Monday, 19 November 2012
Sunday
Saturday
along regents canal for an hour to get to Emma & Jo's place. Lyndi
came as well and we had a lovely day and this delicious late lunch of
mushroom risotto & beef fillet - worth the walk!
Saturday, 10 November 2012
My Marrakech dress
This is the fabulous dress I bought in Marrakech, which I mentioned last week. Edwina took me to a great shop in the back streets of Marrakech - the clothes were all made from recycled/second hand fabrics. The skirt of my dress was a tapestry wall hanging in its former life. It's super fun to wear! Probably too short for an oldie like me, but I couldn't resist!
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Dublin
I got back from Dublin this morning - I was there for basically 24 hours. I loved it - it was cold but the sky was blue and the sun was shining, which made my experience better. It would have been a bit miserable if it was raining.
The city was so vibrant and quite cosmopolitan. I was surprised how many good cafes there were, and in particular food type emporiums which also had a cafe in them - seemed very New York. The river running through the city with many bridges made it feel very European. Everyone was incredibly friendly.
I arrived at 9.30am and was in the city by 10am. I walked around one of the main parks, drank coffee, walked around several old historic buildings, stopped for lunch in a big old warehouse style building which had been converted to a food store with a cafe. I had good nutty muesli and read the paper. Everyone else seemed local which was nice. I walked and walked some more. I had read about a good coffee place about 30minutes walk from the main city centre, so I set off. Luckily I was rewarded - a really top cafe, which was buzzing with local people. I sat in the window seat with delicious coffee and a toasted tomato and roasted garlic sandwich - my back to the sun, reading my book. Perfect!
After an hour or so there, I tore myself away for more walking around the city. By 5pm I was rather weary - there is a gorgeous department store, Browns, so I enjoyed a glass of wine there and had a sneaky manicure. From there I rushed straight to the theatre to see Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. I had bought the cheapest ticket in the penultimate back row - but the theatre was quite intimate and my seat was brilliant. The play was quite brilliant and also rather funny - it was very cleverly produced. Inspite only having had about 4 hours sleep, I was kept wide awake!
Ridiculously, when I thought I booked a flight out at 6pm on the Sunday, I worked out two weeks ago that my flight left at 6am on the Sunday! So from the theatre I caught the airport bus to the airport. Amazingly, I (amongst other people) stretched out on some chairs and slept for four hours! I was home by 9.30am with an entire Sunday ahead of me!! It actually worked quite well - I think I'd have run out of things to do if I'd also had Sunday in Dublin. Plus is was rather fun to travel so lightly, without even any toiletries.
Today I baked a banana cake to take to work, and uploaded photos, wrote some blog posts, cleaned the house - got lots done basically.
So that's my weekend!
The city was so vibrant and quite cosmopolitan. I was surprised how many good cafes there were, and in particular food type emporiums which also had a cafe in them - seemed very New York. The river running through the city with many bridges made it feel very European. Everyone was incredibly friendly.
I arrived at 9.30am and was in the city by 10am. I walked around one of the main parks, drank coffee, walked around several old historic buildings, stopped for lunch in a big old warehouse style building which had been converted to a food store with a cafe. I had good nutty muesli and read the paper. Everyone else seemed local which was nice. I walked and walked some more. I had read about a good coffee place about 30minutes walk from the main city centre, so I set off. Luckily I was rewarded - a really top cafe, which was buzzing with local people. I sat in the window seat with delicious coffee and a toasted tomato and roasted garlic sandwich - my back to the sun, reading my book. Perfect!
After an hour or so there, I tore myself away for more walking around the city. By 5pm I was rather weary - there is a gorgeous department store, Browns, so I enjoyed a glass of wine there and had a sneaky manicure. From there I rushed straight to the theatre to see Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. I had bought the cheapest ticket in the penultimate back row - but the theatre was quite intimate and my seat was brilliant. The play was quite brilliant and also rather funny - it was very cleverly produced. Inspite only having had about 4 hours sleep, I was kept wide awake!
Ridiculously, when I thought I booked a flight out at 6pm on the Sunday, I worked out two weeks ago that my flight left at 6am on the Sunday! So from the theatre I caught the airport bus to the airport. Amazingly, I (amongst other people) stretched out on some chairs and slept for four hours! I was home by 9.30am with an entire Sunday ahead of me!! It actually worked quite well - I think I'd have run out of things to do if I'd also had Sunday in Dublin. Plus is was rather fun to travel so lightly, without even any toiletries.
Today I baked a banana cake to take to work, and uploaded photos, wrote some blog posts, cleaned the house - got lots done basically.
So that's my weekend!
Marrakech!
Ah Marrakech - where to start? It was brilliant.
I arrived in Marrakech on the Friday at 9am. Edwina and Taufik collected me from the airport and, with two other guests, we were driven up into the Atlas Mountains. We made a brief stop for a little coffee (Edwina mixes the coffee with a cardamom based spice mix which is divine), and then later stopped for a delicious picnic - slow cooked calamari, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin jam, potato salad (not as we know it!), meat balls, sardines grilled on the fire, and more!
We then visited a few temples and palaces (you've seen my photos of the tiles).
That night we shared a lovely dinner- the two other ladies staying were Cindy and Adele. They each spend 11 months of the year working on yachts. Each with their husband works for wealthy people on their yacht (separately - each couple basically runs a whole yacht each - the sailing, cooking, maintenance, cleaning etc everything) - the owners aren't always on the yacht, - they might want to meet it in the Caribbean, or Portugal or somewhere else in 4 months time, so Cindy/Adele + hubby have to get the boat there in time. It was fascinating to hear all about it - they have done some amazing things. I really had a great time with them.
On Saturday & Sunday we visited the food markets, spice market and then just cooked and cooked and cooked. It was heaven.
Cindy and Adele left on Monday morning, so I had the day to myself. Edwina took me to a couple of lovely shops and I bought (and I shouldn't have spent the money but I couldn't resist!) a gorgeous leather bag (which is perfect for work as it fits everything) and a fabulous dress. It is made entirely of old material - including a front panel on the skirt which was once a tapestry wall hanging. It was the tapestry part that sold me - Sue, you would LOVE it. Edwina and I walked through the souk and had coffee. The rest of the day I spent lounging on the roof terrace, reading my book (I'm reading Gone with the Wind!).
Edwina and Taufik drove me to the airport at about 8pm, and I was back at Gatwick airport, London at 3am. I then slept as much as possible on the coach to Birmingham - and then went to work (with very crazy hair!).
It was such a great time - it was lovely having 4 whole days, and Marrakech is so different to London that it felt like longer. I will definitely go back - sometimes Taufik heads off into the countryside to visit his family, so I said I could go and help with the cooking classes every now and then - which means I'd just have to pay for flights. BUT Sue, if you want to come, I'll go anytime!!
I arrived in Marrakech on the Friday at 9am. Edwina and Taufik collected me from the airport and, with two other guests, we were driven up into the Atlas Mountains. We made a brief stop for a little coffee (Edwina mixes the coffee with a cardamom based spice mix which is divine), and then later stopped for a delicious picnic - slow cooked calamari, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin jam, potato salad (not as we know it!), meat balls, sardines grilled on the fire, and more!
We then visited a few temples and palaces (you've seen my photos of the tiles).
That night we shared a lovely dinner- the two other ladies staying were Cindy and Adele. They each spend 11 months of the year working on yachts. Each with their husband works for wealthy people on their yacht (separately - each couple basically runs a whole yacht each - the sailing, cooking, maintenance, cleaning etc everything) - the owners aren't always on the yacht, - they might want to meet it in the Caribbean, or Portugal or somewhere else in 4 months time, so Cindy/Adele + hubby have to get the boat there in time. It was fascinating to hear all about it - they have done some amazing things. I really had a great time with them.
On Saturday & Sunday we visited the food markets, spice market and then just cooked and cooked and cooked. It was heaven.
Cindy and Adele left on Monday morning, so I had the day to myself. Edwina took me to a couple of lovely shops and I bought (and I shouldn't have spent the money but I couldn't resist!) a gorgeous leather bag (which is perfect for work as it fits everything) and a fabulous dress. It is made entirely of old material - including a front panel on the skirt which was once a tapestry wall hanging. It was the tapestry part that sold me - Sue, you would LOVE it. Edwina and I walked through the souk and had coffee. The rest of the day I spent lounging on the roof terrace, reading my book (I'm reading Gone with the Wind!).
Edwina and Taufik drove me to the airport at about 8pm, and I was back at Gatwick airport, London at 3am. I then slept as much as possible on the coach to Birmingham - and then went to work (with very crazy hair!).
It was such a great time - it was lovely having 4 whole days, and Marrakech is so different to London that it felt like longer. I will definitely go back - sometimes Taufik heads off into the countryside to visit his family, so I said I could go and help with the cooking classes every now and then - which means I'd just have to pay for flights. BUT Sue, if you want to come, I'll go anytime!!
Puddings!
Last Sunday Amelia and I went to G&A's place to make our Christmas puddings.
We used your recipe, Sue - although we x3 and there were various adults and children involved at different stages and I'm not sure we got the quantities right! When I boiled mine later it looked very pale (oh dear!).
Anyway, we had a load of fun making them and stirred in lots of thrippences and sixpences. Fingers crossed it's ok - I think we used a paler sugar than usual, so hopefully that's the reason.
I'll let you know!
Last Saturday
I dashed out of Bobo's house to meet Emma, Jo, Lyndi & Jade for
brunch. We met at Providores on Marylebone High Street - a great Kiwi
place with good food. We visited this high street (S&I) when you first
visited and then again when you went to the Wallace collection on your
last day this year.
You'll be relieved to hear that, given the previous evening's
indulgent pancakes, I had a yummy fruit salad. Drinking my soy latte
ranked above taking this photo in the order of priorities.
I was wearing my early autumn coat as it's getting a little chilly, but Lyndi is feeling the cold and was wearing a new black puffa jacket (yes, Ian, like our friend George) - we had to force her to take it off inside otherwise she'll never toughen up!
After brunch we walked through Regents Park and then to Primrose Hill to Emma and Jo's new (gorgeous) apartment. This pic was taken at the top of Primrose Hill Park - I'm wearing a dress I bought in Marrakech - I'll take a better photo when next I wear it.
From here I went to Jacqui's house with some girls for coffee, to catch up with Erenie Hellen before she goes back to Australia. We had a good laugh, and best of all on my way out I found E's luggage unattended, so I could off load The Icon! Success!
Last Friday
spent the night with Melody Bobo at her place in highbury. We drank
this delicious prosecco, and made (well Bobo did whilst I
supervised/did nothing) gorgeous fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered
with bacon, butter & maple syrup. We justified this as our main course
& dessert rolled into one - as if a justification were necessary!
After dinner we rolled ourselves onto the couch and then leafed through these cookbooks to plan our week long menu for when we go away to Suffolk. I think planning the meals on a stomach stuffed with pancakes helped us be somewhat restrained!
I stayed the night at Bobo's and then headed off to brunch the next morning ...
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Sue's belt
first 5 times I wore it no one noticed, because suddenly EVERYONE was
commenting - they loved it!
Dublin Day!
will be in Dublin by 9am. Have all the good coffee stops & cafes
marked out! A day of sight seeing, markets, walking & food, then the
theatre tonight! I shall report back soon!
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