The Wednesday Hodgepodge #36

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately?

It has to be my armchair in the living room. It is my seat and no one else sits in it, it’s my little sanctuary! It has moulded itself to my body shape because I've spent so many just five minutes in it which somehow turned into an hour. hehehe My chair sees it all: blogging marathons, TV binges, lots of chats with my family, planning the week ahead, me making phone calls and even the occasional snack session. It’s one of those small comforts that makes a home feel like home.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu??

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan.

I’m really not a fan of squash at all. I’ve tried to make myself like it over the years, roasted, pureed, mashed and in soups but I just don't love it. If I had to choose one I’d probably go with butternut squash just because it’s the one I see most often in recipes and it blends into soups nicely so I don’t have to face its full flavour head on.

There are no Thanksgiving celebrations here, it's not something we celebrate on this side of the pond but I will be sat here drooling over all the amazing food photos that I see.

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed?

The last time I felt properly squashed in was 100% on the bus. It was one of those days where you think where it will be a quiet bus ride but no, it was like the entire town had decided to take that exact bus at that exact minute. People everywhere, bags everywhere and elbows everywhere. A guy with a huge rucksack ended up sitting next to me and he took more than his half of the seat all while I had a couple of shopping bags on my lap. Hmmf. Of course the driver took off like he was late for an important appointment and the guy was leaning into me, squishing me against the window. I was very glad to get off the bus at my stop.

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy?

I haven’t played squash since I was at school, back when PE teachers thought making us chase a tiny ball at full speed was character building but those racquet sports were my favourites too. Whacking a ball as hard as I could was a lot of fun! Tennis, badminton even a bit of ping pong, I loved all of that in PE lessons but only because I wasn't having to run the cross country in the rain.

I don’t really enjoy playing sports now, there's too much running and too much coordination involved, I much prefer watching from the side lines or on the TV from the comfort of my armchair.

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'.

Shrinkflation is absolutely a racket! You know those biscuit or chocolate bars that look like a normal treat on the shelf but when you open them they’re basically a bite sized version of what you remember. Crisps are getting smaller too with less in a packet. It’s pay more, get less and don’t ask questions. It’s not just food either, little everyday items seem to be shrinking while prices inch up. I can’t help but feel a bit puzzled every time I pick up something I used to buy as a full size only to find it’s now fun sized and barely counts and definitely isn't fun!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s funny how hearing snow forecast this week doesn’t make me excited like it used to. Snow days aren’t really a thing anymore, there’s never enough snow to actually make school or work close and no one gets the day off now. There's always just a light dusting that barely covers the grass and leaves everyone mutters about back in my day. My girls used to love it and would happily freeze before they would come back inside. I've said it now though, watch it snow lots and ruin my birthday plans over the next couple of days. lol