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.

A TALE WITH TWO RECIPES & A STORY ABOUT TUSCAN BREAD.

Here WE are folks.. goodness ME, SHE was very tired when SHE came home yesterday. 

All SHE said was "bags".. that word may not mean anything to YOU but I knew that it meant that there had been another very busy day sorting through the donations.

WE had an early and very light supper of Spaetzle together with some of 'Zaira's Tomato Sauce'. 

I have given YOU both of the methods of making these in previous posts but I have not written out the recipe for Celeriac Soup, so here it is.

This quantity feeds six normal people or four greedy folk!

Celeriac Soup.

25g unsalted butter.
500g of peeled, chopped celeriac.
125g peeled, chopped potatoes.
2 garlic crushed cloves of garlic.
600mls vegetable stock.
1 tbs lemon juice.
300mls milk.. WE use full fat Goat.
Salt and pepper.

Gently cook the celeriac, potatoes and garlic for about 5 minutes. Do not allow them to get brown!
Add the stock & lemon juice & bring to a slow boil, then simmer slowly until the vegetables are tender, allow to cool, then blitz in a blender until they are smooth, return to the pan and add the milk and taste for seasoning.

Next up is a taste of summer for winter eating! A chicken leg for each person please.

Grilled Chicken Legs.

4 chicken whole legs.
2tsp of a mix cayenne pepper & sweet paprika.
8 sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Salt.
Place a rack on the top rung of the oven. Preheat oven to 450F.
Make 3 deep diagonal cuts down to the bone of each leg.
Rub the cayenne mix allover the legs and especially into the cuts. 
Take little sprigs off the main sprig of the rosemary and tuck these into the cuts.
Salt the chicken well.
Place skin side up on a baking tray.
Bake for 45 mins. 
Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Why Tuscan Bread is different.

Are YOU a 'student' of History? WE do not mean are YOU at college studying it, WE mean does it interest YOU.

For the reason that Tuscan bread is different goes back to the medieval age of the 12th century. 

There was a bitter dispute between Florence and the Marine Republic of Pisa, which resulted in the blockade of Salt to the landlocked state of Tuscany.

The Florentines, therefore, resolved to make their bread without salt! The taste is totally different!

And this is how SHE makes OUR bread and SHE has fashioned an excellent and very old fashioned way of keeping it fresh.

Taking two pure linen cloths (old fashioned drying up cloths), she sewed them together and pop, in goes the bread, plastic bags make bread sweat and go mouldy and who wants mouldy old bread?

There YOU are, two recipes, a very short Tale and a tip! Now SHE is off, with old wicker, to Catford. Catford? I hear YOU say, what goes on in Catford? 

WE have spoken before of Catford, it is where Phoebes are, an excellent nursery garden. SHE has need of things which SHE knows they will have in stock.

As it is a sunny day, SHE will go by bus, which will trundle trundle up hill and down dale, past St.Dunstans, the wonderful Horniman Museum and a short walk brings HER to this family run business. 

With nice, helpful staff and good quality stock, trips to Phoebes are classified as treats and everyone enjoys a treat now and again, don't WE!

I have a treat, it is a new un-beaked box, which will amuse ME until HER return.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 14th, 2014.

DOMANI.. MANANA.. TOMORROW..

Beg pardon.. Sorry folks.. SHE is very tired.. SHE is going to brush HER teeth, then WE are both going to bed.

Old Beaky hates taptapping on the iPad and there will be no light, even if Beaky were willing.

Therefore, tomorrow WE will give YOU, not one recipe but two, plus the Tale of Tuscan bread.

Yawn. YOU would be tired too if YOU had had HER day!

GeeGee Parrot.
January 13th, 2014.

NO MORNING POST..

Fear not Dear Readers. I will post today on MY Blog but it will later this eveving. SHE has to be out and about with Tereza and has things to do.

Then SHE is working at the shop from midday, lovely boss asked if SHE would do an extra day, people are giving a massive amount of donations which have to be sorted and got ready for sale.

But in order to make sure YOU stay within sight, I will give YOU a sniff of MY next post.

It will be on YumYum, a subject dear to all of OUR hearts (and tummies), there will be a recipe and a Tale of why Tuscan bread is different to other breads.

Dreary sky here, someone forgot to draw back the clouds. But, it is one day nearer to Spring, OUR Bluebell leaves are up and there is sign of growth on the Rose bush.

