Read and Reviewed: The Cosy Tea Shop in the Castle

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Her dreams felt like bubbles, floating iridescent in a blue sky of hope. But, then, wasn’t there always the inevitable pop, then plop, when you came splatting back down to earth?

The Cosy Tea Shop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts

Blurb

When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her humdrum job in the city. Life is definitely on the rise as Ellie replaces spreadsheets for scones, and continues her Nanna’s brilliant baking legacy.

When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But cupcake by cupcake she wins the locals over, including teashop stalwart, Doris, and Ellie’s showstopping bakes look set to go down in castle history!

Now all that’s missing in Ellie’s life is a slice of romance – can Joe, the brooding estate manager, be the one to put the cherry on the top of Ellie’s dream?

Goodreads

My thoughts

I really enjoyed getting to know Ellie. She reminded me of me slightly in the way that I too was once a twenty-something living at home, waiting to set off on a new adventure.

This adventure is not something I’d ever considered but she goes for it, entering the crazy world of owning a tea shop inside a beautifully depicted castle in Northumbria. However, a major flaw in this tale is that we’re expected to believe that she gets the job despite openly owning up to having no experience or any ideas on how she can run it! I’m all for ‘going with it’ but it was slightly inconceivable from the get go.

Once I got over this – it didn’t take long – I began to enjoy the tale. She gets the job and luckily for her moves in to the castle a mere floor below hunky estate manager Joe. Soon a relationship blooms – I mean of course it does! – but we see very little of it.

“But it wasn’t just about the sex, they could chat for hours, or they could as easily sit in companionable silence.”

We see very little of this. There’s a lovely walk, popping in to the tea room, a pub meal but I read this kind of book to really see a relationship grow and felt I missed out on this.

It’s not all bad, the storyline is charming and it’s what I needed – a light read. I didn’t mind reading through the two POVs (Ellie and Joe), and loved good old Doris and her old fashioned ways. The story had potential but it’s a shame it wasn’t quite developed as well as it could have been. Although I will say, after reading it I’ve mentioned to my partner that we need to head out to go explore a few more castles in the area and stop off for some afternoon tea!

Simple Stars

Hourly obs, Surgery and Hospital beds.

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Take a look at the picture and it sums up my bank holiday weekend.

Surgery

Last Sunday I was brought to A&E, I was dizzy, passing out and vomiting. It had happened, the ectopic has ruptured despite medical management. I’d spent hours in resus before being rushed to theatre where, In the early hours of Monday morning, I went under.

Surgery found internal bleeding. Lots of it. I required blood transfusions and the 60 minute op turned into a wait of 5 hours for my boyfriend.

Since then, recovery hasn’t been easy. I’ve suffered with a severe chest infection, asthma attacks, mentions of pneumonia, and am on a variety of injections, antibiotics and iron tablets.

Healing at Home

Since Friday, I’ve had my catheter and drain removed.

Finally, yesterday evening, I made it home. I’m still on a variety of drugs but I feel so much better just in the comfort of my own sofa and bed. I truly believe you heal better at home.

Road to recovery

In the upcoming weeks I shall be blogging my progress as well as the little things I’m hoping will bring me a little bit of joy, something I could do with now. Despite my knowing that the doctors made flaws in my initial diagnosis, and these will be followed up by the ward manager, the nurses and following doctors were brilliant and I really do realise how lucky I’ve been.

Books and Baking

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If you caught my review yesterday you’d know I have just finished reading Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe. I was totally in the mood for some baking after reading this… and Wa La! Lemon Drizzle Cake was my go to.

Lemon Drizzle Recipe

Ingredients

  • 225g butter
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 225g self raising flour
  • 1 lemon (zest and 1/2 juice)
  • 1/2 lime (juice)
  • 85g icing sugar

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees (fan)
  2. Grease a loaf tin with a little butter and line with baking paper.
  3. Mix eggs, butter and sugar using electric whisk.
  4. Add flour and lemon zest and whisk until smooth.
  5. Pour into the lined baking tin
  6. Bake for 40 minutes.
  7. Leave to cool slightly.
  8. Meanwhile, stir together half the lemon and lime juice with half of the icing sugar.
  9. When the cake is still slightly warm, poke holes in the top using a skewer and drizzle over the icing.
  10. Once cake has completely cooled, mix remaining juice and icing sugar.
  11. Drizzle over the cooled cake and serve once set.
  12. Enjoy!

Read and Reviewed: Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe.

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“I have a head for business and a body for sin. Unfortunately, the sin appears to be gluttony.” 

Issy Randall

Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Blurb

Issy Randall can bake. No, more than that – Issy can create stunning, mouth-wateringly divine cakes. After a childhood spent in her beloved Grampa Joe’s bakery she has undoubtedly inherited his talent. So when she’s made redundant from her safe but dull City job, Issy decides to seize the moment and open up her own cafe.

Goodreads

Summary

It’s what some dreams are made of: turning the terrifying prospect of being made redundant into a new venture that you never thought possible.

Issy Randall is a fairly unconfident curvy 31 year old who uses her baking as a way to please and entertain those around her. She is seemingly happy with a powerful and good looking boyfriend, who is ashamed of being given the title. She finds herself in trouble when her ‘loving’ boyfriend is the one to end her employment, leaving her lonely and redundant. Something sparks inside her and she finally works up the nerve to take a shot, opening up the Cupcake Cafe.

My thoughts

I felt a good connection to Issy. She is slightly unconfident, but portrays it otherwise, and has a love for food – in particular sweet treats. However, this connection wavers at times as she is highly reliant upon her relationships with men, in particular the arsehole who fired her.

The relationship between Grampa and Issy is lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his ‘hints and tips’ as part of his unorthodox recipes. Issy is definitely likeable for the majority of the book, as are Helena and Austin, and I willed her to succeed in her new venture. It was great to see that the Cupcake Cafe is not an instant success, as seen in some other tales although I wished we had seen her continue to work in spite of her success nearing the end of the book.

At times, I found it quite difficult to follow as the point of view changed throughout the tale. I also felt that the ending was slightly rushed. Graeme receives little comeuppance and I longed to see how the relationship between Austin and Issy develop further. Perhaps that’s because I love a proper soppy ending!

As always, I enjoyed Jenny Colgan’s work! This isn’t one of my favourites but still worth the read – even just to try some of the yummy recipes.

Being on trend or dressing for me?

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“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”

Rachel Zoe

I love my clothes. Take a look in my wardrobe and there’s plenty to choose from. Except for when I’m getting dressed. Then, then I have nothing to wear. I truly believe in dressing for me, my style and who I am and although I enjoy ‘being on trend’ I only purchase what I like and what I think will suit me and my body shape. Recently, however, I’m feeling slightly lost with my clothing, and with hopes of booking a holiday later in the year I’m seeking out some advice.

Online Community

I have been part of the Styled by Susie online facebook community since the beginning of the year, following an invite from a colleague. Can I just start by saying how amazing this online group is! They are so kind and so supportive and, even though I’ve yet to post personally on there, I throughly enjoy checking out the OOTD most days. If you would like to be added to the facebook community page, pop me a message and I can send you an invite.

The Stylists

Meet Susie Hasler and Sarah Lilly. It all began with Susie! She noticed a gap in the market in 2012 and went for it. Their belief is that we dress with style and not for fashion. Things in our wardrobes should be worn more than once and we should be able to style it up wherever and however we want. After taking a peek at my colleagues analysis, as well as reviews from clientele in the online community, it’s clear to see how she aims to make any and everyone feel confident and happy in their clothes and more importantly their own bodies. As a plus size, I so need this right now. To find out more about Susie, Sarah and their hair stylist Fiona, check out the stylists’ page.

Style Analysis

There are many packages to choose from. Not only do they offer a four tier style analysis, but those close to Susie and Sarah can opt for a personal shop in Bluewater also. There’s a hair style analysis, make up guide even help choosing glasses for the shape and colouring of your face. Amongst these, Susie also offers guides and toolkits. I’ve previously purchased a basic bitches guide, which attempts to help you find your style with the most basic items found in your wardrobe and have found it useful already.

The Silver Package

I’ve opted for the Silver Package. I found this to be affordable and really what I needed. The gold and platinum offers many other services, but I enjoy shopping and hunting for things and I think that the silver package gives me the tools I need right now.

What do I get?

  • Body Shape Analysis Booklet
  • Colour Analysis (includes eyeshadow/lipstick colour/shade suggestions)
  • Example Capsule Wardrobe

How it works.

I purchased the package this morning and within minutes I had received my online style questionnaire. I need to give an overall description for my colour analysis, things such as natural hair colour, eye colour, dyed hair colour etc along with a close up image of my face – make up free (I dread this). Then I’m to give my tops and bottom size, along with a few other things and more photos. Finally, which I love, I’m to give a hint of personality. I think this is great, because we should be expressing our personality in our clothes. However, I think I may struggle slightly. I don’t really know how to sum myself up if I’m honest. Well, I’ll have to see how I get on I suppose. I’m then to wait for the ten day turnaround, which I think is a fair amount of time!

The waiting game.

So now I guess I have to wait. I’m going to send my form later on this evening, when my partner is back from work and he can help take my dreaded photos. As soon as it’s back I’ll be sure to review, with my colouring and body shape and hopefully, soon, I’ll be able to post many of the Styled by Susie purchases.

Until next time, remember

Mary Berry, I am not!

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“Good things come to those who bake.”

Well, fingers crossed. I do enjoy cooking, although it’s fair to say I am far better at savoury than sweet, and decided to try and get back in to the groove of it! Still can’t over do it at the moment so sticking to some simple recipes.

Baked some good old fashioned short bread, decorated with some yummy icing to keep my boyfriend’s sweet tooth fulfilled.

There’s something about baking that just allows you to zone out of the world. I became so focused on the measurements, method and decorating that an hour had passed easily. A slight change to the consistent clock watching in recent days.

Shortbread recipe

Ingredients
  • 125g butter
  • 55g caster sugar
  • 180g plain flour
Method
  1. Ground ingredients together using fingertips of course.
  2. Roll out on floured surface and cut into shape.
  3. Bake at 180 for ten-twelve mins.

I love a simple recipe!

The Journey Begins

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“Sometimes when you‘re in a dark place you think you‘ve been buried, but you‘ve actually been planted. Bloom.” – Christine Caine.

In recent weeks, I’ve experienced what some would call a trauma, a heartbreak, a loss. Me? I’m not sure how to define it. I lost something before I ever really had it, and in all honestly I’m not really sure how I’m meant to feel. If there’s any way I should be feeling.

This blog may be starting amongst what some would call grief, but I hope it becomes so much more than that. I want it to be a place where I really recognise the things that make me who I am whilst allowing me to enjoy the moments. Those lost moments. Moments which pass us by sometimes in such a blur we actually forgot they happened at all.

“The thing is, each one of us is the sum total of every moment that we’ve ever experienced, with all the people we’ve ever known. It is these moments that become our history, like our own personal greatest hits of memories that we play and replay in our mind, over and over again.” – The Vow.

This blog will consist of these moments. Little reflections on the little things. From buying a new outfit to finishing a book (with hopefully reviews), ordering in and dining out, from relaxing on a lounger to a triumph at works. I think it’s time to celebrate what will make me , me again.