Sunshine and sausages

Whilst most of the country seems to be snowy, here is North Wales we have been enjoying some cold crisp days, with lovely winter sunshine. So today (no guests tonight) we decided to go and enjoy the beautiful day. During the busy season we have our sausages delivered from Edward's of Conwy but to make the most of the day we decided to go and collect them. We packed the dogs up in the back of the car and after our quick trip to Conwy (also getting some of there lovely filled rolls for lunch- although we did pack a flask!) we drove down to the beach at Llanddulas and parked up and enjoyed our lunch. We then had a fantastic walk along the pebble beach and part of the North Wales coastal path. The dogs loved it and having packed the camera took a few pics of them, the birds and the beach. Bliss or Darby and Joan!!!

"We'll sit and look at the same old view,

Just we two.

Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,

The folks who like to be called, What they have always been called,

"The folks who live on the hill".

With thanks to Oscar Hammerstein II & Jerome Kern's 1973 'The folks that live on the hill'.

No snow here

What a disappointment - no snow here. In fact its been a lovely day. So here is a picture from last years snow - just to remember how cold it was. But the dogs enjoyed it.

Burns Night

In January with the days long and dark and the weather normally cold and wet, it seems reasonable to make the most of every day. This week we have already celebrated Chinese New Year and tonight see will see us enjoying the delights of Burns night. So to add to the Haggis and the Whisky I have made some Ginger Shortbread. As you can see Les and I have tested it already to make sure its OK. It's OK...

Black Banana Cake

I made Nigel Slater's Black Banana Cake today - with my own addition of a little rum. It was delicious. We had a meeting for the Twinning Association and realised I didn't have any cake to give them or our guests. This recipe sounds horrrble but is yummy. I love Nigel Slater he always makes things look so simple and his recipes always turn out well. http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/black_banana_cake_52982

12th night blues - not me

We look forward to Christmas for so long, all that rushing around, shopping and worry over present buying, and then whoosh its gone. Today I have taken all the decorations down and they are safely packed away in their boxes ready to be put back in the attic where they will stay for another 12 months. Anyone who has stayed with us will know that there is nothing contemporary or minimalist about our house but isn’t it funny how bare it looks after the decs come down. As much as I loved putting them up when the decorations come down and I have cleaned every nook and cranny I always feel renewed. Maybe it’s just the passing of time into the New Year that makes you feel like starting all over again. This of course is what we do. Life like the seasons has a pattern and as we head off into yet another year I feel optimistic and hopeful for the forthcoming months. I have always been an optimist and I know the country is in a terrible state, people are struggling and many face adversity but the New Year to me always holds a sense of excitement and hope. Whether you believe 12th night is the 5th or 6th January (it changes according to your beliefs) let me wish you all good fortune and good health for 2012.

A lovely Family Christmas

We spent the Christmas break at my parents in Surrey. My Dad 'God bless him' had brought up half of the shops already by the time we had arrived and we still managed another two trips before the big day. By the time we collected the 17 lb (8 kilo) turkey on Christmas Eve I had already baked mince pies, sausages rolls, made trifle, and meringues. The vegetables, pigs in blankets and the homemade stuffing were all prepared and then I rescued a Christmas pudding which I had made last year. When I say rescued it was so hard that I doubted that it would be edible but, having steamed it for 3 hours and added rather large amounts of alcohol , it was delicious.
Christmas day was hectic, cooking for 10 but it was a lovely day. On Boxing Day my nephew and his wife came with their two adorable children so we were 14 for a while! It’s so lovely seeing little ones at Christmas time – they were so excited about their visit from Father Christmas. I love Christmas but enjoy it so much more when there are young children around.
Due to the strike by the tube drivers on Boxing Day we decided to drive our daughter back to her flat in north east London. It ended up being a four hour round trip to do 80 miles. What happened to our country that all the shops are open and it is as busy as a normal day on a Christmas bank holiday? Sometimes in my wild moments I long to be French, they still have proper Sundays and Bank Holidays where everything is shut. Coupled with no trains it seemed that everyone was on the roads? But alas I was wrong because on Tuesday when we drove back home to North Wales we had a very long 8 hour drive. I have never seen so much traffic north of Oxford. It’s always busy in the South but normally as soon as we hit the A40 it improves. In my very tired stupor I realised that I had been driving for 12 hours out of 24! It’s so lovely to be back in sleepy Carmel where the traffic flows gently; my days of enjoying the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis I think are well and truly over.
Now it’s time to start thinking about our 1970’s New Year‘s celebrations – Hippies, Glam Rock, Will there be Cheese and Pineapple on sticks, Prawn Cocktail, Chicken Marengo and Arctic Roll! All washed down with a nice glass of Riesling! Or should it be a Vesta Curry. Still the music will be good. Happy New Year Everyone!

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas

We had planned a nice day trip to Manchester to the Christmas Markets to do some last minute shopping. We woke up to a dusting of snow but by 9.30am it was snowing quite hard. We walked to the coach stop at the Half Way House ( we were going with Voel Coaches) and stood for more than half an hour with 3 other ladies waiting for the coach. By the time the coach arrived we all looked by snowmen. It took us an hour to get to the A55 (2 miles) and were finally on our way at 11am. We had a lovely time in Manchester and got back safe and sound thanks to our driver Stuart. Luckily the roads are now clear but it is definitely starting to look a bit like Christmas. Getting excited now.