the lockdown eating isn't that healthy

The lockdown eating hasn't been that healthy.  I've finally managed to make decent potato cakes (add plenty of butter afterwards), and have been followed them up with cheese, crackers and wine. Yum Yum!

On the other hand, l haven't been eating all of my food.  I've just had to throw away some rolls and cheese, as, despite my rubbish sense of smell, even l could tell they may have gone off a bit.

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the soft cheese is off

Thinking l would have some cheese and crackers, l foolishly rummaged around in the dark recesses at the back of the fridge for some soft Philadelphia cheese. Result!!
I needn't have bothered, as, even with my rubbish sense of smell, l could guess it had gone off a bit.

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the banana splits

I didn't realise bananas actually split until l left this one too long.
Now l guess that's why the TV series and drink were so called.
You live and learn.



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going mad in tesco's

The next time l want some milk and tomatoes, l will just go to the corner shop, as l am the kind of impulse buyer that Tesco love.
It turned out to be an expensive shop for something that would have cost a couple of pounds!

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Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Stuffing my face

Mmmmmm

After abusing myself (for a change) over my Birthday Weekend celebrations, instead of cracking on with something like finishing off the painting that needs doing, l'm now stuffing my face and cooking some splendid meals.

Secret ingredient? 

Honey!

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last weeks breakfast

Mmmmmm  A blurry picture of last weeks breakfast.
I had no interest in The Royal Wedding, but had been invited to a party that morning. I said l would go and have my breakfast there before heading off for the FA Cup Final if  potato salad and quiche were being served, so they put them on for me.
Hurrah!! Although l should have given the final a miss.

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pete evans' food and drink for the day

Obviously taken from Matt Berry's twitter feed, and, as he says, a writers gift. You couldn't make this sort of crap up. Who the hell would want to live like that? I'd rather enjoy myself and die tomorrow, rather than fussing about everything l ate or drank, especially to that extent.

Life's meant to be for living (maaaaaaannnnnnnnn). Enjoy it while you can. 

Time for some cheese on toast. Anger is an energy, and using energy means refueling is needed.

So l'm allowed.

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the new chip shop in catterick and jethro tull

Well, l finally managed to drag myself in and try out the new fish and chip shop in Catterick (149 at 36 Richmond road). It was nice enough (fish, chips and curry sauce), and l got another menu for the collection, but l am bought to my (what little there are of them) senses every time l buy stuff nowadays, as l still expect fish and chips to be about £2.50.
That's what you get for being an old git and living in the past (as Jethro Tull would say).
Also, l know they probably think the foods cooked better if they do it to order, but if l go into a fast food place for a takeaway, l want it ready immediately, which wasn't the case here. Fast food should be the giveaway clue.
I'm not just an old git - I'm an impatient one.

And here's Jethro Tull - Living in the past



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mmmmm........onions

When l make a cheese and onion sandwich, l don't go easy on the onions!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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ladies who lunch

One of the downsides of working with a load of women - getting dragged out for lunch!

Ah well, at least it's an addition to my ongoing collection of pilfered menus

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mmmmm.........cheese

Had to call in at Northallerton a couple of days ago, so I took the opportunity to stock up on some cheese. Pickled onions and cream crackers already purchased and waiting.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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edible pizza box

The Americans are always so much ahead of us when it comes to stuffing your face with classy food.

Now they have a Pizza box that's actually made out of pizza, and therefore edible as well!

They advertise 'No Waste', but l wouldn't like to be the one cleaning their toilet bowls the next day.

Those crazy yanks etc...

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the ron mueck exhibition in edinburgh 2006

Also found while cleaning the spare room. Coincidentally, it was 10 years ago to the day that the FPO and myself went to Edinburgh to drink whisky, and catch the hyperrealistic sculptures at the Ron Mueck exhibition. We succeeded in a right royal fashion.

The top three are art cards that were purchased on exhibition day, plus the ticket and programme. Also, there is a framed poster of  'Mask', the stern looking face at the bottom, in my living room. It keeps the parrot in order (or tries to). As you can probably surmise, we pulled over for some food and drink at The Cat Inn on the way there.

