Gentle Determination Of The New Year

You don’t need social media to tell you how to live , you don’t need social media to push those New Years resolutions to the forefront of your mind.You don’t need to aspire to more followers on any social media platform , you don’t have to worry if a social media follower runs away.Gentle determination going forward gathers much more momentum than any pouting duck faced celebrity will tell you whilst posing in a infinity pool some where hot.And anyway I can’t swim or pout which is probably a good thing let alone subject myself to a itsy bisty nothing there bikini.

Your social media your space but just without the fanfare of declarations.

I’ve created a list of the best drinks in the whole wide world , I can’t speak for the alien cocktails.

So in a nutshell the list comprises of tea to infinity ... there is no better drink than tea.

Hope is a cup of tea and a cup of tea is hope.

If you think ooh you must do something for New Year then I still think gentle determination going forward is the best thing.I started the gym 2 weeks ago through a council scheme and whilst I haven’t been over Christmas I fully intend with gentle determination to do so over the next year.

Alot of my 2019 has been peppered by family issues and literally me being brought to my mental health knees and having to give up my job ( I was a teaching assistant for many years ) though through job /money cuts that was taken away from me.

But I’ve taken steps with gentle determination to give myself a much needed boost to my inner soul and heart.I have joined a choir and I’m helping at a local school as a volunteer teaching assistant.

It is a bimble through life and I like it I’m not all guns blazing and going for it like Butch Cassidy and the Sun dance kid.

Post Christmas Rosti

Is a rösti nothing more than a humble hash brown with an Alpine airs and graces or is this humble potato dish not so humble after all.Will the Swiss have you rattling for your pans , dishes and potatoes?

Ingredients 

Potatoes 

Chopped onion 

Grated carrot 

Grated Paranip

Grated onion 

Method 

Grate the parsnips, potatoes and carrot into a bowl and chill in the fridge for a while.season as needed .

Fry the onion first if you want.

Preheat the oven to about 180 / 200 c

Press as much moisture as you can with tea towels out of the rosti combination

Then press into a rounded oven dish I used a pizza one and cook for about 30 minutes or more checking every 15 minutes or so .

Why You’ll Leave Your Heart In Vienna

Why I love Vienna so much is so many reasons but when you visit there you leave a piece of your heart there so visiting Vienna is the only way to make it whole again.If you want a flavour of Vienna Christmas markets then pop over to this blog post and then get booking your break to either squeeze in a visit this year or next.

My visit to Vienna was last month just at the start of the Christmas markets and just the other day I was watching Greg Wallace and the Christmas markets in Vienna. It was lovely to see all the lights and sparkle again and it makes my local authority lights very tame.

Giant snowman Oooh yes please.

And it’s not only the vibe of the Christmas markets that will lure you back , it is also the stunning architecture and museums.

Fitness At Christmas

I’ve joined the gym at the most bonkers time of year and it’s a council initiative and the only thing I have to pay for is my bus fare.And while some might think that sharing stuff is causing a vulnerability but it is really creating a strength and it brings people together I feel and creates a unity of strength.

The gym I get for a year and I will go once a week and it is out my comfort zone and all this is to get me fit.It is the Olympics next year and I haven’t found my event yet perhaps I could do tea making ?

Awwh yes exercise 

Where you think your muscles are fine 

Then your body goes ohh no

And your muscles go tighter than Superman wearing his pants in a very hot wash

I even used the rowing machine and didn’t knock my teeth out , I have a one to one fitness weigh loss coach and that’s brilliant for me.

Festive Feelings When You’re A Cat

Neighbours said the owner was known for taunting her cat, prior to the fatal attack. And now, the weather.

Slow Cooker Christmas Dinner

There is nothing to say that you couldn't slow cook most of your Christmas dinner what ever you're having , you could create a water bath so therefore turning it into a sort of Dutch oven or you  could just through everything in with the except of your Yorkshire puddings.

I put in the slow cooker this morning some cubed butter nut squash, a chicken stock cube , some water and turkey or chicken .Adding in any other vegetables you want even those bullets of doom that are Brussel Sprouts.

I left mine on low for 6 hours and here’s the result.

How I Work

I work like this ... my brain wiring is different but I’m sharp as a drawing pin or as alert as hidden lego.

I am neurotypical . I am autistic .

But I carry merrily about my day , I will more than likely remember more about you than you do , I will remember everything that happened to me and school.

I am a fact sponge.

I like sponge cake.

I don’t expect allowances I just expect to be allowed to explain myself and that is hard at times.

I live without a label.

No I can’t do mathematics nor do I have a hidden art skill.

And I still do everything as I did before with the exception of working as a teaching assistant.I now volunteer at a school hearing children read and now I’m helping them with their Children nativity. I’ve joined a choir and sing soprano well I try ! but I’m getting my voice back to where it was.