Pippip, flapflap, got to go to break that norty fast.

GeeGee Parrot.

January 13th, 2014.

THE TALE OF CELERIAC..

Good day to YOU all MY Dear Readers.

Here in deepest Knightsbridge, two soft boiled eggs, a slice of 'Tuscan' style bread, a slice of Rye with Sunflower seeds, two slurps of water and a cup of coffee broke that norty fast, the sun is shining and that desk is still tidy! 

After giving MY Rye bread a good beaking, I espied a piece of treasure! Now YOU, most certainly, would not classify it as such but to a small fat, grey person with a red tail.. aka ME.. it was certainly worthy of that name.

What was it? A skinny leg.

Several weeks ago SHE brought two very strange things home from the garden which SHE had dug up in the late Autumn. SHE had cleaned off the earth, trimmed little bits off the crazy roots and stored them in a bucket of damp sand, where they had lived very happily in HER shed.

They were on the work surface when I flew into YumYum HQ to see what was a' cooking one afternoon. I saw these 'monsters' and being not backwards in being forwards, I remarked, in no uncertain terms, that I thought they looked funny, as in peculiar, not haha.

SHE gave ME one of 'those' looks. I am sure YOU know the sort of look I mean, it is the look a parent gives a child (of any age) which means YOU know diddley-squat!

SHE then proceeded to do things, as cooks do, to these rooty folk and then SHE fiddled with some stuff in a bowl, I got bored and flew onto the top of chilly-larder to give latest box a beaking.

As MY bum was up in the air and Beaky very occupied, I was not privy to what exactly was going on down there but there were lots of sounds of chopchop and other weird noises.

Kitchen tidied, SHE did more fiddling and then I was plucked away from box and out WE went. Regretfully, on MY behalf, as there was the smallest trace of a truly scrummydumptious smell wafting past old Beaky.

Had SHE slipped something in the oven whilst I was playing very most favourite game of Search & Destroy Box?

SHE went about HER business, I think it was writing Christmas cards to folk who live in far away places, and I dozed on bedroom door.

"Supper time" SHE called as SHE walked past, I shook tail, jump-jetted both wings and flew to top of YumYum HQ door. This is a minute room, it amazes folk how SHE produces any food out of here, it is even smaller than the galley of some of the boats SHE has crewed on.

But produce food SHE does and that night was no exception, for out of the oven came a loaf of 'Tuscan' bread, who deserves a post all to itself, and out of the pot, came a creamy thick soup.

MY plate was taken out of the dishwasher, SHE spooned a little of the creamy stuff onto it and blew on it whilst I watched. It was mostly smooth with a few pieces that looked like matchsticks.

I wondered what they were, SHE put HER hand up for ME to step down onto and I was put onto the work surface. My plate was already there, Beaky sniffed, might good smell, a quick slurp confirmed that, it was actually, delicious. 

Now for one of these 'matchsticks', whoooo, what a crunchy tasty object! It was of the same taste as the soup but much stronger. 

"It is Celeriac" SHE said. Oh, how mortifying, the same vegetable that I had been rude about, that will teach ME in future not to be rude about things that I do not know about.

Do YOU know the root vegetable of which I write Dear Readers? Joanna, who lives in Texas and runs an excellent small B&B in Dallas called The French House, says that it is sometimes difficult to find it in the USA. But YOU can certainly grow it.

It has a very strange amount of roots, they look not unlike multiple, mad skinny legs, which have to be trimmed off and this, Dear Readers, is what I found this morning.

SHE has a place where SHE puts herbs to dry. It is not worth MY life to poke Beaky in there, for usually, I am told "NO, come away" in fierce voice but as SHE had shifted the stash of herbs last night to get a fresh garlic out, this little thing had emerged.

And this morning, a quick nudge from Beaky brought it out, it was a skinny leg of Celeriac, a little dry but of the variety most indeedy able to be classified as Treasure.

Treasure hides everywhere, waiting to be found.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 12th, 2014.

WITH A LITTLE BIT.. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF.. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF..

Dear Readers.. A little bit of the dreaded house work surely would not cause too much strain or perhaps I am wrong.

Do YOU have everything where it should be, mes amis? Are all the shelves in the cupboards tidy, do YOUR drawers close with ease or do they, shall WE say, need a little pursuasion? 

