The time has come to cast that vote. We have postal votes. When we first came here, the polling station was the local library. Unfortunately that had steps, so they ended bringing the polling booth & box out to me to vote sitting in the street. Since then we've voted by post.
Now we've had a new library built, on the same site, with easy wheelchair access, only opened this year. If the polling station is still there, then we're tempted to vote at the polling station once more in future. We both prefer actually going to the station to vote. But this time we're still voting by post, just as well as next Thursday we will be mid-air in the morning & strolling around Nice in the afternoon.
So who to vote for? I'm still dithering, but with it being a Bank Holiday, & therefore extra time needed to get the post through, I think I'll have to decide this morning so we can post them off this afternoon to ensure the vote arriving in time.
I know who I don't want to vote for, rather than who I do want to vote for. I certainly feel it's time for a change, but I'm not convinced the Conservatives are the change I want, or that they would even be preferable.
We have 5 candidates here, Labour, Conservatives, LibDem, UKIP & the Green Party. I've got it down to 2 parties, but which one I'm still not sure. But vote I will. I don't feel I have a right to complain unless I can at least make the effort to vote, so vote I will.
Friday 30 April 2010
Thursday 29 April 2010
White foam
I was just in the midst of eating my salmon when my eyes got distracted into the garden. Behind the garage roof there is an evergreen tree & beyond that are our neighbour's damson & hawthorn trees. I suddenly noticed appearing & disappearing white through the gaps in the foremost tree's branches. Glimpses of the rather brilliantly white sky? I thought at first. The damson & hawthorn trees have moved into more green garb as the leaves have taken over from their blossoms. Then I realised the white itself was moving in the gentle breeze. The pear tree had to have opened into blossom. That morning I'd noticed the buds were definitely showing a little white around the edges.
Once dinner was over I was out, the Fox close behind. The pear tree is indeed covered in a mass of blossom, truly beautiful. The cherry, too, on the other side is a mass of white. Just below the cherry is a spiraea which has become a fountain of white foam, a positive cascade of flowers. The buds on the apple tree are now starting to turn pink. It always seems to be a bit later than the pear. It should be flowering any day now.
And so we came to the evening. We popped the champagne, & a remarkable wine it turned out to be. It was just a Sainsbury's own vintage one, but it was so much better than many a more expensive marque one. The bubbles foamed up. Your mouth tingled with the onslaught of bubbles long before you drank any liquid. Once imbibed, the bubbles played on the tongue leaving a clean fresh taste, both citric & biscuity. We listened to some cool jazz & dreamt of France & our forthcoming holiday there. All in all a lovely evening.
Once dinner was over I was out, the Fox close behind. The pear tree is indeed covered in a mass of blossom, truly beautiful. The cherry, too, on the other side is a mass of white. Just below the cherry is a spiraea which has become a fountain of white foam, a positive cascade of flowers. The buds on the apple tree are now starting to turn pink. It always seems to be a bit later than the pear. It should be flowering any day now.
And so we came to the evening. We popped the champagne, & a remarkable wine it turned out to be. It was just a Sainsbury's own vintage one, but it was so much better than many a more expensive marque one. The bubbles foamed up. Your mouth tingled with the onslaught of bubbles long before you drank any liquid. Once imbibed, the bubbles played on the tongue leaving a clean fresh taste, both citric & biscuity. We listened to some cool jazz & dreamt of France & our forthcoming holiday there. All in all a lovely evening.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
A sense of urgency
The tickets have come. Somehow the holiday is taken on a reality that previously it lacked. Suddenly I feel a sense of urgency. It's time I had a look through the fridge & cupboards to make sure I use up any food that may go off.
Yesterday I planted out the coriander that has been sitting on the kitchen window the last few months. Basil Bush is hardening off. I'll get that out next week. They might as well be out there. At least then they have a chance of surviving. They certainly won't survive a fortnight inside without water while we're away.
Along with the tickets we were surprised to find a small book on Nice, which I'm hastily reading. If nothing else the photos are whetting our appetite.
But first we have a birthday to celebrate, the Fox's 60th. I can't see us doing much. We seem to have too many chores to do - prescriptions to collect, birthday cards to buy, shopping to do. But at least I'm hoping to do something a bit special for dinner, some salmon fillet parcels. I'm adding some ginger, soy, spring onions & peppers to give them a more Asian flavouring. I've already prepared some new potatoes ready to saute this evening. Apart from that, we've got a bottle of champagne which I'm hoping we'll open - a party for two. Quiet, but hopefully enjoyable.
Yesterday I planted out the coriander that has been sitting on the kitchen window the last few months. Basil Bush is hardening off. I'll get that out next week. They might as well be out there. At least then they have a chance of surviving. They certainly won't survive a fortnight inside without water while we're away.
Along with the tickets we were surprised to find a small book on Nice, which I'm hastily reading. If nothing else the photos are whetting our appetite.
But first we have a birthday to celebrate, the Fox's 60th. I can't see us doing much. We seem to have too many chores to do - prescriptions to collect, birthday cards to buy, shopping to do. But at least I'm hoping to do something a bit special for dinner, some salmon fillet parcels. I'm adding some ginger, soy, spring onions & peppers to give them a more Asian flavouring. I've already prepared some new potatoes ready to saute this evening. Apart from that, we've got a bottle of champagne which I'm hoping we'll open - a party for two. Quiet, but hopefully enjoyable.
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Flying feathers
My eye's caught by a flurry of movement outside the kitchen door. It's a pair of blackbirds. They're too involved in their battle to notice a pair of humans watching them not a yard away.
The fight is intense. They become a whirling spiral of black feathers, rising high in the air. They return to land to start again.
And the cause of all this activity? Across the gap in the nearby wall hops a female blackbird. She seems utterly nonchalant, seeking grubs to fill her tum. But, I suspect, until she decides which one she prefers these battles will continue. The feathers will continue to fly.
The fight is intense. They become a whirling spiral of black feathers, rising high in the air. They return to land to start again.
And the cause of all this activity? Across the gap in the nearby wall hops a female blackbird. She seems utterly nonchalant, seeking grubs to fill her tum. But, I suspect, until she decides which one she prefers these battles will continue. The feathers will continue to fly.
Monday 26 April 2010
Blossom time
It's the last Monday of the month once more, so we're off for a meal with the others tonight. This time we're dining at our local village pub. There will probably only be five of us - Fran & Den, Helen & us. I sometimes wonder if it's worth arranging these events when they're so badly attended. But the others do seem to appreciate them.
It's a duller morning today. The sun is trying to push its way through the cloud cover. I've just put my washing out on the line to dry. The breeze should do the job even if there isn't much heat.
At one point my eyes were drawn up the garden. As soon as all was pegged out I ventured down for an explore. What had caught my eye was a magnificent cherry tree which has come into bloom over the weekend.
I toodled on down the garden. Yes the other cherry was in bloom & looking magnificent too. I daresay this will be another summer when I'll be lucky to taste any of the fruit, the birds will have that pleasure. But I can't complain. I love to see the trees & birds.
Next to the second cherry is a silver birch. It was difficult to identify the tree until now as the shade is so dense there. The tree has now matured sufficiently to stretch up into the sunlight, with its silver bark luminous in the gloom.
I'm expecting the apple & pear trees to burst into flower any time. They're both covered in buds. I hope they open before we go away.
It's definitely tree blossom time. Our neighbour's huge damson tree is a mass of white. This tree overhangs our garden so I almost regard it as a feature of own garden. He also has a huge hawthorn also in flower & near our boundary fence. It's great to see all this new life & colour.
It's a duller morning today. The sun is trying to push its way through the cloud cover. I've just put my washing out on the line to dry. The breeze should do the job even if there isn't much heat.
At one point my eyes were drawn up the garden. As soon as all was pegged out I ventured down for an explore. What had caught my eye was a magnificent cherry tree which has come into bloom over the weekend.
I toodled on down the garden. Yes the other cherry was in bloom & looking magnificent too. I daresay this will be another summer when I'll be lucky to taste any of the fruit, the birds will have that pleasure. But I can't complain. I love to see the trees & birds.
Next to the second cherry is a silver birch. It was difficult to identify the tree until now as the shade is so dense there. The tree has now matured sufficiently to stretch up into the sunlight, with its silver bark luminous in the gloom.
I'm expecting the apple & pear trees to burst into flower any time. They're both covered in buds. I hope they open before we go away.
It's definitely tree blossom time. Our neighbour's huge damson tree is a mass of white. This tree overhangs our garden so I almost regard it as a feature of own garden. He also has a huge hawthorn also in flower & near our boundary fence. It's great to see all this new life & colour.
Sunday 25 April 2010
Back to normal
What a relief! A quiet evening, despite the fact I managed to catch my hand on the molten glaze when I was basting the joint. Yes, I've now got a couple of blisters on my fingers, but they're only small & I know they're only minor burns. They just mean I'm writing this with only four fingers on one hand.
After our roast pork, & discovering we've still not won our millions on the lottery, we settled down to a bottle of rose & a couple of CDs. Life is almost back to normal.
And isn't it great!
After our roast pork, & discovering we've still not won our millions on the lottery, we settled down to a bottle of rose & a couple of CDs. Life is almost back to normal.
And isn't it great!
Saturday 24 April 2010
High drama in the Fox's den
The Farmer's Market on Thursday did indeed turn into wishful thinking. By the time we were going to set off to go, we both had to admit we were too drained & unsettled, to be bothered to go. Instead we withdrew to bed for a further lie down.
When we got up an hour or two later we both felt refreshed. We enjoyed our turkey quiche dinner. During the evening, the Fox's tum rumbled along while I just suffered some wind. Had we finally got the better of the food poisoning?
Friday I got up refreshed - the first good night sleep all week. I felt myself again for the first time in quite a while. The Fox reckoned his problems were minor. With this I set off to the fish shop & bought some trout for dinner. Come the afternoon all was still going well. We went to the butcher's for some pork for today's dinner, then the Pub. That's when the problem began.
At about 4.30pm the back of my neck started to feel itchy. I scratched. I couldn't help thinking the label on my blouse seemed very hard & irritating. Then I realised my neck felt very rough as though I'd got a lot of spots there.
I didn't think anything more until my wrist felt itchy. I scratched, looked down to see what looked like the sort of blister you get when you've been stung by a nettle. I couldn't understand it. There were no nettles in the Pub.
Still, when the Fox suggested leaving early, about 4.45, I was happy to go. On the way to the car, I asked him to have a look at the back of the neck as it felt as though I was getting a rash. He looked & was alarmed by what he saw.
We set off home. He questioned whether we shouldn't see someone about it, especially as I was feeling more and more uncomfortable. We pulled in on a quiet side road. I took off my coat, cardigan & blouse, leaving just a scooped neck T-shirt on. He looked at my back. I looked at my front & arms. All were blistering. We decided to go straight to the surgery as it was till open.
There we were told it was impossible to see a doctor as there was a shortage. (Another casualty of the volcanic dust stopping returning holidaymakers we wondered.) However, she did suggest she could contact the triage department at another surgery in the practice. They would ring us at home. We agreed.
We hot-paced it home. I once more stripped off & had a more thorough examination of the blistering. By this time, it extended from my hairline to my waist on my back, neck to waist on my front, extensive blotches on both arms, & a few spots on my tum & thighs.
We waited anxiously. The receptionist had said it might take a couple of hours for triage to ring. We made a cup of tea while we waited.
But should we get on with dinner or not? If it was going to be two hours then this would be the best chance to eat. We got the oven on. The Fox prepared the trout, adding some sun-dried tomatoes & pine-nuts, while I sat by the phone.
5.30 The phone went. The doctor at triage. He asked the symptoms. I'd got as far as my back, was moving on to describe my front, when we told me to stop now & get straight down to the triage surgery immediately. I clearly needed to see a doctor.
The oven was switched off. The trout was still waiting some oil before going in the oven. And off we charged.
I quickly got in to see the doctor. He took one look. He was amazed by the time sequence. He was anxious that I might begin to blister inside my mouth & throat or have breathing difficulties. I assured him no. He clearly expected me to go into anaphylactic shock any minute. He gave me a long prescription & assured me not to hesitate to ring if the symptoms got any worse, especially if the inside of my mouth or my breathing were affected. The out-of-hours team would be straight round.
By this time, a couple of minutes after 6pm most of the chemists were closed. The receptionist told us the only late opening one was at Asda. As we more or less had to pass home, we decided to drop me home. I could get on with the meal, while the Fox got the prescription. The meal was due to take about 45 mins to cook, & Asda is only a few minutes away, so we should then eat at a reasonable time.
I was surprised when the Fox still wasn't back after half an hour. Should I put the fish in oven? And saute the potatoes? I decided to put the fish in at a lower temperature for less of a time. I put the spuds on a gentle heat.
7pm. No sign of the Fox. I switched the food off. No point in it going up in smoke. And the mobile phone was in my handbag on the kitchen floor rather than the Fox's pocket.
In his panic had the Fox had an accident? I began to wonder. He had been driving fast before, but not recklessly so. Where was he? Was the pharmacy in Asda closed so he'd had to go on elsewhere.
There I sat. I looked at my hands. The palm of one was now one big blister. The nettle sting on my wrist now reached up to my elbow. My thighs were big blisters as were my stomach & lower back. Should I be ringing back to the surgery? I gagged a bit & told myself to calm down & take a few deep breaths. My only breathing problems were the result of an increasing sense of panic.
The relief when I saw the car turn the corner, is indescribable. I hastily put the dinner back on to warm through again.
The Fox stumbled in. He, too, was in a state. He was worried about what state I would be in when he got back & whether the dinner would be a burnt frazzle. We'd been looking forward to our first real cooking effort since the food poisoning.
