Jan Leeming - The Official Website

CHEETAHS AT SANBONA GAME RESERVE

30th June 2009

Last year my son and I had a short sojourn at Sanbona Game Reserve - roughly three hours traveling East of Capetown.  It comes under the same ownership as Shamwari - where I took part in the BBC 2 Series 'Safari School' (training to be a Game Ranger).

Shamwari is North of Port Elizabeth - either a very long drive or a flight - so Sanbona is almost on the doorstep.  It's quite different from Shamwari and I enjoyed it very much. Sanbona is a newer Game Reserve and not quite as well stocked as Shamwari but it's more difficult finding the game which I think adds to the excitement of a Safari.  They had some eighteen month old Cheetah Cubs and after a lengthy trek we finally found them shortly before they would have gone over a hill and disappeared into deep undergrowth.  I took some video pieces and now Stuart (my website creator) has put them into the Gallery for me.  I hope you will enjoy them.

 

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

LALINDE - Aquitaine Region of France

27th June 2009

A couple of weeks ago I had a short break staying with friends at Lalinde near Bergerac in the Aquitaine region of France.

Being of Huguenot extraction and revering Eleanor of Aquitaine, I was very excited when a family member - who'd been tracing the family history for 20 years (before the advent of the Internet) - told me that there was a possibility of a slight, very slight and tenuous link between our family and Eleanor.  Sadly it didn't prove to be the case.  My son and I made a 'pilgrimage' down through France a few years ago because I wanted to visit places associated with Eleanor and particularly Fontevrault  Abbey in which Henry 11 had her briefly 'incarcerated' and where she ended her days.   Theirs is a very interesting story - initially a love match between the young Henry and the much older Eleanor - which turned sour predominantly to do with family politics and, of course, Henry's dalliances with young ladies.  Their stormy relationship is well depicted in the excellent film 'Lion in Winter' starring Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole.  Eleanor was a woman ahead of her time - highly intelligent and involved in the power games surrounding the succession. Towards the end of her long life (she was 82 when she died - an amazing age for a person living in the 12^th Century) she took the veil and died at Fontevrault which is near Chinon in the Anjou Region of France.

Although the whereabouts of her remains within the Abbey  are uncertain (they may have been destroyed during the French revolution) you can see the tombstones of Eleanor, Henry 11 and their son Richard the Lionheart.

The friends I visited have retired and bought a delightful Perigordine Farmhouse which they are renovating with great taste.  The house is beautifully situated on the banks of the Dordogne - the kind of river I love - wide and shallow in parts where it bubbles over the rocks.  When my family and I holidayed in Provence, I always loved crossing the beautiful Dordogne as we approached our Holiday Home.

My friends were extremely busy sorting out their house and garden so we didn't do too much sight-seeing.  However, market day in Lalinde is a must.  I always used to visit the markets in Salon de Provence and Mallemort and the Lalinde one was equally as good with high standard goods, live music and a sophisticated Parisian Café-style atmosphere.           

They kindly devoted one day to sightseeing in Issegeac - an absolutely delightful Mediaeval Village bordering the Dordogne and in the Lot et Garonne Department.  It was a feast for the eyes despite being a miserably wet day and being Monday virtually everything was shut.  There was only one little Café open - Le P'tit Treille but they served one of the best Magret de Canard that I've ever tasted - and despite their Frites being somewhat larger than one expects of the French, they were a culinary delight.   I rarely indulge in 'Chips' but these were superb.

On another day we visited some more friends who've bought and are renovating a very old house in the tiny village of Cause de Clerans - the view from their back garden is a superb one of an old Fortress type Castle.  One part of it is inhabited by a Dutchman who has undertaken the upkeep of the ruins. They are open to the public very occasionally but, unfortunately, the opening didn't coincide with our visit.  See pic. of the Ruins.

The weather was not the best during my brief visit.  Wish I'd taken my driving licence and could have explored more and also wish my stay could have been longer but I had to get back for some work.  I do so love France and only wish my French were fluent.  When Jonathan and I had our little holiday in 2002, he made me do all the talking despite his having an 'A' level in French.  He argued that with my good accent, my hand waving and despite speaking predominantly in the present tense, people understood me better than they did him.  Either he was being complimentary or lazy!

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF

12th June 2009

CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF

The current series began transmission on 10th June and my 'episode' was shown on the first programme.  We recorded last December so in many ways the programme was a distant memory.

I'm glad I took part - it was an interesting challenge though there was no way on earth I stood a chance of winning - my cooking is fairly straightforward and no nonsense.  My favourite cuisine is French and I'm not really into all the modern mixtures - for example I cannot bear the mixture of Fish and Chorizo which is all the rage.  Why kill the subtle flavour of fish with a highly spiced 'sausage'?  Being a big fish eater, I've had several meals in the last few months where the delicate flavour of the fish has been lost under some heavy sauce.  Good fresh fish requires little in the way of 'dressing'.  In fact I have my own take on Lobster Thermidor and Neuberg - I think the recipes were invented to disguise the fact that the Lobster wasn't fresh.  When I'm in South Africa I can obtain Lobster (they call it Crayfish) at a reasonable price and fresh out of the sea.  There is no better way to eat it than steamed for a few minutes and then served with a salad and new potatoes - Heaven!

In Masterchef - there are three sections - a Mystery box - where you have to invent dishes in very limited time - Cooking in a  Professional Restaurant - and making a two course meal in one hour.  Doesn't sound difficult but when I give a Dinner or Lunch party, I've usually made the Starter and Dessert in advance so the actual timing is not an issue.

My favourite part of the whole experience was working in the Professional Kitchen - in the Restaurant Pearl nr. Holborn.  The Building was the old Pearl Assurance HQ - and what a fantastic building it is.  It's now a superb hotel with the gorgeous restaurant called, of course, Pearl.  The building is all wood and marble and a feast for the eyes.

Of course the programme was edited to highlight our 'mistakes' and the two chefs give no quarter.  Strangely enough almost the only praise I was given was for a dessert that I 'invented' - a Plum Fool which I concocted to offset the richness of my main course Pork a la Creme and something which wouldn't take much time and would have a lot of colour.  I always try to get some colour onto my plates.

As the Plum Fool was my invention I can give you the recipe with no fear of copyright.  It's simple and very effective especially if you can get the Red plums which are red fleshed throughout - good colour for the table.

Plum Fool

1 lb red skinned Plums - ripe if possible.

Zest and juice of Pink Grapefruit

Honey to taste

1/4 bottle Red Wine

Crème fraiche

Grand Marnier

Chopped Pistachios for decoration.

METHOD

Cook plums with Grapefruit juice and zest , Honey and red wine.

When soft, lightly liquidise (leaving the mixture bitty)

Add 2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier

Swirl in Crème Fraiche leaving a marbled effect and transfer to Stemmed Serving Glasses.

Chill in fridge for an hour.  

Serve decorated with a swirl of Crème fraiche topped with chopped pistachios.

I'm away next week so there won't be any news but maybe there'll be a lot to talk about when I get back.  Going to stay with friends down in the Dordogne near Bergerac.  Maybe it's because of my Huguenot ancestry, but I simply adore France and would love to go and live there.  My french is passable but not good enough for Dinner Party conversation and can you imagine trying to deal with a Call Centre in French - I can't even understand the accents of half the Call Centre Operatives in the UK.

Eh bien.  A Bientot.  Jani

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL FUND BANQUET

7th June 2009

John and Amanda Romain (Aircraft Restoration Company - of which John is the MD and Chief Pilot) have invited my son and me to a Banquet at the Royal Air Force Museum, London, in aid of the Bomber Command Memorial Fund.

John invited me to this function a couple of years ago and very enjoyable it is too - not only  interesting people from the World of Aviation but one dines amidst the display of all the old and new Aircraft.  I originally met John when wingwalking at Shoreham and he offered me a flight in one of his Spitfires - to be linked to a Charity.  It's an experience I would absolutely love to have, so  am hoping that we can arrange something this year possibly with a Charity of which I'm a Patron - Fight for Sight.

If I were younger and more technically minded, I'd love to learn to fly.  However I am very fortunate to have had the experiences I've had over the years.

I've flown with The Red Arrows - in display at Scampton

Flown in Helicopters and many small planes.  Was actually allowed to take the controls of a training Aircraft at RAF Leeming - a Bulldog.

Flown with The Blades (Aerobatic Team - all ex Red Arrows)

Wingwalked - strapped to a Boeing Steerman - part of the Utterly Butterly Display Team

Skydived (inTandem) at 14,000 feet over the Queensland coast in Australia (one of the Trials in I'm a Celebrity .............)

(When in Capetown I'm often taken to the Stellenbosch Flying Club where some of the members have very interesting light aircraft and we all talk shop!)

So a flight in a Spitfire would be simply GREAT.

Until I write again.  Take care.  Jan

For those of you who click on to read about Cheetahs, I've asked Stuart (who designed my Website) if he could put up some more of my videos of Cheetahs at Sanbona Game Reserve - so watch this space! 

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

WALKING WITH MY IPOD

7th June 2009

Undertaking my constitutional  has become much more enjoyable now that I've discovered my Ipod.  I used to think it would be stupid a woman of my age walking along with two little things in my ears.  However, I really don't care what I look like, my walks now are so much more enjoyable.

BUT - the walks are spoiled to a great extent by all the detritus left on the Pebbly Beach.  As soon as we enjoy a few sunny days, so the rubbish piles up.  I simply do not understand the selfishness and thoughtlessness of those who take their Picnics and Barbecues to the Beach - eat their meals - and then leave behind the empty containers, plastic bottles, cartons etc. and so forth.  They carried the stuff to the beach so why can't they take the 'empties' home with them - the weight is considerably less as they've consumed the food and drink.  Last Monday, I even saw a couple of plastic bags, full of rubbish, weighed down with Pebbles.  Do they think the Refuse Fairy is going to come and take it away?  You can't walk three feet without seeing a carton, a plastic bottle, a discarded portable BarBQ tinfoil tray etc. and so forth.

Sorry to sound like an Old Fashioned Whinger, but my generation were taught Respect for Authority and Others and that included thinking about the welfare and enjoyment of others as well - which includes not playing your music too loudly, not fouling the pavements and beaches to destroy the enjoyment of others.  We wouldn't have dreamed of discarding rubbish in the streets or on a beach.  At school we were forbidden to eat whilst in the street - it was Detention if you were caught munching a sweet.  The only time I was allowed to eat in the open air was to have an ice-cream if we had a Day outing to the Seaside.  I was in London a few weeks ago and couldn't believe what a nation of 'Grazers' we've become.  People in smart office clothes were 'munching and drinking' as they walked along the pavements.  No wonder we've got such an Obesity problem when people constantly graze like Cattle.  Your stomach needs time to rest and digest in between meals.  The stomach is like a balloon - the more you fill it, the more you want.

Alright - I'll climb down off my Hobbyhorse!

But Back to Food!!!!!!!!

The new series of Celebrity Masterchef commences on BBC 1 at 8.00 pm this Wednesday - 10th June.  It's gratifying to see the series mentioned in so many periodicals. In most they've used a picture of me - not a good one I'm afraid. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy the programme more than I did appearing on it - only kidding - it was nervewracking but a challenge and all in all I did enjoy the experience, especially cooking in the Professional Kitchen at Pearl Restaurant.  The Restaurant in part of an hotel created from the old Pearl Assurance Building.  And Wow - what a building it is - marble everywhere, real woodwork - a stunning piece of architecture.  The restaurant is lovely and I hope one day to go back there and have a meal - it's a special occasion sort of place.

I've also been asked to talk about Masterchef on the BBC Breakfast Programme - don't think I've ever been invited onto it before so that should be fun - except for the early start.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.