A few notes on various subjects … that are outstanding,
or ones that are of interest – written in a few sentences … one hopes?!
Claremont Hotel on fire 2019
Claremont
Hotel … the fire spread exponentially leading to it being
engulfed, because the vertical internal gas main was boxed-in with other
utilities against the side of a lift shaft, which encouraged the rapid vertical
spread of fire to sweep across the roof …
I’m not sure, now it’s been made safe, what will
happen in the future … the seafront can’t have that open blemish for too many
years – but now’s not the time …
Shipton Mill - in the Cotswolds
Flour …
lack of in early lockdown … I was at a friend’s house in the summer – and spotted
a bag of flour … not any old bag – but half a hundred weight of it! (56 lbs in our imperial weight; 50 lbs in USA
weight).
I expressed surprise … and was told when flour wasn’t
available … because there were insufficient small bags (believe it or not =
true though) … her husband had trawled the neighbourhood searching for a miller
who would sell him a sack of strong flour for her. Hence the stash of it! Wonderful thoughtful hubby – she thought so!!
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbekia hirta
(hirta is Latin for “hairy”) – Linneaus’ botanical classification to the flower
more commonly known as Black Eyed Susan
(the state flower of Maryland) …
Olof Rudbeck
Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778) honoured his patron and
fellow botanist at Uppsala University, Olof Rudbeck the Younger (1660 – 1740),
with the botanical classification …
False Teeth
along with Football’s World Cup - this just amused me to
think about and I hadn’t heard about before … Nobby Stiles who has recently
died … apparently celebrated winning the 1966 Football Association’s World Cup –
by cavorting around the pitch with his false teeth in one hand and World
Cup in the other.
I enjoyed watching England’s winning performances
until the spectacular win … back in the day! And this snippet reminded me of
the end of my childhood – before life changed rather a lot, as it can do …
and just amused me … as too it brought back memories
of my mother – who for some reason was totally bemused with my post on teeth –
in particular Washington’s falsies – he doesn’t look comfortable does he …
A light-hearted post for these times … I just wish
everyone peace and calm – and take care … we’re now into a month of lockdown …
More anon ...
Linnaeus - The Compleat Naturalist book
Washington's False Teeth ... absolutely nothing to do with Nobby Stiles and the World Cup ... but ... as usual bemused me to link the two together ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
43 comments:
Hari OM
Oh, I do love a random post! Ta for that... and stay safe. The year just will not let up on us... YAM xx
That was a very poor design for an elevator shaft and a gas pipe.
56 pounds is 4 stone, correct?
Love this post and I also had a laugh which is good as things are at present!!
The fire was very bad news, I hope that have that one sorted out. I had to laugh at the flour, panic buying, I hope it has not happened again. We shopped yesterday and I did not notice any spaces on the shelves here.
Interesting info re the Black-Eyed Susan. I have never followed football but I find the Nobby Stiles info very funny.
Yes, how things have changed over the years since the end of our childhood!!
Keep safe, cheers Diane
Ran around with false teeth in his hand - now that's funny.
I won't tell you how much flour and yeast my wife bought when she found it. We're good to go for a very long time.
Thank you for the smiles and the mental images. And no, those teeth don't look comfortable at all.
Flour was in short supply here too for a while but is back on the shelves again.
Please stay safe and look after your important self.
We had a flour shortage here, too. In April everyone decided to make bread while in lockdown. It's something to do, I suppose.
An interesting miscellany! I also had heard that the shortage wasn’t flour but the small paper bags - Tesco started dividing up flour from its own bakery into small plastic bags. Supply is still erratic here - fine if you want lots of white flour, trickier if you want whiolemeal.
Love the fifty # bag of flour story. They could share or resell:)
Striving for calm here.....
That is a lot of flour! A lot of Europe is looking in a bad way at the moment. I hope you're staying safe.
