I have an idea about the kestrel . The uni I worked in had a bloke who used to bring a bird of prey now and then to frighten off the pigeons and gulls (Brighton ) and it was paid work ! Maybe he was doing that and had to climb on a roof ?
‘Jesus Christ custard’ will henceforth be used in our house to describe my usual offering.
I made the glamorous assistant help pick the juiciest brambles on our trip to the allotment yesterday as he is a foot taller than me so could reach the high up ones.
We got enough for crumble too but that will have to wait as today is the allotment show in the Sun Pavilion!
My entries might not win but I’ve had fun making them…cheese scones, ginger biscuits, flapjacks, allotment jelly and cordial, marmalade with brandied apricots (lush!) and ‘flaars’, a ladies spray, gentleman’s buttonhole and a vase of annuals-arranged for effect!
Sadly, my courgettes did not pass muster but the tomatoes might just make the grade.
I’ve had everything crossed all day! How did it go? I love the sound of everything you made! You’d be my winner!
Re: Jesus Christ Custard. You can also have Jesus Christ Gravy. My grandmother didn’t hold with thin sauces. She’d sniff at them and say in her most dismissive tones “VERY English…” 😂
Ooh, thanks Alex, the finger crossing worked! I got a first for my cordial. I think it was the added brandy that swung the judge my way. Also three seconds and two thirds. Flowers and preserves did well, but my baking didn’t, although my lovely son said that my ginger biscuits were always a winner with him…not biased at all, eh?
Dear Alex, another wonderful Sunday ahead thanks to your joy parade!
YOU have the best menu in town: laughs, smiles, beauties, songs. I’ll have all of them when reading you.
Paris weather lost some degrees this morning, which is what I waited to fully enjoy this minutes spent in your online company! Thank you for this 55th pint of happiness! ❤️
Thank you so much for reading! I’m glad Paris has cooled a smidge! I follow a young man on instagram who is living in what is believed to be the tiniest apartment in Paris. It’s mouse sized and up ten flights of stairs and it’s been Quite Warm for him. He’s escaped to Sweden for a cool down which is an idea I might steal should another heatwave come along!
Another lovely way to wake up on a Sunday. The kestrel will be to scare off pigeons / gulls from the building site. The views from your strolls are so enchanting, what a wonderful place to wander. Have a wonderful week!
From a grain merchant's daughter - those look like straw bales, not hay. You want to know about grain, barley in particular? Feed barley, malting barley for making whisky? Just ask. Such was my childhood. Apart from that, I love your joyful posts!
TWO THINGS: Thing 1: ARE YOU SURE it was a kestrel? My FEELING is that it will have been a Harris hawk. Thing 2: ARE YOU SURE that is a haystack (and hay bales)? My FEELING is that both instances are straw. Otherwise, CARRY ON 💚
You somehow manage to top yourself every week! I've never been more delighted by a recipe than I was by your crumble. Getting distracted by a dog on the way to the store is entirely too relatable. Your comparison of the chickens to wealthy elderly divorced Manhattan women also made me cackle. And I just have to say, that rat bag alone is worth the price of admission.
I have an idea about the kestrel . The uni I worked in had a bloke who used to bring a bird of prey now and then to frighten off the pigeons and gulls (Brighton ) and it was paid work ! Maybe he was doing that and had to climb on a roof ?
Yes I think this might be the thing! But I still wonder if it has to wear a hard hat. I’m praying that it does!
Another Sunday morning classic Alex, thank you!
‘Jesus Christ custard’ will henceforth be used in our house to describe my usual offering.
I made the glamorous assistant help pick the juiciest brambles on our trip to the allotment yesterday as he is a foot taller than me so could reach the high up ones.
We got enough for crumble too but that will have to wait as today is the allotment show in the Sun Pavilion!
My entries might not win but I’ve had fun making them…cheese scones, ginger biscuits, flapjacks, allotment jelly and cordial, marmalade with brandied apricots (lush!) and ‘flaars’, a ladies spray, gentleman’s buttonhole and a vase of annuals-arranged for effect!
