The rain is drip, drip, dripping outside my window this afternoon. The air is perfumed with the freesias in the bouquet I carried at my sister's wedding on Monday, and the rain. It is cool but not yet chilly, and it is a good afternoon to be at home with a pot of tea.
Perhaps it is because we have not had a proper summer; perhaps it is the come-down after my dear sister's much anticipated wedding; perhaps it is just that I have not had a holiday in 2 years, or a week off work since I started my new job.
Whatever it is, I am feeling under the weather and slightly out of sorts.
You see, everything inside me is whispering urgently 'autumn, autumn, autumn!' Everything outside is whispering 'autumn, autumn, autumn' and the two combined are very loud indeed, and yet...it is August! Summer!
It is not that I am wishing time away, but I just feel ready for September and the new-term back-to-school feeling which accompanies it. At the same time, I feel slightly guilty, like I should be wringing every last drop from summer. But it is hard to be properly summery when every day brings showers!
I discovered that the French have a wonderful word for this time, the pre-autumn but back-to-school time, which is La Rentree. Quite literally, The Return. It fills me with excitement, and I think it is just the thing to cure my summer blues. I believe I have mentioned a lovely novel, Remedy by Anne Marsella before. In this, the main character develops a kind of 'uniform' to wear to work, and I feel like doing the same thing, almost as going to buy new school uniform. I find myself wanting to buy pencils and notebooks, and my eyes are drawn to the rich purple nail polishes in the shops.
I find myself thinking of 'school rules' for myself, and feeling betwixt and between as I don't want to give myself too much to live up to, but want some little challenges too. So far I have settled on eating an apple a day, as that feels suitably back-t0-school-ish and also autumn-ish for me, and of course has the benefits of being fabulous for the skin! I also want to walk to work more than I have been, although that will be much easier when it is not raining so much!
I will be thinking of other little things too, and will share them with you, as well as letting you know how I am getting on with the others!
So do put a pot of tea on, and drink with me to the coming cosiness of autumn, and a fresh new school year for us all, no matter how long ago it was that we last went to school! What would you like to learn this year?
Showing posts with label Catching Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catching Up. Show all posts
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Monday, 3 May 2010
Bank Holiday Monday
An afternoon spent with a shawl around my shoulders, drinking tea by candlelight, searching the internet for some elusive shades of Country Style Double Knitting Wool with one eye on Poirot, listening to the pitter patter of rain on the window pane. It can only be a Bank Holiday Monday in England!
Last night, we had dinner with Carl's family, and afterwards his Mum announced she had a film for us to watch- Julie and Julia. I had read a bit of her blog at the time she was writing it, so I was really looking forward to seeing it. It was a lovely film on the whole, with some wonderful cinematic touches- Julie and Julia both using the same kind of Le Creuset casserole dish, and wearing tops which strongly echoed each other in some scenes. However the film was slightly hard work because I felt Meryl Streep really overacted in every scene...and I know that Julia Child really did talk like that, but my word her voice grated after a while!
It made me really miss blogging though....and I have missed it. I am not going to go too deeply into why I stopped, but I feel that it is time I was back. I had almost definitely decided to start again, when my lovely husband sat reading my blog, and pointed out how many visits it has had, and that there are that many people who probably don't come any more. I did think about starting a whole new blog, but I feel like this one still fits. I have been here a long while as well, and I hate the idea of walking away from it. So, here I am!
Some things have happpened since I was last here...I have a new job! I am still running my own dear little branch library, but I am now one of the managers at the flagship branch as well. I have only started that recently, and although it keeps me very busy, I love it. There are things which are less important, but which colour my day...we have started getting our milk delivered in the mornings, from a real proper milkman. I simply adore having the glass bottles in our fridge, and the ritual of washing them out ready to go back. Even the pressing in of the little foil hat to open it makes me smile! I have been crafting a lot...I have started a Top Secret Project (look away Carl, if you are reading this!) I am knitting a jumper! No chunky wool on big needles for me, but 4 ply on tiny needles...it is taking forever, but I think it is going to drape well. There is something really satisfying abotu working on something like this.
So, that is me...how have you been?
Last night, we had dinner with Carl's family, and afterwards his Mum announced she had a film for us to watch- Julie and Julia. I had read a bit of her blog at the time she was writing it, so I was really looking forward to seeing it. It was a lovely film on the whole, with some wonderful cinematic touches- Julie and Julia both using the same kind of Le Creuset casserole dish, and wearing tops which strongly echoed each other in some scenes. However the film was slightly hard work because I felt Meryl Streep really overacted in every scene...and I know that Julia Child really did talk like that, but my word her voice grated after a while!
