Pesto and naked men and nurses

Now that I’ve caught your attention, I bumped into a couple of neighbours out walking Java this morning. One of them asked if she could come and use the pool this afternoon, so I said, ‘Of course, just warn me when you’re coming, in case Luc is naked!’

She said it wouldn’t be a problem as it wouldn’t be anything she hadn’t seen before. Apparently, she’d seen thousands. It wasn’t entirely clear what she’d seen thousands of, but the implication was shady at best.

She seemed quite oblivious to how that might sound, so I felt compelled to explain to the other neighbour, who didn’t know her very well, that she was, in fact, ‘a nurse, and not an absolute trollop.’ I sometimes think I have a tendency to over-explain things, like a lunatic, because they both looked at me slightly pitifully, as if I’d lost my mind.

Meanwhile, Luc parked, or rather, abandoned, the tractor somewhere he usually doesn’t. Java, apparently offended by the tractor’s nonchalant, careless positioning, barked at it furiously until Luc was finally driven to move it. Java may be a simmering cauldron of chaos herself, but she has standards and doesn’t accept chaos from others.

Parmesan cheese is highly nutritious: it is particularly high in protein and bioavailable calcium and phosphorus, both of which are excellent for bone strength. It is naturally low in lactose, which makes it easier to digest for people with a lactose sensitivity. It is very advantageous for gut health as it contains beneficial microflora and bioactive peptides that support a healthy gut and digestive balance. It is also a good source of nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.

Recipe for pesto

• 80g basil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 50g pine nuts
• Juice of half a lemon
• 150ml olive oil
• 50g parmesan, grated (always use solid parmesan as opposed to ready-grated)
• Sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blend until smooth. I like pesto best served with pasta, but it is incredibly versatile and also goes well with chicken, fish, vegetables, etc.