Still Blue, Still Stocking: The Bluestocking remains open in 2021

Popping in for a breather and some toast. We're OK for now but we've more rain forecast for this afternoon.

A newly built housing estate opposite us, and the number of people who've swapped their (tiny) front gardens for paving are behind this enormous run-off. This is why the fact our garden is the lowest point is now a problem where it wasn't previously.

After coffee and toast, it's putting up more protections for this afternoon.

Yes, Embarrassing, best of luck. Wishing you several days of no more rain. Thank you for your sterling and generous catering endeavours.

Best of luck @EmbarrassingAdmissions having been in a flood situation before, and used bags of compost as sandbags, I sympathise. Hope it all goes well

EmbarrassingAdmissions many thanks for the pasta, I shall send all best hopes your way that floods recede.

Thanks for the lasagna.

Good luck...

I've put out the last tray of lasagna and pasta.

We're on a warning for flooding. We're in a worst state than everyone else as it's a multi-cambered sloping area, IYSWIM, and our property captures the run off and lowest point from everyone else.

We're watching the updated forecasts. Evacuation to shared areas is, of course, complicated by the local area's surge in Covid–19 infections.

Oo crikey embarrassing. I hope you keep dry.

Thanks for the coffee Arabella, kids are at their dad's and I have just had a three hour nap.

Lasagna etc. in the oven and the sauces are bubbling on the hob.

I may be having a sleepover in the Bluestocking as the water is rising outside the front door so DH is in his waterproofs to pump it. (I'm very pleased that I gave the pump a maintenance overhaul earlier this year.)

Just shout when you're ready Embarrassing

I'm going to have one or two now as aperitivo but will no doubt want another later for dessert.
Some pasta in between is a good idea.

Would anyone like a Sgroppino Al Limone?

Yes, please. It would be delightful to have this later.

If the temperature drops I shall think of putting out some bowls of pasta with sauces and I'm layering up a lasagne to pop in the oven.

I shall make you one Spring

I could murder an ice cream float. Dandelion and burdock with vanilla ice cream.

Would anyone like a Sgroppino Al Limone?

I've a hankering for an icecream float but need alcohol. I can make a batch as we've lemon sorbet, prosecco, vodka and plenty of mint outside.

Spring , I'm so sorry. Hope you are okay. Please be gentle with yourself.

And for you, BlackeyedSusan, hope all is peaceful now.

Lots of wine, though.

If it's not a waste, I could use some wine to put up some sorbets. (Mind, it's nothing but thunderstorms here.)

I'll segue into an evening buffet at some point - it's the usual tapas as I always have those in quantity.

Very generous of you. Anything suited for Bloody or Virgin Marys?
Sadly no.
Lots of wine, though.

I have passed my copy of Helen J's book onto a local LibDem (very lovely person, has worked her socks off for the local community). Let's see how that goes.

It's ok spring. Sorry if it came across as having a go. I can't think well with slamming doors and stomping feet, and whilst well into my own meltdown. It was bloody noisy.

Life can be shit sometimes, hoping things improve for you. Thanks for sharing the blanket.

Thanks for the warning about zombies. I shall check carefully. But maybe after the buffet.

Incidentally the number of fuckings/fucks generally indicates how bad the meltdown is.

Mmm! The zombie revival is one to avoid really. Best keep safe in here so legacy threads don’t get deleted…. Whatever the intention.

@highame thank you for the loan of the beautiful blanket, very comforting.
@BlackeyedSusan, again many apologies for my getting it wrong last night and sorry you, too, had a horrible day. Hope today is better.

I've just given Camilla a much needed brush, anyone want a carrier bag of camel hair?

Grief, I can't tell if it's the heat that's making me see zombie resurrections out there.

I'm pleased that the Bluestocking is here as a refuge.

Term ended the other day and I was given an extraordinary quantity of booze.

Goodness, the quality of these gifts seems to have improved from when so many of my family were teachers.

Very generous of you. Anything suited for Bloody or Virgin Marys?

There'll be an on-going brunch buffet set-up soon. It's too hot for me to consider anything like roast dinners, sorry.

I can put up French toast and similar but the kitchen's already >30C so I shall be in and out.

And ear defenders given the noise last night! (DC and I plugged back into WiFi which makes it a lot quieter!)

adds weighted blankets and sensory toys to pub. I'll have to order new ones as mine disappeared into children's bedrooms.

there would have been blood and gore everywhere...