Bourne Blogs

Country Living

2012-02-26T19:59:00.000Z

These weekend sums up why we moved from London to rural Essex. We planted some climbing plants and planned where our vegetable garden will sit, we picked up logs in the wood to fuel our log burner next winter and found muscles we didn't know we had. We caught up with family and soaked up the weak winter rays of sun. We drove to Coggeshall village and discovered our new curry house. I baked a cake for afternoon tea, and this evening we had lamb shanks baked in red wine, juniper and redcurrant. It melted in the mouth. Later I shall retire to bed feeling very content. How lucky am I?!

Honeymoon part two

2012-02-26T19:50:00.001Z

Nutmeg, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

After Kenya and four very early starts we headed to a 'spice island' of Zanzibar, hoping for a more relaxed week and a chance to recharge the batteries. Fumba Beach Lodge, a recommendation from a friend, delivered the goods. We spent most of the time under the shade of a tree next to the pool which looked out on the ocean, reading books and sipping on fresh fruit juices. We took one trip to a privately owned spice farm, and I was impressed with the entreprenerial skills of the owners. Every chance to make money from the tourists was exploited, and rightly so, as they struggle with poor soil and months without rain - not the ideal conditions for churning out spices month after month. We bought the afore-mentioned spices and handmade soaps, and tipped our young 16 year old guide who weaved us hats, a tie and a frog necklace.

Our exit from the country reminded us we were in Africa, as a baggage handler offered us the chance to skip the $30 departure tax if we gave him $10. We didn't understand, corruption not being something you experience in the UK, but went along with it and then David realised what was happening. It was a sad way to end, as it must be the people of the country who are impacted by these scams, and lose out on public money for schools and hospitals.

The people are not financially rich but they seemed to be a happy and peaceful country, and we were glad to have contributed in some small way by bring them our tourist dollars and visiting the spice farm to meet some of them.

Honeymoon part one

2012-02-26T19:39:00.001Z

Lion, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

Wow Kenya is simply stunning. Our stay at the Little Govenors' Camp in the Masai Mara was action packed with the chance to observe many amazing wild animals every day. Then when ever we returned to camp we were treated to five star service by caring, smiling staff and gourmet food. Not to mention the elephants visiting the camp, allowing us to watch them whilst eating lunch. At night our tent's thin canvas walls meant we could hear every note of the hippo's night sounds, especially when they were snuffling right outside. It really was a trip of a lifetime.

Blood orange - eaten!

2012-01-12T17:35:00.004Z

Blood orange - eaten., a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

Blood orange

2012-01-12T17:35:00.002Z

Blood orange, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

This week I bought some lovely blood oranges, which look spectacular and taste great too. I'm also going to get some Seville oranges and try making some marmalade for the first time. I've already made some chilli oil this week, with last summer's chillies. Good Housekeeping eat your heart out...

Eating meat and raking leaves

2011-11-21T17:12:00.001Z

I've had some delicious food recently - at the new British Larder nr Woodbridge in Suffolk (read my trip advisor review) and Stonhouse in Clapham, London, where I had an amazing dish of Ox Cheeks which melted in the mouth. I could have easily ordered the short BBQ rib of beef or the venison shank tagine, which both looked stupendous. Can a meat dish really be stupendous I hear you cry. Well, in this case I think the answer is yes!

In gardening news I planted some daffodils and discovered the soil in the front garden is clay and stones. Not great for gardening. I hope the back garden is more promising. My violas in the window boxes on the porch have gone quite leggy, I fear it might be too dark for them so might have to resort to shade loving ferns but will persevere a bit longer. The autumn bedding in the patio tubs have really grown, although I am hoping for more flowers on the pansies.

There have been many rainbows recently but this has been my favourite which appeared at sunset last week.

I've also discovered that raking leaves is very satisfying until you wake up the next morning and the lawn is covered again, at which point it becomes a thankless task. I do want to keep on top of them though as too many leaves spoil the lawn.

A pub lunch and feeding the turkeys

2011-10-30T20:22:00.001Z

I've been very lax at updating this blog. Organising a wedding after moving house may have something to do with my lack of time, but now we've had our fantastic day (I only have to look at the picture of the ceremony again to break out in a huge grin!) I should be able to start reusing this blog to share recipes, gardenings and so on.

This weekend we went to the Old Ship Inn in Levington, just outside Ipswich, which I would thoroughly recommend. Lovely English pub overlooking the River Orwell, with a fab menu and my fav Aspall's Cider.

Other things I've enjoyed this week include David Attenbrough's Frozen Planet series - stunning cinematography! - and carving two pumpkins which keeps me amused each October.

We are very happily embedded in the country way of life just a few months after moving out from London. Today David spent three hours splitting and stacking logs with my brother for the various Bourne and Powell fires and log burners. Meanwhile I raided the neighbours garden (he was there too) for windfall apples to feed the turkeys which my uncle is rearing for Christmas. The sounds which turkeys make are fabulous, they even bark like dogs which I hadn't anticipated.

All in all a very satisfying week!

