PPUK Party

[Penners]

why not just provide the barbecue equipment and let us all come with ingredients, ready to be suitably awestruck by the chaps' culinary skill?

Er - 'scuse me, Moo. Anyone who assumes that I can demonstrate "culinary skill" has never tasted my signature dish - burned boiled eggs with burned toast.

Joce - I discover to my delight that the blessed Mrs P did bring the diary with her after all. And we're free on Sunday 29th - whoopee!

If we promise to sit quietly, not argue and not have jelly fights, may we still come, please?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hurrah hurrah hurrah! Wonderful, adorably organised Mrs P.

I'm utterly delighted you can come, and promise I won't be exercising your culinary skills. (quite how you can burn a boiled egg I can't fathom) I might make you lead the jelly fight though!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Joce, how wonderful ( and slightly mad) of you to invite us all. It will be lovely to put faces to names.

We have a family gathering that BH weekend - but I will see whether there is flexibility and let you know.

Just remember not to ask Penners to stand for too long at the barbecue. He doesn't like it known, but he struggles with a bad back you know!

 

[Penners]

how you can burn a boiled egg I can't fathom

Well, just for you, Joce....http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090320072759AA4R8oW

 

[JoceAndChris]

:shock:

You're worse than my Chris, whose last effort (6 years ago) was a curious melange of soggy pasta, burnt chicken, and grape.

Joce, how wonderful ( and slightly mad) of you to invite us all. It will be lovely to put faces to names.

We have a family gathering that BH weekend - but I will see whether there is flexibility and let you know.

This is now getting too exciting. It would be a very unexpected and wonderful treat if you could come Robin. Don't forget I said families are very welcome, and I offered rooms and camping - it's a long way from yours.

 

[Juju]

I'm not a regular PPUK-poster - I hope that wouldn't preclude me from an invitation? I'd sit quietly in a corner and not be any trouble although I may need to swop Witney stories with Penners. We were contemplating Lincolnshire or thereabouts for a holiday starting that weekend. I might not tell Mr Juju that period costume is encouraged - he's one of those embarrassing people who always dresses up in stuff in museums. He got away with it when the kids were with him but it's sad when he's in a museum just with me and still feels the need to put on the clothes of a Victorian farmer or Roman soldier or whatever.
Juju

 

[JoceAndChris]

But how would Mr Juju feel if he came here and found like-minded souls in Regency get-up, and he hadn't been forewarned? I would feel very sorry for him, and as soon as I've got your contact details inclined to give him a hint. I know for a fact he isn't the only one amongst us who feels the need to dress up as a Roman or Tudor in museums. :lol:

I'm not a regular PPUK-poster - I hope that wouldn't preclude me from an invitation?

By virtue of the fact you've turned up and posted regularly over a long time, you are a regular PPUK poster, and anyway, I never set any limit. It would be a pleasure to meet you, and I'm thrilled you can come!

 

[Penners]

Just remember not to ask Penners to stand for too long at the barbecue. He doesn't like it known, but he struggles with a bad back you know!

Robin - I told you that in complete confidence. Now that you've blown the gaff, I shall have everyone sympathising with me. And I do hate that.

Oh well.....

 

[Juju]

I might allow Mr Juju to wear a Regency-style waistcoat. I feel I may need to make a Regency dress for myself. I see that the Jane Austen centre does patterns: http://www.janeausten.co.uk
I may not make the bonnet though and I'm not sure about the Regency underwear either!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Brilliant! But I wouldn't bother with the bonnet either. Let's face it, your Regency frock could be worn over and over and scarcely be thought any different from the currently fashionable maxi-dress but where will you wear the bonnet again?

That Jane Austen website is fab!

I'm now worrying about the anachronism of wearing Regency clothing and serving BBQ'd sausages. We should really sit down to a cold collation. My understanding is that in the Georgian period many people were without teeth, and so many things were mashed up and set in jelly moulds. And even something so currently commonplace as an orange was then a rare treat.

The problem with authenticity in this area is that it doesn't sound very nice.

 

[Flyfisher]

You're worse than my Chris, whose last effort (6 years ago) was a curious melange of soggy pasta, burnt chicken, and grape.

Six years eh?

Clever chap.

 

[skier-hughes]

I'm having baked potato, tuna mayo, roast veg and baked honey roast beetroot. The only bought items are the mayo, tuna and honey..... hope to bring that down next year as I want to keep bees......... got tocook myself with Jo away...... anyone want to come round?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Just remember not to ask Penners to stand for too long at the barbecue. He doesn't like it known, but he struggles with a bad back you know!

Robin - I told you that in complete confidence. Now that you've blown the gaff, I shall have everyone sympathising with me. And I do hate that.

Oh well.....

Don't worry Penners, you know what a self-absorbed lot they are on here - I doubt they'll even notice, much less commiserate with you. I think your secret is safe.

Graham - am also about to start harvesting in earnest the first real produce I've grown (we were a bit late planting) - had first lettuces today (very crispy and lettuce-y) and am going to take beetroots and potatoes tomorrow. Yum.

 

[Pford75]

hope to bring that down next year as I want to keep bees

We've just had an enquiry from someone in the village who wants to keep 4 hives on our land...in return for some honey. Apparently, the bees like the oilseed rape on the fields behind us and it is said to make their honey good for those with asthma...could be rubbish, but looks like we will be adding bees to our chickens, ducks, sheep and dexter (which will arrive in the Spring).

 

[Flyfisher]

All this talk of home-grown veg is making me feel guilty. One day though!

But we are awash with cherries this year - I've never known a year like it. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Schoolmarm]

There are loads of cherries and damsons on one of our regular dog walks.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Yes! I didn't even know I had cherry trees but I found two massive ones in our south-facing hedgerow at the weekend, absolutely dripping with fruit. Plums too, and gooseberries - but I've little inclination to do much with them and am very happy to see all the birds feasting.

anyone want to come round?

If you were nearer!

dexter

:?:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ah. http://www.dextercattle.co.uk/

Absolutely beautiful, I'm so jealous.

 

[Penners]

Apparently, the bees like the oilseed rape on the fields behind us and it is said to make their honey good for those with asthma

Mrs P used to keep bees, some years ago. They were advertised as a docile variety, fairly safe around children, but they turned out to be bone-bloody idle. Hardly made any honey at all. Taking into account the cost of the hives and equipment, and of feeding them during the winter, I reckon each jar of our own honey cost us a mere £34.

Then there was the oilseed rape problem. The bees love it, and will travel miles to get to it in preference to other flowers. I don't know whether rape honey is any good for asthma, but I do know that it sets rock-solid, making it almost impossible to extract from the frames, and later you need a hammer-and-chisel to get it out of the jar. It also tastes vaguely cabbage-like.

 

[skier-hughes]

I asked our local bee society if any of their members wnated to keep a hive here, or even share a hive at no expense to them, but not a single taker....