Gah! good luck with the biopsy you old freckle, its a weight on the mind I remember from a couple of years ago when they removed my very own nasal oddity (not the rest of my head -I heard that rude thought). Mine was just an extra sticky bogey or some such and was benign thankfully. As ever, your writing evokes euphoria...onward to autumn the favourite season, cooler and yes, far cooler. x
Ah you lovely man. Your ears might've been burning on Saturday when you were being warmly mentioned by myself, Miles and Mickey R. Luckily you have a surfeit of good looks that even a reduction in nasal volume cannot diminish. Happy autumn x
I cannot tell you how much I love this post for its honesty, personal touch and walk down memory lane, not only of Deputy Dawg but also of Summer evenings spent vomiting with heat stroke as an early teenager, yet still admiring my ridiculously red skin in the mirror as i brushed my teeth afterwards, notwithstanding the fact that it would already have begun to peel by next day. Rather than horrified looks and advice about skin cancer, people would say non-judgemental things like "oh, you got a lot of sun today..."
The recipes are intriguing and I appreciate the advice for next year's tomatoes. I got them in too late this year and so, will be cooking many green tomatoes methinks 🤔
Wishing you all the best for the skin peel. Thankfully, it is an organ, which knows how to regenerate itself splendidly.
Sending my very best for your op and recovery, Mark (and a thank you for the chaaty salad - it has gone straight on my iCloud Notes recipe list under 'eat your pantry', a reminder of the tins lurking in the back that need using up and the perfect recipe to do it) xx
A nice read Mark, I also spent many hours peeling off burnt skin. Thank the Lord for iPhones to occupy us today. As you mentioned keeping some bite to the beans, you have reminded me of something. I have a mildly entertaining piece of information which you may, or may not already know. The term al dente means, to the tooth, as you already know. So, dent de lion, which means, tooth of the lion, became what we now know as dandelion. It was named after the shape of the little yellow petals. If you already knew that I’ve wasted too much time typing.
That is an excellent fact VB, an excellent fact, and the world needs more of those, thank you thank you. Alas I fear I would be the inverse of your dashing self should your fine hat sit atop my head
How very pretty the Japanese peppercorn plants are, almost fern like! Are they annual or perennial Mark? I would grow them just for foliage either the added bonus of the corns. Fingers crossed with the biopsy!
Aren't they gorgeous! I've grown them for years, along with Szechuan and Nepalese peppers - all spiky little devils but so beautiful and the peppercorns are really special in scent and flavour. Perennial...a real favourite. And thank you
Being the ginger in the family I was just to be protected with a cardigan on the beach … and calamine lotion later. I now examine every new blemish with anxiety and send photos to my GP … hope yours gets sorted safely !
Good luck with the op Mark ! Never experienced sunburn but I did have a hilarious incident with brown hair , plaits and ‘sun in’. I looked like a chessboard…..
Wishing you well for the biopsy, Mark. Keep on with the hat wearing, and the factor 50.
"River Man" is just so beautiful, no matter how many times I hear it. We recently went to the Nick Drake prom and enjoyed hearing the full orchestra live, as well as the singers.
I've been listening to Beck's "Morning Phase" album a lot recently, and I'm getting a few of those Nick Drake vibes. This is also a lovely album for either end of a day.
Thanks for the tomato pasta recipe, as we have some tarragon to use before it dies back. Have you got a recipe suggestion for small green tomatoes which are not ripening in our Sheffield climate?
Thank you Orla. I couldn't agree more about River Man, and I'm envious you went to the NK prom - I listened online and it sounded so good. And very much yes to Morning Phase, I think my favourite Beck album. As for the green tomatoes, they may have a month for ripening yet so fingers crossed, otherwise I have a weakness for them fried in olive oil, on toast with too much pepper
I've had a disaster with each of my tomato growing attempts since I first started in 2020... until this year, when I reluctantly planted some seeds I was given for Christmas. All of a sudden I had 12 seedlings, six of which I gave away in our spring village plant swap and three of which are still alive today. Two plants have produced fruit, and if any of them ripen I shall be declaring a national holiday and making your pasta. (Cherries are long gone here.)
Tomato growing is simple yet utterly reliant on particular steps at particular times and once you have it nailed you are mostly set for life, so fingers crossed for future years after you got it right this year. Looking forward to that national holiday!
I have an unreasonably large head that makes a complete arse of me any time I entertain wearing anything upstairs from a baseball cap to a floppy garden hat. I can just about get away with a beanie for late-night winter dog walks. The damage we did to our bodies when young. Like you: hours spent under any summer sunshine we could get our hands on, and couldn't afford the sun cream even if we did believe in the idea of the skin being something we needed to protect, not toast. We set the toaster dial to Don Johnson, but more often returned home looking like Freddy Krueger. I do hope everything goes well for you. Never thought to introduce tarragon to pasta (if I'm honest, I'm a little anxious at the thought of tarragon being without cream), but would give these a go for sure...
You have an excellent shaped head - one of those where lack of hair might even suit better than a full covering. I am envious. I suspect a hat looks better on you than you think! I LOVE tarragon and tomatoes, and indeed with beans...I promise you'll like it
Runner beans - I can never successfully get rid of the inedible fibres so now I harvest them when they are small and crunchy. I usually grow painted lady but this year, following Huw Richards, I grew Rhonda Black and was very pleased.
I'm so glad you like Nick Drake - extraordinary how someone can be all but ignored at the time and so loved later. I hope he keeps you excellent company
Gah! good luck with the biopsy you old freckle, its a weight on the mind I remember from a couple of years ago when they removed my very own nasal oddity (not the rest of my head -I heard that rude thought). Mine was just an extra sticky bogey or some such and was benign thankfully. As ever, your writing evokes euphoria...onward to autumn the favourite season, cooler and yes, far cooler. x
Ah you lovely man. Your ears might've been burning on Saturday when you were being warmly mentioned by myself, Miles and Mickey R. Luckily you have a surfeit of good looks that even a reduction in nasal volume cannot diminish. Happy autumn x
I have a title suggestion for your next book…Tart x
You win the prize! x
I cannot tell you how much I love this post for its honesty, personal touch and walk down memory lane, not only of Deputy Dawg but also of Summer evenings spent vomiting with heat stroke as an early teenager, yet still admiring my ridiculously red skin in the mirror as i brushed my teeth afterwards, notwithstanding the fact that it would already have begun to peel by next day. Rather than horrified looks and advice about skin cancer, people would say non-judgemental things like "oh, you got a lot of sun today..."
The recipes are intriguing and I appreciate the advice for next year's tomatoes. I got them in too late this year and so, will be cooking many green tomatoes methinks 🤔
Wishing you all the best for the skin peel. Thankfully, it is an organ, which knows how to regenerate itself splendidly.
Thank you so much Áine, what peculiarly different times they were!
Love anything to do with chaat - thank you Mark! And thinking of you and your op - hope all goes well 👍
Thank you, and I am delighted to have another chaat lover on board!
Sending my very best for your op and recovery, Mark (and a thank you for the chaaty salad - it has gone straight on my iCloud Notes recipe list under 'eat your pantry', a reminder of the tins lurking in the back that need using up and the perfect recipe to do it) xx
Thank you Amie Elizabeth, v lovely of you xx
A nice read Mark, I also spent many hours peeling off burnt skin. Thank the Lord for iPhones to occupy us today. As you mentioned keeping some bite to the beans, you have reminded me of something. I have a mildly entertaining piece of information which you may, or may not already know. The term al dente means, to the tooth, as you already know. So, dent de lion, which means, tooth of the lion, became what we now know as dandelion. It was named after the shape of the little yellow petals. If you already knew that I’ve wasted too much time typing.
PS, wanna borrow my hat?
That is an excellent fact VB, an excellent fact, and the world needs more of those, thank you thank you. Alas I fear I would be the inverse of your dashing self should your fine hat sit atop my head
🎩 🧢 👒
How very pretty the Japanese peppercorn plants are, almost fern like! Are they annual or perennial Mark? I would grow them just for foliage either the added bonus of the corns. Fingers crossed with the biopsy!
