It’s all very calm and peaceful at Norwich airport. I like it here. And there’s free wifi, so I can type on the iPad rather than have to tap away on the phone.
I’m going to Maastricht to visit my friend Irene for a few days. Extra help is in place at home so that all jobs are covered, so I can relax and not worry about things.
Charlotte, who grew up in the Netherlands, was helping me last night, when I was trying to find out the name of the delicious, chewy spiced gingerbreadish food that I remember from my childhood. It seems most likely to be TaaiTaai, which translates as tough-tough because of its chewiness, but there is a possibility it’s Speculatius. Charlotte doesn’t think so, because that’s German in origin. The other thing she and I both love – and so do Ronan and Eloise – is salty liquorice. I have to say, I’m travelling very light, with a small piece of hand luggage, so there’s a limit on how much I can buy. I think I’ll be ok with a carrier bag in addition, though, or else I’ll just wear all my clothes in layers. The forecast is 25° then 17° so I can’t just have the clothes I’m wearing.
Anyway, while I’m away I hope to have a bit of free time, morning and evening, as Irene needs to rest a lot. I have assured her that I am very good at entertaining myself, going out and exploring or sitting with my iPad at home. So it’s my hope that I can, at last, start to catch up on other blogs.
Pleased you’re having a change of scene. Have a good time.
Have a great time!! xxx
Thorner Lebkuchen ? Also called Honigkuchen or Pfefferkuchen, close to the Nuernberg variant, but different. Speculatius as I know it, is more crunchy, another dough, a Mürbeteig (Sorry no idea how to translate this correctly ; the dictionaire says something like “short pastry”, but I have no idea & do not understand it).
Enjoy your travel, return safe.
Short refers to the fat content – whether butter, lard or whatever, it’s called shortening in this context. So short pastry, or shortcrust as we usually call it, has a fairly high fat content (though not as high as puff pastry, which has as much butter as flour and is rolled many times, so that it bakes into layers)
Safe travels, Z. Have been thinking out you.
Sxxxx
Have a wonderful time.
Salt liquorice is popular in Sweden, so if you have problems getting it in Holland, daughter Ruth would be glad to send you some. Have a nice break.
Love, Mike and Ann.
That’s really kind, Mike. Irene and her sister Erica were surprised to hear I love salty liquorice, it seems that it’s not usually popular with the British.
Thank you all, I’ve been looking forward to the break.