Slugs in love...

Two slugs locked in love's embrace and forming a perfect circle, symbol of infinity.

This morning on my walk. Photo copyright SvD.

Memento mori.

My wonderful friend, Gwen, died today and I shall miss her terribly. Over more than twenty years, we laughed riotously, drank a lot of wine, ate a lot of good food and consumed vast quantities of whisky, cognac and anything 40% proof after dozens of suppers shared as we put the world right.

There is an expression that one will die peacefully if one has lived a good life. Gwen did exactly that surrounded by those who loved her.

Farewell, witty, sarcastic, beautiful and special Gwen. I shall never forget you.

Hedgerow Sparrow last Saturday morning flew into my glass door. I put him in the greenhouse to wake up but he never did. Photo copyright SvD.

Food is fuel......yee ha!

I walked four miles today and I was in the office from 9 to 5.30. There are some days when cooking makes me cringe but if it's so easy I could do it with my eyes closed, I might be tempted. This recipe is inspired by the great outdoors and cowboy films. You fry your bacon, you add your beans. Simple. Now let's watch that sunset together.

Cowboy Beans (with cherry tomatoes for colour). Photo copyright SvD.

Spaetzles to Heaven

I'm not German neither am I an expert on German cuisine but my love of spaetzles came to me from my ex-husband whose first wife was German. Spaetzles are a type of quick noodle made with flour, nutmeg and eggs. I use a flat cheese grater to pour the batter into simmering unsalted water- all Germans are politely asked to forgive me for improvising with a cheese grater. Once cooked, the spaetzles are tossed in bacon fat, butter and sauerkraut and topped with crispy lardons and breadcrumbs. Delicious! My supper tonight. I will walk off all this scrumptious fat when I trot my usual 40-50kms per week.

Photo copyright SvD.

How to Live.

When I see people buying ready-made meals in the supermarket I want to scream. Cooking is easy and if you want to stay healthy, learning to cook is an absolute necessity.

I work full time and I cook every day. Why? Because I love the ritual involved plus I need to know what I am eating. I make my own bread because I loathe supermarket bread. The way I live is not extraordinary, it's how I grew up.

Tonight I was inspired to make apple sauce from the orchard outside my kitchen window (the dry summer has forced the apples to ripen months early). And pork and apples are a match made in Heaven. This meal took less than an hour from shelling the broad beans to making the apple sauce.

Broad beans in a parsley sauce, pork chop with a homemade apple sauce.

Photos copyright SvD.

Althorp and the mystery of Diana's resting place.

Althorp, the Spencer family home, makes for an interesting day out. I recently visited but I doubt very much that Diana is buried on the island on the lake. Why? The lake is some distance away from the house and it seems a cold and lonely place to be buried.

I'm more inclined to believe the local rumour that Diana is buried in the family vault in the nearby St Mary The Virgin church at Great Brington. Her father is buried there as well and it would make perfect sense for Diana to be with her dad. I have no proof, of course. I can only say what I feel.

The Spencer crypt below:

The crypt is behind  these blue railings which are fitted with an alarm.

The spot (near the window) inside the Spencer crypt where I believe Diana is buried.

The crypt to the left in this photo.

Althorp.
If I'm right, Princes William and Harry are aware of where their mum is. And that in itself is very telling.
Photos copyright SvD.