Silent Sunday #SilentSunday 29/4/2012

Caption Saturday #satcap 28/4/2012

One of those useless items you pick up from your holidays, this was picked up in Dubai you do these things to keep your children quiet... What crap lovely items have you got that your children have made you buy ?

The growing pains of a parent helped by Adrian Mole

My son is 13 and 3/4 just the same age as Adrian Mole in the book that was monumental in my childhood. Reading books are a right of passage , it is a skill that is passed on when your parents read to you . Whilst reading with your parents brings you together reading on your own brings the world to you and opens your eyes and senses.

My son was worried that he really wasn't getting that far in his English, he is however top stream and really has nothing to fret apart. But as he goes to one of these new fangled Academies the pressure is on whether it is fair is another debate and another length blog post. It is hard to believe that this great book is indeed thirty years old.  The book when it came out coincided with the Falklands War  of 1982 at which time I was 10 years old and at such an age I wasn't reading the book.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend

I came to read this book in 1986   whilst my friends were living it up wearing ra -ra skirts and ba boopers and dancing to the the likes of Duran Duran , A-Ha etc were a phenomenon  this book was too! And it was one that spread all over the country. I had my nose in a book, I always had a nose in a book.The book gripped me as it was in an easy style to read as in it in  diary form. So it is perfect for a boy to read some parents might um and err about handing t such a book over to their child at this age. Though believe me your child knows more then you think, 13 (teenage) is the age where they snigger at set phrases.

Of course like Adrian Mole my son has pretentions to being intellectual by the other books he reads ( some of which I read as a child and I have encouraged him  to read ) The book is a parenting manual in effect ! Although I don't think my son is love struck ,  angst sometimes yes.

Tennager angst here read Adrian Mole then....

So whilst times have obviously moved on this book will no doubt tickle him in some sort of fashion. He is going on rugby tour soon I am sure that there will be worse going off on that than there is in this book!


A diary is a tangible commodity which you can sense and feel as you are reading it. I wonder if Adrian Mole was to do a diary now would it have the same effects in the realms of social media? Do you keep a handwritten diary  and of so would you donate it to the British Museum for its future posterity ?

Leek and Bacon flan

This recipe is from the lovely  janesgrapevine who is a wondrous cook and crafter do , I don't think there is anything she can't do !

Leek and Bacon flan

1 shortcrust pastry flan case, baked blind

2 large leeks, shredded, washed and allowed to dry

4 rashers back bacon

2 eggs

200 ml milk (or a mixture of cream and milk)

100g strong Cheddar cheese, finely grated

25g butter

Pre heat oven to 170C, gas 3

Cut the bacon into narrow strips and dry-fry slowly in a non-stick pan until crispy. Set aside on kitchen paper to drain. Add the butter to the pan and as it melts scrape up any  bacon residue that has stuck to the pan. Now add the leeks and cook slowly until very soft, then allow to cool a little.

Scatter the bacon over the base of the flan tin and then spread the cooked leeks over the top. Beat together the eggs and milk and season with plenty pepper (the cheese and bacon will provide enough salt) and pour over the leeks. Sprinkle the cheddar over the top and bake for 30-40 minutes  until set and browned.

Best served warm rather than piping hot.

Leek and bacon flan.

Toys Naturally Giveaway

I am having a lot of giveaways on my blog at the moment as part of my blogs birthday  so here's another one.  I recently won a product off another blog which came from Toys Naturally   which I gave to one of my pregnant colleagues at work. Everything is delivered quick . They hold stock of everything and use first class mail so typically it’s 1-3 days (max) Also all recyclable and biodegradable packaging. From winning the toy to informing them off my address I received the package in record time/ My work colleague as absolutely delighted with the item.

They package everything with gift grade tissue and Toys Naturally seals, They  use only card and paper packaging and tape and biodegradable document wallets, so it can all go straight into the recycling. They want to do their  bit to preserve the planet for our children!  They have  have tried, wherever possible to select toys with an environmentally aware ethos, or ones that are at least manufactured in Europe so have significantly reduced air miles/carbon footprints.  They  have also checked that all manufacturers use FSC wood in the manufacture of the toys and of course that all fall in line with the European CE safety code requirements.

If you haven’t heard about Automoblox here is a you tube video which may help explain their brilliance.

So  I am giving away one of their products which will be very kindy sent by Toys Naturally. To win this fabulous prize, follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. The last date for entries is 24 th May Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway