tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65081251107748427872024-03-13T11:14:27.774+00:00Christine's ChatterIntermittent items from Ashton's Creative Writer, Wheat-free Vegan Cook, Fruit and vegetable grower, Crafter and Card Makerchristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-46970718274598122392015-12-28T22:31:00.000+00:002015-12-28T22:31:04.574+00:00Yorkshire flood victims<span style="font-size: large;">My journey home from Yorkshire to Lancashire took much longer than usual this week. Quite often there are temporary traffic lights as works are done, but that wasn't the case this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was aware of the heavy rainfall and floods - my own area of Lancashire has had problems with lakes appearing suddenly, and roads being partially closed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, I have never before driven through streets lined with three piece suites, fridges, freezers, chests of drawers, beds, televisions and sundry household items, all well spattered with mud.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLp006xrsHk/VoG17Xq0b8I/AAAAAAAACmU/D9Cq4GZfYU8/s1600/WP_20151227_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLp006xrsHk/VoG17Xq0b8I/AAAAAAAACmU/D9Cq4GZfYU8/s400/WP_20151227_002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My heart went out to those poor people who were spending hours sweeping out the mud from their homes and businesses. They all appeared quietly determined to get on with it, I didn't see any signs of frustration, although I'm sure many of them must have felt it. Neighbours were helping each other out, people who lived nearby were lending a hand to those who needed it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gO1NaGh3EGM/VoG21UfaBrI/AAAAAAAACmg/I1OH_TUghjc/s1600/WP_20151227_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gO1NaGh3EGM/VoG21UfaBrI/AAAAAAAACmg/I1OH_TUghjc/s400/WP_20151227_005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, my journey took longer than usual, but it didn't matter. I was so busy feeling sympathy for those who were experiencing this chaos, and working their way through it that I hardly noticed the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish them all well and hope that their lives soon return to normal.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-78890621077120523402015-11-09T20:45:00.002+00:002015-11-14T18:36:24.323+00:00Have you noticed the blue tinges to movies/TV shows etc?<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder who it was that decided we would all prefer to view programmes with intense blue hues?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you noticed the effect? Sometimes it is clearly a blue filter in use - even the whites of eyes have a blue tinge, and the folds in white shirts are blue tinged. It's weird, to say the least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Other shows seem to have blues very much in evidence, particularly quite bright turquoise blues, fences, sides of houses, clothes, even eyes - it's as if a child has been allowed to pick their favourite shade of blue and incorporate it to their heart's desire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can only take so much of it, and then I need to find a programme that is shot using naturalistic shades. Does anyone else find this aggravating????</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-91976265154116533592015-09-21T15:01:00.000+01:002015-11-09T20:46:31.785+00:00Delicious Gourmet Vegan Meal at Lucky Leek in Berlin<span style="font-size: large;">My daughter treated me to a wonderful 3 course dinner at "Lucky Leek" in Berlin for my birthday. We opted to have the optional "wine flight" with it, so a glass of wine chosen to accompany each course was served to us. This is the menu:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First to arrive was a slate plate with tiny Amuse Gueules, a morsel each of two savouries. A tiny loaf had been baked, sliced thinly and topped with a cheesy mix and home made chorizo, the second mouthful was, we were informed, like a mini quiche - I can't remember what a quiche tastes like, but this was light and delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The soup was a beautiful golden orange colour, and suspended over it was the apple on a skewer. The sweetness of the sweet potato was highlighted by a slight kick of chilli, and a swirl of coconut foam. The apple chunk was coated in nuts, and complemented the soup beautifully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The wine chosen to accompany the soup was a rose, which I enjoyed, it had a slight sweetness, but I can't remember the name of it, I'm afraid!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The main course was pasta bon bons, like ravioli filled with a pea puree. The filling was quite substantial and a lovely green. The vegan feta roll was tasty and went well. There were two colours of pepper sauce in the bowl, which were very smooth and light in texture. Some lightly cooked pak choi accompanied the pasta. Laid over the top were ribbons of raw purple carrot. There was a chunk of raw peach, with some berries on one side, but neither of us could really see the benefit of them, they didn't enhance the flavour of the main ingredients, and we thought they were a step too far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The white wine served with the main course was quite dry, and Rachel enjoyed this more than the rose, whereas I preferred the rose!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4I7-ryDRxpQ/VgAJabhx6iI/AAAAAAAACeg/HG8Bry1r_ko/s1600/WP_20150902_076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4I7-ryDRxpQ/VgAJabhx6iI/AAAAAAAACeg/HG8Bry1r_ko/s320/WP_20150902_076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Piece de Resistance was the dessert, which was to swoon over - just feast your eyes on this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the left was a square of chocolate layer cake - so light and fluffy, nobody eating it would guess it was vegan. A peach sorbet and peach ragout were next on the plate, then an elderflower ice cream, so creamy. A really splendid ending to a wonderful birthday meal. And the port served with it was rich and warming, and we both enjoyed it very much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The evening was so mild that we sat outside to enjoy our repast. If I return to Berlin, I will certainly eat there again:)</span></div>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-73437093371354131192015-08-08T14:23:00.001+01:002015-08-08T14:23:57.743+01:00No police call out for odd numbered houses!!