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!

 

 

Deep Blue Gig

 

 

What a weekend!

 

Starting with a great birthday party on Saturday for another dear friend being introduced to to the "50+ club" and ending last night out on the town supporting a friend's gig! Well done, T!

 

December is such a busy month with all sorts of lovely, fun activities!

 

And I even managed to bake Berlinerkranser, Biscotti and Red Onion Marmelade...!

 

Tonight I am planning to make "ribbesylte" - after a new recipe.

I will let you know if it is better than my old recipe

(which happens to be one of my most viewed blog posts!)

 

But first off to the last yoga session of the term!

Even in December...

I had to make a quick trip up north to Durham on the weekend and was surprised to see that the amazing rose bushes outside our house are still blooming...

Even in December...

With the low light and the particular glow the sun has this time of year it made me think of the song "In the bleak midwinter". Here is a version sung by the Choir of Kings in Cambridge.

It is rapidly getting colder all over the country - even if there is no sign of snow neither in Durham nor in Cambridge... The cold here is a different 'kind' than I am used to from Scandinavia. It is a 'humid' cold which clings to your skin and you feel much chillier here than at even lower temperatures in a 'dry' cold.

On the plus side, I don't struggle with excessively dry, itchy skin here as I often encounter in a 'drier' cold.

It is important to see the bright side of things..!

:-)

Hope you are enjoying the advent season - the anticipation and preparations are almost the best part of Christmas, in my view!

One Year on...

First Sunday in Advent - with PURPLE candles!

Ok, I am back on the blog!

 

More than a year has passed since my last blogpost...

A lot has happened, but at the same time it is hard to accept that a year could pass by so quickly...!

It has actually been a very good year, when I think about it. Some of the big headlines from this past year have been:

 

My health has gone from strength to strength and I am doing fine after a very scary 2013. I have made several changes in my life and the most "dramatic" is that I now go to the gym at least 3-4 days a week. Before work. And I LOVE it! Ok, I am a morning bird, so no surprise that this works for me. I truly recommend it (if you are a morning bird, that is). In addition, there is such a lovely group of people coming in most days and they are all so very friendly and supportive. I didn't expect the bonus of finding so many lovely, jolly people gathered at 7 am in the morning! I am not used to meeting other 'morning birds', so it is nice to meet 'fellow birds' with the same disposition of getting up at the crack of dawn!

 

Of other very good things that happened this past year, is that Our Young Man finished his A-levels  and is now at University studying in London. He is loving his new life. I am not hiding that it feels strange - (almost) empty nest - but I am so happy for him. He is really embracing life in London. He has been home once this fall, but we have seen him several times as we have popped in to London to meet up with other friends passing by this big city. Having him there means that I am getting to know London better as well! About time after living over 15 years in the UK!

 

This year we also bought a second home - a house in Durham for The Professor and we both spend a lot of time commuting between our two homes. Project managing and redecorating from afar is no mean task, but it is coming together nicely. In some ways it is nice to have two homes - we don't have a holiday home anywhere, instead we have two homes. It just worked out this way for now, but time will tell what will happen in this respect. It was great this summer when we drove over to the Lake District for the first time. It won't be the last time we go to the Lakes. It was simply stunning!

So, I plan to be a bit more active on the blog as I actually miss it. Looking through other years' printouts confirms my intention - it is a fun way of keeping a 'diary' of events in our lives!

 

 

Much to Celebrate and a Taco Chicken Tip!

Yes, there is no denying it.
This month it is

50 years since President Kennedy was killed,

50 years since C.S. Lewis who wrote the Narnia books died (he died the same day as Kennedy - which is probably why nobody remembers) 

50 years since Dr Who was first aired and
 

50 years since I was born in a hospital in New Jersey!

 

It sounds very grown up - being 50... Hope it isn't compulsory...!

☺

I am truly blessed with all the celebrations in my honor with lots of attention from dear friends, visits from Norway, meals out and a fun party last weekend!

So far, turning 50 has been nothing but FUN!

Over to the Spicy Chicken Tip:

Due to my illness this summer, I am 'using up' holidays from the previous holiday year (our holiday year runs from 1 October - 30 September) by having every Friday off. It feels like a real luxery - I could get used to this!

☺

So, sitting this morning with a cup of coffee reading blogs, I came across Trine's Matblogg with a recipe for making your own taco spices. Taco is much loved in this house and by putting together the spices yourself it isn't just cheaper, but you are also in control of how much sugar and salt you consume!

 

Homemade taco spice:

 

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 1/2 teaspoons chiliflakes 

2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons paprika powder (I use the hot smokey variety)

2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 tablespoons seasalt

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

Be aware that spices can vary in strength, so start out carefully.

 

Despite liking taco, I got fed up with the usual taco recipes with minced meat, cheese, etc, etc. Instead, I often roast chicken with the spices.

Here is my simple Taco Chicken recipe:

take one raw chicken

place it in a roasting bag

add a couple of tablespoons of taco spices

close the bag

shake vigoursly to spread the spices

roast the chicken in the oven for the time suggested on the roasting bag pack

Voila!

One VERY succulent, juicy, spicy taco flavoured chicken!

Well, I'd better get a move on. First Sunday of Advent is coming up and Our Young Man is expecting an advent calendar - as usual! I have got 19 out of the 24 surprises ready.

Only 5 more to go... It is getting hard being inventive and keeping the price down!

Besides he said - no chocolate...!

 

Any suggestions...?

♥

Still Hanging in There!

 

Oh, yes, I am still here!

I have neither found the right time nor inspiration for the blog, but I hope that will return!

 

I have gone back to work, and after my summer ordeal that felt ok. Not great, but ok. I am still on a phased return but aiming to start full time again next week. I think that will be ok, too. Sometimes you have to push yourself to move forward. One good thing that has come out of my illness is that I  started working out. Since July I have been going to the gym every other day and I really LOVE it. Who would have thought.... It has become a habit and I feel so much better for it. I just hope I can keep it up when I start working full time...!

☺ 

Time flies and beautiful autumn days are here. The heating goes on regularly in the afternoons, the Cat refuses to step outside for days on end (he is getting lazier by the year) and The Professor reported frost on the ground up north in Durham where he is.

Last week was half term and Halloween and tonight is Bonfire Night. I wrote about Bonfire Night last year, so you can read about that here, if you want. Soon it will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. It is just one form of celebration after the other!

Another thing to mention is that Our Boy has also sent off his University application for studying next year. So fingers (and toes and anything else!) crossed he is accepted to the course he wants at the University he wants! I am just finding it hard to understand that he is soon off to University... Seriously, where have the years gone???

These pictures are from Sunday when I managed to lure Our Boy (I guess I should start calling him Our Young Man ...) with me for a walk on Sunday with the promise of having lunch at a noodle bar. Their noodles in hot, steamy and  broth, like their Tom Kha Gai is just what you need on a blustery day. The soup was bursting with flavoursome broth enhanced with coconut milk, chicken, pork, seafood, mushrooms and various vegetables and vermicelli noodles. The portions are enormous so the leftovers were brought home and served as a starter for dinner.
No wonder this is a popular place with students!

So, time I had a 'wander' around Bloglandia and see what other bloggers are up to! Maybe time to start thinking of Christmas, too! That reminds me - I MUST get the amaryllis bulbs planted if I am to have any chance of it blooming for Christmas! Last year's didn't bloom until end of April...! I think I might be late already...

Have you got yours planted...?



 

Confused...

I think this plant must be confused. The bulb was bought in time for it to bloom for Christmas - I potted it and started tending to it at the end of October 2012 and

NOTHING
happened.

Christmas came and went and no sign of any growth. I thought it was dead, but decided to leave it  it in the pot and more or less forgot about it. I kept giving it a little water every now and then and about 6 weeks ago I could see some signs of growth!

 

So, now at the end of April when the temperature is reaching double digits, it is in full bloom. Given the very cold winter we have had it was perhaps not strange that it has been 'hibernating'?Unfortunately, it grew so big that one night it toppled over and the flowers broke off. Still pretty in a vase.

Anyway, THAT must be what is called a late bloomer!
 

☺

I Used To...

Great book with very easy explanations - in Norwegian.

I used to collect cooking books...

I still do. I have a lot... 

No, I have not counted them...

♥

But lately I note that another collection is starting to take shape - knitting and crocheting books. Even if I know how to knit and crochet, it is always good with new inspiration and to learn new techniques! Just like I know how to cook, but it is still good with new inspiration and to learn new techniques...

Do I sound like I am trying to justify myself here...?

☺

Inspiring book and the description of the shawl I am hoping to make is in this book

Here are three of the latest ones that have found their way to my bookshelf the last month

Original book is in Norwegian, but you can now also get it in English (as you see!)

Nope, my hands are not idle in the winter evenings. 

☺

At the moment I am knitting socks to use up some old yarn after making some of the Christmas balls.  I have promised myself NOT to buy any new yarn until some of the old stock has been used up! I have finally cracked how to do the heel nicely! Very satisfying!

So proud of myself!!!

But I have also promised to try to crochet somebody very special a rather intricate shawl. Even if I have got myself a special lamp - with a magnifying mirror which is excellent for doing bead work -  I prefer daylight to do that so it will have to be a weekend project.

So, what is YOUR project these days (or evenings)?

Slow Start to the New Year... (or perhaps not)

Happy New Year!

I went a bit quiet over the holidays, but I am back again!
Here is a quick summary:

 

We enjoyed lovely, peaceful days over Christmas with loads of seasonal food... and it continued when we went to Norway to celebrate the New Year!
The weather was not the best although we were greeted with a lovely white wintry landscape. Well, that soon turned into pure ice and rain... But never mind, the company was great! A couple of days before New Year's Eve we were invited for pinnekjøtt and on New Year's Eve we were 15 around the table enjoying a gourmet meal cooked by the host's nephew who is a professional chef at a great restaurant in Oslo.

We have been so spoiled!

♥

Marius pattern bedsheets!

I didn't manage much shopping whilst 'home', but I managed to run and get new bedsheets for Our Boy. He was lucky enough to be given a super long down duvet (2.20m) and bedsheets when kind and considerate friends came from Norway earlier in December. At 16 he is 1.85m, so the regular duvets (2.00m) are short for him and you can't get any longer ones here (yes, I have asked!). Talk about happy boy!  'Now I don't have to choose whether to have cold feet or cold shoulders', he says. Oh, the little details that make life comfortable

☺

After we came back to England The Professor and I we went straight to Durham to suss out the town and to start looking for accommodation for him. Early days yet, but we plan to rent something for a while whilst waiting to sell the place in Edinburgh and then buy something new in Durham. I am pleased to say I liked the town very much! Reminds me in many ways of where we live now, but still different. For one thing, Durham has hills.... On a positive note - great for exercise!

Oh, and we managed to see "Life of Pi" at the movies! I had not read the book, but I enjoyed the film!

 

 

So, now back to normal routine!

Work wise, that is...

☺

I end today's post with a picture of my friend's new Jack Russel puppy...

Too cute for words!
 

Hope you are having a good start to the new year!

 

 

 



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.

Not Much Time...

for keeping up with the blog these days!

 

I am planning to start baking and preparing for Christmas this coming weekend and thinking of making some new things this year. No point baking too soon - it won't last till Christmas then! The gingerbread cookies and biscotti I made earlier this month (twice!) are all gone, so I think it will be better for all of us if we wait for some days with the rest

♥

So, instead I share with you a picture I took of the mailbox by our house yesterday morning.

It is really cold here.

No, I mean it.

R-e-a-l-l-y cold.

-7 is no joke with added humidity.

But the frozen spider's webs are rather magical, I think!

 

But the question is

- will there ever be snow?

Perhaps better not wish for it - I couldn't bike to work then!

Tried and Tested: Cranberry and Red Onion Marmalade

I bought some really nice red onion marmalade when I went to the Country Living Christmas Fair and it 'disappeared' very quickly. A friend gave me this recipe for this very nice and seasonal accompaniment to cheese/cold meat/pate/etc. and I made some last night. Judging by how it was received in our house, I will probably have to make another batch for Christmas. 

Here is how I made it:

2 tablespoons olive oil

500 grams red onions, sliced

Juice of 1 orange

1 tablespoon pickling spice

150 gram dark muscavado sugar

150 ml ruby port

120 grams dried cranberries

(the original recipe called for 450 grams fresh cranberries, but I took what I had)

Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the onions for 5 mins.

Add the orange juice, spice, sugar, cranberries and port and simmer gently for 1 hr.

Cool and chill

In The Run Up To Christmas...

This week and next has been and will be a bit hectic around here!
In addition to all the various work projects that need to be done before Christmas, all sorts of social events are going on!

♥ 

It started peacefully with a visit from a friend from Oslo and her son earlier this week! Although they came from -15 to about 0, it has been incredibly cold here this last week! This damp wet cold really is ruthless!!! But as always it was lovely seeing them and we really enjoyed being together. It was a short visit for a very specific purpose and they went back again yesterday, but we have hopes that we might see them again in January...?

 ♥

Today was the Christmas lunch with a group of Scandinavian ladies I have met during this last year and tonight I am off to the office party. This year the party will start with a quiz and we are encouraged to form teams and 'dress to impress'. Each team has to have a name and I am apparently on the team are called 'The Decorations'. I have been instructed to dress up as a Christmas Decoration....
☺ 

I chose an easy way out  - I will be 'The Lights'.

Two strings of battery driven LED lights will do the trick, I think!

 

I hope this won't be the only way I will 'shine' tonight!


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!

♥♥♥

Pinterest Inspiration - Table Decoration

The Ladies Who Dine came to my house for lunch yesterday, Sunday. It was kind of a start-of-the-season-gathering/birthday-celebration and just a general-together event.

 

We chose to meet on Sunday lunch as it is already increasingly hard to find a suitable Friday or Saturday that everybody can make. Besides, Sunday lunch is a great British tradtion!

 

The above IPhone-pictures (I really need to get my good camera more out - I have becom lazy!) are from the table and I was pleased with my simple silver/acorns/candle decoration on a slate tiered cake stand. Inspiration from Pinterest (you can find me there)! Very simple and just using what you already have but put together in a new way. And for some extra sparkle I added a smal battery-operated garland of fairy lights along the table.

 

As usual, I was worried it wouldn't be enough food (ok... I admit that after various canapees and a starter with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon followed by the main consisting of 2 mustand-and-honeyglazed hams and a roasted chicken along with a 'mountain' of roasted potatoes, mashed swede, brussels sprouts, fried mushrooms and a tomato and onion salsa and my friends dessert of apple strudle with whipped cream followed by coffee and mints and biscotti was too much for 6 ladies), but it looks like there are enought leftovers for me and The Boy for the rest of the week...

☺



Country Living Fair 2012

Yesterday I went with my two Welsh friends to the Country Living Magazine's Christmas Fair 2012, in Islington, London. I didn't bring my main camera, so you will have to do with the IPhone pictures.

 

The fair is an annual event, although this was my very first time.

 

It was almost a bit overwhelming, to be frank, but well worth going!

 

So much creativity and inspiration!

 

I didn't buy very much (ok, a few things...), but  I enjoyed even walking around making notes on creative suggestions. Got to love the "Notes" function on the IPhone...

☺

 

I simply loved the fair and I think it will become an annual event for me!

♥

Tried and Tested: Fig Jam with Port

I have seen several blogs singing the praise of Fig Jam served with cheese. I have to admit I rarely eat jam except for a bit of lingonberry jam with roast. But there are other jam eaters in the house and we all eat figs. I admit it was rather nice and it goes very well with a blue cheese, perhaps also served on a gingerbread biscuit. A real Christmas type of jam, if you ask me.

This is my version:

Chop finely and soak 500 grams of figs if they are very dry for a couple of hours (mine were very juicy so I didn't soak them).

Bring to a boil with 3 dl of the soaking water and

Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Let it simmer for 15 - 20 mins

Add 350 grams of sugar and

4-6 tablespoons of Port

Let it all simmer again for another 10-15 mins

I used a blitzer on the ready product as I had not chopped it fine enough.

New Year's Walk...

I have to say the weather is strange these days! 

Extreme winds and lots of rain, but rather warm. 

A lot of things are starting to grow in the garden...

Not sure what to make of it, but it is very unlike last January when we even had snow for several days! 

On our last holiday after Christmas The Professor and I ventured out for the first walk of 2012. We went our usual route to Grantchester. Always lovely and warming to have a stop at one of the pubs at the end of the path for a glass of mulled wine... 

:-)

 We walked around the church (where I once - by accident - attended service with Lady Thatcher - but that is another story and enough name dropping for one day...) and I was intrigued by this bricked up doorway in the wall... wonder what the story was WHY this had been done? It was only the church yard behind it. It reminded me of the book 'The Secret Garden'...

On our way back home we suddenly stopped and STARED! 

Despite the distance - there was unmistakably a man taking a swim in the river...! 

And no - it really isn't THAT warm (we were wearing gloves and hats...). 

I think that is taking New Year's resolutions to get fit a bit too far...

:-)

Recommended viewing: Great Expectations



BBC showed a new 3-part adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' this Christmas.

Gillian Anderson (better known from X-Files) is a haunted and bitter Miss Havisham (with a very convincing British accent!) while David Suchet (Agatha Christie's Poirot) is the hardnosed lawyer Mr. Jaggers and Ray Winstone is Magwitch.

Nobody does these period dramas better than the BBC and a bit of Dickens this time of year is never wrong.