tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61912844842422073012024-02-18T18:04:43.077-08:00Stealing Good DesignI steal what I think are the best design ideas from books, the internet and friends for my use within baking and making projects. Now I am passing this information on to you in my blog:
“Stealing Good Design” so you can steal it too...
(Expect cakes, salads, crafts and links to all things Arty).Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-74677642483982262722013-10-25T07:47:00.000-07:002013-10-25T08:30:26.863-07:00Cupcake Commissions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Justice has been done... Frances won the Great British Bake Off! I personally reckon they only went on about her producing things with "style over substance" to keep the others 'in the game'. She's has insanely good taste (including the same casio watch as me!) Ha!</div>
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Just wish I had a baking repertoire to match hers....; one day!</div>
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Sticking with what I know well, I had 2 baking requests last month.</div>
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Firstly, alien cakes for Monty's 4th "Outer Space" themed party:-</div>
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They were a bit fiddly (and I had help from Bella and Scanners) so dread to think how long 30 of these would've taken otherwise!</div>
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In my frenzied baking there was someone who wasn't taking it quite as seriously though!</div>
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Not a great deal to say about the alien cakes really; I quite liked them; I wouldn't want to eat one though to be honest. The ears and antennae were made from:-</div>
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cut out with a teardrop shaped cutter, kindly loaned to me by Georgina and texture applied with a "leaf veining tool". Then the eyes were made from white royal icing too and black detail applied with a dr Oetker icing pen. The frosting was the basic buttercream from the original hummingbird book, tinted with a green wilton food gel but the cakes themselves were a new one for me that I randomly found, and I liked them a lot! </div>
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<a href="http://bakingbites.com/2007/06/vanilla-buttermilk-cupcakes/">http://bakingbites.com/2007/06/vanilla-buttermilk-cupcakes/</a></div>
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And I had next to no time to get M a card so I made one and utilised the free stickers that came with "The dinosaur that pooped a planet" book that I bought for the school library...</div>
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And then came the cakes for Dave's parents' 50th wedding anniversary party...</div>
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And I made a few of these as an experiment as it had been a long time since I'd made them for Kelly's wedding. </div>
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I needn't have worried though and they came out perfectly once again, my only difference being that I used the corn oil that Dave gave me after the last supper club. Apparently, it's one that counts as a "flavourless" oil.</div>
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Here are the full instructions for these lovely cupcakes:-</div>
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<a href="http://stealinggooddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/hummingbird-flavour-cupcakes-learning.html">http://stealinggooddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/hummingbird-flavour-cupcakes-learning.html</a></div>
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Also keen to point out that Frances used this pineapple idea for her showstopper wedding cake in the final. I'll stop hero-worshipping soon (probably).</div>
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And Dave liked the design and it fitted his brief of NO BLING perfectly, but then he went and ordered edible rice paper heads of his parents. So I just ate these:-</div>
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Plan B didn't happen either though as the heads didn't arrive so I regretted eating my pineapple flowers and rushed to TESCOs for some emergency embellishments....</div>
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For the cakes with the raspberry jam filling I used raspberries and mint...</div>
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and dried pineapple, coconut and a pecan to tie in with the flavours in the hummingbird cakes. </div>
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And they were boxed and ready to go as soon as he knocked the door leaving us an extra 5 minutes to worry about where to buy balloons and which suit he should wear!</div>
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And I was just about to launch into cheesecakes galore but I think that'll keep for a few days,</div>
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plus I have baking to do (what a surprise!)</div>
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Jo :)</div>
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-37442305293804223182013-10-16T12:21:00.001-07:002013-10-16T12:21:58.581-07:00The cool kids are drinking Campari (and his cousins!) Drinks from the Italian Campari group are having a huge resurgence; I'm noticing it everywhere!<br />
No self-respecting drinks list in Barcelona didn't feature an Aperol Spritzer. It was only right to see what all the fuss was about...<br />
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It's bitter, it looks like lucozade but it's strangely addictive and once you adjust to how unusual it is... Wow! At 11% strength (half that of Campari) it's one of the weaker liqueurs out there...<br />
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When I introduced Annabel to it the other day she said "it reminds me of Irn Bru" - I'm not sure I totally go along with that, but in any case, the problem being??? I love Irn Bru too, when I visited Liz in Fife we took a detour to have this:-<br />
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Irn Bru flavoured ice cream; oh yes! It's weird but so good!<br />
<br />
So I bought myself a bottle of Aperol, this stuff is easy to get your hands on and it only took a trip to Sainsburys. This guardian article explains how you can make yourself an Aperol spritz in the comfort of your own home...<br />
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/08/make-your-own-aperol-spritz">http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/08/make-your-own-aperol-spritz</a><br />
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I'm not sure why he felt the need to keep saying "optional gin" - that would appear to me too much like a "negroni" (a massively alcoholic concoction that seems, sorry to be sexist, more of a "manly drink"). I "got through" my experiment of drinking this, feeling more than a bit guilty for not realising all it's constituent alcoholic parts on James's round. <br />
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As well as this, David has "helpfully" got me into this:-<br />
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Now owned by the Campari group too, this is a liqueur made from... artichokes. Being the determined person that he is, Dave tracked down the only place in Bristol to sell it (Aqua) but even they didn't have it last weekend. I checked with the dumbfounded barman who was trying to push "a new kind of mojito" onto us. He looked straight back at me with poppy eyes repeating "A liqueur made from artichokes?" which was promptly followed by "but why would you want <i>that</i>?" I'd have been inclined to agree if I hadn't tasted Dave's "Cynar (pronounced Chin-arrr") on the rocks, previously. It was the obvious choice of birthday gift for Dave last week and Scanners and I treated him to a bottle. I did, however, have to order it online. My 'googling' has taught me it's popular in Switzerland and often mixed with orange juice, and regarded as a 'digestif' as well as an 'aperetif' because of it's artichoke component. Give it a go...<br />
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And finally, there's this:-<br />
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And, just as my obsession with these beverages with hitting it's peak, there it was... a recipe for Campari and Cantaloupe lolipops by Shutterbean (one of my favourite food bloggers). So I made them at the "Karen-van". Alcoholic ice lollies; it's what school summer holidays {for over 18's} are made of!<br />
I am not going to beat the photography of Tracy Shutterbean; I'm not even gonna try, but if this idea floats your boat here you go...<br />
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<a href="http://www.shutterbean.com/2013/campari-cantaloupe-popsicles/">http://www.shutterbean.com/2013/campari-cantaloupe-popsicles/</a></div>
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I have a confession, these drinks are not my only obsession at the moment.</div>
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There's also this:-</div>
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Yeah, I know; don't judge me; I didn't murder anyone!<br />
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And I haven't gone this far (yet;)<br />
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Oh, and there's also this:-<br />
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It's had a lot of bad press lately but I used it loads on my 3 Spanish city breaks and I'm on a "reviewing frenzy" at the moment posting my humble opinion. I used to get offered quite a few Mystery Customer assignments with a company I found a few years ago but I think tripadvisor has filled that gap now.<br />
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Anyway, 'necessity is the mother of invention' as they say, and with Spain's crumbling economy Barcelona got creative...!<br />
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The first clandestine eatery I read about was this:-<br />
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Yep, a drycleaners...<br />
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Except it's not; 'Tintoria Dontell' means "Don't tell" and it's a pretend shop front that you walk into and then they mock finger print you and lead you down a long corridor lined with white leather sofas until you get to this completely over-the-top secret supper club...<br />
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How ridiculously cool is that!<br />
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We also read about a few other smaller affairs that were "pop-ups" hosted in all manner of places but a permanent fixture is this "prohibition style, Bugsy Malone-esque" supper club; "Speakeasy",<br />
that's "secretly" accessed by walking through the kitchen of "Martinis".<br />
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This place plays homage to "all things martini" with hundreds of different cocktails. I think it's probably top of my list of places to go next time.<br />
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Although my envy was shortlived as I remembered the uber-cool, clandestine, "Milk thistle" Bristol has that "does 1920s glam" like nowhere else I've ever seen...! I love it (but go on payday!)</div>
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And so back to Barcelona... not to be missed, housed in MNAC (Museu Nacional de Catalunya)<br />
{The national art museum} is the multiple award winning "Oleum" restaurant<br />
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The views were breathtaking...<br />
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You earn them a bit though at 'Oleum' as you trek on up to this museum via a pile of steps interspersed with outdoor escalators, and if you eat here (at a price that's not outrageous) you will be viewing the city from where those 3 arched windows are just below the dome... Ahhhhh!<br />
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And finally, there's ice-cream to be had, very good ice-cream, and if you're like me you'll be glad you went out of your way to find it...</div>
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First up "Gelaati!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6loK-WGly9P89a4DPGn2SzrrxvJ6UriPOUeBD7Y0Vn6KmJv0vA_0fXoLWDhlNciz2UwRA8wwuiMbJmbMlw19uC82WPe6wQP-ltgXMbJM0A17kwfpsVYEIgvGdzKGXZbyFe5DwDWu18v8/s1600/gelaaati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6loK-WGly9P89a4DPGn2SzrrxvJ6UriPOUeBD7Y0Vn6KmJv0vA_0fXoLWDhlNciz2UwRA8wwuiMbJmbMlw19uC82WPe6wQP-ltgXMbJM0A17kwfpsVYEIgvGdzKGXZbyFe5DwDWu18v8/s320/gelaaati.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With an "ice-cream lab" at the back. I opted for this very niche combo with sheep's milk, saffron, ricotta and pistachios. I'll admit, it sounds disgusting and I actually hate saffron but something told me to go for it and it tasted sensational!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4rn6zmiWvsvwcZFqqTHNi-bf7_YhcvdwKV5LYHYqmYMkD_-WXcO8MmoZY3h1ozOVvLDdNRoRXQnRUU_rSZxI0p35Zw2D_pevJDi5JjUJ8dvLW7LTaIh1bIpWmNI1DuHE614djFn8j70/s1600/1497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4rn6zmiWvsvwcZFqqTHNi-bf7_YhcvdwKV5LYHYqmYMkD_-WXcO8MmoZY3h1ozOVvLDdNRoRXQnRUU_rSZxI0p35Zw2D_pevJDi5JjUJ8dvLW7LTaIh1bIpWmNI1DuHE614djFn8j70/s320/1497.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And just outside Barcelona in Girona, the multiple michelin starred restaurant "El Celler de can roca" now own an ice-cream shop, but it's not just any ice-cream shop, it's called "Rocambolesc" and it's so cute it hurts!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlg2R4bFI4-E2cXDBfDQ2QA9iR98zo-MVq6kVpaDigaUBIAnrIBDe1yaKAbI1pHEaUQh6G5Z00UX9Ti5dwuW3Qz0THZS5pBM3KnR9gFc-lcGJ9l5a7W0PFSwWmj12kK-UeIC4kQpBxV8/s1600/rocambolesc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlg2R4bFI4-E2cXDBfDQ2QA9iR98zo-MVq6kVpaDigaUBIAnrIBDe1yaKAbI1pHEaUQh6G5Z00UX9Ti5dwuW3Qz0THZS5pBM3KnR9gFc-lcGJ9l5a7W0PFSwWmj12kK-UeIC4kQpBxV8/s320/rocambolesc1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ladios; Barcelona you were amazing! </div>
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Jo :)</div>
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-53850031763722806822013-08-15T14:34:00.000-07:002013-08-15T14:34:15.934-07:00Rube Goldberg greatness.I have always loved dominoes and marble runs. When the PTA gave me money for "wet playtime stuff" for my class these were the first 2 things I bought (they're essential in my opinion!)<br />
I also had a really tall marble run installed in my bathroom for a few months for the fun of watching it whilst having a bath. My 2 bed end-of-link new build doesn't really have the space or ability for it to not be a trip hazard though and my sister doesn't remember me having it so it can't of lasted that long. Maybe one day when I have my mansion with clay pizza oven, slide to connect upstairs and downstairs like this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK822rxlFwdWRPGeqWFmOyCWlKnVix7JXCVR0zqzMx7UHMHJPxsN5aUr7VlSGj_aYqKH2rUPpnMQnKs3ZzxKTsA4R2955I49sJKyzwTELMPQlbHfrtOd8Z69K-Pqzpx6D7BCh0c4gq95Q/s1600/indoor+slide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK822rxlFwdWRPGeqWFmOyCWlKnVix7JXCVR0zqzMx7UHMHJPxsN5aUr7VlSGj_aYqKH2rUPpnMQnKs3ZzxKTsA4R2955I49sJKyzwTELMPQlbHfrtOd8Z69K-Pqzpx6D7BCh0c4gq95Q/s320/indoor+slide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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walk-in wardrobe like this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ-9cqhQLQ0iPL0Nzls5lF05kPJ8q1wfdmH4o2ro1FpvtZPGugYW_Y6v28J5v3VKEOA2i3kbK0PeyD3AiOhowwMAvTROhOca7EjUZChmkgLMYXRq7QkUU4ZLOeOMD0_5i9rZtBTjTOSs/s1600/walk-in-closet-plans-ideas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ-9cqhQLQ0iPL0Nzls5lF05kPJ8q1wfdmH4o2ro1FpvtZPGugYW_Y6v28J5v3VKEOA2i3kbK0PeyD3AiOhowwMAvTROhOca7EjUZChmkgLMYXRq7QkUU4ZLOeOMD0_5i9rZtBTjTOSs/s320/walk-in-closet-plans-ideas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and bunk beds for Ben and Tom to stay over like this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9IllSJEvxlZwcuVtFQoa2o3RYjuhag9nvkD7Oeyc5JiLjAGnd4I8Ma18uoNjW9MYNjRjJjtPKEdUbiR8C8w3AKKAo3m53pYgV6or3NFiNSu1_TF28AZT-0BorquGp581Zn2bnfzrR8A/s1600/coolest+bunks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9IllSJEvxlZwcuVtFQoa2o3RYjuhag9nvkD7Oeyc5JiLjAGnd4I8Ma18uoNjW9MYNjRjJjtPKEdUbiR8C8w3AKKAo3m53pYgV6or3NFiNSu1_TF28AZT-0BorquGp581Zn2bnfzrR8A/s1600/coolest+bunks.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'll also have a fantastic marble run adorning the wall!</div>
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Or maybe I'll at least have this:-</div>
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<a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Wall-Graphic-Design-Proposal/3919991">http://www.behance.net/gallery/Wall-Graphic-Design-Proposal/3919991</a></div>
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If you are also a fan of the marble run you can visit the UK's biggest one that is, quite aptly, housed in "The House of Marbles" (in Bovey Tracey in Devon). Despite him thinking I was (losing my) marbles over how excited I was about reading of this attraction, an ex-boyfriend, who hadn't been there either, agreed to driving me there to ogle it (on condition I visited his parents who lived near it). I was horrified when he told me about this - how could he have lived so close to this marble museum for all those years without visiting it????!!!! So, we went, and it looks like this:-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWd7Tz63EBExZW3lFX2CKP_qgrKacXBfslt6-2EE6LQD6wRCLr0UELgPYXRQ721_8Rd-LVGoF9Jgez_bknchNzADVx3mdNnaaYbnD1AbMHnxfSy5_EjQ_hVZZ2-xi3SzczoZpRUb3ecY/s1600/marble-run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWd7Tz63EBExZW3lFX2CKP_qgrKacXBfslt6-2EE6LQD6wRCLr0UELgPYXRQ721_8Rd-LVGoF9Jgez_bknchNzADVx3mdNnaaYbnD1AbMHnxfSy5_EjQ_hVZZ2-xi3SzczoZpRUb3ecY/s320/marble-run.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you want to see it in (in real life) here's their website:-<br />
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<a href="http://www.houseofmarbles.com/the-house-of-marbles-at-bovey-tracey">http://www.houseofmarbles.com/the-house-of-marbles-at-bovey-tracey</a><br />
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Or, someone has very kindly filmed it and put it onto youtube:-<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHGjwPpBKw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHGjwPpBKw</a><br />
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Ahhh, reminds me of endless hours playing this with Kazmo...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKPZjbcy7MCkNYo0MvrJkHO0K5uIxM4JStGsnzamPECECmsQXVatBF3iDep3ETLNRBPmDhpdreSOD-Xw2lT1PkAia3U5koB6_F6vvq2E6aAG9HTo7n98q6-A-LPIprTkN-me3Pf2JlGc/s1600/screwball+scramble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKPZjbcy7MCkNYo0MvrJkHO0K5uIxM4JStGsnzamPECECmsQXVatBF3iDep3ETLNRBPmDhpdreSOD-Xw2lT1PkAia3U5koB6_F6vvq2E6aAG9HTo7n98q6-A-LPIprTkN-me3Pf2JlGc/s320/screwball+scramble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And that kind of moves me onto Rube Goldberg machines.<br />
I cannot define a Rube Goldberg machine without Wikipedia's help; so...<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">"A </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">Rube Goldberg machine</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">contraption</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">invention</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">device</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">, or </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">apparatus</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"> is a deliberately over-engineered or overdone </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; text-decoration: none;" title="Machine">machine</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"> that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_reaction" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; text-decoration: none;" title="Chain reaction">chain reaction</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">The U.K equivalent might be a "Heath Robinson" contraption, apparently.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"><b>Think this:-</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ufzRwbs47iEhwzfetMvkbAcO4UtRLKgjcMLmuwcSEWS3U7L1Zm1bAEnGGnLeLZrBlFMveQnpmf0HVh58bcWdPcH55QuA3Sj_6wVGOdaJYXxUYAhn8wqMoiNb2Nnu3EAxM43AR9qEdKI/s1600/mousetrap+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ufzRwbs47iEhwzfetMvkbAcO4UtRLKgjcMLmuwcSEWS3U7L1Zm1bAEnGGnLeLZrBlFMveQnpmf0HVh58bcWdPcH55QuA3Sj_6wVGOdaJYXxUYAhn8wqMoiNb2Nnu3EAxM43AR9qEdKI/s1600/mousetrap+game.jpg" /></a></div>
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And of course someone has made a life-size one (in America)</div>
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Sorry I don't know how to "embed" videos; click below the pics...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKxtrUhz6C4hg3A0EEGkb474ViyZn_Die83GzSGb3T0AxshkB7mTHKuiLY4aW8Ev1oyvxyisBJRwUjKzf_SVQRBMGTzQvKNC_f0ZpIuJltmS_KH97xehZJIBtxegZ_5QibCx9WEfg498/s1600/lifesize+mousetrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKxtrUhz6C4hg3A0EEGkb474ViyZn_Die83GzSGb3T0AxshkB7mTHKuiLY4aW8Ev1oyvxyisBJRwUjKzf_SVQRBMGTzQvKNC_f0ZpIuJltmS_KH97xehZJIBtxegZ_5QibCx9WEfg498/s1600/lifesize+mousetrap.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Rdqrdw8qt3Y">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Rdqrdw8qt3Y</a></div>
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Remember the band OK-GO who did that amazing synchronised treadmill video?</div>
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Well, they made a mouse-trap parody video:-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgA95xtXFpGAfGKbOH7JkbB40_sg-GkibaVsbpUZvtKDyx7HmO-OLjD5yk2hWCkTMbDAWI-eFfJRiKQTSmG5DGgmWAiNI7WmmPwCAbPq7N22n0j8HjWCT_8nHWNHKy-t8QWkkmyi56nc/s1600/ok+go+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgA95xtXFpGAfGKbOH7JkbB40_sg-GkibaVsbpUZvtKDyx7HmO-OLjD5yk2hWCkTMbDAWI-eFfJRiKQTSmG5DGgmWAiNI7WmmPwCAbPq7N22n0j8HjWCT_8nHWNHKy-t8QWkkmyi56nc/s1600/ok+go+mouse.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_0i5WqiIcc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_0i5WqiIcc</a></div>
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But, the reason I started thinking about all of these things is because of OK-GO's </div>
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Rube Golberg machine that was playing in a Barcelona design museum we visited this week.</div>
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You have to watch this!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4P0Q80UBPV4vwBMbpf24CsJqu5Or7t2RrQk2ABkxY5N4BZGHqQv71zLpfmpmWuAnmDBw2oGmGHSkxmuWPyH0753qA-VbEreMSR0Whyphenhypheny8f0dSb_LUqwznD5sxRK04J4tlrX6elm_m2_I/s1600/ok+go+rube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4P0Q80UBPV4vwBMbpf24CsJqu5Or7t2RrQk2ABkxY5N4BZGHqQv71zLpfmpmWuAnmDBw2oGmGHSkxmuWPyH0753qA-VbEreMSR0Whyphenhypheny8f0dSb_LUqwznD5sxRK04J4tlrX6elm_m2_I/s1600/ok+go+rube.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w</a></div>
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And why not remind yourself how good their treadmill video is while you're at it:-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBO4PpuYlZcqvywBhv0hF-Vg2Xk4AZ_6JVPR5sONpKCx_4aLXbqefrxuiLNvLFOwM-feQkQmQMFSIMsXnzbv1qj5yw4nHLfso_rFDimuk24TX6Ha7dVnJAFLM_mL8_CQsgwi0a6mbQ6g/s1600/ok+go+treadmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBO4PpuYlZcqvywBhv0hF-Vg2Xk4AZ_6JVPR5sONpKCx_4aLXbqefrxuiLNvLFOwM-feQkQmQMFSIMsXnzbv1qj5yw4nHLfso_rFDimuk24TX6Ha7dVnJAFLM_mL8_CQsgwi0a6mbQ6g/s1600/ok+go+treadmill.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA</a></div>
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I actually just looked up OK-GO tour dates; they must do some great wacky stuff live but no future ones are listed, just previous ones including the flippin' Bristol Thekla!!! Gutted doesn't come close!</div>
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And finally, all these kooky videos reminded me of how trippy and cool this chemical brothers video was / is :- </div>
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Right, better go, I'm off to make a Rube Goldberg machine! Only joking (probably;)</div>
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Jo :)</div>
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P.S. Anyone got a venue I can use to try doing this...?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPyVz-41eI4QdgMkhvuju9UotriNiuS9DeOnf0RhIzJJLBh__j6TvYvUmNRvnPO3jHtN4IxxEBJqVHFja8vKk18Wn9faBf2UEpKUMNlQszS1I5gZqhhzeSbtyxgLoebTvOCNgcR0BdHE/s1600/dom+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPyVz-41eI4QdgMkhvuju9UotriNiuS9DeOnf0RhIzJJLBh__j6TvYvUmNRvnPO3jHtN4IxxEBJqVHFja8vKk18Wn9faBf2UEpKUMNlQszS1I5gZqhhzeSbtyxgLoebTvOCNgcR0BdHE/s1600/dom+run.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-79151266645311273892013-05-18T06:50:00.001-07:002013-05-18T06:50:26.605-07:00The Stars & Stripes Supper Club<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">If you
attended or read about my pop-up restaurant then you’ll know all about the
“Daffodil Supper Club” that I set up in memory of my Granddad and to raise money
for the Alzheimer’s society. You may also know that I’ve decided to “re-run the
fun” with a new theme, continuing to make money for this great charity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">Ever since I did my teaching placement in New York, I've had a soft-spot for American recipes, have followed numerous American food writers and have listened to their podcasts and bought their books. I have also paid huge sums for imported foods to be able to obtain the necessary ingredients to make Yankee creations, so, it seemed like an obvious choice for the next theme in my pop-up restaurant repertoire. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">So, here it is...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I really
wanted to hire 40 Alfred place for independence day but the hire fee for the 4</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">
July (a Thursday) was a </span><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">negligible</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> difference from the weekend rates, so I’ve
gone with Friday 5</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and Saturday 6</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th </sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">The taste
tasting has begun (at home and away) and David and I are researching how we can
best deliver on the chosen dishes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the
same deal as last time; there is <b><u>£15 per head to pay in advance which needs to go straight onto my JustGiving page</u></b> with a note stating which day
you’d like to attend and if you need a vegetarian option or have special dietary
requirements.(dairy-free/nut-free/diabetic can be catered for)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Phillips5">http://www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Phillips5</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">Then there is
a further <u><b>£10 per head</b> <b>to pay</b> <b>on the night</b></u> which covers the costs of
ingredients and the venue hire – so please turn up!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">So, for your
£25 meal you can expect the following (or very similar)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><b>A complimentary glass of wine / bottle
of Budweiser / Non-alcoholic milkshake</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On tables: Nachos and salsa,
jalapenos and sour cream dip</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><span style="color: red;">Starter: Sweetcorn fritters </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Main: Slow cooked pulled
pork/homemade coleslaw/spicy sweet potato and potato wedges<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(Vegetarian alternative of spicy
beanburger)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Dessert: New York style baked cheesecake</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Tea/coffee and salted caramel popcorn</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I will have a </span><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">license</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> to be able to sell reasonably priced drinks on the night and would be
so pleased if you’d do that or if your taste is more niche a £2 per person corkage
fee applies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">I’m hoping to
make the event even better than last time and hope that it will enable me to
say that I (we) raised £3,000 over the 2 events. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">I’m also in
the process of negotiating an appearance from a “Welsh Elvis” to liven things
up on the Friday and hope to find some entertainment for Saturday also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">I will also hopefully be selling cupcakes and other homemade goods that you can purchase to take away
on the night if you’d like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">As
coincidence would have it I was walking around Tescos the other day thinking that
I really should get on and write this blog post when I saw something VERY
exciting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">An American
food section!!! </span><span style="line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">Reese's</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> puffs in a </span><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">British</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> supermarket, are you kidding me? Not
to mention the eggnog syrup, chocolate covered cookie dough and tins of
pumpkin puree! Awesome!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, that’s
about it, I have no creative </span><span style="line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">endeavors</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> to photograph just now, the pumpkin is
saved for Autumn, the eggnog for Christmas and I’d better get back to planning
this pop-up event.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">But I've one more job to do today, and that is to email 40 Alfred Place with my "logo" and details of the event, watch this space.... </span></div>
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<a href="http://40alfredplace.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://40alfredplace.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"> and... Have a nice
day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">Jo x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;">P.S. The main course got even better this week (Here is what I was able to add to my facebook event) - Yay!!! </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">Some friends and I met up at "The 3 Tuns" (just off College Green) this evening for another round of the best sandwiches Bristol has to offer. Indeed they are the best sandwiches that I have ever tasted in my life! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">The guy (Ben) who runs "Meat & Bread" has been a chef for years and has a particular flair and passion for curing and smoking his own meats. This fascination led to him setting up a wildly popular sandwich cart that sold his mega sandwiches in central Bristol every lunchtime. To make life interesting and just because he could, he would tweet about the day's flavours and announce where he was going to trade from that day. With instant queues of 50+ people arriving and with demand outweighing supply it was time to trade from a premises. You can get his magnificent sandwiches that look like something from a meat-worshiping American diner TV show, Tues-Sat 12-2 and 6-9p.m or earlier if they sell out (often). And the reason I am telling you all this is because....... </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">Ben has agreed to provide all the home-cooked, unbelievably tasty pulled pork for the Stars & Stripes supper club at a very reasonable cost. I simply cannot believe my luck right now and neither will you when you taste that meat. In the meantime I can highly recommend a super sandwich......! </span></span></i></div>
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-37676654162654351902013-03-17T18:25:00.004-07:002013-03-17T18:25:43.968-07:00 Baking For Birthday Boys!Ben turned one this week and I made a promise to myself that I'd make my nephews the best birthday cakes I could for their 1st birthdays. "It's what Aunties are for" according to Georgina.<br />
So I'll give you a quick peek at my efforts, just in case you have a funny 5 minutes and decide you want to make a giant pirate ship cake like this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftgTH1jChksta1K43EAN3xJx9Gubdgd5BR4ce4IJ4O0q_6hicIHnQAg4P1m3N5IUBP6_5ghdZ43uUHy2uppSZobBZsW9_FO6fmGOEzd-MYcEDxgObG38Az3rkXEZsyHHwioQG5vwR0JY/s1600/photo+(76).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftgTH1jChksta1K43EAN3xJx9Gubdgd5BR4ce4IJ4O0q_6hicIHnQAg4P1m3N5IUBP6_5ghdZ43uUHy2uppSZobBZsW9_FO6fmGOEzd-MYcEDxgObG38Az3rkXEZsyHHwioQG5vwR0JY/s320/photo+(76).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Step 1: Go to Toys R Us and buy a Playmobil Pirate set.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vF1BWA0yqyncnbmBWxrtyCfAaSsid1dYtJqXsa3TRltZG_lO_f1xQv8nb2ter8thEOb-YE8mVs7VBK4dN6vE46-KJqusGB4VASJgTNW26XOevO4Obvs6gp3EwQdE04txZaKgYZNyPWg/s1600/photo+(77).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vF1BWA0yqyncnbmBWxrtyCfAaSsid1dYtJqXsa3TRltZG_lO_f1xQv8nb2ter8thEOb-YE8mVs7VBK4dN6vE46-KJqusGB4VASJgTNW26XOevO4Obvs6gp3EwQdE04txZaKgYZNyPWg/s320/photo+(77).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Step 2: Buy a cake board large enough for your beast of a cake.</div>
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Step 3: Get 3 wooden kebab skewers and thread some cardboard "sails" onto them.</div>
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And now start baking...</div>
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I made the victoria sponge "all in one" recipe from BBC good food which has always served me well. Liz W would tell you that you should weigh your eggs and scale up or down the other ingredients. She may well be right but I have never bothered and the results have always been good enough for me...</div>
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http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1997/classic-victoria-sandwich</div>
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Then I made Priya's (that was Claire's) reliable chocolate cake that is super easy.</div>
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6 oz marge</div>
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6 oz caster sugar</div>
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3 medium eggs</div>
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5.5 oz cocoa</div>
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5.5 oz self-raising flour</div>
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1 tsp water</div>
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Cream the sugar and marge</div>
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Add the 3 eggs</div>
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Add the water</div>
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Sift the flour and cocoa to the other mixture and mix</div>
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Divide the mixture between 2 greased circular tins</div>
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Bake for 15-18 mins on 190</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8taav1NiZGJmlE_pI2t1mQXz6sQdIj9jJHRWdw2WxAOO0uMg9XWxghQEqKpAdWozYQHmv3cs77vV-IxLsR13janXIMmHU4NVAghW_F0BM9OeGzaWi7o4HVlqnH_HDjzCpJcfOy1rhB60/s1600/photo+(68).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8taav1NiZGJmlE_pI2t1mQXz6sQdIj9jJHRWdw2WxAOO0uMg9XWxghQEqKpAdWozYQHmv3cs77vV-IxLsR13janXIMmHU4NVAghW_F0BM9OeGzaWi7o4HVlqnH_HDjzCpJcfOy1rhB60/s320/photo+(68).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Then I cut the cakes in half to make semi-circles</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZZyzZdnAaxStqXr_PzYtay9XlB4L0WwySadusXpaFuiEbdGqhSBc3h8njIDpDcDPvyfCOc0LL6MKDT6RXH3qrUdlIENNMz2d34mBcQXn9-vRcXD00xqkztu47PNkO0TOKEFyApBtdCY/s1600/photo+%252867%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZZyzZdnAaxStqXr_PzYtay9XlB4L0WwySadusXpaFuiEbdGqhSBc3h8njIDpDcDPvyfCOc0LL6MKDT6RXH3qrUdlIENNMz2d34mBcQXn9-vRcXD00xqkztu47PNkO0TOKEFyApBtdCY/s320/photo+%252867%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Then I cut the edges off so the boat could stand up.</i></div>
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Then I made chocolate frosting from a recipe in my Joy The Baker cookbook. The I sandwiched the (alternating) chocolate and vanilla cakes together with masses of frosting and slathered more on the sides and top of the boat. This frosting recipe was a pain, I won't lie. It was however, as good as Joy promised and I'm sure I'll never find better! The recipe isn't on her blog but this book is worth having (and worth the time to convert US to UK quantities, I promise). I won't type out the whole frosting recipe unless it's requested, but here's the book of utter loveliness, that Scanners was cooing over whilst she helped me decorate the cake:-</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joy-Baker-Cookbook-Wilson/dp/1401310605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363565608&sr=8-1</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">And here again, is the lovely Scanners, posing with the day's handywork! (The light was fading at this point after hours of assembling and we were both on a bit of a "sugar low" when the effects of eating a pile of leftover "cannonballs and barrells" had worn off :S)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV41StBD-g6UzLKbMyKP05lnZoYquf-qGKQ0kgYxmqPbdymz-hYjYyhDDQrwfP-o1Cs3xTX4mxilMo1Yw27Ibqc26e-L1ajUW3B_6zdbrhjONlI96IlMmFTDtz7LGz-q63WKEFt1Om4nQ/s1600/photo+(69).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV41StBD-g6UzLKbMyKP05lnZoYquf-qGKQ0kgYxmqPbdymz-hYjYyhDDQrwfP-o1Cs3xTX4mxilMo1Yw27Ibqc26e-L1ajUW3B_6zdbrhjONlI96IlMmFTDtz7LGz-q63WKEFt1Om4nQ/s320/photo+(69).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The chocolate twist "ropes" are wafers from B&M bargains, the cannonballs are maltesers and the mini barrels are made from putting 2 rolos together. The KABOOM cannon ball candle and the musical candle came from Occasion cakes and I borrowed some blue Wilton gel from Georgina to dye the buttercream blue for the sea.</div>
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The idea came from a lady called Bree who I found by googling pirate ship cake. <span style="text-align: left;">Her photography is A LOT better than my few rubbish shots downloaded from my iphone so do check her efforts out...!</span></div>
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http://bakedbree.com/pirate-ship-cake</div>
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And, as Karen had bought cupcake bargain pirate stands, I had to make a few cupcakes too.</div>
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Priya says The Primrose Cafe book has the best vanilla cupcake recipe. I made mine from a BBC good food recipe and a Hummingbird Bakery one, neither of which were perfect, so maybe I'll try the Primrose next. The recipe does appear to have a ridiculous amount of sugar though! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu5FIBQs_1FrlprEi1uBqedkA-zqpS8xFqIVWQ5JUG6fzmomhZagMNvsiN4RXYXeDhD7nQCM-EoAzHztEfU8qWr3IyhHoBnv9eJxB3zugn3DY6onePxtbtsxbqHxIaoIYNKC_XMeN9lI/s1600/photo+(72).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu5FIBQs_1FrlprEi1uBqedkA-zqpS8xFqIVWQ5JUG6fzmomhZagMNvsiN4RXYXeDhD7nQCM-EoAzHztEfU8qWr3IyhHoBnv9eJxB3zugn3DY6onePxtbtsxbqHxIaoIYNKC_XMeN9lI/s320/photo+(72).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>How I wish you could see the "bandanna-style" print on the cake cases - so cute!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsqGnx16P5ubkvRx_xWLL94RTFRl8LdAKvYCr_nRc0owONY4oDQ_LRfEcWya-Kx8wnLWqJchnQZ8wn6_1-7LiGV5Azctgi2D4zLrjfzqD7SjL5jyPlsx1iIeO1q6VjJJPTzMX2jGUJSw/s1600/photo+(75).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsqGnx16P5ubkvRx_xWLL94RTFRl8LdAKvYCr_nRc0owONY4oDQ_LRfEcWya-Kx8wnLWqJchnQZ8wn6_1-7LiGV5Azctgi2D4zLrjfzqD7SjL5jyPlsx1iIeO1q6VjJJPTzMX2jGUJSw/s320/photo+(75).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And that was it for Benny Boy's birthday.</div>
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When Tom turned one he got this from me:-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwOPlPDZiQYOjxFk9H_BSgwxO1DjvRdq2ZPqcOjOU3CyJ1l43r9qXRT3uSuRNY99YPpz7wk9pWUlydk0Mqcx9PEkdtKcPV6ij0ZE1zEk5bgXp8Kxy2VE5bdGpmx0bIOJOg0ujUme20lU/s1600/tom+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwOPlPDZiQYOjxFk9H_BSgwxO1DjvRdq2ZPqcOjOU3CyJ1l43r9qXRT3uSuRNY99YPpz7wk9pWUlydk0Mqcx9PEkdtKcPV6ij0ZE1zEk5bgXp8Kxy2VE5bdGpmx0bIOJOg0ujUme20lU/s320/tom+train.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSNcOxbquLSBC-wpHa6rzOMaz3QM8bldPMDV5Zg_SFdHvaHegfHCVBtydncY7Bkl7x5i-XzFNSAzPBeIkvl68wpHrdE8-J3UDK0ATJ6rr571PI4My9DgWAIhvpns_ar-qU9defFfvbiI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSNcOxbquLSBC-wpHa6rzOMaz3QM8bldPMDV5Zg_SFdHvaHegfHCVBtydncY7Bkl7x5i-XzFNSAzPBeIkvl68wpHrdE8-J3UDK0ATJ6rr571PI4My9DgWAIhvpns_ar-qU9defFfvbiI/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mXrFkmsmUodi8H2y5tIZynfD1P_WJ_-QMMJyTgAOs-0sogP4rCiThf7ssgEJXyMFB9iQ8gAHRKDwsaK2LCD-tKJAoKVAk9n0G1e_cb-Ul1vPngz1UPUxA2_Gn_4CXm-cATIPz4XuLI/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mXrFkmsmUodi8H2y5tIZynfD1P_WJ_-QMMJyTgAOs-0sogP4rCiThf7ssgEJXyMFB9iQ8gAHRKDwsaK2LCD-tKJAoKVAk9n0G1e_cb-Ul1vPngz1UPUxA2_Gn_4CXm-cATIPz4XuLI/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The track was liquorice wheels rolled out onto lollipop sticks.</i></div>
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I'm not sure if you can really appreciate the size of this train from these pictures but when you know that each wheel is an oreo and that it's sitting on a shelf from Owen's book case you get the idea...! It was HUGE! Every carriage is a loaf tin of Hummingbird bakery pound loaf. Priya was integral to the assembly of this creation and at one point she said it was feeling like a cake-making Ofsted. Luckily, however, the pain of "Cakested" had faded enough for me to put the same effort into Ben's cake(s).</div>
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So, Tom and Ben are very welcome to request whatever cake they'd like from Aunty Jo for their future birthdays, but they may be given this book to choose it from as it has a good selection of easy to make cakes of all descriptions and really is the best book I've seen for kids' cakes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpkRsVZ7q6UL0AnFxtKHvRutWJfhMPK9mjikQ0CR9L8zeQtoMoxhNCbYo10sOX512eRwI59fvH3beLv7nPFUr-murvHCxka_8YFakfgwAcBqKBOaM30PT0F8uWVKIyG7SgzOG3xapTt4/s1600/photo+(78).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpkRsVZ7q6UL0AnFxtKHvRutWJfhMPK9mjikQ0CR9L8zeQtoMoxhNCbYo10sOX512eRwI59fvH3beLv7nPFUr-murvHCxka_8YFakfgwAcBqKBOaM30PT0F8uWVKIyG7SgzOG3xapTt4/s320/photo+(78).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy birthday Ben, I love you and Tom very much!</div>
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Aunty Jo xxx </div>
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-17279720630607219522013-03-11T15:16:00.000-07:002013-03-11T16:05:42.678-07:00The Daffodil Restaurant Round-Up So, the daffodil supper club came and went and in total I raised around £1500 for the Alzheimer's society and am pretty delighted with that fact! I was bowled over by the kindness and support that I received from family, friends and strangers to support my venture!<br />
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On the Thursday evening I went along to set up the venue with my Mum and Aunty Liz and scurried around moving tables and arranging daffodils, then in walks David to run his eye over the equipment for the next day... and problem number 1 surfaced. The kitchen had NO GRILL, but I'd promised 80 people cheese on toast to start!!! How.... could.... this.... be.... happening!!! Dave tried to reassure me and put forward some wacky suggestions to get around the problem but I remained sceptical about all of them. Then Pete turned up to witness my panic and whisked Dave to the pub. Dave refused to panic and knew something would work out but I was unconvinced. I was desperate to get hold of a grill but ran into many dead ends. Unbeknown to me however, Pete was to be met in the street the next day by his neighbour who was locked out of his shop. This neighbour was carrying a large piece of cooking equipment and struggling along. Then he asked Pete if he could possibly look after it for the weekend; no problem said Pete, what is it? It was a portable electric grill! And in that instant we were magically saved.<br />
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Then the nice surprises just kept happening...</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Rob T and his friend Emma turned up with a bottle of Welsh wine for me</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> that</span><span style="text-align: start;"> they'd hunted high and low for...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-FuFO0BIsSL6X8xJOTAFvrw64eIavQBwwAuObCOx-5vNNuf-Xcm9UuR01GNh0vQ25WnimzSjj2f239Fy7CXu-fCkn11giJ6P4H4o9KparYasUCDfytro5Iz0cdUw_2NE_ACn0dgDGQE/s1600/photo+(54).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-FuFO0BIsSL6X8xJOTAFvrw64eIavQBwwAuObCOx-5vNNuf-Xcm9UuR01GNh0vQ25WnimzSjj2f239Fy7CXu-fCkn11giJ6P4H4o9KparYasUCDfytro5Iz0cdUw_2NE_ACn0dgDGQE/s320/photo+(54).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">A "Caerphilly card" came through the post from Kelly and Mark to wish me good luck...</span></div>
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Annabel and James turned up with a case of leftover wedding wine to bump up the funds.<br />
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People from yesteryear came out of the woodwork to donate to the cause.<br />
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Danielle was able to come along to cook on both nights.<br />
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The Welsh cider at below cost price kept flowing from Pete's shop and we even had "Caerphilly stuff" on Saturday.<br />
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The lady in the florist gave my Mum an extra 6 bunches of daffodils when she knew where they were going.<br />
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Danielle's "veg man" gave us all these for free...<br />
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The extra spaces suddenly got filled and I was delighted that the regional fundraiser from Alzheimers came along with a friend on the Saturday night and arranged to write a newspaper article so that I can publicly thank the amazing Marks bread for the really generous bread donation as well as everyone else that I need to.<br />
And David, who could've and should've run a mile from the place on Sunday returned to help me on my clean-up mission.<br />
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The only photo I took was of my ridiculous ingredient collecting that was stacking up in my study during the week before...<br />
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As much as I love them, it'll be a LONG, LONG time before I want to see another chocolate brownie. If you enjoyed them or want a fail-safe recipe, check out my previous blog post... </div>
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http://stealinggooddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/everyone-got-chocolate-brownies.html</div>
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The diabetic alternative of "mango, macadamia and coconut torte" is going to be made by me again very soon though, I'm sure! </div>
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Fortunately, I have been given a few "candid" pictures that friends took over the weekend, however...<br />
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<i>The "Colours of the flag nibbles"... </i></div>
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<i>(Basil, mozzarella and sun dried tomato; feta, queen olive and sweet red peppers) </i></div>
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<i>The Welsh rarebit...</i></div>
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<i>It's not easy making that dish look glam!</i></div>
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David and I read around the topic of rarebit a lot. I'd recommend using Dorothy Goodbody stout (and drinking the leftovers :) Mushroom ketchup was also good in place of Worcester sauce if you're vegetarian. Also know that it's better to put the sauce on the toast when it has cooled as it will soak through the toast otherwise <i>(great advice Danielle!) </i>If you want to try making this "ultimate cheese on toast" you can find a comprehensive guide to Welsh rarebit recipes here...</div>
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The calm before the storm... I've no photos of downstairs but if anyone has any I'd be really grateful...</div>
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The Welsh celebrities for the tables...</div>
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The Welsh celebrity that got everyone wondering in the picture quiz...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX_1yObzuYYARS-gLFTi7elq3CcJFz_92ia-qqSGdbTGO56fXG8jQyk-ObTdKAuExmbrJGdyLbArkcND8JV2EeNW4UPzIPx0QWQYTp_DgvwNUnT5Qv0IuobgE1MBO6tpV0hr6GtZ3Pq4/s1600/Laura-Ashley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX_1yObzuYYARS-gLFTi7elq3CcJFz_92ia-qqSGdbTGO56fXG8jQyk-ObTdKAuExmbrJGdyLbArkcND8JV2EeNW4UPzIPx0QWQYTp_DgvwNUnT5Qv0IuobgE1MBO6tpV0hr6GtZ3Pq4/s1600/Laura-Ashley.jpg" /></a></div>
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(Laura Ashley!)</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> And, as I seem to have broken my "no photos of humans" rule recently, here are some more...</span></div>
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Barman and waitress on day 1...</div>
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Day 2...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO8GQyiKseN8ITQ1RGsMe0qTr9RlDpil0JIUXsm61RGDP6tWDoi2-qOXfuv6lmbNZiqPtzD2yVb4Evj7h-cBS0Fv1vuS5aNkiahPg7rICI6929dX1Dy8E-YVstOReWOjk8BgHJCUHY38/s1600/a274e13a8763aeae134401df15daa573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO8GQyiKseN8ITQ1RGsMe0qTr9RlDpil0JIUXsm61RGDP6tWDoi2-qOXfuv6lmbNZiqPtzD2yVb4Evj7h-cBS0Fv1vuS5aNkiahPg7rICI6929dX1Dy8E-YVstOReWOjk8BgHJCUHY38/s320/a274e13a8763aeae134401df15daa573.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The poster boy for Welsh tea on day 2...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6vRF0ElpfIhT7BjKN4J2g6h2G2-QBBYuSdiPiClPS9P43hQBbSprRELeeQsp1rAbdVWTcz_D2L46fLqzRAuVE5x2_Bw0oe06LH6PmdER7IvVBjmGHej6rc4zmvnmPqaZcYq_1LURPLA/s1600/photo+(59).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6vRF0ElpfIhT7BjKN4J2g6h2G2-QBBYuSdiPiClPS9P43hQBbSprRELeeQsp1rAbdVWTcz_D2L46fLqzRAuVE5x2_Bw0oe06LH6PmdER7IvVBjmGHej6rc4zmvnmPqaZcYq_1LURPLA/s320/photo+(59).JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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The upstairs guests on night 1...</div>
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Some Welsh ladies showing some love for T.J...</div>
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The "clap-o-meter" that accompanied the fez for the Tommy Cooper joke challenge...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWZy94R3Q9UwMDd7aqowsv8rf3qwAipHUaRqtbocv5pUPYv6pNTkbnBGlIH-vdkQ1I0rVt7SEYSLQUfhx-ILirYCY__YL4lVfVQfK5mYURCkqYFYSIlVgWHIgsCDRVTVUHqkadfQF6fA/s1600/photo+(63).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWZy94R3Q9UwMDd7aqowsv8rf3qwAipHUaRqtbocv5pUPYv6pNTkbnBGlIH-vdkQ1I0rVt7SEYSLQUfhx-ILirYCY__YL4lVfVQfK5mYURCkqYFYSIlVgWHIgsCDRVTVUHqkadfQF6fA/s320/photo+(63).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Well done to my Dad for his efforts on the Friday and to his prodigee, James, who excelled at his public speech for the 2nd time this month - just brilliant! As was Gareth's Tommy impersonation!<br />
Yes, you too Scanners!<br />
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<br />
2 nights before the supper club my Mum said "Did you do all this because of the daffodil link with Alzheimer's medication?" And my reply was "No, it was because of St David's day; is there a link?"<br />
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And there was, it seems daffodils grown in high winds on Welsh mountain tops may have potential benefits for Alzheimer's suffers; so I put this article with people's menus:-<br />
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8007175.stm<br />
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And I also put these extremely handy Welsh phrases with their phonetic pronunciations in English next to them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #002929; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">English<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #002929; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Cymraeg (Welsh) </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <i>Phonetic
Pronounciation (in English)<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/welcome.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Welcome</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/welcome_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Croeso</span></a>,</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Croiss-orr</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hello</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/hello_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Helô</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">/</span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/hello2_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hylô</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">/</span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/hello3_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Shwmae</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hair-law / Hill-law</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: red;">/ Shoe my!</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/howareyou.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">How are you?</span></a><br />
<br />
<br /><span style="color: blue;">
I'm fine, thanks. And you?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/howareyou_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Shwmae? </span></a> <span style="color: red;">Ti'n
iawn?</span></span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Teen yown?</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/finethanks_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Da iawn, diolch. A tithau?</span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: red; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Die</span></a><span style="color: red;">
yown dee ol"ch" Ah tith eye?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/name.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What's your name?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><span style="color: blue;">
My name is ...</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/whatsyourname_cy.mp3"><b><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Beth ydy dy enw di? </span></b><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bairth uddy duh en-oo dee?</span></b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: red; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><br />
</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/mynameis1_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">... dwi</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">/</span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/mynameis2_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">... ydw i</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">..............doo ee ................u-doo ee</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/goodevening.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Good evening</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 30.2pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/goodevening_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Noswaith dda</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Nos waith thar</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 29.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/goodnight.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Good night</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 29.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/goodnight_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nos da</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Norse darr</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/goodbye.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Goodbye</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hwyl, Hwyl Fawr</span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hoil / Hoil vour</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/goodluck.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Good luck</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/goodluck_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pob lwc!</span></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Porb look</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/cheers.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cheers/Good health!</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/cheers_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Iechyd da!</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ye"ch" id darr</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/understand.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">I don't understand</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/understand_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Dw i ddim yn deall</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Do ee thim un day a"ll"</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/slowly.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Please speak more slowly</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/slowly_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Siarad yn arafach, os gweli
di'n dda</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: red;">Sha rad un arava"ch" ors
gwell oo"ch" un tharr</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/excuseme.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Excuse me</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/excuseme_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Esgusodwch fi</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Es gisod oo"ch" vee</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/thankyou.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Thank you</span></a><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/thanks_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Diolch</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">/</span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/thanksvm_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Diolch yn fawr</span></a> <span style="color: blue;">/ Diolch
yn fawr iawn </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: red;">Dee ol"ch" / Dee ol"ch" un vour /
Dee ol"ch vour yown</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/toilet.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Where's the toilet?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/wheresthetoilet_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ble mae'r toiled / tŷ bach?</span></a> </span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Blair
m-eye-r toiled? / tee
bar"ch"?</span></b><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/pay.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">This gentleman/lady</span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><br />
</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">will pay for everything</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue;">Bydd y dyn hwn yn talu am bopeth
(gentleman)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Beathe ur din h<i>oo</i>n un tally bopeth</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bydd y dynes hon yn talu am popeth
(lady)</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: red;">Beathe ur dunnis hon un tally popeth</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</tr>
<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/iloveyou.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">I love you</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/iloveyou_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rwy'n dy garu di</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Roin duh Gary dee</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/leavemealone.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Leave me alone!</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/leavemealone_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gad lonydd i fi!</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Gad yonnith ee vee</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 8.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue;">Fire</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 8.05pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/welsh/fire_cy.mp3"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tân!</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tarn</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 54.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; height: 54.6pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hovercraft.htm" title="A very 'useful' phrases from the British TV comedy programme, 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'."><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">My hovercraft</span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><br />
</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">is full of eels</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 54.6pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt; padding: 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: .05pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue;">Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn
llyswennod</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: red;">My
vurr hovren-vard un
"ll"own "ll"ees-wen-nod</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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There was no fooling my 2 waiting staff on Saturday though; their Welsh is ardderchog!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3XoXm9bcnfygMmJ3qSNu4Ak19ik0tY2O8G1awZIxOGU8Hy7gjeL18n6B0c0-SGmj-bsgY_j9CT199sqSvgE08f4Lxt4ccgLhoJKjjcV0N9o6VKLzwgepKyfJLxPJHay_Lbi001BotDM/s1600/sat+staff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3XoXm9bcnfygMmJ3qSNu4Ak19ik0tY2O8G1awZIxOGU8Hy7gjeL18n6B0c0-SGmj-bsgY_j9CT199sqSvgE08f4Lxt4ccgLhoJKjjcV0N9o6VKLzwgepKyfJLxPJHay_Lbi001BotDM/s320/sat+staff.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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And the last of the thank-yous re-iterated partly from my menus...</div>
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Thank you Danielle for your culinary expertise; I learnt lots as a result of your assistance</div>
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(mainly to always have a professional chef on board;)</div>
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Thanks to James N for being the most excitable staff member - fact!</div>
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Thanks to Rhian for showing up both nights and going to town with the costume!</div>
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Thanks to Annabel, Lynne, James and Paul for the long night that was Friday and for coming along again on the Saturday to see it from the other side.</div>
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And finally thank you to Harry for your last minute washing-up offer and to Nic D, </div>
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who spent her Saturday night away from her kids with her hands in a sink! </div>
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And so that was it... David (being David) asked Grace for a "no nonsense" critique of the evening, which made me smile as it showed how much he cared about doing a good job. Then I tentatively suggested to David that I'd like to do another Supper club in the future and would he like to help. I promised to keep the menu simple and straightforward and make the whole process easy. He looked disappointed and said "I'd probably rather help out and do it again if it was more complicated and posed a challenge!" RESULT!!!<br />
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Loads of people told me I was brave/mad for doing this but I didn't think it was that remarkable; I just replied with "but I'd never do a marathon!" It's my passion to cook and entertain and I barely questioned whether my idea would succeed. Okay, that's a slight lie, when David laid out the 240 sausages I did have a <i>what the hell have I done</i> moment, but at that point I knew I had the best help possible.<br />
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And just before I put the remaining monies onto JustGiving I had a last minute donation (well almost). Liz's Dad wanted to put some money onto my page but he accidentally sponsored a different Joanne Phillips (who is running a half marathon in Reading!) Then I looked her up and there she was, my name-sake, doing her bit for Macmillan nurses in memory of her Nan who died of a brain tumour. How strange that happened when I was doing all this in memory of my Grandad whose wife died 32 years ago, the day my sister was born... of a brain tumour! And the similarity between the photos of our nans is just unbelievable!<br />
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http://www.justgiving.com/joanne-Phillips4<br />
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So I sponsored the other Joanne Phillips too! </div>
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Jo :)</div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-27842684758593023912013-02-15T14:43:00.000-08:002013-02-15T14:43:55.787-08:00Ahhhh BristolI am dedicating this blog post to Rhian Organ, soon to be director of prestigious management company at M-C Towers. I'm pleased you've properly made Brizzle home and that you're a H.O with an amazingette - Much love xxx<br />
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It's been 13 years since I moved to Bristol and I've never tired of the place. I had a brief wobble 5 years ago and contemplated a move back to Wales but in my heart I knew Bristol was where I belonged. The first time my uni friends and I went in search of a house we had no idea where we going to end up. All we knew was that we wanted a KFC for lunch because there wasn't one in Wales at the time. We made some calls, got really lost trying to find our way around the city "pre-sat-nav" and ended up finding a house to share in Southville. There began my loyalty to everything "South of the river". Over the years the area has steadily improved and I've loved watching the transformation of the place. One of the annual highlights is the "Southbank arts trail" with local artists and crafts people opening their homes and transforming them into temporary galleries for the weekend. When I taught at Southville Primary I helped to make the school an exhibition space too, maybe one day I'll dig out the photos of my students art work inspired by lyrics and song titles by The Beatles and put the memories up on here. Anyway, there was one South Bristol artist who stood out as being special for me... Suzie Brooks. I just loved her screen prints with the rough pen lines and patches of background colour. And I wasn't alone, she did really well during those arts trail weekends and I was delighted when I managed to get this screen-print of our local drinking haunt to give to Kev and Nic for their wedding present. At the time they were contemplating a move to Australia so I was keen to find a potential Bristol memory; they've since decided to stay put and have renovated a house and had a family - yay! How amazing this building is, the catalyst for the regeneration of North street and home to our fantastic new red-trouser-wearing; next-best-thing-to-Boris-in-my-opinion, mayor! Not sure I loved the place quite as much when I had a bar job there to top up my supply teaching wage but that feels like another lifetime ago now...!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjF05X20DuC-ux8JFST-fk8_YlVgISOllM1cwgd5beBkfSqhhU9qdT-xnu3Ku9MllEyhvIAXDAkqR25ioxC9Xn7L7N6TACSaMB7Ti726-tQG_GS-vIde1UOaAm0OvngBBpXuN_yB3N9o/s1600/The+Tobacco+Factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjF05X20DuC-ux8JFST-fk8_YlVgISOllM1cwgd5beBkfSqhhU9qdT-xnu3Ku9MllEyhvIAXDAkqR25ioxC9Xn7L7N6TACSaMB7Ti726-tQG_GS-vIde1UOaAm0OvngBBpXuN_yB3N9o/s320/The+Tobacco+Factory.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, for their wedding present from me I got this print for Sarah and Michael to remember their time in Bristol...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbAyCF7AVYrVW3WM10qXwbif8IzGqFgDaGc1ZT_5mbRNEjWb19wIBZOjq9G0qb-j5IC1a5YkdlTDP72hNHLMqtt09rkq_1R3bhtc6yeQLSFXBHSNtBecYBgAhqdw3sUgfu89wFkhfDQc/s1600/Park-Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbAyCF7AVYrVW3WM10qXwbif8IzGqFgDaGc1ZT_5mbRNEjWb19wIBZOjq9G0qb-j5IC1a5YkdlTDP72hNHLMqtt09rkq_1R3bhtc6yeQLSFXBHSNtBecYBgAhqdw3sUgfu89wFkhfDQc/s320/Park-Street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Can't park street" </div>
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<i>I just love it with the Wils Memorial building at the top and the </i></div>
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<i>Council house building on College green.</i></div>
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Then when I moved into my own house I decided that I'd wait until just the right piece of art work cropped up and buy it for my lounge. And, after wandering down to the "Affordable Art Fair" at Temple Meads, there it was...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5zW2SOL2k5VwVP6KoC8ii1zwy7otwAw-wgoVOOmuT7Ou448ba2Tk3Fsxd413v5EPdwH9KQ29Xri5QOOvYVNR1sTBvSiRJco1IG1_GXEo0slEE4sdsmh1kYmsjdMzaVgffrW-HLUMUUE/s1600/aah+Bristol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5zW2SOL2k5VwVP6KoC8ii1zwy7otwAw-wgoVOOmuT7Ou448ba2Tk3Fsxd413v5EPdwH9KQ29Xri5QOOvYVNR1sTBvSiRJco1IG1_GXEo0slEE4sdsmh1kYmsjdMzaVgffrW-HLUMUUE/s320/aah+Bristol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>"Ahhh Bristol"</i></div>
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This picture is the first thing anyone notices when the enter my house and</div>
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I've been asked about it more times than I care to remember :)</div>
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Then Suzie Brooks dropped off the scene for a while and I periodically asked after her whereabouts when I called into the glass shop that used to sell her stuff. "Oh, she's busy having kids I think and her art has taken a back seat" was the reply I got from the shop girl. Then several years on, her work started cropping up on greetings cards in Paperchase and I knew she was heading towards big things.</div>
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Then a couple of weeks ago I was shopping for school stuff in IKEA, highly irritating a hungover Rhian by putting tea-towels, bulbs and shoe horns in her yellow bag when she wasn't looking. Then we paused at the art section and had a look at the art prints. I've always favoured buying art from local people or making my own and took the mickey out of my sister for the landscape of trees she bought from IKEA, especially when "the murderer from Eastenders" hung the same print in his lounge. Karma got me back when Sonia Jackson wore my favourite cardigan however and Karen also delighted in spotting my bedroom wallpaper in "The Dropzone" youth club on "The secret Millionaire", but anyway.... I was drawn to one print in particular and thought I might just buy it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tlwRdfJjRlG-9AHpyR77HJa9sTQFqsfCCom6OE6BcVB8iOKVE_mpUwaEThJtN0R6PGjqizvDbhoGjzfiamaSCKeu_5b_YwODWmK0NpU4DpLOsOCdXry_-MoZ_JvhkvQqgiNhKi1Rb0Q/s1600/New+York,+Love+is+50+skyscrapers+High.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tlwRdfJjRlG-9AHpyR77HJa9sTQFqsfCCom6OE6BcVB8iOKVE_mpUwaEThJtN0R6PGjqizvDbhoGjzfiamaSCKeu_5b_YwODWmK0NpU4DpLOsOCdXry_-MoZ_JvhkvQqgiNhKi1Rb0Q/s320/New+York,+Love+is+50+skyscrapers+High.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>"New York: Love is 50 Skyscrapers High"</i></div>
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And I'm sure you've guessed who created this lovely print... Suzie Brooks is in IKEA!!!; what a long way she has come from a few prints in her front room. Maybe she's "sold out" but she so deserves this success so I bought it, as a valentines present to myself. (And am just hoping that it doesn't crop up adorning the wall of a murderer in a soap opera).</div>
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And that leads me onto another gift that I got (made) this week. For Mr and Mrs B's big day I wanted to get something personal and symbolic of Bristol. As a woman of good taste, Annabel already owns a "Suzie Brooks" and so I needed to think of something else. They also had no gift list and cash seemed the only option. Then I had a great idea. Bristol now has it's own currency so I thought I'd get them some of this, and frame it:-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fwQk_Yv19xlChgI1_B0KbofdQWYGBPf8vmmtlaaBh5Gl7xJlWE8cM5vmEbdMtcAcNTGXuV4AvXo0ofKcw6wddr_n-OKbeehhjygVFnunHbCQLsOsqYDLGdcJt4g9-dRNQQ8sTGTodY/s1600/bristol+pounds2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fwQk_Yv19xlChgI1_B0KbofdQWYGBPf8vmmtlaaBh5Gl7xJlWE8cM5vmEbdMtcAcNTGXuV4AvXo0ofKcw6wddr_n-OKbeehhjygVFnunHbCQLsOsqYDLGdcJt4g9-dRNQQ8sTGTodY/s320/bristol+pounds2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So I called into The Tobacco Factory and bought 1 of each note.</div>
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However... great minds think alike, and when we sat down to dinner in Oxford for the first night of Annabel's hen weekend the topic of Bristol currency came up. "It's really nice" said "Annabel, "I was going to get you some and frame it as a Christmas present Jo, but then I saw that other print and got you that instead".</div>
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So, in short, I just gave then the 1 as a small gift:-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ElCfYseb3P_tDVDMHN6zj7J0bpp48mFd5Q2Vpk4w3SvqXbCEP8CxCX6c2n4LHkbiJazx7b_GpySQ3YRxsy5TnpL8yaYSr79RWOTEyowSXg2Nj-1gBugRagBN8IXx3aJoHizmmRuaHE/s1600/photo+(32).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ElCfYseb3P_tDVDMHN6zj7J0bpp48mFd5Q2Vpk4w3SvqXbCEP8CxCX6c2n4LHkbiJazx7b_GpySQ3YRxsy5TnpL8yaYSr79RWOTEyowSXg2Nj-1gBugRagBN8IXx3aJoHizmmRuaHE/s320/photo+(32).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>"Eternal good fortune: Bristol Fashion"</i></div>
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And so I went with my plan B for them for their main present which I will reveal in a future blog post. </div>
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And my final gift of the week was another Valentines one (three). Shree posted a link on facebook to "Random acts of love" on Feb 14th asking people to participate in random acts of kindness wherever they wanted. Now, without a significant other to get something for this year I thought, well why not do the "pay it forward" thing. Karen decided to do a similar thing a couple of weeks ago and left the parking fayre attached to a parking meter but couldn't resist looking to check someone used it. It was a lovely idea but it was met with confusion and people pushed the money out of the way, probably thinking it was a hoax and they were being filmed. I liked the idea of something similar though. </div>
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So, I went back to the tobacco factory and bought 3 more Bristol £5 notes. Then I got 3 cards from my "card box" and wrote "Happy Valentines Day, enjoy this fiver, please "pay it forward" at the right time. I gave the first one to the girl in the beauty salon that morning; I'd been there the day before and she was telling me how the student loans company were on her back and she didn't know why because she wasn't yet earning 15k and she said she was spending a lot of time on money-saving forums to make ends meet. </div>
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Then I went to meet Nik and Shree for some lunch in Cafe Kino. Cafe Kino is so cute...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqUzInkDIpAOC6t5Mcug0uV6_Vlg-0TPF8Mxzqe9dsIzq24VN2YFt-V7UvWpFc8aKVqO1U6dhOSxMfYuOpHTDH2VHFjmKvnqMgeF6rYRGITtsOyMXa9fWBmWhpIARF-W3PSH8Ydhzddc/s1600/photo+(10).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqUzInkDIpAOC6t5Mcug0uV6_Vlg-0TPF8Mxzqe9dsIzq24VN2YFt-V7UvWpFc8aKVqO1U6dhOSxMfYuOpHTDH2VHFjmKvnqMgeF6rYRGITtsOyMXa9fWBmWhpIARF-W3PSH8Ydhzddc/s320/photo+(10).PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
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It's a co-op, not-for-profit cafe that works with the community and volunteers.</div>
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Look at that floor... :) Love it...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ztiu_gZ0YWGAQGjwC2PciuUDtvV52t1UX_ZRw8m8-drnVvfcvL3iuyu2jBi1-4CXr809j07k2rv-63xTCkHgp040u7i4UJcFoWqtVKBcvZ87KAz-floIzxWEGe4oHkfHMgWiK_mOMo/s1600/photo+(11).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ztiu_gZ0YWGAQGjwC2PciuUDtvV52t1UX_ZRw8m8-drnVvfcvL3iuyu2jBi1-4CXr809j07k2rv-63xTCkHgp040u7i4UJcFoWqtVKBcvZ87KAz-floIzxWEGe4oHkfHMgWiK_mOMo/s320/photo+(11).PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
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and the food...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgbGp4sKWLXc1KRBXjvlanTwntLMKex5wSwUbNVzMo-PLkD8llWMCZs7toRHfbWTwaautJzq-nf-uWeJbNE8JDT6z4NypZ9ym5Um85qfxqlVfq6RvueyPkIP6hM3qSZoVpdqMVHeqw-c/s1600/photo+(35).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgbGp4sKWLXc1KRBXjvlanTwntLMKex5wSwUbNVzMo-PLkD8llWMCZs7toRHfbWTwaautJzq-nf-uWeJbNE8JDT6z4NypZ9ym5Um85qfxqlVfq6RvueyPkIP6hM3qSZoVpdqMVHeqw-c/s320/photo+(35).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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It was the perfect venue to give away "pay-it-forward" gifts but Shree beat me to it and went ahead to pay for the next 4 strangers' coffees. Then while we ate Nik and I thought about who I could give my 2 remaining cards to. After loitering outside the "money shop" where people are clearly in need of cash I wimped out and got embarrassed. Then we walked down the road and a big issue seller was standing patiently. So, I nudged Nik and said "please, let's leg it quickly if I give him this card". So I did, and he beamed a confused but wide toothless smile and I kind of felt it was a good choice. Then instead of taking Nik home I talked her into coming to IKEA with me to buy my print. And after driving along for a mile and not finding the appropriate opportunity to pull over and pass over the card I got Nik to pass it through the car window to the "trolley guy" in IKEA, and she did, and he looked delighted and confused also. Then she insisted we parked miles away, so we did, but when we walked in I caught a glimpse of him showing his mate and laughing and I was pleased he got one too :) They maybe should've been a bit more "anonymous" but it was nice to see the look of surprise on their faces.</div>
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I warned Nik that our "Valentines escapades" would be going on the blog and she looked unfazed posing for a picture with her lunch... "But I've never put a picture of a human on my blog" I told her - I'm going to have to make an exception for this beauty though I think... Haha!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq40wWESS_v7VL4LChlwkegX9bhEC_P_3uKaXafZCYPlXzXaYfccM6BFtH1QyE-DctItWkOxDBe57nK1xVZpyYuC-dI3FgZBYFOe1v4ZJhURUBxssmRZrhNWiTysbSUsy2paMkUKqlEjA/s1600/photo+%252833%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq40wWESS_v7VL4LChlwkegX9bhEC_P_3uKaXafZCYPlXzXaYfccM6BFtH1QyE-DctItWkOxDBe57nK1xVZpyYuC-dI3FgZBYFOe1v4ZJhURUBxssmRZrhNWiTysbSUsy2paMkUKqlEjA/s320/photo+%252833%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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The whole day was so much fun, and I know for certain I'll be doing something similar regardless of whether I have a significant other as a valentine in 2014! :)</div>
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As David and I drank our coffee in Harts Bakery underneath Temple Meads the other morning we mused about how fab Bristol is, from Banksy to bridges to Bristol pounds. He brought me up to speed on new coffee shops and I updated him on George Ferguson's tweets about plans for a rail-link to the Ashton gate stadium. </div>
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Then, as we left to wander into town to meet Uncle Pete I remembered coming home from the Oxford hen weekend and Kev picking us up from Temple Meads. As he was driving past Totterdown, Rhian said "Woah, look at that!" and we all turned to look out of the car windows to see that at the top of the hill people had made ice walls with the remnants of the snow and had somehow graffitied them with coloured paint. "Only here!" said Rhian, "I bloody love Bristol!" </div>
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And we all just nodded in complete agreement.</div>
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J :)</div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-14166034824809107582013-01-02T06:37:00.001-08:002013-01-02T06:37:45.507-08:00Books for Bunting for Babies<br />
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My friend Liz has had to endure the pain of losing 2 babies during complicated pregnancies this past year and to acknowledge all the fantastic treatment she received throughout the ordeal she is raising money for "SANDS" (the stillbirth and neonatal death support charity). </div>
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I decided to help in a small way by making bunting from secondhand books, new books and fabric. </div>
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This blog post was not supposed to exist, I'd been holding back writing about making these items as my plan was to send Liz bunting at Christmas time for her nursery. Liz (and her partner Ross) have had a really tough few months but feel immense gratitude for all the help they have received in Scotland and want to help others in the same situation. So, here's my book bunting project if you'd like to give it a go too:-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHXFc6qWmGi9vNcJ4JqTJfvtDPDKI_twjqZMZKzMZMfKYhgLZ-71EMMJ3fb0VQJKr7U-oOuAse48zhddLCLFaNWBN8GVMvE2MP9QE-TmAupwq3U3xAxAWrqd-ewcAsCbSGunzUn3K6j0/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHXFc6qWmGi9vNcJ4JqTJfvtDPDKI_twjqZMZKzMZMfKYhgLZ-71EMMJ3fb0VQJKr7U-oOuAse48zhddLCLFaNWBN8GVMvE2MP9QE-TmAupwq3U3xAxAWrqd-ewcAsCbSGunzUn3K6j0/s400/211.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<i>(made from a "Where's Wally?" book)</i></div>
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To make this bunting you need to:-<br />
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*Find a book that has fairly good quality pages and cute images on both sides of the page.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Make an appropriately sized cardboard isosceles or equilateral triangle template. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Hold the triangle up to the light and check the image looks as good on the other side of the page.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Draw around the triangle with a pencil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Carefully cut out the triangle with a paper-cutter, shaving off all the pencil lines.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Arrange an odd number of triangles (minimum 7) with the most interesting images as the first, last and middle "flags".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Select a coordinating colour of bias binding and cotton, then sew the triangles with small consistent spaces between them using a sewing machine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Turn over the edges to create a loop ready to hang the bunting.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to make some "Gruffalo" bunting;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I reckon the lime green was a good choice of binding!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I realised it looked better with zig-zag stitching, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but that was quite tricky for it not to pucker!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reverted back to straight stitching!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mp-NeNHZ2uO9-ek2TAIJ9lQiuUn4Ovl3b7__KstnNg9XD6OscgKzyFgoZSMt61aiOgUZYR5opCqPCWjPFSBC2TVcCHMWB75cCdsFxLDV4l2-EgrfdGpDd0U3TGmAat-FC4l8KIzVZtA/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mp-NeNHZ2uO9-ek2TAIJ9lQiuUn4Ovl3b7__KstnNg9XD6OscgKzyFgoZSMt61aiOgUZYR5opCqPCWjPFSBC2TVcCHMWB75cCdsFxLDV4l2-EgrfdGpDd0U3TGmAat-FC4l8KIzVZtA/s400/061.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And, as the author of The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson) is the children's laureate this year, it was perfect to make for Lidia's school library. I cut much larger triangles, as it's a large room and I wanted the text to feature with the pictures for this one. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7BINlJYCCyEJLs6ac-3bWE1Z7lQd1rKGF3aJdC2H75rHuf9OCO219_soioQGawpexwGLsOlU8VYJN1KzSTnBw5n7_CeR5nRKO1a9uhrEbRI69H30AKKv6AIHKbtrfqNn0TYAL1j-N14/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7BINlJYCCyEJLs6ac-3bWE1Z7lQd1rKGF3aJdC2H75rHuf9OCO219_soioQGawpexwGLsOlU8VYJN1KzSTnBw5n7_CeR5nRKO1a9uhrEbRI69H30AKKv6AIHKbtrfqNn0TYAL1j-N14/s320/189.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And here is the Gruffalo's child on purple, which is probably my favourite!</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">In the frantic run up the Christmas I sold most of what I made so I don't have the bunting to photograph, but a few others I was pleased with were:-</span></i></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Vintage Sesame street" - this was from a book I got given when I taught in New York. I couldn't think of a better way to "upcycle it".</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK8naoD7066qoOBohJ1LTn_hqrpISIi_KKleRXZSg-DVunW5-2bv0jqiPEzkh3ltI17r8-ipZZh7eOZ87ZwtqLaWPzEqkYolTvAtwRdyRUHO_80GGu3DO1FmLBDvhU1adARQiZ-3Pp80/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK8naoD7066qoOBohJ1LTn_hqrpISIi_KKleRXZSg-DVunW5-2bv0jqiPEzkh3ltI17r8-ipZZh7eOZ87ZwtqLaWPzEqkYolTvAtwRdyRUHO_80GGu3DO1FmLBDvhU1adARQiZ-3Pp80/s320/176.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And nor could Nik S, so she kindly gave me a vintage Dandy and Beano to use for my project. <i>Half-way through making this I was watching the news and they said The Dandy will no longer exist in paper form as it is all online now - maybe the value of this increased overnight....! I think Owen is having this and a few others for his school library.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7wYsBdUdKSEBJ_QoqVlMOk25Ngzw37jXTIFYbxWZHs1mHNj8W5ueDqFPEFaXKzSS5cOOv6Uqf7T2lJKkPmvGc4rhZO7grHqMKvnJlEkzKckNNvW4_DH3X0CX1AURgHA_ksO0Qz4TRbo/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7wYsBdUdKSEBJ_QoqVlMOk25Ngzw37jXTIFYbxWZHs1mHNj8W5ueDqFPEFaXKzSS5cOOv6Uqf7T2lJKkPmvGc4rhZO7grHqMKvnJlEkzKckNNvW4_DH3X0CX1AURgHA_ksO0Qz4TRbo/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And another old book that I found sorting out my school library was this little gem! You might remember reading 1,2,3 & Away as a child with Rodger Red Hat and Jennifer Yellow Hat....! Such cute illustrations!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4rtUVATQ2e9Z6BlWDnbLr6M-bf-M_OOO53IHGFXI7sqncvMcmYYAcmV9daYLKfEL2NrcW3CjTfeQf-hRvHTGxMesH8_FYs2KX9kvzsYtDFfNK1fKGjdPhInzFRXvuoeC5lzrSxqGK-0/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4rtUVATQ2e9Z6BlWDnbLr6M-bf-M_OOO53IHGFXI7sqncvMcmYYAcmV9daYLKfEL2NrcW3CjTfeQf-hRvHTGxMesH8_FYs2KX9kvzsYtDFfNK1fKGjdPhInzFRXvuoeC5lzrSxqGK-0/s320/233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Billy Blue Hat is lurking in the background if you look closely.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqro20psYRNkkfhPs4c4Q5BvkzEZE6yJQ8hhms2iuVi86Ks_YWeu_Juyj5Vq3sm08CasL0dAoO1UslqkC5nWs0HYmu6w-2qEJKMAaVpH7P5XtYH2248w5SWVe2UAcKwi9lNOsQl_Z8S0/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqro20psYRNkkfhPs4c4Q5BvkzEZE6yJQ8hhms2iuVi86Ks_YWeu_Juyj5Vq3sm08CasL0dAoO1UslqkC5nWs0HYmu6w-2qEJKMAaVpH7P5XtYH2248w5SWVe2UAcKwi9lNOsQl_Z8S0/s320/220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I found some bargain books that enabled me to make sets of Elmer, Maisy and Peppa Pig as well as Where's Wally and Meg & Mog. </span></div>
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So I've taken my bunting (and a few cakes - of course!) to local(ish) craft fairs and have been selling them. Thank you Nik for the Cube stall, thank you Nia for a free stall and thank you everyone for swinging by or buying the bunting. Here was my Cube stall... where I managed to sell a few of the Beanies from my vast selection of Sesame street beanies that I'd clung onto for way too long...!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x2SHXWBIA88Go53ql_xYtDn23197i4OGiRN0yFToOo7M7B2aqd0zCTupjFca42AcIxQgvMj047u6qCvwEZS_XoT8NZ-vE_dxhXJHImXb5ER8969afZBpsMU4GEpovC6N02VZcgh-_SY/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x2SHXWBIA88Go53ql_xYtDn23197i4OGiRN0yFToOo7M7B2aqd0zCTupjFca42AcIxQgvMj047u6qCvwEZS_XoT8NZ-vE_dxhXJHImXb5ER8969afZBpsMU4GEpovC6N02VZcgh-_SY/s400/054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also plonked the box of bunting on the table during my staff training afternoon and made £46 in the coffee break. I quickly learnt that craft fairs and homemade goods are a very unpredictable means of making money and I've new found respect for people who make their living by making stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And finally, I'll tell you about the one and only "commission" I had from Meg at my staff training. She asked if I could make some bunting for her 8-day old Grandson and said she wanted it made from books named after him. I reached for my iphone, called up Amazon and looked to see if transforming a book into bunting with be worth the time and money. And his name was... Alfie! (of course) the same name Liz called the little boy she lost - I was quite spooked (and emotional making that bunting) and took about 3 times longer over arranging it than I had done with any of the others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that is about it for my blog post and my bunting that I am dedicating to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SANDS and Alfie Armstrong.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOZ9hKWGp-uSDLPf3MVenSdDI8oy6t0zWd0mK8s4jZjJLJ5pm-PPMdOh6s0jYFys8EIu2EwXCStuKIGbqc77asDEKx_AM7QFlxoCkbfAYy09deDRbK__FoLZDQ2uULrhCBlKLIlWpiKU/s1600/alfie+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOZ9hKWGp-uSDLPf3MVenSdDI8oy6t0zWd0mK8s4jZjJLJ5pm-PPMdOh6s0jYFys8EIu2EwXCStuKIGbqc77asDEKx_AM7QFlxoCkbfAYy09deDRbK__FoLZDQ2uULrhCBlKLIlWpiKU/s320/alfie+hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Alfie's handprints)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from my final job, which is to make a facebook album/"shop" with the remaining bunting that can be paid for on Alfie's page:-</span></i></div>
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http://www.justgiving.com/All-about-Alfie</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy new year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jo :)</span></div>
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-32446518346176161622012-10-29T02:10:00.000-07:002012-10-29T02:10:52.170-07:00The Daffodil Supper ClubIt's booked... and there's no going back!<br />
So, here it is; my big fund raising project for 2013!<br />
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I am hosting a pop-up eatery, named...<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">"<u>The Daffodil Supper Club</u>"</span></strong></span><br />
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I have hired 40 Alfred Place, enlisted the help of friends and family and am hosting 2 evening events over the St David's day weekend. The purpose is to raise money for Alzheimers research (whilst living out my fantasy of running a mini-restaurant without actually leaving the day job I love or needing to re-mortgage my house!) I'm so excited!<br />
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So, if you'd like to pay me a visit, here are the details:-<br />
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On <b>Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March</b> <b>2013</b> I will be serving up a menu of 3 set courses.<br />
The cost is <b>£25 per head</b> to include a complimentary glass of wine / soft drink and cup of tea/coffee.<br />
To<b> reserve a place(s) you will need to pay a £15 per head deposit to my JustGiving page and state your name(s) and which night you'd like to attend.</b><br />
The remaining £10 per head is payable in <u><em><b>cash only</b></em></u> on the night.<br />
<b>Please also state if you require the vegetarian alternative</b>. <br />
I am not entirely sure of the bar situation yet - it will either be BYO or a reasonably priced bar - this will depend on the license and I will update this asap.<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Phillips3">http://www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Phillips3</a></div>
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The menu, on both evenings, will be this (or something very similar) :-<br />
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"<b>Colours of the flag" nibbles</b>,</div>
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<i>a glass of wine or </i></div>
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<i>a non-alcoholic "dragon's blood" fruit cocktail</i></div>
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<b>Posh Welsh rarebit</b></div>
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<b>Welsh sausages and mash</b></div>
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<i>(Pork&Leek and Lamb&mint sausages</i></div>
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<i>served with braised leeks and creamy mash)</i></div>
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<b>Warm triple chocolate and nut brownies </b></div>
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<b>served with Welsh ice-cream</b></div>
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Teas / Coffees</div>
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So, I think that's all I need to say for now; except to tell you exactly where this place is:-<br />
One of the many, many reasons I love Bristol is that it has the world's only permanent empty restaurant that you can hire as a "pop-up"...!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcqSIS5TZQ349yX8uX_IBHzWxSvxA93qbscV6jtqHBwb8rIpgy_Kh4Yh2IJ9KXxv4R89OidpvOhqoDwUZCO4zAsqNJxFLc7qpQ_MKpg8ZK4_6V-qkPxlIi45lEBH53yYBbDk2HATpxhw/s1600/40+alfred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcqSIS5TZQ349yX8uX_IBHzWxSvxA93qbscV6jtqHBwb8rIpgy_Kh4Yh2IJ9KXxv4R89OidpvOhqoDwUZCO4zAsqNJxFLc7qpQ_MKpg8ZK4_6V-qkPxlIi45lEBH53yYBbDk2HATpxhw/s1600/40+alfred.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">40 Alfred Place,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kingsdown,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bristol,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BS28HD</span></div>
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<a href="http://40alfredplace.net/">http://40alfredplace.net/</a></div>
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<i>Much love and "Iechyd da!" (good health) to you all...! </i></div>
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Jo xxx</div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-44077800370755903792012-10-01T11:12:00.000-07:002012-10-01T11:12:30.019-07:00Clevedon Cup Cakes & My First Bit Of FundraisingYesterday I went on a cupcake making course to Clevedon. It was a treat to myself that I also got for Annabel last Christmas and my Mum got for my sister as a gift.<br />
I'll be honest, I (along with a few others) wondered, due to my fascination/obsession with the topic what I had left to know on the subject.The answer is.... still quite a lot, which kind of renewed my interest and left me keen to keep learning more - it was a fantastic course!<br />
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We rocked on up ready for a full day and soon met Dianne (an absolutely hilarious woman from South Wales, who gave us her entire life story, barely stopping for breath for a good 15 minutes). We heard about how she was a reluctant apprentice for "the only baker in the village" as a teenager, the 3 types of wedding cakes she'd made for her brother throughout the 3 decades that he'd found new wives, the 6 kids she'd had before she changed her gender preference in a partner, the cakes she commissioned for her civil partnership and her hatred of compilation CDs if they weren't made by her. Then it was over to us to say who we were and to give an overview of our "baking background" and "baking audience" - starting with me! Yikes!<br />
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The group were, as Dianne had predicted, a real mixture who ranged from saying "I've never made a cake" to "My next step is a food hygiene course to try and make a living out of this".<br />
I guess I was somewhere in the middle, although it was obvious I was "a keener" as I proudly spoke of my Kitchenaid and all the cake books I'd already spotted on her bookshelves. I couldn't wait to get started; this woman/cake guru will be able to answer every cupcake query I've had I thought - and she was!<br />
And these were the finished results...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG7tXUHTgwEiP7q5jO2CeuJlYnohsL2V2qO5hRNtsuD1D3QJL1AckIoA864tejehQYbPWz_LjIz-RT7ipEVCMvSFjIuulk5V47PExPf_MU4GbFv2wFmM-SkcozKRCb1HITD04OtA9HcI/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG7tXUHTgwEiP7q5jO2CeuJlYnohsL2V2qO5hRNtsuD1D3QJL1AckIoA864tejehQYbPWz_LjIz-RT7ipEVCMvSFjIuulk5V47PExPf_MU4GbFv2wFmM-SkcozKRCb1HITD04OtA9HcI/s320/photo+(9).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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En route home I called into Rhian's house hoping to offload a few, and her Mum, who was there having a cup of tea, absolutely insisted on paying me a £1 to have one. I persisted in trying to decline the money but when she'd left, a £1 was still sat on the table.<br />
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A couple of months ago my 92 year old Grandad passed away. He'd been blessed with good health for the majority of his life but a few years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimers and it was sad to see the person we knew fade away. I have a pretty small family and for that reason I haven't had to deal with grief in my adult life until now. It felt a bit wrong to feel sad when 92 is such a good age to achieve, but losing my last grandparent was a hard thing to get my head around. With so many people living longer and with dementia set to challenge a huge part of the population, I recognised that my Grandad, having children and Grandchildren who loved him, was one of the lucky ones. He was always so grateful for the life he'd had and, despite being alone for more than 30 years after my Nan died, he absolutely refused to do anything other than live in the moment. We were lucky to have him around for so long and lucky that research had meant medication was available to slow the onset of the symptoms. And for that reason, I'd been thinking about how I could fund raise for Alzheimers research. Then yesterday all my ideas just seemed to click together...!<br />
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I picked up the pound coin from Rhian's coffee table and declared to her that that would be the first step towards making a lot more...!<br />
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Then I took the remaining cakes to work and for the first time sold my baking to my colleagues.<br />
I'm nervous about "going public" on here about my big fund raising idea yet but am really excited about it and have given myself lots of time to achieve it! I've so many friends in Bristol always willing to lend a hand to a wacky and inspiring project so I'm confident I won't need to worry about pulling it off when the time comes.<br />
It is after all, as my Grandad liked to say "nice to be nice!"<br />
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Watch this space and the details of my "big project" will unfold over the next few months...<br />
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In the meantime, if you want to make roses like these....</div>
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or make icing embellishments like these...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi698zamKG_gETCco886g4JCxAAA_lG5raGct7FPnzuWMCVHttsD3G80LVwAbEFbQMB1n-Gub8-D2SbNBB1vMKlDa88OLpsP_EXPVfID4cVX-wXNVAUOygJHUUzhB1cQ4j7qe7SqhLsE-A/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi698zamKG_gETCco886g4JCxAAA_lG5raGct7FPnzuWMCVHttsD3G80LVwAbEFbQMB1n-Gub8-D2SbNBB1vMKlDa88OLpsP_EXPVfID4cVX-wXNVAUOygJHUUzhB1cQ4j7qe7SqhLsE-A/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="305" /></a></div>
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or make impressions in your icing like this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmEn1pMaTygnRGyxUGNA2_aalFsPSWTxMucs2YK_bky3NrR65dtFFy-Y2RJDWTaULU1-lV8LSgMilzqL0RKTRnsI7JYqjpRO7f3rsCFego-MvJ8SyF84WkeBN0wcLvc3mJMp1WpkWhiQ/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmEn1pMaTygnRGyxUGNA2_aalFsPSWTxMucs2YK_bky3NrR65dtFFy-Y2RJDWTaULU1-lV8LSgMilzqL0RKTRnsI7JYqjpRO7f3rsCFego-MvJ8SyF84WkeBN0wcLvc3mJMp1WpkWhiQ/s320/photo+(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The fair cake online shop sells a lot of the stuff you'll need...</div>
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<a href="http://www.faircake.co.uk/shop/">http://www.faircake.co.uk/shop/</a></div>
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Or maybe take a trip to Clevedon and do a course...?</div>
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<a href="http://www.honeybunchcupcakes.co.uk/page2.htm">http://www.honeybunchcupcakes.co.uk/page2.htm</a></div>
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I apologise for my lack of detail explaining the process of rose-making and icing cutting but I have to get moving as I'm off to the pub to meet Nic to discuss my "Big Project"</div>
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J :)</div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-2705871649324795722012-08-16T13:26:00.000-07:002012-08-16T13:26:46.785-07:00"Quite frankly....... that was a totally amazing dessert!" said Harriet a good 20 times (she was a little bit tipsy but I'm sure she was sincere; she stood by her statement(s) the following day as I passed her the leftovers :) For my dinner party last Sunday I wanted to use an idea that I first saw on "Come Dine With Me Down Under" (the Aussie equivalent show of "Come Dine With Me" U.K). <br />
Ages ago my sister bought me some silicon cupcake cases, and if I'm honest they haven't been used until now, but I've been waiting to put them to good use...<br />
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... as chocolate "moulds"! So, over a pan of hot water I melted a bowl of white chocolate and when it was runny enough I poured it into the silicon cases, swirling the chocolate around and emptying out the excess that fell to the bottom of the case by pouring it out again. Then they got got put straight into the freezer in a flat position. After a short while they had set and the silicon cases could be carefully peeled away and the edible chocolate cups could then be stored in the fridge...<br />
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In the background you can see the huge bowl of blackberries that I have picked </div>
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from directly behind my garden. I got all these on the same day too...</div>
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The day I picked them I saw a punnet 1/4 of the size on sale in Sainsburys for £4. Get picking NOW!<br />
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Which leads me onto the filling for the white chocolate cups... "Creamy Blackberry Mousse".<br />
Blackberries and white chocolate go so well together!<br />
I followed the recipe that I googled and found on the Daily Mail website...<br />
Here's the link...<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1200956/Recipe-Easy-blackberry-mousse.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1200956/Recipe-Easy-blackberry-mousse.html</a>
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There was quite a lot of leftover mousse; to make 6 chocolate cups of mousse next time I will do as follows...<br />
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<h3>
<b><u>Easy Blackberry Mousse for 5/6 Small portions</u></b></h3>
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Place 200g of blackberries in a blender with 50g of icing sugar and a small squeeze of lemon juice.<br />
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Whizz to a puree<br />
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Pass through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl.<br />
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Stir in 200ml of double cream and whip into a fluffy mousse.<br />
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Transfer the mousse into the chocolate cups and decorate with some whole blackberries.<br />
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(A mint leaf would look nice to compliment the colour too).<br />
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Then I repeated the process but made dark chocolate cups and this time filled them with </div>
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"Irish Cream Mousse". Confession time... I bought a "mousse base" from M+S that just had to be mixed with cream... I'm not sure if it was a top-seller as the fact it was 10p suggests it might not be, but it certainly tasted nice...! I might be googling "Irish Cream mousse" next time if I repeat this mousse combo though...</div>
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And finally, I made some solid chocolate hearts to serve with the mousses by poring the remaining chocolate into my heart-shaped ice-cube tray from IKEA...</div>
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And here they are, with a drizzle of toffee and chocolate sauce and a few chocolate curls that I made by pulling my "serrated edge peeler" along the smallest edge of a bar of dark chocolate. Yep, they really do make serrated edge peelers - I was kind of struggling to pick something the last time I got passed the Pampered chef catalogue by one of my reading volunteers in work! </div>
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I'll admit, I was a little bit drunk at this point in the dinner party and my photo, taken in rubbish lighting, doesn't really do it justice but you get the idea...</div>
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I was pretty happy with the presentation though, and the fact all my dinner party guests started photographing their pudding was more than complimentary enough!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
J :)</div>
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<br />
<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-44657807260163686742012-07-08T06:08:00.001-07:002012-08-28T16:06:15.846-07:00Go Bananas (for the Murray Match)Yippee; I am a bridesmaid for the Backhurst wedding!<br />
And in preparation for the dress shopping I am cutting down and exercising hard.<br />
And so for the first step of the healthy eating regime...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
.................................................................</div>
<br />
<h3>
<u>Fool yourself Banana Ice Cream </u></h3>
<br />
<b><u>Ingredients </u></b><br />
<br />
Bananas<br />
<br />
<i>(And that's the list - great isn't it!)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><u>Method</u></b><br />
<br />
Freeze chunks of banana<br />
<br />
Blitz the chunks of frozen banana in a food processor<br />
<br />
Serve<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> .................................................................</span>
<br />
<br />
<i>You can also add lots of other stuff into it if you want some variety.</i><br />
<i>I opted for some agave nectar and organic peanut butter.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>And here are a few other ideas on here too...</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/magic-one-ingredient-ice-cream-5-ways-peanut-butter-nutella-and-more-171618">http://www.thekitchn.com/magic-one-ingredient-ice-cream-5-ways-peanut-butter-nutella-and-more-171618</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;"> </i><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Deeee-lish-usssss!!!</span></b></i></h4>
<br />
And I'm sat here eating a bit whilst typing this and listening to an audiobook on my iphone.<br />
I kind of like doing 3 things at once - I'd love to say that this is fully possible, but I've been told off a few times whilst watching films with people so I recognise it's not really doable!<br />
<br />
Now, I do have a plan that I have concocted with Annabel to make something altogether more indulgent, creative and sinful for the big day but I'm going to have to keep that a secret until 16th February. And no, it's not cupcakes, so please don't ask me, my lips are sealed!<br />
All will be revealed in my scheduled blog post for the big day!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Congratulations again to the happy couple; you've both been there through every high and low I've had for so many years now. I love you guys and cannot wait for your big day! You're truly "A list" friends; thank you James for making Annabel so happy and thank you Annabel for bringing James back to Brizzle!</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
J :)</div>
<i><br /></i>
P.S. One other thing; I forgot to get them an engagement card, I'm sure I'm forgiven as I had quite a lot of "stuff" going on at the time that meant I wasn't my usual self :s However, I made them a "bridesmaid acceptance card" instead - wrote that poem myself too... (okay maybe I hear something similar once - it's all about stealing the good ideas isn't it...! ;)<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right, I'd better get moving, I'm off to Bella's to watch the Wimbledon final - Go Murray!!!<br />
(and I'm taking their card, gift - and some fool yourself banana ice-cream) - hope they like it too!<br />
<i><br /></i></div>
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<br />Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-4414763108173107532012-06-17T15:05:00.000-07:002012-06-17T15:05:08.583-07:00A Beautiful Bundt & Perfectly Piped Swirls<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've had a fair bit of time on my hands this past couple of weeks. It's been kind of nice to see old friends and more of my lovely nephews but what to do when you find yourself with a bit too much time...? Renovating a chair is always an option if you agree with the eHarmony advert, as is watching the French Open tennis (better option, so I did some of that). Inspired by the force that is Nadal, I resolved to get back in the game and booked my orthopaedic surgeon appointment for my wrist and enlisted Kirstie to help me out with a gentle game of short tennis. And then, after I'd squeezed in a bit of schoolwork, I did the one other thing that I do best - I baked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Firstly...</span></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carrot Cake Cupcakes</span></u></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>(taken from The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook by Tarek Malouf)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This recipe is for a large 20cm, 3 layer cake but I experimented with making cupcakes out of it recently and it worked brilliantly. You really must use greaseproof lined cases if you don't want a stained cup case though as the oil content is quite high. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><u>Ingredients</u></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(for the cakes)</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">300g soft, light brown sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">300ml sunflower oil (I used 250ml - it just looked so much and had faith in my carrots being moist)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">300g plain flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 teaspoon ground ginger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">300g carrots grated</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">100g shelled walnuts (plus extra to decorate)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u> <em>Method</em></u></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put the sugar, eggs and oil in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated (don't worry if the mixture looks slightly split). Slowly add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well mixed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stir in the grated carrots and walnuts by hand until they are all evenly dispersed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour the mixture into the cupcases (no more than 2/3 full).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cook for about 20-25 minutes or until they are fully risen and a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops bounce back to the touch. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These quantities made about 20 cakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once cooled you can frost them. Cream cheese frosting is perfect for these and I like the <strong><u>Hummingbird Cream Cheese Frosting recipe</u></strong> so I used that:-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These quantities frost about 12 cupcakes according to the cookbook, I trebled the quantities below (but I did had frosting leftover).</span></div>
<div class="ingredient">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">300g icing sugar, sifted</span></strong></div>
<div class="ingredient">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50g unsalted butter, at room temperature</span></strong></div>
<div class="ingredient">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">125g cream cheese, cold</span></strong></div>
<div class="ingredient">
<br /></div>
<div class="ingredient">
Mix the butter and icing sugar together, then gradually add the sifted icing sugar. </div>
<div class="ingredient">
Wendy Kitchenaid made light work of this as always :)</div>
<div class="ingredient">
</div>
<div class="ingredient">
Then you need the PERFECT NOZZLE! This is vital. Using a disposable piping bag, I like to use either a <span style="font-family: Calibri;">big, soft swirl nozzle or a Wilton 1m nozzle (no need for a "coupler" especially). You can buy them from here:-</span></div>
<div class="ingredient">
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.faircake.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16&zenid=f32dd3fdcb2242c28cfe289d36dfdb83">http://www.faircake.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16&zenid=f32dd3fdcb2242c28cfe289d36dfdb83</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And what you do is fill the piping bag fairly full by stretching it over a glass and smooth a little frosting to the edge of the cases with a palette knife. Then, with the piping bag in an upright position begin at the centre, apply consistent pressure and make a complete swirl pushing down slightly at the end to finish the swirl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But one cake variety is never enough so I made Chocolate Bundt Cake (whilst feeling very guilty for still not returning Priya's tin). It will come back to you soon Priya, honest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the recipe I got from the marvellous Shutterbean website. I love, love love Tracy Shutterbean and Joy the Baker (Wilson) and their podcast keeps me amused on many a car journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will re-type Tracy's bundt cake recipe as I have converted the U.S quantities into their U.K equivalents but you can see the original step-by-step process here (also love her flower idea - classy!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.shutterbean.com/2012/chocolate-sour-cream-bundt-cake/">http://www.shutterbean.com/2012/chocolate-sour-cream-bundt-cake/</a></div>
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But, if you'd rather the U.K quantities, here they are...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beautiful Chocolate Bundt Cake</span></u></strong><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the Cake</span></u></i></b></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 sticks of butter (230grams) - plus more for the pan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/3 cup of cocoa powder (45grams)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon salt </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 cups plain flour (plus more for the pan) 300g </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 3/4 cups sugar (360g)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 large eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup sour cream (150g) (used a 150ml pot)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the Glaze</span></u></i></b></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 oz dark choc (115g)</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 1/2 tablespoons agave</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup of double cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 1/2 tablespoons sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><u>Make the Cake:</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Position a rack in the centre of the oven and heat to 350 degrees (180)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Butter and flour a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan and set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a small saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa powder, salt and water and put over medium heat. Cook, stirring, just until melted and combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put the flour, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl and whisk to blend. Add half of the melted butter mixture and whisk until completely blended (it will be very thick). Add the remaining butter mixture and whisk. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking each to blend completely before adding the next. Whisk in the sour cream and vanilla until smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean (40-45 minutes).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then invert onto a rack. Let cool completely before making the glaze. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make the glaze:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put the chopped chocolate and agave nectar into a medium bowl and set aside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Combine the heavy (double) cream and sugar in a medium bowl and put over medium heat. Stir constantly until the cream is hot and the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. If it's very runny, let it sit for a minute or so to thicken. Drizzle (I slathered) the glaze over the cake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I decorated mine with lovely sprinkles and silver balls - ahhhhh!</span></div>
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Happy Birthday to me!</div>
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I did have 16 others helping me out with consuming these treats though (just so you know!)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I got so many lovely cards and gifts but this one from Kay is definitely sums up my outlook for the year ahead...</span></div>
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And finally, I got this amazing print from my sister's family and my parents.</div>
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I cannot wait to hang it up above Wendy - how totally retro American cool is this...!</div>
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It's by Patrick Edgeley from this website and appears to be scrolling across their homepage at the moment!</div>
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<a href="http://www.theoldsweetshop.org/">http://www.theoldsweetshop.org/</a>
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So that's it, another year older, another year wiser! I'll confess I was a bit nervous about turning 34 but now it's here, how do I feel...? Exactly the same! Roll on 35; if only because I'd like a print for my study...</div>
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J :)</div>
</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-78306700014164521052012-03-17T07:16:00.001-07:002012-06-22T03:16:39.855-07:00New Life CupcakesI like a personal challenge; who doesn't...? Well, a personal goal was to make this blog a reality and keep it going for a year, posting about once a month; then my undisclosed plan was to put it to bed and tick it off the list. The only thing I didn't manage was the final post in December. So, I've changed my mind and decided that what I'll do instead is just pick it up if and when there are projects worth mentioning. <br />
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A few weeks ago my sister had a baby shower in preparation for the arrival of her 2nd baby. She was threatening games to "identify the food in the nappy" or "pin the nappy on the baby". It takes all sorts...! Luckily, none of that transpired; it was a tame affair with an enormous Chinese takeaway and a pretty large amount of cupcakes made by yours truly. <br />
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I wanted a theme that wasn't too cringing or tricky - and as I was looking at toppings in Sainsbury's the idea came to me... butterflies! And a few egg themed cakes as there's plenty of Easter stuff about at the moment. "New life Cupcakes" if you will..... you HAVE to know I am saying this tongue-in-cheek! <br />
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So, I'm sure everyone has seen Mini egg nest cakes but why not <em>butterfly-it-up</em> with some "Giant Snowies"...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3fGEMv1iQRSNggZNo1IrrK-_W41fW7fGflCw74Nxq0_hfZI5TsiiP3J7Ml_bIxXR7TaFE1dxSIjdCG7VBN4cf5hLGg-qYTQrk0s6or3raw8vgh3qxRBH25VC9umUeJSpiHzwLQJYfWk/s1600/1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3fGEMv1iQRSNggZNo1IrrK-_W41fW7fGflCw74Nxq0_hfZI5TsiiP3J7Ml_bIxXR7TaFE1dxSIjdCG7VBN4cf5hLGg-qYTQrk0s6or3raw8vgh3qxRBH25VC9umUeJSpiHzwLQJYfWk/s320/1507.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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My cupcakes are the chocolate ones from "Cake Days" and the frosting is the following:-<br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Chocolate-Frosting/">http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Chocolate-Frosting/</a><br />
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I did, however have to add a lot more icing sugar than the recipe suggested - it was way too runny! <br />
I am still in search for the ultimate chocolate frosting recipe...<br />
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Or how about white chocolate button butterflies...?<br />
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These have silvversppon chocolate sprinkles; if I'd have had the Wilton Jimmys they'd look better.<br />
And, as I always have to have a fruit option here are the lemon cakes with orange and lemon butterflies made with Silverspoon jelly sweets:-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3MsXzjZtL07_aIiEcZTEwrXD51VxDTo4-QhPuoFXwqtiYQHQpR1ZwPY-GKImwfJP6SEJ3bTzC8ipImngS_sD-DJh-xyPI5lYZ9llmYp8nJ0NF4qUMVqxx4XzWL7PTLtSBvMU0X8p-hc/s1600/1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3MsXzjZtL07_aIiEcZTEwrXD51VxDTo4-QhPuoFXwqtiYQHQpR1ZwPY-GKImwfJP6SEJ3bTzC8ipImngS_sD-DJh-xyPI5lYZ9llmYp8nJ0NF4qUMVqxx4XzWL7PTLtSBvMU0X8p-hc/s320/1509.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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I think the crowd liked the Cupcakes :)</div>
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On a more sombre note, just before Christmas I had <em>another</em> kitchen bereavement:-<br />
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R.I.P my little Russel Hobbs mixer! I think that totals 6 hand mixers in the last 2 years that have been burnt out through overuse! :S<br />
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However, continuing with the "New Life" theme... Meet Wendy! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S7JNFjUtihyyuq9KR1DIXU7Tcgas0kVzn1ba2l253W_OvDmhyphenhyphen516SgujNg94qobu9-WJGFo7dnlp04y8l_-cU-h3t4WBJfBwotLyPFCDweyEzv-QcHQf9Rr7X7-GJVzHs-rRNd1vyGQ/s1600/1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S7JNFjUtihyyuq9KR1DIXU7Tcgas0kVzn1ba2l253W_OvDmhyphenhyphen516SgujNg94qobu9-WJGFo7dnlp04y8l_-cU-h3t4WBJfBwotLyPFCDweyEzv-QcHQf9Rr7X7-GJVzHs-rRNd1vyGQ/s320/1558.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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My very own KitchenAid in that 1950s-esque soapy blue. I love, love, love her!</div>
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And so does everyone else as soon as they set foot in my kitchen.</div>
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I'm a very lucky lady to have such beautiful kitchen gadgetry.</div>
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Jo :)</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-19762607726319730012011-11-13T14:56:00.000-08:002011-11-13T15:25:24.468-08:00...so cute I cried!(That was my feedback to the eBay seller who I got my latest cupcake boxes from!) <br />
They are absolutely adorable! I've given out several already. In fact I hung on to write this post as it may have been seen by Fiona, Sarah, Karen, Kellie, David, Nicola, my Dad... Actually the last one is a lie, my Dad can't text, I sincerely doubt he's following my blog, but anyway I am now able to tell the world about meri meri products without the fear of spoiling a gift surprise. <br />
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So I stumbled on meri meri (an award winning designer of paper products) by seeing their stuff in a gift shop in Clifton and then finding more of it for sale on the web. So enough of the suspense... here is the "Patisserie shop" gift box that houses 4 cupcakes:-<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJ4VNwAuEDrWkLEU9JP_UpABriLe40bmC62VGqRQGZedNCEFWbeuxfJA-iZg1ADQJAAOVbD4Eu0BccpIqNfqHxCd2pX-m8alaRf1YqbKjY_7hzpNrAaMZ-yMjRL6gDaiHDEHjC_T2IEs/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJ4VNwAuEDrWkLEU9JP_UpABriLe40bmC62VGqRQGZedNCEFWbeuxfJA-iZg1ADQJAAOVbD4Eu0BccpIqNfqHxCd2pX-m8alaRf1YqbKjY_7hzpNrAaMZ-yMjRL6gDaiHDEHjC_T2IEs/s320/184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Just look at that little window showing my raspberry cakes for Kellie :)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_LMM9M3Dk-LDXoX7SZfzvs-o1iJh3APilZ6sCqVQcQNDLyD-vgd27LME2zQt-n4h5bxL4yAumwtBJ5-poe3dFzoo5QLVPfajpYhVagpiJBqc7QeInSXXf9utc-QOk30oeFPv21cOqa0/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_LMM9M3Dk-LDXoX7SZfzvs-o1iJh3APilZ6sCqVQcQNDLyD-vgd27LME2zQt-n4h5bxL4yAumwtBJ5-poe3dFzoo5QLVPfajpYhVagpiJBqc7QeInSXXf9utc-QOk30oeFPv21cOqa0/s320/194.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And here it is in it's full glory with it's mega-cute sloping roof with ribbon tie. Ahhhh!</em></div><br />
And there's more, lots more, here on their lovely website:-<br />
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<a href="http://www.shopmerimeri.co.uk/">http://www.shopmerimeri.co.uk/</a><br />
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I bought the stripy ones and the flower shop that may well turn up at your home if you know me in real life. <br />
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I do however, tend to buy a lot of plain white boxes and embellish them for different occasions. <br />
Here was Monty's 12 birthday cupcakes for his 2nd birthday party:-<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Not a great photo but you can get the general idea of a 12 box of cakes with ribbon.</em></div><br />
And when I took the creativity a bit further I added some embellishments to a white cake box for a "Where's Wally?" party by printing some pictures off the Internet and coordinating some parcel tie:-<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0YRSaFvNYrT9yZxiF4SaOOYV4xrHU0GVu84kxXuCS_4NKWqq5N1WjS6pBgjGqHCG7LR8a7PLvAdMKA4FaBGHwrg3DnY3H2_q8yTrbcareQp5SnA7B8ONZmHuShMEuGgmd1aiFrmxoOQ/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0YRSaFvNYrT9yZxiF4SaOOYV4xrHU0GVu84kxXuCS_4NKWqq5N1WjS6pBgjGqHCG7LR8a7PLvAdMKA4FaBGHwrg3DnY3H2_q8yTrbcareQp5SnA7B8ONZmHuShMEuGgmd1aiFrmxoOQ/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>4 red velvet cupcakes with a chocco topper and red edible glitter. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVSh8p70rPWv30F7iF5YqrXIkgjXZJPy1x8NQPRWjePwRnrfPWN5CHSwrnjv0HH0gzXmUxYo8FnxjWksC3R-dCy4CnQzB0yg_bbWFDaPhscoyyKZmS8PCMCm09Wkhsory9uYEbAGOqM4/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVSh8p70rPWv30F7iF5YqrXIkgjXZJPy1x8NQPRWjePwRnrfPWN5CHSwrnjv0HH0gzXmUxYo8FnxjWksC3R-dCy4CnQzB0yg_bbWFDaPhscoyyKZmS8PCMCm09Wkhsory9uYEbAGOqM4/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And here's the sides you can't see in the above picture </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(I forgot to photograph the Wally dog - apologies!)</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCktlwcGmgu_em-M8P2oH8LSJf2lbhgBst5Bk7UtuqNJH3DuvocY89FxvFQHuFE4nKemwEEnWtxb-pggHz154k1GGRWI47AC3qcjVITj3d3W6M3oDafDEEIeMstARAdMlX1i-B8CJam6A/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCktlwcGmgu_em-M8P2oH8LSJf2lbhgBst5Bk7UtuqNJH3DuvocY89FxvFQHuFE4nKemwEEnWtxb-pggHz154k1GGRWI47AC3qcjVITj3d3W6M3oDafDEEIeMstARAdMlX1i-B8CJam6A/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's making me a bit sad looking at these pictures; they had the last of my Dr Oetker (unnatural) red food colouring that has seen me through many a batch of successful red velvet cupcakes. I know I should be alarmed that the whole of Europe felt the need to ban it's e numbers but I just want the stuff back - nothing else comes close to making cakes red and if it does it tastes of beetroot or chili or has crushed beetles in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, back to the boxes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also made a lemon individual one, that had no banned substances in it whatsoever:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiuIG8AwtTNnwI6XjZR4Dwbprn_TZTXUyKOfIeqwVFamgE9itDz4wHxUk3WGDh60ZveCFRQCMTMO7nQghnvalxPKRVaQjh0mx7ZikQ-Y0IVL5y83Nzk8ycKkSNtk1mMSp2XK2rkZC1io/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiuIG8AwtTNnwI6XjZR4Dwbprn_TZTXUyKOfIeqwVFamgE9itDz4wHxUk3WGDh60ZveCFRQCMTMO7nQghnvalxPKRVaQjh0mx7ZikQ-Y0IVL5y83Nzk8ycKkSNtk1mMSp2XK2rkZC1io/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I think that is pretty much all the cupcakes I have been making, except for the mammoth amount for the Cancer research charity softball-athon:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF70t_Dja3G4_p73wPya4N88__yQ88SSsL1GYWWRb8zkO3HyKnKRPZLE-F0BoRopPSOqEIzp2hfscgw22uXmg_q4B3Y-9v8HtP0L67XDkAQAujohjtWYoehQKXid02iM-bfRA-qz2-Xgs/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF70t_Dja3G4_p73wPya4N88__yQ88SSsL1GYWWRb8zkO3HyKnKRPZLE-F0BoRopPSOqEIzp2hfscgw22uXmg_q4B3Y-9v8HtP0L67XDkAQAujohjtWYoehQKXid02iM-bfRA-qz2-Xgs/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks again if you sponsored me for my bake-off or if you came up to Ashton court to support and buy a cake.</div><br />
Clearly a lot of my life is taken up with baking and I made the decision a couple of days ago to have a "cake break" just temporarily, in case I got so big that I needed to be craned out of my house. My dreams occasionally flit between this eventuality and new frosting varieties; I really must stop watching videos of kitchenaids just before bed too - that's not helping! And then it was Nicky's birthday, and I tried to explain my "cake break" whilst giving her 6 wrapped clementines (needless to say the clementines didn't quite get the same reaction as the cakes she had last year). I'm "that girl" who brings cake. I'd have been confused if I was her too; awkward!<br />
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And then I got this really lovely book as a thank you for some lemon cupcakes I made and it's opened up a whole new world of Christmas cupcake ideas and, well, I'm just going to have to really, aren't I.....!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTowM5NyAhpYvSQZT5mFZaPuB-PPYWQE8OwioBKOEWPOzdO-a7NcEDT8AjDph7IGGJM9JwEPSWV13YyEon3KkZxxqnD6JIptOlMAX2HRBtc5QwBHkV58Jy3eD4_KZdyK-4JkFvjhTZ8QM/s1600/xmas+cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTowM5NyAhpYvSQZT5mFZaPuB-PPYWQE8OwioBKOEWPOzdO-a7NcEDT8AjDph7IGGJM9JwEPSWV13YyEon3KkZxxqnD6JIptOlMAX2HRBtc5QwBHkV58Jy3eD4_KZdyK-4JkFvjhTZ8QM/s1600/xmas+cupcakes.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right, I should go now because I have miniature robins to source from eBay for a December project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">J :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. Nicky, tell me what cake(s) you want! ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-45526493665065832422011-09-04T10:35:00.000-07:002011-09-04T10:35:09.112-07:00This was GOOD beetroot!I've lapsed! For the first time in 2011 I didn't post anything on my here for a whole month, and the ironic thing is, I had more free time during August because of the school holidays than at any other point in the year! Nevermind, it's very early September and I enjoyed my holiday and so many things food and Art related that hopefully, I've plenty of things to blog about over the next few months :)<br />
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One of my Summer highlights was to have a dinner party for 4 friends and they all got to have this lovely beetroot. My inspiration came from an article that I ripped out of "Flavour" (a freebie foodie mag for the South West). I'm not sure if they still give them out for free and if they do where, but when I saw this recipe I knew instantly that it would be a great starter. I'm a recent convert to the merits of beetroot, mainly because the vac-packed pickled variety I tasted as a child did nothing for me then, and does nothing for me now. Fresh beetroot, however, is just amazing paired with cheese and salads. If you like goats cheese and beetroot, you'll love this - if you're unsure of those things I still think you'll like it. It's a brilliant mixture of flavours and it just looks so pretty...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEyPrnjcyteIXohZHal9SxQMdepC-EWWeFCH0H10EiDhzsMdb2T-xpLxYwihdeahZRl7mefo821C7owwOC-OYT8xcQDEdVfINcBnlkrLovDoz7_kCXskW6q91lMx2q8a6uKC0jsti8Uw/s1600/254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEyPrnjcyteIXohZHal9SxQMdepC-EWWeFCH0H10EiDhzsMdb2T-xpLxYwihdeahZRl7mefo821C7owwOC-OYT8xcQDEdVfINcBnlkrLovDoz7_kCXskW6q91lMx2q8a6uKC0jsti8Uw/s320/254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So... if you would like to make <strong><u><em>Beetroot Carpaccio with Creamed Goats Cheese</em></u></strong> here's how:-<br />
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Quickly, before I begin I should say that this recipe had 3 beetroot stacks in mind, I felt, however that 2 was enough, but presenting even numbers never looks good on a plate. As I was debating the assemblage of them, Fiona had the genius idea of serving a "double decker" with the beetroot circles - perfect!<br />
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Oh, and the instructions recommended wearing rubber gloves not to stain your hands purple. I found them too slippery though and opted to just scrub my hands as best I could afterwards. <br />
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<u>Ingredients</u><br />
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2 large raw beetroots<br />
450ml (15fl oz) red wine<br />
100ml (3.5fl oz) ruby red port<br />
2 tbsp creme de cassis (optional)<br />
225g (8oz) soft goat's cheese, any rind removed<br />
3 tbsp basil oil<br />
1 tsp snipped fresh chives<br />
4 tsp balsamic syrup<br />
1 punnet of salad cress<br />
1 small granny smith apple<br />
4 tsp toasted pine nuts<br />
Maldon sea salt and freshly ground pepper<br />
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1. Place the red wine in a large pan with the port, creme de cassis (if using) and the sugar*. Bring to the boil, then add the thinly sliced beetroot and cook for 8-10 minutes or until just cooked through. Leave to cool in the cooking syrup, then place in the fridge overnight if time allows. Once marinated, drain the beetroot well and reserve the syrup to use again for poaching pears or plums or for marinating more beetroot. <br />
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2. Place the goat's cheese in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of the basil oil and blend until soft. Stir in the chives and add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 2.5 cm (1 inch) plain nozzle and chill for 10 mins to help the mixture firm up. <br />
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3. Immediately before serving, core the apple and shred into very fine strips. Drizzle each plate with a little balsamic syrup and arrange 3 slices of beetroot next to each other on top. Pipe the creamed goats cheese onto the centre of each of the beetroot, carefully placing another slice on top of each. Cut the salad cress with scissors and scatter on top with the apple strips and pine nuts, then drizzle over the remaining basil oil. <br />
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*There was just one problem with this recipe... it didn't say how much sugar to use to marinade the beetroot in. I used a tablespoon in the hope that the creme de cassis would add sweetness. I think it was about right. If you don't use that blackcurrant liqeur I'd definitely add a bit more sugar. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And here is the whole thing in it's entirety...</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNvA90bNs5ZF0IfwT-VoEdztMVcci3d2a4Rf9xBt3xnmJ5da2v9EBO-OrsUF9_99D5jWOfaXMDjsI1jtlhyphenhyphenIhUrT2-sB81-HFo_F7tUN8b1kbSr5ekPn6yyp5zPqgUOfVQXoqM-QV-M4/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNvA90bNs5ZF0IfwT-VoEdztMVcci3d2a4Rf9xBt3xnmJ5da2v9EBO-OrsUF9_99D5jWOfaXMDjsI1jtlhyphenhyphenIhUrT2-sB81-HFo_F7tUN8b1kbSr5ekPn6yyp5zPqgUOfVQXoqM-QV-M4/s320/257.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And a side-on picture, that does, I admit make them look a bit like oreos. </em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>As soon as you plunge the cutlery into it, it bleeds the lovely juicy syrup all over the cheese and stains it purple to remind you it's beetroot though!</em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq9VrP0LHm8PEgp3SYAt4U-g8gBnxEuuHEzpEWTvdwvpJ6or3ns6Hq3B9uw0Ppas8ezcmYItlX7MlSGxWJVSgT6wqMzrMcK34Xx4ZYFwDiv5V4i2Z6vD5mX7Nv9GJnVWldzVDhV8WLpk/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq9VrP0LHm8PEgp3SYAt4U-g8gBnxEuuHEzpEWTvdwvpJ6or3ns6Hq3B9uw0Ppas8ezcmYItlX7MlSGxWJVSgT6wqMzrMcK34Xx4ZYFwDiv5V4i2Z6vD5mX7Nv9GJnVWldzVDhV8WLpk/s320/251.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
And that's about it, except for a link to Flavour magazine...<br />
<a href="http://www.flavourmagazine.com/bristol/index.html">http://www.flavourmagazine.com/bristol/index.html</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><br />
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-18180973565014281052011-07-29T10:34:00.000-07:002011-07-29T10:34:30.188-07:00"The King" of cakesTonight my Mum's friend Genie is having a 60th birthday party. Somehow I ended up with the task of making 75 "Elvis themed" cupcakes for Genie as she is a huge Elvis fan (she even goes to watch him as a hologram on stage!) When I was given the cake brief a couple of weeks ago my mind started racing with the prospect of icing moulded into huge quiffs, music notes and stars cut from royal icing and maybe even making some cakes based on titles of his songs like "Hound dog" and "Jailhouse Rock". <br />
However... my Mum knew I'd take any project to extremes so she quickly intercepted and said "No Joanne, your sister is going to order you some Elvis heads on Sugar paper from eBay, bit of frosting, plonk one on top, done! I was reluctant and didn't think I'd bother with a blog post, but...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZEa26B0QsS1hEgkvetNlKLMkOnV6yYmLmom3c-sWSGI-Q0HQbK2n5pRm2Js2mCFwS1vEokxPfeaPvRhEwXKF1gjEpUhvnbv6q2AElA2ogaN2bKGFSEj3H6FOlwnx-ySgQeRk09vjfIY/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZEa26B0QsS1hEgkvetNlKLMkOnV6yYmLmom3c-sWSGI-Q0HQbK2n5pRm2Js2mCFwS1vEokxPfeaPvRhEwXKF1gjEpUhvnbv6q2AElA2ogaN2bKGFSEj3H6FOlwnx-ySgQeRk09vjfIY/s320/048.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I'm pretty damn proud of my "kings". </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Elvis heads arrived on sturdy sugar paper in sheets of 12...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfIyXFjN3U8oX2D7BVzxeRh2qCutrq1Q86a0lq6-sR1gyOc7czFyM8mgvDvVP7pINH0Bz55GN_nqLkSuyJlIOWPgbh0nTGgCzFoa3pc_3qV2TtInLd6sSvjlVQ_lKLmLnNeUde_E2G18/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfIyXFjN3U8oX2D7BVzxeRh2qCutrq1Q86a0lq6-sR1gyOc7czFyM8mgvDvVP7pINH0Bz55GN_nqLkSuyJlIOWPgbh0nTGgCzFoa3pc_3qV2TtInLd6sSvjlVQ_lKLmLnNeUde_E2G18/s320/009.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then I just needed to cut them out (all 75 of them!) I caught Jeremy fiddling with a "Donny Osmond head" in work last week. (What a sentence!) I presume he had some kind of food gift for Sue (who is a big Donny fan). It was lucky that Jeremy was hovering around the fridge the same time as me actually, as he was desperately trying to chill and peel the Donny head, until I pointed out that he just needed to cut the head free. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Moving on...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So I made 4 double batches of lemon cupcakes with a lemon curd centre and topped them with cream cheese frosting. I bought jet black cupcases, mainly because they were the cheapest greaseproof lined muffin cases in Occasion cakes, but they turned out to be a great choice. The black seemed quite rock'n'roll and was inkeeping with vinyl records I thought. It also contrasted well with the pale cream frosting. Then I bought "graphite" coloured edible glitter that also looked a bit "rock'n'roll" . I gave my Mother (apprentice helper) strict instructions to sprinkle the glitter <u>from a height </u>and <u>then </u>add the Elvis heads. Placed directly on top they looked weird, but when you pushed them down a bit into the frosting the heads looked "framed". I was pleased, very pleased. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And they went into the fridge to set...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then got boxed, which always makes them look like a lot:-</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SVYpVjERe3cglCK-mR7hpoQptfOA2cbsWrejFrNBAyppYTyBmxOORyCnzo6Oht6LP7LLVXJkLROXykqt9oyvKAZHql_JTR-6XQ8yaYn3BNlmZPkzA4HEa-Uv091r1nKoT2LL0cgRYKY/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SVYpVjERe3cglCK-mR7hpoQptfOA2cbsWrejFrNBAyppYTyBmxOORyCnzo6Oht6LP7LLVXJkLROXykqt9oyvKAZHql_JTR-6XQ8yaYn3BNlmZPkzA4HEa-Uv091r1nKoT2LL0cgRYKY/s320/046.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Except for when you make 3 boxes full and that <em>really does</em> look like a lot...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">75 Elvis cakes... done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now I'm thinking about whether you can buy sugar paper faces of your friends and family, I've seen people take a photo into the Asda bakery for birthday cakes before... or maybe I buy myself an edible ink printer like Bakerella has. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even with an edible ink printer I'd struggle to make these though...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.mymms.com/utility.aspx?src">http://www.mymms.com/utility.aspx?src</a>=</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How cool are they....!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the Elvis cakes are on their way to Wales and the cake stand is on loan again. The only things I'd have added if I'd been there to construct the cake tower would be to put the stand onto a section of bright fur fabric and plonk a small model Elvis on the very top tier which holds one cupcake. If only I'd kept my "Rockin' Elvis" from my Micra driving days... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And if you don't fully see the importance of Elvis cakes, listen carefully because "Percy"; the biggest Elvis fan I know, told me this important fact:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><blockquote><em>‘The number of Elvis Presley impersonators has reached an all-time record high – there are now at least 85,000 Elvis’s around the world, compared to only 170 in 1957 when he died. At this rate of growth, experts predict that by 2019 Elvis impersonators will make up a third of the world population.’</em></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">Remember this blog post...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. If you're looking for more Elvis themed food, try this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungry-Tonight-Brenda-Arlene-Butler/dp/051708242X">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungry-Tonight-Brenda-Arlene-Butler/dp/051708242X</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-39791689301447906392011-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:002011-07-28T07:02:47.188-07:00Anyone for tennis cakes....?I'd originally planned to make these for the Wimbledon finals but for one reason or another I just didn't get around to it. Then it was the end of season tennis dinner last Friday so I decided to make these and sell them for Chris's charity....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Tennis Ball Cake Pops. </span></u></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUNaPaFk-XZOki_SJmEEDZAo9UPZgrAdJbuuih4HeHt3DRJz_UHQ1L8D6yAQtRKKajiqNYLaW5tyupWIRGvEAaPDa_vmR5yt2tkbhk55tMw3xgT5KUdyKbdZCoxO6FI5ByMYGLxkzLRY/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUNaPaFk-XZOki_SJmEEDZAo9UPZgrAdJbuuih4HeHt3DRJz_UHQ1L8D6yAQtRKKajiqNYLaW5tyupWIRGvEAaPDa_vmR5yt2tkbhk55tMw3xgT5KUdyKbdZCoxO6FI5ByMYGLxkzLRY/s320/028.JPG" t$="true" width="245" /></a></div><br />
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Step 1... (The tennis court)<br />
<br />
To make the court I bought a chunk of AstroTurf from B+Q and a paper box from IKEA. Then I marked out a tennis court on the back of the A4ish section of Turf, dug holes at every corner with a bradawl and a screw driver and sewed a tennis court outline onto the astro turf with a bobbin and some string. Then I plonked an A4 chunk of polystyrene underneath the astro, to dig the lollipop sticks into later. <br />
I could've done with fashioning a miniature net, I know, time ran out though sadly. <br />
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Step 2... (The cake)<br />
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Then I made the "Buttermilk Poundloaf" from The Hummingbird bakery cookbook and when it had cooked I mixed the crumbs of this with a batch of vanilla frosting (recipe from the same book) and rolled together small balls.<br />
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Step 3... (Making the "tennis balls" yellow)<br />
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After making the cake balls I dipped the lollipop stick into a small amount of the melted yellow "candy melts" that I had purchased from Hobbycraft online...<br />
<a href="http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/search/candy%20melts">http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/search/candy%20melts</a><br />
These are basically tinted chocolate that melts easily (it has a high oil content). Food dye added to chocolate splits and is hard to work with. These melts are far from natural and I thought I'd dislike the taste, I didn't though, they tasted just like a caramac from yester-year. <br />
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Step 4... (Finishing touches)<br />
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Put the cake pops in the fridge and when they have set, use a Dr Oetker or Silverspoon icing device to pipe on the rubber detail. I also bought a black pen with edible ink to draw on a Wilson, Nike or Slazenger logo but the damn thing didn't work at all. Then I used a small black cake gel and these smudged too, it had to be just a sprinkling of edible glitter and that was all. <br />
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Step 5... Arrange cake pops into pre-prepared holes in astro court.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql2wpaRK5B7jztpz1qcGmBF3AhhVIYQkWNS_xHwSq2DwZuH0lTwQ6cHX0pZiEiK6Dp19kXvVbsESN9cHr9e-veXhCUVSrRcIXxhP01r8f0GeviGBrPFPgchRSRrUe3nkjxiDyYCVYvb0/s1600/joe+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql2wpaRK5B7jztpz1qcGmBF3AhhVIYQkWNS_xHwSq2DwZuH0lTwQ6cHX0pZiEiK6Dp19kXvVbsESN9cHr9e-veXhCUVSrRcIXxhP01r8f0GeviGBrPFPgchRSRrUe3nkjxiDyYCVYvb0/s320/joe+004.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Step 6... Use mini "Wilton" cellophane bags to wrap a cake pop in, and tie with gold curling ribbon.<br />
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In addition I made...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Tennis ball cupcakes. </span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9YWGDDI_Htf-ECp5hSanj4HwkiR8GLAWnw2RnGCfIOlXqcsCOWVDysqD9zrFz-ip157s1Q4QO4o7kFn3krZKONL2yYq-r-yXqZKSU7flGarhuOgaic6VWyk0B9gUXwDFdU8Hb63EJDM/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9YWGDDI_Htf-ECp5hSanj4HwkiR8GLAWnw2RnGCfIOlXqcsCOWVDysqD9zrFz-ip157s1Q4QO4o7kFn3krZKONL2yYq-r-yXqZKSU7flGarhuOgaic6VWyk0B9gUXwDFdU8Hb63EJDM/s320/029.JPG" t$="true" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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These were lemon, with a lemon curd centre and cream cheese frosting. <br />
I then made "toppers", which are a candy melt with rubber detail piped on as though they are a tennis ball. I was really very lucky that they hadn't melted in the post as the packet warns they often do and then I'd have obviously had one big chunk of yellow, not loads of little round yellow buttons that just said "<em>tennis balls in waiting"</em> to me. (God, I'm weird!)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I squeezed them all into the fridge overnight...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vTsEHohV3pB7zc3elYGPRS-ahXu8WVq7Iv6LHg__A27kA3jQXzGV5aEeptBQzTMn3wm49eOh1M50cmaXhgVbAC97JwGVPHAuXDN0w6KoknjiPeOlQBXkwzzN9y4g3PqjodQn5qmwUl4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vTsEHohV3pB7zc3elYGPRS-ahXu8WVq7Iv6LHg__A27kA3jQXzGV5aEeptBQzTMn3wm49eOh1M50cmaXhgVbAC97JwGVPHAuXDN0w6KoknjiPeOlQBXkwzzN9y4g3PqjodQn5qmwUl4/s320/023.JPG" t$="true" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Finally, I stacked them onto Kellie's wedding cupcake stand. I had a lot of AstroTurf left over from my court (you could only buy it in a strip 2 metres in length) so I displayed the tower of cakes onto a faux grass table-runner...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpVraLXWu0A3n54hucDo5IkOY4jLj0AdI95pvB49tman9bYn4VxS2Ucr0lAwLwMK2u7ousp_58QYAVF1kE4c0c1hLnXaJnWGnwPi2C2xX7jWbOqrG6Z5rT92M-wrbeYq6xdmXtCLqJ4k/s1600/joe+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpVraLXWu0A3n54hucDo5IkOY4jLj0AdI95pvB49tman9bYn4VxS2Ucr0lAwLwMK2u7ousp_58QYAVF1kE4c0c1hLnXaJnWGnwPi2C2xX7jWbOqrG6Z5rT92M-wrbeYq6xdmXtCLqJ4k/s320/joe+016.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
And I also made a few signs to tell people what they were and how much they cost... (mini frames from IKEA) and got some takeaway cartons, gift boxes and green serviettes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9J9r-ArsEkhMlzwSV_yzIfP59t2jBOlpC6GoCGKxnLzQR4XS46uhG94knZ06KM4e0I-Ch_7AuX4A7VKCmtR-PQWsFKKFnLYv-LIw22rjTGNToSVmYDKACN2lEP2OcTsyq3_gw0d7Mik/s1600/joe+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9J9r-ArsEkhMlzwSV_yzIfP59t2jBOlpC6GoCGKxnLzQR4XS46uhG94knZ06KM4e0I-Ch_7AuX4A7VKCmtR-PQWsFKKFnLYv-LIw22rjTGNToSVmYDKACN2lEP2OcTsyq3_gw0d7Mik/s320/joe+020.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Game over!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I need to think about what I'm going to make for Ant's charity Softballathon...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-53149192780162082112011-06-13T10:56:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:56:58.122-07:00Creative CartographyCartography... it's the sort of word you know if you're a Geography teacher, or if you've had the question in a pub quiz. Cartography = maps, and I wasn't surprised when my sister (who is a Geography teacher) was asked by the Art teacher at her school if she had old maps that her kids could cut up for a project. Maps are pretty, they're also personal with locations holding memories, and I'm noticing them being used more and more for cards etc. <br />
So, where am I going with this... I wanted to make Kellie a wedding card that was a bit different and I thought I'd bring in this map idea. The idea would mean acquiring a map of where she's from and where her now husband hails from. This, I quickly discovered would mean £18 if purchasing Ordnance Surveys; that's one expensive card! Instead, I had to compromise by using google images to find the appropriate map sections and then printed them off my computer. <br />
Then, I nicked an idea I saw in a Clifton village gallery and found a silhouette for a man and woman by having a search around the net. I printed the silhouette outline onto the samples of maps and cut them out. The first silhouette I started cutting out was really fiddly and it had too much detail, which took away from the <br />
detail from the map. I kept it simple and chose "toilet door style" icons. <br />
Then I stuck them onto card and triple mounted them with some of the different cards and papers that I had leftover from making Karen's wedding invites a few years ago. The result was this:-<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbCCfi3QqJaYf5fvE06tWdo0ghqchBtGQh1iVqbV2tkbpCy8HtNF8oARXobmrKixh0Eb1YdhFMWDYlXUtSZy5heaqX9bQ_zCkNYcGhSJtvNV2wf-ufWPfknVS2pcpk9diAVMqe03fF64/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbCCfi3QqJaYf5fvE06tWdo0ghqchBtGQh1iVqbV2tkbpCy8HtNF8oARXobmrKixh0Eb1YdhFMWDYlXUtSZy5heaqX9bQ_zCkNYcGhSJtvNV2wf-ufWPfknVS2pcpk9diAVMqe03fF64/s320/067.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNCFdmzzMKcmv8Nb7JNSbqTR741wF2W5_Ar3Cnz9zj0Z_CeWewXK4rOVLqa0Mox05mqilzJ0pa9IEYfpXiro4I-t_O1DILQrjC9WGkWaPghCOnRTFrLjTeuoDdcIfVXdPGvZi3y3zdEg/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNCFdmzzMKcmv8Nb7JNSbqTR741wF2W5_Ar3Cnz9zj0Z_CeWewXK4rOVLqa0Mox05mqilzJ0pa9IEYfpXiro4I-t_O1DILQrjC9WGkWaPghCOnRTFrLjTeuoDdcIfVXdPGvZi3y3zdEg/s320/085.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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The Bristol man worked the best I think, with 'Mark' having a 'Mangostfiled leg', 'Oldbury Court head' 'Cleeve Hill' torso and 'Frenchay and Staplehill' arms... 'Kellie' is just a kind of indecipherable Caerleon, but a very pretty one I think, with a bit of a pink and blue leg. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>I've seen a similar idea with pictures and cards from 'Not on the High Street'...</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOFjg9_Ap4dwjkITjse4gs5KvdvvD-wDHD96JN_aUfNw07mKTbqrTtqoNhy-tksy6vL1kUs38XNWNjH8J-BADscTt0WxC_Rz45jZNyyAW53BVMUQbj1ceATVHMV3fbsmh9s7emFX2xh0/s1600/thumb_Small-red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOFjg9_Ap4dwjkITjse4gs5KvdvvD-wDHD96JN_aUfNw07mKTbqrTtqoNhy-tksy6vL1kUs38XNWNjH8J-BADscTt0WxC_Rz45jZNyyAW53BVMUQbj1ceATVHMV3fbsmh9s7emFX2xh0/s1600/thumb_Small-red.jpg" t8="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfkCBxIudCmBnnFoBW7X8UdfJdERVt1dop8pabiABrZ-oXJRKkri0jbn7SeA_2odWouaX-tLyeGI8c0Pj7vYAf9ao1C-MytgTK94o2ggmTpB1Vr5aU3i_M4IVxIKmoOxXqHV7c3U3Zac/s1600/thumb_large_card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfkCBxIudCmBnnFoBW7X8UdfJdERVt1dop8pabiABrZ-oXJRKkri0jbn7SeA_2odWouaX-tLyeGI8c0Pj7vYAf9ao1C-MytgTK94o2ggmTpB1Vr5aU3i_M4IVxIKmoOxXqHV7c3U3Zac/s1600/thumb_large_card.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> These are £8 and £12 and 150 people have reviewed them on there so I can't imagine how many people have bought them.. a heart is so easy to cut out too!</div><br />
And some other nice cartography... when I was in Seville all the ladies were walking around with traditional little hand fans and in the window of one of the cutest shops I have ever seen was this one made out of a map of Seville...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4daKBkPyvnoH9tJRwQ6W_wXzPYtzfODZtpX3VeOq6K0ztiUq3M3WcjWHPMm8iyJxzUErY7C5FADP1wy5xHuOErC90a52HMJ1wbcWUDjGdGb2Vgh9shNwLRbN_hsTOyoPGXehmAkV4kHg/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4daKBkPyvnoH9tJRwQ6W_wXzPYtzfODZtpX3VeOq6K0ztiUq3M3WcjWHPMm8iyJxzUErY7C5FADP1wy5xHuOErC90a52HMJ1wbcWUDjGdGb2Vgh9shNwLRbN_hsTOyoPGXehmAkV4kHg/s320/095.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I would've gone inside and got a better picture but the shop was shut for the 2 days after we noticed it - Annabel and I nearly cried looking at all the amazing things inside that we couldn't go look at! I might just have to book another city break so I can go back and visit it...<br />
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And then I thought, well, I might as well print off another page of a map for the location that Mark and Kellie will be living at now (to wrap their wedding gift in...) It's a small gift, but then, I did make them <strong>a lot</strong> of cupcakes for their big day:-<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> In the end I actually wrapped the gift in bubble wrap and white tissue paper, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>then printed the map onto tracing paper and tied with black curling ribbon.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwUAIXYS6lZ4GpTdkdwYPrHGtv-jbHMw0tpVcLO9bVThboU2Nyl6oFxUEJGlhM5_JRrWquBOY9rD66YIiwilA6rkxC0N9RapZSNNAjRY3zZsPA5i3wkx3kSxgI73K5lhX93Cy9o0aDQ/s1600/joe+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwUAIXYS6lZ4GpTdkdwYPrHGtv-jbHMw0tpVcLO9bVThboU2Nyl6oFxUEJGlhM5_JRrWquBOY9rD66YIiwilA6rkxC0N9RapZSNNAjRY3zZsPA5i3wkx3kSxgI73K5lhX93Cy9o0aDQ/s320/joe+029.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And they lived happily ever after... ( just off the M32). </em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-16864700305457623362011-06-08T14:40:00.000-07:002011-06-08T14:40:00.624-07:00The Hummingbird Flavour Cupcakes Learning Curve.I can't get enough of these at the moment... <br />
Hummingbird flavour cakes are a kind of delicious, sweet, <em>"carrot cake meets banana loaf"</em> kind of fusion made with bananas, pineapple, and oil which keeps them really moist. Some recipes I've found use coconut and varying degrees of oil and they all include roughly chopped pecans. <br />
Hummingbird cake seems to have cropped up first in baking journals in the American deep south, and there are several ideas about the origin of it's name:-<br />
<br />
►This cake is so yummy that it makes you HUM with delight, or happiness when you anticipate having a slice<br />
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►Hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers and this cake is just a sweet as a flower's nectar<br />
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►Hummingbirds themselves are associated with the lighthearted and sweet side of life, hence the name of this cake<br />
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►When the cake is served, people hover around it the way hummingbirds hover around nectar bearing flowers<br />
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►Although a cake made for people, it is a cake sweet enough to attract even hummingbirds<br />
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►Bananas and pineapples come from the tropics, and the national bird of <a class="link interlink" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/1881/jamaica.html" rel="&content_type=topic&content_type_id=1881" title="Jamaica"><span style="color: #0062a6;">Jamaica</span></a> is a hummingbird...could this be how it got its name?<br />
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The most complimentary topping has to be cream cheese frosting and for the wow factor you could use a slow-dried pineapple slice or plonk on a pecan if you've got a bit less time:-<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The sliced pineapple really does end up looking like a flower!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, having tried a few, I believe I have found the ultimate Hummingbird cupcake recipe. The measurements are in cups as pretty much all Hummingbird recipes on the net are from the U.S. I have taken the basis of the recipe from Choccylit (a baking hero of mine) who is a software quality engineer by day, cupcake maker extraordinaire by night, she's great, check her out here:-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cupcakeblog.com/">http://cupcakeblog.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My usual dilemma arose when I saw the words "baking soda" and I wasn't about to go combining ratios of cream of tartar, baking powder etc to get as close to this, only available overseas, baking agent. I plunged in and used baking powder - DON'T! 48 cakes-in-the-bin later, I took a deep breath and repeated the recipe with exactly the same ingredients, except I used bicarbonate of soda - PERFECT! (and they were a completely different colour). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u>Recipe (Makes 24)</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><u><strong>Ingredients:</strong></u></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 cups flour</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 cups caster sugar</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 tsp cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/2 tsp salt</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 tsp bicarbonate of soda</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 eggs</div><div style="text-align: left;">3/4 cup veg oil (I used groundnut, and the time before walnut oil)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 8oz can of crushed pineapple, with liquid</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 large mashed, very ripe bananas</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup coarsely chopped pecans</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><em>Method:-</em></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Mix flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, salt with a balloon whisk in a good sized bowl.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Beat eggs.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Add oil and vanilla to beaten eggs and mix until somewhat combined.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Add egg/oil/vanilla mixture to flour/sugar/bicarb/cinnamon/salt mixture.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Mix together pineapple, bananas, pecans until combined.</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Add to the rest of ingredients and stir to combine. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Bake at 350 (180) degrees for about 25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Check also that the sponge bounces back when you touch it slightly. Do not check until 2/3 of the cooking time has elapsed... (tip for all cakes!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then to top them with cream cheese frosting...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hummingbird bakery recipe that I've talked about before is perfect for this:-</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/cream-cheese-frosting/2850">http://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/cream-cheese-frosting/2850</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And if you want to top with a pecan...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAynMigknVXoAIQtc0HVWZcXoDk1XqhBxZUeEtIaJfr6vlKth2F-K1u85cPHjxYhxIKC9iD5lKPvpBJLHlltS7LIREFqVG889v3pg9gPN74xwZ0B5ya8eTKUWYv4C7yKLgszqCpoHwl8g/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAynMigknVXoAIQtc0HVWZcXoDk1XqhBxZUeEtIaJfr6vlKth2F-K1u85cPHjxYhxIKC9iD5lKPvpBJLHlltS7LIREFqVG889v3pg9gPN74xwZ0B5ya8eTKUWYv4C7yKLgszqCpoHwl8g/s320/057.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>And an extra little dusting of ground cinnamon...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RGWN3mlYeWDOlXrs5Tr_mVG3fP2pXPGLzTYltNzTZmKx4tJjkaPgk7y0NXcWa0H0oZJ8720Qk4FalTs1VHXTioIy-9G-9xSvQZQX7crvNZLHVhbbPWIkY-k7j3FfPeoHHJsbBHlwxN0/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RGWN3mlYeWDOlXrs5Tr_mVG3fP2pXPGLzTYltNzTZmKx4tJjkaPgk7y0NXcWa0H0oZJ8720Qk4FalTs1VHXTioIy-9G-9xSvQZQX7crvNZLHVhbbPWIkY-k7j3FfPeoHHJsbBHlwxN0/s320/047.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Another valuable lesson when making these was to use greaseproof-lined i.e. more expensive cupcake cases, as the cases go a horrid dark colour otherwise. Culpitt red or blue gingham ones were perfect. <br />
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Or, if you're feeling more adventurous and want to make some pineapple flowers (a few days in advance...) <br />
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<strong><u><em>You need to:</em></u></strong><br />
<br />
Take a ripe pineapple.<br />
Chop off the top and bottom.<br />
Carve off the outside without wasting too much.<br />
Remove every single "eye" with a small knife or melon baller. <br />
Finely slice circles of pineapple and set them out on lined baking sheets.<br />
Bake in a low oven (110 degrees) for 30 mins, turn, bake again, repeat until tops are dried out and edges are changing colour.<br />
Remove from tray and leave to completely dry out in the air by resting them on top of egg boxes.<br />
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<em>Do not put them away to store in a Tupperware until they are near enough completely dried out - the result was mould! I may not have seen this through, had I not been making them for a wedding. Lots more deep breaths were needed to calmly start the flower making process again (so happy I did though...)</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxfZ9xh7S8adgKpmmhbEMedfKq43Z-H3Lt7v7HYHk8pTG8k8lEobVzhoXZUiPs9mIw0vqsOIjtEz73FFCFT2L1MuoPtZ4rqeDG-mRq0pcA8abEhLEJDqRXq-DFyxbc3KN-wbtG8Rm6kY/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxfZ9xh7S8adgKpmmhbEMedfKq43Z-H3Lt7v7HYHk8pTG8k8lEobVzhoXZUiPs9mIw0vqsOIjtEz73FFCFT2L1MuoPtZ4rqeDG-mRq0pcA8abEhLEJDqRXq-DFyxbc3KN-wbtG8Rm6kY/s320/012.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>They look terrible like this.. but don't panic, in hours, or even days, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>on top of your cakes they will look like this...</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQv80XQydptDTx39pgutU5FFuhqkArh_Kz3c-JW99TY7Apn9qe5lFUT86A0LIqt_EELJEIfQt2EpfTJBWJmkZ4_HWIvaEq7ykDSTgELa73D7BSohRx_oDvsqCBglDGjYQeCatn0ARhBo/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQv80XQydptDTx39pgutU5FFuhqkArh_Kz3c-JW99TY7Apn9qe5lFUT86A0LIqt_EELJEIfQt2EpfTJBWJmkZ4_HWIvaEq7ykDSTgELa73D7BSohRx_oDvsqCBglDGjYQeCatn0ARhBo/s320/044.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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I'm not sure that something that looks this natural should then have edible glitter sprinkled over them, but I've a compulsive need to bling up my cakes that I can't shake off. In any case, even a wonky flower can be salvaged and cut down to make one that resembles a primrose, (use sharp scissors!) - and just a little glitter....??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3IzwvCyew4699MqdZ0KoI87vsSIAmxL48BBPErV0IDWcfZgIEFsp0KbVN92JXp6XQiunGmVneBRj05razFECMj5e2c3tfYt1MVODviI7SIFsRCvSlmQwa_sXX1JwhKHIjz9mBX8F5JU/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3IzwvCyew4699MqdZ0KoI87vsSIAmxL48BBPErV0IDWcfZgIEFsp0KbVN92JXp6XQiunGmVneBRj05razFECMj5e2c3tfYt1MVODviI7SIFsRCvSlmQwa_sXX1JwhKHIjz9mBX8F5JU/s320/049.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
After making and taking about 40 of these to Kellie's wedding last Saturday, I've got 12 of them left in my freezer ready to decorate this weekend; form an orderly queue...! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><br />
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Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-61490422319762929092011-05-22T10:49:00.000-07:002011-05-22T10:49:43.081-07:00Just my type.<div style="text-align: left;">I have been thinking about typography, I've always had a bit of a fascination with it. When I was about 10 my Mum bought me this book from the school book club. I spent hours tracing and duplicating letters and marvelling over how the word frozen appeared to melt etc. - I adored this book...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouKT6hIupbLYsgzwgZZax_pWTMratEC_5nN-V7BDKEMkyEiIJsoRpEfDu5YxtbqxPwRquBcCG1CeBKsCmm5fTCOxV-2A03Kl0uhuQFBs0tVC3tZWK-lP7wiDt_V5hF83PsFVoMLt8kg4/s1600/The_Lettering_Book_4185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouKT6hIupbLYsgzwgZZax_pWTMratEC_5nN-V7BDKEMkyEiIJsoRpEfDu5YxtbqxPwRquBcCG1CeBKsCmm5fTCOxV-2A03Kl0uhuQFBs0tVC3tZWK-lP7wiDt_V5hF83PsFVoMLt8kg4/s320/The_Lettering_Book_4185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>(...and so did a lot of other people, judging by the statement on the front cover.)</em> </div><br />
I guess the appeal of a book like this is far less now computers are in abundance; nothing like seeing print on pages though! I admit, I was quite blown away with Nicky's kindle last week, but I like fonts on pages and I guess that's pretty fortunate, (being a reading teacher!)<br />
<br />
But I like nice typography everywhere, in Artwork, on my food packaging, on buildings - it pleases me enormously when word(s) are presented in an unusual or interesting or even just an appropriate way. <br />
<br />
So I thought I'd write about some recent purchases and creations. I'll start with the purchases...<br />
Using the wartime propaganda font and layout from <em>"Keep Calm and Carry On"</em> and the <em>"What Would ****** Do?" </em>slogan, the people at <em>"Not On The High Street"</em> came up with this poster that I have bought and framed for my kitchen wall. I was slightly sore at Jamie when he intervened with Education and it's "failings" but the more his "Dream School" series went on the more I think he appreciated how difficult the task can be. You're forgiven Jamie, and you can still be an inspiration for my cooking... (I'm sure you were petrified for a minute there....!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhympI2RUeG71_B4GSfLSyUSGjIIbIFEKIcbpaZWzIPm5CRuUXUXw01H5Is2OxpT-Igd83Z52n-GZPzncmzwv8FyY8WWsIv4-WHiay1qPHzRZ9mGZ08Bda7XOMvVVDhEG1gWWJnYBXY9Gk/s1600/zoom_What_Would_Jamie_Do_Olive_Print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhympI2RUeG71_B4GSfLSyUSGjIIbIFEKIcbpaZWzIPm5CRuUXUXw01H5Is2OxpT-Igd83Z52n-GZPzncmzwv8FyY8WWsIv4-WHiay1qPHzRZ9mGZ08Bda7XOMvVVDhEG1gWWJnYBXY9Gk/s320/zoom_What_Would_Jamie_Do_Olive_Print.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I love that idea to replace the crown with a chef's hat!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can buy a copy (in a choice of 3 colours) here:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/petersandjanes/product/what-would-jamie-do">http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/petersandjanes/product/what-would-jamie-do</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can also buy "What Would Delia Do?" that does, admittedly, roll off the tongue a bit better, but she lost me a bit when she started cooking with tins of mince last year. (You're only as good as your last book!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And IKEA have a great new range of "odby", rounded edge frames that set it off well I thought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50196349">http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50196349</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I spotted this in M&S and I had to get one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN6-yurDNHGqWfKf19Co0Thh8Kkna0w0OA9ga2cJ0RVtAkZh2PXJVEPd4fcQ80-SbL5GN9mE60MuoNo1UCzADJvhVifB_8J24L0eC2g8DFplhGS41m-OoKOZgA-h2RNBiBt4kIKH3wK4/s1600/keep+cool+and+carry+on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN6-yurDNHGqWfKf19Co0Thh8Kkna0w0OA9ga2cJ0RVtAkZh2PXJVEPd4fcQ80-SbL5GN9mE60MuoNo1UCzADJvhVifB_8J24L0eC2g8DFplhGS41m-OoKOZgA-h2RNBiBt4kIKH3wK4/s320/keep+cool+and+carry+on.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Marks and Spencers typography is so well done sometimes. like in this tetra pack of milk bottle sweets... </div><div style="text-align: center;">so cute!</div><br />
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</div>The above is a picture borrowed from "Bowie Style's" post on typography, where she has included more examples from the sweet department at Marks. If you're interested...<br />
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<a href="http://printpattern.blogspot.com/2010/01/typography-marks-spencer.html">http://printpattern.blogspot.com/2010/01/typography-marks-spencer.html</a><br />
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I have also completed another long overdue project. I stumbled on the work of Craig Damrauer a while back and I think it's fab! He's called it "New Math" and it's basically simple equations that define words.<br />
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This has been framed for my bathroom:-<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3LOzmI1z8PzpQRPitTs6SOkSMulL4dX_VvwldjWsN_wT6O2GmFxHna9eGyZc8c1L1buX1IelAKvHoWi3oL0SHNRZu1nY7kNLNfj38sNlVX1VIWjRBkvWMA_juwXebjdqAsE4L9AQhZs/s1600/146.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3LOzmI1z8PzpQRPitTs6SOkSMulL4dX_VvwldjWsN_wT6O2GmFxHna9eGyZc8c1L1buX1IelAKvHoWi3oL0SHNRZu1nY7kNLNfj38sNlVX1VIWjRBkvWMA_juwXebjdqAsE4L9AQhZs/s320/146.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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He's just got it so right with these designs. The font is clean and simple, (something like Arial narrow??) and Maths IS blue for me, I don't know why it just is. In the same way that cheese and onion crisps should be GREEN and Salt and Vinegar BLUE. I don't know why Walkers do it..., Golden Wonder had it right!<br />
Other New Math designs I really like are:-<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyE_fqOUlJ4qZm1AYIDKlKVFsy4G_nr_6JDlfcmzPgUUi_lGyNnFcEZMnMZ1o18xflXX2VMg7P4uOs8Q6bqoetWhWtA31jg4r-kCx5wyhM-sfjf5V6yirWQEzMWrR3o1Ig03beJ-0ACo/s1600/if+at+1st.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyE_fqOUlJ4qZm1AYIDKlKVFsy4G_nr_6JDlfcmzPgUUi_lGyNnFcEZMnMZ1o18xflXX2VMg7P4uOs8Q6bqoetWhWtA31jg4r-kCx5wyhM-sfjf5V6yirWQEzMWrR3o1Ig03beJ-0ACo/s320/if+at+1st.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuEuO-Dzc4Vh3jZwJWJScumGdBT10LEuTbe0sBTGBy7xXULVTIWpw2WtlarXNKc4WBi9rHhqHC_Ot80Qpj1ldRCAjqPFBPyO1Xebw_QaftfBNSF-ABmFHf-FnQBs498mujPyUAxO7s-M/s1600/word+math.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuEuO-Dzc4Vh3jZwJWJScumGdBT10LEuTbe0sBTGBy7xXULVTIWpw2WtlarXNKc4WBi9rHhqHC_Ot80Qpj1ldRCAjqPFBPyO1Xebw_QaftfBNSF-ABmFHf-FnQBs498mujPyUAxO7s-M/s320/word+math.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He's got loads on his website, obviously, once the template was there, further work was easy ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some are really clever and appropriate for loads of occasions I reckon. You can buy his stuff on posters or t-shirts, obviously I didn't save the Jpeg and print it onto good quality paper as that would be stealing his ideas... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.morenewmath.com/">http://www.morenewmath.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that leads me onto another bit of typography that I love. On the wall of kitchen in Harriet and Rhi's rented house is a poster and when we popped round for a coffee when they moved in Rhi said it was the poster that tempted her to take the place. It looked like the slogan had been hand printed onto paper but after a bit of googling I found the origin...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY70kgpy_6xkmhhOVXdJsxwncQjkUzXmMbl-HxXAqINyFakgCQDm1iaqZMbedRdLA30aN3FbcfQ0eKL5lYTTK0CHyH48uP7-lA9frpU8Ym35ZOr_VXaeIQNUHzBVc1GhonjOPSbP__v7o/s1600/life+2+best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY70kgpy_6xkmhhOVXdJsxwncQjkUzXmMbl-HxXAqINyFakgCQDm1iaqZMbedRdLA30aN3FbcfQ0eKL5lYTTK0CHyH48uP7-lA9frpU8Ym35ZOr_VXaeIQNUHzBVc1GhonjOPSbP__v7o/s320/life+2+best.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The poster formed part of an exhibition of Art on the London Underground (Glousester Road Satation). I've looked all over the Internet to try and find it as a poster but it doesn't exist so the largest I can print it with any quality left in the design is postcard sized. I found some nice little frames in IKEA to set it off quite well though....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGvQTMigImb99ccHBlEXf1qMDHKChm-YCAFhvpIceFETuB-aV1AH0MA5dqm6EdKfpgOdJZ_CkDBn6eMm1Vr6sNx-sxmaTyppJ1wUoQ0PQuDCn2lSTBaPXtAfFWdem12oPru_iieaVc2I/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGvQTMigImb99ccHBlEXf1qMDHKChm-YCAFhvpIceFETuB-aV1AH0MA5dqm6EdKfpgOdJZ_CkDBn6eMm1Vr6sNx-sxmaTyppJ1wUoQ0PQuDCn2lSTBaPXtAfFWdem12oPru_iieaVc2I/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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The Art initiative on the underground is called "Platform for Art" and there is a book about it (on the designated website) that I might just have to buy... <br />
<a href="http://art.tfl.gov.uk/">http://art.tfl.gov.uk/</a><br />
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At work this week I was looking at all the good use of typography on the children's books I teach with and I thought about mentioning some of them but I think I'll save it for another day... I've got too much to say about children's books and they deserve a separate posting when I've got more time...<br />
So finally, a couple of weeks back was Bella's (Annabel's) birthday. And it's been a while since I made some personalised paper so I got busy and made a few sheets. Quite nice for a bit of interesting (and thrifty;) personalisation....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wrapping paper I settled on was the one I made with "Times New Roman" printed in various greys. And that was the reason I chose to finish it with pastel gift tie.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLWVUKU4doG6PlVMXLKLEdZHRykyzbwL5XonAj-7FgcLAONl5__Q2XhWgj_R_iwA0JF_8KFq1CTleF1be24Friz-stWzEYnRlVP8NUzk0pimLapy8HW2B7TCc8GLwLeHnyGRzK2nIMEI/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLWVUKU4doG6PlVMXLKLEdZHRykyzbwL5XonAj-7FgcLAONl5__Q2XhWgj_R_iwA0JF_8KFq1CTleF1be24Friz-stWzEYnRlVP8NUzk0pimLapy8HW2B7TCc8GLwLeHnyGRzK2nIMEI/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another option was "Ariel" font with some bright parcel tie, but I didn't like that option as much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfp048TbzWIoUPVDCVLljMvlXHCu00anYvNJpubla82uiRkXLtjHIR3LReVOLrRHVeMYWRjOxMftqEtC1RczyDZvi7G3vZSTtSP0UlLgj-h3FzHs3UI5IZbzXpK1XrrM8zMT-GF2xBG0/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfp048TbzWIoUPVDCVLljMvlXHCu00anYvNJpubla82uiRkXLtjHIR3LReVOLrRHVeMYWRjOxMftqEtC1RczyDZvi7G3vZSTtSP0UlLgj-h3FzHs3UI5IZbzXpK1XrrM8zMT-GF2xBG0/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And I also dis guarded the black print option with bold parcel tie colours. I did do this one Christmas however, and the black writing against gold and red parcel tie looked amazing!<br />
It is also worth noting that the black enlarges better than grey on a photocopier if you wanted to wrap bigger presents and that it is good to wrap your gifts in tissue paper first if you're using rubbishy see-through paper on a works photocopier. I'm sure like me, you would never be unprofessional and do personal photocopying in work, however.... ;) This would also be nice if you printed the paper with the same sized name, used all different fonts for their name and chose a "kiddy" font such as comic sans if the present was for a child!<br />
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Okay, well, this blog post, plus making banana and walnut loaf cakes have helped me procrastinate for quite some time today, but I'd better get on with the work I am doing for my M.A in dyslexia teaching. To make the resources for my students in the most "reader-friendly" way I also bought an expensive font... <br />
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it's clever though, take a look...<br />
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<a href="http://www.clubtype.co.uk/index.html">http://www.clubtype.co.uk/index.html</a><br />
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(it writes in separate or cursive style, draws a grey outline for tracing over, puts "guidelines" above and/or below the writing and puts flicks on the letters for the first stage of learning how to do cursive (joined-up) handwriting.)<br />
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I also had a look at this one, but felt it was "over scaffolding"... ""Over scaffolding" seriously, there are some really poncy words banded about in Education...<br />
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<a href="http://www.readregular.com/english/regular.html">http://www.readregular.com/english/regular.html</a><br />
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Food for thought though, I'm learning an awful lot about how the brain learns to read on this course, (whilst frying my own a bit).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><br />
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</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-72764130450677304452011-04-28T06:18:00.000-07:002011-04-28T06:18:49.527-07:00Wedding FeverI'm flippin' loving the fuss, fact! However, I seem to have had too many good offers of events this weekend and I've picked the one that doesn't involve watching the event - hope I don't live to regret this.... Am Devonshire bound for a walk with Thomo and co. and will have to watch it on iplayer afterwards.<br />
As a thank you to Fiona for her kind invite of "High Tea" at hers and as a bit of a sorry for dithering over my plans I decided to get a little something for her:-<br />
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Comedy Coaster (from one of Clifton Village's finest posh tat shops....)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQJZFYeq0hyphenhyphenpx-Qo-yd0x_QglMYfIRhJWOuAtgJhRqd52GRzQobe5WES-qMYkl98bPWwePuFr-NCkYzdHxCmri7soSHH7oDIWIU02U77OE_Vh9gcBYuFfiQAhG57uwfPGU6FgjYjKExs/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQJZFYeq0hyphenhyphenpx-Qo-yd0x_QglMYfIRhJWOuAtgJhRqd52GRzQobe5WES-qMYkl98bPWwePuFr-NCkYzdHxCmri7soSHH7oDIWIU02U77OE_Vh9gcBYuFfiQAhG57uwfPGU6FgjYjKExs/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Then I thought I'd wrap it... but I had no nice wrapping paper. So I quickly designed some on my computer:-<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVzUhj5MXzn2AB7So68alLQIMtYlhvmwH7cJYKXwa-toncXRr_fDjrjH2ntotr92cN5FCqw1DTO_juZnTSzXzXKY_t-t49BfA6zrpFaSpXXYq4jAGmEQ79Uqy6GhrET-BROvoflkwBm4/s1600/keep-calm-crown_design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVzUhj5MXzn2AB7So68alLQIMtYlhvmwH7cJYKXwa-toncXRr_fDjrjH2ntotr92cN5FCqw1DTO_juZnTSzXzXKY_t-t49BfA6zrpFaSpXXYq4jAGmEQ79Uqy6GhrET-BROvoflkwBm4/s1600/keep-calm-crown_design.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I google imaged "keep calm crown" and the only image without writing attached (I can't use photoshop) was a pink one. Quite nice anyway as the coaster is purple and it's for a girl after all...<br />
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Then I pasted it into my brilliant "Corel Printhouse Magic" programme, which unfortunately they don't make any more. Sarah and I love this programme and when I took my precious cds (that I paid well over the odds for on eBay) to install on her computer last Christmas my sister was so evidently frightened by our nerdiness of versions, specs and compatabilities she almost had to leave. <br />
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Anyway, I made 3 different sized crowns, arranged a bunch of them, re-grouped them and duplicated them until I was happy with them arranged on the page then printed the design onto cream paper.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This was the first attempt. (They were too bunched up.)</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7oSDrR-povt-uVQqTxk8_aFhhjO62jrQ4Tu9wPhw3IksyldCw5vjmAcEE_ommfapQ-H3zgZOrx33K1OUmXL6vpNIZiqce4PqrZkJAkH80V3lO1Bqhrsa9XAy_9_sCWOpbCN7_UlQ31s/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7oSDrR-povt-uVQqTxk8_aFhhjO62jrQ4Tu9wPhw3IksyldCw5vjmAcEE_ommfapQ-H3zgZOrx33K1OUmXL6vpNIZiqce4PqrZkJAkH80V3lO1Bqhrsa9XAy_9_sCWOpbCN7_UlQ31s/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2nd attempt ...perfect!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSjR4Pt-FRvUx1LWbScK3IrWqPW2EwyQfBlR4OcUsJtlHFlQ4Cpzcygjl-5ytGRHzCgIrpFmZluKrdVwRJ82VFNv_omianNNbzjWbEkMcxcCFv7mxyqPESe_ph-gQCvmm6AkUJU7xa8c/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSjR4Pt-FRvUx1LWbScK3IrWqPW2EwyQfBlR4OcUsJtlHFlQ4Cpzcygjl-5ytGRHzCgIrpFmZluKrdVwRJ82VFNv_omianNNbzjWbEkMcxcCFv7mxyqPESe_ph-gQCvmm6AkUJU7xa8c/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>A crown I didn't use was cut out and attached to one of the million Christmas gift tags I find myself left with:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf1_hMXgvgyylz1oahQEF0vsZmVBy0s2D5yI2OBW9SsdzQMOICZdcsCzR_dhaWhGQvyPrmaTSVh0bUxAdC4v_2VofqpolI5mToIFWyQEWBhaK-w5qPJihjnpTxhrWAxPVyZ1zYRON6gg/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf1_hMXgvgyylz1oahQEF0vsZmVBy0s2D5yI2OBW9SsdzQMOICZdcsCzR_dhaWhGQvyPrmaTSVh0bUxAdC4v_2VofqpolI5mToIFWyQEWBhaK-w5qPJihjnpTxhrWAxPVyZ1zYRON6gg/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here it is:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL90IR4fYgRG21_lTlzB18pvTF-14zVXa_92eSQ0x5RBqTop6lK5kT23QaTEJht2UDAQ96t9V8adg_qM2if9_J3tlWSdCwrPkVFSN8M8Rur8aPwBAcrmPUPzm4D1W_o3q2Pf780dFClvA/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL90IR4fYgRG21_lTlzB18pvTF-14zVXa_92eSQ0x5RBqTop6lK5kT23QaTEJht2UDAQ96t9V8adg_qM2if9_J3tlWSdCwrPkVFSN8M8Rur8aPwBAcrmPUPzm4D1W_o3q2Pf780dFClvA/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImqO8FqqvbVPOz1gu3v8LjdWYvSMMvhVlIbiDdzv05lYPrs6BKU5_ljQuzKlMzlKPOJyO9MvcCDn0_xke84qIfdk-2xcLFlJFDm2MkZfmzAGCc2e3Q0vzQJbr32Oyy8gdEf-KerS_VnY/s320/059.JPG" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
And some other totally cool things that I have been spotting:-<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pieminister (savoury pie) - Sainsburys:</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ixJ2v6b02gucdyWYNbdMxaDlcRaMG0_Gq80g8CrFZis32Pk7H2dTcA3ILIYIrPrvq10o446HBldvW8n85hckGmkvIPEmDoochhFnsWbh4cgFom1OQ6nTUqoKlqzclgGBqhVsg5VZzI/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ixJ2v6b02gucdyWYNbdMxaDlcRaMG0_Gq80g8CrFZis32Pk7H2dTcA3ILIYIrPrvq10o446HBldvW8n85hckGmkvIPEmDoochhFnsWbh4cgFom1OQ6nTUqoKlqzclgGBqhVsg5VZzI/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pieminister (Sweet pie) - Waitrose:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTi4dQkzqI4fExuvqrFRlqlWQ16lo81ZyHNqzUUH7G8BKme2mbdBYkNrjihreMbgUY2FbLYl9PJTUqWP8fTA0kBFixGbWSog7wBZORDfeM3Kq0pbDCbtSdwVuV-eLh00CZU_Af0wzTbI/s1600/pear+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTi4dQkzqI4fExuvqrFRlqlWQ16lo81ZyHNqzUUH7G8BKme2mbdBYkNrjihreMbgUY2FbLYl9PJTUqWP8fTA0kBFixGbWSog7wBZORDfeM3Kq0pbDCbtSdwVuV-eLh00CZU_Af0wzTbI/s320/pear+pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yum!</div><br />
And last but not least, Vicky's Mum has HAND KNITTED this brilliant collection of the Royal family... Vicky has been having text updates such as "Just finished Kate's torso....." for weeks. What a labour of love, with teeny tiaras and medals and sequins and gold threads and pearl beads and loads more - just brilliant!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's Liz:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsoFaUcNeH9EelMNcOoyle7hq8aYv-n7KYOuaFMcfjnHI03OtT7A2bSDNIqJyPNzBcpB6Nx8watFk_NahuS0Vp8AZIaJbnp0XQLn87zA0KlPAWP_-e178v6Y_faXm0y3KN-O8Vdjm4Jg/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsoFaUcNeH9EelMNcOoyle7hq8aYv-n7KYOuaFMcfjnHI03OtT7A2bSDNIqJyPNzBcpB6Nx8watFk_NahuS0Vp8AZIaJbnp0XQLn87zA0KlPAWP_-e178v6Y_faXm0y3KN-O8Vdjm4Jg/s320/022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harry:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FRvSHz4EhRT_jRLDI2wCPEwPah1WOxLj2CWOv_X1SLgXGMcRh9-krWZbZhc8DkOCWAvoRLnsR-2iCsvSeZKMA6EDOdqnmTQapxKb2PUhD_92TOrecbOBDfXEGVSbLzhjPPRnGdhq6ng/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FRvSHz4EhRT_jRLDI2wCPEwPah1WOxLj2CWOv_X1SLgXGMcRh9-krWZbZhc8DkOCWAvoRLnsR-2iCsvSeZKMA6EDOdqnmTQapxKb2PUhD_92TOrecbOBDfXEGVSbLzhjPPRnGdhq6ng/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sneak preview of the dress:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAykYleKp8az9TSzMJREb-3Hm6MWug1mEngoZEUz51Cik_rxJA4FpedAvNAvDo45f2HhGpmcgTK0DKrXm_VbhRLsBZgr0YWqmlMJTwc8eeiyW70V85ERbbj4fbS1JTvAJrIxiUVQ4_jPY/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAykYleKp8az9TSzMJREb-3Hm6MWug1mEngoZEUz51Cik_rxJA4FpedAvNAvDo45f2HhGpmcgTK0DKrXm_VbhRLsBZgr0YWqmlMJTwc8eeiyW70V85ERbbj4fbS1JTvAJrIxiUVQ4_jPY/s320/014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The happy couple together:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCm6AgVvvPMhugQM7H4hjtvWnI9HPgq-DbowEaSjbzLEqkbGy0-FnlglrR1WIuuRR0mBFfpTRiHh-o8SPILAkC7HmCNzXjvU2f87if6uAS9NIadNCAvRcmWZ9wibHrO3Nt7kVIKfSkz4/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCm6AgVvvPMhugQM7H4hjtvWnI9HPgq-DbowEaSjbzLEqkbGy0-FnlglrR1WIuuRR0mBFfpTRiHh-o8SPILAkC7HmCNzXjvU2f87if6uAS9NIadNCAvRcmWZ9wibHrO3Nt7kVIKfSkz4/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ahhh whoops, I've managed to make it look like Wills is trying to chop her head off...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take 2 (by a plant) :-</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4UAlk6rmlpi8CSD_Bow_d6My67updg-x6CorPHjij4YKeEB1MTdMZe0xCEV58JKtw_NMUOqym6ui6ax_Oslpoe5uWDsYTK4slWGtUpMCMt8k-N7NhDgvIMhIOnrjU1tF1pTX-lGm0PM/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4UAlk6rmlpi8CSD_Bow_d6My67updg-x6CorPHjij4YKeEB1MTdMZe0xCEV58JKtw_NMUOqym6ui6ax_Oslpoe5uWDsYTK4slWGtUpMCMt8k-N7NhDgvIMhIOnrjU1tF1pTX-lGm0PM/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And not forgetting a corgi for good measure:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAnHurydWQIcgtMcmIAoyJUpwyB935eZProzZqk4_cd3JLstcYzJEElOzcZoC2krp1jw_gXt3OoWgoIq9VyR4lQj90VHH5iys5NNGXgYZk_qJa3kLvHqNOUYWvliwu03JEM_PSpsYBPc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAnHurydWQIcgtMcmIAoyJUpwyB935eZProzZqk4_cd3JLstcYzJEElOzcZoC2krp1jw_gXt3OoWgoIq9VyR4lQj90VHH5iys5NNGXgYZk_qJa3kLvHqNOUYWvliwu03JEM_PSpsYBPc/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Great work Vicky's Mum; you are an uber talented knitter and your attention to detail is incredible. <br />
They're all from this book... How many people must've bought this and not opened the cover...? <br />
It's sold thousands...<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365155/Royal-wedding-How-knit-Kate-Middleton-Prince-William-corgis.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365155/Royal-wedding-How-knit-Kate-Middleton-Prince-William-corgis.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECs4PG8KEZaVbLQp23R0T896VBmSpT-zJi248-ikcOCIhVkvT6DC95FBfSUooB_2mtn_I-0Ydp3HU1nEn1KhhFqAG1WxfnTFeAf8dNMsYZn5BGo5QOjIIJASCSE2FkoVkTE-9jgvvXdA/s1600/Knit-Royal-Family-288x290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECs4PG8KEZaVbLQp23R0T896VBmSpT-zJi248-ikcOCIhVkvT6DC95FBfSUooB_2mtn_I-0Ydp3HU1nEn1KhhFqAG1WxfnTFeAf8dNMsYZn5BGo5QOjIIJASCSE2FkoVkTE-9jgvvXdA/s1600/Knit-Royal-Family-288x290.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I met that Archbishop, (the living breathing Rowan Williams one, not the knitted one). He came to the school I did teaching practise at and wished me well for my teaching stint in New York. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He seemed like a nice man. Do you remember Gaby?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What I am looking forward to the most however, is seeing what cake they chose...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the fun! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-28997269931432474862011-04-25T15:27:00.000-07:002011-04-25T15:27:23.389-07:00Do-It-Yourself Easter CookiesAnother example of Bakerella's brilliant work was her "Cowgirl Cookies". The woman is a slave to detail, ....Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrespect!) Basically, what you do is fill an appropriately sized glass jar in careful stages so that all the ingredients of delicious chewy cookies are on show (a bit kind of like the sand in the bottle trick). You could give them a "theme" for any time of year, Easter seemed perfect, so I started filling jars of D-I-Y cookies in layers, like so:-<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6wp4RrQ6bKbRO2PmyA3Wia0PlamTKdeqHePlB7StenznPtBaWKFUCgwQrZmqk8H5PhAk8jtwYXFYHE0LZV1Y_yVHAb9bIe1kXS8afx6uUZJSOa8icRC97O6gbknKG_hCJ4NhuKMmsII/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6wp4RrQ6bKbRO2PmyA3Wia0PlamTKdeqHePlB7StenznPtBaWKFUCgwQrZmqk8H5PhAk8jtwYXFYHE0LZV1Y_yVHAb9bIe1kXS8afx6uUZJSOa8icRC97O6gbknKG_hCJ4NhuKMmsII/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Here's the contents of the jar:-</em><br />
<br />
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1 cup cooking oats<br />
3/4 cup m&ms<br />
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed<br />
1/2 cup white sugar<br />
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">..................................................................................................</div><br />
<em>And here is the "filling order":-</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">First: </span>flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Second:</span> oats<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Third:</span> m&ms<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth:</span> chocolate chips<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fifth:</span> brown sugar<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sixth:</span> white sugar<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Seventh:</span> chopped pecans<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">..................................................................................................</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And to make up their delicious cookies, the recipient will need to:-<br />
<br />
<strong>Add:</strong><br />
<strong>1 slightly beaten egg<br />
1/2 cup butter (118g) <em>(melted slightly in the microwave) </em>1 teaspoon vanilla</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>And....</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>1. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. </strong><br />
<strong>(Use hands to incorporate everything if necessary)</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>2. Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Makes about 26-28 cookies.</em></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
I've eaten some round Priya's and they were superb!<br />
<br />
Above is as it is on the Bakerella website, some extra points to note:-<br />
<br />
I converted a "quart" jar into litres and it was about 1.1 litres<br />
I could only find a 1 litre jar from Asda (£1 each - bargainous!) and there was more than enough room.<br />
I chopped up one large bag of pecans between the 3 jars (150g)<br />
I used 2 large bags of M and Ms between the 3 jars (185g). This was a little under her measurements but I didn't want to crack open a 3rd bag and have them hanging around the house. I love M and Ms, I'm firmly in that Camp not the Smarties one - yeuch!<br />
I used one pack of silverspoon choc chips per jar. (100g)<br />
I think if you were to give them as a kids present milk choc might be better, I used dark but Tom will eat anything to be fair.<br />
Spoon the ingredients in slowly pushing out to the edges first - flour will muck it up otherwise.<br />
A rubber spatula was the best tool for the job here.<br />
I also tried to keep the baking agents away from each other so they didn't start "reacting" so quickly in the jar. <br />
And that's about it...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here are the filled jars:-</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XQFy_En-oEdXi0fh88H7v-MU63ZmZG6a7IdZzDlGJHW6zwiRkAW_UZCdz2_LEJMVercuMgfQuwJxLggSM2xc3b5bjylS4UPueS-6tG1VIvn-1pJLFUV-cQWsoW-EMAhIhi0AQIdo68E/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XQFy_En-oEdXi0fh88H7v-MU63ZmZG6a7IdZzDlGJHW6zwiRkAW_UZCdz2_LEJMVercuMgfQuwJxLggSM2xc3b5bjylS4UPueS-6tG1VIvn-1pJLFUV-cQWsoW-EMAhIhi0AQIdo68E/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But better than that, here they are with "Easter embellishments"...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And as you can see I made little tags that have a list of what you need to add to the mix and instructions on how to cook the cookies. I always find that the neatest writing you can do by hand is the font that Liz W taught me... you get a permanent black marker (it's darker), write the letters neatly with small balls on the end of each stick, then outline with a gold or silver metallic pen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Easter chicks were 14 for £1 from Poundland. I looked in Paperchase first but they were £3 for 6!!! I have to say, the Paperchase ones did look a little more "free range" - a few of my Poundland boys had 1 eye, but I only needed a few... it was survival of the fittest :( Ribbons and nests were also cheap from "The Works".<br />
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The toppers were stuck down with a Glue Tape roller machine - so much less fiddly than glue.<br />
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Check out the original recipe as she presents hers with fabric tops and labels. I suspect you could get these jars in Hobbycraft but they'd be pricey... She also shows you how they should look prior to going in the oven and how they look cooked.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/">http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/</a><br />
<br />
You can freeze the mixed up uncooked dough for portion control and to test oven timings in smaller batches too.<br />
<br />
Eat, enjoy and know that they are on sale in Bristol's poshest deli for £11.50 in a smaller jar. Rip off!<br />
I took a sneaky photo when I lunched there on Monday... Ommmnnnnnn!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much better to "Do It Yourself". Go on....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-57106433775170223252011-04-22T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-22T14:16:45.248-07:00Mars Bar Cornflake Cakes (Easter Style-eeeee!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a thank you for tending to my unruly garden today I made my parents some Easter treats in the form of <em>"Easter Mars Bar Cornflake Cakes"</em> At one point I did stop and question whether they were a bit "kiddy" for my Mum and Dad, but then I thought, you know what, they've eaten fish fingers, alphabites and baked beans every Monday night for about 20 years...! I concluded they wouldn't mind, they didn't, they loved them. "Scrumptious!" said my Dad, reaching for a 3rd one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, anyway, they were easy (very easy) and very, very tasty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<strong>To make these you will need:</strong><br />
<br />
50g unsalted butter, at room temperature<br />
2 tablespoons of golden syrup<br />
260g Mars bars, chopped into 1cm pieces<br />
150g cornflakes<br />
<br />
<strong>What you do: </strong><br />
<br />
Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper liners (my mixture made 15)<br />
Melt the butter and golden syrup over a very low heat, stirring constantly. <br />
Add the chopped mars bar until just melted. <br />
Remove from the heat and gently fold in the cornflakes.<br />
Refrigerate the cakes<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...............</div><br />
<strong>To top (you will need):</strong><br />
<br />
90g good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)<br />
110g unsalted butter, at room temperature<br />
1/2 tablespoon of semi-skimmed milk<br />
1/2 teaspoon of good quality vanilla extract<br />
125g of icing sugar (sifted)<br />
<br />
<strong>What you do:</strong><br />
<br />
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water (don't let the bowl hit the water).<br />
Meanwhile use an electric whisk to mix the butter, icing sugar, vanilla and milk in a large bowl.<br />
Add the melted chocolate to the large bowl and mix until it forms a smooth, thick frosting. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...............</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Top the refrigerated cakes with the frosting and plonk some mini eggs on top. As usual I couldn't resist the edible glitter....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The recipe comes from "Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery" by Martha Swift. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cupcakes-Primrose-Bakery-Martha-Swift/dp/1856268470">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cupcakes-Primrose-Bakery-Martha-Swift/dp/1856268470</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's actually the first recipe I've made from this book but I was sold on the Nigella endorsement on the cover, the nice cake presentation ideas and I also liked the way it was organised into a calendar year with seasonal recipes. It's a good format and "The Hummingbird Bakery" clearly thought so to make their new book read in the same way... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hummingbird-Bakery-Cake-Days-Recipes/dp/0007374798">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hummingbird-Bakery-Cake-Days-Recipes/dp/0007374798</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At some point I'll make the pilgrimage to London to eat at both of these Cupcake establishments, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hummingbirdbakery.com/contact/">http://hummingbirdbakery.com/contact/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.primrosebakery.org.uk/PAGES/Cupcakes.htm">http://www.primrosebakery.org.uk/PAGES/Cupcakes.htm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but in the meantime I'll keep baking the cakes and deciding which ones to try when I get there...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Easter!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">J :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191284484242207301.post-8977787052333501572011-04-21T12:37:00.000-07:002011-04-21T12:38:52.861-07:0010 reasons why I love his work...A couple of years ago, whilst browsing design websites, I stumbled on an amazing print maker (Graham Carter). He works out of a gallery in Brighton and when I saw some of his work I really wanted a print. And there was one in particular that I couldn't stop thinking about. <br />
I found this particular picture, then I put it as my desktop wallpaper on my P.C so I could keep looking at it and deciding if I could afford to buy it...<br />
Then I saw that "Boxbird" (his gallery with wife, Alice) were having a stall at "The "Affordable" Art Fair" in Brighton. I decided to go, and if the picture was there I'd buy it. So an incidental weekend to Brighton was planned. <br />
I was half hoping the picture wouldn't be there as I felt excited about owning it but slightly sick at the price. <br />
Amongst a pile of other cute pictures, it was there... and on the textured hand-made paper it looked even better than I'd imagined. <br />
But I still thought I couldn't justify spending all that money on what is, after all, one piece of paper. So then I suggested going to think about it over lunch and dither some more. But then Patrick said to me... "Okay, if you can list 3 good reasons why you think it's so great I think you should get it!" I quickly gave him 10 and passed over my credit card within five minutes. <br />
And I'm so glad I did; it makes me smile every day, and I looked at it gleaming in the sun this morning and thought I'd write about it today...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Quiet Carriage"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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There is just no way I can do this justice with a photograph, especially with the glass making it so hard to photograph. You can see how the colours are more calming and less lurid than in the picture from his website (below), however. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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And so, the ten reasons I love it:<br />
<br />
1) The very clever limited palette. It's so '70s, with the oranges, blues, browns and creams. <br />
2) The colour scheme being warm inside and cold outside giving it nice contrast and a cosy feel and atmosphere. I like the small touches of blue inside too just to balance it out.<br />
3) The fact that the people are dwarfed by the enormous seats in a way that you remember from childhood, like when you start getting convinced that Mars bars were ginormous but actually you were probably just smaller.<br />
4) The laptop and mobile phone suggesting a modern era in comparison to the colour scheme, I like the clash.<br />
5) The pattern of the seat material being reminiscent of Old School British Rail and the snowflake pattern outside being repeated as an icon on the cup inside, it's nice in a kind of positive/negative way.<br />
6) The massive coffee cup is so out of proportion but somehow it works, as does the smoke coming off the coffee that is both a part of the design inside and outside the train.<br />
7) A wacky plant and birds are on the table! <br />
8) The people look content (as am I when I get a table seat) - table seats on trains are great!<br />
9) The little suitcase suggests a mini-break or adventure as does the little temple in the background and adds optimism and excitement.<br />
10) The "squircular" borders make you feel like you're looking through a window at them as well as them having a window to look out of. Actually, I don't think the borders are "squircular", I think that's a square/circle hybrid - not sure if there is a word for rectangles with rounded edges, but I like those shapes...<br />
<br />
I actually wonder if the artist liked it as much as me, he was a man of few words when I met him but sooooooo full of good ideas!<br />
And what I find so weird is the fact I'd kind of started decorating my whole bedroom around this picture before I even knew it existed... <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Lightshade: Ikea</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Jewellery Trees: Ikea</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Urban" Chair: Ikea</em></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Wallpaper: B&Q. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxhv7vxhppZ3J0hwmlcaLzzWHkvpo6z2zGniBNefRAZpgyWleuFSlk1PvUTkQ20aH_5S6u60R83J1iCTaA0nfESjTOBajrKLea0oTtOip7YRS04bvBOfPhHmbmCbKnv7aYn4Rdfl_0bY/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxhv7vxhppZ3J0hwmlcaLzzWHkvpo6z2zGniBNefRAZpgyWleuFSlk1PvUTkQ20aH_5S6u60R83J1iCTaA0nfESjTOBajrKLea0oTtOip7YRS04bvBOfPhHmbmCbKnv7aYn4Rdfl_0bY/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And a style consideration that Bella taught me... position mirrors to reflect interesting patterns from opposite or to reflect something of interest (light fitting etc.) </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>At certain angles it looks like a picture in a round frame...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Dressing table: Ikea</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Orange cushion: Gift from Bella (bought from House of Fraser)</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Velour Cushions: Woolworths (Ahhhh, Rest in Peace Woolworths!)</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Sputnick style" Clock: Home Sense</em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo frame: Asda</em></div><br />
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Despite the fact I have some nice pieces of Art that I've collected for downstairs of my house this picture is my favourite and it's a bit weird to ask visitors to come and look at Art in your bedroom (could get misconstrued for "etchings"...) so it doesn't always get seen which is a shame. Another reason for me to shout about it here... :)<br />
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This Summer I WILL finish my study... the starting point is my Isak tray that Nic gave me for Christmas last year but I won't say any more until I actually get around to finishing it... The wallpaper is up at least and I'll just keep looking at "Apartment Therapy" for ideas to perfect it...<br />
<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/</a><br />
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Fortunately, this picture, "Red Nest" also by Graham Carter, is sold out or I'd be wanting this one... I could give you 10 reasons why I love this but one too, but I won't torture myself...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And just look at "Polkabrella" with her little bottle of coke... all in sickly sweet colours, just brilliant!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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P.S. If I haven't told you what I paid for "Quiet Carriage", don't ask me, and if I have told you, please never tell my Mum... ;)<br />
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P.P.S. Antony says that wallpaper is a waste of rainforests; I say if I use the remainder to wrap presents I am forgiven... :)<br />
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P.P.P.S. Look at these lovely cards by Ruth Green, that I just had to get for Bella, Priya (and myself).<br />
There's so much nice stuff at Boxbird...! <br />
<a href="http://www.boxbird.co.uk/shop/ruth-green/botanica-notecards">http://www.boxbird.co.uk/shop/ruth-green/botanica-notecards</a><br />
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SOMA gallery in Clifton, Bristol sell some work by a couple of the Boxbird artists and by some other good ones too...<br />
<a href="http://somagallery.co.uk/somashop/">http://somagallery.co.uk/somashop/</a><br />
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P.P.P.P.S. If you are ever wondering where to dine out in Brighton, this place was one of the nicest I've ever been to...<br />
<a href="http://gingermanrestaurant.com/menu/lunch">http://gingermanrestaurant.com/menu/lunch</a><br />
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Yep, think that's it for now...!<br />
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No it's not.... great framing shop in Bristol:-<br />
<a href="http://www.skyframing.co.uk/">http://www.skyframing.co.uk/</a><br />
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Okay, that really is it!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">J :)</div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13357881227524429417noreply@blogger.com0