Marmalade!

Living in an Orange and lemon grove I feel obliged to make

produce...maybe this is a human instinct? So far we have made 8 jars
of marmalade, 7 jars of orange, lemon and Ginger chutney
(1 jar down, 6 to go). And a stack of oat, nut and orange flapjacks
( mostly sold to the students as power bars that improve climbing
performance).  Oh and lots and lots of fresh orange juice.  Infact I
have eaten more oranges in the last 3 weeks than I have in my whole
life!  Definitly no scurvy here!

There are so many orange trees in the surrounding hills that are just
teaming with ripe, zesty, juicy oranges, they really are delicious. 
I've never been much of an orange fan until now, I always find it's a
bit pot luck as to whether you'll find a succulent enough bounty
that's worth all the peeling, sticky hands and pip spitting. ...I am
truly converted!

Anyway I thought I would share some of the recipes with you so you can
try them at home with Spanish oranges that you can find for sale.



Zesty Orange House Marmalade with fresh Ginger:

10 ripe Spanish oranges
1 ripe Spanish lemons
Chunk of fresh Ginger
1 kg sugar

Cut 5 whole oranges in to small pieces excluding any pips and place in
large deep pan. Peel and cut the remaining 5 oranges excluding pith,
peel and pips.
Cut lemon in to small pieces excluding pips and place in pan.

Cut up chunk of ginger in to small pieces and add to fruit in pan. 
Add the sugar and heat with lid off, stirring occasionally.  It should
take between half an hour and an hour with intermittant stirring for
marmalade to be ready...it's so easy!

Potting:

Clean out 6-7 old jars with lids and place in oven for 15 minutes to
sterilise.  Use oven gloves to hold jar while carefully spooning the
marmalade in to the jars.  Try to aggitate jar as you fill it to avoid
air bubbles. Leave 1cm at top of jar and place cling film/ grease
proof paper over top to seal it before screwing on lid.

Date the jar and give to friends.  It lasts for 6 weeks in the fridge
or a really long time in a sealed, sterilised jar.

Delicious on toasted wholemeal brown bread with butter....
and lashings  of Ginger beer
(if you're in The Famous Five apparently).

Beautiful Benidorm!?

Forming a rude barrier between the sea and the mountains, Benidorm's

tower blocks stand in some places 30 storeys high.  Quite a
supernatural sight which I find myself drawn to from a voyeristic
stance. What a strange growth on the sandy Costa Blanca, grown as a
reaction  to a momentary trend for the urge for sun and home comforts
for unadventurous Brits and other Northern Europeans.
A home from home but with the added ingredient of sun is
what appeals to the now retired generation of Benidorm fans many of
whom have chosen it as their permenant home.
The Alicante- born flights are a sea of White hair, purple rinses,
strong southern and northern accents and a lot of wrinkly over-tanned
skin returning from family christmases back in Britain to return to
their retirement pads in Benidorm.
Benidorm's first tower blocks were errected in the 1960s. Benidorm has
the most high rise buildings per capita in the world!Prior to the 1960s
it was the site of the small fishing port that once sleepily
muddled along on the sandy costa brava.
Now being more densly populated with tower blocks than Tokyo or New
York, Benidorm is itself dwarfed by the 1406m tall Puig Campana where
Finistrat sits at its foot.

