Byker Trip

Regular readers will remember that Mrs Leftfoot has made it her mission that, following doctor’s orders, we 'do something entirely frivolous once a month'.

From Facebook Archives - 

Please note these are 2016 prices and opening hours.

29 December 2016 at 14:09 

Been to Byker with the boys to get Frontline flea'n'tic for the cats and get next year's Xmas cards at half price or less.

Thunderthighs suggested we have lunch "at that Greek place you're always on about".

That is the Greek Grill near the top of Shields Rd which does British as well as Greek stuff.

Fester and I go there sometimes.Ferretfingers had sausage, beans and chips. 

Although I was tempted by mince'n'dumplings I had lamb kofte wrap. 

Thunderthighs had chicken gyros. 

The lass was happy to turn the music off for Ferretfingers.

Less than £12 the lot. 

Now off to make goose stew.

Mrs Leftfoot  It's great that you can all eat together in peace, no fuss.

Maybe you could "beat the list" and WRITE next year's cards in anticipation....... 

Well it's not like you can do the ironing in advance.

I'll stop now.

Bentonbag  Have you any thoughts about January? 

Mrs Leftfoot  Yes.  It starts on Sunday.

Boom! Boom!

Things A Mother Loves To See

See also:-

 Words A Mother Loves To Hear

From Facebook Archives

28 December 2021 at 16:37

Thunderthighs has just ironed all his t-shirts and pyjamas.

Mrs Leftfoot  He can come round to do ours.

Mrs Lasagne  Brilliant xxxx

Tylebach  Send him here!!! Xxx

Erica  Should hire him out!

Mrs Walker  You've got him well trained!

Bentonbag  I asked Thunderthighs if he might like to iron his t-shirts and pyjamas that were on the mountain.

"But I haven't run out of t-shirts yet."

I explained that you don't have to run out of things before ironing fresh ones, so he did the lot. Which means the next load of washing will be mostly the t-shirts I haven't had room to hang up because of the ones waiting to be ironed.

(I have a system you know, it may not be a good one, but it is a system)

Mrs Quilt  Mr Quilt was hugely sympathetic to Thunderthighs' reply.  Pure logic - he did have a little chuckle though.

Later

Bentonbag  When I emptied the clothes horse in the loft ready for the next load of washing (now in washer) I tossed his boxers on his bed and said 

"Pop those on your radiator and they'll soon be dry enough to put away."   

Just passed the living room door on way from washing dishes, goose pan etc and he's in there with the ironing board up ironing them!  Without being prompted!!

Mrs Walker  Impressive!

 

Icing Tip

Due to a huge Christmas dinner we don’t usually cut the Christmas cake until Boxing Day tea.  

This year I was out visiting, talking, snacking and drinking coffee with 

Mrs Quilt all Boxing Day.  

Oh the bliss of being in a quiet house without tellies, radios, computers continually blasting different random noises from different rooms; interspersed with random swearing at some minor inconvenience.

And talking with somebody who is actually listening, doesn’t say 

“What?  My ears are bunged up!” 

after my every utterance, and whose conversation extends beyond pits, insects and ball-games. 

It’s been a long time.

Anyway our Christmas cake remains intact for the time being.

From Facebook Archives

27 December 2021 at 09:48

By the way. If, like me, you don't like marzipan, smooth peanut butter makes an excellent substitute for sticking icing onto a fruit cake. 

In the past I've tried jam (meh), golden syrup (too sweet and runny) and Nutella (ok but chocolate doesn't go with fruitcake). 

The peanut butter really works with the icing, and the cake, something about not being too sweet and the tiny bitty saltiness bringing the flavours out.

Not if you're allergic to nuts etc of course.

 

Angel Chimes

We’ve developed a tradition in Chateau Midden. During the twelve days of Christmas, when it gets dark we have “Candle Time”.  All lights and screens are switched off, the twenty five candles on the mantelpiece are lit and the boys and I sit enjoying the peace and silence.

In the early 1960s Bigsister won a scholarship to study at the Sorbonne for a year.

She brought me back a traditionally dressed doll.  Odette has a blue velvet dress, turquoise silk knickers (you can always tell the quality of a dressed doll by her knickers) and was placed in Granma’s corner cupboard with Myfanwy and Minihaha (a gift from my Canadian GreatAunt) and was only played with after tea.  She now lives in my corner cupboard with a collection of dolls from all over the world (but mainly Europe), gifts from wandering siblings and some I even bought for myself.

Before I was born the family were stationed with the RAF in Germany.  Remembering some of the continental traditions Bigsister brought a set of Angel Chimes from Paris as a Christmas gift for Mum.

They spent many Advents on top of the telly waiting to take their place on the Sunday dinner table.  One candle was lit on the first Sunday of Advent, and one more each subsequent Sunday until on Christmas Day all four were lit and the cherubs flew around belting the bells.

Eventually Mum and Dad went into residential care; the family home had to be cleared and sold.  As I had young children at the time I inherited all the Christmas decorations, including the angel chimes.

The thing holding the little pole to the base came away so they stayed in a drawer for many years until I could work out a way to hold them upright with candles below.

However with the judicious use of a large candle and its holder, and placing of tealights, I’ve got the cherubs chiming again.

You may need to turn the volume up to hear them.