FIVE DAYS IN ATLANTA

DAY 1 MONDAY: HERE I AM 

I spring  out of bed at 4am and remembered where I am.

This was Atlanta, state capital of Georgia the home of Cocoa Cola and Delta Airways. Delta, dear Delta, and the airline that cancelled on me yesterday; I was a Terminal 4 LHR, staring up at the departures board and saw the word CANCELLED next to my flight. It was “like the shock of fondling a sausage at a gay party” (Viviane Stanshaw)

Before breakfast I discovered Publix (largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States according to their Home Page), which opened at 7am. Left the store bemused by the number of magazines about guns on their magazine racks.

Atlanta, uptown, downtown everywhere sky scrapers. I am staying at The Twelve, originally an apartment block; the developers lost their nerve and turned one half into a hotel. So a lobby, separate bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/through lounge comes as standard. A washing machine and tumble drier is neatly stowed in the bedroom and a walk-in fridge and freezer is part of the kitchen. Its home.

More Essex Days Out

Low Water  Mono print 2011 inspired by a visit to Maylandsea with my Father 

Thank you Essex Days Out for featuring my  Maylandsea escapades

CHEEKY CHIVES

Of course we all knew that their name derives from the Greek skhoínos (sedge) and práson (leek). The English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion. 

So is the Chive a mini-leek?

Big question, for me, is whether to deadhead one’s chives? Input  please.

Chives are grown both the table and the salad bowel. It appears that they have ornamental value; the violet flowers are often used in ornamental dry bouquets. If the English Summer ever comes remember the Romans believed chives could relieve the pain from sunburn. 

Chive-a-licious!

ANENOME - Wind Flowers

Our anemones were wilting and the application of water brought them quickly back to form.According to the Dictionary (OED) anemōnē means "daughter of the wind", from ánemos the wind god "wind" + feminine suffix -ōnē.  Which is interesting considering the twelve-knot winds we have been subjected to in recent week here in the Home Counties. Anemones are perennials (wonderful) and there are over 150 species to choose from (even more wonderful).

TEMPTING TARRAGON – herb-tastic!

Standing proud in a terracotta embrace.

Tarragon is the main flavouring component of Béarnaise sauce. Fresh, lightly bruised sprigs of tarragon are steeped in wine vinegar creates tarragon vinegar. It looks like a tough herb and is and is part of the sunflower family. Tarragon is one of the four fines herbes of French cooking, a must for for chicken, fish and egg dishes.  (Note to self: Try some on my scrambled eggs)

Tarragon is used to flavour a popular carbonated soft drink look out for it when you are in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia!

PERKY PETUNIAS – INTERESTING PEDIGREE!

Petunia is a genus in the family Solanaceae. More familiar members of Solanaceae in other subfamilies include tobacco (Nicotianoideae), and the Cape gooseberry, tomato, potato, deadly nightshades and chili pepper.  Ouch is what I say!

Window boxes throughout the land are happy to show off their splendours enhanced by Petunia.  Each colour is a soften pastel (‘pass-tell’ as they say in America).

To thrive, if you have not yet planted yours out, they need five hours of sunlight a day. There, you have been told.

DUTCH DIARY: FISH AND CHIPS

Unloading the catch outside the Palingroerij

                                                 

Another good morning starts as Dave wraps the cake-bread (a speciality of the region) into a couple of napkins. Later in the morning he will, Priest-like, administer this hallowed confection to us all.

Sunshine and a westerly breeze as we head towards the coast again and the small town of Zoutkamp, a fishing port on the Reitdeip River which used to be Groningen’s the access point to the sea until easterly estuaries were dredged.

Again it was a fine day as we rolled through green fields, along cycle tracks, greeted by cattle and sheep alike.

We had been recommended (again by Richard at the De Energiek B&B) the Palingrokerij as the place for fish and chips and were not disappointed as we made our way through generous portions of delicious cod, it was a most excellent place less than one hundred meters from the quayside where the catch was being landed.

Replete we prepared to for heading north-ish to a huge expanse of national park called Lauwermeer. This is a stretch of water and reed beds with small woods further inland. As expected it is crossed by cycle tracks and tank tracks, for the area’s eastern side is a training ground for the army; punctuated by warning signs and red flags, festive but purposeful.

The afternoon sun to take us home

Regaining the route home again the afternoon sun and breeze on our backs through Vierhuizen, Ulrum, Leens and so to Wehe den Hoorn and the now obligatory meal The Hoornstertil Café.  

A view from the Bar

This evening the Café was crowded, meaning not just us; for a mob was gathered for the finals of the regional billiards competition. The tension was palpable as we sipped our beer and contemplated supper.

Tension in the Bar sounds the Tournament Finals

End of the third story, coming next DUTCH DIARY: HEADING HOME