tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115192692024-03-18T16:03:55.912+13:00Wanda HarlandMartha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.comBlogger1426125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-44369611843674439682014-07-25T15:23:00.001+12:002014-07-25T15:23:49.698+12:00Craft project #2 - the slightly disappointing candlesFor <a href="http://littleminx.wordpress.com/crafty-freaks/" target="_blank">Crafty Freaks</a> project number two I had the genius idea of making candles.<br />
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I've become a big fan of candles, primarily for their ability to freshen the air, as opposed to the light (I spent years not understanding candles, because I like to be able to see, and they're so dull. It turns out I have very poor vision in low light). There are a lot of people living in our house, and we cook a lot. Bread everyday and lunches and dinners and endless things. I hate houses smelling like food, so candles sort that nicely.<br />
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I also like smelly oils in the oil burner. I've got some yummy flavours, have you smelled lemon myrtle? It's delicious. I also love basil, it's really liquoricey.<br />
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So bingo, thought I, how hard can it be to make some nice candles?<br />
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I bought a kit from <a href="https://zendesigns.co.nz/" target="_blank">Zen Designs</a>. It's a super starter, had a kilogram of soy wax, assorted containers and wicks and a bottle of oil. The service was terrific, and including postage it was $30.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VcabwJYAV0/U9HLGUbFBdI/AAAAAAAAAt8/fVvOgxXRkEo/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VcabwJYAV0/U9HLGUbFBdI/AAAAAAAAAt8/fVvOgxXRkEo/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> (this is after I'd used enough for 4 candles)</div>
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It was very simple to make the candles. I ordered coconut and lime fragrance, not something that would usually float my boat, but I was feeling adventurous, and it was quite nice.</div>
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I also tried making some with basil oil and lemon myrtle, plus some of the colour that came in the pack (gold). The colour made it quite beeswaxy looking, I liked the effect a lot.</div>
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<br />The kids helped me with it. It was a great project for them, lots of weighing and mixing and testing the temperature. We made 4 wee candles.</div>
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They look great. The ones using my own oils you could barely smell, but I don't think essential oils are usually used like that? Anyway, my motivation to tinker around with them pretty much died the next day when I got a huge shipment of candles in the shop, and they smell incredible with loads of interesting flavours. I think in this instance I'll leave it to the experts in the future.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzLma6Rxanc/U9HNcKP2TgI/AAAAAAAAAus/ZmkOgd2sWds/s1600/Paddywax+candle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzLma6Rxanc/U9HNcKP2TgI/AAAAAAAAAus/ZmkOgd2sWds/s1600/Paddywax+candle2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It was really fun though, and sometimes I think it's good to try these things just to appreciate how expert some folk are. I still have a lot of wax left and I think we'll be making some more for a rainy day project.</div>
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<br />Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-75496417337588522592014-07-16T09:17:00.000+12:002014-07-16T09:17:47.669+12:00Craft mojoIn an effort to get back my craft mojo and my writing mojo and my mojo mojo, I have signed up to do the <a href="http://littleminx.wordpress.com/crafty-freaks/" target="_blank">Little Minx Crafty Freaks</a> challenge. Now, I would never admit to failing anything, however I think it is fair to say that a) I'm late and b) I'm submitting renovations as "craft".<br />
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It's still impressively dusty and needs a further wipe. I'm proud of it though, I've never really tiled before, only ably assisted. This time I did the waterproofing underneath, mixed the adhesive and spread it out in lovely swirly sweeps, laid the tiles and settled them and then grouted the lot.</div>
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The project wasn't especially cheap. We bought the tiles forgetting about all the other associated costs (tile board, waterproofing membrane, we used 6 boxes of grout) but it really will make the bathroom look completely swish once it's finished. And a tiler told Glen mosaic tiles can cost $250m2 to lay. I understand this now, it was an unpleasant job. I can't stop looking at them now though. </div>
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As far as craft projects go I don't know how often I'll get to practice this new skill. I do need a splash back behind the stove though, and we have some nice leftover tiles.</div>
<br />Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-75222913268609604642013-01-18T22:19:00.000+13:002013-01-18T22:19:03.170+13:00Hobbit vidI mentioned many months ago that I was helping a friend out with a music vid, well here it is! You can spot our caravan in it, which was magically hiding everything behind it (portaloo included). It was a very fun and interesting day, the band - Claude Rains - were amazing, they did take after take. And the very pregnant director, Gwen Isaac, was a fricking machine. She was a very different kind of pregnant person than me (I was more the sit around playing Singstar type).<br />
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Without further ado:<br />
<b><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uidiue-Rsks" width="560"></iframe></b>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-53189405822145824242013-01-12T21:22:00.002+13:002013-01-12T21:22:52.859+13:00New Years ResolutionsMy main resolution for 2012 was to pick up the phone without fear. Not that I'm scared of anything sensible, just that usually I can't be arsed and try to procrastinate the call away, which invariably means checking the message and calling back the person I'm actually perfectly happy to talk to. So now I answer the phone, and I'm pretty good at it if I say so myself.<br />
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In 2013 I have a few resolutions.<br />
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<li>I'm going to exercise more. I know. Original. But I'm feeling a bit old and weary these days and it is an actual true fact that I feel much better after some exercise.</li>
<li>I'm going to sit down at the computer every night for a bit after dinner is cleared away and try and be productive. Quite a lot of this time will be spent updating products on the website, archiving emails, that sort of fun stuff, but I hope that if I get into the habit of being productive on the computer I may find some creative writing mojo.</li>
<li>I'm going to focus more on making things and less on acquiring them. We've got our house pretty well sorted and the entire next level of renovation is the one that involves huge amounts of money (bathroom, bedroom reconfiguration). We don't have huge amounts of money, so I'm happy to concentrate on fulfilling myself creatively. I really want to go and learn some proper legit skills to help with this, I'd like to learn how to use my camera and I'd like to pick up some screenprinting skills. I also have a really odd desire to embroider or cross stitch something. It must be my old age creeping up on me.</li>
<li>I'm going to get stuck into the garden. When the wind stops. Which is never. I'm a bit over the wind.</li>
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<br />Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-20272171646635776932012-10-16T19:26:00.001+13:002012-10-16T19:26:23.985+13:00Things I wantYeah yeah, I have enough, but of course still I want more:<br />
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A green wall<br />
A boat<br />
To see Moonrise Kingdom<br />
And Looper<br />
A holiday<br />
Better weather<br />
To be able to do pottery without having to learn<br />
The caravan to be painted<br />
More energy in the evenings<br />
More Homeland.<br />
To have a longer attention span<br />
For someone else to file all my receipts<br />
More vegetables in the house. Preferably cooked (or prepared) and delivered to the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> table</span>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-47502811569988053862012-07-28T21:38:00.000+12:002012-07-28T21:38:53.572+12:00Doing thingsI get sad about this blog. It was such an awesome part of my life for years, and I really felt like I'd found my voice with it. Lots of things happened though, Facebook took off, Twitter became a constant stream of consciousness thing, rather than concocting blog post during the day I'll blat out my every thought.<div>
<br />I had a third baby, opened a second shop, moved house. Time marches on and I still neglect it. I haven't the time or inclination to plug the SD card in or take photos. I'll leave the blog here as long as Blogspot will have it, but I suspect it is pretty much a historical document (and has been for a few years).</div>
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My vision of myself when I have more time is of being a more creative person. I'd like to do all the vague projects that waft around in my head. I'm realistic and realise that some time in the distant future I might not want to be a shop-owner, and I often think about what I'd do after. I think dreaming of a Lotto win is a good way to work out where you'd like to be, at the moment I think if I won Lotto mostly things would stay the same. I like the kids' school a lot, I love the shops, I like where we live. I'd like more holidays and maybe to study something fun, but three little kids are the reason I don't do that, not a lack of money or motivation.</div>
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All this vague waffling doesn't really say anything, just that I'm still around, would like to be around more, am not stressing about that.</div>
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xm</div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-28304515114004159132012-04-23T12:23:00.002+12:002012-04-23T12:24:13.238+12:00FashionistaI wrote something over <a href="http://wellingtonista.com/2012/04/23/sweetie-darling-mwah/">there</a>.Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-62849661591755256922012-04-11T21:11:00.001+12:002012-04-11T21:14:19.261+12:00Twenty things1. I want to get into the habit of writing again, so I've taken Twitter and Facebook off my phone. Baby steps.<br />
2. Twenty things seemed like a manageable number, and really they'll probably all be tweets anyway.<br />
3. I'm listening to Joan Armatrading. iTunes makes is really easy to follow every nostalgia whim, and I'm fond of this music from when I was a girl and my mother would play the album. Related: I miss vinyl at the moment.<br />
4. I have been reading a bit more lately. It is good. Thanks to Goodreads I know the last thing I read was Annabel by Kathleen Winter. I liked it, it was about a transgender person, and I know very little about transgender people. I still know very little, but I can nod a little more knowledgeably.<br />
5. I'm working through painting the doors in our house orange, yellow, coral and teal. The colours are great but the paint is a bit shit, it is Dulux and I don't know why I didn't get Resene.<br />
6. Today I ordered next summer's clothing from Kowtow and next summer's handbags from Saben. Days like this make me realise my life is bananas and surreal.<br />
7. Speaking of bananas I just made banana muffins for my nephew's lunch. He is staying the night.<br />
8. Twenty is a lot of things to think of.<br />
9. Ooh! I can show you my excellent recent purchases. Here are my new shoes:<br />
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They're lovely, they were impossible to get into at first, but once they're on I can wear them comfortably for the entire day, a key function of shoes.</div>
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10. Here is my Le Creuset pan</div>
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strictly speaking I didn't buy it, I acquired it with credit card points. It makes me a better cook and you can cook all things with it. All things.</div>
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11. Not a purchase, but a bread recipe that will blow your mind.</div>
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12. While I'm being shallow, I got this stuff, it's really pretty amazing </div>
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and quite cheap compared with things that aren't cheap, like almost all cosmetic brands.</div>
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13. I'm going to Wellington Fashion Week next week to write about it for <a href="http://wellingtonista.com/" target="_blank">the Wellingtonista</a>. I'm blaming this for my current shallowness. I also need to learn some stuff, like what a "media pack in" means. I'm hoping it doesn't mean cattle prods.</div>
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14. I'm helping my friend Heather and her band <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Claude-Rains/125600774143738" target="_blank">Claude Rains</a> with their music video next weekend. I'm quite excited. I'm just making cups of tea, but it feels like it might be the beginning of my new era, making cups of tea for bands.</div>
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15. 15 eh? </div>
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16. Having one shop is really super awesome. So much less stressful and so much less hard work it is barely believable. I don't know how people have big empires. I suppose they don't actually like working in shops and gossiping with people all day long.</div>
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17. Speaking of which, my next challenge is to write a shop newsletter, it has been MONTHS. <a href="http://eepurl.com/fx4B6" target="_blank">Sign up if you like</a>. Or hahahhahahahahhahahahaha if you happen to think QR codes are kool, here you go</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oD0_8kN0xsw/T4VKDUdORnI/AAAAAAAAAOM/4oBUa8NKyd4/s1600/QR+code+for+email.4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oD0_8kN0xsw/T4VKDUdORnI/AAAAAAAAAOM/4oBUa8NKyd4/s1600/QR+code+for+email.4" /></a></div>
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18. I'm now going to put some bread rolls in the oven, well, after I make two more exciting points. Since we got our breadmaker we never buy bread. It makes us extra smug.</div>
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19. Perhaps you should download Joan Armatrading. It won't make you rich, but it might make you happy.</div>
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20. I need to write a self-help book, and say things like "it won't make you rich, but it might make you happy".</div>
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<br />Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-76805515392561751192012-01-18T21:57:00.002+13:002012-01-18T21:57:40.506+13:002012!A new year brings the usual thoughts of resolutions and plans. Mine are pretty simple, life is lovely and I hope it will stay that way, that my children will thrive and prosper and so will we. Plus I'd like to go out more and see more old friends. Specifically I'm going to be less phone phobic!<br />
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I'd also like to go away in our caravan often. We went up to Waimarama with it (plus two tents), and it was magic. I loved it, the bunting helped.Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-44765655739108409602011-12-30T20:47:00.002+13:002011-12-30T20:47:49.924+13:00WheeWell hello there!<br />