It made me really miss blogging though....and I have missed it. I am not going to go too deeply into why I stopped, but I feel that it is time I was back. I had almost definitely decided to start again, when my lovely husband sat reading my blog, and pointed out how many visits it has had, and that there are that many people who probably don't come any more. I did think about starting a whole new blog, but I feel like this one still fits. I have been here a long while as well, and I hate the idea of walking away from it. So, here I am!
Some things have happpened since I was last here...I have a new job! I am still running my own dear little branch library, but I am now one of the managers at the flagship branch as well. I have only started that recently, and although it keeps me very busy, I love it. There are things which are less important, but which colour my day...we have started getting our milk delivered in the mornings, from a real proper milkman. I simply adore having the glass bottles in our fridge, and the ritual of washing them out ready to go back. Even the pressing in of the little foil hat to open it makes me smile! I have been crafting a lot...I have started a Top Secret Project (look away Carl, if you are reading this!) I am knitting a jumper! No chunky wool on big needles for me, but 4 ply on tiny needles...it is taking forever, but I think it is going to drape well. There is something really satisfying abotu working on something like this.
So, that is me...how have you been?
Friday, 1 January 2010
Looking Back At December
December was a busy month for me, as I suspect that it is for many women. This year I made all my Christmas cards, which were minatures with origami envelopes. I also made most of my gifts, including 23 pairs of crochet slippers, which I filled with little treats such as bath bombs, chocolate coins and candles, in an echo of the European tradition of children leaving their shoes out on the feast of St Nicholas for him to fill. I also made Winter Spiced Coffee Liqueur, and hot water bottle covers from old cashmere jumpers. I knitted a cabled cashmere hot water bottle cover for my Mum, and a pair of mittens for myself. I made a Christmas cake which was more of a pudding, but delicious none the less. I stitched felt robins, went ice skating for the first time in years, and went to two Christmas parties. I fell in love with Bury St Edmunds all over again, and emailed myself several ideas for posts which I never quite got to blog. I took lots of photographs, decided that Scarlett Johansson is my new favourite singer (check out 'relator' on youtube!) and bought another red lipstick.
I shed some happy tears on Christmas morning, as I felt so much love from my friends and family in their gifts. I am going to learn to throw pots, have a frilly pokla dot apron, a cd of french women singers, and a cupcake book with silicone cupcake cases in the shape of hearts!
I decorated three Christmas trees in one week, and devoured as many books (but over the month, not one week!).
Best of all was my visit to Bury St Edmunds. Although I had started making my cards and gifts before Mum and I went, I wasn't feeling particularly Christmassy. After a day spent there though, I felt little tendrils of tinselly excitement unfurling somewhere in my tummy. There was the living nativity again, where I stroked a donkey and a dear little sheep creature on impossibly long legs. We drank Bailey's laced hot chocolate to keep warm, and found ourself thoroughly cheered by all the lovely people and lovely things to see and do.
The other thing that really made me feel Christmassy was the last Women's Institute Country Market before Christmas. Mum and I had both ordered a few bits in advance, and when we went in, they had put our orders into boxes and labelled them. Mum had an un-iced cake, mincemeat and a giant pudding. I had mincemeat and a smaller pudding. We also bought boughs of holly, tiny boxes of home made marzipan fruits, and some beautifully decorated cupcakes. The tea was free that morning, and every cup came with a tiny home made mince pie. The atmosphere was lovely, and it made me really look forward to Christmas.
Christmas Eve we had my family come to visit, and I decided to be inspired by Nigella in my catering. In past years, I have made a vast buffet, but this year I cooked a huge fish pie which had prawns, lobster, scallops, smoked haddock and smoked salmon in it. There was trifle for dessert, and amaretto chocolate soya milk to drink. By 10:00pm they had gone home, we had washed up, and were sitting on the sofa in the glow of the tree lights, feeling relaxed and excited about the next day.
We spent most of Christmas day at my Mum and Dad's house. Mum made some new decorations this year- bunting made of Christmassy fabrics, and then used the same fabric to make fabric paperchains! She also had a lovely little tableau using a bough of Christmas tree with pretty lights wound into it, a tiny nativity scene, and a glittery acorn ornament. I will post some pictures so you can see! We spent the evening at Carl's parents house, where we played board games until midnight. It is so lovely to spend time just laughing and enjoying each other's company.