Do YOU know exactly where everything is and is it in the right place?

YOU think I am being beaky? YOU cannot acuse ME of being nosy, for I don't have one of those.

Yes, of course, I do have nostrils but I do not have one of those things that stick out of YOUR face through which YOU sniff. For Beaky does not stick out of MY face, no no, Dearest Beaky is the black and very sharp end of MY head!

Back to yesterday and "a little bit".

Well, YOU see WE have had much happiness in OUR house because of a little bit, with a little bit.. of work!

SHE inherited from Constance an antique desk, it is called a 'campaign desk'. And it has the desk bit at the top and then four drawers. 

But the top drawer is not a 'real' drawer, for yes, it pulls out but then the front flap folds down, it is all very clever and neat.. well, it should be neat but it has not been 'neat' for some time, in fact, even worse, it was untidy.

The truth, well, it should be told, non?

Anyway, let US move swiftly on.. the day was very different to the previous day, outside old rain and wind were back in town, ugh. SHE took a quick look out of the door and decided that there was no reason for HER to go out there, wherever there might have been.

SHE has recently tackled other areas which were in need of tender loving care and as poor desk was in grave danger of disappearing completely, SHE got Messrs Duster and Polish, a bag for rubbish and started on the bottom drawer.

Old bank records from over ten years ago from a bank that SHE no longer has any dealings with, into rubbish bag. Old letters, oh dear, well, those 
had to be read before they went as well. Old medical letters concerning a medical complaint that is no longer a problem.. out out!

Oooh.. an almost empty drawer.. how satisfying!

Next drawer working upwards.. ah, that is where old camera is. SHE took out the digital card and put it safely into the little dish by HER bed. SHE does not need old photos from work done fifteen years ago, that is for sure!

SHE also found an important thing! In a ziplock bag was HER EU Medical card and whoopie.. a 5 Euro note! What riches!

Slowly but surely the bottom three drawers were tidied. There was a small period of intense excitement when SHE found what SHE thought was a fat bundle of US Dollars!

No such luck, it was a mad mix of all sorts of foreign currencies, which amounted to the huge sum of about $3.50!

Finally, SHE had reached the top. At the back of this section are compartments, I am pleased to report that the state of these were in some sort of reasonable order. 

Now, all that was left, were the three miniature drawers at the back. The top has always been the home of HER passport, so SHE slipped that into the bag with the EU medical card.

But what was all that stuff underneath? 

Huh, a couple of pens that need refills, a set of eight buttons from a suit long gone, a gambling chip from long ago and then HER heart stopped. For there was something that SHE had been searching for for several years.

Long long ago.. Bill and SHE spent a holiday in Canada, in Quebec to be precise. They stayed at a hotel set in a vast area of lakes and wildlife, it is called Chateau de Montebello. It is beautiful.

The reason for their trip? Well, it was a delayed celebration of two events. The first being HER birthday, the second was the "all clear" that SHE had received from HER Renal Surgeon, Mr. Guy Williams. 

But what could it have been in this little drawer to make HER remember this lovely trip? It will have to be serviced as it is not working correctly, well, it is pretty old, not as old as HER, but it is worth it. 

'It' is a matt black stainless steel water resistant Incabloc watch designed by Ferdinand Alexander 
Porsche. The man primarily responsible for the design of the famous 911.

Bill gave it to HER, whilst they were riding at Montebello, as he said that SHE needed a tougher watch for every day use than HER little Jaeger Le Coultre. 

It is very much beloved for those happy memories that are brought back by the sight of it.

Memories mes amis.. memories.. found with a little bit.. a little bit of bloomin' luck!

GeeGee Parrot.
January 11th, 2014.

CHERRY BLOSSOM.. OLD COLLEAGUES & SUPPLIERS.

Sometimes, jurst sometimes, things do go right! Do YOU have days like this, I hope so, Dear Readers, I really do hope so.

SHE was going to disappear down a hole and go to north London by the underground but upon walking to the station, SHE realised it was much too nice a day to do that, so SHE hopped onto a bus instead.

Sunshine, blue sky, no wind.. it was as if Spring had sprung. But there were no spring flowers dancing in the park which made HER realise that, officially, we are still deep in the depths of winter.

The traffic was a bit slow going up Park Road and oh, how glorious, the first SHE has seen this year. Outside the smart block of apartments called Hanover Gate Mansions are a pair of ornamental Cherry trees and they are in bloom.

