Monday 27 March 2017

Unicorn Cupcakes! Baking for Red Nose Day

These unicorn cupcakes were so easy and so much fun to make. We were having a 'bake-off' event in our office and I was determined to put in some effort and come up with something decent! I'm not the best baker in the world but I decided that fairy cakes would be do-able. And why not fairy tale theme them? Unicorns are still very much in vogue at the moment so I decided to go for it. Here are the finished results...










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Thursday 16 March 2017

Wine Tasting and Italian Carnevale

If you've read my previous blog on my weekend trip to Rome, you'll know I had an excellent first few days in the Eternal City thanks to The Roman Guy.

What made the weekend for me, though, was our Sunday day trip to the town of Frascati, just twenty minutes outside Rome. This charming little place played host to us for the day as we took part in The Old Frascati Wine Tour, followed by an afternoon of Italian Carnevale fun!



We were greeted at Frascati train station by our wonderful guide Dominique, who took us on a tour of the town. We visited the local bakery where Nonna Rosanna is still baking at 90 years old! She told us she owes her vitality to the air in the hills, a good Roman diet (and a cigarette every day!) Here, we sampled melt-in-the mouth porchetta (slow roasted pork) in freshly baked bread. We washed it down with a glass of local wine - it was to be the first of many! Dominique assured us that 'breakfast wine' was totally a thing here. The 'jug wine' we tried at a local shop was 14% and very rustic!  
Next, we were taken by car to the beautiful vineyard, one of the oldest family run wineries in Frascati - set in a sunken valley which is gets the perfect amount of sunlight and moisture from the morning mist in the hills. We were shown around and learned about the wine making process - even getting a chance to visit the deep wine cave which dates back to Ancient Rome.







Soon, it was time to sample some of these wares! We headed upstairs in the 14th century farmhouse where we tried each of the wines: red and white, accompanied by fresh bread and olive oil. Interestingly, I enjoyed the taste of the red wine which had been chilled! It was a new experience for me but I could definitely imagine sipping it on a balmy Summer's evening.





We finished our vineyard tour outside, soaking up the afternoon sunshine and sampling the sweet dessert wine, which was served with cookies. Then, we returned back into the centre of Frascati for a glorious lunch of pasta, olives, bread and meats. All washed down with the delicious wine! 

Fully fed, we ventured to the town square where we were delighted to find the Carnevale in full swing! 










Frascati has definitely stolen my heart and I can't wait to return one day. It's amazing that such a tranquil place exists so close to the hustle of Rome! The Old Frascati Wine Tour is a must-do if you're visiting - an authentic Italian experience which I'm still dreaming about even now... 
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Wednesday 8 March 2017

Helen the Hero: A tribute for International Women's Day

I could write screeds and screeds about the people who made me. My parents' influence on me has been great, of course - but since it's International Women's Day I thought I would write about my favourite feminist and one of the most inspirational people I know: My Gran. Helen Warren - born on the 14th April 1921, making her 96 years old. Here are just five reasons why she continues to inspire me:


1. Her bravery

She grew up in Edinburgh, the eldest of three sisters, in a tenement flat. Her father was a craftsman and very artistic - I wish I could have met the man who painted the bathroom walls with the Seven Disney Dwarves! She remembers it well and talks about how she and her sisters would watch from the window at all the people spilling and dancing out into the street after the pubs closed - the sound of music always filled the air, she said.

Music was a huge part of my Gran's life - she was crazy about jazz, and although she never learned to play any musical instruments, she loved to sing. Her father played the accordion and she remembers how they would often sing together as a family, and she would watch in admiration as he played. 

At just 18, she was living away from home and working in a munitions factory in London. Part of her job was to climb to the roof and signal the air raid alarm. When I ask her about this, and if she ever felt scared - she says no, it was just something I had to do. She has told me she never felt scared when the War was on and I can tell by her demeanor even now that this is true; she still brews with that same old fighting spirit and exclaims that "We just wanted to beat those damn Nazis!"

