Dolly Dinners: I Will Forever Hate Rosé

This really has been the week from hell, which is why I've decided to resurrect our Dolly Dinners. Dolly always makes me smile, even when she sings sad songs.

I Will Forever Hate Roses is one of the tracks from Dolly's latest album, Backwoods Barbie, while I Will Forever Hate Rosé is one of the phrases from mine and Charlotte's latest conversations, following the backyard barbie we went to on Sunday.

It all started with the washing machine. It had a funny turn on Sunday morning and after a good hour of twiddling its knobs, we were forced to give up and switch it off in order to get to our friends' place in time for an afternoon of al fresco eating and merriment in the sun. However, if something's broken and needs fixing, it does tend to occupy my thoughts, and perhaps this is largely the reason why the first glass of wine I was given was consumed so quickly - to try and block out all thoughts of our unresolved laundry problems.

If it had been red wine or white wine, things wouldn't have turned out as they did, I'm sure of it. I know my boundaries with those beverages, but the problem with rosé is that it looks so innocent - that delicate blushing hue, it's so bloody deceptive. It's not innnocent at all. Our friends laid on a fantastic, delicious and perfectly cooked spread of barbequed meats and colourful, tasty salads - some had chopped appple and pear in, which I thought worked really well with the meat. The conversation flowed. The afternoon was immensely enjoyable, until I stopped counting the number of glasses I'd consumed. It was quite bizarre that everyone turned up with bottles rosé, us included.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, Charlotte ended up with her head down the toilet and I, slightly less inebriated, managed to walk her home, only to drunkenly slip as I closed the sliding doors of our double wardrobe, so that my hand ended up taking the brunt of the heavy oncoming wood panel. The following morning saw me down the hospital and my hand was in a sling for two days subsequently.

In addition to these disasters, it turns out that the washing machine can't be mended until next week, which means that we're going to have to handwash our smalls - not an easy task with only one working hand. And, completely unconnected (although I'm sure the curse of the rosé is responsible), our phoneline has been severed by the builders outside and I've woken up with a sore throat this morning.

This is why I will forever hate rosé.

Postparton Depression

As a child, did you ever get that wave of sadness come over you after Christmas day?

This is what it's like today after last night's Dolly Parton concert.

She was fantastic - beautiful, charming, witty and she sang beautifully. In addition to the tracks she performed from her Backwoods Barbie album, she also did the old favourites which had everybody up dancing. A surprising, and moving, choice was Shattered Image. This clever song is a clearly heartfelt plea to the media to think twice about some of the cruel remarks they churn out about her. "Stay out of my closet if your own's full of trash," she says.

This weekend the UK failure of Dolly's Imagination Library (launched in Rotherham last year) is plastered all over the news. It's so sad. Dolly, as the figurehead, is being portrayed as the failure when it should be the businesses and the parents in that Yorkshire town who get the blame for caring enough to get behind the scheme. She did mention the Imagination Library last night and every time she referred to its UK arm, the audience cheered and clapped. Clearly I'm not alone in my admiration of a scheme that encourages youngsters to love the English language.

Anyway, I could ramble on for ages about Dolly. If you've ever seen her perform live I'm sure you know what I mean. Talking to other people last night, it's clear that she has a bewitching quality. Once you've seen her, you're totally hooked on the Dolly drug, which is great, apart from the fact that you get horrible withdrawal symptoms, as I have today.

So I think today comfort food is the answer. What comfort food works best for you? Your suggestions will be very welcome.

Dolly Dinners: Charred Candy Crispness

(Hard Candy Christmas from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas)

I had some delicious glazed ribs this evening. If it had been yesterday (very hot and very sunny) maybe we'd have cooked them outside in the garden and eaten al fresco with the birds and the trees out back as dining companions. However, today is a rainy old day so no chance of a backwoods barbie (please feel free to groan at my very laboured attempt to weave in the name of Dolly's latest album and accompanying tour...did we mention we were going to see her on Saturday?)

Anyway, the ribs. Juicy, sweet and salty deliciousness combined with a slight crispness round the edges. Charlotte has promised to reveal her secret recipe for these shortly, so come back soon.