David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 51
March 28, 2016
Tuesday Food Blog - Things to do with a gammon joint
Gammon isn't something I buy very often as I tend to eat enough derived from the porcine mammals. As it was Easter weekend I wanted something easy and tasty.
Gammon with a honey and mustard glaze and roast new potatoes.
The preparation is not difficult and cooking couldn't be simpler. Gammon joints tend to be salty and so an overnight soak in cold water is advised. Then drain the meat, place the joint in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Drain once again and cover with water once again. Add bay leaves, a dozen pepper corns, chopped carrots a quartered onion, celery if you can stand it and boil once again but simmer for twenty minutes.
While the gammon is simmering pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Centigrade. Line a roasting tin with aluminium foil that will come half way up the joint to catch juices from the joint that can be used to make a sauce.When the joint is ready remove from the juices in the saucepan and place in the baking tray. The liquid from the boiling can be strained and used as a soup. At this point I placed some parboiled new potatoes in the roasting tin to roast.
There are a numerous ways of dressing the joint. The simplest and easiest is to use 50/50 mustard and honey as a glaze. Cover the joint and place in the oven for 15 minutes, remove, turn the joint over and glaze the newly exposed surfaces of the meat. Return to the oven for a further 15 to 20 minutes. The meat is ready when the glaze is caramelised.If you have a layer of fat on the meat you can score it in a diamond pattern and push a clove into each diamond for additional flavour.
Gammon with roast new potatoescauliflower and broccoli
This meal would have been quite plain but for the glaze on the meat and the roast new potatoes. However, quite tasty and also reasonably healthy.
Gammon with fried egg andpotato rosti
Somewhat less healthy but very tasty was the gammon served with potato rosti and a fried egg. The rosti was made from the left over cauliflower and broccoli beefed up with some crushed new potatoes. I cooked the vegetables, added some butter and allowed them to cool before adding a beaten egg. They were then fried in oil until they bonded together.
All-in-all a very tasty set of meals at about £1.50 per serving and I didn't explore the full range of possibilities. If you are a sweet and sour lover you could have used pineapple rings. The potatoes could have been mashed and the other vegetables roasted.
A versatile option for the weekend.
God Bless
Gammon with a honey and mustard glaze and roast new potatoes.
The preparation is not difficult and cooking couldn't be simpler. Gammon joints tend to be salty and so an overnight soak in cold water is advised. Then drain the meat, place the joint in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Drain once again and cover with water once again. Add bay leaves, a dozen pepper corns, chopped carrots a quartered onion, celery if you can stand it and boil once again but simmer for twenty minutes.
While the gammon is simmering pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Centigrade. Line a roasting tin with aluminium foil that will come half way up the joint to catch juices from the joint that can be used to make a sauce.When the joint is ready remove from the juices in the saucepan and place in the baking tray. The liquid from the boiling can be strained and used as a soup. At this point I placed some parboiled new potatoes in the roasting tin to roast.
There are a numerous ways of dressing the joint. The simplest and easiest is to use 50/50 mustard and honey as a glaze. Cover the joint and place in the oven for 15 minutes, remove, turn the joint over and glaze the newly exposed surfaces of the meat. Return to the oven for a further 15 to 20 minutes. The meat is ready when the glaze is caramelised.If you have a layer of fat on the meat you can score it in a diamond pattern and push a clove into each diamond for additional flavour.
Gammon with roast new potatoescauliflower and broccoli
This meal would have been quite plain but for the glaze on the meat and the roast new potatoes. However, quite tasty and also reasonably healthy.
Gammon with fried egg andpotato rosti
Somewhat less healthy but very tasty was the gammon served with potato rosti and a fried egg. The rosti was made from the left over cauliflower and broccoli beefed up with some crushed new potatoes. I cooked the vegetables, added some butter and allowed them to cool before adding a beaten egg. They were then fried in oil until they bonded together.
All-in-all a very tasty set of meals at about £1.50 per serving and I didn't explore the full range of possibilities. If you are a sweet and sour lover you could have used pineapple rings. The potatoes could have been mashed and the other vegetables roasted.
A versatile option for the weekend.
God Bless
March 27, 2016
Writing - A Happy Easter to all my followers
Happy Easter to you all. The day on which Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to His father.
A little like pulling a rabbit from a hat in the minds of many these days but two thousand years ago!Once again the story is related to passing on history and writing things down. Of course eyewitness accounts are renowned for their inaccuracy and I have a personal example.
[image error]St Paul's Cathedral
The site of the action took place inside St Paul's Cathedral in London about thirty years ago. I was a teacher accompanying a party of children from the school at which I taught and we were on a three day break in the capital. The itinerary included a trip to the cathedral along with a follow up to the Museum of London which is quite close.We, like teachers from all schools in such situations, regularly checked how many children we had with us. We counted the children into the cathedral, out on the steps afterwards, when we arrived at the Museum and before we were about to leave. It was at this point that we discovered that one of our number was missing.That was when we asked the group when the lad was last seen and given that this was over a period of around two hours, not two thousand years, the responses were varied.
"I had my photograph taken with him on the steps of the cathedral."
"I walked with him to the museum."
"He was in the basement of the museum looking at the cars."
" He was in our group at the museum."
Of course all were mistaken, they weren't lying, just wrong. The group were counted into the cathedral, then lined up to leave and counted once more. The group then moved to the cathedral steps for a photograph. It was after the last count and before the photograph that the boy took himself to a different part of the cathedral to take photographs of his own. So the statements the children made were all incorrect!
When people report on an incident there are always possible inaccuracies and so when reading accounts you have to be rather like a mathematician and take the common facts as more likely than the peripheral information. I have no doubt that Jesus was crucified, that he was interred and then his body seemed to vanish. The accounts of his reappearance vary in detail and timing but reappear in some form he seemed to.
Walter Scott Competition
[image error]Walter Scott
The shortlist for this year's Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has been announced.William Boyd, Patrick Gale, Gavin McCrea, Allan Massie, Simon Mawer and Lucy Treloar are in the running to receive the honour in Melrose in June.
The winning author will pick up the £25,000 first prize.
The judges said each place on the shortlist had been "hard fought" in "another exceptional year for historical fiction".
"This embarrassment of riches forced us to focus our lens more closely on fiction which evokes an authentic atmosphere of the past, rather than that which solely deals with the nature of memory," they said in a statement.
"The six books we have chosen are certainly evocative - transporting us from the Great Northern prairies to the South Australian coast, via a wide sweep across pre-war and post-war Europe - but they also tell great stories, and bring periods of history alive, much as Walter Scott did in his time."
The six books are:
Sweet Caress by William BoydA Place Called Winter by Patrick GaleMrs Engels by Gavin McCreaEnd Games in Bordeaux by Allan MassieTightrope by Simon MawerSalt Creek by Lucy TreloarLast year's prize went to John Spurling for his book The Ten Thousand Things.
This year's winner will be announced on 18 June during the Borders Book Festival in Melrose.
God Bless
A little like pulling a rabbit from a hat in the minds of many these days but two thousand years ago!Once again the story is related to passing on history and writing things down. Of course eyewitness accounts are renowned for their inaccuracy and I have a personal example.
[image error]St Paul's Cathedral
The site of the action took place inside St Paul's Cathedral in London about thirty years ago. I was a teacher accompanying a party of children from the school at which I taught and we were on a three day break in the capital. The itinerary included a trip to the cathedral along with a follow up to the Museum of London which is quite close.We, like teachers from all schools in such situations, regularly checked how many children we had with us. We counted the children into the cathedral, out on the steps afterwards, when we arrived at the Museum and before we were about to leave. It was at this point that we discovered that one of our number was missing.That was when we asked the group when the lad was last seen and given that this was over a period of around two hours, not two thousand years, the responses were varied.
"I had my photograph taken with him on the steps of the cathedral."
"I walked with him to the museum."
"He was in the basement of the museum looking at the cars."
" He was in our group at the museum."
Of course all were mistaken, they weren't lying, just wrong. The group were counted into the cathedral, then lined up to leave and counted once more. The group then moved to the cathedral steps for a photograph. It was after the last count and before the photograph that the boy took himself to a different part of the cathedral to take photographs of his own. So the statements the children made were all incorrect!
When people report on an incident there are always possible inaccuracies and so when reading accounts you have to be rather like a mathematician and take the common facts as more likely than the peripheral information. I have no doubt that Jesus was crucified, that he was interred and then his body seemed to vanish. The accounts of his reappearance vary in detail and timing but reappear in some form he seemed to.
Walter Scott Competition
[image error]Walter Scott
The shortlist for this year's Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has been announced.William Boyd, Patrick Gale, Gavin McCrea, Allan Massie, Simon Mawer and Lucy Treloar are in the running to receive the honour in Melrose in June.
The winning author will pick up the £25,000 first prize.
The judges said each place on the shortlist had been "hard fought" in "another exceptional year for historical fiction".
"This embarrassment of riches forced us to focus our lens more closely on fiction which evokes an authentic atmosphere of the past, rather than that which solely deals with the nature of memory," they said in a statement.
"The six books we have chosen are certainly evocative - transporting us from the Great Northern prairies to the South Australian coast, via a wide sweep across pre-war and post-war Europe - but they also tell great stories, and bring periods of history alive, much as Walter Scott did in his time."
The six books are:
Sweet Caress by William BoydA Place Called Winter by Patrick GaleMrs Engels by Gavin McCreaEnd Games in Bordeaux by Allan MassieTightrope by Simon MawerSalt Creek by Lucy TreloarLast year's prize went to John Spurling for his book The Ten Thousand Things.
This year's winner will be announced on 18 June during the Borders Book Festival in Melrose.
God Bless
March 26, 2016
Writing - A feeling of rejection
I was very pleased to see the article from J K Rowling concerning her rejection letters.
[image error]
JK Rowling has shared two rejection letters she received for her first novel writing as Robert Galbraith.The author was trying to find a publisher for The Cuckoo's Calling, which was eventually released in 2013.
Rowling posted the rejections on Twitter, saying she was doing so to encourage other aspiring writers.
