Well the best thing to happen today is the soat I ordered arrived in the post.
As for the rest of it I am stuck going to a work conference throughout this afternoon and then going to the dinner tonight.
Usually I like dressing up but I'm not in the mood, I don't have any party shoes in Coventry so I am going to have to wear work shoes. They are nice but not party shoes.
So better go, :(
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Friday, 13 June 2008
New Locations
It is the end of my first week at Capita. Based at Aegon at present it feels I am doing much the same as I was at the FSA :(
This will change as time goes on I am sure and there will be a point at which I will look fondly at this time. Though it would be fonder still if I could access Gmail and Facebook.
But anyway. I have very much enjoyed discovering subsidised meals. Which apparently is a British tradition. Today was poached chicken with pesto, tomato, bocconcini, salad and fresh basil. A taste sensation for £2.75. Who can argue with that. So I'm going to main meal it at work and soup and sandwich dinner.
Once we get to Coventry and Axa things may change.
This will change as time goes on I am sure and there will be a point at which I will look fondly at this time. Though it would be fonder still if I could access Gmail and Facebook.
But anyway. I have very much enjoyed discovering subsidised meals. Which apparently is a British tradition. Today was poached chicken with pesto, tomato, bocconcini, salad and fresh basil. A taste sensation for £2.75. Who can argue with that. So I'm going to main meal it at work and soup and sandwich dinner.
Once we get to Coventry and Axa things may change.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
How Time Flies
Here it is June 10 almost 3 months since my last blog and time has flown. I have left the farm and moved to Edinburgh. John and I have put in our application for our K1 and we are now waiting. My life is surreal.
I am living in a four bed flat with two guys. James from Ireland and Kenn from India. We are very much hoping no-one will fill the fourth room. a) because the bathroom timetable is squishy enough already, b)so using the loungeroom will not be impinged on by the fact the 4th bedroom is right next to it and c) so the boys can go in there for a quick smoke out the window!!!
Evie is living right up the road and I am beginning to find my way around, the shops I like, the transport system etc.
I am living in a four bed flat with two guys. James from Ireland and Kenn from India. We are very much hoping no-one will fill the fourth room. a) because the bathroom timetable is squishy enough already, b)so using the loungeroom will not be impinged on by the fact the 4th bedroom is right next to it and c) so the boys can go in there for a quick smoke out the window!!!
Evie is living right up the road and I am beginning to find my way around, the shops I like, the transport system etc.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
New Chicks - Australorps and Aracanas
So yesterday we received a call at 6am from the post office saying our chicks had arrived. We had ordered 25 of each Australorps and Aracanas. So off we set. It was about freezing give or take ten degrees on the wind chill.
Eva's (John's mum) dog Molly (a pampered Corgi) came with us. We had set up the chicks new home with heat lamps, water and chick feed. They appear to be quite healthy and happy. We have been checking on them every couple of hours and they are all doing well. If I can ever make the computer accept the camera program I will up load them.
I intend on baking an apple pie, banana cake and a coffee cake today along with making gnocchi. Will need to go talk to the adult chickens to get a couple more eggs.
Yesterday I made chocolate bliss cookies from the back of the pack of Baker's Semi sweet baking chocolate squares. You are meant to use two pacs and I had one so I substituted choc chips and butterscotch chips for the extra choc required. John and his dad went ga-ga. Also made more no bake cookies or as John also calls them boiled cookies. I have added my own twist shredded (NOT dessicated)coconut and again butterscotch chips for a hint of different flavour.
It messes with John's head a little because he likes it even though he vows and declares coconut is AWFUL.
I also made my best ever roast pork. It was delicious, juicy and tender. I used a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - 5 Ingredient Meals - Cranberry-Glazed Pork Roast. I served it with my favourite roast vegies Butternut Pumpkin/Squash and Parsnip. With peas, corn, mashed potato and oreo cheesecake for dessert John nearly had to roll to bed.
And finally almost all the walls and doors and cupboards in the kitchen are finished. The entire kitchen is a shade lighter in colour. Its still that scarey green colour but at least it is clean.
Well I had better get back to it. Will need to blog about Monday as well.
Eva's (John's mum) dog Molly (a pampered Corgi) came with us. We had set up the chicks new home with heat lamps, water and chick feed. They appear to be quite healthy and happy. We have been checking on them every couple of hours and they are all doing well. If I can ever make the computer accept the camera program I will up load them.
I intend on baking an apple pie, banana cake and a coffee cake today along with making gnocchi. Will need to go talk to the adult chickens to get a couple more eggs.
Yesterday I made chocolate bliss cookies from the back of the pack of Baker's Semi sweet baking chocolate squares. You are meant to use two pacs and I had one so I substituted choc chips and butterscotch chips for the extra choc required. John and his dad went ga-ga. Also made more no bake cookies or as John also calls them boiled cookies. I have added my own twist shredded (NOT dessicated)coconut and again butterscotch chips for a hint of different flavour.
It messes with John's head a little because he likes it even though he vows and declares coconut is AWFUL.
I also made my best ever roast pork. It was delicious, juicy and tender. I used a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - 5 Ingredient Meals - Cranberry-Glazed Pork Roast. I served it with my favourite roast vegies Butternut Pumpkin/Squash and Parsnip. With peas, corn, mashed potato and oreo cheesecake for dessert John nearly had to roll to bed.
And finally almost all the walls and doors and cupboards in the kitchen are finished. The entire kitchen is a shade lighter in colour. Its still that scarey green colour but at least it is clean.
Well I had better get back to it. Will need to blog about Monday as well.
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Taking hogs to the butcher.
So today was my first foray into the world of farmers with John and his dad Joe. The morning started with me trying to back the truck exactly right for John so he could hitch the trailer to load the hogs. (And in case you were wondering it is all about the size of the animal that takes it from pig to hog. Or so I was informed)
Now the fun news is over the last two days there has been a lot of thaw so the snow has melted. In other words it is warmer but instead of snow we have been getting rain instead so we were getting soaked in the rain doing this. My job was then to hold the door will John and Joe herded the hogs in. I felt soo pretty by the end.
I can't help it at the end of the day I am still a girl. I will wear sunglasses and carry a bag. But will compromise with duck boots, jeans and one of John's work jackets. So after 3 hours we had driven there dropped off the hogs, left cutting instructions stopped at "Porky's" (think truck stop) on the way home, with me doing the girl thing and sitting in the middle and made it home again.
Still all in one piece we made it home. Then we went to pick up John's chainsaw and bought a new little one for me. We match now. This means wood cutting tomorrow yay. I really enjoy cutting wood.
Also made chilli today. My own variation based on about 15 recipes.
Basically 6oz smoked ham, 2lbs beef (used round steak and sirloin), a can of tomatoes, 6 tbsp instant masa, 1 lg onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 3 beef bouillion cubes, cumin, 2 tbsp white vinegar, paprika, chili powder and light red kidney beans.
We will see what John thinks.
Now the fun news is over the last two days there has been a lot of thaw so the snow has melted. In other words it is warmer but instead of snow we have been getting rain instead so we were getting soaked in the rain doing this. My job was then to hold the door will John and Joe herded the hogs in. I felt soo pretty by the end.
I can't help it at the end of the day I am still a girl. I will wear sunglasses and carry a bag. But will compromise with duck boots, jeans and one of John's work jackets. So after 3 hours we had driven there dropped off the hogs, left cutting instructions stopped at "Porky's" (think truck stop) on the way home, with me doing the girl thing and sitting in the middle and made it home again.
Still all in one piece we made it home. Then we went to pick up John's chainsaw and bought a new little one for me. We match now. This means wood cutting tomorrow yay. I really enjoy cutting wood.
Also made chilli today. My own variation based on about 15 recipes.
Basically 6oz smoked ham, 2lbs beef (used round steak and sirloin), a can of tomatoes, 6 tbsp instant masa, 1 lg onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 3 beef bouillion cubes, cumin, 2 tbsp white vinegar, paprika, chili powder and light red kidney beans.
We will see what John thinks.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Hard Water
So one of the downers of living in an old house is old pipes. As a result water that is hard normally ends up being like sandpaper. My skin is bearing the brunt. Also being on bore / well water means you miss out on the additives that I have been used to since a kid. My fingernails are in disrepair and my hair feels like straw.
