What to write – my mojo is around … trouble is I have too many mojos … where to start – but today January continues, named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions … which we seem to have succumbed to …
So towards food I go … would you like some chips? – they come pre-prepared, par-cooked and lightly salted … if you would – please be ready for a cold dip!! A container's worth has disgorged itself onto our coast … nothing like a view of Beachy Head with chips!!
Eastbourne shoreline
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| Chips ahoy! Beachy Head lighthouse in the background |
The walker who apparently spotted them first … could smell vinegar … not what one expects from a shoreline.
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| These are the British version of chips!! |
A Canadian blogging friend from days of yore (2010 days of yore!!) … has had a similar health problem to me – so she's offered to give me some clues and I can at least have some idea of what the future holds. I just remembered her situation from a few years ago – and so emailed to ask her for some guiding help: I'm very relieved to say.
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| Beachy Head lighthouse without being framed by spilt chips |
I've no idea what I'm doing … but this will suffice before February rocks around …
Three Mojo Sauces
However – I'd never realised 'Mojo' is a sauce from the Canary Islands … also that there are a lot of Mojos in the world … live and learn again, I guess!!
We are living in very odd times … take care to you all in the cold, the heat down under and just generally …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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30 comments:
Great to hear from you, Hilary, and to know that your mojo has kicked back in. Who knew that mojo came in a jar? As for English chips they are the world’s best. Only the Brits know how to do them properly. The best thing of all is that they are big and fat and thereby retain their heat. Here, people seem to prefer shoestring potatoes which are cold almost before you start to eat them, let alone work your way through to the end. A dusting of salt and malt vinegar are perfect. Here the practice is to dip them in ketchup so that basically what you taste is ketchup. British chips should be declared a world heritage food! Very best wishes - David
Seeing all of those chips on the beach must've been wild. Glad people are cleaning up the bags. By the way, there are cookies here in the States called Chips Ahoy. Delicious and really bad for you!
I am paying attention to your image of Beachy Head lighthouse. There is a great series of TV programmes called something like the Secret Life of Lighthouses.
I've been reading about Beachy Head Woman, from 2 CE or so. She's far too young for my next trilogy but her story caught my attention.
Hari Om
Hmmm, against David's argument I would hold my hand up for Aussie hot chips, always chunky, always crisp on the outside, fluffy on the in... but that aside, what a sight to have found on the beach!
Glad to read that you have found a 'support person' - being able to share properly is half of beating any issue. Yay to mojo, however it is packaged! YAM xx
@ David – yes things are kicking in, thankfully. I know when I looked to see what 'mojo' meant I was surprised at what I found. Chips … we do do the best – those shoestring ones are pretty depressing, I agree. I see though Yam takes issue with your concept re chips: haven't not been down under … I can't pass comment! But I do prefer my chips as they are served with some salt … deliciosa …
@ Alex – it's a bit of a shock to our Eastbourne landscape, and yes thank goodness for volunteers – sadly not something I can do now-a-days …
Oh – ok I hadn't heard about Chips Ahoy as a sweet cookie – chocolate chip one … and I note that Dickens used them in one of his books?!
@ Hels – there have been some tv programmes on lighthouses … very informative …
@ Jacqui – it seems now her ancestry is from Southern Europe, rather than Africa … still her ancestors could have been from Africa … but she's not 'the first black Briton'. I'm glad you're reading up about her … even though she'd be too young for your next trilogy …
I did write about her in 2015 just after my hip was fixed …
@ Yam – I noted your Aussie Chip comment … having not been down under I can't comment – chips are something I try and avoid – a treat, very occasionally! As you say 'what a sight to find on our shoreline' …
Yes – I'm relieved I've someone to contact and chat about … much easier with someone 'one knows' – rather than Mr Google: time wasting at times.
Mojo – yes I'm with it now … or getting there …
Cheers to the five of you – thanks for being here and supporting me during this time - Hilary
What a mess. Too many ships are making messes. Although, I suppose it could have been worse.
Chips! How bizarre. I also read about hundreds of Victorian era shoes being washed up somewhere, presumably from a VERY old shipwreck. Glad your mojo is returning and that you have found someone who can empathise with your health issues from experience.
That's a lot of chips (fries to us). What a strange item to wash up on shore. My dog would think she had gone to heaven if she could eat all she wanted. I had no idea Mojo was a sauce.
Love,
Janie
Agree with you on the best chips being Brit origin. So glad to see you've got your mojo back. Had no clue that it meant sauce but now that you've told me it does make a heap of sense somehow. :)
At least the chips will degrade, Hilary and I’m glad people are collecting the plastic. This is a great start to finding your Mojo again! Keep them coming. We love hearing from you!
@ Liz - yes ... sadly some of the container ships aren't registered ... so they've no responsibility ... and don't care. Yes - it could be worse ... and has been ...
@ Anabel - it must have surprised the finder! I saw that about the Victorian shoes - I guess from a wreck of over 120 years ago. Yes I'm glad my mojo is returning ... once the lighter days come around I'll definitely feel easier ... and with help from a blogging friend - at least I'll be more aware of what to expect healthwise ...
@ Janie - yes lots of chips that cannot be used unfortunately. I suspect they'll have closed the shoreline off ... to protect the foraging dogs (I hope so). It was interesting to find out that Mojo is a sauce ... or can be ...
@ Nila - I do love chips ... I try and stay away from them! Yes - the mojo is returning ... February definitely will be easier. The sauce called 'Mojo' ... it does sort of make sense doesn't it?
@ Val - thanks so much for the support for the returning mojo. Funny old word - chips will degrade ... not sure about seagulls' digestion and yes thankfully people do look after our shoreline.
Cheers to the five of you - so good to see you - cheers Hilary
A coastline of chips. Oh my. Hope your friend has some helpful tips for you, Hils, and that you are feeling rested and energetic soon. Cheers,
All those chips on the beach certainly are a bizarre sight! ☺ Interesting about the Canary Islands sauces. My mother and I went there on a vacation back in 1967. Fascinating area! Good that you have someone to advise you about your health issues. May this new year bring improvement there!
Of all the strange things to cover a beach!
There are certainly worse things to wash ashore, but still crazy. There will be fat seagulls hanging around now.
I enjoyed fresh hot fish 'n chips in Australia that were fabulous - all wrapped up in newspaper. We ate 'em on a park bench. Good memories. I'll need to head to your end of the world someday to compare. We are just thawing from an ice storm here - day 5 and finally getting out. cheers!
Oh no chips on the beach Hope the birds don't get a tummy ache from all the chips. Sorry to hear about your health problems. Take good care. Never heard of Mojo saus from the Canary Islands. Well at least you know how to get your mojo back when you lost it lol
@ Sandra - yes we've had a lot of spilt containers and busted contents messing up our shores. Health .. has to improve in 2026!
@ Debbie - it must be a bizarre sight and now the cliffs are badly disintegrating - sad but true. I was amazed at the choices 'mojo' gave me ... c'est la vie. I too hope for an easier year ahead - thank you.
@ Diane - disgusting thought isn't it ... good to see you ...
@ Joanne - we've had worse and still got worse probably to come ... so many ships/container-ships are unregulated. The seagulls are scavengers now ... they don't often feed from the sea - as you say fat ones will abound. Fish and chips are delicious (occasionally) ... and yes we've some very good chip shops along the coast here .
Oh - I was glad for the update re the storm ... I wondered how it had affected you ... presumably even easier now, another day on ...
@ Marja - yes chips on the shore ... the poor birds I expect will be suffering. The health issues are frustrating to say the least - but Spring is on its way and somehow life has to get easier. Yes - find some 'mojo' sauce and my mojo will stick around!
Cheers to the five of you - thanks for visiting and for your thoughts - cheers Hilary
I guess spilt chips is better than spilt oil, hey? 2026 is definitely going to be more healthy than 2025. Here's to your good health.
Chips ahoy! It's Fish and Chips Friday for me, no way mine are ending up on the beach!
I learned something new. I did not know January was named for Janus. Makes sense. Be well. Cheers,
Great title!!
When did I recently enjoy fish'n'chips from a newspaper? In the past millennium? ;-)
An all new meaning to fish and chips. Glad there's people volunteering to clean up the bags. Here's to stable health in 2026!!
@ Sandra - yes ... I remember the Torrey Canyon oil spill in 1967 off Lands End ... we went to the bird sanctuary where they were trying to eliminate the oil off the birds' feathers ... it was horrific for Cornwall: the dollops of oil on the beaches and in the seas. However the spills never seem to stop happening and mess with wildlife on land and in the seas ...
Janus - two-faced ... an interesting article in Wiki on him as the god of beginnings, gates and endings ...
@ Keith - I'm sure you enjoyed your fish and chips - they are very good ... yes tummy desires them!
@ Sean - thanks ... I remember driving to Cornwall and having to stop to buy fish and ships in newspaper before getting to my grandparents' where my Mama lived at that stage ... too good - the car stank for a while!
@ Rosey - thank goodness there are people who volunteer to help clean up the beaches. I do hope I'll feel easier this year - thanks.
Cheers to you all - Hilary
When I visited London a while ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the British version of chips. Not the salty, thin, crunchy things we Americans are accustomed to.
I did not know Mojo was a sauce either:)
I'm always upset by ship spills, but I do love hearing about cleanup and restoration efforts!
I hope the year starts getting better, for all of us <3
Seriously just took my (American) brain on a journey. First, I thought the post was about the Nabisco cookie brand. Then, about potato chips. Thank goodness for pictures! Fries. 🍟 And yikes, what a mess!!
Mojo is actually a sauce? I can't live long enough to catch up with everything I don't know. But thanks for helping me learn some things!
@ Sherry - yes there's good chips and excellent ones here ... we also have the slither type too - which you don't like!! Good chips worth a dinner or two ...
@ Sandra - I was surprised about the Mojo sauce aspect ...
@ Deniz - the ship spills recently have been 'horrible' ... and I hope those don't keep happening. I too hope the year starts better for us all ...
@ JL - well I'm from this side of the pond, so my thoughts hang around here usually. Yes - I'm glad I added pictures to my blog and have kept them on ... the shore was a mess I gather. A shore fisherman today mentioned that the shoreline is full of rubbish ... not good, at all.
@ Lee - live and learn, eh?! I definitely am not going to live long enough to know all the things I want to know, let alone learn enough to understand the areas I've no clue about!!
Cheers to you all - thanks for visiting 'my chip land' ... Hilary
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