Modesty in all things

Owl at Preston (taken with Nick's samsung Galaxy Note)

Well the weather continues to be grim although we have been offered a little respite from the rain this weekend. Temperatures though are struggling to get above 11-12 degrees (Celsius) whether it is dry or sunny. Still nice to enjoy the garden even if it is cool. The flowers are colourful at the minute and the one plus of the cooler weather is the absence of biting midges. Flowers currently out are Tulip, Wisteria, bolted cabbage, Pieris and Bluebell. One of the neighbours saw a magazine article on grouping lots of different flowers in small jars and vases and took some of each for here arrangement. Cabbage flowers are individually quite attractive and en-masse when in a field of rape breathtaking. I think my favourite would be rows and rows of lavender in a field in France – that must be an amazing sight. Who knows next year when I have the time I might even go and have a look. See her arrangement below – looks good and I love these 2 dolls. I can remember when women were like this and generally the better for it.

So tell me now why did I build the summerhouse? I bought a lamp for it the other week. I had thought to maybe take a week off last week but cancelled it due to the poor weather. So now shall wait till the Queen’s Jubilee week and take that off instead. I’m trying to be prudent with my works holiday allocation this year and achieve maximum benefit from them. Why do we do that? Especially when all the signs point to the impending implosion of the financial world and really the natural inclination is to enjoy it while you can.

Ran out of jam at the weekend so made some blueberry frangipane jam – not really sure about it but should be good for Bakewell tart bases and sponges. The ground almonds give it a coarse texture. I added them to get a set as I don’t think blueberries on their own have an awful lot of pectin in. I’m not even sure one can add ground almonds to jam but I did and it worked. Jam is so easy to make that it never seems worth buying it anymore. Here’s the recipe if anyone is interested

600g blueberries

600g sugar
100g ground almonds

Wash blueberries and add to pan with sugar and heat till a rolling boil is achieved. You can’t walk away from jam or it will burn. Boil mixture to setting point, (you need a jam thermometer for this) and then add ground almonds. Pot into clean, oven heated jars and seal; and that’s it.

The queen is in Accrington today so expect more pictures from the visit. Let’s see how close they get this time.

Baguette or Loaves with a ‘poolish ferment’ Re: Richard Bertinet method

The Poolish ferment

5g fresh yeast

350g water

300g strong white flour

50g dark rye flour

Stir the yeast into the water in a bowl and add flours and stir well. You are not trying to make a dough by the way as the mix is too wet and it doesn’t need to be smooth and lump free but it does need to be mixed well. Cover and leave at room temperature for 6 hrs or place in refrigerator overnight. (The ferment will keep for a couple of days without any real harm so long as the yeast was fresh.) The fridge method is supposed to be the best one.

To make the bread

1.3kg strong white flour

700g water

20g fresh yeast

30g salt

Mix the yeast in the lukewarm water and with the flour and add both to the poolish. Bring the mix together and knead well for 10 min then sprinkle the salt on the dough and knead till smooth and elastic. (The hand kneading method or a mixer is your choice but you will need a heavy duty mixer for this amount of dough.)

Rest and prove till almost doubled in volume then turn out and gently work into 2 large or 4 small loaves or 10 baguettes and prove again till almost doubled in size. Slash tops and bake for 25 mins at 235C (fan) 250C (non fan oven) or 460F (fan) 480F (non fan oven) approx 25-40 mins depending on size.

Tips

Mist the oven before putting in the bread develops the crust but may damage the oven if the water hits the element so for me; not worth it.

Try to maintain the dough smooth side to the top when proving and shaping

There's a certain amount of faith required when following the recipes in Richard Bertinet's new book Crust. The French baker, who runs a bakery and cookery school in Bath, is a firm believer in using a high percentage of water in his bread recipes, which he argues makes for light and airy loaves. Once you get the hang of the technique “You’ll believe!"

Crust, which is subtitled Bread to get your teeth into, is aimed at the general public. Crust's recipes, covering 158 pages, are more advanced than those outlined in his first book (Dough, published in 2005)

The first chapter runs through the basics, covering tools and Bertinet's techniques for working and shaping the dough, before a large chapter dedicated to 'slow' breads. This includes excellent detail on how to produce sourdough loaves, with information on making and refreshing the ferment, as well as recipes for breads made with a liquid 'poolish' ferment and the French autolyse method, which involves letting the dough 'self mix'.

I believe – made some great bread the other day using the ‘poolish’method.

Left a surprise for a neighbour - hope she doesn't drink the bottle

Look to me coming when the world is once again how I remember it to be. No more can I advance and stay whole in the climate we have now. It reeks of treachery and black deeds. Long have I watched deep into the night with nothing but the wind and stars to guide me. I look to the heavens and see the constellations above wheeling in endless schemes of possibility and yet none of this do I see here among us. The universe has removed its gaze as we have become further from the celestial truths that she was so eager to show us. It saddens my aged heart to know what is to come and be capable of naught to avert it.

It is ever so that we perforce lose that which, so dreaded; arrives to our time despite all the ultimately futile efforts of appeasement to prevent it. We cannot defeat the cycles of decadence and rebirth, but we can divert its black aims of subjugation and dominance over all living things. What we have lost we must relearn and what is took from us we must regain. If it takes a thousand years we will have peace.

So I shall withdraw to my land for a time within the boundaries of my thoughts. Where the dawns rise swift and golden over long green hills and the ice blue lake reflects the coming of another beautiful day. I shall sit on a rolling greensward and watch the birds arise and sing honeyed melodies to rival angels. Scents of thyme and bread baking in wood fired ovens shall wend the breeze and languish on the warm air No harm shall enter my world and hurt any part of it ever again, for the spite that mars now all we do and build shall be cast down forever soon.  

In secret they warp history and divinity

Seek to destroy all who gainsay them

Make wars and worthless claims on...

How to live beyond science and humility

Enslave embittered populaces in hope

Revel in a divine right to be outside time

Eagerly repeat all the same old cachets

Accepting the world is all we have is heresy

Overtly Increase suspicion and mistrust

To grow divisions where there is harmony

Destroy all those who seek a different path

It is done, the world spins backwards again

6.00am - just been out. It's a cold, crisp, sunny morning but we had an unexpected hard frost last night so looking like a few plants will suffer. That's gotta black off the growing potatoes and the Gunnera. Another frost tonight down to -3 (expected) but cold for May.

Time steps by into more time bought on the memories of the past. Each memory is worth the world; for what is life but a living dream? Each of us moves through time within our own dreams and each one of them is unique. Every person creates their own universe and places at the centre of it; themselves. Stepping back I see how precious this gift is and yet how I wish my temporal kingdom could merge into yours. That I might show you all the things I have seen and felt. Every hope and dream, fear and doubt that makes me who I am. That I might see yours and understand what has shaped me for your dreams have surely enriched me beyond measure.

I entered a Hallmark card competition the other week

Philip Hammond, the UK Defence Secretary, said that banks were not solely responsible for the financial crisis as “they had to lend to someone”. The minister, who played a key role in drawing up David Cameron’s economic strategy in opposition, also claimed that people who took out loans were “consenting adults” who, in some cases, were now be seeking to blame others for their actions.

Mr Hammond made the comments after Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, admitted that he should have “shouted from the rooftops” about the dangers facing the financial system. Sir Mervyn also criticised the delay by Gordon Brown’s government in bailing out the banks; remarks that prompted calls for an official inquiry into the role of regulators, the Bank and ministers in the financial collapse.

So the general public is responsible. It was our fault after all. Nothing to do with the Thatcher government inspired selling of most of the national assets, the rampant property speculation that was fuelled with the giving away of local and central government real estate and the massive deregulation of the banks. What he doesn't admit is that the government is responsible for forcing house prices so high that people had no option but to join in or remain at the mercy of speculative landlords. What is the government doing now to get off the property speculation band wagon? – erm, nothing, just more lies and passing the blame around. Why because Hammond is still backing his rich mates hoarding all the cash and we need to remember that this guy is charged with the defence of the realm. After the disastrous election results for this government yesterday look to a cabinet reshufle soon - hopefully right out of the political door the lot of them.

Wherever you tread grow flowers

Whatever you do is a sign of hope

Whatever I find I dedicate to you

Whatever happens from now is fate

One of the world's most iconic masterpieces, The Scream by Edvard Munch, has sold for $119.9m (£73.9m), becoming the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.

The version sold last night was the only one remaining in private hands and is considered perhaps the most sought-after of the four because it contains a poem about the work – written in the artist’s own hand – on the frame.

