. God I hate this film. And I haven’t even seen it. I hated the books and I hate that we now can’t move for having it rammed down our throats. Twinnings made a tea (but have since back tracked after a huge furore), Tesco are selling dressing gowns, Walmart in the US is selling a gift basket that comes with handcuffs. Can we all just calm the
Nurturing
Valentine Wine Guide
. This year I am all about the staying in. My new phrase is “Staying In is the New Going Out” and later this week I will share my ideas on food and gift ideas, but for now, let’s focus on the booze. First up you have to have fizz, right? It’s sort of the law on days like Valentine’s Day. And Christmas. And Birthdays. And New Years. And “today
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Supporting
Sewing machines in Kenya
. I kicked myself when we were on the maternity ward in Kisumu. As we walked out I spotted two ladies working away on sewing machines. I was behind the rest of the group so trying to catch up and I desperately wanted to take photos of the ladies to show my lovely mum in law who is a keen seamstress. There are, rightly, strict rules on taking
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Nurturing
My toad in the hole can #RaiseSomeDough
. It won’t have escaped your attention that I am a bit involved with Comic Relief this year. And also a lover of food. In fact if you don’t know those two facts about me you are clearly new. And won’t know that it is Mummy Barrow law that newbies send me biscuits. (Ed’s note: Get on with it Barrow). Oh yes. Right. So given that I am a huge
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Nurturing
Tortilla in Richmond – a review
T mailed me when she got an email asking her to come along to a relaunch. I wrote back in approximately 0.00001 seconds “Are you kidding? Of course!” Tortilla hasn’t reached our sleepy corner of Hampshire and only came on the scene after T pretty much left London, so it was new to her to be honest, and she hadn’t realised that it was my “occasional treat lunch” from my office
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Musings
Ranty Friday — Online Etiquette
The irony of Ranty Friday this week being about online etiquette and of people ranting online is not lost on me this week. I just want to get this out in the open right at the start. I think my point about online etiquette is that whilst I love a damn good rant, what I don’t like is people being abusive online. And that is my point this
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Musings
How much will you spend on your Valentine
. In the run up to Valentine’s Day next weekend (and a blog post next week with some fab gift ideas) I have been asked by Evolution Money if I would like to host this guest post. It makes for very interesting reading! It wasn’t that long ago that Valentine’s Day meant buying a card for your loved one and perhaps a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates.
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Musings
The Gallery — Cold
. If you follow me on social media you will know that we spent the weekend in Edinburgh. Sorry about that. So with the theme this week for the gallery being cold, well it had to be photos from Scotland I am afraid. Again. We woke up to snow at home at 4.30am and I suggested to Mr B that we might consider cancelling. He is made of sterner
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Supporting
I am dancing at the Comic Relief Danceathon for six hours. Help
. On Saturday night Mr B and I had the honour of being invited to the Canvas Holidays 50th Anniversary ball in Edinburgh. We were one of five couples invited along because we have a special connection to the company. We even got mentioned in dispatches but Simon the MD before dinner which was hugely exciting, if ever so slightly embarrassing. As the night wore on there was a ceilidh,
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Musings
Cadbury World — A review
. February means one thing to me. Half term. I don’t know about you but I get as excited about the school holidays as children do these days. Having a lie in. No school runs. Bliss. We don’t have any plans for this half term yet but last half term we had a few days out that were great fun and that I highly recommend for a half
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Musings
Ranty Friday — Pants
. Today’s post is not so fuelled by anger but by sadness really but it has made me really properly think this week and made me determined to do something about it. And I guess rant that this is even a thing. This morning I have been tweeting about being on a pants mission. Tomorrow we are off to the ball (I feel like Cinderella) and I have a
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Musings
The Gallery — Play
Play, what a gorgeous theme on The Gallery this week. Fresh back from Kenya I have been trying to process all we saw and did whilst we were out there. It is always hard to come back from what I feel are life changing experiences and to then slot back into life at home again. I need a week or two to decompress a bit, and one of things I have