Colours of The Bridge

Did you watch the second series of The Bridge?  Such a gripping story (despite the many absurdities!) but it was perhaps the colours that fascinated me the most.  The greens, the mustardy yellows, the greys.  Such clever styling and scene setting. 

I yelled "NO!" at the tv screen at the end of the final episode.  Apparently a third series is being filmed so Saga and Martin must be together again - please!!  

Retro Sweetcorn

We don't need sweetcorn dishes.  In fact, does anybody NEED sweetcorn dishes?! No, I thought not.  But I couldn't leave them on the charity shop shelf, I just couldn't.  I knew if I did, I would be kicking myself for not getting them and if I went back, they would be gone.  So I bought them - both boxes!  

I'm guessing they were probably a wedding present and have been tucked away in a sideboard since 1975, brought out just the once when the gift-giver came round for dinner.  They were made by the Devon glass manufacturer Dartington and designed by Frank Thrower.  We visited the factory a few years ago and I remember seeing, in a display of objects made by Dartington over the years, an avocado dish and remembering how exotic avocados were.  In the early '80s, back when I was a vegetarian, my family had a Christmas meal in a restaurant.  They all tucked in to the traditional roast and I was served half an avocado with some melted cheese in the hole left by the stone.  Glamorous!

Ahh, I'm looking forward to the summer when I can give these dishes a second lease of life.  We eat ours doused in butter and soy sauce so actually perhaps we DO need a purpose-built dish to contain all those tasty liquids!

 Vegetable Broth with Chestnuts

Winter Kale and Barley Soup

Sparking up Bishty Blog again! 

The weather has been ridiculously wet so far this year and our food has been liquidy too, or rather it's been soupy.  Of the virtuous and hearty variety.  Very January!

Both recipes are from the Waitrose Winter Harvest 2014 booklet which came with its latest magazine.  This one is a keeper, so many delicious recipes.  

They are a doddle to make and packed with taste.  The veg and chestnut broth called for just 500ml of vegetable stock but I doubled that as it seemed far too little.  I think next time I will add more carrot too, just for a bit more colour against the white of the potato, celeriac and parsnip. The kale soup has 25g of pearl barley in it.  I have never cooked with it before and thought it seemed far too little but it really swells up and is very visible in the finished product. 

Next up, Romano Peppers with Spicy Couscous............

Ahh the freedom of being able to go out without a small person in tow.

For example, when I went to Wisley:

I didn't have to visit the alpine greenhouses to look for the cat 

that likes to lie in the sun.

Nobody needed my help in the adventure playground.

Nobody needed my hand for balance as they walked on walls.

 

I didn't have to explain that although they are included in the 

children's lunchbox selection display, jellybeans are not a fruit 

so choose something different please! 

I didn't have to visit the soft play area.

I didn't feed the ducks.

I didn't have a pretend tea party in the summerhouse.

Nobody nagged me for an icecream.

Oh how I missed her!

I'm inclined to agree

I didn't watch the TV series but when I saw The Hairy Dieters book in the display of new stock at our library, I thought I'd take a look.  

It has plenty of photos of inviting looking food and many tips on how to slightly adjust your behaviour and tastes so that you can quietly lose weight without feeling you are on a rigid diet.  All well and good!  

The Chewy Cranberry and Apricot Bites looked tasty and the cake tin needed refilling.  The ingredients included a delicious sounding mix of almonds, coconut, dried apricots, dried cranberries, sultanas, maple syrup, apple juice and porridge oats.  

Well, the recipe did say that it would become "thick and porridgy" and it was not wrong!  Oh dear, oh dear.  

My husband's verdict:  "I will never eat that ever again."

The book has been returned to the library!

Another London at Tate Britain

I only went to see Another London because entry was being offered at a discounted rate when bought with a ticket to the Pre-Raphaelites exhibition, my real reason for visiting (more on that later!). For me, it was by far the most enjoyable of the two displays.  

Waiting for the bus 1954 Marc Riboud

It is a collection of black and white photographs taken between 1930 and 1980 by foreigners either living or visiting London.  The smog, the Pearly Kings, the hats, the tailored outfits, the gloves, the east end, the west end, the lack of traffic, the punks, the cassette recorder.... Oh, it was just fabulous! 

Pearly King collecting money for the Empire Day 1935  Dora Maar

I'm far too nervous of taking photos of strangers but I am going to make an effort from now on to see the world with a visitor's eye.  What might look mundane today may well look fascinating in the future.

This exhibition ends on 16 September so be quick.

I blinked

In the days when I was pushing a pram, it was almost impossible to walk up the road without a middle-aged or elderly lady stopping to peer in to see who lay amongst the blankets.  All would tell me to enjoy these days, how quickly they would pass, like the blinking of an eye.  Sleep-deprived me couldn't wait for the days to tick by.

Now, nearly five years on, my little girl has started school.  I've passed her on to the education system and most of her waking hours will now be spent in the classroom rather than with me.  

There was no hoped for fourth, third, second or even one more baby to take out in that pram and I have now turned in to one of those women who stops to peer.  "Enjoy these days" I tell the new mums "they're gone in the blink of an eye."