Trying to delete a post and my blog

Am I going mad - I've been trying to delete a post but can't? So I'm using the space to write a new post LOL!

OK I used to be (notice past tense) an Avon Rep/Sales Leader, but last week I had an horrific reaction to one of their new skincare products - my skin is peeling because it is VERY dry now and I also had 2 blisters under my eyes (well, they were on my cheek bones).

I do have a website I was using to promote my Avon business, of course that is obsolete now therefore I am turning it into a Home Educators website and one for promotion of my books!

I have to concentrate on teaching my youngest son his iGCSEs next year (DV)

11 Rules of Life

Bill Gates is supposed to have written these, but apparently he didn't - they come from a book written someone else! 

UPDATE: This list is the work of Charles J. Sykes, author of the 1996 book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write, Or Add. (Sykes' list was published in numerous newspapers, although it did not appear in his 1996 book. It did, however, form the meat of Sykes' 2007 book, 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School: Real-World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education.)

They are good points though...

RULE 1......Life is not fair; get used to it.

RULE 2......The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3......You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.

RULE 4......If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

RULE 5......Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

RULE 6......If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7......Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try "delousing" the closet in your own room.

RULE 8......Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9......Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summer off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10.....Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

RULE 11.....Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Found a website with the further 3:

12. Smoking does not make you look cool. It makes you look moronic. Next time you're out cruising, watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20. Ditto for "expressing yourself" with purple hair and/or pierced body parts.

13. You are not immortal. If you are under the impression that living fast, dying young and leaving a beautiful corpse is romantic, you obviously haven't seen one of your peers at room temperature lately.

14. Enjoy this while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it as to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.

Becoming an Avon Sales Leader

I have been with Avon Cosmetics on and off since 1996 and I just can't seem to be able to give it up! :)

We need so much work doing in our house and I keep having a whinge about the fact we need a new kitchen, new bathroom etc that maybe it's time I did something to earn some money! Although I'm a Christian and I know that I must trust in God in ALL things - I wonder if now is the time for me to take on more responsibility regarding earning some extra money for the family. Running your own business would surely build character and doing a job like Avon would have me coming into contact with people. I don't want to justify this because I want to do it - I want it to be a correct decision spiritually as well!

In the past, when things have gone wrong I have given up straight away - I don't 'do' failure, but life can't always be easy - there will always be times when people won't co-operate! I've been thinking about those people who have reached the top of their professions - I'm sure they didn't sail the calm seas to get where they are now! I expect things to go easily and when they don't - I just throw in the towel - now that isn't building good character! The stumbling blocks aren't the problem it's how we get over them or around them that shows us as we truly are!

I live in fear of doing things like this in case I give up! I know what my Avon ASM will say if I say I want to become a Sales Leader - Oh no not again! Or willl you give it up AGAIN? I am not a good witness nor example!

There are some things I don't like about Avon (from a Christian point of view, mainly) some are:

Selling New Age stuff - yin and yan items or elements jewellery
Pictures of naked women in the brochures (even though you don't see anything - it's still unnecessary)
All the feminism jargon/items - like empowerment necklaces - speaks of women being strong and empowered - really feminist - Bleuch!

Then again if I worked in a shop there would be things which I wouldn't agree with - like Sunday opening etc I don't think any job in the secular world would be 100% in line with Scripture anyway!

OK I'm just putting my thoughts down here!

NO LONGER SELLING AVON AS I HAD AN HORRIFIC REACTION TO ONE OF THEIR SKINCARE PRODUCTS - MY SKIN WAS BURNED THEREFORE I FEEL LIKE I CANNOT SELL IT ANYMORE!

Avon and parties

I have been doing Avon now on and off since 1996 and I was planning on giving it up, but them I thought I need some extra money for the family! So I am planning on starting up an Avon parties business. If I'm honest I'm scared of failing and not doing well, but I have a paraphrase of the words of Thomas Edison firmly fixed in my mind -
"I have now found out 10,000 ways on how not to make a light bulb!" He carried on trying and hey presto we have electric lights! Another quote I read the other day was
"Often times, success rises out of the ashes of failure!" How can I learn unless I make mistakes, unless I am willing to change things

Anyway I'm going to try it :)

29th May 2011 = I've given up selling Avon as I have had an horrific reaction to one of their skincare products - it burned my skin so badly I had 2 blister-like bumps and my skin was peeling!

FLUTE EXAM!!

I PASSED!! Whooo hoooo! Only just, but I got it :D :D

Flute Exam

Well today was FE day - not Further Education day but Flute Exam day and I flunked it! Didn't do well at all in the exam BUT I have learned that if one is to succeed, one is to put in self discipline, constant and consistent practice and maybe a timetable of what to practice!

My scales and arpeggios were a disaster - my mind closed down at that point. Then the aural wasn't good either! BE PREPARED is a fantastic motto to have in any walk of life - especially when preparing for an exam!

All is not lost :) Onward to my next lesson (in October) :)

Uses for Avon SSS Bath Oil and Dry Oil Body Spray

Disclaimer from source and for myself: Avon makes no claims to these uses. They have been gathered over the years from customers and reps and Avon or myself cannot be held reponsible for the results.

After many years working as an Avon rep I have come to learn which products are the tried and tested customer favourites. The ones that people buy time after time, recommend to their friends, and are genuine best sellers.One of my best ever sellers is the Skin So Soft range, and in particular, the dry oil body spray. The dry oil body spray comes in two fragrances- Soft and Sensual, or Soft and Fresh. It is in a 150ml pump spray bottle. To use, it is best applied after a bath or shower, while the skin is warm and just slightly damp. The non greasy oil helps to lock in moisture and is quickly absorbed into the skin. It leaves a lovely gleaming shimmer on the skin and smells gorgeous. But - over the years customers and Avon reps have discovered more uses for the dry oil body spray, and also the Skin So Soft bath oil, than just a moisturising treat for the skin.

Uses for Health and Beauty

Obviously, the dry oil body spray and the bath oil are brilliant at moisturising and giving your skin a lovely sheen

1. It can be used as a make up remover, including eye make up, but of course don't get it in your eyes.
2. It will soothe sunburn.
3. It makes a lovely massage oil as it slides easily and sensually over the skin.
4. It relieves itchy, dry skin and if you rub it into dry, cracked skin it helps to soothe and heal.
5. Mix about a capful into some liquid soap/ shower gel when you shave your legs, and the oil helps the razor to glide over the skin.
6. A small amount can be used instead of hair serum on dry hair to give added shine.
7. The oil will help to remove chewing gum from hair and skin

Uses around the home

1. Skin So Soft bath oil and dry oil body sprays are also useful around the home.
2. It removes crayon from most painted household surfaces. Very useful if you have small children!
3. Its a handy wood cleaner and conditioner
4. It removes the gum left from price stickers and labels on glass and plastic
5. It helps keep leather soft and supple, and can be used to remove scuff marks from patent leather shoes.
6. It cleans ink from hands and most painted surfaces
7. The oil is an excellent household lubricant and is handy for keeping the running rails of sliding doors smooth, for separating glasses and bowls that are stuck together, and for fitting pipe joints that are not sliding easily together
8. If you run out of fabric softener add a capful of bath oil into the wash
9. If there is a bed wetting accident, spraying the bedclothes with dry oil before washing will help bring back a clean fresh smell

Insect repellent

The Soft and Fresh Dry Oil Body Spray is well known as an insect repellent, although has never officially made this claim.

1. Add a capful of Skin So Soft bath oil when bathing rather than just applying directly to the skin, so the entire body is 'treated'.
2. As a bug repellent it can be sponged around doors and windows to help deter 'creepy crawlies'.
3. Mix one part Skin So Soft oil with two parts water and spray onto tomato plants to repel tomato worms. Repeat every few days.
4. If you have door and window screens a light spray of Skin So Soft will deter the tiny gnats and flies that are small enough to slip through.
5. The insect repelling properties and oily formula also work really well on head lice. Rub lots and lots and lots of it into the hair. Leave it for at least fifteen minutes, and then comb through the hair with a fine toothed nit comb. The oil may help to loosen the nits (the tiny white eggs), but it should be especially helpful in removing the lice as it makes the hair too slippery for the pesky things to cling too. Obviously wash the hair thoroughly afterwards, and repeat the process regularly. It might mean that you dont have to use a harsh, chemical based nit shampoo.

Even useful for pets and horses

1. Its an excellent insect repellent for pets. Mix five parts water and one part Skin So Soft and lightly spray a mist over your pet, obviously avoiding the eyes. Brush it in for a gleaming coat.
2. After giving a flea bath with tick or flea shampoo, a final rinse with two gallons of water, a little flea shampoo and a cupful of Skin So Soft oil will replace the oils lost during bathing.
3. Rub Skin So Soft on your hands before and after working with pets or animals. It will help protect your skin and eliminate strong smells
4. Skin So Soft can even be used as a hoof polish!
5. if your horse suffers with dry skin, then after washing make up a final rinse of one capful of oil to five gallons of water and sponge over the hair to achieve a silky soft finish.

But most of all its a skin treat for you...

Ultimately, Skin So Soft is a best selling range because it treats the skin so well, leaving it soft and cared for.

Skin So Soft bath oil and dry oil body spray are approved by the FDA/ CDA only as bath and body oils. Remember to use these tips with care and common sense. Avon makes no claims to these uses. They have been gathered over the years from customers and reps and Avon or myself cannot be held reponsible for the results.

source: http://hubpages.com/hub/AVON-Skin-So-Soft-Dry-Oil-Body-Spray-more-than-just-a-mouisturiser">

Sixty Uses for Baking Soda

SIXTY USES OF BAKING SODA

---

Bicarbonate of soda or baking soda has many different uses in
the household.

Although much more expensive products have been developed over
the years to do the same jobs, baking soda can work for you just
as well, if not better. Use it in the following ways:

1. To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2
parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part
cornstarch.

2. Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in
case of grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the
handful to safely put it out.

3. Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in
your car to put out a fire. It won't damage anything it touches.

4. Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood,
upholstery and rugs.

5. Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in
water, soak and rise the produce.

6. Wash garbage cans with baking soda.

7. Soak and wash diapers with baking soda.

8. Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with
soda added to the washing water.

9. Clean your fridge and freezer with dry soda sprinkled on a
damp cloth. rinse with clear water.

10. Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting in an open
container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over
the soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.

11. Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the
kitty box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty
litter on top.

12. Always add 1/2 cup soda to your washing machine load.

13. Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.

14. Wash food and drink containers with soda and water.

15. Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3
tablespoons of soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile,
then rinse.

16. Clean formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp
sponge.

17. Wash out thermos bottles and cooling containers with soda
and water to get rid of stale smells.

18. To remove stubborn stains from marble, formica or plastic
surfaces, scour with a paste of soda and water.

19. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not
aluminum) in a soda solution ( 3 tbsp. soda to 1 quart water).

20. Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda
solution. Rinse.

21. Give baby bottles a good cleaning with soda and hot water.

22. Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.

23. Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and
rinse.

24. Polish silverware with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rub,
rinse and dry.

25. For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on
handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot.
Add boiling water and 4 tbsp. baking soda. Let stand, rinse and
dry.

26. Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some
soda on the bottom.

27. Run your dishwasher through its cycle with soda in it
instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.

28. To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in
soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot
with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.

29. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on
food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of
the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the
soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.

30. Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry
baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel,
scrub in the direction of the grain.

31. Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp
cloth. Rinse and dry.

32. Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with soda and water.

33. Sprinkle a bit of dry soda in your ashtrays to prevent
smoldering and reduce odor.

34. Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge - sink,
tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.

35. Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4
tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with
hot water.

36. Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.

37. To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and
rub them hard with soda, then rinse.

38. Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your
teeth and dentures with it.

39. Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to
eliminate odor.

40. Add 1/2 cups or more of baking soda to your bath water to
soften your skin.

41. Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby's bath water
will help relieve diaper rash irritations.

42. Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy
to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.

43. Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such
as measles and chicken pox.

44. Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to
relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.

45. Gargle with 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1/2 glass of water.
Freshens and cleans your mouth.

46. Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker
sore pain.

47. To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.

48. Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.

49. Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.

50. Windburns: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.

51. Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups
water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.

52. Use soda as an underarm deodorant.

53. If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a
cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. Tho
odor will go away.

54. When scalding a chicken, add 1 tsp. of soda to the boiling
water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be
clean and white.

55. Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a
dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

56. Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more
digestible.

57. Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

58. Use to sweeten sour dishcloths.

59. Use dry with a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.

60. Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster.
Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.

Source: http://www.thelosthaven.co.uk/BSoda.htm

NB - I haven't tried any of these out and take no responsibility for any damage done if used.

Quick and easy peasy dessert

2 tbsps low fat yogurt
2 tsps low sugar jam
1 meringue nest
I also used 1/3 (third) Rosemary Conley Low Gi Nutrition Bar (I used the peach and raspberry one as I had used raspberry jam)

Mix the yogurt and jam together - break the meringue nest into the mixture then break the Gi bar into little pieces and put on top - there you have it, a simple dessert - yummy :)

Low Gi bars can be purchased from here:

Selection of the three flavours: http://www.rosemaryconley.com/shop/rosemary-conley-foods/selection-of-peach-and-raspberry--apple-and-cinnamon-and-ginger.htm

Apple and Cinnamon: http://www.rosemaryconley.com/shop/rosemary-conley-foods/low-gi-nutrition-bars-apple-and-cinnamon.htm

Ginger: http://www.rosemaryconley.com/shop/rosemary-conley-foods/low-gi-nutrition-bars-ginger.htm

Peach and Raspberry:http://www.rosemaryconley.com/shop/rosemary-conley-foods/low-gi-nutrition-bars-peach-and-raspberry.htm

Is anything British anymore?

Couldn't think where else to post this - saw this on Yahoo

Tate & Lyle was bought this week by American Sugar Refining. Donna Werbner takes a look at other iconic British brands that no longer have the right to call themselves 'British'.

If you are reading this while enjoying a Kitkat and a cup of Tetley’s tea with a teaspoon of Tate & Lyle sugar in a Wedgwood teacup that you bought from Harrods, you might think you are doing something quintessentially British.

You’d be wrong.

The fact is, Kitkat is owned by the Swiss company Nestle, Tetley’s tea is owned by India’s Tata Group, Wedgwood was sold to an American private equity firm last year, Harrods was bought by the State of Qatar for £1.5bn in May, and Tate & Lyle was sold this week to American Sugar Refining for £211m.

Here, we take a look at some of the other great British brands who can no longer call the Queen their own:

1) Boots

Established in Nottingham in 1849 by John Boot, Boots was first sold to a foreign company in 1920 when Jesse Boot flogged it to the American United Drug Company. Part of Alliance Boots since 2006, it is now owned the Italian tycoon Stefano Pessina and the American private equity firm KKR.

2) Rolls Royce cars

Charles Rolls and Henry Royce started manufacturing cars in Derby in 1906, selling cars that are worth £71,100 today for just £890. In 1973, Rolls Royce Motors was bought by Sheffield engineering firm Vickers and 1998, it was sold to German company BMW.

3) Cadbury

John Cadbury began producing and selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate in Birmingham in 1824, and in 1854 he and his brother received the Royal Warrant as manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria. Cadbury merged with drinks company Schweppes in 1960 and was bought by America firm Kraft this year for £11.5bn.

4) Bentley cars

In 1919, Walter Owen Bentley, a World War One captain in the Royal Naval Air Service, started manufacturing Bentley automobiles in Cricklewood, North West London. It was sold to Rolls Royce during the Great Depression in 1931 in a deal so secretive not even Bentley himself knew the true identity of the purchaser until the transaction was completed. Since 1998, the firm has been owned by German carmakers Volkswagen.

5) Jaguar

Motorcycle enthusiasts Sir William Lyons and William Walmsley manufactured the first Jaguar 2.5 litre saloon in 1935 in Coventry. In the early 1950s, Lyons invested heavily in motor racing in a bid to increase Jaguar’s appeal to ordinary motorists, resulting in historic victories for Jaguar at Le Mans in 1951 and 1953. In 1999, American conglomerate Ford Motors bought the company and then sold it during the recession to Indian firm Tata motors for £1.7bn in 2008.

6) Walkers crisps

Henry Walker started off as a pork butcher in Leicester – but after World War Two rationing of meat forced him to turn to another, additional form of revenue: the un-rationed potato. The company was so successful at making Walkers crisps that it kept its focus on potato chips when meat was de-rationed in 1954. Walkers was bought by Fortune 500 American firm PepsiCo in 1989 and is now worth around £436million. It still sells 10 million packets a day in the UK.

7) Smarties/Aero/Rolo/Fruit Pastilles

In York in 1863, Henry Rowntree and his brother Joseph founded Rowntree’s and began manufacturing chocolates. Rowntree's was responsible for iconic British Empire favourites like Smarties, Aero, Fruit Pastilles, Yorkie and Black Magic. In 1988, Swiss confectionary giant Nestle bought the company for $4.55bn and has dropped the Rowntree name from all packaging except Rowntree’s Cocoa and its famous Fruit Pastilles.

8) Mini

In the wake of the fuel shortage caused by the 1958 Suez crisis, the British Motor Corporation decided to design a new car to meet growing demand for small ‘German bubble’ cars. The Mini launched in 1959 and featured heavily in the iconic British film The Italian Job in 1969. It was sold along with Rover to German carmaker BMW in 1994.

9) Harry Ramsden

Harry Ramsden set up his first fish and chip shop in a wooden hut in West Yorkshire in 1928 and was so successful that, three years later, he was able to move into a ‘fish and chip palace’, complete with oak panelled walls and chandeliers. In 1999, the firm began expanding into motorway locations and in 2006 was sold to Swedish firm EQT Partners as part of a deal worth £1,822 million.

10) HP Sauce

Nottingham grocer Frederick Gibson Garton invented HP sauce in 1895. He called it HP because he’d heard a rumour that a restaurant in the Houses of Parliament was serving it to MPs - hence the label on the bottle (which shows a picture of the Houses of Parliament). Despite this continued emphasis on the British origins on the brand, HP sauce has actually been owned by the American food giant Heinz since 2005.

What worries me about this kind of thing is - if there was another war which affected the UK and imports - we'd be well and truly stuffed. As a nation we can be brought down on our knees!

Sorry this isn't a home educating article but it could affect the future of this once great nation!

Greek Yogurt Ice Cream

Need to finish off some Greek Yogurt so I substituted it with the cream I should have put in! Seems to taste OK!

Also going to make some honey and greek yogurt ice 'cream' - wonder what it will taste like... Watch this space!

Abortion

I know this is a home ed site, but this is a contentious issue - here's my slant on it:


Did the baby choose to be conceived? NO...
Did the baby choose to die? NO
Did the baby choose his/her parents? NO

Not much of a choice really is it?

Does the baby have the same DNA as his/her parents? NO
Does the baby have the same blood group as their parents? NOT NECESSARILY
Can the baby be conceived outside of a woman's body? YES
Can the baby be transplanted into another woman's body? YES

Looks like the baby is a seperate person to their mother and it's not their mother's body afterall!

John Taylor Gatto

1. Confusion 2. Class Position 3. Indifference 4. Emotional Dependency 5. Intellectual Dependency 6. Provisional Self-Esteem 7. One Can't Hide. It is the great triumph of compulsory, government monopoly mass-schooling that among even the best of my fellow teachers, and among even the best of my students' parents, only a small number can imagine a different way to do things - John Taylor Gatto

Martin Luther Quote

I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt. - Martin Luther

Monkey Bread

I thought this looked very interesting :)

Source: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/recipe-ideas-monkeybread

monkey bread

ingredients

• bread
• 2 x 7g (¼oz) packets dry yeast
• 240ml (8fl oz) lukewarm water
• 225g (8oz) butter
• 175g (6oz) caster sugar
• 840g (30oz) plain flour
• 1½ tsp salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 240ml (8 fl oz) boiling water
• topping
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 225g (8oz) brown sugar
• 225g (8oz) butter

method

1. Dissolve yeast in the lukewarm water in small bowl.
2. Mix the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add boiling water and mix well.
3. Add eggs, then add the yeast mixture. Add half of the flour and mix. Add the rest of the flour with a spoon and mix well.
4. Cover and let rise to double, then knead.
5. Make the topping by melting the butter then add the cinnamon and sugar.
6. Form dough into approximately 1 inch balls and layer to cover the bottom of the pan using ½ of the dough mixture.
7. Pour over ½ of the topping mix. Continue to layer 1 inch balls of dough until it is gone. Pour remaining topping over the mixture.
8. Place on baking sheet to catch any over flow of topping and bake at 180°C for 35-40 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and wait 5 minutes to turn out on large plate and serve.

Hot Cross Buns

Source: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/090326-hotcrossbuns

hot cross buns

MAKES 16

ingredients

• 4tsp dried yeast
• 55g caster sugar
• 250ml warm milk
• 600g plain flour
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 60g butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 125ml warm water
• 110g currants
• 40g mixed peel
• 1tbsp apricot jam
• Flour paste:
• 75g plain flour
• 1tbsp caster sugar
• 80ml water

method

1. Combine yeast, sugar and milk in a bowl, whisk until yeast is dissolved. Cover bowl, stand in warm place for 10 minutes or until mixture is frothy. Sift flour and cinnamon into a large bowl, rub in butter. Stir in yeast mixture, egg, water and fruit, cover and stand for 1 hour in a warm place or until mixture has doubled in size.
2. Turn out dough onto floured surface, knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Divide dough into 16 portions, knead into balls. Place into greased 23cm sq. cake pan, stand in warm place for about 20 minutes until dough has risen to top of tin.
3. For the paste, combine flour and sugar in a bowl, blend in the water, stir until smooth. Using a piping bag and small plain tube, pipe crosses onto buns. Bake in moderately hot oven for 10 minutes, reduce heat to moderate and bake for a further 15 minutes. Turn buns onto wire rack, brush with warm sieved jam.

History of the Simnel Cake and Hot Cross Buns

Simnel Cake

I've just read a few articles online about this cake and they all seem to agree that originally it was baked as a gift for mothers on mothering Sunday. It seems to date back to the 1600s (17th Century) and the name is thought to come through Old French from the Latin simila which referred to a fine flour.

The cake is mentioned in a verse written in the 17th Century:

I'll to thee a Simnell bring
'Gainst thou go'st a mothering,
So that, when she blesseth thee,
Half that blessing thou'lt give to me

Source: http://www.wyrdology.com/festivals/easter/simnel-cake.html

Whatever its origins - it looks totally scrummy and appears to be somewhat like Christmas cake! On the top 11 balls of marzipan are placed and these (traditionally) represent the 11 disciples which were left after Judas betrayed Christ and hung himself.

Hot Cross Buns

Buns have long been associated with holy festivals, as have crosses of various sorts. The symbolism of an equal-armed cross is often associated with the "four corners" of the world or the ancient elements.

Of particular interest is the ancient Greek bous, a bun with "horns" given as an offering to the gods. The circular bun was said to represent the moon with the cross dividing it into its quarters.

These buns were also said to never go off - since none have survived we can probably assume that was an exaggeration!

To modern Christians, the bun represents the cross and the crucifixion of Christ. The earliest known reference to such a bun in written English is from "Poor Robin's Almanac" in 1733. These became "Hot" Cross Buns in the early 19th century.

Traditionally these buns were eaten on Good Friday. Now, of course, we can buy and enjoy them all year round - which seems to rather defeat the point.

Source: http://www.wyrdology.com/festivals/easter/hot-cross-bun.html

Simnel Cake

Recipe taken from:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/recipe-ideas-simnelcake?src=email&email=100318eastercooking%20%28main%29

simnel cake

ingredients

• 110g butter
• 110g soft brown sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 150g plain flour
• pinch of salt
• ½ tsp ground mixed spice
• 350g mixed raisins, currants and sultanas
• 55g mixed peel, chopped
• ½ lemon, grated zest only
• 1-2 tbsp apricot jam
• marzipan:
• 125g caster sugar
• 125g ground almonds
• 1 egg, beaten
• ½ tsp almond essence

method

marzipan

1. Place the sugar and ground almonds in a bowl.
2. Add enough beaten egg to achieve a fairly soft consistency.
3. Add the almond essence and knead until paste is smooth and pliable.
4. Roll out a third of the paste to make a circle 18cm (7") diameter, reserve the rest for the top and to make the marzipan balls.

cake

5. Preheat oven to 140°C/275°F.
6. Grease and line an 18cm (7") round cake tin.
7. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy
8. Gradually beat in the eggs until well mixed, and then sift in the flour, salt and mixed spice.
9. Add dried fruit, lemon zest and mixed peel, and mix well.
10. Put half the mixture into the cake tin, smooth the top and cover with the circle of marzipan.
11. Add the rest of the mixture and smooth the top, leaving a slight dip in the centre to allow for rising, so you end up with a level top. Bake for 1½ hours, then remove from oven to cool.

to decorate

12. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
13. Brush top of cake with the apricot jam.
14. Divide the remaining marzipan into two. Roll out a circle to cover the top of the cake and make eleven balls with the other half. Place the circle on top, then place the balls around the edge.
15. Put in the oven for approx. 10 minutes or long enough for the marzipan to brown.

Expert Advice?

We are becoming more and more reliant on the advice of so-called experts in a variety of fields in life.

This mentality brings about a subservience towards the authorities which is unhealthy and also unhelpful. Take, for example, child rearing. There have been TV shows about super nannies who go into people's houses and teach them how to discipline their children. Do those nannies have their own children? The Children's Commissioner has never had her own offspring. Go into most maternity wards and you will probably find that the majority of Midwives have not had their own children. So what do these so-called experts know about child-birth, family life/child rearing when they have never experienced it themselves? Having your own children compared to merely being a nanny who has never had their own small people is not the same.

How can a Social Worker who has never had his/her own children pre-judge a situation without knowing the pressures that child bearing brings upon a new mother? A mum may be stressed out and tired due to lack of sleep but that doesn't make her a bad mother - she may just need help, even if it's only for an hour. A short break can be highly beneficial to a new mum!

How about the Children's Commissioner who has no children of her own - how can she make policies/recommendations/comments without ever having run a home after going through X hours of labour, countless sleepless nights, sore breasts, stitches, posseting babies, stinking nappies, terrible twos, independent threes, formidable fours, active fives etc.

How can 'experts' write countless books on child rearing when they have not had their own children? They not writing from experience, but from the ideas of others, perhaps. We would NEVER allow a man or woman to perform an operation unless they had completed countless years of training in medical school and yet there are many parents who are happy to have these so called experts telling them how to rear their children even though they have none of their own! WHY?

The government loves these experts to spout out ideas - we are a brain-washed population who have been led to believe that the expert knows best! See how words are used to control and manipulate people - EXPERTS! Well, I metaphorically stick my two fingers up at so called experts and say - experience counts for far more than all the hours of study these people have done from books (which were probably written by more childless experts!). Parents can't even feed their own children without there having to be sites on food - if the government is THAT concerned about the food children are eating, why don't they ban fast food - well that's not going to happen as I expect they are hoping to become company directors when they are voted out of parliament...

It's so convenient to get shot of your kids to the childless experts than actually get to know your children. This mentality has been dripping gradually into society for decades. We have health food experts, childcare experts, health experts. Books for this and pamphlets for that. Let's get out of this ridiculous oppressive and manipulative expert driven society and into one where people become their own experts by experiencing life as it is and not making life like a text book!

European countries which allow/disallow home education

This is from Wikipedia (which isn't always accurate, but if it is - a few European countries allow children to be home educated!!)

EUROPE:

Austria
Status: Legal
Homeschooling is legal in Austria.

Belgium
Status: Legal
The child has to be registered as home educated and they are tested at 8, 10, 12, 14.[citation needed] The tests are new and there is still a lot of confusion on the tests and the legal situation around them.

Czech Republic
Status: Legal
Homeschooling has been legal since 2005.

Denmark
Status: Legal
It follows from § 76 in the Danish constitution that homeschooling is legal.

Finland
Status: Legal
In Finland homeschooling is legal but unusual. The parents are responsible for the child getting the compulsory education and the advancements are supervised by the home municipality. The parents have the same freedom to make up their own curriculum as the municipalities have regarding the school, only national guiding principles of the curriculum have to be followed.
Choosing homeschooling means that the municipality is not obliged to offer school books, health care at school, free lunches or other privileges prescribed by the law on primary education, but the ministry of education reminds they may be offered. The parents should be informed of the consequences of the choice and the arrangements should be discussed.

France
Status: Legal
In France, homeschooling is legal and requires the child to be registered with two authorities, the 'Inspection Académique' and the local town hall (Mairie). Children between the ages of 6 and 16 who are not enrolled in recognized correspondence courses are subject to annual inspection.
The inspection is carried out to check that the child's knowledge has progressed as a comparison from the previous inspection; sometimes it involves written tests, though those are illegal, in both French and Mathematics, the first of which is used as a benchmark to check what level the child is. The tests are carried out with the anticipation that the child will progress in ability as she/he ages, thus they are designed to measure development with age, rather than as a comparison to say a school child of a similar age.[citation needed]

Germany
Further information: Homeschooling in Germany
Status: Illegal
Homeschooling is illegal in Germany (with rare exceptions). Children cannot be exempted from formal school attendance on religious grounds. The requirement for children from an age of about 6 years through the age of 18 to attend school has been upheld, on challenge from parents, by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. Penalties against parents who force their children to break the mandatory attendance laws may include fines (around €5,000), actions to revoke the parents' custody of their children, and jail time.

Greece
Status: Illegal

Hungary
Status: Legal
The Hungarian laws allow homeschoolers to teach their children as private students at home as long as they generally follow the state curriculum and have children examined twice a year.

Republic of Ireland
Status: Legal
From 2004 to 2006, 225 children had been officially registered with the Republic of Ireland's National Education Welfare Board, which estimated there may be as many as 1500–2000 more unregistered homeschoolers. The right to a home education is guaranteed by the Constitution of Ireland.

Italy
Status: Legal
In Italy, homeschooling (called Istruzione parentale in Italian) is legal but not common: children must be registered to the school where they will take their final exams, and parents must justify their decision to homeschool their children at the beginning of every year.

Netherlands
Status: Generally Illegal
In the Netherlands every child is subject to compulsory education from his fifth birthday. The exemptions are extended on the basis of a clause in the law exempting parents from sending their child to school if they object to the "direction" of the education of all schools within a reasonable distance to their home.

Norway
Status: Legal
Homeschooling is legal.

Poland
Status: Legal
Homeschooling is legal.

Portugal
Status: Legal
Homeschooling is legal.

Russia
Status: Legal
The number of homeschoolers in Russia has tripled since 1994 to approximately 1 million. Russian homeschoolers are attached to an educational institution where they have the right to access textbooks and teacher support, and where they pass periodic appraisals of their work. The State is obliged to pay the parents cash equal to the cost of educating the child at the municipal school.

Slovenia
Status: Legal
The number of people homeschooling in Slovenia has been increasing over the years.The Slovenian term for homeschooling is "izobraževanje na domu".

Slovak Republic
Status: Legal
Homeschooling is legal with obstacles in Slovak Republic. Child's tutor is required to have a degree with major in primary school education.

Spain
Status: Generally illegal
In Spain, homeschooling is illegal. However, the regional government of Catalonia announced in 2009 that parents would be allowed to homeschool their children up to 16 years.

Sweden
Status: Generally illegal
Children have to attend school. Homeschooling is allowed when attending school would be obviously unreasonable.

*
o It is not technically illegal. It is, however, very difficult to get approved by the county in which one lives. Stockholm is in general more difficult to get approval than elsewhere in the country. Sweden is currently working on a law that would restrict homeschooling even further. Currently there are about 100 families that have been allowed to homeschool by their county. http://www.rohus.nu/?English_information

United Kingdom
See also: Education Otherwise and Schoolhouse Home Education Association
Status: Legal (England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own education laws each with slight variations regarding education otherwise than at school.)
Education provided outside a formal school system is primarily known as Home Education within the United Kingdom, the term Homeschooling is occasionally used for those following a formal, structured style of education – literally schooling at home. To distinguish between those who are educated outside of school from necessity (e.g. from ill health, or a working child actor) and those who actively reject schooling as a suitable means of education the term Elective Home Education is used.
The Badman Review in 2009 stated that "approximately 20,000 home educated children and young people are known to local authorities, estimates vary as to the real number which could be in excess of 80,000."

Kooking and Kidz

If you're lost for ideas when wanting to cook healthy low fat food with/for your children - why not visit

http://www.rosemaryconley.tv

for fabulous and yummy food! Take your lap top into the kitchen and get 'kooking'

Baroness Deech's view of Home Education

http://lordsoftheblog.net/2010/02/08/schoolgirls/


A Peer's distorted view of Home Education!

1st Feb ALREADY!

Wow doesn't time fly!

I really can't get motivated to do anything at the moment! I have to go through 'long division' with my youngest! Am wondering if there are any helpful websites in this area - he also finds spelling a chore and is behind big time! Poor wee dab forgets his spelling words and I've tried all sorts of things - magnetic letters on a board is quite a good idea! The letters are different colours and I take away one or 2 letters at a time as my son spells out the word everytime a letter is removed! So eventually he is spelling it out from memory... I've tried Mnemonics which kind of worked, but weren't brilliant! He did love making up daft sentences though :)

If I find any useful website, will be posting the links on here so watch this space!!

Tiramisu

On the Italian theme - another recipe from the daily mail online!

SERVES 8

• 2 medium eggs separated
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 x 500g tub mascarpone
• 200ml double cream

• 300ml extra strong good coffee cooled
• 6 tbsp coffee liqueur
• 1 x 175g packet dry sponge
• finger biscuits
• cocoa powder for dusting
  

1. Using an electric hand whisk, beat the egg yolks with the sugar, then beat in the mascarpone and the cream until the mixture forms soft peaks. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and fold into the mascarpone mixture.
2. Mix the coffee with the coffee liqueur. One at a time, dunk half the biscuits into the coffee mixture and out, two seconds max (any longer and they will fall apart), and use to make a single layer in the base of a 2 litre rectangular dish. Drizzle over 2 tbsp coffee mixture, then smooth half of the mascarpone mixture on top.
3. Dunk and lay another layer of sponge biscuits on top of this and top with the remaining mascarpone mixture. Smooth over, dust with cocoa powder and leave to chill for a few hours in the fridge – overnight is best.

Make it special For smart individual servings, as above, assemble in coffee or tea cups, placing a single layer only of 3 broken finger biscuits at the base of each cup.
Variation Sprinkle with toasted nuts and/or grated dark chocolate instead of cocoa powder.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1243531/Recipe-Tiramisu.html#ixzz0d0Hwtbos

Correct Spaghetti Bolognese?

To achieve a great result, this sauce should be made fresh every morning and served within a few hours.

INGREDIENTS

Makes approx 2kg

• 600g coarsely ground lean beef
• 400g coarsely ground lean pork
• 200g pancetta diced or chopped
• 100g chopped onion
• 100g carrot diced
• 100g celery diced
• 1kg tomato peeled (canned)
• 300ml dry white wine
• 500ml fresh milk
• 3 bay leaves
• Black pepper and salt to taste

METHOD

Cook the pancetta in a large stainless steel saucepan over a low flame until the fat is melted. Add the onion and stir until the onion is translucent.

Add the carrot, celery and bay leaves and cook until the vegetables start to soften.

Raise the flame to very high and add the ground meats, which should have been mixed and seasoned with salt and black pepper.

Stir until the meat is well-cooked.

Add the white wine and continue to cook on a high heat until all the liquid has evaporated.

Briefly pulse the peeled tomatoes in a food processor and add to the pot.

Continue cooking over a low flame for at least two hours. If it starts to look a little dry, add some beef stock.

Add some milk little-by-little, stirring and cooking over a low heat for a further hour.

Season to taste and leave to rest before serving with tagliatelle.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1244116/They-dont-make-right-Bologna-How-Italians-make-spag-bol-forget-spaghetti.html#ixzz0d0GRVDDK

Adolf Hitler's approach to youth vs Labour

The Youth of today is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of the community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Reich stands, and is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this new Reich will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education, its own upbringing.

Adolf Hitler, 1937

Now, the same speech but with Labour Government added -

The Youth of today is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of the community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Labour Government stands, and is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this Labour Government will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education, its own upbringing.

Sounds very much like this goverment's [home] education strategy! BUT the difference between Adolf Hitler and this Labour Government is - Hitler was upfront about his motives for Germany and their youth [I am not a supporter of Hitler - thought I'd better make that clear!!].

This Labour Government is using child abuse as a cover for their wanting to control EVERYBODY! They do not care for children really - if they cared for their own children they would extend CRB checks to include nannies and people like music teachers! Because they disregard the safety and welfare of their own offspring - why do they think the general public will believe that they care for other children?

IMPORTANT PETITION PLEASE SIGN!!

Please go to this website to sign the petition (as shown below this)

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Home-ed-families/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to uphold that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child, to not undermine parents legitimately fulfilling their fundamental duties, and to assume that the best interests of their child is the basic concern of parents unless there is specific evidence to the contrary. More details

Submitted by Jill Harris – Deadline to sign up by: 23 November 2010 – Signatures: 4,167

20 positives for home educating!

1. Home is a safe, secure environment
2. No bullying here (from peers or teaching staff)
3. Not stuck with one particular curriculum if one wishes
4. Can choose own hours of working with the children
5. Go on field trips - much more hands on working
6. Tailor the studying according to individuals need, not what the government says they should be learning
7. Can be in the real world from day 1. Shop in real shops, using real money etc. Learn about roles within the family
8. Socialisation within a family situation rather than peer led socialisation
9. Know what is being taught
10. Know who is teaching your child because it's YOU!
11. Holidays can be taken during state school term time
12. Discipline is completely in your hands
13. With each change of government be a change of approach - at home things can remain constant
14. 'School' doesn't shut in times of snow
15. Free to excel in strengths and develop children's weaknesses
16. Know who your children are mixing with
17. One to one attention
18. Everyone involved with children's education
19. Opportunites to take part in music lessons etc during school time
20. No school run :)

Cawl/Irish Stew

Here's a recipe for my Irish Stew/Cawl - a nice warming dish for those winter evenings.

Serves 4 people (or more if extra veg is added)

1lb either lamb, pork or beef
4 large potatoes
2 carrots
1 parsnip
1 medium swede (or half a large one)
2 white turnips
1 leek
1 white onion

Cut the meat into bite sized cubes.
Peel and chop up the vegetables
Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan, add some salt, bring to the boil then lower to a gentle simmer and keep on the heat for at least 1 hour to make sure the meat is cooked through!

The longer it is left simmering the tastier it becomes as all the flavours mix together.

My mil used to leave her Irish Stew on from about 10am until dinner time about 5pm. It was yummy!