The Nettle does themed food nights every couple of months but we have not previously been to one. But when we saw that they were doing a fish and game night while Ian was with us, we just had to book!
We got there at 7, just in time for a nice glass of wine before starting dinner.
And oh boy - what a dinner it was!
We started with a sharing platter with smoked mackerel, various game terrines and pates, and some very rare pigeon breast, together with salads, chutneys and a chilli foam, plus a huge bowl of steaming garlic mussels. And then we got another bowl of steaming garlic mussels, rejected by another table!
I have never had pigeon before. I had a VERY small, tentative taste. I have to say - it tastes remarkably like rare roast beef. I think I might have cooked it a bit more but it was extremely tasty
A pause
Then we were summoned to the carvery, where we found serving bowls filled with sea trout, salmon in a ginger and sweet chilli sauce, braised rabbit and roast partridge breast, roasted pheasant, braised venison, parsnip chips and boiled potato slices in cream. There was a wild mushroom combination under the partridge, and various vegetably treats with the other meats. But mostly, it has to be said, it was a protein feast!
I haven't had pheasant before. I quite liked it. But I did prefer the partridge. The salmon was exceptionally delicious!
And to finish we had a cheese platter with lots and lots of different cheeses. I know that some of them were local - I recognised them. Not sure if they were all locally produced though.
And with this we had white wine and then red wine and Ian and The Builder finished up with coffee. And then suddenly we were all extremely full indeed - and all the other diners had gone home!!! The Builder drove us home and then had a well-earned "I've finished driving for the evening now" extra glass of wine.
Alas - I forgot to take my camera and it was too dimly lit for my iPhone to cope. So no photos for you to drool over!!
I wonder what their next theme will be. Must keep a close eye open!
Victoria Harbour, Docklands, Spring 2026
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ian has been with us for the weekend
... so there has, of course, been much feasting.
He arrived after a marathon journey from Plymouth, having been held up on various motorways.
Mind you - his sat nav tried to take him from Plymouth to Tupton via Vatican City. That would have been a truly marathon journey!
We had pork wellington for dinner.
On Saturday we took him for his annual Chatsworth Farm Shop fix. And to Sainsbury's. And to our local dairy.
We had lasagne for dinner, made from first principles, using my lovely new pasta maker
Yesterday Taffa, Gaz, Freyja, Ginger Rich and Marryck all came for Sunday lunch. Austin joined us by Skype. We had roast lamb. And steamed rhubarb pudding with toffee sauce and rice pudding with lots of different kinds of jam to choose from.
Then we went for a post-prandial stroll around the wetlands.
There appear to be lots and lots of dead wine bottles in the recycling box.
Ian is still with us. There will be more feasting and, I assume, a few more dead wine bottles.
The Weather Dogs had merry sport with us yesterday. The morning was bright and fine and sunny and warm. We did lots of washing and The Builder arranged the outdoor furniture on the patio so we could have our luncheon party outside. Then, at about 12:00, a short and exceeding sharp shower blew in. Followed at 13:00 and 13:30 by two more short, exceeding sharp showers. We gave up and set the dining room table. By the time we were ready to sit down at about 14:00 - the afternoon had turned bright and fine and sunny and warm. Sigh! (We stayed inside, having gone to all the trouble of putting the extension leaf into the dining table and cleaning it and everything!)
He arrived after a marathon journey from Plymouth, having been held up on various motorways.
Mind you - his sat nav tried to take him from Plymouth to Tupton via Vatican City. That would have been a truly marathon journey!
We had pork wellington for dinner.
On Saturday we took him for his annual Chatsworth Farm Shop fix. And to Sainsbury's. And to our local dairy.
We had lasagne for dinner, made from first principles, using my lovely new pasta maker
 |
| Homemade lasagne |
Yesterday Taffa, Gaz, Freyja, Ginger Rich and Marryck all came for Sunday lunch. Austin joined us by Skype. We had roast lamb. And steamed rhubarb pudding with toffee sauce and rice pudding with lots of different kinds of jam to choose from.
 |
| Rice pudding and a jug of toffee sauce. The rice pudding is very nearly healthy! |
 |
| A magnificent steamed pudding, if I do say so myself |
Then we went for a post-prandial stroll around the wetlands.
 |
| Round the back of our place :-) |
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| The mighty River Rother |
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| Looking across the fields to Grassmoor |
There appear to be lots and lots of dead wine bottles in the recycling box.
Ian is still with us. There will be more feasting and, I assume, a few more dead wine bottles.
The Weather Dogs had merry sport with us yesterday. The morning was bright and fine and sunny and warm. We did lots of washing and The Builder arranged the outdoor furniture on the patio so we could have our luncheon party outside. Then, at about 12:00, a short and exceeding sharp shower blew in. Followed at 13:00 and 13:30 by two more short, exceeding sharp showers. We gave up and set the dining room table. By the time we were ready to sit down at about 14:00 - the afternoon had turned bright and fine and sunny and warm. Sigh! (We stayed inside, having gone to all the trouble of putting the extension leaf into the dining table and cleaning it and everything!)
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Barb's Rich Chicken Casserole
Today Martin and Liz were coming for lunch and after some indecision I decided to do a chicken casserole, this is the recipe.
8 Chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion sliced onion
2 garlic cloves crushed
1 large red (bell) pepper sliced thickly
thinly pared rind and juice of one small orange
4 fl oz chicken stock
1 14oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 oz of sun dried tomatoes thinly sliced
1tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 3/4 oz pitted black olives
salt and pepper
orange rind and thyme sprigs to garnish
I fried off the chicken thighs in a dry hot pan till they were golden brown, removed them with a slotted spoon and placed them into a frameproof casserole dish. Add the oil to the pan and fry the onion, garlic and bell pepper for 3 - 4 minutes then transfer them to the casserole, add the orange rind, juice and chicken stock, canned tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes and stir. Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer over a low heat for about an hour stirring occasionally. Just before serving add the chopped fresh thyme and pitted black olives and adjust the seasoning to taste. Scatter the orange rind and thyme over the casserole to garnish and serve with warm crusty bread.
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion sliced onion
2 garlic cloves crushed
1 large red (bell) pepper sliced thickly
thinly pared rind and juice of one small orange
4 fl oz chicken stock
1 14oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 oz of sun dried tomatoes thinly sliced
1tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 3/4 oz pitted black olives
salt and pepper
orange rind and thyme sprigs to garnish
I fried off the chicken thighs in a dry hot pan till they were golden brown, removed them with a slotted spoon and placed them into a frameproof casserole dish. Add the oil to the pan and fry the onion, garlic and bell pepper for 3 - 4 minutes then transfer them to the casserole, add the orange rind, juice and chicken stock, canned tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes and stir. Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer over a low heat for about an hour stirring occasionally. Just before serving add the chopped fresh thyme and pitted black olives and adjust the seasoning to taste. Scatter the orange rind and thyme over the casserole to garnish and serve with warm crusty bread.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Early autumn
You can definitely feel now that it's autumn. It was very misty in the valley when I got up this morning and it's damp and cool when you go outside first thing. And it's dark now when the radio comes on at half past five - though more or less light when I get up at six.
We have pruned the cherry and plum trees. A little late, I know but not too late - they didn't "bleed" when we did it. They're a better shape now - and it's easier to get about the orchard now that the chicken fence is up. The Under-Gardener has staked up the apple and pear trees. They were mostly listing in quite an alarming manner!! I'll prune the apple trees after the leaves have fallen. One of them - the one we brought from the Hangingwater allotment has turned into a weeping apple tree. It's not supposed to be. It may be because of the weight of the fruit. I thought I'd prune it hard to upward facing growth, and then not let it have apples next year. The other eating apple has done really well this year. Lots of shiny red fruit which is a beautiful pink on the inside. Alas - the tree has lost its label and we never noted what variety it is. It's a red and pink apple!!
We are getting a few courgettes and cucumbers - more cucumbers now that we have discovered that the slugs have been eating the baby fruit! We are also getting squash from the allotment greenhouse. And lots of cherry tomatoes and a few large tomatoes. If the weather stays warm during the day, we should get loads more. And that late sowing of peas on the allotment has come up. Fingers crossed for good weather for the next few weeks - or at least no frosts! We are getting a few pickings off the previous lots of peas. They are sweet and tasty.
We still need to sort out the front "porch" and the flower garden. And we must, must do something about the muddy, muddy pond. The Under-Gardener is talking of getting rid of it, but I reckon cleaning it out and patching it up might do the trick. The question is - what do we do with all the goldfish while we're doing that?
We have pruned the cherry and plum trees. A little late, I know but not too late - they didn't "bleed" when we did it. They're a better shape now - and it's easier to get about the orchard now that the chicken fence is up. The Under-Gardener has staked up the apple and pear trees. They were mostly listing in quite an alarming manner!! I'll prune the apple trees after the leaves have fallen. One of them - the one we brought from the Hangingwater allotment has turned into a weeping apple tree. It's not supposed to be. It may be because of the weight of the fruit. I thought I'd prune it hard to upward facing growth, and then not let it have apples next year. The other eating apple has done really well this year. Lots of shiny red fruit which is a beautiful pink on the inside. Alas - the tree has lost its label and we never noted what variety it is. It's a red and pink apple!!
We are getting a few courgettes and cucumbers - more cucumbers now that we have discovered that the slugs have been eating the baby fruit! We are also getting squash from the allotment greenhouse. And lots of cherry tomatoes and a few large tomatoes. If the weather stays warm during the day, we should get loads more. And that late sowing of peas on the allotment has come up. Fingers crossed for good weather for the next few weeks - or at least no frosts! We are getting a few pickings off the previous lots of peas. They are sweet and tasty.
We still need to sort out the front "porch" and the flower garden. And we must, must do something about the muddy, muddy pond. The Under-Gardener is talking of getting rid of it, but I reckon cleaning it out and patching it up might do the trick. The question is - what do we do with all the goldfish while we're doing that?
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
An impromptu picnic
The poor old Vixen went for her MOT yesterday. And failed it. She needs two new tyres (this, I suspect, is because the last time we bought her tyres we bought cheapo ones. Cheap things seldom do last very long!). But she also failed her emissions test. It's not allowed to be >3 and hers was 3.4. The mechanics think it might be a consequence of the problems we had with that valve thingy a few weeks back, when she was definitely puffing out lots of very black smoke. So they put some pipe cleaning stuff through her and instructed The Builder to take her for a good spin and not to spare the horses.
He came and picked me up from the station. Where shall we go?
Let's go to Bakewell. It's a nice drive, and we can continue on down through Rowsley, towards Matlock and then make our way across country to Alfreton and come back along the M1. You should get up a bit of speed on the M1.
Off we trundled to Bakewell. We decided to park outside the co-op in the market square. Should be parking in there at this time on a Monday. Except, of course, that it was Monday. And Monday is market day. And markets tend to be held in market squares! And it was only quarter past five so they were just starting to pack up. We went and parked somewhere else.
Bakewell has one of the absolutely best fish and chip shops anywhere in the world. So we laid in some wine (we don't usually drink wine during the week, but then we don't usually go to Bakewell for fish and chips during the week either) and hit the fish and chip shop (it seems to have been joined in the town by several others. I suppose we ought to try those as well, one day). In the meantime, it had started to rain, so we had our picnic in the car, watching the rain and the tourists. We decided not to drink the wine - we had that when we got home.
The fish and chips were lovely
The drive down towards Matlock and then across to Alfreton was lovely too.
The Vixen got a nice long run, although we couldn't not-spare-the-horses on the M1 - there was quite a lot of traffic.
We really must go for impromptu fish and chip picnics more often. And go out and explore the countryside a bit too. There were roads heading off the roads we were on that looked quite interesting.
Ian is loitering in Glasgow. While we were munching in Bakewell, he was ambling along the Clyde. I haven't ever been to Glasgow. Might go for an inspection tour one day.
He came and picked me up from the station. Where shall we go?
Let's go to Bakewell. It's a nice drive, and we can continue on down through Rowsley, towards Matlock and then make our way across country to Alfreton and come back along the M1. You should get up a bit of speed on the M1.
Off we trundled to Bakewell. We decided to park outside the co-op in the market square. Should be parking in there at this time on a Monday. Except, of course, that it was Monday. And Monday is market day. And markets tend to be held in market squares! And it was only quarter past five so they were just starting to pack up. We went and parked somewhere else.
Bakewell has one of the absolutely best fish and chip shops anywhere in the world. So we laid in some wine (we don't usually drink wine during the week, but then we don't usually go to Bakewell for fish and chips during the week either) and hit the fish and chip shop (it seems to have been joined in the town by several others. I suppose we ought to try those as well, one day). In the meantime, it had started to rain, so we had our picnic in the car, watching the rain and the tourists. We decided not to drink the wine - we had that when we got home.
The fish and chips were lovely
The drive down towards Matlock and then across to Alfreton was lovely too.
The Vixen got a nice long run, although we couldn't not-spare-the-horses on the M1 - there was quite a lot of traffic.
We really must go for impromptu fish and chip picnics more often. And go out and explore the countryside a bit too. There were roads heading off the roads we were on that looked quite interesting.
Ian is loitering in Glasgow. While we were munching in Bakewell, he was ambling along the Clyde. I haven't ever been to Glasgow. Might go for an inspection tour one day.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
New Pasta Machine
The Pasta Fairy unexpectedly delivered unto me a brand new pasta making machine during the week. That was very exciting. And, of course, meant that I had to make pasta over the weekend.
So I made prawn ravioli (not altogether successfully - I have yet to master the ravioli moulds. Still - it tasted nice. I must just practise more!) I poached a brown trout (courtesy of our neighbour Steve who goes fishing in the Derwent river near Chatsworth) in some chicken broth with onion, garlic, prawns, tomato and grated courgette and then simmered the ravioli in the same broth. It was very delicious.
And for dessert, at the suggestion of the Pasta Fairy, I made chocolate spaghetti which we had with a raspberry and chocolate cream sauce. That was absolutely amazing. I've never made sweet spaghetti before. I'll certainly make it again!
There was left over trout this morning. I made The Builder kedgeree for his Sunday morning breakfast.
So I made prawn ravioli (not altogether successfully - I have yet to master the ravioli moulds. Still - it tasted nice. I must just practise more!) I poached a brown trout (courtesy of our neighbour Steve who goes fishing in the Derwent river near Chatsworth) in some chicken broth with onion, garlic, prawns, tomato and grated courgette and then simmered the ravioli in the same broth. It was very delicious.
And for dessert, at the suggestion of the Pasta Fairy, I made chocolate spaghetti which we had with a raspberry and chocolate cream sauce. That was absolutely amazing. I've never made sweet spaghetti before. I'll certainly make it again!
There was left over trout this morning. I made The Builder kedgeree for his Sunday morning breakfast.
 |
| Rolling the dough for the prawn ravioli |
 |
| Assembling the ravioli in the ravioli tin |
 |
| Strictly speaking, the ravioli were supposed to come out ready cut! |
 |
| Making the chocolate spaghetti |
 |
| Spaghetti drying on the pasta tree. (I know the photo is a bit fuzzy!) |
 |
| Chocolate spaghetti in a raspberry and chocolate sauce |
 |
| Pasta machine fully assembled |
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Sedition
So, said Gaz. I have a job for you.
Hmm. Something of a worry. I already have a job. No time for another, not when you consider the allotment, the garden and all the other things that require attention.
