It’s always a bit pressured when a foodie friend comes to dinner, no?
I like to think we always eat well, and we *do* prioritize the tasty, but it’s these occasions where you really want your cooking to be on point.
Anyway, George was coming, so my mind was whirring. The weather had got colder, so the Vietnamese lemongrass chicken I’d planned would have to wait ’til next time.
We decided to stick with poultry, but add warming Indian spices.
The sun is fading now, but some brave specimens are still eager to catch the last of the golden October light.
In the garden, the bees are buzzing around the ivy, one of the last flowering plants.
This month, I am …
Vaughan’s the author of epic fan favourite Saga, and this sounded right up my street. It’s about four girls with newspaper rounds. One post-Halloween morning, they head out and discover … things have changed.
So basically if the all-female Ghostbusters reboot was set in 1988 and crossed with the Goonies. And yes, it’s that good.
(Have you seen Ghostbusters the reboot yet? It’s amazing! I loved it.)
The latest from my favourite Cali alt-rockers. Moody, dark and great getting-ready-to-go-out music as the nights draw in. (Warning: May result in heavier application of eyeliner than intended.)
Kiefer Sutherland as a somewhat-reluctant president after all the others get blown up at the State of the Union. Only two episodes in so far, but it’s very well acted and I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes. And also he has great glasses. It’s releasing weekly on Netflix UK.
I’m a sucker for anything with Allison Janney in it, and this Netflix Original is a sharply observed and nuanced performance from a great cast. The plot’s a bit silly (homeless girl takes baby from neglectful mother) but Janney, Ellen Page and Tammy Blanchard are all extremely watchable.
Linklater really can do youth, can’t he. I’m guessing you’ve all already seen this, but if not, it’s new to Netflix UK and very lovely. Patricia Arquette is excellent – totally deserved her Oscar for Best Supporting.
Slow-cooked soups, dals, stews – anything hot, steamy and scrumptious. Also tea. Lots of tea.
A sunny Saturday so I dragged Ted along to visit some old friends.
… and hello Autumn.
No question that it’s here now – the temperature’s dropped, the night air has a cool edge to it, and rain showers have arrived.
A simple autumn salad. If you choose to roast the beets, be aware that it’ll take at least an hour, though they *are* tastier roasted than boiled.
Serves two as a main.
You all know Tower Bridge.
The famous one that’s in all the pictures, with the double drawbridge in the middle.
The drawbridge weighs over a thousand tonnes. It is counterbalanced by huge weights, which also weigh over a thousand tonnes.
When the bridges lift, the weights slowly drop into two large chambers called “bascule chambers”. They’re situated in the base of the central supports of the bridge.
When the bridges are down, these chambers are empty.
“That’s a good place for a concert,” thought a chap called Iain Chambers.
“That sounds fun,” thought I.
Funny how autumn puts a spring in your step.
When the temperature drops and the sun is shining, so it’s just the right weather for exploring London.
Time to head back to Goldhawk Road in search of fabric and trimmings. I’d been with Bryony earlier in the year, when we found treasures including the fabric and trim for this shawl, and had to return with Lettice before long.
Lee May Foster-Wilson has been creating lovely things from her studio in Cornwall for some time – she was one of the first new-wave British designers that came to my attention some years back.
Her work is centred on whimsical illustrations of horses, cottages, moons and stars. It’s naïve, but not childish – it resonates with me because I grew up in the countryside, but there’s an edge to it that works in the city.
Her new, limited-edition collection, Indian Summer, celebrates the last, late golden days of the year before winter sets in. Take a look:
Charlotte Tilbury is so in my imaginary celebrity girl gang. I’m loving this sheeny, shimmery, yet not OTT eye treatment, and wondering if one that’s a little less golden would suit me. Perhaps some makeup playtime soon …
© 2024 … and roses too.
