Down South

We are back home now after our Christmas travels. We made a speedy return home, despite weather warnings. Just as well it was speedy. I developed a migraine quite quickly into our journey and didn't feel very well at all. A large dose of cocodemel and some shut eye meant I actually slept most of the way home. Jonny has a cold but was still very kind and drove us all the way.

We are currently collapsed on the sofa. I think there is something wrong with our TV. It seems to permanently be showing episodes of Top Gear. Anyway, after a couple of hours of rest, the show will go on. I will perk myself up and put on a pretty frock and make it round the corner to lovely Sally's house for New Year celebrations.

We had a nice couple of days up north. We went over to Manchester yesterday for Jonny to go to the match and see Kate and Tim and nephews Freddie and Flynn. They are all well. The boys were busy with their toys. Freddie is very good at reading. Flynn is very good at playing with/destroying his farm. When they were all tucked up in bed and the bigger boys, Jonny and Tim, were at the match, us girls had a nice dinner and then watched the Turning of the Screw on TV with a glass of wine. I am wondering if the white wine and chocolate combo may have triggered this nasty head thing today, as it has before. Must remember that.

I haven't got much further with my New Years resolution list. I think I should drink more water. And focus what is going on in my life that is positive rather than what isn't. It's a fine balance though. I think I also have to acknowledge what I am grieving for. The loss I live with daily. To ignore it is unhelpful. Being positive in my book is not to dismiss or ignore what is going on, or what is lost.

This morning I was prompted to think of good things that have happened in 2009:

• Great holidays: Baja, Tuscany, Jordan, Vancouver Island, Barcelona and Jerusalem. Yes - all great trips indeed for which I am very grateful
• New friendships
• My church has been a great support and blessing to me
• Faithfulness of lasting friendships, who acknowledge the elephant, but still see me as me.
• Family fun - celebrating birthdays etc or just time together
• Started my course - after much deliberation, which has been a positive thing for me to do
• Jonny still has a job despite a volatile situation in the city
• United won the league

I know there are more things I could add to this list.

I also know this is only part of the story. Sometimes I feel people just see what they want to see. It is too hard to see what else is going on, so we just see these things that I have done. Yes I do some great things. I have some great people in my life. I also have this bloomin elephant. And a heart that has much loss and pain in it. There is such a mesh of emotions. And like others dealt tough cards in life, I just get on with it the best I can.

And the best I can do for tonight is have a nice long bath, put on my make up and a smile and go and enjoy seeing in the New Year with my Jonny by my side, in my lovely friends home, a glass of champagne in my hand and faith in my heart.

Happy New Year.

Up North

After a couple of days, flying back from Israel for an overnight pit stop at home, and then a long drive "up North" yesterday, I am now relaxing at my in laws home.

"Up North, " I am well aware, is a general term that silly southerners like myself use to describle anywhere... well...north. I think it can wind people up. There is no intention to I promise. It is my lack of knowledge of Northern England. That, and coming from a family of Londoners.

Anyway, my exact northern location is Utkinton. Which is a village, near the village of Tarporley. Which is, I guess, about 10-15 miles from Chester. From here, on a clear day, you can see out to the Welsh moutains. It really is a beautiful part of the country.

We went for a long walk this morning. It was pretty icey and cold but I was glad to get some fresh air.

I have been reflecting a little on New Years resolutions. It feels a little odd, given the elephant, that I should feel like having New Years resolutions. But time out is always a time to reflect. Despite the elephant, it is still that time of year that you think about those things. And like most of Britain, I am feeling I have eaten too much and so am craving some healthly routine and right now some sort of January detox seems like a good idea.

However, aside from the obvious food related resolutions, this is also a time to reflect on any other changes I want to make. I am trying to work within the boundaries of controlling the controllables - which is something of a joke when the elephant rears its head, and it seems I can control nothing. Still so far:

• Jo rest time between 1-3 each day. If a sleep happens, great. If I just read a book, so be it.
• No sugar. No alchohol (hmm - think of your liver girl)
• More vegetables, fruit etc
• Less carbs in evening
• January - March - need to focus on my course - esp. dissertation.
• Buy new carpets
• Only look at facebook to pick up emails
• Ditch farmville
• Walk more - get back to the park
• Read more of stuff that is helpful to me
• Prioritise in no particular order: family, friendships, faith, fun.
• Investigate new charity money raising stuff
• Sew stuff
• Learn to knit - good for hospital
• Less caffiene

This list is TBC. Qwirkle to be played.

Boxing day on the West Bank - Hebron

After a suitably lazy boxing day morning of tea, toast and lots of ham products for Jonny, we voted for a trip to Hebron. I was slightly concerned by the security phone calls that John had to make before we left, and the news of disturbances in Nablus. But we trust our hosts and the view was that it would be ok to go.

We drive past many settlements on the journey, which are widespread on the Countryside. No green pastures here. Very barren land, some of which has been culivated for farming.

First stop in Hebron is the pottery and glass shops and factory. As Kate and john have a good relationship with the owner, we are very well looked after. Kate bought 1000 glass Christmas balls from him for the consulate Christmas fair. They raised well over £2500 from the sales of them to help those in need in Gaza. It is facinating to watch these men blowing glass and painting their pottery. It is really beautiful stuff.

Next stop is the Old City of Hebron. I maybe should have worn a longer skirt as we attract lots of stares. The area has very vived evidence of Jewish and Muslim clashes over the years. Many windows are broken, areas closed off/down, and wire netting covers many of the walk ways to protect pedestrians from rubbish being thrown at them by children and angry young men on the rooftops. What a broken world this is.

