Pink Stinks

Fudging it up

This year we are pretty short on pennies (nothing new there then) so I have invested some money and time into making home made gifts. Initially I wanted to give chocolates and truffles but they don't have a very long shelf life so I would have to make them on demand which is hassle I don't need as Christmas. So I thought that fudge would be a better choice.

I bought some flat pack gift boxes and have already started assembling them. adding ribbons and labels, soon I'll start making job lots of fudge to fill them. It wont be long intill I start giving them out with as a dose of Christmas cheer :)

Here is my recipe for delicious Scottish tablet which is a crumbly fudge that melts in your mouth.

Vanilla Scottish tablet
1 400g tin of condensed milk
500 grams of granulated sugar
50 grams of butter

Put all ingrediants into a pan on the hob and mix. When it has been at a steady rolling boil for 5 minutes it should be ready. Check the temp with a confectionery thermometer or if you don't have one try the soft ball test like I do. Take a tea spoon of hot mixture and drop it into a class of cold water. if it is firm ball when you lift it out then its ready.

Place into a foil lined container to cool at room temperature. When it is firm but not hard score the fudge into cubes. Cool for a few hours (over night is best) and when stored in a sealed container it should last for weeks. That s if it doesn't all get eaten before then!

If you would like variations, once the mixture is ready you can add chopped nuts and chunky peanut butter or even dried fruit and chocolate chips without changing the recipe above. I used creamed coconut in the mix with 20grams less sugar, adding dessicated coconut on top when it is starting to set. Enjoy :)

Repatriation of our own.

This year has been a hard one for the British military. We have had full frontal assaults on the Taliban all summer and hitting them hard where it hurts, but we pay a price of our own, and that price is paid in blood.

Today I paid my respects to the 97th solider to die in Afghanistan this year, at the 100th repatriation parade in Wooton Basset. To my husband and I, Loren Marlton-Thomas is more than just a statistic, he is a comrade and neighbour, he is one of our own. 33 Royal Engineer Regiment has lost one of our boys. The shock to us all is obvious, there is a new but close community here and there has been a dark air hovering over our camp all week, the grief is far too close to home.

Today at Wooton Basset I was amazed by the support and respect offered by the crowds, the amount of towns’ people, shop keepers, comrades, cadets and veterans who have turned out to pay their respects is quite overwhelming. It has been a long heart-rending day full of reverence and tears but a very moving and proud one, we stand together strong in out support and tall in our pride. Today I have gained a new respect for the job our husbands sign up to do, they save lives at a great personal and physical sacrifice to themselves. Loren and Nikki have paid the ultimate price and I know that I speak for many when I say our thoughts are with them both on this poignant day and through the difficult days that are still to come.

Lest we forget, remembrance day now holds new poignancy for our generation after this past year of grief.

Raising funds for our troops

Tonight 33 bombshells did the bi-annual box packing for our troops in Afghanistan. It’s a production line of shoe boxes and donated goodies consisting of magazines sweets snack foods and toiletries. Once packed they are sealed up labels and shipped of as Christmas treats for our soldiers, this year my husbands troop 49, are serving their tour of duty.

There was a great turn out this evening, with lots and lots of volunteers and we totally smashed last year’s record of 95 boxes with a total of 240! That is enough for the whole troop and more besides, I hope the lads and lasses will share out the goodies so everyone can get a little something from home this Christmas. There was a donation of 40 boxes from the Wimbish Rugby club which was greatly appreciated : ) I’m especially glad my neighbours from Wethersfield turned out, which is a great show of support considering the bad news we had on Sunday, way to go girls.

Plans to supply the Christmas fayres are going well and I have about 8 jars of jam and half a dozen boxes of fudge. If anyone is interested in buying some outside of the fayre dates just let me know, I have a dozen different home made treats that would make lovely edible gifts : )
PS I am always after small glass jars, baby food jars are ideal : ) For every 5 you give me you get a free jar of jam ♥

A fun link

Check out the clever inner city fun packed into a car park : D

What a great idea, kudos to Macro-Sea Pools for their fantastic inventive skills :)

All Hallows 'Eve

It was a grave yard smash! The Halloween party was a thoroughly wicked night with enjoyable company and brilliant costumes. First prize to Jack and Sally for their wonderful home made ensemble.


We had fewer guest than anticipated due to the last minute on camp party organised by neighbours but we had just the right amount of people to enjoy company as well as good food and cocktails. We joined the camp party for a few drinks and had a cracking time into the wee small hours. It all went swimmingly and I had the most fantastic evening : )