Sadly, my courgettes did not pass muster but the tomatoes might just make the grade.
Fingers crossed 🤞🏼eh?
I’ve had everything crossed all day! How did it go? I love the sound of everything you made! You’d be my winner!
Re: Jesus Christ Custard. You can also have Jesus Christ Gravy. My grandmother didn’t hold with thin sauces. She’d sniff at them and say in her most dismissive tones “VERY English…” 😂
Ooh, thanks Alex, the finger crossing worked! I got a first for my cordial. I think it was the added brandy that swung the judge my way. Also three seconds and two thirds. Flowers and preserves did well, but my baking didn’t, although my lovely son said that my ginger biscuits were always a winner with him…not biased at all, eh?
I read every Sunday morning and, as a result, every Sunday starts with a smile. Thank you.
Thank you so much for reading!
Dear Alex, another wonderful Sunday ahead thanks to your joy parade!
YOU have the best menu in town: laughs, smiles, beauties, songs. I’ll have all of them when reading you.
Paris weather lost some degrees this morning, which is what I waited to fully enjoy this minutes spent in your online company! Thank you for this 55th pint of happiness! ❤️
Thank you so much for reading! I’m glad Paris has cooled a smidge! I follow a young man on instagram who is living in what is believed to be the tiniest apartment in Paris. It’s mouse sized and up ten flights of stairs and it’s been Quite Warm for him. He’s escaped to Sweden for a cool down which is an idea I might steal should another heatwave come along!
I have many friends living right under Parisian roofs. They feel in a state between boiled eggs and fried eggs.
Sweden is a good escape destination.
I’ll be in Britany at the end of next week, I hope it will be cooler.
Oooh those Thirkells 😍😍😍😍
Bit dishy aren’t they!
This made me laugh out loud. The kestrel! And the vibes-based, menu-less restaurant 😂
Oh absolutely off the charts insane!
I feel like I need to go back to the cafe and see what the vibes actually were?
Chaotic I’d imagine 😂
Dear Alex,
Thank you once again for an entertaining read. It is a great start to Sundays.Loved the Victoria Wood clip.
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words. Vic W was SUCH a gem!
So much joy!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing my poem means the absolute world 🥹🍅🫶
Thank YOU for gifting us all your beautiful words
Another lovely way to wake up on a Sunday. The kestrel will be to scare off pigeons / gulls from the building site. The views from your strolls are so enchanting, what a wonderful place to wander. Have a wonderful week!
Oh yes that’s probably it! One of my publishers has a bird of prey that patrols the roof garden (but the pigeons absolutely do not care at all)
Most cheering thing ever. Thank you.
Thank you so much !
From a grain merchant's daughter - those look like straw bales, not hay. You want to know about grain, barley in particular? Feed barley, malting barley for making whisky? Just ask. Such was my childhood. Apart from that, I love your joyful posts!
“A Grain Merchant’s Daughter” would be a great title for a book! Thank you so much for reading and the grain advice!
Lovely, as always. Thank you!! xx
Thank you and thank you for reading
TWO THINGS: Thing 1: ARE YOU SURE it was a kestrel? My FEELING is that it will have been a Harris hawk. Thing 2: ARE YOU SURE that is a haystack (and hay bales)? My FEELING is that both instances are straw. Otherwise, CARRY ON 💚
My feeling is that you are right on both counts!
My country bumpkin knowledge HAS to come in handy SOMETIMES. If only thrice a year.
You somehow manage to top yourself every week! I've never been more delighted by a recipe than I was by your crumble. Getting distracted by a dog on the way to the store is entirely too relatable. Your comparison of the chickens to wealthy elderly divorced Manhattan women also made me cackle. And I just have to say, that rat bag alone is worth the price of admission.
Thank you so much for these kind words and for joining the Joy Parade!
I really hope I never get to a stage in life where I’ll have to use a tomato for my perfume
Oh I think it’s a great plan. I’m doing to do it and also wear two cherry toms as earrings. V. Stunning!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing me joy today! I'm so v. grateful.
Thank YOU for joining in and reading! I’m so glad that you did!