I'm taking a short blogging break as we're off to spend some time at our house in Spain.
I'll leave you with this photograph of the Philadelphus blooming in our garden. I'm amazed it's survived the years of neglect when our energies were focused elsewhere. It's growing alongside a honeysuckle and the combined scent hits me every time I brush past. Glorious.
Adios.
Life is all about choices and change, milestones and significant events, and it seems that we're about to enter a new phase, starting a new chapter. The Husband finished work today forever, having made the decision (after some hard thinking) to volunteer for redundancy. Like so many businesses in the current climate, his company were faced with having to make significant cuts in staffing levels if they were to have a chance at surviving in the longer term. But before you start commiserating, this isn't as bad as it would be for many people (like his colleagues who had the redundancy decision made for them) as he's that bit closer to retirement age than others (including me, before you ask!). Nevertheless, it does herald some big changes for us as a couple and as a family.
Not least of these will be the impact of losing a (rather decent) salary. For the first time since we've been together, I'll have the dubious honour of becoming the main breadwinner. In the past, the Husband has taken on this role several times: when I was a student, again when we decided I'd be a stay at home mum and then when I subsequently returned to work on a very part time basis. And despite a few, shall we say, tight situations along the way, we always managed. So now it's my turn.
A starting point has been trying to work out a budget (anyone reading this who knows me will be on the floor howling with laughter at this point) and this means I'm going to try have to curb my tendency (who am I kidding, it's a downright passion, my raison d'etre) to shop, to spend, to continuously splash out. Now, I'm not expecting to have to resort to moving to a yurt and making soup from other people's vegetable peelings, but restraint will be the order of the day which probably won't always be easy but hey, needs must and it's a challenge I'm up for. So, please pass on any tips and who knows? This might turn into one of those blogs devoted to thrift and frugality. But maybe you shouldn't hold your breath!
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Of course, there were cupcakes for the Husband's last day at work and the photograph is of what was sitting on top of his cupcake. The resemblance is, er, uncanny! No, not really. This is more a glimpse into the future. About a year into retirement, maybe?
With warm(er) weather, longer days and summer holidays looming, thoughts turn to footwear.
New flip flops are called for.
Blue and pink, I think.
Sparkly.
Oh yes, and edible.
Flip flop cupcakes for an evening with The Girls.
Me? I'm still wearing opaque black tights.
Well, it's still only June.
I caught the tail end of a discussion on Radio 4 the other day about women who go out with short men (and men who date taller women) and it got me thinking. I only had one boyfriend who was smaller than me (I'm not that tall, about 5' 9'' ish in my prime ) and I was always conscious of the height difference. I only ever wore flats and I seem to remember developing the habit of walking in the gutter whilst he stayed on the pavement.
When I was at university I had a friend who was 6 feet without shoes. It didn't bother her at all that most (probably all, come to think of it) of the lads she was attracted to were considerably shorter than she was. I was always impressed that she "walked tall", whoever she was with, and, when she eventually married, she vehemently rejected the photographer's suggestion to stand her brand new husband on a box! Incidentally, the bloke I married is a respectable 6' 4'' so I've been able to stay out of the gutters and could easily wear heels if only the dodgy ankles would allow.
The height difference doesn't seem to matter to Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum and I'm sure there'll be no talk of standing on boxes at their wedding.
I had a quick browse of Sophie's new recipe book whilst in Borders last week
Early afternoon on the somewhat dismal and wet Saturday this weekend, we decided to pay a long overdue visit to Helmsley, a little market town in North Yorkshire. It's about a 40 minute or so drive (slow moving tractors permitting) from home and the single lane road winds its way through part of the spectacular North Yorks Moors national park.
The remains of the medieval castle tower above the town and, we discovered, are to be the setting for an open air production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew in August. Of course, we've now bought tickets. Who could resist? (And there's plenty of time to locate the folding chairs and picnic basket, last used some years ago at an Abba tribute/sing-a-long event in our local park).
There was no market today but it was enough to just meander the little streets around the market place.
There are some lovely shops here, including this book shop for me (I picked up a hardback copy of Joanna Trollope's Second Honeymoon for a bargain price, though I now think I 've read it already),
and a good selection of ales (this was only part of the display) in another for Himself.
A chocolate cafe? Now that looks promising.
