Festive cheer!

Once again, the same sign has reappeared to brighten up my pre-christmas mornings when I am struggling round to Tesco at 7am...so for those of you that haven't seen it before, here it is...



...I know, I am easily pleased! :)

First pudding ready to go!

My first batch of xmas puds are all steamed and ready for rehousing....here is the first one dressed in its Christmas finery!





Another thing that I have 'discovered' recently - cake pops! Yes - cake lollipops! Easy, I thought...until I tried it and ended up with, well mush and chocolate! But I have just about mastered it now, and plan on making Christmas-themed ones nearer the time. Just to give you an idea of scale, they are about the size of a ping-pong ball..

Award-winning jazz at the Eagle today!

Why not come along to the Eagle Tavern in Rochester this afternoon, where you can listen to tenor sax player Simon Spillett with his quartet...
Simon recently won the prestigious "Tenor saxist of the year 2011" in the British Jazz Awards.

Doors open at 12, band starts around 1pm....

Renato D'Aiello in the Eagle tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the return of Renato D'Aiello to the Eagle in Rochester...this Italian quartet are always worth a listen - maybe see some of you there!

Taking orders for Christmas puds!!

It's that time of year again, where I spend entire days slaving over a hot stove, to bring you deliciously boozy christmas puddings...

Same as last year, I will be making 1/2 litre puddings in a traditional pudding basin that will serve around 6,(£12 each) and puddings for 2-3 in a large teacup - 2 gifts in 1! - at £10 each. Both are festively presented, and come with their own 'lucky' sixpence.

The puddings are made to my secret recipe,adapted over the last 20 years, and contain a rich assortment of fruit and nuts, all generously steeped in brandy, and steamed for up to 10 hours. If you have only ever had shop-bought xmas pud, you will be in for a treat when you try my homemade ones! :)
Place your orders now!

Normal service has resumed!

Ok...today we took Rachael off to Uni in London. The last baby bird has flown the nest :( I am currently in text convo with her, as she tries to fathom the workings of an electric cooker...
Anyway, just to let you know that tomorrow is Christian Brewer at the Eagle, if any of you fancy it...

Come and see me in the Pop-up Shop!

I have a pop-up shop for a week...please come and visit me! :)
It's the Strood end of Rochester High Street, and I am there until Sunday lunchtime...

Henry Lowther, today at the Eagle!

Henry Lowther - trumpet/Flugelhorn - Quartet
Live today at the Eagle Tavern Rochester
Hope to see some of you there - why not bring your mums? :)

The old blokes have still got it!

Last night I went to see 10cc in concert - I expect some of you don't even know who they are! But I'm sure you would recognise the songs...
Anyway, it was a great evening, with a fantastic accoustic set to start with, before the old blokes strutted their stuff in the time-honoured fashion.
It was fun to look around the audience - I was probably just about the youngest one there! It was hard to image all these 'mature' people with long hair and flairs in the 70s... :)




And the most well known song probably -

Check me out - I'm a page 3 girl! ;)

Check out the April edition of WOW Medway...available online, or in reception at Uni, among other places!
http://www.wowmedway.co.uk/

At the Eagle Tavern tomorrow...

...Renato D'Aiello Italian Quartet. Well worth a visit...See you there!

http://www.renatodaiello.com/

One project down...

For those of you following the progress of my quilt made from some of my late dad's shirts, I am happy to say that it is done! Not quite as big as I would have liked, but unfortunately I ran out of time! As you can see though, my mum was very happy (although teary!) to get it for her birthday yesterday!

Tomorrow's jazz offering at the Eagle...

...is the brilliant Theo Travis Quartet. Travis plays flute and sax, with John Donaldson on piano, Alex Keen on bass and Marc Parnell on drums.
Come along for a great afternoon of live music!

Nigel Price at the Eagle tomorrow...

This is the excellent Nigel Price Trio that will be at the Eagle Tavern in Rochester tomorrow - band starts at 1pm with a break from 2 till 2.30, then back on until about 3.30. Free to get in, but please buy raffle tickets to support the band!

Roll up! Mother's Day gifts now available!!

All you young men out there, wondering what to get Mum for Mother's Day - here's your answer! Lovely hand knitted scarves, knitted by me - in a variety of beautiful colours, at only £15 each! (I say young men, as JJ and Charlotte have already bought some - organised girls, you see! :)











You can see the full selection here
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=2115100&id=1199634913&fbid=1926630644348

I'm a very proud mum! :)

Spent a lovely day yesterday, with the London Fire Brigade! My stepson, Jack, finished his training, and is now a fully-fledged firefighter!



My 'brood'...

Another one for Ethan S...!

Crazy Golf ?

For Ethan S

Some more ideas....
Helterskelter...


Strongman basher-thingy...

For Ethan S, mostly...

Here's that ad I was telling you about...