Thursday

Had a really busy day: lots of marking (it's that time of year at Uni), Ali was painting, on-line exam board with Kent University, dealing with papers about our solicitors (who have been shut down by the Law Society!), etc., etc., so not an inventive evening.

Gammon steak, potatoes roasted in duck fat, peas, parsley sauce.

Wednesday

Later at work than I wanted to be (but a really interesting seminar from Peter Taylor-Gooby), so Ali's cooking!

Spaghetti Bolognese (and a rather nice, though quite cheap Claret: Chateau Canada).

[Disappoiningly, the wine turned out to be corked (only the 2nd bottle I've had that this has happened to, despite an adult lifetime of wine-drinking), still there was plenty more in store: Ch. Bennyt rules ...]

TUESDAY

2 for 1 night at Pizza Hut!

(And it took an hour to arrive! Driver said it was because of an accident on the way -- unbelieveable! I feel a boycot of PH coming on!)

Monday dinner

Smoked haddock risotto (un-dyed smoked haddock, arborio rice, onions, garlic, fish stock, peas, cream, herbs) YUM!

Sunday Evening Meal ...

Last night's meal:

Amuse:    Little smoked salmon & cream cheese rolls.

Starter:    Home-grown asparagus with a soft-poached duck egg.

Main:      Pan-fried duck breast with Jersey potatoes, roast beetroot, purple-sprouting broccoli, red wine sauce.

Cheese:  Cheshire, Osau Iraty (basque sheep's-milk).

Dessert:  Brioche bread & butter pudding, custard.

Wine:      Heidseck Monopole Blue Top Champagne, Wine Society Pauillac 2006, Riversaltes Ambre.

New Beginnings ...

I've decide to revitalise this blog a little. In future it will be - predominantly, at least - about food and drink.

Sometimes it will be about restaurant experiences; sometimes about my cooking at home.

I wish I'd taken pictures ...

Cooked a great meal on New Year's Eve:

• White onion soup with a parmesan crisp
• CArpaccio of beef with truffle oil
• Smoked salmon mousse with smoked salmon, caviar, frozen cucumber and pea shoots
• Braised partridge, root vegetables, broccoli
• Cheese (camenbert, wensleydale, manchego with home-made membrillo)
• mini trifle
• steamed lemon sponge with saffron & honey ice cream

It WAS nice!

Goodbye

I think I'm done with blogging. My life is so boring ...

This isn't really the case, but my back is still being difficult and I'm now waiting for surgery ...

Back to the office ...

Spent today sorting-out teaching locations for next term. The University isn't really very good at this, so it's something that (often) has to be dealt with at Dept level (a BIG problem is that departments and schools hang on to teaching accommodation - even when they don't much use it).

Lots of other stuff to do as well, getting teaching materials ready for the colleagues who are covering some of my work next week.

It's cold today, but not as windy as yesterday.

2012

I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy year ...

I go to see the orthopaedic surgeon next week - hopefully, he'll schedule treatment soon ...