It reads: “I was walking along the road with two Friends / the Sun was setting – The Sky turned a bloody red / And I felt a whiff of Melancholy – I stood / Still, deathly tired – over the blue-black / Fjord and City hung Blood and Tongues of Fire / My Friends walked on – I remained behind / – shivering with Anxiety – I felt the great Scream in Nature – EM.”

Well I just feel amazed. How many people would this feed or save- anyway can't stop now i'm off to find some crayons and paper.

Britain's wealthiest people saw their fortunes rise to record levels last year, according to the annual Sunday Times Rich List, at a time when most Britons' earnings and savings were squeezed by inflation and low interest rates. The combined wealth of Britain's 1,000 richest people swelled by almost 5% to more than £414bn, the highest recorded by the 24-year-old survey.

If the political system continues in its current form then the few remaining assets now collectively owned (such as savings and housing) will fall rapidly into the hands of the few. We are seeing the signs of all this now in ‘buy to let’ housing boom, the spike in the number of cash businesses and the clever ability of large sections in the poorest areas to be able to finance and maintain businesses and rental housing portfolios. Truth is lots of people make lots of money in these times (Re: pawn shops and payday loans) and if the political will is not there to ensure fairness then the transfer of money from the poor to the wealthy or the criminal begins. You may not be able to see it yet but it is happening now on a massive scale.

Ah the quintessential garden accessory; the summerhouse - an idyll from the heat of the last of the April days - not!!!

Despite all the rain the trees are unfurling their solar sails to the summer in streams of green pennants and banners to the longer days and warmer nights. They extend deep roots to excavate down into the bones of the earth to satisfy unfulfilled desires to reach for the blue skies.

Water, water everywhere and lots of drops to drink

Water, water everywhere, miss the sun if you blink

Britain is suffering the longest peacetime slump in a century, economists said on Wednesday as figures confirmed a double-dip recession.

Daily Telegraph’s website -The UK is not going to get any better - we are like a ship which is heading for the rocks, and Captain Cameron and his useless crew are just standing by and watching.

The Mamas & the Papas

And it's getting better, growing stronger, warm and wilder, getting better every day

Apple profits rise 94pc to $11.6bn, smashing expectations as demand for the iPhone and iPad surged. Profits in the first three months of the year reached $11.6bn (£7.2bn), 94pc higher than in the same quarter of last year and dwarfing the $9.4bn that analysts had forecast.

The iPad and the iPhone once again shone as Apple found new buyers of the gadgets across the world. IPhone sales soared 88pc to 35.1m, while those for the iPad more than doubled to 11.8m.

This will be such good news for the Chinese labourers at Foxconn (not!!!). Apple makes excellent products but they are only worth half what you pay and are becoming the new symbol of division between the haves and have not’s across the world. I can live for now without an IPhone or IPad

Sunday 22^nd Apr 12

It’s been a quiet time overall but built the summerhouse and also an arbour to replace the failing seating in one corner of the garden. Looking forward to some sunny evenings sat there. Though not anytime soon, I have to add, as the weather currently is abysmal. Cold, very wet and not at all in keeping with the season. What a contrast to the earlier hot sunny weather. So many plants burned and ruined by the late frost which gets us every year.

Took quite a lot of physical effort to build the garden equipment and I am conscious of the fact I am not getting younger. Still almost all the aches and pains have now gone. Overall though despite the moaning I feel better for it.

My sister got married yesterday but she had a quite wedding (second one) and is off for a honeymoon in the Lake District. 

Currently trying to retrain Robbie, the ‘yapper’ as he seems to constantly bark at everything. It appears to be working because managed to sit through the first episode of ‘Game of Thrones’ without too much hassle.

Here’s a selection of comments from the Daily Telegraph’s website on the UK £10 billion contribution to the IMF. Newspaper comments are the most hilarious (and chillingly truthful) parts I think. I do notice an increasing trend throughout the media of limiting comments to only articles that aren’t likely to be controversial. Which in a way negates the whole point of them.

It's in UK's interest to increase funding to IMF, says Christine Lagarde and so cough up £10 billion George Osborne has.

"She's only one in an ocean of parasitic scum, enriching themselves at the expense of the middle and lower classes, as they endure the greatest transfer of wealth by theft ever seen in history to corrupt banking cartels and political and ruling elites."

