I BEHAVED IMPECCABLY.. I EVEN SURPRISED MYSELF!

Dear Readers.. this will be very short.. as norty iPad is NOT behaving and is crashing.. ugh.

So I will tell YOU very quickly that the lunch went well, the food was yummy and all eaten up! Not a morsel for ME.. 

And I did not crash land on the table nor try to throw coffee over OUR guest.. such a shame MY human can still remember that shameful episode.

They talked and ate and then left ME to MYSELF whilst they went off to the British Library.

SHE did not get home until thirty minutes past six of the clock, the Library was very busy with lots of people and things to go and see.. SHE is going again next week, SHE is very pleased SHE joined!

A quick bite to eat, emptied the magic wet cupboard.. aka dishwasher.. and put china and glass ware away, why, it looks as if no one was here.. WE like to get up to an immaculate flat, it puts a big smile on HER face. Which is a nice way to start the day. 

Now it is time to play Catch the Grape and Chase the Almond.. so I will bid YOU all adieu, SHE has to take norty iPad to Apple in Covent Garden.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 29th, 2014.

CONSTANCE'S BIRTHDAY AND SPANISH ORANGES..

WE are having a slow start to this day.. why? 

Well, everything is ready! The only place that will need a scrub and a dub being the bathroom after SHE has used it!

I was awoken by the sound of kisses that SHE makes in the morning before MY curtain is drawn.. during the day it is much more likely to be raspberries, SHE can be very cheeky sometimes.

But not as naughty as HER mama, MY granny Constance, whom apparently was very cheeky sometimes. I did not know her, I was born after she died but Dagga-the-Parrot knew her. 

WE have had slurps of Lappy-Sand tea, such a nice way to start the day.. in bed with a cup of hot amber nectar! That norty Monkey on television calls Amber Nectar, he is right, it is nectar!

But now it is shamefully late.. so it is time to rock & roll out of bedroom towards YumYum HQ, to prepare for lunch.

Next WE will head for the bathroom, clean and tidy there and back to Yumyum HQ to make the pudding.. Poached Oranges.

They are in the markets.. the sight of boxes of these glorious fruits always reminds HER of life in Spain.

Constance had a great friend called Maria la Gorda, who was the butcher's wife and truly very adorabubble.

Constance asked her one day.. "why does no one do anything with all the Oranges that grow in the village, they should be picked and made into jam or marmalade and sold".

Before she knew it.. Maria spoke with the Priest, organised some of her friends and Constance found herself teaching several local women how to make proper old fashioned Seville Marmalade.

The local Spar shop donated the sugar, everyone donated glass jars and money was raised for the 
village.

I believe that the tradition has been continued as those trees are, apparently, apparently well maintained by a local family who grow fruit themselves.

So.. in HER mind.. January signifies Constance's birthday and glorious Spanish Oranges.

Time to rock & roll.. flapflap.. I will be back.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 29th, 2014.
Postscript..
Did YOU know that Neroli, one of the most beautiful perfumes in the world, is the essential oil from the blossom of the sour Orange.. aka.. the Seville Orange.

THE METAL CUPBOARD WAS HOT..

Menus are lovely things because they can change if there is something else delicious in the market.

And today there was some really crisp looking calabrese just sitting there waiting for a cook to pick it up and take it home and turn it into.. what?

HoHoHo.. a Calabrese and Stilton Souffle!

SHE had metal cupboard, aka oven, already hot for another dish, so a couple of little souffles would be able to slip in there easily.

The following amounts will feed six.. in ramekins.

Ingredients.

50g Butter plus extra for greasing the ramekins.

3 Tbsp of Breadcrumbs.

300g of Calabrese florets. YOU know it as Broccoli!

60g plain Flour.

300ml semi-skinned Milk.

1/4 tsp freshly grated Nutmeg.

100g crumbled Blue Stilton.

4 medium sized Eggs.. separated.

Preheat the oven to 200c Gas mark 6.

Grease 6 large ramekins with butter and sprinkle in the breadcrumbs, move the ramekins around so that the sides and base are evenly covered with the crumbs.

Cook the florets in salted boiling water for 5 minutes until tender.

DRAIN VERY WELL..

Heat the butter until melted, stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, whisk to get rid of lumps, bring to the boil, simmer for a further 2 minutes until it has thickened. Remove from the heat.

Add the florets to the pan and using a handheld blender, puree the mixture until it is smooth.

Beat in the nutmeg, cheese and the egg yolks.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until they are stiff, gently fold into the floret mix.

Spoon into the ramekins and bake  for 15 - 20 minutes until risen and golden.

Serve asap! 

WE did and it was delicious! I had to wait for it to cool down as I can't eat very hot things but then it was just as good as SHE had said it was when SHE slurped HERS.

In fact.. they were so delicious.. they are going to be the first course at tomorrow's lunch.. yes.. I know it took a long time to get to the point but.. hey.. things change.. it's only a menu!

GeeGee Parrot.
January 28th, 2014.
Postscript..
But dates never change.. 
For it is Constance's birthday tomorrow, she would be 97 and SHE has remembered that HER mama lurved this souffle.. so SHE is very happy to be able to serve it for lunch on January 29th.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN..

But sometimes they have to do housework first!

Which was the case today but the end result was brilliant! 

Being the daughter of HER parents, SHE knows exactly how to polish furniture and metal work properly, a bucket full of good quality cleaning materials went with HER into the sitting room. 

Along with clean, ironed dusters and new micro fibre cloths for the window and mirrors and a feather duster for the high places.

Scrub-a-dub-dub and the room sparkled! 

Then SHE laid the dining table for lunch, polished the glasses, pulled out damask napkins, very old and huge, they were probably FJ's, aka HER grand mother.

Watered all the bulbs, the Hyacinths are beginning to show their form and there is one tiny, very skinny white Scilla who will be in full bloom on Wednesday, they have such a lovely perfume.  

The magic basket that contains pens, Sellotape, thank you cards etc, etc is back in the cupboard, SHE has sorted out which books are going to be donated and the library ones are by the front door to go back.

Everything was put away in its' proper place..

The same proceedure happened in the hall, the wood work was washed, mirrors shined, furniture dusted, waxed and polished.

The YumYum HQ and bathroom were already tidy.. all WE have to 'play' at tomorrow evening is in one area.. going through the paper work.. SHE thinks paper rubs together and makes babies.. for it surely multiplies!

But never fear.. for under a small table in the hall lives that very fierce mr.shredder.

On wednesday morning SHE will fire up mr.dyson and vacuum and sweep the outside steps.

But now it is late.. SHE has a busy day tomorrow doing stuff that humans do, so it is bed time for US both and so WE wish YOU all "Good night".

GeeGee Parrot.
January 27th, 2014.

PEAR - POIRE TARTE TATIN.. slurp!