Oh, and I had a new outfit for Christmas! A black and white striped dress from New Look, which looks a bit Parisenne. It has a black blow with some large pearls and crystals, which pins to one side where you would usually wear a brooch.
I hope that you had the most scrumptious of Christmasses, were surrounded by love and laughter, and have some wonderful memories to look back upon.
I shed some happy tears on Christmas morning, as I felt so much love from my friends and family in their gifts. I am going to learn to throw pots, have a frilly pokla dot apron, a cd of french women singers, and a cupcake book with silicone cupcake cases in the shape of hearts!
I decorated three Christmas trees in one week, and devoured as many books (but over the month, not one week!).
Best of all was my visit to Bury St Edmunds. Although I had started making my cards and gifts before Mum and I went, I wasn't feeling particularly Christmassy. After a day spent there though, I felt little tendrils of tinselly excitement unfurling somewhere in my tummy. There was the living nativity again, where I stroked a donkey and a dear little sheep creature on impossibly long legs. We drank Bailey's laced hot chocolate to keep warm, and found ourself thoroughly cheered by all the lovely people and lovely things to see and do.
The other thing that really made me feel Christmassy was the last Women's Institute Country Market before Christmas. Mum and I had both ordered a few bits in advance, and when we went in, they had put our orders into boxes and labelled them. Mum had an un-iced cake, mincemeat and a giant pudding. I had mincemeat and a smaller pudding. We also bought boughs of holly, tiny boxes of home made marzipan fruits, and some beautifully decorated cupcakes. The tea was free that morning, and every cup came with a tiny home made mince pie. The atmosphere was lovely, and it made me really look forward to Christmas.
Christmas Eve we had my family come to visit, and I decided to be inspired by Nigella in my catering. In past years, I have made a vast buffet, but this year I cooked a huge fish pie which had prawns, lobster, scallops, smoked haddock and smoked salmon in it. There was trifle for dessert, and amaretto chocolate soya milk to drink. By 10:00pm they had gone home, we had washed up, and were sitting on the sofa in the glow of the tree lights, feeling relaxed and excited about the next day.
We spent most of Christmas day at my Mum and Dad's house. Mum made some new decorations this year- bunting made of Christmassy fabrics, and then used the same fabric to make fabric paperchains! She also had a lovely little tableau using a bough of Christmas tree with pretty lights wound into it, a tiny nativity scene, and a glittery acorn ornament. I will post some pictures so you can see! We spent the evening at Carl's parents house, where we played board games until midnight. It is so lovely to spend time just laughing and enjoying each other's company.
Oh, and I had a new outfit for Christmas! A black and white striped dress from New Look, which looks a bit Parisenne. It has a black blow with some large pearls and crystals, which pins to one side where you would usually wear a brooch.
I hope that you had the most scrumptious of Christmasses, were surrounded by love and laughter, and have some wonderful memories to look back upon.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Blustery Day
This week has been one of the blusteriest that I can remember recently. There have been cool days, milder days, days speckled with rain, but all of them have been windswept. When I went out this morning, it was difficult to walk it was so blowy, and my hair was whipped about my head like a medusa. It has been really invigorating. Somehow, the day feels scoured clean and bare. It was really bright when I walked into town, and had all the freshness of a February day.
Carl is off to Paris tomorrow for work- just a day trip...although he will have to leave horribly early, before even the birds outside have blinked awake, he will be safe home again with me my bed time. I can't believe that we live in a world where we can just pop to Paris for the day! I know he is not going to have much time for anything other than work, but I am sending him off with a pocketful of Euros and a wish for Marie Claire Idees magazine!
After lunch with some dear friends today, I went for a little wander around the shops. Although I should be looking for Christmas gifts, my attention was caught by books...for me! I was very good and resisted, but I shall certainly be ordering them from the library. There is one about celebrations by Lucia Van Der Post which is all about lovely things to do for Easter/Guy Fawkes/Christmas and so on. There was another by the author of French Women Don't Get Fat about women in the workplace, and another one that looked good too, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was!
The book that I just can't put down at the moment is 'Jean Harlow, An Intimate Biography' which I picked up for 50p in a charity shop. I have always admired Marilyn and Audrey, and of course I had heard of Jean Harlow, but I had no idea about the life she led until I started to read. When I have finished catching up with you, I am going to pour myself a bubble bath and sink into the foam with a cup of tea and this book!
