We’ve been binging on Downton Abbey recently. It’s cheaper and healthier than other addictions and there are no banging headaches in the morning. So thank you Lady Mary. Helena reckons it’s now the highlight of our days. That doesn’t mean that the rest of our life is really dull. It just means that Downton is really rather good (and better than expected). We’re a bit late to the party and I confess I did snub it when it was first aired on TV. Why would I want to watch a load of pompous people mill about in a big stately home?
I’ve never been a big watcher of soaps. But I can see how people get addicted. It’s a good thing Downton isn’t on once a day, or I’d probably be losing an hour a day to it for the rest of my life. Neighbours, Home & Away or Downton Abbey, how would one decide between these masterpieces of television.
Our Health Visitor came round recently and gave us a new parent questionnaire. ‘Do you drink?’ She said.
‘No. No, not really,’ we said.
‘OK, do you take any substances?’
‘No.’
‘OK what is it you do for fun?’
‘Watch Downton Abbey.’ Actually that’s not true, at this point we didn’t know this would be a new addiction for us.
I recently finished George Mahood’s book “Did Not Finish” (his book ‘Free Country’ is hilarious, if you like childish humour like me). In this new book, George runs marathons and fuels himself with pork pies and grated cheese sandwiches. Not your standard runner’s diet, and it gets him a lot of strange looks from his running companions. He explains that by grating the cheese in the sandwich, you take it to another level versus plain sliced cheese. So I thought I’d give it a try.
‘Would you like a grated cheese sandwich?’ I asked Helena
‘How is it going to be any different to a normal cheese sandwich?’ She said. I explained to her the concept of texture, after which she politely declined. Her loss. By grating it, it does take it to another level. Now I’m thinking, what else should I be grating! I’m not sure I can go back to plain cheese sandwiches.
Downton Abbey and Grated Cheese Sandwiches. Try them. You just might like them.