This week I plan to...

 

I've really been looking forward to this weekend. Now it's arrived and the sunshine is shining it's even better. So what have I got planned? I've tired not to overload myself with tasks but I do want to do the following:

• Work through the Free Range Humans book - I pre-ordered and it's been sitting on my shelf since January
• Write a blog post about Barcelona - I failed to do this for Rome last year and really want to share my vegan experiences in Barcelona even if it's brief
• Work on my allotment - I've bought seeds and dug my plot so if it doesn't snow I'm good to go
• Work on a website and a couple of other things - these are on my 'guilt' list
• Choreograph, or at least start to, a couple of burlesque routines
• Chill out with a book

 

 

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Ukulele lady

Only a totally disorganised person would attend a ukulele workshop at the delightful Tea and Sympathy and meet old friends and new interesting new people and fail to take a single photograph. Why it was almost like being back in the late 90s!

Admittedly I did arrive in a rather flustered state having had to change my travel plans a the last minute. The plan was to eat dinner with the wonderful Naomi (dinner at Naomi's two nights in a row is great!) and then get the train together. When it turned out the trains were all cancelled it was time to have rethink and me driving seemed the obvious option.

Alas my satnav was at home, I only had the vaguest idea of where I was headed and I needed petrol. But Naomi and I stepped up to the plate in best Thelma and Louise style (but without the attempted rape and murder).

The workshop was such fun. Our tutor, Pony, had five songs for us to have a go at playing from the simple one chord Frere Jacques to I just called to say I love you (5 chords). Taking it at a slow pace we played through each a code of times. Pony took the time at the start of each new tune to sing it through and make sure we were all comfortable with any new chords.

By the end of the night when we played through all 5 tunes and sang along it felt great. Even without the cocktails served in teacups that the non-drivers partook of.

And then it was time leave behind the shop full of vintage finds, handmade lovelies and quirky objects. To wander back across town, buy chips, and drive back through the fog, humming Ukulele Lady.

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What's in my lunchbox this week? - impatient

 

I bought rice papers at some point in the past with plans to feed them to a wheat avoiding friend. Then I read Animal, vegetable, miracle which feeds them to vegetarian guests so I figured they must be ok (on all kinds of levels!). I've been sprouting my own alfalfa and the description of the party in Animal, Vegetable, mineral at which these are served kept coming back. I'm so glad it did!

Clockwise from top right

• Yummy kale in a tahini dressing made with lemon juice, the dregs of a jar of peanut butter, slightly more substantial tahini jar dregs, water and salt.
• Popcorn popped in sesame oil. A small change that makes so much difference to the taste.
• Rice paper rolls filled with home sprouted alfalfa and tofu. The tofu was marinated and baked using the recipe from The Vegan Lunchbox.
• Apple and marzipan pie - homemade pastry filled with sliced apples, some ancient marzipan (from back of the pantry but it never goes off, right?) and a little sprinkle of allspice.
• To read - One of our Thursdays is missing by Jasper Fforde.

I can barely wait for lunchtime to arrive this week.

 

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Seven for 7

A dash through the last week.

• Eating - Fronch toast from VWAV - an overnight soak in the liquid made some rock hard bread totally delicious.
• Being inspired by - Start Up Saturday - this brilliant day deserves it's own post and I will endeavour to write on that does it justice
• Reading - The red leather diary by Lily Koppel - nothing like real life glamour from 1920s New York
• Listening - to Xfm - a definite bonus of the iPad app is not having to try and tune my radio. A crackle free listening experience.

• Being horribly impolite - to the lovely Wendy who made me the bag above as a birthday gift. I've totally failed to thank her and can't even find her Etsy shop to link to. The bag is beautifully made, in my favourite colours, features velvet ribbon an a beautiful glass bead. My various burlesque gloves and stockings will be living in it.
• Wearing - layers; let's face it the weather just isn't lending itself to bikinis.
• Trying out - geocaching (which amusing got autocorrected to 'ego caching'). Finding my first cache on a bright, sunny but cold day made me smile and has made me eager to find all 58 caches within 1.5 miles of my workplace.

 

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What's in my lunch box this week? Filled up

 

So here are the results of my intention to make an effort. I actually struggled to fit it all on the lunchbox. A packet of Ryvita failed to make it into the photo.

Clockwise from top right:

• Cashew and walnut cheese - I found a recipe I'd scribbled on a scrap of paper (this is why one should always cite references) which appeared to be for some kind of raw cashew cheese. Alas it was rather runny so I did what I do with my usual cashew cheese and baked it. So much for experimentation!
• Shoved down the side of the box are some halved mincemeat muffins. These came out a little heavier than I expected, more like bread pudding, but I'm not complaining.
• Speedy Kale and tofu delight from La Dolce Vegan - I love this recipe and was delighted to have the ingredients to hand.
• Steamed cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts with Righteous Ginger and toasted sesame salad dressing. A colleague bought this dressing but didn't care for it and passed it to me. Almost as tasty as my home made version.
• British Cox apple
• To read - Mad like Tesla : underdog inventors and their relentless pursuit of clean energy by Tyler Hamilton.

 

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How to get out of bed on a winter morning

Press snooze on radio alarm. Go back to sleep for a few minutes. When alarm goes off again throw back covers and prepare for cold air to meet skin. Fumble for glasses. Plunge feet into fluffy slippers and wrap heavy dressing gown around body. Stagger along landing and fumble for light switch. Reach foot of staircase. Greet cat. Feed cat. Put kettle to boil then brush teeth. Open front door to show cat outside world. Close door when cat refuses to venture out into cold.

Make pot of tea. Trip over cat. Retreat to bathroom. Pin up hair, put almond oil on face, and step under blissful heat of shower. Step out of shower and dive into towel before cold can reach you. Frantically dry skin and apply body lotion to keep cold out.

Huddled in robe and slippers pour out nicely brewed tea. Let cat out. Return to bedroom and layer on clothing. Apply squirt of perfume, and add necklace, watch, and bracelet. Once more in kitchen put porridge to cook in microwave while preparing lunchbox.

Feel warm glow as a result of hot tea and porridge. Tidy kitchen and put porridge bowl to soak. Let complaining cat back into house to claw at sofa. Wash hands and put contact lenses in. Apply make up. Make face at self in mirror. Look at time and panic.

Collect handbag, and other items required for day ahead. Put on extra socks and boots. Add long coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Check levels of cat food. Check keys are in bag. Gather up things, turn off lights and plunge onto cold of the outside world.

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What's in my lunchbox this week? Once again...

 

2013 really needs to be a year I get myself organised with my lunchbox. I've been a little erratic in what I put in over the past year and while its great to make the most of what's in the fridge or come up with a last minute idea, I want great food to look forward to ever day.

So to consume this week while reading The art of non-conformity:

Clockwise from top right

• Carrot sticks
• Oatcakes
• Satsuma
• Peanut butter (this is my back up food because you can do so much with it so I bought several jars over the festive period. I need to go back to buying the ones with no added sugar though)
• Pasta with the last of the home grown peas from the freezer, vegan hot dog slices, olive oil, chilli flakes, salt and pepper.

 

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