Morning Strolls

Firstly, my apologies for there being no usual Sunday post yesterday. I did start to write it, but we had O's family visiting (all nine of them plus the dog!) and I didn't manage to get round to finishing it on time! It'll be back next week...with bells on! 

OK, back to the post in hand! This morning I decided to get out of bed early and go for a stroll to try and blow the old cobwebs away. When O's dad had been out walking Holly (the lovely black labrador) yesterday, he had discovered a coastal walk about five minutes from our house. So I decided to go out on a little adventure to see if I could hunt it down. After five minutes of walking around the houses and over a little bridge, I found it! As it happens, it's quite a famous coastal walk and it's over 100 miles long...maybe a little far for today's stroll, but hey, there's always tomorrow! I had planned to bring along my DSLR, but I'd left it in the boot of the car, which was now parked at O's work. So all of these photos were taken on my trusty iPhone 6. 

I love this photo^^! This man and his little spaniel were pretty much in front of me the whole time. The cutest little dog was diving in and out of the waves the whole way along. It was a little gloomy this morning, but the sunshine started making an appearance just as I was walking home (always the way, eh?).

How has your Monday morning been? I can now happily eat my M&S Christmas sandwich guilt free after burning all those calories scrambling up and down rocks (not those ones^^ mind you!) and rambling around in the sand. Oh and maybe a little Percy Pig thrown in for good measure?!

 

Quinoa {Four Ways}

1. Easy chickpea + vegetable curry with quinoa.

2. Cinnamon apple quinoa parfait.

3. Quinoa nori rolls.

4. Roasted brussel sprout quinoa with portobello mushrooms + pomegranates.

Having recently developed a serious obsession with quinoa, I've been searching all over for some tasty recipes! Check out these four lovelies! Oh and also a shout out to Ella's amazing site, her recipes are so droolworthy clean + the photography is beautiful.

Dear Letters

Dear MacBook...would you please stop with that whole multi-coloured wheel thing you've got going on? I want to type and I want to type now. Please be faster?

Dear Netflix...will you please get American Horror Show season four already?

Dear winter sky...don't ever stop being that whimsical shade of pink, will you?

Dear quinoa...where have you been all my life? You really did spritz up today's boring old salad. We shall be having another lunchtime date again soon, k?

Dear cacti...how often am I supposed to water you? I don't want to drown you but you're looking a little dehydrated.

Dear toffee nut syrup...I'm glad you only come out in winter, otherwise we'd have a serious addiction problem.

Dear Oscar...these snoozy morning goodbye hugs are seriously becoming my favourite kind.

Dear electric blanket...I think you're my soul mate. 

Dear festive candles...can I please burn you all year round?

Dear dear little Moka espresso pot...I'm sorry for putting you in the dishwasher :( You've lost all of your sparkle and I fear it's time to go to Moka pot heaven. 

Dear ScotRail...why are your trains so expensive? I would rather spent my £15.70 on lipstick or coffee or both.

Dear Lucy...I do love how excited you get when I come home to my Mum's, little dog, but please stop ripping my brand new tights. 

Dear robins...please don't stop frolicing around my garden. You are my favourite festive visitor. 

♥

 

Sunday Mornings #12

Good morning my lovely little campers! My apologies that this post is going out slightly later this morning. I'm not gonna lie, I slept in and it was wonderful! I'll warn you now that this week has mainly centred around food. A whole lotta food. Tasty food, but nonetheless, nothing else has really gone on. I'll live vicariously through you guys this week I think, so of course I want to know about all your little adventures! Let's get going, shall we?

:: Haven't the sunrises been stonking this week? I've been lusting after their pink glory every morning this week from my train. Wishing I could jump off on to the platform to get a semi-decent photo of their wonder. Alas, I've had to settle with little videos through the train window, which inevitably included the reflection of one very shiny man's bald head! Oh well, I'll try again this week...!

:: Getting to catch up with some of my dear friends this week. One night is was over a super thin amazing steak cooked *just* right, along with some seriously salty chips at Jamie's Italian. The other over the most amazing Indian banquet at Balbirs that I've EVER experienced! You can't beat gossiping over some poppadoms dipped in juicy mango chutney!

:: Making Christmas lists! Usually O and I just surprise each other, but this year we actually have specific things we're after. For O it's some new fancy hockey ice skates and for me it's a new DSLR. I have a perfectly functioning one, but it's really heavy to lug around and I always end it leaving it in the house or the car. At the moment I'm torn between the Canon 700D and the NIkon D5300. Do any of you lovely people have any recommendations? 

:: Oh I'd almost forgotten about the beautiful brown leather brogues I bought this week! I've worn out all my old brogues, so the time had come to treat myself to a new pair. I love them so! Super comfy and seriously easy on the eye!

:: Buying Canada guide books and maps. Had the loveliest chat with the man selling me said books in Waterstones this weekend. He was telling me about his Canadian travels and it's made me SO excited to get back there! Only seven months to go!!!

:: Eating healthier. This week has been a tough (but lovely) food week. Lots of dinners out has meant lots of naughty food. Today we're off to the supermarket (hello Sainsbury's home dept!!) to stock up on a lot of fruit and veg. I'm also thinking of trying some quinoa. So if you have any good recipes, hit me up!

:: Lipsticks. I can't remember if I've mentioned this in a previous post, but I'm all about the lipsticks at the moment and the bolder the better! I also bought a lip liner this week (a little first for me), so going to experiment with that too. 

::  I'm seriously loving Kerri's Saturday Blog Spotlight feature over at Crumbs in the Bed. Every single week she's shared a blog that I've absolutely loved (I may be slightly biased here!). I love adding new blogs to my list and Kerri's recommendations are always spot on! Go over and check it out!

What's made you happy this week, pals? Tell me all about your adventures! Remember I'm also on Twitter at @weezyduffy and I do love hearing about  your shenanigans!

 

This Boy...

Can you spot him? In true Oscar style, he's in amongst the rocks and seaweed! Let me just warn you that this post is going to be a little smooshy, so if you don't want to read about all that romantic stuff, click on another post now!

This boy of mine has been a real gem of late. Let's be honest, he's always been a gem, that one...but even more so over the last few weeks. He got me an electric blanket even though he hates going into a warm bed. He puts my pj's next to said blanket to heat them up before bedtime. He sends me flowers and giant cookies. He doesn't care that I've bought about ten candles in the last week (and just ordered more on eBay). He had my dinner on the table every night last week. He drops me off at the train station at a ridiculous hour in the morning. He bought me some Lush stuff just to cheer me up. He's ferried me between Costa and Starbucks all week to buy festive coffees. He buys the beer I like. He puts up with my stressy tantrums (there have been a lot of these during the move!) and then talks me down afterwards. He has the craziest hobbies. This week he is taking up ice skating so that he can start playing hockey again. I love this. He takes the bin out every week without question. He lets me nick his slippers and pj's, because lets be honest...they're always comfier. He's helping me with my CV.  He's started planning our Canada trip next summer and I love how excited he is about it. He gives the best cuddles. He takes me on so many adventures, he just can't sit still.

He just generally roots for me every single day and you really can't ask for anymore than that, can you? I am one heck of a lucky lady!

Ok, enough of the smooshy stuff now. I'll deny all of this if he finds out about this post...you know that, right? ♥

Whisky with Oscar

Whisky with Oscar...just think of it like "Sheldon Cooper's Fun With Flags" but I get slowly more drunk throughout this post.

So, as we were...first an introduction is in order. I'm Oscar, Lou's fiancé at large if you will, and I am a little bit of a whisky nerd. This post and subsequent series is the product of some incessant nagging about the volume of my (read "Our") whisky collection. The whole premise of this series is to talk a little bit about whisky and how much I love it! I plan to spend this post (and the rest of the series for that matter) talking a bit about which ones are my absolute favorites and why...possibly with some absolutely useless whisky factoids along the way.

This post I'll be focusing on this little beauty, the whisky that started it all for us. This is Bruichladdich - The Laddie Ten. Firstly a little story is in order, all about how me and Lou fell in love with a small, windswept, damp Hebridean isle and the golden nectar it produces.

A few years ago, when we first moved to Kent/Essex we were traipsing through a nondescript Asda with Lou hankering for some Scottish goodies for Burns' night. First thing we found were Scotch pies (hidden in the, and this is what Asda called it, 'Ethnic Food' aisle) which did nothing to inspire any confidence that this trip would produce anything worth talking about. After this we did our obligatory tour of the booze aisles to look for our major tipple at the time which was gin. The juniper based pickings were slim, but then out of the corner of my eye a glorious azure turquoise tin glinted at me. I was sold. I didn't even know what was inside it but I wanted it! NOW!

After collecting the last of the tins the store had, we scarpered back to our hotel at the time - casa Hilton. I raced upto the room with the bottle in tow and proceeded to wash out the glasses that the hotel left for us in the bathroom. Then me and Lou gathered around to open the tin. All I can say about this moment is that it opened with a most satisfying pop to release the prize within. We then argued. We argued about who got to remove the little foil cap. I lost. 

Once said little foil cap was removed, not by my own fair hand I hasten to add, we pulled out the silver painted wood and cork stopper. A little squeaking and "Thunk" later and we were in. Any seasoned spirits fan will know exactly what noise I am trying to evoke. It is absolutely heavenly and usually means I won't remember most of the night that follows. 

We then proceed to pour this gorgeous example of Scottish craftsmanship at its best. It filled the room with a wonderful mix of fudge, honey and a spritz of sea salt and lemons. I had never had something this amazing before. Pardon my french but from now on b*llocks to your Bells, this is the one for me! 

When I finally overcame the smell, the taste hit me. It is a impeccable mix of honey, salt, vanilla and fruits with a slight hint of peat just to liven things up. Unlike other, more acerbic whisky from this neck of the woods, the Laddie has a sublime creaminess to it. 

Possibly my favourite ever. Possibly.

Now for the bad news. They have stopped making this flagship for the range. They have moved onto pastures new with a totally different spread of whisky. A shame yes, but the other drams they craft are also superb. We fell in love with Islay when we went for a little holiday there last year. It is the most idilic place you could ever wish for, it even looks beautiful in the rain. On top of this it is also the home of eight of the best distilleries in the world. And we went to every damn one. Even if it would of killed me I would have bagged them all. But it didn't kill me, it just led to Lou losing most of the holiday to a drink fueled haze. I can't say that I blame her, it was her birthday after all.

We went to the distillery and had the obligatory tour around the fermenters and the stills and had a little try of the Laddie at it's home. Then it got interesting. I had booked a little tasting session in the warehouse without Lou knowing. We got led away from the group by our guide and proceeded to spend the next hour and a half sampling whisky straight from the cask. It is an amazing experience and I can recommend it wholeheartedly to any spirits fan. After this we went back to the shop and bought a lot of booze.

I think we were drunk. That is all I can blame it on. I think it was the whisky cake they gave us that pushed us over the edge. Or possibly the 6 or so cask strength whiskies and G+T they offered. I still reckon it was the cake though.

Anyhow. That is a wrap. Now go and have a whisky and comment below to tell us what you're enjoying.

- Oscar

Coasting

c

I know, I know...all my posts these days are seriously photo heavy. But just look at those WAVES! We've been making a conscious effort to get outside at the weekend, instead of sitting in front of the telly. 

Yesterday we jumped in the car, camera in hand and headed for the the coast. We literally spent the whole day following the coastal road south, until we found some food of course. Smoked salmon from a local smokehouse...just in case you were wondering. We ate it all before I had a chance to photograph it. A sure sign that the food is delicious, if you ask me!

The monument you can see is a memorial to the Russian war ship Varyag, which sank in 1920 just off the coast here in Lendalfoot. The Russian typography looks so strikingly out of place in this little Scottish town, which is why I think you can't drive by without investigating.

I managed to cut 170 photos down to about seven (I think?), which was a hefty task, let me tell you. We are so lucky to live right on the coast and I don't think I'll ever get sick of walking along the beach and taking photos (sorry, not sorry). I don't know about you, but being outside next to the sea makes my heart happy. It also wipes me out and I snoozed half the way home, much to O's delight! 

How were your weekends? Did you manage to get outside and enjoy the (brief) sunshine? Have you been inhaling festive coffees like me? Have you started your Christmas shopping? I'm not quite ready to start it yet. O is on the ball this year though and has given me the choice between three gifts this year...one is a new MacBook (mine is about five years old and is slowly dying), a new camera (hello Canon DSLR!) or a certain designer handbag!! Spolied rotten, I know...but which to choose!!? 

Sunday Mornings #11

So I just realised that I missed last week's Sunday post. Whoops! Lets just forget that happened and talk about this week, shall we?! This last week has been crazy busy and I've loved every bit of it! It makes a nice change for me to be a busy bee and to be properly exhausted by the end of the day. This also means that I'm sleeping like a tired badger, which is amazing! Anyway, enough about badgers, lets chat about the little moments that have made this week a lovely one...

:: Helping out my buddy C by doing some shifts at her opticians. I love working with C & J again, it takes me right back in time to when I used to work there about three years ago. It makes such a difference when you get to work with some of your best buddies. It ain't really work at all then, is it?

:: Festive coffees! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you'll know that I've been partaking in some of the finest coffees of the season this week. In my opinion, you can't beat a Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte, so much so that I bought the syrup to make a homemade version! They've made my morning commutes so much merrier and have perked me up after three 5am starts in a row! My teeth however, are not fans of this new indulgence!

:: The Christmas John Lewis advert. I need a Monty in my life! Is it really only November though? Is it just me or is Christmas starting so much earlier this year? Not that I'm complaining, I've gone Christmas candle crazy!

:: On Tuesday evening I had dinner with some old work friends. It was just what I needed! We spent almost four hours eating pasta, catching up and laughing til our faces hurt. 

:: Waving around some sparklers on Guy Fawkes Night. The lovely O earned some serious fiancé points by going to the supermarket and picking up some fireworks whilst I was still at work. We got all bundled up and headed out to the back garden to play with our firework swag!

:: No surprise here, but the Mr has been awesome this week. I've had a three hour commute every day and each evening he's had my dinner on the table along with some other tasty treats. He's put my PJ's in between the duvet and the electric blanket so that they will be toasty warm for me coming from a cold cold night. He lets me steal his slippers (the ones I bought for him) every night when I complain that mine aren't warm enough. He puts up with an overly warm bed (which he hates) just so that I won't go to sleep cold. He buys me coffee, candles and generally just takes care of me like a pro. I heart him ♥

:: The M&S and Sainsbury's home depts. Oh lordy. Can someone just give me an unlimited gift card to wipe these two stores out? I want to fill my house with every single little morsel. 

:: New Big Bang Theory. I can't remember if I mentioned this in a previous post, but I'm loving the new season. I hate having to wait a whole week for a new episode though!

:: Watching the sunrise from the train in the mornings. I'm never up early enough to see this and it makes my commute worth while. Oh and ScotRail now has free wifi?! 

:: Philip Kingsley One More Day dry shampoo. Now, let me just say that up until a few weeks ago, I didn't believe that dry shampoo even worked. I have seriously eaten my words this week. Philip Kingsley is a deal breaker. It makes my two day hair look like I've just finished blow-dried it. I am in love. It is a little pricey, but as someone who normally has to wash her hair every day, it is worth every single penny! 

:: Lena Dunham's new book. I know I'm a little late to the party with this, but it's been making my dull commute so so much better. I'm only a few chapters in, but I've already been laughing out loud about ten times. Which, when you're on a train, is slightly embarrassing...

:: New lipsticks. I've become a fan of the bolder variety. There's just something about sporting a plum lip on a cold morning that makes life that little bit better. 

Oh this has been a long one this week, hasn't it? I told you it was a good 'un! What's made it on to your happy list this week, dear ones?

Adjusting...

You'd think I'd have this whole adjusting thing down by now, wouldn't you? Having moved four times in the last two years and all. Some things I've mastered, but there are still certain parts of moving and re-adjusting to new surroundings that I find difficult/hellish.

:: Calling a million different companies to give them our new address/close accounts etc. The hold music never gets any better.

:: Unpacking. We've hidden a few boxes in the attic, but we still have a spare room full of stuff to unpack/organise. Hell. 

:: Finding a new spot for everything. 

:: Why do I have four different bins to deal with? How am I supposed to remember which day which bin gets emptied?!

:: Setting up a new office space. I've found it difficult to blog in the midst of all the chaos. Hence my radio silence for the last few weeks. Finally sorted it out yesterday, so hopefully I'm getting my blogging mojo back.

:: Fitting in again. Being home is great, but it's hard finding where you slot in.

:: We've never lived in this town before. So we are trying to find the best takeaways (we already had a bad curry experience...), shops and public transport....

:: Looking for a new job. I haven't had to job hunt for a few years and I'm finding it hard this time around. Mainly because I want to move my career in a new direction...but I'm yet to decide what. Oh and CV's. How I hate CV's. HELP!

:: Learning not to be SO stressed about EVERYTHING. Our default mood has been stressed for the last few months what with the move and all. Trying to get out of that mindset is tough. Realising that we can dump that dead weight, go out and have some fun is blissful. 

Have any of you lovelies moved recently? How did you cope with all the change? Any Ayrshire bloggers out there? Hit me up with your local recommendations! 

 

Loch Fyne // Scottish Advenutres

On Sunday, the lovely O took me out on an adventure. With all the moving tomfoolery, it's been a while since we just went out and had some good old fashioned fun. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, just that we were going somewhere for a meal and that we had been before! Of course, this was no help. All we do is go out for meals, so it wasn't until we drove through Loch Lomond that I had an inkling of where we were off to. 

O and I have been to the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Restaurant three times now and each time I am still in awe of the scenery and of course the amazing seafood. The first time was last summer, en route to Islay for a holiday of camping and whisky distilleries. The brunch is by far the best I've ever eaten. The lunch and dinner menus are out of this world. The fish is the freshest (is this a word?) I've eaten and what with the restaurant being literally sat on the banks of Loch Fyne, the view is one of the most beautiful things I've ever set my eyes on. 

I think the photos (taken on my iPhone, so not very fancy) speak for themselves, albeit slightly moody. We danced in and out of rain showers the whole day and by the time we arrived at the restaurant the sun was just leaving for the day. Can we just take a moment to appreciate those HILLS?!? This is the Scotland I love and I am so so happy to be home. If you're ever over on the west coast, a trip to Loch Fyne is a must. Get the smoked salmon starter and a bottle of West's St Mungo...you won't regret it!