The Bluestocking - Raiders of the Lost Sparp

[lcakethereforeIam]

Welcome everyone. Wipe your feet, it's been wet out.

Don't forget to namechange before posting if necessary.

Goodness, the thread took a turn from marzipan!

I hate hate marzipan

I knew the broad outlines of Orton and Halliwell, but had forgotten the details.

Which is odd, because it's the kind of story that interests me. With my amateur historian's hat on, year ago I became fascinated by the Thorpe Affair and became a bit of an expert in it. I have more Jeremy Thorpe related ephemera than is healthy (and probably more than the Liberal Democrats, who like to pretend he never existed)

I do love those stories you sometimes find in history that are so odd, if you didn't know they were true you'd think they were too far fetched for fiction.

Torn between dodging you because you must be very odd, and hanging around you to eat rejected marzipan...

No rejected marzipan at this house, it’s never bought.

I can’t speak for hedgie’s house, though.

I managed to marry a man who hates marzipan (and marmite). And then begot two children with him who also hate marzipan (but love marmite so I tolerate their weird marzipan antipathy). All the more marzipan for me!

DH is neutral about marzipan, finds it a bit sweet (which is fine coming from a man who can make a packet of Skittles vanish as if they never were), but is very keen on Marmite.

All the DC eat both, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

I just eat anything. I was one of those alarmingly skinny children who ate like a horse and grew like a weed, but never gained any bulk. Regrettably this is no longer the case, but my enthusiasm for food remains.

It is fortunate that I have Brains and Batshit to keep me walking miles through the countryside. Without them, I would rapidly outgrow all my clothes...

Batshit, BTW, leaping around like a loon in her excitement at the prospect of the afternoon walk, managed to bounce off a kitchen cupboard. She looked briefly baffled, as if it had jumped at her out of nowhere. It's the same look she has when she's tried to catch a thrown treat and has missed.

The world is very confusing.

My mum used to make a casserole of lambs hearts - we got one each which did make dinner time …. educational. They tasted OK, but I once got one that had a bit of cardboard stapled to it.

Extra fibre, Woley!

Did the cardboard have instructions on how to dissect the hearts, Woley?

We used to have stuffed heart sometimes - I don't know what kind but probably a cow's - as a special fancy Sunday dinner😨
We ate lots of innards of animals. I've been a vegetarian all my adult life, but I certainly tried everything carnivore beforehand!

I'm puzzled about the piece of cardboard stapled to the lamb's heart - what did it say? Calais?😄

I don't know what the time difference is or which direction it's in - is it time to wish Britinme a good night's sleep or a restful recovering day? Take your pick, Britinme, the same good wishes apply

I used to...not like exactly, those flying saucer sweets. The wafer walls tasted meh, but you could nibble round the edges to free the sherbet. That was entertaining.

According to Wikipedia, and I'm not sure I actually believe this, they were invented by a company in Antwerp, Belgica. The bottom had fallen out of their usual market and they needed a new income stream. Their usual market was communion wafers!

I can't believe I missed Battenburg appreciation night in the Blue Stocking. Is there any left for me?

@lcakethereforeIam I can absolutely believe that about the Belgians. They are dark horses. Plus the outer shell does taste and feel like a communion wafer.

I think your timezone is UTC-5 @Britinme? so hopefully you’ve had an acceptable dinner and are about to have a relaxing evening.

Very much liked ‘Calais’ and the idea of a mixup leading to fizzy wafers

I'm grateful I missed Battenberg appreciation. I have no idea if the Walrus and DSD like marzipan because it is banned from the house.

My aunt made me a birthday cake in the shape of a 6 for my 6th birthday and gave me the scraps of marzipan to eat. I ate far too much and I've never been able to eat it again.

Marzipan seems to be more ‘marmite’ than Marmite.
I can eat it if I have to (eg I don’t dissect wedding cake), just seems a waste of almonds.

Better than buttercream anyway. Dd wouldn’t eat it either so birthday cake from party bags was carefully excised, the dog was more than happy to dispose of it.

Thanks for all good wishes. I am home and have rarely been more glad to have a bath. A lovely friend left some black bean and barley soup which really hit the spot and we are about to watch a spot of TV before having an early night. It is currently 7:11pm here.

Good, glad you didn’t have to stay in long,

black bean and barley sounds like a comforting combination.

It's the alliteration.

Glad you're home @Britinme

Calais 😁

Should be black bean and barley broth then, for full effect.

The AI was a bit mean with the marzipan, but I'm still teaching it what Battenburg is. We're getting there slowly. Hope this is good enough.

I see you've got your own tea set. There's posh - nobody else has.

Can you imagine the fun if communion wafers were replaced by flying saucers? I'd love it!

Or popping candy in the bread.

I just realized that I have never eaten a Battenburg. I'm sure I'd like it but they don't seem to be a thing here in Argyll&Bute. I've never seen one in a cafe or at a cake sale. I could make one, I suppose.

Thank you! I'm delighted with this. I am of course happy to share my tea set but I do like to keep certain standards.