Last year I started dating a European, unfamiliar with the idea of British meals. Wanting to add some 'exoitism' to his life I began cooking up sausages and mash, leeks and baked beans. Finally I prepared a pudding I've always loved but never for some reason made (even though I know it's quite easy). Apple crumble. So simple, just cut up some apples, add cinnamon, sugar, lemon juice and cover in buttered oats. Perfect.
To Porto!
I don't know if this actually counts seeing as how we didn't stop in another city. Perhaps I'll count this as a half count, but it was the first time I drove hours to another city with a friend, with the purpose of staying in and exploring the city. We ate great food, took nice photos and stayed in what was quite a surprisingly nice Airbnb given the cost (it even had a garden). It wasn't my first time in Porto, but going with a friend and not my parents I was able to be led to amazing hipster brunch spots and areas I'd never explored before. I feel like this time round I really gained an understanding of why it's such a hipster hot spot and I like it.
I found the dress at a local vintage market that comes once a month. Now that I've put on so much weight it's much harder to find things that not only fit but suit me. However, this shift dress somehow sits perfectly in my opinion, slipping gently over my protruding stomach and highlighting my best feature; my legs whilst simultaneously keeping the modesty that is often lost with a somewhat bustier chest.
And as it's second hand I feel even better knowing I got it for only a few euros. I think it was €15 but I liked it so much it may even have been €30.
Sometime last year I decided to participate in the local market here. After my first market I realised people were on the lookout for original and handmade work at a good price. I'd always wanted to get into painting so I created 3 pieces from gouache based on still lifes. The paintings were actually quite successful, as I sold reprints of them. The only problem is that I've stoppped painting. I suppose I'm not sure what to paint now.
This was actually a Christmas present from the year before last. After some research I found an adaptable, good enough starter Polaroid for myself. I still haven't mastered it but I'm trying when I can. The success though has been in selecting a colour that is so stylish that at times I wear the case as a bag. The lilac tone makes me happy simply on it's own. The model is an instax mini 11. So far I've managed to take one good photo of myself and a few good ones of my friends. Disappointingly my landscapes and cityscapes have been pretty poor. I've been a bit torn away by the arrival of my Mum's old film camera but this post is a good reminder to try and take some decent Polaroids again.
I made my Mum, my sister and my brother a digital and printed version of our family recipes. The aim was to preserve and learn the knowledge that is Mozambican cooking. So far I've been able to make the peanut chicken, the tomato mussels and the matapa (although this needs to be added). And there is so much to add!
I feel this will be an ongoing project and I like that.