This little cottage garden was immaculately tended.
I pulled over into a farm entrance on the way back home to get a snap of the view which, for this Townie, was breathtaking.
Then it was onto Sainsbury's for the weekly trawl of the shelves and fridges, trying to remember what was on the shopping list which, as usual, was left on the table at home.
Nearing home whilst driving from work the other day, I spotted a magnificent hare pausing at the side of the road before disappearing into the hedge. It reminded me of a long forgotten book nestled away on one of our bookshelves.
Masquerade by Kit Williams hit the headlines and became something of a cult book way back in the late 1970's. Essentially a children's book, but having much wider appeal, it tells the story of how the Moon, falling in love with the Sun, persuades Jack Hare to take her amour a bejewelled treasure but which, on his journey, Jack loses.
The book is beautifully illustrated by the author
and there is a work of art, and a hare to be found, with each turn of the page.
But this isn't just a story book. There's a riddle to be solved
and the whereabouts of the story's lost treasure (the author had buried it somewhere on publicly accessible land in England) to be discovered.
The riddle was eventually solved and the buried treasure, an elaborate gold and jewel embellished hare pendant, was unearthed several years after the book was first published. Apparently, the solution involved drawing lines in each of the book's illustrations from the animals' eyes, through the longest digits, to a letter in the border.
This wasn't the end of the story, though, as there was some suggestion of dodgy dealings on the part of the person solving the puzzle and claiming the prize. Despite this, Masquerade is a cracking book for both children and adults and I'm so glad to have rediscovered it. If you haven't read it, do so. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
On Saturday, the Gorgeous Girlie and I had a girls' day out in London. We didn't intend it to be a big shopping event or plan to visit any of the big tourist attractions; the idea was to mooch around a couple of areas and spend some time together.
The day started at Darlington station to catch the 8 a.m. train to Kings Cross.
Just under three hours later, with the stack of magazines all read, we arrived in The Smoke and headed for Carnaby Street, although there was a slight detour en route.
Of course we had to stop and admire this blast from the past.
Cupcakes were spotted
and lunch was eaten alfresco.
We braved a very busy Oxford Street en route to Marylebone High Street.
But the highlight of the day had to be afternoon tea in the Winter Garden at the Landmark Hotel. We started with some very welcome champagne
before launching into this (and another plate of sandwiches).
How about a closer look at those little cakes and pastries?
They were exquisite.
And of course there were scones with jam and clotted cream, and little teacakes.
We were also in the presence of the rich and famous as Brian May and his wife, Anita Dobson, were a couple of tables away from us, enjoying the same delicacies with what appeared to be their family.
So, all in all, it was a great day out. And there was a little bit of shopping after all.
We plan to do this again soon but, when we do, I must remember to wear appropriate shoes to avoid another huge blister like the one I'm currently sporting on one foot. Ah, the price of vanity.
In the mood for a little easy baking yesterday, I came across yet another recipe for chocolate chip cookies courtesy of Be-Ro. Unfortunately, there was no chocolate to hand but I did find a bag of M&Ms lurking in the kitchen so substituted those. Whilst the results were not too pretty (some of the sweets melted, leaving unexpected splodges of colour instead of perfect little discs) they tasted fine and soon vanished.
Recipe (adapted slightly from the original)
4ozs butter or margarine
3ozs light Muscovado sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
6ozs SR flour, sifted
4ozs chocolate, chopped or chocolate chips (or M&Ms or Smarties)
2 tbsp milk
1. Heat the oven to 180C or gas 4 and line a couple of baking sheets with baking parchment.
2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and creamy, then stir in the syrup.
3. Mix in the flour and milk and add the chocolate or sweets.
4. Place spoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheets, leaving room for the cookies to spread as they bake.
5. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown at the edges. Don't overcook if you like your cookies soft and chewy. They will firm up once cool. I lightly flattened each cookie with a fork about halfway through the cooking time.
6. Remove the cookies carefully from the baking sheets with a spatula and leave to cool on a rack.
Should I make a start on the mountain of laundry?
Should I clean the bathroom?
Should I vacuum and dust the living room?
Should I de-clutter the hall cupboard?
Should I blitz the bedrooms?
Should I settle down with the new magazines and a mint chocolate cupcake?
I've decided.
Have a good weekend, whatever you decide to do.
