The secret life of me...

If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?

Probably nothing - I think I'd be pretty upset though - I'm very scared of what pregnancy would be like for me....

Do you trust all of your friends?

Of course not - but as long as we all know that, I don't think it's a problem.

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?

Not sure really - I think that something good can probably come out of most things, though, of course, there will be lots of times when it doesn't outweigh the bad.
I confess that I can be a bit Pollyanna about that stuff...

Can you make a dollar in change right now?

Don't think so - I've never been to anywhere that they use dollars, so I probably don't have any - LBF might have some though

Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?

Quite a lot of my schoolfriends actually are - not sure I'd want to wake up on an operating table and see any of them there, but am sure that they're very competent.

What naughty word do you use too often?

Actually, I don't very often, except to LBF and in the privacy of my own car

Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?

Of course

What's your most favourite scar?

LBF has a couple on his face from when a dog tried to eat him when he was little - they are very sexy

When was the last time you flew in a plane?

October - we went to Italy for a wedding.

What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?

Dunno really - my LBF is the most attractive thing I've ever met - it's quite hard to imagine looking for things in other boys.

Fill in the blank. I love __________.

My LBF and to sing.

What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?

I'd like to be a full time singer.

If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call?

LBF.

Where was your favourite picture taken?

There's one in my parents' living room of me, when I was about 8 with someone who I really loved.
There's also a great one of LBF holding a biiiiig prawn

Honestly, what's on your mind right now?

That I should stop doing this time wasting and get into (oh - and run) the bath.

If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?

I might do a different degree.
No, actually, no.
Nothing - I wouldn't change anything.

What are you wearing right now?

A white Tshirt that I quite spectacularly spilled sweet chilli sauce down earlier

Ever had a bar fight?

No - no fight at all.

Who knows you the best?

LBF - though I think I'm probably a bit of an open book anyway, I think

What have you bought, so far this week?

Basil and parsley.
Oh - and 25 malteaster rabbits (before my lenten non-spendage resolution kicked in).

Did you get in a fight with someone today?

No, I didn't.

When was the last time you had a massage?

Never - I'm not a big fan of that stuff.

Last person to see you cry?

Almost certainly LBF - not something I do in public.

What was the last TV show you watched?

Am vaguely watching Question Time now.

Who was the last person you hung out with?

LBF.

Have you ever taken a peek at someone else's diary?

No - do people still have those?

... about my non-money-spending resolution, as there are so many things here that LBF would love...

Poor boy - no presents for 40 days

Six names you go by
- Jennie
- Hey you
-
Ummmm.... Can't think of any others - how dull!

Three things you are wearing right now
- pants
- tights
- cardigan

Two things you want very badly at the moment
- To be happy
- To make my LBF happy

Two things you did last night
- Watched Masterchef
- Made (and ate) purple sprouting broccoli pasta with anchovies

Three favourite beverages
- Fizzy water
- Diet coke
- Wine (that's a bit unspecific - I do have preferences)

Two things you ate today
- Porridge
- Rhubarb

Two people you last talked to on the phone
- LBF
- Brian in New York

Two things you are going to do tomorrow
- Give stuffs up for Lent
- Have rehearsal

Two things you are not good at
- Saying no
- Not spilling things on myself...

Look what I found

No prizes for guessing what I'll be doing tonight

... of Jennie's Lenten Intentions

I am going to give up:
- Chocolate
- Sweets (other than glucose sweets where necessary)
- Cake
- Bikkits
- Crisps
- Takeaways
- Spending unnecessary money - I will still buy food, singing lessons and toiletries (replacing run out things only) - birthday presents etc are exempt.

Shouldn't be too traumatic (except for the last one) as they're mainly smallish things in my life anyway

Am also going to try to do more good things - people suggested blood donations, which I used to do, but am not allowed any more - am thinking of maybe increasing charity donations for the period, or maybe giving to some different charities. I also think that perhaps, during Lent, it would be a good idea to do (at least) one conscious good deed every day - they can basically be anything (large or small) as long as they are GOOD!
Suggestions welcome

You may need to remind me about resolutions occasionally...

So I've been thinking about what might be the best thing for a Jennie to give up for Lent...
I always used to do this when I was younger (and went to church more often, probably...) - I loved the challenge and the fact that it kind of proved my willpower.

I used to give up chocolate, sweets, crisps, cake and biscuits - that kind of thing - I'm quite prepared to do that again, but am slightly concerned that I don't really eat enough of those thing to make it a proper challenge (though I'm sure it would be hard enough if it came to it) - am basically intending to do these ones, but am wondering what other things I could chuck in to make it a bit more interesting - totally open to suggestions...

One of my options is definitely Diet Coke - I'm a proper addict (that'd be the caffeine, I guess ). My reservations (apart from the fact that it would be difficult and that I'd feel like crap for the first week) is that, apart from a couple of cans of diet coke a day, I only drink water (litres and litres of the stuff) and I'm a bit reluctant to get rid of the only variety I really get - I don't like hot drinks and anything sugar is basically out of the question in the normal run of things (which eliminates tasty fruit juices and things).....

LBF suggested that I gave up the car, which is a nice ethical plan, but I'm not wild about giving up potential trips to Suffolk (and any emergencies that might arise) - and also - on reflection, I think our Highland weekend might be in the middle of Lent, so we'd be stuck in Inverness airport for four days if we had no transport... I think I might have to just try to cut down on car use instead.

So - ideas please people - prizes available for best suggestions

Ooh - and all this, of course, means that Tuesday must be Pancake Day - hurrah and calloooo callay!!!

Good weekend, people?

I was at school with this girl.

She's a sweetheart and (of course) doesn't remotely deserve any of the horrible things that have been happening to her.
But she's been so positive and so good at making the best of things and using it to raise money for charity and things.

It seems to make this article even more upsetting - she's right - it does seem crazy - though I guess there's no problem if it really is what she wants.

Crappy old Sunday Mirror barely even mention her charity though, which I'm certain was part of the point in doing the interview.

...though I'd like to assure everyone that I didn't do the googling necessary to find this....

Though I'm sure you've seen them already

I saw some lovely ones at Colchester Zoo last summer - they were smaller than these - they were only just opening their eyes...

1. In 1935 Caroline Mikkelsen was the first women to set foot in Antarctica. Where is the one place in the world you'd like to visit?

Greenland - am desperately keen - is 'spensive though - There's a fabulous igloo village hotel you can stay in and everything.
If not possible, would also quite like to go to the IceHotel near the Northern Lights - can stay in IceHotel for one night and then glass roofed igloos for another few
Big undertaking though - will have to be rich first...

2. February 20th is the birthday of Ivana Trump. Would you marry someone just to get (or help someone else to get) a passport like Ivana did?

Maybe, though my LBF wuldn't be wild about it, I think.
I have a couple of friends who have done it.

3. On February 20th 2005 the world said good bye to actress Sandra Dee. In the movie of your life who would play you?

The movie of my life would be extremely boring
Not sure who I'd want - someone cool - they don't have to look like me, right?
Maybe Thora Birch - what happened to her?

4. February 20th is also the birthday of Leonore Cohn Rosenstiel Annenberg, American billionaire and former Chief of Protocol of the U.S. If money was no object what one item would you buy?

I'd pay for the PG Opera course that I want to do and give up my job. I guess I'd pay off my mortgage too, so that I could live rent free and maybe buy some food, so I could eat during the two years of the course...

5. Complete this sentence: "I think the best female role-model of all time is..."

... a difficult call to make.
Often the people who have made significant feminist breakthroughs (think Margaret Thatcher...) are not the type of people I'd like to emulate on a personal level. However - it's obviously extremely important that these hard-headed battle-axe types have cleared the way for the rest of us, so that we can achieve and rise to the top without having to compromise our personalities.

We ate the remainder of yesterday's cookalong curry efforts, which was very good, though I burnt my tongue in a fit of foolishness and it's now quite sore

I have (mostly) made an oxtail stew for tomorrow - is smelling pretty good, but I think it could use another hour or so in the oven probably - hopefully LBF will be back from the pub in time to take it out again, as I'd very much like to be asleep by then...

Am suffering from too much lethargy to get into shower and wash hair - not so clever.

Still - is payday tomorrow, so things are basically good.

Hope everyone else is ok

This is rather worrying

We've been cooking along with Allegra in the Guardian today...

I did the cookings and LBF was in charge of the technical computering (and drinking) side

Results as follows:

Om nom nom - was good

Am so stuffed I can barely move...

Have just eaten crab claws in chilli and ginger sauce with enormous pile of courgette and kohlrabi, final bit of cranachan icecream and a big fat chocolate...
Am stuffed

Is too hard to wash up, so am watching bad TV while I contemplate the best way to approach it.

Kitties are sleeping too - we're a big pile of lethargy here...

Am contemplating the wisdom of baklava...

OK -basic loaf (2 medium loaves or any number of rolls depending on size):

2lbs strong white bread flour (or wholemeal if you prefer, though, for brown bread, a mix is much easier to deal with - totally brown is quite hard to make work - white is the easiest).
2 tsp salt
2 tsp easyblend/dried yeast (or fresh) - I usually just use whole sachet of easyblend if that's what you have.
1 pt warm water (not hot - about body temp is fine)
2 fl oz oil (veg or olive or whatever)

Mix dry ingredients (inc yeast)
Add water and mix it in to a dough (easiest with hands)
Knead for about 10 mins - hard work
Stick back in bowl and cover with damp teatowel (or clingfilm or something airtight) and stick in warm place (I use airing cupboard type place) for 1 or 1.5 hours to rise (until about twice as big as it was.
Knock back dough and shape into loaves or rolls as preferred.
Cover again and stick in warm place for another half hour or so.
Bake at 220ish for 20/30 mins or so (depending on size) - you can tell when it's done as you turn over and knock on the bottom - if it sounds hollow, it's probably done!

I realise that my good rye recipe is a sourdough one, which is, in no way, instantly gratifying.

I've used this rye bread recipe before and it's nice, though not very gluten free...

Someone gave me this one - I've not tried it, but it looks comparatively straightforward (though rye flour will be harder to work with than bread flour).

1 kg rye flour
sachet yeast (or 20g fresh)
800 ml warm water
20 g sea salt

Dissolve the fresh yeast in a little of the tepid water if you're using it.
Mix dry ingredients.
Add water (and dissolved yeast if using fresh).
Knead together for about 20 minutes until smooth then leave to rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
Knock back and shape into round loaf shape.
After 30 minutes more in warm place, flatten the dough once more then shape into loaf and leave it to rise for a further 30 minutes.
Place a small container of water in the bottom of your oven and bake the loaf for 25 minutes at 220.
Turn the oven down to 180ºC and bake for 10 more minutes.
When ready the Rye bread will make a dry hollow sound as you tap it with you knuckles. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

For any of these, you could add seeds/nuts etc - probably to top of loaves before baking, though you could also knead them into dough if you fancied...

Happy Valentines Day everyone....

I love you all

♬♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♬

(that's me singing you a song of luuurve )

... I might start Twittering again...

Though I still haven't forgiven them for the mobile updates (or lack thereof)...

And I guess it would be nice to be friends with Stephen Fry...

Am excited

My Valentine lobsters and kobe beef steaks have arrived...
Ooooooooh

We might have lovely day out to the zoo first - though have sneaking suspicion it may be the first day of half-term and hence horrendously busy...

Can't write any more now as am very hungry Jennie - am having scallops and black pudding with brussel sprout mash and courgettes

Hope everyone else is having good Friday

1. Insurance companies often report less claims for the Friday 13th than any other day as people are more careful. Do you change your behaviour for this day?
I don't think so - actually, until someone pointed it out to me at about 11 this morning, I hadn't realised it was.
It has slightly awoken a desire to watch bad 80s horror movies though - I guess that could be construed as a change of behaviour...

2. Do you have a phobia?
And just when everyone was thinking I was so well adjusted and all...
It's not really a phobia exactly, but I have a real thing about pips (grapefruit and lemon are the worst, closely followed by orange and cherry but it extends to all pips and stones and things) - I can't stand the sight of them (they actually make me retch), and even just knowing that they've been near my food is sometimes enough to put me off (ironically, I love citrus fruits).
I'm not sure whether it's an extension of this or not, but I also really hate small round things (similar with the retching) - this includes beads, peas, baked beans etc as well as many other things. Anything as big as a malteser or more or smaller than, say, those silver and gold shiny things you put on cakes, is no problem at all (actually, sweets are not so much of an issue generally).
Also - collectively, I can deal with them - a whole plate of baked beans is ok - one single one is enough to reduce me to a gibbering wreck...
On a slightly less ridiculous note, I think I probably suffer from a bit (actually, quite a big lot) of emetophobia (I'd be a dreadful bulemic), but then, most likely, who doesn't?

3. Does your phobia affect your life?
I have to get people to vet my G&Ts in case the lemon slices have pips (which, kiddies, is why God gave us limes!) and eating roast dinners with people who aren't capable of keeping their peas on the plate (or who eat them all and just leave two - what the hell is that about?) can be a traumatic experience, but otherwise, is not too bad

4. What's the strangest phobia you've heard of?
The round things has to come close, right?
Again, I guess it's not really a phobia technically, but I have a friend who can't bear to touch (or think about etc) cotton wool, which seems utterly bizarre to me...

5. Complete this sentence: "Friday 13th is..."
an entertaining 80s horror movie

I am loving this...

I always used to wonder about the people who did it on TV too - you've got to be pretty certain of your answer before you do something like that

Tonight, I ran home from work as early as possible and got home soon after 7, so that I could make tasty sea bass (om nom nom nom) en papillote, which was utterly delicious (no thanks to me really - was just really nice fish) and we could eat before LBF had to go out and do his regular gig- was all made hugely easier by the fact that the lovely LBF had already stuck potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes in the oven before I arrived, so all I had to do was the glamorous bit with the fish

Since he's been out, I've memorised my scene from Cendrillon (or at least, made a sporting attempt to do so) for the rehearsal tomorrow night (I missed the first production rehearsal last week so I need to make some effort to be, at least, respectably good), watched Masterchef (addictive in a car crash way) and mixed up a chilli-based marinade for tomorrow's Mexican beef stew
Oh - and have washed my hair.

Am feeling quite achievementilicious, so thought I'd tell you all about it before I jump into bed...

In other news, Shadow-kitty has taken to sleeping on top of our high-high kitchen cupboards, so that she can be the most elevated person in the room...
She's a funny girl

Hope everyone else has had a good a Tuesday as can be expected.

G'night all

... any more that eating quite so many olives stuffed with raw birds eye chillies last night was a wise plan

But they were so very tasty

'm finding all this RBS-bashing a bit hard going.

Don't get me wrong, I can completely see where people are coming from, but whilst it may be true that the traders are a bunch of idiots (actually, it's not completely true - some are and some aren't), there are a whole big load of real people who work there too, who are really as much victims of circumstance as any of the rest of the general public and are generally having to live (and work stupidly hard) under the threat of redundancy (or just plain sackage) every day as well as dealing with the hatred and resentment of the populous at large.
Not everyone who works in a bank is a banker.

OK - rant over...

Goodnight everyone.

... that I entirely missed my first Blogiversary...

No cake or anything.

Is sad - I was planning to share it with all my lovely Blog friends and acquaintances, but now I guess they'll all have to wait till next year

...were very good, in case you were wondering

1. I've come to realize that my last kiss... was hopefully not the last for very long

2. I am listening to... LBF throwing things on the floor

3. I talk... a lot!

4. I love... my LBF and my kitties.

5. My best friend... is also my LBF

6. My first real kiss... was probably meaningful at the time, but is now entirely unmemorable.

7. Love is... totally worth it.

8. Marriage is... not necessarily the most important thing.

9. Somewhere, someone is thinking... of what happens next.

10. I'll always... be ok.

11. The last time I really cried was because... I was in the cinema, most likely

12. My cell phone... is in the kitchen.

13. When I wake up in the morning... it is usually because I'm being harangued by kitties.

14. Before I go to bed... I make LBF tuck me in and kiss me goodnight

15. Right now I am thinking about... the song that LBF is playing on the piano.

16. Babies are... seriously overrrated

17. I get on Myspace... rarely, if ever,

18. Today I... have been totally lazy.

19. Tomorrow I will be... workin' hard.

20. I really want to be... a full time singer.

21. Someone that will most likely repost this is... someone who hasn't already done it - not many left, as far as I can tell.

Yesterday I had nice singing lesson and small rehearsal (which was pretty fun - we've started production rehearsals now - is good).
In the evening we went to see Slumdog Millionaire (the only thing we could ever vaguely agree on ) and then didn't go and have free Pizza at Pizza Express, because the recession seems to have driven almost everyone in the world in there and there was no space for little old us...
I quite enjoyed the film - the kids were certainly all very good and the closing credits sequence was fabulous

Today has been pretty slow - I got up very slowly this morning and made breakfast (black pudding for LBF and porridge and rhubarb for me) before eventually getting dressed (inasmuch as I am actually dressed, in fact, I still haven't yet got around t putting a skirt on).
I did a fairly major (and much needed) wardrobe clearout - there is vast pile of stuff for charity shop/recycle bin - certainly a lot more than will fit in the anticipated bin bag - think it might have to be more like two or three.
Have also done a wee bit of bedroom clearing, made some soup for LBF to have for lunches next week (and also, to cunningly use up the poaching liquid from Friday's chicken and spinach deliciousness, which I didn't actually clickalong with, as they always do them on rehearsal nights, but which turned out rather splendidly nevertheless - LBF was keen to take photos to blog, but I was too hungry at the time) and mixed up some bread dough.
Am now watching (old) Come Dine With Me and trying not to make cookies
Later (when LBF returns from pub) we shall be dining on razor clams with chorizo and possibly some tasty leeks or similar...

Hope everyone else is having nice weekend

1. Have you kept your new year's resolutions?

I didn't really make any, so yes

2. Has 2009 been a better year so far than 2008?

Hard to say yet - nothing very bad has happened, but nothing spectacularly good has either...
I think probably a lot of whether it will be or not (for me and for most people, I guess) will depend on whether or not I retain my job!

3. Name one big thing you plan to do in the rest of 2009.

Be thirty

4. Do you think the credit crunch will affect you more in 2009?

Hard to say. If I keep my job, probably not - we've cut back a little bit on some luxuries, but otherwise, haven't suffered at all. In fact, given that the mortgage payments ar so much lower, we might even be better off...

5. If money were no object, what would you like to do in 2009?

Leave my job and sing/study full time.

My delicious rhubarb is nearly all gone

I've got one more pan to cook tonight and then is will be all finished, I think...

Haven't even made rhubarb cake, crumble or cream pie yet!

Perhaps I should order some more?

Is a very short season - I wouldn't want to miss out...

And one word only...

But a lot of times as I'm so excited

Snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow...

That will be all

Not so pleasingly alliterative, but I am in Wales and hence a bit behind the times....

1. What was the first concert you ever went to?

Almost certainly some kind of Teddy Bears' Picnic concert - I remember them being pretty fun - everyone had to take a bear

2. If you were to be in charge of a music award who would win the 'Worst Band/Artist of All Time' Award?

So so many possibilities
Personally, I can't stand Cecilia Bartoli, but lots of people love her, so she can't actually be as bad as she sounds to me...
Oh oh oh - Florence Foster Jenkins (for those who don't know - just hunt YouTube) - hilarious - so bad you have to love her

3. A lot of people think the sound quality on a well looked after vinyl record is far superior to that of a CD or MP3. What are your thoughts?

Sound is different, not better or worse.

4. What song/track/piece of music can you never hear enough of?

I'm with Ruby on the Mozart Requiem - it's been a bit over-TV-Soundtracked, but it still reduces me to mush... I feel much the same about the St Matthew Passion, and can frequently be found singing my head off to it
Ooh - and - do you remember that Stiltskin song that was Levi Ad years ago - I found that the other day and am loving it again - so tackily lovely

5. Complete this sentence: "If I was to put a band together using famous musicians of any era the line up would be..."

There would definitely be Eric (who is, after all, God). I think that the most naturally talented singers of the 20th century are Freddie Mercury and Maria Callas (they might even be nice together), closely followed by Pavarotti (not a fan, but you can't deny that he has the voice) and Ella Fitzgerald (that girl could have been any kind of singer she'd wanted - she'd put most of the big opera stars to shame - such flawless technique!).
And maybe Jacquline du Pre - almost certainly the most musical musician there's ever been (or, at the very least, recorded).
An eclectic mix, but am sure they could come up with something splendiferous

Must go do Welsh things now, before submitting to the long (hopefully snowless) drive home.

Hope you're all having nice weekend