Forgive me, dear readers; it has been five weeks since my last 101 session. I ask your forgiveness because it is entirely possible, nay, dead certain, that this post will be a long one, covering as it will five whole weeks of tasking.
The challenge to type up and print out for folder and notebook over 100 poems I’ve written has gone up to over 150. I have not left one poem in one location, never mind 101.
I read one new book (don’t judge me: I spend all my time talking to you lot; when do I get the time to read?), sent to me by the lovely Earlybird: True Grit. Truly unputdownable. I loved it. I even got a rhyme out of it, which I can’t share because it has a spoiler in it and I want you to read it. Read it. But come back to me.
Expose myself to twenty new experiences (5/20)
I managed two of these on my recent trip to France (three, if you count my recent trip to France as a new experience, which it was, but I won’t): I met a blogging friend, my dearest Viv. Have I told you about my recent trip to France? I can bore for Africa on it.
The other new experience was to ask for a dessert in a foreign language. I told you about it, the ice cream. It is possible I have done this once before, in Afrikaans, but I don’t think so: South Africa had two official languages at that point, one of which was English, so there would have been no need. South Africa now has eleven official languages; imagine the size of the menus.
Another new experience which I’m not including as a new experience because, although it was a new experience, I don’t think it counts as a new experience, was to say ‘yes’ to all the new foods that were offered to me instead of toddlerising myself by saying ‘no’ while thinking, I don’t fancy that. I made up my mind to try everything that was offered to me while I was away, and a lot was, and I did.
I must just stress that it was easy to do because all of Viv’s food looks wonderful, and if I ignored dislike-trigger words such as ‘coffee’ and ‘walnuts’ and focused on like-trigger words such as ‘cake’, I didn’t even have to close my eyes to try anything new.
I managed to complete a task while I was away:
Try three new foods (7/3)
Foods I tried which I had never previously eaten (and before you throw up your hands in horror, remember I’m a plain northern girl brought up on plain northern food who had never even seen a watermelon until the age of fifteen):
- Jam on bread. Okay, this somewhat belies the plain northern girl theory, given that plain northerners, girls and otherwise, have always eaten jam on bread. I never have. I don’t know why. My Mum liked jam but I don’t remember seeing it in the house when I was growing up. We must have had it in; perhaps I had a dreadful jam experience and blocked it out. I could have got a stain on a favourite dress as a child, or bunged it in my brother’s ear and been unjustly punished for my (entirely natural) behaviour. We will never know now because my mother took the secret to her grave. I don’t regret it, because discovering a new and delicious food at my age was such fun! Viv’s jam was home made apple and plum and yum yum yum is all I can say. Yum!
- Coffee and Walnut Cake. I don’t didn’t do like coffee and walnuts now, in a big fat cake, at least. Yummy yum yum.
- Stuffing. I have never eaten it. Never fancied it. Mum and Dad ate it. I didn’t. Bought a packet every Christmas for them as did; never did myself. What a waste of Christmases. Did I mention? Yum!
- Raspberry Cake. I have never eaten raspberries. Never fancied them. The Hub eats them. I didn’t. Bought packets for him in season; never ate them myself. What a waste of seasons. Did I mention? Yum!
- Jock’s Walnut Coleslaw. I think it was walnuts; I was too busy stuffing in second, third and fourth helpings to listen to the conversation. Yummy!
- Real champagne. It has to be made in Champagne to be called ‘champagne’. I have drunk the ersatz stuff, of course, but I have to say I’m now in favour of that rule. Yum!
- Amuse Bouche. You know all about them: an excuse to eat tasty morsels before the main meal. I’m in favour of that, too. Yum.
Five weeks – seven foods – one happy housewife.
We’re now going to be inundated with champagne swilling, jam loving (by the way: it was bramble jelly ie blackberry and apple without the pips) coffe and walnut cake guzzling coleslaw slobbering guests as a result of this post. What did you put on your bread and butter before you came here?
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Nothing.
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You are so funny, I had a huge smile on my face the entire time I was reading your post. I have to say that I too saved my jam on bread experience for France because my Aunt Cecile makes her own and French bread is just unbelievably good. You are a hoot.
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Thank you . French bread is amazing; especially when Viv makes it herself 🙂
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you achieved a lot in five weeks, well done… NEVER eaten bread and jam ! WOW! I thought that everyone on God’s good earth had eaten Bread and Jam….
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5 days! I know it seems like five weeks… (I’m still working on malteser privileges)
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Goodness Viv! You did achieve a lot! All those new things!
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Amuse Bouche = Pupu (in Hawaiian).
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Interesting…
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Oh groan. If I weren’t so full I would enjoy this more. Dianne
PS I tried to take a cow photo for you but failed.
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That’s so sweet of you; thank you!
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Coffee and walnut? One of my most favourite combinations!
Bramble jelly? My absolute favourite jam! My mum used to make it and the nearest I’ve been able to find, taste-wise, is the Bonne Maman Gelee Mures which, of course, is only on sale in France although the Bonne Maman brand is now available over here.
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The Bonne Maman Gelée de Mures is not the same, because French people hadn’t thought of putting apples with it – a) to bulk it out and b) to ensure a good set. I have converted many French friends to the apple trick. If you have a juice extractor triple saucepan, it’s the easiest thing to make – you don’t even have to peel and core the apples.
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The one my mum made was just brambles, I thought. I’ll have to ask her if she added apples to make it set – a secret ingredient!
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Travel broadens our horizons . . . AND our waistlines. 😀
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That it do!
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That trip to France was quite a 100/1001 powerhouse, wasn’t it, Tilly? Congratulations on great strides forward. You haven’t EVER had bread and jam before??? Julie Andrews might have something to say about that…delighted you’ve rectified the situation 🙂
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I really haven’t; not that I recall, anyway. Perhaps I didn’t like it the first time and Mum never offered it again.
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First time to eat bread and jam! I’m sure it was worth it since French bread are undeniably the best!
And wow a real Champagne! So envious!
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I totally get why the French are famous for their food, even the simple things.
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Give yourself a pat on the back… 😉
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Very cool concept!
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You are welcome to join us!
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And courgettes? 🙂
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Not a chance!
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I’m very behind on my 101 in 1001 updates and I unfortunately don’t have as much progress to report as I’d like.
I can’t believe you’ve never had raspberries before, you really missed out? We grew raspberries in the garden this year and had a good crop. We still have some ripening so it doesn’t seem to stop. They are delicious and we fight over who gets to eat the ripe ones every week.
Oh, and baguette and jam, yum!!!
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I grew up in towns and cities with typical northern parents and their traditional tastes. Raspberries never made it to our table 😦
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You’re lucky you had that lovely vacation for many reasons. It filled your heart and, now, your blog posts. Bloggers don’t let any event simply rest in their memories, do they? I’m glad for that.
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They certainly don’t! Even as things are happening to me, I’m mentally writing them up 🙂
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