Sunday Song - Easter

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An early Sunday song this week as I'm taking a little Easter break. This beauty was introduced to me by Mary Anne Hobbs's show a year or so ago. I listened to it on headphones while walking through the blossom in Regents Park and was taken to another place. Just magical. Happy Easter my lovelies!

Sometimes You Just Have To See The Sea

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Every now and then I get a deep craving to see the sea. It's an inbuilt desire to be at the edge of the land, to watch the tide ebb and flow and to breathe in the salty air. I had been working all morning and decided it was time for a break. I was only going to take an hour or so but suddenly needed to get out of the city. I found myself reasoning that I could work on the train there and back and within thirty minutes I was on my way.

It was rainy, grey and misty but sometimes that's the best time to see the sea. There were hardly any people around and the colour of the sea was absolutely magical. I walked slowly along the pier and breathed in the air, listening to the tide. An hour was all I needed. A little fix. Sometimes you just have to see the sea.

Life Drawing

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I finally had time to go back to my drop-in life drawing class today. I hadn't realised how much I missed it. Life drawing has really helped me to start drawing figures as they actually are, rather than as I think I see them. You start to see the body as lots of shapes that work together with weight and light and shade in the limbs. I really recommend going along even if you have never drawn before. It's absorbing and meditative and a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.

Made Up Rice Pudding Ramekins

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Out of the blue I fancied rice pudding. I quite like to make up recipes as I go along so I ended up combining a few different recipes. I also made the measurements up a bit so please only use the below as a guide : )

Full-fat milk
Vanilla essence
Pudding rice
Brown sugar
Butter
Nutmeg
Your favourite jam

Warm approximately 400ml of full-fat milk in a saucepan with one teaspoon of vanilla essence. Take four ramekins and fill each one about a third full with pudding rice. Add 1 - 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and a small knob of butter to each ramekin. Divide the warm milk between the ramekins ensuring that you only fill to about two thirds full as the rice will expand when you cook it. The sugar and butter will separate and float a little but don't worry as cooking will ensure the ingredients mix. Sprinkle the top of each with a little nutmeg.

Bake the puddings in the oven at about 160 degrees for approximately an hour. Keep an eye on them and add a little more milk if you need to.

Enjoy warm from the oven with a teaspoon of jam.

Going To The Movies At Midday

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Going to the movies is usually a weekend treat or something to do in the evening. There is something that feels so utterly indulgent about going in the middle of the day. It's a bit like skiving off school.

Today, I skived. I went to see the utterly magical La La Land with a lovely friend of mine. It was everything I wanted a film to be. Completely unashamedly romantic which seems rare these days. Nostalgic, amusing, beautiful to look at and emotional. And such a lovely soundtrack. One for lovers of Singing In The Rain, Moulin Rouge, Funny Face and Roman Holiday. And all the better for the fact I saw it at midday when I should have been working. Such a treat.

A Little Bit Of Nostalgia

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I have such fond memories of visiting the Natural History Museum when I was little. I remember Dippy the diplodocus absolutely towering over me as I walked into the front entrance hall holding my nana's hand. I was amazed by him and always imagined him coming to life at night.

Recently it was announced that Dippy is being removed from the entrance hall and will be going on tour. He's been at the museum since 1905 and in his current location since 1979 so has been a part of thousands of childhoods. As I walked past the museum today I felt compelled to pop in to see him before he left.

I stood for a long while looking at him and remembering how I felt. He looked smaller (of course) but the feeling of awe came flooding back to me and I could feel my younger self grinning from ear to ear. Thank you for the memories Dippy : )