New Blog!

I am now blogging with my dear friend Aimee Hall over at http://www.brightyoungtwins.blogspot.com , we are still getting all of the graphics sorted but you can soon expect regular updates of our vintage endeavours, please take a look, follow us and let us both know what you think!

I thought it would be cute to make my own mince meat filling for the mince pies this christmas, and I don't think you can go to far wrong with a recipe from Delia. I made mine in advance so that the juices can really mingle together in the jar for a while, and I would suggest doubling the brandy measurement, especially if you are spending the holidays with your grandparents. I tried a little on a spoon and its delicious, and makes you're kitchen smell like a cinnamon delight.




Ingredients :

8oz (225g) Bramley apples, cored and chopped small (no need to peel them)

4 oz (110 g) shredded suet

6oz (175 g) raisins

4oz (110 g) sultanas

4oz (110 g) currants

4oz (110 g) whole mixed candied peel, finely chopped

6oz (175 g) soft dark brown sugar

grated zest and juice 1 orange

grated zest and juice 1 lemon

1 oz (25 g) whole almonds, cut into slivers

2 level teaspoons mixed ground spice

¼ level teaspoon ground cinnamon

good pinch freshly grated nutmeg

3 tablespoons brandy

Combine all the ingredients (apart from the brandy) in a bowl, and mix throughly. Then leave the bowl to stand for the night (12 hours) covered by a clean cloth. In the morn when you awake hungry for festive treats... you must wait! Its not ready to eat yet. Place the Bowl (check its oven proof, if not use a baking tray instead) in the oven, preheated to 220F (120C) and leave for 3 hours. When the time is up, remove from the oven and leave to cool completely, stirring occasionally. To keep for several weeks you are going to need to pack this mixture into a sterilised jar, then seal with a waxed disc (which oddly you can by at the post office). To sterilise your jar just wash it well with hot soapy water, dry then place in the oven for 5 mins at 350F (180C)


Now you may finish the remaining brandy,and revel in your glorious handy work.

welcome back

I disappeared for about a year, taking with me the majority of my blog entries in some sort of deleting frenzy. I had a crisis of confidence, but now, I am back and I really want a pet deer. I could see how living in London's smallest apartment could put a dampener on my dreams, my boyfriend has also made it quite clear that if we are to adopt a wild animal, its going to be a fox.

Canada, Oh Canada.

On tuesday morning i leave for Canada for the entire summer, I have never been to Canada before, but I hope it looks a bit like this.
























- Wild bears should dance about in the forests, only occasionally stopping to have a picnic,
- Big steam ships will patrol the icy waters
- Women will swoon over that honest hard working laborer, the lumberjack
- Everyone will have lots of barrels of hay in the backs of peoples cars. Even if they are just picking their kids up from school
- All Diners will have booth seats covered in vinyl so your legs stick to them in the heat
- Rodeos!
- The average gentleman will own at least two tractors, one for work one for fancy occasions.
- Big pretty parks where i can ride my bike whilst the other half is hard at work
- Pancakes will come as an appetizer before every meal
- This will be the sight at every bus stop
- Deers and fairgrounds, this one is a pretty basic requirement for an exciting summer.
- And most importantly, bricks won't have made it to the land of maple yet, and everyone will still live in a house that looks like it was built as a den by a pack of young boys.

theda bara

could she be the most beautiful women to grace this earth? I think so.  She makes me want to dye my hair dark, discard all clothes which are not suitably vampish and start sucking blood.

this is winston, my dream cat. He likes to eat, sleep and generally be a jolly fellow,

if only he where mine! i found him lurking in a sunday telegraph supplement in the library staff room and instantly fell in love.  i think it might be the air of assumed authority about his little squashed face, a pompous pussy indeed. also included is a picture of my sausage dog willow wearing a rather fetching kitty print sweater, if only she new what felines graced her outfit. 

its very very cold outside and i am drowning in essays and i also had a jab today so Im in a terrible mood. Here are a few things that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and will hopefully cure my winter blues

<