such lovely things

Well, it's actually a chest of drawers rather than a bedside table, but it's beside my bed and has a space to place my book or pile of books amongst other things. And, it's the first time in 20 years that I've had an actual-off-the-ground-space to put anything and it feels like the height of luxury!  Needless to say, I have more than one book on my bedside table. There's the one I'm currently reading, plus there's my Kindle - for when I wake in the night and want to read but don't want to switch the light on - and quite a few others on the 'books I REALLY want to read' pile!  I thought you might be interested to know what I've got on that pile at the moment. Here it is: As it turns out, I lied... Whilst I'm currently 'properly' reading 'Becoming' by Michelle Obama, I've actually started reading FIVE out of those seven books!! Ha! The problem is that I mostly read before going to sleep and often then ...

......and suddenly it's the end of March! How on earth did that happen? And with the end of March comes Mother's Day. If you're anything like me, this will have crept up on you despite seeing all the cards and gifts in the shops for weeks.  And so, perhaps you need a quick make for your kids - or yourself. I got my 9 year old and her friend making these gorgeous tissue paper flowers the other day. They then added them to some cards and hey presto, an instant Mothers' Day card! Here's how to make them.... You will need: One sheet of tissue paper Something circular to draw around (I used a jam jar lid!) A pen and a pair of scissors A stapler A piece of card Glue or sticky tape   How to…. Step 1 Take the piece of tissue paper and fold in half longways,  then in half longways again. Step 2 Draw a row of circles using the pen and lid.           ...

It's Pancake Day! Hooray!  In keeping with the age-old tradition, we had pancakes for tea tonight. And in keeping with my own tradition, I wonder - yet again - why we don't have pancakes more often!?! I always use this recipe from the Dairy Diary Cookery Book published way back when... I don't know when! Late 80's perhaps? This is my 'go-to' book for all traditional recipes. My mum gave me a copy when I went away to university - although using it was challenging since my accommodation during that first year away only had a toaster and a microwave! But that's another story.... So today, I attempted to make a stack of pancakes, and as always they were gobbled up as soon as they left the pan! In fact I had to demand that 2 were saved for me! On a need-to-know basis, I need to know what your favourite pancake topping is? Do tell!  I don't think you can beat lemon juice and granulated sugar for the best tradition of all t...