Souvenir tat

And I thought satire was dead...

Google from yesterday

Rather pretty.

Just married

Has it really been so long?

Feels very strange encountering myself here again. So much has changed.

Tongue in cheek

The lighter side of tourism.

Grand Slam! Again!

As a very proud Welshwoman, what can I say but YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

The first biker of the Apocalypse, soup, and sea changes

It's been a while since I last posted; when so many things have happened in the interim, it's like building a mosaic to pick the memorable things.

I'm working locally for a while after a period of travelling and that has meant I use the Poogle, my beloved black Suzuki Marauder, to commute. The pay-off of that will be that I can take my motorbike test later this year and pass first time, then have the glory of an L Plate bonfire to celebrate. I have had some very alarming experiences on 2 wheels in the gales and torrential rain of the past weeks. One evening I completely lost my nerve after nearly losing control of the bike on a hill in 70mph winds, came home and cried like a fool on the phone to my best friend. I got back on the saddle because I can't let fear stop me from doing what I want to do in this life; I've always fought to overcome anything that frightened me.

I've actually grown closer to my best friend of late; we don't live near each other and distance never damages our friendship but inevitably the small things can't be shared in the same way. We talk on the phone weekly and text between calls; ironically, what drew us closer was my having to do that 'best friend' thing and talk plainly to her to stop her making a huge mistake in her life. I don't normally interfere but I had to, she has a part of her nature that rebels and it almost spoiled a great opportunity that came her way. After we had a very lengthy talk and she gave thought to what I'd said, she decided to take my advice, which meant proceeding with a career change. On the day she went to the meeting, she called me to say she'd had a really good day and was glad she'd turned up. I don't think she was anywhere near as happy about it as I was, as it means great things for her future. I've worried about her for 18 months and now I feel I can relax again. You can't live other people's lives for them but sometimes being an onlooker means the bigger picture is easier to fathom.

The 2008 weather has been particularly freaky: floods, gales, hail and rain. It's a standing joke with friends that as soon as I get on my bike, I bring the Apocalypse closer. I still haven't been afflicted with a rain of toads or plagues of locusts, been hit by a tsunami or struck by lightning but I'm not ruling out the possibilities.

Another response to the weather and near misses has been soup-making. I find it very soothing and it's a good hearty meal with fresh rolls on a cold wet evening. I never make the same soup twice as I use whatever's to hand. Making a good soup is as important as any other art, and I mix my palette with as much care as any Rembrandt or Caravaggio.

Food of love

Just eat it and wallow in pure pleasure.

AND it's superb with pasta; almost sacrilege to cook a cheese like this but with fresh chopped tomato it's a kiss to the palate. Works equally well stirred into wild mushroom risotto.