regent street calling

this message is sent from the apple store in regent st. All was well untill an officious assistant in a blue t shirt and a loud '.your too thick to understand apple products' attitude tried to spoil my day. But she didn't succeed.

"Ehhh... Gringo"

Ola
It was hot in Mallorca - damn hot!

Luckily we found a safe haven to escape the onerous responsibilities of sunbathing and pool dipping with the beautiful ones to sample local life in all its wonderous Spanish glory.

Strong coffee, ice cold beer, greasy tapas and a surly barman who secretly welcomed our custom but wouldn't admit it.

We have put on vast amounts of tonnage due to the daily meat and beer fests we have been enjoying. We both agree that the quailty of restaurants is extraordinarily fine and not for the faint hearted.

Not only have we enjoyed the culinary highs of the area but have only had the ubiquitous 'French fries' twice.

So watch this space for our top dining tips .... and in the meantime here are some random pics to be going on with.

The favourite tipple of O Taylor esq.

For the last week of our summer sojourn we were fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy the good company of  O Taylor esq. who is fast becoming an honorary funbuser with his pithy but witty comments and all round fine demeanour (he was with us at Worthy farm and guest appears on the blog incognito behind white sunnies). 

Anyway it would be only fair to say that he has a healthy prediliction for garlic and in particular Aioli

So for the Honourable O Taylor esq the funbus imparts the following insights ... 

Aioli or Allioli (Fr.: Aioli, from the Occitan and Catalan all i oli, garlic and oil) is a native of the Mediterranean cold cream, which consists primarily of garlic (all), olive (oli) and salt.

In the classic aioli, which consist only of garlic (as an emulsifier) and oil, garlic cloves are crushed finely in a wooden mortar (usually olive wood) and then the oil is added in a thin stream with constant stirring with the pestle until a thick, creamy paste is formed.

The preparation of aioli in this way can take 20 minutes and requires patience. If the oil is added too quickly the emulsion will separate and the mixture will form into clots. 

 

If prepared according to the original recipe, Aioli has a high content of garlic, the sauce is very sharp and is served separately in small bowls.

The recipe was first discovered in writing in 1024, but it is probably much older. the original aioli recipe has received refinements and additions and numerous variants over the years. The best known is the version from Mahon (Mahon Spanish) in Menorca. This Mayonnaise ("originating from Mahon") was circulated over the world by the French and forms the basis for a variety of other cold sauces.

Aioli is a typical Provencal dish. Formerly a poor man's food, it is now offered as a delicacy, served with steamed potatoes, carrots and green beans and fish fillet and sea snails and a classical dish with cod fish. All served with the above mentioned aioli sauce.

Pa amb oli (bread and oil) is a typical Majorcan dish. It is eaten at breakfast or simply served as an appetizer in between. It was previously considered a poor man’s food. There are many variants, such as pa amb oli with ham and cheese.

.....ENJOY

Pause a moment..

OK - this is not a political blog nor does it preach any religion or dictate how lives should be lived. Indeed if we had a message to peddle then it would be based on 'live and let live' (which by the way is the name of one of my local hostelries - spooky!)

But I read something today in the renowned 'Thunderer' that I feel worthy of mention. I recommend you read it, take a moment, reflect and then read it again.....its a quote from Victor Frankl an Auschwitz survivor.

" Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended  side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than ones-self or as the by product of ones surrender to a person other than ones-self"

I urge you......take a moment, reflect and then read it again.

Viktor - a good old boy .....

The mod father cometh ...

There is a delightful little oasis of green and gentleness close to Tetbury and Charlie's country retreat at Highgrove. Westonbirt Arboretum is home to many splendid trees and plants and a natural amphitheatre where marvellous troubadours ply their trade.

It was the turn of Paul Weller and with great excitement we ventured forth, meeting up with Sibling Mike and the Lady Heather.

A healthy snack ..to keep body and soul together.

spot the weirdo lurker at the back ....

Reunion with Naisher....

....and this is what we heard.

