Wednesday 31st May, 2017                        1300

The best laid plans………..

Well this time it was purely through choice. I awoke early, having gone to bed sensibly and decided to strip the bed and wash the linen. Didn’t really need it as I think I only changed it about three months ago but I do like to sleep in a clean bed!

Now I can’t shower while the washing machine is running due to the inlet and exhaust pipes trailing into the bathroom, preventing door closure so I have been on the laptop. Then I thought I would wash my bathrobe and towel but of course can’t do that until I take a shower. I shall do so shortly otherwise they won’t dry for tomorrow morning.

So shopping was declared off the menu for today and instead I shall do it tomorrow. Then it was a case of thinking of what to eat for dinner. Roast pork? A curry? Cottage pie? No, the latter are frozen for teaching days when I don’t have the time or inclination to cook when I get home.

And then it hit me.

Chips!!!

I have a brand new deep fat fryer, what better than to (try to) make my first proper chips? I mulled over an omelette to go with them but remembered I still have loads of sausages in the freezer. A bonzer idea - bangers, egg and chips, with the added bonus that I can cook an entire bag of about 10 and keep the uneaten ones in the fridge to take to school on Friday in hamburger buns I can buy tomorrow. The buns are the only things that remotely taste like bread I can get here and until I can source decent flour to make it myself, will have to do.

I have also been emailing looking for answers I really should have had long before now. I think Janet as a poor memory as I have to constantly remind her of everything - this time I am still waiting to know when I must complete my exams and also when term officially finishes, that way I will know when I can start to plan my touring.

I also sent one to Brenda because I still don’t know what my pay is next year nor do I know the exact position regarding air fares.

The above may sound like minor trivialities but not to me.

Now here’s one for any chip shop proprietors - I always thought you had to blanch them and let them rest before frying proper? The internet tells me to simply sling them in and apart from giving them a shake midway, that’s it. Doubtless I will find out later and you will either be treated to a picture of perfect chips or the aftermath of a kitchen fire……

1800

Well the deed is done and I learnt two things. I need to extend the cooking time for chips far beyond the 12-15 mins the machine says. Twenty or even more would be about right and although the chips were perfectly fine my preference is for a little more crispness but not bad for a first effort. The other thing I found out is that I need to buy a stout pair of pliers. The wire detachable handle for the basket that comes with the machine is as big a waste of space as I would be at a non-alcoholic tasting session.

The moment any weight is put in the basket the handle disengages from one of the guide holes and you end up with a bucket of chips swaying like a swing a kid just jumped off. And no, I don’t think a single potato worth of chips is excessive weight. I am pleased with it but will feel a lot safer with pliers to retain a firm grip. Chip days will never be the same again!