ManicMammy’s Blog

Photo from C4.

This is the second series of the Bear Grylls survival guide but the Sahara, Part 2 was the first episode I’ve managed to catch.

It began with Bear being dropped from a low flying helicopter in the desert, continued with his meeting a Berber tribe and many tips of what to do should you find yourself stranded in the Sahara. The highlights for the 8 year old were the protein sources that Bear ate throughout: the sand beatle, goat’s testicle, horned viper, camel fat and Sahara frog. All cringe-inducing but very entertaining from his point of view.

He was stunned as he watched Bear skin and clean out a camel and then demonstrate how he could climb inside its carcass and use it as shelter in the event of a sandstorm. I had no idea the water from a dead camel’s stomach was drinkable, that a camel has three stomachs or that oleander bushes are poisonous and that they can contaminate nearby streams with their sap.

I thought the snake tracking was interesting and also the descent down the sandstone rockface to reach the valley floor in search of water.

Despite the obvious going for shock value aspects of this episode, we did find it entertaining and educational. Whereas Ray Mears bushcraft series goes along a similar vein, I felt this one was going for a wider audience, less detailed and more sensationalistic to an extent. To be fair, it did have my 2 sons captivated so no doubt we’ll be tuning in for the rest of the series on channel 4 on Sundays at 8pm.

We’re now halfway through this series and I’m really enjoying it. I’m a fan of the normal Apprentice series, both the American version with Donald Trump and the British version with Sir Alan Sugar. This is the seventh series of the US version and the contestants are all celebrities.

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of some of them prior to the commencement of the show. The ones I had include Lennox Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, Piers Morgan, Stephen Baldwin and Gene Simmons. The others include Carol Alt, Tito Ortiz, Marilu Henner, Trace Atkins, Nely Galan, Vincent Pastore.

Its been very entertaining. The usual initial split into men versus women teams: Empressario and Hydra and then the week by week tasks with one celebrity from the losing team being eliminated each week. The winning team’s project manager earning money for his/her chosen charity. So far the women’s team has been doing dreadfully. Many of them just fading into the background whilst the loud, more assertive team members took over. So the teams have now been mixed up as too many women have been fired.

As could be expected with so many egos in one place competing, there have been fireworks when personalities clash. Piers Morgan, the former UK tabloid paper editor and lately TV judge, has tended to be in the centre of the majority of the rows. Firstly Vincent Pastore, the Sopranos actor resigned because of him, then actor Stephen Baldwin and lastly previous Apprentice contestant Omarosa refused to work on the same team as him. But to be honest I’m tending to be on Piers’ side in these arguments. The others are tending to be a bit precious of their “celebrity” status which he pretty much disregards.

The tasks have tended so far to mostly involved selling: hot dogs, broadway tickets or advertising: creating a adopt a dog ad, crocs and a living window for Vera Wang and Serta.

In the beginning KISS frontman, Gene Simmons really shone and he was very funny and entertaining. It was a shock when he left. Trace Atkins I had never heard of before, a country singer and he’s very laid back. He seems to be a really decent fellow and has avoided conflict so far whilst getting the job done. Omarosa is the villain at the moment but who knows, maybe this will change over the next few episodes.

Looking forward to seeing what tasks are next and who ends up triumphant.

I bought a selection of wines recently from James Nicholson Wines Online as I was bored with the usual selection in my local off licences and supermarkets.

I was interested in particular in some Californian, Chilean or New Zealand Pinot Noirs and also some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I was pleasantly surprised by the range of new wines I hadn’t previously encountered: Saintsbury Pinot Noir, Mudhouse Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, Forrest Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The website is relatively straightforward to use and it is easy to find a particular wine or to browse country, type and price ranges. Wine prices range from €8 to greater than €1000 and everything in between, so you can suit your own budget. You can make up your own case of 12 or more bottles and delivery is then free.

This was very efficient as it arrived the next day. The website also has sections describing latest arrivals, special case offers and theres a wine club too.

I am looking forward to tasting the wines already delievered and to revisiting this site again.

Oscar bought this lego pack for himself last weekend.

He recently got back into playing and building with lego and so after much of his imploring we headed into the Art and Hobby shop in Douglas Court shopping centre last Saturday. He’d saved €30 odd euro. This set immediately caught his eye and was reduced to €36 from around €48 so he was sorted.

Its been excellent fun since. You can build three different vehicles and he chose this one first.

Each vehicle has its own “how to build” manual which gives step by step instructions of parts needed and where to place them. Its quite easy to follow and it occupied much of his free time since he purchased it. The model builds bit by bit and is quite intricate by the time you finish: doors open, bonnet lifts to reveal engine etc. It takes patience and perseverence but the excitement built as he realised how much he’d accomplished.

He’s looking forward to trying the other 2 vehicles when he demolishes this one.

I have always loved lego, its one of those brilliant toys that is completely reusable again and again. Whether following details plans and instructions or going freestyle and just using your imagination, its excellent and versatile. This set is going to be used over and over by Oscar and all his younger brothers and sisters. Well worth the money. Would definitely recommend.

I bought this Nintendo game a few days ago. I had been interested to see if I could get a Bridge game for the DS and alas this is the one game I’m not too enamoured with. I had to abandon playing it as it was way too simplified in bidding and play conventions and there appeared no way to amend either.

However, since abandoning the Contract Bridge game, I’ve enjoyed many of the others on offer. 5 card draw and Texas Hold ‘em Poker, Blackjack, Chess, Checkers, Dots and Boxes, Grid Attack, Soltaire, Mahjong Soltaire to name the few I’ve played so far.

All fairly basic versions but good fun. The 8 and 6 year olds have also been borrowing the DS and playing them too. Its a good way for them to learn the basics of so many standard board and card games. Their current favourites being “I doubt it” which we knew as the card game “cheat”, Old Maid, Memory, Poker, bowling, darts and checkers. They’re also interested in learning the basics of chess and backgammon.

Overall, its a good puchase if you want an extensive range of standard card and board games in one handy place which is portable.  WiFi can also be used to play up to 7 friends too or to play online. However the standard of the games is fairly basic which was disappointing.

I confess I had been disappointed with the first regional final last week of this TV series. None of the dishes greatly appealed to me and some in fact did the opposite. But this week its the turn of Angela Hartnett and Stephen Terry to compete in the four course cook-off to see who’ll go through at the end of the week to represent Wales.  So I tuned in hoping for better.

So far so good, I haven’t been disappointed. The first evening dealt with starters. Angela opting for a more complicated and technically challenging Quail Ravioli and Stephen going for a simplier approach of Asparagus, cured ham and goat’s cheese sauce.

photo credit: Michael448

Their approaches to cooking seem to be totally at odds with each other, Angela having prepared and tested her dish on numerous occasions whereas Stephen admitted to trying his dish for the first time that evening. The banter was entertaining and both dishes looked very appealing though I agreed that the ravioli was perhaps too large a dish for a starter in a four course meal. I thought the crispening of the asparagus by quickly deep frying the stalks looked interesting.

The following night though for me has been the highlight, both fish courses looked fabulous. I would have gladly devoured either. Angela presented Pan-fried Pollack with curry spices, fennel, confit tomatoes and onion pureé. Whilst Stephen went for smoked salmon, organic salmon, crab and cockles served in three different ways. It looked divine.

My only minor quibble with this series this week is the amount of repetition that takes place. Every evening the same introduction etc etc. Much the same as occured in Masterchef. Thankfully it helps that we have Sky+ and can fast forward through the worst of it. I have the rest of the week’s episodes to look forward to and of course the climax on Friday when all dishes will be presented to the judges and the winner of this round announced.  At this stage I really don’t know who I want to win. Its a pity one of them has to lose. Both preferable to last week’s contestants. Maybe there should be a place for best runner up in the finals?