Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Margaret Sullavan's Peanut Butter Hermits

"Most actors are basically neurotic people. Terribly, terribly unhappy.
That's one of the reasons they become actors."

It's New Year's Eve and I have made Hermits for my workmates. It's like a ghost town here but we had to come in just in case somebody famous popped their clogs overnight and there was a clamour for footage. That hasn't happened. We should have brought in some board games, instead we've been finding pictures of fish in aspic on the internet to use as screensavers and - in my case - doing some research on Margaret Sullavan.

Oh, and reading cook books cover to cover is my new technique. It paid off yesterday when I discovered that the chefs at Pret a Manger feel that graham crackers (as found in the Hermits) are interchangable with digestive biscuits! I shall try that when I run out of GCs.

My French colleague Franchot was asking me just now why Margaret's biscuits were called Hermits. "Is it because they don't go out?" he asked. In turn I wonder if Peter Noone published a biscuit recipe it would be for Herman's Hermits...

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Charlton Heston's Spaghetti With Cauliflower


“I've played three presidents, three saints and two geniuses
and that's probably enough for any man”

The mention of Charlton's dish was not enough to persuade the new boyfriend to come over for dinner. I do admit that it doesn't sound too appetising but I switched the cauliflower for brocolli and it wasn't too bad for a mid week tv dinner. Grace and Ginger enjoyed it with Ginger wondering if we would all get "Hest Chests" if we ate enough of it.

I am back in cooking mode after a month of crazy adventures on the high seas cruising the Caribbean giving lectures on Hollywood stars. The bit I liked best was watching the water in the swimming pools being chucked all over the deck when we were in a 5 metre swell. I also liked the captain reading out the "naughty list" of passengers who were late reboarding the ship after a shore day. Luckily, although we cut it fine once in New Orleans, I never heard my name over the tannoy.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Clara Bow's Chicken Chartreuse

"I wanna go home, I miss my cook"

I am loving Clara this week. She is keeping me sane during the insanity that is involved in preparing 9 seperate lectures for the upcoming cruise. My brain is ADDLED and I feel like doing a Clara and just sitting down and playing poker with my cook.

I made Clara's chicken dish for the new beau as a note under the recipe in the Photoplay book said, "try it on the boyfriend". I made little individual portions in ramekins as I couldn't find a circular ring mould (!) He seemed to like it and said in a broad Jamaican accent "Rass, that's good" so I guess that's the seal of approval.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Barbara Stanwyck's Roast Leg of Lamb


"I'm a tough old broad from Brooklyn.
I intend to go on acting until I'm ninety
and they won't need to paste my face with make-up."

Well, Barbara didn't make it to ninety, but she was acting almost to the end of her life in 1990, appearing in Dynasty and its spin off The Colbys. We got it slightly wrong in discussion around the dinner table, we thought it was Dallas - Ginger told us that she wasn't allowed to watch the mighty Dallas as in her house it was considered "too racy." I was allowed though and loved "the poison dwarf". Her hair was almost as long as her body.

There has been rather a lull in the cooking of the suppers. This is partly to do with much writing going on - working on the book proposal for Frankfurt and working on the cruise lectures. But also due to the sudden appearance of a new man in my life. Too much to tell, but suffice to say that this one is a keeper.

Barbara's lamb was very good - but not, in my opinion as good as Errol's. The soaking of the leg in a pint of red wine and a pint of white wine got full approval of the household. I think Barbara probably liked a drink or two. As the wine was glugging out of the bottles and on to the lamb Ginger was heard to exclaim, "Go Babs!"

Monday, August 25, 2008

Joan Crawford's Meatloaf


I was so excited to find the Holy Grail of Joanie's Meatloaf recipe that I invited Charley over to partake. I knew he would appreciate her secret ingredient of hard boiled eggs. My new squeeze is anti eggs and when I told him that Charley LOVED hard boiled eggs he said, "well bully for Charley" which made me laugh.

Alas, when I went to the butcher and priced up the meatloaf I had to change my plan. I was making HALF the meatloaf Joan would have made and the sirloin and veal alone would have come to £30! Unlike Joan, I am not earning a gazillion pounds a week. Actually I am not earning any money at all and haven't done for quite some time so had to change the plan. I bought 4 lamb chops instead which were quite, quite delicious. Viva the butcher. The meat is definitely more tasty.

