tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185335442024-03-13T11:35:48.590+00:00n'importe quoiDishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-12659824185892940672013-08-02T14:10:00.000+00:002013-08-09T11:19:56.741+00:00From bump to baby<br />
And t'was a she! I have to say, it's funny looking at that previous blog post and seeing me with my supposed "you're definitely having a boy" shaped 40 week bump. It pretty much near enough vanished in an instant and I barely noticed. Every ounce of my life zapped with an all-consuming wide-eyed, utterly helpless little person was enough to take the attention away from the fact that I wasn't pregnant anymore. 5 weeks have gone now, I've almost forgotten what it was like before she was around, it's like she always existed.<br />
It's been a lesson in patience and endurance like I have never experienced. From having to persevere through nearly 48 hours of labour to walking up and down comforting a crying baby when you yourself are tired and not in full physical health. You can't turn around and go back to sleep when she starts crying for food at 2am.<br />
Don't get me wrong, it isn't all hardship. I've been able to reconnect with a lot of friends I haven't seen for ages because they all want to come over to meet her. We've been ridiculously blessed by the kindness of friends, family and people we don't know very well whether it's been receiving gifts through the door every day for the first 3 weeks or people from our church family dropping meals over. I love seeing her wee personality (evident from the start) begin to blossom, seeing her start to do things she couldn't previously:- start to smile, make sounds other than crying, discover her hands, engage with her toys, respond to music...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3BwkBsb2HA/UfvCh9yy1FI/AAAAAAAAAlc/Hby2hgCMHQs/s1600/SJ+Week+45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3BwkBsb2HA/UfvCh9yy1FI/AAAAAAAAAlc/Hby2hgCMHQs/s320/SJ+Week+45.jpg" width="320" /></a>I'm trying hard to savour each moment because my word do they grow fast!!<br />
<br />
Picture 1 (on Day 4)<br />
Picture 2 (on Day 32)<br />
<br />Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-30748015753367229902013-06-19T16:16:00.001+00:002013-06-19T16:34:40.074+00:00D-day +??D-day came and went and there was no sign of the wee one. We took the photo below in panic on the morning (hence why the bleary-eyes and just-out-of-bed hair) just in case the baby suddenly decided to make an entrance and we had no full-term bump photos. Really didn't need to worry about it. It's a strange feeling when you have a date in the calendar for months and months and it turns out just to be a normal day like any other. I have to say I really enjoy the look on peoples' faces when they ask me questions like "How are far along are you?" and I tell them my due date was on Monday. Everyone does a double-take. Some people take a half step back in trepidation as though my waters will explode dramatically and I'll double over with sudden immense contractions in that moment before their very eyes - ha!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlYBsMB9bBM/UcHXSqZ4h8I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/OZGB4NcQdqs/s1600/DSCF2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlYBsMB9bBM/UcHXSqZ4h8I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/OZGB4NcQdqs/s320/DSCF2284.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Have to say, this kind of take it a day-as-it-comes lifestyle suits me down to the ground. I'm that unusual breed of person who's more likely to get stressed by plans and knowing that something's going to happen on a particular day than not knowing. That said, I would like this baby to start arriving soon by itself and not have to be forcibly induced... (10 days remain before it comes to that). Saying that I think it's my body that's not doing the job rather than the baby. It kicks and squirms and elbows me in a letmeoutofhereI'msquished kind of way! Yes wee one, I also feel like there's not enough space in there for you any more. Being kneed in the ribs on a daily basis is becoming less and less comfortable as you seem to be getting progressively bigger and bonier.<br />
Of course all the dubious natural induction old wives tales are being thrown at me left right and centre: hot baths, sex, raspberry leaf tea, consuming copious amounts of pineapple (Apparently 7 whole pineapples is the optimum number... tricky.), lots of walking, jumping up and down a bit.<br />
Quote of today has to have come from my grandmother who phoned today from Sri Lanka and couldn't understand how I could still be so active and yet this baby hadn't decided to arrive yet. "Are you drinking milk? Drink plenty of milk and the baby will also get the milk and then will come out." I'm still trying to work out the logic of that one...<br />
<br />Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-78403241200959170042013-05-08T07:22:00.000+00:002013-05-27T07:44:03.493+00:00Combatting the nesting instinctHere's what I've discovered about this "nesting instinct" - it is not an old wives tale or a myth like many of the other unscientific things I've heard about pregnancy. This is a real phenomenon. My hormones are firing off on all cylinders trying to talk me into doing things I wouldn't otherwise have dreamt of doing. I have seen this instinct manifest itself in different ways in different people. I can think of 2 friends in particular where the effects were particularly comical: one ended up with a freezer full of cupcakes, another with an attic full of furniture which she had no space in their tiny flat for.<br />
<br />
Having observed this in other mums-to-be, I was well aware of the consequences and so was psyched up to tackle it when it hit me. It first manifested itself back in the early days of second tri rather conveniently in an urge to do housework on my days off like never before. In fact I can't say I've ever felt much of an urge to do housework full stop! I have to say, I have fully embraced this side of the nesting instinct as it has resulted in a (sometimes) tidier house and a happy husband (who is far tidier than me). However there is also a dangerous edge to this instinct which I can feel is threatening to burst forth as the clock ticks on. I now actually want to look at baby things in shops (never before been this way inclined in my life!) Mark reckons I perk up at the sight of nappies in a supermarket when I was previously feeling tired - weird! We have many wonderful friends giving us many free hand-me-downs and yet with just under 6 weeks to go, an urge to buy baby paraphernalia is pushing pretty hard at my willpower. Mark has invented a new phrase for "paraphernalia" which he is exceedingly proud of. He tells me frequently that he does not want to accumulate too much baby "gulumphing golotmar" and to be honest I feel the same way. So we are aspiring to this and I have developed some coping mechanisms to help me resist the formidable "nesting instinct".<br />
<br />
1. Fill my time and my head space by making a list of other non-baby jobs which I class as "urgent" to do pre-baby (which they're probably not). These have ranged from the smallest of tasks such as "get haircut" to the slightly more time consuming "learn to drive". I have to say this has been quite a successful defence against the instinct and I would recommend it to anyone.<br />
Spybeys 1 Nesting instinct 0<br />
<br />
2. Channel the instinct into hours (and I mean hours) of extensive internet research into the most mundane of baby products. Reusable nappies have been an absolute winner on this front, being such a minefield of information and confusing jargon that I have literally wasted hours and hours researching in order to make sense of it all. Time that might otherwise have been spent buying unnecessary products on a whim.<br />
