Family Weekends

With most of my family in New Zealand, it's really lovely to be able to spend time with hubby's family who have pretty much adopted me as their rugby loving, chitter chatting, token antipodean.As weekends go, this was a good-un. One we got our chores out of the way, it was full of ...... Pumpkin Spice Lattes (they have been finally brought over here - I'm going to see if I can get the syrup/spices and make my own - yum!)Very soft, rather sweet they are a cross between vanilla and chai lattes... right up my alley.... snatched sunshine, and...

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London Living - A Donkey on the Edge (Escape to the Country)

One of the hardest aspects, and at the same time the best aspects - about living in London is the grey city-fied-ness of it (yes, I'm making up words again, sorry). London is incredible, but on a daily basis to earn the money that keeps you able to travel to lovely destinations, eat scrumptious meals and generally enjoy yourself, you wake up to the alarm, do your work-day trudge, work, go home, complete chores and then sleep, ready for another day to begin. This is most definately a "first-world problem" as some of my Twitter buddies...

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Foodie-In-Training: Figs

It's funny. For the last six months, we've been really focussed on changing the way that we eat and live our lives. We've lost a fair amount of weight on a calorie-counting programme, and it's interesting because the relationship we have with food has totally changed. Whilst still enjoying all of the treats available, it's no longer imperative to over indulge. Understanding the calorie values that everything is worth really changes the way you view treats. I still enjoy everything I like on a regular basis - nothing is off limits because...

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Adventures of the Benign

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Before I Go To Sleep - Reading Recommendation

"As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me. . . ."  I couldn't put this book down. It literally went everywhere with me. When younger I was a Koontz fan and this reminded me of him - without the Sci-Fi. I enjoyed the almost disembodied-ness of the book; it really adds layers to how Christine feels. Whether it's intentional or unintentional as some reader thought, I enjoed it. Reading is definately a...

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Kiwi Care Package

It's funny the things that you take for granted when you live in your home country, that become more sought after once they aren't within a 10-minute walk to the nearest supermarket. I have quite a sweet tooth anyway, but sometimes there is a longing in my eye for the tastes of home that are a struggle to get, or are eye-wateringly expensive. Take for instance the humble Squiggle. One of my childhood favourites, there isn't quite any replacement capable of giving you the same hokey-pokey induced sugar coma. TimTams, even though mentioning these...

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Sunday Brunch at Kopapa

To round off the weekend, brunch was arranged with a new friend at Kopapa. I have to confess, we definately were keen to check it out, not only as the reviews are great and chef is Kiwi Peter Gordon; but also as afghans, good coffee, date scones and spirulina were calling - a varieties of good Kiwi fare.We really enjoyed it; great food, good company and all out of the pouring rain. Hearing so much about them, I couldn't not order the ‘Turkish eggs’ from Changa restaurant in Istanbul – 2 poached eggs with whipped yoghurt, hot chilli...

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Posh Afternoon Tea

Saturday was lovely. Champagne, tea, dainty treats and a lot of laughter (excuse the blurry photos, I didn't want to get my camera out as I felt enough of a berk with my phone on the table...)Afternoon tea was a last minute decision, and as they go, sometimes they can be the very best. My mum and I have been saying for a long time that we should treat indulge ourselves. Through a series of tough eliminations (read: a quick read through website listings) we decided on the Reform Social Bar & Grill, in Marylebone Village.The "50 Shades...

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Musicals

One of the things I love the most about London-town is the sheer opportunities that present themselves to you - growing up, as a family we have always loved musicals. I grew up on a diet of Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, South Pacific... which has fed my love and obsession with Musicals in the West End - we've been to Phantom, Les Miserables, Jersey boys (an amazing jem) dreamboats and petticoats (a bit meh) and loads of others (including Terry Pratchetts' Mort :))We have also always loved Jesus Christ Superstar. We aren't religious...

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This week has been preeetty boring

I've got to say Day Time TV is the best medicine for being ill. It's the pits. You want to get better just to get back to work. As I've been stuck at home for most of the week with a throat bug, this week has been fairly lame, but very cosy with the Cat loving a warm lap that's keeping her company.Lovely store-made Chicken Soup, heated with lots of love by my lovely hubby. Not sure why I bothered asking for bread though - it was like eating gravel.No concept of gravity whatsoever...There have been a few lovely suprises though - my Foodie...

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American Dreaming: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

As the nights are drawing in, American blogs are flaring up with Pumpkin flavoured recipes. I love Pumpkin, and have gone to many lengths in the past to track down Libby's Pumpkin Puree, last year making a Pumpkin Pie (which I adored and hubby liked). I don't what it is that first attracted me to Pumpkin; we've always loved in at home in New Zealand, it's a particular childhood favourite, and when I heard that you can make a dessert out of it, I had to try it and was hooked. The only downside is an old boss of mine found out that I loved it, and...

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London living: M&M World

After date night recently with the hubby, we stumbled across M&M world in Leicester Square. I have sampled the delights a couple of times, but it still amazes me that they have built a 4 floor temple to all things M&M-y.And it's a beautiful E-number coloured and popular world. It is an excercise in PR amazingness - as my hubby exclaimed "They are only sweets, this place is crazy." They have everything from a replica London bus, a rehash of the famous Abbey Road crossing (on the Beatles album Abbey Road), every bit of M&M tatt (<English...

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