Yes indeed, if you like black pudding with your fry in the morning haggis is similar but better and more filling. You could microwave it but. I think that’s cheating. An air fryer cuts the cooking time in half, but for a smallish haggis you will still need at least half an hour.
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Haunch of venison stew
Today as part of my well rehearsed work avoidance I defrosted a generous slice of venison. The air fryer came in handy for roasting the accompanying butternut squash and sweet potato and finally the defrosted venison.
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Soccer fever pitch
Sat in a local bar blissfully unaware that the hoops have a match against Motherwell I made my way to the Gents. The goal and the accompanying excitement made me aware of this fixture.
Football gives its fans an outlet for their emotions like nothing else. A missed shot on goal, a deliberate foul or a wrong refereeing decision evokes all the passion that must have been evident in the Colosseum in ancient Rome.
It’s currently one all at Motherwell… Celtic fans hoping for a winner in the remaining five minutes of playing time.
Their wishes were granted.. hugs and cheering…and another goal. 3-1 to Celtic.
My wish wasn’t granted… Chelsea lost to Liverpool by 1 – 0 in extra time of the Carabao Cup (League Cup).
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Six Nations
More in hope than in expectation sums up my betting strategy. Ireland outclassed Wales and England were put to the sword by Scotland in Edinburgh.
In today’s match between France and Italy I have picked another longshot France to score a try in the first 10 minutes, lead at halftime and win to nil…it could happen
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Bear trap
Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, is finally free of his main opponent. A man whose name he refused to say publicly. A man who exposed the extent of corruption at the heart of the Kremlin.
Alexei Navalny
Alexei Navalny
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Neighbourhood
When I am trying to study I go in search of cafés or bars because at home I can always find something to do apart from study. Today I found an interesting café called Neighbourhood in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. They have some unusual items on their menu, including Turkish Eggs made with yoghurt.
I was able to finish reading Karl Popper’s essay on the philosophy of science and enjoyed the double espresso served with an effervescent glass of water on a wee wooden platter.
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What is science?
Karl Popper, a famous philosopher of science, addressed that question by examining what is not science and is what he called ‘pseudo-science’. Marxism, astrology and Freud’s theories about the mind were all ‘pseudo-science’ according to Popper.
He held the view that science was neither empirical nor inductive. Scientific knowledge is not arrived at through observation and the formulation of generalised theories. He maintained that science formed part of a natural human activity of trial and error. What gives it its rigour is the determination to subject theories to the test and to discard those which fail.
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Green eggs
Dr Seuss had a point, until you’ve tried green eggs you don’t know what you’re missing, Instead of ham I had a delicious sausage to go with my eggs on sourdough.
The Pocket restaurant is a hidden gem in central Belfast. Great service and tasty food.
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Work avoidance
I don’t feel comfortable with deadlines or scheduled tasks. It’s a bit like kicking against the pricks… pointless.
Retirement has given me opportunities to do stuff that I wasn’t inclined to do when I was working. I say working but I never conformed to that model of corporate fidelity. I enjoyed the customer facing role I had for a number of years at Belfast’s Russell Group university.
The students rarely complained despite some challenging situations such as lecturers going on strike and lectures going online because of COVID. Some middle managers seemed to forget that they were once empathetic human beings, but in the main I had a great deal of respect for those who knew how to play the game without forgetting the important things in life.
Now that I have academic texts to read or even an interesting novel to read for a book club, my indolence raises its ugly head. The strange thing is that I feel compelled to witter on with my blog. Probably some form of catharsis.