tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266852961657317472024-03-13T01:20:07.595+00:0024 to goMy escapades in 2011 and 2012 as I attempt to complete 25 Things Before I'm 26SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-6328046938667997112012-02-14T08:47:00.003+00:002012-02-14T08:47:33.461+00:00Happy Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/funny-pictures-cyoot-kittehs-of-teh-day-we-made-you-this-heart-for-valentines-day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/funny-pictures-cyoot-kittehs-of-teh-day-we-made-you-this-heart-for-valentines-day1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy Valentine's Day!</div>
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In honour of this day of romance, I shall spend this evening watching whatever I want on TV as the husband is away on business</div>
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<br /></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-30320003786982405612012-02-10T20:58:00.000+00:002012-02-13T13:26:00.712+00:00Gorgeousness in a MugI think I may have stated before that I don't like chocolate cake.<br />
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Ladles and gentlespoons, I think I have found the recipe to convert me : Nutella Microwave Mug Cake.<br />
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I posted the after pic on Facebook last week and after requests for the recipe thought I would show you all the blow by blow so you can end up with this piece of loveliness :<br />
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First I measured out all the dry ingredients.<br />
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Then added the wet ingredients. You don't need to do it in this order, but I like leaving the messy bit until later.<br />
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Note to self, after cracking the egg using the same knife you used for the nutella, don't lick your finger, you won't taste nutella, you'll get a tongueful of raw egg - eeurgh!<br />
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Mix all of the ingredients together, the mixture should start sticking together and moving away from the sides of the bowl. You can use an electric whisk if you want, but for quickness I used the measuring spoon.<br />
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Next, get your mugs out. The recipe says it'll do one large serving, but it does 2 large mugs comfortably.<br />
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Divide the mix between the mugs and put one in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs. It'll rise whilst cooking, just keep an eye it doesn't spill over the sides.<br />
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After 1 min 30 secs, test the cake with a skewer, if it comes back out clean then it's fine, if not put it back in for 10 sec blasts until it comes out clean.<br />
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If you have one of these handy <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/10711/Reusable-Cake-Tester">cake testers</a>, you put it in the same way as a skewer and after 5 secs remove it. If it's red then it's the right temperature.<br />
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And then you're done, we topped ours with a dollop of ice cream and went in for the nommage.<br />
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And now for the ingredients list, as kindly written by <a href="http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/nutella-mug-cake-for-microwave.html">Content in a Cottage</a>.<br />
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4 tbsp self raising flour<br />
4 tbsp white granulated sugar<br />
3 tbsp cocoa powder<br />
1 egg<br />
3 tbsp milk<br />
3 tbsp nutella<br />
3 tbsp oil (olive or vegetable)<br />
1 tbsp chocolate chips (I added these just for a little extra gooeyness)<br />
Ice cream to serve<br />
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I hope you all give it a try, it's honestly worth the whole five minutes it takes to make it!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-90422689096830584452012-01-24T12:48:00.000+00:002012-01-24T12:48:30.829+00:00Happy New Year!!!Happy New Year!!!<br />
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(Yes I know I'm nearly a month late, but as it's Chinese New Year I thought I might get away with it ... guess not!)<br />
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First of all, I am so glad Christmas is over and done with, the first time I relaxed over this whole holiday was when Paul and I went on our First Anniversary trip.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="320px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/406619_10151137821595704_798050703_22427149_174388632_n.jpg" width="240px" /></div><br />
So yes, I am no longer a newlywed, we have been married for a year now! Eek! Where has the time gone since I got to put on this pretty dress and marry the love of my life ????<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="400px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189987_10150464463985704_798050703_17907141_2312422_n.jpg" width="400px" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm now knee deep in mud as it's less than 7 weeks to go until the <a href="http://www.chasewalk.org/">Chase Walk</a> - aaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It also appears that the random pains I'm getting my foot are an actual medical issue, so also running around (scuse the pun) trying to get that sorted so I can do my training.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Completing things on the list have been sliding I have to admit, but I'm hoping to get the Poi trick done soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope your Christmases were all good and New Year's were great, and just for a little humiliation, here is my (very last minute) costume for New Year's Evil :</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="320px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/398129_10150595074842667_536352666_11558286_1130991971_n.jpg" width="240px" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not a good sight!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" /></a></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-70768535805247115682011-12-16T13:03:00.002+00:002012-01-26T16:21:18.942+00:00WEVerb11 - 11 - Try<h1 style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Try. What 12 new things do you want to do/accomplish in 2012?</span></span></h1>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Given that this blog is already a list, it's difficult trying to think of "new" things to do next year but here goes :</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">1. </span><span lang="EN-US">Learn to drive our car on a motorway. I passed my test just this Friday and I will be taking my Pass Plus in the New Year.