Cellar Scribblings

[CellarDweller]

Lovely to get caught up on what’s happening with you Chuck.

Like you and Jeff, I don’t see myself being back physically at work before 2021.

Even when we do return, the Scottish Government, who I work for are obviously being incredibly cautious and sticking to their own rules and guidance, and they have said they are working on the basis of 25% capacity. There are 50  Workspaces in our office so 12 a day suggests well be in at the very most, twice a week.

I have a laptop, and smart phone (which has a divert from my office no) work chair, a keyboard and mouse, a laptop riser and this week I got a monitor delivered so I can go dual screen when I want so im pretty comfortable in terms of set up... we don’t have a dedicated office space in the house so it gets put away every night but it’s fine it doesn’t take too long to do that.

yes, I think a lot of people are trying to figure out how to mingle work and home now.   When I first got the notice to work from home, a notice went out that were were only allowed to take laptops home, all other equipment had to remain in the office. 

I spent about a month trying to use just the laptop and it was maddening.  I couldn't take it anymore.  At that point, I was told by my boss' boss that we could order a second monitor for home.  I wasn't going to put that expense on the bank, so I just went into the office, after hours when no one was around, and put on my mask and took home my dual monitors, full-sized keyboard, and mouse.  Once I got all that home, it was much easier to work.

I have everything set up on my coffee table, and I face the TV, so I can have the TV on and watch/listen while working. 

I often have on Dr. Phil, or trashy shows like Maury Povich or Jerry Springer.  I tell people:  "No matter how badly your feeling, you can put on those shows, and see these train wrecks of people, and then feel better."

If I feel the apartment is becoming too cluttered, I'll try to find a show about hoarding, and then I'll clean.  It's a good way to inspire a cleaning streak!

[brianr]

The difference with supermarket and sweet shoppe candy is that the supermarket tends to be brand name stuff (Hershey's or Cadbury) while sweet shoppe is homemade on the premises.  Also, if you buy a box of chocolates, it tends to be a box of different chocolates.  With a sweet shoppe, you can hand pick the chocolates in your box, all the same, or just a few favorites, and none that you don't like.  Most of the shoppes will have a case like this, and you just instruct the person behind the counter with what flavors you want.

We have them especially in tourist towns but I think there is also one in the main street of our city. However I never go into them.
I have 4, sometimes 6, squares of block chocolate every night while watching TV after dinner. I try but cannot resist. I was told dark chocolate was better for my stomach but it is too bitter at that time of night. I vary between mint, orange and raspberry.
Yesterday our coffee group went to a cafe where I had not been for 4 years. They did not have a good choice of cakes. I bought a chocolate and cream slice but it was too rich and I left half of it. My mate had a cheese scone but I am not fond of them. My favourite cafe which is in the hardware/nursery store has orange and date scones but they are often sold out by 11am.
I have stayed home today so just had an apricot slice with my morning coffee. I buy a slab at the supermarket which is about 5" by 41/2 " and cut into six pieces. 

[brianr]

I am feeling miserable today waiting for the Prime Minister's announcement at 5.30pm. It is sunny but still has not reached 4'C by 11am so not pleasant in the garden. I might make an effort about midday or 1pm.
We are at level 2 which means we can go out but must register at all locations. However no groups of more than 100 and I have tickets for 2 concerts next weekend (22nd & 23rd). Both involve Simon O'Neill. He was born in Dunedin but is a world famous bass singer. He is usually too busy to come and sing in his home town but all his overseas concerts have been cancelled.
If we were to go to level 3 like Auckland, I would rather cut my throat. I never watch TV during the day, only for an hour or 2 after the news at night. 
We do not visit each others homes, the only time I have been into my best mate's home was when I wanted him to take the bandage off my back after a skin cancer removal, I could not reach it.  He has been into mine as we have hiking group planning meetings here twice per year and he has brought me home from the hospital after procedures and sat a while to make sure I was ok. He has a wife but she never socialises.
We meet in cafes and I enjoy concerts and movies and even going to cafes by myself.
I can only garden for a few hours per day when the weather allows. I get bored reading a book.

[CellarDweller]

Hiya BetterMost friends!!!!

TGIF!

It's Friday, and pay day!     It's also the start of my "staycation".


I had a really good dinner.  I probably ate too much, but I couldn't help it.  LOL

I'm assuming that you all know what empanadas are.  For those who don't, an empanada is a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling, common in Southern European, Latin American, Indonesian and Filipino cultures. The name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, and translates as "enbreaded", that is, wrapped or coated in bread. They are made by folding dough over a filling, which may consist of meat, cheese, corn, or other ingredients, and then cooking the resulting turnover, either by baking or frying.




Empanadas are usually filed with beef or chicken, cheese, and seasonings.

A new place opened not far from me, called Pizzanada.  They sell various Italian dishes and pizza, and empanada.

I decided to support a local business, and I ordered three empanadas (or is that empanade?) for dinner and dessert.  They do very different fillings.  I had one with cheesesteak, one with buffalo chicken, and the dessert one was filled with cheesecake and nutella.

They were sooooo good.


I will be meeting my friends Tina and Bill for a social distance lunch on Tuesday during "staycation", and I'll be getting some empanadas, so I tried them out tonight to make sure they were good.

[Penthesilea]

I decided to support a local business, and I ordered three empanadas (or is that empanade?) for dinner and dessert.  They do very different fillings.  I had one with cheesesteak, one with buffalo chicken, and the dessert one was filled with cheesecake and nutella.

They were sooooo good.

Thanks for the emplanada explanation, I didn't know the name.
Now for your last emplanada: cheesecake and Nutella. One word: blech I love the US version of cheesecake and I love Nutella - but together? Ewww. It's just plain wrong and all Americans should be ashamed. Inventing something like that comes close to electing the Big Orange Satan (greetings to Jeff, love it).


Other than that, I always enjoy reading news from Chuck's world. And a big, fat Thank You! for having the idea of BetterMost TBT. Very well done you!

[Penthesilea]

Berlin and Munich (sorry, Chrissi, I'm never clear on where you live in Germany relative to big cities),

I'm closer to France than to any big city. 
You may have heard of Heidelberg though, most Americans have. I was born and raised in Heidelberg and later moved about 60 km (37miles) West, into nowhere land. It's in the South-West of Germany.
In terms of Berlin or Munich, I'm closer to Munich however, about 4 hours away.

And Berlin - I've never been there. Yep.
I've been to the end of the world in Canada,
I've seen the arse of many one-horse-towns in Wyoming,
I've flown to Tokio,
ridden the motorbike deep into the hinterlands of Turkey,
travelled by air, land and sea - but never made it to Berlin.

[Kelda]

Wow Chrissi! I love Berlin!

[brianr]

I have been to Berlin twice, think 3 nights each visit. The first was in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics and my first night (I had arrived by train from Krakow, Poland) I went to Maccas and bought an Aussie Burger. 
It had changed a lot when I returned in 2008. That time I stayed in East Berlin not far from a remnant of the Wall. I have a friend in Munich, ex-student, gay. I stayed with one of his ex's and new partner in Berlin. They were two beautiful guys, architects who had renovated a terrace house. I took them out to dinner and the opera - The Magic Flute -  one night. I thought it was wonderful being in the company of two beautiful pieces of humanity 
I liked Potsdam on that visit. However I prefer Munich and Vienna, perhaps because I know my way around them much better. 

[serious crayons]

I'm closer to France than to any big city. 

That must explain why the only time I've been in Germany is on an overnight train from Paris to Prague.

I think that trip preceded my first visit to Washington, DC, so in that sense I'm in the same boat as you and Berlin. I finally did go, though, and have been there a couple of times since. I love it.

I have heard of Heidelberg, though as a typical ignorant American I don't know anything about it.

[CellarDweller]

Hiya BetterMost friends!!!!

Sunday evening here, and the weekend has been pretty quiet.    Stayed around the apartment on Saturday, and today was laundry.  I wouldn't have wanted to go out anyway today, it's been grey and rainy all day.

Even the temps are off.  Usually August is about 90 degrees, and today was 70!  Nice and cool, I was able to have the A/C off and keep the windows open all day.

This week is my staycation, and I've got stuff to do almost each day, so far.  LOL

Monday:  Hit the ATM, go to the drug store, and then to a art store for a gift for my niece, her birthday is coming up in a few weeks.
Tuesday:  Social Distance lunch with my friends Tina and Bill
Wednesday:  Social Distance lunch with my cousins and mom, and then shopping in the afternoon to get the dashcam for the car.
Thursday:  So far, nothing.
Friday:  Going to drop the car at the shop, and have them install the camera.

Thanks for the emplanada explanation, I didn't know the name.  Now for your last emplanada: cheesecake and Nutella. One word: blech I love the US version of cheesecake and I love Nutella - but together? Ewww. It's just plain wrong and all Americans should be ashamed. Inventing something like that comes close to electing the Big Orange Satan (greetings to Jeff, love it).

Other than that, I always enjoy reading news from Chuck's world. And a big, fat Thank You! for having the idea of BetterMost TBT. Very well done you!

  I have to say, Chrissi, that the empanda with cheesecake and Nutella was really good!  Trust me!

I'm closer to France than to any big city. 
You may have heard of Heidelberg though, most Americans have. I was born and raised in Heidelberg and later moved about 60 km (37miles) West, into nowhere land. It's in the South-West of Germany.
In terms of Berlin or Munich, I'm closer to Munich however, about 4 hours away.

And Berlin - I've never been there. Yep.
I've been to the end of the world in Canada,
I've seen the arse of many one-horse-towns in Wyoming,
I've flown to Tokio,
ridden the motorbike deep into the hinterlands of Turkey,
travelled by air, land and sea - but never made it to Berlin.

Wow Chrissi! I love Berlin!

I have been to Berlin twice, think 3 nights each visit. The first was in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics and my first night (I had arrived by train from Krakow, Poland) I went to Maccas and bought an Aussie Burger.     It had changed a lot when I returned in 2008. That time I stayed in East Berlin not far from a remnant of the Wall. I have a friend in Munich, ex-student, gay. I stayed with one of his ex's and new partner in Berlin. They were two beautiful guys, architects who had renovated a terrace house. I took them out to dinner and the opera - The Magic Flute -  one night. I thought it was wonderful being in the company of two beautiful pieces of humanity    I liked Potsdam on that visit. However I prefer Munich and Vienna, perhaps because I know my way around them much better.

That must explain why the only time I've been in Germany is on an overnight train from Paris to Prague.

I think that trip preceded my first visit to Washington, DC, so in that sense I'm in the same boat as you and Berlin. I finally did go, though, and have been there a couple of times since. I love it.

I have heard of Heidelberg, though as a typical ignorant American I don't know anything about it.

I've also been to Berlin, and Potsdam, and liked them both.  Had a great time, and even managed to find some Nena records.