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, if the police are only going to turn up to investigate thefts and burglaries if houses have an even number - will those people who live in an odd numbered house receive a partial council tax rebate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Just a thought! What do you think?</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-45214514208959088922014-12-21T12:10:00.000+00:002014-12-23T09:29:04.491+00:00Shot at Dawn in Edinburgh - Art Exhibition<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whilst in a windy, slightly damp Edinburgh a couple of days ago, my friend's eye was caught by the statement " A dyslexic man walked into a bra ..." printed on an otherwise unremarkable window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naturally we walked over, and discovered that it was the venue for an art gallery. The current, free, exhibition was entitled "Shot at Dawn" by Chloe Dewe Mathews - we entered to have a look - if nothing else it would give us some respite from the rather strong winds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw several large format pictures, which turned out to be photographs. Printed alongside each was a name, or names, a date, then below that another date and time. No explanation was printed as to the subject matter, which varied from a splendid solitary tree in morning mist, to a modern looking school. We decided that the photographs must have been "shot at dawn", hence the title of the exhibition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we walked around, examining the photographs a chill went down my spine, and I became certain that the photographs were of sites where soldiers were literally shot at dawn, and that these must be shots of how the areas look nowadays. I was proved correct. We viewed the images with a different intensity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spoke to one of the curators, who explained that the artist, Chloe, researched the deaths of several soldiers and over a couple of years spent time visiting various sites of execution to take photographs of the modern site, trying to replicate the time of day and the weather conditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although chilling, there is hope in the photographs, too - the new school built for children who may not exist without the sacrifice of the soldiers, and whose lives would certainly be different, for example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are in Edinburgh before the 25th January, do go and spend some time at Stills, Cockburn St, Edinburgh. The exhibition is also on in London at the moment, and then tours Europe for a couple of years.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-28191880252951000002014-08-06T21:36:00.001+01:002015-12-10T14:07:04.201+00:00Rebellion - free e-book - a fantasy novel<span style="font-size: large;">My daughter's first novel, Rebellion, is free on Kindle at the moment - it's a fantasy novel telling of the audacity of a girl who rejects the role assigned to her by her school and the challenges she faces as she sets out to join the assassins.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebellion-Chronicles-Charanthe-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0046REJXW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1407357312&sr=1-1&keywords=rebellion+rachel+cotterill" style="color: #996633; text-decoration: none;"><span class="lrg bold" style="font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold;">Rebellion (Chronicles of Charanthe Book 1)</span></a> <span class="med reg" style="font-size: 1.15em;">by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rachel-Cotterill/e/B004778FRM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1407357312&sr=1-1" style="color: #996633; text-decoration: none;">Rachel Cotterill</a> (10 Oct 2010) - Kindle eBook</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebellion-Chronicles-Charanthe-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0046REJXW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1407357312&sr=1-1&keywords=rebellion+rachel+cotterill" style="color: #996633; text-decoration: none;"><span class="bld lrg red" style="color: #990000; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold;">£0.00</span> <span class="lrg" style="font-size: 1.2em;">Kindle Edition</span></a></div>
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<li style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><span class="grey sml" style="font-size: 1em;">Available for download now</span></li>
<li class="rvw" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 8px 0px 2px;"><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","max-width":"700","closeButton":"false","url":"/review/widgets/average-customer-review/popover/ref=acr_search__popover?ie=UTF8&asin=B0046REJXW&contextId=search&ref=acr_search__popover"}" data-action="a-popover"><span class="asinReviewsSummary" name="B0046REJXW" ref="sr_cr_" style="float: left; margin-top: 1px;"><a alt="4.7 out of 5 stars" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebellion-Chronicles-Charanthe-Book-1-ebook/product-reviews/B0046REJXW/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_img?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1" style="color: #996633; text-decoration: none;"><span class="srSprite spr_stars4_5Active newStars" style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/nav2/images/gui/searchSprite._CB336017161_.png); background-position: -50px -90px; float: left; height: 12px; width: 65px;"></span><span class="srSprite spr_chevron" style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/nav2/images/gui/searchSprite._CB336017161_.png); background-position: -100px -60px; float: left; height: 11px; margin-left: 5px; margin-top: 1px; width: 11px;"></span></a></span></span><span class="rvwCnt" style="color: black; font-size: 0.9em; padding-left: 4px; vertical-align: top;">(<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebellion-Chronicles-Charanthe-Book-1-ebook/product-reviews/B0046REJXW/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1" style="color: #996633; text-decoration: none;">20</a>)</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, if you'd like something different to read over the summer, or what's left of it, why not give it a try - after all, you've nothing to lose - it's free:)</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-79191050553621591762013-12-17T13:42:00.001+00:002015-08-08T14:24:40.477+01:00Preston Community Choir sings a Christmas carol for a musical Advent calendar<span style="font-size: large;">Preston Community Choir is just over one year old, and on Thursday a man with gadgets presented himself at our rehearsal!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently we were to be videoed rehearsing one of our Christmas carols for the Lancashire Evening Post's musical Advent calendar. Sadly they didn't ask or warn us in advance, so no immaculate coiffures, no fancy clothes - just us, as is, in a rehearsal!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you're brave enough to click on the link you can see us, still slightly shocked, rehearsing "Believe" from Polar Express. You may require ear - plugs, or to remember where the "mute" button is on your pc! I'm on the far left in first sopranos. Happy listening:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">http://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/sing-a-song-for-christmas-december-17-2013-preston-community-choir-1-6319725</span></div>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-28377257379248492422013-12-09T22:27:00.000+00:002013-12-09T22:27:06.171+00:00Delicious Christmas Vegan gluten-free meal at The New Continental in Preston<span style="font-size: large;">It's that time of year again when diaries fill up with Christmas outings of one kind or another - and my heart sinks every time a meal is booked, because I dread being served slices of melon, followed by something cardboardy or a large plate of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber, culminating with a fruit salad whilst around me everyone else is tucking into something special, and festive. I pay the same as everyone else, but seldom do I feel I'm getting value for money.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">However, I'm pleased to tell you that the Preston Community Choir Christmas meal at The New Continental in Preston was a delightful surprise:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My starter was a variation on the vegetarian starter, which was a local blue cheese salad. For my plate the same base of tangy watercress and rocket leaves were wrapped around some sun blush tomatoes, then topped with sliced olives and chopped walnuts. I wasn't sure what the scattering of small things on the plate was until I put on my spectacles (it's so sad when you need to put glasses on to be able to see your food properly, isn't it? glasses should be full of wine!), but once on my nose, I could see that there was an artful scatter of small brown lentils - an unusual garnish that really worked well with the walnuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My main course was a delicious risotto, with an assortment of griddled vegetables. A very colourful and tasty assemblage of ingredients, don't you agree? I was really quite heartened by the meal so far - how often to you get to say that in a busy local pub?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">For dessert the wonderful chef had created a vegan pannacotta, accompanied by festive berries - it tasted as good as it looked, I promise, and I savoured every mouthful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to the chef(s) for producing such a lovely eating experience at a busy time of year - it was much appreciated.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-78707774503920534352013-11-27T12:04:00.000+00:002015-03-23T11:01:37.498+00:00Fiskars Garden tools - my wish list for Father Christmas!<span style="font-size: large;">Whilst visiting my parents a while ago I spotted bright orange plastic peeping out from a corner of the garden room. Naturally, I had to investigate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've bought Fiskars tools for years, they're reliable, long lasting, and bright orange, so hard to lose! This was Fiskars' orange that I had spotted!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mum showed me the long handles loppers and the secateurs she had acquired. Mum's getting on in years and her hands don't have the strength they once had. I was amazed at the lightness of the tools.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRK09-O0Ua0/UpM6vEFBCTI/AAAAAAAACAw/yPEqdIzJTLI/s1600/IMG_20130915_143123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tRK09-O0Ua0/UpM6vEFBCTI/AAAAAAAACAw/yPEqdIzJTLI/s320/IMG_20130915_143123.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What makes them easy to use is the "Power Gear", which is essentially a ratchet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the majority of the tools consist of tough plastic, with only the blades (and screws!) being metal, the cutter remains remarkably light in weight:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The secateurs are equally to be drooled over! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Very lightweight and easy to use, but very effective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, Santa, if you're reading this - this is my grown-up Christmas Wish! And yes, I've been a good girl:)</span></div>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-21551094429429276232013-11-25T19:02:00.002+00:002013-11-25T19:03:50.258+00:00Design Your Own Cookies, the book to encourage you to branch out of your comfort zone!<h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.7em; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span id="btAsinTitle">Design Your Own Cookies by Rachel Cotterill will encourage you to bake delicious cookies, and go on to devise your own variations. </span></h1>
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Rachel provides 50 basic cookie recipes, both sweet and savoury, then encourages you to break the mould, and develop your own, personalised cookie.</h1>
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You like chocolate chip cookies? Try adding peppermint oil to dark chocolate chips, or orange essence. Perhaps instead of dark chocolate you might prefer white chocolate - maybe with some freeze dried fruit mixed in.</h1>
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The basic recipes have been tried and tested - the wonderful permutations that are waiting are down to your imagination - go for it:)</h1>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-855024847585582892013-11-25T11:23:00.000+00:002013-11-25T11:23:09.441+00:00TWELVE - we ate vegan, vegetarian and wheat free in Thornton - wonderful!<span style="font-size: large;">Wow! Four friends met up for a meal at TWELVE in Thornton. Four friends to challenge a chef! Me, vegan and wheat free, a vegan, a vegetarian and a wheat free vegetarian who really doesn't want to eat vegan. I hasten to add that we did explain this when booking, we didn't just turn up, that would be plain cruel:)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So, passing though the bar area,</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1jXEBs6aQ4/UpMuLRtjjVI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/DnJkOsOxWCQ/s1600/IMG_20131119_204539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1jXEBs6aQ4/UpMuLRtjjVI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/DnJkOsOxWCQ/s320/IMG_20131119_204539.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">and having walked past the mega magnificent wine rack</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRsdztfyYNo/UpMty7R7rDI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/9kU_tV21LfI/s1600/IMG_20131119_204552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRsdztfyYNo/UpMty7R7rDI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/9kU_tV21LfI/s320/IMG_20131119_204552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">(you'll notice the ladder to the left to be able to access the top bottles!), we were shown to our table in this modern, stylish interior. The seats weren't as comfortable as I would have liked, offering no back support, but that was only a small niggle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After we were seated bread was brought to the table, including two warm vegan gluten free rolls. Butter was on the table in the shape of 12s, we asked for olive oil to dip our bread into, and were asked if we would like balsamic vinegar, too. Thoughtful, and a lovely touch. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Our starters were Carrot and Ginger Soup, served with a mini onion bhaji "lollipop", very pleasant</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A Beetroot and Walnut Salad, very elegantly presented and tasty</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtFv5B-02dk/UpMvG_SSouI/AAAAAAAAB_w/ymn1HbaLzXs/s1600/IMG_20131119_194257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtFv5B-02dk/UpMvG_SSouI/AAAAAAAAB_w/ymn1HbaLzXs/s320/IMG_20131119_194257.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And my choice, and one other, a Mushroom Fricasse, with grilled salsify, delicate and scrummy</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">All were delicious, and as you can see, beautiful!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Our main courses were a Thai Broth with Rice, well seasoned</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Mixed Vegetable Risotto - I asked if there was any asparagus to add to the mix of vegetables, and some was provided:), this was a robustly flavoured rice dish with a basil oil dressing</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Mushroom Risotto, delicately flavoured</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0xj59j6Ing/UpMwfS26tnI/AAAAAAAACAQ/xG-Azt0pIpk/s1600/IMG_20131119_200725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M0xj59j6Ing/UpMwfS26tnI/AAAAAAAACAQ/xG-Azt0pIpk/s320/IMG_20131119_200725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And to my shame, the dish below whose title I can't for the life in me remember! Sorry:( But doesn't it look great?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We were also served a small bowl of vegetables each</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The vegetables were lightly cooked, and good, but I question the value of adding potatoes to vegetable selcection when rice is served - I would have preferred a green vegetable for interest and variety. Again it's only a small niggle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The dinner offer was for 2 courses and a glass of wine for £17.50, which, in my opinion, was excellent value for money. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and will certainly return - I wish I lived nearer to Thornton!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I made a point of asking to speak to the chef to compliment him on the quality of our meals.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-78709734789507703612013-11-16T15:26:00.000+00:002015-11-09T20:48:20.631+00:00General Embossed Birthday Card<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my favourite shops has been open five years today, so I decided to mark the occasion with a birthday card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not quite the same as making a birthday card for a person's birthday, is it? Not much point in putting cake, or fancy clothes, or handbags on the front is there?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I decided on the simple approach. I wanted to say "Happy Birthday", so that's what I did!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I made a tent fold card, with cut away lower corners, and embossed the front, then inked it with a sparkly blue ink, fading towards the centre. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I then embossed a sheet of white card, and cut a tag out of it, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I threaded dark blue and green ribbons through the tag before mounting it on the base card. I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">then stamped the Happy Birthday greeting onto blue paper with the same shimmery blue ink, cut it out and stuck it on the white embossed panel. I trimmed the top of the card with self-adhesive fluffy ribbon. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The result is simple, yet has an understated elegance which I like. I hope Julie and Geoff will like it too, and will have many more happy years in Preston.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-90482153259346971182013-09-26T09:28:00.001+01:002013-09-26T09:28:19.424+01:00West Hollywood, USA, gets my vote - it's banned trade in fur - hurray<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"West Hollywood is the first city in the US to ban fur.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stores can no longer sell, trade, or distribute it." </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is what I read in a blog article by Vegan Richa. I was </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">amazed and delighted. I wish places in the UK would be so </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">brave.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I remember, when I became vegetarian, hanging on to my </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">sheepskin coat for a while with the justification that the </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">animals were already dead. I didn't last long, I gave it away</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">to a charity shop reasoning that if somebody bought my </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">almost new cast-off, then perhaps a new animal skin coat</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">might not be bought.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, of course, I don't buy anything with wool, silk, leather </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">etc content or decoration - and sometimes manufacturers </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">make it very difficult, adding "a touch of luxury" with 2% silk, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">or 5% cashmere and so on!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, good on you, West Hollywood - I'm proud of your </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><span style="font-size: large;">stance:)</span></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-2749113749156539022013-09-06T10:46:00.001+01:002013-09-06T10:46:11.890+01:00Free electricity, sunny or not, here it comes:)<span style="font-size: large;">I suspect most people who've had solar panels installed become addicted to watching numbers changing on their meters - sadly, I too make regular trips to the garage wall to gaze at the meters, then up at the sky, then enter the figures in a small notebook.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, when you've spent thousands of pounds on 10 glass panels to grace your roof it's only natural to want to monitor the progress, isn't it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, I don't really think of it as "free electricity" at all, because my bank account is thousands of pounds lighter, so how can I call it free? On the other hand, once all the paperwork is finalised, I will be paid for generating that electricity whether I use it or not, so, in that context it will be free.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, you'll be fascinated to know that on the day of installation it was quite overcast, and the team didn't finish work until gone 4pm, yet still those clever little units managed to cull 1.4 units of power from the atmosphere.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day had quite a few sunny spells, and they magically produced 8.88 units. I used the washing machine 3 times that day to make the most of the sunshine (I don't have a tumble drier), yet altogether I only used 1 unit of electricity, so that was pretty impressive I thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today it's raining, so the panels are having their first shower - I hope they wash behind their ears! Nonetheless, they have already generated 0.3 units, so it's true, you don't need the sun for solar panels to work. Even on a rainy day something is captured.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, this is your solar energy bore signing off for today - I may well give you more figures another day - well, count on it, I will:)</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-30294049161713000062013-09-04T18:50:00.000+01:002013-09-04T18:50:02.628+01:00Solar Warmth - my panels are fitted!<span style="font-size: large;">This morning my roof was quite boring, just a single Velux window and lots of tiles. This evening it sports 10 solar panels, 5 to the south elevation and 5 to the west, as suggested by Stephen, the surveyor.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YR_cgVDW5A4/Uidwb0xaQAI/AAAAAAAAB8U/TEhpAkIwE9k/s1600/IMG_20130904_182630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YR_cgVDW5A4/Uidwb0xaQAI/AAAAAAAAB8U/TEhpAkIwE9k/s320/IMG_20130904_182630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry, the photos aren't the best quality, I left my camera at my parent's house when last I visited, so my phone has been obliged to become a camera for the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Liam getting ready</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mark at the consumer unit in the garage</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Liam working on the roof</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOpuP5nGpjo/UidxSCyloWI/AAAAAAAAB88/5iSGbATvkMQ/s1600/IMG_20130904_133333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOpuP5nGpjo/UidxSCyloWI/AAAAAAAAB88/5iSGbATvkMQ/s320/IMG_20130904_133333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The well stocked van!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a team the boys worked well, each had his own role to perform, and they just got on with it. Very impressive. Mark worked in the garage on the main part of the electrical work, young Liam ran the cables around inside the house and fitted the inverter, and the Liam you see in the photos worked on removing tiles, fitting the supporting bars and brackets and fitting the panels themselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm pleased with the way they worked. I do wonder if the panels on the west elevation should have been placed higher up to catch more of the afternoon/evening sun. I had understood that they were to be in the same formation as those on the south aspect, in a 3:2 pattern. I shall have to watch how they're affected by the shadow of the neighbouring house.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I shall be taking regular readings to see how much power I'm generating - but it's already over 1 unit, and it was overcast, so I'm pleased with that.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-83282889361430125252013-09-03T09:37:00.001+01:002013-09-03T09:37:49.123+01:00Knock knock knocking on Malta's door<span style="font-size: x-large;">When I'm away from home, whether for a day or on holiday, I enjoy studying the architecture around me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">As I looked at the houses on Malta, mostly terraces or apartments as Malta is such a small island, I noticed the door knockers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Wherever you are on Malta, the sea isn't too far away, so it's no surprise that fish swim into view quite often.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuAAHuU2Qzc/UiWdpYB3wOI/AAAAAAAAB7U/VcncsznqXOM/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuAAHuU2Qzc/UiWdpYB3wOI/AAAAAAAAB7U/VcncsznqXOM/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Lions were also much in evidence, the first looks a little glum, possibly at the indignity of having a hoop through his jaw!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bg5P4xtI-YQ/UiWc7OZ9K2I/AAAAAAAAB6c/iYqKgftnFzs/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bg5P4xtI-YQ/UiWc7OZ9K2I/AAAAAAAAB6c/iYqKgftnFzs/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5p9ZNcNPpA/UiWdIngm2rI/AAAAAAAAB6k/bUVrWjivSNI/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5p9ZNcNPpA/UiWdIngm2rI/AAAAAAAAB6k/bUVrWjivSNI/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+040.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">this one looks very angry</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsD1jg_AFR0/UiWd66eiKKI/AAAAAAAAB78/XjYxPW01gt0/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsD1jg_AFR0/UiWd66eiKKI/AAAAAAAAB78/XjYxPW01gt0/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+073.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">slightly pensive, I think</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">quite regal and serene</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvZL_LVqvO0/UiWd2PJ3coI/AAAAAAAAB7s/NZuWNOpVdos/s1600/St+Pawls+30th+Jan+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvZL_LVqvO0/UiWd2PJ3coI/AAAAAAAAB7s/NZuWNOpVdos/s320/St+Pawls+30th+Jan+017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YayjdIctbaw/UiWdMNnU96I/AAAAAAAAB60/KEDULUi9jXY/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YayjdIctbaw/UiWdMNnU96I/AAAAAAAAB60/KEDULUi9jXY/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+039.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Simply elegant, don't you think?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZR9-VvUGHno/UiWdWxZZvuI/AAAAAAAAB68/J-SLWe3xIjc/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZR9-VvUGHno/UiWdWxZZvuI/AAAAAAAAB68/J-SLWe3xIjc/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+042.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIV0djM8Yfk/UiWclhSj12I/AAAAAAAAB6U/npLHv5x1IQE/s1600/walk+to+not+anchor+bay+25th+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bIV0djM8Yfk/UiWclhSj12I/AAAAAAAAB6U/npLHv5x1IQE/s320/walk+to+not+anchor+bay+25th+078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Maltese Cross was awarded to the whole island of Malta to recognise their war efforts in the Second World War, and it, too, appears as a door knocker.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1QgLiXD_WM/UiWdsyrV-SI/AAAAAAAAB7c/A9GB2w0miEQ/s1600/DEC+4+Valletta+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1QgLiXD_WM/UiWdsyrV-SI/AAAAAAAAB7c/A9GB2w0miEQ/s320/DEC+4+Valletta+071.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What's your favourite door knocker design?</span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-90036429081996041532013-09-03T09:07:00.001+01:002013-09-03T09:07:50.537+01:00Meet my Maltese camel<span style="font-size: large;">We've been to Malta three times now, and have booked to go again; we enjoy the gentle warmth instead of our cold winters, and meet up with many of the same people each year for day long walks around the island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are some quite hilly patches on Malta, and a walking stick is a sensible thing to take with you on a day out. Fortunately bamboo grows abundantly in the countryside, and a fallen stick can usually be found which will act as your third leg. We normally pick up a couple, cut them to size, and use them for the holiday, then stick them in a hedge near the hotel for someone else to utilise later - a trick we were shown by folks who've been travelling to Malta for years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year I found a camel to accompany me. He wasn't absolutely ideal as he was a little warped, but I couldn't resist him - could you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-81931310787640249582013-08-31T17:19:00.001+01:002013-08-31T17:19:41.172+01:00Ebay cheek!<span style="font-size: large;">Mostly, Ebay deals work out fine. Just occasionally they don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took delivery of a batch of 6 LED lightbulbs, ready for my inspection pre solar panel installation. 5 of them were fine, the sixth had one of the prongs missing from the bayonet fixing, so it won't sit in the light fitting.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fGhhGDnmBA/UiIXhXk0PUI/AAAAAAAAB5k/VJp2YoMIphA/s1600/IMG_20130828_213923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fGhhGDnmBA/UiIXhXk0PUI/AAAAAAAAB5k/VJp2YoMIphA/s320/IMG_20130828_213923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wrote to the company concerned asking for a replacement. They asked for a photograph. I complied. The resultant communication from them was ridiculous, unprofessional and downright cheeky!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was informed that they only sell batches of 4 and 10 bulbs. Untrue as my order was for 6 bulbs. Therefore if I wanted one replacement bulb it would need to be ordered from abroad and would take 25-30 days to arrive!!!!! Clearly not an appropriate timescale for a replacement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally they said "How about we send you a pack of four bulbs and you just pay for three?" You see what I mean about lack of professionalism and sheer cheek. I don't need any more bulbs, and if I did, I wouldn't be buying from them after such an attitude to customer service.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Naturally, I refused, and requested an immediate replacement for an item they had supplied that was "not fit for purpose". If they don't send a bulb this week I shall name and shame them. Watch this space!</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-83597706584799293292013-08-31T14:57:00.000+01:002013-08-31T14:57:44.559+01:00Solar Panels - the adventure begins<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday Stephen from Solar Warmth came to measure up my roof to give me a quotation for the installation of solar panels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The back of my house faces South, the ideal direction for maximising input from the big golden globe in the sky. Consequently, I'd assumed that the sections of the house and garage roofs that face South would be the ones best suited to having the panels affixed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not so, in my case! Stephen explained that because of the design of the roofline, the shadow caused by the house roof in the afternoon would fall on the garage roof, reducing the ability to gain maximum exposure. Instead he suggested that I would generate more electricity by installing panels on the West facing house roof, which is not overshadowed. Smart man, Stephen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was naturally guided by his expertise, and next Wednesday the team will come and fit ten solar panels to my roof. I shall take photos and you can share the adventure with me.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-42803111451660201522013-08-31T14:50:00.000+01:002013-08-31T14:50:26.454+01:00The Life of a Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I saw this on Vegan Richa's site, and just had to copy it out. The images may be cutesy, but the message is serious. We have the phrase "it's a dog's life", but maybe it should be amended to "it's a cow's life"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know otherwise compassionate people who say that taking milk from a cow doesn't cause any deaths to animals, not like eating them does. I've known for decades that this isn't true, that male calves are imminently disposed of, and the cow's life is ended when she is no longer able to produce commerically viable quantities of milk. This graphically illustrates the point, well done PETA for producing it.</span></div>
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<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-63257456015746617832013-06-24T23:32:00.003+01:002013-06-24T23:32:22.598+01:00Make an 80th Birthday Card for someone special<span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to make an 80th birthday card for someone very special so went to some extra time and trouble.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64hj3eIIFR0/UcjFbeQmp5I/AAAAAAAABzo/LRQywCjS4t4/s1600/DSC07330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64hj3eIIFR0/UcjFbeQmp5I/AAAAAAAABzo/LRQywCjS4t4/s320/DSC07330.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I die cut a butterfly using my big Shot from a sheet of pink paper, then embossed the sheet with a floral embossing folder. I mounted the embossed sheet onto lilac paper. I took some gold heart peel-offs, and used them to infil the butterfly, trimming a couple down for the body and antennae. I stuck a gold 80 across the top left of the panel, with a tiny gem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took a smaller sheet of pink paper and embossed it with a butterfly border, and mounted this on lilac paper, too. I attached a gold peel-off greeting and another heart. I mounted both panels to the white card, with a ribbon bow at the left, and 3 pink gems at top right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Inside the card I put two layers of paper, pale pink and the deeper pink of the front.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cisMmUHnM4/UcjGqVe6VJI/AAAAAAAABz4/b5s2w5JqM2E/s1600/DSC07331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cisMmUHnM4/UcjGqVe6VJI/AAAAAAAABz4/b5s2w5JqM2E/s320/DSC07331.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I die cut a butterfly from the pale pink, so that the darker pink showed through, then mounted the pale pink butterfly on the dark pink paper, as you can see. Below the pale pink butterfly you'll see that I cut an aperture using a thinlits dies - through the window you can see the month of June, with the date highlighted.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UnhmHoSHePM/UcjHpXQFpZI/AAAAAAAAB0I/0NCB0m1h6iQ/s1600/DSC07335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UnhmHoSHePM/UcjHpXQFpZI/AAAAAAAAB0I/0NCB0m1h6iQ/s320/DSC07335.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had previously printed out a calendar from 1933, highlighted the birthday, and in the Important Dates section at the bottom of the calendar I inserted the birthday of the recipient.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4i1P0GPXZT4/UcjIKT1N7RI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/xXr7u954cNY/s1600/DSC07332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4i1P0GPXZT4/UcjIKT1N7RI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/xXr7u954cNY/s320/DSC07332.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I die cut some flowers with the Big Shot, in pinks and lilacs, and assembled them inside on the dark pink sheet. I stamped "Happy Birthday" in purple ink, and affixed a couple of gold butterfly peel-offs to complete the card.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lCqj750xpfA/UcjIuBFoytI/AAAAAAAAB0c/y-Ggm5Na7i4/s1600/DSC07337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lCqj750xpfA/UcjIuBFoytI/AAAAAAAAB0c/y-Ggm5Na7i4/s320/DSC07337.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is how the various layers actually work together. It took a little time and effort, but looked really good. I hope you like it.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-72939810206134739032013-01-01T22:53:00.001+00:002013-01-01T22:53:36.329+00:00<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A very happy new year to you all. I hope you enjoyed a fantastic Christmas with family and friends and didn't slave over a hot stove for too long!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Have a healthy and happy 2013:)</span><br />
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-41965102636582644532012-09-14T11:12:00.000+01:002012-09-14T11:12:14.144+01:0021st birthday cards for twins<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friend's "identical" twin daughters will be 21 years old in a few days, so I decided to make them each a card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I toyed with the idea of making cards that looked as if they had been split, like the egg that created them, but decided against it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbeeRk2WDtk/UFMBzBnzwTI/AAAAAAAABbM/4JpD_tp93P0/s1600/cards+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbeeRk2WDtk/UFMBzBnzwTI/AAAAAAAABbM/4JpD_tp93P0/s320/cards+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wanted to indicate their "twinness", but also their uniqueness, and eventually decided to create something really simple - the same basic idea, different colourings. I chose to use the letters of their names and 21.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pspJnaW76C4/UFMBwjuxcEI/AAAAAAAABbE/BskfpkX4Hns/s1600/cards+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pspJnaW76C4/UFMBwjuxcEI/AAAAAAAABbE/BskfpkX4Hns/s320/cards+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I chose different fonts, colours and sizes for the letters and numerals, and corrugated some backing papers in contrasting shades, but used the same card shape.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm quite pleased with the results, I hope the girls will be too!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KiIm5HQGhQ/UE8awqmvHoI/AAAAAAAABZ8/PnLL080UbFY/s1600/minster+service+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KiIm5HQGhQ/UE8awqmvHoI/AAAAAAAABZ8/PnLL080UbFY/s320/minster+service+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were asked to wear black and silver!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47VSDHJSI6Q/UE8a-NmBvWI/AAAAAAAABaE/48di8xCF9cQ/s1600/minster+service+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47VSDHJSI6Q/UE8a-NmBvWI/AAAAAAAABaE/48di8xCF9cQ/s320/minster+service+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is Joe Martin, our musical director, the website is <a href="http://www.prestoncommunitychoir.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">www.p</a><a href="http://www.prestoncommunitychoir.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">restoncommunitychoir.<wbr></wbr>com</a> if you'd like to check us out:)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgswNCnNzfI/UE8bgGzh7SI/AAAAAAAABaM/oE-JgMlZChM/s1600/minster+service+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgswNCnNzfI/UE8bgGzh7SI/AAAAAAAABaM/oE-JgMlZChM/s320/minster+service+022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Minster roof is quite spectacular, don't you think?</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaW1eK_gYvw/UE8cTSi5CLI/AAAAAAAABaU/l0PNoGT4TwI/s1600/minster+service+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaW1eK_gYvw/UE8cTSi5CLI/AAAAAAAABaU/l0PNoGT4TwI/s320/minster+service+005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The window is more spectacular than my humble camera is able to show!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nO4R7fHmhM/UE8cVmgEMNI/AAAAAAAABac/difrKFiZEQA/s1600/minster+service+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nO4R7fHmhM/UE8cVmgEMNI/AAAAAAAABac/difrKFiZEQA/s320/minster+service+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The church began to fill up with invited guests.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ3n1XFYiA8/UE8ciRdGtbI/AAAAAAAABak/GQ2binwvqUk/s1600/minster+service+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ3n1XFYiA8/UE8ciRdGtbI/AAAAAAAABak/GQ2binwvqUk/s320/minster+service+032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The officials processed down the centre aisle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The standards looked impressive as they lined up ready to depart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the final event of the Preston Guild week as far as my singing goes. Following the service we processed through the streets across to the Guild Hall, where, after shaking hands with the dignitaries, we took a glass of wine before adjourning upstairs to enjoy a simple lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A lovely ending to a very special few days:)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508125110774842787.post-48511012358094037282012-09-04T16:21:00.000+01:002015-11-09T20:55:53.239+00:00Singing for Preston Guild Proclamation 2 - youtube linkWell, I said I hoped someone would post on youtube, and they did, thank you MrFSCB:)<br />
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So, about two minutes in you will hear the Guild anthem announced, and then we sing - simple! ~I'm standing on the far left behind our young soloist , in front of a lady with a very yellow scarf ~ I still look somewhat like my photo:) Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZwP-X85bU" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=nzZwP-X85bU</a>
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333731893253823414noreply@blogger.com0