The Sturdy Soapbox

First chilli flower

We've had a very poor summer here, so the chilli plants are tiny compared to what they should be.  I am pleased to see one plant has just the one flower on it.

A bit of sunshine would be welcome.

Mariners 3 (Padstow restaurants 0)

You know summer's coming to a close, when a tear rolls down Rick Stein's cheek, because OBC is taking the boat home.

Took him and the crew down to Padstow on Monday afternoon.  We had a nice meal in the Custom House, I had a particularly nice piece of haddock, chips and a huge (I mean huge) portion of mushy peas.  Was I farting well next morning.

Wasn't the nicest journey home, everything I did went a bit crappy.  I left the motorway just south of Weston Super Mare because traffic was a bit thick.  the route I took, would take me past the farmhouse of my old boss and good friend Richard, though he's not lived there for a few years having moved to Thailand, I thought it would be nice to bring back a few memories, which it did.  A couple of miles on from there, just approaching Weston, the traffic stopped and stayed like that for twenty minutes, making me regret my nostalgia trip.  Teddy was out the pram and I did a U turn and picked up the A38 towards Bristol, where I didn't really want to go, but then cut across through  lanes, using the names of the little villages like Banwell to navigate towards my intended port of call which was Congresbury, to see if I could get a new carnie.

Disappointment at the choice, a stock of exactly three Venus flytraps to choose from, apparently they had sold most of their stock over the bank holiday weekend.  I picked up one new VFT so now have new mouths to feed.

As you can see, quite a few new mouths to feed.

After this, I drove up to Clevedon where major disappointment awaited me in the form of not one damned parking space anywhere on the sea front or in the streets close by.  I circled for about twenty minutes before giving up as I needed a pee.  Drove up the the Salthouse, a large hotel up by the marine lake.  Thought I may as well have a pint and a sandwich.  Got totally ignored by the girl serving, who seemed more content in serving all newcomers but ignoring me.  I went for a pee and left in a foul mood.

Was so tired when I got back home, I even ditched the idea of using the last hour of having EFPV to load up with stuff I hate carrying home from Tesco like potatoes or pop.  So I had a cup of coffee and took EPFV back to Val who dropped me back home and I treated myself to four cans of beer and an early night.

Still enjoyed being out and about, that one day at the seaside is my holidays !

Before they put out to sea, you can see the crew were prepared for anything !

The bakery makes these Cornish pasties fresh daily, the smell was all across the harbour, a lot better than the smell of fried food which is usually the dominant odour in Padstow. 

Got John to get a pic of me in my holiday outfit.  Shows how much weight I've lost.

Shall be off to fetch em back from Portishead later in the week.  They've living it up in Swansea at the moment (well someone has to).

Inside the mancave

Laugh, I thought I'd never get em dry !

He's certifiable the welder is...

So they came over about three o clock, mainly to collect the curry before I found a more deserving recipient. 

They took me up to the Wheatsheaf which was nice, because I've not seen Jan in about three months, so I was able to take her Chilli, Oregano and Basil plants.  We had a nice chat with Jan aka Pudding, cos she's from Yorkshire.  Joe the Rugger Bugger put in an appearance, Pat couldn't believe he's only 24 (he's an enormous brute of a lad who plays Rugger for Wednesbury).

For some reason, the story of how Pat met Wally came up.  "He followed me all the way back to the bus stop asking for a date" said Pat.

"It was on me way home" said Wally the welder.  I gave this some thought and knowing where he was bought up this was true, so in pursuing her and making an impression, he had nothing to lose.  Pat just told me this is something she never knew until today.

They arranged a date and she didn't turn up, she went off with some bloke she met at the town hall at a dance who had a car (a rarity in the sixties).

But true love prevailed, they were married as teenagers and the rest as they say is history.

My cheeks are still aching from laughing so much.  This and the fact I don't get out much these days and it was unplanned until lunchtime.  I think that's how good times come about...

 

Woo Hoo Welder

Continuing with the kindness to welders theme.  I made an A4 laminated version of this design for you know who to put in his new mancave.

Pat called me this morning to say that he was running round like a child on Christmas morning because of what the postman had bought him.  I only made it because the welder really does look like this when he's happy (which is any mealtime you care to name, his birthday, Christmas morning or when he's up the pub).

 

 

This is how kind I am...

I didn't think there would be more than a couple of portions of curry, which were for me and Bob the Butcher when I made it yesterday, but I had more chicken than I realised, so I texted the fat little welder and said if he comes over and picks it up, there was some here for him and the long suffering Pat.

Would you believe, he wimped out.  I sent an annoying text at teatime saying she's obviously feeding him too well to pass up a pot of my curry.  He texted back that he was going in the bath (as if I really needed to know that) and he still wanted it.

I sent one back saying I might well have given it away to a passing stranger.  Ring ring, he was on the phone moments later doing the unfed wounded puppy routine.

Just had him on again enquiring if I really did give it away to a passing stranger, cos they just happen to be in the neighbourhood later today and could pick it up (everyone who believes that stand on their head).

Actually I put it in the freezer, so he can still have it and make an ice lolly of it.

Bob the Butcher was delighted with his portion of curry this morning and was suitably impressed when I told him about the red scorpion habanero that came all the way from Moll in Baltimore from her private harvest.

Spoke to wireless Tone last night, he was about to have a blessed event.  No not a dad again, he had the snip years ago. He was just going in to PC  World for a new laptop, with a 500 gigaby hard drive and 4 gig of rams !  It's bright red too.

If he gets chance he's going to bring it over to show me tomorrow.  Boys toys stuff you understand.  He's also got 5 gallons of rainwater for the carnies, they will be pleased.

As for my unfaltering kindness towards the welder.  Little bleeder doesn't deserve it, I promise you.

 

 

Pricey but nice

My sister was seventy yesterday (she doesn't look it).  Today, she's gone down to London for tea at the Ritz.

I looked it up online as I was curious as to how much something like that costs.  It begins at forty pounds (about $ 70).  Fifty two if you fancy a glass of champagne.

I suppose it's the sort of thing you do once to see what you're missing.

I'm content with my big pot of curry.

I had a fun morning las Saturday, exchanging tweets with Michael Winner on the subject of Indian food (as he was hoping to go out for Indian). I never thought I would say it, but I really do like him ( a lot of people don't),  He's witty and to me at least polite, though I know he's the worry of many a restauranteur.  Brit ones at least can rest easy in the knowledge that he is currently in the south of France and last night Madonna was on the next table when he had dinner.  Mid- week he had dinner with Michael Parkinson and his wife.

Mind you, he's not had the welder and Pat round for an evening's entertainment and mirth has he ?  Eat yer heart out Michael.

 

Friday is curry day

Good prep is essential.  Ginger and garlic chopped, powdered ingredients set aside and the chilli will defrost in a few minutes.

Giving the red scorpion habanero a try, only one in a big pot, because Moll did warn me.

I start the curry base off in the wok, I can control the frying of the onions and see and smell what's going on.  This is the first paw full of coriander just gone in.

Now cooked slowly for about an hour to marry the flavours.

If the welder sees there's this big a pot on the go, he'll be on my doorstep with his bowl !

It's a chicken and tomato curry by the way.

 

Postcript - Mercy !  That scorpion habanero is well named.  Just tasted my sauce to check everything is balanced and is that hot !  Not unpleasant, but a lot hotter than I usually make a curry.

 

2 million Scovilles

This is a yellow ghost Bhut Jolokia and I am informed by Moll who sent it from her amazing chilli harvest, that is has a Scoville rating of 2 million !

These are yellow Peruvian and at 28000 on the Scoville scale are hotter than they look

Scorpion Habaneros, these came with a warning.

Orange explosion Habaeros, I've been using these for a while now, one is quite enough in a big pot of curry.

Milder and fragrant, these Cayenne chillies won't be around for long, maybe nice chopped up with lime juice and sprinkled on some prawns ?

Thanks for sending these Moll, most appreciated, just like Christmas in August.

 

Something of an anniversary

Today is a year since I started counting calories and upping the exercise to shed some fat.

I can announce that I have lost 48.4 lbs.

Darlo asked me if I am always hungry and the answer is generally, no.  Yesterday I was, one of those days when you don't stop thinking about food, but I can honestly say I've  only had about five days in a whole year when I have been like that.

I don't actually call it being on a diet, because I've tried all those things in the past and because they are enforced, you get bored with them and give up.  I call it the two grapes and a crispbread syndrome, two grapes and a crispbread and you've got to wait until 6 o clock to have them.

Six days a week, I am just sensible and aim for between 12 and fifteen hundred calories.  Small economies have played a big part, the semi skimmed milk, low fat butter (decent stuff not shit like Flora).

Sundays, I have up to two thousand calories which allows me to have a proper Sunday lunch and maybe something nice for brekky.

I limit myself to two sausages a week, because in doing that, I don't have to give up what I like and I have the enjoyment of eating things I like.

Of course, as I said to OBC, being utterly broke has helped a lot !