Fellow blind veteran and I had a happy morning creating 20 delicious apple cakes. Although Will is a dab hand in the kitchen after his catering training in the Territorial Army, cakes were a different venture. We used my tried-and-tested…
Just bought a fabulous new washing machine from a very famous German manufacturer. Huge capacity and wonderful washing. But… Absolutely appalling controls. Very sensitive touch buttons that are so easy to activate inadvertently when brushing past the machine, emptying it…
The birthday balloon remains banished to the downstairs loo. After all these weeks, the helium is struggling. I learned, years ago, of the consequences of free-wheeling balloons: sensors triggered; alarm goes off; police with dogs arrive! Ever since, as much…
We’ve been getting in the mood: trees are up and decorated, every present wrapped, (most) cards sent and the pudding and cake made. Last weekend was a joyous lunch for nearly 30 friends (though some had to bale out with…
Former Royal Navy Commander and barrister, Penny Melville-Brown, was elected as the Chairman of the Fareham and District Beekeepers’ Association last week. The hives of over 100 members of this thriving organisation stretch from the coast at Gosport to the…
This week it was the Not Forgotten Christmas lunch at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel! The charity provides events all over the country and a Garden Party at Buck House (I’ve been twice) for us military veterans, many of us…
A total surprise and I couldn’t understand why the sous-chef had been so insistent that I had a haircut. An early birthday (and Christmas) present. A special dinner cooked by James Martin and his team at the lavishly posh…
Lamb tajine is one of the easiest dishes to make, freeze in portions and bung in the microwave when the weather is really cold and miserable – just like last weekend. With 1.5kg lamb, I created 18 meals. Thanks to…
Blind Ugandan beekeeper Ojok Simon was one of the winners of the international Holman prize in 2017 (along with me). His award-winning project was teaching his blind country-fellows how to keep bees and achieve more financial independence. Sadly and…
Just down the road in Stubbington: about 100 eager listeners to my latest talk from the local U3A group. Brilliant news: I’m now able to stand for at least an hour which is great progress since falling down the stairs…
