Author Archives: al

Norway Day 2

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Sunday 9th September

Our journey to the fjords began. We travelled from Oslo to Dombås on the Dovre railway which goes past typical Norwegian scenery of picturesque towns and forests and gently winds around, very close to the edges of lakes.

We changed trains at DombÃ¥s to reach Andalsnes on the Rauma railway. This really was a stunning journey. The train cuts though incredibly dramatic mountains on both sides which are black, almost vertical and capped with snow. If that wasn’t spectacular enough, there are waterfalls running down the mountains too. It was too difficult to get a good photo from the train so I’m borrowing someone else’s. You can see the train track running along the base of the Troll Wall; as passengers we were craning our necks to see to the top.


The final leg of the journey ending in Ã…lesund was by bus. The bus journey had fantastic views of fjords, valleys, mountains and dramatic unlined tunnels cut into the rock.
Ã…lesund is a very picturesesque little place surrounded by sea and little island with views of snow-capped mountains in the distance:


We had dinner at Sjøbua which was very good indeed.

Norway Day 1

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Saturday 8th September

We flew from Gatwick to Oslo. After checking into the hotel we had a short walk around the city, including the harbour. There was some kind of military boat there which I don’t think I was supposed to take a picture of but I didn’t think about that till later.

Oslo seems like a typical capital city in that it’s very cosmopolitan and busy. There are big long term roadworks going on in the centre and we walked past a few construction projects too. I don’t think I’d recommend Oslo as a city to spend a lot of time in as there wasn’t much to do or see.

Paralympics 2012

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I am enjoying the Paralympics very much but the whole experience of watching it on TV is marred by the coverage on Channel 4. Not only are some of the commentators second rate but the ad breaks drive me mad. The one redeeming element of the C4 coverage is The Last Leg which is very, very funny indeed.

I just happened to be in London during the Paralympic Games. The atmosphere in the capital was fantastic.

The Complaints

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What I enjoyed about this book was the sharp dialogue and clear prose. What I didn’t enjoy was that it is all somehow a little bit flat and unsatisfying.

The plot is like something from The Wire set in Scotland, which made me realise that I would prefer this story in the form of a stylish serialisation on screen rather than a book. There are so many characters and places, some with very similar names to each other, that it would be easier to differentiate between them in on TV because of the visual aspect.

In summary, The Complaints is not a bad read but it is far from remarkable. Having said that, it has the potential to be great on television.

(37th in 2012)

Girls’ 25th anniversary planning

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Dates to save: SAT 3rd – MON 5th AUG 2013
OK for Al, Nat, Mad, Chelle, Manga, Rach, Vic, Ab requesting leave

Possible venues for a spa break (staying 1 night):-

FAIRLAWNS HOTEL & SPA, NORTH BHAM
Website: http://www.fairlawns.co.uk/spa-stays.htm
Distance from Wolves: 12 miles
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sat night: £150.00
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sun night: £135.00
Single supplement: Monday – Friday £25.00, Saturday £45.00
Tripadvisor ratings: 4.5 / 5
What’s included:
Check in from 2.00pm to a club twin or double room
Use of the facilities from check in until 5.00pm the following day (please vacate room by 11.00am)
Half bottle of bubbly and mineral water in room
The provision of robe, towels and slippers
A selection of unlimited refreshments from the spa ‘grazing bar’ throughout the afternoon (until 5.00pm)
Four course evening meal in Fairlawns Restaurant
Continental breakfast in your room
A selection of unlimited refreshments and a light lunch on the second day (until 5.00pm)
Treatments included
1. The Aqua Massage Experience each
2. The choice of Fairlawns Signature Ritual each. Please select one of the following three beauty treatments:
Mud Chamber (Minimum two guests)
Dry Floatation (you may like to add an oil wrap for a supplement of £10.00)
Bathing ceremony (available for one or two guests)
Note: Al’s friends recommend the place for food

COWLEY MANOR, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Website: http://www.cowleymanor.com/special-offers/spa-and-stay/
Distance from Wolves: 63 miles
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sat night: offer not available at weekends
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sun night: £150.00
Single supplement: None, just 295 per room (asked by email)
Tripadvisor ratings: 4.5 / 5
What’s included:
spa facilities
2 x 30 min or 1 x 60 min treatment(s) at spa
3 course dinner
Night’s stay
Full breakfast

HOAR CROSS HALL, STAFFORDSHIRE
Website: http://www.hoarcross.co.uk/reservation/two_day.html
Distance from Wolves: 27 miles
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sat night: £195
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sun night: £175
Single supplement: on request
Tripadvisor ratings: 4 / 5
What’s included:
25 minute facial or massage
complimentary session of toning tables each
upgraded accommodation to a Superior bedroom
spa facilities
breakfast, lunch and a la carte dinner
Arrive between 11.30am & 1pm for an additional lunch with our compliments.
Note: Vic says it’s ‘proper chavvy’!

MODDERSHALL OAKS, STAFFORDSHIRE
Website: http://www.moddershalloaks.com/html/luxury_sg_tariffs.php
Distance from Wolves: 29 miles
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sat night: £170
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sun night: £150
Single supplement: £50
Tripadvisor ratings: 4 / 5
What’s included:
• A complimentary drink on arrival and a complimentary bottle of water in your suite
• A 2 course evening meal in our award-winning lakeside restaurant and breakfast the following morning
• Overnight stay in a twin or double luxury suite awarded 5 star Guest Accommodation by Visit Britain
• Use of all our Spa Facilities from 3pm on the day of arrival to 5pm on the day of departure
• One 25 minute treatment up to the maximum value of £35

THE BELFRY, SUTTON COLDFIELD
Website: http://www.thebelfry.co.uk/special_offers/index.php?offertype=spa_breaks
Distance from Wolves: 24 miles
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sat night: £69.00
Cost pp based on 2 sharing on a Sun night: £69.00
Single supplement: ?
Tripadvisor ratings: 3.5 / 5
What’s included:
• Overnight accommodation
• Full English breakfast
• Dinner in The Atrium
• 90 Minute AquaSpa (not suitable for use during pregnancy) Journey
• Use of Health & Wellness facilities
• Entry to Bel Air nightclub (Fri/Sat)

Braised Pork Belly (Dong Po Rou/东坡肉)

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Used this recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/braised-pork-belly-dong-po-rou/2/

with the following adaptions:

780g whole piece pork belly

Verdict: too salty; I should have gone with my instinct to cut the amount of soy by half. Also be careful when reheating as the pork may get too chewy: cut the pork into chunks and reheat very slowly on a low heat. There are better pork belly recipes out there.

Potato wedges

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To make crispy potato wedges, wash or peel floury potatoes and cut into slim wedges (about 6 from an average size potato). Parboil in salted water for 5 mins, then toss in olive oil with an optional flavouring (such as paprika, ras al hanout or jerk seasoning) on a sheet of baking parchment Leave space in between each wedge to ensure airflow for crunchy edges. Bake in the oven at 175C with fan for about 45 mins, turning every 15 mins.

Warning: do not put balsamic vinegar on during the baking as it burns. Mark doesn’t like balsamic on them anyway.

The Secret Olympian

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I came across this book through the Kindle Daily Deal emails. It bills itself as ‘the inside story of the Olympic experience’. It certainly is very revealing and honest to the point of making me dislike the author in places.

I loved discovering what it takes to become an Olympian, what goes in in the Olympic Village, what’s happening in the world of doping and what athletes go through psychologically, before, during and after the Games. Everything is very well articulated and written with great insight. It makes compulsive reading.

(36th in 2012)

Five Quarters of the Orange

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This book is a little dark and mildly menacing. The characters aren’t particularly likeable but I enjoyed reading about this family with all their flaws, interspersed with sumptuous descriptions of food. Although I am sure that it’s very common in real life, I haven’t read many books featuring dysfunctional relationships between mothers and daughters. The interactions between all the characters feel very real. I think that shows the quality of Joanne Harris’s writing: she makes everything convincing and a pleasure to read about.

But ultimately this book disappointed me. I had hoped that it would be of the same calibre as the only other book by Joanne Harris that I’ve read: Gentlemen and Players, which is a deliciously dark and atmospheric mystery set in a boys’ school. Five Quarters of the Orange just doesn’t come close to that. Yes, here there also is hatred, fear and passion. Again, this is very well written. But the story itself just didn’t quite make the grade. I couldn’t help but compare it to The Book Thief, also a set during the German occupation with a young girl as narrator, which is a far more striking piece of work.

(35th in 2012)

Chicken chow mein

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Used Ching’s recipe from Chinese Food Made Easy: Ching’s chicken chow mein but added dry sherry, garlic & ginger paste, chilli bean sauce and more veg.

Also adapted the method: it’s best to fry the coated chicken over a medium (not high) heat, otherwise it just sticks to the wok. Then remove and add back in at the end to prevent the chicken from overcooking. Then if there is anything stuck on the bottom of the wok, deglaze with dry sherry. When some of the water has evaporated add the garlic and ginger paste and chilli bean sauce (enough to flavour the veg and noodles). Added veg and cooked noodles (I used Waitrose dry egg noodles), tossed with sesame oil to prevent sticking and seasoned with the light soy sauce. Then I added the chicken back at the end just to heat it through.