Spybeys 2 Nesting instinct 0<br />
<br />
3. Having a lodger has been surprisingly handy in this regard. Firstly he is 18 years old and thus babies couldn't be further from his mind. He doesn't comment on my bump or seem to even notice it more than once a trimester so it's easy not to think much about babies and pregnancy in his company. Plus our second bedroom is and will be occupied by this wonderful lad until the wee one's at least 2 months old and so for now a corner of our room and part of our attic has been apportioned to baby stuff. Limited space + having a husband who gets stressed out by clutter + newly acquired desire to keep flat tidy = NI successfully kept at bay.<br />
Spybeys 3 Nesting instinct 0<br />
<br />Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-32854618835232060822013-03-05T17:34:00.000+00:002013-03-05T17:34:54.845+00:00no limitsI realised recently that I had been believing a big lie that had been so engrained below the surface that though I knew in my head it wasn't true, it was deeply buried into my subconscious and affecting the way I thought and lived without my realising. The lie was that my weakness could limit God. When I'm talking about weakness, I mean those little character traits that I have and which I think we all have, which make certain things more difficult for us than it would for someone else. I kind of discovered how wrong I'd been by accident...<br />
<br />
I had for a while succumbed to a numb acceptance that I was and would never really be a morning person and that a lack of self-discipline which hindered how I used my time was something which would never go away. That was just the way I was, and that was that.<br />
<br />
And then a few weeks ago, this all changed. I was staying with a lovely lady in Paris when helping out with a conference there. We had both been up late, and my host was a light sleeper and clearly needed a lie-in in the morning so had gone to bed a good while before me. Just as I was going to bed at some unearthly hour, I realised that if I set my alarm it would probably wake her up and disturb her sleep. I needed to be up for a certain time to meet the rest of the team I was in Paris with. So I asked God, on a whim, to wake me up in the morning. I've done it before when I've needed it and its worked so I figured it could very probably work again. Bang-on 2 hours before I needed to leave, not only did I wake up (and wake up rather quickly and easily, which almost never happens), but I woke up immediately with an acute awareness of God (this also rarely happens!) It was as though I had woken up in every sense of the word - physically, mentally, spiritually! Something just clicked in my head then and there, and I realised this didn't have to be a one-off. I could ask God every night to wake me up like that EVERY morning! So I've been trying to do that ever since, and most days (when I remember to ask) he does!<br />
<br />
It may seem like a small thing but to me it was HUGE. Something which I never thought could possibly change has changed and this gives me such hope and a renewed expectation for what God can and actually wants to do here on earth in and through us!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For a good while now, I've had <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%205:1-11&version=ESV">this story</a> about a miracle that Jesus did in my head. I love the fact that Jesus just tells the disciples to put their nets down into this sea which they, the experienced seasoned fishermen had caught nothing after much sweat and toil, and the nets instantly filled. I've started reading miracles like that and the multiplying of the fish and the bread with new eyes. It's one thing to know this in your head but to actually transfer an abstract concept from the Bible to a physical and tangible reality is another matter altogether. But I believe the facts are thus: God's power AND love are unlimited, God's resources are unlimited and those resources are unbelievably graciously accessible! All we need to do is ask for his help, let him teach us and try doing things his way. Exciting!!</div>
Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-7963508110197236972013-02-13T22:34:00.000+00:002013-02-13T22:34:10.439+00:00Eking out your meatOver the years I have acquired a knack for making what may seem like an undersized portion of meat stretch, and so I thought I would share some of these skills in the form of a recipe:<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.saawinternational.org/cow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.saawinternational.org/cow2.jpg" width="200" /></a>My take on a <b>Beef Stroganoff</b>:</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(sadly no photo as was consumed before I remembered to get camera out so this photo of a cow will have to suffice for now)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Serves 4 comfortable portions for people with healthy appetites <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(tried and tested on my 2nd trimester appetite, 3 young men, 2 of whom could safely claim they are still growing, 1 of whom is my husband who eats anything and everything - nuff said)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div>
- some stewing/braising beef (as much or as little as you want, today I only used 300g approx but you can use more if you want) (diced)</div>
<div>
- a large onion</div>
<div>
- 3 medium carrots (peeled and diced)</div>
<div>
- half a standard sized pack of mushrooms (chunked up)</div>
<div>
- a tin of some kind of beans (black-eyed beans goes best with this, but kidneys or borlottis would more than suffice</div>
<div>
<div>
- seasoning</div>
<div>
- 1/2 tsp dried tarragon</div>
<div>
- 1/2 tsp paprika</div>
<div>
- 1 tsp mustard</div>
<div>
- 2 tbsp plain flour</div>
</div>
<div>
- 1 stock cube's worth of stock</div>
<div>
- good couple of dollops of natural yoghurt</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Optional cheeky extras</b> to add vitamins/extra flavour or for extra bulking up</div>
<div>
- swig of white wine (optional only because we didn't have any in the flat and it still tasted good).</div>
<div>
- 10 new potatoes (I would use this if I was serving with rice)</div>
<div>
- rasher or two of bacon (one for the meat lovers if you have it in the fridge)</div>
<div>
- a couple of celery stalks (diced)</div>
<div>
- a handful of spinach (frozen or fresh, either will do)</div>
<div>
<div>
- a wee bit of dried parsley (because it's nice)</div>
<div>
- a pinch of dried chilli (for a wee kick)</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Method</b></div>
<div>
Brown beef with onions in a little oil and seasoning, add carrots and mushrooms (and potatoes if you are using these), then herbs/spices, stir frequently before adding stock (and wine). Leave to simmer for around 10 minutes then add flour and stir frequently till combined, add beans, simmer for another 5 minutes. Then take off the heat and stir in mustard and yoghurt.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Serve with desired carbs. Today's choice was mashed tatties.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enjoy! :)</div>
Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-84649542188379799332013-02-07T15:21:00.000+00:002013-02-07T15:23:21.245+00:00The 20 week scanAs this post title might suggest, this is a pregnancy related post. On Monday there, Mark and I went to see the wee one again. There are many strange things about the whole "goingforascan" scenario.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. It's a little like going to view a fish in an aquarium.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first time we went, I definitely felt like it was actually our baby there on the screen but not that it was inside me and that it was always there just that we couldn't see it. When we left the hospital it was like we'd left the baby there in the hospital and we'd be going to visit again in a couple of months time. It was like going to Deep Sea World and watching the fish swimming around behind a glass screen, or visiting a friend. This time felt very similar, although with a steadily growing stomach and having been feeling the wee one (a lot) kicking and squirming around, the idea that there is actually something in there is hitting home more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. You can see EVERYTHING.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I say everything, I mean internal organs: brain, spine, kidneys, lungs, heart, ribs, you name it. I've never seen anyone's internal organs like that before let alone my own child's. It was riveting stuff!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3. You have to look away at a certain point if you don't want to find out the sex!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's right. Just in case you see anything...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. The 20 week scan photo can generate a lot (and I mean A LOT) of speculation from friends and family.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Speculation as to what gender it is is the main one. Does it have baby boy features or baby girl features?Everyone has had vastly different opinions on this front. There has even been talk of a sweep stake amongst some of our friends as to whether it's one or the other! Whose features has it inherited is the other cause for speculation. Now I am fairly convinced that it has a nose very similar to Mark's and I'm not the only one. But my grandmother has taken it a step further. Yesterday I received a text from her in response to having seen the photo: "Beautiful baby! Mark's nose and chin, your mouth". Ha!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FH8P98hPDM/URPEwNr-cBI/AAAAAAAAAjw/1j9n49x7yCM/s1600/scan+photos+20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FH8P98hPDM/URPEwNr-cBI/AAAAAAAAAjw/1j9n49x7yCM/s200/scan+photos+20001.jpg" width="200" /></a>If anyone wants to add their own speculative opinion to the mix, have a look for yourself and feel free to comment!</div>
Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-91133851979812067472013-01-05T23:41:00.000+00:002013-02-01T17:50:46.191+00:002013Seems that blogging everyday during advent is only really possible when you're stuck in bed. I did write some posts by hand ready to post at the opportune moment then lost the notebook that I had written them in. Feeling that even if I found them now it's probably less than appropriate to blog about Christmas now that we're 5 days into 2013.<br />
<br />
I have very different feelings going into 2013 than I have had any other new year. Now I essentially feel like a ticking time bomb of sorts. A tiny person has now taken residence in me and in around 5 months time from now will be making a grand entrance into our lives. Not that it isn't already affecting our lives now. I can no longer skip breakfast or get less than 7 hours of sleep without having to give up a meal's worth to a sick bowl, eating spicy curry results in irritating levels of discomfort, unpasteurised cheeses and red wine, to name but a few culinary delights, are off the menu (trip to France in a few weeks will be interesting!) and have a little rather reassuring stomach which seems to grow everyday regardless of how much or how little I eat. Now I've had it pretty easy compared to most but trying to juggle remembering everything that I need to remember and all the looking after myself with normal life and a job seems to be rather tricky. And let me assure you I am excited about meeting the wee one. Especially now that we have visual proof that it is actually real! At the scan it was already displaying a bit of cheeky personality, wriggling out of the radiographer's view, constantly swimming from one side to the other, then lying on its stomach, giving a little yawn/swallow. But I am in no hurry and I'm hoping the baby isn't too. At the moment I relish every lie-in, every spontaneous evening out, every party that we can so easily go to together, being able to play with friends' and relatives' children and not having to change a single nappy. Yes, 2013 is going to be a colossal life-changer.Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-53838818939327036392012-12-04T22:09:00.001+00:002012-12-04T22:10:21.997+00:00Oh Christmas Lights<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOmKedGvAio/UL50cj_OF8I/AAAAAAAAAjc/cHm6LIZieZ8/s1600/DSCF2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOmKedGvAio/UL50cj_OF8I/AAAAAAAAAjc/cHm6LIZieZ8/s320/DSCF2104.JPG" width="240" /></a>"The people who walked in darkness<br /> have seen a great light;<br />those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,<br /> on them has light shone... For to us a child is born."<br /><br /> "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-66421915384109559572012-12-03T11:29:00.000+00:002012-12-03T18:48:59.262+00:00A little inspiration when feeling sickI've been in bed since yesterday morning with the dreaded sick bug, throwing up everything I eat that isn't cream crackers or Shreddies. These are three things which have brought me a LOT of joy, excitement and inspiration in that time which I want to share with you on this, the third day of advent.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.24-7prayer.com/blog/1904">short inspiring article</a> about people, lonely and desperate finding home in another's family. I can't put into words the passion I have for this.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p010jyb8/Why_Poverty_Solar_Mamas/">cracking documentary</a> "Solar Mamas", part of the Why Poverty series currently being run by the BBC, which again covers a subject I am passionate about, and reminded me of a handful of my fabulous <a href="http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/esol.html">ESOL</a> students (inspiring women with little or no edcuation, illiterate, little or no family or community support, but determined to learn, to better their lives and for the good of their children.) A must-watch!<br />
<br />
A beautifully written <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTOYekVnDsg">Christmas song</a>. Lyrics <a href="http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858854741/">here</a>. Love came down. Nuff said.Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-32093104468206054452012-12-02T20:01:00.001+00:002012-12-02T20:01:17.361+00:00God never leftI've been thinking about how Jesus coming to earth isn't "God with us" in an ethereal, squint your eyes funny and you might see him kind of sense. He was tangible, breathing, fully God, fully human, real. And his coming changed everything - after Jesus died, rose again, ascended to heaven, God never left. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2017:22-23&version=ESV">God with us is now God in us.</a> Mind-blowing!<br />
<br />
But what does that look like...?Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-10178933011942251952012-12-01T09:43:00.000+00:002012-12-01T09:46:20.832+00:00Anticipation and advent calendars<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love advent calendars. I love the counting the days and
the excitement it builds. I’ve been trying to hold back the excitement at least
until December began but it’s rather difficult what with Glasgow deciding to
put up all their Christmas lights and Christmas market up in mid November! For me
it’s the anticipation of a beautiful time: lights, family, getting to listen to
Sufjan’s new Christmas albums(!!!) and other much loved Christmas music, all
the lovely Christmas food, putting up decorations, all those silly little traditions we associate with Christmas but are just lovely and fun.
But can you just imagine... the whole of heaven must have been waiting with bated breath on
that day all that while ago that we celebrate, Jesus’ arrival on earth. It was and is a BIG deal. God
coming to earth in human form, God on a rescue mission, coming to free humanity
from the clutches of sin and death… hold on, I just need to catch my breath!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sooo the plan is (NB I'm not so good at sticking to such plans, but hold me to it!) a blogpost every day this advent to remind myself as much as anything else that Christmas celebrates Jesus coming and everything it achieved...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Written hundreds of years before he came along, in the words
of the Message paraphrase of the Bible.<br />
<br /></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“For a child has been born—for us!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the gift of a son—for us!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He’ll take over</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the running of the world. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>His names will be: Amazing Counselor, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Strong God, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Eternal Father, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Prince of Wholeness. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>His ruling authority will grow, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.” </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Isaiah 9:6-7</i></div>
</i>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-63412313706217271612012-09-17T21:02:00.000+00:002012-09-17T21:03:42.500+00:00Colombo<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFU9QO_NXvs/UDH8mqiQLiI/AAAAAAAAAig/4VlaY0VoDu4/s1600/DSCF1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFU9QO_NXvs/UDH8mqiQLiI/AAAAAAAAAig/4VlaY0VoDu4/s200/DSCF1505.JPG" width="200" /></a>The first of some very belated posts which I wrote while I was in Sri Lanka with the intention of posting as soon as I came back (we got back over 2 months ago!)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
"I hadn't realised how much I love this city! For a start, this place is literally </div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR8eBy0kR3Q/UFeJXPzgaxI/AAAAAAAAAiw/kgeY6v2olBg/s1600/DSCF1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR8eBy0kR3Q/UFeJXPzgaxI/AAAAAAAAAiw/kgeY6v2olBg/s200/DSCF1507.JPG" width="150" /></a>brimming with childhood memories for me. Worked out that over a total of 5 trips in my life-time (not including this one), I had spent almost as many months in Sri Lanka (most of which in Colombo) as in Grenoble when I lived there. It's not everyone's cup of tea methinks, but there's something about the chaos and the grime and the life in this city that I like. I'm loving experiencing it again through adult eyes and my first-timer white husband's reactions to everything. Trishaws (also known as tuktuks or three-wheelers depending on your preference) are definitely a hot favourite: epitomising everything I love about Colombo; hilarious, lively chaos. Lovely to see various relatives I hadn't seen for a while and whom Mark had never met, though a fairly detailed diagram was required to explain complex (though in my mind not that complex!) family connections to him. And awesome to hang out with my Gran, who is 100% in her element when entertaining us, whether it's providing every possible option of Sri Lankan pudding under the sun in the time when we stayed there i.e. "Would you like a or b or c or d or e or f...?!" or making one of her loyal local trishaw drivers materialise in front of her flat entrance with the clap of a hand! And within a few days and we're already sampling some of my favourite foods/drinks which are near enough impossible to get at home: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopper_(food)">hoppers</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portello_(soft_drink)">portello</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_hoppers">string hoppers</a>, various curries, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangosteen">mangosteen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambutan">rambutan</a>, sugartastic iced coffee = sweeeeet!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCPshpG8Y3E/UFeKdK943RI/AAAAAAAAAi4/4oNTptdgdA8/s1600/DSCF1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCPshpG8Y3E/UFeKdK943RI/AAAAAAAAAi4/4oNTptdgdA8/s200/DSCF1916.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-76017347465381514732012-09-17T18:25:00.004+00:002012-11-12T10:19:07.505+00:00"Top table"I was at a wedding at the weekend. When it came to the meal, it took me a while to find the table that I was at, so I ended up walking around all of them and trying to figure out what seemed like a bunch of cryptic names that didn't seem that obviously related to each other. Turns out the tables were all named after elements of the Bride and Groom's lives: a few of the names and words I didn't recognise, although Mark informed me that I should have recognised the name of the table we were sitting on - "F=ma", though in my defence it's been a long time now since standard grade physics! But I certainly instantly recognised the table name of the "top table". The table that the bride, groom and their families were sitting on, slap bang in the middle of the room, had been named after the couple's number 1 "Jesus". I thought that was pretty cool! The whole wedding was awesome and fun and one joyously joyous occasion as 99% of weddings are!<br />
On a related (though not obviously related) note I keep having the privilege of getting to know wonderful people who are going through all manner of horrendous circumstances far beyond their control and yet are more than coping with it. I'm not talking about minor bumps here, I'm talking about the kinds of circumstances that I couldn't even imagine going through let alone coping with. Not even these tallest of tsunami-esque waves are knocking them over. They are of varying personalities, ages, backgrounds, and yet they all have one thing in common. They've all been fixing their eyes on Jesus, and although they don't have a reason for why it's happening, they don't don't need to have a reason. For they are all, in amongst their sadness and difficulty, are continually finding hope and truth and comfort and love and barely being shaken because they know Him, have some idea of the love God has for them and what it is to live a full life in spite of your circumstances. Inspiring!<br />
All these people, in their good times and their bad have discovered this secret. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:12-13&version=NIVUK"> Jesus is their secret.</a> And I see so many people living out this secret day by day. When I look at him, he fills my head with <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1:3-5&version=NIVUK">truth, reality, hope</a> and helps me to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=all+things+hold+together&qs_version=NIVUK">see the world with clarity</a>. In him I am witness to pure goodness and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:9-10&version=NIVUK">love and grace</a> in all it's raw burning reality; I know and am completely known and still <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:7-8&version=NIVUK">completely loved</a> ...and that's barely scratching the surface of all the whys and the wonders! Words just don't cut it. I can find more than a strand of sense in this confused and crazy world when I look at Jesus.Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-53537159628283936142012-02-22T19:17:00.002+00:002012-02-22T19:59:10.665+00:00Cup of Chai anyone?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoxYLgwAffo/T0U5jqSWZ1I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/X8FJqJybAno/s1600/DSCF1292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoxYLgwAffo/T0U5jqSWZ1I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/X8FJqJybAno/s320/DSCF1292.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Recently I found this little recipe again, on a rolled up piece of scrap paper in a tea tin. It was acquired for me as a rather cheeky birthday present from a friend several years ago who pestered the wonderful tea makers at <a href="http://tchaiovna.com/who.php/">one of my favourite haunts in Glasgow</a> for the recipe. It took me over 5 years to get round to making it and I've no idea why I hadn't before! It's yummmm and I had all the ingredients living on my spice shelf as a matter of course!<br />
