Beaver Cake

A very quick post to evidence the latest birthday cake request for #1 which he will be sharing with his Beaver colony tomorrow night........where does the time go?!!

Nobbly Bobbly

Sorry everyone for not posting anything in a while....its been a manic month so far.

The camping experience last week was fantastic and despite being rained upon on the first night, being kicked off the double blow up bed by #1 & #2 and being jealous that the Man of the house was looking after #3 at my mums (he is allergic to grass!) - it was a great weekend of catching up.

Back to the post in hand.......I took the opportunity to walk to Bryn Bach Park during my brief lunch break earlier this week in order to savour the sunshine that is so happily being bestowed upon us.  It never ceases to amaze me how a few rays of sunshine bring out all manner of attire.....not least the "Pork Chop Tops".

This is a reference given by a dear friend which refers to particularly the female species, who appear to forget to wear suncream, appear to forget how to wear an appropriate top and instead view their criss-cross sun-burnt skin for all to see (including the SUN - again) so that the skin resembles a pork joint, tied with string and about to go in to the oven.    WE ALL KNOW THIS LOOK....and perhaps have been pained to experience it  ourselves but really - slap on the cream!

Right - the Nobbly Bobbly

I had decided to venture to the ice-cream freezer in the cafe on-site and re-acquainted myself with the joy of a Nobbly Bobbly which I was thoroughly enjoying whilst walking back towards work, when I became aware of a growing panting noise getting louder and louder behind me on the footpath.

I nearly lost the last bit of my Bobbly when a T-shirt-less young man, wearing insanely short running briefs (the awful polyester ones that cling to EVERYHING), shot past me whilst screaming loudly at himself (his headphones were on so loud I could hear the backing vocals) "C'Mon, C'Mon - you can DO THIS , GO GO GO....."

It would appear that wonders in Blaenau Gwent never cease......perhaps the Olympics really have arrived early.

Concerned Camper.......

We are due this weekend to meet up with friends and "Camp Out" and I am quickly becoming obsessed with the weather forecast for the next 5 days......it is not looking good :(

Also not sure how the old festival tent is going to fare if it rains, as it has not been used since a pre-children trip to Glastonbury in 2000.  When we opened the tent out last weekend, it was rather mouldy, smelt like it had been born in mildew and looked rather dirty...strange, I'm sure we had cleaned and aired it?

Anyway, it has been in the washing machine (not sure that the label suggested it ) and it quickly took offence to the load and was "literally" foaming at the door.

In my defence, I was not the one who stuffed the tent in and I did say that it would only need a little detergent.

Will keep you posted on my continued weeks weather watching.....and lets all use positive thinking for the emergence of this.....

The Cuckoo

Ah - the joys of living in the country!

A short post following a little jaunt into town with #3 on the weekend.

Whilst babbling away with #3 about the complexity of eating a fresh bread stick without leaving what looks like a Bakers floor all over yourself, I pushed the pram towards a sight that I have only ever heard of but never actually seen.

#3 pointed at "The Bird" and we stopped to watch a spirited female blackbird feeding worms to what I can only describe as a much larger bird that looked nothing like her.    I know the old saying "Birds of a Feather flock together" but this young fledging was certainly from no Blackbird family tree.

It then dawned on me that I was watching how the Cuckoo species survive and left to feel slightly sorry and sad for the duped little blackbird who was clearly working overtime to feed what she thought was her young.

To end - another old cuckoo my father taught me whilst listening to its call.

The Cuckoo Sings in April

The Cuckoo sings in May

The Cuckoo lays eggs in other birds nests

And then she flies away

The Family BAKE OFF 2012

Sorry I have not posted anything so far in May but I am still trying to get my head around the fact that when we took books out of the local library yesterday, it will only be 4 weeks until they are due back in JUNE!

In typical Bank Holiday fashion, it has been raining.  Our annual family "Bake Off" which took place this weekend was a muffin competition and the standard of entry was high.  Banter levels are high and the stakes high....i.e - the LOSER has all year to be reminded about it.

The man of the house (who won the "Toffee" competition last year) decided to make White Chocolate and Lemon curd muffins.  He totally geeked out and used a syringe to squirt the curd into the cooling muffins.

#1 decided he wanted to be on the action and made Milk Choc Chip muffins (all I did was put the muffins in the oven and remove them after 20 mins) which was an outstanding effort given he is not yet 7! 

#2 was given the chance to enter but had about as much interest in the process as a lion in a vegan shop.

I decided to try some Marmalade and Poppy seed ones......I must be honest and say that they looked rank and  did not smell much better but I did make some orange butter cream and decorate them with icing sugar ready for the 5pm deadline.  I have posted the pic below but am rather embarrassed about the fact that :

1. They looked like speckled boobs with protruding nipples
2. They looked more like a cupcake than a muffin

The final judging took place by an independent panel of 3 (who had travelled from London for a weekend of sunshine in Wales) and the Muffin results were (in order of preference) as follows:

1. Blueberry/Raspberry - they were stunning.......have no picture as they were all eaten
2. Walnut and Banana
3. Marmalade & Orange (I could not believe I made the top 3!!)
4. White Chocolate and Lemon Curd
5. Beetroot & Ginger (Personally my favourite and like mini gingerbreads.....will be making soon!)
6. Peanut and Banana
7. Milk Choc Chip
8. Winberry (Blueberry)  (Made by the professional no less)  Better luck next year Mum!