Fry some onion and garlic slowly. Add a red pepper and chilli . 10 mins. Then oil and lemon juice and tomatoes another 5 min. Add herbs and S&P and whizz.
DROUGHT
Groundwater, river levels and reservoirs are all at the lowest level for 21 years. Of course climate is a major factor but we should not ignore the impact buildings and roads have, together with intensive agriculture, In the last 100 years e have lost 90% of wetlands and 150000miles of hedgerows. The more impervious the surface, the faster the runoff and the lower the infiltration. this means more floods and more severe droughts. House will need to be built with separate sage and storm water systems, all houses will have to have water butts.
DOMESTIC ENERGY BILLS £3549 up from £1971
With further rises next January taking the bills past £5000. Many households will cope – just, with major changes to their expenditure: Many will not cope at all. Only the rich will benefit as energy is a tiny % of their income, and they get £400 for each second home.
Energy bills for businesses have in many cases already spiralled with many beginning to go bankrupt – thus causing unemployment to rise. Chip shops and pubs maybe some of the first to close
The only sensible solution is to cut energy use. The government should give 100% loans interest free (repayable over 10 years) for the installation of solar panel and insulation. therefore a minimal cost to the government. Households would get free electricity in day time and be paid the going rate per therm, or the benefits of insulation. If heat pumps are viable they should again be massively subsidised.
PS. What does the standing charge actually pay for? Electricity, gas, water, telephone? Are these prices regulated?
CHICK PEAS
Rain again!
BIRDS
In April and May I thought the birds had deserted me – food in dispensers left for days – took them down and gave them a good wash. But now they are demolishing bird food like a panic run on toilet paper. One individual – a greenfinch – is quite comical. Whilst most great tits and blue tits zoom out of the apple tree to grab some food and retreat as quickly as possible, this one arrives on the feeder and instead of tucking in and making a quick getaway he (I think it is a he) lands and has a look back to the red and has a look of “I am here now so do not disturb me”. He is in no hurry and will spend 20 minutes glaring around and having the occasional seed. Comical.
Butterflies are mainly confined to small white. One peacock and a couple of gatekeepers. I am hoping for more. A couple damsel flies too.
UKRAINE
Well the politics seem to have gone quiet now the need for The Convict to try and resurrect himself has passed! Is that harsh? Andy, you have a much better idea about the military than I do (not difficult as I start from zero or below).
Having halted the Russian initial advance a while back it seems to be a war of attrition. Ukraine relies on Western arms supplies, Russia also seems to be struggling a little. I have not heard anyone talk about peace yet? Maybe it is too early, but will need to be discussed eventually. The elephant in the room is China and Taiwan?
What has not been discussed yet, but will need to be addressed eventually is the Ukraine Governments right wing leanings. We should learn from previous excursions into territories where we previously have had limited influence (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia – probably not the best choice) – but certainly none have been particularly successful. Although I suppose that depends on the term successful? Although it would take a Tory member of Cabinet to state what an unlimited success these campaigns have been!
Russia has a compliant population big enough to sustain this war for years; its sales of oil and gas will ensure that whatever economic sanctions are taken , are fruitless. India, China, African countries will. take up the slack and ensure the roubles roll in.
So it comes to a need for a diplomatic compromise in which the UK is massively unable to participate in. The present government is only schooled in confrontational politics. The USA is fucked up to the eyebrows with abortion, Trump and gun laws. China is keeping out. NATO/EU needs to back Baltic states.
Meanwhile the climate crisis is being ignored by all. Sorry this is another mega issue that I will address separately.
Anyway, if you would like to pop round anytime – let me know. Cake and tea/coffee always available. And s ever I love the discussion! Discussion recently seems to be polarising to a y/n which I personally believe to be pathetic!
Interesting start to the football! Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea from London looking good; ManC and Liverpool (after a shaky start will be up there). Will ManU spend enough to turn their season into one of hope? Southampton did OK today, but the chances of them doing a Leicester are so remote. I suppose that is rampant capitalism for us? There is no chance of the likelihood of Ipswich, Notts.Forest or Derby winning the league again – ever; or even Aston Villa, Everton,
And I have not got onto the water and energy debacle. Or the farcical tory leadership race, democracy, unions, environment, teaching and education, NHS, respect for others, Daily Maily and other shite papers, railways, post.
So you are welcome round and will go home with organic jams and produce.
TOMATO RECIPES
Tomatoes have been steady but not brilliant. Next year some more normal sized ones?
DROUGHT-FLOOD
Absolutely no planing or preparation for events that are 100% predictable. Create mini-lakes to absorb flood waters, plant more trees and shrubs, Every Parish Council should be mandated to come up with a plan to ameliorate floods and drought. Discounted water butts and pond liners, free wild flower seeds. Cut green bin collections to 6 a year.
Increase council tax for paved over lawns. Nature should come first.
NEW OVEN
So some recipes to try date and walnut bread
Olive bread “The Savoury Way” p36
Apricot and nut loaf Artisan Baking p114
Lemon Polenta Cake Artisan Baking p37
Banbury Cakes. Artisan Baking p68
Lemon drizzle Artisan Baking p24
Artisan Bread Ingredients
- 3 cups whole wheat flour (500 g)
- 1 tsp. active dry yeast
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 2/3 cup warm water (110°F). – 400ml
- 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh sage, finely chopped
How to Make Whole Wheat Bread
- Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine. Add the water and herbs, if using, and mix well. The dough will be very sticky and shaggy-looking. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 18 hours.
- Generously flour a work surface. The dough will have risen and will be covered in bubbles. Transfer the dough to the work surface and dust it with flour. Fold the dough in half, and then form the dough into a ball by stretching and tucking the edges of the dough underneath the ball.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). When oven reached temperature place a lidded Dutch oven or deep heavy duty casserole dish (with lid) into the oven to preheat for approximately 30 minutes.
- Do NOT remove the Dutch oven kettle from the oven, just remove the lid and gently slip the dough into the ungreased baking vessel, seam side up. Cover and bake per the instructions below. (That way you don’t lose the heat you just spent half an hour to achieve to heat the pan. There’s no need to shake the dough once it’s in the pan, it’ll spread by itself while baking.)
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the crust is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the loaf from the baking dish and let it cool on a rack before slicing.