Diary of a busyish woman

SuperValu Ireland have developed a programme for the small, and not so small, food producers in collaboration with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices . William has completed the Basic Food Academy and now the opportunity is there for our business to grow as we can approach a number of SuperValu shops where we don't have a presence and see how we get on. For some people this is the first step in bringing their product to national and international supermarket shelves, and for others it will be an opportunity to identify exactly how far they want to go. It's led me to thinking of what being successful means. On many programmes like the RTE Radio 1 Countrywide programme, we hear of those who are showcasing Irish products nationally and internationally, but not of the small producer who is more than happy doing a local farmers' or Country market as well as perhaps a local shop or SuperValu. These producers are successful too in my opinion - they know the value of the

Last night, I enjoyed a lovely few hours in my sister, Elizabeth's home, where we celebrated my eldest niece, Victoria's 21st birthday party. Elizabeth & Ger produced the core dishes, but we all brought something to the party in terms of food, because that's what we do; and the birthday cakes (yes, there were two) were produced by Granny H. & granddaughter, Ingrid - Made & served with love and pride. Coming home and reflecting (I always find driving gives me that 'me' time), I had to finally give in and utter the words: 'where have all the years gone?' For many, reflecting can be a stick with which to beat oneself or another person. However what has gone can never be relived and regrets should be parked firmly. Ok, I confess I'm one of those 'glass half full' people and look at life as an opportunity not to be missed. My sisters and I have produced a total of 11 grandchildren and what a diverse bunch they are too, but so interesti

 www.telemuseum.org/images/sagem-teleprinter-tx20.jpg Admitting yesterday that I'm no mechanic started me on the route of what I'm not too bad doing and that sent me down memory lane. I completed a 13 week intensive secretarial training course in Autumn 1979, where the most exciting thing was when I was finally (in my last week) allowed to use an IBM Golfball typewriter . I thought I'd arrived! In my first full-time job though, I was faced with quite a challenge - a Sagem Telex machine. On this I was expected to type ships' manifests onto ticker tape, & this was transmitted to a few different places including head office. In a short time, I was an expert at reading the tape and could easily amend any errors. Some years later, I temped in a Building & Construction company in Dublin, where I spied a Sagem telex in a corner. It had arrived but no-one had the confidence to try it so it had sat for the better part of a year - unused - so I taught everyone in

I'm clueless when it comes to looking under the hood of any mechanical vehicle. As long as it drives, I'm good to go. Radio on in the background, an open road and I can drive, enjoy the countryside where possible and just think. It's therapy for me. Unfortunately yesterday was one of those days when a little knowledge and indeed awareness would have been useful. Halfway through my deliveries, I found I had no brakes! I didn't hit anyone, do any further damage to the van or to myself. Parking at the garage - Brian Powell Motors - & being given the bad news that I could go no further, I was thankful for two things - cold, cold weather helped keep our products cold in the van, and when a replacement refrigerated van arrived from home, my van was still reading -1°C; the second thing was our customers' sympathy and help in the circumstances, so my thanks to S.V. Midleton ; Ballymaloe ; Castlemartyr and Market Lane Restaurant . At this, my final port of call for

Tonight I'll be in Ballydehob Community Hall watching The Culchie & The Kiwi cooking up a storm. I had planned to make some of my Black Pudding Swirls to do something different on my table, but guess what, the Puff Pastry that I thought I had in my freezer isn't there, so I'll have to think of something different! A conundrum which sent me back to my cookbooks for inspiration. I'm still waiting! The White Pudding & Bacon Brioche isn't an option to me either as I have no eggs until later, and there's no cheese in the fridge! The basics I use on a regular basis are gone and one of the joys of living in rural Ireland is that I can't just take a run (literally) to the nearest shop. These are the reasons that many of my recipes are either make ahead or use minimum ingredients for maximum flavour and goodness. Sometimes, like today, it's a challenge but  Black and/or White Pudding Croutons were a case in point of necessity being the mother of inventi

If you're wondering what on earth has happened to me, when so many in West Cork are anything but rich, allow me to explain. We have some of the most talented people on earth living in West Cork, some come for a holiday or to rejuvenate their muse, but so many live here and find inspiration in the place and people. West Cork people, and I include me in this, often don't take the time to sit and just count our blessings and we truly have many - good food and isn't it wonderful to see Frank Krawczyk, acclaimed food producer, spearheading the West Cork Slow Food revival; then it's on to all the festivals that happen in West Cork from food to walking to music to sport and art in all their forms. I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to attend the Clonakilty Games Festival last weekend but was away in Dublin doing tastings in Avoca Rathcoole , The Country Market, Howth & Thyme Out, Dalkey . I had a wonderful time and thanks to everyone including my aunt and firs

It's now nearly 10am on Sunday, 25th January, and I still haven't had anything to eat! I'm neither sick nor hungover, I'm just allowing an absolutely gorgeous meal to digest. Last night about 60 people met in the West Cork Hotel to celebrate Robert Burns life with a Burns Supper. This supper has none of the pomp & ceremony that have infiltrated similar celebrations in other jurisdictions & is good craic. The menu is, I'm sure, very similar and wouldn't be the same without 'Neeps & Tatties' and of course The Haggis . Ceremonially paraded around the room by Head Chef, Christian, and preceded by the piper before a poem was declaimed over it, it was served with the aforesaid neeps & tatties and a beautiful gravy. Sally Barne s' wild salmon was a beautiful alternative to the haggis on the main course, but for me it was the soufflés that stole the show. Piping hot & perfectly risen with a very delicate flavour, they were an exercise i

