It's Starting to Feel a Lot Like Xmas

With all these promises we are hearing from the various political parties it is feeling like Xmas.   It is getting sillier and sillier by the day, what next, free trips to the moon if we vote for them?  Our local M.P. turned up on my doorstep last week looking for my vote.  I'm think she probably regretted knocking on my door as I could have kept her there all day with the questions I wanted answering.  She was very professional about it, shame about the local counsellor she brought with her, he didn't do her any favours at all.  He really annoyed me and ended up getting short shrift, then tried buttering me up by saying I was obviously passionate about politics and should consider going on the local parish council.  He then slapped the clotted cream on the top by adding we need more 'young' women like you. Ha, I'm not fooled by flattery sunshine!  I don't think it would do my blood pressure any good at all dealing with people like him everyday!  They won't be getting my vote so they wasted their time.

So as I won't be joining the political world anytime soon, I have been trying to carry on with the painting.  It's a dangerous business though, I sprained my knee while balancing on a ladder last week, I also have a horrible cold so as you can imagine I'm not a bundle of laughs at the moment.  I undercoated a couple of doors and earthed up the potatoes yesterday before retreating to the bed to rest my knee while sewing.  Today we went to choose some tiles, I was in so much pain I asked the bearded one to give me a lift on the trolley......he refused, cruel man :)

There isn't much to report when you can barely hobble around but I am trying to get on with some unfinished projects before I start the new Liberty quilt.  I'm working on my 'Aboriginal' quilt which includes beautiful fabric I brought back from Australia.  Our new grandsons quilt still isn't finished.....I know, pretty bad on my part......what can I say?  I have to be in the mood for projects, and the Aboriginal quilt is calling to me as it is easy hand stitching I can sit with on my lap.  I only have the border to do on the baby quilt but I just can't get in the mood to measure and cut fabric and dig out the sewing machine.  I have unfinished projects all over the house because I'm not inspired to work on them.  Is it only me who feels like this?  Do you have to be in the 'right frame of mind' to work on certain projects?  You can see some of the other projects that I should be working on listed on my Crafty Work in Progress page.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings, I'm off to cook the Sunday roast while 'the men' watch the football.  Crikey it sounds like the 1950's in this house.  Don't worry, they will be putting on the pinnys later to do the dishes.

Chickpea xx

Five on Friday

For this post I am linking up with Amy on her lovely blog Love Made My Home for Five on Friday.  She has made a logo to add to your blog if you join in, unfortunately due to my lack of computer skills I haven't been able to add it.  But do pop over to her blog and have a look, even better join in, I'm sure you will have more success than me adding the logo.

This is my first Five on Friday, where do I begin?




1.  On a dark, dark hill

Having grandchildren has given me the excuse to dig out the children's books from the loft.  Funny bones  by the wonderful Janet and Allan Ahlberg was one of their favourites, and is now a favourite of our grandchildren.  On a dark, dark hill there was a dark, dark town.......  What is/was your children's favourite?


2. Muggles Alley

 I love the scene in Harry Potter where they go to Diagon Alley hidden away from muggles.   On our recent visit to London Anna recommended going to Neal's Yard, it felt like a muggles secret Diagon Alley.  Lovely shops hidden away in an alleyway full of colour.



3.  Liberty Love

Planning a new quilt with lovely Liberty fabric gathered over the last five years.  Watch this space!


4. Three ingredients

Cauliflower, Cumin, Olive Oil....... Roast.


5. Yellow Weeds

The joy of my wild garden where the grass doesn't get cut and yellow weeds grow.

Chickpea xx

Blossoms, Black Beans and Easter Bunnies

I hope you all had a good weekend, and for those in the U.K. a long Bank Holiday weekend that actually included sunshine for a change.  I would first like to thank you all for your comments on my last post, wise words of advice from you all which are much appreciated.  Looking back I remember feeling the same about our last home.  I was very emotional over leaving, I wanted to take the door frame where I had marked the childrens' height on their birthdays.  I couldn't even drive past for years because I didn't want to see the changes to it.  Yes I am a soppy old thing.

On my week off I had a wonderful trip to London, followed by a week of decorating which has left me with a bad knee which I twisted  going up and down the ladder.  Topped off by a weekend with family including the three grandchildren.  Oh and you remember I 'glutened' myself with bourbon while away?  This week while chatting to a friend on the phone I picked up and ate the full of gluten hot cross bun instead of the gluten free ones I had bought.  I must be having 'senior' moments!


Our weekend was spent searching for trolls in the woods, crabs in the rock pools and Easter bunnies

It was our youngest grandchilds' first trip to the beach, as you can see he was very excited.  He actually slept the whole time!

Although I could do with another week off to get over the last one, I returned to work today and of course missed the glorious weather.  It at last feels less like winter and my cherry tree is out in all it's showy best.  Sadly the pink one hasn't flowered much for years.  Anyway, being back to the usual routine means rushing to get something on the table when I get home so it was a store cupboard  quick and simple meal this evening.  Made up as I went along of course but here's what I did

BLACK BEAN BURGERS


Whizz one red onion in the food processor until finely chopped.

Add 1 tin/carton of black beans, drained.

1 - 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce

Buckwheat flour, enough to make the mixture bind together.

Whizz again until mixed together.

Form into burgers and fry gently until crispy on the outside and heated through.  Serve with lots of lovely salad and tomatoes in a gluten free burger bun with ketchup of course.

I try to use as many legumes as possible as they are a good source of protein for vegetarians.  Black beans are also a good source of folic acid, magnesium, potassium and iron and are said to be good for your digestive system.  A very quick, simple and healthy after work supper.

Chickpea xx

Home

As I walk through our home making a decorating list, memories flood back.

 Kitchen - walls and ceiling to be painted - the heart of the home where so many meals have been cooked and shared.  Images of Xmas and Birthday meals with family around the table, every year the same table, faces getting a little older, new faces joining us, some faces gone forever.

Lounge - touch up the paint where the baby swing was hung in the doorway for the grandchildren - family film nights, Xmas games, dens made for the grandchildren out of the curtains, the sound of baby jackdaws on their nest in the chimney.  Our much missed dog lying in front of the fire.  The Xmas trees, our cat playing in the piles of wrapping paper.

The 'guest' room - paint the skirting boards  - It was once our eldest sons room, full of football posters and computers.   Now it is decorated, neutral pale colours.  The posters are gone, there are still some old computers packed up in the wardrobe.  The nights of teenagers huddled around screens playing games until silly o'clock in the morning are long gone.  The arguments about tidying rooms, picking up washing, taking dirty dishes downstairs are a thing of the past....... but I miss them so much.

Our youngest sons old bedroom - carpet to be cleaned - where he spent many hours when he was too ill to go out.  The worrying, exhausting hours I spent caring for him.  Administrating medical procedures that I learnt so he could be cared for at home and not spend so much time in hospital.  The stains on the carpet from upset drinks and dropped food a reminder of his early teenage years when his friends would fill his room, keeping him up to date on the news from school. Helping him pass the many hours until he was well enough to return.

Our bedroom - paint and tile ensuite - kids piling onto the bed on Xmas morning to open their presents. Waiting to hear their cars after they had been out.  Listening out for youngest son calling for me when he was ill.  The room I was desperate for when lying in a hospital bed.  The sleepless painful nights that followed reassured by being able to reach out my hand and touch my love sleeping next to me.

The stairs - re- varnish bannister - they have lost many of their creaks now they have been repaired, the creaks we heard when our sons friends would leave to go home in the early hours of the morning.  The creaks I would hear that reassured me that our boys were home and I could close my eyes and give in to sleep.

The porch - paint door - now empty of the many huge pairs of trainers that would greet me after work, counting them I would know how many teenage boys would be in the house somewhere.  Our house seemed to be the one they all congregated in after school and often stayed for dinner.  Reminding them to tell their mums where they were and wouldn't be home for dinner.

My sewing room - walls to paint - where many of the crafts and quilts that fill our home were created, listening to Womens Hour, afternoon dramas and the Book Club on Radio 4 as my sewing machine whirred.  The joy of discovering quilting began in this room.

 It has been an emotional experience and every now and then I have a moment of doubt.  Do I really want to move?  Our home holds so many memories, good and bad.  When we moved in my mum was in her last year, dad brought her up to see our new home but by then her mind had gone and she didn't understand where she was, or even who we were.  In the last years of my dads life he came to our house for Sunday roasts, birthday meals and helped in the garden.  This is the last home we shared with our children, it will be strange moving to a new home where they have never lived, that has never been their home. Will our new house be our 'family' home?  It is not only leaving our home, but part of our lives that we cannot bring back.  Time has flown, I wish I could go back and live it all again, savour every minute, but I have to look forward.

Tell me dear friends, do you still live in the 'family' home or have you moved?  What are your experiences, good move or do you regret it?  I'm torn at the moment.

Chickpea xx

Good Grub and Eating Humble Pie in London

Hi there lovely blog folk.  I am well and truly back to reality after our trip to that there London Town.....sitting here covered from head to foot in paint!  I'm on annual leave now and trying to get as much painting done as possible, apart from getting some paint I haven't been out of the house at all.  Most unlike me not to skip off to the beach :)

Anyway I'm not going to show you photos of me painting, far too boring, instead I will share some of the photos from our trip.  A while ago in one of my 'Cooking the Books' posts I shared a recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi 'Plenty' which you can find under 'Gluten Free' on the side bar.  I love his style of food so I booked lunch at Nopi.  Oh my goodness it was delicious!  We had lots of little dishes to share, they printed me off my own gluten free menu which I could keep (yes I am that sad) and even the bearded one enjoyed it.  It's made me even keener to cook more of the recipes from his book, even though they have a gazillion ingredients!

On Sunday we were planning to go over to Camden Market but it was 'chucking' it down and I was still feeling a little fragile so we headed over to the V & A.  It is such a beautiful building with the most amazing exhibitions.  I had read about the Alexander McQueen exhibition Savage Beauty, now I'm not one for fashion, my dress code is usually scruffy old jeans. When I see the fashion shows on the television I usually mutter something along the lines of 'looks ridiculous'  but I have to eat humble pie now.  Having seen the clothes 'in the flesh' as it were, yes they are completely mad but WOW.  The hours and the skill that has gone into the costumes is mind blowing (yes I'm getting totally carried away just thinking about it)  They were cleverly exhibited, accompanied by evocative  music, fantastic lighting, it was like going to the theatre and an art exhibition all rolled into to one.   His talent will be missed.   If you get the chance I would highly recommend it.  Here a little film about the exhibition. (We were not allowed to take photos)

 Sadly lack of time and energy meant that I missed a lot of the rooms in the huge building, but here are some photos of beautiful objects that caught my eye as I wondered around waiting for our time slot for Savage Beauty.

As I said, it was chucking it down but I will share a photo of one of my favourite statues in London (including raindrops on my lens)

and also a local jogger?!

The end of our trip was spoiled by a most unpleasant experience on the train.  We were in the 'quiet carriage' when a group of drunken idiots got on and proceeded to use the foulest of language including sexually explicit, vile conversations and throw beer around the carriage.  The train manger told them off once after someone complained, and then disappeared for the rest of the journey as they continued to cause mayhem (as he probably knew they would).  We have written to complain, which they answered with a list of excuses, and saying we should have moved.  No! Why should we, they should have been thrown off the train!   I fail to see why on earth they would allow people who were obviously drunk and already causing trouble on the station to get on the train in the first place.  There should be zero tolerance to this behaviour.  I'm a pretty tough cookie and I was with the bearded one, but if I had been travelling alone I would have felt very intimidated.


Normal service will now be resumed, no more trips planned for a while.

Chickpea xx

Liberty and Bourbon Blues

What a bustling, busy city London is, I'm glad to be back to the relative peace of our little Duchy.  I will not moan about our traffic again ........ well yes of course I will.  The workers all look so tired and stressed as they cram onto the tube and buses heading for far away homes.  Others are packing the bars for after work drinks, fighting to get served, spilling out onto the streets with loud chatter, living life as if their days are numbered.  Along the rivers and parks, lycra clad joggers sweat and puff their way painfully along as if being chased.  Even recreation and leisure activities are done at full competitive pace.  It's no wonder so many make the decision to move out of the cities for a more sedate pace as they become exhausted by this city life.

I love to visit London, I love the thrill of the city, but I could never live there.  Maybe when I was younger, but I made my life in the County of my ancestors and don't regret it for a moment.  It was a wonderful place to bring up our children. They may not have had the Science and History Museums on their doorsteps, but they had the beaches as their playgrounds.  Picking them up from school and heading down to the beach for a bbq, staying until it got dark, the freedom to run wild in nature, that was the childhood I wanted them to have.

We have been to London many times so don't feel we have to rush around seeing the sights, we choose a few things we would like to do.  If we don't manage it we just put it on the list for another time.  This time some of the things on my list were ticked off, others I didn't manage, but thankfully I made it to Liberty.  What a beautiful special place it is, of course the first place I head for is the fabric, but I did stop to take photos of the beautiful building for those who have not been lucky enough to visit.  It has real character and creakier stairs than we do.

I wasn't tempted to buy one of these funnily enough.

Fabric

Fabric

and more fabric (and yes I did buy some)

I loved this evil looking cat

What about the Bourbon Blues?  We went to the great Scarfes Bar in Holborn which is full of Gerald Scarfe satirical cartoons, live music and delicious cocktails.  Now I know what you are thinking, but no I didn't have too many, just the one but I stupidly didn't think about what was in it.  It was the gluten in the Bourbon that did for me.  Leaving me out of action most of Saturday and too scared to eat anything on Sunday.

More of our London adventure on my next post.

Chickpea xx

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