King Creole (Christmas cake)

It's that time of the year again where I have to turn my newly found bakery skills (thanks to Bunty!) and get out the key ingredients for the family Christmas cake.

Key ingredients being:
Rum
Brandy
Cherry Brandy
Port
Angostura Bitters

a load of other stuff which are relevant even if they sound banal;

raisins, currants, cherries, prunes, chopped nuts, molasses etc;

Instead of the angelic icing topping I use a variety of nuts (but only because Bunty prefers the really healthy option ??). For my West of Scotland tastebuds the icing would be "de rigeur".

In case anyone feels like trying this I attach the recipe and believe me it is pure dead brilliant !!

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-cakes-icings-and-toppings/creole-christmas-cake

The irony of Unionism breaking up the United Kingdom.

I've been so engrossed with the parliamentary shenanigans of the last wee while that I've not had the time or wherewithal to do a blog. The title says it all ! 

Is it the Tory Party or is it Nationalism ? Whatever the root cause, the terminal ailment will lead to the carcass of the "United Kingdom" rotting in the Palace of Westminster without a decent burial.

The rise of right wing populist politics in the U.K. is merely a small part of a global self centred attitude towards diminishing resources on the planet. Money no longer talks, it stands up on the table with a megaphone bellowing to all and sundry. If you're not oozing wealth out of every pore then tough shit plebeian ! 

It's very definitely  "I'm alright Jack, fuck you"

Cameron didn't think it through and was probably certain the xenophobes of Farage and UKIP etc; would never win when he decided to hold the referendum three years ago! This has come home to bite the Tories backside with the savagery of a hungry alligator.

On top of Gaelic and Syrian it appears that Polish is my next task!

One of the joys of living in the capital of the Highlands is the diversity of the population and prominent amongst the diverse groupings are the Polish ! They represent almost 5% of the population of the capital of the Highlands and are amongst the almost 70,000 that inhabit this delightful small city. They're industrious, fluent and bilingual also a credit to their upbringing.

On Friday 11th I've had dealings with three Poles. The joiner, the barber and a plasterer. Everyone of them has been the epitome of hard-working men with no pretensions.

Dziękuję Ci bardzo  moi przyjaciele !

Are we to lose these stalwarts because of xenophobia and some antediluvian idea of an "Empire" that has sunk around the same time as the "Titanic" ?

Not if Scotland has anything to do with it !!!

Oriental contemplation and exercise on the menu to try and delay the ageing process !

This past couple of weeks has shown me that my assumption, that despite decades of personal abuse (in terms of diet, neat alcohol and tobacco intake and nothing else I add), my body was a temple indeed, but one that has crumbled under the weight of ageing decay!

So much so that it required the best efforts of the respiratory ward in Raigmore Hospital here in Inverness to clear out the tubes and prompt a re-assessment of lifestyle.

Earlier I'd got a Tai Chi package brand new and unopened, from the charity warehouse in Evanton for a mere £2. This is so gentle and relatively undemanding that even my wheezing lungs and Bronchial Tubes could cope, so Bunty and I are one the road to suppleness for OAP's, with Tai Chi Chuan, which combines deep breathing and relaxation with flowing movements. Originally developed as a martial art in 13th-century China it should be bang up to date for the Highlands.