West London chat into Spring

[sfxmum]

thought I would start a new one

Where would the new school be sited then?

Is it cold in london? Its been boiling all week here, but is FREEZING now, Brrrrrrrrrr

@ "siesta countries"

siesta culture and fine weather of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy and wondering who will be next for the IMF bail out, after Portugal?

DS2's birthday party. Very relaxed, since most guests have been warned away by tummy bug. Quite fun still. Have never seen crispy-skin pork belly gobbled up quite so quickly!

hello

waves to dusty, not sure where site, very warm and sunny here sor a few days, quite nice for a change

copper glad to hear party was a success

off to another child centred day to the cinema etc

Working from home while kids play Lego explorer to the top of the world which is apparently the North Pole which is apparently upstairs.

Hello

Hope everyone enjoying the sun while it lasts (Sfx get out of the cinema quick!)

Copper - at Lego play. Glad celebrations went well. We have same situation in our school in that it's small, nightmare trying to fit another class in

Dusty - hi , how is purchase progressing?

Sfx - neighbour relations due to house extension plans, initially she was v. positive about it, but recently been quite aggressive and plain rude last wk when I posted Anwyay, we'll try and continue to be civil to her even if she doesn't return the courtesy

Wkend was good, DS1 had 2 parties and we went to pub!

vbus people are weird and sometimes their reactions have very little to do with your actions, but I hope it settles into some semblance of civility

I did enjoy the sun, we went to the cinema had lunch out followed by ice cream on the green and some shopping/ chores
after we got back home I went running for an hr, when i say running I mean half run half walking as still building up and my knee is painful, I must call the physio clinic probably ilio tibial band flaring up again

hopefully off to Kingston tomorrow if we manage to ditch a play date dd does not want to go to

Dusty - lots of people had hoped mortlake brewery would be turned into secondary school, particularly as already next to playing fields, but it's going to be an apartment development instead apparently (not even a few affordable houses, ah well).

Vbus - hope the neighbour tensions settle down soon, concur with Sfx that sometimes people react quite bizarrely no matter what you do, might be other stuff going on etc. Not pleasant though - hug.

sfx - what a lovely day, apart from bad knee of course. I had to go into work today, but at least I took girls to playground on Friday when it was glorious, so count myself lucky.

Copper - the pork sounds delicious! love belly pork, must get recipe from you one day... And then perhaps try to hone my actual cooking skills which are a bit patchy.

On the subject of food...I ate too much over weekend. I'm not a natural dieter (really like food, and the occasional tipple) but worried about emerging "desk-belly" now that I'm no longer doing round trip with buggy every day or cycling as DD1 now too big for cycle seat and takes scooter while we walk. Help!

Kora - LOL at phrase 'desk belly'! Do you like doing any sports? I completely over ate at wkend too Hope you enjoyed your wkend at IL's

Sfx - sorry to hear knee not getting better, hope you see physio soon

Thanks for your support both but I'm afraid neighbours reactions are directly down to us, she told me so and now her life is completely miserable because of us tbh it's nothing less than we expected given her volatile personality and past behaviour with the other neighbours. I'm a great believer in karma so all will work out

Meant to be going to Lookout tomorrow, hope the showers hold off

Hi Kora only advice I can give is do something you like regularly and vary the exercise routine, it gets much harder to keep fitness and weight under control as the years progress, but make it fun and mix it up. and kids will keep you busy and interested, it is nice for them when the entire family is active too I think
I have a particular incentive since my PCOS seems to make make one quite vulnerable to diabetes, my old doctor kept advising to go for Atkins type diet but I think it would make my life too miserable, best have a low GI type of approach

the Brewery site would be great but riverside it would always be a challenge to resit private development

on the subject of developments, does anyone know what they are building on the site of where Argos used to be?

vbus what you are saying is that she is a miserable old moo and hates everyone? still not down to you it is her personality

Didn't overeat over the weekend but what I did eat were pretty unhealthy. Pork belly (not much of that on account of locusts-like kids), curry in coconut milk, drinks.

Kora - after much research on the internet on Chinese and English website I've found an "approach" that worked. At least worked twice now. Ask me when you want to try it!

Definitely got desk-belly.

Vbus sorry to hear about your hostile neighbour, she does sound slightly bonkers - you are right to be civilised with her and keep focussed on your goal

Property purchase is progressing, albeit with some slight technical issue to do with poo management for commercial premises (won't bore you...), but am determined it will forge ahead and will be good for us. Plan is to exchange full time demanding job with bully boss for something part time and local, to supplement the wee income we will acheive from part time music venue...lets see what happens , feel as though we are leaping into unknown again, in slightly mid life crisis fashion but its all good, getting lots of support from locals

"Who is buying the venue?" is the talk of the village

Kora I didn't know about that proposal for a new school in Mortlake - I think I vaguely remember a discussion about Richmond's catholic secondary school being out in Twick/Tedd/hampton ish area - it gets proposed each year and Tories support it but Lib Dems kept turning it down, so maybe will happen with current leadership

Went to Pilates last week in perennial attempt to lose lurve handles and think I have pulled something in my neck its very painful, though it could be caused by my boss

@ "desk belly" Kora

SFX am half way through that KA book, "Started early, took the dog" and really enjoying it, thanks for the mention of it :)

Morning

Dusty - good luck with sorting out technical issue. Nice to be talk of the town

Sfx - you hit the nail on the head

Copper - what is the 'approach'? Do you mean for pork belly or desk belly?!

