Weekly Update!

Reunions & Holiday Preparations!

This week has been super slow as I've been desperate for it to finish so I can go on holiday! On Monday I was feeling pensive and motivated, which I find are always two great ingredients for a run, so I did 6km in the sunshine before going round to Mo's. On Tuesday Aum had a golf lesson in Styal, so I went for a wander around John Lewis, looking at stuff for my flat that I definitely cant afford! I sent my amended article about my trip to London off to Candid (see previous post) and then went to Mo's again in the evening,

On Wednesday Aum was picked up to go to his grandparents at lunchtime, so I went to the gym in the afternoon, dip dyed my hair teal (!) and then met up with Emily and our old school friend Katie at the Slug and Lettuce in Sale in the evening. We haven't seen each other for over a year so it was really nice to catch up - so much has changed for all of us!

As Aum was staying in Pontefract until Friday, I had a nice day off on Thursday; I went to the Trafford Centre with Abi for a last minute pre-holiday shop, and though I only got a pair of shorts, they were £4 in the sale, so definitely worth venturing out for! We had lunch at the Marks and Spencer's cafe, which is always cheap and cheerful, and then headed home around 4pm.

On Friday I really didn't feel well, but had to drive to Pontefract and back to get Aum, so once I'd had my nails done in the afternoon I wanted nothing better than to collapse in bed. I had to do a bit of packing, but after that I slept soundly until this morning, when I got ready and picked a very hungover Mo up from the hotel he had stayed at with some old college friends who were visiting for the weekend. The two of us went into Didsbury to Bistro 156 for some lunch, where I had a bacon, brie and onion marmalade sandwich, and he got a full English in an attempt to feel better. I am now fully packed, and only a night's babysitting stands between me and six days in Marbella!

Summer Reads...

Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman - 3 stars ***

I'll be honest, this type of book isn't my usual read. I'm not a huge fan of crime novels, in particular ones with a horror vibe to them, but I actually read this really quickly and enjoyed it. 

The story is about an internet persona known as 'Picasso' who preys on teenage girls, keeping them prisoner until he eventually deems it time to kill them. When he does, he paints graphic pictures of them being tortured or murdered and sends them to a TV reporter, who passes them onto the police who decipher them in order to find the whereabouts of the body.

It is told mainly from the viewpoint of FDLE Special Agent Bobby Dees, who has headed up the Crimes Agains Children (CAC) team for over ten years. He is suffering from insomnia, after the disappearance of his own daughter, Katy, nearly a year ago. His marriage is on the rocks and he feels a distinct connection with the case, leading him to believe that Picasso might have Katy. His vested interest in the crimes causes a few problems, as he struggles to maintain a healthy work/home balance.

The writing wasn't amazing; the author is a former State Attorney prosecutor, so although clearly very intelligent, she isn't a naturally descriptive writer, but it got facts across and managed to reel me in, and the characters did have a certain emotive quality to them. There were a few clichéd personalities - the mother who doesn't care, the insecure teenage girl, the frustrated cop, but somehow this book manages to make you surpass the stock characters and empathise with them. There were some gruesome happenings in here, so it's not one for the queasy or faint-hearted!

It's not one I'd rush out to buy, but this book was a welcome change from my usual material, and I'd recommend it to people who like this genre; I have passed it onto my sister, who is studying Forensic Psychology, as she loves this kind of thing!

Candid Article 33

Hackney WickEd Arts Festival

My latest Candid article is all about the arts festival I went to whilst in London. Check it out here:

http://candidonline.com/wicked-arts-festival/

Weekly Update!

Soft Shell Crab, Dim Sum & Banana Bread!

This week was the first week of the school holidays where I had some entertaining to do! On Monday we went to Sealife (see previous post) and in the evening I babysat so we got a Chinese takeaway from Man Zen. On Tuesday Aum was pretty tired so we had a chilled day before his swimming lesson in the evening, and then we ate at the country club. I tried a starter, which was actually big enough for a main! It was deep fried soft shell crab which was served with a wasabi slaw; the crab was beautiful but I wasn't a fan of the slaw - far too strong and spicy.

On the Friday after I finished work (an easy day spent watching Planes!) I drove to Wilmslow and caught a train to London to see Abi. She met me at the tube and we went to Hampstead to a restaurant called Dim T for some food. It was a really cute little restaurant, we were sat at a small table in the corner, and had some tasty cocktails whilst we perused the menu. I went for one with prosecco and apple, whilst Abi's was rum and coconut.

The restaurant is well known for its Dim Sum (hence the name) so I felt I had to try some, so went for the scallop and prawn dumplings which were amazing. You got 3 in a reed basket for £3.50 which I thought very reasonable, and I followed this with Nasi Goreng, a rice dish with chicken and prawn that I have had a few times at Wagamama so knew I liked it. We got the tube home afterwards and got an early night as we were both shattered from working all week!

The following day we went to a little cafe for brunch called Ginger & White, where I opted for the toasted banana bread with vanilla cream cheese and fresh raspberries, drizzled with honey. It was nice to have something a bit different for breakfast, and the flavours complimented each other gorgeously, I could have eaten another portion! 

Afterwards we went to an arts festival in Hackney (see next post) and after some really nice fish and chips for tea, Tasha arrived in the evening and we got ready for a night on the town. We had a few predrinks and then went to Electric Ballroom in Camden which was a really fun night, great dancey music which was perfect for a girly night.

Today we had a later start, packed and went for brunch again; this time to the cafe next door to the one we'd tried the previous day. I had poached eggs with toast and prawns - sounds like a weird combination but actually worked, and filled me up for the day. I took the chance whilst I was in London to catch up with Danielle from uni for a coffee before catching a train home this evening. Was such a fun weekend, and really nice to get away and do something rather than being stuck as home doing the usual!

Summer Views...

Planes - 2 stars **

Today I took Aum and his friend Max to see Planes, the latest Disney Pixar offering. It tells the tale of Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook), a small plane built to dust crops in the countryside, and his dreams of winning the prestigious Wings Around The World race tournament. After originally failing to make it past the trials stage, a place becomes available when one contestant is found guilty of using an illegal fuel and is disqualified. The space in between Dusty's disappointment at not making the grade, to him gaining a place took all of ten minutes, so there wasn't much empathy there to be honest.

There are all the usual set backs; a few planes dislike the fact that he isn't a racing plane, and try to bully him out, he has a fear to overcome (a fear of heights) in order to succeed, and his hero (Skipper, a supposed naval hero) is found to have lied about his accomplishments, causing Dusty to doubt himself at the last hurdle. I think the overall story in Planes left a bit to be desired, it was quite predictable, and was basically the same as Cars but with a different mode of transport. This was particularly noticeable with the characters, as there is a clumsy and stupid sidekick (Brad Garrett), a self righteous leading female (Teri Hatcher) and a 'baddie' with a big ego, all of which are dominant in Cars.

However, the visuals in this film were really good. As the competition takes places all over the world, many countries and cultures were shown, which was really interesting and good for children seeing it to learn about international destinations. The two I took to see it complained that it wasn't long enough, which is unusual, so they obviously enjoyed it!

A sequel is planned for release in 2014, which I may be dragged to see, but my expectations won't exceed a carbon copy of Cars 2, with planes!

Days Out...

Sealife Centre at the Trafford Centre

Yesterday I took Aum and his friend Joshua to the new Sealife Centre at the Trafford Centre. We pre-booked tickets so they were only £12 each, and chose the 1-2pm allotted time (entry is staggered to prevent excessive queuing).

The first part of the experience is a talk whilst stood on 'Turtle Beach', an area computerised so it looks like you are on sand next to the sea. Here one of the crew tells the story of how baby turtles struggle to hatch from their eggs and make it into the sea. It is made more interactive through the use of 3D sculptures on the floor that move in time with the story, a good little addition to keep the kids entertained.

We were then ushered into the main aquarium centre, which has tanks for different species, including lion fish, anemones, eels, crabs which you can touch, and an octopus! 

Then there is the biggest tank, which has numerous sharks, sting rays, and the resident green turtle Ernie, who is almost as big as me and definitely weighs more! It is one that surrounds a transparent tunnel that can be walked through, so it really immerses you in the feel of the ocean.

The kids were given a little book which they had to stamp at various points around the centre, and there was a soft play area half way through, perfect for if they are getting a little restless with all the reading of signs and need to run riot for a while!

Overall I thought this was a good day out, and a welcome addition to the Barton Square section of the Trafford centre, which seems to be gearing itself for kids entertainment as well as home stores (the purpose of the expansion). The only thing I would say is that there isn't any kind of cafe or restaurant to provide lunch etc, and it is a fair walk from the Orient restaurants. There is an ice cream parlour, and the M&S cafe nearby though, so it is not completely at a loss. Still an ideal place if you want to send the kids there with Dad while you do a spot of shopping!

Weekly Update!

Numberplates & Brunch!

This week started nicely on Monday with lunch at the Country Club, where I had kimchee spiced tuna sushi rolls with spicy mayonnaise off the specials board. The tuna was in big juicy chunks and tasted really fresh so it was a good choice. On Tuesday I got my new numberplate put on, which I'm really happy with, and then stayed at Mo's in the evening.
Wednesday was when I had everyone round for our little Aussie reunion with Hana (see previous post) and both Thursday and Friday were pretty subdued, just gymmed during the day and then chilled out in the evenings, reading a lot of my latest book, The Help (bit behind with the times I know!).

On Saturday I picked Mo up from the station after his night in London; he was rather worse for wear so we just chilled out at mine and watched Drive which was quite good. In the evening I managed to drag him out for some drinks with the girls and Smeed; Abi was home for the weekend so we had some wine in Piccolino's and caught up with all her London news.

Today has been another lazy day, though we met up with everyone from last night as well as Hannah and her friend Tink in Cafe Gourmand for some brunch - which was basically lunch seen as we met at 12.30pm! I had eggs Royale which was lovely as usual, if a little large for a portion, and then I chilled out at Mo's for a bit before heading home for a roast dinner, followed by homemade lemon drizzle cake!

Summer Reads...

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - 4 stars ****

This book has been on my shelf for a while since my mum lent it to me after she had finished it. A few of my friends have read The Help and said it is excellent, and if my mum completed it then it must be good, as she is not much of a reader!

The story is set in the 50s, and is about a young wannabe journalist called Eugenia Phelan (known as Skeeter) in Jackson, Mississippi, who, struggling for inspiration, decides to write a book about what is is like for black maids to work for white families. It is a subject that was particularly taboo at the time, made worse by the fact that she is writing it from the perspective of the maids, through conducting interviews with them, a task that must be kept secret as it is deemed 'socially unacceptable' for races to mix.

The book is written with each few chapters from different characters' perspectives - Skeeter, Aibeleen, (her best friend's help) and Minny, another maid known for her outspoken opinions and difficulty keeping a position due to it. It not only tells the tale from both sides, but also provides three very different characters that each have their own trials and secrets.

This book really opened my eyes to how horrendous life must have been for black maids and their families, as it is a topic I have very little knowledge of. I found it heartwarming, encouraging and  at times embarrassing at the level of prejudice and bigotry that used to exist (and sadly still does in some places). 

This wasn't my usual read, but I am  glad I picked it up - I read it cover to cover in just three days, something I haven't done in a very long time! I am also curious to watch the film now too, as that has similar rave reviews.

Reunion!

Welcome home Miss Cox!

Last night I had a dinner party to celebrate the return of Hana, one of our best friends who moved to Australia in October. She is over for a week for her dad's wedding, but her schedule is pretty tight so we were lucky to get a whole night with her!I picked her up on my way home from work, so by 6pm we were sat in the garden sipping prosecco, just like old times!

Everyone else arrived at about half seven, by which time we had nearly finished the bottle! Emily and Smeed had made some amazing garlic bread (dough and all!) for starters, one plain and one which had cheese on, and then for main my mum very kindly cooked to save me having to stay in the kitchen all night. She made two dishes, a creamy risotto which had squash, carrot, celery and onion in; and a tomato based knocchi dish with courgette and onion which she then oven baked. There were also two different types of chicken (one with fennel and garlic, one with red pesto) which could be added to either dishes. Everyone commented on how tasty it all was - definitely better than I could have done!

We had a breather then, and chatted over wine (which we went through 3 bottles of!) before dessert, a super indulgent chocolate fudge cake that Tasha had bought. We had it with ice cream and cream, and were all well and truly stuffed afterwards. We sat around until 11pm, when people had to leave as they had work early this morning.

It was so lovely to catch up with Hana's amazing new life in Oz, and to get everyone that is still based around here together. It was also nice for me to introduce her to Mo, as we obviously weren't together when she left. Having it at home besides being cheaper, was also so much easier - no fussing over bills and menus, or who orders first etc. It's just a shame it was such a flying visit, next time we'll see her will probably be if we go over there to visit!

Weekly Update!

Bowling, Barbecues & Bar Crawls!

It was back to work this week, but not so bad as it's the school holidays so I get to have fun with Aum, and his cousin was visiting from Singapore so I had two which always makes things easier. On Monday I took them bowling at the Trafford Centre. I was hopeless as usual, but seen as the boys had the bumpers up and used the ramp, I didn't have much hope anyway! We went to Costa for a drink and cake afterwards before I dropped them at their grandparents in Oldham. That evening Mo and I watched the last Harry Potter, who knows what we'll find to watch now!

On Tuesday I got a bit of a later start, as I didn't need to leave to collect the boys until half past 8. They were at tennis all day, but we went to the Country Club afterwards for Aum's swimming lesson so had dinner there - I had salt and pepper squid again with chunky chips, this time it was mainly tentacles instead of rings, and the batter was delicious!

On Wednesday I didn't do much, I had a free taster personal training session in the morning which was good, but she charges £50 an hour so I won't be keeping it up regularly!

On Thursday I had a surprise day off as Aum went to Liverpool with his Uncle and cousin, so Mum and I went to Ikea to get some ideas for my flat. I found lots I liked, but couldn't buy anything as I have nowhere to keep it until move in day, and don't know space sizes yet which is frustrating! In the evening we had a lovely barbecue, and Mo came round to join us. We had tomato sausages, lamb burgers, pork ribs and loads of salad bits - yum! 

Friday was a quiet affair, Mo came round and we just had a few drinks in the garden in the sunshine. On Saturday we went out for lunch (see previous post) and then in the evening we went for a couple in Sale at The Kings Ransom and The Steamhouse, which had live music. I wore a new pair of white with pale blue pinstripe trousers I got for a bargain from Matalan (£7.50) with my coral coloured crop top from H&M. 

Tasha and I got a met into town afterwards and went to Grand Pacific, Australasia's new bar in Spinningfields that is really swanky. It has a huge cocktail menu and a lovely outdoor area in a cruiseliner style with massive white leather seats, so we stayed for a while before moving on to Long Bar, a pop up joint for summer which does tasty cocktails for just £6. It is outside with deck chairs and a really relaxed vibe, so was a welcome newbie to the scene. We were going to try Neighbourhood but the queue was enormous, and Alchemist stops letting in at half twelve, so we just got a taxi home afterwards.

It was nice to wake up today without a hangover! Jasmine and I went into Manchester for a shop around Primark, I got a gorgeous statement necklace for £3 in the sale, as well as a black velvet patterned body that will look great on my holiday!

We met up with Mo and went to Costa for a drink, then had a Chinese buffet at this dodgy little place in Piccadilly Gardens, which was cheap but decent for lunch. Then we headed home and chilled out in the evening.

