Mary Makes It Easy review: Old pals, bottle of red, Mary Berry cooking... it's the perfect picnic!...

"Effortless Mary: Simplifying Life"

A Glimpse Of Tower Of London

It's almost unbelievable that Mary Berry was only five years old when the Blitz started. Despite being born in 1935, the queen of baking is still bursting with vitality and vigor reminiscent of someone much younger than her.

I'm not being rude. On the show "Mary Makes It Easy" (which airs on BBC2), the host shared a personal story while making a creamy soup. She revealed that whenever she chops mushrooms, she thinks about how her father used to grow them in their cellar during the war. According to her, having something that was homegrown was a luxury during those times.

She remains lively and alert at the age of 88, just as she was when the Bake Off show first aired in 2010. Her bond with Mel Giedroyc has endured despite the show's transfer to Channel 4, and the duo embark on a camping adventure next to the Thames with a vehicle packed with kitchen gadgets.

It's unbelievable that Mary Berry was only five years old during the Blitz. The baking extraordinaire was born in 1935 and exudes the vigor of someone much younger.

Even though it's been over a decade since Bake Off premiered in 2010, she remains agile and mentally alert at the age of 88.

They set up a camping shelter, greeted passing boat riders, consumed a bottle of red wine, and prepared spaghetti with a vegetable ragu. For dessert, they indulged in a rich parfait drizzled with raspberry coulis. The picnic was quite sophisticated yet still practical, much like Mary herself.

While camping, Mel kept a shared secret with a wink that they may not actually sleep in the tent, which wasn't surprising to anyone. However, even though their camping trip might have been made up, their bond was not. They were totally comfortable around each other and enjoyed teasing and chatting. Mary even helped Mel with jokes and food.

Mel affectionately called her friend 'Bezza' and complimented the parfait's blend of tastes: 'It has both tanginess and sweetness.'

"You are a MasterChef in the making," Mary replied with a dry tone.

Extra Cash For The Evening

Before Status Quo scored their first hit in 1968, Francis Rossi had a contingency plan in case things didn't work out. He revealed on the television show "Little Trains & Big Names" (on More4) that he had considered owning an ice cream van. Additionally, the band almost went by a different name - the Muhammad Alis - before settling on Status Quo. The latter has a strong ring to it.

Just like on the show Bake Off, a bit of banter can make a big difference, and there were several breaks in the fun activities so we could watch Mary in her own kitchen. She showed us how to make an easy topping for ciabatta toast and also gave us a recipe for chicken tartiflette, a yummy French dish with onions and potatoes that only requires one dish.

They also had some leisure time and played a game of croquet while singing Ging Gang Goolie together. Mel was joyful and said, "I feel like I'm embodying the Girl Guide that I never had. Can I earn a cooking badge for this?"

"I will observe your progress," Mary said firmly. She is strict and does not tolerate any foolishness.

At the Tower of London, the ravens were given chicken as part of their menu. To be precise, they were offered chicks that were spread on the floor as treats for the eight well-known birds. This was carried out by the ravenmaster, Chris Skaife.

The ravens, which are important symbols for the Tower, were put in an aviary due to the potential risk of avian flu spreading all over the country. It's strange to think that the very creatures that represent the Tower are now kept in confinement. Chris came up with some activities to keep the ravens entertained while they were cooped up, such as hiding dead mice in plastic containers. It may seem unpleasant, but it's fitting since the castle has a gruesome past.

Chris donned a hazmat suit made of polythene to minimize the risk of catching an infectious disease, which deviated from the norm for yeoman warders or beefeaters. His fellow soldiers were taking a final march in their uniforms adorned with the red and gold emblems representing Queen Elizabeth II, which have been replaced with the King's symbol, CIIIR.

The Beefeaters seem to have the most extensive weaponry among all comedians who perform while standing. The ongoing sixth season of their performance features their refined humor. In an attempt to engage the tourists, one of them asked, "Anyone willing to listen to a tale with a pleasurable conclusion?" And when no one seemed interested, they sarcastically remarked, "Well, why don't you try finding some other place to visit then!"

Someone else shouted loudly, "We have received a book containing silly questions asked by visitors over the past 80 years at the Tower." "Just so you know, the Tower of London was not constructed by a sorcerer!" they added.