Sweet London

Quite pleased with how this picture of the Coliseum taken late night a few weeks ago came out. I was headed towards the fourth plinth at the time to see a woman parading about on a toy horse (I didn't know this before I got there...and if I had may have resisted my detour)

Must remember to take more pictures of the classic London buildings which I resist doing as so many beautiful images are in existence. But they are not mine, and I admit it is quite nice to have an image all of my own.

Simple weeknight dinner: Bulgur, feta and chicken bake

Lately I have been fairly unimaginative when it comes to preparing my post work meal. On the nights that I am not out and about I like to use my evenings at home as a chance to recharge, get on top of cleaning chores and reading (woe is me!) and to have an early night and a very early meal.

I have always tried to avoid eating late so a meal that takes less than 45 minutes is always a winner. Living sans boyfriend means when I am eating alone I like something with minimal use of pots and pans to reduce cleaning times (I immensely dislike washing up, although Nigel Slater does a wonderful job of persuading me otherwise on the last page of Appetite).

This very simple dish has been my go to for the last month or so, being light enough that it doesn't feel too much on a rare sunny evening but still giving you the satisfaction of a proper evening meal.

Bulgur, feta and chicken bake

Serves 1

1 chicken breast

1 serving bulgur wheat (I use a 3/4 mug of dried bulgur)

Handful of feta (to taste)

Spring onion

2 lemons

Optional additions: grilled cherry tomatoes or roasted butternut squash.

Place chicken in dish and cover in 2 tsp of olive oil, juice of lemon and seasoning.

Cover dish with tin foil and place in oven at gas mark 7 for 45 minutes (turn over at 25 minutes).

While chicken is cooking cook bulgur wheat and then drain.

Put bulgur wheat in serving bowl and add olive oil, squeeze of lemon and chopped spring onions.

When chicken is cooked cut into medium slices and add to bulgur.

Add feta.

Serve with large glass of chilled white wine.

The Famous Danny the Dog

One of the highlights of the last week in Devon was spending time with the gorgeous Daniel the Spaniel. I wanted share some pictures I took in a peaceful day on Slapton sands beach.

Danny loves to swim, he can swim along in the sea for miles and miles and he is also pretty strong which means he will tackle the lively waters of our local rivers. On this day he pestered mum and I to throw stones into the water for him to catch and then paddled along happily only looking over to shore to check we were keeping up with him as we walked along.

If you look carefully in picture 2 you might spot the Red Arrows sweeping past in the sky.

Electric love

While on holiday we would while away the late afternoon reading books, drinking ice cold beer and intermittently tuning in to MTV Italy on our hotel room telly.

They had this 1 minute insert called crispy news, a quick look at the celebrity news. The news was often out of date and it really did push the definition of "news" to its loosest interpretation. Examples include Zac Efron gelling his hair to the left today, Jennifer Lopez busy looking after her twins, and so it continued...

Nonetheless for a gossip fan such as myself I enjoyed these regular updates, however old.

There was only one that I have brought home with me, an old quote from Johnny Depp talking about how he fell for Vanessa Paradis. It is a beautiful quote, one that speaks of the sort of love at first sight that movies are made of. Which is perfectly fitting I suppose.

"We met briefly years ago. I remember thinking, "Ouch." It was just hello, but the contact was electric. That was in 1993. It wasn't until 1998, when I went to do the Polanski film The Ninth Gate and was in the lobby of the hotel, getting messages. I turned around and across the lobby saw this back. She had on a dress with an exposed back. I thought, "Wow." Suddenly the back turned and she looked at me. I walked right over, and there were those eyes again. I knew it was her. She asked, "Do you remember me?" I said, "Oh yeah." We had a drink, and it was over with at that point. I knew I was in big trouble. "

Wallowing

As one of the most appalling weeks of my working life draws to a close I lie swaddled in blankets having been hit by a very aggressive cold.

It is so tempting to say flu, isn't it, a cold just sounds so measly and pathetic yet I won't give in to my tendencies for hypochondria simply as I don't want my beloved friends staying away from me for fear of contracting swine flu.

