ABOUT THE MONKVALLY TEAM
WELCOME: BIENVENUE
Thank you for visiting OohLaLoire, the place to find our memories, and my thoughts about food, and a life lived in the Loire Valley.
Food is my passion. Writing about a passion is easy. Writing an “about” page is different. Where to start? Where to stop? How much to include? What to leave out?
So: Here goes. Born in 1948. I am the oldest of 5 siblings, two brothers and two sisters . Born in Chesterfield. I lived for a while in Amersham Buckinghamshire when my father moved south to work. In 1966 I returned to in 1968, working for the Post Office Accountant General’s Department ( A G D )
It was while working here that I met and later married Sheila. We celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2013.
I love music, absolutely any genre, nothing is out of reach. Classical, Jazz, Pop, Soul, Country and Western, rap. Gardening is a joy, as this blog is testament to. Sports: Tennis, Badminton, and Squash. Although that might give the impression of a sporty type, I am not really. Walking is another passtime taking our very active, but, gentle English Setter, Ash. and playing with the other two furry residents in the valley.
My real passion though is all things food, cooking, tasting. Experimenting with different flavours. Time spent in the kitchen is not a chore for me , it is my relaxation, time I love .
Reading and browsing though the 150 cookery books we have. I can find something different every time, a little gem of a recipe hiding away in the pages. For me, a perfect evening is one spent with dear friends over a lovely meal. Enjoying the food and wine.
Sheila was born in Chesterfield in 1947. She went straight from school to the AGD. Whether she actually did any work during the 30 odd years, is another question!
Now! Sheila is very sporty “A’s” in gym and games, with the tagline from the headmaster “If Sheila applied the same enthusiasm and dedication to academic subjects, as she does to sports, she could go far” Badminton, Squash, Tennis, Swimming, Netball, the last three competing for her school, and, in Athletics, throwing the javelin ( competing for Chesterfield) but, she is: famous for…. In frustration after a dismal throw she thrust the javelin down with a vengeance! ……… Straight in her foot!!
Sheila’s taste in music is classically lead, she used to sing with Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, but I like to think that since meeting me her taste has broadened out. Her current favourites are Adele, Ed Sheeran and Diana Krall. She Loves ABBA and cannot see enough of the Two Mamma Mia films.
Her food of choice is more down to earth, – stews and curries, (her favourite sandwich is by far, fish finger with tomato ketchup) – not fine dining, and far less experimental with recipes, sticking to the book, word for word.
She loves making bread.
Having said that she sticks to the recipe, Sheila does enjoy cooking things, maybe somebody would say “why bother,” recently cooking Rillettes de porc (similar to potted meat) confit du Canard, and her latest project: Black pudding. Described it as work in progress, it’s very tasty but the spices and seasoning need slight adjustments, and because of the hot summer of 2022 Sheila decided to pause till October, not confident the dried pig’s blood would keep well.
We were both fortunate to take Early retirement with full pensions in 1997/98. ……and the rest is as they say history and “History” is where you will find it!
If you have enjoyed reading about my adventures in monkvalley