What a weekend

Thanks everyone that turned up for a drink at the Green Room and spoilt me with all those drinks. And can I just say that I had a great laugh at Oceana I didn’t feel old at all “I welcome being 30” what with being chatted up by a group of 21year olds (we’ll ignore the creepy old guy who decided to follows us at the end of the night) oh ad having to nice guys sing a song about my bum (in a positive manner). You can definitely say the night was eventful and definitely a giggle. A BIG thank you to Wenny and Jules. We finished the evening at some impressive 3.00am and having to cue for a taxi and taking far too long to get home on the quiet roads, had a cup of tea and toast and went straight to sleep until 1.00pm only because some called us and woke us up continued with a good old English breakfast (well more like lunch). I had the chance to relax n the sun before the rain came down. As I was on a roll I decided to make some cup cakes (as mentioned yesterday) – pretty yummy little things.

Confession, a really good hangover cure (not that I had one mind) I only make the cakes to eat the cake mixture out of the bowl and off the spoon and whatever else it’s stuck too, of course in the interest of health and hygiene (people at work) this licking takes place after the mixture has been divided into the cases. These are lemon cakes cooked to perfection if I do say so myself, light, fluffy and yummy, with just a hint of lemon fruityness. The frosting is pants (but that doesn’t stop me from eating it by the bucket load) I used ready to roll icing (what I call plastic icing and I DON’T like it like a stroppy child doesn’t like cabbage), you were meant to use fondant icing, is that the same thing? Anyway melt it over a pan of hot water like you do with chocolate and then add lemon juice and when it’s all melted and soft add in an egg white, leave to cool for 10 minutes and spread onto the cakes. Like I said its pants, but a margin better than plain old fake icing.

I’ve also been trying out my new cutters to make flowers, and leaves ready for the wedding. I’m mad I’m making my own wedding cake/s. These are again made from left over roll it yourself icing.

Wait a minute I don’t really get this roll it yourself icing business I mean either do the icing yourself or just buy the cake with it already on. I do admit I’ve bought a fruit cake before and then marzipan then iced it myself but only because I DON’T like plastic icing. Maybe there are people out there that like to make cakes (or lick the bowl) but can’t be asked to make the icing. Are you one of them? Oh I am rambling Sorry!

A friend has leant me this fantastic book, if you’re interested in cooking fairy cakes, making various icing it gives loads of tips and just looks good really.

I enjoyed cooking so much I decided to wash up after myself (partner usually does that)

New Photo for my profile ...

... Hmmmmm not sure about that might have to find another one. So anoid I left my photo's of my recent cupcakes at work so I can't show you them. Just eaten the last one mmmmmm feel sick now. I did take most of them into work again so they were able to enjoy them and I didn't have to eat all of them. I'll show you tomorrow.

I also made my first yorkshire puds, boy were they good (even if I do so myself) all puffy mind again there were some left here's what's left.

First he thought he'd have a play

Before he too couldn't resist

Does this work?

Check out the strange goings on in Wales. Bet you scrapping people out there have never used this paper to make anything, it's made from sheep poo. Find out more here

Sorry does it work now?

Breath and relax

It took so long to do anything yesterday that before I knew where I was Hereos was on and I'm not missing that after such a long time, it was worth the wait especially like I said (say in a brummie accent) 'I had lovely cup of tea' and those demon matchstick mint flavour cookies. Boy were they good I have another one saved for tonight.

Out of my reach

The butterflies idea I have to admit I got from someone else (extremely sorry though can't remember who or where I got it from, if I come across it I'll jot it down here first). All it is though - in a box frame I've cut out and placed butterflies from thick glossy magazines and placed on them on mini foam pads to raise them off the back. Like everything I do in a hurry though I discovered some flaws. Don't use the backing paper that comes in the frame, like moi ! Using a rubber to get rid of any pencil lines made the paper glossy so I had to try and rub it all. If I find a nice sunny day I'll try photographing some prettier shots.

Oh and the other was Sean showing his emotions (and my partners) at there boredom of me being tide to the laptop (or locked in the craft room). He got so bored he decided to demonstrate how cluttered my table is, by breaking a leg.

Busy Busy Butterfly

Must dash hereos is on, and I have a cup of tea and matchstick cookies awaiting. I'll have to explain all this tomorrow.

P.S Aren't the photo's horrible, bad case of the shakes, been running around like a headless chicken.

Saturday 19th April 08

Oh my gosh do I ache, I have muscles where I never knew I had muscles. My back aches, my bum hurts. Oh it hurts to sit down, and it hurts to get up. Everyone is waking up one-by-one and compares war wounds, I think mum is the worst off not only was her horse struggling up the hill, and he was nervous around the other horses especially wennies, he decided to get spooked going through the last gate and bashed mum’s knee against the gate bolt. There was blood and today it’s swollen and bruised.

What we need is a spa in the form of the wild pheasant in Llangollen. Boy was it good, we sweated in the sauna we melted in the steam room and we floated on bubbles in the four hydra pools, oh it was heaven, oh yes, aches did go. However it did make me sleepy when having my haircut. We had a quick drink in the pub before going back to change for the meal.

I have to say I was a little disappointed by the meal (at the white waters Hotel) it just seemed a little over priced for what was served up (and it wasn’t busy when we served so no excuses for keeping food warm) everyone else seemed quite happy, I don’t know how I managed to order it but I had the poached salmon on a potato cake served next to a poached egg on a fennel bulb smothered in a sauce that well, looked and tasted like melted margarine (not even butter) my taste buds couldn’t quite grasp the whole concept. Luckily for me Jo swapped her duck du’orange which was a lot nicer, but extremely chunky.

We had lots of wine, my mad family had organised the staff to bring out a Hedgehog cake and all sang Happy Birthday. Muchio blush did I.

We all went home to drink some celebration drink which was too sweet for almost everyone except me so I drank most of it, luckily I did cos it got me through the worse film ever (sorry Will) I can’t even remember what it was called. Black tower/death tower/black death.

Greg

Will

Wenny

Friday 18th April 2008

MY BIRTHING DAY

I woke up early considering what a late night we all had, mum was up and ready to take Stew to school, but Stew wasn't ready. I'm glad I was up though because I was able to see these arrive.

1st the huge bouquet of flowers

then a huge box containing these balloons with a yummy 'ittle box of chocs.

Just as I thought things couldn't get any better, when all 8 of us were up and ready we went into the front room to open my present and boy was there a lot. Sean was quite taken by the amount of presents I received here's a peek and most of them. Sorry if you can't see your present these photo's were taking the next early morning with the added bonus of aches and pains, but I'll explain that later.

my clothes

a CD or DVD anyone?

maybe a snack?

time for a rest

He's made a friend.

Horse riding.
After we were all showed and ready we ventured of to our horse trekking expedition, it was a funny affair we all grouped together to find t-shirts, gloves and scarves to keep us warm.

Look at the state of us.

We all nominated Laura as the most experienced after Greg told us she used dance on horses backs (that's not what hacking means Greg), so she was placed with Solitaire who didn't move until we were all ready unlike the rest of us. All of our horse suited us there was me on Bow,extremely stubborn yet quite happy with being second but sulked if he couldn't get his own way. There was Greg on Harry who wanted to be something out of a western and was always in the lead. Wen was on (forgotten the name) a little temperamental but good fun. Jo was on Chester who had his nose in everything and was quite happy in every ones company. Then there was mum on Jake the last to finish but doesn't give up (he was there to lose weight). I'd definitely recommend them if you're interested have a look http://www.atspringhill.co.uk/

The views were stunning, we saw lots of sheep and teeny weeny lambs, buzzards, 1 kite and 1 hare, and more horses.

We returned, slowly warming up all desperate to fall asleep, but stuffed our faces with doughnuts. We finished the evening off with a buffet a great mix of posh nosh from Waitrose and some cheap and cheerful stuff from Asda. Instead of cake I had mum's homemade trifle (a traditional one by mum's standards upside down trifle) Boy was it good, oh yes I love finger food.

To end it all off we settled down to watch Stardust. I love that film.

Thursday 17th April 2008

All good things happen in threes...

I have no idea how I got out of bed this morning but I did need to go to Dr's for a blood test (what a fiasco) let's not spoil the day by telling you about that.

Delight no.1

I got into work and on my extremely cluttered desk was this little package.

I can't open until tomorrow, but I always get excited by parcels from Candice (admittedly they did only be for Jo until recently), she's definitely got the gift of gift buying and wrapping.

