GRANDMA DAILY

Betty celebrates birthday with friends - Community - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Betty celebrates birthday with friends - Community - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Some old Northamptonions may remember Adrien Bracken, this is his Mum, many from our parents generation knew her.

Happy Hour at The Hilton Kuala Lumpur

This is a nice time of day in this steamy city of many cultures.Malaysia is a predominantly Moslem environment so consumption of alcohol must be done with discretion.
Shopping seems to be a big past time here, everywhere is geared up for Christmas with jingle bells etc playing in the stores. I cannot imagine that anyone here has the faintest idea what a " One horse open sleigh" is.Lights, reindeer, Santa Claus all mixed up with tropical settings. No mention of the religious significance.

I keep being asked what a minus temperature feels like and does it snow where I live.

Answer :yes.

Singapore Cocktail Hour

This is Singapore at 6.30 pm .Everyone in the Hilton Hotel seems to gather in the executive suite for happy hour.This is great, European wine plus delicious Asian savouries, satays, dumplings, curries.
It has rained for much of the time we have been here but this is tropical rain, like a warm shower so everyone just takes an umbrella and walks around regardless. The temperature is 32 degrees c , the rain comes as a relief.

This is a lovely and sophisticated city, safe and trouble free.

Today we went to the zoo, this has been shaped out of the surrounding tropical rain forest.A wonderful colony of orang-utangs. Local birds join in the fun,the plants are lovely, orchids everywhere.Too difficult to photograph as the rain cloud makes everything dark and flash upsets the animals.

Travel Check for Singapore

I am spending the last few days before travelling to Singapore and Kuala Lumpa checking I have not missed anything vital for a smooth journey

Today I was deciding which medication to take and found that anything containing codeine is not permitted in Singapore.This is a common ingredient often combined with paracetamol in the UK. I take it occasionally for back pain, something I am likely to get after a 12 hour flight- care should be taken with it as it is addictive.

My local pharmacy has suggested paracetamol with antihistamine as an alternative so I will take this.Hope this will be ok , I do not want to disobey local laws.

If I get arrested for this, dear friends, please get me out of jail.

Degas and Leonardo da Vinci in London, Vermeer in Cambridge

If you are visiting England some of the world's best art exhibitions are on in London and Cambridge this winter.

Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy is lovely, especially the drawings.I notice that some of them have been lent by someone from Pasadena.It seems that a millionaire living there bought them for his wife who was a ballerina. How romantic.

Leonardo da Vinci at the National Gallery has very complementary reviews. If you do not have a ticket already be prepared to stand in line for a long time.

Vermeer at the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge has irresistable paintings of women by Vermeer and others of the period. Cambridge is a good place to visit if you want to get out of London for a day.Go to the Copper Kettle on the way to the museum for coffee or the fantastic all day breakfast.

London 2012 Olympics Avoided by Tourists

No Olympic Tickets For Us !

Not one member of my sporty family has managed to get a ticket for the London Olympics (2 of them London Marathon Runners who raised thousands of pounds for charity).
Every time I drive past the building site with my disappointed grandchildren I now see a colossal waste of money that has nothing to do with me or the million UK citizens who did not get any tickets.
We are now being bombarded with advertisements offering chances to win tickets by a variety of so called sponsors-- I do not want to win anything, I want to buy tickets .
Now it seems that tourist bookings for that period are down by 90%. Serves you right you greedy hotels who upped your prices.
I shall not buy one souvenir of this event.
We all know that FIFA big wigs, corporate noteworthys and other hangers on will be sliding into their free seats but perhaps they will have the funds to make purchases as they exit through that grandiose shopping arcade they have built.

Malaysia and Singapore- Vaccinations Needed

Hepatitis A-it was good to find that the vaccination I received in 1998 is good for 25 years. Given that we shall be staying in an urban environment for both Singapore and Kuala Lumpar we only needed
Typhoid
Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio Combined.

Warned to use lots of deet type insect lotion, use only bottled water both for drinking and teeth cleaning and not to touch any animals.

Arms aches a bit but so far no other effects.

The Travel Clinic very efficient

Useful website: http://www.nathnac.org/

Paris for Four Days

Getting There

Travel by Eurostar, especially in the more expensive seats is very comfortable .A light but sustaining meal is provided.All so much easier than enduring the nightmare that travelling through airports has become.

Where to stay

Our favourite hotel is the Hotel West -End in the Rue Clement Marot.This is a small, quiet hotel.The rooms vary in size and price, most have a balcony .The larger rooms such as 502, 302 are lovely.The hotel is well placed for sightseeing.There is a breakfast room but no restaurant.This is not a problem as there are dozens restaurants and bars nearby.Many hotels in France, including this one ,serve continental breakfast in your room at no extra charge.

Where to Eat

It is almost impossible to get a bad meal in France.If you want the big treat go for the restaurants with tablecloths and wine glasses, check the menu displayed outside to give an idea of what it will cost you and dive in.Our favourite is Andre's in the Rue Marbouef.Reserve a table in advance.
Cheaper meals and snacks can be had in the bars and cafes ( no table cloths and wine glasses ). Most places advertise a dish of the day or a set formule.This is generally a good choice and will be well priced.

Shopping

You have to buy something nice from one of the stores. Galeries Lafayette is lovely, the clothes can be very expensive.A bottle of good perfume is what I went for, the Dior and other outlets carry a full range and have a high turnover which means it is fresh.They expect you to test everything and take ages over making your choice.You will find your bag full of nice freebies and samples when you get home.
The Haute Couture stores are for window shopping only unless you have just won the lottery ( or are a banker of course).

Artists will like the Sennelier shop,3 Quai Voltaire, the range of exquisite pastels and papers are irresistable.

SightSeeing

The easiest way to see everything in one go is to take a boat ride on the Seine.The Bateaux Mouche are well known.

The art museums are endless, I find the Louvre a bit of a challenge, it is huge.The recently reopened Orangerie is displaying a number of works I have not seen before, enjoyed the Soutine gallery.If you want to take a trip outside the city Monet's house and garden at Giverny are a treat.Please be aware that Claude Monet has been dead for many years, a gentleman from Texas was disappointed to find this excursion did not include meeting the artist.

Final Warning

Take comfortable shoes, one smart outfit, a French-English phrase book,loads of money , Immodium.

Paris for The Weekend

Going to Paris by Eurostar on Thursday as a 70th birthday treat.
Usual panic about what to wear, they all look so well dressed in France.Will take something smart to wear for the nice restaurant we shall be going to , otherwise comfort will have to rule as I want to go to various art museums like the Musee D' Orsay.
Plan to buy a bottle of Dior's Eau Fraiche, can't get it outside France.

Malta Vacation Review

This was a succesful holiday, the weather was hot and sunny and the Phoenicia Hotel very well run and good value for money.
The Maltese are friendly,courteous people.Girls in national costume and a Maltese Grandma

Excursions

We took a tour of the island to Comino with Captain Morgan Tours.This was a good way to see Malta from the sea. Lunch was included , this was a pleasant cold buffet with different meats, salads, fruit and wine.The boat stopped at Comino for about 3 hours to give time for swimming for those who wanted it. This island is a tiny rocky place, the water is clear and blue.Hundreds of people crammed around the swimming area waiting for a turn to take a dip. This seemed a waste of time to us especially as once wet there was nowhere to change. We stayed on board and finished our lunch off with a huge doughnut and a coffee from the bar.

An Open Top Bus Tour which has an get on and off arrangement took us to Mdina.This old city is a must.We sat on top of the bus for some of the journey. This was rather scary, the roads are very rough, it was also very hot however it covered a large part of Malta in a couple of hours and is worth taking.

Food

Fish dishes are good. Meat dishes should be selected with care, rabbit is served frequently, I certainly had it in lasagne and in a burger which turned out to be a bunny burger-- nasty

Malta Vacation

Lovely hot sunny weather. Have found local Marks and Spencer, useful as pool sandals have collapsed.
For somewhere cheap and reliable to eat try Eddy's in the centre of Valletta. Lasagne for 2 plus half a bottle of wine and 2 large coffees came to 25 Euros.As this was Saturday night there was also an entertainer. Ghastly
retrospective stuff, Elvis, Cliff Richards etc but the waiters' comments reduced me to helpless laughter. Worth the agony for this.

Malta Vacation 3

We are there.Air Malta better than expected, hard working crew and comfortable seats.Glad we chose the Phoenicia Hotel , very nice room on recently refurbished third floor. Exemplary housekeeping, nice food. The swimming pool is unfussy, very clean and well appointed bar area .Hot sunny weather, no noisy kids, they are all back at school.Very easy to walk into Valetta for shopping and local restaurants.

Getting Ready for Malta Vacation 2

Return of several garments bought on Friday, care home appearance of night wear off putting-- made satisfactory exchange.Easy to return stuff to Marks and Spencer.

Holiday Preparations for Malta

It always takes me as long to get ready go on holiday as the time I spend taking the break.

Just going to Malta for a week has taken hours online checking airline baggage allowances-- a lady's purse counts as one piece of hand baggage and must fit into your cabin bag with Air Malta , where do airlines think women keep tickets, boarding pass, money, passport -up our knickers? You need these things to hand. We do not have pockets in our clothes like men.

Frantic buying of new bras, panties, nighties and so on as old stuff is too worn out to be seen in the closet of a posh hotel ( The Phoenicia). Old swim suit smells like an aged bath mat so a couple of those too.

Have a wind up cell phone charger-- whenever we go away stuff happens.Malta quite close to Libya.

Time to cram it all into the cases.

London Riots

Driving down Camberwell Road I was shocked to see how many shops were boarded up, many peoples' businesses and living accomodation wrecked.

I have no time for the bleeding hearts who claim poverty had a part.It was not loaves of bread that were stolen .Carefully selected stores selling electrical goods, phones, trainers, sports goods and jewellery were targetted.

The fire raisers kept the emergency services busy and attacked them while the hudlums and gangsters took control of the streets.

This must stop. Ordinary people cannot live in fear of one group in the community who lack self control and moral standards.

Magistrates and judges please give the harshest sentences you can.Stop the hand outs and let the looters and those who receive the stolen goods try a real dose of starvation.

Essentials List

Things I must do before midnight

Make plum jam
Clear cupboards for fitting of newly ordered washing machine (Bosch).Comet very helpful when making this purchase.
Tackle ironing pile
Cook dinner -chicken with bacon, side salad, fries and rhubarb and ginger crumble dessert
Check Ocado order before 6pm
Stop doing this blog

HSBC Secure Card Problems Resolved

Have got this card functioning at last.

It requires 8 separate and correctly answered steps before you can get into your online account every time you use it for anything.

Have a pencil and paper ready.

As soon as the new number appears on your secure card write it down fast. It disappears in seconds-- get part way through it as you put it online and you are completely stuffed if you cannnot remember it.

You may have to ask the nodding Chinese idiot woman a question online then.

London Riots

Use the water cannon and rubber bullets tonight please Mrs May.It all looks so bad my American cousins are asking me if I need refuge with them.

HSBC Secure Card Problems

It has taken me 24 hours to get into my account.Collected another card from my local branch.Note they made no security checks before handing it over. They failed to give me a new replacement code so more time spent phoning India to get one.

HSBC have imposed this system on their customers regardless of whether they have the capacity to manage it. It is alleged that even blind customers have received them.

Hours of my time wasted on this.

HSBC Secure Card Disaster

This silly little card is a disaster.I am now locked out of my bank account. Hopeless for older people with arthritic fingers and short sight.

Lengthy phone call via the Indian subcontinent has failed to help.

Will visit local branch of HSBC tomorrow and insert it into someone

Orient Express Steam Day

Took a trip on an Orient Express Pullman service train from London to Bristol to celebrate a significant birthday.This was a train ride done the way things used to be with a steam engine and ultra comfortable coaches .A table for two with immaculate service for brunch and dinner were included in the ticket price.

Leaving Victoria station at 9 a.m. we ambled through the English countryside stopping to pick up water supplied by a fire engine .Passengers could get off and see this.Remembered what hard work it was seeing the stokers and fireman shoveling coal to build up steam.

Our destination was Bristol.Taken by coach on arrival to see Brunel's suspension bridge and then a guided tour of his steam ship in dry dock, beautifully restored. Back to the train for the return journey to London to find our table ready with canapes and cold champagne, followed by a good dinner.If like Grandpa you like trains you will love this.

Tunstall village, Suffolk ~ watercolor demonstration

The Wizard of Oz

A brilliant show at the London Palladium for Grandmas to visit with grandchildren.Witches fly round the auditiorium, snow flakes fall on the audience, the tornado is terrific and the music is hummable .Treat them to a pair of Ruby Slippersocks as a souvenir.

Danielle Hope has a nice voice and is sweet but this Grandma first saw the film 65 years ago aged 5;there will never be a Dorothy as charismatic as Judy Garland again.

Full house when we were there,this is an experience children love, get them away from the TV and computer screen.

Cambridge Restaurant Midsummer House

This restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. Eating here is a lovely experience.The menu is served as a range of small quantities of utterly delicious dishes over about 6 courses to everyone at the table.Professional restaurant food- not home cooking.

Be careful with the array of wines-- better to choose one good bottle to enjoy throughout the meal than be overwhelmed by about 5 glasses .I saw one lady with her head in her hands unable to cope.

Check the price of the wines before choosing--champagne can be £ 350 per bottle.

Attention is paid to every tiny detail, perfect service.

http://www.midsummerhouse.co.uk/

Cambridge and Tourists

Are you going to visit Cambridge, England this summer? I hope you enjoy my lovely city but:-

If you are accompanying a group of young people please tell them to show respect when entering churches and chapels

Photography is generally permitted but not during services.Posing for photos in mocking positions in front of paintings or a cross may seem funny to you but is very offensive to Christians who worship in the churches-Japanese visitors please note this.
It is the custom to form a line when waiting to be served in a shop or cafe.Pushing in front of waiting people is considered rude.
Crowding the entrances to streets and buildings, pushing people off the pavement (sidewalk)is inconsiderate to frail older people and mothers with small children.
If you hire a bicycle learn the traffic signs.

GRANDMA DAILY: News of The World -Vince Was Right

GRANDMA DAILY: News of The World -Vince Was Right: "See how easy it was for Murdoch to close down this piece of popular culture. You may not have liked the NOTW but a free and challenging pr..."

News of The World -Vince Was Right

See how easy it was for Murdoch to close down this piece of popular culture.
You may not have liked the NOTW but a free and challenging press is part of a democratic society.He has taken this action to protect a small number of his favourites and their corrupt malign influence.Murdoch has had little regard to the employees who have been instantly dismissed, the newspaper sellers and vendors who have relied on it for their income and the public liked reading it.

I remember my grandmother enjoying this paper and I am seventy years old.

Our government must address the issue of BSkyB and halt the dealings for Murdoch to take it over right now.

Remember Vince Cable's comments a few weeks ago-- he was then banned from bringing his influence to bear in the matter. Vince was right.

Favourite Jams

Summer fruits are now as cheap as they will ever be.Dig out those glass jars you have been saving and save the taste of summer in them.
You do not have to make huge quantities as many recipes suggest.
A sugar thermometer is a big help.

Sterilise the jars first. Give them a good wash in hot water ( or dishwasher) , stand them upright on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven for 30 minutes 100 C while you make the jam.
Put a saucer in the fridge.

Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam is my favourite. The trickiest one is Strawberry Jam. An easy one is Greengage.

Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam

2lb gooseberries
2lb sugar
half pint water
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoon Elderflower Cordial Essence

Top and tail the gooseberries.

Put them with the water and the lemon juice into a large pan.Simmer until soft and mash down slightly --use a potato masher if you have one.
Add the sugar and elderflower essence, bring to the boil, continue to boil until the temperature reaches 105 C or 221F.Test a teaspoon of jam on a cold saucer to see if it wrinkles and sets.
Cool the jam for 5 minutes .
Fill the warm jars with the jam.
Put a wax disc on the top of the jam and cover with very clean lids or cellophane covers.
Cool and keep in a dry place. Homemade jam is best eaten quickly .Fantastic on toast for breakfast or scones for tea.

PHONE HACKING SCANDAL OVER MILLY DOWLER

I never thought I would agree with John Prescott but the view he expressed yesterday about Rupert Murdoch controlling BSkyB being a matter of grave public concern is right.
The alleged phone hacking and interference by one of Murdoch's employees into the phone of a missing 13 year old girl thus meddling with a police search was beyond merely shocking.Her parents were given false hope of her being alive while in reality this child lay dead, brutally murdered.
Stop the negotiations with Murdoch immediately before this meglomaniac controls all our news.

Vince Cable was correct when he expressed similar concerns a few weeks ago.

Family Tree Magazine Article

My article about Great Uncle Fred Cockerill and his show girl wife Queenie Leighton has just been published. Very pleased with the way it looks. Queenie was quite famous in her day as a principal boy in many pantomimes.

CAMBRIDGE,ENGLAND, 18th June 2011

Visiting Cambridge on Saturday 18th June

A good place to visit is St Botolph's Church in Trumpington Street, especially if it rains or you just want to sit down for a while.
This is one of the oldest churches in Cambridge

This Saturday there will be a friendly sale of

BOOKS

COLLECTABLES

TRADITIONAL CAKES and other refreshments

SOFT TOYS-- see the knitted Queen and corgies.Treat a little boy to a Spitfire .

Backyard Tomatoes

My back garden is tiny but three tomato plants have a warm sunny position by a south facing wall.
Growing these gets really exciting from now on as the yellow flower buds change into green pea sized fruits and swell into green and then red tomatoes to eat.
These plants must be fed and watered .They are of course the most expensive tomatoes you will ever eat by the time you have bought compost, plants,Tomorite and stakes.

But there is nothing like the taste and smell of a tomato still warm from the sun.
It takes me back to my post war child hood. Food was still rationed.
My Dad kept chickens at the bottom of the garden, he swapped eggs with Mr Benton next door for tomatoes from his green house.

It seems amazing now that all food was seasonal. No tomatoes or strawberries until the summer. No cheap imports and no supermarkets.

Ryan Giggs and Celebrity Behaviour

Hardly a day passes without the revelation of shallow deceitful behaviour from so called celebrities. These cheaters know what they are doing is wrong otherwise they would not employ expensive lawyers to cover up their conduct from the public under the guise of protecting their privacy.

Wives, brothers, friends,colleagues, and especially sons and daughters have all been betrayed,so have the young fans who idolise them.

The selfish marriage wrecking tarts who only want a chunk of the grossly overpaid wages their morally weak targets get are no better.

Whatever happened to loyalty?
What happened to personal reponsibility?

Sponsors please have the moral courage to cancel your endorsement of these crass individuals.
Do not buy their books.Boo them from the terraces.They are cheating you too.

E.coli and food handling

Sloppy handling of food can create an opportunity for food poisoning bugs to get a grip. Hand to mouth then to food spreads bacteria from the mouth and throat.Infection comes from faeces that get onto hands after wiping your backside when visiting the toilet.There is no polite way to put this.

