Monthly Archives: April 2011

Tweets on 2011-04-04

  • RT @william_summers: What the hell have the Lib Dems done? http://bit.ly/gd6M1X #
  • @dr_nick that's insane – ours is an average of around 12kWh leccy per day, 18 in the winter, 9-10 over the summer. #
  • Finally plating Sunday lunch #
  • Divvying up remaining chicken between Monday's pie and Tuesday's risotto and making stock with the rest, the peelings and the veg water. #
  • I gather from a flurry of socmed happenings that I've been on telly again. I suppose this is just how life goes, now. #cdwm @scottm @jaekay #
  • @rfenwick has he got Emu with him? #
  • @adamrio did you approve that message? #
  • @jamesmcgraw it's a QR Code, which can be read by smartphone barcode reader. That one points to a website with a photo of a cctv cam. #
  • @Psythor last date to register to vote is 14th April. But you'll still be able to vote at your old address. #

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PODCAST: How do the government’s political reforms measure up to the Great Reform Act?

Soon after becoming Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg promised “the most significant programmes of reform by a British government since the 19th century…. the biggest shake-up of our democracy since 1832.” But how do the Coalition government’s constitutional changes actually compare to the changes brought in by the Great Reform Bill of 1832?

That question was addressed by a meeting organised by the Liberal Democrat History Group earlier this year, with speakers our own Dr Mark Pack (who studied nineteenth century elections and electoral reform for his PhD) and the History of Parliament Trust’s Dr Philip Salmon. Here now for those who couldn’t make the meeting is a podcast.

You can also read a review of Philip Salmon’s book Electoral Reform at Work: Local Politics and National Parties 1832-1841 here.

Tweets on 2011-04-03

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Tweets on 2011-04-02

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Insanely cute lambs

Have you seen this yet? I keep popping back to play it again. A man bleats and a little chorus of lambs bleat in response. I think I’ve seen primary school classes less well behaved and co-ordinated than these cute lambs.

Trying to work out if I can strip the audio off and use the bleating sound as my text message tone on my phone!

Pudding Club: another go at tarte bourguignonne

I made tarte bourguignonne for another group of friends.

This time I used 4 pears not 3; made jelly with the poaching wine and used that to glaze the tarte; and also made a vanilla mascarpone to go with it, by beating a 250 gram tub of mascarpone with the seeds from a vanilla pod, a splash of home made vanilla essence and a tablespoon of icing sugar. Delish!

Here’s the picture:

IMAG0414.jpg

Pudding Club: poached pear trifle

This is something I made ages ago but, it appears, neglected to write up.

I have poached pears in red wine a fair few times in the last twelve months, and half the time ended up throwing away the sweetened, spicy red wine poaching liquid. That seems such a waste, and so recently it occurred to me, as it did with the strawberry / rosé wine combo, to turn the liquid into a jelly.

Then that thought led to the thought of making trifle, using the pears, their poaching liquid as the jelly, homemade custard and whipped cream.

Heart attack waiting to happen!

So poach 4 peeled, whole pears in 200mls red wine, 200mls water, 200 grams sugar, and flavour with everything your spice rack can throw at it. I used 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, 4 cardamom pods, a few slices of ginger root, a bay leaf. Boil the pears gently until you can easily run a toothpick through them – time will depend on how ripe they are. Once they are there, turn off the heat until cool then refrigerate overnight.

The following day, core and slice the pears into individual serving bowls. Soak gelatine leaves in cold water, strain and reserve the poaching mix, and bring it back to the boil. Add the gelatine to the poaching mix, stir well, and pour the jelly over the pears. Allow to set.

Make custard – Delia’s quantities were not quite enough for four portions, in my experience. Allow custard to set.

Shortly before serving, whip cream and add to top with sprinkles as preferred.

Can’t quite believe it, but I didn’t take any pictures of this!

Tweets on 2011-04-01

  • Insanely cute lambs bleating on command. http://chzb.gr/gRuH2w #
  • Blimey, @christofhughes prompted me to check download stats for Invisible Man http://bit.ly/fEkKxL. 157k since 2006! And lovely reviews. #
  • @sarabedford tea or teapot? Cake / biscuits eg shortbread? a toy monkey you could call an Inselaffe and hope they have sense of humour? #
  • What's the going rate for getting a relatively simple Facebook app developed? #lazyweb #
  • RT @popcap_games: We currently have 29 job openings! http://bit.ly/fejxzQ <<< including some based in Dublin #

  • Leftover pastry so made jam tarts. Major flashback to St Michael's toddler group! http://flic.kr/p/9uQmuT #
  • Last few minutes for "Dinner for Two at Fothergill's" groupon deal http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/nottingham/fothergrills/304645/.vUM3cT #
  • Aargh help. Somone just burst into my house, frogmarched me into the street and put me in the boot of their car. #
  • No idea what's going on but they were frighteningly fast and quiet #
  • You'd have thought professionals would have known to take my phone off me tho. #
  • Hmmm. So destination was East Mids Airport. I hope this is going to turn out to be a romantic break or something. #
  • Well. I have to say. I have never been on a plane like this. Big wide seats, leather, personal steward. #
  • WTF is going on? Who do I know who can afford a plane like this? Have to go – still keeping phone secret from heavies. #
  • Apparently destination – Belize?! I've vaguely heard of that but I hvae no idea where it is. #
  • Could be something to with this? RT @libdemvoice Major changes at Lib Dem Voice http://ldv.org.uk/23625 #
  • @10anta nope #
  • Ooh, Re-Cycle Cardboard Bike at Firebox.com http://bit.ly/hg1ZwJ – complete with paper chain! #

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