Cake Anyone?

Happy birthday son.

Lucky Me

Need I say more LOL..?

Thank you, Postman.

Excited Much?

Only a few days after the excellent Victorian themed episode was broadcast, look what dropped through my letter box.

And look, it comes with an exciting free colouring poster! So much fun to be had. How old am I LOL?

One Festival

Given that retailers are already selling Easter Eggs, Hot Cross Buns and Valentine's cards, I suspect our festivals and celebrations will one day soon merge. May I be the first to wish you all a very Happy Valenteastermas LOL.

Mind you I guess for those based in the United States, I should probably make that Valenteastergivingmas.

On another (totally selfish) note I have discovered a shop in Reading that sells yummy Violet Crumble chocolate bars, all the way from Downunder. Lucky me.

Wet

It has rained every day this year; perhaps we really are twinned with that planet from the Star Trek franchise...

Seriously though at least we've not been flooded out unlike some unfortunate parts of the UK. Must have been hell in parts of Cumbria and elsewhere this Christmas.

Feel The Force

A bit like a Greatest Hits compilation but pretty good nevertheless...

31-12-2015

Happy New Year everyone. Enjoy the last hours of this year, look forward to all that may come in 2016 and beyond.

By the way, I hear Woolworths in Australia are already selling Hot Cross Buns and their rival supermarket Coles will do the same in January. Must check the shops here...

Mystery Fruit

What exactly is a Pomelo?

Found on offer in the supermarket, so it had to be tried LOL.

Christmas 2015

Festive greetings to everyone.

Only a couple of days to go and I expect we'll be able to buy Easter Eggs in the shops.

The Mead Hall

Lovely old barn: not a bad place for a party, don't you think?

Lottery Win

No, not me.

There has been however good news for supporters of Reading Abbey. The Heritage Lottery Fund has made an award of £1.77m (approx US$2.66m, AU$3.70m) towards stabilising the ruins, so that the site of this once grand abbey may be opened to the public again. Reading Borough Council are also backing the scheme to the tune of about £1.38m and hope the ruins of the abbey, founded by Henry I, can open in about two years time.

Read more from the BBC here.

I had the good fortune last year to be able to enter the grounds and investigate parts of the structure not currently open to the public. Armed with my camera, it was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.

A rare view of part of the Abbey structure.





I have also been reading that an attempt is to be made to locate the remains of King Henry I, supported by the team who found King Richard in a Leicester car park. Henry I is buried somewhere in his abbey in the town I am proud to call home.

Just Around The Corner...

You can tell what is rapidly approaching when you start baking these...

Homemade Mince Pies, mmm...









How brilliant is the BBC's new adaption, The Last Kingdom?