Thou Shalt Always Kill

Right, back to Edinburgh.

Friday morning came and we set off after dropping Jack off at the kennels. TomTom was telling us about 6.5 hours. Normally, I can knock that time a bit though. However, that wasn't counting on the weather. We went from drizzle to sunshine to torrential downpours and then back to sunshine again!
This slowed us up a bit and then we grabbed something to eat near Scotch corner.
So the satnav ended up being spot on. A quick call to Gordon and he popped down to guide us up to their flat. Fifth floor, so a quick hike up the steps. It really is a lovely flat too, but Di insists that it's her influence.

After a coffee, we left our car at their place and all headed to our hotel in their car. Thanks to Tesco being generous with their Deal tokens, we chose to stay at the Hilton. The receptionist's face was a picture as I strolled in wearing scruffy shorts and a T-shirt!

We decamped to our room, had a quick change and then met up again with D & G at the bar next door. After a couple of beers (which went down well after the long drive), we walked to the restaurant, past the castle and some of the city's sights.

Good choice of restaurant, it was really lovely food.


After a couple of bottles of wine and more beer, it was time to head back to the hotel. Myself and Gordon were quite up for keeping the drinking going, but the girls chose the best route of calling time.

I went out in the morning at about 7.30 for a run through one of the parks. It was great at that time in the morning. Unfortunately, the weather didn't hold and after having a large breakfast, it had started to drizzle. Donning coats, we went out to check the shops. Unfortunately, the rain got heavier and heavier and within an hour or so was really pouring down. Back to the hotel.
At about lunchtime, G phoned and asked if we fancied the art galleries. This we did and they were pretty good. A coffee and snacks followed and the rain ceased.
Now was chosen to be a great time to head up Arthurs Seat, which is a a craggy hill that overlooks the city. Behold...




You can see how much the weather had improved. Look at the sweat!

After the swift climb and descent, we headed back to their flat for more refreshments.
The evening was spent quietly at the hotel.
G & D joined us for the huge breakfast in the morning, and then we headed for home. A much better journey back, knocking about 50 mins off the Tomtom time. I didn't speed once - honest!

All in all, it really was a nice weekend, despite the weather. Already looking forward to the next time that we get to meet up.

Victims

The weekend was spent in Edinburgh with some great friends of ours - Gordon & Di. More of that later, but for some reason yesterday, I felt like being creative in the kitchen, so this post is about that.

I e-mailed H during the day and asked what she fancied. Her response was "Moroccan".
Well, nothing like a challenge! So called off at Tesco on the way home.

So here is my take on Moroccan Chicken.

Coarsely chop a red pepper and a couple of onions. Thinly slice 2-3 cloves of garlic and a couple of red chillies (de-seed where you can)


Take some chicken portions (I used six thighs). Brown these well on all sides to seal. Fry the chopped peppers, onions etc. Add some smoked paprika.
Fry for a while.
Add about a pint and a half of chicken stock. Reduce to a simmer.
Add a tin of chick peas. Season (I also added a small sprinkle of curry powder). Add some brown rice (don't ask how much, I just judged it!).
Stir well. Remove from the heat. Place the chicken on top, bang on a lid and chuck it in the oven, 180 for about 90 mins.

Pre-oven...


Post-oven...


Plate the chicken, add some freshly torn corriander to the mix and stir well beofre plating up with the chicken.


It was very good. So much so that we're having the leftovers tonight. Gonna add some sour cream after heating it, to give it a bit of a different taste.

Shape Of My Heart

Well so much for my "creating". But the thing is, that I haven't actually done any since last Wednesday.

What news?

Firstly a spot of luck for H rather than me. As PA to two of the directors, she deals a lot with a travel company booking flights and the like.
Last week, they phoned her up and asked if she, along with another PA, would like to go out for dinner as their guest. That's nice, isn't it?
The venue? New York!
So, they're being flown Business Class, to New York. Being put up in Trump Towers and generally wined and dined for a couple of days.
This is well deserved though because she does work bloody hard.

Next. It was our friends Tim & Bobby christening for Zach on Sunday. We headed down there in the afternoon. Another new experience being a Greek Orthodox service. Very relaxed and informal. It was the same at their wedding. People just seem to get up and wander round taking photos and the like. As for the "bun fight" afterwards, it was divine! Fantastic food.

Another one of our jaunts this weekend. We're heading up to Edinburgh on Friday. We're spending time with some friends, Di & Gordon. Looking forward to that muchly and some good photo taking opportunities. I just hope that the rain holds off a bit. That's not very likely as it's Glastonbury weekend, so guaranteed to rain. Talking of which, a big wave at Mazz, Vicky and PN who are all braving the conditions to be there.

The Good Times Are Killing Me

Right, going to carry out something that I thought of a while back. I already incorporate music into here quite a bit (more recommendations coming up soon). But what I'm going to try and do is incorporate one of my other passions - cooking.

So when I make something new, I'll post it up here (with pics if I remember).
The lastest creation was risotto that I made on Sunday...

As usual with my cooking, all measures are approximate!

Soften some finely chopped garlic (two cloves) in olive oil
Make up about a pint and half of vegetable stock
Add a good glass of white wine
Add the arborio rice (you'll have to judge how much yourself)
Season
Simmer away so that the rice absorbs the stock
About 15 mins to go, add some crumbled up smoked haddock (two fillets)
Add some king prawns
5 mins to go, add some frozen peas and some rough chopped onion
Just before serving add some grated parmesan to absorb any remaining liquid

It was very, very nice :)


Tonight, I'm throwing something together as well. I've got some leftover fresh spaghetti from the weekend. We also had sausages last night, so I've got four of those. So...

Slice up the sausages
Cut some bacon into strips
Fry both in olive oil
Chop up some onion
Chop up a couple of cloves of garlic
Add these and keep frying
Add a tin of tomatoes
Reduce heat to simmer
Add a couple of sliced chillies
Add roughly chopped basil and coriander
Season a little
Serve over the cooked spaghetti
Add parmesan shavings

So, we'll wait and see on that ones. Like I said, photos if I remember!

I think I wont just publish new stuff. I might post fave stuff of mine that I make anyway.

Edit: So here are the before, during and after pics. It was absolutely delicious :)

Make This Go On Forever

Wow, the weekend went a little bit too fast for my liking.

Friday started with the Sams AGM. Well attended and pretty good. Top food and free wine. What more can you ask for £5?

Saturday was really nice again. The weathermen got it so wrong. They predicted rain showers and clouds. We got bright sunshine all day. H decided to weed the front drive, which she did impeccably but it did take her pretty much all day. Meanwhile I washed both cars and topped up my tan and then headed out on the bike for a 15 mile circuit taking in Wimbotsham, Stow Bardolph, Nordelph and back. Averaging 15.6, so pleasing.
Just to make Reg jealous, I cooked up a mass of spaghetti bolognese for dinner.

Sunday saw H heading into Lynn shopping so I decided that a decent walk was in order.
Starting at Castle Rising, I crossed the A149 then followed a stream for a couple of miles before cutting up towards Roydon (waves at Ms Little), then slightly into Pott Row before heading across some Heathland and heading for Castle Rising again. Total was about 11 miles with a minimum guide time of 4.5 hours. I pushed on round in just over 3. I am suffering for the pace a little today though.

Time Wont Let Me Go

It's time for another tribute. It's Reg's turn.

I first met Reg a couple of years ago when she joined the OOS forum. My first comment referred to her as a him. An easy mistake to make, surely! I was soon put right. Her proper name is Rachel. The reason for Reg? Well, I love this. Rachel is obviously shortened to Rach. However, when her friends are out having a few drink Rach gets slurred into Reg. The name has stuck. Good, innit?

So this is Reg (wii-ing in our day room, dirty bitch)...



She'll hate me for that pic.

As time went on, both myself and H got close to Reg. Eventually she came to stay with us and we had a great time. She even taught H how to throw the horns. Unfortunately, H still can't remember how to do this and always ends up doing the cub scout salute instead.

She's stayed with us twice since then, and each time we have a fab time.

It's amazing when you meet someone and then realise you actually have quite a bit in common. So get this...

She lives in Lincoln, where I grew up, so we have knowledge of a lot of the pubs etc. Although a lot of them have changed names since I used to go out in Lincoln. Some remain the same though - The Crown, The Jolly Brewer, The Tap, The Cornhill Vaults etc.

She actually went to the same school as me (The City School) albeit a few years after me.

Her parents moved to France when she was younger. Her mum still lives there, about an hours drive from where my folks are.

So that's Reg. A genuinely warm and sincere person. We love her to bits, as does Jack!

Turn Back Time

Morning!

Firstly, note the new link to the left hand side. Yup, I'm now a Facebook addict as well as Myspace. In fact, Myspace is getting a lot less use. Facebook is the one that seems to be getting my interest at the moment. If you're not already signed up, go for it. It's pretty good once you get into it a bit.

Seriously hacked off with the UEA (University of East Anglia) last week. I got an email on Thursday evening telling me that Faithless were to play there on 13th June. Tickets were going on sale 9am Fri. SO I had a ring round etc and got 3 friends who fancied going too. Fri came and I was camped out on their website. Sure enough, went through all the procedures and bagged 4 tickets. An email confirmation had been sent to my home email address. Job done. Or so I thought...
I got home sure enough, there was the email. Received at 9:04...... along with another one received at about 3:30. The second one said that the gig had been sold out and by booking had been cancelled. WHAT?
One, seriously snotty email later and I got some sort of explanation saying that it had been ridiculously over-subscribed and that a lot of emails, like mine, had gone out by mistake.
Not happy, but not a lot one can do!

Saturday headed out to the lovely town of Aylsham. Did a walk of about 6-7 miles which was lovely. The sun was out for some of it, so managed to start to top up the tan. That was until yesterday...

Had arranged to meet Joe and go and watch some motor racing at Snetterton. Tickets courtesy of the legend that is Nick Bowen.
It was fairly misty when we arrived. Still, we went and had a chat with Nick, and then got ourselves positioned on a viewing bank to watch the first few races before lunch. The grass was still a bit wet, so we were stood for most of it. Approaching lunchtime and the sun was out though.
Heading back to the cars for lunch, a load of "supercars" were parked up. Photos will follow later, but there were Astons, Porsches, Ferraris and an XJ220. You don't see many of those arounf at all.
After lunch, we headed back to the same spot. It was a GT race with some very tasty Astons, Porsches etc. A two hour endurance. Pretty entertaining and eventually won by a biofuel powered Aston.
Unfortunately though, the sun decided to up the strength. Unfortunately, there is no escaping it out there. Typically, you don't quite realise just how powerful it.
By the end of the day, I certainly did know how powerful it had been! Burnt up something rotten!

I'll try and get some pics of the cars on later.

Edit: Here are the pics...