(Mostly) Wordless Friday

Sometimes, I do wonder if this blog should be called 'Baking Misadventures of a London Kiwi'.


From careful planning and a trial cake (I somehow typed 'tria cakel'??), to successfully baking it, making Lime Curd from scratch, cutting through the centre and filling it with Lime Curd and tucking it away for decorating when I got home from work...

to:

Enough said.

This week did however have a few bright points: we saw the end of 'Marmageddon' (it even broke into the UK Telegraph news and the BCC)

(Not mine sadly, not yet)

Perused some interesting Tube Artwork:

And decided to have a week-long sugar hiatus. That's it, no more sugar. I think I may possibly be crazy, so watch this space! So far it's going well.

Bring on the weekend of adventures! Wine, a FPP personally delivered, a horrendously cute pupp, Steak, an exceedingly tall building and Football all await.

 

 

 

What would your perfect weekend entail?

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Adorkable: Book Review

"Welcome to the dorkside. It's going to be a bumpy ride. . ." 

  

The lead character seems to embody something of what every teenage (and young at heart) blogger secretly, and not so secretly aspires to be - independant, cool for the people who matter, jetting off all around the world and earning huge sums of money doing something she loves.  I also couldn't stop loving the fact that's it's a novel about being a blogger - off centre cool has made it to the mainstream, yusss!

The basic story is centred around Jeane's high school real life world vs. on the internet via her internationally recognised blog & Twitter personal about yoof - and one boy that she can't seem to stop snogging. She come across more maturely than you would expect from a teenager, but most young people who live away from their parents from an early age do learn see the world in a much more adult way. As a couple her & Michael work really well, balancing each other in the best of ways.

Adorkable: Sarra Manning

The characters are cool, and it's nice to be reading about geeky characters instead of the perfectly formed Venus and Adonis stereotypes which you seem to find in most gothic romance books. I couldn't put it down and laughed out loud more than a few times. The troubles along the way; dealing with her less than nuclear family, her living situation, not to mention boy troubles and usual High School dramas are all carried out with flair in thrifted clothing and a whirl of coloured hair. She is a lovable character for her outer fierceness and inward turmoil, and her love interest is a perfect foil and balance for her impetuos ways.

"It's all about being who you want to be rather than what you're expected to be."

And that ^ is why you should read this.

Disclaimer: I didn't realise until writing this post, that the book is meant to be teen fiction (15+). Please don't judge me too harshly - I've good pretty good bookworm credentials; I've read many classics, To Kill a Mockingbird, Most of Jane Austen and Dickens works, Pride and Prejudice several times (including with Zombies), Jack Kerouac's On The Road and a host of non-reviewed books.

It's also a mark of how good it is.

(Please note any links to Amazon are through my Amazon Associates account, which means I make a little money (less than 5%) from any purchases made after clicking through these links and it adds nothing to the price of your book. This helps support my book addiction, so if you are interested in buying the book, please click through the top link)

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"When will you pay me?" say the bells of Old Bailey

One of the aspects of England that make it so quintesessentially English, are it's "gleaming spires" rising up above the modern glass fronted sky scrapers and concrete monoliths. In most areas, you can't go very far before seeing a church tower or sprire rising above the treetops, and I for one love it.

{Ps. It's 'Oranges and Lemons' day today in London!}

The Old Bailey is the local name for the Central London Criminal court (located in Bailey Street, along the lines of the City's fortified wall or Bailey from which it takes it's nickname), and is sited opposite Newgate prison, housing both criminals and debtors. It doesn't have it's own bell, but the rhyme referes to the bells of St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate church and the bell of Newgate prison.

A rather grisly tolling, the bell of St. Sepulchre marked the time (death knell) of imminent executions until Newgate prison acquired its own bell.

A church has stood on this site since 1137. The church was destroyed by the Great Fire of London and rebuilt by Wren in 1671. The medieval courthouse of London was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and was replaced by London's Central Criminal Court which was used during 1673 -1834.

"Oranges and Lemons" say the bells of St Clement's. 

"Bull's eyes and targets" say the bells of St Margaret's. 

"Pokers and tongs" say the bells of St John's. 

"Pancakes and fritters" say the bells of St Peter's. 

"Two sticks and an apple" say the bells of Whitechapel. 

"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow bells of Aldgate. 

"Maids in white aprons " say the bells of St Katharine's.

"Brickbats and tiles" say the bells of St Giles'. 

"Kettles and pans" say the bells of St Anne's. 

"You owe me five farthings" say the bells of St Martin's.

"When will you pay me?" say the bells of Old Bailey. 

"When I grow rich" say the bells of Shoreditch. 

"Pray when will that be?" say the bells of Stepney. 

"I'm sure I don't know" says the great bell of Bow. 

Here comes a candle to light you to bed, 

Chip chop, chip chop, the last man's dead. 

 

The original medieval court was first mentioned in 1585; it was next to the older Newgate Prison, and seems to have grown out of the endowment to improve Newgate prison and rooms for the Sheriffs, made possible by a gift from Sir Richard Whittington (the real-life inspiration for the tale of Dick Whittington) according to Wikipedia.

 



How good is the zoom on my Camera? - and this was taken handheld.

The phrase "When will you pay me?" refers to the Debtors housed in Newgate Prison and those tried at the Old Bailey. Nowadays you don't have to commit a crime to see the inside of this London institution (unlike the visits of the Kray Twins, Dr Crippen, Jeremy Thorpe and the Yorkshire Ripper) but can visit the public gallery and watch trials Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, 2pm-5pm. Much better than Judge Judy.

 

Fact: Oranges and Lemons Day takes place every year in London, usually on the third Thursday of March, even when Easter intervenes, at the Church of St Clement Danes.

Children who go to the nearby St Clement Danes Church of England Primary School attend a service, after which the church's bells are rung and the children are given each an orange and a lemon. Since 1919, the bells of the church have also played the melody to the song (listed below) 4 times a day: 9 am, noon, 3 pm and 6 pm.

Where are you based, and are you celebrating Oranges & Lemons Day?

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Warm Finnish Cinnamon Buns: The Nordic Bakery

Nestled in a quietly in London streets are a few a small Scandinavian run bakeries that has been causing quite a flutter on Twitter. Why, you ask?

Thick, viscous coffee, accompanied by fresh warm doughy cinnamon rolls that I could easily melt into. Crisp on the outside, liberally laced with cinnamon spice and sugar and light soft and warm dough in the middle, this is one serious contender for the best cinnamon roll I've ever had the pleasure to eat. They are the size of a man's fist, and perfect for sharing - that's if you can bear to.

The Nordic Bakeries also offer a variety of fare, open sandwiches mostly on dark rye bread with a variety of toppings which all fascinated me; gravadlax, pickled herring or brie with lingonberry jam; and other savory snacks such as Karelian pie – its crunchy rye crust giving way to a rice or mashed potato filling. Finnish founder Jali Wahlsten said he wanted it to be "just like any cafe you'd find across Scandinavia," serving food and drink that "someone will be eating at the same moment in Copenhagen or Helsinki".

They love to share their uniquely Finnish take on their recipes too, believing that they should be accessible, with a recipe book and even giving several to the Guardian here (I, for one think they know you would be mad to make these yourself, when you can buy warm fresh buns almost singing 'eat me' from the counter top baskets.)

You wouldn't believe how much work I get done the days I wander in, the coffee and sugar high giving me such a boost, much to the amusement of my workmates.

 

With several locations in London (so far) which you may find by following your nose to the delicious cinnamon aroma, or more information can be found here on their website. The buns are best warm, accompanied with a hot beverage. Their bakeries are very stylishly Scandinavian minimal, with comfortably low slung furniture in various shades of grey, blue and black that help you to linger and relax. A warning though, it can get busy with workers - luckily they offer takeaway.

 

(I haven't been comped & they don't know who I am, I just wanted to share the deliciousness).

 

What's your favourite bun filling? Raspberry, Lemon Curd, Cinnamon?

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A genuine TARDIS: London Living

Monday blues. Everyone wants to turn back the clock, and make it 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon again. Well, the writers of Doctor Who came up with a very creative solution - a blue 1960s London public phone box, originally used to contact the police re-purposed as a time machine on Doctor Who. Who'd a-thunk it? (Sorry for the pun).

Please let me introduce the ‘Time and Relative Dimension in Space’ or better known as the one and only TARDIS, a machine used for travelling through time and space. It's also a brilliant 'alternative' Tourist attraction for Sci-fi loving fans. Ok, so maybe it's not expressly for escaping the Monday blues, but it would work perfectly!

 

Currently holding the Guinness World Record as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world first screening on the BBC in 1963, Doctor Who holds a dear place in many peoples hearts (and those who don't like it were probably scared of the pretty advanced-for-the-time monsters).

 

The lead character, simply known as "the Doctor" is a Time Lord - an extraterrestrial from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in an internally vast time machine called the TARDIS which appears relatively small when seen from the outside, but is in fact very large on the inside.

The Eleventh Doctor and his assistant Credit.

The Doctor flits about the universe, usually with a companion having adventures, saving the universe and fighting baddies. There have been successive generations of actors playing the character, explained by the act of the Doctor being able to regenerate (much like the Bhuddist reincarnation).

Most people have a favourite Doctor, normally the one they grew up with - I have two - Tom Baker '74-'81 and (somewhat controversially) Christopher Ecclestone '05. (For further information, more than I thought was possible, check out here).

I have such fond memories of Doctor Who; the mad adventures, the travelling and exploration. My hubby does also - mostly of Daleks peered at from behind the safety of the sofa. We've been enjoying the new series' too - some great new monsters, and re-invention of the baddies. Favourite new episodes include Blink, Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways and World War Three. Christmas day with our UK family you'll find all the kids in the house (including big ones like me) and the cat gathered round the TV breathlessly awaiting the Christmas special.

Thankfully if you are a Who-vian, you don't have to travel to Gallifrey or the ends of time to find a TARDIS, as there is one conveniently parked outside Earl's Court tube station. Neat and very random, huh? It's another of the things I love about London, you really don't know what to expect next.

The directions are really easy: Take a District or Picadilly Line Train to Earl’s Court Station. Exit the station (take the Earl's Court Road exit), immediately turn right, walk about 10 feet and it's on your left, between you and the Road. You can't get inside, unless you know the Doctor, or an incredible special effects team but it's still awesome.

 

I've also heard rumours of other TARDIS sightings over London - at Winston Churchill’s Britain At War Experience, Tooley Street; Television Centre, Wood Lane (probably now moved to the BBC's new headquarters in Manchester) and of all places, Hendon Police Training College where it can be glimpsed from Northern Line trains. 

 

Oops, there it goes again! 

 

Beam me up! No, wait...

 

Are you a Doctor Who fan? Who is your favourite Doctor,  companion and Monster?

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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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(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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