Look around you at the gross habits some people have.

Eating fast food in the street with unwashed hands
Food stores that allow customers to walk around eating food at the same time as they select goods from food containers
Hotel buffets- just watch those people who drink and eat as they wander round the breakfast buffet
Servers who eat as they serve food to customers in shops and in cafes
Supermarket shelves overstacked so that food is not properly chilled.
WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER VISITING THE TOILET AND BEFORE TOUCHING FOOD
If you have touched raw meat or chicken wash your hands again and surfaces they have been on like chopping boards.

NHS Care of the Elderly in UK

This damning report mirrors my own experience of the care given to my 92 year old mother in a hospital in Northampton 2 years ago.
A patient in the next bed told me my mother was not getting any food.When I asked the nurse why this was happening the response was that my mother had not filled in any of the menu request forms.My mother had advanced dementia and was no longer able to read or write or feed herself.Visitors were not allowed to help at meal times.
My mother grew progressively weaker while the nurses gossiped and a cocky young doctor checked his emails on the ward computer.
Eventually my mother died weighing 4 1/2 stone on the day they shipped her off to a nursing home.-One less death on the hospital records.

Strawberry Scones

Strawberries are everywhere, the warm weather has produced a memorable crop .
This is a very simple recipe.Lovely for English afternoon tea.

8oz plain flour (240g)( or self raising and omit the baking powder)
3 level teaspoons baking powder
2 oz sugar (60g)
2 teaspoons of castor sugar
pinch salt
milk to mix.
2 oz sultanas if liked

To serve
Thick cream and strawberries

Rub the butter into the flour and mix in the sugar and the salt.Mix to a firm dough with the milk.
Knead for a few minutes on a floured board and roll or pat out to 3/4 inch thick.Cut into round ( about 8or 9) with a cutter .
Place on a floured baking tray and bake in a hot oven for 10- 15 minutes until well risen and golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack.

When cool slit in half. Put a good dollop of very thick cream on each scone half and top with a strawberry.

Eat as soon as possible

Container Gardening

My garden is very small, only a back yard, but you can grow anything in containers.This is good for Grandmas,not so far to bend down, easy to water and no lawn to mow. Providing the pots are not too big they can be moved around for a change of view.
The last few days while Blogger was down I got more containers filled with

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Flowers

There is nothing so good as a fresh tomato still warm from the sun.

Asparagus and Bacon

The market stalls are piled high with fresh asparagus.
A tasty way to serve asparagus allowing 3 spears to 1 thin rasher of streaky bacon or pancetta.
Serve one portion as a starter or more as a main dish or accompaniment to chicken.

Trim the woody end of the stalks until the asparagus shoots measure about 5 inches in length.
Wash and rise the asparagus with 2 pints of boiling water in a strainer, rinse with cold water.
Line a baking tray with non stick foil or parchment paper.
Take 3 asparagus spears and wrap them in a slice of the bacon.
Repeat until all the spears have been used up.
Cook in a hot oven for 15 minutes 200 degrees C
Serve on a warm plate with crusty bread to mop up all the delicious juices.

Garden Colours for Summer 2011

Time to start some serious gardening now the warm weather is here.The window boxes outside the smart buildings in London like the Pall Mall clubs seem to have gone for a white, purple and green theme this year.
I keep some variagated ivy, shrubs and mini conifers in my window boxes permanently.Last seasons plants can be removed and with the addition of some new compost and slow release fertiliser, new ones for the summer can be put in.

This year I have added white geraniums and purple surfinia petunias.This looks fresh and elegant against the green background.

Plenty of watering will be needed to help them establish and covering at night if a late frost is forecast.

Life Drawing and Erotic Style

Erotic Line is the title of next weeks life drawing class with Derek Batty in Cambridge UK. This will be using examples of work by Egon Schiele and August Rodin. Can hardly wait.
It is good to be back with this group after the spring break and thinking about using water colours during the summer.Sketching people on vacation when they are sitting around is good practice.

Swimming Pool Excelsior Vittoria , Sorrento, Italy

Fascinators, Top Hats ,Genealogy

Fascinators

Many people have liked the fascinator hats worn by guests at the Royal Wedding.If you like hats there is a wonderful shop in St James Street , London.They will make you a hat to order. Although this is quite expensive you will have the hat of a lifetime.I had one made for my daughter's wedding 10 years ago.If you are visiting London see this shop.
The window display of this shop is quite small but exquisite- both for ladies and men.
If you are going to a wedding, Royal Ascot (see the Top hats for men) or meeting the Queen this is the shop for you.This is link where you can see them online.
You may just want to dream like most of us.-- you know what they say
If you want to get ahead get a hat

http://www.lockhatters.co.uk/

The Society of Genealogoists Conference was held in London on Saturday. This society is 100 years old today.Particulary interesting speakers at the conference were Alec Tritin on blogging for family historians and Elsie Churchill on more advanced ways of finding out about your ancestors.
If you have English ancestors this is a good place to search for information, they have copies of parish registers and a library full of interesting information such as trade directories with lists of people and their occupations. I have found several of my ancestors listed along with the trades that they followed or the names of the farms where they lived.

Chocolate Biscuit Wedding Cake for Kate and William

Prince William requested a chocolate biscuit cake for the Royal Wedding Party, it is a childhood favourite of his.A huge version of this recipe was made for the wedding by McVities the biscuit manufacturer.
This is a nice recipe for Grandmas to make with children, there is no baking, it goes in the fridge.

Chocolate Biscuit Cake

200g plain biscuits such as Rich Tea, Digestive,Marie
100 g butter cut into cubes
70 g (1/4 cup) golden syrup
300g good quality chocolate

Method

Line a shallow 20cm tin (square) with cling film or parchment paper leaving plent hanging over the edge .
Put the biscuits in a plastic bag and crush then with a rolling pin until they are the about the size of 10p ,(quarters) pieces.
Melt the butter and golden syrup in a large bowl placed over a pan of simmering water.Add the chocolate. Everything should be melted and smooth but NOT boiling.
Remove from the heat and gently stir in the biscuits until they are well coated with the chocolate mixture.
Put into the prepared tin pressing the mixture down with the back of a spoon and smoothing it out.
When cool cover with the flaps of cling film and place in the fridge for at least three hours.
Turn out the cake gently, (wrap in a warm tea towel if it sticks) remove the cling film.
Trim off the edges to show the inside. Cut into small squares.
Keep in an airtight tin in the fridge

note : 25 grams =1oz
a handful of raisins or chopped pecans can be added if liked.

Table Top Computer

Today Grandma saw a very desirable new thing-- a table top computer. This was being used in some research conducted by the Open University in Cambridge on ways of recording information found externally ( in this case a grave yard) and relaying it via ipads and phone cameras to the computer inside .
The table top computer made it easy for a group of people to look at the information we had recorded- much easier than all staring up at a screen.

Family History and Grandmas

Most of the history we studied in school was written by old white men.
Yes, we need a structure on which to base our research and provide a time line but your family history is your personal account of how and where your ancestors lived, their work, loves, lives and wealth. Not just a list of names but a social and economic account to pass down to your grandchildren.The black sheep as well as the martyrs.
Grandmas I urge you to start recording what you know now.
If you are downsizing try to keep some of those old photos,jewellery, pieces of fabric from significant dresses , label them.Have a treasure box so that when you die someone in the family can be its guardian and add to it.

Grandmas can be very interesting- two of mine

Duke of Cambridge Tart

Duke of Cambridge Tart is one of the delicious dishes that visitors to Cambridge will find to enjoy. There are several well known puddings associated with Cambridge. Burnt Cream or Creme Brulee is associated with the University Colleges.
The inventor of CS Gas lived in Magdalene College and experimented on himself ruining his digestion at the same time.He was advised by his doctor to eat rice pudding,. If you dine in this college on High Table you can refuse the dessert being served because there is still always rice pudding which was made daily for the ailing scientist .

This recipe is likely to be revived
Duke of Cambridge Tart

Recipe
          Crust
4 -6oz shortcrust pastry .Ready made from the supermarket is fine. Line a pie dish or flan ring with shortcrust pastry.
           Preheat the oven.
Filling   3oz butter, 3 oz sugar,4 oz raisins,2 oz glace cherries, 2 egg yolks,2 tablespoons rum or brandy, grated lemon rind.

Cover the raisins with cold water , bring to the boil, leave until cool and drain
Put the raisins and cherries in to the lined pie dish.( add the grated rind of a lemon if liked)
Melt the butter and sugar in a small pan, bring to the boil.
Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks and brandy
Pour over the raisins and cherries, bake for 25-35 mins, 190 C,375F,Gas5, until the pastry is brown and the filling golden
Eat hot or cool with cream or icecream.

ALTERNATIVE FILLING: another traditional filling is candied peel instead of raisins.

Kate and Wills, Duke and Duchess

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Grandma knows quite a number of ladies who thought that they were the Duchess of Cambridge.
I enjoyed a good cry through the wedding ceremony and will be going to the Hertford street, Cambridge, street party very soon.Looking up recipes for Duke of Cambridge Tart-- a very old dessert recipe.

The Ceremony
Crown Imperial was a brilliant choice for the exit from Westminster Abbey. Flowers- disappointing,dress wonderful--best dressed lady has to be Camilla , Prince Charles' wife.
The ugly sisters were played by Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice- get a new makeup adviser girls.
Sartorial faux pas- that prize goes to Victoria Beckham in funerial black with a satellite dish on her head--and where was your hat Mrs Cameron? Your husband was correctly dressed, if you want to get ahead get a hat.

Street Party,Cambridge UK

After big National events many communities hold a street party. This is the party in Hertford Street,Cambridge today

This is Cambridge UK

Mathematical bridge

Winter

A chilly night is forcast but many people are camping out around Westminster Abbey and the Mall . Grandma went to have a quiet lunch with her son and found peace in the Royal Academy exhibtion of exquisite Watteau drawings.

Kate and Wills Wedding Eve Royal Title

The Queen will give Prince William and Kate Middleton a title on the eve of their marriage.This is a Royal tradition. Kate will not be Princess Catherine as keeps being quoted, only the daughter or grand daughter of a reigning monarch gets this. The Queen has been to Cambridge today .The Archbishop of Canterbury is coming at 5pm to give a lecture.
Rumour has it that Queen Elizabeth has informed the Mayor that Kate and William will be made Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the eve of their wedding so we shall know tomorrow.

Royal Wedding Fever

London has that special buzz that this great city gets when a Royal occasion is about to take place.

The flags are out, the mugs and teatowels are on sale everywhere, the streets are heaving with visitors. This is all for the wedding of Kate and William on Friday.People are already camping out in the street to secure the best place to watch from ,Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and The Mall give the best view.

If you are visiting London one the the best treats is a visit to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.The ballet Cinderella is showing. The costumes,the scenery,and the dancing are pure magic.Laugh at the ugly sisters, do not try the dance moves of the court jester at home.The Royal Opera Orchestra is the best theatre orchestra I have ever heard.
Treat yourself to a glass of Pimms in one of the bars in the interval.Soak up the ambience.
Yes, I know the price of the tickets is eyewatering but this is a special place.

If you need a taxi remember the black cabs on the street are expensive. Order a nice uniformed driver in a decent car from

Addison Lee ; 02073878888

Happy Easter

Happy Easter on this glorious sunny spring day.Cambridge is full of tourists.Many of them are messing about on the river.

Grandma is taking her grand daughters Mathilda and Alice to the Royal Ballet tomorrow to see Cinderella.