Looking Out To Sea

Another sign language lesson out the way. I had completely forgotten there was homework (and was still a bit fuzzy on the purpose anyway) but no-one else had done it either. The first assessment is next week. I’m not so worried now about content, but I’m still a bit iffy on length. It’s meant to be 3–5 minutes but I’m struggling to break through the 2½ minute mark right now. As with all presentations, it’s a combination of not being sure what’s relevant, or what’s interesting, and going too darn fast.

Regarding homework, my boss was good enough to transfer a video of signed stories over to DVD. I haven’t checked the quality yet, but we don’t have a VHS player at all so it’s still a massive improvement. I might stick it on my computer and cut it up into little bite-sized chunks; that’ll make for easier viewing.

After class a few of us went to the pub. A place called The Street, which I can’t find a URL for anywhere — but with a name as search-unfriendly as that, are you surprised? I wore my nifty black fedora and got a lot of compliments, so that was nice. But I’m pretty exhausted today, so I’m going to call it a night.

Saw Stardust last night and it was fabulous. I’ve not read the book, though a friend of mine who has read it was a bit disappointed by the film. From a quick read of the Wikipedia page, there are lot of differences and missing segments in the film. I’m trying to imagine what it would be like to read. How typically Gaiman-like? Not like Sandman, not like American Gods.

But the film, that was really good. It was full of recognisable British faces. (Most of Green Wing seemed to be there as minor characters. Mark Heap as Prince Tertius was a real shock.) And Claire Danes, oh how lovely she is. (I’m a child of a particular generation, obviously.) And it all sparkled like a shiny thing.

It was exactly what I hoped for in a fairy tale, but not what I expected from Matthew Vaughn (director of Layer Cake). Everybody should see this one, because it’s such pleasant fun. You can spend the slack moments trying to work out where you’ve seen all the character actors before, and then you can enjoy the crazy bits like everyone else. Not that there are any slack bits, actually. It’s great.

This one’s for Alima. For the filling:

• 15 fresh dark plums, halved and stoned
• 50g butter
• A slosh of vanilla essence
• Gratings of nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 100ml red wine
• 50ml water
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 3 tbsp caster sugar

And for the crumble:

• 100g butter, softened
• 100g demerara sugar
• 200g plain flour

Instructions

1. Make the crumble first by mixing the butter and flour into a breadcrumb consistency, then mixing in the sugar. Put it into the fridge until needed (can be made well in advance).
2. Heat the oven to 200°C.
3. Sauté the plums with butter in a hot frying pan for a few minutes.
4. Add the remainder of the ingredients for the filling to make a nice spiced-wine sauce surrounding the plums.
5. Bring to the boil. The recipe says simmer for 6-8 minutes; experience suggests 15 minutes or more won’t harm it at all. The plums will break down properly and the spices will permeate everything.
6. Put the mixture into an oven dish and cover with the crumble mixture. Cook for about 25 minutes or until you can’t wait any longer.

Adapted from James Martin’s Desserts. The original was far too sweet (it had 5 tablespoons of golden syrup and 4 of sugar!) and included such freaky stuff as star anise. I think this method tempers the excesses and tastes brilliant with vanilla ice cream.

It’s amazing the way the brain works. I made a spiced plum crumble a few weeks ago, cooked with a cinnamon stick in the mix. The flat smelled fantastic: of mulled wine and winter fruits and other celebrations that take place as the nights draw in. Hallowe’en, Guy Fawkes, Christmas.

Well, it would have been a silly waste to just think about how nice it all was without sharing. So we’ve got friends coming round tonight to eat great, warming winter food. Roast vegetables, spiced drinks, curried chick peas.

I’ve got little chocolate cupcakes waiting to be iced right now. I can smell the vegetables roasting. The new sofa arrived this morning so we even have enough seats for people coming. It’s great!

I trust everybody else will have a good night too. Eat well and enjoy yourselves. We certainly intend to!

I couldn’t resist this comment from Rhetorically Speaking:

Our society is broken don’t you agree? I suggest we look at the changes which have taken place since the time that it wasn’t broken.

I love that. The notion that we just take a diff from last week to this week and we can tell exactly where it all “went wrong”. How delightfully naive.