Big birthdays act like a magnifying glass. If you are happy then all the cake and presents accentuate your joyfulness, if you are a little sad , blowing out all those candles and the forced jollification can be a bit of an ordeal.
Pleasure and pain I find are two sides to the same coin. So I made it to my half century last week, 50 not out! Which I loved because of all the shenanigans, but felt a bit apprehensive about , as I was expecting some limb to randomly drop off ,or my marbles to finally go... I am glad to report I`m still fighting fit and ready for action!
It was a corker from start to finish... I climbed up Scout Scar with Jemima just before dawn to find out what the birds had been singing about. We listened to the birds , had a flask of hot chocolate and I was ready and waiting for my birthday to begin. The sunrise burning over the Howgill fells brought a tear to my eye.
There was a cross in the pink sky from a jet plane but it seemed like a heavensent kiss to me from George and Mildred my gorgeous Grandparents. They taught me how to play cards, love the gee gees, love Rowntrees factory waste and be kind to as many people as possible without need for recompense.
We all have a life script that we author by the choices we make. Romance , comedy and tragedy touch every life and I`m no different to anyone. I am lucky , but I know you make your own luck. The harder I work, the luckier I get. I have loved teaching for 25 years and helping young children realise how amazing they are still gets me where I live (mostly in the heart).
I have a wonderful encore career working with the homeless and vulnerable adults , teaching them to cook and love themselves. To be honest they`ve taught me so much more than I could ever hope to impart. They make me want to be better, kinder, more compassionate. We are after all just here to make life less difficult for one another. I love my life. I live for love. Lockdown has left me yearning for my family and hugs, blimey, when we`re let out properly in June no bugger will be safe from my clutches!
So the big birthday rumbled on , I got to have fish and chips with my Dad and little brother (he`s 45!) I got to eat Love heart sweets with my beautiful niece Lottie. We went to the Swan at Newby bridge and the food was unreal and we watched the sunset over Windermere.
Three garden parties , a swim in Coniston water and a surprise night out with the girls later I am wrecked! On my night out with my darling naughty Lily I was very badly behaved. At one point a very handsome work colleague appeared with another bottle of Prosecco for us, my friends were very disappointed to learn he was infact a probation officer rather than a stripper!
So there`s life in the old girl yet, I am surrounded by an abundance of goodness and love and I am grateful for every grey hair and wrinkle. Quite simply I have survived , the past fifty years have been lots of fun and I am excited at the fact I`ve been gifted more life to come. What a lovely life indeed. Face cream on the outside and double cream on the inside is the secret to my success and not taking myself too seriously. We`re here for a good time, not a long time...
Chicken korma in a Yorkshire pudding
When I was a student at Manchester University I appeared on the infamous This Morning with Richard and Judy as part of a student cookery competition. Richard loved this so much Judy had a strop and we didn`t win! I got to drink Champagne for breakfast though with my friend Melanie, maybe we would have done better if we weren`t drunk on daytime telly!
6 chicken thighs
2 onions sliced
4 cloves garlic
butter
curry powder
1 block creamed coconut
1 pint milk
2 tbs sugar
Coriander
1 large frozen Yorkshire pudding cooked.
This was real fusion food thirty years ahead of its time ha ha!
Fry the onions and garlic and curry powder in a big knob of butter until golden. Add the chicken thighs and brown them for 10 minutes , grate the block of creamed coconut into the pan, a tin of coconut milk will do if you can`t get the block version. Add the pint of milk to the pan otherwise. Add a chicken stock cube and the sugar and cook until the sauce has thickened . Top with a handful of fresh coriander and serve in the Yorkshire pudding, in place of a naan bread! I would prefer this to a birthday cake anyday and anyone who would like to make it for me would be mine forever!
