Grandma Ellen

My Grandma Ellen and I have always been close. Being the first Grandchild I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents before anyone else came along.

My Grandma tells stories about taking me on buses into town or walking along Portobello promenade and aged 3 I would talk to everyone and anybody (some things never change then!!)

Recently my Grandma and I have had some brilliant honest chats about life and relationships and it might sound silly to say but this wonderful 81 year old has given me some great advice!! I tell you she could give Carrie Braidshaw a run for her money!!

When I finished school she gave me a ring which she had saved up and bought with her first wages, back in her teens. She has always worked and has been a grafter at that! Every time I look at the ring she gave me I am reminded of her work ethic and the qualities I have inherited from her.

I was really touched as recently she again gave me a beautiful gift- a very sentimentally heirloom- I told her I would wait until she passes on to receive it, so she can continue to enjoy it, but she is worried that the things she wants to give people won't go to the right person. It was very sweet and such a touching moment. I really will treasure it always.

However more than the possessions she has given me I will treasure the lessons she has taught me.

Grandad Jimmy turns 84!

On Saturday June the 7th we went to visit my Grandad in his home at Strachan House. He came here just before Christmas as he was needing more care.

My Grandma and Dad drove down from Portobello, where my Grandma still lives and Becky and I drove across town.

We had such a lovely afternoon and the home really made a big effort to celebrate his birthday!

We gave him a huge package of sweets- his favourite thing!! Anything sugary he cannot get enough of. My Dad also got him a new strap for his watch which he was very grateful for.

He is much more himself now he has constant care- and he even cracked a few jokes!! My Grandad Jimmy was always the one telling bad jokes that you couldn't help but laugh at!!

He was a butcher for most of his life, after serving in the forces toward the end of the war. He celebrated his 18th Birthday in Egypt and his 21st in Norway! I always remember him being a big strong man- lugging big haunches of meat around his shop. He worked 6 days a week and in the summer on a Sunday you could find him in his garden with his shirt off... tanning himself in a vest and panama hat!

I have such warm memories of my Grandparents and I'm so thankful I still have the joy of their company.

I also love these photos of Becky dressing up in my Grandma's hat- it reminds me of what she was like when we were younger and used to play at my Grandparents house.

Dan and Emily's BBQ

The weather has been (on the whole) really lovely for the last month. We do get some days which are just horrendous rain but we've really been enjoying some great sunshine too!

Dan and Emily (the Captain of Nathan's Rugby team and his wife) have just built a new decking area in their back garden so all the rugby crew went round to have a BBQ and catch up on each others news... I hadn't seen some of the girls in ages- and in the winter we will be gossiping on the side lines most Saturdays!

Dan and Emily's new puppy, Murphy kept us entertained for most of the evening... although the boys played various drinking games well into the night! (I'm sure the neighbours loved that!)

The Rugby girls- left to right: Wendy, Zara, Emily, Lorna, Shirley, Gemma, Meghan and me.

Keeping up my Floristry skills!

I love peonies!! They are my favourite flower and they are everywhere at the moment. The little market stall at the bottom of Castle Street had these really unusual bright pink ones... they look so different... and certainly brightened up the flat!!

Bridezilla!!

My lovely friend Emma H is getting married in a few months to her wonderful fiance Sean. Emma has really done a beautiful job organizing everything and I am in no doubt it will all look amazing...

She has spent a small fortune on the most gorgeous stationary for her big day- the save the dates alone were fantastic!!

So when it came to sending out the invites she enlisted the help of Hillary and I to hand write the envelopes... I have never been so nervous writing an envelope!! Even Emma had to laugh at herself!!

We were fed for our troubles by Sean- who made a really tasty pasta dish (good culinary skills- a definite plus!) Then Emma wiped the dining room table down- twice!! .. to ensure there were no marks on it!

She then had us practice our calligraphy (ish) writing to ensure it was up to her standard!! I love the photos of her and Hillary!! (they make me laugh so much!)

I, thank the Lord, never made a mistake but Hils made a few wee mistakes (I have to add not always her fault!) ... Hils and I were both sweating and so nervous doing this task for Emma.

Hils sloped off (back to work- poor thing!!) and I was kept on for envelope filing duty!! In the end Emma had all her invites ready to go... and she had a wee emotional moment!! So we felt the need to have a champagne toast!!

Needless to say Sean didn't quite get the symbolism of the envelopes.... to Emma it made it all so real....

So funny!! She was making him feel guilty for not being more excited that we eventually got a Whoop, whoop out of him!! They are so cute together!!

Channel 4's Taste Festival

As all foodie lovers in Edinburgh know May/ June is the time when the Channel 4's Taste festival comes to town. I didn't have a chance to go last year so Nathan kindly got us some free tickets and we made a plan to go.

As someone remarked the other day- they have never been to a more middle class event! Which I suppose is true! The taste festival showcases all the great restaurants in Edinburgh- giving you a chance to try samples from their menu. Now these are the creme de la creme of restaurants!!

You buy crowns- the taste festivals currency and then at each stand you can purchase a sample of a starter, main or dessert.

I'd heard from Hannah that Martin Whishart's dessert was to die for... but before I could make a bee line for his stand Nathan insisted that I tried starters and main courses first!!

The festival was on for 4 days but sadly I was working on the Saturday and we couldn't go then ... it was glorious sunshine all of Saturday- great for working at my promotional activity but it would have been better being at Taste!!

Sadly when we went on the Sunday the weather had turned and it was torrential rain!! Not good for an outdoor festival! But we were prepared... I had my wellies on and Nathan had a big brolly.

It wasn't quite the same sipping cocktails in the rain!! but we still had a great time... and who knows maybe in the future we might get to go to the restaurants to try a full compliment of the delights they have to offer... sadly it won't be the price of a few Taste crowns though!!

Below is Martin Whishart's main course- Braised shin of Ross-shire Beef, Pearl barley and root vegetables... the dessert wasn't on the plate long enough to photograph- it was Dark Chocolate Mousse, orange curd and chocolate shortbread. It was Divine!! There were not only different textures in it but it felt like varying temperatures too!! Yummy!

Sex and the City!

It seems crazy to be blogging about this now but I still haven't put my pictures up!!

The last blogging I did was the weekend that Hillary, Hannah, Becky and myself had been watching season 6 on dvd to get reacquainted with the SATC girls! Well the following Friday, the 30th of May I had Zara, Becky and Hillary round after work and we each brought some nibbles and we had ourselves a picnic before we went to see the movie.

Muchos impressed by Zara's kebabs.. so tasty!.. and Becky made awesome Brushetta... Hils also adorned the table with M&S' finest nibbles

It was a little rushed as we didn't have much time between work and going to the movies... Hils kindly picked me up from work and I got started on my cupcakes (essential for SATC) sadly they weren't cooled when I came to put butter icing on them- so it melted slightly... but the girls assured me that they still tasted just as good!!

I also went to the Cocktail Emporium on Broughton Street and purchased the ingredients for making Cosmopolitan cocktails- the guy was so helpful and if ever you're having a cocktail party I'd recommend seeking his advise...

I LOVED the movie and actually thought it was better than the programs- I thought the characters were much more in depth as it was much less about the sexual relationship and going from relationship to relationship.

And all about what happens when you do find your Mr Right.... and how there isn't always a fairytale ending... that it's really hard work and it's never perfect... it just has to be worked at... and I can so relate to that right now!!!

But most of all the movie was about friendship and being there for one another as friends- whatever happens in life! (and you gotta love that!!)