Back to reality
Starting now to return to life as I knew it. Huge relief, although pain management is still top of mind most days.
Certainly looking forward to shifting from toasted cheese sandwiches as a staple to exciting things with vegetables and gravy. I have promised work I’ll bring in some attempts at baking next week so I’m looking for interesting cupcake recipes that require minimal mixing. Although I’m thinking of patenting the icing bag as a therapy – it’ll certainly be more enjoyable than randomly moving my arm in circles. Plus, you get to eat cake afterwards. Genius.
Brixton Market
Finally made it to Brixton Market – after a year of trying.
Very impressed. Very reminiscent of Africa, in some ways, with makeshift tables teetering on upturned vegetable boxes and the street food feel of the restaurants, slightly haphazardly put together serving on enamel tin plates. Africa stops and England takes over as restaurateurs bravely hand out blankets to patrons huddled round candles on an evening that feels far more winter than spring.
Went to Cornercopia (ultra local food) and enjoyed confit duck with petit pois, bacon and onion – a classic I never tire of. Emily ordered the ravioli garnished with wild garlic. An altogether enjoyable experience – marred only by my continuing inability to drink a glass of wine with the meal (bad morphine). Would have liked to finish off with the very enticing sounding beetroot icecream, but far too full to have done it justice so will just have to visit again.
Opium Dens
Everytime I mention morphine people tell me they’re jealous. I’m still trying to work out why. What is it that attracts?
Point 1: It doesn’t take the pain away, merely dulls it
Point 2: Leaves me feeling slightly disconnected from the world and struggling to remember words for really simple things and sometimes unable to finish a sentence
Point 3: No alcohol allowed to be consumed whilst on the drug. Remember, this is going to be months
Point 4: Constipation.
Point 5: Did I mention it doesn’t actually remove the pain?
Seriously guys, where is the fun? The image in my mind of decayed opulence and beautiful people conjured by the opium den of Oscar Wilde repute is nowhere near the reality of this opiate.
They lied
Yeah right. So, the line “you’ll be home the day after, really it’s a very simple procedure” that I totally fell for should actually have been, “look, honey, it’s gonna be hell. You’ll be unable to get out of bed for days, will need help to go to the lavatory, likely to be crying in pain that strong opiate drugs will be completely unable to reduce and stuck in hospital for a week”
Would like to say that the nursing staff at St. Thomas were brilliant on the whole (except for the really annoying male nurse in the squeaky shoes and the mad bitch from hell who refused to help me to the loo in the middle of the night. You’re on my list, both of you). (Yes. I have a list.)
Ouch
So this week has been rather distressing. There I was, walking along minding my own business after a day of leaning my nose against a grindstone and suddenly I’m on the ground feeling slightly stunned and wondering why all the people are helping me up and making concerned noises. Seems I fell over, who knows how I managed it – flat surface, flat shoes, no alcohol in the system, no attempts at moving the slightest bit beyond the pace of a snail and there I am with a painful shoulder.
Pottered off to St. Thomas A&E thinking I’d dislocated the damn thing, 5 hours, 7 consultants, 3 x-rays and a bevy of nurses later it appears the upper humerus (which, it turns out, is not funny at all) is in several pieces with the muscles flapping around attached only at one end (they should be firmly fixed at both top and bottom). So. having been in and out and back and forth for more x-rays, ct scans and lots of concerned consultations about whether playing the piano and generally using my right arm is something I’d like to do in the future, will be returning tomorrow for what they are telling me is a very routine operation to rebuild the bone, skewer it with metal bits, fix the muscles back in place and generally hold me together with sellotape and good wishes. Can’t wait.
Cake Porn
I seriously never thought I’d ever write a sentence that included the phrase “cake porn”. How wrong was I.
On Saturday I was lucky enough to grab a place on the @clandestinecake event held at @msmarmitelover‘s beautiful home. I trundled very happily across London, clutching my Red Velvet cake, in high anticipation of having a jolly good day out and I have to say I was not disappointed. Everyone who attended had taken the theme of Cake Porn to heart and we were presented with a dizzying array of chocolate, fudge, caramel, fruit, cream, cheese and all manner of other deliciousness.
There is something so appealing about a table groaning with food, and when the food is entirely made up of cake without so much as a nod to salad it creates a very warm and fuzzy feeling in the center of my being. Having said that, fruit was very much in evidence with a plethora of berries of every description. Somehow though, when they’re in a mound sitting in syrup that is dribbling over the highest cheesecake I’ve ever seen, or nestling happily in a mountain of cream, there has to be an acknowledgement that maybe “healthy” isn’t really a term to be bandying about at this event.
Over and above the sheer glory of cake, the social aspect of this event was a marvellous thing to behold. Milling about the room, coffee in one hand and plate piled high with sample slices, I was struck by just how much enjoyment all those in the room derived from baking and then talking about it afterwards. For me personally, there was an added enjoyment in hearing so many say that they had learnt baking from their Grandmother. I could do a whole blog devoted to the transition of crafts through the oral tradition. mmm. maybe I will.
Thanks to @MySecretTeaRoom for organising, for @MsMarmiteLover for hosting, and to all the wonderful bakers who provided such glorious cakes.
You can read more from MsMarmiteLover on her Blog the English Can Cook and also from MySecretTeaRoom on the Clandestine Cake Club site which also links to some of the recipes for the cakes that were brought.
My recipe for Red Velvet cake will be posted soon
Lots of lovely loot
One of the wonderful things about having an extended family in far flung places is when eventually you get to meet up with people there is the inevitability of presents. I have known for some time that my brother in law (Martin Glover) had made me a wonderful sculpture and had been admiring it afar via photographs, but it has finally made it to the UK.
Spent a lovely couple of hours in Pix, catching up with my brother, sister-in-law and friends over tapas and wine. Soaking up the bustle of Neal’s Yard and opening up pressies that have amassed in the North of London over the last few months. Piece de resistance definitely the statue. An also slightly random pot of Chilli Bovril which will no doubt make it into an experimental sauce at some point.
Shakespeare and Cupcakes
Have had such a lovely couple of weeks with my mum. Been pootling round London, interspersing trips to the Globe with days in the kitchen, experimenting with cupcakes (My mum pictured here learning to swirl), exchanging recipes and generally enjoying ourselves.
On the cultural side, the main purpose of this trip was “doing” the Globe. Hamlet, Much Ado about Nothing and As you Like it. Of them all, I think the Hamlet production was the best. Thought the dynamic of the small cast sharing roles really worked well here. In particular the play within the play. Fabulous concept. As you Like it was certainly better than the production at The Old Vic last year, but it’s really not my favourite play and having seen it twice recently I could have quite happily missed this one. Much Ado was delightful but not quite as slick as the Hamlet.
To add spice to the whole endeavour also took in The Comedy Store Players. This is the second time I’ve seen them at The Globe and have to say that I will happily return again and again for as long as they’re doing it. As with the last time came out with aching sides and stomach from laughing continually for the entire duration of the show.
Of course it hasn’t all been highbrow culture. We had a couple of fabulous meals at Le Pain Quotidien. I really love their menu, especially as a pre-theatre offering, and the new branch at Borough is so well placed. Also took in The Real Greek on bankside. I didn’t like this franchise when they first opened up but I think they’ve upped their game considerably, and of course the introduction of vouchers doesn’t harm the cause at all. And not forgetting my favourite restaurant of them all: Carluccios. I have been eating and drinking in Carluccios Market Place since they opened in 1999 and I never pass up an opportunity to introduce people to this marvellous cafe.
Very sad to see her return home, but launching straight into planning for the next visit.
Supperclub the first
Yay! Experiment a success, I think. For the very first Supper Club I was keen to try out the idea on friends and family before subjecting the wider public to my eccentricities, but judging from the feedback received I think we have a go for supper clubbing. And a huge thank you to all of my friends who agreed to be guinea pigs. The feedback was brilliant, and your company on the evening even better.
Some little hiccoughs, as expected so good to have had friendlies in the room for this one and now have a checklist of the little things that need to be taken care of. Must also find a good sized black board from somewhere. Or paint one myself. Although trusting me with a paint brush not necessarily a good idea. Still. Time in hand to sort that one out.
Particularly pleased with how the starter turned out. Especially the Cured Salmon. Recipes have now been posted so for those who wanted to know the secrets, have fun.
Menu for 14 May 2011StarterTrio of Quiche (V) MainsStuffed Lamb Shoulder with Crushed Potato, Glazed Carrots and Jus Spinach and Peanut Stew with Rice (V) DessertDeconstructed Lemon Meringue Pie Coffee / Tea |
Next event – planning for around the end of June. Watch this space.
Culture Day
Fab day out in London. Started off in Maria’s Market Cafe in Borough Market (possibly my most favourite place in London) eating Bacon, Bubble and Cheese baps. Good for a hangover, should you ever need to know. Then wandered over to the Tate Modern to meander through the Miro exhibition. Very well worth it, although I have now decided I am not a fan of his later works.
Pottered off to South Ken, topping up the energy levels with Pancakes from the The Kensington Crêperie smothered in maple syrup before heading to the V&A for the Cult of Beauty exhibition.
Highly recommend going to this. Crammed with fabulous works on display by William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and other pre-Raphaelites. Particularly loved the display of clothing.
Only downside is the persistent ache in my poor feet, having tramped around London all day. Feel that the chocolate fudge cake was a well deserved ending.
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