Pots in the evening light

2011-07-15T13:04:00.001+01:00

Pots in the evening light, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

This is the first colour I have added to the garden; terracotta pots full of petunias, begonias and bidens as well as some edible treats in the form of peppers and chillies, tomatoes and parsley. It has done it's job of creating colour and also giving me some quick food crops. One of the tomatoes has turned yellow and is ripening. I can't wait to taste it!

Our new garden

2011-07-15T13:00:00.001+01:00

Our new garden - a blank canvas, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

Over the coming weeks and years I hope to turn this lawn into a sumptous vegetable and flower garden. I'll be taking small steps, and sharing them here.

Canary Wharf

2011-06-29T10:20:00.001+01:00

Canary Wharf, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

Last two days in Canada Water before moving. Was humid yesterday so we went out for a late evening walk and conditions were perfect for some great reflective shots. I'll miss the river and docks. We will have a garden in our new place and it is very rural, so I'm mega excited to be moving out of London after ten years of living in the big city.

Don't mess with gardeners...

2011-06-29T10:18:00.001+01:00

Don't mess with gardeners..., a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

How disgusting that someone would steal a nice standard marguerite daisy from a communal garden. The sign made me laugh (and made me sad).

The art of Yorkshire - love it!

2011-06-06T14:29:00.001+01:00

The art of Yorkshire - love it!, a photo by hannah bourne on Flickr.

One of my fav gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. I was lucky enough to go on press day, which I loved. Roll on Hampton Court!

Moving house and a lack of sunshine

2011-06-06T14:24:00.004+01:00

They say moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in life, along with getting married (yep doing that later this year too) and divorce. We're moving in a couple of weeks, and I've found the most stressful part is waiting to get a move date. We're in a chain of five and that presents it's own problems - namely that even if you are ready it only takes one person in the chain to delay and you are all affected. So here are a few learnings from my experience so far:

Chase your solicitor regularly (but not obsessively) as well as the estate agents for your purchase and sale, sometimes they know more than the solicitor does
Make sure you understand the process so you know when you push, and what to ask for
Hire a removals firm so you can avoid doing the lifting and carrying - they will drop off boxes in advance and I suggest you allow 2-3 weeks for this bit (it takes much longer than you think)
Write on each box which room you want it to go to, and some of the items in there so you know which ones to open first

On another note I recently discovered from a blood test that my Vitamin D levels are a bit low. I had a blood test after being fed up of being tired and achy, when I felt I was looking after myself and only working part time so should not be this tired all the time. Having been cooped up and not very mobile when I was ill in 2009/10 I'm not overly surprised that I didn't manage to get enough sun. You need 2/3 20 minute sessions in the sun each week between May and September each year to get enough Vit D to last through the winter and mustn't be wearing sun cream. So if, like me, you wear sun cream and haven't been able to get out and about much it might be worth getting your blood tested. I am now on a supplement and will get tested again in November, as it will take several months to get the levels up again. Until then at least I know what it causing the tiredness and aches and pains, and don't have to worry too much about it.

Having been quite poorly in the past I no longer take my health for granted (which is very very good) but also have lost confidence in my health (which is not great but understandable, I hope this is a short-term hurdle to get over!). Having a garden in our new house will definitely help when topping up with sunshine and I can't wait to plan out my garden! I plan to cover my gardenings via this blog...

Not so sunny Spain

2011-03-15T19:18:00.006Z

I spent last week in southern Spain, here are some musings I wrote whilst there.

Sat 5 March. We arrive in Gaucin via a winding road from the coast up to the mountains. We later find out that the road was covered with a hard surface by a camera crew who became fed up of travelling the 25km from the coast on mud roads. I don't blame them.

Sun 5 March. Wake at 6am to massive thunderstorm. It occurs to me that the original theories that gods or giants are angry during such storms were well founded. The lightning was visible even with your eyes closed. Then it rained and rained. And rained. Thankfully it eventually stopped and the sun made a fleeting appearance. We walked up to the Castillo Aguilla (Eagle Castle) and saw our first birds of prey which we believe were Griffin Vultures rather than the expected eagles. Saying they are magnificent doesn't do them justice. They were really fabulous to watch and very, very large.

Mon 6 March. We wake to sunshine. Take stunning mountain road to Ronda and see 20+ vultures circling and soaring above us. Enjoyed the views from Ronda which is built either side of a deep gorge, spanned by the 'new bridge' which was built in the 1700s! I resisted an urge to impersonate a matador in the bull ring. Back to Gaucin via the Montejaque mountain road, where the peaks are reminiscent of Mordor. Managed to avoid hitting the cars which would go round a blind corner on the wrong side of the road, in order to cirumnavigate a pot hole. It was hairy to say the least and I was glad to be the passenger. We light our first fire of the week and just sit watching the flames all night. My mind empties and I am content and relaxed.

Tues 7 March. More rain. After lunch we decide to take a trip to Gibraltar. What a mistake. Our bus tour into the town centre took us past numerous 1960s and 70s tower blocks and in the rain it felt like a very depressing place. What a legacy. We left by walking back over the main runway for the airport which is the only way in and out. They shut the road when planes come in, which cannot fly over Spanish airspace as the Spainards still have a lot of animosity over the whole affair. David in particular was very unimpressed by the place and delighted to leave. I can't imagine we'll be back anytime soon.

