Slack

So I never got round to posting about Barcelona... suffice to say we had a great time and Gaudi is cool. Since then I have been busying myself with things like CV overhauls, job applications, Spanish exams and roller derby practice. I'm really enjoying it all but boy am I tired! I have two more Spanish lessons left this term, then the summer off. I can't wait. Then I need to get planning for our trip to Morocco!

And here they are...

Roller Derby!

A few local teams have been holding taster sessions so the other day me and a friend took ourselves off to have a go. After we had managed to stop ourselves running away in fear at the last minute, we had a right larf. It was really badly organised and we didn't get to skate for long due to the shortage in hire equipment but I've ordered my first pair of skates at the ripe old age of 25 and am heading to another team's session on Sunday! I have already bought some sparkly gold laces for my boots.

There can't be anything better than getting to dress up like a little emo in full war paint and a really short skirt then skating round a track where you're supposed to push people over, right? All that, and I get to use a scary name too! Watch out girls, Blunt Force Norma is coming to get you...

Once I have learnt to skate.

Swings and Roundabouts

Long time no type, old friend internet. I have been away on travels again, this time to Barcelona. Photos and musings to follow of course, but as usual life has been getting in the way of me telling you about it. Picking up some sort of lurgy while I was there didn't help.

Before I went away I had an interview for my line manager's job. I didn't get it. I didn't really want it. But now I don't really want to be here (want to be here even less?)!! The days go by slowly but thankfully this malaise has lead to a burst of enthusiasm for applying for other jobs. I could so easily get demotivated and apathetic, I am so lucky my mind doesn't work that way.

Onward!

I marvel that anyone has the time and motivation (and patience) for things like this, but glad that they do so that I can stare at them in wonderment. My favourites are 15, 24 and 38.

 http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/easter-eggs#slide_1

Los viajes

Next week I'm off to Barcelona for a few days with el chico and his fam. I've been studying Spanish for 2 years now (although I skipped a level as I wanted to learn faster and I'm arrogant- I have progressed very quickly but as a result my vocab has suffered) and the pressure is going to be on!

I have an iPod touch and look around for apps to help with Spanish occasionally but there never seem to be any particularly good ones- until now. I read about this one somewhere and can honestly say it's really good- it has an offline dictionary and phrasebook without taking up too much memory and has an awesome word game!

Ooooh I haven't posted for a wee while! Mostly because I haven't had anything to post about, but here is my own recipe for a pie I'm sure tasted yummy, because it all got eaten before I got any :(

As it's my own recipe, measurements are really just down to judgement/preference. This recipe makes a pie that fits a standard-looking pie dish (28cm ish?)

Ham and Mushroom Pie

Filling:

3 handfuls gammon/ham, cooked and diced (cured/smoked gammon gives more flavour)

10 medium sized mushrooms

couple of handfuls of peas

2-3 diced carrots

1 large/2 small onions, diced

knob of butter

1 tbsp plain flour

200-300ml milk

bay leaf

nutmeg

Worcestershire sauce

Pastry:

150g cold butter, cubed

300g plain flour

water

Method:

Sweat onions and carrots in a bit of oil or butter until soft. Add ham, mushrooms and peas and heat through. Melt knob of butter in a large saucepan and stir in tbsp flour to make a roux, then add milk slowly and stir until there are no lumps. Pop in the bay leaf, grated nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning and bring to the boil to thicken (i.e. bechamel sauce). Stir in the ham and mushroom mixture and make sure everything is cooked. Add more cornflour (dissolved in a bit of water) if it's not thick enough. Transfer to pie dish and cool.

To make the pastry, put the butter and flour int a food processor. Whizz until breadcrumb-like txture is acheived then add water slowly until mixture comes together. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for min. 20 mins.

Preheat the oven to Gas 6-7ish, roll out the pastry and whack it on top of the pie. Then do pretty things with the pastry and give it an egg wash. I think it took about 40 mins in the oven, and it's a good idea to put the pie dish on a baking tray to catch any leaks!