Gearing up for the recipe challenge, which will start on New Years Day....I have changed the date several times, mostly for practical reasons like getting rid of more modern foods and like today, babysitting and having to make a Dhal (I don't think Pataks Curry paste was available in 1940!).
In common with rationing.
1) Bread was not rationed so I will likewise eat bread.
2) Dairy and proteins were, so I will stick to the allowed amounts of oil, butter, milk, cheese and eggs. Meat was also rationed but as a vegetarian, who cares?
These were:
Butter 50g
Cheese 50g (sometimes rising to more 100g or even 225g) for the purpose of this week I will stick to the norm.
Margarine 100g
Cooking fat 100g ( I will replace with oil for obvious reasons)
Eggs 1 shell egg (or one packet of dried egg a month
Milk 3 pints per week or one packet of 'Household' i.e. dried milk a month
Sugar 225g
Tea 50g (I will buy green, but otherwise will stick to allocated amount)
Preserves (aka Jam) 450g every 2 months
Sweets 350g every month
Surprisingly, I have just read that nursing mothers got concentrated orange juice....I wasn't expecting that, but it is an added bonus (just in case you were wondering, the baby will eat her normal food unless I make something suitable for her her).
Not in common with rationing
3) My vegetables will come courtesy of the Organic Delivery Company.
My delivery comes on Tuesday which is why I need to start after that particular day. You never know exactly what you will get so I can't really write up all my recipes beforehand.
4) I will add a couple of tinned fruit to my weekly shop as that is more in keeping with what was available.
5) Most breakfasts will be porridge or bread/toast, it is obvious true but there wasn't much else back then.
6) One can eat out, I may do that if I get desperate or if I am asked. ;)
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Friday 27 December 2013
Little hiccups
My phone is on its last legs....sure, it may have lasted a bit longer had I not given it to the baby to play with but considering the longevity of these things nowadays, I say it has lived out its natural life and now I need to replace it, but it is also my camera and therefore, I need a replacement before I am due to start making my food or else.....I will need to take my lap top up to the plate!! ;)
Thursday 12 December 2013
The Great historical recipe challenge!!!!!
Determined to end this year with a bang and not a sluggish whimper and armed with my well worn copy of We'll eat Again
I have determined to live entirely by this recipe book for the whole week!
Yes it is mad, yes it is awesome too!!!!
Meals will be semi-planned in advance but allowances will be made for ingredient issues (such as Tescos messing me about etc)
I don't think I will be allowed to actually copy the recipes I use for copyright reasons but I will put the title of the dish down, talk about the preparation, the taste and how the day went with regards to not indulging in my normal fare.
If you like the sound of the challenge than I really encourage you to buy the book, it is sold at a really good price and the dishes I made in the past were good and wholesome.
Yes it is mad, yes it is awesome too!!!!
Meals will be semi-planned in advance but allowances will be made for ingredient issues (such as Tescos messing me about etc)
I don't think I will be allowed to actually copy the recipes I use for copyright reasons but I will put the title of the dish down, talk about the preparation, the taste and how the day went with regards to not indulging in my normal fare.
If you like the sound of the challenge than I really encourage you to buy the book, it is sold at a really good price and the dishes I made in the past were good and wholesome.
Monday 2 December 2013
A nice bit of Vim
Right now I am enjoying The Hotel Inspector, not only because I have a terrible crush on Alex Polizzi and all her no nonsense posh gloriousness, but also because it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the schadenfreude of people who are more messier than I am and they get a right ticking off from that curly haired Goddess of Forte..
I do not enjoy cleaning it has to be said, but I enjoy a clean environment so I need to be encouraged, sadly my dislike of the get down on your knees and scrub method of cleaning has led me in recent days to take modern short cuts AKA labour saving devices. I brought some wipes that disinfect and make my bathroom sparkly clean but I weep for the environment as I know these are not the most natural methods to use, I brought products that make my Lavvy smell like lavender, my living room smell like mulled wine, my clothes smell *sigh* heavenly and oh dear, I have bleach too :(
But vintage is often a lot more natural, so why can't I be more like this?
