@sturdyAlex's Threads
12 added
For your consideration today, what would have been a lovely loaf, had I not forgotten to set an alarm and fallen asleep for three hours. I post this to say EVERYONE has disasters in the kitchen. They just don’t post the photos. I’ll just pick myself up and try again tomorrow. 
Funny detail: was chatting to @Nigella_Lawson yesterday and saying how I was never any good at bread but seem to have found “my baking mojo”.
We Greeks get quick action when it comes to hubris being punished.
We Greeks get quick action when it comes to hubris being punished.
*makes recipe testing note* “225 minutes at 275°C, definitely too long.”
5 jobs I've done and 5 tags
1. Fundamentalist hate preacher
2. Retired mythological figure
3. Queen of Burgundia
4. Thousands of assassinated guards
5. Sadistic Turkish Pasha
All of them on multiple occasions.
@ladyhaja @mrjamesob
@ingridoliver100 @Nigella_Lawson @grahnort
1. Fundamentalist hate preacher
2. Retired mythological figure
3. Queen of Burgundia
4. Thousands of assassinated guards
5. Sadistic Turkish Pasha
All of them on multiple occasions.
@ladyhaja @mrjamesob
@ingridoliver100 @Nigella_Lawson @grahnort
And here is some evidence.
This is the best sourdough Audrey II has produced yet. Instantly visible strands and fermentation (look at those massive bubbles), same size as boules I made before, but using only 75% of the ingredients. And the easiest, CLEANEST process so far. @BakeWithJack is a genius.
His method of starting with a less hydrated dough and adding moisture throughout by stretch-and-folding it with WATER💦 as lubricant, left hands and surfaces squeaky clean. This neatest of hacks has produced the very best results. Thank you @BakeWithJack.
Crumb shot foh ma bread posseh.
Have been rewatching original Star Trek, Season 1. The stories are SO good. Although it’s probably testament to the low budget that they mostly involve a powerful entity taking over the mind of a human-looking actor. But I love how rooted in spooky horror they are.
I also love that they obviously thought William Shatner was SUCH AN EARTH-SHATTERING HUNK, they tore his top to shreds at every possible opportunity. Or maybe he volunteered.
And I had no idea that the first series was made by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s company! Imagine that.
And I had no idea that the first series was made by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s company! Imagine that.
LOOOOK 👀
It’s a BAFFLING alien creature.
Definitely not a Labrador puppy in some sort of onesie, wondering wtf these people are doing.
It’s a BAFFLING alien creature.
Definitely not a Labrador puppy in some sort of onesie, wondering wtf these people are doing.
Rishi Sunak, in the final third of his statement, crossed over from reassuring and sensible to peacocking “aren’t we the bestest?”. Got the tone on this one quite wrong. The first political bum note I’ve seen him hit.
Sunak keeps saying how “generous” he‘s been. He keeps using that word. He seems to be struggling to reconcile hawkish fiscal ideology with the scale of this crisis.
It isn’t about generosity. It’s about trying to limit an economic catastrophe. It’s not “a kindness” by the gov’t.
It isn’t about generosity. It’s about trying to limit an economic catastrophe. It’s not “a kindness” by the gov’t.
I wonder if there is another gov’t in the whole world that has used an information press conference on the #COVIDー19 pandemic to announce a tax rise.
A grey day like today demands egg’n’lemon chicken soup.
When I was little, because dill leaves look like chicken footprints, I was convinced a ghost chicken climbed out of my soup and pecked at the bread. It became a recurring Mama/Alex joke, with increasingly elaborate set-ups.
When I was little, because dill leaves look like chicken footprints, I was convinced a ghost chicken climbed out of my soup and pecked at the bread. It became a recurring Mama/Alex joke, with increasingly elaborate set-ups.
We usually make this Greek national comfort dish with rice, but today I used “trahana” - a tiny pasta made from wheat and yoghurt and sun-dried, it has a gorgeous fermented umami taste. An ancient food developed as a way to preserve dairy and used by troops on military campaigns.
And just so you know I practice what I preach, this generous meal for six, was made with ONE chicken leg and thigh and the onion, carrot, leek peel, plus bones, offcuts etc kept in my “discard stock” freezer bag. The bones from this piece of chicken, have gone into the next bag.
BREAKING: Palace confirms Prince Charles has tested positive for #COVIDー19.
Although people are rightly angry there are not enough tests for NHS and other key workers, the notion the Prince of Wales should not have been tested is ludicrous. I detest the monarchy as a system of gov’t, but he is - rightly or wrongly - the successor for Head of State.
As a side note, I’m sure that Queen to Windsor, Charles to Birkhall, William to Amner etc. is part of a fairly strict, formalised plan to separate the succession line, in emergencies like these, rather than all of them deciding to give a bad example and take a holiday.
Since this is the start of my FOURTH week of #Lockdown let me tell you, briefly, what to expect. (THREAD)
DAY 1: This is like an unexpected Sunday. Lovely.
DAY 1: This is like an unexpected Sunday. Lovely.
DAY 2: No reason this should stop me from doing things. Let’s get busy Spring Cleaning!
DAY 3: Gosh, I’m actually being very productive. The novel is taking shape. This is great.
These measures reflect WHO advice and have huge public support, despite GR being behind UK #COVIDー19 curve.
But replies are full of Brit friends jeering: it'll never work, whatabout x, too draconian, unenforceable, etc.
I fear many in the UK just don't get how serious this is.
But replies are full of Brit friends jeering: it'll never work, whatabout x, too draconian, unenforceable, etc.
I fear many in the UK just don't get how serious this is.
I'm not blaming Brits for being semi-oblivious. I blame gov't messaging.
Every other ad on Greek TV is "Stay home; Stay healthy"; "Protect those you love; Follow advice", etc.
I chat every day with my other half. The lack of public service messaging in the UK is SHOCKING.
Every other ad on Greek TV is "Stay home; Stay healthy"; "Protect those you love; Follow advice", etc.
I chat every day with my other half. The lack of public service messaging in the UK is SHOCKING.
How many millions did they spend telling us to get ready for shitting Brexit?
I’ve been absolutely bowled over at how many of you are sending me photos of your potato peel crisps and your freezer stock bags, since that @RemainiacsCast.
And just so you know that I practice what I preach, here is the latest batch Mama and I are about to scoff.
And just so you know that I practice what I preach, here is the latest batch Mama and I are about to scoff.
Wash the peel, dry it, toss in a little oil and salt + whatever spice you fancy (in my case, sweet paprika) and bake at 200°C for 15-25 mins depending on volume & thickness. Basically, until they look like crisps. The dip is some leftover yoghurt with chilli and sundried tomato.
Oh, and I baked them at the bottom of the oven while I was roasting those stuffed vegetable for lunch - so no extra energy used.
Delicious, thrifty and righteous. In other words, sturdy.💪💪💪
Delicious, thrifty and righteous. In other words, sturdy.💪💪💪
We have, by now, firmly established that if there is a shittier take than the shittiest take already out there, Brendan O’Neill will likely write it and the @spectator will publish it.
Seriously? Dark Day? Sinister? North Korea? Grow the fuck up, you toddler.
Seriously? Dark Day? Sinister? North Korea? Grow the fuck up, you toddler.
O’Neill’s pieces always remind me of the great old joke, about a man who gets a flat tire, at 3am, in the middle of nowhere and discovers he has no jack. He sees the light of a distant farmhouse and starts to walk towards it, but as he walks, he starts to work himself up: 2/5
“What if they don’t have a jack? Of course they’ll have one. But what if they don’t want to lend it to me? They don’t know me. I’ll offer them money to rent it. What if they refuse? I’ll give them my watch and wallet as collateral. But what if they still won’t see reason?” 3/5
A THREAD on the notion that sharing some funny detail of Mama’s care somehow “denies her dignity” or “demeans her”. For millions of carers dealing with bodily functions is routine. It’s our normal. Occasionally making fun of it is a survival strategy for both carer and cared. 1/4
There’s nothing “demeaning” about incontinence. We all have a poo and some of us need help with it. Nobody thinks it’s “demeaning” to talk about changing your child’s nappy or that you’re making fun of babies. Try to separate genuine offence from fear of your own mortality. 2/4
Buck up your ideas about what is “dignified”. Stop setting future unhappiness traps for yourself. I have news for you: IF you’re lucky enough to get old, you’ll probably need someone to wipe your butt. If you’re REALLY lucky, it may be someone who loves you enough to do it. 3/5
Brendan O’Neil currently on Sky Press Review saying what a splendid job Johnson is doing, how hysterical leftists are, and arguing basically for the freedom of the individual to be infected, without the state sticking its oar in.
It’s “not all doom and gloom”, apparently.
It’s “not all doom and gloom”, apparently.
In fairness, I fully support Brendan O’Neil’s right to be infected.
In my old D&D days, if I had rolled a character with the attributes of Brendan O’Neil, the Dungeon Master would take pity and let me re-roll rather than make me play such a tosser.
Shall I tell you something geeky but (I think) fascinating? When the Blair Foundation adopted the “for the many, not the few” motto, everyone assumed a masterful bit of trolling. Well, maybe not. 1/3
I was doing some work for a piece and came across some old articles on Blair changing Clause IV. Guess what *exact words* were drafted by Tony Blair in the then new Clause IV, (resisted by people like Benn and Corbyn, and voted against by Abbott. 2/3
So, in fact, the Blair Foundation adopting that motto was a reclaiming of a phrase Blair actually came up with, in the teeth of people like Corbyn. Interesting, no? 3/3
One thing is clear. Whatever “Spirit of The Blitz” Brexit populists have been appealing to, is not a reality in today’s Britain. “Keep Calm And Carry On” is just a motto for tea towels. It’s who we like to think we are, not who we are.
You can’t spend decades fostering individualism, telling people “there’s no such thing as society”, then expect solidarity and collective responsibility to magically materialise when needed. And if your forward planning depends on it, your plans need urgent revising.
This is not to “talk Britain down”. It’s just reality.
I am very weary of the nonsense semantic notion that calling women who wear the niqab “letterboxes” is not racist because “ACTCHU-ALLY muslims are not a race”, spouted with such smugness, as if you discovered some amazing logical gem. So, see if you can follow this THREAD. 1/4
FIRST - Racism is not delineated by your definition of race, but by the racist’s. When a guy winds down his car window and shouts “Paki go home” at me, the fact I’m actually just a swarthy Greek is not a free pass for him. Jews are not a race, but antisemites see them as one. 2/4
SECOND - If you want, call it islamophobia or religious persecution. But the fact it affects primarily WoC makes it racist, in precisely the same way courts have found employment policies that victimise part-time workers to be sexist - they penalise women disproportionately. 3/4
On @SkyNews The Sun’s @OliviaBUtley dismisses Priti Patel story as part of an “Establishment/Remainer/Civil Service agenda”. Why should the PM act on basis of “allegations with no evidence behind them”, she asks?
There IS evidence. From three dep’ts. Allegations ARE evidence.1/7
There IS evidence. From three dep’ts. Allegations ARE evidence.1/7
This isn’t semantics. It’s a vital point, central to a victim-blaming culture prevalent in tabloids: to discount the victim’s account as “not evidence”.
A public servant ending a 33-year career, in writing, for behaviour confirmed by others in three departments IS evidence. 2/7
A public servant ending a 33-year career, in writing, for behaviour confirmed by others in three departments IS evidence. 2/7
It may not be sufficient; may require corroboration; contemporaneous documents etc, depending on standard and burden of proof, but a victim’s account is CENTRAL evidence in such a case.
The issue is a pervasive view of bullying as “not real harm” and its victims as “weak”. 3/7
The issue is a pervasive view of bullying as “not real harm” and its victims as “weak”. 3/7
CLEAN MONDAY MINI-FEAST, to mark the start of Lent: look down the thread for spicy marinaded grilled prawns, caramelised onion fava, white taramosalata with “lagana” bread, lightly pickled beetroot, Kalamata olives... and *freshly homemade halva* for afters. #greece #mykonos
And the rest 2/2
“Clean Monday”, as you may guess, is followed by Washing Up Tuesday.
My educated guess on Patel/Rutnam: He told Patel that deportation to Jamaica 20 days ago was unlawful, her response was “don’t care, get it f’kin done”; when courts found it unlawful and stopped it, she blamed Rutnam’s advice to Cabinet; he quietly let it be known she was lying.
I’ll make one further guess. A top civil servant, will not have decided to take a Secretary of State to court, unless he had incontrovertible documentary evidence supporting his position. Patel will be hung out to dry or have to throw A LOT of cash at him, once discovery starts.
And is if by magic, this drifts past my timeline. 😆
A university, a TV station, a magazine - any platform - necessarily, selects whom it features. It isn’t a denial of far-right loons’ free speech. None of us have a “right” to a particular audience. Your free speech does not confer on anyone else an obligation to listen. #r4today
Classic example of this misconception. Ok, then. Let’s explore this: I demand to address all of Durham university, next Monday. Is it a denial of my free speech that they’re under no obligation to acquiesce?
You no more have a “right” to address a university than I have a right to demand the Telegraph prints an article of mine, every time they print one by Johnson, rebutting him. FFS it’s not a tricky concept. Your right to speak does not equal an obligation on others to amplify you.
What REALLY BUGS ME, is the implicit assumption that migrants lead flat, linear, forever-waiters or forever-delivery-drivers lives.
When I came to the UK, I worked reception to improve my English, waited tables to put myself through uni, then went on to better-paid jobs. THREAD
When I came to the UK, I worked reception to improve my English, waited tables to put myself through uni, then went on to better-paid jobs. THREAD
By denying entry to today’s waiters, delivery drivers, and baristas, you deny entry to tomorrow’s doctors, IT engineers, and entrepreneurs, by effectively becoming hostile to YOUNG MIGRANTS.
Most points systems give maximum points for youth, because they recognise potential. 2/4
Most points systems give maximum points for youth, because they recognise potential. 2/4
Vast majority of skilled professionals, practice where they earned the qualification. Few convert it. Few people with a career want to restart at a lower level. Few people with families decide to uproot their kids. Few people with a business move it to another legal regime. 3/4
Gov’t response to sectors like social care telling them they will struggle to fill vacancies: “You will have to rely on automation.”
Now, why didn’t I think of that?
*clears throat*
Alexa, give Mama her medicine, then take her to the loo, and set her down for her nap.
*waits*
Now, why didn’t I think of that?
*clears throat*
Alexa, give Mama her medicine, then take her to the loo, and set her down for her nap.
*waits*
Alexa?
ALEXA!
ALEXA!
ALEXA, GIVE MAMA HER MEDICINE.
*Alexa plays Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine”*
*Alexa plays Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine”*
They’ve had three years of the UK gov’t agreeing things, then going back on them. All the while, briefing against the EU and engaging in this sort of public toddler tantrum, for its domestic audience.
Naturally, this has caused a total breakdown of trust.
That’s what’s changed.
Naturally, this has caused a total breakdown of trust.
That’s what’s changed.
It’s like asking your estranged spouse “what‘s changed” from the amicable divorce she offered initially, after spending years refusing to sign the divorce papers, showing up drunk at her home, repeatedly trying to kidnap the cat and chaining yourself to the gate at her workplace.
You’ve proven yourself, conclusively, a douchebag. That’s what.
Whatever you think is the worst film Nicholas Cage has made, you only think it because you’ve never seen “Left Behind”. It‘s violating my eyes, ears and brain, but I cannot stop watching it. Or listening to the soft porn, solo sax soundtrack. It’s like Airplane, but not a spoof.
It has a 1% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. ONE. PER. CENT.
End credits song, with subtitles for your delectation.
HELP ME.
HELP ME.
