Today I've mostly bin...

[Biscuit]

no problem for me - think it is great you have somewhere to vent - i have appreciated it myself on a number of occasions

[giraffe]

Anytime bunnylump! It was a very entertaining moan, especially the bit about the tortoise.

[Bunnylump]

I just thought. I might bring Timmy to the Cotswolds. And see if I can palm him off on Fernando and Kingsley...

I've got a really sad story about Timmy. But it will make you laugh.

In the bad old days when there was insufficient tortoise legislation, and unscrupulous people used to bring big ship loads of them into the country, so LOADS of people had tortoises, and then got bored with them and let them go...

we used to keep Timmy in a run in the garden. That was before he realised that it was much more sensible to sleep through the British summer and wake up in time to be kept in front of a gas fire. If anyone found a stray tortoise, for some reason, they always assumed it was ours. So we'd come home to find several tortoises in the run. People who'd painted their telephone numbers on them got them back, some died, some we rehoused.

One day, we found a GIGANTIC tortoise in the run. Easily 3x the size of Timmy, who's a Herman's tortoise. Nobody claimed it, so we named it Big. (Yes, imaginitive, I know, but I was only 10). Something strange started to happen. Timmy started circling the other tortoise, and doing what could only be discribed as "pecking" it, all round the sides. A bit like he was trying to nibble the edges of a pie. This went on for 2 days: we started to worry that they might start to fight. Anyway, suddenly, and sadly, Big died at the beginning of the third day.

It was only later that we discovered that that type of tortoise does a COURTSHIP dance for 3 days before it mates. Poor, sad Timmy. Never managed to have his fun.

Isn't that a heart-wrenching story of unrequited love? He's been a bitter batchelor ever since. Gets his revenge on life in general by pooing over my mum's carpet and nibbling the feet of unsuspecting guests.

[giraffe]

Don't give it to us. I've never had a pet of any kind. I wouldn't know what to do with it.

[clvrlad]

Don't give it to us. I've never had a pet of any kind. I wouldn't know what to do with it.

well.......
id not read this bunny if i were you
Gopher Tortoise Stew

Also known as the "Hoover chicken," the gopher tortoise was a staple in the diets of Minorcans, Florida natives, and Depression-era families. The exact composition of Gopher Tortoise Stew depended on what ingredients were available at the time, but this is a typical recipe. Today, the gopher tortoise is a protected species, but you can substitute alligator or pork.

Cut meat into 2-inch pieces and simmer in salted water until tender. In a large Dutch oven, fry some salt pork until crisp and the fat is rendered. Add meat and brown. Add a generous amount of chopped onion, some chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, diced tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes.

Then add the water the meat was cooked in, some diced potatoes, a few bay leaves, salt and black pepper to taste, and a fresh datil pepper or a dash of datil pepper sauce. Simmer for 1½ to 2 hours over low heat. If necessary, thicken stew with a little flour dissolved in water, or some mashed hard-boiled egg yolks. For those that could afford the luxury of dry sherry, a dash would be added just before serving.

Serve piping hot with rice and corn pone.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-pl ... z0oXRmFJz2

[Bunnylump]

Oh he's so scrawny and old I don't think he'd be worth cooking. He might make a good olive dish He looks a bit like this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Testu ... rca_02.jpg

[Laura]

Today I've mostly bin teaching zombie-children.

The 7 and 8 year olds at school have been on a residential trip Monday to Thursday, where they were allowed to stay up until 10pm each night. It's been like trying to teach the living dead today! They were all very quiet and well-behaved though, mostly because they were all falling asleep where they sat!

[giraffe]

Lally's away with school next week and they are supposed to be in bed by 10 and asleep by 10.30. She will be a total zombie, she usually goes up to bed about 7.30 . She has to get up early as we leave before 7.30am, so she goes to bed early. I think after 3 nights she will be asleep in her dinner, particularly as they are doing outward bound things during the day, so will be overtired from fresh air and exercise.

[Bunnylump]

I always remember when my son went to a "sleep over" but only did the "over" part when he was about 8. He had to meet his Great Uncle from Ireland for the first time the following day at his grandparents' house. Unfortunately he fell asleep on the sofa, and then slept walked - I found him in the middle of the living room just about to open his flies to pee ...

[MBH]

... hosting a UK Online "Face Your Online Fears" day as it is Silver Surfer's Day at the end of Adult Learning Week.

Set in one of the three Libraries that are currently operating as UK Online Centres (under my care and training), these sort of events give a chance to decorate the place with baloons and put loads of advertising out to entice NEW people in.

Not a massive turn out - but since I was operating the computer room on my own, that was probably just as well. Got two new members of the public signed up and registered, and 'hooked' another one who I'm sure will be back.

I've been training the Library staff to give new computer users a 100$ positive experience - they bring enough negative history or worries themselves, and it is my personal mission to battle those problems down.

It has been a busy year, and with my assistant retiring I am now running the project alone - but we have got a LOT of people using the Internet who thought that computers weren't for them.

A 'Doctor' with a string of letters after her name (with doctorates in various computer fields) has wached me teach a few times now and thinks I should record myself and sell access to the videos on my own website. Lovely idea (and I appreciate the complement), but I still don't have a web presence so that is for 'the future'.

[Bunnylump]

That's what I've been telling you!! (Except you won't listen to me). You have a REAL talent for reaching out to people who are scared of computers (like me) and explaining things in a straightforward, non-scary way. I wish you were near here* - I'd set you loose on my Dad, who has a laptop and hardly uses it, and 2 of my staff who are complete non users of computers!

*Well I wish you were near here because then I might get to actually SEE my twin too!!

[Laura]

MBH, explain to me the logic of posting videos on the internet to help people who are scared of computers? How will they ever get to see them?!?!?!

It sounds like you're doing a really good job though. Glad yesterday went well.

[Scurra]

No, it would be to show other people how that sort of teaching should be done! Not as a replacement for the teaching (which we've already established probably needs to be done face-to-face and one-to-one.)

[Bunnylump]

Just been to "somebody's" 60th birthday party. My husband had been volunteered to play in his band "The Classics" for free (it was a friend of one of the band members). Being a WAG I was invited, and didn't know anyone (apart from the other WAGs). But I couldn't talk to them because the music was so loud and I'm so deaf, so I DANCED for about 3 hours. Fortified with ample red wine I was even dancing on my own.

I'm SO exhausted. Who needs keep fit?

[MBH]

Good for you - sounds like a great night (no use asking YOU about puzzles tonight if you're floating on a sea of wine)


Dancing is one of the best forms of exercise. I'm just back from 6-hours behind the bar - which is now my weekly workout - and I get paid for it

[Bunnylump]

6 HOURS??? Coo that's a long time! You can ask me about puzzles if you like. It'd wind the jester up, that's for sure. When my defences are down I'm far less cautious.

OK so you'd probably better not ask me. Tomorrow maybe... I'd probably agree to bribery and corruption just now.

[MBH]

Opening hours on Saturday used to be Noon till 3 then 7 till last orders at 11 (done and out by 12). Somewhere in the last few years they've started keeping the bar open so one person works Noon till 6, and the other does 6 till close.

Been pretty steady going all night, and I'm sure Saturday night used to always be 2 staff - now it's only one. NOT SURE if that is just because it's me, and I'm as good as any two of the ladies [Me? Big-headed?? Never ]

Varying between 'steady' and 'busy' for the full time, so it IS a workout. Wish I didn't spend so much time there eating crisps or Mars bars

[LAT]

When my daughter used to work at the local pub sometime she did what they called AFD which meant from opening time at 11.00am through till closing time - well usually until about midnight because of clearing up too. Luckily she didn't do that too often!!

[Bunnylump]

You need to come and join me on that dance floor!! Mind you probably not advisbale if you cherish your toes...

[Bunnylump]

Scribing for an English Literature examination. I can't believe it - they're STILL doing To Kill a Mockingbird. I did that in 1977!!! It was like a horrible blast from the past!