tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13924445414773585072024-02-19T05:16:26.436+00:00Little Apple Tree :: A Bristol Lifestyle BlogA Bristol Lifestyle BlogAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-35502049214279525292015-07-31T18:45:00.000+01:002015-07-31T18:45:22.948+01:00Month In Pictures: July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp0_mkgkbJYaYz_oVZBwGSFQn41Zz5yL4tgbEXbnBB_XVMwGA8JTA7kBAzvQag56g11iNkDnXqvh8VqsBrdxmWY0A5-TccnsiRsxSJT-jRa4IwHvW97RvTwccrija0uHwKcz_ppF2lEqh/s1600/july-2015-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp0_mkgkbJYaYz_oVZBwGSFQn41Zz5yL4tgbEXbnBB_XVMwGA8JTA7kBAzvQag56g11iNkDnXqvh8VqsBrdxmWY0A5-TccnsiRsxSJT-jRa4IwHvW97RvTwccrija0uHwKcz_ppF2lEqh/s640/july-2015-collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here we are again, the end of another month. It's hard to believe that we've had almost two weeks of the summer holidays already! (I've even managed a <i>whole day</i> Without Getting Cross. Parents, you know how big a deal that is during the endless holidays!)</div>
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So July was pretty cool...</div>
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<b>Top:</b> The month kicked off with Bristol Pride. I've never seen the parade before, so we watched it from Dave's office window which gave us a great view. Where on earth do people get these huge flags?! </div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-33548708">Two willow whales</a> have taken up residence in Millennium Square for the summer, The ocean they're swimming in is made of plastic bottles and bubblewrap, collected after the Bristol 10k. It's a beautiful piece of art, with a big message behind it.</div>
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July also saw me baking my first (and last) wedding cake. I was honoured to do it, and so thrilled that the happy couple loved it, but I was a nervous wreck by the end of it. I'll stick to making fun cakes for the family that I can plaster with flowers to hide mistakes!</div>
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<b>Middle:</b> The Bristol leg of the Shaun in the City trail started this month. While I find Shaun tremendously irritating--Gromit is just <i>lovely </i>though--I've still really enjoyed hunting down each Shaun with Dave and Lucas. I'm hoping that we'll get a few more next weekend!</div>
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We seem to be spending loads of time at the Harbourside this summer. Last year we were all about Tyntesfield, but this year the marina and the brightly-painted houses have caught our eye. This pic was taken on the same day as Pride, when there was a small regatta in the floating harbour. Lush!</div>
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My partners in crime being 100% them. They're totally bonkers but in the best way possible. Love 'em.</div>
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<b>Bottom:</b> I splashed out on one of my favourite Gromits from the trail two years ago. Shipshape and Bristol Fashion now lives on my Welsh dresser and is often joined by a bunch of peonies. I love them, even though they don't always open. I could be doing something wrong, though??</div>
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We've spent rather a lot of time at Friska this month. I might have a slight addiction to their dirty chai, but that's okay as all their food is dead healthy and delicious. It all balances out, I'm sure!!</div>
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Lucas and I went to the aquarium and found Nemo. He was right there in the tank (along with Dorie and the yellow tang whose name escapes me). I bet lots of other aquariums have a Nemo tank...</div>
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In August I'm looking forward to our summer holiday in Cornwall. We're going to a different farm this year as our usual one was booked solid--although yay for our favourite place doing so well! I need to unearth my swimming costume as it has a pool. Farm holidays have certainly changed since the days of the Famous Five!!</div>
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There'll be pasties, cider and far too much ice-cream, plus fresh eggs collected by Lucas. Should be awesome.</div>
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Talking of ice-cream, I keep hearing about a gelateria on Baldwin Street. I must go and look for it... I haven't had real gelato since we went to Venice for our first anniversary,</div>
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<i>So how was your July?</i></div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-55499672244361648562015-07-30T23:55:00.000+01:002015-07-31T14:50:21.846+01:00Taking Stock<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUc0TvIrXuvX00sQMF73ekW4JJAgkCLgDMeRY8PWJCRNX6davSAYfzsy7uS5VTLFWIwlNJJVrFQ4o-VUIyRR2AeTjl7UOd4QAr9vg6WATAARagymF6Q1cKMJ0h-NPkmMESGhb25DMbZUv/s1600/dave-lucas-harboursidefest2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUc0TvIrXuvX00sQMF73ekW4JJAgkCLgDMeRY8PWJCRNX6davSAYfzsy7uS5VTLFWIwlNJJVrFQ4o-VUIyRR2AeTjl7UOd4QAr9vg6WATAARagymF6Q1cKMJ0h-NPkmMESGhb25DMbZUv/s640/dave-lucas-harboursidefest2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ohana</td></tr>
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Tonight feels like a good time to take stock... Lucas is fast asleep upstairs, I'm at one with the sofa, and on the other side of the world in Australia Dave is just waking up. It's been very cool to see pictures of his morning run past the Sydney Opera House, but I'm totally ready for him to come home now!<br />
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<li><b>Making :</b> a gorgeously textured crochet blanket. If only it was big enough to cover my toes!</li>
<li><b>Cooking:</b> I knocked up a gorgeous Italian style sausage and lentil dish for dinner. The house will smell of garlic for days but it was totally worth it!</li>
<li><b>Drinking:</b> berry iced tea from <a href="http://www.friskafood.com/">Friska</a>. We've been to Friska three times this week, they must think I've given up on cooking!</li>
<li><b>Reading:</b> issue one of <i>The Rivers of London</i> comic. When it was first announced I didn't like the character drawings of PC Peter Grant, but in action (as it were) he looks perfect.</li>
<li><b>Wanting:</b> a big, squishy hug.</li>
<li><b>Looking:</b> forward to the weekend.</li>
<li><b>Playing:</b> <i>Criminal Case</i>. I'm addicted.</li>
<li><b>Wasting:</b> time. {See playing.}</li>
<li><b>Sewing:</b> nothing...yet. I did buy a gorgeous jellyroll to make a giant floor cushion though. Lucas seems to prefer lying on the floor to sitting on the sofa,</li>
<li><b>Wishing:</b> for more energy. And a housework fairy.</li>
<li><b>Enjoying:</b> watching <i>Downton Abbey</i>. It's taken me a very long time to get into it, but I'm now loving it!</li>
<li><b>Waiting:</b> for Dave to come home on Sunday. This might necessitate a cake...</li>
<li><b>Wondering:</b> how early Lucas is going to wake me in the morning! He's better than a cockerel.</li>
<li><b>Loving:</b> my little family.</li>
<li><b>Hoping:</b> for sunshine tomorrow.</li>
<li><b>Marvelling:</b> at the beautiful sets and costumes on <i>Downton Abbey</i>.</li>
<li><b>Needing:</b> a good night's sleep.</li>
<li><b>Smelling:</b> garlic wafting through the house. We shall be a vampire-free zone for quite a while. What can I say? I'm a giver.</li>
<li><b>Wearing:</b> PJs and a cardigan for extra warmth. While I don't miss sweltering evenings, it would be nice not to have to wrap up!</li>
<li><b>Noticing:</b> the apples getting bigger by the day on the not-so-little apple tree.</li>
<li><b>Thinking: </b>about what book to read next. I've got The Ocean at the End of the Lane in the virtual pile, along with a stack of Robin Hobb books.</li>
<li><b>Bookmarking:</b> Wordpress tutorials. Finally getting around to the big switch from Blogger to Wordpress!</li>
<li><b>Opening:</b> lots and lots of tabs in my browser. I do like to research thoroughly!</li>
<li><b>Giggling:</b> at Lucas's bad jokes.</li>
<li><b>Feeling:</b> Lucky and loved.</li>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-11000801266854851972015-07-27T14:15:00.000+01:002015-07-27T14:15:51.723+01:00...And They Lived Happily Ever After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivroZ_BQduoDNiq68ahLxlvsraCJ7fvgnsCitYAaZCxcGOLE8Nl7YSEVbIgdtWEBh8epqpeWb7X9g6_G5EGSjhV8eVgVjryzRzKi7fAE10cRr14uq94r_2NjLcvF2AePETQpDvdilvDdki/s1600/wedding-cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wedding cake with Swiss dots and large flower" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivroZ_BQduoDNiq68ahLxlvsraCJ7fvgnsCitYAaZCxcGOLE8Nl7YSEVbIgdtWEBh8epqpeWb7X9g6_G5EGSjhV8eVgVjryzRzKi7fAE10cRr14uq94r_2NjLcvF2AePETQpDvdilvDdki/s640/wedding-cake.jpg" title="Wedding cake with Swiss dots and large flower" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last week I was honoured (and very surprised) to be asked to bake a wedding cake. My sister-in-law asked me to make a cake for her friends who were getting married <i>this week</i> as she'd just discovered they didn't have one. Awww, how lovely is she?<br />
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Now, I've made big cakes, small cakes, ridiculously layered cakes--really want to make another Dobos Torta--a 3D raccoon, and a couple of stacked cakes, but <i>never </i>a wedding cake. So baking this wedding cake was not something I undertook lightly. There are so many emotions tied up within a wedding cake, you've got to get it right. I was a nervous wreck by the time I was done.<br />
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I sketched out a few ideas and settled on a simple but hopefully pretty design. (Loving playing with my chalkboard; I get to feel all artistic. Luckily for everyone, I bake better than I draw.) As I'm currently in love with peonies and the wedding colours were to be white and baby pink, I thought I'd have a go at making a simplified one to grace the top tier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ozyqYudMutyx4HSN7llCPIPk9PdHi2wJN9EecIaUNtLbAEZlyIUaRsDHZJ5c1nSDaOJ1fTjdjZ3Hnt6TJz9HcajOBZWsLW-5E-zYc25MzF8RRwBgAI49_F27kD06EcWujief8oY_3Z_M/s1600/wedding-cake-design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chalkboard sketch of my wedding cake design" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ozyqYudMutyx4HSN7llCPIPk9PdHi2wJN9EecIaUNtLbAEZlyIUaRsDHZJ5c1nSDaOJ1fTjdjZ3Hnt6TJz9HcajOBZWsLW-5E-zYc25MzF8RRwBgAI49_F27kD06EcWujief8oY_3Z_M/s640/wedding-cake-design.jpg" title="Chalkboard sketch of my wedding cake design" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'd love to say that this cake went smoothly, but as with all things that you care rather too much about, nerves played their part. My fingers were less than nimble at times and the cake isn't the flawless beauty I'd imagined. But what I think doesn't matter: Emily and AJ were thrilled with their cake and as luck would have it, the flower I created looked exactly like one of the flowers adorning Emily's dress! (I'm going to ride the wave of these burgeoning psychic powers and buy a lottery ticket.)<br />
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Congratulations Emily and AJ, I hope you have many happy years together!<br />
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And should anyone ever be crazy enough to take on a wedding cake, here are my top tips...<br />
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Make a timetable. Work backwards from when the cake needs to be ready and add an hour on to each stage of the cake to give yourself a nice contingency cushion. Just in case things go wrong. (I had sufficient time left to bake another tier of the cake if necessary.)<br />
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Use a tried and tested recipe. I used <a href="http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/2009/12/17/baking-the-perfect-madeira-cake/">Lindy Smith's madeira cake recipe</a> which I've been using successfully for the last three years. (I go the whole hog and wrap the tin up in newspaper as well as having a tin of water on the floor of the oven. Works a treat.)<br />
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Use a cake leveller. And use it properly. Level each tier to the same height, then as you cut the cake into layers cut each tier before changing the height on the leveller again. This will make your cake look very professional when cut!<br />
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Don't use new-to-you items. I used a different brand of fondant icing, in the name of saving money, and regretted it. It changed colour overnight and then my ribbon didn't match and it was all <i>very traumatic</i>.<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-43259733600659904832015-07-13T12:48:00.000+01:002015-07-13T12:48:37.261+01:00Le Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBKdqaa8Eflr1rClkz7lJWxK-OWU6QYh-UnJ6c8ASH3VVkdLly_iaoG64lWUcJwTRQIRIKfmiQwVY1xr_QWTQ_OykIJHtBbDlj5CY_aQk3cWSSapnwW-h92o0ZF1ivOMylEmPW4fpBfNa/s1600/bristol-harbourside-looking-to-hotwells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bristol harbourside, looking across to Hotwells" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBKdqaa8Eflr1rClkz7lJWxK-OWU6QYh-UnJ6c8ASH3VVkdLly_iaoG64lWUcJwTRQIRIKfmiQwVY1xr_QWTQ_OykIJHtBbDlj5CY_aQk3cWSSapnwW-h92o0ZF1ivOMylEmPW4fpBfNa/s640/bristol-harbourside-looking-to-hotwells.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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The rain is pitter-pattering against the window as I type; it's hard to believe that we had <i>such </i>a glorious weekend, but we totally did!<br />
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We spent Saturday pottering around the Harbourside in town, sort-of following the Shaun the Sheep trail and basking in the sunshine. I'm a bit like Goldilocks when it comes to the sun, it can't be too hot or too cold, it has to be just right. <br />
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Bristol was super-busy this weekend, with Pride, Grillstock--it smelled <i>so good</i>--sheep hunters galore, <i>and </i>a regatta. It was manic, frankly, but the city was so happy and buzzing that no one seemed to care.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9ELIePfFOUi79z9b3ZIuqYQl86yujBxWbh1sXSbSpE-62qMo1pUeCAUxwU_L5HpDhuTcoqLbA3zKIWQ6y3JoQplgWBpaV6yE31CMvIXqWSIpANQJQCwaiQzAh1i3-ZeNkPBNSi3_ZQwD/s1600/Bristol-Pride-parade-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Bristol Pride parade 2015" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9ELIePfFOUi79z9b3ZIuqYQl86yujBxWbh1sXSbSpE-62qMo1pUeCAUxwU_L5HpDhuTcoqLbA3zKIWQ6y3JoQplgWBpaV6yE31CMvIXqWSIpANQJQCwaiQzAh1i3-ZeNkPBNSi3_ZQwD/s640/Bristol-Pride-parade-2015.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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We watched the Pride parade from Dave's office window which gave us a great view of all the goings on. So much colour, music, and happiness. It was lovely to see Avon & Somerset police out, waving rainbow flags and sporting very natty rainbow epaulettes on their uniforms. And no Pride parade would be complete without some very sassy drag queens and stilt walkers! So much sparkle!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnx6U25iNHshiAMEEMYDRWxQZX6cBeuChriVIdR6rLFvBV6tHsOC1Kop9miPk4aL-rMYk0gXYMtJ-xnWnp8hJRkp6ZXCGS5OZB2YGEr8XQMbByyZSq_3AgKU9G0_nEwMli_mmHuiCHyuD/s1600/shaun-collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beach Boy, BAA-WULF, Green Poems for a Blue Planet, Life Aquatic" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnx6U25iNHshiAMEEMYDRWxQZX6cBeuChriVIdR6rLFvBV6tHsOC1Kop9miPk4aL-rMYk0gXYMtJ-xnWnp8hJRkp6ZXCGS5OZB2YGEr8XQMbByyZSq_3AgKU9G0_nEwMli_mmHuiCHyuD/s640/shaun-collage1.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Boy, BAA-WULF, Green Poems for a Blue Planet, Life Aquatic </td></tr>
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After the parade left Queen Square, we set off on our sheep hunt. I highly advise picking up a paper map from the tourist information office, the Aardman shop at The Mall (and I'm sure there are other locations, too) as the Shaun in the City app is a bit flaky when it comes to route planning. Luckily we had Dave, who seems to be part carrier pigeon and never steers us wrong!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-FjyfMiO6LUyrysGuNJugmwubolSg_F8PFk4p7oLwV8YCa6qR97VaoZXXV0u9rekN85ndjNOi7ILcQvRw8sFdySWGdUuHBa7hBHgHKSFsWhhlry0KzFBZH_B0MWcA1910gwdhCINLX7x/s1600/waterfountain-milleniumsquare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Water fountain with street art in Millennium Square" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-FjyfMiO6LUyrysGuNJugmwubolSg_F8PFk4p7oLwV8YCa6qR97VaoZXXV0u9rekN85ndjNOi7ILcQvRw8sFdySWGdUuHBa7hBHgHKSFsWhhlry0KzFBZH_B0MWcA1910gwdhCINLX7x/s640/waterfountain-milleniumsquare.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this water fountain in Millenium Square!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL3TnG2tRyvmnZk1yT9axwk4IPwHnuur5B4c8IH-P63ptMLMS_Fo-qacllpAi7bmkXlKEBNQiyiGcdQCCzpZX2rlejrbqhY8DGXa8S5zQvq3ShokzmXOwCl8jVzi6m77uiHcxRhSXmOqn/s1600/shaun-collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Air Fleece, Dolly, King Arthur of Lambelot and Excalibaaar, On the Waterfront" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL3TnG2tRyvmnZk1yT9axwk4IPwHnuur5B4c8IH-P63ptMLMS_Fo-qacllpAi7bmkXlKEBNQiyiGcdQCCzpZX2rlejrbqhY8DGXa8S5zQvq3ShokzmXOwCl8jVzi6m77uiHcxRhSXmOqn/s640/shaun-collage2.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Fleece, Dolly, King Arthur of Lambelot and Excalibaaar, On the Waterfront</td></tr>
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Some beauts on this section of our walk. <i>King Arthur</i> was fantastic! I wonder if it was the same artist who did <i>Sir Gromit of Bristol</i>? We're still trying to estimate how many glass drops are covering <i>Dolly</i>! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0m8FVbQRmZl7ASP94UeGuCqRtHe8TjejeSXEFEQbCDo_GJTzh4UEbyWr7EL-JW-3-vrWm0fyI_wZi54O_3zLmszZMlwsB7AjuXFQsYF9HVWDUEBwJyd0PWTIQtYKKOaLk6oQfCcOI4R8/s1600/bonus-shaun-catch-of-the-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Catch of the Day, a mermaid Shaun" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0m8FVbQRmZl7ASP94UeGuCqRtHe8TjejeSXEFEQbCDo_GJTzh4UEbyWr7EL-JW-3-vrWm0fyI_wZi54O_3zLmszZMlwsB7AjuXFQsYF9HVWDUEBwJyd0PWTIQtYKKOaLk6oQfCcOI4R8/s640/bonus-shaun-catch-of-the-day.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catch of the Day, the new figurehead for Bristol Ferries</td></tr>
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We were lucky to spot <i>Catch of the Day</i>, the new figurehead for Bristol Ferries replacing their mini-Gromit. I love his/her mermaid design, complete with seaweed lovingly twined around the ankles. (Do sheep have ankles?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIz5_tU4au30sdVkva1rqPsrnBJG5rr1eEhbb8a8Z9Cp9lOCuVoAsL0ZWg4btnVdILDWD_zl3HVvlyKEXuG2zBF8_SQyv0TOPZNI3QzpQwAYLRxhFR_EHRHn5MZIcuAGAJLTxkFYpnRR3/s1600/shaun-collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jarsberry Ram, Sgt. Shepherd, Lotus, Baaarbersheep" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIz5_tU4au30sdVkva1rqPsrnBJG5rr1eEhbb8a8Z9Cp9lOCuVoAsL0ZWg4btnVdILDWD_zl3HVvlyKEXuG2zBF8_SQyv0TOPZNI3QzpQwAYLRxhFR_EHRHn5MZIcuAGAJLTxkFYpnRR3/s640/shaun-collage3.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jarsberry Ram, Sgt. Shepherd, Lotus, Baaarbersheep</td></tr>
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The Pump House sported another berry-licious sheep. This time, raspberry flavoured with <i>Jarsberry Ram</i>. (I hope they bring out a tea towel for him to go along with my <i>Gromberry </i>one!) We cooled down inside with a drink--it's lovely and cool inside on a hot day, perks of the proper stone walls, I guess--before crossing the river and weaving our way through teams of rowers to find Sgt. Shepherd.<br />
<br />Further downstream we found <i>Lotus </i>outside Aardman's headquarters which was absolutely gorgeous, with lots of hidden details. I was especially fond of the tai chi poses on each leg. Peek through the windows and admire their giant Shaun which almost fills the lobby!<br />
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<i>Baarbersheep </i>behind the M Shed had it's own farmyard enclosure, complete with haybales (hayfever sufferers beware) and had some gorgeous hand-lettering done by Gav Strange.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFuLrzo6d3ZECoOWy-scl87PJS8Mb_tFT2rkTWHdZ4mhq2F0nkecx-MiPxs3o27-g1VqNXiyE0Ndo2YV_MtjRHzh82mKOWZ6uVTI75YucR76s8wESMOU4hlgSUysVbnQpejS3uZjvRidm/s1600/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-banksy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Banksy's Girl With A Pearl Earring" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFuLrzo6d3ZECoOWy-scl87PJS8Mb_tFT2rkTWHdZ4mhq2F0nkecx-MiPxs3o27-g1VqNXiyE0Ndo2YV_MtjRHzh82mKOWZ6uVTI75YucR76s8wESMOU4hlgSUysVbnQpejS3uZjvRidm/s640/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-banksy.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not a walk round Bristol without a Banksy! Girl with a Pearl Earring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPT4Tdgxv71IETYIig1uDYuWTwcyyBf5anj5MKEyeFgMPHwi9Y4xG62RD_1FEZNMTltKUvhRhIIRS480n3moFGDtVZnzQQu8_jDkcE4L-fEdTa4rlcnAAy6reoF9QTXR9JbLpndBno-D-/s1600/shaun-collage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Pirate Captain, Shaun Beam, King of the Carnival, Justice Lamb" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPT4Tdgxv71IETYIig1uDYuWTwcyyBf5anj5MKEyeFgMPHwi9Y4xG62RD_1FEZNMTltKUvhRhIIRS480n3moFGDtVZnzQQu8_jDkcE4L-fEdTa4rlcnAAy6reoF9QTXR9JbLpndBno-D-/s640/shaun-collage4.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pirate Captain, Shaun Beam, King of the Carnival, Justice Lamb</td></tr>
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Here are our last few Shauns of the day. <i>The Pirate Captain</i> was just awesome. I loved that film! I'm really not so sure about <i>Shaun Beam</i>. We originally thought that it was something to do with Shaun Bean, but apparently it's inspired by a sculpture in Chicago known as 'the Bean'. I'm still not sure if I like it... <i>Justice Lamb</i> was great, though!<br />
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And lastly, my favourite photo from the day. I've actually splashed out and ordered it on canvas for the living room wall, <i>that's</i> how much I love it. And him, too, obvs. Can't believe he's nearly nine...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAm6fv7Qg0AYoz-nmYE_7l1_KyfDOnWeU9RrevhwfRSGm8tBxgkd6YqaE47Awkj8gFDTlbW4GA_MTOoyEULbdBx2OqbrCxoEQmiS3-tyGDtHcvjOJwgtVkFRxrgRHokhMkcuQdS8vuVmh/s1600/lucas-harbourside2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lucas at the Harbourside" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAm6fv7Qg0AYoz-nmYE_7l1_KyfDOnWeU9RrevhwfRSGm8tBxgkd6YqaE47Awkj8gFDTlbW4GA_MTOoyEULbdBx2OqbrCxoEQmiS3-tyGDtHcvjOJwgtVkFRxrgRHokhMkcuQdS8vuVmh/s640/lucas-harbourside2.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucas at the Harbourside</td></tr>
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-8386356077624785582015-07-10T11:12:00.002+01:002015-07-10T11:12:32.839+01:00Friday Favourites, volume 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been so long since I've done Friday Favourites, but it just <i>had </i>to be done this week as I have seen so many most excellent things. This is likely to be a bit of a sporadic series, all dependent on what wonders I see each week.<br />
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So, without further ado, here are some of the things I've loved this week...<br />
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<b>Favourite Instagrammer</b> <a href="https://instagram.com/allison_sadler_/">Allison Sadler</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmtQDMlzWu5JQTVu5uTDt9Ibz3yh18ix_tV2Ef7wSpHWQSJ5Hf3_XpaaALbxKJJP93Px-BdiUMUr6ddVbry5jaq9MkKrFEQcJwS1Cr8WZcRhuo776ZCDtwcsFy4LPfFtGypZk5sf4-doH/s1600/a-chat-with-allison-the-people-shop-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmtQDMlzWu5JQTVu5uTDt9Ibz3yh18ix_tV2Ef7wSpHWQSJ5Hf3_XpaaALbxKJJP93Px-BdiUMUr6ddVbry5jaq9MkKrFEQcJwS1Cr8WZcRhuo776ZCDtwcsFy4LPfFtGypZk5sf4-doH/s640/a-chat-with-allison-the-people-shop-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© <a href="http://thislittlespaceofmine.co.uk/">This Little Space of Mine</a></td></tr>
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I am loving Allison Sadler's Instagram feed. I met Allison last year at Blogtacular and her Instagram is a perfect reflection of her personality. It's full of positive, sparkly, bright, happy and beautiful things. There's always something to make you smile! One day I'll make it to one of her #makeitsewcial events!<br />
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<b>Favourite Handmade </b><a href="http://www.beesandappletrees.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/ijslolly-slinger-haakpatroon-popsicle.html">Popsicle Bunting</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X7FaARrNAaGj9SEr608yQ4KOn565hZmRp5reErQKMSUOIKpNe127MJOS7u2MuSiZLYSzCMjczUhJ_92ZXx9JmtjlC553Xeca6vu1AW0AW9zUEDr0MyDvXUa1dl3-CqR4BY4TstdIhibu/s1600/beesandappletrees-popsicle-bunting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X7FaARrNAaGj9SEr608yQ4KOn565hZmRp5reErQKMSUOIKpNe127MJOS7u2MuSiZLYSzCMjczUhJ_92ZXx9JmtjlC553Xeca6vu1AW0AW9zUEDr0MyDvXUa1dl3-CqR4BY4TstdIhibu/s640/beesandappletrees-popsicle-bunting.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This amazing <a href="http://www.beesandappletrees.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/ijslolly-slinger-haakpatroon-popsicle.html">popsicle (ice-lolly) bunting</a> is by <a href="http://www.beesandappletrees.blogspot.co.uk/">Bees and Apple Trees</a> (a name I thoroughly approve of!) via Allison Sadler's Instagram. I made some 2D ice-cream and seaside bunting last summer and had dreadful problems with it curling up and refusing to hang nicely, despite blocking. This weightier version looks like it resolves that problem neatly and it looks fantastic to boot! I've got my yarn, a crochet hook and a pair of sunglasses...hit it!<br />
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<b>Favourite Food</b> Arla Skyr<br />
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I first had Skyr in America, over five years ago. I fell in love with the thick, creamy Icelandic yoghurt (which is actually cheese, but when it tastes this good, who cares what it technically is?) and loved that it was naturally fat-free. Since then I've been trying (and failing) to be in London when the <a href="http://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/">Scandinavian Kitchen</a> had some of this rare beast in stock, Imagine my surprise when I found a taster stand in my local Sainsbury's last week! I've been gorging on it ever since; the natural flavour is perfect as a replacement for sour cream in potato salad or on fajitas, and the honey is glorious. It's very Slimming World friendly, too.<br />
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<b>Favourite Geekery</b> The new Doctor Who trailer!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fi3nJBlJs48?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Coming to our screens on the 19th of September!! Really looking forward to it, and I'm ever so curious about Arya Stark's character in this. Could this finally be Susan??<br />
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<b>Favourite Tutorial</b> <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/2015/05/hand-lettering-a-card-for-a-wedding-gift.html">Pretty Handlettering in 3 Steps</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqKhqRk-7VQDba1KVvSj6YMGrXk1hK4jmjYgCXI5ABB36UtxVlwE9y5Q1mDKYG5f_frpIbJF3xaF610xS7U40EN72If1kZB15hnv41RCjmitkiwfxw4TzxBlI5Dt0rDNufup5sHZyQrHg/s1600/Wedding-gift-wrapping-ideaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqKhqRk-7VQDba1KVvSj6YMGrXk1hK4jmjYgCXI5ABB36UtxVlwE9y5Q1mDKYG5f_frpIbJF3xaF610xS7U40EN72If1kZB15hnv41RCjmitkiwfxw4TzxBlI5Dt0rDNufup5sHZyQrHg/s640/Wedding-gift-wrapping-ideaa.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/">In My Own Style</a></td></tr>
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I came across this tutorial on Pinterest yesterday afternoon--loving their suggested pins--and since then I've been happily doodling away. My regular handwriting is doctor levels of terrible these days, and I always feel a bit envious when a beautifully penned card pops through the letterbox, so being able to create some beautiful lettering easily is a wonder to me! It really <i>does </i>work. I'm quite stunned at how nice my handwriting can look, especially as I'm just using an old biro at the moment. (Must raid Lucas's pencil case!)<br />
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All I need now is an upcoming birthday, wedding or baby to show off my handiwork!<br />
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Have a fabulous Friday and an awesome weekend!<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-81759802147458835912015-07-04T20:13:00.001+01:002015-07-04T20:13:50.824+01:00Baaa-rilliant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.shauninthecity.org.uk/">Shaun In The City</a> starts in two days, on the 6th. Hooray! It's felt like an absolute <i>age </i>since the London flock got rounded up by the farmer; we have been waiting quite impatiently to get our sheep spotting on.<br />
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Now, the trail <i>officially </i>starts on the 6th, but a few Shauns have started stealthily getting into position around the city following Nick Park's parade across the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The lovely folks at Warmley Waiting Room welcomed their Shaun yesterday and there are three early bird Shauns at The Mall!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaoteUCW8hvUjFPOOTFB1doYRb3rA_P1EDLPQv2jROeAEBP-oo9q3R7fMENoGEW3_ZylotCVORADBhp3pbqpx1CVcNP-0y8wa8jAI-ZvuJ00j6rn-mhMs2ki6YsBp8WnyC1svCVBiYRoT/s1600/bee-dazzled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaoteUCW8hvUjFPOOTFB1doYRb3rA_P1EDLPQv2jROeAEBP-oo9q3R7fMENoGEW3_ZylotCVORADBhp3pbqpx1CVcNP-0y8wa8jAI-ZvuJ00j6rn-mhMs2ki6YsBp8WnyC1svCVBiYRoT/s640/bee-dazzled.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee-dazzled</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrek Shaun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Beware, ogre."</td></tr>
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Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that I only have pictures of two; I'm afraid I was too lazy to go and track down the third, but I shall triumph another day!<br />
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The 'Shaun Shop' is also hosting an exhibition of mimi Shaun's decorated by local schools, so there's plenty to admire as excitement builds for Monday!<br />
