... 10 bits of stuff about me!

I have been tagged by the lovely Steph - who is the wife of Dave's drummer, and has become my really life friend - and so I must think of ten things to tell you about myself. Here goes!

1. when people are coming to visit me, I like the sort of ritual of setting out things for tea or dinner, and making things ready. Partly, this is because I like things to look nice, and partly it's because I worry about having time to do things, and like to do all I can before there are people there watching me. My freind May laughed a little when she came to visit when I had flu, because even though I could barely move, I'd set everything out nicely.

2. For a while there lost the attention span required for reading. In the whole of February, I didn't actually finish a book. I was beginning to worry, but fortunately my attention span has returned, and I have three books on the go at the moment.

3.I've never had chickenpox, and am slightly worried that I might be about to get them, as one of my nannying charges had them last week, and the other has them now. I realise I should try to have them before I have kids, but I do not relish it.

4. I am relatively well read, but I don't think I will ever manage to read all of the books I think I should.

5. My left hand thumb is about a cm bigger than my right hand one. It looks weird.

6. I will be starting a new job soon, in addition to nannying. I am very excited about it, I will be doing arts and crafts (with a literacy slant) with re-school children as part of Vonnie's new venture - A craft show with lessons for adults and children (and cakes).

7. I am going to learn to crochet this month.

8. I was a month and a half premature when I was born, and spent a month in an incubator.

9. I don't think there are many things that are more satisfying than toast and tea.

10. I applied recently to work as a voluntary mentor for Action for Children, and I really hope I am chosen!

Part of this thing is that I'm supposed to pass it on, so, I'd like to learn 10 thing about everyone who commented on my last post - You all know who you are!

... a day at the beach, or how you can have a day out without it costing anything.

This week is the 'no money because it's the end of the month' week for Dave and I. Yesterday, for free entertainment, we walked to Broughty Ferry, a little seaside town (4 miles!!)outside Dundee and back. I took loads of photos in an attempt to get my photography mojo back, and it worked a little bit.

We walked along the esplanade there

Brought Ferry Pier

View from Esplanade

Brought Castle (and some branchy stuff)

Then walked along the beach in the very strong wind

Dave on his lonesome- this is my favourite of the photos

Beach stuff

We spent a while trying to find a not very windy spot to eat our picnic lunch (jam sandwiched and oatcakes with Crowdie), somewhat unsuccessfully!

Beach bridge - aren't they cool?

Picnic - looks sparse, but this way we only had to make

sure one thing didn't blow away!

And then there was the walk home

Dave found this big stick leaning against the sand bridge.

We like to think someone left it there for the next person

to walk along the beach with, so we left it

Castle from the outskirts of the Ferry

A long walk home. we live up a huge hill, near the boatyard you can see.

You can also see the huge rain-clouds. We got home before it rained properly though!

As I type, I'm sitting on our bed, with Dave beside me, also on his laptop! We've spent the late morning and early afternoon watching things on iplayer, and I've been reading Nick Hornby (whilst Dave listens to Springsteen which is very appropriate). Clearly, you really can have a very nice weekend for free! I'm off to make some more tea, and read some more, but do leave me stories of you weekends, and of your favourite free things to do.

... some thoughts.

...on the lack of 'A week in pictures'

As you may or may not have noticed, I didn't do a week a pictures last week. I'm not going to be able to do it this week, because I haven't taken enough photos. When I started, I wanted to improve my photography skills, and it has since become more of a snapshot diary, which wasn't my intention. I've worked out that I perhaps want to look at a topic each week, or specific objects, or colours so that there is a continuing theme, and from today, I'm going to start again. For now though, I do have two photos I am happy with from the last couple of weeks!

Barn In Kinross-shire. It looked lke something from The Wizard of Oz!

Frank Turner(and band), Edinburgh Picture House -

Love the colour the lighting gave me in this one!

...on the last week

This week I've worked 3 days, gone to two gigs(Frank Turner an Christ T-T), stayed up all night watching scary films with my friends, found a better waffle recipe than my last one, spent 16 hours on public transport, eaten alot of junk-food and not slept very much.

...on art

I seem to have lost my arts and crafts mojo again. To try to end this, I've signed up for Claire's Pincushion Swap, In which I'e been paired with the lovely Annie. I'm also going to get some new watercolours, as I'e been using super cheap ones, and I am not getting into it at all. The coming month will be the month of the watercolour.

I have this week off work as holidays, and am quite honestly hoping to not do much. I will be starting another day per week of work soon in an exciting new venture of a friend of mine, and 4 days including getting up at the crack of dawn will be tiring, though entirely worth it! To get a good start with that and a good run at work again, I will be suing this as 'down time'. I need to sleep for whole nights, eat properly, and get myself back to being completely healthy!

If anyone has any suggestions for themes I could use for photography, I'd be delighted to hear them!

... a homecoming dinner. or I am a brilliant wife.

Dave has been away on tour for a week. In reality, he's been well fed, gone to stay with family, and had warm places to sleep when not. For some reason though, whenever he's been away for a wee bit, I feel it's my wifely duty to make him a good dinner upon his return. Not to mention the fact that he got back after dinnertime, and making him make it would just mean less sleep for me before work!

Dave is a big fan of anything that's a slab of meat, and anything with spice on it, so i thought spiced pork steaks would do the job!

Marinated pork steaks with egg fried rice

For pork steaks

marinade

2 pork steaks

2 garlic cloves, squished

1tsp ginger(I used preserved stuff, if you have fresh, about an inch should suffice(grated), and if all else fails, 1/2 tsp of ground would do the job!)

2 pinches chilli flakes (recipe suggests green, I used red)

1tsp mustard seeds

2tsp olive oil

3tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp lemon juice

the look much less Icky than this once cooked!

• lay pork steaks in a flat dish
• mix marinade ingredients is bowl
• spoon over chops
• let rest in fridge for at least an hour, turning occasionally
• if cooking immediately, pre-heat oven to 170c after 45 mins
• spoon marinade in dish back over chops
• bake in oven for one hour, till tender

for Egg fried rice

note to self - making two persons worth of egg fried rice in a tiny

frying pan will create mess.

I cup white rice

small green pepper, diced finely

small carrot, diced finely

1 egg

splash milk

2tbsp soy sauce

1tsp butter

• boil rice according to directions (roughly in twice it's volume of water for 15 mins)
• strain and shake well
• melt butter in pan on medium heat(use a wok if you have one, it makes the stirring alot easier and means you can make lots)
• add rice an fry till heated through - about 3 minutes
• add eg (peppers/peas/spring onions are other options, I was aiming for not leaving the house)
• add soy sauce
• cook another 3 mins, stirring
• beat egg with milk
• push rice to side of pan
• pour in egg, let cook 10 seconds
• break up and stir into rice
• let cook for further minute.

This is the first proper meal I've had since I got the lurgy, I've been just picking at things and eating biscuits, fruit and yogurt all week. I feel alot better now, more like I have a manageable cold, and the food has perked me up a bit!

No, I am off to bed, as I have to get up uber early for work. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

... being a good patient.

Tea +books = comfort

My friend Kath commented on the fact that yesterday I seemed not to be being a good patient(she is lovely, she said it in jest). The thing is that as well as being the patient, because Dave is away I am the nurse as well, though as I said to Dave, considering how rubbish I feel it's quite a good thing he's away. Catching this lurgy with his asthma could be quite, quite bad.

This morning, having actually had a couple of hours sleep, I woke feeling a little bit better, and a lot less grumpy. It was helped by the fact that my lovely boss told me just to stay at home today, so I wasn't anxious about letting her know either way at 5am!

Aren't my dishes cheery?

Due to the wonders of paracetamol and ibuprofen, I'e been able to eat and drink today and am a bit less sore, so am happy sitting on the sofa with the occasional potter around . I've even done the dishes and a couple of loads of washing! I've 'talked' about learning to crochet with a few people too, so if I feel better tomorrow I'll go the the wool shop and get some stuff to start.

Sofa Picnic

Since I have to be my own nurse, I decided I might as well look after myself. My sofa picnic/entertainment/cosy kit includes - my blanket and my cosy grey shawl, Love Story and The Faber Book of Love Poems (Love the pattern on the cover, have a click on the photo to see it) for limited attention span reading, a pot of Earl Grey, a bar of Green &Black's Maya Gold (which is now organic and Fairtrade!), mango and plum for the good vitamins, and some Kleenex for the sneezes(and for when I read Love Story). I've watched more episodes of Come Dine with Me than you could shake a stick at, and whilst I still feel pretty ill, I'm alot cheerier!

Any short attention span books or tacky telly/film recommendations are welcome!

... moany moan moan moan, and some lovely blogs

It looks like this outside...

...unfortunately, I am stuck inside, as I have the lurgy in a big way. I realise that I probably say I'm ill every second post - I am a bit immune deficient, so I pick up bugs alot. Generally I just ignore them, have a rest when I can, and get on with things. I've been like this since I was little, so I'm used to it. However, this is the Uber-Flu Lurgy. I feel like all the stuff in my head is trying to get out, everything is sore and achey, and moving is not fun. I had to phone in sick to work today, because the thought of getting dressed and getting the bus actually made me cry. I hate phoning in sick, it is a very, very hard thing to do when you are responsible for someone's children. And Dave is away on tour, so I have to make my own food and drinks and medication. And worryingly, I am running out of hankies.

This means that my own food and drinks consist of fruit juice, tea, and toast. I am at the stage where I don't even want to cook. The whole 'entire body in pain' thing means I will be in bed, and that I will be looking at pretty pictures and reading nice things on blogs. Also I am reading the second of the Ernesto 'Che' Guevara diaries at the moment, and it is very interesting, so I may read a bit more of that

Tangent here - the Nescafe advert makes me so angry! ' What nature provides, Nescafe captures at it's brightest'. Pfft. Does that include all the mothers and babies that are dying because of you Nestle? Arrrghh!(I am watching TV and it just came on).

Sorry. Now that I've had a moan and a rant, I am going to go an look at lovely blogs. My favourites are well documented, but here are a few ones I've recently discovered that I am loving!

Emma Lamb - lovely things and crocheting, from Scotland!

Attic 24 - More lovely things and crocheting!

(Can you tell I want to learn to crochet?)

Her Little Place - nice housey things and foods

I will Make Do and Mend - Ray is the sister-in-law of lovely Hannah, and just as crafty!

This post is a bit disjointed, my attention span seems very short today. I was wondering though, what does everyone else do when they are ill? Are you all also frustrated by not being able to do anything?

...a week in pictures - week 7

Monday

Monday was a work day, and a good one, of walks, and visiting fabric shops, and baking. The beautiful garden above is just inside the gates of East House, which I posted a picture of the gate of last week. The woman who lives there with her family tends this garden herself! I am is complete awe of her skills!

Tuesday

I did very little on Tuesday, but I did go for a walk, and saw the first signs of spring! I love snowdrops!

Wednesday

Another lovely work day, and in the evening, some yummy food and Dave printing off the first of two copies of his Doctoral thesis. I am VERY proud of him. He submitted it for examination this morning, which is a big milestone in his academic career!

Thursday

On Thursday at work, I spend most of the time cooking, as I only have the mini-est of my kiddies then, and she had a doctors appointment, and also sleeps for 3 hours a day! I made lots of bread, and I took a picture of the yeast box, as I love how vintage it looks in design!

Friday

This was travel to Paisley so that the men could rip out our ceiling day. Above is a picture of my day's entertainment. In the evening, we had tea with my sister and brother-in-law!

Saturday

You can read about my Saturday here.

Sunday

On Sunday, we drove back from Paisley to Dundee in the early afternoon. It was a glorious day, actually warm enough to wear a T-shirt! Hello Spring! When we got home, Dave printed copy of thesis 2, and packed for going on tour (which he is setting of for from Glasgow right about now). The bridge above is on the way out of Glasgow. It is a train bridge, often high speed freight trains cross it, and the top part holds part of the weight. I love that it looks so geometric and sturdy. And look at that blue, blue sky!

So how was your week?

... a lovely Saturday, and some memories

It's quite a rare thing for Dave and I to have a weekend when we have nothing planned, so on Saturday, once we'd had a lie in, we decided to go to Largs as it was quite a nice day. Largs is a seaside town in Ayrshire, where both myself and Dave went with our families when we were little, and both of us have fond memories.

My overriding memory of going to Largs is of my mum, and my sister's dad taking me, Hazel and her siblings to Nardini's . We went once a month, and we had our ice-cream sitting in(there is an icecream shop for take away, If you sit in, there is table service), and each of us was allowed 3 scoops or a sundae. The building is beautiful on the outside, and on the inside is full of Art Deco splendour. To go there as a child felt very special, partly because it was expensive(we didn't have much money when I was little, Nardini's is quite fancy), and a proper treat, and partly because it actually is world famous, there are pictures of big stars who went there inside, so it felt grown up. We'd get dressed in our 'for best' clothes when we went, and I remember always think that my mum looked properly glamorous, which she didn't have time to do most days with 5 children to look after!

Lots of people sitting outside, Spring is coming! It is quite posh for a cafe, no?

Of course, there is also the fact that the ice-cream is amazing! Dave had never had some, so we went to the shop part (we'd have had to wait for a table to sit in, as soon as the sun comes out, Largs is mobbed) and got two scoops each, and ate them on the waterfront. I had Cherry Mania and Heavenly Chocolate, while Dave had mint choc-chip(his favourite flavour) and Italian cookie. It tasted as good as I remember, which made me happy! The stuff is magical - creamy and rich, and with strong, real flavour, and big chunks of the mixed in bits!

Yuuuuuuuuum!

Having taken a trip down my memory lane, we took a trip down Dave's. When they went to Largs as children, Dave's family went to the sweetshop, which is also quite famous! It has rows and rows of big tubs of sweets, which you still order a quarter(quarter pound) of. It makes me a bit sad if I have to ask for 100g of something, it's just wrong somehow. My two favourite kinds of boiled sweet are Winter Mixture and Rhubarb Rock, and yesterday felt more like a rhubarb rock day!

Sweets in hand, we went to the Amusements(for the Americans, this is what the little places on seaside town with slot machines are called here) and used two pounds(both of our families had the ' you can have a pound's worth of goes' rule it seems) winning, and then losing on those machines you drop 10 pence or 2 pence pieces into, in the hope that it pushes some over the ledge.

Largs shorefront- can you see the old couple sitting together?

Afterwards, we walked along the shorefront, and I took some photos, and then we got lost trying to find which of the residential streets we'd parked the car on! We drove's to Dave's parents' house, In the beautiful evening light, and I managed to snap a few clear photos, even though the car was going quite fast! These are is my favourites!

Isle of Arran, behind Isle of Bute, from the north of Largs

Leaving Aryshire, entering Inverclyde, Looking on the Isle of Bute

At Dave's parents house, we had a cup of tea, which they are as fond of as I am, and then went out for Indian food, which was yummy.

All in all, it was a really lovely, relaxed day, full of chat and sharing memories. I think these need to happen often! Next time we're going to sit in so that Dave can have the full experience, and I may even get properly dressed up, as my mum would!

... on being a bit stuck, and flat repairs

This morning, I got the bus down to Glasgow and the train to Paisley at 8am. On my day off. The I stayed in our flat till 12.30, waiting for the contractors to come. I hate waiting for people to come and do house things, it feels like time is endless. But I digress. The contractor came, only a very little bit late, and I was very politely ejected. Cue more aimlessness from me, I hadn't thought I'd had to leave, so all I did was visit the shop I used to work in, and then wander around. The contractors were here to de-asbestos our hall ceiling, which is the first part of mending the flat. I knew they'd have to remove the plaster, but I wasn't expecting this.

Hello, ceiling joists - the light cord and attic hatch look a bit sad, don't they?

Close up - this is where they had to stop taking stuff out, as it was holding up the other ceilings. those wee bits are about an inch long really.

wires

more wires, I didn't think we had this much electrical stuff! Also note that the planks across the beams just stop. I'm glad I never went into the attic now!

Also, this is the stuff in our attic you can see from the hall.

I think the metal thing is a hearth for a fire. which we don't have. hmmmm.

Now, I am doing more waiting, this time, I'm waiting for Dave to get here. I feel I've been in limbo all day, but at least our insurance company have started fixing things!

I hope everyone has a good weekend! I intend to not do very much, but by choice!

...a week in pictures - week 6, and a soup recipe!

It's late again, but here is my week in pictures...

Monday

Last week began with a gloriously sunny day. I was at work, and the kids and I did a 6 mile round trip walk(they were pushed for the second stage obviously, and the littlest was pushed the whole way in the pram), with a scones and milk stop half way. I took the picture from the bus, I love the diagonal line of the hill and the contrast of it's colour to the blue, blue sky.

Tuesday

I was off work on Tuesday, and spent the morning tidying (which I don't mind doing because the shiny, sparkly result is worth it) before having the girls over for food. I added stuff to my wee hanging area for post cards, the kids art work etc. I've now decided I want to get a big, relatively ornate gold frame and pin strands of ribbon into it for hanging these things. It holds pictures and letters from and of my kiddies, and notes, cards and postcards from friends.

Wednesday

This was a not much of anything day for me. I had the lurgy, so I was lying low. I did make some yummy, comforting lentil soup though, which we had with potato wedges, and as Dave is pointing out in the picture, some hot chilli sauce. He was give the sauce by the RA he shares his office with, who is Chinese. He loves it more than all the other condiments! Have a recipe!

Creamy Carrot and Lentil Soup.

1tbsp olive oil

2 small onions, diced

3 large carrots, diced

2 cloves of garlic, squished and chopped

1 large leek, diced

2 cups red lentils

2 pinches chilli flakes

1/4tsp hot chilli powder

1 and 1/2 tbsp wholegrain mustard

1tsp peppercorns

3tbsp flour

5 pints stock (mine was beef, feel free to use what you have)

150ml single cream(half fat would do the same job i imagine)

• heat oil in soup pot
• add chopped veg and garlic
• cook till veg are soft, stirring
• add all other ingredients(except flour, stock and cream)
• stir well
• add stock and simmer for 30 mins
• add cream and stir well
• whizz in blender till smooth (needs to be whizzed so that carrot flavour permeates)

Thursday

Not feeling much better, I headed to work on Thursday. It was pretty rainy in Dundee, but I can deal with rain. I got half way to work though, and there were 3ft of snow at some points in the journey. Quite the contrast to the sunny picture on Monday! The above photo is the lane I walk along to get to work. As you can imagine, with my lurgy, we stayed inside. There was lots of book reading, some playing and some making of yummy food!

Friday

I was working again, and it was still snowy! In the evening, we had dinner with a friend and colleague of Dave's, her husband and their new tiny baby. They are Spanish and Indian, and cooked North Indian food, so I'm sure you can imagine my joy! The above picture is the view from my bus stop on the way home, I found it so stark, like all the colour had been taken out of the world. Oh, also, the insurance people phoned to say that they have decided our claim is valid, and they will be starting the work on Friday! Hurrah!

Saturday

I went to visit my nana. It normal takes two hours to get to her house (a train and a bus),, but what is normally a 45 minute train turned into an epic journey, involving getting on a bus that was doing 4 of the train stops, a bus driver that didn't know the way, and my looking after and ringing the family of a wee old, slightly senile woman who was completely confused. In the evening, Dave has a gig, and I ended up being in the car for two hours with a migraine, so it was sort of a bad and good day. I clearly need to have my eyes tested soon though! The picture is my on the bus entertainment, The Guardian, in all it's Saturday supplimenty glory.

Sunday

A day of not much again. Having gotten home from dropping band members of after the gig at 2am, we slept late, and the drove back to Dundee, as the Paisley flat is not cosy. On the way home, we saw this number plate, and Dave made me take a photo of it to show his parents!