The bus turned right onto Prince Albert Road. The trees have no leaves on but the whole grassy side looked 'fresh', as if the ground knew that Spring would come, eventually!

Along it trundled, up into Camden, then up and onwards towards the Caledonian Market. SHE got off the bus and walked the rest of the way.

Rang the bell, very high security at this place, the door opened and there, after over twenty years, was an old friend, a colleague from HER days at The Savoy. HeeHeee, how nice it was to chat and catch up, to swop news. 

Business done, work will be ready next week.

Back on the bus.. trundle trundle back through Camden, along Prince Albert Road and whoosh, 
down into Baker Street.

Traffic gruesome, bus crawled along and stopped at the lights on Portman Square. SHE looked to the left and wished, how SHE wished, that one of HER old suppliers was still in business.. sigh.

Albarry Linens, Portman Square, London W1 had been one of London's treasures. Owned by a large, charming family who were passionate about finding and stocking some of the world's finest linens and some not quite so expensive!

Constance never bought her linens anywhere else and gave them to friends as presents. When she and Hugo moved overseas in 1973, she did a HUGE shop of their beautiful linens to take with them. And the extra large sheets made wonderful summer blinds and curtains.

SHE has a beautiful set, with a very high thread count, that were designed by Vera Wang. SHE bought the sheets and pillow cases. Then six months later, SHE was staying with some friends in South Carolina and was as happy as a clam to see a Queen sized bedskirt and a quilt in the same pattern.

SHE uses them in the summer.. the quilt is the perfect weight and the pattern so pretty. Sadly, this shop is no longer there and no one has been clever enough to fill their place. Pity, a great pity.

But SHE is not sad today, no, SHE is very happy! For when SHE finally came home, after four on the afternoon clock, it was still in daylight, no clouds had covered up the pretty pale blue winter sky.

Spring will spring, in her own time, WE jurst have to get through norty old Winter first.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 9th, 2014.

SPELT.. THE GRAIN NOT THE VERB!

Greetings Dear Readers.

SPELT SOURDOUGH..

Are YOU ready for Spelt?  Really ready or jurst loafing about! Don't snort like that, I thought that was pretty funny.

Get a pad and pen as YOU may need to go to buy a couple of these ingredients.

10g of FRESH Yeast. Rub this into fine crumbs.
600mls lukewarm water.
550g Spelt Flour.
3 tsp of crumbled Sea Salt.
350g strong White Flour.
Extra flour for dusting.
A large baking sheet.

Cream the yeast in a bowl with half of the water.
When smooth, stir in 300g of Spelt flour to make a thick batter, cover this with a damp cloth and put somewhere slightly warm 24 hours, it should look bubbly and slightly grey (curious but true).
The next day you stir in the remaining water and make a smooth batter.
Transfer to a larger bowl, mix in the salt plus the rest of the Spelt flour with your hands, then slowly add add enough of the strong White flour to make a soft but not sticky dough.
Turn the mix out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, if it is sticking to your hands, add extra flour.
Return the mix to the larger bowl, cover it again with a damp cloth and let it rise at a cool to normal room temperature for about 3 hours, it should have doubled in size.
Turn the mix back onto a floured surface and knock the dough back and knead for a minute.
The dough should now be firm enough to hold the shape during baking, if it is too soft, work in a 
little extra White flour.
Shape it into a round loaf and place on the floured baking sheet. 
Drape it loosely with a dry cloth and let it rise for the final time for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. It should double in size again.
Slash the top several times with a sharp knife.
Sprinkle the top with White flour.
Bake in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 7 - 425F for 20 minutes.
Reduce the heat down to Gas Mark 6 - 400F for a further 15 minutes.
The loaf should sound hollow when knocked underneath.
Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack.

Yes, I know it takes time but do try making it and YOU will enjoy it as it is a great bread! WE slice and freeze the slices individually, for it is wonderful toasted.

Off WE go in haste as SHE is going to North London to meet up with a couple of men, a father and his son, whom SHE has not seen for twenty years! Lovely men, experts in their craft. 

WE will post again later today. Toot-Toot.. SHE has to catch a train..

GeeGee Parrot.
January 9th, 2014.

HERE, AS PROMISED, ARE NOT ONE BUT TWO RECIPES!

