Have a lovely New Year's Eve - I will be fast asleep!

A short form poem for New Year

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Hoping it's a special day for a special girl...

The Tide is High – Blondie

The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
I'm not the kind of girl who gives up just like that
Oh, no

It's not the things you do that tease and hurt me bad
But it's the way you do the things you do to me
I'm not the kind of girl who gives up just like that
Oh, no

The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one

I heard The Tide Is High on the radio and was reminded of what a great song it was.  It was made popular by Blondie but was written in the 1930's by John Holt.

It's a great catchy tune.  Here is a YouTube clip if you want to be reminded.

I don't agree - but it makes a good quip

Cream of Green Pea Soup

Not only is this soup tasty, it doesn't take long to make – and only requires one non store cupboard/freezer ingredient.

Ingredients:

Butter/oil

½ onion

Chicken stock (concentrate + water)

Frozen peas

1 medium potato – fine dice

Salt

Cream

Pepper

Lemon juice

Method:

Melt your oil/butter.  I actually used the remains of the stuff I fried up some sausages in.

Finely dice your onion and add it to the melted butter.  Cook it until the onion  is translucent – at least 5 minutes.

Add chicken stock and diced potato.  Because I had diced the potato finely it didn't need all that long to cook – say 5 minutes.

Add salt and the frozen peas.  Simmer for a couple of minutes – the peas don't need long at all.

Rescue a handful of peas from the pot to use as a garnish later.

Take off the heat and blend the mixture – I used a stick blender.  The results weren't completely smooth but it was ok.

Add your splash of cream – don't overdo it – you want to keep the fresh green colour.  Taste and add pepper and salt as necessary.  I also added a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.

Serve with the reserved peas on top.  You could add a garnish of grated parmesan but I didn't have any.

Sick of Dorothy yet?

Out of the lie of no by ee cummings

out of the lie of no
rises a truth of yes
(only herself and who
illimitably is)
making fools understand
(like wintery me)that not
all matterings of mind
equal one violet

BookTrust (largest UK reading charity) says this is the best book for kids aged 6 to 8 – Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake

Mr Magnolia is a fun rhyming read.  Not sure I agree that it is the best – but I'll see after I've read some of the others on the list.

It is well illustrated and funny.  Try it out! It was published in 1980 but has stood the test of time.