A day I celebrate, not for St Patrick but because it is my Dad's birthday. Today he would have been 82 years old and we would have gone out for a meal to celebrate the occasion, marked with a pint of Guinness.
Dad taught me to enjoy whiskey, I taught him the taste of Guinness was better than a pint of bitter. Of course we had to start off in Dublin for a long weekend, and then the following year we enjoyed a tn day jaunt from Cork to Galway and everywhere in between. We did the ring of Kerry, a farming museum, Connemara national park, kissing the Blarney Stone, Cobh and the infamous Jamieson's distillery visit. We got lost in Waterford, never did find the crystal factory, we met Elvis in Tipperary, but above all we got to meet so many people and enjoyed farmhouse hospitality that made this holiday so special and memorable.
Happy birthday Da xx
Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
17 March 2013
03 September 2012
A Decade on
Ten years ago today, I lost my Dad. We were on holiday down in Cornwall and had planned to go to the Eden Project. After a busy day, touring Mousehole, and Penzance way we had a light tea and he went to bed at about 9.30pm, not unusual as the dogs were awake at 6am for a walk.
This particular morning, I woke first, let the dogs out into the garden and called out did he want a cup of tea. No answer, and with a tight feeling in my stomach I went into his room.
He was lying on his back, his left hand on top of the quilt. He looked as though he were asleep but I knew better.. sometime during the early hours of that morning he had slipped the earthly bounds and left behind the shell.
I knew he would have been happy at the manner of his passing, but not the timing. He wouldn't deliberately have chosen to leave me 300 miles away from home with no-one around, but the gentleness of his passing was joyous to me. After Mum had died ten years previously, he had always said he wanted to go quickly and I believe he had his wish.
A blur of police and questions later, I was allowed to go home and set off back to the Back of Beyond.. I had two elderly jack russells to keep me company and it wasn't until I got to within two miles of the house I felt the tears start.
My brother Zeltus was there to meet me, as were neighbours and yet I felt as though Dad was not that far away from me in spirit. The polytunnel was his domain, and sometimes I felt that if I turned quickly I would see him working with his beloved plants.
Ten years on, things have changed, it took me 6 years after his death to come back to Cornwall and to visit the Eden Project and I fell in love with Portreath and Redruth... another two years and I was living here and yet I think Dad would have approved.. A visit from my Uncle Peter last November allowed me to talk about the maternal side of my family with him and helped to explain much of what I knew of my grandfather...I have an offer anytime I like to visit them in Australia and I hope very much to do so.
To Dad, I still miss you daily, but somehow you have passed along your green fingers to me for fuschias and I have started my collection... Love you xx
This particular morning, I woke first, let the dogs out into the garden and called out did he want a cup of tea. No answer, and with a tight feeling in my stomach I went into his room.
He was lying on his back, his left hand on top of the quilt. He looked as though he were asleep but I knew better.. sometime during the early hours of that morning he had slipped the earthly bounds and left behind the shell.
I knew he would have been happy at the manner of his passing, but not the timing. He wouldn't deliberately have chosen to leave me 300 miles away from home with no-one around, but the gentleness of his passing was joyous to me. After Mum had died ten years previously, he had always said he wanted to go quickly and I believe he had his wish.
A blur of police and questions later, I was allowed to go home and set off back to the Back of Beyond.. I had two elderly jack russells to keep me company and it wasn't until I got to within two miles of the house I felt the tears start.
My brother Zeltus was there to meet me, as were neighbours and yet I felt as though Dad was not that far away from me in spirit. The polytunnel was his domain, and sometimes I felt that if I turned quickly I would see him working with his beloved plants.
Ten years on, things have changed, it took me 6 years after his death to come back to Cornwall and to visit the Eden Project and I fell in love with Portreath and Redruth... another two years and I was living here and yet I think Dad would have approved.. A visit from my Uncle Peter last November allowed me to talk about the maternal side of my family with him and helped to explain much of what I knew of my grandfather...I have an offer anytime I like to visit them in Australia and I hope very much to do so.
To Dad, I still miss you daily, but somehow you have passed along your green fingers to me for fuschias and I have started my collection... Love you xx
17 March 2012
St Patrick's Day
A special day for me, not because it is St Patrick's Day, nor because Wales could potentially win the Grand Slam but no today would have been my Dad's 81st birthday. It was always a tradition in our house that Zeltus (born 28th Feb) and Sage (born 30th Mar) would have a joint birthday party somewhere in the middle that always seemed to fall on Dad's birthday - now my Mum was damned clever, it took us years to work that one out lol.
Dad sadly died in 2002, so he won't be here to celebrate with me, instead this evening I will get the Jameson's reserve out and toast his memory. I brought him the bottle when we visited the distillery in 2000, and only after he died when I was sorting stuff out did I find it unopened and cried because he had never drunk it. Since then, christmas, birthdays, fathers day... all these occasions are when I get the bottle out.
This picture was taken in Ireland on our holiday, out on the dingle peninsula and a very windy day but we loved it and had planned to go back and visit more of it. Something I hope to do in the future and perhaps go back to the distillery for another bottle of the reserve.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Dad sadly died in 2002, so he won't be here to celebrate with me, instead this evening I will get the Jameson's reserve out and toast his memory. I brought him the bottle when we visited the distillery in 2000, and only after he died when I was sorting stuff out did I find it unopened and cried because he had never drunk it. Since then, christmas, birthdays, fathers day... all these occasions are when I get the bottle out.
This picture was taken in Ireland on our holiday, out on the dingle peninsula and a very windy day but we loved it and had planned to go back and visit more of it. Something I hope to do in the future and perhaps go back to the distillery for another bottle of the reserve.May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
17 March 2011
To My Dad on your 80th Birthday
A Long StoryThis is a picture of Great Grampy Lovesey, he is the fine old gentleman on the far left sporting a lovely beard. As far as I remember it was his daughter who married my Grampy Parker who is shown at his wedding in the picture to your right. I love these old pictures and the stories they tell.
Grampy Parker was a real bedfordshire man, who must have thought his son's children (Zeltus and Me) were complete idiots as we didn't understand his strong bedfordshire accent when we returned to the UK after many years abroad.
Dad was one of four siblings and was the oldest boy, born on 17th March 1931. This picture is only one of two I have where they are all together and I can't remember when it was taken but Dad (second from left) looks fairly youthful.
Left to Right, David, Dad, Lil and Sheila.
The other picture of the four of them was taken at Sheila's 70th birthday a few years before Dad died in 2002.
For Dad's 70th birthday, Zeltus and I, clubbed together and brought a trial flight for Dad. He had long held an ambition to fly above Cranfield and take some aerial photos.He went up on a lovely sunny day, 3rd September 2001, I remember the day well as it was a short year later that he passed away peacefully while sleeping; we were on holiday in Cornwall at the time.
Back to the day of the flight : Dad booked in and was given the regulation safety tour of the plane and what was going to happen during the flight. Dad had his camera ready, but never took any photo's as he was too busy flying the plane and had the time of his life. He even had the controls on landing, though I am sure the qualified pilot probably had the major part in doing the landing.
For weeks afterwards, Dad would talk about that day, and how much he had enjoyed it. I would like to have thought that for his 80th we would have been able to persuade him to repeat the experience.
Happy Birthday Dad, lots of love on your 80th, you may not be here in person but here in spirit xx
25 February 2011
More (second hand) memories of Tripoli
Dad was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E) during his years of service with the British Army and served alongside many different regiments including in Malaya 75 Aircraft Workshops, in Germany 4 Field Workshops etc.
I don't know who he served alongside in Tripoli, but I do remember him telling me that one of his many and varied activities involved assessing the local drivers for their ability in driving. Apparently the driving test of the day required the candidates to be able to drive the vehicle in a straight line for 100 yards and then reverse the same distance in an equally straight line. I remember asking him why didn't it include corners etc but his reply was that in the base the roads were simply straight through.. good job then that he didn't decide to retrain as a driving instructor/examiner when he retired from the Army!
I don't know who he served alongside in Tripoli, but I do remember him telling me that one of his many and varied activities involved assessing the local drivers for their ability in driving. Apparently the driving test of the day required the candidates to be able to drive the vehicle in a straight line for 100 yards and then reverse the same distance in an equally straight line. I remember asking him why didn't it include corners etc but his reply was that in the base the roads were simply straight through.. good job then that he didn't decide to retrain as a driving instructor/examiner when he retired from the Army!
24 January 2011
Thoughts are turning to Summer
My thoughts are turning to the year ahead, well it is nearly the end of January after all!
I would like to get some time in the garden, to make it visually more attractive, and to perhaps train Murphy to do his toilet in one spot (when I work out where that will be); he is very good bless him and has been from day 1. If you let him out into the garden before bedtime with the words hurry up he goes straight out and has a pee... mind you he is rewarded with a biscuit (or 3) when we go to bed.
SOH went out with his mates the other evening, Murphy and I couldn't settle all evening. I was cold, after the football and had a nice bath, TV was crap, tried watching something I had recorded earlier but eventually we settled down for a night's sleep. I was startled awake by a big booming bark, from the bottom of the bed, as SOH returned home and put the keys in the front door. I always wondered how protective of us he might be, but big scaredy cat that he is I am not sure as a burglar I would want to face the animal behind the noise.
Murphy is protective of me when we walk out in the dark mornings, but even these are getting lighter a bit earlier and we meet some of the regulars. Ruby the boxer being one, they wanted to play but time was short this morning and I didn't have the time to let him off the lead so we had a trot round the parks. When I have charged the camera up, I will do a picture diary of our morning walk.
Back to the garden, I want to try my hand at potato growing in a bag, and possibly some carrots as well but I hope to get an allotment patch soon so that more veggies can be grown and the garden just for pleasure. I guess more of Dad rubbed off on me than I thought.
