Love In A Cold Climate

                             A perfect English summer's day at my favourite holiday camp

Don't get me wrong, I've spent some lovely days so far this summer, either at a holiday camp, on the beach or sipping Pimm's in either my own, a friend's or a pub garden. But these days have been intermittent, we've averaged about 30 days of good weather since May and most of those have been warm but overcast, we've probably had less than a fortnight of stonking hot weather.

I was discussing this with friends recently who, rightly so, told me I have been spoilt due to spending so much time in Spain. I just can't muster up that true Brit grit spirit required for sitting in a deckchair on a blustery day, teeth chattering against my ice cream cornet, by pretending I'm enjoying myself.

For those of you unfamiliar with stepping off of a plane and being enveloped in a wave of dry heat that warms your very bones, I can only say it is akin to running a warm hairdryer over your head, the heat has a smell and a taste and a texture, it is stultifying yet exhilarating.

                                   The early morning heat shimmering outside my window

                           The sultry heat at 10pm just as the Spanish come out to eat and drink

In rural Spain people will sit outside their front doors late into the night, sentarse al fresco literally means having a chat outside your door. Here in the UK we are lucky if we get half a dozen al fresco opportunities. But hey, when the weather is good, England is a great place to be!

                                                         A relaxing game of lawn bowls

                                                         Pimm's o'clock

                                                                 Outdoor chess

I have spent August and will be spending September here in England, the theory being I would get the best of both worlds, a British summer followed by three glorious weeks in Spain come October. I'm not complaining, I've been to some fabulous parties and barbecues albeit with a cardigan and brolly always at the ready.

                                                                      I do love a buffet!

                                                                     Al fresco bubbly

                                                     Brahms and Pimm's can't be bad      

Alas this was in yesterday's paper

    
Well, I had invited a friend and her young children for the day with high hopes of paddling pools and an Alice in wonderland style, outside tea party, but the weather took a downturn last week so we had to eat our cake, jelly and ice cream indoors, never the less, given that cake isn't my strong point, we all tucked in and had a jolly good time.

Ginger cake

Recipe        

125g softened butter

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon mixed spice

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon ground almonds (optional)

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup of milk (1/2 cup if adding almonds)

1 cup self raising flour

Preheat oven 200c/gas 6

Cream butter, sugar and salt in a bowl, beat until light and fluffy

Add flour and spices (and almonds if using)

 Beat eggs and milk and gradually add to bowl, beat until well combined

Spoon batter into a loaf tin and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through

Allow cake to cool on a wire rack

You can now dust with icing sugar or as in my case, let the children ice the cake

We sprinkled the cake with grated orange zest

Serve with lashings of jelly and ice cream! 

'Take some more tea' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
'I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, 'so I can't take more.'
'You mean you can't take less,' said the Hatter; 'it's very easy to take more than nothing.'
'Nobody asked your opinion,' said Alice.'
- Lewis Carroll

Love Donna xxxxxx