Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you

Have been interested in Holbein (and 16th century portraits in general) since GCSE art. His pencil drawings are weirdly almost more real than the fully developed paintings. Like you can almost reach into the page, yet there's so few marks on the paper. I'm not sure if it was a deliberate attempt to replicate 'warts and all' Roman portraiture, but the sense of them being real (rather than idealised or edited) people with stuff going on behind their eyes is still what means I can stare at them for hours.

The symbolism is quite fun as a sort of crossword clue as well.

Been out for my first squelchy snowy walk, and none of the people driving had cleared the squelchy snow off their car/van roofs... I'm genuinely surprised they don't know how dangerous it is when the snow slides forwards over the windscreen when they brake, given it does snow here rather more often than in Devon.

Why do people take their dogs into Pets At Home? I saw a family earlier struggling with two hyperactive Labradors that were helping themselves to stuff off the shelves. I know it’s a pet shop but you don’t actually have to take your pet in with you. It seems that people are taking their dogs everywhere these days, I can’t recall seeing dogs in town centres very often growing up but now I see loads and I’m not sure when it became an expectation they could go in cafes. I’d find it really stressful dealing with a dog in those crowds.

I briefly looked, but stopped before I had to throw my computer out of the window because of comments like this:

"Hi I am not sure about this one because ham is cured and I wonder if part of the curing process involves salt."

The inner workings of the brain of this person must be full of wonder.

You can cure meat without salt. Celery juice or powder is one alternative. The key component for preservation is nitrites or nitrates, rather than salt.

Pretty clear the person was referring to salt in the colloquial sense. Have a sigh back for being upset at someone not being a chemist.

Anyway, there's not much salt in bacon or ham fat, for obvious reasons.

Devastated. All that brain power thwarted 😁.

Google finally came through! What a relief.

Must try harder. 😉

I wish mine was only 200g. Still, things should quieten down this time next week, then I'll take proactive action.

Likewise, suspect mine will be more than that 🙄

I've got tomorrow morning earmarked for turning the rest of the turkeylet into a thing involving leak, onion, garlic, mushrooms and cream, so will need to keep up the exercise...

With you on that. All our presents from others were either hampers with decidedly unhealthy food and booze, or just booze, or restaurant vouchers. Ah well, nom, nom...

(At our stage of life we no longer need "objects", at least nothing within a normal present price range).

I am very unlikely to receive a BSO to the level I'd want though. Most people I know consider that to be the price of a car.

You won't get much for what I paid for my last car.

£700.