Nice easy morning. Strolled into kitchen around half eight, exchanging pleasantries with all and sundry. Knocked up Granary Loaf dough for the first time. Followed recipe to the letter, but felt way too dry. The grain is heavier. Kept adding more water until it felt right. Putting it away to rise when Timmy (resident bread expert) walked in and gave it the nod of approval. Getting the hang of bread making. Red Thai curry with beef and pumpkin is simple enough. Recipe a bit scatty though. Smoked chilli powder dominates. Needs more red curry paste, which I add with wanton abandon. Have to increase the tamarind and fish sauce to keep it all in check. A good exercise in tatsting, seasoning and balancing flavours.
The morning is notable only for the great cavernous depths of patience, tolerance and sympathy into which I am forced to delve in order to survive until lunchtime. Souffle makers have Kenwoods going all morning. This should annoy me but in a way their relentless whine helps to obscure other noises and, with the aid of several cups of average coffee, I make it through.
The gamekeeper returns for demo, sans chien, who is at home with his leg in plaster. I'm not sure why I find this funny, but I do. (Have other dogs been autographing it for him?) Rest of demo is fun but uneventful. People talk throughout and my already exhausted reserves of patience are tested further. I am tired back then. What must I be like now?
After demo I abscond to retrieve my newly arrived friends (TC and LH) from Ballycotton. We sit through an evening lecture on Italian wines before dinner in Cloyne. The talk is co-presented by one of the students, who has an extensive knowledge of the subject. He speaks with great passion and clarity, and we taste three fantastic wines he has procured for us.
It is nice having friends to visit.
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