Wed 8 March. It rains. I eat dry cornflakes for something to do. We get soaked in Estapona and take refuge in an English pub.

Thurs 9th March. Another walk to the castle to see the vultures. They really have been the highlight of the trip so far - simply amazing. We drive across to Jimenera de Frontera through orange groves. Strange to see fruits on the trees in the winter. More dramatic mountain views which we never tire of.

Friday 10th March. It rains alot. We go for a drive and visibility drops to 20 metres or so. Not much fun. Sobering news of the earthquake in Japan reaches us via the car radio and the distressing accounts abruptly bring us back to some kind reality. The holiday bubble has been breached. Later we go out for dinner and the waitress makes the mistake of giving us a free shot at the end of the meal. I make the mistake of drinking most of it. I then mistake a cupboard for the exit and head confidently (or stagger more like) toward it. Peals of laughter and shouts alert me to my mistake too late. They make me go in the cupboard - just for fun. I can confirm it definitely wasn't the exit. I struggle to contain my giggles all the way home. Oh and it's still raining.

I read two good books which I would recommend - The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen. The latter was the incredibly inspiring true story of Greg's work to build schools in Pakistan and Afganistan and his dream of educating girls. He overcomes fierce geography, fatwas and prejudice to make a huge difference to the lives of a large number of people. As soon as I was back I donated money to his cause and bought the next book which continues his tale. Powerful stuff.

Queen of leftovers

2011-02-09T20:06:00.002Z

My mum once described my brothers and me as the 'ready steady cook' generation. After years of watching Fern and friends throwing random mixes of ingredients together and cooking interesting food we each have the confidence to look in the fridge and make something out of what ever is in there.

I really enjoy the process and feel like a failure if I have to put any food in the bin! The other day we had some left over haggis and mashed potato which I made into little 'haggis cakes' with parsley. They were extremely tasty and very cheap! Food is getting more expensive and while I do splash out to buy organic and free range meat I also have extremely cheap meals using left overs.

Tonight I threw together some lamb burgers with grated carrot, feta cheese, cumin and cinnamon and served it with roast squash and some more feta cheese. It was delicious and I might have enough for lunch tomorrow too. Working from home does give me ample opportunities to cook or assemble quick and tasty stir fries, warm salads, pasta dishes and omelettes (my all time favourite!) with left overs. There isn't always enough for two, at least that's what I tell myself!

If you are gluten or wheat-free I would recommend the Phil Vickery Gluten free cooking and baking books which have some great recipes in and include his flour mixes which will happily reduce your dependency on the ready-mixed gluten free flours which don't always hit the mark. Cooking for me really is relaxing, not a chore, and I find it a great way to unwind at the end of the day. Happy eating.

Seed heads

2010-12-14T21:20:00.001Z

Seed heads, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

I've just chosen this as my best shot of 2010, and uploaded it to a Flickr group of the same name. Let's hope I don't take any better ones in the next two weeks!

Trolleys as a society marker

2010-11-04T19:26:00.001Z

Trolley graveyard, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

What can trolleys tell us about the society we live in? Well I live near a Tesco Extra and there has always been people who think it's ok to take the trolleys and abandon them near their cars, houses or even in the water which makes the docks round where I live become trolley graveyards.

Recently it seems to have increased in regularity and there are regularly trolleys abandoned outside the flats where I live. It gets my goat. Why should someone decide it's ok to take a trolley just because they won't pay for the bus or a taxi, or buy less stuff so they can carry it? Why should I pay more for my shopping because other people steal trolleys which Tesco then has to replace? It's theft, plain and simple.

Our building manager even put up a note asking people not to leave trolleys outside the building. And apparently its such a problem that Tesco (and no doubt other supermarkets) have freephone numbers so you can report abandoned trolleys!

Anyway, next time you leave a supermarket car park please make sure you leave the trolley there. I'll be watching.

Spider

2010-10-07T16:58:00.001+01:00

Spider, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

There are some huge spiders about at the moment so I took advantage of the sunny day today to take some close up shots. They really were as big as they look!

Bitten by the vampire bug

2010-07-29T13:56:00.003+01:00

Yes I've joined the realms of people who are addicted to the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer. Yes they're really for teenagers. But they're also written very well and are brilliant if you want to escape your day to day life for a few hours. I read the second book first (by mistake) and liked it enough to go and read the first one second.

What's the appeal? Well I suppose the romantic in me enjoys reading about Bella and the men who fall in love with her. And I think most people would relate to her feelings of not fitting in, hey we've all had times like that, haven't we? And the fact that it's about vampires and werewolves just makes it more interesting.

I've also discovered David Nicholls. I loved Starter for Ten which made me laugh out loud and am now reading the Understudy.

Oh and I recently re-read Swallows and Amazons for the first time since I was about ten years old. Still a good read, even though was set in the thirties. I don't think many children these days would be allowed to wander as far as John, Susan, Titty (snigger) and Roger did.

View from Baltic Quay

2010-07-28T15:59:00.001+01:00

View from Baltic Quay, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

You're looking at South Dock Marina, the Thames and Canary Wharf. Nice view eh?!

Yellow

2010-06-28T08:55:00.001+01:00

Yellow rose, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

On Saturday I spent a lovely day at Hampton Court Palace which I really enjoyed. The sun was shining, the architecture was stunning and the rose garden was looking spectacular.

2010-06-24T08:51:00.004+01:00

I didn't like the look of the Delicious Miss Dahl cookery programme when it was on a couple of months ago - it seemed too simpering, too gushing. Well, I take it all (or most of it) back. I watched one episode the other day when there really wasn't anything else to watch. And, if you can get past the faux romantic kitchen set-up and flowery dialogue, the food she cooks is fantastic and I couldn't help but get hooked by her enthusiasm for good and simple food.

Inspired I cooked one of her recipes - the Cheese Souffle Buckwheat Blinis. They were delicious, and what's more wheat-free! They make a filling breakfast with bacon and scrambled eggs, or a great lunch / light dinner when served with a tomato and coriander salad. So, Sophie I still find your programme too indulgent but I will concede that you make damm good food!

Piglets at Surrey Docks Farm

2010-06-21T17:09:00.001+01:00

Piglets at Surrey Docks Farm, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

How cute are these piglets, all laying on top of each other and having a snooze. Surrey Docks Farm is well worth a visit if you are in the area, especially to Frizzante cafe which has a great Italian menu and home-made ice cream. They need your support to keep going.

Natural pick-me-ups

2010-06-17T11:56:00.005+01:00

I've recently got into aromatherapy. It's such a lovely way to influence your mood or perk you up. Here are some of my favourite blends and treatments:

Rose and lavender in a burner or pre bed-time bath - rose is very warming and lavender very relaxing and calming
Lavender and grapefruit or mandarin - more uplifting than rose and lavender. Be warned that citrus oils deteriorate if not kept in the fridge
Rosemary is very uplifting and I found that a couple of drops in a morning bath helped with jet lag when I came back from America. Its also a good oil to burn when you're working and improves your mental energy, although if you use it all the time it won't work so well
Clary Sage is a great natural high, its very uplifting and can make you feel euphoric! Its great in a bath if you are feeling stressed or 'blue'
If you are constipated try an abdominal massage (always go clockwise round your belly) with rose in a carrier oil

I can recommend a book called Aromatherapy for Women by Maggie Tisserand if you'd like to explore aromatherapy. Start with a couple of oils and see how you get on. As with all complimentary treatments do talk to a professional if you have a specific health condition, and avoid certain oils if you are pregnant. Most oils need to be diluted, and not applied directly to the skin.

Holiday booking tips

2010-05-31T20:32:00.002+01:00

I booked our recent holiday to the States using tripadvisor.com and hotels.com, which worked really well. The reviews people had submitted were pretty accurate and I was glad I didn't listen to them all as if you did that you wouldn't book anywhere! Some people really like to moan!!!!

Hotels.com is good as it seems to always be very competitive on price (and offers a price match if you find the same booking for a cheaper price) and also has no cancellation fees beyond those which the hotels impose.

If anyone wants to go to Florida Keys and Miami I would recommend:
- Ocean Pointe Suites in Tavernier, Upper Keys
- Blue Moon Hotel, South Beach, Miami
- Virgin Atlantic - they were not quite as good as Emirates who I've also flown with recently (to Dubai) but they were pretty good, with great on-board service and no delays either way. In comparison BA staff were on strike at the time...I even managed to sleep on the night flight on the way home which made the jet lag a bit more bearable!

It wasn't a cheap holiday - we purposely spent a bit more on accomodation to get somewhere really nice and when we got there we thought everything was quite expensive compared to other parts of the States. Eating out was comparable to the most expensive parts of central London for example. But, we had a great time and it was good to go somewhere a bit different to the normal package holiday destinations.

Sugar, confidence and big trucks

2010-05-31T20:01:00.006+01:00

Well I've recently returned from 10 days in Florida. Wow the Americans like their sugar! Everything you buy includes high fructose corn syrup, from jars of gherkins through to drinks and cereal. Not that I was complaining about the amount of syrup on my stack of pancakes...

Sitting around the swimming pool turned out to be the best way to understand the cultural differences between the Americans and the Brits. In the water the Americans were much more confident, and those with kids lavished encouragement and praise on them like it was going out of fashion. There's something to be said for this. Maybe if we were a bit more like this in the UK our kids would be generally more self-assured and, thinking about my day-job of promoting enterprise, we might have more entrepreneurs in the UK too. The Brits round the pool were much more reserved, although I doubt that my decision to constantly people-watch (i.e. stare) at everyone from behind my sunglasses went unnoticed.

Lastly I must share with you just how essential trucks and boats are in the Florida Keys. To be someone there you definitely need both. And they need to be BIG BIG BIG. Fishing is the main pastime and how better to transport your boat than with a huge truck - of which the bonnet alone is about five feet tall. Mind you the Tarpon fish can be seven feet long so I guess game fishermen need to feel like they at least have a chance.

Gluten-free goodies

2010-05-13T12:07:00.002+01:00

I'm persevering with my wheat-free diet and have found a couple of new recipes in a Gluten-free cookbook.

Banana Bread (more like a cake or loaf!)
125g caster sugar
125g butter
2 eggs
3 large, ripe bananas, mashed
175g ground rice flour
50g cornflour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 teaspoons baking powder
One quarter teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line a 1kg loaf tin. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs one at a time.

Gently stir in the mashed banana. Seive the flours, mixed spice, baking powder and salt into the mixture and fold until incorporated.

Pour into the loaf tin and bake for 60-90 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Mine took 60 minutes in a modern fan oven. Cool on a wire rack. Tasted delicious warm but also tasted great the next day! Would be good in kids lunchboxes.

Blueberry Muffins (more like cakes!)
50g margarine
150g caster sugar
2 eggs
200g rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
175ml sour cream
150g blueberries
Half teaspoon vanilla essence

Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Cream the marg and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and combine. Sieve the flour and baking powder together and add to the egg mixture with the sour cream. Stir in the blueberries and vanilla essence.

Divide the mixture between 12 large muffin cases, and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and risen. Mine took about 25 mins in a modern fan oven.

Definitely two recipes I shall be cooking again, they were very easy and well received by those on a wheat free diet as well as those who usually eat wheat.

Spring has sprung

2010-04-19T12:42:00.001+01:00

Tulips, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

It makes me happy seeing all the spring flowers - especially the tulips and the blossom.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

2010-03-31T11:15:00.001+01:00

Driving through Earls Court, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

Living in London everytime you want to leave you have to brave the busy roads.

In the immortal words of the Pet Shop Boys when you 'go west' this means going along Embankment which is enjoyable as you get to check out Big Ben, London Eye, Battersea Power Station and all the other Thames landmarks. This shot was taken as we drove through Earls Court.

Going East we now have the new Olympic Stadium to look at which seems to be coming along nicely. In fact we'll be checking it out once more this weekend as we head to see my family in Essex. I can't wait!

Winter flowers and dumplings

2010-03-09T19:36:00.001Z

Winter flowers, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

Well it might still be cold at night but we've had some glorious sunny days, and the flora and fauna has been responding. In the woodland on Sunday I heard a woodpecker drumming on the trees to attract a mate and this tree was full of flowers on the bare branches. I think its an Elm, or maybe an Ash. Dad is in the neighbourhood tomorrow so I might have to get him to identify it for me!

If you're still into winter stews, soups and casseroles check out the 'Winter Warmer' meat box from Riverford Organics. Mine arrived today and included Lamb Chump steak, Italian Garlic Sausage (uncooked), Beef Braising Steak and Lamb Mince. I'll be cooking up lots of lovely slow cooked feasts with these ingredients. My plans include Mousakka (aubergine was in the veg box), something with lentils to go with the garlic sausage and a Beef and Vegetable Casserole with Dumplings. David doesn't think he has ever had dumplings before so I think its about time he had that experience! Let's hope the weather doesn't warm up too quickly!

My Desert Island Discs

2010-02-14T15:42:00.002Z

I've been listening to Radio 4's Desert Island Discs a lot recently, which led me to pondering what my own eight choices would be.

The first would have to be Tina Turner and What's Love Got to Do With It. When we went on holidays when I was little we always went by car, the five of us sandwiched in with all our bags, bedding, toilet rolls etc. Mum and Dad used to play the same cassette tapes over and over again and much of that music remains on my playlist today. Tina Turner was always Dad's favourite and as a result I know most of the words to a lot of her songs.

Ok so number two is The Way I Feel by Roachford, a song which I used to make sense to me as a teenager, and through into my early Twenties. I used to play it really loud when I was upset over some guy, or feeling down.

Number three is Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, a song I discovered at University and one that never fails to cheer me up! I also became a massive fan of The Counting Crows at uni and their acoustic version of Mr Jones has to be my fourth disc. They were the first live band I ever went to and I remember being amazed by all the instruments they each played. This version is fantastic, very melodic and I love the accordian in it.

Number five - well I thought I'd better include something by Kylie or Madonna, both of whom have had hits which I've danced to again and again over the years. A tricky choice but I've chosen Hung Up by Madonna, after all it has a great sample of Abba in there.

Number six is the youngest artist on my list and one of the few new artists that has grabbed my attention in recent years. Hometown Glory by Adele is an amazing song, and I love the Piano at the beginning. I saw Adele live a couple of years ago and she has an amazing voice - I look forward to hearing her new album.

Number seven has to be Journey with Don't Stop Believing, a song that David introduced me to. It is a timeless classic (unlike their outfits!). And finally number eight goes to Take That and Rule The World. What a come back. Finally Gary Barlow gets the credit he deserves. Great feel good tune.

Wow that was hard. I've had to leave out Stereophonics, Bon Jovi, Pet Shop Boys, Massive Attack, Elton John's Tiny Dancer and Missing by Everything But The Girl. Tragic.

If I could only take one disc I'd take Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. The book I'd take with me would be a cookery book on fish (figure I'm gonna need it) and my luxury would be a nice fleecy blanket. I know it's going to be hot but for me I can't relax without one over my knees.

Greenland Dock iced-over, and Canary Wharf

2010-01-10T15:44:00.001Z

Greenland Dock iced-over, and Canary Wharf, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

The cold weather has presented lots of opportunities for taking interesting photos, but I think this is probably my favourite. See more at www.flickr.com/photos/bourneo

Going Wheat-free

2010-01-09T12:24:00.002Z

For a while now I have been cutting bread out of my diet as I noticed that it doesn't agree with me. I've never really had the motivation to go completely wheat-free until now. Suffering from a neurological condition (see earlier posts) it was suggested that a wheat free diet might aid my recovery.

So, once Christmas was out the way, and I had eaten my fair share of bread sauce and mince pies, I set out to cut wheat out of my diet completely and see how my body would respond.

I was amazed at the range of products available, both in the supermarket and in health food shops. I've bought rice pasta, noodles, 4 types of flour, snacks, pizza bases (made of spelt, so not good if you are coeliac or allergic to wheat), breakfast cereals and more. I've found that it's easy to make changes at home. I've swapped wheat flour in sauces for non-wheat alternatives and simply swap my favourites like breaded fish for alternatives. It's a good way to find new tasty recipes!

You have to check the ingredients of everything you buy to start with - even sausages contain wheat to bulk them out and lots of sauces and spices contain wheat as a 'de-clumping agent' or thickener. The Black Farmer brand of sausage uses soya flour instead though, and premium sausages tend to be less likely to contain it. Cooking from scratch is the best way to ensure no wheat sneaks in.

Eating out is harder. Our local Chinese can only offer me Pad Thai as everything else is deep fried or uses Soy Sauce which usually contains wheat. Luckily I like it but it's hard to ignore the other items on the menu which I would prefer!

As for the results - well my digestion has definately improved and I'm only 9 days in. My neurological condition is on the mend too. I can't put that down to the diet as it was improving before I started and the acupucture I've been having seems to have had more of an effect. Still, anything which might help my recovery is worth doing, and I've found it easier than I thought to go wheat-free. I'm sure some wheat-free alternatives will stay in my store cupboard for years to come!

Things are looking up

2009-12-17T12:58:00.002Z

Canary Wharf, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

I've had a strange few months. Earlier this year I developed a problem with my nervous system which was both debilitating and worrying. It seemed to come from nowhere and suddenly restricted where I could go and what I could do. I had to stop working and even leaving the flat became difficult.

The worst time was waiting for the hospital tests to come back - but thankfully they all came back negative and I was relieved to know I have nothing seriously or permanently wrong with me.

As many doctors themselves admit they are good at treating illness but often can't help people who are 'unwell'. I clearly have something wrong with me but without a text book explanation it has really been left to me to wait for this 'glitch' or imbalance to go away. Even though I know it will go away, not knowing when it will end is quite difficult to deal with. Sometimes I feel like my life is in limbo, and that the weeks are stretching in front of me, endlessly...

Things are looking up though! I saw an osteopath yesterday who explained that if you compared my problem to a skin complaint my nervous system would be like a red raw scab which was very painful and couldn't be touched. As I have suffered no trauma or accidents this year, he said it could be that I had a viral infection which caused my problems. Whatever the reason it has made my nervous system hyper-sensitive, to touch and particular sounds especially.

Alongside his cranio-osteopathic treatment my Osteopath suggested I see an acupuncturist, and that the mix of these things would help to de-sensitise my nervous system and speed my recovery. So, I'm off to see an acupucturist this afternoon, who from an inital chat on the phone says that I should see some improvement in the symptoms after 2-3 sessions. It's also been suggested that I try a wheat-free diet, as this can help people with neurological conditions.

It's very strange to have something without a name, which can't be seen. I've been through so many emotions during this process - anger, despair, guilt, fear to name just a few - and I think it can be hard for those around you to know how to help. I've been lucky in that my boyfriend, family and friends have been very supportive and David in particular has definitely kept me going even when I was at my lowest ebb.

I've recently come across someone else who has suffered from virtually the same thing as me. Speaking to her was a great relief, she understood exactly the emotions I was going through and had also experienced a lack of support from traditional doctors (although like mine her GP had been supportive and sympathetic to her condition).

Having an osteopath and an acupuncturist who think they can speed my recovery is brilliant news, I no longer feel like it's just up to me!

I'm also beginning to feel a bit better, I'm able to get out of the flat every day for a walk and am building up my stamina again. I have Christmas to look forward to with my family and really hope that in the New Year it won't be too long before I am able to return to work, even if it's part-time to start with.

Wet leaf

2009-12-12T15:53:00.001Z

Wet leaf, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

I managed to get out of the flat today after a week which has mostly been spent inside. I was getting cabin fever so a walk in Southwark Park was good for the soul. We saw Parakeets and Long Tailed Tits, as well as lots of common birds; crows, Tufted Ducks, Swans and Geese. Great to see so much wildlife in London, last week I saw a woodpecker and a kingfisher less than a mile from the flat in Russia Dock Woodland. Amazing!

Am I a royalist?

2009-11-18T14:13:00.002Z

Watching the state opening of Parliament today it made me think about the role the Royal Family plays in modern British society. On one hand they play a very important role in terms of attracting tourists to London, their huge patronage to charities and the ambassadorial role they play at home and abroad. No-one can accuse the Queen and Prince Phillip of sitting around idling in their many properties. They are extremely hard working, especially bearing in mind their age. And I do think that Princes William and Harry begin to bring a fresher more informal feel to this ancient institution.

