Winter magic

It's a beautiful time of year.

Only yesterday, I left the office in sufficient time to see the sunset - or at least the last few golden rays still peeping over the horizon, meaning that I strolled to my car in the pale light, with a smile on m yface and a lift in my step.

This morning, I watched the sunrise in my rear-view, the just-past-full moon in front of me in mottled red-blue cloudy skies.

Winter certainly knows how to get it right.

Grapefruit Soap

There's something very disturbing about the smell of grapefruit soap.

Except for this one detail - and I realise that I do sound like a picky old bugger - the hotel I stayed at last night was pleasant enough, if a little soulless. It's quite new, you see, having opened last August, and whilst clean and well-decorated - in a very nice setting, to boot - it does lack a certain character.

But its target market is probably the conference crowd - it's the only hotel of that sort of size in the area - and it does fit that bill admirably well. And given that a conference of sorts is the chief reason I was there, and also given that I was not paying for my room, then I really am staring into the mouth of an equine present by making the comment above.

It did smell bloody strange, though.

The Jaffle McSnaffle Leftover 10-Vegetable Soup

Not sure what to do with all those bits and pieces of vegetables left in the bottom of the fridge, or cooked leftovers from the previous night? Try this simple and delicious recipe.

Saute onions, garlic, leek and celery until briefly coloured. Add cubed carrot, butternut squash, celeriac, swede, potatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts. Cook until tender in a mixture of vegetable and chicken stock.

Add cooked vegetables from the previous night (if desired).

Allow to cool and puree or blend until smooth.

Enjoy!