Sunday pic spam.
6 Feb 2011 05:02 pmOnly a few pictures this week. It has not been weather conducive to going out with the camera, really. We have had rain and gales for much of the week. As the wind blew up yet again on Friday afternoon I said to a work colleague "It's a very good day to not be on the boat." ('The Boat' is local parlance for our ferries back and forwards to the UK aka 'the adjacent island'!)
Then I remembered that my sister and brother-in-law were actually going to be on the boat that evening. It sailed as usual at 7.45pm (Text from sister - 'we must be mad...'). They finally docked at 1.15am (Text from sister 'worse crossing I've ever been on.') I was right - it was a very good day to not be on the boat.
Today is also a very good day to not be on the boat - there are pictures to show you why under the cut. Guess when sister and brother-in-law are returning? Their boat sails from Heysham at 2.am in the morning, and both are back at work at 8.30am tomorrow. But it was a trip they felt they had to do as B-i-l's older brother is terminally ill and, as D-d puts it, every time he manages another month without actually dying they have to go and see him for the last time again.
It is a day for comfort food, today - the sort of weather that gives me the urge to bake. I think it is the comfort aspect of it - even though I can, and occasionally do, bake all sorts of more exotic things, when it is this sort of day I bake scones. Well - I had to really -
dougalsservant gave me some very, very nice strawberry jam for Christmas, and it goes so well with fresh scones! And S2C prefers cheeses scones - so I made him some whilst I was at it. I should have taken a picture of the ones we have just had with coffee - but I did take a picture of the ones that are left.
So - this week's pictures include
This first is a picture of the note S2C left on my laptop whilst I was up at Mum's yesterday. He is on his nights off, but was in need of a nap. Does it give anyone else the giggles?

At Sunday School this morning we were continuing with the story of David and Saul. I had a 4 year old helping me to bring a 7 year old up-to-date on 'the story so far', as she missed last week. He really had remembered at least something 'David killed a giant with a stone he threw'. Hurrah!
Today we looked at the opportunity David had to kill Saul when David was in the very cave that 'Saul went into to relieve himself' - but the simple version we use with the little ones actually says 'Saul went into the cave to wee'. It goes on to describe David's actions, Saul's reaction, and so on, but I am pretty sure that, by next week, the story of David so far will be 'David killed a giant with a stone he threw, and the King had a wee in a cave'.
After church I came home via the promenade, as I usually do - and took a few pictures just to illustrate why it's a good day to not be on the boat.


Yes - those are waves breaking up over the road further around the bay from where I was at the time - the road is about 20 - 30 feet above the usual high tide level at that point.
The camera focused more on the near posts and railings in that one - this is taken from a few feet further along, with less zoom and nothing between me and the far waves as I was closer to the sea wall. This is why the colours are a bit different in this.

Then I just turned as I was walking back to the car and tried to get a picture of one of the gulls - and was lucky, to be honest.

I actually have to drive up near the place where the waves are breaking over the road - so I stopped and took this, from the car.

The tiny pale patch top right is sky - all the rest of the blue-grey area is sea spray up higher than the frame of the picture.
Now for the scones - in the front is most of a round of cheese ones, behind are some made with craisins - because I like them, they needed eating up, and they go well with strawberry jam!

Totally unrelated, but I commented on
azalaisdep's journal that a particular plot bunny would just have to wait in the queue - so as much for my own benefit as anything else, here is the current queue;
Part 2 of A Tale in the Hall of Fire - already 1,300 word written.
A story of the early days in Ithilien before Tindómë and Rumil are betrothed - already 4,250 words long and in its second chapter.
Chapter 18 of Access All Areas - both S2C and I feel we should go back and finish this and are now actively discussing the plot.
A story for the Tolkien Big Bang, due in July, which is likely to be about the preparations to leave Ithilien and sail West. It will be a minimum or 20,000 words long.
And a long time in the future, writing wise, the story of what happens when Tindómë tries to contact Spike using Radagast's 'window'. The first 1,300 words of this have been written for about 18 months.
And, in my head, there are even more. Although, just at the moment, I must dash off and write a drabble for Tolkien Weekly.
Then I remembered that my sister and brother-in-law were actually going to be on the boat that evening. It sailed as usual at 7.45pm (Text from sister - 'we must be mad...'). They finally docked at 1.15am (Text from sister 'worse crossing I've ever been on.') I was right - it was a very good day to not be on the boat.
Today is also a very good day to not be on the boat - there are pictures to show you why under the cut. Guess when sister and brother-in-law are returning? Their boat sails from Heysham at 2.am in the morning, and both are back at work at 8.30am tomorrow. But it was a trip they felt they had to do as B-i-l's older brother is terminally ill and, as D-d puts it, every time he manages another month without actually dying they have to go and see him for the last time again.
It is a day for comfort food, today - the sort of weather that gives me the urge to bake. I think it is the comfort aspect of it - even though I can, and occasionally do, bake all sorts of more exotic things, when it is this sort of day I bake scones. Well - I had to really -
So - this week's pictures include
This first is a picture of the note S2C left on my laptop whilst I was up at Mum's yesterday. He is on his nights off, but was in need of a nap. Does it give anyone else the giggles?

At Sunday School this morning we were continuing with the story of David and Saul. I had a 4 year old helping me to bring a 7 year old up-to-date on 'the story so far', as she missed last week. He really had remembered at least something 'David killed a giant with a stone he threw'. Hurrah!
Today we looked at the opportunity David had to kill Saul when David was in the very cave that 'Saul went into to relieve himself' - but the simple version we use with the little ones actually says 'Saul went into the cave to wee'. It goes on to describe David's actions, Saul's reaction, and so on, but I am pretty sure that, by next week, the story of David so far will be 'David killed a giant with a stone he threw, and the King had a wee in a cave'.
After church I came home via the promenade, as I usually do - and took a few pictures just to illustrate why it's a good day to not be on the boat.


Yes - those are waves breaking up over the road further around the bay from where I was at the time - the road is about 20 - 30 feet above the usual high tide level at that point.
The camera focused more on the near posts and railings in that one - this is taken from a few feet further along, with less zoom and nothing between me and the far waves as I was closer to the sea wall. This is why the colours are a bit different in this.

Then I just turned as I was walking back to the car and tried to get a picture of one of the gulls - and was lucky, to be honest.

I actually have to drive up near the place where the waves are breaking over the road - so I stopped and took this, from the car.

The tiny pale patch top right is sky - all the rest of the blue-grey area is sea spray up higher than the frame of the picture.
Now for the scones - in the front is most of a round of cheese ones, behind are some made with craisins - because I like them, they needed eating up, and they go well with strawberry jam!

