• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MsMarmiteLover

  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
  • Travel
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Wine
  • Gardens
  • Supperclubs/Events
  • About
    • Press
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

7 year itch

October 16, 2008 14 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

As a statement was put out that Madonna and Guy Ritchie are divorcing, after 7 1/2 years of marriage, my thoughts turned to a talk on relationship astrology at the Lodge last Monday night. The speaker said that most relationships last 7 years, a quarter of a Saturn cycle.

One of Guy Ritchie’s reasons for divorcing Madonna is her obsession with the Kaballah and, as a confirmed atheist, I sympathize. However recently someone dumped me apparently because of my interest in astrology which he said was “as bad as being religious”… that really hurt because I thought of him a friend too. (Although it may have had more to do with the fact that I’m not 25, a size 8, and with a brain the size of a pea. In the immortal words of Sharon Stone…”If you have a vagina and an attitude in this town, then that’s a lethal combination. “)
Men don’t like you to get upset or emotional. If you do then you are ‘mental’. Right. Being fucked, if I may speak so boldly, means having somebody inside your bodily cavities!!!! Literally inside you. Women are supposed to take this lightly? Excuse me if I don’t get over it in ten seconds.
I don’t believe in astrology, I’m interested in it, simply because it seems to work. I don’t know why, it just does. I view it’s unerring accuracy with fascination. There are times when I am more interested… Recently, with the credit crunch, which has been predicted by astrologers for decades, astrology has proved itself worth a closer look don’t you think?

Recent posts

guacamole Pic: Kerstin Rodgers

Halloween/Day of the Dead supper club October 29th

August 10, 2022

Emily O'Hare serving pasta at an al fresco dinner in La Torre Alle Tolfe, just outside Siena in Tuscany pic; Kerstin Rodgers

Visiting Tuscany, Chianti, sommelier Emily O’Hare and the world’s most famous butcher

August 4, 2022

The Palio in Siena, Italy: curses and horses

July 28, 2022

Previous Post: « Rock n’ roll kitchen
Next Post: Sweets »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mainframeguy

    October 17, 2008 at 6:56 am

    err – is this a private affair now? What's the deal with that?

    Reply
  2. corbin

    October 17, 2008 at 11:17 am

    I feel your pain …

    "perhaps i need to turn down the gain on my empathy chip"
    Robert Llewellyn (Kryten, Able) of red dwarf

    ok that's silly of me but I am

    and that's o k

    because actually caring is were
    I'm at.

    Reply
  3. corbin

    October 17, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    "a good man is 75% woman" my professor friend said to me and anyone who would listen .
    which 75% he never said .
    well…
    yes he did ,
    be nurchering, kind,compassionate, maternally loving if you will.
    I believed him.
    partly as it was my nature to be so already…
    good advice for any man in my opinion.
    even the transvestites .

    like my dad …

    Reply
  4. marmitelover

    October 17, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    Speaking of transvestites or 'T-girls' as they like to be known as..
    I'm noticing some sort of inverse law there…the straighter the guy seems to be, the kinkier and vice versa. So today I had a lunch date with a guy who seemed to be a bit dull, computer programmer type. I thought well, ok, try dull. That might work. But no, a few emails down the line it turns out he's a cross dresser but, he said, "I'll be coming to the date dressed as a man".

    Now you'd think I'd cancel it, in that it's so obviously not going anywhere from the outset. However, being me, I a) cannot bear to hurt his feelings b) am interested in Iranian food c) thought it would be an interesting experience if nothing else.

    So I replied to him " Good. Always best on a first date I find."

    Anyway just got back, it was interesting. He runs private dinner parties for 'T-girls'. Could be a business proposal?
    Deffo a niche market.
    But romance? No dice. But I don't mind a man dressing up from time to time, I find most red-blooded males can't wait to try on a frock and a bit of lippie…

    Reply
  5. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    October 18, 2008 at 12:04 am

    Astrology is something I'm interested in too and it's not a religion; it's a mystical theory and that's different. A religion is a dogmatic belief-system, ususally (but not always) involving some kind of supernatural creator-controller being. I've had charts done that have proved reamrkably accurate and so it deservbes to be taken seriously.

    ML, I hope you realize that a woman doesn't have to be 25 years old and a size 8 to be beautiful.

    Reply
  6. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    October 18, 2008 at 12:06 am

    "Men don't like you to get upset or emotional."

    Which men? There are over 3 billion of us and we're all different individuals.

    Reply
  7. marmitelover

    October 18, 2008 at 12:44 am

    Ok I'm generalising but…this is my observation. But then I think many people can't take responsibility for what they do. It's an easy get-out isn't it? "Oh well, she's mental. It wasn't me. It's her. It was no big deal, she's over-reacting."

    Reply
  8. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    October 18, 2008 at 9:42 am

    I know what you mean. When I first split up from my teenager's mum I went through a "women- they're all bitches!" phase because it meant I never had to face up to the truth that I'd simply ended up with the wrong one.

