Freezing Cold Birthday Party

Yesterday, to celebrate my 7 year-old grandson's birthday his parents arranged a party at Dunstable Downs, a popular place to fly kites due to the favourable winds. The view of countryside from the top of the downs is spectacular, and The Visitor Centre serves refreshments and various items including books.

However, it was freezing yesterday and I was glad to make forays into the Visitor Centre to get warm. But the children, nine cousins, really enjoyed themselves and watching a flotilla of kites rise and dip was amazing.

What have you been doing this week?

Apart from writing and 'writerly activities' I caught up with the laundry, tidied the whole house, shopped, cooked and paid bills. Not very interesting. I also dealt with the workmen who put up scaffolding, and removed things from the walls, replaced drainpipes and guttering etc., etc. Definitely not interesting.

I read and reviewed My Heart Still Surrenders by Robbi Perna a fictional life of her Italian great-great-great grandmother a Contessa during the struggled to unify Italy,  and Love in the Afternoon by Penny Vincenzi a collection of short stories.

I supervised two of my grandchildren's swimming lessons, delighted by the progress both of them are making. (I think swimming lessons should be compulsory in schools.) 

I stayed overnight at my daughter's house so I  could give my 5 year-old granddaughter her birthday presents in the morning.

On Saturday night I stayed at one of my d-i-l's house to look after two of her children while she and her older son attended a quiz night at his secondary school. Before I went home we went to lunch at a Chinese vegetarian restaurant where we could eat as much as se wanted to. The food was delicious so it was hard not to over eat.

Today, I'm looking after my daughter's three children. This morning I took her younger son to play in a football match. His team won 4 - 1 and he saved half a dozen goals. His 5 year old sister, dressed in a green and yellow Tinkerbell Dress with pink Fairy wings fastened to it, had a drink and some biscuits in the club house. To occupy her I took her gigantic set of crayons, pencils and felt pens and a Princess Fairy colouring book.  She insisted on me doing some colouring. Deep sigh because I felt a fool sitting there colouring the little mermaid's face purple. She chose the colours, I did the hard work.

I returned to my daughter's house, gave them lunch  and then supervised homework. I've now allowed them to play on their gadgets until three p.m., when I'm sending them out to get some fresh air in the garden. Well, we might as well take advantage of the mild weather. At 4 p.m. the boys must finish their homework and then it will be some time before my daughter comes home, by which time they will probably be in bed.

So, what did you do this week?

Writing, Revision, Cliches

This morning I edited the revised chapter of my novel Monday's Child, the follow on novel from Sunday's Child set in the Regency. When I write I try not to use certain words too frequently, some of which are 'as', 'that,' 'because', and others. I also try to minimise my use of adverbs. However, I wasn't prepared for how many clichés had slipped into the chapter. I've removed them, read the chapter aloud and am now ready to write the next one.

Ladies' Drawers, Snuff Boxes, Regency Wedding Dress

Great fun researching my novel Monday's Child set in the Regency era. This morning I sat in bed with a pile of research books beside me working on my laptop.

Drawers were ankle length made in various materials and colours without a gusset, pin tucked and edged with lace at the hem. At first drawers were considered indecent. However, Princess Charlotte wore them and did not care if anyone glimpsed them.

Snuff boxes were made in gold, silver and other metals, tortoiseshell, semi-precious stones and various materials.. Some were engraved, others set with precious stones and, for example, mother of pearl. Those in the shape of naked ladies were popular with gentlemen.  These small snuff boxes sometimes had a tiny drawer in which a note or memento could be concealed. Others were miniature music boxes. The Prince Regent and many noblemen collected snuff boxes and displayed them in glass cabinets.

Finally, I chose the design for my heroine's wedding dress - more fun.

Recipe:Quck Sauce,Pasta,Couscous,soup, stew.

My tomato plants have produced abundantly this year so, this morning, I made huge pot of sauce to freeze for various uses.

The sauce is delicious on pasta and sprinkled with grated cheese. Sometimes I add slivered almonds and a few raisins to the sauce and serve it on couscous. And, the sauce makes a base for soup or stews.

Thick slices of the following vegetables.
1 medium leek.
4 medium carrots.
1 large red pepper.
A dozen mushrooms.
and 1 pound tomatoes.

I added a handful of basil leaves, half a handful of marjoram leaves, two tablespoons of tomato puree, a desert spoon of sugar, a teaspoon of salt and pepper and 1 pint of water.

I cooked it in the pressure cooker (but it can be simmered in a saucepan with a tight lid) and when all the vegetables were well cooked I put them in the liquidiser with the liquid.
After tasting it I added a little more salt.