What is the nature of this job? And what remuneration does it carry?
No remuneration. No set hours. Lots of benefits.
A bigger worry. Certainly can't afford to work for nothing. Who will fund my extravagant lifestyle?
What job is this that you have in mind?
How, asked Gareth, would you care to apply for the position of grandparent?
Grandparent? GRANDPARENT???? Being a grandparent isn't a job. Being a grandparent is a state of being which requires subversive and anarchist tendencies. And seditious sweeties.
Subversion and anarchy I can do :-) Also sweeties :-)
(Wanders off to dust off and consult my copies of Anarchists united and Established subversion.)
Poor thing is likely to be cold, though. You had better all start knitting booties and mittens
What? Oh. End of February, I believe. Alas, I won't be here. I'm going to a party.
Hmm. Something of a worry. I already have a job. No time for another, not when you consider the allotment, the garden and all the other things that require attention.
What is the nature of this job? And what remuneration does it carry?
No remuneration. No set hours. Lots of benefits.
A bigger worry. Certainly can't afford to work for nothing. Who will fund my extravagant lifestyle?
What job is this that you have in mind?
How, asked Gareth, would you care to apply for the position of grandparent?
Grandparent? GRANDPARENT???? Being a grandparent isn't a job. Being a grandparent is a state of being which requires subversive and anarchist tendencies. And seditious sweeties.
Subversion and anarchy I can do :-) Also sweeties :-)
(Wanders off to dust off and consult my copies of Anarchists united and Established subversion.)
Poor thing is likely to be cold, though. You had better all start knitting booties and mittens
What? Oh. End of February, I believe. Alas, I won't be here. I'm going to a party.
Friday, September 03, 2010
A visitation
I've had a visitation.
Yesterday, The Builder got in touch to say a large box had been delivered for me from Amazon.
Odd. I wasn't expecting anything from Amazon. I checked my account. Nope. I've ordered nothing for ages, not since I bought some Japanese books a couple of months back.
A mystery. And a mystery it remained for several hours until I got home.
It was quite a heavy box.
I opened it.
And inside there was ...
A large box containing ...
A hand-turned pasta making machine, two different sorts of pasta cutters, a ravioli making tin and a small rolling pin!!!!!!
And underneath that there was ...
A pasta making book and a pasta drying tree.
It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
An unexpected visitation from the Pasta Fairy who was obviously deeply distressed by the death of my former pasta making machine and thought I needed a new one with extra bells and whistles.
Many, many thanks, dear Pasta Fairy :-)
Now. What shall I make first?
Yesterday, The Builder got in touch to say a large box had been delivered for me from Amazon.
Odd. I wasn't expecting anything from Amazon. I checked my account. Nope. I've ordered nothing for ages, not since I bought some Japanese books a couple of months back.
A mystery. And a mystery it remained for several hours until I got home.
It was quite a heavy box.
I opened it.
And inside there was ...
A large box containing ...
A hand-turned pasta making machine, two different sorts of pasta cutters, a ravioli making tin and a small rolling pin!!!!!!
And underneath that there was ...
A pasta making book and a pasta drying tree.
It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
An unexpected visitation from the Pasta Fairy who was obviously deeply distressed by the death of my former pasta making machine and thought I needed a new one with extra bells and whistles.
Many, many thanks, dear Pasta Fairy :-)
Now. What shall I make first?
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Late summer cooking
I had a kilo or so of cherry and other small tomatoes from the garden and the allotment and no room in the freezer to store them. So I chopped them all in half and popped them in the oven with a very little extra virgin rapeseed oil. I roasted them in a moderate oven until they smelled really tomatoey and were just starting to turn black on top. Then I put them in the blender and strained them through a fine mesh strainer for about an hour. Then, not needing a clear broth, I pushed all the remaining juices out with a stout spoon. I then added them to some chicken stock that I happened to have handy (though you could just as easily have used vegetable stock) and simmered to reduce just a very little. I served my roasted tomato soup with a hefty drizzle of double cream from the local dairy, and some cheesy garlic toast. To say that all it was was roasted tomatoes and chicken stock which i made just with the chicken carcass and nothing else, it was extremely delicious. No onions, no herbs, no flavours or seasoning. Pure tomatoey heaven.
