I felt a bit like this about Stan’s fish really.  I had purchased two nice shiny sea bass (from the fishmonger who didn’t know what a halibut was) and I stuffed them to Stan’s specifications and tied them up with string.  I baked them in the oven and they looked nice, but I think I should have used a different fishy – very bony.  And you know what George Formby would say don’t you?

I Like Bananas – Because They Have No Bones

I wish I could remember who did the Scottish version, “I Like Bananas Cos they Have Nae Any Bones…”

Anyhow, there are pix of the fishies on the Flickr site but I think the recipe needs some work.  Let me know if you fancy having a go as this one is slated for the book…
Ooh, along with my fish I made a version of Lauren Hairston’s Cabbage With Bacon - which was scrumptious – you can just see it in the picture.  I added some sweetcorn that I had knocking around and the taste combination was GOOD.

Home Movie Day at the Cinema Museum in Kennington was fabulous.  I spun the shellac for 3 hours in the afternoon as an accompaniment to some fantastic home movies.  There were some 1960s chicks with some REMARKABLE hairdos up on the big screen for all to see!  There’s a photo of me with George who works at the museum here.

Lovely Charley phoned me as I was on my way home and offered to cook me dinner.  What a fabulous friend he is.  We had SUCH a fun night huddled around his laptop by the fire watching Laurel and Hardy.  Yes, dear friends, I admit it, I am now a convert.  I admit, I’d had two vodka martinis and several cans of beer but I was laughing like a drain, pounding my fist on the table and clapping my hands like a performing seal at the zoo.  Charley seemed very pleased that I have so obviously got the joke at last.  I made him replay the scene where Ollie gets dragged across a busy road by a large dog many times.  “I am pleased you can laugh at the same thing five times over” he said.  Well yes!  I think we saw the dance from Way Out West about 3 times and Stan eating the spaghetti made of string about 4 times but there was no way I could have watched the tickling scene again.  I was in pain from laughing so much.

Lucky Charley was there to explain what a “Bacon Grabber” was.  And also to put me right when I kept referring to the films as “episodes” which made him shake his head and say, “Honestly, honestly…”  I may well surprise him by turning up at the next Sons of the Desert meeting wearing a fez.

Anyhow, got to dash as he’s coming over for pork chops and I am WAY BEHIND.  What happened to today?  Titchmarsh is on the radio already…

Stan looks how I feel, somewhat frazzled!  I am moving house tonight.  Yes tonight!  Everything I own is going to be in one place.  I can hardly believe it.  I will be installed in my 1930s Palace of Solitude behaving like I am in an episode of Poirot.  I’ll be the Miss Marple of Muswell!  Don’t expect to see me anywhere out on the town for a year now, I’ll be brassic.

I am so looking forward to living alone for the first time in about 15 years.  It is going to be glorious.  My plan is to FINISH the Silver Screen Suppers book this year.  Yes, I am making myself accountable by writing it here.  Hold me to it chums!

Anyhow, I still have lots of reports from test cooks to post so I selected one at random from the backlog.  Clint in Surrey had a go at Stan’s Yorkshire Pudding – the results were generally good but he wasn’t sure the puds should be continually basted as he felt it stopped them rising.   He said that his son Jake enjoyed his pud and he would make it again so I think it was a success!  Not sure it’s a classy enough recipe for the book though.  I don’t think we have another for Stan though so he might not make it in…

On the romance front I went on ANOTHER blind date last night.  With someone called Jefferson.  A cool name if there ever was one.  I was a bit distracted as I still had packing to do but we managed to down 3 pints each and had a fun time.  As with Olly the Lolly, if he wants to see me again I am game..

I just bought a new duvet and pillows and on my way back into work Jodie said, “Are you pimping your pad?”.  Well yes, I guess that I am!  Yipee!