As Blessed as Sleep Itself

My good friend Tom introduced me to this soft, felt-and-cellophane gem of a movie directed by the french enfant-mirable Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It is a soft-centred but bittersweet exploration of creativity, child-like states, responsibility and the double-edged sword that is the world of dreams. Imagine a Woody Allen Film made by Truffaut drunk on Bailey's Irish Cream and you would be nowhere near. It is intensely french yet has the whimsy of a Belle & Sebastian Album. Indulge and dream.

Mingus Ah Um

I haven't felt this way about a Jazz album since I bought "Blue Trane" 10 years ago. The opening track "Better Git It In Your Soul" is a thundering mash of gospel and blues with handclaps and primal shouts. Why can't all Jazz sound like this? Mingus is an obese, pugnacious genius, singing on the double bass and like an immense lark, leading his sidesmen up into a ragged, melodious heaven.

Pickle

At the weekend, Autumn acolyte that I am, I made my own breed of chutney, a kind of mutant branston I call "Bramley-Balsamic Pickle"

Take 500g (peeled and cored) of english cooking apples and chop roughly. Put in a large pan. Add a roughly chopped medium onion, 50g sultanas, 250g brown sugar, 250 ml dark balsamic vinegar and 100ml water. Pinch of salt and pepper and 1/2 a deseeded chilli. Add spice to taste (teaspoon of cinnamon and clove should do it) and bring to the boil. When the mix boils turn down the heat, cover 3/4 with a lid and simmer for 40 mins on medium. When it is pretty gooey reduce until a sticky, chutney like consistency is reached. Add scalding to pre-sterilised jars (i.e., wash, scald then dry in a warm 140 degree oven - lids too!) Lid immediately without touching the inside and invert to scald the lid. These will be perfect in 3-4 weeks. Keep in the fridge once open and eat with english cheeses, apples and celery.