The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 02: A Comma (is a Restful Pause)

[MagicaPractica]

Some rather interesting conversations go on around here if you just sit back with your coffee and read.

 

[TxRad]

Some rather interesting conversations go on around here if you just sit back with your coffee and read.

Hey now, I resemble that remark.

Any threads in particular? I hate it when I miss the good stuff.

 

[NotWise]

My youngest daughter is sending us pictures of her Alabama-bred golden lab trying to figure out how to pee in eight inches of Chicagoland snow.

Poor guy!

 

[TxRad]

My youngest daughter is sending us pictures of her Alabama-bred golden lab trying to figure out how to pee in eight inches of Chicagoland snow.

Poor guy!

Peeing probably isn't the problem. Not freezing his dick while he does is the problem.

 

[Handley_Page]

Permit me, sir. Laphroaig Quarter Cask is at hand or would you prefer something milder?

I prefer to sip something like Highland Park; it would be a shame & a sin to drown that Laphroaig in something as domestic as Tea.
Perhaps a measure of the blended Johnny Walker ?
Will you join us all in a cup of coffee ?

 

[ChloeTzang]

I prefer to sip something like Highland Park; it would be a shame & a sin to drown that Laphroaig in something as domestic as Tea.
Perhaps a measure of the blended Johnny Walker ?
Will you join us all in a cup of coffee ?

Laphroaig with Tea? My beloved looked over my shoulder, read that and said ......

https://img0.etsystatic.com/214/0/15282397/il_340x270.1229397026_nwiv.jpg

Whiskey with Tea (Coffee at this end). Apparently this is why we have a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label and another of some really el cheapo Canadian whiskey from cross the border. Coz you DON'T use good malt whiskey in tea (or coffee).

The horror! The horror. I don't drink it myself but apparently it's much better like this .....

https://atmedia.imgix.net/c2885e6968a8fc324d838f7928fa5f03a76de2c1?auto=format&q=45&w=550.0&h=449.0&fit=max&cs=strip

 

[oggbashan]

Laphroaig?

Many decades ago, Og's short-term girlfriend was a member of the County set. We had met in London where she was training to be a nurse. In the mid 1960s one London teaching hospital had a tradition of upper-class and upper-middle class young women as nurses in training.

I didn't think the relationship would last long. Og wasn't part of her social group. I had introduced her and some of her fellow nurses to Ballet and Opera at Sadlers' Wells. I could get discount last minute tickets for the front couple of rows.

Because of the Opera and Ballet Her parents thought Og might be a just-possible partner for their daughter. They invited me to their estate in Devon for a week.

The parents were confused by Og. I spoke properly, if with a faint Australian accent, could ride a horse and shoot reasonably. I had 'prospects' even if they were on the lower extreme of what they thought acceptable for their daughter. Her father's ultimate test was to ask me what whisky I would recommend as a gift for a friend. My reply was Laphroaig, as old as possible.

I had passed his test. He asked me to join him in his study, gave me a glass of Cognac and a Cuban cigar and as we sat in front of the log fire he asked me 'my intentions?'

I told him that I had none. His daughter thought she wanted me. She didn't. I said I knew I was her 'bit of rough' to play around with and to use to shock her friends and her parents. I told him I expected the relationship to last maybe another month or so before she got bored of me.

For the rest of the week I had a great time. Her parents were relieved that their daughter wouldn't become engaged to a hick - because he wouldn't propose or accept her if she wanted him. She was delighted but slightly puzzled that her parents were so at ease with me. Her plan to shock them hadn't worked.

Each evening after dinner the gentlemen (her father and I) retired to his study for about half an hour. He introduced me to a wide range of pre-war whiskies from his extensive whisky cellar. While we were sampling whisky, mother and daughter were depleting the wines from the wine cellars - plural!

But their coffee was awful. It was made by the cook. After the first coffee I chose tea...

I was right. The young lady ditched me for a Guards' Officer six weeks later.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Her loss, sir. But a wonderful story!

And, Chloe, I was assuming HP drinks good tea and knows his whiskey. There's something about the smoke with good tea when you're really chilled. And here's the glass I would normally use.

https://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/TheGlencairn6ozSHS16/?$web_product_hero$&160309131029&wid=300&hei=300

Edit - that may have sounded bitchy. If so, apologies - not intended as a slight to either you or your SO. Whiskey is a matter of personal taste.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Hey now, I resemble that remark.

Any threads in particular? I hate it when I miss the good stuff.

Ah, I was speaking of this thread - from hooters to flower gardens and on to whiskey.

Personally, I have very cheap taste in whiskey, and I prefer Bourbon whiskey to Irish whiskey. Above all, I prefer it IN my coffee. Philistine, I know.

Many decades ago, ... But their coffee was awful. It was made by the cook. After the first coffee I chose tea...

I was right. The young lady ditched me for a Guards' Officer six weeks later.

Thanks for sharing the story, Og. I feel like I've been in similar circumstances a few times, the difference being age rather than social. The first couple times I didn't handle it so well. I think I did better the third time, painful as it was.

 

[ChloeTzang]

....And, Chloe, I was assuming HP drinks good tea and knows his whiskey. There's something about the smoke with good tea when you're really chilled. And here's the glass I would normally use.

LOL. Not a worry. Whiskey? We have a few but they're not mine. I sniff them and that's my share - I don't like it at all.

