Food and Kindness

The "Horticultural Enhancer" hat Jack got for Christmas.

 Hello to all of you!  I hope you are all keeping well.  Today I'm writing about some of the things which keep me, a fairly active seventy-nine year old male, in good nick.  

Jack wrapping himself around a
bacon buttie for breakfast

So first, some people (i.e. my friend, the vicar who copies and edits whatever I write) don't always approve of what I eat.  For example, what's wrong with having a salad with coleslaw and Rice Crispies on top to embellish it and make it look nice?  Or porridge, which I have every other morning?  "Nothing wrong with that", I can hear you saying,   "Porridge is very good for you".  But (wait for it) I like it with barbecue sauce on top to enhance the flavour.  

The last time I went to the vicar's we had homemade leek and potato soup and bread buns but no butter as I had forgotten get any from the supermarket on the way.  I got a stern reprimand from the vicar.  Anyway, the vicar asked if I would like yoghurt on the soup.  I was aghast because her soup is the best I have ever tasted so why spoil it by putting yoghurt in it?  I don't mind metal hooks which I get from time to time with it but I think she must have shares in a dental practice and she gets 20% commission every time she recommends them.  

It's not very often I have to cook for myself.  I'm one of the luckiest people around.  My neighbours and lots of other folk are so kind to me, feeding me and giving me stuff.  The vicar says I'm scrounging.  No I'm not!!!  I might comment that something looks or smells good if someone is cooking or baking.  I get pies and meals given to me so I don't often have to cook more than once a week.  God loves a tryer and I'm certainly that.  

I pay people back in many more ways, the most important being that I spend time with a lot of lonely people and after a couple of hours I've lifted their spirits and cheered them up.  I hope even the vicar will agree with me on that.

Please look after each other and be kind to your fellow humans

Jack

I am in disgrace and it's lovely!

It's been the sort of day that I dread and yet dream of.  It's the day that Jack came to sort out the garden.  (In case you are worried we maintained correct distancing and he didn't come in the house.)

I had warned him that it was dire. But he seemed not to have taken my warnings on board.

Here's how it was.  

And here's how it looks now.

He's threatened promised to come back.  He's also threatened promised to write a blog post.

Before he tells you what a disgrace I am I will say that I was ready when he arrived at 6am, that I kept him well supplied with cups of tea, that I gave him home made soup and also sandwiches made of home made bread and home cooked ham.  And there were no hooks.

And he went home with a loaf of home made bread

He

Gold

Yesterday I was invited out for a very special lunch - a lunch to celebrate Mr and Mrs Jack's Golden Wedding.

They were married fifty years ago in this lovely church of which I later became vicar.  

Together they had two children and now have three grandchildren.  

They have enriched each other's lives and the lives of many others - including me!  Yesterday their family and a few friends gathered at a pub to celebrate with them.  

Jack dearly loves to make a speech so we knew we were going to be entertained yesterday.  I can't remember why part of the speech was made with a plunger on his head.

But I do know very well why I was presented with a hook.

I'm so glad that Mr and Mrs Jack found each other and married all those years ago.

And I am privileged to be one of their friends.

Note for new readers.  Jack is my gardener, handyman and friend and he appears frequently on this blog.    We have known each other over twenty years but for this last year he has been waiting for knee replacement surgery and then recovering from that surgery.  This link will tell you why Jack wanted to give me a hook. 

I never thought I would type a post like this!

Hi everyone!  Jack* here.  It's been well over a year since I posted on this blog and it's time I did, so here goes.

I haven't been to my friend's house for well over a year now because of knee problems but she's been to see me many times.  Just before Christmas she came and brought me a Santa bag which I wasn't expecting.  In it there was a woolly hat, a Christmas jumper, some cans of Mackeson, a sugar mouse, a book and a DVD each about Lincolnshire, some hand-warmers and many more things, about eighteen in fact.  If there was an award for kindness she would win it hands down.  I'm not the only one she visits so I hope the others appreciate it as much as I do.

