I often find myself whistling this when I'm chopping onions and veggies for dinner...
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Time to party!
Today it's the birthday of our good friend Shapeshifterbelly, who's 10 days younger than me...
Happy birthday!
These friends would like to send you their very best wishes:
Enjoy some good music:
And I hope this custom made cake will please you:
Have a lovely birthday, dear friend. We love a party here at What Time and hope to make your day very special!
Happy birthday!
These friends would like to send you their very best wishes:
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| Peaches |
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| Belle |
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| The What Time crowd |
Enjoy some good music:
And I hope this custom made cake will please you:
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| Chicken, bacon and Brussels sprouts cake |
Have a lovely birthday, dear friend. We love a party here at What Time and hope to make your day very special!
Friday, 28 June 2013
Still distracted
We're still a bit over-excited with all this business of going to England to buy a car. The new one was checked and double checked, the guy will hold it until Tuesday, so it's all looking good. I even searched for a supermarket in the area so Peter can buy his tea bags...
Now, just to have something nicer than pictures of cars, here is an aww inducing one:
Now, just to have something nicer than pictures of cars, here is an aww inducing one:
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Madness
We definitely went mad and decided to go to the UK to see (and hopefully buy) a Honda CR-V.
The Toyota Rav4 is on hold until we get back, in case the Honda is not what we're looking for.
The pluses for the CR-V: It's 2 years younger than the Rav4, with less miles on the clock. It also has a full service history, which the Rav4 doesn't.
We're going on Tuesday, so keep your fingers crossed for us...
(I'm feeling dizzy after a crazy morning on the phone to the guy, booking and printing various tickets and just dealing with the sudden madness!)
The Toyota Rav4 is on hold until we get back, in case the Honda is not what we're looking for.
The pluses for the CR-V: It's 2 years younger than the Rav4, with less miles on the clock. It also has a full service history, which the Rav4 doesn't.
We're going on Tuesday, so keep your fingers crossed for us...
(I'm feeling dizzy after a crazy morning on the phone to the guy, booking and printing various tickets and just dealing with the sudden madness!)
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
A double dose of cute
Another rushed post...
We're still going a bit mad about cars! We may have found a decent Toyota Rav4. The Volvo was a bit heavy on the juice and the insurance, so we widened the search.
*****
Aren't these babies simply adorable?
We're still going a bit mad about cars! We may have found a decent Toyota Rav4. The Volvo was a bit heavy on the juice and the insurance, so we widened the search.
*****
Aren't these babies simply adorable?
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Funny picture
This is a rushed little post because we've been distracted by the possibility of buying a larger, safer car at a bargain price...
Monday, 24 June 2013
Happy birthday!
Today we have a triple birthday: Sleuth, Queen of Sheeba and MariaT. We haven't seen MariaT in a long time...
Happy birthday, dear friends!
Happy birthday, dear friends!
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| Sleuth |
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| Queen of Sheeba |
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| MariaT |
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Saturday, 22 June 2013
Some cat funnies
This cat is classy:
This one, one the other hand...
A confused cat:
Finally, some emoticats:
This one, one the other hand...
A confused cat:
Finally, some emoticats:
Friday, 21 June 2013
Silly hats - Ladies Day at Ascot
I have a favourite program called Countdown, involving words and number games. Whenever there are any race meetings, they pull my program and we have races for days on end.
If you can't fight them, join them! So yesterday we watched Ladies Day at Ascot, which also has the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.
Here are some of the outlandish hats on show:
See more hats HERE.
The big surprise of the day came when the queen's horse won the Gold Cup. It's the first time in at least 300 years that the reigning monarch has won the cup. The thing is, the queen is the person who presents the cup to the winner, so they had to rope somebody else in to present it to her!
The queen was clearly excited when her horse, Estimate, crossed the finishing line:
Prince Andrew presented the cup to his mother:
Estimate is a magnificent horse, there's no doubt about it...
If you can't fight them, join them! So yesterday we watched Ladies Day at Ascot, which also has the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.
Here are some of the outlandish hats on show:
See more hats HERE.
The big surprise of the day came when the queen's horse won the Gold Cup. It's the first time in at least 300 years that the reigning monarch has won the cup. The thing is, the queen is the person who presents the cup to the winner, so they had to rope somebody else in to present it to her!
The queen was clearly excited when her horse, Estimate, crossed the finishing line:
Prince Andrew presented the cup to his mother:
Estimate is a magnificent horse, there's no doubt about it...
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Another mystery solved
Do you remember the hobbit structure Peter and I came across on one of our walks around the village?
Yesterday I mentioned it to Hilary and she said they also came across a similar structure when walking around their village. They decided it was some kind of bunker from WW II.
They have a group taking French lessons with a local woman and Hilary asked her what it was.
Peter was right all along: It's a water pump. We live near mountains and there are springs all over the place. These pumps take water from the springs and distribute it to the villages.
I suppose it's easy to assume the thing is a bunker, considering that this area had a very strong resistance movement in the last world war...
Yesterday I mentioned it to Hilary and she said they also came across a similar structure when walking around their village. They decided it was some kind of bunker from WW II.
They have a group taking French lessons with a local woman and Hilary asked her what it was.
Peter was right all along: It's a water pump. We live near mountains and there are springs all over the place. These pumps take water from the springs and distribute it to the villages.
I suppose it's easy to assume the thing is a bunker, considering that this area had a very strong resistance movement in the last world war...
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Turning sixty...
Thank you for your good wishes on the last thread. I found some one liners about turning sixty to help me celebrate with a bit of a laugh.
Fortune tellers read your face instead of your palm.
People call you “spry” and you’re not offended.
You know your way around but you don’t want to go anywhere.
The candles on your cake set off the sprinkler system.
Your favorite classic rock is now elevator music.
You wonder why the TV remote isn’t working, then realize it’s a cordless phone.
Your childhood toys sell for a fortune on eBay.
Not wearing a bra tugs the wrinkles right out of your face.
You can never totally, completely trust a fart.
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
A big thank you
CC's niece Laura is back from Africa and has this to say:
To everyone who has wished me luck and kept me in their prayers, thank you so much! I can't tell you how incredible my trip was and how blessed I am to have been there. Fortunately, I was very well taken care of and felt extremely welcomed by the people and more importantly, the children. It's heartwarming to know that I have so many people thinking about me and praying that all went well. I will continue to pursue helping this orphanage by means of raising money. I've created a page with a paypal account to make funding easier and more accessible, please share it! Any bit of awareness helps and all donations are appreciated and go a long way!
Please visit the page.
Once again, thank you so much for everything and keeping me in your thoughts! I can't express how blessed I feel. :) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The goal is very modest, but the amount would go a long way in Kenya...
Thank you for doing this, Laura.
To everyone who has wished me luck and kept me in their prayers, thank you so much! I can't tell you how incredible my trip was and how blessed I am to have been there. Fortunately, I was very well taken care of and felt extremely welcomed by the people and more importantly, the children. It's heartwarming to know that I have so many people thinking about me and praying that all went well. I will continue to pursue helping this orphanage by means of raising money. I've created a page with a paypal account to make funding easier and more accessible, please share it! Any bit of awareness helps and all donations are appreciated and go a long way!
Please visit the page.
Once again, thank you so much for everything and keeping me in your thoughts! I can't express how blessed I feel. :) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The goal is very modest, but the amount would go a long way in Kenya...
Thank you for doing this, Laura.
Monday, 17 June 2013
Mise à jour - Le jardin
It's a garden update, really.
It stopped raining long enough for the potatoes and tomatoes to recover. The poor things were drowning!
Amy will be comforted by the fact that French slugs are just as greedy and despicable as their American counterparts. I'm a bit of a sadist when it comes to these slimy creatures and love to sprinkle salt on them.
Fortunately, only one of our potato bags was the target of a very vicious attack by the slugs from hell. I made a barrier of coarse salt around all the bags, just in case.
Remember the wild strawberries growing on moss? I thought that if I planted them in containers with soil, we would be feasting on delicious strawberries by now. Ha ha ha, not so. The other day I was googling weeds and found out that my lovely wild strawberries are in fact weeds. We've been nurturing weeds for a year now. Duh!
The pots on the steps are doing well. Not everything has started flowering yet, but I think it looks ok.
Please note the weeds at the bottom of the steps. Since I took the photo and noticed their presence, they have been duly dispatched. .
The forecast this week promises quite a bit of rain. As long as it doesn't go on and on and on for weeks on end, I'm ok with it. It saves some watering...
We plan to have some barbecues on our little patio this summer. What could be nicer than some meat with homegrown new potatoes and extra fresh tomatoes?
It stopped raining long enough for the potatoes and tomatoes to recover. The poor things were drowning!
