Dave Merritt
@butwhatifitsall
Gen Xer (1965), benefitted from the golden age of the UK welfare state and social mobility. Career in social housing (remember that?) now retired. Father of Jack Merritt, killed in the 2019 Fishmongers’ Hall attack. Writing a book. Food. Music. Politics.
Anne and I are back on Mull, where we spent our honeymoon 35 years ago. It’s a lovely place which really hasn’t changed that much. The food is definitely better, though.
The cracks in the ground on my daily dog walk are larger than ever this year. The intense heat will no doubt cause serious subsidence problems for houses in future.
This is what happens when you don’t heat the oil you’re using to fry your eggs before adding them to the pan.
The lawn has died - again - but the Beth Chatto-inspired dry bed more than makes up for it.
Our Freesat box stops working when it gets too hot, so I’m cooling it down ahead of tonight's England game, in the hope that it doesn't play up. I had to put it in the fridge for 20 minutes yesterday.
Guinness is not keen on water usually, but I give him a good dousing when it’s this hot to help him stay cool. Dog’s don’t sweat and they can easily overheat in hit weather.
On a day like this, is there any better place to be than your own back garden?
The view from the van is not too shabby today - St Ives, Cornwall.
Is Guinness the only cockerpoo not in the least bit interested in food?
If your eggs always crack when you boil them - soft or hard - make a pinhole in the fat (less pointy) end. This allows the air in the air sac to escape rather than expanding and cracking the shell.
Three shepherd’s pies made with the leftovers of the Sunday roast. Cooking really is an essential life skill: everyone should be taught how to do it. I will, of course, be adding grated cheddar on top.
Our local Tory candidates’ leaflet for the local elections. Their gutting of councils’ budgets destroyed local services and the roads. Now they say they can fix everything - with no more money. Same old Tory lies. They have no shame.