Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Don't cry for me

George and I had just started on our walk today when I remembered two things I needed to do. One was to show Husband a photo I'd taken of an unusual bird in the hope that he could identify it; the other was to text a friend to congratulate her on an achievement. How on earth was I going to remember them?

That was when I had my brilliant idea: Don't cry for me Bird and Tina!

I'm so funny I make myself laugh. Or do I mean stupid? Anyway it worked. Insofar as I'm blogging about it. I haven't actually shown Husband the photo or texted my friend but that'll come.

* * * * * * * * *

The trouble with walking along rough woodland paths covered in 2" snow is that when you put your foot down you don't know if it's going to land on solid ground or a puddle. With my natural ability I managed to pick puddles most times but my tootsies stayed snug and dry. See, I knew it was worth paying 'How much?!!!' for my walking boots.

Have I mentioned how much I love my walking boots?

* * * * * * * * *
It's been really peculiar in Swansea. Yesterday areas of the city were gridlocked because of a sudden severe snowfall. In my bit there was nothing. Today, driving to the hospital to visit my uncle, I'd gone about 2 miles and it was like being in a different world, with pavements and gardens covered in snow and piles on the side of the road where it had been cleared. It was most odd.
* * * * * * * * *
I asked my uncle (who's doing very well) what hospital food was like. He grimaced. I said, 'I'm making pea and ham soup tomorrow; would you like me to bring you some in?'
'Yes, please.'
'Yes, please.' We all looked around to see where the echo had come from. It turned out to be the man in the next bed, the man who'd appeared to be asleep.
My uncle asked how I'd get soup to him. 'In a thermos, I assume?'
'Yes,' I replied, suddenly realising I don't have a thermos and have no idea how I'm going to get hot soup to the hospital.
Then again, if it comes to that, I have no idea how I'm going to make pea and ham soup.
I was in the butcher last week, in the cold, and I asked him, 'What would my granny have used to make a nice warming pea and ham soup?'
'I've got a lovely hock in the freezer,' he replied.
Then in Sainsburys I saw split green peas so now all I need is a recipe ...
I've tried both Delia and Nigella with no luck. But I'm sure Nigel Slater won't let me down.

13 comments:

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I seem to remember the ham being simmered in water to generously cover with leek and celery and after an hour the peas being added with more water , a bit at a time if it got too thick . When it looks ready , it is .
The ham can be cut up into not too delicate chunks and my grandmother would occasionally add really finely grated carrot at this stage . Her nine children remembered having to finely grate thousands of the things over the years .
Not really a brilliant recipe , I must say . But the result was always heartwarming .
Hope your uncle loves his soup , however you make it !

Lia said...

Try this one for your soup.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/boiling-a-ham-hock-and-making-pea-soup-605647.htm

I asked a friend for you as I have never made it and she makes this one for her father who is 80ish and he loves it, says it tastes like his Mum use to make.

Love your filing system, wish mine was that tidy.

Much love
Lia
xx

CherryPie said...

The snow is a bit like that for me too. A moderate amount at home and blizzard conditions at work...

Rose said...

Oh, Liz, you're so funny, you make ME laugh:)

Rose said...

Whoops, hit "publish" before I meant to. Hope you found a good recipe for the pea soup. As I recall, it's something that takes a long time to cook.

Leslie: said...

I laughed out loud about "Bird" and "Tina!" You should see me come up with some really weird mneumonic devices for my students, but we laugh and figure, "Whatever works." Just today I was helping a student try to remember the Swiss word for "fruitcake" (their class is doing Switzerland in honour of the Olympics) and I came up with Uncle Bernie brought fruitcake for our Christmas dessert. The word is . lol I said I was weird! ;)

Leslie: said...

ACK - the word didn't show up!

BIRNENBROT

Dragonstar said...

I'll be singing that all day...

I've just been to all my favourite recipe books - including one that specialises in soups! - and there's not one recipe for pea+ham! There's pea, split pea, cream of just about everything - no pea+ham. Unbelievable!!!

Liz Hinds said...

I know Dragonstar! I couldn't believe it either! Currently I have soup made to the recipe Lia provided bubbling away on the stove.

THank you too, SaS. I didn't have any celery or I would have thrown that in as well.

THanks, Lia.

Gone altogther here now, cherrypie.

Rose, yes, at least two hours.

That's a good word, leslie!

Devonshire Dumpling said...

Liz, I am going to slap your legs very hard in a minute. I find the song "Don't cry for me Bird and Tina" is repeating in my mind over and over again including the revised lyrics.

Its taken me years to stop singing “Mouldy Old Tyre” instead of Mull of Kintyre, and now I am singing Bird and Tina, thanks to you.

Puss-in-Boots said...

I think that's a brilliant mnemonic, Liz, but if I find I have it on my brain for the rest of the week, you're for it!!

Just blame the snow...or lack thereof...on Global Warming. Actually we can blame Global Warming for just about everything if we put our minds to it...

Liz Hinds said...

Sorry, DD!

Puss, i know: whether the weather's too hot or too cold, it's the fault of global warming.

Furtheron said...

I know nothing about cooking but google search gave this...

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/6681/pea+and+ham+soup

With me it is piles and piles of the stuff at home - I've just been out and spent another hour trying to clear some of the road and paths... but no one else seems to bother. We all have marvellously clear drives but can't get up the bloody road! Given I'm near(ish) the bottom of the hill I shouldn't worry it's doable for us but going up and turning left is not for the fainthearted still.

At work (on the coast) I think they've seen 2 flakes and think I'm joking!