Even the keenest follower of this blog is unlikely to have lost a great deal of sleep over the fate of the mölkky (Finnish skittles) set last seen on Christmas Day. But here it is, providing an excuse to involve Joe, Clare and our neighbour Keith in some enjoyable physical activity out in the woods across the road, on another glorious evening. Better than just hanging round the pub anyway. (Which we did anyway, afterwards…. too nice to stay in.)
Grrrr. No comment necessary.
After five days swanning around Denmark, I had to put in a full day’s work today. Fortunately I could do it at home. Even more fortunately (particularly for photoblogging purposes) there were distractions.
So this is the real reason I wanted to spend time in Copenhagen: the chance to eat at one of the world’s best restaurants, without a doubt. I made this booking some three months ago, but here we are, halfway through a meal of fifteen (count ’em) courses; I’ve just polished off an oyster that tasted just like the sea, and the chefs even prepared a whole alternative menu for Clare as she is lactose-intolerant, so she’s eating some caramelised onions and, as you can see from the look on her face, thoroughly enjoying it. Behind the oyster you can see what was definitely – and I mean definitely – the Best Butter in the World – and I wish I could have recorded every course. This was definitely the most expensive meal I have ever had – but we got what we paid for, it was definitely the best, too. If you are in the area and have the means, I highly recommend it.
The world outside struggles slowly into something that resembles spring. Meanwhile, in our house, an ordinary kind of Sunday; Clare in red corsetry reading a book in the bathroom, and wondering whether the blue ball in the bath is going to spring into life, like Rover in The Prisoner.
This is the main square in the centre of Hebden Bridge. You have seen it before (like on March 18th and March 6th, for example), but not this late at night. Then again you’ve seen very little of things this late at night, because I am not much of a dirty stop-out. Tonight was an exception: we went to the cinema.
After the moody soft-focus shot of one member of my immediate family yesterday, another today, of the other member. If you’re in Hebden Bridge, do try the home-made jams from this place (‘Lovegrows’). Yum yum.
Sorry if you don’t like this, but after 8 months of doing this blog I should properly acknowledge that I have a very sexy wife.
There is a very good judo club in Hebden Bridge – good enough to have produced members of the junior Great Britain team. Joe – that’s him to the right – is not at that standard yet, and probably never will be (though of course, who knows). But I am glad he does this because it’s the one main physical exercise he gets and also I think it’s good for mental discipline. Today he was going through the grading process and is now, I am proud to report, a yellow belt. Which is more than his old man has ever managed in 42.66 years on this planet.
Since Thursday we’ve been redecorating our bedroom but it’s not a particularly exciting series of events. Still, it deserves to get on this blog at some point, as the site is intended to reflect the full range of my life’s activities. Except on this day, we got the experts in to help – i.e., my Dad. I don’t trust my shelving skills. Thus, this is my father’s first appearance on this blog – and thanks to him today for his sterling work.
Being 42 