insignificant ramblings of a 50-something woman
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Is this a scene from a horror film?
In keeping with my earlier proclamation about not giving a rat’s arse about what anyone else thinks, behold the uninhibited Rachel looking like a dork and wearing pyjamas. I ate all that green stuff just after the photo was taken. It’s produce from my plot at the allotment which is where I went in the…
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When the kids unstack the dishwasher
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Goodbye goody two-shoes
Yesterday I did everything in my power to kill myself accidentally. It’s fortunate I survived because today is my birthday and I’m now the meaning of life, 42. I’m a bit of a goody two-shoes but this is only because I don’t like getting into trouble. This makes it doubly painful when I do the…
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Insufferable mathematicians
Elizabeth had some homework this week which involved asking a member of her family to write some random numbers between 0 and 1,000 on a piece of paper for her to put in the correct numerical order. She asked her father and this is what he gave her: 869, 17, 3.5, 29, 19, 437, 832,…
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The bungee run
We took the grandparents to Crathes Castle today and there was an event going on with lots of bouncy castles and children’s activities. The kids enjoyed this bungee run the most. We have been to Crathes Castle so many times but we only just realised today that King Arthur is painted on the ceiling of…
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Dunnottar Castle
Scotland has been voted the most beautiful country in the world by the Rough Guide. I agree with that sentiment. New Zealand has more striking landscapes but Scotland has history and culture and it’s also safe – no earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones, or dangerous animals. My mother is visiting and yesterday we went to Dunnottar…
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Sack racing in front of the Queen
We were very pleased to return our campervan today and return home to hot water and flushing toilets. I’ve realised that those old VW campervans are just for young, cool people who can defy their natural biology by not producing any poo. Ben and I both have war wounds. Ben for hitting his head on…
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On top of the world
We’re in Braemar for the weekend but were unable to get any accommodation because the Braemar Gathering is on and so we decided to book a 1974 VW campervan and take our own accommodation. It has been a bit of a disaster so far. I had a lot of problems shifting gears. I learnt…
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I’m on TV!
This morning I was interviewed by John Parkinson from WordPress TV about what WordPress means to me. Is this my stepping stone to a part on Doctor Who? I probably should have brushed my hair a bit better first. John interviews people who attend WordCamps. He has other great interviews on the WordPress.tv site.
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The mighty huntress
I have just finished this rather wonderful crochet head of a stag. All he needs now is a name. I got the pattern from a fantastic book called Animal Heads by Vanessa Mooncie. All the patterns look terrific and I fully intend to make more of them. I have never understood why people kill animals…
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The BBC made my daughter cry
I’m so cross with the BBC today. For the past little while we’ve watching the BBC TV series, Merlin. It is a wonderful, family-friendly production of the King Arthur legend but told from the point of view of Merlin and starting from before Arthur becomes king. It’s got funny bits that appeal to all ages…
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Kildrummy Castle
There are so many castles in Aberdeenshire and I’m still discovering ones we’ve never seen, like Kildrummy Castle, which is where we went today. It’s a ruin but in its hey-day it was known as the “noblest of northern castles”. I’m not exactly sure what is meant by that but one thing is certain, Kildrummy…
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Cauliflower cheese without cheese
I’m not that into cooking however I like eating and I know I need to eat more fresh vegetables and fewer processed vegan meals. Last night I made a vegan version of cauliflower cheese that tasted wonderful and was very easy to make so I thought I’d share it. Someone at the allotments gave me…
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Aggressive vegans
Apparently 26% of British meat-eaters claim the attitude of vegetarians and vegans has put them off considering a plant-based diet. I think that’s a bit silly. I’m sure there are some aggressive vegans with a bad attitude just as there are some aggressive motorists with a bad attitude and some aggressive police officers with a…
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Castles, seals, and Spiderman
Yesterday we checked out Knockhall Castle, the doer-upper which is currently for sale at £130,000. I think it’s over-priced because there’s very little land with it. The surrounding fields are all owned by someone else and not for sale – although I have heard the owner is open to the possibility of selling them. However…
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A harvest of four carrots
I was horrified last week when one of the other plotters at the allotments told me the growing season is almost over. We really haven’t got very much food from our plot. Today I harvested our carrots. All four of them 🙂 You may be wondering why we only got four carrots and I’m embarrassed…
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The ultimate doer-upper
I tried to convince Ben last week that we should buy this doer-upper: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63319526.html It was built by Lord Sinclair in 1565 and Ben’s mother’s maiden name is Sinclair. Maybe it could be our bach (bach is the New Zealand word for a modest holiday home near the beach). It’s true that we’re the most…
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Vegan ice cream for dummies
I adapted this recipe from one I saw in the August edition of Britain’s Vegan Food & Living magazine. It is possibly the easiest, quickest, healthiest, and yummiest vegan ice-cream you will ever eat. Ingredients 3 large bananas 300g frozen black currents (or berries of your choice) 1 tbsp maple syrup 100ml soya milk Two…
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A weekend of vomit
I cleaned up lots of vomit on the weekend. On Friday night I was woken by the sound of Elizabeth wailing from the bathroom. I found her sitting on the toilet surrounded by a pool of vomit. Why couldn’t she have vomited in the toilet rather than on the floor next to it? I suppose…
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Is there anything kale can’t do?
The author of the book, How not to die, has some terrific lectures online. He’s very entertaining to listen to and knows his stuff. This particular talk is about the best way to avoid death. It goes through the leading causes of death starting from heart disease and by analysing the latest research demonstrates how…
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