It happened to me last week and at the time I thought here’s a wee blog to post. I will be interested to learn if any of you guys have had a smiling experience.

What was it then? Well it occurred when I went to the hairdressers. Establishments that are not what one would call funny, in fact men’s hairdressing salons are generally peaceful havens and very quiet. Hardly anyone ever speaks a word the whole time your hair is being cut. Words are exchanged as you are escorted to a chair and after you have popped your bum onto the seat the hairdresser will enquire as to what delightful creation he can make. Pretty difficult for him when a gruff voice responds with ‘Short back and sides.’  Sorry I’m jesting. That comment I have not heard for may a long year. It’s interesting how the young hairdressers here spend time trimming with meticulous care and snipping the teeniest piece of hair from ones head.

Years past in my youth I used to go to a barbers shop where the owner was the hairdresser and as familiarity developed then so did the chat. Frank something or other was his name and his shop was in Pillory Street. It may still be there for all I know, its so long since I’ve been home. Where’s that you may ask. Well it’s in a beautiful old market town called Nantwich in Cheshire, England. If you ever visit then go into the church, it really is a beautiful place of worship.

But I digress. Back to the theme Taylor. Right, my present barbers shop – hold on a moment, I need to first set the scene for you. In the country where I now live there are many modes of dress due to the various nationalities residing here. Because of the heat and sunny weather the white faces from Asia, Europe and America are often seen wearing lightweight shirts and pants while others sport tee-shirts, shorts and flip-flops as they saunter through shoping malls. The gents from Pakistan wear their national dress, Indian nationals dress like the European/Americans and the locals wear the long sparkling white, crispy clean, beautifully ironed Kandur, or Dishdash as it is affectionately referred to by the Westerner. For those not familiar with this item of clothing its like a long ladies dress. Na-all are generally worn on bare feet, sandles to the uninitiated. Right so here we go.

In the salon there are numerous cutting stations established over the floor area. A station comprises two units back to back separated by a vertical sheet of glass. On each side there is a tall cupboard set to one side, then a shelf with a mirror over, Below the shelf is the glass wall down to the floor. So each of the two chairs face each other but when you sit in the chair you look into the mirror.

Taylor sits in the chair, the shirt collar is loosend and an elasticated band is fitted around the neck before a white cotton sheet is thown over the body. It is fixed aroung the neck band and flows down to the floor covering ones legs. Now we are ready for the cutting. I look into the mirror to see a reflection of my face and the white shroud around my body and as my eyes lower down the mirror, past the shelf towards the floor the vision of two bare feet in sandles projecting from below a kandura where my feet should have been startles me. They are not my feet. Not the feet I expected to see attached to my body. Oh my god, what’s going on!
The smile then follows. I was was of course looking through the glass below the mirror and shelf at the feet of the guy sitting facing me in the chair opposite. It really is a strange experience at first.
So there you have it. A wee smile to ones day.

Time to close and wish you a happy reading and smiling day.

Caio.

One of my passions in life is food and an enjoyable evening is passed with friends enjoying fine fare and a wee glass or two. And one of the nicest places for me to spend such an evening is in the beautiful countryside in France and so I thought it would be interesting to write about a fruit that is grown in that country. This fruit is not only brilliant in its colour but it is probably the most superb fruit of all in the fight against the dreaded ‘C’.  Its far easier to take, has nowhere near the side effects or cost of Chemo-therapy. I speak of course of the brilliant little yellow Lemon.

To many the taste of a raw lemon would bring a shudder to their body and a screwed up face but my little one loves to suck the juice just as she does with an orange. With the availability of fruit from around the world we tend to forget the best time fruit is to be eaten. For the lemon its January to March. Those months are now past but as I take the juice every day we always have a bowl of lemons in the kitchen.

Choosing lemons is something I pondered for some time and as I usually squeeze out the juice I try to search for those with thin unblemished skins that feel heavy for their size. As you may know many have thick and oily skins and these I try to avoid. A good tip if you wish to extract as much juice as possible is to roll the lemon back and forth under the palm of your hand an a flat surface or if your not up for that then pop it into a microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. The warmth breaks down the fibres of the flesh.

The lemon is of course used in cooking so if you are to use the zest then choose unwaxed lemons otherwise you will have to scrub them thoroughly before using. I use lemons in marinades for meat and fish and I also stuff a couple of lemon halves into a chicken before roasting. I learnt a tip many years ago that adds to add great flavour to a roast and that is to tuck a few slices between the skin and flesh together with a few sprigs of thyme. I actually experiment with all kinds of herbs when cooking.

One of the things my daughter has learned is to squeeze lemon juice over a pancake sprinkled with sugar and this she considers great fun. She has to be watched thought otherwise a whole lemon half will go on one pancake. At five years she is now quite adept at sprinkling sugar by tapping a spoon gently so that the sugar is spread evenly over a pancake before the lemon is squeezed over it. Many use maple syrup but I was brought up  with sugar and never feel the need to change.

Ones own made lemonade in a jug with ice cubes is a refreshing drink on a hot summers day. Some friends like it spiked and that can be quite potent. Hot summer days recall memories of France and as that is a consideration for a trip in a few months time then I shall have to get the Google earth globe rolling on the screen to view where we are going.

Don’t forget. The lemon is a gem of a fruit and one of the best fruits ever for our health.

My next few words will be written in a few weeks from now and as I am a foodie I may well enlighten you with another little gem of food that is good for the body.

Until then take care, reach for the stars and may all your dreams be happy ones.

I guess by now that unless you live in outer Siberia or in places where world news is not recieved then you must have heard about The Wedding this Friday when Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton tie the knot. My guess is that nearly every village, town and city across the UK will be awash with memorabilia.  But what do events of this magnitude do for the British? They signal party time! Already the day has been declared a national holiday and if your not in London trying to get a glimpse of the wedding then for sure the nation will be glued to the tele. You may think the World Cup is a big event. My guess is that in the UK this will be bigger.  It is a major attraction for the ladies and that alone will boost television viewing figures.

But it’s party time. And what kind of party will be held on such an auspicious occasion. Why a Street Party of course. A party where neighbours and friends all get together and set up long line of tables in the street and fill them with food and drinks for all the kids with adults to finish them of later. Buntings and flags will be flying everywhere. The atmosphere will be alive with laughter and sound. The children should have a whale of a time. It’s a British thing. I believe it started in the early nineties, 1919 rings a bell. Street parties have a long tradition and have been held for over the years for national events. Close off the end of the street guys and lets party.

It would be great to be back this weekend but alas it will not happen. Still its our weekend day so we are not labouring away. But what prompted my phone call and to whom? The street party was of course the prompt. There are thousands of Briish children living in this country and I thought wouldn’t it be brilliant for them if the British Embassy was to throw a party in celebration of the wedding for the children and Brits living here. In later years when asked ‘Where were you when the wedding took place?’ they could proudly respond ‘Oh! We were celebrating in a big party at the British Embassy.’ Pity I’m a romantic but unfortunately its not going to happen. My call this morning was to the Embassy to enquire about a party on the lawn. ‘Oooh Harry. Sorry, there will be a party but only for a select few. All the invitations have been sent and the lists closed.’ I will wager a bet that not many children will be there.

A great shame. A great opportunity missed. Events such as this do not occur very often. Whether or not there will be the same fever in the UK when Prince Harry gets married one knows not. So I will sign off to our country cousins around the world and wish you pleasant viewing wherever you are.
Take care.
ht.

In this blog I return to one of my favourite pastimes-Sport. It’s changes drastically since I my youth in many, many ways and in numerous instances not for the better. 

Attitude! Where are we with it now. Every player and supporter wants their team to win but hasn’t  attitude gone beyond the realms of normality? Aggression is evident now both on and off a football field in the UK and it make one wonder if that is the place to take ones children on a Saturday afternoon. When a footballer scores a goal its like looking in a goldfish bowl as they strut around with mouths wide open kind of mouthing ‘Look at me.’ Then there’s the glaring at one another and the niggling fouls they commit for most of the game. Watch closely the antics in a penalty box when a corner is being taken. Defenders have their arms wrapped around an opposition player in an attempt to stop him getting the ball and the referee does nothing about it.- Sportsmanship! 

But is TV now not to blame for exposing what goes on an a field of play. Not only in the UK but worldwide? Players have an awful habit of spitting and it probability never occurs to these mega rich guys that their habits are screened in minute detail. Multiple cameras are at most events and they appear to cover everything in sight from spectators to  snails, birds, blades of grass and back to spectators. It is doubtful if there is anywhere on a ground that the intrusive camera eye cannot zoom in on. But is it really necessary.

Consider cricket and the World Cup that has just finished. Cricketers appear to spit on the ground all the time, perhaps they feel their saliva is good for the soil but what about bowlers who spit and rub saliva on the ball? Its all their in our home as we sit eating food or having a drink. But do we really want to see it? Reality TV records everything and unfortunately little gets edited out especially the nasty bits and I for one am not keen on seeing a globule approaching at a fair rate of knots while sitting in front of the tele.

It’s a nasty habit used by footballers in contempt of others and one that is picked up quickly by children. Most of whom only need to see something once and they start repeating it. But the agression and nastiness displayed on our sports fields kind of destroys the name ‘Sports’ as the players no longer live up to that image. They are in a job unfortunately still classified as a sport. Perhaps the word ‘sports’ should no longer be assocaited with profesional games anymore.

Football in the UK is referred to as  “The beautiful game.’ When I was a lad it was, but alas not any more. The aggression has permeated from the field of play onto the terraces and visa-versa and its not a pleasant sight.I remember being at Molineaux many year ago watching a Man U v Wolves game and at the end the United supporters stormed onto the pitch in droves chanting vile abuse as they made their way out of the ground. A far cry from the time of the fathers of those supporters.  

It will be interesting to see where we are in the world in say ten years from now. I hope its for the better.

A few weeks ago I was in London for the first time in many a year and just had to visit two of my favourite food haunts. Harrods Food Hall and Marks and Spencers. I simply love to stroll through Harrods taking in all the different foods and now there are more places within to have a bite to eat. M & S for me is one of the best for quality food in the UK and they are such innovators. My son tells me that they are now being caught by the other supermarkets but to be honest they are the brand leader, if I am to compare in such a manner.

