The Wedding 2011

WOW! what a fantastic day the 29th April 2011 was.

The @BBCWorld & @itv_news did a brilliant job of showing the wedding from all angles. Several times a tear came into my eye, the royal romance, the spender of the day, absolutely fabulous (and that was just @Schofe 's kiss to @julieetchitv )

Prince William is a wonderful young man who serves his Queen and country well, and has now taken his vows with Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, 'till death do us part'. Prince Harry also played a big part in his brothers big day and the closeness showed, as did some mischievous looks and comments. Pippa Middleton was stunning as she walked proudly behind her sister, and her bum most certainly did not look big in that dress! As for the brides father Michael Middleton... how well did he do? he looked as proud as any father giving their daughter away, but with a slight difference, this being that HIS daughter and little girl was now to become a princess, one of the most talked about women in the world. He was so gracious and I do not know how he held back the tears, WELL DONE DAD.

The day showed the world how deeply in love they are, and of course there was no falseness. They have both put the GREAT back into GREAT BRITAIN with billions of people witnessing their marriage. The world united for this spectacular occasion.

May the Prince & Princess (also known now as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) have a very long marriage filled with love and laughter and be blessed with many children xx

links:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

http://www.itv.com/news

http://twitter.com/#!/Schofe

http://twitter.com/#!/julieetchitv

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13248551 'the Royal Official Photographs'

Penne All'Emiliana

After my dearest friend John Barker scoured the Meadow Hall Shopping Mall to find and get a signed copy of Gino D'Acampo's latest cook book http://twitpic.com/4nbrdi I decided that I will get to grips with the basics and start cooking from the book on my annual leave w/c 18th April 2011.

Well last night saw the start of my cooking, the recipe I followed was for Penne All'Emiliana which translates into:- Penne (pasta) with peas, pork, rosemary and white wine, Fairly simple I hear you cry! "well that's what I thought". Of to the shops to gather all my lovely ingredients...Could I find any rosemary leaves? could I heck as like, but I soldiered on because I didn't want to use thyme. Ingredients in basket, now I had to look for the white wine, challenge here was... do we drink the same wine as the one that's required for the recipe? I often go buy the rule of thumb that if you wouldn't drink it why put it in your food, this made life easier (Pinot Grigio OGIO it was then). Then I remembered Gino's friend Giuseppe offering to help select the wines for the meals in the cookbook. So here I was in a huge supermarket Twittering @madaboutwine. The first text back said he was genuinely stumped, but added that the dish was crying out for a hearty red. My favourite type of wine is an oak aged Shiraz (or so I thought), so off I went to look for a good one. But then another text came through, it read..."try a French Pinot noir" so here I am knowing very little about wine except how many glasses to the bottle (only joking) looking for the wine. Just when I thought I had got the wine covered another little text popped up! better still try a good quality Valpolicella classico (from a wine shop not a supermarket). I quite like Valpolicella after my father-in-law @stewper introduced me to it a while back... mm mm yes what a great choice.

Leaving the supermarket I decided to try and find a wine shop, this was the biggest task of the day! 5 hours searching for an independent wine outlet. I tried nearby town centres of Oadby & Wigston but to no avail. I face-booked friends for their ideas, frustrated at not being able to locate the accompanying wine was a disaster. Never mind, I have a good bottle of Chanti Classico at home.

I came home after a slight de-tore to take a friend somewhere, and started to cook. After almost 20 minutes and reading down the recipe I realised that I had to set the timer so that I could then add the peas (they had to be defrosted before hand). You will never guess what happened next? No frigging peas, what household doesn't have peas? I always keep the blooming things! So I grabbed my bag & keys and now at 8.30pm I'm out hunting for peas. Well who's going to be open at this time of night, Waitrose was closed, so it had to be the Co-Op. Checking my text messages as I walk around the mini-supermarket come garage, another one appeared from Giuseppe... "another wine i'd like you to try.. Ripasso from veneto. Yeah right I thought!!! Peas in hand I did go to the wine selection (all 2 racks of them) and what do you know... more confusion! There was a Ripasso Valpolicello (it didnt say Classico) and should there have been two separate wines- a Ripasso or Valpolicello? do you see my ignorance now? so I thought it sounds good anyway so for £7.99 per bottle that will do nicely.

Back home just before the peas were mean't to be added, excited at my find, I opened the wine. I love the sound of a nice wine "dont know what you call it but taking the cork out" and it has a lovely pop to it. I told hubby @SalesAde that we weren't allowed to look at the label on the reverse as Giuseppe wanted me to give him a description.... WOW this was hard! The colour was a rich dense red, and the aroma fruity and almost light (if that makes sense). Now for the taste... This was gorgeous, it coated the tongue with intense flavours but still felt smooth in the mouth, as it hit the back of the throat it was warming and left a peppery taste,"quite nice although I say so myself" we both agreed it was a lovely wine. Now back to the cooking.

Pasta was cooking, it needed to be al dente (not my usual slop) so I hovered over it so as not to let it go stodgy. Gino has some fantastic tips in this book, and a good one for those not blessed with cooking skills (like myself) is naturally how to cook pasta.

Pasta cooked and returned to the pan, sauce added, Voilla! hey presto, a beautiful looking dish was made.

Photo's taken as proof (I think my mother-in-law Gillian will be impressed, she is a fantastic cook). Check them out on http://twitpic.com/4nbn58 http://twitpic.com/4nboer http://twitpic.com/4nbp34

So to my new signed Gino D'Acampo 'Gino's Pasta' @Ginofantastico cookbook and to Giuseppe Bergonzi @madaboutwine

I thank you, Buon Appetito & Salute love from Dawn xx

Twitpic

I have just learnt how to send photo's via twitpic, not bad seeing that I have been a twitter user for years. Oh well as they say..

when I get my new phone i will be a whizz at it!

To start using it go to... Twitpic.com

Fantastico

I'm just sharing my excitement with everyone... I am now the proud owner of a signed copy of Gino D'Acampo cookbook, can't wait to get stuck in! cook some amazing dishes and find the best wine to go with the individual recipes ( I'm banking on Gino's Friend and sparing partner Giuseppe Bergonzi to help find the wine).

Roll on W/C 18th April when i shall be on annual leave and have the time to cook for the family

GINO http://www.ginodacampo.com

GIUSEPPE http://www.ottimovino.com

GlastonBlaby 2011 is all about supporting others. The Harley Staples Cancer Trust:
Our charity The Harley Staples Cancer Trust is in loving memory of our beautiful, inspirational boy Harley.

Harley was diagnosed with a rare leukaemia: B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Birkitt Type on January 28th 2009.

During his illness Harley was incredibly brave, he smiled and laughed every day. We never knew what each day in hospital would bring. There were so many tests, so much treatment and medicine for Harley to have, all to try and make him better. Despite this he faced each day like a brave soldier. Harley made many friends in the hospital and he helped the other children to face each day and their treatment, and they helped him too.

We know that Harley would want us to continue to help his friends who are still battling with their illnesses and any other children who have to live and fight a potentially life threatening illness.


** Happy Harley's Holiday Homes **
These are available for FREE to children and teenagers to use and enjoy with their families to create happy memories to cherish and offer fresh air and respite away from the hospital.
We also extend this to bereaved parents who have lost a child to cancer.
We have a caravan in Overstrand,Norfolk for holidays and short breaks and a cabin at Swithland Woods,Leicestershire for day respite and fresh air.

We are now raising money to buy a house - 'Harley's House' - with a cook and a cleaner.

**Happy Harley Day's**
We realise that not everyone is able to take a holiday, therefore we donate art and craft materials to Ward 27 LRI and organise special entertainment days both on and off the ward for these special children.

If a child has not gone into remission and there is no more treatment available we offer fingerprint necklaces for the immediate family to cherish forever (www.smallp.co.uk)

We understand how difficult it is for families trying to live and cope when a child is diagnosed with a potentially life threatening illness and we aim to put a smile on the children's faces whilst they battle this horrendous disease.

Thank you all so much for your support xx

Charity Registration No: 1138464

GlastonBlaby 2011

Bands confirmed for this years GlastonBlaby 2011 are:- Little Night Terrors, The Boobytraps, Go Primitive, Superevolver, Charlie & the Martyrs, Hannah B and the Screening, check them out on youtube. Keep up to date with the event @http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194212843948020