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Did I just manage to get Semagic to work with thisspaceblank?
ETA: YESSSSSS
Do you remember back in the day, when we told each other everything and social media didn’t exist? When our journals were public and no one knew where to look for them? Where entries were frequent, and long, and we read them?
Do you remember how we used to write, before the limitations of status updates and 140 characters? Do you remember when we were younger and sharing wasn’t so scary? When the Internet wasn’t somewhere your boss would look for you? And the Internet was a different place entirely, separate from the Real World? Do you remember how free it felt? Do you remember finding each other, complete strangers, and creating bonds that by now have lasted 5, 10, 12 years?
Do you remember when it was all new and exciting? It’s not that Internet any longer. It’s information overload and comments – comments everywhere that make me lose faith in humanity’s ability to not only comprehend the written word, but more importantly the lack of empathy leaves me cold and worried. The Internet – which I loved for the joy and adventure we shared, more than ever it’s gut reaction and taking great pleasure in condemning complete strangers who may have made a mistake. The Internet takes the worst of humanity and combines it with news articles, as if allowing the Great Public to lower the tone is furthering the conversation.
Maybe it was always like this. Maybe I’m becoming bitter and old. Maybe I’ve changed more than the Internet. But it’s not my Internet any longer, it’s not my playground like it used to be. And it feels like I’ve lost something.
This was a widget, but both wordpress and LJ stripped the code out, so that was pretty useless.
I had to try it. I got the recipe from the teacher on Tuesday and today I was going to make 24 cupcakes.
First thing to go wrong: the cupcake cases were too small, so I had enough cake batter for waaay more cupcakes than I had planned for.
The proper 24 in the oven
The rest waiting
I have supplies!
First batch: pretty good, albeit a bit too far outside the cupcake case in some instances
Second batch: this is going pretty… wait what the hell
Aww maaaaan
I also didn’t manage to get a hold of proper piping bag in plastic so I used normal plastic bags… which I will never do again. I don’t think I got the buttercream quite right, it seemed a bit too moist. And by the time I was done I was so fed up I couldn’t be bothered with the marzipan shapes, I was just too knackered.
So, not perfect.
But edible, I guess
I’m hoping the buttercream improves a little from being in the fridge overnight, at least it should set.
So not dream-like perfectness, but I’m still learning.
This evening I went to my first workshop at The Make Lounge, the theme of the evening was cupcake decorating. I wasn’t expecting to turn out anything magical, I’m not gonna lie, but I am chuffed to pieces with what I came home with.
Gorgeous or what?? The roses, stars and hearts are all marzipan and made by self. Mr Pharmacist was suitably proud of me.
Other things I’ve made recently: Spinach and Goat’s Cheese pizza
Chicken with steamed vegetables, tagliatelle and a blue cheese sauce.
Brie in Puff Pastry with Cranberry Sauce – which I forgot to take pictures of once done. Was feeling a bit lazy so was going to buy puff pastry, but it was sold out. Tried filo pastry instead, and that worked out well.
I’m digging how these homely things like baking, cooking and sowing are becoming more natural to me, rather than being shrouded in mystery that seemed impossible to get past. And it is a lot more satisfying to eat a delicious pizza that you cooked yourself, rather than one bought.
I haven’t been posting for a while, because I went away for two weeks on holiday. In fact, the two most recent posts were both written and posted in Southern California, where I was doing my best to relax and have a nice time despite the whole mormor thing. Mormor is back in the state where she was before she got sick (this time) and well, life goes on. Will I see her again? I have no idea. It could be tomorrow, or it could be months from now. We have no way of knowing.
Coming back I was jet lagged and busy, but I’m hoping to get back into the groove of writing again. I should do a post on my lovely trip to So-Cal, the Jimmy Kimmel experience, seeing Amanda and Beth, going out to Palm Springs, the disastrous useless pool situation, the even more disastrous stuck in traffic situation, the highs and lows of Coachella, all of it. But now I am le tired and shall go to bed.
I’ll leave you with one thing though, my favourite joke about the ash cloud situation.
It was the last wish of the Icelandic economy that its ashes be spread over Europe.
I can’t remember where I read it now, but I found it genuinely hilarious.
Mormor is fully recovered, she’s talking and laughing, and is apparently in better shape than in years. One of my mother’s friends told my mother that her mother kept swinging back and forth between well and unwell for six months before she passed away.
So who knows. I feel a bit awkward towards work now, and the next time this happens I don’t know how I’m gonna respond.
I had to leave Norway on Friday, but I’m getting frequent updates from my mother.
Today, mormor talked more than she’s done in months. She remembered all of us. She remembered who I am and when mum asked me if there was anything she’d like to say to me, and mormor said that she would really like to see me again. Cue crying my eyes out, too far away.
It seems to to swing from day to day at the moment. Today she was really well, much better than in a long time. But only two days ago everyone thought it was a matter of hours. I can’t even begin to understand how my mother gets through the days at the moment. I wish I could have stayed longer. I would’ve gladly sat there for days more, singing to mormor, holding her hand.
I would very much like to see you again too, mormor. This is breaking my heart.
I am very lucky to have a flexible work place that let me get up and go to Norway. I got the 8pm flight out and I’ve already seen mormor. She’s very thin, her breathing is strained and she has a breathing help sort of tube up her nose. She hasn’t eaten for days. It is just like with grandpa. And it took him weeks to pass on.
She has no idea who I am, but she understands that I’m someone who loves her, I think. She took my hand and held it tightly.
I’m really glad I’m here. This was absolutely the right decision. Even if it did cost almost £500.
