My ticket to Elstree Empire Day has arrived.
Who's coming?

More info on: Http://www.KurtzJoinerArchive.com

Laila attacks the room with ideas.

And the League of Pragmatic Optimists are lapping it up.

At The League of Pragmatic Optimists 2nd meeting.

Still early days for these Do'ers. Watch this space. I can see great things not just talked about.. But done.

My friends have had this in the family for about 50 years and have no idea if it's an original.

It's signed J.M.W. Turner but they are aware how much of his work was copied.

On the rear it appears to say 'London Bridge and St Paul's.' but no date.

Do you recognise it?

Thanks to @ChristianHambly for recommending me this simple and effective way of making great coffee. It's really quick and easy and i've a funny feeling this Hario V60 coffee dripper will be getting more attention than my other coffee making kit.

It's around £7 on Amazon.

Here's a video how to use it.. 

My little boy @Minimentally is not himself at all. He's sat not wanting to play, staring into space.

We have just got back from the hospital after calling NHS Direct. As he hadn't taken fluids for over 12 hours & couldn't even swallow his calpol they urged us to get straight to hospital.

We did, and as soon as we got there, he perked up a bit. We left after an hour with a prescription for antibiotics & the certainty it was just really bad tonsillitis.

Kids are sick all the time but normally a spoon of calpol sorts it. I think today felt much more serious the moment the nurse on the phone at NHS Direct asked us if we wanted an ambulance. We declined. It's not far to drive. Never-the-less the offer of one made us feel a little panicy. 

He's just asked for some ice cream. Looks like the drugs are kicking in.

Not much info on a tin of loose beans but as soon as the lid was off I was hit with a full and delicious aroma. No idea of the roast date but it smelled fresh enough.

The espresso off a fresh grind was pretty smooth and on the edge of what i enjoy. i.e. if it's too bitter I am one of those continental espresso drinkers that stir a sugar in. No need here. The slight bitterness on the finish was more akin to a dark chocolate and added to the feeling I'd got the hit i was after.

Over all a nice surprise not knowing what I was getting into and I look forward to experimenting with my extraction timings while the beans are still fresh.

Thanks to @GreenApe for blagging a sample from, @Azorieblue

Check http://AzorieBlue.com for more info.

Note:

I'm informed these freshly roasted beans (two days before i sampled them) were in fact decantered from a bag at short notice and normally they come with roasting date info etc.

Every day carry is a term that can be used for any piece of technology or gadget you carry with you every day.

Two such items for me would be my iPhone and my pocket knife.

Up until Christmas day my recent every day carry was a Leatherman Skeletool. It's a slightly scary looking but immensely useful tool mainly because of the pliers and seriously functional screwdriver/bit system.

This new Swiss Army knife though, replaces the same model I lost a while ago. One i took round the world with me.

I've a few Swiss Army knives but feel the Swiss Champ to be at the limit of what I'm happy to have in my pocket. Yes it's a heavy lump but I must have used it at least 15 times a day these last few days.

It must have at least 10 tools the Leatherman Skeletool lacks but so far it's the scissors and corkscrew that have won the day more than once.

Will I feel the same in the new year when the wine flows less frequently? Who knows. Let's face it most bottles are screw tops now anyway.

My relationship with a swiss army knife goes way back to my childhood and I have a feeling I'll stay equipped with the original multitool from now on. Besides I'd certainly regret not having it with me when I'm offered a reward of a decent bottle of wine in exchange for removing a stone from a horses hoof.

You just never know.

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Click here to download:

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From all the family. To all of you.
Have a great Christmas & a wonder filled New Year.