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Our school's mini Shaun is still busy being decorated but I'm sure he would loved to have taken part in the show. Still, there was a local-ish Shaun--this Special Delivery sheep from Mangotsfield School.<br />
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While we were in the Shaun Shop, I decided to treat myself to one of my favourite Gromits from the original trail. It's taken me two years of dithering to finally get over the price of them! <a href="http://www.gromitunleashed.org.uk/gromit/ship-shape-and-bristol-fashion">Shipshape and Bristol Fashion</a> is now happily ensconced on my Welsh dresser. I wonder which Shaun will join him?! (Eventually.)<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-48623803591473927412015-05-27T22:49:00.000+01:002015-05-27T23:13:38.396+01:00Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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On Monday we journeyed through time and space at the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular in Cardiff.<br />
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As you've all noticed by now, I'm a huge Doctor Who fan--we all are actually--and we've had tickets booked for months and months. Every so often I'd catch sight of the note in the diary and get all excited before remembering that we still had ages to wait. But wait no more! It's been and gone now, or is still yet to come if you're further north...<br />
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Having never been to an event billed as a spectacular, let alone a <i>symphonic </i>spectacular, we weren't a hundred percent certain what to expect. I thought it might be a bit like Doctor Who at the Proms with monsters popping up every so often and I expected Peter Davison (Five!!) to tell a few jokes here and there, as he's quite fond of that. Well, we got that <i>and </i>more!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Davison reunited with the TARDIS</td></tr>
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Each piece of music, played by the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnow">BBC National Orchestra of Wales with the Chorus of Wales</a> (AKA The Doctor's House Band) and conducted by Ben Foster, was accompanied by a video montage. We romped through the Twelfth Doctor's tenure, said "Hello, Hello" to the monsters, were invaded by some Daleks who invaded the Motorpoint Arena and forced the orchestra to play "Dalek music", and visited <i>Last Christmas</i> with the Dream-crab monsters mingling menacingly in the stalls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Teller</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concert photography is hard!!</td></tr>
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Highlights were Abigail's Song from <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, originally performed by Katherine Jenkins and beautifully sung by Elin Manahan Thomas and the full Pandorica Suite. Absolutely spine tingling. The Companions Theme was magnificent and has reminded me of how much I grew to love Donna Noble as Ten's companion. I really need to re-watch that series very soon...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bravo!</td></tr>
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And of course the performance wouldn't be complete without Murray Gold's reworking of the iconic Doctor Who theme!<br />
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Best of all, Lucas has decided that he likes orchestra music and wants to go to another concert. Result!!<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-35437156711857528592015-05-25T20:47:00.000+01:002015-05-25T22:32:14.249+01:00The one where I meet The General Lee (and go racing)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ever had one of those days when you nip out for a few minutes and then crawl home hours and hours later?<br />
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(That may be a slight analogy for my blogging habits of late, too...)<br />
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We popped to The Mall to pick up Dave's repaired iPhone and after plenty of mooching around the shops--so much gorgeous copper and crystal at John Lewis just now--we remembered that the <a href="https://www.mallcribbs.com/events-and-activities/bristol-motor-show-2015">Bristol Motor Show</a> was on, so we had to stop to take a quick look...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucas checked out the new Smart cars: "Too big"</td></tr>
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I was chatting with a rally car driver sponsored by my garage when Lucas hared over and demanded my phone because he <b>had </b>to take pictures. When I eventually wandered over I found the boys getting snap happy with the '89 Batmobile.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So big! Had to a panorama to get it all in!</td></tr>
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I'm afraid that for once the Batmobile didn't hold my attention. Right next to it was <i>The General Lee</i>! Please tell me you've all heard of <i>The Dukes of Hazzard</i>? My brother and I used to pretend that we were jumping The General whenever we drove over a humpback bridge and had that millisecond of hang-time... I was going to marry Bo Duke when I was old enough.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5sUNF5GfK0Hx2TsuwEZKfpXMgBFULiHcE97L1Bftigns_1aSWzb3LlZVqwYoG53EALe8YoIWx7wAYIu9tpvYN5RZj0S8bLqkh8F9M3GBlHbw9_Mw0FMH3QxRb0B7aCKRXUVmm68tDMxB/s1600/general-lee-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The General Lee" border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5sUNF5GfK0Hx2TsuwEZKfpXMgBFULiHcE97L1Bftigns_1aSWzb3LlZVqwYoG53EALe8YoIWx7wAYIu9tpvYN5RZj0S8bLqkh8F9M3GBlHbw9_Mw0FMH3QxRb0B7aCKRXUVmm68tDMxB/s640/general-lee-collage.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The General Lee. Even better than the Batmobile.</td></tr>
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The Wee Man was in his own world of geeky joy as he went nuts over Bumblebee from the Transformers movies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the Autobot detail on the wheels!</td></tr>
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There were loads of lovely new cars at the show, but I couldn't help but coo over these beauties, who were selling ice-cream.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly the cutest ice-cream stand ever!</td></tr>
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From vintage to hi-tech loveliness...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYrfPwdPwW7EER57IcsYgnboHEBVMuQs71zUpb7on_BGwf21rA1oRvl3azOkFPg5FSoTf3DilsklzoVK1r8FyQ02LBupTQBdqI7PyfQQTufgIqLZsLSn1g4n7KKhPNRF8Fy2TrOyNcug5/s1600/lucas-freewheelers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYrfPwdPwW7EER57IcsYgnboHEBVMuQs71zUpb7on_BGwf21rA1oRvl3azOkFPg5FSoTf3DilsklzoVK1r8FyQ02LBupTQBdqI7PyfQQTufgIqLZsLSn1g4n7KKhPNRF8Fy2TrOyNcug5/s640/lucas-freewheelers.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lucas loved having a go on one of the <a href="http://www.freewheelers.org.uk/">Freewheelers</a> blood transport bikes and getting to play with the blues and twos. I hadn't realised how <i>huge </i>these bikes are!<br />
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I thought it was a nice little show. There was a nice mix of eco--Smart cars, the Tesla, bike-powered smoothies--along with family cars, motorbikes, and fun displays from BMX riders.<br />
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Afterwards we were in the mood for a drive so we zoomed around the countryside which was absolutely stunning in the sunshine and eventually found ourselves at <a href="http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/events/">Castle Coombe</a> watching the Lotus Owners Club track day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMue8GYZ7cnTIvFgX8y6vUFfRofc53ZU_y-r4kN4wNPIJe_K-i80gBkWC9-9e0qBAgOmjSusmLsYR9WkgBdxV104AKcEV50437nueGXm992f5HP387RetSw-2BI4S6vcXJSJvQpXq67WRL/s1600/castle-coombe-racing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMue8GYZ7cnTIvFgX8y6vUFfRofc53ZU_y-r4kN4wNPIJe_K-i80gBkWC9-9e0qBAgOmjSusmLsYR9WkgBdxV104AKcEV50437nueGXm992f5HP387RetSw-2BI4S6vcXJSJvQpXq67WRL/s640/castle-coombe-racing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trust me, they were fast!</td></tr>
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Sun, fast cars and a great view... we had loads of fun watching the racing and predicting who was going to spin off. Dave is the Undisputed Champion in that respect...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8t4i-SkhJFg?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>
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We loved watching all the Lotuses zoom around the track. I'm not sure I'd have the guts to throw my own car around the track but it's a hell of a lot of fun watching other people do it. The boys are off to watch Smart car racing at Castle Coombe next month--I wasn't very interested before, but this was so much fun that I might tag along. (If I can take an armchair.)<br />
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Here's some cars that managed to stay on the track!<br />
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And purely because no post is truly complete without a shot of the Wee Man, here's Lucas doing his very best 70s impression.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtwXaDyz4nLCdvlCf7EROIRFYJUVcnrt_S-oJeVKeOQDmN4vrw6ClGWBJhnx-6NkKX8ZV3dueIZVin5kZmUjsjfTMA869BDrf6s_ta2t1rAJIWS8ofCew1StUCa5W5oXMaxiEpnGQFtvQ/s1600/lucas-the-professionals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtwXaDyz4nLCdvlCf7EROIRFYJUVcnrt_S-oJeVKeOQDmN4vrw6ClGWBJhnx-6NkKX8ZV3dueIZVin5kZmUjsjfTMA869BDrf6s_ta2t1rAJIWS8ofCew1StUCa5W5oXMaxiEpnGQFtvQ/s640/lucas-the-professionals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straight out of The Professionals!</td></tr>
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-18829566859030560722015-02-14T19:44:00.000+00:002015-02-14T19:44:47.312+00:00The Big Chop!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnZbM7Em7eHp9Xk4PaCPe8Dq_u1ESyCki7DF3KPsHdkuJfErjP3S-2rY0jQfu5RqhkUepyY3BqqWZyAHKQDn5zRfKBtJ18VtOnq_BmpHF8FhEZfmCDOLa25ATwGMSZu06QYlLibMfhbqI/s1600/new-hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnZbM7Em7eHp9Xk4PaCPe8Dq_u1ESyCki7DF3KPsHdkuJfErjP3S-2rY0jQfu5RqhkUepyY3BqqWZyAHKQDn5zRfKBtJ18VtOnq_BmpHF8FhEZfmCDOLa25ATwGMSZu06QYlLibMfhbqI/s1600/new-hair.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year, new hair</td></tr>
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So, for the last couple of years I've been mulling over the idea of chopping off all my straight hair and going back to an afro. It's always stayed at the idea stage though as I can all-too-clearly remember tears every morning as Mum ripped an afro comb through my hair and it's cost me <i>so much</i> over the years to have it straightened so I might as well keep on keeping on despite my loathing of the hairdressers. (Does anyone else hate vapid conversations about celebrities at the hairdressers, or is that just me?)<br />
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However, in January the idea hit me again <strike>mainly because I desperately needed to have my hair relaxed</strike> so I looked at <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/allana3uk/hair/">Pinterest</a> and discovered that I could do way more with my hair than sticking it in braids or wearing a mile-high afro. So very tempting, but also a bit terrifying.<br />
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I popped into the hairdressers one Wednesday morning in January just to ask if they thought it would suit me, and before I knew it I was sitting in a chair, listening to the snip-snip of scissors and feeling my head getting lighter and lighter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjB_3GCRHZGtSUSJwRd3ZPk6d3BmKB-WjDJ1sq-vPxI4sSFz3as5niBPVJX-GA6dxpsh5mYAABro9hWJfS2E_QDpampDqH3fwyaKGMNM4yqAcYwvi6A7CoEkIy9JXMGG0Sw3apD2hP_ig/s1600/bye-bye-hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjB_3GCRHZGtSUSJwRd3ZPk6d3BmKB-WjDJ1sq-vPxI4sSFz3as5niBPVJX-GA6dxpsh5mYAABro9hWJfS2E_QDpampDqH3fwyaKGMNM4yqAcYwvi6A7CoEkIy9JXMGG0Sw3apD2hP_ig/s1600/bye-bye-hair.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye-bye hair!</td></tr>
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I won't lie...glancing down and seeing handfuls of hair littering the floor was a bit of a <i>oh shit</i> moment. I don't do impulsive, and having 90% of my hair chopped off after a two minute conversation is pretty damn impulsive!<br />
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But, you know, so far so good! It's been a month and my hair is so much easier to deal with--I feel, well, <i>free</i>. YouTube has been an absolute goldmine of information; vloggers like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Naptural85/featured">Naptural85</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ecstacy248">Chizi Duru</a> have taught me more in a few videos than I've picked up in my entire lifetime. I do envy their nimble fingers, though! I've also spent a small fortune on pretty accessories for my hair at Claire's and Accessorize and for once I'm having fun with my hair!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw610XCTgo54iIeeA3L2aauNFAOWvRRpaQ03kPEMV7xOvb9cLz5j345E_ZsIkblzICF0W-teO011qMHPMGVoAO-tiZl9t6Oa2wMuZzfM26vpFWjmtq5QvIShX5yNehZFSPBai4fGPXGUT-/s1600/with-a-flower-in-her-hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw610XCTgo54iIeeA3L2aauNFAOWvRRpaQ03kPEMV7xOvb9cLz5j345E_ZsIkblzICF0W-teO011qMHPMGVoAO-tiZl9t6Oa2wMuZzfM26vpFWjmtq5QvIShX5yNehZFSPBai4fGPXGUT-/s1600/with-a-flower-in-her-hair.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love wearing flowers in my hair!</td></tr>
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If anyone's considering a big chop of their own, I'd say go for it! It's a bit chilly on a windy day, but I wouldn't change a thing!!Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-83896981458623349582015-01-01T14:11:00.000+00:002015-01-01T14:11:41.618+00:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhvXjAcwvCcD1P7KjIa2uOTdB8Ve6g6M4ezbnKrR2N3HZ9Mcsb6mgq9praReEdVZTuwCEm5vMvcfB8PX0OGq1B2__wpH3wqMcX-a4o_ZqysuVC5mNWqgo0N5gXFr58mA1pTIU9jIXOUO_/s1600/gingerbread-house-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhvXjAcwvCcD1P7KjIa2uOTdB8Ve6g6M4ezbnKrR2N3HZ9Mcsb6mgq9praReEdVZTuwCEm5vMvcfB8PX0OGq1B2__wpH3wqMcX-a4o_ZqysuVC5mNWqgo0N5gXFr58mA1pTIU9jIXOUO_/s1600/gingerbread-house-2014.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy New Year to you all, from our (gingerbread) house to yours! (Whether it's gingerbread or not!)<br />
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I wish you health, wealth, happiness and loads of fun in 2015!<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-67409775360941840822014-12-18T18:55:00.000+00:002014-12-18T18:55:21.138+00:00Life lately...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas!</td></tr>
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Hello! Long-time no see!<br />
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Life has been a mad whirlwind of activity since September and today is the first day in an absolute age when I've felt free to sit down and reacquaint myself with the sofa and do <i>nothing</i>. (Well, almost. I'm bottling some sloe gin for a Secret Santa but that's hardly <i>work</i>.)<br />
