My fault

On this last day of January,  trying to hang a rustic oval mirror in my bathroom, knowing it was dangerous, a strong expletive emanated forth as I dropped it onto the beautiful white glass sink below.
Thanking the powers that be, only the mirror had broken in two whilst the sink stayed perfectly unblemished!!!!!!!!!  It was mirr-a-culous !

Oh dear God....or any of the most Higher Spiritual Powers of the Human race and all that exists within this Heavenly orb, bless me, my house and please, please have mercy and let it be not not another 7 year unhappiness and woe!!!!!!!!!   What can I do to counteract the forces of evil!!???

January renovation round-up

At the end of the first month progress has been slow but beautifully meticulous.
It is lovely without draught, therefore warmer. A heady 18 degrees this morning even though the woodburner was out.
Last jobs are battling with F&B paint to stick to ancient gloss around two sets of French doors. YES, a bedroom with 5 doors, but it should make a lovely chambre d'hôte! Tiles in the bay window will soon be bedded and jointed.
We'd re-painted the walls which had been done nicely two years ago, but my attempt at moving the roller on a broom handle was so inadequate and BAD that when the last of the work is finished we are going to remove the bed and repaint the walls.  Anyway, I never liked the colour of Wickes Ivory. It was suppose to be a base coat but frankly I do not recommend it even though it was inexpensive. Y' pays yer money!   The problem is also the texture of the plasterboard...we may have to sand it to get rid of the bobbles.  I'm thinking of a very pale grey to go with Skimming Stone.

When the Spring weather arrives I shall paint the outside of the external doors and windows to 5 rooms.

I could never ever dream of diminishing the efforts that my friend has made in his life to support and help me and though there are changes some things never change.  I can as always commend his workmanship and so do others. It is not perfect but his perfectionism is a joy for me to enjoy and always has been ever since I met him 39 years ago when he dug a ditch  to provide foundations to a house where we discovered the extension was subsiding!  We always got on well even then and so it was a surprise when we discovered we were both single about 15 years ago.  It has been somewhat of a shock that our friendship and his dream to be with me has suffered for lack of perfection, has suffered because we could not bring it back from the brink or we did not have the attributes to save ourselves.

Try again for the Marmalade Queen

Always every year a happy birthday for my dearest and only daughter is celebrated whilst I make marmalade!

A friendly lunch

Today lunch with a botanist friend was welcome relaxation except it rained rather persistently and so our walk was curtailed.  However, I did rather enjoy a very short space in time, inspecting ferns, moss and other plants in a wet stone wall.  It was almost meditational.   Lunch was:

• Celeriac Potato Soup - I forgot the lemon zest and sage leaves...but added Herbes du Provence.
• Salmon, beetroot, onion quiche with garlic served with a green salad of mache and avocado.
• Apple Shortcake using Elstar apples. 

The beauty of the menu is it can all be made the day before! She told me that the whole of the harvest for Saumur Champigny wine is organic. Interesting and yes it tasted good with the anchovy and sundried tomato pastry aperos I twiddled together.

Marmalade Queen

Press the wrong button and the whole of my finished posting with poetry and emotion was deleted.
B*****.
I just spent over an hour creating and now I am disheartened and very p***** off!!!!!!!
MORAL: Type in Word and SAVE!!!!!!!!!!
PS. I am not usually one for invective comments but, as you see, if you read asterisks as letters, then your interpretation is as good (bad) as mine! 

Debrouiller

Je me débrouille assez bien en français - Modestly, I think I get by fairly well in French, although I MUST learn more.
A few days ago the bank manager referred to my good command of French and that house renovation which I referred to, was,  debrouiller.  I can't remember exactly what he said for I was intent on noting a new word! I could spell this new word and he affirmed it was something like ameliorer ... which it is not, not really!  But what I see he meant, was that I was coping and managing to sort out the challenges!!!   Yes, that is true, despite gloom and doom, there is celebration, as I really am coping with many layers, surviving to be a much stronger person than what I was three to seven years ago and more! Regaining my independence and attempting to banish the bad habits that I have developed over the last 8 years!
Débrouiller is such a lovely sounding word meaning to untangle and sort out! ... and if reflexive as in
Se débrouiller  it means to have a working knowledge of something, as well as to cope.
Je me débrouille. Rsearch says it could mean "smart", as in resourceful e.g. (un débrouillard).
I love words. 

Gagner son Pain - To earn a living

This is to follow a thread on postings from a fellow blogger about their own village bakery.

In my own village there are already two commercial changes this year.

1. La Presse avec L'Epicerie has moved to a new site .

The building of the new shop is owned by the commune and the owners of the business rent the interior space. For me it is sad that the grocery selling newspapers, magazines, being a bar plus post office have moved from the old premises with its crotchety bell-ringing door and from the marvellous ambient exterior terrace tucked at the rear of the building and where my friend and I, like other people were mesmerised by the unique French experience.  It is also where I played the accordion last summer so it holds special memories.   It was a place where hours could be whiled away drinking hot choc in front of a winter fire, listening to the old boys with their 1e glass of house red or whiled away drinking in the shade of the outdoor rear terrace listening to music with a glass of beer in hand.

2. Le boulanger et la boulangere se retirent (partent en retraite) cette semaine, donc, la boulangerie sera fermée. Je n'achetais pas souvent leurs baguettes parce que je préfère manger le pain complet et faire ainsi mon propre avec des grains différents. Le pain sera fourni par l'Épicerie nouvellement placée.  I used to like to go and treat myself to a French patisserie on a hot afternoon and carry it home in reverence to divide in small portions and savour over a day or two. I shall miss the special chestnut bread and the chocolate mendiants.

3. It is also known that the proprietor of La Place bar/restuarant wishes to retire and sell but no buyer has yet come forward. 

Changements. Rien ne s'arrête. Rien n'est pour toujours, Il y a toujours le changement.

'Twas a birthday treat

I can return to the renovated room, with its new oak floor instead of concrete and carpet. The doors and bay window tiling are to be completed ... but hey ... what a happy day! A special day! We celebrated with expensive morning coffee, Agen prunes and Turkish delight.  Then a birthday lunch -

♠
Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Soup

♣
Chicken Breasts stuffed with Sundried Tomatoes,
Goats Cheese, Garlic and Thyme
on a bed of buttered oat grains
and lemony leeks with Bourgueil wine

 ♥

Goats Cheese and Épautre bread 

(a smidgeon of each) 

♦
Triple layered Chocolate Orange Clementina Cake
with Teddy who had been mowing the lawn,
the garden well,
and 8 candles as 60 had been eaten
by two Capricornian  goats!!!!!!
I raided the farm set!

At the end of the day we divided the salon with a blue screen. On the woodburner side, much warmer as the room has been divided into ⅔ and ⅓, is the piano, dining table and settee.  In the smaller section will be his wood machine. Wood dust will be contained as it is far too cold to work outdoors.  His gifts were opened and appreciated.  My gifts were to be told it was a memorable meal and to regain sleeping quarters rather than spend the nights amidst a melange of chaos that many a French man or woman seem so heartily to accept, if you glance through windows whilst on an evening walk! Although it was quite cosy and comfortable to witness the woodburner alight in the witching hours.

Restless in the Mind

Yesterday, I allowed my mind to roam with each thought carefully observed. If one does not focus on anything in particular and let thoughts come and go ... they are like a steam train arriving and departing at the station.  Pulling in, with a cacophany of noise, doors open and close, amidst hubbub and bustle from hoi polloi and aristocracy, who tumble from carriages, meet loved ones and friends, whilst others climb aboard to blow a farewell kiss, wave hands and arms to the one(s) they leave stationary* as they lean out of the door window, call farewell as loud as they can so as to be heard above the sounds of the engine, steam and track.  "I love you" they cry.  Sadly and wistfully they push up the window.  The whistle blows, the guard shouts and waves his flag. The driver gathers speed towards the next destination.
Thoughts arrive, get re-structured. Some have journeyed on, some have vanished into thin air like the vapour from the coals. Some remain to cause wonderment concerning a number of subjects.  One can achieve an almost euphoric bliss by observing thoughts without too much analysis.... it is the analysis that creates the questioning, doubt, anxiety, hurt, pain, suffering, confusion, dilemma, memory, joy, happiness.  Better to face "Reality" than to be concerned with how any of the past, present and future is going to be mapped out. Let it be.  Be Restful in the Mind. 

Beauty, Mystery, History

Angelic Sculpture for 13th January 2013

I am keen to discover a story 

about this exquisitely interesting carving 

that attracts me fully each time I pass it by.  

Tours, France

Recently a visit was possible on two different days because I had to deliver and collect a friend from the airport, which is more than an hour's journey from where I live.  On the first day I wandered, re-acquainting myself with the town, walked the long length of the outdoor antiques market after browsing the Christmas chalets.  Photos tell something of a story for the second day, but I forgot to record the beautiful île-flottante dessert.  My solo dining experience lasted almost two hours. It was a treat for being single.  Aha!  My adventure took me to the flower market for anemones as the art gallery was closed.  A nightmare ensued as I was not allowed to use the 3d kitchen planner with the whole of France circumnavigating the IKEA 'pathway', which I skipped (as in deviated from).  Tired, I headed to a basic hotel to read and watch tele as I don't have one at home! I took my own duvet, turned the radiator to HOT and indulged in 'cosy and comfortable'.

Sunrise

The flooded River Gartempe

The day dawns

as I frequently stop to capture the sky.

 

and mist above L'Anglin.

and water at a weir.

My lunch starter - St Jacques

No place was left unseated.

Main course - Salmon

A huge goats cheese platter

The Carousel

Le Prefecture where the Truffle Fair was held.

Beyond me!

The trams are not yet on track.


THIS IS POST 200.

An Epiphany cake

I was inspired by a reference to an Epiphany cake by Nigel Slater.  He advocates using a machine but making it without is much more fun.  In fact I started it yesterday afternoon but finished it today lunchtime!  I noticed how many this serves but I advise you to make it anyway and freeze half if there is any left!

It’s an enriched yeasted dough with icing or glacé fruits. I didn’t have any, so used dried fruits (I was thinking of les mendiants)  and honey and served it with thick cream.

My own addition of raisins and spices was spurred by the thought of Hot Cross Buns!

If you compare with Nigel’s recipe you can see I have adapted it a little.  Here’s my version.

RECIPE:

200ml water
160ml milk  I used 200ml but this was a mistake making the dough too wet and needing more flour! See below.
one Clementine, tangerine or small orange    I didn’t have any so used orange flower water and orange juice
lemon 1  the zest and juice of one lemon
125g butter
125g sugar
2 eggs
600g plain flour – actually probably about 800g if you add extra milk (see above)

nutmeg, mace, cinnamon  ( my addition)
2 teaspoons dried yeast  I used 2cm cube of fresh yeast.

Pinch of sea salt

A handful of currants or raisins (my addition)
beaten egg mixed with a little milk ….. I forgot
whole crystallised fruits  or dried fruits cut into small pieces as necessary and runny honey.

I used cranberries, raspberries, crystallised ginger, pineapple, papaya, mango, cherries, pear, apricots, cut mixed peel, I nearly added a few nuts but then felt it was already rather crowded on top!

For the Chantilly cream:
mascarpone 250g
whipped cream 200ml

METHOD

§  Put the water and milk into a saucepan with the grated zest of citrus fruits then bring almost to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse until warm.  

§  NB I added orange juice to the flour and yeast mix to avoid curdling the milk. Again this was too much liquid!

§  Meanwhile, cream butter and sugar until soft.  Beat in the eggs.

§  In a separate large bowl, mix yeast and salt with the flour.  Then add the warm milk mixture, beating the liquid into the flour with a wooden spoon.

§  At this stage I let the yeast mixture rise in a warm place. Put a damp tea towel over the top of the bowl. It will take time. 

§  Then when it is nice and warm and showing evidence of rising beat it into the creamed butter, sugar and egg.  Give it a good knead and return to the large bowl. Again leave in a warm place for a few hours to rise to about twice its original size. 

§  Knock it back and at this point I placed it in the fridge overnight in the covered bowl.

