Archives for August 2013

  We've had a summer of getting fit! Partly because I am deeply unfit and partly because Bernard gets very bored when there are no ballet lessons to go to! So we signed up for the gym and started classes. Zumba twice a week, and swimming as often as possible. The plan is to go to the fitness room at some point in the future, but I'm not ready for the lycra clad, bronzed bodies and pumping iron until I can at least get up the stairs without stopping for a rest - so maybe later in the year! I've loved the classes, our instructor is a complete darling and always manages to raise a … [Read more...]

So here we are in week 2 of the great bake off and the competition is looking pretty stiff to be honest! The wonderful Mummy Mishaps and The Crazy Kitchen are doing a sterling job as hosts and I'm loving all the yummy things people are making ! It was bread week this week, and I was a bit torn as to what to make, so we thought we'd go for something we've not tried before  - Savoury Monkey Bread I made up a standard batch of wholemeal bread (would have been white, but I misread the flour bag in the supermarket!) 1lb flour 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons dried yeast 14fl oz warm wa … [Read more...]

We haven't joining in for a few weeks, but we were inspired this week so..... much excitement in the household - following a visit from Cheetahs in my shoes  I dashed out and bought a screw in macro lens for the camera! Under £15 and a bargain! So here we go - macro crazy in the last days of the holidays!  Expect more pictures of things very very close! … [Read more...]

When the lovely Mummy mishaps  and The Crazy kitchen  had the idea for "The great Bloggers Bake Off"  it was clear we had to join in! Bernard is an impressive baker and we're all impressive cake lovers, so it would have been rude not to have a go! So here is our take on this weeks sandwich cake - Lemon and Poppy seed - with blueberry jam and butter cream filling. And it's all gluten free! 200gm rice flour 200gm caster sugar 200gm butter 4 eggs 1tblsp custard powder splash of milk jucie and zest of 2 lemons 1 1/2 tblsp poppy seeds Standard sponge mix - ex … [Read more...]

  I have been experimenting recently with a reduced gluten/gluten free diet. Simon has a gluten intolerance so we're well used to cooking without the dreaded G word, and people have often said that  reducing gluten can be a bonus to everyone so - why not have a go! So dinner tonight will be new potatoes, salad, chicken for him and a crustless red pepper and goats cheese quiche for me and Bernard!   I guess it's almost a  than a quiche as there's no pastry - but what the hell! It looks ruddy lovely and the whole house smells delightful so call you what you will - it's y … [Read more...]

I just wanted to take the opportunity to say a HUGE thank you, to all of you who answered my survey and those who passed it on as well. All the answers have been very beneficial for my psychology essay, "How can findings from research on the effect of hospitalisation on children be used to minimise impact of medical intervention on the family as a whole" I also hope that the things I have learnt from the survey, and from all of you, will help me in my university application to do paediatric nursing, and even in my training. I thought you might like to know some of the basic stats that … [Read more...]

Thank you Trouble Doubled for tagging me! I love having music on when I'm driving and we often while away a long and boring car journey with singing! But we have such a long playlist it was tough to narrow it down to just 3 Put a lit on it - the Squirrel Nut Zippers. There is just something about the tune that makes me happy and I love rag time music!   http://youtu.be/VdAt4qWvz_8   Number 2 - It's a bit different I know, but like with all things our taste in music is quite eclectic! - as this rather proves! It was a favourite of our Splosh when he was about 14 a … [Read more...]

  I walked round to the supermarket this morning behind a group of teenagers who were unwrapping sweets of cigarettes or something, throwing the litter on the street as they went! I watched a driver last week through his sandwich wrapper out of his car window as he sped past me on the M25, doing about 70mph My garden is always filled with other peoples crap! fast food wrappers, fag butts, beer cans (we're are on the main route out of town and about far enough for people to have finished their kebab!) Why? Why any of that? There are rubbish bins about, and you probably have … [Read more...]

Our lovely little house has some very beautiful floors. Not modern laminate, but proper polished wood floor boards ( although they are going to need sanding and re varnishing this summer) and we are in debate as a family as to whether we should have somerugs or not! As the predominant 'hooverer' in the house I like the lack of carpet! A quick sweep with the broom and all the cat fluff is gone - carpets lead to more effort, spills more difficult to get rid of etc.... But there are so many beautiful designs around, with very plain walls and furniture, the right rug can almost be a piece of … [Read more...]

Inspired by the beautiful cakes over at Emily Beale Photography we decided to make some cakes! So armed with our trusty camera, a tiny fraction of skill at taking pictures, and the cake baking genius that is my girl Bernard, we embarked on an epic adventure! Fruit, flour, slightly dodgy scales, poor lighting and assistance from the cat on occasions we came up with some ruddy nice cakes, now if only we could ice them as well as Emily does - we'd be well away! So sit back and watch - an afternoon of cupcakes. It could be up for a Palm D'Or next year you know! cupcakes from Mary … [Read more...]