View the original blog here
http://toulousearlydays.blogspot.com/Been a while since I updated this, and might have some pics to upload later, after todays 3 hour yomp.
Anyway, went back to the UK for a weekend, and what a great weekend it was. Friday got back in the afternoon and tried out the new recipe for Yorkshire puddings at Sal's - Wow! does that work or what, all done on volume - take a cup (measure or actual cup) and fill with flour, then with eggs, then with milk and whisk - it looks a lot thinner than I would normally have done, but my god do they rise!
Had a great evening with Sal, Al, Steve and Angie and a great joint of beef, rosties, butternut squash, yorkshires and gravy, followed by a fantastic apple and fresh blackberry crumble and custard - or cream and custard if you are Al - then a great smelly selection of cheeses from France.
Saturday, was out and about in Chesham, Wycombe, Berkhamsted and Northchurch... Nice coffee and lunch in Wycombe with friends, then later a beer in Northchurch at the George and Dragon. Saturday evening was Matt and Teresas "UK" reception, great to catch up with friends and people I haven't seen for almost a year... great beer - thanks Matt - great company thanks to everyone...
Sunday... Cricket, in the beautiful english countryside in the beautiful warm english summer, with a picnic and good company - that would be the ideal...
Sunday... Cricket, in the beautiful english countryside, however, the weather... cold, spots of rain, really cold... Picnic, sweaters, raincoats, fleeces, and did I mention it was COLD... watched the first innings outside, but admitted defeat and retreated to the clubhouse for the second innings, at least it was out the wind and warm...
The day itself was great fun, and the music from the crown was great - chill rock, floydesque all really good - went slightly downhill with the screeching - singing(?) - girl but on the whole really good afternoon.
Come Monday and I didnt really want to return to France, all very strange and somewhat confusing for the mind to be honest, but back I came and back to the semi grindstone of work, still quiet as not everyone back from their holidays.
Strange week to say the least and the weekend has been spent cleaning, mopping and finaly sorting out the office/study on Saturday - Sunday went out for a 3 hour walk around the forest, took some pictures, but suprisingly little wildlife on show - also failed to find the lake - it's a lake how can you miss it!!!! Checked the map at the base and could see where I went wrong - pretty much on the wrong direction - better luck next week maybe...
Finally after making a great dinner of Entrecote, roasties and some yorkshires I didn't quite wrap the cloth all the way around the handle of the cast iron pan out the oven and have branded myself! A very shiny sore patch on the palm of the left hand, and after an hour of ice still throbs like someone has a small iron pressed onto it.
Oh well, that's life and things go on, so onwards and upwards and hoping that things continue to improve.
Note to self - No Bakewell! To be rectified next visit...!
