Malmö Chokladfabrik TANGY RASPBERRY Organic Dark Milk 52% Cocoa

Kelly sent up a chocolate selection as a thank you.  Malmo, something I have not tried before.  I tried the weirdest one first - Tangy Raspberry.  I tried it at work, so I can flog a few squares away.

I didn't think twice about the "raspberry", thinking it is just a "note".  Then I tasted it, it was weird...  I read the ingredients list, it has 6% raspberry powder.  It is going straight to Sarah's collection.

Traditional Pie Eating

When we were struggling to finish the pork pies in the picnic, I peeled off the pastry and ate the meat.  We later observed other people in their picnic doing the same thing. 

I always have to educate people on the history of pie.  For the traditional pies, they are dryer ingredients or pure meat.  Pie is made to preserve the meat, and the casing makes it transportable and is the disposable coverings.  

Bowling Crown Cat Control

As part of the Collingham Gala, we stopped at the bowling club again.  This time we saw the cat scarers, I can hear the high pitch noise, it was disturbing.

Hansa's Closed

I drove past Hansa's recently and saw it was closed with decorators gear in, I didn't think twice about it.  Then I wanted to warn Richard about their refurbishment, I found out Hansa is closed down!  I wonder what will go in the shop, another gastro pub?

BBQ Express

I was trying to light a BBQ.  After two round of fire lighters and a little bit of fanning, I resorted to an electric fan.

It worked like a charm!  If I am near a power source, I will definitely use!

Global Footprint

I was just looking at the world map, and realised I haven't been to that many places!

Let's contemplate rectifying this...  Probably not this year...

Sky Diving in the UK

My friend has thought about visiting Britain, and they would like to do sky diving.  Having tried paragliding and knowing someone did hot air balloon, they are all very weather dependent, and any "high wind" will have to abort.  It took me over a year to finally fly, similar to those went on the hot air balloon.

So I dutifully informed them, there is no guarantee that she could sky dive, so they are now thinking about going to Australia for their holiday instead!

Shibden Pilgrimage

Anne Lister's diary has been published for many years, and in this decade, the mainstream writers picked up on the story line and started writing.

The last BBC mini series on Anne Lister was not on prime time.  The most recent BBC's Gentleman Jack is shown on prime time and attracted a lot of interest.  Every time I hear "Gentleman Jack", I imagine someone in Lynchburg Tennessee jumping up and down, how their "new" blend has the same name and felt tainted.

I have already been to Shibden Hall a few years ago, after the BBC mini series, and before the subsequent sagas.  Sarah recommended Shibden Hall to a couple friends, so we all went.  I was not particularly fuzzed about seeing it again, but I can see the many visitors the TV series has attracted.  I was sitting at the court yard a lot of the time, and I maybe the most photographed thing this weekend!

I actually got Anne Lister's diary out from the library.  It was really boring.  People need to remember it was a diary, not a novel.  Boring things happen in real live!

I am happy for Calderdale Council that they are getting this revenue to look after this old house properly.

Super Eaters

I finally watched the Channel 4 programme The Battle of the Super Eaters.  Sarah was grossed out, but I wasn't.  I had to explain to Sarah that I have the prerequisite for becoming a super eater,
and compulsion for food, maybe too much ghrelin?

When I did the food challenge a few years ago, I knew I lack tactics and discipline. 



I also lack the critical requirement in becoming a super eater by being a picky eater.  It is a blessing I don't take the path of being a super eater.

Solar Panel Modification

I use the solar panel to charge the bike battery in winter; the rest of the year,  it sits to gather dust.

Sarah has given me an idea to adept it to charge phones.   I just need to find the right adaptor,  excited!

Frey SUPRÊME NOIR SATIN 69%

Working on my stash,  I got to this Frey 69% bar.   It is smooth,  nice notes,  but a bit sweet for my taste.

And when I was searching about this chocolate online,  it is cheaper to get this in Australia than from the product of origin Switzerland,  how?

Argentinian Wagon Wheel - Havanna Alfajores

Icarus gave me one of these Havanna Alfajores to try.  It was okay.

When I was in the Argentinian restaurant, they were selling them too, so I got some.  Sarah and I tried them again, I concluded it reassembles Wagon Wheel, albeit a posh one.

Lincoln is Hilly

Last time I went on Little Rome, we went straight to the top. This time we went to both the University and the Cathedral Quarter, we felt the full force of the hill!

The B&B was also on the hill, it is so hilly that Pizza's hand brake can't hold!  Our room was on top floor! There was a lot of vertical gain this weekend!!

Rebecca Ferguson

Rogue Nation was on TV, and that is the first time I watched anything by Rebecca Ferguson.  She looks a little like Ashley Judd!

Suspension Adjustments

Skelly adjusted little Rome for me.  He made an educated guess, and made the adjustments.

When I was in the college, they said we should measure up the slack, etc, to determine how much to adjust.

I found a guy on the internet, but I was not prepared to give him £30.

Then when I am with Flint alone, I decided if all I need is an educated guess, and I have sufficient knowledge, experience and tools, I can just make some adjustment, and tune it as I ride more.  So I read up the manual and made some adjustments.  I can't wait to test Flint out on the new settings.

Noodle Lab

I learnt about Noodle Lab from Food Unwrapped, and when I was in London, I paid a visit.  The taster menu isn't any cheaper than normal menu, the food looked strange, but tasted normal.  I am not sure it was worth a special visit.

Nectar Depleted

I have redeemed so many points that I am down to 60 points.  Then I am always annoyed all the promised bonus do not turn up.  And by the time it is 28 days after the closing day of the deal, everyone would have forgotten, and it is too much administrative works to screen capture each deal and match with the qualifying purchase and chase.  Let see if I am getting the bonuses next month.

York Designer Haribo

Haribo decided to open a shop at York Designer Outlet.  I was excited to see the shop, but I could not bring myself to buy at any price other than outlet price!

Irresistible Women's Football

I know the World Cup has started,  but I hasn't got a chance watch.

So it happens USA v Thailand was on.   I thought it would be great to get some eye candy.   The game turns out to be very irresistible,  like a car crash.   When I started watching the game,  it was 3:0.  The final score was 13:0.  Like a car crash,  difficult to look away!

I also found out Rapinoe is with Sue Bird!

Arla Freebies

Arla has sponsored a few farms on their Open Farm Sunday.  We managed to see two dairy farms this year, and both of them were sponsored by Arla, as a result, we came away with a load of Arla products!

York Pride 2019

Sarah wanted to see York Pride, so we made an effort to go in the rain.

We parked up at Bishy Road, waiting for the parade with a coffee.  They were late, as expected, so in hindsight, we should have arrived at Bishy Road just before the parade come past.  Especially from our observation, a lot of shoppers worried they would be blocked in, a lot of them left the carpark before they come past.

We watched the parade and joined the parade.  By now we are half way thorough our parking limits, we took a shortcut, and rejoin the parade near the front.  We met up with someone on AVEN, and checked out all the stalled.  It was a bit rush, but we did see everything.  It was very wet, so we could have had the picnic anyway, so I carried all the food and drinks for nothing!

We marched back with 4 minutes to spare, but bad!

Laima Rigonda 40% with Hazelnuts

I saw them in the market, I was curious what Latvia chocolate is like so I bought it for a try.  It is slightly on the sweet side, otherwise it is okay.  I just need to eat them up and forget their anti-gay records.

The first bar of Rigonda chocolate was made by Laima in the late sixties of previous century; since then the dark chocolate with crumbled hazelnuts, containing 43% cocoa.

Shopping in Lull Season

When there is holidays and festivity, the marketing people are on full throttle.  On the lull days, they are sometimes on lull, sometimes on turbo.  I has done some shopping of the latest marketing rounds, I bagged a few bargains!

Spicy Turkey

I got some turkey mince.  Although I am perfectly happy with turkey in "original turkey" flavour, I was going try what works best with turkey.  So I tried cumin with cinnamon, paprika, cayenne pepper and curry powder.  It was interesting.

Let just say, I like the original more.  Maybe next time I should add herbs.

Soft Shell Waterproof

My first Regatta softshell jacket worked well, so I got a second one.  The second one started leaking right the way, I am not happy!  The seller just said it was water resist, never water proof, so deal with it!

Tiananmen 30 Years On

I still remember my dad went to vigils 30 years ago.

Cauliflower-Containing Pizza Crust

We got this "cauliflower pizza crust" on marked down, and picked it up for a try.  It is still over 60% wheat flower, but from my point of view, any added vegetable would be a good addition. 

I could not taste the cauliflower, that surely is the objective, but it should really be marketed prominently as "cauliflower-containing", not "cauliflower".

Rutland County Show 2019

After the success of Otley Show, we decided to go to Rutland Show.  There were many similar events, like Sheep Show, farrowing competition, heavy horses, livestock and poultry competition.

Their ferret show has a lot of talking and explaining, so was the sheep dog show.  The Hogg Show was similar to the Sheep Show, but less entertaining.  The shopping were a lot more high brow.  So it happens Lands' End's European distribution centre is in Oakham, so they had a store there.  The Highway Agency, East Midland Asset Delivery, is probably also a local establishment, so they put on a show.

The show was marred by a lost-phone scare and a lost-car scare, we were shattered from the additional walking!  I think we have showed-out this Summer!

Leicester Riverside Festival 2019

Amy said it was too hot and too many people.  I was exhausted very quickly, it was probably the heat, the noise, and probably the lack of periodic top up of snack/sugar.

Solar Fan

Sarah for this solar kit,  and we put a few options together.

We settled on the "wind turbine",  and I had to explain that this is a "fan".