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Recently it was alleged by a former US Air Forceman that he personally dumped vast amounts of Agent Orange into deep pits at the old Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda.

Ronald Slater served as an enlisted sailor at Kindley in the 1960's. Now a retired helicopter flight instructor living in Cle Elum, Washington, Slater told Bermuda's The Royal Gazette that "every couple of weeks from 1965 to 1967 barrels of Agent Orange and other poisonous substances were poured into huge pits at the base. "I smashed down the base garbage with the D-6 Dozer and watched the other crew's empty out all barrels and drums. I then was ordered to burn and then a few days later shove out to sea all leftovers."

Agent Orange and "Super Orange" were the nicknames given to a herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War from 1961-1971. The degradation of Agent Orange is known to release dioxins which have harmed the health of those exposed to them during the war in Vietnam. U.S. veterans obtained a $180 million settlement in 1984, most affected veterans receiving a one-time lump sum payment of $1,200. Chemical companies that manufactured Agent Orange paid the money into a fund for United States veterans following the lawsuit. They did not, however, admit any wrongdoing.

Local minister of Works and Engineering in Bermuda Dennis Lister made a statement in the House of Assembly, Bermuda's Parliament, that the matter had "come to his attention, and would be investigated". He said in The Royal Gazette that; "The issues raised are serious enough that I have asked my technical officers to urgently research the claims and report their findings to me within two weeks. "I would add that early discussions with the Ministry of health indicate that no trend towards illness as a result of such contaminants has been observed.

But to be safe we will fully examine these claims and keep the public generally, and the people of St. David's in particular, fully informed of our progress."

St.David's is the area of land in Bermuda which borders the former US Air Base which now serves as the national airport for Bermuda.

Many residents of this area claimed they often had to securely close all windows and doors to keep the poisonous fumes from invading their homes, while clothes they had hung out to dry became coated in filthy residue.

Mr. Slater says that he came forward because of guilt he has experienced due to the damage he has most likely done to Bermuda's environment, and also to once again call attention to the dangers of Agent Orange, due to his own health problems which he feels are partly caused by his own exposure to the herbicide. He suffers from Type Two Diabetes, has a small tumor on his arm and a large growth on his kidney. 40 years ago things were much, much different for Ronald Slater.

He arrived in Bermuda in 1960 into what was an enlisted man's dream theatre. Beautiful blue water, sun, sand and a slew of gorgeous local women who made themselves readily available to the handsome US sailors made it a virtual paradise for those who would do their tour of duty here. Mr. Slater liked one local woman in particular, in fact so much that he married her, and they have been together ever since. He says, "For over forty four years, my wife Edna and I have been married. She was born and raised in Bermuda and has been my greatest fortune. The island was my honeymoon for over seven years. My wife became the Seabee queen in 1961 and still has her crown, and Bermuda figure. Rejoice Bermuda, she was one of your finest works." The disposal of Agent Orange, sadly, was not one of his.

The events surrounding the disposal of Agent Orange are still fresh in the mind of Mr. Slater. He recalls pouring the Agent Orange into pits dug out by bulldozer, then lighting it on fire after which it would continue to burn for several days. He states, "After it was burnt down, it would have a red hot glow. I would take a bulldozer and go down the hill into the pits and bulldoze anything and everything left over right into the ocean. I did this about every other week." Mr. Slater recalls how much of the toxic weed killer would sink immediately into the limestone rock of which Bermuda is composed. "A lot of it would float", he says, "but as it got more saturated, that would sink as well."

Unfortunately due to the limestone composition of Bermuda, much of it may have found its way directly into the island's fresh water supply, a good deal of which comes from underground water lenses More, because of the porous nature of limestone, may have seeped into the sea surrounding Bermuda, causing untold future problems for those who regularly consume the local fish, much of which is caught from shore by hand line or rod, not to mention the potential damage to Bermuda's coral reef eco-system.

He says the powerful defoliant, was also sprayed on perimeter fences of the base to stop the growth of foliage which could act as a hiding place for anybody wanting to break in. He also believes many barrels were brought in from elsewhere as the Island was effectively used as a dumping ground. This statement is supported by the testimony of a former military colleague of Mr. Slater's. He says that hazardous wastes including mercury and hydrochloric acid were routinely disposed of in a similar manner at Bermuda's bases.

It's difficult to know exactly what happened at Kindley Air Force Base for the close to 40 years that the American military were stationed there. It is clear however that the state of the land handed back to the Bermuda Government by the United States Government at both Kindley and Morgan's Point, where the US Naval Annex was located, left much to be desired and was the cause of heated discussions between the two countries.

Twelve years ago when the US military pulled out of Bermuda it was found that materials such as asbestos, lead, cadmium, hazardous waste including paint, batteries and oil, PCB chemicals, underground storage tanks (some corroded with their jet fuel seeping into the ground) and solid wastes had been dumped in underground caves and other convenient out-of-the-way places located on the two properties. One of the biggest talking points has been the presence of more than 500,000 gallons of viscous oil and sludge which seeped into Bassett's cave at Morgan's Point, and an adjacent Jet Fuel Plume comprising 55,000 gallons of fuel.

It was estimated the cost of cleaning up the toxic mess would be around US$65 million, however the Bermuda Government eventually settled for US$11 million. One of the biggest talking points has been the presence of more than 500,000 gallons of viscous oil and sludge which seeped into Bassett's cave at Morgan's Point, and an adjacent Jet Fuel Plume comprising 55,000 gallons of fuel.

Whether the dumping of these various toxic wastes have affected the health of Bermudians unfortunately cannot be known. However cancer rates in Bermuda are found to be generally higher than those in the United States. A study conducted by Frédéric Dallaire, MSc PhD (in prog.) and Eric Dewailly, MD PhD with the collaboration of Philippe Rouja, PhD for the Public Research Unit of Laval University released in 2006, found that; mouth, ovarian, melanoma, colon and rectum as well as breast cancer rates were higher in Bermuda.

Dr. Frederic Dellaire, said Bermuda had a 45 percent higher mortality rate for all cancer "sites" than the US and the mortality for prostrate cancer was 2.65 times higher in Bermuda despite a comparable incidence rate. Some other key findings of the report were: 25 percent of all deaths in Bermuda were attributed to cancer in 2005.

Agent Orange has also been linked to causing Type II diabetes. The Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) added Type II diabetes to the list of "presumptive diseases associated with herbicide exposure" in the year 2000 following a report from the National Academy of Sciences that found "limited/suggestive" evidence of an association between the chemicals used in herbicides during the Vietnam War, such as Agent Orange, and type 2 diabetes.

Bermuda has a frightening rate of this chronic and possibly fatal disease. More than nine thousand Bermudians, more per capita than anywhere else in the world, are afflicted with it. Of course this statistic alone is not enough to prove that Agent Orange was dumped at Kindley Airfield, or is responsible for the prevalence of Type II diabetes in Bermuda, but it does cause one to raise an eyebrow and gives good cause for further investigation.

One unarguable fact is that we cannot continue to dump toxic waste into the belly of our planet and expect no repercussions. The Bermuda government has said that it will investigate these charges with due diligence, but their track record suggests otherwise. The reason the Bermuda government did not fully pursue the complete $65 million clean up cost for the bases from the US government was to hush the voices of those US senators who are pushing for US companies based in Bermuda to be responsible for the taxes they evade while being based in Bermuda, an offshore tax haven. Statistics on the website of the US State Department showed that in March 2005, 13,729 international companies were registered in Bermuda, many U.S.-owned. They are an important source of foreign exchange for the island, and spent an estimated $1.762 billion in Bermuda in 2004. Unfortunately the truth cannot compete with $1.762 billion.

There is not as yet any hard evidence that Agent Orange was dumped in Bermuda. There is, however, ample evidence that other toxins were. If diesel oil, jet fuel, lead paint and asbestos were disposed of without conscience by the Americans, what's to say they wouldn't also have disposed of the dioxin laden herbicide in the same way. What were they burning in those pits? Hopefully time and the soil samples supposedly sent away for analysis will tell, or possibly time is telling already with the high incidences of cancer and Type II diabetes.

The following is a letter from S.M.Sgt. James A. Kutush USAF, retired 1 June 1980 after 28 years of active duty.

"About May of 1965 I arrived on assignment to Bermuda at Kindley AFB. My wife and four daughters arrived about June 1965. We rented a house in an area called Pembroke which is near the town of Hamilton. The neighbors next door to me where Ronald and Edna Slater. At the time Ron and Edna were living on the economy and did not have a car or income compared to mine while in the Air Force.

Ron got a job at Kindley AFB, driving heavy equipment at the land fill garbage dump on Base. Ron did not have a large wardrobe of clothes. When he worked at the land fill it was usually in a tee shirt and dungarees.

Ron did not have transportation to the Base. I know he rode the bus to the Base as it was his only means of transportation. I don't remember how it started, but eventually he was riding with me to the Base and back home with me in the evening.

The landfill at the Base dump was much smaller than what you would see back in the States. It had one large ravine. Trash, garbage, building materials, steel barrels, wood, metal roofing, siding from old barracks, insulation from hangers, and asbestos covering from pipes. All of this was dumped in that one ravine, and all was set on fire. Ron would run a bulldozer or tractor over all this rubbish and push it into the ocean. I used to pick Ron up at the dump after work, remembering one time there were a bunch of metal barrels in the ravine and Ron was driving over them with a bulldozer crushing them. The tracks on the bulldozer had some sort of liquid all over them. I asked Ron what the liquid was and he said it was Agent Orange. Ron told me he worked around Agent Orange when he was on active duty with the Navy in Puerto Rico

The dump also had a small furnace looking machine that was used to burn trash from the A.F. hospital. After it was burnt it was dumped into the ravine and bulldozed into the ocean. I remember Ron telling me about a patrol plane that crashed on Base, and after the investigation, what was left of the plane was cut up and thrown into the ravine at the dump. Ron also ran over it with the bulldozer and pushed it into the ocean.

For a long time, months, Ron did not have the right clothes for that Job. It doesn't get real cold in Bermuda, but the winters are damp and chilly.

After Ron got to know his way around the Base, he went to the Fire Department and saw some old uniforms. He asked about them and the firemen gave Ron the uniforms to wear so he finally had some kind of coveralls. Ron also had some type of headgear that the firemen gave him. I even remember giving him a couple of old shirts and a leather jacket that I wasn't wearing anymore.

It's been almost 40 years that I have known Ronald Slater. We haven't seen each other since Bermuda, but we have been in contact with each other by phone, mail and e-mail. I hereby certify that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." January 1, 2004.

September 6, 2007 18:28 - THE PERFECT NIGHT OUT!

Fine dining and excellent entertainment are my passions. The thought of a perfectly cooked and flavorful Lobster Thermidor, a pint of cold Heineken and well played music, partaken of in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, is a small taste of heaven for me.

Unfortunately I'd never been lucky enough to experience this Nirvana of mine on a single night, in a single establishment, until recently. Yes, I've had excellent meals at quality restaurants, yes I've managed a cold Heineken or two in both cool and cozy pubs, and yes I've had the pleasure of enjoying the talents of many fine bands. But never have I enjoyed the perfect night out. Never have I managed to stumble upon the perfect meal, eaten leisurely while watching and listening to the perfect band, while enjoying as many Heinekens and as much time at my table as I desired. Until I visited the Bahay Kubo in Ballsbridge, Dublin. And I dare say, it was perfect!

SOMETHING SPECIAL!

The event was my wife's birthday. I wanted the evening to be as special as she is. I mentioned that I was planning a special evening out to some of my workmates, and as soon as one of them mentioned the Bahay Kubo, a Phillipino restaurant, I got a good feeling! Not because I'd heard about it or anything, but because Daniela, my wife, had lived in the Phillipines for awhile and always raved about the food. Bingo! I was in! This would be a night to remember......and it was......beyond my wildest dreams!

I expected a decent meal at a reasonable price as I had read some online reviews and they were all generally complimentary. I didn't expect that I wouldn't want to leave, and wouldn't have to until closing time! Never have I been welcomed to occupy my table for the entire night in any restaurant. Anywhere. Ever! When you reserve a table at Bahay Kubo, it's yours for the night! We occupied ours from 7 - 12pm! This, I thought, was very, very unique. And so was the band!

FIRST CLASS ENTERTAINMENT!

When I was first told about Bahay Kubo it was mentioned that they had a band that played a variety of music, from top 40's, to the Beatles, to Sinatra. The members were all from the Phillipines and were supposed to be quite good. I wondered if perhaps the place turned into a nightclub after 10 or 11 when most restaurants finish serving and when the band would begin. I couldn't imagine a band pumping out cover tunes while people tried to converse over a pleasant meal. I needn't have worried. The band was a Trio, the music acoustic, the vibe good, the music sound!

Manilla Rhythm, as they are called, consists of two acoustic guitars and a stand up (double) bass. The vocals and harmonies were excellent, and they played everything from Santana to Sinatra. Then they played Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. My jaw dropped. It's hanging again now as I think about their rendition of that classic tune. Remember, just two nylon string guitars and an old-fashioined stand up bass. And no Freddy Mercury! I would go back to this restaurant just to hear that again! It was amazing how good a fit they were to the overall atmosphere. I tell you, it was all perfect!

AND GOOD FOOD TO BOOT!

They could have served me peanut butter sandwiches in this place and I still would have been in heaven! Fortunately they have an interesting and extensive menu.

We had the usual Asian style appetizers - Spring Rolls and Tempura Prawns - accompanied by a fresh, homemade Sweet and Sour sauce. They were good, but no indication of what was to come. I ordered the Sizzling Seafood Platter. Ummmmmm............! It was fantastic, and, as the menu stated, it was indeed sizzling! I could hear the waiter coming with it before it arrived. Fresh off the grill and piping hot, the aroma also had a hand in announcing its immenent arrival. I was definitely not disappointed. Everything was perfectly cooked. The scallops, the prawns, the fish, even the crab claws were all cooked the way I'm sure their creator meant them to be! The accompanying stir-fried vegetables were crisp and tasty and the rice was supreme. The dish was moistened and flavored by a magnificent, sweet, and I'll say, sultry sauce. Daniela had ordered the Coconut Shrimp, and it took her back to her time spent in the Phillipines. She was in heaven also! Mission accomplished! I was the best husband in the world! Happy Birthday dear!

AT WHAT PRICE?

This was the icing on the cake. The whole evening cost us less than €80. That's around $100! And most of the evening was spent on Heineken and Irish Coffees! You've got to go there. If you like good food, good music, good craic (irish for fun, socialising and banter), then you'll love Bahay Kubo! True, we did spend about $10 on the train, but that was well worth it. We got off at Grand Canal Station and walked about 300 yards (well, less than 10 minutes anyway) to the restaurant. If you're vacationing in Dublin, it's extremely convenient. If you're local, even easier.

HOW TO GET THERE

If you're vacationing in Dublin, hop on the DART (Dublin's Rapid Area Transport) and get off at Grand Canal Station. At the bottom of the steps, (there's only one set of steps out of Grand Canal) take a right. At the end of that road, which is Arrow Street, take a left at Grand Canal Street Upper (the main street you'll happen upon). Walk until you see a bunch of people drinking and hanging outside a pub under a shady tree (another story for another time) on your left (about 200 yards). Pass that Pub........you'll never get out of there either! Take the immediate left. Walk down that road about 75 yards (50m), and you'll see Bahay Kubo on your left. It's right under the train tracks under a bridge, a blue building, and above the Landsdowne Pub.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Bahay Kubo is almost always full, so definitely make reservations. It's great for couples and great for groups, so whether celebrating your anniversary or someone's birthday, CALL TODAY - to guarantee that your night out is the perfect one!

Like everyone loves Ice Cream, everyone loves Bahay kubo. It's just that good!

Bahay Kubo Restaurant 12 Bath Avenue, Ballsbridge Dublin 4, Ireland Tel:+353 (0)1 660 5572

September 8, 2007 11:02 - The End of "The Road"!

The inevitability of the demolition of Landsdowne Road Stadium in Ireland was accepted with a mixture of sadness for the old stadium and the excitement of a new, modern facility.

Recently however it became complete sadness tinged with a touch of hostility and anger when Landsdowne Road executives announced that the new stadium would ditch the old name (Landsdowne Road) for a new title that would bear the name of a corporate sponsor. Many here in Ireland accuse them of prostituting the nation's heritage. I don't think they're too far off.

Unfortunately it's a sign of the times. Money is indeed God these days, the bottom line so to speak. Society's values and morality continue to become extinct in favor of concessions and allowances which enable us to put profit before anything else.

Landsdowne Road, like many other famous stadiums around the world, will in the future, bear the name of a multinational company. I wonder if soon our family names will follow suit. Perhaps we will be forced to bear the company name of our employer, ie. - Gary Heineken 467683, or perhaps John Anheuser-Busch 689735. Or perhaps we will become plain numbers, however I doubt that, as there is no profit motive there.

No number of complaints or public sentiment will change the re-naming of Landsdowne Road. We have come to the end of another era. Sadly as many of our animals are becoming extinct, our identities as a people, even persons are fading away in this continuing commercial society we call the world. So goodbye Landsdowne Road, soon we'll be bidding a fond farewell to culture and heritage completely.

September 9, 2007 13:11 - Deaths in Ireland

This past week in Ireland, since last Wednesday till today, four young children have dropped dead suddenly and unexpectedly. Two of the youths were aged 16, one 13 and the other only 10 years old. Two of the deaths have been attributed to heart failure, the other 2 have not yet been diagnosed. Whatever the reasons, four children have departed life way too soon. Four families have had their world's turned upside down, and countless children have lost a sibling and have been introduced to the grim reality of death too soon.

The people affected by these deaths will never recover, in fact everyone who I have spoken to who has experienced the death of a dear loved one has never got over it. That includes myself. I experienced first the deaths of my father and grandfather at age 26, then that of my mother at age 29. My brothers and sisters are all younger than me, the youngest has suffered the most. I have not had the "joie de vivre" previously enjoyed since those deaths. The sudden death of a loved one wakes you up from the dreamy enjoyment of life and plops you into the real world of pain and sadness.

You to accept death after awhile, but you never stop thinking about, dreaming about, crying over or missing those who you've lost to death. The hurt, especially od a sudden death, scars somne part of you that never heals. There's only a deadness where there was once some emotion.

Funnily enough, the Irish newspapers printed a story this same week about how certain additives to certain foods were making youth hyperactive and unhealthy. I wonder if these sudden deaths may be related in some way to those food additives.

Whatever the case, my hearts go out to those families who have lost their children and brothers (Yes, they were all male). May you find comfort in one another, and whatever you do, talk about it. Don't keep it bottled up inside you where the pain and hurt will fester into something which will warp and ruin your personality forever.

September 11, 2007 06:45 - The Royal Canal

The Royal Canal is definitely one of Ireland's best kept secrets! Located in the Dublin area and overshadowed by its sister the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal was never the commercial success hoped for and until recently was thought to have no place in modern Ireland. However due to a restoration program begun in 1974, it is now quite the viable destination for nature lovers, boaters and kayakers.

The great thing about kayaking the Royal Canal is the lack of other marine traffic due to it being closed for so long. We traveled for 6 hours without seeing a soul on the water.

The scenery is fantastic, the atmosphere serene and the kayaking leisurely. The current is very mild due to the many locks extending the canals length, and with little effort one can travel 20 or 30 kilometers per day. Another advantage of kayaking is that you can carry your kayak around the locks. The shoreline is easily accessible and there are a multitude of small docks and platforms with steps descending into the canal where one can easily exit from and return to the water.

There is an abundance of quiet and private areas where one can stop for a picnic lunch or romantic interlude and plenty of pubs in the small country towns along the way if you prefer a more public scene. The Royal Canal is an excellent training area for beginners and provides wonderful scenery for veterans seeking a relaxing getaway.

September 19, 2007 18:18 - Bermuda's National Holiday May 24 to be renamed

So, instead of "Bermuda Day", which celebrates being Bermudian, the present Government of Bermuda (the racist PLP), has chosen to rename the national holiday of May 24th "National Heroes Day". Why don't you just call it what you want, Black Heroes Day. Anyone with any sense, or even half a brain (90%of Bermuda), knows that is the real meaning and intention of this new name for what was once a holiday celebrated joyfully by all Bermudians.

How can you people live with yourselves? You let 20 idiots rename something that belongs to everyone. A referendum would be appropriate here.

But this is just a taste of what's to come. While you sit there being complacent and letting a bunch of racist bigots run your country, I would imagine that your pride, and hopefully your patience is slipping away.

This is an outright insult to any Caucasian who is Bermudian, an in your face, F-you attitude towards Whites, which seems to grow stronger and stronger and more tolerated each day.

No offence to Dame Lois Browne-Evans, but come on. Bermuda is losing it's identity. She was a hero for the Black under-privilidged. Only. And yet you name a National holiday after her? This is despicable and disgusting. This is blatant racism and you all sit on your little stacks of Bermuda dollar bills and say "Well, it doesn't really affect me". It will. Watch out.

Following is the story from Bermuda's Royal Gazette.

May 24 to be renamed

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Amanda Dale --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bermuda Day has been renamed National Heroes Day, with Dame Lois Browne Evans the first figure to be honoured.

The renaming of the May 24 national holiday was officially announced by Government last night, following a pledge by Premier Dr. Ewart Brown to a PLP rally in July to dedicate a public holiday to the trailblazing politician.

As reported in The Royal Gazette on July 21, Dr. Brown told the rally at West Pembroke School Field: "We don't want leaders who will not acknowledge that we need a holiday to memorialise the passing of Dame Lois, because she mattered so much to us as a leader.

"What we want is a leader who can say yes, there should be a permanent recognition of Dame Lois's life. "Under the next PLP Government there will be a permanent recognition of Dame Lois's life. She deserves nothing less."

Dame Lois will be celebrated as Bermuda's first 'national hero' on May 24, 2008.

Dr. Brown said last night: "This is a great day for our country. Our country's matriarch is getting her just due. We collectively mourned when Dame Lois passed and now we can truly begin the process of celebrating her life."

Announcing the tribute last night, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Wayne Perinchief said the new Court and Police building at Court and Victoria Street will also be named after Dame Lois, while a bronze statue or bust will depict her.

Dame Lois died on May 29 aged 79. She was Bermuda's first female barrister, first female Attorney General and the first woman Opposition Leader in a British Commonwealth country, serving as PLP Leader from 1968-1972, and again from 1976-1985.

In July, the public was asked to suggest ways of commemorating Dame Lois's life — an appeal which generated 101 submissions, the most popular tribute being a national public holiday.

A Government spokesman said: "More tributes, through Government and civic organisations, are in the offing and may become reality."

Senator Perinchief said: "The public response has been highly gratifying in recognising the achievements of this national hero and reflects the profound respect for a Bermudian trailblazer who fought for honour and justice."

He will now set out the criteria as to how other national heroes will be designated for commemoration, with the measures to be approved by Cabinet.

Premier Dr. Brown said setting an official standard for 'national heroes' would instill pride among the people of Bermuda.

"Dame Lois long believed there was a need to instill national pride in our people," said Dr. Brown last night.

"I share that belief, and in a very strong way this Government has made Dame Lois' wish come true. She would have never chosen herself for this sort of adulation — I'm proud we could do it for her because she did so much for all of Bermuda.

"By establishing a publicly known standard for heroes we can create a culture of national pride where young people know Bermudian legends by name and are aware of their historical significance."

September 22, 2007 08:27 - Yummy Recipes!

These are some dishes I've made over the past month. Enjoy! Gazpacho with Garlic Croutons Serves 6-8 INGREDIENTS:

Soup

6 peeled and chopped Tomatos 2 Spring Onions 1/2 Cucumber 2 cloves Garlic 1/2 Red Pepper (chopped and seeded) Pinch of salt Pinch fresh ground Black pepper 1/2 tsp Cayenne 1 tbsp basil 1 tsp oregano 2 tbsp Olive Oil 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar 1/2 pint iced water

Garnish

1 tsp Parsley chopped 1/2 Green Pepper 1/2 Cucumber 2 spring onions

Croutons

2 slices bread 1 clove garlic (halved)

METHOD:

Place all ingredients for soup except water in a blender and puree. Transfer mixture to large bowl and add water a little at a time, stirring. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.

Lightly mix garnish ingredients in a seperate bowl.

Make croutons by removing crust from bread and rubbing with garlic. cut bread into cubes and cook in fat fryer or shallow pan for 1-2 minutes until crispy and golden. Transfer cooked croutons to Paper towel to drain excess oil.

Remove Gazpacho from refrigerator and pour into soup bowls. Spoon a bit of garnish in the center and sprinkle with croutons.