Then the question arose. What did I do with this?
I took a hefty chunk and cut it into small pieces which I then roasted with some sliced red onion and a couple of garlic cloves. I put it all into the blender (I bought a blender after the food processor died; I can do most things by hand but mashing, mouli-ing and straining vegetables by hand doesn't appeal at all). I then thinned the result with more chicken stock and served it as soup with grated cheese. It too was very delicious.
While I was in the kitchen, I made lasagne sheets with my trusty rolling pin and made up a huge lasagne with beef and mushrooms and onions and garlic and marjoram and tomatoes and zucchini, moistened with tinned tomato juice and garnished with parmesan just before serving.
The end of August and beginning of September in Derbyshire is a wonderful time for domestic foodies!!
Then the question arose. What did I do with this?
While I was in the kitchen, I made lasagne sheets with my trusty rolling pin and made up a huge lasagne with beef and mushrooms and onions and garlic and marjoram and tomatoes and zucchini, moistened with tinned tomato juice and garnished with parmesan just before serving.
The end of August and beginning of September in Derbyshire is a wonderful time for domestic foodies!!
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Super-duper long weekend
It was the August Bank Holiday weekend in England and Wales this last weekend. Which meant that I actually got a four day weekend. SHU is closed on the Tuesday as well :-) A nice, extra-long weekend.
And mostly it was a foody weekend. Tabitha, Gareth and GingerRich came for lunch on Sunday and we had slow roasted lamb shoulder, with slow roasted pork, and roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables from the garden
We followed this with plum crumble and a custard ice cream ("oooooh," said Tabitha. "Plum crumble. Haven't had any plums since (Grandma) Val's plum tree in Eltham. Shall we have ice cream or custard with it?" I thought about this. No reason why we shouldn't combine the two and make ice cream with some Bird's custard. Not that I usually make custard using custard powder - but no reason why I shouldn't from time to time - I have a tin on the baking shelves in case of custardy emergencies!!)
I spent Tuesday making summer soups and a lasagne and sundry other things. The freezers are now full to overflowing. But we can't afford to buy a third one so are just going to have to start eating our way through the contents of the existing ones.
But on Monday we went into Sheffield and went with Taffa and Gaz to the Sheffield Fayre in Norfolk Park. I had never been to Norfolk Park before. It's quite a large park on the edge of the city centre. It's built on a slope (this is Sheffield, after all!!) and has what is pretty much a natural amphitheatre to one side. Which was extremely useful because what was mostly happening at the Sheffield Fayre was a series of historical re-enactments. There was a battle between WWII German soldiers and the Russians (the Russians won). There was an American Civil War battle re-enacted (not sure who won that!!). There were demonstrations of cannons - which made all the dogs bark. The dogs have my sympathy - cannons are extremely loud!!!! There were Roman soldiers chatting to Napoleonic Officers. There were Roman soldiers sitting in an Allied tank, having seized it and a couple of rifles. There were medieval tents pitched not too far from a Roman encampment. Talk about a rip in the space-time continuum! (And those Romans got everywhere!!) There were also fairground amusements and food stalls and market stalls. There was a craft tent and various other tents - but no foodie tent. And there was a set of amusements that Taffa and Gaz went into while The Builder and I pottered about looking at other things. Chloe, the girl in the goldfish bowl; Yvette the headless lady; the flea circus; and the Monster show which had children leaving looking pale and aghast and on the verge of tears!! It was a good afternoon. And the sun shone and it was pleasantly warm and we all had a good time. Best of all - entrance is free!! (And we avoided paying the car parking fee by finding a free parking space on the street :-) )
The photos are here
I believe that Freyja spent the Monday tidying up her dining room. Oh well. Each to their own :-P
All in all it was a lovely weekend. Although, having had Monday and Tuesday off has seriously confused my sense of which day it is. But I'm sure that'll sort itself out in due course.
The weather has improved as well. It's turned distinctly autumnal. Cool, fresh and misty mornings. But offset by a sudden rise in temperature during the daytime - and lots and lots of sunshine.
My gadgets continue to die. The bathroom scales were the most recent gadget to pop their clogs. It was either when The Builder weighed himself on Sunday morning - or when I took the scales down later in the day to weigh this
Whichever - by the time we had put the squashy/pumpkiny/thingy on - they had given up the ghost and have steadfastly refused to weigh anything ever again. We have reverted to the trusty tape measure which I am hopeful will not die!
And mostly it was a foody weekend. Tabitha, Gareth and GingerRich came for lunch on Sunday and we had slow roasted lamb shoulder, with slow roasted pork, and roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables from the garden
We followed this with plum crumble and a custard ice cream ("oooooh," said Tabitha. "Plum crumble. Haven't had any plums since (Grandma) Val's plum tree in Eltham. Shall we have ice cream or custard with it?" I thought about this. No reason why we shouldn't combine the two and make ice cream with some Bird's custard. Not that I usually make custard using custard powder - but no reason why I shouldn't from time to time - I have a tin on the baking shelves in case of custardy emergencies!!)
I spent Tuesday making summer soups and a lasagne and sundry other things. The freezers are now full to overflowing. But we can't afford to buy a third one so are just going to have to start eating our way through the contents of the existing ones.
But on Monday we went into Sheffield and went with Taffa and Gaz to the Sheffield Fayre in Norfolk Park. I had never been to Norfolk Park before. It's quite a large park on the edge of the city centre. It's built on a slope (this is Sheffield, after all!!) and has what is pretty much a natural amphitheatre to one side. Which was extremely useful because what was mostly happening at the Sheffield Fayre was a series of historical re-enactments. There was a battle between WWII German soldiers and the Russians (the Russians won). There was an American Civil War battle re-enacted (not sure who won that!!). There were demonstrations of cannons - which made all the dogs bark. The dogs have my sympathy - cannons are extremely loud!!!! There were Roman soldiers chatting to Napoleonic Officers. There were Roman soldiers sitting in an Allied tank, having seized it and a couple of rifles. There were medieval tents pitched not too far from a Roman encampment. Talk about a rip in the space-time continuum! (And those Romans got everywhere!!) There were also fairground amusements and food stalls and market stalls. There was a craft tent and various other tents - but no foodie tent. And there was a set of amusements that Taffa and Gaz went into while The Builder and I pottered about looking at other things. Chloe, the girl in the goldfish bowl; Yvette the headless lady; the flea circus; and the Monster show which had children leaving looking pale and aghast and on the verge of tears!! It was a good afternoon. And the sun shone and it was pleasantly warm and we all had a good time. Best of all - entrance is free!! (And we avoided paying the car parking fee by finding a free parking space on the street :-) )
The photos are here
I believe that Freyja spent the Monday tidying up her dining room. Oh well. Each to their own :-P
All in all it was a lovely weekend. Although, having had Monday and Tuesday off has seriously confused my sense of which day it is. But I'm sure that'll sort itself out in due course.
The weather has improved as well. It's turned distinctly autumnal. Cool, fresh and misty mornings. But offset by a sudden rise in temperature during the daytime - and lots and lots of sunshine.
My gadgets continue to die. The bathroom scales were the most recent gadget to pop their clogs. It was either when The Builder weighed himself on Sunday morning - or when I took the scales down later in the day to weigh this
Whichever - by the time we had put the squashy/pumpkiny/thingy on - they had given up the ghost and have steadfastly refused to weigh anything ever again. We have reverted to the trusty tape measure which I am hopeful will not die!
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