The Ideal Home(s).

I've posted the photo of this local Pigeonnier before, and the more I see of it, the more I view it as a 'perfect building'.

'Homes' to me have never been places to show-off in a 'look how smart/rich I am' sort of way. This doesn't mean that I haven't owned some impressive houses; I have, but they've always been bought because of what they've offered, rather than for Kudos value.

Nowadays the idea of having several small homes appeals much more than just a single impressive one. And to add to where we now live, I'd like to start my collection of tiny homes with the above Pigeonnier. Just enough room for a bed, table and chair.

One room in each of several perfectly positioned small homes would be ideal for me. The essential would be they are old, vernacular, and have jaw dropping views (they'd also need to be incredibly cheap). 

So there's already the house we're in, there's the one above, and I shall definitely need one on my favourite island of Formentera, and I know the perfect spot. There are several tiny stone-built boat houses overlooking the bay at Cala Sahona; one of those would do just fine.

Otherwise I need a small cabin in Corsica's Centuri, a one-room shed in Positano Italy, and a bijou grass-roofed red-painted wooden shack on a tiny private island somewhere off the coast of Sweden. 

My selection of tiny properties would all be European. I feel at home in Europe and the early architecture is generally pleasant. Maybe one on a Greek island, next to a beach-side taverna, would be a good addition, and another overlooking The Bosphorus, but anything further East would begin to worry me.

How many's that? Only 8; I could probably manage a few more!

Punjabi Chicken with Spinach.

I wonder if, like me, you get stuck in the rut of eating much the same things on a regular weekly/monthly basis.

By chance I recently came across a BBC TV programme called 'Indian Food Made Easy', with chef Anjum Anand. She was cooking the above, and as I only turned on my TV half way through her recipe, I was obliged to consult Mr Google here for the details.

I had a go at the recipe last night (making my own slightly simpler version), and it really was as delicious as she suggested. The combination of chicken, spinach and garam masala (plus a few other ingredients) was memorable.

If you're looking to add a new curry to your menus, may I recommend that you try this one.

N.B. My own version contained Chicken pieces, small tin of chopped Spinach, heaped teaspoon garam masala, heaped teaspoon hot curry powder, roughly 2 cups of good chicken stock, cumin seeds, and crossed fingers; all served on a bed of Basmati.

Walnuts and Walnut Oil.

Regular readers of this site will be aware that I am a great advocate of walnuts and their oil.

I try to eat about 8 each day, and my morning breakfast ritual always includes a spoonful of oil.

Occasionally I do need to remind myself of why I do such things, and a quick search of the net divulged the following health benefits.

1. They reduce the risk of heart disease.

2. They reduce the risk of cancer.

3. They cut the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

4. They cut cholesterol levels.

5. They reduce the risk of breast cancer.

6. They increase sperm count/libido.

7. They are filled with antioxidants.

8. They may ward-off the onset of alzheimer's.

I have no idea if any of the above are 'guaranteed', but they sound good enough for me to continue with my daily regime.

Walkers, Riders, and Bikers.

This Sunday (19th May 2013) is our village's annual 'Country Pursuits' day, part of which involves hoards of horse-riders, armies of walkers, and quite a few noise-loving-bloody-Quad-bloody-Bikers, all passing within a gnat's whisker our house's back wall. Other attractions include a plant swap, an exhibition of farm animals, and some bloke with a few bits of old machinery.

They've mowed the path, installed direction signs, and sent out invitation 'flyers'.

Certain residents have even put up 'helpful' sign posts (for those who would like to be doing 100 kph past our house) to SLOW DOWN a bit.

But, oh dear, I've just looked at the 12 day weather forecast, and it looks like rain for more than a week. It's POURING as I write.

I'll keep you posted about how it went, on Monday!

Sympathetic Renovation?

I've known this beautiful little semi derelict cottage for over 40 years, and have often thought about making an offer to the owner. But after my lengthy procrastination, someone has deservedly beaten me to it.

I'm pleased to see that it's being given a truly sympathetic total restoration job. Those dormer windows and modern industrial tiles (above) look perfect against the ancient stone walls. One can see at once that a painstaking restoration expert is at work here; someone who will accept nothing but the finest in order to return it to its former bucolic glory.

This interesting white plastic side-door, for example, could easily be an original from time gone by. It blends in so cleverly with  the surrounding block work (OK, OK, I know, my tower's built with blocks). And the bars across the window are..... well, they're bars; kinda prison bars. Nice!

And so to the pièce de résistance; 'The Front Door'. Set charmingly into the ancient stonework, this beautiful white moulded-plastic door just enhances the beauty of the old façade. Its English Georgian semi-circular half-light design is simply perfect against the rusticity of the cut stone opening. OK, it's an off-the-shelf door that doesn't quite fit, but that extra strip of 'plexi', at the side, helps fill-in so discretely.

Give that man a medal. A white plastic one with a middle finger pointing skywards!

I'd promised myself; "Never Again".

We've been looking around for a couple of those simple all-in-one wooden picnic tables. The one's we've seen usually cost about €100 each, so you can imagine the pleasure when my favourite Leclerc supermarket had them on offer at €59. I immediately coughed-up for two, and instructed them that I'd be back later to fetch them.

So, yesterday morning I cleared out the back of the Compact Royce, drove back to the supermarket, and loaded her up. Then came the nightmare bit; I HAD TO PUT THE BLOODY THINGS TOGETHER!!!

I struggled a bit with the first one, having to re-drill all the screw holes that their charming Lithuanian manufacturers had managed to put 'slightly' in the wrong place.

The second one went better, and with just a few slight accidents, and more drilling, I got the job done reasonably quickly.

When put end to end (up at the tree house) they will allow 10 to dine comfortably (as long as I buy a couple of extra chairs for the two ends).

This really will be THE LAST TIME I buy self-assembly furniture. NEVER AGAIN!!! (I have a feeling I've said that before).

p.s. I should add that the benches were guaranteed to withstand a weight of 220 kgs; some of my friends and family are 'big tall lads', so I've cautiously reinforced underneath each one with a hefty piece of timber (not shown).

Better than a Knighthood.

Honours come in many forms. I've had countries named after me (Cro-atia), plants named after me (Cro-cus), and even a garden game named after me (Cro-quet). But of all these honours, the greatest must be the naming of a soap (Cro-bar).

As for the ingredients, this superb soap (created by Maitre Savoneur Donna O'Shaughnessy of Chatsworth Ilinois USA) has them in abundance; Coconut, Almond, Clove, Guinness, and Cedarwood. What a fabulous aroma! What a fabulous soap!

Donna not only makes wonderful soap, she is also a hard working organic farmer and spokesperson the USA's 'Raw Milk' campaign.

See her blog here, or contact Donna direct at opies99@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, Lady Magnon has given up her daily bath in Asses Milk in exchange for Donna's hauntingly aromatic Olive, Coconut, and Almond oil, soap. Its scent of Peppermint is absolutely delicious. She's already hooked.

Go on; buy now to avoid disappointment!