Ray-Ray & John came to visit.
Ray & john came to see me today :) visitors!
we went for an explore of the town center- mostly to costa coffee (thanks ray ray for treating me!) we also went for lunch (more indian food, argh, I'm sooo stuffed!).
after that SHOPPING! :)
mostly 'twas a moochy day.
we went for an explore of the town center- mostly to costa coffee (thanks ray ray for treating me!) we also went for lunch (more indian food, argh, I'm sooo stuffed!).
after that SHOPPING! :)
mostly 'twas a moochy day.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Bedford park
so, post tea and cake, what could be better than a walk in the park?
A walk in the park where you feed ducks rich tea biccys!
A WHOLE PACKET!
what a bunch of fatties!
the duckings are really really cute though- not quite as adorable as the bats, but more available in the afternoon, and way more willing to perform for baked goods.
Tony even managed to feed them from his hand- Kimmy and I were not that brave.
A walk in the park where you feed ducks rich tea biccys!
A WHOLE PACKET!
what a bunch of fatties!
the duckings are really really cute though- not quite as adorable as the bats, but more available in the afternoon, and way more willing to perform for baked goods.
Tony even managed to feed them from his hand- Kimmy and I were not that brave.
My "tea and cake" replacement- the Fancy cake shop on roff avenue
the small is amazing!
:D
this MUST be experienced by all visitors (they don't open on sundays- if that affects which days you'll come see me on...)
I hate to admit it but bedford wins this one hands down! sorry cardiff, I still love you, but you need to up your game!
the cafe is super cute tooo. as you can see I have enlisted the assistance of Kim & Tony as intrepid Bedford explorers!
Sunday, 21 August 2011
my favourite bedfordian things so far....
this is bedford park at twilight- its sooo pretty its got carriage drives round the outside and ponds with ducks and duckings- beautiful plants, sports pitches and playgrounds but the BEST thing about bedford park is that it's got BATS! they're amazing to watch!
this is in the jaffa orchard- which is my new fav cafe, bountiful tea, home-made cakes (like nan cakes!) and upstairs they sell local crafts! pretty things! sometimes they also sell bric-a--brac on like a wallpapering table outside, which I very much enjoy!
I have no idea why he's there, I just like him.
Old fashioned sweetie shop. :)
events :) this may be my new fav pub.
Alms houses! how cute are they?! bedford has LOADS of very old and beautiful houses, its a pleasure to explore!
snapdragons! just outside the gates to the park- opposite the end of my road!
I also like that there are soooo many things to do!
I have applied to join the roller derby, and the orchestra so hopefully I won't be bored!
:D
My great bedfordian adventure
sorry for the lack of posts- I've had a bit of a crazy month or so, but I have now managed to re-locate from wales to bedford, and have the interent connected.
so now I will document my exploration of this place!
but 1st off- here is my home!
so now I will document my exploration of this place!
but 1st off- here is my home!
the bedroom- sash windows- argh! I'm not tall enough to close them without standing on something!
bedroom again and the "wall of shame" from sanquahar st.
the front room.
more front room
kitchen.
purple tea making facilities! woop!
Night out with Danna :D
Dan offered to show me round bedford- since this was his childhood town. onec he'd dropped off the last of our stuff (how do we have so much stuff?!)
so, car unload, swift cuppa and off to find some food- we went to tavistock street after a tour of the town & had mongolian food. It was amazing. you pick what you want, put your sauce on & then take it to the giant wok to be cooked- sooo many amazingly flavoursome combinations. I think it was my favourite food place so far!
they even have satay sauce!
Dan, crispy seaweed has NOTHING to do with sea or weed:
its fried bok choy with sugar on it! see:
there, arguement settled!
whatever it was , Dan loved it:
so, car unload, swift cuppa and off to find some food- we went to tavistock street after a tour of the town & had mongolian food. It was amazing. you pick what you want, put your sauce on & then take it to the giant wok to be cooked- sooo many amazingly flavoursome combinations. I think it was my favourite food place so far!
they even have satay sauce!
Dan, crispy seaweed has NOTHING to do with sea or weed:
its fried bok choy with sugar on it! see:
The seaweed in this recipe is actually bok choy that has been deep-fried just until it turns crispy. This is one recipe where you probably won't want to reuse the deep-frying oil for another dish - the bok choy turns it a greenish color.
Serves 4 to 6
Serves 4 to 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound bok choy
- 1/4 cup toasted almonds
- 2 cups oil for deep-frying, or as needed
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Preparation:
Wash the bok choy and drain thoroughly. Finely chop the toasted almonds.
When the bok choy has dried, separate the stalks and leaves. Roll the leaves up cigar-style, and then cut into thin shreds.
Heat the oil in a wok to between 300 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a batch of the shredded bok choy. Submerge the bok choy shreds in the hot oil for a few seconds only and remove quickly. (If you have one, a mesh deep-frying basket is ideal for this). Do not let the leaves turn brown. Drain on paper towels. Continue with the remainder of the bok choy shreds.
Place the shreds in a bowl and toss with the sugar and chopped almonds. Serve immediately.
When the bok choy has dried, separate the stalks and leaves. Roll the leaves up cigar-style, and then cut into thin shreds.
Heat the oil in a wok to between 300 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a batch of the shredded bok choy. Submerge the bok choy shreds in the hot oil for a few seconds only and remove quickly. (If you have one, a mesh deep-frying basket is ideal for this). Do not let the leaves turn brown. Drain on paper towels. Continue with the remainder of the bok choy shreds.
Place the shreds in a bowl and toss with the sugar and chopped almonds. Serve immediately.
there, arguement settled!
whatever it was , Dan loved it:
possibly he loves it a bit too much- but there we are.
we moved on from there to spoons, then the hobgoblin- which had an ace live band! they even played "don't fear the reaper" happy days- and they gave us these lovely glasses- which my handbag really wasn't big enough to house! but next time...
from here we went on to the rose, and added corkys white chocolate shots to our round. eugh, my head is feeling it now, that I assure you!
This was where I said I'll head home at 1. my watch stopped. at 12:50 we didn't notice till like gone 2. so all in all a good, messy, drunk night.
Dan ended up staying at mine on the sofa (HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS SOFA INTO A BED?! SOMEONE, HELP!) surrounded by all our boxes that need to be unpacked.
far too hungover to go to rollerderby today- I'll have to email them and ask for forgiveness and go next sunday!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
101 in 1001
101 in 1001
1) Make jam
2) Buy a custom made dress
3) Visit a site of cultural significance in the UK - buddhist temple in MK
4) Join a new sport
5) Do something charitable
6) Get a new hairstyle
7) Have a tea party - we're going for afternoon tea in harrods for my birthday! :D (thanks traff)
8) Visit a spa
9) Buy a bike- and use it to get to school!
10) Make something pretty for the flat.
11) Make an Xmas present (at least one!)
12) Go to a concert- 28th october, the specials, cardiff
13) Visit somewhere new
14) Go on a holiday outside of the UK- belgium for new years with my family and miss mcKay
15) Go to the cinema
16) Visit an art exhibition
17) Apply to model for life drawing
18) Go to an outdoor gig- rugby, outdoor music festival in september
19) Have a dinner party
20) Grow a plant
21) Go to the beach (more of a challenge from Bedford)
22) Photograph the bats in Bedford park
23) Make a patchwork quilt
24) Go indoor sky diving
25) Join the IOP
26) Convert my favorite videos to DVD
27) Go to the cinema
28) Read a controversial book
29) Visit a site of scientific interest
30) Be able to run a mile!
31) Make red velvet cupcakes
32) Grow my own herbs
33) Go on a massage course
34) Cook dinner for Traff – two courses- no cheating.
35) Go to the circus.
36) Go to the humming bird bakery in London.
37) Go to a west end show.
38) Go camping with a group of friends.
39) Make an item of clothing.
40) Attend a festival for another culture
41) Go to yoga classes
42) Make a book of Bedford photos for Juan using my SLR
43) Go ice skating
44) Go to a comedy show
45) Get a pet.
46) Fly a kite
47) Have sparklers
48) Go go karting/ similar
49) Visit a Christmas market.
50) Do a live recording
51) Have a make up lesson- learn to do it all properly!
52) Join a gym (and go, obviously!)
53) Cook a Sunday dinner
54) Have a go at a pottery workshop
55) Sponsor a child to go to school
56) Fly a kite
57) Go to a football match
58) Go to Glastonbury
59) Visit an aquarium
60) Visit High gate cemetery
61) Go for dinner in a posh restaurant!
62) Go for afternoon tea- for my birthday- in harrods!
63) Put a bet on the grand national
64) Buy a lottery ticket
65) Wear high heels to an event- and manage to walk in them.
66) Take on an electronics project (ideally finish it and have it working, but that’s not always going to be possible!)
67) Go to a new vintage fare/market
68) Have a detox vegetarian week
69) Try Jamaican food
70) Go to a class at the arts center
71) Visit a stately home
72) Find somewhere in Bedford that serves cocktails!
73) Go on a ghost walk
74) Take part in another photo marathon
75) make and item of jewellery
76) Go swimming outdoors.
77) Try a double flavor shake away milkshake
78) Do a sewing course
79) Join the Bedford craft collective
80) Learn to write my name with my non dominant hand
81) Learn some simple Thai phrases & to write basic Thai
82) Go dry slope skiing
83) Have my palm read
84) Buy a Vivien Westwood item of clothing
85) Place a bet in a casino
86) Write a letter to the newspaper
87) Complete the times crossword
88) Grow crystals
89) Attend a fireworks display
90) Roll down a hill
91) Go boating- any kind of boat!
92) Have a winter BBQ
93) Carve a pumpkin
94) Attend a Halloween party/murder mystery party.
95) Go to a Cabaret show.
96) Reply to a crazy gum tree advert
97) Watch all of the “back to the future” films back-to-back
98) Go stargazing
99) Make candles
100) Have a tarot reading
101) Get a version of logic
102) Buy an Mbox.
103) Make my own ice-cream
104) Cook a Tagine in my Tagine (with assistance)
105) Make my own calendar for 2012 (snapfish)
106) Take action photographs that capture movement.
107) Make a tea-list of visitors- there must be more than 20 tea lister participants
108) Buy & play guitar hero
109) Learn to play “happy families”.
110) Play frizbee.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Rainbow tortoise knitting pattern
Cast on 10sts in red.
Row 1. Knit
Row 2. Cast on 2sts. Purl to end of row.
Row 3. Cast on 2sts. Knit to end of row. (14sts)
Row 4. Repeat row 2. (16sts)
Row 5. Repeat row3. (18sts)
Change to Orange wool.
Row 6. Increase 1st at each end of purl row. (20sts)
Row 7. Knit
Row 8. Repeat row 6. (22sts)
Row 9. Knit
Row 10. Repeat row 6. (24sts)
Change to Yellow wool.
Row 11. knit
Row 12. Repeat row6. (26sts)
Row 13. Knit
Row 14. Purl
Row 15. Knit
Change to Green wool.
Row 16. Purl
Row 17. Knit
Row 18. Purl
Row 19. Knit
Row 20. Purl
Change to Blue wool.
Row 21. knit
Row 22. Purl
Row 23. Knit
Row 24. Decrease 1stitch at each end of row. (24sts)
Row 25. Knit
Change to Indigo wool.
Row 26. Repeat row 24 (22sts)
Row 27. Knit
Row 28. Repeat row 24 (20sts)
Row 29. knit
Row 30. Repeat row 24 (18sts)
Copyright Hazel Margaret Pattison 19th March 2011 ©
Change to violet wool.
Row 31. Knit
Row 32. Cast off 2sts purl to end of row (16sts)
Row 33. Cast off 2sts knit to end of row (14sts)
Row 34.repeat row32 (12sts)
Row 35. Repeat row 33. (10sts)
Cast off.
Shell Underside
Work as for top using a single colour.
SIZES
The larger the needles, the larger the Tortoise.
Examples:
4mm makes a tortoise approx 25cm(9/10inches) head to tail.
2 ¼ mm makes a tortoise approx 15cm(6inches) head to tail.
Shell Edging
Cast on 5sts. (use any of the rainbow colours.)
Rows 1-8 k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row 9. k1 p1, turn the work to use these 2 stitches.
Row10. slip1 k1
Repeat rows1-10 until the work fits around the underside of the shell. (approx 12times.)
Cast off.
Legs Make 4
Cast on 4sts. Maybe use the same wool as underside of shell).
Row1. inc., k1, inc., k1
Row2. purl (6sts)
Row3. k1, inc., k1, inc., k1, k1 (8sts)
Rows4-16. stocking stitch
Cast off.
Tail
Cast on 10sts
Rows1-4. stocking stitch
Row5. k1, skpo, k2tog, k2, skpo k1
Row6-8 stocking stitch
Row9. skpo, k2tog, skpo, k1(4sts)
Rows10-12. stocking stitch
Row13 skpo, k2tog
Row14. p2tog.
Fasten off.
Copyright Hazel Margaret Pattison 19th March 2011 ©
Head
Cast on 4sts.
Row1. (inc,k1) twice. (6sts)
Row2. purl
Row3. (k1,inc) three times, k1 (9sts)
Row4. purl
Row5. (k1,inc) four times, k1 (13sts)
Rows6-8. inc.at each end of the row.(15, 17, 19sts)
Row9-24. stocking stitch
Cast off.
How to finish
Weave in any loose ends.
Pin the edging to the top. Over sew together. Pin top and bottom of the body together sandwiching the edging inside. Sew together, ease any excess material and leave an opening for stuffing and for the head. Turn right side out.
Stuffing: should be non-toxic, non-allergenic, washable, flame retardant (BS5852), European Standard EN71PT2.
Why not try a beanie tortoise?
Legs, head and tail, with rs facing join side seams. Turn rs out and stuff. Sew head in opening; sew legs and tail to underside.
Sew on some eyes and a smiley mouth. A wool French knot eye is safer than a button. If you bend the legs in half and put in a small stitch at the bend you can create a joint.
Abbreviations
skpo 1 slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch.
dec - decrease by knitting/purling the next 2 stitches together.
inc - increase by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch.
rs - right side.
ws - wrong side.
stocking stitch – 1 row knit, 1 row purl.
Can our tortoises reach from John O’Groats to Lands End or even further?
Rainbow The Tortoise will enjoy a holiday.
How far could your tortoise travel?
We would like you to send photographs of sunbathing tortoises, or a tortoise on top of a mountain.
You just have to give them plenty of time to get there.
ENJOYIt's women's equality day..so what are your plans? (from bust)
Today marks the 91st anniversary of the signing of the 19th amendment - the right for U.S. citizens to vote regardless of sex - into U.S. law. Women were officially given the right to vote on August 26, 1920 though the amendment was drafted and introduced 42 years earlier by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
On the same day half a century later, the National Organization for Women organized a nationwide "strike for equality". Women in 40 cities put on demonstrations to show the rest of the country that the fight for equality was far from over; in New York City alone, 50,000 women marched down 5th Avenue. The following year, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced legislation to designate August 26th as Women’s Equality Day. Every president has published a proclamation on the 26th since, from Richard Nixon to President Obama.
On the same day half a century later, the National Organization for Women organized a nationwide "strike for equality". Women in 40 cities put on demonstrations to show the rest of the country that the fight for equality was far from over; in New York City alone, 50,000 women marched down 5th Avenue. The following year, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced legislation to designate August 26th as Women’s Equality Day. Every president has published a proclamation on the 26th since, from Richard Nixon to President Obama.
While we've won quite a few battles and planted many flags over the years, the women of 2011 have a long list to tackle. Women still earn only 78 cents on the dollar compared to men more than 47 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act. Justice continues to go unserved for the victims of sexual assault. Sex workers face the struggle of being denied basic human and labor rights. Victim-blaming and slut-shaming are rampant in today's dialogue. And women are criticizing other women for partaking in activities that were once deemed 'unfeminist' and 'housewife-like'. (If she loves nothing more than making delicious pumpkin bread, then let her bake, for pete's sake!)
Whether you're a cupcake-baking porn lover, a Summer's-Eve-hating urban farmer, a mom working a part-time job, or an avid activist waiting for the day that women can bring their girlfriends home without being shunned by family, we're all fighting our own battles every day. And we're fighting them for each other.
