The red, yellow, bronze and crimson leaves of autumn are always a joy to behold, particularly spectacular in the Peak District (or perhaps we are biased?). However, perhaps not as I remember John’s uncle and aunt, Tim and Peggie Sessions, used to make a point of coming over from their very beautiful corner of Herefordshire every October just to enjoy the colours here. Continue reading The Best Autumn Colours Ever?
Category: Latest News
Henry V Live!
Live on the screen that is…
You may remember we went to see Henry V at Stratford last month, and found it most compelling. So compelling in fact that when we had to the chance to see it again, not live but on the screen in the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Derby, we jumped at the chance.
Sadly, only about a dozen other people either knew about it, or were tempted to come, so our friends Gill and David, and John and I sat almost alone, surrounded by empty seats. Continue reading Henry V Live!
Parwich Bake-Off Final Results!!
There were many more judges than entrants for the Great Parwich Bake-off, which was disappointing, but a very jolly and satisfying time was had by all that attended, young and old, as we conscientiously tasted… and tasted again… just to be sure.
I am relieved to tell you that presentation did not come into the judging, which was purely on taste. I also feel a bit sheepish telling you that my gluten-free entry was the only one in that section, so inevitably it won 1st Prize; however, in my defence the cake was all but finished by the judges, some of whom were seen returning for more and more helpings – and I did receive some very nice comments afterwards, although of course at the time no one knew who had cooked what. (Recipe on its way to the marionfs blog in a day or two.)
I also received 1st prize for my roulade but there were only two entries, so that was more by luck than the officially required technical skill. As it is I feel quite ashamed about the final toffee sauce whirls that are meant to be the finishing touch to decorate the roulade.
The ultimate winner overall was Linda Keyworth who more or less swept the board, and received many admiring comments for her presentation cake.
So busy chatting to all and sundry I’m afraid I missed it – so you will have to look on the Parwich blog to see for yourself – who won the children’s section, and the many very beautiful cupcakes and lots more pics, many of them John’s.
I think everyone is hoping that this event might be held again next year. It was a lot of fun, and nobody need feel in the slightest overawed. The judges, all of us, were far more concerned with chatting together and enjoying the delicious tastes than having any concern over method or technical skill.
It was a great way for young and old to enjoy themselves together, and at the same time raising over £100 for the Memorial Hall and the TearFund’s No Child Taken Campaign. Cheryl Woolley and her crew deserve our warmest thanks for organising it all.
Great British Parwich Bake Off!
Not to be outdone by all the media excitement over the latest Great British Bake Off and all the hype about Nadiya the 30-year-old-mum-from-Leeds, The Parwich Memorial Hall committee has decided in its wisdom to run our own village bake-off, in aid of the Parwich Memorial Hall Fund and TearFund’s No Child Taken Campaign. You can read all about it on the village blog, to save me explaining the rules and regs.
Fortunately it is all somewhat lower key than the series on the telly – no cameras, for a start, and in fact everyone will bring their entries to the hall tomorrow, having ‘made one earlier’ so to speak in the peace and quiet of their own familiar kitchen.
Everyone attending the event will judge the entries, presumably also the contestants themselves, going round like Mary Berry and Paul Holywood, tasting our efforts blind. One hopes everyone will be as kind as Mary Berry, who always has something positive to say, however disastrous the result. You can’t have us all running out of the hall in tears.
I love cooking and wanted to support this fun-sounding village event so have spent this evening cooking, after a last minute rush to Janet Gosling in the shop-in-the-pub to stock up on bananas and cream, and round the corner to beg a swiss roll tin off lovely neighbour Sue.
John took lots of photos every so often, when there was a quietish spell in between the excitement of the New Zealand v Wales rugby match but I cannot show any pics yet that will give away the maker.
Keen as I am to join in the fun, I have no aspirations, no hopes or plans to be crowned the Parwich Baking Star. I am only entering two of the four sections – a presentation cake is not my line at all, and I didn’t fancy my chances of making four identical cupcakes. All I hope it not to be made to look an idiot, which is rather likely if presentation is important, as no doubt it is.
I have never been great on presentation, although the taste is usually okay. I must admit, my Banoffee Roulade looks very cumbersome (that is putting it politely, I really should have used a piping bag for the drizzle, rather than a plastic spatula…).
The Roulade is a Mary Berry recipe, to be followed religiously. The other category I am entering is simply for a gluten free cake or pudding of one’s choice. I have a very faithful totally gluten free recipe cut out some years ago from the Australian Woman’s Weekly magazine. Again, it looks good, but not as obviously delicious as it is, or should be, anyway. I will put the recipe up on the blog after the competition.
We’ve been in London the last few days and I haven’t conferred with anyone so have no idea who else or how many others may be entering and how stiff the competition will be.
All will be revealed tomorrow…
Bridge Dainties
No, these are simply delicious biscuits – in fact Prize-winners as you can see – and not even particularly dainty; in spite of the name you do not need to be a bridge player, or indeed even a bridge-learner, to enjoy them…
The recipe for the so-named Bridge Dainties was given to my sister, Ruth Cragg (nee Hall) in about 1955 or 56 by the mother of one of her day girl friends. We were boarders at St Peter’s Diocesan School for Girls in Bulawayo, now Zimbabwe, then Southern Rhodesia. Ruth has never, ever played bridge, in case you’re wondering. Continue reading Bridge Dainties
Oh Hell! Mastering Cards…
Learning to play Bridge properly is one of my retirement projects. It hasn’t started off too promisingly, as I missed so many classes last year I have had to enrol again with this year’s beginners. Continue reading Oh Hell! Mastering Cards…
I was The Last to Know
I know not all of you are Facebook fans, but John and I both like it in a low key sort of way.
We never reveal anything private or very personal. I have found a few old school friends and love the keeping up to date with friends that you maybe wouldn’t normally hear from except at Christmas. We occasionally discover what our ‘young’ are up to, and I have also enjoyed keeping in touch with some of our former Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns guests that over the years turned into friends. Continue reading I was The Last to Know
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
‘We Few, We Happy Few’…
Although perhaps even fewer are quite so happy after losing the rugby to Wales last night…
But, yes, John and I are happy enough to have just been to see Henry V at Stratford, having already seen Richard II, and Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 – thanks to our good friend Trevor who valiantly oversees the dramatic programme of a few fellow keen theatregoers.
Pics as always thanks to JFS although I took this apparently illegal one in the theatre as we waited for Henry. Continue reading ‘We Few, We Happy Few’…
A Short Break on the Norfolk Broads
We expected dreadful weather, and so felt pleased to enjoy not dreadful but mixed weather, some rain but lots of sunny spells – but never warm enough to sunbathe in our bikinis and thongs (?). After a hectic few weeks and a busy drive to Wroxham mainly chugging slowly behind tractors and numerous heavily laden trucks full of veg we felt more than ready for a peaceful few days with our very good friends Erica and Colin whose company we so enjoy. Continue reading A Short Break on the Norfolk Broads