Deblyn

I like anything by Enya, also Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne, Eagles. I like listening to Buddhist chanting too, when I'm in the mood, finding it very relaxing. Usually doze off, though!

Yes, fox-hunting is an ancient tradition in Britain, but the devolved parliament in Scotland has banned fox-hunting with dogs. In the rest of the country, they could use drag hunting, using just the scent. I personally am anti-hunting, but we live in an area where there is a very old hunt still going, and they come out along the field at the back of my garden a few times a year. My daughter and I go and shout obscenities at them!! The pro-fox hunting lobby has taken hold of the centre stage, when most people want to protest about much wider issues, but thes issues aren't as emotive to people who live in the towns and cities as the fox-hunting debate. This lobby says they speak for the people of rural areas, but there are many many people in rural areas who are against hunting too.

I don't think it is just coincidence that my budgie fell off his perch and was acting very strangely when the tremor hit at 1 am this morning. I woke up at that time, and found him a bit distressed on the bottom of his cage, going round in circles. he's normally very quiet at night, but was making noises I'd never neard him make before. I thought he had had a stroke ( he's about 7-8 years old now), and didn't expect to see him alive this morning. Then when I heard the news, I realised maybe it was something to do with that. Not just a coincidence that I woke up then too, although I felt nothing from the tremor. Things like that happen to me! Glad to say that after a night in the bathroom to quieten hime down, he is back to normal and singing his heart out upstairs, bless him!

From my kitchen window I can see my lovely garden, up to the chicken enclosure at the top, with manic chickens and daft ducks happily getting on with what they do. Beyond that, a ploughed field, then the dairy cows, then the woods, with owls foxes badgers and deer. Lots of buzzards about just now, too. To the side of us is the dairy farm, dating back to the 1600's; the buildings are mellow brick, with tiled roofs. Out the front windows, I see a picture that hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. Directly opposite is the pub, dating back to the 1500's, and the church a little further up, slightly earlier in date. Then there is the village green, and a row of thatched cottages. The village is quintessentially English. The leaves are just starting to turn, and the conkers to fall, autumn veg from the garde, beginning to think about the first frost. have to take a torch when I go up the village at night for all my meetings, now. The evenings are cool and still, with lovely golden harvest moons at the moment. We regularly see several hot air balloon drifting lazily by in an evening; it must be pretty spectacular from up there. Starting to watch out for the best holly trees to pick a little from for Christmas. Birds lining up on the wires before their journeys to Africa for the winter - they'll all be gone soon. A wonderful time of year, when mother nature is at her best.

There was a huge rally in London yesterday, where over 400,000 people marched in protest at the government's attitude to rural issues - housing, poverty, employment, building, tourism etc. Rural communities in Britain feel very aggrieved at the way the government is ignoring their issues and worries and marched to raise awareness of this. The unrest stems from the government's handling of the foot and mouth crisis last year. The issue of fox-hunting has got involved with the wider picture, though, and there have been attempts to "hijack" the movement in favour of the pro-hunt lobby. I would like to think that Tony Blair will realise that this is a crisis waiting to happen, and not ignore it. I personally think that if he spent less time hanging on to the coat-tails of George Bush and being hell-bent on getting involved in a war with Iraq, then our country might be in better shape. He was elected to do this, but hasn't made much of a show so far. I'll get off my political soapbox for now. Thanks for reading!

There was a small earthquake in Britain this morning, around 1.30am. I have not heard what on the Richter scale yet, but it was enought o shake buildings. The police were inundated with 5,000 calls from people. It centred on the West Midlands of England and Wales. I experience one on Boxing Day of 1984/5, and it was an experience I wouldn't care to repeat. I woke up to see the wall shaking beside my bed. That was in Scotland. I realise that this is nothing compared to some parts of the world, but thought it was quite interesting anyway!

Best wishes to you Debbielee; look forward to your funny postings again! Cheers from Dorset from me to you.

The sequel is called "The Sea for Breakfast". At the moment I am about to start "Secret Tibet", about one man's travels through Tibet and the people he encounters.

Curry report! Bethany and I are both vegetarians, so we had vegetable korma; Ethan had chicken korma, and Julian had chicken tikka massala. The supermarket curries are very good these days, much better than they used to be. What I usually do is to make up a gallon or so of basic curry sauce and freeze it in 2 pint quantities. When you use it, you add which ever spices you want to make a paticular type of curry. It's very cheap, as the ingredients are onions, garlic, oil, water and tinned tomatoes and a couple of basic spices. It gives a very good base for curry making, and the hard work is done all ready for cooking. And the kitchen smells good too!

Hope you're feeling better Debbielee. the stove didn't breadk, we dismantled it to move it to tile underneath as we are laying a new floor in the kitchen. The paint looks fine, at least the little bit that is done behind the new pipes!! When all the preparation work is done I will get in and paint, but it is still major upheaval - after the floor is finsihed, the ceiling has to come down , rewiring done, and a new ceiling (tongue and groove wood, white painted) made and put up. My patience amazes me.

Brigid - 'course you're not stupid. a stupid woman is a contradiction in terms! Especially on this site! A take away meal is a take out you go and buy and rush home to try and keep it hot! the main ones here are fish and chips, curry and Chinese. We have a take away on birthdays, holidays, etc. It can work out expensive however, now that the children are getting older and eating more. For my birthday, I cooked rice in the afternoon, then we went to the supermarket in the evening and each chose a chilled curry to take home, heat up and put it with the rice. I cooked the rice myself as this saves quite a bit of money, and doing the meal this way is about one third of the cost of getting the whole meal as a take away. Hope this makes sense!!

Hello from England from me!

I just pottered around, having made up my mind not to feel obliged to do very much. Several friends popped in with cards and presents, and several phoned. Hubby was unable to take the day off work, but I got my favourite chocolates left in the litchen at breakfast time, and a take away curry for tea so I didn't have to cook in the evening. Still had to wash up as they were all watching a Star Wars film on Tv!! My present from hubby is some books from Amazon, which haven't arrived yet, so I've that to look forward to - several books and an audio cassete by Helen and Scott Nearing, some by Ralph Waldo Emmerson. There won't be much housework done the day they arrive, I can tell you!

These wormeries are very popular in this country at the moment - one of my neighbours has one, and I get regular updates on how his worms are progressing! He has a problem at the moment, though, with it going a bit smelly and sour, so I need to look out a magazine article I have on it for him to read. All our scraps go to the chickens and ducks, so I don't have enough to feed worms as well!

Thankyou all very much! My stove and I had a very happy birthday!!!

I've seen 4H mentioned several times on this site and others. Can someone explain about it to me please? Thanks.

My birthday is today -I'm 41, but don't feel it! The weather is so beautiful today I am pottering around in the garden taking it easey; the garden is full of butterflies playing in the sun, which is lovely, and all the fish are coming up to the top of the pond to swim in the sun. I've picked some beans, and am going to pick peppers in a minute. A lovely day!!!

You will all be very relieved to know that I fired up the Rayburn (stove) yesterday and it is back in perfect working order - thanks especially to Debbielee for her interest in this subject!! I celebrated by making 5 pound of plum chutney, 4 gallons of plum wine and 1 gallon of damson wine. Today I am going to make rhubard jam. After my birthday is when I start thinking about preparing for Christmas, so it's back just in the nick of time. Hooray!!!! (the dog and cat are happy too, and spent all afternoon yesterday lazing in front of it, getting in my way and getting splattered with plum chutney!)

I reckon the time it will take will be 2 - 3 weeks. I hope this won't wreck the system all together. Let me know if it will be too much of a problem, and I'll drop out as I don't want to mess it up for everyone else!

I belong to a couple of exchanges on other forums and really enjoy those. Ornaments wouldn't be too heavy to post over the deep blue sea, so please add my name to the list and I'll get my thinking cap on!

Glad you're enjoying it so far. When you've read that, I have the sequel to it, where she actually buys her own house on the island. I have read it now, and would be happy to send it on to you through the post - let me know if you would like it.

Hi Debbie, I'm still fairly new to this computer lark and never thought about checking on the web for tomatillo! My first instinct is to rach for a book off the shelf. Very few people (I can't think of anyone actually!) grow them here, but even if you just grew them for their gorgeous colour that would be enough - the eating is a bonus. I have a set of three books about recipes from generations of families that have won prizes in the state fairs with their produce, so will go and have a look at that too. Thanks for your help again much appreciated. Today, though, I should get my stove back this evening - keep your fingers crossed! So next week will be spent catching up on bottling, jam and pickles - can't wait! My friends think I am a little sad, but I don't; I love cooking and baking.

Take one large cauliflower, break into florets and steam until just done, adding in the green parts of the leaves, but omitting the stalks. Put on one side. Saute a large onion, finely chopped, with one clove of garlic, finely chopped, in two ounces of butter until soft, add the cauliflower pieces, salt and pepper and two pints of vegetable stock (or chicken, if you are not a vegetarian). Simmer until cauli is soft, but not breaking, over a gentle heat, say 20 minutes. Leave to cool for a while, then blend in a liquidiser. Return to pan, add double (heavy) cream to taste, adjust seasoning, and heat through (do not boil or it will curdle due to the cream). Serve hot with chopped chive or parsley garnish and lots of home-made bread. The soup can be cooled and frozen before the cream is added. this is not a recipe from a book, but one which I made up over the years. Other things can be added or subracted as you like. Nutmeg is nice on the top for serving (just a wee sprinkle, though), or milk can be used instead of the cream. Hope you enjoy it if you decide to have a go.

Many thanks indeed - lots to do if they ever get as far as the kitchen! I would have to try the salsa without the poultry as I'm vegetarian. Asparagus won't be a problem soon, as last week I pootted up 167 asparagus seedlings I grew from seed. I am left with a few less than that now as the blessed pigeons have been pulling them from their pots!! I like the idea of adding them ti chilli as well. I knew someone here would come up with an answer for me!

Personally, I am not a fan of the monarchy, but that's another question. I'm not being picky, but you said something that is often said by mistake - the monarchy rule England Scotland Wales and Ireland, not just England. Being brought up in Scotland, I really notice it when someone makes that mistake, and feel I have to point it out, so please don't take offence, as none was intended!