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How very dare he Cynths ???

Is there something happening on tv tomorrow then ??

Dea Xxx :-D

Notalot Dea.....notalot! ;-) :-D

I think it might be the results of 'The Voice' finals !! ??? ;-) :-D

Grand-daughter will (hopefully) be watching that - she has been following it with her mummy.

Dea Xxx

Cyns...I as pulled every bit of furniture out, hoovered and washed down the paintwork, doors, skirting, bookshelf, cleaned all the windows and french doors. polished all the surfaces, hoovered the blinds, waxed the drawers, cleaned the lights and lamps. fed the leather chairs and the sofas, turned the rugs and spot cleaned them......


.....................it took hours!


So, when my mates say they have 'bottomed' the house in a morning.....youre avin laugh!

So.....you should be feeling MUCH happier now Gins... well done girl! :-D :-D


I think it depends on how big your house is with regards to the time it takes. We've mostly had large houses with 10+ rooms until retirement and it was like painting the Forth Bridge.....the housework never seemed to end.


Nowadays, in our little semi, it's a doddle and I can be finished very quickly - relatively speaking.



I had an email from Tesco yesterday, it was to let me know that I had some unused clubcard vouchers which were due to expire at the end of June. It seems as though if you can't find them, you can print them off!


Oooooer I thought......how have I missed those? I usually keep a stash to use for my RAC membership.

I log onto my T. account and discover that there is ONE unused voucher to the value of..........


£1.50 !!!!!!


The rest aren't due to expire until 2014!!!!


Oh well........never mind ;-)

Home at last and 3 days off.

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Flop time.

Hope you don't flip LK


then it will be flip-flop time :-D :-D


Enjoy the break.

Hi all
xxx


back from our trip.


It was fun, the room was fantastic ........ but you'd hardly have known the place was surrounded by very high mountains, 'cos the clouds were so low!


We stayed at the Westin, where the conference was based, and were given a "Junior Suite" ........ $189, goes for over $700 a night in mid winter height of ski season :-0 ........................

It had a king size bed, a sofa that pulled out into a queen size bed, a gas fireplace with a 32" flat screen TV on the wall above. There was a kitchen area, with a JennAir oven and dishwasher, Thermador stove top, KitchenAid microwave, and SubZero fridge, plus 4 place settings, a set of pans, including one of the largest I've seen in a long time, mixing bowls etc.


now it's back to normal life!!



s
xx

Good morning everyone
xxx


Breakfast is ready ...... and a few items for those unable to come to lunch



Fresh fruit salad with vanilla yoghourt

Honey Yoghurt and Berries, with granola and walnuts

Porridge with chopped up dates, bananas, and maple syrup (other fruit selections over there >>>>


Selection of cold cereals


French (eggy) toast, maple syrup, Golden syrup
Caribbean Banana Fritters


Toast (sourdough, rye, white, whole grain, 100% brown, Hovis, gluten free),
hot cinnamon rolls,
croissants,


bacon & cheese quiche,
cheese and onion tarts,


Full English

Ulster Fry-up

The Continental – choice of assorted chilled fruit juices, hot oatmeal or assorted cold cereals, toast or fresh-baked muffin

Egg White Frittata, with broccoli, roasted peppers, goat cheese, salsa, toast, and fresh fruit salad

Chicken and basil sausages, 2 eggs any style, chef’s potatoes, toast

stirfry (chicken, or vegetarian),

Chicken Karage (Japanese deep fried chicken pieces)

Veggie Wrap (Fresh Tomatoes, Basil, Roasted Peppers and Feta Cheese)

Chicken wings (bbq, teriyaki, honey garlic)

Bison Burger, on toasted Kaiser roll, with sliced tomato, lettuce, onion and mayonnaise

Cheese burger, with onion rings, mushrooms, lettuce and tomato

Smoked ham hock, with house fries


home-fried potatoes with garlic and bacon


Potato, dill and cheddar soup


blueberry gingered lemon muffins,
rhubarb and strawberry muffins,
raisin bran muffins,
morning glory muffins,
very berry muffins


raisin scones


jams, jellies, marmalades, Nutella (hazelnut spread)


Tea, coffee, juices


(some extra bacon, turkey sausage or sausage patties, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, sliced baby golden beetroot, Maple baked beans, olive oil, in the hidey place to cook up for the very hungry ones!)





enjoy
xxx




s
xxx

Sounds like you had a good time Sylvs, the room sounds good too...where abouts was it?


