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Rosalind

I have just returned from M&S. I found Isla and asked if she had any asparagus tips. "Certainly" she replied:

Tip 1 - Always buy it in season.
Tip 2 - As it is not in season at present, why not try our chocolate-covered asparagus - much nicer than the sprouts.

I thanked her for the advice and told her that I had been ticked off for using words like gryllidae and diptera.

"No problem. Do you need any more assistance today."

I told her that I had come in to buy some butterfly cakes.

"Of course. I will take you to the lepidoptera department" she chuckled.

grunger

I am indeed regular, but not in the sense you mean. My mother used to give us syrup of figs to make us so.

Tyke,

We pedants need to stick together, to continue the good fight - but there will obviously be subjects, usages that we don't agree on, care about or are remotely interested in. Jigjag, Grunger and I have totally divergent views on Ms and Mrs, but we don't let that affect our day-to-day interaction. I'd miss your interesting, funny comments so hope you will return.

Jigjag

Thanks for the latest instalment of 'Rolling In The Aisles (Of Marks and Spencer)'. I could have saved you a lot of trouble - my asparagus tip would simply be 'don't bother, have beans, tomatoes, quinoa, virtually anything else instead'.

The influence of 'I'm A Celebrity...' seems to be infiltrating our thread - people eating crickets and worms … and now maybe even butterflies. I'm off to make dinner now … toad in the hole.

Jigjag

I'm very impressed you know about butterfly cakes. I've given up cake for Christmas but I notice a friend likes Red Velvet Cake. Well, if you want to eat a tablecloth....

How were the toads, malone? My son refers to his children as toads, which I always thought somewhat unfair. My garden toad (Bufo bufo) is not beautiful but is very , very quiet. The children are somewhat the reverse.

Rosalind

The toads were lovely, thanks very much. I am sure your son's 'toads' reference is merely jocular, affectionate... the eternal optimist, that's me. I have never seen a real toad, thank goodness.

Why have you given up cake for Christmas? Is it another (yet another) religious convention that I know nothing about, or have you just decided to end the year on a healthy note? Lemon Drizzle Cake is a better option than Red Velvet Cake - the former at least has a little nod to fulfilling the 5-a-day requirements. (Carrot cake is equally virtuous, of course.)

tyke

I must have missed something but please don't leave us. We would miss your humour and football and cricket comments etc.

Rosalind

Thanks for your advice earlier today about buying jeans/trousers. You will probably find it hard to believe but I have never bought an article of clothing (for myself) in my life. My mother and wife have always undertaken that function and I have not seen the need to depart from it.

Mrs J brings home many garments for me. I cheerfully try them on and reject some, whilst she rejects others. She is happy to return them as it gives her an excuse to do more shopping.

I must admit that I have tried to buy some clothes and shoes in recent years but I always seem to encounter problems. Mrs J is happy for me to leave it all to her.

Malone

I tried a few combinations as suggested. The sprouts and brandy butter was not a success. The chicken and chickpeas was much better. I thought of horse chestnut and horse radish but that would not be pleasant, so I am trying horse-free chestnut and radish tomorrow.

Grunger

What inventive combinations you're coming up - chicken and chickpeas sounds tasty! I agree that the horse recipes should be dropped, but chestnut and radish hardly seem worth the bother.

On as similar theme, I saw a 'Pigs In Blankets Quiche' in Marks and Spencer yesterday. That wouldn't suit me - I like my pigs to be crisp, burnt etc, not sitting in a bath of eggy custard.