One of the letters, from publishing house Constable & Robinson, says it "could not publish [The Cuckoo's Calling] with commercial success".
The letter goes on to suggest politely that Galbraith "double check in a helpful bookshop" or in the twice yearly "buyer's guide of Bookseller magazine", about who the current publishers of his fiction genre are.
The letter adds "a writers' group or writing course may help" Galbraith to get constructive criticism of his debut crime novel.
The second letter, from Creme de la Crime publishers, explains simply that they have become part of Severn House Publishers and are "unable to accept new submissions at the moment".
Of course the manuscripts were entered for consideration under the name Robert Galbraith. I have read all of her works, both Potter and Cormoran Strike, and the lady can write. That of course brings into question the rules the gatekeepers use to prevent authors boarding the 'band wagon'. As it happens I have had very similar rejection letters. Quite often:-
we are not publishing this genre at the moment
join a writing course
not comercially viable at this time
sums up what I have received. Well here they are and with samples to read on Kindle. You be the judges.
Read on!
December 2015
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
[image error]
JK Rowling has shared two rejection letters she received for her first novel writing as Robert Galbraith.The author was trying to find a publisher for The Cuckoo's Calling, which was eventually released in 2013.
Rowling posted the rejections on Twitter, saying she was doing so to encourage other aspiring writers.
One of the letters, from publishing house Constable & Robinson, says it "could not publish [The Cuckoo's Calling] with commercial success".
The letter goes on to suggest politely that Galbraith "double check in a helpful bookshop" or in the twice yearly "buyer's guide of Bookseller magazine", about who the current publishers of his fiction genre are.
The letter adds "a writers' group or writing course may help" Galbraith to get constructive criticism of his debut crime novel.
The second letter, from Creme de la Crime publishers, explains simply that they have become part of Severn House Publishers and are "unable to accept new submissions at the moment".
Of course the manuscripts were entered for consideration under the name Robert Galbraith. I have read all of her works, both Potter and Cormoran Strike, and the lady can write. That of course brings into question the rules the gatekeepers use to prevent authors boarding the 'band wagon'. As it happens I have had very similar rejection letters. Quite often:-
we are not publishing this genre at the moment
join a writing course
not comercially viable at this time
sums up what I have received. Well here they are and with samples to read on Kindle. You be the judges.
Read on!
December 2015Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
March 25, 2016
Writing - One a penny, two a penny
So yesterday I kept to an Easter theme through writing and considering the origins of Maundy Thursday and of course it is followed by Good Friday.
[image error]
If you type 'good Friday' into the Google search engine you are faced with a plethora of tortured images such as the one above and relating to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
So why 'Good'?
Well some believe that it is a corruption of 'God' or the translation of a lost word meaning holy. Others believe that it is an ironic use of the word good as Jesus died to save us all and what can be good about someone dying? Out of a great tragedy emerged great good fortune.The fact is that it doesn't really matter what you call the day, or any day for that matter, what matters is what you do with it.
[image error]
Sadly, the day and in fact the weekend have become synonymous with DIY. It is the biggest selling day for the DIY Stores and people spend the weekend building, repairing and gardening. There seems to be a fear of using the weekend for meditation, personal reflection and family relationships. For thinking of sacrifice for the benefit of others.
[image error]
Many Catholics do not eat meat on Good Friday. This means that, in some areas, it is common to eat fish on this day. It is traditional for all denominations to eat hot cross buns. These are made of leavened dough, to which sugar, currants and spices have been added. The top of the bun is marked with a cross made of flour and water paste or rice paper. The buns are eaten as they are or split in half, toasted and spread with butter. There is a traditional rhyme about these buns, which is often used to teach children basic music notes.
[image error]Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns,
Hot cross buns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If you have no daughters,
If you have no sons,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If your sons don't like them,
They're the only ones,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
I don't tell jokes
and I don't tell puns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
Get them while they're hot
and eat them by the ton,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
God Bless
[image error]
If you type 'good Friday' into the Google search engine you are faced with a plethora of tortured images such as the one above and relating to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
So why 'Good'?
Well some believe that it is a corruption of 'God' or the translation of a lost word meaning holy. Others believe that it is an ironic use of the word good as Jesus died to save us all and what can be good about someone dying? Out of a great tragedy emerged great good fortune.The fact is that it doesn't really matter what you call the day, or any day for that matter, what matters is what you do with it.
[image error]
Sadly, the day and in fact the weekend have become synonymous with DIY. It is the biggest selling day for the DIY Stores and people spend the weekend building, repairing and gardening. There seems to be a fear of using the weekend for meditation, personal reflection and family relationships. For thinking of sacrifice for the benefit of others.
[image error]
Many Catholics do not eat meat on Good Friday. This means that, in some areas, it is common to eat fish on this day. It is traditional for all denominations to eat hot cross buns. These are made of leavened dough, to which sugar, currants and spices have been added. The top of the bun is marked with a cross made of flour and water paste or rice paper. The buns are eaten as they are or split in half, toasted and spread with butter. There is a traditional rhyme about these buns, which is often used to teach children basic music notes.