They're all in the credenza of my desk so I just took a quick look. Macallan 12 years, Glenlivet 12 years, Laphroaig, Bowmman Islay Single Malt, Glen Parker Speyside Single Malt, The Balvenie, Lagavullin 16 years, Tamdhu, Te Bheag, Glenmorangie and Talisker. I suspect they're good and they's been there as long as we've been together, coz he only has a glass of the stuff now and then, but you tell me...

There's also some Bourbon and some South American stuff (Pisco?). That's all his. I'm in charge of the Wine Cellar and that sits on the other side of my desk. And wine I can talk about!!!! All night!!!!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Nice selection!

 

[TxRad]

Since it is a little early for whiskey or wine, even back when i did drink, I think I'll make fresh coffee. And put on a fresh kettle for good measure.

It has rained here most all night. I'm glad I have nowhere to go and the rest of the weekend to get there.Gray and cloudy means there will be a nap in my near future.

 

[NotWise]

Now for some color!

Well, color that doesn't involve colorful old men, anyway.

This is what's gracing our dining table right now.

For scale, the flowers are as big as my hand (average size guy hand) with fingers spread wide.

This bulb has a second flower stalk coming up. Hopefully it won't bloom right away. I have another bulb with flowers starting to open (they're orange) and a third thats a few days out yet (they're a variegated pink). The dining table could get crowded.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Latte in the coffee shop on a rainy day while I working on writing prompts. Been doing a few every day. I've been surprised at what they've pulled out of my brain.

 

[Handley_Page]

Well, color that doesn't involve colorful old men, anyway.

This is what's gracing our dining table right now.

For scale, the flowers are as big as my hand (average size guy hand) with fingers spread wide.

.

What a beautiful colour !
What did you use to take the pic, please?

Latte in the coffee shop on a rainy day while I working on writing prompts. Been doing a few every day. I've been surprised at what they've pulled out of my brain.

You mean, like little odd sentences or notes for possible future use ?

 

[NotWise]

What a beautiful colour !
What did you use to take the pic, please?

Sorry to disappoint, but I used my old Motorola cell phone. The only thing I did other than frame it and click was reduce the exposure.

 

[oggbashan]

Today my wife insisted that I drive all over soggy Kent, up and down muddy lanes, and across graveyards to take pictures of redundant churches.

I was using my Kodak C813 simple digital camera. It is supposed to be foolproof...

I still managed several pictures of my feet; dark interiors when I should have used flash; bright reflections when I should not have used flash; blurred images; askew towers; and too many pictures of soggy muddy grass around tombstones.

Out of 300 pictures maybe a third are useful.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Today my wife insisted that I drive all over soggy Kent, up and down muddy lanes, and across graveyards to take pictures of redundant churches.

I was using my Kodak C813 simple digital camera. It is supposed to be foolproof...

I still managed several pictures of my feet; dark interiors when I should have used flash; bright reflections when I should not have used flash; blurred images; askew towers; and too many pictures of soggy muddy grass around tombstones.

Out of 300 pictures maybe a third are useful.

I see you have my photo taking technique pinpointed. Wave my cellphone around and hold the button down so I photo everything in sight. Sometimes a miracle happens and I actually get a photo someone can recognize.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Out of 300 pictures maybe a third are useful.

That's really OK. Photos are essentially free since film died and 'wasted' ones cost you nothing. Take a lot of pix, screen out two-thirds for obvious weaknesses and then look carefully at what's left. You only need one or two really good ones to count it a success.

 

[MagicaPractica]

You mean, like little odd sentences or notes for possible future use ?

Well, I have a book of suggested topics to write about with space mapped out, there might be one to three topics on a page, so I write a short scene or poem. I might expand upon some of them at a later point. Exercises in imagination.

 

[TxRad]

Well, I have a book of suggested topics to write about with space mapped out, there might be one to three topics on a page, so I write a short scene or poem. I might expand upon some of them at a later point. Exercises in imagination.

In one of my marriages, many moons ago, we had a bowl like that. The wife put in household chores and I made up excuses why I shouldn't/couldn't do them.

Evening all, it is still cold and cloudy but not nearly as wet.

Fresh coffee coming up. A fresh kettle also.

I've gotten absolutely nothing done today but it still feels productive. Makes no sense but...

 

[NotWise]

In one of my marriages, many moons ago, we had a bowl like that. The wife put in household chores and I made up excuses why I shouldn't/couldn't do them.

If you made up some REALLY good excuses then it could be fun. Otherwise, I've always thought those "honeydo" bowls or jars were a bad sign.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'm engaged . . . along with healing. It seems a good combination.

 

[colddiesel]

.

They're all in the credenza of my desk so I just took a quick look. Macallan 12 years, Glenlivet 12 years, Laphroaig, Bowmman Islay Single Malt, Glen Parker Speyside Single Malt, The Balvenie, Lagavullin 16 years, Tamdhu, Te Bheag, Glenmorangie and Talisker. I suspect they're good and they's been there as long as we've been together, coz he only has a glass of the stuff now and then, but you tell me...

I came originally from the very far North West of Scotland and am quite certain that if this man's taste in women is half as good as his taste in whisky he has indeed won life's lottery.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I'm engaged . . . along with healing. It seems a good combination.

Engaged - as in ring-type of engaged? If so, felicitations!