The 9 1 1

I got the gossip on the letter today.


It was, as I suspected, our allotment misogynist that was to blame. Apparently it's been brewing for a while. He tends to pick women who have the allotments to themselves, of which there are quite a few up in my corner of the allotments. He starts off helpful then takes over. He turns nasty when people say he's to stop. He doesn't take hints so you have to be quite forceful.

I think what happened was that some women complained about him to the secretary (who knew already but had done nothing to stop him) then this guy complained about the secretary keeping chickens and claimed that they were mistreated. SSPCA investigated and said they were in good condition, and that they were being used for commercial gain (against the allotment rules).

This guy has at least two plots of his own which he doesn't maintain, he's been threatened to get kicked off one and this is when he complained, I hear with the help of some buddies who don't even have plots.

Today I also hear that he no longer is allowed to work in schools (I knew this already but didn't know the reason) because of his behaviour to female staff including pinning another teacher up to a wall. Now he's quite an old man but he used to body build.

He's also in the BNP - he tells everyone. I've not seen the guy for ages but I'm told since all this started back in the summer he's been seen quite rarely and it was once with a known paedophile and once with two EDL members. It's like I'm gardening in the ghetto.

Intrigue

I received a letter yesterday from Glasgow City Council's Allotments Officer with regards to a complaint that a fellow plot holder submitted with regards to the running of the allotment association.

The matters that have been raised are untrue, the person who complained said that there is no AGM when in fact I myself have attended the AGM almost every year since I got the plot. I suspect someone has got a personal complaint against a member of the committee and has submitted a vexatious complaint .

I'm going to get my detective at on.

A new decade - a post i wrote around this time last year and didn't publish

This weekend I turn thirty. It's making think about how far I've come in the last ten years and how far I still have to go with my life.

My 20th birthday was the last one I had when I didn't live in this flat - that's a bit of a thought. It doesn't seem like so long since I moved here.

In other aspects of my life many things have happened. When I turned 20 I was studying my undergraduate degree and working part time in O'briens sandwich bar and working at the G.O.A.L.S project - I led workshops on the theme of further/higher education in schools with low levels of participation in formal education.

Since then I have had three other jobs (including my current one) completed my Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies.

Nasturtiums, Broad Beans and grassy mess.

Winter

Winter is a quiet time on the plot. So i've not had much to blog about. My neighbour gave me an artichoke cutting which is doing well so far. I'm looking forward to feasting on them for years to come.

We've had some awful weather  with really high winds but my plot seems to have escaped mostly unscathed. My bench was blown over and as it was on it's last legs anyway finally lost its battle. I also have a few repairs to do on my fence and gate.

Back in November on a lovely sunny winter's day my pals came to help me clear out the weedy patch beside my greenhouse. We got a huge amount done in just a few hours and just in time before it got dark. Cheap labour too I bought them for a pint each.

Team Carson

Pierogi Ruski

This years potato crop seems to be good for mashing. So I decided to make Pierogi Ruski. I've never made them before and they turned out tasty but more like a pasty than the softer pierogi I have had in Poland. The recipe says to bake them but next time I might try frying them or steaming them to see if that is how to keep them soft.

The white plate didn't help me to photograph these well unfortunately.

the recipe is from Anna's Kitchen.

This is it: Filling: 1.4kg bolied potaotes.
Mash them up with 5-6 tablespoons of pureed cottage cheese.

In a pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter then fry 1 very finely chopped medium onion until it is starting to turn golden.
Add the potatoes to the pan and cook (stirring constantly ) over a medium heat until the potatoes are thick. Leave to chill for an hour or two.

Pastry: The recipe is for 40-50 pierogi with three fillings. As I only made one filling I only made a third of this amount but this is the recipe as listed. 400g flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 225g butter (cubed) 225g cream cheese (cubed ish) Process briefly until texture is even.

Add 60ml chilled double cream (I used soured cream because I had some left over) and process again until he pastry forms a ball. Chill for at least 30mins.

Roll out pastry, cut into circle, put blob of mash in middle and fold over. pierce hole in the top and spread with egg wash (yolk and water)

arrange on a buttered baking sheet and bake at 190C for 15-20 mins until the are golden brown. But like I said next time I'm going to try frying or steaming.

White Bean and Potato Stew

Here are some lovely potatoes that I grew all by my very self.


and here is the delicious white bean and potato stew/soup that I made with them. The bread on the side is Malted Pumpkin Seed from Tapa and is my new favourite. http://www.tapabakehouse.com/bakery/index.php

The Soup is from 'From Anna's Kitchen' a great book for vegetarian home cooking.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Annas-Kitchen-Vegetarian-Penguin-Cookery/dp/0140469613

it's a tasty, herby bowl of yumminess. Light enough for summer but warming for a winter meal.