Things I've missed.

Having made my own Bacon in the past, I know how easy it it to create a really delicious product that doesn't seep 'gunge' when cooking.

This Bacon (below) is sliced from a slab and is totally delicious. Why can't all Bacon be made like this? Back in the UK I've almost given-up buying ready-sliced packs of Bacon; instead I now only buy Sainsbury's Bacon 'steaks', that come as two 'rounds' of Bacon in a pack, and are very good.

If I had an easy supply of good quality UK Belly Pork, I would still make my own bacon; but alas.....

Another favourite product that I can't buy back in the UK is Figatelli. This is a Corsican dried sausage that contains Liver. The Liver gives it a haunting flavour that is unlike any other.

It's a very dark and brooding sausage (possibly not to everyone's taste) but for aficionados it's addictive; I have to stop myself heading for the fridge for just 'one more slice'.

The other thing I've probably missed most are my cookery books. All my Rick Stein books, and Elizabeth David, and others. I love re-reading them and trying out different nuances in my dishes. These books (some of which are below) are in the 'Tower', and on really hot afternoons that's where you'll find me, flicking through the pages of some Italian or Mediterranean recipe book.

The pool is now perfectly clean, and at about 24 C is swimmable. In this heat I cannot tell you what a pleasure that is.

This afternoon (yesterday) it's 30 C in the shade, so perfect weather for swimming. The flagstones haven't yet been 'Karchered', but we didn't care; they can wait. Here is Lady M enjoying a few lengths, with Billy admiring her bravery. It was BRACING. The pool looks very narrow in the photo; it's actually 4 metres wide. It looks about 3 metres wide; cameras do lie!

Bloody Nutters.

 

The world's population is estimated to be around 8.2 Billion, out of which just a small handful of men cannot behave themselves. They are a bunch of total idiots and warmongers.

Putin, general secretary Xi, some Ayatollah or other, and Kim ' baby face' Jong Un (plus a few irrational terrorist group leaders), seem to think they have the right to involve the rest of us in their (mostly Communist) expansionist policies by killing people they don't like. 

Well, I for one don't want any part in it, so if they really insist on letting off big bombs, would they please do it on their own soil, and kill their own people. Don't exercise your hang-ups on the rest of us peace-loving folk.

I hear that those charming mullahs in Iran, are now threatening the USA, the UK, and France (I can't escape). Don't those Iranian Shia Muslims believe in peace, sanctity of life, or even the freedom of thought? Obviously not!

One of the most bizarre revelations of the current Iran/Israel conflict is that many Iranians are actually supporting Netanyahu. They want their repressive regime to fall, and they don't wish to see their country destroyed. Perhaps one massive collective assault on Tehran would bring Khomeini to his senses, and he'd raise his white flag. I hear that Iranians have even been spotted shouting "Death to Ayatollah".

As I learned on Day 1 of my Officer Training course; 'know your enemy, go in hard, go in strong'! That's the only way to get this conflict over and done with quickly.

But, please, LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!

Sandy Powell

This act probably seems rather 'old hat' these days, but in his day (Yorkshireman) Sandy Powell was one of the biggest stars of Music Hall. Some might remember his famous catch-phrase "Can you hear me Mother?".

I worked with him in a variety show. I was a student at the time, and had taken a holiday job as ASM (Assistant Stage Manager). Powell wasn't an easy man to work with, he was a cantankerous old codger, often sozzled, and didn't like being told what to do. I often had difficulty getting him on stage. 

On one occasion he was watching some Football match on TV in his dressing room, and refused to go on. I had to hurriedly reorganise the whole evening's running order to cope with his absence. He went on later (reluctantly).

Here he is performing what was probably his most well-known, and well-loved, sketch, as a ventriloquist. The long-suffering assistant was his lovely wife Kaye. How she put-up with him, I shall never know!

The shocking reality

Once all the leaves and water on the pool's winter cover were removed, and the cover itself taken away, this is what we were left with (below). YUK!

It's the same every year. The water level was low, the water itself a nasty green colour, and the flagstones in desperate need of the Karcher.

We need the water level to rise before we can turn on the pump, and start treating and cleaning the water. With just a garden hose (by Billy's feet) it takes a long time to reach the desired level.

Once the water is circulating, and the chemicals added, we can think about cleaning the flags. It'll be at least another couple of days until we can actually swim.

