IT’S TIME FOR ME TO ‘FESS UP!

 

 

 

(From late afternoon Thursday, 24^th March until shortly after 11 am Friday 1^st April I was without phone and internet service.  It was very, very, very frustrating…to say the very least!)

 

Totally out of control, five or six years ago I went on a crime rampage…a wild spree.  In an effort to clear my conscience, I am now owning up to my wayward ways; getting the guilt off my chest before you rush off to dob me in.  I’m confessing before I get handcuffed and carted away. 

You can put your phones down!  By “crime spree”, I mean I was hooked on crime novels.

I became hooked on books about crooks written by leading authors who weren’t crook in the writing department.  For example, novels written by Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Colin Dexter, James Patterson, Stieg Larsson, Michael Connelly,  Jonathan Kellerman, John Grisham, Elizabeth George (of course…gotta keep it in the family, so to speak), Lee Child (a girl can’t help it!)…to name a few.   

Lee Child’s character, “Jack Reacher” became a firm favourite of mine.  I can’t say similar about Tom Cruise playing Reacher in the movies. I refuse to watch the Reacher movies. I feel it would be criminal to do so.  It is the worst…or best…example of miscasting I’ve ever heard of, or not watched!  I’m not Cruise fan, anyway. I don’t watch his movies.

In Lee Child’s books Jack Reacher is 6ft 5ins tall (195.58cm).  Cruise is ‘supposedly’ 5ft 7in (170cm) tall…spot the difference?  Cruise is right out of reach to play Reacher, in my opinion. He most definitely doesn’t have the frame to play Reacher.  More suitable for the role is 6ft 2in (188cm) Alan Ritchson who plays “Reacher” in the TV series.  Ritchson is built like a brick outhouse!

Michael Connelly’s Detective Hieronymus (‘Harry’ to his friends) Bosch became a favourite when I began reading “The Black Echo”, which was Bosch’s debut. Jazz-lover Harry (we’re friends now, which allows me to call Bosch “Harry”) went on to fight crimes in a further 20 novels. Bosch has featured in his own TV series of the same name.  I became a fan of the series, too, and have just completed Season 7.  Eagerly I await the next season...Bosch begins on a new path…

Not able to get enough of Detective Chief Inspector Morse, I buried my head in Colin Dexter’s books until I turned the very last page of the very last novel.  A worthy endeavour it was.  John Thaw’s portrayal of the cynical detective in the television series was brilliant.

I’ve never read any of Caroline Graham’s series of stories about the escapades of Chief Inspector Barnaby, but I have watched the televised versions, “Midsomer Murders”. I’m presently doing a re-run of the series via streaming. 

In early 1986 I had the good fortune of meeting John Nettles, star of both “Midsomer Murders”, and the earlier British crime drama, “Bergerac”.

The encounter occurred when I was manager of the Cape Richards resort on Hinchinbrook Island.   Nettles and his then girlfriend, Sue, who was a London nurse, were guests at the resort for a week,  He was a nice, quiet, unassuming fellow. John Nettles had no airs or graces about himself.  I’m not sure if the island break broke up their relationship, but down the track a bit John married someone else.  Interestingly, his first wife, Joyce, whom he married in 1967, and divorced in 1979, became a casting director on 23 episodes of “Midsomer Murders”.  Coincidentally, Barnaby’s wife’s name in the series was “Joyce”.

Stranger things have occurred; many of them in the fictional English county of Midsomer!

The blame for my interest in crime novels falls solely on the shoulders of Enid Blyton.  It’s her fault!  Ms Blyton started me off on my insubordinate, inquisitive path. At an early age I became obsessed with her “The Famous Five” and “The Secret Seven” books.   Regularly, in my back yard, my friend, Rhonda and I got together to re-enact the entertaining Blyton stories, solving all mysteries our young imaginations allowed.

The chickens watching on in guarded silence from their coop were annoyed by our behavior, but their clucking and scratching about didn’t deter us.

There you are…I’ve cleared my conscience, and I feel much better for doing so.

 

Garlic Honey Chicken: Heat 1tsp x-virgin olive oil in pan over med-heat. Add 2c broccoli florets and 1c thinly sliced carrots; cook 4mins, until tender; then remove from pan; cover, set aside.  Wipe pan with paper towel; turn up heat; add 1tbs olive oil. Season 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1cm pieces; add to pan in single layer; cook 3-4mins per side until golden and cooked through; add 4 minced garlic cloves; cook 30secs; add vegies back to pan; cook 2mins. In bowl, whisk together 1/4c chicken broth, 1/4c soy sauce, and 3tbs honey. In another bowl mix 2tsp cornflour with 1tbs water. Pour soy mixture over chicken combo; cook for 30secs; add the cornflour; bring to the boil; cook 1min, until sauces begins to thicken; serve immediately with rice, if desired.

Honey Mustard-Glazed Chicken: Preheat oven 220C. In roasting pan, toss  500g angle-sliced parsnips, 500g quartered potatoes, 250g carrots, cut into 2cm pieces, 1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges, 2tbs olive oil, 5 sprigs of thyme and 1/2tsp salt. Roast 15mins. Place 4 small chicken thighs and 4 small drumsticks (chicken, of course) in single layer over vegetables. Sprinkle with 1/2tsp salt and 1/4tsp pepper; roast 15mins. In medium bowl, whisk 3tbs Dijon mustard, 2tbs whole-grain mustard, 2tbs honey and 1tbs brown sugar. Drizzle all over chicken and vegetables. Roast 25mins, or until chicken is cooked, and vegetables are tender.