Thursday 31 December 2015

Eleven Twelfth of Weariness

November

The eleventh twelfth of weariness

~Ambrose Bierce (1842-c.1914)~

Last year, we’d hedgehogs feeding in the garden since October. But they were nowhere to be seen this year. I think the main reason was that a small clearing behind our cul-de-sac had being cleared. I was furious because a huge tree had been chopped down where the birds and bats roost and foxes prowled. At first, the plan was to build 10 houses!!!, but thankfully permission was denied. The last time I heard, the developer had submitted a new planning permission to build 4 houses instead. We have to wait and see.

Shots from Home - November

I was in the garden one evening putting kitchen scraps into the compost bin when I heard a familiar snuffling and scuffling under the bird-feeder. It was a hedgehog vacuuming the seeds that had fallen on the ground. Whoop…whoop. I called Babe and rushed in to get mashed dog-food with dried mealworms for my adorable friend. After taking a few photographs, we left Mr. Pricky crunching his meal in peace.

Shots from Home - November

At work, the dreaded lurgy was making its rounds. Although I’d my flu-jab done, I succumbed to the lurgy. I was sneezing my head off when I met CC for dinner at our favourite Noodle Bar. I ‘d my usual fried soba noodles with seafood and Chinese vegetables plus a little drizzle of the fiery chilli oil. I hoped to blow away the lurgy but unfortunately it didn’t work. I was up the night coughing with a temperature and very reluctantly, had to cancel attending a CIG workshop on MarcEdit and OpenRefine in Birmingham.

I thought I was hallucinating when I looked out the window and saw the back garden covered in SNOW!!! I’d to look twice to make sure I’m not dreaming. But it didn’t last long and it melted as soon as the sun came out. Boo… Arctic maritime airmass spread had marked a big change after the start of November was the second mildest on record. Sudden cold snap came in the wake of Storm Barney, when high winds caused travel chaos and severe damage to homes. A yellow ‘be aware’ weather warning was in place. This sudden change from mild weather to very cold conditions was known as an ‘Arctic plunge’ making it the coldest night of the season so far. The Midlands got off pretty lightly. It was certainly lively but not enough to be damaging although the side fence bit the dust again.

Brandon Marsh - November

We made another trip to Brandon to see if any migrants had arrived during the storm. Unfortunately, only the usual culprits were about. The main island had nearly disappeared under the rising waters and only the brave ones were about. The gulls and the Lapwings were having a good time splashing in the water. Since there was nothing much to point our cameras at, we made our way to Carlton Hide.

As we walked, trees loomed out of the gloom; ghostly with their branches like witches fingers clawing into the murk. They were slowly turning bare, loosing their leaves and covering the very muddy footpath. The dying back of the trees revealed startling silhouettes in the skyline. There was also a quietness as the birds have gone leaving a stillness in the air.

Brandon Marsh - November

Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked
against the sky,

How beautiful it is?

Brandon Marsh - November

All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness
There is a poem, there is a song.
Every leaf is gone and it is waiting for the spring.
When the spring comes, it again fills the tree with
The music of many leaves,
Which in due season fall and are blown away.
And this is the way of life.

~Jiddu Krishnamurti (1859-1986)~

Brandon Marsh - November

Unfortunately we were late arriving and our favourite seat was taken. But, thankfully there were plenty of seats left. While waiting for the show to start, I photographed the reed beds, bathed in the golden glow. As usual. as soon as the Gulls began to leave the reserve, a small flock of Starlings appeared high in the sky, joined moments later by a second and a third... As these arrivals merged into a single entity, the sense of anticipation grew amongst us.

Brandon Marsh - November

Before long, a steady flow of birds began streaming in and once more the sky above us was filled with a swirling mass of natural wonder.  And this time, at least 3 Sparrowhwks were waiting, attacking them from different sides. The aerial display from this monolithic mass was incredible as they tried to escape from their attackers. It was a dramatic performance and I wasn’t sure whether the attackers was successful.

Brandon Marsh - November

We’d heard the fens were dying seas
pinned into their beds by reeds;
the sedges crowded out our path
through the washed out winter marsh.

Brandon Marsh - November

They came in ragged lines that fell
into the budding chirping swell
of bodies caught up in a flow
that stretched itself like kneaded dough

Brandon Marsh - November

until the churning shoal was black
and hemmed within a living sack
that smashed itself across the dusk
but could not break the thread of trust

Brandon Marsh - November

that held each bird beside another,
and pulled the molten flock together
until they turned and plunging down
were hooked into the weedy ground.

Brandon Marsh - November

We both stood locked inside our coats
and in the dark we neither spoke
in case our clumsy blundering
upset the other’s new-found wings.

Brandon Marsh - November

~Holly Hopkins~

Then it was a slow walk back to the car. One of Brandon regulars stayed back because he was hoping to see if the Barn Owl or otters would make an appearance. I would love to wait too but I’ve got to go to work the next day. We made a pit stop at Teal pool to check the sunset which was beginning to disappear quick. It was stunning.

Brandon Marsh - November

We also finally used the voucher that I’d won during a charity raffle ‘Lunch for Education of Syrian children’. We chose hand-battered fish, chips and mushy peas which was upgraded to the beer-battered cod fillets. All washed down with tall glasses of orange juice. While waiting for our meals to arrive, we spent the time watching people arriving and also the surroundings. The pub had been beautifully decorated in Christmas tinsels and baubles in November!!! 

We ended November by making our final trip to Donna Nook for 2015. It was a miserable day although the sun was trying its very best to shine. There were also quite a lot of traffic on the road. We’d a wonderful surprise when we spotted a Short-eared Owl hunting along the A1031 near the village of Yarburgh. We parked safely by the road and Babe managed to rattle a few shots. I sat in the car watching this memorable sight at very close quarters.

Roadtrip to Donna Nook - November

Short-eared owls were largely nocturnal and crepuscular but still one of the most active British owls during daylight. They were specialists of open country, posessing streaked plumage that blended perfectly in the short vegetation. We watched it flew close to the ground with its characteristic floppy flight. It then flew so close to our car that I could see the perfectly circular face with its yellow eyes surrounded by broad black circles.

Roadtrip to Donna Nook - November

It was a joy to watch this bird in action quartering the fields. Gliding and turning so gracefully, the large pale wings steering the course. It was a hypnotic bird to watch and there was something so primal about it. Short-eared owls were often presented as birds of magic and this one had weaved its spell on me.

Roadtrip to Donna Nook - November

“In air it exemplifies the poetry of motion. Its opinion press softly on the resistant element and waft the bird gently about over its favorite moors as lightly as a night moth.”

~Edward Howe Forbush~

Roadtrip to Donna Nook - November

When we arrived at Donna Nook, the car-park at Stonebridge was already full. We joined the hundreds that were parking in the very muddy farmer’s field. After paying the £2 we queued to use the facilities before marching up to the sand-dunes and walked to the viewing path. It was going to be challenge because there were hundreds of people, all jostling for space.

Donna Nook - November

Grey seals were born with shaggy white fur called laguno, which melted away after 2-4 weeks. When this happened, the white baby fur developed a dense waterproof pelt and began to have the markings of an adult. The males with an overall colour of dark grey, brown or black, with a lighter patch around the neck or flans while the females were lighter with a background colour of cream or grey, paler on the belly with dark blotches or spotting.

Donna Nook - November

We noticed there were quite a lot older pups from the viewing path. The pupping season had peaked because these weaned pups were spreading out along the chestnut-paling fences looking so cute, adorable and very curious. They were very rotund and having an easy life of just resting, sleeping, rolling and living off their fat reserves. They remained here until they were driven by hunger and had to make their way to the sea to hunt for their first solid food.

Donna Nook - November

We didn’t see any birth but there must be few earlier because there quite a few afterbirths laying around with pups still stained from the yellow amniotic fluid. Turnstones were having a feast with the afterbirths. Mums were encouraging the pups to feed by scratching their faces. Pups suckled for 3 weeks during which their weight tripled and gradually lost their pale coat. In the meantime, the mums loose half of their body fat during lactation as they don’t feed themselves.

