(no subject)

[turps]

Well, it's February, which means the first birthday cluster of the year is coming up soon, though the cluster is smaller now with only 3 within about 9 days, whereas before nanna and grandad died it was 5, with Valentine's day right in the middle of that.

But yeah, I know that a lot of people don't like Feb, but for me it's when the kidlet was born, so it's a great month.

We went to a Mexican fusion restaurant last night. It's opposite the theatre so is perfectly placed, and was a really cool place. But I do think their scale of what's hot or not is a bit skewed. James really can't take much spice, but was reassured that the tacos were mild, and they really weren't. They were delicious, but in no way were they mild. I had the chicken taco and James tried some seafood ones, including a soft shell crab, which looked really weird but he said was delicious.

Then we ended up at the theatre far too early as we thought it was a half seven start when in reality it started at eight. But we hung in the bar for a while and took some photos in the bed prop -- they're on my insta if you're interested, and eventually could go to our seats. We were in the stalls, aisle centre and had a great view, and I will never get over not having to worry about sitting next to a stranger and spilling into their space. I mean, it's not the roomiest of places but I still had room to move and get up and do the time warp with the rest of the audience.

It's been snowing on and off since last night and as usual, the roads are in chaos. This morning the little road that goes past my town was even mentioned on the national breakfast news because cars were getting stuck on the cut. It happens every year and you'd think the gritters and ploughs would be out before the first cars get stuck and block the road completely, but nope.

I got a comment from the person I wrote my Musketeers fandom stocking for. So that means I've had responses for them all and I can officially class FS as done and a success. Now bring on the next challenge.

Comments

[shadowhive]

Good luck with all the birthdays. It can get annoying with them all clustered together so hope they go ok.

I’m mostly ok with Feb, apart from Valentines (but then I never really celebrated it even when I was with people so...) but my Umbrella Academy hype is strong

That sounds cool, I’ve never been to a fashion restaurant (or really had Mexican food properly). I’ve always meant to try tacos sometime

That’s awesome! I might go to the Birmingham show, but I’d probably feel way out of place

It’s amazing that just a little snow can fuck things up so badly. It’s not snowed here thankfully, though I was concerned it would.

That’s awesome! Yay! The next thing is no tags right?

[turps]

February then September and October are killers for me in terms of birthdays. We have a few others dotted here and there but most of my family have birthdays in those three months, and all around one week in those months. I'd say they did it on purpose but I'd have to include myself in that too, in that case.

I exchange Valentine's cards with James but that's it. He's been firmly told that flowers etc are a no-no as they get hiked up in price so badly. It annoys me a bunch of flowers can double in price just because it's Valentine's.

But yeah, Umbrella Academy is an excellent reason to like this month.

We usually keep away from Mexican food due to the spice issue, but I liked this one and would go again, especially as they'll leave the sauce off completely if asked. It was a hole in the wall place really, wooden benches and chairs that could have come from school dining hall. But somehow it worked.

You should go if you can. Honestly, I don't think anyone would be out of place because the audience is so varied. Every age and body type, people dressed completely 'normally' and others strutting around in corsets, high heels and suspenders.

You'd think they would have learned to cope with snow by now, but it never happens. My town is in a dip and you have to go up hills to get out, the main road having been cut out of cliffs/rocks a very long time ago. Every year it gets gridlocked, and last year had to be shut completely due to snow hanging over the cliffs and causing an avalanche risk. It's ridiculous.

It is, yes.

[turlough]

Birthday clusters are such strange phenomenons. It's like it's genetically determined when you prefer to have babies! And that's just wrong!

February is an okay month, I've always thought. Much better than January!

I suspect that for someone used to hot food those dishes probably seemed very mild. Restaurants like that should probably get an outsider to scale their dishes for hotness.

So good to hear you'd a great time at the theater!

It's been snowing off and on here too for the last two days. The temperature keeps hovering around zero though so it's probably not going to stay long.

Congratulations to having conquered fandom stocking successfully!

[shadowhive]

Aww that’s crazy. October is my crazy month. It used to be my nan’s, then a family friend, then mine

Aww that’s sweet, but yeah it’s so crazy. Flowers, chocolates... they all go up. It’s crazy

Yeah, I’ll totally end up binging it that weekend

Oh that’s good, though I agree on the spice. I usually like Mexican spices, but air have had Mexican bean burgers and sometimes they’re nice and over times the spice is too much,

Awww cool, the tour comes here in May so maybe I will. If only to see Duncan dressed up

Oh wow that’s crazy!

[frausorge]

Crab tacos sound intriguing! But I'm with you on the skewed spice scale. I always feel like my mouth is burning even on from most "mild" dishes.

Yay for getting feedback! Your recips are lucky to have had you write for them.

[turps]

The soft shell crab was so weird looking. I've seen them on tv shows but actually seeing it, in reality, was strange, like a whole small crab had been plonked down and you needed to eat it.

I suspect authentic Mexican spice -- well, as authentic as a Mexican restaurant in the NE of England can get -- is different to the spice I'm used to. I'm very glad I didn't ask for a medium spice.

Thank you. That last one took a while for a comment to come through, so it was nice when it did.

[turps]

It is wrong! And especially so as it ends up so expensive.

January always seems to last forever, then February rushes past. Time really is funny like that.

I suspect that for someone used to hot food those dishes probably seemed very mild

Yeah, I think so too. They said they were going for the authentic Mexican tastes, and they have to be different to the spices used in chain restaurants. The food was still really tasty, I'm just glad we asked for mild.

It's still snowing here now. Everything looks so pretty with a few inches of snow and as it's still the soft, crunchy kind it's okay getting around, too. I enjoy this kind of snow when they've got the roads moving and you can walk without worrying about ice. However, it's supposed to be the coldest night for a long time tonight, so hope it doesn't ice over. But I know it could be much worse, some of the weather in the US atm is insane.

Thank you! This last recipient reply took a while to come in so I'm relieved it finally landed.

[wenchpixie]

Sounds like a great night (even with the spice thing - I think we're all calibrated a bit differently) and I am so pleased for you on the chair thing - theater seats can be SO narrow, and the shared armrests don't help.

[turlough]

Good luck surviving the cold night! I guess it's the same one that's supposed to reach us tomorrow night.

[brandywine28]

Birthday clusters can be exhausting! I swear, everyone I've ever met was born in either October or November!

[akamine_chan]

It's really weird to me that Rocky Horror has more formalized shows these days. To me, Rocky Horror was something that college students convinced local cinemas to show at midnight on a random Friday night. We'd show up with our toast and newpapers and spray bottles, get drunk, induct the virgins and do the Time Warp.

...I think I'm old now.

[turps]

That sounds fantastic.

The people behind us were talking about how you used to be able to take props and throw things at the stage, rice, waterguns etc, but how that had been banned now. I can get why, but it must have added in even more fun.

[akamine_chan]

I'd forgotten about the rice. :D

It was certainly more interactive, for sure.

[turps]

even with the spice thing - I think we're all calibrated a bit differently

I agree. But, more spicy than expected or not, the food was good.

I remember back when I went to my first theatre show and was so nervous about going due to the chair situation. I sat in the end seat and it was a bit tight but still doable and I looked around and said, maybe in the future we could sit in the middle seats. Not really expecting it to happen you know, because, strangers needing to be next to me. And now it keeps happening and I get a kick out of it every time.

[turps]

I swear, everyone I've ever met was born in either October or November!

Yep, but February, September and October for me. Spread them out a little, people!

[sylvaine]

Ooooh, Mexican fusion! The closest we have here is a Caribbean restaurant, but I've never been because the only person I go out eating with here can't have 90% of what they make. One day! *g*

How's the snow sitch? We had beautiful snow on Thursday and I was hoping it would stick around over the weekend, but by Friday evening it was raining again. :(

[turps]

A Caribbean restaurant sounds like it'll have a lot of tasty food. I feel your pain about not going there because of the person you eat out with, though. James really can't deal with spice, which is why it was the first time we'd been to that Mexican fusion place. I suspect we won't be going back anytime soon *g*

All the snow is gone, and now we've got flowers blooming and sun. Though the way the weather has been going lately I wouldn't be surprised to wake up to snow again at some point.