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Prunes, Prawns and Palatableness

7/26/2015

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We've seen some amazing sights on our travels:

Tutankhamun's tomb and his burial mask, dawn at Machu Picchu, dolphins riding our bow, Statues at Easter Island, Notre Dame viewed from the canal, and many more remarkable sights and memories. So, why do I choose to write about a Prune Museum of all things?

Well, much to my surprise I found it interesting.


I’ve never liked prunes, that’s until we went to a prune museum along the Lot River in SW France.

The thought of wandering through shelves of shrivelled fruit with the life sucked out of them was not appealing. However, I was soon converted.

Years of drying/curing technology and processes were explained. The growing method and the loving care this family practised was intriguing. 

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The drying ovens How it used to be done
The fact that I insisted on calling the wrinkly plums “prawns” made everyone smile throughout the tour (I do love prawns).

At the end of the tour we tasted prunes filled with cream, chocolate prunes, prunes with hazelnuts and my taste buds positively skipped with joy at the zest and bite of flavours.

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The drying racks within the ovens, in times gone by, now it is quite different.
Here's a video on the modern day curing process. It's all machines and volume these days.

We purchased some plain old prunes, they are juicy and I love the flavour. But I do have one problem, I just can’t stand the texture.

They feel like, what I imagine, eating a large fly or moth would be like. With their tough, creased skin and gooey innards, my taste buds enjoy the tang, but my mouth dislikes the sensation.

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I like the idea of eating them though, with all their benefits. Even now I thought I'd try another, but my nose is wrinkling in much the same way dried fruit does!


I realise how remarkably odd I can be – does anyone else have this problem?
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Old Memories Create A Need To Give

7/22/2015

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I am grateful for my life and my memories.

I do feel melancholy with thinking about the times gone by. But bigger than that, I feel such joy that I have those memories, and I am set to create more.

I’d like to share some wonderful times in my life – note the old 'print' photos and highlighted 80’s hair (well concealed under a riding hat)!

These ‘good times’ has led me to where I am today – a best-selling author donating 50% of profits from my latest book – A Standard Journey – 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent, to charity.

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In my teens I:
  • Rode for The Pony Club
  • Rode at Wembley Stadium
  • Performed at Olympia
  • Competed all over the country in the Mounted Games Associated of Great Britain
  • Trained as a stunt rider
  • Basically had the time of my life!
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Here’s me on Laddie, together we were Champions of Hertfordshire in the games. Laddie could be a tough ride, and not very forgiving, if I didn’t land bang-in-the-middle of the saddle when I vaulted on – he’d chuck me straight off!
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This is Champ, we too were Champions of Hertfordshire another year. He was a very forgiving ride, a fantastic pony.
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Here’s my girl – Martella. Here we’re playing Cossacks at Olympia – there were six of us, I was in the second three, as we galloped in, on our row of three, I’d be standing up – yes, I came off a few times – to hear 20,000 people gasp is amazing!

Martella was a typical highly strung Arab, but so incredibly affectionate. She preferred people to horses at times!

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Here’s BobBobs – really Robyn, but affectionately BobBobs – I learned everything on this little guy (this isn’t me on him, it is an old friend). I adored this special pony – you could let a bomb off under him and he’d hardly blink.

So, there’s a few of my memories. I had the best horses and ponies in the world – I really did... I adored them and still miss them all every day.

They gave so much – now I’d like to give back.

A Standard Journey – 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent is a story of Noel and I adopting five Standardbred horses and tackling the Bicentennial National Trail in Australia.

  • Those boys stole my heart
  • Life became horses, trail, and endurance after we sold everything we owned
  • All seven of us became reliant on one another
  • Between us we created something unique and endearing
  • Fears were faced and conquered; bonds were forged

But did the team of seven that started together, finish together?

You can find out here – this week – 22nd July – 27th July you can purchase the ebook for 99 pence or 99 cents. (UK and USA).

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As I’ve mentioned, I donate 50% of profits to horse charities – this comes from my pocket not yours – you receive the book and a journey you will never forget...

Don't believe me? Click HERE to read what others are saying and read an excerpt!

Enjoy the ride!


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Not Known For Being Conventional

7/12/2015

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Noel and I are not known for being conventional.