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Just like that I see the try the new interface button, and voila, much better.<br />
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<br />Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-47590491563008070482011-12-30T20:34:00.004+13:002011-12-30T20:46:18.626+13:00Hippy happy hoppo hip hooray<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yo my lovelies.<div><br /></div><div>What a month! First it was my birthday, and I got a magnificent new bike, which I've not really used much yet. I rode it down the hill quite fast, and it was pretty awesome. Then we put it in the car to bring it home! Our hill is steep. We got a bike rack the other day though, so we'll be cycling family extraordinaire.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_kZmoRA42e8/Tv1qmCyebbI/AAAAAAAAAJs/WhfonJvnjrg/s320/Schwinn%2Bbike.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691822705882328498" /></div><div><br /></div><div>And we've had Christmas. It was wonderful. Santa came and brought two of the kiddies bikes, and the other a cool remote control helicopter (which is amazing). We had 22 people for lunch, and it was hot and went wonderfully smoothly. </div><div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cM8m_2QFz3U/Tv1rOx_2-fI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/dcn3HUGoeKw/s320/Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691823405749697010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div></div><div>And tomorrow our shop in Mt Vic is gonesville. We're very relieved about this! There have been some issues with parking (yawn). Ironically the movers today got lots of grief from the parking warden today about parking on the curb. Ironic because they've been pretty much absent for the last 2 years. Anyway, we're well pleased to just have one little store to look after for a while.</div><div><br />In a couple of days we're taking our caravan off for its first holiday (with us). We're very excited and will take lots of photos. I think I have to reluctantly concede that Blogger is shit and I'm going to have to export this blog to a better service. It is very awkward to write and upload photos on this. Hmm. Will work on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>xm</div><div><br /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-42118252180950010692011-11-29T18:11:00.005+13:002011-11-29T18:40:35.656+13:00Christmas cake<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hMN8b0z4iMk/TtRvaqPaRmI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/AmkZeR8Azjo/s1600/Christmas%2Bcake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hMN8b0z4iMk/TtRvaqPaRmI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/AmkZeR8Azjo/s320/Christmas%2Bcake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680287533827245666" /></a><br />Once in a blue moon I go out, and one such occasion recently was the launch of <a href="http://beesblessing.co.nz/">Bees Blessing's</a> rebrand/launch party at the Empire in Petone. We love Bees Blessing because 3 of our corker wee chooks came from their farm, not to mention the fact they make very tasty cordials and condiments. We love the Empire because they make the finest hot chips (Belgium with cheese and gravy and curry with curry sauce - don't choose, get both), so it was a lovely night (albeit brief, 3 kids in a pub?).<div><br /></div><div>I met Laura there, the brain behind <a href="http://www.hungryandfrozen.com/">Hungry and Frozen</a>, such a super blog with way more to it that food. She likes music too! And lovely little flights of fancy, read it, you'll see what I mean. So when I put the word out on Twitter that I was after a christmas cake recipe and Laura suggested hers, I went for it. Her recipe is <a href="http://www.hungryandfrozen.com/2011/11/i-dont-want-lot-this-christmas-there-is.html">here</a>. I made a few changes based on what I have on hand (a lot of eggs) and what I like in christmas cakes (cherries!). My version follows, but hers is probably better.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1 1/2 cups (375ml) ginger ale </b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1/2 cup booze (I used Johnny Walker black and Ballentines whisky - dregs!)</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1kg fruit (I used glace cherries, dried cranberries, currants, raisins, and also a premixed bag)</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>300g butter</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>150g brown sugar</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1/2 can sweetened condensed milk</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1 tablespoon cinnamon</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>1 teaspoon ground ginger</b></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; "><b>Orange zest of one orange</b></div><b style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</b> <b style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">1 tablespoon cocoa</b> <b style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">4 eggs</b> <b style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">300g flour</b> </div><div><b style="color: rgb(25, 25, 25); font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Soak dried fruit in ginger ale and grog.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Melt together butter, condensed milk, spices, cocoa and zest.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Whisk up the eggs and add to melted ingredients (quickly, so you don't end up with scrambled eggs)</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Add baking soda (suspect this is optional with all those eggs)</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Stir in flour.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Double line a cake tin in the christmas cake fashion (I'm partial to brown paper for aethestics, with baking paper insides, but this is frankly lame, so don't worry. Just use baking paper, it won't burn).</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Bake in oven at 140 celsius for about 2 1/2 hours.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br />Ice if you like. I love marzipan, but I have never iced a christmas cake and won't be starting now.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Full credit to Laura, this recipe is a stunner. It has been out of the oven less than 3 hours and look what we've done to it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-57376152063716063252011-10-30T15:17:00.002+13:002011-10-30T15:24:07.146+13:00ThingsSince we've been in our new house a few things have been procured that are somewhat awesome. The latest (and favouritist at the moment) is a piano. I've wanted a piano for a long, long time. Our last house was too little though, so last week we got on Trademe and bam! Piano love. I'm blimming hopeless, but what I lack in technique/talent I make up for in gusto and enthusiasm. The neighbours may be a little tired of my extremely slow version of the Sound of Silence. I've bought lots of music books full of cheesy music, not because I actually want to perform for anyone, but so that I can sing along as I learn.<div><br /></div><div>We also got chooks! We have five of them, and they bring me a great deal of joy too. They're all laying, so we get lots of beautiful eggs, but I think the best thing is they eat all our scraps. I never felt like composting wasted lunchbox food was actually the best thing to do with it, but turning it into eggs, genius. They're quite funny to watch too.</div><div><br /></div><div>And my other favourite thing is 2 x 10 litre pails of black paint for the exterior of the house. I can't wait to get stuck into transforming our beige box into a big black box.</div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-58012471839927402852011-08-29T21:37:00.009+12:002011-08-29T22:01:46.668+12:00Photos
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2J4O5TTWOhs/TlteDXi_duI/AAAAAAAAAH4/VWUEsl4ASBU/s320/Boys%2Bin%2Bsnow.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646209969792448226" /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Here are a few pics from the last few weeks. First the obligatory SNOW! Man we loved that snow. If Wellington could turn on snow for one week each year I think the place would be perfect. We took the suggestion from @nzdodo on Twitter (whose real name is Jolisa Gracewood) to add cream, vanilla and sugar to a bowl of snow. I am deadly serious when I say this may have been the most delicious thing I've ever tasted.Finn froze an icecream container of snow, we're going to try and recreate it, but I suspect a large part of the charm was sitting on our snow covered deck with gloves on eating it.<div>I tried to take house pictures, but to be honest we're miles of having anything vaguely done. We've made it all pretty liveable, and we love it, but it will be yonks before we can change the carpets and that sort of thing. </div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a3SGxwAY5E/TltioodXKzI/AAAAAAAAAIo/WeXCHYcf93k/s1600/Bedroom.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a3SGxwAY5E/TltioodXKzI/AAAAAAAAAIo/WeXCHYcf93k/s320/Bedroom.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646215008033909554" /></a>
<br />
<br /><div>Here's our dull as dishwater bedroom, and this is the problem with showing progress pics, because while we've painted it, I think the colour looks awful in this house (although slightly nicer than the blue and white pinstripes). I'm of the firm opinion that white is the only colour that will look ok. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>So to prove that I actually am capable of having colour, here is a picture of the shop at the moment. Geez, when did blogger turn so awful? Uploading pictures has been nightmarish. We've got new websites, all the <a href="http://babylicious.co.nz">baby clothes are still at www.babylicious.co.nz</a>, and we're busily uploading products to the revamped <a href="http://wandaharland.co.nz">www.wandaharland.co.nz</a>, and I suspect I'm going to have to change this blog to something that can handle pictures as readily as the new websites. Anyway, I got there in the end, here is the shop. xxm</div>
<br /><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbJTzeRVA0I/Tltgw_VinmI/AAAAAAAAAIY/ynHe1u1E7XM/s320/Shop%2B2011.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646212952590818914" div="" /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-27657590571166018572011-08-25T20:30:00.002+12:002011-08-25T20:43:38.639+12:00A good tripWe went up to the big trade fair in Auckland on Tuesday, we being me and Glen. My parents came to look after the kiddies at 7am, bless, and we tootled off to the airport. We hired a massive Rav 4 in Auckland, curious to see if that is a car we'd want, it wasn't. <div>
