New Rice Cooker

I have dropped my AA microwave rice cooker, and broke the clip.  Not the steam escapes and the item is not cooking properly.  I asked my friend to bring me one, but she may not be able to get me one, so I got one from the internet.  It works well, but feels flimsy, it was cheap.  Let see how long it lasts.

Siberian Not So Cold Blast

It is forecasting cold for the next few days, and everyone is bracing for impact.  But the Siberian blast here is nothing like when Arctic blast in North America.  The phrase 'Bitter Cold' also means something very different here...  So far it is nothing compare with the 2009/2010 Winter when the jets stream 'did not work'!

'Chinese' Snacks

I was eating some Japanese rice crackers, and my friend called them Chinese.  These crackers were made in Thailand and it was Japanese style.  I showed her one of the crackers, and she could not tell me what it was.  For those familiar with Japanese culture will instantly know it is a Sakura.  

Just because there are more Chinese around eating Japanese food, it got turned into Chinese food.  Don't get me started with 'Chinese Salt'...

Armley Junktion Closed

I forgot my wallet at home, so I thought I would walk to Armley Junktion to have a breakfast.  When I got there, it was not open, so I thought the volunteers were late.  Then I found on the internet that Armley Junkton is closed!  I was devastated!

Armley Common

Armley Common is being used.

Adequate Bucket for One

Our KFC got chicken, and I went for a meal.  The Mighty Bucket for One is more like the Adequate Bucket for One.  I still like the original recipe most.

Nut Out

I got loads of nuts from the after Christmas sale.  They are nuts in shell, as I thought they are fun.  I told my sister that should keep the children busy, and she instantly reject any liability caused my the shells, so I started eating the nuts down.  She is right!  It is a lot of mess, and it can be frustrating.  I will be very much nutted out by the time I see them!

Find Drive A:/

We went to install a new PC at Denise's house.  The desk is far from the router, and we don't have a long LAN cable, so when the Windows failed to recognise the WLAN dongle, we were struggling.  This just show we are too reliant on the internet to find the suitable drivers.  Even Microsoft are not bothered to put all the drivers into the library.


I tried to download the relevant driver on the internet, but since there are so many generic WLAN dongles, I downloaded a few and none of them worked.  It is funny that device manager hardly changed over years, when it was prompting for driver, it asks for A:/.  Who has a floppy A:/ anymore?

Computer Wiping

I wiped and reinstalled Windows on an old laptop.  The modern Windows take as long as when I did it with Windows 95 many years ago!

Money God Giving Candy

We strolled into town and saw the 'lion dance' at the Chinese shop.  I am pretty sure it was not a lion.

We saw the Money God.  So I approached the Money God and was hoping for a red envelop!  We got some candy instead.  Happy New Year!

'Chinese' Food at Man's Market

Man's Market came up as number 2 best Chinese food in Leeds on Tripadvisor.  We checked out the website, fully understand its gimmickry and decided to have a try.

The decor was gimmickry as expected, and the food was good, except I am not sure I want to be parted with this amount of cash!

Galinha à portuguesa, which they called Mans Mountain Rice.

Happy Chinese New Year of Dog

I was dreading the Year of Rooster last year, and it finally came to an end.  The Chinese December are usually 'eventually', and not in a nice way.  I am very glad it is finally a new year, and this year should be better!

I sent my greetings to my friends, and they came back with unconventional greetings.  It is clear that my peers are all taking their foot off accelerator, which is no bad thing.

Happy New Year!

Cheap Chopped Tomatoes

I got a loads of tinned tomatoes from Farmfoods to pack out my last order.  I compared the nutrient label with other big brands before I committed, I was convinced it would be okay.  I think it was cheaper because they are not pull ring lid.

I finally cooked with some.  The taste was good, it was less chunky, more juicy than other brands I used before.  I think I might have seen greens in the tin, but let's not dwell on small foreign body contamination, especially I am confident that everything is cooked and sterile.  I am quite happy with my purchase.

Unattainable Pie Goals

I got two marked down Pieminister pies, and they have tokens.  I thought I have a good start by having 2 tokens.  But when I check the Pieminister VIP website, it takes a tons of them before you get something decent, and it is not 'free', SP&P is still payable.  What a gimmick. 

Valentine Fastfood Deal

Gregg's, McDonalds, KFC and Subway are all doing Valentine's deal.  It sound like a fun thing to observe!

Brain Matter Wastage

The internet has so much rubbish content, it erodes brain matter easily.  Beware!

Adhoc Plastering

I am going to use a plastic ruler to straighten the wall.  If my dad knew how I am sorting out the wall, he would be very disapproving...

Bishy Road

We finally made a trip to Bishy Road in York.  The parking there was easily missable, but unbelievably cheap!

We arrived late, so we missed the two hottest cafes.  We sat at the Italian cafe, we had coffee and biscuit.  The offerings were good.  We will definitely utilise that car park again!

Weird Permeable Wall

The paint went on okay, it is making the room look a lot brighter, but there are 6 patches where the paint keep peeling off.  I tried everything, I thought it was drying too quick, the paint was too uneven, the paint was not mixed well.  I have concluded it was the wall.  I hope the bathroom paint will seal the wall...

Return to Cash

I went to the shop and was excited about the special offers, just when I went to the check out I remember I did not have my wallet, I only had £7.40 in my pocket.  So I had to drag everything back to the shelf, and reassess what was essential and total up to make sure I don't look foolish at the check out.  This reminds me how life used to be!

Painting Muscles

I started painting my damaged wall.  It did not seem to be too onerous, but I was sore next day!  My exercise regimes clearly doesn't maintain my painting muscles!

Ten Weeks Till Chaos

Ten weeks till the chaos descent onto me.  I am accelerating the planning process, and hopefully the organised chaos will be manageable.

New Alternator

Gary placed little Rome's alternator after my battery kept dying.  Now little Rome starts relatively easy even she has been sitting around for weeks.  I can't wait to take her out.

Big Freeze

They said the big freeze was coming, the forecast said somewhere about -3C.  This is nothing compare to the big freeze in 2009/2010...

Lewis and Rose 60% Dark

I came across a Lewis and Rose 60% Dark chocolate, and I love it.  It was made it Germany, now I wonder if it is just a Heilemann rebranded.

Then I look on Lewis and Rose website, they have yet to find established outlets.  I wonder where I could find the 72% bar.

The only disturbing bit is that they named their chocolates after Great Britons, but no woman...

Big Anchor

When you colleague give you a cake with a big anchor on, you wonder if they just called you a wanker!

Hamster Chew Toy

When I had the Russian hamster, I got a but of stone and I threw it at him to ensure he was grinding his teeth down.  But this Roborovski is too small to sink his jaws on any of his chew toys, so I got him a snack block, lets hope it will help him with the teeth.

Mini Curry from M&S

I scooped up a loads of marked down food from M&S included a curry ready meal.  At the time I thought it was a bit small, then Ashley pointed out it was actually called mini.  It was very tasty, as expected from most M&S products, but it was definitely mini!  I should look closer when I am scooping up marked downs!