A day in the life of a Jack Russell - Day 3: Pimping my CD

So 2 years ago due to my popularity with bands (either because I'm a cute puppy or I have a radio show) and the fact that being a Jack Russell I'm completely mental (you're not meant to say that nowadays) I got 40 tracks donated and made a double CD for which the sales thereof go to the mental health awareness charity Rethink.

Well a week on Monday (20th March) I'm in Central Library in St Helens making a personal appearance (I'll try and not wee on the bookshelves) for International Day Of Happiness and to sell copies of the CD and raise more money for the charity.


If you're in the town come and hit me up (bring Bonios) for a copy and all proceeds will go to Rethink. The CD is the dog's bollocks...and I should know as I made it...it's even got a track on it donated by (countdown) 2-4-6-8 Mr Tom Robinson.

I can only hope they make me a slice of toast or two for brekkies as it's going to be a long day.  In the meantime here's a track from the Ralph's Life CD for Rethink Mental Illness by St Helens band Stillia. It's the dog's bollocks too!




Click on THIS LINK if you want to buy the CD now!


Click on THIS LINK if you want FREE tickets for Ralph's International Day Of Happiness 
on March 20th in Central Library, St Helens from 12pm to 5pm.

A day in the life of a Jack Russell - Day 2: A short span of attention

One of the more well-known traits of us Jack Russells is a short span of attention...oh look my bone...and it's not normally a problem...oh look a ball...unless like me you've got cataracts at only six years...I'm hungry...old and going progressively blind.

Now you'd think that as I realised I wasn't seeing stuff properly I'd slow down and take my time about stuff, however, the Jack Russell gene takes over and I spent a lot of my day bumping into stuff. That being said, due to the tremendous power of my dog nose I can still find socks and slippers with unerring accuracy and carry them off underneath the dining table so they'll chase me.

So currently I've managed to knock a few minor chunks out of my head, but one of the other handy traits of being a Jack Russell is showing no fear and or a complete disregard for personal safety. So I doubt I'll ever...oh look the postman...really learn to take it easy until...oh look Mum's got a bisquit...I actually go completely blind...

Never mind all that though, here's a top tune by Glasgow band the Girobabies who have a...oh look breakfast...new album out called Who Took Utopia? and this track is the very aptly titled Secret Animal.

A day in the life of a Jack Russell - Day 1: Raisin Toast and Runny Poo

The humans have been laid up with summat they call 'The Lurgi' these last three days so walkies have been far and few between. Getting a bit kennel crazy to be honest. 


This morning they gave me raisin toast for my breakfast - what's that all about? I can only assume that's why I've got a dose of the wild shites today...serves them right when they try to scoop that up with a poo bag.

The old dear's complaining about having to wash my old bed this morning (well I did rip up the new one last week) due to all the hairs I'm moulting just now. Serves them right for putting me in the kennels in a couple of weeks time while they swan off to Scotland. They said they weren't going to shave me because it'd be too cold for me in the kennels...little do they know it's heated although the wi-fi can be a bit iffy.

Anyway, they got some kind of cruel torture device to keep the hairs to a minimum, a brush I think they called it. Can't say I'm very happy about it as it's jaggy. Still, they have to catch me first.

Thought that was rabbit droppings in my poo...might have been the raisins in the toast, ah well time for a snooze...oh crap, she's got my bed in the big white TV over in the corner of the kitchen that's only got the one programme on to watch.

Anyway, here's a tune from Brighton's Fragile Creatures...

Darkness & Decadence

Darkness & Decadence

St Helens College

Ralph's Roast Tomato and Garlic Soup

Roast Tomato & Garlic Soup

There’s no real set recipe for this as you can play about with it until you find your own best method…I wing it every time (sometimes stick in a sliced carrot or two when roasting) depending on what type of tomatoes I can get for the best price, but it always tastes great!

1kg of Ripe tomatoes cut in half

*Plum Vine Tomatoes are best however always check your supermarket for the ones that are reduced in price as the riper the better and it saves money!

1 large Red Onion sliced

1 large Garlic bulb

500ml of Chicken Stock (or vegetable if your vegetarian)

*If you make your own fine…but any good quality ready made stock is fine, I use Knorr Stock Pots if I’m in a hurry.

4 large sprigs of Fresh Thyme

*Dried Herbs De Provence or Italian Mix is fine too if you don’t have fresh herbs.

Fresh Basil to serve (optional)

Orodeal Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

1 tsp Tomato Puree

2 tbsp Orodeal Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lay the tomatoes cut-side up in a large roasting tin and place the sliced onion and unpeeled garlic cloves in whole with them. Drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle over the thyme leaves (or dried herbs) and season with sea salt and ground black pepper. 

Place in the oven and roast for 30-45 minutes or until the tomatoes have shrunk and are slightly caramelised on the outside, the onions are browned and the garlic is soft and mushy.

Once it’s cooled a little remove the tomato skins and squeeze the softened garlic out the skins. Put into a large pot with the onions and all the juices from roasting, add the stock, a teaspoon of tomato puree and simmer for 15 minutes.

Blitz (preferably in the pan with a stick blender) and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Orodeal Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Drizzle with Orodeal Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Serve with fresh Basil and crusty bread!

Orodeal

Orodeal great tasting, unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil is from the farmers co-operative in the town of Algarinejo. Grown, harvested, extracted and bottled by the farmers. Buying great tasting Orodeal supports the farmers, their families and the town of Algarinejo.
These oils have Designation of Origin - Poniente De Granada 

Click here to buy Orodeal Oil & Olives

Almond Raisin Cake with Madeira

With the impending return of The Great British Bake Off, Ralph's dusted off his easy baking recipes to share with you all and help you avoid the palaver they have on the telly.  All the recipes will be quick and simple to make and we'll be starting off with this delicious Almond Raisin Cake with Madeira (sweet or medium sherry's OK too), perfect for afternoon tea!


It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook, so it's as easy a baking recipe as you could ask for, but delivers maximum flavour and serves 6 to 8 people (if you can bear to share it).





Ingredients:


250g raisins
200ml Madeira
150ml thick natural yogurt
150ml vegetable oil
3 fresh local eggs (in-keeping with The Egg Award ethos)
140g plain flour
100g ground almonds
2 tsp baking powder
100g light muscovado sugar
icing sugar, to serve

Method:

Tip the raisins into a bowl, pour over the Madeira, then leave for at least 30 mins to soften. 

Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/ fan 160C/gas 4. Lightly grease a deep 20cm round cake tin, then line the bottom with a circle of greaseproof paper.

Mix together the yogurt, oil and eggs. Put the remaining dry ingredients into a large bowl, pour in the yogurt mixture, then stir together until smooth. Scoop half the raisins out of the Madeira, then stir into the batter. 

Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with a spoon. Cook in the oven for 50-55 mins until the top springs back when pressed lightly and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.


Then take the skewer and prick all over the cake. Pour over 5 tbsp of the soaking Madeira and let it soak in. 

You can make up to this point 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container. Serve warm or leave to cool, then dust with icing sugar. 

Warm the rest of the soaked raisins and Madeira, then serve alongside the cake with some vanilla ice cream.

This cake keeps really well so you can make it at least a day in advance. If you want to warm the cake before serving, put it back in its tin, cover with tin foil and set in a 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 oven for 10 mins.

Just in case you've forgotten, here's Ralph's easy home made ice cream recipe..... 

Ingredients.....

• 4 fresh local eggs (in-keeping with The Egg Award ethos)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 140g caster sugar
• 300ml pot double cream

Method.....

Separate the eggs. Beat the yolks and and vanilla extract with an electric whisk until light and foamy. 

Clean the whisk, then in another bowl whisk the egg whites, gradually adding the caster sugar until it's
thick and glossy, a bit like making meringues.

Lightly whip the double cream until it softly holds its shape. Mix with the yolks and egg white mixture 
until everything is combined. 

Turn into a container, cover and freeze until solid. 

Take out of the fridge about 10 mins before serving.

Really Easy Beefburgers

Ralph's decided to share his easy and tasty Beefburger recipe and they're so easy the kids can make them, plus they're extra tasty and they freeze well.  

From start to serving they'll only take just over an hour to make, perfect for when the kids get a hunger attack!



Ingredients:

• 500g pack lean minced beef , preferably organic
• 1 tsp mild chilli powder
• 4 slices mild cheddar , if you want to make cheeseburgers

• 4 burger buns
• choice of lettuce , cucumber, gherkin, tomato and red onion
• ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise , or all three!

Method:

1. Flavour the meat: Put the meat in a mixing bowl, then sprinkle over the chilli powder and a little salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands or use a fork. The mild chilli powder gives the meat added flavour without making it too spicy.
2. Shape into burgers: Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces, then shape with your hands into round burgers about the width of the buns, or pack the mixture into large presentation rings (if you have them) placed on a chopping board. You need to press down on the meat to compact it, then carefully lift off the rings - a bit like making sandcastles.
3. Now get cooking: Fry the burgers on a hot griddle or grill them outside on the barbecue for 5 mins on each side, turning them carefully with a metal spatula. Take care as hot fat from the meat may spit a little.
4. Top with cheese and toast the buns: If you want to make cheeseburgers, put a slice of cheese on top of the burgers when you turn them over and let it melt while the other side cooks. When they are ready, cut the burger baps in half and warm them in the toaster or on the barbecue - take care that you don't burn them.
5. Prepare the toppings: Meanwhile, prepare the toppings of your choice. Separate the lettuce into leaves. Then, using a sharp knife, thinly slice the tomato, cucumber and gherkin on a separate board to the one you prepared the burgers on. Peel and finely chop the red onion.
6. Assemble and enjoy: Spread a little mayonnaise, American mustard, ketchup - or all three if you like - onto the toasted buns, then top with your burgers and salads of your choice, followed by the remaining half bun.

Townhouse Miami.....Style and substance.....

Please note this is not a current offer.....
it's only on because it looks like me!

Where better for some sunshine
than Miami!

Now Ralph's a pretty cosmopolitan dog and likes a nice hotel as much as the next Jack Russell so when it came time for him to chose a Pied à Terre in Miami the obvious choice was the stylish yet comfortable Townhouse.  Conceived as a refreshing and inviting beach house, Townhouse offers accommodations and lodging with a playful combination of modern design and old-fashioned comfort at unassuming prices.  Perfectly situated in the heart of South Beach and only a few steps from the beach, Townhouse serves as an ideal hideaway for a weekend getaway or an extended retreat.

Originally built in 1939, with 69 rooms and 2 penthouses, Townhouse was creatively re-envisioned by Parisian designer India Mahdavi.  Her understated approach to design resulted in a timeless mix of Art Deco and modern hospitality.  It has the look and atmosphere of a boutique hotel without the boutique prices!

They offer a complimentary Parisian breakfast daily and complimentary coffee and tea throughout the day. The serene Roof Top garden is ideal for all day sunbathing and relaxation. Bond Street Lounge, Miami's outpost of the famed New York sushi restaurant is open daily from 6PM to midnight and available for in-room dining.
You can experience in Townhouse, a comfortable and creative alternative to the ordinary. A place where you are just steps away from the ocean and all the best of South Beach - where history and design come together. Relax, rejuvenate, enjoy vibrant nightlife, and the spirit of South Beach. Make Townhouse your home away from home.

The BONDST sushi is overseen by former chef de cuisine of LeCirque of New York, Andy Choi.  If Carlsberg made sushi chef's the Andy would probably be the best in Miami. 



 Items inspired by the restaurant’s New York City flagship include:

• Chilean Sea Bass Skewers
• Spicy Tuna Rolls with Chili Mayonnaise
• Fresh Sundried-Tomato and Avocado Rolls with Garlic Ponzu Oil and Green Tea Salt
• Lobster Tempura Rolls with Yellow Tomato Dressing and Chive Oil
• Sesame-Crusted Shrimp Rolls with Orange Curry Dijon

Hey...don't forget the beach is just
opposite the hotel if you want to chill!

So if you're planning a trip to Miami and looking for a stylish hotel with an outstanding restaurant that wont break the bank head for Townhouse. It's an absolute,  'under the radar' budget gem which is ideal for the European traveller, especially with the family in tow.  It's opposite the beach for the kids and next to the famous Lincoln Road Mall for mum while dad can spend some time relaxing with a Margarita on the fabulous roof top terrace.  The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff attentive and the surroundings stylish.  In fact it's so de rigueur there's every chance you might find yourself in the middle of a Hollywood Movie.....location scouts from around the world have put the Townhouse high on their list. When photographers and film-makers need a Miami Beach location with fresh and inviting interiors, exteriors, and proximity to the beach, the Townhouse provides a collection of superb backdrops.

The Rooftop Terrace.....during the day, a comfortable hideaway for sunbathing, relaxing, and enjoying a gentle ocean breeze.

At night, a staple of the South Beach scene with full bar/lounge on the weekends.

• 
  

Rochdale Dog Rescue.....and how we can help.

Bruno

The third in Ralph's features on the plight of animals in general and dogs in particular takes him to Rochdale and a visit to The Rochdale Dog Rescue Centre.  Pat Crabtree established the rescue in 1975 when she began helping unwanted dogs in the Rochdale area. These dogs were either in foster homes or their own homes needing new owners, and Pat began by placing advertisements in the local papers. Over time this developed, with more dogs being helped in this way.

In 1993 Coryn Shields lost her own dog (Sam the Boxer) to cancer, and when she felt ready to re-home a rescue dog she answered one of Pat's adverts. Two year old Bruno was suggested as a suitable match, and an introduction followed; it was love at first sight. A special bond was formed and Bruno became Coryn's new companion.

Having seen the good that Pat was doing Coryn offered to help if she could ever be of use.

Jake

Little did Coryn know that just a few hours later she would be driving around in the dead of night hunting for a missing dog with Pat, and another new friendship was born. Thanks to Bruno bringing them together Pat and Coryn worked together for two years, developing Rochdale Dog Rescue and re-homing more dogs in Rochdale and the surrounding areas, and in 1994 Coryn added to her family with Zara, a bitch who'd come into rescue heavily pregnant having been found as a stray.


In 1995 Pat moved out of the area, and Coryn took over the day to day management of re-homing.

As time went on, Coryn was contacted on occasions by a local Dog Warden, asking for help to save a dog in the pound who had run out of time. Although this was not a regular part of the work of Rochdale Dog Rescue, Coryn realised that there was a whole group of dogs whose plight she had previously been unaware of, and between 2004 and 2005 she began to develop a relationship with this particular pound.In March 2005 a formal link with the pound was formed, and Rochdale Dog Rescue began to offer help for all of the dogs reaching the end of their 7 days.

The team developed too, with new volunteers joining Coryn to take on other roles. In January 2006 the website became live and Rochdale Dog Rescue in its current form was born.

Please help.....

Rochdale Dog Rescue are currently facing a very uncertain future during this current economic climate as they receive fewer donations and have to pay more for our emergency boarding - their account is currently in the red and it is a real struggle each month to cover their costs for the dogs we have in their care let alone to continue to save more dogs from the pound - monthly bills are often close to £2000.

The number of dogs coming in is ever increasing as more people abandon their dogs, causing them to struggle to pay the bills and they anticipate that things will only get worse - the summer holidays can be an especially bad time as uncaring owners really do abandon their dogs before the holidays not seeming to care they are at a real risk of being put to sleep if it was not for organisations such as Rochdale Dog Rescue.

Rochdale Dog Rescue are there for all the dogs who find themselves abandoned and alone, they work really hard to save the dogs in the pound who face being put to sleep and we never turn a dog away regardless of breed/age/health/temperament. These dogs come in all shapes, ages and sizes and all of them deserve the chance of a safe future and to be loved.

Bertie

The number of dogs in boarding has steadily increased as the dogs in their care will stay with us for as long as it takes to secure a rescue space or their forever homes - like lovely Bertie who has been with them for a while patiently waiting for a rescue space or loving home and they'll continue to keep him safe but need to raise vital funds in order to be able to do so.

Sadly there are just not enough funds to guarantee the security of these dogs until their rescue space or forever home arrives.

They don't like to ask our generous supporters and visitors for more, but unfortunately unless they do so the future of the dogs in the pound and emergency boarding will be uncertain; there's a real danger that they'll run out of funds! 

It costs us £5-8 a day to board a dog ..... and of course the dogs receive any vets treatment they need as well as being neutered, vaccinated and microchipped if they are with them for longer or being re-homed directly by themselves.... no donation is too small to help them through these difficult times.

There are many ways to help them raise funds in addition to donations. Please take a look at their Fundraising Forums for details on these and other ways to help.

If you are able to donate or even set up a monthly donation the button below will directly take you to Paypal. Donations can also be made by Cheque or BACS please contact them for more details.

 

Payment Options

Option 1 : £5.00GBP - monthly  Option 2 : £10.00GBP - monthly  Option 3 : £20.00GBP - monthly  Option 4 : £30.00GBP - monthly  Option 5 : £40.00GBP - monthly  Option 6 : £50.00GBP - monthly  Option 7 : £60.00GBP - monthly  Option 8 : £70.00GBP - monthly  Option 9 : £80.00GBP - monthly  Option 10 : £90.00GBP - monthly