Storytime

On the weekend I went to my first ever BBQ festival. I went with five men who were ready to celebrate the carnivore within. Now I know a little about these slow cookers---other half has one at home. But until now I didn't realise the huge variety of cookers - there were barrels and egg shaped ones, box shaped, ones like ours which resemble a small train (puffing billy in fact) and even this one... How great is that?  Not only did I get a lesson in the various types of cookers / bbqs available - it was also time to learn some of the lingo.  Talk of fireboxes and creosote. The difference between a dry brine and a rub. What makes a good bark (yes bark)- how to assemble the flavour base then the flavour layers . Talk of blind box, hickory pellets versus apple shavings.  Then of course there was the tastings... It reminded me how language plays a large part in creating an atmosphere. At the BBQ everyone talked of ribs and briskets, of flavour b...

Last night we went and saw Stephen Fry  in his Telling Tales show. I know he's not for everyone but I think he is a very intelligent man, erudite, funny as well as thought provoking. And I was not disappointed in his show (even though he had been given a not so good review for the show the night before). He has some great tales to tell....which of course comes with being an actor / comic / writer / performer and knowing so many people. Some of his stories (complete with accents, although he still has to work on his Australian ) were very funny, others quite tragic and deep. I came not knowing a lot about him as a person and really enjoyed the insights he shared. From his school days (wasted really as he was a trouble maker) to his encounters with the law and drugs, and meeting his friend, and fellow comic / actor Hugh Laurie. But what I loved was when he talked about his discovery, and soon to be passion, with language. He was 12 and he had just read this amaz...