Living in Carmel

Burns Night

2012-01-25T09:34:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-24T04:11:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

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.

Christmas is always on 25th December !

2011-11-27T09:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas comes every year at the same time. Why is it then that the end of November is upon us again and I am starting to panic? How did the year creep up on me so quickly again. I am normally such an organised person (well I think I am) but how did we get here so soon. There is no way that I will start any present shopping in October, and November always seems a little too early but then December arrives and suddenly its only 3 weeks to the big day. I did order some Christmas cards with Celyn Villa on but they turned up as post cards instead. Having rung the supplier and ‘told him off in the most polite way I could’ I did receive a full credit so if you receive a very nice Christmas post card from us you will know why.

Of course our business is running a B&B and we continued to be busy. On top of that we have carried out quite a few improvements, the new shower, carpets, beds etc. We also had a visit from a professional 'Blogger' and her family who visited the area for the first time, she wrote some nice things about us in her blog which we were thrilled about. So all that running around has used up any spare Christmas preparation time I might have had before now.

I have just come back from a few days at my parents, so lovely to see them both and of course helping my dad look after my mum who had a stroke last year. But dad got a dreadful chest infection whilst I was there and he took to his bed – so I was looking after both of them! I did get to baby sit my new niece though. Her mum and dad’s first evening out since she was born. She was so good apart from the two dirty nappies (saved up just for me) but it was a joy to feed her and spoil her just for a bit. The next time I see her will be Christmas and she will be 4 and half months by then. Where does the time go….

One of our regular guests who comes over from Spain to visit her 92 year old Mum asked me if I would do them a lunch, so yesterday I cooked at midday instead of in the evening. Six of their family came for an early Christmas get together, they had a great time and I started feeling quite festive. Hence the panic I think. Most years by now I would have made Christmas chutney, pudding and cake not forgetting the sloe gin and the freezer full of homemade goodies.
But this year I HAVE DONE NOTHING. Thursday is 1st of December I will definitely start then!!!

Remembrance Day

2011-11-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

November is here cold, wet and foggy. That’s today. But what a fantastic month October was. I haven’t blogged for a while (well ages actually) due to a very busy couple of months. We have been making improvements in the house. New carpets, showers, beds to name but a few things.

It’s now Sunday afternoon and I have spent most of the day on the computer – catching up. So thought I should blog whilst I am here. I watched the Remembrance Sunday service on the TV today and whilst London was bathed in sunshine, it was overcast and dull here in Carmel. However the weather really fitted my mood today and I always get upset when I watch all the old soldiers march past the cenotaph. But the saddest thing is that it is not just the old soldiers now that we should be grateful to. Being born not long after the second world war I was brought up to respect all of those who fought during the world wars but how sad is it that even today we are still losing brave service men and women to conflicts that it seems will never be solved.

I have often blogged about technology being incredible and the things we can do today are fantastic. Is it better that we can keep in touch so easily or not? How many people who are away would love to receive a letter instead of a quick text? The fact that we can tell the world everything that we are doing instantly via Facebook and Twitter is amazing but does it really give us the time to stop and smell the roses. When I think about those old soldiers and their loved ones who only received letters very rarely is seems so sad, yet I am sure that those letters were full of news and love and were read and re-read many times. A tweet or a text seems to be here one minute and gone the next but unlike that letter they are in fact here forever.

A pile of old letters tied up with ribbon seems a much more romantic notion than a text. Maybe that’s why we have all started blogging – it fulfils that part of us that misses writing letters.

New baby, Liverpool and my latest TV appearance!!!

2011-09-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Another busy month with lots of activity in the B&B but I finally managed to get to meet my new niece, the lovely and beautiful Emilie Elizabeth. What a joy this little bundle of cuteness has brought to her proud Mum and Dad and the rest of the family.

We also managed to have a night away in Liverpool as although we have visited many many times we wanted to spend some time at the museums which we had previously missed. We did both the Maritime and The Slave Museums, both very different but both very interesting. With the local connection here in Holywell with the triangle trade it was fascinating and fairly harrowing to get a taste of what those dreadful days were like for many. Afterwards we needed a bit of light heartedness and took a ride on the big wheel; we then had an ice-cream and felt like real tourists. Liverpool is certainly worth a visit these days.

But the real fun was on Wednesday night, because at 7.30pm on BBC1 Les and I were on TV! Erddig the wonderful National Trust House near Wrexham were I volunteer was the subject of the TV programme National Treasurers Live. Volunteers were asked to go along and make up the audience and in the opening scene you can just see me in the distance in my Servants outfit on the left hand side of the screen. But our 3 seconds of fame came when we were moved from the crowd in the kitchen, to the hall under the bells and Dan Snow the presenter stopped in front of us to ring them. So that now being my third appearance on TV, it will probably be my last. Third I hear you ask (or not) but for those who don’t know about my TV career let me tell you now.

My first appearance was back in the early 70’s when Nationwide (like the One Show I think) came and filmed us at 7.30am on our commuter London bound train at Christmas. We always had a party, Mince pies and sherry for all. I think then I had about 10 seconds of fame. Thirdly my appearance in 2009 on Britain’s Best Dish which was my star appearance if only for breaking a glass when trying to Brulee the top of my dessert.

Still all was not all lost and I went on to win the heat. But although fame is not really my thing I did learn how much time and effort goes into making a half an hour TV programme, no wonder it costs so much money.

Harvesting the crop

2011-08-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Suddenly things need to be picked, bottled, frozen and potted again. Earlier in the summer the soft fruit (raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants) were either frozen or made into jam. But yesterday we harvested 20lbs of plums. We try to serve homemade jams and marmalade to our guests every morning for breakfast. And as I recently opened my last pot of 2010’s produce it was timely that today I have been making plum jam. It’s amazing to think that my one days jam making has produced enough to last another year. Nature’s bounty at its best.

The apples are nearly ready too although they have a much longer ‘tree life’ and we can go on picking them into October. We also have lots of pears and although they are lovely to eat I always feel they are less versatile for preserving. I have pickled them and bottled them in the past and also turn them into lovely deserts. But luckily I have found a Harmony Jam recipe which contains pears and apples so I will be trying that soon.

I remember as a child seeing lots of jars lined up in the larder, sadly I don’t have a larder mine have to go into the garage and a cupboard. When they are lined up waiting to be opened and spooned on fresh homemade bread it gives me a really satisfying feeling. That even though we live in a high tech, fast moving world jam making has stayed the same for generations and it makes me feel grounded and homely. Although to be fair I must confess to listening to my IPOD whilst I chopped, weighed, boiled and bottled!

August and welcome to a new neice

2011-08-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Running a B&B as I have said before is an unusual way of life. Our days go from being extremely busy with no time to stop and look at the view, to more peaceful days when we have no guests at all. In addition we are involved in other things like the Flintshire Tourism Association, Holywell and District Twinning Association, our family and friends, our hobbies of painting for me and wood turning for Les. Oh and then there's the garden too. We did have a day off on Tuesday and met up with my nephew and his family and we all went on the Ffestiniog Railway, which was great fun.

Of course we are now in the middle of the busy Summer Season and most days are rush, rush, rush. It makes blogging difficult. I realise I havent written a word since June but I have found a few minutes today to write a line or two. (I should be ironing instead).

I'm not a big fan of August. The other problem of course is that everyone else is on holiday and we are not! And now that we are in August it makes me realise just how fast the year is going again. I always feel that the first half of the year upto July is somehow a slow climb, and of course the expression 'all down hill from here' seems to apply to August onwards. I wonder if it is the fact that we are heading again faster than we like to another winter and yet another Christmas (sorry to mention that word so early on but in four weeks or so the shops will start filling up with gifts and decorations for that 1 day a year that most people go mad for).

However on Monday 8th August little Emilie Elizabeth weighing 6lb 11oz was born to my brother and his wife and August dosn't seem so bad at all. It was Les's birthday yesterday so it's been a week of celebrating. A new baby girl to buy presents for and to spoil, what could be better!

On Reflection !

2011-06-26T01:19:00.000-07:00

Reflection is a wonderful thing. (Not the sort it the mirror, I try to avoid that these days!) But reflecting on this past week has been interesting. A busy B&B time is always challenging but when you add in a bit of extra plate spinning and that stack of cards, so carefully placed, start to fall - you think you must be mad.

One of the taps in a guest en-suite decided to seized up and we called the plumber, after he left the washing machine decided to play up, then we called the Engineer who luckily mended it. (£££ later of course). My hand blender broke in the middle of blending soup. I burnt my third batch of Welsh cakes and Les dropped the home made biscuits - all this on one very busy day. Then a friend popped in the told us of a bereavement and our very silly little problems that were stressing us out were put in to perspective.

Last night we went up the River Dee in Chester, a friend had hired a boat for her birthday party. It was a warm and sunny evening with a little breeze, good food, good friends and a few glasses of wine. Les and I even had a dance. It was a lovely evening.

This morning after breakfast one our our guests said "'that was the nicest breakfast I have ever had, anywhere' then went on to say how nice their room was and that they would definitely come back again for a longer stay next time. Compliments like that make it all worth while.

So on reflection a very good week. Bring on the plate spinning I say.

Sunshine, Vintage cars and a beach hut

2011-06-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

In our effort to visit all corners of the British Isles we went off to Lincolnshire for a week in the caravan. It was the first time we had visited the county and found it a delightful and enchanting place. The Lincolnshire Wolds seem to be the only area that isn’t flat and as we meandered up and down gently rolling hills we were struck by the beauty of the farm land and little villages.
We stopped in a small place on the coast called Sandylands, next to Suton on Sea and a 15 minute walk took us to exactly that, a wide and long sandy beach stretching for miles edged with the faded grandeur of authentic circa. 1930’s beach huts. In fact we hired one whilst we were there and it was so much fun.

I had been told that visiting this area was like stepping back 30 or so years and it was a real breath of fresh air to find just tranquillity and peace in a sea side town. However despite its remoteness and lack of apparent sophistication we found as good a delicatessen that I have tried anywhere, serving wonderful homemade goodies, a fantastic fish and chip shop and a great pub serving excellent food. Coupled with lovely friendly people it really was a special place to visit.
There was a Vintage Car Show on Sunday in Louth so we decided to go. It was great real old fashioned family fun with lots of old cars beautifully restored by their dedicated owners.

We ventured as far as Lincoln another day and had a look at the lovely cathedral and castle. A really beautiful city with interesting architecture both old and new.

Apart from that we really didn’t do much apart from walk the dogs, read, relax, drink some wine and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Well that was last week - back home now with no more plans to get away again until after the summer so B&B Hat on again – cakes to bake, beds to make …………………………

Not a bad life really

2011-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

As we head into yet another Bank Holiday weekend and towards the end of May – it has been a great month for us, when we have enjoyed both work and play. Despite running a busy B&B Les and I do get the work/life balance right sometimes, and May has proved to be a good example for us. Although as we go forward into the summer months we know there will be more work than play! But that’s the beauty of our lifestyle choice and we so enjoy meeting all the new people who come and stay with us from around the world. Our visit to Bodnant Gardens last Sunday was spectacular and we always feel so privileged living so close to such a great place. Gardening has featured heavily this month with still so much to do but we did manage a trip to Chester for some shopping and dinner too.

We recently got back from a long weekend in St Grégoire in Brittany. We went with the Holywell and District Twinning Association and a group of about 35 went by coach from Holywell catching the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo. It’s a wonderful weekend and starts off well on board ship with a fabulous meal and a good night’s sleep. Arriving in St Malo refreshed on Friday morning we drove to St Grégoire a small town just outside Rennes. There is much kissing and Bon Jouring when we arrive and we quickly head off with our host families to renew friendships and in some cases make new ones.

We had the first of our three hour lunches in the garden of our hosts house and starting practicing our bad French as they in turn practised their English. It’s amazing with just a little effort and a good dictionary the range of topics we covered over the weekend. Off to another hosts house for another meal in the evening with 24 of us sitting in their lovely garden - the Champagne flowed, the bar-b-que was lite and we all had a great time.

Saturday we had a trip to Fougéres, a very pretty town with a magnificent Castle which we toured in the afternoon. We spent a lovely time here and had a great lunch in a local hotel. Sunday we spent with the family and they took us to a Fois Gras farm in the middle of nowhere. Which was a bit strange as we had a tour of the factory and even met the poor old ducks who were being fed corn and whose livers would eventually be the Fois Gras. We then had lunch with 130 French people in a huge barn – obviously we started with Foir Gras and then had Duck Breast as the main course! They sold everything in their shop; from every part of the Duck, the wine they served with lunch and the cheese. Only the French could turn such an operation into a commercial enterprise. It was enough to turn many people vegetarian I am sure.

Sunday evening we had a farewell get together with all the hosts and guests and enjoyed another buffet, more wine and some really good Folk music, and plenty of dancing. We always sing a few Welsh songs and the Breton national anthem is sung to the same tune as the Welsh National Anthem so we always sing it together at the end of the evening.

We left on Monday morning with more kissing and a few tears with promises of seeing every one again next year in Holywell. It will be the 10th anniversary year and we will need to put on a good weekend for our Gregorian friends.

Because our ferry wasn’t booked until the evening we travelled to Bayeux and had a look around the British Cemetery and all felt emotional reading some of the 2nd world war grave stones – so many young people died so we could be free. A really emotional visit for everyone. We had lunch (did we really need more food?) and then a trip around the Tapestry – an incredible thing of beauty and colour still after all this time. We then drove up to Arromanches and had a look at the Mulberry Harbour and went around the museum. It was a lovely day and after a picnic we drove along the coast to Caen for our overnight ferry back to Portsmouth.

Twinning is a great experience and having been part of the Holywell one from the beginning we have made so many friends both in France and locally through the Association.

In fact tonight we are hosting a party for everyone who came on the trip with us so I really should stop typing and start preparing for the Soirée.

May already - but what a week!

2011-05-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Easter was a busy weekend - lovely guests, lots of cooking and lovely weather and the countryside looking beautiful with all the spring flowers. Then just as the beds had been changed and the sheets ironed along comes another Bank Holiday weekend. Les and I did manage a day off in between (although sitting down watching the Royal Wedding all day must count as nearly a day off).
Back in February we had enjoyed watching a Channel 4 programme where a group of modern day craftsmen built a Roman Villa using traditional methods. Based at Wroxeter (Britain’s 4th largest Roman City) we decided to have a day out to see the finished building. It was a cooler day than we had enjoyed lately but it didn’t spoil our fun. Although a little worried when we paid our admission charge - we were advised not to touch the paint work as it hadn’t settled yet - we set off to inspect the building. Bearing in mind that everything was made from scratch using 2000 years old building methods it was an impressive sight and helped paint a picture (no pun indented) of how the whole city would have looked centuries ago. It was well worth the trip and although a cold day the hot chocolate provided much needed warmth after walking around the site. Dogs are allowed and although we took our two with us they stayed in the car as it was a cool day. The lady who sat next to us with her little white and red dog wished she had left hers in the car too. Yes I did say white and red - the dog didn’t heed the warning of the ticket seller and obviously did touch the walls!

Friday came, the sun came out again, we put out the flags and the bunting and sat down and watched the Royal Wedding from the start. We ooowed at the beautiful dress and arrrd when the vows were spoken. We smiled at the crowd and laughed at some of the silliest hats I have ever seen. The crowds were amazing and it was truly a great day, and when it counts we really put on a good show, no wonder people love coming to the UK.

Straight into another Bank Holiday Weekend with more guests, cooking etc. ….

Sunshine, daffodils and lambs

2011-03-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

Despite ongoing dramas that we all have from time to time in our lives I have been trying to focus on the positive side of life this week.

Spring came for a couple of days. Hot sunny weather with blue skies it was enough to make me smile and realise that the winter doesn't really last all year - it just seems like it.

