Nerks Works

2002-01-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

I`ve just written a long piece about my trip to Dieppe and lost it all. SHIT.
Ron.

2002-01-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

BACK FROM FRANCE, and our first experience of The EURO.
The change over of currency was almost a non event in Dieppe. Not a lot of fuss. No long queues at A.T.M`s in fact no lines at all. I got my first Euros at 10 past midnight on 1st Jan. but didn`t spend any actual cash until 2nd. Jan. Paid for the meal on Jan 1st. with plastic. The only anti feedback that we got was from 2 cafe owners,(both friends of ours) their beef was that they had to have two different lots of change. It was a bit strange as if everyone was in a foriegn country, examining all their money all the time.
Tomorrow I`ll come back to the site to give details of all the great meals that we had , because that`s about all we did for 6 days.

Ron.

2001-12-18T22:43:00.000-08:00

DAY OUT IN LONDON.

Up early to get myself organised. First thing that I saw this morning, was that the England Cricket team is in a bit of a hole in the final Test Match of the series in India, it`s up to the captain, Nasser Hussian, to get them out of the mess.

I`m going to the Q.P.R. shop to get some family presents, it seems that they have a very good calendar this year, then I`m going into Central London to see my old mate Ray Smith and buy some records at his wonderful shop. (Ray`s Jazz Shop. in case you didn`t know.) Ray and I used to play cricket together for "The Ravers" the jazz musicians team.

I plan to have lunch in a really good restaurant with my youngest, Hazel. I will keep you all informed.
There is a wonderful Polish place in Shepherds Bush called the Patio, in Goldhawk Road. it has had lots of very good reviews. Claudia and I went there after we went to see Q.P.R. play the first game of the season, it lived up to the reputation. However I don`t think that Hazel wants to venture that far west, so I suppose that we will go and annoy one of my other mates, either Alastair Little or Brian Turner. Both of them can cook a bit.

That`s all folks.

Ron.

2001-12-16T02:34:00.000-08:00

COMMENTS.

You don`t have to e-mail me to comment. As I haven`t worked out how to get a counter onto this site yet it would be interesting for me to know about visits to the site. Just click on the "COMMENT" button and just say Hi! It would be nice if I did get some feedback though.

Ron.

2001-12-14T04:29:00.000-08:00

RE. KEEP TRYING.

I followed the link on the Blogger home page and found a fascinating site, an interesting overview of why we Blog. Well woth going to and bookmarking.

I have been quite busy updating my cookery sites. Giving advice and recipes. Please give them a look and me a comment. The link is "The Real Ron Gould." on the left. I am anxious for feedback because as a newcomer to this sort of writing and publishing I need help and advice too. I see it as a giant swap shop where I can exchange the expertise that I have for some of yours, which will help me to improve my sites and so expand and share with even more people.

FOOD FOR SHUL.

To-day I have done some cooking for a Chavarah supper to-night and lunch to-morrow at the Synagogue. I have had a salmon pickling since Monday for Gravlax.
( Recipe of the month, on The Real Ron Gould, click link no.1 on the left.), to be served with sunflower seed pumpernickle and fresh green pickles. I have also made a wild mushroom and asparagus penne salad, dressed with really olivy oil and lemon juice, For deserts,I have made a party size ,Tiramisu enough for 24 portions, A large pear tart with chocolate frangipane, glazed with apricot and caramellised sugar. I think that should keep them happy.

For those that don`t know a Chavarah is just one of those functions that people bring food to to share like a church picnic or whatever. It helps to bring the congregation together. This one is special though because it is "Shabat Channukah" That is the Sabbath in Channukah. We will be lighting the 6th candle
to-night, singing lots of songs and generally having a good time.

Back Sunday.

By the way if you want any of the above recipes please let me know.

Ron.

2001-12-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

YES IT WORKS NOW.

Amazing how much of this stuff you can pick up in a short space of time. Still there is lots more to learn.

I have been asked for a Christmas dinner recipe for beeg without just roasting it or making Bourgignon.

Check out the Kitchen Wizard to-morrow for a couple of gems.

Ron.

p.s. for the above click on The Real Ron Gould and follow the links.

2001-12-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

USELESS LINKS.

I see that I had typed in the link to the art page wrongly. I hope that it has not caused any problems, I think that I have fixed it now. I will go and look.

2001-12-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

O.K. SO I DIDN`T GO TO SHUL TODAY.

Alright already. My ribs still hurt. I have discovered however that I can sit and type quite comfortably.
So The Real Ron Gould has some recipes on it. Let me know what you think.
I`m going to stop playing with the machine now, and go upstair to prepare the marinade for my KLEFTICO.
Claudia and I are not going to have the FASSOULIA or the BAKLAVA, because I really don`t feel up to that much cooking.
I think that I will make some "Runner Beans in a Tomato Coulis" and I have some nice little red skinned salad potatoes that I shall just steam, classic
"Pommes Vapeur."
That`s for Sunday. Hazel won`t be here but there will be enough left over for her to take for her lunch to Glyndebourne on Monday.

To-night I think that Claudia and I will have some really nice pasta served with a very plain sauce, Mushrooms and Garlic sauteed in Olive Oil
Pasta is easy, ain`t it.

