If you'll be watching most of the world cup games at home, why not add a bit of flavour by having snacks/drinks from one of the countries involved? We did this for the last European championships and it was pretty cool. Even my girlfriend got into it (a bit).
Anyway, I'll post a few suggestions on the blog, to get you started. Nothing too hard chaps.
ps. In-Ger-Laaand, In-Ger-Laaand, In-Ger-Laaand!!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tamworth (Waveney) to St Annes
1. Turn right onto Birds Bush Road.
2. After 292 yards take the 3rd Exit off the roundabout into B5440 (Marlborough Way).
( Tamworth )
3. After 0.7 miles take the 1st Exit off the BIG roundabout into the A5.
4. Follow the A5 straight to the M6. Take M6 North.
5. Follow M6 for 90-odd miles.
6. Leave the M6, and join the M55 at the M6 J32
7. This feeds straight onto the roundabout with the helter skelter sculpture - approach in left lane for shortcut road to the left
8. At next roundabout, go straight on
2. After 292 yards take the 3rd Exit off the roundabout into B5440 (Marlborough Way).
( Tamworth )
3. After 0.7 miles take the 1st Exit off the BIG roundabout into the A5.
4. Follow the A5 straight to the M6. Take M6 North.
5. Follow M6 for 90-odd miles.
6. Leave the M6, and join the M55 at the M6 J32
7. This feeds straight onto the roundabout with the helter skelter sculpture - approach in left lane for shortcut road to the left
8. At next roundabout, go straight on
St Annes to Tamworth (Waveney)
1. Up Queensway
2. Turn right onto Progress Way
3. At 1st roundabout, straight on to Preston M55
4. At 2nd roundabout, take a right for M55 Preston
5. After Preston, hang right for M6 South (junc 32)
6. Carry on M6 for 90-odd miles, try not to fall asleep.
7. Take junc 12 turn off signed "Cannock, Wolverhampton, A5"
8. Follow A5 towards Tamworth.
9. After crossing river, ignore next junction but turn off at the following junction.
10. Take 3rd turn off from the BIG roundabout, signed "Glascote & Wilncote"
11. Follow Marlborough Way down to roundabout.
12. Take 1st left.
2. Turn right onto Progress Way
3. At 1st roundabout, straight on to Preston M55
4. At 2nd roundabout, take a right for M55 Preston
5. After Preston, hang right for M6 South (junc 32)
6. Carry on M6 for 90-odd miles, try not to fall asleep.
7. Take junc 12 turn off signed "Cannock, Wolverhampton, A5"
8. Follow A5 towards Tamworth.
9. After crossing river, ignore next junction but turn off at the following junction.
10. Take 3rd turn off from the BIG roundabout, signed "Glascote & Wilncote"
11. Follow Marlborough Way down to roundabout.
12. Take 1st left.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Hazleton Laboratories (now Covance)
I applied to be on a drug trial at Hazleton Laboratories (now Covance) sometime late 80s. I think I would have had to be in there 2 weeks and got about £900 for my trouble. They took a blood test, then called me back to say I was perfectly healthy but didn't fall within the exact parameters they wanted for the trial. I could've applied for other trials but it actually felt like a lucky escape! Even with a history of other forms of test beforehand, human trials are used because there may still be nasty side effects.
Looks like they also have an animal testing lab in Harrogate
"Amongst the animals Covance Laboratories Inc. supply are its own breed of dog, the trademarked "Mini-Mongrelä" (the mind boggles), the registered Elite New Zealand WhiteÒ rabbit and the "MutaäMouse", as well as other purpose-bred canines, guinea pigs and non-human primates. Covance is also known to be involved in importing wild-caught primates"
Looks like they also have an animal testing lab in Harrogate
"Amongst the animals Covance Laboratories Inc. supply are its own breed of dog, the trademarked "Mini-Mongrelä" (the mind boggles), the registered Elite New Zealand WhiteÒ rabbit and the "MutaäMouse", as well as other purpose-bred canines, guinea pigs and non-human primates. Covance is also known to be involved in importing wild-caught primates"
Sunday, March 05, 2006
History Machine
"The Rock and Roll Years" TV programme linked famous songs of the past with the current events of the time, to put them in some kind of social context. Very popular programme.
How about an online tool that links your family photos with lots of different information about the day each was taken? This could include weather conditions, news stories, tv listings, pop chart, bestselling book chart etc. This might be a Flickr mash-up?
One problem lies in finding archives of some of these features. No TV listings archive exists, for UK programmes at any rate. Someone would have to manually trawl through old listings magazines and newspapers in public libraries to create some of these archives.
I'm going to email the BBC and see what they think about the idea. They may well keep old weather data for one thing.
How about an online tool that links your family photos with lots of different information about the day each was taken? This could include weather conditions, news stories, tv listings, pop chart, bestselling book chart etc. This might be a Flickr mash-up?
One problem lies in finding archives of some of these features. No TV listings archive exists, for UK programmes at any rate. Someone would have to manually trawl through old listings magazines and newspapers in public libraries to create some of these archives.
I'm going to email the BBC and see what they think about the idea. They may well keep old weather data for one thing.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Quality Ales - Beer and Brewery Guide
http://www.qualityales.com
Don't agree with the crap mark for Spitfire though - it's not too bad.
Don't agree with the crap mark for Spitfire though - it's not too bad.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Saverstrip
from a forum thread...
"Way back the bus companies here tried out an idea to speed up boarding, they sold a piece of card called a saverstrip and when you got on the bus you pushed it into a machine that went Ker-Ching so that everyone knew you'd paid. The TV ads for it had the most f*ck irritating jingle ever:
Ker-Ching a work
Ker-Ching a shops
Ker-Ching a cheaper
Ker-Ching a saverstrip
The joke was that after a while the bit of the machines that made the Ching gave up, so they all went Ker-click."
"Way back the bus companies here tried out an idea to speed up boarding, they sold a piece of card called a saverstrip and when you got on the bus you pushed it into a machine that went Ker-Ching so that everyone knew you'd paid. The TV ads for it had the most f*ck irritating jingle ever:
Ker-Ching a work
Ker-Ching a shops
Ker-Ching a cheaper
Ker-Ching a saverstrip
The joke was that after a while the bit of the machines that made the Ching gave up, so they all went Ker-click."
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Dog agility
Years ago my auntie had a mongrel dog called Laddie. He was the smartest dog I've known. One time he was taken along to some dog agility sessions where my auntie's alsation and a load of other alsations were supposed to be trained to run through tubes, climb up and down frames, that kind of thing. It was for alsations only, so Laddie wasn't allowed to join in. He had to sit and watch these dumb alsations dicking around, running off in wrong directions or just refusing to co-operate.
At the end of the final session he got off the lead, ran onto the course and completed all the obstacles without stopping. After this performance, he ran back to his starting spot and sat down as if nothing had happened. It was like he was saying "I'll show you how it's done!"
They tried to get him to do it again but he'd lost interest.
At the end of the final session he got off the lead, ran onto the course and completed all the obstacles without stopping. After this performance, he ran back to his starting spot and sat down as if nothing had happened. It was like he was saying "I'll show you how it's done!"
They tried to get him to do it again but he'd lost interest.
Little Man
Aparently my grandad used to sing this to me (can't remember it though)...
LITTLE MAN, YOU'VE HAD A BUSY DAY
(Mabel Wayne / Al Hoffman / Maurice Sigler)
Evenin' breezes sighin', moon is in the sky
Little man, it's time for bed
Daddy's little hero is tired and wants to cry
Now, come along and rest your weary head
Little man, you're cryin', I know why you're blue
Someone took your kiddy-car away
You better go to sleep now
Little man, you've had a busy day
Johnny won your marbles, tell you what we'll do
Dad'll get you new ones right away
Better go to sleep now
Little man, you've had a busy day
You've been playin' soldier, the battle has been won
The enemy is out of sight
Come along there soldier, put away your gun
The war is over for tonight
Time to stop your schemin', time your day was through
Can't you hear the bugle softly say
Time you should be dreamin'
Little man, you've had a busy day
- recorded by various artists inc:
Emil Coleman - 1934
Perry Como - 1958
Sarah Vaughan & Count Basie - 1961
Bing Crosby - ?