1.  Sunflower 
2. Wake Up the Nation 
3. From the Floorboards Up 
4. Fast Car/Slow Traffic 
5. The Attic 
6. Sea Spray 
7. My Ever Changing Moods 
   (The Style Council song)
8. Kling I Klang 
9. Going Places 
10. Friday Street 
11. That Dangerous Age 
12. 7 & 3 Is the Strikers Name 
13. Peacock Suit 
14. Dragonfly 
15. That's Entertainment 
    (The Jam song)
16. Start! 
    (The Jam song)
17. The Changingman 
18. Encore:
18. Wishing on a Star 
    (Rose Royce cover)
19. Wild Wood 
20. Be Happy Children 
21. Town Called Malice 
    (The Jam song)

Sporting prowess ....

What a delightful summer so far for sporting success.

British lions beat the Aussies. Justin Rose won the US masters. Andy Murray won Wimbledon. England are runners up in the ICC one day tournament and taunt the Aussies. Ashes series underway and the Aussies are looking woeful after 2 tests. Chris Froome wins the Tour de France ....

However none of these can compare to the achievement by Bish and Sophie in completing the mammoth cycle trek of 56 miles from Long Ashton in Bristol to Weston Super Mare in 6 hours. Raising charity cash in the process and no doubt suffering sore bottoms!

All hail their greatness.....Bish and Sophie, we salute you.

Notable set lists we foot tapped too at Worthy farm

The Stones

• 1. Jumpin' Jack Flash 
  2. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) 
  3. Paint It Black 
  4. Gimme Shelter 
  5. Factory Girl 
     ("Glastonbury Girl" … more)
  6. Wild Horses 
  7. Doom and Gloom 
  8. Can't You Hear Me Knocking 
     (with Mick Taylor)
  9. Honky Tonk Women 
     (followed by band introductions)
  10. You Got the Silver 
      (Keith Richards on lead vocals)
  11. Happy 
      (Keith Richards on lead vocals)
  12. Miss You 
  13. Midnight Rambler 
      (with Mick Taylor)
  14. 2000 Light Years from Home 
      (first since 25 Aug 1990)
  15. Sympathy for the Devil 
  16. Start Me Up 
  17. Tumbling Dice 
  18. Brown Sugar 
  19. Encore:
  19. You Can't Always Get What You Want 
      (with the Voice Chamber Choir … more)
  20. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 
      (with Mick Taylor)

Chic with the genius N Rodgers esq.

• 1. Everybody Dance 
  2. Dance, Dance, Dance 
  3. I Want Your Love 
  4. I'm Coming Out / Upside Down 
     (Diana Ross cover)
  5. Greatest Dancer / We Are Family 
     (Sister Sledge cover)
  6. Soup For One / Lady (Hear Me Tonight) 
  7. Like a Virgin 
     (Madonna cover)
  8. Lost in Music 
     (Sister Sledge cover)
  9. Notorious 
     (Duran Duran cover)
  10. Original Sin 
      (INXS cover)
  11. Spacer 
  12. Thinking of you 
  13. Let's Dance 
      (David Bowie cover)
  14. Chic Cheer 
  15. My Forbidden Lover 
  16. Le Freak 
  17. Good Times 
      (With snippet of Rapper's Delight)
  18. Get Lucky 
      (Daft Punk cover) (Over PA)
      
      
      
      
      Mumford & Sons
      
      
      
      

      

      
      
      
      
      1. Lovers' Eyes 
      2. I Will Wait 
      3. Whispers in the Dark 
      4. Winter Winds 
      5. White Blank Page 
      6. Timshel 
      7. Little Lion Man 
      8. Lover of the Light 
      9. Thistle & Weeds 
      10. Ghosts That We Knew 
      11. Hopeless Wanderer 
      12. Holland Road 
      13. Roll Away Your Stone 
      14. Awake My Soul 
      15. Dust Bowl Dance 
      16. Encore:
      16. Babel 
      17. The Cave 
      18. With a Little Help from My Friends 
          (The Beatles cover) (With First Aid Kit, The … more)