But before I do that, I must unpack my shopping bag. A rather eclectic mix- a little egg cup in the shape of soldier for Carl. You see, I have my TV-AM egg cup, and the only other egg cup is a vintage flowery one! Seeing as he has a mug with soldiers on it (the kind in the red outfit and the big black hats, not camoflaged soldiers!) I decided this would go well with it. Lakeland sell them, and they even come with a little cutter that makes the toast into actual soldier shapes! I bought a little box of mini baubles in Paperchase, and also a big brown gift box that I am going to use to wrap up Mum's Christmas gift. Lastly, a tiny bottle of red nail polish, because really, you can never have too many! Later this evening I will be watching Spooks and painting my toes red!
I have been busy crocheting for Christmas, and still have a few cards left to make...I am off to Bury St Edmund's Christmas Fayre on Saturday with Mum, and am really looking forward to a hot chocolate laced with Baileys while I am there. I have done quite a lot of shopping, but I feel like I have quite a way to go. Still, I don't feel stressed at all, so that is good!
Our organic veggie box was delivered while I was out...I know that it sounds silly, but opening it really is like opening a treasure chest. Everything looks so tasty and lush, and seasonal. It makes me feel very River Cottagey! Tonight I am going to cook some white fish in a little parsley sauce, which I will serve with some creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli. Then tomorrow we will be having vegetable soup, and supper on Friday will be potted crab on walnut and cheese bread with a wintery salad. I feel hungry just thinking about it! Just as well satsuma season is here, as they are my favourite fruit of all!
This has been quite a long catch up...I do hope your tea has not gone cold! Just a few other little thoughts, while they are in my mind...I have been stitching felt robins for decorations. I think I might do a little tutorial on them. They are ever so simple, but look rather sweet. Cath Kidston are selling something similary for £12 for 3, and I have made about 8 for £3! My gift wrapping scheme this year is going to center around brown paper and bright red. I plan to wrap gifts first in either red tissue paper or red sparkly paper, then wrap over the top of that in brown paper, then tie a bright red ribbon on. I have also bought some slightly darker than brown paper paper, which has white polka dots on it. It is a slightly Scandinavian flavoured style, mixed with Country Living style.
It has been so lovely to catch up...wherever you are, I hope you are having a wonderful afternoon!
Love
Mimi
xxx
Carl is off to Paris tomorrow for work- just a day trip...although he will have to leave horribly early, before even the birds outside have blinked awake, he will be safe home again with me my bed time. I can't believe that we live in a world where we can just pop to Paris for the day! I know he is not going to have much time for anything other than work, but I am sending him off with a pocketful of Euros and a wish for Marie Claire Idees magazine!
After lunch with some dear friends today, I went for a little wander around the shops. Although I should be looking for Christmas gifts, my attention was caught by books...for me! I was very good and resisted, but I shall certainly be ordering them from the library. There is one about celebrations by Lucia Van Der Post which is all about lovely things to do for Easter/Guy Fawkes/Christmas and so on. There was another by the author of French Women Don't Get Fat about women in the workplace, and another one that looked good too, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was!
The book that I just can't put down at the moment is 'Jean Harlow, An Intimate Biography' which I picked up for 50p in a charity shop. I have always admired Marilyn and Audrey, and of course I had heard of Jean Harlow, but I had no idea about the life she led until I started to read. When I have finished catching up with you, I am going to pour myself a bubble bath and sink into the foam with a cup of tea and this book!
But before I do that, I must unpack my shopping bag. A rather eclectic mix- a little egg cup in the shape of soldier for Carl. You see, I have my TV-AM egg cup, and the only other egg cup is a vintage flowery one! Seeing as he has a mug with soldiers on it (the kind in the red outfit and the big black hats, not camoflaged soldiers!) I decided this would go well with it. Lakeland sell them, and they even come with a little cutter that makes the toast into actual soldier shapes! I bought a little box of mini baubles in Paperchase, and also a big brown gift box that I am going to use to wrap up Mum's Christmas gift. Lastly, a tiny bottle of red nail polish, because really, you can never have too many! Later this evening I will be watching Spooks and painting my toes red!
I have been busy crocheting for Christmas, and still have a few cards left to make...I am off to Bury St Edmund's Christmas Fayre on Saturday with Mum, and am really looking forward to a hot chocolate laced with Baileys while I am there. I have done quite a lot of shopping, but I feel like I have quite a way to go. Still, I don't feel stressed at all, so that is good!
Our organic veggie box was delivered while I was out...I know that it sounds silly, but opening it really is like opening a treasure chest. Everything looks so tasty and lush, and seasonal. It makes me feel very River Cottagey! Tonight I am going to cook some white fish in a little parsley sauce, which I will serve with some creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli. Then tomorrow we will be having vegetable soup, and supper on Friday will be potted crab on walnut and cheese bread with a wintery salad. I feel hungry just thinking about it! Just as well satsuma season is here, as they are my favourite fruit of all!
This has been quite a long catch up...I do hope your tea has not gone cold! Just a few other little thoughts, while they are in my mind...I have been stitching felt robins for decorations. I think I might do a little tutorial on them. They are ever so simple, but look rather sweet. Cath Kidston are selling something similary for £12 for 3, and I have made about 8 for £3! My gift wrapping scheme this year is going to center around brown paper and bright red. I plan to wrap gifts first in either red tissue paper or red sparkly paper, then wrap over the top of that in brown paper, then tie a bright red ribbon on. I have also bought some slightly darker than brown paper paper, which has white polka dots on it. It is a slightly Scandinavian flavoured style, mixed with Country Living style.
It has been so lovely to catch up...wherever you are, I hope you are having a wonderful afternoon!
Love
Mimi
xxx
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Cup of Tea Catch Up
Sometimes when I sit down to write a post, I have a specific topic in mind, and it feels almost like I am writing a mini-essay. Sometimes though, I just want to get out my tea pot, pour us a cup of tea, set out the cupcakes, and catch up on all the little things.
The first thing isn't such a little thing really, but a big one- a big thank you to all of you who are kind enough to come and visit me here, and especially to those of you who leave such kind comments for me. I really feel like I know you from our little writings here! Please, if you havent already, do leave me a comment with your email address, as I have been busily putting together some little thank you packages to send out!
Now, on to other things- and some forthcoming pleasures. I am really looking forward to a trip to our local theatre soon. It has a cinema screen, and they are showing 'houswives choice' which is a programme from the BFI which includes cinemagazines, documentaries and adverts from the 20s to the 50s. We are not sure if they are going to serve refreshements or not, so I shall be taking along a flask of tea and some battenburg to hand round. A litte more information (and booking details should you live close enough!) here:
http://www.chelmsfordbc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=16900
Talking of tea, have you seen the lovely adverts for Twinings recently? There are tea leaves scattered about, and a pair of hands draws patterns in them, to gentle music. My favourite is the Lady Gray one. You can see them here, on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_HBCTSsYyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC6qZKO8YnE&NR=1
I am also looking forward very much to next week- because I have my first proper break from work since Christmas!I have the whole week off, and am planning some adventures- I am having a lovely friend visit for lunch, and I am going to make bread, sew and apron, bake cupcakes, go swimming, and play!
Tonight I am going to have a little adventure in the kitchen, trying a Rose Eliot recipe for Red Bean Lasagne. I am going to tweak it a little bit, using taco seasoning, and then have a violet scented bath before bed.
The first thing isn't such a little thing really, but a big one- a big thank you to all of you who are kind enough to come and visit me here, and especially to those of you who leave such kind comments for me. I really feel like I know you from our little writings here! Please, if you havent already, do leave me a comment with your email address, as I have been busily putting together some little thank you packages to send out!
Now, on to other things- and some forthcoming pleasures. I am really looking forward to a trip to our local theatre soon. It has a cinema screen, and they are showing 'houswives choice' which is a programme from the BFI which includes cinemagazines, documentaries and adverts from the 20s to the 50s. We are not sure if they are going to serve refreshements or not, so I shall be taking along a flask of tea and some battenburg to hand round. A litte more information (and booking details should you live close enough!) here:
http://www.chelmsfordbc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=16900
Talking of tea, have you seen the lovely adverts for Twinings recently? There are tea leaves scattered about, and a pair of hands draws patterns in them, to gentle music. My favourite is the Lady Gray one. You can see them here, on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_HBCTSsYyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC6qZKO8YnE&NR=1
I am also looking forward very much to next week- because I have my first proper break from work since Christmas!I have the whole week off, and am planning some adventures- I am having a lovely friend visit for lunch, and I am going to make bread, sew and apron, bake cupcakes, go swimming, and play!
Tonight I am going to have a little adventure in the kitchen, trying a Rose Eliot recipe for Red Bean Lasagne. I am going to tweak it a little bit, using taco seasoning, and then have a violet scented bath before bed.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Bacjk From My Blog Break
Well bonjour, salut, hello and good afternoon!
I really did not mean to be away for so long...I hardly dare look at the date of my last post and see just how long it has been in fact...but I have been away having some of the most wonderful adventures, and now I am back to tell you all about them.
So pull up a chair, put on the kettle, and lets catch up...
Since we last met, I have had a birthday, taken afternoon tea with some goats, had supper at The Pigalle Club, hosted Brunch Club, seen the Puppini Sisters live on stage, been to my first conference, knitted two hot water bottle covers, started a pair of socks, bought a Vita-Mix, and had a spring clean!
There will be more, in detail on all of these, but first I must tell you about The Puppini Sisters.
For my birthday, my lovely husband got us tickets to see the Puppini Sisters at The Pigalle Club in London. We had tickets for supper first, and then the show. I just love the Puppini Sisters, and they rarely play in this country, so I was almost beside myself with excitement! One of the loveliest things about going to a proper supper club (and one that also does burlesque, no less!) was getting to dress up! I wore a dress that is black with little red flowers all over it, quite form fitting and low cut in front, with black high heels, a flick of black eyeliner and my ruby woo lipstick...I have to say that I did feel completely at home when we walked through the doors and descended the staircase into the pink supper club room!
We had seats at the edge of a mezzanine floor, right above the stage, so we had an excellent view. We started with a cocktail each...oh, how I love cocktails! I had an apricot spiced mojito, which was utterly delicious, and Carl had a Pig-adilly (The Pigalle Club is in Picadilly!) which was nice but a bit too strong for me. The food was light but filling and so tasty. I started with a thin slice of goats cheese which had been grilled until it was bubbling and crusty, served on a bed of rocket with a scattering of pine nuts and a drizzle of dressing. Delicious! My main coures was so beautifully presented- a bed of potato rosti, topped with caremelized onions, and then that topped with thin slices of steak, cooked rarely. We both had raspberry panna cotta for dessert which came in a small ramekin, but just as well as it was so rich! Then Carl had a passionfruit cocktail, and I had a coffee....just in time for the show!
One thing that I really want to magpie and use for myself...the plates and glasses all had 'The Pigalle Club' on them...I fancy buying one or two plain plates and glasses myself (everything we have is vintage and floral!) and painting them with 'La Claxton Club' and having our very own supper club for two at home! I saw a lovely idea in an old Marie Claire Idees magazine a while ago, where they had painted a small canvas square pink, decorated it with ribbon embroidery and silk flowers, and stuck a peg on it. The canvas was then hung up, and the menu for that evening stuck under the peg. Now I always do a menu plan for the week before I do the shopping, so it might not be such a hard thing to do....and it would add a touch of fun to dinner times!
Another thing that supper at The Pigalle convinced me of was that I need to learn to make cocktails! I was given a wonderful cocktail book for my birthday, and I will definitely be using it! I learnt to make a green tea citrus martini for brunch club, and it was so easy and went down so well I really want to add to my repertoire. Before I start to sound too decadent, the plan would be to try one a week, and they would not always have to be alcoholic!
And oh, did I mention while we were at The Pigalle we saw the Puppini Sisters?! They were every bit as good as I hoped they would be, and more. They are so good live, their personalities really come through. The costumes were amazing too. They came out in red dresses and high red sparkly heels, with red fascinators too. I liked that each dress was very similar to the others, but with little adaptations to suit each girl's figure. They sang my two favourite songs- Panic and Heart of Glass and lots of others..Bei Meir Bist Du Schon, as well as each doing a solo song.
We caught the twenty past midnight train home from London, and I sat sipping tea and yawning and thinking that it will be so nice, when I am an old lady, to have some glamorous memories of nights like these!
As well as neglecting my poor blog and blog friends, I have also neglected my email corrsepondence, so for now it is au re voir, but only for today. I will be back tomorrow, with more tales of my adventures, and a recipe of too as well.
Now, enough about me, how have you been?
I really did not mean to be away for so long...I hardly dare look at the date of my last post and see just how long it has been in fact...but I have been away having some of the most wonderful adventures, and now I am back to tell you all about them.
So pull up a chair, put on the kettle, and lets catch up...
