January 31, 2015

Trying out recipes from a (probably) 50-year-old copy of the Be-Ro cookbook for self-raising flour to see how they compare with today's cookies. (Also, one recipe involves getting hold of cooking ammonia, which will probably result in my name going on a government watchlist - fun!)

I started off gently with Crunchies - a very plain (and vegan, once you replace the lard with vegetable shortening) oatmeal biscuit.

These are plain - far less sweet than most modern cookies, containing just 3 ounces of sugar for 24 biscuits -- but really moreish. The little bit of syrup adds a nice background note; the oats meld nicely into the biscuit and taste almost nutty. I didn't bother with the suggested icing, but they didn't last long at all.

A good start. Next up: tea loaf.

January 30, 2015

January 29, 2015

The Test.

January 28, 2015

Or this -- it belongs to one of the former Abbesses.

January 27, 2015

I wouldn't mind a tomb like this (perhaps without the wallpaper, though).

January 26, 2015

Now Shin's on the scoreboard

The photo may be slightly blurry, but I think it would hold up in a court of law.

January 25, 2015

10th century rood - one of the earliest in the UK

January 24, 2015

Romsey Abbey

January 23, 2015

January 22, 2015

January 21, 2015

January 20, 2015

January 19, 2015

January 18, 2015

The floozy in the jacuzzi, complete with corporate sponsorship

January 17, 2015

Really?

January 16, 2015

January 15, 2015

Birmingham's old library

January 14, 2015

Birmingham's new library

January 13, 2015

So do I.

January 12, 2015

January 11, 2015

The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower - the tallest free-standing clock tower in the world, fact fans.

January 10, 2015

January 9, 2015

Birmingham Uni from the canal

January 8, 2015

Canal-side grafitti

January 7, 2015

January 6, 2015

Successive transport revolutions: 18th and 19th centuries

January 5, 2015

And we're off!

On last year's showing, Nin should be bringing in one body every three days. She's a little behind schedule so far but it's still a good effort. I'm sure more will follow shortly.

January 4, 2015

More canals than Venice.

January 3, 2015

January 2, 2015

January 1, 2015