"Christine Lagarde - Pointless Parisian courtesan poncing and preening about in her new coat of orange paint, hoping to tempt some john to cough up and partake of her highly dubious ability's to provide them with any form of gratification whatsoever, other than a dose of highly charged and potentially bankrupting clap and a deep suspicion that tomorrows news will have them paraded about as the fools who got charmed by a ugly old transvestite in the dark. As George is barely out of short trousers and panting for all he’s worth, it should be obvious that he is going to catch a dose from the scrubber."

"Just in case anyone is still convinced there is a 'recovery' on the way, please consider the question 'If the entire global financial system was built upon money which didn't exist because it was fabricated, then to what are you looking to return to'? It may be a simple question but don't you see there is no return or recovery coming. How can there be. All that lies ahead are lies, political propaganda, more lies, and inflation. Further, unless inflation occurs then interest rates and taxes must rise and more spending cuts must occur. Hence we inflate the money to reduce YOUR spending power. You must begin to see that this is a total scam before it's too late."

I realise now with redundancy looming closer that i haven't spent enough time thinking about money. i think that will be coming into much sharper focus soon.

Haven’t written much lately but have been quite busy. This is the second half of the garden project; a garden arbour. (Definition) - a framework that supports climbing plants; "the arbour provided a shady resting place.”

 The arbour still has to be painted but is wonderful to sit in and taken in the view. It offers some protection from the wind and rain which currently is a definite bonus.

A new garden building – this is what’s been done this week in the pouring rain, hail and occasional sunshine. The steps proved a challenge. Still great spot to relax in so come on good weather. It’s been hard work.

 

As leaves unfurl in the cold air they catch naught but...

Inviolate shards of rain falling from grey swaddled heavens

What a fury is within these drops, but my heart would hear

Only echoes of a Mermaids mirth from forgotten aquatics

Memories brought here on water stolen from the ocean

They transmute within gravity to puncture quisling seams

Deliver a sting of icy water on warm skin veiled in cloth

Would that Easter would now end and the summer begin?

For there is much to do and the year is rising in urgency

And I would finish this obsession now it is so slowly begun

The Quen in York yesterday for the Maundy Thursday event

Easter is here with velvet, snowed train that takes away the opening days and closes them tight. From gown and shirt to stoles and swaggered scarves we return...for a little while.  For like ghosts in the twilight we inhabit these now gloomy days waiting for summer radiance to guide us back to a better place we know is there, for we have already felt it; though its fiery benevolence may have waned under the onslaught of the northern wind. Yet withal this will pass and our icy mistress must doth exit and all we shall decry is the last rustle of her iced sendaline gown as it flows past us to abide in her pristine snow gardens of the North Pole.

Happy Easter

Me at 51 and Robbie

The countdown calendar to redundancy is the strangest thing because it still seems to be further away than ever. The whole work dynamic is changing now – people I previously thought of as essentially fair now begin to show a more sinister side. It is hard to blame people I guess as survival takes many disguises. But I do believe without benevolent collectivism everything just descends to individual cupidity. The most definite thing I am seeing is the change from the company’s initial concern for the employees future, (albeit mostly fake admittedly,) to a ‘like it or lump it’ attitude now endemic among the senior people. Bit late now to expect all the crosses on the T’s and the dots on the I’s. It seems a game now of divide and conquer the employees; it is in reality life and life isn’t fair, but its maddening when it enters your life and turns things upside down. 10% of the workforce are staying on for a further 2 months and in a way it has made the other 90% feel a little less valued. Oh well 'keep calm and carry on' to coin a phrase.

Cowed in this deep frustration

While we await compensation

There can be no remonstration

Till our employment cessation

The weather has done an incredible 180 degrees change and we are back to the freezing cold. Some snow is forecast here but I think we may be lucky enough to miss it all. Looks like being a miserable Easter. I should make a resolution never to uncover any tender plants until at least the beginning of May. Off all next week too but not worried about the weather because we’re going to build a summerhouse in the garden. It is only a small 7x5 foot affair but with a lovely view.  The base is built so that’s the easy bit done. It will probably take a week to figure out how to put it all together. I haven’t written much lately but have added some photos; but sometimes that’s how it goes. Words are like money – hard to get and easy to lose. Anyway this is the view...will be even better once all the leaves are out and the sun shines.