Mud, glorious mud

Whoever said mud was glorious clearly hasn't been in the UK for the last few months, and most certainly does not own horses. But we finally seem to be coming to the end of the wettest period on record, and the ground is finally drying out.

Since being back home, it has been a complete nightmare outside. The first few days I was back, we were caught in the storms which battered Britain and flooded the garden and the fields. Although we were a thousand times luckier than others who were hit by the wind and rain, it was scary waiting to see the damage in the morning (which, thankfully, was minimal) and so frustrating hearing the rain fall, and knowing that there was no where for it to go. So the ground got wetter, the mud got muddier and we all got a little bit sadder.

Having a pony of my own means that the first thing I want to do when I return home is ride, and when I came back from France that was the last thing I was able to do. I couldn't properly work him because the ground was just too wet, and I couldn't go out because all of the bridle paths had turned into mud-skating rinks. Plus, doing anything else- like leading the horses in and out of the stables, or even just moving a wheelbarrow- was ten times more difficult. It could have been worse for us, but that doesn't lesson the frustration so I'm sure I'm not alone when I say BRING ON SPRING!

I hope everyone out there wasn't hit too badly, and if you were then I really hope the weather is kind enough to help you get back on track over the next few weeks. For now, let's just be glad that the rain has taken a break and the sun is trying to make an appearance! xoxo

My country boots have proved surprisingly mud and water proof!

12 Years A Slave

12 Year A Slave (film poster:Lionsgate)

Having finally seen the film, and after the success of 12 Years A Slave at the BAFTAs the other night, I thought I'd write a little post about this spectacular film. If you're thinking about seeing this film, I'll make the decision for you: go and see it. If you're not interested in seeing it: go and see it... Because you should.

I'm not going to pretend this is a film for everyone, because it's not enjoyable in the traditional sense of the term. If you're having a bad day, you should probably wait until your mood is a bit better, and then allow this film to bring you back down again. Depressing, right? Yeah. Worse still: it's based on a true story.

But the feedback you see on the poster, five stars among words like "unforgettable" and "breathtaking" could not be more true. Ten minutes in, and the tone is pretty much set for the whole film, but you will not regret staying until the very end.

The word "harrowing" came to mind when I left the cinema. An absolute emotional rollercoaster, this film was emotionally exhausting, and at the same time utterly compelling. 

Films like this are so important because they bring to life the realities of our past. I was disgusted at times, and so ashamed that the persecution and torture depicted in this film actually happened, and was justified; it lays bare the cruelty of which human beings are capable. 

This film wouldn't have been the same without Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose spectacular performance allows you to live each moment alongside Solomon Northup. There were some beautiful scenes where the simplicity made for truly emotional viewing.

Any awards that this film, its director/producers, and/or its actors wins are 100% deserved. I haven't seen such a thought-provoking, emotionally charged and captivating film for a long time, and the fact that it is based on a true story makes it all the more compelling. You really shouldn't miss this.

Cookie success (against all odds)

I don't get much baking done in France, which saddens me because I just love to bake (and then eat it all afterwards, obviously). The 'oven' we have is one of those microwave-ovens and I don't trust them at the best of times. On top of that, the instructions are all in French. I tried shortbread a couple of months back and ended up with a melted mass of butter, sugar and flour. My flapjacks went a little better last month, but still ended up burning on the bottom. 

But I think I've cracked it! I finally found a setting which cooked something properly! I had leftover chocolate, flour, sugar and golden syrup in my room and following an edited eggless cookies recipe ended up with these beauties:

Eggless chocolate chip cookies

Here's the recipe (altered slightly from smokingviper1's recipe on allrecipes.co.uk, find the original here):

Ingredients- (supposed to make 18, mine came to about 14 with two tiny ones)

• 100g margarine
• 75g caster sugar
• 180g self raising flour 
• 100g chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 2-3 tablespoons milk

Method-

1. Heat the oven to 180 C. Grease (or I floured) 1 to 2 baking trays.

2. Beat the margarine until soft, and add the sugar. Cream together until light and fluffy. (Having no electric beaters I did this by hand as best I could, which wasn't very creamy but they still turned out fine!)

3. Stir in the flour, chocolate chips, golden syrup and milk. I didn't have 2 tablespoons of golden syrup left like the original recipe states, so used one, and added in another dash of milk towards the end of mixing. 

Mix well, until it has the consistency of dough. I used my hands in the end because it was easier, and also showed me that my mixture was a bit too moist and too sticky and I was worried about ending up with a melted mass in the oven again. 

I sprinkled more flour into the mixture (I've added an extra 5g into the measurements of this recipe compared with the original) which also allowed me to shape it better.

4. Finally, place teaspoon-sized balls of the mixture on the prepared trays, gently flattening each one into the shape of cookies (note: they will spread out a little wider than this, so mine were about 5-6 cm across and over 1cm thick) and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden around the edges. Once cooked remove them from tray immediately and place them on a wire rack to cool. 

Treat yourself and eat one whilst they're hot- that's when they're best!

Bed blogging and hooked on Girls

Before you think it, I do know how that sounds but it's true. I've just suffered one of the worst night's sleeps I have ever had and am currently nursing the flu. Of course, the day it chooses to incapacitate me is the nicest day we've had here in weeks and all I want to do is be outside, preferably on a long run somewhere. So I thought I'd do something really productive with my time instead, and have been making my way through the first season of Girls (I've been wanting to watch it for ages- see? Productive.)

It's a program which is unlike anything I've ever watched because it prides itself on being real. The girls are all normal and accurate respresentations of today's young women, and the scenes are acted with a raw, unstaged conversational edge. Sometimes, actually a lot, I seriously cringe at what happens but it's because the awkward moments are so reflective of the actual truth, and it's just something I'm not used to seeing on TV which isn't a reality program. 

It also helps that I'm able to relate to the whole thing of graduates trying to find their way in the world, as well as finding themselves (and men) along the way. It's made me miss my girls back in England more because all I want to do is meet for coffee, have a night out, or even a night in, and gossip and giggle and moan.

Before I watched it, my friend (who's already a dedicated watcher) said that one of the four girls reminded her of me. I can't remember which one she said, but I'm now a little worried because, apart from Marnie who I love but am certainly not like, I'm not sure I want to be likened to any of them! I can't work out whether we're meant to like Hannah, the main character, but I confess that she drives me up the wall because she is so self-centred, and worse still, seemingly ignorant of it. Frankly, I just don't like Jessa and then there's Shoshanna being all cutesy, clueless and doe-eyed all the time (and yet I can't help but want to be her friend and watch Sex in the City together).

The guys in the series balance it out and give it a decent comical aspect so it's not all just about a group of slightly deranged girls, wandering round New York city trying to sort out their lives. Even though, let's be honest, that's why I watch it: it comforts me to know that I might not be the only one without a grand plan when I leave university.

All in all, you know it's a good sign when your cursor constantly reaches for the next episode button, and I need some distraction from this illness. So for the time being I'll just have to keep watching! xoxo