Blackened Chicken

12 chicken legs and thighs (a mix of the two is good)
1 bulb of garlic (yes really)
A punnet - couple of handfuls worth - of cherry tomatoes
Rosemary and Thyme (dried is fine as its going to be cooking a long time)
Honey (couple of large table spoons)
Salt& pepper to season
Lamb stock cube (trust me with this one)
Olive Oil - 4 tablespoons
Tamarind - 2 teaspoons (you don't really need this - I like it though)

Heat oven to 120c
Put the chicken thighs and legs in a large mixing bowl
separate the segments of the garlic bulb but leave unpeeled
Throw in all other ingredients, get your hand in and mix

cover loosely with tin foil and put in oven for about 5 hours (if you do this in the morning to come home to turn oven down to 100 - should be fine for 7.5 hours at this with foil on).
After 5 hours check the chicken, take off the foil and turn oven up slightly (about 180c). You will find a lot of sauce in the bottom of the dish - drain it off into a separate pan.
Boil some new potatoes and add to the sauce you just drained off - make sure they are fully covered in the sauce and stick those back in the oven with the chicken.

To be honest this is a real get your hands dirty and do what you want with it recipe but the trick is really in the cooking time and the lamb stock cube (honestly mixed with the honey its amazing). Cook it for as long as you can and make sure you drain off the sauce for the last hour for gravy or to do something yummy to the potatoes or you'll have soggy chicken and this is hands only food.

Money and responsibilities

On Friday I was called by the new temp agency I joined about a post being offered at the British Dental Ass.

Now the reason I currently do temp work is so I can finish on a Thursday and clean Friday mornings, do all the stressful things we used to take up our weekends doing and then go and get the boys in time to be home again around 7pm (without being caught in the rush to leave London and get some clean air with everyone else). Adam is having some problems at the moment, at home as well as at school. He is bullied psychologically at home by the stepmonster who rarely acknowledges his presense and because his father doesn't want the confrontation he won't raise this with her. The last time he did she got up and took their daughter (the boys sister) with her. And at school it is the usual things but particularly difficult for Adam living in Chav Town where it can get nasty.

So I discussed with Adam who wants me to take it because we need the money, thing is we don't NEED the money, it would be nice but we don't need it. I asked Adam to call me if he arranged to go out with any friends over the weekend so I would feel confident in saying yes to an interview and not being able to collect the boys until a saturday morning. Feel safe in the knowledge Adam has a life outside waiting to see me and the minor deity every weekend. No text.

He says this evening though that this is fine with him but I might not be there and don't want to give up the little extra time I might have gained in being able to make a positive difference in their lives. Help help. Best thing I guess s to wait and see what happens, I may not get past hte first interview and until that time theres not much point worrying.

100 sexiest men poll - 2007. Number 92

Oh dear. Poor Rupert. I know he doesn't really take any notice of this but being in such a self involved, immodest industry where looks count for an awful lot it must be a little galling to be in the same 10 as Simon Cowell and Chris Moyles (who I personally think should be higher up the list).

Anyhoo - this was supposed ot be all about me and Rupert already thinks I am a stalking freak weirdo only interested in his girlfriend. SO I shall leave that one ther and no mention of it again.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha - beaten by Jason Donovan