Firstly he has attended an event organised by Food Network UK, a television channel that describes itself as: The ultimate food destination. Loads of recipes and videos to satisfy your every craving. Watch us on Sky 262, Freeview 49 and freesat 405.
A fellow attendee of the event, was a baker called Edd Kimber-- who took this lovely shot of himself with The Schaf
I'm not sure why His Loveliness was invited to this event {i}: Maybe my notion of yore could be could be coming true, a cookery show with Rustie Lee. I can picture it now; Tomasz showing off his hot perogis, while Rustie cackles anarchically in the background.
In the past couple of days, Tomasz has been keeping us updated on the strong winds over Scotland. Tulloch Bridge in Perth & Kinross recorded a gust of 105mph, while Glasgow Airport had gusts of over 70mph! The highest speed recorded has reportedly been at Cairngorm (Highlands) 165mph-- only 8mph short of the all-time record. I bet that ruffles the feathers of the ptarmigan.
Some wags have named the storm Hurricane Bawbag {ii}, a name that seems to have quickly gained popularity. However, as Michael Fish will tell you {iii}, we can't get hurricanes in this country; just as well, because I don't think Scotland would like 14 inches of rain in one day! (It would bring the midges out)
Tomasz explains:
I see there is some discussion about "hurricanes" and "hurricane force winds". Hurricanes only happen in the subtropics and close to the tropics. It's a term that describes a cluster of spinning thunderstorms about an "eye". The winds which blow inside a hurricane are of "hurricane force".
Hurricane winds blow at least 74mph with gusts of 90mph or more. Today, we in fact, had hurricane force winds in the UK, but not generated by a spinning cluster of thunderstorms (a "hurricane"). The winds today were brought by a mid-lattitude storm which is common in our climate. So, you can have "hurricane winds" but not necessarily produced by a tropical hurricane.
The good news is that the winds are expected to die down a little overnight. However temperatures will struggle to get much above freezing (only 3C expected in my neck of the woods tomorrow), which means blizzards are possible on high ground.
In fact some snow has already fallen across the Pennines; as is 'traditional', the marvellous Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire (Britain's highest pub) was cut off by snow yesterday-- ultimate lock-in. Just as well it has its own snow-plough!
Stay safe in the winds, if you're in Scotland.
{i} To help make some dough rise, perhaps
{ii} For those who have not watched Dr Finlay or Taggart, that's a gentleman's scrotal sac (IE "ball-bag")
{iii} And has been doing since 1987
