LOVE all this! I am going to make that chicken but I am also someone who LOVES picnics almost more than anything else in life. THis is a good picnic recipe - roast a chicken then wrap in foil. Mix some greek yogurt (maybe two tablespoons) with triple-ish the quantity of Hellmans mayo, so perhaps 6 table spoons, then add about two table spoons of pesto. Mix it all up. Add black pepper and even some basil if you have it. Put it in a jar. Take it to a picnic with the chicken and soft white rolls. Then you can rip the chicken up and put it in rolls with the insanely delicious mayo as you go. Or you could slice it up before hand of course, but I do quite like the decadence of a whole chicken at a picnic. Then when you are done you can wrap the chicken back up in the foil and chuck it away. No washing up. It makes a regular chicken somehow taste so so good. You can also do it at home! I served it at a party to about 30 people (several chickens) at home and it was a very good way to feed lots of people quickly. Stuff rocket in the rolls too if you want to be fancy. LOVELY readying list XXXXXX ps can I see you soon now I am back?
My mum sent her very aged French rural-Burgundy-born-and-bred Aunt Erma pot pourri one Christmas. That Summer when we made our annual pilgrimage to visit her, I worked out from my O Level French that she was thanking her for the lovely tea!
Surely the problem of sending unread books is in fact a golden opportunity to buy and read them for oneself before sending fresh ones? Shades of Pooh and the hunny pot for Eeoyre’s birthday.
I love booking theatre tickets months in advance as I will have completely forgotten about them and then it’s a thrill to turn over the calendar page (yes, Luddite) and find ‘Theatre, 7.30’ in red!
The pot pourri is divine and lasts forever. It’s lovely in your wardrobe. Aaargh, the candle’s sold out but I’ve bought the room spray; isn’t it reasonably priced, no second mortgage necessary. I hate that all these perfectly lovely brands are selling to the likes of Estée Lauder. It feels like the soul goes with it. I can’t wear my beloved Frederic Malle scents anymore, or Jo Malone. Is it really necessary to have five billion perfumes? 🤬
I might just get married to get those books from a FABULOUS friend! I love your posts, I have just spent 20 minutes on TUI looking for cool new pjs because you reminded me of the cool lobster jimjams I found from an earlier post, and I have lapped up Chris Fizer and foisted him on Violet and now wondering why I have not cried at Steinbeck.
Oh I buy those Persephone wedding sets all the time, so far it doesn’t seem to have struck a bum note with anyone so fingers crossed! We also have those those theatre tickets for Oct, I can’t wait!
I would add these four books, and I am happy to own up to my pleasure in reading again and again any one of them, all of them appeal to my love for history, three text book analyses and one brilliant novel, so it would depend on how much the recipients would like such books: SPQR by Mary Beard; The Rise & Fall of the British Empire by Lawrence James; The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Packenham and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
I will make the Coronation Chicken for us to picnic on the island. I've put your live interview with Geraint in my diary. I listened to him with another Substack interviewer and he is excellent, fluent, funny and on point!
Thanks for another excellent post. I won't be buying a dress or pot pourri, but always fun to read about such things!
Ooh, Birdsong! I thought about The Secret History. I didn't do too many very recent big hits (eg Crawdads) because I thought they might have read them already....
Aah! Love that. By the way - I made an error - no potatoes in the Coronation Chicken! (I don’t think it would be the end of the world but it’s not technically correct 😂)
How about The Go - Between, A Fortnight in September (Persephone available in an alternative cover!) Wise Children by Angela Carter, A Month in the Country by J.L.Carr, wonderful slender book that is HUGE in its impact.
Excellent post. Excellent books. The Guardian’s recent list of 100 best books included a link to a similar list from the late 19th century (I can’t find it annoyingly) which had, if anything more books by women on it, although lower down the scale. But there, quite high up, was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. My memory is that it isn’t a particularly good book but it sucker punches as a concept whenever you come across it.
LOVE all this! I am going to make that chicken but I am also someone who LOVES picnics almost more than anything else in life. THis is a good picnic recipe - roast a chicken then wrap in foil. Mix some greek yogurt (maybe two tablespoons) with triple-ish the quantity of Hellmans mayo, so perhaps 6 table spoons, then add about two table spoons of pesto. Mix it all up. Add black pepper and even some basil if you have it. Put it in a jar. Take it to a picnic with the chicken and soft white rolls. Then you can rip the chicken up and put it in rolls with the insanely delicious mayo as you go. Or you could slice it up before hand of course, but I do quite like the decadence of a whole chicken at a picnic. Then when you are done you can wrap the chicken back up in the foil and chuck it away. No washing up. It makes a regular chicken somehow taste so so good. You can also do it at home! I served it at a party to about 30 people (several chickens) at home and it was a very good way to feed lots of people quickly. Stuff rocket in the rolls too if you want to be fancy. LOVELY readying list XXXXXX ps can I see you soon now I am back?
