tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230087252024-03-23T18:09:10.696+00:00where there are no chickadeesRamblings from a Canadian in ScotlandPurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.comBlogger501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-61263923743594739182014-06-15T05:55:00.001+01:002020-10-07T05:09:44.904+01:00Two years on...greetings from B.C.I am slow. Very, very slow. It can take me a long time to start to feel settled in a place, so it should be no surprise that two years after moving back to Canada, I am finally able to occasionally peek out of my shell. Not that I'm not busy, but huge life adjustments can cause long-term creative hiccups for those of us who shimmy at a snail's pace.<br />
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The Scotsman and I have settled in the South Okanagan. A year ago, in a fit of missing my friends at the Edinburgh Cake Ladies, I decided to start my own baking club. It's much smaller than Edinburgh, but just as fun.<br />
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Should I resurrect this blog, or leave it as a closed chapter and start afresh? I don't know. For now I will enjoy catching up with some of my favourite blogs - all the characters and storytellers that I have so missed.<br />
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Canada has been good to us in the past two years. We recently rented a wee house, and I will leave you with our magnificent view.<br />
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<br />PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-63072355429296854882012-05-05T16:26:00.001+01:002020-10-07T05:10:35.225+01:00The big move...<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Hello you,</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I am leaving you a note in case you have landed here looking for me. After seven years on Scotland I am moving back to Canada with my beloved Scotsman.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Whever we end up in B.C. I will be blogging again in my sensuous, local tourism vein. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">DFTBA and eat cake. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sophia xx</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6DcQgZj6x0/T6VGSE4a-CI/AAAAAAAAFVY/YduMhP6wKk8/s1600/Cake+in+Edinburgh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6DcQgZj6x0/T6VGSE4a-CI/AAAAAAAAFVY/YduMhP6wKk8/s400/Cake+in+Edinburgh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-59337394755713198592011-06-20T10:45:00.001+01:002020-10-07T05:11:09.255+01:00And it's goodbye from me<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Hello you.</span><div><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Alas my blogging days are at an end for now. With my mind and creative energy on other things, I'm closing up shop on both of my blogs. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Thankfully I have google reader to dive into your bloggy lives whenever I want, and I have no doubt I will eventually reemerge in blogland under another guise.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">You are made of awesome. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Peace, love and haggis,</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sophia</span></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-78146578571261488342011-05-20T21:26:00.001+01:002011-05-20T21:31:23.721+01:00Cake. More Cake. Even more cake.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IXatEJy2drs/TdbN0__5A4I/AAAAAAAAFP4/Cdz4_DxAiuo/s1600/Cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IXatEJy2drs/TdbN0__5A4I/AAAAAAAAFP4/Cdz4_DxAiuo/s200/Cakes.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cake club is a brilliant idea. A big group of strangers bake cakes and bring them to a predetermined location. They stand around in a jittery mob as the cakes are lined up on a long counter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They face the land of cakes, waiting and waiting for the moment of permission, that glorious moment when they are told the slicing and devouring can begin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One baker has made a cake she has dubbed "the tower of sin." The crowd is noticeably thicker on the side of the room that is closest to this sweet monster.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuV31QnMKJI/TdbN2xiAYMI/AAAAAAAAFP8/4ryRzFPPl3k/s1600/TowerOfSin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuV31QnMKJI/TdbN2xiAYMI/AAAAAAAAFP8/4ryRzFPPl3k/s400/TowerOfSin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even when the first slices are piled onto small plates and the forks are made busy with stabbing and scooping, everyone still stands close to the cakes, ready to refill as soon as possible when plates are empty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time passes, more slices are eaten. People slow down, find a seat, aren't so quick to rush to cut another piece. The sugar buzz takes over their minds. They look at each other with dopey half grins, these strangers drunk on cake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good times, this whole cake business. Good times.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QANOLS8EnhI/TdbN6QeLE0I/AAAAAAAAFQA/a1yv452AYwE/s1600/AppleOliveOil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QANOLS8EnhI/TdbN6QeLE0I/AAAAAAAAFQA/a1yv452AYwE/s400/AppleOliveOil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XhcdTkTDgKE/TdbN7FqbbCI/AAAAAAAAFQE/YloCBWe9bK4/s1600/Bakewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XhcdTkTDgKE/TdbN7FqbbCI/AAAAAAAAFQE/YloCBWe9bK4/s400/Bakewell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K17K4dWh0xE/TdbN8cfkjlI/AAAAAAAAFQI/q_tHWA6o8rw/s1600/Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K17K4dWh0xE/TdbN8cfkjlI/AAAAAAAAFQI/q_tHWA6o8rw/s400/Chocolate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjDEaVDY8M/TdbN9BdGJ2I/AAAAAAAAFQM/GwIFMZAkaP8/s1600/Citrus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjDEaVDY8M/TdbN9BdGJ2I/AAAAAAAAFQM/GwIFMZAkaP8/s400/Citrus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-5Nk5HTt9U/TdbN-GKSMmI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/Jh1LMN2ieMU/s1600/DundeeLayerCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-5Nk5HTt9U/TdbN-GKSMmI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/Jh1LMN2ieMU/s400/DundeeLayerCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5svBPpwIkpY/TdbOBmYzeXI/AAAAAAAAFQY/A_mwDt5t2jc/s1600/ToffeeApple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5svBPpwIkpY/TdbOBmYzeXI/AAAAAAAAFQY/A_mwDt5t2jc/s400/ToffeeApple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0H0HcE2oDs/TdbN_fnuxZI/AAAAAAAAFQU/dbp8Cf-8dlI/s1600/LemonLayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0H0HcE2oDs/TdbN_fnuxZI/AAAAAAAAFQU/dbp8Cf-8dlI/s400/LemonLayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-72292705243363081592011-05-02T19:38:00.002+01:002011-05-02T19:39:44.654+01:0035 Things<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every year on our birthdays, my curvaceous Canadian friend and I compile a list. Between one birthday and the next we must do as many new things as years that we have been alive. The idea is that this will help us to challenge ourselves,to keep our minds open to new horizons and experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I turned 36 and I emailed my list of 35 things to my friend. Looking at it I am quite pleased. It gives me a wonderful sense of abundance, looking at all of these adventures in one place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is my list. Now to get started with 36 things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Visited largest Buddhist temple in Western Europe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Moved in with my Scotsman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Went to Tentsmuir Point Nature Reserve, where we saw no seals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Visited Alloway and saw the bridge from Robert Burns’ Tam O’ Shanter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Went to The Royal Highland Show</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Visited Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Stranded in Seattle overnight after missing our flight back to Canada</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Visited Melrose Abbey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Visited ruins of Dunure Castle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10.Visited Paisley Abbey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. Took an open-top bus tour of London</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. Got half way through P90x. Injured myself, quit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13. Went to the huge beach at Lunan Bay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">14. Cooked Rhumblethumps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15. Went to my first private dining club - Charlie and Evelyn’s Table</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16. Saw the last surviving oak tree in Birnam Wood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">17. Visited The Hermitage in Perthshire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">18. Made haggis wontons with whisky mayonnaise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">19. Saw inside of Edinburgh University’s anatomy theatre</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20. Attended Edinburgh Secret Society events</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">21. Saw the play The Hard Man at the Kings Theatre</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">22. Rode London Tube in party frock and huge hat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23. Attended Princess Anne’s birthday garden party at Buckingham Palace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24. Had a drink in the officers' mess at Edinburgh Castle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">25. Attempted sticky gingerbread cake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26. Attended several “It’s Good to Give” fundraising afternoon teas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">27. Had a drink in what is thought to be Scotland’s oldest pub, The Sheep Heid Inn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">28. Walked part of the Fife Coastal Trail</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">29. Walked in Roslin Glen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30. Saw Darren Brown at The Playhouse Theatre</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">31. Saw the play The Haunted at the King’s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">32. Weekend in Cambridge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">33. Visited Isle of May </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">34. Saw my first puffin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">35. Got engaged to my Scotsman!</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-62429513486787231862011-04-18T11:25:00.000+01:002011-04-18T11:25:53.797+01:00Sorry? Are you mocking me, Scotland?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvo4mdKmLIo/TawQIhUMCfI/AAAAAAAAFMI/gBA9OV21vsk/s1600/Blackness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvo4mdKmLIo/TawQIhUMCfI/AAAAAAAAFMI/gBA9OV21vsk/s200/Blackness.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After nearly six years, it is rare that I have to ask a Scottish person to repeat himself when speaking. But I’ve just returned from my local butcher, where I had to resort to my confused “sorry?” response on three separate occasions during the short time it took me to by beef strips and chicken fillets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I’m out and about (or oot and aboot, as it were), I can feather my Canadian accent with a bit of a lilt, thereby allowing me to blend in enough so I don’t get asked where I’m from. I like this - blending in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I am making a right idiot of myself, either not understanding something or when I need directions, I switch to naïve Canadian mode, wedging my accent so firmly into the “I’m not from here” corner that people will assume I’m either just arrived or a tourist. I don’t know why I do this. I suppose it’s another way of making myself forgettable. Let people draw a quick assumption and have it over. And so my dance of social awkwardness continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every since my beloved and I have been discussing the idea of moving back to Canada, Scotland has been mocking me. The clocks have changed and suddenly the world is filled with light, blossoms and of all things, THE SUN.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sNufr4ypy8/TawPizTZ3lI/AAAAAAAAFLw/zqJRlqcrYKo/s1600/Daffodil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sNufr4ypy8/TawPizTZ3lI/AAAAAAAAFLw/zqJRlqcrYKo/s400/Daffodil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6dvf2C9_FU/TawPk3igrfI/AAAAAAAAFL4/-7pnHTPDhj0/s1600/NewLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v6dvf2C9_FU/TawPk3igrfI/AAAAAAAAFL4/-7pnHTPDhj0/s400/NewLife.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99GaAPEjZc/TawPmXjIV5I/AAAAAAAAFL8/HdpZAjmkbjQ/s1600/LivingCarpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99GaAPEjZc/TawPmXjIV5I/AAAAAAAAFL8/HdpZAjmkbjQ/s400/LivingCarpet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJTij2iRwkA/TawPnJQ_SOI/AAAAAAAAFMA/gw__yF2YEFs/s1600/FifeView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJTij2iRwkA/TawPnJQ_SOI/AAAAAAAAFMA/gw__yF2YEFs/s400/FifeView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fields are green, the air is sweet, and the warmth pushes through me like it is trying to erase every memory of the horrible winter that just passed, when I was listless and depressed for months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my work colleagues said something that is weighing on me. He said I underestimate my attachment to this place. I wonder if I do. If we leave, it will be very hard for me to come back. Not just the starting from scratch yet again, but all the cost and applications that would be required. I have moved many times in my life and the desire for a porch and a hammock is replacing my once irrepressible nomadic itch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSjP0ANUtyw/TawPj5OeadI/AAAAAAAAFL0/SkVmD_x54P4/s1600/EdinburghView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSjP0ANUtyw/TawPj5OeadI/AAAAAAAAFL0/SkVmD_x54P4/s400/EdinburghView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2KmCEgWfFc/TawPn4j5BdI/AAAAAAAAFME/KhIs_JOqzys/s1600/ForthBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2KmCEgWfFc/TawPn4j5BdI/AAAAAAAAFME/KhIs_JOqzys/s400/ForthBridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This two countries thing is difficult. No matter what you choose, there will be a void on the other side which you cannot reach to fill. It will always be there, and all your beautiful memories will both shine and cut like glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, Scotland mocks me. Sigh. Oh well. When in doubt, cake.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6TJ-Cqix5U/TawQqeX6CMI/AAAAAAAAFMM/ViwX7pVgPog/s1600/Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6TJ-Cqix5U/TawQqeX6CMI/AAAAAAAAFMM/ViwX7pVgPog/s400/Cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-49199756082570571782011-03-27T17:06:00.000+01:002011-03-27T17:06:07.418+01:00Jams from Florida!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love surprises. I love it when things arrive in the post from far away. Wonderful colourful things that make me giddy and squishy all at once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday afternoon at work my colleague brought me a parcel, which I assumed was from a customer returning some DVDs for exchange. But it wasn’t! It was just for me, all the way from Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past winter was tough for me. It seemed like it would go on forever and I’m still trying to squeeze myself out of my shell. My lovely blogger friend <a href="http://www.evanandkaren.blogspot.com/">Karen</a> decided to cheer me up by sending me five of the most delightful tropical-inspired jams. Wee pots of mango jam and even a pina colada jam and a chocolate and raspberry.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_MFm3KTGyAc/TY9fSgSFOCI/AAAAAAAAFHo/lgKeEfzlZwQ/s1600/TropicalJam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_MFm3KTGyAc/TY9fSgSFOCI/AAAAAAAAFHo/lgKeEfzlZwQ/s400/TropicalJam.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I am overwhelmed that people can be so kind and thoughtful, giving to others without asking for anything in return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These made my week. I’ve tried both the mango and the pina colada. The mango has a hint of spicy underneath the sweet tang and the soft fragrance of the pina colada would be the perfect sandwiched between two layers of sponge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how an entirely different sensual world can arrive on your doorstep through the post. The scents and flavours from someone else’s country, city, town, house. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved hosting giveaways on my <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/">other blog</a> - just the idea of having someone unwrapping a little piece of Scotland and all the joy and excitement they experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was the best surprise gift you received in the post?</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-124089902563591312011-03-23T19:07:00.000+00:002011-03-23T19:07:40.821+00:00Why watching property shows with a Scotsman is so entertaining<span lang="EN"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“A recently refurbished semi - that’s like me coming out of the shower.” </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">JP</span></span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-58831258660656924502011-03-20T21:10:00.000+00:002011-03-20T21:10:32.713+00:00Comic Relief<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fhn8j7S4uKU?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Thank you <a href="http://www.beingfreescotland.blogspot.com/">Neil</a> for sharing this - it made my Sunday afternoon.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-16200458208207825032011-03-19T11:03:00.001+00:002011-03-19T11:04:18.200+00:00Two countries, countless questions<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a strange wee time we’ve had over the last week or two. It’s all a blur. Discussions. So many discussions. About what we’re doing. About where we’re going. About the future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We live in Scotland. In May I will have lived here for six years. We both work and we rent a one-bedroom flat in Edinburgh. Financially, we get by, but we don’t get ahead. Like many people every time something extra tries to squeeze its way into our limited budget, it stresses us out. Any other projects have to work around, well, work.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZImXOK9TiHY/TYSMQDpVMII/AAAAAAAAFGQ/8TjCI99Hoxs/s1600/Cambridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZImXOK9TiHY/TYSMQDpVMII/AAAAAAAAFGQ/8TjCI99Hoxs/s320/Cambridge.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My beloved and I are similar in that we always need to feel that we are moving forward, creating, building. And at the moment neither of us feel that way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We go to work, come home, repeat. In between we struggle to do the things we love, like travel or even go to the theatre. I write my Scotland blog but I don’t earn any money from it and I am nervous about wading into those waters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My job has a lot of weird, enjoyable elements to it, which is why I’ve been there for so long. But after five years I can realistically say there is no path to job advancement - it’s just not going to happen. JP doesn’t like his job at all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This winter we both suffered a terrible case of in-a-rut blues. It was my worst winter since living in Scotland. All of my tourism junkie enthusiasm just dried up and I’ve been waiting and waiting for it to come back again. Part of it has, but not in the same way. Something is different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this rambling to say that a big part of our discussions have been about the possibility of moving. Back to Canada.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F7dEBNOJ8JQ/TYSMRQhwYxI/AAAAAAAAFGU/q4PzYlN-hnQ/s1600/TimothyLakeBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F7dEBNOJ8JQ/TYSMRQhwYxI/AAAAAAAAFGU/q4PzYlN-hnQ/s400/TimothyLakeBC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before you get excited, this is not a done deal. I have a rather grand trip pencilled in to Africa in the autumn, which is important to me because I feel if I don’t go now I’ll never go. But come the new year, we’ll be examining our options again and asking ourselves what kind of a life we could build in Scotland vs. British Columbia. Weigh out the pros and cons and whatnot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right now I feel like I’m in a bit of a cloud. Certainly the idea of change has given us both a boost. For awhile we where also dancing with the idea of moving flats here in Edinburgh, but we have now set that aside due to it being so bloody expensive and the l<span lang="EN">ikelihood it would</span> land us in a wad of debt. We’ve got enough debut looming on the horizon with travel plans and whatnot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime we will be turning out attention to earning/saving money. If we can turn the drudgery of it into an adventure perhaps it will feel less painful.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is weird. Someone share with me: what kind of life have you at one time or another (or now!) dreamt of building for yourself? Did you accomplish what you wanted? Did you feel like you settled for something less that you desired? What makes you feel successful?</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-17033292773927176222011-03-06T21:20:00.000+00:002011-03-06T21:20:19.334+00:00Nearly one year on, we begin with cake<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello you,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I shake you by the hand. I give you a little cuddle. I invite you to try one of these little cakes. The little chocolate pot filled with raspberries and cream is particularly nice.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OEEyxPbNkHY/TXP5galSFLI/AAAAAAAAFE4/0tDQmmw-Cjo/s1600/CakeyGoodness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OEEyxPbNkHY/TXP5galSFLI/AAAAAAAAFE4/0tDQmmw-Cjo/s400/CakeyGoodness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been nearly a year since I rambled on this here chickadees blog. I have been trying to decide what it should be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Should it be a blog about creepy staring goats?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rPELFtiLoOA/TXP5al5ZI1I/AAAAAAAAFEo/00uAQ44GabE/s1600/Goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rPELFtiLoOA/TXP5al5ZI1I/AAAAAAAAFEo/00uAQ44GabE/s400/Goat.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Should it be about how Scottish bird life keeps time?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GLQmcNqJzCE/TXP5cc2wPkI/AAAAAAAAFEs/GhgxTxRD2pM/s1600/GullonTime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GLQmcNqJzCE/TXP5cc2wPkI/AAAAAAAAFEs/GhgxTxRD2pM/s400/GullonTime.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps I could focus entirely on tartan footwear suitable for festival season.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KnrkLKahMHk/TXP5eJKWr7I/AAAAAAAAFEw/T66UAsVZbsc/s1600/Wellies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KnrkLKahMHk/TXP5eJKWr7I/AAAAAAAAFEw/T66UAsVZbsc/s400/Wellies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or maybe all my photos will be entitled “the view from here.” In this case, Arthur’s Seat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8P6VSkocLMA/TXP5e50kAAI/AAAAAAAAFE0/WG3CxX5O8_Q/s1600/ArthursSeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8P6VSkocLMA/TXP5e50kAAI/AAAAAAAAFE0/WG3CxX5O8_Q/s400/ArthursSeat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, I don’t think so. What I think is this blog will just go back to where it started, as a little place where my friends and family can check in when they fancy and just see what’s going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, my manboy and I are living together. He has given up his job of eight years and moved to Edinburgh. It is the most natural thing to live with him. He makes me laugh like no one else, and eats whatever I put in front of him, including tonight’s rather odd dinner of <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1576/pink-fishballs-in-spicy-lentil-gravy">pink fish balls in spicy lentil gravy</a>. Not quite as fantastic as the haggis wontons with whisky mayonnaise, but it hit the spot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This little introduction is just to say hello again. Regular or irregular updates of our wee life in Edinburgh will follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Squeeze.</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-44619770242074360982010-05-05T15:28:00.000+01:002010-05-05T15:28:18.844+01:00A view to a "no chickadees" breakThe view from my window in Edinburgh includes these lovely trees in full blossom. What you don’t see are the cars and buses and the people walking below my window, or the garish tangle of playground equipment in the park across the street.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_S9_rJqI/AAAAAAAAEGI/FRPXzAxyvcQ/s1600/GorgieView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_S9_rJqI/AAAAAAAAEGI/FRPXzAxyvcQ/s400/GorgieView.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>The view from JP’s flat in Greenock is much more grandiose. It extends across the River Clyde to the hills beyond. The sunset turns everything golden, creating a sense of calm and making the gulls look more like graceful gliders than sit-aiming scavengers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_UYGsc3I/AAAAAAAAEGQ/CFlr9mzido8/s1600/GreenockView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_UYGsc3I/AAAAAAAAEGQ/CFlr9mzido8/s400/GreenockView.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>I’m going to pause this blog for some time. I don’t know how long. Since spring officially sprung, my hobby as a <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/">tourism geek</a> has been taking up more time, and I realize that all I am doing for the chickadees blog is posting the occasional photo or update. I don’t have any passion for it right now so it is best to leave it until I decide what, if anything, I want to use it for.<br />
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I’ve been trying to do too much all at once and have just managed to fall ill for the third time in less than two months. I need to chill out, pluck out things to make my priority. Since I take such pleasure in writing about Scotland, I’m going to stick with that and leave this blog at the back of the cyber closet.<br />
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Just wanted you to know that this blog will not be regularly updated for the foreseeable future, so you can adjust your subscriptions as necessary. Perhaps I'll see you in the autumn. Until then, I'm still at <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/">Scotland for the Senses</a>. Happy blogging, everyone.<br />
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Big, choked-up, flu-ridden love,<br />
<br />
Sophia<br />
xx<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_ccY2zII/AAAAAAAAEGY/afgCxsTNG9I/s1600/Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S-F_ccY2zII/AAAAAAAAEGY/afgCxsTNG9I/s400/Gull.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-16267543962329913952010-04-29T08:39:00.003+01:002010-04-29T08:39:57.099+01:00Ever get the feeling someone is watching you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9k3rIaS3nI/AAAAAAAAEBI/Z_uytX3-Eok/s1600/Watching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9k3rIaS3nI/AAAAAAAAEBI/Z_uytX3-Eok/s400/Watching.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-92129224080225071362010-04-25T16:50:00.004+01:002010-04-25T16:54:41.733+01:00April raw food potluckOh it was good. It was very, very good. There are some new people in our group who are very talented at mixing flavours. One couple brought a walnut based pâté that none of us could get enough of. <br />
<br />
