Laura Land

Place of prayer

2010-06-10T22:06:00.000Z

I met with my vicar a few weeks ago as we've been in our new church since we moved, and now it's been 8 months I feel pretty settled there and want to contribute more.

In typical church style I've now got three or four things on the go, which is perhaps a bit much to bite off but some are one-off things!

One thing I'm really excited about is our vicar's desire to make our church a more obvious place of prayer. At the entrance just now is a book table crammed full of leaflets, another table full of hymn books and service sheets, and a sign letting everyone know that it costs £300 a day to run the church (stupid beautiful old buildings!)

I've been thinking about how it would be more prayerful (and welcoming and interesting to the community at the same time). The only inspiration I've had so far is from 24/7 prayer rooms I've been to - all the rooms I've been to are such diverse and stimulating places I could spend hours in them, and even if just reading a visitor book or seeing people's artwork it's an amazing encouragement to glimpse parts of other people's journeys.

A few years ago I might have been cynical and said there's something suspect about creating an atmosphere in which we feel drawn to prayer - isn't that fake? But with life being so frantic a little silence is a huge blessing, and there's nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from the world around us to give us a helping hand and keep things fresh.

Spiritual Detox - Day 1 - Eat well

2010-06-10T21:52:00.000Z

I'm starting this spiritual detox, and rather than just reading through the book and gleaning gems I'm going to be working through it day by day to learn through experience - hopefully making it a more lasting thing.

The book is Detox Your Spiritual Life in 40 Days by Peter Graystone. Normally I'd come across this kind of book and see it as a faddy thing (like the Purpose Driven Life, urgh!) and ignore it. But I read the first chapter on Google Reader and it seemed worthwhile.

Day 1 is to eat well, the idea being that this will be ongoing through the 40 days (which incidentally will end on Ben's birthday!) Today I've eaten good nutrious food and enjoyed it, and feel much better for it. Lately I've been eating junk and snacking at work out of stress, but happily a stressful situation was taken out of my hands today which is extremely cool and conducive to my detox. Very good day :)

Elections

2010-03-03T19:22:00.000Z

I can't make up my mind at all about who to vote for at the next election, though I have a feeling Tories will win as usual in South Norfolk. It's a bit early on in the campaigns to declare my allegiance anyway, but in the spirit of research I came across They Work for You - it compliles information about MPs to help get a picture of them.

One of the stats they include is how many times the MP has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") in debates. To find out why see here!

Skirt finished!

2010-02-18T22:28:00.000Z

Pictures here

It doesn't look fabulous but I'm pretty pleased considering it's my first attempt! Need to find some nicer fabric now, if anyone knows good places to go in Norwich for clothes fabric rather than curtains/upholstery please let me know :)

excitement

2010-02-16T23:16:00.000Z

Making my first ever item of clothing this week :D I've pinned some material to make a skirt, watch this space for the results - excited but nervous, it might be rubbish!

Oh how fed up of saying this I am, but I'm SO close to finishing my patchwork quilt that I stitched my initials and the year into it on Sunday. That means I absolutely must finish it in 2010. Pictures of that to follow too.

I just finished reading The Time Traveller's Wife - wow. It's definitely added to my list of all time favourite books (not many make this list - Pride & Prejudice and Saturday are the only others there).

On my list to read next... I'm determined to read the The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and (if I can stomach the war bits) The Ilyiad, simply because there are so many references to them throughout good literature that it's frustrating not knowing more. Also AS Byatt has been cropping up on my travels (quoted a few times in Time Traveller's Wife) so I'd like to read Possession, and The Children's Book looks good.

Tomorrow we're going to an Ash Wednesday service at church - I'm really loving church at the moment which is a refreshing change. We've been getting better aquainted with some super lovely people. I'm reading through all the Gospels for Lent which is going to be a challenge (reasons for which I'll blog on another day).

I feel greedy for life at the moment, there's so much I want to see and take in and do!

Goals for 2010

2010-01-10T16:03:00.000Z

Projects to finish this year:

* interior design course

* patchwork quilt

Projects to start

* learn to sew well (rule my sewing machine, make dresses, household items etc)

* learn to dance

* do some serious Bible study

* work out where I fit in church

* play more flute just for fun
* build up a design portfolio while decorating our house

Things to see and do
* Have a go-away holiday, we're thinking Centre Parcs in September as a good solution for my need for relaxation and Ben's need for being adventurous!)
* Read Julie & Julia and watch the film, I'd like to cook much more too (learn more varity for dinner type cooking)
* Have a day out in London: arrange a visit to Ronnie Scotts for my budding jazz pianist husband, go on the London Eye, see some inspiring design shops

2009-11-01T00:18:00.000Z

Light film we made for Cringleford youth group.

Life has been busy - as well as getting the house sorted we've been getting involved in church (oooh), church study group, been roped into helping with the youth group and the band, we've watched a lot of our box set of Jonathan Creek, I've nearly finished module 10 of the interior design adventure, I've discovered I'm not very good at being an Avon lady, we've met three week old Caleb, I've started lobbying Ben for a baby (let me know if you want to sign my petition), he's started getting annoyed with me, we've had the last week off which has been really cool, getting to know our house and new neighbours. Back to work on Monday, but off on Wednesday for my birthday, hooray! That's about all. A whirlwind adventure indeed. We like Cringleford :)

New house new house new house new house new house!

2009-09-26T07:21:00.000Z

Newspapers

2009-09-09T21:38:00.000Z

Made me laugh, from The Student Room:

"The Times is read by the people who run the country. The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country. The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country. The Morning Star is read by the people who think the country ought to be run by another country. The Independent is read by people who don't know who runs the country but are sure they're doing it wrong. The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country. The Financial Times is read by the people who own the country. The Daily Express is read by the people who think the country ought to be run as it used to be run. The Daily Telegraph is read by the people who still think it is their country. And the Sun's readers don't care who runs the country providing she has big tits." -- from Yes Prime Minister (from the 1980s, it doesn't have quite the same resonance today)

"The Star is read by the people who think the Sun is a bit too upmarket." -- anon

"The Sport is read by the people who think that Elvis is running the country from his secret lunar bunker assisted by a team of topless aliens." -- anon

People with cool walks

2009-07-30T18:15:00.001Z

King Rollo

Dr Greg House

Donald Duck

I wonder...

2009-07-29T21:36:00.000Z

I'm not meant to use annuity jargon on the phone at work because it confuses customers... I wonder what church would be like to outsiders if jargon was banned?

Diary of a weekend

2009-07-12T22:54:00.001Z

* Started with a Pizza Hut takeaway (note to self: stop eating Pizza Hut food, it's rank)
* Watched Harry Potter 3 (way better than I remembered)
* Went to work agaaaaain (sigh)
* Went everse shopping (second note to self: stop buying things only to take them back)
* Sleeping (need more of that)
* Finished Harry Potter 6 (didn't cry this time but still cool)
* Started Harry Potter 7 (awesome!)
* Read Module 10 (excited about this one)
* Fruity smoothies (yum)
* Went interior design window shopping (felt like I was in a different city today, we went to so many previously unexplored shops - Perfect Pad, Wesley-Barrel, Mark Elliot)
* Had tea and scones in John Lewis (is it a sign of getting old when you start to love department stores?)
* Cycled to our house which finally has internal walls (woop!)
* Watched House (up to series 2 now, still loving it)
* And Top Gear (actually got bored and read Easy Living during this episode, weird)
* Had ides about fabric and dress and peg bag ideas and thought about how busy my sewing machine is going to be when I've saved up for it.

Yay for weekends. Four working days now until a long weekend in Wales (on Ben's birthday again!) and the rest of the week off.

