WEDGWOOD V PINK

WEDGWOOD OR PINK -



































Yes, I know, it's an absolute crime to cover Wedgwood with this cosy (especially as my father's from Stoke-on-Trent). But I've wanted to make one of these for ages, and the colours do go well with my kitchen.

TROUBLE IN THE PARK

Hope now one minds if I have a moan today. I promise it won't happen again - honestly! However on the 2nd of the month my daughter was assaulted in our local park. As you can see its a rather beautiful place and has everything from a lovely pond with swans, standing stones and a play area for children of all ages. It is situated only a few yards from our house.

Last Friday a girl in the same school as my daughter dragged her to the floor and kicked and punched her and then spat all over her (ugh!). She wasn't particularly hurt and I thought it was just one of those scrapes that all kids of that age go through at least once in their lives. I wasn't too worried until I called into the school to mention it when they went back on the 6th.

Apparently the girl in question is known to have a lot of problems and it is thought that she is known to the police. She was sent to a special school that deals with these sort of things. However, and this is the unbelievable part, she clashed with another girl in this school and was sent back to mainstream school as they couldn't do anything with her! She is now housed in the 'Inclusion' centre at our local school, which is really the 'Exclusion Centre' to anyone with half a brain as it is a separate building, but they are not allowed to call it that as no child is allowed to be excluded from school (??!!). The school, by the way, were unable to help as the incident did not occur in school time. My daughter was worried she might bump into her again so the only thing I could do was contact the police. (I do not know the girls parents or where she lives).

The following weekend we took our daughter to a special police house which was set out just like a normal home and she had to give video evidence due to her age. The matter is now in the hands of the police.

What baffles me is the fact that this girl obviously has problems and needs help, yet everyone seems to have given up on her. In view of recent media coverage about vulnerable children being overlooked I thought maybe our system would have got a little better. After all, even though she is in no danger from anyone, she herself is a danger to other people - namely my daughter! I just hope that the police deal with the matter and that the girl is stopped from bullying any other children in the future.

I am beginning to wonder if school is a safe place to send our children. I feel like giving up my job and teaching my kids myself.

Am I being too dramatic or does any one else feel the same as me?

.......................................................................

Anyway, on a much lighter note, look what I have got. An absolutely huge piece of material for only 50p from the Cats Protection League. I was so pleased. I haven't a clue what to do with it yet, though I'm sure I will think of something. My Auntie does voluntary work at the CPL so I get to know all the bargains as soon as they arrive in the shop, but this has got to be the best bargain yet!

BAKE ME - I'M YOURS (CONTINUED...)

Day 2 was much better. The finished result wasn't too bad - not bad tasting either, even if I do say so myself. Bang goes the diet (again).

BAKE ME - I'M YOURS!

One of my Christmas presents from DH was this lovely book:

So this afternoon I set about making petal paste to model pink hearts for a recipe in the book. What a nightmare! First of all the paste wasn't stiff enough, so I added more icing sugar. Then it got stuck to the bowel, then my hands, the worktop, the rolling pin and then my hands again. I eventually managed to fashion one or two that could actually pass as hearts and they are now drying (hopefully).

Tomorrow I will bake the cakes and decorate them (this should be the easy part).

Next time I will buy ready made cake decorations!

MY FIRST SOCKS!!

I fancied a go at making socks. I have been knitting for years but for some reason I had always been put off with socks - I don't know why - so these were made on two needles and double knitting yarn (left over from my throw). They will probably make a good pair of bedsocks for someone!! I have now bought some specialised sock wool and started a 'proper' pair on a set of four needles. I will post a photo of the finished result when they are finished.

PANNETONE BREAD PUDDING

I needed to use up the Christmas and New Year leftovers this weekend, so I made this delicious recipe from Jamie Oliver's book The Naked Chef 2:

Ingredients:
1pt Milk
1pt Cream
1 Vanilla pod
170g Caster Sugar
Pannetone, thickly sliced & buttered
1 Orange, zested
3 tbs cognac
A Little Icing Sugar

Bring the milk and cream to the boil. Cut vanilla pod in half & scoop out seeds and add to the pan with the orange zest and cognac. Whisk eggs with the sugar until pale. Add to milk and cream mixture and remove vanilla pod.

Preheat oven to 160'C/Gas 3.

Dip each slice of pannetone into the custard mixture and pile into a buttered baking dish. Pour remaining custard slowly over bread. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Fill a roasting tin half full with boiling water and add the baking dish. Bake for approx. 45mins. When cooked it will have a slight crust on top, but will be slightly wobbly inside.

CUP CAKES GALORE

Hello everyone! and Happy New Year. I have not posted anything for a while as I have been rather busy, but I have been keeping up to date with everyone's blogs.

I just wanted to show you something that one of my daughters bought me for Christmas - a cup cake hook! I think it is probably to hang a tea towel from or something, but I am using it to hold my kitchen calender.

It goes with one or two other cup cakey things I have in my kitchen: