Mareblu

Sorry to hear that Les, but no surprise. Our Irish boys thrived all those many years because they set a brilliant standard, and maintained it. We truly miss Donegans😔

I agree with her sentiments. It’s comforting standing in front of a heat source. We do have a stone-flame open gas heater in the living room, which we only switch on if we have guests in there on a winter’s evening. That’s when we remember how soothing an open fire (or gas space heat source in your case) truly is. It’s a ritual that’s part if our genetic memory, I think, to feel the connection between flame and body warmth. It’s interesting though, that our floors only need to be at a minimal setting for comfort. I think that has a lot to do with warm feet, warm bodies.

We’re in😀

Your fare sounds delicious, Leigh. Yes, it’s freezing here, but I actually love winter. Huge dumps of snow in the resorts, and more predicted during the week. We couldn’t resist dropping into Garran Bakery, though, using a bitter winter day as the perfect excuse. Tomorrow’s lunch😋. We are blessed to have hydronic underfloor heating throughout our home. It emanates a soft, radiant warmth when you come in from the cold.

You beat me to it, Docker123😂. I’d just finished reading this article. We should launch a Save Our Pie campaign!

Economical. Nothing cheap about The Bay, except for the Eurobodalla Shire rates😬

18 Jan. How could we forget?

Sending hopeful wishes. Please keep us posted

Lisle, that is a mouth-watering image of ingredients. What a delicious feast. on a more serious note, we are all watching the terrible wildfire situation in your beautiful country. I know at least one contingent of Aussie firefighters has left to assist; we do indeed enjoy a wonderful mutual aid arrangement in times of need, and we’ve been so grateful for Canadian assistance when our bushfires are rampant. Hoping and wishing the fires will be contained rapidly, and that you all stay safe and well.

Leigh, hope you’re perusing. Just watched final episode in this series of “Rick Stein’s Cornwall” and my heart stopped when he interviewed his friends Peter Prideaux-Brune and his wife Elisabeth at Prideaux House. They’re delightfully eccentric, and we enjoyed every moment, having visited so recently. Some wonderful footage of the House and its interior, and later in the closing clips, glimpses of the deer herd. Cornwall is calling me. I thought only the Scottish Highlands could do that🥰

My parents (NSW) always packed their ports for a holiday away

That's a common theme today, but language certainly does have rules, and writers, when applying those rules, are driven by the need for simple, clean expression. Language certainly does evolve, however, because it is a living entity. Our English language is intrinsic, but usage reflects the common idioms, and newly-coined words and phrases, adopted as the years progress. One of my more challenging uni lit exams contained a section where I was required to write an entire page describing a person (imaginary or known) without the use of an adjective. Adjectives are frowned upon for destroying clean, clear writing. Verbs are preferred. The other no-no: exclamation marks, because they dictate thought, rather than letting the reader interpret the piece. I still find myself, though instinctively knowing not to use them, adding them after words, particularly on WhatsApp chats, etc.

We were deigned to be

Wasn’t actually thinking of that Spanish gentleman 😂

I was just going to post that very comment😊

I had a really good look at it today…might attempt it, if I’m feeling risky😂

She certainly puts in the hours, and seems restrained and sensible. Her best gift to us all is Zara: what a fantastic woman.

All strength to you, Les. Wish I had a magic wand. I agree…I get so much enjoyment chatting with all the wonderful CC members. Some witty contributions leave me chuckling, and everyone is generous sharing their own areas of expertise and guidance.

My wedding gifts are also from 1969🥰

Buon appetito Les. How are you faring? You’re always in our thoughts😊

Never trued HP, which I remember from childhood, but we have NRMA insurance

So pleased to know you have it all sorted before you leave. It was the last thing you needed, but you can leave on your adventure, which sounds just wonderful, more relaxed now. Bon voyage, happy sailing, calm seas and sunny skies.

Oh no! So very sorry you've endured all this damage. Best wishes, and I hope this really rotten luck doesn't impact your trip.

That’s great news, because by news reports, the fires are pretty ferocious. Sending wishes and prayers to all Canadians💜

I can hardly breathe when Celine sings the haunting theme from “Titanic”. She sings, in that rich, beautifully controlled voice, from the heart.