On Friday evening our freezer died. The motor went apparently. I just provided the towels to mop up the floor but what happened next was so extraordinary that I had to jot it down.

17:00 Martyn pronounces the freezer dead.
17:15 Put sopping wet towels into washing machine, start wash cycle.
17:16 Think about going to Currys to buy a new freezer. Remember state of bank account.
17:20 Extract local rag from bin, wipe tea leaves and assorted mess from cover and go straight to classified ads.
17:25 Ring likely looking number, discuss height of freezer and price, seller agrees to deliver it in the next half an hour.
17:45 Doorbell rings, freezer man in porch with new reconditioned freezer and trolley. Laughs when he sees our identical trolley and insists he can lift freezer up step without assistance.
17:55 New freezer in place, freezer man is such a nice chap, we discuss replacing bottom oven, he advises cheap alternative. Am in love with freezer man.
18:00 Freezer man leaves with £45. Yep, £45 for a like-new Zanussi freezer.

If you ever need to buy a second hand or reconditioned fridge or freezer in Middlesex/Surrey, email me [chasingdaisyATgmailDOTcom]. I know just the man.

Note to self: the number’s in the drawer of Martyn’s grandfather’s desk. Under the takeaway menus.

for anyone celebrating this coming weekend.

Given my current memory issues, please forgive me if I recycle this at Christmas :-0)

…I took some photos of Sherman the horse.

One kind photographer / writer + one competition + one much cherished prize = happy birthday to a soon to be two year old granddaughter.

Thank you Andre.

Yasser Arafat has been replaced by his brother Marrowfat.

He’s a batchelor and has always played a key part in the peas process.

[apologies to non Brits who might not get this one]

There was an attorney who got home late one evening after a very taxing day trying to get a stay of execution for a client, named Wilbur Wright, who was due to be hanged for murder at midnight. His last minute plea for clemency to the state governor had failed and he was feeling tired and depressed.

As soon as he got through the door his wife started on about, “What time of night do you call this? Where the hell have you been?” and so on. Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he went and poured himself a very large whisky and headed off to the bathroom for a long hot soak — pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks.

While he was in the bath the phone rang, which the wife answered to be told that her husband’s client had been granted his stay of execution after all.

Realizing what a day he must have had, she relented a little and went upstairs to give him the good news. As she opened the bathroom door she was greeted by the sight of her husband’s rear view as he bent naked over the bath cleaning the tub.

“They’re not hanging Wright tonight,” she said, at which the attorney whirled round and screamed hysterically, “For crying out loud woman, don’t you ever stop?”

“We’ve had a mass maggot breakout from the bait fridge!”

I’m hiding upstairs until the little beggers are safely back in their tubs. *Shudder*

Meanwhile Jann was the 5000th commenter, narrowly beating Graeme (who’s also celebrating) and Briggy.

A huge thank you to everyone who stops by, you’re all very much appreciated!

… that registrations for email addresses at hotmail.co.uk started today?

25mb storage to start, upped to 250mb after three weeks. Allegedly.

Get in quickly and you might bag the name(s) you want.

If you’re interested in sketching and want to hook up with fellow sketching bloggers across the world this Sunday (21 November 2004), dash over to Sketchcrawl and the forum [thanks to an ugly old wise woman].

The only London participant I can see is Natalie who I just this week came across via qB. It’s a small world, eh?

What a name, what a recipe – I had to copy this recipe from Alison because sod’s law dictates that come the morning I want to cook ‘em, the internet will be down and I’ll be suffering from withdrawal symptoms. And that’s before I even try the damn things. But don’t they sound delicious?

Custardy Popovers [from The Moosewood Cookbook, by Mollie Katzen]

15 to prepare
35 minutes to bake
375°F oven
Makes 12 popovers

Ingredients *
4 eggs
1 cup unbleached white flour [125 gm] [that means plain flour, right?]
1 cup milk [237 ml/8.3 fl ozs]
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons melted butter

1. Beat together the eggs and milk. Add flour and salt. Beat with a fork until mixture is uniform.

2. Preheat a muffin tin in the oven for 5 minutes.
3. Brush the cups and the top of the tin generously with melted butter.
4. Fill each muffin hole two-thirds full with batter. Work quickly so the tin stays hot. Place in the oven.
5. Bake for 35 minutes without opening the oven. Prick each popover with a fork, to let steam escape. (This will help them hold their shape).
6. Serve immediately, with butter and jam.

* I’ve converted the cup measurements using this guide – do you think they’re about right?

Birdy has switched to Haloscan commenting and trackbacks which gives me the perfect opportunity to test her trackbacking and whine to whoever’s listening that I loathe Blogger commenting with a passion.

So let’s throw in a joke:

Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effort. Why do you hate America?