Six things I have done in the last few days

Just to prove I am actually doing something........

1. Made a jar of preserved lemons

2. Seen Hayseed Dixie in Bristol. Wow, best gig ever.

3. Turned another year older.

4. Driven for hours collecting building materials.

5. Received the biggest display of flowers I have ever seen. They are still filling the living room and scenting the whole house.

6. Started on the demon steroids yet again, only this time I am losing weight, not gaining it.

Back soon with more stunning highlights!!

Spicy Sunshine Soup

This is a real warmer for those first chilly days of autumn when you have a glut of produce in the kitchen and are running out of ideas as to what to do with it all.

Serves 8 easily.

Half a butternut squash, peeled and diced
2 medium onions diced
3 yellow or red peppers, de-seed and diced
6 tomatoes halved. I used yellow ones which looked great.
1 green chili de-seeded and sliced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
half tablespoon ground paprika. On this occasion I would NOT used smoked.
2 cloves garlic chopped
5ml olive oil
1pint (20oz) vegetable stock
1 teaspoon sugar
black pepper to taste


Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the onions, fry gently until translucent; add the garlic and stir in the oil. Add the rest of the veg and the spices and sweat gently for a couple of minutes.

Pour on the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about half an hour until all the veg is well cooked. Add the teaspoon of sugar and back pepper to taste. Whizz in a blender until smooth.

I always leave the skin on peppers and tomatoes. Once it has been whizzed, the soup is quite smooth. However if you want to you can remove the skins either before you cook the soup or when it has come to the boil. You can stand over it and as the veg softens, the skins rise to the top and and are easy to remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.

Serve with crusty bread and cheese or for a special lunch, cheese muffins.

Hanging in there

I'm still here, still busy, still in the old house, but far too busy to write here.

I'll be back soon, I promise.

The disappointment continues

Well the gig of the year was a wash-out, personally speaking. First off, the motorway was closed so we had a long detour via Wales. This meant that we were an hour late for lunch with the other Outhousers. Nevertheless we had a great time and a great lunch with lovely people. So far so good.

Later we left the hotel in brilliant sunshine, got to the Gig in a bit of cloud, saw the first two groups and by then it started to rain. And rain. And rain. Halfway through Hayseed Dixie we had to leave. By then my muscles were shaking and I could barely move. Our clothes were dripping wet and we could wring out the water.

One hour later we were dried off and sitting in warm clothes in the local Tandoori! Three days later I am still suffering the effects of getting so wet and sitting in pools of water for an hour, cold water and neurological Lyme do NOT mix. We didn't even get to see Status Quo, the headline group at all.

I thought that if I got my op date on Monday that would cheer me up. Last Friday I was told I could have it as soon as possible, by Monday that date was mid October. The surgeon didn't think to tell me he was on holiday for the WHOLE of September.

So I'm still waiting.

To alleviate the boredom I've booked to see the Hayseeds again in Bristol on 23rd September, indoors. This time it had better be good!

Pear shaped

Well most of my plans for the end of summer are now on hold. I am wating for a small operation to undo the damage I did moving two paving slabs in the back garden. I saw the consultant yesterday and I should be booked in for 2 weeks time, I'll know for definite on Monday.

At least the end is now in sight; however, I had to cancel the trip to Denmark, next week's break in Cornwall and so far the holiday in Greece looks a non-starter too. We are still off tomorrow for one night only, as they say, to see the Quo and the Hayseeds and to meet up with other Outhousers. Full report to follow.