Wow, you must be really curious if you want to learn more about us! I hope this will do the trick…
Michelle
Welcome! My name is Michelle and I’m the author of this blog. I’m a South African who fell in love with an Englishman and moved to the UK in 2004. Ah, love! Unfortunately, here in Essex good restaurants are few and far between and I had no choice but to put on my apron and get stuck in.
I cook every single day. Sometimes once, twice or even the whole day. In fact, I cook with such reckless abandon that a lot of the time my kitchen looks like a bombsite. The only part that is missing is the yellow, sticky tape saying “Danger – Do Not Enter”. One of my favourite pastimes is paging through cookbooks and drooling over food porn. Even though I’m confident in my cooking skills the more I read the more I realise how little I know. Why not join me on my journey of discovery regarding all things edible?
For more information you can read 100 Things About Me.
You can now Google+” target=”_blank”>follow me on Google+.
Neil
Also known as The Man, Neiltjie or Mr. Fix-It. He is my greatest fan and a very frank critic. A fussy eater at the best of times and a pain in the ass to cook for but he’s so worth it. Ask him anything IT-related, and I mean anything (building computers, programming, Unix and other doodads), and he’ll have an answer. If not, he’ll find out one way or another. That is why he is the technical administrator of this site. He has no choice.
Gabriel
When Michelle 2.5 and Neil 4.9 compiled, a new programme, called Gabriel, was launched in 2007. Strong and stubborn with a sunny disposition and very healthy appetite he is a force to be reckoned with. He immensely enjoys baking with me and is fascinated with computers. Other names include The Boy, Baby, Little Bugger, Gawietjie and My Kind.
Pluji
Pluji was adopted from the SPCA in June 2003. She is fiercely loyal, learns quickly and is a tad on the pathetic and neurotic side. On your first visit to our home she won’t like you and when feeling confident and reassured will even growl or bark at you. After your eighth visit she might warm up to you and if you are lucky you will receive a lick and lots of affection. She’s a walking dustbin and will eat anything, including Shacia’s food. Her proudest achievement was when she was a puppy and got away with eating seven bowls of cat food before anyone noticed the cats weren’t that hungry after all. With a stomach ready to explode, she waddled, not walked. Every time Gabriel chases after her another hair turns grey. I guess it happens a lot.
Shacia
On Shacia’s arrival, adopted August 2003, Pluji was seriously ticked off but learnt to accept her and now the two are inseparable. A complete opposite to Pluji she will play with everybody and look at them as if to say “Are you my mommy?”. She is the friendliest and lickiest dog I’ve ever known and have never seen a hint of aggression from her. She is a picky eater though. Her proudest achievement was when she caught a fat, corn-fed pigeon from the wheat fields adjacent our house. As a knee-jerk reaction I immediately threw it in the garbage can but she was heartbroken and pawed miserably at it. Ridden with guilt I took it out again and she ate the whole bird, fair and square, except the gallbladder while Pluji looked on in disgust and momentarily turned into a vegetarian.