[image error]Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns,
Hot cross buns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If you have no daughters,
If you have no sons,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If your sons don't like them,
They're the only ones,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
I don't tell jokes
and I don't tell puns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
Get them while they're hot
and eat them by the ton,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
God Bless
March 24, 2016
Writing - Get it down on paper
So here we are reaching the climax of Holy Week. Holy or Maundy Thursday at the time of writing. But was it always Holy?
[image error]Eostre
The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE), a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe.
The reasoning the name Easter followed on in the Christian tradition is plainly linked to the 'mother' goddess suggesting birth and new beginnings. However, the reason I bring this up is that we wouldn't necessarily know this information if the Venerable Bede hadn't written it down. His book is well over a thousand years old but contains important information and not just about Easter.
Maundy Thursday
Even if you are not a practising Christian or follow any religion of any description but accept the fact that a man named Jesus lived around 2000 years ago then there are some facts available to consider because they were written down not long after his death.Given that he seemed to know his time on earth was almost up he seemed to begin making preparations.
Here are some of the things the gospels record for this day (including events that happened after midnight). Jesus:
Sent Peter and John to arrange for them to use the Upper Room to hold the Passover meal.
Washed the apostles' feet.
Announced that Judas would betray him.
Announced that Peter would deny him.
Went to the Mount of Olives.
Prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Was betrayed by Judas.
Was taken before the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
Was denied by Peter.
Was taken to Pilate.
One of the reasons that there is variance between the way his life is related to us is because it was written by a number of people and as you will be aware if you have six people witnessing a football match, for example, and ask that they write a report on what they have seen the broad theme of their reports will be the same, but the details will be quite different.
So why 'Maundy' Thursday?
Holy Thursday is thus sometimes called Maundy Thursday because it was on this day that Christ gave us the new commandment--the new mandate--to love one another as he loves us.
The word 'maundy' is derived from the Latin 'mandatum' or mandate.
[image error]
Maundy Money
The Maundy money consists of specially minted silver coins given in a white purse to equal numbers of men and women who have been recommended by clergy round the country. The number of people receiving the ceremonial purse matches the age of the monarch. This year there will be 90 men and 90 women receiving the money at St George's Chapel Windsor. The Queen and Duke of |Edinburgh will be in attendance.
Once again the history of this ceremony goes back many centuries and during that time there have been a number of changes including the fact that for two hundred years no monarch attended the ceremony. If the information had not been recorded we wouldn't know.
So for the sake of your children, grandchildren and beyond - KEEP WRITING
God Bless
[image error]Eostre
The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE), a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe.
The reasoning the name Easter followed on in the Christian tradition is plainly linked to the 'mother' goddess suggesting birth and new beginnings. However, the reason I bring this up is that we wouldn't necessarily know this information if the Venerable Bede hadn't written it down. His book is well over a thousand years old but contains important information and not just about Easter.
Maundy Thursday
Even if you are not a practising Christian or follow any religion of any description but accept the fact that a man named Jesus lived around 2000 years ago then there are some facts available to consider because they were written down not long after his death.Given that he seemed to know his time on earth was almost up he seemed to begin making preparations.
Here are some of the things the gospels record for this day (including events that happened after midnight). Jesus:
Sent Peter and John to arrange for them to use the Upper Room to hold the Passover meal.
Washed the apostles' feet.
Announced that Judas would betray him.
Announced that Peter would deny him.
Went to the Mount of Olives.
Prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Was betrayed by Judas.
Was taken before the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
Was denied by Peter.
Was taken to Pilate.
One of the reasons that there is variance between the way his life is related to us is because it was written by a number of people and as you will be aware if you have six people witnessing a football match, for example, and ask that they write a report on what they have seen the broad theme of their reports will be the same, but the details will be quite different.
So why 'Maundy' Thursday?
Holy Thursday is thus sometimes called Maundy Thursday because it was on this day that Christ gave us the new commandment--the new mandate--to love one another as he loves us.
The word 'maundy' is derived from the Latin 'mandatum' or mandate.
[image error]
Maundy Money
The Maundy money consists of specially minted silver coins given in a white purse to equal numbers of men and women who have been recommended by clergy round the country. The number of people receiving the ceremonial purse matches the age of the monarch. This year there will be 90 men and 90 women receiving the money at St George's Chapel Windsor. The Queen and Duke of |Edinburgh will be in attendance.
Once again the history of this ceremony goes back many centuries and during that time there have been a number of changes including the fact that for two hundred years no monarch attended the ceremony. If the information had not been recorded we wouldn't know.
So for the sake of your children, grandchildren and beyond - KEEP WRITING
God Bless
March 23, 2016
Poetry Thursday 205 - Doing things your own way
The poetry this week could be summed up simply by saying that we live our lives and accept the consequences.
[image error]
The First Cup
Who brings you your first cup,on the opening of eyes when you wake up?Each day has a new beginningand we have no knowledge of what its bringing.So it’s good to start each breaking day,with a shot of caffeine as you lay.