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Make yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair and let's catch up a little.<br />
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In October I became an auntie again! My brother and sister-in-law welcomed baby Zander into the world and I made him a gorgeously snuggly quilt (and began my new obsession with quilting.) Isn't he scrumptious? Lucas is thrilled to have a boy cousin at last, but I think he'll have to wait for a few years before Zander will want to play Godzilla v Mothra...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Covent Garden tree was immense!</td></tr>
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November saw me popping up to London for a fabulously decadent and boozy weekend with my lovely friend <a href="https://cookingcocktailsandcaptainamerica.wordpress.com/">Kate</a>. We began with cocktails at brunch in Canary Wharf on Saturday and carried on with that winning combination all weekend. In our defence, the weather was particularly dire so sheltering indoors was an absolute necessity. And if our shelter happened to include a friendly barman, then that was purely by accident!<br />
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We <i>did </i>manage to pop to the National Portrait Gallery, wander around Covent Garden, see the (disappointing) lights on Regent Street and best of all, Liberty! I've always wanted to go there and I was not disappointed even though we could barely move in their Christmas Shop. The Narnia-esque wood panel lift put the biggest smile on my face before we even got upstairs! So many beautiful things, I nearly popped with excitement! I managed to restrain myself and come away with just an Alice in Wonderland tea towel. It says, "We're all mad here," which is absolutely spot on for our household!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5qdEb7riSLUtYYlsfo31koOPJUUmCrWPie1OaUO5i2G_NVVWNuYRnfru71DSTOd4cbNpdHqbOz2KenbG6p4wccg03K0v89cPnV61pFmVDYfXygpO7YavKRyi4jakiUkGCkggNAu5yZsm/s1600/liberty-goodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5qdEb7riSLUtYYlsfo31koOPJUUmCrWPie1OaUO5i2G_NVVWNuYRnfru71DSTOd4cbNpdHqbOz2KenbG6p4wccg03K0v89cPnV61pFmVDYfXygpO7YavKRyi4jakiUkGCkggNAu5yZsm/s1600/liberty-goodies.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone needs a Gangsta Octopus tile in their life...</td></tr>
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On the WI front, I've been really busy preparing for our first charity choir concert and also making beautiful things for our stall at a local Handmade Market. I went a little crazy and crocheted thread snowflakes for a Frozen-inspired wreath as well as making sparkly snowflake garlands.<br />
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Here's our fab choir singing our favourite song, "Rhythm of Life"!<br />
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We'll be at The Royal Albert Hall in a few years, mark my words!<br />
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On the home front, we finally got the Christmas tree up last weekend and showered it with lots of gorgeously shiny baubles. The house feels so cosy with the tree lights twinkling away and all our Christmassy treasures out on show. School finishes on Friday and I'm really looking forward to (bravely) making a gingerbread house with Lucas next week! I may even light it...<br />
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Merry Christmas, everyone!Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-78833561646303128482014-10-10T18:45:00.001+01:002014-10-11T10:55:55.977+01:00Get Your Knit On!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week is <a href="http://www.ukhandknitting.com/">National Knitting Week</a> (6-12 October), a celebration of snuggly jumpers, woolly hats, and that thing with one too many arms (or legs) that your Grandma once made you. The official soundtrack is the rhythmic click-clack of knitting needles.<br />
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By way of celebration I've dived into the odds and ends of yarn at the bottom of my knitting basket and started knitting little hats for the <a href="http://www.thebigknit.co.uk/">Innocent Big Knit</a>. It's really nice to work on a small project that gives almost immediate gratification for once--I'm still beavering away at my quilt bur the quilting design I went for feels absolutely <i>endless</i>. <br />
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If you haven't heard of the Innocent Big Knit, then here's a handy video for you:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I_AFU1sxPJM?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>
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I love seeing all the little be-hatted bottles on the shelves and it's much more fun than if Innocent were just to donate to AgeUK. Plus, there are apparently <i>collectors</i> out there, who pay insane prices for the hats on eBay!!<br />
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I've been working my way through lots of the fantastic patterns on <a href="http://www.thebigknit.devonartist.co.uk/patterns.html">Jo's Big Knit</a> and stretching my design muscles a little. The three 'cake hats' in front are my own designs--I might have been craving cake when I came up with the carrot cake! Thinking of things to turn into hats has been <i>such </i>a lot of fun. I might try doing a jar of jam next and embroidering the label. First though, I need to make a cup of tea to go with the cakes!<br />
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As I'm particularly pleased with my Viccy Sponge hat, I thought I'd leave my pattern for it, in case anyone else fancies making one (or improving upon it). French knots aren't my thing, so I'm certain that yours will be better than mine!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria Sponge knitted hat</td></tr>
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<h3>
Victoria Sponge</h3>
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light brown DK yarn (a sponge brown)<br />
red DK yarn (suitably jam coloured)<br />
cream DK yarn<br />
4mm knitting needles<br />
3.50mm crochet hook<br />
wool needle<br />
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With the brown yarn cast on 28 stitches.<br />
Purl one row.<br />
Knit one row.<br />
Starting with a knit row, stocking stitch (ss) 4 rows.<br />
Join in the red yarn and knit one row. Cut off the red yarn leaving a tail to work in at the end to secure the stitches.<br />
Join in the cream yarn and purl one row. Cut off the cream yarn leaving a tail.<br />
Resume working with the brown yarn and ss 4 more rows.<br />
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<b>Shaping top of cake: </b><br />
Purl one row<br />
Knit one row (this creates a handy ridge for you to sew the icing to)<br />
Starting with a knit row ss 2 rows<br />
(K2, K2tog) repeat to end<br />
Purl one row<br />
(K1, K2tog) repeat to end<br />
Purl one row<br />
(K2tog) repeat to end.<br />
Cut the yarn leaving a long tail enough to sew up the hat. Thread a yarn needle and run the tail through the remaining stitches, pull up tightly and secure. Sew hat up from the wrong side by oversewing row ends. Work in the loose ends from creating the filling. Turn right side out.<br />
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<b>Crochet the icing (US crochet terms)</b><br />
The icing is worked in continuous rounds until the very end, as shown in the pattern. I use a paperclip as a stitch marker (I keep losing the proper ones!)<br />
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NB. If you wanted daintier icing, you could use 4ply yarn with a smaller hook. Thanks for the suggestion, Julia!<br />
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With cream yarn make a magic loop:<br />
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Round 1: 6 sc into loop. (6 sc)<br />
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)<br />
Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)<br />
Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sc)<br />
Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times. (30 sc)<br />
Round 6: 3 sc in each st around, sl st in next st to join, fasten off, weave in the short end from the magic loop and leave the long end to sew onto the cake.<br />
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<b>Assembly</b><br />
With red yarn sew a ring of French knots around the top of the icing, as shown in the picture. Fasten securely.<br />
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Sew the decorated icing piece to the top of the cake. I found it easiest to put the cake onto an empty smoothie bottle, pin the icing on, and then sew from just behind the frill of the icing down into the ridged row at the beginning of the shaping.<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-31042136564330006682014-10-04T00:00:00.000+01:002014-10-04T00:00:48.922+01:00Book Benches around LondonThis is another one of those woefully overdue posts. We went up to London at the end of August for the weekend as an end-of-summer treat for Lucas. One of the big draws for me was the Books About Town book bench art trail around the city and we decided to combine tracking down benches with seeing some of the sights I've somehow managed to miss on my previous eleventy-million (slight exaggeration) visits to London.<br />
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I love these art trails which are all the rage these days. Gromit Unleashed was the highlight of our summer last year and as I love books even more than Gromit, I was all set to absolutely adore this one.<br />
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The trail is now over, however, the benches are all congregating for one last hurrah prior to the auction on the 7th of October. For this weekend (4-5 October, 2014) you can visit all of the benches at <a href="http://www.booksabouttown.org.uk/?action=ViewNews&Id=31">Gordon Square Garden WC1</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Z8bc1qlh8wha_9vEbnHZ809n72etty49eFBDJw0rh16hR2GCWkMTcsV5NWDWf9-e0rudO8sY_XFU04kNx9OIprsHPEJ8AX2MZOoeP8kwXwJ3gapWgunLXRcxK6btSSJ4dEIcieLuXw1/s1600/upwards-at-st-pauls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Z8bc1qlh8wha_9vEbnHZ809n72etty49eFBDJw0rh16hR2GCWkMTcsV5NWDWf9-e0rudO8sY_XFU04kNx9OIprsHPEJ8AX2MZOoeP8kwXwJ3gapWgunLXRcxK6btSSJ4dEIcieLuXw1/s1600/upwards-at-st-pauls.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Paul's Cathedral</td></tr>
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We found our first three book benches in the shadow of St Paul's. I had really wanted to walk around the cathedral and visit the Whispering Gallery but oh my god, <i>the price</i>. I'm still struggling with the concept of paying to go into a church, even more with the idea of spending almost £100 for a family of three. Still, there was plenty of gorgeous architecture for me to admire from the outside and once I'd had my fill, we went book bench hunting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jkxVKgY9d3hp-3teJnV8UkzXVAbfPFfkfde9sCN0bHY0foIN9jz2r25KsBJl5GUgRlSnk1AarG9UrvUl3P86bCKKFbJLjv0x_zdjqiBzsagAKz7mKvV0UrgQE_quFCwYaaABQxFLaYD3/s1600/mary-poppins-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jkxVKgY9d3hp-3teJnV8UkzXVAbfPFfkfde9sCN0bHY0foIN9jz2r25KsBJl5GUgRlSnk1AarG9UrvUl3P86bCKKFbJLjv0x_zdjqiBzsagAKz7mKvV0UrgQE_quFCwYaaABQxFLaYD3/s1600/mary-poppins-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Poppins</td></tr>
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Our first bench was <i>Mary Poppins</i>. I almost wish we'd seen another one first, as this was such a disappointment to me. She looks wrong and <i>nice</i>. I appreciate that it's highly stylised--check out the cherry trees--but it just felt wrong for the book. Lucas wasn't very impressed, either.<br />
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Still, things picked up dramatically with Nick Hornby's <i>Fever Pitch</i> just a few steps along the square.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdOYljdvKHUnUIUM_mUNpPqMkRUushpkfg5f2MhNXYjcHBzfIaFFURX0n0IgRy41vUP8HP6GmVvEF14R-hZwI5khJsmAFli0Q7-sDeWw0W8LbntoJGuBfRkmYM00-eSUxd5r_YMFEdZ0a/s1600/football-book-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdOYljdvKHUnUIUM_mUNpPqMkRUushpkfg5f2MhNXYjcHBzfIaFFURX0n0IgRy41vUP8HP6GmVvEF14R-hZwI5khJsmAFli0Q7-sDeWw0W8LbntoJGuBfRkmYM00-eSUxd5r_YMFEdZ0a/s1600/football-book-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fever Pitch</td></tr>
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And I cooed over the <i>Peter Pan</i> bench for ages before I got dragged off to see the rest of The City.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4EXqwWHF3FBz7FvtMYAF3bWvkUs9V4c-rQ42UOLVUEB6YZZMrpZQumV5AiTG-otU9rj_ZJm4ZtnznGue3mH-VfA0UC5HwyeQIgY_UHoLOChlczDnGPk3RuoCS8qrSVEpyoCXfkAmDJBY/s1600/peter-pan-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4EXqwWHF3FBz7FvtMYAF3bWvkUs9V4c-rQ42UOLVUEB6YZZMrpZQumV5AiTG-otU9rj_ZJm4ZtnznGue3mH-VfA0UC5HwyeQIgY_UHoLOChlczDnGPk3RuoCS8qrSVEpyoCXfkAmDJBY/s1600/peter-pan-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Pan bench</td></tr>
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Isn't it perfect? So whimsical and the watercolours are perfect for the book. I love the gilt-edged pages and Peter's shadow is sword-fighting on the back!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiE0CEQJbhyphenhypheneSx1hgaw4biPFXPAVZlZjM3jeCZr2iBJRn6zfG4ufhozj6B6_FPQFZlqTHlYxeZFcA0JWJnFA9ZTcTDhus6UJaV_ePt1AWfrGl3URGLpFaQ1FIgltFyCMzdOIqRcCkf5rL/s1600/peter-pan-bench-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiE0CEQJbhyphenhypheneSx1hgaw4biPFXPAVZlZjM3jeCZr2iBJRn6zfG4ufhozj6B6_FPQFZlqTHlYxeZFcA0JWJnFA9ZTcTDhus6UJaV_ePt1AWfrGl3URGLpFaQ1FIgltFyCMzdOIqRcCkf5rL/s1600/peter-pan-bench-back.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of the Peter Pan bench</td></tr>
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There turned out to be quite a few book benches near St Paul's. I bought the unofficial app as we strolled along to make sure we didn't miss any along the way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklmfqbccImk3cBAcJwnR-iGwcU40kbuE9Z6rMXk8bnKuyBxbzZO2FJiy5U3SgYGTglFn94NsdFuetlxX2cr1N5Xp4CLS1lyFBZJ_MUN6wlxrDjQPt5bFLZpEWBxlO2kGCHCGPGH8JbpzC/s1600/thats-not-my-bench-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklmfqbccImk3cBAcJwnR-iGwcU40kbuE9Z6rMXk8bnKuyBxbzZO2FJiy5U3SgYGTglFn94NsdFuetlxX2cr1N5Xp4CLS1lyFBZJ_MUN6wlxrDjQPt5bFLZpEWBxlO2kGCHCGPGH8JbpzC/s1600/thats-not-my-bench-collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usborne's That's not my...Bench</td></tr>
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Lucas grew up with the Usborne "That's not my..." books so we all went a bit gaga over this bench. His crazy-obsessive meerkat phase may be be over, but he still does a great meerkat impression. Simples!<br />
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We crossed the Millennium Bridge--did you know it was in the Guardians of the Galaxy film?--and headed towards The Globe. Another place I've never been to before!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTucSd_tDY7S3EWXQe17Y0SbD_yhyphenhyphenv9UtpPMMCvYNEFHWf3hZgxK1RyegqlAVqF4WXPar-pFSrpwJDsnIKg1uiSNOMDt13jiVXociT_ES4yAc_kYvJVE5P0OigO6TjjAXKp7yIi1mN50Y/s1600/shakespeare-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTucSd_tDY7S3EWXQe17Y0SbD_yhyphenhyphenv9UtpPMMCvYNEFHWf3hZgxK1RyegqlAVqF4WXPar-pFSrpwJDsnIKg1uiSNOMDt13jiVXociT_ES4yAc_kYvJVE5P0OigO6TjjAXKp7yIi1mN50Y/s1600/shakespeare-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shakespeare's London</td></tr>
