The best laid plans of mice and men etc.!
We decided to have our Christmas dinner this year in the Farmers where we have our koi meetings and it was an excellent dinner; as ever.
So, there was no traditional turkey cooked at home, however Cyn decided that we would have one for New Year so she ordered a fresh turkey from the butchers outlet in the Tweedmill to be collected on New Years Eve.
We duly collected and paid for the turkey along with some streaky bacon and chipolata sausages to cook with the turkey in the afternoon.
We put the turkey still in its bag in the fridge and got it out New Years Day i.e. yesterday to cook it and that's when we discovered it was smelling 'off'
It was very obviously a now less than 'fresh' turkey left over from Christmas.
I tried washing it in brine made from about three pounds of salt but it still smelled, I took it across road to our neighbour's house for a second opinion and all three smelled it and agreed 'don't cook it!' as it still smelled pretty disgusting.
We phoned the Tweedmill who agreed to inform the butchers.
This morning we phoned the butchers at their Denbigh shop and took the turkey back to him.
He took the turkey back without even opening the bag to look at the turkey or smell it then put it down in back of the shop and said, "I'm very sorry about that, I did ask the girl at the Tweedmill that morning on the phone, was the turkey alright for sale? "
This confirmed my suspicions that it was left over from Christmas!
He then asked did we want meat or a refund?
We asked for a refund and he handed us £45.00, the turkey cost £41.50 on its own so we gained £3.50, to cover our inconvenience! that is, less the cost of fuel to and from Denbigh.
If the guy in the shop had been more apologetic or sincere you would accept a mistake was made by inexperienced young staff at the Tweedmill but he appeared quite offhand and unconcerned in our opinion.
So, we vote with our feet from now on as he has lost three customers.
Spring is nearly here!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
THE FISHERMAN
A simple man,
He liked the crease on the water
His cast made, but had no pity
For the broken backbone
Of water or fish.
One of his pleasures, thirsty,
Was to ask a drink
At the hot farms;
Leaving with a casual thank you,
As though they owed him.
I could have told of the living water
That springs pure,
He would have smiled then,
Dancing his speckled fly in the shallows,
Not understanding.
R S Thomas
I'm going fly fishing with Nigel again tomorrow so the above poem is appropriate to the occasion.
I'm sure I've met such a character as described above, they still exist; to the frustration of more circumspect fly anglers.
The unusually mild weather continues to surprise as today I spotted a clump of daffodils in full flower next to the post box at the top of the estate and some larger clumps about to flower nearby in the grass verge.
Also, while walking the dogs this morning I saw geraniums, fuchsias, scabious, marigolds and jasmine in flower plus other unidentifiable flowers in peoples gardens, just amazing that its only the first week in January!
Saw our first lambs just before Christmas same place as last year; on the Old Denbigh Rd next to the former trotting pony breeding centre.
What next after a flowery January? sunburn in February? (we wish!)
It would make a pleasant change from the interminable rain.
But, its now getting lighter every morning!
A simple man,
He liked the crease on the water
His cast made, but had no pity
For the broken backbone
Of water or fish.
One of his pleasures, thirsty,
Was to ask a drink
At the hot farms;
Leaving with a casual thank you,
As though they owed him.
I could have told of the living water
That springs pure,
He would have smiled then,
Dancing his speckled fly in the shallows,
Not understanding.
R S Thomas
I'm going fly fishing with Nigel again tomorrow so the above poem is appropriate to the occasion.
I'm sure I've met such a character as described above, they still exist; to the frustration of more circumspect fly anglers.
The unusually mild weather continues to surprise as today I spotted a clump of daffodils in full flower next to the post box at the top of the estate and some larger clumps about to flower nearby in the grass verge.
Also, while walking the dogs this morning I saw geraniums, fuchsias, scabious, marigolds and jasmine in flower plus other unidentifiable flowers in peoples gardens, just amazing that its only the first week in January!
Saw our first lambs just before Christmas same place as last year; on the Old Denbigh Rd next to the former trotting pony breeding centre.
What next after a flowery January? sunburn in February? (we wish!)
It would make a pleasant change from the interminable rain.
But, its now getting lighter every morning!
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Although the days are slowly getting longer It's an illusion that the mornings are getting brighter. Sunrise on the 21st of December was 08.26 AM, sunrise on the 6th of January is 08.26 AM. The evenings are now getting brighter though as the days slowly extend, sunset on the 21st of December was 15.54 and tonight it was 16.09.
We should start to see sunrise slowly getting earlier by about a minute a day from tomorrow whilst the sun sets around 2 minutes a day later. Details taken from Laver's Tide Tables.
We should start to see sunrise slowly getting earlier by about a minute a day from tomorrow whilst the sun sets around 2 minutes a day later. Details taken from Laver's Tide Tables.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
I know, it's all in the mind about it getting brighter Colin, well mostly!
Just to cheer me/us up these wet dark mornings, a psychological boost to get us through the winter.
Lavers Tide Tables, I've bought them on and off over the past 50 odd years, initially for sailing and sea fishing but lately for dog walking on local beaches, still an excellent publication and guide.
Just to cheer me/us up these wet dark mornings, a psychological boost to get us through the winter.
Lavers Tide Tables, I've bought them on and off over the past 50 odd years, initially for sailing and sea fishing but lately for dog walking on local beaches, still an excellent publication and guide.
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
This morning I decided to clean the leaves out of my small wildlife pond as I got caught out last winter when the frogs spawned before I got around to clearing out the leaves.
Very surprised to find a lot of last years tadpoles were still in the pond, many of them with the back legs showing, there were also a couple of very small newts. It took me 5 minutes to remove the leaves and another hour of sifting through the debris to return over a hundred tadpoles back to the pond.
Very surprised to find a lot of last years tadpoles were still in the pond, many of them with the back legs showing, there were also a couple of very small newts. It took me 5 minutes to remove the leaves and another hour of sifting through the debris to return over a hundred tadpoles back to the pond.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
That is truly amazing,it must be the mild winter Colin, although it could possibly be they bred again, very early?
My frogs were still active right up to recently.
Another possible reason they failed to mature could be due to insufficient food available in your wildlife pond which would lead to retarded development.
Actually at that stage they will eat floating koi pellets so I would try feeding them.
Also, 10 out of 10 for taking the time to separate them Colin, not everyone would have bothered.
The floods in St Asaph from the Elwy have subsided this morning thankfully as we took the dogs for an overdue walk.
Yesterday it was over the banks again and flowing through all 5 arches flooding over the combined tables and benches in the area behind the flood defence barrier.
It flooded entirely this area of The Common and was high enough to cover the viewing platform, the carved 5ft wooden otter (some silly bugger called it a local Merecat!) and the carved salmon with the princess's gold ring in its mouth that are situated along this part of the Elwy.
It got to within just a couple of feet again from causing another disaster!
This morning its barely back within its banks but again its left behind great rafts of debris piled up behind the benches and trees.
The snowdrops just coming into flower close to the river are showing white stalks where the soil has washed away from the roots and there is mud and silt everywhere again!
My frogs were still active right up to recently.
Another possible reason they failed to mature could be due to insufficient food available in your wildlife pond which would lead to retarded development.
Actually at that stage they will eat floating koi pellets so I would try feeding them.
Also, 10 out of 10 for taking the time to separate them Colin, not everyone would have bothered.
The floods in St Asaph from the Elwy have subsided this morning thankfully as we took the dogs for an overdue walk.
Yesterday it was over the banks again and flowing through all 5 arches flooding over the combined tables and benches in the area behind the flood defence barrier.
It flooded entirely this area of The Common and was high enough to cover the viewing platform, the carved 5ft wooden otter (some silly bugger called it a local Merecat!) and the carved salmon with the princess's gold ring in its mouth that are situated along this part of the Elwy.
It got to within just a couple of feet again from causing another disaster!
This morning its barely back within its banks but again its left behind great rafts of debris piled up behind the benches and trees.
The snowdrops just coming into flower close to the river are showing white stalks where the soil has washed away from the roots and there is mud and silt everywhere again!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
THE RIVER
And the cobbled water
Of the stream with the trout's indelible
Shadows that winter
Has not erased- I walk it
Again under a clean
Sky with the fish speckled like thrushes,
Silently singing among the weed's
Branches.
I bring the heart
Not the mind to the interpretation
Of their music, letting the stream
Comb me, feeling it fresh
In my veins, revisiting the sources
That are as near now
As on the morning I set out from them
RS Thomas
A nicer morning again after ever more overnight rain to walk beside the still turbulent Elwy.
Slightly higher than yesterday but not overspilling much.
I saw three dippers flying about near the stone road bridge this morning but it was way too fast and coloured for them to feed.
I expect a lot of food has been washed out onto the banks for them, there were certainly lots of worms on the paths this morning.
The big wild plum tree on the back of The Common near to The Bridge public house has a few pale white flowers opened this morning and masses of greenish white buds showing.
This is 8 to 10 weeks early!
On the same subject; I was fly fishing last Wednesday near Nanerch and I was standing next to a pretty sight, a large pussy willow tree with gleaming white catkins just about opening in the bright sunshine on the lakeside.
I do hope we don't come to regret this unusually mild winter with an unusually long and foul spring!
And the cobbled water
Of the stream with the trout's indelible
Shadows that winter
Has not erased- I walk it
Again under a clean
Sky with the fish speckled like thrushes,
Silently singing among the weed's
Branches.
I bring the heart
Not the mind to the interpretation
Of their music, letting the stream
Comb me, feeling it fresh
In my veins, revisiting the sources
That are as near now
As on the morning I set out from them
RS Thomas
A nicer morning again after ever more overnight rain to walk beside the still turbulent Elwy.
Slightly higher than yesterday but not overspilling much.
I saw three dippers flying about near the stone road bridge this morning but it was way too fast and coloured for them to feed.
I expect a lot of food has been washed out onto the banks for them, there were certainly lots of worms on the paths this morning.
The big wild plum tree on the back of The Common near to The Bridge public house has a few pale white flowers opened this morning and masses of greenish white buds showing.
This is 8 to 10 weeks early!
On the same subject; I was fly fishing last Wednesday near Nanerch and I was standing next to a pretty sight, a large pussy willow tree with gleaming white catkins just about opening in the bright sunshine on the lakeside.
I do hope we don't come to regret this unusually mild winter with an unusually long and foul spring!
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
On further consideration I think my tadpoles are left overs from last spring and they haven't fully matured due to insufficient food.
I'll have to try feeding them a few koi pellets and see if this helps although I can't see them developing much more until the spring.
I'm starting to hear a bit of a dawn chorus when I take the dog for his early morning walk although the birds, like a lot of plants, are being fooled by the recent unseasonably warm weather. I'm afraid they're all in for a reality check later in the week when we are due for some frosty nights and maybe even a little snow next week.
I'll have to try feeding them a few koi pellets and see if this helps although I can't see them developing much more until the spring.
I'm starting to hear a bit of a dawn chorus when I take the dog for his early morning walk although the birds, like a lot of plants, are being fooled by the recent unseasonably warm weather. I'm afraid they're all in for a reality check later in the week when we are due for some frosty nights and maybe even a little snow next week.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
We had a hard ground frost yesterday morning Colin, it never fully cleared from the back lawn until the sun got on it about 11.30 am but guess what? it rained again from about 2.00pm and persisted all night.
Still, we were in for something a bit different today.
I went to Foxons fishing tackle shop this morning with Nigel and it absolutely hammered down with hailstones just as we got back home.
Now that is a change from boring old rain!
Regarding the dawn chorus here, our resident wren and robin are practicing short bursts and a hedge accentor has had very brief snatches of song from the top of the garden fence just lately.
We put sunflower seed/fat feeders out for the first time this weekend and the greater spotted woodpeckers found the fat within a day, as did the long tailed tits!
Still, we were in for something a bit different today.
I went to Foxons fishing tackle shop this morning with Nigel and it absolutely hammered down with hailstones just as we got back home.
Now that is a change from boring old rain!
Regarding the dawn chorus here, our resident wren and robin are practicing short bursts and a hedge accentor has had very brief snatches of song from the top of the garden fence just lately.
We put sunflower seed/fat feeders out for the first time this weekend and the greater spotted woodpeckers found the fat within a day, as did the long tailed tits!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Bird food and sunflower hearts!
For those of you who feed the garden birds, I have a very good supplier, a mill in West Lanc's of top quality bakers grade black sunflower hearts, works out at about 90p a kilo delivered.
Club members can email me if you want supplier.
And also, to save you more money, Poundland are selling tubs of 50 fatballs for £4.00 but only eligible if you spend a further £1.00
They also sell large bird food suet tubs for £1.00 each.
Yesterday I bought two suet tubs for £2.00 which then entitled me to 2 fatball tubs for £8.00 i.e. 100 fatballs which is really excellent value for money as are the suet tubs.
All quiet on the western front this morning as the newly acquired cold weather grips, there were no birdies practicing today but quite a lot of rooks and jackdaws flying over for some reason?
The snow caps on the Clwyd's has persisted all day despite the sunshine this afternoon.
The snowfall seemed heavier East towards Moel Famau but Moel y Parc looked pristine and resplendent with a pure white cap around the TV mast glistening in the late afternoon sun.
And; last but not least, my Koi are finally all clamped down and listless on the bottom of the pond and not foraging for food as normal both yesterday and today.
How long will that last!
For those of you who feed the garden birds, I have a very good supplier, a mill in West Lanc's of top quality bakers grade black sunflower hearts, works out at about 90p a kilo delivered.
Club members can email me if you want supplier.
And also, to save you more money, Poundland are selling tubs of 50 fatballs for £4.00 but only eligible if you spend a further £1.00
They also sell large bird food suet tubs for £1.00 each.
Yesterday I bought two suet tubs for £2.00 which then entitled me to 2 fatball tubs for £8.00 i.e. 100 fatballs which is really excellent value for money as are the suet tubs.
All quiet on the western front this morning as the newly acquired cold weather grips, there were no birdies practicing today but quite a lot of rooks and jackdaws flying over for some reason?
The snow caps on the Clwyd's has persisted all day despite the sunshine this afternoon.
The snowfall seemed heavier East towards Moel Famau but Moel y Parc looked pristine and resplendent with a pure white cap around the TV mast glistening in the late afternoon sun.
And; last but not least, my Koi are finally all clamped down and listless on the bottom of the pond and not foraging for food as normal both yesterday and today.
How long will that last!