Monday 21 January 2013

Number 30. Go to Loch Ness.

25-27th January 2013 Weekend in Scotland!
So we battled through the snow all the way up the country to Dundee on Friday evening...bless my wonderful hubby as it was over 6hrs of driving!
On Saturday morning we woke to more snow which had fallen overnight but beautiful bright blue skies and sunshine. We had a 2hr drive to get up to Loch Ness from Dundee, stunning beautiful drive with snow all the way until we got to Loch Ness where there was no snow at all, couldn't believe it!
We had a lovely cruise on Loch Ness but never saw Nessie!
Am so pleased we decided to still go despite the snow as we had a lovely weekend and I'm so pleased I've completed this task and can now say I've been to Loch Ness, over 1000 miles driving in a weekend but well worth it!

























Number 32. Hold a dinner party every 3 months!

When Rund and I first got together we had regular dinner parties with friends and now all we do is have friends/family for lunch or tea which is still lovely but we have cast aside what we used to do!
This hasn't been intentional, I think as we've had a family and time is spent in different ways this is just something we haven't had the time to keep up, but as the kids are now older it would be nice to get back to more 'civilised' dinner parties!
The only thing I'm worried about is my cooking skills!!
The first dinner party is set for Saturday 2nd March....can't wait! xx

Saturday 2nd March. Dinner Party with Helen & Alv, John & Cat, & Caroline & Rich, really lovely evening spent with good friends. I enjoyed the preparation although I was exhausted on Sunday, but was worth it and felt a real sense of achievement as its been a long time since I cooked a 3 course dinner, all new recipes!
The menu was mostly all home made:
Arrival: Absinthe, champagne, and nibbles.
Starter: Leek, potato and bacon soup with crusty bread.
Main: Beef wellington with red wine and shallot sauce, Duchess potatoes, carrots with rosemary, brocolli, sugar snap peas and green beans.
Dessert: Warm chocolate torte with fresh raspberries and double cream.
Cheese and biscuits.
Coffee and mints.

Now to plan the next one!!

Saturday 13th April. Dinner party with Tony & Sabrina, fab night really enjoyed it! Again most of the menu was homemade but I tried to make it a little easier on myself so that I could spend time chatting and enjoying the company not just spend most of my evening in the kitchen...and it went according to plan!
Menu:
Arrival: Absinthe, pink champagne & nibbles.
Starter: Brussels pâté, farmhouse pâté, crusty bread, feta, soaked peppers, prosciutto.
Main: Venison with Cumberland sauce, green beans with bacon and mushrooms, potato, carrot & parsnip gratin with horseradish.
Dessert: Chocolate torte with fresh raspberries and Cornish thick jersey double cream.
Cheese and biscuits.
Coffee & chocolates.

This is becoming more frequent than every 3 months, quite simply because I've rekindled my enjoyment of entertaining!

Saturday 11th May. Dinner party with Tony & Nicki and Rob & Sarah. Such a lovely evening and took inspiration from previous evenings to make things as easy as possible on the night so that I can be with everyone and enjoy it too!
Menu:
Arrival: Absinthe, champagne & nibbles.
Starter: Brussels pâté, farmhouse pâté, crusty bread, feta, mini stuffed red peppers, prosciutto.
Main: Beef Wellington, green beans with bacon and mushrooms, potato, carrot & parsnip gratin with horseradish. Red wine sauce or Mushroom sauce.
Dessert: Chocolate torte with fresh raspberries and Cornish thick jersey double cream.
Cheese and biscuits.
Coffee & chocolates.





My Beef Wellington!

Saturday 22nd June 2013.
Dinner party with Isabel & Nick & Debbie & Martin, a long over due get together and was a great evening. Played a little game of consequences and thoroughly enjoyed the company. Stuck to tried & tested menu as I'd had a busy week which definitely makes life easier! Also enjoyed sharing the Boozy Infusions over dessert!! 
Menu:
Arrival: Absinthe, prosecco & nibbles.
Starter: Brussels pâté, farmhouse pâté, crusty bread, feta, mini stuffed red peppers, prosciutto, tomatoes. 
Main: Beef Wellington, green beans with bacon and mushrooms, potato, carrot & parsnip gratin with horseradish, red & green cabbage. Red wine sauce. 
Dessert: Chocolate torte with fresh raspberries, double cream, raspberry sauce & chocolate sauce.
Boozy infusion tipple served over ice! Choice of Cherry Bakewell Tart, Jamaica Ginger Cake & Sticky Toffee Pudding. 
Cheese and biscuits.
Coffee & chocolates.



Number 40. Have an amazing time celebrating my 40th!


Number 40. Have an amazing time celebrating my 40th.

So I've definitely celebrated in style with a few different occasions! I'd like to thank everyone who joined me to make my 40th so very special, and for all the lovely gifts, cards, and messages, I was very spoilt and feel very blessed! x


Thursday 17th October 2013....an early celebration for me but not for Louise who turned 30 early October & Jeanette who turned 50 at the end of October. I work with both of these lovely ladies at Dee, Atkinson & Harrison, we are only a small team so was rather strange that the 3 of us were celebrating big birthdays so closely together! We therefore decided to have a 'work do' to celebrate and had a lovely evening after work at the Dine Bangla Restaurant in Beverley. 









Saturday 10th November 2013. 

I also have always wished to see 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' I never managed to get to London to see it but earlier this year I found out that in November, for one week only, it was showing at Hull New Theatre. I therefore decided to organise a girly night at the theatre to see it as it was perfectly timed with it being November!
Fantastic night, amazing show, what a laugh we had! There were 37 of us in total and it was just a lovely lovely way to celebrate!





























Friday 22nd November 24th November 2013. Birthday weekend!!

I decided not to have a party...I think this did shock a lot of friends as most people know that I like to throw parties!
Instead the weekend of my birthday we booked a barn conversion in the Lake District and together with 7 other families we celebrated which is just what I wanted & on the Saturday evening we had a Wig&Stache Bash which is what I wanted to do,and thank you my lovely friends for the hilarious wigs and moustaches (some even naturally grown!!) however there were also a few unexpected surprises thrown in!
Starting with a beautiful memory/photo book created by my bezzie Helen, a gorgeous 'skinny dipper' birthday cake created by 'Ali's Little Cake House' on behalf of my husband and Helen, decorations of banners and balloons, and entertainment which involved my friends making me sick!!
They had devised a very funny game of 'I'm a Celebrity/Bush Tucker Trials' which they blindfolded me and I had to eat things....I was gagging on the first one, but wasn't sick at this stage!
After finishing this task, Helen then said that there was another challenge for me to do, the 'Cinnamon Challenge' which I had never heard of and stupidly agreed to put a tea spoon of cinnamon in my mouth....I just can't explain what it does to you!
The powder sucks and clings to any moisture in your mouth so you can't breathe, or swallow, you don't know what to do!! When you laugh or splutter you blow out puffs of red powder! Now obviously this was highly amusing to watch as everyone was really laughing, I had felt a bit queasy after the 'I'm a Celebrity' shenanigans but after a few minutes of the cinnamon challenge, I stood up and vomited all over the floor in front of my guests, then dashed outside and threw up a few more times but I was still laughing!!

I was obviously very embarrassed to have been sick in front of my friends, and all the children, plus it was all over my tights and I'd managed to get it inside one of my shoes...gross!! But I have to say it was very funny, you really do just have to laugh!

I then had a multitude of delightful presents (including a Tiffany ring from my husband!) and cards, I was very spoilt and was made to feel very special, a big thank you to everyone! xx