You thought it was all over; well it isn't yet!

No-one seems to have mentioned the 'Rubbish Mountains' of Birmingham recently. Well, they're still there, getting ever bigger; Rats-n-all. It's now been 4 months since the strike began.

The continuing problem is between the hard-left Birmingham Labour Council, and the hard-left bin-men's 'Unite' Trade Union.

In the UK, it's the Trades Unions who established, and fund, the Labour Party, and they always want something in return. That 'something' is usually higher wages (as with the Train Drivers).

So the rubbish piles up, the locals don't really seem to mind, and the Rats are getting bigger and bigger.

I'm sure The Army have lorries and bulldozers that could deal with the problem in no time. Perhaps they could also dump all the sh*t on the steps of the very grand Birmingham Town Hall. That might get them off their arses; unless, of course, they're all at their second-homes in Tuscany for the Summer!

You really couldn't make it up, but the hard-left 'Unite' Union, who represent the bin-men, have now suspended hard-left deputy Prime Minister; the fragrant Angela Rayner. Things are getting heated in Rubbish-Land; no more so than at Unite's annual conference in BRIGHTON. They don't 'slum-it', do they?

 

Cro's Quail Soup © 2025

Method: To make Quail Soup, take some freshly made Chicken stock (made from the carcass of a very expensive organic, maize-fed, free range, chicken), add some vermicelli, then add a quail.

Et voila! 

 

Klaus Nomi - Lightning Strikes

I'm sure I've posted this wonderful video before, but it's worth posting again.

Klaus Nomi at his very best.

It's July 14th; Bastille Day. France's National Holiday. So, have a good one!

Lost and found

It's amazing the things that I worry about. I mean REALLY worry about!

Last September I returned to England with an antique glass Mustard pot. I've had it for years and use it often. It's a lovely thing, with a little glass top (below). I thought it would more useful in Blighty than sitting unused in France.

However, I couldn't find the little old hand-carved bone mustard spoon that goes with it (I presume it's bone and not ivory). I looked everywhere, but no sign. In fact as you might see I had even started to use a small silver spoon instead; not at all the right thing. I had begun to think the bone one was lost, and finding another would be nigh impossible.

Anyway, Lady M has just found it. It had been put away 'safely', but no-one could remember where. It should never have been separated from the antique pot.

I'm not sure if you can tell by the photo, but the missing spoon is about 3 inches long, very fine, and with just a small carved detail on the back, it's beautifully made (the photo doesn't do it justice). It is as all mustard spoons should be; a little classic.

When I return to Blighty this September it will be reunited with its rightful partner, and hopefully never leave its side again.

I cannot tell you how happy I am to have it back. Mislaying it had really preyed on my mind.

 

Three OAP's sing The Beatles.

It doesn't really matter how old you are; if it's a good song, you can sing in tune, and play the right notes, then there's nothing to stop you.

This little trio do a great job. They are called 'Folkadelic' and the song 'This Boy' was written by John Lennon.

As an ex-Bass player myself (very briefly), I would loved to have played this; that bass-line is superb!

I'm very happy

Yesterday was a GOOD day.

The weather was perfect, the pool water was at an ideal temperature, Kimbo and Susie are arriving later today (Friday), and Suave Harve arrives on Saturday. Things couldn't be better.

I also did a little DIY on our stairs that went quite well; albeit in a rather amateurish fashion. Our stairs are rather like a very chunky wooden ladder, with no railings, so I've made them a bit more OAP friendly. Hopefully my falling down them last year will not be repeated.

The Sunflowers are almost in flower. It'll be exactly one month since we've been back, and they've grown from about 4 ins tall when we came, to fully grown and having flower-heads today.

I planted some Mint roots recently and I noticed yesterday that they're growing well. I also sowed some Salad seeds, and they are all now about half an inch high. We'll be eating home-grown lettuce before long.

And possibly most importantly; my new bank card has arrived. I had no idea that the old one was expiring (who looks at such things?), so it came as a shock. Luckily the new one arrived yesterday, so Kimbo will bring it with him. Phew!!!

All in all, everything suddenly seems to be going rather well. 

 

Give us this day our daily Salad.

I mentioned some while back that I'd had a long conversation with a lady at my supermarket, all about Anchovies; neither of us could find any, and we spent a while discussing as much.

Well I did eventually find some a week later, and they now feature in most of my lunchtime salads; as they should.

In fact we have now settled down to our standard lunchtime salads; they are a cross between a Greek and a French Summer salad. They contain all the usual suspects. What more could you want?

Living in an area that is heavily influenced by N African cuisine, we do occasionally add just one bit of exoticism; Salade Mechouia (in jar above).

Mechouia is a Tunisian grilled red and green pepper salad in olive oil, which is produced as either very spicy, or mild. The one above is mild. The spicy one is almost TOO spicy. I've never seen it sold in the UK.

Note, there is a lump of Feta in the above salad, under the anchovies. Very international here!

Our antique French plates are more fun than suitable, but at least they get used!