Madeline Bassett: [about Bertie] I think he's having a brainstorm! Aunt Agatha: What with?

When I was younger I used to roam the corridors of the local library fiction section, looking for inspiration.  I came across a few books written by the same author, PG Woodhouse, they were rather plain looking books, a bit like the one below, and fairly slim in comparison to other books.  But I took a chance on one.

It changed my life, I have never laughed so much when reading a book.  I don't know what it is about Woodhouse, wether it is the complicated plots, the amazingly rich characters or just his style with words, but I really loved those books.  I read them all!

Since then they pop up every now and again, with a series starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry ( Jeeves and Wooster), and now in mp3 form so that I can listen to them on the way to sleep.

Here are some excerpts for your enjoyment, and if you have not read the books - get one out of the library and enjoy yourself.

Brinkley Manor:

Bertie Wooster: So! It appears that you've gone and got engaged to the Gussie.

Angela Travers: Quite right. We're in love.

Bertie Wooster: Oh, come now, Angela. Gussie's... Gussie's a splendid chap in many ways. If you've got a sick newt on your hands, Gussie's just the fellow to tell you what to do until the doctor comes. But honestly, old thing, you could fling bricks by the half-hour in England's most densely populated districts without hitting one girl willing to become Mrs. Fink-Nottle without a general anesthetic.

Angela Travers: Well, I thought it would be fun!

Bertie Wooster: Well, I'm surprised at you, young Angela. No wonder they say, "Oh, woman, woman!"

Angela Travers: Who do?

Bertie Wooster: ...Well, chaps, supposedly. But you know you're potty about Tuppy!

Angela Travers: For goodness's sake, Bertie, go away and boil your head!

Bertie Wooster: Well, now, Angela, if you'll permit me to observe...!

Angela Travers: No!

Bertie Wooster: Very well, then. I shall say no more. [gets up to leave, then pauses in the doorway] Just... tinkerty-tonk!

The Delayed Arrival:    
  
 Stilton Cheesewright: [referring to Bertie's cocktail] Now what do you suppose those things       are   doing to your eye?

Bertie Wooster: For your information, Cheesewright, one does not administer alcohol by the eye, or even by the ear. The mouth is the correct orifice.

Stilton Cheesewright: Not if one's meant to be in trainng for the Drones darts tournament, it isn't.

Bertie Wooster: Ah, yes, of course, you've drawn me in the sweepstake, haven't you? Well, your money is safe, Cheesewright. The Wooster form is as devastating as ever.

Stilton Cheesewright: We want a win this year, Wooster, not another dratted tie. I happened to look in on the Drones Club this evening. Freddie Widgeon was at the darts board, stunning everyone with a performance that took one's breath away.

Bertie Wooster: Tcha!

Stilton Cheesewright: Eh?

Bertie Wooster: I said "tcha!" scornfully, with ref. to F. Widgeon. I know his form backwards.

Stilton Cheesewright: He's knocked off smoking, you know!

Bertie Wooster: No!

Stilton Cheesewright: He takes a cold bath every morning!

Bertie Wooster: [shrugs] He's forgotten where the hot tap is.

Return to New York

Bertie Wooster: This is a bit steep, Jeeves.

Jeeves: Approaching the perpendicular, sir!

~

 



The fastest little chicken soup in town

When I was laid up for 4 months and my husband had to do the cooking, I had to work out a recipe for very quick and easy chicken soup.  Its a soup day today, as the wind and weather outside is just terrible, so here are the recipe instructions I gave to my husband, he did well.

Take a large pot, put a glug of olive oil in it and turn the stove on.
Cut up some chicken you have in the freezer into very small pieces.
Slice up a leek, put this into the pot and stir so it does not stick, when it is looking a bit wilted, stir in the chicken until it turns slightly white.
Turn off stove.
Cut up into small (1cm) size chunks, 1 stick celery, 1 potatoe, 2 carrots, 1 turnip and 1 parsnip (or 1 soup pack from the supermarket).
Turn the stove back on, and add the vegetables to the pot.  Stir for about 5 minutes until it all starts to wilt and cook.  DO NOT BURN.
Add 1 large packet of chicken stock, and about the same amount of water (or 1 kettle worth).
Add 2 large glugs of tomatoe sauce and 1 large glug of soy sauce, a couple of turns of the black pepper and some salt.
Turn down to the minimum on stove and simmer for about 1 hour.
Slice up 1/4 of a cabbage very finely.  Turn off the stove.  Add the cabbage and put the lid back on for at least 10 minutes.
Check for enough salt and pepper, add more if needed.

Serve with the nicest bread you have.

This is what it looks like:

This saying sort of sums up my husbands cooking:

And I don't cook, either.

 Not as long as they still deliver pizza.
............Tiger Woods