People with Flat Heads at Prescott.

I first went to Prescott to watch a damp VSCC meet about 14 years ago. Tripped down in the band van, parked in a field on the hill. Discussed three-wheelers with Dick Buckland. It took me till last year to make it back as a spectator when I parked my scruffy A Fordor in the Orchard. The only set of whitewalls amongst the VSCC set...

Summer was a washout this year with no time nor money to enjoy but when I was badgered into entering for October the 2nd I knew I had to do it. Had to! Driving there and back in sheet rain and sleeping on nothing but a blanket in a ridiculously small tent? Didn't notice. Had a tense couple of weeks sorting out my very own barn-find roadster - it'd been standing up for 2 years. Squeaked it down for an MOT with a few days to spare, fitted the tyres up last week, ignored the slapping piston and clunking back axle and thrashed it a couple of hundred miles across the country.What could possibly go wrong?!
Fun? Oh yes...
Brilliant.

Bizarre shopping list

So I went to town the other day. Little spin out in the resurrected roadster. Just to see how it went you understand. Not to hoon it round the back roads or play squeally tyre noises in the market place.

That bit just happened.

And whilst in town I purchased a few items. Wax cotton long rider stalking betwixt shops for:

Two yards of white fablon
One blowtorch gas cylinder
Talcum powder

Apologies to our local Big Issue seller for having no change left. The list? Talc for tyre fitting, blow torch for soldering, sticky backed plastic for making some racing letters for next weekend. If the car survives from my heavy feet until then...

Wedding of a lifetime.

When I heard about it I thought - lovely. When the invite was pegged to the kitchen wall I thought - this is the don't miss event of the year. Probably decade...

A rodeo weekend of camping, eating, drinking, dancing, and all round superbly faultless loveliness.

I'll sum it up in two photos.
Happy couple leaving the wedding...



The groom being greeted by one of the guests...

Lives Lived. Part deux.

Wedding anniversary a couple of days ago.
Blip. Ever had that moment that gets you down and nothing shakes it?
Thankfully being surrounded by lovely people is a sure fire way to turn that blip into a bubble. Guided home by Mark on a flit across the dusty, hazy lanes; flathead coupe full of warm oil vapours. Ticking leads, random misses, slipping clutch. Home into fading light with more friends and home-made cider.

Wrote a bit of a poem a while ago. Lives lived. One wonderful Ian went for a wander and came back with a tune in his head. Worked it up in the studio Tuesday, adding a spot of double bass, and wore it like a hat inside through Wednesday. Fitted fine.

Curried Pea Soup.

Upright freezer didn't actually die. Just took it upon itself to start freezing on the outside too... Replacements came courtesy of some new neighbours - a smaller upright freezer and a complimentary fridge to stand on top.

Which is a long way round explanation as to the excess of frozen garden peas that a "two-for-one" Morrison's deal forced us to buy... After three days of peas with everything it was time for a more drastic solution.

Curried Pea Soup.

Ingredients:
2 small, or one larger onion. (Y'know, some onion will be just fine.)
Garlic. (My choice, I don't have to kiss me so I went with four cloves.)
1 Red bell pepper.
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder.
1/2 teaspoon of dried mint.
1 tablespoon of Balti curry powder.(Again my choice, it's all I had...)
1 carrot. Chopped or grated. (Optional. It was leftover from the day before with a sprig of broccoli...)
1 vegetable stock cube. (Or a teaspoon of Marmite if you prefer. I did.)
Salt/pepper to suit.
Dash of double cream.
1 bag of frozen peas. Obviously

Method.
Chop n' fry the garlic, onion and pepper in a little oil.
Add the seasoning.
Dissolve the stock cube (or alternative...) in a mug of boiling water and pour it in.
Stir in the peas, chopped/grated carrot. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 6-10 minutes. Add extra water if required (I used a little cider that was to hand...)
Hit it with a blender to hide any 'extras' the kids won't like. See if it needs any extra seasoning - or open another bag of peas if you've been a little generous!
Stir in the cream to suit, remove from the heat and shout 'why isn't the table laid yet??!' as if it would make any difference.
Enjoy. Surprisingly my two came back for more, but then they're used to my cooking by now!
And, yes. It freezes. Of course I didn't have that option...