The arrival of spring and more good intentions

Sandals and daisies

Hurrah – spring has finally arrived!  The weekend was lovely with temperatures well into double figures and plenty of sunshine.  This winter has been a really long haul for everyone and I was beginning to wonder if it would stay for good – let’s hope that the warm weather is here to stay. Well Monday…

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Sri Lankan red beef curry

Sri Lankan beef curry recipe

This lovely hot and coconutty beef curry has becoame a real family favourite – it’s a Madhur Jaffery of course! . It’s very straight forward and can be cooked on the hob or in a slow cooker. Ingredients 450g braising steak, cut into 2.5cm chunks 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp…

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A healthy breakfast

greek yoghurt and honey

yc3c23pddet Hot on the heels of last night’s sweet potato fest comes this mornings healthy breakfast – greek yoghurt and honey with a banana. I would have loved to have been sitting eating it on a sun filled terrace somewhere in Greece but it tasted good all the same!

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Monday’s good intentions….

roast sweet potato with feta and avacado

My daughter always teases me about the fact that I always start a diet on Monday. Just as I always vow stay wine until Friday, sort out my In Box and my In Tray, start that patchwork quilt that I’ve bought the material for, renovate the old picture frames I bought at the auction a…

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Scary crows and corny fields

scarecrows and corn

Over the last few days I seem to have been nothing but a taxi service for my teenage offspring, ferrying them and an assortment of friends to the cinema, shopping, parties and sleepovers.  Yesterday evening I found myself driving at sun set after dropping my son off at yet another 18th birthday bash.  Luckily I’d…

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How does your garden grow?

Spring garden Norfolk 2013

I must admit when it comes to gardening I’m a bit erratic! At the start of the year – and especially when we are blessed with some early spring sunshine – I get enthusiastic and set about planning, digging and buying ready for the new growing season. As that sunny window has failed to appear…

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Texture Tuesday

It’s been a while since I did a texture Tuesday – things have been so hectic with work that I haven’t had much time for tinkering! These shots feature yesterday’s chef – my daughter Reya – and were taken on Easter Sunday on a trip to our village green. The light was very flat and…

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Easter chocolate fest!

Easter chocolate cake and biscuits

After yesterday’s meaty scoff fest, day two of our Easter ‘eat in’ features some lovely chocolatey goodness cooked up by my daughter Reya over the last couple of days. And as I type yet another gooey biscuit has arrived at my desk warm from the oven – resulting in a very sticky key board! The…

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Hope at last?

I hate to drone on again about the weather but this last week has been so cold and miserable and so unlike Spring… This morning we woke to bright sunshine and even thought there still a fierce Easterly wind it has given us a bit of hope that spring might finally be on the way.…

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Yoga Mala

yoga mala sun salutation

For the second year running I have taken part in a yoga mala to mark the spring equinox. The event was organised by my yoga teacher Su of Susan Yoga who invited all of her classes to take part in the traditional celebration to mark the return of spring.  For the non yogis amongst you…

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Another murky morning….

Foggy morning Norfolk

I set out this earlier today on my walk with grim Monday morning determination. Once more it was cold and once more the weather was grey and miserable. My spirits were lifted once again by the song of the skylarks – who were singing in spite of Spring’s determination not to appear.  It was however…

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In a fog

  It’s nearly midnight and our living room is full of sweaty teenagers.  Our son Tom is having an 18th birthday party…. Yesterday’s mist turned to fog and it has been dark and gloomy all day.  I took a photo with my daughter’s little camera on the way to do the shopping for the party. …

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