My post-lockdown commute back to work

[Saint Willy]

But here's a danger of shopping abroad. I thought I'd struck gold at the deli counter and found pork pies.

A bit of investigation revealed they were goat cheese and beetroot pies. I know I've come under some criticism for my views on local food... but FFS...

that sounds amazing, I bet it was delicious!

[lom]

A bit of investigation revealed they were goat cheese and beetroot pies. I know I've come under some criticism for my views on local food... but FFS...

I guess someone™ has to help the shop getting rid of them.. I don't know why it had to be you..

[Joe 90]

Cheese and beetroot pies....hmmm

Inspiration for a TD kitchen thread methinks.

[helge]

Inspiration for a TD pot smoking kitchen thread methinks.

yes..

[lom]

Does bribery work on you HW?

Did you realise that you star on the September page of Dan's calendar?

All I need is a promise of 1000 Baht to your nearest dog home (or more if you like) and this could be hanging on your wall by Christmas!

I'd need an address to send it to as well... and I appreciate that could be awkward. I don't need names... but just an address to send it to. Any address.

Hurry while stocks last! Top quality card and A3!

Mine arrived today, thanks Mendip!

[Saint Willy]

Mine arrived today, thanks Mendip!

I'm also a proud owner!

[Mendip]

that sounds amazing, I bet it was delicious!

Well lucky for you I bought two and you're very welcome to the second one. A few weeks in the post may improve the taste.

I'm as open minded as the next man, but this was awful. I was still burping the taste of goats cheese two hours later... and that's not gonna do me any favours with my continental colleague.

[Mendip]

Mine arrived today, thanks Mendip!

A pleasure Lom.

I just noticed that a few 'personal' details somehow got printed. They must have been saved on the website. So, you have my address and you have my Birthday. No excuses now!

And anyone can be a proud owner of one of these... just a small contribution to your local dog's home!

[Saint Willy]

Well lucky for you I bought two and you're very welcome to the second one. A few weeks in the post may improve the taste.

I'm as open minded as the next man, but this was awful. I was still burping the taste of goats cheese two hours later... and that's not gonna do me any favours with my continental colleague.

if you haven’t sealed the deal now, I don’t think you ever will...

[Mendip]

^ I fear you are right.

Last night was the night for our Christmas drink... so it was clean shirt, clean socks, the lot. I like hotel bars and was looking forward to a few drinks sat at the bar with Christmas music playing in the background.

And the b@stard hotel has shut for Christmas... at least I assumed that's what the sign said.



To be honest it was probably just as well... I shouldn't even be thinking about this stuff.

And besides, the deck's against me at the moment anyway. My feet are absolutely humming... I guess wearing the same shoes every day for three months in the office and only having four pairs of socks is starting to have an effect. On top of that my room is stinking something awful. There's half a rotting lasagne on my window sill and the bladdy window doesn't open up wide enough for me to get to it. It's been there for about three weeks now and the rain doesn't seem to be washing it away. Every time I open my window the 4 inches allowed the smell just wafts in.

But we did share a few glasses of wine before going our separate ways. She's got hollow legs, this girl, and it's me the worse for wear today.



With all that wine I forgot to put my phone to silent and was awoken at 3am by my lovely daughter messaging me on Skype. She still hasn't worked out time zones.

She had two important questions...

'Why is a building called a building if it's already built?'

'Do you think sand is called sand because it is near the land and the sea?'

Good questions to be honest, especially the geological one, but not at 3am with a hangover. Although I guess I should be thankful that she's stopped asking me why Yogi was jumping on Coco's back.

Oh...

The good news is that the Thai Embassy replied to my email and seem quite happy about a change of flight! I can avoid Covid UK and fly direct from Gothenburg, and am in the process of re-arranging flights and ASQ booking to get a revised CoE. December 24th isn't the best day to re-arrange flights in Continental Europe, but it's gradually happening. It looks as though I could be back in Korat by the end of January!

The only bad thing is a pile of online Christmas shopping waiting for me at my mum's house, and my new DateJust sitting at a mate's place... but that will all have to wait.

I just hope my mum doesn't open up the wrong parcel tomorrow and find the 'naughty santa's little helper outfit' I was hoping to take back to Thailand, or I could be in for a few more awkward questions!

Merry Christmas everyone from a cold and wet Gothenburg!

[Headworx]

Merry Christmas to you too.

[TheMadBaron]

And the b@stard hotel has shut for Christmas... at least I assumed that's what the sign said.

DOCKYARD
Hotel

JULSTÄNGT

Vi har stängt hotellet mellan den
18/12 till 11/1

Valkomna tillbaka!

God Jul & Gott Nytt År

Önskar vi på Dockyard Hotel

❤

Translation:*

DOCKYARD
Hotel

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

We have closed the hotel from
18/12 to 11/1

Fuck off!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

From the B@stard Hotel

❤

*No translation is perfect, and I may have taken some poetic license.

[Neverna]

Merry Christmas everyone from a cold and wet Gothenburg!

A short sleeved shirt in the middle of winter? 10 out of 10.

Merry Christmas, Mendip.

[ootai]

Mendip
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you. I hope everything works out well for you and you make safely back here.
Try not to get too emotional tomorrow when you speak to your daughter you will be together again soon and there will be many more Xmas's together.

On a side note my hens are all laying finally, they must have been younger than I thought as its taken 2.5 months for them to all get there.
And you were right about them getting their chicken instincts back they now rule the yard and wander everywhere. MIL wants to chop their heads off as they get into her garden so I have been busy fencing them out but they find a way. When they see me they chase after me wanting food. I really am enjoying having them so thanks for encouraging me to get some.
I should have some of their eggs (7) hatch in the next few days, can't wait to see what they look like.

Sorry for waffling on as it probably just makes you think more of being home.

Hope you have a happy day tomorrow.

Cheers
Ootai

[Mendip]

^^^^ HW... I'm assuming that's a 'cock in a sock'? To be honest I'm way ahead of you!

^^^ TMB... That about what I figured. At least they weren't asking if I had a ticket!

^^ Nev, I've tried to fit in and wear my jumper... but I find it itchy, prickly and uncomfortable. I just don't like jumpers, and that's it.

^ Ootai, we had a good chat today and the daughter's doing fine. She's got some good presents to open up tomorrow and I reckon she'll have an OK Christmas. We'll come and visit once I get back.

I've got my own chickens here to keep my mind off things on Christmas Day... two of the buggers to prepare and roast in the oven. Looks like they'll be the only birds I'll be stuffing this Christmas!

And after all the festivities are done with... I can retire to my room... and find a sock!

[lom]

Merry Christmas everyone from a cold and wet Gothenburg!

Merry Xmas to you too Mendip!

[hallelujah]

Merry Christmas, Mendip.

Do they celebrate Christmas in Sweden on the 24th or 25th?

[Mendip]

Merry Christmas Lom and Hal!


^ 24th it seems... the office is deserted!

Apart from the English and the French... who will celebrate on the 25th! '

Not only Christmas either by the looks of things... we can celebrate a Brexit deal together!

I'll try and do my bit for post Brexit integration.

[Edmond]

Merry Christmas.




Jeremy Clarkson.

[helge]

Merry to you Mendip

The kids and I decided to do Christmas Eve thai time in your honour.

All presents thorn open as we speak and the calm have spread throughout our domicil.

Duck, redcabbage, sweet(sugary) potatoes, etc in 90 mins or so, and we are done

Kids happy and the wife not yelling that much, but this lockdown Jul is different.

No massive family attendance


I would be onto the extremely strong ale by now in a normal year.

[Looper]

I'll try and do my bit for post Brexit integration

Pull a Christmas Cracker for European integration Mendip and don't forget to wear your party hat

[Mendip]

Well... if Boris Johnson can do it, so can I.

The lesson I'm going to take from this is... never give up with these bladdy continentals.

A deal I shall seek.

In this VEIN I sneaked off from work early to start preparing a spectacular Christmas Day meal. No fish on offer, but what Frenchie can turn down roast chicken, tatties, snags and bacon? With all the trimmings of course. And it don't get less halal than that!

It'll all be oven ready for the big day!

In the absence of a Christmas drink invite from Helge I've cracked open Lom's Dark Cherry Vinglogg. Couldn't be arsed to boil it up with herbs and spices so nuked a glass in the microwave.

It's warmed up nicely!

Merry Christmas!

[Looper]

^I have got to admire the girth on your monster parsnip Mendip

If that does not make Francoise' eyes water then I don't know what will

[Mendip]

^ Yeah well Mr Looper, you're not the first to mention it, to be honest. Is the state of my socks any wonder?

Merry Christmas, by the way.

[Mendip]

Here ya go Boris you tosser... this is what an oven ready deal looks like!

It didn't take me two years either... all I have left to do is take the peas out the freezer.

Let the negotiations begin.