Keep the home fires burning for Zombie

[atheistmantis]

Keeping my candle lit for zombie tonight.

I saw a poster for donating blood today. It's for Friday and I've been too scared to do it before. I thought I'd do it in place of a candle so wish me luck

Sending candle light for the night and will have a glass of wine xx
Love and a peaceful night x

AM hope you are doing ok.

Chewing how lovely but I'm sad that you needed one in first place

Zombie hope you're feeling as well as possible

SloanyAnne Lovely plan. Good luck

I've lit a fancy pants virtual candle as well as my vanilla one. On to an 11th page!

I'm feeling inspired to get my hook out again and do some more squares for Woolly Hugs as I've been a bit shite since I started my full time job (3 and a half years ago!) The Candy hugs are vibrant and wonderful. I hope yours is doing its job, chewing.

@SloanyAnne - make sure you eat before you donate. I didn't. fainted

Another candle lit in Cambridgeshire

Sloany eating also helps it flow quicker. I really struggle to give a full donation if I haven't eaten beforehand.

Calling all Gin swilling Phalanx members -- I need your help.

In honour of Zombie's gin swilling skills I have decided to treat myself to a rather special Rhubarb Gin from M&S. It's slightly pricey but, to toast Zombie, It's well worth it.

My problem lies with what to mix with it.

For context my favourite gin is Gordon's and I enjoy it with Schweppes tonic water and a slice of lemon or lime. Trouble is tonic water can be quite overpowering - will it destroy the subtle flavour of a rhubarb gin???

If so what should I use as a mixer??

Come on Phalanx - any gin related advice would be much appreciated. I want to raise a glass or 3 to Zombie .

Forgot to say my candle is lit in Cheltenham. 🕯

Fairy, Prosecco maybe? Or just soda?

Drink it very chilled and neat.

Hmm Fairyfellows, rhubarb gin you say?
I have another gin-related Q (but you may have answered it with the rhubarb gin) - I need to buy a birthday gift for someone & they're caring for a cancer sufferer. They like gin, it seems appropriate. But it should be really naice posh gin, as it's a gift and as the situation is a bit shit.

What gin shall I buy? Hit me with your favourites, please, Phalanx experts.

Fairy ginger ale goes really well with rhubarb gin!

De-lurking to to show another candle lit for Zombie in "Gods own County".

Remembering my own time on morphine - was such a relief from intense pain to bliss. Hope it's doing good work for you Zombie.

I would sample the gin but am a lone parent this week as DH is away with work.

Have however, discovered a cunning substitute of a lovely tall glass of tonic with a slice of lime - having dipped my finger in the gin and run it round the rim of the glass - all the aroma of a G&T without the good stuff booze.

I'm calling it a "Fools G&T"

No candles tonight but zombie you are in my thoughts, wishing you a peaceful night and hoping you're getting plenty of fag breaks in

I like cucumber in 'posh' gins. How's about dipping the glass rim in tonic and then caster sugar before putting the gin in?

Fairy was going to say keep the bottle in the freezer and add ice if you want to dilute a bit.

But I see Allalone pipped me

MrsNutella will I still have eyebrows after the feuer thing, or will I look like Cheery Littlebottom?

Hey lovelies, happy to report back home now with a spag bog nicely simmering and high as a kite decent painkillers doing their job

Am just loving the good things abounding from the tread; from Chewy's blanket, to Sloany's blood donating, to the awesome lot knitting or crocheting Candy Squares - bloody marvellous and shows how change is possible one person and one action at a time

I'm hoping Zombie is warmly tucked up, able to have eaten something, in zero pain, and ensconced in the company of Zlad and Zlass right now

In utterly unrelated but rather fab news, DS1 has reached a verrrrrrrrre important decision about his future and decided to become a midwife; am both uber chuffed and rather proud about this (and by utter coincidence, he was delivered by a very young male midwife himself). Whilst I was waiting to be picked up I had a veritable stream of shiny brand new babies going past with their proud parents from the Maternity unit next to A&E to the car park to make their first journey home, I'd forgotten how teeny tiny they are and how incredibly distinctive their piercing new baby cries are!

Oldie I might have to try that!

Sloany do they still ban you from donating if you've had a blood transfusion? I'm not allowed any more.

nosquirrels I really like the Botanist Gin, Garden Tiger and of the ones in the supermarket, Hendricks is my favourite.

Gins you say? We currently have:

Thomas Dakin (has horseradish, vair nice)
Zymorgorium (distilled from mead)
Gin Mare (olives & rosemary)
Opihr (cardamom)
Daffy's gin
Six o'clock gin
Jinzu (distilled from sake)
Arbikie (Scottish gin)

Fever Tree tonics are nice, but their soda water is probably best with rhubarb gin x