Can't believe I'e time to talk , days before Christmas and I'm not remotely organised for the big day! Just thought some of you might be interested in a bit of Chinese food on the run-up to the festivities. It might even be something you fancy New Years eve, instead of the usual. Anyway, here are a few bits I like to make myself. Hope you'll give them a go!

First up, pork and prawn sui mai:
Take minced pork and add ginger, crushed garlic, a little light soy sauce and ground pepper. Mix together and place a good spoonful into the centre of a won ton skin (available from chinese grocers). Finally, add a fresh king prawn and squeeze into a little parcel. place these into a steamer and steam for around half an hour.

Next, we like spring rolls, so using the skins, again available at the chinese grocers, take some minced pork and fry in a tiny bit of sunflower oil, with garlic, ginger, light soy, white pepper, fine julienned carrots, fine julienned cabbage, spring onion and beansprouts and a few drops of sesame oil for fragrance. Cook the mixture until lightly browned; when cool, add to skins, roll and fry for a few minutes until golden brown.

Lastly, we like to use pork rib chops, rather than pork ribs - there's lots more meaton them and they tend to be a lot cheaper. Simply brown the chops in a good casserole pot and add five spice powder according to your taste; some crushed garlic;, dark soy; alittle chilli if you like it; some sesame oil; fish sauce and ginger. Coat the chops well, add some water, about 2 inches to the bottom of the pot and slow cook for an hour on 150 deg. Turn up to 200 for the last 10 mins to crisp up. Serve all 3 dishes with soy sauce, chilli sauce, finely chopped spring onion and enjoy!

Hey! It's been a few weeks - the silly season is upon us. As usual, this is a visual, rather than lyrical blog! I want to talk and show you Christmas decorating. I had a change of heart on the tree front this year and decided to do away with the great big tree and have a mini forest of different sized ones - some slim, some tiny. As I love to inject a sense of humour, there was never going to be a classy, understated approach and as you'll see, kitsch, bling and oversize rules! If you don't approve, I hope you, at least think the scenes are cheery.

Have a good one!xxxx



At this time of year I love the look of the rooftops. It sounds a bit crazy but as a child I always imagined seeing Father Christmas flash across the chimney stacks, pulled by Rudolph and the gang. I think that's where it comes from! There's a splash of blue sky around right now - no rain and even the deciduous trees look majestic across the skyline.



The sea is quite close here and looks so frothy and whipped, like a huge capuccino topping. It's not all about summer, is it?
ttfnxxx



 Don't you think fresh flowers are just the most beautiful and luxurious thing you can receive? They are so short lived, I find I just want to preserve them and appreciate them as long as possible. I have received lots of flowers from good friends and family lately and I want to thank them all and what can be a better form of preservation than appearing in cyber space!. Thanks guys and love you! xxx

Well I'm back. All better now and looking forward to posting some new and inspirational stuff! As a keen artist, I've been busy painting canvases over the last couple of weeks.

I find myself very influenced by my surroundings and objects and things that feature in my day to day life, just as much as natural phenomenae and romantic scenery. It may still be surprising though, to find out that I'm hugely inspired by the Apple products. The styling is very sleek and beautiful and the I phone in particular, is made up of shapes and colours that appeal to me and make me want to put acrylic to canvas!

Although I say these things influence and inspire me, I am essentially a pattern and patchwork maker - whether working with paint, textiles, ceramics, whatever the medium. Hope these add a bit of cheer to the dull weather. xx