Apple cupcakes

One of the other exciting things about where we are moving to is our unlimited supply of apples! I actually find it difficult to find good recipes involving apples but there are several in a new dessert cook book Martin got me, and these cupcakes is one of them!

I actally didn't have high hopes for them when they came out of the oven. They didn't rise very well and then sunk a bit due to all the apples. They taste amazing however and hopefully will be a big hit. The apples themselves have a great flavour and are nice and crunchy!

Pigs and land

Had a very good weekend and here are the pics to show it!



This is where our piggies will be living. The field is a very good size and there is plenty of room for the three pigs we will start out with. What you can't see is the gigantic apple tree behind us, which will also be great for our pigs. We will have to be careful though for if they eat too many they can get drunk!

On sunday we went on a one day pig course. We have actually done it before but thought we could use a refresher. We really enjoyed it! Kind of renewed our faith in being able to do this and that we can really make it happen. I can't wait to get our pigs! Not sure when we will get them but we move in October 8th so I am hopeful we won't have to wait too long. Just need to make sure everything is ready for them so they cab live happy, albeit short, lives.

London Fashion Week

Last night my friend and I went to London Fashion week, which is held every year at Somerset House. I have been once before but this year I got to go to the catwalk which was super cool. You get to see beautiful fashion walk right by you and get to pass judegment on the models wearing it. It was great! The only thing that was mildly disappointing was I didn't purchase any of the fashion. I just didn't see anything I felt I needed to have. Pickings seemed slim. I was hopeful there would have been a coat or some shoes I felt I needed but there just wasn't! Oh well. I have a feeling fashion would be misunderstood in the country any how.

More Sewing and other bits and pieces

Ta da! Project number three! Although this might be a bit boring for you it is great fun for me! This week we learned about finishing seams and I discovered going fast on the sewing machine is actually easier than going slow.

This week has been a bit stressful for us Partners. Unfortunately Martin's father had a mild heart attack a day before they were due to leave for holiday and has spent the week in hospital. They did some tests yesterday and found one blocked artery and another semi blocked artery. The good news is they were able to clear them and he is now back home. We are looking forward to seeing him! Very good news he is on the mend but leaves you wondering what caused it. And who will make our pig ark now?

The woman who is currently living in our house moves out Saturday and Martin and I are very excited to see the house empty! The last picture I posted does make it seem like a very large house, but we only have half of it. Everything to the left of the hedge row. Can't wait to get in there and start planting some bulbs! And getting my chickens back! (Sorry Henry). We will hopefully start moving our stuff next weekend and then officially move in the week after that. Will send address details soon.

My mom's comment about my address has to be the best one ever. After getting the details she exclaimed, in writing, “I LOVE your new address. It has the word horse in it twice!“

My Second Sewing Project!

After my class last week I decided to sign up for a four week course. Class one, pillow covers! I am well pleased with my efforts. I really enjoyed the class and my teacher was excellent. I didn't want to leave!

Home Sweet Home

Look, our new house! Martin and I are moving to the Hampshire countryside in four weeks time! Went for a visit this weekend and we can't wait. It is seriously beautiful. Makes me wonder why people wouldn't want to live there! We are moving down the road from Martins sister's family and have enough space to get started with three pigs and various other things, such as chickens and a proper vegi patch. Plan is to hopefully expand to some neighboring fields and build up our herd once we got the basics down. We have lots of ideas and we can't believe our good fortune. We decided to rent in the end (instead of buying) as it allows us to try it out, see how we like it, without investing everything we own. It is much less scary this way. The house itself is a little on the small side, but as we plan to spend most of our time outside it doesn't really matter. Not to mention Janice has a massive house and we can always hang out there. I can't wait to get everything out of storage! Some place new and beautiful for you all to visit :-)

My First Sewing Project

This week I took my first sewing course and made this handy little bag. All my sisters and my mom sew but I never really got into it except to make scrunchies for my hair. Now as an adult I wish I had learned. Never mind. Next week I start a four week course aand then hopefully a soft furnishings course after that. So much fun!

testing

And it works! Able to upload pictures onto my blog from my new blackberry. Genius! This is my desk at work. More exciting things to come, promise!

Cycling in Provence!

Just got back from a weeks holiday cycling in the South of France. It was amazing! Martin and I went with our friends Upa and Becky and spent seven days toodling from one B&B to the next.



We took the Eurostar to Paris and then a train from Paris to Avignon. We paid to take our bikes on the Eurostar but unfortunately there was no room on the train from Paris to Avignon so we had to dismantle them and put them in make shift bike bags(think large ikea bags and some bin liners) to carry on the train. Although trains in France are very clean and overall very roomy, getting them on was a bit traumatic. And funny. We rushed on the train to make sure we were the first ones on and then as the train pulled away, I was trying to explain to a Frenchman he was in our seats, while Martin tried to tell me something in between the carriage door opening and closing. Upa was dripping sweat trying to manoeuvre the bikes in the luggage racks and Becky was trying not to fall over holding all of our bags. Eventually though, we got everything sorted (thank you other french man for letting us know there were no stops between Paris and Avignon) and laughed at ourselves for the spectacle we made. And then fell asleep. (5:00am start. Bluck)

We got to Avignon in the evening and after a short cycle to the B&B we headed straight for the pool. Some of the B&Bs we stayed at were half board, which meant dinner was included. Sadly this place was the only one where there really was no vegetarian meal. Even though the menu clearly says vegetarian option available. Being in France though, this was no big deal as what they did wrangle up for me was delish. After a three course meal and a couple of bottles of amazing red wine and we were off too bed.

The days that followed were all pretty much the same. Had breakfast around 9:00, which always consisted of bread, butter, home made jam, croissants, bad tea and sometimes some fruit. After our leisurely breakfast we would then pack up and then get on our bikes around 10:30. Each day we cycled between 25 and 30 km and made it to the next B&B around 4:30, when we would promptly head for the pool.



Our biggest meal was lunch, which was usually three courses and had between 12:00 and 2:00 and dinner usually consisted of more bread, cheese, olives, tomatoes, wine and whatever else we could find. One night we even had a BBQ. The French are only open for lunch between 12 and 2 (sometimes 1:30) and EVERYTHING ELSE closes between noon and 3:30 or 4:00.

Although we didn't cycle very many miles each day,that doesn't mean we weren't without our challenges. One day saw our trusty sat nav take us UP an unpaved road where we had to walk up a mountain (okay, large hill) in the heat of the day. There were actually lots of hills our two middle days and as we were carrying everything we needed for our trip on our bikes (or in my case on my back) these hills were most unwelcomed!



I actually would not have changed anything about our mileage. Because we knew we could get to our next destination quickly, we were really able to take our time and enjoy everything around us. There were many many many stops for pictures and our three course lunches could take us up to two hours. Every place we went was beautiful, and we were never in a hurry to leave.



Doing less miles also meant we got some time to walk around quaint French villages and admire the views and check out the markets.



And take alternate routes and get lost occasionally...



So overall, had an amazing time and would highly recommend every one do a similar trip in their life time. Some notes though...French are not friendly! Very rude! Any attempts we made to smile, make chit chat, wave to other riders was met with a frown. Don't waste your energy. Also, air conditioning in your room is a must! There were a couple of nights we went without and it was horrible. France is very hot this time of year (90s) and sleeping in a hot room is no good! Food is amazing, eat as much as you can. As is the wine, drink as much as you can! France is extremely bike friendly, so take advantage of the cycle routes, they take you through some beautiful country. But take a sat nav with you, makes navigation a lot easier. (Or make sure Martin is with you, that man is very handy with a map!)