Christmas Greetings 2011

I can't see Christmas robins, nor doves a-cooing-so
Cat never neared a cradle in a stable 2000 years ago.
I see that ox and donkey arrived without ado
but ostrich was excluded and terrible tiger too.
Camels got an invite, as did three wise Eastern kings
giving gifts of gold and myrrh, frankincense and things.
Bankers and financiers mumbled murmurs in disguise
and thought the sleepy shepherds were sensible and wise
to gift soft lambs and washable wool, never to be fleeced.
Herod later came to tell that he wished the baby seized.
Frankincense was costly, as indeed it is today,
signals opulence in churches, mosques, special for the Lord's day.

Will Ethiopians continue to export this wonderful aromatic resin,
When Boswellia trees fail to reproduce for the Christmas season?
Will they continue to tree-tap and let long-beetle attack,
let cattle graze at bark, for this amazing aphrodisiac,
let it no longer help depression, nor give medicinal purpose,
nor serve the perfume industry?  O yay, it'll cost more to purchase.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2011

The Oval Room Chimney and Flooring

The Oval Room Chimneybreast was fireproofed with insulation materials and plasterboarded but the flexible flue liner had to be pushed up the chimney. The proprietor was alone to instal the flue liner. He was at the top of the stack pulling the flexible flue to the top of the chimney and luckily a friend was present to help push.

Then it was sealed with fireproof bricks leaving a hole in the insulation material for the rigid flue.

Covered with fireproof plasterboard

Cut a hole for the rigid flue - requires mathematics!

Beauty after the slog!

An old original door against the new one.

Wonderful!

Towards the small room

Towards the kitchen and the courtyard

Towards the kitchen

Although three times the anticipated price the flooring is beautiful

The Oval Moulding that attracted me

Travertin tiles in the doorway so that the oak flooring does not get wet or damp if the door is left open when it rains.

Detail of the ceiling which took forever to correct the previous damage.

The rest is history!

The Swollen River

On the night of Thursday 15th December the winds and rain of Storm Joachim caused the waters of the river to rise.

No sign of the weir!

The path from the bridge is under water.

By a hill top deviation the path could be accessed.

One can normally walk here though I think it is private.

The water on the path allowed access to another footpath going uphill.

Within two days the waters had subsided.

Winter Solstice Solace

The days get longer from here on in!  Next year the sun will shine optimistically and all our troubles will apparently disappear as we sit in the lounge chairs in the garden or on the beach!
French Hanging Santas will have better things to do!

Two-bite Almond Buns

Two-bite Almond Buns - that taste a bit like macaroons

1. Buy some ready made marzipan.

2. Sieve 170g flour, some salt and ½ tsp baking powder. Rub in  85g margarine/butter. Mix in 70g sugar and create a paste with one egg. Add another egg if necessary and add more flour if it is too sticky. 

3. Roll the paste into balls. 

4.Roll a small 1cm cube of marzipan into a ball using the palms of the hands. t

5. Wrap a flattened ball of paste around the marzipan ball and seal it in. Repeat…..

NB too much marzipan will seep out of the buns like volcanic lava!

6. Roll the balls in ground almonds or brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with almond flakes.

7. Place on greaseproof paper. Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes.