What is this and do I need one?

I reckon every home should have one. 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go up to a stranger and say "I've got a long dodi prod", nod and smile politely and then walk away. 

Better still, ask the nice man in the supermarket if he has one. Tell him I sent you. ;)

Tra a bit!  

A Good Day

I awarded myself a mental health day today.  No working on a Monday - I could definitely get used to it. It's surprising what a difference having a three day weekend makes. I felt that we had had a proper weekend and I had none of the Sunday night blues to contend with either.    It was lovely.  I managed to fit in some sketching, some tidying and de-cluttering, man and I had a late brekkie of poached eggs whilst watching a favourite prog on catch up tv.  Back to work tomorrow but that's fine. I can cope with four days.  I wish we could afford for me to drop a day but that's not going to happen any time soon.

I've booked next Monday off too so that's something to look forward to.

What do you think of this little lot then?

Nope it's not my weekly shopping. This little haul came free of charge for winning slimmer of the week at slimming club. So pleased!  I just need to find somewhere to put it! 

See you soon xx

I

My Beacon of Light

Hello lovelies

More from the craft pod today.

This little lady has come to life over the course of the last few days. My Beacon of Light - another lesson by the very talented Tamara from http://willowing.ning.com/ in the Lifebook 2015 series. I loved creating this whimsy character and learning new techniques. I'm definitely not a natural artist much to my chagrin but Tam's gentle tuition has helped me to grow a little.

Here's how she started out

A rather disparaging comment from a so called friend nearly caused me to bin her last week but she refused to go down without a fight  and this is how she ended up.

I'm glad I followed my star.

Hope you're keeping warm. Sounds like we are in for a very cold snap this week.

Usually I'd be really fed up by this time on a Sunday evening but tomorrow is a day off. I've awarded myself a 'mental health' day!

Love love!

In-tree-ging

At the back of the shopping centre in town today, we spotted this strange sight in a tree.

Intriguing eh?!

So, what brings a ball of wool and a necklace to be hung very high up on a tree. What do you reckon?  An office secret Santa gift which was far from appreciated by the recipient?  The work of a colour blind magpie?

Enquiring minds wanna know!!

Makes a change from bags of dog poo I suppose. Incidentally why DO people do that?!

See you soon!!

Staying in is the new going out

It's the works `winter party` this evening.  All day, talk has been of dresses and heels and tans and nails. There's a three course dinner, an awards ceremony (yawwwn) hosted by former Olympian Roger Black and a free bar at the venue.

I've got an appointment with the soaps, a hair dye for some very needy roots, a Lush bath bomb and, if I'm very good, an alpen bar and a low cal hot choccie before curling up in bed with my Kindle. I am positively oozing rock and roll from my every pore.

Cons:
1. I'm foregoing all of the above freebies (by choice, and no, I'm far from being the only one!
2. Erm nope can't think of anything else really

Pro's:

1. I haven't had to spend any cash on a frock I shall never wear again;
2. I won't have a hangover which will write off half the weekend (I can't cope with hangovers any more!),
3. I won't blow my diet,
4. I haven't had to spend all night feeling self conscious and like a spare dick at a wedding.

Right decision for me for now methinks.

HAPPY Friday!!

Oh the possibilities!!

The Metro made me giggle the other day.  Apparently an Australian company has been set up which, for a fee, will anonymously send your arch enemy an envelope which explodes in a glitter bomb when opened.  I love this idea.  How can anyone stay in a grump when covered in glitter?

Perhaps there should be a new cry for peace.

GLITTER NOT GUNS.

Let's send them to all the world leaders.

It could catch on. Go on, carry a pocket full of glitter in your pocket and sprinkle it on anyone who pisses you off!!

Keep calm and sparkle!!

Yours, twinklingly

K x

Back to work blues

Hello!

I'm sobbing into my hot chocolate cos my holiday from the dark and gloomy place has come to an end.  When that alarm sounds in the morning I shall be having some choice words with it I can tell you.

We have de-Christmased the house today and all is back to normal.  All the calorific food has been disposed of in readiness for my 750th 're-enrolment at slimming tomorrow.

I've joined an online tutorial group called "life book" where there are lots of like minded craftybpeople learning new art techniques, inspirations, meditations and other great stuff where we have tutorials/classes each week. This will be a massive challenge to the procrastinator in me but will also keep me focussed away from food during my danger time in the evenings. Thank goodness my shed is clear!

This is the first page I have done which was the warm up session and included working with mixed media and layering techniques.  My focus word for the year is 'reduce' and in the envelope are personal challenges to myself.

Hugs to all of you having to return to work tomorrow.  Be brave soldiers!

Xxx

How do you eat yours?

Hello lovelies

A warm welcome to Deborah who has become a follower via blog lovin and to Trudie a new follower on here. Thank you very much for taking time to read my whitterings.  Incidentally if I've missed saying hello to you it's cos blogger confuses me and doesn't always put new followers in order (if that makes sense) so I'm not being rude if I don't mention you.
Moving on ...

Do you like pomegranates?  (See you never know what you're going to be faced with on this blog do you?!)  I know they're classed as some kind of super food these days with hugely beneficial properties but I've loved them since I was little.  It was always a sure sign that Christmas was on the way when the small wooden crates appeared on the green grocer's shelves, holding the leathery fruits nestled in straw or shredded paper.

My Nan always used to buy them, split them in half and then my brother and I would be handed a pin each to prick out the jewelled seeds with.  It kept us quiet for ages, digging for seeds and trying our best to avoid any of the horribly bitter yellow pith which made your mouth pucker.

I've noticed that the supermarkets are selling already prepared packs of the seeds now.  Blooming ridiculous! And stupidly expensive to boot.

I bought a beauty last week; the size of a small grapefruit and pleasingly heavy with juicy seeds.  I did expect this nanny state of ours to issue disclaimers about eating pomegranates with pins these days or at the very least have Social Services camped on the doorstep just in case!  I think I got away with it though having smuggled it home.

Aren't they pretty?

I tried the grown up method of bashing the back of the halved fruit with a wooden spoon a la Jamie Oliver. Begrudgingly it wasn't too bad an idea.  I wanted them to add to a cheese board as they provide a lovely contrast to creamy cheeses like brie when sprinkled over crackers or oat cakes.

It wasn't as much fun as pin pricking though!  The fruit provided a good bowl full so the kids have been nicking spoonfuls of the remaining seeds.

Tomorrow, if this blog hasn't been closed down by Health & Safety I might tell you about the times we toasted doorstep slices of bread on a knife against the bars of Nan's gas fire.  ;)

See you soon!

Nailing New Year.

Hello all

A very Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all had a peaceful start to the new year.

Our evening was filled with much hilarity as is usually the case when my lot get together.  The pork went down a storm and the warm brownies were gooey and fudgy.  The home made ice cream didn't happen as I found out far too late in the day that the bowl has to be put into the freezer for 8 hours before the process starts.  Doh!!  We had cream instead!!

I only had one alcoholic drink last night.  Since my gall bladder op, drinking hasn't agreed with me for some reason.  I went all retro and had a  Snowball having found some in our local shop. I always remember little bottles of Snowball, Cherry B and Babycham appearing around the festive period when I was younger.  I don't think I've had one for about 35 years!  (I can't believe I'm old enough to say that!)

I thought I'd just mention the method I use to cook pulled pork.  It has become a firm favourite at our parties. Set your oven at Gas mark 4 or equivalent.  Take one loin or shoulder joint of pork and remove any fat present.  Place it in a roasting tin and fill the tin up to half way up with stock (I use cubes), throw in some sliced onions if liked, and a good shake of dried sage.  Cover with foil and put the tray on the bottom shelf of the oven and leave to slow cook throughout the day, or for at least six hours.  After about four hours start to break the pork down by pulling and teasing it apart with two forks. If it doesn't do this readily then it just needs a little longer cooking. Add a little more stock if needed to ensure it doesn't dry out and adjust seasoning to taste.  We sometimes add a tablespoon of bbq sauce at this stage and stir it through.  I didn't on this occasion.  Then 're-cover with foil and put back into the oven for another couple of hours or until the pork readily pulls into 'strings'.  A small joint will produce lots of meat this way so it's a good way if making a little go a long way. You could also do much the same in a slow cooker. It's the simplest of things.

Last night we had it on soft baps with stuffing and Apple sauce. There were 8 of us who all had 2 baps each.  Then this evening 3 of us had it with chips, onions and mushrooms for a simple supper. This was using an average size pork loin joint.

You're welcome!!

We've had a ridiculously lazy day today.  It's been very dark, rainy and blowing a gale today. We got up late and have set up camp in the living room catching up on wildlife programmes and snoozing.

I am due to see some work friends tomorrow for lunch and then on Saturday it's nails day.

I've taken to having my nails done (shellac) every couple of weeks. I don't drink or smoke so this is my little treat to myself. The salon staff are lovely and I've built up quite a nice rapport with the ladies who do my nails.  They make me a posh coffee and I can relax for an hour.

October nails. Pumpkin coloured!

Halloween nails- I loved these!

Early December nails.

 

Christmas nails.  And a cheeky black forest hot choc!!

I just need to decide what colour to have for New Year.   How very taxing for me!

See you soon.