Smudges

Holidays

2011-07-31T14:17:00.001+01:00

We've been off work all week and as it draws to an end, I'm going to recap what we've been up to.

The first think I had to do was some baking and decided on a cherry cake my other halves favourite, especially as this one has some almond in it.

I've started a collection of the river cottage handbooks, and the cakes No 8 is my favourite, followed closely by the bread No 3. So far I've baked the chocolate cake, bounty cake, Welsh cakes, and anzac biscuits lots of times. Later today I'll be tryin out the carrot cake. Another family favourite.

Foooood

2011-07-24T09:52:00.001+01:00

We couldn't wait any longer the potatoes from the garden needed using and so I had to cut the first of the courgettes and a few sprigs of rosemary as well as some other ingredients and dah-duh

Courgette bake, we borrowed the recipe from somebody's Nigel Slater book, we then thought we'd brought the said book only it must have been in another. We've now got his vol I vegetable and vol II fruit, they are both great for us growers for new ideas on how to cook fruit and vegetables you might have

Disaster with acrylics

2011-07-21T10:01:00.007+01:00

Art class for the last couple of weeks have been about naive or abstract art. We've not had much direction so the first week we struggled to think of any idea's, until we went through our phone's and found this lovely photo of a bluebell walk we went on back in May.

I painted my paper blue and well... I had bit of a strop, like a two year old would when they don't get their own way. I struggled I tells ya, but I tried again this week and I managed to get the trees ok but when I tried to do the bluebell's it all went grey, literally.

So that's why it's a bit of an acrylic disaster. I'm not a fan of abstract art either, but I did see a lovely painting of some trees in lovely warm colours and it was made by painting small blobs of paint in shades of yellow, oranges and browns. But I found it very hard to just place lots of blobs, I suppose I expected it to be easy when in reality you have to think about it and understand how to not mix the paint too much so you end up with a grey blob, yet mix them enough so they make a beautiful picture.

I wonder if I can bring myself to finish it off next week.

Watercolour rose

2011-07-20T12:55:00.002+01:00

We've joined an art group, and we're having fun !

What's really good about it is - we have a tutor setting us task and guiding us, but it changes every third week. We only need to pay weekly, when we go rather than annually. So far we've had a go at watercolours and this is my rose.

I do have to say that I cheated a little, the rose is a step-by-step taken from 'ready-to-paint watercolour flowers' by Wendy Tait. Because we were concentrating on watercolours the book gives you the image to trace over, then it gives you step-by-step guide on how to paint it.

I'm quite pleased for my first attempt, although the colours are a little funny, because I started the painting at art group but then finished it at home. Anyway I'm hoping to get it framed and I'll give to my mum as a bleated 60th Birthday present.

Greenfingers

2011-07-20T12:53:00.005+01:00

Courgette's are doing well and the beans are full of flowers if a little short in size.

I've finally gone and brought a new hose with fancy gun, after having enough of getting soaking wet everytime I use the old one. I'm officially sad because I hot so excited at the no leak hose with 5 way spray gun lol !

Well here's to growing your own, fresh produce, and leak free hosepipes

Right I'm going to enjoy my Friday and the weekend x

Purple gems

2011-07-06T14:04:00.001+01:00

I couldn't wait any longer and instead of watering them I decided to tip the bag upside down. At first I thought there was nothing inside until ... ripping apart the soil and roots out popped a purple gem, a potato that goes by the name of edgecote something or other. You see see I did label them but the label is no where to be seen.

They are tasty, the only word we thought described them was 'Fresh'

Proudest moment

2011-07-05T16:32:00.000+01:00

This is one of my proudest moments designing this book. It was so much fun !

The book started with the three of us trying to illustrate and design the book, but I was left with guidance to complete it by myself. I think that's why I'm so proud of the book because it feels like mine.

This is a picture of the re-print cover, (changed ready for the print of the next one - you'll have to wait for that one) the copy you might find in teh shops is called The usborne Patterns colouring book.

Although the insides are good. not only is it a colouring book, there are some pages that give you ideas on how to colour in the page by suggesting different colours to use. There's usually a pattern per page, but some are split into two or four or there's a couple of double page patterns.

Garden time

2011-06-28T13:55:00.001+01:00

I've decided it's time to tip my bags upside down to find out if there were any potatoes inside.

There was in these two bags, on the left I think we have charlottes and on the right I'm guessing its peach bloom. I've changed my mind I think the ones on the left are anya's.
There are five more bags to tip up, but thought we'd eat these first.

Oh and don't forget those yummy raspberries and what's left of the strawberries.

Time for a cup of tea me thinks.

Testing

2011-06-16T18:36:00.001+01:00

This will be my first post from my smart phone.

Exciting stuff, more to follow!

2010-06-11T17:13:00.003+01:00

2nd

2010-06-10T17:20:00.000+01:00

1st list

2010-06-09T10:51:00.002+01:00

My home

2010-03-03T13:02:00.000Z

4 bedroom terraced house for sale in Spring Cottage, Bron Berwyn, Corwen, LL21, LL21

A home to go ...

2009-09-01T13:07:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to remind you about these two as I some hoe deleted the post.

The first the four bedroom cottage with excellent views over the welsh countryside. This is what I call my childhood home, where I sat at the window ledge of my shared bedroom with the window wide open looking out onto the hills and fields, occasionally seeing my friends coming up to meet me. This was before I grew to old toshare and got my own room all to myself with the privacy of the mountain behind me, where I tried to get my kitten to climb the plank from my room to the mountainside so I didn’t have to share her (it didn’t work).

In this house we learnt about frogs, newts, ducklings, adders every spring as they needed rescuing from our small sun trap of a backyard. We ate in the big kitchen with plenty of morning light, and cozied up by one of the two open fires (mum kept changing her mind and one fire was always blocked up only to be discovered the next winter while boarding up the other).

I then remember the other house where our parents now live, only a 100yds down the hill from are cottage, where we had to carry our belongings by wheelbarrow and hand from one to the other when we moved. Even the Piano. Here my sister and I took over the three attic rooms once the servants rooms with a landing big enough we used it as our living room (until the demon rabbit took over). Each room had a different use and we swapped them around until they suited our use, and if inside wasn’t enough, there’s the apple trees pear and plum and the biggest gooseberry bush I’ve ever seen, there’s rhubarb too.

So if you have forgotten or not seen them before here are the two I call home.

A Cottage and a Large house

One year on and another wedding

2009-08-07T13:05:00.002+01:00

Eggy eggy

2009-08-01T11:42:00.003+01:00

We seem to have a problem, we hope it might sort it's self out, it's soft shelled eggs. It's a bit like some one was having a practiccal joke one morning leaving a water balloon type egg in the hen house, but no it's a real egg. So far I've discvoered that it can be quite common for chickens to lay a soft egg every now and then, but if it continues it means there's a problem, either not enough calcium (which they should be having and most the other eggs are ok) or a poorly chicken. What makes it harder is how to work out who's is who's egg.

So while we woke up early to sit and watch the chickens to find out who laid when and what egg, drinking tea, I decided to leave Jo and make some scotch pancakes for breakfast. Using my griddle pan which fits beautifully on the new oven and has two nice gas burners burning equally underneath. The first time I've cooked on it with out burning the food at some point. What a yummy breakfast and so far no signs of wobbly eggs.

Chick chick chicken

2009-07-29T17:40:00.002+01:00

We have some new additions to our family... chickens. We rescued them with the help of these people from a battery farm who no longer needed them. Boy were they in a state, these photo's have been taken four weeks later as they explore there freedom in the garden, acess all areas including the carrots which may no longer be growing thanks to the fact that the feathery tops have been eaten by the chicks.

Let me introduce you to them Egwina (the boss), Chickpea (the noisey one and so named because her head was bold), Poulet, the rather sickly one but by no means at the bottom of the pecking order) and my favourite because she stayed near me to get away from the pecking Henreitta (the darkest and featherest of them all).

Thier fluffy white feathers haven't taken long to come back, in fact it was about a week that we noticed that they looked a little bit more plump, they still have bold patches. Poulets neck was the best seeing the feathers grow starting with the quills poking out of her neck almost prehistoric looking, and then waiting as the feathers poked out from within the quill getting longer and longer bit by bit.

RIP Tobias

2009-07-21T09:53:00.006+01:00

Sadly our much loved family dog was put to sleep yesterday evening. Old man Toby was suffering from a cough for a few months and as the weeks went by he stopped eating and stopped jumping before it was decided that his heart wasn't strong enough to cope.

We'll never forget you jumping up at the kitchen window to see if we were still inside while you went out. Even how you reclaimed your youth when the youngster pups came to play at your feet and all you could do was jump up and down and bark. How you sat at the bottom of the stairs to make sure you weren't forgotten as we all talked and laughed upstairs. How your snoring became as loud as dad's. How you grew old gracefully with your silver beard.

RIP old man, Tobias, Toby, Thank you for all your laughs and love x

Day 7

2009-06-08T05:20:00.002+01:00

An early start one that begins with the twitter of the chatting birds. To full from yesterdays meal we manage to eat our last egg from Casta Bellavista with some freshly home baked bread. Our suitcases packed and the bill paid (all I can say is Happy Honeymoon and it's breadsticks fort he rest of the week), we make our drive down the motorway to Florence.

This is the part were my mind will now be blanked, but before it is may i warn you DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLORENCE it's worse than London, well maybe not but lets say the stress levels were high. We managed to drive into Florence fairly straightforward only one wrong turn, but lots of Arrrrrggggghhhh's. With the car checked we decided to walk to the train station as it was just around the corner, we had an hours wait and on top of that the train was delayed.

The train from Florence to Rome was a eurostar non stop direct route, with booked seats, a very nice train journey that made the 1hour 15 mins go quickly.

At Rome we were greeted by our chauffeur who was waiting to take us to our hotel, through the hustle and bustle of the main roads to squeezing through the narrow cobbled ones.

Our hotel is off the main shopping street so we have easy access to a lot of areas, it's tucked away amongst lots of other buildings and is very basic but nice. We check in feeling exhausted and sit back and make our selves a brew (good old English for Jo and lemon and honey for me) before we brave the busy outside.

Fruity strawberry and peach – Day 6

2009-06-04T17:15:00.007+01:00

We went for a drive to Pienze, Jo’s second favourite place. It’s not very built up, a little bigger than Cortona, but the little ‘old’ part is built up on the corner of a road, drive to fast and you might miss it.

Down pedestrian streets, passed little shops, lazily soaking up the sun gazing up at the variety of buildings, walking to the end to be hit by an open landscape of rolling hills, green fields the best we’ve seen and here we enjoy our Ice cream (more like sorbet for Jo (my) lemon and cherry flavour).

From here we move onto Montepulchino diverting via La foce to see if Jo can find her rows of tree’s she’s seen on many a postcard. We think we’ve found the spot miles down a dirt track road to an old castle no one loves and sitting in the shade of an Italian rooted tree we stop to look out on our view that includes a path of her cypress tree. It’s here that we sit to take our lunch, bit’s and pieces we gathered on our way. Half a cheese and tomatoes sandwich (so much better than home) with tomato and herb style pizza only the toppings in the middle, followed by a cake, more like a biscuit base with a thick layer of cherry jam and more biscuit on top sprinkled with almonds.

We continue on our drive but there is a change of plan now we are heading to Montepulciano. On the way Jo isn’t satisfied with her road of those tall tress to guide her way and as we drive discussing it’s authenticity we realise the twisting, sharp down hill bends, we’re meandering down are lined with those dark tall cypress tress, may be this is the one. Shortly after we find Monticchiello and park in it’s lonely car park, with the guide books advice of an hours tour we enter and leave in 10 (10mins) to venture of to our original plan of Montepulciano. There's something about this place I don't like. Maybe it's the tall towers leaving narrow corridors of cold and darkness it seems busy but with so many paths it soon becomes eerily quiet.

They charge you a fortune for a lemon soda and an cold espresso shaken over ice and served with a frothy head and a grunt from the waitress. So it's time to go home and on the way just by chance in one of the archways we find a little biscuit shop, we enter empty handed and leave with a mix of the most delightful yummy local biscuits.

Tonight Simonetta is cooking for us. We don't know what, or how much (food or money) just that it's at 8. We arrive downstairs and are seated at our private restaurant for 2. We start with a Rose wine at E25 but it's very nice. We're served with our 1st course, a local dish of fish, capers, potatoes, sun dried tomatoes and a lot of Tuscany with every mouthful. This is followed by Primipatti of Ragu, which we discover is made with pork, veal and liver and tastes full of deliciousness. Our Secondi patti is chicken stuffed with ricotta and spinach served alongside a type of runner bean that's tastes sweeter and chopped roast potatoes (but oh so much nicer). If that wasn't enough we have to finish a delicate dessert from the French border, a chocolate kind of egg custard with a biscuit cake type top, that just melts in the mouth. Almost gone in one. Before the night is over we invite Simonette to drink coffee with us and we chat over Italian coffee and a helping of Tuscan sweets, before taking our glutenous bellies to bed.

Creme (something with eggs) and pistachio - Day 5

2009-05-27T21:43:00.007+01:00

A trip out to the Chianti region. We woken by the Americans getting ready to leave.

Finally got ready to have breakfast another delicious breakie with the change of cake to chocolate marble cake, before we set off on the hunt for petrol as the gauge reached empty. We find a garage, it's Sunday, it's closed ! Don't panic, we drive down the road, find another, it's also closed. We drive back towards the direction we're meant to be going in, phone Simonetta she reassures us that there's a petrol station (lots of them) along the autostrada. With the empty light on and 15mins drive we find one, and after some help of some Italians with little English (but more than our Italian) we work out that you pay the machine first then it fills it up automatically for you, and to Jo's surprise a little,goes along way here.

Off we drive to Chianti towards Sienna then off to Cat.. stop at Bostia look at the outside of a castle, drive off to ..... nothing to see but lots of beautiful views along the way...

so on to Vertine take some photo's...

try some wine (very nice wine), hope we don't have to pay E10's for it and order some brushetta, and a pastry pie (imagine a Gregg's pie for posh people) very nice, with freshly squeezed juice, followed by a fruit tart and an apricot type cake, in a peaceful setting with tweeting birds swooping by and the odd meow of a scruffy cat.

I love my wife x (Thanks Jo nicely added touch)

Then off to the next village while listening to Elbow, the seldom seen kid, singing along loudly to the Fix. Actually no we decided to drive to Arezzo, strange place, we drove into the new centre seemed a bit like a foreign Stevenage no roundabouts just lots of traffic lights. Most of Arezzo was destroyed during WW2 and we seemed to feel it’s sadness as if it had been forgotten as we walked through the quiet streets of the old town centre.

By avoiding the crowds we found a scary but beautiful deli where we brought cheese, salami, ham, bread and pizzas sticks, along with a newsagents where we got some drinks and walked up to a park to eat dinner, relax...

and again watch the sun set and the people play before walking through the main street to find a very busy Ice cream shop, so we couldn't’t resist.

We make our way back to the B&B for a quick read on the balcony then finally an early night, where Jo (for a change falls fast asleep first).

Snickers crunch with mint - Day 4

2009-05-27T17:21:00.011+01:00

I won't repeat what I wrote down for the beginning of this day, but I have edited a gentler version so you can understand what happened.

7.15 breakfast today so up at 6.15 only 6 hours sleep, more beautiful views and more yummy breakfast.

We rushed off to the train station, confusion over the ticket machine, got help from a nice Italian, but he left, then machine wouldn't except our money, so had to try the whole process again on a different machine, no change given you get given a receipt instead that you can cash in at a maned booth only there isn't any at this station, only to miss our train JUST. So we sat and waited an hour for the next. We sat next to a lovely American woman (I thought it was funny that she kept laughing at some of the things we said) who sold everything and started a new in Italy, but due to a lovely grand daughter was now in the process off going back home.

We arrived safely at Florence station, it's quite big but very organised. In brief we did a walking tour, no museums, or galleries or shops (well some). From the station we started our journey towards San Lorenzo church along the streets with the biggest markets selling cheap leather goods, towards the Duomo square where we saw the Duomo and the golden doors of paradise. And grapped some fancy Icecream.

A short walk and we stopped at Piazza Della Repubblica (we think) to eat our cafe style pizza aubergine (and mushroom for Jo), before we continued on to find the Town Halls medieval building in Palazzo Vecchio.

Here we saw a replica of David and many beautiful statues like this one -

Although we were next to the Uffizi we didn't get to get close as we took a diversion towards the WC and from there we rested again at Piazza di Santa Croce outside of the church listening to a man cheerily paying some drumming type string instrument, while writing more postcards, and watching an empty square quickly fill up with groups of tourists following umbrella's and sticks of all shapes and sizes.

We then ventured off to find the Piazzale Michelanglo across the river Arno, and climbed streets and steps to reach the top and boy was it worth it. The views were amazing over seeing Florence with no sky scrapers you could clearly see the old buildings like the Duomo below.

With views like this we sat at an over priced cafe and drank cold coffee topped with Ice cream, before we leisurely walked to Giardino di Baboli through to Piazzo dei Pitti, but with another climb up behind us we found the gardens closed or maybe we reached the forte di Belvedre by mistake which was closed so we couldn't get access to the gardens. So we went to admire the Ponte Veccio loaded with it's many (now ) jewelry shops (they were butcher shops but some mayor or something said they were to smelly) as the sun began to set.

Of course we saw a lot lot more along the way, too much to remember.

A quick light dinner before returning home looking into a nice square by the station cafe style for risotto pomedorro and Gnochi pesto, both just what we needed. We knew the train was on platform 12 and it was (not like Britain) so it didn't need us to ask at least two people. A safe journey easy get off the train and into the car and easily home for an early night of 11.00.

Pistachio and Creme deCatalan - Day 3

2009-05-26T17:13:00.005+01:00

After breakfast we drove off on the scenic route to Sienna, through Sangulga in and out and in and out again then.... Sienna was hard to get into, getting there was no problem but trying to find away to find a way to a car park was difficult and then when you did you realised it was very expensive then you reach the inside walls and there's nothing really there.

The cathedral has amazing features, a zebra like interior, with lots of marbled flooring of religious scenes. There’s a library with a beautifully painted frieze and large books incased in glass with beautiful artwork.

Sienna also has an interesting centre or piazzo, I’m sure this where they filmed part of Quantum of Solace, here we had to sit on the floor and ate Calzone (although Jo didn’t realise it was stuffed with loads of mushrooms) and later our daily Icecream (there were so many gelato here).

On leaving Sienna we decided to visit a small walled village called Monteriggoni neatly sitting on top of one of the hills. Not a lot to look at, apart from more beautiful scenery, but many tourists drive this way by the bus load. We parked in an almost empty car park and climbed a few lavender aisled steps to get to the entrance. Nothing else to do but eat, so after looking at a light menu we decided to eat in one restaurant but were faced with a menu that was three times the price and decided to leave just as they were about to present us with a flute of sparkling wine. After relaxing from a slight panic attack and hunger we decided to sit at a more relaxed dinning area. The staff were really friendly (not like the snooty waiter in the one we had just left) and they fed us lasagne and Sausage and Beans, were not talking tinned beans these were beautiful cooked fresh mmmmm. Followed by the best Panna Cotta I’ve ever had.

Then our 40minute straightforward drive back turned into a we don’t remember where we are staying, so going from village to village in the dark, having lots of shouting, crying, adding Google maps to the phone, we arrived safely back 2 and half hours later. Another early night gone.

Nutella Day - Day 2

2009-05-25T20:03:00.008+01:00

Followed by Peach and Mistakenly coconut

We woke to get ready for our first breakfast abroad at 8.45am in the darkened room, lost in the huge bed. On opening the shutters we realised what a beautiful it was going to be. It didn't take long for us to get ready (I think Jo was spurred on by how hungry she was).

Downstairs for breakfast we were seated at a large table with cereals, cold meats, bread, toast, jams, cake and croissants. That wasn't all Simonette brought in juice, coffee (very nice) and soft boiled egg. We discussed where to go and Simonette helped us out with a map of Cortona. So off we drove on what seemed like a fairly casual drive. We found a free parking space it was not quite where S recommended due to the sharp bend Jo decided to take on two wheels with both of us shouting woooaaaahhhh. It was a lovely town not much to see there or do, wonderful buildings, apartments and street to look at. Of course there was the Ice cream shop (nutella to start) we found a public WC, and the car park we were meant to be heading to. At this point I decided to walk through Cortona to get to the Fort rather than take the car through the narrowest streets. A wise decision I feel, altohugh it didn't feel like it when we were walking, no climbing up through the winding streets, and up through cobbled steps, and up past the church. But the views were amazing and very quiet (obviously no one wanted to walk as high as us).

We went a different route which took us a quarter of the time on a more direct route and found ourselves back at the square were we first started and celebrated with another Ice cream Peach and mistakenly (a good mistake) coconut.

Back in the car for a trip to Lake Trassimo, which you can see in the distance in the photo above, with a few journey round and around the roundabout one dead end one nearly up a no entry we made our way to the lake fairly easily. Drinking freshly squeezed Orange juice watching the sun go down over the waters edge and looking back at where we had earlier climbed.

We drove back to Cortona for dinner and with briefly watching the swallows/swifts swoop around us for a little while the sun set, we quickly arrived at a recommended restaurant. Not sure what we ate but we decided that four course was too much and settled for a pasta dish each, ricotta and spinach with a plate of green veg (more spinach) and I had a sausage tortellini with a side of tomatoes. It was meant to be a quick meal so we could head back to the B&B for our champers, only we got chatting to a lovely mother and daughter form Canada. On returning we we found our free bottle of chilled Spamanti naturally we opened it and forced ourselves to stay awake long enough to enjoy the sweet bubbles of the sparkling wine, before drifting off for another sleep in our over sized bed.

No flavour continued... by Jo

2009-05-25T09:32:00.006+01:00

My uncle came to collect us at 8am and off we went to Stanstead airport. All went according to the itinerary... which Nayera kept in her phone for peace of mind. We arrived into Pisa and collected our hire car, a new fiat punto which was very nice.

The drive to Casa Bellavista was about two and half hours and fairly straightforward, a taster of some beautiful countryside. If you want to have a look at their website you can find it here

We get our amazing tuscan guest house at 5.30ish and stare out at the wonderful views from our room. We are very lucky that we are the only guests as May is the the start of the season.

Simonetta our host welcomes us and recommends a local restaurant. It was very expensive and we ate 3 courses (no room for dessert) not realising we could just have pasta, although I think in a posh restaurant this is frowned upon. We had Brushetta, nutty tagliatelle, chickpea soup, lemon chicken, pork chop. Later we drive back to our lovely big bed.

No Icecream today but so many flavours to come....

OUR HONEYMOON IN ITALY, No Flavour

2009-05-25T09:20:00.003+01:00

Seemed a long day - Nayera

This page seemed very empty for the first page of our honeymoon adventures so I'm going to introduce my wife's anecdotes of Italy - Tuscanny, Rome and Sorrento. These are the tales of Eeyore, my Eeyore, who wasn't 100% happy about leaving our new home and our beloved Alfie and Smudge but she trusted me and my crazy ideas and came on adventures with me. I hope from reading these tales that you'll agree we had a wonderful time together, we laughed, we argghhheedd, we cried... I did it Dad... but it has been so rewarding and we are so very glad we went and so very glad we got married 9 months ago. - Jo

Here Here - Nayera

I hope you enjoy reading about our travels as much as we enjoyed going on them. If our next adventures will be closer to home, I think I'm ready. Thank you Nayera I love you x

Amongst the mud and rain

2008-11-23T15:12:00.002Z

I have been out into the garden to witness the chaos that is called my garden/building yard. What a mess I nearly cried boo-hoo at the winter ready empty trees and plants and buidlers scraps left lying everywhere. It looks like a mini hurricane has hit only my garden. But then all is forgotten when I see our extension... here it is so far.

I’d like to take the time to tell you a little story…

2008-11-21T17:48:00.009Z

… On our return home from work (and after talking to a holiday rep and then popping off to Asda (supermarket) to get remaining ingredients) we finally returned home to bake. On our arrival we discovered the mess that had imploded in what looked like our kitchen. The builders had removed our old roof in order to fit a new one slightly higher than before. Not being able to complete the whole job in one day we were left with timbers and felt covering.

Although they had tried to clean the kitchen but (bless their soles) they are after all only big builder type people and with wires hanging down, it took 2 attempts to clean our kitchen before said cooking could take place.

Look closely at the black tiles, they should be white

Then by candle light we made a start on baking biscuits, toffee and apple, peanut butter, and chocolate crumbles. At one point we were distracted by the meowing of the cat, and thought she was lost underneath the bath calling out to us in the hole in the wall above our heads. And later how me and my lovely assistant jumped into each others arms when the wind blew something of the roof (which, with just a sheet over our heads was very loud) and made us scream.

It's been awhile ... again

2008-11-08T17:10:00.009Z

Did I moan too much last time, I'll try not to moan too much again today.

Boiler man came again the long and short of it is, the boiler wasn't improved, he couldn't sort it. We've been advised to change the flue, but if it's still not working after that they'd send out the engineer to work his magic. Anyway plumber changed the flue, it needed a change in direction because of the extension and the we came home to a wonderfully warm house. Yes it's working ! and even better than it ever has.

I got up to day 5 so here's the rest of the run down so far:-

Day 7 (Tuesday) more wall

Day 8 (Wednesday) and more wall

Day 9 (Thursday) even more wall

Day 10 (Friday) the scaffolding went up and the fence went down between next door on the agreement that a new one is fitted (it needs a new one to be honest)

Day 11 (Monday) They came and so did the rain so they went, to be fair they did some work but it bucketed it down.

Day 12 (Tuesday) They came back to finish the wall that is now looking very tall. The plasters came back as well and put up a stud wall in our front room. Beautiful we now have a separate hall way (very small hall way but very neat) and only a slightly smaller front room that feels more private and cosy.

HALL

We're squashed into one room - squashed room made smaller

Day 13 (Wednesday) the Craig the Carpenter came and started with our roof rafters. Boy does he work fast, head down and off to work he went.

Day 14 (Thursday) More roof getting ready for the tiles soon I hope. We also had the pictures sent to us showing our choice of kitchen we've got to sit down and think about it, see if we're happy with it, is there anything we want to change.

Oh and here's some wellies

I'm freeeeeezing

2008-11-04T20:51:00.008Z

Well w-w-w-what ca-n-n-n- I s-s-s-ay it's cold. I'm sitting in my coat wrapped in a duvet waiting for my pigeon to bring some chips.

Why so cold? Our boiler is broken, still. We've paid upfront (no I hear you cry) £185 for Vokera (our boiler maker people) to send out one of their engineers to come round, service it, inspect it, change any required bit and well just fix it. He did, he came round, inspected it changed a few bits still couldn't get it to work and blamed the flue because it's not getting enough oxygen (it's been breathing just fine for the last 5 years). Anyhoo phoned them "Well cal you back" did they - no ! We arrive home on a cool night like tonight with our boiler turned off and a do not use notice on it. Just leave us with no Heating no hot water (luckily we have an electric shower). Don't want to bore you with all the details, but they have to sent out the same guy again (and after speaking to him on the phone understand why he's had trouble fixing-if you know what I mean) so another night with no heating.

Day 6 (Monday) Not really sure what happen today, 5 men turned up and the trench around the foundation has been filled. boo hoo

Day 7 (Tuesday) Today the plaster arrived with the builders, too many men in and out of the house, not used to it what with there usually only two gals and a dog. Not sure why but they're doing the ceiling now, in the dinning room which will be connected to the extension. They said they were only going to do the ceiling and we were like "MAAAARK! we want the walls smoothed oh and can we get rid of the fire pleeeease." Well if he'd told us they were coming. We hadn't even cleared away our knick knacks and stuff so before leaving to go to work we had to clear out our room.

The old - Artex ceiling, cheapy small nasty coving.

New, still wet, smooth plaster ceiling, calm nice lovely ohhhhh

Morning Sunrise

2008-11-02T20:21:00.002Z

Forgot, busy talking about the extension, one early morning getting ready before the builders arrived and after the snow on Tuesday we had this beautiful sunrise.

New beginings

2008-10-31T13:08:00.010Z

We're having an extension built on the back of our house, so this Monday the builders came along to make a start. Bye Bye went the conservatory-lean-to that was mainly used as storage space, and home to my tomatoes plants as seen here. Bye Bye went the coal shed, were rubbish and recycling hid and next doors mile-a-bleedin-minute (not official name just cursing because it grows and grows).

Outside consevatory from kitchen angle

Inside consevatory from inside dining room angle

Coal shed with Ivy and mile-a-(bleedin)minute

All gone to look like this

Day 1 (the Monday) very tidy nothing inside has been touched except large consumption of biscuits

Day 2 (the Tuesday) the trench was dug for the 1 metre foundations leaving us looking like we were surrounded by a moat and nothing but mud for the dog to bring in and the cat to walk her muddy prints all over the kitchen work surface and white tiles. There were muddy hand prints over the sugar jar, all over the hand towel that was neatly folded up to display only the clean areas. Tuesday also brought the snow and even less biscuits. Not that I'm complaining, we don't usually have biscuits in the house. Every night Jo makes me say my Mantra 'I must not eat the builders biscuits', it's not that bad she's allowed to pinch one when we get home and if I catch her at it she lets me have one too.

Day 3 (Wednesday) was waiting and waiting and a little bit more waiting for the building regulations guy (or lady but me thinks it was a guy) waiting in these minus degrees, snow melting temperature. Waiting until 3.30 for him to go come along and say yes 1 metre is sufficient (or some such thing) no work was done.

Day 4 (Thursday) the concrete went in wheel barrow by wheel barrow.

Day 5 (Friday) We came home to find the the ditch was now beginning to have a use, the foundation bricks went in. It's so much fun, in the morning we were able to step outside in our wellies and examine the mess. Mud lots of it and the cool thing is we can imagine where our extended house is going to be, we can imagine where the door to the kitchen will be (you need a big imagination but you can do it) stepping into the living room, switch on the tv. It's so exciting. It'll so bring the house into the garden as well, the garden has changed shape too (that might have something to do with the destruction of the coal shed, and Ivy and Camellia that was trialling all over it. But to our surprise the builders had rescued the baby Camellia plant like we had requested (that wasn't the surprise the surprise was that they had replanted it). Oh but the other surprise was that the mini digger had smashed up our concrete bottom of the fence post so we had to do a bit of man handling to get it out the way so Mr waggles couldn't escape. And the Rhododendron got squashed and split into 3, but that's not to bad eventually my chickens will go there. I will have chickens ! Must go I'm attempting to make green tomaote chutney "oh for the very first time" As the consevatory was being pulled down I had to murder my tomatoe plant and rescue the hundreds of green and red tomaotes that were still hanging from their vines of life.

Remembrance

2008-10-26T11:51:00.008Z

Before I spend time sharing our wedding and all the things that have kept us busy there's some sad news I'd like to share.

Sadly after our wedding Jo's dad was taken into hospital, before being moved into a hospice where he spent his final days. A lot of Jo's time was taken up making the most of visiting him and helping out. The "Garden House" hospice was a wonderful place full of very helpful people, many of whom were volunteers.

Sadly he passed away on September 14th with his closest family by his side. His birthday would have been tomorrow the 27th October. We miss you.

Pictured here with a pint of his favourite "old speckled hen"

Mike Kirkby 27/10/47 - 14/09/08

It's me

2008-10-16T17:50:00.005+01:00

Yes it's me, I have sooooo much to write about and bore anyone who wants to read. Unfortunelty it's not right now I'll be back asap I promise, for now you can look at my pretty notice, made by my fair hands. The only thing (proper thing) I've drawn with illustrator, I never have enough time, so it has been used to death, but I love it.

I'll love and leave you with this qoute:-

"You may be the best at what you do, but it's variety that keeps you fresh"

Jim Davies -Design Week

Our Hen girls Go Ape

2008-07-04T17:07:00.004+01:00

I thought it was going to be the beginning of the end... we're talking our Hen night.

What a mad rush on Thursday lunch (we're talking last week, it's taken me this long to recuperate - is that a word). The girlie's from work were out of the office bang on 1.00pm TOGETHER (I was not worried at all).

Jo and I managed to find our outfits, hot pant shorts army style, not being brave enough to wear them alone we teamed them up with some leggings, thank the lord there back in fashion, it's like being 12 years old again.

Here's the group of girlies - army style

We all met up at Cannock Forest for a picnic and a good laugh at how we'd dressed and a group photo before facing our doom swinging in the trees. It was fun, it was tiring, it was high. What was meant to take 2 hours took us 4. But we all achieved it and got our certificates and stickers to prove it.

Me and my mum.

The hotel was really nice, we quickly got changed and went downstairs to met up again all with wind/sun burnt rose cheeked. We had a huge meal great value for money and got sleepy and tipsy on wine.

To wake us up My Little big sister had prepared a lovely t-shirt that everyone had signed with a mad picture of both of us each right smack bang in the middle. Lots of fluffy flashing ears. Off we went to Oceana in Wolves. Hmmmm is all I can say not quite as great as Brum's. I'd also like to point out that after many protests of going back to her room to sleep or even maybe going to the spa for a swim. I watched from a distance my mum sneak into one of the taxi's, I'm glad she came it was nice to have her there, she always reminds me that you're only as young as you feel (well in mind not body hey mum) However this might have been the reason why?

My mum, me and big little sister

After lots of drinks, cheese (music), and fun we called it a night and tried with various degrees of success to get a taxi back to the hotel. Jo and I were the only ones on the wrong side of the hotel and hardly got any sleep thanks to the wedding crowd that were staying there (talk about common) climbing and running over the roof, shouting and swearing. In my drunken state I had visions of them climbing into my room and being attacked, we tried phoning receptions open 24hrs for help to no get no answer. Only in the morning did I realise that we were actually a floor higher so they wouldn't have been able to reach us. So with 2hrs sleep I went off to get my full English breakfast (bacon, sausage, egg, beans, tomato, fried bread) washed down with lashings of tea and juice. Boy did I feel all better afterwards !

Those of us remaining, left our rooms and went for a spa to enjoy the Jacuzzi, steam and sauna room and the pool. I was in heaven.

All that's left is to say a very BIG Thank you to all my lovely ladies

Excited !

2008-06-25T17:23:00.004+01:00

I'm so excited this came through the post today. I set my mind on ordering one of her books and this was the one that arrived. I keep gazing through it's sun shining pages thinking what shall I make what shall I make...

... Most of which I think I'll be trying out (and if I'm clever enough) adapting for my 'ittle caravan.

Well I won't be making anything at the moment as anything that is being made is for my wedding. There's favours, table plan, table labels, order of service, cakes x 2, hair accessories. Anything else shoes to buy. All will be revealed (I hope after the 9th August).
With all that going on I have my hen night this weekend. We've tried to organise it so that it's fairly sedate, only thing is there are other plans too and with friends keeping secrets my nerves are setting in.

With all that in mind I'm of to buy some army style trousers. I'm talking RAMBO style, as we set off to swing in the trees.

Eventfull weekend

2008-06-18T08:49:00.004+01:00

This is us, on our journey down south to Stevenage, we're off to see family and meet the chickens. I won't go into details because it was a very stressful time and by expressing my feelings to how the weekend went will upset a few people.

Anyway on our way down the sky was lovely and blue even though we were told it would shower, but as you can see the clouds were fluffy too.

Here are the chickens, I was so impressed with them that I can't wait until I'm allowed some - all I can say is watch this space cos I will have some - I will.

Aunt M get them from a company called omlet that provide you with everything including the chickens. Their chicken igloos are very good too, very functional and designed with ease of use (cleaning) in mind. She's called them Darcy and Dawn. Darcy is prim and proper very lady-like, whereas Dawn is well a bit more relaxed. Unfortunately I can't remember which ones which.

Too finish off the weekend Mr Waggles demonstrates how we were all feeling - FRAZZLED ! Pooped, just dog'on tired

Unfortunately I have to go now, I'm of to the hospital to get my feet checked. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis around 3 years ago. At first it was a relief to actually have something wrong with me instead of the whole thing being in my head, then there was trying out different medication, discovering you were allergic to one, and gradually increasing the dose of another one to keep it at bay. Now it's getting to me, only being 30yrs old and waking up every morning feeling stiff and heavy, having certain joints swollen, continual blood test, visits to the Dr and hospital. The worst of it all is just feeling sooooo tired. Oh well must go !

Lots of cherries

2008-06-07T19:02:00.002+01:00

Here's a photo of some Cherry cakes I made quickly on Thursday, just my old fashioned simple reciepe that reminds me of being a kid with water icing (glaze icing) and half a cherry on top. Work munched them down in one go.

It wasn't my onons I burnt but my vegtable burgers, shhh don't tell Jo or she won't eat them they're not that badly burnt. I wish I had the strength to be a vegertarian, but I haven't not with having to be strong about everything else, but I will very much try to moderate my meat content. Especially when vegtable burgers are so yummy!

Mr Waggels

2008-06-07T19:01:00.003+01:00

I must be quick before my onions fry. The sun is starting it's slow descend into the bedtime slumber, the birds are having there evening meal. Here's a photo of Alfie Sniffing his way round the garden. I've discovered Picasa which looks like great fun when I've figured it out but for now excuse the wonky layouts.

Have you tried pressing the next blog button to see where it takes you, I have discovered some weird, and some wonderful blogs out there. Go on give it a try, you'll find the button at the very top.

Oh my onions !

2008-06-02T17:17:00.000+01:00

*** I've fallen in love with old crochet pieces, lace or embroider tablecloths and dressing table tops pieces ***

If anyone anywhere knows how I can find old pieces that I can save no matter how bad or good there condition is, please let me know.

I have a good home for them to go to !

Just a quicky

2008-06-02T13:02:00.006+01:00

It's lunch time ... the sun is still not shining over here in Wolves, but I'd like to pop out of the office and get some fresh (city) air. As I typed yesterday, I've been loking at some interesting blogs and websites that I've saved to inspire me. So I've added a few to blog list.

Claire Nicolson I found a long time ago and her website has grown, she makes her own texiles using today's digital printing and vintage fabrics.Find her here

Paper girl Productions I found through Etsy, I love a strange felt sewn creatures, but she has lots of things to see here.

Middle of nowhere is a blog I found through work, I was looking for an illustrator for a book I was working on and saved her website. Unfortunetly we never used her work becasue it was the wrong style to what we needed, but ever since I have been following her blog. PLease check out her lovley felted animals, designed and felted by her. Find her here

Poorly poorly

2008-06-01T14:44:00.009+01:00

It's been a while and I've been busy, we took the caravan out on it's first trip away this year, we travelled to Welshpool and how lovely it was. True British weather didn't let us down we soaked up the one day of wonderful sun we got drenched in a full day of heavy rain and we were battered gently by the winds. We just loved it though we found a nature reserve with not a single person around...we picniced on local organic foods... we shopped in some lovely independent shops (a rare thing in this country, there should definitely be more of them) we ate cake... and more cake... we relaxed ... we argued over putting the awning up. We had nearly finished when one of our poles had got stuck one inside the other, at a last resort we drove off not talking to each other to find a garage, and a man (or woman) who could help us. We did, it was fixed and in no time at all we had the awning back up again, in time to sit and enjoy a lovely cup of tea in the afternoon sun. Here are some views of things we saw on a visit to Mongomery.

Moooooo

On Tuesday it was back to work, so so quiet on the roads with it being half term and no school run traffic. Our 45 minute drive to work was reduced to a leisurely 20mins.

Jo went down to Somerset on Wednesday to spend some time with her family, so I was left to defend for myself, already feeling tired, by Friday I think the change of routine had a bad effect on my Arthritis (and with the humid weather) I'd worn myself out and had to have the day off work.

I did venture to Wales yesterday to try my wedding dress on it's lovely, and my mum found a hidden gem in amongst her boxes of family heirlooms. A beautiful string of pearls that were her nans. When I tried them on they were exactly what I had been looking for, but I had realised that unless I spent a small fortune I wasn't going to get them, and here was my mum handing me some that were full of our family history to wear on my wedding. I have to admit I did get a little teary eyed.

Aren't they just lovely

My journey back to Birmingham was hmmmm ... interesting. At Wrexham General I boarded the train and sat in 1st class (it had been declassified due to the lack of carriages) but it wasn't your brand new shining new 1st class, oh no (I so wish I had my camera with me) it wasn't I'm not talking really old like victorian lined with wood, knowing me it was probably just 1990's, but it had plush big arm chair style seats in a deep red and blue a small table lamp on my table and dark pleated curtain at the window. I felt like royalty. I waved goodbye to the lush green countryside. I waved goodbye to the calfs in the field the 100's of lambs jumping in the sun, the many rabbits grazing at the edges of the fields, I watched as the landscape changed from fields to hills to mountains and back to fields, I gazed up at the blue skies and the rolling fluffy clouds. I felt so content as I read my book in peace and gazed out of the window from time to time to see the odd villages being added to the green fields, and see those turn to bigger villages and small towns to bigger towns and then the cities. More people boarded the train the further towards Birmingham the train moved along. Then Wellington and to Telford, at this point on the journey the masses piled on to the train, most pushing, grunting and moaning, soon my contentment was slowly taken away, the grey of the city clouded over me like the rain clouds stole the blue sky. I had to change at Wolverhampton to finish my journey to Birmingham, gone were the polite smiles, gone were the manners as everyone pushed off the train, and then pushed back on as the race began to find a seat for themselves and their luggage.

All is well though, my evening brightened up when my pigeon turned up in her shiny bright clean car (she'd spent most of the day cleaning, washing and hoovering her car in return for it's safe carriage to Somerset and back). Time for a curry, and Somerset cider and to finish it all off I got a little present, I hung it up on the nearest thing I could find. My smile is back in full swing.

It's baby bunting, delightful triangles in spots, flowes and stripes

This can't be right as I sit here typing, I'm sweating buckets (sorry not very lady like) I've stripped down to hardly anything (sorry too much information) I know I'm typing fast but even my feet are feeling this strangeness, I say this because it's not hot here (it's rarely hot in good olde England. In fact I sat with mum and Dad in there garden soaking up the sun, and we were discussing why we sat there for so long and why we risked getting burnt rather than cover up (although we were sitting under a parasol umberlla and Dad had a hat to protect his pale skin ontop of his head) and we came to the conclusion that we don't know when or how much of this gold we're going to get each year, so if there is any gold light shining from the skies we feel the need to lap it up, we stop everything we strip nearly bare and let the rays of sun tickle us, cover us, play with us and cook us. Oh sun how we worship you. Oh and my pigeon returned from the shops with some roses, so I rescued some hydrangea's from the garden to fill up my new Laura Ashley jug.

I'll end it here today and try and return tomorrow, I need to show you some delighful blogs and websites I've found, but I need to find sometihng to cool me down.

Monkey Monkey Monkey

2008-05-20T21:00:00.002+01:00

Is it a pair of pants/knickers?

NO !

Is it a hat?

NO !

So what is it?

It's a brand new white fluffy jumper, coutersey of Seans maker Sue (my mum)

Me 'ittle Caravan

2008-05-19T13:51:00.006+01:00

and it is little. Smaller in length than our Peugeot 206. Not high enough to stand up in (although it does have an extendable roof that must be shut when it rains).

We're going away soon to start our touring in the caravan. We don't go too far and we don't stay too long, usually just weekends. The caravan is very small, but made bigger by its awning. I do feel it is a little unfair that we have to pay full price for a pitch cos most tents are even bigger than our freedom microlite caravan.

This was taken one glorious holiday at Lucksall near Symonds Yat. We had a spot right by the river. Hmmmmmm day dreaming

Any way we keep umming and arghhing about selling it, but we went to visit it to blow away the winter cobwebs and I fell in Love with it yet again. I have decided to revamp him and give him a fresh breeze of discovery. I'm thinking sunshine, I'm thinking outdoors-in, I'm thinking fresh green and airiness.

So to go with these words I have made a digital mood board for inspiration

If there's anybody out there who might be able to help inspire me with projects or ideas to get my ittle caravan a new bright sunshiny way of life, please let me know your finds and treasures. I need storage ideas ways of pretting it up and making it light and open.

We're going in the week to fix a broken part and I'll take photo's to show the present situation of my pink, dark, closed ininterior.

Time for tea and cake, can't show you these ones cos they are definetly my cupcake choice for the wedding. Oh and I had disaster on the fruit cake front, but never fear I shall win the war if not this battle. My own stupid fault really, usual trick of not reading the instructions properly, I just can't help myself from rushing in.

Labels

2008-05-15T19:53:00.004+01:00

Here's another little present I managed to make for my mum's birthday. Little labels for my mum and her handmade items (mainly bags, that are good for shopping or carrying lots of college junk). Each one is in a circle with "handmade by Sue" and her blog address with a little butterfly in the centre. I couldn't decide which butterfly I liked so she has 4 to choose from. She can print an A4 page out and print it out as many times as she likes.

We went for a lovely picnic on Sunday to enjoy some more of that lovely weather ( unlike the cold miserable day it's been today) We sat opposite Chirk castle but there seemed to be a strange haze in the air and all my photo's looked fuzzy - seriously.

And there was loads and loads of Wild Garlic all in flower and quite smelly.

And this strange man - no that's my dad, we have no idea what this used to be, it looks like an arch of a bridge, but inside looks likes the remnants of a fire place of some sort - possibly a furnace or just a chute to drop things down from above.

And this my last photo I want to share because I'm really proud if it. I had just about given up taking any photo's because of the strange weather and well because I'm out of practise, but as we all piled back into the car I quickly snapped this one. Ferns of a kind, remind me of druids having a meeting.

Birthday cards for mum

2008-05-14T13:06:00.004+01:00

First things firsts the cards, I had to make one for my Dad to give to my mum, this one looked a bit boyish but it wqas fun making the card out of paper I've had for aaaagggeesss rather than stamping or computering it makes it more 3D. I pinched the idea from Quick and Crafty (May Issue I think) but I’ve used whatever paper I had in me cupboard.

This card is sunbathing in the glorious sun we had at the weekend

I heart from my dad to my mum, the Birthday wishes on white paper (cream) was an add on I must admit I some how in my rush managed to stamp wishes upside down so needed to do it again only this time to cover the first mess

And then this one was from me, made by me and whole idea by me. I got to use some more of my papers, my mum sent me once upon a time ( I felt like I was cleansing myself using these old papers) I've inked around the edges...

Can you see how messy my mum's craft room is (sorry mum) of course mine is nothing like that...

... and bit’s (flowers) from the Studio Calico kit I had for my birthday...

...and stamped happy birthday (with a gypsy stamp that's always to small to use, but finally got a use)

Birthday cakes

2008-05-13T18:41:00.004+01:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MUM !

After discussing things at the barn about the wedding we finally enjoyed the last of the sun shine with a BBQ at mum and dad's. Mum finally got her cakes, lemon sponges (a little over cooked becasue I got a liiiitle distracted, but still muchio yummy) With a new topping of lemon butter icing. The twang of the lemon juice toned down the sweet sugarness. This is the best topping so far - might see these at the wedding.

There were so many yet some how I only managed to come home with 2 (and only one was for me)

This last photo I tried 4 different finshes, do I go for smooth (at the back) almost smooth (looking at the one on the right) or a little bit of fluff (at the front) or very fluffy (looking to the one on the left).

Have I got my left and rights wrong.

Dogs, Dogs and more dogs

2008-05-13T13:32:00.002+01:00

Here's a little family gathering there's only 2 missing Meg who didn't want to join in and Milo who wasn't here. We went to my parents house for the weekend for my mum's birthday (and sort out wedding things) but went we get toghether it seems that there are more pets than people. Especially dogs

Here's Mr Waggles (Alfie he is my cheeky rascal)

Here's Dopey (sorry brother) or Mad professor when his hair is crazy or better known as Rowdy

Here's the leader of the pack Toby, he's very much a pensioner but still very young at heart and very loveable.

And here's a cat one of 3 enjoying the sun

And one of the views from my parents house, this was taken as the sun was setting and haze settled over the mountains.

I promise I'll show you what I've been upto last week making things for my mum's birthday.

Hi

2008-05-06T17:04:00.006+01:00

I'm busy making my mum's birthday surprise the horrible thing about it is I can't post it on the blog as she'll see it.

So in the mean time have a look at this lovely blog. I came across it when I was researching for work to find an illustrator and through looking at her website discovered her blog. What caught my attention was her lovely designed and made felt animals.

If you want to have a look click here

P.S.

2008-05-02T13:10:00.002+01:00

Forgot to mention - A big well done for me other half as she gave blood the other day for the first time. Unfortunetly I can't becuase of my medication, but she has finally decided to do it, she's tried before but because we got back from Africa she couldn't for 6 months. The best thing she got a sticker.

Monkey business

2008-05-02T13:01:00.005+01:00

At work we’ve had a new inspiration board fitted so that we can add things to it to help us all inspire each other. Well that got my work pet excited ! I’ve just given him a name after having him for 5 months, he’s not handmade but a freebie with the PG tips tea bags.

He’s called P.Gus. The “P.G” comes from the fact he’s from the PG teabags and the “us” is from Usborne Publishing because, moi working from Usborne, adopted him. Quite clever I thought.

He’s usually sunbathing on the window sill catching the only bit of sun allowed into the office and watching the world go by with ELE a colourful textile elephant all the way from Sri Lanka (Thanks Candice) and Sqwech the stress pig.

What a weekend

2008-04-30T13:54:00.002+01:00

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 ...

2008-04-29T20:53:00.004+01:00

... 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?

2008-04-28T17:04:00.007+01:00

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

2008-04-25T19:53:00.007+01:00

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

2008-04-24T20:54:00.002+01:00

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

2008-04-23T19:09:00.003+01:00

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

2008-04-22T18:31:00.007+01:00

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

2008-04-21T11:39:00.007+01:00

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

2008-04-21T11:12:00.006+01:00

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

2008-04-14T21:12:00.004+01:00

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

2008-04-08T21:03:00.002+01:00

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

2008-04-04T09:27:00.000+01:00

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.