As it happens, we're having a short spell of cooler weather with some rain, then on Monday the heat returns, and we are to have 30-35 C for a couple of weeks; so it has worked out quite well.

I can hardly wait to get those flagstones clean. It always looks so grubby when we open up. The Karcher does a great job. I will clean the Lutyens chair at the same time, it's covered in lichens.

By Tuesday or Wednesday, it should all look like this (below). 

In fact, by late afternoon yesterday it was already a nice blue colour. All the muck has now gathered on the bottom; ready for me to vacuum tomorrow (today). 

Happy times ahead!

 

Back to the old routine.

First things first, so it was off to the woods at first-light (7 am). Amazingly, no-one seems to have visited my mushrooming spot.

This (below) is part of the view from the front of our house, and, in the distance, is where my mushrooms grow. As you can see, it is all very tranquil. The pale treetops are Chestnuts, which are all in flower; the aroma is all-invading.

As I said above, it seems as if no-one had been to my mushroom patch for a while; there were Girolles everywhere. In fact I picked far too many. Omelet tonight.

We had a good shopping trip to Leclerc, but for some odd reason there were already crowds of people there waiting for the 9 am opening time (My Sainsbury's in England opens at 7 am). I don't enjoy being jostled by crowds in a supermarket.

However, we did manage to buy a few essentials, including a magnum of Pétrus 1971 (ask no questions, and I shall tell no lies), and a couple of bottles of our favourite fizzy Saumur. I shall buy more Saumur on Tuesday; it's always good to have a ready supply. This stuff is as good as Champagne any day!!!

But, not everything goes smoothly. At midnight last night we had a small storm. Thunder, lightning, and rain. I suddenly remembered that I'd left the car windows open, so up I got, torch in hand, and walked through the rain to the car (about 50 yards), and closed them. Rain seems to be a thing of the past in Brighton, so I wasn't expecting any here either!

This morning, whilst it's still reasonably cool, we shall clean the pool cover of all its dead leaves, etc, and hopefully pump off all the water.

Lady M is becoming restless. SHE NEEDS TO SWIM.

Journey completed.

French roads are a real pleasure to drive on. They are comparatively quiet, without potholes, and extremely well sign-posted. Our two day drive south was without incident, and (amazingly) without getting lost. Our new little gadget for getting through the 'T' gates on the Péage roads worked perfectly, and unlike the old one, the new one 'pings' when you go through.

It was hot on leg 1 of our trip, and very hot on leg 2. Billy slept for most of the way, and was really excited when we reached home. Our gardener popped-in to see us with his Black Lab', and the two of them had a wonderful time playing together. I suspect, like us, Billy's very pleased to be back.

I gave the lawn a quick trim, looked at all the growth everywhere else, and decided to leave it for another day.

By early evening we were both EXHAUSTED, so, after a nice bottle of Pécharmant, and a slice of Lady M's Quiche, we sat outside enjoying the warm evening air, watching the Buzzards flying, and listening to the Crickets 'chirping'.

Tomorrow we might attack the pool. It's certainly swimming weather.

But before we do anything else, we'll go SHOPPING to Leclerc. I have a long list of delights to bring home!

 

Preparations

I've made a list of things to take to France; and also of a few things to bring back.

On the 'take' list are just a few food items. Essential Indian curry pastes, spices, and pickles have become harder to find since Brexit, so it's safer for me to take my own 'just in case'. Most other European foods are readily available, but it's the Indian ones I would miss.

On the 'bring back' list there are also a few food items. My favourite Spaghetti (Panzani) is top of the list and I shall return with at least 3 kilos. Otherwise a few favourite 'small' antiques, photos, books, and a few tins of Paté, Squid, and Octopus that I can't buy here. I shall also return with some DIY things; drill bits, a glue gun, and my soldering iron, that occasionally I need.

We try to travel as light as possible, but somehow it never happens. It always becomes a matter of reducing the excess weight to the minimum. That 'minimum' invariably remains too much.

At least we don't go, and return, with suitcases filled with clothes; we both run two sets of wardrobes; one for the UK and another for France, which makes life easier. 

The Compact Royce (Debi) has now had her Service and MOT, so she's all ready to go. My service garage also cleaned her inside and out, so she is spotless. The ferry and our 'half-way' hotel are both booked; we can hardly wait!!!

