tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70534278134546582722024-03-13T21:16:22.023+00:00Doris MashLife is a bowl of mashed potato:<br>
Sometimes lumpy; sometimes smooth and creamy;<br>
and sometimes it has interesting bits in it!Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.comBlogger499125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-88365792816408580172018-06-30T09:52:00.000+01:002018-07-11T10:39:50.997+01:00Blogging, Life and the UniverseOnce upon a time we were wedded to our blogs. Followed others with great passion from the safety of anonymous keyboards though with a genuine sense of care and affection. Then we move on and what happens to those bloggers, what happened to me?
At least two of those bloggers have passed on, one I knew in real life. My children are adults and live independently. Mr Doris and I celebrate 20 years Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-26044135915618908362014-02-09T02:17:00.000+00:002014-02-09T02:17:35.566+00:00Only two weeksIt is hard to believe it is only two weeks or so since I posted here as so much seems to have happened. It is just me morphing again like some creature from the beyond, or something in a boggy mire. Nothing specific as yet, just punching boundaries from within. Pushing outwards and shaking foundations. Positive vibrations though all a little unclear. A little fragile desperately hoping that none Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-43457904548168723052014-01-20T07:48:00.001+00:002014-01-20T07:48:37.375+00:00New day, new week
x x
New day, new week.
Every moment is a chance to start afresh.
Every moment is a chance to discover something new.
Every moment is a chance to count one's blessings.
Every moment is a chance to smile and love.
That moment is Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-60438636734193854542014-01-19T09:05:00.000+00:002014-01-19T09:05:18.683+00:00Off daysWe all have off days. Some to more of an extent than others. I have had the jolly fun of being off from the eve of my birthday then ok again then off again during my birthday and so forth for the days since. My shoulder is causing me pain on and off which I know is bound to be demoralising. I just feel crud and miserable but I am good at putting on a happy face when I have to. Reminds me of the Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-61763617649278884162014-01-10T21:57:00.000+00:002014-01-10T21:57:28.275+00:00The Railway Man
What a way to kick off my commitment to visit the cinema once a month this year with my delightful Mr Doris by going to an afternoon showing of a film on the very day of its release in the UK! I am not sure I have ever seen a film on its first day and am doubly delighted to find that by going to the afternoon showing it cost £6 per person rather than the £9 price tag of a cinema seat.
We have Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-25904900466278213872014-01-09T22:18:00.000+00:002014-01-10T20:29:32.923+00:00Gift of breadmakingShe could have done as I have and watched TV programmes and then youtubes and then found a recipe and had a go. Instead I was asked to give her a lesson in making bread which is what I did.
I brought my bowl and and yeast and scrapers and baking tin and liner. She bought a bag of white bread flour. I also brought a little bread making booklet free out of a newspaper and given to me by one of my Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-72007664831365059832014-01-06T11:20:00.000+00:002014-01-06T11:20:25.630+00:00Do birds understand traffic?Driving my daughter to work takes me along a busy narrow winding country road. This morning there was a crow and a sparrow-like bird pecking at the carcass of a perhaps a rabbit or some small animal in the middle of my side of the road. Being early all the cars had their head lights on though it was not dark. As I rounded the bend and saw the birds ahead of me I slowed slightly but also hoped Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-86858141200255019312014-01-05T06:58:00.001+00:002014-01-05T06:58:51.048+00:00Incognito bloggingThank goodness for the unused Chrome browser on my computer when it came to showing my 16 year old niece how to set up a blog. When I tried to show her on my regular Firefox and then tried the IE I hope her eyesight did not catch the name of my blog url as it flashed up on the suggested list as I tried to enter the blogger url.
Then there is the whole way that Google has inveigled itself across Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-84596130500600245732013-12-31T09:28:00.000+00:002013-12-31T09:28:36.107+00:00Looking forward to 2014Looking forward to 2014 requires reflection on the year that was. 2013 will forever be one of those significant years in my life. Not one of those years where the memory of it turns to mush in an oblivion of the same old tunes.
First and foremost this is a year about life and living and making the most and new possibilities and ever evolving. Ironically it took the death of a very close friend Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-14548335323468802162013-12-30T22:30:00.000+00:002013-12-31T07:50:03.187+00:00Family BirthdayBirthdays mixed in with festival times can be so unfair. The festival takes priority and sadly the birthday can become a bit of an afterthought. There was one significant year where I managed to pull out all the stops which took a great deal of focused planning and hijacked the festival event. So it is possible but when the person is an adult and does not seem to be bothered it does make it Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-53785873824008154752013-12-29T18:37:00.001+00:002013-12-29T18:37:49.581+00:00Time fliesThis morning we said good bye to the first of our friends staying with us for this Christmas. Where did the time fly? It just feels like it was all over too soon and I could quite happily have it last a bit longer.
Tomorrow I am back to work for the middle part of the day and then it will be all hands to organising the big New Year's party at my sister's house. This evening we are meeting up at Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-21329547956484393642013-12-28T16:05:00.000+00:002013-12-29T18:28:11.497+00:00Dressing gown dayIt was one of those days I knew I was going to take it easy but not that easy. Dressing gown on all day cosied up on the sofa with a friend also in her dressing gown catching up on all the unwatched programmes from this Christmas season with bountiful chocolates and an array of alcoholic beverages to titillate our taste buds.
Some days in our lives need that sort of treatment.Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-30600031776529115862013-12-27T20:54:00.001+00:002013-12-27T20:54:10.697+00:00Family TimeAfter a lovely day and evening of togetherness on Boxing Day we meet up again for lunch at a local grill then back to ours for the cheese board we did not have room for the previous day then out again to a pub in a Tudor manor house for mulled cider then home again for more port and sherry and whiskey liquor with games of Balderdash. Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-37167900909389813052013-12-26T22:39:00.002+00:002013-12-26T22:39:46.691+00:00Amuse Bouche FeastQuick word after an amazing feast with family and friends. Six courses later including an amuse bouche, we couldn't quite make the cheese board. Fancy dress was a huge success and much merriment was had. Very contented. Much satisfaction and another glorious Christmas.
Happy Christmas!Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-33380776762797230402013-12-25T14:30:00.001+00:002013-12-25T14:30:28.151+00:00Ciabatta ChristmasIt has been a topsy turvy Christmas with us all opening our Secret Santa presents on Christmas Eve. It was brilliant and worked out fab even for the youngest of us all. So far opinion seems to be that we should do it again next year.
This left a Christmas morning where present opening was not the focus. Nor was a cooked breakfast as I decided it was superfluous and a simple croissant breakfast Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-12699025528990156722013-12-24T17:36:00.001+00:002013-12-24T17:36:24.365+00:00Christmas EveThere is that delightful time in the early afternoon when finally home with the last lot of shopping knowing that anything forgotten will now have to be managed without. The turkey has been botoxed with a marinade I have made from scratch and various other items from the menu have been prepared in advance. I keep making and cooking and dear Mr Doris keeps washing up after me and emptying the binsDorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-31615213861850836392013-12-23T23:20:00.000+00:002013-12-23T23:22:38.489+00:0024 hours12.05am At supermarket in next town purchasing large turkey
01.15am Lying in bed trying to sleep but thinking over menus and recipes
05.10am Wake up feeling awake and refreshed finalising menu for Boxing day
07.55am Collect daughter and drive her to work
08.40am At local supermarket purchasing vegetables and other items for festive dinners
09.15am Home and sorting vegetables to store in boot of Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-43802463668286681822013-12-22T21:23:00.001+00:002013-12-23T05:42:02.897+00:00My favourite holiday decorationThis is it, my favourite holiday decoration that has come out every year for the past decade and a half. It is a Playmobil advent calendar originally sent to my children from Germany by a very close friend but at that time I felt the kids were just too young to respect the small bits so I kept it in storage. And then forgot about it. And then one day had the sublime pleasure of rediscovering it. Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-69842807254192677532013-12-21T06:58:00.001+00:002013-12-21T06:58:15.861+00:00Two more work days until ChristmasSaturday is not normally a work day for me but here I am, covering for someone today. On the way I shall pick up the apprentice at 8.40am for a 9am start. As no-one really clocked that I was in today I have a very quiet schedule so I am hoping that maybe I can wangle a small treatment for myself. That would be a treat.
Whereas Monday is just ridiculous with almost every moment from 10.30am Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-80023077119064902852013-12-20T07:39:00.001+00:002013-12-20T07:39:33.005+00:00Dreamtime reunionIt was a traffic jam of the total gridlock variety and we were trying to get to a special event though I am not sure what. Phone calls were going back and forth about our delay and then we were walking and came upon a crescent of grand terrace buildings one of which someone had recently (in my dream?) been telling me they could buy for £275 grand. More like millions it should have been. It was a Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-17706479919046580192013-12-19T07:07:00.000+00:002013-12-19T07:07:58.834+00:00Suck it to me babyCould this be the day that I finally get on with clearing the decks rather than being distracted by cooking? Bit by bit, purchases in the post have brought the vacuum storage bags, the vacuum adapter that did not fit the vacuum, and finally a portable pump to do the job.
The task has begun of reducing the contents of our apartment by a sizeable amount into a series of vacuumed packages that canDorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-48351576905371260192013-12-18T23:17:00.002+00:002013-12-18T23:17:20.035+00:00Surprise coffee and cakeIt is not everyday that you meet up with a blast from the past. Earlier my sister called me out of the blue to join her for coffee and cake in one of our town's new establishments. It was great to catch up as we walked together rather than the recent bare few words managed around each of our busy schedules.
The proprietor of the establishment is a former client of mine and she remembered me and Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-16240475021406892842013-12-17T08:19:00.000+00:002013-12-17T15:14:49.148+00:00Anatomy of a great recipe
With making a Christmas fruit cake in mind, online recipes mainly call for a list of ingredients as long as your arm. Requiring some serious printing out in order to make sure you have it all which entails buying obscure items that you only need half the quantity and that then sit in the back of your cupboard until the next clear out. Even if it wasn't Christmas cake, my eyes usually glaze overDorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-84265623442911901292013-12-16T07:27:00.000+00:002013-12-16T07:27:53.105+00:00Homemade baked cheescake for breakfast
It was more like 4am when I was wide awake so I made a cup of tea and tried another slice of the cheesecake I made yesterday in preparation for our Boxing Day feast. The idea is to mash it all up and to create tiny lollipops on sticks to freeze as part of the nibbles for the chocolate fountain.
This is the first time I have made a baked cheesecake and opted for the water bath/bain marie methodDorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7053427813454658272.post-28215758799008842072013-12-15T07:16:00.000+00:002013-12-15T07:16:25.897+00:00Cleaning the silver and menu planningUsually by about now, I have written up the menus for Christmas and Boxing Days and pulled out the ingredients list to check what is in the store cupboard and what needs to be shopped. It usually feels comfortable and organised and about right and not at all hysterical or panicking. After all, a catering establishment would usually plan ahead to make sure items were in stock and the facilities Dorishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073379610501763461noreply@blogger.com3