We cut the sod with a turf cutter of course - it's called a sleán (pronounced shlawn)! Here's a photo of me with my sister bringing home the turf!
I've aged a little since then, sigh!

At our age, Miss Rosemary, way back at 16 is the same thing as 17.

...and I wonder about cut the sod too...

Yum

Lotti, your brought some of my favorite snacks... and Tuscan vino... we're just missing the classic Roman spaghetti all'aglio, olio e peperoncino (garlic, olive oil and little red hot peppers). Well, I know what's for dinner tonight!

Rose for me please. It's really strange seeing you all in person except those I've already met, when did Lorchen board?

I'll take a glass of the red, Lotti. I love those Italian wines.

Norma's right, you leave for a bit and are pages behind in here.

I was always the designated driver, well most of the time anyway! I've a good bottle of crown royal here... Goes great with anything... And just for rosemary I borrowed the dr's tardis and steeped some blackberries in the contents of a full bottle of black velvet last October. Should now be perfect for enjoyment with a black truffle (the chocolate kind- not the stuff that is hunted for by exceptional pigs and dogs in France and Italy).
I can honestly tell you, I have never enjoyed a flight as much as this one! It can go on and on...

Oh, and to get a few additional snacks, I stopped at the olive-man in Zug on my way and picked up some of his special salami, as well as a few canisters of olives... The little black ones from Nice, some of the fabulously marinated mixes, and my all time faves, the large fruity green ones stuffed with Parmesan and cream cheese... And to go with these, of course a few bottles of vino from my boss' vineyard in Tuscany, which will you have: red, white, or the fabulously fresh (not sweet) rose?

I did my training in London and was lucky enough to get free tickets for some of the shows and events in London. I went to Sadler Wells ballet in Covent Garden, Cinema, Wimbledon, Chelsea flower show etc., but never went to a radio show recording. Was it The Archers

At least Rita's snoring is a lot more musical than some I could mention....

Smoking has never appealed to me, but then I lost a grandad to lung cancer when I was about 11, and he used to smoke like the proverbial chimney.

I enjoyed going to the theatre now and again in London - go at the beginning of the week, buy the cheapest seats and like as not you might end up in the stalls , because it is easier for the theatre staff to move you down, than just to open up the gallery for 1 or 2 people. I also liked to go to radio show recordings, mostly at the Paris Studios that was on Lower Regent St (they were free )

You guys gave me a good laugh. Being away from the Forum for 12 hours is absolutely hard work.
I have had an energetic four year old for 5 days and needed a bit of peace and quiet. I did not find it here . Only a lot of fun .

Pass the chocolates Lotti and can you give Rita a nudge she's snoring.

Me too Rosemary I went to London at 18 was smoking and drinking but nothing worse. Great place to be at that age, now 1 day is enough. I'm going down on Monday to see eldest son (hope I'm back from Arizona in time) and I know it's going to wear me out. So noisy, dirty, all that traffic and in a lot of parts - the opulence, I never noticed it when I was younger. I'm like a fish out of water now

Thanks for those links, Terrie. As you say, he was a Canadian ex-pat.

As for whisky, I am not keen on it either, but I love blackberry whisky (steep blackberries in whisky & a bit of sugar and try to leave alone for at least a couple of months - the longer the better)

I am also thrilled that Lotti is on the plane too and in charge of the chocolate supplies

Hey Rita, how do you cut sod with bare feet?

I was a good girl at 16 - wasn't interested in boys or cigarettes, but I went up to the big bad city when I was 17 and had one or two run-ins with booze.....

Moi? Jamais! I was a prefect little Irish colleen running around the fields in my bare feet cutting the sod and gathering carrageen moss from the shores in my basket with my donkey. I didn't have anything to do with boys or booze or cigarettes or any other substances.