The totally off-topic thread

[Hvr]

Truly only in Japan.

Living up to Japan's reputation for being precise as well as contrite, a train company in Tokyo delivered a formal apology on Tuesday because one of its trains left a station just 20 seconds early.

Japanese railway company offers abject apology after train leaves station 20 seconds early

Here in Australia if the train turns up it's cause for amazement and if it gets you to your destination in a 10-15 minute window of the estimated time of arrival then a major celebration is called for.

 

[Denali]

We were in Japan a few years ago and when we got off our train in Tokyo, we were handed a slip of paper. Im told that it was an apology/notice to give to my boss for being late.

I think we were about 4mins late because the train came to a stop mid route because someone was on the line/being removed by emergency services (so we were told).

 

[serfty]

I must be slipping; sitting in the Melbourne Flounge and lo and behold a LAN dreamliner rolls into gate 9.

Hmmm... I thought .. I don't remember that being announced.

A quick google shows since October!

3 days a week, direct to/from SCL ... it must go close to Antarctica ... then I saw @Himeno posted this: Great Circle Mapper

... time to pay more attention ...

 

[Denali]

RooFlyer and I was on the LAN 787 back in April. It was comfy but the 2-2-2 would be a pain for long haul. Flew the old VA 2-3-2 to LAX and I couldnt go to the toilets without waking hubby,

 

[TomVexille]

I must be slipping; sitting in the Melbourne Flounge and lo and behold a LAN dreamliner rolls into gate 9.

Hmmm... I thought .. I don't remember that being announced.

A quick google shows since October!

3 days a week, direct to/from SCL ... it must go close to Antarctica ... then I saw @Himeno posted this: Great Circle Mapper

... time to pay more attention ...

UL flying to MEL now too.

 

[serfty]

UL flying to MEL now too.

funnily enough, i was aware of that ...

 

[RooFlyer]

A quick google shows since October!

RooFlyer and I was on the LAN 787 back in April.

Some pics for anyone interested here: Patagonian cruise, circum-Andean drive and a Pacific island hop back

 

[Denali]

So this morning I went outside for my morning walk and was struck with such a strong orange smell, I was concerned I was about to have a seizure (phantom smell).

Then I remembered that the hedge between us and next door is all orange jasmine and its starting to flower.

I hate that hedge.

 

[Denali]

Office is now decorated for Christmas, real tree will be delivered on Monday

 

[Pushka]

Office is now decorated for Christmas, real tree will be delivered on Monday

Wow. You are into the spirit!
How long do real trees last for in just water? I thought it was just a few days? We’ve had a few. Think - needles.

 

[Denali]

Last years tree lasted almost the entire month before it started to look droopy. No major needle drop but I also added some sort of tree preservative to the water.

Our office closes Dec 21st so this way, we get a month of the tree and it really does smell nice. We had people from other floors visiting our lobby because they could smell it when the doors opened. But our lobby looks good most days (garden wall, which somehow I also inherited to look after).

Best thing, this company (Dural Christmas Trees) delivers and picks up.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Oh dear this is making me feel guilty - I need to start baking my mince pies!

 

[Denali]

I was in my 30s when I found out that mince pies was fruit mince.

Until then, and I've never had one, I was thinking, 'silly Anglos. Eating cold meat mince pies!'

They still don't sound appealing enough to try.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I was in my 30s when I found out that mince pies was fruit mince.

Until then, and I've never had one, I was thinking, 'silly Anglos. Eating cold meat mince pies!'

They still don't sound appealing enough to try.

i make nearly 100 and don’t eat any of them - family consume them and I give them away to various people who claim my mince pies are the best ever (flattery goes a long way). I use a plain pastry as the thought of a sweet pastry with all that sweet mince sets my teeth on edge. Apparently it works, although I wouldn’t know ......

 

[blackcat20]

My mince pie recipe is the one used by the Windsor Hotel, theyre pretty delish.

 

[VPS]

My mince pie recipe is the one used by the Windsor Hotel, theyre pretty delish.

Are you willing and able to share - I've been using Delia Smiths but would like to try another version - TIA

 

[blackcat20]

Are you willing and able to share - I've been using Delia Smiths but would like to try another version - TIA

I'll have to see if I can find it, most of our house is currently packed and in storage.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Google is your friend.....

Sounds lovely but I will stick to my unsweetened one - my fans seem to like it that way. Mine is closer to the Delia Smith one (yes I am bored.....)

Christmas Fruit Mince Pies - fool proof pastry recipe? - Recipes & Cooking Tips

Ps you use Blackcat20 always? I use different IDs on social media - disguise my footprint. . I had one friend who had multiple ids for the same site. She would use whichever one suited her persona for that day. Sounded terribly confusing to me

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I was in my 30s when I found out that mince pies was fruit mince............

I am not a big fan of the fruit mince pie, but Ron loves them, so I buy them occasionally, but to eat one I have to cover it with double cream

 

[blackcat20]

Google is your friend.....

Sounds lovely but I will stick to my unsweetened one - my fans seem to like it that way. Mine is closer to the Delia Smith one (yes I am bored.....)

Christmas Fruit Mince Pies - fool proof pastry recipe? - Recipes & Cooking Tips

Ps you use Blackcat20 always? I use different IDs on social media - disguise my footprint. . I had one friend who had multiple ids for the same site. She would use whichever one suited her persona for that day. Sounded terribly confusing to me

Mostly but not always. I don't have anything to hide