Bentwater Roads: Pagan Recipe Book

Sweltering, that's the only word for it, sweltering. The tent was like a sauna with the thermometer turned up high. Parched and drunk on the heat I stumbled out of the tent where I'd had a rough night on the hard ground, feeling a mixture of achy tiredness and Ray Miers cockiness from doing such ‘manly' things.

Water, Tea and Coffee was drunk in abundance and then Silki suggested a swim at a nearby reservoir. With trunks on and still a little heat dazed we piled in Max's car headed to this idealic spot, where a german bomb during world war one had created the ideal swimming hole. 

There was a man sat fishing illegally but we all decided to ignore each other. The water was sublime in its refreshing iciness. We had races from one turn in the creek to the bridge. Silki tried to goad me into testing the depths of the swimming hole, playing on my over developed sense of competition ‘no one has ever managed to touch the bottom' I was tempted but I also didn't want to get caught down there - you know, it would ruin the show being one actor down and all.

We found treasure at different depths and then headed back to camp/ Bentwaters for a wonderful breakfast of freshly brewed coffee and a special salad I made with Apples, Cucumber, Pistachio Nuts, Halved Grapes and a dressing of garlic, onion and crème fresh. It was nice, trust me. Muffins with butter, vegemite and avocado ala Silki, also very nice though a hard to believe combination of foods. Then we scrambled up some eggs and feeling very well fed, bloated like baby walrus', we headed off adventuring and found the abandon jet planes, went for a drive through the woods and were stopped by a very intimidating warden.

Back to camp again and resting in the shade as the day got even hotter. Then a bit of madman's basketball, as in mad to be playing in this weather. Another lively and exciting performance of the show. Trina sneaking in to see it a second time.

Noel from the community chorus who is our ‘master drummer' I guess you'd say, had brought in a joint of lamb, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes and wrapped them in leaves and foil, buried them at the bottom of the pagan's camp fire (each night one of the groups of pagan's sits round their campfire at the edge of the hush house, waiting for the arrival of the sacrificial sword).  All in a jitter to get away for the day off and to see the world cup final, both Nadia and Silki are part Dutch - we had a very quick bite of Noel's wonderful spread - so, generous Noel, thank you very much and it tasted magnificent. Noel's has already been making pagan pancakes on the fire as well, maybe he should get  a blog site for campfire recipes???

Back to Ipswich and the lovely Penny dropped us quickly at digs and then down to Isaac's to catch the game. The game was so slow in the first half we decided to walk up to the Greyhound for the second half and join the rest of the cast. It was an exciting game from then on in for anyone who didn't see it. Spain dominating the second half, with several close attempts on goal and then in the second half of extra time Spain scored a sublime goal. Two minutes later it was over and for the first time in History Spain held the world cup trophy high above their heads. Silki and Nadia looked saddened but there was good sportsmanship in the bar with the Spainish clapping the Dutch and vice versa. Sadly some of the Dutch players seemed to have forgotten their sportsmanship but it can't be easy seeing another team holding up your dashed hopes and dreams.

It's been another week of performances and tomorrow is our day off. Let's hope for more sunshine or maybe a bit of rain for a duvet day and a dvd. Sweet dreams.