As the nights get longer and the days more chilly, it is indeed time to put away your sandals and reach instead for gloves and scarves. I knitted my fox scarf earlier in the year, so he has been enjoying his first outings. Like most foxes, he is both handsome and crafty. Me and Mr Cooper have recently enjoyed a couple of Friday nights out in Chichester (there and back on the bus) and it was when we were enjoying a pint in The Foundry (it's thirsty work, catching buses) we discovered that Mr Fox also finds it thirsty work, and that you have to watch your drink when he's around. So look out, Rowan, I bet your fox is a naughty one too. And be warned, Julie. Your Mr Fox is now knitted, and is awaiting assembly. Good job it hasn't been too cold yet!
As we settled into our room, I noticed that a picture on the wall wasn't straight. I went to put it right, only to find that it had been screwed onto the wall like that. And that sort of sums things up !
The Three Cups is a charming establishment, with a very cosy bar. Me and Mr Cooper enjoyed a drink by the fire, definitely without Mr Fox, before dinner. Just for a moment things looked a little awkward, as there was no booking at eight o'clock under the name Hofman. But then things all became happy again, as the waiter asked me if I was Sam's mum, as there was a booking under that name (he probably hadn't asked me earlier, as he probably thought I was Sam's older sister, or something like that....) So Mr Cooper and Sam's mum were taken to the best table in the restaurant, where we began the difficult choice of choosing what to have. Sometimes when eating out, the choice is sadly difficult, as there is not much on the menu that you are tempted by, but this choice was happily difficult, as we wanted to eat most of it! Luckily Sam had sent me a text earlier, which read 'U shud deffo have the beef' which made the main course choice an easy one. In the end, for the starters, the potted brown shrimps got my vote, and Mr Cooper opted for mackerel ceviche. I almost didn't manage to photograph the ceviche, as it began to disappear rather quickly!
The full description of the main course was 'Braised beef head to tail. Braised beef cheek and oxtail with chicken mousseline, noisette potatoes, shallots and charred Savoy cabbage heart and fried onion puree. My photo really does not do it justice, I blame the romantic lighting in The Cups for this. It was everything it should be, as was the entire evening. Big thanks to all of you, for looking after Sam's mum and Mr Cooper so well.
As the menu had changed just the day before, Sam joined us after the meal as he wanted our honest opinion of it all. Now here is a job I would be more than happy to do, it ticks so many of my boxes. The feedback we gave was 99.9% favourable, the last .1% could have been put down as my personal preference. Don't take my word for it, go and enjoy dining there yourselves. Just mention my recommendation when you book, so I can work my way towards qualifying for a free dinner!
Contrast and compare! Sunday morning was a wet one in Stockbridge. But never mind, we had a cooked breakfast to look forward to. I know presentation isn't everything, but it really does help! Sadly the poor presentation was backed up by eggs so rubbery (thank you very much, sir) that they would have bounced if dropped. I felt more inclined to throw them, but politely pushed them around the plate. Mr Cooper was equally disappointed by his 'Full English' which he was unable to finish. If he had thrown the sausage, serious injury to a nearby diner could have resulted! Next time we will be staying in another establishment, and hopefully the enjoying the whole experience.
We popped in to say 'hello and goodby' to Sam, as he was getting ready for the day. The Yorkshires looked amazing but Selsey beckoned and when we got there it was to find that the sun had come out.
Just one more burst of food-talk before shifting to the equally important world of art. We were excited to receive a parcel from niece Olivia and her husband Jon, who had recently enjoyed a belated honeymoon in Japan. One of their reasons for going there was to experience the cuisine, as they are both committed foodies (it must be a family trait). Olivia wrote that they had enjoyed some really amazing food, but that they thought the beer snacks in particular were extra special. So here we have grilled squid legs (tastier the more you chew), Smoked Shredded Squid and Salmon Jerky. Olivia says that they are Japan's answer to 'what goes with anything and everything alcoholic'. The only problem I can see is that as the parcel was addressed to John and Sam too, me are Mr Cooper are sadly going to have to share them!
For many years now I have been a fan of the Badger Press, where I have attended many printmaking courses. https://www.facebook.com/TheBadgerPress I have also hired the studio space when working on a series of prints. I was really excited when I noticed they were offering a weekend course exploring the technique of Reduction Linocut, and I booked my place with glee. Over the years, I have produced many lino-prints as it is a printmaking medium that I really love, but this way of producing the linocut is one which I need to learn. I did attend a day's workshop earlier in the year, and started a series of prints, but then moving house got in the way, and they remained unfinished.
When I got to The Badger Press things became even more exciting as it was to find that we were also going to learn another means of registration, called the 'Ternes Burton Pins Registration Method' This, to me, is as thrilling as receiving a parcel containing Japanese beer snack food!
In printmaking, each colour printed is usually from a separate printing block, and the term 'registration' just means means how you work it out so that each different block applies its colour/design in just the right place. This is a tricky aspect of printmaking.
This image below is of my workspace at the start of the day, as me and four others (Tina, Ruth Graham and Emma) start to produce our different designs. Jo Morley was our tutor, and she worked closely with each of us to ensure we managed to apply the process successfully to our very different ideas and designs. Jo is an excellent tutor as well as being very patient and tactful, and the five of us not only produced some great work, but had a lot of fun as we did so. Contact details have been exchanged, and I look forward to our next artistic meeting. Us artists really do need the company of other artists. I did notice Mr Cooper's eyes begin to glaze over later in the day, when I started to extol the virtues of the Ternes Burton Pins Registration Method! They un-glazed when he showed me highlights of The Rovers game that he had thoughtfully then saved to show me. I wonder how sparkly my eyes were then!
Here is my design, ready to be transferred to lino. At this point, I am thinking that the background, which will be the last colour to print, will be green, with perhaps some areas of blue.
At the end of the first day, I have printed two of my four colours, and am well on the way to completion. So much so that when I get home, I unearth my previously unfinished prints, hoping that I will have an opportunity to add more to them.
My original intention was green, but how could I resist purple instead?
I was really pleased with the result, which is unusual for me. And I was very pleased with the new registration system, and also the fact that there was time to add more to my other prints, woohoo!
My Staffordshire dogs happily gained two more colours, dark brown and red. All I need to do now is add a blue to the base, and then create an amazing wallpaper design to print on the background. As I am still studio-less, if I start printing on the dining table, I think it will help Mr Cooper to start emptying the shed which needs demolishing to make way for my studio. I will let you know of the progress in both cases!
I have talked a lot about food this week, with a little art thrown in for good measure. To me, cooking and art are very similar, where I enjoy the process of creating something for others to experience. In the case of food, it is definitely for others to enjoy. In the case of my art, I don't always expect others to enjoy/appreciate or even express interest in it, but am always pleased when they do. In fact, looking at my Staffordshire dog print, I can understand that not everyone will be rushing to hang one on their wall. But just wait till I have added the wallpaper!
So in the coming week, why not share a little food-love, as Olivia and Jon did with us. You don't have to seek out Grilled Squid Legs (Tastier the more you chew). Perhaps enjoy producing some homemade biscuits to take into work.
In this busy world of ours it can be all too easy to think we are 'far too busy' to create things, but the act of creating something is really essential for our own well-being.
So reach for that mixing bowl and put down those gadgets. I might even reach for some Ternes Burton registration pins as well as the butter and flour, but that is optional! See you all soon.
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