Totally unrelated, but I commented on
Part 2 of A Tale in the Hall of Fire - already 1,300 word written.
A story of the early days in Ithilien before Tindómë and Rumil are betrothed - already 4,250 words long and in its second chapter.
Chapter 18 of Access All Areas - both S2C and I feel we should go back and finish this and are now actively discussing the plot.
A story for the Tolkien Big Bang, due in July, which is likely to be about the preparations to leave Ithilien and sail West. It will be a minimum or 20,000 words long.
And a long time in the future, writing wise, the story of what happens when Tindómë tries to contact Spike using Radagast's 'window'. The first 1,300 words of this have been written for about 18 months.
And, in my head, there are even more. Although, just at the moment, I must dash off and write a drabble for Tolkien Weekly.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 05:33 pm (UTC)Scones look delicious. I really like the wave photos. At first glance, I thought the first one was snow, it's so white.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 05:56 pm (UTC)The scones do taste good, I have to say.
And as for the white sea - a white sea is not something you want to see if there is any likelihood of having to spend hours on it in a boat!
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 05:47 pm (UTC)Mmmm, scones...
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:18 pm (UTC)The scones are rather tasty, I have to admit.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 05:55 pm (UTC)Yes, laughed at the note. Also drooled at the scones and delicious jam. Baking for one is no fun, especially something like scones that really don't keep too well.
Tindómë and Spike gets my vote. But then, you would probably have guessed that!
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:26 pm (UTC)I'm glad I'm not the only person who found the note funny.
Scones do freeze pretty well...
I think Tindómë and Spike might have to wait a little. Finishing Access All Areas might come first. That might be more your sort of thing as well. It is the Dawn/Spike follow up to Ten Years After that S2C and I were writing together. TYA is at Twisting the Hellmouth, but the first 17 chapters of AAA are only here on my journal as we haven't finished it.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:16 pm (UTC)I tried to make scones once (many, many years ago) for a pre-school related fund raiser. Was using a recipe given to us by the school's English born and bred owner. No idea what I did wrong, but they were essentially hockey pucks. Seriously. Inedible and hard as rocks. Never tried it again. Yours look a lot like biscuits or shortcake made with Bisquick. I'll bet they're a lot like the shortcake I make for strawberry shortcake.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:36 pm (UTC)My guess would be that any handed down recipe would just say 'flour' - and the default 'flour' in most British family recipes is self-raising. My mother would never bother to specify this, it was a given. The only time any of her recipes has type of flour specified it is because it has to be plain. But I think the default 'flour' in the US doesn't have any raising agent in it... Scones, to my way of thinking, need SR plus an extra spoonful of baking powder (not baking soda!) to each 8oz, to work properly. If there was only that one spoonful of raising agent, or none, then they would be very like hockey pucks!
It took me a long time to realise that shortcake isn't the same as shortbread - so your strawberry shortcake is really more like our strawberry & cream scones than most Brits think.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 07:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:20 pm (UTC)What time should they have docked?
Those waves are actually quite glorious, so long as all one has to do is look at them. And homemade scones...! ::makes grabby hands::
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:38 pm (UTC)The sea is gorgeous to look at in this sort of weather, I must admit. I'd pass you a scone, but they don't e-mail very easily...
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:22 pm (UTC)John is coming over to look at hurricane damage tomorrow morning - the list so far:
1 loose fence panel
1 loose greenhouse panel - currently taped into place
1 collapsed sapling - can it be saved?
2 escaped down pipes into the water butts by the greenhouse - I expect they made it to John O'Groats!
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:41 pm (UTC)The Ben made her afternoon crossing in her usual time anyway - I just looked on the webcam at 6.15 and she was turning in the harbour. So with any luck they will at least get in in the usual 3.5 hours on the way back, rather than 5.5 on the way there!
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 06:47 pm (UTC)The scones look wonderful.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 07:01 pm (UTC)The scones are rather tasty, I must admit.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 07:26 pm (UTC)I wonder what S2C writes when he wishes to be phoned at a precise time.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:21 pm (UTC)I wonder what S2C writes when he wishes to be phoned at a precise time.
I guess it might have given me the number of seconds, too...
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 07:43 pm (UTC)I love your photos of the sea and your scones look tasty.It must be a struggle for gulls to fly!
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:23 pm (UTC)The gulls sometimes seem to be almost enjoying wheeling around in the wind.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 07:54 pm (UTC)It must be cranberry day, I put some in the couscous I made for dinner.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:25 pm (UTC)I think cranberries go really well with couscous, too.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:13 pm (UTC)I'm glad it's not just me.
The weather is easing a bit now - but the shipping forecast suggests it might get back to a force 7 or 8 for a few hours - the few hours my sister will be on the boat on her way home... poor J, she really is not the best of sailors, either.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 08:40 pm (UTC)And my icon is for your scones. They do indeed look just the thing for a stormy day spent indoors.
(The precise nature of the note left for you made me smile!)
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:16 pm (UTC)The scones are good - I'd offer you one but they really don't seem to e-mail very well...
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:05 pm (UTC)But what a sea! As someone who suffers easily from seasickness, I'm glad I'm nowhere near there! But the photos are lovely. Those scones look delicious.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:20 pm (UTC)Sea with that much white on it is for looking at with both feet firmly on dry ground.
Scones are one of those things that are almost always makeable at short notice, as there is usually flour in the cupboard and butter in the fridge, but have a nice feeling of domesticity about them as well as tasting good.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:16 pm (UTC)Beautiful pictures. I know exactly what those waves look like because we have the same kind of phenomenon here, and Rio, though not an Island is by the shore.
My sister says the wind was horrible in Amsterdam yesterday too.
no subject
Date: 06/02/2011 09:24 pm (UTC)You probably get even bigger waves than us - they will have travelled a very long way before they break at Rio.
I really should make him cheese scones more often - they really are easy to do - but fresh baked scones or cakes are such a temptation...
no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 11:49 pm (UTC)I can't say if they're bigger, but when something like that is happening the streets in front of Copacabana and Ipanema beach get closed to trafic, covered with sand, and kind of slippery.
no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 06:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 08:33 am (UTC)As I wasn't on the boat, it was my pleasure!
no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 10:10 am (UTC)How much worse would the winds and seas have to be before the ferry declined service? Such fierce photos!
no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 12:53 pm (UTC)That was my guess, anyway!
As for the boat, we measure weather using the Beaufort Scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale) being a seafaring wee nation. The boat almost always sails in a Force 8 and usually in a 9 (depending on the wind and sea direction). It is likely to stay in port by the time we get up to a 10 or above.
no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 07/02/2011 02:25 pm (UTC)The waves look wonderful, but I'd hate to be on a boat in seas like that.