Victoria

Ireland may not have actually expelled the ambassador, but annoyed them enough that they left and closed down shop. Same kind of result. Though since the Taoiseach is going to USA for St Patricks Day, still keeping USA on side.

Hmm... is Ireland not halfway there?!

Hard to beat the original 😁

Probably out record player & speakers (it's upstairs, otherwise I'd tell you what make) (I wonder if it came through the Bomb Must ask my mother). Also our original sandwich maker is still going strong.|

Oh FFS! Have Labour PMs not learned this lesson yet......

'What England means to him'.

I suggest you watch him. Both the words and his rendition were brilliant. He was the last act, Episode 2. Worth it.

Oh Wow. Just catching up on BGT (thought my mother might like it). Episode 2, last performer: That poem was awesome. That poem needs to be broadcast everywhere, needs to be published everywhere. He was amazing. So much emotion. And to have that audience stand and clap. There is HOPE."

Republicans are not what I would call 'favoured' in my part of the UK! But they are still allowed to vote, with an Irish passport none the less. Actually, I use my Irish passport to vote too, 'cause GFA (primarily). (Other reasons may hold true too)

Same word; different connotations.

🤣 I knew it wasn't, but I couldn't help myself!

Connections
Puzzle #989
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🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

You can do basic research online at GRONI and NI Direct gives information on how/where to get certificates etc.

Are you 100% sure none of your grandparents were born on the Island of Ireland.... so northern ireland counts. I don't think the year matters. (Maybe more recent years, but 1920 is ok I think). Maybe worth finding their birth certificates & seeing their place of birth.

I'd definitely be wanting a border poll in that specific case.

It is a pity about the cycling though. It was good to watch too. But I'm not huge into sport watching - just the big events! Do very much like the Olympics though.

The Olympics is available on the entertainment pass. The summer one was too, which was great for watching surfing in the early hours of the morning :-)

Discovery + for £3.99..... only time I get it is for the Olympics. Has more events on it.

🤦‍♀️

Phew!

Homemade pavlova piled up high with fresh whipped cream and raspberries.

Pavlova will look like this:

My mother is 94 today. 🎉
I'm cooking a Birthday dinner for her. Roast leg of lamb, roast potatoes, (Delia's) celery in a cheese & onion sauce, 'step' peas (marrowfat/mushy peas but not ushy! just cooked, which is a very fine line!), gravy, & roast garlic for me!
My pavlova & raspberries.

For someone who wants to end working from home, Cameo Nigel can be strangely productive if there’s an easy payday in it for him 😬

I've been caring for my elderly relatives for the past... I don't remember how many years now. Only my mum & me now. When my mum passes, I will have to try to find a job. My past life (degree/experience) is useless now. I'll be starting from scratch. I'm quite scared about this. Future looks sh***

She will be 94 this week.

Plate of strawberries, raspberries and watermelon cut up and stacked into a cityscape. Blob of honeycomb ice-cream.

11 o'clock at night... my mother wanders into the kitchen to me:
Mother... "I want my dessert; fruit and ice-cream"
Me "The kitchen is closed"
Mother "I still want my dessert"

I've only just caught up with french toast! (and black pudding. It was yummy). Though we did have a big pot of Irish Stew during the week. Its like the magic porridge pot... it did us 4 days 😂

Does a Vienetta make good sliders?

Now I want french toast.

When I hear the stories from my mother (who is now very nearly 94), I think I can blame her and my grandmother for my wanderlust! (Not that I've been able to do much travelling for a long time now due to caring for my parents)

My mother has just said that her mother never held her back :-)

My grandparents brought home skills and new ideas from USA, which obviously my mother was brought up in. My grandfather was a building contractor. They had electricity (generator) on the farm before the townies as he put it in himself! He learned a lot in USA.

I can believe that. Travel can't help but change you & I'd say for the majority, for the better.

My mother went to Dublin to do her teaching training.From a wee farm in N.Ireland it was a big change.She loved Dublin & the training she got was way ahead of its time.

Can't talk about central heating before 1977 as I don't remember, but we had/have underfloor heating from then - house was built then!