Saturday, September 21, 2013

Brain on strike!


It’s Saturday morning, inspiration is totally lacking and I’m up to my elbows stocking the freezer with soups and stews, cooking not being one of DH’s many talents. So I’m turning to probably my favourite blogging standby, the wonderful Simon’s Cat. Enjoy…..



44 comments:

  1. Dear Perpetua,
    Its so so hot here, I just dont feel like doing anything.
    I could call my doggies Simons cat.. ! thats happened to me.
    Good luck with your soups and dinners for the deep freeze.
    Its ice cold juice and salad for lunch here.
    happy Saturday
    val x x x x x

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    1. Poor Val, I hope it cools down for you soon. I know you like hot weather, but this has gone on for so long now. Here it's autumnally cool, so though we still have salad for lunch, we need lots of good, hot food in the evenings. :-)

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  2. Stocking the freezer for men...an inevitable precursor to not being able to cook for them on a daily basis!

    The static cartoon made me laugh...so reminiscent of my own DH in the kitchen!

    We'll be thinking of you on 24th....and hoping you have a good stock of audio books for the succeeding period.

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    1. That's it in a nutshell! DH means well and has a couple of things he can cook, but I need variety. :-) The cartoon is me too. I do like to have the kitchen to myself when I'm busy at the cooker.

      Thanks for the good wishes. The audio books are on standby.....

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  3. I love the 'everybody out' cartoon. My husband makes soup (for the 2 of us) in industrial quantities, especially at this time of year when we have a glut of pumpkins and butter-nut squashes. His way of cooking is different from mine. I find it best to keep out of the kitchen then until it's time for me to find space in the freezer for the results. It does keep us going for many rustic winter lunches - so I'm grateful.

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    1. Lucky you, Nancy. My DH can manage chilli and spag bol sauce, which I freeze, but hasn't yet mastered soup, so I've been making it on an industrial scale too and will soon have a jam-packed freezer. Today's specials are Scotch broth (with lamb mince) and pea and ham soup. Mmmmm.....

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  4. Simon's cat is so funny. I've been thinking about you, and hope that all goes well on the 24th. All the best. Blessings.

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    1. Thanks, Bonnie. I was very encouraged to follow your own experiences of the same operation. Glad you enjoyed the wonderfully-observed Simon's Cat.

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    2. The video is completely missing on an iPad :-( although embedded video does work in an earlier post. Is there any chance you might edit this post either to include a YouTube video or a link to the original?

      I guess it's hospital on 24th. Prayers for that.

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    3. It's a cataract op, Andrew, with risk of complications, so prayers are much appreciated.

      I know there's a problem with iOS and Flash, so I've now embedded the video. Not having an iPad, I'd be grateful to hear whether it's now working. If not I'll add the link too and make a mental note to do belt and braces in future.

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    4. I knew the op was coming up, but I'd forgotten when. Thank you for the prayer reminder!

      The video now works!! Thank you for that. And my cat used to do exactly the same.

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    5. Thanks for letting me know. I'll make sure to embed all videos in future. Yes, Simon's Cat is so very accurate that we all recognise our cats in his cartoons. :-)

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  5. Hari OM
    ...and a very good standby it is too!! I hope you are not over-tiring before the procedure? Mind you, if anything like me, kitchen work = therapy!!

    Hugs and wishes for the 'impending', YAM xxx

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    1. I thought you'd enjoy it, Yam. :-) Not over-tired, no, but keeping busy does help with getting to sleep at night and I do enjoy cooking. It will be comforting to have lots of easy meals on hand in case my vision is a bit blurry at first, which I gather is likely. Even DH can decant soup into a pan and reheat..... ;-)

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  6. I too will be sending good thoughts and prayers your way, Perpetua, that all will go well on the 24th.

    As for Simon's cat, it is too real... as our cats act exactly like that. Now that we're retired, we usually eat in the den. One day both DH's chair and the sofa were taken up by cats. DH ended up on the love seat and I took a seat by the bar...

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    1. Thanks, Rian. People are being very kind.

