Theft Alert In The Poitou Charentes – Someone has stolen the Sun! Thursday 28th May 2009

I tumbled out of bed in the early hours and fumbled around closing all the windows. No easy feat wandering about over three floors with eyes glued shut.
There was a chilly breeze edging its way under the duvet and the ambient temperature was decidedly uncomfortable.
When I came downstairs this morning, I wistfully ran my hand over my very cold Aga and toyed with the idea of switching it back on.
So, own up who’s taken it? – Scotland, Iceland, Russia?…………..you’ve got until midday to turn it back over to us in France. We’ve got wine to grow, and barbecues to organise – and I simply refuse to drag those wooden steamer chairs back into the barn if it rains. They weigh a ton! Clock’s ticking, midday’s the deadline. Actually, make that 2,30. Just remembered the local gendarmerie shuts for lunch…………………

How do you write a book?- Tuesday 19th May 2009

As I don’t have J. K. Rowling’s e mail address, I guess I will have to answer the question myself. Unless some kind reader can throw some pearls of wisdom on my query that is.
I know it’s a familiar model: Stephen Clarke’s A Year In T’he Merde , Joanne Harris’ Chocolat and Peter Mayle’s A Year In Provence

Yes, it’s all been done before, and not just by these three writers, but as we all know there’s nothing new under the sun. It is for this reason that I want to write about my life here in France. I could spout out all sorts of lofty artistic sentiments here, but the truth is, my family are nagging me to death to write it. I want a quiet life, so I’m just going to fall in with it.

As the summer evenings are so light, I have put aside time in the week to make a start – Well. to move on from the start I have already made.
I think I will take Elisabeth Winkler’s 10 minute rule to heart – starting each time seems to be hardest thing. Concentration is another – mine is about as long as a goldfish. Unsurprising with my surname I suppose.

17th May 2009 – Retro Cooks – Jocasta Innes

This month’s deadline caught me unaware. I was stuck as to who to write about. Feeling off my game, I haven’t even opened a cookery book for about 6 weeks. I have cooked rarely, and discovered the diet of my past convalescences: Heinz Tomato Soup, Cheerios, tea and biscuits, and yoghurt. Sadly, I was unable to get hold of any Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles, but improvised with fruit jellies instead.
Small wonder that I lost my inspiration for my food writing.
I rallied today and rooted around in the attic and came across Jocasta Innnes – well her books at least. She will make a fine retro cook this month I feel. She’s not a bad interior designer either.

Back To It!

Where did all that time go?
Two weeks in the UK, a visit to Southern Spain and North Africa, and illness or two, a few articles and here we are – with a very sadly neglected blog!
Never easy to write when you are not feeling on top of your game.
Anyway, feeling match fit once again, so here’s hoping there will be something of worth to read in the next few days……………………………

Saturday 21st March. Quick Eats – Rugby’s On.

Not a day for cooking – drinking yes, at least for some members of the household. Wales V Ireland. To show our even handed approach to our confidence of winning, we have invited Nigel, who is of Irish descent. He has brought Guinness, cakes and red wine. – Something for everyone, win or lose. Cymru am byth.

Friday 20th March 2009 – Writing Rules – OK?

Today’s blog is going to to be Twitter-like – Very short. Loads to do.
My writing habit has slowly developed, and the daily attention I give it is really paying off.
My inspiration has come from Winkler’s Writing Rules. Sound advice from Real Food Lover. Read, digest and action. Simple. That’s it.

Thursday 19th March 2009. Blogging – Putting off the Inevitable.

I had a flash of inspiration this morning – rare admittedly.
I was pondering the odds of a burglar having broken in to my unlocked office in our coach house – and having made off with my numerous plastic boxes – previously mentioned and containing my entire year’s business paperwork – thus preventing me from continuing with the annual ordeal of organising myself for my merciless accountant.
I then weighed this up against the same burglar having to make a choice between that or stealing one of my two unlocked cars on the drive – both with the keys in the ignition (Aside from my main theme , I guess you are picking up that crime is pretty non existent here)
After making my first life saving coffee of the day, I checked on both these theoretical incidents, and found that neither had occurred.
On the upside, I have still got transport to pick my husband up from the airport this Friday – on the downside, I have to get on with my paper chase game today – again.
Here’s where the inspiration came in.
I am being cajoled from all sides to “concentrate on my writing” – Top idea!
So here I am, duly doing as advised and knocking out today’s blog post – yet further and further delaying the main event.
Still though, what happens if no-one comes along to steal the precious plastic boxes……………………………….

Wednesday 18th March . A Million Thongs………….

Oh, come on. You didn’t honestly think I was about to emblazon an image of THAT on my blog! I’m not sure that my male readership is that strong at the moment.
I was merely referring to the amusing “typo” I made when e mailing someone recently. I was intending to try and break the land speed record for writing and made an error, which read “Must dash, a million thongs to do…………”
My eagle -eyed recipient was quick to point this out , but I feel this small nuance should become my mantra – I seem to spend so much of my time running around trying to do more than is humanly possible.
A friend, not known for their early rising once commented that I achieved more things while they slept in than was scientifically possible. I took that as a great compliment. (On a completely unrelated note – the French expression for lie in is “Gras Matinee” Fat Morning – How delightfully explicit!)
So what’s making me run around today?
Part of my multi tasking brief is to look after our small but perfectly formed property renovation business. I am definately the hands off type when it comes to this, but my long suffering brother in law Paul is dragging me along to the builder’s merchants at Cholet today to pay for some materials. It’s a kind of B&Q operation and it is about 50 kilometers away – suffice to say they discount everything quite heavily, but as a consequence don’t hold trade accounts, like the local ones. So, I am the cheque book of this morning’s operation – oh yes, and supplier of yummy snacks from the fabulous boulangerie next door there. My brother in law is working on a personal challenge – trying to equal the value of the materials bill with his order for the late morning snack. He’s doing rather well. (Note to self: Ensure sufficient funds in business account)
Anyway, must dash – a million……………..you know the rest…………..

Monday 16th March 2009

Here we are again at the start of another week. I hate Mondays. Really hate them. There is nothing that could induce me to say that I like any aspect of them.Except maybe my breakfast this morning – porridge and all the extras that I throw in. Nuts, dried fruit, stem ginger, banana, evaporated milk – low fat of course..Eat your heart healthy, that’s what I say.

Sunday 15th March 2009

I have my own personal Jiminey Cricket. He masquerades as my husband. He is admittedly, rather too corpulent to sit on my shoulder, but nevertheless he is forever whispering in my ear. His usual chant involves nagging me to make more entries in my blog. My retort is often based on the “quality not quantity” principle. As ever, annoyingly, he is right. So, in an attempt to get into the swing of writing on a more frequent basis, I will try and write a brief diary entry on the days I am not penning a major blog overture.I am very grateful to Elisabeth Winkler’s insightful tips on how to start to write a piece – she suggests setting a timed slot of ten minutes to one side to start the process – it is simple but effective, and just about the right length for a diary entry.
Thank you Elisabeth.