Path by the old conduit
Our Ian was on the television this morning - the ITV "This Morning" show with Andi Peters and Rochelle Humes. He and Henry did a grand job - cooking their latest spaghetti sauce while promoting their new book - "MEAT". It's currently number one on "The Sunday Times" non-fiction list and number 14 of all books recently sold via Amazon in Great Britain.Their very first book, published in April 2018 and simply called "BOSH!", continues to sell steadily like an iconic vegan bible.
A view of Swinglee Farm across the heather moor
After that I had some irritating phone calls to make and e-mail messages to send so it was after half past two when I finally got out of the house and ordered Clint to transport me to Redmires reservoirs - about four miles away.
I was chomping at the bit - feeling as fit as a fiddle and desperate for a decent walk before teatime (American: dinner) . Walking is both a joy and a privilege and good for us in several ways.
I walked by a long conduit to one of my favourite places in the whole wide world. I call it Oaking Clough Reservoir and I have taken readers of this blog there before. Go here for example.
I met no other humans as I marched along but later, as I was getting back to Clint, I met an old man called Barry. In a very short while I found out a lot about him. He's 87 and he has cancer and he used to be a teacher at Totley College. His wife is disabled so he has to cook her meals.
The ruinous stone hut at Oaking Clough
Soon after I began chatting with Barry, he asked: "Are you from East Yorkshire?" and I told him that I was. He could recognise my accent even though I have lived in Sheffield since 1978. Such keen observation always surprises and delights me. I never wanted to change my accent. For me it is a badge of honour and steadfastness.
The black box is a grouse butt - next to Oaking Clough Reservoir
Invigorated, I drove home to prepare salad with a cheese and onion quiche from Marks and Spencers and chips (American: fries) that I made from scratch before coating in rapeseed oil (American: canola oil) and sticking in the oven for twenty minutes or so. This is one of Shirley's favourite meals.
The sheep said "baa!" but not "humbug!"
The heather is beautiful. I forgot to tell you that my daughter was on TV as well, Good Morning America. It was for smash burger tacos.
ReplyDeleteYou had a beautiful walk today. Thanks, for sharing.
Whoa! Fantastic news about your daughter. She certainly seems passionate about her cooking and that's vital.
DeleteI’ve canned a lot of spaghetti sauce this year and all of it meatless. I do add a bit of MSG to give it a bit of Unami flavor.
ReplyDeleteNutritional yeast might also help.
DeleteI would love that meal although now with Covid, I have little appetite. I feel fine and can still taste (fingers crossed that lasts) but I don't feel much like eating. That's a beautiful place and I can see why you love it. Way to go, Ian and Henry!
ReplyDeleteOh dear Margaret! Sorry to hear that COVID has embraced you. Is this your first time?
DeleteYes, it is and I'm doing fine. My boyfriend is struggling more with the symptoms. When they tell you that this variant (Eris, a relative of Omicron) is extremely contagious and quick, they're not lying! My 3-year grandson brought it from daycare (he was mostly asymptomatic) and gave it to his parents. BF and I had dinner over there Thursday night; everyone was feeling great. Friday, my daughter texted me that she was feeling like garbage, but with a negative Covid test. However, Saturday morning she was positive as were the rest of us. Mine started out with a bit of congestion Friday night. It's mainly that I'm going STIR CRAZY in my house. I've even started cleaning out and organizing the cabinets in my kitchen! By the way, I'm fully vaccinated and got my last booster in May.
DeleteAt least it is a quick one. Can you sue your 3 year old grandson for bringing it home?
DeleteHere in Canada we have regional accents as well. I live in an area with a large military establishment. As a result, we hear the differences here and there in public spaces. I love hearing the Newfoundlanders talk. I worked with two ladies, both named Barbara, both from Newfoundland. Their accents (from different parts of the island at that) were musical.
ReplyDeleteI guess that your accent is from The Ottawa Valley?
DeleteThe heather is well and truly in bloom. A grouse butt...I not even going to try.
ReplyDeleteA very good walk not spoilt by pushing a buggy around.
A grouse butt is just a roofless shelter where grouse shooters can crouch down preparing to blast those poor grouse birds out of the sky.
DeleteSo, let me get this right. Do you fry the french fries (chips in England) and then put them in the oven? Or do you soak them in cold water, drain and dry them and then just oil and pop them into the oven?
ReplyDeleteI spent a couple of hours today trying for inspiration for a painting. Okay if I paint the picture of the old stone hut?
My chip method is my own. I toss the raw potato fingers in rapeseed oil and then lay them spread out on an oven tray. I turn them once and after twenty five minutes they are usually done. Shirley and I don't have a deep fat fryer because of the smells.
DeleteI will of course be honoured if you use any of my photos to inspire painting Donna.
I can hear the pride in your words when you write about Ian's success! How terrific for them!
ReplyDeleteI love these photos from your hike and especially like that stone hut. Would that have been a shelter for shepherds or animals? Or was that an actual little home?
I believe it was a shelter for both grouse shooters and water board workers.
DeleteI have ordered MEAT from our local bookstore--I loathe lining the pockets of Mr. Bezos--and cannot wait for its arrival and the chance to try some new foods.
ReplyDeleteI will tell Ian that a funny guy from Camden bought a copy. Of course there is a Camden in North London.
DeleteYou do live in a beautiful part of the world. And your tea/dinner/supper sounds ideal for a post ramble repast.
ReplyDeleteKind response. Thank you SM*
Delete"This does not stand for sado-masochist.
You won't be surprised to read that I love that stone hut. Have you been up close and had a look inside?
ReplyDeleteThe heather in bloom is beautiful. I have a small heather plant in a windowbox, and right now, it is looking very fresh, green and pink.
Well done again, Ian and Henry!
Your meal sounds very nice. No wonder it is one of Shirley's favourites!
Yes. I have been inside that hut numerous times. It is semi-detached with two fireplaces. As the years pass it deteriorates even though it was strongly built over a hundred years ago.
DeleteBeautiful heather! You call it Oaking Clough Reservoir -- is that not its actual name? Or does it not have a name?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can deduce, it has no "official" name so I named after the small nearby plantation called unsurprisingly Oaking Clough Plantation. Other people have started to use the name.
DeleteThe heather does look glorious, what a pleasure to walk amongst it. The sheep looks friendly enough.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting way to cook chips, though I can't remember the last time I ate any.
I have been making them like that for four or five years now. I guess they are my own version of oven chips.
DeleteSo you just walked there and back and haven't yet spent a night in the old cottage? I would need plenty of goose down clothing and a heap of furs to stay in such a place. And a nice warm fire. I'm not the tough outdoorsy type at all.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't sleep in there as it smells of piss.
DeleteWe meet some characters on our rambles YP.
ReplyDeleteAye we do that lad.
DeleteAre you still rhotic?
ReplyDeleteNo. I am e-rhotic according to my missus.
DeleteThinking further, I bet you sound like our friend Barbara from Roos. She can say "Withernsea" like no other.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Scotland and felt homesick, I used to listen out for a Radio 4 weather presenter called Paula Robinson hoping she would tell us "There'll be blustery showers on exposed coasts". Wonderful.
She may have been speaking in e-rhotic code.
DeleteSuch a pretty sheep.
ReplyDeleteSorry Mr Penguin - she is betrothed to another.
DeleteA lovely walk and thank you for the picture of that gorgeous sheep.
ReplyDeleteIan just keeps on with it, doesn't he? How proud you must be of him!