I would like to get some time in the garden, to make it visually more attractive, and to perhaps train Murphy to do his toilet in one spot (when I work out where that will be); he is very good bless him and has been from day 1. If you let him out into the garden before bedtime with the words hurry up he goes straight out and has a pee... mind you he is rewarded with a biscuit (or 3) when we go to bed.
SOH went out with his mates the other evening, Murphy and I couldn't settle all evening. I was cold, after the football and had a nice bath, TV was crap, tried watching something I had recorded earlier but eventually we settled down for a night's sleep. I was startled awake by a big booming bark, from the bottom of the bed, as SOH returned home and put the keys in the front door. I always wondered how protective of us he might be, but big scaredy cat that he is I am not sure as a burglar I would want to face the animal behind the noise.
Murphy is protective of me when we walk out in the dark mornings, but even these are getting lighter a bit earlier and we meet some of the regulars. Ruby the boxer being one, they wanted to play but time was short this morning and I didn't have the time to let him off the lead so we had a trot round the parks. When I have charged the camera up, I will do a picture diary of our morning walk.
Back to the garden, I want to try my hand at potato growing in a bag, and possibly some carrots as well but I hope to get an allotment patch soon so that more veggies can be grown and the garden just for pleasure. I guess more of Dad rubbed off on me than I thought.
17 March 2010
On this day
79 years ago, my Dad was born in the Back of Beyond. The eldest son, but not the eldest child. He sadly died 7 years ago last September and today is always a bittersweet day as I used to get a St Patricks Day card as a joke instead of a birthday card and then write in it ps Happy Birthday.
One year I took him out to a St Patricks Day dinner at a local pub and introduced him to the delights of Guiness, quickly followed by a long weekend in Dublin to try the real stuff. He was so impressed with it after the trip to Dublin that we arranged a 10 day touring holiday in Ireland starting off (and finishing) in Cork but included Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway (my favourite), Offaly (briefly), Tipperary and finally Waterford before we caught the ferry at Cork. We covered a little over 2000 miles and had a laugh and a joke with every stay at the b&b farmhouse we had chosen; One of my favourite memories was the tour of the Jameson's distillery and it is from the distillery reserve that I will raise my glass to my Dad tonight xx
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
One year I took him out to a St Patricks Day dinner at a local pub and introduced him to the delights of Guiness, quickly followed by a long weekend in Dublin to try the real stuff. He was so impressed with it after the trip to Dublin that we arranged a 10 day touring holiday in Ireland starting off (and finishing) in Cork but included Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway (my favourite), Offaly (briefly), Tipperary and finally Waterford before we caught the ferry at Cork. We covered a little over 2000 miles and had a laugh and a joke with every stay at the b&b farmhouse we had chosen; One of my favourite memories was the tour of the Jameson's distillery and it is from the distillery reserve that I will raise my glass to my Dad tonight xx
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
23 December 2009
Four Seasons
Today has proverbially been the four seasons, everything from wind, rain, snow, hail, sleet, ice and frost has passed by my doors.
A quick trip into Redruth saw me tucking into a turkey and cranberry pasty from Rowes, and it was as good as it sounded. I had been sent on an errand to get some stripey tights but to no avail, still I did manage to come away with a fetching pair of stripey leg warmers; all that needs to come back now is the 80's power pads in the shoulders for a real retro feel.
I had a quick look out for a memento to remind me of my times at the University of the Back of Beyond as they had taken a collection out on my departure and I am torn between a piece of cornish tin or a painting/photograph. I have a couple of pictures from back up country, one of the village church and the school which I brought for my dad one Christmas and Birthday but I am sure I will come up with the right goods eventually.
Back in my nice, almost warm caravan, looking out at the rain, I remembered last night hearing the helicopters flying overhead; sadly it was to the coach accident near Hayle due to the dangerous conditions on the roads last night when two women were killed and many will carry injuries to remind them. Still compared to the rest of Britain, Cornwall has had it relatively quieter and the weather forecast for the next few days is for milder weather.
A quick trip into Redruth saw me tucking into a turkey and cranberry pasty from Rowes, and it was as good as it sounded. I had been sent on an errand to get some stripey tights but to no avail, still I did manage to come away with a fetching pair of stripey leg warmers; all that needs to come back now is the 80's power pads in the shoulders for a real retro feel.
I had a quick look out for a memento to remind me of my times at the University of the Back of Beyond as they had taken a collection out on my departure and I am torn between a piece of cornish tin or a painting/photograph. I have a couple of pictures from back up country, one of the village church and the school which I brought for my dad one Christmas and Birthday but I am sure I will come up with the right goods eventually.
Back in my nice, almost warm caravan, looking out at the rain, I remembered last night hearing the helicopters flying overhead; sadly it was to the coach accident near Hayle due to the dangerous conditions on the roads last night when two women were killed and many will carry injuries to remind them. Still compared to the rest of Britain, Cornwall has had it relatively quieter and the weather forecast for the next few days is for milder weather.
