Experiment, week 6. This week’s five things which have made me happy or for which I’m grateful.

1. Elveden Estate Shop. Not going to say any more about that here as I wrote about it earlier in the week.



2. Cats. We love our two cats, even when they (threaten) to throw up on the clean bed linen on Christmas morning. Harry has spent a large part of the last few days insisting on inhabiting my desk with me. He was last seen asleep in my grandfather’s chair in the dining room. Sally is currently reclining on the back of the sofa over the radiator (see photo). Somehow they always manage to get their priorities right!
3. Gin. Amongst my presents were two bottles of gin! A bottle of Sipsmith’s London Dry Gin: very nice and juniper-y. And a bottle of Martin Miller’s Icelandic Gin: still distinctly gin but closer to vodka than the Sipsmith’s. Standard Gordon’s tastes bland against both of these. So now there are at least three different flavours of gin in the house. This bodes well (or maybe not!).
4. Fairy Lights on Trees. One of the things I like about Christmas is fairy lights, especially on trees. Christmas trees are good, but even better are fairy lights, lots of fairy lights, on ordinary trees in the street — at any time of the year. Somehow they always make the place look fun and festive.



5. King’s Head at Bawburgh. I’d not eaten pigeon in years until earlier this week when we had lunch in the King’s Head at Bawburgh, just outside Norwich. Two breasts made a small starter but they were excellently tasty and gamey — almost like liver. That marks this pub out as something special: gastro-pub food to die for, with many locally sourced ingredients, and at sensible prices. Since my student days they’ve had a reputation for good beer and good food. If you’re anywhere near Norwich, the King’s Head is an excellent place to eat: not just for the food but also several good real ales (including the local Adnams); friendly staff; an old building in a small village complete with river and mill; and not over busy on a weekday lunchtime (but busier at weekends).

Experiment, week 5. This week’s five things which have made me happy or for which I’m grateful.

1. Parakeets. Ring-Neck Parakeets to be precise. Not going to write more here as I posted about them earlier in the week.
2. Pine Cones. I love pine cones; indeed I love pine trees. We always have a basket of pine cones by the fire over Christmas as part of the decorations. But even better … Some years ago I bought, in different years, a couple of mini-Christmas Trees in pots; one certainly came from M&S. After their Christmas duty they were planted out at the far end of the garden. Both are now well established, one being as high as the house; the other not far behind it. We were delighted this week, in clearing lots of overgrowth, to find that both have a good crop of pine cones. I think the trees are probably Norway Spruce as the cones look like those pictured.
3. Small Potted Christmas Trees. Last year Waitrose sold small potted Christmas Trees (about 12-15 inches high, plus pot), complete with some decorations attached. I bought one, so now we have yet another to plant out when it’s bit bigger — we’re getting quite a little copse in our suburban garden, and the birds love it. I wondered if Waitrose would sell these small trees again this year and was thinking I’d not seen them; but on Friday there they were amongst the cut flowers. And not just with decorations, but also with a small set of battery driven LED lights. All for £14.99. A much better investment than something that’s hacked off at the ground as after its festive duty it can be planted out with the others — or kept potted and used again next year.
4. Oxtail. We’ve not had oxtail in years, but Noreen bought some from our favourite butchers, Hiltons in Pinner, last week. It was casseroled. And our stomachs said it was good.
5. Biscotti. I’ve been making batches of biscotti in the last few days. Yes, I like them, but I also like making them ‘cos they’re quick and easy. And they always seem to be appreciated as presents. My recipe is here.