I tore open the antihistamines, quickly checked it was okay to have them with food, swallowed one. The creams could wait.
I served up the meal. The fish was delicious though the tomatoes were rather blackened. We even enjoyed a very welcome bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with it - we needed something to steady our nerves.
Over the meal the Fox told me he'd been told at Asda that he's have to wait a little as there were a few customers ahead of him. 45 mins later, he was still there, waiting. He'd been increasingly frustrated seeing some people come in, drop & even collect prescriptions as he waited, and waited. Eventually his name was called. They apologised for the wait but that was little consolation for him as he's been worrying about what state I would be in, not to mention the dinner, with no way of contacting me. If he'd have known it would take so long he would have popped home to let me know what was happening & could still have been back in time for the prescription to be ready.
By the time we'd finished the meal, the blisters had eased considerably. They no longer felt hot & itchy. Some had retreated as quickly as they had come.
After the dinner I got changed for bed & we put the first layer of steroid cream. The Fox was amazed to discover how much better my back was in just the hour or so since I'd had the pill. Many blisters had disappeared. The early ones remained so we coated them with steroid cream.
An hour later, a little before 10, I went to bed We put on some of the second lot of cream that I'd been given. By this time the blisters had all but disappeared except for a few areas of what looked like blotchy suntan.
I switched the lights off, exhausted by all this late night rushing around & drama.
I'm glad to say this morning you would not believe I had ever been in the state I was last night.
Now what do I do with 5 tubes of aqueous cream, one of steroid cream & a month's supply of extra strong antihistamines? I think the doctor was in as much a panic as we were. I don't think he'd ever seen a rash spread so violently & speedily before.
Still, here's hoping for a nice, quiet, undisturbed, meal of roast pork tonight. We've had enough ill-health for a while.
It's been a long week!
When we got up an hour or two later we both felt refreshed. We enjoyed our turkey quiche dinner. During the evening, the Fox's tum rumbled along while I just suffered some wind. Had we finally got the better of the food poisoning?
Friday I got up refreshed - the first good night sleep all week. I felt myself again for the first time in quite a while. The Fox reckoned his problems were minor. With this I set off to the fish shop & bought some trout for dinner. Come the afternoon all was still going well. We went to the butcher's for some pork for today's dinner, then the Pub. That's when the problem began.
At about 4.30pm the back of my neck started to feel itchy. I scratched. I couldn't help thinking the label on my blouse seemed very hard & irritating. Then I realised my neck felt very rough as though I'd got a lot of spots there.
I didn't think anything more until my wrist felt itchy. I scratched, looked down to see what looked like the sort of blister you get when you've been stung by a nettle. I couldn't understand it. There were no nettles in the Pub.
Still, when the Fox suggested leaving early, about 4.45, I was happy to go. On the way to the car, I asked him to have a look at the back of the neck as it felt as though I was getting a rash. He looked & was alarmed by what he saw.
We set off home. He questioned whether we shouldn't see someone about it, especially as I was feeling more and more uncomfortable. We pulled in on a quiet side road. I took off my coat, cardigan & blouse, leaving just a scooped neck T-shirt on. He looked at my back. I looked at my front & arms. All were blistering. We decided to go straight to the surgery as it was till open.
There we were told it was impossible to see a doctor as there was a shortage. (Another casualty of the volcanic dust stopping returning holidaymakers we wondered.) However, she did suggest she could contact the triage department at another surgery in the practice. They would ring us at home. We agreed.
We hot-paced it home. I once more stripped off & had a more thorough examination of the blistering. By this time, it extended from my hairline to my waist on my back, neck to waist on my front, extensive blotches on both arms, & a few spots on my tum & thighs.
We waited anxiously. The receptionist had said it might take a couple of hours for triage to ring. We made a cup of tea while we waited.
But should we get on with dinner or not? If it was going to be two hours then this would be the best chance to eat. We got the oven on. The Fox prepared the trout, adding some sun-dried tomatoes & pine-nuts, while I sat by the phone.
5.30 The phone went. The doctor at triage. He asked the symptoms. I'd got as far as my back, was moving on to describe my front, when we told me to stop now & get straight down to the triage surgery immediately. I clearly needed to see a doctor.
The oven was switched off. The trout was still waiting some oil before going in the oven. And off we charged.
I quickly got in to see the doctor. He took one look. He was amazed by the time sequence. He was anxious that I might begin to blister inside my mouth & throat or have breathing difficulties. I assured him no. He clearly expected me to go into anaphylactic shock any minute. He gave me a long prescription & assured me not to hesitate to ring if the symptoms got any worse, especially if the inside of my mouth or my breathing were affected. The out-of-hours team would be straight round.
By this time, a couple of minutes after 6pm most of the chemists were closed. The receptionist told us the only late opening one was at Asda. As we more or less had to pass home, we decided to drop me home. I could get on with the meal, while the Fox got the prescription. The meal was due to take about 45 mins to cook, & Asda is only a few minutes away, so we should then eat at a reasonable time.
I was surprised when the Fox still wasn't back after half an hour. Should I put the fish in oven? And saute the potatoes? I decided to put the fish in at a lower temperature for less of a time. I put the spuds on a gentle heat.
7pm. No sign of the Fox. I switched the food off. No point in it going up in smoke. And the mobile phone was in my handbag on the kitchen floor rather than the Fox's pocket.
In his panic had the Fox had an accident? I began to wonder. He had been driving fast before, but not recklessly so. Where was he? Was the pharmacy in Asda closed so he'd had to go on elsewhere.
There I sat. I looked at my hands. The palm of one was now one big blister. The nettle sting on my wrist now reached up to my elbow. My thighs were big blisters as were my stomach & lower back. Should I be ringing back to the surgery? I gagged a bit & told myself to calm down & take a few deep breaths. My only breathing problems were the result of an increasing sense of panic.
The relief when I saw the car turn the corner, is indescribable. I hastily put the dinner back on to warm through again.
The Fox stumbled in. He, too, was in a state. He was worried about what state I would be in when he got back & whether the dinner would be a burnt frazzle. We'd been looking forward to our first real cooking effort since the food poisoning.
I tore open the antihistamines, quickly checked it was okay to have them with food, swallowed one. The creams could wait.
I served up the meal. The fish was delicious though the tomatoes were rather blackened. We even enjoyed a very welcome bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with it - we needed something to steady our nerves.
Over the meal the Fox told me he'd been told at Asda that he's have to wait a little as there were a few customers ahead of him. 45 mins later, he was still there, waiting. He'd been increasingly frustrated seeing some people come in, drop & even collect prescriptions as he waited, and waited. Eventually his name was called. They apologised for the wait but that was little consolation for him as he's been worrying about what state I would be in, not to mention the dinner, with no way of contacting me. If he'd have known it would take so long he would have popped home to let me know what was happening & could still have been back in time for the prescription to be ready.
By the time we'd finished the meal, the blisters had eased considerably. They no longer felt hot & itchy. Some had retreated as quickly as they had come.
After the dinner I got changed for bed & we put the first layer of steroid cream. The Fox was amazed to discover how much better my back was in just the hour or so since I'd had the pill. Many blisters had disappeared. The early ones remained so we coated them with steroid cream.
An hour later, a little before 10, I went to bed We put on some of the second lot of cream that I'd been given. By this time the blisters had all but disappeared except for a few areas of what looked like blotchy suntan.
I switched the lights off, exhausted by all this late night rushing around & drama.
I'm glad to say this morning you would not believe I had ever been in the state I was last night.
Now what do I do with 5 tubes of aqueous cream, one of steroid cream & a month's supply of extra strong antihistamines? I think the doctor was in as much a panic as we were. I don't think he'd ever seen a rash spread so violently & speedily before.
Still, here's hoping for a nice, quiet, undisturbed, meal of roast pork tonight. We've had enough ill-health for a while.
It's been a long week!
Thursday 22 April 2010
Wishful thinking
Last night was the one step step back that so often comes when you're recovering from illness. We had our meal - bland frozen pie, tinned new potatoes, some carrots, our first real fresh veg in days. We congratulated ourselves that we could taste properly again. We even opened a bottle of wine, first for days. Our frustration at the time was that the food was so bland & the pastry so heavy. Today we decided I would settle back into proper cooking once more.
In the evening we sat & watched the tele for a bit, still feeling fine.We'd got the food poisoning beat.
Shortly before 10pm, with a little help from the Fox, I got up to go to bed. The shakes set in. By the time I was in bed, the sweats had arrived, along with the stomach cramps. On it went into the earlier hours, only alternating with a bit of gastric reflux.
To make matters worse I was aware I was due to start on my night-time course of pills. Although I knew it was more than two hours since I'd had anything to eat or drink, I still didn't dare take the pill as I suspected it would have been straight up again, along with dinner, down the loo. Eventually things eased & I took the pill.
I gather the Fox didn't fare too much better.
Nonetheless I have peeled some spuds this morning in the hope we feel up to eating tonight.
Later this morning we're off to the Farmers' Market. I know what I'll be doing when we get back. I'm off to bed. I'm shattered - a distinct need for more sleep.
So much for it being over!
Meanwhile, my spirits have not been lifted much by the arrival of a big manila envelope in the post, my Disability Living Allowance form. Once more I have to face the questions, realise how much worse I am now than when I filled the form in three years ago, gird myself up to cope with the bureaucratic red tape that's sure to follow, the anxiety of wondering whether they'll pass it & let me continue to get my money or they'll say no & I'll have to go through the whole tribunal business once more. Why, oh why, can't they just ask a simple a couple of simple of questions like, do you still have your disability? has it got improved, if so how? That's all that's needed, surely. Instead I have to face this trauma once more.
In the evening we sat & watched the tele for a bit, still feeling fine.We'd got the food poisoning beat.
Shortly before 10pm, with a little help from the Fox, I got up to go to bed. The shakes set in. By the time I was in bed, the sweats had arrived, along with the stomach cramps. On it went into the earlier hours, only alternating with a bit of gastric reflux.
To make matters worse I was aware I was due to start on my night-time course of pills. Although I knew it was more than two hours since I'd had anything to eat or drink, I still didn't dare take the pill as I suspected it would have been straight up again, along with dinner, down the loo. Eventually things eased & I took the pill.
I gather the Fox didn't fare too much better.
Nonetheless I have peeled some spuds this morning in the hope we feel up to eating tonight.
Later this morning we're off to the Farmers' Market. I know what I'll be doing when we get back. I'm off to bed. I'm shattered - a distinct need for more sleep.
So much for it being over!
Meanwhile, my spirits have not been lifted much by the arrival of a big manila envelope in the post, my Disability Living Allowance form. Once more I have to face the questions, realise how much worse I am now than when I filled the form in three years ago, gird myself up to cope with the bureaucratic red tape that's sure to follow, the anxiety of wondering whether they'll pass it & let me continue to get my money or they'll say no & I'll have to go through the whole tribunal business once more. Why, oh why, can't they just ask a simple a couple of simple of questions like, do you still have your disability? has it got improved, if so how? That's all that's needed, surely. Instead I have to face this trauma once more.
Wednesday 21 April 2010
Heading the right direction
We're still headed in the right direction, even though I don't think either of us would say we're 100% ourselves. We did actually manage a meal last night & keep it down. Admittedly it was light & simple, but it was a meal. Again we spent the evening accompanied by all manner of gurgles & burps as we attempted to digest the food intake. I spent a large part of the night suffering from severe heartburn, but, at least, this morning my breakfast tasted normal. Today will be another quick & easy meal, nothing too complex.
We did venture out to the Pub for an hour or so yesterday. PD was overjoyed to see us once more. Admittedly his choice of conversational topic at one point set our stomachs churning as he described the delights of some salmon he'd had over the weekend. The idea of food is rather nauseating for us, though we were able to cope better towards the end of the session when the conversation returned to the theme of food with a discussion of "The Great British Menu" on BBC2 & the use of a pig's head for cooking. This programme has caught the imagination of the Pub regulars as one of the chefs representing the North West, is a local lass who trained at our very Pub.
In between much time was spent discussing the effects of the Icelandic volcano & its dust on air transport. Some worried about friends stuck overseas, others about friends trying to get away, yet others about future travel plans. Mr P has booked several rooms in a local hotel for one of his school international conferences this weekend & is left wondering if the delegates will even arrive. Should he cancel the bookings while he still can, at no cost?
Other implications of the lack of planes were mentioned. The joy of skies without vapour trails, the return of the sounds of nature to great swathes of the country, the reduction in pollution & lack of the smell of dumped fuel in the air. We looked forward to the return to buying local seasonal foods & the support of our local farmers. We worried about the problems faced by already poor countries, in Africa for example, that depends so much on selling their produce in this country at far higher prices than they could get in their own. The veg they can at least eat, but flowers?!... And what about the effect on inflation as insurance, holidays, flights etc are all sure to go up to cover their high unexpected costs at the moment, & also food, with shortages without those cheaper foreign imports.
And now, so few hours later, the airports are once more open. It will take a while for things to get back to normal again, & they may yet be disrupted once more. We're beginning to think France will be on. I do hope so. We've looked forward to the trip so long & feel we desperately need a break. Italy last year was more of an endurance test than a relax. So fingers crossed...
We did venture out to the Pub for an hour or so yesterday. PD was overjoyed to see us once more. Admittedly his choice of conversational topic at one point set our stomachs churning as he described the delights of some salmon he'd had over the weekend. The idea of food is rather nauseating for us, though we were able to cope better towards the end of the session when the conversation returned to the theme of food with a discussion of "The Great British Menu" on BBC2 & the use of a pig's head for cooking. This programme has caught the imagination of the Pub regulars as one of the chefs representing the North West, is a local lass who trained at our very Pub.
In between much time was spent discussing the effects of the Icelandic volcano & its dust on air transport. Some worried about friends stuck overseas, others about friends trying to get away, yet others about future travel plans. Mr P has booked several rooms in a local hotel for one of his school international conferences this weekend & is left wondering if the delegates will even arrive. Should he cancel the bookings while he still can, at no cost?
Other implications of the lack of planes were mentioned. The joy of skies without vapour trails, the return of the sounds of nature to great swathes of the country, the reduction in pollution & lack of the smell of dumped fuel in the air. We looked forward to the return to buying local seasonal foods & the support of our local farmers. We worried about the problems faced by already poor countries, in Africa for example, that depends so much on selling their produce in this country at far higher prices than they could get in their own. The veg they can at least eat, but flowers?!... And what about the effect on inflation as insurance, holidays, flights etc are all sure to go up to cover their high unexpected costs at the moment, & also food, with shortages without those cheaper foreign imports.
And now, so few hours later, the airports are once more open. It will take a while for things to get back to normal again, & they may yet be disrupted once more. We're beginning to think France will be on. I do hope so. We've looked forward to the trip so long & feel we desperately need a break. Italy last year was more of an endurance test than a relax. So fingers crossed...
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Not very happy bunnies
Readers of the Fox's blog will realise the reason for my absence for the last couple of days - food poisoning. We suspect the cause is some oysters we had for dinner on Friday. Whatever the cause we've not been very happy bunnies.
When the Fox wrote on Sunday, he dismissed that idea on the basis that he'd been feeling unwell even before he ate the oysters. But then he has had a delicate stomach ever since he had a bad case of food poisoning some years ago, so that could just have been an eruption of that complaint. There's no denying he was a lot worse yesterday.
As for me, yesterday brought a certain rallying. Not that I could face moving much as that set off another bout of nausea. We both felt the need for an afternoon lie down. As for dinner, we just about coped with baked beans on toast but that was it. Even a cup of tea was not a pleasure.
In the evening we watched a prerecorded episode of "Foyle's War" listening to our respective gurgles & belches as we did. Another early night for me, uncomfortable & restless but at least this time I didn't end up getting up to be sick.
This morning I'm a lot brighter. My morning cuppa went down better. I feel more able to move around. I've even hung the washing out. It may be freezing cold out but it is bright, & the strong wind should do wonders. I'm not sure if all that stretching up to the line wasn't a bit much, but I'm glad to feel I'm able to do something again.
As for dinner, I'll wait to see how the Fox is feeling. I suspect I could manage something a bit more today. Just something simple & easily digestible.
One good result of all this is that I've lost 3lbs in weight, though it seems a pretty drastic way of going about it. What is more I suspect once I start eating normally again the weight will go straight back on!
When the Fox wrote on Sunday, he dismissed that idea on the basis that he'd been feeling unwell even before he ate the oysters. But then he has had a delicate stomach ever since he had a bad case of food poisoning some years ago, so that could just have been an eruption of that complaint. There's no denying he was a lot worse yesterday.
As for me, yesterday brought a certain rallying. Not that I could face moving much as that set off another bout of nausea. We both felt the need for an afternoon lie down. As for dinner, we just about coped with baked beans on toast but that was it. Even a cup of tea was not a pleasure.
In the evening we watched a prerecorded episode of "Foyle's War" listening to our respective gurgles & belches as we did. Another early night for me, uncomfortable & restless but at least this time I didn't end up getting up to be sick.
This morning I'm a lot brighter. My morning cuppa went down better. I feel more able to move around. I've even hung the washing out. It may be freezing cold out but it is bright, & the strong wind should do wonders. I'm not sure if all that stretching up to the line wasn't a bit much, but I'm glad to feel I'm able to do something again.
As for dinner, I'll wait to see how the Fox is feeling. I suspect I could manage something a bit more today. Just something simple & easily digestible.
One good result of all this is that I've lost 3lbs in weight, though it seems a pretty drastic way of going about it. What is more I suspect once I start eating normally again the weight will go straight back on!
Saturday 17 April 2010
Sounds of silence
The warmth seems to have brought a flurry of activity. Neighbours are painting fences, tidying & planting in the garden, building schemes undertaken. We meanwhile sit back & take it easy. I'm tempted to do my bit in the garden, but Al, our gardener, came earlier in the week. By the time he'd mown the lawn & tidied some of the shrubbery our green bin is full. Although I feel the urge to weed one patch, with nowhere to put the rubbish it's a waste of time. Still it's probably as well. I need an easyish time if we're off to France soon.
The if hangs over us. One friend, Helen, is hoping to be off to Cyprus next week. She's not packed yet. She's waiting to see if planes are likely to be flying by then. She's consoling herself with the thought that she's better in the comfort of her own home, than trying to sleep in an overcrowded airport or being stuck abroad with no cash left.
We were surprised, though, to hear a plane overhead yesterday. It was just a single prop one, rather than a jet. But it was in the air. I can't say the lack of overhead planes has made much difference here, though I can understand the bliss of only hearing the sound of birds tweeting & bees buzzing in Richmond, usually under the flightpath of Heathrow airport, that was exemplified on the radio this morning. In my childhood we used to live not far from Manchester airport. Indeed I worked there one summer when I was at university. I was far more aware of the sight & sound of planes then.
The if hangs over us. One friend, Helen, is hoping to be off to Cyprus next week. She's not packed yet. She's waiting to see if planes are likely to be flying by then. She's consoling herself with the thought that she's better in the comfort of her own home, than trying to sleep in an overcrowded airport or being stuck abroad with no cash left.
We were surprised, though, to hear a plane overhead yesterday. It was just a single prop one, rather than a jet. But it was in the air. I can't say the lack of overhead planes has made much difference here, though I can understand the bliss of only hearing the sound of birds tweeting & bees buzzing in Richmond, usually under the flightpath of Heathrow airport, that was exemplified on the radio this morning. In my childhood we used to live not far from Manchester airport. Indeed I worked there one summer when I was at university. I was far more aware of the sight & sound of planes then.
Friday 16 April 2010
Cheated
I was disappointed this morning. I woke up. The radio was on. It was going on about the closure of British airspace due to the Icelandic volcanic ash in the higher atmosphere. It then went on about how beautiful the sight was, these days so rarely seen, of blue skies without a vapour trail in sight. That I thought was worth getting up to see. To discover the sky was so overcast it was impossible to see any blue sky between the clouds. I felt I was got up under false pretences & rather cheated.
What worries me, though, is when flying will restart. We got our villa voucher yesterday. Our holiday is soon approaching. We're looking forward to it far too much to want to miss our trip to France. I'm telling myself it should be OK by then. But the volcano is likely to belch for quite a long time yet, so we're keeping fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, at the Pub, one of the temporary barmaids is leaving. She is studying for a French & German degree at university. She's off to spend three months in France as part of her course. The first month or so is living with a family in Lille while she does a course there. Then she's off to work in Nice for the rest of the time. She's really looking forward to it. We couldn't help envying her. We obviously studied the wrong courses. Law & theology didn't take you to such wondrous places!
What worries me, though, is when flying will restart. We got our villa voucher yesterday. Our holiday is soon approaching. We're looking forward to it far too much to want to miss our trip to France. I'm telling myself it should be OK by then. But the volcano is likely to belch for quite a long time yet, so we're keeping fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, at the Pub, one of the temporary barmaids is leaving. She is studying for a French & German degree at university. She's off to spend three months in France as part of her course. The first month or so is living with a family in Lille while she does a course there. Then she's off to work in Nice for the rest of the time. She's really looking forward to it. We couldn't help envying her. We obviously studied the wrong courses. Law & theology didn't take you to such wondrous places!
Tuesday 13 April 2010
French dreams
Last night we watched, among other things, "Out of the Frying Pan" on BBC2. We watched these two young hopefuls when they first appeared in "The Restaurant", aspiring to get Raymond Blanc's backing in a restaurant business of their own. They irritated us then & they still do. They do seem to have got their act together a bit more in the intervening couple of years but they still seem utterly disorganised on fairly fundamental things.
However, what kept me going was the pictures. The programme was largely set in Mougins, a village near Cannes, in the French Riviera, just near where we are going for our hols next month. The scenery was fabulous, the village quaint. Cannes market heaved with wonderful produce. And to think, this time next month we will be just a few miles away ourselves.
I suspect we won't be going to all the Michellin 3-starred restaurants in the area. But what could be better than some of that oh-so-fresh salad produce and a bottle of wine, just watching the sun set over those hills. Now that is exciting.
However, what kept me going was the pictures. The programme was largely set in Mougins, a village near Cannes, in the French Riviera, just near where we are going for our hols next month. The scenery was fabulous, the village quaint. Cannes market heaved with wonderful produce. And to think, this time next month we will be just a few miles away ourselves.
I suspect we won't be going to all the Michellin 3-starred restaurants in the area. But what could be better than some of that oh-so-fresh salad produce and a bottle of wine, just watching the sun set over those hills. Now that is exciting.
Monday 12 April 2010
A good weekend
I'm feeling all the joys of spring today. The sun is shining. I've put the washing out to dry for the first time this year. I've switched off the heating & cast a layer of clothing for once. I've even done a spot of weeding!
It's been a good weekend. The Fox has already talked about our stroll along the Prom & Stone Jetty, admiring the various artworks on the theme of birds, part of the Tern Project. That was part of my birthday treat. Afterwards we adjourned to Ricky's, our favourite Cantonese restaurant, for an excellent meal, followed by home & a bottle of fizz, not quite champagne but nonetheless enjoyable.
Part of the reason we took Saturday so quietly is that my cousin Trudy & her husband Bill came up yesterday, Sunday. We joined them for lunch at a Brewers Fayre near the motorway exit. They were on their way for a week's holiday at the Centreparc near Penrith with their daughter & her family. We had expected to only be there a couple of hours, but it ended up being over 4 hours. The rest of the family was coming up in a separate car a little later due to the fact the grandsons were involved in rugby matches. Unfortunately one of them was late back. Still we made the most of it & had a good long chat before returning home in time for a cup of tea before the Fox got on with cooking the dinner.
It's strange. I had never met or talked to this branch of the family until after my father's death in 2002. Our first meeting was when we were invited down to a surprise 70th birthday party for my cousin Alma, Trudy's older sister a year or two later. We seem to have hit it off. In many ways Trudy & Alma have stepped into the gap left by the demise of my immediate family. I've grown to love an appreciate them both & their families.
It's been a good weekend. The Fox has already talked about our stroll along the Prom & Stone Jetty, admiring the various artworks on the theme of birds, part of the Tern Project. That was part of my birthday treat. Afterwards we adjourned to Ricky's, our favourite Cantonese restaurant, for an excellent meal, followed by home & a bottle of fizz, not quite champagne but nonetheless enjoyable.
Part of the reason we took Saturday so quietly is that my cousin Trudy & her husband Bill came up yesterday, Sunday. We joined them for lunch at a Brewers Fayre near the motorway exit. They were on their way for a week's holiday at the Centreparc near Penrith with their daughter & her family. We had expected to only be there a couple of hours, but it ended up being over 4 hours. The rest of the family was coming up in a separate car a little later due to the fact the grandsons were involved in rugby matches. Unfortunately one of them was late back. Still we made the most of it & had a good long chat before returning home in time for a cup of tea before the Fox got on with cooking the dinner.
It's strange. I had never met or talked to this branch of the family until after my father's death in 2002. Our first meeting was when we were invited down to a surprise 70th birthday party for my cousin Alma, Trudy's older sister a year or two later. We seem to have hit it off. In many ways Trudy & Alma have stepped into the gap left by the demise of my immediate family. I've grown to love an appreciate them both & their families.
Saturday 10 April 2010
Fred & Gene
Last night we sat watching a programme featuring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers singing & dancing. Although I wouldn't say Fred ever had a great voice, he had an honesty & sincerity of voice that is truly touching. As for his dancing, I doubt he ever put a foot wrong. He has an elegance & sureness of foot it's difficult to imagine bettering. Having watched the odd excerpt of "Strictly Come Dancing", I can't help thinking how much better Fred is. His feet positively twinkle as they float him & partner across the dance floor.
I couldn't help comparing him with that other great dancer of movie fame, Gene Kelly. Their styles are very different. Gene is much more macho & muscular. But the biggest difference, I can't help thinking, is that Fred always danced with a partner, even if the partner was a hatstand or a golf club. Gene always danced alone even if in theory he was dancing with the likes of Leslie Caron. Both superb in their way but very different.
I couldn't help comparing him with that other great dancer of movie fame, Gene Kelly. Their styles are very different. Gene is much more macho & muscular. But the biggest difference, I can't help thinking, is that Fred always danced with a partner, even if the partner was a hatstand or a golf club. Gene always danced alone even if in theory he was dancing with the likes of Leslie Caron. Both superb in their way but very different.
Friday 9 April 2010
A busy couple of days
We seem to have had a busy couple of days. On Wednesday we finally got to the garden centre. The visit clarified some of our ideas of what veg the Fox is going to try growing this year, and how. Planting the veg in the garden seems a bit of a waste of time. Half the time the ground is just too wet which means we can't get up to monitor how they're doing, or sometimes even harvest them. Last year's carrots he did in a trough on the patio part of the garden, near the house. It was far more successful, & more satisfying for the Fox as he could keep a careful eye on their progress. He's thinking of doing a similar thing this year, perhaps having a go at spuds as well as carrots & maybe a few other vegetables.
Meanwhile we bought a few extra herbs to replace the annuals that had died last year & the few casualties of the harsh winter. So yesterday I was busily planting up in the front garden. I was particularly pleased to get some chervil, which I've never tried, & some bergamot & borage to give a bit of colour to the garden in summer.
Yesterday we had a trip into Lancaster, where there is a specialist shop for Chinese & Thai foods. I've never been in before. The Fox had been a couple of times when I was having my empty chair sessions.
It's quite an amazing shop. Here there were shelves of soy sauce of various varieties. The mixture of sauces, noodles, flours etc was incredible. The fresh veg had unusual Chinese veg. There were pickles of all sorts, frozen Korean & other eastern fish. We eventually escaped with just three items, some chilli bean sauce (which I needed for a recipe & was the reason for the trip), a large bottle of light soy bottle (you can only get dark soy sauce in our local supermarkets) & some fresh lemongrass. The lemongrass is so much fresher than any I've seen elsewhere, still a bit green with a fairly tender centre. The latter I'm aware of as I've just used some to make us a Thai green chicken curry for dinner tonight.
I wish I could feel the same buzz doing our weekly shop at the supermarket. The only time I usually regard food shopping as fun is when we go to the Farmers' Market or when we use a corner shop such as our local fishmonger or the butcher. It's exciting to see such an unusual range of products, half of which I boggle at what you do with them.
Today we're back to the Pub. It's birthday celebration time once more, the birthdays being Fran (last Friday) & mine (tomorrow), so there should be a good turn-out.
Meanwhile we bought a few extra herbs to replace the annuals that had died last year & the few casualties of the harsh winter. So yesterday I was busily planting up in the front garden. I was particularly pleased to get some chervil, which I've never tried, & some bergamot & borage to give a bit of colour to the garden in summer.
Yesterday we had a trip into Lancaster, where there is a specialist shop for Chinese & Thai foods. I've never been in before. The Fox had been a couple of times when I was having my empty chair sessions.
It's quite an amazing shop. Here there were shelves of soy sauce of various varieties. The mixture of sauces, noodles, flours etc was incredible. The fresh veg had unusual Chinese veg. There were pickles of all sorts, frozen Korean & other eastern fish. We eventually escaped with just three items, some chilli bean sauce (which I needed for a recipe & was the reason for the trip), a large bottle of light soy bottle (you can only get dark soy sauce in our local supermarkets) & some fresh lemongrass. The lemongrass is so much fresher than any I've seen elsewhere, still a bit green with a fairly tender centre. The latter I'm aware of as I've just used some to make us a Thai green chicken curry for dinner tonight.
I wish I could feel the same buzz doing our weekly shop at the supermarket. The only time I usually regard food shopping as fun is when we go to the Farmers' Market or when we use a corner shop such as our local fishmonger or the butcher. It's exciting to see such an unusual range of products, half of which I boggle at what you do with them.
Today we're back to the Pub. It's birthday celebration time once more, the birthdays being Fran (last Friday) & mine (tomorrow), so there should be a good turn-out.
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Culinary heritage
Yesterday we had a meal that, to my mind, is quintessentially English. Why English rather Scottish, Welsh or Irish? I don't know. The meal was cottage pie. Good old comfort food & just what I needed to warm me up on a cold day.
I commented as much to PD at the Pub.
"Oh but other countries have the equivalent. There's moussaka in Greece, lasagne in Italy." he instantly retorted.
And I suppose to some extent he's right, though quite what the French or Spanish equivalent is I don't know. It's inevitable that the poor of every nation have produced some fairly inexpensive culinary favourites. And minced beef is about the cheapest cut of beef you can get.
But that doesn't solve the question of why I associate cottage pie as English rather than British. Is this some throwback to the cultural predominance of the English since the time of the union(s) of the nations that make up Britain? Or has some other tradition developed in those other countries? I can see that the potato lies at the heart of the British diet & is an essential part of a cottage pie. Not surprisingly the Greek manifestation uses their local veg, the aubergine, & the Italians use pasta in their version. But the basic ingredients of minced beef & potato are both found throughout Britain.
Maybe, as someone who has lived their entire adult life in England, I'm just not so aware of the Scottish, Welsh & Irish culinary heritages. What I associate Scottish food with is fish (especially salmon, smoked haddock & oysters) and oats/barley great in scotch broth & for coating herrings, not to forget porridge & flapjacks. As for Welsh food my knowledge gets as far as bara brith, that fabulous fruity bread, & lava bread. Ireland I associate with the potato & colcannon, not a great favourite of mine.
But to me, cottage pie remains quintessentially English.
I commented as much to PD at the Pub.
"Oh but other countries have the equivalent. There's moussaka in Greece, lasagne in Italy." he instantly retorted.
And I suppose to some extent he's right, though quite what the French or Spanish equivalent is I don't know. It's inevitable that the poor of every nation have produced some fairly inexpensive culinary favourites. And minced beef is about the cheapest cut of beef you can get.
But that doesn't solve the question of why I associate cottage pie as English rather than British. Is this some throwback to the cultural predominance of the English since the time of the union(s) of the nations that make up Britain? Or has some other tradition developed in those other countries? I can see that the potato lies at the heart of the British diet & is an essential part of a cottage pie. Not surprisingly the Greek manifestation uses their local veg, the aubergine, & the Italians use pasta in their version. But the basic ingredients of minced beef & potato are both found throughout Britain.
Maybe, as someone who has lived their entire adult life in England, I'm just not so aware of the Scottish, Welsh & Irish culinary heritages. What I associate Scottish food with is fish (especially salmon, smoked haddock & oysters) and oats/barley great in scotch broth & for coating herrings, not to forget porridge & flapjacks. As for Welsh food my knowledge gets as far as bara brith, that fabulous fruity bread, & lava bread. Ireland I associate with the potato & colcannon, not a great favourite of mine.
But to me, cottage pie remains quintessentially English.
Monday 5 April 2010
Symbols
As I went along to church yesterday, I noticed a dove flying overhead, with a twig in its beak. I couldn't help thinking of that other dove in Genesis, which flew back to the Ark indicating the end of the flood. This one, I suspect, was just busy getting the material for a nest.
At church the sermon was largely on the theme of new life. It had never struck me before how appropriate it is to celebrate Easter in the spring. I appreciate that the early church thought it appropriate to organise their year of worship in some way reflecting the life of Jesus. By then, they probably had no idea when Jesus was actually born or died. They chose instead to take over the dates of pre-existing religious festivals, so Saturnalia became the time to mark the birth. And it has to be admitted we all, Christian or not, appreciate having something to look forward to, to break up the long, dark, often cold, winter nights.
But it wasn't until the priest was going on that I realised what a good time the spring was for a celebration & how appropriate a time of year to celebrate the death & resurrection of Christ, & the new life that brought to mankind. Spring itself is a time of new life. Buds come out on the trees. New shoots appear in the ground. the birds are all of a twitter, busy finding mates & building nests. Frogs too are busy working towards new life. As the days get longer an urge to be doing seems to hit every creature around. Even man, that most perverse of creatures who so often attempts to work against nature, suddenly gets the urge to start the spring cleaning, get out in the garden, start the redecorating, visit the DIY shop & the garden centre. It's as though new life is coursing through the veins of every living thing. What better time to celebrate the new life promised by the resurrection of Jesus?
At church the sermon was largely on the theme of new life. It had never struck me before how appropriate it is to celebrate Easter in the spring. I appreciate that the early church thought it appropriate to organise their year of worship in some way reflecting the life of Jesus. By then, they probably had no idea when Jesus was actually born or died. They chose instead to take over the dates of pre-existing religious festivals, so Saturnalia became the time to mark the birth. And it has to be admitted we all, Christian or not, appreciate having something to look forward to, to break up the long, dark, often cold, winter nights.
But it wasn't until the priest was going on that I realised what a good time the spring was for a celebration & how appropriate a time of year to celebrate the death & resurrection of Christ, & the new life that brought to mankind. Spring itself is a time of new life. Buds come out on the trees. New shoots appear in the ground. the birds are all of a twitter, busy finding mates & building nests. Frogs too are busy working towards new life. As the days get longer an urge to be doing seems to hit every creature around. Even man, that most perverse of creatures who so often attempts to work against nature, suddenly gets the urge to start the spring cleaning, get out in the garden, start the redecorating, visit the DIY shop & the garden centre. It's as though new life is coursing through the veins of every living thing. What better time to celebrate the new life promised by the resurrection of Jesus?
Saturday 3 April 2010
Bank Holiday madness
"Are you doing anything for Easter?" asks my cousin.
The answer is no. Like all Bank Holiday times our reaction is to batten down the hatches & stay inside. This attitude comes from living for a long time in a tourist area. One thing you can guarantee on a Bank Holiday is that everywhere will be heaving. It will be difficult to park cars, find seats in pubs. Service will be slow in restaurants. There will be lengthy queues & traffic jams. No. You do not go out unless it is unavoidable.
So it is that we didn't venture out yesterday. We were due to go to the Pub. It was Fran's birthday, but Fran & Den, the newly weds, have decided to go away for the weekend. Since there would only be us & Helen, MK's widow, she came round to us at our home. It made for a pleasant afternoon. Helen is always good company.
Hopefully I might get out to church tomorrow, but that will be it. If it turns to rain on Monday, we may just venture out. The tourists usually start off for home early if it's raining. The place becomes more like normal.
The hordes of tourists don't put us off so much in high summer, but then they seem to come more spread out over the week. And, if nothing else, we don't want to be cooped up for weeks on end. We never venture out that much at the weekend when it is busier.
You're kind of spoilt living in an area like this. Why fight with crowds on an overcast day, when you can enjoy it so much more on a sunny, quieter day? No, batten down the hatches. I'll maybe hazard a trip into the garden if it stays dry, & do a bit of tidying up. There's some parsley to transplant into the herb garden too. That's the level of my Easter plans.
The answer is no. Like all Bank Holiday times our reaction is to batten down the hatches & stay inside. This attitude comes from living for a long time in a tourist area. One thing you can guarantee on a Bank Holiday is that everywhere will be heaving. It will be difficult to park cars, find seats in pubs. Service will be slow in restaurants. There will be lengthy queues & traffic jams. No. You do not go out unless it is unavoidable.
So it is that we didn't venture out yesterday. We were due to go to the Pub. It was Fran's birthday, but Fran & Den, the newly weds, have decided to go away for the weekend. Since there would only be us & Helen, MK's widow, she came round to us at our home. It made for a pleasant afternoon. Helen is always good company.
Hopefully I might get out to church tomorrow, but that will be it. If it turns to rain on Monday, we may just venture out. The tourists usually start off for home early if it's raining. The place becomes more like normal.
The hordes of tourists don't put us off so much in high summer, but then they seem to come more spread out over the week. And, if nothing else, we don't want to be cooped up for weeks on end. We never venture out that much at the weekend when it is busier.
You're kind of spoilt living in an area like this. Why fight with crowds on an overcast day, when you can enjoy it so much more on a sunny, quieter day? No, batten down the hatches. I'll maybe hazard a trip into the garden if it stays dry, & do a bit of tidying up. There's some parsley to transplant into the herb garden too. That's the level of my Easter plans.
Friday 2 April 2010
Celeriac
Yesterday, for the veg part of dinner, we had creamed celeriac. To my mind this is a delicious vegetable, much underrated in this country. I was reminded of its appeal when watching a "Raymond Blanc: Kitchen Secrets" programme a few weeks ago on BBC2.
The first time I tried celeriac was after a trip to France. At the caves where mushrooms are grown, just outside Saumur, I was given a leaflet with mushroom recipes. When we got home, I thought I'd try the recipes - have a taste of France. One of the recipes was for Salade de champignons de Paris aux poissons fumes, smoked fish & mushroom salad. It was delicious. What really set off the salad though was the grating of celeriac on top that just gave an extra nuance to the taste.
My culinary bible suggests that celeriac has a strong celery taste. Personally I find it a far more delicate taste. Indeed we're not very keen on celery. Occasionally I can enjoy a stick, occasionally I'll put some in a casserole, but it's never a veg I would serve on its own. But celeriac is another matter. Pureed with a touch of cream & butter is wonderful.
Apart from at home the only places I've had celeriac in this country has been in expensive restaurants. In London, this trip, when we ate at the Brasserie Roux, creamed celeriac & broccoli puree were the vegetables. For that matter it was at the country house hotel in Bowness we've stayed a few times that we once had celeriac.
We really should have it more often. It's just that somehow I keep forgetting how delicious it is. I suppose it's partially that it is such an unprepossessing looking vegetable, all gnarly & rooty, partially it is that it's not a vegetable that's featured much in my childhood, or life generally. But it's certainly a vegetable I really must get more often.
The first time I tried celeriac was after a trip to France. At the caves where mushrooms are grown, just outside Saumur, I was given a leaflet with mushroom recipes. When we got home, I thought I'd try the recipes - have a taste of France. One of the recipes was for Salade de champignons de Paris aux poissons fumes, smoked fish & mushroom salad. It was delicious. What really set off the salad though was the grating of celeriac on top that just gave an extra nuance to the taste.
My culinary bible suggests that celeriac has a strong celery taste. Personally I find it a far more delicate taste. Indeed we're not very keen on celery. Occasionally I can enjoy a stick, occasionally I'll put some in a casserole, but it's never a veg I would serve on its own. But celeriac is another matter. Pureed with a touch of cream & butter is wonderful.
Apart from at home the only places I've had celeriac in this country has been in expensive restaurants. In London, this trip, when we ate at the Brasserie Roux, creamed celeriac & broccoli puree were the vegetables. For that matter it was at the country house hotel in Bowness we've stayed a few times that we once had celeriac.
We really should have it more often. It's just that somehow I keep forgetting how delicious it is. I suppose it's partially that it is such an unprepossessing looking vegetable, all gnarly & rooty, partially it is that it's not a vegetable that's featured much in my childhood, or life generally. But it's certainly a vegetable I really must get more often.
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