It was such a nice quiet weekend, we'd been waiting for one for ages! Next week Al's in Oldham, the week after I'm in Brighton, the one after that is Linda's bday celebrations on St Patrick's day followed by Mothers day and I think the one after that I'm in London. God I feel tired just thinking about it all!
Friday was Nathan's birthday. We all went to the Cotteridge Village Inn; me, Al, Phil B, Hez, Nath, Laura and sister LC. It was a lot of fun but I did feel slightly the worse for wear the next morning. Ironically it was this that set the tone for the next 2 days; gentle days of recovery!
We spring cleaned the house really well, like it hadn't been done in years. Like under the stairs which had been getting increasingly unruly is spacious for the first time in ages! We started to get excited about forthcoming GIY projects. And we actually managed to sit down and talk about the wedding...
Got a press release approved for Restoration, did the shopping and a MAMOTH recycling shift - I swear I spent half an hour dropping cans into the bin!!! I must add that barely a fifth of it was mine...
Then we got wind that a council van was going to come around to collect big rubbish, so we actually managed to clear the garage for the first time in TWO YEARS! Might even be able to get a car in...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
wedding dress shopping
If you're not interested in wedding natter then stop reading now!
Friday night Nathan and Laura came by to drive us to Epic brasserie in Bromsgrove (http://www.epicbrasseries.co.uk/). It is currently the top destination for our wedding reception but we have yet to make the final decision.
The food was really good, it's a lovely place. The food did not manage to beat the Bird in Hand (http://www.fusionbrasserie.com/), near Worcester, which served possibly the best food ever. Mmmmm....
Anyway, it's a hard life sampling all this good food and wine..!
Alex treated us all to the meal, then we went home and made the most of being adults and Emma sleeping with her gran. We drank cocktails and played darts and just larked about, it was fun! We love Emma of course, but it was nice to have Nath and Laura over for once past Emma's bedtime.
Next day, went wedding dress hunting with mum. We went to a snooty shop in Henley in Arden then a really friendly shop in Warwick. Something annoys me about snooty shops that insist on you making an appointment just to see which dresses suit you. I mean, no one wears big dresses these days so you won't know what suits you without trying on heaps of 'em first. Or at least that's my strategy!
Went very well, thank you, however any more information is on a strictly need to know basis.
Rich Hall
Catching up, sorry. Last sunday me Alex and Leon went to Warwick Arts Centre to see comedian Rich Hall. You might not recognise the name but the photo might set a few bells ringing, he was in Whose Line is it Anyway and he's been on lots of other programmes. He's on tour in the UK and Leon had spotted him in the WAC programme. He was fabulous, absolutely the best night out we've had for ages! Laughed soooooo much, I absolutely recommend him to EVERYONE. He's kind of crabby, a bit pessimistic, grumpy old man humour. Imagine Alex on stage. Only joking! But anyway well worth a trip if he's in the area.Friday, February 16, 2007
Valentine's day
Happy Valentine's to everyone!
Myself and Alex had a lovingly cooked meal at home with a few glasses of wine and an early night on the tuesday, one day early. Valentine's we exchanged cards before I drove him to football, picking up a footpump and a ball on the way, and a chicken chowmein on the way home. I finished off a beer and half a slice of Cadbury fruit and nut on my own, so personally I had a GREAT valentine's!
Friday, February 09, 2007
The big snow
Only a few days ago I learned that in the last 10 million years the earth has experienced a series of ice ages, and before that we were hotter than we are now. And rather weirdly I learned that currently we are in the middle of an ice age. Me and Laura were laughing about that fact - which I learned watching a UKTV History documentary.
... Then right on cue: The BIG SNOW.
Yesterday it snowed. Today we thought we were over the worst of it. By gum were we wrong!
I walked to work and back today and yesterday. This picture was taken at 4.30. No grit had been put down on Lifford lane and it's a hill so the cars were slipping and sliding around like crazy. They were taking it one at a time to travel a few metres at a time. You can see the lights of an ambulance in the far distance, struggling to make headway through the traffic.
