Mendip goes home for Christmas!

[jabir]

Oh yes, and another great thread.

[NamPikToot]

Mendip. My options today for a full cooked brekkie are; chicken sausages, scrambled egg and sliced ham sat in sliced ham juice. Luckily G&T is also on the menu, the dim sum is awful but the cully pupps are better than the flied lice.
Remind Mini Mendip that she'll miss real bacon, eggs and sausage. Although you raise your own chooks i believe, i do to and wouldn't and don't buy eggs in Thailand as i've see then shit they give them. The egg, bacon and sausage banjo is nearly dribbling down me y fronts.

[bsnub]

My lovely darling daughter found a new boyfriend in the park, and even although he was a ginger, I was so glad she was happy.

Loving the thread.

[Mendip]

She is white and started with 65, this is a good running number so she should be racing from the back not slotting her bar.

You're right about the doubling cube and that would need to come later, but when you do introduce it make sure she knows that this little thing is actually the secret to the game, more so than luck, odds (easy if you can count to 36) or the ability to switch tactics from roll to roll.

And she is indeed a beaut.

You clearly know your Backgammon!

Yeah, I want her to understand the game before the doubling and gambling side come into it, although I find Backgammon like poker in that without the gambling element it's just not the same game. I'm hoping we'll just be playing for matches as my daughter picks these things up fast and will no doubt soon be fleecing me!

[Mendip]

Mendip. My options today for a full cooked brekkie are; chicken sausages, scrambled egg and sliced ham sat in sliced ham juice. Luckily G&T is also on the menu, the dim sum is awful but the cully pupps are better than the flied lice.
Remind Mini Mendip that she'll miss real bacon, eggs and sausage. Although you raise your own chooks i believe, i do to and wouldn't and don't buy eggs in Thailand as i've see then shit they give them. The egg, bacon and sausage banjo is nearly dribbling down me y fronts.

All our eggs in Thailand are from our own chickens, apart from when the wife wants an occasional duck egg.

I've been pigging out on all these sausages and back bacon, but am already slowing down due to feeling so fat and unhealthy. By next week I'll be very ready to go back to simple food and get back into a routine. Apart from a few days in Singapore in January I should be back at home in Korat until work starts up in March, and I need that couple of months of clean living. Time to re-visit Cujo's thread I think!

Strange though... one thing I'm not getting bored of is the cider!

[Mendip]

Today the wife seemed to be out of action after yesterdays excursions up Glastonbury Tor, but it was such a nice day I got out of the house with the littlun to do a few odds and ends.

I feel this thread has been painting Somerset in a gloomy light, so thought it'd be nice to post a few beautiful local views in the sunshine, just to show off Somerset to it's full potential.

The behind the scenes workings of Thatchers Cider Farm, in the sunshine.



Thatchers Cider Shop, in the sunshine. And please note, with a widely smiling daughter!



The way to cider, and very widely smiling daughter, in the sunshine. My two favourite things at the moment.



And mission accomplished, with very happy daughter, in the sunshine!



What a beautiful county Somerset is!

A bit chilly today though.

[Airportwo]

I feel this thread has been painting Somerset in a gloomy light,

LOL, I don't think the pictures are that gloomy, but looking back there is a definite theme in that alcohol, its consumption and places of worship take a predominant role.
Well done!

[parryhandy]

Merry xmas Mendip and family and thanks for a cracking read. I'm visiting the Uk in March with my daughter and was dreading it to be honest but after reading this I'm actually looking forward to it a lot more.

[David48atTD]

... in January I should be back at home in Korat until work starts up in March, and I need that couple of months of clean living.

^ ^

An oxymoron?

I've never read a Member saying that he's going to return to Thailand for a "couple of months of clean living"

[lom]

I've never read a Member saying that he's going to return to Thailand for a "couple of months of clean living"

I think that's because you're a newbie here David

[Klondyke]

And mission accomplished, with very happy daughter, in the sunshine!

Lucky to have such happy daughter, that compensate all the gloominess around...

(should not "punish" her to study there)

[Bettyboo]

Britain is great in many ways, especially the food, but it is not very healthy... As Mendip says, beer, cider, bacon, sausages (and lets add cheese, bread, Sunday roasts. Indian meals, kebabs...) do pile on the pounds and slow you down. I think I put on 5kgs in a week last time I was in the UK.

The Thais must love the pork crackling/crunch, Mendip.

[Mendip]

^ I wish it was only 5kg... I've a lot of work to to next year!

I only bought one bag of the pork scratchings... the Thai contingent ain't gonna get a look in!

[Mendip]

Lucky to have such happy daughter, that compensate all the gloominess around...

(should not "punish" her to study there)

Agree! She's getting a great education in Thailand just now, is happy and settled. I'm in no rush to move anywhere.

Much as my daughter loves to visit the UK and talks about living here, once she found out that it wasn't Christmas year-round I think she'd change her tune.

[Mendip]

^ ^

An oxymoron?

I've never read a Member saying that he's going to return to Thailand for a "couple of months of clean living"

To be honest my life in Thailand is generally very clean living... full time dad, dog feeder and job doer. I even try and fulfill my husbandly duties once a month or so, when given the chance!

My diet in Thailand is also an awful lot more healthy than what I've been eating in the UK the last couple of weeks... but it is Christmas!

I'm off to Singapore on me tod in January for a few days for visa stuff, and I'll incorporate a few days in Bangkok for some much needed but very rare 'me' time!

[Mendip]

Merry xmas Mendip and family and thanks for a cracking read. I'm visiting the Uk in March with my daughter and was dreading it to be honest but after reading this I'm actually looking forward to it a lot more.

Maybe I should get a job with the UK tourist board!

I really enjoy these trips to the UK, but to be honest around 10 days would be enough for me, and if I visited on my own the stay would be a lot shorter. My mum and daughter see little enough of each other so we stay as long as school holidays allow for these Christmas trips. One thing I do find, visiting as a family makes me do a lot more stuff than I would if alone, and I definitely also benefit from that.

[David48atTD]

I think that's because you're a newbie here David

Could be mate ... could be.

[Mendip]

Last night I had a night out with my oldest mate... we've known each other for around 40 years.

This was the first and probably the only night out I'll be having during this trip home. One problem with visiting over Christmas is that everyone has their family commitments and it's hard to find mutual evenings free.

But anyway, no wife or daughter and time to catch up.

We started in The Lamb in Axbridge for a steak and ale pie and a couple of pints of Butcombe. This used to be my local in the early 90s but to be honest the steak and ale pie portions weren't as big as I remembered. Funny that... I drove past my old school and that seems a lot smaller these days as well. Must be the way the memory works... I guess I have to also consider the possibility that the chef in The Lamb has changed out in the last 25 years!



Axbridge village square. This will be crammed with people tonight to ring in the new year.



Then off to the Old Inn to dump the car and have a few pints!



This is my favourite pub in the area, and used to be renowned for lock-ins. You can still get a drink until 2am if it's busy enough... but that's legal these days and it's not quite the same.



The Old Inn dates back to the 16th century and a big problem with these old pubs is that 500 years ago people were a lot shorter, around 5ft 6inch average they reckon. Hence doors were a lot lower...



And every b@stard time I walk into this pub I twat my head on the top of the door frame. And I'm certainly not alone.



But, it's all worth it! I discovered this Marstons 61 Deep Pale Ale last night, and although sitting in font of a log burner isn't quite the same as an open fire, it's a very close second!



A number of these were enjoyed into the early hours... before twatting me bladdy head again on the way out!

[Neverna]

The menu looks OK, Mendip. Look at the fooking peas on that!!

[Mendip]

Wow, that looks good!

I screwed up there - didn't even look at the menu to save time and just went for the pie for old time's sake.

And the pie came with that crinkly cabbage!

[HuangLao]

Take the raw peas and roast them low and slow.
A delight.

Something different for those who enjoy the lovely morsels.

[Mendip]

^ I've never tried that!

I occasionally have peas on toast, for a change from beans. But roasting sounds great!

[Neverna]

Much as my daughter loves to visit the UK and talks about living here, once she found out that it wasn't Christmas year-round I think she'd change her tune.

There's reindeer at a farm in Wraxall (Noah's Ark zoo farm). Not too far from where you are, Mendip. Take your daughter along to see them. One of the reindeer is even called Chili. Perfect for a girl from Korat.

[Mendip]

^ Many thanks Nev, the website says it opens up again on 2nd Jan, so a visit is on the list for Thursday or Friday. We're off on Sunday. It's only 20 minutes away... I don't know how it has escaped my radar.

Tonight's a very quiet one for us... maybe some Backgammon with the daughter later, but for now just me and a Green Goblin!

This is the best cider I've ever tried and I'd recommend it to anyone if you can find it.



And a bit of background...

[Chittychangchang]

peas on toast

That's wrong

Then again...

Most Peas Eaten in 30 Seconds with a Toothpick - Guinness World Record



HNY to the Mendips and pea lovers everywhere.