As organised as I think I am, time has slipped by and we have just set off on the road again and I realised I haven’t updated the blog for two months – shocking, so here is a quick update before we start this next trip.

Well, it had to be done… we headed back over to the Piebold Inn on Monday to eat more pie. Keith opted for a last minute change, selecting The Paso Fino (A carnival of spices and citrus fruits), which was ‘Diced pork shoulder slowly braised with red onion, chillies, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes in a Caribbean jerk sauce topped with roasted sweet potato and cheese mash’ …. another corker, although not quite as good as the Cleveland Bay. It is fair to say that when the marker is set so high the first time, you are always going to struggle to find something to beat it!

I was a little dull and went for the Tokara Pony again, and it was delicious but we both said that the pastry wasn’t quite as crisp. So, we reckon that Monday lunchtime is probably not the best time to go as they are finishing the pies from the weekend – there was a depleted choice too – and you’d get fresher ones from Tuesday onwards…still well worth coming back to though!

We popped back into the local delicatassen as well before we left, which is exceptionally good and were introduced to a Yorkshire Curd Tart. As I can’t do dairy, Keith sacrificed himself and said that it was refreshingly not too sweet and very nice….. basically a not so sweet custard tart with currants in it!

This last trip was all planned around Keith’s mum’s birthday. So, after a few nights in Bridlington, enjoying the rugged coastline and more delicious, freshly smoked mackeral, we did a bit of a skip down into Lincolnshire to go and meet up with the ‘Anderson’ Clan to celebrate.

This year was the big ‘8-0’ and everyone had decided to meet up at Keith’s brothers in Kirton Lindsey for the weekend to celebrate. Paul and Carly laid on a huge spread on the Friday night…. where I am not sure who was more excited about the cake… Liz or Reya, we went to the local pub (The George) on Saturday – which was excellent as always – then randomly, to a garden center for brunch on Sunday…. which, despite many an uncertainty, was very good!.

All in all, I believe a happy mother-in-law…. and Paul and Carly were probably glad to see the back of us all to make way for the arrival of Koko, the new puppy the following day!

We have been back at the farm for the summer, mostly through choice, partly through a flat tyre …which to cut a long story short, turned out to be a cracked Alloy.

We had planned to get on the road again 10 days ago, but it was one of those issues that ended up being more complicated than we thought to resolve and as everything was ‘unkown’…and in true european style, Germany was shut for August, getting answers meant jumping through hoops. I am happy to say that we now have a temporary solution though, and a new alloy on order from Germany!

In regards to the back, I’ve had a little bit of a relapse unfortunately – not sure if it is due to the change of HRT medication, or otherwise, but about ten days ago I ended up in A&E thinking I had fractured something else as it was so painful. Thankfully, nothing else is broken – and having reverted back to the previous HRT medication, the pain is starting to subside – but the XRAYS showed that it isn’t healing as well as it should be, which motivated me to take the decision to go back and see the Rhuematologist and take the recommended medication. There is no ‘right’ decision, but I want to put myself in the best possible place to have stronger, healthier bones and enjoy life to the full.

…and finally, an update the food intolerence journey – seriously, anyone would think I am falling apart – despite keep trying to re-introduce it in different forms, dairy is still definately out….and wheat is minimalised at the moment and the Jury is still out!

We have been experimenting a fair bit recently with cooking, so I wanted to share some of the new recipes we have been making
– Coronation chickpea wraps – A new found favourite. Slightly sweet but deliciously creamy and flavoursome…best served with cabbage for a crunch
– Olive Oil Flatbread – so light and fluffy and easy to make
– Spicy Mexican Soup with Pico de Gallo – Full of flavour and really umptious, whether hot or cold
– Falafel – A new twist to the indian style ones I make
– Dr Rupy Scones – A gluten free version that are packed with goodness and delicious, whether for breakfast or afternoon tea
– Lentil and Pea Patties – Wholesome and flavoursome lunchtime snack to go with a salad
– Sticky Toffee Pudding in the pressure cooker
– Jam Sponge pudding in the pressure cooker
– Chocolate fudge cake – a tasty change to a brownie.
– Raw carrot cake – really simple and tasty snack or pudding
– Thai Gazpacho – A delicious thai spiced soup – can also be served hot if you aren’t so keen on a Gazpacho!
– Belgian fridge cake – lovely nutty, chocolately snack full of goodness

…and of course, where would we be without our map to show where we went… or possibly, just to remind me!