Visit to Hay on Wye

Last month me and Ben went to Hay on Wye. It is right on the England Wales border and a tourist haven.

Known as the town of books it has lots of bookshops, even the castle of Hay on Wye almost in ruins bis home to a large collection of books and of old photographs.



The weather was over cast but we still had a nice wander round the little streets. I noticed a few vintage clothing shops but they were all closed so I will have to revisit another day.

One of the bookstores 'Rose's Books' was lovely, specialising in out of print childrens books. They had a big locked cabinet with some leather bound copies, a bit out of my price range! I searched for Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Again the books they had of these titles were either out of my price range or not very special.

Except one!


An edition from the 1950s, I fell in love with the cover. Inside the book is all black and white images no colour with the illustrations by John Tenniel

So I have now got 2 lovely copies of Alice in Wonderland (not quite a collection yet!)

On the way back we stopped off at Arthur's stone, a prehistoric tomb (i think) owned by English Heritage.

Easter at home

My parents have converted the bottom the garden into a pen and bought chickens. I am in love with them. They have very definate personalities which suprised me, Gerty is the leader she is a bit grumpy, Tina is the most tame she can be picked up easily and she was the first to lay eggs. Emmylou is the fastest runner and a bit of a scaredy bird!



meet Tina, Gerty and Emmylou...

Recent cooking experiements

The things you do when there is no internet to distract you!

Ive not missed having a computer that much because I have had chance to sew and cook more instead.

Here are my latest dishes

This one isnt very special but its the first recipe I have attempted from my Moomin cookbook



Pasta Bake with mince and a creamy cheese sauce (It had a moomin name but I havent got the book with me sorry!)


Lemon cupcakes, The icing went a bit funny and didnt spread how I would have liked but they tasted lush. These cakes are something my grandma used to make a lot, she doesnt bake much anymore but I expect she could still give me hints on getting the best icing. She always made them in a tray bake style so they were square shaped maybe thats the trick!


Steak and onion pie!!! My first ever attempt at pie! It was good, but I need a smaller dish as there was more pastry lid than filling ha.


In my haste to taste (ha) I delved in too quickly and forgot to take a picture so here it is on its plate with mash and peas. Sorry about the messy gravy spill, I am not one for plate presentation unless I'm doing a dinner party, after all it doesnt stay on the plate very long!


Coffee cakes.


Another speciality of my grandma and another icing failure for me. Once again they were yummy to eat.

My grandma always used to make a big coffee sponge with coffee buttercream and walnut topping. I love coffee cake even though I dont like to drink it :)

Chicken and dauphinoise potatoes.
First time I have made the potatoes this way, I apologise again for the messy presentation.


Apple Crumble

Another first: crumble (I know how easy it is now)


and the leftover apples made these!


most of my cupcake recipies I used to make the cakes in this blog are from a book I got for my birthday, when I am back in Cardiff I will post the details of it. (although the apple cakes look the same as in the book I changed the recipe of the filling a little bit)

Lastly just a picture of a beef curry I sometimes make. I admit I did try with the presentation here, my flatmate discovered some cups we had made perfect rice molds! still managed some unsightly splashes though :P

1940s hairstyle

I mentioned a while back that i was attending a swing party at the end April. Unfortunately its been canceled :(

however I had been practicing my look before it got canceled so here is my 1940s Betty Grable inspired hairstyle

what do you think?


Thanks to my boyfriend for taking the photos.


Im wearing my lovely vintage knit cardi that I got from the Blind Lemon vintage fair. My dress is from Dorothy Perkins its a lovely dress perfect for summer and reminds me of the dresses little victorian girls wore with their thick black tights and ankle boots. I tried to find a picture from the 1993 film Secret Garden to give an example because I know the girl wears a dress just like it, but nowhere had any stills.

I have a weeks holiday so Ive come back home to Coventry. I have internet here so expect a few catch up posts! at last!

32 Brinkburn Street

A great new drama on the BBC focusing on the life of a family living at 32 Brinkburn street. The episodes flit between the 1930s and present day. The families though 80 years apart have the same problems to deal with. Watch it on BBC iplayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and search 32 brinkburn street. there are some lovely characters and the set for the house in the 1930s is really well done.

Computer problems

My poor computer is broken! I am currently using a friends laptop.
I am quite annoyed because my pc wasn't quite 2 years old and its beyond fixing! lame.

An update:

Ive booked my trip to Amsterdam!

I have been sewing a few little things mainly using patterns from 'Softies' a craft book.

The laptop has no photo card reader so I cant upload photographs.

Without a computer to distract me in the evenings I have been doing a lot of cooking. I love trying out new recipes (I think my boyfriend appreciates it too)
I will do a post on the meals I tried.

Tonight I am going to look at a prospective flat to rent when this tenancy runs out, it should be fun. I like my current flat and it is ideally located but a bit on the small side and rather expensive. So me and Ben will be looking for a new place for us to move into (it will be our first flat together not sharing with friends!!)

Anyway when the computer situation is solved I will be back to regular posts.

Drafts

I don't think I have mentioned my boyfriends band 'Drafts' before so I thought I would be a shameless promoter and introduce you to their music. They are fun to watch indie/pop and you might like them if you like Biffy Clyro or Minus the Bear.

Drafts have been travelling further afield for gigs recently which is really good for getting new fans. South Wales is a really good place for its music scene there is a lot of musical talent and no shortage of places to play shows but there are only so many times you can play to the same people!

Coming up they have:
8th March @ The Good Ship, London
12th March @ Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

I'm really proud of them because they formed in early 2010 and they have already had 2 tracks aired on BBC Radio1 introducing with Bethan Elfyn and Adam Walton. They have recorded their first demo and have started on their first EP.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/DraftsUK
http://www.myspace.com/DraftsUK - this one has some of their tracks on it

and here is their first video :)

http://www.reverbnation.com/c./poni/29290984


next post will be back to normal promise!