Sitting in a dark room on a sunny evening not everyone's idea of a good time but I was at the Langley Park Centre for the Performing Arts to see a short film about a short film. Vanessa Bailey, Bromley-based actress, has co-written and crowd-funded the trailer for Three Days, a rom-com about trying not to fall in love. And carrot cake. Three Days was an idea of hers borne out of frustration of a lack of female parts for 'older' women … [Read more...]
Where I live: indoors
I haven't spent much time in our house of late: about six weeks ago, DH was dispatched to the Beach House with the children whilst The Mother and I solemnly packed half our things in boxes that were shunted off to storage so that we could put our house on the market. Meanwhile I have spent every child-free day speeding to destinations up to an hour away looking at houses and schools, then rushing back to collect my Girls from school. This has … [Read more...]
What I’m wearing to BritMums Live 2013
Ladies and gentlemen of the blogosphere, the countdown has begun. There are but three short weeks until BritMums Live 2013. It's always daunting going to gert big events such as this: how will you know anyone when they look nothing like their twitter avatars? Will anyone talk to you or will you go home feeling like you have wasted your cash? And even if you are meeting people, how will you find them? BritMums do their best to help … [Read more...]
Chocolate cake made with coke- Sprite with Stevia Challenge
Every time I see the word Stevia I giggle: it's close enought to DH's name to make me giggle. In the same way that I get excited when I see number plates that feature the initials of the people I know. I'm like that. So when Sprite- now with Stevia- sent us some to try, I had to struggle to compose myself. New Sprite has the same great taste but 30% fewer calories, making my lager shandy on a sunny day better for me than before. Of course … [Read more...]
Finnish Sandwich Cake
Last year as part of Around the World in 12 Dishes, we visited Sweden, made a delicious cake and some floral crowns. Given the proximity of Sweden and this month's country- Finland- and the similarities in traditional foods and crafts, I could just have pointed you to those this month. But instead, I got in touch with a former employer and Finn, and bring you the Finnish Sandwich Cake. Apparently this is a traditional dish that is 'a staple, … [Read more...]
{Review} 5 great products for swimming with children
LBG is currently learning to swim. At her request, we take her every Monday for a swimming lesson at one of our local swimming pools, and she spends half an hour in the water with her teacher whilst I watch- usually with tears in my eyes- her slow, steady progress from Non-swimmer to swimmer. DH and I also take both Girls swimming every weekend to build on what she has learned but also to continue to give her- and her sister- confidence in their … [Read more...]
{Vitamix} St Clements Syllabub
Once I made Custard in the Vitamix, I found a recipe for Vitamix lemon curd and had a try. It turned out to be disappointingly runny. Undeterred, I used a tub of double cream to make a St Clement's Syllabub. St Clement's, from recollection, is a drink made of orange juice mixed with bitter lemon. I recall that one of my aunts used to drink it when she visited us in Cyprus when I was a child. I thought she was desperately elegant and a … [Read more...]
