Burgers, Milkshakes, And Buddy Holly

Thank you for all yesterday's kind birthday wishes for Rosie 

When Bob arrived in Manchester last Friday afternoon, he said he had stopped for lunch at an American Dinner, and had really enjoyed his meal* So on our way home on Monday, he suggested that the pair of us stop for an evening meal at the OK Diner, on the A17, near Newark.

It was dark when we arrived, but the neon lights shone bright. We parked and went inside.
It was just like the diners I have seen on TV - red and blue banquette seating, decor included vintage CocoCola bottles, pictures of Marilyn Monroe, Uncle Sam in his top hat, and the star spangled banners everywhere. The waitstaff were a cheery bunch in their red tee shirts. And the jukebox was playing relentlessly cheerful 1950s hits the entire time we were there. 
We both had Top Dollar Malted Chocolate Milk Shakes, made in huge aluminium cups in the machine, then decanted into tall glasses. We were give the glasses, and the cups, so we could top up and have a second glass. I drank part of mine before my meal arrived [chicken burger] and some with the meal - then had a paper cup to take the rest with me. Bob enjoyed his shake along with his chicken platter. The food was lovely and hot. Staff could not have been more helpful, chatty and pleasant. 

In case you are wondering, this is what the place looks like in daylight. It was great fun - I suggested that if we made another Manchester trip early in the morning, we could have breakfast there. I'll have the short pancake stack with maple syrup and bacon, please. 

*The Cona coffee was in a glass jug, keeping hot, so rather stewed - but then that is the authentic way of serving coffee in diners, so we cannot complain, as I told Bob.
I kept thinking of all those films and TV shows I have watched where they eat in a diner, and felt I would not have been surprised if Meg Ryan, Al Pacino or Guy Fieri had been sitting at the next booth!

Into Double Figures

Hard to believe it but Rosie is ten today. So many great memories...

• 2016 when she first came home from hospital, first Grandad cuddle
• 2020 lockdown, and that amazing summer of Grandma's nursery at Cornerstones 
• 2021 Jess was born, and Ro has been a wonderful big sister ever since
• And now growing up so fast

Thank you for your wit and wisdom, love and thoughtfulness, for the joy and laughter you bring us everyday. Happy Birthday Rosie. God bless you today and always 

Half Term, Half And Half

 Half the holiday in Norfolk with the girls

Then half in Manchester with the boys

Highlights

Monday's Beaver Trail at Bkickling Hall, followed by lunch at The Whistles top café at Aylsham Station. Yes that Aylsham - now much more famous than it was a week ago. Also teaching Rosie how to embroider. Board games, and pancake party. 

Word games, and Mousetrap, stories with Grandad.[when he wasn't fixing things and doing odd jobs] And some of us shared a nasty cold. 

So lovely to spend so much time with our two daughters and their families.

Cornerstones is going to feel very quiet this week. 

A Pause In Lent #1

Just a simple prayer...

The Opposite Of "Deliver Us From Evil"?

I was decluttering a file of household documents last week, and a delivery note fell out. With slightly strange wording

"Delivery caused by goodwill" - what could that possibly mean?

Delivery in the Close is usually done by the postman, the milkman, the supermarket chap, the meds from our surgery or the impatient Amazon//online guys. Nobody hereabouts is need of delivery by a midwife, nor 'ministry of deliverance' from the Vicar. So what is 'delivery 'by goodwill'?
I looked for further clues - it is from Neff, and 'these parts should be fitted by a suitably qualified person'. Then I checked the date [1996] and the address [Kirby Muxloe] and what these parts were...

Then everything made sense. In the spring of 1996, we moved into the new Manse [built 1992], which had a fancy Neff double oven with gas hob. But no operating instructions.
I contacted the company, and they said they'd send a set of booklets. This was the delivery note that came with them. I presume 'caused by goodwill' means 'we are not going to charge you for these'

Thirty years on, times have changed so much. Most manuals are available online. I've just passed my older Janome Sewing Machine on to a friend from the Craft Group. I could find all the accessories - but not the manual. It took less than 10 minutes to find it online and print it off for her. 

When we left Kirby in 2015, I left all the appliance manuals behind for the next occupants! The phrase 'delivery caused by goodwill' sounds so friendly and charitable, doesn't it? It is always good to find helpful customer service departments.

Can you recommend any companies which go "above and beyond" ?

Sent Packing

Shakespeare uses the phrase " I'll send him packing" in Henry IV,  where it is said by Falstaff [who was based on a real guy, Sir John Falstolf, a man born and buried in North Norfolk] As far as I can tell, it always means to dismiss abruptly - there is never any mention of suitcases. Obviously my train trip to Manchester has meant packing carefully. 

Tuesday night after the pancake party I put everything onto the bed, and decided I could get it all into a wheeled cabin bag,plus my Roka backpack, and phone, tickets and glasses case in my small crossbody banana bag. 

My new Icelandic woollen house slippers. Liz and Ro bought them on their trip to Denmark. Great for travel they pack flat and take up little room in the case. 

I was mildly amused by the conversation of the couple beside me on the station platform with two matching suitcases. 

He wondered why she had not packed teabags, she said she hadn't got any in individual paper wrappers. 

I wondered where they were going if they couldn't get teabags when they got there. But then, who am I to judge? I'm the woman who packed a tupperware box of teabags in my case when I went on heneymoon, To Yorkshire! Just in case... 

Nowadays my packing list has a few essential items - phone, meds, charger, toothbrush, spare pants and socks. I rarely pack teabags anymore! Then there's all the rest [this week, I have gifts for family, warm clothes, ongoing craft project, and sermon notes to be worked on for next Sunday] When Bob arrives today, I expect him to have a comprehensive toolkit in the boot, and a ladder strapped on the roof, plus my repaired glasses. 

What are the important things in your suitcase? 

Thank You Jean!

I really enjoy Jean's lifestyle Blog A House in France, and her baking blog A Slice Of Cake. She's a lovely woman, and I got to meet her and her husband when they holidayed in Norfolk a few years ago. Recently Nick bought her a half-price Bundt Pan, and so she decided to make him a cake in it. The Pan was from the Golden Jubilee Range brought out in 2006 when the company was 50 years old.

They still make the golden pans. I have one of these, which Bob found in a charity shop in 2017, unused. I think he paid £6 - they now retail at around £50!

Jean chose a recipe called Fochabers Gingerbread from a book by Scottish writer and chef Sue Lawrence. I had been to the Baxter's Estate in Fochabers many years ago, so the recipe interested me. 

I decided to make the cake on Saturday afternoon. Cakes in Bundt Pans are notoriously difficult to turn out, but Jean also has a recipe for Cake Release Paste on her website. I made a batch.
I followed the recipe [here] And I am thrilled with the result. It turned out beautifully! Thankyou Jean for the inspiration. With family around this week, it is good to have some cake in the tin.

It is rich in dried fruit and ground almonds - the black specks are sultanas etc. The ginger, cloves and mixed spice made the kitchen fragrant as the cake cooked. 
Apart from my Christmas Cake, I haven't made many cakes recently. Jean has inspired me to bake more regularly - merci beaucoup, Jean! 

Have you ever cooked in a Bundt Pan?
Can you share a favourite Bundt recipe?