Delight no.2

One of our friends (who has been trying for a baby for a long time) has finally delivered a bundle of joy in the shape of a yummy little boy. I'd ordered a book from work "Baby Scrapbook" only to find (or so we thought) that it wasn't available. But NO today it landed on my desk by the cheery postman who has finished work by 12.00 lucky man (mind he does have an early start) any way it's a beautiful book or gift for anyone who is itching to be creative but is either a mere beginner or just too busy or even darn lazy. You can plonk your photo's in or jazz them up by following the simple instructions. Excellent bargain for £9.99.

Oh and it comes with stickers !

This is where the fun really begins... at the end of work off we go to Morcello's Ice cream parlour in Selfridges in the Bulliring. It took ages to look through the menu and decide what ice cream to go for but I finally settled for Nutty Almond mmmmmm, Caramel, Rum and Raisin (not sure why I went for the rum and raisin not a great fan but think I felt a bit of nostalgia of when I was younger and having an ice cream out meant having rum and raisin or mint choc chip as the only different available flavours) topped with thick fudge sauce and wafer biscuits.

It was BEAUTIFUL ! OH YES !!

We also had to supply ourselves with doughnuts from Krispy Kremes

Wenny sits patiently as we pack the car.

After stuffing ourselves silly with Ice cream we returned home to pack the car, 3 people, 1 dog, lots of presents and all our luggage squashed into the 'ittle car. Finally left to arrive in Wales at 10.30pm feeling tired and over ice creamed.

Delight no.3
My final delight was waiting for me in mum and dad's window, he was busy looking at the scenes in front of him which must have been of rolling hills and countryside, grazing sheep which slowly turned into a beautiful night sky with twinkling stars. At the time I didn't realise but mum asked if I'd like my first present and this is he.

I've named him Sean, after one of our foster brothers. When we knew him he had attitude but a heart of gold, was very rough around the edges but extremely lovable. And so is this monkey made by my mum with lots of love and great traumas (he wasn't going to be made easily) she calls him ITV monkey (think that's the name of the pattern) he's full of lumps and bumps where she's had to knit and unpick and knit again, but I think that makes him even more adorable.

1st things 1st

30th BIRTHDAY EVENTS

Well well well, what a busy weekend there's so much to write about. I think I'll probably write it all up bit by bit as if I'm going through it day by day.The invites went out to my family thought I'd make more of a 'thing' of it and invite them properly even though they had a better idea of what was going on than I did. Made by me it's a bit of a cheat it's an illustration (by me) I can print on to a blank card and then add the wording and a little gem to add a tiny bit of bling !

Little bit scared

I have some weird little lumps growing on my wrist very very slowly getting worse, but I'm sure it's ok. Mr Waggles decided to do a houdini style trick out of the garden. Think he just wanted to play with Yapiee (tiny dog so named cos he yaps and yaps when left alone). So we spent Sunday half buried in laylandii tress putting up chicken wire. Hence the small rash that covered my hand and has now almost disappeared, except a teeny tiny patch on my wrist which I squeezed and whoops now seem to be getting biggggger.

Arghhh I have the plague

Less of my ramblings, would anyone like some cakes

Mmmmm Carrot cake, I really fancied some carrot cake and I have a great recipe (from Marie Claire magazine once upon a time, although I must insist you include the walnuts I need to find it for you) it's meant to make a lovely sponge, but I hate greasing the tin and cutting the greaseproof paper always leaving it til last searching through my piles high cupboard, ta-da there was some cupcase cases I'LL MAKE SOME FAIRY CAKES with a carrot twist. Only thing was I made about 42. Then I had to Ice them. But it was worth it they were the best fairy cakes ever mmmmmmmmmm.

And work enjoyed them too, don't say I don't give you anything work peeps.

Today I ventured into the rich land of Waitrose to buy some party bits for my small yet delightfully yummy buffet party (for me family). So excited. urgh nooo please urggghhh watching extrodinary people tree man or something blood lots of blood, warts oh no do I have wierd warts.

I'm going to go now. Big x

Slowly growing

I'm slowly adding things very small bit by bit. I had a noodle night tonight YEAH I feel naughty. Too tired must go (actually need loo but thought that impolite to say)

Testing testing 1 2 3

Hello, echo echo echo.

Just wanted to get started as it's my 30th b'day soon and as I have a lot planned I wanted to keep a record of everything I do.

At the mo though I have the day off from work (yipee!) My dear mama is here (and she's cooking toast even though she's meant to be a guest) we're all extremely tired cos Mr Waggles didn't want to sleep and just play with his cousin.

I'll leave it there for now as test goes that was fairly painless. Oh it has a spell check and everything.