What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

I received notification that some library books awaited me, thus, I paid a brief, fleeting visit to the city, where I collected the library books, then, also collected the bread that awaited me in the French bakery (adding two criossants to my usual order), and then, finally, headed over to the cheesemonger's, where I picked up the organic double cream that also awaited me, adding a few cheeses while I was there.

They didn't have either sea salt, or redcurrant jelly, - two products I wished to purchase, to replenish my own supplies, but I have both in sufficient quantity for now.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Spent an interesting afternoon and evening helping to count the votes in yesterday's Australian Referendum (look it up if you are not familiar with it).
I had some observations to make, but perhaps it is inappropriate to share them.
However, it was easily noted that the No voters were much more emotional than the Yes voters. I will leave it to the psephologists to analyse that one.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Spent an interesting afternoon and evening helping to count the votes in yesterday's Australian Referendum (look it up if you are not familiar with it).
I had some observations to make, but perhaps it is inappropriate to share them.
However, it was easily noted that the No voters were much more emotional than the Yes voters. I will leave it to the psephologists to analyse that one.

Hm.

A fascinating experience, and some very interesting, and thought-provoking, observations.

 

[KaliYoni]

psephologists

Thanks for the voter behavior observation and for teaching me a new word!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Reading about (and, as a stunned consequence, thinking about) olive oil theft.

 

[Clix Pix]

Olive Oil theft?! That grabbed my attention! I immediately jumped into Google to read more about this, and yes, apparently it is quite a situation now in Greece. Yikes! I knew that the prices have gone up significantly on both olives and olive oil, but hadn't known about the thievery adding to the problems olive groves and olive oil manufacturers are having right now with climate changes and other factors, too.

 

[Apple fanboy]

We use olive oil for cooking quite a bit and have noticed the price increases. But because we use so few ingredients for cooking we probably have a 3-4 month supply. For some stuff we eat (rice and pasta), we probably have a year of more’s worth.

Beautiful sunny day here. Warming our lounge up nicely now. It will soon drop below the horizon and get chilly again soon. Blanket is already on the bed. The electric blanket will get broken out soon!

 

[Clix Pix]

I use olive oil mainly in salads, not usually in cooking since I don't really do much actual cooking per se, or the kind which requires using oils, so always do have good olive oil on hand, but not more than a bottle or two at a time. I've got more vinegars than I do oils -- balsamic vinegars and glazes, regular vinegars, specialty vinegars, etc.....

Hasn't been cold enough here yet to start adding an extra blanket or two but I did swap out the light summer blanket for a regular one when we had that last cold spell. For now the regular blanket (and sometimes the duvet, too) are enough to keep me warm.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I use olive oil mainly in salads, not usually in cooking since I don't really do much actual cooking per se, or the kind which requires using oils, so always do have good olive oil on hand, but not more than a bottle or two at a time. I've got more vinegars than I do oils -- balsamic vinegars and glazes, regular vinegars, specialty vinegars, etc.....

We mostly have white vinegar which Mrs AFB uses for cleaning various things.
Not sure why it’s called white vinegar when it’s clear.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yep, I always keep a bottle of white vinegar on hand for cleaning and for pouring down drains from time to time to keep them clear. Good stuff!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I checked my olive oil supplies, and realise that I have more than enough for the coming months (which doesn't mean that I won't add to my supply).

Now, I do use olive oil for cooking, - use it for much, if not most of what I cook and I also use butter for some dishes, but find that I use olive oil a lot more.

And, of course, I also use it for salads, not just classic green salad dressings, but also for tomato and other salads.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It will soon be time for my electric blanket and the winter duvet.

 

[Apple fanboy]

It will soon be time for my electric blanket and the winter duvet.

Indeed. It’s certainly turned colder this last week. At least we had some sunshine today.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Indeed. It’s certainly turned colder this last week. At least we had some sunshine today.

Earlier today, yes, but not now.

Nevertheless, the oven was on, and the aroma in the kitchen - (of roasting apples and pears, in lemon juice, with organic brown sugar and cloves) was seasonally appropriate, wonderful, warming and soothing.

 

[KaliYoni]

Reading about (and, as a stunned consequence, thinking about) olive oil theft.

Olive Oil theft?! That grabbed my attention!

