Hester

Rum!

artisan

Water

Alas, no, Briar Rose. Walnut Guy will unfortunately live to pester the neighbourhood another day. BTW, I think we had the same thunderstorm. Torrents of rain -- but at least it cooled things down. Currently, I'm listening to the eaves drip.

The neighbour known as "Walnut Guy" (and other less charitable sobriquets) cleaning out his garage -- with a leaf blower! Ah well, at least I can take comfort in the fact that if he keeps at it much longer, the carbon monoxide will surely asphixiate him!

I've given up waiting for the roofing contractor. I guess he decided the weather wasn't to his liking today. So, now I'm off for my walk to the grocery store to pick up some supplies before the sun gets too hot. Oh... but first I guess I'd better devil those eggs that I boiled this morning and put them in the fridge.

A hubby and THREE boyfriends! Huzzah, Cheeky!

Nothing yet, but I'm planning on scrambled eggs and pan-fried fish for breakfast. (Actually, the fish is leftover sashimi - ) Other neighbours' contractors -- but not mine, who was supposed to arrive at 7 a.m. Mr. H. Said contractor

Parliament

Hi, Ransom: Yes, I've read a couple of Minette Walters' books. However, I actually find them a bit too scary for me. The psychological tension she creates almost verges on the horror genre. I've found the same with some of Ruth Rendell's stories too. I'm afraid I like my mysteries a little bit gentler (although not quite as fluffy as some of the American "cozy" mysteries). I haven't been reading many murder mysteries lately, but I do like the Yorkshire police procedurals by Peter Robinson (who now lives in Toronto): http://www.inspectorbanks.com/ ...and the Peak District mysteries by Stephen Booth: http://www.stephen-booth.com/

Well, yes -- since my taste in novels tends to run to the shallow and low-brow rather than the deep and literary, I have indeed read many a paperback murder mystery in my time (usually when I should have been doing something more productive). I particularly enjoy the mysteries written by Martha Grimes, Elizabeth George, and Anne Perry. When I'm in a particularly fatuous mood, I even enjoy Elizabeth Peters' satirical mysteries.

I don't usually enjoy reading poetry. I've always attributed that fact to my being shallow and low-brow. But I did like your poem, Blackbead! (Oh dear, I guess that might not actually be considered terribly welcome praise...) Nonetheless, perhaps someone could set it to music and turn it into a shanty! P.S. I feel I should point out that Ransom is a Madame, not a Monsieur ... unless that was just poetic licence on your part.

Since it's hot and steamy out today and I don't want to put the air-conditioning on, I'm making a cold supper tonight. It will include: Store-bought potato salad (which is actually suprisingly nice) Assorted cold cuts: roast beef, smoked chicken, salami Chilled steamed asperagus in a mustard vinaigrette Mini cucumber "boats" stuffed with mock crab Assorted crudit'es with grilled artichoke dip Fresh strawberries and apricots for dessert.

The freshwater port in which I live unfortunately does not, alas, provide much in the way of fresh local shellfish. So, I've had to make do with something tinned from the larder. For lunch today, I had smoked oysters on crackers! And I washed down the oysters with a glass of Pimm's & sparkling water. [i'm being good and substituted the sparkling water for the calorie-laden lemonade that is the more traditional mixer for this aperitif.]

[Well, this seems a very mild source of irritation compared to a drunken b-i-l stealing one's rum & pissing on one's couch, but...] The starlings that are nesting in my eaves have been eating mulberries! That's right -- purple poop all over the place!

I read that a couple years ago and really enjoyed it!

Jules Verne, 20, 000 Leagues under the Sea

Wow, Mats -- your clambake looks delicious! I've just spent 10 days sitting in a Muskoka chair eating chips and drinking frozen daiquiris -- yikes! Vacation's over, so it's time to slim down a bit now. So, for breakfast today, I just had 2 eggs, scrambled with a bit of Stilton cheese, fresh strawberries and clear tea. ~ 300 calories. And I plan to walk to the store and buy myself some fresh veggies & fruit before the sun gets too strong.

Frazzled & frustrated. Just got back from vacation last night, to find a phone message saying the roofers would be here first thing this morning. Got up a 6 a.m to be ready & dressed before they arrived (they say they start at 7 a.m.) Now just received a phone call (while typing this) to say that they won't be here today, because they got behind on another job. But they'll be here tomorrow morning instead. Ugh!

Sweet!

Congratulations to you both! May you enjoy a glorious celebration on Sunday and spend a long and loving life together!

Tasty Frenchman:

*Hey, Jenny!* Today: Smoked chicken and chutney sandwich with tea Tomcat in the front yard Absolutely no one! M.H. One thing I DID today: Vacuum!

Skiving off from housework!

Yesterday: Fresh bing cherries dipped in chocolate sauce. Beach umbrella with a tropical island scene. Clerk at the dollar store -- we chatted about her plans for cottaging this summer, while I paid for said beach umbrella. Gruff Mike -- I hope he put the water on!