Saturday 13 December 2008

December 13th

December 13th is a time to think about the big picture, where do we all fit in to what scientists like to call our universe.
Won't take long, and I promise this site will blow your mind.

Friday 12 December 2008

More climbing photos



Some photos from last weekend so I thought I'd share them with you. enjoy playing spot the Katie in the second one!
Also a while ago I mentioned that someone broke their leg on a weekend trip away. she put her X-ray photos on Facebook and they're pretty amazing, though not for the faint hearted!


I would show the one with the pin in it but it has her name in very large letters so I don't think she'd appreciate it!

December 12th


Wedding Ring Blanket
Originally uploaded by knitityourself

Today is a day for admiration, this is one of my favourited projects on Ravelry, I'm totally in awe of it, I'd love to make one like it.

Thursday 11 December 2008

December 11th

December 11th brings a web site, right now I'll be eagerly looking forward to my holiday, I'll be in a cottage in Mull over the holiday where there is no TV signal, I will need entertaining!
I found this site a while ago, but never got round to finding an audio book to download. Basically it's a library of free audio books recorded by members of the general public. They don't have every book but the selection is pretty wide.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

December 10th

December 10th already, how did that happen?
Today brings some photo goodness from an old friend of mine.

He's got a photo site here if you want a further look.


Grrrrr why is my blog screwing with pictures and how do I fix it???
If it wasn't for the fact that I'd lose my lovely progress bars I'd be over at wordpress before you could say "blogger is a piece of uncustomisable crap".

A Christmas meme

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Pretty certain Egg Nog has cinnamon in it, and cinamon is the spice of the devil!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Why do some people not wrap their presents???

3. Coloured light on house/tree or white?

I am a lover of white tree lights, coloured ones somehow look more Blackpool illuminations than festive imo.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Possibly would if I got oranised enough to buy some!


5. When do you put your decorations up?
Usually around the 1st of December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Sausages wrapped in bacon, they’re yummy!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

I really don’t have one, lots of memories but none I’d really label as favourite. Maybe going skiing in Austria, that was pretty magical.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I have no idea, I just know that one year I knew he wasn’t real.


9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Never!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Lights then tinsel, then decorations, then silver sparkly stuff!

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?

Love it, would love it even more if it happened some time over the next 2 weeks so I could have a day off!

12. Can you ice skate?

No, just no… my bum will thank me for it!


13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

Maybe my first bike… or my first mobile phone!


14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Right now, the thought of 2 weeks off and not having to go to school, a couple of days in to the holiday I’m sure I’ll say spending time with my family!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Sticky Toffee Pudding, closely followed by trifle!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
We like to change things round at our house. We always used to stay home, then we has a phase where we visited relatives, then one year we went skiing, and recently we’ve been going to holiday cottages. This year we’re off to the Isle of Mull, next year I’m fancying the New Forest.

17. What tops your Christmas tree?
At the moment nothing…

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

I love the act of deciding what t get for someone and then getting it right!

19. What is your favourite Christmas song?

Little Drummer Boy or if I’m being non traditional, A Spaceman Came Travelling.
20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?

All that sugar? Yum!

21. What do you want for Christmas?

I think I’m getting some new climbing ropes, but I’d also love some sock blockers, oh and my camera is slowly dying!

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
I always go to the climbing club Christmas do


23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?

Christmas Eve I’m usually out walking, so usually dressed up in lots of layers!

24. Do you own a Santa hat?

Oh yes, and I wear it!

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?

Family


If you want to have a go then please do, and leave me a comment so I can come visit!

Tuesday 9 December 2008

December 9th

December 9th brings you another how-to. every year I cut some of these snowflakes out and put them on my window in the hope it will inspire the weather gods to treat me to some snow!

Monday 8 December 2008

December 8th

WEll December 8th sees me in a contemplative mode, so today we have a video to watch. I don't think I've posted this here before, but if I have then I'm sure you won't mind.

Some slate climbing

I do hope you're all enjoying the advent calender. I'm back from a really lovely weekend where it didn't even rain! As a result I got 2 days of climbing in. I don't have masses of photos, as I spent the 2nd day taking lots of photos on someone elses better camera. As soon as they go up on Facebook then I'll share them here. However here's what I did get taken before then.

The winner of the mitten contest was Abi, I've sent her an email so hopefully she'll get back to me.




Sunday 7 December 2008

December 7th

DEcember 7th has arrived, and I have forseen that you are in need of a treat. This is a Gordon Ramsey recipe that I got off the internet somewhere and is my go to when I need a chocolate fix, so much better than just chocolate by itself! For hassle free cooking I don't bother greasing and dusting the ramekins, what's wrong with eating it straight from the ramekin itself!

Hot chocolate fondant


Ingredients
2 servings

50g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease
2 tsp cocoa powder, to dust
50g good quality bitter chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids), in pieces
1 free range egg
1 free range egg yolk
60g caster sugar
50g plain flour
icing sugar to dust
vanilla ice cream to serve

Method
Preheat oven to 160˚C/Gas 2.
Butter two large ramekins, about 7.5cm in diameter, then dust liberally with cocoa, shaking out any excess.
Slowly melt the chocolate and butter in a small bowl set over a pan of hot water, then take off the heat and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
Using an electric whisk, whisk the whole egg, egg yolk and sugar together until pale and thick, then incorporate the chocolate mixture. Sift the flour over the mixture and gently fold in, using a large metal spoon. Divide between the ramekins and bake for 12 minutes.
Turn the chocolate fondants out on to warmed plates. Dust the tops with icing sugar and serve with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream.