katie1997

You're so funny Alan :)) But I like your thinking. Now let me just go and see what else it is that I haven't got, that would be useful to know how to clean, if I was ever to acquire said item.

Thanks all for your brilliant suggestions, who'd have thought there were so many ways to clean chandeliers? I did laugh out loud at how they are done in the Quiet Room. I'm wondering if I could use small children as servants* and send them to the garage to use the pressure thingy. They might be cheaper than cleaners on here and than karter's hourly rate. I can't sing. * you certainly could in the 80s as I distinctly remember thinking it was great having younger brothers around, if not to fetch and carry, what on earth were they for?

Fly to India for a pot of their finest Assam CTC which is a strong black tea. Assam Gold if you like it less strong. Forget the delicate greens, whites and oolongs. PS Brilliant instructions from dulwich fox although I'm afraid to say I have to add a tiny splash of milk first, not after (and no sugar thanks LM).

PGC that sounds yummy and perfect for little ones too. As does the medic's soup and soda bread, mmm. Huguenot no wonder people find the Lounge daunting when asking for genuine* advice! *how to cook rice/clean chandeliers/boil water aside.

Good point Otta! I keep forgetting that as I love veggie food I wouldn't be disappointed by being served it but plenty of meat-eaters would. And who doesn't like cheese? I've changed my mind, tell 'em to bring their own dishes along!

JDR - some vegetarian starter ideas. You may have already done so but I find its best to check with the veggie guest what they like. When I used to be a veggie I hated mushrooms and celery (like them now tho) but it was awful trying to eat them them when someone had gone to the trouble of making a dish specially. (Balsamic) roasted tomatoes and toasted bread salad. Potato skins with sour cream/spring onions. Butternut squash gnocchi (small portion). Roasted red pepper & fennel. Leek & potato souffle. Blinis with chopped walnuts, pears, sour cream & chives. Shame you can't do soups as watercress is delicious and you could serve with lovely walnut bread. Good luck.

Great stuff. I will give Derek T a call and if no luck, will try the dishwasher* *he's only around at weekends though.

How are you supposed to clean them? I don't have any but you never know what's around the corner, do you? One likes to be prepared. Noticed some 'chandelier cleaner' in one of the LL shops (where else?) but I think there must be some element of human effort needed too. There always is.

this thread should really be titled, How to cook rice - Part II. karter - there should be no dilemma over short or long grain. Grain size in cookery (as in geological identification of rocks) is important. Arborio is a large grained rice (superfino) with a high level of surface starch. This means it breaks down to give the very creamiest texture and a dense, sticky risotto. On the other hand, Vialone nano has smaller, round grains (semifino) so they keep their shape better during cooking giving a risotto with more bite. It works well when you are stirring in robust ingredients as the grains are less likely to break down. But....Carnaroli is known as the king of the rice. It is a superfino grain with a good balance of the two starches. This means it gives a creamy texture but retains some bite ? perfect for simple risottos with few ingredients. Are you cooking risotto? If not, then please ignore this advice.* *edited to add: yes, of course I pasted from google.

Why don't you go and see it at whatever pitch they're playing it on? Too much TV is not good for you, laddy. I mean, all you need to do is purchase a ticket for whatever side you're supporting, turn up with your scarf and some encouraging songs, no? There may be a bit of a queue so get there a wee bit early before the game 'kicks off'. God I don't even support any football team and even I know that!! :-S

A Wimpy has opened up on Lordship Lane. They play Mott the Hoople's Greatest Hits too (what else?!) Did you hear that, HB? PS I'm not a stalker either. Much.

Just how sorry are you for starting this thread, huh? And how do you propose to make it up to us? Eh? Eh?

Parkdrive - did you read Kid Kruger's (amongst others) sensible comments way back on this thread. How do you propose to go about taking the thousands of children up and down the country into care for similar reasons? This tram lady just happened to be filmed, does this mean I should have filmed the lady with three young children in tow who got on a bus and gave the poor driver a torrent of abuse, including racial abuse? There are many, many people with serious mental issues bringing up children and of course with other issues too such as drug and alcohol abuse. Doesn't mean that everyone condones it but sheilarose makes some very good points about the effect of removing children from family and putting them into care.

Arf! Good job you're in charge MP. Now I think I can guess where the CC will be in December 2012....yes, yes, I can see it now....a neon light, a roundabout nearby...a tavern on the corner.....the letter 'M'....

