Morning Folks (taking my cue from that last thread there).
It's Sunday morning and I have no hangover.
And I'm baking croissants.
With a bit of luck they should be ready in time for when mrsblaireau finishes work and we sit down to watch the motogp. Mmmmmmmmmmm Suzy Perry.
that is as long as climatic and world events behave themselves and don't fuck with my plans for enjoyment (I'm referring specifically to plane crashes and volcanic eruptions).

Croissants and motorcycle racing, does it get any better than this?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 8:36, 24 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Edit for those of you in that there Laaaaahndun.
If you are heading to Camden today for the Crawl then be sure to check out Nick Harper who is playing at the Hawley Arms.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 9:15, Reply)

My plan for today was to hit the gym this morning and go to the footy this afternoon
But my flu or whatever has flared back up into a fever and a tickly cough, so now I'm not sure.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Sun 2 May 2010, 10:04, Reply)

Maybe a bit of exercise would help?
Or maybe fuck it off and be slothfull.
See how many of the 7 deadly sins you can get through on account of it being Sunday...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 10:30, Reply)

I'll man up and go
I do sometimes not feel up to it, if I force myself to go with the promise of taking it easy I usually end up doing a full workout anyway. It's just the getting there that's hard.

The one time I really didn't feel like it even after I got there I ended up swimming for a bit and then sitting in the hot tub and the steamroom, which I felt better for.

Off to the gym!
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Sun 2 May 2010, 10:38, Reply)

That's the spirit!
Get some endorphins flowing.
I think we're going for a trot up Binsey later. It's only a half hour walk and the views are spectacular when it's clear, which it is today.
Light enough exercise to be managable but intense enough to be of benefit.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 10:51, Reply)

Ha Ha, I broke a Glaswegian!
Went out with a friend to celebrate the retirement last night.
He was ambulatory unconscious by 12.30.
Fell out of the taxi and landed on his head which was lucky.
Then had to phone for the missus to come and pick us up as the taxi wouldn't let us in.

He slept in the car.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Sun 2 May 2010, 10:36, Reply)

Sounds like you had fun.
Is your pal okay today?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 10:59, Reply)

Yeah.
Flat out snoring as we speak. He'll be fine.
Off out this afternoon and him and piglet are off to see Kiss tonight.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Sun 2 May 2010, 11:07, Reply)

Glaswegians tend to be fairly resilient in my experience.
Some irn bru will sort him out.
Fantastic hangover cure that stuff.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 11:11, Reply)

It certainly did.
He actually rejoined the land of the living at about 13.30.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Mon 3 May 2010, 10:12, Reply)

I survived my first hen night
No croissants or hangovers here. I have Fox's golden crunch biscuits though.
(Mrs Ballunatic counting calories, not votes., Sun 2 May 2010, 10:59, Reply)

Haven't had those in ages. Are they still absolutely scrummy?
But the croissants aren't ready yet sadly.
The first proving is about complete so it's time to get busy with the butter...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 11:08, Reply)

Oh they are scrummy
And almost gone now.
(Mrs Ballunatic counting calories, not votes., Sun 2 May 2010, 11:23, Reply)

Well the croissants weren't quite the success I was hoping for...
I think I folded and rolled the pastry more than I should.
I always pays to read the recipe properly BEFORE you start rather than when you put the pastry to rest.
The larousse gastronomique says to combine all the butter in three stages whereas I took about 8...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 14:07, Reply)

Practice makes perfect
Which means more delicious croissants in the future.
(Mrs Ballunatic counting calories, not votes., Sun 2 May 2010, 15:48, Reply)

So I have tried HFW's recipe and the pastry looks a bit better.
The first batch was tastey enough but the texture was more brioche like. I only used a small proportion of it so the rest will go to make a baked peach dessert tomorrow night.
With the second batch I think it was all a bit soft but turned out much better cos I only did the turney rolley thing as often as instructed. Had a wee bit of butter leakage bit I reckon we're safe!

Like you say, practice makes perfect and lots of practice makes lots of croissants ;-)

edit: I've just read that lot back and can't believe how middle class I sound!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 18:19, Reply)

I thought Suzi Perry had given it up.
Here is my lunch:
Homemade scones, jam, cream and special tea.

yfrog.com/2sdlbj
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Sun 2 May 2010, 15:29, Reply)

She took time off last year, I think to have a bairn but it was all hush-hush.
And as it turned out she was at a family wedding this week.
Good race though!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 18:22, Reply)

Morning!
I just got up (well, it's only 9.30am here).
I went to my first professional soccer match last night to watch L.A. Galaxy play. It was an ace match, we won 3-1.
But I wore my Hull City shirt, and had quite a few people ask me if I know Jozy Altidore - he's a yank that's playing for Hull City.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Sun 2 May 2010, 17:30, Reply)

Soccer eh?
So do the yanks do decent songs like what we do?
"with a c and an a and an r and an l,
and an I and an s and an l and an e"
etc.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 18:30, Reply)

One end of the stadium
was shouting "LA" and our end was shouting "Galaxy". It was mildly amusing.
But, this being America, it's a "family" game so you don't swear, or call the ref a wanker or anything.
Although my friend was amused when I asked when could I start the fight.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Sun 2 May 2010, 18:42, Reply)

You can take the girl out of Hull...
And it sounds like they've completely re-branded the game :-(
it's just not cricket.
So what's on the cards for today?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 18:49, Reply)

Just lazing around and cleaning up
Off to Vegas tomorrow for a few days.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Sun 2 May 2010, 19:43, Reply)

Vegas should be molto fun!
We've got a bank holiday tomorrow so it's a long weekend and loads of cooking!
I'm just waiting on two of the second batch of croissants proving, the other ten have been popped in the freezer.
I made pierogi for dinner tonight and I'm stuffed now.
Since i gave up drinking I've found myself cooking and eating almost constantly.
I'm gonna be the size of a house soon if I'm not careful...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sun 2 May 2010, 20:41, Reply)