Quick recipe;

500 gms. (1lb.) Italian 00 flour.
15 eggs.
Mix and kneed for 10 mins.
Roll out very thin. using a good pin or a pasta roller.
Cut into strips leave for about an hour to dry.
Cook in boiling salted water for about 6/7 mins.

Serve with a simple sauce so that you can taste the pasta.

What could be easier or nicer.

Ron.

2001-12-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

ANOTHER LAZY DAY.
Spent most of the day sitting in a chair, reading a biography of Bill Monroe The Father of Bluegrass Music. Very refreshing to read a book that acknowledges his great musicianship, his inovations, and his influences on many musicians of very diverse styles, but also shows that he was a flawed human being, that was often very difficult to get on with and was on many occasions his own worst enemy. It was good also because I got out some Bill Monroe records and was able to compare recordings from different periods of Bill`s career and compare my opinions with those of the author.
I have also written an article for the Ken Colyer Trust Newsletter (the url is on The Real Ron Gould site in the Jazz window.) and I have written a piece for The Queens Park Rangers Loyal Supporters Association, about Evelyn Henry Lintott, Q.P.R.`s first England International, school teacher, and hero of The Battle of the Somme.
So not such a lazy day after all.

Ron

2001-12-06T05:33:00.000-08:00

STILL NOT WORKING.
Sitting at the computer, is one of the few things that I can do without experiencing a great deal of pain. So I`m trying to get some things done. What I don`t seem to be able to do is to get a e-mail button on the blog. I just do not know how to do it. Could some kind person tell me please. I`d also like to be able to have pictures and other pages but I `ve got no idea how. That`s why I`m having to link into the other sites that I`ve got, in the way that I do. I have different sites where I have managed to learn how to do different things, or that do different things automatically. I have not got the skill or knowledge to transfer these functions. Still what the hell. I`d like to have a counter on this so that I could get some idea of how few people are reading this, god knows why.

What kind of a mood am I in to-day? It`s very wierd. I`m going to stop and go away and read a book.

Ron.

2001-12-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

COSMETICS.

I`ve just made a couple of cosmetic changes to my links. If I`m successful it should make them a little bit clearer.
And back for a little fine tuning, and I think that I`ve got it about right.

People seem to be visiting The Real Ron Gould, this is quite a surprise to me, but fun. If I can judge from the Football message boards that I have posted on then one gets a lot more viewers than responders. So the few responses that I have had are probably about par for the course.

I actually went out to-day to the drug store to get a new supply of pain killers. It was hard work just going a couple of hundred metres. When the pills work I think that I`m getting better but when the effect wears off it is still very painfull. The worst thing is getting out of bed in the morning, not an easy job at the best of times.

When he retired Lord Callaghan was asked if he had any advice for someone reaching their 75th birthday. "Yes" he said "Don`t try to put your socks on standing up." I pass on the same message to any one else unfortunate enough to crack a rib or two.

Ron.

2001-12-05T05:02:00.000-08:00

DIARYLAND.

I`ve decided to stop using Diaryland as a diary but it has quite a good profile page that you can check out things that I like. I will keep that updated to go along with the pages on The Real Ron Gould site.

2001-12-05T02:55:00.000-08:00

MIND BLOWING ART.

I have just discovered Praystation.com
It is the most wonderful and mysterious piece of artwork that I have ever seen. Do not look at it unless you are prepared to be astonished, confused,in awe of the programmer,or ready to have your mind changed about what art on the Internet is. Or art anywhere for that matter. Do not be put off by the name, it`s a joke. The site is not religious except in the widest and most existential use of the concept.
Click on the link and away you go,
Good hunting, let me know what you think.

Ron.

2001-12-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

NEW SITE.

Yes yet another new site. A great RECIPE for your seasonal table, check it out.

After I put in the last posting I slipped on some wet leaves and apart from knocking myself about a bit giving myself bruises to the head, shin and elbows, I had sharp pains in my chest. It got too bad on Sunday so I went to A&E, after a 4 1/2 hour wait I was told that I had probably broken a couple of ribs. They don`t x-ray for that because the treatment is the same whether it`s a break, a crack or a pulled muscle, pain killers, anti-inflamatories and rest. S that`s what I am doing now. Hope that you all like my new site, I`m going to use the two together.

2001-12-01T01:59:00.000-08:00

WORLD AIDS DAY.

Kind of ironic really, I have just delivered Claudia to The University of Sussex, where she is leading/giving a Day School about "VAMPIRES". She will say quite a lot about "The blood is the life" as it says in "Dracula" and The Torah.

Blood of course is one of the links, contaminated, like that given to Romanian orphans,or that used in the French Transfusion Service, or picked up from a shared needle,used for whatever reason. It is not only through unprotected sex that H.I.V./AIDS is transmitted. It is not only a disease of Gay Men, and it is everybodys problem. I heard on the radio today that there are probably over 1,000,000 infected people in China, probably 7,000,000 infected men, women and children in the Orient. You know that place that U.S. and European Men go for cheap sex with young prostitute women and children.Let us not dwell on the damage they are doing to their victims in Thailand etc. but just think what they are bringing back to their wives, girlfriends, boyfreinds and children. This is a dreadfully virulent diaease that has not gone away. Modern drugs, used in the West, are not a cure they are just palliative. Very good palliatives, but no more than that. They do not prevent the spread of H.I.V./AIDS.If nothing else we must all be aware of the dangers, and at the risk of being a bore, keep informing people. World Aids Day is important, but we should be making every day an AIDS awareness day.