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From The Globe, we walked down the Thames Path, enjoying the sunshine and the hunt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNZitJWnYhNTFBWvhlAzz9A4ISrM-q6D4xSFTCl-Kc7d0TmAkTJ0ctEFe28hsfnW7jn06gKoJn39eGleIp7DCUx66Vt3aiRms23b607SqDuH7VjDPxce2kbsmFYr2X9vA5vcBZTbldC3e/s1600/great-expectations-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNZitJWnYhNTFBWvhlAzz9A4ISrM-q6D4xSFTCl-Kc7d0TmAkTJ0ctEFe28hsfnW7jn06gKoJn39eGleIp7DCUx66Vt3aiRms23b607SqDuH7VjDPxce2kbsmFYr2X9vA5vcBZTbldC3e/s1600/great-expectations-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Expectations<br /></td></tr>
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Lucas was pretty damn excited to find the Paddington Bear bench. Unsurprisingly it was really, really popular. There was actually a queue to take photographs!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPyb2s02A_OPhiP36aZ2qGfi2HosiPEMLoB1tgBUlMe42M5jCXPUGMz67Q8NXBuUhHKZ02N2uXbABtUVKOdHzdW5hrFjBuYicerw_QehruYLgOtdu-6zW5VRwVlbWe2w0U2oLer-UZw01/s1600/paddington-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPyb2s02A_OPhiP36aZ2qGfi2HosiPEMLoB1tgBUlMe42M5jCXPUGMz67Q8NXBuUhHKZ02N2uXbABtUVKOdHzdW5hrFjBuYicerw_QehruYLgOtdu-6zW5VRwVlbWe2w0U2oLer-UZw01/s1600/paddington-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7-1dzsD9EKdOjijRRlZjLRT65QFkfy1V1K0iGiBLwX4IQZEueMtI7mpultdHDxJa5KV4wl8Ox6tIA5MHTy__T8EbzphCLlsOyk7IohA76qWsnysPiQqnXtcGeZ3_R0_q8-vL5-7Dixzo/s1600/paddington-bench-rear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7-1dzsD9EKdOjijRRlZjLRT65QFkfy1V1K0iGiBLwX4IQZEueMtI7mpultdHDxJa5KV4wl8Ox6tIA5MHTy__T8EbzphCLlsOyk7IohA76qWsnysPiQqnXtcGeZ3_R0_q8-vL5-7Dixzo/s1600/paddington-bench-rear.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please look after this bear</td></tr>
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Another super-popular bench was Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's <i>From Scarecrows to The Gruffalo</i>. It even had my favourite--Room on the Broom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMP0iJQzJa4A-QdkwVIs38Mzm9CN0gM94cuxYi1VxrjKTBYMHoTxmhtwuglnubNWdLQ-tzemj9F1hvVvnTGNCKJyAVOnYfuBA3i48hDOSKpxqwX4crsvqHwGFMzV18a2Ji4LlbIt3gJ_Z/s1600/from-scarecrows-to-the-gruffalo-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMP0iJQzJa4A-QdkwVIs38Mzm9CN0gM94cuxYi1VxrjKTBYMHoTxmhtwuglnubNWdLQ-tzemj9F1hvVvnTGNCKJyAVOnYfuBA3i48hDOSKpxqwX4crsvqHwGFMzV18a2Ji4LlbIt3gJ_Z/s1600/from-scarecrows-to-the-gruffalo-collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Scarecrows to The Gruffalo</td></tr>
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It was such a lovely walk. I've never seen the Square Mile from the Southbank so I was happily fascinated all the way. I didn't realise until the next day just how far we'd walked in our quest for the book benches!!<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87mlKz_8d-p_gMmFmcBGtt-cmjPFOMVbUiZk_q2wOhmh28xq92hMobBsTInzj6yPGXfCweZpzXMPLT93SqCjlpzrqSzojH3xEXvVull3Ki_U_qZ2z7kaOVjsm_PunUdlLbftZt-tlYNNs/s1600/walkie-talkie-building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87mlKz_8d-p_gMmFmcBGtt-cmjPFOMVbUiZk_q2wOhmh28xq92hMobBsTInzj6yPGXfCweZpzXMPLT93SqCjlpzrqSzojH3xEXvVull3Ki_U_qZ2z7kaOVjsm_PunUdlLbftZt-tlYNNs/s1600/walkie-talkie-building.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a great view!</td></tr>
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After a pit-stop in Leon for lunch we started our quest again. Just outside the restaurant was the<i> War Horse</i> bench. I've never read the book or seen the play, but the bench was certainly very poignant. Stark, simple and beautiful.</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbNS5FZ4iHPw4SKCfSXGKkCZiDpk_vXofdSzdP3GlHGMzPHjXJbbQJinecMB1LsIgf4GtfwaYcmCRdag_At-5555dJPt9y1vvI8fjmxmjER3Srtfxl8g2a6xyo1B1fi2EDCzep9hsWDZl/s1600/warhorse-bench-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbNS5FZ4iHPw4SKCfSXGKkCZiDpk_vXofdSzdP3GlHGMzPHjXJbbQJinecMB1LsIgf4GtfwaYcmCRdag_At-5555dJPt9y1vvI8fjmxmjER3Srtfxl8g2a6xyo1B1fi2EDCzep9hsWDZl/s1600/warhorse-bench-collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">War Horse</td></tr>
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Here's my favourite bench of them all. The Librarian of Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork. He seems to have the same approach to filing books as me. Stack 'em high!</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwS2FM-DwGzX-qs_Oonmh6U_PMk3zO_eeyJ6diHtFSuBazWEvMZC-RtoJcRNiAoGNn2R5s9R2Eh-oRaZIFLIWem0ne1sbfhd-drHxsKx7D8CMpiwcmxNVWWyv8rMfTDmuh2zRS9Vs5loP/s1600/the-librarian-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwS2FM-DwGzX-qs_Oonmh6U_PMk3zO_eeyJ6diHtFSuBazWEvMZC-RtoJcRNiAoGNn2R5s9R2Eh-oRaZIFLIWem0ne1sbfhd-drHxsKx7D8CMpiwcmxNVWWyv8rMfTDmuh2zRS9Vs5loP/s1600/the-librarian-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Librarian </td></tr>
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There was a bit of a cluster of benches around City Hall...</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvOnIHC2Qiich6-GhBNVRNQx7PVqXm6ddpWGU2PH6rlD5SqA7OHXxePUyPtsg_vCjzeTgjJyLX3x8CvwhQbCRMe5uLMck_iSu1l0PfSbxIWaOXNkETUrhXd7CEt5ZwYSGZKgtzJkyWVbn/s1600/alice-in-wonderland-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvOnIHC2Qiich6-GhBNVRNQx7PVqXm6ddpWGU2PH6rlD5SqA7OHXxePUyPtsg_vCjzeTgjJyLX3x8CvwhQbCRMe5uLMck_iSu1l0PfSbxIWaOXNkETUrhXd7CEt5ZwYSGZKgtzJkyWVbn/s1600/alice-in-wonderland-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through the Looking Glass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOya5Y4TOLonvQy8Uu4oJ03ey5bMkrXz7gWuqRr3EpPqiuG6OmI0yIHEqNI_dWK_nn9ZXl7vkIctI8YRC_h1sNz5PAI-tM_7ICSyqP3Gco785NovastwGVZFrA8WKhkTiGSlCFzmO1wOb/s1600/dr-seuss-bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOya5Y4TOLonvQy8Uu4oJ03ey5bMkrXz7gWuqRr3EpPqiuG6OmI0yIHEqNI_dWK_nn9ZXl7vkIctI8YRC_h1sNz5PAI-tM_7ICSyqP3Gco785NovastwGVZFrA8WKhkTiGSlCFzmO1wOb/s1600/dr-seuss-bench.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Seuss</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How To Train Your Dragon</td></tr>
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None of us had any idea that the <i>How To Train Your Dragon</i> movies came from a book! I was really surprised when I googled and found that there were loads and loads of them!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clarice Bean</td></tr>
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I'm not familiar at all with <i>Clarice Bean</i>--I thought she was Lola from Charlie and Lola--but I agree with the sentiment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fcIjf3DxG-gSt3gzrXEmMRyA6fm47JQOCJhQ5SEbILXVlM1eqx1shVnzmPjkAU2YrXcbsimZqty_YNJhFeMowH7uGw7V9HgOgumEAGYbOx6DlK3tVx2YPPix8vcTG7EKPbq1ZmfMO5cH/s1600/tower-bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fcIjf3DxG-gSt3gzrXEmMRyA6fm47JQOCJhQ5SEbILXVlM1eqx1shVnzmPjkAU2YrXcbsimZqty_YNJhFeMowH7uGw7V9HgOgumEAGYbOx6DlK3tVx2YPPix8vcTG7EKPbq1ZmfMO5cH/s1600/tower-bridge.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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On Sunday we intended to track down loads more lovely book benches, but just after we'd found our first two in Russell Square it started to rain. Honestly, it was like the beginning of monsoon season. So there we were, the three of us sheltering under a not-very-big tree with one very small umbrella, no coats, and the rain absolutely soaking my back. We gave up on the benches right then and squelched off to Costa. There's a slight possibility that we might be fair-weather adventurers!<br />
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So here are our last two.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWo6oQkdkIj8tzUNp7wFmKw3UoPx0hIej349cEI_SptHHn3EzKVGEOQTbkPQnjoZ7QFD-wJZSZs6DQAlAmSP9MJOxxhZxwTDfidnRgDAKyM2XBor8kdGIX-IaKfOHKZQHrN9IslSsJzJC/s1600/james-bond-bench-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWo6oQkdkIj8tzUNp7wFmKw3UoPx0hIej349cEI_SptHHn3EzKVGEOQTbkPQnjoZ7QFD-wJZSZs6DQAlAmSP9MJOxxhZxwTDfidnRgDAKyM2XBor8kdGIX-IaKfOHKZQHrN9IslSsJzJC/s1600/james-bond-bench-collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-0-Lucas</td></tr>
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Lucas and Dave loved this bench so much. It's so wonderfully old-school Bond and super-cool.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XDfaBQyBZIDgTRgbnurs_MOdZWrGwDz-4-PrWOPHcIRvcVnblZGW2Jo2GriaJv-_HSnuOZM46oKv0jHnjm3YNaR8bz154sVOPLN4oQnsHRsSKyOULvQyibo_o2GB51Obuj28rYgl42pk/s1600/hercule-poirot-bench-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XDfaBQyBZIDgTRgbnurs_MOdZWrGwDz-4-PrWOPHcIRvcVnblZGW2Jo2GriaJv-_HSnuOZM46oKv0jHnjm3YNaR8bz154sVOPLN4oQnsHRsSKyOULvQyibo_o2GB51Obuj28rYgl42pk/s1600/hercule-poirot-bench-collage.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly</td></tr>
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Our last bench was Hercule Poirot and the Greenshore Folly. This was an early short story which got expanded by Agatha into Dead Man's Folly and the Miss Marple short story Grenshaw's Folly. I'd love to read the original work at some point for fun!<br />
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I really wish that I could go up to London and see the benches all laid out together. Hopefully a blogger or two will visit and take some beautiful pictures!</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-31373558550422079632014-10-01T12:41:00.000+01:002014-10-01T12:41:31.823+01:00Catch of the day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Meet Bob, the bass.<br />
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I made Bob--I have no idea why I named a fish--for my father-in-law's combined birthday and retirement in July. After years of hard graft he's looking forward to spending his days fishing, so I thought I'd start him off with an easy catch!<br />
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This is a bit of a make-ahead cake. The bulrushes need to be made a few days ahead so that they can dry out and (fingers crossed) stick to the skewers. You can also make the fish head in advance, too.<br />
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I'm afraid that I didn't take many pictures of the cake process--sticky hands and cameras aren't a good combination--but for the rushes I mixed 50:50 flower paste and fondant and coloured about half dark brown and the rest holly green. Getting the fondant to stick to the skewers for the bulrushes was a bit of a mission: I tried dampening the skewers by soaking them, brushing with sugar glue, and (of all things) some jam. I wedged the skewers into a polystyrene box insert that was lying around so that they could dry without resting on a flat surface and then draped the leaves over the rest of the skewers to give them the right shape. Once dried out the bulrush heads stayed in place (thank God) and the extra leaves I made were easy to stick straight into the cake for a nice pond scene.<br />
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The fish head was moulded from rice krispy treats, covered in fondant, and then I spent an hour smoothing the surface and adding details. Despite having a box of fancy tools in the cupboard, sometimes you can't beat a cocktail stick and your fingers for fiddly work! <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Bass-Fish-Cake/">This tutorial</a> was very helpful, too. I painted it the next day with food colourings mixed with lustre dusts and vodka. A dab of piping gel made the eye nice and glossy for that freshly caught look. (This was my first time using piping gel and it is weird but very wonderful stuff--it made fantastic ripples on top of the cake as well as a shiny glaze for the pebbles. Totes amaze!)<br />
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For the cake itself I turned to my new favourite recipe: <a href="http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/2009/12/17/baking-the-perfect-madeira-cake/">Lindy Smith's Madeira cake</a>. It makes a fabulously deep cake with a lovely flat top, so there's hardly any waste. It's really tasty, too, which is the main thing! It's easily split into three layers and looks really impressive when cut.<br />
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Bob went down a storm with my father-in-law. He couldn't bear to cut into Bob so, like a real fish, he's been stashed away in the freezer. We did eat the rest of the cake, though!!<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-40369020600937338402014-09-29T20:51:00.000+01:002014-09-29T20:51:48.307+01:00Book review: The Goldfinch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
When we set off for Cornwall back in August, I carefully selected--well, loaded onto the Kindle--several books that I'd been really looking forward to reading. And wouldn't you know it? When I snuggled into the corner of the sofa, mug of coffee in hand after a lovely day of wandering around little villages, <i>none </i>of them appealed to me. <br />
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I started, and quickly closed, several books, frustration levels rising with every book that wasn't quite right for the mood I was in. Tell me I'm not alone in this! It's bloody miserable not being able to settle into a book.<br />
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After utterly wasting half an hour, I headed over to my Amazon wishlist and treated myself to <i>The Goldfinch</i> in the hopes that it would manage to hold my attention for at least five pages.<br />
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It held my attention for the next five days.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. Alone and rudderless in New York, he is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the years clings to the thing that most reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld. As he grows up, Theo learns to glide between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and his talisman, the painting, places him at the centre of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.<br />
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<br />
The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate.</blockquote>
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Whist it was a definite page-turner I felt let down by Donna Tartt's writing. The book is proudly proclaimed (on the cover) to be a Pulitzer Prize winning book and I expected a lot more from it than I actually received.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, it's a decent yarn. I got caught up quite quickly in Theo's story, rolling my eyes as he did particularly stupid thing, and cheering him on when he was making something of himself. (I spent rather a lot of the latter stages of the book wanting to throttle him, though.) I loved both Andy and Boris, such total opposites but providing perfect foils for Theo's state of mind and age at the time we encounter them. And Hobie! A fantastic character and vividly portrayed.<br />
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Tartt does a fantastic job of capturing people and the minutiae of everyday life, but the book does rather get bogged down in long-winded descriptions of almost every piece of furniture encountered in the second and third acts, and other such little things. Like Tolkein and J.K. Rowling, a bolder editor would have been a good friend to her...<br />
