making stuff

 

It's always fun to make cards, in this one I stuck one of my crochet flowers onto the painted pressie. It gives it a nice 3D effect. Plus I have so many of those flowers I am always trying to find good uses for them.

Gran's ginger biscuits

Hi dear favourite eldest nephew Jon. (lovely email from Jon's Aunty Liz)

Sorry I don't actually have Granny's original recipe but this one is as near as you'll get - from my ancient Dairy Cookery Book - which I had for a wedding present in 1968!!

1/2 lb Plain Flour
1 1/2 level teasp ground ginger
1/2 level teasp mixed spice
1 teasp bicarbonate of soda
2 1/2 oz butter
3 oz soft brown sugar
3 oz golden syrup
1 tablesp warm water

Method:
Put butter, sugar and syrup into pan. Stand over low heat until melted.
Sift flour, spice and ginger into bowl.
Add melted butter mixture & bicarb combined with water.
Mix well & shape into approx 24 small balls. (do you remember rolling them in your hands?)
Place on buttered baking trays (or these days a sheet of baking paper which wasn't invented in 1968!) leaving them room to spread.  (I think Granny used to slightly depress them with a fork - or maybe that was when they were cooked)
Bake in moderate oven (Gas mark 3) for 15 minutes.
Leave on trays for a couple of minutes before transferring to cooking rack.

Let me know how they turn out.....

Auntie Liz they turned out delicious!!! Here is proof in the pictures. 

Jon admiring his handy work!  We probably ate them all in two days, so of course we had to make another batch.

Flipping out!

 This past summer when my sister and brother came to Malta we had a really awesome time playing tourist. We did all sorts of sightseeing, and cruising around Malta. This picture was taken on an unbelievably hot day, we spent most of it in the water, and the rest of it eating gelato! I am longing for those warmer days, it's been freezing in our apartment lately.

My brother had a very interesting way of getting into that amazing turquoise water, he is such a little thrill seeker. I merged 5 different pictures together to get this look. I wish I had taken one of him standing on the little doc... Next time! This was in Xlendi bay on the island of Gozo 

Isn't he kinda silly, I call him my little "big"  brother, since for some reason he turned out 6 feet tall I'm 5'3!

Amazing water!

Extra points if you can spot the toes!

Minnis Bay walk

I was so excited to be going back to the UK for two weeks over Christmas, and New Years. It meant getting to look at a few houses (we are looking for a place to buy, and call home) but the best part was getting to spend time with Jon's family.

We spent about a week down in Kent with Jon's parents, and Jon's brother and family came down for a few days after Christmas. It was a really relaxed time together, on one of the days we went for a walk in Minnis Bay. I brought along my camera....
The kids loved exploring the seashore, the dogs ran around like they were puppies again. The adults were chatting and catching up.
The sun was shining and the tide was coming in. It was a perfect way to spend the day together as a family.
How was your Holiday season, I hope it was relaxed and enjoyable.

Headshots

I had the pleasure of taking a few shots of Katinka in December. Jon got to know her on Sinbad, she had a small part  in it and then she worked with the script supervisor. She recently moved to the UK to break into the English acting scene. I'm looking forward to seeing her name in lights someday!
Check out her reel, shes a very talented actor!