A year! Also a recipe.

Somehow it's been a year since I last wrote in this! I don't understand how that is possible. I'm almost 37. Good god. Equally bizarre and unexpected this time last year: we're STILL in lockdown. It's opening up a bit now, but only a bit, and by the end of May we'll be able to meet inside, six people at a time. I now live in Hampstead, with my friend Rachel, in a very very beautiful flat with a balcony that overlooks a trainline (a pretty trainline). Our neighbours are all old and rich and a bit mad - the woman owning the basement flat built herself a swimming pond last year, where three ducks now live. You might remember a brief mention of a man called Lenny last year (Leonard Cohen, unfortunately), and I'm still with him. In a proper, happy relationship. It just keeps getting nicer - it's the opposite of how it felt with Oli. Still in the same job - though happily Netflix helped us out rather by doing a series of one of the authors I publish, which became very very famous over a locked-down Christmas, and is now Netflix's most watched series ever. As a result the end of last year and the beginning of this were ridiculously busy, but also we have made all our money for the year, which is a bit of a relief.    

I've continued to cook lots and lots, now also for Lenny, and I'm getting a bit fascinated with medieval recipes (or 'receipts' as they were apparently called then), thanks to a delicious cured meats box called 'Crown and Queue' and the lady who runs the company. She makes British cured meats according to recipes from years ago that we've forgotten, and they are delicious. Also this site: http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/magicmenu.htm and its terribly produced book, are both fascinating. I've been wondering if it might be possible to write a book. Something like 'The Lost Recipes of England: reclaiming the food secrets we've forgotten', recreating some of the recipes and explaining how we ended up thinking that France was some sort of culinary god, whilst we were a tasteless wasteland, when actually a lot of the most famously 'French' recipes (eg butter-emulsified sauces) were actually English inventions. Feels like something that might sell in a post-Brexit Britain (oh yes, that's still going on also).  

Medieval(ish) Lettuce Soup, serves two

Ingredients

500 ml good chicken stock  

A whole lettuce, plus any other salad leaves you might have lying around (I used some lambs leaf lettuce that we're growing with mixed success on the very windy balcony).

Two carrots, peeled and chopped into small chunks (about an inch or so - soupsized)

One medium, white onion, finely chopped

Half tsp of ground cloves

Half tsp of ground nutmeg

Half tsp of white pepper

Pinch of saffron

Handful of dried mushrooms (I used chantarelles but anything would do - chop them up a bit first if they're too big for a soup spoon)

A lump of fresh ginger smashed up a bit (yes this isn't really medieval but I just can't with dried ginger. It's weird. It smells weird and medicinal and I don't like it except in ginger cake)

A knob of butter (optional)

A dash (capful) of light vinegar - I used hawthorne but cider or white wine vinegar would do. Malt would be too harsh (steer clear or only use a very light smidgeon), and balsamic a bit sweet, (though could add a bit of salt to balance if need be)

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Chop the lettuce up roughly so it can fit in a saucepan, then put it in boiling water for 30 seconds, drain it and run it under cold water to stop it cooking any further. Squeeze out some of the water - you're aiming for a damp, collapsed sort of texture (mmm delicious). Chop it finely and leave on the side.  

Pour the stock into the same saucepan you blanched the lettuce in (for no reason other than to save on washing up), bring to a boil, add the spices, the dried mushrooms, the saffron, the smashed ginger, the onion and the carrot. Reduce heat to a simmer and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the carrots are mostly soft but still have a little bit of texture to bite into. Fish out the ginger. Turn the heat right down and add the lettuce. Let it warm through, then take it off the heat and taste it. 

Do you like it? Do you fancy a bit of richness to it? Add the butter and stir through fairly vigorously to emulsify if so, otherwise skip this step. Taste it again. Does it need a bit more salt? Add some. Taste it. Does it need a bit of sharpening/a touch of acidity? Add a bit of vinegar if so (think of it like a squeeze of lemon). Taste it. Do you like black pepper? Add lots, it goes well with this soup. Taste it again and serve with good bread, well buttered. 

Sometime in May, time has become meaningless

Well, I've bought all three Wolf Hall books on audio, totaling something like 98 hours, which I think is fine and maybe will see me through. All is business as usual here - feeling very stressed about work, even though it's a Saturday, which is annoying. At 10am on the Monday I was sat on a sofa beginning a Very Dull strategy meeting which we all hate and out of which very little usefulness ever comes. I rolled my head back a bit to loosen my neck and also to try to avoid the very big yawn I was about to do (nowhere to hide on camera), something clicked, and then I spent the rest of the day slowly freezing up on my right hand side. Ended up lying on the floor with Alice's hot water bottle, and was basically useless for Monday and Tuesday, and sort of resentfully useful from Wednesday to Friday. Hence the stress. And it's so silly because they're just books, but they matter so much to people. Also I forgot one of my favourite author's pub days, for the final book in a series, and I'm so embarrassed that I've been ignoring her ever since. I have to fix it but I've just run out of words.

Other things . . . I might have a date, with a man called, unfortunately (or fortunately?), Leonard Cohen. Not sure what it will entail but I'm meant to whatsapp him this weekend to sort, I suppose, either wine and Zoom or a socially distanced walk. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/dutch-official-advice-to-single-people-find-a-sex-buddy-for-lockdown-coronavirus. I was defintitely born in the wrong country.

Also, Rachel's dad has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. He's going to be ok, or should, it's the size of a frozen pea apparently, but cos of Covid (reallyreally does need to be a single contraction to cover 'because of Covid' - henceforth, 'cosvid'). So, cosvid, he has to wait three months before they will do anything at all as the Covid danger is considered worse for him than the cancer, and also they're just not doing anything but urgent operations. The thing is, they already lost his blood test results for eight weeks, so it will actually be five months. I want to ring the hospital, pretend to be Rachel's far too nice mum, and invoke MY mum, who would somehow speed things up just a bit. Not in an unfair way, but it has already been two months later than it would have been, and it's dangerous. I love Rachel so much. I feel so lucky to have met her, and the idea of her moving away, and the fact she can't even see her dad cosvid, but instead had to find out on the phone just feels awful and makes me want to cry. It also made me realise that if she does move back to Manchester, I'm not ok with us not staying as close (or at least nearly) as close as we are. I wish I fancied her or she fancied me, because honestly, three years into a friendship that would never have happened had it not been for the Great Vampire Diaries Obsession of 2016, I feel like she's sort of my soulmate. And I know that's silly, and I will never tell her, but there just aren't many people who I feel as comfortable with and who balance me out so brilliantly. I usually feel like I don't even have to ask her, she just knows what to say to calm me down if I'm feeling awful, and I think it works the other way too. We work really well as a partnership - she plans things amazingly, I like to decide things. On holiday I get to pick restaurants and she gets to pick location. Going out she doesn't have my panic about organising group things, and actually does the research and makes things happen and changes her life in ways that fill me with awe. Obviously neither of us are perfect and three years isn't very long, so at some point I'm sure we will have a horrible row, and Rachel hates conflict so I'd have to insist we talk about it. But then again I WOULD insist that, so maybe it would be ok.

Maybe I'm not going to fall in love in a romantic way again, or not to the same amount (which I'm sure is a relief to you, endless repository of my pining after my ex for about a decade), but if instead I get to make new friends like Rachel, maybe that's ok? And I can adopt and take my adopted kid to the woods when it's Autumn. It will be fine because the adoption system is super straightforward for single women approaching forty.

It's possible that lockdown is giving me too much time to think. Rereading the above I've also drifted with incredible speed from Rachel's father to me and my problems. I suppose I could edit it a bit but I do feel like that would be cheating.

What else is happening? Well, I'm trying to ensure that a book I publish isn't racist, even though the author is, owing to her being born from generations of white aristocracy but owing much more to her utter refusal to ever consider that could be the case. It's not going very well. The book is absolutely hilarious otherwise, which is the annoying thing, but she's got exactly one character of colour in the whole damn book (which: fine, it's a book about the Aristocracy and the world she knows) but she's made him servile and pathetic and it's just not ok, but there is no way I can see of making her understand this, because her choices come from systemic causes that she thinks are utter nonsense. It's just horrible, and I hate that I like her and think she's charming and talented and funny on the one side, and on the other is this strange, blank wall that she's determinedly unaware of and I can't help imagining is exactly the sort of blindness that led to the Holocaust. I know it sounds over-dramatic, but I'm absolutely sure that if I were not Jewish she would have put a character in one of her books who would be the only Jew, and who was an 'outsider because they are Jewish' in some way, or who happened to be rich and mean, and utterly not understand how doing that perpetrates the very worst of stereotypes and - particularly given that she refuses to look at what she's doing with proper rigour - isn't ok. And yet part of her DOES know it, otherwise that Jewish character would have appeared, and that makes the whole thing worse. 

In cooking news... I've bought some amazing honey and walnut bread and eaten too much of it. And tonight I'm going to cook pot roasted pheasant, with pigs in blankets (yes indeed we are clearing out the freezer, thank you for asking, and no December wasn't that long ago because also remember time is meaningless). Must remember to see if we have any chestnuts. Am going to use this recipe(ish): https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pot-roasted-pheasant. Also, going to roast a whole celeriac because this recipe sounds glorious: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/04/cauliflower-cheese-roast-celeriac-braised-carrots-leeks-recipe-side-dishes-as-mains-yotam-ottolenghi.

A couple of days ago I made a roasted chicken thighs and legs dish with leftover lemony, oily aubergine juices, mixed with a pickle of a fruit I still don't know that's from Goa, mixed with garlic and a little more oil. I chopped up half an onion, put in the leftover aubergine mid way and it was really delicious. Also made some curried rice that was ALMOST amazing: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020231-paul-carmichaels-curried-rice. I made the paste far too dark and thick, owing to the fact I had no limes (used satsumas), used hot, just cooked rice, and had no light soy sauce - dark soy doesn't quite work for this one. The rice was black, but incredibly tasty and spicy, so I'm definitely going to make it properly at some other point - maybe it will taste a bit like the rice Sophie and I had in Thailand years and years ago. It cost 20p, came in a bowl shaped heap and was sweet and salty and had egg and sometimes had indeterminate meat in. It was mostly salty, but as you ate it there would be sudden moments of sweet. Looking back I suspect it was caramelised sugar, and probably flavour from the wok as well. We ate it once during a thunderstorm, sitting under a tarp outside a restaurant. I've been trying to cook it ever since, but actually I suppose it can't ever taste quite the same, and it would be a shame if it did really.

