Café Caché

Saturday, January 24, 2015

That time of year again.

Towards the end of August I roped in all my friends and neighbors and set about harvesting a bumper crop of fruit that had dropped on the ground into blue plastic drums, no added water or sugar and screw the lid on and leave it for 4 months. Give the delicious smelling gooey liquid an occasional stir with a big stick.

And now at the end of January comes the fun bit. Its time to visit the local distiller, parked up on a country road not too far from home. Looks like I will get about 5 litres of eau de vie this year.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Top 10 - Tips from Julie

7%
Written by a 90 year old

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 42 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come...

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.

I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose

Julie Williams

Meet Julie, a 90 year old from Ohio, whom I have never met. Although I sincerely hope to one day have the pleasure has posted some life lessons out there in cyberspace.. Her list is sterling, here are my ten favorites..

1. When in doubt, just take the next small step

2. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will

3. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

4. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

5.If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

6. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

7. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'.

8. Time heals almost everything. Give time time

9. Believe in miracles

10. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sunday Lunch in London

On reflection I am horrified at my idleness. Its been years since I had a proper London Sunday lunch with family. My niece who in my minds eye is still a 20 something has a proper grown up house in Bromley. Normally, back in the old days, I would leap to assist, lay the table, empty the dishwasher, basically anything to avoid conversations with close relatives. But on this occasion I was so happy to let the younger lot get on with it and boy did they impress. My super cool nephew, did a sterling roast pork, and managed to transform a bland sainsburys wasabi sauce that looked like pale green paint into something desirable and edible, with a dash of soy.
My niece, stylish in a super sexy black onesie, with tears in all the appropriate places. who still looks like a 25 year old, even with a baby and a 16 year old in tow, managed to make a fabulous roast duck, stir fry and then she produced the most yummy profiteroles ever. No better feeling ever than hanging out with family. Ace.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Navigating life & love with a little grace, daughters and country living.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Je Suis Charlie

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Dogme 95 Chef: Royal Brunei vegan airline meal

The Dogme 95 Chef: Royal Brunei vegan airline meal: On my London to Melbourne 24 hour journey I ordered vegan to be safe- the fruit platter I got on an Emirates flight was covered in milk choc...

Rainy Day Late Lunch

Be Kind..
sometimes a thankless task.
and for those of us putting this into practice
don't expect any instant gratification or rewards.

salmon toasted with soy and sesame
you would imagine its a relatively easy dish,
but hunger at its all time peak,
a rainy day, girlfriend catching up on on Skype,
fire going out, partner needs his post, my multitasking skills are failing me today.
and basically my long looked forward to lunch is a
hurried and unpalatable mush of crispy burnt
barely edible fish,

next time... vow to approach this in a more positive frame of mind.