Kitchen Garden Forum

Monika wrote:You mean, you actually let the children SWIM in the sea, Colin?

Ok, it wasn't quite as extreme as it sounded. The "kids" are 20 & 22 and they only took their shoes off and went in up to their knees.

Mind you there was a vicious freezing wind; one inadvertent mis-kick of our cheap plastic football led to a run to the other end of the beach to retrieve it

However the sky was clear, the sun was bright and the sea was blue - after so many past Christmas's with grey skies or drizzle, it was a real bonus. Don't worry, by Monday the snow was melting and there was a genuine British drizzle, capped by tailbacks on the M5. Payback for the previous few days

Still waiting for my best present - a good quality greenhouse heater with an accurate thermostat. It has been despatched but the track and trace says it is sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

Haven't really had a worst - just tons and tons of chocolates which if rationed would probably last until next Christmas, but knowing me I'll be wading through them rather faster. Funny how you can smell chocolate even though it is out of sight.

Dear PlumPudding. I can't smell chocolate when it's out of sight or in the fridge.....but I can hear it calling to me...

You may remember me researching for a recommendation for propagators on here a while ago? Well the large box that I thought was my propagator turned out to be an I phone 4! I am sure there will be an app to keep my plants warm somewhere on there

In my large box was a Wolf-Garten Soil Miller.And,like Plumpudding,tons of chocolate,dark,white and milk chocolate Toblerone.

The best present I received was a Wok made by Spice including a lid, Tempura rest, wooden implements and a packet of chop sticks. The Wok weighs a ton. All I need is a book of recipes now and I will put it to work.
Anybody got any good ideas?
JB.

My best pressie was a new digital camera from hubby and a metal seed tin which I got from Secret Santa at work. Worst has got to be the mountains of chocolate as I had managed to lose a stone towards the end of the year and I really do not need the temptation. Chocolates are about to go to Inverness this weekend - heading up for Hogmanay.

Hi Johnboy,

Of the seven or eight Chinese cook books I have, I find that inveriably I return to the first one I got in 1985. It is "Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery" edited by Jenny Stevens. Although it seems out of print it can be obtained through Amazon second hand.
Put in the title and on the second page, number 15 lists several. From £4.75 + £2.75p&p.
Regards, Gerry.

Hi Gerry,
That's brilliant thank you very much for the info. I will remember you every time I use the Wok.
Book ordered from Amazon and will be with me after the weekend.
Do have a very Happy New Year and may all your sowings be fruitful!
JB.

Evening Johnboy, i don't suppose you will be doing a take away service will you?

Having just watched one of my presents I can now confidently state that my worst is a DVD of "Predators".

Well christmas is still ongoing here, some family visiting tomorrow.
Diane more quirky please the world needs quirks ...giggles
had a lovely chistmas day with both gardening gifts and personal gifts, now the proud owner of a food dehydrator... my efforts with a slow oven were a laugh! the best bit though is the fun family get togethers!

Hope you get the Ken Hom book Johnboy, it is excellent and I'm glad you've got a present you'll use.

My greenhouse heater arrived yesterday and is nice and robust and the thermostat is nice and sensitive.

Reading the instructions it warned me not to use it in a cattle breeding area and not to pour liquids on it. It is a German make, which made me wonder what they get up to in their greenhouses!

Drifting slightly off subject - I also read on a packet of Walkers crisps "made with real ingredients". What do they usually make crisps out of for goodness sake?

Dear NB, it sounds like you have been having a very festive time! I wish you luck with the dehydrator - I had a friend who used to produce wonderful dried orange segments for Christmas decorations - so fragrant..