New blog

2009-07-01T16:18:00.000Z

Robert is aiming to stay sober for the next six months and update his new blog every day. He's much more than an interesting read!

Things in my head

2009-06-27T22:01:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't blogged for so long. Working lots of overtime lately which is going to make an awesome July pay cheque but not good for keeping up with superfluous extras.

House purchase is going okay. We're getting a bit lost in all the legal jargon and stuff but we have a pretty nice mortgage broker and have instructed a recommended solicitor now. There's a pile of paperwork building up on the dining table that I keep meaning to read through. Urghh.

Florence and the Machine's first album is coming out on 6 July. I don't normally keep up with modern music, not being very cool (MySpace describes her/them as "Grindcore / Acousmatic / Tape music / Melodramatic Popular Song", I don't really understand any of those terms) but Florence Welch's amazingly powerful voice caught my ear.

Ben's birthday is coming up in next month (it's all about July today which seems weird, June has flown by without me realising) and he said he'd like to go on the London Eye. I was looking up ticket prices for trains and other things to do and thought it would be cool to see Harry Potter 6 at the IMAX cinema in 3D - I don't know WHY that hasn't occurred to me before! Mega excited :)

I've been thinking about lots of things lately including reading the book How to Win Friends and Influence People and how to improve my people skills especially at work, wondering if I really want to stick out church boringness, and other things. It's all such hard work and my brain is tired. Oh, and I'm supposed to finish my never ending interior design course by the end of July. Thus as per normal a month after our holiday I need another one!!

Scotland

2009-05-31T11:15:00.000Z

Ferry to Mull - all calm at 7am

Interior of the Queen Mother's summer house at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens

Falkirk Wheel - replaced 10 lock gates on the canal

Beautiful Oban/Kerrera coast line

Tropically warm waters on Iona

Wall art

2009-05-22T19:00:00.005Z

Spied in the gift shop in the Royal Arcade in Norwich along with loads of other cool designs.

The coolest shop ever!

2009-05-20T19:00:00.004Z

Lisbeth Dahl

Dream garden accessories

2009-05-18T19:00:00.004Z

Holiday

2009-05-16T06:00:00.001Z

We're off to Oban bright and early this morning. While I'm gone there will be pretty picutres every so often. Enjoy :)

Breakfast Epiphanies

2009-05-12T18:00:00.002Z

I picked up Breakfast Epiphanies in the library a few weeks ago and wondered immediately why, as I'm still trying not to read trashy chick lit! But despite the cover it's blurb caught my attention and I read on.

It tells the story of Toby and Sara. After they decide to get married, Sara realises that the big Catholic wedding she had always imagined didn't feel right anymore with her having lost grip on her childhood faith and Toby's agnositicism. She gives herself a year to go on a quest for renewed faith. They visit countless religious leaders and follwers around the world to contemplate following a complately new religion together. The thing that annoyed me about this quest was that they never properly investigated Christianity, but thought they had it covered by going to Lourdes and talking to lapsed Methodists (who only went to church out of routine). So many of the failings they found with a lot of the beliefs they looked into might have been answered for them.

I was hoping the book might give me some insight into how other couples deal with differences in their faith lives - if an agnostic and former Catholic can work it out I thought, a minor quibble about church between Ben and me might fade into insignificance. And it did in a way. By reading the book I was able to assess what it is I'm really looking for in my faith life and maybe it encouraged me to be a bit more independent in that process. Maybe more on my conclusions in a couple of weeks.

Leek Tart

2009-05-09T20:28:00.000Z

That cooking I did a few weekends ago now was leek tart, recipie here. It was really easy to make and was very yummy!

Two gentle exercise videos

2009-05-06T17:37:00.000Z

Didn't fancy doing tae bo today so found these on Youtube - they're nice and gentle, yay!

15 minute abs workout
10 minute cardio kickboxing workout

The exciting news

2009-05-03T16:03:00.000Z

Our weekend tale starts a few weeks ago in my unassuming mind, when I had a bizarre dream about looking round a new estate. There was a show house and flags, a hill with new houses and lots of people around. The bed in the house we saw was sunk into the floor like a swimming pool but that's beside the point...

Two weeks ago Ben went to see a financial adviser to find out about setting up a pension. In conversation he happened to mention that we were trying to save up for a house deposit. The adviser just happened to be linked with a broker who deals with a shared equity scheme for Bovis - a scheme I might add that is pretty cool as you don't even have to pay rent on the part of the property that the developer retains, you just need to pay them back within 10 years (so selling the house would cover that).

Hmm, we thought.

Last Sunday we cycled over to this local estate and had a look at the block of four flats available on this scheme. And what do you know? As soon as the lady handed us the key we walked up an inclining road (I can hardly use the word hill in Norfolk!) And there were more people around than we expected. But thankfully there were no sunken beds in sight.

A sunny day, French doors from the bedroom to the south facing garden, an open plan kitchen/dinner/lounge and it being on "Lobelia Lane" were all we needed to fall in love!

Today we went to see it again and put down our holding deposit so it's ours! We're waiting for some legal details before we can start the process and it won't be complete for another 10 weeks or so, but this seems to have fallen into our laps in some divinely inspired way.

Fanfare Le SNOB

2009-05-01T23:04:00.002Z

The opening of the Festival couldn't have been more captivating! During the first song I was a bit afraid of Fanfare Le SNOB - they seemed mystical, something like the witches out of Macbeth with a sinister edge. Ben said their pointy hats made him think of the KKK... but by the end of the performance they felt like friends and I didn't want them to leave. If you ever get a chance to see Glissssssendo take it!

Here's a video of them - not a patch on actually being there but it gives you a sense of what it was all about.

Looking forward to the fireworks in Earlham Park tomorrow night!

(updated as found embedded video)

Quote

2009-04-29T18:52:00.000Z

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

~ Sir Winston Churchill

Fond memories

2009-04-28T21:27:00.000Z

I was just browsing Amazon and came across 'Dear Zoo' for sale! I feel a bit stupid considering buying it without giving it to a child but it was one of my favourite books when I was little, and is only a bit older than me - it's celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year. Maybe I will buy it anyway and keep it in a cupboard for a future Blahlette...

I haven't forgotten I've promised posts on last weekend's cooking adventures and our exciting excursion but I'm feeling a bit under the weather, and judging by work people's Facebook statuses I'm not the only one. Cosy childhood memories and hot drinks are where it's at this evening!

Grin!

2009-04-26T18:59:00.000Z

New bike! All it needs is a basket. We cycled somewhere REALLY exciting during this hot and sunny afternoon but depending on what happens on Tuesday I'll blog more. Don't want to get our hopes up...

The beat goes on

2009-04-21T16:46:00.003Z

I have some cooking to blog on but while I find my USB cable here's a song suitable for hot hazy lazy days :)

Oh, and jazz reminds me - if you're not watching the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency on BBC at the moment you should be, it's great!

Lazy weekend activites

2009-04-18T17:42:00.000Z

Lack of spare cash and inspiration have stopped me putting our wedding album together for a shocking year and a half now. But I was inspired when I spied a couple flicking through a photograph book on an old episode of Relocation Relocation last week. They look really good so I've been using Bob Books this afternoon to create my own. Let's hope it turns out well...

The other thing I wanted to mention was The Narnia Code, a programme on BBC iplayer about the book Planet Narnia. The author, Dr Michael Ward, suggests that there is a hidden code behind the Narnia books, that CS Lewis intended for each one to be based on the seven planets from the ancient understanding of the universe. It was only a little bit hyped up when it said this discovery could completely change the way we understand Lewis' view of the world, but interesting nevertheless.

