We've had wind all day, but it only started raining in the past half hour. We got out for a long walk yesterday (11 miles) so I was grateful to mooch around one of the 10,000 steps walks locally today.
Supper here was sweet potato curry with naan and a radish leaf bhaji accompaniment - how I cook spinach.
Truly foul here; the woodburner is going and I've drawn the curtains for the first time in ten days or so - as I said to Mr S, we paid extra to have curtains, and there's nothing to look at but a very wet garden*!
* just forget Christina Rosetti and 'Morning has broken'
It's grand having this Ridacard thingy* - as Del Boy would say, the world is my lobster!
[pedant] as Arthur Daley would say[/pedant]
My apologies - you're absolutely right. I suppose in my head I was hearing it in a sort of generic London wide-
boy accent.
Despite the foul weather (cold and wet, but not quite windy enough to send the garden furniture flying), I had a lovely lunch with my sister, niece, Coen and Larry.
The food was very good: I had Cullen Skink, a smoked salmon and avocado open sandwich and a very nice Eton Mess for pudding.
The only fault I could find was that one of the items on the pudding menu was crème brûlée rice pudding, which I think would be an Abomination Before The Lord. Imagine messing up a perfectly good crème brûlée with horrid rice pudding! Is outrage.
I’m afraid we are going to have to part ways here - I think creme brûlée rice pudding sounds fantastic! I might make a tapioca version 😋
But I think a traditional custard one would be better; I love custardy things.
The ingredient overlap with kedgeree is high - onions, peas, butter, fish, rice. But it's the last that makes the difference, none of your microwaveable pre cooked, but proper arborio, turned in butter, with wine and stock. Though I will admit to putting the liquid in a oner and covering the pan for 15 minutes. And freshly grated parmesan to finish.
I have a couple of risotto recipes that do that too. Having said that, I don't actually mind doing the stirring thing: it doesn't take all that long, and I usually load the used utensils in the dishwasher in between stirs, so less clearing up afterwards.
I remember David describing risotto as savoury rice pudding, and being unable to understand why I liked it, knowing how much I hated RP. I don't really understand it myself, but it's just a fact of my life!
Spillers Mill is now luxury apartments. That whole area is filled with luxury apartments! My husband’s business rents a house in Brooklands Avenue beside the botanic gardens.
Moved away 21 years ago. Visited about 5 years ago, and amazed how much that area around Station Road / Cattle market / Hills Road bridge had changed
I remember David describing risotto as savoury rice pudding, and being unable to understand why I liked it, knowing how much I hated RP. I don't really understand it myself, but it's just a fact of my life!
Likewise here, I love rissotto and hate rice pudding. I will ponder the whys and wherefores when I have more brain capacity. Today it has gone walk about and I am walking myself back to bed in a moment having attempted an hour or so upright to see if that would be a goer....
I like both but even I can see that risotto and rice pudding are two completely different beasts - risotto's savoury and chewy with different flavoured things and different textures, rice pudding is sweet and gloopy and all one flavour and texture, with the rice cooked almost to mush. No chewing required. All my family like risotto; it's only me who also likes rice pudding.
I don't understand all these Mary Janes. I love rice pudding, especially the brown, crispy , nutmeg flavoured skin.
Mr RoS and I fight over who gets to scrape the stuck-on bits from round the edge of the baking dish.
Adding my good wishes for your recovery, Japes!
It looks like a better day here today (presumably because it's no longer a Bank Holiday). As I'm still off, an Expotition to Sainz Breeze beckons: I need a few heavy/bulky things that are better got when there's a bus dropping me off outside the flat.
If I have any energy left after that, I might have an Amble along the street to check out some of the nice little shops that are open again.
I don't understand all these Mary Janes. I love rice pudding, especially the brown, crispy , nutmeg flavoured skin.
Mr RoS and I fight over who gets to scrape the stuck-on bits from round the edge of the baking dish.
Mmm... The problem is that with only me in the house liking it, I never make it - so never even get to fight over the crispy bits.
Very strong wind hereabouts, but I've been out and put some Scarlet Emperor beans into a bed near the fence, which supports the poles for them, when they start climbing, and some pea plants from Waitrose in front of them, with trellis to climb up, and watered them in well.
I have also registered for a study of antibodies to covid which they may or may not use me for.
Too blowy for a walk this morning so I started work early and got my usual weekly admin all done before 10am. Then a short meeting with my supervisors prior to doing some study.
I'm now having a break before lunch then I need to prep for this evening's tutorial on community and health. Might stroll round the garden and see what the damage is.
Pilates session today, and by Gosh didn't she put me through it! My poor legs feel as though they belong to someone else, but I can still feel the aches, IYSWIM.
No pain, no gain, it is said. I shall no doubt feel a lot better tomorrow, but for now, I'm washed up, and hung out to dry.
COD and Sweet Potato Fries are, however, cooking nicely, courtesy of the Dragon.
Sainz Breeze has been patronised, and there's a batch of dough doing its thing in the bread-machine, so I'm having a laze on the sofa while it does that.
It's been raining off and on, so I might postpone my amble until tomorrow. When I got off the bus, I went into the salon that occupies part of the front of the building where the château is, and on a whim booked myself in for a manicure tomorrow. Over the winter, my nails were in a right old state: they kept breaking, and wouldn't grow long enough to make even painting them myself worthwhile, but they seem to have taken a growth spurt, so I think they deserve a bit of TLC.
It'll be a gel polish, but I haven't decided yet what sort of colour I want - do I go with boring pearly pinks that'll go with anything, or something a little bolder?
Sainz Breeze has been patronised, and there's a batch of dough doing its thing in the bread-machine, so I'm having a laze on the sofa while it does that.
It's been raining off and on, so I might postpone my amble until tomorrow. When I got off the bus, I went into the salon that occupies part of the front of the building where the château is, and on a whim booked myself in for a manicure tomorrow. Over the winter, my nails were in a right old state: they kept breaking, and wouldn't grow long enough to make even painting them myself worthwhile, but they seem to have taken a growth spurt, so I think they deserve a bit of TLC.
It'll be a gel polish, but I haven't decided yet what sort of colour I want - do I go with boring pearly pinks that'll go with anything, or something a little bolder?
It'll be a gel polish, but I haven't decided yet what sort of colour I want - do I go with boring pearly pinks that'll go with anything, or something a little bolder?
I am not at all the person to ask really, having only had a manicure (never gel nails) twice in my life - once when I was given a voucher for one and once for Nenlet1's wedding. But I'd say, if you're going to do it be bold! I quite like what I've seen one of my friends have - a bold plain colour on thumb and three fingers and a different colour and fancy sparkles on the fourth finger.
I've been sitting outside a local cafe for lunch with a couple of friends (we kept dry and were fairly sheltered but needed our warm coats) and Mr Nen and I are heading off shortly for a birthday celebration in someone's garden. The invitation is for coffee and cake but as it's local and we'll be walking there I'm rather hoping for something stronger than coffee; although that will be fine. As I often observe in someone else's house, "It's warm and wet and someone else has made it."
In other news, our patio table blew over and broke in the wind last night. Mr Nen is taxed in his mind about how to fix it. I was rather hoping for a new one as we've had it for many many years; it's white plastic with a flowery parasol and we get teased every time the Nenlets come over about it being out of the 80s. However, Mr Nen says, and he's probably right, such things are hard to come by just now.
Very blowy here, which is putting me off the idea of a walk. The morning has been busy so far. A few hours volunteering in my local charity bookshop, followed by having my hair coloured and cut. I feel so much better!
We are supposed to be exchanging on this house today, but no news yet
Plodded out in the rain to the butcher's and stocked up with sausages, soup beef, pork steaks, lamb chops and venison. Then thought, since I'm this length, may as well drop into the Chinese grocer, get coconut milk, curry paste and tofu. Then spotted through the still falling rain that the shop on the corner, empty this long time, had re-opened as an organic farm shop. A particularly pleasing discovery as it puts fresh fruit and veg within easier reach. Bought (not really needed) fancy mustard, a small cheddar with truffles and a bottle of olive oil to encourage them.
In other news, our patio table blew over and broke in the wind last night. Mr Nen is taxed in his mind about how to fix it. I was rather hoping for a new one as we've had it for many many years; it's white plastic with a flowery parasol and we get teased every time the Nenlets come over about it being out of the 80s. However, Mr Nen says, and he's probably right, such things are hard to come by just now.
I would say, impossible, rather, Nen.
In our front courtyard we have a table and four chairs, only cheap when they were bought years ago, but functional except that the table wobbles dreadfully. That's not so much an issue for adults, but grandchildren launching themselves at it tend to send drinks flying.
Cue me - can't we buy new, after all this time? but Mr S has Scerched and Scerched and no one has anything appropriate to sell us till at least June...
Especially Green, as per the PM's home decor guru...
Stoppit! Little pops of fuchsia are very pleasant. It’s whole walls which are vomit inducing! In fact my nails are fuchsia right now, sadly done by me.
Two nail colours are wrong, green and yellow. The rest are to be enjoyed. I’ve had them all.
Until the plague year I had my nails manicured and painted with shellac polish once a fortnight. It’s not just the polish, it’s the whole manicure which is very therapeutic.
I haven't been for a manicure for ages, but when I did, I would cycle through various colours but always ended coming back to that one shade of red. I quite like a different colour on the ring finger.
Thanks for all the nail advice: this time I went for a fairly boring pearly flesh-colour, but with a bit of sparkle.
I think the girl who did it would like to encourage me to be bolder, and perhaps next time I shall.
ISTM that the trouble with fuchsia pink is that it clashes horribly with red, which is a colour I wear quite a lot. I've seen some nice greens in my searches on the interweb, but I don't really have enough green clothes (and rather a lot of blue ones) to go with them.
Apart from a really heavy downpour (mercifully while I was in the salon), it's not been a bad day here; I made it to Tessie's and back without getting wet, which was nice.
Thundersnow! Started with heavy rain - the sort that splats on the windscreen, then the splats held icy stuff, then very wet snow, lightning and thunder, and within a short time, the
roads were awash.
It's been mostly a nice, if not particularly warm, day here, although there was a quite ferocious hail-shower while I was in the salon. Luckily for me, it had stopped by the time I left, and I had a pleasant little amble down the street and back.
I was quite pleased with how the Cullen Skink turned out; I was worried it wasn't going to be creamy enough, as the recipe called for whole milk and I only had skimmed, but I added a little cream and crème fraîche, and it was fine.
Thundersnow! Started with heavy rain - the sort that splats on the windscreen, then the splats held icy stuff, then very wet snow, lightning and thunder, and within a short time, the roads were awash.
Wow! We haven't had anything like that, just a bit of hail. Tomorrow is supposed to be fine, albeit still cool.
Dined out! Really out, as restaurants can't serve alcohol indoors as yet. So it was under the awnings, with patio heaters, but we still needed overcoats. But still, it was something, and we had a couple of nice bottles.
Glorious sunshine all day today, but dodgy weather predicted for tomorrow. Clearly overnight the wind will be pushing everyone else's cloud towards Yorkshire.
ION, I've just painted my nails a dark green so, as a dutiful poll clerk, there will be no undue influence to the voters during tomorrow's elections.
Comments
Supper here was sweet potato curry with naan and a radish leaf bhaji accompaniment - how I cook spinach.
* just forget Christina Rosetti and 'Morning has broken'
My apologies - you're absolutely right. I suppose in my head I was hearing it in a sort of generic London wide-
boy accent.
Despite the foul weather (cold and wet, but not quite windy enough to send the garden furniture flying), I had a lovely lunch with my sister, niece, Coen and Larry.
The food was very good: I had Cullen Skink, a smoked salmon and avocado open sandwich and a very nice Eton Mess for pudding.
The only fault I could find was that one of the items on the pudding menu was crème brûlée rice pudding, which I think would be an Abomination Before The Lord. Imagine messing up a perfectly good crème brûlée with horrid rice pudding! Is outrage.
But I think a traditional custard one would be better; I love custardy things.
The ingredient overlap with kedgeree is high - onions, peas, butter, fish, rice. But it's the last that makes the difference, none of your microwaveable pre cooked, but proper arborio, turned in butter, with wine and stock. Though I will admit to putting the liquid in a oner and covering the pan for 15 minutes. And freshly grated parmesan to finish.
Moved away 21 years ago. Visited about 5 years ago, and amazed how much that area around Station Road / Cattle market / Hills Road bridge had changed
Likewise here, I love rissotto and hate rice pudding. I will ponder the whys and wherefores when I have more brain capacity. Today it has gone walk about and I am walking myself back to bed in a moment having attempted an hour or so upright to see if that would be a goer....
ETA - hope you feel better soon @Japes .
Mr RoS and I fight over who gets to scrape the stuck-on bits from round the edge of the baking dish.
It looks like a better day here today (presumably because it's no longer a Bank Holiday). As I'm still off, an Expotition to Sainz Breeze beckons: I need a few heavy/bulky things that are better got when there's a bus dropping me off outside the flat.
If I have any energy left after that, I might have an Amble along the street to check out some of the nice little shops that are open again.
I have also registered for a study of antibodies to covid which they may or may not use me for.
I'm now having a break before lunch then I need to prep for this evening's tutorial on community and health. Might stroll round the garden and see what the damage is.
No pain, no gain, it is said. I shall no doubt feel a lot better tomorrow, but for now, I'm washed up, and hung out to dry.
COD and Sweet Potato Fries are, however, cooking nicely, courtesy of the Dragon.
It's been raining off and on, so I might postpone my amble until tomorrow. When I got off the bus, I went into the salon that occupies part of the front of the building where the château is, and on a whim booked myself in for a manicure tomorrow. Over the winter, my nails were in a right old state: they kept breaking, and wouldn't grow long enough to make even painting them myself worthwhile, but they seem to have taken a growth spurt, so I think they deserve a bit of TLC.
It'll be a gel polish, but I haven't decided yet what sort of colour I want - do I go with boring pearly pinks that'll go with anything, or something a little bolder?
(Don't send the bill to me, though. I'm a poor man, yer Honour...)
Bright fuchsia pink also goes with anything. 🙂
I've been sitting outside a local cafe for lunch with a couple of friends (we kept dry and were fairly sheltered but needed our warm coats) and Mr Nen and I are heading off shortly for a birthday celebration in someone's garden. The invitation is for coffee and cake but as it's local and we'll be walking there I'm rather hoping for something stronger than coffee; although that will be fine. As I often observe in someone else's house, "It's warm and wet and someone else has made it."
In other news, our patio table blew over and broke in the wind last night. Mr Nen is taxed in his mind about how to fix it. I was rather hoping for a new one as we've had it for many many years; it's white plastic with a flowery parasol and we get teased every time the Nenlets come over about it being out of the 80s. However, Mr Nen says, and he's probably right, such things are hard to come by just now.
We are supposed to be exchanging on this house today, but no news yet
I would say, impossible, rather, Nen.
In our front courtyard we have a table and four chairs, only cheap when they were bought years ago, but functional except that the table wobbles dreadfully. That's not so much an issue for adults, but grandchildren launching themselves at it tend to send drinks flying.
Cue me - can't we buy new, after all this time? but Mr S has Scerched and Scerched and no one has anything appropriate to sell us till at least June...
....possibly.
Grrrr.
Stoppit! Little pops of fuchsia are very pleasant. It’s whole walls which are vomit inducing! In fact my nails are fuchsia right now, sadly done by me.
Two nail colours are wrong, green and yellow. The rest are to be enjoyed. I’ve had them all.
Until the plague year I had my nails manicured and painted with shellac polish once a fortnight. It’s not just the polish, it’s the whole manicure which is very therapeutic.
I think the girl who did it would like to encourage me to be bolder, and perhaps next time I shall.
ISTM that the trouble with fuchsia pink is that it clashes horribly with red, which is a colour I wear quite a lot. I've seen some nice greens in my searches on the interweb, but I don't really have enough green clothes (and rather a lot of blue ones) to go with them.
Apart from a really heavy downpour (mercifully while I was in the salon), it's not been a bad day here; I made it to Tessie's and back without getting wet, which was nice.
Now off to make some Cullen skink for supper.
Another splash of fuchsia in a belt or hair grip will make all the difference.
ION, it is Raining here, with Blunder and Frightening to match...
First time for weeks, if not months. My little herb trough is loving it.
Just not the right season, that's all!
Whatever happened to April brings the sweet, Spring showers - on and on for hours and hours! ?
(With thanks to Flanders and Swann).
roads were awash.
I was quite pleased with how the Cullen Skink turned out; I was worried it wasn't going to be creamy enough, as the recipe called for whole milk and I only had skimmed, but I added a little cream and crème fraîche, and it was fine.
Thai green chicken curry here. I've had a busy day so I'm having a gin and tonic.
Hot water?
ION, I've just painted my nails a dark green so, as a dutiful poll clerk, there will be no undue influence to the voters during tomorrow's elections.