I am not deliberately ignoring my somewhat mysterious comment on Wednesday's 'on my desk' post. I said 'something's afoot' and something is indeed afoot. However at this stage I don't know enough to make it worthwhile posting about it and it may all come to nothing anyway. Decisions have to made and thoughts must be thought. Once I have more information you will be the first (or thirty eighth) to know.
In the meantime just sit there humming quietly to yourselves.
I have been so busy this week I haven't been near the computer long enough to write a decent post and, until this morning, had only made brief visits to my favourite blogs. It's an outrage!
It's been one of those weeks where everything congegrates to demand attention - you know how it is, there can be weeks of nothing then all of a sudden you're running around attending to things, seeing people, showing up as required and generally exhausting yourself with 2 sometimes 3 appointments a day. That was last week for me. I'm very tired and just slightly cranky.
Quite a few things were school related. Hannah's class are doing some screen printing for an art exhibition and the call went out for Mums to come in and help. I volunteered and went in and spent an afternoon getting covered in paint and a very sore back from bending over child sized sinks to clean the silk screens. It was fun though.
Today Aislin's class had a 'mini Olympics' and while I boycotted the real Olympics I was ok with this one because no small countries were harmed in the making of it. It started at 9.30am and ended with a sausage sizzle at about 12.30pm. There was a flame relay .....
The cauldron was lit.
There was a parade of athletes then the national anthem was sung....
There were the usual Olympic sports - scoopies....
....hoopies....
....and bean bags...
Then there was a closing ceremony and lunch. As with every outside event held at that school it was freezing. I don't know what it is, even the Christmas carol service, held outside in the height of summer managed to be so cold that one of the other Mums and I were huddled together wrapped in a picnic blanket.
Anyway, when it finished I had a couple of hours to kill before school pick up, I went to library then did a little bit of grocery shopping, got myself a coffee and went back to the school where I parked under a tree, tilted the car seat back a little and settled down with my book, planning an hour of peace and quiet reading and warming myself up with a hot coffee. About this time another Mum arrived to do her shift on the screen prints. She came over and asked me if I was helping too, I said 'no, I did it yesterday and I've been here all day today and I'm freezing so now I'm having a rest and drinking coffee - go away' she told me that she wasn't sure the other Mum would turn up and it needs two to do it - sigh - I told her to go and set it up and if the other Mum wasn't there by then she could come and get me and I'd help (you know where this is going don't you?). Yep, five minutes later there she is, in her apron, waving at me to come in. I tearfully abandoned my coffee and my book and did another shift on the screen prints.
I deserve a medal. Really I do.
....sound of crickets chirruping.
There's nothing on my desk because I've been out all day.....something's afoot.
More later.
....I just know it. Because of this at our place last night......
It arced right across the sky but was too close and too big to get a picture of the whole thing. And it was so bright, the photo doesn't do it justice.
Can you see it's a double (it's very faint)? Even it's second one was bright, but once again my feeble camera doesn't catch it's full glory.
Not only are we getting lots and lots of lovely rain, we're getting lots and lots of lovely rainbows.
So here we have a 'little' quiz about stuff we've eaten. Feel free to join in if you'd like to, here's what you do......
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I can't be bothered with all the HTML in crossing out so I'll just put a little * if I'd never eat it).
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred (remember I'm not a meat eater any more but many of these things I've eaten in the past):
1. Venison - No. For reasons entirely my own deer are sacred to me and I would never eat venison.
2. Nettle tea - Yep.
3. Huevos rancheros - I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, so no.
4. Steak tartare - yes.
5. Crocodile - I have indeed.
6. Black pudding - OMG, yes! YUM!!! I miss it so.
7. Cheese fondue - Yes, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I find it a bit soggy and icky.
8. Carp - Yeah. Meh.
9. Borscht - Yes, I love it.
10. Baba ghanoush - I loathe aubergine.
11. Calamari - Delicious if it's cooked properly.
12. Pho* - No, it's a bit fatty for my taste
13. PB&J sandwich - Of course!
14. Aloo gobi - Indian food is one of my favourites and we are fortunate to live within walking distance of a great Indian restaurant and a short drive from the most fantastic Indian restaurant outside India. So yes, I've eaten aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart - Not from a street cart, no. I have had hot dogs though and liked them despite the fact I know they're made from arses and eyeballs.
16. Epoisses* - Boozy cheese, what a joy - but sadly, too stinky.
17. Black truffle - Oh yes I have and I want to try the Tasmanian ones.
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - Yes, with varying enjoyment.
19. Steamed pork buns* - Not a fan of pig meat of any kind really.
20. Pistachio ice cream - Yes.
21. Heirloom tomatoes - God yes, the best tomatoes EVER!
22. Fresh wild berries - Hasn't everyone?
23. Foie gras - Look, I have tried it (I spent a lot of time in France a few years back) but I'm not proud of the fact, I kind of object. I'll never eat it again.
24. Rice and beans - Not this kind no, but I'm willing.
25. Brawn or head cheese - Well yes, I'm Scottish, we eat stuff like this. What can I say?
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper* - Despite loving Indian food I don't like too much heat and I really don't eat chilli.
27. Dulce de leche - No, but it's sweet so I'd like it.
28. Oysters - Yes, I like oysters.
29. Baklava - Yes - sweet again.
30. Bagna cauda - Not yet.
31. Wasabi peas - Here's a thing....I don't like (spicy) hot food but I do love horseradish, I haven't had wasabi peas but I do eat wasabi and I would eat these.
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - Sadly no, but I'd like to (except for the whole being a vegetarian thing).
33. Salted lassi - I love lassi, but don't think I've had salted.
34. Sauerkraut - yes, very nice.
35. Root beer float - Not root beer, no.
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - I've had cognac with a slim cigar - does that count?
37. Clotted cream tea - OH YES!!! But not for a long time - sob - homesick again.
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - I really must make this.
39. Gumbo - Probably not the genuine one, but a variation.
40. Oxtail - Soup only, but yes.
41. Curried goat - Yes, goat is very good - I prefer it to lamb, at least I would if I ate meat.
42. Whole insects* - You know, greedy as I am even I draw the line here.
43. Phaal* - Too hot for me.
44. Goat’s milk - Yes.
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - Absolutely.
46. Fugu* - No, this frightens me.
47. Chicken tikka masala - YUM!
48. Eel* - I just can't.
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - Yes (thanks Shaun).
50. Sea urchin* - No. Can't.
51. Prickly pear* - Never had the opportunity and not sure I care.
52. Umeboshi - These are the strangest little things, I've had them a couple of times and also tried them during pregnancy because someone told me they were good for morning sickness. A Japanese student of mine used to snack on them all the time. Salty and weird but not revolting. Oh and they did nothing for my morning sickness.
53. Abalone - Yes, Tom went snorkelling one morning when we were at the beach house and he brought me one back (probably illegally). He cooked it up that night in butter and garlic. It was ok. Not unpleasant but once again I don't really see what all the fuss is about.
54. Paneer - Yes, I like this.
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Oh the shame. Yes, yes I have. Crap food, crap company.
56. Spaetzle - No, I haven't had spaetzle yet.
57. Dirty gin martini - Martini yes, dirty gin martini - I don't think so. Is it better?
58. Beer above 8% ABV - I do believe I have, I recall Tom bringing home a beer and making a great noise over the percentage - it meant nothing to me but the fact I can't remember it may be telling.
59. Poutine - No, I certainly did the chips and gravy in my younger days - usually in the high street at about 3am - but I'm not sure this is appealing to me.
60. Carob chips - Carob - pshaw!!
61. S’mores - No, I hear they're good though.
62. Sweetbreads* - Funny....I don't really fancy these.
63. Kaolin - No, but as a child I used to chew the pink stuff off the heads of matches. I knew I wasn't supposed to because I would hide and do it. I don't think it was related to any strange eating disorder like pica or geophagy I just liked the taste. I don't do it anymore.
64. Currywurst* - Pork again, no.
65. Durian - Nope, never tried it.
66. Frogs’ legs - Yes, many times. Very good they are too.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - Beignets, in France, yes I have.
68. Haggis - Well duh.
69. Fried plantain - No, but I will.
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette* - One word. Pig.
71. Gazpacho - Love it.
72. Caviar and blini - Yes.
73. Louche absinthe - Unfortunately not. And as the modern versions have reduced hallucinogenic qualities I won't bother. But if they ever bring back the thujone.......
74. Gjetost, or brunost - No I haven't tried this.
75. Roadkill* - I'd have to be pretty hungry.
76. Baijiu - No. It sounds.....interesting.
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - Fruit pies....many, Hostess? No.
78. Snail - Yes. Not keen, can't get the snailiness out of my head.
79. Lapsang souchong - Yes. Not a favourite though.
80. Bellini - Now you're talking.
81. Tom yum - Yep.
82. Eggs Benedict - Love these.
83. Pocky - You know I have had these....Japanese student again.
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. - Not a degustation no.
85. Kobe beef - No.
86. Hare - No. In Celtic mythology hares represent the Goddess. Eating them just seems wrong.
87. Goulash - Sure.
88. Flowers - Yes.
89. Horse - No.
90. Criollo chocolate - So much chocolate, so little time.
91. Spam - It's been a long time but yes. Again with the arses and eyeballs.
92. Soft shell crab - Not soft shell no.
93. Rose harissa* - No. Hot. Yikes!
94. Catfish* - No. Too whiskery.
95. Mole poblano - Guacamole but no others.
96. Bagel and lox - Yup! Yum!
97. Lobster Thermidor - Yes.
98. Polenta - Yes, we have this occasionally. I'm indifferent to polenta.
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - Oooooh yes. I love coffee nearly as much as chocolate especially this one.
100. Snake - I haven't. But for some reason given the choice between snake and eel I'd rather eat snake. I don't know why.
Well now you know some more stuff about me. Fascinating and enigmatic aren't I?
Yesterday I went to the doctor on a completely unrelated matter and she informed me that my fluey virus had now developed into a secondary bacterial infection of the upper respitory tract ....oh and I have sinusitis too. Nice. However I now have some antibiotics (sigh) and I'm sure I'll be fit as a fiddle in a few days. It does explain why I've been feeling so utterly miserable. Good to know there was a curable reason.
Tom was with me (well in the waiting room, I don't actually need anyone to accompany me into the doctor's surgery) because we were going to pick up the girls from school afterwards. For some reason they get a tremendous thrill when both of us arrive to collect them so we've been doing that all week. Anyway after the doctor we had some time kill and it was a sunny day (the first in weeks) so we decided to take a walk around a nearby lake.
When we got there I noticed a group of people standing by the water with little boxes in their hands, as we got closer I realised they had remote control boats and were sailing them on the lake. It all looked rather serious as a couple of them had clipboards and self-important expressions (the people not the boats). Anyway, the little yachts were beautiful. Once again please excuse the photos, they were taken on my mobile phone as I was not anticipating a walk so hadn't brought the camera. My mobile doesn't have zoom so they are a bit distant but try to imagine a peaceful stillness, broken only by birdsong and the sound of tiny waves lapping on the shore as these little boats cut swiftly through the water.
Aren't they lovely? Here's another lonely little yacht making it's silent way back to its owner.
And another, just having a little rest.
Look at those blue skies - it was absolutely freezing though, today the rain is back and outside is dark and grey (but I'm still not complaining - keep it coming I say!).
Sadly, on my desk today is this.....
Yes, it's tax time and I must stop procrastinating and get on with the dreaded tax return. Is there anything more tedious? I doubt it.
I also have to sort through this.....
Because I'm quite sure I don't need most of the stuff in those folders. So I got them out and put them on the desk to remind me to do it. Only now I can't really be bothered doing it and I'm resisting the urge to just slip them back into the filing cabinet and walk away whistling innocently. However you can guarantee that if I do that today will be the day that the file police decide to raid my cabinet and they'll discover my guilty secret and it will be all over the tabloids tomorrow.
No, I do not take my filing system too seriously and there is too such a thing as the file police.