A few metres further and one of the cars was not able to move forward through a particularly slushy bit. So I asked the driver (it was a taxi) if he needed a push. For about 15 metres I pushed the car up the hill, slush going everywhere!
The radio reports that on 1 section of road in the midlands 250 cars have been abandoned. I'm not surprised! Anyway I pushed and it was going well, then we hit another really slippy bit and I couldn't get a grip on the road. We started slipping backwards, bit scary! A really nice man jumped out of his truck and helped me push the taxi up the crest of the hill - he was going the other way in the opposite lane, but they weren't moving either so I'm really glad he helped me! Thank you, whoever you are!
The car you see swimming its way through the snow is one of the few brave ones to leave the close. Ashbury and Keynell is under snow - you can't see our pavements, paths or gardens. It's all under the blanket!
Poor pads. She doesn't like the thought of digging 5 inches in order to have a poo. Not a fan at all.
"I sit at the door sniffing the air. I slipped out once today, I followed the girl. I could only stand it for a few seconds.
Unhappy with the condition they're forcing on me I thought I'd try and dig my way out. I thought I'd start upstairs where it's warmer. That didn't work. The carpet is thicker than I'd thought. I'll try again tomorrow.
Perhaps the front of the house might not be so cold? Alas.
After all, the only half-civilised thing there is to do is to sleep through this dratted weather. purrrrr...."
One the plus side the Ashbury Covert boys and girls are very happy indeed.
I got home from work today covered in snow - I mean I hadn't been that wet and white since I went skiing with the school in Canada!
Poor Alex though was not to get home until 8pm. He'd walked 4-5 miles in the snow. We have watched a few Ray Mears programmes about how explorers have survived avalanches and being trapped on mountains and Alex learned a key trick: refuel. So he stopped off for a saveloy and chips. Then, when he was not far from home he popped into the offie for a crate of beer; after all the greatest explorers motivate themselves with a goal..!
So, drenched and freezing he made it home with a 32-pack of beer and the weekend has officially begun!
Brave man...!
In our front garden I was really happy to see our bluebells poke their heads out of the ground a couple of weeks ago and begin to flower.
It was almost like the start of spring..!
A Scary fact
The current period of rapid global warming is accelerating the rate of polar melting and increasing rainfall levels in temperate regions. If all this fresh water disturbs salinity levels in the Atlantic Ocean, we could shut off the North Atlantic Drift (The Gulf Stream) again, and Europe could be ice-bound in as little as 10 years.
... Then right on cue: The BIG SNOW.
Yesterday it snowed. Today we thought we were over the worst of it. By gum were we wrong!
I walked to work and back today and yesterday. This picture was taken at 4.30. No grit had been put down on Lifford lane and it's a hill so the cars were slipping and sliding around like crazy. They were taking it one at a time to travel a few metres at a time. You can see the lights of an ambulance in the far distance, struggling to make headway through the traffic.
A few metres further and one of the cars was not able to move forward through a particularly slushy bit. So I asked the driver (it was a taxi) if he needed a push. For about 15 metres I pushed the car up the hill, slush going everywhere!
The radio reports that on 1 section of road in the midlands 250 cars have been abandoned. I'm not surprised! Anyway I pushed and it was going well, then we hit another really slippy bit and I couldn't get a grip on the road. We started slipping backwards, bit scary! A really nice man jumped out of his truck and helped me push the taxi up the crest of the hill - he was going the other way in the opposite lane, but they weren't moving either so I'm really glad he helped me! Thank you, whoever you are!
The car you see swimming its way through the snow is one of the few brave ones to leave the close. Ashbury and Keynell is under snow - you can't see our pavements, paths or gardens. It's all under the blanket!
Poor pads. She doesn't like the thought of digging 5 inches in order to have a poo. Not a fan at all.
"I sit at the door sniffing the air. I slipped out once today, I followed the girl. I could only stand it for a few seconds.
Unhappy with the condition they're forcing on me I thought I'd try and dig my way out. I thought I'd start upstairs where it's warmer. That didn't work. The carpet is thicker than I'd thought. I'll try again tomorrow.
