Gareth has spent the weekend making loafs of bread. We had
an ‘accidental loaf’ last week when making pizza dough, I think Gareth
accidentally made the ‘Serves 12’ quantity so he shaped the leftovers into a
loaf and threw it in the oven. Out popped a perfectly formed, beautiful loaf
…….. And it was an accident. This prompted 2 further ‘deliberate loafs’ and
predictably they were again perfectly formed, perfectly baked and delicious …….
I have a ‘patchy’ history with bread making there has been a
single lovely focaccia and quite a few okay ones as well as some absolutely
disastrous sour dough attempts. I don’t include things like Wheaten Bread or
Soda Farls in my bread disasters they are nice and straight forward and I can
make them well (although I now suspect Gareth might make them far better than I
can). Gareth’s adventures in bread making for next weekend are already planned
and I’ve already started ribbing him about him applying for Great British Bake
Off next year.
I feel no anxiety that he is great at baking and I am crap
at it, the results are lovely and tasty and doing bugger all to help with me
losing some chub and get into better shape. I’ve always said if we could apply
as a couple we’d make a half decent MasterChef contestant.
We also did a lot of what I call ‘adulting’ – that grown up
responsible thing, cleaning the house, vanquishing the laundry basket, mowing
the grass and stuff. Being this organised doesn’t come naturally to either of
us. We’re both pretty resistant to being grown up so it takes quite a bit of
effort to motivate ourselves into behaviours like this and it’s usually a
pretty grim experience where we’re doing it because we have to not because we
want to and it makes us both grumpy. This weekend we did what we needed to and
it was okay especially when I called time on ‘Adulting’ and said it was time to
stop.
(Side note – for me, Adulting doesn’t include cooking –
Sunday dinner of Roast Chicken with potato broad beans and gravy was absolutely
epic and not a ‘chore’ at all it was enjoyable and resulted in an awesome meal)
We have a friends birthday coming up this weekend, an
introduction to the local Polish community and food which we are very much
looking forward to, and there is a Gin and Rum Festival in Reading on Friday
which I’m trying to convince Gareth he should drop me off at and come and pick
me up later (he thinks I’m joking but I’m taking his ‘yeah alright’ response as
agreement that he’s providing a gin and rum drinkers taxi serviceJ)
One last thing, the dog training, it’s working ….. it’s such
a short amount of time, but we’re seeing improvement and more confidence from
Winston. He’s not reacting to things as much and he’s just relaxing. Odd to
think that loving him so much and wanting to be affectionate all the time is
actually viewed as weakness by him and make him think he needs to be in charge.
The book is by the trainer Nigel Reed if it will help, I’m listening to the
Audible version. There’s a pretty extensive YouTube archive of him that shows
how he trains.
Ohhhh ohhh and anotherone last thing ….. if you like Gin you have
to try Aber Falls ……. The Welsh are getting seriously good at making some very
fine spirits and Liquers. I’m blaming Amazon Treasure Truck for this
recommendation – I got text last week with the Orange Marmalade was on offer.
Gareth was working from home so he ordered and collected it later that day. Oh
my …… a small glass, an ice cube and I was in heaven. I then discovered that
they also do a salted toffee and a coffee and chocolate so it would have been
rude not to taste test them. They’re lovely, just an ice cube with them for me,
they don’t need more although I’m sure if you wanted to they’d be lovely.
So a significantly more positive post from me this week hope
you’re well xxx
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