§  The next morning after I’d warmed it up near the woodburner it had a beautiful elasticity once it had risen again. 

§  Onto a floured board I kneaded it again.

§  Cut it into two halves and rolled each half into a sausage shape.

§  Then each one was formed it into a ring on its own flat, oiled baking sheet.

§  I could have brushed the dough with a little beaten egg and milk but I was inventing so drooled runny honey around the top of each ring. Then I stabbed the fruit into the surface of the dough.

§  Back to a warm place to rise for about 15 minutes. 

§  Then bake in a HOT oven for 25 minutes or until a knife in the dough comes out clean.

§  Cut into slices and serve cream. It was DELICIOUS.   Won't be any left for the freezer!

Unfortunately, some of the dried fruits got a bit blackened but didn't taste unpleasant. All very yummy for a return to work day when temperatures are falling and we need comfort food. 

For lunch I followed a Prue Leith recipe for fish curry, did my own dry fried turmeric potatoes and invented a carrot ribbon, mint and creme fraiche accompaniment.

Another Epiphany

I've managed walks of between 30 minutes and an hour or a cycle ride each day of this year, except for yesterday when I failed!  There are 299 days left to keep this thought of getting out of the house in all weathers to walk / cycle every day.  Must do better.
Now to have guilt for letting myself down, not meeting standards, failing to do what I promised. So if I can't keep promises to my SELF, how can anyone trust me to keep promises I may make to others...... and therein is one element of self-destruction.
I know I say I want to help people and sometimes I haven't always had the wherewithal to do so.
It is what my friend complained about. Usually small things, like not being quite on time, or in the last 5 years forgetting what I'd said I'd do, like phone someone or wash up!   I blame the trauma I've been through, because my memory is better now.
Yesterday, I did not walk because it was more dreary than today and I kept procrastinating. However, I DID do a task that I had procrastinated on for some time.  It is true that I could have done both!
See how I can be self-punitive!

6km walk today at quite a fast rate but was glad to have a stick when two black labradors rolled towards me barking loudly. Mostly, their bark is merely a threat but never trust a dog.  I knew I mustn't show fear nor put my back towards them, so I spoke harshly towards the one travelling quite near and shook the stick, whereby it retreated a few steps whilst I stood still, looking towards houses to see if an owner was coming. NOPE. So what to do as they were on my route?  Forwards. Onwards. Show no fear. They went forwards and back, eventually giving way to sit in the field, nonchalantly, but as I passed, the braver one  intimidated me further. Aha, the owner showed up at the buildings.  Again, I shook my stick at them, circumnavigated the beasts and took the road route home.

I'd accomplished a mission and investigated a new chemin / footpath. At the same time I discovered that there are other paths worthy of investigation to create one hour or more circuitous routes from my house. I should think they can be cycled in summer.

I wonder about my ability to backpack or cycle alone? Can I do that? Can I?  I'm waiting for my own epiphany.

Starting good intention

Yesterday, I cycled 16km, slowly, as it was more rigorous than anticipated.  When I can allow another 2 to 3 hours with good weather, I'll do the same route in the opposite direction. Beautiful day, becoming windy.  I have to confess that I walked the bike in some places as my legs were weary! Witnessed beagle hounds on the scent of the hare which was trying to outrun them. Then the dog owner arrived in a van looking for them! Hmph!!!!! 

Huge garden pots standing outside a very interesting private manor house.

Out with the old and In with the new

Hello 2013  

 may the year bring peace, happiness, health, love, hope, faith, grace, truth, charity, progress, travel, a home within a home, wisdom, safety, opportunity and friendship!
Goodbye 2012

The mathematical beauty of the majestic marquee, 

brought down in the storm within hours of being set up.

The Midsummer day storm threatened the fabulous marital party
for my dearest only son Seb and his darling Bee
which happened on a different site than the one planned.

Emotionally proud of the effort that these two lovely people had given
towards making their wedding a success in the face of adversity.
The wedding was the highlight of 2012.
I can't believe that the planning, expectation and excitement was over in the blink of an eye.
Be happy in 2013 ........ for days are short and gone before one can count them.

Happy Seb and Bee with their seaside wedding cake.