Donna Nook - November

Males (Bulls) were now turning very aggressive. It was the height of the mating/breeding season and the hormone levels had changed. Some of the pups were already weaned and the females were in season and ready to mate. There were fights to stake their territory and keep other males away. These fights were vicious and bloody. There were plenty of open mouth threatening displays, hisses and vocalisations.

Donna Nook - November

When the cows were receptive, the bulls moved in, aiming to mate as many as possible. Copulation lasted for about 45 minutes. The male laid to one side of the cow with a flipper draped across her and sometimes held her neck with his teeth. It looked a bit brutal. There was evidence that the cows had a greater degree of choice in their partners. After mating, they dispersed and wandered off, separately.

Donna Nook - November

We walked towards the information board to check out the statistics for the week. There were 650 bulls, 1542 cows and 1754 pups in the reserve. I think this might be the mximum number of pups for this year. We asked the warden about Ropeneck, a very well-known female seal that was found with a rope tightly around her neck. She always arrived at the same place on the same date every year. We said hello to her but she was soundly asleep, half-submerged with a fluffy baby by her side.

Donna Nook - November

We walked back to the car, stopping along the way to rattle a few hundreds more shots. We’d lunch, eating Cornish pasties all washed down with mugs of steaming hot coffee from a thermos. Then as the sun went down over Donna Nook, we joined the crowd on their way home leaving the grey seals to bask in the last rays of sunshine. Goodbye my little ones, have a safe journey and insyallah, we will meet again in 2016.

Donna Nook - November

Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.

Donna Nook - November


The moon, o'er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.

Donna Nook - November


Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy pillow;
Ah, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!

Donna Nook - November


The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas.

Donna Nook - November


You mustn't swim till you're six weeks old,
Or your head will be sunk by your heels;

Donna Nook - November


And summer gales and Killer Whales
Are bad for baby seals.

Donna Nook - November


Are bad for baby seals, dear rat,
As bad as bad can be.

Donna Nook - November


But splash and grow strong,
And you can't be wrong,
Child of the Open Sea!

Donna Nook - November

Rudyard Kipling

In the garden, I was so happy to see the female Great Spotted Woodpecker again. She was always popping over hanging on the fat-ball feeder and tucking into the suet-balls. She was a very colourful bird with her black and white plumage, white shoulder patches and bright red patch under the tail. Unfortunately, she scared off the rest of the bird population. The house sparrows, tits, robins and dunnocks were peering over waiting for her to fly away so that they can come and feed.

Shots from Home - November

“The month of November makes me feelthat life is passsing more quickly. In an effort to slow down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully.”

~Henry Rollins~

Brandon Marsh - November

Thursday 24 December 2015

Fear not November

We quietly slipped into November with misty magical mornings and beautiful low sunrises and sunsets. It had been unseasonably mild for this time of year. This warm weather was not right because nature needed a burst of proper cold to carry on to next year. And the thought of all the germs rubbing their hands with glee at the perfect breeding conditions of warmth, moist temperatures and rotting things made me sick.

Fog in November, trees have no heads,
Streams only sound, walls suddenly stop
Half-way up hills, the ghost of a man spreads
Dung on dead fields for next year's crop.

Brandon Marsh - November

I cannot see my hand before my face,
My body does not seem to be my own,
The world becomes a far-off, foreign place,
People are strangers, houses silent, unknown.

~Leonard Clark, Fog in November~

Brandon Marsh - November

As the days of November unfolded, fallen leaves spread a cloth of gold and amber on the ground. The wind had exchanged its soft and musical tones for a mournful sound, marking the rythym of atumn’s impending end while howling down the alleyways. Each month arrived with its own special kind of rain. In November, the rain was steady and fearfully grey with sheets of leaden steel dropping from pewter skies.

