[regarding a Recipe on the PHC "Post the Host" website]

When the Norwegian’s came over the sea to settle in the New Continent, did they not bring a set of kitchen scales? Where did American’s get this ‘cup’ measurement from – its would appear fraught with dangers; what if one family used the word ‘cup’ to refer to all tea/coffee retaining porcelain-based tableware? As is the case in this household- right now I’m sipping Earl Grey from what is obviously a mug (a tall one at that), yet I picked off the cup shelf- if I were making toffee think of the trouble I’d be in!

I mentioned the Scandinavians specifically because I feel the early explorers and emigrants from Southern Europe and Britian were in an understandable hurry to get to the New World and I’ll forgive them for not packing correctly- if you’ve ever had an Italian Salad you’ll know how little precision has to do with their cooking, its all about passion (and Olive Oil… mostly Olive Oil). No doubt it was an Italian – Columbus himself? – famished after a long day’s discovering, hungry for a really good feed, who grabbed the first ‘cup’ off the shelf in the buzz of excitement that is always present in a kitchen (or Galley Mess) where Italian men meet flavoursome ingredients in a hurry.

Hmm, talking of flavoursome ingredients – what are “Graham Cracker Crumbs”. A passable UK equivalent?

Its been three years since Billy and I chanced apon PHC, during “News from Lake Wobegone”. G.K. was talking about cherry tomatoes being flown in on their own airliner seats to preserve freshness, while someone in the village – a Peterson, just guessing – had been visited by a bear and her lazy husband had done little to frighten the fierce creature away. there was snow in Lake Wobegone that week, lots of snow out there on there on the prairie .

This is all down to that Jamie Oliver. Well I don’t like him or what he stands for – he is forcing our kids to be more picky about their food. #

– Sam Walker
What the hell is wrong with these parents? I mean, do I really have to say anything more, do any of us. Why do we have to point out that something is not right here.

Regarding that “we don’t like them Jamie Olver’s down eer” remark, these mothers obviously don’t want little Johnny comming home and demanding Pastrami spiced Yogurt, served with shaved thin with pickled ginger, wasabi and citrus flaboured soy milk beans. because all they know is 200′ for 20mins, that’s chips, pizz, fish-fingers… how to cook shite basically. Ugg.

After breakfast I did a little exploring in the castle. I went out on the stairs, and found a room looking towards the South.

The view was magnificent, and from where I stood there was every opportunity of seeing it. The castle is on the very edge of a terrific precipice. A stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without touching anything! As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm. Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests.

But I am not in heart to describe beauty, for when I had seen the view I explored further. Doors, doors, doors everywere, and all locked and bolted. In no place save from the windows in the castle walls is there an available exit. The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!

- from Chapter 2 of Dracula, by Bram Stoker

its a great novel, and can be found – unabridged – online: here where you can also find a tonne of literature from a myriad of authors. i found a great book shop yesterday; ‘Voltaire & Rousseau’ can be found off Gibson Street, (Glasgow – map) look for the four hanging pairs of converse trainers… and the students. i found a beautifully bound 1906 collection of Wordsworths’ works: £1.25, spare change left for a midnight baked potato and tuna.

is fantastic, to quote:

thanks alot-ski

ahahaha, it seems more-than-ussual Wogan is using his narrator spot on Eurovision to take the piss out of all the countries we don’t understand, in this big happy family of a Union. If you’re visiting from the U.S. – check out the live stream: BBC Radio 2. He’s insane, having a go at the dancers now.

Slightly related; Michael Palin is off on his travels again. As I guessed (a smug grin if ever there was one) the team are on their way to “New Europe” for a new series (airing, Autumn 2007). Kirstie Wark did a similar travel doc, it was pretty good too – Tales from Europe I highly recommend, if you get the chance.

So. Palin, in his own words:

So what is Palin’s New Europe ? At the moment it is a combination of twenty-one countries all of which were once in the Soviet bloc and are now either part of or about to be part of the EU, as well as countries like Turkey which are considering applying to join the EU. We shall visit many countries, like Bosnia, Albania, Moldova and Macedonia, of which we may know the names and not the detail…

I can’t wait. Back to Wogan; “Lithuiania? I’ve forgotten their song, well I’ve forgotten all the songs but…” (btw, I’ve just tuned in for the anual slamming / technical break-down and point giving, I didn’t sit through any of the ‘tunes’)