All's fair in food and sport

There has just been a crash in the cycling road race, this is quite dramatic! And the reason I care, might be Olympic fever, and might be the fact that I've had a coffee for the first time in 6 months. Either way, it's exciting.

As the first blog post in MONTHS this may be a long one, but then, as I have very little news it may be quite short. I have been mostly worrying about travel during the Olympics, like the rest of London. But now that it has started, and seems like it is going to be so much fun, I am happy to go with whatever happens travel wise. I walked to Victoria for a swim this morning, and there do seem to be a few people about, not havoc though, lots of cyclists with union jacks on their backs. Was lovely to have a swim, and pretend to be an athlete - yes I did give myself a little in head commentary as I passed people in the slow lane, hehehe. I also, totally failed to think of an animal beginning with N, other than newt, which I have discounted as it is the only one I can ever think of.

Speculations from the commentators that the GB team and the lovely Cav, are out of the race!

This month's vogue has brought a particularly beautiful website to my attention - see here. I have been a longterm subscriber to this particular mag, and am considering investing in another - but cannot choose between The World of Interiors - for which I have found a subscription offer - or a food mag - but I'm not so keen on Good Food/Olive/Delicious. Ho Hum. I have spent an hour or so researching foodie mags, and not found anything very exciting that isn't published in the US - making ingredients and recipes tricky. Any thoughts / ideas greatly appreciated! Would ideally like something that is not just all recipes and restaurant reviews - but interesting articles about food. If nothing presents itself, perhaps this is a golden opportunity!

Oh it's sad, the Brits really are out of this race.

In looking however, I have found some fun websites, like this one, and this one. And I am now going to find a biscuit recipe I think, as we are currently out of stock.

Race won by Kazakhstan :-)

Fabric, figs and bathroom fittings

Last week I had an exciting parcel from Lithuania - fun fabric!

Sad news when I did the shopping though Mad..... (Mum is a big fan of a fig garland - we are always happy when it falls off the Christmas nut and clementine bowl and down the back of the sideboard!)

On Saturday we were out and about looking at carpet and other things for the house. Before heading to the huge bathroom showroom near Oldham we went in search of lunch..it being such a lovely day we headed a bit further out and before long were in Yorkshire where we found a pub to sit outside and had cool breezes from the hills. Sadly we were there on the wrong day for the brass band contest!

A rather civilised shelter Al!



A very sloped school playing field!

After the bathroom shopping funtimes we headed back to sit in the sun and enjoy a choc ice :)

Get Weaving!

Well I have! Loom has arrived and have made a couple of things already. Its called a knitters loom and although it is small enough to have on my lap (leaning against the table) you can produce quite lengthy pieces of fabric.

Tried making a skinny scarf thing, in the delightful colours of Norwich City FC, but didn't come out brilliantly. 

Went out and got some better wool. Really pleased with how it has come out. Just need to tidy up the fringe by making it the same length and knot it into smaller tassles.

Its really easy to use and although I won't be able to do super fancy weaves, can still do quite a lot and only really limited by my imagination! Have been eyeing up giant cones of wool on ebay, as they are a bit cheaper than balls for making bigger things.

I have also cut half my hair off. Been toying with idea for a while. Decided there was no point in washing my hair if I was going to cut it, so just did it. Its now a chin length bob but may go shorter, its not quite a bowl cut.

We had little Daphne spayed the on wednesday, so she has taken to her bed. She's recovered well from the operation but has to take it easy for a couple of weeks, which I'm sure won't be hard for dog that likes dozing.

Another (small) patch tamed...

On Monday I tackled another section of the garden that really had nothing of merit growing in it. The amount of roots, big and small that needed to be removed or broken up! The area I was working on kept growing as there is always another little sapling, bit of holly or a bramble to deal with but eventually I had a clear patch of earth. Jim did a dash to get some appropriate compost for the new plants I had bought on Sunday (and not thought about compost at the time).

I have 2 azaleas and a pieris (red flame I think). I am hoping they get good and bushy as they are to conceal the neighbours compost bin which is on the other side of the wire fence and not very attractive. The edge of the path will be edged eventually - all the pieces are at the top of the garden - the previous people bought them and never put them in. Just need some helpers..maybe from Merry Lane...

I also bought a flowering almond tree which is going on the other side of the garden but needs some treats to go in the hole when planted that I also don't have yet but shall buy this weekend.


Here are some snaps of the rest of the garden...

In the centre are the wild raspberries that have now shot up and have canes next to them for support. Just beyond them and the bluebells is where I am thinking of putting the almond as it likes sun and that corner always gets the sun for the longest period.

 Apple blossom from the bramley tree - Mad -it has a dead branch, should I take the saw to it?

The wilderness at the top of the garden, full of bluebells, wild garlic and ivy. In summer it is often nice and breezy up here when the rest of the garden is hot so when it is eventually tamed a bit we want to have a bench up here :)

For the rest of the weekend - on Saturday Jim went to the FA Cup Final at Wembley  - Liverpool lost but he still enjoyed it - lost his voice from too much singing! On Sunday, after a trip to Homebase to finally buy the paint for our bedroom (the wall facing the door is going to be a sort of dark jam colour) and the plants, we went to out friends' in Chorlton. For the best summary of our time there you can check out Mal's blog http://mangechester.wordpress.com/ where he has full coverage of the proceedings at Project PIG and how he planned it. Half a pig on a bbq for about 15hrs equals delicious!!! Their house probably still smells of porkiness! Now Jim wants to build a version in the garden..It was a real event - the anticipation when the foil was taken off the pig for the first time! everyone crowded round taking pictures and ahhhhhing at the aroma.

Dozing Daphne

Daphne has grown so much now she has reached the old age of 10 months. When we first got her she filled less than half of that bed. She seems big to us but is still tiny compared to kato!

How Daphne likes to help in the garden. Preferably from her bed, all warpped up!

Just brought a loom - eeeeek!

House Progress

The last few weekends I have spent mainly in the garden due to the upstairs of the house looking like some sort of Crystal Maze challenge with so many floorboards up revealing important pipes and wires as a new heating system was being installed. I thought better to keep out of it as much as possible when you are a tad clumsy as I am! The house now has all new radiators and is actually warm all over (instead of just when stood next to the heater!) so it suddenly is starting to feel much more homely.

Next up some more plastering and an ensuite to be fitted once we have chosen it!

The garden is getting nicely green and gradually the neighbours are getting more hidden again behind foliage. I have been focusing on a small area each time and clearing the top layer of weeds, removing the far too numerous Ash suckers and any new holly sprouting up. There are also a good deal of small old stumps where the previous gardener has chopped then buried it which I am getting out.

 We want to extend the grass to the top of the garden so have been clearing anything in the way and replanting anything that might be worth keeping in a corner.

The pic above is where my new raspberry patch is - hmm we'll see if any fruit appear - not holding my breath - luckily there is a nice greengrocer only 5 mins walk away!

This holly beast is going to be tamed! I am removing all the lower branches (when I can  get to them after removing the outer layer of prickly leaves) and aim to clear underneath so we can grass it. I only spent one afternoon on this side so far but you can see from the clear earth how much I have already removed. It all is quite easy to chop/dig out -just so much of it! The plan is for the lowest branches to be head height. That's this weekend sorted!

Needed the exercise of all this gardening after dinner with friends on Saturday night at a new burger place in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. It has no sign (except a neon burger in an upper window) and when you get in there you have to loiter for a table, which is bit tedious but the lush cocktails served in jam jars tide you over - I had 2 Ragamuffins which had jack daniels and fresh berries in (took a pic but didn't come out very well). My burger didn't appear with the others' but there were chicken wings and chilli fries to eat while waiting. It was pretty good when it arrived. The place was only a pop-up and is closing again on Saturday - judging by the queue and number of people inside I'm sure it will be packed.

Now then, anybody out there?

There seems to be a distinct lack of blog activity this side of Christmas - but never fear, here I am again, with baking news! 

Decided, having watched Julie & Julia, and Rachel Khoo, I decided on a French baking project, and have made a brioche. It is light and delicious, and not nearly as tricky to make as I thought. Here it is, pre oven, and post.

I also, experimented with some pork - in red wine and spices (cinnamon and clove, and some ground coriander). The idea came from my flavour thesaurus - am amazing book - as I was looking for something interesting to do with pork. This was nice, but too red winey, and to be honest, needs perfecting. 

