Bringing in some light

[Lidlfix]

It's hard for everyone right now, by varying degrees granted, and sometimes it's nice to blether. I'd like a thread that doesn't turn into political debate. A Chat if you like with a Scottish perspective that has a gentler vibe. I admire the posters with strong political views, knowledge, interests and thick skins - qualities I lack. But it's not for everyone.

My fig and blackberry candle is lit and my nice coloured gin bottles have wee LED lights in. I feel refreshed after my two week hols but worried about the term to come. Come share what you're doing to bring in some light, your wee treats, autumn booze concoctions or just blether.

One nice thing I’ve been enjoying recently is the Friday Art Quiz on the National Galleries of Scotland Facebook page. I’m rubbish, but it’s very soothing. I had a holiday job there in the 90s too, so brings back nice memories.

That sounds nice.

It's dry here today and I'm finally getting out for that walk I threatened days ago.

It's a glorious day here in Glasgow . We're thinking of going for a walk to feed the ducks who were neglected yesterday while the guys are away for lunch.

Weather due to deteriorate tomorrow again - but hopefully by then we'll have a warm house

heating progress looking good PSB - hope you get your warm house for tomorrow considering the forecast!

today is fab though so I've fitted in a walk, and contemplating trying to hunt down a pal to come sit in the garden for a cuppa

I have managed to obtain the mythical M & S Clementine Snowglobe Gin Liqueur. This year it lights up . How do I resist opening it? I want to try to keep it till December. Or should I just buy another one if I can find one .

Oh @Lidlfix that's beautiful. Think I'll get one, bet it tastes gorgeous too.

I tasted it last year one friend found a random bottle in a Simply Food in a garage somewhere. It was divine! You know that way that clementine has a different ( more Christmassy ),taste to an orange? It's that and golden and amazing. It suggests serving with Prosecco. I can but dream.

I went for a walk at lunchtime today and crunched my way through multicoloured autumn leaves it was lovely. Tonight I have a Halloween candle burning, making pizza from scratch with the Bottle Flippers and not watching the news so far so good!

Heating installation still going well. Will be finished tomorrow or the day after. The hot water tank is humungous

3 radiators are now piped in and a lot of old piping removed. Only 5 more radiators to go - and completing the installation of the boiler itself.

All the cold water taps and the loos are now on mains pressure - but their valves might not cope!

Will be glad that once it's finished, we'll actually know where the pipework goes - and that it's not running alongside them electrical wiring as the previous pipework did

You should open that gin immediately if you haven't already.

I saw the gin in M&S but didn't buy it on the exact basis that it would be opened before Christmas! I bet it smells amazing.

@Lidlfix oooh, clementine and Prosecco 😍

I have some plum gin liqueur maturing - but it's not in a pretty bottle like the M&S one

Goes beautifully with Cava [hic]

Oh my god, it lights up?!

Apparently it has gold in it that lights up?!?!

I wouldn't thank you for flavoured gin, it all tastes like calpol to me.

Gold leaf and a little battery LED on the base so when you shake it up it swirls and sparkles against a back drop of trees. Very pretty . I do find some gin liqueurs very sweet so the Prosecco should help. Any excuse to dilute alcohol with eh more alcohol . Most years I make a raspberry gin liqueur and a bramble vodka one. My heart wasn't really in it this year.

Maybe I should - Prettybird care to reveal your plum gin recipe?

This is the recipe I follow, using plums from the very proliferous Victoria plum tree in our garden. I add a couple of sticks of cinnamon. The picture is of it just after being made, along with the first batch of plum jam.

https://jamesbonfieldrecipes.wordpress.com/2010/11/27/plum-liqueur-plum-gin/

I've also made redcurrant gin, from a different recipe.

#domesticgoddess

Do you leave it the whole 3 & 1 months waiting time? Would it be rank if I started one now for Christmas drinking? Thanks 🙏🏻

It would probably be fine by Christmas. Key thing is for all the sugar to dissolve.

Wee tip: once you've decanted the plums at the end, you can de-stone them and dip them in melted dark chocolate. Don't look very pretty but very yummy and decadent

I just wish I could drink. When I was in my 20s I was great st drinking in the Drum and Monkey most weekends.... Now in my 50s even the sniff of drink gives me a sore head. I'd love a big goblet of g&t, even if I'm not mad keen on the taste, but it always looks nice. Or a nice glass of chilled white wine. But even typing that I feel my head getting sore

Dh isn't a drinker either, we'd rather have a cup if tea on a Saturday night!!

I hear you @ssd

I gave up drinking years ago after a particularly hideous night. Didn't touch a drop for about 5 years, now I occasionally really fancy a drink, open a bottle of wine, drink 3 sips then just don't want it any more. My friends are always talking about their latest gin finds and I feel a bit sad I can't join in, but I just don't want to. One of them was talking about the sparkly gin this week. I wish I could turn myself off chocolate so easily.

Aw, nice thread. I haven't read it all but i love this time of year (aparet from the rainy bits!) Went for a little autumnal run on Friday after work just before it got dark and it was AMAZiNG shufflling through the mulchy leaves and admiring the colours of the trees. Making sure to stay positive and apprecate each day. All the negativity at work had been really getting me down. Someone ran into my car two weeks ago so had to get that fixed too.

DH and I are really foodies and love matching wines, sampling malts , mixing cocktails as we genuinely adore talking (complete wanky nonsense) about flavours and fragrances.

So many of my friends have found that they just can't enjoy alcohol the same after the menopause due the impact on sleep terrible hangovers etc. I will be bereft if this happens to me.

Please tell me I just have weird friends or other positive tales .

@Lidlfix I hope that doesn’t happen to me. I’m fifty and just getting into nice cocktails because if DP who is also into the wanky cocktail chat 😂

An old fashioned is my favourite. In fact, one would be perfect right now!