Day 15

Today was about things on this journey that don't make sense.  This morning while I was meditating - the time has now been bumped up to 15 minutes by the way, which feels like forever!!  - I actually started to panic that I was going to suffocate.  I mean, how backwards is that?  I was sitting there focusing on my breathe worried that I wasn't getting enough air?  This week in meditation we are encouraged not to move during meditation - to just let the itches and twitches and such pass and to sit with the sensations in our body.  Succumbing to these minor distractions is a way of not being present and allows our body to resist that which we are setting our mind to do.  So I am sitting there, trying not to move, feeling like I am going to suffocate (which I know in my head is illogical) saying "Clare just don't open your mouth."  Its laughable now.  But I had to try so hard not to panic during my meditation.  Oh resistance - you entertain me.

And now for something completely different . . . .

So can someone explain how fish soaked in butter and parsley can have absolutely no taste?  That was how the night's adventure with Julia ended up... It was my first attempt at poaching fish (well poaching anything, to be honest!), and again Clare and I ate something that resembled edible food.  Unfortunately, flavor was absolutely lacking.  I made a reduction of the white wine, shallots and chicken stock that the fish cooked in and I added butter and parsley after it was the consistency of syrup, but it definitely needed something else.  The fish itself was fresh (Sole, in case you were wondering) so it wasn't a case of bad fish, just the seasoning was very bland.  Maybe I'll try a different herb like chives or tarragon next time.  C'est la vie. C'est le guerre.  Tomorrow is another day and another recipe!  --B