Veterans

Welsh Ladies Veterans Championships 10-11

Over the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May Saints Veterans played in the Welsh Ladies Veterans Championships in Swansea.

Saturday's early start for Saints was against Dinefwr where Saints were on top form playing silky smooth hockey against a struggling injury ridden Dinefwr side.

Good hockey from both sides saw Saints come out 10 - 2 winners with cracking goals from Jane Hitchings (3) - 1st jug of the weekend, Joey Howell (2), Jo Page (3) - another jug and goals from Judith Livesey, and Jane Rowley.

After a game's rest the second game against Bridgend was a little closer but still saw Saints roll out 5 - 3 winners with more end to end hockey and determination from those old legs, goals from Jane Rowley (2), Joey, Jude and Maria Cheadle one apiece.

After 2 full length games - yes, you heard correctly – 2 full length games, Saints retired to the hotel for a swim / Jacuzzi / sauna / champagne / beer before the evenings entertainment.

We had some great food at a local Italian overlooking the marina and followed on into the bar for a few sherbets. Some beautiful harmonious singing from 'The Saints Singers' aka 'Only Saints Aloud' singing a medley of modern and less modern ditties topping it all off with a foot stomping clip clopping rendition of 'Two Little Boys'.

Ah, the memories.......

Even a walk home from the restaurant through a force 10 'perfect storm' lashing didn't dampen our spirits in readiness for the next day's hockey.

I take that back, the first game saw a disappointing Saints first and only loss of the weekend to Howards, 'nuff said.

After a few cups of tea and a few hours to rest those weary limbs Saints were re vitalised for the final game of the day against Penarth.

Saints stormed to the lead with some unstoppable goals from Hitch backed up with some cracking play from a Saints side determined to make amends for the morning loss. Penarth were rattled to say the least and drew back a couple of goals but more fab hockey from Saints saw more cracking goals from Joey and again Hitch ( 2nd jug of the weekend) to hold on to a 4-3 win.

This meant that Saints came runner's up in the competition which topped off a great weekend.

Top scorer for the weekend was Hitch with 6 goals but all players did their bit and I think we'd all agree a cracking weekend was had by all.

Thanks go to Moi for organising the accommodation and more, all coaches, Managers and supporters without whom the weekend would have been less fun. Photo's to follow.

Welcome to the veteran's page - we now have a 'Recipe of the Month' addition. If you would like to submit your own recipe or comments then please email me. Enjoy...

New this month is a Banana Loaf from young Julie Baxter and Rocky Road from young Emma Drain

Young Julie Baxter's Banana Loaf : download here

270g soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
200g peeled bananas (mashed)
280g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
I teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
140g unsalted butter

23 x 13cm loaf tin greased and dusted with flour

Preheat oven to 170 deg (gas 3)

Young Emma Drain's Rocky Road : download here

Rocky Road
5x60g Mars Bars
100g Butter
3 tbsp. Golden Syrup
250g Digestive Biscuits
200g Marshmallows (cut into halves or use the mini ones)
100g Raisins - optional
100g Glace Cherries – optional

1.   Melt Mars Bars, butter and golden syrup in a pan, stirring until all the lumps have gone.

2.   Crush the digestive biscuits and add them to the mixture.

3.   Leave for 10 mins to cool slightly and then add the marshmallows and stir well.

4.   Add the raisins and cherries if you want to and stir again.

5.   Press into a lined container and chill until set.

6.   Cut into pieces and enjoy!!

Aunty Gaynor’s White Chocolate Cheesecake : download here

Now, now, just wait a minute:  do not run from the room wailing “but I don’t like walnuts!!!”  This cake is really lovely, honest.  I don’t like raw walnuts either – after several years’ training I can manage to eat half of one without gagging.  My snivelling brats (as experimental cake tasters) also loathe walnuts but are more than happy to eat them in cake form.

This is because the baking process (not to mention all the sugar and honey) takes away any of the bitterness that walnuts usually have and just leaves a nicely mellow nutty-flavoured cake.  Since the walnuts are blitzed into little tiny pieces, there’s nothing to get stuck in your teeth (if you’ve still got them) either, so it’s ideal for old people.  It’s a really easy cake to make too – just some blitzing, melting and stirring before you put it in the oven.

Please do make this cake; I’m sure you will enjoy it.  I don’t often bother with the icing sugar, but it is nice with a slice of cheese, such as Caerphilly or Wensleydale, instead.  We haven’t yet managed to wait twenty-four hours to eat it either, but the experience is none the worse for that!

Pain aux Noix (Walnut Cake from The French Market by Joanne Harris & Fran Warde)

200g/7oz walnuts
200g/7oz butter
100g/3½oz unrefined soft brown sugar
100g/3½oz honey
2 beaten eggs
300ml/½pt milk
350g/12½ self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp icing sugar

• Heat the oven to 350°F/180°C and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking paper.
• Melt the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan over a gentle heat.  When melted and blended, remove from the heat and stir in the blitzed walnuts.
• Whisk the eggs and milk together and then stir this into the walnut mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 30 minutes.  Reduce the heat to 300°F/150°C and bake for another 30 minutes.
• Best eaten at least 24 hours later – just wrap in tin foil when cool.

Aunty Carin’s October Cake of Month: Tea Bread

What do old people like?  That’s right, it’s Tea and Cake, so what could be better than a cake with tea in it?

This is a teabread recipe, for people who cannot get enough tea in their lives by merely drinking it and feel compelled to eat tea-flavoured things as well.  Actually, the tea flavour isn’t overwhelming and I have been known to replace a tablespoon of soaking liquid with cherry brandy instead, which certainly adds to the flavour.  Feel free to experiment with other liqueurs too!

By the way, it’s not a mistake; there really is no butter or margarine in this cake – so it’s (relatively) fat-free, which means you can have a really big slice without feeling remotely guilty.

Bun Loaf (from The Complete Farmhouse Kitchen Cook Book)

225g/8oz mixed dried fruit
175ml/6floz cold strained tea
225g/8oz self-raising white flour
Pinch of salt
125g/4 oz soft brown sugar
1 large egg (beaten)
1tsp mixed spice

• Soak the fruit in the tea overnight (or a couple of hours if you forget the night before).
• Mix the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
• Drain the fruit, saving the liquid.
• Mix fruit and beaten egg into the flour, using some of the soaking liquid to make a firm dropping consistency – depending on the size of the egg, 1 or 2 tablespoons of liquid will be needed.
• Line a 2lb loaf and put the mixture in it.
• Bake in a moderate oven, Gas 4, 350°F, 180°C for about 1 hour, until firm.
• Leave in the tin for about 5 minutes, and then turn onto a wire rack to cool.

Match Reports

Vets tournament on the weekend of 23rd and 24th May in Swansea

A great time was had by all - and we managed to play some hockey.

We came joint 3rd with Bridgend - joint 3rd because we were 1-1 at full time but because it was so hot and we are old we decided not to bother with flicks.

Great to see Louise out and about for the whole weekend with us too.

More old fogey things to follow....