Recipe for Lemon Curd Cake

I made this cake yesterday.  I have had the recipe for years but not made it for a while and I had forgotten what a nice light moist sponge it makes.  It's very easy, ideal for busy mums in the holidays, just throw all the ingredients in a food processor and whizz.  It's also a very good base for an improvised pudding - try topping a slice with some ice-cream, chopped banana and a squiggle of chocolate sauce.

Ingredients
4 oz (100g) soft butter or margarine
4 oz (100g) sugar
2 eggs beaten
5 oz (140g) self-raising flour
2 tablespoons lemon curd

Method

Mix all the ingredients together, beating until smooth.  Transfer to a 1lb (450g) loaf tin and bake at 350F, 180C, Gas Mark 4 for about 45 minutes until well risen and golden as well as firm to the touch. (Check with a fork and if still a bit too moist inside give it a bit longer - it depends how much lemon curd you use and how lemony you want the taste).

Serve with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Give a girl a sporting chance..

Here in the UK the Women's Football Association has set up its own professional league.  This is quite a landmark for Women's Football.  As a mark of how far they have come, when I used to watch Watford back in the mid 1960s when I was in my teens (what better place to meet boys than in a packed football stadium?) the ground at Vicarage Road had three gates - Men, Boys and Old-Age Pensioners.  We girls had to toss up betwen going in as boys (two bob) or Old-Age Pensioners (one-and-six).  There were so few of us that the gate-keepers weren't much bothered which and there were no 'facilities' barring a corner fenced off with a bit of corrugated iron which was strictly for those who stand up to pee and were none too fussy about it. 

At the time I wrote the following little ditty about the plight of women in football at the time. At that time Watford played in Black and Gold.  They only added the red stripes post Elton John. For those who do not know Watford are also known as The Hornets (because of the black and gold strip).  The Rookery End is where the true fans congregate.  It has often been remarked that Cricket is a very literary game - lots of writers have been inspired by it - and P.G. Wodehouse wrote very memorably about golf but football is rarely touched on in literature.  This poem may explain why.

A Man's Game and Don't you Forget it
or
Give a girl a sporting chance

There is a tale I've not yet told
Of a friend of mine called Sadie
Who played for Watford (Black and Gold)
Although she was a lady

With bottom bouncing in the breeze
She wiggled down the wing
The sunlight glinting on her knees
Her socks tied up with string

In extra time she was sublime
In vain reporters quibble
An offside law should stop her score
You should have seen her dribble

A Hornet true to four four two
Queen of the Rookery
When sweeper-up she won the cup
v. Liverpool FC

But sad to say it came about
While trying to spend a penny
She ran for the ladies when caught out
And found there wasn't any.

Recipe for Ginger Cake

We'll gather lilacs in the spring again... and after that we'll come home for afternoon tea.  After chuffing all that chocolate on Easter morning we will be wanting a good plain cake to go with the cucumber sandwiches so here is one - my tried and tested never fails recipe for Ginger Cake.  This is very easy - no weary beating - as you make it mostly in a saucepan.  It is said that it is best if you keep it wrapped in foil in a tin for a couple of days before cutting but frankly my dear, mine has never lasted that long.  I have made it many times and it has never let me down.

Ginger Cake
Ingredients
8 oz/225g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger (or 2 if you like a real ginger flavour)
4 oz/100g soft brown sugar
6 oz/175g golden syrup
3 oz/75g butter or margarine
Quarter pint/150 ml Milk
1 egg, beaten

Method

Melt syrup, sugar and butter with the milk in a saucepan.  Mix in the dry ingredients, then add the egg, beating well to avoid lumps.  The mixture will be like a batter and you might think it's a bit wet but don't worry just pour it into the pan.  It will bake to a lovely light sponge.  Bake in a greased and lined 2lb (900g) loaf tin for 75 minutes at 325F, 160C, Gas Mark 3.  Test the cake after an hour's cooking as the time can vary slightly with the oven and shape of the tin. The cake is ready if it springs back when pressed like a sponge.

Why St George for England?

Happy St George's Day but why St George?  The English are notoriously indifferent to their patron saint but two symbols connected to him are very dear to their hearts.

The Rose of England

The rose is the symbol of a different saint entirely - St Alban, the first Christian martyr in Britain.  According to legend when he was executed roses burst into bloom on Holmfirth Hill and St Albans is still appropriately the home of the National Rose Garden. On St Alban's Day (20th June - which is also St John's Day - I have long campaigned for a bank holiday on Midsummer's Eve, 23rd April is hopeless as like this year it often falls on the same date as Easter) the Abbey hold a special commemorative service in which they scatter rose petals all along the nave of the ancient church.

The Red Cross Flag

The second symbol is the Flag of St George with its familiar red cross on a white background.  No matter how indifferent an Englishman may be to St George his (or her) heart swells with pride to see the white flag with a red cross fluttering over the parish church and other public buildings.  The flag and St George as England's patron saint was introduced to England in the 14th century by Edward III.  But why did he choose St George who has no known connection with England?

The flag's design is much older than the fourteenth century, older even than St George.  It is the device on Galahad's shield.  According to legend the white shield was given by Joseph of Arimathea, the uncle of Jesus, to King Mistletoe (Evelake/Afallach), the Celtic sun-god Lud, to help him win a battle to protect Arras in Northern France.  After the battle was won Lud, Joseph and his son Simeon came to Britain bringing not only the white shield but also Christianity with them. This was said to be around 60 AD just before the main thrust of the Roman invasion. When Joseph lay dying, seeing how upset his friend and ally was, he asked him to bring the shield to him and marked it with the sign of the cross with his own blood as a form of remembrance. The shield is not just a symbol of the nation but also of the Celtic Church and its fusion of Druid and Christian ideals. After Joseph's death the shield was left in the White Abbey where he was laid to rest (Glastonbury) for Galahad to find.  (The story is told in The Wonderful History of The Sword in the Stone - see yesterday's blog for details). 

The red cross on the white background is therefore the symbol of the perfect knight.  Edward III was passionate about the Knights of the Round Table. He tried to revive the ideals of the fellowship by building a round table (and a round tower at Windsor to hold it) and founding a fellowship of his own, the Order of the Garter.  He knew perfectly well the associations that the flag would evoke in English hearts and minds and still does.  However, mindful no doubt that the Roman Catholic Church which held sway in England in his time would take a dim view of a flag dedicated to a Celtic sun-god, he cast around for a saint with the same symbol and came up with the Greek/Turkish knight St George who has nothing to do with England at all.

He had another reason for disguising the true character of the new flag. It was also the symbol of another fellowship of perfect knights - the Knights Templar.  During his father's reign the French King with the connivance of a compliant Pope contrived the destruction of the powerful Order of the Knights Templar.  Edward II, as Philip's son-in-law, was obliged to go along with this and destroy all the 'Temples' in England.  This he did with great reluctance.  Only a handful of the knights were arrested in England.  Some of those made homeless were rehoused with the Knights of St John (the 'Hospitallers') but during his reign Edward II also founded fourteen Dominican priories which were probably also used to rehouse the homeless Templars.

Edward's ostensible reason was to honour his Spanish mother.  In Spain his cousin Alfonso IX, also charged with destroying the Order, took no action at all against the Knights Templar and many of the french knights must have found a refuge with the Dominicans in Spain.

By the time Edward III who was such an admirer of knighthood introduced the new flag he was at war with France and must have taken great delight in flaunting in the face of the French army the flag of the disgraced and persecuted Knights Templar.

Funky Gibbons saving our libraries

A first planning meeting is to be held on 26th May at the London HQ of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip) to establish a National Libraries Day.  Widespread support has been received from the Booksellers' Association, the National Union of Teachers, Booktrust, The Society of Authors, the Royal Society of Literature and Voices for the Library among others.  Author Alan Gibbons of Campaign for the Book said the event would follow on from Save Our Libraries which saw over 100 events take place on 5th February and added it would "highlight the importance of reading for pleasure and to promote the work of the public libraries, school libraries and School Library Services.  Early indications suggest, he says, that supporting bodies would like "a week of events leading up to a Saturday of celebrations including storytelling, read-ins and poetry sessions.

Organisations interested in becoming involved should contact Alan Gibbons on aagibbons@blueyonder.co.uk

On the same day Amazon released news that they expect to be ready to begin a Lending Service in the US later this year.

The Wonderful History of The Sword in The Stone

The Wonderful History of The Sword in The Stone went live on Kindle yesterday so is officially launched.  A word of warning - this is not a children's story.  Although written for general readers it is ideal for students of Malory who don't want a bland re-telling. This is a vigorous modern translation with the graphic violence and (mild) sex scenes that are in the original.  This version attempts to reconstruct the fifth-century book that is at the heart of Malory's Mort D'Arthur and the commentary sets it in the historical and religious context of that period.  Read in conjunction with Columbanus: Poet, Preacher, Statesman, Saint (see yesterday's blog for discount on http://www.amazon.com/) it provides a useful guide to Britain and Europe in the Dark Ages which it turns out are not so dark after all.

