Hot Cross Buns

Dad knocked on my bedroom door this morning to offer my hot cross buns for breakfast - I was trying to still be asleep, but quickly gave up that idea and joined him and Kate for toasted buns for breakfast. Although there are many more things I could be doing now, I decided to have a quick look into the background of hot cross buns at Easter/Good Friday. My friends currently in the US said they don't have any hot cross buns there, and not really any eggs - and some strange candy. I still have to buy Easter eggs for people - although I do partly object to the commercial aspect. Also a friend of mine won't buy chocolate unless its fair trade - and I couldn't find any fair trade Easter chocolate... I have to decide what I'll get (may depend on whats left!!)

But back to the hot cross buns... Many recipes say the cross on the top is icing, but in most shop ones I've had its just white stuf. This is clearly symbolic of Jesus being put on the cross. From a very brief amount of reading on the internet, they seem to have an English heritage. Apparently first recorded mention is in 1733, however some people claim there are pagan origins. It seems that recently in the UK, several schools banned serving hot cross buns out of political correctness. The most bizarre triviva I found was that there is a pub in East London (The Widow's Son pub in Bromley-by-Bow) where in the 19th century, the widow who lived there put out a hot cross bun out on good friday her son - a sailor expected to return that day. Sadly he didn't, however the tradition has continued and a sailor still puts out a hot cross bun every year.

I found this blog post 'hot cross buns' which is part of 'The Old Foodie' - a blog with a recipe and some historical significance for linked with every day of the year. While I didn't get around to making any hot cross buns this year (I've said before that I will one day) I have friends that make lots and do a 'bun-run' each year - very impressive I say! But watch out- Diabetes New Zealand has warned of the health risks - one bun is equivalent to 2 or 3 pieces of bread and they should be considered a treat not a meal... I guess breakfast and lunch might be a treat today!!

Not what I should be doing... as usual!

I keep thinking of all these fun things I'd like to do - play more board games, take more photos, have more cups of tea with people... read random blogs, look at strange animations, make books, read books, call people, listen to music, play guitar, teach myself Spanish or Swedish... and some of these things I can make time to do in little bits on pieces of time. But I keep avoiding things that do need tob e done - study, scholarship applications and sleep! Ah well - I did have a busy weekend, including seeing Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen on Sunday night, and Dream Masons tonight - both part of 10 Days of the Island and most enjoyable.

Time for me to make a cup of tea and settle into my pharm logbook before I fall asleep - nearly 45 minutes since i told myself I'd start and I haven't done much except delete about 250 songs from itumes (I had 4GB of duplicated music!). Its still a mess and I don't know that I like itunes but don't know if I feel strongly enough to change...

I also need to think of a costume for the TUMSS cocktail party on Saturday - halloween and horror theme. Any ideas? Last weeks dress up party on Friday went well - 'P' theme - I did Portrait and carried a frame. I will add photos but not right now. I know I've said that for a lot.. but one day there could be a lot of photos!

Just a few low res pictures from my phone!

Just a couple of average quality pictures taken with my phone (its just hanging in there but doesn't actually charge the battery when you plug it in anymore!) but I thought I'd upload them anyway. This first one, is for Jo - I think it's her teddy (unless its Hugh's) but I forgot his name. We were sitting outside after lunch and Cooper was making us all cups of tea... and Teddy was sunsafe!The next is from when I went to see Peter Bjorn and John at Republic on thursday - I didn't take my real camera, but still decided to take a pic of me and John the drummer after he (and Peter and Bjorn) signed my CD!

And here's Cush... the gorgeous and loveable cat that visits me from next door... although I haven't seen him for a little while. A very cuddly cat :)

Reposted Pictures

Sometime towards the end of last year my 'big-sister' Jo went to Texas to be with Jac. She took with her a cat-rabbit creation - but before they went I got a shot of cat-rabbit and Purry playing with Cooper's new train set. I wonder if Cat-Rabbit will be as much of an explorer as my small creation from Jac. Below is cat-rabbit looking (or not looking) out over Kingston from Jo's parents place the day before they left. And an old picture of my small travelling companion surveying the garden of a friend of my grandmother's from Cambridge - ready for an adventure! I think those 2 would be friends if they ever meet! (Even if they are both made from cloth!) (And I hope I didn't spoil anything by posting these briefly earlier... I hadn't realised cat-rabbit was a Christmas present :/ oopsies)

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