02 October 2009
One of my favourite monologues
Is Bob Newhart, with Gerard Hoffnung in a very close second with the bricklayers story and Pam Ayrs providing the british contingent she is going to be appearing at the Stables nr Milton Keynes soon and I am just debating whether to try and get a ticket or not... still makes me laugh.
Dad used to own a LP of Bob Newhart, and I can remember listening to the story of the driving instructor and having tears of laughter running down my face. Sadly he lent the record to a friend and it was never seen again.. years later I managed to find a copy on CD with some tracks I had never heard before including this one on bomb disposal; so for your delectation and amusement... here it is courtesy of this site
Er... hello, Lieutenant Stevenson here...
Patrolman Hackmaster?...
Oh! hello Willard, you're a little late reporting in aren't you, Willard?...
You've found a shell on the beach?...
You think that's unusual, do you Willard, finding a shell on the beach?...
It's not that kind of shell?...
What's the matter, Willard, doesn't it sound like the ocean when you hold it up to your ear?...
Oh! that kind of shell!...
Well, I'll tell you what, Willard, I'll send somebody out in the morning and we can er...
Oh! is that right?...
I was sort of hoping it was your watch making that noise...
I'm gonna give it to you straight, Willard. Willard, you've got a live one there!
WILLARD!!!...
Don't hang up...
That's an order, Willard...
And stop that whining!...
Now, you're perfectly safe, Willard, there's nothing to worry about as long as it's ticking...
Er, when it stops ticking, that's something else again, Willard.
Now, listen Willard, get control of yourself...
You and I are going to disarm that thing...
I've got the instruction manual...
Well, no! I'm not coming down there, Willard...
Well, I mean I can't just leave the office anytime I want to!...
NO!!!...
DON'T BRING IT IN HERE, WILLARD, NO!!!
Now look, Willard, I'm taking just as big a chance as you are, I mean, this is my responsibility, if that thing goes off, it's me they're gonna wanna to talk to, not you, ya know!
Alright now, Willard, describe it to me...
Uh... it sounds like some sort of torpedo, Willard...
It must be one of ours!...
It says, 'Made in Japan' huh?...
Well, it could still be one of ours, Willard. Is there a serial number or anything like that, on it?...
X5307... er, let me look that up, Willard, just a minute...
Oh boy!... you've found a beauty there, Willard. Ha! ha!... d'ya know how powerful that baby is?...
Six city blocks, Willard. ha! ha!...
What d'ya mean , you'll call me back?...
There's a phonebox seven blocks away...
WILLARD!!!...
Now, stop that whining, Willard!...
Willard, I know this is dangerous, but if we can save one human life...
Oh, that's the way you feel about, huh?...
Look Willard, control yourself now...
Listen Willard, according to this, there's a... Er, how long has that thing been ticking?...
About 5 - 6 minutes, huh?...
Huh?
Oh!... Er... nothing, Willard, nothing... we're just gonna have to work a little faster than I thought!
Willard, according to the manual here, about six inches from the tail-end of it, there's a plate...
Yeh, and it's held on by four screws...
Now it says, now this is very important, it says, 'This plate should be removed with an LT5 screwdriver with a plastic handle and a de-magnetised tip'...
Oh, you don't have one, huh?...
Augh!... use a coin then, Willard!...
Okay?... you got it off then, Willard?...
Boy! that thing sure is complicated... I can't make heads nor tails outa this...
No, don't worry, Willard, I'll get that thing fixed if it's the last thing... er, we'll take care of it, don't worry about it...
Listen Willard, there's a kind of a little hootymajig thing in there... a wheel of some kind! Why don't you try turning the wheel, Willard?...
Oh, I don't know... turn it to the left and see what happens...
Yeh!...
I can hear it, Willard, it's ticking a lot faster, isn't it?...
Er!... you'd better turn it back, Willard!
Okay! let's see...
Listen, there are two wires here. It says here, 'Under no conditions...
Oh! someone's spilled coffee over this page...
Well, one is a kind of greyish-blue and the other one is a kind of er, bluish-grey...
Willard!...
Who are you talking to there?...
A LITTLE BOY!!!...
Willard, get him out of there! if that thing goes off, we're...
He says it's his?...
It's a toy torpedo?...
Willard, let me talk to the kid, will ya?...
He ran down to the beach with it?
Willard, I think you'd better come into the office, we ought to have a little talk... you hung me up here for ten minutes because of a kid...
Willard!...
What was that noise?...
The toy torpedo just sunk a fishing trawler, huh?
Well, that's alright, Willard... it's out of our hands now, 'cos now its in the Coast Guard's, right?...
Right!
Good-bye.
Dad used to own a LP of Bob Newhart, and I can remember listening to the story of the driving instructor and having tears of laughter running down my face. Sadly he lent the record to a friend and it was never seen again.. years later I managed to find a copy on CD with some tracks I had never heard before including this one on bomb disposal; so for your delectation and amusement... here it is courtesy of this site
Er... hello, Lieutenant Stevenson here...
Patrolman Hackmaster?...
Oh! hello Willard, you're a little late reporting in aren't you, Willard?...
You've found a shell on the beach?...
You think that's unusual, do you Willard, finding a shell on the beach?...
It's not that kind of shell?...
What's the matter, Willard, doesn't it sound like the ocean when you hold it up to your ear?...
Oh! that kind of shell!...
Well, I'll tell you what, Willard, I'll send somebody out in the morning and we can er...
Oh! is that right?...
I was sort of hoping it was your watch making that noise...
I'm gonna give it to you straight, Willard. Willard, you've got a live one there!
WILLARD!!!...
Don't hang up...
That's an order, Willard...
And stop that whining!...
Now, you're perfectly safe, Willard, there's nothing to worry about as long as it's ticking...
Er, when it stops ticking, that's something else again, Willard.
Now, listen Willard, get control of yourself...
You and I are going to disarm that thing...
I've got the instruction manual...
Well, no! I'm not coming down there, Willard...
Well, I mean I can't just leave the office anytime I want to!...
NO!!!...
DON'T BRING IT IN HERE, WILLARD, NO!!!
Now look, Willard, I'm taking just as big a chance as you are, I mean, this is my responsibility, if that thing goes off, it's me they're gonna wanna to talk to, not you, ya know!
Alright now, Willard, describe it to me...
Uh... it sounds like some sort of torpedo, Willard...
It must be one of ours!...
It says, 'Made in Japan' huh?...
Well, it could still be one of ours, Willard. Is there a serial number or anything like that, on it?...
X5307... er, let me look that up, Willard, just a minute...
Oh boy!... you've found a beauty there, Willard. Ha! ha!... d'ya know how powerful that baby is?...
Six city blocks, Willard. ha! ha!...
What d'ya mean , you'll call me back?...
There's a phonebox seven blocks away...
WILLARD!!!...
Now, stop that whining, Willard!...
Willard, I know this is dangerous, but if we can save one human life...
Oh, that's the way you feel about, huh?...
Look Willard, control yourself now...
Listen Willard, according to this, there's a... Er, how long has that thing been ticking?...
About 5 - 6 minutes, huh?...
Huh?
Oh!... Er... nothing, Willard, nothing... we're just gonna have to work a little faster than I thought!
Willard, according to the manual here, about six inches from the tail-end of it, there's a plate...
Yeh, and it's held on by four screws...
Now it says, now this is very important, it says, 'This plate should be removed with an LT5 screwdriver with a plastic handle and a de-magnetised tip'...
Oh, you don't have one, huh?...
Augh!... use a coin then, Willard!...
Okay?... you got it off then, Willard?...
Boy! that thing sure is complicated... I can't make heads nor tails outa this...
No, don't worry, Willard, I'll get that thing fixed if it's the last thing... er, we'll take care of it, don't worry about it...
Listen Willard, there's a kind of a little hootymajig thing in there... a wheel of some kind! Why don't you try turning the wheel, Willard?...
Oh, I don't know... turn it to the left and see what happens...
Yeh!...
I can hear it, Willard, it's ticking a lot faster, isn't it?...
Er!... you'd better turn it back, Willard!
Okay! let's see...
Listen, there are two wires here. It says here, 'Under no conditions...
Oh! someone's spilled coffee over this page...
Well, one is a kind of greyish-blue and the other one is a kind of er, bluish-grey...
Willard!...
Who are you talking to there?...
A LITTLE BOY!!!...
Willard, get him out of there! if that thing goes off, we're...
He says it's his?...
It's a toy torpedo?...
Willard, let me talk to the kid, will ya?...
He ran down to the beach with it?
Willard, I think you'd better come into the office, we ought to have a little talk... you hung me up here for ten minutes because of a kid...
Willard!...
What was that noise?...
The toy torpedo just sunk a fishing trawler, huh?
Well, that's alright, Willard... it's out of our hands now, 'cos now its in the Coast Guard's, right?...
Right!
Good-bye.
09 September 2009
Memories of Summers Gone by
Dad was the gardening expert in the Back of Beyond, he could grow almost anything and usually did in the garden until the day he died. Sadly I have not inherited his ability, and especially to my regret my inability to grow tomatoes as by the end of the season we had too many to eat and I had to hunt around for ideas of what to do with them.
So if you have :
6 lbs ripe tomatoes any variety and all varieties - adds to the flavour
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz (225 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
½ pint (285 ml) distilled white vinegar or I used cider vinegar
Method: Wash the tomatoes and chop them (or put them through a juicer is even better) There's no need to skin or remove the seeds. Put in a pan and cook slowly until pulped, stirring occasionally.
Press through a sieve (omit this if you used a juicer) and return the puree to a clean pan. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer gently until the sauce has thickened.
It makes about 2 pints (1.1 litres) of sauce, I used to freeze it in portions of about half a pint perfect for adding to sauces so much better than tinned tomatoes or even passata.
I used in in making spaghetti bolognaise, as it made it light and yet spicy at the same time... I keep looking out for people with a glut of tomatoes but so far I am not having a lot of luck :-)
So if you have :
6 lbs ripe tomatoes any variety and all varieties - adds to the flavour
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz (225 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
½ pint (285 ml) distilled white vinegar or I used cider vinegar
Method: Wash the tomatoes and chop them (or put them through a juicer is even better) There's no need to skin or remove the seeds. Put in a pan and cook slowly until pulped, stirring occasionally.
Press through a sieve (omit this if you used a juicer) and return the puree to a clean pan. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer gently until the sauce has thickened.
It makes about 2 pints (1.1 litres) of sauce, I used to freeze it in portions of about half a pint perfect for adding to sauces so much better than tinned tomatoes or even passata.
I used in in making spaghetti bolognaise, as it made it light and yet spicy at the same time... I keep looking out for people with a glut of tomatoes but so far I am not having a lot of luck :-)
07 September 2009
I've been Skipping all weekend
All in the name of decluttering...lol
Not involving a rope, only old bits found in the shed at the bottom of the garden, the small shed, the greenhouse and the little shed... half an engine, various garden pots and other detritus all was carried down and put into the large skip ordered and delivered on Friday.. can definitely recommend it as a means of release. I was absolutely cream crackered last night, made a sandwich for tea as I was too tired to cook.
Originally I was supposed to have another viewing yesterday, but this was postponed until during the week so I carried on taking stuff out to the skip. The attic was emptied, stuff I had forgotten was in there as well as stuff I then remembered.. including two brand new army sleeping bags (any offers anyone?); I suspect that Dad 'alf-inched them during his time in the stores way back in the mists of time.
The chair in the spare room was broken up with a sledgehammer, as was the old bookcase by the back door... to take up less space in the tip. Likewise, old bits and bobs from the greenhouse all went to the skip.
Identifying stuff to take with me was easy, and getting rid of rubbish was relatively easy, what was more difficult was some of the stuff which had memories but no practical purpose... these have been put in the carport for a second thought while I carry on filling up the skip.
A busy weekend, and yet an enjoyable one..
Not involving a rope, only old bits found in the shed at the bottom of the garden, the small shed, the greenhouse and the little shed... half an engine, various garden pots and other detritus all was carried down and put into the large skip ordered and delivered on Friday.. can definitely recommend it as a means of release. I was absolutely cream crackered last night, made a sandwich for tea as I was too tired to cook.
Originally I was supposed to have another viewing yesterday, but this was postponed until during the week so I carried on taking stuff out to the skip. The attic was emptied, stuff I had forgotten was in there as well as stuff I then remembered.. including two brand new army sleeping bags (any offers anyone?); I suspect that Dad 'alf-inched them during his time in the stores way back in the mists of time.
The chair in the spare room was broken up with a sledgehammer, as was the old bookcase by the back door... to take up less space in the tip. Likewise, old bits and bobs from the greenhouse all went to the skip.
Identifying stuff to take with me was easy, and getting rid of rubbish was relatively easy, what was more difficult was some of the stuff which had memories but no practical purpose... these have been put in the carport for a second thought while I carry on filling up the skip.
A busy weekend, and yet an enjoyable one..
21 June 2009
To my Dad
I wish I could say to you Happy Father's Day, to be able to give you a hug and a smile. I would love to give you a meaningless present with love, take you to lunch and laugh at the silly jokes.Seven years on, still missing you as much as ever and tonight I will have a drink to you and thank you for being my Dad.
Love Sage
22 April 2009
Naming 'things'
I never thought about it before, but Annette posted a comment about the identity of the car being referred to as a she, well it set me thinking my current car is definitely a she whereas my first vehicle a Ford Transit van was known as Tommy.
Tommy hated me, with a vengeance he was refusing to start, misfiring, cutting out and stalling until I could take no more and in the end Dad drove him while I drove his Montego instead.
I believe Tommy had 3 changes of starter motor before I sold him for £150 pounds more than I paid for him and traded him for Harry who was my Peugeot 205 (he got his name because he was artic white and therefore was Flash Harry).
Max (the motorbike) was always male right from the moment we met in the showroom.. as in Mad Max because of his looks and because I got told I was mad for getting a bike... lol
Tommy hated me, with a vengeance he was refusing to start, misfiring, cutting out and stalling until I could take no more and in the end Dad drove him while I drove his Montego instead.
I believe Tommy had 3 changes of starter motor before I sold him for £150 pounds more than I paid for him and traded him for Harry who was my Peugeot 205 (he got his name because he was artic white and therefore was Flash Harry).
Max (the motorbike) was always male right from the moment we met in the showroom.. as in Mad Max because of his looks and because I got told I was mad for getting a bike... lol
27 March 2009
Brrrrh
Ok, I might have made a big mistake yesterday thinking Spring had Sprung but with a vengeance Winter is back and with bitterly cold winds it's snow joke... still some years ago on my 18th birthday which is at the end of March I was woken by my Mum saying it had snowed overnight.
Now coming from a family of jokers I was having nothing to do with it, preferring instead to stay in my nice warm snug bed, only to be doused with a handful of snow brought in from the outside.. Needless to say it went down as a memorable birthday in my eyes, not only because of the snow but also that my parents relented and kept one of the puppies from the litter who had been nicknamed Kipper. Never one for male jack russells, my Dad tried to not get attached but eventually the daft pup won him over even if he was not very good at doing anything a jack russell should have done.
When my parents looked at getting dogs much later, Dad was the one who picked out Sam and that dog was intelligent, in a different way to his sister. Sam could hunt a scent and find his own way home, while Teg was a bundle of hunting instinct all wrapped up in a girly dog. I have a picture of her sitting on Dad's shoulders looking at the camera as if to say 'He's mine', and she was right, Dad was hers and she was his, only tolerating the rest of us as though to say she was a one man dog...
Now coming from a family of jokers I was having nothing to do with it, preferring instead to stay in my nice warm snug bed, only to be doused with a handful of snow brought in from the outside.. Needless to say it went down as a memorable birthday in my eyes, not only because of the snow but also that my parents relented and kept one of the puppies from the litter who had been nicknamed Kipper. Never one for male jack russells, my Dad tried to not get attached but eventually the daft pup won him over even if he was not very good at doing anything a jack russell should have done.
When my parents looked at getting dogs much later, Dad was the one who picked out Sam and that dog was intelligent, in a different way to his sister. Sam could hunt a scent and find his own way home, while Teg was a bundle of hunting instinct all wrapped up in a girly dog. I have a picture of her sitting on Dad's shoulders looking at the camera as if to say 'He's mine', and she was right, Dad was hers and she was his, only tolerating the rest of us as though to say she was a one man dog...
17 March 2009
Happy Birthday!
Today is not only St Patricks Day, but also would have been Dad's 78th Birthday. I still miss him just as much as I have ever done but probably more so this year as I know he would have given me a hug and tell me all would be alright in the long run.This picture of him was taken on a holiday to Ireland, and he was videoing a bit of film along the dingle peninsula on a windy day. We had a great 10 days touring from the South to the North West of Ireland and met many friendly locals; the food was good as well.
I have long wanted to go back and visit Ireland, and had planned on going this year in October but couldn't get the time off from work in order to make a reasonable weekend of it.
So when I used to get a birthday card for him, it was always with St Patrick in mind.. I loved the blessing :
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Somehow it summed up the man that was my father. Happy Birthday Dad! xx
09 March 2009
France
On the encouragement of my Bro and his wife I have just booked tickets to visit.It will be good to catch up with them and hear all about their eventful trip to Spain. Not to mention they were worried about me after yesterday and want to check up on me to bolster my spirits. Hopefully I can get them to take me out to Oradour Sur Glane as it is somewhere I have long wanted to visit.
Just have to organise holiday and things now at work to enable me to go.
16 February 2009
The Victorian Farm
I was sad last week to have watched the last programme in the series The Victorian Farm an eagerly awaited sequel to Tales from the Green Valley which was shown in 2005.
I welcomed back Peter, Ruth and Alex to another period of farming history, they don't just tell you about it, but actually live in it and if I ever had the chance I would jump at the opportunity to join in with them so fast that they might find themselves a hand missing.
The first series Tales from the Green Valley was set in a Welsh farmhouse in Tudor times andwas of twelve thirty minute long programmes and each covering a month of the farming life. Unfortunately due to Health and Safety restrictions they were not allowed to live at the farm but had to live in accommodation nearby.
But the joy of the Victorian period was that they could live and be the farmers of the day, even down to the animals and machinery and food. Ruth's domain was the house and dairy, while the lads Alex and Peter managed the farmwork with the help of specialist people such as the blacksmith, the printer, the ploughman, the beekeeper etc.
I think because it was so recent that the people advising on the use of the machinery and how things were done, were still using some of this equipment in the 1930's when my Dad was helping out on Charlie Well's farm just down the hill.
The only shame about it, was the fact that it was only 3 episodes long, admittedly of one hour in length but both SOH and myself thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to visit Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, where the series was filmed and I know they do courses there as well.
- I'm a celebrity anything
- Big Brother, celebrity or joe bloggs from the street.
- Dancing, Ice or Ballroom
- Celebrity Conductors
06 January 2009
Memories
Hog Day Afternoon prompted this post, when he wrote a comment on the Saturday Satire Post - The case for the Prosecution.
Years ago, Dad used to work as a Night Porter at Moore House Hotel in Aspley Guise, and he used to travel down to work at 11pm, which co-incided then with pub closing time and the local plods were out and about trying to catch drink drivers.
They duly flagged Dad down, with some excuse, and asked if he had had a drink.
Dad duly responded with yes, he had and was duly breathalysed.
This turned out to be negative, and the officers concerned were asking him what exactly he had drunk that evening, and Dad's response of a cup of coffee went down like a lead balloon with Bedfordshire's finest.
