Celebrations

The weekend of the 24th September (yes, I know it is now the 12 of November and I am really behind in my news) was a fantastic weekend for me, despite it being the end of another year of my life (scary)! I had a full house, with my folks and my brother and his fiance visiting me for the weekend. They all arrived just before lunch, which was a mix of cold meats, pork-pies, salad, chips and... sushi!! I thought I would see if I could pass my new addiction on to my family members and was impressed that everyone tried at least one piece. Lunch was enjoyed and after clearing things up we did stuff. I say stuff because I can't actually remember what we did really other than chat, look at my bike, laughing at my brother riding around on a pink bike tinkling the bell, getting ideas as to how to "jazz" up my bike (cards in the spokes and streamers on the handle-bars) and then opening presents (me). I got some very nice things including money (always goes down well), an ornament of a wren (picture to right), a book (Power of One by Bryce Courtenay) and a very large, fluffy hedgehog.

Later in the day we were joined by my friends who brought me some lovely flowers and an ornamental hedgehog (I see a theme developing here but not sure why...). On introducing my new hedgehogs to each other (picture to left) we headed to the local pub to try out the food and drink. We had great meals and the "entertainment" (aka people watching) was amusing. Little did I know that there would be a toga party happening at the pub (many guys walking around with sheets around them), but it added to the amusement of the evening.

Sunday saw us catching up on "X-factor" and "Who wants to be a millionaire?" (sad lot us!), fixing a lock to my sliding door, more chatting and doing of stuff and then saying cheerios to the family both before and after lunch. Later that evening I was treated to a meal out by my friends to help wrap up the celebrations. Thanks to all involved in making the weekend a fantastic one! Really appreciate the visits and the laughs. And of course the presents!

I'm addicted!

Before you panic that I am addicted to something really bad... it isn't true! Rather, I am addicted to something good and healthy. I have recently (last couple of months) been introduced to Sushi and since this introduction I have enjoyed not only eating the stuff but preparing it myself... yummy. As a child I was never fed Sushi and probably because one straight away thinks that sushi means raw fish is involved (which is yuck). But my Canadian friends, who have a range of tastes due to the ethnic mix of people they have in Canada, have shown me that raw fish doesn't need to be involved in the making of sushi at all. So, it was on one of my visits to their house for a meal, when I was taught how to make sushi rolls (there is a special name for them but it is too early in the morning to recall this). We made vegetarian sushi rolls (mango, peppers, cucumber, carrot) and fish sushi rolls (same ingredients but with smoked salmon included), then cut them into bite-size bits and ate them. With chopsticks! Ha ha. And I didn't drop or flick any food across the room either (which I tend to do if trying to eat with chopsticks). A good experience and since then I have made sushi (using tuna and crabmeat as ingredients too - tuna good, crab meat not really) at home a number of times and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Remember though, if you try sushi, watch out for the Wasabi sauce... man that can blow your head off if you aren't careful. Definitely clears the sinuses too.