0800 and just back from my constitutional. Thought I'd better report in on my blog - am I becoming addicted? First off, a photo;-
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| 'Couple' by Sylvia Cozens |
Well God bless little Nigel and his recipe book. No overt signs of food poisoning yet and the Porterhouse steak rubbed with olive oil before cooking and with lemon juice on to eat was great. That's one recipe to store, along with Friday night fillet and chips from Big Gav so 2/7 of the eating week is covered.
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| That first meal in full. |
OK, so The Last Supper was more significant, but then JC didn't have to do the barbecuing.
I slept really well last night, woke up at 2200 in front of the TV when an immense attack of cramp in the left calf woke me up from my post-prandial dozing. I felt like Stephen Jones but doubted whether I'd find him at that time of night. Straight off to bed then and slept through to 0645, getting up only for a pee at 0230. Sorry about all the detail of my nocturnal emissions, but these become important to the older man. The problem was that, having woken, I laid awake planning my menu for this evening. No saucy dreams of heaving breasts and buttocks for me, just a nagging feeling that I'd no idea as to what to cook for John and Aime. Little Nigel came to my rescue right away (he wasn't with me I hasten to add!) and it looks like an omelette (Je vous propose....) if I can get some Moa iggs in Pak n'Save.
Well the big day has arrived for New Zealand, growing euphoria and beer sales herald the Opening Ceremony and ABs v Tonga tonight. (Interruption, Welsh National Anthem on radio, so have become erect which makes typing on a laptop difficult. It seems that 'My Hen Laid an Haddock' is the anthem that the various choirs find the most difficult to perform out of the 20 nations present. If they sod it up on Sunday there may be rioting in the stands.) The programme promises the biggest fireworks display in NZ history, which is probably 3 bangers, a Catherine wheel and 3 rockets fired from a Monteith's beer bottle. Add in the inevitable Finn Brothers concert and the house is rocking. By the way I'm offering a spot prize for the sighting (hearing?) of the first Crowded House track during a televised game in the UK.
The press is inundated with photos and stories about RWC.. Front page of the Arts and Entertainment pull out section of the Dommy P. yesterday featured a ballerina in a tutu up on points holding a rugby ball above her head to celebrate Wellington's Festival of Carnivale. I thought this was a bit over the top until I realised that the young lady in question was wearing white and a closer inspection revealed a striking resemblance to one of the England locks.
Right, will give it a rest here as today is domestic day before J & A arrive in the early evening. I'm off shopping and will report back later - hope to have a good photo for you of something I spotted yesterday.
1145 and back from the shops, mission accomplished and critical meltdown of the Ballingall exchequer avoided. I felt quite responsible pushing my trolley and consulting my shopping list. (No quartered bits of A5 a la Vera Brand for me mate, oh no - I have a little pad in the kitchen (thanks John) on which to jot down my requirements as they enter my slightly addled brain.) I now realise why Mary gets ratty with me in Tescos as I flit from commodity to commodity choosing whatever takes my fancy. For me now it's total discipline (I even ignored the pie department - what dedication). I suspect that a computer generated, spreadsheet based, pseudo-automatic ordering system might evolve, or is that too nerdy even for me? I won't bore you with what I bought but beer seemed to feature highly on the list and I thought this display was worth a photo:-
1145 and back from the shops, mission accomplished and critical meltdown of the Ballingall exchequer avoided. I felt quite responsible pushing my trolley and consulting my shopping list. (No quartered bits of A5 a la Vera Brand for me mate, oh no - I have a little pad in the kitchen (thanks John) on which to jot down my requirements as they enter my slightly addled brain.) I now realise why Mary gets ratty with me in Tescos as I flit from commodity to commodity choosing whatever takes my fancy. For me now it's total discipline (I even ignored the pie department - what dedication). I suspect that a computer generated, spreadsheet based, pseudo-automatic ordering system might evolve, or is that too nerdy even for me? I won't bore you with what I bought but beer seemed to feature highly on the list and I thought this display was worth a photo:-
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| Display at Pak n'Save Paraparaumu |
Yes folks, it's a rugby stadium created from packs of Heineken, complete with posts, floodlights and beer bottle players, most of whom seem more mobile than Mike Tindall (The Knobber Royale). Who said this country is rugby obsessed?, but isn't that marvellous! Everybody is talking about the RWC and a lot of people have said that Sarf Afrika v. Wales is the pick of the weekend's fixtures, and we'll be there! Only seen a few overseas supporters in Ppm (=Para(squared)oooooooomoooooo) from hereon, but most are arriving in Auckland over the next 48 hours so there should be a reasonable influx soon. Best shot on TV yesterday was a bunch of Frog supporters complete with berets (I suspect that customs confiscated their cocks - very painful, but one must make a sacrifice). One of them was a huge bloke, a complete character, just like our mate Michel or the madman with the hunting horn. This poor bloke was introduced to NZ cuisine by a helpful reporter who gave him a traditional Sausage Sizzle (a rather dodgy, possibly pork-based product wrapped in a slice of white bread). Monsieur gamely sunk his teeth into it, looked slightly shocked and disappeared stage left crying moutarde, moutarde ( at least I think that was it, it certainly started with m and ended in rde.) Blimey, international linguistic jokes .... where is this blog going to? The same bloke was later shown being squeezed through the door of the loo on his rented campervan by his mates who were laughing fit to pis-pis. Whether the two incidents were related is not clear! Another item in the paper this morning features a Taff by the name of Barrie-John Partridge who has brought his dad's ashes along to watch the Wales games. (Very strange, why didn't his dad use an ashtray for his dog-ends like everyone else? .... oops it's getting surreal again) Barrie-John has got his dad's ashes in one of those Gog ornaments and will be taking Barrie-David with him to see all the matches. The tight-fisted bastard has sold his dad's tickets to some mates - bloody disrespectful I call it!
Anyway, shopping completed and the beer fridge has been re-commissioned for the duration.
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| That beer fridge in full |
You will observe that I am heeding the advice to drink sensibly in that it is not completely full, but then re-inforcements can be purchased on Saturday morning should the All Blacks' success, or lack thereof, against Tonga drive us to drink.
Right, time for lunch here, think I'll give the garlic marinated New Zealand green-lipped mussels a bashing, the healthy option as ever.
Lunch and afternoon nearly over and a very productive p.m. In addition to my marinated mussels I had an avocado with cold smoked chicken (which I bought this morning in the hope that Amie might eat it). Then I did some housework, wiping down the inside window sills which were a bit dusty after the renovations, although to be fair, Doug's men had made a good job of clearing up. I just realise that ultimately they will need to meet Mary's demanding standards so I may as well get it right now. A quick hooooover around and I'm all ready for my visitors this evening. Then I had a visit from the local computer geek by the name of Mark who has upgraded us to a wireless network so that the iPad will work here, as well as John's work computer. He was a charming guy, lives just around the corner and seems very willing to help. He set up my new email account and we had a good natter about IT in NZ and in the UK (what do I know about it? - I just bullshitted). The cost of the set up (including the router) was $150 which seemed a good investment. He called the router a rowter (like the yanks) and seemed amused that I insisted on referring to it as a rooter ( as per Her Gracious Majesty's English don't you know.) The issue with the psychedelic screen seems to have resolved itself. I reckon its a solder joint that goes wanky when the laptop gets cold; now it's on more or less continuously all seems to be well, which should save some cash for a while.
Waiting for J & A to arrive (haven't heard from them yet) I am watching the coverage of the RWC celebrations which are absolutely amazing. 26 Waka (war canoes) crewed by hairy Maori have just paddled into the Basin at Auckland and the sound of haka (hakae as plural?) is in the air. Dave Dobbyn has been wheeled out of his care home to sing Welcome Home which really puts a tingle down the spine. Nice on Dobbmeister, first thing to make me cry! I can't believe I'm here to be part of it all. Thanks our Mam, God knows how I will ever be able to repay you.How about a trip to watch the British Lions in Australia in 2013? . Strike that from the record you dastard!- Ed.
In principle the menu for tonight is avocado and prawn/ smoked chicken for starter, Cheese, mushroom and tomato omelette with oven chips followed by fresh fruit salad and ice cream. Whether it will ever get cooked or eaten remains to be seen! Back to the RWC celebrations on the telly - hope you are getting this coverage in the UK. Mercifully wine o'clock has arrived, accompanied by the sound of conch shells from the box (or have I still got wind from the flight?)
Lunch and afternoon nearly over and a very productive p.m. In addition to my marinated mussels I had an avocado with cold smoked chicken (which I bought this morning in the hope that Amie might eat it). Then I did some housework, wiping down the inside window sills which were a bit dusty after the renovations, although to be fair, Doug's men had made a good job of clearing up. I just realise that ultimately they will need to meet Mary's demanding standards so I may as well get it right now. A quick hooooover around and I'm all ready for my visitors this evening. Then I had a visit from the local computer geek by the name of Mark who has upgraded us to a wireless network so that the iPad will work here, as well as John's work computer. He was a charming guy, lives just around the corner and seems very willing to help. He set up my new email account and we had a good natter about IT in NZ and in the UK (what do I know about it? - I just bullshitted). The cost of the set up (including the router) was $150 which seemed a good investment. He called the router a rowter (like the yanks) and seemed amused that I insisted on referring to it as a rooter ( as per Her Gracious Majesty's English don't you know.) The issue with the psychedelic screen seems to have resolved itself. I reckon its a solder joint that goes wanky when the laptop gets cold; now it's on more or less continuously all seems to be well, which should save some cash for a while.
Waiting for J & A to arrive (haven't heard from them yet) I am watching the coverage of the RWC celebrations which are absolutely amazing. 26 Waka (war canoes) crewed by hairy Maori have just paddled into the Basin at Auckland and the sound of haka (hakae as plural?) is in the air. Dave Dobbyn has been wheeled out of his care home to sing Welcome Home which really puts a tingle down the spine. Nice on Dobbmeister, first thing to make me cry! I can't believe I'm here to be part of it all. Thanks our Mam, God knows how I will ever be able to repay you.
In principle the menu for tonight is avocado and prawn/ smoked chicken for starter, Cheese, mushroom and tomato omelette with oven chips followed by fresh fruit salad and ice cream. Whether it will ever get cooked or eaten remains to be seen! Back to the RWC celebrations on the telly - hope you are getting this coverage in the UK. Mercifully wine o'clock has arrived, accompanied by the sound of conch shells from the box (or have I still got wind from the flight?)
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