The Painted Veil

2009-04-15T18:19:00.001Z

Next on my reading list is The Painted Veil. Having watched the film a few days ago I highly recommend it. Full of good acting (Ed Norton and Naomi Watts), haunting music (Satie's Gnossienne No. 1 is the theme) and a brilliant plot.

The film is based on the novel by W Somerset Maugham - a story made into a film three times since its publication in 1925. It was inspired by a tale in Dante's Divine Comedy which tells of a man who suspected his wife of having an affir. As punishment he took her to a place where she was likely to catch a deadly illness. She didn't die soon enough for his liking so he pushed her out of a window. The film doesn't follow its inspiration exactly, rather it portrays a rather surprising and smoulding love story.

Mother Superior played by Diana Rigg, had a few lines that have stayed with me over the weekend:

I fell in love when I was 17... with God. A foolish girl with romantic notions about the life of a religious, but my love was passionate. Over the years my feelings have changed. He's disappointed me. Ignored me. We've settled into a life of peaceful indifference. The old husband and wife who sit side by side on the sofa, but rarely speak. He knows I'll never leave Him. This is my duty. But when love and duty are one, then grace is within you.

The title The Painted Veil is taken from a poem by Shelley:

‘Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread,--behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadows, o'er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.’

(My crude interpretation - Walter Fane, a man who lifted the veil, was looking for things to love and thought he'd found this in Kitty, but sadly there was nothing in her of which he could approve after she was unfaithful. The painted veil hid their loveless marriage from the outside world and tricked everyone into believing that they were in love, that Kitty followed Walter into a cholera-infested land out of devotion, when in fact Walter, like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, found that he was searching for a love that didn't exist).

Incidently, Shelley's biography is quite interesting. He abandoned his pregnant wife and child for Mary Godwin (later Shelley, authoress of Frankenstein), who he married after his first wife drowned herself in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. He died at just 29 years old yet has become one of the great English poets, influencing the likes of Tennyson, Byron and Keats.

Brief Encounter and the chick flicks it's inspired...

2009-04-12T14:00:00.004Z

Ben gave me Brief Encounter for Christmas (was intended for my birthday last year but it was hidden so well that it got lost for a while!)

It's one of my favourite films and has beautiful music, notably Rachmaninov's Piano Concert No. 2 which sounded strangely familiar...

Recognise it? It took me a few minutes to place the song inspired by it - a song that has become synonymous with chick flicks in the shape of Bridget Jones.

End of Lent

2009-04-11T17:50:00.004Z

For the sake of accountability at work our Lent fasts ended yesterday. About four of us (out of maybe 15) stuck it out right to the end. The other three gave up fast food, chocolate and crisps and their indulgences yesterday seem to match my experience. I didn't find much pleasure in going shopping again, I spent ages deliberating over possible purchases, annoying myself with my indecisiveness. I bought a few items and ended up taking most of them back today. It was a little depressing but I feel surprisingly free, not feeling as much compulsion to buy things. Maybe my fast has taught me more than I thought it would.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2009

2009-03-31T18:00:00.000Z

1-16 May 2009 is the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. There's lots of really interesting performances going on, these are the ones I've got my eye on at the moment...

Glisssssssendo - 1 May on Millenium Plain, 5.15pm and 10.15pm (FREE!)

Dressed in cone-shaped gowns and hats spouting flames and performing on an assortment of brass, percussion and plucked instruments, the members of Fanfare Le S.N.O.B move swiftly and silently, morphing as if by magic into transfixing choreographed routines. These magnificent musicians/comedians are by turns heroic, glorious and hilarious, pushing the limits of a mere fanfare to create, in their own words, generous and humorous shows.

Bombs per Minute or Tres Mechant -2 May at Earlham Park (FREE)

A clock ticks. Bells begin to toll. Fireworks start to errupt into the night sky in a continuous, almost hypnotic flow. The tempo quickens and a torrent of light and sound is unleashed – a furious but beautiful explosion of energy that will set your pulses racing...

Phillip Glass - Etudes and Other Solo Works for Piano - 15 May at the Theatre Royal - I really wanted to see this but all the cheap tickets have gone already!

The Garden Party - free performances in Chapelfield Gardens during the middle weekend including...

Levity III - Adults £4, children £3 - this will be open throughout the festival

A kaleidoscope of liquid light, gentle surround-sound and psychedelic colour. Levity III is a 10,000-square foot inflatable, walk-through sculpture inspired by Islamic architecture and the beauty of natural geometry. It’s also a fantastic chill-out zone, so come on in and lose yourself in multicoloured bliss!

There's much more going on, have a look at the website. A lot of performances have tickets for £5 for under 26s if you book in advance.

Prettier in pink 2 (before and after)

2009-03-29T11:22:00.002Z

Ben did the sourcing, cycling it home, the screwing and gluing, we both did the sanding and painting and I did the upholstering. A perfect weekend couply project!

Prettier in pink (before and after)

2009-03-26T19:25:00.003Z

Lent update

2009-03-25T19:00:00.000Z

I very nearly caved yesterday - I still haven't got into a Spring routine yet and finding it hard to shake Winter-esque tiredness in the mornings. In my sleepy state I forgot Ben's key had broken in the lock the day before so managed to lock him in the house. Felt very stupid and miserable when he called me up at lunchtime, late for work because he couldn't get out of the house and I couldn't rescue him in time. Felt rotten by the end of the day, left work early and browsed the shops, but forced myself to leave before finding anything I liked. Bad day!

My work gives out 'VIP' awards if you get enough nominations and I was presented one last week in the shape of £30 of Next vouchers!!!!! Determined not to spend them til 13 April. 20 days to go...

Decorative Arts

2009-03-24T20:20:00.000Z

There's a fabulous new permanent exhibition at the Castle Museum in Norwich called Decorative Arts. Lots of interior design inspiration! There's a great fashion section with fabulous examples from the Carrow Road textile archive - this isn't easily accesible to the public (I think you have to book an appointment) so it's great to see some items on display. They will be rotated every so often.

The exhibition is also made up of items that families in Norfolk have collected over the last few centuries. There are beautifully made pieces from all around the world including exquisite embroidered sleeves from China, Art Deco and Nouveau jewellery and many beautiful knick knacks like the girl below. It's a fascinating glimpse into the the work of some very talented people.

You can get in to the Castle for £1 if you go for the last opening hour any day or between 12-1pm on weekdays during term time. I find an hour is perfect to take in one or two sections before I start needing a cup of tea. Make the most of it!

Play

2009-03-20T19:02:00.006Z

For Lent Ben has given up being stupid and is trying to be more cultured (this includes not reading The Sun!) It was one of our goals for our second year of marriage to share some form of learning together. We thought originally we might tackle an interesting book together but after our trip to the jazz bar in Bath it's turned into seeking out things like music and plays.

From this season's Playhouse programme we thought the play Dai (Enough) looked like the most interesting. It was given rave reviews at the 2007 Fringe festival so we thought we'd go for it.

Set in a Tel Aviv cafe, it portrayed several different characters talking about their lives and views on the Israel/Palestine war in the moments before a suicide bomber blew up the cafe. It was acted and written by Iris Bahr who was amazing - to be on the stage for nearly 2 hours must have been an exhausting experience for her and it was a brilliant performance. There are some clips on her website here.

I hate lent in a childish way :(

2009-03-18T22:01:00.003Z

This morning I had a clothes crisis. It happens every so often... I experience a feeling of complete and utter despair about my wardrobe and hate my curves and have a little strop in front of my mirror. All this takes about an hour which means my flex time suffers and this morning I woke Ben up prancing on squeaky floorboards between the wardrobe and mirror.

Normally a morning like this would bring on a guilty shopping spree at lunch but as it's a week before pay day and I'm doing this STUPID lent thing I couldn't spend a thing. Plus the winter to summer season change is the one I find most exciting and want to embrace as soon as possible. It feels wrong wearing winter dresses!

I guess this is all part of going cold turkey from a bad habit - it's just my inner child needing to have a strop until I get over it and feel mentally ready to complete the rest of lent with a smile. As my dad would say, it's character building (GRR) and maybe this will have more of a spiritual impact than I first thought.

Talk of the lillies in the field and starving Africa will have to come later. I feel so immature!

Credit Crunch Part 2

2009-03-17T18:17:00.003Z

It's affecting us all which makes everyone want to talk about it, especially when the share price at work fluctuates so much every day and people are becoming fractions of civil servants. Which means people strike up conversations with me about the economy or buying shares or whether we'll have jobs next month, and I just want to say: learn my limits!! I don't understand such things and my poor brain is scrambled enough as it is, especially living with Ben's lenten abstinance from everything thick.

But I still don't like kittens because they make my throat sieze up, so don't talk to me about them either!

Weekend Experiment, or Credit Crunch Part 1

2009-03-16T18:02:00.005Z

This week I bought a medium sized chicken for exactly £3.

On Friday I made a simple roast dinner for 2 - extra ingredients were half a brocolli and roast potatoes cooked in goose fat (YUM). Bit of an odd time to have a roast but it meant having time to use the rest of the chicken for my weekend experiment.

On Saturday I made a chicken pie for 4 - extra ingredients mushrooms, white sauce, shortcrust pastry and the other half of the brocolli and a carrot on the side.

On Sunday I made chicken stock with the carcass - extra ingredients garlic, a carrot and a few peppercorns.

Today with the stock and leftover meat I'm making chicken soup, probably 6 portions - extra ingredients butter, carrots, handful of rice, bread rolls to serve.

Half of the stock will make vegetable soup next weekend if I can work out a way to freeze it????

That's 12 meals out of £3 of meat and £7.14 of extra ingredients (according to Tesco.com, although much of it I had in the cupboards already)...

= average 84.5 pence per meal.

This housekeeping lark is starting to make sense, thank goodness poor hubby isn't fed up with chicken yet. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?!

Holy whispers

2009-03-09T21:21:00.000Z

Ben gave me this Chant CD for Christmas - I love presents like albums or books that take a while to unwrap. The music is sung by the Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz. Cistercians have a reputation of being silent and making good beer. Their music is very calming, nice for background while savouring the last moments of a weekend.

Lent and life update

2009-03-04T22:24:00.004Z

It's the end of the 8th day of lent. I felt my first pang of serious temptation to go shopping today. Luckily I've been too preoccupied lately to have any time for shops. Only 38 days to go.

I've discovered Thai Wellbeing in the city, the big purple gym and beauty place opposite Debenhams. They run classes which normally I find at gyms are really full, out of my way and intimidating places to be. But this place is very friendly (and purple!) and on my way home. I went to a 20 minute abs session yesterday which only had 3 other girls attending. I'm aching now but looking forward to go back next week.

Other things keeping me busy have been finishing my third interior design module. I'm working on my fourth now which is all about floor plans and space. This is the first module where the assignment feels true to life - I've been given the floor plan of house with the client's brief and need to come up with a solution.

I've also landed my first proofreading job - a whole novel! And had a request to help the author and his wife with their house decorating project in the next couple of months. Exciting times - my CV is going to look even more awesome by the summer!

Eat the seasons

2009-03-03T23:37:00.000Z

I came across this website on my travels somewhere, I can't quite remember where to. But find it I did and I thought you might like a look, especially if you like your food fresh and green.

Lent

2009-02-27T19:33:00.004Z

I missed the day before Lent at work because I was away in Cardiff and Bath. But when I returned I noticed a long list of things people were giving up stuck on the window. It's funny how Christianity has permeated the lives of Brits even though we're no longer a Christian country. It's meant a couple of conversations being struck up about the C of E calender (which I don't know much about!) and the traditions of lent.

So for my office, according to Wikipedia...

In Western Christianity Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday [the day before Easter Sunday]. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.

And because the Sundays are a day of celebration, my office will be pleased to hear you don't have to fast on that day!

So there have been numerous promises made - to buy only one luxury item per month, to give up fizzy drinks, give up smoking, stop wearing skanky shoes, give up Facebook... I decided mine should be to stop spending my disposable income. Working near St Stephens with nowhere pretty to go at lunchtime makes this difficult and overspending has become a bad bad habit. I've made a temptation box on my desk and in it I'm putting a slip of paper with the things I think of to buy that tempt me.

In the first couple of days I've added about 20 slips, one of them appropriately being to see the new Shopaholic film... not that I would have actually bought most of the stuff but it's things that go round and round my brain until I cave and buy them. The box idea is really helpful to help me stop dwelling on the item. It reminds me of Bree...

I'm not sure if anything spiritual will come out of my abstinence, but if it starts a habit of being more responsible then I'm sure God and Ben will be pleased.

Bath

2009-02-26T17:08:00.004Z

Bath is quite simply the most refined city I have ever visited. Above is the Circus (Number 8 is Nicholas Cage's pied a terre) and the Royal Cresent, home to a £300+ a night hotel.

While Ben was off mountain biking in Wales for the day I wandered around the city soaking up the sights. The Mayor of Bath has volunteers who provide a free guided walking tour which was a brilliant way to see everything of importance. I need a week there to go and do everything I heard about, like a trip to the Thermae Spa and cream tea in the Pump Room (which would set me back £17!) I'd also need a day just to do the Jane Austen things as well, walking tour and museum.

My weekend was filled with lots of interior design inspiration and Bath is a fantastic example of Georgian architecture. There are numerous bylaws protecting the outer appearance of the buildings which has created a beautiful and historic city. I highly recommend a visit to Bath if you ever have the opportunity, I can't wait too go back one day.

Every time I travel back to Norwich from other parts of England it reminds me how much of a backwater Norfolk is. I love our county and its fine city but sometimes I crave more excitement and opportunities than it can offer. Ben blogged on a jazz bar we stumbled across and we've resolved to seek out more culture in Norwich - we know it's there somewhere!

I need to blog on lots of things...

2009-02-25T22:45:00.002Z

Bath (the city, not the noun)
My New Dressing Gown (yes it's cool enough for a blog)
Castle Museum exhibition
Alpha
Lent at work
Sewing boxes
Weddings
Patchwork quilt which is nearly finished
Eternal Sunshine
Culture

If some or all of that interests you check back in the next few months!

OMG

2009-02-19T20:41:00.003Z

Found this open when I was reading my husband's latest dedication to me...

http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=mind&typeofrhyme=perfect&org1=syl&org2=l

Chicken with garlic and rosemary potatoes

2009-02-15T20:57:00.001Z

During November and December I made more roast dinners than usual to practise for Christmas, so now I'm feeling more confident and able to experiment! Chicken seems the cheapest and most versatile meat as we usually have one roast dinner then use the leftovers for a curry, stir fry or chicken pie.

Normally I melt some butter in the microwave, baste it all over the chicken, sprinkle salt over and just cook it for however long it says on the packet.

Today I did the same and also added garlic cloves chopped into chunks to the bottom of the tray around the chicken and put it in the oven. Then I cut the potatoes into small cubes, par boiled them for about 5 minutes and added them to the chicken tray with a sprinkling of dried rosemary (fresh would probably be better though!) I basted the potatoes occassionally during cooking.

When the chicken was done I took it out of the oven and left it to rest (it's easier to carve then). I scooped out the potatoes and put them on another tray and put them back in the oven on the highest heat to brown. They went more crispy and than they look in the picture.

Meanwhile I made gravy - the potatoes being in the tray had made more juices than usual, so I used my superduper gravy jug to get rid of the fat, made a rue with plain flour and added chicken stock and seasoning.

It was all really tasty! Next time I want to try Jamie Oliver's Spanish chicken which looks more exciting.

Mack and Mabel

2009-02-15T16:40:00.000Z

14 February was Torvill and Dean Day in our house last year as that was when they danced their famous Bolero in 1984. Here's another of their awesome dances - they look like one person!

My eyes are going square from Google image searches...

2009-01-31T09:59:00.002Z

I was going to post this last weekend and never got round to it - and unfortunately it's still relvant this week!

I'm working on my third interior design assignment at the moment and trawling the web for pictures of "a room with something wonderful about it that you wish to emphasise". If you have such a room in need of some cohesion or design that you want to send me a picture of it would give me valuable practise.

You might get a few design tips for free in exchange - I can't promise the finished product will be any good but it might get better the closer I get to August and finishing my course!

Revolutionary Road

2009-01-22T22:09:00.003Z

I don't often get excited about films but I'm really looking forward to this one:

(Ha! I managed to do that all by myself!)

I'm

2009-01-20T19:30:00.001Z

Following Ben's itheme there's a new initiative set up by Microsoft to give money to charity and it doesn't cost you a penny...

You can find more information here but all you need to do is type a code into your display name in MSN to chose the charity you want to support. You'll see a little logo appear next to your name and Microsoft will donate a percentage of the revenue they get from advertising to your chosen charity. You can also set up a signature in your Hotmail account to do the same thing.

Keep your eyes open for the launch in the UK as it's currently only running in the US.

Hidden gem

2009-01-15T12:00:00.000Z

I moved offices in January, for the fifth time since working for Norwich Union! Sentinel House on Surrey Street is supposed to be my department's final resting place for at least a few years now.

Sentinel was built in the 1980s as a flagship building for the company, complete with spire to match the NU logo. It has a well kept secret which you can see from the outside, but stained glass needs to be viewed from the inside to see it in all its glory. Unfortunately this one, four storeys high, has a column of lifts and balconies just a few feet away from it so it can't be seen properly.

There's probably an analogy in there somewhere with being cooped up in an office and not reaching your full potential...

Blogs on Blahtop

2009-01-11T17:58:00.006Z

Ever so often my darling (but slightly weird) husband texts poems to people. He has a special blog which he updates from time to time with his better offerings but I think it's probably little frequented because he's a bit bashful about it.

If you like a chuckle and don't mind some idiosyncratic grammar add it to your sporadic bloggers folder.

I'll explain: on our trusty laptop we have a very organised favourites folder (because I'm anal like that) and the blogs are split into 'Blogs' and 'Sporadic Bloggers' (which DH changed to 'Spraddick'). Those who are sporadic bloggers don't enjoy our patronage so much! If you don't blog for two or three months you'll probably end up there but we still love you.

Resolutions for 2009

2009-01-09T19:46:00.001Z

This post is overdue, not being quite the new year anymore, but here are my resolutions for 2009:

Finish interior design course in good time
Lose winter weight - helped by having weekly weigh-ins with a group of people at work!
Be more groomed, have regular hair cuts (I hate hairdressers), don't go to work with wet hair etc - I did this on a regular basis because sitting under a hair dryer for 10 minutes (long hair) is just too boring. But make more effort I will.
Spend more time with God and get involved with a church

That's it for this year and I'm pleased to say I've made a start with all of them. I still have my patchwork quilt to finish from last year's resolutions and I'll post pictures as soon as it's done. One more square to go.

I signed up to 43 Things which is handy for keeping track of goals and cheering each other on, although it doesn't always seem that active. I got an email from my past self yesterday asking me how things were going with God - handy nudge!

Making my new year's resolutions coincided with starting a new diary - I've kept a diary pretty consistently since I was about 14. I have a bit of a thing about stationery and was pleased to discover Laurel Burch's artwork through picking up this blank book in Waterstones. Keeping a diary is always more satisfying when writing in pretty books.

New art

2009-01-02T17:55:00.000Z

New look for the new year, hope you like it. The new heading is from a painting called Dance by Alphose Mucha - one of the prettiest google image search results I've ever seen!

I came across Mucha while reading about the history of design. Born in 1860 in Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic) he trained in Paris after his work impressed one of his employers enough for him to pay for education. He began his career as they typical penniless artist, drawing pictures for magazines. His lucky break came in 1895 when he was commissioned to create a poster for a play, Gismonda. His work became an overnight senstation and his style became known as Art Nouveau. The movement's belief that everything was and should be art inspired a wealth of design, including the entrances to the Paris Metro* designed by Hector Guimard:

Mucha died from pneumonia. He contracted the infection after being arrested by German troops when they invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939 - he was still influencial enough to be one of the first arrested. He was eventually released but he never recovered from seeing his beloved homeland invaded and died soon after.

* Who would have believed underground systems could display such stunning design! Even London makes this list.

A prayer for the new year

2009-01-01T11:51:00.001Z

Almighty God,
by whose mercy my life has been
yet prolonged to another year,
grant that thy mercy may not be in vain.
Let not my years be multiplied to increase my guilt,
but as age advances,
let me become more pure in my thoughts, more regular in my desires, and more obedient to thy laws.
Let not the cares of the world distract me, nor the evils of age overwhelm me. But continue and increase thy loving kindness towards me,
and when thou shalt call me hence,
receive me to everlasting happiness,
for the sake of Jesus Christ,
our Lord.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1794)

I think I can, I think I can

2008-12-30T18:31:00.004Z

I have a headache, withdrawal symptom of no food I think. Day 2 of the post-Christmas diet, I CAN do this!

On better news I'm 4/5ths of the way through my second assignment... roll on 21st century architecture.

Feeling and love

2008-12-28T13:38:00.003Z

Week 3ish of church...

As I understand it, feelings don't really come into love. Swooping gushes of joy are a an extraneous bonus. Talking of the incarnation this morning we were told, 'if you don't feel excited and joyful, you should!'

Actually I feel quite overwhelmed, and it all seems so removed and heavenly that it feels difficult to relate this to my life here and now. I'll acknowledge the incarnation is amazing, but do I feel joyful? Should I feel joyful? I don't think it matters what I feel, it IS.

On a good point I talked to an old friend of my mum's and she said it had made her day to know that I'm okay. That was nice.

One of us reads books so the other doesn't have to

2008-12-27T20:58:00.001Z

... is the philosophy in the Foster household, I'm sure you don't need to guess which one of us is which!

One of my unspoken resolutions for 2008 was to read more quality books and stop borrowing so much chick lit from the library. I kept a list in the back of my diary so I could check if the quality has improved and I think it has a little... out of a grand total of 44 books read this year (that I've remembered to write down anyway) I can highly recommend a handful!

I've already blogged on The Shack and The Rules of Parenting so here's the rest in no particular order:

Saturday by Ian McEwan - the most quality writing I've ever read
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Beloved by Toni Morrison - if you want to understand why Obama being black caused such excitement read this
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
The Island by Victoria Hyslop
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates - film coming on 30 January 2009 with the lovely Kate and Leo.

Awesome homemade present from Ben

2008-12-26T00:49:00.002Z

Preparation

2008-12-24T20:11:00.001Z

I love setting tables, something about the anticipation and prettiness. This is for Christmas breakfast tomorrow morning.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Reasons to go to church

2008-12-17T22:00:00.000Z

1. Not missing out - some Christians somewhere might actually be having a good time together.

2. Soaking in all those pearls of wisdom that old people have... not only the old people, just learning from people at different stages of life.

