It's Christmas Eve all too suddenly,  and here is my Christmas blogette which again has come round all too suddenly.

Why a blogette?  Basically because December has been so busy that I have decided to return to that ancient tradition of doing absolutely everything on Christmas Eve.  Ably assisted by Mr Cooper, I hasten to add.  Even as I type I can hear him ably getting to grips with the hoover, cleaning those parts of the carpets that have only just been revealed since last year in a frantic early morning tidy-up.

And lately, when not hectically socialising, going to a brilliant wedding, and and enjoying an early Christmas, I have been beavering away at The Greyhound.

This was my little dish-washing corner yesterday at work, full of festive cheer and colour.  The flowers and card were from the chefs, and the wonderful pink flamingo from Juliette.  It was so lovely both to be given presents, and to have such a decorated windowsill that I think I shall have to continue with that theme next year (the windowsill that is, I don't think I will be given flowers on a weekly basis!)  Work was fairly festive too, in the kitchen.  But spoiled only by having to do lots of washing up for customers actually enjoying Christmas festivities in the usual way. 

Remember the picture of the elderly Christmas tree fairy?  Well, today she was placed on top of the tree again, the first time for many years.  And to make her feel especially at home, the tree was of the old fashioned variety, full of spindly branches and very sharp needles, but altogether very beautiful.

More so really than the robust blue spruces.

Last week, Mr Cooper wondered why I had written that I would be putting the tree up twice.  'That's simple', I said.  'They always fall over at least once'.  'Not with our new holder!' he cried.

Well, luckily I had decided to put the fairy on last, as when my back was turned, the tree toppled over into me and my head.  That's one of the reasons that I know they are so very spiky!

Here is the fairy on top of the tree, posing in front of my decorative christmas curtains, and collection of snow globes, both of which I am sure help her to feel more at home.

What do I want for Christmas?  Not a lot really, in the material sense; apart from a health check for my camera, which has started to do some very funny things.  I have had to take 2 of this week's photos with my phone, which is handy but nowhere near as good as my now elderly camera.  And like most relationships, we have been together for so long I do not want another.

As far as New Years resolutions go, one is get to grips more with technology.

Also to up my swimming times so I am regularly swimming a mile.

I didn't keep last year's resolutions, one of which should have been very easy to achieve.  They were to go to Brighton to buy a pair of denim dungarees, and to also enter the London pantomime horse race.  Perhaps having more down to earth aims next year will do the trick!  

Anyway, I hope your Christmas time will be special for you, and you manage to avoid any falling trees.

Don't over-complicate the New Year with too many resolutions.

 Drink plenty of water is always a wise one. When I see you next in January, water will seem a most welcome choice of beverage!

I leave you all with Christmas wishes, beautifully supplied by what Christmas is all about.

This is a tag from a present, which was given to me by someone with a big heart full of love.

Quite a bit of the past year has been hard, but the gains to it have been wonderful.

Try to keep your hearts loving and open, in this sometimes fraught season.

It is a time for giving and also receiving.  Sometimes presents, sometimes unwelcome points of view!

Keep those hearts full of love, and your glasses full of good cheer! 

Here I am today looking back at a week of hard work, but also a week of such smiles and laughter.
As well as the usual hard work in my life (trying to be a successful artist and cookery book writer, washing up manically at The Greyhound, and being happily married to Mr Cooper) I realised that Juliette and Colin's wedding was getting alarming closer, and there were still things I had to do.

As well as being my wonderful female friend in the (for me) male environment of The Gayhound, Juliette is a regular reader of this blog, and always gives fun feedback.
It's not easy you know, being an artist. We work all day on our own and all we need is everybody we meet to tell us how wonderful our work is.  You can imagine now why it's not easy being an artist!

Anyway, back to reality.  Juliette asked me if I would do a reading at their marriage ceremony, which was so exciting.  Son Sam suggested that as Juliette was a Green Donkey fan, I should write the actual reading. Not only did Juliette and Colin agree that this was a good idea (even more exciting) they wanted the contents to be a surprise on the actual day ( substitute 'scary' for 'exciting' now!)

So a Sunday morning was spent in my most productive writing place (in bed surrounded by sheets of paper and cups of tea.)  Then afterwards me and Mr Cooper went out for our usual Sunday afternoon drinks, and Mr Cooper pronounced the reading to be good, even before the second pint.

Then onto the completion of the Smash and Spam tray………….

……………I know I have alluded to a forthcoming artwork, featuring Spam and Smash.  They were to be united in my wedding present, along with their good friend Worcestershire Sauce.  And is it was to have a breakfast tray feel about it, what better drink to include than a robust and uplifting G and T?

