Saturday saw us setting out for Peterborough, to visit Mum. We have friends who can direct us around the countryside using teashops as references. (Just turn left then, after the Copper Kettle, amazing scones there!) Mr Cooper and I can do the same, but with pubs. Saturday midday found us entering the Stratton Arms for a little light refreshment (Take a right on the 2nd roundabout on the Brackley bypass heading northwards, then left for Turweston. Hot pies and filled rolls on the bar, 4-5 beers to choose from, and always a friendly welcome)
Mr Cooper can be seen rounding the corner, hot pies on his mind……………….
The Green Donkey cookery book is really about to begin. 3 years ago, my research started with making 3 different mincemeat recipes, and asking my extended family for feedback. This year, I will use that information to make 2 types of mince pies, and create an illustration based on one of them.
My ideas are now beginning to unfurl. Read on in the weeks to come to be amazed and delighted.
The first thing that will amaze you is the way that my family always used to decorate our mince pies. But firstly, make the mincemeat.
As well as mince pies featuring in the first illustration, there will also be the Christmas Tree Fairy. When I asked Mum if I could borrow her, Mum said I could have her, if she hadn't already thrown her away. Luckily for me and the Fairy, she was still in the box of Christmas decorations, a little bored as she hadn't seen the daylight since 2002.
So this year she will be back at the top of the tree, and also as a big part of my first illustration.
Here she is, a little battered but still beautiful ( a bit like me, really)
And don't worry, Si and Mark, she belongs to all 3 of us. She can travel around to adorn trees in turn.
I did do a little shopping for Christmas presents whilst with Mum, but also made some impulse buys which had nothing to do with Christmas, but more to do with my love of kitsch food, and my boys.
Could it be that Sam is my favourite, as I bought him the most wonderful candy pizza?
The good things is that Sam is still able to learn from experience, his mind is not closed. He told me yesterday that he had eaten it in 2 sittings, but had thought that might have been a bad idea.
A thought that was later confirmed by how sick it had made him feel.
I have always loved dolls house food, and love the tale of 'Two Bad Mice', by Beatrix Potter. And this love has grown to encompass plastic food, made to resemble (closely or otherwise) the real thing.
One of my most favourite false food photos I have taken was of a plate of plastic sushi.
This was found on the 'Bullet Train', which is an exhibit at the National Railway Museum in York.
http://www.nrm.org.uk/ This train ('Series 0 Shin-kansen ) is the only one outside Japan.
Moving away from museum culture to general knowledge culture, Sunday found the three of us parking in Ashton, where we were looking forward to lunch in the Chequered Skipper pub.
The village of Ashton was re-built in 1900 by the Rothschild family for the estate workers.
It is so picturesque and posh, as can be seen below.
Was the colour scheme chosen to complement the peacocks, or vice versa?
We did have a lovely lunch. Pork for Mum, and rib of beef for me and Mr Cooper, which had been slow-roasted for 9 hours. Mum found the parsnips to be so over-cooked as to be inedible. Luckily, I swapped mine for hers to avoid complaint, and discovered them to be amazing pork crackling instead!
Last bit of Ashton village knowledge. One side of the pub sign has remained unchanged for years.
Here is the 'Chequered Skipper', depicted in painted nails.
So after a brief whirl of gaiety in East Anglia, we returned for a couple of normal days (daytime TV and ebay sales, Mr Cooper, sinks and sewing, me) before Mr Cooper's birthday, on Wednesday. (Belated birthday wishes, Ella, hope you had a great day too!)
What did we do to celebrate? Obviousley, as I am over 50 and Mr Cooper over 60, we went for a long walk dressed in sensible walking gear, with Mr Cooper's great friend, Kevin.
Mr Cooper met Kevin on his first day as a teacher, and Kevin's first day as head boy there. They both decided the day ahead looked pretty dreary, and went to the pub instead.
If we had all lived closer, they could have met me sitting in a pub during lesson times, with one of my teachers. (Blazer off, of course.)
It's those things we have in common that attracted us to each other, all those years ago.
We set off early to walk half the Octagon walk, starting from Walderton, walking anti-clockwise to Compton. Mr Cooper and Kev were completing the other half the following day.
The weather was kind, and the counryside beautiful. We met a handful of fellow walkers, and beaters from a local family shoot.
One unexpected delight was turning a corner to find the tiny and unusual church in North Marden.
Although isolated, it was unlocked. Very plain but perfect, with a wonderful roof. We particulary liked the semi-circular ( aspinal) end to the chancel, being one of only 6 like this in England.
Here we had an excellent light-bite lunch with beer.
I can seriously recommend the warm quiche, coleslaw and salad.
Than back to The Gables to park the vehicles, and do our last long walk of the day. Down to the Traveller's Joy for more beer (Seafarers for Mr Cooper, London Pride for Kevin and myself)
As well as drinking responsibly (we didn't drive again that day) we know how good beer is for us, being crammed with B vitamins. When we got back, Kevin made sure we had another of our '5 a day' by introducing us to a Sloegasm. Put a good shot of sloe gin in a flute, then top up with Prosecco.
Berries and grapes, only 3 of our '5 a day' to go now.
Next week, more walking, possibly less beer, but almost certainly another Sloegasm.
I hope you are looking forward to the weekend, and the next week ahead. Always remember to drink responsibly, sitting down is a good way forward, I find! Have fun, and see you all next week.
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