I probably won't be around for a day or two, but I'll be back. Toodle pip!

Audrey Hepburn Sings Moon River - BEST QUALITY

John (Going Gently) recently posted a beautiful video of a man playing 'Moon River' on the piano, for an Elephant (who was listening attentively).

I love that song, but for me it has to be sung by my boyhood crush, Audrey Hepburn.

Who sang your favourite version?

A view from the sidelines

For a non-church-goer, I probably seem strangely obsessed by churches. In fact churches have played an important part in my life since I was a wee choirboy in my Surrey village church.

I do love old churches. I love the architecture, the history, and the pivotal position they hold in a community. Regardless of whether or not I believe in their doctrine, I DO believe in their role as part of our traditional English society.

Above is our church here in Brighton, very close to where I live. In many ways it is not dis-similar to our village church in France, below, which still dominates life in certain respects.

Not only does everything of note take place around the eglise itself, in my French village, but it is the highest, and tallest building in the area, and can be seen from miles away. I think it's about 2 kms from our front door, and we can see the spire clearly; and hear the bells.

Two lovely old churches. Ours being very much alive with a full-time priest (Father D), a side-kick assistant curate priest (Father P), a choir, and several very keen acolytes who really enjoy doing all the organising (in what they call 'the catholic tradition'). A nice bunch of people, and all very friendly; we'll miss the annual Dog Show this year. It's on 21st June, and we'll be elsewhere.

The other (in France) has no regular priest (they do occasionally have a Polish one), just the occasional service, and the only regular activity being poorly-attended funerals.

It seems that France has fallen out-of-love with religion; they can't even find trainee priests. The church itself is slowly becoming simply an assembly point, or village hall; but at least they do look after the structure. 

These days, the main 'church' event of the year is the annual Brocante (boot sale), this year on 27th July, with hundreds of stalls sited all around the perimeter of the church itself. It's always a wonderful day, and I never fail to buy a few bargain antiques. I'm looking forward to it (see below).

Hanging-up his pads.

 

Kimbo has just informed me that TOMORROW (Sunday) will be his final Cricket match. His illustrious Cricketing career is coming to an end.

BUT, there is a bonus. It's not just any old match. For his final match he's playing against ENGLAND.

"BLIMEY!" I said. Playing against ENGLAND!!! That's amazing.

"Yes" he replied "England's over 70's team.

"But you're not over 70" I said in disbelief.

"No, our team are over 50's".

"So some of your team could well be over 70 then!" 

"I doubt it" he replied; laughing.

"Right; so it's you team's over 50's, against ex-England players over 70's team. Who will win?"

"We will, of course" he replied with his usual confidence. "They'll all be using Zimmer frames or disability scooters".

"Well good luck" I said. "Don't let us down".

I don't know if W G Grace, Len Hutton, or Geoffrey Boycott will be playing , but it should be a great match. I'll let you know what happened (depending on the result).

Pool life

 

I probably say the same thing every year, but pool ownership isn't all sipping Pimms, and lounging amidst bikini-clad beauties. There are plenty of downsides.

Firstly the pool has been covered all through the winter months, and the black plastic tarp' will be deep in rotting leaves, about a foot of stinking water, and probably plenty of Frogspawn. It's never a pleasant sight.

After the majority of the leaves have been removed, the water has to be pumped off; I have a small electric pump for this but it gets easily blocked. Once the water is mostly gone, the last of the leaves have to be removed, and the black plastic winter cover taken-off, cleaned, dried, and folded away.

Then, and only then, can one look into the water. Usually it's not too bad, but there are always a few mysteries, dead Frogs, etc, on the bottom, and the whole thing needs to be well cleaned, and the chemicals added. This complete process takes a minimum of two or three days.

Then comes the tidying, cleaning, gardening, etc. 9 months with no attention means that the whole pool area is a mess!

We need to clean all the dirt from the surrounding flagstones (the beach). I now have a Karcher type pressure hose, and it does a great, if time consuming, job. 

By this time things are looking better. If it hasn't rained, it will have taken at least a week, and all that remains is to trim back the overgrowth, cut the wretched flowers/seeds off the Palm trees, and do general tidying.

What will the water temperature be? Well, after opening it tends to be quite low; well under 20 C. If the sun shines it will take a few days to reach our minimum swimming temperature of 22 C. 

I'm NOT looking forward to the task, but at least afterwards it should look like the above!

First Car.

My grandson, Suave Harve, has just passed his driving test (at first attempt), so the search is on to buy him a cool, simple, and reliable car.

Kimbo found this beauty on a Moroccan web site. It's a 1986 Renault 4, which has served its life as a Radio outside broadcast car. It was offered at 10,000 Dirhams (about £2,000).

Just imagine the looks you'd get, driving around in this!!! It's the epitome of COOL. I've owned a Renault 4 myself, and they are great cars. Very easy to tinker with, and lots of fun. The fabulous advertising is simply an extra bonus.

Kimbo is trying to find someone who'd be willing to drive it up to England (for a generous fee). We're still waiting to hear if anyone will do it.

Coming from Morocco, it'll probably be rust-free too. No Rusty-Renaults for us!

I would have loved this as a first car. I had a VW Beetle instead.

However, being realistic, I think there may be too many obstacles to overcome in order to get it here. We'll see!

On my own personal search I found this below, which I thought he'd like. It's a 3-wheeler Lomax, based on a 1980 2CV. Nice, but not too good in the rain! A bargain at £2,500, but I expect the insurance would be phenomenal.

 

Some Brighton sights. 3. 6. 25.

It was a cool and blustery day, so it was back to wearing jacket and scarf. Not what I was expecting for the third day of June.

I just loved these 'Daisy' type flowers sprouting from the bottom of a gravestone. They simply looked perfect; as if they belonged there.

Further along the path that goes around the exterior of the dog-park I came across this. 'You were here' scratched onto the ground with some Downland Chalk. Thank you to whoever wrote it. I was wondering where I'd been!

Then over the road from the park I saw this. Some bloody idiot had taken his filthy old mattress, and (I imagine at night) had dumped it by the entrance to the churchyard in a newly built flower bed. I'm used to seeing abandoned ironing boards and office chairs, but I've never seen a dumped mattress before in central Brighton. PIGS.

Such things really do make you lose some faith in human nature. 

As someone famously said "Tomorrow is another day".

Diet.

I won't show you the 'before' photo, but I've been on a no-wine-diet since April 22nd. I started at 15 stone 9 lbs, and I now weigh 15 stone 2 lbs. i.e. a loss of 7 lbs  without the aid of pills or potions.

Not a great weight-loss you might say, but I do feel a bit better, and have absolutely no desire to grab a bottle of rouge. 

I SHALL, of course, be drinking wine through the Summer months, but not in the quantities that I previously did. Perhaps one glass with my evening meal, and no more.

Lady M tells me I'm looking less 'bloated', and I think she's right. Looking at this recent photo (above), I think I can see some 'improvement', although in my case almost anything would have been an improvement. 

My aim was to be under 15 stone before the swimming-season. I think I'm still roughly on track.

When I first dip my toe into the pool, I shall weigh 14 stone 13.9 pounds MAXIMUM.

I shall try to stay amongst the 14 stones. I am about 6 ft tall.

 

Tis the season....

Just as we eat Asparagus at least twice a week at the moment (on my shopping days), we are now eating Strawberries even more often.

Whether they be eaten at Wimbledon, Ascot, Glyndebourne, Hickstead, or even at home, a few Strawberries always makes the world a better place. 

We always used to eat them with a very light sprinkling of White Sugar, but we have now changed that to Light Brown Muscovado. It adds another dimension, without spoiling the flavour.

The Garden Strawberry (as we now know it) was originally bred in Northern France in the 1750's, which is probably why my favourite variety remains the French Gariguette (below) with it's distinctive upward pointing 'crown'. We buy ours (in France) from a lovely lady who runs a roadside stall. 

Gariguette are amongst the very best flavoured fruits, with a hint of wild Strawberry, and an unrivalled aroma.

I do have a few Strawberry plants in France, which are in pots. There are always a few fruits on them, but only enough to grab one or two whilst passing. I really should plant some more; they look after themselves whilst we're away.

 

Foolish pedestrian gets instant karma

It's Sunday, so we need something light-hearted to start the day.

What was the point of shouting and gesticulating at a motorist who has just stopped at a red light to let you cross the road?

This silly man deserved everything he got. Watch it several times. Enjoy!