2.  She never settled for second best

During the air raids, the workers would shelter in the basement where my Papa, Albert, played piano and my Gran would sing. Their mutual love of music was obviously a big attraction for both of them, and it wasn't long before Albert had asked her to marry him. She agreed, but on one condition: that they move to Scotland. 

Even though my Gran was a wife and a mother, she was never submissive in that traditional sense. She made sure that her life would continue as normal. She was Helen, the creative, the career focused, the politically active. She raised my mother and uncle in the best possible way - she showed them love and support, encouraging them (and maybe on some occasions pushing them!) but she also demonstrated through her own life that you should never let one thing define you.

3. Her passion for the causes she believed in

From a young age, I remember my Gran bringing me along to endless marches and demonstrations. I was even pictured in the paper once, aged one, as we petitioned against the closure of the local maternity hospital! A Feminist, a Nationalist and a Trade Unionist - Helen has always been a big supporter of worker's rights - something else she inherited from her Dad. In her early life she was a young Communist and her first boyfriend fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War. 

A representative for the Trade Union her whole working life and even after she retired, she was always heading to Glasgow for meetings. She loved to hear her favourite politicians talk - Tony Benn and Donald Dewar, among others. She could talk passionately herself for hours about the causes she felt so strongly about. In today's political landscape, things are very different but the message she instilled in me remains the same: she believed that every one of us has the power to change the world and our voices should always be heard.

4. She taught me that it's never too late to learn something new

Unfortunately, my Gran grew up in a time when there were very few opportunities for young women. The war meant that she had to quit her job in a pharmacy in Edinburgh, and move to London to help with the effort. She worked for the Civil Service before the munitions factory, and on her return to Scotland she worked at the tax center. Had she had her wish, my Gran would have gone to university. I can only imagine how different her life and career might have been if she was able to study politics, sociology, languages and the arts! She always told me never to take my education for granted.

When my Gran was in her fifties, she decided to sit her driving test for the first time. She passed, but never drove. She just wanted to prove she could do it! She attended night classes in French and an art class where she produced hundreds of paintings. They used to fill the walls of her house, and now several of them hang in my flat.

She watched documentaries and she read extensively - newspapers and books. She would keep clippings for me and save me educational supplements. Some of my first memories of writing, reading and drawing are sitting at the kitchen table with my Gran. She always made me feel like I could achieve anything with these tools at my disposal. 


5. Her achievements

When I think about my Gran's legacy, it amazes me (and makes me feel a bit lazy, frankly!) I always knew she had achieved a lot but it wasn't until she moved into the home and we sold the house that it became so apparent to me. Going through a lifetime of possessions, we were constantly reminded of all she had done, and all the lives she touched.

Even now at 96 she continues to impress me - her nurses tell us that she often sings to cheer up the other residents and she even helps them to make the tea sometimes! I don't think she will ever stop working or caring for others. She makes me understand the importance of living - truly living - that means having a purpose and a cause, something to live every day for!

Every time I see her she tells me to enjoy myself while I'm still young and do everything now while I still can. 

When I think about the struggles we face as women in today's society, I feel empowered by what my Gran has taught me. When I was a little girl and watching The Sound of Music in her kitchen, singing the lines from Sixteen Going on Seventeen, she told me - don't let ANYONE tell you what to do - and don't EVER depend on a man! I was seven, and those words stuck with me. Happy International Women's Day Helen - here's to you. As she would say, raising her glass (whisky and ginger ale is her tipple of choice): "Confusion to the enemy!"




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Tuesday 7 March 2017

Weekends in Rome with The Roman Guy

Italy is one of my favourite places to visit and in the past few years I've fallen even more in love with it. February seemed like the perfect time for an Italian pick me up to blast away those Winter Blues, so my friend and I decided to book a long weekend trip to Rome.

This would be my third visit to the Eternal City - read about what I learned on my first trip here. I was excited to return and for what I would discover this time around.

Arriving in Rome is a sensory experience - the sound of Vespa motors fills the air, leaden with History and memories of grandeur. The Italian passion and style exudes from every crevice- you can see it with every couple in the street; the well-dressed elderly man; the pizza maker busy at work in the window and the avenues and streets of expensive boutiques. Designer stores sit right next to tiny little cafes, launderettes, bars and quirky leather goods shops.



There is so much to take in and people watching is part of the charm of this city. On our first day, we arrived at our Air BnB - Ivan Camillo's The White Inn, located in the San Giovanni area. Ivan and his wife greeted us and could not have been more helpful, suggesting lots of local places for us to check out. The apartment itself was beautiful and had everything we could need - even a little outdoor terrace which is unheard of in Rome!



We were starving so headed out to grab some lunch - authentic local pasta and a trattoria just down the street. We knew it was legit since there was no menu - only a specials board in Italian! Fully fed and watered we headed for a wander round town, past the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia and Via Del Corso.




We finished our evening with some aperitivo in a little bar just off Piazza Venezia - the staff were really friendly and even offered us another glass of prosecco on the house when we left!

On Saturday, we had an early rise for our tour of the Vatican Museums. We booked the Privileged Entry tour with The Roman Guy, which turned out to be an excellent decision! Our guide, Jovita, greeted us at a little cafe just outside the entrance. She gave us ample time to have our breakfast of espresso and cornetti, which gave us the energy we needed. 

Being one of the first groups to enter the Vatican meant we were able to wander the halls with no-one else around. Experiencing the Sistine Chapel in absolute silence (it is forbidden to converse inside) with only a handful of other people around is indescribably wonderful. 




Jovita was an excellent guide and made our tour even more special - not only was she incredibly knowledgeable and was able to explain everything to us well, answering every question - she filled the tour with stories and anecdotes to spark our interest and imagination. 

The three hours seemed to fly by and soon we were at our final destination - St. Peter's Basilica. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale of the place - the biggest in the world. It's a breathtaking way to end a tour which I'll never forget.

After our culture-filled morning, we had a slightly lazier afternoon- the sun was shining so we sat outside lunching at Da Francesco - highly recommended by our local foodie Lorna. Afterwards we enjoyed an espresso at the famous Sant'Eustachio Caffe - the best coffee in Rome (I can testify this is true...) and later a gelato in the sunshine, overlooking the ruins at Torre Argentina (famously speculated as the site of Julius Caesar's murder - now a home for lots of stray cats!)






On Saturday evening, we headed to Trastevere to meet Lorna. She took us to the excellent Grazia & Graziella, where we sat outside and sipped on our Aperol Spritzes before enjoying a delicious dinner. Afterwards, we wandered around lively streets of Trastevere and headed for some cocktails at Pimm's Good, where we danced to the blues band that were playing.


Our first two days in Rome were busy but so much fun. Thank you to Lorna and The Roman Guy for everything. Check back for my next blog about our Sunday wine tour in Frascati!
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Saturday 4 March 2017

Hina Matsuri!

Today was the 16th annual Hina Matsuri - a celebration of Japanese culture held in Glasgow's West End. Since I love everything about Japan (one day... one day I will get there! Even if I have to get a job with a fishing rod manufacturer in Wishaw...) I was keen to go along and learn more. There was traditional Taiko drumming...



Origami....



Japanese Kanji...




And what better to follow a truly Japanese experience? Huevos Rancheros, of course! Big up to Vinyard 28 (soon to be new joint - The Parlour - watch this space) for the yummy brunch.


I also popped by one of my favourite shops in the West End, Wendy's Hoose, to stock up on the deliciously scented soy candles. Banana bried is the best!


On the Japanese theme, I have started reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Book review to follow! 


Happy Saturday, all.
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Friday 3 March 2017

Yoga: Expectations vs. Reality

Yoga. The word conjures up images of serene, perfectly poised figures on a beach or a clifftop. Chanting in unison, the soft salty breeze causing the odd hair to escape and sweep across a blemish-free bare face (the only sign of any imperfection in this picture.) Girls are clad in their tight-fitting yoga gear- accentuating their figures in all the right places. Boys wear shorts and loose tank tops which flutter in the wind to reveal bronzed chests - only a glimmer of sweat visible on their bodies. 

In reality, this is not the same yoga experience I tend to have. Don't get me wrong - I love yoga and I find it incredibly beneficial. Of course every class and teacher is different and each time I go I find my body and mind respond in different ways to the movements. Disclaimer aside, I want to dispel some of the "yoga goddess" myths....

20 thoughts during yoga class

1. *looks down at feet* Christ, are those my toes? I really need to paint my toenails. I wonder if anyone else has noticed. 

2. The girl in front of me has amazing hair. 

3. The woman next to me must be in her 50s. How can she possibly be so flexible, and I am not? Shamed by a pensioner...

4. *Bending over and catching sight of stomach* I need to do more sit ups and crunches.

5. *Chanting* Am I doing this right? Is it possible to be a bad chanter? Am I louder than everyone else? It's coming out in a different pitch each time...

6. Who is the loud breather in the room?? We can all hear you and your fire-breath, smarty pants. Show off.

7. *Reaching up to the Heavens* Did I remember to shave under my arms??

8. This really hurts. This really hurts. This really hurts.

9. *touching feet* Eww... how have my feet ended up in this state? I wear shoes! I don't work barefoot in fields every day.. how is this possible? I need to get myself one of those ped-egg contraptions my mum keeps going on about.

10. Oh shit, we're turning this way now! Now I'm at the front. No hiding...

11. This room smells incredible. Need to remember and ask what kind of incense they use?

12. Yes! Just absolutely nailed that one. I am the yoga QUEEN.

13. What should I do for dinner tonight? Feeling like I should have something healthy. Maybe I'll go shopping after this and buy lots of avocados, kale and quinoa. Need to speak to Vegan friends and find out what super foods are fashionable now.

14. OK, my mind is wandering... be in the moment! Be present!

15. I like the swan pose. I can see how it's like a swan. Why is it so appealing to pretend to be an animal? The Indians have got it so right. Even camel feels good, and I definitely don't want to be a camel.

16. This is painful!! How much longer before Shavasna?

17. I wonder if I'll ever do yoga on a beach somewhere in Asia... Or at a temple, or a yoga retreat...

18. Ew, are that couple touching each other?? This is not the time! (But I'm kind of jealous of their stupid mind/body connection...)

19. I'm so glad I did this. Feeling really good now.

20. I can't wait to have a glass of wine tonight. I deserve it after this.

Seriously, though. There are some amazing yoga classes in Glasgow - for all levels and abilities. A few of my favourites to check out:

Merchant City Yoga, Virginia St.
A beautiful studio in the Merchant City - a range of classes are offered whether you're a beginner or a pro. Judy is an amazing teacher and is always on hand to guide you and help you to get into those tricky positions!

Yoga Meditation Healing Glasgow, Landsdowne Crescent. 
Great morning yoga classes available - Pol is a fabulous teacher and will ensure you get everything you can out of your practice.

The Kali Collective, Washington St.
A great range of different classes with something to suit every style. I love Steph's wealth of knowledge, Katie's Forrest Yoga and Claire's quirky classes are a must try!

LuluLemon Athletica, Royal Exchange Square. 
The Lululemon team are passionate about yoga and they hold Saturday morning classes in their showroom every week at 9:30. If you're new to yoga, it's a great opportunity to try it out and experience different yoga styles, as they have a different teacher every week. Best of all, the class is totally free! (and there's often tea, porridge and other healthy treats on offer afterwards) Definitely worth getting up for on a Saturday morning.


Image may contain: one or more people and shoes

Lululemon often run free events so check out their Facebook page for more details (and pop in for some beautiful yoga gear...)

To summarise: yoga ain't that bad, if you make your peace with the fact that we are all mere mortals. So, the only thing left to say is grab your mat, an infused water and get out there, and yoga! Namaste! 

P.S. I have one more to add to the list...

21. Am I in the wrong yoga class? (This actually happened... to me.. last night. So yeh. Check you're where you said you'd be! Yoga teachers don't appreciate a no-show)

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