The old cookbook.

Lots to talk about with the Manhattanites this morning.  Spains political scene gets 'complicated'. Will Nikki Hayley and Gavin Newsom  surprise us in a big way ? Biden and Xi meeting in San Francisco reluctantly recognize they need ( but don't necessarily like ) each other. The conversation ends , as it often does, with a discussion about Mike Johnson. This is usually accompanied by a tone of weary  incredulity.

The small beach below the house has been restored to its pristine state.  The villagers have piled black bags full of plastic debris and crushed lobster creels by the gate into the lower field. Presumably someone, sometime, will come and pick this up.

The weather remains somewhere between changeable and miserable. This is an improvement over it being constantly miserable. There are other places that are faring worse. Seems the north of France is suffering from the wettest weather on record. Here at The Last Wee House before Denmark we are using the wet days to continue with our weeding out and downsizing. In a packing case in the garage 'The Font' comes across an old Elizabeth David cookbook. It has a marvellous 1950's era cover.

It is decided that tonights dinner will be Poulet Sainte Menehould. This sounds rather exotic for what, is at heart, a simple roast chicken. The line about ' accessible enough to be carefully turned without damaging the coating of breadcrumbs' should be fun.

Angus is despatched into town to pick up a bottle of brandy. This is the sort of shopping he enjoys.

Coconuts make an appearance in the supermarket. I can't remember the last time I bought a coconut. Sadly, I can't think of a reason - compelling or otherwise - to buy one now.  Having bought a bottle of brandy Angus detours to the chocolate shop to pick up a box of marzipan.

On the way home a truncated rainbow rises from the sea like a pillar of flame. The i-Phone camera doesn't do it justice. The colours glow as if alive. For a surprisingly long time the 'pillar' shines out in the rising sun. It is quite spectacular. The very second I get home it disappears. What must the Celtic farmers who lived here three thousand years ago have made of it ?

This mornings radio music played by a Polish orchestra :   https://youtu.be/GCxINpEAqfQ?t=209