Day Five – Lockdown Two

Do you remember the weather we had during the last lockdown?  It was autumn and we experienced many sunny warm days.  Today reminded of that time.  While out on my training walk this morning I continued listening to Burt Bacharach’s life story.  I especially enjoyed hearing about the stories behind the songs: Rain drops keep fallin’ on my head; What the world needs now is love; I say a little prayer; A house is not a home; to name a few.  How Burt and Hal David came to work and record with Dionne Warwick.  It has been a trip down memory lane, I really loved that music and have so many happy memories.  In actual fact I have got the music playing in the background.  Herb Alpert was another favourite of mine and I didn’t realise he also played and sung a couple of Burt and Hal’s song “This guy’s in love with you”.  Oh I’ve got distracted tonight, busy watching and listening to Burt and Dionne’s videos.

What I was going to say about this morning while out walking was seeing so many people out on their bikes enjoying the warm sunshine and having fun.  And people walking their dogs.  The thought crossed my mind why don’t we see this more often?  Guess it could be – people just get busy!  What are your thoughts?

Thank you for your comments and feedback.  Carly sent me a photo of her two little fish and chips tops – they’re beautiful Carly and to think a new born will benefit from your generosity.

Brain teasers also known as dingbats

How did you get on last night with the brain teasers, did you manage to work them out?  Here is another four for tonight – they are sayings.  Answers at the bottom of this post.

Family favourite – Peter’s chocolate self-saucing pudding

Thank you for Susan for one of your family favourites.  Peter is Susan’s brother and when they were growing up on their farm on the Kaimai’s Peter used to eat 13 Weetbix for breakfast!  He did grow up to be quite tall – 6′ 4″!

Sift together:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

Add

• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tblsp cocoa

Mix with ½ cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla and 2 tbsp melted butter then pour into a buttered dish.

Mix together ¾ cup sugar and 1 tblsp cocoa.  Sprinkle over above mixture and pour over top 2 cups of boiling water.

Bake 40 mins in moderate oven.  Serve with ice cream.

If you have a got a large family gathering  (40 – 50 people) perhaps you could try this version of the above chocolate self-saucing pudding. Susan used this recipe for 13 years when she took her students out to stay at a Marae near Kawhia.

Sift together:

• 10 cups flour
• 20 tsp baking powder
• 5 tsp salt

Add

• 7½ cups sugar
• 10 tblsp cocoa

Mix with 5 cups milk, 10 tsp vanilla and 20 tblsp melted butter and pour into large buttered dish.

Mix together 7½ cups sugar, 10 tblsp cocoa. Sprinkle over above mixture and pour over top 20 cups of boiling water.

Depending on the size of the dish will depend on how long to cook it.  It will take longer than the smaller version – an hour plus. Serve with ice cream.

Quote for today:

 “You don’t stop having fun when you get old. You get old when you stop having fun.”
Anonymous

Dingbat answers

1. Silence is golden
2. Scrambled eggs
3. A drop in the ocean
4. 3 wise men

I will sign off tonight listening to Dionne singing “That’s what friends are for”, quite relevant I think.  Take care – GoldCard Gal 🙂

Neighbourhood scenes

If you have any pictures you would like to share, even if it is from your garden, I would appreciate receiving them.  Don’t be shy!