Since we last met, I have had a birthday, taken afternoon tea with some goats, had supper at The Pigalle Club, hosted Brunch Club, seen the Puppini Sisters live on stage, been to my first conference, knitted two hot water bottle covers, started a pair of socks, bought a Vita-Mix, and had a spring clean!
There will be more, in detail on all of these, but first I must tell you about The Puppini Sisters.
For my birthday, my lovely husband got us tickets to see the Puppini Sisters at The Pigalle Club in London. We had tickets for supper first, and then the show. I just love the Puppini Sisters, and they rarely play in this country, so I was almost beside myself with excitement! One of the loveliest things about going to a proper supper club (and one that also does burlesque, no less!) was getting to dress up! I wore a dress that is black with little red flowers all over it, quite form fitting and low cut in front, with black high heels, a flick of black eyeliner and my ruby woo lipstick...I have to say that I did feel completely at home when we walked through the doors and descended the staircase into the pink supper club room!
We had seats at the edge of a mezzanine floor, right above the stage, so we had an excellent view. We started with a cocktail each...oh, how I love cocktails! I had an apricot spiced mojito, which was utterly delicious, and Carl had a Pig-adilly (The Pigalle Club is in Picadilly!) which was nice but a bit too strong for me. The food was light but filling and so tasty. I started with a thin slice of goats cheese which had been grilled until it was bubbling and crusty, served on a bed of rocket with a scattering of pine nuts and a drizzle of dressing. Delicious! My main coures was so beautifully presented- a bed of potato rosti, topped with caremelized onions, and then that topped with thin slices of steak, cooked rarely. We both had raspberry panna cotta for dessert which came in a small ramekin, but just as well as it was so rich! Then Carl had a passionfruit cocktail, and I had a coffee....just in time for the show!
One thing that I really want to magpie and use for myself...the plates and glasses all had 'The Pigalle Club' on them...I fancy buying one or two plain plates and glasses myself (everything we have is vintage and floral!) and painting them with 'La Claxton Club' and having our very own supper club for two at home! I saw a lovely idea in an old Marie Claire Idees magazine a while ago, where they had painted a small canvas square pink, decorated it with ribbon embroidery and silk flowers, and stuck a peg on it. The canvas was then hung up, and the menu for that evening stuck under the peg. Now I always do a menu plan for the week before I do the shopping, so it might not be such a hard thing to do....and it would add a touch of fun to dinner times!
Another thing that supper at The Pigalle convinced me of was that I need to learn to make cocktails! I was given a wonderful cocktail book for my birthday, and I will definitely be using it! I learnt to make a green tea citrus martini for brunch club, and it was so easy and went down so well I really want to add to my repertoire. Before I start to sound too decadent, the plan would be to try one a week, and they would not always have to be alcoholic!
And oh, did I mention while we were at The Pigalle we saw the Puppini Sisters?! They were every bit as good as I hoped they would be, and more. They are so good live, their personalities really come through. The costumes were amazing too. They came out in red dresses and high red sparkly heels, with red fascinators too. I liked that each dress was very similar to the others, but with little adaptations to suit each girl's figure. They sang my two favourite songs- Panic and Heart of Glass and lots of others..Bei Meir Bist Du Schon, as well as each doing a solo song.
We caught the twenty past midnight train home from London, and I sat sipping tea and yawning and thinking that it will be so nice, when I am an old lady, to have some glamorous memories of nights like these!
As well as neglecting my poor blog and blog friends, I have also neglected my email corrsepondence, so for now it is au re voir, but only for today. I will be back tomorrow, with more tales of my adventures, and a recipe of too as well.
Now, enough about me, how have you been?
Friday, 13 February 2009
Catching Up
Today is a rare day off, and it has been a day of catching up, in many ways. Firstly, I had a trip into town and caught up with Mum, which was a wonderful way to spend the morning. We haven't had a Friday to share for a little while, and it does me so much good to spend some time with her, just talking and laughing...and doing a little shopping too! I came home with a Valentine's gift for my lovely husband, and a green mug for me, covered with tiny roses- it is very Cath Kidstony! Oh, and the new Country Living Magazine, which I can barely wait to read!
Now I am back at home, I have been catching up with some of my favourite blogs, something that I do not get to do as often as I would like. I have been playing about with the layout of my blog recently, and I think the next thing I would like to do is have a list of my favourite blogs and websites up, so I can share them all with you. That is a job for another day though, and until then, I must mention http://posy.typepad.com/ which is just the most scrumptious blog! It is full of embroidered-crocheted-vintage gorgeousness! Oh, and whilst catching up, I noticed that there is a new Cath Kidston catalogue out, which I have just ordered.
My next task is, alas, to catch up with my housework! I have book club tonight, and I do like our little flat to be all ship shape and sparkling for guests! Actually, I have to say that there is not a whole lot to be done...sometimes it is just the thought of doing it! I want to run the hoover round, throw out my daffodils, and put out my new bunch (I have been buying daffs from Marks and Sparks as they are on offer for 99p a bunch...but they are terrible quality. They go from bud to bloom overnight, and seem to wilt and wither as they open. So my next bunch has come from the market!)
Our little flat feels ever so cosy just now. Although I do have a little pile of magazines, books and crochet next to my end of the sofa, everything else is in good order, really. I have lots of tiny teeny tea lights scattered about the place, and once it is twilight, I light the room with these and my lamp, rather than the overhead lights, and the glow is so gentle and warm. I have all the windows open now, so I can give the place a good airing, and I must confess that my fingers are starting to turn blue with cold! So I think that I will run round and close all of the windows in a minute, and run a nice hot bath so I can have a dip when I have hoovered and pottered about. I used to hoard all my nicest bubble baths, but recently I think that I should use the special things every day, and enjoy them! So it may be my Cath Kidston lavender bubble bath, my Liberty Rosehip and Clover bath oil, or even my fizzy bath hearts! Whatever it is, I shall turn off the light, light up my candles, and lay back, thinking of all the lovely things to come...
...a rare steak for Valentine's dinner, staying at Carl's parents house over the weekend, and sitting by their fire...a long walk in the crisp cold countryside on Sunday, a cup of vanilla coffee from my new mug...catching up with my friends at work tomorrow...sitting in bed with my crochet tonight, when my bookclub have gone home....a cuddle with my gorgeous godson later....
Wherever you are, although it is cold out there, I hope that you are having a blissful time, and your hot chocolate has marshmallows on it!
Now I am back at home, I have been catching up with some of my favourite blogs, something that I do not get to do as often as I would like. I have been playing about with the layout of my blog recently, and I think the next thing I would like to do is have a list of my favourite blogs and websites up, so I can share them all with you. That is a job for another day though, and until then, I must mention http://posy.typepad.com/ which is just the most scrumptious blog! It is full of embroidered-crocheted-vintage gorgeousness! Oh, and whilst catching up, I noticed that there is a new Cath Kidston catalogue out, which I have just ordered.
My next task is, alas, to catch up with my housework! I have book club tonight, and I do like our little flat to be all ship shape and sparkling for guests! Actually, I have to say that there is not a whole lot to be done...sometimes it is just the thought of doing it! I want to run the hoover round, throw out my daffodils, and put out my new bunch (I have been buying daffs from Marks and Sparks as they are on offer for 99p a bunch...but they are terrible quality. They go from bud to bloom overnight, and seem to wilt and wither as they open. So my next bunch has come from the market!)
Our little flat feels ever so cosy just now. Although I do have a little pile of magazines, books and crochet next to my end of the sofa, everything else is in good order, really. I have lots of tiny teeny tea lights scattered about the place, and once it is twilight, I light the room with these and my lamp, rather than the overhead lights, and the glow is so gentle and warm. I have all the windows open now, so I can give the place a good airing, and I must confess that my fingers are starting to turn blue with cold! So I think that I will run round and close all of the windows in a minute, and run a nice hot bath so I can have a dip when I have hoovered and pottered about. I used to hoard all my nicest bubble baths, but recently I think that I should use the special things every day, and enjoy them! So it may be my Cath Kidston lavender bubble bath, my Liberty Rosehip and Clover bath oil, or even my fizzy bath hearts! Whatever it is, I shall turn off the light, light up my candles, and lay back, thinking of all the lovely things to come...
...a rare steak for Valentine's dinner, staying at Carl's parents house over the weekend, and sitting by their fire...a long walk in the crisp cold countryside on Sunday, a cup of vanilla coffee from my new mug...catching up with my friends at work tomorrow...sitting in bed with my crochet tonight, when my bookclub have gone home....a cuddle with my gorgeous godson later....
Wherever you are, although it is cold out there, I hope that you are having a blissful time, and your hot chocolate has marshmallows on it!
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