It's a funny old country isn't it? Just a couple of weeks back the UK's media seemed to ignore the financial crisis all around us to instead concentrate on Sachsgate and the fallout of inappropriate phone calls that were made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. I'm not going to even start to discuss the ins and outs of this, but I just found it amazing that even Gordon Brown got involved.Now I see the media and some of our politicians are at it again. I walked past a TV at work the other day to see that the BBC had their Breaking News symbol up on screen. I ... read more
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter – Kim Edwards
My Mother in Law, S, lent me her copy of Kim Edwards' The Memory Keeper's Daughter a few weeks back, having read it herself as part of her local book group. I wasn't at all sure what to expect, but just reading the back cover made me want to start reading it immediately.In 1964, Dr David Henry is required to deliver his wife's twins on a snowy winter evening. Paul is born first, followed by Pheobe. Paul is a "normal", healthy boy, yet Pheobe is born with Down's syndrome. Being the first to set eyes on his daughter David makes a decision that ... read more
Sewing secrets
I had such a fun evening on Monday, but I'm afraid I can't tell you about it! I'm currently taking place in Sew Liberated's holiday tradition exchange and I sent Monday evening starting to create a Christmas decoration for my exchange partner.I have to admit that this was the first time that I've designed something from scratch and I had so much fun trying out materials, colours and stitches. I even found myself sketching things out and making notes about what worked, what didn't, what I liked and what I didn't. I went exploring in my craft box and ... read more
Am I a Yappy?
According to tonight's thelondonpaper it seems that I'm a "Yappy". The article doesn't seem to be on their website so I'll summarise here for you.Apparently a "Yappy" is a Young Aged Pensioner; young people who rather than go out, instead stay in and knit, make jam and tend their allotments. In an article by Johnny Vaughan he asks whether or not this is a result of the credit crunch that's currently hitting us, or possibly something else.Thinking about it I've probably been a Yappy for a while now. I don't (yet) have an ... read more
Another knitting project
I'm trying to a be a bit imaginative when it comes to Christmas presents this year. My Mother in Law S is also doing the same. I got an e-mail from her the other day to tell me that she was knitting a scarf for my brother in law's girlfriend using Patons Baroque and thought I ought to know in case I fancied making a matching hat. Mr C and I started our Christmas shopping in Welwyn on Saturday afternoon and I hence picked up a couple of balls of Baroque in the same beautiful sea palate of colours that S is using. Having had a quick look on Ravelry there ... read more
British Cream Tea
I discovered this wonderful Etsy shop earlier today: British Cream Tea. It's a fantastic place full of beautifully created delights made from recycled felt. Go and take a look and it certainly takes you back to a world full of British Cream Teas! ... read more
St Pancras
Once again I'm just not too sure where the last week has disappeared to. It's been a difficult week at work, with a couple of days working away as well, and I was certainly ready for the weekend when it came around. One big highlight of the week was Mr C and my fortnightly Thursday meal out. It was my turn to choose this time and I managed to book us a table at the St Pancras Grand in London's St Pancras International station. Normally the idea of going to a train station for dinner would be laughed at, but St Pancras is no normal station.Since it was re-opened ... read more
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
It's taken me a while, but I've finally got round to reading the first in the Alexander McCall Smith series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Having already read several others in the series it was a bit strange going back and being introduced to Mma Ramotswe, Mr J. L. B. Metekoni and Mma Makutsi but the book did pull together several background bits that helped me understand some of the small details in the later books. Going back a step in this way has really made me realise how much Alexander McCall Smith's style has matured as he has progressed through the ... read more
More scones
I needed something to eat mid-afternoon on Saturday so decided to try again with Delia's Rich Fruit Scone recipe. This time I kept the dough a little thicker before cutting out the scones and this seemed to make all the difference to the final shape and size of them. Mr C arrived home just in time to help me sample them and this batch did taste quite different to the last one. Somehow lighter and fluffier. I'm not at all sure what made this difference as all the ingredients were exactly the same as last time. Very yummy though! ... read more
Travelling Comedians
Nearly twenty years before Sarah Palin was the name on everyone's lips there was another Palin attracting quite a bit of attention. In 1989 Michael Palin took off in the footsteps of Jules Verne and travelled Around The World In 80 Days with a BBC camera crew. There was born my love of travel programmes and started a desire to travel.I've been luck enough to visit some of the places on Michael's trip in the last twenty years, but there are still many more places on my list that I'd love to visit. Various other travel programmes have ... read more