Home and Garden Help

01/06/2026

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers

🍢 Juicy, tender chicken infused with Thai flavors and a creamy coconut marinade! 🥥 Perfect for grilling, these skewers are bursting with tropical goodness and irresistible aroma. 🌿🔥

Ingredients:

1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Fresh cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes to create the marinade. 🥥⏱️ 5 minutes
Add chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring each piece is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours for more flavor). ❄️⏱️ 30-120 minutes
Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. 🔥⏱️ 5 minutes
Thread marinated chicken onto soaked bamboo skewers. 🍢⏱️ 5 minutes
Brush skewers lightly with vegetable oil and grill for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and slightly charred. 🌿⏱️ 10-12 minutes
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. 🍋

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Marinating Time: 30-120 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 57-147 minutes
Kcal: 220 kcal | Servings: 4 servings

29/05/2026

This alleged situation with our not fit for purpose antiquated South West Water sewerage processing plant and old clay pipes currently imploding beneath the ground has now all come to ahead. With all of the new houses built since the 1970’s we have an estimated 3,500 people now living in the immediate Tamar Valley area of both Gunnislake & St. Ann’s Chapel which has created the obvious problem of far too much sewerage for the old system to cope with. We have been flooded out twice along with several of our neighbours with raw sewerage entering our property. South West Water Contractor’s have told us that they are constantly being called out to clear blockages from back up sewerage in the pipes when we experience periods of heavy rainfall. With some of the surface water drains being blocked along Calstock Road high levels of rainwater enter the sewerage system and overwhelm it’s capacity. South West Water contractors have also told us that experimental materials used to reline the pipes have been a major failure and that the entire local sewerage system now needs a major upgrade and that the management are not prepared to make the level of investment required to fix this problem. It’s alleged that South West Water like to tell everyone that any sewerage back up entering one’s property is not their responsibility and that they are under no obligation to work together with Highways in getting the surface water drains pumped out and cleared. This is an outrageous example of gross mismanagement. Their contractors have informed us that all they can do is keep on patching up a not fit for purpose failing sewerage system. What is required is the whole community coming together to demand a public enquiry and for this to be debated at Cornwall County Council and for the matter to be addressed to our local MP as we are now sitting on a sewerage time-bomb. The absence of any fish along this stretch of the River Tamar is of great environmental concern and this should again be subject to a major investigation. This prolonged period of hot dry weather has resulted in the solid sewerage having to be taken out by 24/7 lorries. This is not acceptable and a sticking plaster reaction. It would be interesting what impact there would be if the local population withheld their sewerage payments until this problem is fixed as sometimes direct action achieves the best possible results. I am contacting both the Environment Agency, our local MP, Cornwall County Council, Cornwall Live, Devon Live and Spotlight as one needs to blow the lid right off this public scandal.


17/01/2026

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22/07/2025

We love creating tropical gardens in Devon & Cornwall. Call Marc to bring the Mediterranean to your Tamar Valley Microclimate Garden. Tel. 07826 975969

Email [email protected] or visit our Home and Garden Help Website. https://vintagefingerposts.wixsite.com/home-and-garden-help