The confidence Of Self

The confidence of self .


It's a busy start to the week , I've already had to add a PS to a solicitors letter :

" Ps sorry there's holes in the letter , my cat was having a bit of a angry moment "


Yes you guessed right it was Rollie.

My cat Jack has finished sulking at me finally , it was a mystery as to what I'd done wrong but then again cats are so fickle .

Last week I was so confidant then I started to crash in confidence towards the end of the week , problem upon problem was sneaking up on me . I screamed at the universe , and shook my fist but not the arm that had had the tetanus injection in it as that hurt like a hurry thing 

" sharp scratch , you'll not feel a thing" says the nurse with the huge needle 

" liar , liar pants on fire " I say in my head.

I felt as if I had taken the pill in the matrix ~,the one that leads you to the matrix !!

The weekend was my chance to relax and unwind 

Sometimes I feel the grip of life running away from me , it's as if I'm a kite in the wind , I feel a twang of sadness that I can get to my blog as often as I'd like . But then I start to write a few thoughts on my blog and the words at first stumble out , rush out , flow out , are thought out .

I only know myself through the words I write .

I received a gift off a colleague of a hat that's like my cat ; best hat ever in the whole wide world . There's nothing better in this world than a bobble hat , I think everyone needs a bobble hat in their life . So when I find my smile slipping I'll put on my bobble hat and give my head a little shake .

Coming home to warmth and a cup of tea then settling down to " Neverending Story " while Mr T and J are out at rugby.

You really must watch "Neverending Story " it's the most heartwarming film that really does give you that warm and fuzzy feeling . And I feel safe when I watch it it's as if I am 12 again safe with my books far far away from the school bullies . Films are wonderful and I am typing the last bits to this blog post as I watch through the gap in the door ( I am typing from the Mac now as my iPad has run out of charge )



In the words of a song  "Be young be foolish , but be happy "

Chocolate Brownies #AfterEightBakes

I've been left to my own devices ( which is bliss ) I have had a very challenging time lately so I need these little spaces of 'me time ' though it should hip of me to say 'Hygge' time the Danish way of taking care of yourself .

And now I'm doing this I'm beginning to find myself again , I know you're thinking how can you lose yourself , I mean I didn't just turn up at the local lost and found office to find myself waiting for me .

• 128g Buttery spread
• 5g Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 4 Eggs
• 90g Cocoa
• 128g All purpose flour
• Half a teaspoon of baking powder
• Half a pack of 300g After Eights Mints
• Powdered Icing sugar for dusting

1. Heat oven to 180c (350F) and grease a13x9x2- inch baking tray.
2. Add melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract to a big bowl and mix with a spoon.
3. Add eggs, one at a time and mix between each addition.
4. Add cocoa and mix until well blended.
5. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix with an electric mixer until blended well.
6. Pour 3/4 of the batter over the baking tray, place After Eights chocolates evenly over the first layer and cover them with the remaining batter.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the toothpick comes out slightly sticky.
8. Completely cool, cut into 20 slices ans sprinkle with powdered sugar.
9. Enjoy.

Disclosure the lovely folk from After Eight send me the ingredients to cook with . Cat update the cat is still sulking at me for some unknown reason.

Today My Cat Dislikes Me

This morning I confidently strolled into the kitchen ready to pray at the alter of the toaster and the holy tea pot of joy when I spotted the cat , I waved and said hello ; then it just looked at me and walked out the cat flap .Bemused I went to consume my toast and drink my tea and pushed thoughts aside that my cat was unhappy with me . After I went back into the kitchen where I spied the cat sitting on the mat ( they're so blooming stereotypical aren't they !?) Jack looks at me and goes back out the cat flap .... now I'm starting to get really paranoid .

So I go out the kitchen again ( I hear the cat flap go ) Jack has obviously come in again so I pop my head round the door to say a tentative hi and he's back out the cat flap . I go to the door look through the glass and show my sorrowful face , I make a heart shape with my fingers. Then Jack came back in and sat under the kitchen trolley for one hour 19 minutes ( maybe longer ) I don't know as I had to go to my job as a teaching assistant .

I returned home wishing in my heart Jack would be waiting for me with joy in his heart , my heart soared as I saw him so I sang to him , I sang Elvis "Are you lonesome tonight ?" 

Straight out the cat flap , then back in .

I mildly swore at the cat and was made to apologise .

Apologise to the cat that is .

My husband said " you know Jack only likes me singing Spice Girls"

This is true as I caught my husband singing " this is what you want what you really really want !" as he was feeding the cat treats .

I ask you I haven't a hope in hell have I ?!

Though I could sing Abba at Jack " THANK you for the meowsic"

Don't You Just Love Some Words ?

Don't you just love some words ? Today I love " hunker " Hunker down : feeling toasty just saying it . A hug with a word

So I'm going to hunker down with a cup of tea

Bettys Tea Room The Fizz Of Luxury : Lady Betty Afternoon Tea

The other week during half term while my husband and son where on a father / son trip I decided to take myself to York . Whilst my trip to York was a jolly as I was doing York on the cheap , I decided I needed to have a fizz of luxury so I booked myself a treat in Betty's tea room. Before all you grammar gurus scream at me that there is no apostrophe in Bettys tea room they explain why here .

Are you all happy now ? then I'll continue .


I went for tea at Bettys at their tea rooms rooms in York at the exquisite Belmont rooms which is like stepping back into the 1920s . When you arrive you have hang your coat on a coat rack just outside the tearooms ( so not throwing it over the back of the chair ) you enter the tea rooms unencumbered  and you are politely shown to your seats by a waitress or waitress .

If you have booked for the champagne tea then you are asked which type of champagne you would like or a Kir Royale cocktail ( I like this cocktail a lot but I feel I need a few more just to make absoteldy sure ! ) 

Did you know that Bettys started in 1919 so that is nearly 100 years of making the most exquisite teas and all this experience has been distilled in the wonderful tea experience Bettys provides today.

The afternoon treat must be booked in advance, and costs £32.95 per person (£39.95 per person with champagne). 

I began with the Bettys tea  from ( their own blend ) , and then the afternoon Darjeeling, a lovely accompaniment to our prawn cocktail starter served with a creamy avocado puree.

This was followed by bite-sized smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill roulade and miniature gala pie with quail eggs — The best things in the world certainly do come in small packages. The salmon tasted so beautifully fresh and the gala pie had a near-perfect crust.

The sandwiches when you first see them you think ' that will never fill me !" but I assure you it will , and you can have as many sandwiches as you wish . And if you wish to drink all the tea in the world you can ! The only think that is not unlimited is the cakes and scones but oh my the choice .

To sit back and relax whilst drinking tea was heaven scent even though I was on my own I wasn't really, there were couples celebrating occasions . Polite nods and quick chats were partaken and it was so very civilsed in the most British of way.

One scone was sultana and the other was Yorkshire Lavender complete with cream and Bettys own jam recipe. I am just getting hungry writing this recap of my half term adventures , oh how I would love a one of their tantalising cakes right now !

Disclosure : I took myself to York without Mr T as he was on a break with our son. yes the tea was expensive but oh my what an experience and one I would very much like to repeat again