We stop off to buy kafirs from the Palestinian ladies, and beautiful embroidery from those our hosts know and recommend. We hear a little of what their lives are like. Hard.

We stop for a late lunch before heading back to Jerusalem. The afternoon has opened my eyes to poverty, war and kindness. The latter seemed to be surviving, despite the harsh realities of this very troubled land.

Christmas Day

Woke. Ate. Presents. Drunk. Champagne.

Amazing smoked salmon in the garden with mustard and dill.

Lunch is a feast. The huge turkey is fab. As is the homemade Christmas pudding.

Skype parents at home. They are a bit fuzzy on the screen but good to see them. I am blogging in jonnys ear on my ipod touch right now. It is really annoying him.

So. Christmas here today has been much fun. Warm. Well looked after. Just lovely.

Merry Christmas...xx

Midnight mass at St Georges

We ate extremely well yesterday evening. After a quiz that I did in fact WIN due my expert knowledge of bananarama tracks and 1980's tv theme tunes. This is the first time ever that I think I have beaten Jonny at a quiz. Anyway we had a feast. Sanna, who is Finnish, is also here for Christmas. In Finland the big day is Chrismas Eve so we didn't want her to miss out:

We also presented our secret Santa gifts last night. Kate seemed to genuinely like her Star and Bucks tacky mug and olive wood camel:

I was very touched by a beautiful olive leave pendant which represents steadfastness. It moved me. Jonny got a "visit palestine poster." Sanna got a lovely pendant. But John did the best. The revolving lamp is quite possibly the tackiest thing I have ever seen. Hilarious.

Anyway Kate and John and I walked to st Georges, full of pink champagne:

It was a beautiful service. I don't really like "high" but somehow this seemed special. It was the same sermon as earlier by the same Bishop. But the singing was amazing. Helped massively by the presence of Clare College Cambridge choir in the congregation. Silent night by candlelight has never felt so Christmassy. This is the candle for my BBBs.

I think today is going to be all about the food. The turkey is huge. So huge it literally fills the oven:

There are so many things about living in the UK that we take for granted. Like Waitrose. Kate had to order this turkey from the only Christian butchers in Bethlehem. And a whole load of Christmas food in from the UK. You just can't get the range of food we are so used to here. But as most of Jerusalem is still open for business as usual we can always pop out if we have forgotten anything.

Christmas blessings to everyone.

Christmas eve in Bethlehem

I am a bit worried about John Edwards. He is being very strict about our schedule. The first thing I heard this morning was panic that it was 8.30am and Kate shod have been on her way to collect the turkey. This is very unlike John. He isn't normally one for sticking to timings. I can think of more than one wedding that he has arrived after the bride (although fortunately not his own or ours.)

At 9.30 we were on schedule to head to Bethlehem for our first visit of the day. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there from here and we pass through military check point to get onto the West Bank. The IDF are out in full force today. Seriously. Men with machine guns like everywhere. Craziness.

In Bethlehem we stop in Manger Square to watch the parade. They remind me of the parades I was in when I was in the brownies as a child.

There is such celebration. I am also very warm in my Ugg boots. It is really warm here compared to home. We wander through the Church of the Nativity. Like many of the famous churches in the Holy Land it is divided into various sections, by denomination. And whilst there is much evidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there is little that this is where X marks the spot. Still, for me, it is a place to spend a few moments reflecting. Here we are stood outside this famous church:
We then head to buy some secret Santa goodies. As we wall down one of the streets by the church a young boy hassles us to buy chewing gum off him. My heart is saddened as I see all the sores on his face. There is much poverty here, especially amongst the Palastinians.

Bethlehem on Christmas Eve is far from any Christmas card scene you would imagine. It is busy. There are policemen everywhere. There are parades. There are TV crews and jounalists. There are tourists and locals. It has a very real military presence that you are acutely aware of. It is a built up middle eastern town:

It even has it's own take on Starbucks:

We head back to Jerusalem and Jonny and I head into the Old City whilst John has to go and get the wing mirror fixed, which was broken whilst we were parked in Bethlehem. Having been here before we know our way around and wander through the streets of the stations of the Cross in the Christian quarter. We meet Kate outside the Holy Sepleche. John Edwards isn't here so we can go off schedule and buy jewellery and then head to the Austrian hospice for the best apple strudel in the world. And then it feels like we are on top of the world as we climb to the top of the hospice and look out at the views across the city. Truly amazing.

We get back on schedule and return home to them head back to Bethlehem. It is the first service of the day. Carols in shepherds field. We meet some of the clergy. The Bishop here is bishop of 5 countries. The carols are sung in both English and Arabic at the same time. It is a little strange. As is the American tune to O Little Town of Bethlehem. And the message is a little different. But the messages of hope ring true.

The rest of the gang sip whisky to keep warm. I hate the stuff so don't.

The very British tradition on eating far too much at Christmas is still live and kicking in this house. I am missing out on chocolate right now. We still have Christmas Eve roast beef and midnight mass at St Georges tonight. Although my Jonny may opt out of that and play on the wii instead. And try some more whisky. John Edwards made sure that was on schedule throughout the day. Christmas Spirit of the alchoholic variety.

Arrived in East Jerusalem

Today started early. 5.15am is early for me. Our road was icey and snowy when we left at 6am.

