I'm reblogging this one from the archive.
It's widely regraded to be my weirdest post.
Enjoy?
Outside in all weathers, tour guides know a thing or two about battling the cold weather. So what do we do if we catch a cold?
Here you go.
Don't say I'm not good to you…
The Daily Constitutional Cough Tincture
I fear I am beginning a journey into eccentric old age akin to that of Kurtz in Conrad's Heart of Darkness – when they send a team to get me back, I will be too far gone to ever return home.
I have taken to making my own cough medicine.
In my all-too-rare moments of clarity I catch sight of myself and sigh, "Dearie me."
Having said that, it is outstanding cough medicine.
Here's the recipe…
You will need…
50g Soft Eating Liquorice
Balsamic Vinegar
Dried Sage
Chamomile flowers
Honey
Whole cloves
Method
Chop up the liquorice into small pieces and place in a pan with half a mug of water.
Add a good glug of Balsamic Vinegar and 6 cloves.
Bring to the boil, stirring continually, and simmer until the mixture is slightly gloopy and the liquorice has more or less dissolved.
While the mixture simmers…
In a mug or small teapot, place three heaped teaspoons of dried sage and one teaspoon of chamomile flowers. Fill with boiling water and allow to brew for a few minutes – for about as long as a good cup of builder’s tea.
Strain the mixture and add the result to the simmering liquorice solution.
Stir in 2-3 table spoons of honey.
Strain into a jar or bottle.
How To Take…
This tincture works best as a gargle.
Exercise caution with the cloves and never replace them with clove oil, which is much more potent and can burn, even small quantities.
And please take note: don’t keep it hanging around in a bottle/jar for more than a couple of days, due to lack of preservatives. Similarly, don’t brew up vast amounts of the stuff as it is sure to go off and/or blow up your medicine cabinet.
My Public Scheduled Tours for February 2020
13th February 2020 – Jack The Ripper – 7.30pm Tower Hill Tube (by the tram)
14th February 2020 – Beatlemania! The Beatles In London 1961-65 – 10am Embankment tube 14th February 2020 – Rock'n'Roll London – 2pm Tottenham Court Road Tube (exit 1) SOLD OUT
27th February 2020 – London Horror Story – 7.30pm St Paul's Tube
27th February 2020 – Old Kensington – 2pm High Street Kensington Tube
27th February 2020 – Jack The Ripper – 7.30pm Tower Hill Tube (by the tram)
28th February 2020 – Beatlemania! The Beatles In London 1961-65 – 10am Embankment tube 28th February 2020 – Rock'n'Roll London – 2pm Tottenham Court Road Tube (exit 1) 29th February 2020 – The Beatles + The Rolling Stones in 1960s London – 10.30am Leicester Sq Tube (exit 1) 29th February 2020 – London Horror Story – 7.30pm St Paul's Tube