Venturing in and you really feel that you are entering or diving in to
the deep foliage of the forest of giant Sacoyas towers; we found
ourselves cruising along secondary street systems flanked by un-
designed, temporary-looking one storey burger bars, pubs and diners
totally over clad in a hotch potch of bright coloured signs all
competing to offer the "best full English breakfast" or "best British
bar" experience.  It took us an hour to find a parking spot for the
van, but it was worth the hunt as we found a perfectly situated parking
bay in the centre of Saturday night activity.  Sitting with a bottle
of Rioja and some good tunes we had a great position.  Group after
group of self-concious teenagers dressed in strict steriotypical
Benidorm style of White mini skirts and low cut tops with lashings of
make up and brigades of guys in matching White shirts and jeans.  In
fact there seems to be a phenomena of groups wearing matching outfits!
The groups of teenagers walked back and forth with bottles and cups of
booze.  When we took a walk down the central strip of park to see where
they were all heading a full scale gathering of local
teenagers was taking place with booze carry outs, it was carnage with
guys getting busted by security guards for alfresco peeing drunkeness
and shortly followed by the guardia which created a mass exodus
leaving a street strewn with discarded plastic bags and empty alcopop
bottles.  These were Spanish teenagers...had they been inspired by the
Brits on tour activities that flows down the streets in the tourist
season?...they certainly dressed like them.
A few streets further away a more subdued scene in a lounge singers
bar called Dollys was taking place.  A glammed up 70 plus lady singer
crooned "They'll be blue birds over.....the White cliffs of Dover". To
a lifeless crowd of less than a dozen who peered over their pint
glasses as the organ entertainers music sloshed about them under the
glitter ball lights.  After a sneaky look around what seemed to be an
all night sex shop which had taped off areas! We retreated to the
sanctuary of LB for a restful nights sleep away from the Saturday
night consumption.
A short morning stroll to the beach for breakfast we were amused to
see many posters advertising "Sticky Vicky" and her daughters strip
show.  We had heard of the infamous Stickey the last time we were in
The Costa Brava and were pleased to see the evidence of the 80 year
old stripper's show on posters. It appears that there is an imposter
who also appears on stage as Sticky Vicky and each poster was more of
a rant against the imposter than an advert for the show.  Anyway it
seems that if you want to see Sticky Vicky the 'original' you must
only go to a lounge that shows the poster of Sticky Vicky with her
daughter sitting by her side ( both naked in strange kind of yoga
poses...).
The sea front on a sunday morning is a highway for
motorised mobility chairs, which were all travelling at rather fast
speeds and very closely together.  Every other bar, kebab restaurant
and cafe seemed to have for sale signs and the ones that were open had
just a hand full of beer drinking, smoking elderly customers who seemed
to be silently and unemotionally enjoying their liquid breakfasts.
We had seen enough of Benidorm and headed out to Toix upper sea cliffs
where we did a Multi-pitch route where I learned to use a prussick for
the first time on the absail down.  This view was taken showing
Benidorms skyline as the sun sunk down as we decended our climb.


Benidorm, perhaps very ugly in a lot of ways is still a bit of a
phenomenon socially and physically and this Benidorm view made it to
my screen saver with a certain ammount of sentiment.  However for now
I don't think I will feel the need for another visit yet.

Sunny January in Spain

Climbing most days on the Costa Blanca after yoga in the rising sun around the pool at The Orange House and drinking freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice from the garden trees....life couldnt be much better! Climbing at Echo 1.5, Toix, and Catalettes ridge (The Puge) so far. For me although still climbing no higher than 5+ I am pleased with the progress I have made from only leading climbs on an inside wall, to now feeling pretty confident leading 4+ climbs. A great afternoon with Roods doing our first multi pitch of the trip 'Espolon Limaban' a 62m climb (4 followed by 5). Any way enough of the climbing chat, and boy do we hear a lot of that living in the Orange House!

RoodyToots Tour continues - Alicante Spain

Happy 2011 to all!
We start the New Year in Spanish sun in the small town of Finestrat, parked up in an orange and lemon grove at the Orange House where climbers gravitate for world class climbing on the lime stone of the Costa Blanca.

Arriba! Flamenco, and more Flamenco!

What a wonderful way to celebrate a 60th birthday; Moley, Marmaduke, Pannie and Roods Flamenco dancing our way through the week and Compas ey Palmasing to Tango beats in to the evening.

Back to Northampton- the birth place of RoodyToots. Preparations for the design show case in the Centre of Northampton in 'Are You Being Served' the boutique cafe in St Giles Street. With live music and a generous serving of home made mince pies, bread pudding and mould wine, the lovely ladies of the cafe created the perfect setting for RoodyToots customers to enjoy viewing the designs along with other Designers and Artists displaying their work for festive customers.