The same couple brought this amazing cake with a nut base and raw strawberry jam (strawberries blended with some goji berries) and fresh strawberries on top. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjl4oNy-I/AAAAAAAAD-w/_k4h8FmO-YE/s1600/StrawberryCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjl4oNy-I/AAAAAAAAD-w/_k4h8FmO-YE/s400/StrawberryCake.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>More cake came from another new member. Most newbies bring a salad their first time, but she went all out and created a raw chocolate&blueberry cheezecake using cashews. Rich and delicious.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjqx6uKGI/AAAAAAAAD_A/s16LfxH8U90/s1600/BlueberryCheezecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjqx6uKGI/AAAAAAAAD_A/s16LfxH8U90/s400/BlueberryCheezecake.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9RjvmXKfuI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/-1KkfBWmUeQ/s1600/Rawsushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9RjvmXKfuI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/-1KkfBWmUeQ/s320/Rawsushi.jpg" tt="true" width="213" /></a></div>Other treats included:<br />
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- Mixed salads with wonderful dressings<br />
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-A "stir raw" made with bean sprouts and a thai-inspired sauce, topped with not-fried mushrooms that had been marinated and dehydrated. <br />
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-My favourite savoury (besides the pâté): raw nori rolls made with sprouts and mushrooms.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjsv0fxSI/AAAAAAAAD_I/Ud73oxFmZYo/s1600/MixedSalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjsv0fxSI/AAAAAAAAD_I/Ud73oxFmZYo/s400/MixedSalad.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjudh696I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/oWYOmyLPOew/s1600/StirRaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjudh696I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/oWYOmyLPOew/s400/StirRaw.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>That's it until next month's potluck, but I have the recipe for the pâté so I shall be making that for myself. I'm still going back and forth between eating a high raw diet and falling off the wagon and into the bread basket. The potlucks help to inspire me to try new things, and it's great to meet with people who are so enthusiastic about food.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjo3Iv25I/AAAAAAAAD-4/eCIr_oJRqI0/s1600/StrawberryCake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Rjo3Iv25I/AAAAAAAAD-4/eCIr_oJRqI0/s400/StrawberryCake2.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-38448408973432738252010-04-24T23:04:00.000+01:002010-04-24T23:04:29.742+01:00Sweet, sweet spring and puppy excellenceThere is something happening to my nose. Either the world is smelling better than ever or the hoover on my face has increased its olfactory powers.<br />
<br />
Today I was out and about in Bo’ness, near where I used to live in Linlithgow. Walking around the grounds at Kinneil Estate, I was drunk on the sweetness in the air. The trees were filled with birdsong and the world seemed to pulse with life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpVPFgb6I/AAAAAAAAD9Q/EfFoPys1Spw/s1600/Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpVPFgb6I/AAAAAAAAD9Q/EfFoPys1Spw/s400/Flowers.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpXQZKm3I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/HeoMs5ETcZw/s1600/Flowers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpXQZKm3I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/HeoMs5ETcZw/s400/Flowers2.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpY2Sb7HI/AAAAAAAAD9g/MdAuK5JMkVc/s1600/Flowers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpY2Sb7HI/AAAAAAAAD9g/MdAuK5JMkVc/s400/Flowers3.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>It used to say I was a staunch autumn woman, in love with the slowing pace and syrupy scent of death from the fallen leaves. But every year that passes in Britain (My 5 year anniversary is in one week, on my birthday), I am falling more in love with spring.<br />
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Green is once again taking over. The world is becoming soft and lush and it makes me remember not to fault all the rain that falls on Scotland throughout the year, especially the winter. Without the water, the world would not look the way it did today, like Eden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpaidV5eI/AAAAAAAAD9o/ISf9MJ2vOrU/s1600/Green1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpaidV5eI/AAAAAAAAD9o/ISf9MJ2vOrU/s400/Green1.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpcOEpskI/AAAAAAAAD9w/7qCPfwA35lw/s1600/Green2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpcOEpskI/AAAAAAAAD9w/7qCPfwA35lw/s400/Green2.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Npd-tKT_I/AAAAAAAAD94/k-uxgGHK-QU/s1600/Green3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9Npd-tKT_I/AAAAAAAAD94/k-uxgGHK-QU/s400/Green3.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpgK2XYQI/AAAAAAAAD-A/vS9l1iql9FI/s1600/Green4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpgK2XYQI/AAAAAAAAD-A/vS9l1iql9FI/s400/Green4.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpjFjYK9I/AAAAAAAAD-I/mcBVaFkqLnI/s1600/Green5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NpjFjYK9I/AAAAAAAAD-I/mcBVaFkqLnI/s400/Green5.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>Another highlight was meeting my bloggy friend Jayne and her gorgeous puppies. I loved Max the Whippet immediately, with his beautiful coat, big dreamy eyes and fondness for cuddling, not to mention the glorious floppy puppy ears that don’t know what they’re doing. Pip the jack russel could stare you down until you relinquished whatever it was you were withholding - a walk, a biscuit, her ball. She is relentless and very bouncy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NqPS19DhI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/8lcR3fnO62U/s1600/Max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NqPS19DhI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/8lcR3fnO62U/s400/Max.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NqQRXEK9I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/hnmDPqrzXRs/s1600/Pip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S9NqQRXEK9I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/hnmDPqrzXRs/s400/Pip.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>It was a good day. Tomorrow I am hosting my first raw food potluck. Up to 15 raw foodists in my little flat, which I have yet to clean. Wish me luck.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-91921254901317902412010-04-20T22:46:00.001+01:002010-04-20T22:46:54.117+01:00That pre-work feelingI don't know where the last five days have gone. Friday was pretty much spent in a mire of self-pity. Since Saturday I have been in Greenock with my honey. Back to work tomorrow. <br />
