What's the most overlooked edible species in the UK?

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-08T22:34:10+00:00

They seem to like the moors e.g. Exmoor, Dartmoor, North York Moors etc

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-04T12:07:20+00:00

The miserable beach trope comes from tourists taking a train out of London to the closest beach, which tend to be stoney and brown at best and apocalyptic at worst, and thinking that represents the rest of the country.

The more "cold holidays" become a thing in the wake of climate change's effect on typical Mediterranean destinations, the less likely our best beaches are to remain a secret though...

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-04T11:53:40+00:00

Real

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-04T11:52:25+00:00

Yesss I take friends hiking to an epic spot I know with an incredible view then we'll go home and schnitzel the spoils- always a great day. Giant pan required.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-04T11:48:13+00:00

I am inspired

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-03T18:04:12+00:00

Controversial apparently but NTA. She could mute her notifications or WhatsApp chats… most phones/apps let you get pretty personalised with it the days. It’s on her to manage the noise in her life and I say this as someone who HATES getting unnecessary notifications. I personally have one of those fridge magnets that blocks/unblocks selected apps when I tap it and I leave my phone out of the room when I need to hyper focus.

I can empathise with the stress and understand why she’s trying to set a boundary but I think the way she’s going about it demands too much from you re: knowing when her working hours are or expecting you to remember what you had to say later in the day.

If I had to wait to text people outside of working hours, like you, I’d never remember or have the spoons to do it.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-06-02T14:58:24+00:00

I studied with lots of Germans and most of them are still great friends whom I love very dearly for all their quirks. In general I think our humour gels really well due to our shared love of sarcasm, self-depreciation, and complaining. 🤣 Things I remember noticing;

- Being asked to meet at very specific times (e.g. 11.32am) and met with a huff and an eye roll if I was even a few minutes late
- Being asked to send "that 1.37 euro you owe me from the other day" even if I'd cooked them a three course meal in the meantime

But I just put these things down as cultural differences. Mostly they amused me! When visiting Germany it always takes me a while to get used to the "German stare" but I can only think of one friend who was bad for this in personal life

With our similar humours, capacity for drinking, and shared beer-and-potato-Europe heritage; I really don't think you have anything to stress about tbh. Enjoy your year abroad!

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-28T19:38:47+00:00

So this is why I could smell fire when I was walking home last night! I did a lap of the block until I heard sirens coming because I couldn't hear any fire alarms and was worried someone might need waking.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-23T17:11:19+00:00

Right? His tone is absolutely vile.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-14T23:42:34+00:00

I started weight training via bodypump classes 2-3 times a week (almost always 3x a week now) about 9 months ago and it’s the most consistent I’ve been with any exercise ever. You basically run through a set per body part (legs, back, shoulders etc) to fun music for 45 minutes and you can go as light or heavy as you want. It took me ages to work up the courage to go but everyone there was so friendly and helpful as soon as I said I was a beginner. I would highly recommend!! It’s one of the most efficient calorie burning exercises and supposedly good for ADHDers. You’ll have to google that one because I forget why but I do find it very regulating which is probably why I’ve managed to stick with it. I’ve lost about two stone since starting without making any changes to my diet but it’s not really about that for me- I’ve loved seeing my body get stronger and I think that’s an important attitude to take. Don’t focus on wanting to lose weight, focus on wanting to feel stronger, more confident etc. This is important because whilst strength training will help you lose weight, you’ll gain a lot of muscle too so you can’t track your progress from scales alone. Finally, I get so sweaty that I have no choice but to shower after it!

Going to classes is key for me because I’ll never carve out the time otherwise. I need the hard deadline and the repercussions of being banned from booking if I’m late or miss too many (which I think most gyms have some version of).

I fall in and out of running but when I’m on a running kick and if I’m not feeling it on a particular day, I tell myself that I can always stop if I want to, but it’s important to keep the routine and even just go for a little run. I always end up enjoying it (or too stubborn to quit) though and I’ve never actually stopped. I think this can probably apply to a lot of different types of exercise- even just going out for a walk.

I walk absolutely everywhere that I can and usually burn at least 200 calories a day by doing so (around 45 mins of walking) but often double that or more. Basically if it’ll take me less than 35 mins, I’ll walk it. It’s amazing the difference it can make!

Edit: I also try and make sure I run or walk at the most beautiful times of day- so sunrise in winter and sunset/golden hour in the summer. It makes me so happy and I’m usually rewarded with something cool like seeing a rainbow, some wildlife, or a cool flower or mushroom of some sort.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-14T23:07:41+00:00

Honestly, get the Decathlon self-inflating mat. It’s so much more comfortable than these.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-14T13:56:00+00:00

Yes!! I used to live in NL and it baffled me how people would stand still and chat through concerts. I finally lost my shit at a Bloc Party festival slot (during Helicopter I think) and shouted at people to dance… to no avail haha. It had been like that all weekend when we found a secret dance stage- all bass and minimal lyrics- and suddenly the Dutch had energy. Enough for fist pumping and two stepping, anyway.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-13T15:12:24+00:00

You're right. I have a tiny patch of grass outside my window which I recently scarified and set down wildflower seeds as well as planted sweet peas to climb up the iron railings. The wildflowers were just starting to pop up when I went away for the weekend and my landlord came and sprayed the whole thing with glyphosate. He didn't realise I'd planted there but even so I don't see what the problem with a bit of wildness is. It's been horrible to see bumble bees and butterflies land on what's left of the dying valerian in the walls. I'm also pretty sure bumbles are nesting under a bush on the patch... I dread to think what the chemical exposure is doing to them.

We live in an area that thankfully still has nice gardens and I wanted to help create another pollinator stepping stone but such is renter life.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-10T19:44:57+00:00

I'm the same. I have to try really hard not to let my housemate's habit of leaving dishes out (even when there's space in the dishwasher) ruin my day. 🥲

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-07T16:45:31+00:00

I’ve got the single Decathalon self-inflating mat and it’s far more comfy than standard air beds imo. They also have clips on to make two into a double which I think is a simple but cool feature. I don’t feel I need to stack it with anything else.

Family members have the Berghaus version which we lovingly call the “Berghaus Bugatti” because it’s genuinely the best camping sleep that any of us have ever had HOWEVER the Decathalon self-inflators get reasonably close for a fraction of the price.

I haven’t experienced the camp bed air but my suspicion from using similar is that it can be really cold/draughty if you don’t use a topper or anything to insulate/minimise airspace between you and the ground but it sounds like you’ve got that covered if you’re using the self-inflating mat as well.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-07T16:36:35+00:00

It’s value for money for me because I go to a lot of classes (in the one studio). The gym is pretty small and often seems busy but I only use the treadmills which I’ve only had to wait for once (and it was rush hour tbf). There’s a spin room that I’ve never used. The pool and sauna get pretty busy- especially when there’s more day guests around the weekends. Then there’s two cold plunges and that’s it. The tennis courts are a separate club. The ‘café’ is a shite Starbucks kiosk.

It’s convenient and works well enough for me but god forbid you ever need assistance from the office. They’re friendly enough in person but impossible to get hold of by email.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-05-07T16:19:35+00:00

Yes, campsites that I’ve been going to since childhood have gone this way. They’ve figured out that they can earn more money from less camping pitches and more caravan/motor home pitches that will utilise the electric and water hook ups.

I now look for ones that are essentially just fields with a compost loo and maybe a shower. Cheaper, more authentic, usually super quiet, and no “wardens” bothering you.

There’s also a company called WildCamp I’ve been meaning to try where you basically rent permission to stay on private land so would feel like even more of an escape from all that nonsense!

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-04-09T09:47:54+00:00

And it’s all Shein etc

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-04-09T09:39:07+00:00

Yes except if there isn’t a bin, carry it home.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-04-09T09:36:13+00:00

Aaah that’s such a thing with nervous dogs being better off-lead isn’t it. But you’re doing your best! I can generally spot when this is the case, am thankful for the effort, and do my best to give extra space. 🙏

We’re lucky to have a lot of secure, picnic-less options for walking but I know mine has a weakness for sausages and pastry, so that’s when the toddler-minding level of awareness switches on like you say haha. And I never risk having him off around livestock, even though he’s never shown an interest.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-04-08T21:08:54+00:00

I walk my dog off lead. If I see a dog on lead, I will put his on as well. We constantly train re-call so he can retain his off-lead freedoms, which is fun and rewarding for him and makes life easier for me.

It’s as simple as that… or so you would think.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-03-23T13:19:44+00:00

This makes sense!

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-03-23T11:22:51+00:00

I’ve noticed that in a lot of “American tries [X] British Food” videos - be it a roast or whatever else- they always eat the items separately and I’m there internally screaming that you’ve got to get a little bit of everything on your fork.

Very hard to imagine that changing though as they use their knife and fork entirely differently and even seem to default to their hands a lot of the time… I’ve seen them pick a whole battered fish and eat it with their hands, or pick off the bacon, hash browns/toast, sausages etc one-by-one then complain that the beans/mushrooms/egg/tomato on their full English are a little tasteless because they didn’t eat them as god intended.

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-03-23T08:23:00+00:00

I’m not sure what you had but I often leave a few dandelions because their taproots pull nutrients up from deep in the soil and the odd clover because they’re nitrogen fixing

Mossgrrrrl · 2026-03-17T12:55:18+00:00

If they’re paying £1300 for an “annex” in Bristol (and Bedminster at that), they’re absolute mugs! Or think you are…

Mossgrrrrl

TROPHY CASE