Butter pie victory!

May 18, 2013 by CATH

I have been searching for a 100% genuine Lancashire butter pie for ages, Andy and I go to the county frequently for live music and gigs but we’ve failed in our hunt for the mighty snack over the last year, as I mourned here and here.

But this morning, we triumphed!

We went to Preston to see one of our favourites Vic Godard & Subway Sect at The New Continental on Friday night. The Continental is a gastro pub with live venue attached, a very good set up. We had food and a glass of Rioja before the show:

Cheers!

The venue is a fine one indeed, Vic and the band played some new stuff including from the soon to be released next album. If you haven’t had the pleasure of Subway Sect live then I really do recommend you check them out if they’re playing near you. Andy & I have seen them loads of times over the last couple of years, and love them.

Vic!

We bought some grand stuff from the merchandise stall, good and sturdy mugs for a good and sturdy brew:

Swag we bagged

This morning on the way home we meandered around for a bit until our train arrived, just on the off chance we’d come across a shop selling butter pies. Butter pies if you don’t know, are made simply of potato, real butter and pepper all wrapped in a delicious crust. I know they sound incredibly bland, but I assure you no, they are beautiful and bring back childhood memories of Mum telling me to nip to The Cottage Loaf, a bakery around the corner to us, and pick up some up for a sneaky treat. Comfort food, indeed.

Andy and I had a couple of disappointments today (Greggs, get with the script – the people of Preston need you) but we stumbled upon Greenhalgh’s and there butter pies were, all warm and butter pie-y.

They only had two baked and ready, or else a whole shelf full would’ve come back with us.

So delicious. It’s the butter, you see.

I am now content, on the butter pie front anyway. Now, for my next challenge…

@cathbore

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Blackburn. Not Tony.

May 12, 2013 by CATH

When I was seventeen and at sixth form college in Leyland struggling through my A Levels (why I chose Geography as a subject is still a mystery to me), the NUS organised a coach to a club in Blackburn called Peppermint Place.

I’d never been to a club before. You may mock this, but I lived in a tiny village in rural Lancashire with one bus passing through each hour. At 5pm sharp everything closed come what may and the buses cut off dead. No compromises, at all.

There was nowt going on there. A club in the midst of that would have caused a riot, which on reflection may have been a good thing.

The night we went to Peppermint Place I decided to join in the party atmosphere. Martini, I thought, that’s a cool drink, isn’t it? It’s what James Bond has. I’ll just drink from the bottle on the way there like you do with lager…

I was sick all evening, my head in the toilet at Peppermint Place, with mid 1980s chart music chiming in my ears.

That has been my enduring memory of Blackburn for the last two decades.

I made a return visit to Blackburn this week, to join Dodgy for an ‘intimate afternoon’ at BBC Radio Lancashire. They’ve just kicked off their ‘Back To Back’ tour and are playing at a town near you over the coming weeks.

I expected Radio Lancashire to be dust covered and dark – I don’t know why, don’t ask – but it’s a shiny new building and the afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Afterwards, we had a scoot around Blackburn. Peppermint Place now long gone, we found Cash Converters and a sex shop - next door to each other.

The town had two retail outlets with pun names nothing short of magnificent:

And the pun award goes to…Tie The Knot and Soft Sell Computers

No sign of Lancashire delicacy the butter pie on sale anywhere in Blackburn, I was gutted about that so my search continues, but Andy & I went to a local Wetherspoons for some fish & chips, they were delicious.

I didn’t have any Martini, though.

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@cathbore

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I’m turning into a hippy

May 11, 2013 by CATH

Well, maybe not.

But despite my many protestations to the contrary I’ve been caught out as a tree hugger not once but twice, within the space of a month.

My knitting and crafting group The Twisted Stitchers were asked to take part in Up For Arts’ craftbomb initiative, aimed at promoting traditional crafting skills. We’ve spent the last weeks making repairs to the tree we did for Threshold Festival back in February:

I hug our beloved tree…first Threshold Festival, now Up For Arts at The Bluecoat Arts Centre!

and made a brand new mural for this week’s event:

Twisted Stitchers’ new piece, on display at The Bluecoat in Liverpool

Both are on display at The Bluecoat on School Lane in Liverpool, in the courtyard and garden respectively, until Sunday 19th May.

