Food

 In my book and in my family Food can often be a metaphor for affection
I’m meeting my friend Colin on Friday and he’s a been a bit low as of late. 
We are going out for supper.
Today I cooked a huge beef stew thickened with left over mash potato.
I left it cooking on low for hours, so tonight the meat fell apart as it should for the best comfort food.
I’ve plated a bowl up and wrapped it in foil . 
I will take it around to Eirlys tomorrow morning. I can’t believe it’s been eight weeks since her husbands funeral. Food is always a good gift when grief is involved .

I skimmed a small bowl of gravy from the casserole and let it cool on the garden wall  before taking it up to Albert who has been under the weather today .

He finished the lot 

I was going out to a forensic talk on serial killers in llandudno tonight but couldn’t justify the 30 quid ticket cost ! Having said that I bought a pair of wellies and a reduced priced jug from Sainsbury’s this afternoon. 
The jug is perfect for daffodils 

31 comments:

  1. I think you meant Albert was under the weather? Hope the gravy gave him a bit of a lift. If he wasn't Albert, I'd say give him a kiss from me, but I think, despite being a bit out of sorts, he'd scratch your eyes out! You are a kind man, John. Always thinking of others. We all need neighbours and friends like you. xx

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  2. My Uncle shared gravy with his cat from the slow cooker venison stew - as his friend a ranger -Is Alberts leg sore I wondered x

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  3. A kind and thoughtful gesture for everyone, including Albert.

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  4. Traveller10:16 pm

    Oh Albert…you are going to break my heart one day and I’ve never even met you. I am a sucker for black cats with attitude.

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    1. He’s just got up ( it’s 20 past ten ) farted loudly and exited the cat flap with attitude

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  5. Yorkshire Liz11:33 pm

    This is the sort of weather when bad legs make themselves known. Serial killer of wellies? Hmn. No contest really. When you need new wel!he's nothing else will do. Especially when you are a dog walker!

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  6. Breaking bread with others is always enjoyable and reliably lifts the spirits. Wellies are essential, especially so during mud season.

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  7. I have always confused food with love. Or IS that a confusion? Maybe not but I do know that I love to cook for those I love and I have always resented cooking for anyone I do not like. I believe this is a very primal and real thing. Now I'm wondering what I would cook for YOU if you came to visit.

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  8. Every expense can be justified. And I long for the aroma of that beef stew. We're having hot dogs with chili sauce tonight. Not a bad meal but still . . .

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  9. Christ! How many serial killers has Llandudno spawned?

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  10. I know YP ! - It's frightening isn't it - and to think I visited there once too x

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    1. They don't tell you about that in Llandudno holiday brochures!

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  11. Fixing a nice meal is a love language, in our house, anyway.

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  12. You are so right - I reckon FOOD is the music of love .... forgive the very mixed metaphor! Have you tried a heated pad (designed for animals and water and clawproof) for Albert? We got one for our elderly cat and it was so good to see how she relaxed onto it - although getting the temperature right took some experimentation.

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  13. It's around the table where we have our best conversations, ideas, hopes, moans, and occasionally sadness's. It's food that allows all that to happen.

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  14. Yes the giving and sharing of food is such a huge part of life. A good way to show love.

    Poor Albert, getting older is no fun at all. Hope he starts to feel better soon.

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  15. New wellies and a handsome jug are a much better way to spend 30 pounds.

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  16. Anonymous10:08 am

    Food is a metaphor for love here as well. I say this as my husband has just made a big pan of porridge for breakfast and is now making me sandwiches to take to work. Your beef stew sounds delicious. I will go to the butcher on the way home for a kilo of diced venison to make a similarly warming dish. I make a base of finely diced and sweated onion, carrot and celery, add the browned venison, shallots, chestnuts, bacon and carrot chunks all tossed around for a minute or two. A spoonful of flour to absorb some of the juices and then chicken stock and red wine and my secret ingredient is a dollop of homegrown and homemade red gooseberry and thyme jelly. This recipe comes with my love. Sarah in Sussex - my black cat lived with me from 1985 until 1998, she was already fully grown when she found me and decided she would like to stay.

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  17. I think a pair of wellies and a jug is a better spend than the £30 cost of a forensic talk on serial killers. Unless of course you are planning to murder someone with the jug and wear the wellies while disposing of the body.
    If you need any advice on this my son is a qualified forensic scientist and can give you some tips .... now you know why Alan gets worried!! ;-)

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  18. Earier today my thatch dug a hole - oddly oblong in the guise of searchig for moles I understand x

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:24 pm

      Pure fantasy

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    2. Why ? 🐎

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    3. Anonymous10:41 pm

      Because it's not true?

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    4. I asked - Why? 🐶

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  19. Barbara Anne1:54 pm

    I agree that food is a wonderful way to show caring and love to people and to animals. How kind of you, John!
    Hope Albert is feeling better and I liked the idea of an animal warming mat to help his old joints.
    I look forward to seeing the v jug full of daffs in due time. My wellies have flowers all over them!

    Hugs!

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  20. Anonymous1:54 pm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFRqdguzBgQ

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  21. Anonymous1:56 pm

    the above is from Gemma's Person and a podcast from a woman who wrote a book about serial killers interviewed.

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  22. You are so thoughtful to your friends and neighbors, John.

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  23. Thirty quid DOES seem a bit steep, unless the talk includes a demonstration!

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