GYIL

John and I are currently in Uganda as part of GYIL, the rather strange but affectionate name we have given to our Gap Year In Learning! We have been given a sabbatical by school and on 4th September we set off for Uganda for our round the world tour. We are so fortunate to be doing it and we are definitely loving being here. We are keeping a separate blog for the year - www.newlandswiththekirklands.wordpress.com

One of the things I blogged about was the lack of sweet treats here - or at least the ready to eat chocolate bars that I'm used to buying at the station- or more accurately luckily being given at the end of the school year by pupils! So I did a shout out for easy recipes that fit the ingredients we have here and I have really enjoyed having the time to try them out, and to share them with our new friends. Now I no this interest isn't likely to maintain itself much beyond Uganda but I love the thought of being able to make some of these again back in the UK so I'm going to try and blog about them but I thought it would be better to do so on here rather than main blog - which shockingly people actually read!! I was going to put all the recipes in this post which photos but actually I think I'll do separate posts. So look out 😉 

Here is my plea that I blogged:

On a different note, I was wondering if I could ask a favour from the many friends I know who are wonderful bakers! I have realised that if you want something for a sweet treat here that isn't fruit, then you have to make it! And I have made banana muffins three times and 2 loaves of banana cake and really thinking it was time for a change! So I wonder if anyone fancied and had the time to send me a recipe to try? There are through a few restrictions so please don't get any ideas from the bake off!!

• It has to be an easy recipe as I'm not an experienced or proficient baker!
• The relatively readily available ingredients are white and brown flower (plain and self-raising), caster sugar, icing sugar, oats, bicarbonate of soda, margarine (or more accurately Blue Band, apparently you had it in the UK too before fridges were common?), sometime eggs, vanilla essence, bananas, pineapple, oranges, lemon, cornflakes (?!).
• We have a gas oven, hob and grill but there are no markings on the gas knob so it can't be a recipe that's too particular on the temperature!
• We have scales and measuring jug but no measuring cups or tablespoons! I've just been guessing so far!
• We have a microwave and hand whisk but no electric mixing things.
• There is a muffin baking tray and cases. There is a loaf tin and small and medium cake tins.
• We have foil, baking paper and cling film.
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• Thank you so much if this makes you think of a recipe and you are able to send it! I promise to try and share a photo of you when I attempt it!

Royal Wedding

Really wish to record about one of the most exciting historical events of my younger life!  Though not quite sure how best to label it!

I was excited ever since William and Kate announced their engagement back in November, though many others only seemed to get into the mood in the days leading up to the event.  Sometime a few months ago, when we were at home and up in the roof, we found a box of magazines mum had saved from Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981.  They were really interesting to look at and they really came in to their own in the last couple of weeks, including a literacy lesson at school!  Wasn't sure what to actually do on the day, Friday 29th April, whether to try and go to London or to join in mum's day of a rolling buffet, family style!  Really pleased John and I chose the latter.

We had had 3 days back at school after the Easter holidays and then on the Thursday night, it felt like a very exciting holiday adventure as we set off on the drive home.  Then it was all systems go on the Friday morning as we had to make it round to the Grandparents by 8am for the start of the coverage.  Mum had been up from some scarily early hour cooking sausages. We stopped to buy a tabloid and a broadsheet on the way there;  I leapt out of the car forgetting I had my Union Jack head bandanna on, but the people in the newsagents seemed to find it funny!

We were greeted by, what else, a feather duster in Union Jack colours poking out of the letter box.  The giggles and excitement were certainly underway! We were all dressed in our best red white and blue - it was so lovely to be with people who were equally excited and wanting to share in the day!

There was food to be unloaded and decorations to add to then we could settle down for the start of Hugh Edwards coverage on BBC1.  And can you believe it, we didn't really leave from our seats for 8 hours!!  The big decisions were just what time to pop into the Dining area, momentarily out of site of the TV but within hearing distance, to fill our plates with the splendid food Mum had created; whether to have the union jack iced Judith during the ceremony; at which point to pop the champagne.

 

Happy day indeed.

Kofi Annan

Well, this is the first non photo of the year post in quite a while.  I wonder how much action the blog will see now, without Photo of the day to keep me going!

Last Sunday, I was very privileged to attend a lecture by Kofi Annan, former general secretary of the UN.  It was part of the Celebrations for Exeter College's 700th anniversary.  My friend who was at Exeter had managed to get tickets for her and offered to take me as her guest.  In the end she wasn't able to attend, so John managed to pass off as her instead!  It was in the Sheldonian Theatre and I liked our seats in the circle looking directly at the side of Kofi.

The lecture was entitled something like 'The future of Africa - Challenges and Opportunities'.  I did enjoy it, I do have an interest in Africa. I was quite fascinated by the fact that John Kufour was in the front row of the audience - former president of Ghana (where Kofi is from) and graduate of Exeter College.  As Kofi mentioned Ghana a lot, I did find myself wondering what John would be thinking and whether Kofi would be different without him there.  Do need to wikipedia John now!  Seems fairly positive.

There was also a question and answer session at the end with some interesting ones and hard hitting ones - though maybe not so hard hitting answers.  I developed quite a dislike for the guy compering it (do you call it a compere in this situation?!) who was either the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of the university - he seemed to have such an 'Oxford Voice' to me.  I definitely feel I am developing more of a dislike of Oxford the further I get from being there!

Kofi and his talk gave John and I quite a desire to go to Ghana and do our bit.  I wonder if we shall?!