I can understand the big bag of flour. When flour became scarce here, I couldn't make bread or cake for a whole month!! The end of the world! ;)
@ Yam – thank you … I just needed to do some catching up of ideas, or things I’ve been asked to clarify … glad you enjoyed it … and yes the year isn’t letting up is it …
@ John – it was just a utilities shaft – not an elevator one … but regardless of that – it seems a little rash … but I guess back a few decades that was allowed – I’m sure not now.
Yes you’re right … but I had to check … 56 lbs is 4 stone … it’s a lot of flour … I’ll find out next week – how much is left …
@ Diane – thank you … so pleased you had a good laugh. It was sad about the fire … the flour panic six months ago was a real challenge – I use very little, but was pleased to find a tiny bag – enough for me for a year. Yes I shopped too – but there were a few blank spaces – not a wipe out though.
Glad you enjoyed the Black-Eyed Susan note … I don’t follow football then or now – but I do like it when we win things and I did enjoy sport back in the day. False teeth being flashed around will always come to mind …
Yes – things have distinctly changed since our childhood, haven’t they … lots of reminders of how life was …
@ Alex – I just loved the thought of a winner running around a football ground flashing his false teeth in one hand. Oh, so you and your wife are hoarders too … that’s great you’re good to go for a while!
@ EC – glad you enjoyed the mental thoughts … and every time I see Washington I can ‘feel’ him grimacing with those teeth. I think there was a general shortage of flour – and yes we’ve flour again. All well here thank you.
@ Liz – the flour shortage was a challenge – bread, cakes et al … with families it’s something to do certainly.
@ Anabel – thank you … there’ll be more miscellanies. Glad you confirm my flour bag thought – I hadn’t heard about Tesco’s approach. I haven’t seen challenges here – but I don’t look … as I rarely use flour.
@ Sandra – thank you … they are very happy using up the flour … she does quite a lot of baking. I can imagine you’re striving for calm …
@ Ian – it is a lot of flour isn’t it … but she loves baking. Thankfully down here – I’m ok …though I know the situation is creeping south – as they have it really uncomfortably in the north … desperately sad.
@ Lynda – yes I can quite see the loss of flour supplies would have upset you – I don’t bake, so no worries here!
Thanks so much for visiting … take care, stay safe and calm … all the best - Hilary
A delightful miscellanea of this that and the other, from flames to flour and ill-fitting fangs! Stay safe Hilary.
I saw that piece on the news about Nobby Stiles and thought it was very funny - we're all too precious about appearance these days. I hope you are keeping well Hilary - lovely to see a nice lighthearted piece of news :)
Fil x
Peace and calm to you too, Hilary. Sorry I'm late. I was housesitting for 2 weeks and when I came home, I was relegated to washing floors. Long, boring, story. Your friend's husband sounds like a very nice man. One can never have too much flour, I guess. LOL.
What a fun post for a down day. Love the flour story. We didn't have a shortage here in the US but since I don't bake much, I probably wouldn't have noticed!
I love the odds and ends thanks Hilary! Amusing and bemusing ... the flour and flower have something in common, even if only in sound ...
It's horrible to see prominent buildings ablaze. Years ago, the Grand Hotel on Plymouth Hoe burned down and only the shell remained. They kept the facade and turned it into luxury apartments. A bitter-sweet ending for the place.
What a great story about Nobby Stiles. Footballers were certainly characters back then :-)
That is a lot of flour, Hilary! As far as I know we have not seen shortages here, but when you consider the amount of wheat we grow in Canada, there should certainly be enough flour. Actually, the second wave of Covid does not seem to have stimulated the panic buying so evident during the first wave. Thanks for the reminders about Linnaeus. I remember your review of the book earlier, and I really must look for it. In the annals of natural science, he must surely rank as one if the greatest names of all. This was a wonderful post, Hilary, with a little of something for everyone. I enjoyed it, as I always enjoy your posts I must add. If ever you decide again that a sojourn in Canada is just what you need, just be sure it is to southern Ontario!