      Simon's cat is so well-observed and beautifully-drawn. :-) We has cats for over 30 years until we started on our roving retirement and I still miss them. Like yours, they behaved just as in the cartoon. One day, when we settle down in one place for good, I will have cats again......

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  7. Best wishes and prayers for the 24th -- and thanks so much for the "Simon's Cat" cartoon! It's so true! It was great to have a good laugh today!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, much appreciated. I knew you, with your love of cats, would love this cartoon. It's so absolutely true to life.

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  8. Love and best wishes for the 24th, I am sure DH appreciates your efforts to ensure good food remains available, and I love the Simon clip. Looking forward to hearing all has gone well. Jx

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    1. Thanks, Janice. I'm sure you know all about pre-operative collywobbles. Less than 3 full days to go now and laughter does help.

      I have a feeling DH is planning to wrap me in cotton-wool and stop me doing anything at all which could remotely cause a problem, so the least I could do is make sure we're both properly-fed. :-)

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  9. I wish my brain was merely on strike. Sadly, I fear it has taken early retirement.
    My husband didn't cook at all and was known to make tea only under protest so your DH sounds a positive treasure.
    Thanks for the latest Simon's cat. He knows cat behaviour so well (or should that be misbehaviour)?
    Very best for 24th.

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    1. That made me laugh, Ray, as I think it's getting to be true of me too. :-) DH couldn't boil; an egg until I became vicar of three parishes and was too busy to cook. DD and her husband taught him a couple of basic recipes, but anything beyond those is terra incognita. He doesn't like tea, so can't make that either.

      Simon Tofield must have spent an awful lot of time watching his cats to make his cartoons so accurate.

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  10. I've got a cat just like that - totally misbehaved and sits on the gatepost if I happen to be going through, just to get her ear tickled - and I always do. Hasn't the weather been lovely today - too hot to cook. We're all rooting for you on Tuesday.

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    1. Thanks, Molly. Have you ever known a completely well-behaved cat? I haven't and recognise all the behaviour shown from our own fondly-remembered moggies. Cats are very good at training us to give them what they want. :-)

      It's warmer here too, but yesterday certainly wasn't too hot to cook as it was still so cloudy. Those 30 or so miles between us can make a real difference...

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  11. I couldn't see the video on my iPad either, but it was fine on my laptop - very funny !!

    Having all those meals ready will make life easier after the op, but I'm sure you will feel up to cooking as usual pretty soon.

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    1. Sorry about the video. It's such a nuisance that Apple products don't easily accept Flash. Hopefully embedding the videos will help in future. Please tell me if you ever can't see one.

      I wish I could get across to my DH that I don't expect to feel ill after the op. I think he's just determined to make sure I don't do anything at all that might cause a problem until everything's healed.

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  12. Ah, Simon's Cat never fails to make me laugh...such a good cartoon.
    By now I'm sure you have masses of foods in the freezer, after your great cooking marathon. All the very best wishes for the 24th, Perpetua, my thoughts and prayers go with you. P.

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    1. Thanks, Patricia.

      Simon's Cat is so reliably good that I go back to the cartoons again and again for a chuckle. As for the food, it's chilli sauce (an new recipe) and bean and bacon soup today, by which time the freezer will be full. :-)

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  13. Good luck for Tuesday lovely lady, although I'm sure you'll be fine x

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    1. Thanks, Annie. I'm sure you're right, but I'll be glad when it's all over.

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  14. Rather like when Krissy, the Chihuahua, visits her human Granny & Grumpy! She's the size of a large cat and favours the arm or back of the sofa.

    Good luck on Tuesday Perpetua XX

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    1. Thanks, PolkaDot. I'll keep you posted.

      i love the way pets take over our living space whenever they can. Our cats used to spread themselves around a lot when they chose and woe betide the person who disturbed them. :-)

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  15. When I don’t know what to post I take myself round the memes - not that I often find one to suit me.

    I never think of going to Simon’s Cat, I really should, because when I come and see one here it makes me laugh out loud. He is such a good cat observer.

