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CF allotment thief thread no 4 - Babs’s dodgy solicitor and TV producers looking to cast for the role of Penfold?

990 replies

YaMuvva · 09/05/2024 15:24

New thread! Last one was here
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5049200-cf-allotment-thief-part-3-the-plot-thickens-and-auditions-begin-for-the-west-end-musical?page=38&reply=135136744

So a quick update.

DH dropped me off for my surgery this morning then dropped the kids at school before heading to the allotment. Babs was there gardening as were some other people on their own plots. All her crap was still there

DH went up and reminded her that she needs to be off the plot by the 20th. She said that she is awaiting advice from her solicitor to see if she can challenge us. She also said if the solicitor says she has to be off, she will be gone by the 20th but isn’t giving it up without checking if she has rights first. She did a fair bit of guilt tripping to DH about how she has spent 10 years being part of a community and having a hobby and she now has to give it all up but he held strong and told her, unless she comes back with a legitimate legal claim her property will be off the allotment by the 21st - wether it’s removed by her or by him.

However - enter Penfold stage right

Penfold is what we are calling the allotment neighbour who marched over from the other side of the plots (because that’s who he looks like). He started shouting at DH saying “You’re a bully! Fancy picking on an old lady and taking her allotment off her after all her years of hard work”. He pointed out it’s his allotment now and Penfold said that “just because your name is on a piece of paper it doesn’t give you the right to steal it off it’s rightful owner”. He then start saying “What do you know about gardening pretty boy? These allotments should be for real gardeners not pretty boys like you”

When DH told me this I laughed so hard I thought my stitches may burst 😂 DH IS very pretty but he’s also mid-40’s and hasn’t been called pretty in many many years. We are in semi-rural Yorkshire though and a man wearing a top that isn’t either blue black or white is considered a feminine.

When DH stated he does actually know about gardening, Penfold was all “Yeah right yeah right all you know about is putting your make up on” 🤣🤣 and said how these allotment owners have been around for decades he can’t just barge in and kick people out. DH said he was half expecting Penfold to say “this is a local allotment for local people”.

Then it was BABS of all people who told Penfold to STFU. Not quite those words but she said “oh do calm down Nigel”. The other plot owners just kept their heads down apparently. DH took off in the end but he is considering buying a Danger Mouse t-shirt to wear when he gardens. I’ve told him I can help him apply his make up 😂.

Anyway Babs’s words don’t exactly fill me with confidence but it’s better than flat out refusing to leave I suppose. I’m absolutely confident that legally she hasn’t a leg to stand on, but that doesn’t mean some dodgy solicitor won’t claim otherwise for a bit of easy money off her. Either way unless there is a claim that has legs (highly unlikely) DH will be round on the 21st to set up his stuff. PP were right about insane allotment owners - but we are just gonna have to lump it and not let Penfold ruin our time there.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 31/05/2024 06:43

How do we feel about beetroot steaks?

slice the beetroot in slices. Season them and pan fry with a little oil. I used to love these as a child 😋

breading the beetroot (and using more oil!) is obviously less healthy but you’ll end up with a crispy beetroot schnitzel (or fritters, if you do small pieces)!😅

Fraaahnces · 31/05/2024 08:49

@DeanElderberry - the biscuits sound great! (They’re probably very pretty too!) Unfortunately live in the land of Oz where beetroot goes in hamburgers. (Tbf, it is utterly fab in a hamburger, but I would still prefer a dill pickle.)

londonmummy1966 · 31/05/2024 14:00

@Fraaahnces - you can make a surprisingly nice cookie by mashing a large banana and mixing it with a cup of sesame seeds and a cup of mixed seeds. Just dollop dessert spoons of the mixture on a baking tray, flatten a bit and bake for 20-25 minutes. My go to treat when on a diet......

artant · 31/05/2024 14:28

For gluten free (flourless) cake, any of the recipes that involve boiling citrus fruit then blitzing it with eggs, sugar, ground almonds, baking powder (making sure it’s a gluten free one, obvs) and cocoa powder for a chocolate orange version are delicious and about the easiest, most reliable cake recipes out there. Nigella Lawson’s clementine cake or her chocolate orange cake are good examples (I think the recipes are very much borrowed from Claudia Roden but Nigella recipes are more readily available online).

saraclara · 31/05/2024 14:52

I love a boiled clementine cake. The one with fennel seeds, and soaked with syrup made with the remaining water and natural citrus oil from the pan, is my all time favourite

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 31/05/2024 16:08

@YaMuvva

before this thread ends

does anyone know when Babs actually went on holiday ?

and is she back yet ?!!!

If this was a planned holiday she knew she wouldn't be around on the 20th

and it's possible a solicitor's letter was waiting for her on her return...

tho I don't believe she ever consulted a solicitor.

