11.06.10 - 52 things I have not cooked before

Holiday musings.....3

It has been a while since I wrote anything about the 52 new things challenge.  so............

It's the first day of our holidays, the sun is shining hotly in a brilliant blue sky and my cell phone bleeps out.

Dont 4get yr allowed 

2 open 1 present now

you are there :D xxx

It is a text from my mom, I frown slightly - I am not normally allowed the forbidden delight of opening pressies early.... I wonder why.

Are you sure? was 

going to save it, but

 if I must...!!..............

.....U must!.........

I find the promised parcel and it is beautifully wrapped in silvery blue paper with a blue ribbon. I can feel it is a book. Hmmm, yay, I love books. The boys cluster close, their fingers itch to pull the ribbon but they hold fast and let me have the pleasure of slowing unravelling the bow, rolling up the ribbon and putting it down. I carefully peel off the tape and allow the paper to fall open. To reveal this: -

A brilliantly written tongue in cheek book - more of a fun weekend away than a cooking experience, but oh so entertaining! I am inspired and the boys are hungry (as ever) so a quick look in the cupboard (quick coz it's not that big in the caravan) confirms I can make a yummy apple pudding recipe.
The next few days turn out to be a camping gastronomical delight! My boys are 'internally' grateful to you Mum and Dad! Thank you

So, to add to my list of 52 things yadda yadda....

26 - Sticky toffee pecan apples (only no alcohol added coz of junior consumers)
27. - The boyfriend potato salad (eaten along side a burbling river whilst fending off savage midgies - a story for another day)
28. -Exploding egg banjos (brilliant!)
29. - Dawn patrol breakfast (I had this on my birthday)
30. - Fire baked salmon with tarragon (sans tarragon - c'mon - we are in a caravan for heaven's sake in the middle of no-where!!)
31. - Now this one - a hit with the boys has a rather un-inviting name - cheesy eggy bread - but ho ho it is delicious!

I think I am lucky - don't you?

10.06.10 - A big sky

Holiday musings ....2

I grew up in Africa.
I lived under a big savage sky, all encompassing and intense. It ranged from the deepest blue on an incredibly hot summer's day to an angry black rain-burgeoned miasma. In spring it had an ethereal lightness and brightness with a hint of the promised rains and at night the stars jostled for space. Autumn skies were clear with drifts of smoky haze on the horizon.
It was a big sky.

I live in England.
I live under a gentle sky, soft blues, often sullen, often wet. At night it glows an unearthly pink with anaemic stars struggling to be seen.
Here the sky competes for space.
I feel hemmed in.

Then we went up to Scotland.

The sky dominates. 

It soars. 

It is big. 

It is wonderful.

A lone shriek cuts through the rich blue sky as we look up.
'There! Look over there' Himself says out, his voice excited.
We all snap our heads up, hands shielding our eyes from the brilliant sun. Up high, circling on a thermal, wings out in lazy repose is a red kite.
The cry comes out again, slicing into our delight, my blood chilling at the raptor's call. We watch as the bird effortlessly floats above us. We are quiet in our admiration. Then almost too late I remember I have my camera on, ready to shoot, but pointing aimlessly down - so great was my awe, I nearly didn't get my picture.

During the day, the sky is big and generous but at dusk it becomes voluptuous.... 

It becomes reflective......

It becomes contemplative.......

The sky is very important to me, to my well being,

and these beautiful skies helped me to reconnect 

with me.

09.06.10 - sugar lumps and rose covered china tea cups

Holiday musings.............

My eyes are barely open and I can hear a sleepily sung version of happy birthday from a tousle haired Youngest. He is rubbing his eyes and yawning and climbing into bed with me as Eldest flops out of his sleeping bag while mumbling a similar sounding warble. Himself is already up, passing me a mug of coffee. He smiles over the boy's heads and words happy birthday to me. I smile back as I try to place the coffee out of 'bumping-range' while the boys sit close urging me to open my presents. I cough and splutter and sneeze as I open parcels of brightly coloured paper and cards that make me smile or laugh out loud.

The plans for today are laid out for my enjoyment - a tea in a chosen cafe, a walk through woodlands, time spent at a book shop in Castle Douglas then an evening picnic on the beach. I croak my delight, for today, my day, a day for me - I am sporting a rather untimely chesty cold.

Breakfast is a bowl of fruit with honey drizzled luxuriously over Greek yoghurt eaten in glorious sunshine, there are daisies between my toes and sheep baa-ing reassuringly to their lambs. The warm of the sun on my shoulders has a comforting healing feel to it.

The gentle ethereal scent of the bluebells fills the air as we walk through the woods. The welcome coolness of the dark shade from the trees is bliss from the now intense heat of the sun. Even the bees and bird song have almost dwindled to nothing. They too think it's too warm to be active. 

We climb (yes climb) a steep winding track to the top. 

My breath ragged and my throat dry and raw from coughing  prevents me from saying what I actually want to say to Himself as he smilingly shows me the panoramic view from the top. I manage a wheezy smile and I think he may have misread my rheumy eyes for eyes shining with emotion.............. I decide to take photographs, lots of photographs so that I can regain my composure and my breath. 

Himself cheerfully suggests we walk a different, longer, way down.

'So we don't have to go back down on that steep path' he says as he watches me having yet another coughing fit.  

Youngest, ever game for adventure, takes the map and forges ahead as he waves his arms left and right giving random directions and instructions. Eldest holds my hand protectively - I suspect he thinks I am getting past it!

I feel a lot calmer and less out of breath as a silver tea pot is placed in front of me. I lean forward slightly to take in the familiar tangy scent of tea,  only to succumb to an eye-wateringly, now regular, coughing fit. The waitress, complete in her black dress, tights and pinny steps back politely as she takes our orders.

The cafe is like falling into history. There are rows of china cake stands and antique Staffordshire china ornaments. The piped music is 'easy listening' on a loop and the boys pull quizzical looks as they ask 'what sort of music is this Dad?'

Himself, having worked up an appetite decides on lunch rather than morning tea and the boys eagerly join him. I, despite myself, agree!

The boys raise a toast to my birthday as we clunk ice-filled cloudy lemonade glasses against rose covered china tea cups - wonderful. I feel spoilt and loved.

'Cake' insist my three men. 

'I couldn't' I gasp, I have just eaten a lovely plateful and drunk copious amounts of tea - I am complete.

'Cake!'  they insist again.

My resolve weakens and the waitress noticing my quaking lip proffers a calorie laden cake menu, how could I resist...........

Every mouthful of my chosen cake is delicious - it has the equally delicious name of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', and if she had ever met this cake I am certain she would have had a tryst of a different kind..... 

My birthday, as always, has been made special by my boys - thank you xx

08.06.10 - Back

Yes, back, 

it was wonderful. 

A sun-filled, beach combed, 

woodland walked, coastal rambled, 

river swum, midgie swatted, sheep observing, 

kite and buzzard spotting, 

freckle-making holiday.

Bliss.

We found it hard to return to normality. Don't get me wrong, it's great seeing the cat and chickens again and it always amazes me how much the garden grows whilst I am not looking,

but....but... I do miss something a fair bit..........................

We have a much loved battered old caravan and it does have the luxury of a shower and loo, but when Himself is the one that has to collect the water it feels a bit extravagant showering. 

So we all have 'granny baths' which are probably also known as a 'festival freshen up'! 

A basin full of warm soapy water and an all over vigorous sponge rub.

'Yes boys - I did say everywhere.... not just your faces!'

aaww mu-u-u-uuum....'

So, to be able to come home and have a shower under steaming hot water was bordering on decadent!  

Himself has spent most weekend's evenings making this bathroom for me, and I really love it! 

Even the boys helped, by knocking off the original tiles, doing the artwork in the frames and supplying key ornaments (green car and campervan) 

All that is left to do is to hang the pictures.

A small glass trinket box, a birthday gift from a work colleague - a perfect match

Linked to Mon's Through the keyhole  no.4, pop over to see her 'real people, real homes' post.

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Once I have waded through the gazillions of photos I have taken, I shall reveal some holiday highlights - till then!

27.05.10 - Normal transmission will be resumed shortly.....

Well, not that shortly, we are off for half term. We are soo-oo looking forward to our holiday. 

The usual list of 'things-to-be-done' has been written (and lost).

The pre-holiday washing pile seems almost as large 

as I know the post-holiday wash pile will be.

Camera batteries have been charged.

Cell phone charger has been located (don't worry Mum - I will text!)

The chicken and cat sitters have been booked.

Holiday plans have been made by the boys.

Beach combing

Castles

Lochs

Forests

Freedom

We will turn feral and love every minute of it. 

I promise lots of photos and stories when I get back.................

Until then.

Hello Scotland here we come!!

26.05.10 - a page through life

I  have been inspired by Mon's from Holistic Mama -  Through the Keyhole Series.