Going back to look at this mornings menu....hmmm

Lunch will be served at 1:00 pm



and in honour of the special day, champagne-style wine from Australia, NZ and Canada will be served with every course. (Can't be real champagne 'cos that is French, tut-tut whoever complained!)

Menu

Champagne and Orange Juice

selection of hors d'ouevres .............

Wild Mushroom Pate
Olive Tapenade
Vegetarian pate
Fig and Goat Cheese Canapes
Cherry Tomato, Mini Mozzarella and Basil Skewers
Spinach and Feta Cheese Phyllo Triangles
Prosciutto, Ricotta, and Red-Onion Marmalade on toasted bread squares
Cocktail Meat Balls in Cranberry & Pinot Noir Sauce
Miniature Tourtieres
Roast Beef & Arugula Crostini with Olive-Red Pepper Relish
Leek stuffed Mushrooms
Buffalo Sausage on Skewer
Vegetable antipasto, with pita bread

Crackers and toast tips


Soup ...............

Butternut Squash and Roasted Garlic Soup with Caramelized Vidalia Onions (vegetarian)
Gazpacho
Oxtail soup
Crab and corn bisque


Salad ...........

Spring salad
Caribbean Cucumber salad
Golden beet salad, with goat cheese, pine nuts and herb dressing
Tuscan Salad (slow roasted cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, pinenuts, kalamata olives, red onions)
Spring Salad with crabapple and verbena vinaigrette, radish


Main..............

Roast Venison with Red Wine and Onion Jus

Filet mignon, wrapped in bacon, 6 oz or 8 oz

Duo of Berkshire Pork (crisp belly, and tenderloin), spring vegetables, massala reduction

Cornish Game Hen (boneless, marinated with thyme and rosemary), charred lemon, truffle macaroni and cheese

Grilled Duck with Apple and Rhubarb Chutney

Meat Lasagna

Smoked salmon linguine

Shepherdess Pie (vegan)

Jumbo Portobella caps stuffed with brown rice, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese and herbs, oven baked and served with a rich tomato sauce

Vegetarian chili

Basil Fettucine tossed with olive oil, topped with grated Parmesan (Vegan)


Roast potatoes,
boiled potatoes,
Herbed Potato Medallions,
3 Cheese Scalloped Potatoes,
Aged Cheddar & Chive Twice Baked Potato,
Potato & Yam Gallette


lemongrass & ginger scented rice

Wild Rice

Glazed carrots,
roast parsnips,
brussel sprouts,
spinach stuffed mushrooms,
peas,
green beans,
asparagus,
Butternut Squash Gratin,
sauteed peppers,
cauliflower with cheese sauce,
fiddleheads,
pesto grilled zucchini,
Tomato & Zucchini Ragout,
Stuffed Tomatoes


Gravy


Butter Pan Buns,
Multigrain Rolls,
Sourdough Rolls,
Corn Bread,


Dessert ...............

Chocolate Pistachio Mousse

Triple chocolate cheesecake

Dark and White Chocolate Pyramid, with milk chocolate mousse

Apple Galette, served warm, with vanilla gelato and caramel sauce

Lemon Tart, with tarragon syrup, and berry salad

Blueberry Icecream

Flourless Chocolate Cake, with milk chocolate icesream coe, and brandied cherries

Rhubarb Brown Betty

Crème Brulee

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Bread & butter pudding with whisky

Custard, whipped cream


Cheese and cracker plate

Champagne-style wines with each course, or a red and a white wine from the Napier region of New Zealand for those who do not like Champagne-style wines.


