Bringing the outside in : makeover challenge

I spend my life outside due to a number of factors being a sports parent going to watch my son play rugby and football. Cycling to and from work , pleasure to relax,

I adore nature and the happiness that it brings.

There is nothing better than the wind on your face, and the sun warming your heartland soul. And when I am home and I am in my dining room I want to bring the outside in and the inside outside. I love having a fushion of the two.

But unfortunately the dining room had become a dumping ground for the want of a better word.

When we moved in the garden was an overgrown wilderness as the house had been abandoned for 2 years. We spent time taming it , the lawn became home to a set of goalposts. So we left the established shrubs seeing as they could take the punishment of a football and children trampling over them to get the ball back. Now he's older and the goalposts have gone ( he plays for the village football team) we can start to inject some colour back the garden.

I also want this theme to flow back into my dining room as well. So with armed with a few items thanks to Moneysupemarket and working with what I already had. I Hope to have created a little oasis a "me" space for quiet contemplation even when the weather is too wet to go outside I have my own little piece of England . The picnic basket awaits by the patio door, the herbs are waiting to grow , the flowers (will) rise majestic from my Emma Bridgewater vase. 

A copy of Winnie the Pooh sit underneath the Arts and Craft table ready to inspire a whole new generation of new readers and to kindle the memories of those who have read it before or been read it. Everyone at least once in their lives must play "Pooh Sticks"

The plant table was a find from the other week.

The picnic baskets I already had.

The teddy is a childhood friend and toy.

The cushion is from my best friend ( who knows me all too well and is a human barometer)

The Emma Bridgewater vase was £29.99

The herb set was £10.00

The words were £10

And the labour for all this was free ( my husband was more than willing )

Crispy Pollock fish fingers in tortilla salad wraps recipe

Crispy pollock fish fingers in tortilla salad wraps with McCain French Fries
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 5 mins Cooking time: 20 mins
Ingredients:

•   400g fresh pollock fillet cut into 8 strips
  
•   1 egg, beaten
  
•   100g cornflakes, crushed finely
  
•   480g McCain French Fries
  
•   Salad leaves and baby tomatoes
  
•   Cooked peas
  
•   Dollop of mayonnaise
  
•   4 Tortilla wraps
  
  
  
  Method:
  

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C / Gas Mark 9.
   
2. Place the crushed cornflakes in a dish.
   
3. Dip each fish strip into the egg and then into the crumbs to coat the pieces evenly.
   
4. Place the fish strips on a lightly oiled oven sheet.
   
5. Bake in the oven with the McCain French Fries for approx 15-20 minutes.
   
6. When the fish is cooked, take each tortilla and spread with some mayonnaise, salad
   leaves, baby tomatoes and a few peas, add two fish fingers to each and make a roll.
   
7. Enjoy with McCain French Fries. 

We enjoyed this recipe and it just goes to show you you can have homemade food alongside oven fries creating that going out experience inside.

Disclosure ( I was provided with the ingredients for this review and my opinions are own and not biased in any way )

Silent Sunday Bank holiday edition

High days and holidays

Today was high days and holidays I climbed up Derby Cathedral tower and took a lot of pictures , far too many to exhibit in one post so I am going to have to do them over a number of posts. Its amazing how many pictures you can take when you are out and about. SO here is a selection of photos somewhat out of sequence nothing can beat the quintessential English cup of tea served in fine bone china, and what tea without a piece of cake in this cake Bakewell Tart.

As I previously mentioned I climbed the tower at Derby Cathedral some 189 steps on the journey up we saw the room where the bell ringers meet under the spider of bell ropes.

Derby Cathedral tower.

At this point I was sitting down as vertigo took over, usually i am fine with heights but my legs just started to wobble and I couldn't look up!

Cheese and crackers

Today is my husbands birthday .

Today was my supermarket delivery.

On Tuesday the supermarket tried to deliver 24 blocks of cheese and 2 tubs of margarine, bemused I sent it back. I hadn't placed this order.

1. I had no crackers.

2. I had no pickle.

On Wednesday I placed an ordered for a romantic Chinese and wine evening along with some floor cleaner. I tell you romance is't dead in this household ....

So come today which is ( counts on fingers Friday) what turned up on my doorstep which I hadn't ordered .. You guessed it "Bloody cheese" again. 

Once I was past the sobbing stage I sent the cheese back, I was informed my Chinese order wasn't coming despite an email to the contrary . I rang my husband  to inform him "Can you please pick up your own birthday meal"

So 5 phone calls later I am still trying to sort it out , hoping I haven't been charged for 48 blocks of cheese and 4 tubs of margarine. I am also praying I haven't been charged for the Chinese food that never turned up.

Anyone for a giant fondue party ???

OOOh the supermarket that will be Online retailer of the year: Tesco.....