<br /></div><div>The fair was the usual, by this point I'm pretty efficient at checking it out, and I got some cool stuff for Christmas.<div>
<br /></div><div>We cleared out of there pretty quick and headed to Ponsonby for a mooch around. Firstly we went to <a href="http://www.designfoundry.co.nz/">Design Foundry</a>, crikey what a cool place. We had a delicious coffee there and I did some stellar shopping. I got <a href="http://shop.scottiesboutique.co.nz/products/camille-howie-new-2">this</a> great frock, so delighted. Later I tried on some clothes at World too, I'm in love with World. Sadly I'm way to poor for that sort of carry on.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>By this time we needed some serious sit down action, and popped into a little place called Bonita. It was really cute, yummy food, super nice wine. We kind of couldn't believe some people get to do this on a regular basis, normally our life is a whirlwind of children and work, we were totally blissed out. And after that, to make everything extra perfect, we went to a great place called Coco's Cantina on K Rd (recommended by <a href="http://meadowlark.co.nz">Claire</a>), polished off steak, and then went to the airport where our Jetstar flight departed on time! Truly, it was a crazy good day. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>And today I got a new putey, which means I no longer have to worry about our old one cutting out mid writing and breaking my heart. Viva la new puter.</div><div>
<br />Next time I'll put up some house pics. We've been hard at work, and just love it. The place is splendid.</div></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-2671109404159177452011-07-21T16:13:00.002+12:002011-07-21T16:18:57.153+12:00The Jonathan Adler fixation continues, with bullets!Why am I so obsessed?<div><ul><li>He allows me to like blingy things</li><li>He allows me to have books out</li><li>He is hilarious</li><li>You can put curtains behind beds - I'm so going to try this</li><li>I have a teeny fixation with gold things, after years of going "yuck, gold". Jonathan Adler likes gold.</li><li>He has allowed me to slightly get over my fixation with yellow</li><li>He seems to be having fun when plenty of the world is being very, very serious</li></ul></div><div>I'm way too lazy right now to bung in pictures, but I recommend clicking on my handy dandy <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/search?um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=610&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=jonathan+adler&oq=jonathan+adler&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=79521l79521l0l79950l1l1l0l0l0l0l361l361l3-1l1">google image link</a> if you'd like to see some pics.</div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-23541952131956941832011-07-20T13:03:00.002+12:002011-07-20T13:08:07.127+12:00Things might change a bitI've decided I want to be <a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/blog/">Jonathan Adler</a>. I'm not sure how I'll go about it, given that I'm a white, straight, non-Jewish, woman from New Zealand. However I'm going to do everything in my power to become a potting, fabulous, talented, motivated, Jewish, gay man from America.<div><br /></div><div>Or some of the above.</div><div><br /></div><div>We just got Jonathan Adler's book My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living in the shop, and it is incredibly beautiful and inspiring, and my head is swirling with possibilities and colour. Maybe he'll let me open a branch of his shop.</div><div><br />Now I have to go and paint my house lime and gold and pink and fabulous.</div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-43484468101529026302011-06-15T22:14:00.003+12:002011-06-15T22:22:32.249+12:00Housie<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4kWvdyPEXQ/TfiH2ikNxlI/AAAAAAAAAGo/KJScs6drq2k/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4kWvdyPEXQ/TfiH2ikNxlI/AAAAAAAAAGo/KJScs6drq2k/s400/IMG_0674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618389906206082642" /></a><br />We've moved! The past few months have been crazy. We found this house, sold ours, and now we've moved. It has all been a rollercoaster, but I think we've been pretty lucky. Our house sold quickly, our new house is huge and awesome. It needs some serious tlc, but I like thinking about decorating, it is relaxing. I can see that we could spend a decent lotto win on getting things right, and it will take a few years, but already it is comfortable and fits all our crap.<div><br /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-29878541524634941732011-04-26T20:29:00.002+12:002011-04-26T20:38:30.404+12:00Exciting thingsKia ora bunnies!<div><br /></div><div>Actually I still exist. It has been crazy times in these parts, but pretty much awesome. In bullets:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Bought a new house! Yay. JUST CAN'T WAIT TO MOVE. It is massive. Massive and ugly. I love a project though, and I am scheming up a storm. I think I might make this page a bit of a before and after type space. Here is my <a href="http://pinterest.com/wandaharland/normandale-house-ideas/">dream board</a>, I think it is going to be a cool place. The section is 2530m2, which is almost incomprehensible to me, after living on 372m2 for almost 10 years. I'm going to make it into a dream <a href="http://gowlangsfordgallery.com/editions/karlmaughan.asp?artwork=811">Karl Maughan type scene</a>.</li><li>Sold our house! It was insane. We had to be so tidy for quite a long time. Having said that, not actually that long compared with what some people endure. We had 5 open homes. Jeez, it makes you realise how hard some people work to keep their homes shipshape, what a freaking nightmare. I found a new place to clean every day, somewhere obvious that I'd missed for 8 years (like the light fittings, skirtings, switches, tops of pictures etc).</li><li>And now, since I've had my evening glass de vin, time for my latest obsession, Friday Night Lights. </li><li>Mwah to you all.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-77232839188894780062011-02-26T13:12:00.005+13:002011-02-26T14:03:47.229+13:00Sodding earthquakeBeautiful Christchurch is a mess. I can't begin to imagine how the people down there are holding it together. I'm seeing glimpses of my childhood in ruins, which is sad, but my god, the people stuck there every day dealing with mess and death and pooing in plastic bags and general misery. Oy. The thing about being human is you do endure, you don't have the option of just giving up, because you can't. I wish there was something I could do. I want some Christchurch people to come here so I can give them some alcohol and some food and a bit of a reprieve, but they can't just skip out on their lives.<br /><br />The whole incident has prompted me to actually pull together an earthquake kit, because honestly, how stupid would you feel if the big one did actually hit, and you couldn't give your children a drink of water?<br /><br />I'm going to list here what I did, because I know that some people will be interested. It is by no means comprehensive, and I haven't actually finished. You should feel free to chip in ideas about what to add, where to stash it, what to stash it in, that sort of thing.<br /><br />From the <b>supermarket</b>:<br /><br />Dettol (cream and liquid)<br />Bandaids<br />Soap (I got liquid bodywash, figured it would be versatile)<br />Bandage<br />Matches<br />Toilet paper<br />Panadol<br />Insect repellent<br />Hand sanitiser<br />Can opener<br />Rubbish bags<br /><br />Water (we bought 40 litres. We need more, but I honestly don't know where we'd keep it, so I'm gonna keep all our water bottles and soda stream bottles filled in the fridge too)<br /><br />Tinned toms<br />Baked beans<br />Tinned spag<br />Tinned bean salad<br />Rice<br />Muesli bars<br />Boiled sweets<br />Condensed milk<br />Tinned creamed rice<br />Tinned fruit salad<br /><br />From <b>Kathmandu</b><br />Aquatabs (water purifying tabs)<br />Freeze dried food (which <a href="http://artandmylife.wordpress.com/">Pauline</a> assures me is tasty)<br /><br /><span>From <b>home</b></span><br />Leatherman tool<br />Scissors<br />Pad<br />Pencil<br />Booze<br />Bucket<br /><br /><span>To come from <b>Mitre 10</b></span><br />Dust masks<br />Rubber gloves<br /><br />Things I should have but haven't worked out how to store<br />Clothing<br />Shoes<br />Blankets<br /><br />I think we'll keep it all in the caravan, and hopefully it survives any major earthquake action better than the house. We have a camping stove and lantern there, plus several torches and we have a radio (but probably should get another too).<div><br /></div><div>Thanks to everyone on Twitter for their great suggestions. Without them I think the list would've looked like this "water, lollies".<br /><br />Please add in comments anything I've missed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Suggestion from <a href="http://www.cherylbernstein.blogspot.com/">Cheryl Bernstein</a> (who is a genuine earthquake survivor) - baby wipes, definitely adding them!</div><div><br /></div><div>Suggestion from <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thisfog">Sarah</a> - Safety Shop on Hutt Road </div><div><br /></div><div>Suggestion from <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Helen__Heath">Helen</a> - spade for digging a loo, strong gloves for moving debris</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-63411976438029998132011-01-04T22:12:00.002+13:002011-01-04T22:27:58.658+13:00The year that wasMy laptop has gone a bit spazzy and won't charge, so my planned longwinded, meandering spiel is truncated to a bullet format, which happens to be my favorite thing anyway.<br /><br /> So, without further ado, highlights of the year past (utterly arbitrarily, based on no logic or sensible timeframe, in fact potentially backwards so I can start at the easy recent bit):<br /><br />And omg shock, there are no bullets on the iPad! It will just be a wackadoo list:<br /><br />We just got back from camping. It was fantastic, even the bit where we got caught in that big gale and had to make a dash to my parents' place. We went with friends and ended up in Waimarama. Currently trying to work out how to move to Waimarama. Ooh, and we saw the family from That Way of Life TWICE. You'll have to do your own googling.