Final Countdown

Today was final day we had breakfast at the local pub in our local sleepy village expectations were high , minds and hearts were engaged. The boys were properly kitted out and were loving every minute of their experience.

It was like the preparations for a FA cup final including a super luxury coach , the only trouble was getting the boys to actually tuck their shirts in and stop worrying about wether or not they had enough gel in their hair.

We arrived early at Belper Town football club , Belper was and still is a very industrious town with a striking Mill at its heart. Stunning countryside surrounds it and today we had glorious sunshine especially for us.

The actual game itself was tough as both teams cancelled each other out till we scored first and we thought that was it.  But as so often happens the opposition equalised , although slightly crushed the boys battled on. Alas it wasn't enough and the opposition scored again the final whistle blew and it was all over.

The boys had maintained their poise and maturity throughout it was only a shame that a fleeting comment of "ties don't win games " from an adult from the opposing team marred the minute for a nano second . We all shrugged our shoulders  , reflecting on the fact that we had come from nothing to be something and no one can take that away from the boys.

Starlight Star Bright Lullaby Trust

This is the part where I don't know what to write , its such a sad and upsetting topic but it must be talked about, blogged about, shouted about.

Those in the blogging community will be aware that Jennie Edspire lost her precious little girl when she was only nine months old. Everyone rallied to help Jennie and her family through these tortuous times.

Jennie asked that people write on the theme of lullabies- it can be in any form you like. There is a lnky on her blog.

So please pop over to the  lullaby trust


Lullabies always soothed my soon was he was fractious and there are so many to choose from . I remember in the dead of night when he wouldn't sleep soothing while we listened to lullabies and classical music on classic FM.

 I thought about writing a poem /lullaby but I don't think I am much good at these things.

Starlight

Star bright

Won't you be my friend tonight

When I am feeling sad and lonely

Shine

Shine your 

love 

upon 

me

Autism Awareness Month

It is Autism awareness month , though we need to be aware of Autism all the time.

Your child may:

• Have a diagnosis if Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorder( ASD) or Aspergers Syndrome.

• Have difficulties with communication,interaction,which affect his or her learning.

• Have difficulties developing language.

• Have friendship problems.

• Prefer to play alone.

• Have difficulty understanding other people's feelings.

• Lack conversation skills.

• Find change difficult to cope with.

• Have difficulties getting organised.

• Have sensory issues such as over -sensitivity to noise.

• Show stress at home.

What can your school do ?

• Use teacher assessment and observations to establish how your child learns best.

• Find out which ways of teaching are the most effective.

• Discuss your child with relevant professionals who visit the school.

• Arrange for your child to have extra help in smaller teaching groups supported by a teaching assistant.

• Have routines that will help your child understand what happens in each day.

• Use visual timetables and prompt sheets.

• Organise groups carefully to promote your child's opportunities fir mixing with other children, using language and understanding coupled with imagination.

• Plan carefully fir transitions when your child moves year groups or schools.

• Follow guidance from your local authority on Autism friendly schools.

Apricot, Coconut , Chilli, Chicken recipe

I love this recipe I have cook this when I need a bit of soul warming , we all have days like those.

Ingredients

3 plump stalks lemon grass
50g/2oz fresh ginger
2 hot red chilli or 2 tbsp of sweet chilli sauce
1 bunch coriander
2 limes
2 tbsp groundnut oil
200g/7oz tomatoes
2 tbsp fish sauce( nam plan)
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
8 chicken thighs
400ml/14oz can coconut milk
8 apricots,halved (dried ones will do)








Preparation method

Peel and discard the outer leaves of the lemon grass- they can sometimes be tough. cut the inner leaves into short lengths and put in the food processor. peel the ginger into thin pieces and add to the lemon grass Chop the chillies, discarding their stems and add to the ginger with the peeked garlic. roughly chop the stems and half of the coriander to add to the food processor, reserving the rest for later

Grate the lime zest into the food processor, reserving the limes for later, then turn the machine in and let it chop everything to a coarse paste. Add a little groundnut oil and scarce the sides down with a spatula if it sticks. Add the fish sauce , soy sauce and the tomatoes and process for a few seconds longer.


Warm a further tablespoon of groundnut oil over a moderate to high heat and use it to bown the chicken pieces , turning them so they colour nicely on both sides. Lift the chicken pieces out and pour away anything more than a tablespoon of oil and juices. Add the spice paste and let it fry over a moderate heat or two minutes till fragrant, stirring almost consistently, then return the chicken to the pan. Pour over the coconut , milk, stir, covet and leave to simmer over a low heat for 15 -20 minutes. Meanwhile halve and stone the apricots and leave them to one side.

Test the chicken to see if it is done making certain it's cooked right the way through , add the apricots. Leave to simmer for a few minutes, then add the juice of the limes and the reserved coriander leaves.

 You can share  to share their own flavour stories via the Schwartz website orFacebook page

This post is an entry into the Foodies100/Schwartz Flavour of Together challenge.” 

Happy Countryside Living Its Only Natural

Time is marching on , but not in a sorrowful way in a way then makes me proud I watch my boy at football and realise there's not many years where I can watch him. Though snow , wind and freezing temperatures I have watched him, apart from the couple of times when it was hammering it down !
But each moment that I do watch hi is a moment frozen in time in my memory, heart and photo the past is always there and the future comes and soon becomes the past. The trick is to build happy memories and not let the bad memories , bad times get you down and this is what I am doing for me and  my family.

When you can forgive other people , you can forgive yourself ( for what ever reason) time is of the moment and when you write sometimes you can be quite reflective. So imagine when soldiers of the First War wrote home then could not convey all that they saw and experience on the Front Line. It was a time when the class system prevailed and when human politics and country politics were at play. It was a promise for heroes. And next week I will save a few original First world war articles with you , and a few family insights.

This week has been quite action packed from trips out, to sorting furniture and the never ending task of shifting  junk  from one place to another. And then there's the country I just love the country not just because I live on the edge of it but I love getting out there and taking different shots. And this week J was playing football in another very picturesque location.. The pictures I think and hope speak for themselves.