Thread 10 - TalkLair: “The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles.”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 9).

Although the nights are gradually drawing in, the new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey inside. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Mine, @Mavis

The shrew slaying t'other night must have happened in another room, because this morning's session was very growly and went on for nearly an hour (carefully timed to start an hour before waking-up time). The corpse was carefully deposited half way between bed and loo, but I had armed myself with a torch (overhead light switch away by the door, bedside light fairly targeted for reading) and was scanning the floor carefully, so no danger of squishing.

Up to four litters a season according to this, and up to 10 young per litter. If you live in GB, they're on your big island now . . .

https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-greater-white-toothed-shrew/

I read somewhere that shrews taste really horrible to cats. Or is that voles?

Shrews taste nasty - they're insectivores. Voles are vegetarian, and observation suggests they are regarded by discerning felines as a delicious treat.

Thank you @Britinme - I enjoyed reading your poems!

Evening all! They've kept me in! I thought it was because of low oxygen saturation levels which it was but found out today that it was also because they're worried that they might have caused a slight tear in my oesophagus. The protein shake drink vs feeding tube makes sense now. I was very mardy about being kept in today until they told me. I wouldn't have been if they'd made it clear. I was just thinking, "I've hardly lost that much weight!". Admittedly I was drugged up with pethedine but when they called Snoop to tell her not to come they only told her the oxygen thing too and she's my next of kin. I had a chest x-ray when I was semi conscious yesterday which must have been related to that as well

Thankfully discovered we have free WiFi today and Snoop came in with a charger and some bits and bobs so I'm more accepting of my fate. I've also had a protein shake drink which was my first nutrition for over 36 hours. No leaking thus far so I'm really hoping I'll be home tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Fingers dutifully crossed @MouseMinge . Makes typing awkward tho...

That all sounds really frustrating and scary @MouseMinge - fingers firmly crossed for you here! (I would just like to say that I did actually cross my fingers and it’s made me realise that I haven’t done that in a long time and it’s harder than it used to be. Curse aging and the gradual arrival of arthritic finger joints.)

Crossing my fingers Mouse

Hope you heal quickly, @MouseMinge

Sending best thoughts in your direction MouseMinge.

Yes, I'm also thinking sympathetic thoughts for you, mouse. But just think, at least you're safe from Eldeberry's cat...

Boo to being perforated, Mouse. Hope you're back home (leak free) soon.

Sending warm vibes your way Mouse. Hope you get some sleep-often difficult in hospital.

Sending good thoughts too, Mouse.

Oh Mouse! Are you likely to be in long? Fingers crossed they sort you aht soon. xxx

Wishing you a rapid recovery @MouseMinge, you poor thing!

Hope you're much better soon @MouseMinge !

All the best, MM.

We have a bloke who has selfishly decided to have Covid. He's isolated in the hospital room, but it seems futile, as the air circulation and conditioning systems move air through every space onboard.

I hope I don't get it again!

are you offshore, @SinnerBoy?

Oh dear @SinnerBoy, I hope you don't get infected!

In a similar vein, my project student has been fighting some sort of lurgy, so we agreed she could stay at home to do her background reading the previous week. On Friday we got together for the first proper lab-based day - close proximity (the only way to properly teach the techniques!) all day. She was still hoarse and coughing.

This morning I woke up with a sore throat and now I'm coughing. Sigh.

Happens every autumn term when the students return to campus.

Great news, I'm going home! F knows what they were talking about as my discharge form has no perforation on it. They're setting up chemo and radio therapy for me in Worthing and possibly Brighton so that's good news. The weather is glorious today and I'm looking forward to seeing Francis and Django. I have a heavy box of a protein shake called Fortsip to take home and my diet is now that, soup and ice cream. It could all be a lot worse and I'm giddy to get out!

Hooray! Glad you're going home. Soup and ice cream doesn't sound like a bad diet. I have a recipe for the easiest and most fattening ice cream ever. Take one can of sweetened condensed milk and a pint of double cream, beat to soft peaks, add flavouring and freeze. Vanilla essence works well, you can make chocolate ice cream by putting 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder in the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. I swirl flavours through - caramel or chocolate sauce, or lemon curd (add some lemon essence and/or zest to the ice cream too). I did an amazingly good combo of chocolate ice cream with a mixture of crunchy peanut butter and caramel sauce swirled through it, though you could use creamy peanut butter if texture is a problem

I made lots of batches of this last summer and gained half a stone.

You don't need to beat this while it's freezing.