Wednesday, 30 April 2014

A Cambridgeshire Ramble (St Ives - Godmanchester)

A recent walk with the local Ramblers. Having not done a lot this year it was good to get out and about again and a gentle local walk was just the ticket. A bit chilly first thing it turned into a lovely spring day as the sun came out.

Starting from St Ives this was ~12.5 miles through the Hemmingfords to Godmanchester and then back to St Ives using the Ouse Valley Way and a nice tea stop at Houghton Mill. It may not be wilderness or mountains but it is a very pleasant local stroll.

Pictures below:

St Ives

Bridge Chapel, St Ives


St Ives


Hemmingford Grey



Hemmingford Grey

The Manor House

Heron

Hemmingford Grey

Godmanchester

Chinese Bridge

Godmanchester









Why??


Inquisitive


St Ives

Walk Over and inside the Oliver Cromwell in St Ives

Sunday, 13 April 2014

An Indulgent Bread and Butter Pudding

It's been a slow start to 2014 in many ways. Not a lot of walking, though to be fair, given the weather of the last few months it would have been more squelching than walking. Did a walk in January and that's been it so far this year. Thought I had blogged it but apparently not. Ooops... Guess I'll have to post it next.

Not much serious cooking either for one reason or another. At least nothing I've wanted to blog about... Still, feeling like I might be getting a bit of mojo back there. Thank you someone for the prod!

So bread and butter pudding. Classic British pudding. On the one hand it can be a great way to make something from some bread that's gone past it's best. On the other hand it can be made much more indulgent with a bit if planning.

These ingredients are for 1 pint (600ml) dish.

Brioche Fingers - 6
Orange marmalade
Raisins / Sultanas
Milk - 175mls
Double cream - 50mls
Eggs - 2
Caster Sugar - 12g
All Spice
Butter


Slice the brioche fingers in 2 and put a thin layer of marmalade on each one.
Grease the dish with butter and layer the brioche into the dish scattering some of the raisins / sultanas in as you go. Add a generous pinch of all spice (or nutmeg if you prefer) over the top.

Next make the custard. beat 2 eggs with the sugar in a bowl. Then add the milk and cream to a pan and heat the mix so it scalds (don't burn it). Add this mix to the egg /sugar mix slowly mixing as you go. This custard can then be poured over the bread. Preferably give it time to soak into the brioche (I left it for a couple of hours), otherwise just scatter a bit more caster sugar over the top now.

Put into an oven at 180C for about 35 mins (take out when nice and golden on top).

Serve hot. I poured over some more double creme (with a little vanilla extract) but ice cream or more custard would work well too.


Sorry there aren't any photos. Trust me though - it was delicious!

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Wicken Fen

It really is time to catch up with this blog. So, that is the aim for the next few weeks. Therefore, posts will appear (in no particular order) from walks around London, Kentish orchards and an evening in Southwold.


Wicken Fen Windpump


Today though it is a recent sunset at Wicken Fen. One of Britain's oldest nature reserves, the land was donated to the National Trust in 1901 by Charles Rothschild. Well, I say land, it is one of very few remaining wild Fens, most having been turned over to arable land for farming.

Having got there just in time for the sunset there was only time for a short walk round part of the boardwalk prior to setting up for sunset. The sky produced some good colours before the sun dipped behind the clouds on the horizon. I was then hoping to get some photos of the old wind pump with some stars in the background but the clouds really didn't want to co-operate with that idea. Just means I'll have to go back, and next time I'll leave myself more time for a wander around the site as it looks beautiful and tranquil...



Old wind pump

New wind pump



Colours changing rapidly now...


The sun is now behind the cloud on the horizon with
just a little colour reflecting off the higher level cloud...

Old Wind pump again. I was hoping there would be stars behind it at this point.
C'est la vie...

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Folkestone to Dover

Repeat after me: "I must not get so behind with my blog, I must not get so behind with my blog, I must not get so behind with my blog...

Folkestone


This walk was done at the weekend it what was some great weather for early November. A walk along the coast from Folkestone to Dover over the cliff tops and past lots of old fortifications (Napoleonic wars to WW2). A walk which I heartily recommend it was good to stretch the legs again with some friends.

Having met in Dover we got the train to Folkestone with the simple aim of walking back via the coast. The initial walk out of Folkestone took a while as we spend some time admiring various bits of the town and found a cafe doing a great deal on a cup of tea and a bacon butty. Well, it would have been rude not to stop...

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Folkestone

Man o' War


Anyway, having finally got to the harbour we admired the power of the waves (and the bravery / madness of the swimmers) before girding our loins for the big climb of the day. To be fair, while the climb from sea level to the cliff tops is a bit of a slog, once you are up high there is little other climbing to do.

Martello Tower


Martello Tower

Folkestone

France on the Horizon




Next stop was the Battle of Britain Memorial - a beautiful and very moving place. Definitely worth stopping for a while. From here it is a simple walk along the coast, just keep the sea to your right until you get back to Dover. Spend as much time as you like looking at all the old WW2 emplacements of which there are several. Just watch your footing if you step off the path!






A seat with a view

WW2 gun emplacement

WW2 Sound Mirror





Group photo

Thankfully the rain missed us!

Dover

Dover

Always worth looking backwards!


Dover

Western Heights

Dover Harbour at dusk

All in all a very good walk and one I'm sure I will do again.