While we are wishing Cadybeths other half a happy birthday hows about we wish Sophia a happy one too ... she's "21 again" today   !

As Oliver Hardy used to say to Stan Laurel  "Thats a good idea"  , what do you say we all go round to her place and she could cook us a proper indian curry as taught by my good self  ;)

In a two fingered response to political correctness (or the middle fingered response as you guys over the pond do) i have often teased my caucasian friends who love indian cooking that i am glad i was born into the culture i am cos it meant coming home to a proper home cooked curry, FREE of charge, every day of the week!

Skip forward to the present day and thanks to tips and lessons from late mom and big sis im now able to , as in the words of the lion from the wizard of oz,  make a proper indian curry with one hand tied behind my back, standing on one leg, with my eyes closed etc. Curry is now the UK's fave dish - officially, but yet all the critics, health mags, etc all say with a tinge of sadness "what a pity it has to be made of ghee (indian butter) hence that horrible word CALORIES".

Over the years mom used to try variants to ghee, e.g. butter, margerine, cooking oil. None of which made any differance to the taste (mom you were a fab cook), or for that matter to the calorie content. I read somewhere (i think it must have been in a womans magazine - sorry but it was my feminine side :) , that using oils, fats, butters etc were not the be all or end all, so one day i decided to experiment a bit.

Instead of using oils etc to fry the onions at the start i boiled them in water adding some juice from tinned tomatoes. Granted it took a bit longer to cook the dish but did it taste different to a normal curry? NOPE - not one bit!

Ive now got into the habit of cooking this fab fat free version of Britains fave dish. Thats the good news, the bad news is no bugger believes me when i tell them i used no oils etc!

I even get them to taste it and they still dont believe me!

Maybe im an even better cook than people think? (Even though i learned some new chopping tips recently from a certain gabster)    ;)

Its official - the pains ive been experiencing the last few weeks in my upper left arm is the dreaded "tennis elbow".

I trundled along to the physiotherapists this morning to get it checked and after being put through a few arm exercises Elizabeth (the lil old lady physio) confirmed what it was. Well im not going to argue with her about it, especially considering the fact she's had over 40 years in the physio game. She gave me a list of do's and donts . The do's were a list of simple exercises, the don'ts included "stay away from your computer"  (yeah, perfect excuse to ignore you lot over the pond hehe) , seriously though she told me to avoid the tubigrip bandage ive been using and to quit the dumbells part of my exercise routine, so basically ive got to do Rick Allens exercise program (drummer from Def Leppard).

So all in all im a tad relieved now that i know what the prob is but im also a tad crabby cos of the pain and discomfort but im not going to be a big baby about it  - nah, i leave that to when i have a cold cos then im a typical man who thinks he's dying ;)

One of the latest catchphrases / punchlines / hiptalk (or whatever else u want to call it) here in the UK seems to be "Bom Chick A BowWow" . It started off in use in a TV commercial where a guy using a certain body spray gets all sorts of attention (wanted and unwanted) from some young chick who proceeds to rip his shirt off while reciting that phrase in a tone far from subtle.

Personally i think its hilarious, especially the way some girls try to mimic it as per the commercial but its even made its way to ringtones for cellphones. Well i have no desire to have my shirt ripped off (well i may make an exception for days that dont end in a "y" hehe) but im curious to know whats the logic behind this latest bit of literature, especially as its rumoured to have come from across your side of the pond  :)

Dont panic, its not a case of i have to have a spliff or anything quite as drastic but for some reason i simply have to have my TWO cups of tea with my brekkie.

Even the guy at customs was grinning when i was in NY.

Im afraid thats us brits for ya  ;)