Why am I so big on this, I don`t know. I am not a gay male and do not move in those circles, although when I was a Social Worker I did have contact with The Sussex Beacon . A hospice for AIDS victims, I only have sex with my wife/partner, I don`t do drugs, not for a long time anyway and then just some pot.

It`s probably because I have children and grand-children, and I want them to grow up safe and healthy, and the best way that I can do that is to educate them to the dangers of the world outside and tell them how to protect themselves. That of course doesn`t mean that I don`t educate them about the joys and wonders around them.

That`s it .

I`m going to the Synagogue where I am taking food for a little celebration, our wonderful Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah, has been with us for one year to-day.

All the best

Ron.

2001-11-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

I HAVE ANOTHER DIARY.

It is on Diaryland. I only did it because I could, although I have learned some things from it. It seems to be a much slower opperation than Blogger and they have been having trouble with this new virus/ worm that has just raised its head. I read in to-day`s paper that B.T.(British Telecom) were not protected against it and have infected several of their customers.

This therefore is a good moment to remind you all that World Aids Day is on December !st. Click on the link for more information.

Ron.

2001-11-28T02:58:00.000-08:00

WORLD AIDS DAY.

DECEMBER the FIRST
Lets all try to raise some awareness. Surveys are showing that younger people are now becoming less aware of the dangers of Aids. Like all young people they think that some thing that happenned the generation before is nothing to do with them.But it is not just our kids we have to worry about the disease is pandemic throughout Africa, and is now the fastest growing illness in the former Soviet Union.

Join up now and show solidarity even if you think that it hasn`t touched you.

CHECK OUT THE LINK.

Ron.

2001-11-28T02:36:00.000-08:00

HOME FROM WORK NOT WELL.

It would seem that I have given this virus to some of my mates, but I think that all of the Bloggers that I am in contact with have better anti-virus protection than I did. Or are not as stupid as I am. I should know better than to open such things, I know I thought that it was a reliable source. So let that be a lesson to all of us. Messages with no content are dangerous. I think that James Joyce and Samuel Becket would like that little aphorism. I think that it deserves to be cross stitched some-where.

"MESSAGES WITH NO CONTENT ARE DANGEROUS."

That`s my thought for the day.

Ron.

2001-11-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

I`VE BEEN AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER, SORRY.

Made a terrible blunder. I opened an unsolicited, untitled attatchment on an e-mail from some-one that I didn`t know,and got a virus in the works. One of those little buggers that shoots e-mail off left right and centre. If you have got it from me I`m sorry I didn`t mean it. Go to www.sophos.com for instructions how to kill it. If you have an e-mail from me with no message but just an attatchment called " Re." do not open it just delete a.s.a.p.

all the best.

RON.

2001-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

STILL SUNDAY,

Trying to make some changes. Not doing very well yet.
Working on it.
One of my State Side relations asked what Caster Sugar is. I am reliably informed by Irma Rombauer, that you don`t have it in the U.S. so just use granulated.
Caster is a bit finer ground and so combines easier when creaming etc.
Ron.

2001-11-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY EVENING.

I`m waiting for Claudia to bring Hazel home from Glyndebourne where Hazel has been working with the Youth Opera. Then I will cook dinner.

Hazel made an anouncement yesterday .That she will only eat free range organic meat in future. Well and good as it is what I buy anyway, but as she doesn`t live here anymore, and said that she will cook for herself when she is here. (Beginning of most weeks and every other Sunday while she still has a contract with the opera co.) What has it got to do with me? except I suppose like most children she is saying " Please Dad make me some nice food when I get home from a hard day`s work.

Did some shopping for Thanksgiving Dinner to-day. As we don`t get a holiday in this country we will have it next Sunday, I have got an organic free range turkey, the others will eat fish. What a bloody family, won`t eat every meat, some claim to be veggie but will eat fish, being a half American, all dual nationals except me, we celebrate Thanksgiving, being Jews we celebrate Chanuchah, being Liberal Jews we cannot deny our children and grand-children the pleasures of Christmas. Oy vay, what a great life, all parties. Brilliant.

Waiting also for Q.P.R. to kick off against Swansea 18.05 G.M.T. if they win that they are away to either Macclesfield or Forest Green in the next round. Another booby trap game. One that they should win, but there could easily be an upset

Chocolate Cake later.

Ron.

2001-11-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

WELL I GOT THAT ONE DONE I THINK.

Try it folks it`s really good. At the weekend I shall give you all my recipe for that old warhorse Black Forest Gateaux.

I know that it`s really naff nowadays and you can buy a million versions of it in every crap supermarket.

But a really good home made one is so luscious and so simple you will wonder why you don`t have it all the time.

Ron.

2001-11-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

I forgot that this runs chronologically.
YOU MUST READ THE BLOG AFTER THIS BEFORE YOU START. IT`S IMPORTANT.

CHOCOLATE AND ALMOND CAKE.
This is an old Jewish recipe for Passover (Pesach) but it is brilliant at any time.

EQUIPMENT.
Double boiler,or two saucepans one slightly smaller than the other.
Whisk, balloon or electric hand whisk are best.
Two large mixing bowls,
A 23cm.(9inch) cake tin.
Baking sheet/tray.
Cooling Rack.

MISE EN PLACE.
Put baking tray in the oven to get hot.
Grease the cake tin with some butter, dust with matzo meal (flour if you are not Jewish, or it isn`t Pesach)

INGREDIENTS.
250 gms. (9ozs) dark, bittersweet chocolate. Get the best that you can afford this is a treat.

100 gms (4ozs) unsalted butter. The best.

6 eggs Medium. Separated.

75 gms. (3ozs) Caster Sugar.

100 gms. (4ozs.) Ground almonds.

METHOD.

Melt the chocolate and the butter together, gently in the double boiler, or in the small saucepan over the larger one that has boiling water in it.

In your largest mixing bowl beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale. Add the ground almonds and the melted chocolate and butter, mix very well.

In the other bowl beat the egg whites until stiff, then fold them in to the other mixture.
Folding is a very gentle opporation. You do not want to loose the air that you have beaten into the whites.

Pour the mix into the cake tin.
Put the tin on a heated baking tray,
Turn the oven down to 350.F/180C./Gas 4.
Place in oven and bake for about 45 mins.
Test with a cocktail stick. If it comes out clean it`s done.
Allow to cool for 10 mins. in the tin, then turn out on to a cooling rack.
When cool.
EAT.
ENJOY>

2001-11-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

CHOCOLATE CAKE.

First some ground rules. The most important item in your kitchen when making patisserie is a very accurate set of scales and only use one set of weights per recipe. I have both metric and imperial and will give amounts in both.
Mise en Place means what you do beforehand so that when you start you are ready. I mean have all got through a recipe to come to that bit that says "refrigerate for two days" haven`t we? These recipes will not be booby trapped like that.

When ready to cook,
Turn on the oven as high as it will go, and leave it like that. Almost all pro. cooking is done at high temperatures.
Take the butter out of the fridge.
Read the recipe.
Read the recipe.
Read the recipe.
Get all your equipment together.
Get all your ingredients, weighed and measured.
Now we are ready to rock `n roll.
Ron

2001-11-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY. AT HOME.

Not planning to be at home every night this week. Thursday night is the night of the Neuveaux Beaujolais. Our friends that run (arguably) the best Restuarant in Brighton are having a special evening. On Friday (Shabat) night the synagogue is starting off the celebrations of "100 Years Of Liberal Judaism" I`m being Warden that night, and we are having a special nosh afterwards to which I shall contribute. Saturday Service is similar, we are going to use the 1925 Siddur(prayer book) much more English than now.

Claudia is at a seminar at The Univerity of Sussex, and I have made mini Apfell Strudells for her writers group later. We are going to eat Turkish style Doner Lamb, on Granary Baguettes, with fresh green salad and cherry tomatoes.
After that when the writers are meeting I shall make another attempt to let you all have some Chocolate Cake recipes.

2001-11-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

MONDAY,MONDAY......

Monday is actually O.K. The shit day for me seems to be Sunday. I laboured again over a hot keyboard to bring Y`all the news of my week-end and one of those ellusive chocolate cake recipes, and the bloody server went down. I`m very busy to-night so I can`t do it again, but to-morrow Claudia has her writers group here. I shall make them some goodies and then settle down to produce the stuff for NERKS WORKS.

So Loobylu, seriously, there will be sensational chocolate cake recipes, and the Ron Gould patent method of writing recipes so that no-one can get it wrong.

Ron.

2001-11-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

Really was hoping to write something every day, but all sorts of things intervene. Sometimes it`s sheer laziness, or inertia. I know that no-one reads this but it`s a great deal of fun. I read quite a lot of other Blogs, and find most of them very informative and a lot of fun. I am in contact with some really nice and interesting people.
Thursday is our busiest day at work so I am a bit tired now, especially as I went to the grocery store on my way home from work. There was a very good special offer on an Indian meal for 2 at Asda. (for any non British readers this is a grocery chain, very English but actually owned by Walmart.) it was nice to know that I don`t work for the only organisation that keeps it`s staff in the dark, and is able to put on a very good deal and completely fuck it up. Just to fill you in. A special meal for 2 costs £7.50. Asda have a special offer reducing it to £5.88, so far so good but for to-day only our local newspaper had a coupon allowing you to get the meal for £2.98. A great deal. Only the management didn`t tell the staff that serve and package the food, so they were overwhelmed. The newspaper had people in the parking lot distributing the vouchers. But the best bit is that none of the checkout staff knew anything about the deal and none of the reductions went through the cash register. Chaos at the store. What larks Pip, what larks.

All sorts of strange happenings about the ownership of Q.P.R. Not as wierd as reading that Major League Baseball is going to reduce the number of franchises.

That`s all folks. Send me a message.

Ron.

2001-11-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

MONDAY AFTER WORK.

Been a great day. The weather is perfect, almost makes me feel like taking up running again. I can`t though just yet because I can still feel where I pulled a muscle last time. That is one of the real problems with getting older, everything slows down. Not only can I not run as fast as I used to, but the healing process takes a great deal longer.

Work was really fine, except that I get a bit pissed off with the students. These are supposed to be the intelligent ones, University undergraduates, I can`t believe how mind numbingly stupid some of them are. Sample "What`s the difference between a cheese burger and a hamburger" Then there are those that think that because it`s called a hamburger it has ham in it. When I try to explain that it is called hamburger because it is originally the dish from Hamburg and should really be called Hamburg Steak as it was in the 1890`s. I am looked at with blank incomprehension. I try to say that you don`t expect a frankfurter to have "Frank" in it, but then realise that they are now asking for a beefburger, and I realise that the English language has taken another little twist, and another word in common usage no longer means what it says in the dictionary. I`m kind of sad in one way, but it does show that English is still a vibrant living language.

It does worry me a bit though that University students find grammar and spelling to be alien disciplines.

Enough of this I`m going to have a really good evening.

I shall look out of my back window at all the fireworks going off. To-day is Guy Fawkes Day, but we have had firework displays for the past three nights. Great fun.

Ron.

2001-11-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY AND I`M PISSED OFF.

I`ve just spent an hour typing in two great chocolate cake recipes, then the whole thing crashed and they got lost.
Being philosophical, I can do them again but not now.
Apart from that I`m feeling pretty good.
Went to see the Vintage and Veteran Car Rally to-day. One of the best free shows that Brighton puts on.
Well let`s see if I can post this one.

Ron.

2001-11-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND ALLS WELL.

I wrote to The Patchwork Girl to-day (http://patchworkgirl.blogspot.com) She has a great site. Although I must admit to being a bit rude about her diet. If she thinks that I was too strong I apologise. Anyway check her out .

I promise that to-morrow I will give not only one but two recipes for great chocolate cakes.

This afternoon I am roasting a chicken a la Francaise. That is with butter, garlic and lemon. Makes wonderful jus.(that`s gravy to non chefs.)

Served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, runner beans, zuchini(cougettes) and spiced Jamaican style cabbage.
Desert. Mango Puree with Vanilla ice cream or Vanilla ice cream with mango puree.

5 minutes until Q.P.R. kick off against Notts County. The last time that I saw these two teams play we were both in the top league, now both nearly in the basement. Such is life. As Lawrence Durrell said in "The Alexandrian Quartet." "Life is like a cucumber one day in your hand the next day up your arse."
I don`t think that anyone could have put it better.

Until to-morrow then.

Ron.

2001-10-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

CHANGES.

I tried to change something on this Blog but as I know nothing about how to do this shit, I don`t know if it worked yet. We`ll see.

Ron.

So far no difference.

R.

2001-10-30T13:14:00.000-08:00

WHAT! ANOTHER DAY OVER. WOW.

Time just flies doesn`t it. Having fun or not.

That`s about my favourite line in "Waiting for Godot"

"Time passes anyway." It surely does.

Life must be taken as it comes, looked at and shaken out. It`s not just being optimistic or a Pollyanna, but if we don`t try to make the best of things we get into an awful deep hole. I know I`ve been there.

It seems to me that we worry about the wrong things and are not glad or joyful about enough of the good things.

There is no point in worrying about things which you have no control over, because you can do nothing about them, and it is no good worrying about things that you have control over, because you should be doing not worrying. Take control and let the others worry about you.

Philosophy over for the day, except to say that I haven`t forgotten the chocolate cake recipe.

I hope that you have all had as good a day as I have even though I worked very hard physically.

Good night folks.

Ron.

2001-10-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

WELL ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER DOLLAR.

Not a lot happened to-day. We had a bit of an accident in the kitchen. One of my colleagues got splashed in the eye with hot fat. She went to hospital as a precaution, but is O.K.

No serious cooking at any venue, cold meat and salad at home, just because it was there and I wasn`t feeling much in the mood to do anything serious.
Lots of going out this week. Claudia is out Tuesday evening to lead her writers group.
Wednesday we are going to dinner with some old friends. Our youngest is producing a series of new plays at the Lion and Unicorn in London. One of them she has written and is performing herself. It`s a very Halloween production.
We will not have a Jack-o-lantern in our porch this year because we are going out.
On Thursday I have to go to a Synagogue management meeting.
Friday is Shabbat again and we will be going to the evening service.

Busy week .

Keep in touch......

Ron.

2001-10-28T03:47:00.000-08:00

O.K. SO IT`S SUNDAY AGAIN, AND NO CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE.
That`s because in the end I didn`t make one I made a plain fruit cake that was very well recieved.

The whole lunch went well.

Vegetable Rissotto with Tomato Coulis.
Onion Bhajis.
Hake Goujons,
Hummous,
Pitta Bread,
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese on Organic Wolemeal,
Cheddar Cheese and Mayo. on Organic White,
Potato and Avocado Salad,
Radish, Fennel and Watercress Salad,
Tomato and Red Pepper Salad,
Green Leaf Salad,
Tiramisu,
Two Frangipani Apple Tarts, one Cox Orange Pippin, one Russet.
and The Cake.

Well over 60 guests, I had a great time. The main man loved it. We drank a lot of good wine, and it is so nice to get a lot of possitive feedback.

In the evening we went to another birthday party, to which I contributed a cake, and my (learned in my youth) skills as a Rock `n Roll singer and guitarist.Some of the same people at both parties,so got lots more praise and approval.

Don`t you just love those days when everything seems to go right?

There was some downside though, Q.P.R. only managed to draw at home and our goalkeeper broke his leg.

However bad that is for Chris Day, nothing bad happened to me, and so I must stay bright and cheerful, because good things are happening all around.

Ron.

2001-10-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER MONDAY DEALT WITH.

My feeling is that I tend to be a bit negative when writing this diary, well I must change that. I`ve had a really good day at work. We all looked after each other and had a laugh. Brilliant.

I`ve been reading a lot of Blogs lately. Well call me sexist if you like but the very best ones that I have encountered are written by women. The male ones are much to nerdish and anal for me to see them as interesting people. The women seem to have a wider world view, that goes beyond their own den.
I`ve also got the most help about working my Blog from women. Females are much more likely to share than us males. Anyway I can spend a lot of time playing with this medium, and it`s lots of fun.

This weekend I`m cooking for a big birthday party, lots of high powered guests. The Mayor of Brighton and The Chief Constable of Sussex etc.etc.etc. so I`ll have to be good. I`m planning to make a chocolate gateaux. Recipe tomorrow.

Ron.

2001-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY NIGHT, USED TO BE SO MUCH FUN.

Well not to-day.

Q.P.R. lost their first home game of the seaon. No they lost at home for the fist time this season.

England lost at Rugby to Ireland. England won the Championship but dot the Grand Slam. (going through the 6 Nations winning every game. That`s the 3rd season running that they have lost the final game and failled the Grand Slam.

It`s not that I mind being beaten it`s when the teams play so badly. That`s not to distract from either Northampton Town or Ireland they did what they had to do and raised their game against what every body said was superior opposition. Just goes to show don`t take anything for granted.

The rest of the day was wonderful, really. Because the world was out there beautiful and welcoming, even at this time of the year it is possible, sometimes to forget the dreadful happenings, and just enjoy nature and being alive.

To-day was designated World Eccology Shabat by Project Noah. The Torah portion was about the "flood". It`s actually the first great eccologocal disaster (in the bible). After the flood subsides the Torah tells us that Noah made the tools so that he could till and cultivate the earth, We are told very much in that early part of the book that the Earth is only on loan to us and that it must be cared for properly, there is a very big thing about not destroying fruit trees, which makes a nonsense of those Jewish fundamentalists that dug up Palestinian Olive trees on the basis that the land that they were on was Israeli land. Not as bad as sending tanks to shoot at children. But for people that say that they believe in the absolute truth of the Torah and that all 613 commandments must be obeyed without question, it does seem like odd behaviour. They have the cheek to say that us Liberal Jews are not real jews because we "pick and choose" which commandments to keep. We can`t have a woman rabbi, but they can tear up trees and claim ownership of land. Oh well. End of rant.

Tomorrow is another day. have to get up early to make lunch for the Synagogue Coucil, as we are having a Leadership training day to make us all even more dynamic than we already are.

And so to bed.

Goodnight,

Ron.

2001-10-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER DOLLAR.
So Shabat comes in in an hour. I think that I will go to Shul to-night.

Tomorrow Q.P.R. play Northampton coming off a bad run, but I`m hoping for good things. The first game that I ever saw was against Northampton and we won 2-0 so I`m hoping that the portents are right.

I have to make lunch for a management meeting at the Synagogue on Sunday,cook and attend the meeting, why do I always say yes.
Can anyone help me to correct this most obvious fault.
Farewell until Sunday or perhaps Sat night after Shabat.

NRon.

2001-10-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

O.K. So I missed a day so big deal. I got some help though from Tara D.and I advise you to visit her very interesting site at www.ttothed.com she is also a Loobylu fan some one else that you should check out http://www.loobylu.com/about.html .
What a busy day at work, the kids just never seem to stop eating. The worst thing was that one of the griddles lost its thermostat and we were without power for a while. Luckily an electrician was on hand and had us up and running within the hour. But we really rushed today.

For someone that is now retired, I work bloody hard. I have just been told that I am doing a lunch on Sunday for 12 people. I had forgotten. Still no problem.A manageable number and nothing difficult. Great job for a Social Worker, don`t you think?

On Nov. 15th Claudia and I are going to dinner at one of the best restaurants in the south of England.....Le Gastronome in Brighton. It is the New Beaujolais night, and is also our daughter -in -law`s birthday so we are taking them out . Check out my link 1.

I will give you a run down on the meal. Allan Paul, the chef, is a good friend of mine and I am very envious of his skills.

Well more to-morrow. Don`t forget to check out Tara D and Loobylu.

Ron.

2001-10-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

WELL I`VE MANAGED SOMETHING.......

My stepson`s site is my link one. I have no idea how to put his name up instead of link one though.

Ron.

2001-10-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

STILL NOT WORKED IT OUT.

I can`t get links to my e-mail or to sites that you might find interesting. But that matters not as no-one but me reads this stuff. Just got in from work, quite a good day in the kitchen,but boring because we don`t do any real cooking, but it passes the time and they pay me.

Claudia, is at the University of Sussex attending an Anthropology seminar, so I`m all alone, waiting for our youngest daughter to come home from Glyndebourne, where she works at the opera house.

I have cooked the dinner. A vegetarian pasta sauce. Salsa Piazziola (my own recipe) using truffle oil and organic tomatoes, onions, garlic, chestnut mushrooms,capers and black olives. This will go with some spaghetti nero that I brought back from Turin, and a salad. I hope that they like it. They usually do, in fact nobody that I have ever cooked for has not enjoyed their meal.

I`m going to get ready for a quiet evening in, watching T.V. and hoping that Queens Park Rangers can beat Yeovil Town in a competition called "The L.D.V. Vans Trophy" sounds wierd to me to, but this is Rangers one chance to win something this season.

