I thought I was bad wasting time updating all these web sites and so on. I found this blog by Audrey Cooks that must get a load of time and attention plus it has fantastic photographs and recipes.

She says she is from Malaysia and the site is pack full of Far Eastern recipes. I was searching for information on my Pig's Trotters article and came across Audrey's web site. It is mouth watering!

Bill Hicks - Relentless

The show was shown at the Montreal Comedy Festival. Fantastic observational comedy. I think the Canadians got the jist more than an American audience but I am sure he would have got a lot more laughs on the UK circuit.

Heston Blumenthal: In search of Perfection brings his scientific approach to cooking to a new series on BBC2. He is only occasionally seen on TV but this has been increasing to his own series. This is sure to make fantasic viewing.

This is like a lecture on good food. 

This is probably not appropriate for all but it worked out great for me.

Basically I need to be in London for Monday morning but I was going to be near there anyway so I decided to stay overnight in a hotel to save an early train from Bournemouth.

As I was driving, having hotel I could easily get to, park there for the next day whilst I get a tube into London and then easy for driving out again, would be great. I did some searches and found that the Ramada Jarvis hotel in Ealing was ideal.

Since my sister had her second child it has prompted me to write a short piece on Chinese folklore that says you are not allowed to leave the house for four weeks, but also that they are foods specific for the occasion and in this instance one of them is Pig's Trotters in Vinegar and Ginger that is slowly cook and supposedly promotes good health for the mother.

Here are some web site links so you know it is not just me making it all up.

Anmum.com - good for expelling wind it says

Momsinmind.com - a bit more explanation on the components and their benefits 

Stomp.com - you even get a picture on this page 

There are soups as well. 

It might sound a bit rough but actually I like it. Reminds me of my childhood. 

Pangaea , 27-29 Poplar Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7AA. Tel: 0121 441 2222

This is a fantastic, bright and vibrant Indian restaurant. The food is very, very good. I believe the owner used to also run the Ambassador restaurant in Kings Heath which also had a great reputation. It is slightly hidden off the main road so you wont pass it unless you seek it out. It is worth seeking out.

Apart from the main dining area, there is a more private room that you can book for any special occassion.

We had poppadoms for starters. These were still warm when they arrive unlike some places where they can be cold or limp.

I had the onion bhaji this time round. Crisp and light. Not stodgy, floury or soaked in oil.

For my main I had a Sulaiman Range which has chicken, lamb and prawns in a medium dry sauce with peppers, green chilli and ginger. A good combination in my view. To go with this I had the Pangaea fried rice, which sultanas and cashew nuts. It all went very well together.

I had a taste of the garlic nan and peshwari nan that other people had and they tasted great. Overall, excellent food.

We had a bottle of the house red, which was nice and smooth. Easy to drink.

This place is well recommended.

Pangaea Website