The Cottage Smallholder

On a film/TV set the restaurant vehicles are referred to as the chuck wagons. Sometimes they are sexy caravans. Often they are converted buses, with the food being served out of catering vans. Good food is essential on a busy set. Bad food could kill a production. Meals and snacks are served throughout the day Read More »

Working freelance in Soho (London) in the 90s was fun. The economy was buoyant and there was the buzz of cash, talent and hope. People worked hard and played hard too. Playing hard was the best part. The bars were packed at lunchtimes and early evening. This is where a lot of freelance people made Read More »

I’m a huge romantic. I love this card that Danny sent me when we first met. He had no idea that it was designed and made by someone that I knew years before. It always gives me a small jolt when I look at it. The fairytale words “So they lived happily ever after” are so Read More »

I’ve been very envious of people who were collecting eggs from their chickens throughout November, December and January. All of ours have been on egg laying sabbatical since October and, although I want them to enjoy a decent holiday each year, I did expect the laying breeds to produce an egg or two in January. Read More »

I found some Tesco Finest British 28 day matured beef rump steak at the weekend. It was half price in the condemned food counter. I was shopping with Seraphina and she goggled when I filled my basket with loads of root vegetables to pad it out and make a stew. However this didn’t really appeal Read More »

The decorating is going well but suddenly I have broken out in an itchy rash that is slowly driving me nuts, so I’m off to bed with the Min Pins and an inorganic hottie. We still have snow on the ground here in the village. Danny went on a 240 mile round trip to the Read More »

One of the depressing things about being a decorator is making other peoples’ houses look beautiful and not having time to decorate our cottage. As a decorator, my eye is instinctively drawn to the necessary repairs and the state of the paintwork as this can contribute significantly to the labour costs and could spell disaster Read More »

When I lived in London I often ordered whitebait as a starter. I thought that they had to be deep fried and would be a palaver to rustle up at home. Also I rarely found them in the shops. Eventually I discovered that they can be fried in a little oil and were fun to Read More »

When Dr Q returned from the vet last month after his dental drama he was furious with me. It was the first time that I had seen any of our dogs looking really hurt and angry. I had, after all, taken him to the vet on that fateful day. Danny had collected him and paid Read More »

Do you remember that I wrote about Sam’s. The best fast food takeaway in Newmarket and maybe all of Britain  (back at the end of November?) Sam’s spotless wagon serves only organic food and feeds the hundreds of tradesmen and a lot of other discerning visitors that just drive into Ridgeon’s car park to scoff his Read More »