    Reply
  9. corbin

    October 18, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    a little less love a little more common decency – Kurt Vonnegut
    works for me .
    for you ….
    who knows ?

    Reply
  10. marmitelover

    October 19, 2008 at 1:15 am

    Yes. My friend Caro put on Facebook for her religious beliefs: Everybody be nice to each other.
    Hey I want to sign up for that one!

    Reply
  11. Animal Disco

    October 20, 2008 at 10:49 am

    I lvoe this post, but couldn't comment at the time because I had a temporary lapse regarding how to use blogger. Anyway, all that's irrelevant now; suffice to say, though, that I still love this post: it's brave and personal, as well as being beautifully crafted. ML: he's lost you…and it's his loss.

    Reply
  12. tracy

    February 3, 2009 at 11:15 am

    Ooh yes I agree, I don't believe in astrology (after all I study physics before children,I should be all skeptical) but I got bored one day, heard about my saturn returning and it led to me to investiating my chart. It's so spot on for me it's freaky so I do find it really interesting.

    Reply
  13. MsMarmitelover

    February 3, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Hi Tracy,
    Welcome to my blog.
    Nice to hear that a scientist is also impressed by astrology.

    Reply
  14. tracy

    February 3, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    Well my kind of thinking is that just because we don't know how it works yet doesn't mean it's not true.
    We don't know everything, and probably never will.
    It could just be my jupiter in 12th conjunct ascendent speaking!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Ben Emlyn-Jones Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

Subscribe to my mailing list

msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Corn, cheese, courgette fritters in the air fryer. Corn, cheese, courgette fritters in the air fryer. When it’s hot, I want salads yes but also fried things. See my piece and the Recipe on @hamandhigh https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/air-fryer-recipes-9207650 #recipe #airfryer
Tonight’s dinner: Caesar salad with coddled egg, Tonight’s dinner: Caesar salad with coddled egg, anchovy, Parmesan dressing & pine nuts; roast apricots with mozzarella, roast peppers with garlic & tomato; grilled sweetcorn with honey, butter & espelette pepper dressing; smoked mackerel pâté with dill. #alfresco #summerlovin #dinnertonight
Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubb Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubbery and less salty) with watermelon, spruce oil and tarragon. #salad #summervibes
I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are now doing breakfast & brunch. The restaurant design is stunning in itself, from the gaudi-esque central staircase, to the table decorations, to the uniforms of the waiting staff. Chef @olliedabous has developed an incredible menu: from standards like avocado on toast (beautifully presented with edible flowers & 2 lightly poached eggs), pain au chocolat (buckwheat), french toast with blueberry compote ( cloud-like, soft, light), British @exmoorcaviar with sourdough, mango with kefir lime zest, an extraordinary tea & coffee menu ( Brazilian single estate coffee) Yuzu indigo tea. You can spend a lot. Or a little. Worth it for the design, the baking, the feeling of experiencing a rare treat. #london #breakfast #brunch #review #invitation
My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @ My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @cursesforever. It’s been featured in US vogue. Style, good food, great music, stunning backgrounds of mount vesuvius & Naples were the order of the day. Or should I say 3 days which is how long it lasted. The bride wore white but it was a vintage @viviennewestwood corset (one of only 5 existing, the other 3 are in fashion museums), and a flowery bikini to cut the delicious rose 🌹 and cherry 🍒 cake. Hawaiian barbie & La Cicciolina were inspirations. The guests were equally stunning. #naples #wedding #bridestyle
Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt an Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt and tahini sauce. Aubergines 🍆 soak up a lot of oil so an air fryer is a great way to minimise the calorific content. They tasted just as delicious! Recipe here: https://msmarmitelover.com/2022/06/air-fryer-recipe-aubergine-sticks-with-yoghurt-tahini-sauce.html I only used a couple of tablespoons of olive oil rather than a gallon. Going to play about with some other recipes. #airfryer #recipe I got my air fryer here: https://www.very.co.uk/electricals/cooking-appliances/fryers/e/b/4571.end it’s an extra large with 2 drawers.
This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, p This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, patatas nachas. Underneath is a layer of potatoes fried in olive oil. On top nachos with cheese, salsa, guacamole, creme fraiche, rajas. It’s a mash up of patatas bravas and nachos. There is a brilliant book out with 75 nachos variations by @tfimb called nachos for dinner. Nachos are quick tasty & if you add other elements- filling. #nachos #dinner
Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouil Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouille but with fried potato. Recipes here: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/three-neapolitan-vegetarian-recipes-9147040 #naples #recipe #vegetarian
Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘Yo Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘You take dry bread, put it in a colander, put it in the sea, drain it, add tomatoes, oil, oregano and this is a meal. Every family had a dried bread drawer.’ I was told. I used basil and made my own ‘sea water’ by adding salt to fresh water. Recipe in the @ham&high and on the blog soon. #aquasale #breadsalad #cucinapovera #tomatoes #heatwavefood
Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed - a Neapolitan dish I had in a local trattoria in a sweltering narrow street. Served hot in a basket, I tore them up and dipped them in oil & lemon juice. Recipe in the ham and high and on the blog soon. #recipe #naples #fried
Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister in laws birthday in waterlow park. A rolypoly race. 
I’ve not been feeling great the past few days, sniffles, headache, sore throat. I took a test after the picnic just to be on the safe side & sure enough I finally caught the dreaded covid. 
When I feel better I’ll return to Italy.
This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher @dariocecchinimacellaio whose shop is located in Panzano, Tuscany. He trained my favourite food writer @bill.buford in butchery. I told him I didn’t eat meat & he twinkled ‘to beef or not to beef’. He has a Clark Gable elegance: moustache, slicked back hair, charm, & a designer shirt depicting cows from @cotondoux paris. I instinctively wore a red & white striped dress which matched the colours of his shop, the red & white of the surgeon. They serve you glasses of Dario’s own Chianti Classico complete with straw bottomed ‘fiasco’. Now where else do you get that? When I return I will try the vegetarian menu at his restaurant opposite. #butcher #panzano #tuscany #chiantishire #chianticlassico #foodsiena #foodreportage
On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’v On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’ve had to be creative with the table legs. We went to the Palio horse race in the shell-shaped piazza where the passion & downright enmity of the different contrada or districts, each represented by an animal or mascot, was on display. The riders go bareback. It’s the horse that wins not the jockey. A riderless horse can win. There are many false starts, a massive explosion going boom in the square each time which led kids to cry. We waited for hours in the cheap seats- the burnt ochre brickwork of the centre. While tourists at windows paid 600 euros for the privilege. I loved the singing, like football chants but operatic- lots of finger pointing at each other. After I went to a contrada dinner on the streets of Siena, a rare opportunity. For 35 euros you attend the largest ‘supper club’ ever- 800 people, 4 courses, generous helpings of chianti. The servers are local teenagers. I wore my ‘Oca’ or goose scarf around my shoulders, looking like a girl guide. A bucket list item ticked off. I only wish my daughter @siennamarla was with me. #travel #food #italy #chiantishire #siena #palio #supperclub #oca #contrada
Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredana Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredanaparisi72
My piece in the @hamandhigh about the 3 day @heat My piece in the @hamandhigh about the  3 day @heathostile training course. Incredibly interesting & challenging. Link: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/hostile-environment-training-9037980 to read more #hostileenvironmenttraining
Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot eggs, cheeseboard, stracciatella & cucumber, tomato/strawberry/peashoot salad with real balsamic & spruce oil, home cured dill gravlax, smoked salmon, homemade sourdough crisp bread, potato salad with wild fennel & lots more! #supperclub #midsummer #eattherainbow (miss you @linnsoederstroem)
Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 years was great fun. I’m pleased with my food, the guests were lovely, it looked magical in the garden. But the weather! I even had to bring my duvets from the bedroom out. They looked like refugees. But this brought even more laughter! Next event September
My first supperclub in two years will take place t My first supperclub in two years will take place this Saturday 18th June starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £50 byo you can book here: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsommar-supper-club there are still a few places left. Pescetarian menu. Scandi and botanical influences. #gettingbackonmyfeet #postpandemic #smallbusinesses #supperclub #london
I recently completed the 3 day @heathostile train I recently completed the 3 day  @heathostile training course. On the last day I was kidnapped by ex-special forces for a few hours & learnt how to deal with compliance training & a hostile environment. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. 3 intense days of combat first aid, navigation & how to survive in a war zone. I handled short, long guns, mortars, grenades, bullets, and tourniquet & bandaged an amputee. I learnt where to sit in a car, where to hide from a bullet, where to protect myself if in a car. It was brilliant. Highly recommended for any journalists, photographers, cameramen, charity workers, paramedics going into any difficult environment say a disaster or war. The stories from the tutors & the other participants were so interesting. My piece on it out soon. Book a course: https://hostile-environment.co.uk/  They also do jungle & desert training. I’d love to join the Antarctic expedition. Anyway that’s me hooded in the front. #adventures #het #hostileenvironmenttraining #experiences #travel
Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking o Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking on doors, going to libraries, searching through graveyards for my Irish forebears. It’s really hard to find information prior to 1850. I found this in last years trip to Arbroath in Scotland. Headstones wear out, records are lost or burnt in a fire, everybody has the same name and are known by nicknames, successive children have the same first name, that usually means they died and the next one is called by the same thing. Women did have children out of wedlock, and people remarried more often than you’d think, plus families fall out & never see each other again. I learnt that my Irish great grandfather michael went to Glasgow & met a woman who came from a similar place: somewhere wild & beautiful by the sea. Then they and their children came to london. Chasing the work & the money always. Politics and economics matter for they push people around from rural to city. And now we rodgers are Londoners. #ireland #scotland #family #travel #roots
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2022 msmarmitelover