Dark and stormies all round! Bluestocking piss up

[QuentinSummers]

A friendly place for feminist or general chit chat. Welcome all!

Well, I can actually offer you some very nice pigs' melts, done using a recipe from The Fifth Quarter (a very good, offal book).

However, I have alder-smoked hazels, hickory-smoked almonds, and some smoked cheese (all smoked at home so I know it's not liquid smoke). I have some very good Spanish, spiced fried broad beans (not mine but I have 1kg and am happy to share) and some spiced chickpeas that I did.

Usual assortment of gluten-free breads, 'normal breads, and various fillings on request.

I made macaroni cheese for tea tonight. Lots of melted cheese. It's a very satisfying food. It's a somewhat dissatisfactory insult, really. A step up from plophead, maybe. But, you know, not really going to get any venting joy from that, are you?

I'm on quite low carbs and finding it relatively easy three months in. A friend of mine (who has type 2 diabetes) does the keto diet - so virtually no carbs - and only eats once a day.

I'd fucking kill myself if I had to do that.

Yes, a friend of mine has lost so much weight on that keto-ish diet that was in the news recently. He is very happy and looks great, which is lovely for him.

But I tried that sort of diet a few years ago and I was the most miserable bastard all the way through it. I enjoy eating, and I enjoy drinking. As it happens, the work I do is very active, so I lose weight quicker than I put it on, but I can't think of any reason why I would be happy to never eat lots of potatoes and cheese and drink wine again. I mean, I will give them up for Lent because I enjoy them and that's what sacrificing and penance should be about, but doing it forever? My sanity and the well being of those around me would be dealt a death-blow.

I could happily inhale all of the above arran ! Crikey, a once-a-day only meal with no carbs I can't imagine. I'd be gnawing my own limbs.

But I tried that sort of diet a few years ago and I was the most miserable bastard all the way through it.

Years ago, when it was the diet du jour, my female partner and I did the Atkins diet for a bit. We have different body types (I'm pear-shaped, she's apple) and she loses weight massively more easily than I do; however, we both did lose weight on it...

The key difference was that I was like a dead person after a fortnight. I had no energy at all. I was a keen and regular runner in those days (my knees won't allow it now), but I couldn't get 50 yards without feeling like I was going to collapse.

Luckily, I happened to run into a doctor at work one day and told her about it - her response was along the lines of 'Are you fucking INSANE? Stop it NOW!"

I can't think of any reason why I would be happy to never eat lots of potatoes and cheese and drink wine again.
Life is too short!
I flipping hate diets/food policing so I don't.

Staggers to bar...

A mug of your finest lemsip, please, the '63 vintage should do nicely. And a large box of hankies.

Also a babysitter/meal-cooking service for the small boy, please.

If he likes pasta bake and is ok with other DC, I am your woman. I'm coming out the other side of this cold and it is miserable in the middle.

I'm pretty sure in 63 there was only honey and lemon with optional whisky. Maybe with a disprin chaser.

Hope you feel better soon.

Whisky and a disprin chaser sounds good. And pasta bake is nutritionally superior to anything I've conjured up so far today. Thank god for tomato soup.

Currently trying the towel and bowl of steaming water trick - as always it seems to have settled on my chest (I always wonder at times like this what lasting effect my mum's 20-a-day habit back when I was a kid has had on my lungs).

fermats colds suck

Colds are wretched. There is one knocking about this house right now, and I have this horrid cough that feels like I have loads of phlegm in my throat but nothing happens when I hack until I nearly pass out.

Bloody seasonal changes. Yeah yeah, pretty leaves and an excuse for candles, but sod off with your viruses, Autumn. Git.

Spiced milk please. Foul journey home - every train was substantially delayed than a tree on the line, bus replacement that didn't come, and shared a cab that dropped me a distance away from home as I had to share one with several others (very expensive as we crossed several zones).

If I slide to floor, please ignore me, but if you find it in your heart to drop a blanket on me, I will be grateful.

Pops head round door with scarf over face - hands out brandy, Vic and honey with lemon.
It's been an up and down week but the awesome Posie has lifted hearts tonight. And the Stonewall petition is well over 6,000 and there's been so much publicity and horrified awareness following the KW court case .
Hopefully some of this will lift the spirits of all the poorly in here.
and mulled for all who need it tonight.

Spiced milk sounds really good arranfan, how would you make it?

I've just polished off the last dregs of a bottle of Highland Park. We have quite a whisky collection - anyone else fancy a dram?

Cinnamon, a little cassia, touch of nutmeg, allspice, and tonka bean - maybe a drop of vanilla extract and a tip of a teaspoon of honey, depending...

I'll take a whisky dram to add to some fruit macerating for a cake if that's OK.

Wow arranfan that sounds amazing!

I'll swap you a mug of spices milk for a hefty drop of Ardbeg, my very favourite. Or maybe something like Glenfiddich would be better for feeding a fruit cake?

Spiced milk, even. Ahem

I'd like a lemon and ginger toddy please to soothe my ulcerated throat (including uvula) that I'm hoping does not turn into abscesses.

Maybe a Strepsil and Tyrozel in the saucer in place of those nice Biscoff biscuits.

Some gentle music would be good. Forgive the lack of conversation but I'm happy to nod along if people feel like getting within shouting distance of me (I don't think I'm infectious but better safe than sorry).

Abscesses setting in so I'll have to keep an eye on their size. However, a ginger toddy would be grand (no lemon, little bit too acid for my wretched throat at present).

Maybe a tiny bowl of ice-cream.

Some Friday live music would be welcome - is there anyone coming in or sitting on the piano?

I can tinkle gently on my guitar if that helps.
There's a strange mood in the air.
Gently strumming next to a Greenham common style campfire and thinking fondly of 'the old days'

Im 'brewing' some sloe gin at the moment

Should be ready in 3 weeks

I do still have a bit of last years batch...its good for what ails ya

That sounds appropriately rustic for my mood rufus! It would be nice to get out amongst the trees and quiet reality for a bit.

Hey all. I'm listening to an album called Harbour by Blue 6. V recommended