One of Thomas' patients complain to Leonora that she needs to see the doctor urgently (even though she's pretty much fine) and invokes The Patient's Charter:
...a United Kingdom government document, which sets out a number of rights for NHS patients. It was originally introduced in 1991, under the then Conservative government, and was revised in 1995 and 1997.
Various stakeholders have criticized the charter for reasons widely ranging from not offering sufficient support to trans-gender patients to increasing attacks on hospital staff.
I have nothing to add to that except to wonder why it would increase harassment to hospital staff...Thomas likes Bath Oliver biscuits and has to special order them in the village shop:
is a hard, dry cracker made from flour, butter, yeast and milk; often eaten with cheese. It was invented by a Dr. William Oliver of Bath, Somerset around 1750, giving the biscuit its name. When Dr Oliver died, he bequeathed to his coachman, Mr Atkins, the recipe for the famous Bath Oliver biscuit, together with £100 and ten sacks of the finest wheat-flour. Mr. Atkins promptly set up his biscuit baking business and became rich.
Best story behind what sounds like a glorified Wheat Thin ever.
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| Maybe that's Finch, right there. |
A Kind of Magic:
They take The Royal Scotsman (a luxury train) on their tour of Scotland. Each of the cars are named and they are: Snipe, Raven, Victory, Amber, Pearl, Topaz, and Finch
It's enough to send me to the booking website. The train looks awesome and the kind of place in which you'd probably have to wear nylons and cross your legs at the ankles decorously...
Aunt Carrie is married in Tron Church in Edinburgh. (I know what you're thinking. It's a Geek Dream come true. A Church of Tron.) I found two seemingly contradictory statements about it online and wonder if I stumbled into another church similarly named (Though that seems odd):
- It was built in the 17th century, and closed as a church in 1952. It was briefly a tourist information centre, but as of 2008 it is unused.
- Still today the congregation is noted for being on the evangelical wing of the Church.
Plain Bath Olivers? Boring. But Chocolate Bath Olivers? Delish. Ooh, and that website looks like it could -- for LOTS of money! -- stock us up with all kinds of Great Betty-worth foods!
ReplyDeleteI know a man who was pastor at St George's Tron Church in Glasgow. I wonder if that's why you're getting conflicting information? (This guy could read the telephone book and it would have me hanging on the edge of my seat. As it is he's a brilliant speaker and has published several books so he has good stuff to say every time he opens his mouth, it seems. Of course, I would think his wife and children would have a different opinion ;-) But his accent is lovely!)
ReplyDeleteThere are several websites where one can buy stuff from across the pond, including various baked goods from The Netherlands and Britain. Some are outrageous while others are just a bit pricey. I'll have to find the URL for the one that's least offensive to my purse.
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Betty Barbara here--
ReplyDeleteBut this Betty is soooo confused! Who is this Thomas you have cavorting with our Leonora?? In my copy of Daughter of the Manor, our RBD (Rich British Doctor) is Dr JAMES Galbraith.
Plain Bath Oliver Biscuits, with a nice, spreadable bleu cheese--Yummy! Or with Boursin or any other garlic/herb soft cheeses. Yummy again!
Some of my BookCrossing friends are passing around a Tea Box (by mail, of course). It came to me this week!
ReplyDeleteInside is a Tea Journal, many kinds of teas and tea bags, and a lovely little book about Tea and Friendship.
In that is a recipe for Mock Devonshire Cream that looks lovely.
Combine 1 cup sour cream with 1 cup heavy cream and 2-3 heaping spoon of confectioners sugar (powdered sugar). Put in a seal-able glass jar and leave overnight on your kitchen counter. Refrigerate it the following morning. This will keep about two weeks in the Frig.
If you prefer it unsweetened leave out the sugar. Spread on Bath Oliver Biscuits. Use on cobbler or other fruit desserts.Or Dump in Great Mock Lashings on Betty Keira head.
(IE:In summary, my lashings of whipped cream are dumped on Betty Keira's head while she enjoys the cheese *laugh. - Betty Jo Dee)
Betty Mary - I may just have to try your Mock Devonshire Cream. Betty Magdalen sent some of the real stuff to Betty Keira and me...it was heavenly - but I have not found it locally or even semi-locally.
ReplyDeleteBetty Debbie
ReplyDeleteMy local Safeway carried a Devonshire Cream, but the one near Betty Margaret does not. Strange-as we live maybe 15 miles apart!
Maybe a Whole Foods? I don't know West Coast grocery stores by name.
Maybe you can answer my original question--who is this Thomas that Betty Keira wants to insert into Daughter of the Manor?
Betty Barbara, hungry and confused.
I'll have to check the local Safeway...the nearest Whole Foods is in Seattle (about a 45 minute drive).
ReplyDeleteBesides Safeway, in my neck of the woods we also have Fred Meyer (a Northwest chain, now owned by Krogers), Albertsons, Haggen(Washington & Oregon), Winco(Western states), IGA, and Walmart.