Wedding jobs done, all I had to do now was to do my regular 11-12 hours in the kitchen on Thursday, and then, joy of joys, go to our hotel room at The Grosvenor, ready for the wedding on the following day.  To make this even more better, Mr Cooper joined me for this novel Thursday experience, and we went to the hotel via the Three Cups.

Friday morning dawned, and we ventured down the High Street to practise the speech on George and son John ('Too fast, much too fast, far too fast and you said again twice', from George.  'It's very good, well done, perhaps a little slower would be good, and there's nothing wrong with a reinforcing repetition, perhaps just a little slower' from a more tactful John)

Then all we had to do was to return to the Grosvenor to dress, and apply jewellery and nail varnish, one or both of us, then go downstairs in readiness for  the wedding.

And what a wedding!  It managed to be beautiful, so moving, happy, deeply personal and just fab all at the same time.  Our friend Jane Waterston was conducting the ceremony, and she was just perfect too.
Not only was it such a privilege to be there, and to be reading, but it was so lovely to not only be included in the happiness of Col and Juliette, but to be able to continue that happiness beyond the ceremony, and beyond the day.

Here they are, only just married, and still looking like it was a jolly good idea…..

……………………and very much a traditional start, will Col upright and manly, and Juliette touchingly leaning towards him for support.  Nothing to do with pre-wedding Bucks Fizz.

'Attention to detail' is a good mantra for living, and must have been the mantra for the wedding.
After bubbles, then more bubbles, we went through for the meal.  Although Mr Copper and I knew only 3 people there, and one of them had already left, we met such great people on our table. The order for the day was indeed smiles and laughter.
 All of us received a personalised goody bag, each illustrated by Juliette's daughter Lisa.

When the meal was over, Mr Cooper and I decided to reserve some strength for the evening ahead, so we retired for a couple of hours to eat fudge from the goody bag, and also a wedding cupcake.

For a couple who normally eat only savoury food, we were doing really well. 

 All that remained to do then was to spend the rest of the evening dancing, and to music that we not only recognised, but really liked! 

 And as we put a lot of effort into all that dancing, we made sure we kept our liquid levels topped up.

So much so that at the end of the night I was so worn out with all that dancing, that Mr Cooper had to help me up the stairs!

Christmas draws closer, bringing with it that manic Christmas rush.  On Sunday I went to stay with Mum, and we went out for Sunday lunch, a really good habit we seem to be getting into.  This week, a lovely pub about 4 miles from Mum, in the village where my younger brother went to school.  It sounds idyllic, but it was not a small village school. Rather, a large, rough secondary, full of a real mixture of pupils from many villages. Glinton.

I don't know what the school is like now, but the pub is well worth a visit.  A really charming village, attentive staff, and super food.  http://www.thebluebellglinton.co.uk/

After that, Mum and I did our usual evening occupation…….trying to remain awake enough to watch a complete of episodes of 'Murder Most English, The Flaxborough Chronicles'.  After 3 separate attempts now, I have gathered the gist of 2 of the stories.  This is not helped by the fact that Mum is apt to wake from a doze, then go mad with the remote control, so if you are conscious, what you watch will change in front of your very eyes.  If dozing, you will wake to wonder who these new characters are, in 'The Chronicles'.

When I was there, reading the radio times, I saw that the film 'Seven Years in Tibet' was on the TV.  I remarked to Mum about how childhood had changed.  When we three were little, 'Seven Years in Tibet' was a book that Dad had bought (and never read.)  We had been through it to look at the illustrations (we had to make our fun in those days, and yes we did have electricity, John)

The illustration below never failed to make the three of us laugh.  But after many a wet afternoon of us all inside, and laughing repeatedly at this butter skull procession, Mum always seemed a little cross and frazzled.  If only we had had ipads then. We wouldn't have had to have made a sound, or even moved!

Back to preparations, and this time for Christmas.  I have just returned from completing the Christmas present shopping, phew.  When this is written, we are off to Bristol for the night to see Mr Cooper's family, and then over to Portishead, to have an early Christmas with my little brother's family.  Back on Monday, which is my only work-free day till Christmas Eve.  On Monday we have only got to do the shopping, put up the tree, find the decorations, put the tree up again, ice the cakes, wrap the presents, make pickled pears, clean the house, stay talking, etc etc.

But more important than that, inspired by Colin and Juliette's decorated camper van, I am knitting two tinsel Christmas scarves.  It suddenly seems very important to be festooned with sparkles whilst cooking goose and flaming puddings.  

Next year I am going to be more organised.  At least I have kept with 'attention to detail'.  The 2 scarves with go beautifully with my 2 Christmas dresses.

I hope your preparations are proceeding smoothly.  Just remember, as you are getting frazzled at having to do so much in such a short time, and be seen to be enjoying it too, that it's 'just for one day'.  If that quote really makes you cross, you are probably well stressed, and trying to do too much.  

Why not sit down for a short while with someone you love, and a little glass of something?

Oh well, time to get up and peel the potatoes, chop the carrots and bugger the turkey.

See you all just before Christmas, I hope.  Till then, stay sane and have some fun.

so h

Cooking is very much to the fore in my life this week.  Christmas gets closer, and presents need to be made.
Luckily, this little booklet I purchased from a vintage shop should help me with my present-making.
What could be better than a chutney consisting of bananas, dates, apples and black treacle, all stirred together, and cooked inside the oven?
The recipe sounded so amazingly horrific that I had to give it a go.  Will let you know the results nearer the end of the blog, when all is bottled.

I try to avoid tidying and cleaning the house, Mr Cooper does it so much better than me after all, but I have been tidying my photos from long ago.  I had almost forgotten the Black Forest afternoon, when I baked a tremendous black Forest gateau, when was further fortified by extra layers of chocolate buttercream! The cake was intended to inspire some artwork.  Sarah and Gareth came round to help devour it, and it did inspire Gareth to have 2 slices, a decision which we all thought was foolish, including Gareth after he had embarked on the second slice.

The photos I took of the eating of the cake did work as an inspiration, and I produced my first 'food art' lino-cuts, based on a slice of Black Forest gateau.  If you are inspired to become the owner of one of these prints, do get in touch with me, as I did get rather carried away………...

….and recently discovered about 20 original works of Black Forest art nestling in my plan chest.

When I became 50 years old, Mr Cooper demonstrated how well he knew me, by giving me this birthday card.  I spent a happy Saturday morning last weekend doing one of my favourite occupations (cooking) in readiness for friends coming over to dine later…………….

……...when I would be able to combine that favourite occupation with another I hold dear.
Mr Cooper was the photographer for my interpretation, inspired by the card, and he suggested I should have the oven door open, as above.
Artistically a good idea, but did I want to spend a couple of hours cleaning the oven first?
Closed it is!

Now I have the Christmas tree fairy in my possession, I felt inspired to do my first festive bake.  When we were little, Mum always made mince pies with bright green icing.  When I grew older, and visited friend's houses, I realised that this was not how any other families enjoyed their mince pies.  In fact, apart from Mum and her mum, and sisters, nobody else seemed to be producing this festive treat.

Combined with the fairy, and a shiny doiley, these will become my first illustration for the 'Green Donkey Cookery Book'.  What could be more fitting as a first illustration for it than green mince pies?
I just need to find the right green food colouring.
The above are not as lurid as those we enjoyed in the 70s!  No wonder we spent a lot of time running around outside.

And outside was where I went the next Saturday, to complete the 2nd half of the Octagen walk with Mr Cooper.  We started from Compton, and ended at Walderton this time.  I hadn't been by Racton ruin for some time, and was pleased to see the fence had been removed so we were able to go right up to it.

In fact, inside the ruin there was a distinct 'modern art' feel.
But however brightly coloured parts of it are, its overall mood is a sombre and brooding one.
 Not a place to spend the night, unless as part of a large and jolly group.

Have you noticed how seamless my links are this week, from one image to the next?
Taking on the ghostly theme……………...

This has to be one of my favourite authors, and most favourite mystery series.  If you are not already familiar with Flavia de Luce, you must rectify the situation.  The first one of the series is 'the Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie'.  and when you have totally fallen in love with that book you can look forward to reading the next five!
And what about the sweetness at the bottom of my oven? (another seamless link!)
When I first read the recipe, I thought that it could only be awful, or amazing.  And thankfully, it has gone down the amazing route.  It did take an act of faith to do what the recipe asked you to, but the end result is deliciously different, and I feel moved to share this recipe with you.

I cooked it at 140 c, and stirred it three times throughout.  I also cooked it for two and a quarter hours, and put it whilst still hot into warmed jars.  When it says 'bake for about 2 hours until a rich chocolate colour, you will get a rich, very dark chocolate colour.  Do not expect Galaxy or Dairy Milk here.

I hope you are able to enjoy your festive season preparations in the coming week.  I am determined to do advance preparations to avoid that 'totally frazzled' feeling that does tend to take away from the magic of Christmas.
I might braise some red cabbage this evening.  Perhaps a G and T would help me as I chop………
Or perhaps a nice cup of tea instead.  It is only Monday, after all.
I hope you enjoy the week ahead. See you next week.
Until then, have fun whilst staying on top of things.

No Spam this week, more a focus on travels, with beer.
Saturday saw us setting out for Peterborough, to visit Mum.  We have friends who can direct us around the countryside using teashops as references. (Just turn left then, after the Copper Kettle, amazing scones there!) Mr Cooper and I can do the same, but with pubs.  Saturday midday found us entering the Stratton Arms for a little light refreshment (Take a right on the 2nd roundabout on the Brackley bypass heading northwards, then left for Turweston.  Hot pies and filled rolls on the bar, 4-5 beers to choose from, and always a friendly welcome)

Mr Cooper can be seen rounding the corner, hot pies on his mind……………….

The Green Donkey cookery book is really about to begin.  3 years ago, my research started with making 3 different mincemeat recipes, and asking my extended family for feedback.  This year, I will use that information to make 2 types of mince pies, and create an illustration based on one of them.
My ideas are now beginning to unfurl.  Read on in the weeks to come to be amazed and delighted.
The first thing that will amaze you is the way that my family always used to decorate our mince pies.  But firstly, make the mincemeat.

As well as mince pies featuring in the first illustration, there will also be the Christmas Tree Fairy.  When I asked Mum if I could borrow her, Mum said I could have her, if she hadn't already thrown her away.  Luckily for me and the Fairy, she was still in the box of Christmas decorations, a little bored as she hadn't seen the daylight since 2002.
So this year she will be back at the top of the tree, and also as a big part of my first illustration.

Here she is, a little battered but still beautiful ( a bit like me, really)  

And don't worry, Si and Mark, she belongs to all 3 of us.  She can travel around to adorn trees in turn.

I did do a little shopping for Christmas presents whilst with Mum, but also made some impulse buys which had nothing to do with Christmas, but more to do with my love of kitsch food, and my boys.

Could it be that Sam is my favourite, as I bought him the most wonderful candy pizza?

The good things is that Sam is still able to learn from experience, his mind is not closed.  He told me yesterday that he had eaten it in 2 sittings, but had thought that might have been a bad idea.

  A thought that was later confirmed by how sick it had made him feel.

I have always loved dolls house food, and love the tale of 'Two Bad Mice', by Beatrix Potter.  And this love has grown to encompass plastic food, made to resemble (closely or otherwise) the real thing.

One of my most favourite false food photos I have taken was of a plate of plastic sushi.

This was found on the 'Bullet Train', which is an exhibit at the National Railway Museum in York. 

http://www.nrm.org.uk/  This train ('Series 0 Shin-kansen ) is the only one outside Japan.

Moving away from museum culture to general knowledge culture,  Sunday found the three of us parking in Ashton, where we were looking forward to lunch in the Chequered Skipper pub.

The village of Ashton was re-built in 1900 by the Rothschild family for the estate workers.

It is so picturesque and posh, as can be seen below. 

 Was the colour scheme chosen to complement the peacocks, or vice versa?

We did have a lovely lunch.  Pork for Mum, and rib of beef for me and Mr Cooper, which had been slow-roasted for 9 hours. Mum found the parsnips to be so over-cooked as to be inedible.  Luckily, I swapped mine for hers to avoid complaint, and discovered them to be amazing pork crackling instead!

Last bit of Ashton village knowledge.  One side of the pub sign has remained unchanged for years.  

Here is the 'Chequered Skipper', depicted in painted nails.

So after a brief whirl of gaiety in East Anglia, we returned for a couple of normal days (daytime TV and ebay sales, Mr Cooper, sinks and sewing, me) before Mr Cooper's birthday, on Wednesday. (Belated birthday wishes, Ella, hope you had a great day too!)

What did we do to celebrate?  Obviousley, as I am over 50 and Mr Cooper over 60, we went for a long walk dressed in sensible walking gear, with Mr Cooper's great friend, Kevin.
Mr Cooper met Kevin on his first day as a teacher, and Kevin's first day as head boy there.  They both decided the day ahead looked pretty dreary, and went to the pub instead.
If we had all lived closer, they could have met me sitting in a pub during lesson times, with one of my teachers. (Blazer off, of course.)
 It's those things we have in common that attracted us to each other, all those years ago.

We set off early to walk half  the Octagon walk,  starting from Walderton, walking anti-clockwise to Compton. Mr Cooper and Kev were completing the other half the following day.

The weather was kind, and the counryside beautiful.  We met a handful of fellow walkers, and beaters from a local family shoot.

One unexpected delight was turning a corner to find the tiny and unusual church in North Marden.

Although isolated, it was unlocked.  Very plain but perfect, with a wonderful roof. We particulary liked the semi-circular ( aspinal) end to the chancel,  being one of only 6 like this in England.

http://www.achurchnearyou.com/north-marden-st-mary/

Returning to the start of the blog, about travelling and beer, when we reached Compton, tired but happy, we then drove to the Barley Mow in Walderton.   http://www.thebarleymowpub.co.uk/
Here we had an excellent light-bite lunch with beer.
I can seriously recommend the warm quiche, coleslaw and salad.

Than back to The Gables to park the vehicles, and do our last long walk of the day.  Down to the Traveller's Joy for more beer (Seafarers for Mr Cooper, London Pride for Kevin and myself)
As well as drinking responsibly (we didn't drive again that day) we know how good beer is for us, being crammed with B vitamins.  When we got back, Kevin made sure we had another of our '5 a day' by introducing us to a Sloegasm.  Put a good shot of sloe gin in a flute, then top up with Prosecco.
Berries and grapes, only 3 of our '5 a day' to go now.

Next week, more walking, possibly less beer, but almost certainly another Sloegasm.
I hope you are looking forward to the weekend, and the next week ahead.  Always remember to drink responsibly, sitting down is a good way forward, I find!  Have fun, and see you all next week.

Last week Spam, and this week, Smash.

It is reassuring to see that this famous instant mashed potato mix is in fact made from real potatoes.  And just in case you were wondering what mashed potato is, or how to serve it, the serving suggestion really does point you in the right direction.  On a plate, as part of the main meal.
And with my artistic store cupboard very firmly in the 70s, I am getting ready to personalise a breakfast tray, as a present.

It will combine elements of this………….

and of this………………..

…………..but will include many other delicious, and personal elements. Where is the gin and tonic?
My niece Olivia, artist and Masterchef star, with her avocado cheesecake (instagram @oliviahaslam) wrote to say she was looking forward to seeing the outcome of my Spam and Smash artwork.  And so am I, the only thing in the way of that at the moment is I have to start the actual work.
Funny how that is the most difficult part of the process.
But, as the deadline for the completion gets closer (11th December, Juliette and Colin's wedding), the incentive to start it grows stronger, through actual necessity.

I am now between book club books, as our next meeting is in January.  I won't make the mistake of reading the chosen book too early, as then, with reading others afterwards, it doesn't stay so fresh in my mind. (Just older and more forgetful, really).
 So now I am free to have a little explore in the book world.

  I  re-visited a favourite book of mine, 'A young Man's Passage', by Julian Clary. I was working away in the shed one Saturday morning, and Julian Clary was hosting a programme on radio 4.  I had to stop work several times as I was laughing so much.  Shortly after that, we went to spend an evening with Julian in Chichester, as he spoke about his life, and his then new book.

Sadly we were not alone with Julian, having an intimate chat in a pub, but at a venue with many others.  But, 'we spent the evening with Julian' does sound a lot better.
At the end of the talk, I did have an intimate conversation with him, and we talked about that radio programme as he signed my copy.

Last week, I re-read this book, which is both funny and sad, and about surviving.  About life, really. And yes, it could be described as very rude by some, and it is certainly descriptive.
After this, Mr Cooper and I spent a very juvenile and to us, hilarious, half an hour imagining the results of lending this book to some of our more conservative friends.  Then we became sensible adults again, and did normal grown up things like watching the news (Mr Cooper) and preparing meals (me).

Following on from this 'slightly rude' theme, this week saw us dressing up to go on our annual sleaze trip to Olympia.  Once it was to the 'Erotica' exhibition, but this year, 'Erotica' was taken over by new management, and re-branded as 'Sexpo'.
So on Saturday morning we found ourselves on Southbourne station at 8.50am, dressed as if for an exciting night out.  On the 2 trains we had to catch, plus the 2 underground lines to get to Olympia, I was the only person I saw in full evening dress teamed with scarlet 24 hour lipstick and long black  Dr Marten boots embroidered with red roses.  I was a bit worried about the showery weather, as my thick black lashes were thick and black with non-waterproof mascara!  But they survived!

Having been visitors to Erotica, and now Sexpo, for about 12 years, we have witnessed many changes.  It was here that we really first noticed the effects of the recession, and we have seen the number and range of exhibitors diminish in size.  Presumably 'Eroitca' was filled with luxury items.  And, where lots of people used to dress up, some in ways that made our clothes seem positively mundane, this year, most of the clientele looked like they were going out for a Sunday stroll in the countryside.

However, we had a couple of drinks at £10 a pint. then after looking round for a couple of hours, we made our carefully considered purchases.  Then, back onto south west trains for another difficult and disruptive journey.
When we finally got onto the last delayed train for our journey, I refused to stand anymore. We pushed into the small area of first class seating. 10 seats for the whole train.  Another couple, who got on at the next station did the same, and as the journey progressed, they began to look at us, then whisper and snigger.  Whether it was Mr Cooper's black leather trousers, my beautiful boots, or just the carrier bag Mr Cooper was carrying, I shall never know.

But we rose above it, like the grown-ups we are.  But then, we are not fat, ugly and stupid, like them.

Then home, and after a day like that, (10 hours away from home, 3 hours at the exhibition and 7 hours mostly standing on cramped, hot and delayed trains), we thought we needed a little lie down, and a restorative glass of champagne.  Mr Cooper then looked into his carrier bag at the carefully chosen purchases, then said 'Hang on' as he dashed around the house in search of batteries.
As he lay down again, champagne in hand, he said "Better no use that too much, I had to borrow the batteries out of the remote, and its Strictly tonight'.  Who says romance is dead?

And for the end of this week, I have to attend a 'Speed Awareness Course', to avoid gaining penalty points on my licence.  Because last time I went to see Mum, we went for a sedate county drive, but apparently not sedate enough!
We are off to see Mum again tomorrow for the weekend, where we will be driving very cautiously through Lincolnshire (very hot on speeding, apparently) so there will be no chicken roasting at The Gables on Sunday.
Instead, we will be having Sunday lunch at 'The Chequered Skipper' http://www.chequeredskipper.co.uk/# one of my old haunts from many years ago, and where the conker championships are held.

It is a truly lovely pub next to the village green…….

……………… and named after  the Chequered Skipper butterfly, which is local to the area.

So, will Mr Cooper stick with roast chicken, or choose beef? (the latter, I think).  Will Mum choose a pudding that I might have to help her to finish, having had to eat one already, so she feels she is not the only one having one (probably). There are worst things to do in life!

I hope you can get things done speedily if necessary next week, with no speed cameras in evidence.  

I aim to work speedily, but to enjoy my leisure at a slower pace.

Until then, drive safely, and be creative with your leisure time! See you all next week.

I don't collect as many objects as I used to. In fact, I am slowly trying to re-house many of my old treasures.  But last week, as I was working away at a hot sink, I thought about my lovely milk bottle that has been with we for many years and 2 house moves, and decided that it would be perfect featured on my 'Fluffy Goes To Heaven' set of paintings.

 I knew there was a reason why I had treasured it for so long.

For quite a while now, my 3 paintings of Fluffy Kitten's demise, and her ascent heavenwards have been incomplete.  Mainly because they had been under a bed and forgotten about for 3 years.

 After her tragic end, she floats upwards beautifully…………….

……….and she does arrive, but without the necessary objects that would make it heavenly for Fluffy.

She did so enjoy a fresh mouse, her next best food being lovely creamy milk.  So last week, I set out to rectify the situation, and supply a heaven for Fluffy.

Almost done now, but not quite.  Thinking that 'heaven' for Fluffy would be quite 'hellish' for the mouse population, I decided that once upstairs, they would be happy to live in celestial harmony.
  And thinking back to a favourite childhood book from many years ago, sugar mice would also feature as well, to replace their chewed-up furry cousins.

And why the Christmas trees? 

 For many years now, I have followed an old Polish tradition, told to me by my sons' Grandmother. 

 In the Poland of her childhood, Christmas trees were not 'planted' in the house, but suspended from the ceiling, so they twirled and twinkled, and were decorated only in frosty silver. 

Next week should see this work complete, and then I need to re-discover and finish my Cinderella painting, before she decides to disappear under a handy bed for a few years.

 And here is my Pink House Christmas tree.  Fluffy used to love lying under the suspended tree, occasionally relieving it of a silver decoration or two.

So, one artwork nears completion, and another is getting underway.

My collection of food items for a very important present is nearing completion.  Not every supermarket sells 'Smash' I have found, but buying 'Spam' has caused no problem.
 In fact, after using the tin in the creation of the artwork,  I am very much looking forward to a little Spammy treat, for not only does the front of the can offer a serving suggestion,

but the back of the can, as well as giving helpful opening advice, offers another tasty idea.

I rather think that I shall prolong the pleasure, and eat the Spam in different ways.Version one, have a Spam salad meal, like at junior school, in the days when salad was lettuce, cucumber and tomato.
 A thin slice of spam just called out to be cut into decorative shapes before being eaten.
Usually a house, for me, with smoke from the chimney as well, if feeling particularly adventurous.

And, having looked at the back of the can with the 'slice and fry' recomendation, perhpas another meal of Spam fritters, chips and beans.
With perhaps a small slice left over for a soggy white bread Spam and tomato sauce sandwich.
We certainly nibbled away at our culinary boundaries in the 60s.

As well as creating visual treats (well, in my eyes at least) this week I put the finishing touches to a reading for Juliette and Col's wedding.  I spent a morning assembling all the thoughts and ideas that had gathered in my head, writing and re-writing them in my favourite creative writing place (bed, of course) before trying the speech out on Mr Cooper.  Then, changing it here and there, adding it to an email  then pressing 'send' so it has arrived now with the registrars, all official, and just a little bit scary, too!

And as a 'thank you' to for Mr Cooper for being so patient with me and my creative processes (as he always is) I decided to spice-up our regular Sunday roast chicken by delving into 'Jamie's Great Britain' and experimenting with 'Empire Roast Chicken'.  The recipe gives instructions for a beautifully spiced and marinated chicken, bombay roast potatoes, and a spicy gravy too.

 My bit was the easy part, combining the chicken and the marinade, and leaving them overnight.
Mr Cooper had the challenging part, to follow a recipe for gravy.  And as I was leaving the house on Sunday for hospital visiting, Mr Cooper was asking me what 'roughly chopped' meant, as he had been asked to do this to the onions. (Sam said 'chopping when hungover.' )
Having explained some technical terms, I went to the hospital for a little lie down….

And then we re-united at 4 o'clock, to put it all together whilst drinking gin, and it was delicious.
So much so that we may well make it again, this Sunday.  The recipe is at the bottom of the blog, if you should also feel inspired to make it.  Drinking gin is optional.

Book club this week, lovely to see the girls again, and catch up with life for an hour or 2, and then discuss the book.  A wonderful read this time, with a totally different slant on some events during, around and after World War 2.  The story has many inter-woven parts, elements that each form their own complete story.  Rush to your nearest bookshop now, tissues needed in parts.

The title reminds me of a kitchen happening this week.  As an ageing female, I am fairly invisible to many eyes, and if you put me in work clothes near a sink, it is sometimes a wonder that I am seen at all.
Just before my final shift on Thursday evening, Sam had found a battery operated label maker.
After much hilarious fun labelling items around the house, he gave me a prominent label to wear to work, in the middle of my T shirt.  "No one will notice it anyway'" he said.

But it was actually spotted towards the end of the shift.  Chef Mickey said, "Did Sam put that on you?'
 "Yes," I replied. "He knows me very well, you see".

Well, it's a good job I find my jokes funny, I can amuse myself for hours, and sometimes have to.

Well, the working week is almost over for me, and the weekend beckons.  We are off to London tomorrow, and I will tell you lots about that next week.
Not everything about it, as we are off to Mr Cooper's annual treat.  The Sexpo exhibition is on for the weekend, in Olympia (replacing Erotica) http://www.sexpo.co.uk/

I hope your weekend is looking exciting too, and the weather will be kind,whatever you have planned.
 Until then, add a little spice to it, and enjoy yourselves.  Will catch up with you all in a week's time.

Happy birthday, blog!  I posted my first blog last year, on the 5th November.  It was all about why I was not writing, and more to the point not illustrating, my cookery book that I had been planning to write for 3 years.  I am pleased to announce that this is my 52nd post, so I have averaged one a week. Now all I have to do is include weekly snippets in the coming year's blog, showing that my book is actually happening. That could be a little tricky at the moment.
Watch this space! I need to devote a specific amount of time each week to start those illustrations.  Ideas are moving around in my head, but in a hazy, translucent way . No bright ideas as yet demanding to be released, and put on paper.

This is my last blog of the first year, and the last one written during my convalescence.  It doesn't contain much evidence of hard work, unless you count eating!  It does drift through my birthday in a haze of food and alcohol.  I know it was my birthday, and not the usual drifty days of food and alcohol, as there were cards and presents involved, and many treats which don't usually happen.
Here goes then……..

The day of my birthday was bright and sunny.  I opened my cards, from my bros, my mum, my friends the Lemons, and Mr Cooper, and my presents from Mr Cooper.  Exhausted and overwhelmed after all that unwrapping, I then got ready to attend my second 'Creative Writing for Gourmets' event, at Tuppenny Barn. http://www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/
Like getting married twice in 2 weeks (to Mr Cooper, of course) which does extend the pleasure, we decided (well, me really) to extend the pleasure of a birthday by having an actual birthday, then a sort of Boxing Day birthday to follow.  One in sunny Nutbourne, and the other in sunny Stockbridge.

Although the weather was perfect, I was not feeling really in the mood for a 4 hour writing workshop.  Nothing at all to do with my age, and decreasing faculties, I had at least remembered where I was going, and why, but because of the disruptions battering my life from without.

