The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 06

[ChloeTzang]

I think it's time for a brew.
A long one !"

On to about my 6th for today. Wrote for 20 hours straight yesterday, starting at 4am and finishing around midnight, got 20k words out as a rough draft. Slept for 9 hours and editing it all today. That’s the most I’ve ever done in one hit, I don’t think I even stopped to think. Drank humongous amounts of coffee tho. My coffee provider did blink a bit but he was great - kept me caffeinated and fed all day. Editing is a lot less intense but he made spinach pancakes with custard and homemade strawberry jam with coffee for breakfast and then went and did the shopping all on his own.

 

[Handley_Page]

On to about my 6th for today. Wrote for 20 hours straight yesterday, starting at 4am and finishing around midnight, got 20k words out as a rough draft. Slept for 9 hours and editing it all today. That’s the most I’ve ever done in one hit, I don’t think I even stopped to think. Drank humongous amounts of coffee tho. My coffee provider did blink a bit but he was great - kept me caffeinated and fed all day. Editing is a lot less intense but he made spinach pancakes with custard and homemade strawberry jam with coffee for breakfast and then went and did the shopping all on his own.

Spinach pancakes ? With Custard ?
Even Lori might have trouble with that !

But it is even later, and I desperately need Tea.
The coffee will be taken in the morning, with breakfast.

 

[Cindy027]

Spinach pancakes ? With Custard ?
Even Lori might have trouble with that !

But it is even later, and I desperately need Tea.
The coffee will be taken in the morning, with breakfast.

Tea - would that be your dinner?

 

[ecorche]

My Sunday started with an 8:30AM call from Father-in-law complaining of dizziness. Spouse drove to his place, his BP was way low. He’s 93, has a pacemaker and a pig valve. They called 911 and headed to the ER.

I leashed the dog (cats would have to fend for themselves - that’s why I love cats) and headed over to stay with Mother-in-law, who has had a stroke and suffers from dementia and mobility issues. I sat with her for over four hours, repeatedly answering her repeated questions repeatedly. There was much redundancy in her repeated repetition.

Once Father-in-law’s numbers came back into normal range, and after the ER had performed every test Medicare would conceivably pay for, Spouse and Father-in-law returned home. There was no cause identified and no diagnosis, because the US has the best medical care on the planet. Ever.

It’s now nearly 4PM and I haven’t touched the SF short story manuscript I intended to spend the day revising.

Needless to say, erotica is still taking a back seat, though hanging out with Mother-in-law all day did give me some ideas about a possible grandma story ... Did I actually type that or was I just thinking it?

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Spinach pancakes ? With Custard ?
Even Lori might have trouble with that !

But it is even later, and I desperately need Tea.
The coffee will be taken in the morning, with breakfast.

Sounds interesting; I'm assuming it's a savory egg custard, like a thick Bechamel set with egg yolks and cheese, which would be delicious; Funghi al Forno, Portobello mushrooms baked in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese sauce with spinach, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes is delectable, the sauce sets to a lovely soft/firm, jelly-like consistency, and the flavor and texture of the spinach complements it perfectly. Spinach is delicious in it's own right, steamed or eaten raw, but paired with other savories it's absolutely divine. Will likes to eat fresh baby spinach raw in a sandwich with cream cheese, smoked ham, and Emmenthal, Jarlsberg, or Gruyère cheese.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Tea - would that be your dinner?

If an Englishman (person of English heritage, to be correct) is discussing tea, it's always the beverage variety.

 

[NotWise]

If an Englishman (person of English heritage, to be correct) is discussing tea, it's always the beverage variety.

When I (a person of English heritage) discuss tea, it's iced and flavored with lemon.

 

[Rustyoznail]

When I (a person of English heritage) discuss tea, it's iced and flavored with lemon.

But not dinner, which is what tea time can refer to.

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

If an Englishman (person of English heritage, to be correct) is discussing tea, it's always the beverage variety.

Hubby seems to make a distinction, along with most of his friends and acquaintances, between tea, the hot drink, and tea, the late afternoon tea-and-cream cakes gathering.

In his world, given that he had an almost Edwardian upbringing somewhat removed from most of the 20th century, the meals of the day are quite formalized in his mind and consistent with how the Victorians saw genteel life: breakfast early in the morning, a mid-morning snack known as elevenses, luncheon at midday, teatime consisting of tea and dainty little cakes around 5-6pm, dinner at 7:30 (and some of the larger English houses adhere strictly to the custom of dressing for dinner, modest cocktail dresses for women and dinner jackets and black ties for men; I've seen it done, had to do it myself, so I know it's still a thing, Victorian and fuddy-duddy, but still alive and well) and maybe supper, a late evening post-theater or ballet snack with drinks.

I must say, though, that couples dressed for dinner do look rawther spiffing; a DJ and black tie will make even the most dragged-out brawler look posh and presentable, and watching Will tie a black tie looks like the most complex topological artform, but he's been tying and wearing black ties since he was a boy and he does it without thinking about it; I try to tie one on our nephew and very quickly forget which bit goes under, over, or through and Will has to sort out the snarl-up I make of it.

 

[NotWise]

I must say, though, that couples dressed for dinner do look rawther spiffing; a DJ and black tie will make even the most dragged-out brawler look posh and presentable, and watching Will tie a black tie looks like the most complex topological artform, but he's been tying and wearing black ties since he was a boy and he does it without thinking about it; I try to tie one on our nephew and very quickly forget which bit goes under, over, or through and Will has to sort out the snarl-up I make of it.

I find that YouTube is my friend for things like that.

 

[NotWise]

But not dinner, which is what tea time can refer to.

When I was growing up, I read everything the public library had by Enid Blyton, so I know that "tea" doesn't always refer to the beverage, hot or iced. Though I thought that tea time was four-ish and dinner came later.

 

[Haulover]

...Naked ladies running around at 6 AM have a lot of authority, believe me.

I live under the authority of just one naked lady - I can't imagine having two!

To her credit - for breakfast she had Uber Eats deliver Eggs Chesapeake from a local restaurant that's owned and run by a famous TV chef. 'Spensive as heck, but damn, who knew such a simple dish could be improved that much!

She welcomed the Uber Eats driver in an almost see-through silk bathrobe - she said he did a double-take LOL.

She's a tease.

 

[Haulover]

When I was growing up, I read everything the public library had by Enid Blyton, so I know that "tea" doesn't always refer to the beverage, hot or iced. Though I thought that tea time was four-ish and dinner came later.

As a Brit ex-pat - I share that knowledge of just about every Enid Blyton book - from Noddy on up.

Yep - "tea" is also a light meal to be enjoyed at 4:00pm-ish

 

[ishtat]

I share that knowledge of just about every Enid Blyton book - from Noddy on up.
)

My mother was awarded an Enid Blyton book as a prize in the infant school (age 5/6)

The Three Gollywogs (1944) is the story of three golliwogs called, Golly, Woggy and Nigger. Apparently it was regarded as perfectly acceptable at the time. Times have changed, and the book is now tucked away on my remotest book shelf.

 

[Rustyoznail]

My mother was awarded an Enid Blyton book as a prize in the infant school (age 5/6)

The Three Gollywogs (1944) is the story of three golliwogs called, Golly, Woggy and Nigger. Apparently it was regarded as perfectly acceptable at the time. Times have changed, and the book is now tucked away on my remotest book shelf.

Yep. Along with my 50yo copy of "To think I saw it on Mulberry St" and "Biggles in Africa"...

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

My mother was awarded an Enid Blyton book as a prize in the infant school (age 5/6)

The Three Gollywogs (1944) is the story of three golliwogs called, Golly, Woggy and Nigger. Apparently it was regarded as perfectly acceptable at the time. Times have changed, and the book is now tucked away on my remotest book shelf.

I know it was innocently done, and reflects the general attitudes and word-use of the times, but I'm still shocked at how casually the 'N' word was trotted out and used as a proper name, not an epithet, at least apparently not in England. I come from a place where the 'N' word is a racial slur and still carries those 'cotton-fields/Jim Crow' connotations, and it's not one I'm comfortable seeing in print or used in an offhand or condescending, paternalistic way in a children's storybook, or Gollywogs, which are nothing but blackface caricatures of 'Camptown Races' minstrels that until quite recently decorated the labels of Robertsons, a national-brand jam and marmalade maker.