The last sixteen months have been the worst in my life.  I was restricted in what I could do but after waiting 390 days I've finally had my knee done.  I've never had pain so bad.  I was on painkillers every two hours but now, fourteen days after the op, I can finally feel an improvement.  I just can't imagine how people on their own manage.  My wife has been brilliant .  I just couldn't have managed without her.   She's had to do everything: cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, putting the rubbish out, and taking our little dog for walks.  To make matters worse I've only been sleeping 3-4 hours a night, getting up with her help from 3am.  She must be so tired.  I say to all husbands, "Treasure, treat and look after your missis: they expect so little in return."  We have a very special anniversary celebration coming up to which my vicar friend is invited.  It will be a nice change for me to take her out for dinner but I might see the chef and ask him to put a hook or something in her's to make up for some of the stuff I've had to endure over the years.  We put on the invites that we didn't want any presents or gifts.  The only present we ever wanted all our married lives was each other.  We will enjoy our special meal with family and a few friends for a couple of hours - that will be perfect.

I'd like to finish by thanking everyone who has asked the vicar about me.  To Boyett-Brinkley, Rambler and Margie from Toronto, your kind words meant so much.  I'm sure The Vicar will keep you all up-to-date.  Once again I'm sorry I haven't written before but I've been so down in the dumps but things are now looking up..  Look after yourselves and remember that riches come from the heart, not the pocket.  Take care and God Bless.

Jack.

Note by Frugally Challenged.  New(ish) readers may not know that Jack is my gardener and handyman and most of all my friend but it is rare that he is as polite about me on my blog. For explanations about "hook cuisine" see click on the labels.   Overseas readers may not know that Mackesons is Jack's favourite tipple.  It's a stout (sort of beer).  I also took  him a couple of cans yesterday so he should be a happier bunny.

Hook cuisine returns

Some people have a really hard life.  Jack isn't one of them!

A week ago he and Mrs Jack came home after three months in Malta.  After two days at home they nipped off to their caravan at the coast for the best part of a week.

They're home now.  Mrs Jack is toddling off to the USA at the end of the week.  Jack has plans.  My suspicion is that while the cat is away (sorry Mrs Jack!) the mouse will be having a ball.  

However, Jack will be visiting me quite a lot so I had better be good.  He's been today.  he's mended the fence.  He's put a new handle and lock on the back door.  He's done a lot of weeding.  He's planted lots of veg.  

Transcription:  Yes I had hook sandwiches for lunch.  C U Jack

Watching him would exhaust me so I've been out!!!!

He still had hook cuisine for lunch.  He left me this note to tell me about it.

He has threatened  promised to write a post very soon.  He will tell you how wonderful he is.  I just wanted to get my version in first.

(I know he will be reading this so, Jack, it's lovely to have you home and it was wonderful to come home to a much tidier garden.  Thank you!)

A tale of terror

It was a dark night in late July.  The woman had had a heavy day and she was sound asleep in the quiet bedroom.  Her breathing was slow and regular as she slept away the cares of the day.

She moved gently in her sleep, putting an arm into a more comfortable position and giving a gentle sigh.  But with that sixth sense which doesn't leave us even when we sleep, she knew something was wrong.  Reluctantly she opened her eyes but willed sleep to come back.

No, something was definitely wrong.  She listened to the sounds of the night but there was just the gentle pattering of the rain audible through the open window.  Nothing to worry about there and no other sounds came to her ears.  But no matter how she tried to ignore the feeling she knew something was wrong.  Unenthusiastically she stretched out an arm and pressed the switch on the bedside light.  Nothing happened.  There was no ignoring it now.

She clambered out of bed and pulling her dressing gown around her she went to investigate.  Happily she discovered that it was just the trip switch so she pressed that and all seemed to be well.  She decided to sit in the arm chair again for a few minutes before going back to bed.

Four minutes later the trip went again.  She went around the house pulling out plugs and then she pressed the trip switch again and settled again in the chair.

Two minutes later the same thing happened.  She went around the house and pulled out most of the remaining plugs and again she settled down in the chair.  Scarcely had she sat down when the trip went again.  She wondered whether to leave it until the morning but the freezer was nearly full of delicious food.  Could it be the freezer which was at fault?  She decided to go around the house again and pull out the less accessible plugs before she resorted to pulling out the freezer plug.  There was one plug behind the desk and it would be very hard to get to it but it had to be done.

As she went into the study she happened to glance out of the window.  There was something white on the path.  It was an extension cable which had been left plugged in and was exposed to the pouring rain.

Which is why the woman was out in the garden in her nightie and dressing gown clutching a walking stick in one hand and a torch in the other at two in the morning removing the soaked extension cable and uttering some very rude words.

And it is also why Jack had a deep deficit of Brownie points.

Triple hook chicken served with freshly harvested garden vegetables

Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Well, it's easy for me!  Not so much for Jack who came yesterday  and worked very hard which means my living is extra easy and extra wonderful today.

The first thing he wanted to know was whether he had received any comments in response to his post.  A huge thank you to all who responded .  I printed it all out as he has a dossier of bits from my blog.  He doesn't "do" computers himself but maybe if I can get him interested in blogging . .    

Anyway, as ever he has worked his magic in the garden and here are just a few photos.

 

As you can see the garden is flourishing but as yet I have very little harvest but yesterday was the first boiling of my own new potatoes.

They were of course served to Jack as part of my new exclusive menu - hookburger with new potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and tomatoes.  Delicious

I'm back!

Well, you all know what I was doing yesterday - typing that very long post by Jack!  I knew you'd all find him wonderful.  Modest little violet, isn't he?  I have to say that my recollections of some incidents aren't QUITE the same as his!  

Anyway, my garden looks a lot better for his ministrations.  He also gathered elderflowers so I shall be making cordial tomorrow.  I'm also going to try freezing a few flowers so I will be able to give winter guests a flavour of summer.

Porc au hook

Bless you!

Yesterday's lunch was porc au hook served with a jacket potato, steamed vegetables and swede and carrot mash.

And Jack wanted to leave you with a blessing (for which he borrowed my gear!).  

Hook Cuisine

I managed to send an e mail to my computer-techie-type-chap as I didn't want to telephone on a Sunday but he phoned me and gave me instructions which I followed carefully (even the bit I had to do all on my own a couple of hours later) and now I am back.

But what you really want to know about is Jack.

Jack came and worked his usual magic.

I've got a veg patch full of Brussels sprouts, cauliflowers, French beans, peas, carrots and leeks.

My herb garden flourishes with balm and mint and chives and parsley and a new chili plant.

The tubs are planted with geraniums, lobelia, asters and begonia and you can see the obelisk which will soon be covered with runner beans

And the beds are filled with stocks, cosmos and nicotiana.

The strawberries are looking good and the fountain sounds wonderful.  

All in all we look set for a wonderful summer here at Frugal Follies.

And Jack got Hook Salad for lunch by way of a change.

He has agreed that he will write a post - sometime!

I Am In Disgrace!

Jack came yesterday.

He sorted my vegetable garden and tutted because I hadn't eaten all the leeks.  But that's not why I am in disgrace.

He planted some bedding plants and tutted because I had let one or two die.But that's not why I am in disgrace.

He checked on my car and tutted because I hadn't noticed that the glass had broken on one of the fog lamps. But that's not why I am in disgrace.

He wasn't very keen on the lemonade which I gave him which was far too "tangy" for his taste.  But that's not why I am in disgrace.

So what I have done?

I made some leek and potato soup for lunch and didn't notice that one of the hooks had fallen off my utensil rack into the saucepan and I had served it to him.

That's why I am in disgrace.

But he's promised to come back next week so maybe I have been forgiven.