Goldeneye to Go to Sea and Other Chaos
Regulars will know that Tuesday is my day in Horncastle and the only day that I actually have a plan or am required to be somewhere or do something.
The day started both well and badly !
I logged on this morning to more book orders than I’ve had in the last 2 weeks! This dented my schedule. Eventually I get on the road feeling somewhat put out. These feelings were mollified when I was safely ensconced in a book shop warming the Goldeneye paws by the stove then eating a fabulous lunch followed by Gougere - idyllic !
Suddenly the sky falls in ………… An alpha male turns up - a cuckoo in the Goldeneye nest !
There are a few men who are in the higher level Man Points league, as such we are able to recognise fellow high pointers, it’s a bit like freemasons recognizing fellow masons.
This could be potentially problematic and can lead to us reverting to our primate origins with a need to establish who is the alpha male.
In this case confrontation was avoided, I immediately took to this Much Travelled Man and remember liking the cut of his jib having met him once before.
This shows the value of man points - I quickly became aware that my MP tally was inferior and had no choice but to accept secondary status !
I was cowed but not humbled.
Sailing the Seven Seas gives you a large amount of man points, if you are a captain of a ship the figure goes through the roof.
Any MP paying escapades I may have had simply do not compare to captaining a huge ship around the Cape of Good Hope in 100 ft waves !
The good news is, I may be able to go to sea. This could be just what I am looking for, naturally not as a job but an experience and a MP boost. I’m not sure what positions would be available for me (who said ‘your turn over the barrel’?) but I quite fancy being Deputy Captain.
So there we go, it has been something of a traumatic day for your host, though not as traumatic as it was for the rabbit I ran over on the way back, Goldeneye brought down a peg or two !
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 30, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Rod, thank god the Spitfire pilot couldn’t make it today or you’d have slipped further down the ratings! We will give you fair warning next time our astronaut acquaintance sky-dives into town and threatens to crash the gathering … otherwise you’ll always be #1 to us …. apart from that is, Ray Mears or LB, who we suspect would not be so easily enamoured of our gougere!!
WoE
Rod said,
January 30, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
WoE
absolutely ! The presence of someone who has flown a spitfire and a jet fighter plane would probably have rendered me impotent - such is the severity of the situation - thinking about it, probably a good thing
LB would have undoubtably given the gougere the culinary thumbs up, as to the LB man point situation; doing shoulder shrugs with 400lb weights builds not only muscle but serious MPs
Best
A well fed, fat Rod
Little Brother said,
January 31, 2007 @ 12:00 am
WoE,
As you can see from the time of this post I have returned to work. Not for me the pleasantries of amiable chat over coffee and gougeres. Oh no! My first night back is the busiest restaurant dinner service of any night in January in the hotels history. Stir into the pot, if you will, the most annoying individual I have ever had the misfortune to watch carry my food out and you will perhaps understand why I refrain from calling in on your soirees, I am just too irate to speak by the second day of the week.
To think that I turned down a place at Oxford studying brain surgery in latin for a city & guilds course in general catering..what was I thinking?
LB
ps I am sure the gougeres were delicious. Not all chefs think they are untouchable, my best mate cooked me the best oxtail stew I’ve ever eaten last week and Rod’s no slacker either. It’s nice that you bother and chefs like myself appreciate it more than you might think.
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 31, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
LB,
We can imagine your frustration …. souffles wait for no man etc., which is what we keep telling the more demanding members of the coven. That is precisely why that hatch on the old Star Trek seemed so fabulous …. press the button and out came a feast. Today we found ourselves in Louth on business but while there could not resist a trip to the fishmongers to buy a large monk fish tail. Delighted we were (before we saw the price!) but now what shall we do with it?
WoE
Little Brother said,
January 31, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
WoE,
Keep the thick pieces for roasting-everyone seems to wrap them in parma ham. As the fillet begins to taper towards the tail cut it and cut the flesh into strips and wok fry it. Add to a mixed salad and season with:
(owner edit: link removed, reason blackhat spammer link dropping)
The thick pieces can be rolled in olive oil, chopped provencale herbs and crushed pepper, roasted and sliced on a greek salad or with risotto etc.
Don’t forget to peel the skin off first-it comes away very easily-start at the thick end and pull back!
LB
Rod said,
January 31, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
LB
will you stop spamming my blog !
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 31, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
LB,
There seems to be some interference on our foodie channel, Rod keeps getting in the way! Thanks for the tip, think we’ll have a go at that ….. Witches love Thai food. We often make risotto so that’s an idea next time …… have kept the bone for stock.
WoE
Little Brother said,
January 31, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
WoE,
Who’s this Rod fella? His name keeps cropping up on our little chat room-tell him to find his own blog. Did I mention my other pages that may be of interest to you. For more information go to www…….!!!!
LB aka Mr.Spamalot
ps monkfish is great cooked in tempura batter with the suggested dressing as a dipping sauce or even better in a Vietnamese pho (soup) Don’t worry, I’ll spam you a link when the miserable old bugger isn’t watching.
Rod said,
February 1, 2007 @ 9:04 am
LB
on a serious note, link removed because you really don’t want too many links from one source, never mind blog comments with no follows on them
Best
Rod
Witches of Eastwick said,
February 1, 2007 @ 9:13 am
LB,
Our cauldron is ready to receive the pho recipe …… another thing Witches love is tempura. Tonight LB when Rod is catching up on some sleep we’ll be able discuss the finer points of oriental cuisine.
WoE
p.s. something makes us think Rod will be sleeping with one eye open, arms firmly wrapped around his computer …..
Rod said,
February 1, 2007 @ 9:42 am
WoE
You’ll be starting that conversation at abot 2.45 am then ?
The Big R never sleeps !