What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

Thanks! I have to divert myself from all that IKEA discussion on New Year's Day.

Yes, that discussion needed a diversion.

I couldn't stop thinking about salmon for quite a while.

Salmon?

For me, salmon is a summer treat.

Fish soups, (better still, spicy fish soups), broths, chowders, deep bowls of seductive fishy goodness - are what attract me in winter.

Fish has been on my mind for several days.

Good luck.

I'm fortunate in that I have an excellent fishmonger - who has a stall in the farmers' market, and also does deliveries - but, then, one is dependant on what he can catch, which makes planning redundant at times, as one may need to adapt to what is available, rather than what one might wish, on a given evening or day.

In any case, in deepest darkest winter, I notice that I find myself thinking of (and sometimes, craving) meat (which I eat fairly rarely, in summer) rather than fish.

I hope the best for everyone always.

And likewise.

 

[bousozoku]

Yes, that discussion needed a diversion.

Salmon?

For me, salmon is a summer treat.

Fish soups, (better still, spicy fish soups), broths, chowders, deep bowls of seductive fishy goodness - are what attract me in winter.

Good luck.

I'm fortunate in that I have an excellent fishmonger - who has a stall in the farmers' market, and also does deliveries - but, then, one is dependant on what he can catch, which makes planning redundant at times, as one may need to adapt to what is available, rather than what one might wish, on a given evening or day.

In any case, in deepest darkest winter, I notice that I find myself thinking of (and sometimes, craving) meat (which I eat fairly rarely, in summer) rather than fish.

And likewise.

I've been an IKEA fan since 1989 when I visited one of the three IKEA stores in the U.S.A. and tasted their salmon dishes.

Yes, that discussion needed a diversion.

Salmon?

For me, salmon is a summer treat.

Fish soups, (better still, spicy fish soups), broths, chowders, deep bowls of seductive fishy goodness - are what attract me in winter.

Good luck.

I'm fortunate in that I have an excellent fishmonger - who has a stall in the farmers' market, and also does deliveries - but, then, one is dependant on what he can catch, which makes planning redundant at times, as one may need to adapt to what is available, rather than what one might wish, on a given evening or day.

In any case, in deepest darkest winter, I notice that I find myself thinking of (and sometimes, craving) meat (which I eat fairly rarely, in summer) rather than fish.

And likewise.

I've been an IKEA fan since 1989 when I visited one of the three stores in the U.S.A. and tried their salmon dishes. At one point, I was eating salmon in the restaurant and buying frozen salmon from the snack bar. (Frozen fish is hard on the teeth. Please remember to cook it!)

Farmers Markets aren't plentiful here but the local one is about 15 miles from here and it is a long walk to be there at 7 in the morning. Even if there is a bus that day, I would be too late.

I went to a Cambodian-VietNamese restaurant the other day and got Seafood Vermicelli, which was sufficient. I appreciated that the imitation crab was made from fish.

In any case, my alternatives have to be acceptable. Perhaps, they could deport me to Japan and I would be more successful.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've been an IKEA fan since 1989 when I visited one of the three IKEA stores in the U.S.A. and tasted their salmon dishes.

I've been an IKEA fan since 1989 when I visited one of the three stores in the U.S.A. and tried their salmon dishes. At one point, I was eating salmon in the restaurant and buying frozen salmon from the snack bar. (Frozen fish is hard on the teeth. Please remember to cook it!)

Farmers Markets aren't plentiful here but the local one is about 15 miles from here and it is a long walk to be there at 7 in the morning. Even if there is a bus that day, I would be too late.

I went to a Cambodian-VietNamese restaurant the other day and got Seafood Vermicelli, which was sufficient. I appreciated that the imitation crab was made from fish.

View attachment 2342305

In any case, my alternatives have to be acceptable. Perhaps, they could deport me to Japan and I would be more successful.

Ah, IKEA salmon.

That is different.

Yes, I can well imagine that frozen fish is less than palatable and not to be recommended even if one is ravenous.

For myself, I love their Kalles Kaviar, which is (unfortunately) very difficult to obtain outside of Norway and Sweden.

Agree completely about longing to be deported to Japan, or other Asian spots for spicy fish soup; actually, on the topic of salmon, I adore sushi, and sashimi, and could eat this - and spicy fish broths - endlessly, and eternally.

That seafood vermicelli looks absolutely delicious. Yum.

