Going to the Theatre: The Play That Goes Wrong!

 

Happy New Year!

 

We have had a lovely Christmas and New Year celebration with loads of food, drink and merriment! Christmas parties, walks, talks, snacking, knitting, reading, tv-watching and sleeping! That summarises the last two weeks pretty well. I 'packed away' Christmas on the weekend and we are now back to 'normal'. One remaining guest is still with us for one more day, but the Student and the Professor are both back in their universities and I started work again today.

Felt ok, to be honest. Must be a sign that it was a sufficiently long and relaxing break!

 

Just wanted to give a tip if you are going to London any time soon:

We started a new family tradition last year where we go to London for a weekend either before or after Christmas to stay in a hotel and go and see a play. This time the three of us went the weekend before Christmas and saw "The Play That Goes Wrong" at the Duchess Theatre in Covent Garden. The Professor and I conveniently stayed at the Grange Strathmore in Kensington, close to where the Student now lives and it was a nice hotel. Apparently, it used to be the London residence for the late Queen Mother's father (sold in about 1898)!

 

But about the play: the website explains: The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society attempt to put on a 1920s’ murder mystery in Havisham Manor, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does, as the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to get to their final curtain call. This brilliant new laugh out loud comedy performed by Mischief Theatre Company has enjoyed two successful runs in the West End and was the sell out smash hit of the Edinburgh Festival with its sensational reviews, numerous accolades and awards. The Play That Goes Wrong is guaranteed to leave you aching with  laughter!

And it did. A lot of slap-stick humour - really great fun and well acted. We all particularly enjoyed Dave Hearn in the role as "Max Bennett" and Henry Shields as "the director Chris Bean". Here is the trailer:

 

 

 

 

 



Tried and Tested: Sylterull number 2 or Norwegian Pork Roll 2

I am really pleased with the result of this year's pork roll recipe. Here is my other version of how to make it. This version was simple, straight forward, little mess and it is nice and firm.

 

I got the recipe from MatPrat.No and here is the English version of how I made it:

 

You need an approx. 1.5 kg slab of pork belly

No bones and preferably not scored, but it doesn't matter too much

You might need to go to a butcher to get a big enough piece

 

Cover it completely with water and let it simmer for about 2 1/2 hours

 

In the meantime, mix in a bowl and set aside:

1 1/4 table spoon salt

1 tea spoon ground pepper

1 tea spoon ground clove

1 tea spoon ground all spice

1 tea spoon ginger

3 tea spoons gelatine powder - equivalent of one sachet of gelatine powder from Dr Oetker

(the recipe called for 5, but I put in three and it is ample!)

 

Take the meat out of the water and let it cool so it can be handled

 

Take the skin off in as whole pieces as possible

 

Bring out a bread mould and generously line it with cling film letting the ends hang over the sides so you have enough to cover the meat at the end

 

Take the skin and put a layer with the outer side down in the bread mould

 

Sprinkle some of the spice mix on the skin

 

Cut up the meat - it says to do it in nice slices, but mine crumbled no matter how I cut it and it doesn't seem to matter too much

 

Put a layer of meat on the spices

 

Alternative putting the spice mix and the layers of meat

 

Build it as high as possible in the mould

 

 

End with a final layer of the skin, this time the outer side out

 

 

 

Cover it with the clingfilm

 

 

 

Put it in a press (of 2-3 kg) or use a heavy frying pan/books/etc and leave it in the fridge till the next day.

 

It is now ready!

 

I decided to divide mine in two and freeze them, but you can also put it in brine to keep it in the fridge.

 

Bring on the mustard!

 

 

Falling Out of Rhythm...

Let me start by wishing all Norwegians everywhere "Gratulerer med dagen".

17 May is the Norwegian constitution day and celebrated and revered by all. Yet again, I am not able to be in Norway on this day, but I am there in spirit!

 

♥

It has been a while since I wrote on the blog and my only excuse is 'life'. I have missed the blog and reading about what people get up to and getting inspiration from so many. But it has been a hectic month, both at work and at home with exams looming for Our Boy. In addition, I have been struggling with a bad back since Christmas and have tried to get this under control with physiotherapy sessions and daily walks which does wonders for both body and mind. I hope to be back on the blog more regularly now!

 

Here are some picture from what I have been up to the last couple of weeks:

 

Capturing the chestnut tree in bloom in the street behind my office...

