timtum

Snorkers on the menu yet again tonight... One of my variants is a Yorkshire sausage. Anyone know anything about the origins, and why it has its slightly esoteric ingredients?

The meal that changed my life (in that it made my insides implode never to be repaired) finished with a glass of garlic eau de vie. Crikey! Cucumber and gin go together fantastically well.

I am the Primark version... ….who coincidentally are apparently the new owners of the Galleries Lafayette.

I was also in that there Paris mistaken for Luc Besson whose ex wife's mother in law lives upstairs from my mum.

It was assumed wherever we went that my wife is my daughter, so I suppose that congratulations are in order. I went to Paris to see a couple of bands play. Very disappointed that you weren't touring the city of lights yourself.

The Champagne Bar on the second floor of the Galeries Lafayette in Paris is now a Starbucks. Announcements throughout the shop are made in American English every five minutes. On the fifth floor (home of the previously marvellous experience of the boudoir garments) there is now a McDonalds. On the other hand, the canal up from the Gare du Nord to the Villette is now rather lovely in its regeneration with bars, theatres and the floating opera house. …and for the first time in my life, I was called grandad.

There is a pret a porter ladies' outfitters in Pamiers which rejoices in the name "Rovers Land".

I'm about to indulge a guilty pleasure... New Tricks Over acting at its finest. And Dennis gets to sing the theme tune again! What's (not) to like.... To think that Alun Armstrong's career came to this.

BBC 6 music who have seen fit to assault me with "The Lamb lies down on Broadway" my poor bleeding ears.

Rumour has it round here that I have packed in making sausages and am now working for Spearmint Rhino.... I keep on picturing myself in an Alan Partridge dream scene.

I've already told you. Do keep up. expatnet. And I still pay my tv licence too...

I've just noticed that, rather splendidly, the volume control on the BBC Iplayer goes up to 11.

My lovely wife has today bought from the Les Cosmetiques range at Carrefour "Super repairing cream, for hand relief".

I have spent the last few days at Canet. No sign of Canetman. Plenty of sun and sand though. I'm now a bit pink. Back to work tomorrow. Merde.

Today my best mate has become an Australian.

A quick note for the discerning customers amongst you, that the supermarket own label whiskies usually change supplier each year. My mate works for HMRC and lets me know which is which - although a taste challenge is no hardship! Islay own labels are great - there are only eight (?) distilleries there so the odds are good! Bunnahabhain (spl) is a fave as it is much easier drinking than the others.... Just been having a discussion half an hour ago on the merits of Islay whisky with the bar owner in the little village near here who once threw me out for being a rugby league fan. He has mellowed....

Excellent! And a top excuse to pour another glass of rose.

Oh go on, just for one day.

Oooh! Who with? She should have a ball. A fascinating place.

I've just booked to see the Pixies in Toulouse. I think it will be just about spot on 25 years since I last saw them at the Kilburn National Ballroom at the hottest, most oversold gig I've ever been to. Looking forward to it tremendously! Mrs Timtum is threatening to fly in and join in the festivities!

Had to take a pause halfway through. Very powerful stuff indeed. Loins girded for part two tonight.

Aaaaargh! Season of flies / mouches. I hate 'em. I nearly ate 'em yesterday not noticing until just before chopper time that a couple of carbonised little wotsits had joined the bangers in the frying pan. I know its wrong, but today the fly paper has gone up in Chateau Timtum. "Help me, help me"

I'm about to settle down and watch the Imagine Don McCullin programme on the Iplayer. Really looking forward to this. Saw his exhibition at the IWMN a few years ago and had my breath taken away.

Well that seems to be summer finished here. Up in the clouds today, wet and miserable. The old cumuli coming in through the window at the mo. Off to make 350 packets of sausage as soon as the meat wagon arrives. Already sold 300 of 'em. Not looking forward to the next couple of days making, particularly as I tried my best to cut my left little finger off yesterday with the bacon slicer. Rubbing bacon salt in today isn't going to be pleasant.

Pop round - someone gave me a double pack of bourbons on Saturday.