Tea, Coffee, Juices





enjoy
xxx





s
xx

Hi Gins


We went to Whistler, about 2 hours drive north of Vancouver (or about 130 km). The maximum speed is only rarely more than 80 km/hr, 'cos it is a very windy road along the side of a fjord.

Whistler is where the outdoor events at the 2010 Winter Games were held.

We had 2 gondolas passing our window, one was only about 20' away, the other about double that. Then there were 6 more further away.

Only they were being used by hikers now, not skiers. One of the bigger gondolas was taking up mountain bikers by the score :-D

Sounds like a great time Sylvs. Thank you for breakfast.


Flying visit....~~~~~~~~

I guess thats where it gets the name Whistler from then....windy


Horrid weather today, feel for all the people that have been planning this weekend for months

Wow Sylvia - you have put on a real 'Celebration Spread' today - It will take us all week to eat it all :-D

Sounds like you had a good time - I once visited Whistler. We only stopped of for a couple of hours on our way to somewhere else a few years ago.

It was a strange journey - we had booked coach tickets as part of our holiday and when we got on the coach we were the only passengers, apart from the driver's wife who was sitting right at the back of the VERY large coach, knitting ;-)

I can't remember exactly which places we visited but the trip took a couple of days, staying overnight en route in a wonderful mountain hotel with it's own lake for fishing (which the driver enjoyed, from a small boat).

Because there was only us on the coach, we got lots of extra info from the driver and his wife and were all quite 'chummy' by the end :-)

It's a nasty wet day here - just typical when there are all those street parties and other events planned! I have 'planned' to stay at home in the warm and dry, munching my way through all that lovely food. :-D

Thanks Sylvia,

Dea Xxx

Sylvia,

Some years ago I went on a course in London organised by The Industrial Society and by accident ended up staying in a suite at a top London hotel.

The hotel was in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair where the US embassy stands. I had asked my secretary to book me a single room expecting her to make the reservation for me at one of the hotels in the Hyde Park corner area that the company normally used. For some reason she made it at the Europa hotel, now called The Marriott.

When I booked in I was given 2 room keys rather than one which perplexed me a bit but I said nothing. When I opened my room door it led to a small corridor with 3 doors off it. One was a bedroom well furnished with a double bed, dressing table and a large colour Tv. One was a bathroom with loo, bath and double vanity. The third door led to a large sitting room equipped with a sumptuous 3pc suite, the type where the backs are attached to the arms by a chord/finials. Also in the room were a writing desk complete with chair, a drinks cabinet and another large Tv. The room had windows on 2 sides one of which overlooked the squares gardens.

I suppose I should have questioned things but I decided to stay mum and see what happened. When the bill arrived at my firm they had only charged for a single room which whilst still expensive must have been considerably less than the usual price of the suite that I had occupied for 2 nights.

Apart from the opulence the best part of the experience was only being charged for a single room.

Thank you for the leisurely breakfast Sylvia.

As for lunch I think I will have to have a little of everything spread throughout the day.

Choices. Choices. :-D

We think we can top that Jonesey

About 3 years ago, our daughter and 3 friends went on a back-packing holiday to Thailand. Since they were advised to pre-book a hotel for the first night in Bangkok, she found a cheap one on the internet via a London Travel agent.

As it was so cheap, she queried the price.

On arrival, they had a penthouse suite, 2 massive bedrooms, huge walk in wet room, lounge with wonderful views, bath robes, constantly replenished bottles of water, chocolates and fresh fruit, and a champagne reception.

A 5 star Lebua hotel for £25 in total :-D

'You were lucky'......................

After driving down to Miami, I pulled in at a hotel that looked wonderful, it was twice the price of previous hotels that I had been staying in...

Up in the 1920s lift to the third floor, opened my room door, walked in and looked around.....

..................no bedding covering the stained shabby mattress, oinion skin on the floor, ants on the bedside table and to top it..........






...............a pair of ladies, dirty kegs on the window ledge :-0


You dont need to ask what I did next ;-)

Yuk! :-(