No - still don't have leprosy!

No - still don't have leprosy!

Apparently, when potatoes first came to France, they were only used as animal feed - because they thought the veg carried leprosy.

 

Luckily, pharmacist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier (1737-1813) managed to convert the French to spud-eaters, having learned of their nutritional value when he was a prisoner of war in Germany. His captors fed prisoners mashed potato for most meals, and Parmentier promoted them as a human food after his release.

And as well as being a big fan of spuds, and of Antoine himself, I am a fan of a potato side dish known as Parmentier potatoes, which I first enjoyed in a bistro in Paris.

All you have to do is chop your spuds into cubes, oil them, sprinkle with garlic and rosemary, and roast. I used to do them in the oven for 35 or 40 minutes, but now I cook them for about 25 minutes in the air fryer, and drop the frozen batter puds on top of them for the last 5 minutes. I cook the chicken mini-breasts in the other drawer of the fryer for about 12 minutes.

Some steamed veg and bisto gravy, and here it all is!

Yummy!

Beside the seaside at Aldeburgh in Suffolk, Old Geezer's Diary 23 March

 WATCH: Beside the seaside at Aldeburgh in Suffolk - its a mixed kind of afternoon, with some sunshine, some cloud, a strong wind, and good-sized waves. It's the afternoon of Thursday 23rd March, we've had our fish and chips, so time for a stroll . . . .

The "D" word - the one we all avoid . . . Old Geezer Show, 24January 2023

 "Passed away", "passing away", "very ill" . . . Death has got itself a bad reputation, people are terrified of the idea and the event itself, and yet . . . I've been close to the death of a loved one, and now that I've seen and heard Dr Kathryn Mannix, I understand it better. 

I'll be talking about my own experience, and inviting you to watch Dr Mannix talking clearly and openly about how it all happens . . . Learn more: https://youtu.be/CruBRZh8quc and: https://youtu.be/CZDDByT0Vr0

 

Take a stroll beside the seaside! Old Geezer Show, 23 January 2023

 WATCH: Join me for a stroll along the Prom at Felixstowe for a few minutes. Filmed on 23 January, the temperature is low, close to freezing, but there's no wind, and it all feels very quiet. I made a friend at the end of the clip!

 

Bank of Dave film review - old Geezer Show, 22 Jan 2023

WATCH: Bank of Dave film review - old Geezer Show, 22 Jan 2023 We watched it - we loved it! Simply a great feel-good movie, uniquely British, beautifully acted and produced . . . and it leaves you with a big smile on your face!

 

 

Channel progressing!

 

Older people's digital exclusion on UK trains: Old Geezers Diary, 21 Jan 2023

 WATCH: In a Dutch supermarket chain, there's now a slow lane for people who want a chat . . . and if you use rail services, prepare to say good bye to helpful station ticket office staff! More problems for the 3 million non-internet pensioners!