It’s not the same when you wake upand have to make your own first cup,but it is these days more often the caseas humans become a more solitary race.No point in bleating on what went beforeyou’ve made your bed and know the score.
So as the sun brightens this old world upand you climb back into bed with that first cup,enjoy the benefit of blessed solitude,as you adopt again a recumbent attitude.Relish a gentler start to the daybut this time do it your way.© David L Atkinson March 2016
I believe I was around ten years old when I read The Jungle Book and other stories. I was having the day off school because of a tooth extraction by gas. I can still see the old wooden stand bearing the dentist's drill and other accoutrements of mouth torture (mental shudder). While I was recovering from the gas I kept falling asleep and the trace of blood is still there, across the pages of Rikki Tikki Tavi, which had run from the corner of my mouth and dripped on to the pristine page. The short story is a lovely tale by Kipling about the creature below.
[image error]
Herpestidae
As quick as a flash a sideways leap it takes,when baiting highly venomous snakes.Whether for food or fighting in bazaars,they entertain and ignore the scars.
All God’s creatures need reproducing,these comply in fits of giggling.A creature who plays fast and loose,the fascinating Indian Grey Mongoose.© David L Atkinson March 2016
Although my attempt is simply that - an attempt - I found Kipling's poem about his creature. As an aid to understanding Red-Eye is the mongoose and Nag is the snake.
At the hole where he went in
Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin.
Hear what little Red-Eye saith:
"Nag, come up and dance with death! "
Eye to eye and head to head,
(Keep the measure, Nag.)
This shall end when one is dead;
(At thy pleasure, Nag.)
Turn for turn and twist for twist--
(Run and hide thee, Nag.)
Hah! The hooded Death has missed!
( Woe betide thee, Nag!) Rudyard KiplingGod Bless
[image error]
The First Cup
Who brings you your first cup,on the opening of eyes when you wake up?Each day has a new beginningand we have no knowledge of what its bringing.So it’s good to start each breaking day,with a shot of caffeine as you lay.
It’s not the same when you wake upand have to make your own first cup,but it is these days more often the caseas humans become a more solitary race.No point in bleating on what went beforeyou’ve made your bed and know the score.
So as the sun brightens this old world upand you climb back into bed with that first cup,enjoy the benefit of blessed solitude,as you adopt again a recumbent attitude.Relish a gentler start to the daybut this time do it your way.© David L Atkinson March 2016
I believe I was around ten years old when I read The Jungle Book and other stories. I was having the day off school because of a tooth extraction by gas. I can still see the old wooden stand bearing the dentist's drill and other accoutrements of mouth torture (mental shudder). While I was recovering from the gas I kept falling asleep and the trace of blood is still there, across the pages of Rikki Tikki Tavi, which had run from the corner of my mouth and dripped on to the pristine page. The short story is a lovely tale by Kipling about the creature below.
[image error]
Herpestidae
As quick as a flash a sideways leap it takes,when baiting highly venomous snakes.Whether for food or fighting in bazaars,they entertain and ignore the scars.
All God’s creatures need reproducing,these comply in fits of giggling.A creature who plays fast and loose,the fascinating Indian Grey Mongoose.© David L Atkinson March 2016
Although my attempt is simply that - an attempt - I found Kipling's poem about his creature. As an aid to understanding Red-Eye is the mongoose and Nag is the snake.
At the hole where he went in
Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin.
Hear what little Red-Eye saith:
"Nag, come up and dance with death! "
Eye to eye and head to head,
(Keep the measure, Nag.)
This shall end when one is dead;
(At thy pleasure, Nag.)
Turn for turn and twist for twist--
(Run and hide thee, Nag.)
Hah! The hooded Death has missed!
( Woe betide thee, Nag!) Rudyard KiplingGod Bless
March 22, 2016
Blog Share - A Christmas(!) Competition
You are quite correct it is Easter not Christmas but sometimes preparations have to begin early.
Please read on as there are prizes involved and you have to be in it to win it!
ENTER HERE!
Calling all Christmas lovers!
Do you love the music of the holiday season? If so, the Authors’ Billboard needs your attention! This coming 2016 Christmas, twenty of our authors—New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers—will be putting together a multi-author box collection of brand new, never before published stories to dazzle everyone, but we require your participation.
The title of our collection will be LOVE, CHRISTMAS and the theme of this bundle will be Christmas carols. We want to use YOUR favorite holiday songs. If you and your song title are chosen, one of the 20 novellas will be dedicated to you.
Sound like fun? Please enter the contest by naming your special carols in the contest entry form. http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=8118 You may enter as many times as you like. So what are you waiting for? Here's what the winners will receive:
1. Twenty winners will have his/her favorite song chosen as the title and possibly the theme for one of the novellas.
2. That particular story will be dedicated to the winner— twenty in total.
3. And the winners will receive a free copy of the box set (eBook only).
Ho, ho, ho! And good luck!