</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">2. </span><span lang="EN-US">Complete the Chase Walk (all 40 miles of it).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">3. </span><span lang="EN-US">Reach peak physical fitness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">4. </span><span lang="EN-US">Start the process for a little H!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">5. </span><span lang="EN-US">Launch the new blog after finishing this one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">6. </span><span lang="EN-US">Reduce my chocolate consumption to only the quality stuff.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">7. </span><span lang="EN-US">Work my way through my recipe books and actually try them instead of drooling!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">8. </span><span lang="EN-US">Learn how to take photos properly, even if our camera is only a point and shoot!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">9. </span><span lang="EN-US">Make at least one item from the dress patterns in my sewing drawer</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">10. </span><span lang="EN-US">Finish off things from my list – I know it’s not new but some of them won’t get done before March!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">11. </span><span lang="EN-US">Dress better – I’ve let my personal style slip since the massive weight gain and gradual loss, and I need to get it back!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">12. </span><span lang="EN-US">Develop a regular fitness regime I will stick to!</span></span></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-81291816710010141672011-12-16T12:59:00.001+00:002011-12-16T13:33:18.412+00:00WEVerb11 - 15 - SurpriseFirst of all apologies these posts are coming in one go, I've not stopped all this week sorting out edible Christmas gifts.<br />
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Now, on with the next post :<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Surprise. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What event of 2011 affected you in an unexpected way?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This will make me sound so bad, but it wasn’t so much an event but the little things that Paul did for me this year. It’s just been subtle little changes which made me think, sh*t, we’re a married couple now, this is my husband.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s been more thoughtful than before and has touched me with some of the little things he’s done – like buying me flowers on his way home because I sounded down on the phone.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t wait to make him a father x</span></span></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-80233600660790100402011-12-16T12:57:00.002+00:002011-12-16T13:33:05.587+00:00WEVerb11 - 16 - Persevere<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Persevere. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Describe something that disappointed you in 2011 and how you persevered.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Wow, this post is going to open a can of worms.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">During the course of our wedding, I was circulating the crowd (as you do) and as I approached one of the tables I realised that one of my best friends was not there. I enquired around my hen party girls as we had all exchanged numbers that weekend and no-one had heard from her. In fact, one of the hens had been in contact with her only a few days before confirming she would be at the wedding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I put it at the back of mind because as selfish as this sounds, it was our wedding day and I had other things to think about. When we got back to the hotel that night I checked my phone; no text or missed phone call.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The following evening I accessed Facebook and changed my relationship status to Married. Again, no communication from her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It was only on the Monday night when I put a status update about eating leftover wedding cake that I got a text message. During the following text conversation I was honest with her and said I was very disappointed she hadn’t made it to the wedding, nor bothered to contact either me or the hens earlier. I said I was willing to put it behind us and move on. Subsequently, every time we arranged to meet up she pulled out at the last minute because it wasn’t convenient for her. We then tried to arrange to go and see her, but she told us not to bother making any special effort to go and see her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This for me was the last straw. I started to realise that it was always me making the effort to meet up and since I moved out of the area; she had never once come over to the new house, despite promising she would. So, I stopped contacting her. She stayed as a Facebook friend and I kept her number in my phone until September, but after no response to the messages about Paul’s dad I cut her off. I have grieved for a lost friend, but in hindsight, had I lost her before the wedding? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It has made me appreciate my girls so much more, I don’t make friends easily and 2012 will be my tenth anniversary with my girlies. And fingers crossed we’ll reach our golden anniversary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="300px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/302650_10150863763815704_798050703_21133501_260331654_n.jpg" width="400px" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At BT's wedding, excuse the bad picture quality - need to teach husband about camera focus!</span></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-12864239490625466902011-12-13T09:02:00.001+00:002011-12-16T13:32:51.260+00:00WEVerb11 - 9 - AppreciateAppreciate. In which moment did you find yourself flooded with gratitude? How will you rally around gratitude in 2012? <br />
<br />
<br />
I know I'm going back to the wedding again, but I am so grateful for the entire day.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="400px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182089_10150423459480704_798050703_17422154_7192786_n.jpg" width="400px" /></div><br />
I'm grateful that we had relatives travel over from Switzerland, all my godparents came despite not seeing them since my 18th birthday.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to Rainbow and her boyfriend for their efforts on the day, and as a result, we now have a stunning wedding video we hadn't even factored in to our planning process.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to my mum, who in full evening gown at 3pm, dashed to Sainsbury's so I would have a bouquet (that story is to come for my anniversary posts!).<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to my dad, who calmed me down right before I made that step into the ceremony room, but I am not entirely grateful for his speech.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to Paul's mum and dad, without them we wouldn't have had outfits for the ringbearer and flower girl.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to BT for her reading, especially as it was given to her on the day of the wedding.<br />
<br />
I'm going to stop there, I'm missing people off, but this much love in the morning is making me hanker for the Ferrero Rocher sat next to me on my deskSnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-15794915668308757222011-12-08T12:30:00.002+00:002011-12-16T13:31:53.390+00:00WEVerb11 - 8 - ChooseWhat was the biggest choice you made in 2011? What caused you to choose what you chose?<br />
<br />
<br />
Wow, erm, I'm trying to think now if I made any real significant choices this year.<br />
The most relevant one at the moment is committing myself to completing the <a href="http://chasewalk.org/">Chase Walk</a> in 2012.<br />
<br />
It's a 40 mile hill walk crossing over Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, all in one go. The aim is to complete it in under 18 hours.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Cannock Chase AONB" class="thumb" src="http://www.walkingbritain.com/destination/images/cannockchase.jpg" /> <a href="http://www.walkingbritain.com/destination/area/cannock_chase_aonb.php">Source</a><br />
I tried to find pictures of previous walks with some of my team mates, but they appear to be camera shy!<br />
<br />
There were two reasons I wanted to complete this challenge :<br />
<ol><li>I wanted to complete a Charity Challenge (of some description) before we start a family.</li>
<li>I wanted to get fit.</li>
</ol><br />
I'm raising money for the <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/eveappeal">Eve Appeal</a> (see my <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Kiri-Humphreys">Just Giving</a> page) who support research into gynaecological or foof cancers. (After I said I was doing this I found out about these <a href="http://iheartguts.com/">toys</a> via <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">Bakerella</a>. But Paul says I'm not allowed to carry around a cuddly foof!)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="javascript:window.close()"><img alt="Huge Uterus Plush - Womb Service! - Click Image to Close" height="200px" src="http://iheartguts.com/shop/images/large/plush-huge-uterus_lrg.jpg" title=" Huge Uterus Plush - Womb Service! - Click Image to Close " width="200px" /></a> <a href="http://iheartguts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=237">Source</a></div><br />
I did think about completing another type of Charity Challenge but due to my temperamental health, I could complete a sustained trek or project lasting beyond a couple of days. As it is, my problems at the moment seem to be on the level. Plus, I'm not a runner - the frontal ballast does not make for a comfortable ride!<br />
<br />
So I decided to do the Chase Walk, Paul has done it several million times throughout his life so would be a perfect coach. I'm currently doing two to three six-mile walks each week, walking from work to halfway home. I'll be stepping this up nearer the time, as well as taking part in the 10 mile, 20 mile and 30 mile training walks (eek).<br />
<br />
All this will hopefully get me nice and fit and toned in time for my 26th birthday, and so we can start a family, having given my body the best possible start it would need.<br />
<br />
If anyone has any helpful tips either motivation or even nutrition I will gladly accept the help!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-21041769493734981362011-12-07T13:06:00.003+00:002011-12-16T13:29:54.619+00:00WEVerb11 - 4- HaikuWrite a haiku. Sum up your year, via haiku<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Snowdrop opens wide</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Promise of gifts to discover</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My eyes frozen</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Btw, this is my first haiku, apologies if it's not the best!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-66186520084606166462011-12-07T12:29:00.005+00:002011-12-16T13:31:11.649+00:00WEVerb11 - 6 - FavourWhat was your favorite month of 2011? Why did it beat out all 11 other months?<br />
<br />
It had to be January of course!<br />
<br />
Why you may ask, well :<br />
<br />
1 - We got married!!<br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="320px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/200639_10150464425940704_798050703_17906530_788983_n.jpg" width="320px" /><br />
<br />
2 - The day before the wedding, Mr H got offered an interview for his dream job.<br />
<br />
3 - We spent a week in the Italian Tyrol, skiing and eating gorgeous food.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="320px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/164332_10150395841640704_798050703_17004785_3502540_n.jpg" width="240px" /></div><br />
4 - We returned from holiday, and Mr H had got his dream job!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">5 - I had nearly a month off work due to the wedding and honeymoon. Whilst I don't hate my job, who wouldn't mind having a month off?!?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So all in all, a very busy but definitely kick ass month, oh yeah!!</div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-16676518964732777502011-12-07T12:29:00.004+00:002011-12-16T13:30:51.861+00:00WEVerb11 - 5 - BefriendBefriend. Did you meet any new friends this year? How did they impact your 2011? <br />
<br />
I'm trying to think now if I made any new friends this year, and in the real world I don't think I did. In fact I cut one out of my life.<br />
<br />
I suppose the closest thing I have to new friends has been since I began this blog. Mr H frequently reminds me that the blogs I read and the ladies I have received comments from/commented on are not my friends.<br />
But I don't know quite how to classify you all.<br />
<br />
You have all given me help and support, even if you didn't know about it this year.<br />
<br />
So I suppose this is the time to say thank you to you:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thatwifeblog.com/">Jenna</a> - Some of your earlier posts have settled my mind on a topic I will cover in my new blog as it's a bit premature for this one just yet. But I have also been inspired by your weight loss, <br />
<br />
<a href="http://silverpencils.blogspot.com/">Brandi</a> - Whenever I want to picture myself in a calm and beautiful place, I think of the trees at your wedding, continuing up into the heavens. (that sounds creepy doesn't it? sorry!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thehandcraftedlife.blogspot.com/">Morgan</a> - You reassure me that my need to have everything colour coordinated and matching is not just a me-thing. There are others of us out there!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sexyforeignwoman.com/">Cat</a> - You make me laugh so much in the office, and you make me laugh at the British idiosyncrasies.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://marshmellowgoodness.blogspot.com/">Kate</a> - There's no such thing as too much cake!<br />
<br />
I've definitely missed out on some other bloggers, and for that I'm sorry, but I've had to draw the line ( mainly because I need to get off my lunch break)SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-28965947009588471642011-12-07T12:29:00.003+00:002011-12-16T13:29:35.229+00:00WEVErb11 - 3 - LearnLearn. What lesson did you learn in 2011 from “The School of Life” rather than a classroom? <br />
<br />
Hmm, this year I learnt that you need to communicate effectively in your relationship.<br />
<br />
Since we got married, Mr H and I have subtly changed. Our marriage is a lot more comfortable, there's less fighting and we're both responding to the other better.<br />
<br />
How did we learn this lesson? It has been a gradual thing, but we found out that my FIL and MIL didn't discuss certain things, which to us are very important, and I wonder, had he been around, would he have done things differently?<br />
<br />
Eee this is a bit of a melancholic post. Fingers crossed tomorrow is more upbeat!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-13360805181955247002011-12-07T12:28:00.001+00:002011-12-16T13:31:34.202+00:00WEVerb11 - 7 - TravelWhere did you travel this year? What was your favorite part? If you didn’t get to travel, where do you want to go next year?<br />
<br />
This year we kept it pretty low key, we travelled to Matlock for our wedding :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/images/matlock2.jpg"><img border="0" height="208px" mda="true" src="http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/images/matlock2.jpg" width="320px" />Source</a></div><br />
Then onto Folgarida, Italy for our honeymoon<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="240px" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180500_10150395836535704_798050703_17004658_1291262_n.jpg" width="320px" /></div><br />
We were due to take an epic roadtrip around France, but that's indefinitely on hold for the moment.<br />
<br />
As for next year, we're going back to Matlock for our first anniversary, and then come May, having a big old holiday in Malta.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I don't know if we'll end up anywhere else, or if we'll get the tent out next year. Just have to wait and see what happens</div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-88085113775868654722011-12-06T12:44:00.002+00:002011-12-16T13:25:20.723+00:00WEverb11 - 2 - ListenListen. What song did you listen to in 2011 to completely change your mood? Think about ways you can you add more music to your life in 2012<br />
<br />
I discovered Caro Emerald quite late this year, and That Man is the best song to put a wiggle in my step and make me feel tip top.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CFA6dEwWOb4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Even now, I am channelling my inner 50s chick, with my full skirted dress, red cardigan and red lipstick.<br />
<br />
For 2012, I am hoping to buy more music. Particularly as my favourite band have reformed and are just putting the finishing touches to their next album - ya hoo!!!<br />
When I move across to my new blog, after this year is over, I'll be posting about all sorts of music that I'm coming across, from the popular to the downright weird.<br />
As a side note, I think my husband may ban me from listening to Radio Two's musicals programme, singing Under the Sea at the top of my voice in the car on Sunday wasn't appreciated. Especially not with my (horrendous) jamaican accent!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-61308565450573324812011-12-05T12:44:00.001+00:002011-12-16T13:24:51.779+00:00WEVerb11 - 1 - Select One WordChoose one word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why. Imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you? In the spirit of where this all started… this<br />
<br />
So how do I encapsulate 2011 in one word? <br />
<br />
Stabilising.<br />
<br />
(And not <a href="http://realdupont.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/470who-needs-training-wheels.jpg">this kind</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://realdupont.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/470who-needs-training-wheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="http://realdupont.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/470who-needs-training-wheels.jpg" width="219px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
8th January 2011 saw us become Mr and Mrs H, and that stabilised our relationship. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rocky before, but the marrieds of you out there know that feeling of security and stability that comes from having the ring on your finger and the piece of paper stating you're married.<br />
<br />
We were tested this year, with the death of my father-in-law and I think that has further stabilised our relationship. It was tough at the time, but we have come through it.<br />
<br />
As for 2012, I'm hoping the words New Beginnings will be appropriate - and yes I know it's two words. Just humour me please!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-34438916779747821432011-11-22T12:50:00.003+00:002011-11-28T12:51:17.624+00:00Om Nom Nom NomTick! I tried a food stuff I couldn't pronounce this past weekend, and some other delicacies.<br />
<br />
Husband decided to whisk me away to Manchester for the weekend and visit the Christmas Market there.<br />
<br />
On the Friday night we walked from the hotel to :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.citylife.co.uk/img/19735/43123_490250_kro.jpg"><img border="0" hda="true" height="163px" src="http://www.citylife.co.uk/img/19735/43123_490250_kro.jpg" width="320px" />Source</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kro Bar in the Trafford Centre</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I persuaded husband to buy the Danish Meat platter for dinner, and it was delicious! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgnWidL-8zU22mkQ53ISHYyH-4RnBbMo_r4RibTHgj-aB7m-M96KzuXVVSgGnmNI25CvxKgStZf6B1auzm0cpFz0v-hfWjV32LFUJFoms9X55aSuraUSk2mlA941OORgzC39QY8RwDwE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgnWidL-8zU22mkQ53ISHYyH-4RnBbMo_r4RibTHgj-aB7m-M96KzuXVVSgGnmNI25CvxKgStZf6B1auzm0cpFz0v-hfWjV32LFUJFoms9X55aSuraUSk2mlA941OORgzC39QY8RwDwE/s320/photo.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although he was quite disgusted with the prawn and egg mayo in the middle topped with caviar - ah well his loss!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The following day we visited the Christmas Market in Manchester City Centre. Apologies for the lack of pictures but it was too busy to pull out a camera for piccies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But ... I got to try some Raclette from the Swiss stand </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Raclette2.jpg"><img border="0" hda="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Raclette2.jpg" />Source</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and then a Canoli from an Italian stand</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Cannolo_siciliano_with_chocolate_squares.jpg"><img border="0" hda="true" height="215px" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Cannolo_siciliano_with_chocolate_squares.jpg" width="320px" />Source</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Muchos nommage!</div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-72112776779580292322011-11-22T12:49:00.000+00:002011-11-22T12:49:31.607+00:00Book Reviews - Full of PhoniesSo I've been a bit lax on the book reading front and I think I've currently got four on the go at the moment.<br />
<br />
To go back to a book from a while ago, Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. A couple of weeks ago I went to a talk as part of Literary Leicester, on Catcher in the Rye. When I read it a few months back I honestly didn't get it.<br />
<br />
I got that Holden was trying to find his place in life and his apathy meant that all the things he deemed to be phony would never be tackled. His solution was to hole up in a cabin in the wilderness, come on!<br />
<br />
But I didn't get why it was so acclaimed, however, after attending this talk, I sort of now do. Dr Sarah Graham, University of Leicester, explained the context in which the book was written and what came before it. I can now see that at that time, it was one of better books which encapsulated the teenage experience and it's sense of disassociation from the world when dealing with grief. (Flip, that sounds vaguely academic for me! eek!)<br />
<br />
I think this is one of the books which I needed the classroom atmosphere to digest fully, or at least a copy of the footnotes! Not sure who I would recommend read this, I wouldn't say it's a universal book because the book demands a certain empathy from its reader, because let's face it, some people won't really care about a teenage dropout drinking his way around Manhattan.<br />
<br />
I'm currently reading Moby Dick so lead on Ishmael ...SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-26314172129204738482011-10-28T12:56:00.000+01:002011-10-28T12:56:17.345+01:00And Down to Earth With a Bump!Although I'm relearning my French, and I thought I was doing well, I was brought down to earth with a bump today!<br />
<br />
I work in a University and one of the members of staff was needing some help deciphering the French answerphone system. Evenutally we got the problem sorted but it was a mix of French and English in the end that did it. Whoops! Oh and my <a href="http://www.sexyforeignwoman,com/">Sexy Foreign Woman</a> providing me with vocab words when I got stuck, thanks darlin!<br />
<br />
Maybe I should have more lessons :<br />
<br />
<a href="http://engrishfunny.com/"><img alt="fail owned pwned pictures" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3915" src="http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/fail-owned-french-lesson-fail.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Or not ...<br />
<br />
Happy weekend guys, I'm off for a dirty weekend and to improve the lives of Mancunians by smiling at 100 of them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" /></a></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-13866406335859997542011-10-25T20:06:00.000+01:002011-10-25T20:06:53.189+01:00Up!As fun as it sounds to try and make our house take off with loads of balloons, <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/mythbusters/">Mythbusters</a> totally busted that one!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zLPxqciG75o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
But ... we did do the balloon release this weekend. We took Paul's niece and nephew out to the <a href="http://www.buildabear.co.uk/">Build a Bear Workshop</a> for her birthday treat. (Got to commend BABW in Leicester, they were fantastic!)<br />
<br />
And then we came back and did the balloon release :<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98pL4g2wknicxBSNTfmRocdCzfxhsh8peQxH436hxJsl7eEtMHLAMQizpz-7A4U3qqB1eAirCCq_KIeOb8YEM4iZo38rpMghJ0udfCBH4fTbmAUObuHDbbKs8rDI-HkIy09z-7IlSQBM/s1600/P1050586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98pL4g2wknicxBSNTfmRocdCzfxhsh8peQxH436hxJsl7eEtMHLAMQizpz-7A4U3qqB1eAirCCq_KIeOb8YEM4iZo38rpMghJ0udfCBH4fTbmAUObuHDbbKs8rDI-HkIy09z-7IlSQBM/s320/P1050586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Look at the joy on those kids faces!<br />
<br />
We had also planned on doing Chat Roulette that night as part of Paul's birthday celebrations, but this happened :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jNz4z-FKiRL_wP46z6aWiBcCBmylz0LzdwpzaQJeAQ1wWUi7eNdNIxz0LA6ZVcK7yIAbKMWbe4a7K-WePnFfu1bDyHQoHWn6mxCM4MFV36m_3ZMPjcYIQbE8WntmWaPS1d7PSJ3DWHM/s1600/P1050616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jNz4z-FKiRL_wP46z6aWiBcCBmylz0LzdwpzaQJeAQ1wWUi7eNdNIxz0LA6ZVcK7yIAbKMWbe4a7K-WePnFfu1bDyHQoHWn6mxCM4MFV36m_3ZMPjcYIQbE8WntmWaPS1d7PSJ3DWHM/s320/P1050616.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Cocktails at <a href="http://www.hakamou.co.uk/">Hakamou</a>, Dancing at <a href="http://www.moshnightclub.com/leicester">Mosh</a>, Bed at 3am ... whoops<br />
<br />
Ooh, and as another side thing, I tried my hand at icing a cake (albeit a dinky one) but for my first try I am pretty chuffed :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQEIRm3LMBcRckyMGmoaJiCx9QAOrMDgwOW_QwbaXP8685qy7z_aBafLHK1B9PHwN4YJ-FzMM19FJgg-mTAKNPUD6LDdVA7kmJOcTxUn2vhsu-54qkNddwJxsUN3NKgS28J5G3TnbLio/s1600/shaun+the+sheep+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQEIRm3LMBcRckyMGmoaJiCx9QAOrMDgwOW_QwbaXP8685qy7z_aBafLHK1B9PHwN4YJ-FzMM19FJgg-mTAKNPUD6LDdVA7kmJOcTxUn2vhsu-54qkNddwJxsUN3NKgS28J5G3TnbLio/s320/shaun+the+sheep+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Can I count this as having properly iced a cake?!?!?!?!?!?SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-10108417692933964732011-09-28T13:04:00.001+01:002011-09-28T13:06:23.450+01:00If I was a ... I'd be ...<div style="clear: both;">Season :</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div style="clear: both;">I'd be winter. I count down the days until the snow begins and spend far too much time frolicking in it (so if you see strange footprints in the snow in Leicester - there's a good chance it's me!) Plus, I'm one of the strange people who overheats in winter and doesn't require 16 million layers! This winter will be extra special as we celebrate our first wedding anniversary.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/98944139_f0ab08e9b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232px" kca="true" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/98944139_f0ab08e9b7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Colour :<br />
I would be the deepest shade of blue - the colour of Van Gogh's Starry Night, the sky twinkling with stars - bliss. Hence the colour of my wedding dress.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199580_10150464443725704_798050703_17906775_4220874_n.jpg" /></div><br />
Scent :<br />
I'd be home baking. I aim to do at least one bit of home baking each month, and usually end up doing more. Nothing is more enjoyable than the scent of cakes and biscuits coming out of the oven.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Money/Pix/pictures/2010/2/8/1265625231520/Baking-a-cake-for-you-col-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192px" kca="true" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Money/Pix/pictures/2010/2/8/1265625231520/Baking-a-cake-for-you-col-001.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Time of Day :<br />
I would be three o'clock in the morning. It's the hour where most people are asleep in bed and the world is still and dark.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/scotland/edinburgh-old-town-castlehill-snowing-pre-dawn-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217px" kca="true" src="http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/scotland/edinburgh-old-town-castlehill-snowing-pre-dawn-large.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Food :<br />
I'd be coconut - white creamy goodness that's perfect for any occasion - cocktails, cakes you name it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://drpinna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/coconut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270px" kca="true" src="http://drpinna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/coconut.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Drink :<br />
I would be a tall glass of Baileys, because let's face it pub measures aren't big enough - it has to be a tall glass!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://forums.playfire.com/_proxy/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lencurrie.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2Fbaileys_over_ice.jpg&hmac=93b8ab4c5e629e1273f17c8d49e62f74" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="https://forums.playfire.com/_proxy/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lencurrie.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2Fbaileys_over_ice.jpg&hmac=93b8ab4c5e629e1273f17c8d49e62f74" width="199px" /></a></div><br />
Stone :<br />
I'd be Snowflake Obsidian. I own quite a few chunks of the stuff and I love the contrast of dark and light, plus who doesn't love a snowflake!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://crystal-cure.com/pics/marble-snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://crystal-cure.com/pics/marble-snowflake.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Flower :<br />
I would be a Crocus. I love the carpets of crocii at the onset of spring. Although I'm sad winter is over, I love seeing the little champions emerge from the soil and snow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cirenwebdesign.com/images/wallpaper/flowers_flora/crocus_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="http://www.cirenwebdesign.com/images/wallpaper/flowers_flora/crocus_snow.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Place :<br />
I'd be a hidden woodland copse. I think these places are so magical and beautiful because they untouched. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.archiemiles.co.uk/Images/Oak/am_Oak%20wood%20at%20Piles%20Copse%20Dartmoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253px" kca="true" src="http://www.archiemiles.co.uk/Images/Oak/am_Oak%20wood%20at%20Piles%20Copse%20Dartmoor.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sources : <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/98944139_f0ab08e9b7.jpg">Season</a>, <a href="http://www.samreedphotography.co.uk/">Colour</a>, <a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Money/Pix/pictures/2010/2/8/1265625231520/Baking-a-cake-for-you-col-001.jpg">Scent</a>, <a href="http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/scotland/edinburgh-old-town-castlehill-snowing-pre-dawn-large.jpg">Time of Day</a>, <a href="http://drpinna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/coconut.jpg">Food</a>, <a href="https://forums.playfire.com/_proxy/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lencurrie.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2Fbaileys_over_ice.jpg&hmac=93b8ab4c5e629e1273f17c8d49e62f74">Drink</a>, <a href="http://crystal-cure.com/pics/marble-snowflake.jpg">Stone</a>, <a href="http://www.cirenwebdesign.com/images/wallpaper/flowers_flora/crocus_snow.jpg">Flower</a>, <a href="http://www.archiemiles.co.uk/Images/Oak/am_Oak%20wood%20at%20Piles%20Copse%20Dartmoor.jpg">Place</a><br />
<br />
I found this post via <a href="http://silverpencils.blogspot.com/2011/09/if-i-was-id-be.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SilverPencils+%28Silver+Pencils%29">Silver Pencils</a> and <a href="http://oneimperfectlyperfectlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/if-i-was-aid-be.html">An Imperfectly Perfect Life</a>.<br />
<br />
So what would you be?<br />
<br />
</div></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-48846228255158332392011-09-22T12:46:00.000+01:002011-09-22T12:46:31.679+01:00The Road Less Travelled Part One<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As you'll know by now, we didn't get to go on our fantabulous road trip and we're not sure when we're going to get to do it.</div><br />
