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Oxford city library is still a real library, lots of good books and no Mills and Boons. My elder son had to look at a M &B for an English assignment. I found the one he brought home most revealing. On one page the words "he wanted" or "he needed" appeared 6 times. "She wanted" only once!!
Our local village library is under threat though. The trouble is, it provides something which is unmeasurable- social connections, a place for people to go and see others or chat briefly, feeling less alone. There is a box for free (donated) magazines as well and lots of leaflets about local groups.

Ros, your local library sounds a lot like the nearer one to us that was closed. That served a similar purpose. The staff were friendly and helpful and people enjoyed going there.
There is no way I will use its replacement !
I hope you are able to defer the library's closing? We had numerous petitions signed and sent to thr relevant bodies but all to no avail!
That must have been an interesting English assignment for your son? I'm curious as to what exactly was required?!

Elle, my locks are fine...for a wee while!
No, I don't recall the Royal Free Hospital.
I think I passed through Hampstead once, though.
Is that Swiss Cottagey/St John's Woody way?
Maybe my memory is muddled?
You would know if you lived next door to Lyn.
Surely to goodness you speak to your neighbours?
Yes, I watch the golf in the evening, and La Vuelta (Tour of Spain) starts next week. Hope Pigale knows.
All quiet from Queen Vic. I follow her on Twitter, but nothing lately.
What is a courgette?
It is warm here again.

Sorry Rusty, I really can't remember. I think he had to compare and contrast a page of any Jane Austin novel and any M &B "novel". Some people were a bit outraged, I thought it very original.
My younger son got an A for English GCSE without ever having read the set novel, "Pride and Prejudice". It's not really a teenage boy's book, is it? I got him the York notes and he learned that!

I think you meant to address that post to me, Rosalind!
I think whoever set that homework must have had a good sense of humour! as you say, very original!!
I'm amazed at your son managing to pass English GCSE (and get an "A") without having read the set book....... !
I don't know about "Pride and Prejudice" not being a teenage boy's book, but wait till Chris reads this - he loves Jane Austen!

Yes, Rusty, Hampstead isn't far from Swiss Cottage - literally just up the road!
The Royal Free is a major teaching hospital specialising in cancer, liver and kidney and bone marrow transplants, HIV, and neorosciences.
I worked there when I first came to London, but originally in the Haemophilia Centre.
I worked with Katharine Dormandy, after whom the centre is now named.
Courgettes? I cannot believe you have never tasted them? I think they are delicious!
They are from the same family as cucumber, squash and melon.
Very tender and easy to cook. They resemble a cucumber in appearance. Just slice them and fry them lightly in butter or oil.
There are various recipes, like the one we had for dinner, where they were cooked with tomatoes and cheese, but they are also a tasty vegetable served unadorned.
Why not try them? you may like them!
It is warm here, but still intermittently wet!
I haven't looked at the forecast for weekend?
Any plans?

Hello Elle!
I drove through North London many years ago.
I have heard of the Royal Free Hospital.
I have Marsden in my head, now. Why is that?
I'll give the courgette a miss, Elle, if that is OK.
I do not like being hungry but other than that I am not interested in food. My granddaughter showed me a Kiwi fruit a couple of years ago in Tesco. I had heard of one but had no idea what they looked like.
I am meeting a granddaughter on Sunday morning but that is all. I am still plodding my way through the Five Families! I will watch the golf.
One lad had a terrible time at a par three hole, then launched his club into Lake Michigan.
It is loaded onto YouTube already!
Have you started reading Brewers yet?
I thought there would have been more interest shown in Jazzgirl's Guardian post. Ach well, never mind!

Good Morning, Rusty!
A lovely day today - sunshine - no rain in sight!
I think you might be thinking of The Royal Marsden Hospital? This is a well-known hospital for cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. It's on the Fulham Road, in Chelsea. There is a second branch in Sutton, Surrey.
Probably the word 'Royal' put it into your head?
Do you never experiment with cooking new dishes? or try different vegetables? I'm not especially interested in cooking, but I do like different dishes, especially Indian curries or Chinese food.
I remember (ages ago now) giving you a recipe for stuffed peppers....did you ever try that?
So what happened when the guy chucked his golf club into the lake? Did he get a warning or a penalty for "club abuse", like a tennis player would get for "racquet abuse"?
Brewers? I'm having fun, looking up references in the 'old' book and checking to see if said reference in retained in the new one! The answer is 'not always'!
For instance, do you know what 'gastrolators' are? This isn't in my 18th edition but is given in the 1980 version as "people whose god is their belly"!
I'm thinking I might after all keep both editions!
P.S. Scrumpled page now looking decidedly healthier!

Hi elle
Beautiful morning took dogs over to the park for a really good walk got home to find the dishwasher had flooded the kitchen,so good bye restful day

Good Morning Everyone,

Rather cooler here today and some rain in the night.

Now on the subject of Courgettes - I heard a lot of British people referring to them as 'baby marrows' , which is precisely what they are.

Have you ever bought the bigger version, (courge/ full grown marrow? Here, when a courgette becomes so big that it becomes a Courge, we open it lengthways, take the pips etc in the middle and fill the gap left with stuffing (saussage mint, tomatoes, onions and garlic etc) - then hold it together with some cooking string and bake in oven - I love it!

What about Aubergines (egg plants) - Do you like them? Have you ever tried to make a ratatouille (Courgette, aubergines, green and red peppers, onions, garlic etc etc...)? Lovely way of using what we grew in garden because they all ripened at the same time.