I need to get some serious scoffing done.

This morning I noticed that my big freezer had iced and consequently switched itself off (there must be hundreds scrapped each year, simply because people think they've gone kaput, when all they need is to be defrosted and they work fine again). So it was a rush to pack all my Coleman X-Treme and Icy-Tek coolboxes with everything that was in there.

Re-packing after the defrost and I've got four freezer racks of fish: bass, bream, turbot, brill, plaice, cod, pollack and ling. Three shoulder of pork joints, about half a dozen packs of steak, various cuts of pork, lamb, chicken etc. Not to mention six Morrison's curries (the good ones), asparagus, mash, peas, gravies and other sundries. I even found six packs of Parmesan, various pasta sauces and pizza bases.

I don't think I'll be buying much between now and Christmas. The only problem with the fish is it's all vacuum-sealed in packs of 2 or 3 and now Emma and Jon have got their own gaff, I'm only cooking for meself.

Have you considered opening a Wincantonshire food bank?

They're the only fooking banks both in numbers opening and clients, that are thriving around here. Unfortunately they can't handle fresh, let alone frozen foods

cod'ead wrote:They're the only fooking banks both in numbers opening and clients, that are thriving around here. They are also thriving up here in your old stomping ground. Another Tory success story.

cod'ead wrote:They're the only fooking banks both in numbers opening and clients, that are thriving around here. They are also thriving up here in your old stomping ground. Another Tory success story.

Tried a red Lillet this week.
La Senora managed to find some at the Leeds branch of Gerry's (*).
Very nice ... I can only describe it being like a slightly herby port, more a digestif than an aperitif (oooh, get him) and very enjoyable.
Campari I'm already familiar with but I'll keep an eye open for St Raphael & Pontarlier.
Thanks for the tip.

I have recently also become quite partial to La Senora's home-infused Sloe Vodka, with chilled Schweppes tonic.(**)


(*) When we lived in London, Gerry's in Old Compton Street was my favourite shop in the whole world.
(**) The home infusing of the vodka took three years ... well, I say "took" three years, it was more "forgotten about" for three years on the cool, dark, spider-ridden shelf at the top of the cellar steps. During a tidy-up it came to light, so she strained it off and it's gorgeous.

Sorry mate but that just conjours up visions too nauseous to mention

Ah.
Maybe think of it pronounced as "Lillay" ... that might help.

Tried another aperitif this weekend.
Called "Cynar", it's Italian and made from an extract of artichokes.
I have no idea how it got into the house in the first place, I didn't buy it and my first impression is not that encouraging ... it's a bit sour/bitter and not a flavour I've experienced before except that a background flavour reminds me of a medicine I had as a kid when I had dysentery.
I had it neat but the instructions on the bottle say it should always have ice.
I will try it again but with ice and soda.

Lined-up for trying after that is "Bitterol" (another mystery visitor to the drinks cupboard) but I'll give it a shot.

Whilst reading last night, the glass at my elbow contained rum, "The Versailles Still", a Demerara pot-still, distilled 1984 and bottled from the wood by those gods at Bristol Spirits.
Very light, citrussy and fragrant with a touch of spiciness, although it spent 16 years in oak it's not over-vanilla-ed and has almost none of the sticky caramel flavour of most rums.
Yum.

I have become very friendly with a young lady who owns her own cafe/restaurant thingymajig in my home town.
I have been inundated with home made steak pies, chicken and mushroom pies, lasagna's etc etc.
Very handy when u can't be @rsed to cook for yourself.
All freebies as well, for services rendered.

Gerry's is amazing. There's a rather fab coffee and tea shop just down Old Compton Street (just around the corner from Dean Street) that's worth a mention if you're in the area. However much they try to clean it up, trendify it, franchise it and sanitise it, there are still hangouts of small, independent shops in Soho, and they're often absolute gems.

Generally: tried my first mint julep recently – not normally a whisky drinker, but that's nice.

Sticking with the being lazy theme I have been using a fair amount of Aldi's Four Seasons frozen vegetable medleys.
Not usually a fan of frozen veg but this brand is definitely passable.