Snow is falling.

Just in case you hadn't realised, in Britain, it's snowing. And in Britain, especially England, we are notoriously bad at coping with snow. It never happens at the same time of year and we are never prepared for it.

I happen to be working on a feature film production in London at the moment and we're on night shoots. Night shoots and snow are not the best of mixes. We've tried to power through for two nights now but each time we've had to bite the bullet and admit that we just can't film. The narrative is supposed to take place over one night and we've now gone from it being chilly, but perfectly dry to it looking like we're in a snow globe. Not so hot for continuity.

So production has been called off until Monday. Awesome. Snow weekend!

Only problem is I'm stranded in the stylish end of London with nothing but outdoor shooting clothing. A brief trip to pick up a bagel made me realise that although I look acceptably stylish on set, I look like I'm going for the summit walking down Brick Lane.

I have my Pirate Boots with me. These will be utillised tomorrow while I go and take photos of people managing to look awesome and warm at the same time.

any excuse for a costume.

I realise I'm a bit late with this post, but I buy a poppy every year without fail. Years of rememberence services with the Girl Guides will instill it into you. But this year, despite already having bought poppy, I couldn't not buy one from these amazing people. They even had a little stereo behind them playing swing music.

I love the fact they've taken an unpaid day, standing up outside in November and turned it into a spectacle. Bravo!

slow cooker goodness.

I love food. I love making it, looking at it, talking about it, smelling it, anticipating it and EATING it.

I've been in bed, ill, and haven't eaten a proper meal for four days (instead I have been consuming soup and honey on bread very cautiously) so on my first full day of recovery I figured cooking a meal for the family would be the best method of celebration.

In this case, chicken, chorizo and butternut squash stew.

I made it in a slow cooker because I was lazy today but it's just as tasty in a big ol' pan.

The exact level of retro-ness of the slow cooker is VERY important.

Basically, it's chicken, chorizo, butternut squash, onions, tomatoes and whatever else stewed up. It's better when you remember to add the kidney beans though. And even better with chick peas and loads of garlic.

Yum.

autumnal

I adore the city. I adore being surrounded by different people, different cultures, different experiences every day.

But there's really nothing like the countryside in autumn.



be happy.

This man once asked me, when I was about ten, what I though was most important in a job. Was it to make money or to be happy?

I said to be happy.

He said that's right. Always do what makes you happy.

It's a year today since Gramps passed away and that's what I want this blog to be.

A computer age scrap-book of things that make me happy.