In between showers the girls have been jostling for the sunny position on the trendy blue sofa.
I have been making fat rascals for most of the morning
Between 1986 and 1989 I lived in the city of York . Before my late nursing shift start at 1 pm, I would often go to Betty’s tea rooms which is situated in St Helen’s square, to have myself a small Golden carafe of coffee and a fat rascal. There was a single table upstairs which I loved to sit in, where I would pretentiously read my book and scoff my rascal
This morning I made Fat Rascals for the very first time.
Now for those that don’t know a Fat Rascal is a cross between a scone and a bun; in actual fact it is a Rock cake which is filled with fruit, orange zest, whole bleached almonds and glacè cherries.
The last three ingredients make the rascal taste so good
They should be eaten warm with butter and should be large, two handed buns.
I made mine a little smaller than I’d like but they tasted Right Good when I tried them
Years after I had left York for Sheffield , I returned to the city to see some friends. Feeling all nostalgic for a Rascal, I turned left into the shop rather than the cafe and ordered six.
The shop waitress looked surprised at my request
I had ordered Six fat Bastards instead of Six Fat Rascals!!
She got the gist!
I will leave you with this short film called Alex And Jay
It’s a wonderfully acted piece which turns out quite charmingly
I’ve enrolled in another film study course, this one centred around exploration of gay themes within cinema.. it will keep me busy on Thursday nights.
Chic Eleanor has just messaged me, she has booked a table for dinner for us and some friends next week
“ Darling” the message read “ We are embarking on a new beginning”
I had painted half of the outside toilet ( which now houses my bike and lawn mower) when Mrs Trellis stopped to chat. She was in inquisitive mode, and wasn’t wearing her usual overly erect bobble hat She asked me what my long term plans were as she had heard through village gossip that I was about to leave Trelawnyd to live in Llandudno This tickled me I love village gossip. I reassured Mrs T that I had no long term plans And it’s true, I haven’t I haven’t got any major plans at all. Mrs Trellis frowned She didn’t know that I have a mortgage to pay until I am 72, and why would she? I told her, and joked, in true ostrich head in the sand tradition that I will face selling up and moving to a cheaper property when I have to and I will enjoy my home in the meantime . I laughed but Strangely she bit her lip and promptly burst into silent tears. This took me completely by surprise I leant over the kitchen wall but she stepped back a pace pulling Blue with her. I was touched by her sudden show of emotion . “Aren’t you worried about the future ?” She asked seriously “ No , “ I told her honestly ,” I’m here now , I’m enjoying work, I can just about pay my bills, I will face change when it happens !”
Mrs Trellis still looked worried “ I don’t want you leave “ she said rubbing her hands together
“ I’m not leaving just yet” I told her kindly
And I laughed loudly , forcing her to do the same .
I did get unhealthily excited in the cushion section of Liverpool’s John Lewis but couldn’t quite decide on what I wanted to buy, so I galloped into kitchen ware like a gay water buffalo where I bought an expensive but rather impressive utensil holder decorated with a blue whale....what larks pip!
I also managed to find some cutlery I was missing and ended my spree with a massive gaggle of birthday cards, I had a hey ho time.
For along time I sat in the centre of the city listening to the buskers sing their songs.
I felt like a sponge soaking up all the noise and the movement.
I met up with Colin too, which was lovely. We walked and talked around Greenbank Park and felt more human
Tonight I revisited it and was reminded of this song, which is one that affected me the most from the production
Lea Selonga was a revelation in the lead role but I loved the slightly shopworn character of Gigi played by Isay Alvarez. Her voice perfect for the words she sang