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@cathbore

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The cupcake walk

May 5, 2013 by CATH

More people fell out with me over my Beware the cupcake mafia piece last year than about the cost of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral just weeks ago. It was a culinary and cultural hot potato, if you will.

I’m aware my intolerance of the dessert might border on pathological at times and my friends often mock me, as well they should. I need to move on from it, really.

I will get it over it soon I promise, but last week I went on a cupcake walk through Liverpool city centre. That is, I was meeting a friend and took snaps of everything cupcake related, en route. (If I’d gone into town SPECIFICALLY to look for cupcake stuff then even I would worry.)

I got off the bus by Merseytravel, and what did I spy in the window?

Merseytravel. Well known traders in cupcakes. Apparently.

Then I walked past the bedding/curtain shop on Williamson Square, the one with the closing down sale lasting for the past three years, and saw this delight hanging up by the door:

I bought one. Obviously.

In the cake shop by Liverpool Central station, apparently a normal cake isn’t enough for a christening, you need a cupcake garnish:

Blue, for a boy. Or an Everton supporter. Who knows?

If you’re a desperate fan, why not spend £250 (yes, two hundred and fifty QUID) on cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. (what is a multiple of cupcakes called? A sugar rush of cupcakes? Any ideas?)

“Raise your glasses, ladies and gents. The bride and groom are about to cut a cupcake.”

I know what you’re thinking, apart from ‘Cath’s gone bloody nuts and she needs to get out more’, and that is I’m not being fair. Of course a cake shop will have cupcakes.

Fair enough.

In reply, may I present Primark’s contribution? This was my favourite item of cupcake branded crap. In the window of Primark, it looks like a saggy boob:

I have no words.

You know my views on cupcakes. You really do.

I’m not about to insist that everyone who squeals over a cupcake is forced to buy a copy of Spare Rib when it comes back (I’m not that far up my own backside on this), but please have mercy on me. Please?

@cathbore

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Liverpool Lit

May 4, 2013 by CATH

Someone asked me last week about the Liverpool writing scene, and was I part of it.

The truth is, there isn’t one. Most Mersey writers I know sit in their houses and write, just like ones from everywhere else. Busy, busy, busy.

I read once, Liverpool has a highest concentration of musicians than any other city in the UK, and it wouldn’t shock me to learn it’s the same with us writers. We are everywhere and the city has mountains of literary stuff going on, always.

It’s been a jolly week writing event-wise, for me. On Monday I was the compere for a heat of Pulp Idol, Liverpool’s unpublished novel competition. New writers read out work and answer questions from a panel of judges.

The Wirral heat of Pulp Idol 2013 (L-R Judges Luca Veste & Caroline Smailes, heat winners Nicola & Ashleigh, and third judge David Jackson)

The Wirral heat of Pulp Idol 2013 (L-R Judges Luca Veste & Caroline Smailes, me, heat winners Nicola & Ashleigh, and third judge David Jackson)

We had an excellent night full of great writing, and laughs.

This weekend boasts a three day marathon reading of Moby Dick at Liverpool Maritime Museum, organised by the University of Liverpool’s Dept of Continuing Education. I read Chapter 18, ‘His Mark’ this afternoon.

I didn’t know all participants were getting a certificate, but as soon as I found out I made sure I got mine and no mistake. It’s going on the wall in our loo at home. (Moby Dick, whale, water, see?)

I got me a certificate!

We all know reading out loud is thirsty work, so afterwards Andy and I went to The Grapes on Mathew Street for a couple of cheery drinkies.

Jolliness all round.

@cathbore

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Cock-ups this way, if you please

May 2, 2013 by CATH

I don’t like to write about creative writing on here, the reason being I reckon there are more than enough blogs on the subject to keep the earth turning for a good while yet. I cover the crap that happens to me, and the crap I do to the world. I’m never short of material.

But a writer I am and I don’t deny it, except in respectable company.

