Comply or Die

Last year, D--- from the office organised the sweepstake for the Grand National. Horses were picked blindly for those who wished to participate. I landed Comply or Die, which felt apt to me at the time. He didn't win, but he was one of the few who made it to the finish line.

This year, horses were again drawn randomly for those wishing to participate. For the 40 plus people taking part, the name draw was almost as exciting as watching the horses speed round the track. Well, more so for me as I didn't actually watch the race, being tied up elsewhere. Anticipating the draw, the name matched to my own was Comply or Die. What are the odds of that happening!

I now feel like he's my horse.

I have learned that  he has now retired, which is good news for a healthy 12 years old race horse, particularly in light of those two tragic deaths that were unsympathetically - and I think irresponsibly - denied a mention during the race.

As a former National winner, it is encouraging to hear that his groom is keen to see him live the rest of his life without sustaining injury, and after earning more than three quarters of a million pounds in his racing life, I think he is deserving of the rest.

My horse confirmation slips from 2010 & 2011

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I bloody love the smell of hot extra virgin olive oil! It's just so delicious! Think of it on the base of a frying pan, ever so slightly more runny than when it oozed out of the tipped bottle, with that golden shade, ready to welcome the bacon.

And then there's that delightful sound that follows! It's more of a crackle than a sizzle. Tiny little crackling sounds that become more fierce every time a fresh piece of chopped bacon hits the base.

It makes everything taste more delicious and can only do good things for you. Fatty? Non. Not in my books.