Archive for the ‘Drink’ Category
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 14, 2012
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The end of the week usually brings a release from the working week and a chance to relax, or used to! When I worked for an employer I didn’t have the same freedom as when I started to work for myself but the pressure became stronger. So although I used to look forward to my Fridays and my weekends to myself when I became self-employed those feelings became stronger even though I had the freedom to choose how I spent my time working. There is a greater sense of urgency when working for one’s self I would suggest. That being the case and especially now as I am kind of semi-retired or at least only working part-time I relish taking time out to engage in some self-indulgence. Last Friday afternoon I went dining out with E and yesterday we had a repeat performance but at a different location. Yesterday morning I did an electrical job repairing some lighting and replacing fittings and returned home sometime around noon. We had already planned to dine out so I wasn’t prepared to take on any more work for the day. We tend to eat a little later into the afternoon as many places by then are not crammed full of other diners and the pace is subsequently much slower and more relaxed which makes for a better afternoon I think. I tried a new dish this time. Even though the sea bass looked very tempting I decided together with E, to have pork rump in a plum sauce with steamed vegetables and new potatoes. E had tasted this dish before but it was a first for me and she told me that I would enjoy it. I always thought that pork and apple were good together and I had reservations about pork and plum. I was pleasantly surprised when the dish arrived and I tasted it. The pork was very tender and the sauce was sweet. The two things go well together. However I did find the sweetness of the sauce a little too much by the time I’d finished and I think it would have benefitted from being a little less so. I pushed the boat out with my dessert too trying a lemon based dish I had never ordered before. Its name escapes me but it was basically sponge soaked in a lemon sauce topped with something resembling custard but not custard mixed with white chocolate and meringue chippings. It was too bitter for my liking but I ate it. I probably will not have it again. I am usually open to trying new dishes up to a point but I will draw the line at some things. We left the restaurant about two and a half hours later with the other half of the bottle of red wine because for once I behaved myself by not drinking it all at the table. We stopped by a supermarket on the way home to re-stock on cola and some foodstuffs. A very nice afternoon was had by all.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Food, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation, Work | Tagged: Cooking, Drink, Food, Friday, Meat, Pork, Potato, Rest and relaxation, Sauce, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 8, 2012
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I had the day to myself on Friday as I was released from my jury service until Monday. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass by to enjoy myself for the day I invited E out for an extended lunch, well they are always extended when I dine out. I love the experience of wining and dining out and generally socialising and it is nice to do that with friends and family but it is nicest when in the company with someone very special. In my case that would be my ex partner E whom I love dearly. I take the opportunity to dine out with her as often as I can so that not only do I get to enjoy myself but that she can enjoy life more than she usually does. As is the case I often ask her if she is happy so that I can help her to be happy as much as I can. She is hard to reach sometimes but I persevere for I don’t want her to feel unhappy if I can do something to change that. I wonder sometimes what makes her tick, what it is she wants out of life because I feel she is missing out on things when she should be getting the most out of life. I know she enjoys her outings with me but she is often reluctant to show that. So it was that we both went to one of our favourite haunts in the next town on Friday and had a carvery lunch with dessert and drinks. I polished off a full bottle of red wine and later had a liqueur coffee with a cream topping, similar to the picture on the right. We both had soft drinks too, she was drinking Pepsi-Cola and I was drinking the diet version in-between my sips of wine. I like the taste of the cola following the wine and sometimes I mix the two in the same glass when I am tired of drinking the wine neat, which isn’t often (LOL). We arrived at the restaurant/pub at around 1.30 and we left just before 5.00 stopping off at the supermarket for some rum, whisky and cream. I wanted to enjoy another glass or two of a liqueur coffee! I am off to work on Saturday morning which will be yesterday by the time you read this so I will not be able to have a drink, if I want one, until late in the day. I probably won’t indulge as I value having a healthy liver which needs a break now and then! I might have a drink today, Sunday but then nothing until the end of the week when I have finished my jury service. Mind you, I may get on a case that lasts longer than this coming week but in any event I will enjoy a drink or two at the weekend. I might even surprise the staff at my local pub by paying them the first visit for over six weeks. I love life and I love people who are prepared to enjoy it with me. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Food, Happiness, Leisure, Life, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Values, Wisdom | Tagged: Alcoholic beverage, Drink, Food, Friday, Leisure, Life, Lifestyle, Monday, Pepsi, Philosophy, Saturday, Soft drink, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 16, 2011