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Overall, the book is a coming of age story, with an interesting plot and about 100 pages of needless and paper-thin philosophy tacked onto the end. I've encountered deeper and more meaningful philosophy in Terry Pratchett books, which he deftly inserts throughout the narrative, so I didn't feel overly impressed by afterthought tacked onto the end. It felt very much as though Tartt suddenly remembered that she was writing "The Great American Novel" which must be philosophical and life-altering, so she tacked a bit on the end.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed <i>The Goldfinch</i>--I kept sneaking off to read more of it after all--I just didn't feel that it deserved all of the accolades that have been heaped upon it. My advice is to take it out of the library and make up your own mind!<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-67238587371256561542014-09-17T18:03:00.000+01:002014-09-17T18:03:13.442+01:00Memories of Cornwall: Chapel Porth Beach<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzru-Y3FXIb5jXtFh6cIZAL2-2Epyg0sBPdvDSMjACYwi4iXn5JCnfzqoMJ_rlIze2SdzGcN7ZfCBEeKXzeLH1lnok5XpBLq0Z2oR7BE3pNkLGNBq42Yd25S2Y_2i55KbpUvhu056e2fA/s1600/chapel-porth-by-kathryn-wright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzru-Y3FXIb5jXtFh6cIZAL2-2Epyg0sBPdvDSMjACYwi4iXn5JCnfzqoMJ_rlIze2SdzGcN7ZfCBEeKXzeLH1lnok5XpBLq0Z2oR7BE3pNkLGNBq42Yd25S2Y_2i55KbpUvhu056e2fA/s1600/chapel-porth-by-kathryn-wright.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kathryn-wright/4652288448/in/photolist-52ppC2-57Xqw6-4W2hcd-867cgN-8yXFJW-3MRTDu-2dGxSe-8yUzUa-8yXFim-ivPaxX-3MMEbV-etDQBM">© Kathryn Yengel</a></td></tr>
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I'm not much of a beach person. They have great scenery and I <i>love </i>pretty scenery, but I find sand is best viewed from afar as it always, always ends up somewhere you don't want it to (if you know what I mean). However, it appears that I'm the only one in my family who thinks it is totally okay, nay <i>normal</i>, to rock up at a beach and buy an ice-cream--even if it is <a href="http://www.littleappletree.co.uk/2013/07/i-first-heard-about-hedgehog-when-i.html">the best ice-cream in The World</a>--and then drive away again without setting toe on the sand.<br />
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And that is how I found myself perching awkwardly on a blanket on the sands at Chapel Porth beach, awaiting ice-cream o'clock. Three o'clock on the dot, if you please!<br />
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We packed up all of the family (and some sandwiches, too) and got to the beach around 11 after hauling ass across across Cornwall to the north coast. When we got there, the car park was nearly empty which left me bewildered...last year the car park was rammed, with people double-parking all over the place! As it turned out...it was high tide. You can tell I don't go to the beach very often...I never even <i>thought </i>to check tide times!!<br />
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Dave's Dad reckoned that the tide would go out pretty quickly so we set up our blankets and tent on the sandiest part of the beach that we could find--that fishing tent may be the best investment ever--and let the kids loose amongst the pebbles and shingle for a while.<br />
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The cove was popular with belly-boarders and surfers. There were loads of kids bobbing out just beyond the cresting waves and then riding them into shore with lots of whooping. Later we found out that <a href="http://www.bellyboarding.co.uk/">The World Bellyboarding Champsionships</a> are held there, which explains why most of the people who rocked up had boards!<br />
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The kids followed the sea as it went down the beach, building sandcastles with other kids and having fun paddling in the sea with Nanny. The mere mention of Weaver fish put me right off the idea of paddling. I don't remember these from my childhood when I paddled fearlessly...although, perhaps the frigid water in the far north of Scotland was too much for them?<br />
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Leila had fun washing pebbles in her bucket and making a rock castle, proudly crowned with a feather I found and guarded by a still-bendy crab leg that her Mummy found.<br />
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Lucas and Maria explored one of the caves revealed when the tide went out. It was all very idyllic and a bit Famous Five until they came out complaining that the cave was smelly!! Julian and George were made of much sterner stuff.<br />
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Finally ice-cream o'clock rolled round. I will confess that I had a little bit of fun, okay a lot, but I did spring up like a gazelle at the mention of ice-cream time!<br />
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No trip to Chapel Porth is complete without a <a href="http://www.littleappletree.co.uk/2013/07/i-first-heard-about-hedgehog-when-i.html">Hedgehog</a> from their beach cafe! It's little sister, the pure and simple (but naked by comparison) Cornish ice-cream is divine but the Hedgehog is really something special. By far the coolest National Trust cafe in the country. They introduced a gorgeous range of local fruit ice-lollies this summer, too. Leila had a strawberry one which was amazing.<br />
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The best part of the day was that the kids all slept like angels after tiring themselves out at the beach! It seems like an absolute <i>age </i>since we were in Cornwall but really, it's just been a smidge over a month. Clearly we need to go back again very soon...Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-58214270664947776332014-09-16T11:36:00.001+01:002014-09-16T12:23:01.375+01:00Adventures in quilting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been bitten by the quilting bug. Hard. When Dave suggested I buy a sewing machine a few months ago, I never thought I'd find myself making quilts. Turning up a few hems maybe, darning holes in Lucas's school trousers...but a quilt? No way!</div>
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I finished my first quilt last week, which I will eventually post about once it's been gifted, and almost immediately I found myself back at the fabric shop for supplies for my second. And then I popped into Hobbycraft for a lint brush to clean out my sewing machine--I had no idea that they needed to be cleaned!--and came out with this pretty 'jelly roll' of fabric... I clearly can't be trusted near fabric at the moment.</div>
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The world of fabric is a bit bewildering at first. There are a slew of new terms and a dizzying array of fabric types. I always thought cotton was just, well, cotton, but no. There's cotton drill, lawn, poplins and probably more!! There are also pre-cut fabric packs available, like the jelly roll which is made up of 40 x 2.5" coordinating strips and perfect for turning into a quilt.</div>
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I found an easy sounding pattern online and cut the entire thing into 6.5" strips and then tried to randomly put them together into blocks of three strips.<br />
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This <i>should</i> have resulted in 6.5" square blocks when sewn together and pressed, but either my seams were too wide or the fabric shrank a bit with the steam when I pressed as I now have rectangles. </div>
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My grand adventure is temporarily stalled while I slice the finished blocks down to 5.5" square. This is every bit as tedious as you can imagine!! </div>
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(I'm actually waiting for my car to be fixed at the garage rather than walking home and trimming the blocks!)</div>
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So that's what I've been up to of late. Hopefully I'll have a very pretty quilt top to show you in a few days!</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-80776132852733803542014-09-02T15:20:00.000+01:002014-09-02T15:20:25.255+01:00Great Bloggers Bake Off: Baked Alaska edition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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After "Bingate" I couldn't resist making a Baked Alaska for the Great Bloggers Bake Off. I used to make one every year for Dave's birthday but once I discovered the wonderful world of cake decorating, they fell by the wayside. Which is a shame, because a Baked Alaska done right is a cracking dessert! (Not at all 'nasty' or 'embarrassingly retro' <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/aug/28/great-british-bake-off-scandal-unacceptable">as Ruby Tandoh said in The Guardian</a>!!)<br />
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With the benefit of hindsight, I bet Iain wishes that he'd saved the very centre of the ice-cream and a bit of sponge...he could have done a mini Alaska for them to taste. Mind you, both Mary and Paul seemed highly unsympathetic to his ice-cream being left out. Last year, after Custardgate, they tossed out the baker who'd used the other competitor's custard. At any rate, now that Diana's had to drop out due to ill health--losing your sense of smell and taste is just horrible, I hope it comes back in time--I am willing to bet that Iain will be back in the tent tomorrow night to make up numbers...<br />
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Enough of Bingate, and back to my own baking! I had intended to just do a small one, since it was just the three of us, but it turns out that I don't <i>do </i>small. As I poured ice-cream mix into the lined bowl I did wonder if it was perhaps a bit big, but carried on regardless. Dave and Lucas ended up providing a Baked Alaska Home Delivery service to the family!! Next time I make one, I'll throw a Baked Alaska party...<br />
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Dave asked for a citrus ice-cream, so I obliged with Lemon and Lime and I also added a thin layer of mandarin orange slices underneath for a Citrus Extravaganza. If you're baking for adults only, then you could soak the sponge with Cointreau or Grand Marnier rather than fruit juice. The slight bitterness of the liqueur would nicely offset the intense sweetness of the meringue and ice-cream.<br />
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We don't have a blowtorch at home--and I call myself a foodie--as I get a bit twitchy about something full of fuel hanging around in the drawer, so I made a French meringue and shoved it into the oven. I thought about sitting on the kitchen floor Bake Off style and talking nervously to camera, but leaning on the counter drinking a cocktail seemed much more fun.<br />
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Eight minutes later I pulled a beautifully browned Baked Alaska out of the oven. The meringue was gorgeously crispy on the outside and just-cooked inside so that it was marshmallow-like in texture. It did its job really well, as the ice-cream was only just starting to melt on the outside. Because I didn't have enough meringue to completely cover the cake layer, the bare edges got all toasty which turned out to be <i>awesome</i>. Such a great textural contrast and toasted sponge tastes so, so good.<br />
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My only regret is that I didn't put together the Baked Alaska earlier in the day. The dark evenings made photographing it a nightmare! (Maybe I should have dyed the ice-cream a bright green for contrast?) <br />
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Lucas, who had never eaten Baked Alaska before, loved it. For Dave and I it was a nice citrusy trip down memory lane. I'm pondering doing it again, but using little pudding basins to give individual Baked Alaskas that could happily live in the freezer for a few weeks as emergency "I Need Sugar!" desserts.<br />
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If the trials and tribulations of the GBBO contestants have put you off making your own Baked Alaska, think again! You can do so much in advance, and you absolutely don't have to make your own sponge or ice-cream--Mary Berry's recipe uses a bought sponge and jam--if you don't want to. Give it a go!<br />
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<h3>
Lemon and lime no-churn ice-cream</h3>
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2 lemons<br />
2 limes<br />
175g icing sugar<br />
568ml tub double cream<br />
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Zest and juice the fruit into a large bowl (your mixer bowl is ideal for this), making sure to remove all the pips! Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the cream and whisk on a medium speed until soft peaks form.<br />
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Line a pyrex or pudding bowl with a couple of layers of clingfilm and carefully fill it to the top with the ice-cream mixture. Press a layer of clingfilm over the top and seal. Freeze until hard. This took about six hours. Overnight (or longer) is fine.<br />
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Sponge cake</h3>
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110g caster sugar<br />
110g unsalted butter, room temperature<br />
110g self-raising flour<br />
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
2 large eggs<br />
1 tablespoon milk<br />
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Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan oven). Grease a loose-bottomed 8" sandwich tin with butter. Set aside.<br />
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Place all ingredients, except for the milk, into your food processor. Blend until a cake batter forms. Slowly pour in the milk, pulsing the mixture.<br />
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Scrape all the cake batter into the prepared tin. Level the surface. Bake for about 25 minutes until the top springs back when pressed.<br />
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Cool in the tin, on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out of the tin and leave to cool completely.<br />
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To finish</h3>
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3 large egg whites<br />
175g caster sugar<br />
Fruit of your choice, sliced as necessary (optional)<br />
Liqueur to sprinkle the sponge base with (optional)<br />
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Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the sponge layer on top.<br />
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In a mixing bowl whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Slowly add the sugar to the egg whites and keep whisking until glossy and the peaks are very stiff.<br />
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Sprinkle the sponge with fruit juice or liqueur and arrange a thin layer of fruit on top of the sponge. I used tinned mandarin oranges and kept the layer as thin as possible. Remove the ice-cream from the bowl--it should come out easily if you lined it with clingfilm--and place on top of the fruit. Make sure you remove all the clingfilm!<br />
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Working quickly cover the ice-cream with the meringue, bringing it down to the cake and make sure there are no gaps. The meringue insulates the ice-cream, so gappage means melty ice-cream!<br />
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Bake for 8-10 minutes, slide onto a serving plate and serve immediately in thick slices!<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-85571044238456772762014-08-28T22:45:00.000+01:002014-08-28T22:45:55.654+01:00Welcome to The Cornershop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After several weeks of tripping over the box in the hallway, I finally unpacked my sewing machine and within hours I was in the grip of a torrid affair with it. (Lucas brought me a square of chocolate and it sat beside me for a good hour before I noticed. <i>That's</i> how intense it's been!) I think I've sewn something every day since. It is positively <i>addictive</i>, as evidenced by my shiny new loyalty card for the local fabric shop. (And the lack of posts recently--sorry!)<div>
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Given my new stitchy love, I thought today would be a good time to write about <a href="http://www.thecornershoponline.com/">The Cornershop</a> art installation in Bethnal Green, London. We popped in a couple of weekends ago when we were up in the Smoke.</div>
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Meet <a href="http://sewyoursoul.co.uk/">Lucy Sparrow</a>, an urban textile artist. The Cornershop is her brainchild (and source of RSI). I have sympathy pains in my wrists from just thinking about all that sewing.</div>
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It started with an idea. Then there was a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sewyoursoul/the-cornershop">Kickstarter</a>, followed by arts grants, and now after seven months of sewing we have a wonderfully fuzzy corner shop to explore, complete with 'dodgy geezers' and 'local drunks' for local colour. It's an amazing achievement! </div>
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From the outside, The Cornershop looks like any old corner shop. An unsuspecting shopper could nip in for a pint of milk without realising that they were surrounded by felt shop stock. And in fact, this <i>has </i>happened! Lucy said that it was her proudest moment when someone brought a two-pinter of milk up to the counter before doing a double-take! Some of the felt goodies are very convincing indeed! Particularly the sweeties at the counter...</div>
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The shelves are packed with everything you could possibly want in a corner shop. There's a fine selection of biscuits--loved the HobNobs--bin bags, toothpaste, soups, and jam. And beer! Loads of beer! In the chiller cabinet there's the usual milk, butter and sandwiches, and the freezer has loads of ice-creams and oven chips. It's just a shame that you can't eat any of it!</div>
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As you can see, they stock all the essentials...</div>
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The combination of machine embroidery, hand stitching, and appliqué is incredibly effective. Everything looks pretty damn real from a distance, and each object only gets more impressive when you bend in and take a really good look. Even if you're the sort of person who doesn't see the point of this sort of thing, you have to admire the sheer level of skill and creativity on display!</div>
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Unsurprisingly, I had to buy something. After lots of thought, I went for a tub of Cadbury's Hot Chocolate powder. (I really, really wanted a newspaper, but £150 is a bit too rich for my blood.) I can't wait for it to wend its fuzzy way to me in September once the installation ends. I think it should take pride of place in my new sewing corner.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most amazing till! </td></tr>
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Hurry! The Cornershop closes its doors on the 31st of August! </div>
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<b>The Cornershop</b></div>
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19 Wellington Row</div>
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London</div>
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E2 7BB</div>
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Online sales at: <a href="http://www.thecornershoponline.com/">http://www.thecornershoponline.com/</a></div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-8610678295835075272014-08-22T21:18:00.000+01:002014-08-22T21:18:59.858+01:00The Sodbury Sheep Search<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Wednesday Lucas and I spent the morning chasing around Chipping Sodbury, trying to capture twenty-five escaped sheep. We're awesome like that.<br />
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Actually, we were taking part in a fun trail around the town to find the fluffy sheep who had escaped from their field and were hiding out in shop windows. Not only was this a fantastic low-cost way to spend a morning, but it also introduced me to lots of new shops that I'd never been into before. Exactly what the local Chamber of Commerce wanted I suspect!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating National Afternoon Tea Week, perhaps?</td></tr>
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We ambled up and down the High Street, and spent ages peering into shop windows and happily browsing in any shops we fancied the look of. Lucas can spot a sheep from a considerable distance! I had to be really sneaky to spot a sheep before his eagle eyes!!<br />
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As per usual I had to stop in at Hobbs House, even if only to look longingly at their cakes and meringues. Damn you fast days!! I love their butcher's bike so much! It's a great (and unusual advertising) method; so much better than a sandwich board.<br />
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I admired the Bake Off themed window in Swagger--I really want the tray they had in the window with enamel pictures of British cakes and biscuits on it--for ages until Lucas dragged me along to Purple Parrot who specialise in miniatures for dolls houses and had some impossibly tiny toys in the window.<br />
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Along the way I found myself noticing little details, like the house with the magenta-painted windowsills and door with an original boot scraper outside, some beautiful carvings, and all manner of gorgeous doors. Apparently I have a thing for a nice knocker--who knew?<br />
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The details on the police station are amazing. I love the beautifully carved Public Entrance sign--that must have been a talented stone mason--and the old olice lamp had me snapping photos like a crazy person! Surprisingly the police station is still in use and hasn't been turned into a dreadful themed pub, a fate that too many of our gorgeous old buildings face.</div>
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As we were leaving, we spotted a lonely sheep chained to a bench. The label around her neck said that she was looking for a husband. Apparently she'd be no trouble, all she'd need would be a bit of dusting now and then and a few loving words. If you fancy a low-maintenance wife, she's waiting for you outside the Penny Farthing gift shop on the High Street!</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-8204357051822341692014-08-20T22:48:00.001+01:002014-08-20T22:48:11.666+01:00A Photo Every Hour (almost)Saturday was my first attempt at Jane's <a href="http://isthatyoudarling.co.uk/">Photo Every Hour</a> challenge. I think my offering would be better described as "A Photo When I Remember", but hey-ho...we were busy having fun!<br />
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8ish - On the M4 zooming towards London. We surprised Lucas by getting up an hour earlier than we'd told him, then I told him that he wasn't getting to go to athletics today--his face fell--but we were going to London instead--his face was an absolute picture!<br />
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9ish - In a traffic jam at Trafalgar square. A not very good snap of the giant blue cockerel and Nelson's column.<br />
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10ish - the Peter Pan book bench beside St Paul's. I <i>really </i>wanted to go into St Paul's but was appalled by the entry price for the three of us. We settled for starting our Book Bench hunt instead.<br />
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11ish - South of the river now and a pit-stop for coffee at Starbuck's near Shakespeare's Globe. It took Lucas a while to notice that we'd been assimilated into Dave's collective...<br />
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12ish - After walking down the Thames Path, Dave took us into the Hay's Galleria for a quick look around. It's a gorgeous building and positively festooned with bunting! I <i>love </i>bunting.<br />
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1ish - Leon!! I've wanted to eat at Leon for years. They've always been heaving whenever I've tried but we stumbled across this one near Southwark Cathedral which was empty and I couldn't pass up eating lunch there! <br />
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We all loved the food, so much so that I popped into Foyles later on and bought one of their books!<br />
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2ish - We walked over Tower Bridge and slowly walked around the Tower, marvelling at the poppies. The sheer number is staggering and it brings home just how horrifying World War 1 was. Lucas really struggled with the idea that something which represented so much death could be so beautiful, especially after he lost count of the poppies...<br />
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3ish Walking through the back streets of Westminster we stumbled across New Scotland Yard. I had no idea that it was a mere stone's throw from Parliament. I got ridiculously excited by this, but I'll spare you the photo of me grinning like a lunatic in favour of this slightly more iconic one!<br />
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4ish - Afternoon tea at the Intercontinental Westminster. I loved this flower arrangement with artfully arranged succulents in glass teapots.<br />
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5 o'clock and all is <i>definitely </i>well - this was the dessert course of our British Summer Holiday afternoon tea. All beach huts should be made of brownie and chocolate mousse! I did feel a bit Hansel and Gretel when I neatly prised off the roof of the hut...<br />
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6ish - Look Mum, No Hands! We stumbled across the <a href="http://www.lookmumnohands.com/">Look Mum No Hands!</a> pop-up on the Southbank as we walked back to the hotel. Lucas couldn't resist posing... I somehow managed to resist their jugs of Pimms.<br />
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7ish - We stopped for a SNOG at the bright pink SNOG bus. (From a distance I'd assumed it was a disco!) <br />
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8 o'clock - This was a very welcome sign as it meant we were almost back at the hotel. It also marks a learning experience for me: bridges can be windy! I wound up doing a Marilyn all the way across the bridge in my flippy skirt. Thank god for leggings!<br />
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Our day ends rather early by my usual standards...by the time we got back to the hotel we'd managed to clock up just shy of nine miles and I was asleep by about 9:30!<br />
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Next time I'll be slightly more organised and actually remember to keep an eye on the time! Head over to Jane's blog to see <a href="http://isthatyoudarling.co.uk/2014/08/20/photo-an-hour-13/">who else took part </a>in this month's challenge.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-9044700664463764562014-08-13T00:29:00.000+01:002014-08-13T00:29:56.674+01:00Great Bloggers Bake Off: Swiss Roll edition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekHSdOoJ_JyKKgRahnkqi4IMQ3Dih-XLS0_MtVcb181qVjqzc5bxqxYdI1mUzYRn38Pa7ckaRe5XTNuEYGOQ44lm-SgNBUNH8XhOQWaV6MWQipHpCHmdRWqOPMEVxVQH2zmG6bA0JB-Jk/s1600/vanilla-strawberry-swiss-roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekHSdOoJ_JyKKgRahnkqi4IMQ3Dih-XLS0_MtVcb181qVjqzc5bxqxYdI1mUzYRn38Pa7ckaRe5XTNuEYGOQ44lm-SgNBUNH8XhOQWaV6MWQipHpCHmdRWqOPMEVxVQH2zmG6bA0JB-Jk/s1600/vanilla-strawberry-swiss-roll.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I painted that plate!</td></tr>
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I've been a massive fan of the <a href="http://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/">Great British Bake Off</a> since the very first episode aired, but it's never dawned upon me that I could bake along with the contestants. Bit slow sometimes, me. A couple of days ago I saw an absolutely delicious Mary Berry Cherry Cake from <a href="http://www.maybushstudio.com/2014/08/great-bloggers-bake-off-2014.html">Clare</a> on my Bloglovin' feed and then <a href="http://sunnysweetpea.com/">Jenny</a> mentioned on Twitter that she was baking a Swiss roll, a la Bake Off. I just <i>had </i>to join in!<br />
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I took the opportunity to try something I've been meaning to for absolutely ages, baking a pattern into the cake. I've seen DIYs and tutorials for this all over Pinterest but I've never had an occasion to try it. <br />
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Turns out, it's super-easy. All you need is a steady (ish) hand for piping and you can turn out something that looks rather special with ease. Drawing a template with a thick marker and sliding it under the parchment would be a good idea if you're a bit nervous about free-handing. It won't take much longer than making your usual Swiss roll recipe, honest!<br />
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I'm not sure what Mary and Paul would have thought of my efforts, though. I used a little too much food colouring and alas, not only did the pink turn out a <i>little </i>on the garish side, but there was a <i>slightly </i>bitter taste which I'm putting down to chucking too much colouring in. My advice? One tiny dab of colouring at a time!! I think Paul might have fixed me with his icy blue eyes and said, "Style over substance." However Lucas described it as delicious, and he's my favourite critic, so that's all right.<br />
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Can't wait to see what the bakers get up to in Wednesday's episode!<br />
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<h3>
Vanilla and Strawberry Swiss Roll</h3>
<br />
For the decorative paste<br />
<br />
30g unsalted butter, melted and cooled<br />
1 large egg white<br />
30g caster sugar<br />
40g plain flour<br />
a drop of vanilla extract (optional)<br />
food colouring gel of your choice<br />
<br />
For the cake<br />
<br />
4 large eggs<br />
100g caster sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla paste<br />
100g plain flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
