Mundane News

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think he needs to go to whichever "School of Plain Speaking" that Nicola Sturgeon attended. She gained a double first.

I hope they have a place left in their beginners class. Yesterday's performance was an excellent example of extreme waffle and obfuscation.

Her tweet yesterday was memorably forthright: ''What a bunch of incompetent and unscrupulous chancers - and they are trashing the UK’s international reputation.''

 

[Reynard]

Warm, occasionally sunny with a light breeze here chez Casa Reynard.

Still feel ridiculously tired despite another night sleeping like the proverbial log. Spent the morning working on my painting. Lunch soon, and then I need to go and pick up mum's prescription.

While I'm out, I will visit a spot in a hedgerow where I know I can do a good spot of foraging.

 

[Reynard]

Me too, I've had 'Torties' for over 25yrs now (only one at a time mind) my first one 'Kissa' had 2 litters of Kittens one Ginger Tabby and a Black with Tabby markings that you could only see in certain light (as shades of 'blue' black and 'brown' black) as her first (I kept the Ginger Ninja) and the 2nd litter was 3 Black and White (2 girls and a lad) and another Ginger lad (we kept one of the B&W girls)
Kizzy on the other hand has never had Kittens.

Those are what are known as "ghost markings" and all self cats will have them. That's because all cats are genetically tabby, even if the gene for agouti is "turned off" by having a pair of recessive genes for non-agouti. A cat only needs one copy of the agouti gene to physically express tabby markings.

In the right light, I can see that Lexi has mackerel tabby ghost markings, even though she is a blue self & white.

Torties are different, because even though they have the recessive genes for non-agouti (as evidenced by the black / blue / chocolate / lilac bits), the ginger bits will still show the tabby pattern, as the gene for red behaves a bit funny and is never truly non-tabby.

Underneath her tortie coat, Poppy has classic tabby markings with the butterfly across her shoulders and the oysters on her flanks.

White is the only cat coat colour that completely masks tabby (and any other colour / pattern for that matter).

 

[PeteXXX]

I've commenced preparations for No1 grandson's 6th birthday cupcakes for tomorrow and a cake for Sunday's little party. 🎉

 

[Reynard]

I've commenced preparations for No1 grandson's 6th birthday cupcakes for tomorrow and a cake for Sunday's little party. 🎉

Cake is good. Socially distanced cake is even better.

Like sending a chunk here. I could use some cake.

 

[PeteXXX]

Cake is good. Socially distanced cake is even better.

Like sending a chunk here. I could use some cake.

I have a new elastic band for the trebuchet now!! 👍🏼

 

[raleighnut]

Those are what are known as "ghost markings" and all self cats will have them. That's because all cats are genetically tabby, even if the gene for agouti is "turned off" by having a pair of recessive genes for non-agouti. A cat only needs one copy of the agouti gene to physically express tabby markings.

In the right light, I can see that Lexi has mackerel tabby ghost markings, even though she is a blue self & white.

Torties are different, because even though they have the recessive genes for non-agouti (as evidenced by the black / blue / chocolate / lilac bits), the ginger bits will still show the tabby pattern, as the gene for red behaves a bit funny and is never truly non-tabby.

Underneath her tortie coat, Poppy has classic tabby markings with the butterfly across her shoulders and the oysters on her flanks.

White is the only cat coat colour that completely masks tabby (and any other colour / pattern for that matter).

Ah that explains it, the only time I've seen my Cats skin is when they've been spayed and the Vet shaved that side.

 

[Reynard]

I have a new elastic band for the trebuchet now!! 👍🏼

Although a trebuchet has no elastic in its construction. That'll be for a catapult or an onager.

 

[PeteXXX]

Although a trebuchet has no elastic in its construction. That'll be for a catapult or an onager.

Well.. That's why the 1st cupcake didn't launch correctly, then!

The 2nd shot looked better but there's a Spitfire circling above, due to the airshow at Sywell this weekend, and I did spot a glint in the pilots eyes as he twirled his moustaches and roared after it in hot pursuit!!

 

[Reynard]

An hour's foraging in the hedgerows this afternoon has yielded a jumbo shopping bag full of apples and another half a shopping bag of walnuts.

Now having a well-earned

And as @PeteXXX has missed with his trebuchet, I have winkled out some chocolate covered stollen bites instead...

 

[Speicher]

Apple and walnut chutney?

 

[Reynard]

Apple and walnut chutney?

More like apple pies and baklava

 

[Speicher]

More like apple pies and baklava

Yes, I can agree that is an excellent substitute!

 

[Reynard]

Yes, I can agree that is an excellent substitute!

Indeed

I have my own Bramleys to make jelly and chutney from, plus later in the year, there are the cookers from the community orchard that no one seems to pick. They're great for chutney too.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Fish and chips and beer tonight