I don’t have one

What food would you say is your specialty?

Cornucopia

I had cooking lessons at school, the classes were called domestic science. I learnt to make all sorts of things in those lessons. They stood me in good stead. I learnt mainly baking, from rock cakes to Victoria sponges. But also things like Danish open sandwiches.

Then as a student I learnt to throw a meal together from scraps and at a low cost. Beans of many varieties were used together with lots of garlic and herbs and tomatoes. With some oil of course.

Later I learnt to cook a good approximation of things like chicken Kiev and other staples such as spaghetti bolognase. They probably looked messy, I was renowned for using chunky vegetables instead of chopping them finely.

So give me a few ingredients and I can try and rustle something up. The important thing is I can afford to eat, many people can’t, or are in situations where they cannot get food at all. I don’t know how I ended up being so lucky, I hope it lasts.

In better news

My leg, that was wrapped up like this several weeks ago, is finally healed! Yippee! No more waiting for it to be re-dressed. No more washing it carefully. I can have a long shower (in the daytime when the bathroom isn’t freezing). I can start going for walks again. Probably in the rain. It’ll be small steps to avoid knocking it, but, Yippee!

The Moon landings

What major historical events do you remember?

It was the summer of 1969. My dad got us up from bed so we could watch the moon landing on TV. I remember Patrick Moore explaining what was happening excitedly. Micheal Collins filming the moon lander from his vantage point in the command module, it was dropping down towards the surface of the moon, then the landers own camera as it seemed to creep down toward the surface, it’s retro rockets blowing away the lunar dust as its shadow started to fill the screen. Then “the Eagle has landed”….grainy black and white TV pictures…

Man had landed on the moon after a journey of about 250,000 miles. It doesn’t sound that far when you write it down. Did it only take 3 days to get there?

Then after a while Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder and stepped onto Lunar regolith. “it’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Nowadays there would be a proper speech, but it was fantastic to see both Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moons surface. I don’t remember any more than being utterly amazed….

Skiing?

What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?

I used to love cycling downhill, leaning forward and down over the handlebars. I was quite good especially on twisting roads.

I never went on ski trips when I was a child, but I think given a chance I would have been able to do well. But that is the kind of risk I think I would have taken when I was younger. I can imagine slaloming down a beautful snow covered hill. Zooming properly not on a computer screen, but I’ve never had the chance. X

5 year old pears

Memories

Our pear tree grows lovely pears. These were sweet and juicy when they ripened. And big too. They are lovely baked into a pie or a cake, or just freshly sliced.

Pears seem to take ages to ripen, then suddenly they all get ripe at once. Five years ago we had a massive crop, this year much more meagre. Perhaps the tree blossom was too early, and the bees and other pollinators hadn’t emerged yet? Or maybe the wind blew the blossom off to soon. Hopefully next year will be a good crop?

Robbing spree!

Example of one of the things stolen

In shock, two men around 20s were in our garden about 2pm, hubby disturbed them. They took electric shears and other stuff. I saw them go over our gate, tried to grab one. Very shook up.
They both have short dark hair, one with a beard, about 5’10”,black jackets and trousers. Ran up our Road, hubby chased them Police have been. Fed up this is Four Times in a week!

Spoke to neighbours they have had their sheds broken into. It seems like a crime spree. I’m blogging to try and take my mind off things.

Being able to learn

What are you most proud of in your life?

I’m proud of having knowledge

I’m proud I can find out

Learning is a thing I love

More than any wealth

Sure that knowledge shared

And study pursued

Is most important.

You may not have gold or power

But try and improve your mind

And after time you will find

The beauty of a thought.

Settle to Carlisle line

Another image drawn on holiday, this one is from 1994 whan we were on holiday near Settle. We cycled around the area and I did this sketch in biro when we stopped to have lunch and look at the view I think. But this was 29 years ago so I may have misremembered. By looking at the notes it looks like I revisited in the October of the same year.

90s drawing

90s drawing of a sequoia bald eagle. I think we were on holiday in the lake district and called in at a bird sanctuary. It’s in a sketchbook that I just found while trying to declutter. We used to take the train up to Manchester and then cycle to Rochdale, then catch a train up to the south Lake District and then tour and cycle camp or stay at Youth Hostels. I must have been fit!