Christmas in Walworth 2011

So Christmas was in Walworth again this year. It involved a goose, a lot of alcohol, Christmas pudding with brandy butter, more alcohol and then airline blankets.... it was a hoot. While I went black tie, Julian went Paul Hollywood, then slipped into his uniform as Captain of the HMS Pinafore. There were also board games and cocktails, resulting in a very slow moving Boxing Day, awesome.

New Year's Eve trifle, Walworth style.

This is the trifle I made before Julian, Cres, Rachel and I went to the Cambria pub not far from Camberwell Green to ring in the new year of 2012.

Layer one - cake soaked in brandy and then some fruit from the allotment smashed into jam.

Custard next.














Then jelly...



















Followed by cream and topped with flaked almonds and fresh pomegranates.

KER-CHING!!! The perfect feast before setting out on New Year's Eve to get drunk.

So here we are, having eaten the trifle and now at the Cambria. At this point we've not seen Ruby Venezuela. She appeared like a giant blimp draped in fabric with a giant turban resting on her head. She sat at the top of the stairs then didn't move all night.

Here's Cres, before her man attracting perfume drew the men in like flies to honey. She was fighting them off with a stick, or Julian's arm, which is rather stick-like.

What a pile of crap!

A giant pile of manure arrives at the allotment, it's the biggest pile of shite I've seen in a long time.

And here's Julian with a selection of prime quality vegetables grown in the allotment. We discovered these little gems when we were weeding, they had escaped the spring and autumn harvest... not sure how.

A new look for summer?

Julian trying out his new summer look, the blouse of Gok Wan. It's definitely for him.

Not sure what look James is going for here, but I think it could be inspired by the West Country and cider farms.

Me, trying out some hot new shades and a hat, Julian claims I looked like N-Dubz, I don't think he knows who N-Dubz are.

Julian's birthday, hiking in Spain/France holiday and the fruit and vegetables of the 2010 allotment.

Julian eats cake for his birthday. Emma Messenger looks on with interest.Julian Hugo Walker, the birthday boy gets ready to blow the candles out on the cake decorated by Oss with an outdoor scene on the cake. It was delicious.

The view over the lake in Spain, I think this was day 3.After the hiking, Julian buys food in Biarritz.
A very sound of music view, again in Spain.
Apples and tomatoes from the allotment.
The plum tree on the allotment, it's the dream.

A new, brighter day dawns across the dreamscape that is Walworth...

That's right, our prayers have been answered and Morrisons opens on the Walworth Road.

Julian was on hand to help celebrate and cut the ribbon. He was the first in there to bag the bargains of 80 rolls of toilet paper for the price of 40.

There's a whole aisle devoted to Yorkshire puddings AND icecream, how brilliant is that.