Recent events!

You may have noticed a slight lull in my blog writing recently and this is mainly due to the third trimester of my pregnancy catching up with me.  It turns out being gianormous is challenging for a clumsy person, tiring and downright uncomfortable. (The less said about that the better!)

So recently I took a week and a bit off work to start preparing for my new arrival, this involved sorting out some of my impending arrival's things.

It also included tending to the tomatoes in my garden.

As well as going on a road trip over to Jodrell Bank to see Sigur Ros with Paul.

Today has also been my last day at work this year before a few more days holiday and the commencement of my maternity leave.  It felt like it would be ages before the Sigur Ros gig and leaving work to have my baby at the start of the year and now it's all come to fruition.  Where has the time gone?

Recent adventures.

I've discovered that it's been a month since I last posted on this blog and it seems life managed to get in the way a bit there...  I guess I'm just an occasional blogger!

Recently I have been to see Allo Darlin play Queens Social Club on 6th September.

(Sadly my camera skills are nothing compared to the joy that is their songs!)

I caught a train down to Nottingham to watch the Hellfire Harlots battle the London Roller Girls Brawl Saints.

As well as to catch up with my sister and her boyfriend and their new house.

Later that week, on 12th September I grabbed some food in The Great Gatsby then popped into my car and headed up the Motorway to Leeds to see the rather lovely Beirut play the 02 Academy with my handsome boyfriend.

Then there was a lull as we both just worked hard and I tried to fit dance rehearsals in for The Beat around chilling out.

Near the end of September a strange construction graced Barkers Pool.

This turned out to be a Spiegeltent and part of the Festival of the Mind.  I went to an event put on by the Na Zdrove promoters on inside the Spiegeltent.  I wasn't sure what to expect but liked the look of bygone glamour and hope that extended to the inside.  Thankfully it did!  The night included an awful drag artist, three burlesque performers from Secrets of the Boudoir Burlesque, a comedian called Frank Sinazi and a band from Newcastle called The Baghdaddies.  As well as the Na Zdrove djs!

 A great night of cringing, cheering, laughing and dancing was had by all!

I also sampled the lovely food on offer at Maggie May's on 5th October whilst celebrating one of my work mates birthdays. I would've taken a picture but I ate it...

I also performed in The Beat 2012 on 6th October and danced a bollywood track and a bellydancing track.
For the weeks leading up to it I was wracked with nerves... but it all went alright on the night!  Obviously I took no pictures as I was too busy dancing. Maybe if I ever do it again I should give someone my phone to take pictures with!

Now I'm trying to get back in the swing of writing on a more regular basis, started my bellydance class again and have been debating also going to the bollywood class and maybe doing another show. Not entirely sure this is a good idea as the next one is just before Christmas though!

I've also been watching the Great British Bake off and making too many banana based foodstuffs (muffins and bread).  Now I'm just wondering what adventures lie in wait next?

Happy Birthday You'll Get What You're Given!

Today marks a year since I posted my first blog post as You'll Get What You're Given!

One of my aims with this blog was to try a new recipe every week for a year and frankly I didn't manage that.  Not even close! Although I like to cook, sometimes life gets in the way and I end up falling back on take aways or tried and tested recipes.

That's not to say that the idea has been a failure the 52 recipe challenge has made me try recipes I might not have otherwise tried and experimented with new dishes.

Some were delicious and worked well, others were disastrous!

But if I never tried to make these things I would never know how to avoid these errors!

So whilst the 52 recipe challenge hasn't gone entirely to plan I think that's ok.

It's been a funny year, since I began to write this blog I bought a house, moved in, tried to write a novel... I've written 54,275 words so far. (No, you can't read it I'm afraid it's for my eyes only!)

My job situation changed from commuting to work, then getting made redundant and having the opportunity to find a lovely job nearer to home.

I've had a few recipes in Now Then magazine and review the odd thing or two for Tweeted Review.

Sometimes I also like to write odd blog posts on this about books I read, what I've been to see or have tried to do. I'm planning on keeping writing this blog about food, music, books and whatever I think is of interest, so here's to another year!

More things I've been doing when I haven't been blogging...

Recently I realised that my blogging has become a little haphazard and obviously there's no one to blame but myself for this...

I did tell myself it was because I was tired adjusting to early starts at work or from going to the gym after work but it's probably from going to gig's like the Summer Camp gig at the Harley the other week.

  Or maybe because I was making dark chocolate and cherry fudge?

The rays of sunshine the other week were quite distracting too...

As was the eater bake off at work and the snow...

Maybe I'm a bit easily distracted? What's that? Sure I just saw something shiny then...

All that's really left to say is thanks for sticking with me and Happy Easter!