Some folk are mighty scared by even the thought of a dental chair, so no more talk about them! But WE are really happy to be able to tell YOU that HER tooth had not lost that filling, everything was in order, it was norty tongue telling gross fibs!

So let us talk, or rather write, about happier things, like soup. WE lurve them and here are two that WE, correction, SHE makes quite often.

First up, is that gloriously coloured red Soup. SHE wrote about it just before the holidays but has now received a couple of emails asking HER for the actual recipe, here it is, YOU are getting not one BUT two recipes today! 

Beetroot Soup with Lime zest. For four people.. with generous portions! 

6 good sized cooked Beetroot. SHE cooks them with their skins on, which then slip off quite easily when they are cooked. Chop 5 of them in to chunks and the 6th into fine long pieces.
1 Litre of GOOD chicken stock.
Sour Cream or Creme Fraiche.
Grated Lime Zest.
Seasoning.

Put the chopped Beetroot into a blender with a cup of the stock and whizz until smooth. Add the remaining stock and whizz again until it is all smooth. Add seasoning and taste. Serve in bowls with a large dollop of either Sour Cream or Creme Fraiche and top with the long slices of Beetroot and a little Lime zest on top of the cream. Serve with a good crusty bread.


Herbed Split Pea & Ham Soup.
Serves eight and freezes brilliantly!

500g dried green split Peas.
2 litres of UNSALTED of GOOD Chicken stock.
Make it at home, it is always better!
250g of good quality smoked sliced Ham.
4 crushed cloves of Garlic.
Fresh curly Parsley, NOT flat leaf.
2 Bay leaves.
2tsp of dried Thyme.
2tsp of dried Marjoram.
2 medium Onions, cut in half.
4 whole cloves.
Salt.

Combine the split peas, chicken stock, ham, garlic and herbs in a stockpot. Stick a clove into each piece of onion and add to the soup. Being to a rolling boil over a high heat, then reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pot and simmer for about two hours until the peas are soft enough to crush. 
Puree in a food processor but do not make the soup too smooth.

Tomorrow.. yes, WE will be back again with a fabulousss recipe for a bread that WE jurst lurve.. Spelt Sourdough.

Now off YOU go to do what ever it is that Dear Readers do at nine of the clock and WE are going 
to read a new book which SHE found yesterday.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 8th, 2014.

Three Irish Dear Readers..

Tis true, I am not telling YOU gross fibs, there are, at this very moment, three Irish Dear Readers reading MY Blog.. yippee.. yippee!

Do YOU think they know that SHE lived in Ireland in 1957, it was such a very happy, happy time. The family lived in Dublin, 14. Wellington Road, Ballsbridge to be precise. They lived in part of a house owned by Pamela O'Connor, a very lovely old friend of Constance.

Constance, MY human uncle and SHE left early in   1958, Hugo's main job had been accomplished and he only needed to work there in Ireland a couple of days a month.

So they had moved back to England and rented a house whilst Constance looked for a house to buy and to get the children into schools.

SHE didn't go back to Ireland for, oh, such a lonng time and then a charming Interior Decorator in Dublin recommended HER to one of his clients down in Co.Wexford and whoosh, off SHE went.

SHE flew in the day before and spent the night in a lovely hotel, sorry, the name escapes HER. SHE called the client and they verbally liaised for their meeting the next day, then SHE went for a long walk.. to find HER old Irish home.

SHE has written about this extraordinary trip before but suffice to say.. when SHE saw the house again, SHE felt quite faint and had to sit down on the kerb.

For suddenly, SHE was seven years old again, swinging on a big rope from the big tree (that's still there, the tree not the rope). And being taught to ride a bike by Roderick O'Connor. 

SHE drove down towards Courtown Harbour the next day, HER decorator colleague was right, there was a huge amount of work to do. They drew up a schedule of works and that was the first of many happy trips down to Co.Wexford.

SHE and HER team worked on this house for several years but sadly, the project was finally completed so there was no further need to go to Ireland and apart from two short trips to Co.Clare to stay with friends, SHE has not been back to the Emerald Isle. 

Which is such a lovely place with charming people, with some of God's own country.

And, of, course, the very best Stout in the world, Guinness. Which is one of the world's wonders, best drunk with some friends enjoying some good craic.

GeeGee Parrot.
January 8th, 2014.