Burp.. excuse ME! But such yumyum was offered and has just been consumed.. WE are now settled quietly reading papers with the most delicious smell wafting towards us.

It is the smell of the meat from three large Spare Rib chops of Pork.. the lubbly-jubbly butcher deboned them, and knowing HER, put the bones into the bag with the chopped meat.

The bones equal proper stock.. meat and bones are now in a Slow Cooker cooking very slowly, with sage, orange peel, a bay leaf and other scrummy things.. some sweet potatoes and julienne strips of celeriac.

WE were thinking about what to have / make for a pudding on Wednesday for lunch and eureeka.. the following solves US having to have even the littlest of thinks!

Pear Tarte Tatin.. yum.

WE forgive YOU if YOU buy ready made pastry, WE don't but YOU can.

Ingredients.

375g ready rolled Puff Pastry chilled.

Plain flour for dusting.

50g softened good unsalted Butter.

100g Golden Caster Sugar.

2 tbsp of Poire William Liqueur OR 

Lemon Juice.

6 RIPE Pears.

1tsp of Juniper berries.

Pot of creme fraiche.

Preheat oven to 220C / 425F / Gas mark 7.

Have ready a 24cm tarte tatin dish or an oven proof omelette pan.

Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface, using a plate that is slightly larger than the dish, cut out a circle of pastry, lightly prick this with a fork and chill.

Place the liqueur or lemon juice in a bowl, peel the pears one at a time, cut them into quarters and remove the cores. Toss in the liquid.

Take the tarte tatin pan, coat it with butter using your fingers, sprinkle the butter with sugar.

Place pan on to a medium heat and as the sugar begins to caramelise, remove from the heat and put the juniper berries into the caramel.

Take the pears from the juice and pack them tightly in a circle in the pan in the caramelised sugar with the outer edge facing up.

Place onto a medium-high heat, the pears will shrink slightly so make sure to add extra slices if you have the space.

Keep cooking for 10 - 15 minutes until they are a good colour and feel a little soft when pressed.

Remove from the heat and quickly press the pastry circle on top of the pears, tuck the edges down the side of the pan.

Bake in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden and well risen.

Remove from the oven and leave to sit for 5 minutes.

Take a pre-warmed larger plate, hold and press it against the pastry and quickly invert it, giving the tarte tatin pan a shake as you do so.

Serve with lots of creme fraiche.

Very Scrummy indeedy  and YOU all know I never tell gross porkies.

GeeGee Parrot.

January 26th, 2014.

Postscript..

Gross porkies is Cockney slang.. 

A Porky means Pie which rhymes with Lie.

Pies.. Lies..

BABIES & GOATY FOLK ARE EXCELLENT STORM WARN'ERS!

Hello Dear Readers. Having said to Debbie, aka Goaty Mum of Ellie's Dairy, that SHE would be at the Marylebone Farmer's Market and not wanting to miss the diced Kid meat, off SHE went by bus.

The weather was far too unpleasant to ask old wheelie to trundle across Hyde Park and all the way up to Marylebone High Street, he is very old and needs a little bit of tender loving care. 

So SHE donned multiple layers of clothing, one being a Swedish woollen parka with a hood, so HER ears and throat would be warm. These are HER weak spots, which dates from childhood days when the medical establishment argued back and forth over the removal of HER tonsils and adenoids.. would they, would they not.. the end result being permanent and extensive damage to HER ears, nose and throat. 

And set off in the dismal, driving, blustery rain, a lovely red number 137 bus took HER almost all of the way, a wiggly walk through to the back of Cavendish Square and the little streets brought HER to the big street.. but where was that market? 

There came towards HER a woman walking with a purposeful gait and carrying a basket, "excuse ME, are YOU heading for the farmer's market" she asked the nice smiley woman who replied "come with me".

Which saved the day.. For all the kiddly-diddly meat had been sold, except, for one bag, HER bag,
kindly kept by Goaty Mum because SHE had said "yes, I am coming". SHE was glad that SHE had.

A zoom in and out of a paper shop, a very quick trot down onto Oxford Street and a 137 bus came along in no time. SHE considers that the city's transport system (most of the time) is beyond brilliant. 

Have YOU ever looked at how far the buses and tubes take YOU beyond central London? It is quite staggering, SHE goes to stay with friends in Epping.. by underground! Which, of course, goes overground for the section when it leaves the city proper. 

Or if YOU are going to Stansted Airport, go to Tottenham Hale by underground and catch the train there, YOU don't have to go all the way to Liverpool Street Mainline Station.

Not this week but the week after, SHE is going to a strangely named place called Barking! There is a wonderful property out there which SHE has made a promise to HERSELF that SHE will go to.. this will be a serious jaunt as SHE intends to take a little snacket in the basket.

Next week, WE have all manner of exciting things happening! Monday, tomorrow, is home cleaning day, SHE used the dining table as a desk over the Christmas holidays, I regret to sneak on HER to YOU but it is still lying about, so zoom, back into the relevant baskets have to go cards, ribbons etc. 

Tidy and dust.. the rest of the place is ok. Why the work, well, WE have a guest coming for lunch on Wednesday and as SHE is busy on Tuesday, SHE does not want to have to be doing house work on the morning before the guest arrives at thirty minutes past midday.

Yes, I know it is a strange time to have lunch at home but they are off on a major jaunt! To see The Georgians Exhibition at The British Library.

Now to the strange title of this post.. whilst talking to Debbie this morning, she said that half an hour after WE, in London, had experienced that very scary electrical storm, it hit Noth Kent.

Here, it was Karen's baby grand-daughter who, by feeling that change in the air pressure, became unhappy and very, very grizzly.

With that BANG of lightening, the Goaty folk shot to the back of their barn and within a short space of time, the thunder roared and the rain started.

Clever baby and clever goaty folk. Debbie says that they all behave 'badly' when the weather is like this, they fight and head butt each other! So she watches out for butting Billies and Girlies and keeps the rain jacket by the door!

ME? I am very happy that SHE is back, I had a peak in basket and saw very edibubble things! A celeriac and some greens, I lurve all types of greens, especially little Brussel sprouts, it is funny the way they try to escape old Beaky by rolling off the work surface.

No rolling about now, SHE is heading to YumYum HQ and I must go too.. flapflap Dear Readers, WE will be back tomorrow.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 26th, 2014.

DON'T PANIC.. DON'T PANIC.. HERE'S THE RECIPE FOR PATE SABLEE

WE didn't know YOU didn't know how to make it!

'IT' being Pate Sablee, Constance always made her kids laugh by calling it The Sandy Pastry.. it is very sweet and crumbly.. and what YOU need for the Yellow Lemon tart

Work from these amounts..

180g / 6oz sifted flour to 120g / 4oz GOOD quality unsalted butter, 60g / 2oz icing sugar and 2 egg yolks.

Put the butter, sugar and egg yolks into a food processor and blitz together quickly. Blend in the sifted  flour and work the mix into a paste.

