Memoirs of a scruffy looking nerd herder

In Search of Perfection....one for the foodies.

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:40:37 GMT

A certain Mr Len very kindly bought the second part of Heston's rather esoteric "cook book", so I thought that I'd give one of the recipes a go and invite the Lennies, with Bird & Bloke round for a spot of chilli, Heston style. I'll confess that I didn't follow to the nth degree - I didn't have the time - but most of the stuff was there, though I also need to find a reliable source of dry ice if I'm to try some of the key side dishes!

Some of the steps seemed to offer very little difference to the final outcome (my normal chilli recipe takes 1 hour and involves 1 dish). This took most of a day, involved nearly every pot, pan, grater, knife, gadget, etc. that springs to mind. So let me distill the bits that *are* worth knowing. I filled the dishwasher - twice. This was stunt cooking with a capital F.

1) Wash ya kidney beans and sit them in water. Then add about 3 table spoons of lemon juice = the acid toughens the shells so that when you are cooking them they don't turn to mush and still offer decent texture. About two hours is enough. I was going to do this with one tin and leave the other as a control. But didn't.

2) Use a mix of (good!) beef mince, and finely chopped steak. The difference in texture and flavour really adds to the dish - most people (4 of 6) agreed. Could be useful in any mince based dish!

3) Fry off the meats separately. This allows you to really fry the meat and burn in some flavour, rather than stewing the meat

4) Create a decent chilli mix. Now, I did this in too short a time and couldn't source some of the powders he recommends (but I will, oh yes!) but using a mixture of ground fresh (brid's eye and devils penis - no really) and a hot and a mild powder adds real depth to the "burn". Really!

5) Smoked paprika. The man is a genius. Trust me on this one.

Oh - DO NOT USE A NON STICK PAN!

Of course, it was all helped along by wonderully silly mexican moustaches from our guests, and lashing of corona with limes. It was hot - but bearably so. So a big thanks for being the victims guys!

G

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:41:06 GMT

I went. I was green. It was fun. Mostly. Nodded a lot to people that i knew but had no reason at all to go and talk to IC. Had the best fun monstering the PvM battle on Sunday, even if didn't get to play in the Viper's one on Saturday (I can only assume not enough monsters...)

Then left at midday on Monday as the battle was going to be one sided. Don't know if it was, but I got home in 2 and half hours, which was better than the frankyl crap five and a half it took to get there.

And no I didn't take the Porker.

Or have a car crash.

Which is nice.

omfg?!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:57:04 GMT

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19926696.100-rise-of-the-ratbrained-robots.html

....

PD....

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:57:07 GMT

....is three weeks earlier than I though, getting my dates all mixed up. Really need to get my costume sorted out...

Indy...

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:56:08 GMT

...did what it said on the tin. Did well with the whole "time moves on thing" although Indy can still mix it up with elite KGB agents one on one and come out ahead...but hey. Very enjoyable.

The thing that niggles me is that it moved into a different direction a little. Previously, Indy has a hero for sure - but everything that he did (and survived) was *just* about plausible. But not this time around. I won't spoil it for people, but for those in the know just one word.

FRIDGE.

Muppet

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:36:57 GMT

Forget it was Grandad's 80th so had to bail at the last minute on the EOS event. Feel righteous if annoyed. Doh!

*frantically checks calendar* At least the PD events look ok.

*double checks* at the moment...

Oddest car crash?!

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:27:22 GMT

So Wednesday night, 23:30 the phone goes. This is never going to be good. It's the nanny. Basically, she has had a car "crash". Note the quotes - cos the *only* damage to either car was that the front number plate was knocked off our "nanny mobile". Apparently, someone pulled out in front of her at a roundabout. Current theory is that a tow bar caught the number plate - pretty close and might have been a lot worse......and not a patch on Stormknights run in!

I even managed to take the V5 doc to get a new number plate....the Halfords guy was "somewhat" amazed by this.

Update...

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:34:21 GMT

Garden is getting there - actual planting happened and the vast expanse of rock that is the patio down and mostly pointed. Target is end of the month - I ain't buying.

Minor national crisis of lack of PS3s. Arse. Might have to get one off of the interweb rather than one of those old style shop things.

EOS this weekend - trying to summon enthusiasm. Not so much re: EOS but re: LRP in general.

PD planning continues - still faffing about costume. Guns looks a possible!

Need to shoot stuff and drive stuff - PS3 or Xbox?

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:30:59 GMT

Anyone got a view....? Which is better?

Wii is great fun, but the games aren't really there for driving and shooting....

And in other news...

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:36:11 GMT

..I was a little sloppy last night making Thai beef salad (which is basically a large slag of steak, a bunch of chilli, fish sauce and lime juice with a light garnish of vitamins - MAN SALAD) and got chilli juice on my fingers.

I can still taste the pain...

Garden..dogs...

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:25:16 GMT

...is being done. It's basically a big lot of mud right now. Patio is going down and looks good. It's *huge* which might explain the cost of the sodding stone..still it does look good.

The main thing is that it will be safe for a) the kids b) Helena (who has a habit of just eating and grabbing everything - rose bushes the least of our troubles) c) a dog. Yep - we will be looking at a new addition to the household. And this one will be male!

Currently in week 4 of and 8 week build. Will be interesting to see how far they have got with the thing when I get back from India...

Date for Diary - w/e 18th October

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:21:42 GMT

...tis my burfday. Didn't do anything for my 30th, which I slightly regret, and as this is halfway to 40 I figured a bash of some kind is in order. Not sure what...but keep ya diary free!

Track day anyone...?

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:38:18 GMT

Am contemplating taking the croc for its first proper run. Anyone car to join me? Washed that car today (hurrah!) and took the long way back. First time we've had dry roads when I've been at home for a while, and there are some wonderful roads on the "long way" back from the supermarket. And I kinda cut loose a bit. Well, a lot actually.

It was fun. Much, much fun.

I need to wash my car...it is filthy

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:33:44 GMT

..but am away next week in India. Then on hols for a week, and then it is booked in at the garage for it's annual health check, when they will valet it anyways...

Hmm.

WIDATW

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:37:54 GMT

..or more to the point, what I didn't. That being, I didn't go to PD. And boy am I glad about it - I'm sure it was a great event, but I would have missed the kids Easter, which DD2 is starting to understand a little (she even enjoys church atm) and of course the eggs - she only has 2 from the family, as most of our lot don't buy DD2 eggs because obviously DD1 can't have them. Still, no reason to spoil it for the youngster! So we had a fun Easter. My folks round today which was groovy. And depsite the shops being absolutely manic on Friday....I couldn't even get into Waitrose car park and ended up shopping in Sainsburys ....*shiver*... which was Hell on earth (there's probably a whole post on that alone) managed to eat v. well.

Anyway, I was not in a tent in a field. I was in a house with central heating. Watching the snow, and the sleet, and thinking "gosh it must be cold". And I didn't really miss it. Looks like my annual LRP winter apathy is extending well into spring this year...

Can I really be arsed with any fest events this year....? *ponders* I guess I'll at least try PD...

You try and do the right thing....

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:09:51 GMT

So I'm on the tube, it's busy with a few people standing. I'm sat in one of the "please give up this seat" seats when a woman gets onto the tube. I should point out at this point that several of the people standing were female.

The woman that had just gotten on was pregnant, so remove headphones, I half stand and offer her my seat. Her response was unexpected...she looks at the other women standing there, screams "I'm not pregnant", slaps me (!) and gets off of the train.

Being British no one comments, I don my headphones and sit back done.

I suspect that this is not the first time that his has happened. Perhaps baggier clothing is the way forwards for her! *wink*

Wembley - damn

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:20:56 GMT

Well....first trip to the new Wembley was great fun, even if the game was rubbish and we lost. Well, I say rubbish but the atmospehere was great but it was clear to all the Chelsea fans (even me) that Joe Cole (Joey Cole, Joey Cole - he's here, he's there, he's every f***ing where, Joey Cole!) should have been brought on earlier, but there you go. Almost worth it for the final ten minutes of extra time which was frantic.

More surreal was my arrival. Kick off was for 3pm and I'd planned to get there and meet up at 2pm. But south west trains had other ideas so I go to Wembley Park station at 14:55. It was very odd....tons of police, TfL staff and marshalls down olmpic way but pretty much no civvies - they were all inside. It was as if the whole thing was laid on just for me. I don't think that I was the last person in the stadium, but it was close! With a bit of brisk walking, I made it to my seat before the national anthem had finished and just saw the kickoff. So pretty much perfect timing. Surreal, but fun.

Shame about that penalty though....

New Wembley - pretty impressed. It just seems smaller than I thought it would be....somehow.

Best Holiday I've ever had...

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:29:44 GMT

...just got back from two weeks in Thailand. 4 days in Bangkok (which was pretty good but not great) followed by ten days in a rather lovely hotel in Phuket. Well, set in its own man made laghuna, wonderful weather, excellent food. Pricey in places though.

Mind you, that is probably down to the fact that I racked up a fair few "firsts":

- First round of golf (I even did lessons...and yes I am getting old)
- First off shore dive
- First time on a quad bike (which was ACE!)
- First Thai cooking lesson (ok a bit specific....)
- First pedicure ! The missus declared that if people had to look at my feet in their pre-pedicure stage there might be violence
- First facial, which was odd but nice
- First time someone else shaved me (FACE!) - which was odd and I had to go over it afterwards, poor lass

...so pretty busy. I'm not very brown....

Just a great, great time. And now we are back and very much relieved to find the kids are all in one piece!

One for the camera people...

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:28:44 GMT

Am thinking about buying a new camera for upcoming holiday to (probably) Thailand with DW.

Am fed up with compact point and click digitals that take forever to "boot" and then have enormous shutter lag meaning that I never, ever seem to get the photo of the thing that I want! So am thinking about a "proper" digital camera. Does it have to be an SLR? Dunno - maybe.

Quick bit of surfing points to EOS 400d - but I dunno.

Save me some internet research...pretty please!

So obvious....

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:51:37 GMT

You Act Like You Are 18 Years Old

You are a teenager at heart. You don't quite feel like a grown up yet, but you don't feel like a kid.
You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

You're quite rebellious, and you don't like being told what to do. You like to do things your way.
You have your own unique style, taste in music, and outlook on life.

What Age Do You Act?

Sleep is for the weak...

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:27:16 GMT

Left blighty on Sunday at midday, 12 hour flight to Tokyo landing at 9am local time. Total sleep = 0 hours. I can't help it, no matter how hard I try I just can't sleep on planes. Bugger. Not helped by the fact that the person that I'm traveliing with can sleep *anywhere*. Grr. Monday night, so tired I nearly fall asleep in the cab back from restaurant to the hotel. Get to bed at 11pm local time...wake up 2am local time. No more sleep until 6am start to the airport.

Total sleep since Sunday = 3 hours. Time spent in a plane = 12 hours.

Spend the whole of Tuesday on planes / waiting in airports. Stay awake because a) not going to sleep anyway and b) think it is a good plan to stay awake and sleep Tuesday night. Total sleep since Sunday - still 3 hours.

Arrive India 10pm local time, get to hotel room unpacked etc. by midnight. Exhausted. Go to sleep, awake at 2 am. Toss and turn a lot but still can't sleep. Get up and do some work, back to bed. Still no more sleep.

Total sleep since Sunday = 6 hours. Time spent in a plane = 22 hours.

Wednesday night - finish work, back to hotel. Fail to go to gym. head to bar at 9pm, couple of beers and then food. takes forever - good but ages. Think I'll fall asleep, but boss man wine choice is excellant (a great brunello) so hang on until the bitter end. Get to bed at midnight. Have an amazing 5 hours kip, but then can't get back to sleep. Total sleep since Sunday = 11 hours. Time spent in a plane = 22 hours.

Oddly, feel pretty good. I don't sleep that much anyway, but this is very odd. Time zone jumping defintely not helping. Anticipating 5 hours tonight (Thursday) but 0 on Friday (flying at 4am, need to leave hotel at 2am ish but might try early night on Friday!) due to arrive 9am Saturday.

Actually, thinking about it, this isn't so bad. Looks like I'll average about 4 hours a night, which isn't much less that I do normally! Still, vaugue sympathy huh?

Tokyo...

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:20:15 GMT

25 hours, one meeting (two hours), not enough sleep. Was fun. Not as crowded as expected, didn't see much but trains and tubes always give a good insight into a city. Sitting in KL waiting for my flight to India....roll on Xmas and 2 weeks off.

I want to go back and "do" Japan...

YA Meme....

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:43:40 GMT

Wot is clearly wrong...I'm rather jealous of novembergirl's beer result...

I am Chocolate Flavoured.

I am sweet and a little bit naughty. I am one of the few clinically proven aphrodisiacs. Sometimes I can seem a little hard, but show warmth and I soon melt. What Flavour Are You?

Treat or Treat?

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:35:47 GMT

Had great fun last night - got home via a slalom course of groups small people in costume with parental guides. Got home to find the missus had done a great job - spooky tea lights up the drive, not one but two proper pumpkins and a black wreath(!) on the door.

And to top it all woo minor had a very fetching cat outfit on (Lexie got tail! Lexie Cat!) - though she was a little nervous of all the people coming to the door.

Defintely two waves of folks - the kiddies with the parents, and then "youth". It was vaguely disconcerting opening the door to a bunch of sixteen year old girls giggling on a sugar rush (and I suspect the odd alcopop too).

The hardest part was not do dig out the rat costume and open the door in full Tor-vak mode - who you? What you want? Does anyone know you're here? Though in hindsight, that might have come across the wrong way so probably just as well...

Movies: Stardust (go and see) Die Hard 4, Pirates 3 and Unknown

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:52:41 GMT

First off - Stardust! It's great fun - kinda a latter day Princess Bride but not *quite* so tongue in cheek. De Niro is great, with a fine performance from MP - not quite up to Bats 2 standards perhaps, but then again I think that I am remembering the costume rather than the performance - meaow! Jolly good fun and the only movie this year where the audience clapped at the end. Watch it!

Saw DH4, Pirates 3, Road Hogs and Unknown on the plane recently. DH4 (aka Live Free or Die Hard) did exactly what it said on the tin, so no complaints from me. Brucey boy running around with guns - you just can't go wrong in my book. Watch it!

At the same time Road Hogs did exactly what it said on the tin and was crap - but then it was always going to be. It was a long flight. Don't bother with it. But before that - Pirates 3. Oh man - I was gutted. This should have been great, but was only good. Seems that I'm saying that about a lot of movies. To my mind they just tried to do too much - they should have halved the plot and doubled the action, IMHO. Sadly, only watch it if you want to taint the memory of 1 + 2.

The suprise here was Unknown. It's a bit up itself in a kinda Sixth Sense kinda way (no one can remember anything - who *are* the bad guys and who are the good guys is the main theme here) but the pace is good, the plot twists reasonable and not entirely contrived with enough ambiguity to make it interesting. A very good film, and one to catch on a plane if nowhere else. It also raises interesting questions about the nature of good and evil - with the good guys acting like good guys even though they don't remember it...a little Hollywood perhaps, but a good twist at the end to make you think twice. It gets a "watch it" from me.