Convolvulus Hawkmoth

I must have disturbed this little beauty while mowing the grass, for I saw it in the morning when normally you see these creatures at dusk.

Didn't have my camera to hand so here's one from the web.

Although a frequent visitor to Europe it is quite rare in this country - measuring 5.5cm it is quite distinctive.

Nice to see. Covered it gently with a cardboard box (with an escape route!) so it was protected from the sunlight until it was ready to go on its way.

Step into your shadow...

I have just finished reading the Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko.

This is the first novel in the "watch" series of books, and has proved to be hugely successful both inside Russia and outside.

The Night Watch is a story about someone in the Night Watch - someone with supernatural powers themselves - but on the side of good. They watch the dark side of the supernatural - vampires and such like.

Definately worth a read. Horror is not my normal genre but the book is one of those where you just have to read a few more pages...

Doesn't genius just inspire you?

I have just watched one of my all-time favourite films - Fitzcarraldo.

Fitzcarraldo treads the fine line between genius and madness - with a passion for bringing opera to tha Amazonian jungle. In order to finance this scheme he needs to make a fortune somehow.

He realises that a fortune in rubber is waiting to be claimed, however it lies up river from extreme rapids. His plan is to take an old riverboat across land to the river above the rapids - see image right.

The film contains a terrific scene where the boat is set free by natives and goes careering down the river and through the rapids.

Klaus Kinski is brilliant as the genius Fitzcarraldo - the film is directed by Werner Herzog.

Just a quiet day...

Just a quiet day to day - nothing much happening.

Nice to round the day off with a Single Malt Whisky - I have several different bottles on the go at any moment in time.

This evenings choice was Glenfiddich's 15-year-old Solera Reserve. This is a Highland Single Malt.

The "Solera" refers to the way it is made. It is aged for 15 years in oak casks then transferred into a solera vatting system (similar to how Sherry is made) to mature further. The distillers describe this as "Full and fragrant with delicate honey and vanilla notes, fruit and gentle spice".

The "Spice" is evident in the nose, on the palette and in the finish. Well worth a look if you like Single Malt Whisky.

2008 Olympic opening ceremony

How on earth is London 2012 going to compete with this? It will take more than a few pearly kings and a steel band to follow this:

Man in Oriental Costume

This is one of my favourite paintings of all time.

It was painted by the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) in 1632.

The "Man in Oriental Costume" is also referred to as "The Noble Slav". I saw it in The Metropolitan Museum of Art when I visited New York a few years ago & was spellbound by it.

It is an Oil on canvas measuring 152.7 x 111.1 cm and was gifted to the museum by William K. Vanderbilt in 1920.

The museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in New York.

From Russia With Love

Just finished reading Ian Flemming's "From Russia With Love" - and I am pleased to say I enjoyed it very much.

To me this has to be one of the best bond films - and I have watched it more than once. Although Sean Connery is not the best Bond to me, the film has a certain something about it.

The plot differs from the book in that Russia, upset with the British Secret Service, and in particular James Bond, seek revenge by framing up Bond by tricking one of their agents. In the book there is no "Spectre" secret organisation. The film does have a decoding machine in it - the "Lector", however in the book it is called the "Spektor".

Pictures at an Exhibition

Looking at the Proms this year I couldn't help but remember one of my favourite performances of all time - Pictures at an Exhibition (Modest Mussorgsky) - in particular the "Hut on Fowl's Legs" from a couple of years ago.



Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra at the BBC Proms in August 2006. "Hut on Fowl's Legs" followed by "Great Gate of Kiev".

Seared sea bass fillet with green beans and sauce vierge

Another celebrity chef James Tanner provided this recipe & I have to say the results, even for a novice cook like myself, most were impressive.

The preparation time is less than 30 mins, and with the cooking time being less than 10 mins, there is no excuse for not trying this fantastic fish dish.

Ingredients (for 4 people)

For the sauce vierge:

• 12 tbsp olive oil
• 4 fresh tomato, seeds removed, chopped
• 4 lemon, juice only
• 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 4 tsp coriander seeds, ground in a pestle and mortar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
  

For the seared sea bass:

• 4 sea bass fillets
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp olive oil

For the beans:

• 340g/12oz fine green beans, trimmed
• 4 tbsp olive oil
  

Method

• For the sauce vierge, place the oil, tomato, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and ground coriander seeds into a pan and heat for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and add the fresh dill and coriander.


• For the seared sea bass, lightly score the skin of the fish and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Heat the oil in a frying pan until hot, and quickly pan-fry the fish for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until cooked through.


• For the beans, drop the beans into a pan of boiling salted water and cook for about three minutes, then drain. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the beans to colour slightly, for about two minutes.


• To serve, place the beans on a serving plate, top with the seared bass, skin-side up, and spoon the sauce vierge around the edges of the plate.