Shots from Home - November

Although it was grey, miserable and wet, the skies were continuously brightly lit alongside spontaneous very loud bangs. It was Guy Fawkes week, an event accompanied by firework displays, the lighting of bonfires and the ceremonial effigy-burning of one Guy Fawkes. This originated from events which took place in 1605 and was a conspiracy known as “The Gunpowder Plot’ intended to take place on November 5th, the day set for the opening of Parliament. The main objective was to blow up the Parliament along with the ruling monarch, King James 1. It was hoped that such a disaster would initiate an uprising of English Catholics, who were distressed by the increased severity of penal laws against the practice of their religion.

Shots from Home - November

Guy (Guido) Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the House of Lords with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.  Also known as ‘Firework Night’ and ‘Bonfire Night’, November 5th was designated by King James 1 (via an Act of Parliament) as a day of thanksgiving for ‘the joyful day of deliverance.’ This Act remained in force until 1859. On the very night of the thwarted plot, it was said that the Londoners celebrated the defeat by lighting fires and engaging in street festivities.

Shots from Home - November

We didn’t launched any fireworks, waved sparklers or burnt bornfires but we still took hundreds of photographs. We enjoyed our neighbours fireworks offerings and some were very spectacular. Some shoot straight up before exploding, others whirled in spirals, some shattered into thousands of sparks, others tumbled like waterfalls or floated in glittering shower. At times, we just don’t know where to point our cameras. There were whishes, whirrs, booms, whizzes, zooms and bangs everywhere. Tons of smoke drifting and the smell of sulphur was quite overpowering. I couldn’t helped oohing and aaahing at such extravagance. The next morning, I came across piles of spent fireworks in the garden.

Shots from Home - November

When we were driving on the M40 to Oxford, to meet one of my best friend from Malaysia, we were dazzled by the twinkling and shimmering fireworks that had been launched into the skies. It made the trip very magical. JJ was in Oxford for a week  for work purposes and it was lovely to meet her in my adopted country. We picked her from the very quaint Bath Hotel for dinner. Unfortunately the KFC only does takeaway and we couldn’t find any parking space on Cowley Road to have dinner in a restaurant. In the end, we bought a takeaway and had a picnic in the car. It was hillarious but we’d a wonderful time catching up.

Shots from Home - November

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Shots from Home - November
Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

Shots from Home - November
By god's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

~The Fifth of November~

Shots from Home - November

I took a day off from work for an early trip to Donna Nook Nature Reserve, one of our favourite places in the world. We left the casa at 9 am on a wet, miserable, grey morning. On the way, we found out that the Wigston Road was closed due to roadworks and followed the redirected routes which wasn’t that bad. Traffic on the main route was surprisingly heavy and slow with the huge lorries trying to overtake each other.

Donna Nook - November

We were quite surprised to see the car-park nearly full and it wasn’t even the weekend. It had been raining here and the roads were very muddy. It started to rain again and I put on my waterproofs and we made our way towards the sanctuary. As we walked, a large flock of Brent Geese flew off in long V-shaped formations called ‘skeins’. They were only found here in the winter.

Donna Nook - November

We walked along the chestnut-paling fence that ran the entire length of the beach. It was still early in the season. We spotted a few pups here and there among the sand-dunes and reed-beds. We checked out the board and there were 234 bulls ; 288 cows and 120 pups. Still a long way to go.

Donna Nook - November

The males were rolling, snoozing, dozing, slumbering and scratching in the mudbanks and sand-dunes. They were bidding time, waiting for the pups to be weaned and the females to be in season and ready to mate. For the time being, the males were quite content to be together. It was very peaceful at the moment.

Donna Nook - November

Oh! Hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
  And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us,
  At rest in the hollows that rustle between.

Donna Nook - November

Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
  Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
  Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!

~Seal lullaby by Rudyard Kipling~

Donna Nook - November

Babe spotted an odd looking duck among the Shelducks that were feeding along the mudbanks. We showed a photograph to a RSPB ‘expert’ and she told us that it was a Ruddy Shelduck. But when Babe explained that it looked more like a hybrid Egyptian Goose and Shelduck, she was having none of it!!! She couldn’t explain to us why she thought it was a Ruddy Shelduck.

