Motorway Food Torture

A solid 5 hours drive to Cambridge, which should only really be 2 and a half if you go by the AA route planner. I did expect 3 and a bit (what with the M25 carpark to join) but 5, wow!
But worth every hour to see a beautiful friend and her more beautiful daughter! And upon arrival a walk directly to food...and a bit of wine.
Today's drive was supposed to be 4 and a half hours so I didn't mind that it actually was. However, I unfortunately had to have my lunch on the way. And being unprepared, as not having left from home I had to join the sales execs, the lorry drivers, the bewildered tourists and the families on the way to visit granny at the dreaded motorway service station.

I had a choice of Burger King (a no, no), Costa coffee (overpriced dodgy toasties) and WHSmiths (a chocolate and crisps overdose?). They're sad, miserable places, all I wanted to do was get back in the car. But I was starving so had to eat a cheese toastie from costa with a fizzy water and a blank look so I'd fit in with everyone else.
I have stopped at a service station with an M&S once, I was so delighted you'd have thought I'd pulled into Fortnum & Mason drive through.
I think this country could try a little harder to make those long journeys (usually because of road works) less agonising by giving us a good reason to stop, and not just because your knee has ceased up, tummy making noises that travel sweets can't fix or bladder calling. Mind you, don't get me started on what food nightmares the Australian servos (as they'd call them) are. Anyone who's been on the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Alice will tell all.

The Slindon Pumpkin

Having not been in Sussex that long I was a new to the Slindon-Pumpkin-visit one must participate in before Halloween.
On this bright Monday, what great weather we’re getting this Autumn, I set off to find Slindon and the pumpkins. I gathered I was on the right track when I couldn’t park in this little village, lots of dirty 4x4’s (yes, people actually can claim to need them out here, unlike in Chelsea) and children everywhere. It’s half term so they were out in force. I parked, followed the crowds and arrived at the farm.
Fantastic! The roof is covered in pumpkins, a picture of butterflies and flowers. At Christmas we always drive out to see a particular house, one of those slightly mental OTT houses with snowmen, santa’s, sleighs, stars etc. Electricity bill-wow! I’ll be back to see the pumpkins, very clever and a must on the Sussex calendar.

The Great Wine Debate

Involved in yet another wine debate at the weekend. I was torn though. I don't really believe old world is better than new world or that any particular grape variety is the best.

I think every wine has it's place, well nearly every, surely no one was really meant to enjoy Black Tower. Blue Nun on the other hand did have a purpose, but that time is now gone, and so should the wine be.

But this debate was old against new. I live with a new world fanatic, I also have one as a Dad. I don't control the wine cellar in my house, I am too busy in the kitchen. I am always asked though, 'what would you like?', 'I'd like you to decide' is my usual reply. This way I don't need to go into the whole Cab goes better with lamb and Shiraz with beef, and this rose will be perfect for Thai, when are you next doing Thai? Or what about the sparkling shiraz, shall we have that with turkey on Christmas day? Or the semillon, when did you say you'd do that scallop dish.

I usually have to find the recipe to match P's chosen wine (not the 'normal' other way round). He does have an excellent cellar (and palate for that matter) so I won't complain, I suppose it makes an excellent cooking challenge for me, something I can't help but enjoy.

Not Drinking Coffee

I've been opting for tea rather than coffee for a few months now. I was deluded into thinking I'd loose a few centimeters round my waist (so could fit into new Boden skirt) from cutting out half a pint of semi-skimmed milk 4/5 times a week. It doesn't work so don't bother if you enjoy your coffee.

Coffee is a sad drink in the UK, we just don't really get it right. Having spent a year and a half enjoying the amazing coffee in Australia I now know why they snort at our sad efforts. Toby's, one of the most famous and well regarded coffee shops is where I spent my hard earned dollars. Smooth, rich, dark (and that was just the barista), this is where I learned how to make coffee and how to appreciate it.

When I pop up to Borough market (my old home) I always go to Monmouth Coffee, yes that queue is worth every drop. They don't burn the milk, they don't scald your mouth and it's not too cold, they don't make it too milky, they know what a flat white is, they are simply professional. It takes me back to morning coffee before a days work at the Wine Society, in a slightly edgy part of town, Wooloomooloo. Like drinking velvet, with the sun on your face......Mmm the memories.

Worthing 13th Beer Festival

Being a regular to the Great British Beer Festival held in Earls Court each August, P and I went to a local one in Worthing, on the smaller side of course, but still run by the dedicated men (sadly very few women) of CAMRA. So Friday night, in the rain, we headed out with empty bellies, full purses and high spirits (and me with pen and pad for notes!)
Oh, what joy, on arrival we received our pint glass for free (no £3 fee like in London), then passed a tombola; do you remember them from school fates? P had never seen one and laughed at the funny word, say it again, “tombola” I said, then though, yes what a strange word. It is an Italian word, meaning that spinning ‘tombola’ thing the raffle tickets sit in. Quite glamorous really, why we don’t just use a bucket and call it a raffle, I don’t know.
I won, I never win, but I won! A bottle of beer from 1977; it’s to celebrate The Silver Jubilee of our Queenie, 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Drinkable? Doesn’t even have the alcohol content P noted, didn’t we just get away with murder before all these silly laws.

Back to beer. The joy of joys – Yorkshire happened to be the ‘guest feature’ of the event. We started off on the pale, wheaty, lighter styles, Wheat and See for me, Canary for P, Festival Ale for me, Pin-Tailed Duck for P. Then to the dark beers; The Dark Side of the Moon and Brimstone. And finally the stouts Gorlovka Imperial Stout and Stallion. They only serve halves or pints. We usually have thirds at the GBBF so felt quite woozy and very happy that home wasn’t far to go (via the best curry in town of course).