jonab

Relaxing outside yesterday evening I noticed huge numbers of bats flying around. They're a bit of a rarity around here and it put me in mind of when I lived at the top of Woodborough Road when bats reached almost plague numbers one year ('72 - 73?). I also used to see a lot around the Grosvenor when I lived next door. It seemed Nottingham was a sort of haven for bats then. Any updates on that?

Any quinces around now? I mean the real types, not those Japanese imposters which could double up as cannon balls. I remember my granny had a quince tree in her garden in Rempstone. She used to make a type of compôte with them. It wasn't very nice to eat - full of gritty bits. She also had a fig tree but I never saw any fruit on it. As kids we used to break twigs off and use the white sap as "tattoo ink" - as it dried it turned black and was extremely difficult to remove. Anyway, my housekeeper makes a sirop from blackberries (les mûres) by lightly bashing them to brea

All the dogs I have had reacted very badly to yoghurt - producing very large amounts of liquid which should have been solid (if you follow).

It is a very long time since whales were used in anything - the Japanese think differently but their margarine is difficult to come by.

Your link brought many memories, Baz. Thanks for posting

I understand that, starting today, Boris is enforcing the use of face masks in public. Perhaps the good (or not so good) citizens of the UK are imposing their own lockdown.

Brenda be brave today and bring all your happy memories to the fore in your goodbyes.

I didn't listen to the link before I posted it. I have now and I'm very impressed. That little girl has real talent. I also want to apologise to Centaur for taking any credit for his posting. It was he that provided the inspiration, I merely provided the link.

Here is the link for Centaur's post:

Just picked this up on BBC UK news website https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-53480900

So sad, Brenda. We at le BsL send our sympathies at this sad and difficult time for you all.

The oil smelled similar to jet fuel kerosine and I am reminded of Cleethorpes every time I fly.

My lasting memory of Cleethorpes is when I was about 10, going there on a day trip organised by the company my mother worked for. We arrived and there was little me all excited about going into the sea. I didn't notice the dark deposits all along the tideline as I ran towards the water. There was an awful squelching noise as my feet sank into a deep mass of stinking black goo. It was crude oil jettisoned from oil tankers which had washed up on the beach. Apparently it was normal at that time for these ships to clean their tanks in (and with) the North Sea with little (NO) thought as to th

I quite enjoyed Colwick cheese. I don't agree it had a "gone off milk" flavour - it had a nice acidity and was very good on a sandwich with cucumber and pepper. There was a cheese that showed some resemblance to Colwick cheese called St Ivel Lactic Cheese. Not quite the same stuff but it had this same acidic character. I doubt it is available now. A number of the French fresh goats cheeses (Chèvre) are similar to Colwick cheese but I doubt they would travel very well away from their area of manufacture. I did try once making my own lactic cheese by mixing lactic acid w

That's the one I remember! (near Bluecoat Street and very near to where I found the body on the road).

Margie, I don't want to go off topic too much but, am I right in remembering a Judge's branch on Mansfield Road? Your description of their cherry topped buns (with sultanas in them) brought back memories (nostaglia!!) Socram, regarding Pork Farms pork pies, on my last visit to England (Christmas/New year 2017 - 18) I tried one of the aforementioned "delicacies". It bore little or no resemblance to what I remembered. My (French) carer sampled a piece and his reaction was "Merde putain terrible".

Could be worse - it could be fox poo, or worse still down here, wild boar poo. Both really do honk and are difficult to remove.

I wouldn't be without my adblockers (adblock Plus, Web of trust, Ghostery - last two are not strictly adblockers but they keep down unwelcome sites and intruders into you machine. All free!)

More on the toilet roll buying panic: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8160043/Pandemic-psychologist-explains-people-panic-buy-toilet-roll.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-51731422

Thanks StuartC and philmayfield. I was looking at the wrong bit.

Is my memory fading or am I correct in thinking that there was a quite tall block of flats poking out of the middle of Victoria centre. They don't seem to appear in any of the current pictures.

The news here is that INTU has gone into administration, well in Spain at least.

I remember a two floor Kardomah at the top of Market Street (they roasted and ground coffee near the door so the aroma would attract custom) and a smaller version on Clumber Street -that one may have been opposite the Lion Hotel. I don't recall place with a reverse auction on Clumber Street but there was County Sales on Thurland Street (mentioned elsewhere on these pages) which did something similar.

We get a lot of bats. They are attracted to the fireflies (which are particularly plentiful this year).

Has anyone asked these mad toilet roll buyers why they are doing such a crazy thing