The authors involved in this great contest are:
Leanne Banks - NY Times & USAToday, National #1 Best-selling author
Mimi Barbour - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author Nina Bruhns - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling authorJoan Reeves - NY Times & USAToday, Best-selling authorMona Risk - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling authorPatricia Rosemoor - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling authorRebecca York - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling authorDenise Devine - USA Today, Best-selling authorDonna Fasano - USA Today,Best-selling authorTraci Hall - USA Today,Best-selling authorTaylor Lee - USA Today,Best-selling author
Stephanie Queen - USA Today,Best-selling author
Jennifer St. Giles - USA Today,Best-selling author
Alicia Street – USA Today,Best-selling author
Ari Thatcher - USA Today,Best-selling author
Rachelle Ayala - Best-selling author
Jacquie Biggar - Best-selling author
Michele Hauf - Best-selling author
Dani Haviland - Best-selling author
Nancy Radke - Best-selling author
The Christmas Carol (Box Collection) Contest http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=8118 Calling all Christmas lovers!
Do you love the music of the holiday season? If so, the Authors’ Billboard needs your attention! This coming 2016 Christmas, twenty of our authors—New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers—will be putting together a multi-author box collection of brand new, never before published stories to dazzle everyone, but we require your participation.
The title of our collection will be LOVE, CHRISTMAS and the theme of this bundle will be Christmas carols. We want to use YOUR favorite holiday songs. If you and your song title are chosen, one of the 20 novellas will be dedicated to YOU.
Sound like fun? Please enter the contest by naming your special carols in the contest entry form. http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=8118 You may enter as many times as you like. So what are you waiting for? Here's what the winners will receive:
1. Twenty winners will have his/her favorite song chosen as the title and possibly the theme for one of the novellas.
2. That particular story will be dedicated to the winner— twenty in total.
3. And the winners will receive a free copy of the box set (eBook only).
Ho, ho, ho! And good luck!
The authors involved in this great contest are:Leanne Banks - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Mimi Barbour - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Nina Bruhns - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling authorJoan Reeves - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Mona Risk - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Patricia Rosemoor - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Rebecca York - NY Times & USA Today, Best-selling author
Denise Devine - USA Today, Best-selling authorDonna Fasano - USA Today, Best-selling authorTraci Hall - USA Today, Best-selling authorTaylor Lee - USA Today, Best-selling authorStephanie Queen - USA Today, Best-selling authorJennifer St. Giles - USA Today, Best-selling authorAlicia Street – USA Today, Best-selling authorAri Thatcher - USA Today, Best-selling author
Rachelle Ayala - Best-selling author
Jacquie Biggar - Best-selling author
Michele Hauf - Best-selling authorDani Haviland - Best-selling author
Nancy Radke - Best-selling author
March 21, 2016
Tuesday Food Blog - Sunday lunch and a Middle Ages feast
I was chatting to a friend about a couple that we both know who have an oven that is like new! They never cook. This brief conversation coincided with a collection of recipes for easy Sunday lunches that I became aware of last week.
Sunday lunch
The fact is that it isn't hard to produce such a meal with the most difficult part being timing - hell I can do it!
It is also considerably cheaper to eat fresh food as above than buying pre-packed meals or attending fast food outlets.
CostThe piece of brisket was the most expensive element at £4.89 but it will cover 5 meals.Potatoes were less than £1 and again that is for 5 meals.Green beans £1 - 4 mealsCarrots 50p - 3 meals.
4 Yorkshire puddings £1So a total of £7.75 for 4 or 5 meals £1 - 75/portion.
This idiot's guide to cooking.
Pre-heat the oven to 175degrees CPlace the meat in a roasting tin, surround with potatoes and pour in half a pint of boiled water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with kitchen foil and put in the oven for about 2 hours.Baste and turn the potatoes after 1 hour.Remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 200 degrees C for 20 minutes.Time to start the vegetablesVegetablesSlice the carrots and trim the beans and put in boiling water for twenty minutes.
Collating
Yorkshire puddings are the bone of contention. I have made them but it is time consuming, utensil heavy and not guaranteed successful so I buy pre-cooked because they heat up and you have a guaranteed result in 3 to 4 minutes.Pop the Yorkshire puds in the oven about 3 minutes before serving the meat.Remove the meat and potatoes from the roasting tin and place on a carving dish or plate. Move the roasting tin with its meat juices to the hob and turn on a low heat. Add a half pint of boiling water and some gravy browning and stir in with the meat juices. Decant the gravy to a serving jug.Drain the vegetables and put a knob of butter in the pan (I cook them in the same pan), season and serve with their buttery glaze.Put the Yorkshire pudding on the plate.Carve the meat and serve with a pouring of gravy over the meat.
Couldn't be simpler!
Middle Ages Feast
[image error]
So what did people feast upon five or six hundred years ago?
In the Middle Ages what you chose to eat was often dictated by outside influences such as religious considerations. So Fridays, Saturdays, Lent and Advent had foods that were traditionally served and it was usually fish. That is something that has carried on into the 21st century in some households on Fridays.
Food came to the feast table in courses made up of separate dishes. An elite meal may begin with a pottage (thick soup or stew) served alongside boiled meats such as beef or mutton, and matbe a fried dish - a 'fritter'. A second course might have a further pottage, with roast meats and prestigious birds such as peacocks or herons, a set cream dish or jelly and a fritter. A third course might include further cream, roasted small birds such as sparrows, possibly a fruit dish and (you've guessed it) a fritter. Fruit and cheese conclude the meal.
