Did I mention I'd been on the road again?

Two trips this time - one to the western Med and one to Kenya and Uganda. (Trips seem to be like buses - you know the "none for ages then two come along at once"?


Our cruise round the Western Med was the most relaxing break in years - even allowing for a hot tramp round Pompeii (haven't been since 78 and that was a school trip - it hasn't changed much but I understand it better now!)

I was bemused to find a street that appeared to have been paved with stones from the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. We went to a Sicilian olive farm for lunch. Having read Carol Drinkwater's books about her own olive farm and also her talk in Bangor at the Aspects Literary Festival, we were keen to see an organic olive farm for ourselves - and we enjoyed the scenery as we sailed out of the harbour at sunset.

















Other highlights included a trip to a Corsican organic essential oil producer (mum and dad surrounded by fragrant, pungent maquis in Corisca - rosemary, lavender etc) and later to a small family run business where they make nougat to die for. Mmmm.

Less than a week after we got home, the passports and bags were at the ready again. The African trip was unexpected. For years I've been trying to persuade my parents to visit Uganda and see the projects they've been prayerfully and financially supporting since I visited the country several times on work teams in the 1980s. At last, on a whim, dad agreed and I had the tickets bought and collected before he got the full stop at the end of the sentence.

We went to Kenya first to stay with a friend from home for a few days (a soft landing - it's higher, so fewer bugs and cooler temperatures - also less humid than Uganda.)

It was lovely to see Graham again - just sorry he couldn't join us when we headed to Lake Naivasha for a couple of days to stay in the fabulous Chui Lodge. Oh man, what a trip that was. Several game drives, a couple of sundowners and a large, greedy python later (it ate, then barfed up "Bambi") we headed back to Nairobi for another overnight at Graham's. Luxury all round.

Then we headed to "real" Africa and the Acheru project run by Africare. I love Uganda. It's sticky, the roads are still hopeless outside of the main routes, there are bugs galore and I'll never be able to digest matoke, but it's wonderful.

It was dad's 79th birthday while we were there, and some of the children clambered to the verandah to sing happy birthday to him. (that's them on the left.) It was incredibly moving - and such a joyful day. The unit offers care and treatment for children in need of (mainly) orthopaedic surgery and rehab. It is NOTHING like what we can access at home, but they're setting new standards in Uganda and getting referals from all round the country - and beyond and man are they putting smiles on wee faces.

Funding is mainly from NI and we're having a coffee morning on Saturday to spread the word about the work going on in Acheru. If you know where I live and you're in the area - we'd LOVE to see you - just swing by for a cuppa (and a freshly baked scone with good Irish butter and home made plum jam!)

I've gone into overdrive making jams (lemon curd, plum) and marmalades (ginger and Bushmills whiskey!) Hopefully the little pots of sunshine will sell! (If you don't live nearby I'll post you a scone! And if you'd making a even a little donation, you could do so online at www.acheru.com - go on, you know our scones are great - and I'll post them ANYwhere in the world. Ask nicely and I might even manage a wee tody tiny pot of marmalade too!)

Elderflower cordial

It's that time of year again and for once, I have bottles.... and time.... and there's sunshine (or there was when I made it last weekend) and there was elderflower* a-plenty to be had in the lanes near the village.

I brought some into work with sparkling water to dilute and it went down a treat. It's simple to make;

In a large stainless steel or glass container, soak the following overnight;

• about 25 heads of elderflower (ideally picked at the end of a sunny day when it's very lemony and fragrant)



• 3 unwaxed lemons sliced very thinly



• sugar syrup (2.5 pounds of sugar (don't think about it!) disolved into about 3.5 pints of hot water)



• 2oz citric acid (Boots generally have it at the pharmacy counter)

After about 24 hours, strain the mix through a seive lined with muslin and pour into sterilised glass bottles with screw top lids. It'll store in a coolish place for at least 6 months, but when I open a bottle, I keep it in the fridge and use it within a month. Gorgeous with sparkling water, ice and a lemon slice. Mmmm.


*Elderflower grows on woody stems, generally shoulder height or above - the stuff that looks the same but grows from the ground on green stems is cow parsley and smells like cat's wee! Not recommended - even with ice and lemon!

365:092 In preparation...

...for tomorrow's leg of lamb lunch. Lovely.

365:056 Marmalade

Not strictly "signs", but "labels" - same principle though? Now, anyone for hot buttered toast and a pot of tea to go with the marmalade?

365:051 Down time

It's been a long run of panto, but at last I've reached the end. Now for some serious down time and when I'm too tired to "read", one of my favourite ways is to mosey through a pile of cookery books. Not the most inspiring pic today - but I'm so out of energy to even think :o{

365:050 Tomorrow's menu

Saturday's coming... and so are "the kids" - looks like finger lickin' fried chicken on the menu.

365:032 Chillin'

So when you've made yummy choc chip muffins to eat in the car (one in each hand) on your way home, it's a bummer when they're too hot to handle. Just as well your wheelbarrow of toys contains a handy mini-fan to chill things a bit. A 3 year old with a bit of wit!

365:026

One of those kitchen nights when you know it's all going to be difficult. The night I decide to bake, the stove has been turned down for cleaning and was just warming up again - takes hours. The recipe includes chunky stuff that just wouldn't chop in the food processor - lumps of whole orange, dates and walnuts - wrong attachment. Then realised I hadn't pitted the dates... the results taste ok and that is sort of the point isn't it? But it's one of those nights...

365:012

Only wish I could add the right smell to the photo - cinnamon, star anise, poaching plums and the nutmeg for the rice pudding which is in the oven.