caster sugar for dusting<br />
<br />
For the filling<br />
<br />
100g unsalted butter, softened<br />
150g icing sugar, sifted<br />
40g strawberry and vanilla jam (or just strawberry jam and add a drop of vanilla extract)<br />
<br />
Grease and line a Swiss roll tin (23x30cm) and brush the parchment with melted butter.<br />
<br />
Make the paste: beat the egg white into the melted butter followed by the sugar and flour. Add food colouring, carefully, as too much will make the paste taste slightly bitter. This will probably make more than you need, but it's hard to divide since it only uses a single egg white! Also, having a bit of excess is handy if you want to do a multi-colour pattern...<br />
<br />
Put the paste into a piping bag with a fine, round nozzle, or simply snip the end off the bag when you want to start piping.. If it's a hot day it might seem a bit too soft, so pop it in the fridge for about 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
Pipe your design onto the prepared tin. If you make a mistake, you can scrape it off the parchment and pop the paste back into the piping bag. Once you're happy with it, put the tin in the freezer while you make the cake batter.<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan).<br />
<br />
Let the cake cool for two minutes before sliding it onto a wire rack, keep the parchment on. Sprinkle the surface of the cooked cake lightly with caster sugar to prevent sticking. Starting from a short end, fold in the baking parchment and start rolling the cake up. You might want to protect your hands with a tea towel as the cake is hot! Allow to cool on a wire rack for about an hour.<br />
<br />
Make the buttercream: in a mixer, beat the butter until it pales. Add the icing sugar and beat in slowly--covering with a clean tea towel is advisable--then add the jam. Keep beating until fluffy.<br />
<br />
Carefully unroll the cake and spread the buttercream in an even layer. Gently peel the parchment away from the cake and roll it up tightly using the parchment to help roll it all together. Chill for about half an hour before serving to set the buttercream slightly.<br />
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Best eaten on the day of baking.<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-50419329665560899632014-08-11T13:45:00.001+01:002014-08-12T11:53:14.373+01:00Strawberry and vanilla jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U5FlC69t_iyvupg7dcWhwcwWQUp6QMWd1SoFQS-hleIRhYLudY1Q2ei7AAbBwNCKSe0Ugs2TR44xM2v-YM51NGr30rT9CkEfzCWP7r48oIoPxDJSo4pQv12ajFtal9R0OYjG-Rs2VExi/s1600/strawberry-vanilla-jam-overhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Strawberry & vanilla jam" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U5FlC69t_iyvupg7dcWhwcwWQUp6QMWd1SoFQS-hleIRhYLudY1Q2ei7AAbBwNCKSe0Ugs2TR44xM2v-YM51NGr30rT9CkEfzCWP7r48oIoPxDJSo4pQv12ajFtal9R0OYjG-Rs2VExi/s1600/strawberry-vanilla-jam-overhead.jpg" height="640" title="" width="546" /></a></div>
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After our <a href="http://www.littleappletree.co.uk/2014/07/pyo-strawberries-at-chosen-hill-farm.html">strawberry picking adventures</a> at Chosen Hill Farm a few weeks ago, all I could think about as we drove home, the scent of strawberries thick and heady in the car, was making jam. Those berries smelled amazing, I just wanted to bottle the smell and save it forever. Well, for as long as jar of jam ever lasts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakYIlFCRkwoT1MMQtZfeQZhc0kZ6w1ZX0q5flzQ88OpxCQNSCIvB37Nnegm_-28o_XBz9QTCSd1bxfYMFdYukM-N2WXSpnythOf6kKFvPX5pUhtoE2Fg08P7Z2IhaUiMFqnzQ29n0fv1y/s1600/strawberries-in-colander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Strawberries in a colander" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakYIlFCRkwoT1MMQtZfeQZhc0kZ6w1ZX0q5flzQ88OpxCQNSCIvB37Nnegm_-28o_XBz9QTCSd1bxfYMFdYukM-N2WXSpnythOf6kKFvPX5pUhtoE2Fg08P7Z2IhaUiMFqnzQ29n0fv1y/s1600/strawberries-in-colander.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
Strawberry jam is a classic for very good reason--it's such a pure and bright flavour--but I wanted to make it extra special by adding some vanilla. I'm sure that I'm not the first person to add vanilla to strawberry jam, after all strawberries taste amazing with Chantilly cream, but I felt like I'd made some alchemical discovery when I tasted the finished jam! The vanilla really kicks up the strawberry flavour.<br />
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I'm not ashamed to say that we all stood around the cooled pan, armed with spoons, and scraped the remnants from the pan and ladle. It was amazing, even better than the berries themselves! <br />
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The jam is absolutely delicious simply spread on hot buttered toast and sublime as part of a cream tea with . If a jar survives into autumn or winter, then I reckon it would taste fantastic dolloped on top of a bowl of rice pudding! Perhaps rippling it into ice-cream would be fun, or you know...<span style="font-size: xx-small;">you could just eat it from the jar with a spoon.</span><br />
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I've always been quite keen on making the occasional jar of jam and curd, but now I can easily see how people wind up with cupboards upon cupboards full of jam. I'm saving every jam jar and planning to go blackberrying very soon, as well as making some chutney. I'm going to turn into a crazy jam lady, aren't I?<br />
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<h3>
Strawberry and vanilla jam</h3>
(Adapted ever-so-slightly from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/strawberry_jam_82129">Mary Berry's excellent recipe</a>.)<br />
Makes 4 jars of jam.<br />
<br />
1kg strawberries, rinsed, dabbed dry, and hulled<br />
juice of one lemon<br />
1kg jam sugar<br />
3/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste<br />
<br />
First things first, click through and watch the video that accompanies Mary Berry's recipe. Making jam is such a visual thing, it's hard to describe in words and the video really helps!<br />
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Put a couple of saucers into the freezer to chill. Wash and sterilise jam jars.<br />
<br />
If the strawberries are large, cut them in half. The general rule of thumb is that the strawberries should be small enough to fit on top of a scone in the finished jam. Put the strawberries and lemon juice into a large pan. Heat for a few minutes to soften, add the vanilla paste and sugar and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.<br />
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Once the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear, boil steadily for about four minutes, or until at setting point. The jam should cook at a fast, rolling boil that you can't stir down. <br />
<br />
To test if the jam is at setting point, spoon a little onto a cold plate, leave for a minute and then push the jam with your finger. If the jam crinkles and separates without flooding back, setting point has been reached.<br />
<br />
Set aside to cool for ten minutes. (This ensures that the strawberries will stay evenly suspended in the jam, rather than all bobbing to the top in the jar.) Spoon into sterilised jars, label and seal with wax paper and a lid. Leave to cool completely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VJkt93rax3u-RCZ-oPZVaevZsD3qgoy6xIc48UdD6sTYkVmx26Ky1ud2lTiX_VeV-fZC0ntwxkcDm16f4O38D8rRWclt9yvhWtUoMvka6H3K13MafKpR_SCFLgkvM7zINv8_xvOCgZdI/s1600/strawberry-vanilla-jam-vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to make Strawberry & vanilla jam :: Little Apple Tree blog" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VJkt93rax3u-RCZ-oPZVaevZsD3qgoy6xIc48UdD6sTYkVmx26Ky1ud2lTiX_VeV-fZC0ntwxkcDm16f4O38D8rRWclt9yvhWtUoMvka6H3K13MafKpR_SCFLgkvM7zINv8_xvOCgZdI/s1600/strawberry-vanilla-jam-vertical.jpg" height="640" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-38438338430772072132014-08-10T22:45:00.001+01:002014-08-10T22:45:41.101+01:00Taking Stock<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers at The Eden Project</td></tr>
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Hello! I'm back from a lovely week in Cornwall with all of the family. I've never been on holiday with so many people before, so that was quite the experience. In a really great way, I hasten to add!<br />
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So, it seems like a good time to Take Stock...<br />
<br />
<b>MAKING</b> a doily from a vintage crochet pattern. I can tell you from bitter, bitter experience that this is not something to do apres vino.<br />
<b>COOKING</b> nothing! Dave did dinner tonight, bless 'im.<br />
<b>DRINKING</b> a glass of Pimms, thoughtfully procured by Dave. (I've put the doily down for its own safety.)<br />
<b>READING</b> the latest copy of <i>The Simple Things</i> magazine. The only trouble with saving trees and buying a digital edition is that you can't rip out pages filled with pictures of scary spiders and stuff them in the bin.,,<br />
<b>WANTING</b> to play with my sewing machine tomorrow,<br />
<b>LOOKING</b> at Swiss roll recipes.<br />
<b>PLAYING </b><i>Unseen Academicals</i> in the car. More philosophy and Hard Questions than you could shake a stick at.<br />
<b>DECIDING </b>when to go up to London for a couple of days.<br />
<b>WISHING </b>that <a href="http://www.shauninthecity.org.uk/">Shaun in the City</a> was happening this year. Greedy, I know!<br />
<b>ENJOYING</b> singing along to Metallica songs.<br />
<b>WAITING </b>for this film to start making sense. Oh well, at least I can sing my heart out...<br />
<b>LIKING </b><i>Lost Girl</i>. It's taken me (like so many other things) ages to start watching, but I really like it!<br />
<b>WONDERING </b>what sort of soil we have in our garden. I fell in love with blue hydrangeas in Cornwall and apparently they like an acidic soil. I feel a trip to B&Q coming on...<br />
<b>LOVING</b> my little family, as always.<br />
<b>PONDERING </b>how many years it's been since we saw Metallica at Wembley.<br />
<b>CONSIDERING </b>crawling into bed soon.<br />
<b>WATCHING</b> <i>Through The Never</i>. I can't believe it's taken me such a long time to watch Metallica!!<br />
<b>HOPING</b> that the dregs of ex-hurricane Bertha don't cause too much damage<br />
<b>MARVELLING</b> at <a href="http://thecornershopblog.com/">The Corner Shop</a> art installation in London.<br />
<b>NEEDING</b> to go to the supermarket tomorrow.<br />
<b>SMELLING</b> orange and ginger shower gel.<br />
<b>WEARING</b> my oldest, comfiest clothes to slouch on the sofa.<br />
<b>FOLLOWING </b>the weather forecast. How very British of me.<br />
<b>KNOWING</b> that life is good.<br />
<b>FEELING</b> happy<br />
<b>ADMIRING </b>my beautiful new mug that I bought in Cornwall.<br />
<b>SORTING out </b>a play-date for Lucas with his best friend. I can't wait to tell him tomorrow!<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392444541477358507.post-64201505711130506362014-08-07T15:52:00.000+01:002014-08-09T13:52:50.422+01:00The Summer Tag<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I saw this meme over at <a href="http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.co.uk/">Dear Ms. Leigh's</a> blog and thought it might be fun, especially as we've had a rather lovely summer so far in the UK...<br />
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<u>What's your favourite thing about summer?</u><br />
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I love the light evenings--being able to sit out late in the evening, basking in golden sunshine is awesome. I was still playing badminton in the garden with Lucas and his cousins at half past eight last night! I don't sunbathe but I do love soaking up the heat in the occasional sunbeam. I may have more in common with cats than I'd care to admit!<br />
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<u>Do you have a favourite summer drink?</u><br />
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Pimms!! Definitely Pimms. It's the epitome of summer drinks, with plenty of cucumber, mint strawberries and orange bobbing around happily in the jug... Mind you, with the scorching temperatures we've had so far this summer, anything with ice is good!<br />
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<u>Is there a location you prefer to go in the summer?</u><br />
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I love pottering around old mansion houses and stately homes in the summer. The sunlight seems to bring them alive again. I'm not much of a beach person...I get cranky about sanda in my sandwiches and ice-cream but I can be persuaded upon occasion...<br />
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<u>Favourite make-up look for the summer?</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
This summer as per usual, I shall be rocking the au natural look. Mainly because I am too lazy to be bothered with it!<br />
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<u>Dresses or skirts?</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
This week I am rocking the skirts! I packed for bad weather so my dresses have stayed at home. I do love the whole dress-leggings-flats look. It even (kinda) works if I shove on a pair of trainers for very touristy days.<br />
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<u>Sandals or ballet pumps?</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Can I say both? I've spent most of the summer running around in sandals but some outfits go better with a pretty pair of ballet pumps! Bare feet are always in style, too...<br />
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<u>Do you prefer to wear your hair up or down for summer?</u></div>
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My hair goes up and down like a yo-yo in the summer. If it turns hot and humid then I'll twist it up in a trice. Otherwise it hangs down my back getting itself into all sorts of trouble. The merest hint of a breeze causes major tangles!</div>
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<u>Deep smokey eyes or bold lips?</u></div>
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Lips, always lips. I love a vivid, vampiric red lipstick. Or a deep plum. I'm not a fan of poking around at my eyes, hence I've never mastered eye liner, let alone mascara!</div>
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<u>Favourite perfume for summer?</u></div>
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I love perfume, but I am dreadful at remembering to put it on. Usually it gets put away <i>for best </i>and then forgotten about. By the time I next think about it. The poor thing's gone off. I do like Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea perfume, though. Perfect for summer!</div>
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<u>Last but not least, what is your favourite music for summer?</u></div>
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We seem to listen to more 90s and 2000s pop in the car during the summer. My beloved Metallica just feels a bit wrong on a bright sunny day. The Cardigans Lovefool or Blur's Parklife always seem to end up on my playlist.</div>
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I suspect I'm late to the party with this meme, so if you haven't done it yet and would like to...tag, you're it!!</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250810052834690953noreply@blogger.com3