That reminded me of this heist (the OPEC of maple syrup??? a strategic maple syrup reserve??? who knew?):

Maple syrup worth up to $30M stolen in Quebec | CBC News

Thieves in Quebec have made off with a massive haul of maple syrup worth up to $30 million in an unusual burglary targeting the world's most important association of producers of the sweet sap.

www.cbc.ca

Canada's Supreme Court upholds C$9m fine on maple syrup thief

Nearly 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup was stolen in the so-called Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.

www.bbc.com

 

[decafjava]

I am not surprised about the olive oil problem. Actually when I can, that is when I visit family or I or one of my colleagues accompany students on the study trip to Athens I visit local markets (away from the tourist areas) to get olive oil, olives and honey.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Chatted with Decent Brother for around an hour.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am not surprised about the olive oil problem. Actually when I can, that is when I visit family or I or one of my colleagues accompany students on the study trip to Athens I visit local markets (away from the tourist areas) to get olive oil, olives and honey.

Ah, wonderful.

Local markets........bliss.

 

[C0ncreteBl0nde]

I use olive oil as a makeup remover and have for years. I haven't been wearing much makeup lately though, so I wasn't aware of the olive oil price increase. Seems everything in my life is spiking in price lately: rent, insurance, and of course, food. I'm going to have to cut out some luxuries to make ends meet. Guess that goes to say for many of us.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, the price of olive oil in the farmers' market (and elsewhere) has increased quite markedly since last year - while the range of olive oils available for sale have simultaneously decreased.

Olive oil is a necessity, rather than a luxury in the area of cooking, food preparation and salads; there are other products that would be eliminated long before I were to exclude olive oil from my basket.

However, I have also used olive oil soaps, and found them excellent.

 

[Clix Pix]

That's an interesting idea to use olive oil as a makeup remover/skin moisturizer!

ETA: SS: Good suggestion and reminder, too, of olive oil soaps. I need to check that out, too.

Hm.... I used to wear makeup all the time, wouldn't dream of leaving the house without it, but at some point in later years I gradually stopped doing that and found that after a while it really didn't matter to me any more. Now I tend to use it more for some social occasions and such, but for general everyday running around, I'm really fine without it. Actually, now with winter coming on and the air being colder and drier, I might give olive oil a try as a moisturizer, as my skin does feel drier now.

In the meantime I still enjoy consuming it in various ways, whether as part of a cooked meal or as a light addition to a salad dressing..... I will never stop using olive oil or buying olives, no matter what the costs! I have to have my Kalamata and other olives on pretty much a daily basis.

AMEN in spades to the whole cost-of-living increase in everything! Whew! I've noticed that especially at the grocery store and also with increases in some monthly expenses such as the electric bill and payments for other services such as the internet, TV, etc. And, yes, I was not pleased when my auto insurance and homeowners' policies both increased significantly, especially the one for the car. Ouch! I live in a condominium community and already we are aware that once again we'll be getting an increase in our condo fees, probably more than most of us would like, starting with January 1, 2024, as costs for the various covered communal amenities and services we enjoy have risen as well.

A friend recently moved to an independent living facility and is now putting her condo unit on the rental market rather than selling it just yet, preferring to keep her options open for a while. Anyway, looking at what she is asking for her place and what rental rates are in general around here (Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC), it's very clear how much they have gone up by leaps and bounds in the past several years. Wow! I don't envy anyone who is trying find a decent place to rent these days.

 

[scubachap]

Olive oil has really got pricey, but Rape Seed oil is pretty nice and I'll whisper this in case there's any continentals listening in actually probably better for you - particularly when heating to higher temperatures plus who doesn't love all those bright yellow fields in the late spring / early summer...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Olive oil has really got pricey, but Rape Seed oil is pretty nice and I'll whisper this in case there's any continentals listening in actually probably better for you - particularly when heating to higher temperatures plus who doesn't love all those bright yellow fields in the late spring / early summer...

This European responds with the observation that you will prise my bottle of olive oil from my cold dead hands....

As for probably better for me.....

Well, as far as food is concerned, to my mind, a meal is judged on how it tastes....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I anticipate that olive oil prices will continue to rise, along with the prices of most of the food we consume. It depends on the war and the economy, I believe.

I expect that the actual climate, as much as the political climate, may also be a factor driving price increases in products (for some, commodities) such as olive oil.

 

[Lioness~]

I had a fairly good training-pass yesterday and could clean out some from both my attic and cellar storages, including the already mentioned broken office-chairs earlier in this thread.
Was some time ago our condominium brought in a container to get rid of our stored garbage, so I was not alone over the relief and the activity was high around this container.

But what are someone’s garbage can be someone else’s luck. I saw people, not from our house, walking away with things. Even met a guy who wondered if there was any bargains in the container when I dumped things there.
Saw him later from my balcony walking away with a fairly good bench 😂