If you are a foodie it may be better if you don't read this!
God Bless
Sunday lunch
The fact is that it isn't hard to produce such a meal with the most difficult part being timing - hell I can do it!
It is also considerably cheaper to eat fresh food as above than buying pre-packed meals or attending fast food outlets.
CostThe piece of brisket was the most expensive element at £4.89 but it will cover 5 meals.Potatoes were less than £1 and again that is for 5 meals.Green beans £1 - 4 mealsCarrots 50p - 3 meals.
4 Yorkshire puddings £1So a total of £7.75 for 4 or 5 meals £1 - 75/portion.
This idiot's guide to cooking.
Pre-heat the oven to 175degrees CPlace the meat in a roasting tin, surround with potatoes and pour in half a pint of boiled water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with kitchen foil and put in the oven for about 2 hours.Baste and turn the potatoes after 1 hour.Remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 200 degrees C for 20 minutes.Time to start the vegetablesVegetablesSlice the carrots and trim the beans and put in boiling water for twenty minutes.
Collating
Yorkshire puddings are the bone of contention. I have made them but it is time consuming, utensil heavy and not guaranteed successful so I buy pre-cooked because they heat up and you have a guaranteed result in 3 to 4 minutes.Pop the Yorkshire puds in the oven about 3 minutes before serving the meat.Remove the meat and potatoes from the roasting tin and place on a carving dish or plate. Move the roasting tin with its meat juices to the hob and turn on a low heat. Add a half pint of boiling water and some gravy browning and stir in with the meat juices. Decant the gravy to a serving jug.Drain the vegetables and put a knob of butter in the pan (I cook them in the same pan), season and serve with their buttery glaze.Put the Yorkshire pudding on the plate.Carve the meat and serve with a pouring of gravy over the meat.
Couldn't be simpler!
Middle Ages Feast
[image error]
So what did people feast upon five or six hundred years ago?
In the Middle Ages what you chose to eat was often dictated by outside influences such as religious considerations. So Fridays, Saturdays, Lent and Advent had foods that were traditionally served and it was usually fish. That is something that has carried on into the 21st century in some households on Fridays.
Food came to the feast table in courses made up of separate dishes. An elite meal may begin with a pottage (thick soup or stew) served alongside boiled meats such as beef or mutton, and matbe a fried dish - a 'fritter'. A second course might have a further pottage, with roast meats and prestigious birds such as peacocks or herons, a set cream dish or jelly and a fritter. A third course might include further cream, roasted small birds such as sparrows, possibly a fruit dish and (you've guessed it) a fritter. Fruit and cheese conclude the meal.
If you are a foodie it may be better if you don't read this!
God Bless
March 20, 2016
Writing - When the Earth moved for London
Houses collapsed, sheep ran wild, Westminster Abbey shook and the people trembled in fear of armageddon.
[image error]London 1750
On February 8th 1750 London was shaken by the first of several earthquakes to hit the city that year. They weren't massive, around 2.6 on the Richter scale, but noticeable by all in the capital. The epicentre was believed to be round about Tower Bridge and had the great and the good leaving their houses to enquire as to what had happened.
[image error]Horace Walpole
Almost exactly a month later on March 8th came a second quake more intense than the first and covering a 40 mile radius and centred about 3 miles north of London Bridge. Horace Walpole a man of letters and an MP reported that, 'On a sudden I felt my bolster lift up my head; I thought that someone was getting from under my bed, but soon found that it was a strong earthquake, that lasted near half a minute, with a violent vibration and great roaring. I rang my bell; my servant came in, frightened out of his senses: in an instant we heard all of the windows in the neighbourhood flung up. I got up and found people running into the streets, but saw no mischief done: there has been some; two old houses flung down, several chimneys, and much china-ware.'
Isn't it great to have the actual words from approaching 450 years ago available to read. The reactions of the people were fascinating with some women making earthquake gowns, that is warm gowns in which they could sit outside all night. There was so much worry that 730 coaches were observed leaving the city via Hyde Park, with whole parties removing into the country. Of course there were people who endeavoured to make capital from the panic ranging from a trooper spreading fear who ended up being incarcerated in Bedlam and also religious preachers.
[image error]Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley, a founder member of the Methodist movement, bluntly sermonised,
'God is himself the Author, and sin is the moral cause.'
However, it was the Bishop of London, Thomas Sherlock, that attracted the most attention. He wrote a letter that sold 10 000 copies in two days, it was then reprinted several times and sold 100 000 copies in total. He predicted the fall of London at the hand of God. Naturally it didn't and the capital lapsed into a sheepish silence on the subject.
[image error]John MichellEventually the scientific community became more fervent about the phenomenon and it was a rather flawed paper by a Cambridge astronomer John Michell, who had observed the London quakes as well as the Lisbon quake of 1755. He analysed eyewitness reports and concluded that earthquakes were caused by 'waves set up by shifting masses of rock miles below the surface'.
