I just given one to the bike man and one to the station master at the train station.

One person said that the quips are ‘quite unique’ but, then so are people and I like them to be represented in all their weird and wonderful ways.  Pensioners are also seen ‘in a different light’.

I will leave them in a few cafes when I go on my travels.

Once again there were engineering works over the weekend of the Castle Ride 100. That means that that there was a rickety bus going from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge and charity cyclists would be ‘banned’.

They would have to either fork out for another night at a local hotel, go up the scary and unlit, Riverhill on the way back to London or drive.

I have had to warn cyclists to check Southeastern trains beforehand about the likelihood of a bus operating instead of a train. They were gripped by the full scale horror of it.

The train companies certainly make it difficult for charity cyclists who choose not to have a car.

At least, with the London to Brighton Bike Ride, they provide extra vehicles to carry the bikes on but for other long distance charity rides, they do not. It just encourages more unnecessary car use when we should start cutting down and it causes so much inconvenience too.

Recently I have had to help a London cyclist move to Kent, and what a joy that was – there was engineering work all the way from Tonbridge to Hastings. Not just on the Sunday, but for the whole weekend!

I don’t know what they do in Europe with regards to engineering works, but why can’t these train companies do this stuff at night and ‘work with the people’ instead of behaving like Public Enemy No 1?

I had to rustle up a Valentines Day Poem for my boyfriend. He is partially deaf and luckily he has a sense of humour, otherwise I would never get away with it. Saying that, why can’t Valentines Day card be politically correct?

Politically Correct Valentine’s Day Poem

walking along Epping Forest

with my (partially hard of hearing) Valentine

stopping for a rest

for a picnic and glass of red wine

it maybe simple

but

to me, the memories will last a lifetime

Christmas shouldn’t be allowed:-)

On another issue, I have discovered we have  a writer’s group. I put it in my diary but now realise that I will working that evening. Hopefully I can try again. I just want to get cracking.

Last night I made my ‘Street Quips’ booklet. I kept a street conversation diary for London and Tonbridge, over 2009 and I put wrote some of them down. Vol 1 should be out very shortly.

I was given my first book by my mother in my 20s. I think they are a calming influence on a crazy day ahead. I decided to find out more about them when I contacted the publishers, D C Thomson.

“The first Friendship Book of Francis Gay, dated 1939, went on sale in 1938. There has been a Friendship Book each year since.

The Francis Gay Fund, originally the Coal Fund, began in a small way about forty years ago, when donations from readers were used to buy Christmas food parcels and bags of coal for needy people.

This has now grown to assist thousands of people all year round, in a number of ways.

As a working journalist seeking the best in people and finding it often in the least expected circumstances, his writing for many years provided comfort for many readers throughout the world.

Because he is no longer actively involved, his valuable work is carried on in his name by others who share his philosophy of life”.

Of course, in order to encourage them, they need some kind of motivation at the end. so it  isn’t all slog and sweat.  One day, for example, it was a trip to a bazaar.  But lately, they have discovered the guilty pleasures of the Gypsy tart, found at the local village shop.  Though most of the group are not from the UK, they are now big fans.   The ‘Gypsy Tart Fitness Group’ continues to expand (forgive the fun). I wonder why! 

The Gypsy tart originates from Kent. In fact,  I remember having them for my school dinners in the 70.s  Although most will know the version of gypsy tart made with evaporated milk, it can also be made with condensed milk. This makes a firmer and even sweeter tart. The story behind this pie is that during the early part of the 20th century a lady regularly saw undernourished gypsy children playing in the fields next to her house. One say she decided to feed them but had nothing more than pie crust, evaporated milk and brown sugar.  What a great story and what a wonderful lady.

RECIPE

Prep time:

10 mins, plus 30 mins chilling time

Cook time:

Serves:

6

How to glaze pastry

Ingredients

For the pate sucree (makes 500g)

• 125g unsalted Butter
• 90g caster sugar
• 1 large Egg
• 250g plain flour
• 1 tbsp cold water

For the gypsy tart

• 300g (pate sucree) sweet shortcrust pastry
• 400g evaporated milk
• 330g dark brown sugar, preferably muscovado

Method

1. For the pate sucree: put the butter and caster sugar in a food processor and process until just combined. Add the egg and process for 30 seconds. Tip in the plain flour and process for a few seconds until the dough just comes together (do not over-process or it will become tough). Add the cold water if the dough seems dry.

2. Knead lightly on a floured surface then shape into a flat disc and chill for 30 minutes before rolling out.

3. For the gypsy tart: preheat the oven to 170C/Gas 3.

4. Roll out 300g of the pate sucree and use to line a 21cm tart tin. Line the pastry case with greasproof paper and fill with baking beans or dried haricot beans. Bake for 15 minutes or until the sides of the pastry have cooked through, then remove the baking beans and return to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes until the base is a pale golden brown and feels sandy to touch.

5. Meanwhile, whisk the milk and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 15 minutes).

6. Pour the milk mixture into the pre-baked pastry case then cook for 5-10 minutes until risen and the surface is tacky.

7. Remove from oven and leave cool and set before serving.

sixty miles an hour on

forty mile per hour roads

passing schools

old people’s homes

and crossings by the Dome

all this comes to an end

as  Speedwatch volunteers

surround the bend

and penalty notices are swiftly penned

Amber liked what she saw

in the mirror;

by the front door

putting one hand on her hips

she pouted her  lips

like a Hollywood cutie

 purring ‘I feel smoooooochie’,

Amber’s on the pull?

Oh no, she’s getting ready for school.