August 2017 - Week 2

Monday 7th to Sunday 13th August 2017

Monday we shopped and worked. For dinner Sam roasted a chicken with sweet potatoes. After dinner, despite Heat Wave Lucifer, I thought I would go for a walk. But going outside from our air conditioned flat was like walking into a steam room. I managed only a few blocks, far enough to peer into open doorways at sweaty people watching TV and to hear a part-time singer at the St Paul’s Bay Hotel doing a pub singer version of Black Magic Woman. I should have stayed in.

Tuesday Sam and Tina went to Armier Bay for the day and had three long swims. The sea temperature is over 30°C at the moment but apparently they found cool patches by swimming far out. I worked and chilled. For dinner Sam made stuffed peppers.

Wednesday I went to Xemxija Café for a cappuccino. Normally I walk there – that takes about 25 minutes – but Lucifer is still with us so I drove there. For dinner we had goat cheese and vegetable pizzas.

Thursday Sam went for another swim with Tina. I went to the Donut Factory for an excellent cappuccino then bought some fresh bread to go with my freshly made pinto bean, pepper, tomato and chilli casserole. Another favourite vegan dinner!

Friday Sam had a rib eye steak with salad. I brined a chicken for four hours, then doused it in a freshly made BBQ sauce. I covered it and baked it for 1 hour 20 minutes. It was fantastic! Just that and a bowl of salad; a pretty perfect meal.

Saturday we went for a drink in the square. We then went to House of Spice. The trouble is, it doesn’t matter how quiet or busy they are, there is only ever one lady serving and she works at a snail’s pace. Tonight there were only three other tables occupied but after 15 minutes we still hadn’t had a drink or a poppadum and the writing was on the wall. So we left and went to Portobello Pizzeria instead for fantastic pizzas. For pudding we had ice cream from Sotto Zero.

Sunday I worked all day, building a new website. For dinner I had a mixed salad with chicken and hard boiled eggs. I have to say, the eggs were perfect. I put them in a small pan, covered them with cold water and bought it to a boil. Then I turned the heat down and simmered them uncovered for six minutes. I immediately drained them and cooled them under cold running water for several minutes. Then I peeled them and chilled them in the fridge.

This may seem like a bit of a palaver just for hard boiled eggs. But let me tell you, when I peeled them and halved them I soon saw just how perfect they were. The whites were set but soft and not at all rubbery. The yolks were perfect; set but soft and only just cooked in the centre. And there wasn’t even the slightest hint of discolouration of the outside of the yolk. Put simply, they were perfect hard boiled eggs that couldn’t possibly be improved!

Sam went her own way with dinner. She had spaghettini with oil, chilli, garlic tomatoes and olives. And there’s a woman who claims to be avoiding carbs!