feeling a bit better today - have been ill and thoroughly over worked this week. however, today has seen a turn for the better seeing the preparation of chicken stock and some rather delicious green tea all the way from china. at fern verrow this morning i was luck enough to get hold of a modest helping of medlars - quite what shall become of them is not yet clear but no doubt new frontiers of gastronomy await. perhaps i shall manage a haircut this afternoon, possibly following a small nap.

made some italian type stuff for dinner yesterday: rigatoni with cavolo nero and ricotta, then fennel, tomato and chili with pork ribs. i shall get the ribs again the next time i see them at fern verrow. on friday had a great dinner at rules by way of belated birthday celebration with the folks: cocktails (martini for me), then grouse and foie salad, jugged hare and a bit of baba. very nice indeed - i think rules is really the business, even if the clientele are a bit odd.

roast duck from sunday, with potatoes, lardons and green stuff:

rather a good lunch yesterday at hedone - highlights were hare, a rather delicious savoury custard thing and savoury "jammy dodger". i actually haven't been to a resto of the michelin type for a bit, although i don't think hedone is quite typical of the macaron chasers. tonight i am hoping that i will finish work in time to attempt a slow roasted duck which i procured from fern verrow yesterday, perhaps with roast potatoes and green sauce.