Fruity Flapjack

Today, I tried making Nigella Lawson's, Soot's Flapjack recipe and Rachel Allen's Date Slice.

Not too happy with the cake iness of the date slice I decided I'd try making up a fruity flapjack slice recipe of my own.

Heat oven to 180 degrees.

My fruit filling
2 apples peeled and chopped
150g chopped dates
1 Tablespoon currants
9 fl oz Apple juice
1 Tsp mixed spice
1/2 Tsp natural vanilla extract

Heat apple juice and add all the above ingredients. Stir over heat for about 5 mins.

Flapjack
450g oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
75g soft brown sugar
300g butter
50g golden syrup

Mix oats, walnuts and sugar in a bowl. Slowly melt butter and stir in golden syrup.
Add the golden liquid to the dry ingredients and stir.

Add half mixture to 20x20cm square cake tin or circular cake tin. Press down lightly.
Add the fruit mixture and spread over the base. Finally add the rest of the flapjack mixture and press lightly again.

Place in centre of oven for 30 mins or until golden brown.

Blackbird Visited on the Last Day of Winter

Yesterday, the last day of Winter 2013, I sat listening to blackbirds singing outside in the garden. The window framed a view of a crumbling stone wall and snow was trying to fall slowly amongst the rain. I sat quietly sipping coffee and smiled to think of the longer days to come and sunshine warming my body.

Soon the boys were busying themselves with preparations for their days at their schools and THUD!

I jumped wondering what sight would shock sleepiness away and was quickly surprised to see two male blackbirds fighting over a female, who had just attempted to swoop away from them and had hit our window loudly. Whilst her mate saw off the rival, she could not get her balance, let alone fly.

Middle and youngest sons came to see what had happened and commented on her strangely outstretched wing, and why were her legs not working properly? "Lets just wait and see." I said, the male blackbirds had gone, no cats were nearby and my husband was out walking our two dogs.

She was just 50 centimetres away from our French doors and it didn't look good. I made the boys stay still and partly hidden and we watched painfully as she turned in circles on her brown belly, tail feathers in the air, eyes unblinking.

I picked up my phone to take a photo but my 5 year old said "no!" and I agreed it didn't feel right photographing a dying bird and explained to our 12 and 5 year old that she looked in a bad way. She stopped spinning and started a strange rocking, seesawing motion, then found her feet again and tucked in her wings and stood frozen.

We continued to watch as she seemed to fall into a sleep with her eyes open. I got down onto the floor and watched sadly as her eyes began to close.

Time was ticking by and the dogs would be home soon. I went out to the utility room and checked that the cat was in, and the wild thing was, thank goodness.

As we watched, and wished her better again, Louis asked "Shall I get a shoebox?" "Good idea!" Max replied. I grabbed a tea towel. I told the boys that we'd move her to a spot where she would be a little safer and warmer?! (I think my logic was maybe she was in shock?)

The boys watched while I slowly opened the door and she then blinked at me (a good sign!) but she did not move at all.

I lightly covered her with the tea towel and gently cupped my hands around each side of her delicate feathered body and lifted her into the box.

We could observe her and she could see out of the box too. She'd be safer if it snowed harder and could stretch and escape when feeling well again.

My husband returned home a few moments later. The dogs completely unaware of why we were watching an orange Nike shoebox with Just Do It! appropriately written on the side.

We weren't doing much about getting ready and within minutes she moved, and as if she had just woken up, hopped out of her sporty bed across the patio and onto a bright red football!

She was blinking at what seemed a normal speed for a blackbird, peering around getting her bearings. She sat for another little while and then flew up, up onto the roof of my studio, gave us a one second blink and flew off in the direction of my mother-in-laws cottage next door.

Gratitude for 2011

It's been a great year and I am so grateful for 2011.

I learnt a lot.

Change - brings new opportunities.

Slow down - notice the beauty in the smallest detail.

Be brave and try new things - you might like it.

Mindfulness - enjoy now.

Fulfil your wishes - Do you know what you want? Make a list.

Meditation - create a clear mind space.

Declutter - Create space.

Happiness - You can have your cake and eat it - yummy happiness.

It's OK to be different - be you, you are uniquely amazing and special.

I just know 2012 will bring more great opportunities, adventure, health, wealth and happiness.

Wishing you all an amazing 2012 xxx

Dreadlock Journey Update

Why is hair so important?

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9,1452,0,0,1,0

My dreadlocks are changing.  I was struggling with a few narrow ones along my hairline that really pulled.

I still love dreadlocks but I have favourites and some I really did not like!  All their own characters and lumps and bumps.  Great during a summer on the road. Then the weather started getting colder it took much longer to dry.

I was really worried when the ends started to break off some of them!  In fact, it felt shorter than when it began in July 2010.

So, I unpicked the uncomfortable ones that had begun to hurt. The relief.

A few weeks passed, I decided the ones I didn't like had to go. Different style.

So a few more came loose. The process is a bit painful and takes a long time.  Each took between 20 minutes and an hour to unlock. I covered them with conditioner, then untied and combed, losing handfuls of hair.

Next the scissors came out and I added a layered fringe to frame my face and stop the slick-over.

I now have 9 dreadlocks dotted around my head.  I don't know if they'll stay or go yet.  I might add more thicker dreadlocks, I might shave my head on one side, or crop it completely! I just like having the freedom to do what I want with it. Perhaps raise more funds for Downs Syndrome or another charity in the New Year.

What are your hair stories? Why is it important? Worst and best styles and cuts?  Tips and Tricks?

Dreadlocks for Down's Syndrome

I finally did it! Two more of my list of 40 things before I turn 40 next May.

1 Get dreadlocks.

2 Raise money for Down's Syndrome.

This charity is very close to my heart as my 3 year old niece has Down's Syndrome. In fact, it was a little girl with Down's Syndrome who I met on junior school work experience, made me realise I would love to teach.

The Down's Syndrome Association help provides information for people with Down's Syndrome, their parents and carers, and those professionals who work with them.

What made this so special is that my sister, Clare (Mimi's mum) is also a hairdresser and with some persuasion, agreed to do my dreads.  She is so strong and balances being a mum to two gorgeous girls, aged 2 and 3 with work and riding. I have been so inspired and proud of her strength, as she recognised Mimi had Down's Syndrome and brought it to the attention of maternity staff.  She battled to get all the support she can for Mimi and herself.

Perhaps I can persuade her to join me in a 5k run next?!!! And get our other sister Zoe involved in that too.

Taster for next time:-  I have lots more creative ideas to blog about.  I am sure these dreads are like little creative antennae.

Econess for May

 

This month we have introduced more sustainable eco friendly changes to our lives. Thank you to The Organic Sister - Tara Wagner for your sustainable action list here. 

1.  Three Minute Showers

My boys love to shower.  I have caught them lying in the shower tray, sitting in the shower, half an hour in the shower! The eldest can shower three times in one day.

I decided it was time to save time in the morning, water and money. 

The first week was a bit tough, as I had to chase them to make sure they did stick to it, but that was it.  They realised that they had more time to do other things in the morning before school and still smell good! 

2.  Growing our own food!

In two weeks, you can see the seedlings are now looking happy in their beds! 

The carrots are just shooting up as tiny seedlings around the edge.

3.  Holidays!

Also, one of the things I wanted to do before my 40th birthday next year, was to own a caravan again. {Great we have managed this before my 39th, next week!} 

                                                                                          Photo courtesy of  lovely  Lorna, next door

Now Max is 2, it was the right time to get back into caravanning.  We now have an ABI Adventurer sports tourer.  They only have three berths, are small (so fit perfectly on our drive) and should be reasonable on fuel, as they are very light.  We are adapting it to make it into a 4 berth and our eldest son will have his own double bed in the VW campervan that we use to tow!

4.  A one car family!

We have decided to remain a one car family.  We have a VW campervan, like the one below, but we have given it some soul, with sari fabric, flowers, a Turkish rug, funky seat covers and stickers.

Last Summer, we sold our second car.  My husband, Kirk, had a subarrachnoid haemorrhage in July, which meant he couldn't drive (not that you would believe it from the photo of him above on the caravan roof).  Miraculously, Kirk is able to drive and work.  It changed our outlook and made us slow down.  We manage with one car, Kirk is home based for work and gets a hire car from work to make meetings or investigations, if he needs one.  

I would love to convert to veggie oil, so we can take advantage of the oil used by local restaurants on the High Street. See Sara Janssen's blog about their conversion story here.

5. Buying a Mooncup for me Lady Garden!

I won't say too much about this, as it kind of freaks out my husband and thirteen year old son who asked what it was!!  Read about it here.  I did after reading a sticker in the University loo!  Give it a try and see if you can freak someone out too. 

They are cheaper online and you can find discount voucher codes, to reduce the cost further.  As well, as the ecological benefit, did you know we are taxed on the sanitary items we need?!

I must tell you about the time my eldest son asked me what a period was?  He was about 8 or 9 years old at the time.  We are open and so I just said, "It's something a lady has each month, if it happens she knows she isn't pregnant."  I waited for his next question tentatively.  Boy was I relieved I hadn't gone into any more detail, as he looked at me strangely and said "No Mum, what does - that's it, period -mean?!"

6.  Not buying papers or magazines. 

I used to buy lots of magazines, but found I would look at the pictures, scan and discard.  I now read lots of blogs!  See the blogs I love to follow. 

I love to read books and have started to buy my books from car boot sales.  I managed to find the following books (which were all on my wish list) for 20p each!

        

7.  Carboot Sales - Lush

Great for reusing, recycling good, old or new things. We have found things for the house and van too.  A great vintage seat cover in the soul bus was a 1930's door hanging for £5.  Also, the vegetable seedlings (in the garden photo above) were 65p a pot of 6 or 7 plants!

I'd love to know what your best eco projects and car boot sale finds are?

Lisa xx

children of alcoholics - Absolutely not Fabulous

I love his books

I try to remember this Paulo Coelho quote, 'To attain his dream, the Warrior of Light needs a strong will and an enormous capacity for acceptance.'  It's been a tough couple of weeks and there hasn't been time to catch up here. 

Today, I want to share something which is very hard for me - alcoholism.  I am the adult child of an alcoholic (that sounds like I am at Al Anon meeting!). If you've ever seen the show Absolutely Fabulous, it feels that I'm in Saffy's shoes (albeit, a very much older Saffy). 

Monday began.  Bad news.  Mum was in hospital after taking tablets and alcohol.  Again! The fourth time in eighteen months.  Numerous times in 23 years!

So we drove to our old hometown, me, my sister and three of our children (aged 1, 2 and 3) where we bumped into mum escaping from the ward to have a cigarette. Still drunk, hospital gowned, shoeless and swollen after a 3 week bender. She was confused, didn't know who we were, scared. We took her back to find out what she'd taken, done, damaged?

She'd disturbed the patients, unimpressed the staff by wasting a bed in their hospital.  We waited and waited for the CRISIS (mental health team) and Alcohol Specialist Nurse to assess, but I have two older children to collect from school. Their friends for tea. They are my priority. We leave. The guilt!

Later, it is decided that there is nothing medically wrong and no support that can be given to my mum.  You cannot Section someone who has the right to choose to drink, smoke or take drugs (not that mum takes drugs) even if they are damaging themselves.  I hopelessly accept it is her choice.  She is sent home in a hospital gown, alone in a taxi, with no key!  I find out after she is discharged and that she has no mobile phone as she left it at hospital!  Mum needs to sober up and choose to visit CAN to get support.

Mum used to work at that very hospital on the cancer ward.  When we were small, she was a great mum who would teach us Irish dancing in the living room on a Friday night and taught us to handstand up the kitchen door.  Allowed us to be creative, by building our own playgrounds from scaffold planks and carpenter's horses, made mud pies and apple pies, grew veg at the allotment, sewed clothes for our dolls, knitted stuff, crafted with homemade glue (flour and water) and made daisy chains.  She would make our 70's one-off party dresses, long and flowery.  She was brave and adventurous and would change her image often - one day long, dark, centre parted, hippy hair and the next a tight ball of afro curls. She would sing loudly and dance wildly with us. She would bake delicious, scrumptious cakes and buy us lemon sherbet sweets, on a Friday.  Fun, fun times.  She would take us to ballet classes and brownies and help at school and church.  Happy, happy memories.

Happy, loved child - Me at 3

And then...

I want for her grandchildren to know her.  I want for us to go out and share mum and daughter time again.  Hopefully, this time it will happen. 

She has not touched a drink for ONE WHOLE WEEK!  I am so very, very proud. 

I am lucky, I am one of three sisters who support each other through this.  I can cry, get angry, ignore and dismiss my mum, without judgement from my loving husband. There are groups that can help those that don't have that support, or do and need more advice NACOA, Adult Children of Alcoholics and COAP.

This has been so hard for me to write.  I have previewed, rewrote, reread and then hovered over that publish button.  I would love to hear your experience or thoughts on this difficult subject.

Lisa xox