Christmas fun

It's my families last Christmas together in my childhood home and we have been really getting into it. Our halls have been decked, we've been cooking all kinds of treats, and watching as many holiday themed movies as we can handle. I've even sorted my Christmas shopping and will hopefully avoid the shopping mall and car park rage this time of year is synonymous with. Chances are I'll find a reason to go in at the worst possible time. 

My cooking contributions have been white chocolate snowballs and a yule log. 

The snowballs were a total pain in the butt to make because the recipe I used needed at least double the biscuits it requested - so sticky! I always end up deciding to cook that kind of thing (sticky, rolly, coat in chocolate, delicious pain in the arse) and I always regret it. But they are delicious and seem to get better with age.

The Yule log was a challenge and I succeeded! I hardly ever bake using eggs (allergic brother) so making a sponge is something I haven't done much of. So making, rolling, and decorating one was fun. Our biggest pan was a roasting pan so flipping the cake out was terrifying but amazingly the cake survived it all and was pretty good too. Not perfectly light as it was slightly thicker than the recipe intended due to pan size but tasty. Also in my haste to roll it I didn't follow the instructions but it still worked well. I am amazed how well it worked. As you can see in the picture I got a bit too excited adding the snow (only ever experiencing one northern hemisphere Christmas and all).

As for movies we have been watching pretty much anything with a Christmas tree featured in it. So far we have watched: Trains, Planes and Automobiles, Trading Places, Home Alone, Jingle all the way, Love Actually, Elf, Meet me in St. Louis and my absolute favourite While you Were Sleeping. Still lots of films on the to watch list with a week to go.

Hope you and yours are enjoying the holiday season however you choose to spend it. x

A Very Mumford Christmas.

This satirical article, Mumford & Sons Can't Believe They all got Each Other Mandolins for Christmas* is a real crack up. 

“To be honest, I thought at least some of the 12 mandolin-shaped packages would turn out to be banjos, dobros, or buzuqs when we unwrapped them. But I can’t say I’m disappointed when I think about the amazing sound we could create with this many mandolins."  - Marcus Mumford

I really don't know what to get my Dad for Christmas. He bought himself a mandolin earlier this year but I don't think he has even strummed it. It is a real travesty. It is locked up in a dark cupboard somewhere in the house, where hobbies go to die. 

But I totally strummed it. As if I could resist.

Unfortunately they don't have a mandolin music book for Sigh no More because he would totally hate that. Well, he referred to Mumford and Sons as Muppets** when I went to see them (which is a total British insult I don't get because The Muppets are amazeballs). Unless he secretly knows about The Amazing Mumford, now that would be an unexpected twist. 

I shall leave you with this.

*I really hope Marcus, Winnie, Ted and Ben get all the mandolins they want for Christmas. <3
** I once got called a Muppet for wearing my Ugg boots to the pub after being dragged out of bed when I lived in England. I lived above said pub, they were lucky I didn't socialise in my pyjamas.

Yes.

I'm not sorry

*driving somewhere with my sister, listening to The Lumineers album*

Sister: Why is it that all the music you listen to lately sounds like it's children's music?
Me: I'm just... I'm just really focussing on becoming a folkster right now.
Sister: That is the worst possible answer you could have given.

On Coping With Post Gig Depression

You've been waiting eagerly for months to see that band you love. The day is finally here and before you know it, it is all over. The house lights come back on and you are left feeling elated and a little bit sad that it has come to an end when they never played that one song you were desperate to hear live. The next day you feel devastated that you no longer have that gig to look forward to, you ask yourself why you didn't take time off work and become a groupie. You are suffering from post gig depression (PGD).

Living in a town which doesn't see many decent acts, going to gigs is somewhat of an event and as a result I have experienced PGD many times. I know that the number one way to combat PGD is to have a large range of gigs booked in advance to distract myself. Unfortunately I missed out on tickets to a bunch of events I wanted to attend and am at a loss.  

I am wallowing.

I am probably never taking off this band shirt, like ever.

I am listening to Mumford and Sons on repeat, trawling Tumblr and watching all the YouTube clips ever made.

And I am remembering all the little moments like when Marcus Mumford gave us permission to stand during Little Lion Man, dancing alone to I Will Wait, and when some lady yelled out "that song was so lovely" after they played Ghosts That We Knew and feeling the whole crowd must be feeling simpatico. 

I know I should try and beat this post gig depression by listening to some new music or something. Right? How do you deal with post gig depression? 

*I wrote this a month ago after seeing Mumford & Sons. I may or may not still be mourning the lack of gigs in my life due to being poor and living where I live. I have changed my t-shirt numerous times, so I guess I am coping alright.

A terrible photo I took of Mumford & Sons

Babel

I am loving this song.

In fact I pretty much love all of the songs on Babel. I remember they played a few new songs when I saw them in 2010 and thinking they were amazing then. It was easily one of the best concerts I have been too, beautiful venue, great crowd, and apart from the second band that played which just didn't fit musically (Boy & Bear opened and were perfect) the music was spot on. Such a good night. I am really looking forward to seeing them again in a months time, even though seeing international bands in my home town totally weirds me out (but in a good way!).

I saw this the other day and it is totally true for me.

So I am pretty happy they have followed through with an excellent second album, totally worth the wait. And in case you were wondering, yes, I totally think Ted Dwane is a ginger fox.

Sickie

Had to take the afternoon off work yesterday after succumbing to a stomach bug. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself so I decided to treat myself to a new show, Ben & Kate. 

I am undecided whether or not I will like it, but I usually take a couple of episodes to warm to a show. The cast is pretty great. Lucy Punch is hilarious and the kid (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) from We Bought a Zoo is super adorable. Lots of strawberry blonde action. And this ginger fox (Jon Foster).

Pity his character was a jerk! Will continue to watch for now.