 



Business meeting in London...

 

Afternoon tea with Our Boy

 





Fundraising event at work for the children's charity Barnardos

 



Another course to learn to make leather-wrap bracelets

 



A glimpse from my daily walk by the river.

A little piece of heaven on earth

☺

 

Tried and Tested: Peanut Brittle

 

Busy weekend cleaning, baking and cooking!

Just love it.

True to tradition, I went to "carols by candlelight" last night with 3 friends. We tried out a new church this year - it was nice, although more 'happy clappy' than the more traditional places.

♥

Time to try something new for Christmas! In addition to my regular Rocky Road,

I made Nigella's Peanut Brittle and it is super easy and super yummy (and not too much!).

Let's just hope Our Boy gets his braces off for Christmas so he can enjoy them.

If not, they are great little gifts!

 

Heat up gently

200 gram caster sugar

60 ml water

150 gram golden syrup

 

Let it boil briskly for about 10 mins!

Be aware - this is VERY hot!!!

 

Add

150 gram salted peanuts

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

25 gram soft butter

1 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

 

Stirr well and pour the mixture onto a well greased baking paper and smooth it out.

Let it cool and break into pieces.

 

Make the brittle up to 1 week before eating or giving. Store in airtight bags or containers in a dry, non-humid environment.

Once opened, eat within 7 to 10 days.

Never Too Old...!

Never too old for an advent calendar!

Although Our Boy is 16, he insists on having one and I must admit I love making one for him. I think I am almost as excited as he is when he opens it over breakfast in the mornings. Nothing really expensive in it, but little bits and bobs that he could use or enjoy.

☺

 I am really fond of the calendar I made years ago for him.

This is what memories and tradtions are made of!

 

This weekend I managed to get some of the preparations for Christmas done. The advent candles were lit yesterday, some of the gifts are bought and wrapped (don't think I have ever been this early...!) and I made gingerbread men. I used the ready made dough from Ikea and it was absolutely fine!

♥

A small tip - when I went to find the advent calendar in our Christmas decoration box, I also found 4 purple candles and some left over Christmas napkins from last year. I always pack away any leftover seasonal candles and napkins and they come in handy now at the beginning of the season. Particularly the purple candles which are hard to find around here (I found them online last year). Purple is the traditional colour for advent and I like to stick to this tradtion, if I can. Although this year I also have put together a white one.

 

Can't have too many candles in the dark evenings, if you ask me!

♥♥♥

May Events... in June

Last night was the May Concert in St. John's College. The end of year events used to take place in May, but now they are always in June. It is still called May-week... 

The May Ball is the traditional end of year BIG party in the colleges. Each college has their own night and whilst Trinity's party was on next door, St. John's was also getting ready whilst our concert event took place for their party which is tonight.

What a great evening we had!

Lovely music in the Chapel and then gorgeous canapes and drinks outside. The weather had decided to be on our side and it was a lovely summers evening.

I have started using Instagram and kept taking pictures and putting up as the evening progressed.



Bridge of Sighs

And as we always do, at the end we piled out to the lawn, passing the Bridge of Sighs to see the fireworks from Trinity College.

Magical!





Bring Out the Bunting!

We are getting ready for the up-coming Jubilee Weekend!

♥

Bunting is very British to me, both for using indoors and outdoors.

It really gives a festive feel!

I have been crocheting my own bunting for the neighbourhood party.

Quick and easy, using the technique in granny squares to make the triangles.

They are stitched on to a ribbon from East of India

Luckily the colours are applicable for celebrations for several of the countries I consider
'mine'!

☺

Giving It Up For Lent

picture borrowed from http://blog.beruby.com/uk/2011/01/26/coffee-nation/

It is a long tradition here in the UK to give up 'something' for Lent.

The act of giving up something for Lent, stems from the Christians wanting to endure the sacrifice as a reminder of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross and to commemorate the 40 days in the desert.

It is interesting to note that what was a very religious act has now become very mainstream and many might not really think too closely about the origin of the act. Many now give up alcohol or chocolate or some other 'luxery' and actually treat it more as a detoxing time rather than a religious act.

As I don't really drink enough alcohol for it to be something special to give up, I decided to give up coffee (no, not ready to give up chocolate yet). I don't drink very much coffee, perhaps on average 3 cups a day, but it was still something to give up. It wasn't too hard, I have to admit. Perhaps the slight head aches at the beginning might be due to coffeine withdrawal, but I have been rather good (ok, I admit I failed once), and found a passion for green tea.

