Terry's Chocolate and other things

As we approach Christmas - 66 days at the time of writing. I look back at a memorable year. Sadie took her first steps, much to everyone’s delight. Michael has been dangled a carrot of a future promotion and, after 5 months of work, has been awarded a salary increase and a three-week holiday. We visited Cornwall to celebrate Robert’s 30th and Somerset for a family weekend away and to celebrate my birthday, all blogged separately. Lauren Bell-Brown is now a teacher of art at a posh school in Nottingham and, from all accounts, is loving it. The final major event was that Robert Bruce Smith finished his PHD and has been awarded a Doctorate from the School of Psychology, Nottingham. 

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Thank you for all the lovely comments. I was just putting it out there, and sometimes I think we are all just winging it and hope it works out. The important thing is we are communicating. Remember, it only takes one person to believe in you to make it happen.

Knees, they are a burden. I suppose as the years go by, your joints get a little worn out, to be expected. Eleven years of farming, thirty years of running; they are saying, enough is enough. I know I will never run again, but walking is important. It is times like this that I realise it is not how far I have to go but how far I have come. My ailments cannot stop me from writing.

When we are speaking to someone, we tend to make it short but hopefully say what we want to say. Like ‘I am lucky to have you ’, for example.

But as writers, we have more time to go into more detail. 

‘Out of all the people this world has created, with all the roads I could have taken and all the lives I could have lived. Some impossible miracle of timing allowed my story to cross paths with yours, and if I spend the rest of my life searching for a word greater than lucky. I still don’t think it will be enough to explain what you are to me.’

Sometimes the former is exactly what we need when speaking, but with the time we have when writing, it gives us the freedom to really say what we mean.

I came across this strange vegetable - A mangelwurzel. What is it?

Terry’s Chocolate

Today my heart soared: Terry’s Chocolate is on special at my favourite grocery store, Tesco; other grocery stores are available. It took me back to those heady days when we sent Terry’s Chocolates to Angela. I cannot stress enough how much Angela loves Terry’s Chocolate. When she visited Ireland, she had an understanding with the IRA to bring across a big box of Terry’s Chocolates from the UK. Well, they had no choice really; the consequences for those Irish lads were not worth thinking about.

When Matt proposed on Brownsea Island, he put the ring on a big Terry’s Chocolate, forever the romantic. Fortunately, Angela saw the ring before devouring the chocolate. 

A while later, after they were married. Matt discussed the option of living in Australia. Angela was reluctant at first, but Matthew did convince her they had Terry’s Chocolates down underneath. 

Now a successful teacher in Australia and with three darling children, all I can say, Australia is lucky to have her. Matthew has been her rock, without Terry’s Chocolate.

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Rwanda is going to build a F1 track, and they will host a race in the mid 2030’s. I do hope someone is going to advise them on how a racing track works; these F1 cars have to have a smooth, tarred surface.  My question? Where are the spectators going to come from? I doubt these people can afford it.

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Fancy a laugh - watch this.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1126910966546440

A Mangelwurzel is a large, heirloom root vegetable belonging to the Beta vulgaris species. This means it is a close relative of the standard beetroot, sugar beet, and Swiss chard. Developed in the 18th century, it was historically grown as a highly productive "scarcity root" to provide winter fodder for livestock. I grew sugar beet for my cows, back in those wonderful days.

Susan said the other day.

‘I miss the children.’

So do I; those far away are forever in my thoughts, those close I would like them closer. Also my brother, many miles away but still missed. Missing you does not mean sad; it's more like a melancholy way we thinking about you. Enjoy your lives; know you are all in our thoughts.

Robert is a coffee snob.

He has taken Lauren on this journey of discovery, looking for the best coffee and the best way to prepare their favourite beverage. Robert has an AeroPress coffee maker, with a grinder and scale to create the ultimate cup. He also uses pure water, which he buys from a local producer. 

What is pure water? 

Purified or pure water is water that has been mechanically filtered or processed—via reverse osmosis, deionisation, or distillation—to remove virtually all minerals, chemicals, and dissolved solids.

Key characteristics of pure water are; Consists purely of hydrogen and oxygen (H₂O) with near-zero Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) measured in parts per million (ppm). He does add some minerals back to the water; why? I will ask him and let you know.

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