Norfolk Single Dad

Amanda Update!

Source: Eddie2sox
Wednesday 20th February 2008, 1:47pm

If you're interested in the great Amanda debate, read on....

....because in the next few days there will be a full and frank (!) Amanda update on my new blog:

http://norfolksingledad.blogspot.com/

She appreciates your support!

Permalink | 0 comments

To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink above

I Went

Source: Eddie2sox
Wednesday 30th January 2008, 7:13pm

But I'll still be lurking here, adding the odd (very odd?) comment on other people's blogs....

My new therapy centre is here:

http://norfolksingledad.blogspot.com/

Thanks IMM, it's been a really good fun year here!

Permalink | 0 comments

To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink above

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Source: Eddie2sox
Thursday 24th January 2008, 7:31pm

My mind is already almost made up.

I feel that Norfolk Single Dad's time at IMM is almost up.

My post ridiculing the police force yesterday has been removed. I've asked for a reason, so we'll see why it was pulled (hopefully). The police post was intensely sarcastic, but not offensive (judging by the comments that have been returned by the few people I have asked who read it). It was exactly 180 degrees to the media-portrayed feeling of "Good on our brave boys in blue, give 'em more cash". It was the opposite point of view. So if my posts are being deleted because they happen to clash with A. N. Other's opinion, tough.

But maybe it was an error?

However I've been on the verge of moving to a "proper" blog site for a while, for a few reasons:

1. People have to register with IMM to leave comments, which puts 99% of people off. I've been told this by many people.

2. Lack of photo opportunities. I asked when multiple photos would be possible. I was told "it's on the schedule". Presuming that a "schedule" has some kind of timescale (however vague) attached, I asked "Roughly when will that be?".....no answer after a month.

3. Lack of blog functionality, which dedicated blog sites have already embedded. This is, let's be honest, a text dump area attached to an advertising website. A fun place to dump, but limited.

I've greatly enjoyed my time at IMM, and I am really hoping that the removal of the police post was a mistake. But if I have to move, so be it. I'll wait 48 hours for an explanation of the censorship. If either no explanation is forthcoming OR I don't agree with the reason, then I'm off.

In the meantime I'm blogging to word processor. Lucky that I did the same with the police post, which will be the second one on the new blog.

My very, very most honest opinion? I think that it's shocking that an inoffensive but sarcastic post from a long-term blogger might be deleted at the whim of one reader with the opposite opinion.

Permalink | 3 comments

To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink above

Poached Eggs XII - Poached Egg Machine - "The Inhuman!"

Source: Eddie2sox
Thursday 24th January 2008, 1:19pm

On loan from Old Bob of the Woolpack‘s Grumpy Old Men’s Club, last in our competition is The Poached Egg Machine….

It’s not really a machine of course, it’s a poaching pan, but for the purposes of this blog “machine” sounds much more exciting and “brave new world“. In fact, you often see robots on the news these days……people make robots that play football against each other, robots that disco dance, robots that run up the stairs. Well, I challenge the boffins to create a robot that can poach a perfect egg….Get cracking, Eggheads!

(Wow, that last sentence had two puns for the price of one)!

This Poached Egg Machine comprises a shallow pan with a tray that fits snugly on the top. In the tray there are eight holes, four large and four tiny. In each large hole is a black plastic bowl with a small raised handle. The whole ensemble is completed with a lid similar to that found on a saucepan.

You can’t find this recipe on the Internet.

Ease & Effort:

3.5 - Pretty much a doddle! All you have to do is half fill the pan with water, bring it to the boil, pop your eggs in the black bowls, and wait. Nothing can go wrong. Unless you scald your finger with the steam pouring through one of the tiny holes of course. Or forget to butter the inside of the black bowl before you put your egg in - luckily I remembered to do this. Sit back for three minutes and your eggs are lovely - allegedly. Three minutes came and went for me and the egg didn’t look done. Four minutes. Four and a half minutes. Five minutes. Eventually, at the six minute point I removed the egg, fearful that the yolk would have been cooked to rubber.

Presentation:

4.5 - The perfect circle! After eleven previous attempts with varying degrees of success, this poacher at least guarantees a round egg. The surface of the egg looked a little…..hmmmm…….wrong though, I expect due to the close proximity with the plastic bowl. Minor fault-picking apart, a good look for a poached egg.

Yolk:

2.0 - Despite the 6 minute stretch the yolk was pretty damn good. In fact it would have scored full marks but could actually have done with slightly longer in the pan!

White:

1.0 - Great shape, worrying consistency. Although the outer parts were cooked perfectly, there were part-cooked, fluid-type patches towards the centre. Once again, a little longer cooking time would have been ideal, but when the clock hits 6 minutes, this blogger/poacher gets nervous!

Final Scores On The Doors

Australian Egg Corporation - 13.0

Mahalo - 12.5

Vash The Stampede - 12.0

Old Bob - 11.5

Mr Breakfast - 11.5

Poached Egg Machine - 11.0

Rick Stein - 10.5

Mrs Beeton - 9.0

Woolpack Wally - 8.5

Ainsley Harriott - 6.5

James Martin - 6.0

Delia Smith - 4.0

So, after two months of heated (geddit?) competition, you can see from the scores above how it all panned (boom boom) out. The Aussie Egg Corporation triumphed, so well done to them. The podium places were also filled by Johnny Foreigner, with two American methods taking silver and bronze. Leading Brit was Old Bob himself, with whom the whole thing began two months to the day ago. As far as egg recipes go, don’t shell out (arf arf) for a “Delia Does Eggs” book, it won’t be all it’s cracked (yabbadabbadoo!) up to be.

Keep your eyes on this here blog because the next challenge will soon - very soon mes amis - be revealed. The emails seeking recipe-permissions are out, and the replies are starting to return….

Send Me Your Comments!

New this time - YOUR chance to participate in the world’s best blog-based cooking/tasting eggy competition. The Welsh Rarebit thread prompted loads of comments and emails, and I wish I’d shared some of them with you. So. Email me at trix68@hotmail.co.uk or leave a comment on the blog.

Permalink | 0 comments

To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink above

Allotment!

Source: Eddie2sox
Tuesday 22nd January 2008, 10:43am

This is the new 2-Sox allotment, at a secret location deep in the heart of King's Lynn....

The aim being to produce lots of homegrown, healthy fruit and vegetables, educate Sam in all things gardening related, and get some exercise.

I think it will be a lot of fun for Sam to be involved in the entire process of food production, from preparing the ground, planting the seeds, cultivating the plants, harvesting the crops, and cooking and eating the end product.

It will be fun for me too of course, the anorak in me loves planning out what goes where, when to plant, etc etc.

There are some things we need first though. Tools. Wellies. A flat cap. So my mission now is to beg/borrow as many of the things we require, and to buy them as a last resort.

Anyone got a garden spade they don't want anymore?

Permalink | 0 comments

To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink above