Nearly New

The grey clouds have settled in at the end of the year.  This year's Christmas miracle was present and correct but adjusted for reality: just over a week ago I travelled through to Fife to check on my friend N that I hadn't heard from for a while.  After a damp bit of dithering the police broke down his door and he was found alive but poorly.  N came back to Glasgow with me and we had a quiet Christmas followed by a (planned) quiet New Year up here in Drumbuidhe.  N has lost quite a bit of weight so there's been a lot of cooking, eating and gentle exercise.  He's also got a long list (and growing) of difficult stuff he has to sort out so there's been a fair bit of tears and trickiness.

Looking after N (and Christmas) has meant a pause in job-hunting but there were some decent interviews at the end of the year including an atmospheric trip to Dunoon and emergency trouser purchases for an interview in Glasgow's old BBC building.  Alas none of them resulted in the offer of a lucrative full-time position but I have strong hopes for a possible job in Fort William in the New Year.

In parallel with N's sorting out of stuff I also have my own issues of clearing (bank accounts, mooring permission, room rental, carer's benefit) that these last days of the year are made for.  First of all however there's still the track to be filled and a mark I landrover to get going.

My standard technique for weight building is bread, sausages and lots of vegetables but I've thrown some cookies into the mix for this winter.

white chocolate & cardamon cookies

250g butter
340g sugar (white & brown)
1 egg
500g flour
16 cardamon pods (seeds removed and ground)
pinch salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
200g chopped white chocolate

cream the butter and sugar; add the egg, flour, cardamon, salt & baking powder (I put these all in at once but an electric beater definitely helps); mix white chocolate chunks in; divide dough into two, roll into log shapes, wrap in clingfilm and store in the fridge; to cook heat oven to gas 4, cut slices from the log and place on tray lined with parchment paper; bake for 15 minutes.

Here's to a good new year.