“My name is Cath and I’m a writer’”…”Hello Cath”

I’m fine tuning my latest book at the moment before I send it off to my agent. Because I’m the type to just write what’s in my head (you might have noticed that, reading this…), then fix inaccuracies later I’ve found some truly mighty howlers as I fine tooth comb my work.

This week, I found:

“I chose my rods carefully.”

“The wheels rolled over him with a gentle bum.”

“It smelled of leather and lemon furniture police.”

Of course I stumbled across lots more but will keep them close to my bosom for now. Even I have my pride. Some, anyway.

I comfort myself with the notion that at least I can remedy any clangers before anyone becomes too aware of them, unlike two major British broadcasters who came out with some glorious punch-the-air-with-sheer-joy classics these past days.

Four Rooms : “How much do you want for your box?”

Trust me, you can’t afford it mate.*

BBC Breakfast : “There’s nothing like the personal touch of a police officer.”

It’s all part of the job.*

(* denotes my IMMEDIATE response, without stopping for air)

Thank you, BBC and Channel 4. I think I LOVE you.

@cathbore

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I’m a (Reading) Tree hugger!

Apr 28, 2013 by CATH

This week, Liverpool’s In other Words literary festival kicked off. As well as the more structured events, there are a number of Reading Trees around the Liverpool ONE shopping centre. The idea is, you can have a nice sit down and read one of the books from the shelves in each Tree.

I climbed up and hugged one of the Reading Trees…

Then I saw this…oops

I for one think this is the best idea a literary festival has come up with for a good while. It’s free to use and you can take one of the books away with you, as long as you leave one in its place for others to enjoy.

A recycled read, if you like.

I’m just sorry the Reading Trees will be going next month, if they were permanent how ace would that be?

@cathbore

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Liverpool ONE Reading Trees

I slay my chorizo demons

Apr 26, 2013 by CATH

With most meats I’ve got a memory of what they taste like from when I was a kid. Chicken, ham, beef, lamb, I’ve scoffed them all.

Chorizo though, I never sampled. My mother did the cooking in our house and made very basic stuff. She didn’t have the healthiest appetite, and saw food as essential fuel rather than something to savour.

Chorizo if she knew what it was, would be in a forbidden class of food viewed by her as ‘foreign muck’ or ‘too fancy’. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t short changed as a bin lid, but have wondered what it tasted like.

Illogically, I’ve sometimes been angry at the Spanish sausage, getting irked at recipes on the internet or in a restaurant menu masquerading as a veggie dish only for closer inspection to reveal they contain bloody chorizo.

I spied some veggie chorizo today, in Mattas the international food shop on Bold Street in Liverpool.

I’ll have a bit of that, I thought. It’s time to put a ghost or two to rest.

The sauce, bubbling in the pan…

I made a basic pasta sauce with two fat garlic cloves (actually, I lied. I used three) and basil. I put mushrooms in too. Before adding the chorizo, I sliced it and put it in a heated oven for ten minutes, just to give it a bit of texture.

…the full dish, sprinkled with cheese (what else?)

I loved the smoky, rich taste of the chorizo in a tomato sauce, with pasta! Andy liked it too (“It’s nice this, Cath” without me prompting ie fishing for compliments).

I’ll be making this again, soon.

@cathbore

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Pulp Idol – 2012′s judges return!

Apr 24, 2013 by CATH

I’m compere / hostess with the mostest at the Wirral heat of the Pulp Idol unpublished novel writing competition next Monday, and I’m so made up to announce last year’s judges Caroline Smailes and David Jackson are making a very welcome return too! They’ll be joined by new boy on the judging block, Luca Veste.

(L-R) David Jackson & Caroline Smailes last year – and David & Claire who were chosen to progress to the Pulp Idol final in 2012

The heat takes place on Monday (29 April) from 6-8 pm at Hope Place, 259 Woodchurch Road, Prenton, Wirral CH42 9LE.

New writers from Merseyside will read 3 minute excerpts from their work and be gently yet firmly probed by our judges afterwards. Verbally, that is. Caroline, David and Luca will choose which writers are to progress to the final, taking place in Liverpool city centre next month.

