The Autumn Bluestocking - mist, mellow fruitfulness and hot chocolate!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Welcome one and all - as the nights draw in, pull up a chair to the fire, and the gerbils will be along soon with hot chocolate and Tunnock’s teacakes.

One time I woke up after a horrific 'dream' that there was someone in the room with me it turned out I had a mouse that had run across my face while I was asleep.

These days large animals plonking down on top of me in the middle of the night is quite usual, rodents in the bedroom less so.

I have an important thing to say.

I know that @Boiledbeetle‘s images are AI generated, but I want to applaud Boily for her imagination in generating the prompts.

When I came off MN last night to watch cosy crime (Don’t bother with Murder Most Puzzling, it really is dreadful despite my love of Phyllis Logan), with the Walrus and DSD, drinking Prosecco and red wine to celebrate our wedding anniversary and therefore formalisation of our lovely little family, then sleeping heavily because, you know, proper drugs, I never expected to wake up to a full assimilation of the Bluestocking by the Borg, that was successfully resisted by Borg gerbils in tutus!

Boily really is a comedy genius and I want to express my utter admiration and indeed, awe at her talents.

💖💙🎉🥳👏🏻🍾🎊🍻🥂🎁🎈🪅

@MyrtleLion

🤗

To be fair though it wasn't me but Dean who saved us from the borg I merely fed the words into the AI...

DeanElderberry · Yesterday 19:36

I think for the Borg, assimilating the gerbils would be up there with assimilating species 8472 or poor doomed Icheb, they'll think they've done so well, and then realise just exactly what it is that makes the gerbils distinct when its too late to retreat. Soon the cubes will be full of sweet-natured, chaotic, impulsive robots in tutus unable (or unwilling) to carry out any maintenance tasks without capybara supervision.

Ughhhh! That's worse than waking up with a dead mouse next to you I think.

I was most surprised one morning on checking the previous nights cctv, to see exactly where the spraying tom cat who used to break in had been, that I can sleep through cats howling, screaming and hissing chasing each other straight over my bed, and trampling on me in the process, whilst I just snore away!

And I love that you ascribe credit where it’s due 💙

By the way, I know some of you have awesome DHs, DPs and DWs, but this is why the Walrus is the best husband in the world.

He is a husband of the Bluestocking. Honour him.

Steady on! He needs to think he is still working towards perfection or he'll start slacking and before you know it Myrtle will be reduced to choosing between a packet of custard creams or a packet of bourbons.

What do you mean, "reduced to"? The answer is always bourbons.

Mind you, I was wise enough to marry a man who likes custard creams, so it's never really a choice. I nobly save him from the bourbons and he heroically rescues me from the custard creams.

DH and I fight over the MacVities dark chocolate digestives. I buy one pack a week and it is supposed to last us...

Luckily I love both!

Would you like a bourbon Twist?

Yes they are from Christmas but it's testament to the fortitude of a bourbon that there are still 2 months to go before they hit their best before date!

Ooh, yes please! How did I miss those at Christmas?!

They'll probably be back in stock at some point this month!!

... until you've finished unpacking the shopping.

Got it in one.

Love Love Love ❤️ 💙💙💙

By the way, for those reading The Hallmarked Man, a plate of Tunnocks Teacakes is mentioned in Chapter 66.

To be honest, I'm sure it must be a coincidence. What would Robert Galbraith know about the significance of Tunnocks?

I have a small confession to make which may shock some of you.

I do like chocolate but generally I can take it or leave it. My favourite sweets are Jakeman's Throat and Chest, but I would probably choose any hard boiled sweet over chocolate any day of the week. Pear drops, rhubarb and custard, Fox's glacier fruits - though my favourite was the dark purple ones tasting of licorice or aniseed - you name it, I love it.

Not a fan of mints.

And the move away from boiled sweets to spongy foam and gummy sweets only encourages the eating of more of those sweets because they are gone so quickly. Which is probably why the confectionery companies push them.

So, I couldn't really see the attraction of Tunnocks Teacakes. Though I must have had some in the past, my dad was a Glaswegian after all, today is the first time I have had one in years.

And now I completely understand the phenomenon and why Boily steals asserts ownership of them all.

They are delicious! Obviously. But also the second I had finished it, I wanted another. And was resentful that I voluntarily gave one to the Walrus (before I had eaten mine).

I am showing great restraint so far because I want them to last, but I think another box may need to be purchased before the day is out.

If I could only eat one boiled sweet going forward it would be Aniseed twists.

They are, dare I say it, even more addictive than Tunnock's Tea Cakes.

I can't believe you only bought a solitary box. Rooky move.

Have you tried the plain chocolate version?

No, and I won't because I love plain chocolate and I think buying a box would be the start of an expensive and fattening addiction.

Like I said, I am so uninterested in chocolate I never thought I would succumb.

They're going to be like wine and crisps, aren't they?

Can't have them in the house because they're gone in seconds.

We both have had to admit we feel much better if we stay off biscuits etc but Mr Dragon compensates by buying fruit such as M&S king cherries, and recently a supply of my favourite Whittards Regal Blend tea - both ridiculously expensive but delicious and as guilt-free as Bluestocking confections.

I like the idea of Tunnocks; I can imagine the taste, texture and smell of them with appreciation but I’m honestly not sure I’d be able to scoff them now.

Oh go on. You could always get a timed pet food dispenser & put one in each section.😂

I do love chocolate, but can only have a little bit, because of the diabetes - I have a box of Green and Black’s mini chocolate bars - mainly dark, so better for me, and each one is tiny, so I can have a daily treat.

I haven’t tried the M&S king cherries, @ErrolTheDragon - but cherries are my favourite fruit, so I am very jealous. I particularly love the picota cherries that appear for about a month each year - they taste delicious and are only £1 a pack.