Monday 1 April 2024

WEP Get Togethers # 3 … Fish Bananas …

 

It is April Fool's Day isn't it … so we could have Fish Bananas … I've come across them – more anon … but for now some funnies – other than fishy bananas!

First bi-monthly: June, August, October
and December in 2024
Predictive text cropped up for me today – when I commented on a blogging friend's post … that became a glogging friend (since repeatedly globbing – though could also be a drinking glogging friend as it's a holiday) … how often do words slip through uncorrected, particularly in text form on the phone …


Beech tree - happily living on ... many lives,
with an undergrowth of Spring cyclamen
When I was on the Committee as the dinner administrator (see my post 30 January 2023) we'd wanted to know the dinner menu as the Ukrainian Ambassador was our guest speaker and we needed to ensure the evening went smoothly.



The hotel sent up the menu for us … including a chicken dish:

"Sauteed supreme of Chicken in a Groer sauce, caramelised apples, thyme scented wild rice with chanteney carrots”


The wise old owl typing here -
sensibly realised she'd need
a photo of the guarding owl

Fine … but I didn't recognise Groer as a sauce – I checked in Mrs Beeton, in “Louis Saulnier's Le Repertoire de la Cuisine book”, on the net … nothing.


I did dig a little further – but the only thing that popped out was an Austrian Cardinal, who served as Archbishop of Vienna from 1986 – 1995.


He DID NOT have a sauce named after him – his only claim to fame was as a paedophile … he denied those allegations unto his death … I had to laugh at the sauce's name though - I'm glad I picked that one up!


Deer statue ... 

The next menu also had – to me – a glaring error in it … which had gone from the hotel to the Chair, to the administrator for the dinner bookings, back via the same route to the hotel for printing out the menu card put on the dinner tables … no editing or checking …



Vegetarian option: Mushroom, leak and broccoli short crust pastry pie, roasted vegetables and seasonal vegetables.


Still Life with Leeks by Carl Schuch
(1846 - 1903)


The Leek Pie was very tasty … but I'm glad it was leek, the vegetable, and not a plumber's leaky pie!




I had a lovely Easter day over with my brother in the still very wet Alfriston … with roast lamb, an Easter egg hunt in the garden – as shown … with family and friends … all in all a good last day of March.


Banana Wrasse - to be found from
Sri Lanka to the Hawaiian islands
Happy Spring and I do feel easier and ready for the longer days ahead … as Denise mentions life is flashing by ... to one all happy thoughts …


(PS I used to put in diacritical marks ... but omitted them here) 

and the other thing re Groer ... was it should have read Cider sauce ... 


# 3 WEP Together from the administrators ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

45 comments:

Botanist said...

I hate predictive text and autocorrect! It costs way more time than it ever saves :(

I assume "Fish bananas" is a nod to Monty Python?

Anabel Marsh said...

Not sure how they got to Groer from cider! And my autocorrect wanted that too be Grover.

Debbie D. said...

Predictive text can be so annoying, along with auto correct! Those are some fun examples of typos, Hilary. ☺ I think proofreading is a lost art. Happy April, Happy Spring!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Ian - oddly enough not from Monty Python ... I'd better check that out. I agree I hate predictive text particularly when I'm texting someone ... so frustrating - but I can spell and have reasonable English ... I know many of those younger aren't blessed with those attributes - we're lucky ...

@ Anabel - who knows ... and yes Groer would prefer to be Grover ... or something else completely ... such a mishmash ...

@ Debbie - predictive text and auto-correct ... such a nuisance! I have to laugh at times ... certainly checking one's work seems, at times, to be a lost art.

Happy Spring and April to you all and to us all - cheers Hilary

Liz A. said...

Auto correct likes to fix things that don't need fixing (yeah, I meant it like that), or it won't come up with the correct spelling of the thing I need it to spell for me. There are some words that I just cannot spell.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Someone should have caught that typo.

Elephant's Child said...

Leak pie is a scary thought. It can only result in a soggy bottom - something to avoid at all costs.
I am glad your Easter was good - despite being soggy.

hels said...

Hilary, the abuse of children by powerful adults goes on, doesn't it? And although it was _very_ late in his life, I am so proud of Archbishop Groer's victims reporting what happened to them as children. And proud of the pope's response.

Carola Bartz said...

How can one get from Cider to Groer? It's a mystery, I guess.
I once saw a business card from a dentist who announced his service with seductive surgery instead of sedative. Hm, I'm not sure I'd go there.
Oh, and auto correct? That drives me crazy.

A Hundred Quills said...

Hilary, it is always a pleasure to be on your blog and read the many interesting anecdotes you share with us. Misspelt words/autocorrect add fun to our routine lives and give us some memories for a lifetime.
-Sonia

Denise Covey said...

Hilary, hilarious bloopers! Glad you had a lovely visit with your bro over Easter. Yummy food, good company ... what else?

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alex - I know, but when you know that one of them hasn't got the best education - you expect others to pick up typos: not done, as you gather.

@ EC - isn't Leak pie a scary thought - especially after our Boat Race on Saturday ... also soggy bottoms definitely not recommended. Yes ... still bright now, but probably going to rain later on ... c'est la vie at the moment ... rain, rain, rain.... ?!

@ Hels - thanks ...

@ Carola - I don't know how auto-correct works, nor AI, nor predictive text ... really irritates me when I've typed something properly and 'it' adjusts it. That business card is classic isn't it - great addition to the post ...

@ Sonia - thank you and lovely to see you here ... the miss-spellings do add fun to our routine ... I know when I asked about the 'error' ... I'm not sure how much they took on board or realised ... but as you say they do add to our fun (at times!).

Cheers and thanks to you all for visiting ... I now need to check this reply for typos!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Another irritation ... you both went to spam - I'm always checking, but hadn't done so before I commented ...

@ Liz - I know sometimes I despair ... correct for me - noooo ... drive me demented instead!

@ Denise - thanks ... so glad everyone enjoys hilarious bloopers! Yes - it was a good weekend ... happy days ...

Cheers to you both and thanks for visiting - Hilary

jabblog said...

Predictive text is a pain and so is spell check when it insists that American spelling is king! (It's fine if you're American, of course!)

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I would be quite happy if autocorrect didn’t exist. You have to be so vigilant that it doesn’t change your words to something meaningless or out of context. And it confuses its with it’s, well with we’ll, adds capitals wherever it feels like….and on and on. As for leaky pie, I have never made leek pie, but I think I have made pies that have too much liquid, so I might qualify in the leaky pie category. I have read through this brief comment, and as far as I can tell, there is no need for autocorrect to interfere with anything. That’s no guarantee of compliance, however! Hugs from springlike Ontario - David

Deniz Bevan said...

Cider! I never would have guessed, ha ha!

Happy spring to you and yours <3 <3

Arpita said...

With predictive text I feel my smartphone tends to act oversmart. Gaffes are fun as long as the recipient joins in too for a good laugh!

debi o'neille said...

Funny story. I'm glad your vegetables or the mushrooms were not leaking, too. Nothing like biting into a surprise and not smiling afterward.
I'm glad you had the joy of an egg hunt in a garden. We had a huge scavenger hunt for Easter eggs as well. It was a little chilly outside, but I don't think anybody noticed much because everyone was having fun.
Thanks for the read!

Dan said...

My wife shakes her head daily at typos that make it into news articles, websites and even onto product packaging. "Doesn't anybody read anything?" is her frequent cry. I am a terrible speller, so I don't often notice the errors fast enough.

Scheduling events and meals is never an easy task, especially when the guests of honor are foreign dignitaries.

Joanne said...

Must proof read everything these days. It is amusing to see stuff that leeks or leaks through. Ha!
Glad you are doing better. Chin up as we spring forth into April. We are preparing for the big total solar eclipse, but alas the weather is turning cloudier as we get closer. I have my fancy glasses - no staring into the sun for me.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm glad you had a lovely Easter and are feeling easier, Hils.
When out to eat, I received lovely macaroons, with a beautifully scripted sign listing them as macarons:)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

It sounds like you enjoyed such a nice Easter. The dinner menu sounds wonderful, and how pleasant to eat outdoors in the garden.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Janice - I so agree with your various points ... such is life for us Brits!

@ David - so would I ... especially as I'm a typist and don't expect my typing to be corrected - as you say. Let alone the grammar - which I'm not so clever with or at. Leaky pie made me laugh. As you say nothing needed correcting as far as I could see ... though I do catch my own stupidities at times?! Glad Spring is springing in Ontario ...

@ Deniz - no nor would I ... if I could have guessed 'cider' I might have suggested it - but no ... thanks re the wishes ...

@ Arpita - I give up sometimes and wonder how on earth words get through ... poor person at the other end - hasn't a clue what's going on. Gaffes are fun or can be at times ...

@ Debi - yes I'm glad my leeky pie was tasty and not leaky! Some were scavenging ... the only one egg I found had been dropped. Always a fun time at Easter for the egg hunt ...

@ Dan - I'd gathered your wife is the 'editor' and like her I too shake my head at things ... but am now beginning to realise how many people struggle with correct spelling, and sensible grammar.

We just felt the Ukrainians needed a bit more care than some of our other speakers, who can cope with the travel etc - and the Embassy had asked us for prior knowledge of the meal to be served ... in fact I changed the dessert too.

@ Joanne - I know ... I realise that - and think I've done a good job - hit send and then realise I didn't double check!
Yes - I'm doing better - the weather isn't ... we've had a couple of dry days, but back to rain tonight ... miserable!

Oh yes - I'd seen a solar eclipse is coming next week ... I hope the weather is kind for one and all - I remember ours back in 1999 I think - when I went to join friends ... and experienced 'the cold' - really interesting ...

@ Sandra - thank you - yes I am feeling easier. Lucky you going out - mind you I suppose I did too! Macaroons are French, Macarons are what they're called ... so a different name for the same thing - delicious they are ...

@ Karen - yes we had a lovely time - this year we didn't eat outside, but were able to have our Easter hunt in the garden ...

Cheers to everyone - thanks for your comments ... Happy Easter - Hilary

Sherry Ellis said...

I don't believe I've ever had leek pie. Might have to try it someday.

Pearson Report said...

Hi Hilary, It does pay to proof things like menus, as shown here it could be a problem. Also, as my thumbs do not like texting I err on the side of using the voice record mode - oh my goodness, I am forever having to redo what it thought it heard. Sometimes I forget to proof and then spend some time apologizing for what was "said" - my friends all know this now and accept the typos. hahaha

I'm glad you had a Happy Easter - sending smiles, Jenny

mail4rosey said...

Ha, a banana fish! :) Glad you had a lovely Easter. We had a peaceful day as well.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Sometimes autocorrect is funny, but it is truly annoying.

Teresa

H. R. Sinclair said...

Ha! Banana Fish! It's been an long year so far or at least it seems that way. I'll be happy to greet the warmer weather.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sherry - I love leeks ... and leeks and cheese go together well ... so I was happy to have the pie.

@ Jenny - I know - if I'd still been in charge - I'd have changed it ... but thought it might go through unaltered - it happened. I'm not good at texting - I really don't have the need for it, but obviously occasionally I do - though now I use the ipad or the machine (this thing!) ... I just hope and assume whoever receives an odd message realises it wasn't meant to be what appeared ... but it does frustrate me ... Your thumb troubles are definitely not easy ... take care.

@ Rosey - yes - banana fish .. that's coming up (sometime!).

@ Teresa - I agree ... but it worries me when it gets into print ...

@ Holly - Banana Fish was a good day ... it will appear soon. Like you I'll be happy to greet the warmer weather without any wind!

Cheers to the five of you - thanks for visiting ... we've a bit of cloud and sun, but a mighty gale ensuring the weather conditions aren't settled! Also it makes it colder - especially so near the coast ... HIlary

Sandra Cox said...

Hils, Back on the macaroons. Heh. Over here, they are a coconut confection and macarons are a small, round meringue-like cake with a filling. It may be different in your area.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sandra - they're tricky to make and should be really light ... like meringues ... I won't go into the detail! I'm sure yours taste good ... I try not to eat sweet things - but sometimes I can't resist. So probably slightly different - depends where we eat them, and the expense - I guess! Thanks for the extra comment though - cheer from a very blustery day ... Hilary

Jean Davis said...

Good thing you were looking those menus over! The typos...my goodness!

cleemckenzie said...

Maybe the predictive text is trying for comedy. I'd laugh at "glogging friend." I'd also laugh if it converted Groer sauce to Pedophile sauce, but that would be tacky of me, right?

https://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

So the Groer wasn't even a spelling error? I've never had leeks in any form but in my old house, we had plenty of leaks.

J Lenni Dorner said...

Gotta love that a menu doesn't get a good edit.
Bananafish...from JD Salinger's Nine Stories, if I'm not mistaken.
Gotta get some leaking leeks later. Ha ha.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jean - yes ... when I was checking the menus - it was fine ... and is ok this month ... but typos are everywhere now-a-days - sad, but true ...

@ Lee - thanks ... I'm sure the comedians must make hay from those bloopers. I did laugh when 'glogging friend' came up - my typo til I caught it. I'd have been highly embarrassed if Groer had slipped through in the circumstances ... as we had quite a few Ukrainians attending the dinner.

@ Susan - no it (Groer) wasn't a spelling error per se - but patently wasn't the name of a sauce! If you eat onions and garlic - you've almost certainly had leeks ... the other type - yes, that I can understand.

@ JL - thank you re Salinger's Nine Stories - you're right ... and I'm thrilled to learn about his bananafish - thank you! I must say I love leeks ...

Cheers to the four of you - Hilary

Diane said...

I hate corrective text it comes up with some very dangerous ideas at times. We were travelling back home on 1 April and I was wondering what disaster was going to happen, but thankfully, the return trip was so much better than the first week of our holiday!!
Did you hear the story of the guy who sent a text message to his neighbour saying I hope you don't mind but I had an emergency so I used your WiFi to sort out the problem. The text arrived at the other end saying he had used his wife!!! The neighbour came around with his gun :-)))
Cheers Diane

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane - delighted to see your post and the comment here ... so pleased you got home safely after your eventful journey out ... April Fool's Day is one of fun - or plain hideousness, or just normal as yours was.

No, I hadn't heard the story about that chap - oh dear, oh dear ... I hope all was resolved safely! What a challenge - but fun to read about ... thanks for that - cheers Hilary

Chrys Fey said...

Fish Bananas do not sound appetizing. I don't mind fish, and I love bananas, but that's have to be a hard pass from me. HAHA

Tara Tyler said...

always great to stop by for an interesting and enlightening story!
glad you had a lovely easter!

Tara Tyler Talks

Keith's Ramblings said...

Don't start me on auto-incorrect! Great that you had an enjoyable Feaster - there it goes again - Easter!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Chrys - they appear to make strange bedfellows don't they ... but hit the little grey cells to make their mark! I agree sometimes I prefer each taste to its own self ...

@ Tara - thanks re the enjoyment in the reading - and yes lovely Easter ... now looking forward to a warmer drier Spring ...

@ Keith - I know - it's a real pain ... so frustrating - but 'Feaster' is fine - at least I know what you mean ...

Cheers to the three of you - and here's to more funny tales without any sting in them - enjoy the ongoing April - Hilary

Marja said...

I turned predictive text off on my phone I text sometimes in Dutch and it tried to change everything in something English lol.
Hope the dinner was great and you had a nice Easter. We had a potluck at a friends house

Jacqui said...

Sorry to be so late to the party. This didn't show up in my email or reader. 'Leek' and 'leak'--I fear a lot of kids these days would struggle with the difference!

Sigh--the only account I can use to comment is my business account. Oh well.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Marja - you must struggle many a-time ... using two languages - bad enough with one or is it two (American and English) for us?! Yes, lunch was very good - and lovely to be with family and friends for the day ...

@ Jacqui - no I know - I must sort this email notification thingie out ... me being very slow. Yes - I know a great many kids would have difficulty drafting an essay ... it's a sign of the times - sadly.

Don't worry - most I can work out when people comment ... but thanks for the nod to your 'sign in' ...

Cheers to the two of you - Hilary