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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.

Giving up cake for Christmas seemed a good echo to giving up something for Lent. Actually it is more to do with the dentist, so your guess of a healthier end to the year is good.

You are very lucky Jigjag. I also bought my husband's clothes. One day I chose some rather expensive Italian wool trousers for him, which looked like a paper folded fan after a day at work (at a computer). I took them back to M & S where an assistant uttered the immortal words "Did he sit down in them?" Apparently she wasn't joking. But I did get the cash back and bought 2 pairs of the more usual kind.

Rosalind,

Thanks for the 'no cake for Christmas' information. I was relieved to hear that it was mainly on health grounds (the health of your teeth). I've just watched Mary Berry's recent BBC programme, a Christmas special. She made a delicious-looking chocolate beetroot brownie - I'd be willing to give that a go (and it must be healthier than Red Velvet surely?)

I loved the 'did he sit down in these trousers?' story. How the assistant was able to come out with that line, I'll never know. I'm sure you stuck to normal - and normally-priced - trousers after that experience.