If you are interested in good fiddle music, check out my step-son`s site at www.blazingstrings.com

Ron.

2001-10-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER DAY OLDER.
What the hell, finished another day at work, cooking junk for the students. It`s very disconcerting the way they look at us, especially me. They see this old fart who obviously they are better than, becuase they are undergraduates and I`m just a cafe assistant. When they find out that I have more degrees and qualifications than they can dream of, they are bewildered. Then they think that I am either mad, or that I have some dark secret that has caused my downfall. It is difficult for them to get their heads around the fact that I don`t want to do any cerebral work any more and that I do this job just to keep busy.

It`s fun though, some of the students are quite sensible and very nice to be with. I wish the same could be said of my colleagues, sometimes they drive me to distraction with their pettyness and their lack of intellect. Other times though they can be O.K.

What a dreadful snob I sound. Well if I can`t seem like a snob in my own diary, where can I?
Working new hours to-day so I don`t have to get up quite so early, and I only finish 1/2 hour later. Not bad.
Just ordered a load of new books including two of the Booker short list, will share with the world my views. Rather fancy the new Ian McEwan, we went to the same school but at different times, turned out some good people did Woolverstone Hall.

Well that`s all folks for to-day.

Ron.

2001-10-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

LAST SHOT BEFORE I GO TO BED.
I`ve had quite a good day. Still haven`t got any where near the hang of this yet but no doubt I will some day. I suppose that I will have to give in and ask one of my children to help me. Back to work tomorrow feeding the students at the University of Brighton. Is this what I spent all that time training to be a Social Worker for? I suppose it is really, now that I have retired from that harrowing job. I can see life from a much more philosophical viewpoint.
As the great diarist Sam Pepys wrote........"and so to bed."

Good night folks.

Ron.

2001-10-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

READY TO ROCK `N ROLL .
Back again already, just checking that something that I have done works, as this is all still a mystery to me.
It didn`t work. How do I get a contact me button on my blog. Does any one want to give me a hand.
ron@morganton.fsnet.co.uk

Ron.

2001-10-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY 14TH OCT 2001. AFTER LUNCH.

Well I did the lunch, it was very much appreciated. Money was raised for the Synagogue rebuiling fund. The guest speaker was fascinating. She works at Glyndebourne Opera, making wigs and dressing actors and singers. Much more interesting than you might think at first glance.

OPERA. ......... I didn`t like opera very much until I saw the movie Amadeus in Amsterdam.(they still have real movie houses in, Amsterdam with really good sound). I got very hooked on Mozart. My youngest child, a daughter. Hazel, has some part time work at Glyndebourne, in the Education Dept. She has just finished a Masters in Advanced Theatre Studies at The Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. She will be making her directoral debut in Feb.2002, with Opera Omnibus. She will be directing and producing "L`Amico Fritz" by Masgagni. This is a little know and not often seen work. Hazel says that is because it is not very good. Benjamino Gigli recorded it so it can`t be that bad.

Any thoughts about directing an opera, or cooking, or Q.P.R. or the England Cricket team tour to India. e-mail...ron@morganton.fsnet.co.uk.

Ron.

2001-10-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning, 14th October 2001.

So here we are a real autumn morning on the south coast. Things look a bit better now. I have found the service agreement for my stereo, so that will get fixed.
All the food that I said that I would make for the lunch is ready., and Queens Park Rangers are still 6th in the league. Reasons to be Cheerful, by Ian Dury rather than Reasons to Quit by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.

Listened to some great Clifford Brown yesterday, the band with Max Roach, Junior Powell and Sonny Rollins. What a great loss Clifford and Junior were, a real lesson. Like Scot Lafaro. Don`t drive on straight roads, or anywhere when you are tired. We know about the famous people that die in such circumstances, but I bet that more accidents are caused by tiredness than any thing else, exept probably tiredness and drink combined. End of sermon.

Ihave several tasks on at the moment, I`m practising Hebrew in order to take part of the Synagogue service on Nov.24th, I have another lunch to make for an 80th birthday in two weeks time. It`s quite a lot of work to put in at the end of a normal working week, but I must say that I enjoy the good vibes that come back afterwards.

Well off into the ether this goes, probably not to be read, but what the hell, I like writing it, never really having kept a diary I`m finding this fun.

If you stumble across this please e- mail to let me know.....ron@morganton.fsnet.co.uk

Ron.

2001-10-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

It`s now getting close to the 14th. October. About 25 minutes away.

It has been a while since I wrote anything, but as there is no one reading this it doesn`t really matter.

Quite arotten day to finnish off a great week. Claudia and I both read from the Torah scroll on Simchat Torah, which was a great honour. Our rabbi helped us all to completely unwind a scroll, after the last reading of Deuteronomy, and then re-wind it back for Genesis, the scroll went all the way around the shull. Everybody said what a moving service it was.

To-day I was cooking Mousakka and appfel strudel for a fund raising lunch tomorrow. I felt very good about myself, but then when it was time for a rest, a beer and relaxing to Jazz Record Requests, I discovered that
1) Queens Park Rangers had lost, and
2) My stereo was kaput. So although virtuous, I was disappointed, oh well that`s life.

If any one reads this please e-mail me. Ron@morganton.fsnet.co.uk
If you have any requests for recipes, or if you have any cookery queries please let me know.

Ron.

2001-09-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Right here we are back again after those most dreadful events in the U.S. It has been dificult to wrie any thing during this time.

When I heard the news I was on a bus with my wife and two grand-children. We were in France driving back from Torino, having just stopped off in Paris. The kids were reacting rather badly to bus travell and were both very sick. I was picking up bits of news from B.B.C. World Service on my Walkman radio, reception was sporadic and the news wasn`t very exact. It was all a very surreal experience. When we finally got back to our house on the South Coast of England, my wife opened a letter from her cousin in N.Y.C. telling us about the wonderful view from her new apartment opposite the W.T.C. Lots of frantic phone calls and e-mails later we discovered that all our relatives and friends were safe, but that friends of theirs were missing.

One of those times that whatever you do or say pales into insignificance. Let us all hope that sanity prevails among our politicians. I can understand the feeling towards retribution, but an invasion of Afghanistan will be a disaster. Lives will be lost and nothing will be gained. It is an uncoquerable country, and the U.S. should take a lesson from its recent history in Vietnam, and look for other answers besides force. The last invasion of Afghanistan the succeeded was led by Alexander the Great, and that didn`t last long.

So if I have any readers. I`m back. Next time I will let you know of the wonders of the beautiful city of Torino.

Ron.

2001-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

TODAYS TRY. Sitting wating for kick off time hoping that the Q.P.R. radio will work and that it will be a good game. Always hit 3p.m. on a season Sat. with trepidation.

About the cooking if you have any problems or want to know how to do any thing in the kitchen let me know..

I had this idea once called YOUR OWN CHEF this would be where I came and helped someone to cook a great Dinner Party. I think that I can do that here. Let me know what you want and I will help you to plan, shop, prep, cook and present your meal.
I cook classic French but have very good experience in various cuisines from the Indian sub continent, different regional cooking of Italy, both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish Cookery. Vegetarian and vegan a speciality. Give it a whirl, what have you got to loose?

E-Mail at ron@morganton.fsnet.co.uk.

It`s kick off time so I`m going back to see what Q.P.R. are doing.

Have a fun weekend.

2001-08-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

If you want to be really flash this recipe is called POISSON BOULANGERE.

2001-08-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

Well here we go again, this time a recipe if you are interested. E-Mail me if you have any problems. ron@morganto.fsnet.co.uk

O.K. first Mise en place (if you don`t know what this is now`s your chance to learn) This is what you do before you start.

We are going to make a Fish Pie.

1.) Turn on your oven. Most domestic cooks have their ovens too cold. Turn it right up.

2) get all your utensils together. you will need an oven poof dish with deep sides, a very sharp knife, as big as is comfortable( put it to the steel, get it sharp. Unless you are a pro your knives are blunt.) a good veg. peeler, (swiss peeler with a swivel blade.), a pan to hold your potatoes, a saute pan, or frying pan. Kitchen foil or butter paper.

3) Get your ingredients together, I find it difficult to give quantities because only you know how many you are cooking for and the size of your dish.
This recipe is for 4.
1 kilo, good white fish, cod , hake ,hoki,haddock, are all brilliant if you can get a little bit of whitting in ther it helps to hold it all together
1 kilo firm waxy potatoes.
2 large sweet white onions,
4 cloves garlic,
Butter,
500mls. thick cream.
parsley finely chopped.
Mixed herbs, fresh if possible, use the ones that you like there are no rules about this.
Sea salt and black pepper for seasoning
Paprika.

Method. Fillet and trim fish into bite sized pieces.
Butter your baking dish.
Peel and slice potatoes as thinly as you can, leave them in a pan of cold water.
Slice onion finely.
Peel, crush and slice garlic.
Sweat the onion, this means cook very slowly over a low heat until the onion is translucent.
Add the garlic, do not allow to brown it will get bitter.

Put one layer of potatoes on the bottom of the dish, cover wth one layer of fish, cover this with onion dot with knobs of butter season with herbs ,
salt and pepper. Continue until dish is full, ending with a layer of potato. Pour the cream over it, finish with paprika.

Cover with foil, or butter paper
Put into your very hot oven and cook until the cream boils and the potatoes are starting to brown.
Then turn down the heat and leave to finish.
Serve garnished with finely chopped parsley, and a green salad.

2001-08-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Still trying to get my head around all this. Is anyone out there? How would I know if anyone has read this? Is there any way you can e-mail me. Someone help. I don`t know anything.

Ron.

2001-08-23T03:07:00.000-07:00

Back again for a minute, showing Blogger and how it works to my wife. I have been checking out other Bloggs. I love Loobyloo.

Ron.

2001-08-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

Well I wrote a long piece about me and my family but it all got lost. so perhaps I`m not doing so well after all.
I`ll have to try again some other time. It took forever too. Oh well such is life.

Ron.

2001-08-23T01:05:00.000-07:00

Hi. This is the first time that I have done any thing like this so bear with me whilst I experiment. What I want to do is to create a diary that reflects some of the things that I do that might be of interest to the world at large.

This will include.....1) Recipes and interesting cooking that I have done.

2) Music that I have been listening to or been involved in.

3) My thoughts on the current state of Queens Park Rangers.
Also football in general, cricket esp. Sussex and all other real sports.

4) Politics.

5) Family.

6)Travel.

7) Anything else that takes my fancy

That`s all for now. While I gather my thoughts.

Ron.