Rachel found a virtual wine tasting 'A Grape Night In' (I know) which we're going to try next Sat eve. That would have been the day before my brother's wedding, a fact which just feels bizarre now.

Right, I'm going to go and help Alice in the garden, while listening to Wolf Hall. I suppose lockdown has its benefits...

A normal workplace discussion after looking at the 2019 P&L

Colleague
bloody [Christmas anthology]

Me
yes - however remember we've done all those separate ebooks
so will work out alright in the end

Colleague
oh i remember
sold 1,247 combined of the ebooks!
not too shabby
(compared to 68 of the anthology...)

Me
and we shall push them every year
for so it is written

Colleague
and so it shall be

Me
'On the twelfth day of Christmas, [imprint] shall try to make you buy our Christmas backlist once more'

Colleague
AND YOU WILL LIKE IT
some people are buying copies right now
just 2 people
but more than expected

Me
is it you?

Colleague
hahahahha

Me
and is it your mum?

Colleague
things aren't that bad yet

just give it time

Me
that's the Christmas spirit!

Colleague
maybe i should be pushing it on fb now - long tail and all that jazz

Me
I think you're the wrong way round the animal - isn't it a long neck?

Colleague
isn't that pre-pub?
but yes maybe that works better in this situation...

Me
oh you are right

Colleague
the pre-christmas long neck

Me
tails/necks hard to keep track of currently
but either way no. We don't have to see those books again for at least a few months

Colleague
*thumbs up*

Day 37(ish) of lockdown, also known as season three of gossip girl

Well, we all continue in our houses. Today I am feeling sad. Sad and stressed and worried about work. I feel unsettled, and jealous of Maisie who has, somehow, managed to meet the love of her life in lockdown. Given that I couldn't even get a date when we were allowed out of our own houses, I feel my current chances aren't strong. Saw a tweet yesterday, 'the next time I suck a dick I'm going to cry: that's how happy I'll be.' Ah, the poetry of our times... But also, I COMPLETELY agree. What if I never do again? What if this is it and I just live with Alice and James and our broken washing up machine and never ever date or kiss or fall in love again? Also Otto, my giant blue bear from when I was a kid, has come down from on top of the wardrobe and is back on my bed, which isn't probably the greatest sign. Also I haven't showered today but am planning on it shortly. GOOD GOD I'm even boring myself.

Other news. Hmm. Things I have cooked include a very beautiful chicken tagine with preserved lemon, coriander, cumin, saffron, chicken stock, celery, leek, chickpeas, onion and garlic. Used this recipe as a kind of base: https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/chicken-legs-braised-with-preserved-lemons-olives-and-chickpeas. It was really great and I was extremely proud - I am enjoying cooking for people so much at the moment, though I currently wish very much indeed that they would do the washing up. I also am now three chakras down in the latest yoga challenge. It's actually pretty good. Today's was about intention and focus and I did genuinely feel a bit clearer and more motivated by the end of it. Also she did this weird thing where you had to balance one knee against your shoulder then jump the other one on top too. I tried it without great success.

I'm trying to buy a book that I love and don't know if I'll get. And I can't stop watching gossip girl.

Well. I think that might be the end of this inspiring update from the end of the world...  More anon.

Netflix Party between Modestly Cautious Owl (née Cautiousist Owl née Cautious Owl née Boat Party née Brother), Mum (without a name for some reason) and Owls Are Silly (néeThe Most Cautious Owl That Ever Existed Or Will Ever Exist née The Cautiouser Owl née The Boat Party Better, née Me)

Modestly Cautious Owl

created the session

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video at 0:04

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

joined

Owls Are Silly

joined

Modestly Cautious Owl

Hello!

Owls Are Silly

YES!!!

Modestly Cautious Owl

We did it!

Owls Are Silly

I see a mum and a me :)

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

So simple and straightforward...

Owls Are Silly

who needs actual visits and watching in person

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

why are we paused?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Shall we start watching?

Owls Are Silly

I vote YE

Owls Are Silly

S

Owls Are Silly

may have to get chicken in a moment but can do this while watching

Hi why can I hear anna now?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Let's do this!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mum you there?

Owls Are Silly

You can hear me cos we're all in a party together

Owls Are Silly

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED

Modestly Cautious Owl

She thought Elle's voice was you on a whatsapp call

Modestly Cautious Owl

Type Mum

Modestly Cautious Owl

then i will start this partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

What? Start the bloody film!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yeah!

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Please translate all the pretty signs

Modestly Cautious Owl

This is a story about a tiny fox that lived in a shoe

oh yeah

Is this a childrens film

Modestly Cautious Owl

How dare you

aaah so sweet

Owls Are Silly

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

It looks like Anna in that ballerina picture where she has her hair tied back

Owls Are Silly

it's so cute

Modestly Cautious Owl

Why you pausing?!

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

I didn't

Modestly Cautious Owl

Look at the chat list. Yes you did!

Owls Are Silly

oh yes

Owls Are Silly

oops

Owls Are Silly

are they insane?

Owls Are Silly

oh

Owls Are Silly

she does move

Owls Are Silly

i was getting chicken and missed that

Owls Are Silly

ugh. Babies

Modestly Cautious Owl

She appeared in a bamboo shoot

Modestly Cautious Owl

A glowing bamboo shoot

Owls Are Silly

of course

Owls Are Silly

that's how we all become

why has she reverted to babyhood?

Owls Are Silly

the whole stork thing is a smokescreen

Owls Are Silly

the film anticipated your question mum :)

Owls Are Silly

SHE'S A MONSTER

have you eaten Annie? Sorry should be a comma after eaten!

Owls Are Silly

am eating now

Modestly Cautious Owl

Strangrely ugly baby

not now

Owls Are Silly

not sure her parents are the brightest sparks

Owls Are Silly

you can tell she's adopted

Modestly Cautious Owl

They haven't really worked out how it works yet have they?

I have a lot of time for older parents!

Owls Are Silly

what happened there?

Owls Are Silly

did she shut them up and also wtf is happening

Owls Are Silly

why is he clapping?

Modestly Cautious Owl

He's getting her to walk

Modestly Cautious Owl

geez keep up

to bring her to him ...

Owls Are Silly

mum you never carried ME in a wicker basket

Owls Are Silly

you're a bad parent

Owls Are Silly

clearly

Modestly Cautious Owl

agreed

Oh yes I did - it was a moses basket - it was when we left you with our neighbours by accident

Owls Are Silly

hahahaha

Owls Are Silly

well there's no way of coming back from that

I had only had a little to drink..

Owls Are Silly

wait

Owls Are Silly

this is a true story, isn't it?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Of course

cant you tell..

Owls Are Silly

james just popped his head in and said 'oh, is that princess k(i've forgotten the name but he got it right)

Owls Are Silly

you guys should really meet

she really is a bamboo, isn't she?

Owls Are Silly

she's not singer, that's for sure

Owls Are Silly

*a

Owls Are Silly

good lord

Owls Are Silly

they should discourage that immediately

Modestly Cautious Owl

Beautiful

Modestly Cautious Owl

A regular britney

Owls Are Silly

oof. won't end well in that case

Owls Are Silly

it's a tooth you moron

Modestly Cautious Owl

Not it ain't

Owls Are Silly

oh. maybe not

Owls Are Silly

FINE

Owls Are Silly

it looked like a baby tooth

no its gold - now they are rich

Modestly Cautious Owl

Clearly don't know your Japanese folk tales

Owls Are Silly

they don't care for money

this is ture

true

Owls Are Silly

they are simple people with honest values

Owls Are Silly

they'd probs vote for Trump

Owls Are Silly

a romance approaches

Owls Are Silly

ten to fifteen minutes before she falls for ponytail

dont think you know your politics. Trump may be lots of things but not Japanese..

Owls Are Silly

lemons?

Owls Are Silly

no

Owls Are Silly

mangos? what are they?

melons

Owls Are Silly

ohhh

Modestly Cautious Owl

big juicy melons

Owls Are Silly

that's what he said

you clearly dont know your fruti

Owls Are Silly

(sorry)

Modestly Cautious Owl

Here he comes

Owls Are Silly

well he looks like a massive threat

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha

Modestly Cautious Owl

Is he putting the melon back with its friends?

Owls Are Silly

forced proximity/danger

Owls Are Silly

childhood romance step 1

Owls Are Silly

she only needs to get a tiny bit older

Owls Are Silly

new experiences childhood romance step 2

Owls Are Silly

bet she grows older while eating the melon

you have definately read to many romances

Modestly Cautious Owl

She ripens

Owls Are Silly

Hahaha it's like it's a metaphor or something

Owls Are Silly

if only it were less obscure...

so what do all the robes mean

Owls Are Silly

they are rubbish robes for garbage people

see I was right about gold!!!

Owls Are Silly

you totally were

Modestly Cautious Owl

Or it's a pot of baby teeth

Owls Are Silly

i bow to your expertise. and am not at all shaken to the core that once you left me with the neighbors and they had to bring me back in a fragile wicker basket out of which I could have fallen

Modestly Cautious Owl

And that's the main curency in Japan at the time

Owls Are Silly

(in case you were wondering)

Owls Are Silly

i'm really not sure about the 'music' in this film

No we remembered you just as we got to our front door and went back for you. The moses basket was strong and safe. You loved it.

Owls Are Silly

maybe it's better in japanese?

Modestly Cautious Owl

You're not listening to it dubbed are you?

Owls Are Silly

hmm. Ok. But only because actually I think I remember that basket

Owls Are Silly

yes!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Fool!

who is the other baby?

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

jumped to 27:26

Owls Are Silly

ohhhh

Modestly Cautious Owl

Who has subtitles on?

Owls Are Silly

changed it

Owls Are Silly

me

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mum?

Owls Are Silly

alice was being loud

Owls Are Silly

but don't we need them?

Modestly Cautious Owl

The other baby is just a baby

Owls Are Silly

now it's in japanese

Modestly Cautious Owl

We need subtitles

Modestly Cautious Owl

Not dubbed!

np dont have subtitles on. Should I?

Owls Are Silly

wait I'm still paused

Modestly Cautious Owl

Me too

me too

Modestly Cautious Owl

It should be in Japanese!

Owls Are Silly

oh that baby confused me

Modestly Cautious Owl

I paused it

Modestly Cautious Owl

Are you both watching with English audio?

Are we all paused in same place

Owls Are Silly

i was

Owls Are Silly

now i've changed to japanese and english subtitles

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yes we are

Owls Are Silly

didn't realise you could change. was a fool of a took

Owls Are Silly

was annoyed it was dubbed and everything

How?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Thought you were being unreasonably mean about her singing!

are you still paused

Modestly Cautious Owl

How what?

Modestly Cautious Owl

MUM!

Owls Are Silly

It. Was. Terrible

Owls Are Silly

how do you change audio she means

Modestly Cautious Owl

Do you have it in Japanese audip?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Or English?

no in english and its still paused

Modestly Cautious Owl

Change it to Japanesr

Modestly Cautious Owl

It will ruin the film in English probably

Modestly Cautious Owl

Unless you really want english?

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

oh that's already better

done . unpaure

Owls Are Silly

the american dubbed voices were SO annoying

Modestly Cautious Owl

Very. I watched so many in English before I realised how much better they are in Japanese

Owls Are Silly

peril/rescue/accidental fall on top of each other romance trope 3)

Owls Are Silly

hair down! helping wounded hero romance trope 4)

Owls Are Silly

and 5)

ive got to bit shere he is bleeding after falling. Are you further ahead?

Owls Are Silly

we are all in the same place mum

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

that's how it works

Modestly Cautious Owl

We're all watching together!

Modestly Cautious Owl

It's at the same point

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

it pauses for everyone at the same time

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

See

Modestly Cautious Owl

?

so if I pause it we all pause?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yes

Wow that's so cool

Owls Are Silly

mmm oyster mushrooms

wgat?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Tasty

what?

Modestly Cautious Owl

They found mushrooms

Owls Are Silly

oh dear

Owls Are Silly

their faces are vv sad :(

Im a bit confused. Did they already go to capital with gold/teech?

Owls Are Silly

look at his blocky little eyebrows

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yes

Modestly Cautious Owl

He's been a few times

Owls Are Silly

OH NO

Owls Are Silly

romance interrupted until he comes back suddenly when she's a princess

Modestly Cautious Owl

dum dum duuuuuummmmm

Owls Are Silly

creepy

Modestly Cautious Owl

`The weird littlegirl is great

Owls Are Silly

(them not you)

Owls Are Silly

beautiful drawings

Owls Are Silly

why is her head so big?!

where are mum and dad?

Owls Are Silly

unsure

Owls Are Silly

i love that the servants have no faces

I think the plot is a little complex for me...

Modestly Cautious Owl

The films will answer all

Owls Are Silly

WTAF

what does that mean?

Owls Are Silly

they are insane. I knew it

Owls Are Silly

What The Actual Fuck

Owls Are Silly

oh wow. It's like Clueless!

Owls Are Silly

it's a walk in wardrobe!!!

Owls Are Silly

THE DREAM

Not romance - rags to riches then back again I suspect

Owls Are Silly

still a romance. if she gets arrogant he'll come back and remind her of simpler things

Owls Are Silly

but suspect she'll stay good

shes forgotten all her old friends and the pheasant asserole

Modestly Cautious Owl

Asserole. Hahaha

Owls Are Silly

this new lady is the bird from The Lion King

Modestly Cautious Owl

Spot on

Owls Are Silly

brace for a song

Owls Are Silly

I just stood with a swish

its my fair lady - She's Eliza Dolittle but Japanese

Owls Are Silly

yes, both

Owls Are Silly

or The Princess Diaries

Owls Are Silly

awesome

Owls Are Silly

i want one

Owls Are Silly

ha. bird lady's face is amazing

Modestly Cautious Owl

All the rich makeup looks absolutely ridiculous

Modestly Cautious Owl

I wonder if it really looked like that

Owls Are Silly

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

oops

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

didn't mean to do that but also do need another glass of wine

Owls Are Silly

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

K you start when you're back

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

Wait for Anna!

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video at 41:08

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

Stop it!

Modestly Cautious Owl

You're a menace!

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video at 41:19

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video at 41:27

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video at 41:34

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

I win

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

updated their user icon or nickname

Owls Are Silly

paused the video

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

paused the video at 41:41

started playing the video at 41:46

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 41:48

Owls Are Silly

paused the video at 41:41

started playing the video at 41:49

Owls Are Silly

paused the video at 41:41

started playing the video at 41:51

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 41:53

Owls Are Silly

paused the video at 41:41

started playing the video at 41:55

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 41:58

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 42:00

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 42:03

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 42:06

Modestly Cautious Owl

What;s hapening?!

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video at 41:43

started playing the video at 42:08

Modestly Cautious Owl

jumped to 41:43

jumped to 42:10

Modestly Cautious Owl

jumped to 41:44

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

started playing the video at 42:11

started playing the video at 41:44

Owls Are Silly

did I miss something?

Owls Are Silly

was just getting a glass of wine and more chicken - is why I paused it!

Owls Are Silly

started playing the video

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

stop pausing it!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Wait!

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video at 41:06

Owls Are Silly

jumped to 41:59

Modestly Cautious Owl

I jumped back

Modestly Cautious Owl

Anna have you missed stuff?

paused the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mum?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Why u pause?

