Picalilli is the perfect accompaniment to pork/gala pie. Pip makes a mean picalilli.

No Tom. It wasn't a great time for the country. It just wasn't as grim as it got subsequently. #gbbo

Thinking I may have to mute "R*sh" for a little while.

MORRIS POST My new Morris bells arrived today for the Pebworth bellpads. Only they're too small and don't have a big enough loop for attaching. So they'll end up as decorations. And I've just ordered some noggy brass ones with proper attachment loops. Next up: ribbons of requisite colours.

Bread. For me its a savoury item. I don't like sweet things on it (unless its brioche or some other sweet bread). I will, however, make an exception for grapefruit marmalade (or a really good dark bitter orange).

NP in preparation fot her new album "LIAR (Love Isn't A Right)" later this week: @tanitatikaram.bsky.social "Ancient Heart", which is where it began. I've seen her several times over the years.

Today my listening is taking me back to my first musical love. Approx 53 years ago I started listening and they're still a regular on my turntable/jukebox/call it what you will. So many memories and life events soundtracked... they are a huge part of who I am.

I saw it. I liked it so much I bought it in both colours. I already have some purple suede DM desert boots....

Today is the day I make spiced braised red cabbage. We harvested 3kg from the veg bed. I'm using 1.5kg (as that's all I can fit in the pan). There's red onions, soft brown sugar, garlic, red wine vinegar, cooking apple, cranberries, port, warming spices. The rest will probably end up being pickled.

Tonight's treat. A "rocher" made to look like a conker, courtesy of Jeff De Bruges (in Srrasbourg). Milk chocolate and a mild soft marzipan. Dark chocolate shell containing a milk chocolate hazelnut ganache. It was big. It was rich. I need to go back to get more 😂 #chocolate

Have you ever had Meat Lust in Morrisons?

Looks like I may well become a @pebworthmorris.bsky.social man. Which makes me officially a #MorrisTart

Anyway, tonight is the second lot of #hotmorrisaction this week. A new side, different dances and a 50 mile round trip. Should be interesting.

Today seems to have turned into a day of listening to PG era Genesis live and demo material. Thanks @yeoldecrumphorn.bsky.social 😂

Its all happening on the other side of the hills from me.

Some pictures wot I did took last week in Strasbourg of "Carousel 1900" on Place Gutenberg. The camera on my Pixel 10 Pro XL seems to be doing rather well. #TeamPixel

Tonight is the first of 2 nights of #hotmorrisaction this week.

I gauge the weather by how spreadable the butter is for my toast at breakfast.

I think I need to watch the news on a different channel.

Its here. "Rainy Sunday Afternoon" by @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social and it looks as beautiful as it sounds. I got the Deluxe LP Book, green vinyl and double CD.

I've been busy. Salt dough snowflakes (all different) and stars alternating with 2 different types of bead on garden twine. A garland for the winter festival. It may well end up running through the swag on the fireplace. I'm quite happy with the result... and it's a good couple of metres long.

My uncle played the organ in a WMC in Leicester. We used to go in the early/mid 70s. As kids we sat in the foyer eating crisps and cheese and onion cobs and drinking lemonade. #WheeltappersAndShunters is an exact replica. It really was this good.

I may have just done a chocolate making workshop in Colmar. I did it so you don't have to. Because I'm kind like that.

Train no. 1 First Class TER Strasbourg to Colmar #trainwanker

The soft furnishings and feature wall in this hotel room make a great backdrop for food photos.

Train no.4 is Paris Gare de l'Est to Strasbourg. #trainwanker

Train no. 3. Eurostar "Plus" St Pancras to Paris. #trainwanker

Train 2 of 4. Hammersmith and City tube. Paddington to St. Pancras. #trainwanker

Train 1 of 4. GWR Malvern to London Paddington. First Class obvs. #trainwanker

Spiced apple and pear chutney made using the apples from our tree and the remainder of the pears that @thelloydjenkins.bsky.social donated. The spices are ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and black pepper. There are 12 jars (only 3 pictured).

They have arrived and they are lovely. Thank you so very much @bonfirehill.bsky.social @rebeccasubphotic.bsky.social @davidowen.bsky.social

I think it may be ready for putting into jars. I'm rather happy wirh the colour. It has something of a Branstons or Daddies aroma-wise.

Cake update. After 48 hours it is still very moist. There's enough for one more slice each (tomorrow). #bake #cake #moist

Looks like I'll be back in the kitchen chutneying tomorrow (and yes I know its not a verb).

The cake is sampled. Verdict: very moist (that'll be the caramel espresso and milk drizzle). Extremely chocolately with a good espresso punch and a background caramel softness. The caramel and espresso icings are sweet which provide a contrast to the deep richness of the cake. #cake #baking

Triple chocolate caramel mocha loaf cake. Before and after decorating with 2 flavours of royal icing: salted caramel and espresso. #cake #baking

So I realised I had some leftover milk and dark chocolate chunks. Its the law that you have to bake a triple choc caramel mocha cake isn't it?

Today's Lolawalk

Meanwhile, I thought I'd make some more salt dough decorations. A "gingerbread house" for the hat (hope it works out) and some stars and snowflakes for a garland for home (possibly the fireplace but we'll see).

Anyone else making baharat bean burgers to go with a salad tonight?

Some more salt dough cookies.

2nd chutney of 2025 is an old favourite and great way to use our tomato harvest. Tomato and chilli spiced with ginger and star anise. I got 8 jars from 2.4kg fruit.

Shush. Its Bake Off.

Starting to decorate my salt dough "Christmas cookies" decorations. And listening to Kraftwerk. All the Kraftwerk.

When you have 2.5kg of homegrown Baby San Marzano and Gardener's Delight, you make tomato chilli chutney.

I did it.

Taking are cuntry back one slice at a time innit. 😂😂😂

Is it a little bit egomaniacal for someone to wear a band t-shirt if their name is "in association with" on the back? Asking for, errrrr, me. 😂

An afternoon at Malvern's Coach House Theatre. Here to see a play called Behind The Door... a modern folk horror/ghost story set here in the Malverns. It was written and directed by (and stars) a friend of ours. #folkhorror

NP on the Dansette. Moon Safari "Other Half Of The Sky". In isolation, you don't really get the impact of the final lyrics as shown. Its 30 mins of pure melodic prog gorgeousness. This is *very* personal for me for *reasons*. If I was evil, I'd subject you all to all 30 mins at my funeral 😂