The paste needs much longer chilling than normal pastry, at least 90 minutes before rolling it out.

Now YOU can make the Yellow Lemon Tart! So off YOU go.. and enjoy YOUR Saturday.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 25th, 2014.

DEAR READERS IN UK.. ARE YOU ALL OK?

Dear Readers.. WE ask this because of the horrifying electrical storms that rampaged over the country in the late afternoon and are still continuing now as SHE taps.

SHE had done HER fruit shopping in the market, went into a shop to get dishwasher salt and was just walking out with old wicker, when BOOM!

The end stall of the market was hit by lightening.. it seemed to explode and then collapse.. fruit and tin bowls flew everywhere! 

The police were there in a nano second.. and all of the traffic was frozen to the spot as the skies opened and rain fell in torrents but then horrors of horrors, SHE realised it was OUR much beloved Karen's stall that had been struck.

SHE ran down the road to see if everyone was alright, the firemen were pulling the canvas down off the shattered gazebo frame. 

No sign of Karen.. SHE spoke with Jim who was looking, as YOU can imagine, pretty whacked about the head.. Karen had left at four of the afternoon clock.. taking her grand-daughter home leaving her daughter-in-law, Laura, and Jim in charge of the stall.

Laura had been directly underneath the metal gazebo when the lightening struck.. but was ok.

SHE had been laughing with Karen and her crew 
just before Karen left, apparently Baby Jenny had started to grizzle so granny had said she would take her home.. 

WE have said this phrase before "Meant to be". Everyone was safe. Thank goodness.. Yes, thank goodness for babies who grizzle.. now and again.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 25th, 2014.

TARTS.. TWO TARTS.. ONE YELLOW & ONE BLUE & GREEN!

Here they are.. they would have been here sooner but WE got frozen out of MY Blog by 'Error 503'.

Ok.. first up is a Lemon Tart amd it serves LOTS of people!

Ingredients.
6 Lemons.
9 Egg Yolks.
325g Vanilla Caster Sugar. 
300mls Double Cream.
Extra Caster Sugar for the top
YOU should have a 240g pate sablee chilled.
30cm Tart Tin.
Preheated oven to 200C / 400F/Gas mark 6.
A jug and a mixing bowl.

Roll out your pastry and line the tin, bake blind of 10 minutes, then remove the baking beans and bake uncovered for a further 10 minutes.

Grate (finely) the zest of 2 Lemons, then squeeze the juice of all 6 & set aside.
Whisk together the 9 Egg yolks + vanilla sugar until mixed properly.
Add the Lemon juice, the Zest, whisk again, then add the Cream. Taste and add a little more sugar if it is not quite sweet enough.
Transfer the mix to a jug.
As soon as the pastry is cooked, turn the heat down to 120C/250F/ Gas mark 1/2.
Very carefully pull the baking tray towards you, do NOT take the pastry out of the oven, carefully pour in the Lemon mix as high as possible and then gently push the tray back into the oven.
Cook for a further 30 minutes.
The Tart should be barely set but do not fret! As it will continue to go on firming up out of the oven. 
Let it sit to cool and set properly for at least 30 minutes.
Shake a very thin layer of caster sugar over the top.
Protesting the pastry rim with a ring of tin foil, 
give it a blast under a hot grill until the sugar browns. 

A BLUE TART WITH BROCCOLI & CREME FRAICHE.

Ingredients.

150g Broccoli.. purple sprouting if possible!
3 tbs of Olive Oil.
1 Chopped Onion Medium
Several sprigs of Thyme.
4 Chopped Garlic cloves.
4 Fillets of Anchovies - chopped.
90g Crumbled Gorgonzola.
1tsp of rinsed Capers.
200ml Creme Fraiche.
Black pepper.
350g Puff pastry.
Parmesan for grating onto the top.
Preheat oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7.

Rinse Broccoli and drop into salted, boiling water.
Cook until tender. Drain and dry, set aside.
In the hot pan, put the olive oil, garlic, onion and thyme. Leave to soften over a moderate heat, they should be golden and tender after 10 minutes.
Chop the broccoli and add to the onion mix with 
the anchovies, crumbled cheese, capers and creme fraiche, add a little black pepper.
Remove from the heat and leave the mix to cool.

Roll the pastry into a rectangle 14 x 9".
Place it onto a lightly floured baking sheet.
Score a line about an inch plus from the edge, do NOT go through the pastry, along the four sides.
Spread the broccoli mix over the centre of the pastry taking it outwards to the line but leaving a clear border of an inch plus.
This border will rise and become the 'wall' of the tart.
Scatter the grated parmesan cheese over the broccoli mix and some on the border as well.
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, check at 15 minutes as it cooks quickly, the border should be golden brown and very crisp.
Serve as soon as possible with a crisp green salad.

Et voila.. mes amis.. The Two Tarts!

SHE is on a cooking roll! Yes, indeedy, yum!

This Sunday SHE will be off up to the Marylebone Farmer's Market to see Debbie of Ellie's Dairy. SHE is collecting some diced Kid and intends to cook it with new pale Apricots that are just coming into the market.

For there is, at The British Library, an enormous exhibition on The Georgians and SHE has invited a friend to go with HER on that new all singing and dancing British Library membership card.

They will lunch at home, then waddle off to the underground, to disapear down the hole and emerged the other end at St.Pancras.

ME.. I will stay at home and listen to LBC 97.3 and dream of sunny days at the garden. It won't be long now, will it?

But now, it is time for MY last little snacket of the day before WE go to bed. I hope YOU enjoy and try today's three recipes.

Apologies for length of time in getting them onto the Blog, but YOU know how Beaky hates to tap and MY toes cannot do it, so I am at HER mercy!

GeeGee Parrot.
January 24th, 2014. 

PIERNA DE CORDERO CON SALSA DE GRANADA..

That's Leg of Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce for those of YOU who don't read Spanish.

Ingredients..
A boned leg of Lamb.
12 Shallots.. WE lurve Shallots!
1 glass of dry White Wine.
1 Pomegranate.
Preheat your oven to hot!

YOU can either bone and roll the leg OR more sensibly, YOU can ask YOUR butcher to do it! 
Before roasting, prick all over the top skin with a very sharp fork, put the meat into a roasting dish surounded by the peeled but not chopped shallots and pour the wine over the meat.
Cook at 15 minutes to a lb, 30 minutes to a kg.
The first 30 minutes in a hot oven, then turn the heat down to a moderate (350F) heat.
When there is 15 minutes before the meat should be ready, cut the Pomegranate into quarters, scoop out the seeds, be careful to pick out all of the bitter white membrane
Add the Pomegranate seeds to the roasting dish and continue cooking for a further 15 minutes.
Remove dish from the oven and allow the roast to relax for 10 minutes before carving.

