Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Six

'Love in such a way that it haunts the hate in others.'

(Christopher Poindexter)

This week was mostly spent waiting around until Friday when I finished work for ten days, woop! I got a poem up on Monday, view it here, and enjoyed a chilled afternoon as I didn't need to collect Aum from school. I started watching Luther (over ten years late to the game) and managed to finish the whole series in a few days; though in my defence it is only sixteen 50 minute episodes so not the worst case of couch potato-ing.

On Wednesday I met Timna in Kro on Oxford Road for some lunch; she too has just bought a house about ten minutes from mine, so we both had a proper chinwag about our plans and Pinterest boards. I had avocado and eggs, which were delicious, and gotta love a student gaff - I paid just over 8 quid for that and a large latte, and discovered free two hour parking around the corner so will definitely be back! That evening I heard the new release from Editors, one of my favourite bands who have been truly missed, check it out as my track for this week below. 

  

On Friday Jasmine and I took Mum to The Clink as a belated Christmas present. It is a restaurant at Styal women's prison based in an old church entirely staffed by the inmates. All food is cooked and tables waited on by the prisoners as part of a scheme to help provide valuable job skills and qualifications to reduce the percentages of reoffending upon release by offering them the chance of a career. We had the four course gourmet set menu which was £39.95, and it was honestly some of the best food I have ever had! 

I started with the seared venison carpaccio with picked red cabbage and toasted pumpkin seeds, followed by an intermediate dish of beetroot and maple cured salmon sashimi, pickled horseradish and fried capers, and my main was prosciutto wrapped tenderloin of pork served with black pudding mash, rainbow chard, apple gel and sage jus. So many incredible flavours and the dishes were really beautifully presented, the starters even had edible flowers on! 

 

For dessert we chose three of the four options and shared them all - caramel custard tart with coffee and mascarpone ice cream and pecan crunch, ginger cheesecake with a warm orange and winter berry compote and a ginger and orange tuile, and a good ol' fashioned cheeseboard which came with a selection of three cheeses, crackers, grapes, chutney and crudites. We even got homemade chocolate truffles with tea and coffee at the end; our feedback was to sell boxes of them in the shop they were so yummy! All the staff were exceptional, their attention to detail and friendliness added to an already amazing dining experience. I am looking forward to going back with Chris at some point as he seemed pretty envious when I told him we were treating Mum for Xmas.

Yesterday I forked out a small fortune to get all four of my tyres replaced and went for a look around the HUGE Next that has opened (probably a while ago, I don't go there very often!) and Outfit in Handforth. I got a sexy little maroon double breasted silk blazer for twenty quid in the Topshop sale which made the trip worthwhile. In the evening Chris and I went into Manchester to meet up with all the girls and respective partners at Crazy Pedro's in the Northern Quarter. We had a half and half Summer B (wild mushrooms, spinach, garlic ricotta and truffle oil) and Nacho Libre (chili sauce, American cheese, jalapenos, tortilla chips, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo) pizza, and then went to Bluu bar afterwards for a couple of drinks. It was the first time Chris had met most of the group; we had a top night and it was great to get everyone together for banter and bloody tasty scran.

Today Chris was teaching his fortnightly Make a Ditty lesson at Boho Utopia in Withington, so I met him once he had finished for their signature vegan goods. I had the fishless finger butty (it was my first time trying a fish substitute and I was impressed) with cheesy chips, whilst Chris had the mac and cheese hotdog. We have continued the junk food theme with nuggets, sausage rolls and chips for tea as well, whilst binging on House of Cards - we are hooked now!

Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Five

'Oh the things we would do and the chances we would take, if we could only realise that there is no such thing as tomorrow.'
(David Jones)

The start of this week was rather quiet, made up for by a bustling weekend! I did get to spend Wednesday morning with Chris as he had the day off which was a pleasant surprise; I made us pancakes with raspberries and brown sugar for breakfast, and then ventured to Altrincham Market for some lunch with Abi to celebrate her birthday. I had a tasty cheese and spinach quiche from Great North Pie Co, and a chai latte from Market House Coffee. It is such a cosy, friendly atmosphere there and the food is top notch; I love that it is right on my doorstep. I also got a poem up on Instagram that evening, read it here.

I babysat on Thursday, and on Friday after work I went to visit Chris on the boat for the night. We watched Whiplash, another off our film list, which we really enjoyed. I left early on Saturday morning as I had some cooking to do for a surprise afternoon tea party the girls and I were holding for Abi's birthday. I made tomato, pesto and goats cheese tartlets from Fearne Cotton's Cook Happy Cook Healthy recipe book, and aubergine, feta and olive filo rolls from a Marie Claire cook book I have. We all hid in Abi's kitchen until her little sister Anna ushered her home at 2.30pm, where we were armed with party poppers, balloons and lots of yummy treats. She had no idea, and it was so nice having all of us together, especially now Hana is back from Australia, all my goodies were wolfed down!

I had to leave at 5pm as I was going into Manchester for a meal with Mum and Jasmine at Zizzi in the new Corn Exchange. It was part of Mum's Christmas present along with tickets to see The Script at Manchester Arena afterwards. We shared two starters, the Fonduta Formaggi (gorgonzola, gruyere and pecorino fondue with dough balls) and the wild boar polpette (meatballs with mozzerella and chilli threads) which were both amazing, and then Mum and I went halves on the king prawn linguine and the pasta della casa which had chicken, pancetta, spinach and cheese oven baked in a mushroom sauce. We had trusty Tesco vouchers to pay for it, so it was cheap a chips as well as being bloody yummy!

The concert afterwards was brilliant. Ella Eyre supported, although we only saw a couple of her songs once we'd stocked up on wine at the bar and found our seats, which were some of the best in the house. The Script played all their classics old and new, and had everyone singing along and dancing in their seats (I have included my favourite by them as my track of the week above). At one point the band came out properly into the crowd, keyboards and all to perform a couple of tunes which was cool.

Today has been very civilised, I had a lie in for the first time in ages, and then Mum and I went to The Village Hotel in Cheadle to an antiques fair for a wander around. I was hoping for some inspiration for furniture pieces for the new house, but it was mainly ornaments and jewellery, albeit beautiful. I bought a gorgeous bracelet, but I could have spent a fortune on all the vintage rings! Chris and I have just had veggie fajitas for tea and watched the first episode of House of Cards (late to the game I know) I definitely think it will be a grower, so ep two awaits!

Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Four

'What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.'
(Buddha)

I was a bit naughty last week and didn't do my Instagram poem, so I put one up on Monday instead, read it here. My track for the last seven days is a golden oldie by my Queen, Lady Gaga, as my 2009 record store day exclusive vinyl copy of The Fame Monster arrived on Friday so I have been spinning it all weekend, this is my favourite tune off it.

On Tuesday I had a very grownup mortgage meeting and then went to visit the house I have bought again, this time with Mum and Dad who hadn't seen it before. My mum definitely saw the great potential it has, even if Dad was a little dubious; probably due to being more realistic with how much work and money is involved in renovating!

On Wednesday Aum had a random day off school, so I took him and a friend to see Paddington 2 at the Trafford Centre and for lunch at KFC. It was the cutest film ever! Such a heartwarming watch, I came out of the screen feeling all mushy and fuzzy inside (totally didn't tear up at all...). That evening a few of the girls came 'round to mine and I made us a Thai green chicken curry. It was lovely to have a natter as I hadn't seen Hannah and Tasha since before Christmas, so I filled them in on all my property plans and listened to their life updates.

On Thursday night I went to The Eagle Inn in Salford with Chris to watch his friend's covers band, Ron Direction. I had a few wines and it was rammed with supporters; The Eagle Inn is one of those proper cosy old fashioned pubs so it was a fun way to spend an evening together, even if on Friday I felt far too ill for the amount I'd had to drink. I stayed on the boat that evening and Chris made us a lentil and spinach lasagne that definitely hit the hangover munchies spot. We watched La Haine, which has been on my 'films to see' for years, but we have devised a list that we are gradually working our way through from imdb's recommended 250. It was gritty and the French subtitles took a bit of getting used to but it was well worth a watch.

Yesterday I met Abi in Manchester for a spot of day drinking. I was digging my outfit even though it was pretty thrown together - a combo of blue velvet & faux fur boots, wide legged culottes and a crop top, I felt like I was in a hip-hop video! We started in Convenience Store which is on the old Keko Moku site in the Northern Quarter, and apart from an outfit/ theme change it is set out the same. It is no longer a tiki hut but, as the name suggests, styled like a US newsagents, complete with neon signs, posters advertising American cereal, and confectionary counter from which they serve tasty cocktails (as you can tell, it is still just as hipster). I had the 'Cheeri-fucking-o Kiddo' (*rolls eyes*), which was made with vanilla ice cream, vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, milk and topped with whipped cream, cheerios and cinnamon crunch cereal, mad. I did have an early breakfast though, so it was basically a liquid lunch!

