Reprieve...

So having got the worst of that module out of the way now, I've got until the next module starts in February to amuse myself as I see fit. I'm a bit hyperactive really, so I'm not one for sitting around watching Jeremy Kyle when there's places to explore, skills to learn, people to meet and projects to get myself up to the neck in. And students to take on, which I've somehow agreed to saddle myself with two more of since I last posted here.

The local/sustainable food project has really just become an integral part of my lifestyle now, I keep forgetting it's a "thing" I'm meant to be documenting and posting about. But I do have some things to report...

Firstly, I got my hands on some Kettler's Cottage soap and hand salve, and I can't say enough good about it. For starters, the soap seems to be less harsh than your basic commercial stuff, so I'm not needing to use the hand salve as much as I'm used to using my usual cream. The salve itself takes a bit of getting used to (if you're used to cream/lotion) as it comes in a very solid block - well, it was very solid indeed when I got it as it had been in the gift shop of the freezing cold Boston Stump - but I've learned that keeping it on a warm windowsill makes it more erm, "rub-able", and you really don't need very much of it for the desired effect. I've got the cook's kitchen variety, which has a nice lemon-eucalyptus smell to it which I like. I'm sticking with it anyway.

Next on my toiletry quest will be shampoo, which is a bit of a challenge as I have a "troubled" scalp that has historically required the use of special shampoo - not just your basic Head & Shoulders but the really tough stuff. Whenever I've succumbed to the yearning to smell of something nice after I've washed my hair, and deviated from the usual stuff for a wash or two my scalp has itched like hell, but I'm wondering if it's because I've deviated in the direction of cosmetic shampoos that are bound to irritate me, whereas if I went in the direction of more simple preparations this might not be the case. I just need to find someone local that makes something I can try - watch this space.

My delivery from Ambala came - eventually! Unfortunately they use a private courier who, unlike our faithful Royal Mail postie, has no idea about the vagaries of rural addresses, and this invariably results in much frustration and hassle, so it wasn't until Monday when the second email saying they'd delivered it (but not to my house) came and my neighbour from across the field brought over the parcel that had been left in his shed. These were the delights that awaited me behind the parcel tape:

In fairness it was worth the wait... the chocolate barfi together with that amazing coffee make an afternoon treat absolutely to die for. After no small amount of wrestling with myself I let my buddy Wayne share in the experience when he popped by and his reaction was to stop mid-sentence, slap the table several times and cry "My God! My taste buds have just come to life! They've been dead all this time!" I don't think I can give any higher praise than that. Also, the garlic sauce goes absolutely amazingly with steak and chips!


Now, if you'll pardon me, I've got a late lunch here of Lincolnshire haslet with melted Just Jane cheese and homemade balsamic glaze on my own bread.