I shall start a savings plan for the meatloaf.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Ida Lupino's Lemon Mousse


I've been swept off my feet by a man I met at the Cafe de Paris. One minute I was jigging around on the dance floor, next minute I was having my face snogged off round the back of the VIP area. How marvelous.

Last night he came round for dinner. I was going to cook Errol Flynn's Roast Lamb but I'm cat sitting and didn't have the recipe with me. So I made a coffee free version. Pudding was Ida's Mousse. Always a winner. As he licked his spoon in an lascivious manner he said, "I've got a plan for the rest of that, and it doesn't involve a plate."

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Constance Bennett's Spanish Chicken


Version 3 of Constance's chicken was the best so far, by far. The secret being having a whole fresh chicken hacked into bits by the crazy Wood Street butcher I think. As Connie put it, "Take 2 fat hens jointed as for frying..."

Rosalind came over to borrow a 1930s frock for her Wind in the Willows party. She selected the Fritzi of California number, an excellent choice. Both the ladies were home too so we had a lovely al fresco dinner in the garden. We discussed how delicious the chicken was and how women of our generation have got into the habit of buying bland cuts of chicken vacuum packed by the supermarket. As Rosalind observed, when we hear a piece of plastic being pierced by a knife we think, "Ooh, someone is cooking..." But the difference between that kind of chicken and this was definitely noticable. From now on I'll try and frequent the butcher for my chooks, even though he thinks I am a figure of fun with my absurd questions about how to cook meat.

Ha ha! I am watching a great Lana Turner film on TCM and faded fashion model Ann Dvorak was just escorted out of a restaurant as she was smashed. A man offered to get her a cab and she said, "What a gentleman. My mother told me that if I stuck around for long enough I'd eventually meet one." Fabulous line, I may memorise that!

Ooh, Lana just called Barry Sullivan a "small time chisler". Ha ha!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Carole Lombard's Cherry Pie


Just coming up for air after the madness of the past couple of weeks. Entering into a new period of calm. Watching Judge Judy during the day and looking for a job.

The folks came for lunch last week and I had another bash at Carole Lombard's Cherry Pie. My ma was very impressed that I had stoned all the cherries AND made the pastry. I was genuinely shocked when she said that she never made pastry any more, just bought the roll out stuff. Role reversal / roll reversal! I used crumbled macaroons instead of breadcrumbs and although the texture was good, I think the pie was too sweet as a result. I think I need to look for sour cherries.

Not anticipating that I would make a pie, my mum had made a raspberry pie and brought it with her. When Grace got home from work she set upon my cherry pie with gusto. She planned to eat a big piece right there and then and take another big piece to work next day. She was ranting about how much she loved my pie and when I told her that my mum had also brought a pie which I was planning to put in the freezer she asked with much excitement: "What kind of pie?" which made me laugh and launch into a round of "Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies?" What a pie-monster!

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Janet Gaynor's Ice Box Cookies


I have to say thankyou to Larry Hodges for this pic of Janet Gaynor playing table tennis. He has a whole website dedicated to celebrities playing ping pong. How fab.

Just a little report on the meeting with our possible publisher ES. I rustled up some Janet Gaynor cookies on the fly as I only had a day or so notice of our meeting. Luckily I still had two nice boxes from the cake supplies shop on Hoe Street. Imagine my horror when I passed it on the bus yesterday to see that it has not only closed down but has effectively been razed to the ground! Is there no need for elaborately iced cakes any more?

It is all systems go on the proposal. I have a LOT of work to do in the next week or so - writing. It is all very well cooking the dishes but it all has to be translated into words which isn't so easy. Plus I have the Joan Crawford and Hollywood Glamour lectures to work on, AND the cruise lectures. AND a job application. It's a good job I don't have a boyfriend any more! No time!

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Loretta Young's Chiffonade Salad


"I found out you can learn a lot about yourself as a person...
while you're learning how to use fashion in your life.”

I too am learning how to use fashion in my life at the moment. I am ploughing through the mountain of clothes in my room trying to make some rational decisions.

Had a lovely night with Ginger, the newlyweds and Dick - who I am surprised to see doesn't have a blogname yet. Surely he has been involved in a supper before now? I made Loretta's salad again and the secret is obviously to chop all the non-leaf items quite small. Dick asked all and sundry if they were happy to eat a salad containing egg, onion, beetroot and gherkins and Ginger's response was, "it's heavy on the pickle, and that's always good in my book."