Perhaps the front of the house might not be so cold? Alas.
After all, the only half-civilised thing there is to do is to sleep through this dratted weather. purrrrr...."
One the plus side the Ashbury Covert boys and girls are very happy indeed.
I got home from work today covered in snow - I mean I hadn't been that wet and white since I went skiing with the school in Canada!
Poor Alex though was not to get home until 8pm. He'd walked 4-5 miles in the snow. We have watched a few Ray Mears programmes about how explorers have survived avalanches and being trapped on mountains and Alex learned a key trick: refuel. So he stopped off for a saveloy and chips. Then, when he was not far from home he popped into the offie for a crate of beer; after all the greatest explorers motivate themselves with a goal..!
So, drenched and freezing he made it home with a 32-pack of beer and the weekend has officially begun!
Brave man...!
In our front garden I was really happy to see our bluebells poke their heads out of the ground a couple of weeks ago and begin to flower.
It was almost like the start of spring..!
A Scary fact
The current period of rapid global warming is accelerating the rate of polar melting and increasing rainfall levels in temperate regions. If all this fresh water disturbs salinity levels in the Atlantic Ocean, we could shut off the North Atlantic Drift (The Gulf Stream) again, and Europe could be ice-bound in as little as 10 years.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Tip top cookie recipe!
Oaty Double Choc Cookies
To prepare:
Cream together 100g butter with 12 oz light brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of F.O.S. Add 4 free range eggs. Once these are thoroughly mixed add 2 teaspoons of vanilla flavouring, 2 cups wholegrain flour, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix together thoroughly again. Now you can stir in 4 cups of uncooked porridge oats to make a really thick mixture. Finally spoon in 6 oz of plain chocolate chips,
To cook:
Preheat the oven to gas mark 5. Then either cover your tray in foil and grease with some butter or use greaseproof paper. Now you can make these any size and any shape but the easiest way is to dollop 4 spoonfuls of mixture across the top of the tray and repeat this all the way down. After 10 minutes baking the mix (as long as it isn’t too thickly spooned) should have baked golden brown and congealed to fill the tray. Now just cut strips lengthwise and horizontally and pull the squares off one by one. If your tray is approx 30x30cm you should have enough mixture to make 2 lots.
To prepare:
Cream together 100g butter with 12 oz light brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of F.O.S. Add 4 free range eggs. Once these are thoroughly mixed add 2 teaspoons of vanilla flavouring, 2 cups wholegrain flour, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix together thoroughly again. Now you can stir in 4 cups of uncooked porridge oats to make a really thick mixture. Finally spoon in 6 oz of plain chocolate chips,
To cook:
Preheat the oven to gas mark 5. Then either cover your tray in foil and grease with some butter or use greaseproof paper. Now you can make these any size and any shape but the easiest way is to dollop 4 spoonfuls of mixture across the top of the tray and repeat this all the way down. After 10 minutes baking the mix (as long as it isn’t too thickly spooned) should have baked golden brown and congealed to fill the tray. Now just cut strips lengthwise and horizontally and pull the squares off one by one. If your tray is approx 30x30cm you should have enough mixture to make 2 lots.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Non-medical nutrition
Since September, when I enrolled on a nutrition course at Bournville College, I've been studying for a diploma that could enable me (if I wanted to) to offer general nutrition advice and even to practise as a self employed nutritionist. As I've got into it I've realised that without further study this could be a minefield, I wouldn't feel right dispensing advice when any condition can require such a large amount of knowledge of contra indications, long term effects and loads and loads of tiny details. Yikes!
But anyway, it's been really interesting and it's something I could do something with in time. I've got to hand in all my work next tuesday - I've done a big folder full of work so I've got my fingers crossed... BioCare gives its employees £250 quid as well which paid for this course in the majority, I think I only forked out £20-30 quid in the end. So I couldn't have afforded to do it without that so I'm really pleased.
