Monday morning, and unusually Andrew had to go up to London yesterday, Sunday afternoon. His client has scheduled a series of three meetings between now and Christmas that will involve doing this. Normally I don't mind him travelling him during the week but weekends are sacred - no working or travelling. In this case though the meeting start time was simply too early for a reasonable journey from here. So, very reluctantly, after a lot of discussion and weighing the pros and cons, he set off yesterday afternoon from the station. One bonus was taking advantage of the very cheap Weekend First prices so was able to have a lovely, comfy seat and have cups of tea brought to him on the journey up, which was probably just as well since it was delayed en route by nearly 40 minutes. Then travelling across to his hotel, so although I parted with him around 4, he didn't get into his hotel room until nearly 8.
As he was leaving from the station we decided to walk the dogs at Hamadryad Park before dropping him off, with the extra bonus that it is a nice short walk anyway and therefore good for Andy's convalescence. It was a beautiful, golden afternoon, like it belonged in a storybook, with hazy sunshine and a gentle breeze - bliss. Today has been lovely as well, although the wind has picked up quite strongly. The invalid is definately improving, although the short walks are driving us all nuts including the patient (never was the word less appropriate!) who has resorted to frustrated hole digging and zoomies in the house. Not sure this is what the vet had in mind but it's proving difficult to enforce.
On Saturday we went over to Penarth to one of our favourite butchers - normally we go to coincide with the farmers market that is held there, but we wanted to have a look at their game selection as Andrew liked the idea of making a game pie when his parents come to visit the weekend after next. Most of the game birds are in season and I am always surprised at how reasonable the prices are, especially for pheasant. As well as the whole birds, the butcher stocks packs of pheasant breast and ready prepared mixes for game pie, with birds and venison. We ended up with a mixer pack, some pheasant breasts and some pigeon breasts - we'll keep the pheasant back for a casserole on a separate occasion. While we were there we also ordered our Christmas turkey - the butcher has been dealing with the same poultry supplier for 25 years, has visited the farm regularly and is very pleased with the quality of the birds. It will be a Kelly bronze, free range, organic - it's important to us that we support farmers and meat producers who have high welfare standards, and generally this accompanies higher quality meat, with good flavour. Still not sure how many we will be for Christmas Day, but we generally get a medium sized bird, since both of us love leftovers, and we always make gallons of stock with the carcase.
This particular butcher, in a sign of the times I guess, also has a fresh fish counter. We tried out a fish I hadn't cooked before, which is a gurnard. The fish was prepped by taking off the head and skin, and then Andrew steamed it, rather as you would do monkfish - he then made a lovely sage and garlic butter sauce to go with it - it was delicious and for two fish, one each, only about £6 - very good value. Also picked up a fresh crab and Andrew made a crab pate as a starter - delicious.
It's great to be thinking about and ticking off some of these longer term preparations for Christmas. I love the run up to the season - and spreading things out seems to make it less hassle and more fun. Thinking also of the longer term, we've gone ahead and booked a holiday for next spring, down in Pembrokeshire at a place called Little Dumpledale - isn't that the most marvellous name? To me it sounds like something from Enid Blyton. The farm has a range of self catering apartments, converted barns and so on, but what makes it very special is that it is renowned among the sighthound community for being not just dog friendly but geared for large, agile sighthounds. Unlike our abortive attempt at a cottage holiday three years ago, where the supposedly dog proof fence was no barrier to the tempting field of sheep next door, Dumpledale has great big six foot high wooden stockades round the properties with lovely big gardens, ideal for greyhound zoomies. The place doesn't need to advertise since it is booked solid by happy sighthound owners, many of whom go more than once a year and often are repeat visitors. Also unlike the huge list of restrictions in self catering places when you have a dog, this place will gladly welcome as many as you can bring - apparently the record currently stands at 19!! The farm is also situated near some of the outstandingly lovely beaches of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - we are looking forward to happy days spent in long coastal and beach walks, and visiting the local hostelries for food and relaxation in the evenings. There is even a doggy creche so if we want to go out and leave the dogs, they can be looked after while we are doing human stuff - what a great idea. Fortunately we were lucky to be flexible about dates since when we reserved our week, much of the available accommodation was already booked solid. Clearly, this farm has found a wonderful niche in the market and is happy to fill it. Am looking forward to trying it down there immensely. The other nice thing is that if it is a complete disaster, we are not a million miles from home so can always bail if need be.
On Saturday we went over to Penarth to one of our favourite butchers - normally we go to coincide with the farmers market that is held there, but we wanted to have a look at their game selection as Andrew liked the idea of making a game pie when his parents come to visit the weekend after next. Most of the game birds are in season and I am always surprised at how reasonable the prices are, especially for pheasant. As well as the whole birds, the butcher stocks packs of pheasant breast and ready prepared mixes for game pie, with birds and venison. We ended up with a mixer pack, some pheasant breasts and some pigeon breasts - we'll keep the pheasant back for a casserole on a separate occasion. While we were there we also ordered our Christmas turkey - the butcher has been dealing with the same poultry supplier for 25 years, has visited the farm regularly and is very pleased with the quality of the birds. It will be a Kelly bronze, free range, organic - it's important to us that we support farmers and meat producers who have high welfare standards, and generally this accompanies higher quality meat, with good flavour. Still not sure how many we will be for Christmas Day, but we generally get a medium sized bird, since both of us love leftovers, and we always make gallons of stock with the carcase.
This particular butcher, in a sign of the times I guess, also has a fresh fish counter. We tried out a fish I hadn't cooked before, which is a gurnard. The fish was prepped by taking off the head and skin, and then Andrew steamed it, rather as you would do monkfish - he then made a lovely sage and garlic butter sauce to go with it - it was delicious and for two fish, one each, only about £6 - very good value. Also picked up a fresh crab and Andrew made a crab pate as a starter - delicious.
It's great to be thinking about and ticking off some of these longer term preparations for Christmas. I love the run up to the season - and spreading things out seems to make it less hassle and more fun. Thinking also of the longer term, we've gone ahead and booked a holiday for next spring, down in Pembrokeshire at a place called Little Dumpledale - isn't that the most marvellous name? To me it sounds like something from Enid Blyton. The farm has a range of self catering apartments, converted barns and so on, but what makes it very special is that it is renowned among the sighthound community for being not just dog friendly but geared for large, agile sighthounds. Unlike our abortive attempt at a cottage holiday three years ago, where the supposedly dog proof fence was no barrier to the tempting field of sheep next door, Dumpledale has great big six foot high wooden stockades round the properties with lovely big gardens, ideal for greyhound zoomies. The place doesn't need to advertise since it is booked solid by happy sighthound owners, many of whom go more than once a year and often are repeat visitors. Also unlike the huge list of restrictions in self catering places when you have a dog, this place will gladly welcome as many as you can bring - apparently the record currently stands at 19!! The farm is also situated near some of the outstandingly lovely beaches of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - we are looking forward to happy days spent in long coastal and beach walks, and visiting the local hostelries for food and relaxation in the evenings. There is even a doggy creche so if we want to go out and leave the dogs, they can be looked after while we are doing human stuff - what a great idea. Fortunately we were lucky to be flexible about dates since when we reserved our week, much of the available accommodation was already booked solid. Clearly, this farm has found a wonderful niche in the market and is happy to fill it. Am looking forward to trying it down there immensely. The other nice thing is that if it is a complete disaster, we are not a million miles from home so can always bail if need be.
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