New Tastes...

The Mhariam, Timperley

This evening I went to The Mhariam in Timperley Village where I live, with my family and some friends. It is a lovely Indian restaurant that I have been to twice before, but it never fails to deliver. It is unlicensed, so it makes the night even cheaper as you can take your own wine/ beer/ soft drinks to save on the bill.

We started with some poppadoms, though I am not a huge fan so skipped them, and saved space for our starters. We got chicken pakoras, onion bhajis and a mixed starter platter to share between the four of us, and the other family we went with did the same. The portions are all the perfect size for sharing, yet don't contain too much that you have no room left for the main courses. I especially liked the pakoras, as the chicken was so succulent, and they had just enough spice to whet the appetite for more.

For the main course, we did the same, and got a few curries to share. I ordered a chicken karai, and we also got a chicken korma and a lamb balti. My sister is a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy food, so she mainly had the korma, but I enjoyed both the karai and the balti. The karai was served in an iron bowl on wood, and was steaming hot upon arrival, which was a nice feature to the dish. I had it with chapattis as I love the things, but we also ordered rice and a peshwari naan for those who wanted it.

Afterwards, stuffed and satisfied (I had been hungover all day, and this was the perfect cure) we walked back to our house and watched a bit of television while eating cheese and biscuits, after a bit of a break of course! The whole meal for all eight of us came to £88, so worked out at eleven quid a head, not bad for a gorgeous authentic Indian. I would highly recommend it, but make sure you book, as there is limited space, and they have set service times, so you cannot just turn up. It is worth the hassle though, as you won't be disappointed with the quality of food, and the staff are all really friendly- my parents go so often they are on first name terms!

Inspired by a trip to Paris

St-Germain l'Auxerrois

A stone figure gestures peace in a foreign land.

To how many travellers has this promise been made?

Above him, a gold clock counts the passage of time,

its cogs turning for hundreds of years;

undeterred by war, sickness or death.

Rules have been broken in this place,

but the tick of the second hand provides regularity -

comfort in a strange domain.

Reminding that time is universal,

binding the world together.

The building, still pale after so long,

looms over the water, though it is far from ominous.

A beacon of safety, it beckons visitors to pray,

its doors wide open,

like a mother’s arms waiting for her child.

There are those whose hands have done far from show peace,

stealing lives from time’s kingdom.

Yet still the stone man welcomes them,

the doors pull them into the fold,

and loving arms cleanse their sins.

If only a figure of flesh held so much forgiveness.

Weekly Update!

A Weekend of Family Fun!

On Saturday morning, my grandparents came to stay for the weekend, bringing my little cousins with them. We had some lunch and then sat in the garden, enjoying the sunshine while they played on the grass. In the late afternoon, my other young cousins came, and we had a nice lasagne with salad and garlic bread, followed by fresh fruit salad and ice cream.

After tea, I went to The Griffin, a modern pub relatively near to my house with a couple of my friends. I was driving so could only have one, but it was lovely to sit in the sunny beer garden outside, until it got chilly and we moved indoors. We had a good old natter, and though it was a fairly early one, it was nice to have some peace and quiet after a child filled day!

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we made a picnic and went to a nearby park for the day. There is a little mini steam train there that the kids enjoyed (and it only costs 30p for a ride!), and we seemed to arrive at a good time, skipping the queues for it, and at the ice cream van!

After a couple of hours there, me and my mum headed home to hide lots of Easter eggs so the children could do an egg hunt. We hid chocolate eggs and rabbits, as well as glittery decorated eggs, and each of the kids had a felt bag to collect them in. It kept them occupied for a while, though there were fights when

some got more than others!

I've just finished a gorgeous chicken Sunday roast, complete with Yorkshire puddings, and a raspberry crème brulee tart for dessert- delicious. The guests are heading home in the morning, and I am working at 7am, so I am making the most of the last bit of my weekend, sipping a cider and catching the last of the rays, while chatting with the family. They may be best in small doses, but I do enjoy having a full house!

Mid-week Update!

Ice Cream, Castles and Sunshine!

