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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Along with Toast Toppers, another discontinued item that should be brought back: Findus Crispy Pancakes. OK so there was a tendency for the filling to remain at lava heat long after the things were served, but so long as a little caution was exercised in the eating...

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

'11 Tips Frugal People Use To Save Money While Dining Out.' Here's my tip - order in. Or better yet, just bung something out of your fridge or freezer, into oven or microwave. Or a pan on the hob, if that works for whatever it is.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

What to even say? Oh & what actually counts as 'affordable' wrt new homes - don't get me started! I'm just glad I don't have any grandkids or great-grandkids who'll never be able to get a foot on the so-called housing ladder. 'Developers'? Bah! uk.yahoo.com/news/houses-...

uk.yahoo.com

Houses can be built on floodplains despite failing safety test, says high court

Decision to allow 190 controversial new homes in north Somerset sparks campaign for change in the law

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Headline: "80s music legend dies after 'severe cardiac arrest'..." Glad 'they' inserted the quote marks, as I'm wondering how a cardiac arrest can vary in severity. It is what it is, folks; without immediate CPR &/or defib, cardiac arrest is fatal. Can't really get more severe than that, eh.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Britain's rep for constant rain has some basis in the fact we don't have reliable climatic seasons, as do many parts of the US. Our temps fluctuate widely, & we can never rely on a dry, let alone sunny, day for an outdoor event on a certain date. Visitors do need to pack outfits for all weathers.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Tesco e-mailed me a survey today, about my online shopping experience on Wednesday. I took the opportunity to grumble about Able's roasties being out of stock; & the fact they don't stock garibaldi biscuits at all!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Have I mentioned this before? I keep reading online, how it's routine for Brits to take their shoes off at the door when entering their own, or anyone else's, home. Not in my experience. We don't go visiting, but the sis visits us, & has never removed her shoes, or offered to do so. It's bollox!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Tesco do these pastry slices: £1.65 for a pack of 2, each pie weighing 150g., which imo is plenty for a meal if you're not a greedy bugger. But reviewers whine: not enough filling, where's the meat, blah blah. What do they expect for just over 80p a throw, cordon bleu? Get oot!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As for fondue parties, what's attractiv, yum or fun about gathering round a pot of hot melted cheese, spearing cubes of bread or something, & dunking them in said pot? Just, no. OK I'll be polite: no, thank you.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Can't deny, I'm liking Charles (Earl) Spencer. Probably won't buy his Diana memoir; all the interesting bits have been/are being reported online for our delectation, anyway. Now we're hearing his defence of Harry & Meghan - good. Sick of seeing the Express' daily digs at the couple.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

As my regular readers know only too well, I'm interested in the different names Americans name things, vs. UK. Seems they call back bacon 'Canadian bacon'. Conversely, if they cross the border & shop in a Canadian store, they're surprised to see it labelled 'back bacon'.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In a list of 'Meals From The Past That'd Go Viral Today': actual turtle meat! Never mind its 'exploding across TikTok for the novelty factor'. Anybody who'd eat or serve turtle today, now that we're aware of conservation - let alone the aesthetics involved - should forever hang their head in shame.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Yet another horror story of cosmetic surgery in Turkey. 3 grand's a lot, but not nearly so much as a private op would cost here. There are reasons why, & these silly, vain women find out the hard way, what they are. Please, ladies - don't! www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Mum, 29, who treated herself to £3,000 Turkey op ends up becoming horror story

WARNING DISTRESSING IMAGES: 'I've had three labours without pain relief and they were not as painful as this'

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Surely this is a wonderful space-saver, in a small flat...

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Headline: "UK tinned ‘mackerel’ no longer contains mackerel." Sauce regardless, this so-called Jack Mackerel may well have 'milder flavour & meatier texture' (& less omega 3, btw), as it's a different species of fish from Tesco's own 'Scottish' mackerel. Fans of true mackerel - don't be misled!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

'National security "can't come at the expense of social security", the Prime Minister has insisted, as he criticised Tory plans to fund defence.' About time, eh.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"Portsmouth migrant protestors face backlash after RNLI lifeboat rescuers branded 'traitors'." I should think so, too! Can't be bothered reading this rubbish, but any suggestion that the heroic RNLI should have left these HUMAN BEINGS to their fate in the sea, is surely beyond heinous.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Funny how years ago, 'pass pepper'n'salt, please' always meant that set of 2 glass pots - salt with one large hole in the top; & a WHITE pepper shaker with a multi-hole 'lid'. Nowadays, white pepper is seldom seen; pepper is nearly always black, often peppercorns in a grinder. Fashions change, eh.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It's evidently HER human nature to help. Also the nature of Dolly Parton; Frances described the singer, who died last month aged 80, as an "inspiration" for her philanthropy. The extent of Parton's own philanthropy is only now emerging. A great lady, indeed. uk.yahoo.com/news/woman-g...

uk.yahoo.com

Woman who gave away half of £115m lottery prize says it’s human nature to help

Frances Connolly’s PFC Trust funds good causes in the North East of England.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Wow, quite a list of instructions. Mebbe when your needs are so detailed, you should go to the shop yourself to make sure you get a nice, fresh order. I agree with the comment wrt 'parking lot' - in this country, we have car parks. Flippin' 'eck! www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/foo...

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

RIP '60s popstar' Craig Douglas. I had forgotten all about him, I admit; but now, with the news of his death aged 85, I do remember him. Ah well, such is fame.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Nope, not gonna 'stockpile' bottles of water in case of a national emergency. We pay our water rates, for it to come from the taps (sans sewage!). Also it's coming from the sky! 'Bottled water'? Sod off. Got a few cans of ham, sardines, & peas; that'll do. Flippin' 'eck. uk.yahoo.com/news/uk-not-...

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

'American-Style Customer Service Feels Different.' Evidently! They aim to get diners served, fed & out the door asap, so as to clear away & get the next customers in. Wouldn't suit Brits, who typically expect their meal out to be a leisurely social occasion taking up much of an afternoon or evening.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As for what to add, or not, to beans on toast, surely it's a matter of personal taste, not national debate. Brand of beans? Butter or marg? Marmite? Worcester sauce? Cheese? It's up to you.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Does cheese belong on shepherd's or cottage pies? No. If there's cheese mixed into &/or sprinkled over the mash, it becomes a Cumberland pie. Simple!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Wrt 'the world’s most disappointing tourist attractions', the main complaints were crowds, & prices. It's surely easy, these days, to research prices before you go, & just not bother if you think it's poor value. And if it's a top attraction, obvs it'll be rammed, esp on holidays & weekends. Gagh!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Was just reading a piece about an award-winning pie shop having 'ridiculous' prices. Well ya pays ya money & takes ya choice, as 'tis said. Get the cheap ones from Greggs or Holland's if you prefer. Nobody forced the guy to pay £36 for 3 large pies. If he didn't check the price, whose fault's that?

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Now, THIS is a slappy done properly. Forget silly, recently thought-up names like 'Wigan kebab', or even the accurate descriptor, 'pie barm'. It's called a slappy for how you SLAP the upper half of the barm cake onto a layer of mushy peas atop the pie, showering anyone foolishly nearby with peas.😄

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

As for foreigners' assumption that 'pudding' should mean something sweet, in Britain it's just as likely a savoury dish. Not just Yorkshire, but suet, steak/kidney, black, pease, among others - and of course, what Burns called 'Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race': haggis.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

If Americans wonder why Brits call sausages 'bangers' (which we probably don't most of the time, anyway), it's not some obscure link to wartime rationing. It's just that if you fry or grill them on high heat without piercing the skin, they explode with a bang. Thus, skinless sausages aren't bangers.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

'Americans fill their glasses to the brim with ice before adding any actual beverage, leaving little room for the drink itself.' Which does help explain the unlimited free refills in eateries thing. You don't pay for top-ups because you didn't get a whole drink in the 1st place!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Alas, no sunshine for the Pride parade this year, but a wonderful, joyous day nevertheless. Proud to have Bev Craig for our Mayor, too!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Something that never happened anywhere I've lived - food on the table in bowls. In our homes, the 'cook' served each person's meal onto their plate; that was it. The right amount of veg, spuds etc. would be made: no 'seconds' or helping oneself. Left over meat would provide sarnies, or another meal.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

In a list of 'overrated foods everybody pretends to like': jellied eels. Apart from a few dedicated Eastenders, does anyone pretend to like them? Caviar (fish eggs): no thanks. Never had oysters; don't want to. Tried kombucha. It upset my guts. Black pudding, though, is yum. So is liquorice, obvs!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

!OMG! I must admit, just looking at this pic of a chip butty makes me feel hungry. Texturally ideal, soft sliced bread; chips cut/sized & browned just right. Apart from, perhaps, adding the condiment/s of your choice - sarnie perfection.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Btw, Americans - wrt buying rounds at the pub: if there's, like, 10 of you in your group, that's 10 rounds bought during the evening, ie. 10 drinks each, so you'd better not be a lightweight.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I prefer using landline to my little old flip-phone, a) because of the nice big handset & buttons; & b) because the flip-phone is PAYG, & quite likely to run out of talk-time while I go through the endless button-pushing procedure, then get held in a queue for however long.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In a list of 'vintage UK sandwiches we rarely see any more', this 'corned beef & pickle' one. Not sure what that stuff accompanying the corned beef is, but it's surely not what most Brits would understand by 'pickle'😄. No wonder it's rarely seen😆.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

'Lunchboxes should be banned in schools, Prue Leith says.' OMG, draconian! Actually no, it isn't. When I was at school, 'lunchboxes' were unheard of. You either went home for your lunch, or stayed to 'school dinner' - where chips, &/or 'turkey twizzlers', whatever they are, were never on the menu.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The internet having shrunk the world, a couple of things about America/Americans have surprised me. Basic politeness such as saying please & thank you, or waiting your turn, isn't really a thing in the US. American full-time jobs don't necessarily guarantee paid vacations, expected to be taken. Odd!

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

'Picture this: a full English breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausages, baked beans – then someone drizzles it all with golden syrup or adds jam to their toast alongside the bacon.' EH? Jam on toast is a possibility, but I've never, ever, known anybody to 'drizzle' a fry-up with golden syrup.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

An American is sad to see M&Ses closing down, & surprised, as whenever he goes, they're 'rammed'. But he needs to realise that there are many times when it's not busy; & the overheads on a big high street store are huge. M&S customers are likely shopping online more, like others - 'ah well' indeed.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

'UK to warn citizens to stock up on food amid threat from climate crisis and hostile states.' We have a Tesco delivery due today - including a substitution: a FIVE KILO bag of sugar, for the one kilo I ordered. Flippin' 'eck! Guess we'll be all right for sugar, for a while...

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Quite a shock that Dolly Parton has gone. Of course she was 80, & had several serious health issues. But she was somehow one of those stars you feel 'will always be there'. RIP Dolly Parton.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

About the author: 'Jason Arday is a social commentator, presenter and public speaker. He is currently the Professorial Chair of Education (Sociology of Education) at the University of Cambridge, making him the youngest-ever Black academic to hold a Professorship at Cambridge...'

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Remember this? Even a small village would typically have a shopping street on which would be found a separate, independent butcher, fishmonger, bakery, grocer & greengrocer, as well as a newsagent/sweetshop/tobacconist, & probably a hardwear/ironmonger attached to the petrol station.

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Rosemary Crow @rosemarycrow.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

List of supposedly 'weird' combos: Beans on toast; Marmite, plain or with cheese, or with peanut butter (OK that's a BIT weird). Chips with gravy or curry sauce, crisp sarnies, or custard creams dunked in tea: not weird. C'mon, Muricans - get over yourselves!

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