Speedy Signage

After much enquiry, I decided on a slate sign that I probably do not need to drill new holes.  I placed the order and it turned up the next day.  It fits exactly and I am really happy with it!

Christmas Germs

I might have dodged the bullet from the work Christmas party, I may not be so lucky with the family gatherings, especially when people are constantly coughing, and we are all in a small room.

Sourdough Mother

After nearly a month of feeding, the sourdough mother has matured.  She is now behaving like what everyone says they do.  She is now relatively happily living in the fridge.  Now I just need to master the baking technique.

Overrated Colin

I finally tied the caterpillar cake,  I do not like it at all.  

National Grid Composition

On a calm cold cloudy day, when everyone is at home, with all lights, heating, entertainment and ovens on, how would the grid cope?  Fire up the coal fire plant, of course.

Solstice Dumplings

I only just learnt to make dumpling wrappers this year, and I really need more practice.  So although I am not a Northerner, I took the opportunity to make some dumplings and call them solstice meal, belated.

Christmas Cookathon

These days, you heat up the oven once, and cook as much as you can, which is exactly what we did, baked potatoes, cakes, etc.

Black Eye Friday 2022

It is interesting that this year's "black eye Friday" was 16th December, not 23rd December.  Maybe the punters know, they need to abuse the system before they all went on strikes...

Lock Misery

I keep making mistakes on the barrel sizes.  One of the doors would preferably have thumb turn, but the way the door is setup, the thumb turn jams!  I feel so sorry having to keep returning the wrong barrels.

Kitchen Design

We went to Wren, I was surprised how user friendly the design package are, it only took Wren a few minutes to drag and drop and render.  Impressive.

Normalising Interest Rate

Interest rate is returning to a normal level, much to most people's dismay.  On the other hand, savings account are paying like 5%, which is actually more than my mortgage rate.

Broster Ham Hock

This is the second time we picked up a ham hock from Broster.  The first time was from the frozen section, this time from the fresh section.  This time is extra piggy, too piggy.  I shall avoid in the future.

Farm Shop Sunday Roast

We went to Bolster Moor Farm Shop.  They do a roast, so I went for it.  The meat was suspiciously evenly thinly sliced, I wonder if they were machine sliced.  The gravy was on the salty side.  The rest was faultless.

New Chinese Restaurant

We tried out the new Chinese restaurant on Vicar Lane, where the old Ho's was.  It was okay, bright, new, fresh food.

Leeds Christmas Market

Leeds City Council said the Christmas Market was cancelled.  We thought they meant the Christmas market was cancelled.  Then they for the skating company to take on the whole site, so there is still a Christmas market, just not a German Christmas Market.  It is simple, which is good, a few food stalls, and the skating rink.  I may say it is better than normal!

Bread Machine Resurrection

The bread machine has refused to run.  I was going to throw it away, since it is a freecycled item, it had a second chance already.  I thought it could also be because of the cold temperature, the user manual actually say it could be because it is too cold, except it should say LLL not EEE.  I gave it one last run, in a heated room, and it works, saves me having to knead dough!

Full House Audit

The order of play, full house audit and to do list, administrative tasks.  It is going to be a long Winter.

Double Trouble

I have now got two houses to look after.  I hope they behave and don't give me too much troubles!

Bye Bye Master Lock

I had a Master combination padlock since I was at Vanderbilt, and this weekend, it was broken.  It has been traveling with me and protecting my properties for a long time.  I will miss it.

Christmas Market Harrogate

We went to the Wetherby Arts Market,  we actually spent more time in the Arts Market then in the Harrogate Christmas Market.   Anyway,  we have ticked off the festivity. 

Sourdough Attempt Again

After two years break,  I decided to attempt making a sourdough starter.  It is now smelling like it.  Let see what happens when I come to bake it this weekend. 

Roxy Christmas Party

We went to ROXY for our christmas party.  I completely forgot the concept of enforced fun...

Christmas Spirit

The Green Mark has emerged from the cupboard.   It is indeed very nice with apple juice. 

Winter has Come

The cold snap has kicked started this Winter.  I do remember Winter could come earlier, so we had it easy in November.  Let's us all embrace multiple-robing.

Rat Infestation

Is rat problem worsened by the pandemic lockdown?  Is it a type of rewilding?

Instant Noodles

I have been buying marked down instant noodles, they were cheaper even if it means I have to throw their flavour away.  Then I used some old sachets I have, I fall in love with instant noodles again!  Maybe when I completely run out of old sachets, I will have to buy full price instant noodles!

Helium Balloons

I was in Knaresborough Christmas Market, they were selling Helium balloons.  I thought we should be saving them for the MRI machines!  Maybe we should go back to using blended hydrogen, at least we can make them within having to create a Sun!

Don't Buy Dehumidifier

Every Winter, when condensate started forming, people start talking about dehumidifiers.  We should only buy what is fit for purpose, and I can only think of a few domestic situation you would need a dehumidifier in England, if you live in the middle of the woods and the moisture is too high!

Even if that is the case, I would recommend buying a portable air conditioning unit instead, because they are the same thing, when you remove the heat to outside, you get air conditioning, if you keep the ejected heat, it is dehumidifying.

If you are drying your clothes in the house, and that is the reason of the moisture, then you should nip that in the bud, get a heat pump tumble dryer.

Even if your dehumidification is size for the whole room, rendering that room a dry larder, the moisture will will form condensate on the cold walls and window, which is the cause for moulding.  Get an appliance that does the job!  Ie, not a dehumidifier.

Sugar Crashes

Sugar crash is never nice, even if I am in a safe place.  I was at home, and I had not had lunch at the normal time, and by the time I finally made something to eat, my body was feeling weird.  Meal time is getting more important...

Pan Fried Bread

I was making naan,  then I realise,  pan fried bread us really the way to go!  The bread maker aka dough maker may finally find its calling. 

National Radio Centre

I have heard of people playing with radio, I never fully understand why.  Then I went to the National Radio Centre in Bletchley Park.  They were demonstrating their station using satellite as well as terrestrial, they were talking to strangers gods know where, then I understand radio is the IRC of the bygone era.