Donna Nook - November

We walked back to the car where we were distracted by flocks of starlings and Goldfinches feeding on the sea-buckthorn berries that dotted the sand dunes. Suddenly in the distance, we spotted a raptor flying furiously after a Goldfinch. The poor bird was flying high trying to avoid the talons and thankfully managed to escape. The pursuer than flew and landed on one of the posts. We crept closer and discovered that it was a Merlin, our first sighting here.

Donna Nook - November

We went back to the car to have something to eat. The car-park was already full and late comers parked in the overflow car-park, a near-by field which belonged to a farmer. He charged £2 per car but he does provide toilet facilities. Suddenly the heavens opened while we were tucking into our cheese and onion pasties. At first we planned to check the seals again but the rain put us off. So we decided to head home and visit again at the height of the pupping season.

Donna Nook - November

We also made a trip to Draycote Waters and was quite surprised to see it quite empty except for a few hardy yachtsmen honing their sport. It was a miserable day to be out and about. We walked along the walls keeping an eye on the lake. Dozens of Great Crested Grebes in their winter colours were enjoying a leisurely swim.

Draycote Waters - November

On the rocks, Pied wagtails were flitting and dashing between the rocks, uttering their high-pitched ‘chessick’ songs, on the hunt for insects. They were constantly in motion, from their jerky walks to their constantly wagging tails. Meadow pipits glide down to the rocks making their presence felt with their ‘tseep’ calls and tinkling songs. I wanted to watch the sunset but there was nearly 2 hours to go. We headed home because we don’t want to be frozen while waiting.

Draycote Waters - November

At work, HR and I attended a charity ‘Lunch for Education of Syrian children’ at the Chaplaincy supported by the Human Concern International. The fund-raising event aimed to bring to light the realities of education of Syrian children under war and seeked to actively meet their urgent needs of books, stationeries, winter clothes and heating.  The event included enlightening talks, live music, theatre performances and amazing food.

Warwick University - November

Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, the main meal was completely sold out. But we still enjoyed the different varieties of finger foods from around the world. There were spring rolls, antipasti skewers, mini crostinis etc. It was a very good turnout and we stayed for the live music and talks while tucking into our meals. We also purchased a few raffle tickets for meals at different outlets on campus. We were chuffed when we won a few prizes. HR won tea for 2 at Curiostea while I won 2 prizes. Woo…hoo. One was dinner for 2 at Varsity and the other was for a performance at Copper Room. The later, I turned it down and asked the organisers to give it to someone else.

Warwick University - November

I was watching Children in Need wearing my Pudsey ears when Babe came down and informed me that there was a terrorist attack in Paris. I immediately switched to BBC News 24 and scrolled through Twitter. At 21.20 pm, 3 suicide bombers struck near the Stade deFrance in Saint Denis, followed by suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafes, restaurants and the Batacian theatre.

The attackers killed 130 people, included 89 at the theatre, where they took hostages before engaging in a stand-off with the police. 360 people were wounded here and 7 attackers were killed. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attacks, in retaliation for the French airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq.

I was mad for people using my religion as an excuse to kill to go to heaven. Blowing oneself up is suicide, which is forbidden in Islam so how on earth could you go to heaven.

‘And do not kill yourselves’

[An-Nisa 4:29].

And the Prophet (PBUH) said

‘…Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron will have that iron in his hand, thrusting it into his belly in the Fire of Hell for ever and ever. ‘

Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5442; Muslim. 109.

Terrorism has no place in Islam.

‘Whoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoever saves the lives of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of mankind..’

~Quran 5;32~

My thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families.

We ended the week by checking out the Starling murmurations at Brandon Marsh. Babe had seen it so many times and I don’t want to miss this amazing spectacle. We walked straight to Carlton Hide because we wanted to get the best seat in the house. We were about an hour early and I amused myself by taking photographs of the reedbeds glowing brightly in the bright winter sun.

Brandon Marsh - November

The volunteers were busy clearing off the algae that had nearly covered the lake in front of us. The lake had been drained and piles of harvested algae were dumped onto the island. It was going to be a losing battle because birds flew in and carry the algae with them. But at least, they were doing something about it.

As usual, by half 3, the hundreds of Gulls departed slowly to roost at Draycote Waters. The sun hadn’t set yet but hundreds of Starlings began to appear and then flew off again. Another few minutes passed before a slightly larger flock swooped in and then flew off agin towards the back of the hide. As always with nature, nothing was ever guaranteed and with the Starling population continuing to suffer, you began to wonder if this year might be the last. 

Brandon Marsh - November

But for the time being, the doom-mongering was misplaced as hundreds more flew in and joined the melee overhead. With each change in direction, another strange shape formed resembling something familiar whether be a bird, shark or cloud. All coincidence of cause but I would like to think that there was some kind of plan being played out among the chaos.

Brandon Marsh - November

Before long, a steadyflow of birds streamed in to join the swirling mass of natural wonder. They were in the air for about 20 minutes as there were no raptors to pursue them. Slowly, as the sun was sinking rapidly towards the horizon, the birds began to drop into the reedbeds until there was …nothing. Stragglers were flying in and flew straight into the reed-beds. It had been an amazing display and I couldn’t wait to witness more.

Brandon Marsh - November

Murmuration the bird watchers shout Time to look up and scan aboutWhat you will see will amaze your eyes Looks like a moving cloud of unbelievable size

Brandon Marsh - November

It’s Starlings flying as one as in a hunt Open your eyes but mouth firmly shut They aren’t too careful where they let things go But the rhythmical flock will put on a great show

Brandon Marsh - November

The opening of the Starling Royal Ballet Is about to show its face upon sky’s stage Binoculars ready for the spectacle of a lifetime You can oooh and ahhh at this special showtime

Brandon Marsh - November

They fly towards you all grouped together Dividing just in time in unison as one feather They swirl and sway like dancers on ice They pirouette like lovers entwined, to entice

Brandon Marsh - November

Why does this bird who is so graceful a delight Attack other birds, continually wanting to fight Their plumage is shiny but its mind is so mean Fight to grow up, as a fighting machine.

Brandon Marsh - November

As you watch them you can forgive them most things Wonder why they fly like this, but they can’t sing Their voices aren’t good, so they can’t steal the show They need a poor blue tit, to sing for them now

Brandon Marsh - November

I can watch this happening time after time They never disappoint me, never just in a line The mass of birds will stay fixed in my head Amazed isn’t the right word use flabbergasted instead

Murmuration by Seren Roberts

We walked out quickly before darkness enveloped the reserve. We’d forgotten to bring our headlights and we don’t want to be stumbling in the dark. A Tawny owl ‘toot hoooot’ us goodnight as we walked back to the car. Bonn nuit and sleep tight my friends. It was freezing when we arrived at the casa. We put the heating on and I reheat my huge pot of chunky Minestrone soup. We’d it for dinner with shop-bought garlic bread. A sinple, hearthy meal to end a wonderful day.

  • 1 red pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 orange pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • 2 red onion, roughly chopped
  • 4 celery sticks, roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic clove, crushed
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 1litre vegetable stock
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 400g can butter or cannellini bean
  • 75 gram dried vermicelli
  • 1⁄2 head Savoy cabbage, shredded
  • 75 g frozen peas, defrosted
  • freshly grated Parmessan cheese, to garnish
  • crusty bread, to serve
  • In a food processor, whizz the carrots, onion and celery into small pieces. Heat the oil in a pan, add the processed vegetables, garlic and potatoes, then cook over a high heat for 5 mins until softened.

  • Heat oil. Add garlic and onions until slightly softened. Add peppers and chopped tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in stock and celery. Add cabbage, beans and peas. Season. Bring to the boil, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Add vermicelli. Cook for a further 15 minutes. Season to taste, garnish with parmessan and serve with crusty bread. Bon appetit.

  • Shots from Home - November