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I am glad I was stuck over here and not in Paris with the thousands of other stranded holiday makers trying to make it back over to Britain. I still have two long weekends in May to look forward to, although I won't be making it to Paris because JP and I have already planned some road trips.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S84f-QCyTkI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/YuPkqNwCcRM/s1600/BeachFind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S84f-QCyTkI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/YuPkqNwCcRM/s400/BeachFind.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>To work tomorrow. A busy few days followed by a busy weekend. Oh, and I have been watching far too many property shows. I am desperate to buy a flat, a place JP and I can all our own. But that won't happen for a few years yet.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-7745030735139107612010-04-16T16:53:00.001+01:002010-04-16T16:55:03.240+01:00Retail and dessert therapy, Gorgie styleThanks so much for the buckets of sympathy regarding my cancelled holiday. I am nursing my cold and have ventured just far enough from home today to partake in some retail therapy in the area of Edinburgh where I live, Gorgie.<br />
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Gorgie is teeming with hair salons, take aways, convenience stores and charity shops. Barnardo's is my favourite charity shop because they have the best selection of used books. I managed to pick up this lovely hardcover book about Glencoe for just £2.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8iHbnBUIpI/AAAAAAAAD6I/jkaUKcTkP_A/s1600/GlencoeByBillBirkett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8iHbnBUIpI/AAAAAAAAD6I/jkaUKcTkP_A/s400/GlencoeByBillBirkett.jpg" width="372" wt="true" /></a></div>Last December Gorgie finally got a bit of culinary class when a proper patisserie opened up. Today I thought if I can't go to Paris, I may as well visit a baker who is constantly inspired by the pastry chefs in France. I present Patisserie Jacob's chocolate ganache tartlet, and a prune tart with a caramelized top and swirl of meringue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8iHdbhdTBI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/aZk1FPURLiE/s1600/PatisserieJacob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8iHdbhdTBI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/aZk1FPURLiE/s400/PatisserieJacob.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>My beloved has taken an extra day off and I am going to his place tomorrow. Have a great weekend, everyone.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-21589437039495085392010-04-15T19:15:00.001+01:002010-04-15T19:16:30.264+01:00Seeking options after another ruined holidaySo much for the big plan. My first weekend getaway to the continent. The flight to Paris has been cancelled, and now five days off work stretches before me, with no plans.<br />
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I have looked up options like taking the train to cambridge, which is too expensive. The bus takes 12 hours, which would kill me.<br />
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I could try to take the train and ferry to Belfast, but then I would be in Belfast by myself, wondering what on earth to do. <br />
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If I drove and had a car, I would just go, maybe up north or maybe down to England. Anywhere. I miss that freedom that came with driving. There are folks I know from work but not a close friend I feel I can ring up and say "hey, my week has turned out crap; want to go for tea somewhere?" Everyone already has somebody.<br />
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When life disappoints me I fall a long way into a dark hole, and it takes me awhile to dig myself back out. I'm pliable but not springy, like dough. Eventually I'll rise again but it takes time.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-909976901263775362010-04-11T20:12:00.000+01:002010-04-11T20:12:07.619+01:00Silent Sunday: Single Occupancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8Ie5t0jXpI/AAAAAAAAD3g/WDPy-4VNVzE/s1600/SingleOccupancy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S8Ie5t0jXpI/AAAAAAAAD3g/WDPy-4VNVzE/s400/SingleOccupancy.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-53289838712038252352010-04-07T21:03:00.000+01:002010-04-07T21:03:59.938+01:00Skies over Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S7zjmnVSx-I/AAAAAAAAD0M/jMLhN523qZw/s1600/Saltire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S7zjmnVSx-I/AAAAAAAAD0M/jMLhN523qZw/s400/Saltire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Taken from the window of the Costa Coffee on Princes Street last week - the Scottish Saltire above Edinburgh Castle. Not the best photo in the world but I still love it. <br />
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In other random news, The Band of the Coldstream Guards are up for a Classical Brit Award for their album, <em>Heroes</em>. They are performing at the Tattoo in Edinburgh this summer and it would be grand if they won. If you fancy voting for one of Britain's oldest regiments to win, you can do so here: <a href="http://www.classicalbrits.co.uk/">http://www.classicalbrits.co.uk/</a> <br />
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Only 9 more sleeps until I fly off to Paris for a weekend with my friend Seasonn. Giddy? Just a little.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-22259269312532353872010-04-02T00:57:00.001+01:002010-04-02T16:44:41.464+01:00She's lovin' her green juice, oh yeahBoy is it late. Or is it early?<br />
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But I’m feeling good. I have recovered from my rant in the last post and am surrounded by the calm influence of green juice in my veins.<br />
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All week I have stuck to a high raw food diet and I feel wonderful. My mood has totally lifted and I have discovered that by drinking a freshly made glass of vegetable juice in the morning, my blood sugar stays stable and the only thing I need to eat before lunch is a piece of fruit. Even when I get hungry, it is like my body doesn’t really care. This mellow body feeling has been lasting all day. From one glass of juice! I can eat a light lunch and dinner and my body is totally at ease. No desperate feeling for salt or sugar - nothing. <br />
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It’s so strange because even though all that life stress is still there, it has somehow been removed from me and is instead skulking around an invisible barrier that sits about a foot or so away from my skin. What a difference this has made.<br />
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Along with the veggie juices (I generally use cucumber as a base, then add whatever else I have on hand, like an apple or two, a couple of carrots, a stick of celery, a handful of spinach, a nub of gingerroot and maybe a few radishes), I have been having a grapefruit everyday, and some avocado as well. I am aiming to get plenty of vitamin C in my diet as apparently this is a mood booster, and I want every kind of mood booster I can get.<br />
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Thanks for all your comments, which helped with my dilemma over what to buy/eat. I have downloaded a free seasonal food guide for Scotland and will be using it to try and get the most out of the local fresh veggie scene, but for some foods I will still be putting my nutritional needs first and eating what my body needs, even if it wasn’t grown here.<br />
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Hooray! To celebrate, if you would like to see some photos of some baby highland cows, <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/2010/04/warning-scottish-springtime-cuteness.html">click here</a>.<br />
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Happy Easter weekend!PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-39278342223800167672010-03-28T21:12:00.007+01:002010-03-28T21:19:35.054+01:00A rant about health care and the question: Local or raw/organic?Oh my, is JP ever going to regret giving me <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/">Food Inc</a>. to watch. Because since I watched that on Friday night, I’ve bounced over to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSUw9SaPLmA">Raw for 30 Days</a> and other videos like the amazing <a href="http://www.foodmatters.tv/">FoodMatters</a> and another called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvOCWB9RPGQ">Healing Cancer from the Inside Out</a>.<br />
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Nothing will make you want to become a vegan like sitting down and watching all of these films. And nothing will make you so frustrated when you think about people who you love who have died of cancer and other illnesses while under the “care” of conventional medicine.<br />
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Today is Renee’s birthday. Renee <a href="http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com/">was a blogger</a> who recently died of stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer that had spread to her stomach and other parts of her body. During her final weeks and days her daughter used her mom's blog to update people on Renee's condition. Renee was a kind and vibrant woman in the middle of her life and instead of health she died long, painful, suffering-filled death.<br />
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I remember a while back a post on her blog, sometime after “the bats” in her stomach (this is how she described the feeling) had kicked into high gear and this was making it difficult for her to keep food down. There was something about how she couldn’t even keep down yogurt. And now I think to myself: what on earth is a woman with cancer doing eating yogurt or milk products of any kind, when cancer loves nothing more than to eat up all those milk sugars and grow and grow and grow.<br />
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My grandmother, who suffers from COPD, is now on a host of medications that treat a list of ailments. I know that changing her diet to one high in raw vegetables and green juices, while also eliminating dairy, caffeine and wheat, would greatly improve her quality of life. Yet I also know that it will never happen. Because change is hard, and her habits are utterly ingrained in her mind.<br />
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Where the hell is the nutritional counselling in our western medical system? It’s terrible enough that someone you care about should suffer, but it is worse to know how that suffering could have been reduced or even alleviated with a change in diet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6-4aC5REOI/AAAAAAAADvc/iRu6zqwc8rQ/s1600/RawFood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6-4aC5REOI/AAAAAAAADvc/iRu6zqwc8rQ/s400/RawFood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Problem # 2: Local vs. organic or raw.<br />
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I am involved with both the local raw food club and the Edinburgh Slow Food group. The raw food movement includes lots of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds and freshly made green juices. The problem is that most of the foods that I need for this raw food diet are not grown locally, or even in the UK. If they are organic they are often shipped from even further away. The only time that I can get fresh, locally grown greens is in the summer (with the exception of Scottish kale) and fruit is certainly restricted to the high season. In the winter there are root vegetables, but those aren’t as good raw, and too many cooked potatoes make me feel unwell.<br />
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My body loves me when I eat a diet that is high in foods like lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach, however I can’t get those locally for most of the year.<br />
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What I can get locally all year round is a lot of meat, dairy products and bread, none of which my body likes in any quantity and all of which I know are bad for my hormone health and PCOS symptoms.<br />
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So what do I do? Eating lots of fresh, raw veggies and fruit is the way to good health, but if you live in a northern climate, it also means you are contributing to global warming because all your food is being flown in from abroad.<br />
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Sorry this is so long. I just needed to ramble and vent. Anyone have any thoughts on any of this?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6-4bqVngPI/AAAAAAAADvk/ATvVQv46MKc/s1600/CarrotOrangeSalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6-4bqVngPI/AAAAAAAADvk/ATvVQv46MKc/s400/CarrotOrangeSalad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-75999578224663320862010-03-21T18:06:00.003+00:002010-03-28T21:20:33.204+01:00March raw food potluckToday was one of the best potlucks our group has had, with an amazing selection of goodies from savoury to desserts. I made my tropical fruit tart with mango puree, which I've made before but always goes down a storm. Also, I whipped up some brazil nut and sundried tomato "cheeze" and some pistachio pesto. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZdyymxpNI/AAAAAAAADrc/JmC0DrtsDvE/s1600-h/Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZdyymxpNI/AAAAAAAADrc/JmC0DrtsDvE/s400/Table.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>There was the most enormous, beautiful salad with fresh dill and veggies of all kinds, including beets and cucumber that had been done on a special mandolin to cut them out and make them extra pretty. There was a raw carrot cake and even raw falafel that had all the flavours of the cooked variety. As well, there was a slightly spicy sweet potato dish, a salad with avocado, tomato and basil, loads of sprouts, the most glorious mango salsa and tasty seed crackers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeC5d_FUI/AAAAAAAADsc/IMDNVg8nsqs/s1600-h/MangoSalsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeC5d_FUI/AAAAAAAADsc/IMDNVg8nsqs/s400/MangoSalsa.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It was the first time I got to try buckwheaties, which are sprouted buckwheat that have been dehydrated. They are just like a breakfast cereal and perfect with a bit of nut milk or cream, and some dried fruit on top.