Time For the Madness

I kept getting interrupted all afternoon so this post has taken much longer preparing than I anticipated. No matter, I’m here now and ready to party on down (dude)…

I have to give a big shout out in gratitude to my sister for sitting for the photos here. Hosting a tea party outside in the middle of the Irish summer wasn’t one of my most inspired ideas ever. There were other guests invited, but I could hardly fault them for not turning up considering the weather. Put very simply, it was raining. It’s always raining here. Even now when it’s not raining, it really is raining. It’s just not as noticeable.  Anyway, thanks so much missus! 

 

 

 We started off in the garden and later, when it looked like there might be a little respite from the rain gods, decided to move the shenanigans to the park. Sadly said rain gods were enjoying toying with us a little too much and gave us just enough time to sit down and poor a brew before opening the heavens on us.  Charlie was really starting to enjoy himself too!

All in all it was a brief but enjoyable sort of do. Definitely worth getting a little soggy for the sake of all those tasty treats! Mmm, Jammy Dodgers… I’d forgotten how nice these are dipped in tea so that the biscuit goes soggy and the jam is all chewy. I hope I have some left in the cupboard actually, I could do with a cuppa to accompany me on my imminent trip around the mayhem.

Well my friends, now that’s done I’m off to join in the rest of the festivities. Can’t wait to see what everyone’s come up with! First thing first, however. Kettle, on, now. 

Oh, and I almost forgot, thank you so much to Vanessa for being such a fantastic host!

Tea Time with a Twist

Hello, hello. How’s everybody today then? I think I’ve finally managed to get my blogging boots back on, I’ve even got another post lined up for this evening and everything. Nope, it’s not the fairy stories. I know I promised fairies, and fairies I will bring you, but they’ll just have to wait till tomorrow ‘cause I feel like indulging myself in a little geekiness this evening. First things first however - exciting news!

Word on the street is everybody’s favourite hostess, Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist, has announced the date for this year's annual Mad Tea Party. Yippee! I’m especially excited since it’ll be the first one I’ve actually participated in. I remember stumbling upon plenty of the party posts last summer though and, while I wasn’t quite sure what was going on at the time, I thoroughly enjoyed all the madness. Can’t wait to join in the shenanigans this year!

Anyway, if you haven’t already signed up or if you’re wondering, like I was this time last year,  what the hell all this chat about blog parties is about, run along over to A Fanciful Twist for all the info you need.  And now this is where I should tell you to ‘hurry, you’re late’ and call this an important date etc, but I’m trying to hold back on the Alice puns for now so I’m not going to.  Just go sign up. It’ll be fun.

Guilty Pleasures

Some of my not-so-guilty pleasures :)

 

One of the main reasons I’ve been neglecting blogging so much recently is, put simply, guilt. It might sound mad but I feel guilty because I love it so much; I love writing posts about pointless things, I love wandering the web hunting for arty treasure to share, and I love catching up with all my blogging buddies. Lately, though, every time I sit down to do any of the above I’m overcome with self-reproach and an overwhelming sense that I should be doing something more ‘constructive’.

For fear of sounding melodramatic, I’ve been feeling rather panicky of late regarding my ‘direction’ and all that carry on. I’m fully aware that we’ve been going though the worst recession for generations, and I am accepting of the fact that I’ve had health issues hampering my quest, but I just can’t help shake this gloomy frustration at my faltering career. ‘Career’? I hate people who whine about their ‘career’! And I do  feel terrible even complaining about it because I realise I have it so much better than BILLIONS of other people and I have no right to moan whatsoever. I’m only mentioning it because this frustration is at the root of my guilt - I feel I always could be applying for another job instead spending time blogging.

Anyhow!  I came to a realisation this evening while taking a break from yet another siege of applications. I’d gone down for a cup of tea and decided to watch some TV to relax. I love films but except from a select few shows I don’t usually watch much telly. I usually read, write or play around with my photos to unwind but, with my head a bit fried from all the ‘hire me I’m great’ begging letters to newspapers and press offices and the like, tonight I felt I needed something a little more mindless. And so I found myself watching Eastenders, the most depressing of all the British soaps (which are all pretty darn depressing to be honest). That’s when it occurred to me that blogging is ‘constructive’!

It’s constructive in that it makes me happy, as opposed to sad, doomed and depressed which is the usual outcome of a visit to those cheery folks on Albert Square. I had been thinking that blogging had become one giant exercise in procrastination for me, but why should I see it that way and then think nothing of consigning 30 minutes of my life to soapy oblivion? I could easily had a blog post up in that time and I would’ve felt so much better for it! Why should I feel guilty about something just because I enjoy it?  From here on I’m turning over a new blogging leaf, folks. This post aside, there’ll be no more moaning and nearly week-long absences. I’m going to strive to find you all the most frivolous fanciful things I can and I’m not going to feel one iota of shame at doing so. See you all again soon!

Oh, and because I hate posts without imagery, here are some more of my not quite relevant photos. Just a few of my favourite things: tea, books and taking pictures :) 

 

 

 

The Key To A Happy Life

Words of wisdom indeed. Just spotted that little plaque as I was sipping on a cuppa waiting for my bus yesterday and had to snap it to share with you. Here’s a pic of said cup too, just because I thought it was cute. I was in a lovely little old café by the station which I get the impression hasn’t changed  in decades, cups and all. I love places like that. 

Anyway,  what a difference 24 hours make. After all my smugness the last night about how organised and chilled out I was about the whole Christmas carry on, I’m now as stressed and frazzled as the next person. I didn’t even last the week! It’s all the snow’s fault too. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the stuff. Especially now when I’m at home all tucked up and cosy looking out on it’s magical brilliance and beauty.  But it didn’t bode well for the shopping yesterday.

There was already a good blanketing before I even set off in the morning, which to be honest I was quite selfishly pleased about. I don’t have a car and am well used to public transport, so all it really meant for me was that the shops were nice and quiet. There was none of the usual madness you’d expect at this time of year, which made for quite a pleasant and festive shopping experience. For a while. I hadn’t helped myself much by starting off in a book shop, going a bit overboard, and then having to lug my purchases around town all day (I’d forgotten to bring a backpack with me too; my arms are killing me today!). And then it started snowing again.

At first I got that usual thrill that always accompanies the sight of flakes falling and floating their way down from the sky. Ah, I love watching it tumble… I even get a little giddy when it’s snowing, probably a remnant from childhood when the longer it fell for the more chance there was for snowmen, sleighing and (most importantly) no school! The charm quickly wore off yesterday though when it went on and on and on. And on. It just kept getting heavier too and by the time I’d remembered that I actually HATE shopping and was making my way back to the bus it was about a foot thick on my head alone and all my paper bags were soggy and tearing apart.

It then took almost two hours to make the 30 minute journey home, while I sat there with the snow melting off me into a puddle on the floor. I’d my camera in my bag and amused myself by taking these snaps through the dirty bus window.  I know they’re dull and blurry but after running them through Poladroid I kinda like their retro feel. Plus, to me they really capture exactly how damp and dreary that ride home was.

Anyhow, to sum it up because I’m starting to drag on a bit here,  in the end my usual disorganisation shown through and when I reviewed the day’s work I realised I hadn’t got near to everything sorted out like I’d planned. That wouldn’t even be so bad if I thought I could get out of my house to get the rest of it finished, but now the snow’s stopped the freezing has begun and there’s going to be one giant block of ice on my front door in the morning. The same thing happened last week and the little laneway leading to our house became so slippery it was literally IMPOSSIBLE to walk on. So it looks like we could be stuck in here for the foreseeable future.

Any other time I wouldn’t even care but this is the one holiday when all those friends you haven’t seen since last year are back and when you really want to get out and have the craic. If things keep going as they are, though, I won’t be able to get up to the pub nor will they be able to call round for tea! And that’s if they actually get home; even if the airports manage to reopen, they’ll have a hard time traversing the bottle roads of Donegal. Do you know our local council have actually run out of salt? Seriously! Apparently they’re waiting on shipment from overseas but the boat it’s coming on is stuck in storms on the Mediterranean.  Don’t exactly know why they have to import salt to an island country, but that’s the modern world for you. For now the whole county is practically at a standstill and it’s promising to be a very quiet Christmas indeed. Oh snow, lovely as you are, please go away now. I want to see my friends!

Tea-rrific!

Now personally I don’t go for speciality or fancy teas,  I find it hard to believe anything could beat proper real black tea, but I think I may have just stumbled across the exception to my rule- the recently launched ‘Mini-Tea’ series from Lunartik. I haven’t actually tasted any of the Special Brews myself, though I’m pretty certain anything that comes in such adorable packaging must be pretty damn yummy. Anyway, it’s just something  for all you horrible organised people out there who are already thinking about your seasonal shopping to mull over. And for anyone who doesn’t like tea of any kind (madness!) the Lunartik blog is still well worth visiting, lots of quirky custom art and other gift ideas for the casual browser.

 

 In other news, remember a while back I won two giveaways and was saying that these things come in threes and that I should really play the lottery that week? Well I was right! No, I didn’t win any money but I did apparently win another giveaway which I entered around the same time! I get just as excited about these things as if I actually had won the lotto so I’m really very chuffed right now.

The fatefully lovely surprise (a paper crafting kit!) has come via the wonderful Michelle Cummings, scrapbooker extraordinaire. Thank you! The gracious Ms Cummings has several crafty blogs, like this one and this one.  They really are worth a wee visit, and I’m not just saying that because she’s sending me a prize! As well as having wonderful giveaways, Michelle’s sites are also packed full of inspiration and links to handy tutorials and resources for the aspiring crafter. She’s quite a gem, this girl, so stop by her place and say hello! You never know, you may even get lucky like me. All you have to do is comment on any post to enter her monthly draws!

p.s. Sorry for the post title. My brain’s a bit fried today.

Stuck For Party Food Ideas?

I have a little recipe for you this evening. It’s for the Irish Halloween cake, barmbrack. Actually, it’s more a bread than a cake but we’ll not split hairs. Either way it’s yummy. I’ll not be baking it myself for another couple of weeks (I‘ve other plans for the blog party), but I did have some shop-bought stuff this morning. Toasted with the butter melting into it, washed down with a good strong cup of tea. Heaven.

It’s really worth going to the effort of making your own ‘cause the kind you buy these days are so boring. Some might taste good, and the odd one might have a cheap plastic ring thrown in, but for health and safety reasons they don’t bake in any other little charms or prizes anymore. When I was a kid it was so exciting to see what you were going to get. You only ever really cared about the coin, though; it was usually a 50p or £1 piece, a fortune in the days when penny sweets cost a penny.  

<---A brack by any other name…image by Tom Allen.

Ah, yet another one of those dying traditions I was lamenting the last day. Fortune telling used to be a big element of an Irish Halloween but, like the poor wee fae, it’s becoming increasingly forgotten. Baking lucky trinkets into things like barmbrack or apple tart was just one of the many ways of predicting your fate for the coming year. If you were served the slice of brack with the coin in it, for example, you could expect a wealthy time ahead. 

A ring, a pea, a thimble, a piece of cloth, a matchstick, a button…any combination of these items or others might be baked into a brack. They all have a meaning, usually something to do with money and marriage, but I can’t recount them all right now. Goggle’d probably tell you. Though you really could use anything that symbolises something to you. Just wrap up the little tokens in greaseproof paper and toss them in to the dough mix!

Right, back to the recipe. Just a few things to note first of all: some people say you should soak the dried fruit in tea over night to make them plump and juicy, but I wouldn’t bother me arse. Keep your tea for drinking with it. And you can also use baking soda instead of the yeast like your supposed to, or even just self raising flour, especially if your as inexperienced a baker as I am. Oh, and in true Irish baking style, all measurements are approximate :)

You will need:
-1lb Dried Fruit (raisins, sultanas, mixed peel etc);
-An Egg;
-1lb Flour;
-1 Teaspoon Baking Soda;
-1 Teaspoon Mixed Spice;
-6oz Brown Sugar;
-Honey for glaze (optional).

Method:
Sift the flour, baking soda, spice etc into the fruit mixture. Add the beaten egg and mix. Pour mixture onto a lined and greased 7” round cake tin. Bake in a preheated oven for about an hour and a half. Let stand for ten minutes then cool on a wire rack. Brush on the melted honey for decoration. 

Naturally, there are much more complicated and fancier recipes out there but this is about the most my oven expertise can handle.  I hope some of you give it a go, and don’t forget to include the lucky charms!

Probably The Best Thing Orwell Ever Wrote

 Image source

I’ve been a busy little bee the past few days, hence the lack of blogging. I wish I could report on some exciting adventure or what not but unfortunately it’s just been your average monotony sucking up my time. I like being busy though, no matter what it is I’m occupied with. It makes that cup of tea (or ten) at the end of the day all the more heavenly.

I don’t drink tea when I’m out usually, I stick to the coffee. It continually baffles me the way cafes and restaurants always invest so much in their coffee making facilities yet totally neglect the needs of us poor tea lovers. They seem to think we’ll be grand with a cheap cash and carry teabag in a creeky old pot. I’m telling you now, I’d rather drink dishwater. At least in this part of the world it comes in a pot, I suppose. I remember being in the States some years back and in a fit of desperation I chanced ordering what was billed as ‘hot tea’. What I got was a mug of lukewarm water with a teabag at the side. Sacrilege. I’m sorry to all my American blog buddies- it’s a fine nation you’ve got over there but the art of tea is certainly not one of your strong points!

So why is it so hard to get a good cup of tea? And what can be done about it? Well, I propose the following article be written into law or at least set as essential reading for caterers of the world: ‘A Nice Cup of Tea’ George Orwell, The Evening Standard, January 12 1946. Only ever so slightly outdated, it is a manifesto for the brew loving masses. A guide to the perfect cuppa, if you will. Ah Orwell, I have a new respect for him. He sure knew how to make tea! Here’s just a few of his oh so pertinent points:

 Image: A Cup of Chai

"The water should be actually boiling at the moment of impact... Some people add that one should only use water that has been freshly brought to the boil, but I have never noticed that it makes any difference."

"One should pour tea into the cup first. This is one of the most controversial points of all… but I maintain that my own argument is unanswerable. This is that, by putting the tea in first and stirring as one pours, one can exactly regulate the amount of milk whereas one is liable to put in too much milk if one does it the other way round."

"[Tea] should be drunk without sugar... how can you call yourself a true tea-lover if you destroy the flavour of your tea by putting sugar in it? It would be equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt. Tea is meant to be bitter, just as beer is meant to be bitter. If you sweeten it, you are no longer tasting the tea, you are merely tasting the sugar; you could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water."

Hear hear Mr Orwell!