Today is an 'official' day to commemorate the decades of fantastic ladies who have given us the tools to work through the new knots that have formed. But we don't need to limit our thinking, speaking, and acting to one day a year.
We've come a long way, baby, but it ain't time to rest yet.http://www.bust.com/
We've come a long way, baby, but it ain't time to rest yet.http://www.bust.com/
Ray's Birthday dinner
Ray & John all dressed up for dinner- they're a cute couple no?
but not very good at being photographed..
Mum cooked- we had one of jamie olivers 30 min meals- so it took about an hour and a half to cook. :P
the food was amazing- so compliments to the chef-- it was lovely to spend tim together as a slightly crazy family.
the photo above is the dessert! tinned peaches over custard with crumbled shortbread on the top! yummy yummy and super quick to do.
although, unfortunately that meant we didn't have room for cake! pirate coake wooo! ray had it for breakfast the following day- not all of it obvs!
my father and the chocolate flavoured port. yummmy. I'll be finding this one to buy again, as you can see, its something my father had been partaking of!
john and his breakfast!
my mother is mad about eating cold custard for breakfast. she's always trying to get other people to partake, and she's managed to persuade John.
Clearing out my old bedroom & Didcot things
Ray and I modelling our old school uniforms! we found them and ray had one in each hand and was like "how will we know which is which?"
other than the fact my mother had painstakingly sewn our names into the back of each one, ray's jumper is covered in paint.
I didn't take art. neither was I a prefect- but somehow I have 2 prefect badges..no idea who I mugged for those! lol
I can't beleive they still don't fit! I'm 23! I should have grown into my uniform by now, surely? it still finished round my knees! rubbish.
daisy manicure! :) I did it myself- I took my orange-and-purple french manicure off, and the orange had stained my naims so I looked like a chain smoker! theyre like taupe with irrideceant pink and cute little daisys all over :) much less scary.
Kirstie's dressing up box! things from islamic relief in cardiff- I meant to post this before I left, but I hand delivered it instead! hopefully she'll send me some photos of her in the pretty clothes! I hope they fit! eek!
pretty garden a very ambitious spider managed to build a web from the garage to the pergoda! my camera wasn't good enough to capture it! its amazing. it got blown away by the wind the following day though so I'm pleased I noticed.
we found some of my childhood clothes in my old room too- my mum has promised to make these into scatter pillows for the sofa. how cute is that?!
I told her she could do it for a living- I'm sure plenty of people would pay to have their childhood clothes made into something usefull that they can still use!
I'm especially excited for the pony jumper pillows- my aunty Nu used to make them for me when I was in nursery school- all the other kids always wanted to play with/plait the tails!
Rugby
Pete, Sky, Jules & I went on an adventure to a charity event in rugby- it wasn't quite as advertised, but we enjoyed it all the same- good company and "interesting" music.
from the bandstand!
:D
nice to see a bandstand being used! think about it, when was the last time you saw one with a band in?!
In honesty it was lovely to be outside and see somewhere new and meet with people- I know I've hardly been starved of attention, but I'm very demanding. Rugby is a beautiful town.
this 13 year old girl is Rugbys "next big thing" tbh she was pretty good.
yeah, this is the 1st time I've felt like it was autumn-y- it was a bit nippy to be sat outside & all the leaves were falling off the trees! I love the colours though!
:D
and the novelty.
this was the running order for the day - I loved that at the bottom they'd asked us to be respectful of their neighbours at 7pm!
but it is a nice touch!
TOMBOLA. I dodn't play, but I kinda wish I had now!
look at the photo- he's wearing a coat and it was kinda cold & eating an ice lolly! eeek, no ta.
midnight costa coffe at northampton services! we went to loyds bar after the festival and got some food and talked- I didn't realise how late it had gotten- I thought it was about 7:30 but it was 10- by the time I got home it was easily 1:30, bed by 2!
nevermind- it shows what great company I had that I didn't notice, and I had a brilliant day (and night) I wouldn't change any of it!
thank you guys for an ace day out!
:D
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