal, the menu appears huge.

But on inspection there are only a few different ingredients.

E.g. meat, chicken or prawns.

With a style of sauce, sweet& sour, masala.

Rice plain or flavoured.

And so on….

I find old rice cooks better than new rice.

One part rice two parts water/stock, cover with a plate.

Bring to boil in microwave on high, the 7 mins on low.

I mostly find the less a product is interfered with, the longer the shelf life is.

Dried foods should be re-hydrated over night in the fridge, this helps to prevent a powdery taste texture in the finished result.
All tinned food can be eaten cold from the tinned as it is cooked as part of the canning process.
It is only dried kidney beans that need to be boiled after soaking and before cooking in the recipe.

Remember to eat and replace your stores regularly, and maybe once a year spend a week or more living on just the stores to fine tune which of the ingredients you keep.

For more in-depth advice on see

Bin it or Keep it?

Seezya Les

Tips for keeping warm in winter

2010-01-06T02:00:00.006Z

The BIG secret is still dry air!

It is preferable to struggle to pay a bill.
Rather than not to be there when it arrives.

Moving air transfers heat. Wind Chill.

This is also why a fan oven cooks faster.

Radiators or a fire heat up the fabric of the house, a fan heater quickly heats up just the air.

Set the central heating timer:

To start at around half an hour before you need it.
To stop at around half an hour before don't.

As water evaporates it draws heat away.
This is why we sweat.
And wet clothes are cold.
One of the quickest ways to cool down in the summer is to put a wet tea shirt on.

Before refrigeration was readily available milk etc was kept cool under a damp tea towel.

Have at least one hot meal a day.
Better still porridge for breakfast, soup for lunch,and a hot evening meal with a pudding for example.
Hot food is cheaper than a hot house.

Leave the diet and salads for the warmer months.
Drink hot drinks regularly to warm up from the inside out, take a flask to bed for a quick boost during the night.

Alcohol initially makes you feel warm as it dilates the blood vessels, but in fact actually dissipates core body heat, be careful.

Keep moving - a little exercise will help keep you well even it it's indoors, muscles in action generate internal heat.
See hypothermia below.

Wrap up warmly whenever you go outside and always dress warmly for bed.
If you are camping with an expensive sleeping bag you will often find yourself warmer nearly naked as it fluffs the insulation up from your body heat, tip dress and undress inside the bag if you can. Otherwise undress from the feet up and dress from the top down, bring the clothes inside the bag before dressing to warm them through.

It is always preferable to remove a layer because you are too warm, and to stop sweating, than to not have one while you are getting cold.
Put outdoor clothes on a few minutes before you go out to trap the warmth you already have, rather than leaving your body to fight the cold from a standing start.
If you have cold feet put on a hat, even if indoors or bed!

Wearing several layers of loose clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer by trapping air.
This is how a fleece, a woolly , or a string vest work.
A (tea) shirt over a jumper will be warmer than when worn under it.
Men find wearing tights cold as they squash the hairs on the legs and so squeeze out trapped air.

Keeping warm at home is vital.
Your home, or at the very least the living room, should be heated to a temperature of 21°C or 70°F.
You can always sleep on the settee or in a chair.

Close bedroom windows at night to keep the warmth in and the cold air out. That still air thing again.
Condensation can be caused by lack of ventilation and most moisture is created in the bathroom and kitchen.
This is why it can suddenly appear after having new double glazing fitted. Extract fans, with a humidistat, in the bathroom and kitchen often help, by removing damp air as it occurs.
Leave the bath to go cold, to recover the heat from the hot water, before you pull the plug.

If your electric blanket is over 10 years old get a new one.
Some of the modern ones can be used all night.
Never have a hot water bottle if you also use an electric blanket, that old electrics and water thing.

Beware getting too cold can result in Hypothermia.
This will creep up unknowingly and with a gallop, especially, if you are on your own.

