A Cat With A Sore Throat

Seems Jack has a sore throat , he's been sounding like a bad jazz grass trumpet player not that he listens to Jazz FM and anyway Jazz music really isn't quite my scene.

How do you know if your cat has a sore throat ?

Their meowing might be different as per the grass trumpet sound in Jack for instance.


What could cause a sore throat?

Too much meowing maybe , an upper respiratory infection , maybe after surgery or if there is some sort of heart issue.


Sore Throat Treatment

Jack had been off it for days really not being himself throwing up white foam which I didn't think was normal as it wasn't the same as when he lovingly delivers a hairball at my feet. So it was off to the vets with him since losing Rollie I haven't been keen on vets ( the vet was very sympathetic with Rollie )

The vets bill was below the excess amount in this case ( darn ) but the comfort is there if I should ever need it again , it's a good idea to keep a copy of your cats insurance with their iummisation certificate .


I was feeling like my cats drug dealer crushing up his tablets to put in his food , also I tried to avoid eye contact with him when I gave him the phone with the tablets it as I am sure cats can see right into your soul.

Pets are family and we will do all that we need to do to make sure they ok , Jack is recovering slowly and has even started playing hide and seek again ( which he is rather rubbish at but we don't tell him so as not to hurt his feelings )

There is one thing though Jack has t ego back to the vets next week for his annual booster ~ you going to take him to the V E T  ?

Photography How Do You Capture Your Family

Photography how do you capture your family ?

Family photography doesn't have to be just about the smiling groups , family photography can be about capturing the moment. It is moments in time frozen forever to be revisited stirring memories, memories aren't always fond but nonetheless they're memories . 

The case of myself capturing the family it's happy times , it doesn't matter I'm the one lagging behind but am lagging behind or capturing the moment?

Capturing my family at the beautiful Charlcote Park

Strolling down the hill at Beamish Open air museum.

Chilling out in Ibiza .

Taking in the stunning architecture of Ibiza town.


Soaking up the history of Berlin.



Living and loving times in Washington D.C

Paying our respects at Arlington cemetery.

Not only am I capturing the back of my family but also the places we have been from National Trust properties to Ibiza , Berlin and Washington D.C .

Simple family pictures are very much life affirming it's the simplest and most naturally beautiful opportunity in life. And when you take pictures like this that are candid and natural then you really do get something special and I just feel the love in them.

How do your capture your family  with your photography have you got a special sort of way  ?


I love taking pictures of my family and I love capturing when they are unaware , I have created many lovely pictures and they are wonderful memories to look back on. 

I know when we go to Rome I'm going to be taking the same sort of shots but oh the magnificent if it all in such an architecturally stunning romantic city.

Photographing your family this way can make family life easier as your not trying to wrestle possible squabbling children in a family portrait with half tears and smiles ! I am very much a fan of natural photography.

Life Is Dolly Mixtures

Life is Dolly Mixtures 

Dolly Mixtures oh how I love thee

Let me eat you I promise you you won't suffer !!

Dolly Mixtures that beloved sweet from your childhood that recently I was yearning for and I was so glad when some in the Cadburys shop at the East Midlands outlet. 

Dolly Mixtures - jump with me into a great big sweet bag of nostalgia, then get yourself a quarter of Dolly Mixtures! They're so delicious, and so pretty, and did you know that they've been around since at least the 1920s...

Anorak time - according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a dolly mixture is a 'mixture of tiny coloured sweets of various shapes'. There are stacks of myths around relating to the origins of the iconic sweet, and nobody can agree on the exact date of origin. The story I love the best is this:

Many believe that they originated around the time of the British Raj in India. Dal or Dahl in India are pulses (beans, peas, legumes) which are often made up of different sizes and colours.... so could Dally Mixture have led to Dolly Mixture? A long shot I know, but I love a bit of intrigue when it comes to my sweets.

Sharing is caring they say ...

Nah ......

Win Tickets To Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally And Family Festival

Here is a quick little competition to win 2 pairs of tickets to the Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally and Family Festival.

 The competition will close Monday 10th  July and the tickets will be posted out to you in due course.

"The committee of the Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally and Family Festival were proud to present The Midlands Air Ambulance with a cheque for £5,000, the proceeds of the 2016 event held at Needwood Rise Farm near Barton Under Needwood. We'd like to thank everyone who attended last year's event for their support and hope they will join us in 2017 when we will, once again, be raising money for The Midlands Air Ambulance.

This year's event will take place on 15th and 16th July at Needwood Rise Farm DE13 8AP, near Barton Under Needwood just a few minutes off the A38. All profits will, again, be donated to The Midlands Air Ambulance. All the organisers are volunteers who spend their valuable time putting the event on. Please see our website for details."
http://www.bartonsteam.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/bartonsteam/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Curried Baked Cod With Spinach Rice

Sometimes you want a restaurant quality meal at home but without the expense of going to a restaurant and it is possible ! recently I've been working on my food presentation skills . I mean you know when you've been watching to much Masterchef when your husband says

" I'm ready for you to plate up now "

Ingredients 

Piece of cod or other such suitable fish enough for 3 /4 

Mild curry powder

Mango Chutney 

Lime leaves 

Method 

Now I'd run out of foil so I created a sort of steam bag with steam parcel with baking parchment.

I rubbed the cod with the mild curry powder , adding some mango chutney and added some Lime leaves .

This was Baked in the oven at 180c for about 25 minutes , whilst this was cooking I prepared some Spinach rice .

I just prepared some normal Basmatic rice then stirred in some Spinach it really is that simple .