As we arrived at Heathrow there was much freezing fog and it didn't look like good flying conditions at all. We were there at least.

Security provided a slight hitch and meant that one of the beautifully wrapped gifts for Kate had to be unwrapped by me. Stupidly I had forgotten that I had included a full size rose hand cream in the box. Still, at least we now know those scanning machines work.

They then had to defrost the plane:

After a slight delay our flight finally departed and we were bound for Israel at last. As our plane took off I had a real peace about going away and after days of stressing over flights, excitement kicked in.

As we pass through security in a very warm Tel Aviv airport I get more excited. The smiling face of John Edwards the other side of the barrier brings enormous smiles to ours. We are here. Away for a special Christmas with our friends.

The drive from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem takes about 45 minutes. This is now the third time we have visited here and the drive is getting familiar. I am still stunned by the enormous wall that divides this part of Jerusalem. I love this place though. There are pot holes in the roads, there are refugees and rubbish in the streets. This is a city where different religions, history and politics meet. It is so different from home yet there is a real warmth to the place that I struggle to put into words.

As we enter Kate and Johns home here, joy abounds. The house looks truly beautiful and full of Christmas.

We eat well and watch a stardust the movie. We laugh and relax. I feel very privalaged to be in this home, in this place, and with these people for Christmas time.

We have a schedule for tomorrow. Two trips to Bethlehem. A mouch around the Old City. And to Jonnys alarm there is talk of 3 church services. One at Shepherds field, midnight at St Georges and possibly one at St Annes too - which is the most stunning and simple church I have visited here. Oh and jewellery shopping if I am lucky.

Right decision

This flights lark is getting beyond boring now. BUT at last we made the right decision. i.e not to trek up to Luton today.

Our flight was cancelled and therefore we are entitled to a full refund. Hoorah. The easyjet website is being difficult at the moment (big surprise) so don't actually have one yet, but nearly there.

In other news, it was also the right decision to put nearly an entire bottle of brandy in my Christmas cake. I had a slice this afternoon and it tasted very moist and good indeed.

Still at home

So. Luton airport closed yesterday evening. No rail or road links to even get there. As the snow was falling outside our front door yesterday evening, we had to take the decision that we were going to struggle to get to our local station this morning. Let alone 2 trains and a tube to Luton for a flight that was in all likelihood not going to go.

We have transferred our original BA flights back to tomorrow from Heathrow - where we will try again.

Mild grumpiness this morning that BA crew strikes, and adverse weather have caused us all this palaver.

Hey ho. Bonus day of Jonny at home and think we will just go with it.

As Marilla always said to Anne: "Tomorrow is all brand new with no mistakes in it."

Oh snow

Snow snow snow. All around Richmond and Sheen. And Luton airport. All flights currently suspended.

I've never seen a white Christmas. Although I have often wished for one, right now it is not snow welcome.

Am sat here in front of the BBC weather forecast. Severe weather warning. Snow. Ice. Fog. Delays. Closures. Great.

No more info at present... BUT I hope to be blogging from East Jerusalem over the next few days. Or at least taking pictures all over the Holy Land to blog on when I get back.

Christmas Day: Take 1

I've just had a lovely Christmas Day. I know it isn't actually December 25th today, but as we are away for Christmas this year, my side of the family celebrated today.

As we were hosting, there was a big emphasis on planning the menu:

Starter: Smoked Salmon platter (courtesy of Sarah and Jon) with Dates stuffed with cheese wrapped in pancetta.

Mains: Roast Turkey crown, Fully festive Ham, Pigs in Blankets, Roast Potatoes, Roast Parsnips, Gingerbread Stuffing, Sprouts, Carrots, Bread Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy.

Afters: Bouche de Noel, Jelly (courtesy of Mum,) Ice Cream (courtesy of Green and Blacks)

I started preparing 2 days ago. Nigella provided the instructions for most of it, she rarely lets me down and the first section of the Feast book was the source of guidance for most of the mains.

The Ham is my traditional thing to make at Christmas. I have never cooked a turkey before though so followed her method of soaking it in water with lots of spices, which apparently guarantees that it will not dry out. It didn't. The Gingerbread stuffing was also a new one for us. It was recommended by a friend. Jonny didn't like it but everyone else did.

After our night out last night I was a little weary this morning and there were quite a few dishes on the go. Fortunately we had prepared a lot in advance and brainy Jonny provided me with a timing schedule. It was still a bit hectic when we all sat down but everyone ate well.

Maisie had little / no interest in her sleep today. So was a little over excited. We opened all our presents around the tree after lunch, the way we always do, and the biggest hit with Maisie was her Peppa Pig umbrella. We all got lots of nice things.

I sit here rather tired this evening, despite the assistance of lots of hands to wash and wipe and a dishwasher. I have that content Christmas feeling though. Grateful for a lovely day. Grateful for family. Just grateful for today. Christmas day: Take 1.

Hakasan Restaurant Review

I had heard good things about this place. Jonny went on a work meal once, and I had hinted very heavily on more than one occasion that I would like to go ever since. I often feel, however, with places that I have quite high expectations of, that I will be disappointed.

You approach the restaurant through a very windy Dickensian street, tucked off Oxford Street. I love this about London. Little roads hidden that you would have no idea were there at all, unless you had reason to go down them. And so different from the crazy business of the main streets.

Our friend had booked weeks in advance, and managed to get the last table. To my surprise there are bouncers on the door. You have to check your booking in before you are even allowed to enter the restaurant. That's a new one on me.

Once you are in, you travel down a dark granite staircase. Again they check the booking. There is a strict 2 hours at the table policy, which can annoy me at expensive places like this. We are reminded again that we need to be off the table by 11. Yes yes I think.

My impression changes once we seated. We have a great circular table in one of the corners. This is perfect for 5 people. The service is fantastic. Just as it should be. The thing about good service is it all "just happens." You only normally notice service when it is bad.

We look down the menu and are all a bit unsure what to have. The waiter is extremely helpful. They offer to create a menu for us. We give a couple of preferences for things we do and don't like, and that is it.

The starters are fantastic. Melt in the mouth. Duck salad, dumplings, squid - all the kinds of things you would expect from a good Asian restaurant - but amazing quality. The mains are also very good. A selection of fish, pork, chicken, prawn and beef dishes. A choice of rice dishes and vegetables. Again, we thoroughly enjoy. What's more I am impressed that they don't select the higher price end of the menu for us. There was large potential for a lobster feast to be presented to us that we then have to cough up for, as we didn't set a price cap with them. Instead we get a great selection of food at the lower end of their prices. This still isn't cheap, but I don't mind paying for great food. And this place really does do great food. I'm not disappointed at all.

So, the 2 hours are up. The great service gets the great food to the table and bill paid just in time. And when that is the case, the imposed time regime is a lot easier to swallow.

In summary: not cheap but worth it for a special meal if you love Chinese food and want something extra special. I certainly enjoyed it very much.

Craven Cottage - Fulham V Manchester United

Those who know me, know very quickly that Jon's second love in life is Manchester United. His first is of course moi. So life involves lots of trips to Old Trafford for Jonny at weekends, and the occasional away game too.

This weekend the away game was at Fulham. Only a few miles from our home. I have suggested on more than one occasion that it would make far more sense to support a local team, but apparently it just doesn't work like that.

I rarely go to the games, but I did put in a request for a ticket for this one. My parents are both originally from Fulham. My grandparents lived on one of the roads very close to Craven Cottage, and as a child I was always very curious what the football ground was like inside. So, it was a bit of nostalgia for me to walk through Bishops Park up to the ground. I haven't been to this part of town for a few years.

And this is what it looks like the other side of those big black gates I used to look at as a child:






Terrible score: 3-0 to Fulham. And it was absolutely FREEZING. Seriously I had to defrost when I got home. Good to see cousin Rob briefly though, and to satisfy childhood curiosity and take a bit of a trip down memory lane.

Visiting the Earps

I went to visit my uni friend Lynds and her family for a couple of days this week. They live near Malvern, which is famous for it's water. It was lovely to get a change of scene and hang out with them. And despite the 3 week old Sophie, and nearly 3 year old Grace not really sleeping much at night, I got some very good sleep indeed.

It's lovely spending time with friends where you don't need to have any particular plan at all. You can just chat and drink tea and spend a lot of time sitting on the sofa. Nice.

Here is Grace - who's best line of the visit was just after eating one of the pink fairy cakes I made her - "that was the best cake I have ever eaten!" She knows how to make me feel good:

And little Sophie. Who looks SO much like Grace did when she was a baby I had a very strange sense of deja vu:

Thank you Earps for a lovely couple of days.

Feeling Festive

The snow is falling and it is crispy cold outside. But it is toasty warm inside.

The first thing I did this morning was to boil up the cranberries for my festive dessert that I am taking for pudding tonight with friends Gen and Adam and Ali and Tris. Cranberries spark thoughts of Christmas to foodies. That rich berry colour is just like that warm feeling of Christmas. I love this time of year.

Next up was the decoration of the Christmas cake that has been nurtured for weeks. How did I do?

Here is the final result:

Later on I visit the local butchers and buy a large gammon that is going to be transformed into a fully festive ham over the weekend. The turkey crown is defrosting in the conservatory. The Christmas log has been baked too.

As I sit here I look at the Christmas tree, sparkling away, with presents underneath - I have peace right now. And I feel very festive.

Thank you and my Christmas Wish

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

To all who donated me shoes, books, clothes, dvds, bags etc etc for my ebay project. I have just donated £500 to Breast Cancer Campaign on-line. Together with the £120 I raised from the pub quiz's and and additional £14o of gift aid, that brings the total to £760. All this money will go straight into targeted research towards finding that longed for cure for this horrid disease.

It has been a good year for raising money towards funding Breast Cancer research. In May I walked 16 miles as part of the Pink Power Walk in my local area and raised £1,020 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. With gift aid that brings that to over £1,250.

Those who know me well, know I spent a long time in fear of fundraising for Breast Cancer charities. I didn't want the association. I just longed, and still do, to be free of it. But doing this "bit" has helped me to feel supported. And I am contributing towards the hope of a future that, one day, our world will be free of Breast Cancer.

But for now, this is where I am. And with your support, sore legs from my walk in May, and many many trips to the post office....I have raised over £2,000.

Whilst this is good, it is a drop in the ocean as far as amounts that are needed to keep funding targeted research.

And so. My Christmas wish is:

Click on the link below and donate what you can. Even if it is only a fiver. As Mother Theresa once said:

"It may only be a drop in the ocean, but the ocean is made up of lots of drops."

http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/donations/

Thank you again. And my second wish is that you have a very Merry Christmas.