3. Living as a head Christian isn't very fun - you know how it feels if you've been stuck in the house and haven't spoken a word out loud all day?

4. Understanding more about and getting closer to God - reading theory is all very well but there's something different about doing and observing faith.

5. Meeting new people, making new friends

The Rules of Parenting by Richard Templar

2008-12-13T12:15:00.001Z

Perhaps a little bit prematurely I've been dipping in and out of this book lately. Before you all get excited we are not having children yet as they would probably appreciate a bedroom. Getting onto the proprty ladder is our first priority.

The Rules are in 100 bitesize chunks in 10 chapters covering staying sane, attitude, discipline, personality, siblings etc. It's been interesting for me reading it because it's enabled me to put my finger on things that weren't right during my childhood and it's helping me discover why and what would have worked better. Beyond that it's really helping me take in what an awesome responsibility being a parent is.

I highly recommend it whether you're a parent, thinking about it or you have children who have moved away - it even has a section on dealing with grown-up children! It will probably stay on my bookshelf for years and years.

Goop

2008-12-11T12:58:00.000Z

Goop is a nice website, at least I like it's concept. Written by Gweneth Paltrow but down to earth (apart from the massive budget you would need to try some of her recommendations in hotels and restaurants!)

Interior design - temples

2008-12-07T09:00:00.000Z

I'm studying a really interesting course in interior design, currently working on my second of 12 assignments. This one is looking at the influences used in buildings from the 16th to 21st centuries.

For instance, how many times have you seen a Greek temple? Never been to Greece?

Temple of Zeus

Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Holkham Hall, Norfolk

Marble Hall, NU's head office in Norwich

City Hall, Norwich

Not very interior, but architecture is turning out to be a fascinating and important starting point. An interesting point is that interiors tended to match exteriors quite rigidly right up to perhaps the mid 20th century. Now it's much more likely that you might find a sleek open-plan minimalist interior in the shell of an old farmhouse cottage.

I'm enjoying The Home Show on Channel 4/4OD at the moment with the yummy architect George Clarke. I'm a sucker for makeover shows but this one is really inspiring and has some great tips on styles around the world. It's great for hearing vocabulary I've come across in my course being used in context, helpful for distance learning.

The Shack

2008-12-04T14:00:00.003Z

I've been off work for the two days now (flu) and, being bored and sleepy, a book while wrapped up in bed is the perfect way to pass the hours. Yesterday I finished The Shack, a book I came across by chance while looking at books in Tesco months ago for a birthday present.

The blurb says... 'The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?"' I've rarely pondered much over that question, maybe I've never dealt with pain big enough to have to question God's ultimate goodness.

For me what really touched me was the portrayal of God. For ages now I've been stuck in what I feared God would call a lukewarm mindset. I haven't stopped believing that God is awesome and worthy of praise but I couldn't muster up any excitement or real-ness about that. God was becoming a distant being, someone who might love me a bit but would one day judge me and reject me for having such a passive and small faith.

I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who might want to read it but I think it's completely changed my attitude. I'm not worried anymore! God and I are going to take this tiny seed of belief in my heart and make it grow again.

I highly recommend reading The Shack - I'm definitely going to revisit it soon.

Bendy bus

2008-12-03T11:30:00.000Z

A little bit of Norwich made an appearance on Top Gear this week!

Freaky rainbows

2008-09-17T11:52:00.003Z

This was on the Telegraph website today, how cool!

My monk book - part 1

2008-09-10T11:53:00.002Z

Ben laughs that I call this my monk book but he would get confused if I refered to it with its title, and there's lots of interesting things in it to talk about.

My monk book is one I came across in the library, Finding Sanctuary - Monastic Steps for Everyday Life by Abbot Christopher Jamison who was involved in The Monastery programme on BBC a couple of years ago.

The first part is Everyday Life - How did I get this busy? Abbot Jamison talks about the search for real sanctuary and how to build this in the midst of everyday life. 'Sanctuary' means a holy place of refuge. The word has been commercialised in the shape of package holidays, spa breaks etc but those things can only provide a brief refuge, and not a holy one.

Abbot Jamison reckons the entry to true sanctuary is VIRTUE. This is Psalm 15:

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

He says: 'You cannot mistreat people one moment and then find sanctuary in the next. Finding the sacred begins with the recognition of the sacred in your daily living... ...Virtue is the recognition of the sacred in daily life.'

The rest of the book talks about parts of the Rule of St Benedict. The first one is silence which I'm having a go at, so I might blog on that soon.

Ode to country living

2008-09-06T09:00:00.001Z

These are pictures from our walks around Suffolk (which is a really pretty county). And thus our dream of owning a little country house of our own was born.

So we're moving back to Norwich instead!! Which SUCKS!! But we'll be able to save a tonne (well maybe just enough) money to get a mortgage on a little patch of England.

When we get fed up with the noise of the traffic and not being able to go on country walks by stepping out of our front door, and when the bin men wake us up and the neighbours bang on our terraced walls these are the pictures that will be in my mind.

We're moving back to Norwich

2008-09-06T07:00:00.001Z

Is all decided and deposit paid for our new rented flat off Dereham Road.

Woe for leaving Diss :(

Holidays

2008-08-30T15:20:00.001Z

After going to Wales and getting the car we've been planning loads of things we want to do and places to go. Suddenly we have holiday plans for the next three years!

Italy is top of my list - I'd love to soak up some sun, stay in a Tuscan villa and see some culture and art. But this will have to wait until 2010.

For 2009 Ben fancies climbing Ben Nevis and I need to catch up with family (especially my ancient Grandpa), so Scotland it is. We'd like to experience some Celtic spirituality so I'm thinking a trip to Iona would be good.

Make me a Christian #2

2008-08-27T17:32:00.002Z

After dubious beginnings the third (final) episode was really encouraging to watch. I recommend it!

My recent web wanderings

2008-08-22T13:00:00.000Z

online church

housewife forum

napkin folding guide

maps for walking and holidaying

yoga postures and how to do them

Cornwall

And the best one...

The Great Idea of our Faith

2008-08-19T17:33:00.007Z

I've been watching Make me a Christian on 4OD with interest, especially after Make me a Muslim was on not so long ago. The concept is to get a group of people to live like Christians for three weeks in the hope that they will experience God and maybe convert.

I think the programme causes more questions than it answers. It seems a pretty backwards way to explore Christianity. The people seem to be expected to give up some entrenched habits immediately, like Kevin who has slept with loads of girls behind his girlfiend's back. It emphasises the stereotypical view of Christians as people who don't do certain things, rather than using their experience as an opportunity to delve into why they feel drawn to finding out about Christianity.

For some, like lap dancer Faye, stripping away the ungodly habits seemed a good way for her to reassess her life and think about her self-image etc, but it seemed to leave more dispair and emptiness than joy and completeness. I can't see the sense in asking people to give up things when they haven't yet asked God to help them. I think faith leads to actions, actions don't necessarily lead to faith.

Make me a Muslim was insteresting (although you have to wonder how accurate these reality things are!) There are similarities which always make me think maye the two religions aren't so different in essentials after all. But I wonder if this is because people will always find at least a degree of peace when they actually make the effort to seek something and find meaning in it. Taking timeout to pray/meditate in whatever form is probably always going to strengthen the soul in some way because it encourages you to be still and silent and practise things like forgiveness and humility. Sharpening the saw is one of the Seven Habits!

