It’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve spent all day on a zoom call. Truly, all day. It was a strategy and planning session for my voluntary gig. We got through a lot of stuff, but I wouldn’t be lying if I didn’t say that the blue skies and perfect temperatures outside didn’t have me looking wistfully out the window from time to time.
That aside, lets wrap-up the week.
1.The Injury
My leg is still causing me grief. There are times when I think it’s improving and others where it feels as though it’s getting worse. I’m still not able to walk much but so that we don’t get out of routine (it’s a slippery slope) we’re still getting up early and heading down to the beach. I’m seeing an osteopath and at least now the pain is isolated in the top of my calf rather than being indistinguishable between calf, knee and hamstring, so that’s progress, right?
I have to say though, not being able to do my usual number of steps is really doing my head in.
2. Manly
I took a half day off work on Monday and Grant and I headed down to Manly. A friend needed his unit packed up in a hurry and as they were stuck on the other side of the border we helped out. A few hours work and then a wander around Manly – a new to us bayside suburb in Brisbane.
3. Platypus
Sarah and I spotted a platypus in the Mary River the other day. I’ve never seen one in the wild before and although I have no photos, it was absolutely worth telling you about.
4. Staged
If you haven’t caught this show with David Tennant and Michael Sheen yet you are really missing something. It’s on ABCTV and I binged the lot on iView last week. Filmed during British lockdown it is, quite simply, fabulous. Both actors are playing themselves, but parodies of themselves.
Speaking of series that were filmed during lockdown, I’ve also watched a few episodes of Dun Breedin’ on youtube. Described as a drama with funny bits, the episodes are just 10 minutes each. Created by Scottish actor Julie Graham, and set in Brighton, it’s about friendships and menopause and was a lockdown hit when it screened in Britain.
5. In the kitchen
We were out all day Saturday so no Destination Kitchen, although I did make a really lovely buerre blanc to go with salmon and asparagus on Saturday night when we got home. Given that I’m unable to do my usual number of steps at the moment though, that buttery sauce will probably be the last of the Saturday night buttery sauces for a bit. Nor will there be indulgences such as this fairy bread ice cream that I shared with Grant during the week. For the record, it was waaaaaay too sweet for both of us and sounded better than it tasted.
I had a number of people who read Wish You Were Here and Happy Ever After comment that they would have liked to see recipes for the food that’s cooked and consumed in these books. Because I can’t go back and add them – and even then, which ones do I choose? – I’m gradually adding recipes that have either been inspired by my books or featured in my books or researched for my books to my recipe website Brookford Kitchen Diaries. Escape To Curlew Cottage will also have a few recipes in it, with the rest on this site
Don’t worry about having to follow that site though as they’ll be appearing here too.
Anyways, last week I made (and blogged) the ultimate brownies. I also made a couple of other recipes from Escape To Curlew Cottage which I’ll post over the next couple of weeks. Speaking of which, that book is off being copy-edited as we speak, although release date isn’t until early next year.
In case you missed it…
Also on the blog:
- My bloggy tour through France in the spring of 2018 continues. This week we’re off to Burgundy via Troyes. You’ll find the post here.
- In addition to something about Nigella’s brownies I also posted this meat-free recipe. It’s a Thai red curry with sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas and spinach – and it’s a favourite in his meat-loving house.
- Over on the author site, I posted something about writing a novel in a month during November or, as we like to call it, NaNoWriMo. If you’re interested in giving it a go, I have some reasons why in this post. I’ll be posting tips each week leading up to November.
And Anyways... 
So much to comment on in this post Jo but t I’ll just go with a couple. I loved Staged and also binged all of it after your recommendation. I read Happy Ever After. I loved it so much and couldn’t put it down. Making your brownies today. No I don’t need them! But I do want them
Shame that leg is still dodgy Jo – I’m sure it’s a sign of old age when we start having body parts packing it in on us (and that just cheeses me off further!) I’m off to the Sports Doc tomorrow for his opinion on my dodgy hip – I’m hoping he has a magic bullet that will have me frolicking like a Spring lamb (yeah right!)
I’ve never seen a platypus in the wild or at the zoo so I would have been excited to see one too. And I won’t be trying any of your delicious recipes because 1) I’m a naff cook and 2) my waistline is struggling without adding cream to it!
Jo, it is exciting to see a platypus as they are certainly not easy to see or capture. Our viewing was up in FNQ. Aches and pains are so annoying when they stop you from something you enjoy. Take care.
It’s the first time for me, yet I used to live in a town in southern NSW where they’re relatively prevalent & still I never saw one.
Was it Sue who tried your brownies this weekend? They had me drooling over my keyboard. Nothing better than a moist, warm brownie. With milk, please.
So sorry your leg is still causing problems. Sounds as if the osteopath is making progress, though, toward isolating and relieving your pain. My hubs will be starting with an osteopath in October for his hips. Hope you both are soon back to ballroom dancing or tackle football or whatever you do when you are 110%!!
She did try my brownies – and how good did they look? I hope you’re having a great week.
Hi, Jo –
I was definitely one of the readers who asked for recipes to be included in the back of your books. I love that you are including them on your blogs but….if they could also be included in your books in the future, that would be way cool (just sayin’). Speaking of future books, I’m kinda getting desperate here! 😀
I hope that your leg begins healing soon.
Oh, and Fairy Bread Icecream? My sincere apologies, but there is no way that that could be good! Next you’ll be telling me that there is a Vegemite Icecream. (Please say that there isn’t)! 😀
There’ll be a few recipes in the next book… but not all of them. The fairy bread ice cream was way too sweet for both of us & ended up in the bin, but it looked good & I looooove fairy bread. As for vegemite, well, you know I’m a fan, perhaps not in ice cream (eeeeew) but, well, watch this space…
Argh sorry to hear about the leg! Boo! Although yay you for getting some professional help, my shoulder has improved massively with physio and my one regret is that I didn’t get help sooner. I’m very excited about the recipes and hope that there will be a recipe appendix in Escape to Curlew Cottage. I would totally be there for the Fairy Bread ice cream, I don’t think anything is too sweet for me 🙂 Hope you have an ace week!
There will be a few recipes in the back of Escape…I just need to decide on which ones!
So sorry to hear about your leg – I hope it feels much better very soon x I love the bit at the end of your blog that has a recap for all of us who have fallen behind on our blog reading … I can catch up now! xxx
Ohhh…salmon and asparagus with buerre blanc sauce sounds like the perfect springtime dinner. I am a little bit jealous of your spring in the Southern Hemisphere. I am not anxious to head into another cold, gray winter, especially with the social isolation from COVID.
So sorry to read about your leg. I am hoping you can get some relief from the osteopath you are seeing. You are so right, Jo – slippery slope and all that.
Thanks Laurie. I hope you’re having a god week.
Jo, I hope you get the right treatment for your leg injury and feel better soon. Manly looks like a nice place to visit. I’d love to see a platypus in its natural habitat. Have a fantastic week! #lifethisweek
I think I’m slowly getting there. The danger is now in rushing back in too soon.
Snap Jo, my knee is still giving me grief and I can so relate to your comment about it doing your head in not being able to do all the steps and exercise in a day. Lucky riding my bike doesn’t hurt it too much and I’m off to the physio again today!
I can’t even look at your brownie recipe without putting on weight so thanks for sharing and if it’s OK I’ll just drool from the other side of the screen.
One of my daughters went through a stage where she ate fairy bread and little else, yes I was a bad mother, so I’ll let her know about your ice cream!
I’m loving Staged many thanks for the recommendation. I’m working my way through Schitts Creeks and enjoying that too.
I am very sorry to hear about your leg, Jo. Your morning walks with Grant are a highlight of your day on many levels. Yes, progress. And make sure to continue to listen to your body and your osteopath.
I have put “Staged” on a must watch list. My husband and I really enjoyed David Tennant in a British murder/suspense series.
As aside: the fairy bread is still a hit with my granddaughters. We also adapt it to ice cream. Hope your leg gets better soon.xx
It really is doing my head in!
❤️❤️❤️
That sucks your injury hasn’t improved. Hopefully, it’ll get better this week. I need to watch Staged. I love David Tennant! The brownies look delicious. Hope you have a good week, Jo!
Thanks Sanch and the same to you.
None of us likes being restricted by health stuff that is for sure. Bodies do what bodies do I guess and one twist here or there can set something off. I am soooo over the restrictions of having had 2x abdominal surgeries, and being wound-cared for weeks into months. I miss having a proper shower….and it will come again soon enough I know. I do appreciate how much not being able to move as you are used to does colour how you feel. Boo to that. I like fairybread but that is a bridge too far..in icecream. Mind you, I used to put 100s and 1000s on top of icecream cones for the grandkids.
Hope this coming week brings better news for mobility.
Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week the optional prompt is 40/51 Share Your Snaps #8 5.10.2020 Hope to see you there too. Denyse