h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I’m adopting Martine’s style for journal headings as I can’t think of a title for today’s entry.

Having the day off work today, as I worked last Saturday (the Open Day), and my cousin and her husband are coming to stay for a couple of nights. They live in Manchester and are on their way to a Golden Wedding party in Kent, so are dropping in here on the way. It’ll be really nice to see them, as we hadn’t met for years until I went to my aunt’s funeral in Edinburgh at the beginning of March.

I don’t entertain much, so usually get myself into a complete state about it, but I know that they will be very relaxed, so I’ve managed to stay fairly calm. They have Chinese friends here who’ve invited us all for dinner on Saturday night (home-cooked Mongolian food, yum!), so I’ve only got to cook tonight.

Went shopping this morning for salmon fillets (J is a vegetarian, but eats fish), which I’m going to cook in foil in the oven and serve with mushrooms, new potatoes and salad. We’ll have hummus with carrot and celery sticks as a starter, and I’ve made a very rich chocolate thing for dessert, to be served with almond biccies and fresh strawberries.

Then I cleaned the bathroom, tidied up the living room (removing several layers of last week’s newspapers from the sofa) and hoovered round. Now I’m just having a break before starting to prepare the veg etc.

It’s been a fabulous day here – sunny all day, with a light breeze. Hope it lasts tomorrow, as Cambridge looks its best in this sort of weather. There’s a flower festival in Newnham Church which we might go to, but I’ll definitely take them round the college gardens.

Oh my goodness, Annie, what do I have to do to get an invitation to dinner?!

Richard xx

Well, as I said, I don't do entertaining, so I was quite surprised myself that I even bothered making a dessert!

However, it was very easy. Melt some 70% cocoa solid chocolate (Fair Trade, de préférence) in a bowl over hot water, with a dollop of honey and about a third of a carton of double cream. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly. Whisk the rest of the cream until it stands up in soft peaks, then fold it into the chocolate mixture. Put into glasses - I used small wine glasses, it is *very* rich - and chill for a several hours.

Yum.

Have you ever had a go at crannachan?

Douglas

Hello, all!

Is crannachan like atholl brose (I've got that right haven't I?)

I bought a whole salmon today and we're going to eat it cold. It's farmed but farmed locally and always tastes good.

The weather has been gorgeous here all week. I love this time of the year as the evenings stretch longer and longer. A pity my two at home are about to embark on exams. The eldest has an exam free term and only one tutorial. It's on a Friday so she can afford to take the weekend off before plunging into next week's essay. I was speaking to her on the phone today, she's off out for dinner tonight with the other girls on her staircase and she's intending to do all the Magdalen tower staying up all night business for Mayday. Was it Oscar Wilde who said "Youth is wasted on the young"? I wouldn't want to be that age again but it can be a golden time only you never appreciate it?

Oh well, that's enough wittering from me. I hope you all have a good weekend. I hope your dinner party goes well, Annie!

Eilis

My mother persuaded me to get up early a couple of years ago and walk down to Magdalene Bridge to hear the singing (she lives in Oxford - I didn't walk from Leeds!). It was lovely - and a good mixture of attendees - locals as well as students. Mum does it most years - but I don't think either of us could do the all night bit any more (nor the jumping in the river bit - much disapproved of nowadays). If the weather holds it should be good this year.

Your dinner sounds yummy Annie, I'm trying to resist the siren call of the local chippy...

hebe

Not bad going for one who doesn't entertain (she says). I admire the strength of character.
Just looking up the right recipe, having enough imagination to see that it will suit, and then the gathering of ingredients, and I feel I have to go back to bed. I sometimes doubt whether I really have my full contingent of female genes, or even human.
I have so gone out of the habit of preparing food that I would have to use a beginner's cookbook. I can only do scrambled eggs now. So it's an elaborate apéritif and then off to a restaurant.
Here's to the hostess with the mostest and we await full description of the Mongolian food (vegan?).