    Just HOW many dinners will DH eat during your absence? Isn’t this walk-in-and-out surgery you are having?

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    1. I've never discovered the world of the memes, but perhaps I ought to venture there and have a look. Pending that, Simon's Cat is always a surefire winner. He is so wickedly accurate.

      Yes it's day surgery, Friko, but I've been strictly warned about bending down or lifting weights for at least a couple of weeks afterwards, so DH is likely to have me being very careful for a while. In any case it's always good to have something to fall back on when I just don't feel like cooking.

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  16. My dear husband is a good cook but the first cartoon sort of sums up what he needs in order to 'create' - he can't do it in amongst everything else and no one is allowed to get too close.
    I think Simon is far too tolerant to that cat but then I'm a dog person...

    Will be thinking of you this week. How long do you think you'll be before you're blogging again? (Forget the cooking for a while but do tell us how you are!!) If not, you must dictate to DH!

    Much love,
    Axxx

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    1. Thanks, Annie. Lucky you, having a husband who can cook. :-) Having said that, both our son and our son-in-law enjoy cooking and do it well, so it may be a generational thing. They too don't want many people around while they are working.

      Have you ever tried getting a cat to do something it doesn't want to do, or stop it doing what it feels like doing? A dog person is used to concepts like training and obedience which have no meaning whatsoever to a cat. :-)

      As for blogging, I understand there are no restrictions on reading or TV or computer use, other than not being able to see very well at first, so i hope to report back pretty quickly, all being well.

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  17. As "Her who must be obeyed" says....
    "Ohmigod... you're cooking! If you need any help I'll be upstairs / in the garden / in the next county / in the neighbouring country!! Just yell!"

    The choice of where she might be depends on what I'm cooking...
    or if it's just a fridge stew or fridge soup, she might stay on the sofa...
    and throw in the odd...
    "Do you want anything chopping?"

    We don't have TV reception here...
    we have music or Radio 4...
    go on, try it folks...
    it's great...
    we comunicate!!

    And Friday Night is Movie Night!
    But...
    glance at a book/paper/magazine...
    and at least one of the three cats will decide that....
    being "asleep" comfortably on sofa, chair, other persons lap...
    is really boring...
    and join in the "helping to read" game!!

    Will be thinking of you tomorrow...
    hope you have a good rest afterwards and a quick recovery...
    but...
    use this opportunity to teach DH...
    how to do greens and spuds to go with the stews!

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    1. Thanks, Tim. That made me chuckle. :-) What is it with cats and their need to be in on the action?

      When DH is practising his repertoire of two dishes, I keep well away too. I hadn't thought of teaching him to do veg, so I may just try that. He can cook plain rice and pasta without burning them, so spuds shouldn't be beyond his capabilities. Hmmm....

      I don't think there'll be any likelihood I won't rest. The problem will be persuading DH to let me do things. :-)

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  18. Good luck for tomorrow - we'll be thinking of you.

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  19. Oh my, how I know that frenzy of stocking the freezer in preparation for being away - or having a cataract removed, dear Perpetua. No matter what holds, our nesting instincts take over, don't they?

    Loved Simon's cat episode. It is always a joy to watch these cartoons here on your blog.

    Good luck with your surgery. I'm praying for skilled hands, good medicine, and gentle healing. I'm sure you will be up and writing again very soon. I see you have some audios awaiting - a good way to wile away the hours after surgery. Penny

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    1. Thanks so much, Penny, but as you'll see from today's post, your good wishes will now be kept until later. However the freezer is beautifully full of tasty meals, which always reassuring and useful when life is busy..

      This Simon's Cat cartoon is particularly funny and endearing to me, as it is so exactly what all the cats we've ever had used to do. :-) It's now 10 years since our last cat died, but I still miss having one or two around and will certainly have them again when we settle down for good in one place.

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  20. Loved the video Perpetua. Good luck for tomorrow. You're in my prayers.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thanks, Patricia, though you'll see from today's post that things have changed. Simon's Cat is always wonderful. :-)

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