You missed reporting the person on Bluesky who shared the story of when an ancient tin of mackerel that finally exploded in his pantry. His description of the terrible stench made me laugh out loud (but with sympathy).
Our own story is of the giant bag of bay leaves that my mom bought at a farmer's market in the early 2000s--definitely before 2006 when we moved to our current place. They eventually became like pieces of stiff paper with no aroma at all but I dutifully put them in my spaghetti sauce for many, many years just because. That ended last summer when my husband finally composted them. We now have a new (small) container of bay leaves and it's amazing how good they smell--so THAT's why people put them in spaghetti sauce! Frankly, I just have a hard time conceiving that the turn of the 21st century is already a quarter century ago. Didn't my mom just buy that bag?
I feel like the Tour de France ought to be routed through every single département, in ever decreasing concentric circles, until eventually they're racing round a lamppost in the centre of Bruère-Allichamps* for 21 days straight.
* Or any one of the other half dozen places claiming to be the centroid of France.
I am not going to go fossicking in my mother's kitchen cupboards, but if I were to do so, I think I would be able to lay my hands on a bottle of pectin with a pre-decimal price tag on. To the best of my knowledge, that thing has survived four house moves (one with household goods in storage for six months) and six kitchen remodels. Mum last made jam about 30 years ago.
I've just received my copy of Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear, looking forward to reading it.
I'm really enjoying my ebook version of your book on my Kobo...sure hope you see some coin from my purchase made here in Canada.
Oooh, Timdle: another game to join my ever-growing collection of daily puzzles. Thanks, Lev.
Book ordered! Both the missus and I loved Tangled Bank, so looking forward to this one. But also ordering because I love the title so much.
You missed reporting the person on Bluesky who shared the story of when an ancient tin of mackerel that finally exploded in his pantry. His description of the terrible stench made me laugh out loud (but with sympathy).
Our own story is of the giant bag of bay leaves that my mom bought at a farmer's market in the early 2000s--definitely before 2006 when we moved to our current place. They eventually became like pieces of stiff paper with no aroma at all but I dutifully put them in my spaghetti sauce for many, many years just because. That ended last summer when my husband finally composted them. We now have a new (small) container of bay leaves and it's amazing how good they smell--so THAT's why people put them in spaghetti sauce! Frankly, I just have a hard time conceiving that the turn of the 21st century is already a quarter century ago. Didn't my mom just buy that bag?
I feel like the Tour de France ought to be routed through every single département, in ever decreasing concentric circles, until eventually they're racing round a lamppost in the centre of Bruère-Allichamps* for 21 days straight.
* Or any one of the other half dozen places claiming to be the centroid of France.
Another cracking read! Loved the history dates and even got some correct. Kitchen cupboard hoarding very close to my heart. Thanks 😻
Full of good stuff again
Love the road runner physics questions!
I am not going to go fossicking in my mother's kitchen cupboards, but if I were to do so, I think I would be able to lay my hands on a bottle of pectin with a pre-decimal price tag on. To the best of my knowledge, that thing has survived four house moves (one with household goods in storage for six months) and six kitchen remodels. Mum last made jam about 30 years ago.