New Week

Dorothy rang last night after the Rome conference. Things OK and Julian had a successful trip to Barcelona.

I plan to have lunch this week with Romy, to have a curry on Saturday night, and perhaps to have Madeleine here for lunch on Sunday. Dorothy assures me that no one invites people to lunch or dinner at home any more and they all go to restaurants. This is an alarming trend which must be stopped at once. Apart from the financial outlay, or the danger of eating at inferior cafes, eating at one's leisure at home is much more fun. Cooking is also fun, especially if one chooses simple dishes with good wines. I managed to resist the temptation to book yet another Groupon for the tasting menu at Les Trois Garcons. This was on offer today and was a huge temptation, but I knew I could not really afford it. Though it is only £60 for two, by the time you have purchased a modest wine, bought coffees and paid the service charge on the full (discounted at over 50%) amount, it does in fact come to £120, which though I think is fair for what is on offer, is beyond my pauper's purse. Not to mention the difficulty of finding someone reliable to dine with me - they charge 25% for non attenders. Ah well, farewell Les Trois Garcons - they had just started to recognise me when I appeared there.

I have quite enjoyed cooking for the few friends I have, and think they have enjoyed themselves too. Fortunately, despite 'Come Dine' and all the cooking programmes on TV, there are still some people who do not expect a cheffy presentation of fanciful food, and who still enjoy 'plain' home cooking.

Despite this I find myself glued to the TV's Hungry Frenchman. This is Raymond Blanc, of whom my mother was very fond. She went to Le Manoir when it first opened, and I was happy to give her a couple of birthday lunches there. Seems M. Blanc showed her around his kitchen gardens and found time to chat about them to her, which she greatly appreciated.

I have to say that whatever he may be like in his private life, his warmth and great enthusiasm about food comes over really well in the programme. I particularly enjoyed the extract from Lyons about eating andouillettes, which was very funnily parodied by Harry Hill last night.

This reminded me of my second husband, when eating out in France, who, when told that English people did not like andouillettes, insisted on ordering one. When it arrived it literally smelled vilely of steaming poo. Without expression he ate the lot, somehow maintaining his equanimity to an extent, but I wish I had taken a snap of the expression on his face at the time. Needless to say, I had taken the waiter's advice and ordered a steak.

Unsuccessful Attempt at Thai Dinner

Having bedecked myself in diamonds and pearls, set forth for my Thai dinner. Unfortunately I had put the wrong night in my diary. 'Senile decay' they used to call it. Quite rightly it would seem, in my case.

Fortunately I had the last of some soup I had made, and defrosted some Stilton which I crumbled into a toastie. Divesting myself of my jewels and smart dress, I watched some catch-up programmes on my ipad before reading some old Wilkie Collins things which I had downloaded for free. Currently reading After Dark, which is good fun once you get used to the old-fashioned language. Downloaded some more Gaskell too so I shall have stuff to read without spending money. Wish I could download free food from Ocado.

Weight stayed the same this week. Although I managed a couple of lower calorie days, I suspect I overate on the other days. I shall attempt this supposedly successful method at weight loss for one more week, though the willpower is somewhat lacking, before no doubt reverting to my former system, which though extremely slow, seems more reliable. I may have to reduce the calories generally, since I have been plateauing for far too long. We shall see.

Dorothy and Julian due back today or tonight. Have missed them.

Unsuccessful Attempt at Starvation

was supposed to eat 500 calories today but ate 900. Still no homephone from O2. I keep thinking it will somehow miraculously reconnect itself but they have spitefully kept it off despite my having to pay for the service. The longer the disconnection lasts, the more I think it is deliberately aimed at making me ring premium numbers on the O2 mobile.

Quiet day and a few mails from Nibby and Pierre in Canada. Feeling rather jaded for some reason. Dorothy in Italy and Julian in Spain until Sunday.

Domestic Disasters (continued)

The boiler locked out again this morning when I was trying to run a bath. Reset it and it now seems OK. I have lost the turquoise specs I was going to wear today so I am hunting through the whole house for these, so far without success. If I find these I can go out and do a bit of minor shopping and replenish my cash supply after the £60 payment to the dental technician, who does not take cards. I am spending far too much, but most of this seems to be on essentials, such as visits to the dentist etc. so not sure quite what to do about it. Go toothless, I suppose.

It's a case of cry, and you cry alone this morning.

Maybe things will improve later. I could do with a laugh.

Dentist and Rainy Day

Visit to dentist involving another £60. Christ, how does anyone live on a State pension? Good thing I didn't have to pay O2 a hundred and thirty to visit and possibly fix the mess they caused. Would rather do without the phone. So still no home phone of course.

Pissing with rain outside, but fond memories of Julian's most excellent pancakes last night which helps with the misery. I wish I could make these really well. I may try some time, though I expect a lifetime's experience would help. I have only tried sporadically.

Earlier I planted several hyacinths in the garden. I have a pretty blue hyacinth in a pot inside still and some mini daffodils from M & S which were only £1 a pot. So pretty and the hyacinths will scent the living room. Amaryllis still flowering away but will be over in a week or two.

The birds have certainly been making inroads into the fat balls in the garden. I bought a huge box of fifty, so have been replenishing them almost daily. The fish are enjoying the new weed I put in the pond. The little dark fish is growing a bit and becoming slightly more orange, which is now coming through the dark brown scales.

Really Makes you Sick

Now Blogspot has taken away one of my posts. It is stuck in drafts and there appears to be no way to actually publish it so it stays there. I may give up this fruitless blog. Ah I have made it come back. Unfortunately without the editing I had attempted. Never mind, things make sense with it there. I must go and lie down for a bit...

And On...

So I have given up for a day. No house phone so unless people ring me I am relying on the mobile. As soon as Tesco get some cheapies in I will invest in one of these just to be on the safe side for when O2 spring another unpleasant surprise on me.

At least I have been able to phone the boiler people. The boiler keeps shutting itself down and I keep resetting it. The engineer is coming on 5 March so let's hope it holds out until then, especially as Nibby is due to arrive on 8th.

Last night Julian invited me for pancakes. Julian is going to Barcelona for a few days today, and Dorothy is also going abroad for a conference. They will both be back on Sunday.

We had borscht, which was delicious, followed by the best pancakes I have ever eaten - lovely and thin and firm with crispy edges. Julian tells me to use 8 tablespoons of (I think) self raising flour, adding a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, two eggs, a teaspoon of white wine vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of baking powder and slowly pour milk in until when you hold a spoon up the mixture is thin, but forms a continuous ribbon. Leave overnight preferably before using. Julian uses Barbados type sugar and does not toss the pancakes but turns them carefully lifting them with a wooden flat spoon edge. This seems to make a lacy, very professional thin and gorgeous pancake.

Served any way you like, but we had preserved strawberries and sour cream, lemon, sugar, maple syrup and various jams. Fabulous.

Dentist today for new false gnashers.