Symptoms of hypothermia take effect in three stages.
Going past stage one can be fatal.
Going past stage two will be fatal.

The first stage - mild hypothermia - is characterised by:

Bouts of shivering;

Grogginess and muddled thinking.

Indicators of moderate hypothermia are:

Violent shivering or shivering which suddenly stops;

Inability to think and pay attention;

Slow, shallow breathing;

Slow, weak pulse.

Severe hypothermia has set in when:

Shivering stops;

The person loses consciousness;

There is little or no breathing;

Pulse is weak, irregular or non-existent.

A feeling of euphoria now sets in.
Say night night world.

If you find some one suffering with Hypothermia putting them in a WARM not HOT bath may help.

Stay Warm

Seezya Les

We all need more learning

2010-01-04T22:54:00.002Z

While my James was in the infants, I was approached to help with reading one on one.

I of course said yes.

While listening to him he kept making minor mistakes.

So I covered up the bulk of the words revealing one or two, he had no idea.

I asked “you can’t read can you?”

He murmured “no”.

“Don’t worry we will sort that out at home”

He was remembering the story as it was read to him!

That evening we got the “ladybirds’ key words books out, and within a fortnight he was reading and later that month promoted to “free reading”

Meaning he could choose his book by desire not by skill level.

When asked to explain what I had done, I was admonished.

“We do not do it that way any more”.

I just smiled and shrugged.

A few years later at a parents evening concern was shown he was under performing, within his capabilities, with his “times tables”.

I gave his teacher a pound and said “when he gets a 100% three weeks on the trot give him the pound”.

He collected four weeks later.

He still does not know his tables by rote but can calculate in his head faster than most.

We are told that children need parental guidance.

But why is it single parents on benefit do not have the time to perform some of these “Duties”.

Perhaps this AMC helps

“Always ask a busy man for help.

“All the rest have no time”

Seezya

Les

Gaining knowledge

2010-01-03T22:26:00.000Z

The way we gain our knowledge and experiences progress and change over the years.
Strangely family guidance is often the least noticed but is often with the longest lasting effects.

Firstly it is by touch and ouch as a toddler.
Before we start to explore “all is as is”.

Parents soon realise a quiet toddler is a problem in action. Has he/she has found something they should not have. If hurt the more noise the less the consequences, how ever with more than one child, these events may be masked with other background anguishes.

By the time we go to school the following happens “everybody has this/that” becomes de rigueur for a must have, soon followed with “my best friends will hate me”

“Miss said” becomes a logical reason to contradict mum and dad.

Then we either love or hate the scholarly process.
As I have mentioned before I am dyslexic, hence I failed all essay based exams including English “O” level three times never ever passing while taking “A” level Maths, Chemistry and Physics.
(I love word processors and spell checkers but still have to ensure I don’t hover my carpet or hoover the lawn.)

But one year I had a Chemistry teacher who did not check home or class work, I wrote very little down but passed end of year exam 75% third in class the other two “swots” neither over 80%.

As a teenager we believe anything and everything our parents say or do is wrong and embarrassing.
But anything and everything a friend’s parent says or does is absolutely cool and right.

Then reality kicks back in and we finally start asking for advice.

I learnt early on that most people assume prior knowledge and may either be shocked or annoyed when you can not follow or understand their “seemingly simple idea”.

I also learnt to check from different sources as a different explanation may often hold the key to a nugget of insight.
Early on this was books and magazines and now includes T’internet.
This is very, very true with the Internet, especially wiki-pedia as plagiarism is rife ideas are copied as gospel with no idea as to the actual truth or even understanding the original question!

Seezya
Les

Wishing you all and your loved ones, a Happy and a Prosperous New Year.

2010-01-03T02:01:00.001Z

I am back and I thank my regulars who have been checking my Blogg, over the last week.

I went to a party in a club in Croydon last night and Croydon was almost deserted.

This prompted a discussion as to whether people are paid their wages early for Christmas?

