An old favourite this, rich almond rock cakes, crispy outside, moist and crumbly inside. Eaten warm with apricot jam they’re the most luscious comfort food. A mug of hot chocolate or cocoa to wash it down with is indulgent, and good. The cakes are also, if any last to become …
A simple yeast free bread, quick to make and eat. Like most bread, it’s best eaten slightly warm, but it toasts well next day too. I’ve made it with a range of flours, from a basic self raising white (leave out the raising agents …) to an artisanal wholewheat. A …
A picture can paint a thousand words, or so the phrase says. Perhaps so. On a long office day, editing my back catalogue, a 5×4 slide starts talking about memories. In 2001 my world, like many other people’s, was turned upside down. On an isolated farm in Northumberland some …
A work in progress. Well, more play than work, and in several parts … … this being part one. An old piece found lurking on my Mac, an idea, … “As it’s ‘that’ time of year(surely the new year really started ten days ago, after the solstice?) a plan. Probably …
(TL:DR I’m not sponsored, nor am I ever likely to be) A short, slightly ranty, explainer piece, to clear up a misconception, and a couple of snide, trollish* digs. Digs about my status as a punter who’s somehow become a sponsored athlete and influencer. To get that idea in …
One of a short series of pieces, looking at what I carry/use on solo, self-supported jaunts. Though I hope folk find something helpful here, it’s just geekery really. The links are to help you find things you might like; I’d always encourage you to try local independent shops first This is …
The bus has stopstarted out from Sheffield to Fox House. The stopstarting shlep from Fox House, sweatily burdened under bouldering pads and bag full of shoes and food is finished. Time to climb. But maybe coffee and a teacake in this sun warmed hollow first. Eventually the pad is positioned, shoes …
“Millstone Grit; coarse-grained carboniferous sandstones – gritstone specifically refers to such rocks in the Pennine areas of Northern England – the gritstone edges and boulders of the Peak District provide one of the world’s classic climbing areas.” Yes, yes they do. The grit; Burbage South boulders, The Brick. A cold …
One of a short series of pieces, looking at what I carry/use on solo, self-supported jaunts. Though I hope folk find something helpful here, it’s just geekery really. Why carry a first aid kit? Well, habit for one. And more practically if I get injured, I can maybe fix …
A prologue, of sorts. In these interesting times, a vignette of memory from a couple of years ago. It would be wonderful to be as full of love and laughter as those two ladies who shared a good few years of life well lived. spacer Spring. Blackthorn in flower and …