The new Vintage Paris range being show cased for the first time was a hit with the christmas shoppers. Surprisingly most people were buying the designs for themselves, therefore not needing the christmas wrapping service.


The collection of vintage antiques selected from Parisian markets after being reworked with Swarovski Crystals and made in to necklaces, pins and brooches.


The Ostrich feather hat pins/brooches were snapped up with their semi precious gem stones, vintage button and Swarovski Crystal clusters.

Aurevoir France, Hola Spain!

A memorable farewell to our Kingdom in the gorge after a very fresh bit of freshmaking in the rather baltic waters of a nearby river (solar shower has failed us with a pretty critical leak). On the last night before leaving belle France we had the pleasure of being invited to dinner by a lovely couple we met at the local cat festival! Solange and Bob, thank you for a memorable evening of intriging tales of fashion design in Paris, Bob playing for Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis, totally rocking sixties couple, Scotty loved the jamming in Bob's music room and I enjoyed looking through Solanges vast collection of beautiful beads and buttons and jewels and was blown away by the generosity that we received. Definite soul mates. I would really like to recommend Solange and Saunders Chambre d'hotes - Les Pavillions, bed and breakfast, vegetarian/vegan Chambres d'Hotes, 66000 Perpignan, France. web- lespavillons.com
You are bound to be in for the most warm company and fascinating stories of their rock and roll past of the 60s, beautiful chateaux style bedrooms and delicious vegetarian and vegan food too! A must if you find yourself in Perpignan!

Driving down the Costa Brava over the border, we were welcomed by shimmering turqoise waters and steep cliffs plunging down to white sand coves. Meandering our way along the hairpin bends we found ourselves in beautiful series of bays and coves at Cadaques, the former residence of Dali. Greeted by strategically placed cats like ornaments on every corner, we peddeled up and down narrow winding roads until we found the former retreat where Dali lived his last creative days with his Gala in their haven that evolved from a modest seaside dwelling to a grand expression of their fantastical minds.



















Arriving in Barcelona after stopping in Tossa to take in the out of season stillness of the coves which resonate with local/Barcelona tourists in the summer months. LB pulled in to Park Montjuic as the sun was setting in time for us to take our climbing shoes to the derelict tunnel of Fruixarda. Covered in climbing holds it has attracted a fantastic climbing scene with a great vibe. Keen climbers sessioning traverses and sport routes until the late hours of the night, great vibes always with guitar music, dogs, and picnickers. We really emersed ourselves in to the scene becoming part of the ferrelness of 'the tribe' and making it our home for the 2-3 weeks we were there.
Annie arrives!
Climbing, RoodyToots photoshoot, La Boheim, Pirate ship, puppies and lots and lots of cava was to follow! I have a feeling Barcelona will always play a role for the Clarke sisters! Currently restocking of RoodyToots for the shelves of La Boheim is taking place!

One of the most memorable meals so far, pulling in to a
green meadow flooded with evening sun over the rolling hills. 
Something very luxurious
about chosing your dining spot with the option of the best seat
in the house everytime! Whipped up some gnocchi
with red wine, Paul Simon playing loud- a memorable
spontanious alfresco dining moment in the Dordogne.















Driving through the Dordogne rolling hills, we approached a
dramatic valley with the fat moon casting reflections on La
Tarne a huge slow flowing river carving through steeply rising
cliffs. A supernatural energy force really resonated from Saint
Antoine Noble Val.  
The meeting of two strong natural
forces rock and water. This was
destinedto be our stop for the night.

Pulled up next to la Salle du fête
where an alternative country music
band was featuring, had planned to
gate
crash but fell asleep under
the stars in our blankets instead.
Saint Antoine Noble Val; enchanting narrow, winding
cobble streets with charming medieval architecture a cote de
la grande stone bridge mirrored in the vast waters ebbing below.
Something auspicious about this place, maybe we will be back one
day.
In the morning after a 2 hour conversation in French with a
curious monk (Frere Michel) about various pilgimages around
France and Spain.
After a curbside cafe au lait brother micheal signed la creperie
visitors book and we set south in the mid morning light.
Stunning winding roads through vineyard clad rolling hills. 
Finally we have found the sun! Had to stop at a friendly
crossroads where wesaw a sign for vin a vendre!
Since our cellar was running low we
investigated la cave where we were greeted by freindly
vinyard owner and left a little tipsy with a 5ltr box of
vin rouge.