So that all the research I did was not for naught, I ask you to come with me on a virtual road trip to show you what we would have done :<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Day -1 : Staying at the Premier Inn, Dunkirk, Canterbury overnight ready to catch the ferry in the morning to France!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lwtW2Lx5Vwc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Day 1 : Taking the ferry from Dover, England to Dunkerque, France. Maybe I'll repeat what I did the last time I was on the ferry (and no, for those of you who were with me on that school trip, I will not fall over!) but sing to the cliffs as we depart our fair shores :</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
Yes, I know, I'm an idiot. Moving on ....<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We would arrive in Dunkerque around 11am local time, and drive down to Troyes for our first stop.</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So why Troyes, well, whilst I was doing some research on places to go, <a href="http://gofrance.about.com/od/travelplanning/tp/Top_ten_underrated_destinations_in_France.htm">this site</a> told me that Troyes (along with Lyon and Dijon) was the place to go. As it happened, the route we were taking encorporated all these places quite neatly.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The plan when we arrived in Troyes (apart from some sneaky shopping - sorry Paul but you know it had to happen!) was a little bit vague. When we were making the bookings we encountered two problems : </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 - the (only) campsite wouldn't book us in for one night, however, if we turned up on the day and they had spaces we could stay. So, we had to scout out for other campsites in the area, just in case this one was full and we had to carry on down the road.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 - the tourism website is only in French, and whilst I can speak a fair bit of it, it's a bit irritating when you're trying to plan activities having to refer to a dictionary every 5 seconds.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://goeurope.about.com/library/graphics/gal/troyes_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240px" src="http://goeurope.about.com/library/graphics/gal/troyes_1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">However, we decided to follow the Rue des Chats, which took in sites around the town, and just follow our noses to see what was around.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://goeurope.about.com/library/graphics/gal/troyes_1.jpg">Source</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If we were able to stay, the campsite we were planning on visiting was the Camping Municipal de Troyes, as recommended by Cool Camping France.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://uk.zooverresources.com/images/E84304L1B109953D0W158H140/Municipal-de-Troyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="http://uk.zooverresources.com/images/E84304L1B109953D0W158H140/Municipal-de-Troyes.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://uk.zooverresources.com/images/E84304L1B109953D0W158H140/Municipal-de-Troyes.jpg">Source</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next Post - Day Two - Lyon ...</div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-86665363023622463912011-09-15T12:46:00.000+01:002011-09-15T12:46:32.779+01:00Carried Away to Distant LandsRecently, I visited Georgia, USA with Scarlett O'Hara and the South American jungle with the Buendia Family.<br />
<br />
First of all, a disclaimer, Gone with the Wind is like the film - it's a bit of an epic! (1000+ pages)<br />
<br />
I have watched the film, many many moons ago when I stumbled upon it one Christmas eve on the telly, but I don't remember it at all. The book was brilliant. <br />
I enjoy reading books which have a historical context and although the amount of history did get a bit much at times, it was absolutely essential for those of us who haven't been taught about the American Civil War in school. <br />
This book will take you a long time to read, but it is so worth it. Scarlett O'Hara is, to begin with, a heroine most unlikely and not one you want to relate to, but as the story develops, you begin to understand who she is and support her, even if you think marrying Frank Kennedy was a bad idea!<br />
<br />
As for the Buendia family, or One Hundred Years of Solitude. This was definitely an interesting book and the family tree at the beginning definitely helping trying to decipher the Jose Arcadios from the Aurelianos.<br />
I admit my attention waned when the story focussed on the male characters. <br />
This is one of those books that sort of documents a history instead of a story. It also has a moral message coming all thr way through which for those of you who are Star Trek fans, would contervene the Prime Directive (yes, I know, geek!)In other words, let people be and don't interfere in less advanced societies, it doesn't always work out for the best.<br />
<br />
Out of the two books I'm backing Gone With the Wind the whole way.<br />
<br />
I'm now nearly a third of the way through the books, phew!<br />
<br />
BTW I have read Catcher in the Rye but I am saving the review until I have been to this <a href="http://www.le.ac.uk/literary/leicester">Catcher in the Rye</a> seminar being held at work. Maybe another perspective will help me to appreciate it more.SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-11432067430363493102011-09-09T19:59:00.000+01:002011-09-09T19:59:31.050+01:00Sad NewsAs you may have seen from my last post, my father in law was taken ill and we had to cancel our holiday.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, my father in law lost the fight and passed away on Tuesday evening, peacefully, and surrounded by his sons and wife.<br />
<br />
I appreciate the majority of you wouldn't know who he was, but I feel compelled to write a little eulogy to honour the past six years I have known him.<br />
<br />
My husband's father was a very generous and giving man. <br />
Without his help Paul and I would not be where we are today. <br />
Without his help the Scouting Movement in the West Midlands, I can guarantee would not be where it is today.<br />
Without his help, my husband would not be the man he is today and for that I am eternally grateful to my father in law.<br />
<br />
I don't hold any specific religious beliefs but wherever he is, I hope he is happy, safe and free of pain.<br />
<br />
We love you xxx (ps i've let thorntons know they need to reduce their toffee production)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" /></a></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-12932671046770007702011-08-31T08:46:00.000+01:002011-08-31T08:46:51.077+01:00Absent BloggerApologies to all bloggers who I read and comment on, and for those that read this site.<br />
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As we speak, life in our household is upside down. <br />
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My father in law is very ill in hospital and we have had to cancel our roadtrip, which we would be going on tomorrow.<br />
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If you message me, that's fine, just don't expect an immediate response<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA7jBpHSB93TSVEB5aR1B3pKsnpnH0lnNA1hshOdndhHmhHpp2_sW5ntnQSPnHpcZvrhS0XOIclUtKSdLIw-EMhmc8hck-3q5OXj_EkPNPDkMShalDfHLVmY-mdCWgEAn71GHcXnHMoo/s1600/blog+signature.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></div>SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826685296165731747.post-35203774810184878062011-08-24T12:39:00.002+01:002011-08-24T12:41:54.257+01:00Diary of a Phoneless Week<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1 – Tuesday</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband had ordered me to keep my phone on me in case of emergency, which was just as well. He came to pick me up and the car battery died, I had to phone him to find out where he was. However, I then switched the phone back off and didn’t touch it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Very odd not ringing my mum to discuss the day’s events, particularly as this week I have been working on my family tree and I needed some gaps filling in and wanted to report what I’d found. didn’t get a chance to ring them from the landline later as was at my in-laws house for a meal and we didn’t get back until bed time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 2 - Wednesday</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight was date night, the plan being we would go to see Harry Potter and then out for dinner. However the traffic situation conspired against us and we missed the showing. Instead we spent a lovely evening with dinner at Le Bistrot Paris and cocktails at Hakamou. On the way back to the car, I decided to have an ice cream from a vending machine, which was so cold I left part of my cheek stuck to the lolly. Once we got home, I then took advantage of the landline to speak to my dad about the family tree project.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was only a few bad points about not having my phone on today, one was that my driving instructor had to Facebook me to rearrange my lesson and two, was when I was waiting for Paul to pick me up I couldn’t just give my parents a ring. I sometimes phone them out of security if I’m not feeling too safe and just want that bit of comfort.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3 – Thursday</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I forgot about the roadworks! I needed to pick up a few last minute essentials for our upcoming holiday, so after picking up some new shoes and walking trousers (both on sale – bonus!!!) I made to catch the bus home. Normally, Paul would ring me on the way home to find out where I was on the journey and if we could meet up so I could be with him in the car on the way – however, no such luck with the Phoneless week. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Currently they are resurfacing the main road through our village and I am having to walk an extra 20 mins each way to get to the nearest bus stop, so instead of meeting up with husband for a nice drive home, I had a lovely walk uphill ahead of me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was already knackered from A-Level Results Day and promptly arrived home, got changed into my pyjamas and crawled under the blanket on the sofa – he can cook for once!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 4 – Friday</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Husband off on stag weekend in Newcastle today. Missing him, especially the text messages to break up his journey. Hobbled home after new shoes wore holes in my heels – definitely need to buy some heel grippers tomorrow. Had to wait until Paul rang me for an evening chat, boo! Spoke to the parents on the landline and debriefed them on my family tree findings, with a few extra nuts to be added!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 5 – Saturday</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wandered into Hinckley today, to-do list included visting the library, buying some heel grippers and visiting the carpet store. Mum rang me when I got home to tell me about the 1940s Festival she’d been to and got scared to death by fox fur (eeurgh!) so didn't really miss the phone today as I find it rude to go up to the tills whilst you're on the phone, you also lose that interaction with the staff.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 6 – Sunday </span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was woken up at 8.30am by a caller who didn’t leave a message – very frustrating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Went to check the voicemails and found one from my bus stop friend offering me a lift to the bus stop in the morning, Wednesday morning that is – whoops! Found out later the phone call was from my MIL who was in hospital with FIL and trying to get hold of husband. On the plus side, at least he wasn’t on a phoneless week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 7 - Monday</span></u></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having the phone off made things difficult again as husband was with his parents trying to sort out when his dad would be transferred to Hammersmith Hospital. I got home from work not knowing whether he was in London or Burton. Normally he would text me with updates so I'd know where he was and what was going on.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="funny pictures of cats with captions" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/funny-pictures-cat-has-phone.jpg" title="funny-pictures-cat-has-phone" /></div><br />
<u>So what did I learn?</u><br />
Erm, in hindsight this was probably not the best week to have turned the phone off in terms of little emergencies and the like, but then once upon a time, we had to cope with them without the use of mobiles. Things were definitely made easier using Facebook and email.<br />
Would I do it again? To a certain extent I do it each time we go abroad as I'm too cheap to pay calls and texts (this is the Yorkshire side in me!) but as an experiment during "normal" times, probably not. I didn't realise how much I used the phone until it was gone. I can't think how anyone who gets their email/millions of texts/frequent phonecalls would cope with the loss.<br />
Now that's just one more thing off the list, done!SnowflakeBrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01669359423921431664noreply@blogger.com0