What's good in your world....?

Congratulations, Moomin.
Nightowl, your social whirl sounds fun, and it is so much more enjoyable when you don't have anything hanging over you.

The weather is still lovely here - I have had a very tough two-hour circular walk in the mountains near home. I don't know if I will tackle it again, now I know how hard it is! It started off quite gently by the side of a stream with waterfalls, but got much steeper (and muddier) very quickly. I was determined to get to the summit and I did have the sense to take a bottle of water and a banana with me, so I didn't get light-headed. It was worth it when I finally got to the top, as I could see for many, many, miles and 'la vallee verte' was so green it hurt my eyes!

moomin - have a lovely evening.

Might seem a bit of an odd posting in this context, but I've just finished an English lesson with three teenage Afghan boys and it feels really good to think I'm doing my bit (albeit very small) to create a bridge of peace and reconciliation.

That must be a good feeling Grannya

ga - From small acorns grow trees. Marvellous.

moomin Many congratulations. I hope that many more anniversaries will follow. [flower]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes, had a lovely evening at the local, then foolishly sat and watched Tom Petty until late - worth it tho'

Well done to all of you who seem to be doing so much, walking, teaching helping others. I'm just having a good time with DH, Ballet in Brum last night, ballet in Truro this pm and tonight then Eden Project tomorrow. Also lots to look forward to next week. I didn't realise retirement would be so busy!

That is great with the English teaching Granny A. Lovely to see progress too.
Nice sunny day here to see the sheep up high on the hills opposite.

Today, it would have to be the countryside. [

Listening to DD and all her music buddies playing snatches from Wallace and Gromit tunes, the 1812, and Rock Around the Clock.

Just come back from a hour and a half walk with DH, the sun was out, birds were singing. We have found a lovely picnic area not from where we live, the whole area has been turned around from the waste land that it was. The views are breathtaking.
If the sun is out on Monday I think it will be picnic time !

Oh, to be in England
Now that April 's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!

Yes I know its May now but spring is a little late

I've just put an enormous casserole into the slow cooker, full of diced steak, onions, soaked dried mushrooms, a tin of tomatoes, some bottled red peppers (Lidl) and some leftover red wine. Only me to eat it, so I shall freeze it in manageable portions. Then I put a batch of bread into the machine, which I shall shape by hand and bake in the oven, tastes better that way. How satisfying it is to cook.

And the gasman has just been to fix the boiler so I don't have to sit in the sun in the conservatory to get a little heat.

Elegran Gorgeous! The food, not the gasman. I can smell the savoury casserole from here.

soop the gas man may well be gorgeous

I've just put leeks carrots lamb pearl barley and a stock cube into my slow cooker. Don't think wine would go with that mix? Might put. A little saffron and cinnamon in though!
What do people think?

cardamom perhaps?

might smother the saffron though

Well I put cinnamon and saffron with preserved lemons into my Cous Cous recipe, do I thought might go with this, but cardoman is definitely worth thinking about!

Absolutely hated barley as a child when mum put it in stews.It was always hard and chewy.But now I agree it's great cooked with lamb and veg in slow cooker.I put in some rosemary fresh from the garden.A glass of good red wine would go well with that.

Pity we can't tour round everyone and eat something different every day. It's much better to cook a big potful once a week than a single portion a day. When there were only two of us, I already missed cooking for the family. Now it is just me.

maniacin or with?

And I only ever have 'good' red wine in!

I don't know whether the one I used is a good red wine or not. Any experts?

It is called "El Muro" 2010 Tempranilla Garnacha, produce of Spain, 12 1/2% "A soft fruity and easy-going red with bags of dark berry fruits and just a twist of pepper in the finish" Won't need to season the casserole too much then. Maybe the smoked paprika was a step too far. Time will tell, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Sounds nice. I'm afraid that mine are mainly French or Italian apart from from a few cheap Merlots I keep in for dd, she actually prefers them! [shudder]

OK, I'm not at home so excused cooking just had a veg and bean casserole which was reat and I'm not even a veggie. Saw great ballet this pm and going agin tonight. Sun is shining and good forecast for tomorrow