London Calling

This year for my birthday, we (muse and I) went to London to spend it with my brother and his girlfriend (important sidebar: girlfriend and soon to be mam).

Our weekends in London are a mixture of activities, we try and see something new to us both and because muse is fresh to these islands, something new to him.

Saturday, we headed east, to Spitalfields which is home to several markets as well as London's oldest.  There has been a market here since 1638 when Charles I gave licence to sell flesh, fowl and roots.

This area is also famous for its historic association with the silk industry established here by the Huguenots (French Protestants, made refugees after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685).

We also know that the area was in use during Roman times, due to major archaeological excavations of a cemetery in the 1990's; based on observations made in 1576.

We wandered around the indoor marketplace and poked around a couple of the shops before heading off to explore the wider area including Brick Lane and mingle with the hip and cool.

Sunday was cloudy, we took ourselves off to the British Museum, muse has never been.

Muse wanted to specifically see some iron age artefacts, but I wasn't entranced by the iron pieces made during that period ...no it was the gold that caught my eye, it was so intricate and beautiful, take a look.

This is 'The Mold gold cape'.  It is thought to be for ceremonial use only and was found by workmen quarrying for stone in an ancient burial mound in 1833.  The mound lay in a field named Bryn yr Ellyllon in Welsh, (translated to English - the Fairies' or Goblins' Hill).

The following pictures are of gold worked into jewellery during the iron age which in Europe was the period between  1200BC and 400AD.

We also took a look in the Clocks and Watches room, guess what?  I found more gold, how about this for a clock?  Actually most of it is gilded brass.  

'The Mechanical Galleon', strictly speaking it is not a clock, it is an automan designed to announce a banquet by travelling independently along a table.  As it went it along it would play a tune and drumsticks would play on a skin stretched across the base of the ships hull.  For the grand finale it would fire the main cannon which then ignited a fast burning fuse which would burn around the hull firing off the other cannons in turn.   

I love how intricate these little figures are.

On our way out we stopped at the Enlightenment Gallery formerly called the King's Library; it displays a wide range of objects relating to the Enlightenment, including the rosetta stone.   

(Taken from Wiki) The Age of Enlightenment (or simply Enlightenment) was a cultural movement of intellectuals in the 17th and 18th centuries, which began in Europe and latterly in the American colonies.  Its purpose was to reform society using reason, challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith and advance knowledge through the scientific method.  

I like a finely turned ankle.  

This one, by the way belongs to Hermes the messenger of the gods, intercessor between mortals and the divine (if you hadn't already guessed).

Pedal Power!

Since meeting and marrying my husband my world has become cyclecentric. I am not exaggerating  neither am I complaining. It was inevitable that I would end up on 2 wheels too, happily so, may I add.

Yesterday I achieved a new PB (personal best), I rode 26 miles, add that to the 16 miles I rode last sunday means I rode 42 miles this week, I am still a little stunned by this fact! 

Watch this space for updates on how I get sucked into a new world of cycling clothes made of wicking, padded cycling gloves with bows, new and unexplored cycle paths. Road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, long frames, short frames, mixte's etc etc etc. For now here is a short photo journal of yesterday's ride to 14 Locks.

 

Hermann

Success is mine mwahahahaha!  Today I created Hermann; he is the first born loaf of Mildred.  I feel like Frankenstein, his monster took time in the making too, he is the Adam (Hermann) of my labours.

Want to see him?

Mildred

As you may know, if you read my previous post about the same subject; my first attempt at making a sour dough starter failed, turned moldy and smelled so, so bad!

I think I may have mentioned that there are many ways of producing a starter, all successful for the writer concerned.  I considered trying the least fussy option of just strong white flour and water, but then I came across one which also used fast acting yeast.  So being slightly impatient and wanting quick results; in the hope that I can bake a loaf during this week that I am off work, I decided to try that one.

Here are the protagonists:

• 2 teacups of strong white flour 
• 2 teacups of lukewarm water 
• 1x 7g packet of fast acting yeast
• 8g salt

I mixed them all up in a big bowl, covered it with a clean tea towel and set it aside in a warmish place to 'work', firmly crossing my fingers.  On checking it the next morning, I nearly did a little skip of joy - the starter was as bubbly as could be (I wish I had taken a picture) .  I poured the starter into a Kilner jar, this time removing the orange seal and popped it in the fridge.  

Today, day 3, I fed the starter.  Here is how it looked before I fed her, healthy I would say!

I fed her  (yes, I have named the starter: Mildred) by adding 1 teacup of strong white flour and 1 teacup of lukewarm water and stirring it in gently.  I am waiting for her to begin to bubble, before popping her back into the fridge.  

With a wing and a prayer and hoping Zeus looks down favourably on myself and Mildred, she should be ready to use tomorrow!  

Yumminess

Probably the most delicious cupcake I have ever made. Chocolate sponge, with a crunchy peanut butter icing, topped with a whole pecan for good measure!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad