Posted by Jeni in | 20 May 2013
The bloomin trains have been useless on the last two Sundays. I've had to drive in. Consequently by the time I've done a three hour show and driven back 50 odd miles - and I do mean odd - I'm cream crackered.
I've taken to lying on my back, my legs in the armchair, my arms splayed out mid way through a Jim sentence I'm usually away with the fairies.
This week I had four fab female guests.
DAVINA MACKAIL. She did my papers, we talked all sorts as well as Feng Shui, she's an ex nurse but now spends time clearing peoples houses, traumas and going up into the mountains of Peru to talk with peruvian Shamans. I love her. Check out her website.
KATHY LETTE cycled in to talk about her book THE BOY WHO FELL TO EARTH and to discuss the mother/teenage daughter relationship. She makes me laugh, but she is so much more than her sassy wisecracks. I love her. Check out her new book.
KEREN SMEDLEY, agony aunt and author of a self help coaching book for life after 50+, was on the end of the line for my listeners, as well as imparting sage like wisdom about living, not giving up, and changing things if they don't suit. I loved her. Check out her website.
Then I had the impeccable CHARLIE DORE and JULIAN LITTMAN, singing songs from her latest album CHEAPSKATE LULLABYS. Julia's guitar and her voice were haunting. It is a delicious album, really good to cook to. Check out her new CD.
Continue reading "Carcass on...." »
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 17 May 2013
A pot of liquorice tea next to me.
Fennel and tarragon soup made and ready to eat. It's a delicate pea green. Or should I say its a delicate fennel green - no because the bulb is white.
Red Thai curry paste, home made, in the fridge, ready to smear over the fish which is sitting in a bowl of lime and orange water. Pollock smells too fishy for my liking so I've disguised it with citrus.
Tonight B and her besty are getting drunk to watch The Eurovision song debacle. I dare say I will get roped in to provide nibbles and comment.
I thought I may just start the evening off with fresh asparagus from the asparagus farm.
As you would expect I chose the bent and curly over the jumbo
I nearly bought hollandaise sauce to go with them, but it's not my favourite taste. Too vinegary. So just a paper bags worth for whoever decides to sit and eat.
Griddled in olive oil with a fresh farm egg fried in just too much butter, and slipped over the top.
That'll go down a treat, which will be more than I can say for most of the European offerings that will be hurled at us by Mr. Norton over the telly waves.
Continue reading "Naughty gee-gee" »
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 16 May 2013
I did all me bits and left the house at 9.30. The weather looked kind so I didn't take a coat, although in case of inclement cock-ups I've got a gardening jacket in the boot I picked up for five quid.
Got to Brighton in no time and parked outside the middle daughters house. She's in London rehearsing for the CLOD ENSEMBLE, which they're taking to the Brighton Festival. She doesn't want to know whether we are coming or not so I'm certainly not going to reveal anything to you lot since none
of you can keep a secret, all I'm saying is I'm busy on the 22nd.
Anyway the daughters delicious man was in, gave me a parking permit, kissed me sloppily and went back to his writing.
I skipped down hundreds of steps, walked through Bond Street and arrived at my hairdressers, with four boxes of cookies, for my eleven o'clock appointment.
RUSH do my colour. I actually go to PIERREPOINT in Archer Street for my cut. That famous street in SOHO, just behind Shaftsbury Avenue where all the musicians used to gather in the 50's. DAN THE MAN is perfect for me. You know what it's like, 'find a good hairdresser and stick to them like superglue'. I need him not to die anytime soon.
Brighton's MJ is a superb colourist though, she's got lovely cerise hair and a great line in chat. I had two pots of camomile tea, read about Richard Bransons son's wedding in 'HELLO' ( Sarah Ferguson and her girls looked anything but wood nymphs in the wedding wood, but at least they tried.) Had a wonderful head massage, MJ gave me a blow job and I ended up looking about forty-seven-years younger.
I decided I would do my 'SNARKY PUPPY' training on the wide open pavements towards Hove. So I set off with my little brown bag of liquorice roots I'd bought from The Lanes, marvelling at the shining sun. With the music blaring in my ears my body was ready for a RULK, a cross between a run and a walk.
The Brighton Ship is all along the prom. I quite like the yellow rusty look of it. I took deep breaths and all my senses were satisfied. Ozone for the nose, salty air for the taste, The 'Puppies' for the ears and the sea a delectable green for the eyes. Forget 'touch' I was too busy Rulking and wondering just how warm the water was.
I saw one mad swimmer walk out of the water, less like Daniel Craig more like Reggie Perrin. Dripping from his plunge he navigated the sharp pebbles like they were hot coals. I could see his sharp intake of breath as the stones stabbed his slippery feet but I couldn't get close enough to see his goose pimples.
I ran for an hour clocking the things I wanted to photograph. One lone, blue-sailed boat was out bouncing over the waves. The blue against the green was startling, although I needed to be in a dinghy next to him to get a proper shot.
By the time I had got to the end of the exercise lane I had to run round in circles to complete my hour. I knew I looked daft running backwards and forwards in front of Hove Angling club, salivating, I couldn't help myself the smell of their fish and chips was almost unbearable, I very nearly dropped in for a quick angle and lunch. In fact I've got nostalgic stomach pangs just writing about it. Then I saw the word GROYN.
Why?
Say it long enough and it sounds like a bad grin.
Continue reading "Keep off me Groyne." »
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Posted by Jeni in | 14 May 2013
Taking and uploading pictures has become all consuming.
I have so much work to do but I chose to climb into my little red car and drive 25 minutes to Plawhatch
Park amongst the wild garlic, take pics, snip a few leaves and flowers with my Swiss Army Knife, which happens to be my car keying.
Then I shopped for all these lovely vegetables. That's how they are displayed in the shop I didn't buy them all. What are you thinking? But they look so healthy and organic I almost want to lick the screen.
To get my blood sugar back to normal I have put myself on a juice fast. As I write I'm drinking liquorice tea and digesting Jerusalm artichokes, Brussel sprouts and English carrots. Worra cosmopolitan shake.
I'm putting off the real work, which is like doing an English exam only more stressful. Just after I took this picture a posh woman stopped her car to ask me if I was okay. As I stood in the rain taking pictures of garlic I chirruped 'Never been better'. She drove off up the road you can see.
The old man's out tonight playing with his ukulele, so I will have a whole evening to catch up on all the work I'm avoiding doing.
But this pictures lark is brilliant.
I hope you're enjoying seeing them as much as I am taking them.
BTW our meeting yesterday was so positive that if I were to allow myself the indulgence of indulging I would be in the dulge right now.
All we need now is some sun..... when we do get some I will take a picture of that unusual event rest assured.
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 13 May 2013
I couldn't get 'Snarky Puppy' up today, something went wrong with my itunes so I decided to walk through the houses, past the school, left past the police station and right up to Chapel Green. past the church, right down into the town.
The wind was cold but the sky was blue.
Shopped for some veg. Brussel sprouts are out of season so I had to buy frozen, the organic carrots had heavy feathery leaves on so I asked for two bags.
Started walking home.
The smell of newly mown grass hit me in my nostalgic gut. The smell of teenage angst, Paul Tinkler and my first snog in the back row of the now defunct cinema in Borehamwood High Street. The smell of future possibilities and unknown territory.
I carried one bag in each hand which reminded me of my mother. We thought nothing of walking two miles each way to shop. Thought nothing of putting the groceries in string bags to walk up the hill past the Grammar School, the farm and the three bus stops.
The bus came once an hour. If you needed to be somewhere in between then thumbing a lift was de rigeur. Or waiting for Major Evans to leave his house.
Major and Peggy Evans had a son called Brian. Big Brian Evans was just a little too fond of his food. He was just a little bit wobbly. I played with him, my brother and Christopher Bertrand who lived the other side.
Chris was often seen to stand at his bedroom window and expose his youthful vigour to alighting bus passengers. Innocent fun back in them days....
We played in the fields, climbing haystacks and being chased by the farmer. Me and my brother strangers to the ways of the countryside being East Enders and all.
Continue reading "Joni's call." »
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 11 May 2013
The wind is up. But that didn't stop us putting on the old anoraks and going to King Standing, where we always walked Jackson.
The dawter left at 10.00. Taking her life and music with her.
I'm struggling, at the moment, my blood sugar is too high but I will not resort to the drugs. So today it's just green juice and more green juice. Exercising and thinking positively AND trying to remember that the body will heal itself if I don't stress.
I read up about tomorrows show. Antiques and Stephen Sondheim.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN THE ATTIC?
WHAT MUSICAL WERE YOU IN AT SCHOOL?
Them's the questions.
Join me from 9-12 on 0207 224 2000. BBC LONDON 94.9.
Continue reading "Gorse Code" »
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 10 May 2013
I woke this morning just before the alarm.
Did me Tibetan 5, got dressed, ate an avocado and left at 7.20.
Even with tractors and rush hour traffic I still arrived on time at 7.30...
Parked my car in the underground car park, in the designated BBC parking spot. Went upstairs, rung the bell and was at work.. My first ever broadcast for Radio Kent.
I could have not been made more welcome.
From Clare and Steve, the producers, to Adam the engineer, from Paul the boss to all the other folk who danced along with me.
The programme was so well thought out. Our first phone in was about Boris Johnson's island airport, which has been denied yet again.
Bluebells, the 'Birds and the Bees', and a BBC documentary which is being aired on BBC 2 tonight, all about Jane Austin's Regency Ball in 'Pride and Prejudice.' The whole affair is being recreated - sounds fascinating.
Then we talked about a robbery in Belgium; a gang of thieves chucked a safe out the back of a van and €1 million Euros went flying through the air. People snatched and clasped rolls of money. One woman swept thousands of Euros into her hallway. Others dashed and grabbed. but the cops were none to happy about it so they threatened to arrest the unknown looters with two years imprisonment if they didn't hand over the stolen loot. The reporter said that the money had belonged to two old age pensioners who had removed all their money from the bank and bunged it in their safe, thinking their was going to be a crisis á la Cyprus.
We wanted to know whether you would have handed the money in or stuck it in a sock under the mattress. I know what I would have done, but then I wasn't asked the question.
We discussed teaching youngsters about sex and love and rock and roll. I learnt the facts of life after my brother told a joke about Nelson and Lady hamilton. I was 7 at the time. Needless to say I didn't understand it.
My father told my mother to take me into the kitchen to explain it to me. I still didn't understand the punch-line or anything my mother taught me. There's a book written by the doctor from the embarrassing bodies programme which teaches parents how to reveal all to their teenagers, not literally of course. As if they don't already know eh? That's the teenagers not the parents.
We talked about the beautiful bluebells all over the place and then told the story of the ten year old girl in Ramsgate Lily-May Allen, who drew a grid of hopscotch, in chalk, on the pavement and was cautioned by two cops who threatened to arrest her for criminal damage.
RECLAIM THE STREETS I say. Let the children play and caution drivers with messing up our roads.....Lily-Mays father has complained about the police behaviour. I don't now what you think but I'd rather have chalk on the ground than skid marks.
Gods Gift and the dawter met up with me and we had a coffee in Carluccios. I could barely contain my excitement. I hope they have me back.
Leaving work and a coffee in my local - haven't done that for years.
Wonderful.
Then the dawter and I spent money on clothes and lunch and arrived home within the minutes.
This is my first attempt at downloading photos. Once I get the hang of it, I promise you Lindy I will put up pictures of my walks.
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Posted by Jeni in Ad Infinitum | 9 May 2013
I went to bed at 4.00 and bang on 7.15 my body clock went off.
I wanted to eat the pillows and stuff the duvet in my ears.
I got up anyway and did my Tibetan 5.
Meditated for long enough before I fell back to sleep until 9.00.
Then without further ado it was up and out.
Blimey but I had to go back in and put on a sweater and a fleece. I grabbed a jute bag and set off for the orchard. My hands stuffed into my cuffs. My hair in a ponytail meant my ears were as cold as cherry tomatoes straight out of the salad drawer. Although to tell you the truth I never put tomatoes in the fridge. They are on the dresser in a big plate (I bought my mother from Portugal) nestled in with avacados, onions, apples, oranges, lemons and a trio of limes.
Continue reading "Windswept " »
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