An Ill Wind Blows.

Bitter, freezing winds have swept over the country in the last few days. Winter is hanging on.

Feels a little bit like my life at the moment. Having been battered by ill winds for the best part of q year I'm wondering when things will brighten up. Where will the next knife come from?

I feel very isolated. Isolated even in a crowd. There was a crowd this afternoon as I sat in a freezing cold garden waiting for someone to turn up for a surprise birthday party. My days of parties feel long ago. In my loneliness this afternoon I remembered all the parties I've been to and realise they all made me anxious.

That awful thing that bedevils me so much. Friends try to help, to support and to praise but it all feels so empty. 

I do still have my kitchen though. Tonight there will be Dover sole. A chilled bottle of Picpoul de Pinet, some new potatoes and some green beans I think. 

What will tomorrow bring? Hopefully the latest knife wound will start to heal. I need that.

I Heard a Voice. 

Through the Brooding Fens.

In a beautiful but desolate fenland landscape we walked in the morning through the black earthed fields past skeletal trees. Bleak but stunning. 

The sky is grey but it is mild. I'm on my annual trip here to watch the Super Bowl. 

So good to get away. Work anxiety followed me when I woke but I'm feeling good. 

Lunch at The Prince Albert in Ely, lovely Black Sheep ale, dates wrapped in bacon then grilled and served in a mustard sauce, roast beef and a glass of Malbec. 

My return home commences late tomorrow morning. It's half term but we are still going to the office. Seems odd but that is the expectation. 

Time is passing quickly. How events unfold I don't know but I do know I'm working very hard, I've learned from the many mistakes I made a year ago and hopefully the outcome will be good. 

See you soon.

I Heard a Voice  

Tudor Music on a Sunday.

The sun is out. The air is cold but the days are getting longer. Is winter on the retreat?

You find me in my little part of Hertfordshire tired but good. The working week was exhausting, some triumph and some not so triumphant. In the end though at least I did some good. 

Not been out yet or seen anyone. Starting the morning with a change of music. First to Beethoven's String Trios and now to a trio of wonderful Tudor masses. A time of fear, paranoia, disease and turbulence but what music?

Singing it all as a child we didn't understand it nor appreciate the brilliance of it. Another day so it's Byrd. Or Weelkes, or Tallis, or Gibbons. A rich period in history. 

The culinary adventures today included a mojame and nectarine salad with pine nuts and a date molasses dressing. Tonight there will be roast pork. 

This coming week will be busy and challenging. But next weekend is a long one with my annual visit to Miriam and Nigel for the Super Bowl. 

That's enough for now, enjoy your Sunday and have a good week. 

I Heard a Voice. 

Smashing It.

Greetings on this grey Sunday. There has been a recent spike in viewing figures on my little blog. That's good. 

You find me listening to Don Giovanni and generally doing better. 

On Friday I had to once again get my brain in the right place and cast aside my fear. I say that because it was the first time I've ever delivered a webinar and also to see my first young person one to one since I left the University. 

Smashed it apparently! Yes I can still do it! Little by little I very much hope my confidence comes back. Having my three trainees logged in as well as some colleagues it was pretty daunting. But the words fab, amazing and precious indicate how well it went. 

For once I will let someone else into my treasured kitchen to cook for me. My friend Dale is cooking beef Wellington. Never tried it before. 

Enjoy your Sunday. 

I Heard a Voice. 

Frosty Outlook.

A heavy frost has turned the land white. The bitter cold has been here for a week. I'm in the warm of home listening to Mozart and drinking coffee. 

I can't remember where I was at when I last posted but today I am in a fairly good position. Work has been very busy but going much better. Next Friday I get back to what I'm good at, people. 

The Lunar New Year is upon us. I won't be doing my traditional trip to see Yan at The Fu Hao but I will wish her and Lin a Happy New Year. 

Instead I will cook roast beef for dinner. My culinary adventures have been fun. Last night I cooked wild boar ragu for Sarah. First time I have cooked for friends in months. 

All part of my CBT programme to get my anxiety back under control. Much to my surprise it has been helpful. 

Enjoy your Sunday. 

I Heard a Voice. 

Prevailing in the Face of Fear.

A cold Sunday afternoon in my little part of Hertfordshire. I'm listening to Turandot and reviewing recent events. 

Life has not been easy for me recently. The dark despair of Boxing Day is gone but my battle with my own fear continues. 

My return to work has gone better than I expected and although hard I think I'm holding my own. 

By way of triumph over adversity I overcame my fear and visited Borough Market yesterday. It was packed but I did it. Lovely lunch at Brindisa then some lovely ingredients for culinary adventures. 

So there will be roast wild mallard for dinner tonight. 

I must continue to celebrate my victories over my demons. They have certainly been out to play the last months but sometimes I overcome.

I Heard a Voice. 

Emerging at Dawn.

The last time I posted I was in a very dark place. Getting through Boxing Day was horrendous as I was totally overwhelmed. 

Almost two weeks later I'm much more stable. My return to work went well despite my fears. Effectively I have a new team. I will try to work having learnt the lessons of the many mistakes I made last year. 

That can wait though. It is Sunday and after pouring rain this morning the sun is trying to emerge and I can glimpse blue skies.

I'm listening to Madame Butterfly and just being me in the warmth of the flat that I now own. 

Roast chicken is on the menu tonight and I'll have bacon and lamb's kidney for lunch. A long time since I ate kidney. A love it or hate it ingredient. I love it.

The final weekend of the NFL regular season is upon us. A disastrous year for my Rams but sometimes injury destroys even good teams. 

Enjoy your Sunday. 

I Heard a Voice.