I walk by these books every day, 

I often reach and pull one out and flip through the pages. 

They inspire, they encourage, they guide, they spark my imagination.

They are a good indicator of me.

A good indicator of how I would like to be.

But my bookcase doesn't just hold books.

Toys and the boy's art work often play on the shelves. Pebbles, leaves and feathers come and go with the seasons,  candles are lit at night,  incense smoulders from it's wooden holder while ash from the wood-burner settles allowing my artistic nature freedom to doodle in the dust.......  

I have an eclectic taste in authors and books, it is easier for me to say what I don't like rather than specify what I do. But all my books have one thing in common - their ability to absorb and inspire me.

One of my favourite authors is Emma Restall Orr, she steels me away and transports me into the unknown, the unknown that I wish I knew more about.

25.05.10 - time flies like an arrow...fruit flies like a banana............

Sorry - sorry, but the old ones are the good ones.......!

Now, where was I , oh yes, - last week just flew by (hence the school boy joke), so here is a quick resume.

Monday,

Here I am, sitting in the car taking the boys to school and my mind is on my garden

What to plant out

Where to plant it

Mustn't forget to water the greenhouse

Prick out seedling

Pot on seedlings

I am at home, armed to the teeth with hoe, watering can and huge mug of tea - I am ready!

Later - oh drat (actually I think I probably cussed a little more viciously than that) time for work.

Tuesday

Feeling nervous today - butterflies as big as jumbo jets. We have a meeting later at work - the sort of meeting where - 'You-tell-it-like-it-is - only without actually saying anything or accusing anyone.

The type of meeting where most of the items on the agenda are euphemisms for 'lets-get-it-all-off-our-chests-no-bars-held-go-for-the-throat"  

We have been told that to sort out inter-departmental problems, this meeting is the panacea we need -  Apparently.

I arrive, feeling half pumped up and half terrified.

Meeting's cancelled 

Postponed till Friday 

Great

What a waste of a lovely morning at home - I had thrashed around the garden in a frantic disjointed sort of way. Still - a fair bit of gardening was achieved.

Wednesday

I am about to start on the kitchen garden, the cat is helping by lying on the seedlings - just in case they decide to run away apparently. The obligatory cup of tea has the optional extra of a small fly doing a frantic sort of back stroke. But the sun is shining and I am dazzled by the sheer springlike colour and enthusiasm my garden has finally found.

I am in such a happy state that work is eaten up and spat out without too much of it's usual hassle. Why? Well, I am off tomorrow - took a day off to take fav-sis-in-law shopping (I know - how random and spontaneous) and I am really really looking forward to it.

Thursday

I am saying good-bye and have-fun to the boys as I leave them at school in a decidedly indecent un-motherly way today. Youngest is sulking because he can't come shopping with his favourite Aunt. 

We finally arrive in Ilkley - It's miles away from home but we are here coz we'd never been before, coz it has craft and wool shops, coz we fancied something different and coz apparently it has 14 tearooms and cafes!

10 minutes later my cell phone rings, I rummage around the bottom of my bag.

'Hello....hello?'

They try again 

"Hello? Hello?'

They try a third time,  I rush out of the shop for a better signal.

"Hello mum? it's me, I've left my topic at home....I need it to hand in for 11am...............sorry......"

I am driving back home, rapidly  - picking up the blasted topic, I have to get it to Eldest's school before the dreaded 11th hour. I make it - with one minute to spare.

We finally make it back to Ilkley where we browse and shop and meet up with Angela for lunch. Whilst we are eating, Angela passes me a small hank of earthy greens and browns. I stroke it (an affliction I picked up when I developed the 'wool-obsession' ) I am practically inhaling it's woolly essence and planning what I shall be making with it. 

Fav-sister-in-law passes over a small packet

'For me?'

A wooden crochet hook falls out and I hold my breath and try to squeak thankyou at the same time.

A match made in woolly heaven 

Now to make something

can't wait!

Later - feeling nervous, the postponed meeting from Tuesday is looming over me again. Took my mind off it by going to 'knit and knatter'

Friday

'Now we don't want any tit-for-tat' type meeting" says the practice manager

"We mustn't have a mud slinging match, I want no negative thoughts or arguments, now - has any one got anything good to report?'

A pin dropped as the tumble weed drifted across the room - err nope.

Sigh.

Still, tomorrow we are off to see a part of the countryside I've never been to - Galloway and Dumfries in Scotland, and we are so-o looking forward to it!