Naoko's news, views and shoes thread

[Handley_Page]

Welcome back, Miss.

 

[ishtat]

Here is a special treat for Toria, who has had such a rough time in a not-good way.

Dieux du Stade

BTW, I finally made it along to the Millenium Stadium to see a rugby match live!!! (Wales v Japan). It was totally great, I was amazed how well you can see - even though the seat I was in was very high up. I got a much better idea of the game than on tv, which I didn't think I would do. And of course the atmosphere was fantastic. They shut the roof on the stadium, which I thought was a bit wimp-y of the two teams. I mean, it wasn't actually snowing at the time ...

I had to buy something special to wear for the occasion. It was surprisingly expensive for such a flimsy garment! Don't get too excited now ...

As a native of Gloucestershire (borders Wales) I was brought up properly - to know that the only decent thing to come out of Wales was the road to England. But I will concede that the Millenium is the best football stadium in the World because it is so steep and when the roof is closed it feels like an ampitheatre - very close to the action. I have seen Ireland, Australia, NZ and England beat the Welsh - I used to time my business visits to UK to fit in with Rugby and the Millenium leaves Twickenham for dead for atmosphere.

 

[Handley_Page]

. . . to UK to fit in with Rugby and the Millenium leaves Twickenham for dead for atmosphere.

Well, it newer, ain't it?

 

[beachbum1958]

Well, it newer, ain't it?

I never fail to attend the annual Army/navy match at Twickers, it's one of the highlights of my calendar, and the pre-match dinner is always a properly rowdy affair. One year some general or the other boasted that the army wears red shirts so the blood won't show; the attending admiral pointed out that the navy wears blue shirts for the same reason...

(For our American cousins, I should point out the Royal Navy considers itself the abode of gentlemen, being the senior service, while the Army is merely a collection of scruffs and hooligans who wear their uniforms like sacks of shit tied in the middle; my father was a Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps and even he subscribes to that...)

 

[curl4ever]

A delightful treat for this season!

 

[NaokoSmith]

Hullo guys!

HP (England are playing well at the moment.)

@ your story, Beachbum! *hug*s

Ishtat, it's so good for me to find someone hard to go with ... I mean it's very hard for me to find someone good to go with, so I have never been to a live international match before. I know the Millenium Stadium is many rugby players' favourite - and I can see why now, it was a great atmosphere. Everyone was very friendly and one Wales fan even shook my hand at the end and said: "the better team lost today." Although I think the guy in the pub later who insisted on kissing me was taking it a bit far ...

I'm hoping to go and see some Six Nations matches live this year. Currently I'm fighting off a dastardly attempt by my evil employers to make me work on my birthday, with Scotland kicking off the Six Nations against Ireland

 

[NaokoSmith]

Advent Calendar Day 3

Oooh curl, I was writing while you were posting. Perhaps this one should be for you.

I have been hard at it all day today ... no, doing housework. I know how you guys love a good scrubber , so I have brought in something to scrub.

These are Desiree potatoes! (The thin one is an organic carrot.) I have never managed to find out how a potato ended up with such an exotic name. I imagine that the Desiree was developed by an ardent gardener. His allotment overlooked some suburban garden in which lived a blousy lady, dressed in flimsy nylon negligees in the afternoons. She probably had too much eye makeup and a hazy notion as to the exact time the sun goes over the yardarm. Stricken with a vegetable love, our hero in wellingtons named his potato after his inamorata.

Maybe Ogg knows the truth?

Did you know that the potato was once regarded as an aphrodisiac? Looking at this pair of beauties, I can't imagine why ...

 

[oggbashan]

Desirée Potato

According to Wikipedia it was developed in The Netherlands in 1962.

It is a versatile, fairly waxy variety which is firm and holds its shape.

Maybe the potato breeder was thinking of Rubenesque ladies? Or Dutch ladies cycling past his farm?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7422629250_e0555db997.jpg

 

[Handley_Page]

That bike should be cheaply available over here.
Round here, the Mums use a giant VW or Land Rover to drive 500 yards to take the kid to school.
It does not meet with universal approval. . . .

 

[NaokoSmith]

Hullo Ogg! (Hullo again HP ) Really? the Netherlands?

I do admire the lovely shoes that lady is wearing to cycle in. I can see she is just as sensible as me. I often cycle in high heels - it saves me having to walk in them

 

[SamScribble]

Greetings, Naoko. And welcome back. As you can see, the place is just as untidy as it was when you were last here.

On a more positive note, I had the pleasure of attending the very first international played at The Millennium - Wales v Argentina. Everything was so new that it smelled of wet cement.

 

[oggbashan]

... Really? the Netherlands?

I do admire the lovely shoes that lady is wearing to cycle in. I can see she is just as sensible as me. I often cycle in high heels - it saves me having to walk in them

I'm happy the producer of Desiree potatoes didn't give them a Dutch name. It's bad enough going into a greengrocers and asking for seven pounds of Desiree. At least I can say Desiree, and yes I can ask for three kilos of Desiree instead.

Imagine if the potato had some jaw-breaking Dutch name...

As for Dutch family bikes, that one isn't the ultimate. Some carry all the children in the front carrier or like this:

http://bikenorthfield.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/bike-bus3-492x0_q85_crop-smart.jpg

Note that the children pedal too!

 

[RabbleVox]

Note that the children pedal too!

Children should always pedal.
"If you don't pedal, you won't get you pudding!"
R

 

[ishtat]

I never fail to attend the annual Army/navy match at Twickers, it's one of the highlights of my calendar, and the pre-match dinner is always a properly rowdy affair. One year some general or the other boasted that the army wears red shirts so the blood won't show; the attending admiral pointed out that the navy wears blue shirts for the same reason...

(For our American cousins, I should point out the Royal Navy considers itself the abode of gentlemen, being the senior service, while the Army is merely a collection of scruffs and hooligans who wear their uniforms like sacks of shit tied in the middle; my father was a Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps and even he subscribes to that...)

Not only that, the Royal Navy has the reputation for its adherence to the cultural principle of rum, sodomy, and the lash. But would our American friends understand the fact that they take great, albeit perverse pride in it!

My grandfather in law was a CPO in the RN 1919 to 1938. He was totally enraged when they stopped the rum ration.

The first time I ever drank champagne was at a pre-match picnic in the car park at Twickenham. Can't remember a damn thing about the game - but a great memory - if that makes sense.

 

[Hypoxia]

My grandfather in law was a CPO in the RN 1919 to 1938. He was totally enraged when they stopped the rum ration.

After dropping out of high school and wandering about awhile, I returned to adult HS in San Francisco ca 1969. My history prof was a fearless old retired career salt who taught what he wanted because he didn't have to subsist on his salary. In class, he recalled his early (1930s) US Navy days: the humiliating boot camp; the first Equatorial crossing, and getting dunked; and the first Asian port landing. He said the ritual was: 1) get drunk and tattooed; 2) smoke pot; 3) get laid. This was before the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 screwed-over the USA.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I can't vouch for its truth, but I heard a lovely story about the introduction of the potato to Europe. When it was first brought over from the New World, people weren't keen to try it; there were rumours that potatoes were poisonous, possibly because it's recognisably a member of the nightshade family.

So some bright spark set up a field of potatoes, posted a heavy guard on it, and made sure the guards all went home at night. Naturally people assumed that they must be worth stealing, did so, and from there it was much easier to sell them.

 

[RabbleVox]

After dropping out of high school and wandering about awhile, I returned to adult HS in San Francisco ca 1969. My history prof was a fearless old retired career salt who taught what he wanted because he didn't have to subsist on his salary. In class, he recalled his early (1930s) US Navy days: the humiliating boot camp; the first Equatorial crossing, and getting dunked; and the first Asian port landing. He said the ritual was: 1) get drunk and tattooed; 2) smoke pot; 3) get laid. This was before the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 screwed-over the USA.

Hey, I enlisted in the USCG (in 1979), and eventually became a Chief Petty Officer. The ritual was exactly the same (except I got my tattoo AFTER getting laid...priorities)

ps. the US Coast Guard ALWAYS had the best pot.

Peace,
R

 

[NaokoSmith]

Hullo dahlinks! big *hug*s all round - nuzzle to the bosoms now

Sam, I am very very envious of that story! and indeed of Ishtat's - what a classy place to get drunk in. I am having difficulty remembering all the cool places I got legless drunk in, although I did once snort coke on the Khyber Express, does that compare?

RabbleVox, a very warm welcome to the thread. Pull up your armchair, have a noggin and cop a feel of these nice hot chestnuts. I'll put some marshmallows on too, lads, shall I?

 

[Handley_Page]

The the work of one of the Masters. Elvegren, I think.
One of my favourites was Vargas.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Advent Calendar Day 4

Day 4 is for Jane. The other week, the FT Weekend's House and Home was the LGBT issue. Of course.

Anyway, there was this totally cool interview with Captain Hannah Winterbourne, a tank engineer attached to the King's Royal Hussars and the British army's highest ranking transgender soldier. She not only has a sword, she has 50 pairs of mostly high heeled shoes! Drool drool.

Jane, if you would like me too, I will download the article for you, or photograph it or something.

 

[NaokoSmith]

The the work of one of the Masters. Elvegren, I think.
One of my favourites was Vargas.

Spot on HP! I knew you'd ping it for an Elvgren.

 

[EmpressJosephine]

Oooh curl, I was writing while you were posting. Perhaps this one should be for you.

I have been hard at it all day today ... no, doing housework. I know how you guys love a good scrubber , so I have brought in something to scrub.

These are Desiree potatoes! (The thin one is an organic carrot.) I have never managed to find out how a potato ended up with such an exotic name. I imagine that the Desiree was developed by an ardent gardener. His allotment overlooked some suburban garden in which lived a blousy lady, dressed in flimsy nylon negligees in the afternoons. She probably had too much eye makeup and a hazy notion as to the exact time the sun goes over the yardarm. Stricken with a vegetable love, our hero in wellingtons named his potato after his inamorata.

Maybe Ogg knows the truth?

Did you know that the potato was once regarded as an aphrodisiac? Looking at this pair of beauties, I can't imagine why ...

Well, if the potatoes work, then you could clean the carrot and....

 

[NaokoSmith]

Day 4 is for Jane. ...

Jane, if you would like me too, I will download the article for you, or photograph it or something.

What I meant to say was 'if you would like me to', not 'if you would like me too'!

 

[Handley_Page]

What I meant to say was 'if you would like me to', not 'if you would like me too'!

<reaches for camera, just in case>

I have never quite worked out how Elvgren did it.
His women always looked gorgeous and wholesome without being a waif.

<groan>

 

[TxRad]

<reaches for camera, just in case>

I have never quite worked out how Elvgren did it.
His women always looked gorgeous and wholesome without being a waif.

<groan>

It's simple. He put meat on their bones.