Multi-tasking

Yes I know I am a guy and guys can't multi-task.

Women seem to be made for it - cooking dinner, watching TV, having seperate conversations with 3 children at once while also talking on the phone and reading a book.  No sweat.

Meanwhile it is a smart guy who can read and take a dump at the same time.

But I have found 2 things I can do at once.

I can work and, thanks to the amazing temperature in my office, take a sauna.  The last couple of days have been strangely warm and windy, so the place has heated up a lot, but if I open the windows everything will get blasted. 

Might have to pop down and use the showers soon to complete the effect...

Next stop Christmas!

Scarey thought, huh?

Almost s scarey as that photo!

Last week was not the best of weeks, so I won't dwell on that, but on Friday Mrs RC and I felt in need of a little retail-therapy, so we headed off to a new Range store that has just opened nearby.  It is a great place that sells everything from sofas to pet food, and all at reasonable prices.  We wandered around for a couple of hours picking up odds and ends that we clearly "needed" and played on the sofas and chairs trying to choose what we wanted.  Yes, our sofas do need replacing and we will be buying new very soon, so don't think we were bouncing on the furniture for nothing!

Saturday passed in a bit of a haze - a long lay-in, a trip out to get dinner (home made Chinese with noodles, hoi sin pork and stir fried chicken) and then, um, not sure to be honest!

Sunday was quiet, mainly focused on watching various TV stuff about 9/11.  The History Channel showed an amazing real-time programme of amateur video footage.  If you haven't seen it, try to.  It is incredible.  Adding Ground Zero to the trip itinerary...

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Didn't feel like cooking dinner, so I cycled to the local KFC.

Walking in alone I ordered 18 pieces of chicken, 16 hot wings and 6 large fries.

"Is that to eat-in or take-away?"

Do I look like someone who could eat all that without help?

Autumn is here...

Despite the clear blue sky and bright sunshine, there was a definite bite to the wind this morning.

As I cycled to work, the southwesterly wind brought alternating bands of blue sky and rain-laden cloud - luckily the clouds seemed happy to save their rain for another target, so I arrived dry if wind-swept...

And it was not just me that noticed the change in the weather - many of the trees are turning various shades of red, gold and brown, and our rabbits seem to be fattening themselves up for the winter too, eating incredible amounts of food!  By the way, we got a second opinion on the sex of our baby rabbits and they are both boys!  So, the latest plan is to avoid risky operations and just divide the run into two - a boys section and a girls section.  This will work so long as the boys don't start fighting.  If they do we will have to rethink our plans...

The change in the weather has now got my stomach thinking in terms of the slow-cooker - of stew and dumplings that have been bubbling away for hours - the sort of food where you can feel the goodness seeping into you as you eat it, the sort that warms you deep down, the sort of food that doesn't need fancy ingredients from half way around the world...

You know, I am looking forward to the cold weather?

Rabbit update

So, we are down to 4 rabbits - 2 adult females, 1 baby male and 1 baby female.

The male is due to be "done" in a couple of weeks time.  Meanwhile, Mrs RC has decided that it would be cruel to seperate Panda (the boy) from the rest of the family and is happy to risk any consequences.

This morning Panda was trying his luck with Houdini, his sister.  This is OK for rabbits, BTW.

So we might be in for some "consequences" in a few weeks time.  If there are we will be better prepared to keep the cats away, that is for certain!

And the weekend starts with a rabbit theme too - taking them to the vets for jabs.  I have been given the job of catching them as last time Mrs RC found it very difficult and stressful - I think she was worried about frightening them too much, scared they would have heart attacks which can happen apparently!  Hm, wish me luck!

Have a great weekend - back on Tuesday!

The Joy of Pizza

Pizza is the food of gods.

I love making pizza - everything about it is wonderful, from the feel of the fresh dough to the pleasure at seeing it being enjoyed by those I love.

It is food for sharing - a large platter with sliced pizza and dough balls goes down really well when the kids have friends around.

Pizza is what you want it to be - it can be a healthy meal if topped with fresh vegetables, or ham and pineapple.

It can be a hearty meal after a days work if you pile on the meat.

It can be a test of true manhood it you add jalapenos and hot sauce.

A shared pizza has lead to many nights of hot passion.  I assume.

I love pizza.

What is there not to love about it?

Odds and Ends

Hi!  Good to be back and returning to regular blogging!

Well the summer has been non-stop - really busy all round.  Can't believe it is now the end of August!

We had to have one of our rabbits, Blossom, put down the other day.  He was the brown one who we thought was a female but turned out to be a male and fathered the babies we have now got.  He had shown no sign of being unwell but seems to have had a stroke, losing all muscle power in his back half.  Poor thing.  I like to think that he enjoyed his time with us and is now bounding around bunny-heaven.

Talking of death, I am dead again!  You may remember that a year or so ago my bank thought I had died?  Well now another organisation has decided I am pushing up the daisies!  What is it about me?  Do people just wish me dead or something?  Don't answer that!  I am almost expecting to be arrested for faking my own death...

So, back to the routine again - next stop Christmas!  Going to be a busy few months I can tell you!  I got a fair bit of ground work done on be dissertation, and have just found some more things I can do with my data - then it is time to hit the writing - I want to get most of that done by Christmas so I only have to do a bit if polishing after that.  Wish me luck!

More soon...

Friday again!

Had a really busy week - the Uni (Lancaster) looks great as does the town.  Really impressed with it all and Number One Son is hoping to get in next year.  His chosen subject is Maths and Theoretical Physics...

I can't do a long post as I am half way through making pizzas, but just want to say that if you are in the path of Irene, please stay safe!

More soon!