One company I worked for paid my wages on the last Wednesday of the month or before Christmas by BACS. While another paid by cheque always on the first of the month.

While I was bringing my children up family allowance was available early as well.

Does this practice still apply?

I have rarely been flushed with more cash after Christmas than before.

How ever I was flushed with Lakeland vouchers, this year and bought several new kitchen toys which I will reveal over next Bloggs.

I am in a happy state of “WWW”

“What I like, When I like, Where I like”.

James has gone to stay with Anneke.

I treat this as a holiday with out my having to travel,

with a chance to try new, and different foods.

Tomorrow is “brined chickened”

I do find the best night’s sleep is in my own bed.

Bliss.

Seezya Les

Why O Why

2009-12-24T10:51:00.000Z

Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Ricky Whittle has been charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer in Liverpool.

Just my thoughts.

Another "Star" is charged with hurting a photographer.

How come so many photographers are injured going

"Peacefully and Quietly about their Business".

Just happen to encounter

"Enraged and violent celebrities"!

The cynic in me believes the photographers goad their

"Target"

to increase the value of their Snaps, by boosting the apparent

"Public Interest".

Will someone please prove me wrong.

Rant over

Merry Christmas everybody.

Seezya Les

The big man in the red coat is coming

2009-12-23T04:19:00.000Z

Each year; The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) keeps a watchful eye on Santa to ensure he has a safe night on Christmas Eve.
You can follow his journey here.
http://www.noradsanta.org/
Just click on a language.

I am having Christmas with Vicky and Mark.
They buy the food, I cook it, and Sarah, James, Anneke, do the rest.
I have no problem with this as the kids are just corpses until after midday. The cats keeping me company while I prep in the morning.
Then I will make a time plan and plan for a 3:30 sit down. If all this goes to plan dishevelled bodies will start to appear in the kitchen for a self service breakfast.

I believe we will be having a turkey crown, which after resting, I think I will remove the breasts for carving. The Christmas pudding is two years old and is having its final brandy feed, I tested a mini pud made at the same time and it was gorgeous.
Vicky and Mark will do supper giving me an evening off. As I will have done a curry buffet for them on Christmas Eve.

My Lakeland voucher from Zoe hasn’t arrived so had a chat with them to arrange collection from the Bromley store. I was also told they have a sale starting Boxing Day.

Remember when you stop believing in Santa Claus he stops coming.

Seezya
Les

we all need to smile

2009-12-21T21:00:00.000Z

Did to much walking today.
So a smile is in order.

One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa
was getting ready for is annual trip, boy did he hate working nights.But there were
problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the
trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the
regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure
of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that
her mum was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three
of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the
fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress.
Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards
cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered
the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a
cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.
When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves
had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink. In his
frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, and it
broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.
He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the
straw end of the broom.Just then the doorbell rang, and
irritable Santa trudged to the door. He opened the door, and
there was a little angel with a great Christmas tree.
The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't
it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you
like me to stick it?" Thus began the tradition of the little angel
on top of the Christmas tree.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.
Blogs will sporadic for the twelve days plus a few.

But Loadsa to you and all your loved ones.
And maybe a few that you try to avoid?

AMC
Give a smile and get two more back.

Seezya
Les

Another Boxing Day and Snow Story

2009-12-20T07:32:00.001Z

I am in Croydon with my Vickey.

Anneke arrived from Holland Friday night via Euro Star, as she dislikes flying.

Over night five trains are stuck in the tunnel for 18 hours with more than two thousand passengers. Just heard a sixth train stuck! Wasn’t she lucky?

I am half hoping she can't get back in the New Year. Only for the nicest of reasons.

Vickey mentioned snow and her birth, which I was going to do anyway, but it is nice to have a seal of approval.

Vickey was due boxing day 1978.
Well Anne was enjoying Christmas and kept her legs well and truly crossed. Then come the New Year we were snow bound.
This resulted with a helicopter dropping supplies the local shop in Warden Bay, Isle Sheppey. When we enquired about what do we do if Anne goes into labour, we were told helicopter job but the lady only. This horrified us as I had missed Zoe because the Nurse said as I had been up all night perhaps I should stretch my legs. So off I popped for a pie and a pint, have I mentioned I can't eat on an empty stomach; Well Zoe got a move on and when I returned there was mum and number one daughter.

Back to Vickey come Jan 2nd the snowplough finally got through and a phone call from the hospital
"Bring her in quick”. We got in the car and made it so.
Anne's legs had been crossed for so long the midwife admitted crowbars were the order of the day and at midnight I was sent home.
03:00 phone call I was told that "huffing and puffing" had ensued no screaming yet but I should make my way back to Minster hospital, I made it with around an hour to spare. To this day Vickey still has trouble being on time, but Zoe is usually early due Nov 11 arrived Nov2
So after a few days in hospital we decided to take the girls to London and show Vickey off.
When we came home a couple of days later we were snowed off. Back to London for a week until the snow had vanished.
That summer we bought a flat in Anerley. Next to Penge.
As an aside I actually moved in to our house on Sheppey 4 days before my twenty first birthday. This must nowadays be a very rare occurrence

Away for the weekend

2009-12-19T22:43:00.000Z

I am with my Vickey Next blogg when James Pays the Ransom!!!

Seezya Les

The big Freeze December 1962

2009-12-18T22:11:00.001Z

A very cold easterly set in on 22 December and parts of the south of England in particular had heavy snow late on 26 December continuing into 27 December.

"I remember seeing the first flakes as we we had lunch on Boxing day."

"It snowed all afternoon and by the 27th was very deep. Victor road was impassable and Auntie Peg, Uncle Ernie & Cousins Bobby and Jacqueline who visited us Boxing day for lunch were completely snowed in. They had to stay for a couple of days until the roads cleared enough for them to get home. “

On 29–30 December 1962, a blizzard swept across the southwest of England and Wales. Snow drifted to over 6 metres (20 feet) deep in places, blocking roads and railways. The snow stranded villagers and brought down power lines. The near freezing temperatures meant that the snow cover lasted for over two months in some areas.

"Even for us in Penge London.
We had ice on the inside of our bedroom windows.
I was 9 Tony 2 and Geoff 14.
The only heating was a coal fire in the living room and a low power electric heater in the hall to make the trips to the loo bearable.
Two years earlier we were in Blandford road, Beckenham, with a gazunder and an out house."

January 1963

"We built a snow man in the garden with a cavity to keep ice cream in.
Before this if we wanted ice cream either Geoff or I would have to go to
"Fred's" the corner shop between main and pudding.
I don't think we had a fridge at that time. I remember milk in a bowl under a tea towel"

In January 1963 the country started to freeze solid with temperatures as low as −16C (3.2F) in places. Frozen fog was a hazard for most of the country.

In January 1963 the sea froze for 1 mile (1.6km) out from shore at Herne Bay. The upper reaches of the River Thames also froze over, though it did not freeze in central London, partly due to the hot effluent from two thermal power stations (Battersea and Bankside). (The removal of the old many-arched mediaeval London Bridge, which obstructed the river's free flow, and the river having embankment, make the river less likely to freeze in London than in earlier times. See River Thames frost fairs.) The ice was thick enough in some places that people were skating on it. Icicles hung from many roof gutterings; some of these were as long as a metre (3 feet, 3 inches).

In February 1963 more snow came. It was also windy and winds reached Force

(I think gale force starts at 83 ) on the Beaufort scale (gale force winds).

A 36-hour blizzard caused heavy drifting snow in most parts of the country. Drifts reached six metres in some areas. Gale force winds howled with wind speeds reaching up to 81 mph (130 km/h). On the Isle of Man, wind speeds were recorded at 119 mph (191 km/h).

March 1963

"All this time I walked to School through the snow and ice.
And I do not remember being cold"

The thaw set in in early March. 6 March was the first morning of the year without any frost anywhere in Britain. The temperatures soon soared to 17 degrees C (62.6 degrees F) and the remaining snow rapidly disappeared.

Seezya

Les

Stop the rot

2009-12-17T10:56:00.001Z

There have been many reports of how much food is wasted.

A recent program told of one family spending over £400 a week on food and another boasting the most useful kitchen appliance a waste disposal unit.

It appears the most common form of wastage is to shop by habit, with or without a list. Always buying the same products, regardless of need, or buying “all the bargains”. This results in a huge stash of food, much of which is thrown out before even being opened, let alone used up!

The answer is simple; only buy what you actually need.
But like most simple solutions the doing is not quite so simple.

AMC
WHY ARE THE BAD HABITS THE HARDEST TO BREAK?

Now to a few tips I have learned.
A bargain is not a bargain if either your family won’t eat it, or you don’t use it.
A common call in our house is “what’s for dinner dad” the answer is, “what ever is on special”, but do remember above.

I am lucky as I have Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison’s, Somerfield, Iceland, Co-op, Aldi, Netto, and Lidl, plus the Pound and 99p stores all within 20-30minutes travel on only three different bus routes.
I am spoilt for choice.
I am also a strange guy because I love shopping in all its genres and I love to cook.
Before shopping I check what do I need? Which store (s have) has the best deals to accomplish this, in one trip? If two trips are required can I do it over two days?

Example milk £1.00 Iceland, £1.09 Lidl, £1.53 Sainsbury’s for 4 pints semi-skim. An Iceland is on two of the routes a Lidl on the other.

Coming soon “How long does it last”

Return of the Emails

2009-12-16T16:50:00.000Z

Return of the Emails

Some times you send an email and it is sent back to you as undeliverable why?

The most common cause is a mistyped address
It must be in the form
“mymate” @ “hisemailprovider” “.com” “.co.uk” “.net” etc

The next reason is attachments.

Are they too big? In almost all cases the maximum size is 10MB. Try to send as a zip file. Our maybe split it into 2 or more emails.

Is it an executable file or program? If so send as a zip file.

Is it to a company? A vast majority of Companies reject attachments out of hand. If it is a document, copy and paste it into the body of the email.

I have a program called “mail washer”. (“F” version available)
If I start getting problems I instruct mail washer to bounce these emails so it appears I have closed my account.

If you are unsure try sending it to yourself.

When the content is important send it to the intended recipient AND yourself, and CC to other interested parties. This makes it far harder to be told, I never received it, you never sent it.

When I send a bulk email, I send it TO myself and BCC to every body else. I also copy and paste the body into a new email and delete all other emails etc mentioned.
That way it appears to originate from myself only.

The use of free email addresses.
I use these as it means if I change my ISP (Internet Service Provider), I keep my email address. I lost a Demon and an AOL email address. Some ISPs limit the inbox to 30MB or smaller!

There is now a new kid on the block. It is called, “myhandle.com”. This works as a redirection service. You give every body your myhandle email and it then redirects to, your personal, your work, or a holding email etc depending on who sent the email.

In e-mail, the abbreviation CC indicates secondary recipients of a message: those who are to receive a copy of a message directed to another. The list of CCed recipients is visible to all other recipients of the message. An additional BCC (blind carbon copy) field is available for hidden notification; recipients listed in the BCC field receive a copy of the message, but are not shown on any other recipient's copy (including other BCC recipients).

Stop the rot coming soon
Les

It’s my holiday

2009-12-15T18:13:00.002Z

Please confirm anything I say with the contractors of your trip as their rules may be different.

If you are flying / travelling with a partner, put half of a mix of your clothes in each others check in luggage.
Put 24 hours clothing suitable for your destination in carry on luggage.
Keep photo copies of the important parts for you journey including pictures of yourselves on the same sheet help prevent problems i.e. tickets, visas and passports etc.
Take a mix of credit, debit and prepaid cards, cash and travellers cheques, as with luggage do not keep all eggs in one basket; spread the risk, between yourselves
Your suit case is another’s desire.
Do not ever travel without insurance, in Europe you must have
“The European Health Insurance Card”
Without it some of your insurance may be void!!
Check as some insurance only cover package holidays. If you can any bill over £100 pay by credit card as it should have extra cover, subject to above.
Check with mobile phone Company for hidden overseas, roaming, charges.

At least four times check i.e. one month, one week, day before and morning of departure for transport problems for all modes.

Camera, on the first picture should be a contact but not yours.
So if it goes astray you have a chance, also films in case the prints go missing.

ALL THE ABOVE ARE GUIDES AND NOT GOSPEL.

Remember just because you are paranoid
Doesn’t mean they are not after you

More on the brothers

2009-12-15T11:31:00.001Z

This weekend was fun
Collected Geoff from Sydenham station Sat eve.
Bus to Penge for a few in The Moon and Stars,
Never could eat on an empty stomach!
Then back to mine for a curry, pupadoms with mango chutney, lime pickle and a home made tomato and onion relish.
Savoury rice, chicken tikka masala, jalfrezi and onion bhajis.
this was all thorough enjoyed and my cheffing praised.
Then shock Geoff revealed the only thing I served that he had before was rice but usually plain boiled and the mango chutney. He was thankful to have his taste buds caressed with the new flavours.
We retired to the settees and washed it down and chatted about this and that.
Sunday we went for a walk reminiscing Penge and noticed another Pub shut The Queen Adelaide; Dad had his Shellfish stall outside there, after he retired.
At one time Penge had more pubs in a square mile , I believe than anywhere else in England, sadly they are steadily closing one by one.
Then a quick trip on the tram to meet younger brother Tony his boys Kerry, Robert and his girlfriend Koren at the cemetery
After respects to mum dad and uncle Les, return to Moon and stars when Robert confesses he has not got his oyster card, all school children in London have free bus and tram travel most adults find this a mixed blessing though.
Any way Tony and Robert return to Croydon in the car, while Geoff Koren Kerry and I go on the tram and bus.
While waiting for the tram Koren realises she has no hat or gloves, I suspect at this time Roberts ears will be burning as he is in "THE WARM CAR WITH HIS OWN HAT AND GLOVES".
I feel she may have been miffed.
As it turned up we all arrived in the pub together. A couple of rounds later and we head back to mine again, for dinner.
A turkey chicken and duck galantine, plus roasted trimmings etc served 2 hours after our return and a simple pudding ice cream and jelly.
This was finished of with more chat and lubrication until Tony had to the boys back to their mum for seven o’clock.
Monday removal of debris and an audit confirmed a good time had by all, was I ever glad I do not suffer from the dreaded hangover.

Well as bugs bunny said
“That’s all folks”
Seezya
Les

A potted history of Penge

2009-12-14T09:22:00.000Z

"There was an old person of Anerley,
Whose conduct was strange and unmannerly;
He rushed down the Strand,
With a pig in each hand,
But returned in the evening to Anerley."

With that limerick master of nonsense Edward Lear in 1846 revealed what many would have thought of a district only just coming to the notice of other Londoners. Anerley, as a name, is a newcomer. Penge, however, is ancient.

The name Penge is a rare Celtic survival in London, and it means the top or the end of the wood, a reference to the area's position in the Great North Wood. Anerley has a far more quixotic origin.

Early in the 19th century a solitary building plot was bought by Scottish silk manufacturer William Sanderson (1801 - 1871) who named his new house Anerley because, to a lowland Scot, it was just that - the annerley, or only, house in the vicinity.

Penge makes an appearance in Domesday as "a wood for fifty hogs' pannage". Penge remained a tiny hamlet and Anerley a part of Penge Common until the ill-fated Croydon Canal came through here in 1809.

The canal's attempt to deal with the hilly terrain brought about a financially unacceptable number of locks and by 1836 the land would be ceded to the Croydon & London Railway, and much of the rail line today runs along its course. Old canal cuttings can still be seen in Betts Park.

But the canal had the effect of bringing to the area its first building schemes. In 1827 Anerley and Croydon Roads were laid out, building plots established and Penge Common enclosed.

Eleven years later came the railway, and Penge and Anerley stations opened. Enter Mr. Sanderson, who gave land for Anerley station and for whom it was largely built, providing him with access to the City.

Around 1840 the impressive almshouses of Penge made their appearances. The Watermen and Lightermen's Almshouses opened in 1841 when 76 candidates were approved, consisting of 34 couples, 10 single men and 32 widows.

Their construction reflects a time when bridges were being thrown across the Thames and ferrymen and barge workers were falling on hard times.

Next door ex-Queen Adelaide sought to memorialise her late husband, William IV, with almshouses for 12 widows of commissioned naval officers. This is the Naval Asylum, with its extravagant Tudoresque chimney stacks.

In the 1860s, further north, the Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes built rows of cottages on the site of Porcupine Farm, complete with sculleries, for those "serving the great houses of Beckenham."

Penge and Anerley were being discovered by city folk and they were liking what they saw. Anerley Tea Gardens opened in 1841 close to the station. This new reputation was seemingly sealed with the coming of the mighty Crystal Palace in 1851 and the future could only be bright for new, up-and-coming Penge and Anerley.

From a population of 270 in 1841 the number of people living in Penge rose to 13,200 by 1871. The following year Penge Police Station was built, and it remains the oldest working station anywhere in London.

And then disaster struck. It is hard to recreate the national shock of the Penge Murder of 1877 but it reverberated throughout the land and in a stroke the seemingly unstoppable rise to gentility of the district was rudely broken off.

Harriet Staunton, considered a retard by her new family, was slowly starved to death by her husband, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Harriet was not so retarded as to not know what was going on and when her own knowledge of her impending doom was revealed it only added to the shock Victorian society felt for this poor defenceless girl.

The authorities pulled out all the stops, renaming the street (from Forbes Road to Mosslea Road) and even claiming that the thoroughfare was over the border in Beckenham. No-one was fooled, and in a stroke a genteel air was reduced to that of a "low neighbourhood".

The population kept on rising but at a steadier pace. The Second World War brought great changes to the district. Penge and Anerley were on the flight path back from London for the Luftwaffe and many unexpended bombs would find their home here. Dropping these unused armaments quickly increased the aircrafts' chances of making it back to base.

Later in the war some seventeen V-1 flying bombs came down in the district.

Local heroes in the vicinity have included H.G. Wells, Walter De La Mare, Rupert Brooke and everybody's friend Thomas Crapper.

Thin Lizzy

2009-12-11T17:06:00.002Z

I have a boys are back in town with my brothers so next post next week
Seezya Les

I am hungry.

2009-12-10T20:14:00.000Z

I am hungry.

Buy to ding cooking is expensive.

Double cook put meals in the freezer.
A mince meal for eight, takes only a little more time and effort, as a meal for two.
But the next three meals are easy.

Which mince do I use?
Cheap mince cook and drain the fat off through a sieve, not down the sink.
It will block.

When you buy food the supermarkets they do charge extra for you to have an easy life.
It often is cheaper to buy a whole chicken cut off the two breasts and throw the other meal or two into the bin.
Remember good food takes money or time and time wins most often.
Ding food will be bulked out with fat, sugar and chemicals to make it tasty, palatable.
The suppliers of take away food buy their ingredients far cheaper than you can and sell it far dearer than the dearest can cost you.
Fried chicken shops get around thirteen portion from what would cost you around two or three pounds for a whole 1kg chicken.
They sell it for around fifteen pounds!!