WeatherGirl’s Station

On Thursday we got a whole load of curly kale in our veggie box. And I really do mean huge quantities of the stuff. It was a little daunting. I googled for recipes and came up with a curly kale and potato risotto. As I’m a big fan of risotto I decided to give it a go. Phi, being the gallant kind of guy he is, came along for the ride.

Tonight, as we discussed a variety of topics in our tiny kitchen, the dish came together and while perhaps being a little odd to contemplate, happily cooked as any risotto does. Yes, that was a lot of starch but the potatoes were well matched with the rice. The kale was … strange. Not awful but then not good either. (And I only added half the listed amount!) I suspect other green veggies, spinach perhaps, might be a more suitable ingredient for risotto.

A great experiment but not a successful recipe. We continue to search for the ultimate kale recipe that tastes like something we’d want to eat.

Current temperature: here 4C/39F, there 43F/6C

Blah. I fell asleep watching this movie. The script was the same old same old and I just didn’t give a rip about anything they had to say. This was oh so Disney and not so much Pixar.

Current temperature: here 8C/46F, there 23F/-5C

Scary. Scratch that, better make it really damn scary. This has such a cool premise and you really believe the local inhabitants of a northern Alaska community would have the wherewithal to put up a fight and see off the vampire hoard. The fractured relationship between the leads is explored in an interesting way without relying on huge amounts of exposition. The vampires just look so cool and are way frightening. There are lots of averting one’s eyes scenes and the tension keeps on ratcheting up until the end. The ending was unexpected and really got to me. So, yeah, I liked it.

Current temperature: here 8C/46F, there 23F/-5C

Tiredish. Not bad, but then not exactly good. An excuse to eat your favourite movie snacks really. I’ll admit to mostly enjoying the ride while it lasted but it did teeter just the wrong side of that believability line. Die Hard the first and the third are the ones to watch.

Current temperature: here 7C/45F, there 41F/5C

Try to live simply. A simple lifestyle freely chosen is a source of strength. Do not be persuaded into buying what you do not need or cannot afford. Do you keep yourself informed about the effects your style of living is having on the global economy and environment?

One of the benefits of taking a sabbatical is the opportunity to reassess certain aspects of your life. When we flew over to the UK, the weight and baggage limitations were such that we could only take six suitcases (two per person) each packed to a maximum of 50 kilos. Also, while on sabbatical, the family income has been significantly cut, and additionally affected by the current weakness of the US dollar against Sterling.

Stuff has to go!

We couldn’t carry it. Nor could we buy it. Choices had to be made.

Grocery shopping becomes a very interesting exercise in deciding which products we’re prepared to buy the cheaper versions of. Where does price make a difference to experience? If you can’t stand the taste what’s the point of buying the cheaper product?

When we decided where to live we had to choose between two options that were $100 per month apart. So we could have $100 more a month to live on or a better everyday experience in a larger space with better fixtures and fittings.

Since arriving I’ve been able to visit the cinema at least once a week. This is very important to my mental well being. However, we have been attending the matinee performances because the price difference is significant. This affects how we schedule and organise our lives.

We’re not buying books but we are borrowing from the local library system.

We’re attending professional theatre productions and live music events because what’s the point of being here if we don’t?

We’re paying for a broadband internet connection because if we’re completely cut off from our virtual lives the fallout does not bear thinking about. Eating beans on toast every night for a week is not a bad price to pay if it keeps the jack hot.

Life is about choices and we’re contemplating ours every day we spend on sabbatical.

Current temperature: here 5C/41F, there 36F/2C

Fun. So it isn’t perfect and could have done with a firmer hand in the editing room, but I enjoyed this movie. Neil Gaiman just rocks so a movie based on one of his books has got to have a good chance of succeeding if you give it half a chance.

Current temperature: here 6C/43F, there 36F/2C

Thought provoking. Rendition was rated 15 but after watching I would have put it in the 18 category, along with Eastern Promises, just on the torture scenes alone. Rendition tells a good story that has a sound moral purpose and does so in an emotionally engaging way.

For me the big a-ha moment came when the terror suspect confesses under torture. I had a flashback to reading, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller in school. All you had to do to save yourself and stop the torture was confess your guilt and name names. The innocent, who protested their innocence, paid with their lives. If it was true in the 1600s why the hell can’t we see that it’s still true today?

The ending of the main story line was a mite twee but I will forgive the movie that since it’s heart was in the right place. Rendition reinforced for me the fact that torturing people only makes more terrorists, it doesn’t solve a damn thing and it only demeans and dehumanises us all.

Current temperature: here 6C/43F, there 36F/2C

We’ve joined an organic vegetable box scheme which means every Thursday a wonderful box of fresh vegetables arrives. All are grown within the region, so nothing has to travel too far. This week our box contained potatoes, carrots, onions, a brussel sproutstalk, chard and parsnips. (We also ordered mushrooms and cherry tomatoes as extras.)

Getting sprouts on a stalk is quite something. It looks rather alien and more like an implement of destruction rather than something good to eat. Supposedly brussels still on a stalk will stay fresh longer.

This week we’ll be eating lots of soup and roast veggies. I’m also going to try my hand at sag aloo which sounds like it might be a great way to use up all the chard.

Current temperature: here 6C/43F, there 36F/2C

Thinky. This movie has many attributes to recommend it. Only six main characters who are interesting to watch. A short running time. Thought provoking. Straightforward yet not simplistic. And it’s going to irritate the hell out of the American neocons. What more could one ask?

For discussion on where the film’s title came from check out this wikipedia article.

Current temperature: here 7C/45F, there 28F/-2C

Saturday, the young’un and I indulged ourselves in a Top Chef marathon. When we left the States in August we were part the way through season three of Top Chef. Very kindly, a friend, recorded the rest of the episodes and sent us three discs worth of mayhem plus the reunion show. Well, I must say, it felt incredibly decadent to watch all those episodes one after another. We loved it! How any restaurant can organise itself to serve multiple sittings of people and serve high quality food never ceases to amaze me after watching shows like this. Clearly you can’t run a restaurant and be a slacker. Bring on season four.

PS Tom Colicchio rocks! Just so you know.

Current temperature: here 7c/45F, there 28F/-2C