  • We’ve lived and worked on boats of various shapes, sizes and construction for many years.
  • We’ve travelled to foreign lands where our crew spoke little English
  • We’ve sailed off in two different directions to strange ports with odd people, on questionable craft – wondering if we’d ever see each other again.
  • We’ve disappeared into the Australian bush for months on end with five beasts and a tent. 

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So, I shouldn’t be that perturbed when we stood out in Ikea!

Most people buy at Ikea because the items are flat-packed. That was our idea when we wanted two armchairs for our barge. Rouge Corsair’s innards could cope with reasonably sized chairs, but the entrance-way could not.

After much seeking for the ‘right' chairs, a new model that suited all our wants and needs appeared in Ikea. Perfect, that is, until we learned that they are probably the only item in the entire store that is packed into a large size! They are not flat-packed, just wrapped.


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I love it when a plan comes together
We rarely have use of a car, we live simply, cycling to shops and saving our pennies to maintain our nomadic lifestyle. Recent visitors were on their way home and we returned their hire car after dropping them at the airport.


After bidding our farewells, we nipped around the corner to Ikea. Noel had brought along an array of tools, just in case. The chairs looked like they came apart with simple Allen/Hex keys. So we took the plunge and handed over vast wads of cash.

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The 308 Peugot wasn’t that big and seemed to shrink as the day grew older. We wheeled our new chairs into the car park and while other customers lifted their flat packed furniture into their cars, we lifted ours onto the concrete floor.

We opened the boxes, threw away excess packaging and tried to ignore the staring employees and nervous titters in our direction.

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In true Parry form, we commenced with taking them apart. It wasn’t as straightforward as we thought. The hint should have been that Ikea hadn’t taken them apart in the first place!

But after a few cuss words, a couple of pinched fingers and much giggling (and odd glances) we squeezed our, now-in-bits chairs into the tiny boot. They only just fitted.

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Assembly was quick and easy, well it was for me as I handed Noel the tools he needed and held ‘this there please.’

We make fun out of everything we do, sailing around the world, riding horses, exploring European canals or buying armchairs.

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Foot-rest that folds in/out
Good back support
Head-rest
Specific size and colour

What marvellous feat of engineering have you performed for a little comfort?

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I’m July’s Calendar Girl!

7/8/2015

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A little smirk played on my lips when I read this new message, “From Wednesday you are our Calendar girl!”

I’m giggling again, as I can imagine your eyes scanning down to find the Calendar Girl shot! Whether excitedly or in horror!

You must banish all of these visions dear reader, as the reference to me being Calendar Girl, is my photography!


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Canal du Centre last year
This was taken on the Canal du Centre, France as we puttered by on our 1920s Dutch barge – which is our current home, project, and escapade. (More pics here).

New friends
Travelling in Europe via the canals has exposed me to new friendships and contacts that I relish. Women on Barges (WOB) Facebook group is one of my favourites. (Women on barges, or any kind of boat!)

It’s at WOBs I met Jane who produces these wonderful calendars, and I was only too happy to donate one of my pictures for July 2015.

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Talent!
I am also impressed at the creative, and talented women within the group. Back to Jane and her calendars, this is not the only string to her bow, she also makes beautiful and useful objects for your home and garden, using recycled 'barrique' wine barrels, tak
e a look here.

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Is this more of a Calendar Girl image?
As an author, I am in great company, many writers are part of our group. Here’s a list of just some of our members and their talents: 

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Lesley Walker, writer & heritage consultant, lives solo on Deben River Tug "Tommy Lee" 1938
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Sue Boxell, wine & gastronomy tour guide/owner of my company in Burgundy, France - Burgundy on a Plate (I live with BB the cat on my Steisteven 'Goede Verwachting' 1930)
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Monica and Warren Brown deciding what we want to be when we grow up and move off our liveaboard Motor Yacht, post America's Great Loop
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Val Poore - Writer of memoirs and fiction
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Kate MccGwire - Artist - I am a sculptor and installation artist who works with feathers on both a tiny scale and humongous scale. 
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Jackie Parry - Author travel/adventure
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Sandra Crook Castelsarrasin: the work and activities of a writer/bargee
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Aida Pottinger Artist: landscapes
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Monika Doser: I make jewelry, mostly from small and really tiny glass pearls, sometimes also from other material. 


  That’s the great thing about travelling. Have you met amazing people on your travels?





A Standard Journey: http://geni.us/1j9w

Cruisers’ AA - http://geni.us/3sKJ

Of Foreign Build: http://geni.us/ipq


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