When it looked like there was going to be a shortage of flour and possibly bread and yeast, Karen stocked up on bread and, eventually, found some yeast.
We have ton's of Black-eyed Susans every year!
We are exhausted waiting for the vote to finally be called on our election!
Take care!
Hi, Hilary - This post was just what I needed today. Thank you so much!!
Hi Hilary!
This was indeed lighthearted! I must admit, fires scare me half to death, having once had a home burn to the ground. It would take the rest of my life to use up all that flour! Your friend must be a top-notch baker ;-) The Black Eyed Susan is a pretty flower, though at first glance I might have mistaken it for a Sunflower. The World Cup and the false teeth brought back funny memories of a caregiver we had as kids who would stick her bottom set of teeth (I almost called them falsies – ha!) right out of her mouth if we vexed her.
Do take care, dear lady. And have a safe and happy November!
Just letting you know I was here and I am glad I was because it made me smile.
When I was in primary school in the 1950s, and there was no fluoride yet, lots of children had rotten teeth. The story back then was that working parents would pay for their children's false teeth as a generous and meaningful 21st birthday gift! Oh dear.
It is funny about the big bag of flour. We had similar situations here. When toilet paper was in short supply, some people were buying the giant industrial rolls that are used in public restrooms.
I do enjoy your random musings Hilary. Happy weekend. <3
What a fun collection of bits Hilary. The super supply of flour makes me smile. And I can just imagine neighbors coming by to borrow cups of it, rather than sugar.
@ Keith – thanks for the fulfilling comment …
@ Fil – yes the news featured Nobby and his teeth … but it just amused me and I thought overseas others would be too – those were the days weren’t they. Glad you enjoyed the light take on a post …
@ Joylene – thank you … no worries always good to see you. Being away helping someone else always seems to add to the work at home … hope that floor swabbing wasn’t too ‘serious’. Yup – it was a very thoughtful gesture disappearing off to get the sack of flour … some people need flour!
@ Jacqui – thanks … yes something light is needed in these times. I don’t bake much – or at all … but I do use a bit of flour for white sauces or the odd gravy mix …
@ Susan – thanks … little bits and bobs bring along smiles … I hadn’t thought about flour and flower – another connection …
@ Annalisa – I know … especially as we had the pier go up about five years before the hotel … two prominent buildings have left vacant space on the seafront. I’m not sure what they’ll do here – I can’t believe hotels won’t be needed once coach parties start up again … but we’ll see – or housing as you suggest. We have a few other empty buildings to develop – after shops have closed …
Glad you enjoyed Nobby’s teeth!
@ David – it is a lot of flour I’ll find out how much is left when I meet up for a stroll on Tuesday; - you’re right you should be ok in Canada – and I suspect better organised that we might be here. There is a bit of space on shelves already … it’s the end of the year I worry about – Brexit.
Oh great – I’m sure you’ll enjoy Linnaeus. Thanks re the post – a hodgepot and something for one and all. I’d love to get over to Canada again … whether that will happen or not is another matter – time will tell … apart from when Covid will release its hold. I will definitely make contact should I be able to come out – I’d love to see the east coast and actually more of the country: who knows what the fates hold in store for us. Brilliant invite – thank you.
@ Mike – well done … I can imagine you and Karen would be well organised. I don’t eat bread and only use a spoonful of flour for white/cheese sauce on occasion.
That’s why I mentioned black-eyed susans – caught my eye from the book on Linnaeus.
We’re waiting too … it’s almost there thankfully …
@ Donna – that’s great – always happy to cheer readers up …
@ Diedre – yup – lighthearted is what we need right now. I was on the train to London and on to see friends when the hotel caught fire. Yes – she enjoys baking for friends and colleagues. Seen together you’d be able to tell the difference between sunflowers and black-eyed susans … but the bright yellow flower head shines out …
False teeth – can be so funny – so revolting too … one laughs to get past ‘the horror’ – your carer had her way of ‘controlling’ her ‘wards’ – fun to think about …
@ Jo-Anne – that’s great … thanks for coming over …
@ Hels – yes … fluoride was added sometime in the 50s – but I think this was probably a football injury; I hadn’t heard about parents giving their children 21st presents of false teeth … interesting snippet …
@ Dan – glad the flour amused … loo paper was a problem too – and yes those rolls were being purchased. Sadly – I think people were being very selfish and buying in one go way more than they needed.
@ Debby – thank you … easy to write up – which sometimes is the main thing …
@ Deborah – many thanks – I must ask if they’ve given any of their supply away … and certainly different from sugar – I guess there must have been purchases of that too …
Thanks so much for your light comments – always lovely to have them … take care and let’s hope something gets cleared up this weekend … stay safe too - Hilary
That is a lot of flour to have stashed away. We make our own bread these days and have managed to get around the flour shortage by purchasing it from an online Wholefood supplier who deliver it to us within a few days. It's certainly more convenient than the return of the struggle to get delivery slots for food orders - why is this happening again?!? Stay safe. Ros x
It's odd the things that become scarce during a pandemic. Small bags, for you, change at stores for us. Whereas they used to encourage cash for purchases under $5, now they want a card even if you are spending a few dollars alone. Toilet paper. That was a big one. Paper towels. Clorox Wipes (or the like). I'm sure there are more I'm missing. What I'm wondering is if we're going to follow suit over here with another lockdown. Covid is still as busy as ever, unfortunately.
My father-in-law would put his false teeth in his hand and talk. He said they were uncomfortable. I can't imagine if they were wood.
Ha - that was a lot of random, but as always combined with your usual wit. As kids we were always fascinated by the idea of Washington's false wooden teeth - yuck, splinters! And my grandmother had false teeth - crazy looking at them floating in a glass.
Just think of the fortune in flour they had sitting there. Wow. Very resourceful. People are clever in time of need.
Take care in lockdown. We shall get through this. America needs something, anything...right now. But we see the light in the distance.
Lady Liberty is still standing in the harbor. Take care!
I am always fascinated with what you come up with to write about, Hilary. So interesting. I understand that poor George Washington always had trouble with his teeth, but I don't believe they used wood for dentures. I think I heard, they used human and cow teeth as replacements. All best to you, my dear!
I have Rudbekia hirta in my garden:)
Have a wondrous weekend.
Hi Hilary, I got a kick out of the false teeth and football World Cup story! For the last recipe I made that called for flour, I substituted some handy matzo meal instead. Though the squash soufflé didn’t taste quite as good, I didn’t get a hernia pouring it into the mix. But I do appreciate your friend’s strength and dedication to cooking/baking. Haha, this was fun! I’m sorry you’re on lockdown. Stay safe and healthy, my friend!
Julie
@ Ros – she’ll be using lots of it … but what a sensible idea her husband had to organise that purchase. That’s great you’ve worked out a way to have yours delivered. The challenges we have of these times … seems some people don’t think about others … while thankfully others do. (some supermarkets are limiting purchases). I’m lucky I can walk into town for the few things I need … and now I’m staying as safe as I can … so thank you for your thoughts.
@ Rosey – yes we had change problems too – again a way the virus could be passed on. We can now use our cards for very small amounts – so, as I see, similar to you. Not having a family my needs are very different to many … and I can easily adapt. Sadly yes Covid is still prevalent … and there’ll be shortages – as you say wipes or similar …
False teeth – do provide us with some laughs … thankfully dentistry has hugely improved over the years. Good for your FIL – making life easier for himself …
@ Joanne – thank you … Washington I gather had one tooth at the time he became president – but a set of falsies was crafted for him … it didn’t contain wood – but had real teeth, as well as bits of horses’, donkeys’ which were set into hippo or elephant ivory plates and rigged together using gold ‘thread-wire’ … extraordinary to think about.
I’ve seen too many sets or partial sets of teeth floating in something fizzing – to clean them … to keep me going for many a year! So I can imagine (or not) your grandmother’s floating in a glass!
I bet they’re enjoying their use of flour … she’s a good cook – especially cakes, biscuits and breads – which she shares, when she can.
We shall get through as you say – but Covid seems to be extraordinarily crafty and thus very generous … we all just need to do what we can.
@ Victoria – thank you … I try and entertain – which seems to be the case with you. You’re right they didn’t use wood in George Washington’s falsies – the full detail is in my post link … and I’ve sort of ‘summarised’ it for Joanne above: some human and some horse and donkey bits …
@ Sandra – yes Rudbekia hirtas are prolific in parts of the USA …
@ Julie – thank you … glad you could laugh with me at the World Cup story with the false teeth … I suspect that’ll stay with me for a while.
Matzo would be good too – I’m sure bakers here adapted … I was offered a pack of coconut flour – which I refused, but accepted something else – non-wheat flour … can’t remember what now! I hardly use it – but it works sufficiently well – like you the matzo squash soufflé worked ‘ok’!!
I’m fortunate down here – I can go for a walk by the sea, go to get a bit of top up food, so I’m not really struggling … and hope I don’t catch it – taking care once back inside.
Thanks to you all – it’s been great to see your comments … and I just hope we all stay safe and secure … take care and have a peaceful Remembrance Day – commemorating the end of WW1 – my post will follow on Wednesday – the actual day for us in the UK. Hilary
I'd always kind of wondered how the Rudbeckia came into the name...
Not enough to actually look it up but look! Now I don't have to!
Thank you, Hilary! :-p
I think I prefer black eyed Susan to the hairier version :) thanks for the smiles and the positivity, Hilary. This year is an annus horribilis every way we slice it, no escaping it.
Take care, stay safe and well.
Quite unfortunate that Britain has gone back to lockdown, that too quite a long one.
Hopefully, that will do the trick.
Take care.
Lots of interesting facts. I grew up thinking George Washington's teeth were made of wood- but was even more appalled when I found out what his fake teeth were really made of! Yuck!
Wishing you a calm and peaceful month as well. Stay safe!
~Jess
@ Jz - well I'm glad I enlightened you to the origins of Rudbeckia via Linnaeus. I love finding out these things ...
@ Nila - yes, I agree with you - the hairy ones aren't so attractive ... but I love the wild fields of them one sees in the States. 2020 has definitely had its horror - I just hope life eases up ... as you say - no escaping for anyone.
@ Pradeep - well the 'powers that be' have been trying to regionalise our lockdowns ... but we've been 'safeish' up to now - but the virus is spreading down here too ...
Sadly I suspect we'll be in lockdown/s next year too ... it's going to take a while - to get us all out of this challenge ... but I hope ...
@ Jess - snippets of odds and ends - always amusing for most people and needed in this time ...
I bet the nightmares you had as a child re thinking about Washington's teeth - were awful: yes yuck. But I remember exporting false teeth plants to Eastern Europe ...!!
Thanks so much to you all for being here - as Jess says - stay calm and have a peaceful month ... stay safe - Hilary
Love your odds and ends, Hilary! I've been buying lots of flour myself, maybe I should have gotten a big sack back in March :p Just noticed yesterday, our neighbour has a lovely bed of Black-Eyed Susans by the front door!
Thanks Deniz - I think if supplies are available there's no worry ... but nobody realised we'd run out of paper flour bags ... still - it seems supplies are now better under control ... still I've noticed some supplies are being bought up.
Those Black-Eyed Susans must bring much joy to you and the family ... all the best - Hilary
Luckily, at no time, during the lockdown here, we faced a shortage of anything essential.
Hi Pradeep - thank you ... you've been relatively lucky I think. Stay safe - Hilary
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