Much Ado About Nothing?

Gentlemen shaking hands Thrilling Life by The British Library is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Monday, 13 May 2024

Last week, It was reported here in the broadcast media that the Garrick Club, one of the oldest clubs in the world which also happened to be a gentlemen’s club had voted successfully to accept women.

Prior to that there had been a lot of debates on this subject matter. Women from all walks of life were campaigning to be accepted to this member’s club. There were some prominent men too who joined in the campaign.

I know nothing about the Garrick club. Only what I have read about it in the newspapers that is it is a club for actors.

I don’t understand what all the hype and drama was about because if it started as a gentlemen’s club why can’t it remain a gentlemen’s club just like the WI (Women’s Institute)!

In any case, there are far more important things in life than membership to the Garrick club! Instead of wasting precious time on unimportant matters like these, politicians and the so called important people of this world should channel their energy on the poor and the suffering of this world who are wondering where their next meal is going to come from and if they are going to survive the night!!!!

All Is Well Again!

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Friday, 10 May 2024

I am very pleased to boast announce that we are once again able to enjoy a good of cup of tea in bed thanks to our new Teasmade.

Much to my surprise, Swan who is the manufacturer of the Teasmade offered a new replacement very quickly as I was expecting much humming and hawing on their part!

The one that we had bought was a vintage design but as they had sold out on that particular design they offered us a modern version which I gladly accepted.

It is wonderful to wake up to the sound of water boiling every morning. I much prefer it compared to the sound of the vicar’s phone alarm!

Back on Monday.

Don’t Try to Be Too Clever!

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Thursday, 9 May 2024

I had two things on my to do list that morning and the first was to pay a bill online which I did on my laptop. Then I tried to copy down the reference number for the payment but it was all gobbledegook so I used my mobile phone to take a quick photo of the page for future reference. I swiftly moved on to my next item on the list which was to contact the window cleaner by text message.

As I was typing a quick message to him, I noticed that the phone was trying to attach the reference number page to the text message! Why would it want to do that? I panicked a little because the reference page contained some personal information and I certainly didn’t want the window cleaner to be privy to those information!

I tried different ways to delete the attachment but the mobile phone was having none of it. Finally I found a solution but that meant that I was forced to delete the message log. After deleting it, I panicked a little more because did deleting the message log mean that I had deleted the window cleaner’s number too?????!!!!

Thankfully his number was still in the contact list but then what a palaver to send one simple text message!

How Did I Forget It??!

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Wednesday, 8 May 2024

The vicar had just left my study after coming in to tell me of a recent development. I was in the middle of paying the bills and going through the vicarage finances. After he left, I was trying to process the information while paying the bill over the telephone when I was asked for my mobile number in order for them to send an acknowledgement. I felt that I was punching in the wrong numbers halfway through the process but wasn’t too sure. In any case, it was too late to alter as there was no option for correction. After completing the payment process, I decided to look up my mobile number and realised that I had provided an extra digit! I suppose these things are easily done. I am just glad that I didn’t punch in the wrong payment figure!

Bank Holiday

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Tuesday, 7 May 2024

It was a bank holiday yesterday. It was called the early May bank holiday. Bank holidays are public holidays.

Here in the vicarage, a bank holiday is just another working day because the vicar doesn’t take the day off instead he just uses it to catch up on his work! I don’t think it is fair but there we go…..

Since the vicar doesn’t take the day off I don’t bother remembering when bank holidays are! However, when I was flipping through my diary the other day, I noted the next bank holiday and persuaded demanded the vicar to down his tools and go out for a leisurely lunch with me. Surprisingly, he agreed to it quite readily so that’s what we did yesterday!

I’ve learnt that I should put my foot down more often!

Sock It In!

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Monday, 6 May 2024

For years, I have been going to bed with a pair of bed socks. I call them bed socks but the current ones are just what I received in the British Airway’s vanity pack! I don’t bother with them inflight instead I bring them home to use around the house!

Just a few days ago, I was reading that wearing socks to bed will aid with better sleep. I am not sure if it is really true but what has really worked for me is an eye mask. In case you are wondering I am NOT using the eye mask that came in the same vanity pack! I have packed it in my travel case!

From The Vicarage Kitchen – CHEAT’S Chicken Madras Chettinad

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Friday, 3 May 2024

I think I mentioned somewhere that we tend to stay at self catering accommodation when we go away on holiday. During one such holiday, I had bought a pouch of Holy Cow! Madras Chettinad sauce from Ocado but never had the opportunity to use it.

Last week, I found it in the food cupboard when I was rummaging for something else and so made a mental note to use it in the new week which I now have. I made this solely for the vicar’s enjoyment as I can’t eat spicy food. He gave it a thumbs up but did say that it was on the spicy side!

Ingredients (Serves 2)

1 pouch Holy Cow! Madras Chettinad sauce.

2 organic chicken breast fillets – cut into bite size pieces

1/2 organic Aubergine (optional) – cut into bite size pieces if using

Method

Heat two tablespoons of oil (I used olive oil but you can use any other oil that is suitable). Add the chicken and the aubergine and saute until they turn light brown.

Add the Madras Chettinad sauce and bring to a boil. Add a little water if you find that the sauce is a little too thick.

Voila! You are ready to serve.

I served mine with Basmati rice, poppadoms and sauteed organic green beans.

NB: I am not affiliated with the company that produces the sauce and I do not get paid for promoting it.

A Dream In A Dream

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Thursday, 2 May 2024

In the past I rarely used to have dreams but in recent weeks the dreams that I have been getting have been weird and sometimes scary. Actually the scary bits should really be classified as nightmares!

I had an unusual dream last week. It was a dream in a dream. I was dreaming that I was in a dream! Apart from that I don’t seem to remember anything else about that dream. How weird!

From The Vicarage Library – Chums by Simon Kuper

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

I have finally started reading again! The first book that I finished was Alexander McCall Smith’s The Miracle at Speedy Motors. I really needed something lighthearted.

Last week saw me finish Chums by Simon Kuper. Kuper is a journalist with the Financial Times.

The book is about how interconnected the world of the Oxford elite and British politicians is.

If you are frustrated with the present British government then you need to read this book! You will soon realise that these politicians who have been to elite schools and who are considered to be the creme de la creme are not clever after all because they hardly learn anything except the art of waffling.

Did you know that there has never been a British Prime Minister who has been to Cambridge?

Kuper who is from Oxford himself is fair in his criticism. This is an easy read.

Not So Clever After All!

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Tuesday, 30 April 2024

I love my Marigold gloves. I love the bright yellow colour as it brings a slight cheer to the washing up process! I can’t do without them. I have tried other supermarket brands but nothing beats Marigold gloves. They are quite sturdy but I do go through several pairs a year because a hole always develops in one half of the pair after several weeks of use.

The other half almost always looks pristine. One day I had what I thought was an excellent bright spark moment – I will retain the pristine one half and when the new pair begins to wear out, I might have a matching pair (one right and one left).

Alas I am left with half a shelf full of right half of Marigolds. Why? It is because I have since discovered that it is always on the left half that the holes appear! Could it be because I am left handed?