Tag Archives: 30 day photo challenge

Day 12: a picture of something you love

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I love the gnocchi bolognese recipe we got off a card from Waitrose.


Paraphrased, the instructions on the back say:

  • 500g beef mince
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic (aka lots)
  • 250g mushrooms, chopped / sliced
  • 440g jar tomato and herb pasta sauce
  • 500g gnocchi (potato is best)
  • 350g tub cheese sauce
  • 50g grated mozzarella, or whatever tickles your fancy.

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C / gas mark 4. Fry beef, onion and garlic until onion starts to soften.

2. Stir in mushrooms and cook for a further 5-6 mins until meat is browned. Pour the pasta sauce over, bring to the boil, season with black pepper, then cover and simmer for 15 mins.

3. Meanwhile cook the gnocchi according to packet instructions. Drain well.

4. Spoon half the Bolognese mixture into an ovenproof dish. Top with the gnocchi. Add the remaining Bolognese mixture, spoon the cheese sauce over the top, sprinkle with the mozzarella/whatever.

5. Bake on the top shelf for 30-35 minutes. Serve with salad and an excellent red wine.

Day 9: a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

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It would be lovely, and cheesy, to put up a large flowery picture of JESUS.

However, while I’m sure it’s true, I’m not one of those people who has always felt him there like a numinous cloud hovering behind my left shoulder, offering support and reassurance. I’m very much a footprints-in-the-sand type of guy, often inferring his presence only when I look back at a single trail of footprints and realise we must have both been hopping.

Or however the poem goes.

So anyway, here is the agent Jesus chooses to use. I give you: Old Father Time.

So often, I’ve got through things simply by putting my head and down and being aware that the sun will still come up tomorrow and This Too Shall Pass. Even when “this” is a cricket game, which admittedly gives the impression of being able to slow down the advent of sunrise by some considerable degree.