5 in 5

I've joined Sandie at Itchifingers for October's "5 in 5" photo challenge.  Five photos taken in five minutes posted on the 5th of the month (day late as I didn't have my laptop with me on our weekend away).

These were taken at a recent visit to the Essex Wildlife Conservation centre at Langdon Hills in Essex after a lovely spot of lunch at the Bell at Horndon on the Hill.

I can't believe this gorgeous butterfly let me hone in on him without flying off in terror

 This stunning nature reserve is set in 461 acres of woodland, meadows, lakes and former plotland gardens where many species of butterflies, fungi, lichen and mosses are to be found as well as an abundance of wild flowers and colourful hedgerows.

The plot lands were originated back in the early 1900s when families were encouraged to move from London out into the countryside of Essex to work the land and build their own small homes. Many advertising campaigns offered free train tickets and free champagne to lure people towards a "healthy life in the countryside with breathtaking views overlooking the Estuary" and where plots could be purchased at a cost of about £6. Most plot-landers grew their own fruit and vegetables as well as keeping livestock such as chickens, goats and pigs. A museum of plot land life is housed within this Conservation centre and gives an insight into the living conditions of the families who settled here. More information here

Thanks to Sandie for this fun challenge.

See you soon

Celebrations afoot.....

Firstly many thanks to all you lovely people who left comments on my last post about the celebrations for my Graduation. I am so grateful for your lovely messages which meant the world to me.

My baby girl turned 40 last  Sunday - I just cant believe where all those years have gone.

 A surprise party organised by her partner on Saturday meant I needed to get her out of the house for most of the day. We visited a new (to us) antiques centre near Chelmsford and before  having coffee, managed to buy myself a lovely set of bone handled knives and forks which I'd wanted for ages and a bargain I thought at £12.

We then did a bit more girlie shopping in Chelmsford and then later on to Leigh on Sea for Afternoon tea in the 1930s style Parlour Tearoom at one of my favourite shops called Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

Our birthday girl - Emma

It was stunning and very quintessentially English -  where we enjoyed dainty finger sandwiches, scones, home made cake and lots of frivolous fancies - a wonderful afternoon.

The surprise party went down well and we all had a fantastic time - so much so that I hardly took any pictures.

We were very lucky with the weather - fortunate really as some of the 

70 guests were able to spill out into the garden later

The following day was actually her birthday and what better way to celebrate than with a spot of bubbly while opening her presents

which went down very well indeed for those of us watching!

All in all a fabulous weekend celebrated with all of our family and friends.

The Celebrations are not completely over though - John and I celebrate our 43rd Wedding Anniversary today and spending the weekend with some very good friends down in Sussex. More about that another time.

Bye for now - have a wonderful weekend.

My Graduation

Apart from my wedding day and the birth of my two children, yesterday was undoubtedly the proudest day of my life. From start to finish I had THE most wonderful day. It was held at the Barbican Theatre in the City of London and I couldn't have been more pleased that this was my venue.

I treasured my family being there with me

to share my special day

Son Jonathan

Daughter Emma

and hubby John

The weather couldn't have been better, the sun shone all day

After the ceremony the respective partners joined us for a surprise visit to Claridges in the West End for cocktails

before dining at  

A fabulous day with some wonderful memories.

Bye for now and have a great weekend

x

The tide's out

Making the most of some late summer sun we recently took an early evening stroll to our local fishing village at Leigh on Sea which takes on a whole different look when the tide's out.

Where fishing boats patiently await the return of the next tide to 

bring home another fine catch

and where the crunchy cockleshell beach is left in the tide's wake

Meanwhile, the fishing nets are hung out to dry 

plenty of rust and rope lying around the various nooks and crannies

 The many cobbled streets

take you to little alleyways which overlook the harbour

and the shore beyond

On dry land an abundance of fish and seafood stalls welcome visitors
where locally caught cockles, mussels, winkles and crab can be eaten



and where plenty of old fishermen's cottages line the streets





Sadly it's time to say goodnight to Punch and Judy




before lighting up time

and of course we couldn't miss some early evening sustenance 

before making our way home

Back again soon

x

Leftovers

I normally cook a Sunday roast most weekends and very often use the leftovers to make either a Shepherds/Cottage pie, depending on whether its lamb or beef. Chicken is normally turned into a pasta and chicken bake or something similar. Today however, I've made some Rissoles. I haven't made these for a long time. In fact I used to have a Jimmy Young Cook book back in the 70s which was very popular at the time, all the recipes coming from members of the public and cobbled together to produce a selection of everyday meals - my rissoles being one of them. This book hasn't been around for years and like many other obsolete items in our house is probably in the dark depths of my loft - another story.

By courtesy of Google

My sisters and I are in the throes of putting together a cook book of all the meals we can remember from our childhood that our mum used to make us as well as our own favourite recipes we've cooked or baked over the years. This, we intend passing onto our own children, to be passed on and on and on. More about this another time when finally published/printed.........

Anyway my sister happened to still have her Jimmy Young book and I was delighted to find the old recipe for rissoles and I took a photo of the recipe on my phone.

So here it is...

Savoury Rissoles

12 ozs leftover minced cooked meat
2 tomatoes
1 onion chopped (I blitzed the tomatoes and onions together in food processor to make them finer)
1 tablespoon dry sage and onion stuffing mix
2 standard eggs, separated
3ozs fresh white breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon gravy browning
salt and pepper

Method

Mix the minced meat with the tomatoes, onion, stuffing mix and gravy powder. If the mixture is too dry add a little water, then bind together with the two yolks and one egg white. Season to taste. Roll with floured hands into little sausage shapes then dip in the egg white and roll in the breadcrumbs. Fry in a little oil until golden brown. Serve with creamed potatoes and peas or mushrooms.

I halved the quantities for the two of us but I found the mixture very moist so added a bit of flour. I didn't have any gravy browning so that might have helped. Definitely wouldn't use all the egg and probably next time would add more stuffing mix. Trial and error comes to mind.

So here they are (not quite the sausage shapes intended) just about to go in the fridge to firm up before cooking tonight. 

See you soon x

What the heck....

If any of my neighbours were looking out of their windows this morning they'd have wondered what the heck I was doing - watering my garden when we'd just had a heavy shower of rain!!

Well there is an explanation. My garden is overshadowed by about 15 - 20 very tall and very mature conifer trees planted by our neighbours over the back before we came here over thirty years ago. We've always had problems with the grass drying out in the summer where the roots suck up any moisture. Added to which, the trees drop their needles and a sticky sap all over the plants and paved area which in turn can kill some weaker plants.

A consequence of which, after many years of plants not growing or failing to survive, we dug up the back border and had a 2ft block paving strip put in so that we could plant our shrubs in pots and which we could change around as and when necessary.

It works quite well most of the time

However, because our back garden faces north - the sun is drawing the darn trees over the garden fence and creating a roof-like structure

and when we sit on the garden bench this is what we see

So - not only does the rain not go anywhere near my pots, but the roots from the trees dry out the lawn. I love my garden and to be fair the trees do provide a great deal of privacy but they are a pain. The people do have them lopped every two years but only about 4 or 5 foot which does give us a bit of light back but doesn't solve the problem.

 We've only got a small garden and like to use every bit of space so we've learnt to make the most of the other aspects of the garden which is taking on a very Autumnal feel about it now.

and I've just finished planting up my winter flowering Pansies, Cyclamen and some lovely heathers.

I do like a bit of colour outside to take me through the winter months.

 That's all for now and I'll see you again soon.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post - I really do appreciate them.

x