Pilaf and packing

Norman trots out into another rainy morning, however the weather forecast suggests that the weather will start to clear from tomorrow. Morrison's expensive Italian sausages, are herby, meaty and different, an acquired taste, but one I think I could easily take. Normy thinks they are great, and having wolfed down his breakfast is gazing at me with his big brown eyes and his paw raised in supplication for extra sausage. Kids, dogs, and especially women, know I am a pushover, and I save him a quarter of my sausage, which he accepts as no more than his due. I put on a wash load of towels, before showering, dressing and driving to Cherry to collect Dolly and Teddy. The fast flowing stream that has sprung up on the Westwood, is still burbling and gurgling in front of Newbegin Pits, I carry Norman over it and the terriers hurdle it with ease. There is a steep bank, up which we are forced to climb, before gaining the woods, this has become a slippery slide of glutinous mud and I touch ground as my Wellington booted feet scrabble for purchase, my hand instantly coated in thick mud. Fortunately I have kitchen roll in my pocket, intended for Normy's treasure deposits, and manage to clean myself before peeling a Clementine orange. It is raining lightly but the wind has swung to the Northeast, although it is not particularly cold. There are fewer dog walkers braving the rain and we almost have the common to ourselves, Dolly returns to the lead at Black Mill and we limit our walk to an excursion to the gorse bushes before walking alongside the new stream as we follow the valley downhill back to the car, passing the three water filled bomb craters as we go. I try to photograph them, but I must have insufficient memory as my iPhone refuses to play ball. We return to the car and the three dogs, all wet and muddy, jump on to the back seat of my car, which is protected, at least to some extent by the blanket that I have put there precisely for this purpose. On our way home, we call at Walkington Manor farm shop to buy a dozen eggs, I don't have the exact change so put an extra five pence in the "honesty box", if I remember, I will recover it the next time I buy something here. After dropping the terriers at Two Riggs we drive home and after feeding Norman, I set too to make my chicken Pilaf. Once the chicken, onions, peppers and Mediterranean vegetables are fried and then added to the rice, I top the pan with chicken stock and leave it to simmer while I knock up a batch of oaties and pop these in the oven. After ten minutes, I turn the heat off under the rice pan, and leave the rice to absorb the rest of the stock, serving it ten minutes later. The arborio rice has absorbed the flavours of the chicken and vegetables, the trilogy of garlic, chile and ginger, giving it a nice kick. Half a painful is more than adequate for lunch, the other half saved for tomorrow in the fridge. I have decided not to swim today, as I feel a little achey today, my chest is tight and don't intend to take any risks before my trip to Holland on Thursday. Instead I lie down and rest for an hour before getting up and digging out the ironing board to press my shirts for my trip. I am travelling with just cabin baggage and manage to cram, socks, shirts, pants and vests, as well as a couple of sweaters, a change of pants and a pair of winter boots into my leather hold all. Later on I take Norman for his walk around the village, it has finally stopped raining and there are stars shining to the east and an almost full moon is smiling behind a low flying cloud, by the time we arrive at the PostOffice and turn down Carr Lane, the rain is coming down again. The rain has not been particularly heavy this last five days, but almost incessant, it stops again as we arrive home. Back indoors, I make a supper of rye bread, salami and goats cheese and then eat this in the Garden room while I listen to Hull City playing Crystal Palace at the KC stadium. At half time it is still nil nil but City have been much the better side. They are still the better side at full time, the Palace keeper denying them victory, and the match ending in a scoreless draw. I read for an hour and then turn in.