WE serve this with either mashed potatoes or freekeh, a wild grain which has been smoked and follow it with a crisp, slightly tart salad of endive and perhaps a raspberry vinegarette. 

This dish is also scrummydumptious if YOU have access to Kid meat. WE do, from Ellie's Dairy and WE look forward to having a delicious leg of Kid in the spring for Easter, a very late Easter! Easter Sunday is not until April 20th!

Roll on Spring.. is what I say.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 24th, 2014.

THE BRITISH LIBRARY & OTHER PLACES..

Well, I thought SHE was off to the hospital but in the underground station SHE saw it was nearly midday and remembered that the walk-in clinic closes at midday.

Change of plan, in old wicker were three pairs of shoes, a poor sad rain coat, three sweaters that norty old moth had nibbled and a small saucepan.

Being, sometimes, of a sensible nature, SHE figured out that it was best to go to the place furthest away from home and work back.

A change of platform and to go in a different direction was all that was needed to implement the new plan for the day.

Whoosh.. underground all the way to Kings Cross / St.Pancras and up into the dull light of day.

SHE was heading for Eversholt Street, which as YOU face Euston Station is on the right. But what was this.. ahhhh. 

The British Library. Ooooh, such a wonderful place and somewhere SHE has been been meaning to do research for the longest of long times.

Through the doors to the information counter, two helpful men, who confirmed that all the records for The East India Company are, indeed, held there, they asked HER "did she have a Readers Ticket, no, would she like one".. Yippeeee... is water wet?

Then more excitement.. become a Friend of the Library.. oh, yes please! 

Eventually SHE managed to tear away from this most thrilling of places and started the walk, a very long walk, up Eversholt Street to Mister George, shoe mender extraordinaire!

He smiled and remembered the dark green J.Renee shoes, he considers them one of his finest works!

The new repairs.. ready next friday.

Then back down this very long street, until SHE espied a greasy spoon cafe, nothing to do with ME but when YOU are tired and old energy is flagging, a greasy spoon cafe with strong tea is just what SHE wants.. it was full of Coppers from the local Nick, it must be good! It was excellent, in fact.

Back to Euston Station, across Euston Road and another long walk up to Harley Street, down Harley, right on New Cavendish, left on Marylebone High. Along to Thayer Street, into the Invisible Menders, who shook his head and said "go to Perkins, speak to the machinist and say Uncle sent you", out and along and into Perkins, the man smiled and said Uncle had telephoned him, how could he be of help?

Cost £32.50, much cheaper than replacing the coat! 

Which is a beautiful full length Bill Blass rain coat with a detachable pure wool liner. And it will be ready next friday.

Onto John Lewis on Oxford Street, up to the haberdashery department, looking for wool to darn three sweaters.. no luck, the reds were no match, neither were the browns or the camel. Sigh. Norty moth.

Down to the kitchen department, a 14cm saucepan with lid please.. gulp.. SHE bought the three saucepans, small, medium, large and the medium and the jumbo stock pots from Peter Jones a very, very long time ago, in fact, probably twenty five years ago.

They, of course, no longer have the same weight in the cheaper range which the originals were, to get the same quality in the size, they want £35.00!

SHE thinks not and is prepared to do a hunt for another at not such a high price.

But all in all.. what a very, very good day. And all because of being late for the hospital, if SHE had gone there, SHE would not have 'found' the British Library, got a Reader's Ticket, become a Friend but the most exciting thing is that they confirmed ALL the East India Company records are there. 

Why is this so exciting? 

YOU know that HER maternal family's company was in India. The less said about the people who stole it from HER family after Partition the better.. but SHE was thrilled to see that Diageo have recently acquired a 25% holding in the company.

It was called McDowells and was started in 1826 by HER Gt. Gt. Gt. Gt (4 greats) Grandfather, Dr. Angus McDowell. He had been a surgeon with The East India Company and used his retirement money to finance his new venture in Madras.

SHE has never been able to get back further than this, where did he do his surgical training, where was his birthplace?

WE know it was not The Edinburgh School of Surgeons, for bless their hearts, they went back to the beginning of the 1700's but there is no record of an Angus McDowell having trained there.

Now SHE knows all the original documents with answers to all of HER questions, are waiting in The British Library..

Some things are meant to be.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 24th, 2014.

WHOOPS.. WE (SHE) LOST THE IPAD CHARGER!

So silly.. how can a 'thing' do something daft like that? It just disappeared.. yesterday evening iPad's battery said it was getting hungry, SHE leaned over to plug it into the charger only to find.. no plug.. grrr.

So no post yesterday and now that WE have found it, it is time for HER to leave the house as SHE has an appointment at Charing Cross hospital.

So I will be back later on, in time for YOU to buy the ingredients for one, if not two, of those Tarts.

PipPip.. must flapflap.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 24th, 2014.

A FLYLADY'S 'HOTSPOT' MAKES HER VERY HAPPY!

No Tarts tonight folks and no grumbling either.

YOU have absolutely not the foggiest clue which Tarts WE were going to give YOU, so a little bit of suspense will not harm or hurt in any way.

WE have other things to tell YOU Dear Readers!

YOU have read that SHE has a strange syndrome called 'Shiny Sink', I know, it is a peculiar name, is it not? SHE developed this habit after being told about the wonderful website of FLYLADY!

A friend told HER about it.. some of the emails are hilarious but the bottom line is extremely sensible.

Here is a snippet of her wisdom.. that your home did not get untidy in one second.. no sirree.. it took some time and so when it comes to making it tidy again.. that won't happen in a second either.

But instead of thinking "ugh, housework, go to do this, got to do that, plus clean ALL the brass, copper, silver, paintwork and windows", you take a room a week and do it properly. 

Working with a timer for 15 minutes, absolutely everyone can manage 15 minutes of housework, you just start, go to the site listed below.. 

www.flylady.net

There are places called 'HotSpots', HER desk, was most certainly, a very HotSpot and now it is tidy! 

Today's HotSpot was the 'demi-lune' table by the front door in the hall, it is only little and on it there is a dish for keys, gloves and HER bus pass and a very pretty lamp but underneath.. oh dear!

Shredder lives there on a pile of magazines which SHE accesses every month, so they are staying, shredder was emptied, summer shoes were put away, winter boots moved into boiler cupboard, skirting board washed, carpet brushed. 

It appears that norty Miss Mouse has been busy snacking on BoneMeal! So that box had to be bagged and put with RoseFood in a bucket with the hand tools that are kept at home.

Bucket also placed into boiler cupboard. SHE wiped the wall beside the door, took up the door mat, gave it a good shake and vacuumed the area.

Whoosh.. and just like that, the hall was clean and neat and tidy!

Raining hard, another HotSpot could be tackled. 

On the back of boiler cupboard is a wonderful rack system, it holds things that SHE uses all the time, the key to bleed the radiators, a set of keys for guests, jar full of different strength electrical fuses, a steel measuring tape, a straight and a Philips screwdriver, a pair of pliers and spare pedometer.

