Do something amazing

M&C Saatchi is responsible for this campaign for the Australian Red Cross aimed at promoting blood donation. The gruesome image of a blood filled donation pot certainly provokes a reaction.

If you haven't donated before I can not stress how important it is, our health service relies on support of our nations generosity. Medical restrictions are now easier (e.g for piercings and tattoos) and testing is very thorough, if you stand the needle - go for it! Its easy, save a life, give blood.

You wanna be in my gang?

Since moving to Essex I have the use of a car to commute and am happy to make the transition to a Sunday pleasure rider, I’ve had enough numb fingers and wet crotches to not mind packing up over the colder months, and this year was the coldest there has been in my lifetime. This winter was the first season I have shut my motorbike, Rex, down completely, he got tucked into a corner of the garage, I drained the oil and put it under cover for 6 of the coldest months we have seen in decades.

Now the warmer weather is approaching I am looking to replace most of my gear with comfy lightweight versions, much to my bike-mad-brothers horror. I already have some un-padded leather trousers (from magical ebay of course!) and hope to get some comfy biker boots as well to replace the old un-comfortable ones. My armoured trousers we very high and stiff, I could hardly sit down in them let alone enjoy a drink in a country pub garden on a day out.

I’ve signed up to a club – The Royal British Legion Riders branch. I was introduced to the branch whilst attending a difficult repatriation last year in Wotten Basset, its one of several positives I got from the trying experience. On the up side I was amazed of the idea of a veterans biker gang but didn’t pluck up the courage to ask if army WAGS could join too. I’ve always wanted to go to biker meets but too nervous to go alone, and now I live so far from my friends who are newly introduced to the wonders of motorbikes (seriously 5 of them have bought bikes this year!) I was keen to learn more. Its taken a while but I have now applied to the branch : )

Along with my new gear I’ve bought some new parts for Rex, the side panel was in a bad way and I fancy some custom decals, I have also just been looking at some patches to sew onto a waistcoat. After all, if I’m in a biker gang I need a waistcoat with patches to look the part! Its not like I can grow a beard, and I don’t really want to tattoo my knuckles either >_>

I’m looking forward to making biking a real hobby; to spend time planning and enjoying the summer weekends. The spring weather has made me appreciate the enjoyable experiences I get from biking and not for the first time I feel I’m out growing my beloved Rex, I have been guiltily looking at second hand bikes online. My husband David wants to do his CBT and I trust him with Rex, which would free me up for a bigger engine ; )

Judge people

Judging people by their taste in biscuits might not sound like a very productive way to get to know someone's personality, but I found it rather interesting.

Digestive - Frugal
Malted milk - Child like
Jammie dodger - Hyperactive
Hobnob - Grounded
Bourbon - Traditionalist
Choco Leibnz - Europhile
Jaffa cake - Extrovert (yes, it counts as a biscuit)
Choc millionaire - Love lorn

I like all these biscuits, and my favourites seem to accurate, but I am disappointed that ginger nut and custard creams aren't part of the list. I just spotted this in a magazine and thought I'd share it anyway, what is your favourite?

Sugar Momma

I have always enjoyed making things myself; clothes, cards, artwork, accessories and gifts, but best of all I like to cook. I love baking, making fudge, jam and preserves.

Last Christmas I gave everyone a jar of jam as a gift, I also made a few dozen for a Christmas fair, which everyone loved. Now that we have hens I have been working towards putting an honesty box in the shed out the front for our excess eggs, that way they are not wasted and we get some money back towards keeping the girls.Seeing that the jam was such a hit (most people have asked for more) and I love making it (and I have the time) I have decided to try selling it out the front and going to more fairs this year. There are a couple of horticultural fairs I will be entering which I am very much looking forward to : )

I want to make it clear that my fruit is home grown or wild, that it is free from artificial ingredients and I also need a brand name to start with. I can’t think of anything new and am stuck on words/things already associated with me. I’d love to know what you think and any feed back would be greatly appreciated : )

Easter Bunny is here!

This week I've been looking up themed surprises for when my husband’s family come for dinner on Easter Sunday - we don’t get enough quality time with family so I wanted to make it special.

First of all I found some cute bunny napkin origami which looks adorable with my home made yellow gingham napkins^_^ I knew I wanted to paint my own eggs as its not something I've done before so when I saw these Martha Stewart Chocolate eggs I was dying to give it a go ; )

Initially the chocolate eggs were to use in a mini hunt for the VIP guest, our 22 month old niece Martha but as I went on I decided to write on them and use the chocolate eggs as place settings. If get time I might do another half dozen hollow eggs especially for her - where Martha is concerned there can never be enough chocolate, I'm sure it was her first word!

We bought a large leg of lamb which will be slow roasted for 3 hours using this recipe, and I've bought ingredients to make both lemon meringue pie and chocolate fudge cake, the latter complete with shavings and eggs. I've also got supplies to make Bunny Cupcakes with David's cousins next week. I'll let you know how that goes, I'm sure it will be messy but worth it : )