The Situation Is -

Flexible!
Yesterday was a little out of the ordinary.  I was off at "Autumn Shades" until 3 p.m. and went to bed by 10 p.m. thus only one post yesterday.  The early night was due to having an equally early morning, up at 5 p.m. to drive the holiday party - lucky swines - to the airport.  So, the situation as it stands.
     Camp Conrad:

Yes.  Very camp

      This is where the current crop of books to be read are sitting, along with the notebook and phone and a clutch of pens.  From here there will be occasional transit into what will become "F.O.B. Rob*".  Art?

Yes, still at it

     As you can see, I'm still annotating "On Thermonuclear War" because I work slowly and it's a very large book with some very complicated concepts.  The kitchen table offers the most convenient workspace, and it also deters Madam, which see -

      She loves to plonk herself on my lap in my role as Human-Shaped Cushion, and is mightily huffed if there happens to be a notebook or book there.
     So!  Your humble scribe is the sole motive power in the Mansion, responsible for Jenny and Edna.  Also the fridge and cupboards, although they shall fare considerably less well.  After all, how would you like to have your insides removed?  Slowly, at that.
     Anyway, so begins 2 weeks at home, with only a cat and dog for company.  This has both benefits and drawbacks.  Edna, of course, cannot call out "Can you just come help with this ..." yet neither can she throw together a salmon pasta stir fry.  Swings and roundabouts, electrons and protons, Dredd and Death.
     The other downside to being at home is no interaction with work colleagues, which means no witty banter about Tom's holey shoes or Pete's paper provision.
     "Oh no!" I hear you lament.  "Lack of interactional input.  Are we going to be subject instead to a series of horrendous photo-essays about fountain pens - or <shudder> How To Make A Pot Of Loose Leaf Tea?"
     Leaving aside your wickedly negative attitude towards my invaluable life lessons, I shall reassure.  My visit to the "Autumn Shades" event provided oodles of content, which I will stretch out over several posts, for reasons that will become apparent.
     Plus, the never-ending psychedelic party going on in my head provides material a-plenty.

Like this, except with added nuclear weapons**

Starless And Bible Black
As any regular readers are aware by now, Conrad is no oil-painting pretty boy with big pecs and a sunny smile courtesy dental surgery.  No.  He is, actually, more akin to an undertaker with stomach-ache and has been known to make small children cry when he "smiles".  Think of a shark wearing a moustache.
     Normally his plumage is tee shirt and jeans, because to Conrad "fashion" is a seven-letter word with no application in the real world, so going to Autumn Shades was a bit of an alarm call.  "I can't turn up as per normal!"
     So.  Art?

Loves small children

      Like the title.  
     "Loves small children" the caption - remember, a shark wearing a moustache ...

Belated Bake Off
I really do apologise for my social life intruding upon the BOOJUM! production line - wait a minute, it's me speaking, actually I don't give a flea's fart about not posting up to date reviews.  If you don't like it, then THE EXIT DOOR IS THAT WAY!
     This is the 21st September broadcast, so I'm not going to bother about posting any SPOILER warnings, yah booh sucks.
     The theme was - Pastry.
     Signature:  2 x 12 Danish Pastries, done in 3.5 hours, and Paul made certain to warn about time management.  The secret is to make sure the butter in the layered dough doesn't bleed out.  Making the dough itself is rather like making puff pastry - layers of dough and butter kneaded together, ending up with a bit of pastry origami.
     And the results?  Val, Tom, Andrew, Rav and Benjamina were all pretty woeful, only Jane and Candice did well.  Must try harder, chaps***!

What makes Copenhagen wonderful?  These do!

     Technical:  a Bakewell tart, done in 2.5 hours.  Blimey, the time gets shorter, doesn't it?  Well, this is shortcrust pastry and it doesn't need proving, although you do need to bake it blind to get the pastry set before the cake mix goes in.  Jane came first, Candice was second and the others were middling, apart from Val, whose tart was raw.  Raw, Val, raw!  It just won't do!

Not one of my favourites, even if - wait for it wait for it - baked well.

     Showstopper: 24 Amuse Bouche made with filo pastry.  We then got a history of baklava, which takes away from the fact that filo is horribly difficult stuff to do well.  Far easier to buy than bake, chaps.  Anyway - Tom's had too much ginger, Jane's were too large and Val's were underdone.  Andrews were beautiful and Candice's were lovely, as were Rav's.

Positively hilarious, eh?

     Star Baker:  Candice  and Going Home:  Val.


*  "Forward Operating Base" and my Sunday best name.
** There's a joke in there if you're tasteless enough.
*** Said the man not in the tent under pressure and scrutiny