I have had my first session at Erddig this week, showing children what it was like to be a Victorian Servant. (see previous blog about this). On route to Wrexham I passed fields full of tiny lambs and gardens and hedgerows full of daffodils.

I drove to Conwy and walked to the harbour where I sat amongst couples eating fish and chips whilst I ate my apple and banana - not easy. Got stuck in traffic on the way there due to road works on the A55 but came back the scenic route and it was lovely.

I have been busy on the computer inputting information for a new website for tourism in Flintshire.

I welcomed lovely guests to the B and B and fed them both breakfast and evening meal.

I got the washing dry on the washing line.

I went to the local pub that has reopened after being closed for over a year - saw lots of people from the village - lets hope the new landlords can make a go of it. Good food is the answer.

I had my hair done.

I find I am smiling - its been a good week.

White Water Rafting

2011-03-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Last year when Les was 60, our daughter gave him 'an extreme experience' gift. Having looked through all the wonderful things you can do - bungee jumping to skydiving; sensible Les decided that he would like to try White Water Rafting. Many years ago in his back packing days it was something Les wanted to do when he visited New Zealand. Being on a tight budget then it was impossible, so it was an ambition that has taken many years to achieve. Luckily here in North Wales we have a several of places you can do this and Llangollen being less than an hour away seemed the ideal location.

After being kited out in wet suites, helmets and buoyancy aids they had a full training session before carrying the raft to the waters edge. They were with another couple and two guides who quickly made sure that they were all 'dumped in the water'. After more training and practice they were off down the rapids in high spirits with the adrenalin pumping.

Our daughter came home for a few days so that she could join in the 'experience' but I chose to watch from the bank, taking pictures and once they were out of sight retired to the cafe for a couple of hours relaxation.

The verdict afterwards: fantastic, really enjoyable and they would definately do it again. Maybe I wont be such a coward next time and join them, but then again!!!

It's my silver moving to Wales Anniversary

2011-03-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

25 years ago today, St David's Day Les and I moved to Wales. It's incredible to think where the time has gone and what has happened in the meantime. We had only been married for just over a year when Les had the chance to move with his job. His father was Welsh and as a child Les spent many happy holidays in North Wales visiting his grandparents and family. So when the opportunity arose he jumped at the chance and I jumped with him.

Moving day was a bit of a nightmare – we woke up to a couple of inches of snow and had to quickly change our plans of driving both our cars (I had a 2CV at the time which wasn’t equipped for bad weather) so I went with the removal lorry and Les drove his car with our 2 cats and our 10 week old Springer spaniel puppy. He definitely drew the short straw as the cats were out of the basket before he had driven 5 miles and our puppy turned out to be a bad passenger, something that continued for all his life. He hated the car and it’s probably due to that journey.

Luckily today has been absolutely lovely, with bright sunshine and blues skies – Les and I are celebrating with Welsh Lamb and a bottle of bubbles. Here’s to the next 25!

I can't always blog..

2011-02-27T04:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes not blogging isn’t necessarily a sign of not having anything to say or me being too busy, sometimes it’s because I just don’t feel like writing. Life for all of us can be hard at times: take a look at the world today, worrying events in North Africa and the Middle East, the awful earthquake in New Zealand as well as many ongoing problems that the world faces. At home we are all concerned with the economy and what the knock on effect will be for each of us. At times in our own lives we have a ‘annus horribilis’ (to quote our much loved Queen).

BUT I am an optimistic person and try to always look on the bright side, see the best in everyone and work on the probably misguided assumption that things will work out. Sometimes it’s the small things in life that are worth focusing on. When I’m down I usually turn to baking to cheer me up (its comfort cooking), or I get my paints out and try to create something. The sun is shining, the crocuses are out and the lambs are starting to appear in the fields. Spring is nearly here and although not as busy as usual with guests – they are still coming to stay and visit this lovely part of Wales. OK so where is my paint brush……………

Wind, Rain and Cooking

2011-02-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

When the weather is horrible as it has been for the last few days, windy, wet and frankly miserable - I like nothing more than cooking in my cosy kitchen. It's been a busy week food wise: on Wednesday it was party time at Erddig when all the Education Volunteers got together for our Christmas lunch (now a New Year tradition usually due to the bad weather in December). We all take a plate of food and enjoy a good catch up and gossip. I made Cheese scones which seemed to go down well. It is always interesting to see the range of goodies people bring: and they are all enthusiastically enjoyed. Someone made some lovely carrot cake, must find out who and get the recipe.

Thursday we had 8 friends round to celebrate Chinese New Year and I spent the whole day cooking up a feast. For one of the courses (there were 4) I cooked a whole crispy duck for the obligatory Duck with Pancakes. I wasn't sure how to cook the duck, so I cooked it in the slow cooker all day, then roasted it in the oven for another hour - and it worked really well. The bones have subsequently been in the slow cooker making stock which I shall turn into Garlic Soup later, and the duck fat is in a jar ready to use for my roast potatoes.

One of our frequent guests who comes over from Spain brought me some Seville Oranges recently and I have been busy making Marmalade today. Seville Oranges give a unique flavour that is slightly bitter and they always set really well. Although time consuming and fiddly I love the taste of homemade. I have added to the cupboard where all my homemade jam's, marmalade's and chutney's are kept. There is something very satisfying about seeing them all lined up waiting to be enjoyed by family, friends and guests.

I have put my recipe for Cheese Scones under the Recipe Page.

January - I feel sorry for you

2011-01-30T02:03:00.000-08:00

To summon up any enthusiasm for January is always difficult. Being the second month of winter and normally the coldest it really doesn't have a lot going for it. Christmas and New Year festivities are quickly forgotten and fade when the bank balance has been reduced and the waistband expanded. The B&B is usually quiet and there are always jobs to catch up on.

To start yet another gym membership and another diet must be the two worst things to do when you feel more like sitting by the fire and eating hot wholesome food. I did start the month with the best of intentions but due to a whole number of really legitimate reasons I haven't done either.

But here we are nearly at the end of the month and February looms - a much better month all round. The bulbs are starting to pop through the cold earth, the days are already getting longer and the promise of Spring is starting to be believed.

Sorry January but I won't miss you this year - I think next year it might be a good idea to go to Australia - after all its their second month of Summer!

A family tradition

2010-12-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

Its’ the same every year the weeks and weeks of preparation and build up to Christmas are at times hectic, at times frustrating but mostly enjoyable to me. The big day comes and goes so quickly that I always feel a little flat on Christmas morning. The anticipation of the presents, the preparation for the big lunch are swept up in the excitement of the day and it all speeds by so quickly. Because of this I think my Mother came up with the idea of ‘Tree presents’. I can’t remember when it was – sometime during my childhood, she used to keep some of the presents back for us to open later in the day so that the excitement lasted a little longer than the 5am early rise to see if ‘He had been’! These presents then became ‘Tree Presents’, just a little extra thing to open after lunch was finished, but before we settled down to watch the Queen and start the usual round of Monopoly and Charades. Well needless to say the ‘Tree presents’ are now a well established family tradition which any new member of the immediate family is introduced to as well as anyone coming for Christmas.

So when we have opened all the presents around the tree in the morning we still have the ‘Tree Presents ‘to look forward to. There always seems to be far more of them and they are usually something silly or rude and cause much extended mirth as (mellowed with a few drinks) we gather our not so little pile on the table and open them with glee.

Well we are back to normal again now with a house full of guests expected today for the New Year break. Christmas has gone and the next will come round far too quickly – but during the year if I see any little thing that takes my fancy – I will probably buy it and put it away for a ‘Tree present’ .
Happy New Year Everyone.

All dressed up with nowhere to go!

2010-12-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

The tree is dressed, the lights are up and shopping is done. Well of course being so organised just means you end up being ready too early. Because no matter when you get the Christmas shopping done, the cake made and the cards written – when you are faced with bad weather and you don’t know if any of your visitors will arrive for Christmas you feel a bit like that : ‘All dressed up with nowhere to go’. The frustrating thing is that here in Carmel we haven’t had masses of snow, the roads are clear and traffic is flowing. We have got off lightly again - apart from the freezing temperatures - 10° last night, oh and a bit more snow forecast tonight.

Let’s hope that everyone gets to where they want to be for Christmas, that the snow thaws enough for the roads to be clear, the planes fly and that Father Christmas (please note that I am still don’t want to say the S word) brings everyone what they want for Christmas – providing they have been good of course. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.

A Walk Round the Block

2010-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

With the recent cold weather is had been hard to take the dogs out - but we have been braving the freezing cold and continued with our usual walk 'around the block'. This walk is about two miles long and is the one that many of our B&B guest enjoy when they stay with us. It is fair to say though that it is beautiful on a sunny summer’s day but is equally breathtaking on a bright and sunny snowy day.

From our gate you turn right and walk up to the Church at Gorsedd - we stopped en route to chat to the sheep and they always come to look at our Poodle Sam as they must think he is another sheep -

today we stopped in the churchyard to say hello to Les's parents who are both buried there. Turning left at the Church you then walk up a slight incline and walking a short distance until the next left turn into Monastery Road.

Walking along this straight piece of road to your right you can just see the A55 and the traffic racing through to Conwy etc. But beyond that you can see the Clwydian Hills majestically undulating and the top of Moel Famau just making out the Jubilee tower at the top.

A bit further on and you take the next left turn passing Pantasaph Friary and start making the steep climb to the top of the hill - the views are breathtaking here. And what a relief when you reach the top of this short but steep stretch. Follow the road along the top and you can see the sea and just make out the wind farm off the coast of Rhyl. We stopped to chat to a lady scraping her drive as she was off out at lunch time and was dreading the journey, we were able to assure her that the roads were clear - one of the things we really appreciate about living where we do.

Down the hill for the final left turn and you get a fantastic view of the Wirral Peninsula and the Dee Estuary, before returning back to Celyn Villa for a nice cup of hot chocolate.

One month to go

2010-11-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

With four weeks to go till Christmas I was only thinking yesterday that I seem to be so organised this year - it’s a bit scary. Not one to want to tempt fate - I don’t really like to mention it because something is bound to go wrong. I am an optimistic person normally and have always been of the glass half full persuasion but being so organised so early is rare. Some presents are bought and wrapped, as mentioned before cake and puddings are made, and the turkey is ordered.

And of course today we woke up to snow – so my well planned day went out the window and my organised mind had to re-jig the things I was going to do today. There is nothing like a bit of snow to cause chaos – but luckily we are on a bus route so our road is always gritted, 99.9% of the time we can get out. We are expecting new guests today – we just hope they have a snow free journey.

Earlier in the week we went to Chester and did a bit of that Christmas shopping it was already looking Christmassy.

Sunny Skies and Christmas Pudding

2010-11-15T01:16:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a weekend of real contrasts. Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day and with the B&B a bit quieter, and no evening meal to cook, Les and I took the opportunity to go out for the day. Firstly we went up to Moel Famau to look at the work they have been doing to the top car park – although not quite finished it already looks so much better. The views from the top are always breathtaking but on a bright sunny day like Saturday it was wonderful and we could see for miles. We braved the steep, single track road down the other side and drove on via Ruthin to the top of the Horseshoe pass. By this time the dogs needed a walk so we had a stroll with them. The car park was full with others enjoying a wonderful day with the usual amount of bikers taking advantage of the good Welsh roads. A quick cup of hot chocolate and off we went again to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Thomas Telford's marvellous crossing over the river Dee, 100’s of feet below. 24 years ago we went over the Aqueduct in a narrow boat. We hadn’t long moved to Wales and two friends came with us on a week’s holiday along the Shropshire Union Canal – it was a great holiday – we both had Springer spaniels then and they loved jumping on and off the boat and running along the tow path as we chugged along. We walked over this time with Sam and Willis holding onto their leads tightly for fear of them jumping in the water.

Sunday was wet, cold windy and horrible. If an Alien had landed in Wales on Saturday he would have thought he was on another planet by Sunday, such was the contrast in the weather. Still not one to be idol I decided I would use the time to get on with a bit of Christmas preparation, so I got the Christmas pudding mix ready and made my Christmas cake. I always used Delia’s pudding recipe although double it up and find I get 2 x 1lb and 1 x l.5lb puddings from it. My Christmas cake recipe is one I have used for over 30 years and is always a success. Or it might just be the amount of booze I feed it with. Two things to tick off my ever increasing ‘To do list’.

Farmers Market - Carmel School

2010-11-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

As this blog is about Living in Carmel I thought I should include a bit more local news. Today, a windy, wet and dull Autumn day - which also happens to be Armistice day 11th November our local primary school Ysgol Bro Carmel held a Farmers Market. I hope the first of many such occasions. Carmel School must have one of the most fantastic views from its classrooms of any school. Looking over the Dee estuary to the Wirral peninsula and beyond even on a dull day is a fantastic setting.

Sadly Carmel like many small villages no longer has a post office or shop so the opportunity to meet your neighbours particularly this time of year when no one wants to linger outside in the cold, is minimal. So it was with much enthusiasm my husband Les and I went along to Ysgol Bro Carmel today to support their new venture.

We arrived just after it opened and the hall was crowded with children, parents and many local people. The place was buzzing. I saw several people I knew and stopped to chat with them - even bumping into a lady who looked after my daughter at Nursery School 20 year ago.

There were a combination of 'school stalls' as well as the local buffalo farm selling their meat, a local cheese producer selling killer lime and chili cheese amongst others - although I brought the ginger cheddar and some apricot and ginger chutney (a bit of a ginger theme going on here).

They also had the usual cakes and crafts stalls and some lovely knitted toys which were beautifully made. The cotton bags with Ysgol Bro Carmel on were great and I brought three (someone might get one in their stocking this year).

I really hope that people appreciate how hard everyone worked to get the day off the ground and hope that it proves to be a regular event.

British Sausage Week

2010-11-02T02:33:00.001-07:00

It just so happened that the main course for last nights evening meal for guests was Leek and Pork (award winning from local butcher of course) sausages with mash and onion gravy. I didn't realise when I planned this week’s menus that it was British Sausage Week but needless to say it was a happy coincidence. Not that I am planning on sausages every night this week. Sometimes I think we get caught up in the variety of food available to us in this country and forget about the humble sausage, but the quality of this much malinged product is these days exceptional.

So let’s hear it for the humble sausage. I have added my onion gravy recipe to 'Some of my recipes' – its great with sausage and mash. Happy Sausage Week.

Eating shrubs

2010-10-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

It’s been a funny few weeks when real life has had to take priority over blogging and other forms of social media. But this week with the weather so lovely (most of the time cold, but sunny) Les and I have been busy in the garden.

Willis (our Border terrier), named so my husband can say' Willis is barking' (apologies to Charles Dickens Great Expectations and any reference to ‘Barkers is willing’) is now 10 months old. He is a really sweet chap and full of fun - however he has some very bad habits - he is a dog after all. He likes digging up Les's lovely lawn, obviously not looking for buried treasure more likely bones, but also has found my lovely new shrubs.
I hated taking down the window boxes and putting all the trailing geraniums on the compost heap. They don’t over winter well and we have given up trying, although we do have more success with the standard geraniums in the greenhouse. Normally we go the winter pansy route and have for the hanging baskets but this year we opted for miniature cyclamens and little shrubs for the window boxes and tubs. They do look lovely – clean and fresh.
Willis obviously thinks so too as he has taken to eating the shrubs out of the tubs – the little beast. I must put something on them that will deter him. We have heard that Lions urine works but as there aren’t many in Carmel I hope the local pet shop has something suitable.

Apples and more apples

2010-10-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am all appled out. Eating apples, cooking apples, freezing apples and making apple jelly. If that wasn’t enough Les and I went to the Apple Festival at Erddig yesterday. What a glorious sunny day it was(unlike last night’s deluge) perfect for a wonder around this annual event which attracts 100’s of people every year. It was lovely to see families enjoying a good old fashioned day out. The Morris Dancers were fantastic and Les particularly enjoyed the CAMRA Cider Tent. Lots of wood work and handmade crafts for sale. I particularly love the renewed interest of handmade crafts and there were some lovely things. The Owls from North Wales Owl Sanctuary were incredible and I got the chance to hold one (with the big glove). There was a cider press demonstration, storytelling, jazz as well as cookery demonstrations with local produce. Oh I also had a go at the longest apple peel competition and failed miserably. Erddig is lovely any time but with the Autumn colours and the smell of apples is very special. My favourite though was the chocolate brownie from Veggie Fayre – would love the recipe for the chilli ones – think I need to practice a bit.

Where does the time go to...

2010-09-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Over 30 years ago I went off to the south of France to be an Au Pair. Although it is common these days for young people to do a gap year or travel, it wasn't as popular then. I travelled by train to the South of France - crossing Paris by bus from one main line station to another (a real challenge for my first time abroad) and finally arriving in Cannes nearly 24 hours later. Leaving my family and friends behind was both frightening and exciting. Jacki a work colleague and friend had arrived 2 weeks before me with no luggage, as it had been lost en-route. She had been washing out her one pair of knickers every night in the hope that they would be dry for the next morning.

Waiting for me at the station was an incredibly glamorous petite woman not much older than I was and she proudly showed off her new British Mini. In my ignorance at that time I didn’t realise what a big deal it was – a French woman having a British car – the French being so patriotic and always preferring to buy French products - was a fact I was unaware of at the time. A trait that I admire immensely in the French now.

Well suffice to say I only stayed for a couple of weeks as their beautiful home was up in the hills of Vallauris well known for its association with the artist Picasso (again a fact lost on me at the time) and much too far from my friend Jacki who was is the centre of Cannes. Added to that I spent all day on my own with only three aggressive Alsatians for company and a list of chores as long as your arm which included making English Chocolate cake and hovering using a machine that gave me an electric shock every time I switched it on. I had a lovely room at the top of a spiral staircase but was very unhappy being so isolated.

Luckily Jacki found me another job with the daughter of her employers and I moved down to where there was more life. I was installed in the basement of a large apartment block which was on the sea front. The room I had (bearing in mind the family lived in the penthouse) was about 12 x 8 with bars across the window, an iron bed, plastic wardrobe and a sink that only had a cold water tap. There was a loo across the corridor and I had two bolts on the door so although it was fairly basic it was mine and I was free to come and go as I pleased. My room was nicknamed ‘The Cell’ and soon became the meeting place for all the many friends I made, mainly other Au Pairs and ex-pats working on the beautiful boats.

Although I come from a family of good cooks my time in France gave me a new understanding of food and cooking - I think it was where my real love of cooking started.

This blog wasn’t going to be the story of my first trip to France - a place I try and visit as often as I can - but one about catching up with old friends; but once you start writing sometimes things just come out of the ends of your fingers as you hit the keys.

One of the many friends I made there was Irene – she was also an Au Pair and we met her at a French class. We shared many crazy and wonderful times together: and when we eventually moved back home to England we kept in touch. Ironically she lived on the Wirral not far from where I live now and she now lives in Surrey not far from where I was living then. Eventually we got a flat together in London and spent several years sharing even more crazy times.

Well it’s been over 20 years since I have seen Irene and last week we met up again. We lost touch after we had had our children and found each other again on Facebook. The years just melted away as we shared forgotten memories, reminiscing, laughing and reliving our sometimes misspent youth. The years disappeared and it was as if no time had passed.

Social media can get bad press but I have had so many positive things happen, finding old friends again and keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. Back then when I was an Au Pair I longed for the post man to arrive and bring me letters from back home. I had to book a telephone call at the local post office once a month to speak to my parents and waited weeks for my photos to be printed. Now we live in the instant messaging world and I love it.

Back to Normal

2010-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well I feel like we’re nearly back to normal again. After the wonderful party and having all the family to stay, Les and I have had a busy couple of weeks with paying guests. But this week we took a couple of days off to regroup and catch up with a few jobs. Although a lay in has also been on the cards we have been just as busy but doing different things.

I equally love and dislike this time of year – the summer is nearly over – apart from a few late Indian summer days if we are lucky. The anticipation and wonder that is Autumn – with the fantastic pallet of colours that represent this beautiful time of year is always countered with the knowledge that the trees are about to shed their golden, copper and red tresses and that winter will too soon be upon us; and Les will be forever sweeping up leaves in the garden.

There is always lots to do in the garden and the kitchen – borders, hedges and shrubs to cut back and bulbs etc to plant to make sure we have some spring colour. The plums have all been picked 25lbs this year which is a surprise because so many people have had a bad crop, after last year’s bounty. I’ve made 14lbs of Plum Jam and frozen the rest for pies and crumbles throughout the winter. The apples have also been great this year and I have been busy freezing some and making apple jelly, a real favourite of mine.
The sewing machine has also had an outing this week and I have made some new aprons. I had forgotten how much I enjoy sewing. My sister is the real seamstress in our family and because she is always making such lovely pieces I forget that I am quite capable of turning up the odd thing too. I get through a lot of aprons as I seem to be in a ‘pinny’ all day sometimes (as those of you who have stayed with us will know – there are many a photo of Les and I at the front door in our pinny’s).
We managed a day out on Tuesday and took the dogs for a lovely walk along the costal path, the sun came out and it felt like Summer still. We took a leisurely drive back over the hills, only touching B roads or small lanes, stopping to walk the dogs again over the Denbigh Moors.
I was back to Erddig Hall today after the summer break, volunteering in the education department (see blog dated 18th July 2010 ) and had a lovely time with very sweet 5 and 6 year olds – what a joy they are – but so lovely that they are not mine! Just waiting for the next lot of guests to arrive as I type this – so now really back to normal.

Les's Birthday Bash

2010-09-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well the baking, icing, shopping, organising and hair pulling out was finally worth it. We had a fantastic weekend with family and friends. Les's birthday bash went off extremely well - despite the weather. As I type this the sun is shinning and the temperature is 21 degrees - but Sunday morning was a different matter. We awoke to pouring rain and 30 mile an hour winds and the gazebos, chairs and tables that we had erected the day before were just about being held down by extra ropes and pegs.

We had set up the bar in the Wooden Gazebo in the garden complimented by a barrel of real ale from the Blue Bell Pub in Halkyn. By late morning we abandoned the idea of having a lovely summer garden party on the lawn and hastily rearranged the house to accommodated over 50 guests and a 5 piece Trad Jazz Band. We also moved the bar (apart from the barrel) into the hall and just prayed that everyone would fit.

Mad Ed's Hot 5 started playing at around 2pm for an hour and then we quickly laid out the food and spent the next couple of hours eating and drinking and catching up with friends and family. Many of which had travelled a long way to celebrate with us (the furthest being Spain and the shortest the next door neighbours). By this time the weather had cleared up sufficiently for a few brave people to eat outside (obviously fortified by the medicinal effect of alcohol) whilst most of us found a perch somewhere in doors.

Mad Ed returned with his group at around 6pm and played for another couple of hours, there was more drink, talking, singing and even a bit of dancing. Happy Birthday was sung enthusiastically by all with an inpromtu speach by the birthday boy. Later on those that were still partying enjoyed curry or chilli before heading off home or to local B&B's, hotels and campsites.
Monday was a fabulous day the sun shone and not a puff of wind. As the whole family had stayed for the weekend we spent the day in the garden and had lunch alfresco. One of my favorite films is A Good Year with Russell Crowe - if I had to choose a different life it would be the female lead in the film (Fanny Chenal) - at the end of the film she is preparing lunch outside in the sun - enjoying good food, wine and being with each other.

Well on Monday I had my French moment with all my family sitting around enjoying a relaxing lunch in the sunshine - the ages ranged from 10 months to 82 years. My Dad said ' A day for memories' and it really was.

Viva la Spainia

2010-08-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

It should really be Viva la Catalonia, because last weekend we welcomed some lovely Spanish guests: Mario, Pepa, Vero, (Les), Amparo and Janvi from Valencia in Catalonia.

Like the Welsh they have they own language of which they are extremely proud and use and guard as fiercely as the Welsh do. Every morning they produced their own coffee pot for us to heat up - even our espresso wasn't strong enough for these caffeine drinkers and a bottle of olive oil for their toast. I love olive oil but don't think I could do without my toast and butter.

A Nice Cup of Tea

2010-08-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

Is it just us Brits that believe a nice cup of tea cures all ills? My poor husband is a little under the weather at the moment so I made him a nice cup of tea. He will be back to normal in a couple of days but in the meantime I will be on tea duty (which is normally his job). I can go all day on one drink which is not healthy but Les is a real teapot and drinks tea all day. Our obsession with tea is interesting because it is so much a part of our culture yet other countries drink and make tea differently to us. Of all the other places I have visited we seem to be the only nation to make it with boiling water. Everywhere else it’s always just hot and of course it never brews properly. And why is it a 'nice cup of tea' – who would make a horrible cup of tea out of choice – oh yes all those others ones I have had in ……

Pret a Manger

2010-08-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

It seems my days are spent cooking at the present time. With Les’s party to organise I keep baking and cooking and freezing in preparation of feeding the hungry hoards! The problem is when people compliment you on your cooking you feel that you have to keep it up. No ready meals or pre packed food for me – I have cooked the odd fish finger however but is that a fair example of a ready meal. I had a disaster with some wraps this week though (ready made). Les and I fancied Fajitas so I nipped to ‘famous supermarket’ and brought the wraps (big mistake). Came home chopped my garlic; onions and peppers and threw them in a pan with some diced chicken and added spices. Made some guacamole and a bit of salsa, opened a glass of wine and grated a bit of cheese. All was ready just the wraps to open and warm through. Ugh – when I opened the wraps they were mouldy – checked use by date 23rd August – so well within the time frame. Do I really have to make the wraps as well! Still spicy chicken jacket potatoes with guacamole and salsa are quite nice too. Obviously I took back the mouldy wraps to the ‘famous supermarket’ and they were most courteous and called the manager who was also fairly disgusted by my now very mouldy wraps. My money returned, forms filled in and now I just wait for my standard apology letter to arrive from manufacturer assuring me that it won’t happen again. Compensation I hear you cry – if I get a £10 voucher to spend on their products I will send it back!

A big birthday

2010-08-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

My darling husband Les turned 60 yesterday. He was quite laid back about the whole thing. We had a lovely day.

It occurred to me at one point that I seemed to be affected more by this milestone than the Birthday Boy – I felt very odd. I think it was the realisation that life is rushing past far too fast and that 60 is a big event. When choosing my husband’s birthday card I chuckled at many but one in particular amused me and then hit me with its plain truth. ‘At 60 you are no long middle aged’ and the punch line was ‘how many 120 years olds do you know’!

Although I try not to dwell on my own mortality too often, as the years pass you can’t help but ponder a bit. Well today I am fine again – we had a great day yesterday and today the future still looks great – after all it’s the quality of your life that counts (and I still have a few more years till my 60th!) - we are now looking forward to a big party to celebrate the event with friends and family coming from the four corners.

We may not have 60 years left but I am going to make dam sure that I enjoy them however many there might be.

I love my job

2010-08-11T02:09:00.000-07:00

Our guests stay with us for many reasons but at this time of year they are mostly on holiday. We mainly meet guests at the beginning or the end of their journey. However last week we had a lovely Swedish family stay with us twice, once en-route for a week’s tour of North Wales and the second time stopping off again on their way back to Liverpool Airport for their flight back to Stockholm.
On their arrival for the second visit it was lovely to see them again and over tea and bara brith I asked them how their week had been. They were so enthusiastic about the wonderful holiday they had enjoyed. They had taken in many of the sites we had recommended on their first stay and it was so nice to hear their very positive comments about all they had visited, where they had stayed and about the welcome they had received everywhere. They left after lots of affectionate farewells, an open invitation for us to visit them in Sweden, and promises of a return visit to see us and more of this lovely country. I love my ‘job’ and well done North Wales.

Welsh Cakes and Bara Birth

2010-07-31T07:19:00.001-07:00

Continuing with the cooking theme, I have had a busy week baking. Most of the baking has been for the freezer as my husband has a big birthday coming up soon and we are having ‘a bit of a do’.

But also I have been making Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes. When our guests arrive at our B&B, if it is an appropriate hour, they are offered Tea (or Coffee) and either Welsh Cakes or a piece of Bara Brith - although sometimes it is only a biscuit if the cake tin is empty.

Having lived in Wales for so long it’s easy to forget that for many of our guests it is their first trip to Wales and they haven’t any idea what a Welsh Cake is – let alone a piece of Bara Birth.

Welsh Cakes are a bit like normal scones but much flatter and have spices in. They are also known as griddle scones, and bakestones as they are traditionally cooked on a bakestone or a cast iron griddle. However I use a heavy based frying pan which works just as well. They are very easy to make and lovely served warm with butter and jam but equally nice just dusted with caster sugar.

Bara Brith (speckled bread in Welsh) is a cross between Fruit Loaf and Fruit Cake. The fruit is soaked in tea overnight and then mixed with flour, eggs, sugar and spices and baked like a loaf. There are recipes which have fat in and those with yeast. However mine has neither and surprisingly always rises and is delicious. A slice spread with butter is yummy.

So there you have it – two delicious Welsh delicacies for those who aren’t lucky enough to live in Wales.

Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker

2010-07-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

I have written before in my blog about the varied and interesting guests we get at Celyn Villa. This week we had a chap who stayed with us who was a baker. My husband Les is very proud of his daily bread that he makes and was somewhat nervous before breakfast knowing that the ‘I’ve been a baker for over 20 years’ was going to try his ‘homemade toasted bread’.

Admittedly the bread is made in a bread maker, but having had many trials and errors at first the ‘secret’’ mix that is used produces a really good loaf. I would urge all of you that have bought a bread maker and keep in a cupboard somewhere forlorn and forgotten to persevere with it because the end product when you get it right is delicious. Les occasionally makes a ‘real handmade’ loaf for our own consumption but it would be difficult to keep up with the requirements of our guests with traditional methods.

Having delivered the toast to the table the verdict was a resounding thumb up. What a nice chap he was. We didn’t really need him to tell us it was good as it is always complimented on – but an endorsement from a professional is always gratifying.

Dressing up as Victorian Servants

2010-07-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

For the past four years I have travelled to Erddig House, the beautiful National Trust Property near Wrexham and worked as an Education Volunteer. I try and go as often as I can, sometimes once a week or less frequently when I am busy with guests.

Erddig House is a truly unique place built in the early 18th century with wonderful rooms and magnificent grounds. It is on the must see list of many who visit our lovely area. Erddig is renowned as a real ’upstairs downstairs’ house. The servants’ quarters and outbuildings are exceptional and really give the true feel of what life must have been like in service. The contrast of the ‘upstairs’ is of noticeable opulence but do not feel too sorry for the servants’ at Erddig. When you walk through into the basment and servant quarters you can read all about how well they were treated by their masters, and there are many paintings of them at work. Although life was harsh by today’s standards – they were much better off than many in service.

As an Education Volunteer I help to teach children – mainly primary school age - some of the duties of a Victorian Servant. They arrive eagerly, some already having an idea what the day will bring. First they are shown a DVD of what life was like for Servants at Erddig. Afterwards they are given their ‘uniform’ for the day. For the girls long skirts, aprons and frilly mop caps and for the boys waistcoats, aprons and caps. Of course the girls have no idea where their waists are and try to have their skirts on the hips and similarly the boys try to turn their caps around with the peak at the back – but none of the Educations Volunteers or permanent staff allows any of this unacceptable behaviour! After all they are now Victorian servants. The teachers are also given their uniforms and sometimes a bit of persuading is needed for some to dress up. The children are then told a little about greeting Ladies and Gentlemen; with the girls practicing their curtsies and the boys doffing their caps ‘With Good morning Sir or Madam ’.

The boys then are told that Victorian manners will prevail and that ‘Ladies First’ is the order of the day. This is greeted with much glee from the girls but grunts of disapproval from the boys. It seems so strange to me that they have no idea about such manners. Being brought up when good manners were so brainwashed into my generation, and equality didn’t exist. I’m not sure if we have lost or gained anything with the changing attitudes that exist these days.

The children then go off into groups and have to ‘work’ and learn about life as a Servant; washing in the Laundry – hand washing, rinsing and using a mangle; making lemonade in the Kitchen – learning about working without electricity, how to grind sugar and grate lemon. In the bakery they learn to make bread ; all help to weigh flour, mixing and kneading the dough; learning about the bread ovens and the chimneys – many of the boys volunteering to be chimney sweeps as they think it will be just like Mary Poppins. My favourite though is the Bothy attic. Here the children learn about leaving home at 12 years old to go to work, sleeping in a room with other servants’, making beds and cleaning. They all seem to love the part where we explain about Victorian hygiene, bathing once a week and using the chamber pot!

The children really enjoy their day at Erddig and learn such a lot from a time of when there was no electricity or cars and when working class meant working very hard for little reward.
We are a jolly bunch of volunteers and all have to dress up too, some ladies (and a few men) have been volunteering for many many years, some even have their own home made outfits. We assist the permanent Education team who are a dedicated group with a wealth of knowledge between them that we volunteers rely on for ongoing help.

I love my days at Erddig and although I come home exhausted I always feel very grateful for the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and experiences to the children. Two days are never the same and the enjoyment you get from seeing just one child engage with your stories is very rewarding indeed.

It's just a new cupboard!

2010-07-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

It’s funny how ‘things’ can change our lives.

I have put ‘things’ in quotes because on this occasion I do mean a ‘thing’. My new kitchen cupboard to be precise. I don’t consider myself particularly materialistic (though others may not agree) and have always believed that life changing events need to be rather more dramatic than having a new cupboard.

However I have to say that my new cupboard has changed my life. Let me explain a little. We have lived in our home for 24 years and during that time have extended, improved and decorated on what seems like a continuous basis. Although still our home it was transformed somewhat when we started offering Bed and Breakfast to guests in 2002. Gradually we started having more ‘things’ about the place. Extra linen, china, pots and pans etc as well as keeping stocked up on fresh provisions. Added to my love of gadgets (maybe I am just a bit materialistic) the kitchen cupboards in particular became overcrowded: pots fighting to get attention over pans and cups demanding to be matched to saucers.

A few months ago I had had enough of my overcrowded cupboards and decided I needed a new something for this overflow of equipment. I sat down at my computer – my preferred way to do my initial shopping these days – and started searching for big cupboards. Needless to say nothing was suitable because they came in two categories 1) not the right size and 2) too expensive.

My very lovely husband Les then offered to make me one. Of course I jumped at the chance knowing what a handy chap he is with a bit of wood, hadn’t he already made our lovely Welsh Dresser over 10 years ago. Although it would be a lot of work I knew he would enjoy the task. So began the weeks of work, the drawing up of plans, the hunting down of old pitch pine, hours in his ‘shed’ cutting, planning, tapping, banging and generally ‘wooding’. He was in his element and I was going to get a new, purpose built cupboard made to measure. I have now been using my lovely new cupboard for a couple of weeks and it has literally changed my life. All my other cupboards have been sorted, cleaned and refilled in an organised way. I can see everything easily, everything I use daily is in easy reach and I am no longer searching for that dish that I know is somewhere. What’s more I know my cupboard was made just for me with love.

Maybe it’s a stage in life where contentment seems much more attainable or do we just appreciate things more – but my cupboard has literally changed my life. Thanks Les xxx.

Convent Girls

2010-07-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Running a B & B is an interesting and rewarding way of life. You welcome strangers into your home and the majority leave as friends that you look forward to seeing again. For the last few years during the first weekend of July we have been welcoming to our B & B a very jolly group of ladies affectionly refered to as the ’Convent Girls’. This is the weekend when Pantasaph Friary and Retreat hold their summer fair, and visitors arrive to spend a few hours looking around the hallowed grounds and enjoying the beautiful surroundings, spending their pennies on cake stalls and tombola’s. It is a happy and reflective time for many. The Friary is a beautiful peaceful place where you can go on retreat to get away from the rigors of modern day life. It is run by just a few Franciscan Monks these days.

Opposite the Friary there used to be St Clare’s Convent. For those of you who know Pantasaph you will have seen the conversion of the old Convent into luxury housing and apartments. It was closed in the 1970’s and for many years the old buildings were an eye sore, as you looked at it from the A55, but now it has been beautifully restored and converted.

The ‘Convent Girls’ now only number a handful as they are all in their 70’s and as time goes by their numbers diminish but not their memories. The ‘Convent Girls’ spent all or part of their childhoods at St Clare’s Convent during the second war and post war period. Some were evacuated, some were orphans and some were from families who had fallen on hard times and couldn’t or wouldn’t look after them.

Last year we accompanied two of our guests June and Margaret on an emotional walking tour of the old convent and they painted a picture, as we walked around the converted buildings, of their life there. Their stores were at times very funny, extremely interesting, but mostly harrowing and incredibly sad. They weren’t treated well and had to work hard in harsh surroundings, often hungry and cold. What they did have was each other and their annual pilgrimage back to Pantasaph is a chance for them to see their ‘family’ and revisit their childhood.

Living history is so rewarding and this year we have been lucky enough to listen to more stories about their lives. What is so incredible it that all the ladies we have meet who were ‘Convent Girls’ are really lovely, happy, well rounded human beings who having left the Convent went on to self educate and have full and rewarding lives. Most have married and have families of their own to be proud of. Cruelty and hardship didn’t turn any of these lovely ladies into embittered degenerates or set them on a path to crime. Yes they all have regrets, issues to deal with and a past that for some have questions that will never be answered. But they are not victims and are proud to have risen above their cruel start in life; they are a real credit to their generation. They spend most of the weekend laughing and really enjoying themselves.

Nobody should endure what these lovely ladies went through during their childhood but today’s generations could learn a lot from them.

Willis has been plucked

2010-06-26T05:13:00.000-07:00

Our puppy Willis has been plucked. Ouch ! I said at the thought of it – but he looks very smart.

Our first dog was a lovely springer spaniel called Ben – mad of course, but with a lovely temperament apart from his passion for postmen (and women). But the hair that came off of him was horrendous. It was like tumble weed blowing around the kitchen floor. We then inherited a lovely little toy poodle called Nina, which our daughter adored and played with endlessly. Dressing her up in baby clothes and pushing her around in a pram. Whist Nina was highly strung and a bit yappy she was a sweet little thing who didn’t know she was small and gave Ben a run for his money. She was always top dog. But the best thing about Nina was that she didn’t shed at all. She was taken to the ‘hairdresser’ every 6 weeks or so for a cut and blow dry and always came back smelling sweet with a ribbon on her collar. So when the time came to think about another dog as our lovely Ben was getting old, and still wanting a bigger dog we decided to get Sam our Standard Poodle. We found Nina to be such an intelligent dog that coupled with the whole ‘no shedding and no more tumble weed thing’ we felt it would be a perfect choice. Sam has proved to be a really wonderful companion and friend and my husband swears he understands every word you say to him.
Well sadly we lost Ben some years ago and then 4 years ago our little Nina died.
Since then we have (sorry in case my husband reads this I have) been looking for another small dog.
I have to admit to being one of those people who love animals of any shape and size. Even spiders don’t frighten me. Over the years we have had three cats, two rabbits, lots of hamsters, guinea pigs, cockatiels and fish but dogs are my favourite.

So when I took Sam for a hair cut in January and I was treated to the sight of two little puppies – well of course I melted. Two of the sweetest little Border Terrier pups were calling to me – ‘take me home’,’ take me home’. Cathy the breeder said they were lovely dogs, very friendly who love children and they don’t moult. They have to be plucked every 4 to 5 months. I did a bit of research about the breed on the internet, we met the mother who was a real little character and we were persuaded to get one of the little chaps.