However, I also made some delish potatoes, in layers, with onion, olive oil, and tomato on top. Here it is in a  raw state. 

Now come on the rest of you! Buck up!

Once more into the blog my friends...

What what! It seems that once again the blogging has lapsed, so I shall run through all that I have been up to! I started a new job last Monday, and so far am loving it, though a particularly heavy cold made last week rather tiring.

Have a couple of large chicken legs in the oven and am cooking up some spuds in thick slices with tomato, garlic herbs, and onion. Potatoes are inspired by some I had a The Fox on a welcome lunch with my new work. I ordered the chicken and received a whole half! Rather a surprise but the spuds were really delicious and so I am trying to recreate them!







I have also made some 'melting moments' with my new Be-Ro cookery book.

And put up some hooks to hang my beads - and therefore, encourage me to wear them.


And I have bought three pairs of pumps to smarten up my work shoe collection, all from red herring, and some new nail varnish - purple x2!






Mr Nutkin and I have been to the theatre  see - The Wonderful World of Dissocia - by the University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins - which was good, although the first half is too long and you lose patience with otherwise quite fun craziness.







Have watched the final part of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - the 1970s BBC version that Mr Nutkin had for Christmas. Realised some of the way in that I have listened to the radio version with Simon Russel Beale - and so far the radio wins! Going to add the latest version to the LoveFilm list for comparison!

Also, I joined in with some filming that Mr Nutkin was doing for his latest project - The Time Capsule!
Suppler time now - and the last moments of The Never Ending Story!

Lovely patterns

Mr Croak gave me 'Pattern' by Orla Kiely http://www.orlakiely.com/uk.cfm/paper/books/00XS-PAT301/14376/Pebble/  for Christmas - it's lovely.

I love the 'stem' print and the many different ways it's used - changes in size, colour and texture of the 'leaves', sometimes done as just the outline others not. Below is 'scribble stem print'. 

Also love this one... multi flower abacus mug

and some more favourites (think the right hand tree pattern is also done in lovely greens!)

time to have another flick through my book! 

A spontaneous seaside jolly!

On Saturday, Mr Croak and I decided to join Mum, Dad and Molly dog for a day at the sea. Checking the train times we discovered that one was leaving in just under 40 minutes... the thermos was filled in record speed, ham sandwiches made, bananas thrown in the bag (never the best move!) and we just got to the train on time!

It was a beautiful journey on the Borth express - lovely scenary and we were at the sea in time for luncheon!

Sadly all the shops were shut up (and looked like they had been for some time), even worse - the chip shop was shut too which was devastating news for all! We had a lovely walk on the beach and then again at Ynyslas.

It was Molly's first time at the sea and she loved it! Did lots of running in between everyone to check we were all ok.

Strolling along on the river...

What What! Have just arrived home from a lovely walk along the river in the sunshine, and have taken some snaps to show you. Had a lovely day yesterday too, Mr Nutkin bought a paper, which we perused, and did crossword, did a food shop, then some baking, and dinner making, and watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Black Swan - Dawn Treader: FAB! Black Swan: Creepy.

For baking, I made nutmeg and vanilla biscuts in a variety of shapes, and iced them with a lemon curd icing. Also made a garlic foccacia - which I have just had for lunch - and jerk ribs for supper.
SO, here's the Lambeth Walk....
 

I live in Lambeth

From Vauxhall Bridge

How sad.

A Henry Moore

The Tate Britain

And Britannia herself (?) on top

Tree identification please... I suspect a London Plane

With fun pompom seeds

Boat cafe on the other bank

Busses on the bridge

Boats on the water

Wow a castle! Lambeth Palace actually I think

What a fun, although slightly alarming, lampost

H's of P

This darn chap too ages to pap - kept diving under and popping up miles away - umm cormorant?

Sadly, an abandoned Christmas tree

View downriver

Just missed the launch of this absurd form of transport

No boring benches here!

Vauxhall Bridge - with people along it representing all sorts of things

Like this lady, um, Geography?

Ah, my fave, Battersea Power Station

So that's my walk. On a lovely sunny day too. And loading the photos took all afternoon - too many maybe.
Made a cauliflower curry for supper, Parsnip soup for next week lunches, and there's some bread in the oven.

Tired now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz