Category: Family life

Now, I tend to skip breakfast. Yes I know it’s the most important meal of the day, so they say! But the children enjoyed their usual 2 bowls of breakfast cereal. We tend to do ‘baked’ goods at the weekends. Though every day is seeming pretty much like every other day at this point. It’s Friday isn’t it? Yes, Amritsar has just confirmed that it is! She’s very good like that.

Screen time has mellowed them all this morning. Tara and Amritsar have done a number of their school tasks, though Tara is overall trying to avoid completing some of hers. The girls sat in the kitchen with me to do their read a book a day challenge. They are both very good readers, though I am constantly amazed with Amritsar. I think that her academic nature will take her far.

Anyhow, I’m just sterilising 5 x 318ml jars of Dadda’s homemade, home grown grape jelly. I froze plenty of juice in the autumn as well as crabapple juice and apple pulp. I foolishly do not label much of the food that finds its way into the freezer, so it’s always a guessing game as to what I have actually retrieved. And today was no exception. Last night I defrosted apple pulp to help gel this afternoon’s new replacement black cherry jam and I thought that I was making a few jars of crabapple jelly this morning! Now, my sense of taste and smell isn’t the best so I asked Amritsar if the juice was crabapple or grape. Definitely crabapple she exclaimed. Well, 10 minutes into boiling my juice and sugar (equal amounts) I noticed that the jam mixture still looked very liquid! I freaked! ‘Its grape isn’t it’ I muttered to myself. So I quickly grabbed 400g of the apple pulp and stirred it into my mixture. Silly Dadda, but I thought clever enough to realise my folly, given my experience in the gelling abilities of my jams. As you know I do not use any expensive shop purchased pectin. Just apple pulp and lemon juice for Dadda’s jams and jellies!

I might write up both recipes for you tomorrow. But please be sure that both of these are very sexy jams and are best kept from the little ones and enjoyed solely by us grownups. The black cherry one is particularly good on chocolate ice cream with a splash of double cream. Though in fairness to the children, I did use the final jar on their chocolate ganache birthday cake. I don’t have a particularly sweet tooth, but Wow, that cake was ‘to die for’!

A lunch of chicken samosas and poppadoms was had with a good squeeze of Heinz tomato ketchup. Just as they would have been enjoyed in India! Yes, tomato ketchup is the perfect condiment for such a tasty and moorish lunch!

As you know, I certainly capture plenty of memorable moments with my family. But I guess they become memorable the minute that they are filmed. But what about magical moments?

My ear pods arrived in the post this morning. I was quite excited! Just one word really and that is BLISS!

I am presently sat in the living room on the sofa. I am listening to All Angels rendition of Mozart’s Canzonett Sill’ aria. And here I sit besides Gracie our dotty, doating Dalmatian. Wow, Mozart really could spin a tune, couldn’t he?

Gracie is lightly pawing me. It must be close to the dogs dinnertime, though she does the same when she wants her tummy rubbed.

I’m quite oblivious to the children in this moment. Tara and Aaliyah sit in front of the broken games cupboard smiling and laughing at Daddy’s iPad. Thor and Caleb are both also smiling, completely transfixed with Thor’s iPad. Both looking as if they are being helpful with one another and looking inquiring with the game that they are playing. Amritsar is kneeling at the coffee table drawing characters from her favourite television program. Daddy sits at the living room table, now his home office, head buried in his work and laptop combined. Did I say that I cannot hear anything, the music is bliss?

Amritsar realises that I cannot hear her – she is smiling. Now coming over! I am nodding my head and trying to look vaguely at her stare. Thor has just jumped down from where he sits and is also walking over. Caleb has started screaming, though I cannot hear him. Remus has blocked Amritsar’s path, himself making his way over to remind me that it is the dogs dinnertime. Thor has managed to establish himself on my lap, his iPad in hand. The song has finished, the moment gone!

Better get the dogs dinner and our lunch sorted for the troops. I enjoyed my magical moment!

How does a midweek roast leg of lamb sound? Well that was just devoured by us both with gusto! But a whole leg of lamb for two leaves plenty for a repeat tomorrow night or just roughly chop into cubes and place in a couple of freezer bags with a good amount of lemon juice, garlic, ginger, chilli and salt. Marinate for 48hrs in the fridge and freeze for later use in curries or stews.

Last nights dinner however came from the freezer! A pre-frozen bag of lobster bisque and salmon fillet with mashed potatoes and finely shredded stringless beans with butter and garlic. Good Appetite and thanks for reading!

What bird would you be?

And what of personal development in this time of too much time. Spend a little time on you!

I have read both beautiful and poignant verses from lovely fellow bloggers in recent times. Their poetry rang a bell! We are all no stranger to words, are we not? But how do you cobble them together?

In my 18 months of blogging, just one poem did I muster… a reflection on seeing a dear friend and not seeing another!

So, back on track, If you were a bird, what bird would you be for me?

Answers in poetry please! And remember, no one is judging this!

Well, I have just asked all of the children, what bird would they be? And this is just my take on writing a poem. Not really exact verses, but a little rhyme. We all get inspired by different things, do we not?

From my most recent accounts

Only one figure counts

Five is the number for me

Their differences noted

All fledglings I’ve quoted

Now, schooling has come back to me

What bird would you be Thor

I asked him once more

A Magpie Dadda for sure (I smile)

I covet things shiny he he

Amritsar my dear, could you please be clear

What bird would you be for me

A Kingfisher Dadda as blue as the sea

A favourite colour for me (I smile)

Hey, hey Tara I piped

What bird would you be for me

Tap tap tap Dadda

A Woodpecker I am

Tap tap tap Dadda (I smile)

Aaliyah, answer me please

What bird would you be for me

An Eagle for sure, up high it does soar

That is the bird I’d be (I smile)

Now, Caleb dear boy

What bird would you be for me

A Chicky Dadda, a Chicky Dadda

Chuck chuck chuck chuck (I smile)

What bird would you want to be?

2.30 pm this afternoon saw an end to the children’s school imposed self isolation. But what has befallen us? At present, an indefinite government imposed state of national lockdown.

The moment passed by silently, but then there were screams and shouts from upstairs! The entire crew came thundering down like a heard of elephants! And this is what it was all about!

Dinnertime was a fairly messy affair as after their Penne Puttanesca I left them with the remainders of the chocolate ganache and Greek yoghurt. When I returned to the kitchen, the mess was unbelievable! Though they seemed to have finished their dessert, they just seemed to be wearing half of it.

About to venture upstairs as that is where they are playing before a kiss and hug goodnight! Their screams can still be heard quite loudly! Wish me luck…

This morning I decided to edit together a new family video. Firstly I thought of smiles and then I remembered bubbles! We have a fair pictorial archive throughout our history where bubbles play a part. We even had a bubble machine at one point (thank you Sindy), that is until Caleb broke it! This video is short for me, only 3 minutes, so why not give it a go! You are only moments away from a smile… I promise!

For us, today was day 13 of lockdown. But as you know, since that fated day almost 2 weeks ago now, when the children were all asked to leave school due to their coughs and snotty noses, the world as we know it has changed. There is no normality to return to on Wednesday morning as there is no school, no nanny Sindy, no workplace for John to go, nothing really left functioning outside of supermarkets and pharmacies! I really do hope that the home testing kit for identifying the antibody is available soon. At least then we can either know that we have had it and we are safe to anyone that we might come in contact with or this virus is just another cold that the children have brought home. This cold shows all of the signs, dry cough, congested lungs, etc, but John and Amritsar have had no symptoms at all. If we do get one of these self testing kits, I will of course update you on the results.

This staying at home indefinitely is a real ‘biggy’ to get your head around isn’t it? At least after Wednesday I hope that we can empty our terrace of the accumulated rubbish of two weeks. I realise now that we do generate an awful lot! I am really sorry that there is little wit in today’s post! Nothing to report on otherwise really, just another day of lockdown!

Each time my iPhone has been upgraded, pictures have been lost from the iCloud, it just happens sadly! Well, I looked into a few Whatsapp conversations a few days ago and to my surprise, there were several images from the birth of Thor in Thailand that I thought I would never see again! I think that we all need to remember to backup and / or print our happiest memories as the iCloud is sadly no guarantee of keeping them safe! And NO pink is definitely not my colour!

Pineapple Jam is simply the best and a really easy one to make. As ever, be sure to sterilise your jam jars, ladle and jam funnel in your dishwasher first and take care when handling.

Two relatively small pineapples yielded 700g of flesh and to guarantee a good set, I used 200g apple pulp and 100ml lemon juice. So, here we go!

700g Pineapple flesh (canned is fine)

200g Apple pulp

100ml Lemon Juice

900g Sugar

If you were to use canned pineapple, be sure to only use the flesh (not juice).

Firstly I peeled the pineapple and removed the fibrous core. Chop into 2cm pieces and check the weight. Place in a heavy bottomed pan with the lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mash your cooked fruit with a potato masher. Add your precooked apple pulp and the sugar. Bring to a rolling boil and cook a further 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes to avoid the pulp burning on the base of your pan.

I did notice quite a lot of evaporation on this jam. The 1.9kg of ingredients yielded 4 x 312ml jars. Don’t forget to sterilise your filled jars for around 20 minutes and allow to cool. Your jam will achieve a perfect set overnight. A delight on buttery croissants the following morning! Go on, give it a go and ‘Transcend Your Day’!

The ‘Happy Pineapple’ courtesy of Mother Nature : )

Lockdown aside, tonight I have decided to conclude the day with an entry regarding ‘Daddy and Dadda’s Dinner’. With a decent cut of beef (fillet) costing almost the same as XL shrimp or lobster, don’t despair, just combine the two protein groups into a surf and turf dinner! The option of dining in a restaurant anytime soon has been denied. So with the extra cash, why not elevate a Friday night dinner at home instead?

A small tip regarding triple cooked chips is to cut your (large) potatoes into rectangular spuds before you chip them for frying. That way you get perfect shaped chips or fries. And you can always reserve the potato excess for another meal.

Tara aged about 4 years old and our first attempt at acting in front of a green screen. I think you will agree, a possible career in the Theatre!

Today’s picture says it all really! And there is a full laundry basket also in Daddy and Dadda’s wardrobe to boot. Day 10 of family lockdown has had its moments already and it is not even 10am! The girls birthday seems aeons ago at this point, just the memory encapsulated in a pile of new toys sat on top of the game’s cupboard! Our compendium seems to have seen better days, doesn’t it?

Like everything else in this house, it’ll get broken sooner or later! Mind you, the cupboard survived 2 x world wars, but Sadly has perished somewhat, since adorning our living room. We have seen the recent destruction and loss of a Georgian chest of draws and a French ‘Empire’ walnut armoire in recent months! Don’t ask!

Amritsar has just had a major breakdown and is presently screaming that she hates Tara – now Aaliyah. Now Tara again!

The boys are tinkering on Caleb’s new iPad (Amazon Fire 7) as Thor is not allowed his yet again today due to his repeated misconduct!

Happy Days and here’s to hoping you guys are all safe and happy. Don’t worry, I’ll cheer up – you just have to, don’t you?

We are lucky enough to live in the countryside. And in normal times, we love the great outdoors. Today’s post is accredited to a Laura Pearson, an advocate of learning skills outside of the classroom. Take it away Laura…

These days, it’s not rare to encounter learning problems in kids. While some attribute this to technology addiction, in many kids, it can be a mere case of incompatibility in the mode of instruction. The fact is that children learn differently, and though the classroom setting is, by and large, the norm, it’s also a fact that not all students will thrive in it. Some may even struggle. 

With that said, it’s important for parents and educators alike to broaden their horizons and explore other avenues of learning, especially for kids who struggle or who just want to expand their education. The natural world itself has plenty to offer in this regard, and it’s definitely a wonderful idea to take advantage of this. Best of all, most of its gifts are free to learn from and enjoy. Here are a few things you should bear in mind when it comes to outdoor education.

Nature Is the Best Classroom

Of late, experts have forecasted that the future of education will include learning beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Again, there’s just no dearth of learning opportunities that can be found outdoors. In fact, nature helps children become more engaged and interested, as well as physically fit. Moreover, it relieves stress and restores attention.

Of course, there’s the question of what students are learningoutside of the classroom. As it turns out, there’s a lot! For one thing, kids can learn problem-solving skills, teamwork, and confidence through outdoor adventures. For another, academic benefits can be had, too, as there’s a wide range of activities that improve communication skills, literacy, and numeracy. Conservation is best learned outside, as well. 

It’s a good idea, therefore, to bring the classroom to nature (and vice versa) with some very inspired ideas. As a bonus, it costs little to nothing to take advantage of nature’s gifts, so you can be sure that it won’t put a dent on your budget.

Learning Should Be Fun

Now, what makes outdoor education a superior way to learn is the fact that it’s generally fun. As such, it’s important not to lose sight of this tenet in order to make it a worthwhile pursuit for your child. A great way to do this is through outdoor play.

More than just a fun past-time, outdoor play is actually crucial in the cognitive development of children. Scientists explain that outdoor play essentially helps build a better brain. Furthermore, it also does wonders for developing fine motor skills, coordination, and muscles. The holistic benefits are more than compelling, and there’s really no better reason to get your kids outside.

There are, in fact, several activities that let kids have fun outdoors while also learning in the process. Scavenger hunts and obstacle courses are always great hits. Better yet, exploration activities like hiking and biking (to name a few) are fantastic, as well, as these promote discovery and help them get to know the natural world in their own terms. As a tip, keep costs low by investing in season passes to national parks and other conservation areas, as opposed to buying tickets piecemeal for the entire family with every outing.

There’s Always Room for Tech

Lastly, just because you’re getting your child to embrace the great outdoors more, doesn’t mean that there’s no more room for tech. On the contrary, tech, when used mindfully and sparsely, can still support outdoor learning in many ways, which is why it’s still important to find ways to integrate technology into outdoor education.

For this reason, it definitely helps to have a reliable laptop for schoolwork. Such a device comes in handy during research or when your child has a creative writing project in the works, for instance. Of course, this can be quite an investment. It’s good practice to research different manufacturers, such as Lenovo, to see which one fits your needs. And to help you save money on such a substantial purchase, you can look for a Lenovo couponor promo codes.

The learning opportunities outdoors are right there; you just need to lead your kids toward them. It’s priceless education that you can get for next to nothing. What could be better than that?

Photo via Pexels

We made it through the day without too many dramas from Thor. The girls had a good birthday, though Tara had a temperature this afternoon and was a bit grumpy as she missed her friends from school, especially their besties, Georgina and Harriet who moved away from the village several weeks ago. Self isolation really sucks when you’re 7 years old. But, we had a good day. Now all watching television before bed, completely full with Dadda’s homemade triple layered chocolate ganache cake with homemade black cherry jam! Yummy and plenty left for tomorrow.

Happy 7th Birthday Amritsar and Tara. Although the party was cancelled, Daddy and Dadda’s gifts were enough to bring a few smiles in ‘Self Isolation’ this morning XX

This afternoon will mark exactly one week since my family and I were forced into self isolation. Since then, the theatres, bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants have closed and yesterday all shops (excluding pharmacies and supermarkets) and all remaining public places have joined them! Everybody is to self isolate for a minimum of three weeks more. I suddenly don’t feel quite so alone.

Who knows what is just around the corner! And who would have guessed the present global predicament and the extreme social and economic measures that seem to have been taken!

Tomorrow is Amritsar and Tara’s 7th birthday. Sadly the party had to be cancelled. We had booked the party at a local falconry where the children would have been able to have these stunning birds of prey launch from their outstretched arms, but alas this experience will have to wait for safer times. Though children playing with birds of prey doesn’t actually sound that safe, does it? Hmmmh.

Yes, what a difference one week makes!

These last days have seen a myriad of dishes in our household, culminating in tonight’s Crispy skinned salmon, crushed peas, turned boiled potatoes and lobster bisque.

I haven’t turned a potato since catering college and the bisque was made today with frozen lobster and red shrimp shells and our last tube of tomato purée.

So many things are not available at the supermarket due to panic buying. This might just be the final ‘foodie’ blog from me for a while!

But then again, beans on toast are also off the menu due to baked beans and bread being in short supply, even cheese has joined that list of hard to find goods.

We have 2 more slots from tesco.com booked, but after that, who knows where the next meal will come.

The freezer will hopefully help out for a while but my menu options might start to get a bit erratic.

A rundown of the last 24 hours would be a little torturous, but I will try to convey a few of the key moments! You might remember that Thor has had his moments as of late, but last night after the stresses of getting ready for bed, Thor refused to go up! Nothing we did was enough to ignite his rocket. He just sat on the stairs and screamed and screamed. Then he screamed some more…

Finally he ascended but wouldn’t settle. Daddy went up and all was finally well. This morning was an early enough start. They all came down for a 5.15am start to the day. And yes, as tired as I feel right now, it has been quite full on. Daddy has found the time to give the grass it’s first trim of the season. His pride and joy now looking grand with its carefully manicured stripes.

The children played in the garden for two hours and are presently being entertained by Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone! Settled at last.

Only 4 of the children sat for lunch. It was a charcuterie of cheese and cold meats. Thor was sent to bed yet again for another bout of extremely robust behaviour. To be honest, this cold is really taking it out of me. I prey it’s the real thing (covid 19) as I don’t think I could cope with another 14 days of complete isolation with Thor in close proximity! Just another 9 days left, but what then? I spoke to a friend yesterday and they seemed to think that school is now off pretty much until September! Is that really the case? Will daddy be able to go back to work? What will be the government’s directives be tomorrow, next week, let alone next month? Too many questions are lacking in clear, absolute answers, aren’t they?

A roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner tonight, with the obligatory roast potatoes, glazed carrots etc! I had best get back out there to tend to things. Just noticed, only Tara watching the TV at present, Thor seems to be on the rampage yet again!

Damn this cough, it is relentless!