<br />
Anyway the one issue with this recipe is that there are no quantities (most likely a well kept secret!) Just funny little caution symbols and asterisks to indicate "a lot".<br />
<br />
I did photograph how much I used the last time I made this, but it wasn't as good as my first attempt. So, from two attempts with varying results, here are my top tips on making it.<br />
<br />
<br />
1. My suggested quantities for 2 servings: 5 cardamom pods (take the cardamom out of the pod), 2 cinnamon sticks, about 3cm cubed chunk of ginger or 1 teaspoon of ground, 2 cloves, chilli to taste (chilli flakes is an easy way to do it), 4 black peppercorns (less if you prefer) or the equivalent. I used Darjeeling when making this and it tasted pretty good, so I don't think you need to be too pernickity on the tea front. Sugar and milk to taste.<br />
2. Boil for a good 10 minutes and make sure you do a taste check before you add the milk<br />
3. Allow to simmer after you've added the milk to bring out the flavour more.<br />
4. Put in slightly more hot water than you think you need, boiling water evaporates a little.<br />
5. Tea strainer is essential.<br />
6. Experiment!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ8T9nAqutA/T0U5ag-HGPI/AAAAAAAAAiI/6vnTTNmmdcA/s1600/DSCF1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ8T9nAqutA/T0U5ag-HGPI/AAAAAAAAAiI/6vnTTNmmdcA/s320/DSCF1295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Enjoy :)</div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-26239938549239459862012-02-13T21:01:00.000+00:002012-02-13T21:01:18.545+00:00On the trials of buying a houseSo over the Christmas holidays Mark and I decided; right Glasgow - we love this city, we're not going anywhere in medium-term future, let's buy somewhere to live. To be honest, the thought wouldn't have crossed my mind, but my husband is an accountant - nuff said.<br />
<br />
So we decided that since we had a long holiday that extended a bit into January, on our return to Glasgow, we would blitz this buying a flat and nail it in a couple of weeks max. We did manage to wade through a sea of mortgage providers and all that melarkey pretty successfully in that time period - Mark made a ton of spreadsheets, as he does, so that did the job quite nicely. We manage to view a good few flats in that time. But as for finding <b>the</b> flat, well it's mid Feb and considering the fact we still haven't found one we're happy with yet, we may have just been a little optimistic... See it turns out a nice flat in our budget is more than likely to have any of a whole range of problems.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/wda0581l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/wda0581l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Let me present to you three flats that we have seriously considered to illustrate:<br />
<br />
<b>Numero Un: </b>Let's call it Knotweed flat - Great flat, convenient area for everything, good amount of space, has a converted attic (!!), very cheap!<br />
<br />
Read the home report and... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_knotweed">Japanese Knotweed</a> in the back garden, asbestos in the roof, falling apart chimney (bear in mind this is a top floor flat) to name but a few "3" (the worst rating it could possibly get) level serious issues.<br />
<br />
Do we take the risk or do we not?! A dilemma that we have yet to make up our minds conclusively about...<br />
<br />
<b>Numero Deux</b>: aka Flat of Bling. This flat was in pretty much the same location as the first, had almost as much space minus the converted attic. Neighbours were nice (we even knew one of them!) Home report looked pretty good, the deco was in their words "better than average". Not sure if "better than average" meant tasteful; think silver sparkly toilet seat and multi-coloured lights embedded into the dining room floor.<br />
<br />
Now you may think, what's the problem here, decoration is easy enough to change. But it's hard to consider changing it, when the less than likeable rather irritating owner gives a running commentary as she takes you round a tour of the flat on how much everything cost (a lot!), how she put her heart and soul into making it hers. As horrible as I found some of it, I didn't really feel I had the heart to buy it off her and then tear out all of her heart-felt blingy work.<br />
<br />
Matter has been taken out of our hands at any case, because our solicitor thinks it's too expensive for what it is, and is currently trying to barter down the price. Secretly felt rather relieved about that.<br />
<br />
<b>Numero 3</b>: "The house in a tower block" ticked all the boxes and it wasn't too far from where we lived now. The owners were really nice; that always sways me more than I think it should! But it seemed I was more attached to the area we had been aiming for because we thought we could afford it more than I thought, and the thought of moving further away from the beloved area where I work just now or some of my fantastic esol students who have recently also moved into that general direction was surprisingly less than appealing. We've had to change one of those tick boxes.<br />
<br />
That's just a small number of the flats we've seen, and there have been some other possibilities on the horizon so it's not like this is all there is! But it most definitely has become more confusing and complicated than we thought it would become.<br />
<br />
Here's some advice, if you ever fancy buying a place yourself and have never done it before.<br />
<br />
- Have an idea of what you're looking for before you go looking for it - it saves time.<br />
- Read the home report before you go view it. You get better at that the more you do it. I have become a master in home report skimming, I just keep my eyes out for those buzz words for example having a pitched roof is apparently pretty important, my dad convinced me on that one!<br />
- An important question to consider, especially if it has any structural issues: is there a factor, and if there's no factor, are the neighbours nice and approachable?<br />
- Turns out finding and buying a house/flat in 2 weeks is a little unrealistic, allow for a bit more time than that if you're gonna do it.<br />
- Get a good solicitor you can trust, that helps a LOT!<br />
<br />
Have to say, I'm enjoying the adventure of not knowing and having to let God lead us inch by inch.<br />
<br />
Just watch this space.Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-81462546578910886682012-01-07T00:21:00.000+00:002012-01-07T01:02:21.350+00:00A foray into food blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5WH77taueg/TweRGbMuQlI/AAAAAAAAAhI/AvW6eLxa1z8/s1600/DSCF0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5WH77taueg/TweRGbMuQlI/AAAAAAAAAhI/AvW6eLxa1z8/s200/DSCF0924.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">I have really been enjoying reading food blogs of late. Mainly because I love food and love cooking. Notable recipes that I have tried and tested on blogs include: </span><a href="http://deltakitchen.blogspot.com/2009/05/pasta-with-mint-yogurt-sauce.html" style="text-align: center;">mint yoghurt pasta</a><span style="text-align: center;"> - unusual but really yum if you like tzatziki and really easy! And also </span><a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/10/swiss-chard-tart-recipe-tourte-de-blettes/" style="text-align: center;">Swizz Chard Tart</a><span style="text-align: center;">, sounds good but tastes pretty good (though reduce the sugar if you ever want to try it). See the picture below for mine and my Canadian cousin's attempt --></span><br />
<br />
So I decided to do a little food blogging of my own. The recipes that people ask me for more than anything else are either curries (what with a Sri Lankan family and all!) or soup (since I make soup every day at work).<br />
<br />
So today at the behest of <a href="http://parmaham.wordpress.com/">Mr Parmaham</a> I am blogging a lentil curry recipe which I knew as I grew up as parrapou (a tamil word with no fixed english spelling) and which you readers are most likely to know as dahl. NB this recipe is loosely based on how my mum showed me how to make it just before I left home, but there are 101 ways to make this. I've tried to give at least a couple of the variations hence why the overused parenthesis. This is how I made it tonight.<br />
<br />
Lentil Curry (serves 2)<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
1 green chilli finely chopped<br />
1/2 white onion diced<br />
2 garlic gloves diced<br />
2 tomatoes diced (optional)<br />
150g red lentils (approx)<br />
4 cardamom pods (nearly essential)<br />
1/2 tsp coriander seeds/mustard seeds (optional)<br />
1 tsp cumin powder (essential)<br />
1/2 tsp ground ginger (I would say essential!)<br />
a dash of lemon/lime juice (approx 1 tablespoon)<br />
a good amount of seasoning to taste<br />
<br />
Dice the onion, finely chop the garlic and green chilli. If you want it spicy keep the seeds in. As you can see, I did (unsurprisingly!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1ll2FyH6Z8/TweSyb4hOVI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/CyMxvoGpgTY/s1600/DSCF1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1ll2FyH6Z8/TweSyb4hOVI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/CyMxvoGpgTY/s320/DSCF1205.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Stir-fry these in a little oil with the seeds and pods (on this occasion I used coriander seeds and cardamom pods) until onions are soft (but not brown).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FVyjzFckS0/TweS6fk-oSI/AAAAAAAAAhY/MhIUKQXEcKY/s1600/DSCF1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FVyjzFckS0/TweS6fk-oSI/AAAAAAAAAhY/MhIUKQXEcKY/s320/DSCF1207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add red lentils and hot water to just covering the lentils. Add to that the ground spices. On this occasion I used cumin, ginger and a pinch of ground coriander. Season at this point. Bring to the boil, then cover with the lid and simmer at the lowest possible heat. At this stage, add the lemon/lime juice. I used lime juice today.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qUXTmFOu6LA/TweTDmg614I/AAAAAAAAAhg/VORgcM7E-04/s1600/DSCF1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qUXTmFOu6LA/TweTDmg614I/AAAAAAAAAhg/VORgcM7E-04/s320/DSCF1208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After another 5 mins or so add the diced tomatoes.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp8AZIlr-Dc/TweTJxMi2AI/AAAAAAAAAho/fFnLSY1Fgew/s1600/DSCF1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp8AZIlr-Dc/TweTJxMi2AI/AAAAAAAAAho/fFnLSY1Fgew/s320/DSCF1210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Keep stirring and adding water until the curry turns into a dollopy slop as below (takes around 15 minutes to get to that stage). You need to keep checking it and stirring on regular occasions otherwise it sticks to the bottom. Don't worry if you add a little too much water, just take the lid off and turn the heat up a little until it looks like it should. Now it's ready to eat!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKItiAQGFA/TweTSKCfDMI/AAAAAAAAAhw/pJ07NvT4Ijk/s1600/DSCF1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKItiAQGFA/TweTSKCfDMI/AAAAAAAAAhw/pJ07NvT4Ijk/s320/DSCF1211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tastes particularly good accompanied with rice, yoghurt and a boiled egg - hooooo yeah! :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG4YlQ7y0rA/TweTf4JdVbI/AAAAAAAAAiA/qT3IrJqfxOw/s1600/DSCF1213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG4YlQ7y0rA/TweTf4JdVbI/AAAAAAAAAiA/qT3IrJqfxOw/s320/DSCF1213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-69661773280884521122011-12-26T10:17:00.001+00:002012-02-06T18:35:17.145+00:00resisting the post-christmas rushThe world went fairly still yesterday. Apart from my friends who work in health services, most people and their families were fortunate to have a complete day of work off which didn't come out of their annual leave. From our perspective: from a flat that looks out onto a busy road, that was literally the case. Yesterday I barely heard a car; this morning I was woken up by a persistent car horn. The traffic has most definitely resumed. My email inbox has received a flurry of "Boxing Day Deals" and I know some high street shops will have had people queueing outside eager to get in there and get their bargains.The TV certainly didn't stop over Christmas, it's a hive of Christmas specials and films and advice on how to cook the best roast dinner. The temptation is certainly there to leap back in, to embrace the hectic and the crazy and the mindless and the empty rush that precedes and follows the 25th December. But I'm actively resisting today.<br />
<br />
<br />
Christmas is such a stress fest for so many people, some out of choice, some not. I consider myself fortunate in that regard and particularly pity those who work in retail. We went on a ridiculously late food shop the other night in prep for Christmas dinner just for a laugh and got chatting to the cashier who was definitely feeling the pressure of work and having to balance this with Christmas shopping and caring for and cooking Christmas dinner for her ageing dad. I find it sad that Christmas has been turned into this: a bunch of boxes you have to tick, expectations you have to meet. As you will be aware if you've read any of my previous Christmas posts, I do love all the trappings and the tinsel and the carols and the mince pies and the excuse to cook and eat yum food and see family. But all this rush and stress that comes along with it for some people, just for one day.,, just seems ridiculous.<br />
<br />
I am so aware right now as I listen to the traffic this Boxing Day morning, that in our culture, we need rest, we need space, we need to "Be still and know God", we need to know that these words you see on Christmas cards "hope, joy peace, love" aren't merely platitudes but are fully available and there for the taking, in and because of that Godwhobecameaman baby in the story. Come in God, interrupt our busy lives and open our eyes to the reality of you.<br />
<br />Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-74690252187418109542011-12-01T00:00:00.000+00:002011-12-01T12:23:32.090+00:00being gratefulThe last few days have been pretty wet and dreary here in Glasgow (though perhaps a good op to capture some good rain photos - see previous blog post) and I have been racked with tiredness, but my days have been pretty full and I'm lifting my eyes up and remembering the beauty and the goodness I have experienced over the last wee while.<br />
<br />
I got one of those once in a lifetime chances to play in the band in a minority languages competition <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/a-music-event-you-wont-be-singing-along-with-6264612.html?origin=internalSearch">described rather favourably here</a>. It's a long time since I've seen such incredible views on a flight and every single one of our four flights had them, one breath-taking sunrise, plains-worth of clouds from a top-down view, two lots of spectacular mountains! Udine itself was a medium-sized, quirky, Italian town nearer to Slovenia than Venice, friendly (sometimes too friendly) locals, delicious hams and wines, some pretty architecture - and we had a lot of fun there!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwLKwSzjTeE/TtdxGvVOi0I/AAAAAAAAAhA/zu8JH73AhcI/s1600/DSCF1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwLKwSzjTeE/TtdxGvVOi0I/AAAAAAAAAhA/zu8JH73AhcI/s320/DSCF1050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In Udine and in other places there has been much good music, both getting to play, getting to listen to and getting to dance to enjoyed. Genres to dance to have included some crazy drums at a jungle-stylee worship night, and Austrian Croat reggaerockrap. <br />
<br />
After about 6 weeks without it, thanks to a belated visit to the doctor's, I have finally regained my sense of smell. I am soooo appreciating this right now. I had been drinking mostly hot ribena because tea smelt of nothing and tasted bland (heart-breaking when you have a large and eclectic tea collection) I hadn't realised how much the lack of smell was affecting my taste-buds (there's a thought in that!), I've been bowled over by just about everything I've been eating - and I'd like to keep that level of appreciation up!<br />
<br />
I also am very grateful for the variety of good times spent with good friends. I love every moment I get to spend my with my Chinese mums esol class:- I always come out of there with a massive smile on my face! I am feeling very appreciative of my roomie right now having spent most of the last 2 weeks without him.<br />
<br />
I am also especially grateful to have a God who doesn't give up on me and who is always always always faithful and loving - flipping amaaaazing!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-73021359093949728812011-09-30T10:13:00.000+00:002011-10-01T17:57:37.422+00:00beautiful things<div>
Ever seen the first sequence in the film Amelie? I think it's one of my favourite parts of the film. I love the way they describe the characters by their little quirks and favourite past-times. Recently (by doing them) I've remembered how good doing some of my favourite things are incredibly refreshing. I was quite good at incorporating them into life as a student: it involved a lot of spontaneity and creativity and having people round as often as possible and appreciating beautiful things and going to the park a lot!<br />
This working thing and trying to balance a timetable with an uber-busy husband makes it a bit more difficult. But I think it's just a mentality thing, I think I'd just forgotten that life wasn't all about being busy. I made myself a list of things (mostly creative) that I want to do on a regular basis/over the next few months. It includes going to a gig (not just one I'm playing at) at least once a month, perfecting a beautiful piece of classical music on both cello and piano as well as having fun with the band, having people round a lot, painting, learning to sew better, taking pictures on the theme of "rain" (thought it might be help me to appreciate Glasgow rain better, finish putting together our wedding photo albums (yes a year and a half later and we still haven't finished it!) So far I've managed to sew a book cover (a big achievement for me!) and take some rain photos.<br />
Making beautiful things helps me to better appreciate the God-made beauty around me, in the things that he made directly like the rain, but also the beauty that flows out of the creativity he put in people. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(plus it will help me to watch less iplayer)</span>. I want to live life fully with wide-open eyes and an open heart.<br />
<br />
On the subject of "Beautiful Things", here's a beautiful version of a song with that very name.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oyPBtExE4W0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-83210275693360224022011-09-06T16:45:00.001+00:002011-10-29T14:05:01.442+00:00pure dead brilliantI have to admit, I am very easily influenced when it comes to accents and slang. My accent changes <b>a lot</b> depending on who I'm talking to. But I have found that a year and a half of working in Maryhill is more than enough time for the teenage lingo there to infiltrate my every day vocab and not just when I'm at work.<br />
<div>
<br />
I have been inadvertently using: </div>
<div>
- The classic adverbs "pure" and "dead", as illustrated below in Prestwick Airport's slogan "Pure dead Brilliant".<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="240" src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/40/71/2407114_4aea4eba.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
- "actual" used instead of "really" e.g. instead of "Are you really!?" in Maryhill you will hear "Areyeakchul?!"</div>
<div>
- "stay" wh<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">ere the v<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">owel is /<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">aɪ/ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">as in the vowel in "bye"</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have yet to pick up such beauties as:<br />
- the past tense of jump "jamp"</div>
<div>
- "am ar" = I am</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You've gotta love the peculiarities that sprout from the English language!</div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-21447389156589763652011-08-12T18:42:00.005+00:002011-08-27T17:44:31.367+00:00highway codeI had a few moments of pure panic yesterday, as Mark and I compared notes on the next few months and all the stuff that we knew was coming up/commitments and stuff we both did, and realised that the next 4 months are going to be more than a little bit hectic for both of us! I've said this before: I have no issues with the present, but do sometimes struggle to look the future full in the face without a squirmy "ahhowamIgoingtohandlethis" feeling in my stomach. So I wrote this:<div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">See that distance,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">That hypothetical, distant, not so distant</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span> </span>horizon of days, months, seconds, hours.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Minutes merge into one colossal cloud,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Potential struggles, breaks, ups, downs, probable mistakes;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">looming over, crawling skin, twisting heart strings…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Stop.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Catch your breath. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Cast fear aside. That’s it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Breathe.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">And take another look.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">See the hands that hold, adventure ahead.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Listen to love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">Walk today.</p><p></p></div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-90917452420717699532011-07-24T19:58:00.003+00:002011-07-24T20:09:26.495+00:00I didn't know whether to cheer really loudly or cry (ok admittedly I burst into tears) when I watched a tutsi woman at 46:33 during this documentary - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012lttt/Roger_Genocide_Baby/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012lttt/Roger_Genocide_Baby/</a> - say that God helped her to forgive the people who murdered all 12 members of her family, and see how her and the perpetrators live side by side, even look after each others' children! Sounds like a weird thing to celebrate, but I was so moved by it - forgiveness is so powerful, so free-ing, full reconciliation even more so. And it was Jesus' sacrifice that made it so! Yesss for forgiveness! Hooooooray for God!!Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-25856448519620884032011-07-22T22:00:00.005+00:002011-07-22T23:48:27.598+00:00A good walk to do.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7FIzz16-U0/TioIuMaKhmI/AAAAAAAAAgo/0hlAEmP_TNY/s1600/DSCF0371.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">The Fife Coastal Path - who would have thought. The East Coast, tamer than the West but rather pretty. We started at my parents, conveniently located a couple of miles away from the start from the path.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's signposted by this.</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kai86xNaHYE/Te1BMX_VIpI/AAAAAAAAAfs/NGI469GO0Is/s1600/DSCF0326.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kai86xNaHYE/Te1BMX_VIpI/AAAAAAAAAfs/NGI469GO0Is/s200/DSCF0326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615215991254753938" /></a><br /><div>(nice colourful logo don't you think?)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The route from North Queensferry to Aberdour, starts in some nice woods. There were lots of dog walkers and I mean LOTS of dog walkers. Beware of over-enthusiastic wet dogs. We got clambered over twice. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do this bit in the spring.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-82nVflbsrN4/Te1AcEHEBHI/AAAAAAAAAfk/mn--WwoL7Xw/s1600/DSCF0331.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-82nVflbsrN4/Te1AcEHEBHI/AAAAAAAAAfk/mn--WwoL7Xw/s200/DSCF0331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615215161284756594" /></a><br /></div><div>Then you hit the weirdest part of the route. As the woods open out and you can see the coast curve inwards, you pass a quarry on your left and a rubbish dump on your right. (Yes we are weird enough to have photographed it!)</div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew9TB4zXXeU/Te1Bk-yGgaI/AAAAAAAAAf0/AT3anx5oghQ/s1600/DSCF0333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew9TB4zXXeU/Te1Bk-yGgaI/AAAAAAAAAf0/AT3anx5oghQ/s200/DSCF0333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615216413985112482" /></a>Then you pass through the town of Dalkeith and as you come out and hit the coastline again, there are some rocks (if you're quiet enough you may come across an unsuspecting merman), and an industrial relic/musical instrument.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNREI5prGAw/TioGqNNwTjI/AAAAAAAAAgY/dJoJMrebc-A/s200/DSCF0344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632321606151851570" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSlzAFCU3qI/Te1CRGt2HrI/AAAAAAAAAf8/i-J8Yb4QBUc/s1600/DSCF0334.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSlzAFCU3qI/Te1CRGt2HrI/AAAAAAAAAf8/i-J8Yb4QBUc/s200/DSCF0334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615217172028989106" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then some more woods, beautiful views... </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zHy5gENVYeM/TioHMn8sYPI/AAAAAAAAAgg/RVlgZ2MS5js/s200/DSCF0356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632322197443600626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>...blossoms, followed by a walk around a "dangerous" radioactive part of the firth, then finally long straight roman-road-esque paths lined with daffodils and more dogs of course (I banned Mark from the camera at this point as I was despairing that we would actually finish the walk what with the amount of times we stopped to take photos).</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally Aberdour...</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7FIzz16-U0/TioIuMaKhmI/AAAAAAAAAgo/0hlAEmP_TNY/s200/DSCF0371.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632323873678198370" style="float: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div>A good walk all in all.</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-83112738718257057592011-06-22T22:00:00.001+00:002011-06-22T22:12:44.333+00:00financial security pffft!Friday last week was quite a momentous day in the life of the Spybeys. Mark got his exam results; the verdict of which would have had ramifications on his job, our financial security, our lives, (<span class="Apple-style-span">also its the last day of my current job-share partner. I've only ever shared the job with her so twill be really very different without her - but that's an aside</span>).<div><br /></div><div>The last couple of months, pretty much since Mark told me a couple of weeks before his resit that he thought he would probably pass it 3rd time round (this was just before his second attempt!) I decided that I could live without the old financial security. I think in theory I could always say that but faced with prospect of insecurity I realised it was true. It was quite free-ing really. I realise I had absolutely no worries about having enough money because God has provided for me time and time again.</div><div>Like when my dad lost his job of 24 years when I was 16, when I spent summers unemployed until I got to the last few pounds and then got a temp job just when I needed it the most, getting a job in the tearoom when Mark and I got married and the two of us surviving on his earnings was going to be a stretch. I wasn't <b><i>desperately</i></b> in need any of those times. (when are we ever in our comfortable western society?) But still God was gracious enough to provide for us nonetheless. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is this what it means to know the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:12-13&version=NIV">secret of being content</a>...?</div><div><br /></div><div>As it happens he did pass (!! - that was a total miracle just so you know, since he thought that exam had gone worse than his first attempt), but I'm not going to let the secret of being content slip through my fingers. Knowing Jesus, being loved by him, living life with him and all the adventures that throws up:- that's good enough for me!</div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18533544.post-42978313953953129512011-06-06T20:38:00.007+00:002011-06-06T20:54:26.582+00:00A pretty place to visitIf you'd like to visit the Isle of Mull, some advice for you:<div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6MfBRQOgNg/Te07MdeSQ8I/AAAAAAAAAfE/eAciD5hPnJg/s1600/DSCF0435.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6MfBRQOgNg/Te07MdeSQ8I/AAAAAAAAAfE/eAciD5hPnJg/s320/DSCF0435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615209395656999874" /></a><br /></div><div>- Mull is an island but it's still quite big. Booking one B&B on the south west of the island and another on the north when you're on bikes and not super-strong cyclists, is not a good idea. (thank goodness for <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=mull&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=888&bih=492&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl">googlemaps</a>, it saved us just in time!)</div><div><br />- Mull is pretty but very hilly. Therefore, cycling long distances having not cycled for a while can be very painful especially when cycling against the wind.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>- Don't trust the weather forecast. Fortunately we had it the right way round. Tis always nice when the weather forecast says nothing but "thundery showers" the day before you leave and you are pleasantly surprised whenever there's a patch of blue sky and even more delighted when there's nearly a whole day and a bit of sunshine (not to dissimilar to daily life in Glasgow really!)</div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNVS5JJ9pZM/Te08AINJ_nI/AAAAAAAAAfM/19unw-2UgsU/s1600/DSCF0434.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNVS5JJ9pZM/Te08AINJ_nI/AAAAAAAAAfM/19unw-2UgsU/s320/DSCF0434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615210283301207666" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH_Lr4yd1mc/Te08bHPGz3I/AAAAAAAAAfU/NJ7zt1aaivQ/s1600/DSCF0440.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH_Lr4yd1mc/Te08bHPGz3I/AAAAAAAAAfU/NJ7zt1aaivQ/s320/DSCF0440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615210746897420146" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>- Try the cheese. It's yuuum!</div>Dishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317420820085588483noreply@blogger.com1