Last year, my friends and I decided we deserved a spa break. After much discussion around dates and venues, plus one cancellation and re-booking, our trip finally became reality and the four of us met up in a hotel near Southampton for some much needed pampering, relaxing, chatting, eating, drinking … and repeat. The spa […]
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Carrot and lentil soup – new recipe
This warming and hearty carrot and lentil soup is thick and tasty, and makes the perfect filling lunch served warm with a hunk of crusty bread. A winter warmer of a soup Blimey it’s been cold this week! Although I always used to complain about the heating (or lack of) in the office, it’s impossible […]
Still eating leftovers – week 2, 2022
All power to those of you who are abstaining from booze, meat, treats, caffeine, etc. Andrew and I are not, for two main reasons. Primarily, life in a pandemic is miserable enough, and these nice things bring us pleasure. But also I still have a tonne of food leftover from Christmas, and I prefer not […]
The best intentions – week 1, 2022
I read an interesting idea when I was doomscrolling through twitter the other day … when setting resolutions or intentions for the new year, choose things that add to your life rather than take away from it. What a nice idea hey? So that is what I have decided to do. More blogging I have […]
Farewell to 2021 – in photos
As we say goodbye to 2021 and look towards a new year, I wanted to share our experience of 2021 with you – family life, food, and plenty of fun. A brief word on the pandemic When I wrote about the craziness of 2020 this time last year, little did I expect that we would […]
Simple tomato sauce for pasta – new recipe
A really simple tomato sauce with pasta is a pretty wonderful thing. But as is so often the case, ‘simple’ is not necessarily ‘easy’. But in this case, you are in luck, as this sauce is both, although it does require 40 minutes on a low simmer to get the flavours working. This recipe is […]
Week 16 – bye bye Betty, and a house (briefly) without cats
As every pet owner knows, saying goodbye to your beloved furry friends is hard. At the end of February, only a couple of months after Alfie’s death, our cat Betty was put down by the vet after a sudden turn downhill. As has been the tradition with Henry and then Alfie, I wanted to write […]
Week 10 2021 meal plan – school is OPEN for business
High fives to all the parents who survived home school. Big thanks to all of the teachers remote teaching (and teaching children of key workers) unvaccinated during a global pandemic. Well done to the support networks of those families and friends who kept the rest of us (somewhat) sane when also coping with their own […]
Traditional Welsh Cakes recipe – the authentic Welsh teatime treat
Traditional Welsh Cakes for a teatime treat I love Welsh Cakes, which are a traditional Welsh dish. They are soft, buttery, not too sweet and slightly salty, warmly spiced, and filled with dried fruit. The first one straight off the griddle is definitely the best cook’s perk! They make the perfect accompaniment to a cuppa, […]
Week 8 2021 meal plan – surviving half term
Someone recently told me that with this half term, Ioan is half way through his first year at primary school, which is a bit shocking … especially for half of that time he has been ‘taught’ (in the loosest sense of the word) by us at home. It’s also shocking to realise that Ioan has […]