Acesare*

Couldn't you ask for another 6 or so - I want one too!

David and I went to France a couple of years ago and were joined for a long weekend by my parents. We'd found this lovely little restaurant and we were looking forward to taking them there for a nice meal. My Mum decided to have a walnut salad, but even though we had a French Dictionary with us and my Dad speaks the language well, we couldn't work out what one of the ingredients was. Turns out it was gizzards and they were foul - the 'lovely meal' was forever tainted!

I don't know the full details, but they wouldn't have been starving and they had chickens, lambs and loads of other edible stuff about. I expect that Grandma had the duck lined up for dinner and it was never intended to be a pet - my Dad just got attached. Or at least I hope so!

My Dad lived on a farm when he was little and he used to have a pet duck. One day he was looking for his duck and couldn't find it. Over dinner he asked if anyone had seen it - they were eating it!

I'm not brave enough to order a dish I haven't already tried, but I did grow up with parents who try local stuff and I'd have a wee taste of theirs. I love garlic snails and (even though I don't like fish or any other seafood) mussels and I'd try frogs legs - I have to have a back up meal of my own so I won't go hungry if I don't like it.

It's a government conspiracy

No problem

Googled and found a couple of useful links: http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/barbecues.html http://www.vnv.org.au/VeggoBBQ.htm http://www.recipezaar.com/r/169/139 and found this recipe which would be nice for everyone Stuffed Peaches on the Grill 4 large peaches 1 cup frozen blueberries 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice Wash and halve peaches. Remove pit. Place peaches on aluminum foil so that you can fold up the foil and seal the peaches in. Spoon 2 tablespoons of berries into each peach half. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of brown sugar on each and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Fold up foil and seal. Place on hot grill and cook for 15-18 minutes Turn once. Serve right out of the foil. Plus, wrap banana in foil and chuck them on after everything has been cooked and the coals aren't so hot - the foil will protect from meat contamination and they're great served with honey and/or ice cream!

Mushrooms and shallot onions are great on skewers and corn on't' cob's a good idea (although it's really gross - yuck!). I have an idea on the tip of my tongue but can't quite get it at the moment - I shall be back!

I read every night in bed before I go to sleep, and I read while travelling (to work, or right now to the doctors or physio). I'm beginning to realise that I don't do much reading for entertainment, I'll usually watch TV, a DVD or stick on a cd and prance about! Now that it's summery and I have a garden I think I'll sit out under the tree and read, especially now that I have more reading options!

My Mum did all the cooking until she went back to full time work and the rest of us were given a night to cook each. Although my brother never progressed from making pasta bakes and grilling pre-prepared food, my Mum taught me to make lots of casseroles, pasta dishes, stir-fries and stuff. Consequently, I left home in 2001 and my brother still lives there!

As we've had a few new members since this was lat used, I thought I'd bump it up a bit! Anyone else like to share some info on their home town?

Ok, don't have mcuh time again, but I've borrowed a few Christopher Brookmyre books because I enjoyed 'All Fun And Games Until Someone Loses An Eye'. I'm currently working my way (at some pace!) through 'One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night', then 'I have Be My Enemy', 'Not The End Of The World', 'Boiling A Frog' and 'The Sacred Art Of Stealing'. I am aware that I have a wee problem - I've been told that some of Brookmyre's books are a series and should be read in a certain order, and I'm missing one! I don't know which on, and I don't know the correct order either, so if anyone's able to help me out, I'd be most grateful! More on this and all the other books I've read when I have more time or broadband!

When I saw Grease for the second time, I went with my Mum who was supervising a trip for the school she worked for. My Mum and I were in a minibus with teachers and sixth formers and I basically did a one person performance of Grease - from start to finish in the correct order - on the way there. I was 12 and, with hindsight, am increadably embarrased!

I've read About a Boy and High Fidelity - the film was best in the first case and the book in the second. My opinion? Readable, ok, but nothing special.

Loved all 5 of her books. I was just on Amazon as I was thinking of pre-ordering Broken, and this is the synopsis of the book by Amazon: "In this rare, personal investigation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama discusses his vision of science and faith working hand in hand to alleviate human suffering. Drawing on a lifetime of scientific study and religious practice, he explores many of the great debates and makes astonishing connections between seemingly disparate topics - such as evolution and karma - that will change the way we look at our world. While he sees science and faith as 'complementary but different investigative approaches with the same goal of seeking the truth,' the fact is that the two have often been at the root of human conflict for centuries. In THE UNIVERSE IN A SINGLE ATOM the Dalai Lama challenges us to see that the benefits of opening our hearts and minds to the connections between science and faith are far preferable to perpetuating the divisive rhetoric that often surrounds them. He believes that such enlightenment is the key to achieving peace within ourselves and throughout the world. Now, as we face such troubled and uncertain times, the need has never been greater for this extraordinary man's compassionate thoughts and wise words." Is it just me, or does this not sound right?