Flights update

Around about Tuesday or maybe Wednesday this week the BA strike was very much still on. We didn't know what to do. BA were giving us NO information as to whether our flights were going to be going, and being extremely unhelpful. Meanwhile, the cost of alternative flights was escalating.

We did, however, manage to find some Easyjet flights from Luton for a similar price to our BA ones. It was a big dilemma which way to jump. But in the end we decided to buy the Easyjet ones too so we could get to Jerusalem next week. Our friends have been cooking for weeks. We have been looking forward to this for ages. And I really didn't want BA cabin crew to ruin our Christmas plans.

Of course, as is the way with these things, this afternoon the High Court ruled that the BA strike is in fact illegal. So in theory it won't be going ahead. So that means no refund on our BA seats. We now have 4 flights for Christmas.

However, we think that BA will let us transfer our flights to another date. And quite frankly I don't think London Heathrow is going to be a good place to hang out next week. The BBC website reports that:

• Many BA cabin crew are proposing to not turn up anyway
• The Union Unite is proposing to hold another ballot if Willie Walsh doesn't give into their demands
• Both Check-in staff and baggage staff are calling a series of 48 hour strikes over the Christmas period. Starting with the day we are flying

So I am still glad we opted to get some other flights. Am sure Stelios is pleased with all this BA business too. The cabin crew seriously seem to have lost the plot. Don't they realise that their employer is in massive debt and this action could seriously push BA under? Then they won't have jobs at all.

And when they go for an interview at Virgin or Easyjet because they need a job and blew their BA one I imagine the first question they will be asked is:

"So, why did you leave BA?"

"Well. You see. I threw all my toys out of the pram because I felt I shouldn't be affected by the recession. And it seems in the process the company went into the red. Silly me."

"Genuis. Close the door on your way out."

Oh no - BA Strikes - Grrr...

I can't believe it.

BA have just announced that cabin crew will be striking from 22 December til 2 January. We are due to fly on 22 December to be with our dear friends in Jerusalem all over Christmas. And our flights are with BA.

Apparently they will continue with talks and there is still hope that the strike will be called off. Can I just say:

Dear BA Crew Union or whoever you may be,

I understand you are upset that your company is not making as much money and this has an impact on your employment contracts. I appreciate that you are having to work longer hours with less crew. I accept this is tough for you.

BUT this is common to most industries at the moment. Things are just not fair. My husband researches tech companies for a bank. He had NOTHING to do with any of the decisions around dodgy US mortgages, but as he works for a bank, he has to pay a shed load more tax than the rest of the UK population and has been working ridiculous hours all year and will not be receiving financial compensation for this either. We don't think this is fair. But my husband still gets up at 5.30 every morning and goes to work for 12 hours because that is the way life is right now.

This is the global financial situation we find ourselves in. And for us, who have had a shed load of other rubbish thrown at them this year with my health, we have been very much looking forward to Christmas with our friends. More than you can imagine. We have to take the rough with the smooth.

Lots of people don't have jobs. If you don't turn up to yours, then the impact on people like us - who are also suffering "unfair" compensation because of the recession, and loads of other stuff that is unfair actually - will be hugely disappointing.

I know you don't know us. But I am asking you to think of us. Two people who have paid for their flights to be with their friends for Christmas. Who have planned their Christmas time. And really need YOU to go to work. Please.

Best wishes

Jo Blogz

Christmas Jumpers

My friend Beth had a birthday quiz at The White Horse in Richmond on Saturday night. The dress code was "Christmas Jumpers," which not all of us rose to but here we are - looking fully festive I think.

Great Christmas buffet. Great Quiz. Just a shame that without Jonny sat by my side my team came last. We even drafted in help from actor John Hannah, who was in the pub with his very beautiful wife. He tried to help us out with our Disney round but couldn't remember much either. Nice man.

Happy Birthday Beth-star.

Joe wins the X factor

Not that much of a surprise and well done Joe.

I didn't actually watch the final show as the other JC had made it quite clear that we were watching BBC Sports personality of the year. We did do a little flicking - which at times made it seem as though Andrew Flintoff was presenting the X factor.

Anyway, there was far more elation in our house that Ryan Giggs won BBC Sports Personality of the year. As the wife of an avid Manchester United fan I was pleased too. He seemed genuinely humbled and shocked to have won. And in my VERY basic knowledge of football he always seems like a pretty good player to me.

Well done Ryan. Now get back to Old Trafford and score some goals - looks like Chelsea are running away with the league and that is not good. I will be cheering for the reds at Fulham at this weekend.

My course - first few weeks

Yesterday I had my first "assessment" at the course. And it was our last session before the Christmas break. It turned into more of a long analysis of my introduction as one of the other participants didn't come and, well, the others didn't feel ready to do their presentations. I got up the front and went for it though, and I hope I get some credit for that.

It's been quite a steep learning curve, with lots of new information to take in. I have run practice sessions with friends and family. I have learnt about anatomy, class dynamics and my diction. And I am really enjoying it.

As I have done this type of exercise for some time, one of the hardest things I have found is going back to basics. So therefore I have agreed with the course leader that I am going to do my assignment on the Method for beginners. Come January I am going to be stretching and strengthening my willing "guinea pigs." I will be taking them through a 30 day programme of exercises, and also doing the programme myself. This 30 day programme has had amazing results in transforming body shapes. For me, doing this is more just than about the body though. It is about self belief. Making achievements through my own learning and through giving others a good experience of enjoying these exercises too.

