Snow is falling....all around me

 Introducing...The One and Only Event Of the Year...

The Annual #37 Christmas Party

I could sit here and ramble on and on about how amazing the party was but thought I would leave it up to our distinguished guests in my 4-5 simple questions!

Q1. What was your highlight of the evening?

Mr S. Bradford: My Everest...Conquering the Pole thingy. Til next year!
Mr Z. Nash: (a frequent flyer of the Annual Christmas dinner) Highlight was the food. Always the food. The pig was excellent and Pigs in Blankets are a classic!
Miss H.V. Rankin: (apart from that appearance change we couldn't put our finger on!) Defo Secret Santa!
Mr S.A.B. Rankin: Scott getting lipstick all over himself. hahahahahaha
Mr D. Mewton: Dunno really, but probably the family chocolate cake and Stu's reaction...such an uncontrollable laughter ensued I almost cried... I saw a tear Dan...I know I did.
Miss L.J. Gordge: Ok here goes...Hmm , it was all great?
Mr J.E. McCauley: Dave showing up without a secret santa present and subsequentially buying one in the Costcutter down the street. Standard.

Mr S.A. Elliott: Getting a Makeover. Thanks Dave you really highlighted my best features!
Mr D. Peterson: Taking the best photo I have ever taken. Mr BigHeadz and the Roses. Fine *buck teeth suck in lips signal*

Big Headz and Roses Centre Piece

Q2. Did you meet someone new? Impression?

Mr S. Bradford: Zach (aka gud lad)
Mr Z. Nash: I met Steve, he seems like a great guy from first impressions.
Miss H.V. Rankin: Urm, New and Improved Dan Mewton after him becoming attached to the Bear!
Mr S. Rankin: Mr S. Bradford, and what can I say? I can't put it into words!
Mr D. Mewton: Plenty of people really, Stuart, amazing laughter. Zach a cultivated young man with a posh accent :D
Miss L.J. Gordge: Scott - Championes Championes OLE OLE OLE
Mr J.E. McCauley: Some old some new...but really the fella with the rum and gingerbeer really hit the spot! Thanks Monsieur Barman Dave.
Mr S.A. Elliott: There were some blondies in the quiz I hadn’t seen before. They were hard to handle. Also Steve - You Leave me Breath....Less.
Mr D. Peterson: Laura and Dave were so nice! Thanks guys for all your advice.

Calm Before the Storm

Q3. Best thing to munch?

Mr S. Bradford: Piggies in Blankies *munch munch*

Mr Z. Nash: Ooh - I think I answered this. If I had to be pushed I would say the gammon.

Miss H.V. Rankin: Dave's Roast Potatoes

Mr S. Rankin: Loved the meal but if the Secret Santa Christmas/ Family Chocolate Cake had been eaten it would have been better!

Mr D. Mewton: Roasted vegetables were out of this world but all the food was fantastic! Also Dave's Roasties  Just kidding Dave he didn't write that...gotcha!

Miss L.J. Gordge: Excellent finish with the Jelly Tots at the end!

Mr J.E. McCauley: The sprouts with bacon and honey were particularly agreeable to my palate as honey is sweet on the tongue yeh.

Mr S.A. Elliott: Its that one time of year that I get to have a nice wee taste of the Old Bird after giving her a bit of a squeeze. The Turkey of course.

Mr D. Peterson: Everything was amazing. Just give me more meat!

Vol Au Vents...Classic Canape!

Q4. Silly question. Would you like to come back next year?

Mr S. Bradford: Of course, If I'm not the First name on the list I will throw a tantrum! x
Mr Z. Nash: Of course if I am to be invited back...I am hopeful that quiz scores are not part of the criteria.
Miss H.V. Rankin: Pick me pick me! Yes please.
Mr S. Rankin: Yes please pretty please with a cherry on top.
Mr D. Mewton: Dunno...Maybe...HaHa just kidding Yes!
Miss L.J. Gordge: Yes! Preferably without Mandrews Drama agreed!
Mr J.E. McCauley: Have to check my diary.
Mr S.A. Elliott: I dunno, depends on whether I can arrive an hour late again. Always with the fashionable entry! I get visibly shaken from driving in London. HELP ME BORIS!
Mr D. Peterson: Please invite me back. You guys are my only mates! (Sorry to my other 2mates out there. I treasure you too)

A bit of fun and laughter never hurt...right?

Q5. Oh and where are you right now?

Mr S. Bradford: Fam in NDubz. Innit!
Mr Z. Nash: Ankerdine Hill, near Knightwick. Worcestershire.
Miss H.V. Rankin: Just in Wetherspoons with the Dad. Diet Coke and a Tuna Melt Panini.
Mr S. Rankin: At home in my boudoir which is currently infested with wasps. Bit odd this time of year?
Mr D. Mewton: In my Bermondsey flat, working my butt off so I can go on holiday without any work left to do (not gonna happen).
Miss L.J. Gordge: Somewhere driving 3hours Durham, Hampstead, Surrey...
Mr J.E. McCauley: Ba’Minney the hub of NI of course.
Mr S.A. Elliott: Didn’t you know I work for MI7, I can’t disclose that sort of information. Reading.
Mr D. Peterson: Haha that’s easy on the toilet of course! Oh turd, I’ve run out of loo roll again and I’ve already used all of the ‘guests’

Apologies: Miss M Norris, Miss T. Pereira-Rego, Miss N. Innes, Mr D. Thaxter
Absent: Miss T. Gupta, Mr M.Andrews, Mr T. Bendor-Samuels we missed you!

My heartfelt thanks to all those who gave such amazing answers to my prying!

I leave you with a few of my favourite memories of the evening!

Is it just me, or do I smell something burning?!

Thanks for coming.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

N xo

p.s. Everything written was accurate apart from the slight editing of course. Crossing the t's dotting the i's is all.

Fifteens

I confess...I have a sweet tooth and Fifteens are perfect quencher for all you sugar fiends!


Here is the oh-so-simple recipe!

Ingredients

15 Digestive Biscuits

15 Marshmallows (1/8's)

15 Glace Cherries (1/8's)

Small tin of condensed milk

Dessicated Coconut

Greaseproof Paper

1. Crush the Digestives in a Mixing Bowl.
2. Add the chopped marshmallows and glace cherries into the mixing bowl.
3. Pour in condensed milk and stir the sticky mess until well mixed.
4. Sprinkle greaseproof generously with dessicated coconut and spoon out the fifteens into a log shape on top. Sprinkle more dessicated coconut on top.
5. Roll into a tight log in the paper and pop in fridge/ freezer for 3hours + until is hard enough to cut into traybake size pieces....

Inspired by fifteens and my return to the Big Smoke.

Here are 15 of my favourite things from our London Flat.

Enjoy!

1. DON'T FORGET I AM WATCHING YOU ALWAYS

This sign originated back from my FIRST year of uni in halls where Honor and I had opposing flats and I had to remind her to shut her curtains whilst changing...It now covers the peephole in the front door!


2.Guestbook Whiteboard.

Following another great night around the table our loving guests love to leave us comments of great joy here on the whiteboard of welcome. Don't forget to leave yours when you're round!


3. Cheeky Peek in the shower room.

Quick tip for all you budding interior designers and look how a classy shower curtain can transform a simple bathroom!


4.Joy - BaSiL

Every household needs plants...InSiDe the flat we meet Mr Basil casually surviving despite all efforts to induce his death by other household members...he lives on. Add some basil to any Italian dish for instant Oomph!


5. Wall of FaMe!

This wall contains some of our friends and Family old and new. Don't worry its never updated don't be offended if you aren't there...yet!


6. 'Oh Christmas Tree'

Yes that's right its 22 Days to Christmas. I know most of you can hardly wait. Let's not forget though its the time of spending time with family and friends that we treasure the most and remembering what we are celebrating! 
Not just the presents under the tree, of course!


7. Wok Wan

Nowadays, and always in my family the WOK is A necessity in the kitchen! Many nights at the round table were served from this wok delight. Nonetheless but our infamous cookery classes!


8. Birds of a feather

Us three flatties are birds of a feather all sticking together and how fitting it is as you head on up to the boudoir to be reminded by these birds up this flight...of stairs!


9. Mazo's - This is your life.

I absolutely love going into Mazo's room to bask in the perfectness (and not OCD-nature) of this rendition of some highlights of her life. Its great and if you're important you may even feature in more than one photo. I do. Ha!


10. Starbucks Cup come Desk Tidy?

In our flat, its no secret we (even I the new convert) 

LOVE COFFEE

And we LOVE starbucks. Speaking about Christmas and gifts. I got this for Mazo on a trip to Asia. Its handy as a tidy for casual junk and also a reminder you better head down for your starbucks top up right about now!

11. Julius

Across the hall in HonZy's room...another flat favourite friend is 'Our' Julius. He can often be seen swinging hither thither from one Timmy's neck to any other. His family bid goodbye to him at my childhood fav - Toys 'r' us!


12. Jewel me Pretty

Honzy has this beaut classy jewellery storage/display case for all her accessories, bracelets, necklaces you name it! Its so fancy and makes your pretty pearls gleam so. I love it.


13. Aunty Biotic?

Yikes! This poster reminds me of all these stinky bacterias that you can get. Its to aid my revision and not a distraction of course. Please just wash your hands!


14. Moon Cake Makeup

A lovely couple wee couple came to stay with us. And one of the prezzies they gave me was these two pretty mooncakes in this magnet seal box. Ain't it pretty and its BiG...enough to hold all my daily facepaints!


15. Princess Butterfly

Saving the best til last. My favourite 

reading/resting/daydreaming

 place is 'neath the folds of the amazing butterfly princess canopy. It transports you to a fairytale land where dreams come true ;)(open your eyes Honzy you're still not KM).

More than 15mins later..

Hope you enjoy  a little peek into our wonderful world!

N xo

Birthdays

What makes a good birthday party?


Pizza Feast?

Amazing Cake?

Treasure Hunt!

Oh wait I know....best

Recently my lil brother had his 12th birthday party. It was a great day that's for sure...made perfect by his two best sisters and friends maybe!

I will be returning to the Big Smoke soon enough here is the advice from Top Tips for girls:

How to escape a plane crash:
Make a note of how many seats there are between your seat and the emergency exit in front of (and behind you). If the worst happens, it may be dark/smoky, so this way you can 'count' your way to the nearest exit.

Well? What do you make of that!

n xo

Secrets

Secrets...shhh

What is it about secrets that pull you in and entice you...Gwenevere once said to me or perhaps I said to her:
Knowledge is power...Mwahahahahah

To pull all of you in and entice you...I rummaged my secret Narnia-like wardrobe in terms of it walking back in time...and found a few of my secrets of the past (aka 7years ago...)

Entitled 'All About Me' 

(disclaimer...most of this is not true today. lesson to you all....you change!)

1). When I am older I want to be: A Lawyer!
(doctor as well could be interesting Hmm)

Now 7 years on? not a lawyer ever that's all.

2). I usually spend my pocket money on: Phonecards and sweets (freddo's Actulli) 

YUM!

3). I'm saving up for: a lap-top & clothes & new fone (first laptop 4yrs later - i'm patient!)

4). If I could have anything...teehee meB dyed hair? Blue streaks??)

You'll be glad to know I don't look like this now!
Or will you...

5). My favourite song is: Mexican Wine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4blhM9IU3A&noredirect=1

Enough delving in the past....

Time for some spot the difference...

Guess which one is after a full day of placement and an inability to sleep due to being only recently reacquainted with the unfamiliar concept of...Central Heating???


Bid the all a fond farewell for now and a puff of smoke classic disappearing act am off to


6). My favourite place in the world is: 

My Bed!
(ok so that isn't my bed shh!)

nnxo

The First Night

So you and I may be wondering what this blog is about?!



I thought it might be nice to record some of the comings and goings of a few of the 'knights' around my table!

To protect their integrity I shall endeavour to maintain their anonymity by a clever disguise of one of the knights! See if you can guess who is who!

I of course am Merlin the all-seeing-all-knowing...Don't think you can hide from me...xoxo




Epiphany Point!
Is it just me or do epiphanies always occur in the shower?
Just had an epiphany about Character Profiles...coming soon...