A for Aperture

A is for Aperture .

The definition of light coming in your camera lens .

The posh explanation is thus : 

1. "In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. "

This is what I see through my aperture, these views are a mere 2 minutes away from my house, which I find utterly breathtaking.

I am partaking in an alphabet challenge which you take dip in and out of , it is purely your interpretation of which mine for A was aperture as as I have developed an interest in photography I thought it apt ( see what I did there )

I snap every where and anytime.

They Say Never ...

They say never work with children or animals.

Well that didn't work out as I work in school and I have cats.

They say keep something back about yourself when you blog.

So.

What am I keeping back.

1.Politics 

2. Religion 

Oops just failed there didn't I ? 

Why well when you talk about these subjects folk get very hot under the collar. And you have to have such conviction of character to bat off critisms etc, either that it be prepared to debate .

Never say Never again ?!

Beetroot Flapjacks

Beetroot Flapjacks perfect for a summer day !

I really am all about pushing my food boundaries forward , in fact should there even be boundaries  ?

I 'll be honest beetroot to me was a food I associated with obligatorily been rolled onto the summer salad plate  or the token salad item at Christmas.

• 113g (4oz) butter
• 113g (4oz) golden syrup
• 225g (8oz) porridge oats
• 56g (2oz) self-raising flour
• 1 small to medium beetroot , coarsely grated

You could add some coco powder to the mixture and in doing so you'll have to adjust the quantity of golden syrup accordingly.

Beetroot Flapjack super easy and tasty!

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Line a small shallow baking tray with either baking parchment or as I commonly use lake lands cake release as the flapjacks will just slide out.
2. Over a medium heat melt the butter and golden syrup together in a pan , mix well.
3. In a large bowl mix together oats, flour, cinnamon and coarsely grated beetroot . You  have to peel the beetroot if you don't have gloves just put some food bags on your hands while peeling the beetroot !.
4.  After pour the syrup mixture gently into the dry indregients and mix well Pour the syrup mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Spread the mixture over the baking dry making it level with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake for exactly 20 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Let the flapjacks cool for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into pieces, then leave them  to cool again. After this spread melted milk chocolate over them and leave to cool.

You'll have to be quick the Beetroot Flapjacks are going fast !

Perfect for a summers day just relaxing and drinking tea with.

Summer Flowers basking in the sun.

The flapjacks are a little crumbly but do hold together the sweetness combined with the golden syrup does come through.

Unsung hero

I wonder.

I wonder where.


I wonder where the man with the ducky mug is now.


I have been married for seventeen years nearly and that is a long time and for my honeymoon I went to Toronto for my honeymoon along with a trip to Niagara Falls.And whilst there expiring the city we came upon a man just standing on the street holding a ducky mug.

A simple duck mug.


We didn't feel threatened.


We didn't turn the other cheek.


The man cheerfully said" My ducky feel lonely " and no he didn't smell of booze.

We tossed a few cents into ducky mug and tears rolled down his cheeks.

He said

"You have made my ducky so happy"


We didn't make assumptions about him , he clearly was fighting some demons could be it was mental health ones , we just didn't know.


My point is that sometimes sympathy can be selective.

Sympathising = empathy really.


I try and be fair across the board , I really do.

Life isn't fair and I have had my own demons to do battle with on a stress front and the more I try to explain the less some people understand. And some don't understand at all but life is ever changing ever evolving.


SO knickers I say to those who can't understand me but perhaps someone will be lucky to be understood by them , it could be someone I don't quite understand .

WHO knows.


If you need me I'll be in my Go to place 

Favourite Spaces and Places : International blog Swap

Hi, my name is Cate, and I'm the blogger behind the purple door - I keep the memories of my 5 children, and share the memories we make together, as well my musings about re-finding me. Thank you Claire for having me here!

When Claire suggested we write about favourite places, I thought long and hard. What sort of places did I like to go that were different from what she might see in England? The answer was simple, the beach!

We've lived close to the beach for a long time, but having our own business and young children meant we forgot it was there.

The sun beats down, the waves crash, there's no phone signal, I can hear the kids laughing and playing with dad.

Even Sophie enjoys the beach.

These photos are from a recent Saturday adventure to Bribie Island

For more beach and life snippets, follow Cate on instagram, or facebook, or even pinterest

You can read Claire's post over on my blog ______________________________