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