<br /><br />We went to Melbourne. Frankly it was kind of hard work with the kids, but I did get lots of awesome stuff for the shops.<br /><br />We got a parking sign outside the shop, after months of nagging the council and writing letters and emails. My feelings towards the council are somewhat negative, but I'm a grownup, so I'll concentrate on sending bad vibes and not on whining about them. SO mature.<br /><br />I went to the Pixies with friends, it was awesome, great concert, great company.<br /><br />Lots of shit stuff happened; the shop got robbed several times (the bad vibes I'm sending those losers will be making their lives a misery), we had stupid car troubles, random illnesses, yawn. While it was all a bit rubbish our spirits remained pretty chipper, and there were plenty of people having much worse 2010.<br /><br />What a boring list. I'm stopping now.Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-59025695303671056692010-12-16T14:58:00.002+13:002010-12-16T15:06:55.327+13:00It's mah birthdayI'm partying like it's my birthday.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5qm8PH4xAss?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5qm8PH4xAss?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Gonna have a midlife crisis and go all gangsta, cos it's my birthday awwwww yeah.<br /><br />Enough.<br /><br />First thing I did this morning was give Glen my iphone. I love the thing, but I'm pretty sick of checking my email every time it bings, and I'm well sick of Twitter. It is not a good start to the day to flick open Twitter and see half the world moan about the day ahead, so stuff that, I'm going to avoid it and become a blogger again. Old skool stylez.<br /><br />I got some choccies and enjoyed a coffee this morning with an old (young) school friend. We are young. But also, sadly, not actually as young as we were 20 years ago when we finished school (I shit you not, I may be into gangsta rap, but I finished school 20 years ago, I'm a conundrum). I've got lots of lovely messages on Facebook, I'm not going to avoid Facebook, I like Facebook. <br /><br />So here's to this year coming up, one which will be filled with excitement and fun, and will be much better than 2010. It started today with the council putting in a hole for our new P30 parking sign outside the shop in town, wonders will never cease. It is a legendary good day.Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-1621858011198553812010-11-24T19:08:00.000+13:002010-11-24T19:09:38.224+13:00MinersWe just want to send our deepest sympathies to all the families and friends of those poor men in the mine who lost their lives. My dad is from the West Coast and we know what an amazing, tight knit community it is. It must be terrible there at the moment, our thoughts are with you.Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-68382972553076234922010-11-21T20:41:00.001+13:002010-11-21T20:41:48.656+13:00For the 2 people who haven't seen this, you've been missing out<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N9eTwoHQvVA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N9eTwoHQvVA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11519269.post-2840084560240215282010-11-21T20:17:00.002+13:002010-11-21T20:36:17.429+13:00It is almost December, what gives?I've had a great day. The lovely <a href="http://cupcakesandmace.com/">Kim</a> tweeted that she had some Toast Martinborough tickets, and quick as you like I snaffled 'em up. My very kind parents obligingly took the kiddies for us, and Glen and I hooned over to Martinborough. It was so pleasant, we don't do much that isn't work or child related, so hanging out together scoffing yummy food was great. I was driving, so I took delicate sips of yummy wine, and we blew our $80 worth of festival francs in very quick time (a single paua fritter, with a sprig of watercress on a little plastic plate was $25, shock). We had a nice walk around and were happy to leave to collect the kids after a couple of hours. <div><br /></div><div>Bullets will have to cover the rest, because I have emails to wade through and bills to pay. I've realised this is why I fail to blog, I open the laptop and am compelled to deal with the flood of work stuff before I can venture further, and the work stuff just keeps coming...</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>We had a wonderful Christmas shopping night in Mt Vic on Thursday, so we've decided to do the same in Petone this coming Thursday (the 25th), there'll be wine, lollies, discounts, giveaways, it will be great fun.</li><li>My friend <a href="http://katydid.co.nz">Katie</a> recommended Sons of Anarchy, it is good, but my god what a raw, vicious world. I'm going to persist because Katie has great taste, but I think I'll have to steel myself with whisky, like that bloke who had his tattoo torched off. Actually whisky might be necessary each time I remember it.</li><li>We're going camping very soon after Christmas. I am very, very excited. We bought a tent years ago (it was one of those things we got before the third baby appeared), and this will be our first time using it. </li><li>I've got nothing else to say really. I'm a bit knackered from all the being a wino with all the luvvies, bogans and 18 year olds.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div>Martha Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16957983119339597847noreply@blogger.com1