As I've had such a lovely busy week this week, I've decided to split my normal weekly update into two sections so it's not a mammoth post on Sunday.

On Monday I had my second day at Masquerade Magazine, and then after an early shift at work on Tuesday I went to Crewe to visit my boyfriend, Chris. Because it was such a lovely sunny day, we went to an ice cream parlour near to his house called Snugbury's (I blogged about it last summer). I had a double cone with honeycomb and the newest flavour: nuts about chocolate, which was hazelnut ice cream swirled with chocolate sauce and pieces of hazelnut. They have some farm animals there as well, which are always funny to watch. We then went home, and I had my first non-portable barbecue this year- gorgeous!

On Wednesday after a nice lie-in we went to Beeston Castle, an English Heritage site in Tarporley, West Cheshire. It has a number of walks you can do around the grounds, and a big drawbridge leading to the ruins of the main castle. It is atop a hill with some impressive views; you can see Jodrell Bank, Liverpool and the Welsh mountains! Again due to the sunshine, we took a picnic and lazed on the grass for a while before driving back.

On Thursday, I worked again, and then cracked on with some work for my creative writing portfolio, which slowly but surely is getting nearer to completion. This continued on Friday, and then once it had cooled down in the evening I went for a 4 mile walk around Dunham Massey with my mum. It is a National Trust park that has a beautiful lake in the middle and deer roaming free around it, the perfect location for a summer evening wander. We then went home and had a tasty Greek salad for tea- yum!

Spring Views...

Limitless- 4 stars ****

This was a spur of the moment view, as I had some vouchers for two free tickets to use, and it was all that was on that suited the times we were free. After watching the advert, I thought it actually looked pretty good, and Bradley Cooper being the star meant even if the film was rubbish, at least there would be something nice to look at.

I didn't have to resort to this though, as the film was well worth seeing. It tells the story of Edward Morra, a guy struggling for inspiration to write his book, and recently dumped by his girlfriend due to his lack of motivation. One day he bumps into the drug dealing brother of his ex-wife, who lets him sample a new drug- NZT-48, that lets humans access 100% of their brains rather than the normal 20%. After one dose, he completes the first section of his book, and cleans himself up, causing him to want more of the substance that makes him so productive.

So begins a twisted tale, of criminals, cheats, success and failure, as Edward rises to the top of a business run by Robert de Niro and regains his girlfriend, but at the expense of his safety and privacy. Bradley Cooper does the role huge justice, showing many facets as he goes from slob to charismatic leader to hard faced businessman, and hearing him speak French shows that he is not just a pretty face!

There were some brilliant camera shots in this, most notably the beginning, when it zoomed through images of the inside of a brain, through city streets and buildings, all at super speed. It sort of hurt my eyes, but in a good, trippy kind of way, that added an extra dimension to the film. This effect returned later in the movie when Edward started to experience blackouts, and it was a very clever way of showing the audience how it must have been for the character.

The only downfall to this film for me, was the slightly rushed ending. Upon leaving, I had to go through and rethink certain conclusions that I felt despite having massive run ups to them, had been revealed too speedily at the finale. It did create a talking point on the journey home though, so it did have its benefits!

Weekly Update!

Chinese, Creme Egg Mcflurry's and
Sunshine!

So, the Easter holidays are finally here, and unlike most students frantically revising for the duration, I can relax, as mine isn't until June 9th. This week, I returned from Paris on Monday (see previous post) and then my boyfriend came to visit for a couple of days. We didn't really do much, we went for a mooch around the Trafford Centre on the day he arrived, and then went shopping in my local town the following day before seeing Limitless at the cinema (review being posted tomorrow). The weather was lovely, and it was nice to chill out after a frantic, but awesome few days away from home.

On Thursday I worked, and then went out for a few drinks at night in the Belgian bar in Altrincham. It was the first time I'd met up with friends from home since being back, so it was nice catching up on everyone's lives and enjoying a few exotic flavoured beers. Friday was a very lazy day, mainly consisting of watching America's Next Top Model to catch up with this series, and then in the evening we got a Chinese takeaway which was delicious. I had king prawns with cashew nuts and bamboo shoots, and then we also had chicken chow mein, beef with vegetables, sweet and sour chicken, king prawn schezuan and egg fried rice. Good job I'd done a 30 minute run on the Wii beforehand!

Yesterday it was my friend Hana's 21st party (despite her birthday being a month away, in the midst of exams). During the day I went shopping with my mum and bought a new bikini and some black suede Diesel ankle boots for just £9. I also had my first Creme Egg Mcflurry of the year, so I was a very happy girl! We went round to Hana's at 6pm and had nibbles and champagne outside, as it was a beautiful sunny evening. Then there was a yummy buffet and more drinks, before we heard speeches (that were so sweet!) and set off some Chinese lanterns, though the ones I attempted failed miserably. Then we headed into Manchester to the Northern Quarter, starting in Walrus cocktail bar, before going to Bluu. It was pretty busy, which made the night a bit more fun as there was a good atmosphere. We got minibuses home at 2am, and I fell into bed, knackered, at 3am.

Today the gorgeous weather is still here, so I am writing this in the garden, and will probably read some of my book in the sun later, before making a start on some work for my creative writing portfolio this evening. The good stuff has to end somewhere I suppose!

Traveller's Tales...

A Parisian Adventure (days 3 & 4)

On Saturday we all woke late and fuzzy headed, to be greeted with cups of tea and amazing pastries courtesy of Laura's boyfriend who was also staying for a week. After we'd lounged around for a while, we got up and went via the Arc de Triomphe to the Palais de Tokyo- an exhibition centre that has a retro photobooth that we made full use of, coming out with some memorable photos. We had a drink at the cafe there, which was pricey, but had a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower and in the sunshine (which was now at 29 degrees) it was gorgeous.

Afterwards we wandered towards the Jardin Des Tuileries, a park next to the Louvre, and stopped at a restaurant under the trees there for a late lunch. I had a cheese, ham and mushroom crepe with salad- it was yummy! Eating at somewhere with such a great view made it all the better as well. We then just chilled out in the sun for a couple of hours, before waltzing home. Along the way we saw the Louvre, and the Palais du Louvre as well as the Pont des Arts which is known for being covered in padlocks inscribed with loved-up couples' names.

We stopped at a supermarket and a boulangerie on the way home to pick up a few bits for tea. As we had eaten so late we decided to just have snacks and a dessert- I bought a custard and chocolate pastry that we had with vanilla nut and speculoos flavour ice cream. We ate whilst watching Inception, which I enjoyed seeing again to pick up the bits I missed the first time. After it had finished we hit the hay as we were all knackered from the lack of sleep the night before!

On Sunday, my final day, we went to the vintage section of the city. We passed the Notre Dame on the way, and stopped for lunch at HD Diner, a 50s style restaurant. Inside was a whirlwind of turquoise and Barbie pink, and each table had a fake jukebox attached to it. I had a burger with guacamole and avocado in it, that came with french fries, and an oreo cookie milkshake, that arrived complete with whipped cream and a cherry on top- I felt like a character in Grease!

I bought a couple of silk scarves from the vintage shops, but it was so hot, we lost our desire to search through more mountains of clothes, and retired to the park near Laura's house equipped with a salad nicoise and a baguette with some super smelly scrummy cheese. When we returned home we watched The Social Network, which I thought was really good considering some of the bad reviews it had got, and then I packed for home. I went to bed fairly early as I had to be up at 4am to come home- I didn't want to leave! I will definitely be returning to Paris in the future; I can't believe it's taken me this long to go there for the first time!

Traveller's Tales...

A Parisian Adventure (days 1 & 2)

This morning, I returned from one of the most amazing weekends away I have had thus far in my life. I went to Paris, France for three days, to visit my friend Laura who is currently living there. I arrived at approximately 8.30pm Parisian time where I was met by Laura, and we travelled back to her apartment via train and metro.

A quick freshen up and we were off to the Eiffel Tower to celebrate a friend's birthday. We took wine, champagne and nibbles and sat on the grass beside the monument, soaking up the pleasant warmth of the night. At midnight each night, the tower lights up with the most gorgeous twinkling lights, which marked my first night in Paris perfectly.

The following day Laura and her flatmate were at work early, so I had a lie in before getting ready and popping out for a wander around the area near their apartment. I got hopelessly lost, but luckily the metro system was easy enough to navigate, so I soon found my way back to where I was supposed to be meeting Laura for lunch. We went to a little boulangerie, where I bought a seeded ham and emmental sandwich, which was tasty. We sat in a little park near her office to eat, that contains the Tour de St Jacques, and enjoyed the glorious sunshine.

Once Laura had returned to work I went onto Rue de Rivoli, for a browse in the shops along it. I managed to find a dress for my graduation for just 26 euros, and it is exactly what I was looking for- elegant and simple, yet a shade of red that marks it as far from boring. Afterwards, I found a little courtyard directly in the sun and stayed there reading for two hours! I then headed back to the apartment, and read for a bit longer until everyone returned from work. I made a chicken salad for our tea, and then we got ready for a night on the town.

People came round for some drinks, and at about midnight, we caught a taxi to Culture Hall, a club that someone had recommended although Laura had never been. There was a large group of us out to celebrate the birthday from the night before, and for 22 euros we got entrance and two private tables complete with two large bottles of vodka to share out, so we all got suitably drunk. It was a great night, the club played mainly house music, which is always good for a boogie, and it ended considerably later than a night out at home- we went to bed at 5.30am!

Spring Reads...

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- 4 stars ****

Finally moving away from course books, I took this book that I got for my birthday on holiday to Paris with me and finished it within two days. It follows the story of Kambili, a fifteen year old girl living in Nigeria. Her family are wealthy due to her father's business, and she attends a private school. However, despite her material gains, she has very few friends, and her father's strong religious views (he is a well respected Catholic oblate) mean she lives in fear and repression.

As the book progresses, the reader begins to see the lengths that Kambili's father will go to to maintain respect and order, to the extent that he beats his wife Beatrice frequently, eventually making her lose a baby. He has strict timetables for Kambili and her brother Jaja, detailing what they have to do at every minute of the day, from homework and eating, to praying and attending church. He accepts nothing but the best, so when Kambili comes second in her class, she is 'punished'.

However, a military coup in the village where they live forces the children to be evacuated to their Aunty Ifeoma's house, where their cousins are happy and enjoy a freedom that Jaja and Kambili do not understand. Their aunt is described beautifully:

'When she barged into the dining room upstairs, I imagined a proud ancient forebear, walking miles to fetch water in homemade clay pots, nursing babies until they walked and talked, fighting wars with machetes sharpened on sun-warmed stone. She filled a room.'

It is eventually due to her that the family begin to stick up for themselves, until finally Beatrice poisons her husband, and he is found dead in his office.

I found this book not only enthralling, but also very informative about the situations that occur in parts of Africa, as it is an area I know very little about. It is written in such a way that sometimes you can empathise with Eugene (Kambili's father) despite the atrocious things that he does, which I found to be an interesting aspect of the novel. It also contains some gorgeous language, showing the impressive intelligence that Kambili possesses, and it is inspiring to see her determination and courage, despite her being in such a horrible situation. An example of such language is:

'Because the tarred roads spring potholes like surprise presents and the air smells of hills and history and the sunlight scatters the sand and turns it into gold dust. Because Nsukka could free something deep inside your belly that would rise up to your throat and come out as a freedom song. As laughter.'

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to broaden their intellectual horizons, and who wants a story that is both dramatic and horrifically sad at the same time.

The Big Wide World

Masquerade Magazine

Today was the first official day of my internship with Masquerade Magazine. After one of my friends secured an internship there for summer of last year, I looked the company up, and liked what I saw. Then, last November, some of the team (including her) came to a media career day held at Lancaster University, where I learnt a little more about the ideas behind the publication, and how it all began. It seemed like the perfect place for me to cut my teeth, gaining some experience that would hopefully get me onto the bottom of the journalism ladder that I so desperately crave.

I contacted the deputy editor, and was told that the base for the Masquerade office was a mere 20 minute drive from my house- it seemed to only get better. After a meeting in mid-January, I was told to come in over the summer and I could help with various jobs. However, being back for four weeks now with a bit of spare time on my hands, I thought it would be a good idea to get in there early, and I was eager to get started.

So at 9am this morning I set off for the office, outfit planned and lunch packed. It has a great relaxed atmosphere, which is something I love as I am very organised and often a bit uptight, so it gives me chance to realise that I can still get things done without being so regimented. Everyone is very friendly, and within five minutes I was offered a drink and was flicking through some of the more 'alternative' publications- AnOther and Love magazines, for inspiration.

Throughout the course of the day I was set a couple of tasks to complete, and was never made to feel like an outsider (being asked to choose a music track to play whilst working was a personal highlight, much as it stumped me to think of what I fancied!). I was told to google my name to find out how much information I could root up about myself, to show the power of the Internet (and probably how dangerous it can be!) and then to plan a few different ideas for the theme of the next issue of the magazine.

Each issue has a theme, that influences all of the articles, photographs and images used, so it is an important starting point for the team. To think that I could have a potential say in such a massive decision is a brilliant feeling, so I spent a lot of time researching ideas, and following trails from one thing to the next in the hopes of stumbling across a diamond, even if it was semi-planned stumbling! Fingers crossed I'll come up with something decent, and if not, that's the point of gaining work experience- right?

Homemade Recipes!

Hungarian Goulash

As a belated Mother's Day treat, I am partway through cooking Goulash for the family. I have never actually eaten it myself, but am using a recipe from a 'slow cooking' book that my mum owns.

4.45pm- To start with, I put 2 tbsp oil into a large pan and fried two onions in it until soft. I then added 900g cubed beef and browned it, before adding 2 tbsp paprika, a clove of garlic, a pinch of salt and a generous pinch of caraway seeds. I then removed the pan from the heat and added a chopped tomato, and 2 pints of beef stock before putting back on to simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

6.15pm- After this time, I added 6 smallish potatoes, 2 green peppers, and 2 medium sized carrots, but really any veg would do- broccoli, squash, swede etc. Then I left it until the potatoes had cooked through, and the liquid had reduced (you may need to add some cornflour if it is still watery after a substantial amount of time).

7pm- Now ready, the Goulash can be served with dumplings, rice, veg, or my personal preference, on its own with some chunky brown bread- delicious!

Weekly Update!

Baking, Birthdays and Home Time!

This week has been a countdown to that time that I am well and truly ready for- going home. Uni being 11 weeks long this term has killed me, and I am drained and missing home cooked meals and my girls. As well as that I had to say goodbye to Chris for two weeks on Monday, which was rubbish, especially when I had an essay yet to be completed that was looming over my head.

To cheer myself up on Tuesday I went to the gym (yes, it may seem weird) and then baked some gingernut biscuits, and decorated some cakes for my friend Kat's 21st on Wednesday. On Wednesday I started my notes for the dreaded essay and then got doled up ready for Kat's party. It was a really fun night, as I didn't know that many people, and I love meeting some new faces. Unfortunately, due to the amount of alcohol consumed, I ended up being horrifically drunk, and had to be 'walked' home (said because judging by my knees, walking may not be what actually happened!). I then had the horrible task of writing a full 2000 odd words completely hungover the following day, which was an experience I won't be repeating in a hurry!

On Friday, I woke up with a spring in my step. I handed my essay in, then went for tea and biscuits at my friends flat, before hitting the gym, and packing ready to leave on Saturday morning for home. In the evening, my parents arrived and we went to Bella Italia (see previous post). Yesterday, once I had returned home, I went shopping in Manchester, which I have missed. I love spending time in the city, and going with my mum meant I got some free clothes out of it as well- result! That night we had a lovely curry, and then a few of my friends came round for a catchup. They only stayed for a while though, as we were all really tired- obviously being nearly 21, we are getting old!

Today I had a super lie in and then after a mushroom and bacon sandwich I went to Ikea with my mum. We had coffee and doughnuts and then came home, where I have just finished a beautiful roast dinner- ahhh to be home!

New Tastes...

Bella Italia, Lancaster

Yesterday my parents came to Lancaster to pick me up from university for Easter, and we went to Bella Italia for tea. As they were both at work til 5pm, I booked a table for 8.30pm, and the restaurant was in full swing when we arrived, with most tables busy. I always prefer a bit of bustle when eating out as it seems more welcoming; and of course, you know the food must be good if lots of people are paying to eat there.

It is not the first time I have been to Bella Italia, in fact I seem to visit various branches of the chain Italian on a regular basis. This is mainly due to them accepting Tesco vouchers, so £4 in clubcard points equals £10 to spend, and this bargain means as a family we often eat out in a multitude of places including Strada, Cafe Rouge and Pizza Express.

The Bella Italia in Lancaster is decked out in the traditional style that all the restaurants are, red and yellow walls, candlelit tables, and gold lettering across the windows. It gives that authentic Italian feel, despite it being in the middle of student-ville. We ordered a bottle of house red and some starters to share- a garlic bread with cheese, breaded mozzerella with caramelized onion relish, and a selection of Italian meats with bruschetta. There was a slight mix up with our order, but it actually worked in our favour as the food was more staggered so we weren't stuffed after the first course.

Shortly after our plates had been cleared, our main courses arrived. I had Penne Zafferano, a creamy salmon and prawn pasta dish, with tomatoes and spinach, while my parents shared Pollo Alla Crema, another pasta dish which contained chicken, peppers, pancetta and red onion. It was a special two person sized portion, which I think is a really good idea, and provides great value for money (it was £13.95).

Despite being hugely full, I decided to order a dessert called The Godfather, to share with my mum. It had bits of gooey brownie, toffee and vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, topped with chocolate sauce and crunchy chocolate pieces- delicious! My dad got an Irish coffee.

I was really impressed at the service for a busy Friday night, even though the waitress we had was a little over-friendly, but rather that than someone rude. The whole bill came to approximately £65, but with our £40 vouchers, proved very reasonable. Even though it is now the fourth time I have been, I wouldn't hesitate to return!

Spring Reads...

One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner- 2 stars **

I was lent this book by a friend, and didn't really know what to expect, as I had no idea what their reading preferences would be like. I would class this novel as 'advanced chick-lit', basically as it was an easy read that I finished in a couple of days, but it did have a good plot and an enjoyable style, which I often find is lacking in the more traditionally written books from the genre.

It follows the stories of three females- Karen, a middle aged housewife whose husband dies suddenly, leaving her alone after twenty years with two small children, her best friend Anna, who is living with an alcoholic boyfriend, and Lou, a gay social worker who witnesses the death of Karen's husband, who feels trapped by her sexuality. Throughout the book, the three characters interact, until the plots intermingle.

The first reason why I enjoyed this book was because in parts, the use of language was lovely, and created highly visual images that gave a clear idea of what the author intended the reader to 'see':

'It is a crazed muddle of emotions: there is the feeling she can't shake, that she was responsible, of guilt turning in on itself, impossible to unravel. There is the sense of loss whose force she fears she has yet to feel fully- a gigantic, overwhelming sense of sorrow and gloom. Then, in the very centre of the snarl-up, there's the bright red of searing pain, excruciating, burning, unrelenting, as if her skull has been sawn off and acid is being poured directly inside, onto the nerves of her grey matter.'

Another reason why I liked this book, and felt like it was more than 'chick-lit' was because of the emotions behind the characters. Death, in any form, is obviously a difficult subject to approach, but it is handled with such poise in 'One Moment, One Morning' that you really empathise with Karen, as she begins to become nostalgic about practically everything associated with Simon, her late husband:

'There is the chipped cast-iron casserole Phyllis passed to her a few years ago, saying Karen would have more use for it than she did, now she had children. There are eclectic mugs from a range of sources: promotional ones Simon has brought back from work, a couple of finely shaped porcelain ones that were a gift from Anna, a jokey one from Alan about hirsute men being better lovers.'

I wouldn't recommend this as a holiday read, as it was quite depressing in parts, but for something to read at home before bed, this is perfect, as it doesn't require much brain power, yet isn't boring or predictable, as would be expected of such a light read.