After a momentary silence, the officer said "when we asked if you had a drink tonight, we meant alcohol"
Dad simply looked at him and replied "you didn't specify that at the time, you asked if I had had a drink and I told you I had, you then didn't enquire what it was I drank. If you had asked the right questions you would have got the right answers."
The officers couldn't say very much, just told him to get on his way.
When he told Mum and I the following day, we laughed along with him. It was just the sort of dry humour he had and I could imagine his conversation with the Police Officers and their disappointment in thinking that he was driving after drinking
Years ago, Dad used to work as a Night Porter at Moore House Hotel in Aspley Guise, and he used to travel down to work at 11pm, which co-incided then with pub closing time and the local plods were out and about trying to catch drink drivers.
They duly flagged Dad down, with some excuse, and asked if he had had a drink.
Dad duly responded with yes, he had and was duly breathalysed.
This turned out to be negative, and the officers concerned were asking him what exactly he had drunk that evening, and Dad's response of a cup of coffee went down like a lead balloon with Bedfordshire's finest.
After a momentary silence, the officer said "when we asked if you had a drink tonight, we meant alcohol"
Dad simply looked at him and replied "you didn't specify that at the time, you asked if I had had a drink and I told you I had, you then didn't enquire what it was I drank. If you had asked the right questions you would have got the right answers."
The officers couldn't say very much, just told him to get on his way.
When he told Mum and I the following day, we laughed along with him. It was just the sort of dry humour he had and I could imagine his conversation with the Police Officers and their disappointment in thinking that he was driving after drinking
10 December 2008
Soothing
I have always found the smell of lavender soothing and calming.. particularly when I have a headache.. it seems to clear the head and soothe the soul.. so I grow it in my garden and so did Dad.
One of our regular visits was to the Norfolk Lavender Centre, Near King's Lynn and we would always come back with yet more varieties of the plant, some English some French but always Purple..with the odd occasional white one, but the purple ones give the best scent in my opinion.
Some would live through one Summer, and never return, others would grow on year on year into magnificant plants and I save the heads and dry them for recipes, for putting in bags in with the clean sheets etc. and crush it to release the heady scent of Summer once more. I still have some of the plants from when Dad was alive.
The fields around the Centre, in the height of Summer are fields of purple, and a sight to behold for even the most frequent visitors. The heads are harvested and the essential oils steamed out of them for use in the worldwide famous Norfolk Lavender range.
The Centre also includes a visitor centre, shop and a cafeteria and many of the foodstuffs sold include lavender heads as an ingredient. My first taste of lavender cake was here and it was lovely, though to be honest if you don't like lavender then there would be little point in using it in cakes, biscuits or other food stuffs.
I can thoroughly recommend a visit, even in Winter, for those in the region of it as they have some really great lavender products, and even some plants for sale - though it is best to get those in Spring time.
One of our regular visits was to the Norfolk Lavender Centre, Near King's Lynn and we would always come back with yet more varieties of the plant, some English some French but always Purple..with the odd occasional white one, but the purple ones give the best scent in my opinion.
Some would live through one Summer, and never return, others would grow on year on year into magnificant plants and I save the heads and dry them for recipes, for putting in bags in with the clean sheets etc. and crush it to release the heady scent of Summer once more. I still have some of the plants from when Dad was alive.
The fields around the Centre, in the height of Summer are fields of purple, and a sight to behold for even the most frequent visitors. The heads are harvested and the essential oils steamed out of them for use in the worldwide famous Norfolk Lavender range.
The Centre also includes a visitor centre, shop and a cafeteria and many of the foodstuffs sold include lavender heads as an ingredient. My first taste of lavender cake was here and it was lovely, though to be honest if you don't like lavender then there would be little point in using it in cakes, biscuits or other food stuffs.I can thoroughly recommend a visit, even in Winter, for those in the region of it as they have some really great lavender products, and even some plants for sale - though it is best to get those in Spring time.
18 November 2008
Just a Thought
During our weekend in Cornwall, about 10 days ago, we were chatting over a cup of tea/coffee/wine/mead (can't remember which one) and I can remember discussing Dad with SOH's oldest sister when she asked where he was. Now I can't remember how I usually speak of him, whether it is the present or past tense, so it flummoxed me (such a nice word) when she asked about him and I had to tell her that he died in 2002.
I know that when Mum died, Dad was keen to mention her likes/dislikes etc and whenever we went somewhere he would comment that 'your mum would have liked that' and it became normal to me to not to include her in conversations as though she were just out of sight and not mind. So naturally when dad died, I did the same thing with him and he often turns up in my conversations.
Is this common, how many people talk of their loved one's as though they were still with us rather than no longer of the living?
I know that when Mum died, Dad was keen to mention her likes/dislikes etc and whenever we went somewhere he would comment that 'your mum would have liked that' and it became normal to me to not to include her in conversations as though she were just out of sight and not mind. So naturally when dad died, I did the same thing with him and he often turns up in my conversations.
Is this common, how many people talk of their loved one's as though they were still with us rather than no longer of the living?
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