Afterwards we headed to Turtle Bay and The Whiskey Jar to take advantage of their happy hours (2 for 1 before 7pm) where we stuck to some classics: a mojito and a French martini. I must admit, I love getting doled up and going on a night out, but there is definitely something satisfying about having a few cocktails in the afternoon and being back at home for some decent grub at tea time instead of cheesy chips at 3am! I had been well domesticated and pre-prepared a sweet potato veggie shepherd's pie to whack in the oven for Chris and I when I got in, which went down a treat.

 

This morning I had Aum's party (two months after his actual birthday!) which was at Inflatanation in Trafford Park. I didn't go on the inflatables, mainly as the prospect of being ganged up on by 15 eleven year olds didn't appeal too much, but it looked incredible, and I will totally venture back just with him at some point to give it a try. I am now on the toasty boat again after a very pleasant walk along the bridle path with the doggies and Chris; I've been in one of those pensive, nostalgic moods this week and my head has been a bit all over the place, so the fresh air and a bit of a vent about how I was feeling gave me a boost. Starting next week detoxed with a clean mind!

Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Three

'They laughed at her when she was drowning. Now the way she dives under the waves is the talk of the town.'

(Fathima Ali)

This week couldn't have started better, as I had my offer accepted on the house I found on Friday! BEYOND excited. It is such a lovely little place with some funky period features that my current new build flat is severely lacking in; I can't wait to get in there and start putting my stamp on stuff. On Tuesday I went for a bridesmaid dress fitting at Puure in Lymm, and whilst driving there took a trip down memory lane with the band below, I used to play this song continuously when I was a teen wannabe goth, so I have chosen it as my track of the week. 

On Thursday I had my hair dyed at Dry in Stockport again. Unfortunately Charlotte who I had last time was ill, but Liv the girl who covered her clients did a great job of making my roots a darker copper to create the balayage effect that I have fancied trying for a while, and I had a voucher that meant it only cost me twenty quid as a returning customer. That evening I treated Chris to a vegan takeaway from Zad's in Chorlton as he passed both of his reflexology exams with flying colours and came top of the class, very proud. We had 'chicken' nuggets, curly fries, cheesy chips and a Pig Save pizza (tomato, cheese, hotdogs, pepperoni, maple bacon and smoked seitan), where 50p of the takings go to animal charities. I was impressed at how like a traditional meat pizza it tasted, and the whole order was only £18, a fraction of what you'd pay at Dominoes or Pizza Hut.

 

On Friday I had my nails done (a girly dusty rose colour, very unlike me!) and I picked Jasmine up afterwards for us to go to Sweet Octopus on the outskirts of Altrincham for coffee and cake as she had the day off. I tried the matcha green tea cake which had the most delicate, light sponge held together with cream, with a soy milk latte. All the cakes are handmade on the premises, and are so pretty and dainty looking, I always struggle to decide which to buy. They are also ridiculously cheap for how professional and fancy they look, it really is a hidden gem. We were there for two hours discussing house renovations and putting the world to rights before I had to dash to do the school run. 

 

That evening after work I went back into Altrincham with Abi for a glass of wine and to hear the tales from her Vietnam trip that she has just returned from. We went to The Cellar near the market place, which is cosy to have a chit chat and they had a pleasant singer on for some casual background music. Yesterday I had a super lazy day, I didn't get out of bed until gone 11am, stayed in my pyjamas until 3pm (albeit as I was actually cleaning the flat) and then made myself vaguely presentable to go and visit Chris on the boat in Poynton for the night. We had tea at his local The Boar's Head , which is a proper Cheshire country pub, with modest prices to boot - two large glasses of wine and a massive plate of liver, potatoes and veg for less than fifteen pound, definitely can't complain at that!

  

Today we had breakfast in bed (avocado, bagels, tomatoes, spinach and vegan cheese) and then had the cutest afternoon taking the doggies to a play area in Wythenshawe called Central Bark. We paid £7.50 for Fez and Lola to go in for an hour, whilst we chilled in 'The Beach Dog' cafe where I indulged in a peanut butter and chocolate milkshake, and a veggie barbecue hotdog. Ferryn has been asleep all evening since we've been back, so I will definitely be returning! I am now off for Chris to practise some techniques he has been learning on his new Swedish massage course on me; I've had worse Sunday evenings!