By Alice | Published:
March 1, 2010

A little incense man from Germany, a gift, you put an incense cone inside his legs and smoke comes out of his mouth.

Pig lighter from Japan, you push back his hat and flames come out of his nose. Bought by me in Kiddy Land in 2003.

Alarm clock, not really nonsense, it belonged to my Japanese grandfather and he kept it on his dining room table. I consider that I co-own this with my sister. I guess the nonsense part is because it hasn’t worked properly since I inherited it, the time drifts. Perhaps my grandad used to adjust it often back to the correct time? I keep it as it reminds me of when I used to visit him on Saturday lunchtimes and we would eat Chinese food.

Ginko leaf from Japan. Now broken. I picked it up in November on the street where my great aunt lives.

I don’t mind that it is broken, that’s the way it goes with leaves.

Little farmers, from Berlin. Have to keep these away from the cats.

Argh, run farmers! Giant snail! The snail is from Womad festival, a gift from my sister who worked there one year.

Cake paper pad. A gift from Japan.

Mini camera, from Ireland. I am not sure how it works. It belonged to my great uncle, my aunt gave it to me.
This was fun to show things! I think I am going to keep show & tell as a regular topic.
Also posted in Show & tell |
By Alice | Published:
February 28, 2010



Out with February at last! It has felt like the longest month. I lost my creative inspiration somewhere in the middle of it, but I concentrated on cooking and reading, now I feel I’m back to usual and it’s great. These pictures are a rainbow from yesterday, lights and my fish fan from today.
By Alice | Published:
January 9, 2010
A brief pause in the snow pictures. I wanted to show some recent lucky finds.

This is the Larch bag by Valhalla Brooklyn. I thought as I was 30 it was about time I found a proper bag :) I had been looking for a squishy large-but-not-too-large bag that would age well for ages. It’s made really well and the leather is beautiful! So glad to have found THE bag at last and I am pleased it is handmade. One of my most useful Etsy purchases.

This is my current favourite shopping bag. It’s a Rilakkuma tote from Tokyu Hands, makes me smile. I keep it folded in my main bag until needed.

If it is raining really hard on my bike home I put the first bag inside this bag to keep it from getting too soaked.

I had been keeping my eye out for carpet bags on ebay and this kilim briefcase was about £15 including postage on ebay. I use it as my laptop bag.

I’m not sure it would be suitable for a really serious meeting :)
Also posted in Show & tell |
By Alice | Published:
January 2, 2010



Recipe: Pitta
500g strong white flour (plus some extra for dusting)
300ml warm water
2 tsp easy blend dried yeast
1.5 tsp caster sugar
1 tbsp mild olive oil
1 pinch salt
Heat the oven to 220 Celsius
- Mix the yeast, oil, and sugar into the warm water. Leave it to rest for a few minutes.
- Measure the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl, make a hole in the centre of the flour, pour the yeast, sugar, and water mixture into this. Mix well, then knead for about 6 minutes until it is a smooth elastic dough.
- Cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place to rise for 1-2 hours.
- Divide into 12 even pieces. Roll each piece out on a floured board into a flat oval, roughly 0.5cm high.
- Place onto two baking sheets and bake in the oven for 10 minutes until they are puffed up and very slightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and wrap them directly in the same damp tea towel until cool. This stops them getting crunchy.
PS. The Kitchen Aid, a gift. What a dream!! And in my favourite colour :)
Also posted in Cooking, Savoury |
By Alice | Published:
December 24, 2009



HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!
I hope yours is a good one :)