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I have just read one of my daily ‘words’ from Scripture the essence of which tell me that even though I may strive to be perfect in every way I know that I shall never attain perfection for as long as I live. The reading points out that I should be telling myself daily that I know I am not perfect but that I am better than I was before. A good philosophy to be sure. There are areas in my life though where I struggle to get better for I will forget the promises I make to myself and over-indulge. On Friday I spent the afternoon, late afternoon that is, at the pub. I sat there for a couple of hours watching people come and go whilst I was reading a newspaper and having a drink. Eventually the pub filled to capacity but I remained seated and alone by choice. Later I began to mingle and before long found myself in the company of friends. Drifting along with the conversations, meeting new people and generally having a good time robbed me of my sensibility and I ended up shall we say, slightly inebriated! Horror of horrors I hear you say but it is all so easy to forget one’s promises not to get drunk when one has had too much to drink and therein lies the danger. Switching to soft drinks is the better solution and one that I should endeavour to embrace more often. Let’s hope I eventually learn my lesson and be a little more responsible in future. I arrived home in the early hours after the fifteen minute walk from the pub and was so hungry I rustled up a meal. Still not tired after my escapade I took to surfing the Web and posted comments on other folks blogs. I was beginning to doze off when I made my way upstairs at five in the morning! I remember looking at the clock at five-thirty and then fell asleep, in the correct attire for the occasion I might add and not in my normal clothes! I awoke at ten fully refreshed and most definitely not with a hang-over. I drink far too much water after drinking alcohol to end up with a splitting morning-after headache. Dehydration or lack of it is something I have under complete control. It only remains for me to keep myself under control when out enjoying myself.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Behaviour, Drink, Enjoyment, Friendship, Happiness, Leisure, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Temptation | Tagged: Alcohol, Behaviour, Drink, Friday, Friendship, Leisure, Philosophy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 12, 2011
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I went to the pub on Sunday evening, more of a rarity than a regular habit these days although at once or sometimes twice weekly isn’t exactly rare. I could have gone during the afternoon but I know what the place is like at that time. It would have been packed to the seams and had it not been raining most would have sat outside because the weather was quite warm. There is a very large ‘smoking area’ outside which is usually packed with those who still cannot give up the habit. Usually, if it is a nice day but not hot and sunny, I sometimes like to sit outside. I prefer sitting indoors though, especially if it is too hot outside. As I went there at eight o’clock there were only a few people there. One group sitting close to the door all know me and although I said hello I was more or less ignored. I sat at the bar and was greeted by the staff and the manager who chatted with me on and off all the evening. I entered into a conversation with a couple of men at the bar and later two guys came in and stood at the bar close to where I was sitting. They engaged me in conversation too. It turns out that the younger of the two had been a professional footballer and played for Wolverhampton until he retired from the game at 36 some 15 years ago. It isn’t unusual for professional footballers to appear in the pub as there are quite a few living in the vicinity and quite famous ones too. I won’t mention any names of course but many of them play in the Premiership. The only women in the pub left after an hour of my being there and I was the only female customer left. The remainder of the punters were men, about fifteen of them! I had gone there with the hope of seeing a couple of friends but it appears that everyone had spent the afternoon there and were gone before I arrived so in that respect it was a waste of time. I did enjoy myself though, albeit mostly in my own company. I left just before the pub closed and returned home. The pub is a very welcoming place and regulars, including myself, are greeted by name on arrival and bid farewell by name when leaving too. Sometimes though I think my trips to the pub are a waste of time but it is better than sitting at home with no-one to talk to.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Leisure, People | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Landlord, Leisure, People, Restaurants and Bars, Sunday, Wolverhampton | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 22, 2011
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Some people say that I have some strange eating and drinking tastes. According to them my habits are a bit weird but it’s all down to personal taste. I stumble across things by experimenting. Many years ago now a friend and I were drinking at a bar. I was drinking cider and she diet or normal cola, I can’t remember which. Not watching what she was doing she poured the cola into my drink but rather than throw it away I tasted it and liked it so much I ordered a cola and cider and mixed them 50% equal measures. Later I discovered that the cola would actually sit on top of the cider if poured slowly. The resulting effect is startling and when drunk it starts off tasting sweet and gradually the cider can be tasted until almost all of it is just cider. A bit of a novelty which I still enjoy today, if the bar staff have the time to pour the cola slowly but now I only add diet cola. That original discovery led to two more concoctions, diet cola with Red Bull and cider with Red Bull all in the same proportions as before and all with their own distinctive taste. Now here is a really odd thing. Many people drink ‘spritzers’ which is white wine mixed with soda water or lemonade but there isn’t, or wasn’t a similar drink using red wine. One day a couple of years ago I had a diet cola as an initial drink at the dining table but ordered red wine to accompany my main dish. When the main dish had been eaten and I had almost drunk what was left of the red wine I took a sip of cola. Because I still had the taste of red wine on my palette it mixed with the cola and a new drink was born! I poured a small amount of cola in the remains of the red wine in the glass and tasted it. I was amazed that it tasted so good. Nowadays, when I dine out, or as I did on Monday evening in the pub, I buy both cola and red wine and when I am tired of drinking the wine by itself I mix the two together. People think I am mad but it is all a matter of taste.
As for food, I tend to experiment at home with what I have in the refrigerator or larder. I try different things to see if they go well together before including them in a dish together, just as I would with drinks. Many things can be put in an omelette and I often have more than one of these, peas, sweetcorn, mushrooms, onion, tomato, potato, almost anything that tastes well with eggs. Then I lay the omelette on a bed of cold lettuce and it tastes delicious. I mix fried chopped onions with baked beans, put black pepper and herbs in with cabbage when cooking it (the water is a nice savoury drink). Stews can have lots of strange things in them when I cook them here’s one I cooked a few days ago containing, fried onion, garlic, capsicum, minced beef (could be any meat), water, peas, sweetcorn, carrots, mixed herbs, beef stock cube, vegetable stock cube, paprika, ground black pepper, salt, sage and onion stuffing mix, gravy browning, sunflower oil (cooking the onion and meat). A dash of malt vinegar was put on the dish when served in a bowl. It all sounds a bit too much but the taste is worth the effort and it really isn’t an effort, taking only twenty minutes from start to finish. I get bored eating the same old dishes all the time and that is why I experiment. Variety is the spice of life they say.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Food | Tagged: Cider, Cola, Drink, Food, Home, Red Bull, Vinegar, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 10, 2011
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So I spent Wednesday afternoon/early evening down at my local pub. After visiting the place about two weeks ago after a long absence and promising that I would go more often I have returned there twice since. My workload is very low just now and I was feeling so bored sitting home alone I decided to do two things. One, was to go for a walk and two, was to go to the pub. I did both. The weather at home has been rather a wet and windy affair so walking too far was out of the question, especially as I was wearing (small) heels and wasn’t dressed for taking on the elements. Fortunately the streets afforded quite a bit of shelter from the wind until I walked westward but even then it wasn’t too bad. At least the rain held off until I was back indoors, that is inside the pub! On arrival I found but a few patrons inside so I grabbed the local newspaper and sat down with my drink on a lovely leather sofa near to a window (I need daylight or bright artificial lighting to read comfortably) so that I wasn’t straining to see the script. My eyesight is quite excellent and I don’t need glasses as an aid, just good lighting. After an hour I began to feel hungry so I looked at the menu. For a small establishment they have quite an extensive choice of meals and snacks. I chose a smoked salmon sandwich with a salad as I wasn’t hungry enough to eat a large meal. It was delicious and enough to satisfy me for a few hours. By the time I had finished eating many more folk started to arrive and all but a few (those I don’t know) greeted me. I don’t know about you but I love ‘people watching‘ and I was quite contented to just sit there across the room watching them come and go. Finally though some wanted a little more contact with me and came over for a chat. By early evening I was up and about chatting with people myself. I am a very gregarious and sociable person and I find chatting with people so easy. Of course I had to watch my alcohol intake as I can get carried away sometimes by overdoing things. It was getting late and I decided that I must return home so I said my farewells and off I went for the ten minute walk to my house. I got home just after eight-thirty and found I had mail and a parcel containing the new shoes I had ordered a few days ago. I tried the shoes and they are a perfect fit but I doubt I shall be walking to the pub in them as the heels are just over four inches! I shall take a cab if I wear them out.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Exercise, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lifestyle, People, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Drink, Entertainment, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lighting, Newspaper, People, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 5, 2011
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Over the last few months I have made myself a chilli-con-carne almost once every week. Now I do like chilli but after this weeks serving I am finding that the novelty is wearing off, so much so that I don’t think I’ll be making it for a while. Also I think once every week is too frequent so if and when I resume making it I shall only make it occasionally. It isn’t just chilli either, I find I am getting bored eating many of the meals I prepare. It could be that my tastes are changing or it could be that I am simply tired of eating from the same menu week after week. Last week I made myself a spaghetti Bolognese for the first time in a couple of years and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have resisted the urge to make another one too soon. I love fish but don’t cook it often enough at home. It is sometimes my choice when dining out though but still I don’t eat it too often. I like to vary my diet as much as I can but find myself just eating whatever is available. I like to concoct dishes where possible and end up finding unlikely combinations on my plate. For example as a snack I like chopped fried onion mixed into baked beans (it is tasty, try it), boiled rice mixed in with peas and sweetcorn, omelette filled with the same and served on a bed of lettuce – less the rice of course (maybe I’ll give that a try), anything is possible if my taste buds allow. It does no harm to try things but usually I serve separately before mixing them in the cooking process so that I have the choice of mixing them or not. It is surprising what unlikely dishes I come up with sometimes and it puts a bit of fun into the process. I do get bored with food though so I like to have a non repetetive and varied diet where possible. This is one reason I like to dine out, there is often quite a varied menu on offer. Another reason is I don’t have to wash up afterwards!
My drinking habits often follow along the same lines inasmuch as I like to vary what I drink and I like experimenting with drinks to find something that I like. For instance I like cider with cola (50/50), cider with red bull (50/50), cola with red bull (50/50), red wine with cola (50/50) and many more. I never mix spirits with other spirits, not that I drink much of them anyway and never mix wines with other wines. I get bored drinking the same old drinks each time I go out so you will find me often selecting the unusual. Whatever I choose to drink on any particular occasion I will stick with it save for any soft drinks that I may have at the time.
Perhaps it is just me but I hate sticking to the same thing, whether it be food or drink or anything else for that matter. What about you? Do you like to experiment?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Food | Tagged: Beverages, Cola, Cooking, Drink, EAT, Food, Home, Soft drink, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 16, 2011
On Thursday I was rearing to go. I got up very early, had my breakfast and was ready for work at 08.00! Problem was, I wanted to go shopping with E for some more materials for the garage but she wasn’t up yet! I went on my computer and checked my Emails and blogs. Soon enough E came downstairs and I explained what I wished to do. She agreed, had her breakfast and was ready within a half-hour! Off we went in my van to the timber supplier with list in hand. When we arrived the guys there were a bit surprised we had returned after only being there last week and having bought quite a lot of materials from them. ‘We’re back’, we announced as we walked into the reception to their amusement. We bought even more stuff than we had previously bought from them so I guess they were pleased to see us! I am building a studded partition wall inside the garage and wanted timber and plywood, a door and furniture, some more wood preserver and a few sundry items including wood drill-bits. whilst I was there I received a request to change a light fitting. The house was en-route to home so I told the client I would be there within twenty minutes. I arrived there and did the job whilst E sat in the van listening to the radio. I was only in the house for fifteen minutes, received payment and was back on my way home. It all helped to pay for my materials! When we arrived home it was too close to lunchtime to start work so I again waited until I had eaten. It was about 2.00 when I eventually started work in the garage. Again I spent four hours out there erecting the framework for the studded wall and inserting a door frame. E came back from her Thursday shopping spree and took me by surprise. ‘Let’s have a barbecue ‘, she said. I did a minor repair on the barbecue and then spent a few minutes clearing up in the garage. E began to light the barbecue whilst I went indoors to wash and change. Soon we were having another impromptu meal from the barbecue in our new patio and were joined by our youngest son. I had opened a bottle of red wine a day or so before (I vacuum seal my wine if I don’t drink it all on the same day so that it remains fresh) and had taken but one glass full from it. I finished the rest with my barbecue! Today, Friday, I hope to receive delivery of the bulk of my purchases from the timber suppliers so that I can continue with the job in hand…….unless I get an electrical job in the meantime! There is never an excuse to have nothing to do in my house! All that is needed is the inclination, which I have to confess is not always there sometimes. I think I do too much work at times so I treat myself to a break now and then and let the work wait. My youngest son mad a remark earlier asking when the wet room would be finished! I told him that it would take me until six weeks hence before it would be done (it will probably take longer than that as I am tied with completing the garage). He doesn’t realise that it is only myself doing the work and I am getting little or no help from anyone else. Children…..who’d have children? LOL.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Food, House and Home, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Barbecue, Door, Food, Garage, Lumber, Shopping, Wall, Youngest son | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 2, 2011
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And so it was that Shirley Anne got up late on Friday morning, a habit that is so unbecoming of her normally but lately seems to be the way to go. Anyways, I got up late, missed my breakfast, although I did manage to eat a small banana. I had received a call to do some work but it was nothing much and I was back home within the hour. I asked E if she would like to dine out and as usual for her she had to wash her hair first! She does tend to get greasy hair whereas mine is the opposite and takes days before the natural oils work their way down my tresses. I was in no hurry to eat so I sat and played my guitar whilst waiting for her to come downstairs. Off we went to a carvery about six or seven miles away, a place we often visit. I had a full bottle of red wine with my dinner, again something I do probably far too often! I can handle that much wine with no adverse effects and especially if I am eating. We drove back home after a couple of hours and sat around in the patio for a while. I have plans to work on the water-butt base and also the garage passageway roof but they can wait for a day. In fact I propose to do them both today unless something else turns up in the meantime. Today is supposed to be my sabbath day of rest but I have had so much free time lately it wouldn’t be right to just sit around and do nothing. The principle remains the same, don’t work 7/24/7 but take a break as you are supposed to do! I like to work but I also like to chill out, especially with a bottle of red wine!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Food, Leisure, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Drink, Entertainment, Food, Philosophy, Rest and relaxation, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 17, 2011
On Wednesday E and I went to do some shopping after I returned home from a job. We bought furniture oil for our outdoor furniture (seems logical) and some more brick sealant (we ran out of the stuff when we treated the patio brickwork last time). That will keep me occupied for a day or two I am sure! Whilst we were out E paid a visit to the store where we bought the materials and furniture for converting our toilet/cloakroom into a shower/wet room and cloakroom. Coats will only be left there temporarily by visitors, our own coats are stored in our bedrooms. It is the only room downstairs that can be used as a temporary cloakroom. I digress. She went into the store whilst I sat in the car. We were wondering why it was taking them so long to deliver our goods, E was told that it would all be delivered the same day, a matter of two hours later! They were true to their word and it was delivered as promised. This means when it is raining I have a job to do indoors and when it isn’t I have plenty yet to do outside! There is no escape. All this depends of course on my availability, I do work as an electrician too!
Next weekend we hope, weather permitting, to have our first barbecue of the year (we did have a small one a week or so ago, just the two of us) where we will invite family, friends and neighbours. This will make good use of the patio too, well that was one of the reasons for building it! If the weather is not fine we simply eat indoors but that means cooking indoors too which takes more time I find, especially when it comes to cleaning up! As long as it isn’t raining or it isn’t too windy we should be alright. I like having people around for drinks, food and fun. We usually have music, games or a quiz to help things along. As long as my guests are happy, I am happy.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Family, Food, Friendship, Fun, Life, Lifestyle | Tagged: Drink, Food, Friendship, Fun, Garden furniture, Home and Garden, Life, Patio, Shopping | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 29, 2011
Yesterday morning E and I went to buy the materials and furniture that we need to refurbish the downstairs toilet. We had visited the store about two weeks ago and we knew what we wanted to purchase. Because most of the things were too large they would need to be delivered else I would need to empty my van and collect it all myself. I chose to have it delivered. We enlisted the help of a store employee who made out the list for us as we walked about the store pointing out the things we wanted. We then proceeded to the desk and paid the bill. Hopefully they will be delivered in two to three weeks time which gives us plenty of time to get organised.
It was approaching lunchtime when we left the store and I suggested dining out but E wanted to do some shopping first. It was around 1.30 before we decided to drive to a local pub/restaurant for a lovely carvery meal, very reasonably priced too! Whilst we were there I received a message on my phone from a guy I’ve known for a few years. He wasn’t sure if I was still living in Southport but was wondering if I could give him some advice regarding his plans to install lighting in his lounge. I answered via a text message that I could visit him in the afternoon. Shortly later he phoned me and we arranged to visit him after our lunch. He lives about a mile from where we live so it was no inconvenience to visit him and see what it was he was planning to do. It turns out that he is re-decorating several of the rooms in his house. We chatted about the work over a glass or two of red wine and after a short while his girlfriend returned with her dad. I had not seen either of them for over twelve months so it was nice to meet them again. We spent an hour or so there and had a really pleasant time before returning home. I am now awaiting the call to do the work some time in the near future. Today I shall be back working at home. I have plans to fit a window frame in the new garage and in the weeks ahead to fit three windows to match those we had installed in the house. I can fit those myself but they will need to be measured to fit the openings and subsequently manufactured to order but that is a few weeks away yet.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Food, House and Home, Shopping | Tagged: Home, Home and Garden, Shopping, Southport, Window | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 23, 2011
Image by wEnDaLicious via Flickr
It used to be considered the norm in the UK to have March winds and April showers, they marked the beginning of Spring. Nowadays, more frequently, we don’t seem to get that combination. Last month was for the most part gloriously warm and sunny with little rain at all. March wasn’t the roaring lion we have been otherwise used to. Now it is two-thirds into May and the weather has gotten progressively worse. May started off promisingly enough but after the first week things began to change for the worse. Of course we need rain and after April’s poor precipitation level we needed it even more. Today (Sunday) it looks more like an Autumn day than a late Spring one. It is very windy indeed and it is raining. Perhaps the weather will improve soon. Let’s hope so. In the meantime it is good to be indoors. Today we have our two sons and our daughter-in-law home for a Sunday roast dinner, chicken, new potatoes, roast potatoes, carrots, turnip, parsnip, for the main meal with a pineapple sponge pudding to follow. We don’t normally have formal dinners with our immediate family unless we are eating out but it is nice to lay on something a little special at home now and then. I will be having a glass or two of wine but I am not sure about the others as two of them will be driving later. So the wind and rain can do their stuff outside whilst we enjoy the warmth and comfort inside both the house and our tummies!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Family, Food, Weather | Tagged: April Showers, Fruit and Vegetable, Home, Parsnip, Rain, Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on April 13, 2011
Well not so much as hanging but more ‘suspended’. Yes, I am still wearing my stockings and we are nearly half-way through April. Normally by this time of year I would be thinking of going bare-legged but I have resisted that temptation. I like wearing stockings and suspenders (garters for my ‘over the pond’ readers) but I equally like going bare-legged. The hot summer days make it almost impossible to wear stockings, especially if one is active, as I usually am. Of course there comes a point at the other end of the year when I am thinking it is too cold for bare legs! I am challenging myself this year to see how long I can last before wearing my stockings becomes unbearable. Just a bit of fun. Well last weekend was certainly a scorcher, especially as it is still only early Spring but the following Monday was completely the opposite. As I write this on Tuesday morning the weather is sunny, windy and fairly cool. The occasional shower has been forecast but it won’t stop E and I from doing something in the gardens. I might stop if I get an electrical job. Come to think of it I do have an electrical job to do here, at home! I could begin the outdoor installation for our new patio area but there’s plenty of time later for that, besides I haven’t as yet acquired all the materials! Still there is enough to do elsewhere for now. I did have a small job to do on Monday morning which entailed installing the circuitry for and the installation of two floodlights on a rather large garden shed/workshop which ran the length of the garden. Wouldn’t you just know it? It was raining! Most of the work was inside the structure and when it came to actually fitting the lights the rain had all but stopped. I got back home for 12.30 (I seem to be working only mornings lately) and E and I went out for lunch. We drove to a place some twenty miles away that we haven’t been to for some time, as diners that is. E and her friends visit the place once a month as a venue for their club meetings. For the first time in years I drank white wine with my sea bass dinner. I would normally drink red wine with any meal as I prefer it. I doubt I will be drinking any more white wine in the near future although if it is a sparkling wine I might indulge! It looks as if I shall be accompanying E into the front garden now so I will sign off!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Drink, Enjoyment, Gardening, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation, Weather, Work | Tagged: Bare legs, Drink, Food, Gardens, Home, Leisure, Stocking, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on April 6, 2011
I’m reaching that stage in life where I nod off after lunch if I’ve been busy in the morning. Yesterday was one of those days. I guess I was tired from standing around the bottom of a ladder in the cool windy weather most of the afternoon on Monday. Strange that isn’t it? I mean I can get tired doing nothing! Anyway yesterday morning I didn’t want to get out of bed but I had to. I had an appointment to see the doctor to discuss my recent blood test and I also had an electrical job to follow. It appears that my blood test revealed a rather high count in one of the measurements in connection with my liver. Essentially all the blood tests I have are to monitor the condition of my liver because I have to take estrogen tablets daily. Now this count would normally be 40 but they allow it to be as high as 120 under certain circumstances, mine was 360! I was told that this count or this particular measurement was connected with alcohol consumption. I do drink alcohol but not abusively. This measurement has been erratic in the past ranging from 400 down to a mere 65. I asked if the readings were directly due to recent alcohol consumption but my doctor said no but that it was a long-term reflection of the amount of alcohol consumption. Well I am not stupid, if the reading was due to long-term consumption of alcohol it would be getting progressively higher wouldn’t it? Ah, well, it might be that my liver is recovering only to be set back whenever I have another drink. That might explain the erratic readings. This means another test next Monday. In the meantime I am off the alcohol and hopefully the reading will drop. The other reason for the blood test is to monitor my cholesterol levels. Seemingly taking estrogen can cause the level of cholesterol to rise. I suggested that I wear a patch rather than take tablets to lessen the burden on my liver. I might find that the doctor prescribes this instead of the tablets. I made the appointment for another test and then went to work. The job wasn’t particularly difficult but part of it had to be done outdoors and the weather was rather cool and windy again. I got home just before 1 o’clock and had a sandwich for lunch after which I prepared a chill-con-carne. I spent some time on the guitar then after a few minutes in the greenhouse came indoors and sat at my computer. I nodded off! I just love those little cat-naps. They usually last about twenty minutes if I am not disturbed. So it is that when I work I get tired (doesn’t everyone?) and when I don’t work I get tired too!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Health | Tagged: Alcohol, Blood test, estrogen, Health, Liver | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 30, 2011
After our day (afternoon) at the restaurant/pub yesterday I asked E if she would drop me off at my local pub. She did so and I spent an hour or so catching up with those of my friends I met there. It has been a while since I was last at my local pub, mainly because I have been too busy at home. It was nice catching up on things but I am thinking maybe I don’t get there enough! That’s as may be but when I have other priorities I am afraid the pub takes a back seat. It is said that your home is where your heart is and at this moment my heart is at home! It is nice to meet with friends over a drink but yesterday I’d had too much to drink and it was well that I returned home early. I’d had a full bottle of red wine with my meal before my stay at the pub where I had three pints of lager! Don’t misunderstand, I rarely drink so much in one day when once I did! It isn’t good for me, or for you! I had the good sense to quit and get back home early but I suppose I shouldn’t have gone in the first place!
Today looks a bit miserable and wet and I am wondering if the guy doing the front steps and pathway will bother starting work or put it off until another day. I am about to go to work myself so I won’t know until later one way or the other. My work is totally indoors today.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Alcoholic beverage, Bar (establishment), Drink, Restaurants and Bars | Leave a Comment »
