This is a trilogy of small tales based on a few of my forays into Italy, and the resulting confusion that resulted when I tried to communicate in pidgen Italian.
Thanks again to Kareth Paterson for her editorial improvements.
At least I know one person has read these tales!
Click here to download the PDF.
This is a trio of tales from our family archive.
I am sure that my version of the ‘truth’ of what happened will be disputed.
That, however, is the power of my pen.
Click here to download the PDF.
Ah, at last a serious note.
In our Italian class we were asked to prepare ourselves to discuss the topic, ‘Nel Futuro’ (In the Future). The intention was that we would think and write a piece, to prepare us for a group discussion using the future tense.
I set out to write a jolly poem, or so I thought.
What resulted was this pontifical piece, which flew onto the screen in a great rush.
I must assume that it is a reaction from my psyche to watching and listening to the news of the ‘immigration crisis’ that we are told will swamp us.
As I understand it, the UK is the sixth richest nation on earth, after Germany.
If I was being bombed out of my home in Syria, or starved to death in Africa, would I not strive to get to Europe, to get my family to safety, and give them a fair chance at a future?
You betcha I would! If was strong and brave enough.
And so would you, my friends.
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This is an account of our trip to Tenerife in January 2016.
It is an almost factual first person tale, sprinkled with Muse dust.
Come away with us to the sun. . .
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As you may know I am keen on fly-fishing for trout.
This is how I prepare my trout. Sometimes I smoke them first.
Enjoy!
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Again apologies for those who KNOW better than me how to make Tomato Soup.
This is easy and cheap, even with the added ingredients.
When M and I were first married we ate lots of soup, from tins!
Now we only eat home made soup, mostly made by me.
I have this soup down to a fine art. I put on Andrea Bocelli and GO!
I can make a five liter pot in under 30 minutes, including tidying up!
Go on, make a pot today!
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This is a recipe from the BBC website of many years ago.
Thank you Mary Berry!
I heard it on my Walkman while actually walking, with Fleck.
I was recently retired and after preparing a few meals for Margaret and long-suffering friends, suddenly I was a Food/Cooking Guru!
I made this cake a few days before Christmas. The first edition was burned almost black!
But yet it tasted good!
Under supervision I made another the following Christmas.
And every year since.
Dare I say it is much admired?
Again, thank you Mary Berry!
Click here to download the PDF.
With apologies to those of you who KNOW better than me how to make Squash Soup.
If you have your own favourite recipe then ignore this.
For others...
I have found that many people fear making soup that they have never made before.
I saw on TV the other night that soup eating is a good way to feel full, if you are on a diet.
Who isn’t?
Buy a big pot and get round to the Supermarket and buy the ingredients. NOW!
And,
this basic approach also works for Sweet Potato Soup, Courgette Soup, Celery Soup, Broccoli Soup...
Do you feel your eyes closing?
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This is a compilation piece, written in part by my son Stuart when he was a schoolboy.
As a teenager Stuart interviewed my Dad as part of a school history project.
There is also a wonderful chap called Mike Kemble who is an amateur naval historian.
The additional material in this piece is from his website:
May I suggest that you also read “Sybil’s War” which is based on the ‘facts’ of what the submarine HMS Sybil did during WW2.
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This is a tale which is almost 100% true.
It describes an incident which unfolded as we traipsed around Milan before heading off to Padua to visit my Italian pen-friend Anna Maria. (Anna Maria does not ‘do’ computers, (yet!).)
This time I was not alone, I had Margaret to look after me!
It is more readable, (I sincerely hope), than its sister tale “Travels of a Donkey” which chronicled my solo visit to Bologna.
Click here to download the PDF.