I am missing all the cowboys and my sister of the skillet like mad but the skies are sunny, the Rosé is flowing and all is well in the Stowe.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Dolores Del Rio's Enchiladas


Seemed only fitting to try a Mexican recipe whilst here in the Lone Star State. I only have three more days here and want to cry because I am loving it so much. Last night was a real film-fest night in the old school style as Ruth's chum William Haines came over for Enchiladas and the conversation was mostly about Joan and her Daughter Dearest. Love the fact that Joan fans are so polarised over who they believe on the issue of Joan's childrearing methods.

Saturday was just the best day here. Involved driving through an electrical storm, just missing the chance to get a free watermelon, jumping the queue at the Salt Lick, sitting on a blanket at the LBJ ranch watching True Grit under the stars, having my photo taken with the joint winners of the John Wayne Lookalike Contest and being swung around the dance floor at the legendary Broken Spoke. It just does not get any better than that in my opinion. Yeehah!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Jean Harlow's Hot Rolls


"Jean Harlow is in the back room, where Sylvia is giving her a spanking she’ll remember – to judge by the howls."

So begins Sylvia of Hollywood's 1931 expose "Hollywood Undressed", I knew I was in for a big treat as soon as I opened the cover and saw the original owner's stamp. "The Circulating Library of the Bungalow Dress Shop in Alhambra, California" - NATCH. Despite the fact the book purported to be written by Sylvia's secretary it was surely Sylvia herself attempting to avoid ANOTHER law suit by adopting an alter-ego. Mind you, would Sylvia refer to herself as "a midget viking"? Probably.

She spilled the beans on all of her clients. Marie Dressler (addicted to "near beer"), Jack Holt (wore bright purple silk underpants) Constance Bennett (bony backed), Ramon Novarro (sleeps in a coffin), Mae Murray (non-payer) etc. Fabulosa!

I was most pleased to hear that Sylvia advocates a high heel, she does not approve of flats. "A patient wearing low heels will not be admitted twice to Sylvia’s work-room. The boss prescribes the so-called Louis XV heel as the one best suited to the build and locomotive idiosyncrasies of the average female."

I must seek out some Louis XV heels.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Carole Lombard's Cherry Pie


“I live by a man's code, designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget that
a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick.”

It was the night of the Carol(e)s last night as Ruth had a dinner party for 7 in tribute to Carol Channing with a little Lombard thrown in. We spent the day mucking about with the Sauerbraten and making a cherry pie and some salad. It was only after the pie was on the table we realised that we had commited a minor faux pas. I had made Loretta Young's Chiffonade Salad to accompany the main course. Someone brought up Clark Gable's affair and subsequent love child and Ruth and I felt bizarrely ashamed to have Loretta and Carole at the same table. Weird.

The dinner was a great success with much hilarity and tonnes of film related stories. The ginger-y beef was absolutely delicious - all hail the Texas Longhorn. The cherry pie was delightful and even the salad (containing beetroot, hard boiled eggs and gherkins) was appreciated. Although not by Ruth who on top of feeling that a banana taints everything, is not a fan of the beet.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Carol Channing's Sauerbraten


RASPBERRIES!

I knew we had a Carol Channing recipe somewhere and we intend to make this for our dinner on Sunday night. It involves a big lump of meat and some gingersnaps. Can't wait.

Happy to report that the Sylvia of Hollywood diet is going well. Despite the fact that Wholefoods only had GARLIC melba toasts I am so far sticking to the breakfast of these with honey on top and lunch of soup. Only one misdemeanor so far, I have ignored Sylvia's strict, "Liquor is out! Absolutely!" comment and had one Margarita. Well I AM in Texas after all. Oh, and although I have done the 20 minutes of arm swinging she prescribes each morning I have so far not done the one hour of evening two stepping. Perhaps I should seek myself out some kind of hoe-down to do some partner dancing rather than just jigging around in Ruth's "recreation room".

I am pleased with myself so far (my dinner host last night had a Margarita AND two glasses of wine) but I sure am hungry...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sylvia of Hollywood's Diet


I am in Austin and it is the evening before I attempt a diet I found in a 1932 edition of Photoplay. The proponent of this diet is "Sylvia" - she doesn't give her surname but we are told, "She made motion picture stars beautiful and kept them trim. She can do the same for you." She tells it like it is, "The reason you're fat is because you eat your head off and don't take exercise". She uses encouraging phrases like, "Come on, darlings, be beautiful and lovely and attractive! You can if you will." and gives some exercises to do after tuning the radio "to a peppy band".

So I've decided to stop expanding and start reducing. I shall attempt to follow Sylvia's advice for two weeks and see how I get on. I shall report back on how it goes with nothing but melba toast and honey for breakfast...

Oh, the picture is not Sylvia by the way. It's Ruth Etting - the namesake of my sister of the skillet. Bizarrely enough Sylvia was married to Edward Leiter, an actor who only appeared in one film - his co-star was Ruth...

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Fred MacMurray's Egg Burger



I am in Ameriki! How fabulous. I am here with my sister of the skillet in La La Land after a riotous time at the Madonna Inn. The biggest jaw dropping moment was when we were having a Hollywood Martini in the bar and an elderly lady in a bright red pant suit was getting ready to give a show. Rosalind said, "That looks like Carol Channing" and what do you know, it was. She was giving a private show for Phyllis Madonna and we got to watch! Lots of fantastic moments including a superb impersonation of Sophie Tucker ("I not only lost the dice, I lost the stick man who went in after them") and some rather raunchy dancing for a lady who is 87 years of age. Ruthie and I went up for a chat when the show was over and had our photo taken with Carol. When we told her we were Film Archivists she told us a very bawdy story about Tallulah Bankhead. RASPBERRIES.

Today we are recovering from a night drinking Blood & Sand cocktails at the Dresden Rooms and a karaoke session at a crazy Thai bar called "Smog Cutter". Don't ask me what that means because I don't know. I gave a rendition of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" with gusto. Our handsome host did some fast moves with the valet parking and before we knew it we were high in the Hollywood Hills with the most amazing view of the Hollywood sign. Ruthie's new beau (ha ha) recommended a diner called Fred 62 and lo and behold, on the menu was a Fred MacMurray Egg Burger. I had it - natch. I will have to find the entry that relates to the version Ruth made way back when in Delaware...

Monday, May 19, 2008

A Bulgarian Shirley Temple


I am in BULGARIA having a whole heap of fun. I've been meeting Laurel's neighbours (mostly very cheery toothless ladies who want to hug and kiss me) and eating cauldrons of "four kinds of meat".

I've had one "Joan Crawford Day" which consisted of me re-reading Charlotte Chandler's fantastic biography in preparation for my lecture in July. I found myself a very swanky bar that served Shirley Temples with neon plastic stirrers with stars on the end. I shall try and work out how to type using cyrillic alphabet so I can record how the words "Shirley Temple" look in Bulgarian. Cool.

Am being constantly amused by English translations of Bulgarian food and drink names. On one menu we were offered Spinach Stumps, Beer Balls and Happy Bits... Cocktails to tempt included Wind In Your Face and Man's Secrets. No thanks, I'll stick with the Shirley Temples and maybe a Roy Rogers if I can find one...

Monday, April 21, 2008

Bette Davis Marmalade


"Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies."

Bette or Joan? Bette or Joan? I am increasingly obsessed with both of them and just can't decide who I like best. At the moment Bette has a slight edge because of her bad behaviour, but I'm increasingly loving Joan's obsessive compulsiveness...

Just back from a whirlwind tour of Buckinghamshire and Essex with the National Rail system in Britain charging me the equivalent of a Eurostar fare to Paris just to nip in and out of London a bit. Grrr. Still, it was lovely seeing my parents, spending time with Laurel and seeing the fabulous Rita.

It's been a while since we sat and guzzled four bottles of wine between us. Orson was there for the spaghetti then at some point Rita yelled, "Piss off to bed Orson, I have important things to discuss with my friend", and he duly did. The conversation did take a very serious turn - which is unlike us - but the next morning we were back on form despite Rita's rotten hangover. I had taken her some Bette Davis Marmalade which we had on toast as a restorative. "Like honey," she observed, it is indeed rather runny...

She told me all about Mike Leigh rummaging through her kitchen cupboards, how she once saw Bette Davis in Croyden and that she went to the cinema to see "Mommie Dearest" with her mother. All things which made me laugh out loud. The post arrived as she was taking some Nurofen for her hangover and in a bizarre co-incidence it was a cheque for £180 from my nemesis ex-boss for the use of some of Rita's home movies.

Later when she kissed me goodbye at the door I said I hoped her hangover wouldn't last all day and she said, "Oh I'm fine. I feel a lot better since that cheque arrived."

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Sonja Henie's Scandinavian Cookies


Ginger very kindly bought me some posh cherry jam to go in the indentations of the little treats that are Sonja's Scandinavian Cookies. Fresh out of the oven they were enjoyed by Jack (he liked the nuts) and Grace (she liked the dough-y centre).

I managed to get six of them to Southend in one piece for Laurel and he liked them too. When he bought me breakfast in bed on Sunday morning he had made a characteristically cute arrangement of four semi-circular halves of bagels with a jam centred cookie in the middle. Adorable. I ate the bagels then I said that I was too full to eat the cookie. "I didn't think you'd be able to eat the biscuit too," he said, "I was just using it as a garnish".

In a major development at the pub on Saturday night I was sitting right under a strong light and was worried that it was making me look haggered. Laurel removed the lightbulb for me in an act of kindness. When the barman later picked it up from the table and asked if it was a "dead one" Laurel said that it was still live but he had removed it as, "My girlfriend was being blinded by the light".... Firstly I loved the high drama of the statement and of course I like being called the girlfriend.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Marlene Dietrich's Banana Nut Bread


Laurel said that he was instantly transported to the banana zone upon eating a piece of Marlene's cake. It was consumed in large slices in bed in Southend with a nice mug of tea. I am still recovering from the weekend as we barely made it out of the bedroom - apart from to walk up to the rockabilly night at the Castle. Southend is most defnitely the epicentre of the British rockabilly type. It made my heart glad to see so many old rockers and their molls.

Barney has a very sweet tooth so next weekend I might see how he likes Sonja Henie's Scandinavian Cookies...

Monday, March 10, 2008

Mary Philbin's Brown Betty


Just back from a long weekend in Avebury. Sharing a fabulous little cottage in the churchyard with Ginger, Grace, William, Cary and Jack. Much alcohol consumed and great feasts cooked up.

On Saturday night I spent a very calm couple of hours in the kitchen with Cary. He prepared a banquet of roast pork with sweet & sour onions and more vegetables than you would expect possible in a small cottage kitchen. I happily peeled and sliced many apples then layered them all up with breadcrumbs and cinammon sugar. William made the custard.

Cary is a very concentrated cook. Not much banter in the kitchen which I found very meditative. I liked the fact that Jack kept referring to the pudding as "Big Betty" after which each time we sung a few chorus lines , "Oh, Big Betty Bamalam, Oh, Big Betty Bamalam, Big Betty had a child, Bamalam etc..."

Tomorrow - Paris!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Fred MacMurray's Holland Brioche Cakes

"A cowboy actor needs two changes of expression - hat on and hat off."

Funnily enough I was just in the process of buying myself a self-tipping cowboy hat on Second Life when Max arrived on Sunday morning bearing a gift of two Brioche. They were a joy to behold on the breakfast table - beautiful plump little Birthday Brunch Brioche for Grace.

The spirit of bartering is alive and well in Walthamstow. When I bumped into Max at the Turkish supermarket a while back and loaned him the money for some basil I remembered he'd been given Brioche pans for Christmas. I asked if he would be a test chef for Fred's recipe and lo and behold they appeared. They were absolutely delicious. Another winner from Fred. Hmm, wonder if I could ask Max to rustle up some other numbers - I seem to have stalled somewhat.

I blame Mr Sombrero Delay who is turning out to be rather a pot sticker...

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Constance Bennett's Spanish Chicken

"I'm a lot more sartorial than thespian. They come to see me
and go out humming the costumes.”

It was lovely to be rustling up Constance's chicken for 3 whilst Grace and Jack were rehearsing their country songs in the dining room. They were on fine warbling form.

Alas, Jack couldn't stay for dinner and so I offered two thighs to The Artist via the medium of Skype. He declined. I think that really must be the end of offering invitations to The Artist. He remains untempted by my offers to pose, visits to the William Morris Gallery, dinner, Sunday lunch and two unclaimed gifts - one of which is a jar of Bette Davis marmalade that has been hanging around here since Christmas. I will have to accept that he's just not that bothered.

Grace and I had a most excellent visit to the Frillseekers sale and I came away with an superb haul. Four fantastic frocks, a pair of imitation snakeskin shoes and a fabulous titfer with spotty veil. Like Constance I am practising being more sartorial than theatrical.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

The David Niven Martini

"You can count on Errol Flynn, he'll always let you down."

Perhaps it is a bit of portentous syncronicity that Niven has a good quote about Errol as I am supposed to be embarking upon "Errol Week" tomorrow. Almost finished reading his amazing biography and pen is poised to write the blurb to go with his Baked Fish Havanaise recipe. Hopefully I'll get up the gumption to do it.

Friday night saw me sitting on a high bar stool in red knee high boots sipping a "My Man Godfrey" cocktail as the month of sobriety FINALLY came to an end. Thank the Lord for that. I did it and I am very pleased with myself but nothing beats an ice cold martini in my book.

So the drinking begins and with it an end to the nonsense that is internet dating. I gave it a month's trial and I am more or less back where I started so I say, "Stick it Jerry" and will try and meet someone new by natural means. Ha ha. Oh, there is still one guy to meet - on Wednesday, so for my £15 I got four encounters. That's not bad value for money I suppose. I might give it another go sometime but for now I shall use old fashioned means to snare a mate. If I can remember what they are...

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Ida Lupino's Lemon Mousse


"Keeping a feminine approach is vital - men hate bossy females."

Don't you love getting a new pair of shoes home and checking the end of the box to see what they have been christened? These shoes are called "Ida Lupino". By someone... Not the actual designer or manufacturer in Bali I would have thought, but whoever is out there in etherland running a site called "Forbidden Shoes". Not the kind of site it promises to be from the name alas, but an actual online shoe shop. Of course, just as I am tempted to buy some of the Ava Gardner perfume that Ptolemy wears and just as I am tempted to buy the earrings that are replicas of the ones worn by Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind, I am tempted by the Ida Lupino shoes. If only they had an ankle strap...

Ida's Lemon Mousse was rustled up yesterday for a much needed ladies night in. We have all been scattered to the four winds of late so we were craving a good old fashioned Number 43 soiree with pyjamas on, chicken fajitas to eat and a movie to watch. We saw a MODERN film, believe it or not, one that isn't even out in the cinema yet. The kind that has "for your consideration" popping up every fifteen minutes. It was a heist film and I loved the occasional outbursts of phrases like, "Ooooh, they have really got themselves in trouble now!" from the ladies. Excellent.

I have a date this evening. With Mr Sombrero Delay at the seaside. This is like a proper date with a man I actually met IN PERSON rather than through the medium of the internet. We met, we chatted, we exchanged numbers, we arranged a date. How OLD FASHONED! I am strangely nervous.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Pat O'Brien's Corned Beef and Potato Patties


The first genuinely inedible dish of the whole project was cooked up tonight. Grace was right to be suspicious of Pat's mush. Even if it was made with Marks and Spencer's prime posh corned beef it was a right dog's dinner. I wouldn't even let Ginger have a little taste. It all went in the bin. What on EARTH was he thinking of? It has surpassed Ginger Rogers' Butterscotch Date Pudding in the revolting stakes.

I don't like his politics and I don't like his patties.

However, much fun has been had today with the new toy that is known as Skype. Marilyn introduced me to the device and the reason she likes it so much soon became crystal clear. Later Grace and I had a very amusing video chat with The Artist and I flashed him my tassle-pants. All very teenage style behaviour but extremely entertaining.

I wonder if The Downstairs Neighbour has Skype. He is my first new prospect for 2008. Still trying to get my head around how on earth someone in the size of London can pick me out of a dating internet site and just HAPPEN to live in the flat below the one that I used to visit for liaisons with the Chaw-Bacon. How can that BE?

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Errol Flynn's Leg of Lamb


“The public has always expected me to be a playboy, and a decent chap
never lets his public down.”

I am beginning to think that Errol was quite a cook. His Leg of Lamb absolutely rocked. It was the cup of coffee with cream and sugar for basting that intrigued my supper guests. Ginger's beau said he could taste it in the crispy skin and the copyright busting addition of a third of a bottle of wine to the coffee infused gravy was an inspired touch by Cary. MMMM. I could eat another leg right now.

It is the dawn of a new year. How exciting. Many resolutions have been made involving a ukulele, a swimming pool, oily fish and nightclubs. The biggest resolution of course relates to men. For Rosalind insists we call these fellows men now not boys. The bottom line is this - no involvement in 2008 with men that make me cry. And I mean it!