Doctor Who and the BBC

Where would we be without the BBC? I for one would miss it. It brings us so many wonderful programmes - the nature documentaries - cookery programmes - entertainment and history and all available worldwide. It is a life saver for me here in The Netherlands. Well it's that time of year when Doctor Who airs to our screens. This Saturday the 1st September the new series starts and it sees a welcome return of the Daleks - love them or loathe them, it just would not be Doctor Who without them. It does not matter which actor takes over the role and I know we all have our favourites (mine was Jon Pertwee - in the 70's - yes I am showing my age lol!) but it is still Doctor Who - a legend.





My Tardis

Yay! Turnip!

Oh the excitement! We walked around our local market that visits our area once a week and there on the fruit and veg stall hidden amongst the celeriac were 3 Turnips or swedes depending on where you are from. I could not contain my happiness and swiftly bought one. If you love turnip as much as I do and lived in The Netherlands you would have felt exactly the same way. Turnips are like gold here - they cannot be seen for months on end and then only in the autumn and winter months - so it looks like the start of good things ahead. My husband was told by one of his Dutch friends that they use turnip as cattle feed as it is not a popular veg here. Mince and dough balls with tatties and neeps (turnip or swede) for tea I am thinking!

My beloved turnip ( swede or neep)

Our local market

Thirty Four degrees!! eek!!

Oh well - the best laid plans etc... We did not go to the hobby festival due to other things happening but I was rather glad in the end as the weather here yesterday topped 31 degs and hit 34 in some parts of The Netherlands - the hottest weekend since July 1994 apparantely. They expected a deluge of folks to hit the coast so the rail line added more trains to cope with the numbers - heat and crowds - top of my list of dislikes. There are a couple more fairs closer to home in October so not long to wait and it will be cooler :D.

Hobbyfestival

We are off to Barneveld tomorrow on the train to a large hobbyfestival being staged in a hall there. There are over 80 stalls relating to crafts of all kinds. Recently I have been pining to own a doll's house once more. My daughter re-kindled my interest in them when she purchased 2 from a car-boot. I would love to be the owner of a Victorian gem. I know there are a few stalls that specialise in miniatures tomorrow so I am really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer. I will report back if there is anything of interest. If you would like to click on the link below many of the stall holders have their own web sites.

http://www.hobbyfestival.nl/barneveld2012deeln.html

Cliff Top Wedding in Devon

Our summer holiday this year was centered around my eldest sister's wedding back in Devon England in July. We stayed for 4 days and the weather was glorious - apart from torrential rain the day we arrived. My husband had never been to the South-West so it was all new for him. The church is situated on a cliff top, so you can imagine the beautiful backdrop. It was so lovely to be with my family once more - some I have not seen for a few years.



View from the church



View from Plymouth Hoe




Plymouth Barbican

 

Buttermilk Scones Recipe.

I make these most Sunday mornings and they are quick and easy to make - plus they are delicious. I serve mine with butter and a good quality jam. Would be yummy with clotted cream instead of the butter but they don't have that here in The Netherlands. Very handy to whip up for unexpected guests. Enjoy!

BUTTERMILK SCONES

Makes 8.

INGREDIENTS:

55g/2 oz cold butter, cut into pieces, plus
extra for greasing.

300g/10 1/2 oz self-raising flour, plus
extra for dusting.

1 tsp baking powder.

pinch of salt.

40g/1 1/2 oz caster sugar.

210 ml/7 fl oz Buttermilk.

2 tbsp milk.

butter or whipped cream and jam, to serve.


METHOD:

1.  Preheat the oven to 220dgsC/425dgsF/Gas Mark 7, then grease a baking sheet. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.  Add the butter and rub in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Add the sugar and buttermilk and quickly mix together.

2.  Turn the mixture out on to a floured work surface and knead lightly till all the mixture forms together - do this quickly - the less you handle the dough the lighter your scones will be.  Roll out or form with your hands to 1 inch thick.  Using a 6-cm/2 1/2 inch plain or fluted cutter, stamp out scones and place on the prepared baking sheet.  Gather the trimmings, re-roll and stamp out more scones until all the dough is used up.

3.  Brush the tops of the scones with the milk (or could use some buttermilk) taking care to only brush the tops.  Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until well risen and golden.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Split and serve with whipped cream or butter - and jam. Best eaten the same day. If you manage to have any left over store in an airtight container.

Tears and Laughter

Well it has been a while since I last posted - life here in The Netherlands has been hectic and we have not had a computer for some time due to software problems. The past 2 years has been a combination of worrying times and happiness.

My (now) husband suffered a torn retina and we spent many months visiting the hospital in another town for appointments - first laser treatment to try to repair the damage and then an operation which repaired the tear but left him with a scratch on his cornea which was very painful. During the operation a machine broke down that was being used and he was left with instruments in his eye while they went to get another one - so instead of being in surgery and recovery for one hour he was away for 3 hours. When he had his last appointment with the hospital it was discovered that he now has 10% vision in that eye - I don't know if it was because the tear  was not immediately operated on instead of laser treatment or if it was being left mid op while the machine was replaced - or just one of those things - who knows. He is coping really well and his other eye has compensated greatly - he gets on with his job and life as normal. That kind of put a hold on our wedding plans - but we were married a year ago and have just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We had a beautiful day and the weather was gorgeous.

Dun church