I would love to compare with similar outlets in the US and perhaps the chance will occur some time in the future. I would in the meanwhile appreciate comment from my American readers on their thoughts on food outlets across the States.

A habit of mine is reading the small print on labels attached to bottles and cans and it makes interesting reading at times. I don’t mean the Nutrition Information, that is also of interest, but wee stories about the producers. It has crossed my mind in the past about how many people actually read about what they are consuming and the products  producers. My guess is not many. Generally we buy a product because we know it by name and its rare to find many in a grocery store peering at a label. Where product reading may be found is in a wine store when in general the search is for the grape variety and perhaps the alcohol percentage.

Last week I came across a lovely story of a producer in the States who started in the business may years ago to eventually reach nationwide acclaim. In fact it is the story of a couple who unfortunately are no longer with us but their son is now managing a very successful business. So I thought it would be interesting to make a few statements and see if any of you can advise me what product the patrons produce.

The name of the couple I have just mentioned is Jess S Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke. I would really love to spend time on their estate as I have been to similar in France. Perhaps if someone mentions my blog to their son I might get an invite. I Wish!  Then there is the Macays family business, great product for me a breakfast time. Any Idea?     A renowned producer in CA is Robert Mondavi, but of what?  From LA there is McIlhenny Co. Their product is a must for me with a particular Italian dish. And from Chile we have Aurilio Montes. From across the pond to Germany we find the Loosen Bros with an absolutely divine product that was a favourite of my best friend Dr. Willie Halcrow who sadly left us much too early in life. It was through attending  Willies funeral in the Highlands that I found myself in London. I wonder if he knew the Macays, for sure he would have tried their product. From the Highlands we must not forget Audrey Baxter who’s family product has been around as far back as I care to remember. Finally I will close with a product certified carbon neutral that is French in essence but Chilean by birth. Its name is Lapostolle. It was number 1 in the year 2008. Can you name the product?

In another blog I will write about chefs as they are an interesting subject for food buffs and also restaurants around the world. Well that’s it for now. I wish you all good health, happiness and reading. Especially if you have my book Rogues, Riches and Retribution in your hand. If not, shame on you. Smile.

ht

The Oscars attract attention from around the globe and no doubt our interests differ. The first headline that caught my attention this year was the performance of mine host Ricky Gervais. Press reports varied, as they do. Some saying he went too far with his comments, others saying he got it right. Then there was the will he, wont he be invited back next year. Think we will have to wait and see on that one.

Then there were the predictions of who will win what. Most got it right with Colin Firth and now I read that he might get  a knighthood. This may be encouraging for other actors to play the part of a royal. No doubt some film maker has it in mind come up with a movie on the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and his lady with Harry as best man.

But the glamour of the Oscars must surely be the gals and their dresses and that’s where I’m going now. One wonders what the gals have in mind when attending the event. Where to place the emphasis. On appearing with an catching hear do or wearing exquisite but bold jewellery or a dress noticed for its colour or flamboyant design. I guess we will never know the answer to that one. In the none too distant past and because of the economic world situation  Hollywood’s big attractions have featured kind of vintage gowns, calm colours and fairly simple designs, and minimal jewelery.

But this year was different. The gals were wearing distinctive designer gowns with accents on cut, drape, shoulders and sleeves. The colours were a brilliant mix from pale shades and the mention of nude skin tones to striking reds, orange and bold purple. Some designs were futuristic and the gals are beginning to dress a little more crazy. I often wonder at times with ladies fashion whether its a one upmanship to wear a dress so way out that it will not be repeated or worn by others.

The styles were not too dissimilar to those at the Golden Globe Awards the month earlier. Both events must be brilliant for the designers and creators of fashion. I believe statements were made with accessories like bracelets, necklaces, classic diamonds and also lots of colour like aquamarine, ruby and gold. But the gals have to strike a fine balance on choice. Accentuate the hairdo, the dress or the jewellery. One should not attempt all. If its a dress and jewellery then the hair should be fairly simple and not overly complicated. If hair is to be the attraction then colour is a huge factor for consideration. Hey, how about a wild bright red hairdo to get one noticed? Hair his year was glossy and shiny and the girls did well with colours from gorgeous reds, rich brunettes to beautiful blonds. All enhanced the colour they chose.

We all have our favourites. My little one is only just five but already into fashion. Her favourite ladies are the Disney girls in their flowing gowns and hair colours of blond, brunette, red etc. She will ask which is my favourite but before I can respond she has named hers. All bar the one with black hair. Guess which is my choice.

Anyhow the gals looked great and we all enjoyed another feast of fashion so we wait till next year for the red carpet to roll out yet again and Rick to entertain us as only he knows how. Can’t wait!!   I think an apt peace to end this blog must surely be that of the American legend Casey. ‘Reach for the stars but keep your feet firmly on the ground.’ I’m still reaching and wishing. It would have been interesting to have met him. Great radio voice that we are fortunate to hear every week where I live.