I'm fine with the cream and don't mind the fat content but mr summer gets migraines from cream so that's why I'd need a substitute. He loves soups, stocks and hearty casseroles etc
When he got home from work he said "wow! That's a big pumpkin!" I think I picked a good one 
My best friend rang me and we managed to Skype, Ava has learned to throw toys around in a tantrum 
it was noisy lol
Goodnight Summer, sweet dreams
Good morning everyone 
Another cloudy day here. Dry at present but has been raining overnight.
Summer, this is a link to a website which has a huge collection of mushrooms and toadstools.
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/
The Mushroom Kitchen link takes you to edible ones, the Poisoning link is obviously the one for the non-edible ones.
This link shows a brief list of edible and poisonous ones in the UK but only shows a few.
http://www.nifg.org.uk/edible_fungi.htm
Good morning everyone, a dry but cloudy day here. I too wouldn't dare go mushroom picking, I would be bound to pick a poisonous one. The button mushrooms taste so bland though don't they? I suppose it's because they are grown in compost. My dad used to send me over to buy mushrooms when we were having a cooked breakfast and the taste of those, they were like the large flat mushrooms you can buy but much smaller, was gorgeous.
This talk of mushrooms reminds me of that time back in 1975 when I was seconded to the London office for a couple of months. Someone from the Gloucester office (who I had not met) was also seconded. The first job we went to was based in Reigate and the two of us stayed in a hotel there for a couple of weeks. The first night we went to the hotel restaurant and ordered. I can't remember what I ordered but it was fine. My colleague was in his first year and was somewhat naive. He ordered something like beef stroganoff from the menu and clearly did not know what he was ordering. When it arrived he realised that there were lots of mushrooms which he disliked. So he told the waiter he didn't want it but couldn't explain why. The waiter got the manager and my colleague repeated what he had said. Eventually they took it away and gave him something else. Not surprsingly for the rest of the fortnight, although the waiters were polite to us there was a noticable coldness from them.
After the 2 weeks we went onto to different assignments and I never saw my colleague again. I doubt if he stayed with the firm though as it was obvious to me that he was not cut out for the job. When I was at school his brother was in my class and he was regarded by everyone as a bit of an eccentric.
El, I'm sure the manager would have been understanding if your colleague had explained that he hadn't realised there were mushrooms in the dish.
Summer, I hope Bramble is feeling better today
Going out with hubby and eldest son today, will be back later. Hope you all have a nice day
good noon all
Isn't it funny how something as simple as mushrooms can trigger a detailed memory? El, you're friend could have said he was allergic to mushrooms and didn't realise the stroganoff would have any in.. The waiters may have been less cold towards him 
Bramble is a little perkier thank you yogi, she didn't want to go for her morning walk though- I think she's not so keen on dark mornings!
Hope you have a nice day out
I wonder how joyron is these days?Me too Summer I could just polish off this little lot (minus the beans, not a fan of baked beans at breakfast)
Me too Summer I could just polish off this little lot (minus the beans, not a fan of baked beans at breakfast)
less the mushrooms for that person I worked with back in 1975 
He could have explained to the waiter and manager about not realising that there would be mushrooms or that he was allergic to them but he was very green. I'm not sure he had ever been in a restaurant before.
My father had a book called "The Adventures of Verdant Green" which was about a very naive person just starting at Oxford. Verdant means green which was a little joke.
A very very innocent looking face
It is a very long time since I read it but it's the semi-humerous tale of his mishaps due to his naivity at University. It's affectionate rather than satirical but is probably too old-fashioned for modern taste as it was written in 1870.
It appears that you can get it for free on Kindle:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pro...0G04Y2HNY12XK9E8TATZ
You can get it on paperback but ÂĢ9-04 seems to be the cheapest.
It's the first of a trilogy but I've never come across the other 2.
Summer, The Adventures of Mr Verdant Green, is also available for the ipad and it's free.
Squiggle, that breakfast looks delicious. It is such a long time since I ate a cooked breakfast, but Mr Yogi bought one of those breakfast packs when we went grocery shopping, so I may have one at the weekend.
Glad to hear Bramble is a bit perkier, even if she didn't want her early morning walk. If the weather is very wet and windy, Keira refuses to go out.
I do love old books too, it may take a chapter to adjust to the language but I thoroughly enjoy them. I'll have a look on my iPad- yogi do I need a certain app or is it available in iBooks?It's in ibooks, Summer.
Just listening to a discovered hymn by Beethoven receiving its world premiere after 192 years on Radio 4 at this present moment.
It's dreadful
Very slow, very mournful, not remotely inspiring, and I'm not surprised it has never been heard before.
Glad I missed it, El.
I thought this looked very 'us' apologies to EL as I sure it is not you
I love it!!! It's cold but clear and dry here- at last! I'm pleased the fog has lifted Bramble has chosen her Halloween costume-Cinderella... 
Awwww waiting for her Prince Charming
I am glad you liked the pic, it reminded me of 'Here Come the Girls'
Drizzly and cold here this morning. The book I am reading at the moment has a dog in it that the character was dog sitting. A black Newfoundland, has anyone ever come across one, they are lovely dogs and I think I have fallen a little in love with this one, I am sure he won't be in the story again though because he has gone home to his owners now. Our electrician used to bring his black Newfoundland with him and she was the dearest soppy thing. The character who was dog sitting has a black spaniel (Blot) who is jealous of the Newfoundland and I loved the way they describe the spaniel hoovering around the feet of the Newfoundland for leftover biscuit crumbs while he gazes down in regal astonishment
I have read this before but I thought it worth repeating
An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I wonât be able to plant my tomato garden this year. Iâm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love Papa
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Papa,
Donât dig up that garden. Thatâs where the bodies are buried.
Love Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.
That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Papa,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. Thatâs the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie
Good morning everyone. A cold and frost start to the day.
Aww, cute pic of Bramble and the slipper.
Squiggle, there used to be a beautiful Newfoundland dog in our village. He was a big, friendly softie.
@ the story of Vinnie and his dad - good thinking on Vinnie's part.
Been to the nurse to get my bloods done and my flu jab. Apparently, following a review by one of the doctors (they have reviewed all patients getting regular blood tests), I only need to get my bloods done every two months now. It seems my blood results have been (relatively) stable for a while, so monthly bloods aren't required. Or in other words, they're making cutbacks (allegedly!).
Hi all, not been round as been busy with one thing and another. Hoping to catch up with you all later when i get some time to myself .
Giving a friend a chum to an ATOS appointment this afternoon, that should be interesting as i have heard some horrific stories about them. I am going as a witness as apparently they have been known to change the information given.
Have a good day
Skylark if you see this before you set off, make notes, make loads of notes and let them see you writing them.
Skylark, I agree with squiggle's comments about ATOS. We hear too many stories of people who have been denied disability benefits on questionable decisions by ATOS.
Yogi, I would read that as good news on not having to have blood tests as often.
Squiggle, great picture of the Newfoundland dog and at the story of Vinnie and his papa.
Summer, I love your Cinderella impersonation by Bramble
Meant to say Yogi, wonderful news about the frequency of blood tests
How cute are they when they are puppies?
One of my former customers had 2 huge Newfoundlands, both black. I loved seeing them, they used to come by work sometimes they look like big black sheep, except for the face of course lol
Yogi that's great that you're bloods are holding steady, I'm really pleased. I hope the cutbacks don't leave you neglected at all, insist on going back if you feel unwell at all
It's been snowing here this morning
Anyone got any?Have a good weekend with your brother EL, what cake are you having?
>>>>>>> recommendation
Squiggle, that cake looks so good! *drools*
El, hope you and your brother have a nice, relaxing weekend.
No snow here, but very chilly. The sun has been shining too, Summer.
ATOS are some sort of occupational health organisation who assess people who are claiming benefits because they are ill. Link below might give you an idea of some of the decisions they have made in the past.
