11.07 CHRISTMAS COOKIES CAN COME EARLY

...and just one more gastronomical reason to visit Spain. Maddy whipped out these seasonal anise cookies - a Christmas treat from Gibraltar.

In their candy wrapping, each cookie is a small token - a gift.

While it irks me to see store shelves lined with tacky tinsel and random christmas ware before Halowe'en has even passed, I stand firm in believing it is never too early to bring on the Christmas cookies...(and never to late to be eating Halowe'en treats for that matter...)

11.06 SPANISH OMELETTE

Maddy arrived home from a visit to Spain this evening. Somehow, I'm suspecting through Gibralter, she managed to smuggle a Spanish omelette into the UK. I think the greater feat was actually arriving here with her grandmother's home baked dish in one perfectly round piece.

It was still warm when she sliced through the smooth crust. In tact, it looked like a full moon - a light oil glistening, golden, and with darkened spots that could be craters from a distance.

It was soft in the centre, fluffy, with a hint of olive oil - I could have gobbled up the entire thing.

When the moon hits your eye its...its no big pizza pie...

It turns out its a Spanish omelette.

11.05 BONFIRE NIGHT

Its bonfire night. There's a massive pit aflame in the Forest and its drawn an equally massive crowd. Wish I had a massive stick with a massive marshmallow at the end of it.

Bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes night, is an curiously pyro-centric celebration of the November night in 1605 when a plot to torch parliament was thwarted by officials. Guy -or Guido - and his band of angry Catholics were condemned by King James I for their foiled attempt. It was a champion day in British Parliament.

The festival is actually said to be rooted in pagan traditions dating even earlier than the 15th century, when the bonfire was kindled with human sacrifice.

I'd rather be torching buildings than people. Makes the wanna-be cruisaders seem almost sympathetic.

The festival was impressive, the fireworks show remarkable. The fire, not hot enough to keep us from shivering. My friends and I stood and watched the entire show then headed up to the nearby carnival - much like a mini version of last month's goose fair...with the dizzying rides and greasy snacks.

11.04 ARCITECTURAL LEANINGS

THE LAUNCH of a unique exhibition will take place today at Nottingham’s Lace Market Theatre. Architectural Leanings is a collection of acrylic paintings and drawings by Mapperley artist Maeve W.

Her work depicts various forms of architecture inspired by buildings and scenes in Nottingham. Three of the artist’s favourite locations – London, Cornwall, and Whitby – also appear in the collection.

The exhibition coincides with the theatre’s presentation of Arthur Miller’s play The Price.
Maeve’s work is largely influenced by her own experience as a painter on set for various theatre productions.

She said: “In a way my paintings could erect as little stage settings. They give that impression – they have a knack for looking good close up, but also from a distance.”
Although she never studied art or architecture, Maeve’s fascination with drawing buildings began as a child.

She said: “There was a house with Art Nouveau tiles and they always fascinated me. I’ve always been aware of these things. I’ve always looked at buildings.”

A school teacher until 2001, Maeve still believes in the creative mind of the child. She said: “You can get good and interesting work out of children. My own art is very childlike.”
Maeve’s describes one of her favourite pieces, titled Above the Organ, as a picture of “subtle fantasy.”

She added: “It highlights the hidden but beautiful places high up in a church, above and in the shadows, where people don’t usually look.”

Architectural Leanings will be on display at The Lace Market Theatre until Saturday. All pieces are for sale along with a selection of handmade bags and greeting cards. Maeve’s work is also showcased year round at La Beaux Art on Woodborough Road.

11.03 WE RECYCLE

Doorstep recycling service is a luxury in Nottingham. Because of inadequate funding, the recycle truck only stops along a designated circuit. My house is just outside that lucky circle, although the paper truck gathers our blue bag full of old news and scrap sheets every fortnight (ahem, every other Thursday...).

Instead, to minimize my carbon footprint, I leave tracks along a mile or so to carry plastics, cans, and glass to the bins. They are all located in the ASDA parking lot which makes it easy to carry a few bags along each trip to the grocery store. The process can be tedious and the garbage piles up until, as on this day, we have to haul a mass load of goods to the bins in one go.

Still, it makes you think twice about what you buy in the shop, about the packaging of your produce and how many old tuna cans you think you can carry next time around. Do you go for the boxed ceral or the bagged oats? Plastic or paper? Paper or plastic? Neither? Neither.

11.02 THE PEACOCK

The Peacock is the local journalists hangout. It is suitably refined, with solid oak furniture, fine tapestry furniture and a dabble of leather here and there.

The place is host to the meetings for our local branch of the National Union of Journalists and it for that reason (but also because its just a hop, skip, and jump across the road from the Centre for Broadcast & Journalism which we often leave exhausted and ready for a pint after a long hard day's studies), I expect this joint will increasingly become a hangout.

After another endruing newsday to end the week, our course director Dave managed to drag himself out for a brew with the lot of us. Tonight, I managed a half pint of Directors Ale - mainly because I liked the rooster on the label. Rooster? Cock? Not sure...anyhow my subconscious yielded to the bird after walking into the door of the Peacock I suppose.

On that note, as long as I never step into a place called the 'Absynthe' or the 'Double Jagger Bomb then I should be able to hold my own...

11.01 THREESOME

Not that sort of threesome. No.

And on that note, who needs (cyber) sex when you could engage in a three-way conversation with your best friends, both situatied at what seems at times the most distant ends of the earth? Couple that with some chocolate covered strawberries and, well...it could be really really good.

If it wasn't for these occasional perks, I would probably condemn the internet for creating social isolation and enabling the most delusional of sexual predators their prey.

Not to mention it has aggravated my astigmatism and left me with an aching kink in my neck.

After tonight's conversation cyber-space may well become the next fitting location for "Birthday," (with a capital B) if the three of us are unable to physically convene for an annual mutual celebration.

Still, it could never be as good as the real thing.