Mmmmm....food.......and drink.....

Ten bleeding years!! Where is the time flying away to?

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eating healthily - not

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Last night's food.
Hickory chicken with extra sweet and sour sauce. They are small chicken pieces, but even so...
Heart attack imminent.

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eating dangerously like elvis

 

Yum yum!
During Michael Portillo's TV programme about travelling around America by train, he stopped off in a diner somewhere for an all American breakfast, that consisted of a peanut butter, jelly (jam to us Brits) and banana sandwich. Despite much trepidation on his behalf, he tucked in, and then, to his obvious surprise, declared it to be delicious.
Knowing that this is also the kind of sandwich that helped kill off Elvis Presley, and never having had one before, l thought l'd give it a go last night.
Result - very tasty indeed, despite my Sun Pat peanut butter being more than two years out of date (although it was only opened prior to making the sandwich). Living dangerously maaaaaaan, and l'm still alive!.
However (and some might say it has already happened), it looks like it the gateway has opened to proceed down the Elvis route.
I'll have to be on my guard against my own laziness and greed, but I don't hold out much hope.

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impulse buying in tesco

This is what happens when you follow your impulses. I only went into Tesco to buy some butter, and ended up spending £65.
I'm just the sort of customer they will love. Living on the edge!

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the dodgy looking tomato sauce packet

After making some sausage sandwiches yesterday to watch the football with (the crunches and keep fit regime can always wait), l discovered that l'd run out of tomamto sauce. However, after a search of the cupboards, l discovered these satches of tomato sauce, bought while on holiday somewhere or other.
All well and good, but the trouble is, l know they are at least a few years old, don't know where they are from, and don't know how long the sauce will be edible for.
Did l google it to find out, or just slap it on the bread and take the risk?
What would Keith Richards do?
Reader, l think you know the answer, but l'm still alive and OK (maybe a matter of opinion) today.
Hopefully this won't be updated from hospital later on, and l still refuse to check how long the sauce lasts for.
Keith would be proud.


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hand written messages at the kfc

When l was at the Catterick branch of KFC yesterday (I'm still not used to having a branch at Catterick!), my order came with a handwritten message at the top, which l did not notice until l had driven away from the premises.
Now this meant l immediately considered two options. First of all, and the one that would have been more likely years ago, was that the girl who was serving me took a bit of a shine to my cheeky charm, and left the message as a flirtatious one off. The second, more likely option, is that she was just being friendly, and leaves a message for most people. Either way, a nice gesture, that enhanced the already joyous experience of purchasing chicken and chips.
I suppose there is also a chance that the staff are slave driven worker drones on less than minimum wage who have no say in the matter as it is now part of company policy, and face instant dismissal if they fail to adhere to the strict work code, in constant fear of losing their jobs, and having to plaster on fake smiles all through their mind numbingly tedious shifts, while waiting for the aching in their feet from standing all day to abate with the sweet relief of death, or the clocking off time, whichever comes first.
I hope it's one of the first two options.

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eating from bowls

Eating from plates is just sooooo passe. The way forward is to eat from bowls, it's what all the hot skinny people are doing. It's a 'trend with traction', and they are conveniently photogenic for sharing on social media - proper instagram friendly, and no mistake.
Don't believe me? The New York Post are on the case. I'll never eat from a plate again. After all, it's the same food, but just not as good. Plus you've got the mind numbing task of having to push your food to the middle of the plate to mix it up a bit. What????
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING.
Come on - join the bowl revolution brothers and sisters. This is the sort of stuff my great grandfather fought and died for. Let's make him proud that his death wasn't in vain.

As for my bowl, l just don't want most of the crap featured above in my one. It does mean that l can now smother my baked potatoes in even more butter, something l never thought would be possible, so hurrah! for the hipsters and their innovative forward thinking ideas.

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celebrating chinese new year

What better way to spend Chinese New Year than in an all you can eat buffet?
The food was nice, and we had a laugh, but if l ever see another sweet and sour piece of chicken, l am going to run away scared. I know my limits.

"Go on...........one more tiny little mint.......whaffer thin"



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