Poterhouse Blue sets the scene better and explains some of the traditions - schooling in England is VERY different than set out in that book!

Same here - gotta love those werewolves!

Very quick update as I need to get up in 6 hours and could probably do with some sleep before then! I am now reading Grantchester Grind by Tom Sharpe, which means that I have read all the Kelly Armstrongs (very good, my favourite is probably Stolen), KOKO (very confusing, but overall was worth a read) and Dumping Hilary? (which I also enjoyed). On Grantchester Grind - I'm having a bit of trouble following it so no need to feel bad Mau - language is pretty archaic. Have you read Porterhouse Blue? This book seems to be its sequel, so if you haven't I'm not surprised you struggled! Anyway, must get sleep or eye bags will match funeral attire. Jo xx

Doing OK with Koko, although some things are a bit to far 'out there', and I don't know much about the Vietnam war . . . Interestingly, the writer (mentioned in the back of the book blurb) is actually Tim Underhill who appears in the former reading circle book "In The Night Room" and "lost boy lost girl" and another boo with a name that escapes me! Straub's doing that interlinking thing that Stephen King does so often in his books!

*takes a bow* Thank you! Finished The Family Way on the bus this morning, so I definately overestimated how much I had left to go! I really enjoyed this book, a story of couples and single women coming to terms with or dealing with so many different issues surrounding pregnancy, child birth and the changes within relationships brought about by having (or not having) kids. Beautifully written, emotive, tender and even thought provoking, you should read this book if you have kids, plan to have kids, don't have kids or don't want kids. So many stories within one novel. I'll be digging into Koko on the bus home tonight then - it sounds like an interesting book: 'KOKO . . . ' Only four men know what it meant. Vietnam vets. One was a doctor. One was a lawyer. One was a working stiff. One was a writer. All were as different as men can be - yet all were bound eternally together by a single shattering curse. And now they are joined together again on a quest that could take them from the graveyards and fleshpots of the Far East to the human jungle of New York, hunting an inhuman ghost of the past risen from nightmare darkness ti kill and kill and kill . . . Sounds like a rip roaring time to me!

Finished AFAGUSLAE over a week ago now, but I'm only just getting the time to write up my thought here! I really enjoyed it! Fast pace, humour, Scotland - all good! At one point it actually got a little surreal - the book's set in France, and all the Glasgow Celtic fans are migrating south through France to Barcelona for the footie. Where was I while this was actually happening? In France! Bordeux to be exact with my Glasgow Rangers supporting boyfriend and I chatting away to all the Tims! It was like we were in the book! Anyway, I will definately be reading more of Christopher Brookmeyer, I think I know someone who has a few! Moving on, I'm about 3/4 through The Family Way by Tony Parsons now. Good story, excellently written (and the research details are brilliant!) - a little close to home at times, perhaps, but you can't spend you life avoiding things. I'll probably finish by the weekend and then it's on to more familiar territory with Peter Straub.

Birthday: 6th February 1980 (today!) Age: 26 (today - well, in approximately 7 hours!) Starsign: Aquarius Single/Married/Other? Single as in not married and single as in unattached Children? Nup Where do you live? Kilburn, Northwest London Do you work? Yes. My official job title is "Enforcement Directorate support team leader" in the Insolvency Service, which is part of the DTI - yawn! I basically create and maintain databases, regulate and procure solicitors, manage a budget of

St Albans St Albans is a small city about 20 miles or so north of London and situated in the green belt that surrounds the capital and the area has a very long and interesting history (so this post could be quite long!). Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. Its remains are beside the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, on park and agricultural land. Before the Romans it was known as Verlamion, (meaning 'settlement above the marsh') the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe. The settlement was established by their leader Tasciovanus. In this pre-Roman form it was among the first places in Britain recorded by name. It was built beside the River Ver. The Roman settlement was granted the rank of municipium in c. AD 50, meaning its citizens had all the rights of a citizen of Rome. It grew to a significant town, despite the attentions of Boudica of the Iceni in AD 61. It grew steadily - by the early 200s it covered an area of about 125 acres (0.5 km

He's been saying that since long before I started colouring my hair! Actually, the hair wasn't a problem. He did freak out every time I got my ears pierced, but he only laughed when he saw my tattoo!