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd0_ao_uI/AAAAAAAADrk/HwOpr1io8l8/s1600-h/Buckwheaties!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd0_ao_uI/AAAAAAAADrk/HwOpr1io8l8/s400/Buckwheaties!.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>My favourite thing of the day were these gorgeous little tomato and fennel tarts, which had a base that included some seeds and some nuts I think. They were just so flavourful and looked so posh. If I had a bigger kitchen and could fit in a dehydrater, this would be the kind of thing I would try to make, along with my own crackers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd-VaaacI/AAAAAAAADsE/3UZ4l0rOuc4/s1600-h/Fennel%26TomatoTarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd-VaaacI/AAAAAAAADsE/3UZ4l0rOuc4/s400/Fennel%26TomatoTarts.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zdb8doLNI/AAAAAAAADrU/S7iuS4yiNbE/s1600-h/BeautifulFood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zdb8doLNI/AAAAAAAADrU/S7iuS4yiNbE/s400/BeautifulFood.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd_rDvQhI/AAAAAAAADsM/8W4K0LN4ohk/s1600-h/FistOfChocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd_rDvQhI/AAAAAAAADsM/8W4K0LN4ohk/s320/FistOfChocolate.jpg" vt="true" width="212" /></a></div>Not to be forgetting the beautiful raw chocolate cake, which had pecans in the base and the best thing of all, a layer of raspberry cream (made with almonds). One of the wee foodies got his fist into the cake - my favourite photo of the day. With all the desserts there were a lot of nuts in the dishes, but none of us eat so many of them on a regular basis so as a special treat it was fine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd5AOvneI/AAAAAAAADr0/QZxc6M07kHs/s1600-h/ChocolateHeart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd5AOvneI/AAAAAAAADr0/QZxc6M07kHs/s400/ChocolateHeart.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd3Tr1FMI/AAAAAAAADrs/nd5NufFFwWE/s1600-h/ChocolateCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Zd3Tr1FMI/AAAAAAAADrs/nd5NufFFwWE/s400/ChocolateCake.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>Next month I am hosting the potluck for the first time. I'm a bit nervous but it should be okay. I've never done another stint of completely raw since last year when I lasted two weeks. But now that spring is here I feel ready to increase the percentage of raw food I am eating. <br />
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For now I shall leave you staring at a few plates of deliciousness. Enjoy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeEP6E06I/AAAAAAAADsk/068tHw0R29E/s1600-h/PrettyVeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeEP6E06I/AAAAAAAADsk/068tHw0R29E/s400/PrettyVeg.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeFrE9nJI/AAAAAAAADss/NYmNn7bp4vY/s1600-h/Yum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6ZeFrE9nJI/AAAAAAAADss/NYmNn7bp4vY/s400/Yum.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-81312184275038848252010-03-20T15:21:00.002+00:002010-03-20T15:24:01.444+00:00Chocolate Absinthe MasksToday I took a special journey to <a href="http://www.the-chocolate-tree.co.uk/index.htm">The Chocolate Tree</a>, treated myself to a sit-down with a cup of loose-leaf English Breakfast tea and a beautiful piece of chocolate cake that was layered with the most glorious ganache.<br />
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So. Very. Good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Tnk9v18LI/AAAAAAAADrE/5yc5uRIxgU0/s1600-h/absintheMasks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Tnk9v18LI/AAAAAAAADrE/5yc5uRIxgU0/s400/absintheMasks.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Tnm8oKh_I/AAAAAAAADrM/L_9Whfh_wGA/s1600-h/AbsintheMask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6Tnm8oKh_I/AAAAAAAADrM/L_9Whfh_wGA/s200/AbsintheMask.jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a></div>And these wee darlings, which are currently my favourite chocolate creation available in Edinburgh. There is something mysterious about them, and while I only buy them occasionally, sometimes they call to me until I make the trip to Bruntsfield to buy some. <br />
<br />
I cannot describe them better than their creators:<br />
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"<em>A curious blend of high quality french absinthe, fresh cream and dark chocolate result in a lusciously smooth and slightly mind bending flavour</em>."<br />
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Raw food club tomorrow. I am making my tropical fruit tart and plan to churn some raw cocoa nibs into the base. For a savoury dish I'm thinking of a sundried tomato brazil nut cheeze on cucumber and tomato stacks.PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23008725.post-16348132505887433522010-03-19T22:04:00.003+00:002010-03-19T23:10:35.586+00:00UntouchableSometimes I am untouchable, even when your stone face stares up at me and you drop your words like flat rocks on water. You aim at my heart but miss, miss again. Subconsciously you see yourself missing, see me not moving yet dodging every throw. The thing is, I can whisk myself away to a place you cannot visit. I watch you in your square room while I am dancing over here like a round thing, grass under my feet.<br />
<br />
The antidote is in these words, and the knowledge that one day the stopper will be pulled on all the things you are trying so hard to hold in. You stack your definitions like a tower of socks before the great eternal funnel, because if you let them go, let them pass, you know you will be washed away with them. Everything - all those lies knitted into in your perfectly framed life- crumpling like trees in a mudslide.<br />
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The pain, when it comes, will be immense. There is no reason to pretend it won’t be. This is the plaster you have left to fester on your skin rather than face the task of pulling it off. Death pulls everything off, and I think deep down you know this. This is why you cannot touch me - because I recognize this terrible fear in your eyes - the fear of eventual disuse and annihilation.<br />
<br />
Imagine standing and having unseen hands grab hold of your skin and strip you like a willow. It will be like this, when it comes. The best thing any of us can do up to that point is to wiggle around, get to know ourselves so well that we become loose, so the process is less painful or even strangely pleasurable. I think of you on that day, fearful as a child, your skin clinging tight around you like scar tissue over an old wound. Oh it will hurt, so much. I know it will.<br />
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It’s strange to watch you, looking at me like I am some kind of dirt you wish you could scrape off your shoe, and know I can do nothing. I can’t even warn you, because it would be like throwing a rubber ball against concrete. So I just stay untouchable, move over here and wiggle myself a little. Get loose, ready for freedom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6P08Ikk49I/AAAAAAAADqk/O6oZqcgMDM8/s1600-h/Snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hmnX_eQTaO8/S6P08Ikk49I/AAAAAAAADqk/O6oZqcgMDM8/s400/Snowdrops.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com15