I lost count of the times I got caught in the rain this week but it’s been a great week of eating out, tapering off as the week progressed. Writing about the meals brought back memories of my years as a restaurant critic. I’m so used to developing recipes as I cook and then writing…

Bonfire night completely passed me by. I was in, ignoring it, the fire crackling, snuggled up on the sofa with Red. She, like other lurchers I’ve known, is quite chilled about all the banging and flashing of lights, having lived with building work from a young age. The fireworks continue all week and there were…

Comfort food is the order of the day in my house, soups, stew and things on toast is what I’m craving. Oh yes, and the occasional game bird. I once walked past a garage-cum-office opposite my doctor, very close to where I live and a bloke came out with a brace of pheasant. ‘Where are…

Another week dominated by my knee ligament injury. If I carry on as normal – walking the dog, cooking, shopping, writing at my desk, going to a movie etc – I pay for it. So I’m still rationing myself and trying to spend as much time with my leg up as possible. I find it…

This week has been dominated by a painful knee injury. It’s meant I haven’t been able to do anything very much. Sitting at my desk is a problem, standing up is a problem, walking is a problem. In fact, I am told by the chiropractor that I need to ice it for twenty minutes every…

Enjoyably busy cooking week for me, making some of my autumnal favourites including another new way with meatballs, a faux chicken liver parfait and super-easy, super-favourite bavette with oven chips, whilst introducing permutations (a very good word for using leftovers) with my favourite Italian veal stew. Sunday Lunch at www.goatledge.com, the colourful seafood hut and…