I'd forgotten you'd missed out on a whole chunk of this site, Anty.

Dode (=Dod=Scots abbreviation of George) is primarily my walking buddy (long walks in the hills alone are far too dangerous), though he's one of those forces of nature prone to take over other lives completely. I often am called upon at extremely short notice to sort things out for him (like driving him down to Newcastle to pick up his car when a flight was diverted to Glasgow): but in return, he's been known to move heaven and earth on my behalf: when my mother died, he was on a stag do in Dublin, but he still managed to turn up on my doorstep in Reading the following morning. Rough diamond, salt of the earth, he's a man with a decidely chequered history: once, by all accounts, he was one of the most feared men in Dundee, and even now that he has his bus-pass it would be a very brave person indeed to take him on (he was a boxing champion, inter alia).  It was on behalf of the cancer charity which had supported his daughter (Maggie's) that he and I did the trek across the Andes a couple of years back, and this despite a crash in a coach twenty years ago where he shattered his right knee and was told he'd never live an active life again. You get the overall picture, I'm sure.

It was for him and his wife ("The Madam") that I, his (all-clear) daughter and son-in-law did the garden makeover a couple of months back, which helped to keep me in his good books:  I'm still far from convinced that I'm yet forgiven for having done the South African expedition without him.

Anna, you and Mart swung the vote for dinner this evening. Lamb a la Moishe is now bubbling away gently on the stove. Ah, the smells !

My previous mention of Sharwoods Curry Powder has caused me to remember the following. Those of a delicate disposition should look away now ......



Yes  I did consume them but they were better than my mother`s stew! Cripes, I`ll be reminiscing over Surprise Peas next. SHRIEK!

I saw a packet of that Vesta Chow Mein in the Co-op yesterday, Mort, and I could taste it - and recall the textures - immediately, even though I doubt I've had one since the sixties. By the early seventies I'd become interested in doing the real thing, and the first of a long line of woks arrived: teflon coated and useless. The present two came from a Chinese supermarket dirt cheap yonks ago and are still going strong.

Ye Gods, Mort!  If you're going to post pictures of Vesta Chow Mein, perhaps you'd better issue a warning 2-3 posts ahead of time?    I'll admit to consuming them in my first year at University (they did have the unusual logistical plus-point of being preparable on a single hob in a Hall-Of-Residence kitchinette) but had moved on to "the real thing" by the time I left...  partly due to becoming a veggie in the meantime, but mainly due to realising it was actually cheaper to buy the real ingredients and cook them  

Do you remember the "crispy noodles" which came in a separate pack in the Vesta box, and needed to be fried separately?  Not having a separate pan or hob, I usually threw them away...

Yes Reiner, I do remember the crispy noodles. Which weren`t Strange how back then the Vesta stuff was considered to be the bees knees. Then again, avocados were considered to a tad daring   Now while you`re here, would you care to reprise your recipe for Sprouts with marmalade? It was mentioned a short while back but none of us can trace it back. Your hungry audience awaits, Chef Torheit .....

Aha Andy, you remember Surprise peas?!  Did they come in a box or am I imagining it?  I`m talking 60s here. Nigel Slater mentioned them in `Toast`, until then I`d forgotten about them.

Sounds a bit sad really.