I thought I'd put the holiday snaps up here in an attempt to remind myself that every week won't be this way.

Regular posting will resume shortly.

Silence

Apologies for my post-holiday silence, but I have been hit with a serious bout of the blues. To revert to my most British self WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THIS WEATHER?

I have spent the last few days planning my escape to a French gite, desperately moisturising four times a day in a failing attempt to maintain my tan and being sharply reminded on an hourly basis of the joys of office politics.

Today I want to use my little patch of internet space to direct you to this eloquent and impassioned piece written by Tania Kindersley. The contrast between the life I lead, worrying about tans and office tantrums, and the one of these women do sometimes shames me. I know that shouldn't be the case, instead I just need to keep talking about these things.

The cause of the women of the Congo is one that desperately needs support. Of course there are many others that do also but, as Tania says, for some reason these women seem to be forgotten - perhaps the horror of what they have been through and are still going through is too awful to bear. I know I have been guilty of turning the page when reading about the brutality and barbaric treatment of these women.

This morning the Today programme featured the story of Zawadi who regular listeners first heard of last year. This is a woman whose entire family, but for one daughter, were murdered in front of her eyes. A woman who was repeatedly gang raped. A woman who was forced to murder her own baby. Today programme listeners have donated a total of £5k and Zawadi, along with 16 other women, have been given the medical treatment needed to allow them to live in some kind of comfort following the trauma they have been through. The piece this morning just reminded me how important it is we keep giving, and that just a little money can mean the difference between a life destroyed forever by the most horrifying and humilating experience or one that can mean a future with some sort of hope for these women.

I am not asking you to give, just to read the piece Tania. But of course if you want to give here is how:

Taken from BBC Today Programme Website
Below are a list of charities who work in Congo and deal with survivors of sexual violence. Any contributions to these charities would be greatly appreciated.

CARE International
CARE International supports women’s organisations and village leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to develop strategies for ending violence against women.
CARE International10-13 Rushworth StreetLondon SE1 0RB
Donate: www.careinternational.org.uk/donate
Web: http://www.careinternational.org.uk/

Christian Relief NetworkCRN deals regularly with the Panzi Hospital CRN, Christian Relief Network
Tel: (+47) 22 01 07 00
Email: info@crn.no

Medecins Sans Frontieres
Working in the eastern Congo, treating victims of sexual violence and providing healthcare for displaced people.
67-74 Saffron Hill
London
EC1N 8QX
Tel: 02074046600
Email marie.smith@london.msf.org
Web: www.msf.org/unitedkingdom/

Merlin 2008
Merlin has a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo that helps the many victims of sexual violence there.
Registered charity 1016607
12th Floor, 207 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR
Tel: 0207 014 1712
Email: supporter@merlin.org.uk or kathryn.brooke@merlin.org.uk
Web: http://www.merlin.org.uk/

OXFAM
Public enquiries (re donations etc) Tel: 0870 410 5025
Email enquiries@oxfam.org.uk

The Panzi Hospital (for Victims of Sexual Violence)
8th Community of Pentecostal Churches in Central Africa (CEPAC)
Medical Department. GENERAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL OF PANZI, PO Box: 266 BUKAVU South Kivu Province,Democratic Republic of Congo
Website: http://www.panzihospitalbukavu.org/

Save the Children
Save the Children runs a huge programme in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo, concentrating on the reuniting and rehabilitation of ex-child soldiers, support for children who have been victims of sexual violence and helping out-of-school children get an education.
Tel: 020 7012 6400
Web: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/

UNICEFHelpline and Appeals
Tel: 0870 606 3377

WorldshareWorldShare is UK partner for HEAL Africa, the medical project in Goma.
Web site: http://www.worldshare.org.uk/

No stabilisers here

Rimini is like Center Parcs-on-sea in that every where you look there are bikes with babies and toddlers riding alongside their parents. Bikes certainly rule the roads, and it is so wonderful to be in a city where new borns whizz past you as you enjoy a drink on the square.