Apart from that cleaning is tougher. The permanent splotches visible on crockery and glassware, the crusty feeling on all the wet surfaces the sinks and in the bathroom.
Which takes special care to fix. And lots of elbow grease.
But all in all I love it. I love being here. I have my own boiler suit which doesn't really sound as exciting as it is. It means I can go cut wood with John. And I don't freeze to death. We are going to buy a new chainsaw. Not specifically for me but it is my size. And it will match John's monster.
So yesterday I baked pork chops which came from one of our pigs. Its weird what I consider normal and what John considers normal food combinations.
I've never really considered baked beans as a side dish. I have always been more into baked beans as the meal itself. Maybe on a baked potato or toast with cheese on top. But not so much as a companion to a meal. But I like to make John happy, so it was on his plate but not mine.
Hardest thing about cooking on a Friday and even on a Saturday is knowing whether or not we are going out. So I need to be prepared with something that can keep. Oh well I'll figure it out.
Apart from that cleaning is tougher. The permanent splotches visible on crockery and glassware, the crusty feeling on all the wet surfaces the sinks and in the bathroom.
Which takes special care to fix. And lots of elbow grease.
But all in all I love it. I love being here. I have my own boiler suit which doesn't really sound as exciting as it is. It means I can go cut wood with John. And I don't freeze to death. We are going to buy a new chainsaw. Not specifically for me but it is my size. And it will match John's monster.
So yesterday I baked pork chops which came from one of our pigs. Its weird what I consider normal and what John considers normal food combinations.
I've never really considered baked beans as a side dish. I have always been more into baked beans as the meal itself. Maybe on a baked potato or toast with cheese on top. But not so much as a companion to a meal. But I like to make John happy, so it was on his plate but not mine.
Hardest thing about cooking on a Friday and even on a Saturday is knowing whether or not we are going out. So I need to be prepared with something that can keep. Oh well I'll figure it out.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Michigan musings
Okay so I have now been in the US for three weeks tomorrow. John is great and everything I could have hoped for. So many people thought we were nuts. We never met or even knew what we looked liked before we agreed to marry. Now we are sitting down to start the paperwork so we can get married and I can stay or rather come back. K3 here I come. Well in about 7 months.
Having said that since I have arrived there have been 3 blizzards and there is another coming. There has also been freezing rain. I have fallen down in the snow straight on my butt because of inappropriate shoes. It was completely reminiscent of my college experience all over again
The flight from Cape Town was OK if it had of a) left on time b) made up some time once we were in the air and c) actually got our luggage through. Then having missed my connecting flight from London I then had to get registered onto a new flight and check in again.
Still put that all aside. I am having a blast. I am coming out the other side of tonsillitis, flu and an ear ache. Also looking forward to cutting wood again. Me and a chainsaw, aren't you all afraid. But it is really fun. Especially after you get into the rhythm of it.
I am loving the fresh produce eggs and meat. Could use the milk, but I have never been a fan of fresh milk. Ironically neither is John. Still I am looking forward to making fresh milk cheese.
At the moment I have a lot of cleaning and organising to keep me busy. That and an excuse to cook. I love life.
Having said that since I have arrived there have been 3 blizzards and there is another coming. There has also been freezing rain. I have fallen down in the snow straight on my butt because of inappropriate shoes. It was completely reminiscent of my college experience all over again
The flight from Cape Town was OK if it had of a) left on time b) made up some time once we were in the air and c) actually got our luggage through. Then having missed my connecting flight from London I then had to get registered onto a new flight and check in again.
Still put that all aside. I am having a blast. I am coming out the other side of tonsillitis, flu and an ear ache. Also looking forward to cutting wood again. Me and a chainsaw, aren't you all afraid. But it is really fun. Especially after you get into the rhythm of it.
I am loving the fresh produce eggs and meat. Could use the milk, but I have never been a fan of fresh milk. Ironically neither is John. Still I am looking forward to making fresh milk cheese.
At the moment I have a lot of cleaning and organising to keep me busy. That and an excuse to cook. I love life.
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