 

[Clix Pix]

Ikea has more than three locations in the US..... Their website is a bit confusing, though, as it does look as though there are only three, but in fact if one hits the nearly unnoticeable "more locations" button this leads to the full list of stores around the country.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My 5 am alarm is on my mind. At least it won’t be frosty.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My 5 am alarm is on my mind. At least it won’t be frosty.

Safe travels.

Five a.m. alarms are okay in summer (even this owl can cope with early rising at that time of year), but beyond brutal in deepest, darkest, dreariest, winter.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Safe travels.

Five a.m. alarms are okay in summer (even this owl can cope with early rising at that time of year), but beyond brutal in deepest, darkest dreariest, winter.

Well to be honest my alarm goes off at 5:40 if I’m in the office and 6:30 if I’m WFH. So I’m more than used to early starts all year round. But yes it’s easier when the sun is already up.
I’m usually awake before they go off anyhow.

 

[bousozoku]

Ikea has more than three locations in the US..... Their website is a bit confusing, though, as it does look as though there are only three, but in fact if one hits the nearly unnoticeable "more locations" button this leads to the full list of stores around the country.

In 1989, they had a store outside Plymouth Meeting Mall in Conshocken, PA, another one in Elizabeth, NJ, and another between Baltimore and DC.

Yes, they have many stores now, including three about 90 minutes' drive from here in Northern California. The original Philadelphia area store has been replaced but it's still near the U.S. headquarters.

 

[Clix Pix]

In thinking about it I realize (rather belatedly) that when the Ikea site displays three store locations, it's just the three closest to the location where the prospective customer lives or is located at the time of the search, as of course the site can pick up that information quite readily.

Yes, back in 1989 things would have been quite different in terms of how many stores they had and where they were located in the US. I've only been once to the one in Woodbridge, VA, which is the closest to me in Northern Virginia, and it would have been after 1989 -- probably in the mid 1990's sometime. It's in a huge outlet-type shopping center and I vaguely remember hoping that I could find my car when I came back out as the parking lot was enormous, too.

I did love walking around the store and seeing all the neat stuff, eating in the restaurant there and of course picking up a few items along the way to purchase when I was ready to leave! Since then I just get online if I want to order something.... MUCH easier to have it delivered right to my home.

Ah, Plymouth Meeting Mall.... I have fond memories of that place, which I went to a few times while visiting in the Philadelphia area for a while.

 

[mollyc]

In 1989, they had a store outside Plymouth Meeting Mall in Conshocken, PA, another one in Elizabeth, NJ, and another between Baltimore and DC.

Yes, they have many stores now, including three about 90 minutes' drive from here in Northern California. The original Philadelphia area store has been replaced but it's still near the U.S. headquarters.

In 1989 there was also one in Pittsburgh. I bought furniture for college from it.

 

[Herdfan]

Have a dilemma.

An old friend is moving to Sedona which is about 15 minutes away from me. That's not the problem.

Everytime we get together, he insists on paying. I have tried to tell him it is not necessary, but he keeps doing it. My wife talked to his wife and found out he thinks he owes me from way back in college when I had plenty of money and he didn't, so I subsidized some things: like gas to the beach or paid a little more for the condo at the ski resort.

But now we are all grown up and he doesn't owe me. I paid back then in part because if I wanted to go to the beach and golf, I was willing to kick in a little more to make sure we got to go.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

 

[bousozoku]

Have a dilemma.

An old friend is moving to Sedona which is about 15 minutes away from me. That's not the problem.

Everytime we get together, he insists on paying. I have tried to tell him it is not necessary, but he keeps doing it. My wife talked to his wife and found out he thinks he owes me from way back in college when I had plenty of money and he didn't, so I subsidized some things: like gas to the beach or paid a little more for the condo at the ski resort.

But now we are all grown up and he doesn't owe me. I paid back then in part because if I wanted to go to the beach and golf, I was willing to kick in a little more to make sure we got to go.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

Tell him that, since you're both married, it isn't going to work out, and he's going to have to spend his money on his wife. 😆

Once he recovers, tell him that you're going to pay for you.

 

[Chuckeee]

Have a dilemma.

An old friend is moving to Sedona which is about 15 minutes away from me. That's not the problem.

Everytime we get together, he insists on paying. I have tried to tell him it is not necessary, but he keeps doing it. My wife talked to his wife and found out he thinks he owes me from way back in college when I had plenty of money and he didn't, so I subsidized some things: like gas to the beach or paid a little more for the condo at the ski resort.

