General Witterings -
Visitors to 'Rosy'

Don't get me wrong.  I very much enjoy having visitors on Rosy.  But ... Crikey!!!  Sweep sweep sweep.  Hoover hoover hoover.  Dust dust dust.

I generally take the minimalist approach to housework, believing that there are better things to do in life.  Kitchen floors, for example, get cleaned when one's feet start sticking to them.  But visitors expect and deserve something better.

I'm also a believer in this new fang chewy lark, and try to keep things reasonably tidy and orderly.  This is a problem on Rosy, where space is at a minimum, as everything needs putting away, which means that when anything is needed it is never to hand, but is at the back of a cupboard or at the bottom of a drawer.  I met a chap a while ago who has eradicated all cupboards from his boat - drawers only - it makes life much easier.

I recall a friend getting an extra Orderly Officer for "severe cheek".  He went to see his boss one day, whose desk was renowned for its tidiness, and on this day, it was spectacularly so.

Friend:  Crikey!

Boss (preening himself):  Tidy desk, tidy mind!

Friend:  Empty desk, empty mind?

Anyway, the VIPs are NOT Mullah Omar, nor Osama bin Laden, but (for those who know them) John and Judy James who are en route from their new house (near Eye in Suffolk.  No.  I don't know why they've moved there either - I hope to find out tomorrow) to their boat down on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Tomorrow night, when they are here, we will start with a Vin Mousseux (demi-sec), followed by fillet trout in a white wine, garlic and lemon sauce (with a splash of red wine vinegar (to make the sauce pinkish to match the fish), and maybe a mere drop of Pastis) accompanied by glazed kohlrabi dressed with finely chopped coriander.  A Rosé de Provence should set this off nicely.  Meanwhile, in the oven, the sliced apples will be baking away nicely.  They are bringing some re-supplies of Birds Custard Powder!!!!

This trout will make it a fishy week, as I cooked a wonderfully juicy wing of skate last Wednesday.

I hope they don't want to go out for a meal.  I had my monthly meal out last week.  I'm not sure what it was.  It was advertised as Tête de Veau (calf's head), but it was all flesh - totally boneless.  Monsieur le Chef said that it was the head, rolled around the tongue.  I couldn't find the ear.  Anyway, it was jolly nice - soft and glutinous.  Yummy.

(Vegetarians will find that their lives will improve if they skip the previous paragraph).

Briare is now just about ready for Christmas.  The lamp posts have illuminated decorations, whilst there are dozens of Christmas trees on the streets, each decorated with silver ribbon bows, and red, gold and silver parcels.  All jolly festive.  Bah!!  Humbug!!!

C'est tout!!

Toodle pip!!

Bill