What's made you smile today?

[bugsymike]

I had 9 of the things and loved them.

You must be a glutton for punishment, I only had two wives and that was more than my bank account could stand.

 

[The Panda Nut]

As an apprentice the boss's took us over the road for drinks Christmas time and included the bin men as well as they would always take anything we loaded in their lorry.
They also did a evening out at a posh restaurant all paid for every year for all staff and partners, one year on the way back through the lanes there was a car on it's roof, they all thought it would be me, but it was the petrol pump attendant's husband in a Morris 1000 Traveller, we all got out, turned it upright and shoved it up a side lane, collecting it the next day.
Following that the next year boss's paid for us all to stay at a big hotel on the moors for the for the meal and drinks, then included rooms for the night for everyone. Great people to work for, although weak/weekly wage was the only reason I left.

Thank heavens there are still a few like that about. Money is important too though. I worked a couple of my last few years for a Grounds maintenance company who were a very decent lot. They couldnt pay big money but they could and did treat people decently.

 

[StevenRB45]

Actually I was chatting to a young lady serving in a garag a week, or so back and she told me I looked quite slim for my age bracket. Mrs PN said she should ahve gone to Spec Savers.

Now this is a loaded compliment for the ages.

Up there with "your level of intelligence is unbelievable" for threads you don't want to pull.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Stop it. Thats not fair or reasonable for a man of 5 11 to be that thin. Reminding the rest of us... most of who are probably from the' well padded to slightly overweight' or 'getting a bit tubby' groups .... or in my case the 'FULL FB' group is just down right BADNESS.

GO OUT IMMEDIATELY AND BUY A LARGE BOX OF CREAM CAKES, THEM EAT THEM IN THE CARPARK and then GO BACK AND BUY SOME MORE.

Come on man stop letting the rest of us down and giving the wives ammunition. I shall have to stop Mrs PN getting wind of a thin man of similar height to myself or Ill NEVER get any peace. I can hear it now... "even your cohorts on that Fiat thing your always on are thinner thanyou....." LOL

Im not envious in any way. In fact I shall celebrate with a biscuit!

I was at my heaviest about 20 to 25 years ago when I weighed in at a bit over 14 stone - which at 5ft 8in tall is not good. A combination of mince pies (think you call them "Scotch pies" down south - a shortcrust pastry with seasoned minced lamb/mutton filling, chip shops cook them in the deep fryer up here, very greasy but delicious especially if smothered in the Edinburgh delicacy called "chippy sauce"!) and too much beer. Some chocolate too from time to time. During a bit of leg pulling regarding weight, I remember a friend saying at the time "If, when you're not wearing any clothes, you look down and can't see your 'best friend' then you're too fat" Anyway, my oldest boy was not long invalided out of the Marines at that time and was also putting on weight and he bought Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Loose Weight" which he lent to me. I've always remembered one phrase from it - Make Hunger Your Friend. I didn't really alter what I was eating much (did cut out the pies though and had to cut out the beer due to a major tummy op) but I simply reduced the volume. I started putting my food on smaller plates thus making it difficult to take a single large helping. I weigh myself every morning and if I'm gaining weight consistently for a few days I just eat less for a while. Been doing it for years now and my weight has stayed between 11 and 12 stone, just under 11.5 at this moment.

By the way, My boy was quite a heavy smoker too. He bought Carr's book on stopping smoking and managed to give that up too.

 

[StevenRB45]

I was at my heaviest about 20 to 25 years ago when I I've always remembered one phrase from it - Make Hunger Your Friend. I didn't really alter what I was eating much (did cut out the pies though and had to cut out the beer due to a major tummy op) but I simply reduced the volume.

I think a lot of people (my wife included) the mistake of setting the target so low they are constantly hungry and end up falling off the wagon.

She always sets herself targets around 1500 calories a day and then after or during night shift will end up at McDonald's or Starbucks or both.

My start point was "the goal is to lose weight not be miserable" so I've still been averaging between 2200 and 2500 calories a day and by the time I've run round after a 5 year old, done my usual runs/walks it works out about 250-500 calories a day deficit.

Reasonably easier to maintain without the ridiculous amounts of chocolate, salted meat, cheese, bread and crisps I used to have though which I've known I should cut out for a long time but didn't.

Probably an advantage to be far too fat for the amount of exercise I do..at that point all that's required is to not eat 3500 calories a day and you're gonna slim down by default.

 

[bugsymike]

I was at my heaviest about 20 to 25 years ago when I weighed in at a bit over 14 stone - which at 5ft 8in tall is not good. A combination of mince pies (think you call them "Scotch pies" down south - a shortcrust pastry with seasoned minced lamb/mutton filling, chip shops cook them in the deep fryer up here, very greasy but delicious especially if smothered in the Edinburgh delicacy called "chippy sauce"!) and too much beer. Some chocolate too from time to time. During a bit of leg pulling regarding weight, I remember a friend saying at the time "If, when you're not wearing any clothes, you look down and can't see your 'best friend' then you're too fat" Anyway, my oldest boy was not long invalided out of the Marines at that time and was also putting on weight and he bought Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Loose Weight" which he lent to me. I've always remembered one phrase from it - Make Hunger Your Friend. I didn't really alter what I was eating much (did cut out the pies though and had to cut out the beer due to a major tummy op) but I simply reduced the volume. I started putting my food on smaller plates thus making it difficult to take a single large helping. I weigh myself every morning and if I'm gaining weight consistently for a few days I just eat less for a while. Been doing it for years now and my weight has stayed between 11 and 12 stone, just under 11.5 at this moment.

By the way, My boy was quite a heavy smoker too. He bought Carr's book on stopping smoking and managed to give that up too.

Not a fan of Lamb, but pasties and the politically incorrect "snake and pygmy pie", at least that is what it sounds like, may be my undoing.
I am around 13.5 stone and these days about 5ft 8in, I am sure I was around 10.5 stone and nearly 5ft 10in in my early 20s, but that was when I was in a rowing club and a 10 mile race was common, along with more than a few pints.
I understand as you age so you get shorter but 2 inches sounds a lot.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Not a fan of Lamb, but pasties and the politically incorrect "snake and pygmy pie", at least that is what it sounds like, may be my undoing.
I am around 13.5 stone and these days about 5ft 8in, I am sure I was around 10.5 stone and nearly 5ft 10in in my early 20s, but that was when I was in a rowing club and a 10 mile race was common, along with more than a few pints.
I understand as you age so you get shorter but 2 inches sounds a lot.

I'm not a fan of Lamb/mutton either and wouldn't thank you for a meal of roast lamb. However the typical mince pie is so strongly spiced with pepper, salt and other "secret" ingredients you'd be hard pressed to identify it as such. You'd have to try one. They do vary a lot in quality though.

Pasties, yum yum! Often buy one in Barnstaple when visiting down there. Can't eat a whole big one any more though. Up here there's a similar looking offering called a Forfar Bridie with steak mince and less veg than a pastie has. Tastes different but good in it's own way. Steak and kidney pie I find varies in quality too often. Horrible if you get a gristly one. A great big steak pie, often maybe a rectangular one around a foot long, is a yearly treat from our favourite butcher at new year, Like a second Christmas dinner but different with the whole family tucking in.

On the shortening thing. My Dad definitely got noticeably shorter I seem to have lost maybe just under an inch at most so far - now in my later 70s.

 

[bugsymike]

Pies can vary a lot and as you say finding a bit of gristle is a definite no. The chip shop Pukka pies usually are good.
As a school kid my friends mother used to do some cracking meat pies if we went on a trip anywhere.
I also used to stop at there on my way home from school and she would do a good sausage egg and chips, I used to then go home and get my tea there also until she spoke to my mum one time.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

When younger, at college, there was a "greasy spoon" cafe in a back street near the college which had steak pie in a big aluminium dish keeping hot all day. By the end of the day the steak pieces would have sublimated into the gravy and the pastry gone all "gooey". If I didn't feel like cooking or buying a chippy on my way back to my digs I would get a serving of this instead. It was wonderful! Fray Bentos Steak and kidney pie: https://shop.baxters.com/products/fray-bentos-steak-kidney-pie-425g or just their straight steak pie was wonderful too.

Another treat was the transport cafe sausages. I was at college in London staying in digs and saving up pocket money so I could aford enough petrol to get home to the Scottish borders where my parents were and on up to Edinburgh where the future Mrs J was. I would take a bag of clothes into college in my Mini on the chosen Friday so I could leave for the M1 as soon as classes ended. A long way north, on the A1 at a roundabout, was a "lorries only" transport cafe. It would often be around midnight or so by the time I got there and I'd park the mini at the back of the big parking area and walk into the cafe trying to look like a lorry driver - I was never challenged - The sausages were in a big aluminium tray like the steak pie at the cafe in London, and had probably been there all day. The middle of the sausage looked like you'd expect but maybe half the thickness was cooked to a crisp, but not burnt, covering - bit like a battered sausage done in the deep fryer. Sausage, chips and some baked beans with a big mug of strong tea absolute heaven and set me up for the A68 north into the Border country. Home around 3 in the morning. Ah, what it is to be young. Couldn't do that now, it'd kill me!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Pies can vary a lot and as you say finding a bit of gristle is a definite no. The chip shop Pukka pies usually are good.
As a school kid my friends mother used to do some cracking meat pies if we went on a trip anywhere.
I also used to stop at there on my way home from school and she would do a good sausage egg and chips, I used to then go home and get my tea there also until she spoke to my mum one time.

Aye, Pukka Pies. Daughter buys them but I've never had a taste.

 

[bugsymike]

Aye, Pukka Pies. Daughter buys them but I've never had a taste.

I only like them from the oven, I hate microwave soggy damp food, never have one in my house.
When they first came out takeaways used to do burgers in them and pasties that were cold in the middle even though they came up with the story that they cooked from the inside out. I once went to a pub and had a chicken in the basket that still had ice in the middle!
That's my rant for today.
Actually it isn't thinking about it, several weeks ago I had an endoscopy, as a result my GP was meant to proscribe some meds, plus give me the results of the biopsy and bloods etc. After repeated calls getting no where finally I was told the prescription was with their pharmacy and as there was no problem with the bloods they didn't bother to contact me and that if I wanted to know about the biopsy I could have an appointment by phone in June, a few days prior to the next endoscopy needed to see if the meds had helped, which I have only now been given the chance to take!!!
Sadly the GPs of my youth are long gone. It's no good being told what a wonderful job they do , if you can't actually see one.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I used to stop at a butchers in Lechlade Cutlers and Cashin I believe. The best meat pies I have ever come across apart from Mrs Panda Nuts home made ones. For the life of me I cannot remmeber why I would be going through Lechlade unless doing a veryvery big detour from Birmingham on my way home to visit my late lother in law. But the pies there are excellent. I assessed them as no more than 100 calories on my disclosure on what I have eaten to said Mrs PN. With a good portion of chips if one could be found it made working away from home bearable. The past time we went that way Mrs was with me and I said lets go via Lechlade and get some pies. They of course were closed when we got there. I think that time we were on holiday. Its been a few years since I was last there so I hope the pies are still as good.

 

[bugsymike]

As an apprentice one of my jobs at coffee break was drive down to a very good local bakers with all the bread orders from the boss's etc. I used to buy three of their pasties, but had eaten two before I got back and was only around 9 stone then.
Knowing my taste for pasties when the pub over the road had their morning delivery of pasties nicked, I was jokingly accused, although even I couldn't have eaten a whole tray.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I only like them from the oven, I hate microwave soggy damp food, never have one in my house.
When they first came out takeaways used to do burgers in them and pasties that were cold in the middle even though they came up with the story that they cooked from the inside out. I once went to a pub and had a chicken in the basket that still had ice in the middle!
That's my rant for today.
Actually it isn't thinking about it, several weeks ago I had an endoscopy, as a result my GP was meant to proscribe some meds, plus give me the results of the biopsy and bloods etc. After repeated calls getting no where finally I was told the prescription was with their pharmacy and as there was no problem with the bloods they didn't bother to contact me and that if I wanted to know about the biopsy I could have an appointment by phone in June, a few days prior to the next endoscopy needed to see if the meds had helped, which I have only now been given the chance to take!!!
Sadly the GPs of my youth are long gone. It's no good being told what a wonderful job they do , if you can't actually see one.

Good rant dont stop. We need to get these things out in the open. I couldnt agree more about food in eatery places that is not properly cooked, Great grub is not hard to do simple stuff cooked well and served hot is pretty basic stuff. I went out for a crafty meal with my older daughter last week in Wooton Basset. We rocked p to The Royal Wooton Basset Pub at 8.55 on Friday night hoping for just a lightmeal. The Kitchen closed at 21.00 so we were pushing it , but I asked nicely and said I understood if we couldnt be accomodated. The staff were amazing service was excellent and the food 5* Kath paid too so even better. The price for a sirloin steak (her) and some spare ribs and our drinks £58. Anyone in the area should try them. I must go and review them.

 

[The Panda Nut]

As an apprentice one of my jobs at coffee break was drive down to a very good local bakers with all the bread orders from the boss's etc. I used to buy three of their pasties, but had eaten two before I got back and was only around 9 stone then.
Knowing my taste for pasties when the pub over the road had their morning delivery of pasties nicked, I was jokingly accused, although even I couldn't have eaten a whole tray.

Nah agreed.
But you could have had a damned good try!
My job at teh Grounds Firm ended with me going to Downham Market every Friday to get Fish and chips etc for everyone, to teh great delight of one of the old hands. After some months someone let slip that teh boss didnt like people eating such stuff in teh office because of the lingering smell and ofputting affect on visiting customers. I think they thought if an old buffer like me was the perpetrator the outcome might be amusing...

 

[bugsymike]

Nah agreed.
But you could have had a damned good try!

Would have been rude not to.
Saying about the pub going the extra mile for you reminded me of one Christmas with my daughters we had gone out to dig up our traditional tree with grand daughter etc. on the way back we were too late for the pub meal, but they kindly loaded a large bowl full of roast potatoes FOC saying they would go to waste if not, as finished serving. Went down well with a pint.

 

[portland_bill]

I used to stop at a butchers in Lechlade Cutlers and Cashin I believe. The best meat pies I have ever come across apart from Mrs Panda Nuts home made ones. For the life of me I cannot remmeber why I would be going through Lechlade unless doing a veryvery big detour from Birmingham on my way home to visit my late lother in law. But the pies there are excellent. I assessed them as no more than 100 calories on my disclosure on what I have eaten to said Mrs PN. With a good portion of chips if one could be found it made working away from home bearable. The past time we went that way Mrs was with me and I said lets go via Lechlade and get some pies. They of course were closed when we got there. I think that time we were on holiday. Its been a few years since I was last there so I hope the pies are still as good.

I think Cutler & Cashin are still there, quite a big shop. It is only about 4 miles from me, passed it many times, but never been in. Perhaps I should visit. (Get even fatter)
A short distance away is Bampton, and Patrick Strainge butchers. A big sign on the end wall declaring they were voted best sausages a short while ago. I forget whether that was the South West, or what the area was. Tried them a few years ago, lots of different recipes. We settled on two, Pork and Apple, and Old Traditional. Bought a lot this morning, most in the freezer, some for tomorrow dinner. And one of their scotch eggs, devoured for my lunch today. Wonderful.

 

[bugsymike]

I think Cutler & Cashin are still there, quite a big shop. It is only about 4 miles from me, passed it many times, but never been in. Perhaps I should visit. (Get even fatter)
A short distance away is Bampton, and Patrick Strainge butchers. A big sign on the end wall declaring they were voted best sausages a short while ago. I forget whether that was the South West, or what the area was. Tried them a few years ago, lots of different recipes. We settled on two, Pork and Apple, and Old Traditional. Bought a lot this morning, most in the freezer, some for tomorrow dinner. And one of their scotch eggs, devoured for my lunch today. Wonderful.

Some years ago a local farmer where I used to buy sacks of spuds, used to sell an 1/8th of a cow, this was well matured Aberdeen Angus but all prepared in different joints etc. by the local abattoir, at least until Government/E.U regulations put them and many others out of business. Our freezer would be full of all the different cuts of meat along with sausages etc. at a fair price.
I still buy Westerway sausages which started trading some years ago a few miles away, they did the honey, apple and various other ones. Those along with smoked bacon , our own duck eggs and flat chips like my dad used to make, along with mushrooms and beans I used to prepare for our whole family of seven, in a big serving plate and a load of forks and just say dig in and never any left overs.

 

[Cheest]

Still recovering and each day is a little bit better. Against all advice, I tried riding a bicycle. I tried out the Danish one I was building up before the Unpleasantness of 8 February.

I rode it a very short distance and wasn't happy. Though it rode fine, the seat was about 1/2" too high, which was probably why my knee complained. And the handlebar was too narrow to be comfortable and the hand grips, though nice looking, were very uncomfortable. I parked it overnight.

This morning, I managed to get my butt up into the garage attic and root through my stash of spare parts and pulled out a pair of swept back handlebars and a shorter stem. I swapped them around and lowered the seat.

Today's ride was a complete 180 from yesterday's ride. Nothing felt janky, it was smooth and the handling was predictable. What is weird, is that I took these bars off of another bike because I didn't like how they felt. Must have found the right combination.

 

[Barchetta Bloke 440]

Weather looks like it might be okay for Italian car day at Brooklands , about 20 miles away from me .
I'm not going this year ,car not ready due to lethargy and procrastination but I am glad that the show won't be ruined by constant rain .

It's always going to be a decent day if I walk out my house and one of the first cars I see is nice / interesting.
Today it was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 or 6 ? followed by a Chevy Nova with some mods .