52 Weeks of Happy

Week 16

Joining in with Jen at Little Birdie with some of the things that have made me smile this week. For those who want to have a bit more insight and have got nothing else better to do.. why don't you have a look at my 52 week page to see the stories behind these pics :)

 

15th - 21st April

 

a) My favourite weekend breakfast

b) Imports in the supermarket

c) Bubbles

d) Fanouropita with ice cream and more brandy!

e) Days out with the gang

f)Sun and swimming in an empty pool!

 

Hope you've had a good week too.

 Amanda x

 



Saturday Snaps

Saturday Snaps- Santorini

A photograph, each Saturday- Quirky or Serious?, Fun or Interesting?, Real or Abstract?

A comment or not, a thought, a quote or whatever-Let the pictures do the talking!

 

It's Saturday evening and my apartment has a distinct aroma of cinnamon and orange with a touch of brandy about it. It's almost unseasonably Christmassy, but not quite.  I've been baking- another Greek recipe- that I'll tell you all about tomorrow.

 

However in looking for a gratuitous Greek photograph to go along side the blog, I found a whole album of old photos that I love. I don't know whether it's the combination of blues and white, sun or sea, painted doors or flower strewn walls- but Greek photos are to me the epitome of holiday postcards. It's from a few years back now, 2006, but they bring a big smile to my face. Maybe one day I will tell you all about it- But for now I'll leave you with this one, whilst I go and see if the cake is ready.

 

 

Amanda:)

 

 

Now for something a little bit different!- Greek!

 Bake and Taste Greek

I admit I am partial to a anything that looks yummy and sweet, and seeing some great postings over on Greenthumb's "Made with Love" page, I decided to follow suit and bake. This in turn led me to a lovely idea that Rose from "Ferns at the Balcony" came up with - a Bake & Taste Greek Challenge.

Now I know it's not my usual thing to post anything other than me whittering on about nothing and showing lots of photos- But I do like to bake and I do love Greek food...  and so I decided to give it a go.

 

I chose Koulouraki with olive oil and orange

http://fernsatbalcony.blogspot.gr/2013/01/koulourakia-with-olive-oil-and-orange.html

 

 

It used simple ingredients and sounded fairly easy to make and so I decided to give it a go.

 

 

Well, everything went to plan until it came to making the nice pretty twist shapes and then everything went to pot! I decided that I will never be an artisan bread maker as I couldn't manage a simple twist. So instead they stayed as bread sticks and small round Biscotti types.

 

 

 

Saying that- No matter what they looked like - They sure tasted good- which goes someway to explain the 'oh so many' that were tasted as they were cooling down on the rack!

 

 Which also leads on to explain why I'll just have to make some more at the weekend- Just to perfect my twisting technique of course! .... Honest ! 

 

Then after that, I might just have to try some more of her lovely Greek recipes:)

 

 

 

Amanda :)

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

 A weekly photo that needs no comment and no explanation- But then I might decide otherwise:)

 

 

 

 

See you next time:)

New Term, New Resolutions...Not!

For many reasons I just love being a teacher and today highlights yet another great reason- It's a new term and because of that, we all (children and staff alike) get a new start. Three times a year, it's like New Year all over again! A time for starting afresh, new regimes, new ways and new resolutions. We can forget the things we meant to do, but didn't, Organise ourselves the way we wanted to, but couldn't and finally find time for the things we would like to do.

 

 It was the same when I was at school, I loved September- A new school year. Far better than the January version of New Year 'cos this one involved  'stationery'! Oh how I loved it all - New classes, new textbooks and best of all new exercises books and time tables that were pristine and blank, just waiting to be filled with our new pens stashed in our brand new pencil cases.

 

 

I love the quote from 'You've Got Mail' where the character played by Tom Hanks writes to Meg Ryan's character and says of the Fall in New York

 

'It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils'

He must have had the same obsession with stationery as I do! :)

So a new term begins and with it my 'not so new' resolutions- trying to finish and leave work at a decent time- Failed already! Not taking work home with me-Again another fail! Being more constructive with my time... the less said about that the better... time really does just fly when you hop from one blog to another (-I'm sure blog time is in a different dimension, because I lose hours!)

But one thing I have managed to do is to keep more up to date with my postings- I know it's early days but I'm going to start as I mean to go on - So I've added a couple more items to my pages above.

Now I've done that, I really must get on with some work...:)

 

Back to reality- playing catch up!

Here's a little montage of mosaics that give you a little insight of what I have in store on my other pages. Having two weeks, or more, to catch up on means that I have been rather busy in the photo department. These snippets are just a little insight into what you will find elsewhere on my blog. Feel free to have a wander through the relevant pages- you might just find something you like:)

 

52 weeks of Happy - Weeks 14 and 15- Holidays in Vietnam

 

Scavenger Hunt- Greenthumb's, Made with Love

 

 

Scavenger Hunt- CGDN

 

Camerashy 52 week Photo Challenge- Sticky

 

 

Enjoy!

Amanda:)

 

Saturday Snaps

Saturday Snaps- Good Morning Vietnam

A photograph, each Saturday- Quirky or Serious?, Fun or Interesting?, Real or Abstract?

A comment or not, a thought, a quote or whatever-Let the pictures do the talking!

 

 

Xin Chao, or Hello there. I have just returned from a great holiday in Vietnam. It's a beautiful country, the food is fantastic and the people are lovely. After 2 weeks of travelling, sightseeing, shopping and eating- it's now back to reality with a bump. 

 1500 photos, give or take, to sort through and put into some kind of order- so it should keep me going for a blog or two. So, for a taster, I've posted a Saturday Snap of one of the many Pagodas we past on the way.

 

 

It's nice to be back!

Amanda :)