*knocks on imposing door with a large, brightly polished brass sign with the words 'The Chair' engraved neatly upon it* *scribbles on some handy ivory coloured parchment 'Please help put a stop to 'touched you last' comments in the fine old Drawing Room. Its worse than the tatty Lounge these days. Thank you.' Shoves under aforementioned door*

e-dealer, the Radiant Bhuna just magically changes the thread title once he's sorted the next month's date out. As this has been running for 68 pages and several epochs have passed, you can usually rely on the current thread title for the next curry date and venue (tu) And I might add, there's never been a finer, friendlier group in ED to enjoy curry with :)-D

yes sounds lovely ibilly, enjoy yourself up in Edinburgh won't you? lots of lovely new Gaelic signs at english taxpayers' expense. Slainte :)-D Back on topic, agree with Otta it sounds like Franklins is what you're looking for MM. Or perhaps you could ask at the Herne?

Not a fan of old Sean and I'm not a nationalist either. Now I suggest you go and get your stripper heels on, Bono's waiting for you...you can talk rubbish together. And blame new labour for the so-called Scottish 'government' while you're at it.

It IS a country ibilly that's why not a 'country' you silly boy (6) Were you born on a pool table by any chance?

SCSB79 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > katie1997 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Since when did Scotland become a region? > and > > have less choice of fuel types > > Have petrol and diesel not made it north of the > border? are they still stuck on candle power up > there? Fuel for heating, not cars, is what I should have made clear. And I'd guess that money needed for heating is higher as its a lot colder up there too...

Since when did Scotland become a region? And isn't the only reason people can afford bigger houses in areas outside London due to the fact that they're far less populated and so there's more space? What about people living in the highlands and islands and other rural areas where they are reliant on things like ferries, cars and have less choice of fuel types, food shopping and so on? The only thing I have noticed that is cheaper up north is buying a round of drinks in the pub :-$

Marmora Man Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > katie1997 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I think some of the decisions that have to be > > taken in the public sector, by their very > nature, > > are not going to be quick ones no matter how > much > > we'd like them to be. > > I don't think so - my experience is that they are > simply culturally unable to make decisions without > endless delay and, usually, delegation upwards to > the most senior person available. I'll illustrate > my view with a tale of a current deal I'm working > on. > > 5 weeks ago on a Monday the hospital I am > temporarily running was asked to quote, as a > matter or urgency, to carry out 100 "neuro spine" > procedures to be carried asap for the local NHS > Trust that was approaching the 18 week waiting > time limit for these 100 patients. This work was a > follow on from very similar neuro procedures > carried out satisfactorily earlier in the year, so > there was no question about quality or > performance. > > I gathered the theatre manager, finance manager > and operations manager together that afternoon. In > the course of 45 minutes we reviewed pricing, > theatre & bed capacity, process and identified > five surgeons that might work with us to undertake > the procedures. By 8.00am the next day we had > agreed internally that we could undertake the > work, that the surgeons would work with us and > fixed on a price - somewhat less than the going > NHS Tariff rate. > > We accordingly informed the local Trust by midday > - approximately 26 hours after the initial > enquiry, and about 9 working hours after the > initial enquiry. > > Yesterday - 5 weeks and 4 days after the initial > enquiry, 5 weeks and 3 days after the Trust > received confirmation of capacity, readiness and a > competitive quote from us the Trust has asked to > meet next week to discuss how we might quote > "proceed with the work". As Hugenot might say > "WTF" - we've been waiting nearly 6 weeks to > start, they want to delay another week to discuss > it. Another four letter acronym is "JFDI" and I > wish the NHS had that capability and I'm sure the > 100 patients who have been waiting for an > unnecessary 6 weeks would agree. MM - thanks, a fine example from practical experience. I'd share the frustration at their inability to take swift action/decision-making in this case. Especially in the healthcare sector where timing is crucial for ill patients. However, and perhaps I'm being too simplistic, but I don't think that JFDI is possible for a lot of the major decisIons that sit with the public sector domain for reasons of fairness and accountability. Eg for those decisions that say whether we will build new infrastructure such as roads or rail networks, new nuclear power stations or even reforming the electricity market. There's a need for research, consultation and parliamentary procedures to go through in order for those decisions to be implemented or not. There are many decisions that are needed and that aren't motivated by profit unlike a private company - perhaps that's where the cultural inability stems from. Unnecessary bureaucracy though, I agree, slows things down too much and is costly and inefficient.

How very disappointing (td) Why couldn't it be offering proper bubble & squeak with decent sausages instead? Grrrr.

This is suspiciously like the good old 'Top tips' thread, with added thriftiness.

I think some of the decisions that have to be taken in the public sector, by their very nature, are not going to be quick ones no matter how much we'd like them to be.