               "No man is an island, Entire of itself". The first part of this quote I'm sure you've heard as often as I have. Until today on Twitter, I didn't know it was attributed to John Donne , poet & future dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, was born on this day in 1615. But back to the quotation. I often wonder why people withdraw from their communities and try to live completely independently without recourse to another human. Of course, it's somewhat easier nowadays with an internet connection, but why do it. For some it's a conscious decision to 'go it alone', for others it could be from a religious motivation to allow greater time to focus on God and faith as in the hermit style of living; but I believe that many try to live like this because they've been hurt in the past. Recently I wasn't too well, and the way I deal with illness is to be like a cat! I withdraw to 'lick my wounds'. Whether it's p

I reckon we all spend most of our lives wishing them away instead of living in the moment. I do try, I really do, to live fully in the present rather than wanting what I can't have - you know the usual: perfect family; money; different lifestyles; home in apple pie order; the list could go on. That doesn't mean that I don't plan ahead - I have to. However tonight is one of those 'I wish it was next week' moments, because this time next week (and it's now 20:00), I'll be sitting down in the West Cork Hotel enjoying a Burns Supper. This is the night when  Logan Ancient Plaid you can nearly be guaranteed that there will be more men wearing kilts than trousers; when your ears have to tune into English being spoken in a very different way & as the evening progresses, the accents may become more indecipherable; when the Irish and other nationalities will be in the minority in Ireland;  the 'whiskey' will be definitely 'whisky'; a

I remember my grandmother using this phrase many moons ago. Why mention it now? It was said to me today that in the course of a recent conversation between a number of people about women in business, this comment was made in relation to me! I took it as the compliment it was intended to be. Then it struck me that it's a very fine line between letting people know that you're in business and being aware of time and place e.g. if I attend an event, even a food event where I'm part of the audience, I don't come armed with both business card and product and wave them about.  Time and place. I remember the first year we won at Blas na hÉireann in 2012, the lovely Jerry Kennedy steered me to the Chart House for a meal before I left Dingle . Jerry introduced me and I well remember that there was a bit of 'slagging' that I had the Gold Award but where was the product! I was a competitor in that competition and a visitor to Dingle Food Festival , I did not have any

I haven't written much in the past week due to being sick & no, I'm not going to elaborate. If men are supposed to be bad about attending the doctor, then I think I'm the wrong gender! I put it off and put if off in the vain hope I'd get better all on my own. So why don't I like going to see the doctor? They're lovely people in the main with a real interest in their patients, but I don't want to waste time on a fool's errand if I can sort myself out - and paying for a fool's errand is even more stupid. I'm getting better but slowly and will probably have to pay a return visit during the week. Now to explaining the title - I do have to rest quite a bit as I've got arthritis, but spending days in bed just doesn't work for me these days. It was ok last Friday and Saturday when I had 6 books to read from Clonakilty library . After that, it was plain boring, so I'm definitely not cut out to be a couch potato. I decided to explore t

Since before Hallowe'en, I've become used to the volume of pallets and combis in every store at the back door, so this week, it actually stopped me in my tracks to see large areas of floor space in most places. Shelves were no longer groaning with the baking ingredients, Christmas decorations, and all those essentials we're supposed to need; pallets of fizzy drinks didn't have to be negotiated and staff were rather more relaxed than over the Christmas period. This clear-out (and inevitably all these stores will also have done a stocktake) reminded me that I need to do something similar in our home. As you know, I've hardly seen much more than the bed over the past few weeks, but now's the time. I'm sure also I'm not the only one who has a stock of wrapping paper - never used; Christmas cards - neither written on nor sent; clothes that will never again be worn; and my biggest fault - books bought and read, but definitely not amongst the favourites to be r

Ladies Lunch Poster 2014 Yesterday, I found myself in a large room in Inchydoney Lodge Hotel & Spa with about 230 other ladies. Yes, I had arrived - I was now a Lady Who Lunches! In quick time, I realised that I was simply one of the majority who had booked/snatched yesterday as 'me' time to relax and enjoy that time with other ladies. Yes, we lunched & without doubt it was very leisurely, but even the occasion had an underlying motive & we were there with a definite purpose. It was a fundraiser & all in aid of Cork & Kerry Simon . Master of Ceremonies, the lovely Eileen Dunne , well known RTE newsreader , spoke and all listened as she urged us to dig deep in our pockets and ensured that the raffle moved along. The only other speaker was Charlie Fellowes of Cork Simon who spoke eloquently of the needs faced by the organisation to fund the huge number of people who are either homeless or on the brink throughout Ireland and Cork & Kerry are no excep

I can't believe it's TWO weeks since I posted but on reflection, it's not surprising. The last weeks in December were absolutely hectic culminating in my 18 hour day on Tuesday, 23rd - this was a shocker for me when I actually added up my hours. I did manage to do a little bit of office work on 24th, but really I was present physically & on a mental shut down. We were supposed to be more than 4 for Christmas dinner, but that didn't pan out, so we spent most of the day from 8am church service catching up with each other and relaxing most of all. Yes, we enjoyed turkey and our own smoked ham, but we'd sold out of spiced beef & I didn't have time to make either a Christmas pudding or a cake so we did without. In fact as I hadn't been shopping, there was no cream in the house either & we were down to 3 onions! Early to bed on Christmas night and I actually didn't get up again until nearly noon St. Stephen's Day. The last time I was in bed th