Wednesday 15 October 2014

Still Life - after all these years


The other night, H.I. wanted to watch something on iPlayer which I didn't, so she poured herself a glass of wine and went next door.

About half an hour later, she came back in and said that the wine tasted a bit like vinegar, having drunk almost half of it. It was vinegar - it was the bottle in the middle.

I am glad I don't buy expensive wine, because I have an awful feeling it might be wasted on her, though her taste is normally more refined than mine.

I bought the electronic pepper-mill for £1 in a charity shop the other day, and once I had fitted it with £3 worth of new AAA batteries, it worked very well. A little light even comes on beneath, and it grinds the pepper even better that an extremely expensive, French, wooden one I was bought about 6 years ago for my birthday, which doesn't do anything at all, and I want to burn it for 3 minutes-worth of warmth.

Now I know what you are thinking - 'ELECTRONIC PEPPER-MILLS? WHAT IS THE POINT OF THOSE?'

Well, daughter's husband only has one hand, so you can shelve those thoughts before you verbalise them.

26 comments:

  1. Next door are very accommodating when you want to watch different things are they?

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    1. We don't use WiFi - our neighbours keep theirs locked.

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    2. Yours. I'm going to sleep, it's nearly morning here.

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    3. Yes, I can see a glimmer of light coming from the East... or is it West?

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  2. This belongs in the same category as electric pencil sharpeners and toothbrushes, which many people can't live without these days. A solar-powered pepper mill would be better - they only allow you to use them when you're, say, in Italy in the summertime.

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    1. I almost bought a hand-powered water-purifier today, until I realised that all the cranking did was power an Ultra Violet light. Call me a sucker if you must, but I didn't buy it.

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  3. Now that is something I can see myself doing.

    Right below your post in my Blogger feed was a post from MsMarmiteLover and her trip to Bath (Bertinet's cooking school). Looking at her pictures to see if she caught you or HI walking about.

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    1. Just looked (difficult to find) and there are only about 5 people in shot, none of whom are me or H.I. Sorry,

      Tip: Richard's last name is pronounced, 'Bertinette', not 'Bertinay' as some silly sausages here in Bath would have it it.

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  4. You seem drawn to shiny objects. Like a magpie.

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    1. You could be right, but they have just decided that Magpies are not really attracted to shiny things as they are supposed to be - what do 'they' know?

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  5. My sister once gave me a battery powered pepper grinder. I gave it to a charity shop. I have two hands, and I wanted to save the world by not using too many batteries.

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  6. May I recommend the 2012 Cider Vinegar from the plains of eastern Normandy. Apple with hints of raspberry and pine resin, and a lingering note of peach blossom. HI may prefer this one.

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    1. Well I suppose my one was only from the Waitrose 'Essential' range, so it could be worth a try.

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  7. Does he have a hook like Abu Hamza?

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    1. Why didn't you just sake fuck off?

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    2. Because if you knew how he lost his hand - aged three - you would be horrified.

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    3. I meant fuck off to me, although I am sure you realised this I thought I had better say.

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  8. Apple cider vinegar is really good for you. although not a half bottle at a time.

    You have fab charity shops there. You should have bought the water filter.

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    1. Do you want it? It's still there, and the postage to you would cost a little more than the actual item, I know.

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  9. A friend of ours gave us a battery-operated pepper mill. Had a light, too, although ours was black, not shiny metal like yours. Another friend of ours liked it very much because he had arthritis in his hands, and pushing the button was much easier for him.

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