tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15101756510348120192024-03-14T00:41:08.564-07:00Memories in the MudDigging up memories from the past and planting reminders of current memories for the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-50668835061711257242013-04-03T02:12:00.000-07:002013-04-04T02:13:18.497-07:0025 Weeks: So this is Heartburn<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tKEGgoSH6mo/UV1EGvI_VUI/AAAAAAAAB0s/yRn8C21x6RA/s1600-h/IMG_0548%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0548" border="0" alt="IMG_0548" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wmubAE8prAY/UV1EHU4CFcI/AAAAAAAAB00/Qa1QhbTEiWk/IMG_0548_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GEaqLFzbnHE/UV1EI082-8I/AAAAAAAAB08/Vj9dTyBuYWg/s1600-h/IMG_0589%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0589" border="0" alt="IMG_0589" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-07emDhoGarA/UV1EJstIhdI/AAAAAAAAB1E/NoGIvYhWyaQ/IMG_0589_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fUIUfnx1lho/UV1EKhvoSpI/AAAAAAAAB1M/_kk1Kx6zNzk/s1600-h/IMG_0574%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0574" border="0" alt="IMG_0574" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XF4jFsCKdlM/UV1ELemlRnI/AAAAAAAAB1U/1tL60WGKUOM/IMG_0574_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I’ve reached the stage now where I have to check my diary for the number of weeks pregnant I am, I’m still in the in between second trimester where I’m kind of used to being pregnant. My body has adjusted and it almost feels normal. Only a few weeks left until the third trimester and I’m sure things will change.</p> <p>I’m feeling well, I’ve got used to not sleeping so well and being a bit clumsy. I also discovered what heartburn is this week; it’s different than I thought it would be, but it’s almost impossible to describe it better than heart-burn. </p> <p>I feel like I’m really getting big and I’m trying not to do that pregnant lady waddle yet- there’s plenty of time for that!</p> <p>I’m struggling to eat a healthy diet though and snacking on chocolate and rice pudding (homemade), we’re cooking fresh meals for dinner but breakfast and lunch are mostly bread based which I’m sure isn’t helping. </p> <p>I have started carrying round a bottle of water and have really increased my hydration levels which has stopped me feeling so sluggish – who would have thought that all those people telling me to drink more water were right!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-13492613568077953952013-02-20T23:23:00.000-08:002013-02-20T23:23:00.621-08:0019 Weeks: Muscle Manipulation and Stretch Marks<p align="center"><img alt="File:Anterior Hip Muscles 2.PNG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Anterior_Hip_Muscles_2.PNG/400px-Anterior_Hip_Muscles_2.PNG" width="247" height="349" />        <img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="19 Weeks!" border="0" alt="19 Weeks!" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gji5EcQat2g/USTrjamMGqI/AAAAAAAABy4/ftBlBpUO5LY/photo%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="352" /></p> <p align="center">I’ve made it to the end of 19 weeks and I have my scan tomorrow, marking the half-way point! I am feeling good, partly due to the weekly yoga sessions, the massage and the muscle manipulator and partly due to the appearance of Cadbury’s Cream Eggs in the shops. It did cross my mind to take a picture of my Cream Egg yesterday morning (Eggs for breakfast – that’s perfectly acceptable – right?!) but then I just ate it. </p> <p align="center">The muscle manipulator taught me a lot - the reason for my pre-pregnancy backache which has caused me a lot of pain in the past is my psoas, which I had never heard of before. The reason for my visit was the fear of the backache returning during pregnancy and not being able to take the usual medication that breaks the cycle of muscle spasm. I finally decided to do something about it and I’m really glad, I now feel that there’s hope! I also learnt that my pelvis is in the correct position; very solid and stable.</p> <p align="center">Pregnancy has made me learn things about my body that I never knew I needed to know. I thought I was fairly well educated in human biology and had read enough books pre-conception to know the most important things. This week I learnt not to do breast stroke – well I’ve spent the past 4.5 months compromising my pelvis this way and I had no idea.</p> <p align="center">I have had tiny stretch marks appearing which has had me using huge amounts of body butter and oil for the past few days, at least there’s nothing on my tummy yet, I have a feeling I may not escape pregnancy without a few battle scars, but I knew that was likely before I make the decision to have kids.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-26518492982089093762013-02-20T06:34:00.001-08:002013-02-20T06:34:08.343-08:00Afternoon Tea {001}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uvd00E3DSqE/USTezmudOZI/AAAAAAAABws/3QEnLsZHzoY/s1600-h/IMG_4711%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Afternoon Tea 1" border="0" alt="Afternoon Tea 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PxtBzSn-Ps4/USTe04ZiSyI/AAAAAAAABw0/RbJmdww53bQ/IMG_4711_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="372" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I7JcVNmTj2Y/USTe21gf3sI/AAAAAAAABw8/jUDUwCOYeWI/s1600-h/IMG_4712%25255B18%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Afternoon Tea 2" border="0" alt="Afternoon Tea 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sruR4UNQnJs/USTe3ySR3FI/AAAAAAAABxE/GPUWSizw-4A/IMG_4712_thumb%25255B15%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="372" /></a></p> <p>Grab a cup of tea; remember afternoon tea lends itself nicely to some dainty sandwiches without crusts – hot smoked salmon and crème fraiche for me, followed by a little piece of cake.</p> <p>Life is good at the moment here, we’re at the start of our child bearing years and it’s exciting. I’ve enjoyed being pregnant so far and I’m now more than halfway. It was really important to me to see the beauty in this time and to think of the overall picture and of how lucky we are. I decided this early on before we were pregnant, when I heard friends complaining. During the months we were trying to conceive it was even clearer to me that pregnancy was a gift and like anything attitude was one of the most important points.</p> <p>I feel like I’m learning skills which I hope to use again, my body have amazed me in its knowledge of how to adjust and support a growing baby. This really has made me appreciate the power of my brain and the knowledge that I can’t even access. Of course it’s not always glamorous – suddenly vomiting in your hands as you run up the stairs to the bathroom wasn’t the highest point (sorry that’s a bit much for afternoon tea) but it does make me laugh now!</p> <p>I’ve made the most of the excuse of being pregnant and have been doing two hours of yoga every Wednesday afternoon which has made me feel so much better and has given me a great support network. Yesterday I started something new too, it’s a combination of physiotherapy, muscle stretching and massage and it was wonderful. I’ve been treating myself fairly well which probably adds to my general feeling of wellbeing. </p> <p>I hope you’re taking good care of yourself too.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-57211458163348321882013-02-03T23:03:00.000-08:002013-02-03T23:03:00.905-08:00Chilli Dog on the Pier {March 2012}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LsMRcaPmFZk/UQuvJ--Ck9I/AAAAAAAABus/yLWncp2ZaKc/s1600-h/IMG_1846%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1846" border="0" alt="IMG_1846" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EfO_lCdyBag/UQuvLAQ9WqI/AAAAAAAABu0/2hy5bYgXhik/IMG_1846_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="704" height="471" /></a></p> <p align="center">Ever since <a href="http://mudmemories.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-celebration-of-travel-around-world.html">mentioned my favourite street food</a>, I have been obsessing over it, I need to find some of those American crisps, Freetos I believe, I think there’s nowhere to buy them in Scotland, I may need to try out some alternatives. Pregnancy, rather than give me specific cravings, has made me obsess over foods I see other people eating or photos of food, adverts etc. I need to avoid images of food I cannot easily obtain! </p> <p align="center">So back to Santa Monica…</p> <p align="center">Los Angeles is somewhere that I tried to avoid visiting in 2009, it was flight 5 of 8 in a two week round the world trip and I was considering adding 2 more flights to that list before I came to my sense and decided to give LA the benefit of the doubt, it was two nights between Australia and Toronto, if it was as bad as I had heard I could just sleep it out in the hotel and I wouldn’t have lost all that much, my aim was to relax and recuperate.</p> <p align="center">I <b>loved</b> LA, for a long time it was top of my list of favourite places in the world and definitely in the USA. I stayed in Venice and loved it there, I ate great food and the people were helpful, I travelled by local bus to various other parts of the city too and found Santa Monica which was my favourite. </p> <p align="center">Last year when I returned to LA, I stayed in Santa Monica, I did a bike tour and ate chilli dogs on the pier; it was refreshing and interesting and I felt ready for the next leg of my tour. I just wish I would get those chilli dogs in Scotland, although they may not taste quite as good as in LA.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-90258231333514997832013-02-01T02:44:00.001-08:002013-02-01T02:44:19.322-08:00A Celebration of Travel {Around the World}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--Nql9ifgy5s/UQucfJI8k3I/AAAAAAAABsw/MbVgb-zNLcU/s1600-h/image%25255B6%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NlKCOQxaVnk/UQucgnVQWZI/AAAAAAAABs4/NBuBnyWqnBY/image_thumb%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="807" height="406" /></a></p> <p align="center">Recently I’ve been writing a little and thinking rather a lot about travel. Travel has been a big part of most of my life, we were lucky enough to have had family holidays abroad as children, the opportunity to work abroad as a student, then as an employed grown up the opportunity to travel with work. We have also priorities travel and holidays over the past 5 years while we have had the money and time to do so.</p> <p align="center">So in this transition stage rather than think about what it will be like to travel a lot less often I am celebrating the great opportunities I have had and the great places I’ve been. I used <a href="http://www.wordle.net">Wordle</a> to create the image above of everywhere I can think of outside of Scotland that I’ve visited, the bigger the word the more visits. It’s not bad going for just under 30 years. Just for fun, here are a few favourites along the way:</p> <p align="center">Best street food: Santa Monica, LA – Chilli dog with all the toppings, cheese, pickles and chips</p> <p align="center">Best conversation in another language: Cahors Market, France - chatting to a nougat seller about how expensive Paris is in French</p> <p align="center">Most thought provoking trip: Johannesburg – Seeing the huge houses with pools minutes from township</p> <p align="center">Best purchase: Texas – Real cowboy boots from Cavendars</p> <p align="center">Best adventure: Florence, Italy – Getting the overnight bus to Florence from Potenza, staying in a tent in the city and meeting random people {I love Lonely Planet}</p> <p align="center">Most going local trip: Uganda – Staying with a local and hitting the Entebbe night clubs and eating roast chicken cooked on a fire in the street</p> <p align="center">Farthest from the sea: Denver, Colorado, USA</p> <p align="center">Most peaceful location: Zion National Park, Utah, USA</p> <p align="center">Place I’d buy a house: Lott region, France, weather, wine and cheese</p> <p align="center">{Posts to come soon on these favourites – links will be added}</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-70153010391537484432013-02-01T02:02:00.001-08:002013-02-01T03:00:17.179-08:0017 Weeks–Guessing Games, Babymoon Flights and Biscuits<p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1xMjN79iVgo/UQuSdRgc-2I/AAAAAAAABqE/4w6qEP6qKoE/s1600-h/IMG_4948%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4948" border="0" alt="IMG_4948" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GEvIvD4zeLQ/UQuSed70ioI/AAAAAAAABqM/esy5MRF6xnU/IMG_4948_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="203" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pS2H64QzNb0/UQuSgGj1IVI/AAAAAAAABqU/FNKdZxzwezY/s1600-h/IMG_4938%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4938" border="0" alt="IMG_4938" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-84jP5T0rgQQ/UQuSg7BGO0I/AAAAAAAABqc/28jv8C6N7mo/IMG_4938_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1Gm4_CNZEkc/UQuSjXHxQlI/AAAAAAAABqk/g-z9EPTMzrw/s1600-h/IMG_4949%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4949" border="0" alt="IMG_4949" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mlyBBZ1N30c/UQuSkEAi0eI/AAAAAAAABqs/6gNz6zBVi7E/IMG_4949_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4KAgpw_mSTs/UQuSoCc0KNI/AAAAAAAABq0/SJnZsBU6xTI/s1600-h/IMG_4965%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4965" border="0" alt="IMG_4965" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vstSBBjHjjg/UQuSqDvcoII/AAAAAAAABq8/5YuLr7AU3xw/IMG_4965_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of 17 weeks already! I am starting to have a real bump now and for the first time someone has tried to guess whether I’m having a boy or a girl – come on people, you have a 50:50 chance of getting it right! Apparently I’m carrying high for this early so it’s going to be a boy?!</p> <p align="center">In other news I visited the midwife this week and everything is at a fairly average height for my dates, which sounds more realistic to me! Anyway it amuses me, but maybe I should tone down the sarcasm a bit “Yeah we’re pretty sure we know what’s in there, the ultrasound was pretty clear, it looks like a human baby”. </p> <p align="center">This week has been pretty good; it started off with a very relaxing weekend, a little shopping and a lot of lounging about. I have had some serious biscuit binges this week including buying a 6 pack of chocolate and cereal bars and eating all 5 in one afternoon. I blame it on the cold weather!</p> <p align="center">I haven’t had a sudden burst of energy now I’m in the second trimester but I am glad to be having a break from the sickness, I still don’t go anywhere without a large zip lock bag for emergencies though! Pregnancy is not glamorous all the time.</p> <p align="center">This week we booked flights for our Babymoon - which all sounds very American! We are going to Toronto for 10days, I am tagging this onto a work trip and I am looking forward to it so much, it will cover some of weeks 22-24 and will probably be my last long haul flight for some time, I am going to focus on relaxing and having lots of romantic meals with my boy.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-17470062439798503542013-01-24T00:59:00.000-08:002013-02-01T01:11:33.113-08:0016 Weeks–More Snow and Wrapping Up Warm<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-af8ewEWoKkQ/UQuEPFcTBcI/AAAAAAAABnY/I3TXImodDts/s1600-h/IMG_4919%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4919" border="0" alt="IMG_4919" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_D242WCnVEc/UQuEP-kal6I/AAAAAAAABng/yS4bSpHIWfU/IMG_4919_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yXz2jU1FyoA/UQuESNZuN_I/AAAAAAAABno/3qjIIa33YqQ/s1600-h/IMG_4926%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4926" border="0" alt="IMG_4926" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1WaaXWbXpVQ/UQuEUM7DnoI/AAAAAAAABnw/PokpxZjf9uE/IMG_4926_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RIR4MfXHAik/UQuEWD5JiEI/AAAAAAAABn4/EjksJy0jMe8/s1600-h/IMG_4937%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4937" border="0" alt="IMG_4937" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C_7p-UUXiRI/UQuEWzN5zRI/AAAAAAAABoA/nFo_nyT_YUU/IMG_4937_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rtJsMcfeigY/UQuEYEPem3I/AAAAAAAABoI/J-GLX5OqC2A/s1600-h/IMG_4928%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4928" border="0" alt="IMG_4928" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q0l2_2fGDC0/UQuEZCn_WkI/AAAAAAAABoQ/a2ONtRsvV1Y/IMG_4928_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">I love the winter time and this week had a proper snowy winter feel to it. I love wrapping up in layers and wearing boots over my favourite pink/red maternity jeans. It’s also a great excuse to spare 10minutes whilst the car warms up having coffee and croissants.