The Perfect Sandwich

I've been trying to think of something to blog about and not doing too good. Winter means staying indoors as much as possible. I've pottered online a lot, I've done several jigsaw puzzles and sorted out files and folders on my computer, general maintenance and "spring cleaning", and I've watched TV.

Beyond that... the only thing we all do too much of over Christmas is... eat! And this year eating was even more exciting than usual because several gifts given were food. Hubby and I gave fancy ice cream and soup to my brother-in-law, dad got spreads, crackers and chutneys and hubby got assorted cheeses. We also bought a few joint family gift food items, so everyone could enjoy.

The result was the discovery of the most awesome sandwich ever. So good family here have demanded that I write about it, so that it is passed down through history. ;-)

The sandwich owes a big debt of gratitude to to one of the places we bought Christmas food gifts from -  Rannoch Smokery.  

They are based in Perthshire, but most of their meats, venison, lamb and beef, come from our area. They have a great online shop to order from. They do post worldwide, but you need to email them for details on your specific country postage, etc. They also have a recipe section, which is where hubby and I found inspiration to create our own perfect sandwich.  I used their smoked beef with mozzarella and beetroot chutney as my inspiration...

Our version was with Rannoch's smoked venison. It was:

White bread (farmhouse style), thin sliced red onion, lettuce, smoked venison and then hubby had Rannoch's Game sauce while I had some of Rannoch's beetroot and horseradish chutney (dad's Christmas gift!).

Hubby had his with brie cheese, but dad and I preferred it without cheese. 

It was delicious; so good we had the exact same sandwiches the next day, and the day after that... until all the venison was gone. *sniffle* :( It really was the perfect sandwich.

Slow Winter Days

Well... I keep waiting for inspiration and finding none. It's mid winter and I feel more like hibernating than writing!

Hope everyone is keeping well and I hope my brain returns soon - I think it went South with the swallows. ;-)

Tabla Solo in Jhaptal

I stumbled on this video today. I love it and I especially love the way he explains the music, with humour. :-)

Back to Your Arms Again

For our Wedding Anniversary I thought I'd post the song we danced to at our wedding, ten years ago. The Queen of my Heart by Westlife.

To be honest... I'd never actually listened to the words until today. We had the CD and hubby chose that song because I was his "Queen of my Heart." Today I went and looked up the words... and started crying, because some bits fit far better than I'd realised, especially the chorus:

I'll always look back
As I walk away
Its where we
Will last for eternity
And all of our tears
Will be lost in the rain
When I find my way
Back to your arms again
But until that day
You know you are...
The queen of my heart

It brought back vivid memories of walking away... again and again... the last time we were together before we married. We spent all of our engagement on other sides of the world, me in South Africa and him in Scotland. 

The vivid memory this song brought back for me was the day I left Scotland to return to Africa for those long months until we met again, just before our wedding. I returned home to South Africa via Edinburgh airport, a long drive down from Inverness so we left early in the morning. It is a stunning drive through the mountains, but every mile took me closer to leaving, so it was a very bitter-sweet journey.

So here we stand
In our secret place
With a sound of the crowd
So far away
And you take my hand
And it feels like home
We both understand
It's where we belong
So how do I say?
Do I say goodbye?

We arrived at Edinburgh on time, but the booking in desk had issues with the weight of my cases (their regulations were the complete opposite of South African airways) and we ended up spending our time frantically repacking my cases on a table in the coffee shop. I just had time to get them in and then had to dash for the plane. Not at all the way we wanted to spend our last moments together! We only had enough time for one last hug and then I had to go... except I didn't.

The departure area had been set up to take long queues by using rope barriers to make a square area zigzag back and forth. As a result I said goodbye and walked away... then had to turn and walk back, then turn and walk away again. For three turns I had to walk towards the man I loved and was leaving on the other side of the world, without any chance of another hug or kiss. So we stared and STARED at each other and we both tried to smile, then I'd turn and walk away again. It felt dreadful to be so close and yet so terrible far away.

I'll always look back
As I walk away
Its where we
Will last for eternity

By the last turn I was ready to howl. I pretty much cried all the way back to Africa and Sandy had an equally grim drive all the way back up to Inverness... alone. Well, we got through those months and we did meet again - this time in a South African airport a month before our wedding.

And all of our tears
Will be lost in the rain
When I find my way
Back to your arms again

Foilling in Love

Tomorrow is our tenth wedding Anniversary. Hubby went and looked  up the traditional gift for 10 and it is... tin or aluminium.

 Ehhh? Seems a bit dull for the first big milestone of marriage! What kind of gift is tin or aluminium?

All I could think of was tin foil hats...

Then it struck me... What else comes wrapped in sparkly bits of tin foil?

CHOCOLATE! :-D

I can see the obvious reason for a tin foil wedding anniversary now...   ;-)

it's all about foil-ling in love all over again!

glitter-graphics.com

Happy New Year!

glitter-graphics.com

An Old Rant to End an Old Year

I read something today that had me bouncing off the walls. It was in a blog post by a lovely intelligent woman blogger named Cate, who writes a very thought-provoking blog called Infinite Sadness or Hope. The post I read today certainly provoked some strong thoughts - an old rant actually! Not ranting at her, but more ranting for her. 

Cate has written an excellent thought-provoking post that I highly recommend reading, but for here I'm taking a specific quote from her writing in order to explain what caused my rant. Cate said:

"Songs I sang in Sunday School taught me that I came last.  And I guess that’s where I always put myself."

Songs that taught her that she came last in life... songs taught in Sunday School - a place of (supposedly) religious nurturing of innocent children? 

 I’ve come against this warped view of what being a Christian is before, not at home, but in school religious classes and in the mindset of some of my friends.

But if we go back to the actual Bible and to what it states Jesus said? Well…

Matthew 19:16

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” 

Or in basic words – treat other people with the same respect, love and kindness you should be showing yourself. Jesus understood that you cannot give love to others in a healthy way unless you first love yourself in a healthy way, so why on earth do some churches insist on teaching the exact opposite of what Jesus himself suggested?

Using religious guilt ts used in order to bully people into being doormat souls has got to be one of the more unforgivable sins! 

If we are made in God’s image… why would he want anyone to be a doormat? If we are made in His image… surely not loving ourselves and taking care of our needs is slapping God in the face? Jesus seems to be advocating balance – that we love ourselves and others the same, alike… no selfishness, but no senseless martyrdom and self-abasement either. Which is why I prefer to follow Him than follow any church.