An Advent Of Kindness Day 1 to 6

You can’t get away from Christmas it happens every year from what feels like August.People go crackers literally Halloween onwards and it is drilled into us there is only so many bank balance emptying days till Christmas.I can find Christmas overwhelming with all the bright lights tinkle sparkle and at times over inflated retail message that is put across.

So what about an advent of kindness for yourself or others or maybe a bit of both.And an advent of kindness doesn’t have a single thing if you don’t want it to .

Day 1

Perhaps sort out that stuff for the charity shop you’ve been putting off for ages and who know s when you’re in the charity shop you might see something you’ve been after but couldn’t really afford up till now.

Day 2 

Go for a walk and appreciate the outdoors whatever the weather , at this time of year I love to grab the light.

Day 3

Cook for yourself or for friends or family with a hearty vegetarian recipe .

Day 4

Start a crafting hobby such a card making , it is a hobby I slip in and out but I’m determined to get fully back into it.

Day 5 

Start that book you’ve been reading to read it doesn’t matter how long it takes you.

Day 6 

Culture a plant .. I don’t mean read to a plant the entire works of Shakespeare .Plan what you’d like to grow in your garden whatever it’s size .You can even grow vegetables in containers and yield brilliant results.

From Grannies Heist To Dreaming Of Mice

Bus travel like it loathe ... it is certainly an experience ! from the seat hoggers to those who don't know the meaning of personal space , bus travel at the best of times can range from anything from horrific to a comedy




Possibly some old ladies on the bus organising a bank heist .. “ You drive don’t you Beryl ?”





You hear it all on the 9.30 pensioners Express the time where they can all use their free bus passes.


You’re probably sitting reading this though you could be at the bus stop petrified of the criminal world of grannies. You could be wonderful at the blog title and quite frankly I was too.But I thought well of course I can link it to my cat ~ cats and internet a marriage made in heaven. My cat is saving the planet by reusing an Amazon box as his bed so you can thank my cat for saving the world.

Try Not To Get Yourself Into Debt At Christmas

Christmas puts us all under pressure and we shouldn’t really have to feel like that at all.It is one day they say but it ends up being more like 2 months of sprinkle tinsel and dine onslaught.You could save a regular month each to put towards your Christmas presents but I feel that even with this you’re going to be buying stuff that isn’t really needed. Perhaps you and your family could put towards a family holiday together during the following year ~ a great memory maker. This is something that might take a few years to save for dependant on where you go or what you might do.


Keeping your eye for deals is good and don't be afraid to buy Christmas presents from Charity shops you  will honestly be amazed at what you pick up for next to nothing for new items and the money is going to a good cause.It is worth looking at Martin Lewis and his money saving Expert website as there is some great advice on there.


And if you do have some outstanding debt and you really want to start to make a difference to your finances without it wildly impacting your credit rating.Firstly ring up what ever credit provider you have and ask about freezing the interest while making constant repayments under a plan. You won't be able to use your credit card etc whilst this is going on and it will be noted on your credit file that you're under some sort of arrangement but it won't wildly affect your credit rating.

Another way to keep those costs down at Christmas is to make your own cards and it can be done for little or no cost , perhaps you have a crafty friend that you could share crafting supplies with.

And batch cooking is a good idea as well to save the cash over the festive season and perfect also if you get unexpected guests.

If you’re going away over the festive season and in particular have cats or small animals like a hamster then perhaps ask a friend to pop in and look after them.

We should not be a slave to the pressure of stuff and even though my son is at university we will get him stuff that’s practical shower gel etc.

The Autumn Of Vienna

I’m adjusting back from Vienna and the climb down from the coffee which I didn’t hit the coffee and cake to hard but my words what a wonderful place it was.I miss the wide open spaces and the fact that one minute you can be walking down the wide city roads and then next minute your in palace gardens.

I miss Vienna when you’re away travelling it makes you feel alive and your eyes just want to drink it all in.And Vienna I have to say is one of those places you will want to go back to not only for the most amazing Christmas markets I have ever seen but all museums and architecture it has to offer.And Vienna you’re beautiful what ever your season is.

Epson ET - 27110 An ideal Printer For A Student

If you have a student in the house either one that is at university or school then you’ll know how essential a printer is ! from dressing up days at primary school to very long assignments at university.It is important to have a printer that will do the job and the big stinger with many printers is the cost of ink.With an Epsom ET 2710 you won’t have to worry as the supplier ink lasts up to 2 years and subsequently the ink refills won’t break the bank.

Product Description

This stylish 3-in-1 inkjet printer is ideal for modern homes who want to reduce their printing costs and print on the go. With the Epson EcoTank ET-2710, which does not come with ink cartridges and instead is refilled with high-yield ink bottles, the average ink costs can be reduced by up to 90%. The innovative ink refill system is easy and convenient to use thanks to the specially developed ink bottles. With EcoTank, you no longer have to worry about your ink consumption and subsequent costs. Printing without cartridges and rarely refilling ink cartridges is not a nice task to worry about. Our EcoTank printers offer an uncomplicated solution: with the ink bottle set you can print on average as much as with 88 ink cartridges1. If you print a lot, you will be delighted to rarely have to change consumables. The economical printer saves on average up to 90% on ink costs. With a single ink set, you can print impressive 4,500 pages in black and 7,500 pages in colour.

The printer was easy to set up it is however not an airdrop printer for Apple but you can print most things via an app you place on your phone /laptop or tablet.It is a great fixed place printer and you can print from anywhere in the world.

Mini Christmas Gift Guide

#AD


I am a nightmare to buy for at Christmas I am so practical I give practicality a headache but as I get older I like to be more organised as life is till revolving around my son from giving him advice on how to change a light bulb to picking him up from university to taking him back.So planning meals can be a a real headache at times especially with all the comings and goings.So this is where a dairy is useful but not a sort of diary but one that is designed not only to help you keep track of your life but also write recipes in and there is even some recipes already in the Cook's Diary.



A unique diary with a practical week-to-view layout and 52 delicious triple-tested recipes so that you can try something new every week of the year. It has a handy pocket at the front for storing cards and receipts and features concealed wiro-binding so that it lies flat when in use. There's even a sticker sheet so that you can customise the pages with your appointments and important dates. There are plenty of useful pages for recording details, such as personal contacts, useful websites, thoughts and plans, plus birthday and Christmas gift records. This Cook's Diary also provides hints, tips, calendars and conversions - in fact everything you need (and want) to plan your busy life.

Fern design with gold foil
£9.99


This diary is an ideal Christmas present as well as a stocking filler .



Who doesn't love to receive flowers at Christmas and red is one of the most vibrant colours at Christmas so it was wonderful to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers the other day which was perfect in cheering me up from my post holiday slump having just come back from the Vienna Christmas markets.


I love the Christmas Cinnamon Spice Bouquet which is priced at £29.99 it is from Blossoming gifts and they have all sort of flowers and gifts that are suitable for Christmas , they do flowers and gifts all year round. Flowers are a wonderful gift at Christmas and if you’re struggling to get that teacher gift this Christmas then it’s worth clubbing together with some parents to give the teacher some flowers.

Disclosure I was sent these items and all thoughts words and opinions are my own.

Vienna Vibe

I’ve been up since half past 3 in the morning this morning trying to remember why Oooh that’s it Vienna , Heathrow is weird place early in the morning , you find yourself stuck between Duty Free and Oysters and champagne . Of course Harrods is thrown in for good measure and why not top it off with some Tiffany’s jewellery , I did splash the cash on a Boots meal deal well two meal deals actually.A smooth flight which was more refined as no one clapped when the plane landed.

After some confusion with our Vienna card in getting our airport transfers we made it to the hotel to drop off our cases and get the lie of the land.A few steps down the street we nearly got attacked by a sofa and going abroad I’ve learnt not to be surprised.Well that was until I saw a man who was dressed one minute then complete starkers they next , I think it might of been some performance art piece ? as he had a photographer with him.

Vienna so has a vibe about it ...

Beatles 48 Hours In Liverpool

Travelling on a Friday night might seem like a cuckoo thing to do as everyone and their cat will be travelling back home from work or or a break away and you can only but expect frazzles but if you are willing to take your time then Friday afternoon isn't that bad.I think it really does help to break your joinery if you're travelling say further afield then you're fresh and ready to go the very next day.We were travelling to Liverpool with isn't that far from us it is only one hour forty minutes away so no time at all really though it took round about two hours on the Friday afternoon but we weren't really bothered about that.




On our first day we were straight into Liverpool by bus , getting the bus near from where we were staying which was the Crowne Plaza near Liverpool airport and we got off near the Albert Docks and you are straight into the throng of it all. There really is SO much to see round Liverpool that I think you really need about 4 days to most of it and even then there will still be something more to see.We headed first to the Beatles museum and paid our money and took ourselves on the self guided tour.which is a timeline of the Beatles story with additional information and videos etc.The museum is good the tour is a little long winded in places mainly due the never ending video clips on the tour guide you are given but never the less we both enjoyed it.My husband thought that the museum could have be made ever better by having people dressed up as the Beatles characters to interact with people every now and again.

Then it was onto the Liver Building which dominates the skyline of Liverpool , it is so true than when you're in Liverpool that you really do need to to look up because of the marvellous architecture.

It’s costs £15 per adult to go up the Liver building but it’s worth it as you get a guided tour and talk.There is a lift most of the way and then there’s about 120 steps to the top but don’t worry you don’t have to rush up.There is a display to look round before you go up and there’s an app to download which helps you interact with the display 







If you’re going to visit Liverpool and you’re a National Trust member then it’s working booking in advance to see Paul Mccartneys childhood home and the home Mendips  where John Lennon  grew up . It’s around £9.50 each if you’re a #nationaltrustmember and £25 if not.They tell you there’s no toilet on the door but there is one you can use at the McCartney home ( not the one that Paul Mcartney used ! ) 

#abbeyroad50 #beatles #liverpool