Bookseller's Buyers' Guide/Easter Savings

From the Bookseller:  The Buyers' Guide website is now accepting submissions for the Autumn Adult and Children's Buyers' Guides.  Eligible titles are those published between July and December 2011.  The website will close to submissions on Friday 6th May at 5:00 pm.  Full instructions on how to submit titles can be downloaded from the website or email buyersguide@bookseller.co.uk for assistance.  Advertising deadlines and rates are available from gerard.o'hare@bookseller.co.uk (tel: 020 3358 0385)

Closer to home, Columbanus: Poet, Preacher, Statesman, Saint (ideal Easter reading/gift idea) is being offered at a Spring Savers discount on http://www.amazon.com/ at an Easter Value price of £11.53.  The book is eligible for FREE supersaver delivery.  Only 2 left in stock.

Cannes 2011 Critics' Week Line-up

The line-up has been announced for Cannes 2011 Critics' Week which runs from May 12-20.
The films chosen are as follows:

'Las Acacias' Argentina, Pablo Giorgelli
'Ave' Bulgaria-France, Konstantin Bojanov
'17 Filles' France, Delphine and Muriel Coulin
'The Slut' Israel, Hagar Ben-Asher
'Snowtown' Australia, Justin Kurzel
'Sauna on Moon' China, Zou Peng
'Take Shelter' US, Jeff Nichols

Special Screenings
' La Guerre est declaree' France, Valerie Donzelli (opening film)
'Pourquoi tu pleures?' France, Katia Lewcowicz (closing film)
'Walk Away Renee' US-France-Belgium, Jonathan Caouette
'My Little Princess' France, Eva Ionesco

For more details see story Let's Hear it for the Girls II in newsletter: http://tinyletter.com/Saturday-Morning-Pictures-News

Sneak Preview of New Book

You know of course about the Sword in the Stone.  You have heard the story of how King Arthur when he was a boy was chosen High King of Britain because he was able to draw from the stone a sword which no-one else could move.

But that is neither the beginning nor the end of the story of the sword.

King Arthur never used the sword.  He fought his battles with Excalibur, the magical sword given to him by the Lady of the Lake.  That was because the sword in the stone was more than magical.  It was sacred.

It was the Sword of Truth.

And this is how it came to be in the world.

In this adaptation and modern translation  the author has attempted to reconstruct the fifth-century book which is at the heart of Malory’s Le Morte Darthur and set it in its proper historical and religious context.

As we speak "The Wonderful History of The Sword in the Stone" is publishing to Kindle.  It should be available in the next day or two.

A Reason to be Sinful

As it's the start of Holy Week I will start with something to make us good...
St Talharain's Prayer
God impart to me thy strength,
And in that strength, reason;
And in reason, knowledge,
And in knowledge, justice
And in justice the love of it;
And in the love of justice the love of everything
And in the love of everything
The Love of God.

St Talharain was a fifth century Celtic saint.  You will find out tomorrow why I have chosen him.

...followed by a reason to be sinful.

Chocolate Marble Cake
225g (8 oz) English butter
225g (8 oz) Caster sugar
3 (size 3) eggs
350 g (12 oz) self raising flour
pinch salt
225 ml (7 fl oz) milk
25g (1 oz) cocoa

Method
1. Cream the butter and sugar together.
2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well.
3. Fold in the flour and salt and the milk.
Top tip: I do this all in the food processor so it only takes a few minutes. If you don't have one use the soft spreadable butter as this takes the hard work out of creaming it with the sugar.
4. Divide the mixture into two bowls, add the cocoa to one and mix well.
5. Spoon mixtures alternately into a prepared 7 inch cake tin to get the marbled effect.  This gives a lovely deep cake but if you want a flatter cake use an 8 inch tin.
Top tip: it's a good idea to put a round of greaseproof paper in the bottom of the tin even if it's ostensibly 'non-stick' as it helps to get the cake out safely.
6. Bake - 160 degrees centigrade, 325 degrees Fahrenheit or Gas Mark 3 for one and a half hours until well risen.  Cool and turn out onto a cake rack.
Tip to impress:  Smother it with chocolate icing.  Go on, you know you want to.

This is quite an expensive cake but rises beautifully and is sure to impress visitors.  Most importantly of course it is delicious so you might be tempted to keep it all to yourself.  A good book, a cup of tea and a big slice of cake are after all the hallmarks of a civilized life.  The recipe is tried and tested.  I made it a few weeks ago.  Highly recommended.

A Turner in the Toilet?

