How do I know I'm getting old?

Let me count the ways........

I'm getting old because I like watching Michael Portillo on his train journeys....yes I know!

I'm getting old because I love sleeping in my own bed and have started saying things like, 'It's lovely to be home....'

I'm getting old because I'd rather buy one good bottle of wine than clank home with as many cheapies as I can carry.

I'm getting old because I collect empty jars and am extra happy when I acquire a particularly interestingly shaped one.

I'm getting old because I tut at the radio.

I'm getting old because I tut in general.

I'm getting old because I have a special stick for stirring paint.

Top tip: raclette cheese..... if you don't have the requisite grill just melt it onto a backed potato.... delicious!!

Souper dooper love.....

I may not, like Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, believe the cauliflower more beautiful than the rose, however turning this....

 into this......

has now become my January obsession.

I cannot give credit where it is due for this recipe as I ripped it out of a magazine long ago and have forgotten which, but it is utterly delicious and so, so simple.

Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower and Almond Soup
Fry 1 onion chopped up in olive oil then add 1/2tsp of ground cinnamon, cumin and coriander and 2 tbsp harissa and fry some more for a few minutes. Then add a cauliflower chopped into small florets for several minutes more until almost cooked through. Then add 50 g flaked almonds and stir(at this point you can eat it as a vegetable dish....) then add up to a litre of stock depending how big your cauli is, cover and cook for 20 mins then blend until smooth (I leave it with a little texture). Swirl in a little extra harissa and natural yogurt if you fancy.... so good and so cheap.

Top tip: I don't know why a film about two fairly unpleasant blokes and a load of drumming...repetitive drumming...is so brilliant it just is, don't miss Whip Lash....

Starry starry night....

So....it's January, it's cold and damp and miserable and the world is now so awful we're all staying in. But help is at hand because Broadchurch is back (ITV 9pm Monday). Just when I'd gotten over getting over the demise of 'Missing'...... although marvellously distressing to watch, frankly the ending was wanting....... Olivia I-love-her Colman has returned and not only has she brought all our old favourites back with her, but Charlotte Rampling too!!

The face of Nars, the love interest in 'The Night Porter', Charlotte-bloody-Rampling, so sexy her name has become a verb..... and now we can all rample, prime time on Monday nights.....

Top tip: don't give up anything in January, especially not alcohol with all those Christmas drinks left over.... the sloe vodka maybe done but with only February to look forward to it's now all about that bottle of essential brandy that didn't make the pudding!!

And so that was Christmas........

.....the tree went up....

and now it's down. The chocolates are all gone and there's just a few Turkish Delight left...... and a little bit of homemade sloe vodka....

....another year over and a new one just begun. Now it's all about the soup. Happy new year!!

Top tip: go see 'Birdman', a cheeky matinee is especially good at blowing away the January blues....