Who is coming tomorrow?
vbus
Copper
sfx
tilly
westwing

Are we meeting 10am at vic gate?
Back up plan if it's raining (head for C&C)?

Morning!

vbus - pork belly approach, silly. Desk-belly acquisition straightforward.

10am Victoria Gate. DS2 seems recovered, judging by the amount screeching upstairs. We will be cowards and not come if it rains.

My Ramayana and Mahabharata have arrived. Big fat books.

hello

I recall watching a version of the Mahabharata , a series, in shadow puppets, most memorable

dusty maybe when all technicalities are overcome you lot can advertise it as a venue for bands to rehearse and do low tech recordings 'at the famous old venue' I like the dream I am sure you can work it out, it is just too great

I am saving the KA book for summer holidays, currently enjoying the Mitford letters, still very funny but have reached the 70's and they have started ageing and dying so has its sad bits, the sister dynamic is interesting as ever

re Kew I don't know if we will make it, particularly at 10 but we are due to meet a school 'friend' today I don't predict this going well
it is also a bit tough when the playdate has nothing for me, the mother drives me nuts, i used to think the communication problems were due to poor English but I have come to the conclusion that she just does not want to understand

well spent first two days of hols at two differnt hosptial with DS's broken thumb. But at least he's plastered up now so more comfortable and we get a break until the plaster clinic next week.

[weary sigh emoticon]

sfx, keep meaning to read the Mitford letters, it sounds really interesting. Am just reading fluff atm so could do with something a bit more meaningful!

Copper, would also like your recipe for pork belly

Kora, at 'desk belly'. Unfortunately, I have one of those & don't even have the excuse of a desk

Yes to Kew tomorrow, 10am at Vic Gate. Will still come if its raining, C&C is probably the best bet.

Boys have outgrown their shoes already [sigh], ds1 is wearing shoes a full size too small, I asked him if they'd been hurting. 'Yes mummy, they were too tight', well, you need to tell me then!! Rant over...

OK - pork belly "recipe":

600g or so pork belly with scored skin. (I got it from Waitrose.)
Marinade: 5-spice powder, salt, pepper, sugar, rice wine, mix to a paste.

The day before:
(1) Poke more holes in the skin with a skewer.

(2) Slice the other side at about 1in intervals, not all the way through, and rub in the marinade. Don't get it on skin though. See pictures here.

(3) Pour coarse sea salt on the skin. Leave it uncovered in the fridge over night.

The big day:
(1) Scrape off the sea salt. Get rid of any remainder using kitchen paper. On no account let any water near it. Brush a little oil on the skin.

(2) Stick two skewers through length-wise. This helps it hold the shape. Wrap the meat part in foil, exposing only the skin.

(3) Put in hot oven (220C) for about 1/2 hour until skin blisters. Turn oven down to 180. Cook till cooked. (I think about 1 more hour.)

(4) Cheat step: if the skin doesn't look crispy enough put it under the grill and watch like a hawk. It will burn quite quickly. >

(5) Wait for it to cool a bit and then slice.

(6) Don't let bloody kids near it. They hoovered the bloody thing up before anyone else had a chance.

a playdate where the parent was more hard work than the mad child

we are unlikely to make it to Kew tomorrow sorry. and btw the playground by QueenC is no longer there

KewC hope the rest is calmer

tilly I can pass it on when I am done another couple of weeks I think, am reading slowly, trying to fit in study

dd's feet are a marvel they seem to grow every 6 moths or so but thankfully seems to have slowed down now, she is 13.5
everyone keeps telling me she will be tall

copper pork belly sounds great but I am the only one who likes it here

sfx - we are lucky that all the children the DSs like have lovely parents. Pork belly 600g you can eat it all yourself in a couple of days. (That will probably give you desk belly. ) Oh and thanks for info about QC playground. Not sure if we can make it now. A few things to sort out.

Yes, we will make it tomorrow, may not be 10am on the dot as obviously have further to come - but should manage close-ish to. Will give one of you a text or call and we can come and find you - don't hang around for us. SFX - shame you can't make it! Hope you are having some peaceful time after the playdate, they are not always fun.

We'll defo be there too. Forecast is drizzle so hope not too wet

Kew - ouch for DS, hope not too nasty and quick recovery, poor boy

Sfx - Pity we won't see you tom, hope you've recovered from playdate. Can I borrow Mitford after Tilly please? It looks interesting

Tilly - expensive business shoes

Copper - hope you can make it tom, ta for recipe. Dh does a version which also doesn't last long in our house. I did once have a part in a production of Ramayana when I was about 14

Spent all day out, the Lookout was fab, we're all exausted now!

No kew gardens for us. Too many things to do ...