Amy will be comforted by the fact that French slugs are just as greedy and despicable as their American counterparts. I'm a bit of a sadist when it comes to these slimy creatures and love to sprinkle salt on them.
Fortunately, only one of our potato bags was the target of a very vicious attack by the slugs from hell. I made a barrier of coarse salt around all the bags, just in case.
 |
| The slugs almost destroyed the potatoes in the blue bag |
Remember the wild strawberries growing on moss? I thought that if I planted them in containers with soil, we would be feasting on delicious strawberries by now. Ha ha ha, not so. The other day I was googling weeds and found out that my lovely wild strawberries are in fact weeds. We've been nurturing weeds for a year now. Duh!
The pots on the steps are doing well. Not everything has started flowering yet, but I think it looks ok.
Please note the weeds at the bottom of the steps. Since I took the photo and noticed their presence, they have been duly dispatched. .
The forecast this week promises quite a bit of rain. As long as it doesn't go on and on and on for weeks on end, I'm ok with it. It saves some watering...
We plan to have some barbecues on our little patio this summer. What could be nicer than some meat with homegrown new potatoes and extra fresh tomatoes?
Sunday, 16 June 2013
Men...
Amy sent us this hilarious video, with this comment: "If a man is talking out loud in a forest with no one to hear him, is he still wrong?"
Thank you, Amy.
Thank you, Amy.
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Toeing the line
Tumbleweed mentioned "toeing the line" in the last thread and Peter told me a story about how the expression came into use. I googled it and found out that his version is not based on true events.
I found this:
One explanation that is often repeated is that the phrase derives from the British House of Commons. Arguments in the House are often heated. To deter members of opposing parties from attacking each other, two parallel red lines are marked, two sword-lengths apart, on the floor of the house. MPs are expected to stay behind these lines when a speech is in progress. Members, of course, no longer carry swords, but the tradition remains. Visitors to the House of Commons are very likely to hear this tale related by a tour guide. Counting against this supposed derivation is the fact that the current Commons Chamber dates from only 1950, when the building was rebuilt following WWII bomb damage. Paintings of earlier Commons chambers, from the times when members might actually have worn swords, show no such lines.
And this:
It is commonly and erroneously thought that its origins lie in the British House of Commons where sword-strapped members were instructed to stand behind lines that were two sword-lengths apart from their political rivals in order to restore decorum. However, there is no record of a time when Members of Parliament were allowed to bring swords into the Chamber. Historically, only the Serjeant at Arms carries a sword as a symbol of his role in Parliament. There are loops of pink ribbon in the Members' cloakroom for MPs to hang up their swords before entering the Chamber to this very day as a result of this rule. In fact, there were not any lines in the Chamber in the days that gentlemen carried swords.
It seems the correct version is this one:
The most likely origin of the term goes back to the wooden decked ships of the Royal Navy during the late 17th or early 18th century. Barefooted seamen had to stand at attention for inspection and had to line up on deck along the seams of the wooden planks, hence to "toe the line". The first mention of this use in literature stems from a story about navy life widely published in 1831 and written by Captain Basil Hall RN. Hall served in the Royal Navy from 1802.
The first site confirms this version:
Other early examples of 'toe the ...' have a nautical connection. In the 19th century, sailors were expected to prepare themselves for group punishment by standing in formation on deck and 'toeing the line' between boards - also called 'toeing the crack'. This usage is the earliest that I've found for 'toe the line' in print - from The Edinburgh Literary Journal, January - June 1831:
Oh well, Peter's story may not be correct, but researching it led to learning about the pink ribbons, which I find very interesting indeed.
Under the best vaulted ceilings neo-Gothic architecture has to offer, the old is in constant friction with the new. MPs are provided with Dell laptops and BlackBerry Curves, but in the House of Commons cloakroom, they are also allocated their own coat hangers, each of which has a pink ribbon — for hanging up their swords.
How quaint...
On the other hand, they have party whips:
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy.
That's one way to ensure the MPs toe the line!
I found this:
One explanation that is often repeated is that the phrase derives from the British House of Commons. Arguments in the House are often heated. To deter members of opposing parties from attacking each other, two parallel red lines are marked, two sword-lengths apart, on the floor of the house. MPs are expected to stay behind these lines when a speech is in progress. Members, of course, no longer carry swords, but the tradition remains. Visitors to the House of Commons are very likely to hear this tale related by a tour guide. Counting against this supposed derivation is the fact that the current Commons Chamber dates from only 1950, when the building was rebuilt following WWII bomb damage. Paintings of earlier Commons chambers, from the times when members might actually have worn swords, show no such lines.
And this:
It is commonly and erroneously thought that its origins lie in the British House of Commons where sword-strapped members were instructed to stand behind lines that were two sword-lengths apart from their political rivals in order to restore decorum. However, there is no record of a time when Members of Parliament were allowed to bring swords into the Chamber. Historically, only the Serjeant at Arms carries a sword as a symbol of his role in Parliament. There are loops of pink ribbon in the Members' cloakroom for MPs to hang up their swords before entering the Chamber to this very day as a result of this rule. In fact, there were not any lines in the Chamber in the days that gentlemen carried swords.
It seems the correct version is this one:
The most likely origin of the term goes back to the wooden decked ships of the Royal Navy during the late 17th or early 18th century. Barefooted seamen had to stand at attention for inspection and had to line up on deck along the seams of the wooden planks, hence to "toe the line". The first mention of this use in literature stems from a story about navy life widely published in 1831 and written by Captain Basil Hall RN. Hall served in the Royal Navy from 1802.
The first site confirms this version:
Other early examples of 'toe the ...' have a nautical connection. In the 19th century, sailors were expected to prepare themselves for group punishment by standing in formation on deck and 'toeing the line' between boards - also called 'toeing the crack'. This usage is the earliest that I've found for 'toe the line' in print - from The Edinburgh Literary Journal, January - June 1831:
"The matter, therefore, necessarily became rather serious; and the whole gang of us being sent for on the quarter-deck, we were ranged in a line, each with his toes at the edge of a plank, according to the orthodox fashion of these gregarious scoldings, technically called toe-the-line matches."
Oh well, Peter's story may not be correct, but researching it led to learning about the pink ribbons, which I find very interesting indeed.
Under the best vaulted ceilings neo-Gothic architecture has to offer, the old is in constant friction with the new. MPs are provided with Dell laptops and BlackBerry Curves, but in the House of Commons cloakroom, they are also allocated their own coat hangers, each of which has a pink ribbon — for hanging up their swords.
How quaint...
On the other hand, they have party whips:
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy.
That's one way to ensure the MPs toe the line!
Friday, 14 June 2013
Cats...
We like cats here at What Time. We even have our very own cat lady (in denial, but you can guess who she is, can't you?). Sleuth sent us this funny video... about cats, of course! Thanks, Sleuth.
I also have a couple of recent photos of "les chats."
I also have a couple of recent photos of "les chats."
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| Pirate |
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| Pirouette |
Thursday, 13 June 2013
No stress
View_From_Here sent us these wise words:
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Thank you, View.
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then You Are Probably
The Family Dog!
Handle every Stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Pee on it and walk way.
Pee on it and walk way.
Thank you, View.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Hey TW, don't call the cops!
I couldn't resist posting this old favourite after TW's comment about some loud neighbours: "If you put on some Van Morrison.....I won't call the cops. Maybe."
The next one makes me go all oooh...
The next one makes me go all oooh...
Monday, 10 June 2013
One of the joys of summer
This is just a quick post because we have to go to the supermarket, which is not such a joy...
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Wonderful world
Amy sent us this spectacular video. I'm a great fan of David Attenborough and never miss any of his fantastic programs.
Thank you, Amy.
Thank you, Amy.
Saturday, 8 June 2013
He's not cheap...
GrannyJ sent us this story about Lee Trevino:
One day, shortly after joining the PGA tour in 1965, Lee Trevino, a professional golfer and married man, was at his home in Dallas, Texas, mowing his front lawn, as he always did. A lady driving by in a big, shiny Cadillac stopped in front of his house, lowered the window and asked,
"Excuse me, do you speak English?"
Lee responded, "Yes Ma'am, I do."
The lady then asked, "What do you charge to do yard work?"
Lee said, "Well, the lady in this house lets me sleep with her."
The lady hurriedly put the car into gear and sped off.
Thank you, GrannyJ.
One day, shortly after joining the PGA tour in 1965, Lee Trevino, a professional golfer and married man, was at his home in Dallas, Texas, mowing his front lawn, as he always did. A lady driving by in a big, shiny Cadillac stopped in front of his house, lowered the window and asked,
"Excuse me, do you speak English?"
Lee responded, "Yes Ma'am, I do."
The lady then asked, "What do you charge to do yard work?"
Lee said, "Well, the lady in this house lets me sleep with her."
The lady hurriedly put the car into gear and sped off.
Thank you, GrannyJ.