On the other hand I'm sure many would argue that they are simply not needed, and that today's society cannot relate to their ancient customs and formal way of life.

I confess I enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of today's proceedings although I agree with Speaker John Bercow who said on the BBC (and I'm para-phrasing here) that the State Opening of Parliament must be an important reminder of the role of parliament, but much more importantly, changes had to be implemented within parliament to reassure the public that some traditions would not remain. As with all things, the argument that something (whether it be the royals or the MPs expenses system) has been in operation for years is not a strong enough reason for it to remain. These traditions should stand on their own two feet in the 21st century.

What I know for sure is that further House of Lords reforms are essential. The remaining hereditary peerages just don't sit comfortably with me. They don't represent a modern Britain and were conceived in a bygone era.

5/11/09

2009-11-06T13:01:00.001Z

5/11/09, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

Another photo for my Project 365 set. Coming down the escalator at Canary Wharf I noticed the lines on the side walls pointing towards the colourful strips at the end. The people in the shot give it some context, and a sense of size.

I was at Canary Wharf so David could buy me a birthday present! A welcome relief from being in the flat again!

The moon - in film grain

2009-11-02T17:24:00.001Z

The moon - in film grain, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

The moon is full today (look out for werewolves!) and it looked rubbish in a colour shot but in film grain and zoomed in it looks quite interesting.

Day one

2009-10-31T12:13:00.002Z

Day one, originally uploaded by hannah bourne.

I've taken Jenny's fine suggestion (see comments on previous blog) and am taking part in Project 365 where you post one picture for each day of your year. Mine started yesterday with a picture of the pumpkin I carved.

Flickr

2009-10-30T12:57:00.001Z

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The only way is up

2009-10-29T10:39:00.004Z

So, I had a good appt at the hospital yesterday. My MRI and blood tests came back as normal which is fantastic, it means I don't have any of the the scary things I thought might be wrong with me!!! So, what next? Well I need to have some further tests, and the consultant invited her four colleagues into the room to look at my symptoms because they do not fit their normal list. It was all rather surreal. Luckily my body performed on cue and showed them the jerky back and arm movements which often happen when the palms of my hands or soles of my feet have contact with something. There was some medical discussion which passed me by but they were very nice and the head of that clinic assured me that they would be able to sort it out. So I just need to wait for this next lot of tests. I hope the appointment isn't lost in the post...

So, with this new optimistic frame of mind I thought I'd muse over some ideas for some art projects which I might do over the coming months. When I was in Tooting I had an amazing Italian art teacher at a local evening class who was very inspiring and I was very productive. But without a class to go to it's hard to motivate yourself. I was inspired yesterday by Phil Coomes, Picture Editor on BBC Online who on a recent blog post talked about the need for structure and projects in photography.

So here are some of my ideas for photography and art projects, let me know what you think!

- Photography - film grain, a setting which I've already been playing around with

- Photography - should I try and photograph the many entrepreneurs who live and work in the Rotherhithe area? Could it be a project for Global Entrepreneurship Week

- Photography - A to Z. Work my way through the alphabet (as suggested on Phil's blog!)

- Art - pastels (Mum has given me some pastels and paper and an instructional DVD, what more encouragement do I need?!)

- Art - I might use my photos of the area I live to inspire some drawing and painting.

I'm too tired today to make a start but there is always tomorrow.

The spice stepper

2009-10-22T16:53:00.003+01:00

What is a spice stepper I hear you cry? Well it's a device to help you see what spices you have in your cupboard more easily. It will avoid the half an hour delay in finding the chilli powder. Now online they cost around £15 but I decided to build one using polystyrene. Above is the result. Handy Andy eat your heart out.

On another note I can recommend you go and buy a butternut squash and make a delicious easy soup (as recommended by my mum and my brother, can't claim the credit for this one).

Peel and deseed squash and cut into chunks

Dice an onion

Saute squash and onion until translucent, I did it in chilli oil but anything will do. You could also add grated ginger at this stage - that's a 'mum tip'

Add stock, and simmer until squash is soft (20-30 mins)

Blitz with a blender and season to taste

I like to eat mine with a squeeze of mango chutney!

Food for the soul

2009-10-21T12:39:00.005+01:00

So today I thought I would share with you some of the things which have kept my spirits up, amused me and occupied me whilst I've been stuck in the flat; short walks by the docks and the Thames where I live, flowers sent by various well-wishers, get well soon cards with scary cats on, a 1000 piece puzzle which I have to say I really enjoyed and I'll be 'puzzling' again soon, and last but by no means least a comfy pair of socks from my Aunt Edith which for some unexplicable reason have fat robins on and will definitely never leave the flat, but I love them! And of course visits from friends, in fact someone should be arriving any minute. Best get the kettle on.

2009-10-15T15:45:00.004+01:00

Today is blog action day, where bloggers are encouraged to post entries about climate change. So, here's mine..

Things I find easy to contribute towards tackling climate change

Reducing food miles. There are some excellent veg box schemes and you can shop wisely in the supermarkets to ensure that your food hasn't been flown from across the world. Eat seasonally!
Wearing big jumpers and socks before turning the heat up - seriously is it that hard to wear more clothes and turn the thermostat down?!
Walking and getting public transport around London. When I worked for a PR agency we used to get taxis everywhere. Now I work for a charity I think twice before getting a taxi and asolutely love walking around the city. You find interesting places like Lincolns Inn Fields and restaurants and get some good exercise in too. Why not try it this week when you go to your next meeting?

Things I find really hard to address:

Cutting down on air travel. I like travelling. This year I've been to Turkey, Tenerife, New York and am due to go to Zurich. Sometimes I offset the carbon emissions but does that really make any difference?
Using less hot water - I like baths and power showers. Although I don't have a shower every day (sometimes a wash is enough!) and I don't wash my hair every day either so maybe that helps.
Turning lights off. Not because I think it's unimportant but because I am forgetful. David is making me better at this one! We do use energy saving light bulbs too.
Driving a big car at the weekends. We like weekends away and public transport doesn't suit our needs. I guess we're not prepared to compromise. On the up side I do use cruise control alot which makes the car more fuel efficient.

Inspiration

2009-10-11T21:24:00.002+01:00

I read Ellen MacArthur's autobiography a while ago and thought it was fantastic - she is so inspiring and remarkably down to earth. I've just listened to her on Desert Island Discs and yet again I am inspired. She is successful, enthusiastic and humble and surely must be one of the best role models young people have to look up to. I even liked her music choices, is this too sycophantic for you?

Even more excitingly she is setting herself a new challenge - in her own words...

"And finally, a trip to South Georgia after my round the world record gave me my first real breathing space for a decade and time to think and reflect. It inspired me to learn more about living in a more sustainable way. I am now on a mission to reduce my own energy and resource consumption. Sharing and communicating this journey to a more sustainable future is one of my big goals for the coming years."

If anyone can do it she can! Also check out the amazing Ellen MacArthur Trust - what a great cause.
For me, this last week has been a bit of a struggle but Ellen (and others closer to home) have motivated me to stay positive! What's more my medication seems to be having an effect. Things are looking up!

Have a little patience...

2009-10-08T13:47:00.004+01:00

I've been off work for a couple of weeks as I have been unwell and have just found out I probably have a condition called Propriospinal Myeclonus. It's fairly rare - the neurologist had never seen a case before. I need further tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine a cause, although there is a chance that they won't find one. From what I understand this condition means I have an irritation on part of my spine, which may be due to a numbers of reasons, including an infection or virus I've had in the past. In the meantime I'm on Clomazepam to help control the muscle twitches.

I'm mostly positive about it but I'm also finding the whole experience tiring, emotional and frustrating. I can be an impatient person - hopefully not with other people (unless I'm tired or hungry, then the rules change!) but with circumstances which are out of my control. I have little experience of coping with illnesses. I had glandular fever once, but, as I was a student at the time I was surrounded by people sleeping alot and keeping me company so it didn't seem too bad. And a long time ago I tackled depression which at the time was overwhelming but those around me told me with conviction that I would get through it - and I did. That now seems like a very small (but informative) blip in my life and I hope that in the months to come I will look back on this experience in the same way. I really believe that things like this make you stronger and give you more reason to enjoy the good things in life (of which there are LOADS!).

Today I'm having a TV-free day and so far I've managed to sleep until 11am, have a very nice lunch, read some of Obama's autobiography, start up my old laptop to search for some documents and email a few people. I have had busy and enjoyable jobs for the last 9 years and this is probably going to be the longest period I have had since travelling (2000/1) where I haven't been working. In between general resting, sleeping and recooperating I plan to make the most of it, and this blog seems a good a start as any.

Parabens and the other pollutants we regularly spread on our skin

2009-10-02T12:23:00.002+01:00

I've been concerned for some time about the ingredients manufacturers put in our toiletries, and have switched to some natural products, including Pai products which are made by a friend of mine. I've just had a look on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website and checked some of the products my boyfriend and I use which are not natural and organic.

My vaseline Aloe Fresh moisturiser is ranked as having a high hazard, for example, with the chemicals in it linked to cancer, allergies etc. Likewise the Polo Blue aftershave I bought him for his birthday is equally toxic.

Whilst one product won't cause you any harm a mix of them might and I am going to try and revert to natural only products (not easy when Tesco doesn't stock them). What makes me the most angry is the labelling products are allowed to get away with, which implies they are natural when they are not. You see shampoos and fabric conditioners described as 'natural' or 'pure' which cannot be trusted. Even the word organic doesn't count for much on toiletries.

Time on my hands

2009-09-29T21:32:00.003+01:00

I'm off sick at the moment so I have some time to play with a blog, something I've been intending to do for a while. Things to share today -

1. I really care about where my food comes from. I'm experimenting with organic vegetable boxes. Today I recieved one from Riverford and cooked Delia's Leek and Potato soup, it was superb. And I would really like not to buy my meat from the supermarket anymore (some are better than others!).

2. The TV hasn't been working and I haven't really missed surfing the channels. Instead I watched DVDs, BBC iPlayer and programmes off our hard drive. The Hairy Bikers food tour of Britain is proving useful for some new recipes. I'll share them as I make them.