Days Out...

The Frozen Mop, Mobberley

Yesterday Mo and I went to The Frozen Mop in Mobberley for lunch with Jack, James, Kelly and MC. It was one I'd suggested as my parents said it was nice and has been done up fairly recently. Upon checking out the menu it seemed like it had a decent choice and wasn't super expensive, as is often the case with gastro-pubs in Cheshire.

It took us about twenty minutes to drive there, and we were closely followed by Mo and Jack on their motorbikes (half the reason why a country pub had been suggested). The weather was gorgeous, so we sat outside, and chatted for quite a while before ordering anything. As I wasn't designated driver for once, I ordered a large glass of white wine, and we got two of the Tasting Platters to share between the six of us. They had pots of melted cheese with onion marmalade and baguettes to dip into it, crackling covered pork belly fritters, lamb meatballs, breaded mushrooms and cheesy breadcrumbed chicken breast - I could have eaten one to myself as a main it was all so tasty. I particularly liked the pork belly fritters, which were served with  a garlic and parsley mayonnaise.

For main (though I barely needed one after that!) I had chicken, ham and leek pie, which had a massive buttery puff pastry lid. It was served with chips and peas, and was one of the cheapest dishes on the menu at just £8.25. There wasn't a great deal of filling, but to be honest that may have just been because the top was so huge! Overall it was a great lunch venue, made even better by the fantastic weather as the beer garden is delightful. If you're ever in the area, or fancy doing a country walk, it would be an ideal stop off for food or just a drink, as the bar menu was pretty impressive, including a selection of cocktails, Prosecco and a few different ales on tap.

Summer Reads...

Tipping The Velvet by Sarah Waters - 5 stars *****

This has been on my to-read list for ages, as I love Sarah Waters' work, and this is supposed to be one of her finest. Set in the late 19th century, it tells the story of Nancy Astley, who leaves her oyster girl past behind in Whitstable after she meets the eccentric and exciting Kitty Butler, a showgirl with a difference - her act requires her to dress as a man and sing songs accordingly. Nancy becomes besotted and strikes up a great friendship with Miss Butler, and together they travel to London to earn their fortune.

After a period of unrelenting longing for each other, the pair eventually confess their feelings and begin living as 'sweethearts'. However, despite an increasingly popular act that now includes Nancy herself (stage name Nan King) her world doesn't stay perfect for long when she discovers Kitty in bed with their male manager.

Horrified, Nancy runs away and is left vacant and with nothing, forcing her to dress as a man and become a 'renter', until she is picked up by the mysterious Diana. She turns out to be an extremely wealthy widow with lesbian tendencies, who installs Nancy as her personal sex slave, in exchange for a life of luxury. However, Nancy soon becomes bored with the lifestyle of a kept woman, and ends up right back on the street where she started, again with nothing. She eventually re-finds love and happiness, with someone she perhaps shouldn't have been so quick to stand up...

This was a fabulous story of rags to riches, twice over. The language and writing style is second-to-none, as would be expected from such a brilliant author. Her depiction of character relationships is so vivid and lifelike, I shed more than a few tears whilst reading this, as it is impossible not to become invested in such a well developed character as Nan King. I am lucky enough never to have had a broken heart, but from reading this novel I can safely say I am happy to wait a lifetime if it feels as bad as is described in Tipping The Velvet. 

One passage that particularly sticks with me is right at the end, when Nancy meets Kitty again at a rally after many years,

'We gazed at one another then. Her lips were damp and slightly parted; and she had paled, so that her freckles showed. Involuntarily I thought back to that night at the Canterbury Palace, when I had met her first and learned I loved her, and she had kissed my hand, and called me 'Mermaid', and thought of me as she should not have... She turned away; and as I stood and watched her, I found that I was aching slightly, as from a thousand fading bruises...'

I think the rawness and honesty of her admittance, that despite over five years, she still feels such heartache, really summarises the beauty in this book, and I highly recommend you read it.