I don't know if I feel like this in spite of the elephant or because of it. But I hope to look back in a few months time and know that I have achieved a lot.

Here I am in the studio, stretching out my hip flexors:

Christmas Cake 2009 - Icing

So. The cake has been made, fed and marzipanned. Now it was time to move onto icing. I followed the Delia royal icing guidance, which takes about 10 minutes with an electric whisk to get your egg whites and icing sugar looking like this:

I used 4 egg whites and about 550g of icing sugar for my 8 inch diameter cake.

Now it is time for the fun bit. Getting the cake to look snowy Christmassy white. ALWAYS start with the top. It is much harder to blend the sides to the top. Start by dolluping in the centre and then work out towards the edges:

I then used a large plastic pastry brush to cover the sides. And end up with this:

Delia recommends 2 or 3 coats. I have just done my second and it now looks like this:

One more coat and then it will be put away and the final decorations added next weekend. This should make a good centrepiece for the table next weekend when the family arrive. I have to find some use for it. After all. as I have said before, people don't like Christmas cake much. I will be having a slice at some point though and enjoy the weeks of nurturing this cake has had.

Mince Pies

I used my home alone morning today to catch up on some TV, read the papers, go for a long walk in the park and to do some Christmas baking. It was mince pies this morning. They aren't for us. My Mum is making those for our family Christmas lunch next weekend. These are for the carol service. So, they needed to be quite good, or at least look presentable.

Lots of people tend to be fearful of pastry. Believe you me I have tried out a few recipes myself that haven't worked. These days I have one pastry recipe that never fails. So be it a savory or a sweet dish, this the pastry I use. If you have a magi mix it is even easier.

Ingredients:

300g Self raising flour
150g butter / margarine
Pinch of maldon salt
Cold water

Without Magi Mix: You will get your fingers dirty. Using clean hands mix/crumble the fat into the flour to get breadcrumbs. add the salt. Just lift it up lots to get lots of air. Make a well in the centre of your bowl. Drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of water and mix with a metal spoon until the mixture starts to bind. Then use your hand to kneed. If it is too sticky, add more water, and if too crumbly add a little more cold water.

With a Magi Mix. Put the flour, fat and salt into the mixer. Use the large blade to whizz to make breadcrumbs. Switch to the large paddle/dough maker blade. Add a little cold water. Whizz to make dough.

On a good flat clean surface kneed your dough a little more and then roll out to make pastry. For mince pies this needs to be about half a centimetre thick.

For the mince pies you need to grease the linings of a 12 hole cake tin. You also need a large and a smaller cutter. Use the large cutter to cut the bottom linings. Place gently in the tray and then add about 2 spoonfuls of good quality mincemeat to each pie. Take care not to over fill. Then using the smaller cutter, cut the lids. Place on top of each individual pie, using a little water to stick.

Stab each pie a couple of times with a sharp knife. Brush with some milk and sprinkle with some brown sugar. I think brown sugar makes them even more seasonal.

Place in oven for just over 25 minutes, until golden brown. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

These freeze well. That's exactly where mine will be going before being dropped off at church later in the week. I took a picture of them first though:

Strictly Come Dancing / X Factor et al

Saturday night TV has become something of a guilty pleasure of mine. I have no guilt about Strictly. It's a fab show. I love the dancing. I love the sparkle. I just really love it.

The X factor, however, I have grown tired of. I watched "Popstars" years ago, back in the day when "Hear'say" were famous for about 2 months. I've occasionally got hooked in the last few episodes, mainly when there is some one really talented, like Leona Lewis. Some years have been awful though. What's happened to Shane Ward? I'm struggling to remember the name of the Scottish lass who won a few years ago. The only time I ever saw her again was on Gillian McKeith diet special.

So this year I was not going to bother at all. And then we went to stay with my sister-in-law and family in Manchester a few weeks back. At the time they were quite in to it so we watched it with them. Sure enough I seem to have found myself lured into wondering who is going to get eliminated each week. To the extent that - and this is the embarrassing bit - I have a series link on the Sky plus box.

I was out last night so didn't watch with the Strictly Semi Final or X factor first half of the final live. Home alone after Beth's birthday quiz I fast forwarded through the most of the X factor. And Stacey went out. No big surprise. I didn't think much of Robbies performance. I most enjoyed Joe singing with George Michael. The problem with bringing out stars in that way is it exposes how good the actual stars are. And the fact the contestants aren't as good as them. Anyway. Tonight it is between Olly and Joe. I think Joe will probably win. And as it is a singing competition this seems fair as he has the better voice.

I saved Strictly for this morning. Amazing dancing. I loved Ricky's Argentinian Tango. Ali and Brian were magical in their American Smooth. And Chris and Ola clearly have the public vote. However the fact is Ali and Brian were better at dancing than Chris and Ola. In my opinion they should have gone through. Ricky Whittle should definitely win the final in my opinion.

So there we are. My guilty pleasure laid bare. What will I do in January? Dancing on Ice is rubbish and a poor substitute. I need something otherwise it will be Match of the Day and Sky Sports 1 all weekend.

Oh dear. Sounds like Britain's Got Talent may start getting my viewing. Yikes.

Christmas Party Wardrobe Crisis

I have Christmas drinks this evening at Jonny's boss's house. They are really lovely people and I am happy to go along it's just that...

... I never know what to wear or what to say at these things. I know the safe option for these things is black. I just look like a ghost in too much black. I shared this with my friend earlier in the week who then let me raid her walk-in wardrobe that is full of lots of beautiful things. I had serious wardrobe envy. BUT this just about saved the day as I now have 3 possible dresses, different shades of tights, 1 pair of boots and 1 possible pair of shoes and it has to be a combination of these.

So that is clothes sorted. I just need to find my voice. Seriously I sound like an ancient croaky lady right now. I have had a sore throat all week and now my voice has gone really funny and it is a bit of a strain to talk.

Maybe I should wear a sign saying I have lost my voice and then I won't need to stress about what to say either.

Not sure that is going to work and I really should have spent more time reading the financial section of the paper the last couple of days so I can keep up on any intelligent chat about current affairs such as Alistair Darling trying to destroy the service sector 20 years after the Tories destroyed the country's manufacturing base. Or the Nobel peace prize going to Barack Obama before he has done much. Instead I think I may need to seek out another WAG and talk about the X factor or Strictly Come Dancing. I wish I had more brain cells.

UPDATE:

Had a lovely evening. Was suitably dressed in a sparkly enough outfit and was good to put names to faces. Beautiful home, free flowing champagne and very nice canapes made for a really nice time. Turns out if I talk cooking and pilates I can get myself through a social evening like this too. No reading of the FT needed. Either that or it is blindingly obvious that I am just not that intelligent. (I'm a qualified Chartered Accountant actually, but just not a very clever one.)

Sprout watch and Krispy Creme donuts

So. As I sit here supping yet another "sprout smoothie" I have a slight smugness that I have achieved my aim this week - to eat the entire large bowl of Brussel Sprouts.

On Wednesday I tried roasted sprouts.

Ingredients:

1 pumpkin - peeled and diced
1 red pepper - deseeded and sliced
Few chopped shallots
Few pumpkin seeds
Few walnuts
Several brussel sprouts - peeled, washed and halved
Large glug of Olive Oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 190. Put all the vegetables and nuts a baking tray. Drizzle with the oil and season well. Place in oven and roast for approx. 45 minutes, turning about half way through.

Serve on green leaves with a large dollup of hummus.

I sound like a health freak. BUT I have also recently made another discovery. Krispy Creme donuts. For years I thought these had cream in them so had no interest. But it turns out they don't and boy do they taste good. I shared a couple of these with my friends earlier in the week. I hope the sprout effort have negated any badness from my sugar consumption.

Krispy Creme donuts V brussel sprouts? No contest.

Morning out in Windsor

I visited Windsor yesterday morning with a couple of girlfriends, with no particular reason other than it would be a nice little trip. And it was indeed.

Very relaxed girly chat. Popped into the biggest H&M, Zara and a couple of cook shops. Up to the castle in the beautiful summer sunshine. Annoyed I forgot my camera. Pit stop in Starbucks and then back in the car for a short drive home and lunch at my friends place.

We didn't get lost or spend a lot of money. No dramas or events to report. Just a really nice morning. There is something about going a little bit away from home to feel like you have had a good change of scene. And even nicer to have good friends to share it with.

Windsor was surprisingly quiet. Maybe Alistair Darling has succeeded in suppressing every last bit of spending we have left. Don't get me started.

Sprout Smoothie

Not as bad as it sounds. And I know it sounds bad.

Ingredients:

4 carrots
2 apples
6 brussel sprouts
Squeeze of lime juice

Whack all this through the juicer. Stir and down in one.

Brussel Sprout fix for the day.

Done.

Christmas Cake 2009 - Marzipan

I have mazipanned the cake that no one will eat this evening. I had to do this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I have got so carried away with "feeding" it, that it now has nearly an entire bottle of brandy in it. Secondly, Delia says you need to allow at least a week between marzipan and royal icing. It needs to be ready for the family Christmas lunch next weekend.

I make my own marzipan. Delia calls it "almond paste." It's marzipan. And mine has Amaretto in it rather than brandy for an even more intense almond flavour. If I didn't have a magimix I wouldn't even think about making my own marzipan. But as I do, here is my work in progress:

P.S. Crossfields fear not. I have some left over marzipan and so if it lasts and doesn't get eaten I will make you some marzipan chocolates for Christmas.

Yoga class and adjustments

I finished my 6 week yoga course this morning. It has been really good for me to do this on Monday mornings, and I feel I have progressed.

The teacher kindly offered to stay behind this week to help my friend and I learn more about how to adjust people when teaching. This means both getting them into the right position and helping them to get more out of a particular posture or stretch.

This is an area of my course that I think I am going to need to practice and get feedback on as I am learning, as I have never done this before.

The main points I took away from our session were around:

• Repositioning someone on the breath
• Being firm but not too hard or soft
• Getting oneself into the right position to adjust, helps both you and the person you are assisting
• Giving people ownership of their own bodies
• When applying pressure, press down and not in
• Move in and get close

We practiced some adjustments. And I could see how through a well supported adjustment you can get much more out of a stretch. I am going to be covering more of this on my course I hope, but this was a really helpful time and a great opportunity to learn from people who have been teaching for some time.

Brussel Sprouts with toasted walnuts, lime juice and olive oil

The first Jo made up brussel sprout recipe didn't taste bad at all. In fact quite nice. I went for a combination of brussel sprouts and walnuts to cross two seasonal superfoods off the list in one dish.

Ingredients:

• Brussel Sprouts
• Walnut halved, chopped
• Dash of lime juice
• Dash of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Peel, halve and the boil the brussels for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, toast the walnuts by heating them in a pan. Keep an eye on them and turn of the heat as soon as they start to crisp. Drain the sprouts and return to their saucepan. Add the walnuts, a squeeze of lemon juice and a good glug of olive oil. Season to taste.

The lime juice took the edge off the sprouts and cut through the after taste. Olive oil also makes the smoother texture. If all else fails, I will be having this as a side dish all week.

Brussel Sprouts

My 15 minute elephant appointment this afternoon turned into a 3 hour epic. What was suppossed to be a pop in for some bish bosh (don't ask,) ended up being a long winded wait for phaffing, waiting for blood tests, pharmacy, doctors... I could go on but I won't.

Anyway, I also managed to read most of my Red magazine. I found a section listing out that lots of Christmas foods are very high in nutritional value. Superfoods in fact.

On the list were:

• Beetroot
• Cauliflower
• Cranberries
• Lean Turkey
• Pomegranates
• Red Wine
• Salmon
• Walnuts
• Brussel Sprouts

Now it listed out why lost of these foods were good for you and how you can cook them. And some of them were particularly good for fighting my variety of nasties. Especially brussel sprouts. As I sat there it occurred to me that brussel sprouts are a bit like the hospital. Don't like them very much but supposed to be good for my insides.

I also remembered that I had a large amount of brussel sprouts at home that came with my organic veg box this week. So my mini project for the week is to eat them all and make them palatable.

Do you think they would taste any good covered in chocolate?

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I'm hosting the Christmas lunch for the my side of the family next weekend. We are celebrating as a family the weekend before Christmas, as some of us will be away. I have started planning. And I have started cooking. I am making as much as possible myself. Any excuse to cook. Although I love to cook, I am also a very big fan of doing ahead so decided to start putting a few things in the freezer ready. First up was cranberry sauce.

I have seen some recipes suggesting adding orange peel, but I had satsumas and decided to put in the juice too, as an alternative to additional water and to make it even more Christmassy tasting.

Ingredients:

300g Cranberries
4 Satsumas and their juice
Splash of water from the kettle
Splash of brandy (shhh...)
3 tablespoons of sugar/sugar alternative

Put all of the ingredients except for the sugar in a heavy based pan. Boil up for about 5 minutes until the cranberries start to pop. Push down with a wooden spoon to make a sauce consistency. I don't overdo the squashing as I want this to look like I made it. Add sugar to taste. This is to take of the sharpness of the stewed cranberries. Leave to cool. Whack in freezer and then defrost and warm through when needed.

This is clearly not for those who don't agree with fruit and savory combinations, like the other JC. But personally I like a large spoonful of cranberry sauce with my Christmas lunch and am looking forward to this one already.

Anatomy Lesson - Take 2

It has been a busy weekend. Around about Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week I was worried about whether I would have enough energy to keep going. As is often the way, things had all fallen on the same dates. I had my course yesterday and today and the bash last night. However, I have managed to do all these things.

As I woke to the alarm at 9.15 this morning I was glad the studio was 5 minutes round the corner. I was not sure how much anatomy I would be able to take in today though.

The teacher is great though and I had a really good day. I "got" more of it today than the previous lesson. I have the approach. Place the bones in the right position. The muscles on top. And then strengthen, stabilise or stretch those muscles (and breathe) depending what is needed.

I have my practice session next week, before the Christmas break. I think January will be busy with the course, with all of us feeling like we need to give it a big "push" then. But I think doing this, this weekend, has made me more energetic rather than less, and also made me just get on and do the things that make me feel good. Am firmly set up on the sofa in front of the sky plus box for this evening though. This body needs a rest now and I know it. And how nice to come home to a decorated Christmas tree. Thank you Jonny.

The Masked Ball

Last night we went to the Masked Ball. The event was to celebrate the 40th birthdays of one of Jonny's football friend and his wife. I found myself in the slightly strange position of not knowing either of the hosts and yet being invited. The theme was Masked Ball - White Tie for boys, and Moulin Rouge/sluts for girls. Ahem. Bit of a challenge when you don't know the hosts and only know a couple of others going. As usual, easy for the boys. Jonny ordered a white tie suit to hire from Moss Bross. Mine was a slightly harder challenge. I ended up wearing the Burgundy Bridesmaids dress and a fur borrowed from my sister. Adding the masks we bought off the internet, this is what the JC's came up with:


But enough about us. This was someone else's bash after all. And what a do. I was amazed by the marquee - fully draped in purple velvet, with candlesticks and huge flower arrangements. The most amazing thing on arrival was the champagne table. The masked lady was inside the table to hand us our drinks:

There were magicians, a live snake, a fire eating belly dancer. The drinks and canapes were free flowing. The hosts changed their costumes about 4 times in the evening. Some had hired the most amazing moulin rouge outfits. Lots of feather bowers, push up corsets and fish net tights. So even though we didn't know that many people, there was lots of people watching to be done.

I was worried about whether I would have enough energy for the evening. But I did keep going and had a fun evening. There was a slightly worrying moment when we couldn't locate our taxi driver at about 2am this morning... he had fallen asleep whilst waiting for us. Falling asleep in a marquee in Bucks was not really in the plan. Instead we found him and I snoozed in the cab all the way home. I made it to bed about 3.30am this morning. Now that really doesn't happen very often for me. What crazy kids we are.

PS. Couldn't resist posting a picture of the very pretty fairy cakes. Yum.