(Mostly) Wordless Fridays

This really was an astonishingly Kiwi week. When I first came to London I was determined not to do the stereotypical 'live in a Kiwi/Aussie share house in Clapham/Fulham/Shepherds Bush, get a job behind a bar and drink myself silly'. I did temporarily get a bar job but some things you just have to do when finding your feet. 

 

 

Bar that, my life is pretty Kiwi-free bar the odd goodie box and lamb chop. In the last few months doing this blog though, I've rediscovered a lot of old favourite recipes from home, come across some gorgeous places to eat and met some lovely people.

 

Speaking of Kiwi-ana, is this not the randomest decal in the middle of London?

 

 

Some lovely handmade treats (recipe soon)

 

 

Attack of the robots?

 

 

 

Does anyone have any idea what a Soursop Guanabana is when it's at home?

 

The weather certainly has been horrendous. C'mon London, it's MARCH already.

 

I'm going to leave you with a London Castle I discovered on my wanderings, enjoy.

 

What is the strangest thing you happened to Stumble upon?

 

Ps. With the Google Reader dying a quiet death, feel free to add Adventures of a London Kiwi to your bloglovin'. The link is here.

 

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A London Folly; Paleys Upon Pilers (Palace On Pillars)

Whilst wandering Aldgate recently (we found a great little cafe just next to East Aldgate station which I'm keen to revisit) we happened upon a modern folly. Cute, no?

A folly, is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park." The UK is dotted with them - the Telegraph has a gallery with their 'best ofs' found here.

Opening at the start of the Olympic Games, Paleys upon Piers is a timber 'palace' markinf the exact spot of Aldgate, and celebrates Chaucer, Aldgates' most famous resident. It also acts as a gateway from the City of London to the Olympic Park, which hosted the 2012 Olympics Games (oh how I wish they were still on!)

Designed by StudioWeaver, it was inspired by "by two dream poems written by Chaucer while resident in the rooms above the gate in the 14th century: The House of Fame and The Parlement of Foules, or Parliament of Fowls."

These oddities make London for me.

What is your favourite Landmark? It is Local or is it Global?

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Tastes of the East Midlands - Foodie Penpal February

This month, not only did I receive an amazing Transatlantic parcel, but I was shamelessly spoilt by my lovely Penpal Jax, based in the East-Midlands.

For a long time, Britain has had a bit of a dodgy reputation when it comes to the gourmand side of life, but I defy anyone to recieve a box such as this, and say that things haven't changed.

Let me begin with the Salami. Made by the Suffolk Salami Co. it's made on their family farm from home reared pork. It's especially important with 'horsegate' going on at the moment to know what is in your food - and it's delicious. Rich, spicy - perfect. We used in in a scrumptious Black Bean casserole & as antipasti.

Fact for the day courtesy of the Suffolk Salami co.: The word Salami comes from the Italian "salare" meaning to sale. The Roman Legionnaires were often paid with salt, hence the word salary which also comes from "salare". They then used the salt to make salami.

An item missing from my later pics you'll notice are the honey oaties. They were scrumptious! Kindly handmade by Jax, they were the best biscuits we've eaten in years, and we've eaten a few. Accompanying a hastily made cup of tea (we decided we should really have an excuse to rip into them) we quite simply demolished them. There is something so much more delicious about homebaking. I also got the recipe for them. Yus!

The only truffle oil made entirely in England.

 

 

 

Fantastic. Just brilliant - I've been enjoying dabs of this on my eggs, and in wild Mushroom soup.

Then we have the Three Chilli Jam. How can you resist it, and with an ingredient list like the one below? No preservatives, no chemicals, no nasties. It has quite the kick to it. Hubby in particular has been delving into this, accompanied by some good English Mature Cheddar and crackers.



Last but not least, I really have enjoyed the apple and ginger juice. I've love that you are home brewing Cider - good luck and enjoy :)

Thank you Jax, I can't quite believe your generosity and thought put into this parcel; and it absolutely showcases some of the best of British (and the East-Midlands). My penpal Allison sent me a really kind email when she got her box, saying she enjoyed hers.

So, the downlow: Foodie Penpals was created by Lindsay at theleangreenbean in September 2011, and administered in the UK by Carol Anne from thisisrocksalt every month, you are assigned a person to send a thoughtful foodie parcel to and a different person will send one to you. It's a lovely way to try things you've never tried before, match up with some awesome bloggers (and readers too!) and it's so nice to receive something in the post that's not a bill. Join in today!

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(mostly) Wordless Friday

It's been a pretty full-on week, but a brilliant one for it.

 

 

 Hope you have a lovely weekend!

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Valentines Day

The blog-overse today will be a sea of red and pink. I'm briefly going to add my tuppence worth, then quietly retire.

I like Valentines Day. Not the crass over-hyped consumerism, but the idea that there is a day in the year just to celebrate someone loved. However, I don't think it should just be your partner (whatever flavour they are; best friend, married, civil partnership, long-term, short-term, just met) you celebrate, it should be everyone you love.

Use it as an excuse. Call your mum & listen to her chat about her garden, email your Sister, bake something for your Grandparents just 'cause, go out to lunch with a good friend!

I Love you Toast is the best kind of Toast

In the meantime, I found a few alternative Valentines traditions in the UK as food for thought on 'Everything Valentines Day';

• It is traditionally believed in Sussex that birds choose their mate on 14th February, the beginning of spring and thus call it 'Birds’ Wedding Day’. On that day, if a robin flies overhead the woman will get married to a sailor; spotting a goldfinch would mean marrying a rich man, while if she saw a sparrow she would be destined to marry a poor man but will be happy.
• Another tradition was that the names of suitor’s of an unmarried girl was written on paper and then wrapped in clay. The clay pieces were them immersed in water and the one the rose first would have the name of the future husband.
• In Wales, a unique and beautiful custom on Valentine’s Day was to gift wooden spoons with custom design carved on them, such as hearts, keyholes and keys. The keys and keyholes were meant to represent the phrase “You unlock my heart!”
• In the Middle Ages, names were drawn from bowls to know who their valentines were. The name was tagged on their sleeves for the next whole week.

...and continental Europe;

• Valentine’s Day Cards are said to have originated in France before they materialized in any other country. A Frenchman, named Charles, Duke of Orleans has written the first written Valentine’s Day Cards. The Duke who was captured as war prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 is said to have written a Valentine message to his wife while imprisonment in the Tower of London.
• Finnish Valentine’s Day is considered as the ’friendship day’. The bond of friendship is celebrated with sheer enthusiasm on this day.
• One German story goes, there was a peasant revolt led by Duke Welf against King Conrad III. The King had pulled together a great army which overthrew the Duke’s fighters. As a result, peasants found themselves under siege. Lady Elizabeth, the wife of the Duke requested the King to let her and other wives leave the castle with whatever they could carry on their backs. The King agreed but got surprised to see them carry their husbands on their back on that Valentine’s Day.
• In Denmark, young couples become cousins of Shakespeare on Valentine’s Day. Yes, they write beautiful romantic poems on the day. They write some special poems for their beloved, pointing out the character traits of their sweethearts in a romantic and humorous way. These love poems are known as 'Gaekkebrev.’
• Food plays the major part in the Valentine’s celebration in Hungary. Honey sprinkled salmon, Fried vegetables and pasta, and Ginger marinated filet of duck breast served with pear-chardonnay sauce are some of the traditional recipes for the celebration of Valentine Day in Hungary.

For more, check out - Everything Valentines Day.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Ps. Boys if buying flowers, how about surprising the recipient with a bouquet of meanings? Helioptrope (devoted affection), Lisianthus (appreciation), Cactus (Ardent Love), Gladiolous (You pierce my heart) - or Clove (I have loved you and you have not known it).

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The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry: Book Review

After sitting lonesome on my shelf, I picked this book up and couldn't put it down.

"Harold Fry was a tall man who moved through life with a stoop, as if expecting a low beam, or a screwed-up paper missile, to appear out of nowhere."

 

Harold Fry, a recently retired 65-year old receives a letter from an old colleague, dying of Cancer. He pens a reply, tells his wife he'll be back soon intending to walk it to the postbox, and simply carries on - for 600 miles with boating shoes, his wallet and an vague purpose.

 

 The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry: Rachel Joyce

 

This is a slow read, exploring how relationships can change over time, so slowly that you don't realise what has happened. Harold and his wife Maureen have been married for 47 years and are re-defining who they are. Harold's journey changes them - physically, emotionally and mentally.

 

"She was nothing but the remembering"

 

It was just so easy to pick up and delve into - the characterisations of Harold and Maureen delicious - I don't know what it's like to be 65, but I certainly have a good idea of how it could be now.

 

"The world was made up of people putting one foot in front of the other; and a life might appear ordinary simply because the person living it had been doing so for a long time.”

 

It made me appreciate the little things we take for granted, assuming that everything will always be the same and questioning why we let life develop instead of taking it by the reins. This is the after-effect of the book on you - you enjoy it, laugh, cry at it - and find yourself afterwards almost brooding. It has lessons, but in a tiny slipped in way - no preaching here.

(You may wonder why this is so brief, I don't like including spoilers, and it's such a lovely story!)

 

(Disclaimer: the above links to an Amazon Associates UK account, which means I make a little money (less than 5%) from any purchases made after clicking through these links, but at no extra charge to you. So if you are interested in buying the book, please click through the link under the image. Help support a book addiction...)

Are there times you look back on & wish you could change?

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London Living: Tea, beverage of the Brits

The stereotype is true. The art of tea is a very important social aspect of living in England. That's not to say it doesn't have its place in New Zealand, but there is a special place in most Brits hearts, and it's solely reserved for the great leaf.

Fact for the day: Approximately 165,000,000 cups of tea are drunk on average in a day, in England (according to the United Kingdom Tea Council, though they may be a little biased).

Tea with friends

Setting aside the very serious historical and political influence the humble tea leaf has been involved in, it is almost a religion here and I do know a few people whose blood has practically been replaced by the tan liquid.

 

Tea in the Queens' Garden 

In the work place it's very social - in most of the offices I've have worked in & charities I have volunteered with, if you don't drink tea it kind of baffles people. They aren't offended at all when you say no thanks, but a fleeting puzzled frown normally crosses their brow if you say "No, I'm ok thanks, I don't really drink tea." I found myself accepting cups of tea and getting involved in tea runs more out of a courtesy than thirst, and subsequently found myself with a caffeine habit.

I've found that there are 3 types of people; the social makers (who always get their round in, or can be persuaded to), the anti-social makers (who never get a round in, strategically planning their trip to the kitchen and employing some pretty sneaky tactics), and the canny ones (who make such bad tea that the rest of the offices shudders at the suggestion & leaps to their feet to make for everyone).

Greasing the wheels of industry... 

It's also quite a social etiquette with milk; who gets it and which one they get - we have had office-wide discussions on the subject alone, and there is a minor panic when we run out.

Posh Afternoon Tea

There is also the subtle art of how you take your tea - at home we were quite involved in the motor racing scene, and the odds were:
MECHANICS - 2 Sugars+
DRIVERS - 1 Sugar
OWNERS - No Sugar

It was uncanny how often our 'scientific' formula was right, and it didn't matter if it was cars or bikes. Whilst researching for this post, I ran into this article on "your tea type" Great minds think alike (although fools seldom differ. That's a bit of food for thought!)

No overseas box would be complete without a box of Union Jack Tea. Fact.

 

In my experience, since living here, if I find yourself in a stressful situation I didn't quite know what to do, I switch the jug on. A cup of tea is your friend, calming, giving your hands something to do, partially occupying your mind, it's hot and soothing, and provides a small caffeine bump.

However, if you aren't a tea drinker, I have found a loophole in the social matrix.

That's right, nothing is enjoyed more by your new tea-drinking colleagues & Brits than a nice slice of cake.

How do you enjoy your tea? Or are you a Coffee Fiend?
Have I made you Thirsty?
What does your beverage of choice say about you?

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London Living: Posh Girlie Weekends

This weekend was lovely in the lovely wilds of Surrey. Busy, but lovely. Lunches, 50th's, Spas, nattering, mischief, deer, drinking, gangnam-style dancing, Tequila, dresses, deer, royal park walking & recovery.

I think I'm going to need another weekend after this one.

My phone & camera batteries didn't quite make it to the Park, but it certainly settled a bit of the old Donkey-on-the-edge symptoms.

 

 

 Have you had a busy weekend?

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Goodbye 2012

As I write this, 2012 is over in New Zealand, and people all over the world are coming to this realisation, with probably a good percentage of them are in the process of getting drunk to mourn it, and are beginning to drink in celebration the new possibilities that 2013 can bring.

Sidenote: Thank you to the Mayans for getting it wrong.

I can't quite believe that the blog has grown so much, it's been a blast writing it, but the feedback is the best part & the people I've met through it.

The top 12 posts of 2012;

The first six are chosen by you, my lovely readers, and include a few great surpises;

#6 - Race for Life - 5k

 

#5 - Weekday Cocktails

 

#4 - Foodie Penpals: September

 

#3 - Creamy Pumpkin, Chestnut & Bacon Pasta

 

#2 - Book & Theatre Review: Mort

 

#1 - London Living: "Bull's eyes and targets" say the bells of St Margaret's

and the posts I most enjoyed writing;

#6 - Camping

 

#5 - Battersea Foodie Festival

 

#4 - Downsides to being the Right Way up

 

#3 - Caravan, Kings Cross

 

#2 - Race for Life - 5k

 

#1 - London Living: Big Ben

I've been asked several times in the last few days what New Years Resolutions I'm going to make. To be honest with you, I've never been one to make them. I have always thought that you should have goals, but they should be a little more focussed than the usual "In 2013 I will get thinner, stop smoking & quit drinking" which only last a few weeks before they get back on the usual cycle of mischief, guilt then more mischief.

I am looking forward to the possibilities of 2013. Who knows where we will end up & what we will have done? I'm hoping to have completed a few more goals of my 101 in 1001 page. After a bit of number crunching we have calculated that we have completed 16% of the goals in 17% of the overall time which is pretty good going.

With excitings plans in the pipeline, I can't wait for 2013.

I hope you have a wonderful 2013.

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Boxing Day

Presents are unwrapped, a scrumptious dinner eaten and the pine needles are starting to hit the carpet already.

With a self imposed offline day yesterday, it was quite refreshing to mostly be away from all electrical equipment (bar the TV when the kids started to dance Gangnam Style!).

Favourite part of the Day? Gathering with almost all of my London family for Roast Turkey & Beef, Christmas Pud & a lot of laughter.

Favourite memory of the Day? Grandad getting up & trying it Gangnam Style.

Favourite (only) Photo of the day?

Hubby gets a bit blue as the excitement of the impending Christmas season is over, and once the New Year has passed, we have to trudge through the grimness of January. I can honestly say I've never thought of it that way, but I suppose as a Kiwi with summer holidays in January, it was never a cause for sadness.

 

 

 

We have been very retrospective today, musing the highlights of this year, and by anyones standard 2012 has been an amazing year. London especially has been a very exciting place to be.

• The Diamond Jubilee - I got to see the Queen!! 

•  The Olympics - absoloutely smashing 

•  Made some great new friends over the year - caused mischief camping & brunching to name but two instances 
• Climbed the iconic Big Ben 
• I completed a 5k - something I would never think I could do

I also started this here little blog, which you are all so kind to read day in day out, and I'd like to thank you for this. Thank you for giving me a chance to share our adventures.

We have a lot of exciting new plans for next year, and I hope you will stick around to join in them with us.

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