Futtocks

Partridges from Lidl for tonight. Going to make hasselback potatoes with walnut & honey butter to serve with the birds.

Not tried many, but Sipsmith do a Sloe Gin and a Damson Vodka, both of which are nice. I've seen their bottles in some supermarkets.

You do get a fair number of email offers. This was one (a 'Double Discount' offer), but normally I make my own selections. I went for this offer because I had already tried and liked the Zinification and the Perez Cruz.

Virgin Wines delivery! Two bottles each of: Finca los Principes El Rihuelo Rioja 2012 Zinification Shiraz Zinfandel 2011 Perez Cruz Single Vineyard La Higuera Block 2011 Ariki Reserva Colchagua Carmenère Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Beneficio Cellar Reserve Grenache Shiral Mourvèdre 2011 Gran Villa Gran Reserva 2002

Nail on head. There are some very strong drinks that slip down entirely too easily.

As is damson gin - a Cumbrian speciality, I am told.

If you can find it, try Opihr gin, which is lightly spiced. Very tasty. Pretty bottle, too. Sainsbury's own brand tonic water is pretty good, and half the price of the rather insipid Schweppes.

I can't see Adnams risking their reputation with something undrinkable, though.

I'd still try the Adnams (if it's not too expensive), just out of curiosity.

My absolute top game bird is pigeon, but finding it in the shops ain't easy. Waitrose sometimes have pigeon breasts during the winter months, but not every branch, and the shelf is often empty when I get there. Oriental City used to have them in the frozen section, but they've been closed for years now. Donald Russell do them, but ordering online and being there to take delivery is a bit of a faff. Cooking pigeon breasts is quick and simple. Heat oil in a hot pan. Season the meat lightly with salt. Fry on one side for 90 seconds. Flip the breasts over, add a bit of butter and fry for another 90 seconds, basting the top of the meat with the butter. Remove from the pan, wrap the breasts loosely in foil, having poured the cooking juices over them and seasoned them with pepper. Rest for a few minutes somewhere warm. Heaven on a plate.

Interesting... Talking of non-Scottish whisky, I tried a Japanese one (Yamazaki) a while ago. Pleasant, but a little bland. I believe that, if you spend a bit more, some of their single malts are very good indeed.

Spearhead - Stay Human. A very literal fan-video!

The Go-Gos - very well preserved, given their somewhat lairy past. And who'd have picked Simon le Bon as a budding General Melchett? The Cure = Jo Brand & Omid Djalili.

New Wave artists ageing gracefully Or, quoting from the forum where I found the link, Billy Idol: Face like a melted welly.

You can also regulate the amount of fat that you get in your mince to your own preference.

I can remember when my full backups took minutes (well, less than an hour, anyway). Now I have to make sure I've got the right power settings, so the laptop will stay on. Luckily, the current software allows multiple schedules, so my external music folder gets done on one day of the month, the video folder on another, C drive on another etc.

Never could get Robocopy to work. The backup software I'm using at the moment's working okay, apart from giving you a splash screen every time you restart the system.

Horseradish vodka. I didn't have any mixers available last night, so tried a tiny nip of it on its own. Interesting... It came in a three-pack with the other two flavours being cucumber and blackcurrant. I haven't tried them yet.

What backup software do you use? I used to have a very good one on my last laptop, but I lost the disc and can't remember what it was called.

New Wave artists aging gracefully... in some cases. If you haven't got time to browse through all of them, just search for 'Limahl'.

Talking Heads with Bernie Worrell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzORu1dqEE0

Before he was famous...

Sunday's trip to the record shop turned up the following LPs: Leon Russell - Will o' the Wisp Mandrill - We are one Tackhead - Friendly as a Hand Grenade Tangerine Dream - Hyperborea Tonto's Expanding Head Band - Zero Time

Are you Nicolas Sarkozy or Bernie Ecclestone?

I've consoled myself by buying a discounted bottle of unfiltered Nadurra cask Glenlivet.