Apparently you can't be a glass half empty person...

28 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Study prepared? Almost (4)

Solution – read

Study = read

Prepared = ready – but it is "almost" so you get to read by chopping off the y.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Ring about name on top of yellow funnel (7)

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the solution starts with c

Pssst! The answer's 42!

If you are the only person on the planet, if not the universe,  who hasn't read or seen the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I apologise for the spoiler.

While I did see this on TV, it was the books that I enjoyed the most.  Such fun.  It started out as a radio comedy back in 1978 but has had many incarnations since then.  It was created by Douglas Adams – obviously a very talented man.

Just remember – Don't Panic!

This sign tickled my fancy...

27 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

How to handle unwanted photo opportunity? (4,3,4,2)

Solution – grin and bear it

This is a common phrase for putting up with something but also fits the requirement to smile for the camera.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Study prepared? Almost (4)

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – this is a deletion clue.

Need some inspiration? Try Apples Part I

When I was looking back at all the links from Food on Friday: Apples I realised that there was no way that I could select only 5 or 6 for this edition of Need Some Inspiration.  So after much deliberation I have selected 12 apple goodies for you which will be spread over today and next week.

There are lots of wonderful appley ideas – if you would like to see the Pinboard I created for all the Food on Friday: Apples links – please click here 

On to our features for today:

I thought we'd start off with this Apple Rum Punch from Tickling My Fancy.  It certainly lived up to the blog's name.

Here's a wonderful Normandy Apple Cake by Chit Chat Chomp.  It sure brings back wonderful memories of Normandy for me.  Thanks Leigh.

I would never have thought of doing this.  Look at this Apple & Brie Melt by Katherine at Southern Royalty Blog.

This Caramel Apple Crumble  by Dunn to Perfection sounded divine.

I thought these Apple Pie Cookies by Hearts in My Oven were so cute.

And Sandra you've done it again with this Apple-Cranberry-Orange Lattice Tart.  Fantastic work by Sandra's Alaska Recipes.

That's all the inspiration for today!  Have a great week, everyone.

If you have an apple post that hasn't been linked in to Food on Friday: Apples – just link it in – it is still open for entries.  And if you do it soon, it will still be eligible for being showcased in Part II next week.

And for the next Food on Friday - we have the joys of Mexican Food.

26 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Garden centre in northern Surrey, flourishing (7)

Solution – nursery

Garden centre = nursery

Northern = n

Surrey, flourishing – means the letters in Surrey are scrambled

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

How to handle unwanted photo opportunity? (4,3,4,2)

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the first word starts with g

First Crockpot success

I told you how my first effort at crockpot cooking wasn't very successful.  Well this dish was my first success at slow cooking.

I put pork ribs into the slow cooker together with lashings of my home made orange marmalade, garlic, some cranberry, orange and port sauce (store bought), some onion marmalade, some hot chilli jam, balsamic vinegar, oil, salt and pepper and Worcestershire sauce.

I cooked it on low for 6 hours and the meat was extremely tender and flavourful.  My only issue with the dish was that I felt it didn't look quite browned enough.  Next time I would finish it with 15 minutes in a hot oven to fix that.

Flag of the week: Malta

Yep, that's a cross on Malta's flag!  But it is actually a George Cross rather than a Maltese Cross.  It was added in 1943 after the award of the George Cross to the people of Malta for their heroism under siege in 1940-43.  Red and white are said to have been Malta's colours from as early as 1090.

25 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

The Parisian on Northern Ireland river (4)

Solution – Nile

The Parisian – is the word "the" in French ie le

Northern Ireland = NI

The Parisian is ON Ni so Ni +le = Nile which of course is a famous river

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Garden centre in northern Surrey, flourishing (7)

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – an anagram is involved here

Norwegian Wood – The Beatles

Norwegian Wood was one of the tracks on what I think was the very best Beatles album – Rubber Soul.

The full title of the song is Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – which is a bit odd.

A Lennon-McCartney song – although apparently most of it was done by John Lennon.

What was your favourite Beatles album?

I need to eat more blue...

24 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

One who won't strike poet as a sword-carrier (8)

Solution – scabbard

One who won't strike = scab

Poet = bard

Scab + bard = scabbard – which is a sword holder or carrier

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

The Parisian on Northern Ireland river (4)

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the solution is the name of a river

First crockpot attempt – for the record only

This post records my very first attempt at crockpot cooking – and it wasn't very good at all!  So don't copy what I did.  I'm not sure exactly where I went wrong – maybe some of you can set me straight.

I put cross cut blade steak, some carrot,  a tin of tomatoes (garlic & onion flavour), and onion, plus some peri peri sauce (South African chili), Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper, some porcini powder and a small splosh of white wine.

With about an hour to go I added garlic, potatoes and parsnip.

The meat was tender but the flavour was much too strong.  Does the crockpot intensify flavours like chilli?

Love those vintage travel posters

23 February - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Point the finger at copper in dodgy case (6)

Solution – accuse

Point the finger at = accuse

Copper = cu (chemical symbol)

Dodgy case – the letters in case are dodgy ie mixed up.

Ac +cu +se = accuse

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

One who won't strike poet as a sword-carrier (8) 

Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the first letter is s

Cornwall Park

For this week's travel post, I thought I would tell you about Cornwall Park – which isn't too far from where I live.  Over the years we have had lovely walks and picnics there.

One Tree Hill is in the centre of Cornwall Park and the donor of the park to the City of Auckland is buried on its summit – Sir John Logan Campbell.  At the moment there isn't a tree on the summit.  Some years ago the pine tree that was there was removed because of ill health.  The City and local iwi are still to agree on what type of tree will replace it.  These things take time.

The park was named after the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (who later became King George V and Queen Mary).  They visited New Zealand in 1901.

National Women's Hospital was situated on part of the park for many years post war.  In fact one of my sisters was born there.

Over 100 hectares of the park is still actively farmed – sheep and cattle.  Generations of city children have been able to see a working farm right slap bang in the middle of a big city. You often see Japanese tourists taking pictures of the sheep.

Acacia Cottage which is Auckland's oldest surviving building is also in the park.