Upfest 2013

Glorious Gates

As part of this year's Southbank Bristol Arts Trail, Paper Village organised a Decorate Your Gate Competition.

Here are some of the entries.

 

 

 

 

 

This is why I love living in Bedminster.

Eurovision 2013

I love the Eurovision Song Contest.

There, I've admitted it.

It's not the greatest competition from a musical point of view but it's not the singing that attracts me - it's the spectacle.  (That, and the belief that coming together to sing and play and dance is infinitely preferable to declaring war on each other!)  And last evening's performance did not disappoint.  The Greeks extolled the virtues of free alcohol while prancing around in a black and white rugby shirts and kilts.  The Romanian, in operatic leather and diamonds warbled in falsetto as near naked dancers emerged from the cover of a red plastic sheet and writhed around at his feet.  Finally the Azerbaijani danced on a box containing a acrobat mimicing his every move and and was reunited with a woman in a short red dress with an impossibly long train.

There is a growing tradition of throwing Eurovision parties with fancy dress, sweepstakes and drinking competitions.  I wasn't anywhere as well prepared as this.  However I did rise to the preparation of a three course Swedish feast in honour of the host nation.

We ate:

smoked salmon served with mustard & dill dressing and rye bread

Jansson's frestelse served with runner beans

saffranspannkaka served with sylt lingon and cream

I now have a whole year to plan a Danish menu to accompany next year's Eurovision.

Thali Takeaway

Ever since I ate in the Thali Cafe in Montpelier many years ago I have dreamed of having a tiffin takeaway.  But it is only now that we have our very own Thali Cafe on North Street that this dream has finally been realised.

Last night we feasted on lamb meatballs, spinach and potato curry, dhal and fragrant basmati rice, collected and served in our brand new insulated tiffin carrier.

After we'd finished we washed and dried it and put it aside, waiting for its first refill.

As they say in these parts, gert lush!

Living Below the Line - Update

Day1

(photo of dinner missing as I swapped phones with my daughter)

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

It's been a week since I completed my Living Below the Line challenge.

I was at various points, hungry, tired and headachy - but never unbearably so.  I grew fed up of eating the same things over and over again and yearned for something tasty to eat.  I was acutely conscious of food all around me and my inability to snack on demand.  I realised that the value I place on food extends far beyond the need to survive.  Most of all I missed the restorative powers of a cup of tea.

Thanks to the generosity of family friends and work mates I have raised £249 for Oxfam - just £1 off my target.

It's been a week since I returned to my normal diet.  1.4 billion people are still living on £1 a day.

If you would like to sponsor me you may still do so here.

Thanks if you do.