Still, I am looking forward to a nice big cup of latte or cappuccino when Holy Saturday starts. Actually, I think I will try to limit my coffee intake the rest of the year and stick to green tea, but the occasional cup of coffee will be nice...

Did you give up anything for Lent or what could you have given up?

♥

Not Exactly Snow... and Nowruz

The trees along the garages are in full bloom covering the ground with their pretty white/pink petals. Looks like snow, but this is the type of 'snow' I prefer

♥

Lovely sunshine on a Monday is much appreciated, but WHY could it not have been shining on Sunday too???

Tomorrow is Nowruz (1391). Read here and here to learn more about the Persian New Year's celebrations. It will be a quiet celebration for us tomorrow as The Professor was home on the weekend and we had an early joint Nowruz celebration and Mother's Day celebration (yes, that was yesterday here in the UK). Got to be pragmatic when the Nowruz celebration changes time and day every year! This year it will Tuesday 20 March at 05.14 am...! And no... I will NOT be awake for that tomorrow morning!

☺

Hyacinths are among the traditional flowers for Nowruz. I got these as bulbs from a friend of mine for my birthday in November. After potting them (and forgetting them), I left them in the garage over the winter. Purely by accident, I remembered them one day I was in the garage and brought them in to the house two weeks ago. Their blooms are now perfectly timed for the celebrations!

Eid-e-Shoma Mubarak!



Carols by Candlelight and Weekend Activities

True to tradition, some of the Ladies Who Dine attended the annual Carols by Candlelight last night.

The church was packed, it was suitably cold and frosty outside (no snow yet!) and the atmosphere with the church only lit by candles gave us all the right Christmas feeling.

The rest of the weekend has been spent cleaning and preparing.

Not that I think you necessarily HAVE to clean extra for Christmas, but as I was home during the day this weekend I noticed when the sun was shining the state of windows and simply could not ignore them.

Besides, new curtains for the living room 'demanded' clean windows...

:-)

While I was at it I noticed that the kitchen cabinet doors could do with a clean,

and some of the cabinets could benefit from a tidy up,

the living room needed decluttering in preparation for the Christmas decorations coming up next week,

and that the wooden floor in the living room could do with an extra polish,

and so on...!

Think I will make myself busy outside the house during the day the rest of the week

- you don't notice so much what needs doing in the dusk...!

Oh, and best of luck to my friend who is moving house these days!

I must say - they are a brave family moving a week before Christmas!

:-)

Tried and Tested: Norwegian Sylterull (Pork Roll)

picture borrowed from matprat.no

To me, Christmas is in particular about culinary traditions. 

We all eat food and prepare elaborate dishes with spices that we NEVER eat the rest of the year. Recipes and traditions handed down through the generations. But THAT is all part of what makes Christmas special, at least to me.

Being in a foreign land with other traditions means that you either adopt new traditions,

make some new ones yourself or try to adapt the old ones.

Our Christmas is celebrated in rather traditionally Norwegian style.
Being married to somebody without childhood Christmas traditions means I get it all MY way!
Actually, that is the ONLY way he knows how to celebrate Christmas.

No need for compromise here - I rule!

:-)
A couple of weeks ago I made traditional Norwegian sylterull or Norwegian pork roll (I think sylte sounds nicer than the English name...). Sylte is traditional lunchmeat normally only made and eaten at Christmas. I have seen many bloggers using different techniques and recipes, but the description below became my way. I first made it out of a 2 kg slice of pork belly, but as I didn't hide it in the freezer quick enough, I had to make another one this weekend which is now safely in the freezer. Sylte is originally  made of the meat in the pig's head, but THAT is such a sloppy and messy business, so I made it the easy way (besides, I had no pig's head handy):

This is what you need:

1.8 kg pork belly (no bones) with the rind

4 tblsp. salt to 3 liters of water (you might need more water)

Mix in a bowl:

2 tblsp salt

2 teasp pepper

2 teasp clove (nellik)

2 teasp ginger (ingefær)

2 teasp all-spice (allehånde)

3 teasp gelatin powder

Open the slab of pork belly with the rind side down and slice it into two or three slices that hang together so you end up with one long piece of meat. Ensure the rind side is at one end of this piece.

Smear the spice mixture all over the meat and

start rolling the slab together ensuring the rind side is the last bit on the outside enclosing the roll.

Wrap it in a tea towel and fasten well using a good cotton string so it makes a nice tight roll.

Put the roll in boiling water and let it simmer for 1.5-2 hrs.
Let it rest out of the water for about 20 mins before you

Take it out and let it cool for 20 mins
before putting it under pressure (about 6 kg) until it is cold.
If you don't have a special press for this purpose you can balance some books on top of a tray on the sylte.

Some store it in brine, but I prefer to pop it in the freezer.
Serve thinly sliced on bread with a good mustard, pickles or pickled beetroots.

The smell of those lovely spices, the meat and the condiments
- now THAT is Christmas!

to me

Secret Santa!

Yesterday we arranged Secret Santa at work for the first time ever!
We had a lovely little lunch gathering where everybody brought in something special from their country to eat and we all got a Secret Santa gift.

I brought Norwegian pork roll (sylterull - made for the first time ever) served with mustard on crackers, and gingerbread crackers with blue cheese, plus a bottle of Gløgg (bought at Ikea!).

You don't know what Secret Santa is?
Well, every on puts their name in a jar. You have to pick a name (not your own, of course) and buy a present for that person for a maximum amount (we chose £5) - all done in secret. You then wrap the gift and it is opened to much sillyness and fun.

Great fun with little effort and I think people had been rather inventive with the limited budget!

Tonight is the Christmas party for the school (theme is Casino!) and Monday we have a Christmas dinner for our group.

What do you get up to at work before Christmas?

Christmas Preparation Success!

I am so happy 

- our Christmas dinner has been secured!

And it isn't even December yet....!

:-) 

I normally go to Norway at some point before Christmas, but this year I won't be going and this would mean that we wold be in 'trouble' regarding our Christmas dinner as I normally bring over the distinctly Norwegian dish of 'pinnekjøtt' (steamed, dried, cured and sometimes smoked ribs of mutton or lamb).

So, we were consoling ourselves to perhaps having (for us) the second best - 'ribbe' (pork belly with the bones) instead...

But in London you find 'everything' under the sun!

I came across the Scandinavian kitchen and they have pinnekjøtt!

And all sorts of Scandinavian foodstuff!

And they sell online and deliver for free (!) which is a blessing since I was planning a trip to London either!

So, we are 'safe'!

Ok, it is even more expensive than in Norway, but as a one off it is acceptable.

I suddenly feel I am so on top of the preparations for Christmas even though little else is in place...!

Better get on with it!

:-)

And We Are Off....!

Advent...

The best part of the season, in my opinion.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this year advent is super long since Christmas Eve is on a Saturday.

I am a huge advent fan!

I love the anticipation, the preparations, the gatherings, the feeling of working towards a goal

- and new beginnings.

This year I wanted a new twist on our advent decoration. I took 4 silver candlesticks in various heights, (one I have bought, one I have been given and a couple I have inherited), put them on a silver tray, added a few pine cones along with some cinnamon sticks for nice Christmassy smell and added purple candles with silver number stickers on.

Simple!

As for the colour of the candles - I am old fashioned this way.

I normally prefer white candles, but purple is the colour of advent and the only 'right' colour in this connection

- for me.

What colour do YOU prefer for your advent candles?

Convenience...

Simply to make it easier for those who read my blog and are Facebook users I have created a Facebook page for the blog. Many thanks to Elisabeth from Innerst i veien for help with some of the technical bits!

If you click on the 'Like' button on the right here on the blog, you should in theory get a notification on your Facebook page when I post a new item.

Any thing to make life easier...

:-)

Full house here this weekend.

The Professor came home last night, so we are full up with the in-laws still with us. They are planning to return home in a couple of weeks after more than two months with us. It will be strange and empty when they go. I am dreading it already.

But first there is Guy Fawkes Night on the agenda this weekend!

Doing Your Duty

On Friday and Saturday was the election of the new Chancellor of the University.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prins Philip had earlier this year decided to step down. I guess at the age of 90 he felt the need to scale back on his commitments. He has been the Chancellor since 1976, so this is not an everyday election!

Only members of the Senate House can vote. The Senate House comprises all graduates of the University who have taken the Cambridge MA or any other Cambridge Masters Degree a Cambridge Doctorate, or the Cambridge BD Degree plus all current members of the Regent House regardless of degrees held.