The fact is the world would not have known of these things if they had been written down. Even erroneous information can lead to eventual truths.
God Bless
[image error]London 1750
On February 8th 1750 London was shaken by the first of several earthquakes to hit the city that year. They weren't massive, around 2.6 on the Richter scale, but noticeable by all in the capital. The epicentre was believed to be round about Tower Bridge and had the great and the good leaving their houses to enquire as to what had happened.
[image error]Horace Walpole
Almost exactly a month later on March 8th came a second quake more intense than the first and covering a 40 mile radius and centred about 3 miles north of London Bridge. Horace Walpole a man of letters and an MP reported that, 'On a sudden I felt my bolster lift up my head; I thought that someone was getting from under my bed, but soon found that it was a strong earthquake, that lasted near half a minute, with a violent vibration and great roaring. I rang my bell; my servant came in, frightened out of his senses: in an instant we heard all of the windows in the neighbourhood flung up. I got up and found people running into the streets, but saw no mischief done: there has been some; two old houses flung down, several chimneys, and much china-ware.'
Isn't it great to have the actual words from approaching 450 years ago available to read. The reactions of the people were fascinating with some women making earthquake gowns, that is warm gowns in which they could sit outside all night. There was so much worry that 730 coaches were observed leaving the city via Hyde Park, with whole parties removing into the country. Of course there were people who endeavoured to make capital from the panic ranging from a trooper spreading fear who ended up being incarcerated in Bedlam and also religious preachers.
[image error]Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley, a founder member of the Methodist movement, bluntly sermonised,
'God is himself the Author, and sin is the moral cause.'
However, it was the Bishop of London, Thomas Sherlock, that attracted the most attention. He wrote a letter that sold 10 000 copies in two days, it was then reprinted several times and sold 100 000 copies in total. He predicted the fall of London at the hand of God. Naturally it didn't and the capital lapsed into a sheepish silence on the subject.
[image error]John MichellEventually the scientific community became more fervent about the phenomenon and it was a rather flawed paper by a Cambridge astronomer John Michell, who had observed the London quakes as well as the Lisbon quake of 1755. He analysed eyewitness reports and concluded that earthquakes were caused by 'waves set up by shifting masses of rock miles below the surface'.
The fact is the world would not have known of these things if they had been written down. Even erroneous information can lead to eventual truths.
God Bless
March 19, 2016
Writing - 10 things we didn't know last week
I have passed on producing these blogs for a few weeks but was a little pushed for time and came across a collection that includes therapeutic llamas and fishing with pants.
[image error]
1. YouTube was originally meant to be an online dating site.
They would have to change the name to protect the innocent.
-------------------------------
[image error]
2. Llamas are certified therapy animals in Portland, Oregon.
Or should they be certified? They are bad tempered, rude and have a tendency to spit!
-------------------------------
3. There are special handcuffs for overweight suspects in New Zealand.
I happen to know that they are also having to construct special ovens at crematoria to accommodate the larger customer!
-------------------------------
[image error]
4. Travel abroad required special permission in Tudor England.
Some things just shouldn't change.
-------------------------------
[image error]
5. Around three million shipwrecks are resting on the ocean's floor.
That's a lot of rubbish!
-------------------------------
[image error]
6. Wikipedia has 80,000 monthly editors.
Hip hip hooray!
-------------------------------
[image error]
7. A town in the US state of Virginia has been plagued by vultures for 30 years.
Health plans too expensive in Florida?
-------------------------------
[image error]
8. Ben Nevis is one metre higher than we thought.
I said it was bigger.
-------------------------------
9. A WW2 bomber crew survived days at sea after using their pants as fishing nets.
Fishy!
-------------------------------
[image error]
10. If you want to be happy you really should move to Denmark.
Don't be so bloody smug!!!!!!
-------------------------------
God Bless
[image error]
1. YouTube was originally meant to be an online dating site.
They would have to change the name to protect the innocent.
-------------------------------
[image error]
2. Llamas are certified therapy animals in Portland, Oregon.
Or should they be certified? They are bad tempered, rude and have a tendency to spit!
-------------------------------
3. There are special handcuffs for overweight suspects in New Zealand.
I happen to know that they are also having to construct special ovens at crematoria to accommodate the larger customer!
-------------------------------
[image error]
4. Travel abroad required special permission in Tudor England.
Some things just shouldn't change.
-------------------------------
[image error]
5. Around three million shipwrecks are resting on the ocean's floor.
That's a lot of rubbish!
-------------------------------
[image error]
6. Wikipedia has 80,000 monthly editors.
Hip hip hooray!
-------------------------------
[image error]
7. A town in the US state of Virginia has been plagued by vultures for 30 years.
Health plans too expensive in Florida?
-------------------------------
[image error]
8. Ben Nevis is one metre higher than we thought.
I said it was bigger.
-------------------------------
9. A WW2 bomber crew survived days at sea after using their pants as fishing nets.
Fishy!
-------------------------------
[image error]
10. If you want to be happy you really should move to Denmark.
Don't be so bloody smug!!!!!!
-------------------------------
God Bless