FairyBreadQueen · 31/05/2024 16:15

Fraaahnces · 31/05/2024 08:49

@DeanElderberry - the biscuits sound great! (They’re probably very pretty too!) Unfortunately live in the land of Oz where beetroot goes in hamburgers. (Tbf, it is utterly fab in a hamburger, but I would still prefer a dill pickle.)

Beetroot (pickled) in hamburgers are the best thing! Plus also the proper Australian salad sandwich with pickled beetroot, iceberg lettuce, grated carrot, cheese or ham and tomato on white.

I've been away from Oz for 25 years but these are the two things I crave. (Plus a proper steamed dim sim. And a proper potato cake. And a battered scallop. And a curried scallop pie......... oooh feeling homesick. Sad ).

DrJonesIpresume · 31/05/2024 18:33

Beetroot and dill sounds a good combo - I like dill with carrots.

I like dill with sprouts.

DeanElderberry · 31/05/2024 18:37

Good carminative.

I'm convinced that that is also why a lot of Irish people whose staple diet included lots of wholemeal soda bread and cabbage used to put caraway seeds in the bread. Calm that wind.

Callipygion · 31/05/2024 20:30

I made some caramel brownies today ( I bought a tin of Carnation caramel by mistake instead of condensed milk, oops). They are very nice but the ones in the middle of the batch are very very gooey. I just cannot seem to get brownies right, they are either too gooey (if I just bake for the time specified) or too cakey (if I put them back in for an extra few mins) 😭

CaptainMyCaptain · 31/05/2024 20:33

Gooey brownies are the best.

Callipygion · 31/05/2024 22:25

These are a bit too gooey. ☹️ (I’ll still eat them though 😆)

Tarkan · 31/05/2024 23:27

I swear by this recipe for brownies. Hasn't gone wrong for me yet (and baking isn't really my thing, I love cooking but baking often goes wrong for me).

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-ever-chocolate-brownies-recipe

artant · 01/06/2024 02:50

Following a thread theme, I’ve had success using this recipe for chocolate and beetroot brownies: https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/chocolate-and-beetroot-brownies

I think I added cranberries (because it was Christmas but also why not?).

Fraaahnces · 01/06/2024 06:53

@londonmummy1966 Thank you, but haven’t been able to look bananas in the face since my Nanna force fed me bananas and custard/rice pudding to “fatten me up”. 🤮

Nanaof1 · 01/06/2024 17:38

Uh-oh @YaMuvva We are going to need a "thread number 5" before long!

I have been enjoying these threads because almost everyone has been kind and most have such a fun sense of humor. Love reading these!

godmum56 · 01/06/2024 18:53

artant · 01/06/2024 02:50

Following a thread theme, I’ve had success using this recipe for chocolate and beetroot brownies: https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/chocolate-and-beetroot-brownies

I think I added cranberries (because it was Christmas but also why not?).

dried cranberries are AMAZING to cook with. Also try dried sour cherries. I have also shoved fresh raspberries into brownie batter, equally spaced out so everyone gets the same amount in their piece. They have a scented sharpness that cuts the sweetness. At a pinch you can use frozen ones still frozen but they do collapse a bit.

grumpygrape · 01/06/2024 19:08

I’m fairly new to Mumsnet but this thread has been a revelation. We started with Claim Jumping, work our way through medical issues and are currently swapping Chocolate Cake and Brownie recipes.

I think I’ll stay 😀

We're supposed to have good weather in Yorkshire tomorrow - I hope Pretty Boy will be showing Penfold his six pack....

OP posts:
Callipygion · 01/06/2024 20:29

grumpygrape · 01/06/2024 19:08

I’m fairly new to Mumsnet but this thread has been a revelation. We started with Claim Jumping, work our way through medical issues and are currently swapping Chocolate Cake and Brownie recipes.

I think I’ll stay 😀

We're supposed to have good weather in Yorkshire tomorrow - I hope Pretty Boy will be showing Penfold his six pack....

It’s like a modern day version of The Good Life!

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 01/06/2024 21:11

@saraclara

I've asked you about the boiled clementine cake on the new thread, just incase you don't know about / don't see the new thread

saraclara · 01/06/2024 21:14

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 01/06/2024 21:11

@saraclara

I've asked you about the boiled clementine cake on the new thread, just incase you don't know about / don't see the new thread

Will go and look! Sorry, I haven't checked in on this thread for a while

imnotthatkindofmum · 01/06/2024 22:57

I've lurked on these threads for so long! But happy to report I made a Bruce bogtrotter cake today and it is awesome!!! Though I do need some grease proof paper as they didn't come out of the tins well. Still taste good though. I got frosting in the reduced section at the coop for 50p so just used that.

Probably the best outcome of these threads is the cake tbh!!

artant · 02/06/2024 01:13

I went rogue with the icing when I made it and put raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream in the middle and chocolate ganache on top. We ate some of it with fresh raspberries. A very indulgent treat!