My bet is my grandad was singing Bing's version
LITTLE MAN, YOU'VE HAD A BUSY DAY
(Mabel Wayne / Al Hoffman / Maurice Sigler)
Evenin' breezes sighin', moon is in the sky
Little man, it's time for bed
Daddy's little hero is tired and wants to cry
Now, come along and rest your weary head
Little man, you're cryin', I know why you're blue
Someone took your kiddy-car away
You better go to sleep now
Little man, you've had a busy day
Johnny won your marbles, tell you what we'll do
Dad'll get you new ones right away
Better go to sleep now
Little man, you've had a busy day
You've been playin' soldier, the battle has been won
The enemy is out of sight
Come along there soldier, put away your gun
The war is over for tonight
Time to stop your schemin', time your day was through
Can't you hear the bugle softly say
Time you should be dreamin'
Little man, you've had a busy day
- recorded by various artists inc:
Emil Coleman - 1934
Perry Como - 1958
Sarah Vaughan & Count Basie - 1961
Bing Crosby - ?
My bet is my grandad was singing Bing's version
Monday, January 02, 2006
St Annes to Beeston, Leeds
1. Go up Queensway
2. At the major junction, turn right onto Progress Way towards Preson M55
3. At first roundabout take M55 Preston turn off (roughly 11 o clock - more or less straight on)
4. Next roundabout, take M55 Preston turn off which is to the right
5. You are now on the M55, therefore 70 MPH limit
6. Just past Preston turn off hang right for M6 South - Junc 32
7. Get in 1st or 2nd lane for M61 at Junction 30. Note: If in 2nd lane don't panic at the turn off, the turn off is staggered till after some hatching.
Now on M61. Just before Manchester we will be joining M62.
8. Hang right at Junction 2 for M62, then stay in left lane as it forks.
9. Turn left at junction 28 'Leeds Dewsbury' & signed for White Rose Centre
10. Pull into left lane on exit - first left at roundabout for White Rose
11. Straight through next lights.
12. Pull into right lane and then go straight on at next roundabout.
13. Stay in right lane and go straight through next roundabout also.
14. Stay in right lane and follow fork to the right for Beeston.
15. Just before Tommy Wass be careful because cars from left sometimes cross over to right lane. Pull into left lane before Tommy Wass.
The rest is obvious.
2. At the major junction, turn right onto Progress Way towards Preson M55
3. At first roundabout take M55 Preston turn off (roughly 11 o clock - more or less straight on)
4. Next roundabout, take M55 Preston turn off which is to the right
5. You are now on the M55, therefore 70 MPH limit
6. Just past Preston turn off hang right for M6 South - Junc 32
7. Get in 1st or 2nd lane for M61 at Junction 30. Note: If in 2nd lane don't panic at the turn off, the turn off is staggered till after some hatching.
Now on M61. Just before Manchester we will be joining M62.
8. Hang right at Junction 2 for M62, then stay in left lane as it forks.
9. Turn left at junction 28 'Leeds Dewsbury' & signed for White Rose Centre
10. Pull into left lane on exit - first left at roundabout for White Rose
11. Straight through next lights.
12. Pull into right lane and then go straight on at next roundabout.
13. Stay in right lane and go straight through next roundabout also.
14. Stay in right lane and follow fork to the right for Beeston.
15. Just before Tommy Wass be careful because cars from left sometimes cross over to right lane. Pull into left lane before Tommy Wass.
The rest is obvious.
Beeston, Leeds to St Annes
1. Up Dewsbury Road in left hand lane
2. Straight on through roundabouts till roundabout with M62 West marked.
Pull into right lane before this, then right lane again when extra lane opens up.
Let markings for M62 on lanes guide (once on roundabout you move into 2nd to right hand lane, go round till nearly doubled back on yourself then follow M62 turn off markings)
3. Keep heading for Manchester
4. At Junction 18 don't turn or you'll take hours to get home! Keep in right 2 lanes which has arrow for M60.
5. Turn off at juntion 15 for M61 (follow Preston signs basically)
6. Get into 1st or 2nd lanes (marked M61/Preston) - may be junction 10?
7. At junction 9, move to middle lane for Blackpool (as signed)
8. Follow M55 sign (straight on) when it is indicated at junction ?
9. Turn Junction 32 for M55
10. This feeds straight onto the roundabout with the helter skelter sculpture - approach in left lane for shortcut road to the left
11. At next roundabout, go straight on
The rest is obvious!
2. Straight on through roundabouts till roundabout with M62 West marked.
Pull into right lane before this, then right lane again when extra lane opens up.
Let markings for M62 on lanes guide (once on roundabout you move into 2nd to right hand lane, go round till nearly doubled back on yourself then follow M62 turn off markings)
3. Keep heading for Manchester
4. At Junction 18 don't turn or you'll take hours to get home! Keep in right 2 lanes which has arrow for M60.
5. Turn off at juntion 15 for M61 (follow Preston signs basically)
6. Get into 1st or 2nd lanes (marked M61/Preston) - may be junction 10?
7. At junction 9, move to middle lane for Blackpool (as signed)
8. Follow M55 sign (straight on) when it is indicated at junction ?
9. Turn Junction 32 for M55
10. This feeds straight onto the roundabout with the helter skelter sculpture - approach in left lane for shortcut road to the left
11. At next roundabout, go straight on
The rest is obvious!
Spicy carrot cake with lemon icing
http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,1587,1645995,00.html
225g grated carrots
125g raisins
6 tbsp olive oil
125g soft brown sugar, preferably rapadura
225g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp grated nutmeg
1 tsp powdered cinnamon
8 tbsp real maple syrup
4 tbsp fresh orange juice
For the icing:
175g icing sugar
Juice and rind of 1 lemon
Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/gas mark 3 and line an 18cm cake tin with nonstick paper. Mix the carrots, raisins, oil and sugar in a bowl, then add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple syrup and orange juice, and mix until everything is well combined - it will be quite sticky.
Spoon into the prepared tin, level the top, and bake for an hour and a quarter, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin.
Mix the icing sugar with the lemon rind and enough of the juice (about six to eight teaspoons) to make a thick coating consistency. Spread over the top of the cake and leave to set.
225g grated carrots
125g raisins
6 tbsp olive oil
125g soft brown sugar, preferably rapadura
225g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp grated nutmeg
1 tsp powdered cinnamon
8 tbsp real maple syrup
4 tbsp fresh orange juice
For the icing:
175g icing sugar
Juice and rind of 1 lemon
Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/gas mark 3 and line an 18cm cake tin with nonstick paper. Mix the carrots, raisins, oil and sugar in a bowl, then add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple syrup and orange juice, and mix until everything is well combined - it will be quite sticky.
Spoon into the prepared tin, level the top, and bake for an hour and a quarter, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin.
Mix the icing sugar with the lemon rind and enough of the juice (about six to eight teaspoons) to make a thick coating consistency. Spread over the top of the cake and leave to set.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Nachos Recipe
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001636nachos.php
copied here in case link dies...
Tortilla chips - extra thick - 1 14-oz bag
Refried beans - 2-3 cups
Cheddar Cheese - 1/2 lb, grated, about 3 cups
Pickled jalapeno peppers - 4 peppers, sliced
Optional, but highly recommended
Salsa
Guacamole
Sour cream
Cilantro, chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange a layer of tortilla chips along the bottom of a wide, shallow baking pan. It will make things easier if this baking pan also can be used as a serving pan, such as the ceramic platter shown in the photo above. The layer of tortilla chips can be a couple chips thick. Spread the refried beans over the chips (this is why you need extra thick chips, so they don't break when encountering the beans). Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top of chips and beans. Sprinkle slices of jalapeño peppers over the cheese. Bake in oven for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. 5 minutes in a convection oven.
2 Serve with dollops of salsa, sour cream and guacamole, with chopped cilantro sprinkled on top.
copied here in case link dies...
Tortilla chips - extra thick - 1 14-oz bag
Refried beans - 2-3 cups
Cheddar Cheese - 1/2 lb, grated, about 3 cups
Pickled jalapeno peppers - 4 peppers, sliced
Optional, but highly recommended
Salsa
Guacamole
Sour cream
Cilantro, chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange a layer of tortilla chips along the bottom of a wide, shallow baking pan. It will make things easier if this baking pan also can be used as a serving pan, such as the ceramic platter shown in the photo above. The layer of tortilla chips can be a couple chips thick. Spread the refried beans over the chips (this is why you need extra thick chips, so they don't break when encountering the beans). Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top of chips and beans. Sprinkle slices of jalapeño peppers over the cheese. Bake in oven for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. 5 minutes in a convection oven.
2 Serve with dollops of salsa, sour cream and guacamole, with chopped cilantro sprinkled on top.
Veggie Mince Pies
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/experts/roseelliot/story/0,16748,1652670,00.html
Copied here in case link dies...
Mincemeat without the meat
Rose Elliot
Saturday November 26, 2005
The Guardian
Mince pies
When I started vegetarian cooking, you couldn't buy mincemeat that didn't have meat suet in it; the same applied to bought mince pies. If vegetarians wanted mince pies, they had to make their own using vegetable suet. Recently, however, I've come to the conclusion that this extra fat isn't really necessary at all; it's just a hangover from when mincemeat actually contained meat. You can make a wonderfully juicy, spicy version without any added fat, or even sugar - the sweetness of the dried fruit alone provides enough.
Article continues
The only disadvantage of this fresh, light mincemeat is that it doesn't keep for ages - it will last up to a week in the fridge, no longer. This amount of mincemeat is enough for 36 pies, though the pastry is only enough for 12, so you'll have plenty left over to make more.
125g currants
125g raisins
125g sultanas
50g unsweetened cooking dates, chopped
50g candied peel, chopped
50g natural glace cherries, sliced
50g flaked almonds
half a tsp each ground ginger, grated nutmeg and mixed spice
1 ripe banana, mashed
4 tbsp brandy, whisky or rum
375g shortcrust pastry (or pastry made from 250g flour and 125g fat)
Mix all the ingredients except the pastry in a large bowl. Thinly roll out the pastry, cut out rounds to fit your tartlet tins, fill each with a good spoonful of mincemeat, cover with a smaller pastry disc and prick. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/gas mark 7, then bake the pies for about 10 minutes.
Copied here in case link dies...
Mincemeat without the meat
Rose Elliot
Saturday November 26, 2005
The Guardian
Mince pies
When I started vegetarian cooking, you couldn't buy mincemeat that didn't have meat suet in it; the same applied to bought mince pies. If vegetarians wanted mince pies, they had to make their own using vegetable suet. Recently, however, I've come to the conclusion that this extra fat isn't really necessary at all; it's just a hangover from when mincemeat actually contained meat. You can make a wonderfully juicy, spicy version without any added fat, or even sugar - the sweetness of the dried fruit alone provides enough.
Article continues
The only disadvantage of this fresh, light mincemeat is that it doesn't keep for ages - it will last up to a week in the fridge, no longer. This amount of mincemeat is enough for 36 pies, though the pastry is only enough for 12, so you'll have plenty left over to make more.
125g currants
125g raisins
125g sultanas
50g unsweetened cooking dates, chopped
50g candied peel, chopped
50g natural glace cherries, sliced
50g flaked almonds
half a tsp each ground ginger, grated nutmeg and mixed spice
1 ripe banana, mashed
4 tbsp brandy, whisky or rum
375g shortcrust pastry (or pastry made from 250g flour and 125g fat)
Mix all the ingredients except the pastry in a large bowl. Thinly roll out the pastry, cut out rounds to fit your tartlet tins, fill each with a good spoonful of mincemeat, cover with a smaller pastry disc and prick. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/gas mark 7, then bake the pies for about 10 minutes.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Mushroom sauce for pasta
Mushroom sauce for pasta
http://www.lunched.co.uk/Pasta/mush_sauce.html
http://www.lunched.co.uk/Pasta/mush_sauce.html
You need:
A good few handfuls of any mushroom sliced thinly.
25g (about 1heaped tbsp) flour or cornflour
1/2 pint of milk
15g butter
olive oil
salt and pepper
Melt the butter in a pan with some olive oil to stop it from burning. Sauté the mushrooms until soft and coloured remove from the pan and set aside. Turn off the heat under the pan. Add the milk and flour and whisk. Turn the heat back on but onto a very low flame. Whisk the sauce frequently but not too vigorously and it will thicken up right before your eyes. It needs to cook for about 10 mins to cook out the flour taste. This is a basic white sauce.
A nice little variation is to bung in a tsp of mustard (english is best), it gives the sauce a certain something. Some torn basil is great too.
Once you are happy with it, return the mushrooms to the pan, allow to heat through, season to taste . Serve over freshly boiled conchigle (pasta shells) as they hold large amounts of sauce. No burnt bits, no lumps, no fuss.
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Frank said,
What baffles me is why journalists always include a list of famous people that use the latest miracle cure. Am I supposed to be swayed because a famous actor uses these bandages?
JohnD said,
Yes!
Be honest. If a friend you trust recommends something, you are going to be well disposed towards it.
The whole PA business promotes celebrities as ‘friends’, who you call by a personal or nickname, whose slightest personal detail and life history you know, or at least you know one that they want you to know. How many people do you work with who you ‘know’ that well?