The Tate's new gallery turnercontemporary opened in Margate this week.  The painter liked Margate for its big skies.  It also has a wonderful sandy beach, now a blue flag beach so clean and safe for all the family, with the railway station right on the front but it all looks woefully run down and in need of some tlc so the new gallery was very welcome but I was horrified when I saw a photo of it.  It's all covered with white tiles and looks like a public convenience.  To be fair Kingston-on-Thames did some years ago open an art gallery in a public convenience but that had the merit of being cheap. What were the architects thinking?  Why on earth didn't they make it all of glass so it would reflect said big skies.  Nothing looks lovelier than clouds reflected in plate glass moving across the sky making the glass look as if it is melting and rippling in the sunlight, a portal to another dimension, the best sort of modern architecture.  This tile-covered bit of mediocre municipality is horrible.  The Mail reported that when Tracey Emin who comes from Margate saw it she wept.  I'm not surprised.  I despair! 

To see for yourself visit http://www.turnercontemporary.org/

53 High Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1DX

01843 280261

Garden rubbish

A lovely weekend promised but I am stricken with hayfever so unable to do anything much in the garden.   I am taking antihistamines and hoping that the problem will sort itself.  I've never had such serious hayfever before.  If I stay within reach of plants or cut flowers in about twenty minutes I find I can't see which is a bit of a handicap in my profession and it's espcially annoying at a time of year when I really need to work in the garden. The primroses still look lovely but the tulips and daffodils have now gone over.  Fortunately I don't have to cut the grass as one of our neighbours is doing this for us and he came to do it about ten days ago.  He does a really good job and the neat lawn shows of the borders nicely.  We have been getting free seeds in the paper all week to grow our own veg.  Cabbages and leeks etc are out of the question unless we rent an allotment but I was thinking of planting a few pots of herbs to sit outside the kitchen door.  Fresh herbs are so much better in cooking. 

The Ghostrider in paperback

The Ghostrider is now available to order in a paperback edition from http://www.amazon.com/ price £7.78 with free delivery available.  A tale based on a true case of bodysnatching that happened in 1828  it is an exciting adventure involving highwaymen and Bow Street Runners.  It was written for the age-group 10-15. It is also available to download in a Kindle edition price £2.82.

I am quite excited about this book because this is the first time I have put the whole publication together myself.  With CreateSpace it was astonishingly easy so I am intending to make the other Kindle books available in paperback this way as well.  From a writer's point of view it is a great way of publishing as you control the whole business from start to finish.  Will it be successful in the long term?  Watch this space.

More on AV

Not against reform

I am not against reform per se but AV does not seem to me to be a particularly well-thought out system.  The candidate must have 50% of the vote to win which is all well and good but of what turn-out?  The problem with our current system is not the percentage of the vote which is very stable for all parties but the size of the turn-out which has been steadily falling. 

Increasing the turn-out

It would be a cheaper and more effective reform to first try making the vote compulsory as they do in Australia.  An 80% turn-out would give an irrefutable decision on the part of each constituency.  It would cost practically nothing to inform people that in future general elections the vote is mandatory and they will be fined if they do not vote.  A low turn-out would then have the merit of making a lot of money for the Treasury!

Argument going on for 40 years

The argument about PR v FPTP has been going on for the past forty years ever since I was a politics student.  I see no great rush to change the system now particularly as we could be finding a better way of spending £230million.  For example in maintaining our library services.  A library is a vital resource centre for most local communities and provides much more than a depository for books, not least as being somewhere central and accessible to put a polling station. So I will be voting No to AV on 5th May.

To AV or not to AV

Something serious for the moment.  I received a leaflet today from the One Person, One Vote campaign (very PC - it used to be One Man, One Vote) reminding me that I must vote for or against the Alternative Vote system on May 5th.  I have to say that despite the charming blandishments of Mr Stephen Fry and thespian colleagues notwithstanding I am in favour of retaining the current system.  It's very simple and transparent, difficult to fiddle - I have been a scrutineer in both local and general elections - all the candidates have their own scrutineers to keep a watch on the count and make sure it's fair - no jiggery-pokery with machines when the votes are all counted by hand - everone understands how it works and the electorate is quite savvy in knowing how to use the system to get the government they want, including the present coalition.  So I shall be voting No to AV in the referendum on May 5th.

Literary Landscapes

Lunch today at The Two Brewers in Chipperfield overlooking the green.  Very pleasant.  Very Midsomer Murders.  They have filmed some episodes in and around the village.  This followed a walk in Whippendell Woods which sounds (and looks) like something out of Tolkien but no elves although I always expect to see a unicorn. 

Introduction - This is me

I have written a number of radio plays and short stories over the years and worked in radio, theatre, television and film.  Currently I have a number of novels in print including The Lady in Grey, The Devil and the Bag of Nails, Master Merryman and The Ghostrider which is also available in paperback.  I have also written an academic biography Columbanus: Poet, Preacher, Statesman, Saint which was published last year by Imprint Academic and is also available in paperback.