</p> <p align="center">I feel like I’m starting to look pregnant from a side on view now, some outfits are more subtle and others are really obvious. </p> <p align="center">My nausea seems to be gone now although I still have to avoid acidy foods first things in the morning, favouring decaff coffee or milky tea over my old winter favourite of hot orange juice.</p> <p align="center">I’m really enjoying my Wednesday Yoga classes, it’s such a great opportunity to talk to other pregnant girls and be able to ask the teacher who is a midwife about anything. It’s also a really nice relaxing break mid-week, sometimes (always) I’m really struggling by Friday at work and I doubt I’d make it as far as I do each week without taking the two hours out.</p> <p align="center">I am really enjoying sleeping at the moment, as soon as I get home and eat dinner I am ready to sleep. I’m making the most of it while I have the time and I can still sleep relatively well. </p> <p align="center">We have been talking about names already, we are pretty much there with a girl’s name but I’m finding boys names so much harder, which is strange because we have been referring to the baby as a ‘he’ even though we have no idea. There’s no pressure, plenty of time to decide these things still and it’s always funny using those random baby name generators. I would like to pick names that mean something to us though, but maybe we’ll get desperate in the later stages!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-57523783380934159982013-01-18T01:24:00.001-08:002013-01-22T02:14:01.197-08:0015 Weeks–Maternity Wardrobe and Snow<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IFweliICjxg/UPkUfGvasMI/AAAAAAAABfs/9_w-R97Cpwo/s1600-h/IMG_4888%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4888" border="0" alt="IMG_4888" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NdE0OJkdZFg/UPkUhBKlJwI/AAAAAAAABf0/zGIjJaW9P4k/IMG_4888_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-deTQ0Z7Caiw/UPkUlTkBJ2I/AAAAAAAABf8/n7LfRfGQppk/s1600-h/IMG_4882%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4882" border="0" alt="IMG_4882" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QoHEEqSu3rU/UPkUnkW45KI/AAAAAAAABgE/MqWhitFz1_s/IMG_4882_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DW5BIRporG0/UPkUqBvjHKI/AAAAAAAABgM/7h87BwcXf1Q/s1600-h/IMG_4889%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4889" border="0" alt="IMG_4889" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3CfITBaPL94/UPkUrGw0WdI/AAAAAAAABgU/Kv3p7iQLPss/IMG_4889_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XcRRBKH_lv8/UPkUs2lZTRI/AAAAAAAABgc/7uPeRGeSZ28/s1600-h/IMG_4898%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4898" border="0" alt="IMG_4898" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZOZi5j2xiTU/UPkUt8iXbSI/AAAAAAAABgk/4FSBCRj57MA/IMG_4898_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">It’s pretty worrying how happy I was to get some decent maternity jeans – it <u>almost</u> made me look forward to getting up for work early on Monday morning to wear them. Perhaps I can use that as an excuse for going to bed at 7.30pm, rather than the fact that my usual number of lengths at the swimming pool rendered me so exhausted I didn’t even have the energy to brush my teeth.</p> <p align="center">Back to the clothing, I spent a total of £220 on my complete maternity wardrobe – I hope that will see me through to July. Here’s the breakdown:</p> <p align="center">- H&M Grey Skinny, Mamma Jeans (£15)</p> <p align="center">- H&M Salmon Pink Skinny, Mamma Jeans (£15)</p> <p align="center">- H&M Two black tops, Mamma, one stripes, one spots (Total £30)</p> <p align="center">- H&M Two pack Mama long vest tops, one grey one green (£15)</p> <p align="center">- H&M Long great Mama jumper (£15)</p> <p align="center">- Marks and Spencer's – 4 non-wired comfy bras – fitted (Total £24)</p> <p align="center">- Gap – Long Pink and Red striped maternity top (£12)</p> <p align="center">- Gap – Grey maternity t-shirts – one vest sleeves, one capped sleeves (£20)</p> <p align="center">- Motherhood – Jersey dress black and green stripes (purchased in the US ~ £25)</p> <p align="center">- Motherhood – Grey and purple work dress (purchased in the US ~£20)</p> <p align="center">- Motherhood – 2 pairs of pregnancy tights, one patterned, one plain (purchased in the US ~£4)</p> <p align="center">- Mothercare – Red and white spots maternity tankini (£25)</p> <p align="center">Total cost for maternity wardrobe = £220</p> <p align="center">Maternity clothing is expensive in the UK and so much of it was rather frumpy, thank goodness for H&M and their clothes which look almost like what I would normally purchase.</p> <p align="center">Also this week it snowed, which made everything so pretty but also the road so slippy. I’m glad baby G is estimated for July – as far from the snow as possible!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-32440900616860398072013-01-17T06:57:00.001-08:002013-01-17T06:57:57.384-08:00The Weight of Berlin {Germany, Summer 2002}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MLzh9MS1CBI/UPgRX9VoG1I/AAAAAAAABdk/GgjkJ6-A4ak/s1600-h/2002_07_Berlin_East%252520Side%252520Gallery%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2002_07_Berlin_East Side Gallery" border="0" alt="2002_07_Berlin_East Side Gallery" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LUx5xrQ7YDw/UPgRZO2QESI/AAAAAAAABds/cD3-0TXeOZo/2002_07_Berlin_East%252520Side%252520Gallery_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="272" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RlO0NAV2DDs/UPgRbuiu_wI/AAAAAAAABd0/JyMMYBMllkU/s1600-h/img222%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="img222" border="0" alt="img222" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1CqE_ny99jU/UPgRc4Vsh0I/AAAAAAAABd8/iRXr6MgX2Nc/img222_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">I was 19 when I visited Berlin, it’s scary to think that was more than 10 years ago, but the feel of the city and the memory have stayed with me ever since. I was working in a nearby town and enjoying trying to speak a little German and getting to know the local area. It was a lovely summer weather wise and a perfect chance to explore.</p> <p align="center">I couldn’t have survived without the Lonely Planet for Berlin, it went everywhere with me in my handbag. I did most of the walking tours out of it too, spending my weekends wandering around the main sights and the lesser known interesting districts. I felt like I had a great feel for the city.</p> <p align="center">Previously I never had much historical knowledge about Germany apart from the very basic facts, so it was interesting to learn more and as I got to know the city more I felt like there was such a weight on it; that everyone there bore a certain responsibility and that they would never forget the past.</p> <p align="center">The information available, museums, information boards and memorials throughout the city impressed me and taught me a lot about the events of the past and the German people. Everyone I met was friendly, open and helpful to me and I quickly felt at home here.</p> <p align="center">In some ways it’s a good thing that I could hardly wrap my brain around the reality of the Second World War. I’m lucky to live in a time and place in the world where these stories are so alien to be I find it hard to believe they happened. But it is important to appreciate that the events were not all that far in the past and that they were also not very far from home.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-69351374136844736642013-01-14T04:43:00.001-08:002013-01-14T04:43:16.590-08:00Future Note to Self {Scotland September 2013}<p align="center"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="An Afternoon Walk in sunny Scotland before heading to the USA" border="0" alt="An Afternoon Walk in sunny Scotland before heading to the USA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tzJt3jguQsE/ThQ5XNHV7pI/AAAAAAAAAXM/yhONLYnNrd4/IMG_1451_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="414" /></p> <p align="center">I love to travel, I feel like I should add this disclaimer before I mention anything negative about travel. I appreciate that I’m very lucky to have the opportunities I have. Anyway that point to the side, onwards with the story.</p> <p align="center">Summer 2011 I travelled out to Texas – a common trip for me and a place I love to visit. The day before was one of those rare beautiful Scottish summer days. We went for a walk near our house to explore a new path we’d never been down. </p> <p align="center">I enjoyed this day in a bitter sweet way, for the next 10 days I would be away from home. As much as I enjoy when I am away, I realise more and more that I’ve found a partner that I want to explore new places with, even if it’s just 10 minutes walk from our front door.</p> <p align="center">This is interesting to me to look back on today (14/01/2013) – with disbelief that the weather was so nice, but mostly to think about how things will change as we welcome another family member into our lives this summer. </p> <p align="center">I’ll definitely remember how much I loved travelling at a minutes notice all over the world, but I hope I’ll also remember how much I missed being home with my wee family. It’s easy when things get tough or tiring to remember how nice it is to be in a hotel somewhere exotic with someone to change your sheets, do your laundry and cook your meals! But the people are what make me want to be home.</p> <p align="center">So to myself in September-ish when I would be in the USA, remember that you can never get this time back, but that you can travel to the US again in the future – perhaps with 2 companions.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-27364974155575642362013-01-12T14:58:00.000-08:002013-01-14T03:58:26.540-08:00What we want from a birthing centre {Scotland 2013}<p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4029/4295681234_da1fed308e_b.jpg" width="750" height="564" /></p> <p align="center">This weekend we visited the place which is top of our list of birth locations. It seems early to be making these decisions at 15 weeks and to be honest we don’t need to make the decision yet at all, but it feels good to find somewhere which feels comfortable to us. </p> <p align="center">Before I went I tried to come up with a list of what we want and expect from the place we choose. This is the first time we’ve done this, so I’m sure our list is naïve but it’s our starting point.</p> <p align="center">1. Guaranteed access to birthing pool</p> <p align="center">2. Less than 1 hours’ drive from home</p> <p align="center">3. Encourage natural birth</p> <p align="center">4. Must have ‘rooming in’ after (rather than a baby nursery)</p> <p align="center">5. Must be clean!</p> <p align="center">6. A feeling of calm</p> <p align="center">7. Allow us to visit beforehand</p> <p align="center">8. Not too busy</p> <p align="center">9. No ‘hospital smell’</p> <p align="center">10. Allows food and hot drinks during labour</p> <p align="center">11. Less than 45mins from emergency hospital</p> <p align="center">12. Ward for extended stays has privacy and not really busy</p> <p align="center">We were really placed that the place we visited covered all of these criteria, in addition the birthing room, has a great, relaxing view over the water and we can have people to visit afterwards as often as we like. The staff were friendly and relaxed and asked us to come back again in a few months when we make our final decision. </p> <p align="center">I just have my fingers crossed to remain low risk because I’m not a fan of our local hospital which will be our high risk alternative. At the end of the day though as long as everyone is well at the end that’s what truly matters, but if there is any way to make the experience more positive I will try to go that route.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-46063553929427198142013-01-11T02:36:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:01.195-08:0014 Weeks–Leggings, Yoga and Feeling Better<p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P6FOqSLVGOk/UPPf5dOEplI/AAAAAAAABY0/Z4vEwMJo23E/s1600-h/photo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8bCg6Eq1qTw/UPPf6qCqLvI/AAAAAAAABY8/9XOp3XyPmXA/photo_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6J5uoQD6oyc/UPPf8sVCwWI/AAAAAAAABZE/Ak603hgQkaU/s1600-h/photo%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo(1)" border="0" alt="photo(1)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9V3vWsv7wYU/UPPf918NzAI/AAAAAAAABZM/02ygTTsByB8/photo%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="171" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Cve3wdN46c0/UPPf_Q-x37I/AAAAAAAABZU/t_GwQkBN2BU/s1600-h/photo%2525281%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo(1)" border="0" alt="photo(1)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2VnPCoVMAtI/UPPgAfgJNTI/AAAAAAAABZc/pMQ3TQaOCd4/photo%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="133" height="254" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">I’m almost scared to admit that I’m actually feeling better now, still tired but I’ve not been sick for over a week which is cause for celebration. This make the first week back at work a lot easier than it would have been otherwise! I know it was to be expected as time went on but I’m worried that if I admit it the symptoms will come back with a vengeance!</p> <p align="center">I also started pregnancy yoga which I’ve been looking forward to for a while. It was very calming and hopefully will help me cope better later on, especially with any backaches. It was really interesting to meet with a group of other expectant mums – it made everything seem a tiny bit more real. It did however highlight my severe lack of flexibility; I really hope that won’t be a hindrance during labour.</p> <p align="center">I have a small bump now and so have entirely run out of trousers to wear and have resorted to boots, long tops and leggings. What did pregnant ladies to before leggings came back into fashion? I can’t think of anything more comfy that I could wear in public.</p> <p align="center">This week I told most of my work colleagues and friends, we’ve not had too much unasked for advice so far which is a relief because I have a feeling I won’t be handling that very well. Just to usual comments that our lives are going to change – as if we didn’t consider that before we started trying.</p> <p align="center">The weekend ahead is full of pregnancy related activity – maternity clothes shopping on Saturday – I plan to buy 80% of the clothes needed to see me through to July. Then on Sunday we’re visiting the place which is currently top of our list for delivery, assuming everything stays low risk.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-27193508235663730722013-01-08T08:18:00.001-08:002013-01-08T08:18:34.496-08:00I Facetime my Cats {October 2012}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IJv1MM8yY3U/UOxGxKhawdI/AAAAAAAABUg/2_MJpW97_NM/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6-C11gjM3VE/UOxG11VhqaI/AAAAAAAABUo/24nnXPhjV8g/photo_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="604" height="454" /></a></p> <p align="center">This seems like some sort of confession - reading the title and thinking a bit more about the fact that it may actually be somewhat unconventional to video conference your cats. But let’s face it; there are stranger people in the world than those chatting to their cats on Skype or Facetime. There were other people to chat to too; I haven’t quite managed to train the cats to answer Facetime calls – not yet anyway.</p> <p align="center">Sometimes it scares me the attachment we have to animals, my sister and I had many pets growing up: goldfish, hamsters, guinea pigs and Siamese cats. For some reason the memory I have of the guinea pig is of it tipping out of its cardboard box and bouncing into the hole my Dad has dug for it which still makes me want to do a nervous shocked laugh like I did that day. For some reason I remember clearly standing out in the rain while my Dad dug the guinea pig grave. However, I still remember the pain of losing the two cats, a painful part of growing up.</p> <p align="center">It was this fear of losing that almost stopped me getting cats, but then if I followed that rule, I would live on my own in the woods and never made any friends or relationships. Often I wonder if I would be happier that way or slowly go crazy talking to myself!</p> <p align="center">Instead we got two cats, pitch black brothers that most people can’t tell apart and I’m fiercely attached to them, I worry about then and I miss them when I’m away. I don’t know how I’ll cope when we have kids; at least they’ll be able to answer Facetime on their own after a couple of years - that might just make it bearable!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-19566405025876694992013-01-05T03:19:00.000-08:002013-01-18T03:20:06.716-08:0013 Weeks–Germany, Austria, New Year and Scan<p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PbAjiRbm5Xw/UPkvwaQGK1I/AAAAAAAABiU/X4zzVcZGOvA/s1600-h/PC301173%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PC301173" border="0" alt="PC301173" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e7DEUO2BRT4/UPkvxgVOJ_I/AAAAAAAABiY/nbBh1jZqADE/PC301173_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xKJf3cwL8ao/UPkvzFCwSEI/AAAAAAAABik/Kzl_sN7N-DQ/s1600-h/P1021496%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1021496" border="0" alt="P1021496" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oMRKD9Efc0g/UPkv0DFhTZI/AAAAAAAABio/jjT2Rj3kaOA/P1021496_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WkNYDA7oeF4/UPkv1YXuHkI/AAAAAAAABi0/7aOLw3D_XVU/s1600-h/P1011432%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1011432" border="0" alt="P1011432" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rm8qhs56w8s/UPkv2UL-8JI/AAAAAAAABi8/ZrYlSn8hYBI/P1011432_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yIRwYjbwpkE/UPkv39fGaZI/AAAAAAAABjE/U9qq4db5-OM/s1600-h/P1031838%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1031838" border="0" alt="P1031838" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h7HrnO12gv4/UPkv48AEIOI/AAAAAAAABjM/fo7RsdoK9nw/P1031838_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">Week 13 was a busy one, we travelled over to Germany and spent a few relaxing days in Munich which we loved, before driving down to Austria for New Year and a wedding. It was a good way to celebrate the start of the second trimester too!</p> <p align="center">Germany was some wonder time to relax after a busy Christmas, the weather was cold and frosty but we managed to sit outside with a croissant and coffee. I’m managing to control the morning sickness by having a drink and savoury snack before getting up. I still don’t feel great at some points during the day but this really helps me get started in the morning.</p> <p align="center">Munich was lovely; we did a Lonely Planet walking tour and saw most of the main sites. I even managed a few alkoholfrei beers, so I didn’t miss out on the experience of the beer halls!</p> <p align="center">We drove down to Austria for New Year which was interesting, the roads were so snowy and icy but we had a reasonable car and snow tyres. We were in Austria for a wedding but it was a great excuse to visit the local area and enjoy lots of hot chocolate.</p> <p align="center">I did have to take it easy though, I’m still adjusting to getting tired more easily and learning to slow down. It was nice to have a few days at home before the shock of going back at work. I think next week will be a struggle</p> <p align="center">We had a scan the day after we got back to and everything is looking good so far, it’s amazing how much detail we could see and the amount of movement. The pictures were really good too and this time we got to share them with friends and family now almost everyone knows.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-26790285428286916002012-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:55.279-08:0010 Weeks – Party, Frosty and Skirts<p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--FojEUm8Fo4/UMtXb1L23ZI/AAAAAAAABPY/pq_OKypSQtc/s1600-h/IMG_4776%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4776" border="0" alt="IMG_4776" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nsIvgJnNuB4/UMtXdEcDwGI/AAAAAAAABPg/RRxXn7vrPhA/IMG_4776_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I04hrAmplkE/UMtXfNO1LtI/AAAAAAAABPo/CQbCkC8IP0w/s1600-h/IMG_4783%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4783" border="0" alt="IMG_4783" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FLg8g_yn570/UMtXgIkx5wI/AAAAAAAABPw/6YITD9WuaqI/IMG_4783_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yH4Co3fiBRg/UMtXiT_UkuI/AAAAAAAABP4/KTBxO44OhLw/s1600-h/IMG_4777%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4777" border="0" alt="IMG_4777" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sJV_xMZ-cuM/UMtXjplcfHI/AAAAAAAABQA/xhlTml_K3rw/IMG_4777_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">Saturday marked week 10 in this crazy journey, it also was our Christmas and Engagement party, which was interesting trying to secretly stay off alcohol – it’s amazing how much peer pressure there is to drink!</p> <p align="center">I told Ellen, it was so fun to see someone else’s excitement in person; she’s probably the closest person I’ve been able to tell so far face to face. I also asked Grace to be our flower girl and she was excited.</p> <p align="center">This week I started having to use a hair band to fasten my trousers, I am super bloated. So this week I’ve mostly been wearing skirts, favouring those with elasticated waste bands! I’m also planning to get some new bras tomorrow; I can’t take the discomfort any longer. </p> <p align="center">I have been consistently, mildly nauseous apart from a sudden need to throw up this morning as I was running up the stairs. Catching throw up in your hands pressed tightly against your face is not what you need as you’re about to leave the house for work. Ginger cookies and tea seemed to bring me back to my usual slight nausea limit. The strangest thing is, there’s not much of a difference in the general nausea and the second before I throw up, which can make things awkward.</p> <p align="center">It seems Baby G is about 2.5cm long, which just seems so tiny. Next week is our next scan and hopefully it will look more baby like for us to show our family. Sometimes I love that it’s our secret and other times I am bursting to tell people. I know that I’m not going to cope particularly well with everyone making comments and looking at what I’m eating, drinking and doing. I’m enjoying doing my own research and making my own decisions at the moment! </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-5603362217142936762012-12-12T02:11:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:12:01.372-08:00From my Diary {September 2010}<p align="center"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pOS4k6akh8Y/TIEI7dOQhII/AAAAAAAABzM/_Pb-TETmEKA/P8310684_crop_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" /></p> <p align="center">From my Diary – September 2010</p> <p align="center">I got up earlier today; 6:30am which should be my new routine. I did one of the yoga programmes from a DVD. I've decided to do something active every day and provide myself with time to plan the day and eat breakfast without rushing around. I hope it's going to make me feel more focussed and fitter. <br />My friend’s baby was due last week but we are still waiting on news. I've become more comfortable with the pregnancy although I do keep having moments of feeling left behind. I think if one of our other close friends were also pregnant I'd feel a bit stranger. I just don't want to feel like I'm missing out, not engaged, not married, not trying for a baby. I think once my friend has the baby I'll be happier, it's the idea of being pregnant and experiencing something my body was designed for. <br />I have learned a few things from her pregnancy though, the first one is that I really want to have kids at some point and the main thing I want to do differently is to really be happy that I am pregnant and show it off and take lots of photos. My friend has about 2 photos of her with the bump and she seems embarrassed to be pregnant, I'd really like to take a weekly photos, I think watching your body change must be amazing.</p> <p align="center">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p align="center">It’s interesting to me the way I reacted to the pregnancy of my friend, I kept my feelings well hidden from her. But it made me realise how much I wanted to have kids, which was a positive thing. I can also say that I have been positive about the pregnancy so far and I really am enjoying being pregnant. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-17957868676820080442012-12-08T03:22:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:55.277-08:009 Weeks – Dublin, Buddy, Sleepy<p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S-zXJYTL0g0/UMtbRFUSMFI/AAAAAAAABRs/0faftUISC4o/s1600-h/IMG_4770%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4770" border="0" alt="IMG_4770" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c4-g67NS6pA/UMtbSjolN-I/AAAAAAAABR0/NUZ3k-rUePs/IMG_4770_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8o7qXEoXes0/UMtbVDr9VhI/AAAAAAAABR8/Lg04QGpm7EE/s1600-h/IMG_4773%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4773" border="0" alt="IMG_4773" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w3Z7l6IBA9A/UMtbWCPCI2I/AAAAAAAABSA/B-NXmt3Iu70/IMG_4773_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cgA5GxzpnJ4/UMtbYhfAz6I/AAAAAAAABSM/AkiU5-N6lNs/s1600-h/IMG_4771%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4771" border="0" alt="IMG_4771" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1VMJPfxqCRA/UMtbZ4HmieI/AAAAAAAABSQ/A4hEeKBRlNA/IMG_4771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kCbqLcHxbsM/UMtbbiuYsBI/AAAAAAAABSc/L4qlj7B93F0/s1600-h/IMG_4774%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4774" border="0" alt="IMG_4774" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-COFhWM1WeMo/UMtbctskUyI/AAAAAAAABSg/YUdMXN8T3BI/IMG_4774_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">Week 9 of growing Baby G, involved a trip to Dublin, he’s already turning into a well-travelled baby! I look forward to showing him many of my favourite places around the world one day.</p> <p align="center">Hopefully when I do it will be on more pleasant flights that the one to Dublin! The weather was so rainy and windy as we came into land, I was just concentrating on breathing in and out so as not to be sick – it was borderline but we landed just in time.</p> <p align="center">I’m making the most of wearing my clothes at the moment, skinny trousers and short skirts, because I’m sure their days are numbered! I’m thinking it will be a great excuse to have a really good clear out of my wardrobe too!</p> <p align="center">I gave a presentation in Dublin which went well and we went out for drinks after and pizza. Michael guessed and asked me directly – I knew he would notice something! It’s quite a relief telling people, especially when they guess or ask you straight.</p> <p align="center">Earlier in the week I went to a networking event and met a local friend who I discovered is also pregnant – I told her our news too, it means I will have someone on maternity leave nearby which I think will be necessary for my sanity!</p> <p align="center">Generally, I’m feeling ok this week, just the mild nausea and sore boobs but that’s to be expected and is a sign that things are progressing as they should. It’s strange sometimes I forget that I’m really pregnant, I don’t feel all that different, although I am ridiculously tired, I’ve had a couple of days where I’m truly worried I will fall asleep at my desk – having a fairly quiet time at work isn’t helping – although it’s not long until Christmas.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-67228028498295039502012-12-01T00:43:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:55.286-08:008 Weeks – Afternoon Tea, Work and Secrets<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HqOm6YFbrS4/UO1YEJMhOLI/AAAAAAAABWg/nKWLh-qbyR8/s1600-h/IMG_4720%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4720" border="0" alt="IMG_4720" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C7q9b_CRf_A/UO1YFWBp5RI/AAAAAAAABWk/yrfCOgxLqHU/IMG_4720_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-thMjPP-8ffE/UO1YHHY3FPI/AAAAAAAABWw/mCvc_S3GeIA/s1600-h/IMG_4712%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4712" border="0" alt="IMG_4712" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3Im3S9MtDJI/UO1YIcZbziI/AAAAAAAABW4/VVfSOMX7vf0/IMG_4712_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gS8HpLqsrtA/UO1YLXwRpFI/AAAAAAAABXA/w-oL9lrJcfE/s1600-h/IMG_4758%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4758" border="0" alt="IMG_4758" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oPlWVe2Ppso/UO1YMR3AbuI/AAAAAAAABXE/51GYX5px1-s/IMG_4758_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="center">I made it through my 8<sup>th</sup> week, I’m still don’t feel much different, I’m not sure what I expected really. I’ve been tired and nauseous and have almost fallen asleep at my desk twice this week. I had to drive up to the supermarket at lunch to park and shut my eyes for 15mins; sometimes I wonder how I will make it through to 5.30pm! I’m looking forward to lots of sleep over the Christmas holidays.</p> <p align="center">It was a good week, we took a day off mid-week to go Christmas shopping and had a lovely breakfast in Peckhams – French toast with fruit, yoghurt and maple syrup – my favourite. Then we blasted through the shopping. Afterwards we went for an afternoon tea at Carmelite in Aberdeen which I would definitely recommend. Next year I swear we are doing it all online, there is no way I can do this with a little one in tow – I may be able to make the afternoon tea though!</p> <p align="center">After the amount we consumed all we could do was get ourselves home, so it was just as well it was a reward for finishing! There was Jenga to play while we waited and it was a nice calm break away from the chaos of the Christmas shoppers.</p> <p align="center">I’m starting to feel my clothes are getting a little bit tight, due to a rather bloated stomach, although I know it’s nothing compared with what’s to come. I’m wearing longer tops and usually unbuttoning my trousers before the end of the day.</p> <p align="center">The in-laws are up this weekend, so I’ll be fake drinking champagne and looking for an excuse to be the designated driver on meals out! It’s fun having something so exciting to keep between you but sometimes it’s so tricky not to let people know.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-42203197103115722422012-11-20T02:45:00.001-08:002012-11-20T07:05:52.830-08:00Yellow in Utah {November 2012}<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4aUIh3V-Dlk/UKtfTPthU_I/AAAAAAAABLo/Q5Hg0xs56ZY/s1600-h/PB030721%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Autumn in Utah" border="0" alt="Autumn in Utah" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dJkyE6yItR0/UKtfWDw2FqI/AAAAAAAABLw/FXxwj30IYmI/PB030721_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p>Utah is in danger of becoming my favourite US State, a position held for the past two years by a tie between California and Colorado. There are of course still so many states to visit.</p> <p>My visit to Zion National Park is something I will remember for a long time. There’s the beautiful mountains, the fact that I flew from Scotland all the way to Las Vegas, picked up a rental car and drove up there on my own in my midnight blue VW Jetta – I suppose it was a good time for reflection. The scale of the mountains and the timescales involved makes you feel tiny, yet climbing to the top of those rocks makes you feel strong.</p> <p>The people were so friendly, the food was great, the temperature cool in the morning and warm in the middle of the day. November is beautiful too, the trees still clinging onto their yellow leaves where at home most are bare.</p> <p>Then there’s the shopping which I enjoyed, the outlet malls, the cute antique store I found in St George, buying Scrubs in Wal-Mart for my sister and looking at fabrics. Then I won’t forget the Target car park where I found out I’m finally expecting a new arrival in July. I dared to hope after weeping in the shower that morning for no apparent reason; Target was the only place I knew with a pharmacy and a restroom! Then there will also be the huge phone bill as a reminder calling home minutes later.</p> <p>In Utah I felt like I had nothing to complain about in life, that everything was how it should be – even before stopping at Target. It had a very calming effect on me, climbing a mountain on your own is something that should never be underestimated.</p> <p> </p> <p>{Linking up to <a href="http://www.ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com/2012/11/you-capture-yellow-2.html">You Capture</a>}</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-31493734560405740412012-11-17T01:54:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:55.282-08:006 Weeks–Some Fresh Air and First Aid Training<p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PwVTVjnNKsY/UP5h-h2U9sI/AAAAAAAABk8/Z7NrKwfFCcE/s1600-h/PB111062%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB111062" border="0" alt="PB111062" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fQZGWPbaHdY/UP5h_Wc74TI/AAAAAAAABlE/C_loetshdvg/PB111062_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="284" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k98B4EikECM/UP5iBCHXiuI/AAAAAAAABlM/g3fjbMsnR5o/s1600-h/PB131099%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB131099" border="0" alt="PB131099" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VH2qzphNRcs/UP5iCGRNo7I/AAAAAAAABlU/B7KnFmNwLtE/PB131099_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="284" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hsJCyPdAqT8/UP5iD7siPsI/AAAAAAAABlc/2M-EfUKRcL0/s1600-h/PB111081%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB111081" border="0" alt="PB111081" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UCucE2WLtpY/UP5iFN6bCBI/AAAAAAAABlk/Eykmm0r_EXo/PB111081_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" height="284" /></a></p> <p align="center">November in Scotland is chilly but fresh, so we headed out for some air, the crazy kittens stayed at home on their radiator beds and snuggled in warm and cosy. We drove about 30mins from our house and walked along the paths through a forest, after just about recovering from jet lag I wasn’t ready to climb up a giant hill yet.</p> <p align="center">I’ve been feeling ok, I was more tired than usual after getting back from the US, I found my legs had swollen up a little which is unusual so took it easy for a few days. I was ready for some fresh air though! </p> <p align="center">I keep remembering that I really am pregnant and that’s bizarre and exciting, I don’t really feel any different so it’s easy to forget for most of the day. We did another test when I got back so we could look at the word appear together. </p> <p align="center">It’s such an exciting time, but it’s tricky to remember we’re not supposed to tell everyone, we’re planning to keep it quiet until about 12 weeks. I did have to tell my work due to plans to travel to Kenya (Malaria zone) which had to be cancelled and I think it will make things easier if I’m not feeling well in later weeks.</p> <p align="center">I’m getting back into being a first aid trainer too so was observing a training session this week. It’s strange not being able to tell people yet, especially when making plans over the next year. I’m sure they’ll understand though when I do get to tell them.</p> <p align="center">We booked a scan for next weekend to check the pregnancy is viable and also to make it seem a little more real! I think after that we will feel like we can really commit to the reality. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-16256741757148840632012-11-09T23:33:00.000-08:002013-01-22T02:14:55.274-08:005 Weeks–Utah, A Positive Test and Vegas Baby!<p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L8jjMvtIyxU/UPgLwAqJJ6I/AAAAAAAABbM/rjaEMH3HNak/s1600-h/2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PA310148%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PA310148" border="0" alt="2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PA310148" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XCyZ5S5nitE/UPgLxkzYuFI/AAAAAAAABbU/u0eovzEoqow/2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PA310148_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FczBxExoxpw/UPgLz_KiKII/AAAAAAAABbc/fEMMqv47oc8/s1600-h/IMG_4673%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4673" border="0" alt="IMG_4673" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KEa8j9-iN7Y/UPgL1FzJ7yI/AAAAAAAABbk/GxO11F0m0Mk/IMG_4673_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="174" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NOhoxX2rcM4/UPgL4Y6gYrI/AAAAAAAABbs/3g2CM1zL_3c/s1600-h/2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PB040930%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PB040930" border="0" alt="2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PB040930" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L6DEwGfYfEI/UPgL5zFeZnI/AAAAAAAABb0/K_tLFR8jYNI/2012_11_Utah_Vegas_PB040930_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="224" /></a></p> <p align="center">I have been in Utah for 5 days and it was my last day in the beautiful mountains before heading back to the madness of Vegas. </p> <p align="center">I woke up early but had become accustomed to Mountain Time. I was surprised by how exhausted I was, I had some work to catch up on first thing and was a little tearful whilst in the shower, it’s unusual for me to be overwhelmed.</p> <p align="center">I pulled myself together and checked out, then headed to the Egg and I for breakfast. Sunday morning is quiet in St George and the shops open at 11am, so I took my time and finished up my work.</p> <p align="center">The weather was lovely and I took a walk around St George, I found a cute antique shop open early. Then I headed to Target, one of my favourite places to stock up on US trips. While wandering around the aisles I came upon the pregnancy tests. We had done one a week earlier at the end of the last ‘two week wait’ and it was a disappointing negative, but I though best to check again before having a few Vegas cocktails.</p> <p align="center">I wasn’t expecting much, the bathroom in Target wasn’t where I expected to take a test, but sometime that’s how things work out. I couldn’t wait there and find out, so I popped the sealed test in my bag, washed my hands and went out to my rental car.</p> <p align="center">I took it out of my bag and couldn’t believe the words I saw – pregnant, which was such wonderful and exciting news, but it was a shame I wasn’t with my boy. I eventually got through on the phone on my way back, stopped in a little town called Desert Springs in Arizona, he was so surprised and excited.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-263996211645157722012-10-30T04:06:00.000-07:002012-11-20T03:07:59.791-08:00Loving London Mornings {October 2012}<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rio8tXZg8_4/UKtkhb-RU-I/AAAAAAAABNc/6cjYcEzEDck/s1600-h/PA250034%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Paul's London" border="0" alt="Paul's London" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WLyNyBYpsSE/UKtkjX_bDbI/AAAAAAAABNk/W2De2ECqr1U/PA250034_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="784" height="544" /></a></p> <p>I’m lucky enough to visit London often, when I do, I usually stay in the same area. I like it because I’m familiar with it. This always surprises me, I would tell you that I prefer to see new places and be adventurous, but with each year I notice myself taking pleasure more in the familiar. </p> <p>I like to pretend that I live there; I appreciate that the way I live when I’m in London for a week is not really the way a girl would actually live in London (not without creating a lot of debt and putting on rather a few pounds), but that’s part of the fun in imagination.</p> <p>Some mornings I go for a run, it’s the only way to cope with my morning breakfast each day! Usually this involved going past my favourite street in London, Exhibition Road, past the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Natural History. These grand buildings which have stood through time are true war memorials for me, the battle scars still clearly visible in the soft blonde sandstone.</p> <p>Whether I’ve been energetic enough to run or not, every morning I head to Paul’s the French bakery where I order an almond croissant and coffee, except on Friday when I may start my day with a macaron –raspberry is my current favourite.</p> <p>I then cross over to the tube station and head to whichever meeting I have planned, recently the Geological Society of London near Piccadilly, but in practice it could be anywhere. The beauty of London is the underground, a network of tunnels zooming passengers from one area to another, at various levels of depth, ignoring any main road directions and following their own underground paths.</p> <p>This always puts me in a good mood for the day ahead.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-72984560642695054372012-10-03T07:53:00.000-07:002012-10-05T08:00:03.879-07:00Perhaps the best Lemon Drizzle Cake {Scotland 2012}<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--fnpS8JbkpE/UG70cF9VmiI/AAAAAAAABKs/n4UxGSzHyf0/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Perhaps the best lemon drizzle cake in the world " border="0" alt="Perhaps the best lemon drizzle cake in the world " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6YbLrBcgUeY/UG70gY1J72I/AAAAAAAABK0/68TVSBFM52A/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="504" height="504" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">Here for you is the recipe for perhaps the best lemon drizzle cake in the world or at least Scotland. Simple enough for tea and cake in the afternoon, luxurious enough to add a little icing and some candles for a birthday and comforting enough as a gift for a friend in need.</p> <p align="center">The secret ingredient: 3 huge spoonfuls of lemon curd – if you have homemade available, brilliant!</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong>For the Lemony Lemon Cake</strong> <br />5 oz self-raising flour <br />1 tsp baking powder <br />4 oz butter (melted in a pan or microwave) <br />4 oz golden caster sugar <br />3 tbsp lemon curd <br />1 medium lemon – juice and rind <br />2 eggs </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong>For the Lemony Lemon Syrup</strong> <br />Juice from 2 large lemons (or 3 medium lemons) <br />4 oz granulated sugar</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Method</strong> <br />1. Preheat your oven to 170C / 340F <br />2. Grease a loaf tin (2lb tin) – a layer or greaseproof paper on the base can be helpful <br />3. Chuck all the cake ingredients in a large bowl <br />4. Mix thoroughly with an electric hand mix for 2 minutes only <br />5. Pour into the loaf tin <br />6. Bake for 30-40 minutes <br />7. To check if it’s ready pop in a skewer – if it comes out clean it’s ready <br />8. Quickly mix up the syrup in a bowl – it’s important to get the syrup quite runny, add more lemon juice or a little water if you need to, this will allow the syrup to soak right into the cake <br />9. Remove the cake from the oven and right away attack it with the skewer all over the top of the cake – leave the cake in the tin <br />10. Pour over the syrup – the hot cake will soak it all up <br />11. Leave it to cool and for the syrup to set to a crunchy top <br />12. Share </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-44634603535473000752012-10-03T07:25:00.000-07:002013-01-22T02:15:14.197-08:00Smoke and Whisky {Aberlour 2010}<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1h-4SCvsVlo/UG7t1lO8G-I/AAAAAAAABKU/YzdWZPl4ci8/s1600-h/IMG_0451%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Aberlour Whisy Tasting" border="0" alt="Aberlour Whisy Tasting" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-saJRQSvbN8Y/UG7t3myHHkI/AAAAAAAABKc/uincBEbuPvM/IMG_0451_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p>For at least a couple of hours I’d been snuggled down inside my sleeping bag, trying to keep out that terribly early morning light that come in the summer in Scotland with a 4am sunrise, wondering whether the market would be large enough to patent blackout material tents. Now the horrible smell of BBQ was seeping through the fabric, I groaned, it was bad enough in the evening but who BBQ’s their breakfast?</p> <p>I took a deep breath, it’s difficult for me not to be controlling; but I’m learning. Still it wouldn’t stop me complaining to my boy. Half asleep he agreed with me but said that he really did fancy a bacon buttie and I had to agree.</p> <p>We wriggled out of our sleeping bags looking like a ridiculous pair of worms, pulled on an extra layer and headed out to our friends who probably thought they were doing us a favour. I kept my thoughts to myself. The morning plan was whisky tasting so filling my stomach with bread and bacon seemed like a sensible plan, I smiled and said thanks whilst trying to avoid sitting down-wind of the smoke.</p> <p>Whisky is something magical to me, I like to take a little of this and that and I was intrigued to learn more about something so many associate with Scotland, our national drink. </p> <p>Whisky to me is warmth, you can feel it warm you all the way down to your belly, the flavour changing as it swirly around your mouth and you breathe in the fumes. I like to think about all the years it’s been waiting to be sampled and ensure I don’t waste a single drop.</p> <p>It takes patience and resilience to produce something that requires years to create; whisky represents Scotland and the Scottish people. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510175651034812019.post-45696768894797728512012-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:002012-10-05T07:07:57.927-07:00Calm me River {Inverness 2010}<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UQ0E_k0zpGs/UG7psGB16kI/AAAAAAAABJ8/KqrjAGhurfI/s1600-h/P7150012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sandwood Bay Camping" border="0" alt="Sandwood Bay Camping" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R7kiIZO7WUU/UG7pt3f26GI/AAAAAAAABKE/z2sqBr4xCaU/P7150012_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p>We drove up late after work, everything in the car for a few days camping, not far from Inverness just an hour or two away from home. We stopped in a town, almost there, to get Chinese food for dinner and continued to the campsite, Google Maps print out in hand. </p> <p>It was relatively quiet at the campsite and we pitched the tent quickly eager to get started with our dinner. We work well just the two of us, used to each other’s ways and moods, especially on an adventure together. We sat and watched the sun set behind the Beauly Firth and wolfed our Chinese – food always tastes better eaten outside in the fresh air, especially with a good view and good company.</p> <p>Watching the water calmed me after a busy week, such a vast expanse of nature, leading out to the sea, it moves slowly and steadily, waiting for no one. We sat in silence for a few moments just looking out; watching markers of time pass, the water flow, the moving clouds and the setting sun, taking the stress of the past away with them.</p> <p>Camping always feel like an adventure, like an escape from reality, it makes your world seem so small compared to your surroundings, it makes me think of how we need so little to live, food, shelter and good company, it’s so easy to over complicate life. Being out for a night or two is my way to re-evaluate and put things in perspective.</p> <p>We enjoyed our extra comforts of take away food, hot showers, toilets and a warm car for transport, with our weekend challenge ahead of us, soon we would leave the car behind and carry out packs to one of the most isolated and beautiful beaches in Scotland, Sandwood Bay. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0