Hair Piece

Don’t for a moment think the length of Fester’s hair is anything to do with the lockdown. 

He hasn’t been within six feet of a barber’s for over a twelvemonth.

But as the old proverb goes

The Devil finds work for idle hands.

 "Idle minds" says Fester.

 The mind is never idle, it may go around in circles …

 "Or even tangentially ..."

 but it is never idle.

Hearing me type this exchange onto Facebook he muttered
"I don't keep giving you bloody feed lines ... I don't look like Ernie Wise"

There’s no answer to that.

Shopping & Dropping

Facebook Wednesday 22 April at 11:03 ·

Thunderthighs and I have had quite a busy morning. 

First to Sainsbury's where they have reinstated the queue and one-person-per-household (maybe it was quieter last week). 

Then a drive around Heaton dropping off: buttons, material and a pumpkin at Kentishlady's; a pumpkin and marrow at Mrs Elswitch's; the same at Mrs Leftfooter's whilst collecting last year's tomato pots and trays.

Now to blog and back to the sewing machine, if I can work up the enthusiasm.

Mrs Elswitch Thanks!

Kentishlady  Thank you!

Bentonbag  - Bodrhanman I still have some seedlings left. I'm leaving them next to the chimney pot under the bay window where it's nice and sunny.  The ones which I know for definite are pumpkin and marrow are labelled, the others I'm not sure of are either one or the other or from saved seeds from last year.  But I'm sure they'll produce something interesting and edible.

Bodrhanman  Ta very. Can I get them on way back from the care home tomorrow? Will leave some hush(bagged bread flour)!

Bentonbag Certainly

Mrs Leftfooter  Thanks. A lovely gift when I got home from work. X

Kentishlady is making scrubs, laundry/wash bags and mask holders to donate to NHS.   

My needlework skills aren’t up to that but I have a good horde of buttons which have been thinned out, and a good use was found for the linings of some cannibalised curtains and a 70s print kingsize duvet cover whose seam had gone: all cotton or polycotton and able to stand up to a hot wash.

Apple Madeira Pudding

Last week Fester and I created the Rhubarb Ginger Cake pudding.

As well as a rhubarb patch we have some biennially productive apple trees.   

We have many Chinese takeaway boxes of stewed apple in the freezer.  

We had a think about puddings.   

Ginger cake is too strong a flavour for apple, but something milder …

Last week, in the big Sainsbury’s shop, I got a Madeira cake (£1).

Fester put a defrosted takeaway box of stewed apple into the Pyrex dish and sprinkled it liberally with raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Other dried fruit would be as good but we prefer raisins. 

He drizzled the fruit with toffee syrup left over from Pancake Day.  Golden, maple or another syrup might work as well.

Covered it all with slices of madeira cake.

Then another drizzle of toffee syrup on top in the hope of creating a crispy crust

In the oven at 150, and the top indeed went crispy.

Served with thick but runny custard.

Personally I could have done with a little less cinnamon, or cinnamon more evenly spread, but otherwise it made a lovely tea.

Cat Tale #4 Inky Ear

Wednesday 22 April at 08:22 ·

Teddy has just come in with what appears to be black ink on his ear.

Miss Doozer Oil? Childhood moggy #1 (also a Ginger Git) used to get under the cars and come back with streaks of oil on him. Made a change from blood (his own, sometimes, more frequently other animals') and pus (from abscesses, from fighting...)

Bentonbag My first instinct was oil but it was far too runny and not sticky or oily.

Miss Doozer I wouldn't put it past him to start a fight with a squid...

Bentonbag a sick one?

Miss Doozer It's got a lot of feet to attack...*

Then this gif appeared on the thread ...

Bentonbag What on earth did you put in the search box to get that?

Miss Doozer cat / octopus?

*For those not in the know Teddy The Ginger Git has an obsession with bare feet and will attempt to eat any that come within range.  He frequently has Thunderthighs (6ft 4ins and built like a brick outhouse) dancing and squealing like a little girl.