Good Friday - A few Sailors, a drink and a Hot Cross Bun

Hot Cross Buns have a colourful and lengthy history. Amongst the superstitions, sailors would take Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday with them on their voyages, as it was said to prevent shipwrecks. Located not too far from the East End docks, the associations with the Widow's Pub in Bow in East London are incredibly strong.

The legend goes that in the early 19th Century a widow lived in a cottage with her only son. Her sailor son left for the sea but promised to be back on Good Friday, 1824. Awaiting his return, his mother baked him a hot cross bun, but he never arrived. Every year until her death she baked a bun on Good Friday, hoping to welcome her son home, but she never saw him again.

In the 1840's a pub replaced the cottages called the Widow's Son and the tradition has been carried on with a Hot Cross Bun baked every Good Friday and hung in a net above the bar. A service is held in the pub and a member of the Royal Navy adds another freshly baked to the net admist singing, a few jovial drinks and a lot of goodwill.

Another story says claims the Widow was the publican of a pub already on site - but we will possibly never know.

  

Thanks to a tip off by the lovely Miss Regula Foodwise, we couldn't resist popping along, and chatting with the friendly locals (proper proper Cockney Sparra's) - some who have been attending the service for over 50 years and Navy members - some fresh from a 6 month voyage.

 

 

 

Sadly there was a fire about 15 years ago in which many of the age-old buns were burnt, but a few were saved and have been treasured with their fresher counterparts.

It's a real festival atmosphere; everyone crowded in at 3pm glasses in hand, rock music pumping and the buffet kindly laid on (over the billiard table) and such a nice atmosphere.




The legend is such a heartbreaking tale, can you imagine what the Widow would have to say if she knew that the tradition is still being carried out over 125 years later? Maybe as the MC said “Another year, another Good Friday, another bun.”

We especially loved the sign hanging above the pub of the Sailor returning many years later to the pub, with the many buns hanging in their net. The old Facade can be seen here.


There are many superstitions surrounding Hot Cross Buns and Easter:

• Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year, particularly if "Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be" is said at the time.
• Another encourages keeping such a bun for medicinal purposes. A piece of it given to someone who is ill is said to help them recover
• If hung in the kitchen, they are said to protect against fires and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly.
• Eggs laid today will not go off
• If a child is born today & baptized on Easter Sunday they will have gift of healing

The Hot Cross bun has very contested origins, with Pagan claims, some claiming a connection with Eostre (a Germanic god, the namesake to Easter), some to the Ancient Greeks but the most widely accepted seem to be the Christian origins, with the cross on the buns representing the Crucifixion.

Awesome fact: the London Clerk of Markets issued a decree forbidding the sale of hot cross buns and other spiced breads, except at burials, on Good Friday, or at Christmas. The punishment for transgressing the decree was forfeiture of all the forbidden product to the poor.

If you fancy joining in next year, the pub address is The Widow's Son, 75 Devon's Road, Bow, London, E3 3PJ.

I hope you are having a lovely Good Friday!



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St Patrick's Day: The London Kiwi's Guide

Ahh, St Patrick's Day, the Irish public holiday day of celebrating' and drinkin'.

One of my favourite holidays to adopt, it usually involves claiming some Irish ancestry (vague is normally fine, you'll be called a plastic paddy), wearing green, finding your local Irish pub and drinking a heck of a lot of Guinness. If you can't find a good pub and live in London, I would highly recommended wandering up to Trafalgar Square from around 11am tomorrow morning & enjoying the immense party and parade put on. (I've just found TNT magazine, the great antipodean bastion, have a few more suggestions here.)

Credit: Glitterazi

Did I mention they usually dye the Trafalgar Square fountain Green? It's not just your eyes playing tricks, I promise.

 

Random facts to read/amaze your friends with/bore the annoying drunk on the train home:

• St Patrick's day was originally associated with the colour blue.
• As a feast day/holiday St Patrick's has been celebrated since the 9th Century.
• "Success to bold St. Patty's fist / he was a saint so clever / He gave the snakes and toads a twist / and banished them forever." Sadly they were symbolic snakes (non-Christians ) he converted, but it still makes a natty folk tune.
• It's an official public holiday in Ireland.
• As a side-effect, many takeaway shops make a lot of money from St Patrick's Day. Kebabs in the UK especially.
• Green ribbons and shamrocks have been associated with St Patrick's day.
• The restrictions of Lent are lifted, just for the day.
• The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on ones clothing, derives from a song of the same name.
• The Queen Mother used to present bowls of shamrock flown over from Ireland to members of the Irish Guards on St Patrick's day. (Cheers Wikipedia)

My cousin has braved Dublin this year - I've got to say she's a hardy soul & hats off to her!

If getting your daily vitamins via copious pints of Guiness aren't your thang, there are a variety of ways to celebrate your Irish (however vague) roots: Soda Bread, Cabbage & Bacon or Colcannon. Perfect also for hangovers...

Credit.

 "Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.

Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake

Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?"

 

The chorus:

Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.

And the more I think about it sure the nearer I'm to cry.

Oh, wasn't it the happy days when troubles we had not,

And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot."

 

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! Happy St Patricks Day.

Slainte! Cheers!

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The Worlds Biggest Egg-Hunt, v 2.0

Guess what's back, back again? Huge Eggs are back, tell a friend...



Last year in the month leading up to Easter, London was overtaken by a strange phenomena - giant porcelain eggs popping up on street corners, in shop windows and hotel foyers.

We became strangely obsessed with hunting down every single one of the 101 eggs. From the Sloan-ey market squares, to Mayfair and as far as the platinum towers of Canary Wharf, we were determined to, and managed to spot every one of them and take photographic proof.

We also helped them collect one of two world records the made - most participants in an Easter egg hunt and the worlds most expensive chocolate Easter egg. Sadly it wasn't the latter.

This year, much to our geekery excitement they are back! Focused initially on (my favourite London spelling mistake) Covent Garden, they have unleashed another 101 artist designed eggs, in order to fundraise for the charity Action for Children. In their own words "The Big Egg Hunt is a record breaking, egg hunting, fundraising spectacular - a public art event with a BIG difference"

This year, instead of having them dotted to the four corners of London, they are on tour to Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester to end up in London again.

I must admit to a tinge of disappointment that we aren't having the same format as last year, but logistically it must have been a nightmare to organise with them spread so far. And I mustn't be selfish - everyone should have an equal chance, not just us Londoners.

It's great for kids of all ages - there were as many middle-aged-no-kids pairs and groups as there were families excitedly shouting "there's one, there's one!"

It's so cheap - a minimum £3 donation gets you a glossy brochure to tick your eggs off as you spot them - and it includes a Chocolate bunny. For sustenance you understand. It's a great excuse to mooch about the vibrant Covent Garden area, with it's buskers, food, and installations. And the artwork is incredible.

They are staying in London until Sunday (tomorrow) and are back for the finale, 22nd March - 7th April, visiting more cities in between. Set aside a couple of hours, and keep your eyes peeled for some eggs-celent art (sorry)!

How many do you think you could find?

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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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Happy Chinese New Year, Welcome to the Year of the Snake

Marked with a parade in Central London this rainy morning, the Chinese New Year marks the start of the Year of the Snake. By all accounts it's not meant to be an amazingly auspicious year, but neither good nor bad.

 

 

The Chinese believe that forwarned is forearmed and that when told the year may not be super shiny, if you go into it with a positive attitude you will be able to face whatever happens. Very pragmatic.

 

The most important festival for the Chinese, the New Year (or Spring Festival or Lunar New Year) celebrations traditionally run for 15 days making it also the longest festival. London's China Town is festooned in beautiful Lanterns,

 

"The first day [of the festival] is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by nian (年) of which the term guo-nian (过年) was derived. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents." Credit

 

 

 

We couldn't face the crowds this year on such a cold and miserably wet day, but have done in previous years and it's a really fun day in central London's China Town - performers, the parade and scrummy Chinese food.

 

 

Last year, we even had dinner with the Head of the Parade. You may be thinking it was the organiser, but no, we had dinner in the Wong Kei with the actual Dragon head used by the parade dancers & the parade dancers, hungry from the dance through London. It really is quite an experience no matter what you do.

 

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Celebrating Waitangi Day

Most celebrations of New Zealand's founding as a colony were marked on the 29th of January, until the (highly controversial) Waitangi Treaty was signed between the Maori Tribesman and English Settlers, agreeing to the 'sale' of Land in exchange for a variety of goods. Now, Waitangi day, celebrated by most Kiwis as our national day, is on the 6th of February.

It's a good day for celebrating being Kiwi, remembering our proud (and not so proud) heritage and appreciating the history of our small land. It does have it's share of long-standing tensions though - read more here.

Interestingly (your Fact of the day), the official commeration of Waitangi Day was 1930 and has been a public holiday since 1947. The first event was a Royal New Zealand Navy ceremony centring on a flagpole which the Navy had paid to erect in the grounds, then the following year, a Māori speaker was added to the line-up, and subsequent additions to the ceremony have been made nearly every year.


Credit

In more general terms these days, Waitangi Day is treated as a celebration of New Zealand as a Nation, much like Australia Day. It's a bank holiday, with everyone off, generally enjoying spending time with their families.