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

i'm not sure but keep going

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video at 40:42

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

last I saw she was being an awesome princess

Modestly Cautious Owl

OK!

Modestly Cautious Owl

I'm going back

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

There

Modestly Cautious Owl

She's with her mum

Owls Are Silly

but now she's sad about a banquet

Modestly Cautious Owl

You havent missed anything

Owls Are Silly

ok :)

are we still all together?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yes

Owls Are Silly

huh. She's started her period?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yep

Owls Are Silly

i didn't get a party

Owls Are Silly

we are barbarians

whi is party bat?

Owls Are Silly

if I'd had a banquet I'd be a true princess now

Owls Are Silly

adam is

Modestly Cautious Owl

I'm sure you already are

Owls Are Silly

(party bat)

Modestly Cautious Owl

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

No I'm not

but you werent a bat at the beginning. how do you do that?

Modestly Cautious Owl

I'm cautious owl

Owls Are Silly

Mine won't let me update :(

I seem to be a slab if chocolate with wrapping torn

Owls Are Silly

blackened teeth?

Owls Are Silly

bizaare

was regarded as a sign of beauty

like tiny feet in china

Modestly Cautious Owl

Nothing says beauty like charcoaled gu,s

Modestly Cautious Owl

gums

Owls Are Silly

i wonder if our tiny waist thing is as weird to China and Japan

Owls Are Silly

wait. So they've just decided she's a princess?

Owls Are Silly

of what?

shes rich

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good point

Modestly Cautious Owl

of bamboo

Owls Are Silly

so weird: https://www.google.com/search?q=black+teeth+sign+of+beauty+japan&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB813GB813&sxsrf=ALeKk01Jj0HRPWQqr6UMocL3zEpwZlGAww:1586723545995&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=2ktdF6h7QNxu-M%253A%252CnydedQvb2VsS0M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSVjvMlu0VI7H6W9ghvTWkAnAaO3Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb8cLq3ePoAhXPa8AKHYOMAiAQ_h0wAHoECAoQBA#imgrc=YsRLA4aMcYvfwM

Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

didnt you believe your mum?

Owls Are Silly

I did! Genuinely, just curious about why

Owls Are Silly

she gets a whole ceremony for her hair?!

Owls Are Silly

oh dear. also the dad is adorable

back to her roots? Trope 5?

Owls Are Silly

that was beautiful

Owls Are Silly

and no. think it's gone jane eyre for a bit

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha, I was thinking more harry potter

Owls Are Silly

her parents will be worried :(

Modestly Cautious Owl

Is it Jane Eyre where she becomes a roaming mad woman?

no

Owls Are Silly

not quite but sort of

Owls Are Silly

she lets the hills embrace her

Owls Are Silly

it's a whole thing

Modestly Cautious Owl

There is something else I'm thinking of where that does happen

Owls Are Silly

is she where her old village was?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yeah

yes wuthering heights. Heathcliffe and Catherine

Owls Are Silly

she needs to go back to the capital! her poor parents

Owls Are Silly

they haven't even done anything wrong

Owls Are Silly

ohhhhh

Owls Are Silly

'and it was only a dream'

Modestly Cautious Owl

Or is this the dream?

Owls Are Silly

well she's fucked that up

maybe not. maybe magic

Owls Are Silly

give her back her brows!

Modestly Cautious Owl

See how beautiful she is now?

Modestly Cautious Owl

It's like drag race

I feel you are not very culturally aware...

Owls Are Silly

noooooooo

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yeah racist

Owls Are Silly

the bird could totally escape that cage

Owls Are Silly

the holes were massive

Owls Are Silly

you don't need to open it love it's barely a cage

she has feed him. She is a good person

freed!

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beautiful blossom :)

paused the video

started playing the video

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a deliberate pause mum?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Seems not

no i dont think it was me

Owls Are Silly

yes, guessed once it started!

Owls Are Silly

uh oh. I suspect he's not a good man

Owls Are Silly

he has EvilBrows(TM)

Modestly Cautious Owl

Arch evil. I'm envious

nicely done face into wheel

Owls Are Silly

first made popular by Jafar

Owls Are Silly

Jaffar maybe

Owls Are Silly

spelling is hard

Modestly Cautious Owl

Or Bryan Blessed as Ming in Flash Gordon

I hope she refueses him

Owls Are Silly

she will see straight through him and his brows

make them do a competition

Owls Are Silly

where is her mum?!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Gardening

coronoviras got her

Owls Are Silly

#dark

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hahaha he just looks so clearly evil

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fine, fine, boring, EVIL, fine

Modestly Cautious Owl

I love the music in this so much. Reminds me of old Disney soundtracks

Owls Are Silly

i think this guy spits when he talks

Owls Are Silly

swipe left princess

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha was going to say that

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fire-rat fur?! is that... good?

Modestly Cautious Owl

He doesn't think so

Owls Are Silly

yeah, Evil(TM) nailed it

Owls Are Silly

ugh. soppy

I hope she takes the little one - he looks kind...

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no wonder my love life is doomed

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at this point i'd go evil

Owls Are Silly

second from the left is sort of hot

told you - a competition

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get in

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love a compettiion

Modestly Cautious Owl

Kind of a competition. Kind of a deliberately impossible task

Owls Are Silly

that's awesome

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she's clever

I think the right word is quest. I dont think she wants to marry any of them and can you blame her

Owls Are Silly

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Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

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has owl forgotten how to type?

Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

updated their user icon or nickname

Anna where are you?

Modestly Cautious Owl

She is the most cautious owl

Owls Are Silly

Adam is only modest

Owls Are Silly

(he lost)

Owls Are Silly

(or was the bigger owl)

Modestly Cautious Owl

I high roaded

Owls Are Silly

(one or the other)

Modestly Cautious Owl

We both won in our own ways

how much have you had to drink tonight

Owls Are Silly

yes. yours was a modest win

Owls Are Silly

and i have had two glasses of wine

Owls Are Silly

soon to have a third though

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yours was a Trump like victory

Owls Are Silly

so I have a golden tower and am president?

how many owls are there? Is Anna an owl too?

Owls Are Silly

sounds dreadful

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yes! I am the Most Cautious Owl

Owls Are Silly

wait I got distracted

very confusing... how do I get to be mother owl?

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what happened?

Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

They went to see blosssoms. She bumped into a child and the woman apologiesd profusely because she's a princess and it made her sad

Owls Are Silly

beautifully summarised

Owls Are Silly

hahahaha ponytail!

Owls Are Silly

Jasmine/Street Rat

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called it

Modestly Cautious Owl

But more brutal

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yes is horrid

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SAVE HIM

Owls Are Silly

you're a princess!

Owls Are Silly

updated their user icon or nickname

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mm you still awake?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mum

Owls Are Silly

she has been quiet

yes. Trying to work out what has happened and whyu ehy are back and poor again

Owls Are Silly

wait is she still a princess? assume not?

Modestly Cautious Owl

She is

Owls Are Silly

I'm with you mum

Owls Are Silly

the drawings are gorgeous

if so why. If not, why not?

Modestly Cautious Owl

They had a little hut at the back remember?

Owls Are Silly

ohhh yes

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but no silly makeup

Owls Are Silly

someone's been on the whiskey

Owls Are Silly

ewww

Owls Are Silly

maybe the father isn't adorable after all

Owls Are Silly

was this the one you thought looked kind?

no he wa smuch younger

Owls Are Silly

this is like Gregg from Masterchef tasting a dessert that he likes

Owls Are Silly

very dramatic

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and equally false

but imagine having to marry him!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha. Makes me think of an am dram person who thinks they are a lot better than they are

Owls Are Silly

haha - yes, v much so

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EvilBrow? Or Ponytail?

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oh

Modestly Cautious Owl

Whoops

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busted

Owls Are Silly

the dad is just not the brightest gold tooth in the bamboo is he

Modestly Cautious Owl

yeah. Well meaning, but a bit slow

nice bit of smatter thought

Owls Are Silly

this is like the guy in goa mum

though not thought

Owls Are Silly

'I shall light this pashmina on fire'

you are right - a ture salesman

true

Owls Are Silly

don't do it it's pretty!

impressive trick

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dear oh dear

so rat fur should not burn?

Owls Are Silly

'they say that to marry you, he has put away his wife'

Owls Are Silly

sounds like an upstanding sort of chap

Owls Are Silly

it's the hot one! wishing him luck from afar

hes quite fit

Modestly Cautious Owl

Smooth

Owls Are Silly

very smooth

Owls Are Silly

he'd do well in corporate life, I feel

Owls Are Silly

could make anything seem like it was a deliberate strategy

you cynical lot

Modestly Cautious Owl

The company collapsed to make us all learn a lesson

so he is on furlogh

Owls Are Silly

apparently so since he's got time for all these dancing fish

Owls Are Silly

wait what

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nuns?

thats the one I meant

Owls Are Silly

oh he is sweet

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awww

Modestly Cautious Owl

And dead

Owls Are Silly

so is that!

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oh dear

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poor short one

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also how come she isn't already old?

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does she just get to be, like, 18 and then pause indefinitely?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yeah, seems it slows down suddenly

i wish

can we pause. i need to go to loo and get more chocolate

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

'and I'll wear a courtier's cap'

Owls Are Silly

he's the one that should be on drag race

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha, particularly with a line like that

Owls Are Silly

am popping to the loo also - don't start twithout me

Owls Are Silly

ha, yes, and the frozen expression is perfect

Owls Are Silly

now going to the loo

ok?

only me?

Modestly Cautious Owl

I'm here

Modestly Cautious Owl

You following it?

sort of. off we go

started playing the video

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

am back

Modestly Cautious Owl

Cool

Modestly Cautious Owl

Start it Mum!

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

everythign he's saying is more and more drag race

wheres chat room gone

Owls Are Silly

we are here

Modestly Cautious Owl

You're typing in it...

Owls Are Silly

also that lack of an apostrophe is killing me

Owls Are Silly

he's not very smooth

Owls Are Silly

had expected more from an emperor

Owls Are Silly

at least a cup of tea

ive lost you all

Owls Are Silly

no you are here

Owls Are Silly

paused the video

left

Owls Are Silly

mum is trying to sign back in

Modestly Cautious Owl

What happened?

Modestly Cautious Owl

She was typing into the chat room

Owls Are Silly

yes i know

joined

Owls Are Silly

she's going to speak to you

Modestly Cautious Owl

I can't get through to her

Owls Are Silly

ooh mum you're back

Modestly Cautious Owl

Yeah!

Modestly Cautious Owl

What happened?

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

i don't know. maybe her wifi dropped out?

im bacj

Owls Are Silly

mum are you there?

Owls Are Silly

yay!

or even back

Modestly Cautious Owl

whoop

who is he

Modestly Cautious Owl

paused the video

Owls Are Silly

the emperor

Modestly Cautious Owl

How much have you missed?!

hes so young

Owls Are Silly

he loves her now cos he saw her playing an instrument

why are we paused

Owls Are Silly

and because she refused to come to the capital

Modestly Cautious Owl

Because you were asking who he was!

so hes a genuinley good egg

shall we start up?

Owls Are Silly

hmm don't think so

Modestly Cautious Owl

started playing the video

Owls Are Silly

his courting approach was to hug her suddenly from behind

Owls Are Silly

even tinder is better than that

do do tinder for pensioners?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Probably

Owls Are Silly

ooh, twist

Modestly Cautious Owl

Off he goes

Owls Are Silly

she's a MUCH better singer now

i sense a sad ending coming up

Owls Are Silly

no

Owls Are Silly

i think happy

Owls Are Silly

am determined

Owls Are Silly

ponytail is still in the wings

he didn't look a very good prospect though

Modestly Cautious Owl

What because he stole a chicken?

Owls Are Silly

ginger has flowers?!

Modestly Cautious Owl

I guess so!

yup

Modestly Cautious Owl

And looks like tiny figurines apparently

Owls Are Silly

is that ponytail?

hes narrued wuth kid?

Owls Are Silly

maybe he'll put away his wife

Owls Are Silly

i sense a chip

Modestly Cautious Owl

Lots of places to 'disappear' in that bamboo forrest

she is moral so is he. Maybe it wasnt his wife or kid

Owls Are Silly

his plans aren't great

Owls Are Silly

'i'll carry you on my back'

Owls Are Silly

NO

he is rather shouty

Owls Are Silly

don't be silly

Owls Are Silly

he's clearly insane

Owls Are Silly

i'm sad he's lost his ponytail

how come they can fly now

Owls Are Silly

(i meant 'don't be silly at the princess not you mum, just in case)

Owls Are Silly

and i think it's a metaphor for sex?

Modestly Cautious Owl

because

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oh

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moral MY ARSE

Modestly Cautious Owl

yup

Owls Are Silly

apparently japanrese men are garbage

he was momentarily seduced by magic

Modestly Cautious Owl

It's the life he could have had

Owls Are Silly

spose

Modestly Cautious Owl

See how great she is!

Owls Are Silly

awwww

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nooo

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!!!

now im crying

Owls Are Silly

this is so sad

Owls Are Silly

WHY

Owls Are Silly

this better get better, brother

now you know why moon is so bright tonight

Modestly Cautious Owl

Mum wins :)

Modestly Cautious Owl

Sorry!

Owls Are Silly

WTF

boo hoo

Modestly Cautious Owl

Was quite enjoying you predict everything!

Owls Are Silly

but she wanted to stay

Modestly Cautious Owl

Knew you weren't going to guess that one!

Owls Are Silly

why would that happen?

thenks for organising. Lets go for a comedy next time!

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha yea

Owls Are Silly

isn't world sad enough?!

Modestly Cautious Owl

and probably not subtitled

Modestly Cautious Owl

I think it's so beautiful though

Owls Are Silly

that was a beautiful film

Ok more of the jap drama

Modestly Cautious Owl

No! Comedy, I agree!

Owls Are Silly

not sure about 'jap' mum...

Owls Are Silly

but yes for comedy

I thought you might pick that up!

Modestly Cautious Owl

nese drama?

Owls Are Silly

better

Owls Are Silly

anese

whats nese

Owls Are Silly

surely

Modestly Cautious Owl

anese

whats anese

Owls Are Silly

the second bit of japanese

Modestly Cautious Owl

Jap

Modestly Cautious Owl

anese

thats the best laught I've had all eavening

Owls Are Silly

at anese?

Modestly Cautious Owl

Probably at Jap

at avoiding jap

Modestly Cautious Owl

Haha

Owls Are Silly

is there a sequel?

good night my lovely offspring. Sleep tight and feam of moons and stars

Modestly Cautious Owl

There is not

Modestly Cautious Owl

Good night ma

Owls Are Silly

night mum :) xx

Modestly Cautious Owl

It is a really old japanese fold tale

xxx

Modestly Cautious Owl

Night sister!

Owls Are Silly

well it sucks

Modestly Cautious Owl

haha

Owls Are Silly

night both! xx

Modestly Cautious Owl

We could make a sequel?

Modestly Cautious Owl

A raid on the moon?

Owls Are Silly

sleep well. Can we do this again please?

Owls Are Silly

it is fun

Modestly Cautious Owl

Agreed :)

it is fun

yes please

Owls Are Silly

I like being able to bitch during the film without being told to shut up

exactly

Modestly Cautious Owl

I can bring that in if you want to make it more like the real thing?

Modestly Cautious Owl

left

left

Owls Are Silly

that seemed sudden

Owls Are Silly

good night guys. xx