It’s free to get in so why not join us on Monday?

@cathbore

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The MASC is off!

Apr 21, 2013 by CATH

Do you remember those annoying list programmes that were so trendy on telly a decade or so ago? They had lists on everything, Top 100 Sitcoms. Top 100 Films, Top 100 Cheeses, Top 100 Cupcakes, Top 100 of the top hundred lists…

They did get ~~mind numblingly boring~~ rather tiresome after a while but one I did enjoy, unexpectedly, was 100 Greatest Musicals.

It was broadcast on a Bank Holiday Monday, so it was raining of course and when it came on I sniffed hautily at first.

Musicals? MUSICALS? I hate musicals!

But then the countdown began.

Seven Bride for Seven Brothers. Howard Keel!

West Side Story. Natalie Wood!

Sound of Music. Oh my word! Maria is making clothes out of curtains!

…and the rest.

By the end of the countdown, I decided that no, I’d been talking nonsense all these years and I was born to sing! Well, the first bit is true but the second, not so much. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. A good quality musical, not a cheesy one (I count ALL Lloyd Webber’s attempts as ghastly stuff) is grand stuff indeed.

I was made up to be invited to the launch of MASC, a new musical theatre group in Liverpool, yesterday afternoon at The Actors Studio. A collection of real Merseyside talent (I believe one member is from Manchester, but they can be honorary Scousers for the time being), this cluster of creatives has been around for some months .

Andy and I were invited by Natasha Hodge, who directed a musical I wrote, last year. A super talented lady, she can sing too. I’m not jealous. AT ALL.

With Natasha Hodge at the MASC launch at Actors Studio, Liverpool

With the MASC team after the performance. Andy is photobombing, top left!

At the launch, MASC treated us to a broad collection of songs from musicals and yes they did include a song from Chess but we’ll let that one go. For now, mind. FOR NOW.

It’s boss to see so much talent in the city and surrounding areas, in a cracking little theatre right in the city centre.

I loved the quote on their leaflet “In an era of austerity we are looking to bring the joy of performance back to Liverpool”.

WELL IN.

I can’t wait to see a full production by MASC soon. Doing Liverpool proud!

Find out more about MASC here.

@cathbore

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Crime writing – and George & Mildred

Apr 19, 2013 by CATH

The first time I went to Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, I rang Andy up in a state of excitement after just a couple of hours.

‘You’ve never guess who I’ve just seen!’ I gasped.

‘Who?’ he asked. I could hear him roll his eyes on the other end of the phone line.

‘George Roper from George & Mildred. In the bar.’

Even Andy had to declare himself impressed with that one.

Before you say owt of course I know George Roper isn’t real (sadly) and it was actually Brian Murphy the actor who played him, but nevertheless the excitement was substantial, and sums up the festival really. You never know who you’ll end up sharing a lift with. Last year’s surreal ‘what’s he doing here?’ was Malcolm Tucker from The Thick of It.

A parallel universe, truly.

I went to the launch of the 2013 festival last night, in the British Library in London. The Festival itself isn’t until July, but we were treated to exclusives about what this year’s line up will be.

The goodie bag!.

Val McDermid, Steve Mosby, Mark Billingham and myself raise a glass to 2013′s Harrogate programme, announced last night

This year’s Festival looks the finest ever, with Sarah Millican interviewing Lee Child on stage, and Jeanette Winterson in conversation with Ruth Rendell. Brenda Blethyn will be there too, talking all things Vera, plus Kate Atkinson, Charlaine Harris and many more.

If you’re going, please say hello. It’s such a friendly festival.

No news yet whether George Roper will be there this year, but I live in hope…

@cathbore

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I’m a wild woman. I AM, goddammit.

Apr 17, 2013 by CATH

After seeing a play last night, my pal Suzy and I went for a drink.

“Let’s have a Jagerbomb,” she says.

I must admit here that I thought a Jagerbomb was a type of bath bomb, one of those things you throw in making the water all nicely smelly and fizzy so you can have a good soak.

But, no. A Jagerbomb I came to find out, is not that. At all.

We bumped into a friend on the way.

