Peggy digging for rats and lizzy buggering about

Making cheap boozy mince pies ;}

This is a tribute to my nan who taught me how to make pastry and will be missed so much this christmas. I have made these pies for many years now and they mark the start of christmas for me, i've taken them to hunt meets, shooting parties and works do's were i limit them because of the alcohol content. I buy jars of mince in january when they get reduced and tip about three of them into a giant bowl, i mix in chopped cherries and nuts then pour on the good stuff ;} Port, whiskey and calvados. Once soaked in, i store the mixture in a giant jam jar and only bring it out on the first of december. No real measures here just be generous and enjoy. The pastry is simple 225g plain sifted flour, 100g of cubed butter a pinch of salt and cold water to mix the lot together, this should make twelve pies which i sprinkle with icing sugar. Merry Christmas everyone x

A day with The Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Hunt

After a successful  night lamping rabbits on the dumfriesshire hills, my mate Tom and i decided to support the local hunt who on this occasion set off from a farm just a few miles from the center of lockerbie.

After a generous donation from Tom we set off on foot to the top of the areas highest peak to watch this very traditional spectacle, we walked a good distance then jumped on quad bikes and even ended up leading the hunt masters horse back to the yard. Everyone we met was grateful for our help and support and without Frans damson gin { which was the only fuel we had all day } i don't think we would have made it to the end. After being split up for most of the day Tom and i got back to the farm yard at around six pm knackered but happy. We said our goodbyes and promised to return, If your not feeling the christmas cheer yet then arrange to follow a hunt for the day you soon will be. Ho Ho Ho

Peggy trying to stop rampant duck breeding

Hiking from Hathersage

This is one of many stops that you can visit in the Hope valley line and well worth staying on the train that extra few minutes to reach it. The train goes from Manchester Piccadilly and if you miss it you can jump on the Glossop train with the same ticket and use the same map  "OL1 " to plot a route .
Once in the town center you follow the road to the left past the butchers shop and then cross over, the first steep path on your right takes you to cloggers lane were the walk really starts.

The route is easy and Stanage edge is clear to see from the top of cloggers lane, after taking one of the well highlighted paths across the moors onto the edge you can follow footpath all along passing a few rock climbers along the way. When you get to Upper Burbage bridge a good route is to descend down into Chatsworth not forgetting to stop at the church to pay your respects to Robin Hoods chum little John who is buried there. The next visit for me to this beautiful village will be in the summer months so that i can take advantage of the outdoor swimming pool.

Thelastpenmon: Trying to decoy pigeons in Lancashire

Thelastpenmon: Trying to decoy pigeons in Lancashire

Trying to decoy pigeons in Lancashire

Carving at the Nam Ploy Bolton 2011

My review for the M.E.N out on friday 11th november

After being removed from the valley cinema { not for back seat shenanigans} for being late for the film, me and my friend decided to venture into Bolton, and find a more nutritional substitute for what would of been a popcorn dinner.

We had a random search on the old smart phone and came up with the Nam Ploy on Chorley old road, it was thursday mid evening and i started to worry as the car park was three quarters full, as we took just a few steps through the main entrance we were greeted by a very friendly oriental lady in traditional dress, who escorted us to a very decretive table for two.

The food served here is traditional Thai and they have pulled out all the stops to make you feel part of the countries culture, the  water fountains and elaborately carved furniture gives even the shyest first dates something to talk about.We ordered starter portions  of the six most popular dishes on the menu so that we could sample the fish,meat and veggie options, they arrived super quick with a vase like vessel of Thai beer , the presentation was amazing with giant king prawns on a bed of finely sliced mixed vegetables finished off with a tomato carved into a rose. We were made to feel welcome the whole two hours that we spent in the Nam Ploy and our only regret was that it wasn't the weekend. This is a very reasonably price establishment with a very affordable drinks menu and believe me we will be back.     

Life in the Love Garden

On my last visit to Dragor { a suburb of Copenhagen } i was lucky enough to arrive on a national danish holiday, i say lucky as the previous times, the museum near my friends house as been closed.
I say museum and most people say " boring " but this has a twist, all the outbuildings house goats,pigs,sheep,geese and poultry which are looked after by the people of the village, as well as the gardens were they grow over twenty different vegetables and herbs, but this is no petting zoo as everything at the end of the year is eaten { apart from breeding stock of coarse }. Not only does this show people were there food comes from it promotes good husbandry too.

When i ventured inside it felt as if i had gone back in time, all the volunteering staff were dressed in authentic costumes and were actually working, two men where pressing apples, a lady was baking and another was cooking pork from last years pigs. The museum also has its own gallery with paintings from the 17th century and a fantastic farm shop with preserves that i had never heard of like sweet green tomatoes in a clove syrup. I hope you enjoy the pictures but even better get down there and enjoy the experience.

Damson Gin 2011

Well the hot weather this spring was truly kind to my Damson bushes this year, i had a bumper crop and even managed to supply the local green grocers. One tip i will give is when the weather goes dry for a good number of days, throw the odd bucket of water on the base of the tree just to stop the fruit from drying up. I have four demijohns on the go at the moment with the concoction in each one being the same.

One pint of gin, one pound of damsons { pricked all over } and half a pound of sugar. This has stood me the test of time but i do know some sweet toothed people who add more sugar. I shake the the mixture daily until the sugar has dissolved then let it sit for a month before straining and bottling. The lucky individuals who will be receiving a bottle of this fine liquor are a few local farmers who let me shoot on there land for bugger all, and Mr Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall for kindly signing my chefs hat at the Manchester food festival . ;} Many thanks, please try it as winter wouldn't be the same without it.

Red pike Cumbria 07/10/2011

I had a break from mucking out the hens last week and traveled with an old work colleague to the lakes, we headed for Buttermere down the Honister pass and soon found out that a good few other folk had come up with the same idea.We struggled to find a parking space in our usual spot and ended up scratching our heads on the car park behind The Fish Hotel, we needed to park overnight as we had arranged to stay at the legendary Black sail bothy, we no overnight option on the car park menu i decided to myther a local farmer. What a character, he was made up that we were not from London and gave me a dig in the ribs to show what he would do to southerners i think. After getting the space and parting with the princely sum of £3 we started our hike, up past sourmilk gill and onto the top of Red pike, named after the bright red stone only found on its slopes. The weather was glorious and shaun spotted a euro jet practicing maneuvers about half a mile below us. I managed to get a picture of it hope you can spot it cruising over crummock water. After a dodgy decent down red pike to the banks of the river Liza we were happy to find the remainder of our trip was a straight man made road all the way down the valley to Black sail. If you have never stopped here before and you love the outdoors please put it on your to do list, you always receive a warm welcome and although remote this hostel is kitted out with everything you will ever need. I must say that after a long trek a warm shower whilst being watched by a Herdwick and then a cracking three coarse meal is just what the doctor ordered. One word of advice would be to open up to your fellow travelers, you are forced upon one another in close proximity whilst staying here so you must remember to take a chill pill and don't act as if this is your own home. My next visit will be in the summer next year to see dawn rising over the natural monuments of England so i hope to see you there.

My Day With Jamie Oliver and friends

This is me { in the center } after a very successful day baking with Mr Jamie Oliver, he was a true gent and had a really good chat with me about hunting and shooting. This was in sainsburys head office and i didn't leave until i had sold the last cheese scone. We raised £500 for comic relief, and i even managed to get my chefs whites signed by him. The other people around are finalists in a cookery competition that i entered last year and we all still remain friends. 09/03/2011 What a great day ;}