Steak With Creamy Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

1 tbsp olive oil 1tsp Dijon Mustard 2 fillet steaks salt and pepper to taste

Sauce

1 tbsp Olive Oil 1 oz butter 2 spring onions 4oz White wine 4ox Double cream (Heavy Cream) 4 oz Roquefort Cheese crumbled small bunch chopped tarragon 4 oz mushrooms 4 oz green asparagus 1/2oz butter salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:

Cook the steaks for 1 minute each side for a rare steak, 3 minutes each side for medium, and 5 minutes each side for well done

Lightly sprinkle grill pan with olive oil and pepper and heat to a high temperature. Spread the mustardlightly over the steaks and add steaks to pan. Cook and turn once.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan, add spring onions and cook for 1 minute. Add wine and boil rapidly for 1 minute till mixture begins to reduce. Reduce heat and and add cream, pepper and cheese, stirring occassionally. Allow sauce to heat until cheese begins to melt, then add tarragon.

In a seperate pan lightly toss mushrooms and asparagus spears in some melted butter for about 2 minutes. Add to sauce, serve over steaks.

Mediterranean Lamb Shanks

INGREDIENTS:

4 small Lamb Shanks 1oz flour 3oz Olive Oil 2 cloves minced garlic 2 large onions chopped 1 eggplant diced 2 yellow peppers cut into chunks 2 zucchini cut into chunks 14 oz tin chopped tomatos 2 tsp Harissa Paste (Harissa is an Algerian, Libyan and Tunisian hot red sauce or paste made from chili peppers (often smoked) and garlic, often with coriander, cumin, and/or olive oil. It may also contain tomatoes. It somewhat resembles sambal and chili sauce. One well-known and expensive variety, "rose harissa" also includes rose petals.) 1 tbsp Tomato paste 4oz chicken/beef/or vegetable stock 2oz pitted black olives 4tsp chopped parsley salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:

Trim off excess fat from Lamb Shanks and dust with flour all over.

Heat half the olive oil in a large oven proof pot, add lamb and brown on all sides. Remove lamb and set aside.

Place vegetables in a large bowl, add remaining olive oil and mix until well coated. add to pot and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Add tomatos, harissa and tomato puree, cook for 2-3 minutes or until vegetables reduce to a soft stew. return lamb shanks to pot and mix into stew. Add enough stock to immerse shanks and stir again. Cover and cook in oven at 170C/gasmark 3 for 2.5 hours.

Remove casserole from oven, add a few black olives and adjust seasoning to taste. Serve immediately with garlic bread, pasta or mashed potatos.

September 22, 2007 12:17 - Movie Review - NEXT

NEXT is a thriller starring Nic Cage, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel. It is based on Philip K. Dick's short story "The Golden Man" and ties itself in an almighty philosophical knot with each twist of its terrorist-hunt plot.

At the beginning of the film, Las vegas magician Cris is able to glimpse two minutes into the future which he can change nanosecond by nanosecond, as by dodging bullets a la matrix.

Cage's placid portrayal of this precog hero is succinctly summed up by Biel's love interest - "You are odd.....charming, but odd" - while Julianne Moore's talents are wasted in a thankless supporting role, exercising her character's authority by barking her lines.

Director Lee Tiamhori orchestrates the action sequences with flair, but in the abscence of a coherent and plausible scenario or protagonists that we care about.

NEXT is little more than one of the flashy yet hollow parlour tricks Cris performs onstage.

September 22, 2007 12:19 - Book Review - BLACK WIND - Clive Cussler

If you like action/adventure novels and haven't read any of Clive Cussler's books, you're missing out on hours of enjoyment. I like the stories featuring Dirk Pitt (even though it's a corny name). He is your typical macho adventurer - hero type, a cross between 007, Indiana Jones and Aquaman.

In this story an aged Dirk Pitt is joined by his children Dirk Jr. and Summer his daughter. The story is engaging, and as always, historically informative. Clive Cussler obviously researches his stories well, and this one is no exception.

The story revolves around a hunt for the cargo of a sunken WWII Japanese submarine and takes place in exotic locations such as Central America and the Caribbean. The cargo is a dangerous virus which was destined to be launched against America before the sub was sunk.

A terrorist group of Celtic Amazons makes this an interesting and educational adventure with pulse-pounding action and incredible expense.

A must read for adventure junkies!