“Oh no,” he says. “You’ll be up all night if you have a Jagerbomb.”

What piffle, I told him. I’m from Chorley and I’m hard.

Me being all smiley, with mine (& Suzy’s) Jagerbombs

Suzy and I went into a Wetherspoons.

Suzy: “What’s in a Jagerbomb?”

Barman: “You won’t like it.”

Suzy: ‘Yeah, but what’s in it?”

Barman: “It tastes horrible. And you won’t sleep all night.”

Suzy: What IS IT THOUGH?

Barman sighs.

Suzy: “How much are they?”

Barman: “Two for a fiver.”

Suzy and me: “Two jagerbombs please.”

PS I slept like a corpse.

@cathbore

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A fitting tribute

Apr 17, 2013 by CATH

My friend Suzy and I went to the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool last night to see Down Our Street, a musical about the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead.

Before we went into the theatre, Suzy suggested we go and see the new permanent Hillsborough memorial unveiled over the weekend.

I really wanted to see the memorial, but not on Sunday at the unveiling and Monday on ‘Hillsborough day’ as I saw both for the families and friends of those killed and injured. It’s their time, not mine.

So I was made up to go last night.

On the side is the saddest roll call of all, the 96 who passed away, plus a heart stilling poignant passage.

The figures carved into the outside of the memorial are of people helping, holding.

There were three men by the memorial last night, two of them stayed back while their friend stepped forward, resting his hand on the head of one of the figures. He closed his eyes, bowed his head and his mouth formed words. He didn’t say his prayer or thoughts out loud and instead just stood there, in his own private moment.

Then he nodded as if satisfied and walked away with his pals, none of the three saying a word.

It was beautiful.

@cathbore

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Things I realised this week #3

Apr 15, 2013 by CATH

Watching The Voice on telly this week, Tom Jones mentioned he met Elvis. Wow. You’d think he’d have mentioned it before now, wouldn’t you? He kept quiet about that one.

Spring is well and truly here. I saw my first bee of 2013 yesterday, he looked a bit groggy and sleepy but that’s only to be expected really.

There is no such thing as a ‘late’ Spring. What people really mean is that it’s a short and/or crap Spring, depending on what the weather holds for us in the coming weeks.

Basil tea helps calm butterflies in the tummy and you can use sage to clean your teeth (thanks to Channel 4′s Sunday Brunch for that gem)

In my corner shop, boxes of Swan matches are £3.05 and Happy Shopper ones a mere 20p. This is because the former are made by magic swans. It’s the only reason for the price disparity I can think of.

Andy described a dish on Masterchef as ‘courageous’. Am not sure whether to be pleased, or devastated.

I can no longer pretend I know how to pronounce ‘meme’, by waving my hand confusedly with the excuse ‘those internet chain letter type things, what are thay called again?’ I’ve been rumbled, but I don’t care if we’re being honest. It’s a foolish word.

I was quoted in this piece by Jerome Griffin.

@cathbore

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Suspended coffee

Apr 13, 2013 by CATH

When I first heard the phrase suspended coffee, I had a weird image in my head of a cup of joe suspended in the air by magic forces. Was it a promo thing for a new Harry Potter book, maybe?

No, is the answer.

A suspended coffee I came to learn, is a way of helping those who can’t always afford a hot drink, to have one. You go into a participating outlet and while you pony up for your own brew, pay for a suspended coffee. The café or whatever takes your money then when someone in need is after a tea or coffee then they can have one.

In Liverpool, The Brink on Parr Street is part of the suspended coffee revolution.

Me, at The Brink! With a brew, no less

The Brink supports those in recovery, and any profits go back to helping more people live drug and alcohol free after they’ve had addiction issues. Suspended coffees there will be passed on to clients and other vulnerable people, if they can’t afford to get one themselves.

Gourmet Coffee at Exchange Flags is taking part too, so there’s at least two suspended coffee participants in the city centre alone.

Go, Liverpool!

Liverpool company Pencil Trick Productions did a short film about me last year recorded at The Brink, it’s a bit out of date now – so much has changed in the past 12 months! – but you can view it here, if you wish.

@cathbore

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