But, Tuppenny Barn gave me a marvellous present.
All us gourmet writers provide an item for lunch, and today mine was a birthday chocolate feast,
Nigella's 'Cloud Cake', containing no flour, made only out of loads of dark chocolate, many eggs, a good helping of butter, and a little sugar for good measure.  Fill the sunken top with lashings of whipped cream, and it is a cake to savour, small helping by small helping.

Coming back to the writing, our first exercise was to spend 6 minutes writing about anything in your head, which would not be read.  I spent 6 minutes writing about the feelings surrounding emotional happenings which are beyond my control, and how this has had a 'freezing' effect on my creativity, and in the process of this, I experienced a definite thaw, and the day passed with much writing, reading, munching and laughter.  I was to have put the actual passage of writing at the bottom of this blog, as an optional read, but that might not happen, as at the moment I cannot find it!  All will be revealed at the end of the blog.  Or not, if it still remains hidden.

The rest of the day passed peacefully, duck breasts with ginger were eaten (thanks again, Nigella)
and television was watched.  You must remember, that although the evening sounds fairly boring and mundane, we have been experiencing a period of convalescence which has, for the most part, led to boring and mundane evenings watching the telly.  But that will change next week!

Birthday Boxing Day!  A dry day, perfect for our trip to Stockbridge.  A regular occurrence for me, but a treat for Mr Cooper.  And the first treat of the day, lunch at Woodfire, cooked by that exceptional chef, Sam Hofman.  It was all done by Sam too, as he was the only chef in the kitchen!

Thinking back to when we went out once for lunch on Mr Cooper's birthday, and ended up having a drunken buying spree in Gunwharf Quays, which included the purchase of a great pair of black Levis 501s (expensive) and 2 full-sized purple tinsel Christmas trees (absolute bargains), we decided to learn from our mistakes, and not to eat or drink too much, or buy any more trees.

Here is that wonderful chef Sam, preparing one of the four mezzes that we ordered, Baba Ganoush.

We started out with the best of intentions, as we often do.  Though sometimes, we do start out with bad intentions, but not when convalescing!  We chose only four mezzes, we ordered only one large Peroni..

…………..but then, the freebies from the kitchen came out.  Oh well, we said, we may as well tuck in.
 In fact, lets go on to have a dessert.  In my case, Gorgonzola ice cream and a large Malbec.  Mr Cooper just stuck to coffee and brandy, forgetting caffeine is a banned substance for the next 9 months!

After that, time to see my other son, and settle down to receive more gifts.  Sam's gift to me is still in the making stage, but progress is looking good.   John gave me a beautiful and thoughtful selection of presents, plus a largish metal birthday card which is going to have a pair of legs welded onto it, so it will adorn my garden.

Time to go to the Greyhound, (thanks for our birthday drinks, Bex) and to the best room there.
Birthday Boxing Day hadn't ended, as my friend Juliette, from the exclusive 'Young At Heart' club, had left a wonderful assortment of gifts in our room (thanks for the room, Lucy).  Thursday just kept getting better and better!

Well, what could we do but 'enjoy', and relax, and then get ready for dinner.

A real treat to be seated in the dining room, receiving food, rather than in the kitchen, washing up from the dining room and the kitchen. After much deliberation, we made our choices from the new menu.  Hard choices, as there was so much we wanted to taste.  http://thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk/food-drink/
After our starters,  carpaccio of buffalo for Mr Cooper, scallops and ox cheek for me,  and before our mains, the boys in the kitchen sent out a duck breast treat.  Venison and cod to follow, with a bottle of number 3. And to finish off, or more accuratley, to finish us off, peanut butter and chili icecream, which is just perfect, as long as you love chillies and peanut butter.  Just perfect.

Lovely to return home the next day to find more cards and presents. Thanks Sarah and Ali, thanks Rachael and Ben!

After all that, treats and laziness were put away with a little sadness………..work was very much on the horizon.  So, all my unfinished sewing projects were completed and put away, work dungaress, both for pigging and painting were found, plus swimming costumes.

We both approached the pool with trepidation, as it had been four and a half weeks since we had done any swimming, but all was fine.  I still remembered how to do it, and did it for a quarter of a mile! Mr Cooper remembered how to do it too, but then went to the jacuzzi to recover. We both remembered that was a good thing to do!

So back at work now, which is a relief. Goodbye inactivity, and hello wages and studio!
I hope you have a week of the activities you want to do, even better if they bring in your wages.
Looking forward to having your company in the year ahead.

Ps, I haven't found my writings from the workshop, perhaps it is their intention to stay private for the moment.