I Miss My Cat.

My little cat, Whitby, died yesterday. This has made me so sad that I think I may feel better just sharing with someone, anyone, why she was so great.
We got Whitby over ten years ago from a friend when she was just 6 weeks old. I chose her from the litter because she crawled into the crook of my neck and immediately fell asleep, so therefore impossible to give back! Her mother was a cat called 'Cat' who had an hilarious Hitler moustache.
Whitby was a bugger of a kitten, climbing the Christmas tree and pulling it over wasn't her finest moment. Even worse was the time she attacked the mister and ended up hanging by her claws from his Adam's apple. He wasn't impressed. Whitby never really liked men much for reasons we couldn't fathom, and she hated other cats even more. In fact I'm utterly convinced that she never imagined for a minute that she WAS a cat. I'm convinced she thought herself human. A gay human. She loved me so much. She would come hither to the slightest sound I made and liked nothing better than cuddling up with me of an evening and being scratched under her collar and having her cheeks stroked. Back when she was a kitten I worked shifts and every other week we used to cosy up on the sofa together in the afternoon and watch Magnum PI. She was a big fan. Perhaps the tash reminded her of her mum...
Whitby had awesome comedy timing. Not too long ago we spent spent hours searching for her without success. I was devastated as I knew she wouldn't leave me without there being a sinister reason for it. We were in the spare room getting ready for bed when I turned to the mister and said "do you think that's it? Do you think we've lost her for good?" He replied, "Yeah, I'm sorry, but I reckon so" There was a beat, we both sighed, and then *scratch scratch scratch* "What was THAT?!" * more scratching* "Bloody hell, she's in that drawer!". Turns out she'd somehow managed to get herself into the mister's desk drawer and must have been sleeping in there for the best part of a day! Daft mare. The timing of the appearance though made me chuckle for days. She was all 'what's wrong with you idiots? Can't a girl catch some zeds in the privacy of desk drawer now? Sheesh...'
I'll really really miss her. More than I even imaged I would. It's been such a long relationship. We've never lived in this house without her. In fact my toddler refers to the spare room as Whitby's bedroom, and it was really. Whitby utterly loathed the vets and it was a horrible ordeal for her ever having to visit. In fact she was once kept in there for observation purposes and a few hours after we'd left her the vet called back demanding that we collect her and observe her at home as she'd turned into a demon, upsetting the other animals and so vicious the staff couldn't get near her. My little Whitby cat! I would never have believed she had it in her! We had to stop using a cattery when we went on holiday in the past few years too as she would go on hunger strike every time. Luckily we had neighbours who would simply visit the house to care for her. I'm glad it was "her bedroom" where she took her final breath, safe warm and surrounded by her domain. Just like a little old lady who steadfastly refuses to die in hospital. She had it her way.

Whitby cat, you were a dude. I'm so sad that you're gone and I promise I won't ever forget you.

Just saying...

My Veil & Bouquet

Just wanted to share *blushes*

Beauty Bumf.

You've seen this post a million times, maybe more. I'm sorry to put you through this again but I genuinely feel that as a 32 year old ex-beauty-junkie I may have actually found some brilliant products that I'd like to share with you. I can't let the ridiculous amount of cash that I've frittered away on overpriced bits of gunk to smear on my face be for my gain only. What can I say other than I'm a GIVER. Aren't you a lucky reader...

Another reason I want to do this is because now I'm poor and can no longer afford to experiment I still have complete loyalty to a few products despite the cost. This means those babies are GOOOOOD.
So here goes, starting with the basics...

FOUNDATION - Clarins Truly Matte Foundation in Shell
First let me say that I have combination skin, a dry forehead and cheeks with a oily nose and chin. This foundation makes the lot completely even and doesn't make the dry bits look or feel dryer. It's a perfect match colour-wise and is light reflecting which I like to think makes me look younger (shut up!). It's also SPF 15 so you can feel safe from the nasty scorchy sun, poor bugger.

CONCEALER - Nars in Vanilla
This has a brilliant consistency and can cover ANYTHING. I apply it with a little brush at home and straight from the tube on the move, both work perfectly. It's a dream.

UNDER EYE CONCEALER - Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
There's no point me saying anything, it's all been said before. There's a really good reason it's a classic. Buy it.

Trust me, with these 3 products your face will look brilliant and ready for the fancy stuff.

To be continued...

Curry. Mmmmmmmmm

So I'm getting married in a few weeks. Yeah... IN A FEW WEEKS *gulp* So obviously I'm on a diet. Pah. I hate dieting, hate exercise even more and bottom of my hate pile is low fat food. If you're going to spend time cooking then the end result just has to be delicious or there's no point. I'd rather eat a tiny portion of something calorie laden and kill myself running afterwards than a massive bowl full of bland muck. However sometimes it's possible to make something that tastes great and actually ain't bad for you either. It's a rare beast but I've devised a recipe for a pretty healthy curry which is gorgeous. And actually tastes like curry! Always a bonus I find :D
So here it is. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Believe it or not this curry's quite healthy!
Serves 2

1 tbsp olive oil
1 chopped onion
1 chopped garlic clove
3 potatoes chopped small
2 chicken breasts chopped into chunks
2 tsp curry powder
1tbsp tomato puree
1/2 pint of water
6 chopped spring onions
1 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp ground almonds

Heat the oil in the pan and cook the onion on a medium heat until starting to brown then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Turn down the heat a little and add the chopped potato. Fry for a couple of minutes and stir as often as you can. Add the chicken and fry until cooked through. Add to the pan the curry powder then tomato puree and cook for a minute. Pour in the water and bring up to the boil. After a minute or so turn the pan down and add the spring onions, garam masala and ground almonds then season to taste with salt & pepper. Leave to simmer for 30 minutes adding more water if you think it may need it then serve with whatever you fancy! Rice & naan bread are my faves.
It feels wrong having no cream or coconut milk in there but the starch from the spuds thickens the water up nicely so it actually has a really nice texture and the flavours are lush!

Another recipe...

Hello there reader. If you do indeed exist I'd like to apologise again for being just about the laziest blogger in blogsville and hope you can find it in you heart to forgive me? If not though I'm sure I'll get over it *blows massive raspberry* Anyway as a peace offering I've given you the gift of a snap of my boy. Scrummy!!

I'm here with another chicken recipe because (I'm lazy and...) everybody loves a bit of chicken. No?


Honey Chicken Mountain
Serves 2

2 chicken breasts
2tbsp honey
Tbsp lemon juice
1 clove of garlic
Tbsp olive oil
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
4 Maris piper spuds
Tbsp butter
Splash of milk
Handful of strong cheddar cheese
Salt & Pepper

Slice each chicken breast into three and pop in a bowl. Cover with the lemon juice, honey and crushed garlic, stir and put the bowl into the fridge to marinade for 20 minutes.
Peel and slice the potatoes into chunks, add to a saucepan, cover with cold water and a pinch of salt and bring to the boil.
Meanwhile add the oil to a frying pan and place on a medium heat. Slice the peppers then add the green to the pan followed by the red. Once the green pepper starts to brown add the chicken and once the chicken starts to brown add the remainder of the marinade.
When the potatoes have boiled drain the water and put them in a bowl along with the milk, butter & seasoning and mash. Add the cheese and mash a bit more.
Place a mountain of mash onto each (heated) plate, place the chicken on top then drizzle the peppers and sauce over everything. Then eat! It's absolutely luscious believe you me :)

I think I'm going to start snapping my dishes when I make them because it's always a good thing to have a picture to copy!