Aren't they gorgeous! I've grown them for years, along with Szechuan and Nepalese peppers - all spiky little devils but so beautiful and the peppercorns are really special in scent and flavour. Perennial...a real favourite. And thank you
Thank you for this Mark - and best of British to you. Sorry about the plaster.
Thank you!
Being the ginger in the family I was just to be protected with a cardigan on the beach … and calamine lotion later. I now examine every new blemish with anxiety and send photos to my GP … hope yours gets sorted safely !
A cardigan on the beach in summer! What a world it was
Good luck with the op Mark ! Never experienced sunburn but I did have a hilarious incident with brown hair , plaits and ‘sun in’. I looked like a chessboard…..
What a great image!
Alas, I share your hat affliction. I aim for Scarlett O'Hara, but the mirror gives me Ma Joad.
Poor us
Wishing you well for the biopsy, Mark. Keep on with the hat wearing, and the factor 50.
"River Man" is just so beautiful, no matter how many times I hear it. We recently went to the Nick Drake prom and enjoyed hearing the full orchestra live, as well as the singers.
I've been listening to Beck's "Morning Phase" album a lot recently, and I'm getting a few of those Nick Drake vibes. This is also a lovely album for either end of a day.
Thanks for the tomato pasta recipe, as we have some tarragon to use before it dies back. Have you got a recipe suggestion for small green tomatoes which are not ripening in our Sheffield climate?
Thank you Orla. I couldn't agree more about River Man, and I'm envious you went to the NK prom - I listened online and it sounded so good. And very much yes to Morning Phase, I think my favourite Beck album. As for the green tomatoes, they may have a month for ripening yet so fingers crossed, otherwise I have a weakness for them fried in olive oil, on toast with too much pepper
Thank you for the astonishing Revelator link - made my day, or even week!
I'm so glad you liked it. This is a better recording and a lovely version but he wasn't wearing a hat in this one so...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gEc5Pq50xo
I've had a disaster with each of my tomato growing attempts since I first started in 2020... until this year, when I reluctantly planted some seeds I was given for Christmas. All of a sudden I had 12 seedlings, six of which I gave away in our spring village plant swap and three of which are still alive today. Two plants have produced fruit, and if any of them ripen I shall be declaring a national holiday and making your pasta. (Cherries are long gone here.)
Tomato growing is simple yet utterly reliant on particular steps at particular times and once you have it nailed you are mostly set for life, so fingers crossed for future years after you got it right this year. Looking forward to that national holiday!
I've no idea what I did right this year, but your words give me hope!
I have an unreasonably large head that makes a complete arse of me any time I entertain wearing anything upstairs from a baseball cap to a floppy garden hat. I can just about get away with a beanie for late-night winter dog walks. The damage we did to our bodies when young. Like you: hours spent under any summer sunshine we could get our hands on, and couldn't afford the sun cream even if we did believe in the idea of the skin being something we needed to protect, not toast. We set the toaster dial to Don Johnson, but more often returned home looking like Freddy Krueger. I do hope everything goes well for you. Never thought to introduce tarragon to pasta (if I'm honest, I'm a little anxious at the thought of tarragon being without cream), but would give these a go for sure...
You have an excellent shaped head - one of those where lack of hair might even suit better than a full covering. I am envious. I suspect a hat looks better on you than you think! I LOVE tarragon and tomatoes, and indeed with beans...I promise you'll like it
Runner beans - I can never successfully get rid of the inedible fibres so now I harvest them when they are small and crunchy. I usually grow painted lady but this year, following Huw Richards, I grew Rhonda Black and was very pleased.
Small and crunchy, plus an excellent variety or two really is thee key - that Huw R knows his onions!
An extra comment today, I just played River Man by Nick Drake, I do like your choice of music. I’ll take him along on my next walk,🎼🎶
I'm so glad you like Nick Drake - extraordinary how someone can be all but ignored at the time and so loved later. I hope he keeps you excellent company