But now we are all grown up and he doesn't owe me. I paid back then in part because if I wanted to go to the beach and golf, I was willing to kick in a little more to make sure we got to go.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

Well there is the passive-aggressive approach. You can buy things ahead of time (e.g., tickets, gift card to the restaurant) and then explain (lie) that you have to “use it or lose it” and he is helping you out by helping you spend it

 

[Macky-Mac]

Have a dilemma.

An old friend is moving to Sedona which is about 15 minutes away from me. That's not the problem.

Everytime we get together, he insists on paying. I have tried to tell him it is not necessary, but he keeps doing it. My wife talked to his wife and found out he thinks he owes me from way back in college when I had plenty of money and he didn't, so I subsidized some things: like gas to the beach or paid a little more for the condo at the ski resort.

But now we are all grown up and he doesn't owe me. I paid back then in part because if I wanted to go to the beach and golf, I was willing to kick in a little more to make sure we got to go.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

If it makes him feel good to insist on paying, then after you've offer to pay your share, let him enjoy "paying you back"

Maybe you can find a way to chip in something while he pays the majority of the.....the tip? parking if it's not free? drinks while he pays for dinner?

Maybe in time he'll start letting you pay a share when you offer.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

My beloved is calling me by my full name.
How much trouble am I in?

 

[Beards]

My beloved is calling me by my full name.
How much trouble am I in?

Deep…. Just the same as doing this.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My beloved is calling me by my full name.
How much trouble am I in?

Ah.

Almost as bad, I should imagine, as when one's mother addresses one by one's full name, or so my mother (describing her reaction when her mother addressed her, or called her, by her full name) told me.

 

[rm5]

Woke up this morning feeling just fine, and now I feel like absolute ****. Not a big shock given there's some nasty stuff going around on campus.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Back home from my journey up North.
The service went well. There was about 45 people there.
Journey wasn’t great getting there. Heavy rain and road works. Despite setting off with plenty of time (I should have had a spare hour).
Anyway just arrived home. Very glad to be off the road. The rain is no fun.

 

[rm5]

Also, getting ads in the middle of a song... now that's just cruel.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Also, getting ads in the middle of a song... now that's just cruel.

On what platform? Apple Music don’t do that.

 

[rm5]

On what platform? Apple Music don’t do that.

On YouTube. I've never had it happen before.

 

[VulchR]

Sigh. The Forestry Commission is selling of a coastal forest of 100-tyear-old Scots and Corsican pine by the sea near where I live, citing some nonsense about qualified community groups being able to take over the land. They put up the notice just before Christmas and gave community groups a month to qualify. Surprise, surprise, the local communities couldn't arrange this in the short period, so the land will be sold to the highest bidder. Not doubt some rich elite horse's ass will buy it and turn in to a golf course or housing estate. And of course the forest will be clear cut - the wood is valuable. Even the old forestry tracks on the land, which have been used for 80 years by the locals, could have access stopped as they are not public rights of way.

Thought I'd take one last look at the forest before the people's land becomes somebody's private property, but as the sea levels rise and the weather is producing more storms, half the forest was flooded (the dunes by the coast act like a dam). To top things off, coastal erosion from rising sea levels and storms has encroached on an adjacent freshwater marsh, so now a small stream has formed draining the freshwater into the sea.

Not a happy camper/walker/photographer... Climate change and greed is going to bite us on the backside.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Woke up this morning feeling just fine, and now I feel like absolute ****. Not a big shock given there's some nasty stuff going around on campus.

Stay warm, stay hydrated, stay rested, and, if it lasts more than two or three days (or less, if you feel really rotten, or admit that you are not immortal) I recommend that you see the medical staff on campus and ascertain their views (and help) in dealing with this ailment, or illness.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Back home from my journey up North.
The service went well. There was about 45 people there.
Journey wasn’t great getting there. Heavy rain and road works. Despite setting off with plenty of time (I should have had a spare hour).
Anyway just arrived home. Very glad to be off the road. The rain is no fun.

Glad that the day went well, (or, as well as could be expected in the circumstances), and good that you got there and back safely.

Better rain than snow or ice, but neither is much fun; not a fan of darkness, either - my mother used to hate driving in the dark (especially on rural and poorly-lit roads) in winter.