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  • Respite

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    The life of a Primary School teacher is pretty full on. I should know, I:m married to one. So with half term not far away I have booked us into a fancy hotel for a bit of pampering. After a dip in the pool I will be ready for some…

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  • Ratatouille and beetroot

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    In an attempt at eating more healthily I will try to prepare more Mediterranean style dishes. One of my favourites is ratatouille cooked to Mary Berry’s recipe. Lots of fresh tomatoes, aubergine, onions, garlic and courgettes. Michael Mosley has been describing the benefits of eating beetroot. I made a soup…

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  • Stormont back

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    Just two years after the DUP first boycotted the Stormont assembly and stalled power sharing, they are back. The DUP were holding out for a beater deal on Brexit and the scrapping of the border in the Irish Sea. Other MLAs are not happy with the new deal and Sir…

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  • Lean

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    Venison is one of the leanest meats and is delicious. I bought some frozen haunch of venison from a good local butchers shop. There is a limited season for fresh venison so I will be asking what they have at the end of September. I have been trawling for venison…

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  • Red card

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    France needed all 15 players to beat a well organised Ireland rugby team. Unfortunately Willemse hadn’t read the memo and was sent off after he received two yellow cards. Ireland without Sexton played well. France without Dupont not so much. An exciting game, but Ireland held onto their early lead…

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  • Stirring it

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    My obsession with coffee is well known by my peers. A double espresso with a class of water is my usual order at our local Italian bistro café (or Il solito – my usual in Italian). I am always provided with a dainty little spoon even though I don’t take…

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  • Six Nations

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    Ireland will have tough competition in their opening game tomorrow night against France. I would secretly like Italy to beat England on Saturday but it seems unlikely. Scotland should be favourites to beat Wales. Of course I have placed some long odds bets on the games. Yellow card betting has…

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  • Doing the knowledge

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    How do we know what we know? Descartes started the whole debate questioning the certainty of what we accept without challenging its veracity. He was attempting to strip back our understanding  of what we know and discard everything else. That old adage ‘cogito ergo sum’ was Descartes’ catchphrase. He doubted…

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  • Duck confit

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    Best duck in the world was a bold claim for the Silver Hill confit duck I bought yesterday. But twenty minutes in the oven later I was looking at two duck legs with crispy skin and succulent flesh. Including duck fat was a nice touch. Smearing the fat over the…

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  • Playoffs

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    American Football is an acquired taste. I acquired it when Channel 4 first started broadcasting it. It was in the days of Joe Montana, the 49ers quarterback and the Fridge who played for the Chicago Bears. I was a 49ers fan but my allegiance has been fickle. So we’re down…

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