39 Comments

How on earth you fit it all in ~ your stamina amazes me! A line that should a) go down in history and b) be sent to Sir Paul! :

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about The Beatles is that unlike everyone that followed, they did all that without The Beatles to influence them.

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Thank you Marian! Maybe having had enough really joyless jobs had given me energy to really revel in something I love now I’ve found it

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And how are the pecans doing now? Would I have seen them on a tour of the Otter Farm back in 2017 ?

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Hi Sally, I went back last year and they are thriving. Yes, they were planted many years ago so would’ve been there in 2017

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Btw - so thrilled for you about the 3D real life version of your book.

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Love your compendiums Mark and what a joy to see great playlists, gin and my favourite thing in the world: Mac & cheese, in this edition. Hooray!

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I wonder if you are psychically communicating with my mind! Thank you JP, you are a champ

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Reading this is like reading the Saturday papers, which in my world is one of the great pleasures in life. I'll need to get back to your spotify play list, I left them in disgust a few years back (Josh Rogan, Neil Young related).

The cardamon forward vegetable korma would be exquisite, I don't need to cook it to know. But I will cook it just so I can tell you again how good it is.

Congratulations on your latest publishing success, that must feel so sweet. Your cows are coming home Mark. Enjoy sharing your knowledge in your workshop, look out the window and see if you can see me there in spirit.

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I love that you know the korma why me good without cooking it! And yes, spotify is a mixed blessing but I try to use it to try/discover new music and then buy it when I find something I love

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I have no Judgement on the Spotify stance Mark, I’ll probably end up back there. One of those decisions lurking about, without impetuous to act on it.

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Got to give another cover recommendation as you’ve included Love Will Tear Us Apart - try the Hot 8 Brass Band version!

Definitely going to try the curry

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I shall Kate, thank you!

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I like the Gin recipe! I think under the Asparagus part you mean asparagus crowns not artichoke. I planted some crowns in a deep water trough because my garden is mostly rocks. Though I dont have much sun I have been picking about 12 asparagus stalks every spring, just enough for a little springtime snack and I still think it is worth it! If I move the entire thing comes with me!

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Thank you Patti for the asparagus/artichoke typo…I shall edit. And yes, dig up the asparagus and get it to the new place when/if you move!

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Much appreciated Mark , love these compendium’s

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Thank you Johnnie

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Hello Mark, thank you for such a comprehensive post this week, thoroughly enjoyed. I downloaded the “not so active” onto Spotify and it will certainly take me on a journey on my morning walks along the pathways through the gum trees. You may have her on your list of great gardening books, but if not you may like to check her out, Olivia Laing and her book The Garden Against Time which I am reading at present. I’m also a fan of The Beatles, and that video you shared, fabulous. Again, thank you.

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Thank you Sally. I don’t have that book and shall order it from the bookshop in town when next there, thank you. I really appreciate it

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Excellent stuff. I’ll be making that gin. Oh yes.

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Thank you Kāren, you’ll not be disappointed - it’s quite bitter but you’ll know better than most how to use it pleasingly!

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Ahh thank you Mark. Looking at my website traffic and new orders, your readers are clearly very obedient.

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Thank you Lev, such a pleasure of a book

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Lovely, thank you. Reminded to re-listen to Bill Wells' 'The Copper Top'. Which reminded me to ask if you'd heard the cover version of 'I've Been Losing You' (A-ha) by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins – you would like it very much, I'm sure.

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Curry looks great - but I’m a little surprised to see out of season veg in it. It would be lovely if you gave us a recipe that used the stuff that’s in season right now. I know you said we could swap. Love the playlists thank you

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Hello. The image I have is from when I made it in spring/summer and I included that version so it matched, but yes, very adaptable to whatever is around

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What a lovely compendium, thank you. I have watched the song twice, it is just astonishing and very moving.

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Isn’t it! He can’t even take the beauty out by playing around and almost throwing it away…I think if I’d written that song I’d put my feet up for life

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Wonderful as always!

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Thank you Jane

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Magnificent. Not least your playlists!!! MERRY CLAYTON!!!!

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Thank you Laura!

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