Definitely going to try this 🙏🏻
Ooh! I do like the sound of that! I think I need to come on one of your picnics to be converted….so yes please to meet up soon!! Xx
My mum sent her very aged French rural-Burgundy-born-and-bred Aunt Erma pot pourri one Christmas. That Summer when we made our annual pilgrimage to visit her, I worked out from my O Level French that she was thanking her for the lovely tea!
Ha haa! That's brilliant.
I am always up for a Coronation Chicken idea!!
Surely the problem of sending unread books is in fact a golden opportunity to buy and read them for oneself before sending fresh ones? Shades of Pooh and the hunny pot for Eeoyre’s birthday.
I love booking theatre tickets months in advance as I will have completely forgotten about them and then it’s a thrill to turn over the calendar page (yes, Luddite) and find ‘Theatre, 7.30’ in red!
Yes, this is true - I'm always delighted by the surprise I've given myself....
The wedding present books are better than anything else they will get
❤️❤️
The pot pourri is divine and lasts forever. It’s lovely in your wardrobe. Aaargh, the candle’s sold out but I’ve bought the room spray; isn’t it reasonably priced, no second mortgage necessary. I hate that all these perfectly lovely brands are selling to the likes of Estée Lauder. It feels like the soul goes with it. I can’t wear my beloved Frederic Malle scents anymore, or Jo Malone. Is it really necessary to have five billion perfumes? 🤬
Yes, the ££ is on point! I like the idea of pot pourri in the wardrobe…
I think they even sell wardrobe sachets and some wax-type thing but they worry me when it gets really hot!
PS I love the reading list. I’d add ‘Miss Buncle’ from Persephone; a perfect newlywed book.
Love the title! Thank you.
I might just get married to get those books from a FABULOUS friend! I love your posts, I have just spent 20 minutes on TUI looking for cool new pjs because you reminded me of the cool lobster jimjams I found from an earlier post, and I have lapped up Chris Fizer and foisted him on Violet and now wondering why I have not cried at Steinbeck.
You LOVE. Xxx
Oh I buy those Persephone wedding sets all the time, so far it doesn’t seem to have struck a bum note with anyone so fingers crossed! We also have those those theatre tickets for Oct, I can’t wait!
They have actual wedding sets?! Ha. Probably an excellent idea. (Suffers another failure of heart.)
Yes, it’s called Six Books for the Newlywed and it’s a lovely collection!
I would add these four books, and I am happy to own up to my pleasure in reading again and again any one of them, all of them appeal to my love for history, three text book analyses and one brilliant novel, so it would depend on how much the recipients would like such books: SPQR by Mary Beard; The Rise & Fall of the British Empire by Lawrence James; The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Packenham and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
I will make the Coronation Chicken for us to picnic on the island. I've put your live interview with Geraint in my diary. I listened to him with another Substack interviewer and he is excellent, fluent, funny and on point!
Thanks for another excellent post. I won't be buying a dress or pot pourri, but always fun to read about such things!
Not buying a dress? So conventional of you....!
You’re right, I shall go immediately to find a suitable frock! I have my reputation to protect 💃🏼
Fabulous book list and what a great idea to give them second hand 💚
To add to your list (God we love a list!) The Secret History . . . ? Birdsong . . ? Where the Crawdads Sing . . ?
Ooh, Birdsong! I thought about The Secret History. I didn't do too many very recent big hits (eg Crawdads) because I thought they might have read them already....
Wild Swans, definitely a favourite, disturbing book. I would add The Shipping News by Annie Proulx to the list.
Since when do potatoes feature in Coronation Chicken? ( Obvs a new incarnation for Charles 111. Never in the original, created for his Mama)
OMG!! You are right! NO POTATOES! Will amend!! (Although…I do love potato salad so maybe quite a good combo?!)
I thought this was merely a genius addition!
This is hilarious and adore you!!!!
Also - sublime list. I will consider it my homework for the summer to make it through!! X
Aah! Love that. By the way - I made an error - no potatoes in the Coronation Chicken! (I don’t think it would be the end of the world but it’s not technically correct 😂)
How about The Go - Between, A Fortnight in September (Persephone available in an alternative cover!) Wise Children by Angela Carter, A Month in the Country by J.L.Carr, wonderful slender book that is HUGE in its impact.
Ooh, A Month in the Country, yes.
Excellent post. Excellent books. The Guardian’s recent list of 100 best books included a link to a similar list from the late 19th century (I can’t find it annoyingly) which had, if anything more books by women on it, although lower down the scale. But there, quite high up, was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. My memory is that it isn’t a particularly good book but it sucker punches as a concept whenever you come across it.
More books by women…yes. I know what you mean but I don’t choose a book because of the gender of the writer. But I will ponder…