Albi; a red brick town constructed from dredged materiel
from the Tarn river on the banks of which it sits with the
largest brick built cathedral in the world at it's heart. 
The austentacious bishop of the town in the 13th century
built it along with his own brick defensive palace where he
lived in fear of attack from the towns people. Cruising around
on the hogs after parking up little lb with the campervans in
the free parking beneath the cathedral, we cycled about the
stone clad streets.  After sussing out the gigs for the night
in music shops, we found a possible Friday night venue for our
soirée at the albi university.  We definitly found the right
place; a circus big top with music stage, a gigantic fire with
2 large beasts on spits and a bar which also sold home
made soups and whole roasted pigeons!  The two bands were ace
the first a very cool Tarantino soundtrack sound
and the second a rocking band with cool front woman in a 
bloodstained wedding dress- my hero! A great party
and free too.  Our first wild showers followed in the woodland
south of albi, rather fresh but quite a beautiful experience as
you look up through the golden leaves above
through the falling water from the shower rigged up In the branches.

Now we head south with Ali and claire who we met at Mont Roc in the
middle of a cursing orage with horizontal rain,  black clouds and
biting winds....this was not the plan, especially that all camping
spots are closed - so on with the wild camping (camping savage).
Camping next to a derelict chateaux there was plenty of exploring to
be had in the morning. However sunshine is still missing ingredient
so yet again we hit the road to head further south, this time sand
dunes near Perpignan.

A crazy winding hair pin thread road through the black mountain led us
to our evening spot a very french setting at the end of a farmers
track to a small mound of trees surrounded on all sides by mature
vinyards in full autumn colour.




With plenty of wood for our fire we
sat under bright moonlight and ate Claires delicious Thai curry and
rice noodles. The wind picked up over night with more than gale force
winds LB shook for most of the
night as the wind hurled through the vinyards and bent the island of
trees sideways where the tent and Lb trembled all night long.














In the morning, glad to have not been totally blown away, we shared
a bunch of black grapes left on a vine at the end of a row and set
off for some breakfast wine tasting.

Vingrau has been the perfect spot for all of our climbing needs.
Camping out at the foot of Gouleryous Gorge where the clear waters
swirl and pool at the base of the rock providing us with a perfect
bathing pool teeming with fish.
























A big fire of drift wood provided
light and warmth for the creperie party in honor of claire's birthday.
The baby pumpkin was lit and the French climbers joined us for games
of 'The cardboard box game' and offered birthday
gifts of shots of absynth and the multiple layered birthday pancake
with a plathora of chocolate ingredients with banana and honey.

Life has been easy in the gorge again a vinyards setting that has
providedample grapes for grape juice pressing (gringo berry presse),
and fresh water for bathing and washing.  The weather has been
blissful most days with blue skies, and early morning sun which 
we have made the most of since the clocks fell back.  Feeling very
self sustainable in this landscape we have only needed a couple of
visits to perpignan for groceries in the three weeks that we have been here.



























New features to LB's kitchen menu have been added including 
falafel with salad and flat breads (all handmade and cooked on
the open fire).   Bonfire night was pizza night.  Three cheese
with spinach onion, olives and
chillis - was delicious, baked in the small oven made by the two
chapati pans placed together on the fire.  Early morning
starts to our climbing sessions has given us long evenings
to devote time in the roodytoots studio.  Preparations for the 
'vintage Paris' winter range
photo shoot are taking shape.  Lb will be making it's way to Barcelona
to meet annie on the 16th -looking forward to it pannie! Re stocking
of the boutique la boheme and arrangements for the shoot will take
place as well as the obligatory fun nights in the city, look out
Barcelona here we come!