Hello and welcome to the May edition of TheBAY Magazine.
Learning curve
This month sees us entering our 5th year of business, which is quite an achievement given that we set up in the middle of a recession. It’s been a learning curve for everyone involved and I would never be as complacent as to believe that we know it all – even now. What’s fun about producing the magazine is the amount of information that comes in to the office that is new and interesting – we hope you agree.
Step by step
Tatiana Bento is in teaching mode this month with her step by step instructions on how to dispatch and prepare a brown crab. I have been put off preparing this tasty crustacean mainly because of things like the “dead man’s fingers”, but Tatiana assures me that there is nothing deadly or poisonous in what is actually the crab’s gills – they are simply tough and indigestible. If you don’t want to do the dispatching, you can buy a freshly cooked crab from the market and prepare it yourself.
Summer time
Many of our contributors are getting into the swing of summer – Chantele has some seasonal fashion advice for men, or maybe that should be fashion advice for women who buy for men. In the garden both Fulke Andel and Angela are playing catch-up following the unseasonably chilly start to last month. I hope that by the time you are reading this that the weather will have improved considerably. Of course one of the down sides of the arrival of summer is the sneezes and itchy eyes that affect all hay-fever sufferers. Dr Chris Johns has some advice on medication that might help alleviate the symptoms.
Moroccan Magic
In March I escaped the wintry chill and visited Marrakech with my sister. It was the first time we had ever ventured off on our own and it was with a little trepidation that we chose a city where women do not have the same freedom that we are used to in the west. However, I can report that Marrakech is a perfect place to visit no matter what your gender. It is a magical city with its souks and markets, snake charmers and peddlers. So ladies, next time you are planning a shopping trip with your girlfriends, why not try this exotic location?
To get you in the mood for Morocco, Sean Bird has a recipe for a spiced vegetable tagine. Tagine is the name of the pot that the dish is cooked in, but if you don’t have one a casserole will do.
Danger Lily
I received a heart breaking email from a lady last month. She wanted to spread the word on how dangerous all types of lily are to cats as she had recently had to have her much loved cat put to sleep following poisoning from lily pollen. Geraint Jones gives us an insight into this and other plants that are toxic to animals. Every pet owner should read it.
And finally...
This month you will find your last chance to enter our Brisco Williams barbecue competition. Just answer the simple question to be in with a chance to win a super portable barbecue – just right for taking down the beach when summer arrives. Also, on page 89 we have a new competition for you to enter. Chai Tearoom and Delicatessen in Newton Road, Mumbles are offering afternoon tea for two with a “bottomless teapot”. This sounds about as reliable as a chocolate teapot but simply means that it will be refilled until you’ve had enough!
Enjoy May and we’ll be with you again in June.
