overwhelmed

The title of this post says it all, everything is hectic at the minute and I keep catching every nasty bug that goes around!

I'm dreaming of hibernation.....

The most wonderful time of the year

This sunday, I baked cookies for work and listened to christmas music and watched a Christmas film, so now I am all ready to decorate up...but it is too early!

Booo!

I want to do this:

My bad day

Yesterday I had a bad day.
I had to go to Birmingham for a course- normally I would like this but here's what happened:

1. I was in pain due to an ear infection
2. I was feverish
3. It was drizzling so I spent most of the day feverish and damp
4. I got lost twice
5. The course was rubbish
6. I forgot to eat my lunch so then I felt faint but sick because I had a fever
7. My boots rubbed me

Good things that happened:

1. I visited my two favourite shops
2. There were loads of fresh Christmas trees all being prepared for the German Market that is coming next week and it smelt like a christmas forest
3. I had my first Starbucks red cup of the season AND I resisted the eggnog latte which I normally get in a fit of festive excitement, completely forgetting every year that the eggnog latte can suddenly, and without warning, turn on you and make you feel nauseous
4. I had a nice biscuit

Tempting

My Family sent me home with these....

All ready for my birthday...
If I can wait that long!

Half Term Round Up

 Pumpkin Spiced Latte

 Pumpkin Scone

 Lots of  Coffees

 A visit to the Vintage and Homemade warehouse and their cute little cafe

 Then my favourite restaurant

Hmm I seem to have spent my holiday hopping around coffee shops and cafes!

Homely chuckling

This week is half term and I am at my Mum's for the whole week.
It is very enjoyable to be back amongst the family and there has been a lot of laughing.
My mum has a habit of mispronouncing or making up her own names for things- she also has a broad Welsh accent, which makes it even cuter.

Mums dictionary:

CAPPUCINO =    Cap-O-sheen-ee-o

PAIN AU CHOCOLAT = Shock-A-pan

PANNINI = Pan-een-O

'The Hug in a Mug' (local cafe) = Hugamug

:)

x

Reading Festival

My half term is going well. I have finished two books and it is only Tuesday!


The first, 'Dark Places' by Gillian Flynn is a whodunnit page turner, kind of runs out of steam towards the end, but good for a spooky read.

The second- 'Dark Matter' by Michelle Paver- OH MY GOD!
Go out and buy this book immediately. I started and finished it in about 5 hours.
I could not put it down. It is so simple, yet so chilling. There are no great reveals or twists, just an incredible sense of place and a very evocative plot.

I spent 2 hours this afternoon sat in the window seat of Starbucks while it poured with rain outside, glued to this book-even the presence of the town professional rugby team did not distract me from my book (well, maybe just a little!)
:)
x

Friendship bird

 Last Christmas, my best friend gave me this, it is one of a pair of 'friendship birds' that sit beak to beak.

You split them up between friends.

Mine sits on my bedside lamp.
Cute.

Halloween decorations

At my house

Book Trolley

 When I first moved into my house in May, a bookcase was on my list for an alcove in my bedroom, I want a tall one, with room for a tv, all my books, jewellery box etc. However, my new house budget has most definitely run out and so I had to improvise on my book storage with this retro tea trolley I found in a charity shop.
It has actually grown on me now, it would be better if it was a proper librarian's trolley, but I still think it is cute.

On the top is my pile of books to get through this Winter. As you can see, I am in a very spooky mood at the moment- I think I have been influenced by the cold weather and horror movie style high winds we are having here!

It is half term next week so I will definitely make a dent in these.

x

Breakfast and Christmas

 This morning when I met my friends for breakfast...
They were putting these up.....

It's coming!.....

The Perfect Weekend

This weekend, my university friend came to visit without her children so we browsed the shops, coffee shop hopped and got ahead on a bit of Christmas shopping.
Then-
I went to dinner with the friends I went on my Italy trip with and this was a huge success:-

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/jamie-oliver/mustard-chicken-and-black-forest-affogato-meal

The black forest affogato was AMAZING.

I wish I had taken a picture- You have got to try it!

Yesterday, I went to visit another friend for Sunday Lunch- she lives in a beautiful old cottage out in the middle of the countryside amongst all the orange and yellow trees of the Autumn. The drive out there was amazing. She then very kindly gave me lots of plants from her garden to put in mine as plants from a friend make your garden more special.
We then quickly dropped into another friend's parents house for a quick cuppa, then home, lamps on and a film.

Perfection.

Funny

Things I have heard in my classroom:


On discussing how Lennie in 'Of Mice and Men' accidentally kills small animals as he does not know his own strength-

Boy D: 'Why don't they just get him an elephant?'

Whilst discussing weekend activities-

Girl E: ' I went to an air show and sat in a Red Arrows plane Miss'
Me: Did you?
Girl E: 'Yeah, they didn't let me fly it though'

Random conversation-

Boy J : 'Miss, I don't think it's right that fish have only got 3 second memories'
Me : 'Don't you?'
Boy J : 'No, 'cos in Finding Nemo they all remember things'
Me : 'I don't think you should base all your fish knowledge on Finding Nemo though'
Girl A : ' Yeah, 'cos they're just acting in that aren't they Miss?'

Random Conversation-

Boy B : ' You know what they say about Blondes..'
Boy N : 'They have ginger babies?'

Random Conversation -

Boy L : ' I am actually registered disabled but I bet you can't tell what's wrong with me'
Boy W : 'Your hair?'

Vegas Experiences

This summer, in Vegas there were two new attractions that we had never done before but were excited to try

First, 'The Mob Experience' at the Tropicana Hotel

 The Tropicana has had an overhaul since we were last in Vegas, and the new style is really great- and they have this new show.
It has live actors, famous guides to talk you through the Mob history of Vegas and lots of personal belongings and artefacts.

 We really loved it, the live actors were hilarious, unfortunately we were not tough enough to become mobsters and so at the end we were unfortunately killed.



The next show we did was the new 'CSI experience' at the MGM hotel

We saw this advertised the last time we were here, but it was scheduled to open after we flew home so it was definitely on the list for this visit.

There are a number of mocked up crime scenes that you have to gain clues from and write on your investigator report sheet..

 then, take them to the lab and enter all your evidence into the machines

Then, solve the crime, get a personal video message from Grissom and a souvenir certificate to take home...

Yes, I know it's naff... but something about these interactive shows gets me every time.. I LOVE THEM!

Illuminating

Scenes from our annual Blackpool trip.

The illuminations were switched on through the pouring rain

By Sunday, the weather had broken so we got a nice walk along the pier

And of course a visit to Starbucks

Nuts

When I was younger, my favourite chocolate bar was called 'Cabana'

This chocolate bar was coconut with bits of cherries in all covered with chocolate.

My best friend, when she was growing up, also loved them and so for many years now we have been on a quest to find a modern equivalent as Cabanas are now sadly extinct.

I can't believe we have not found a suitable replacement.

It's like people don't want us to be happy.

every once in a while

This weekend was the dreaded Last Weekend Before Payday.

I had a couple of social things that got cancelled last minute so I ended up with a long weekend to fill.

It actually turned out really well, I did loads of jobs that jump from one to do list to another:

Sorted out a pile of magazines

Sorted out linen cupboard

Mended some torn clothes

I also managed to do some baking, wash and line dry 2 loads of laundry, and clean the house.

And, I got 2 really good nights of sleep, had 2 very long hot baths and watched a film when the rain fell down on Sunday.

I wouldn't want to do it every weekend, I think I would get bored and lonely- but every once in a while it is just what I need.

Celebrity Ghost Stories

When we were on holiday, we caught a few episodes of this:

This programme is really simple:
Celebrities tell their spooky experiences to the camera and there are little bits of reconstructions in between.
It is really simple and VERY spooky.

Apart from one particular story-

Marilyn Manson- he told a story involving him, a bully from school, an older brother, drinking, satanic rituals in an old abandoned barn and a Necronomicon.

What's that you say? A Necronomicon?

Oh yeah Marilyn (if indeed that is your real name!), of course, you just happened across an actual Necronomicon in your small town bookshop, right beside the magnetic bookmark stand.

As. If.

I personally believe that if someone sells a child a Necronomicon they should call the parents of that child to let them know:

'Hello, Mrs Manson? Just to let you know I have sold your son a book that contains untold occult powers and possibly may open a gateway to Hell, just wanted to let you know, OK bye......ooops forgot to say your newspaper bill is due.. thanks!'

I don't believe you Marilyn.
But.
If you have got a Necronomicon, please don't do any magic on me.
And.
If you do have one, I really hope it looks like the Monster book of Monsters from Harry Potter. (but not as fluffy)

Psych

 This is without a doubt, my favourite TV programme-

 It's about 2 childhood friends who run a psychic detective agency, but the psychic is a fake, he is just very observant (normally, at this point in my explanation people mention 'The Mentalist'.)
This is MUCH better than that as it is genuinely quirky and funny.

Other things I love about it:

1. It has lots of recurring jokes
2. The one liners in it are great
3. It's funny but also touching
4. I have heard that there will be a 'Clue' themed episode and that Tim Curry may be back in it again
5. It's just a really fun programme with no other agenda other than clever funny writing that lets you enjoy yourself and cheers you up.
6. It has great guest stars

Unfortunately, in Britain, we are way behind, when we were in America this summer we saw the ads for the new series to come out there, I can't wait til it comes here!

Autumn Soundtrack

I don't listen to a lot of music, mainly it's just when I am in the car (apart from a bit of Elvis occasionally)
I find that if I listen to music at home, I can easily get melancholy and a bit fed up so I normally prefer to have the TV on as background noise.
Recently ,spending a lot of time in my kitchen, doing various makes and bakes, I decided I needed a soundtrack to my favourite Autumn days.
I originally bought the Crew Cuts CD as they are in one of my favourite films (Clue) and as I have recently discovered they are PERFECT for Autumnal kitchen pottering.

Kathleen's Crab Apple Jelly

Pick Crab Apples off tree.

Top and tail them, wash thoroughly, cut out any bruised bits.

Put in saucepan with enough water to just cover

Bring to boil then simmer 25 mins

pour into muslin strainer and leave overnight.

Take the juice and measure into a measuring jug.

HERE IS THE TRICKY BIT

You need to boil the juice with sugar at the ratio of 1 part juice to 0.7 parts sugar BY VOLUME

So for example: If you have 1 litre of juice, you then need 700mls of sugar
(measure it by volume in the measuring jug, NOT BY WEIGHT)

Bring to a boil and keep at a rolling boil for about 30-40 mins.

After about 25 mins, test the jam by seeing if it solidifies on the back of a chilled spoon.

When it does, pour into sterilised jars, put lids on while jelly is still warm.

Yum.

Crab Apple

 This weekend, I was in full Autumn mode, making crab apple jelly.


I love Crab Apple jelly, it is a memory of childhood for me. We had a big Crab Apple tree in our front garden and every year, about this time, me, my Mum and my sister would go outside and pick them. You are hopefully now picturing a blissful day where we are all laughing and rosy cheeked among the leaves.
Here is how it actually went:

I would insist on wearing a huge cowl neck hand knitted brown jumper that my Mum had made me, even though September is still WAY too warm for it (this jumper was VERY thick) so, about ten minutes after we started, I would have to go in and change.

At least once, either me or my sister would let go accidentally of the branch we were pulling down to reach the apples, pinging Crab Apples everywhere and nearly having each others eye out.

My mum would stand on a chair as she is very short and one of us would have to hold the chair steady so she did not fall (boring).

After about 15 minutes, me and my sister would get freaked out that spiders were going to fall on us from the tree as we were shaking it- thus abandoning the picking to go and make a cup of tea.

Leaving my lovely Mum outside on a shaky chair getting rained on by falling spiders.

See why I love it so much?

I'm off

Ok all- I'm off on holiday so I will see you all when I get back and tell you all my holiday tales....



See you soon

Mel

xxxxxx

p.s I have tried posting comments on all your blogs- but I am on a public computer and it won't let me!

I am still reading and loving all your blogs though, so sorry if I have not been able to comment!

Dream dress

I tried this Vivienne Westwood dress on recently..

Now, to start saving...