This bit of an article I read in Relevant Magazine today sums it up:

Imagine for a moment that you have no recollection of the life and message of Jesus Christ. And imagine that someone who knows this message well comes to tell you about the Christian faith. They say to you:

Jesus came to earth and died so that you could attend weekly meetings and give Him a slice of your income. You should, therefore, modify your behavior so as to fit in and believe exactly like we tell you to believe and resist getting too excited, for that would be in bad taste. Then you will fulfill your duty and rid yourself of guilt.

Would that be something you would accept? Probably not. Would those sentiments be true to the life and message of Jesus Christ? No, they wouldn’t. And yet that is where many of us find ourselves today.

Now imagine again that you know nothing of the life and message of Jesus Christ, and someone who knows this message well comes to share it with you. Their life is compelling and authentic. Perhaps they don’t fit all the Christian stereotypes, but they are driven by an otherworldly passion and commitment. They say to you:

The reason we don’t do things so well and there exists so much sorrow, death and injustice is that our sin permeates this world. Yet, this great God became like us because of His great love and, amazing as it seems, sacrificed our sin and guilt on the cross. If only we will accept his gift of salvation and surrender to His leadership, God will ignite a new passion inside of you.

Would you be more likely to connect with that message? Probably. Would those sentiments be truer to the life and message of Jesus Christ? Yes, they would. They comprise the great idea of our faith.

Our Welsh holiday

2008-08-19T16:57:00.006Z

Thought I'd blog about what we've been up to recently. Back in July we had a week off and went to Wales, our first road trip and camping trip together!

We drove to Brecon for the first few days and got close to nature at Priory Mill Farm where we camped. The silence was bliss - apart from the roar of the River Honddu a few metres from our tent! The Welsh name for Brecon is Aberhonddu - on the Honddu.

We made friends with the guy in the next tent who was on a fishing trip with his dog. He caught us a brown trout one night. We had a real campfire every night and toasted marshmallows. It was really nice to enjoy the peace and be away from the busyness of life.

We visited Brecon Cathedral and climbed Pen Y Fan -the tallest mountain in the Brecons:

We didn't take in any scenery because we were shrouded in mist bt the time we were on the ridge and couldn't see a single thing over the edge when we got to the summit! It was a nice gentle walk despite the horrid weather, only took about 4 hours to get up and down.

For the next few days we went to Cardiff to see brother-in-law and fiance in their new house. Ben turned 21 and we had a barbeque with our new extended family. We also had our first ever trip to IKEA which was AWESOME!

Dear Alfredo

2008-08-15T18:15:00.001Z

Dear Alfredo

I was so excited to hear about your offer!

I wonder if you can help. You see, I have a very great problem in that (I'm a little ashamed to say it - you might have guessed by my name though) I'm a girl. I don't have a penis at all at the moment! Are you able to help? I might need a bulk order - do you think 10 would do it?

I await your advice

Many thanks

Laura

Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:48:32 +0200
From: dwthomerm@thomer.com
To: lbehe@msn.com
Subject: From Alfredo Elliott

The Pe ktk n uo is Patch
Pen qfe is Patch will help you expand,
lengthen and en ild lar fm ge your pen wts is and
experience several major changes in your se qks x life! l

Dear Patrick

2008-08-15T18:12:00.000Z

Hello Patrick

What an interesting name - a joining of the Chinese and Irish heritages - wonderful!

You have been randomly selected to be given Fives Millions Pounds Stirling as part of my benefactress programme for people of Irish/Chinese heritage. To qualify you need to reply confirming that you are of Irish/Chinese heritage and give me your bank details. The funds will be transferred immediately and will take 3-5 working days (African time) to clear.

Please reply very urgently - it is imperative that I get your response.

If you are the first of my five choices to reply I will also give you my bank details and you can drain my account for all it's worth - all completely legal and free!!!!

Please reply VERY urgently!!!!!!!!

Yours with love and affection for the Irish/Chinese heritage

Laura Erin Gok Wan Brown

> To: laurabrown17@msn.com
> Subject: KINDLY CONSIDER MY PROPOSAL
> From: wangquin@yahoo.co.uk
> Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:07:55 -0400
>
> Good Day,
>
> Let me start by introducing myself.I am Mr. Patrick Chan director of operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd Hong Kong.
>
> I will need you to assist me in executing this Business Project from Hong Kong to your country.
>
> Five millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch.Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall
> then share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you.Should you be interested please send me your,
>
> Full names,private phone number,current residential address to my private (Email: mail2.patrickchan@yahoo.com.hk)
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Mr. Patrick Chan
> mail2.patrickchan@yahoo.com.hk
>
>
> I need your response on this

Tree people in Thetford Forrest

2008-08-09T14:02:00.005Z

George Orwell's diary

2008-08-09T13:08:00.003Z

Starting from today George Orwell's diary entries from 70 years ago are going to be posted as a blog. Will probably be an interesting read.

http://orwelldiaries.wordpress.com/

I've been thinking about:

2008-07-22T16:58:00.003Z

* interior design courses to set up a business working from home
* degrees in English
* primary school teaching

I need a plan...

Sunset in Cromer

2008-07-09T18:32:00.005Z

Last Friday Ben and I drove straight to Cromer after work and had the most relaxing evening ever, finished off with this spectacular view over the sea...

Life update

2008-05-23T19:03:00.000Z

Today is my 9th baptism anniversary :) It's a happy memory because I had this feeling of intense joy as I was lifted from the water and it always makes me remember the good bits about belonging to God.

Haven't blogged for ages not because of lack of things but because life is crammed full of living at the moment... well, kind of! Enduring the working week and playing hard at the weekends.

Both DH [dear husband in forum speak - I've been browsing a housewife forum recently!] and I are looking for jobs on and off. Ben needs a better all round job - better appreciation, opportunities, pay etc, and I need a new challenge preferably close to home. Interviews and job applications seem to take a lot of time and energy with some promise but no results yet.

Life is busy - since the addition of blahcar to our family we've been commuting together which is a LOT cheaper than the train (even counting in the cost of tax, insurance etc!) but means we're out of the house for the time our work overlaps - often means days of 13 hours out of the house which is so TIRING! It's the annoying kind of tiring as well, not because we're doing anything particularly stressful but because we don't have time to recharge between work days.

This is what our car would look like if it was pimped and had all its hubcaps - it waas missing one to start with and Ben left another one by the side of the road when it nearly broke down the first time! This morning it just conked out at traffic lights!! It's a love-hate relationship.

Weekends are my sanctuary at the moment. We've been making the most of the car, going to the beach and to places we've wanted to explore but never been able to. Even had an improtue barbeque with Ben's parents on that scorching hot weekend a couple of weeks ago which was nice to be able to do. Trips to the sealife centre, Gressenhall and Holkham beach are in store soon. I'm starting to appreciate Norfolk and its countryside as my home land lately, it's a nice to feel like I belong somewhere.

The summer will bring a trip to Cardiff to see Ben's brother and his new fiance in their new house (they got engaged this week!) and also a stop in Windsor on the way home for Ben to do a bungee jump (yes, a BUNGEE JUMP!) for his 21st birthday. Rather him than me!

I'm thinking of exciting things to do at the moment but not getting much opportunity to do them yet... I've been thinking about starting/hosting a book group for a couple of months now and as soon as work situations settle down a bit I'll be starting an interior design course.

Just now I'm in the forum waiting for Ben to finish work at 9pm. Really looking forward to the weekend!

Chicken pie - yum

2008-05-23T18:39:00.000Z

A Monday recipe, perfect for using chicken left over from the Sunday roast.

Make Delia's shortcrust pastry and wrap in clingfilm. Leave in the fridge while preparing the pie filling.

First, make a white sauce - melt a small knob of margerine in a saucepan and stir in about two tablespoons of plain flour to make a smooth paste. Add milk a litle at a time to make the amount of sauce needed - stir this constantly to avoid lumps! Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, boil some chopped carrots.

Bacon, onion and courgette are also really tasty in chicken pie - fry the onion and bacon lightly before adding, but corgette won't need cooking first.

Add the chicken, carrots and any other ingredients to the white sauce. Keep stiring it regularly while you roll out the pastry. Put the white sauce mixture into a pie dish and top with the pastry. Brush with a little milk (optional).

Put in a hot oven - at least Gas 6 or 200C - for about half an hour or until the pastry is crusty. Serve with fresh veg or mashed potatoes.

Photos

2008-03-15T18:07:00.005Z

My favourite room in our house is the lounge/dining room. These are it's four corners...

This is the mirror I painted last week...

Today we finished off the last room in the house (6 months after moving!) and cleared out a load of junk from the study. Ben made use of it to do a job application today...

And this is the current fridge message, it's from a poem by Yeats but we keep running out of letters...

Our new home 2

2008-03-07T20:46:00.001Z

Our new flat is starting to feel more like home, especially with the arrival of some very patiently and eagerly awaited furniture. Our first grown up furniture (ie not flat pack from Argos) was mulled over for a long time and we finally took the plunge a couple of weeks ago and bought our first proper dining table. Ben has been busy fixing mirrors and curtain bits to walls and I painted a mosaic mirror last night.

I'm still discovering new parts of Diss, especially as the weather is starting to brighten up at the weekends and I can go out running. There are a few quaint courtyards with delightful shops - if you've ever driven through Diss you might have only seen the horrid main road lined with supermarkets and heard the rumble of the (supposedly) regular London to Norwich trains, but it has many hidden delights and is a lovely place to live.

Pictures to follow later once I've cleaned the house!

Leek and carrot soup

2008-02-14T19:40:00.001Z

2 medium sized leeks
1 large carrot
25g cooking margerine eg Stork
2 pints of vegetable stock - can be made with Oxo or Knorr cube

Chop the leeks long ways then into small slices. Sweat in a saucepan with the margerine. Add the carrot, chopped into small pieces. Once heated through add the hot stock. Leave to simmer for 2-3 hours. If desired blend half of the soup to make a thicker consistency. Serve hot with fresh bread.

The greatest fun you can ever have with your other half...

2008-02-06T22:34:00.000Z

... is karaoke courtesy of Youtube.

Search for all your favourite songs and sing along - if you're unsure of the words have a lyrics website open alongside!

Shrove Tuesday

2008-02-05T19:50:00.001Z

Delia to the rescue again!

January reads

2008-02-05T19:48:00.001Z

I'm keeping a note of the books I read this year in the back of my new diary. January has been a mixed month, each book good in its own way. A lot of these were Christmas presents. Saturday was definitely the highlight, The Savage Garden disappointingly the lowest point I've visited in a while. I heard mixed reviews of the latter and although the plot had the potential to be gripping the prose lacked fluidity and it was impossible to get lost in.

This is what's been occupying my 30 minutes on the train each day:

Chloe by Freya North
Saturday by Ian McEwan
The Savage Garden by Mark Mills
Bridget Jones 1 and 2 by Helen Fielding
The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson
Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Taking me into February is Beloved by Toni Morrison - a book I studied for A Level and haven't revisited since.

On my list to get hold of is On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (do you see a theme emerging?! I've just discovered him and he's totally awesome) and Marshmallows for Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson. I've been blacklisted by the library for owing them too much though so will have to steal Ben's card until a cheque reaches them!

The greatest fun you can have with your other half

2008-02-03T12:49:00.000Z

You'll never guess what it is...

Into the second month of the year

2008-02-01T19:16:00.000Z

Janaury seems like the quickest month ever and at the same time the slowest. The beginning was spent with a quiet new year, seeing family and meeting Ben's maternal grandmother for the first time, all of which seems an age ago.

Since then Ive been super busy at work training seven new entrants who are all fresh from college, without much experience of the working world and with no idea what an annuity is. I'm their trainer for 8-10 weeks with my friend and colleauge Lauren. Today was tough as one of the newbies is seriously underperforming compared to the rest and I had to give feedback to my manager so he could consider if it's going to be worth spending time training him. Being a trainer takes much more time than a normal 35 hour week.

As a result January has flown by and I haven't started on many of my new resolutions, which are:

1. Lose winter/Christmas weight and maintain enough for the nurse to not look condescending at my next checkup
2. Whip finances into shape
3. Invest time and effort in a lot of relationships - increasingly this is turning out to be important at work as well in order to progress
4. Practise flute - I don't want this skill to rust any more than it already has
5. Complete my Certificate in Financial Planning 1 - boring but has to be done, another work thing
6. Finish my patchwork quilt - a project I've had going for many years since I was given a kit one Christmas. It's made steady but very slow progress and I'd like to have it hanging on the wall by the end of the year.

The Daily Motivator

2008-02-01T19:14:00.000Z

http://greatday.com/ is a nice website, it has a daily motivational message without any added cheese.

Our new home

2007-09-24T21:06:00.000Z

We've been living in Diss for 2 weeks now - not quite settled yet as we're still house sharing but that shouldn't be for much longer.

The second week of our honeymoon was spent exploring Diss town. It's so peaceful after living in the centre of Norwich and I love being truly away from work. Even the commute is nice - 20 minutes in which to read a book while travelling through pretty Norfolk countryside.

Yesterday we visited Fair Green which is an old field in Diss - the site of fairgrounds for over 800 years. It's written into the deeds of the land that a fair is allowed to be there at least twice a year. We've yet to step across the border to Suffolk but I hear it isn't far away...

I've been to Diss Christian Community Church (DC3) twice now, Ben joined me this week after working last week. We're both really looking forward to getting involved in this church - although the overall style of the church isn't what we'd normally look for the people are really friendly. Part of our relaxing part of our honeymoon was spent evaluating what we really need from a church so we could look more effectively. We're making a conscience effort to ignore any niggles! We decided that anything apart from fellowship can be easily met outside of church, so fellowship is what we're looking for and seem to have found very early on. So far we've enjoyed an evening with a couple involved in leadership/music and been invited to join the current Alpha group running until the house groups can accommodate us. Also this week we met someone there who works for Norfolk Constabulary in the department dealing with applications forPCSOs/police, which considering Ben's future career plans seems providential!

All in all I'm quickly forming a love for Diss and I'm looking forward to making this our home for the next few years.

In case anyone's missed it my new email is lauraejfoster at hotmail.co.uk

Last night of freedom

2007-09-24T21:00:00.000Z

My 'last night of freedom' was an awesome night of salsa dancing and tapas, organised by the bestest bridesmaid ever. Lauren arranged the whole thing including fun masks to wear for the night!

One of the highlights was meeting up with Ben and the lads on his stag night, it was a little bit lonely going out without him!

Wedding pics

2007-09-06T20:36:00.000Z

Yawn

2007-08-06T17:40:00.000Z

I just thought about the days when summer meant an enormous stretch of time with only one or two things to fill it.

I think this is the busiest summer I've ever had. There seems to be endless bits and bobs to sort out for the wedding, a million pounds to find to pay for it all, and if all goes well a house move to get through. I could quite easily not go to work and still need more hours in the day.

We should be moving to Diss in the second week of September - still working in Norwich but as it's only 15 minutes on the train it won't be a big commute and the peace of the countryside will be amazing, especially after living next to a 24 hour business for the last two years!

Overtime has just become available at work again after a year of being quiet so I've worked most of the weekend and now I'm tired.

Roll on September when wedding madness is over and all the boxes are unpacked...