Having said that, I was amused to watch a DVD with Will of his favorite movie, 'The Dam Busters', and a warning came up about the use of language that may offend but was reflective of the time, referring to the fact Guy Gibson had a black Labrador called 'N*gger'; sure enough, every instance of the word was bleeped-out, which I thought was weird; the film is a product of its time, going back and editing what amounts to an historical document to save the outraged sensibilities of today's Woke generation seems kind of excessive.

In Will's household when he was growing up teatime was always a formal occasion, at 5pm on the dot, although Will's mother was a strange, distant, insular woman who required him to take tea with the housekeeper in the kitchen, not in the formal dining room with her, that was where she would take tea with her cronies surrounded by maids, and cakes were always served in a particular order. I think Will could care less; as long as he didn't have to endure her bitter presence and got a faceful of cream cakes and pop he was satisfied. In our home these days, teatime, when it happens, is that time late afternoon when I find Will standing in front of the fridge with both doors open staring intently and waiting for something to dance, my cue to pop out to the patisserie and get some tarte tatin, millefeuilles, and Éclairs, because he does love a good cream cake.

 

[Handley_Page]

Yep. Along with my 50yo copy of "To think I saw it on Mulberry St" and "Biggles in Africa"...

Biggles? Oh very Yes!
Bigglesworth always managed to travel to remarkable locations (the Gobi ?)
Algy & Ginger on hand to support him, too.

Hubby seems to make a distinction, along with most of his friends and acquaintances, between tea, the hot drink, and tea, the late afternoon tea-and-cream cakes gathering.
.
.
. . and watching Will tie a black tie looks like the most complex topological artform, but he's been tying and wearing black ties since he was a boy and he does it without thinking about it; I try to tie one on our nephew and very quickly forget which bit goes under, over, or through and Will has to sort out the snarl-up I make of it.

In the RAF of the 60s, Tea (as eaten at the end of the working day), was always specified as "the Tea meal."
As to a black tie, I never moved in those circles; when I had to wear one, I had one that clipped on, so tying it up was never a problem.

I know it was innocently done, and reflects the general attitudes and word-use of the times, but I'm still shocked at how casually the 'N' word was trotted out and used as a proper name, not an epithet, at least apparently not in England. I come from a place where the 'N' word is a racial slur and still carries those 'cotton-fields/Jim Crow' connotations, and it's not one I'm comfortable seeing in print or used in an offhand or condescending, paternalistic way in a children's storybook, or Gollywogs, which are nothing but blackface caricatures of 'Camptown Races' minstrels that until quite recently decorated the labels of Robinsons, a national-brand jam and marmalade maker.

Having said that, I was amused to watch a DVD with Will of his favorite movie, 'The Dam Busters', and a warning came up about the use of language that may offend but was reflective of the time, referring to the fact Guy Gibson had a black Labrador called 'N*gger'; sure enough, every instance of the word was bleeped-out, which I thought was weird; the film is a product of its time, going back and editing what amounts to an historical document to save the outraged sensibilities of today's Woke generation seems kind of excessive.

.
In our home these days, teatime, when it happens, is that time late afternoon when I find Will standing in front of the fridge with both doors open staring intently and waiting for something to dance, my cue to pop out to the patisserie and get some tarte tatin, millefeuilles, and Éclairs, because he does love a good cream cake.

I've seen other references to "Jim Crow" and I ain't a clue what it means (something to do with slaves, I guess).

I fear that unless the US audience gets over it's repulsion for the N word in this case, there will not be a remake of that wonderful film, "the Damnbusters."
There is a great deal of opposition in England for trying to change the dog's name or, worse, ignoring it all together. The Black Lab was called N*gger and it's historical.

I must go and get an Eclair to have with my morning coffee. . . .

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Biggles? Oh very Yes!
Bigglesworth always managed to travel to remarkable locations (the Gobi ?)
Algy & Ginger on hand to support him, too.

In the RAF of the 60s, Tea (as eaten at the end of the working day), was always specified as "the Tea meal."
As to a black tie, I never moved in those circles; when I had to wear one, I had one that clipped on, so tying it up was never a problem.

I've seen other references to "Jim Crow" and I ain't a clue what it means (something to do with slaves, I guess).

I fear that unless the US audience gets over it's repulsion for the N word in this case, there will not be a remake of that wonderful film, "the Damnbusters."
There is a great deal of opposition in England for trying to change the dog's name or, worse, ignoring it all together. The Black Lab was called N*gger and it's historical.

I must go and get an Eclair to have with my morning coffee. . . .

The Jim Crow laws were a set of laws setting out the basis and justifications for racial segregation based on white supremacist beliefs and privileges, promoted by churches under the 'men of unequal yoke' concept, enacted from the Reconstruction period, immediately after the war between the states to sometime in the 1960's, enforcing things like The Grandfather Clause, which said that a man could only vote if his ancestor had been a voter before 1867—but the ancestors of most African-American citizens had been enslaved and constitutionally ineligible to vote.

Another discriminatory tactic was the literacy test, applied by a white county clerk. These clerks gave black voters extremely difficult legal documents to read as a test, while white men received an easy text. Finally, in many places, white local government officials simply prevented potential voters from registering. By 1940, the percentage of eligible African-American voters registered in the South was only three percent; during Reconstruction, the period immediately post-Civil War, the percentage of African-American voting-age men registered to vote was more than 90 percent. (Nat. Geo.)

 

[sirhugs]

just wish to wish Happy International Women's Day to all- women and those who appreciate them !

 

[Rustyoznail]

Thinks... ‘I wonder how Chloe’s Biggles story is going...’

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

I fear that unless the US audience gets over it's repulsion for the N word in this case, there will not be a remake of that wonderful film, "the Damnbusters."
There is a great deal of opposition in England for trying to change the dog's name or, worse, ignoring it all together. The Black Lab was called N*gger and it's historical.

Last year there was an uproar when the gravestone of Gibson's dog and squadron mascot at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire was replaced with one with the name 'N*gger' replaced with a dog silhouette; for better or worse, the dog, owned by the man who earned the Victoria Cross for his leadership and bravery, is part of history, name and all; he was killed the night Guy Gibson and 617 Squadron were flying the Bouncing Bombs into the Mohne, Edersee and Sorpe dams in Germany's industrial Ruhr Valley.

Descendants and family of the pilots in that raid, Operation Chastise, and the subsequent disastrous raid on the Dortmund Ems canal were not consulted, it was apparently replaced because Draper's, the custodians, were afraid of giving offense by leaving the name in place; the only offense taken was by those who lost their family members in the two operations, for whom the grave was a unique and very human reminder and monument to the Lancaster aircrews who were lost in those operations. My Bryn, Will's ward, flew Tornadoes with 617 Squadron for almost 7 months; he wore his 'Dam Buster' squadron patches with pride and honor, and he was highly offended, along with all his squadron members, that apparently the Woke sensibilities of the trendy left were more important than such an evocative reminder of the night so many brave young men died trying to shorten the war.

 

[oggbashan]

Robertson Jam badges

Back in the 1960s, if you collected enough labels you could have a Roberston's jam enamel badge showing black people in various roles e.g musician, policemen or whatever.

For a time they were popular with the black community in Brixton with several wearing a whole collection. They saw them as affirming that black people could do anything. Now? they would be offensive.

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDYwMA==/z/KwUAAOSwa3tfLYap/$_86.PNG

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Wow...

 

[TxRad]

Coffee at Brunch time is becoming a habit. It's ready when you are.

I got mugged a little after midnight and slept like the dead after all that.

Luckily, I have nothing planned for today except for some lounging in the sun this afternoon. Mid 70's and bright sunshine. A perfect day for it.

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Paperwork day for me today; one of the perks and privileges of being Head Honcho. Will is supposed to be lazing at home after working 10 days in a row, 140 hours, but what do I spy with my little eye? Someone who looks exactly like Will reading a chart in my Mother/Baby Unit; mayhap I shall wander down there and twist his arm up his back until he remembers my word is law around here, and if I say 'stay home and rest' I mean stay home and rest, or failing that, take me to a patisserie and ply me with cakes, nibbles, and coffee