Eat, drink and be merry...
because this fekking horrible year, that was supposed to be better than its shitstorm predecessor, is nearly over!
Don`t get me wrong...i`m from Yorkshire, God`s own country, full of Northern charm and grit. But I`ve had a bellyfull of 2021 and I`m dumping it like a badass.
January we went into another Lockdown and the twins return to University was delayed. For me the biggest "Smother" going I was delighted , for them not so much fun. Lily is a home bird , so she didnt really mind staying a little longer, grazing from the "Christmas fridge" as she calls it and hosting karaoke parties in our disco ball lit kitchen. James has a beautiful bird in Durham whom he pined for so much that I`m sure we broke the law for and asked her to join us. I discovered Instagram as I had to give up my beloved Nokia brick phone and get a phone that I could be contacted on 24hrs a day by work, friends, strangers all wanting me to "like" them. I`m a very friendly lass but I miss my pre Covid Luddite innocence.
February, no Valentines except from homeless people, maybe they counted more. We managed to get our homeless lads vaccinated early, that brought a tear to my eyes, those who were last came first for once. Little bit of snow, zero degrees in the classroom and all the windows open. Zoom quizzes, Zoom lessons online and Zoom Hokey cokey with the Nursery class just to give their Mums half an hour off. Mr N took great delight in bringing me my Ribena in a large wine glass and plonking it down mischievously in full view of my colleagues at virtual staff meetings. The bar was open every night of course. I think I really realised the value of hugs that month. Hug deprivation set in.
March gave us an amazing early Spring and I felt in love with the World and flowers and music again. April marked my half century, I saw the sunrise with Jemima. We reopened our kitchens at Manna House and welcomed everyone back, outdoors parties of 6 were all the rage. It was warm enough to go swimming in Coniston and that became my escape. Swimming in Coniston water is magical, deep enough to cover all the shipwrecks in any girl`s heart.
May and June I went quite loopy and spent all my birthday money on tickets for concerts, live music was so
amazing to hear again...to feel alive again. July we got Covid in the Neal house, the happy by product being we all realised how much people cared for us and we shed our Lockdown Corona curves as we didnt eat much for weeks and were bed or toilet bound! I had it bad and collapsed, waking moments later to finding Matt with his head up my nightie about to attempt CPR.
August we came to life in Wales and Cornwall and the weather was so kind, we were happy again, literally solar powered the lot of us. September and October I began working more at Manna House cooking which is my reason for being here I think, and actually looked forward to going to work each morning- the dream. Another holiday to Cornwall calmed any hurt in my heart and soul, the sea, the moon, the stars weaved their magic on me.
November and December have been interesting , a bout of Bell`s Palsy, then catching Covid at Midnight mass for my sins are two adventures I could have done without. Even in the depths of despair there have been moments of gallows humour that have dragged me through. Every day spent at Nursery has saved my sanity. The pure joy of watching their faces when Santa visited and being called Clarebear by a 4 year old who told me I should seriously buy a motorbike has put lead in my old worn down pencil!
My cats are basically psychic and won`t leave my side, I think I`m going through the "many paws " and will become a mad cat lady yet. So in retrospect it hasn`t been all bad.
There has been music, flowers, love, sunsets, sunrises, heartbreak and restoration. All underpinned by the best ship that is friendship.
Maybe I could go back to playing snake games solo on my Nokia, I think not,maybe the Pandemic has brought us all closer together and I shouid cherish that. It has been a Coronacoaster ride for me this year but I am certainly glad to still be here. I will still be in isolation on New Year`s eve, maybe Covid is the gift that keeps giving. I am excused from any parties. I`ve realised I`m not as sociable as I pretended to be.
I will be happy to kiss 2021 goodbye , in my Kimono, drinking a massive glass of homemade orange wine and I will remember all my friends who have made life less difficult for me, in my hopes and prayers for a healthy and wealthy 2022 jam packed with shenanigans and love and shedloads of roast potatoes. The key to happiness!
Roast potatoes
Peel a bag of red skinned potatoes and halve and boil in salted water for 10 minutes.
In the oven have some lard, beef dripping or olive oil heating up.
Drain the potatoes and give a really good duffing up, so they are fluffy round the edges. Sprinkle 2tbs dried semolina over them and shake them up. Pour the potatoes carefully into the hot fat and cook in a hot oven 200 degrees until crunchy and golden. Add seasalt afterwards before serving.
I like to serve these with roast beef that has been coated in brown sugar and mustard, and cauliflower cheese from my last blog. Oh and Yorkshire puddings, I am the personification of a Yorkshire pudding. Nowt special , cheap but delicious!!
Happy New Year to all my besties, you know who you are, I couldnt do without you xxx