There is a hanging rail at the bottom, there are HER ice-walkers, clean (and ironed) dusters, a small handsaw and a bag of assorted wall plugs, which was hanging over another bag

And what was in the bag underneath? 

"Oh thank you FlyLady, thank you so very much". 

Obviously SHE had found something! Yes and how very lovely the contents were too! 

When SHE did that shoe raid on Neiman Marcus's giant store Last Call in Austin, Texas in 1996, one of the pairs was by J.Renee. A pair of dark (pine) green leather low heeled shoes.. so comfy! 

They needed reheeling and SHE put them into a bag to take to George, the best shoe menders in London. And forgot SHE put them there.

SHE has had sad thoughts for over two years now about being so silly to have thrown them away by mistake, thinking that SHE must have done.. for SHE has looked absolutely everywhere for them.. except on the back of the boiler cupboard door.

So there was no trip to north London but instead, another two areas of OUR home have both been polished, sorted and vacuumed and those lovely green shoes are safely in old wicker who will take them, together with another pair that have to be reheeled, up to George, the shoe magician.

What a happy day, because of a 'HotSpot' and 
because SHE shines HER sink!

GeeGee Parrot.
January 22nd, 2014.
Postscript: How to find George.
K G Shoes,
253. Eversholt Street,
London NW1 1BA.
Tel: 020 7387 2234.
Eversholt Street is behind Euston Station.
They are the only cobblers in London who can repair steel heels.. a la Chanel (who send all their repairs to this wonderful company).

A TART'S ART IS TO TITILLATE!

I bet YOU are all thinking "WHAT is this daft bird talking about".. come along now, fess up!

But it is true, for a 'good' tart does just that, they titillate YOUR senses, heavens, what did YOU think I was talking about? 

I am giving YOU two Tarts later today, an old Tart and a new Tart! But YOU will love them both as they are truly scrummydumptious.

Here's a clue for YOU.. Yellow is the colour of a Lemon but a Cheese can be Blue!

But first.. SHE has to get dressed in another two layers of clothing for it is a very chilly-billy morn! WE are not surprised, for have YOU heard, read or seen the news about the weather in America? 

Oh.. Those poor animals and people.. for it is very seriously chilly-billy with huge amounts of snow.. gulp! And WE are still only in January with cold February yet to come.

Brrrr.. so thermals are one of the extra layers SHE needs, SHE will look like a Michelin tyre man but rather that than be cold whilst venturing up into north London.

FlapFlap.. jump about.. keep warm Dear Readers.
And get ready for those Tarty folk! HeeHee.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 22nd, 2014.

I HAVE A NEW DEAR READER.. HER NAME IS MARIA AND SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM LATVIA!

What a busy day, well, it was for HER.

Up and out of that cosy bed SHE got, for it was the day that the rubbish men come with their huge truck and take everything away but it needs to be up on the pavement by thirty minutes by seven of the morning clock.

And saw that, oooh, London was covered in fog!

WE broke that norty fast, SHE put a load of washing on and sorted out books that SHE was donating from the library books that are due back.

Having washed and dressed and put on a little bit of face, SHE tidied OUR bedroom, the YumYum HQ and poked Mr.Dyson into top gear to drive around the flat. I have been strictly forbidden to learn his noise and, actually, I am not surprised, for he really is very noisy.

SHE checked MY bowls, switched on the radio, put a rain coat on, blew ME a kiss and went out.

With HER new routine firmly in place, SHE 
walked to work, if walked briskly it takes eleven minutes door to door.

And was busy all day, with people bringing in their donations and customers buying books, bric-a-brac, clothes or jewellery.  

The door opened, a pretty woman said to Fiona "I will be back", then, whoosh, SHE was 'kidnapped' by this lovely friend who took HER to La Bonne Bouche for a coffee, which was, certainly, an unexpected treat! 

SHE worked with Fiona and Maria, I hope YOU are paying attention and said "ah ha".. for YOU would be right, Dear Readers. 

YOU are wondering how a work colleague would know about MY Blog, are YOU not? For SHE talks not about it at work, they already think, correction, know that SHE is as mad as a hatter, WE do not have to tell them they are right.

Well, it happened like this. SHE, who is very nosy, asked Maria where SHE came from.. "Latvia" was the response, SHE said " I am so ignorant, I have forgotten what the capital of Latvia is" and Maria said "it is Riga" and then SHE said "oh, of course, GeeGee wrote about the awful fire at the castle" and there YOU have it!

So now I will have a new Dear Reader that SHE actually knows! And how nice is that.

So WE say "Hello Maria, welcome to MY Blog".

And now WE have things to do and organise, before SHE forgets what it is was that SHE wanted to do with them!

Tomorrow.. there will be news about a blue cheese tart.. ah ha, I thought that would wake YOU all up, yes, mes amis, a blue cheese tart accompanied by red onion yumyum.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 21st, 2014.

STRAWBERRY RIPPLE..

No, Dear Readers, SHE has not zoomed forward to thoughts of summer puddings, SHE went out and about today after a morning of 'light' house work and did not return until it was 30 minutes past four of the clock, yippee, for it was still light!

The day's weather had been wonderful, slightly chilly but bright and sunny, hurray! And, of course, the 'Strawberry Ripple' in the pale turquoise sky was the sun's ray on its descent.. so beautiful.

It was almost worthy of being called a 'Turner' sky and talking of that wonderful artist, SHE is off down the river to The National Maritime Museum to see the new Turner exhibition which is called 'Turner and the Sea', for they have managed to get some very treasured treasures of his to display.

Oh yum, such a treat to be able to see these beautiful works of art.. how lucky WE are in this city with the never ending amount of glorious things to go and look at, mostly for free! 

I have a new supply of MY favourite yumyum, rye with sunflower and with a soft boiled egg to break MY fast, life is good. SHE said, to a friend of HER'S up in Streatham, that HER life would be perfect if they had had the delivery of Sauerkraut but, sadly, not today, it will be in on Wednesday.

Never mind.. SHE has nice things to report on those norty 15 kilos that have to disapear.. a pair of trousers that were a little too snug around the waist are now comfy! 

How very gratifying. What SHE is doing is eating less, much less, and taking more excercise. With a bus pass it is far too easy to hop a bus for a few stops, now SHE walks and it gives old wicker a bit of exercise and fresh air too.

SHE is doing a full day at Trinity one day this week, so that means SHE will be on HER feet all day, and walking to and from the shop in South Kensington. SHE has to go to north London to collect the goodies from HER old colleague, so SHE plans to walk across the park and pick up the 274 bus from there.

Wicker will go too for SHE needs to take a raincoat to the Invisible Menders on Thayer Street.

A mouse climbed up the very long coat, plopped into the pocket, ate a chocolate sweet that was in there 
and then chewed its' way out.

It was a very norty mouse to make such a mess of that rain coat but what was a sweetie doing in the pocket in the first place, is what I want to know?

SHE has just done something stupid to the television... grrrr. A telephone call came through, so SHE pressed a button on the remote control to silence it but somehow the picture and the sound have gone away and they won't come back! 

Drat and more drats.. I cannot remember what it was WE wanted to watch but now.. WE can't.. SHE will have to speak to that helpfully man at Currys electricals.

Sigh.. this means an early night for US, SHE will do a spell check and then post this. WE will read a few chapters of a library book and I hope to play a few games of 'Chase the Nut', I have to practise this one, I am much better at 'Catch the Grape' but the only grapes in the house are for HER to break the fast, so I am not allowed to play with those.

WE will be back in the week, not sure about tomorrow but never fear, WE won't be too far away! 

GeeGee Parrot.
January 20th, 2014.
Postscript.. Ellie's Dairy have had their first kid of the year. She was born yesterday, a cute white kid and I believe they are going to call her Mary.

TALES BY SAVANNAH FROM THE PANAMANIAN JUNGLE & LUNCH WITH JO AFTER MEETING DEBBIE GOAT @ PARSON'S GREEN FARMER'S MARKET

Goodness ME, what a long title for this post! 

But WE have HOT news for YOU from the source, well, not the source but at the end YOU will know where it came from, so read on Dear Readers, read on!

YOU know, if YOU are up to date with MY Blog, that SHE was taking 'GJ' to meet Debbie of Ellie's Dairy at the Farmer's Market held in the school yard, it is near to Parson's Green. Then they were going to lunch at Cote Brasserie. 

They were introduced, 'GJ' tasted that wonderful Goaty Curd and became a fan, just like that! 

Then they pottered off for lunch, clutching some goodly Goaty products and SHE was very pleased that SHE remembered to ask Debbie for some Kid meat which SHE will collect next Sunday at the Market in Marylebone.

The Brasserie was busy, good thing, SHE thought, that SHE had reserved a table. Well, that was what SHE thought initially.

But no-one came to see if they wanted a drink or 
to take their order. Having waited table at a couple of extremely busy restaurants, SHE knows it takes no time and very little effort to keep customers happy. 

SHE got up and asked a waiter to send someone to take their order. Sad that that had to be done but a customer wants to drink and eat, not just sit there!

"Two spicy Virgin Marys and two roast chicken please". 

The VM's were served in small glasses, with too little ice, no pepper, no salt.. sigh. Tabasco on the side.

The roast chicken was smothered in a sauce, the meat was dry, SHE should have realised that it would be pre-cooked. SHE should have had the steak, the pommes dauphinois were cold, the french beans over cooked.

Well, 'chef' is allowing inferior food to leave the kitchen, SHE won't go there again!

What a very good thing that the two old friends had lots to talk about!

'GJ' has two daughters, the eldest is the one she has been staying with in the Panamanian jungle and it is her daughter who will be writing of her life there with her family, which is going to be in the March issue of British Vogue. 

The magazine will be on sale in February, so YOU see that is why I wrote it is hot, because it is not yet in print!

Her name? Savannah Miller, yes, sister to Sienna. So YOU see the news is pretty hot, 'GJ', aka Jo, is their mother and YOU cannot get much closer to those two women than that! 

And yes, it is Sienna's daughter, Marlowe, who is HER twin, born on July 7th.

Chelsea were 'at home', kick off at 4pm. It was a sweet gesture of Jo to offer to drive HER home but it would have been a physical impossibility for the traffic was backed up goodness knows how far back. 

So SHE walked. With comfortable boots and a long stride, it took no time, SHE headed for the V&A to catch the Chinese exhibition but upon arrival in the museum, SHE found that HER museum entry card was at home.

Sometimes.. YOU just have to realise when it is time to go home.. home to a little grey bird.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 19th, 2014.

DREADFUL WEATHER BUT A HAPPY DAY SPENT WITH NICE FOLK

And precisely at ten of the clock they left the house, Tereza carrying the ironing board and SHE with old wicker full of glass ramekins and a bag of videos, heading for HER other charity in Cadogan Street.

Followed by a delicious cup of coffee, "Thank You Tereza" and a long chat, then she went her way and SHE caught a bus to the Fulham Road.

Getting off at the Library, SHE walked back to Parson's Green Lane and went off in search of the pub.

Well, it obviously had been a pub at some point in time in its' life but now it is a restaurant called Cote Brasserie, 45-47 Parson's Green Lane, SW6.

So it is a very good thing that SHE is meeting GJ at her house and then they are off on their jaunt, otherwise poor GJ would be walking up and down the Lane looking for a non-existent pub! 

In SHE went and yes, it was the right place, SHE had been to dinner there almost a year ago, the food had been delicious. A member of staff came and said "did SHE need anything?", so SHE made a reservation and left.

Walking slowly down the road, with old wicker trundling along, SHE realised that there was no chance of getting to the business in north London before it closed at one of the clock, a quick call to the office saying SHE would be with them on monday meant there was, now, no panic. 

And that was lucky because SHE heard HER name being shouted, stopped and espied an old colleague coming up behind HER.

"What are YOU doing in this neck of the woods" they asked, "would YOU like some lunch?".. "is water wet" SHE replied and they walked up towards Fulham Broadway and into a new place called 'Manuka Kitchen', 510 Fulham Road, SW6.

They shared a couple of small plates and had a dessert.. perfect! Light.. very tasty food!

Chatchat chatter.. so much to catch up on, She realised that SHE has allowed HER life to become quite dull, silly as there are lots and lots of lovely things to do in this glorious city.. without spending oodles of dosh! (lots of money).

But to have two splendid lunches back to back is a huge treat and also to spend the time earlier with Tereza, SHE is fortunate to have these friends.

Tomorrow SHE is off to get flowering bulbs, SHE has found such a clever way of planting up pretty cache pots without the wet soil touching the porcelain or glass.

Supermarkets sell bowls of stir fry mix or salad leaves etc, etc.. those plastic bowls are absolutely the perfect 'liners' for cache pots! 

SO upon coming home, SHE disappeared, rather like a rabbit down a hole, underneath HER coats and came out with several very pretty pots and a big glass bowl. 

The Hyacinths will be up soon, it is time to plant some other bulbs as a follow on.. white Scilla will do the trick!

They are pretty, perfumed, perennial, just perfect.

That is HER jaunt for tomorrow, also to get all sorts of varieties of Beans to start off at home, they will come from the secret seed supplier. 

WE call them that because they think they are a food shop! But they are much, much cheaper and of great quality, good for growing on the plots.

In fact, they 'do' very nicely, thank you.

Now, it is bed time for both of US. I shall post over the week-end. Yawn.. sleepy time.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 18th, 2014.

CONSTANCE'S CLOTHES..

Good morning Dear Readers. 

WE are early birds here in deepest Knightsbridge for SHE is meeting with Tereza at ten of the clock, then going to search for a pub down in Fulham and HER last task for the day is to go and collect the items SHE took last week to HER old friend in north London.

So WE have broken that norty fast and are giving YOU a small but sweet Tale.

Unless YOU are a new Dear Reader YOU will know that HER parents moved overseas in the spring of 1973 after Hugo was semi paralysed by a stroke in May of the previous year.

Constance had worked in London before they left England. Moving to live in a warmer climate meant she did not need her London clothes with her, so SHE asked her daughter, aka HER, to keep a suitcase for her so that she would have warm and stylish clothes when she came back to visit family or friends. Constance died in 2002.

SHE had completely forgotten this suitcase which has lived on the top shelf in the walk-in cupboard for nearly forty years.

The day before yesterday, whilst SHE was in this cupboard getting the shoes SHE planned to wear yesterday, something made HER look up and there, was the suitcase.

SHE laughed and went to fetch a step ladder. Pulling a smaller bag off the lid of the suitcase, SHE snapped the locks and thought, "good thing mummy did not lock it", the lid was lifted up and SHE looked upon clothes that SHE had last seen about twenty five years ago.


Packed with tissue and lavender was a Loden coat that Constance had bought in Austria in 1971, three pretty Kashmiri embroidered shawls, two skirts, a pair of trousers, two sweaters and a BIG overcoat.

Which is a pure wool, very long, reversible coat. One side is black, the other a black and tan dog-tooth check, a proper overcoat in the truest sense of the word, for it is cut to be worn over jackets. 

A beautifully chic coat, the like and style of which YOU cannot buy these days. 

SHE steamed it and left it to hang in the bathroom. It smells of lavender and faintly of Constance's signature perfume. Moment Supreme.

SHE looks forward to using the other things as well, SHE cannot wear the skirts or trousers as they are far too tight, Constance was very slim, and SHE needs to lose 15 kilos (gulp) but the coats are perfect as SHE is as tall as HER mother.

SHE wore the dog-toothed overcoat yesterday, it was just what was needed on a dismal, rainy day.

HER friend said "Wow, where did YOU get that coat?", SHE smiled and said, quite truthfully, "MY mother gave it to ME".

GeeGee Parrot.
January 17th, 2014.

FOGAL HOSE & TWO TYPES OF 'BAROQUE'..

Oh.. I am so glad yesterday is just that.. yesterday. For, apart from the mortal remains of one Sourdough loaf, there has been not one word from HER about Beaky's appalling lack of control.

I know that SHE has sent a photo of the very incriminating evidence to 'Granny' Jo, doubtless it will also be shown to Debbie Goat and cousin Bruce.. sigh.. but there is not a lot I can do or say, is there.

Moving swiftly along, SHE opened the bathroom cupboard, took out a small white case and put HER face on today. 

I know that sounds peculiar, so I will explain.

Most days, SHE washes, gets dressed in trousers, sweater or t.shirt, depending on the weather, does teeth, oils face and is out of the door in a very few minutes flat! Zoom.

But not today, in fact, it all started last night, SHE took chic clothes out of cupboards and drawers, SHE opened another drawer and took out a packet of hose, a pair of exceedingly smart shoes came out of their box-house, a handbag from another cupboard, a scarf from another drawer.  

SHE steamed the skirt.. a skirt? No one has seen HER legs for years, I lie.. SHE wore a dress on Christmas Day.. polished the bag and shoes, brushed the jacket and fetched a coat out of the back cupboards that I have never seen before! 

What..was going on? Then today, up early, I was given MY egg and Rye, SHE ate two slices of SpinyApple aka pineapple, drank black coffee, took HER pills and left for the bathroom.

The electric curlers were plugged in! Goodness ME! The bag was opened and, after brushing of teeth and cleaning of face, SHE commenced to 'make HER face up'.. such a strange expression.

When SHE had finished, I looked at it, HER face, and thought "how peculiar", for I knew it was MY mum, but SHE looked different, grown-up, chic and sophisticated and that was before SHE put on the clothes and a few bits of jewellery.

The black hose were exceedingly pretty, they appeared to be made of lace. SHE said "the style was called Baroque, they are 30 years old and they were made by Fogal of Switzerland".

SquirtSquirt went the spray bottle of Caspian perfume.

The radio was turned on and as the clock struck 11.15, SHE gave ME a kiss on Beaky and said "I have checked YOUR nuts and water, please be a good girl as I don't know what time I will be home".

And SHE put on this 'strange', as in unknown, overcoat over HER smart jacket and left the house.

Many hours later.. there was the sound of keys in the door. I stretched, yawned and flew to the top of bedroom door to welcome HER home.

WE went in to YumYum HQ, I was given a snacket whilst SHE sat on sink and told ME of HER day.

SHE had recently met an old friend, they had met today to have lunch, a very scrummydumptious lunch and then had gone on to the V&A Museum to see the exhibition of Pearls.

SHE lurves Pearls.. jurst lurves them.. has lots of them.. some very, very pretty ones inherited via Constance from HER Great-Aunt Constance who died a long time ago and after whom HER mother was named, some from HER Grandmother and some from Mister Bill.

HER favourites are, without any doubt, the misshapen ones.The name of this type of Pearl is 'Baroque'. 

Hence, the lovely hose SHE wore today. I will tell YOU, if SHE is willing, wonderful tales of a very happy small bunch of glorious women and the little 'jewel' in Old Bond Street, W1, which was the first Fogal of Switzerland store in London.

SHE worked for this fabulous company for many happy years, the quality of their hosiery was out of this world, in fact, they were the best in the world. 

So wearing Baroque hose SHE saw Baroque pearls, oh, such beautiful things, which are NOT made by a piece of sand entering the mollusc, go and see the exhibition, it is on at the V&A Museum until January 19th.

The chic clothes were hung up to air, they will be put away tomorrow, the Fogal hose were washed, most carefully, by hand, trees were put into those shoes, the sophisticated face was removed with tissues. 

And SHE had, obviously, had a delicious lunch as only Celery was nibbled before WE sat down to tap out this post.

I will post the Tale of the never-before-seen coat tomorrow, for it is a sweet Tale.

What a happy, happy day.. and there is another happy, happy day to come on Sunday. 

For SHE is going to meet up with 'Granny' Jo, now to really confuse YOU all, 'Granny' Jo got the nick name 'Granny' even before she had her two baby girls. SHE met her back in 1975, yes, whoosh back then! 

Her two baby girls are now very grown up with babies of their own and G-J, as I shall call her, has just returned from the depths of the Panamanian jungle where her eldest daughter, Savannah, is now living.

All about G-J's trip is going to be told on Sunday over a pub lunch, after SHE has taken G-J to the Parson's Green Farmer's Market to introduce her to Debbie Goaty Mum.

But before then, SHE is taking Tereza to show her where OUR local recycling place is and then they will have a coffee somewhere.

I wonder when SHE will be going to the garden? 

For I know it is mighty wet out there but work has to be done, weather or no weather, those fruit trees need to be pruned before Spring, in fact, if truth were told and it always should be, SHE is already a couple of weeks late.

And I will be late for MY supper.. can't have that.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 16th, 2014.

I AM, APPARENTLY, A VERY STINKY PARROT & AM IN DEEP DUDU..

Yes, Dear Readers, I have been, apparently, the very nortiest bird but I am most fortunate that it is not the summer.. because SHE threatened ME with being made into a hat.. a feather hat.

Ouch.. oh dear, oh dearie ME.

Well, I had better tell YOU what has occured.

The trouble started much earlier today, SHE had being doing what SHE does once every seven or eight days.. it involves yeast, water and flour, it hubbles and bubbles whilst it is left to grow for a day or so. 

SHE slaps it about a lot, poor thing, after being treated so horribly for ten minutes, SHE gives it a rest, then SHE knocks and slaps it about some more and then, this poor thing, is put into a hot oven.

And half an hour later it comes out in the shape of the most edibubble loaf of Sourdough bread.

Naturally, when it comes out of the oven, it is very hot and it is placed on a wire rack to cool. She had a smidgen of beurre de saumon fume left in chilly larder and was, I think, planning to have a mini snacket with the new loaf of Sourdough when SHE came back from the hairdresser.

I digress, there was this loaf sitting on the rack and when SHE came back from the hairdresser and the market, I was, naturally, very pleased to see HER, so did MY jumpjet act and flew to the YumYum HQ to make sure that all was well.

A wiggly flap got ME into this tiny room and I landed safely on the work surface. As I always have a mini snacket ready during the day, SHE did not think anything wrong, nor come into the room.

Oooooh.. such a pretty loaf but what was this? Why the crust on the top was not smoooooth, it had rough bits, so I thought Beaky could do a tiny bit of 'tidying up' to make it look better.

Alas and much alacking ocurred, for Beaky did not obey orders to just tidy that little tiny bit of sharp crust, for norty Beaky lost control and gave the crust a munch.

Yes, Dear Readers, a big Beaky sized munch but Beaky did not stop.. the little nibblynibbly pieces had turned into big biteybitey chunks.

When SHE came into YumYum HQ and saw what had happened.. well, Dear Readers, YOU know it takes a lot to silence a mother. SHE looked at ME, at the remains of that, oh so, edibubble loaf and that was when I was called stinky.

And other names which I will not repeat as I know children read MY Blog and I don't any complaints from little folks parents.

So there YOU have it.. the sorry Tale of a Stinky Parrot and the still warm Sourdough Loaf.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 15th, 2014.
Postscript. Do YOU think SHE will give ME the chunks? Would YOU be so kind to try and use YOUR influence in MY favour, for it was tasty.

FERDINAND THE BULL..

Do, or did, YOU know him? He was 'born' in Spain a long time ago.

His mama was a cow and they lived on a very large ranch with other cows and their baby boys.

The other baby bulls loved to play rough games and pretend they were big bulls, silly boys they did not realise what, really, was going on!

But Ferdinand did not like rough games, he like to sit quietly under his favourite cork tree and smell the flowers.

She, his mother, asked him once if he was lonely, why he didn't run about with the other baby bulls, he just shook his head and said that he liked to sit and smell the flowers.

As the years went by, he grew into a very big and strong bull like all the other bulls. But they would butt each other and stick each other with their horns (ouch) and what they wanted most was to be picked to fight at the bull fights in Madrid. (I told YOU they were not very bright).

But not Ferdinand, he liked to sit quietly under that cork tree sniffing those flowers.

One day five men came to pick the biggest and bravest bull to fight in Madrid. The other bulls went ballistic, they jumped, snorted and behaved in what they thought was a suitable fashion for a fighting bull.

Ferdinand knew that they would not pick him and he did not care, so he trundled off up the hill to go and sit and sniff.

But.. oh dear.. oh dearie him.. for he sat upon a 
bumble bee and what would YOU do if a bull sat on YOU, well, YOU would stick him with YOUR sting too, if YOU had one!

Wow! Boy, oh boy. Did it hurt! Of course it did! It sent poor Ferdinand crazy and the silly men from Madrid said "Ole! He is the big and snortiest bull of all".

So they took poor old Ferdinand away in a cart to the bull ring in Madrid. The description of his ferocity, size and strength had spread and all the bull fighting aficiandos had bought tickets to see this famous bull.

What a day it was, the bands were playing, flags were flying and the very lovely ladies wore flowers in their hair.

There was a parade into the ring.. first came the Banderillos with their long sharp pins to stick into the bull to make him cross (no, SHE is not an aficianado of bull fighting), next came the nasty Piccadores with their picks to make him angry.

Next came the Matador, the proudest of all, he had a red cape and a sword and was supposed to 'stick' the bull last of all. Then came the bull and YOU know who that was, don't YOU.

Pay attention if YOU don't for this is not a school room.

They had billed him as Ferdinand the Fierce, the Banderilleros were afraid of him, the Picadores were very afraid of him and the Matador was scared stiff.

OUR friend charged into the middle of the ring, everyone shouted and clapped because he was enormous and looked so fierce with his big horns.

But when he got to the middle of the ring, he saw all the flowers in the lovely ladies hair and he sat down and smelled. He had no intention of fighting (never had had) and it drove the nasty men crazy.

The Banderilleros were angry, the Picadores were angrier and the matador was so angry, he cried as he could not show off his red cape and sword.

So they had to take Ferdinand home and for all I know, he is still sitting there, under his favourite cork tree, smelling the flowers.

He is very happy.

Now, I bet YOU all wondering why WE told YOU the story of Ferdinand the Bull. Well, YOU see, this post is directly related to MY last post.

SHE went to Phoebes in Catford. Remember that I said it was a garden centre, well, what is for sale at these places? 

Plants of all varieties, besides other things, so whilst SHE was waiting for Alison to pack up something, SHE went on a stroll around the huge outside yard and found.. oh, such lovely things!

SHE has known and loved this charming story since SHE was very young, SHE was given the little book when SHE was very young and SHE still has the little red book.

But what were the lovely things SHE found at Phoebes? 

SHE found Daphne, Mahonia and Vibernum. The smell of which are so beautiful that SHE was just happy to stand in the cold and sniff.

Do YOU know these beautiful smells? So go out and about Dear Readers, go and search for these winter smells and 'sniff' deeply. 

But don't go looking for a Cork tree, unless YOU live in the Western Mediterranean, which is where they grow. 

GeeGee Parrot.
January 14th, 2014.
Post script.
The Story of Ferdinand was written by Munro Leaf in 1938 and illustrated by Robert Lawson.