Scotch, Sea Sides and Sad News

I seem to have a minor cold developing. I do hope I'm not sniffling away all week! Especially as Slinx has returned from a holiday in Goa and is seems to be sickeningly sexy, healthy and tanned. Jealous? Moi? Never, I love toil and a lack of sunshine.

My cocktail for the month of March, which I know you have been waiting for, is partly influenced by my shivery state. Its another classic, harking back to the bad old days when life was much simpler.

Cocktail for the month of March

Rob Roy, also called a Scotch Manhattan

You will need

Yourself...
Some whiskey
Sweet Vermouth (that's the reddish martini usually)
Ice
A mixing glass
An implement for stirring
Cocktail Glasses
Cocktail (glace) cherries

Instructions: This is so simple that an imbecile can do it. Yes.... Even you.

Chill mixing glass, the implement and the cocktail glasses.
Place a few cubes of ice in the mixing glass
Pour 1 measure of Sweet Vermouth over the ice
Pour 2 measures of Whiskey over the ice
Stir gently with your implement in a slow, Kung Fu Master type of way
Strain into cocktail glasses (i.e leave the ice behind)
Garnish with a cherry

Enjoy. Its warming but not to everyone's taste. Though it is a beautiful colour.

Notes: This drink is very variable depending on which whiskey you are using. If you shop at Netto and only have own brand whiskey called "Highland Tiny Grouse" that was made from tap water and flavorings with an alcohol pill added later, then you may still enjoy it, but it will improve with a better brand. If you make this drink with a blended whiskey it is of course then a 'Manhattan' If you use Glenmorangie Single Malt (Sherry Wood Finish, as I do if you wondered) then it is of course a Rob Roy.

And a very nice one at that.

Sea Sides

Tomorrow I foolishly have to drive to Bournemouth for a meeting. I agreed to this when I really couldn't remember how far it was away. I now realise its 134 miles away and oh! am I looking forward to it. Bizarrely (at least to me) I find I also have a meeting in Margate next week. Now I don't normally travel from the Fortress that much, lest I get lost, but two seaside towns in two weeks is more than a coincidence. I shall bring back rock!

Sad News

I read the news today, oh boy...

I actually watched it. Those few of you loyal readers that actually know me in person will be aware that I have a serious side. My serious side was moved tonight. This blog can't always be light and banter you know, sometimes I have to say.

170 dead.

In one day.

I woudnt like to be in Iraq, I woudn't have liked to make decisions about whether to even send someone else to Iraq. Normally I would rather just argue why I think we shoudn't have done it.

The news I saw today was so sad and so pointless it defies arguments about policy or direction. It is currently, obviously just a terrible, terrible place to be.

I think we are all very glad to have grown up in a different world entirely. I feel for them.

The Last Letter

Alistair Cooke, one of the last great English broadcasters has retired aged 95. He had been broadcasting since 1946 and is, to me an icon.

Those of you that do know him will know his thoughts and amazing presentation skills from his weekly broadcast. "Letter From America" I urge you to seek his broadcasts out and listen. Sometimes I didn't agree with him, sometimes you wont, but, he always had the most magical ability to keep you hanging on every, properly pronounced word. I hope he doesn't fade away completely and keeps spluttering on to break the century.

Respect to Alistair Cooke

And the Rob Roy's going down well to.

Tomorrow I shall tell you what I think of Bournemouth...