About Me

Sunday 28 September 2014

A city break and a change in diet

I have been away for a few days to Barcelona with Mr M. We had a lovely time but I missed the children so much so we won't be repeating it anytime soon. Barcelona is a lovely city and we did a couple of excursions one to see Gaudis work the unfinished cathedral the Sagrada Familia this is an amazing sight and hopefully it will be finished in 2026 which is 100 years after Gaudis death. It's amazing from both inside and out.










The outside tells a story starting from the birth of Jesus to his crucifixion.






We also visited the monastery on Montserrat Mountain this was such a peaceful and tranquil place and is the home to Benidict Monks. We happened to see a couple but they keep themselves to themselves and there living quarters are kept very private from the the tourist attraction. This is also home to a black Madonna which was found in the caves of Montserrat mountain however she's is made out of popular wood and therefore become black due to the wood oxidising. The views were spectacular along with the buildings.

















I ate some amazing food and we spent time strolling around the gothic quarter and going in a huge covered market where there was so much fresh produce it kind of puts some of our markets to shame.









Also moored at the harbour is Steve Jobs super yacht. It's an amazing boat but is such a shame he didn't get to see it before he passed away. It now belongs to his estate.





I was certainly glad to come home though I have came home to the news that like my daughter I have coeliacs disease. It's not entirely surprising as I have shown symptoms for quite a few years though this has been put down to various other things. I eat pretty much gluten free but I will miss bread and I don't like the gluten free alternative so it's going to take a bit of getting used to.

I'm now going to try and catch up with all your blogs and news.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Could it be summer

It's been a lovely day in Suffolk today and one could be mistaking that it could quite possibly still be summer. If it wasn't for the fog first thing in the morning, the turning of the leaves and copious amounts of berries on the hedgerows once a sign we are in for a cold winter. I'm not sure how much of that is true.

I have spent a lovely morning cycling through the countryside with a friend in total we cycled 59k we did stop for a cheeky coffee and cake at Pump Street Bakery in Orford. Which defeats the object of burning all those calories off.

A morning at the plot tomorrow and housework and sorting out my craft area as I'm desperate to get back into sewing some bits but at the moment my work station has rather a few muddles on it.




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Wednesday 17 September 2014

A morning on the plot.

I spent a good couple of hours on the plot today clearing the courgette plants. A tip for next year I do not need 7 courgette plants as I physically can not eat that much. It's only me who eats them!

I also picked two pumpkins which we will keep for the end of October and carve I have left on on the plot raised of the ground to stop rot.

It felt good to be back at the plot and I have drawn a line under this year and starting from scratch as of today. It's nice to make a fresh start and plans for next year and what and how much to grow.

To Sue and Suffolk Small holder I have taken your tip and covered half with black plastic until I'm ready to do something with that.




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Sunday 14 September 2014

Weekends are back.

Cricket season has finished which means we get our weekends back, no more preparing tea, washing up and serving tea well for a few months anyway.

I have been busy in my own little kitchen experimenting with making gluten free bread so far the results are not great. It is either to hard or completely flat I think back to the drawing board on this one. Though I have just ordered some Teff flour which is supposed to be very good for gluten free baking.

I have been putting my new mixer to good use and have made some cheese and sage scones, a normal bloomer which was a bit under baked in the middle and I have some fruit soaking in some tea for a fruit loaf to bake tomorrow.

I love baking though it means it has to be eaten I will put some in freezer and most will go into lunch boxes as my children won't or in the case of Little Miss can't eat school lunches.

Monday 8 September 2014

Allotment Update

For those who read my blog/Ramblings maybe wondering why I'm a bit short on the updates regarding the allotment. Well I have a slight problem which means I very seldom go now.

The problem is my children are very reluctant to go ( full blown tantrum and tears from son) I know I'm his mum and probably should force him but I think this could make it worse and no one would enjoy the time there.

Just at the start of the summer holidays we were harvesting beans and Little M went to fill the watering can up he came back in tears. I had no idea why and he was crying so much, lots of cuddles later it came out that a lady who owns a plot about five down from us had told him of for running across her plot a few days ago running her crops. My son who denied it and I know my children they tell little white lies and they are not perfect but I know he didn't do it I know this because.

1. When said incident happened we were not even at the allotments

2. I only have one daughter and one son the incident was caused by two boys who were brothers.

Despite my son telling the truth and denying it he was then apparently called a liar. He's only 7. This upset me and now my son refuses to go. There isn't a lot of space to play for children so I always give them small jobs to do.

I'm now not sure whether to give up my plot as during the summer school holidays it has been very hard to get to the plot which means the weeds are taking over and crops have been ruined.

It's now very over grown, during term time I can go while the children are at school and now Mr M cricket season has finished I now have more time at the weekends.

I love growing my own veg and my garden isn't particularly big enough to have a plot I can grow bits in tubs and some bits in one small bed.

The two boys have been caught as they have been seen running across numerous plots while playing chase I know they are only children and playing. Though I do believe their mother should at least set them some boundaries especially around other peoples properties.

I'm still awaiting for an apology after the other boys were caught as I did confront the lady saying that if she had a problem with any of my children she should have come to me first. I have no problem with people telling my children of if it's deserved but I do wish she had her facts right first as she was only told about two dark haired boys running across her plot and didn't actually see it happen. My son is fair haired.

I'm not sure I handled it correctly or am dealing with my children the right way but I know that growing my own veg at the plot isn't as fun anymore.



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Sunday 7 September 2014

A New Toy

I'm very lucky I received a new toy today. It's something I have been asking, hinting about for a long time and finally I got one.

Mr M bought me a Kenwood Kmix I'm very excited about it as I love cooking and baking. I know I have my hands but I'm hoping that I will be able to master gluten free cakes and bread for my daughter as shop bought ones usually have an ingredient in she's allergic to or you need a chemistry degree to translate the long list of ingredients.

I didn't have time to use it today but I did set it up.



Im planning my recipes and going to give some a try will let you know how I get on.



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Saturday 6 September 2014

We took a trip to London today and it became a trip of reflection and gratitude our first stop was to see the poppies at the Tower of London, and what an amazing site to see. I'm sure most have you have heard about theses poppies to mark the lives of every service man or women who have given their lives for our country. I took numerous photos and I have even bought one to keep forever.















The children were very inquisitive especially little M who is 7 and interested in anything to do with the War.

After lunch by the London Eye we went to the Imperial War Museum. It was a fantastic day and covered everything from from the First World War right through to this present day including the War that Never was, that was quite scary to think about the whole nuclear weapons. The only bit we didn't go in was the Holocaust as it was unsuitable for those under 14. Mr M did and he said it was very sad and definitely not one for the little ones.

Explaining thing to Little M made me feel very grateful for all those people who have served in the war though the War today bit did make me feel a little unsure about whats to come in the future.


Location:A day filled with gratitude

Friday 5 September 2014

Floor is finally finished


It's been a busy couple of days as we have had new flooring laid in the kitchen and dinning room. I did have a wobble and though I have mad a huge mistake as it looked to dark at first but now the furniture is back it looks much better.




Kitchen


Dinning room.

It looks like real wood but isn't probably cost a little more than real wood but I'm so pleased with it.

Tomorrow we are going to the city (London) we are visiting the imperial war museum with Little M and Little Miss is going to see the Lords of the Dance with her grandparents. We are going to try a visit the poppies at the Tower of London also.

Will take pics and hoping for a rest day on Sunday.

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Always changing and decorating

I don't know about anyone else but I'm always changing and do some sort of decorating. Four years ago we did an extension turning our little two up two down into a three up three down. It was huge job which we saved every penny for and looking back with a young daughter and toddler at home I don't know how we did it. A project the builders said would take three months ended up taking seven and they finally left a week before Christmas.

Well most of the house is still looking good but a room which was our old lounge has been a playroom but now it's the dining room making my kitchen more spacious so it's time for a over hall. Tomorrow the floors are being screened ready for some new wood effect (very expensive) vinyl flooring to go down which will run through to the kitchen.

We have completely change the colour on the walls from a beige called lunch to a green called cooking apple green. I choose this to bring out the green in my blinds.





It's a lot lighter than the picture shows and it changes with the light.

The kitchen also needed doing I have painted kitchen cupboard doors in a old white so I opted for Pavillion Grey on the walls it's very calming and bright.





That was the first coat hence why it's a bit streaky.

Today I have been clearing out the rooms and we now are in the lounge surrounded by boxes and furniture it's only for a couple of days so I can cope with that.

It's the end of the summer holidays and I'm really sad to see the children go back to school we have had great fun this summer but I'm ready to embrace Autumn and hoping for snow this winter.