Home Sweet Igloo...

Imagine my surprise (or perhaps not, given the weather) when I returned, last night, to discover an igloo had appeared, opposite my house...

snow is falling...

More weather news from the UK... Plus ça change and all that, but it is the bleakest mid-winter since the early 1960s. Not the most beautiful (or deeply snowiest) view, perhaps, but the snow continues to fall - even in London - this was the way it looked earlier this morning from one of my windows...

Endless debate on radio, TV and in all news journals, as to why the UK ceases to function in any weather that veers remotely from the 'norm'. Trains delayed by over an hour (or cancelled altogether), schools and airports closed, 'normal' life at a standstill...

True, it may warrant debate as to whether the UK should invest in costly snow ploughs, if conditions only require it once in a blue moon. But this has pretty much been the status quo for the past month. Curiously, New Year's Eve did feature a blue moon...

Go on, make me envious by telling me what it's like where you are...

Springtime in London...

Welcome to London in April!  This was the sight that greeted me from my bedroom window this morning... Our temperate spring has transformed into winter (at least for now).  No wonder that Brits are weather-obsessed, there's so much weather to obsess us!  It's hailing as I write this; a couple of days ago, I was admiring the gorgeous blossom in my garden...   Ski-ing, anyone?

Enjoy your day, whatever the weather!

bring me sunshine, or... move over Darling!

The weather and Darling's Budget have pretty much been the predominant themes in the UK this week. Yawn! After the strong winds earlier in the week, the sogginess (and flood warnings) are back, so... conducive to a quiet weekend enjoying the pleasures of home. Still, that doesn't stop my mind wandering to warmer climes. In case you could do with an injection of sunshine too, I thought I'd share a recollection (and some healthy, tasty, sun-inspired recipes) from a blissful visit I had to a wonderful, authentic, family-run restaurant on the water's edge on the pretty Ionian island of Zakynthos.

Picture the scene. You're walking along the harbour, inhaling the ozone and enjoying the sights. Fishermen are still hauling in their catch; in the background you can see the white-washed villages, nestling in the pine-scented hills, as a picturesque backdrop to the elegant yachts and cruisers. The sea is a beautiful, soothing hue, serene as the most inviting swimming-pool, with crystal clear blue waters. The sky is deep unbroken blue. To your right is the celebrated church of the island's patron saint, Dionysos. To the left, perfectly placed to take in the blissful panoramic vista, is an elegant taverna with its pretty stained glass windows concealing the tables inside. For a real treat you can opt for a table at the sea's edge and bask in the water's reflective glory while you eat.

Komis Fish Taverna is not just another Greek taverna. You'll probably realise that as soon as you walk in and are welcomed warmly by Yiannis or his brother, Stakis. If you're in the mood for fish you can check out the catch of the day, in the refrigerated cabinet, which will then be expertly cooked by the third Komis brother, Nikos. As a vegetarian, you'll also have many tempting dishes to choose from. If you're anxious about the language barrier there's no problem here, Yiannis, a former frogman in the Greek Navy, is fluent in five languages and very charming. If Yiannis' English wife, Linda, is on-site you'll be in for a truly holistic experience as she is a Reiki master, spiritual healer and yoga guru.

As soon as your order has been taken, you'll be brought an elegant wooden breadbasket filled with delicious local village bread. But first you'll relish the taste of oreganopsoumo, the mouth-watering Italian-influenced appetiser presented to each diner before their meal. The recipe follows together with their delicious house salad.

Oreganopsoumo
1 thick slice of dense, country-style bread
1 ripe medium-sized tomato, skinned and coarsely grated
half a garlic clove, chopped
1 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon baby black olives
oregano
extra virgin olive oil

Grill the sliced bread. Top with the tomato, garlic and capers. Sprinkle over the olives and oregano. Season lightly. Serve and enjoy!


Garden Fresh Salad
1 handful of rocket
1 handful of purslane leaves (or lamb'slettuce)
1 ripe beef tomato, cut into eight
1/4 ripe avocado, sliced
1/2 red onion, sliced
1/4 cucumber, peeled, seeded and thickly sliced
1/2 small red pepper, chunked
50g red cabbage, sliced
2 teaspoons capers
50g large butter beans, cooked and cooled
2 teaspoons sunflower seeds
2 teaspoons pumpkin seeds
small handful baby black olives
oregano
extra virgin olive oil
red wine vinegar
sea salt

Don't be daunted by the list of ingredients - they almost take longer to read (and write) than the salad does to prepare.

Place the salad leaves and sliced cabbage in your favourite salad bowl (wooden, preferably). Add the tomato, avocado, cucumber, pepper and beans. Sprinkle in the seeds, capers, olives and oregano. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar, to taste. Season lightly with freshly ground sea salt.


This sunny blog item is partly reproduced from a feature previously published in LiveWell, a healthy lifestyle magazine, I used to edit. ©amethyst

come rain, come shine; hurricane predictions in the UK...

Ah, the weather, it's a national obsession for us Brits and there's plenty of it to keep us (pre)occupied. If ever you should sense a gap in the conversation with a Brit just say: "what strange weather we're having", or any other weather-related phrase, and the conversation will take-off again, like a rocket.

The build-up to and predictions of yesterday's storm/'hurricane' were massive and for many potentially fear-inducing. For most of us the warnings and anxiety were probably far worse than the day itself. Yes, trees and plants did a merry dance and swayed quite manically; there was lots of rain but mostly we came through unscathed, although windswept and sodden. Today seems more damaging though... it's not a relaxing sight to see fence panels or trees swaying back and forth, threatening to collapse.

The floods of last summer were something else entirely. Almost endless rain, gloom and relative chill. Truly horrendous and life-changing for those that were flooded-out and unpleasant for pretty much everyone. Last summer was a complete misnomer: 'sogger' would have been a more apt description.

So, I have to warn you, if you have never set-foot on the shores of our little island, woe betide if you should visit when it is almost anything other than a mild, dry day. If you are using any form of public transport be prepared for delays and potential chaos and mayhem. In autumn, the trains come to a halt because there are 'leaves on the line'; if the summer is warm then the rails get too hot; rain - at any time - slows things to a grind. A mere few millimetres of snow - well - don't even think of getting anywhere...

Still, we are a philosophical lot, us Brits, and we tend to knuckle-down and get on with it. Picture the two weeks of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in June and July. Almost a total wash-out in 2007 (and in many a year) but we got through them, on time, and if you were lucky enough to have a ticket, you waited optimistically as the skies opened, hoping the players would appear on court rather than Cliff Richard in the stands...

Conversely, I have to confess I don't enjoy the grey skies of winter; my senses and general mood definitely revive and lift when the sky is blue and there is plenty of natural light. Spring is almost here and the days are getting longer - yay- all the more time to enjoy London's great and diverse offering and all the good things that the country and nature has to offer us.