But it'll be soooo GREAT to get my tuesday nights back! Just got to finish my folder over the next few days and turn up to the party! That's right, our last lesson is our party, and I'm cooking cookies using F.O.S. (Fructo oligo saccharides), which is a probiotic base and also sometimes used as an alternative to sugar as its a bit sweet but does not require insulin to be turned into fuel. Anyway, I'm trying it out on my nutrition class and if they're any good I'll do a big batch for the Brighton exhibition where we'll also serve healthy probiotic smoothies.
Other than that I've got loads of research on for the Restoration project that I haven't done too much about so the sooner I finish this nutrition thing I can get on with that!
I was thinking it might be nice to run a Kings Norton magazine from the new Saracen's Head, when it's restored. Kings Norton is a huge area but it's split into smaller areas - as such I live in Kings Norton but don't receive the Kings Norton magazine or the 3 Estates magazine, but somehow I do receive a Druids Heath community paper... I thought it might be good to do something that goes out to everyone in the area. There are loads of small businesses and loads of news that never makes it into the Birmingham Mail, and a similar publication in Bournville seems to do quite well... next project!
Last weekend on Friday night I went to see Hannah in Wolverhampton. Such fun! We entertained her two boys for a few hours while Rossa got home and got a curry, then we went out all dressed up and hit the town! It's not often that I have a girlie night out and we were both very much up for it! We went to a tapas cafeteria for a cheap munch then went to the Little Civic bar and then to the Civic Hall for their "Cheeky Monkey" night. Danced til about 1ish and hobbled home in time honoured tradition! The next day I fed baby Oscar who has the widest eyes ever, so gorgeous! I've never fed a baby before, Hannah made the most of me being around though and sat back. Me and Oscar made quite a team and got through a whole bowl of food with minimal mess!
When I got back and after many many chores, me and Laura went to Emma's for a girls night in. We watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the best film so far, and eat much much food! A good night was had by all..!
But anyway, it's been really interesting and it's something I could do something with in time. I've got to hand in all my work next tuesday - I've done a big folder full of work so I've got my fingers crossed... BioCare gives its employees £250 quid as well which paid for this course in the majority, I think I only forked out £20-30 quid in the end. So I couldn't have afforded to do it without that so I'm really pleased.
But it'll be soooo GREAT to get my tuesday nights back! Just got to finish my folder over the next few days and turn up to the party! That's right, our last lesson is our party, and I'm cooking cookies using F.O.S. (Fructo oligo saccharides), which is a probiotic base and also sometimes used as an alternative to sugar as its a bit sweet but does not require insulin to be turned into fuel. Anyway, I'm trying it out on my nutrition class and if they're any good I'll do a big batch for the Brighton exhibition where we'll also serve healthy probiotic smoothies.
Other than that I've got loads of research on for the Restoration project that I haven't done too much about so the sooner I finish this nutrition thing I can get on with that!
I was thinking it might be nice to run a Kings Norton magazine from the new Saracen's Head, when it's restored. Kings Norton is a huge area but it's split into smaller areas - as such I live in Kings Norton but don't receive the Kings Norton magazine or the 3 Estates magazine, but somehow I do receive a Druids Heath community paper... I thought it might be good to do something that goes out to everyone in the area. There are loads of small businesses and loads of news that never makes it into the Birmingham Mail, and a similar publication in Bournville seems to do quite well... next project!
Last weekend on Friday night I went to see Hannah in Wolverhampton. Such fun! We entertained her two boys for a few hours while Rossa got home and got a curry, then we went out all dressed up and hit the town! It's not often that I have a girlie night out and we were both very much up for it! We went to a tapas cafeteria for a cheap munch then went to the Little Civic bar and then to the Civic Hall for their "Cheeky Monkey" night. Danced til about 1ish and hobbled home in time honoured tradition! The next day I fed baby Oscar who has the widest eyes ever, so gorgeous! I've never fed a baby before, Hannah made the most of me being around though and sat back. Me and Oscar made quite a team and got through a whole bowl of food with minimal mess!
When I got back and after many many chores, me and Laura went to Emma's for a girls night in. We watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the best film so far, and eat much much food! A good night was had by all..!
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