I am doing much better with the baby though, I am buying a wooden high chair instead of a plastic one and hope to buy some more old fashioned traditional toys instead of modern ones. The thing about having a three year old niece though is all those baby toys are passed down, including pink plasticy battery operated bits and bobs, but I am not so ungrateful as to reject them but along with the TV, phone and other modern bits and pieces, moving towards vintage is a slow process.
Monday 18 November 2013
A truly vintage holiday.....
I feel a certain level of envy at people who can immerse themselves more fully into their historical lifestyle, not just clothes but furniture, appliances and even their house itself but I have to say, with a young baby still in nappies (cloth of course dahhling!!!), the idea of life without the comfort of a proper washing machine and dryer is horrifying, so much so that I paid for a new dryer on credit (paid off now though) and I am calling in a repair man for the washing machine next week. Yes it means no lovely extras for a few weeks, but you can't actually have lovely extras as a mother on a restrictive income and let's be honest, what is more vintage than that?
I mean, we have SO much in general and waste so much. So I am going to be really frugal the next few weeks, luckily for me I don't celebrate Christmas, but even if I did I would have a vintage Christmas too. It pains me to see the ridiculous excesses that most mainstream people enter into, bff spends a couple hundred on each child, she has four, this time of year costs her a small fortune and to be honest, they are not the more appreciative children in the world, in fact they are incredibly entitled.
Let me be clear, I love, love, love the trappings of Christmas, I was brought up in NYC and no where (as far as I know) in the Western World comes close when it comes to Christmas excess. Beautiful lights, not just in large shops and major thoroughfares as is the case in London, oh no, in New York every house was awash with colour, even the Jewish homes were brightly lit with a rather glorious electric Chanukiah
New Yorkers love the Holiday Season and they are making sure that no one of any religion misses, non Celebrants mean less money so heck yeah it is all Christmas by another name. The Jews have Hanukkah (or they just celebrate Christmas as a non religious festival), the Muslims have EID (or they just celebrate Christmas as a non religious festival), the African traditionalists have Kwanzaa (but they definitely DO celebrate Christmas too), the Hindus have Pancha Ganapati, the Pagans have Yule (they'll have the exact same traditions as Christmas but claim first dibs) Buddhists just go with the flow and the secularists, the large mass of 'not really anything at all but I was christened as a baby....' they will definitely be celebrating Christmas. So in all, the Christians have won this one.
The blatant consumerism of the time did far more to turn me off of it than my religion and beliefs.
But nothing makes me feel more squee!!! Than a Victorian Christmas, I love plum pudding, warm fires, felt bonnets and A Christmas Carol, yeah I know, I had this same moan last year but it is my one weakness, drop me in the middle of a Victorian Christmas festival and I suddenly turn into a High Anglican from rural Kent or something...it really IS my kryptonite.
I mean, we have SO much in general and waste so much. So I am going to be really frugal the next few weeks, luckily for me I don't celebrate Christmas, but even if I did I would have a vintage Christmas too. It pains me to see the ridiculous excesses that most mainstream people enter into, bff spends a couple hundred on each child, she has four, this time of year costs her a small fortune and to be honest, they are not the more appreciative children in the world, in fact they are incredibly entitled.
Let me be clear, I love, love, love the trappings of Christmas, I was brought up in NYC and no where (as far as I know) in the Western World comes close when it comes to Christmas excess. Beautiful lights, not just in large shops and major thoroughfares as is the case in London, oh no, in New York every house was awash with colour, even the Jewish homes were brightly lit with a rather glorious electric Chanukiah
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| Like this one |
New Yorkers love the Holiday Season and they are making sure that no one of any religion misses, non Celebrants mean less money so heck yeah it is all Christmas by another name. The Jews have Hanukkah (or they just celebrate Christmas as a non religious festival), the Muslims have EID (or they just celebrate Christmas as a non religious festival), the African traditionalists have Kwanzaa (but they definitely DO celebrate Christmas too), the Hindus have Pancha Ganapati, the Pagans have Yule (they'll have the exact same traditions as Christmas but claim first dibs) Buddhists just go with the flow and the secularists, the large mass of 'not really anything at all but I was christened as a baby....' they will definitely be celebrating Christmas. So in all, the Christians have won this one.
The blatant consumerism of the time did far more to turn me off of it than my religion and beliefs.
But nothing makes me feel more squee!!! Than a Victorian Christmas, I love plum pudding, warm fires, felt bonnets and A Christmas Carol, yeah I know, I had this same moan last year but it is my one weakness, drop me in the middle of a Victorian Christmas festival and I suddenly turn into a High Anglican from rural Kent or something...it really IS my kryptonite.
Vintage Mama pt 2
OK, so we are back from picking up the Vintage pram, the historic geek in me is not sure about the gold colouring, that seems too anachronistic but I am loathe to go messing about with it when I have so much else to do. Perhaps a project for the future?
Aesthetically it is a thing of beauty on its own and....I loved it, worth the loss of one baby sock and some coffee whilst waiting for the train in Kings X carrying the babe in arms.
One thing I had to get used to were the stiff wheels, no swivel wheels in yonder days, oh I had to be lot more patient because it was easier waiting for some one to move, than try to manoeuvre the buggy around them.
Pros
Oh my....the handle is rather nice and high, no more bending down for this tall lady.
Made to last.
The babe can sit up in it and look at me, rather than outwards like the buggy.
It IS lovely
Get to play Damsel in Distress to fine Gentlemen when faced with a step or two (but not stairs, see below).
Cons
Well, It IS lovely and girl you have to have your A game going on if you intend to walk out with one of these, it will attract attention and therefore so will you, so going out looking au naturelle...not a good idea. Today I wore a pencil skirt, boots and my half cape. Thank goodness I thought ahead and wore make up!!!
They are huge, it's taking up all the space on the landing, I am in the humorous position of folding my every day buggy down to make way for the occasional pram...doh!!! I have decided to make it into some sort of feature up there, maybe putting a few old fashioned dollies on it or something?
If there is a lift failure you are well and truly buggered because you do need help with stairs, lucky for me, my route today was from Kings X to Liverpool Street and it is entirely step free...huzzah!!!!!
Supermarket twisty queues? Ermmm, no, not again thanks.
I was very lucky to get this at a bargain price, perhaps the gold paint put bidders off (stupid people, pram paint is not hard to find) but I am usually outbid. Finding one with SO little work needing to be done, under £200 is very rare, I was very, very, lucky. Keep checking daily if you can and you can watch one at a good price.
So now I have my little girl sorted out for events...where are we going to go?
Aesthetically it is a thing of beauty on its own and....I loved it, worth the loss of one baby sock and some coffee whilst waiting for the train in Kings X carrying the babe in arms.
One thing I had to get used to were the stiff wheels, no swivel wheels in yonder days, oh I had to be lot more patient because it was easier waiting for some one to move, than try to manoeuvre the buggy around them.
Pros
Oh my....the handle is rather nice and high, no more bending down for this tall lady.
Made to last.
The babe can sit up in it and look at me, rather than outwards like the buggy.
It IS lovely
Get to play Damsel in Distress to fine Gentlemen when faced with a step or two (but not stairs, see below).
Cons
Well, It IS lovely and girl you have to have your A game going on if you intend to walk out with one of these, it will attract attention and therefore so will you, so going out looking au naturelle...not a good idea. Today I wore a pencil skirt, boots and my half cape. Thank goodness I thought ahead and wore make up!!!
They are huge, it's taking up all the space on the landing, I am in the humorous position of folding my every day buggy down to make way for the occasional pram...doh!!! I have decided to make it into some sort of feature up there, maybe putting a few old fashioned dollies on it or something?
If there is a lift failure you are well and truly buggered because you do need help with stairs, lucky for me, my route today was from Kings X to Liverpool Street and it is entirely step free...huzzah!!!!!
Supermarket twisty queues? Ermmm, no, not again thanks.
I was very lucky to get this at a bargain price, perhaps the gold paint put bidders off (stupid people, pram paint is not hard to find) but I am usually outbid. Finding one with SO little work needing to be done, under £200 is very rare, I was very, very, lucky. Keep checking daily if you can and you can watch one at a good price.
So now I have my little girl sorted out for events...where are we going to go?
Friday 15 November 2013
Vintage Mama
Check out my new perambulator!
I searched and searched for a vintage pram within my price range NO END before the baby arrived and it has taken me 6 months to find one. Alas it is a little later than my preference, but only the most determined of authenti-geeks would notice so I am not stressing about it.
I searched and searched for a vintage pram within my price range NO END before the baby arrived and it has taken me 6 months to find one. Alas it is a little later than my preference, but only the most determined of authenti-geeks would notice so I am not stressing about it.
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Deja vu part 1
I opened the window to a playground heavy with Mist, when I left the flat yesterday, my baby girl was wearing a thick heavy baby coat (her elder sister's) and a hand knitted cap. It was the perfect autumn day and it smelled so...very...familiar.
It smelled of English Autumn, of chestnuts, falling leaves, Bonfire Night, crumble and custard and butternut squash soup, of milk men and school uniforms.
It smelled of England, there is no where else in the world with this smell, not any morning in the US, on the mainland continent of Europe, in Jamaica or even Scotland. This is England and England has it's own smell.
I took the red double decker to the hairdressers, located in a Victorian terrace, the kind of place which has a cold, high ceiling lavatory. Exactly the kind of lav which used to always have a moth flying around it when I was a child. Hateful wretched things, they would perch up by the light, intimating me while I quickly rushed what I was doing so the Moth would decide then to fly at my face to protect his territory...that was my childhood in various English houses as a child.
Then I walked to the high street, I went to a bakery, I haven't been inside a traditional English bakery in quite a while, it was lovely, there was so much to choose from, all the various tarts and cream slices being my favourites (though I decided to abstain for calorific reasons) then I went across the street to buy some Pears soap for my mum (looks like she forgot I have a soap thing going on but never mind!).
Yesterday had England stamped all over it, I felt that thread of English connection from early days in Kent, teenage dreams in Chingford and adult business in the City. Sometimes it is easy to forget how special a place is whilst you live in it.
It smelled of English Autumn, of chestnuts, falling leaves, Bonfire Night, crumble and custard and butternut squash soup, of milk men and school uniforms.
It smelled of England, there is no where else in the world with this smell, not any morning in the US, on the mainland continent of Europe, in Jamaica or even Scotland. This is England and England has it's own smell.
I took the red double decker to the hairdressers, located in a Victorian terrace, the kind of place which has a cold, high ceiling lavatory. Exactly the kind of lav which used to always have a moth flying around it when I was a child. Hateful wretched things, they would perch up by the light, intimating me while I quickly rushed what I was doing so the Moth would decide then to fly at my face to protect his territory...that was my childhood in various English houses as a child.
Then I walked to the high street, I went to a bakery, I haven't been inside a traditional English bakery in quite a while, it was lovely, there was so much to choose from, all the various tarts and cream slices being my favourites (though I decided to abstain for calorific reasons) then I went across the street to buy some Pears soap for my mum (looks like she forgot I have a soap thing going on but never mind!).
Yesterday had England stamped all over it, I felt that thread of English connection from early days in Kent, teenage dreams in Chingford and adult business in the City. Sometimes it is easy to forget how special a place is whilst you live in it.
Friday 20 September 2013
The return...
Feeling much more human with a bouncing 19 week old I feel I can more cope with things now, she might even, if I am lucky, give me a wee bit of time to do my hair! ;)
So what's the story in Balamory? Well I have less than a week until my next trip to the States and my first of course with daughter number 2. My holidays often give me a reason to dress up a bit seeing as I get to go out more, I need to work on how to do this whilst seeing to the needs of a little baby too.
My first new copy of Vintage Life arrives some while ago but I am keeping it for my holiday...huzzah!!!!
So what's the story in Balamory? Well I have less than a week until my next trip to the States and my first of course with daughter number 2. My holidays often give me a reason to dress up a bit seeing as I get to go out more, I need to work on how to do this whilst seeing to the needs of a little baby too.
My first new copy of Vintage Life arrives some while ago but I am keeping it for my holiday...huzzah!!!!
Sunday 9 June 2013
Sorry
Sorry I have been neglecting this blog. Let's just say I am on Maternity leave. One might make a marginal effort when pregnant, but with a newborn I am lucky to even get dressed some days!
Give me another couple of months and we'll see............
Give me another couple of months and we'll see............
Friday 19 April 2013
Light fitting......
I brought this almost a year ago and it has been on ice waiting for the bedroom to be finished, I am very happy to finally have it up.
I brought this specifically for its slightly Art Nouveaux styling
Thursday 18 April 2013
Curtains and carpet
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| Carpet |
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| Lovely long curtains |
Thursday 11 April 2013
Painting day 8 and 9
So, painting day 8 was the wood paint, I did most of the room and the doors, I have just one small section of the floor left and it is pretty much done, I took yesterday off but continued today and have now FINISHED!!!!!!
Hopefully by early next week my floors will be covered with a nice soft carpet and the room will be ready for soft furnishings!! :)
Next set of pictures will be before carpet and after carpet.
x
Hopefully by early next week my floors will be covered with a nice soft carpet and the room will be ready for soft furnishings!! :)
Next set of pictures will be before carpet and after carpet.
x
Friday 5 April 2013
Painting day 7
Feature wall colour has arrived (along with matching curtains) I did two coats today and it looks perfect, I am exhausted though.....
*whew*
Curtains were unexpectedly patterned, in raised (think embossed) sort of thing. It is perfectly fine though, I like them and they are the most lovely shade of aubergine.
Next stop, touch ups and washing the skirting. Talked to bff and she is bringing the wood paint on Tuesday!!! Huzzah...almost done.
*whew*
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| Again, sorry about the light |
Curtains were unexpectedly patterned, in raised (think embossed) sort of thing. It is perfectly fine though, I like them and they are the most lovely shade of aubergine.
Next stop, touch ups and washing the skirting. Talked to bff and she is bringing the wood paint on Tuesday!!! Huzzah...almost done.
Monday 1 April 2013
More decorating, 3-6th day
3rd day
Painting ceiling, gone now are ugly off white ceiling, now there is a lovely brilliant white ceiling.
4th day
Did corners/edges with the colour ready to start paint rolling in the next few days.
5th day
Rolled on first coat of colour, had carpet ripped up
6th Day
Rolled on second coat
Edged feature wall colour with tester pot
Still awaiting feature wall colour full sized pot.
Painting ceiling, gone now are ugly off white ceiling, now there is a lovely brilliant white ceiling.
4th day
Did corners/edges with the colour ready to start paint rolling in the next few days.
5th day
Rolled on first coat of colour, had carpet ripped up
6th Day
Rolled on second coat
Edged feature wall colour with tester pot
Still awaiting feature wall colour full sized pot.
Wednesday 27 March 2013
Paint arrived........
Not much to say really but after a week of waiting the paint has arrived, I am so excited to get restarted.
Friday 22 March 2013
Bedroom update
Second day of painting means that all the walls have their undercoat now, I ordered my paint online, I hope it will arrive tomorrow so I can paint my ceilings and start on the colour for the walls.
It is hard, hard work but I am SO glad to get started.
Sleeping in the front room as I have had to move the bed but luckily I have a comfy sofa :)
It is hard, hard work but I am SO glad to get started.
Sleeping in the front room as I have had to move the bed but luckily I have a comfy sofa :)
Tuesday 19 March 2013
Bedroom renovation
I have been encouraged by a friend to take pictures, bit embarrassing when I see exactly how bad the room is that I sleep in documented for posterity but hey-ho, it is all change now.....
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| Right hand wall |
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| Left hand wall under window |
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| Right hand wall2 |
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| Left hand wall painted with undercoat |
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