Poor Denise. Struck down by a really nasty gastric bug she has been confined to bed. We all hope she gets better really soon. If possible D, just before I have to carve that massive turkey coz that bird looks scary. Yes, in the absence of the head chef due to illness I am unexpectedly cooking the Christmas dinner in Wales. Now I’d consider myself a relatively competent cook but if there is one meal which fills me with terror it’s a roast. I just panic at the thought of getting all the ‘accessories’ ready on time eg stuffing, sausages in bacon, gravy, vegetables etc. But this morning there is no excuse. I must pull myself together, get a grip and pour a large sherry and ‘give it a go’ as they say in this neck of the woods. So far I have puzzled over a smoking oven, made three calls to Cookery Command Centre in Cosham and pondered over how best to baste this terrifying bird. But all is well. Ian and Adrian are happily watching a programme about snaring salmon, Denise is safe in her bed and I am in the kitchen with a bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream. Good luck everyone – if you’ve seen the scene in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with the disastrous Christmas dinner, you may well be seeing it again.
