Hello, and welcome to the latest Sunday selfie from the Chumley & Hudson Investigation Team!
Whilst Mrs H and I are still on our 3 month holiday, we have not been lounging around enjoying the Upper Much-Mousing summer and sipping catnip juleps. Sadly temps have been so high this year - think high 30s centigrade with high humidity - it has become unbearably hot and not safe to be out and about for all but the wee small hours of the day.
Mrs Singh, she of the World Food Emporium in the village, has been staying open up way into the night for the older residents to shop in comfort. Being the entrepreneurial lady that she is, she has arranged for a summer license to sell take away foods and has placed benches outside her shop for families to enjoy the best street food from guest chefs. So far Mrs H an I have enjoy the mild Mexican beef chilli (cat friendly versions available), Japanese sushi with salmon, Chinese stir fry that is heavy on the chicken light on the noodles.
The highlight for the summer will be the local food festival. Due to the sign maker receiving a garbled message on his answerphone, what should have read The Upper Much-Mousing World Food Food Festival, got turned into "Munch Fest" on the banners, fliers and T shirts! Given the brevity of the logo, it actually was far cheaper than expected and the idea and goods stuck.
This year the village will once more host the UK's Curry World Championship. Villagers who make their own versions of curry recipes are also invited to join in the event and pit their recipes against the pros.
The local bookmaker has Mrs Bradley down as hot favourite with her mild vindaloo turnip and pea surprise curry. Hopefully the surprise this year won't be the addition of Brussel's sprouts that she put in last years entry. In the words of Gladys, who helps Mrs H in the kitchen sometimes, it gave it a "gale force ooomph effect" the likes of which she'd not felt since her time on the North Sea trawlers!
And now for a Sunday Selfie, which I took time for away from my long summer nap and night time escapades. This is about as lively as I get these hot days, and was not prepared, for fear of exhaustion, to raise even an eyelid.
First of all we want to pay our respects to Jackie Avery, long time blogger, friend, and friend to us all. Jackie's passing came as a terrible shock to us – to everyone, and I think she will be universally missed.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Ivor, her husband and forever companion. The world truly has lost a light that shone so very bright, cheered so many lives, and garnered so much friendship through her own travel blog as well as Eric and Flynn's adventures. Till we meet again, Jackie, have a good and wonderful rebirth.
Thank you Ann Adamus for this wonderful badge for Jackie
This week's selfie is subdued and how we feel and have felt for a while. But curling up is not the answer to everything, that we know. But it does help when it comes to a good nap.....
This week there has been nothing wonderful here weather wise, just a cycle of wind, rain, hail, sun, then repeat.
One of the bright spots of the week has been our latest 'Read and Review' book: RED TIDE. This is by the wonderfully creative author, Curtis Jobling. We reviewed his recent middle grade horror story, WYRDWOOD, last October. And my what a fabulous read it was too, one worthy of Stephen King. And just look at that cover which features the three teenage protagonists.
This new read is about Vikings, Picts, and . . . vampires.
I won't spoil our upcoming review, but let me say this is a fantastically creative read, with modicum of humour too. It hasn't given us any nightmares, and is the first half of a mini series that has us now nicely poised and desperate for the grand and gripping conclusion.
So whilst Mrs H and I haven't got much editing work done, we have been happy to let the weather and world pass on by.
Moving on, this week's selfie is a picture Mrs H snapped on Thursday. I think I was dreaming of catnip toys and a plate full of nice tasty chicken. . . neither of which I got!
Oh well, maybe I will in my dreams. Hopefully your week has been better than ours, food wise if nothing else. And please do share what books you are reading, and if you would recommend.
First off we wish you all a very happy and prosperous and good karma filled new year.
With the festive season now thankfully behind us, and the husks of other peoples spent firework rockets all but gathered up from the Manor House gardens — save one lodged on the roof — Mrs H can rest up for a while.
I say rest up, only between meal services and raking up the last vestiges of autumn leaves that appear from nowhere and stain the lawns with patches of limp, yucky brown.
Whilst she does that, I have been making the most of some down time. No book reviews for a while as we are busy elsewhere, hoping that our book artiste comes through sooner rather than later with some new art for book 2 and book 3. More on that as and when.
Anyways, here is me on one of the day beds, soaking up yesterday afternoons (3pm) sunshine. There was a welcome blast of bright, clear but low light from across the fields. That's why I am squinting. In a week that has seen freezing temperatures here of -7c, with snow and heavy frosts, and continues to threaten so into next week, this and other beds and sofas is where you will find me. Mrs H has the kettle on now, in readiness for an audio book listen before breakfast, so I shall leave you hopefully with thoughts of warm weather and happier days.
