It's Been A Long Long Time

I bet you thought I'd gone for good?  I was beginning to wonder the same myself.  But, I though I'd make my NY resolution to post on here at least once a month.  Make it achievable, I say.

I have been busy doing other things -  sewing frocks, knitting socks, and just generally pottering.

  

Oh, and moving house - I've unexpectedly moved to Norfolk!  If you'd have asked me this time last year, I wouldn't have had an inkling - I was happy in my little flat in Hertford and thought I'd be there for ever.  But then a seed was planted in my tiny brain, where it grew - and after a few months house-hunting, and waiting, and finally a pretty stress-free move in September, here I am, and I couldn't be happier.  I love my village, and I love my house (you get a lot for your money up here) and I love the fact that my family are all nearby.  Christmas was great - I'm haven't usually been at home for Christmas, so I haven't bothered with decorations, but this year I had a tree and lots of fairy lights and other bits and pieces.  

I even cooked my first Christmas dinner for about 20years - who'd have thought it!

I'm also a great aunt x 3 now - you may remember Grace - she's a big girl now, does drawing and everything......

In September, she was joined by her gorgeous cousin Hayley, and then in September she got a beautiful baby sister, Bethany

They all had Christmas outfits - 

GRACE

That was MY headband, but she took a liking to it, and I don't see me getting it back anytime soon. Its probably more appropriate for her age group than mine, if I'm honest

HAYLEY

I love this picture - it was my Christmas card, and it makes me smile whevever I see it, 

and finally ....

BETHANY

with her very proud Mum

I feel so lucky to be up here now so I can be a bigger part of their lives than just an occasional visitor.

I will be posting about the various things I've stitched and knitted while I've been away, but for now, flushed with the success of my festive dinner, I thought I'd share my recipe for the delicious soup I made this evening.......

Heat a glug or two of olive oil in a big pan.  Leave over the heat for several mins whilst looking through my cupboards for stock cubes and seasonings.  When smoke alarm starts sounding, stop looking for stock cubes and turn off the heat, and remove the pan.  Add the ready chopped onions, ignoring the fact that most of them immediately turn black, it'll probably add to the flavour.

Meanwhile, attempt to stop the smoke alarm by flapping a tea towel underneath it.  When this doesn't work, go away and find some steps to reach the re-set button - press repeatedly until silence reigns,

Make your way through the steam filled kitchen, and put the pan back on the heat, adding chopped parsnips, carrots and red pepper.  Add a pint or two of vegetable stock - I used an OXO cube, but you could always make your own, if you don't have a life.  

Discover some forgotten dried crushed chillies in the cupboard and add a good shake to the pan.  I'm not sure of the exact quantity, but I suggest you use a LOT less than I did.

Stand by the cooker, watching and stirring to ensure that there are no more smoke alarm alerts (it's VERY loud, and there wasn'treally going to be enough soup to feed the entire crew of a fire tender).

Test the veg and decide they need another five minutes. 

Pop upstairs to my sewing room, and get engrossed in sorting things.  Half an hour later, come back down and find that there is no longer any liquid left,  and that the vegetables seem to have welded themselves to the bottom of the pan. Add some more water from the kettle, and scape the bulk of the veg from the pan bottom.  Whizz it up with a whizzer and serve.

Actually, it was surprisingly tasty, albeit quite (spicey) hot.  I can't tell you how many calories it contained, but you don't need to worry, you'll easily burn those off scrubbing the pan with a scourer for half an hour.

Don't say I never give you anythng.