Hence my little Willis had been plucked and doesn’t he look smart.

Although I must say he looked cute scruffy.

Beautiful Brecon

2010-06-22T00:40:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from my computer for nearly two weeks - although checking and responding to the most urgent emails via my phone (isn’t technology wonderful) - I haven’t surfed, blogged, face booked, looked up information that I don’t need on Wikipedia or checked out the latest gaff on YouTube. How have I managed to do this most amazing and liberating thing – a short break in our well loved caravan in the Brecon Beacons with no wifi access.

Les and I decided that we needed to get away for a few well earned days of rest before the start of a (hopefully) busy summer in our B&B. Guilty like many of rushing off to exotic locations or different parts of this great British island of ours – we decided it was about time (24 years of living in North Wales which we know extremely well) that we discovered another part of Wales.
We plumped for the Brecon Beacons and were not disappointed – coupled with extremely lovely warm sunny weather for all but one of our days – Brecon is a truly breathtaking area with wonderful undulating green hills and valleys. We recently had some Australians stay with us and they described the green in Wales as ‘it’s so green it hurts your eyes’. Well we knew exactly what they meant; travelling from our home in Carmel down to Brecon took around 4 hours (3 stops for the dogs and towing a caravan) and the country side en-route was never disappointing.
Arriving at our caravan site we were welcomed with a much needed cup of tea by our friends who had travelled from Milton Keynes. We tried the local pub that night (a late birthday celebration for two of us) and the food was fantastic – and it was in walking distance. Could things get any better?

Our dog Sam who is a Standard Poodle and nearly 11 years old is a seasoned caravan traveller and quickly settled down – but how would our 7 month old Border Terrier Willis behave. Unbelievably he was great – quickly getting used to a new routine (that’s’ of course no routine when you’re on your holidays) and we are now proud to call him a real Caravan Dog too.

Brecon is a lovely little town with many small independent shops and on our first Saturday there was a Farmers Market. They still boast an indoor market place where it was held and the number of stalls, quality of produce and variety was impressive. We feasted on local pies, pates and salads for lunch – enjoyed so much more outside in the lovely sunshine.
We managed to walk every day and visited three of the national parks centres – one of which was called Craig-y-nos and had been the home of the Opera Singer Adelina Patti until her death in 1919. The house became a hospital but closed in the 1980’s and is now a hotel but the grounds were taken over by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority in 1976. The grounds are vast and we spent a couple of hours getting quite lost. The rhododendrons were amazing and I have never seen the formation of branches and trunks like it before.

Another lovely walk was around the Reservoir at Talybont.

Our few days away quickly came to an end like they always do but we realised what a great and relaxing time we had had. Driving back into North Wales we also re-discovered how beautiful it also is. Sometimes we are all guilty of not appreciating our immediate surroundings – its lovely to go away but so nice to come home when you are lucky enough to live in such a picturesque spot.

Needless to say I hadn’t been in very long before the computer went on and I started dealing with emails, calls and of yes here I am blogging again. Happy Holidays everyone.

Swedish Smorgasbord Birthday

2010-06-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

June 5th every year is a rather special day for me - some years I have welcomed it with open arms - well any age from around 3 to 29 - post 30 and the numbers seems to have come much too quickly and needless to say it was of course my birthday. But this year it was celebrated Swedish style.

After a week full of harrowing news and sadness from the dreadful shootings in Cumbria, two of our Welsh soldiers killed in Afghanistan and other world and local events that fill us all, I am sure, full of dread - I was lucky enough to spend a wonderful day with friends.

Very good friends of ours celebrated their joint birthdays and around 50 of their friends and family including 15 or so who flew in from Sweden for a very special '150'th. Apparently 75 is an age to really mark in Sweden whether it’s for what you have achieved or just for the fact that you have managed to get there, I’m not sure.

For me it was a readymade party – spending the day helping at first getting the Smorgasbord type buffet sorted and then enjoying it. They love to make speeches in Sweden and it was an informal and relaxed atmosphere where anyone who felt the urge got up and waxed lyrical. I managed to utter a few lines pointing out that coincidentally I was 57 (75 backwards!) and had happy birthday sung to me in English, Welsh and Swedish – which was slightly embarrassing but enjoyable.

We stayed in our friend’s lovely garden watching the children playing innocent games with each other whist sipping a chilled glass of bubbles. Skipping, running, hide and seek and the obligatory football - only coming indoors after 9pm when it turned slightly chilly. Not a game boy or mobile phone in sight.

It was a lovely day – one to cherish – friends and family are so important and how lucky we are those of us who can spend these special times together. The weather was perfect and the Smorgasbord – well simply delicious and the fact you can go back as many times as you like seemed to make it all the more enjoyable.

The healing waters of St Winifred ?

2010-06-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

One of the Seven Wonders of Wales ' St Winifred’s Well' here in Holywell has long been known for its 'miracles'. However apart from my verruca incident - which frankly is best left forgotten (see Dixi Wills article in the Guardian March 1st if you want to read about it) - I have only heard in general terms about the miraculous cures. That is until this morning. We had a guest staying with us en route to Ireland – our B&B perfect for an overnighter for the Holyhead ferry – and after our usual post breakfast chat he mentioned that he was off to the Well to load up on holy water before heading for the ferry. He then recounted the following story.

In about 1992 he was with an Irish couple who had visited the Well several times before, but on this occasion the lady decided to go for full immersion. She had been suffering with bad knees for years having already had keyhole surgery on one knee, and was told there was now nothing to be done expect replacements for both knees. She went in the water (luckily prepared by wearing her swimming costume under her clothes) and because she believed you had to have three goes – she ducked in and out three times. She then changed and left with her husband and our guest and got into his car. After only 50 or so yards she started to scream in pain and say ‘my knees are burning’. They stopped the car and tried to help offering to take her to hospital but she was convinced that it was the holy water working. After sometime the pain eased and they continued their journey. Our guest finished he story "That was nearly 20 years ago and she has had no problems with her knees since. She does now need a stick but that is to do with her sciatic nerve and at more than 80 she is entitled to I think".

Well my husband Les and I were quite opened mouth about the story and I may well be off to the Well myself. But as our guest said ‘is it because she believed it would work – or it in fact a miracle? ‘

Twinning Weekend

2010-05-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic weekend we had with our French friends. Holywell Twinning Association celebrates 10 years next year with St Grégoire, nr Rennes in Brittany. During that time we have spent some fabulous times both in France and Wales. This year’s visit could only be describes as 'excellent' as we had such lovely weather. 35 weary French men, women and children arrived on Friday 21st May at 1.30pm and they were welcomed with many kisses from their host families. It was lovely to see our friends again and we spent a very pleasant couple of hours eating (and drinking) in the garden – catching up and practising our French.

Later – whist they rested I rushed around the kitchen like a thing possessed – preparing a buffet for 17 (I had thought it would be nice to have a few people round for the evening). Greeting the French with glasses of Pims was quite amusing – but they loved it. In fact some promising to buy some on the return boat back to St Malo. What a great night we had - in the garden till gone 9.30 as it was so warm.

A rest for me on Saturday as the guests departed for a lovely day at Caernarfon Castle and then on to Portmeirion where they had lunch in the Castell Deudraeth. No cooking for me at all as we finished up last night’s leftovers for lunch (I love leftovers) and we were invited out to dinner with other Twinning hosts. The only problem – the French complained it was too hot – after all they were in Wales!

Sunday we took our guests to lunch at the Glas Fryn in Mold where we all tucked into a good lunch and then up to Moel Famau for a much needed walk . Sunday night was the usual get together for everyone (about 65 of us) and we had singing and more food and plenty of wine. A very early start the next day – and we said goodbye to our French friends for another year. More kissing but with a few tears this time and promises of learning more French by next year!

I've started a blogg

2010-05-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

Something else to keep me busy - I have started a blogg and hope to write about life in Carmel, whats happening in our B&B and about my life generally - hope you enjoy it.