Credit

Some Ex-pat Kiwis celebrate it in London with the Waitangi Day Ball, and as per Sunday's post a Pub Crawl. Much to my surprise, the Waitangi Day Pub Crawl has made it as far as Wikipedia. "On the closest Saturday to 6 February, Kiwis participate in a pub crawl using the London Underground's Circle Line... At 4 p.m., a large-scale haka is performed at Parliament Square as Big Ben marks the hour. Participants wear costumes and sing songs such as "God Defend New Zealand", all of which is in stark contrast to the much more subdued observance of the day in New Zealand itself."

I personally am going to celebrate Waitangi Day with a nice cup of Tea, some Lolly Slice and maybe a Bacon & Egg Pie.

Happy Waitangi Day!

As an ex-pat do you feel prouder of your Country on national holidays?

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Dessert Porridges

I love porridge. Quick, easy, cheap and filling, it's perfect for winters mornings, especially those that are going to be spent trekking through the snow.

It can be a little beige on it's own though, lacking interest and at times tasting of wallpaper paste. You know it! We add Brown Sugar, Berry Coulis and Honey in order to mix it up, but I thought I'd take it one step farther after reading about Carrot Cake Oatmeal (Porridge) at Chef in Disguise. My scaled down version (due to lack of specialty ingredients and 5inches of snow, is at the end of the blog post).

All of these recipes were made from ingredients I already had in the cupboard, but then I keep a lot of frozen fruit as I'm nuts about Smoothies...

I roped hubby into taste testing these with me, and whilst I couldn't decide on my absolute favourite, for hubby it was the Black Forest Porridge.

(I don't normally calorie count my recipes, but though it would be interesting to see just how much the additions add to their totals, and they really aren't too bad).

Each recipe is super simple;

1. Boil 1 cup of the water
2. Add the dry ingredients & fruit
3. Turn the heat down to a simmer, stirring regularly
4. Let simmer for a couple of minutes then stir through the remaining water
5. Simmer, stirring regularly for another 3-4 minutes
6. Remove from the heat, add any toppings/sweeteners, let cool 1-2minutes
7. Enjoy.

We didn't feel the need for additional milk, except maybe to cool it down. You can make several servings and refrigerate until needed. I would only probably keep them  in the fridge for a couple of days though.

I can't really see why these couldn't be made in the microwave as well, I just find that the stove top method makes it uber-creamy.

 Black Forest Porridge

278kcal per serving, 1/2 serving of an adults daily Fruit & Vege
One Serving

1.5c Boiling Water
1/2c Porridge Oats
1 TBSP Dessicated Coconut
Small handful frozen Cherries
1 tsp Cocoa (more to taste)

Once off heat stir through 1 TBSP Light Agave syrup.

Tutti-Frutti Porridge

284kcal per serving, 1.5 serving of an adults daily Fruit & Vege
One Serving

1.5c Boiling Water
1/2c Porridge Oats
4 frozen (1.5cm) cubes Mango (about 1/4 of a fresh one)
1 Chopped Kiwifruit
1/2 small pear cut into small cubes
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

** This is in pole position for my favourite though, the ginger and the citrus made for a deliciously zingy breakfast, so refreshing. And how often can you say that about porridge?

Nectarine Pie Porridge

(Please excuse the terrible photo...)

335kcal, 1.5 serving of an adults daily Fruit & Vege
One Serving

1.5c Boiling Water
1/2c Porridge Oats
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 diced Nectarine
1.5 crushed Walnuts

Once off heat stir through 1 TBSP Light Agave syrup and 1 TBSP Light Cream Cheese

Carrot Cake Porridge

365kcal per serving, 1 serving of an adults daily Fruit & Vege
One Serving

1/2c Porridge Oats
1c Finely Grated (or Grated normally then finely chopped) Carrot
1 TBSP Sultanas
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1.5 crushed Walnuts

Once off heat stir through 1 TBSP Light Agave and 3 tsps Dessicated Coconut.

This actually tastes like Carrot Cake Batter (except without the sugar and butter). Absolutely luscious.

Yummo!! Decadent, and not too bad for the waistline at all. They also happen to fall in with the Breakfast Club and Farmersgirl Kitchen's breakfast linkup, themed Cooked or Baked Breakfast.

Breakfast Club: Because breakfast should be more interesting
than tea & toast or coffee & cereal!

I've got a few more flavours brewing in my head - any suggestions? If only I could do a Sticky Toffee Porridge without blowing the calorie bank.

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Easy Squeezy Mojito's

On Saturday I was a bit pushed for time due to a complete lack of my own organisation, but we came out with a lovely tasting Mojito that I thought I'd share. It was like sitting on a beach in Summer sunshine (I did play some beach sounds on Youtube before I was made to turn them off...)

There is something that just says 'Summer' to me about a Mojito, the fragrant Mint, the sharp Lime and the Rich Rum.

Homemade cocktails can be really easy, and really fun to make - Mojitos don't even need a cocktail Shaker. Another bonus is you can personalised them to how you like drinking them; more Lime, less Mint, a touch more Sugar. Just go easy on the Rum when pouring at home m'kay?

After much experimentation I found this is my favoured ratios;

(Monopoly) Mojitos

Ingredients for 1 Mojito:

10 hand ripped Fresh Mint Leaves
2 tsps Lime Juice (or half a squeezed fresh one)
1.5 Tbsps Sugar Syrup
2 Tbsps Rum
1/2 glass of Crushed Ice

1. Stir & top to 3/4 of the glass with Soda Water, or unfizzy water (which I prefer).
2. Garnish with plain or sugar encrusted Mint.
3. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Ahhhh, lovely.

Mojito, Daquiri, Cosmopolitan or a Margarita?

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Post-Festive Season Blues

I miss Christmas. I miss the lead up, I miss the excitement, I miss the kitsch, I miss the planning, I miss the traditional family annoyances and above all I miss the tree twinkling merrily in our front room.

I miss New Years - this is a new one for me. I've never really enjoyed New Years, it's always seemed over hyped and over priced.

However, I went into one of the supermarkets today & not only were there displays with ols Christmas stock, Valentines day chocolates, hearts & card; but also Easter Eggs. Say what?

 

 

Maybe we should have kept the Christmas tree up for the 2013 festive season?

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Hello 2013

We must have been crazy, but we did it - celebrated New Years in Central London. Our plans were originally for a quieter New Years Eve, but due to illness we have postponed plans until another weekend. Instead, we were tempted into going out in London to play and see 2013 in with Fireworks.

They were utterly sensational.

 

Armed with 'some Recipe' (Mocha Hot Chocolate laced with Bourbon, please excuse The Waltons reference) to ward off the chill, we arrived early, made crowd friends with some lovely Canadians and settled in.

Sadly, we were unable to see the friends who tempted us out, due simply to the crowd swamping but from all reports they had a fantastic time as well.

Around 10pm a live DJ came on, amping the crowd and good spirit with some awesome tunes until the countdown began.

The show was fantastic; a fantastic mashup of 2012, music, the Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee which the fireworks were set to.

London, you have done yourself absoloutely proud. BBC have put up a Youtube Video of the Fireworks which can be found here.

Absoloutely Magnificent.

Once finished getting through the crowd was awful, but we knew it would be awful and simply took our time. We ended up walking to our train station and were home by 3am, fast asleep by 3.07.

Walking through London at that time of the morning was very strange - it's normally so busy with traffic and people, but to find ourselves walking through Bloomsbury, passing the British Museum in the dark there is a beautiful quiet, interspersed with the occasional drunken yelling.

What a way to see in the New Year.



Happy New Year!!

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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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Foodie-in-training: Fruit Liqueurs

In keeping with the general festive season's indulgences and general misbehaviour, my partner-in-crime and I - whilst at the Tower of London, of all places - discovered these little beauties whilst being funnelled through the giftshop.

During these Foodie adventures, it's been great trying all sorts of new things, and this wee taster set is a perfect example.

We have to eat to exist, it's a fact, so I think that if you're eating, you may as well make it a pleasurable experience. That doesn't mean you have to go off the deep end and become a glutton, it's all about moderation.

 

We bought the small tasting set & a large bottle of Cherry Brandy Liqueur.

I even managed to take tasting notes;

Cherry Brandy Liqueur - Rich, with top Cherry notes and a lovely almost almond undertone. Very lush & perfect for Christmas.
Apricot Brandy Liqueur - Soft on the Palate with the Apricot shining softly. Very moreish.
Sloe Liqueur - Sharper, but nicely fruity.
Ginger Liqueur - Sharp, the Ginger fire shining through. I think this would be perfect with a creamy dessert; a nice Ice Cream or Pannacotta perhaps, dusted with Ginger Biscuit Crumbs.
Damson Port Liqueur - I'm not a fan of Port, this was fruity but rather dry.
Honey Liqueur - a very nice aperatif, finishing the box.

Winner: for me the Apricot Brandy Liqueur, for my partner-in-crime: The Cherry Brandy Liqueur.

 

This is in no way on behalf of the makers, in fact I have another box of Liqueurs in the cupboard from Ikea (!?) awaiting christening. Can't wait for another excuse to crack them out! 

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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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