Monday, February 13, 2012

Valorise Valentines

This Valentine's Day I decided to use my scrap box to decorate. So I did what I could with some package tags, coffee filters, tissue paper and string...

I'm not sure you could call it a proper Hackleman Valentine's

Day without a sentimental viewing of

Leo McCarey's masterpiece:

An Affair to Remember

Thursday, February 9, 2012

My Smeg Retro Icon is Paul Newman

My Smeg Icon is...

Paul Newman

He was a man who could make taking a cold one out of the fridge look like pure sex. He made the idea of eating 50 eggs seem hardcore. He may have played a scoundrel on screen but loved his wife for 50 years. He lost his son to addiction and then decided to make a multi-million dollar charity to save others from that experience by turning salad dressing into pure gold. He came in second at Le Mans. He was a man who could do almost anything.

"Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home?"Paul Newman

“A man with no enemies is a man with no character.”Paul Newman

This post is part of a blog lottery hosted by:

Vixen Vintage

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Making Macaroons

Two weeks ago I made the journey to London in order to enjoy a cooking class at Patisserie Flowerie. Our friend Simon brought us all together to learn how to make a French delicacy:

The Macaroon.

My dear friend Min and I partnered up to whip egg whites and sift almond flour. We made three batches and each one was of a different colour and had something correct about them. Their true characteristics combined would have made one perfect macaroon. At the end of the afternoon we decided the confection really did live up to its reputation for being temperamental. But at least we had a most splendid time experimenting!

Simon, our fearless leader.
Min adding some colour, "Poppy" I believe.
fini

Monday, January 30, 2012

Grand Granary

Daniel and I received a very special gift from his grandma (Nanny Win) this Christmas: An annual membership to the National Trust. On a very cold winter's day we decided to use our gift to visit the:

Winchester

City Mill


Us with our new sack of flour, milled before our very eyes!

Daniel exploring the milling technique.

A working model of the mill.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Wailin' Wassailing

One of the best things about moving to Bournemouth has been joining the Christchurch & Highcliffe Community Band. I knocked another thing off my bucket list this year by playing carols at ASDA (Walmart) four nights over the past two weeks.
I like to follow the advice of Buddy the elf this time of year when he said, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear." I just replaced singing with playing.
Daniel kindly chauffeured me and took some pictures:


Feelin' pretty proud of my new uniform.


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Creating Christmas


Merriest of Christmases from the Hackleman Thompsons!

Most of this season has been spent doing churchy things for Daniel and I. Some of it has also been filled going door-to-door looking for work for me. I've also been doing some decorating and playing cornet in the Christchurch and Highcliffe community brass band http://www.christchurchandhighcliffeband.org.uk . We even have uniforms! Pictures to come.


Bulbs in tins waiting to bloom, courtesy of Min.


View from our window.


Our beach in early December.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Residency Relief

After waiting two and a half months to hear from Her Majesty as to whether or not I would be allowed to remain in the UK here it is, my new visa. Permission to work: Granted