Back in August I made my first attempts at making chutney. At the time I was trying to use up ripe fruit as I knew I'd be away for several days on a business trip. Fast forward to now and I've essentially ended up with shelves and boxes covered in jars of various chutneys and vegetable based jams. So what happened? Well the tomato crop was good. It was way better … [Read more...] about So Much Chutney and Other Preserves
Daniel Craig After James Bond
Daniel Craig was James Bond for 15 years. His face, his movements, his style became synonymous with Ian Fleming's best known character. But he is no longer James Bond. He will never take up the mantle of 007 on the big screen ever again. So the new advert for Belvedere vodka is a big departure and is, to put it mildly, very different to the Daniel Craig we are used to … [Read more...] about Daniel Craig After James Bond
Preserving Fruit as Chutney
I've always liked chutney. When I was a child my mother used to make a "no cook" apple chutney from the apples in the orchard. We always had way more apples than we knew what to do with, so she'd make lots of different things with them during the season. The "no cook" chutney was a big hit, though, as it was just so simple. Unfortunately she's misplaced the recipe. I've … [Read more...] about Preserving Fruit as Chutney
Rutger Hauer’s Monologue in Blade Runner
Probably one of the top 10 most iconic scenes in 20th century cinema. Rutger Hauer plays an incredibly violent character in Ridley Scott's 1982 film "Blade Runner". Harrison Ford might have been the headliner, but Hauer steals the scene. The scene, which features a powerful soundtrack by Vangelis, is quite beautiful in the context of the film. Fun fact - Hauer … [Read more...] about Rutger Hauer’s Monologue in Blade Runner
Fresh Produce From the Garden!
It's the beginning of August, so it's a real bumper time in the garden. I'm already onto my 3rd round of carrots, which I'm hoping will be ready in the next couple of weeks. The lettuce, which I planted in one of the raised beds, have gone a little wild, but are still edible. At the moment the tomatoes are ripening, as are the peppers and chillis. So in practical … [Read more...] about Fresh Produce From the Garden!