READ THE LABEL!

Boursin has always been a favourite in our family, and it appears regularly on the cheese-board.

I bought this packet on Saturday, and was expecting my usual hit of Garlic and Herbs.

However, something didn't taste right, and I remarked about it to Lady M.

It was only then that she pointed-out that it was 'PLANT BASED', and not proper cream-cheese at all. I hadn't read the label and had grabbed the wrong pack. I had no idea that they even made such a product. It really wasn't pleasant; only vegans would eat this.

So, what to do? I crushed a bit more Garlic into it, and added a pinch of Salt and Pepper, and gave it a good mix. It was considerably better, but that's all.

Next time I shall read the label. Be warned!

 

My Blackberry Jam.

It was the final push of my jam-making extravaganza this Summer. Suddenly beautiful Blackberries were everywhere; just asking to be made into jam.

I'd not made Blackberry jam before; nor, I think, had I ever eaten any. I've had Blackberry jelly which I've always liked, but not actual jam, containing actual berries.

Eating the jam is an interesting experience. The Blackberries themselves are ever-present, and I can understand why this isn't made commercially. I probably find their presence acceptable because it was ME who made it.

The flavour is wonderful, but I'm not quite so sure about the little round bullets; although I'm not against them, in fact I find them rather amusing. However, I hadn't expected them to be quite so 'firm'. 

Verdict: Flavour 10/10. Edibility 6/10. It will NOT go to waste.

 

Mandy.

One doesn't wish to continuously rub salt into Labour's wounds, but they really have got themselves into deep poo, both politically and financially.

There are few politicians with as controversial a history as Mandy (Lord Mandelson); most recently being sacked as the UK's Ambassador to the USA. My own late Father-in-Law, who was at our Embassy in Washington in the mid-50's, would have been horrified at his inappropriate appointment.

Mandy's political career would best be described as 'pushy'. He actively sought-out the rich and influential, and used them to his advantage. This has eventually caused his downfall.

His long and close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was doomed from the beginning. Most people (other than his pal Sir Keir Starmer) knew that he had overstepped the mark; and he had to go. On Wednesday at PMQ's, Starmer was still saying what a wonderful chap he was, and had his 'total confidence'. Starmer sacked him a few hours later.

Mandy will no doubt now spend much of his time in The Lords, where members receive a daily attendance allowance of £323; over £1,500 a week. I'm sure he'll also be offered a few 'directorships', and other paid appointments. That's how things develop for such people. He won't go short of a few quid.

Mandy, better known as The Prince of Darkness', will probably be popular as an 'After Dinner Speaker', and will no doubt soon appear on the boards of several quangos and charities. I wish him luck. 

Can Starmer possibly still have the 'total confidence' in Mandy that he so earnestly claimed on Wednesday? Coming so soon after the shameful Rayner affair, one really has to wonder about Starmer's judgement of character!

It's all in the slogan!

 

Scotland used to attract visitors from the world over with their catchy slogan 'SCOTLAND, THE BEST LITTLE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD'.

However, some bright McSpark decided to find a new snappier slogan, more suited to the 21st C.

The appropriate Scottish government department allotted £125,000 (some say more) to find something really punchy; and the search was on!

New slogans came from all quarters, but one stood out from all the others; and here is the winner!

'WELCOME TO SCOTLAND' Which came from Scotland's renowned 'Leith Agency'. It now greets arrivals in airports, etc, throughout Scotland.

Good isn't it. Give that man a McKnighthood.

 

Damn and Blast!

Observant visitors to this page will know that I am an avid wild-Mushroom hunter. The woods around our home in France offer plenty of Girolles, Cepes, Hedgehog Mushrooms, and Trumpets of Death. And our favourite Parasol Mushrooms pop-up almost anywhere. We always stick to these five well-known varieties. 

We had really been hoping for a few Cepes before we left last weekend, but it wasn't to be. It had rained as needed, and it had been hot. Sadly, for some reason, they didn't grow.

However, I now see from local reports that there are beautiful Cepes everywhere (above, 2 days ago), and the local marketplace is busy every afternoon, with merchants buying all they can get their hands on.

I cannot tell you how annoyed this makes me. One of the greatest pleasures of living where we do is the availability of a good variety of wild mushrooms; especially the Cepes.

We did have a few way back in June, with three days of Cepe omelets,  but I'd really been hoping for more.

Such is life.

 

Veggie Monday, Tuesday, Wednes......

 

We are eating much less meat than we used to. This is not for any ethical reason, or even financial reasons, it just happens to suit our way of life. It's no longer just Veggie Wednesdays.

The latest recipe that has come my way involves two of my favourite vegetables, cooked in a favourite way, in a favourite pan.

I apologise for the borrowed photo, I forgot to take my own; but it was very similar looking.

I love Pak Choi, and I love Mushrooms (I used Chestnut Mushrooms). A few minutes in a Wok with some chopped Spring Onions and some Garlic, combined with some Hoi Sin sauce, and you have a really nice simple meal. This was the first time I'd cooked it, and it was really good. Not something you'd give to guests maybe, but as a mid-week easy meal it was perfect. Lady M thought it might have been better with some Rice. Maybe she was right.

We did have a slice of Chocolate cake afterwards.

Back to Brighton life!

 

You would be forgiven for thinking that all car-drivers in Brighton are permanently DRUNK.

In fact their wavering around in the road is due to the POTHOLES everywhere. One needs to 'meander' in order to avoid what happened to ME two years ago, when I broke a spring by driving into a particularly deep one. It cost me £250 to repair.

I have just returned from a major 're-stocking' shopping trip, and I was pleased to see that the big Sainsbury's I go to have changed their shopping-trollies. We no longer have to put a £1 coin (or a token) into a slot; they are now slot-less. Whoopie!

Church News. It seems that during the 3 months I've been away, no new Vicar has been found for our nearby church. Maybe there is a shortage of Vicars (no surprise there), or maybe no-one wants to move down to Brighton; it could be a daunting change of life-style. It's the same in France; our lovely old village church can find no priest, they have even had to bring-in Polish ones for the very occasional service.

No sight as yet of the fragrant 'Tax Avoider' Ms Rayner.  I expect she's laying low and trying to let her disgrace die-down a bit. But, no doubt she'll be back; snapping at ankles.

In the park (rest garden) where I take Billy for his walks, there has been a new 'raised bed' built in one discreet corner. I asked the chap who built it what he was going to grow in it. He asked me what I would grow in it. I replied "Vegetables". I notice that it is now filled with pumpkins!!! I hope I'll be offered one.

And finally, I'm pleased to announce that I've just spotted the above advert in my local area's free monthly mag'. Sound healing to 'balance my energy system, and allow sympathetic vibrations to occur in my every cell' sounds super-dooper. And at only £45 an hour for a 'one to one session', it has to be the bargain of the year.

Do you think it'll cure my bad back?