There were four candidates:

Mr. Abdul Arain

Mr. Brian Blessed

Mr Michael Mansfield QC

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

Another rule is that all members must wear gowns in the Senate House.

The in-laws and I went to town with The Professor who did his duty while we did some people watching while waiting for him!

Good luck to winner, The Lord Sainsbury of Turville.

Turning 15!

We have been celebrating Our Boy's 15th birthday this weekend.

Initially, he felt he didn't have 'time' for a birthday party as he was busy revising for the exams... 

but he was still pleased when some of his friends and neighbours joined us for tea & cake plus a bottle of 'bubbly' on Sunday afternoon.

:-)

The Professor took him out for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and I wizzed round and decorated the garden and moved the dining table into the garden.

Superstrong mum!
They were both very surprised when they returned...!

;-)

 However, 2 minutes before the guests arrived the rain started...
We  had to grab it all and run in to set up the table inside!

Our Boy gets to choose his own cake(s) every birthday
and this time he has requested the following

'menue':

Earl Grey Tea

*

New York Blueberry Cheesecake

(recipe from Leila Lindholm's book:'A Piece of Cake')

*

The Hummingbird Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes

(recipe from my newest cook book:The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook . These are the best cupcakes ever!)
*
Home made Ice Cream with Daijm Chocolate

(from Ben & Jerry's book:'Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book)

I will post all recipes later in the week.

And next weekend he is having some friends over for a sleepover as exams are then officially over!

There will probably be more baking on the cards for me, I think.

It is not bad being15...

:-)

I was thinking we are coming to an end of the cake eating season...

Actually, no there are more celebrations to come later in the month!

High time to put some extra sessions in at the gym, I think!

Happy New Year!

We have been spending a lovely New Year's Weekend (Persian New Year tonight!) with The Professor. 

To be frank, we haven't been able to fulfill all the practical plans I had made, but that is ok... There will be days after these!

Very fittingly, spring has more or less 'sprung' here and I mowed the lawn for the first time this year today!

I tried to convince myself that it MUST mean we are getting a little closer to summer...

;-)

As it is Nowruz tonight I leave you with tip which is a typical Persian New Year's dish:

Traditional Persian food for the New Year is fish (often fried) served with rice cooked with dill.

Try adding some dill to your rice next time.

It is really different, aromatic and tasty!

Eid-e shoma mobarak!

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is here and that means that pancakes are traditionally on the menu today.

Our Boy is suffering with the pain from the braces installed yesterday and insisted that the ONLY thing he could manage to eat for breakfast AND lunch were pancakes...

;-)

So, I indulge...

He prefers his pancakes with either

• a little sugar and lemon or
• jam or
• fresh berries or
• maple syrup or
• cheese for a more savoury variety.

There are not many things I don't particularly enjoy, but I admit that I pass on pancakes (I do make them for the family!). They are fine as part of a dessert, but growing up one of the weekly fares was traditional pancakes and pea soup. I would eat the soup with gusto while gladly give up the pancakes...

How do you prefer your pancakes?

PS - I forgot - Happy International Woman's Day!

Get Organised Tip: Cards for All Occasions

Sending cards

is a tradition I have gladly embraced from my adopted country

(even if I sometimes forget):

Brits tend to be very good in sending cards for birthdays, holidays, thank-you-cards and of course, Christmas. I think it is a shame that many people have stopped sending cards but I guess many use other ways of communicating like sending texts via mobile phones/Facebook/Twitter/email etc etc., but it really isn't the same, I think. I love getting cards in the mail myself and that little extra effort means a lot to me.

When Our Boy was younger and used to go to birthday parties "every-other-week", there would be a wild panic in the morning when we found the invitation at the bottom of his bag and neither cards nor presents had been prepared. I therefore got myself this box, and filled it with cards for different occasions - clearly organised as you can see (as well as a box where I kept suitable reserve gifts).

This box has been a "life saver" many times and I enjoy being on the lookout for nice new cards. I try to go through my birthday card list at the beginning of each month and prepare them in advance.
Of course, I could have been a bit more industrious and made my own cards, but to be honest - I have realised I only have 24 hrs in the day... I would actually like to make cards, (I enjoy following some card making blogs ) but I simply don't have the time... 

Perhaps a new hobby 'next year'?

Come to think of it - I haven't prepared this month's cards and there is a birthday in Canada end of next week I shouldn't miss...!!!

;-)