Nic Dempsey

Want

Posted on December 10, 2014 by nicdempsey

Time for another edition of things that might make good presents!

Litographs have some beautiful posters made with the text from the books they depict, I’m especially keen on the Persuasion one below (of course I am). They also do books and t-shirts.

The National Theatre Shop’s Everybody Dies posters/teatowels/mugs etc are perfect.

Everybody Dies Poster

The Southbank Shop is one of my favourite places to have a browse. And this is a great London print although I’m not sure I know anyone, I’d spend £500 on!

Oxo Red III linocut

We went to the London Transport Museum quite a lot when I was a child and the shop is a marvellous place for presents. I’m not sure where I would put a luggage rack from the decommissioned Met Line trains, but I really want one!

RAW Metropolitan Line luggage rack small

You can also get enamel plates of the LT roundel too!

Click to view Bus Stop Request Roundel Enamel Plate

Posted in Christmas, Shopping, Want | Tagged presents, shopping, Things I Like, want | Leave a comment

Handmade Christmas – Vin d’Orange

Posted on December 9, 2014 by nicdempsey

Without a doubt one of the most annoying things about this time of year, when bloggers start to talk Christmas and making presents, is seeing something that would be a good present, that fits your skills level and then realising that if you wanted to give it as a gift, you should have started in August!

This is particularly true of alcoholic gifts. I’ve made plum gin, cherry brandy and raspberry gin to give away at Christmas and I did start making them way back in the summer, so I’m not going to torment you by telling you what perfect gifts they’d make.

This Vin d’Orange though. This fits all the homemade foodie presents sweet spots. It’s easy to make, it’s relatively cheap, and you can start today and it’ll be ready just in time for Christmas!

I’ve wanted to make Vin d’Orange for a while but every recipe I see requires seville oranges and 3 litres of wine preferably rose (preferably Côtes de Provence rose), a bottle of vodka and a 40 day wait.

Seville oranges have a very short season, slap bang after Christmas, in January and February. Every year I think about it and every year, after the excess of Christmas, I’m not in the right mood (and let’s be real here) don’t have the spare cash for alcohol related projects.

This recipe for vin d’orange (from David Lebotviz) uses navel oranges, a bottle of rose, half a cup of vodka and has a 2 week wait, which seems altogether more reasonable. Vin d’Orange can be drunk on it’s own with ice or be added to a glass of fizz. I think it would also work as a lighter drink just with tonic or fizzy water.

A small note on the wine, it doesn’t have to be the best bottle of rose that you’ve ever drunk, you’re going to be adding lots of ingredients to it but the maxim ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is worth bearing in mind here and Cotes de Provence is a dry rose wine, so a dry rose is what you are looking for here. I used a bottle of Sainsburys Cotes du Rhone (I would link to it but I can’t find it on the website!) it was about £6.

What

2 navel oranges, quartered

1 lemon, quartered

1 750ml bottle of dry rose wine

Half a cup of sugar

Half a cup of vodka

One vanilla pod, split lengthwise

One cinnamon stick

How

1. Mix sugar, vodka and wine together in your jar, stir until sugar has dissolved.

2. Add the oranges, lemons, cinnamon and vanilla pod

3. Leave for 2 weeks and then filter through muslin cloth or coffee filter.

4. Pour into sterilized bottles and either keep it to drink yourself or give away with a bottle of fizz for a quick Christmas present.

Posted in Booze, Christmas, How To | Tagged alcohol, christmas, Handmade Christmas, homemade | 3 Comments

Life Happened – Birthdays, Christmas lunches and Allotments

Posted on December 8, 2014 by nicdempsey

On Wednesday, Ma, Christelle and I went for cocktails at the OXO Bar, to celebrate their birthdays and the end of my working week!

The Perfect manhattan was perfect!

Ma and Christelle got Happy Birthday ice cream that came with gingerbread Santa and Mrs Claus.

Fun was had by all.

I also spend the day logging the progress of my rebellious flicky fringe.

On Thursday, Ma wanted to go to the dump, hey it was her birthday, she gets to to what she wants. She also brought all the packing boxes back to mine and we put them in the attic. So less than two weeks after she moved in, Ma is totally unpacked and her new flat is if not perfectly arranged (she’ll need to live in it a while) totally organised. Most people are surprised about this, I’m not. It’s just how Ma is! We also met Jane for dinner and she helped me tame the fringe!

Although I was off work, I did go in for the team Christmas lunch. We went to The Somers Town Coffee House, it was lovely and we drank far too much as is usual.

and evident from the photos!

I was rather taken with the flock wallpaper in the loos, I’m pretty sure my childminder had that wallpaper in her living room, when I was a kid!

I was home and in bed by 10pm but Saturday morning dawned bright and far to early for a Saturday given my night before, it was time to go and help with the allotment volunteer team. I’m on the waiting list for an allotment (current wait 3 to 4 years) but in the meantime, it’s good to get to know the guys and the allotments again!

Also there was cake!

So that done, I had a very quiet weekend with some chores and lots of reading.

This week is not going to be as eventful, which is a very good thing!

Posted in How I Live | Tagged dairy, how I live, Life Happened, recap, the week in review, what I did | Leave a comment

Friday Links

Posted on December 5, 2014 by nicdempsey

Happy Friday! Not many links this week, I had a migraine Monday and Tuesday and have been running around for the rest of the week so no time to read..

1. An escalator for cyclists.

2. Tell me again that there isn’t a housing crisis in London. Tree growing through illegally rented housing.

3. The power of pessimism.

4. This pregnant lady tell anti abortion protesters where to go. It’s amazing..

Posted in Links | Tagged bicycle escalator, housing, Oliver Burkeman, Slate, The Guardian | Leave a comment

Jillian’s Birthday Cake

Posted on December 4, 2014 by nicdempsey

If you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you’ll have worked out that my Ma and I are very close. It wasn’t always this way, according to her I was a teenage nightmare! I always reply to that accusation that I was a pretty good teenager, especially compared to her or my brother, I didn’t swear at any of my teachers or skip school, I could mostly be found in the library or babysitting..

I’m not keen on saying that she’s my best friend because she’s not, she’s my mum, but nowadays, Ma is my chief partner in crime. We talk a couple of times a day, see each other at least once a week, we go to gigs and the theatre together, we help each other with decorating and moving and swap furniture and ideas and we take holidays together.That’s not to say that we don’t have other friends and do things with other people and love doing that too. One of the best things about Ma is that my brother is very close to her too, some people have said that Ben and I are unnaturally close to our parent but I don’t think so. I think that we love each other and we support one another and we are very lucky to have her. One of my infant school teachers, knew Ma when they were teenagers and she told me that she thought, we were all so close and because Ma didn’t have a mother after she was 14 so was just making it up once we hit that age! There’s an element of truth in this, as I get older, I appreciate how different (and better) her relationships with Ben and I are. My mother is so much herself, she never expects us to be anything but ourselves, she taught us to live and supports us if she can but the only time I think I’ve ever truly felt that I’ve let her down is when I haven’t been true to who I am, even when who I am is chronically late and has a problem with transition (neither of which are Ma’s failings!)

Today is her birthday and given that we have already celebrated it with dinner on Sunday and drinks at the OXO last night, the only thing left is cake.This is Ma’s cake, the one I bake when I want to curry favour! It’s originally from Sybil Kapoor but had to be adapted to add more ginger and I also add pieces of crystallised ginger because when it comes to this cake, the more ginger, the better! It also makes really good muffins!

Happy Birthday Mum!

Posted in Cooking, Family, Ma | Tagged birthday cake, cake, gingerbread, Ma | Leave a comment

What I’ve Read – November 2014

Posted on December 3, 2014 by nicdempsey

November has not been a month of reading, I’m putting it down to the ‘November effect’ which is basically as it gets so much darker, my brain shuts down and I have just enough mental energy to deal with work and living that the bit of my brain reserved for reading just has to be diverted to that and so I only read 6 books and a couple of magazines! There’s always December to get my mojo back!

The Glass Republic and Our Lady of the Streets – Tom Pollock

I followed Luc and read both of these after The City’s Son. I struggled a bit with them, especially the last book, because I didn’t feel any connection to the big bad. In the first book, you had a sense of Reach as a force, of what his deal was, but I didn’t feel that sense in the next two books. Things I liked, that Pen finds herself, the world building in London Under Glass, the idea that the more scars you have the more beautiful you are, the idea of a reversed London where West London is the slums and East is where the rich people live (though I’m betting that the author didn’t grow up in West London – I did and while I would never call it a slum, and I never felt it was the mean streets it wasn’t exactly a land full of privilege and private schools), there were so many ideas buzzing through the books. Things that I didn’t like, motiveless big bad, all of the ideas made it a bit confusing.

Suddenly Last Summer – Sarah Morgan

I needed something light and easy and I enjoyed the hell out of it even though I felt that the issues where not actually issues if only the characters would use their words and talk to each other. It’s hard with this type of book to create a conflict that’s realistic and that can be resolved but I’m in a ‘no nonsense’ mood at the moment and this didn’t feel real to me. Having said that I then when straight onto the next one, so it couldn’t have been that much of a problem.

Maybe this Christmas – Sarah Morgan

I liked this one a whole lot better. Again characters should have used their words more and owned their nonsense (yeah it’s my issue of the season!). I loved that both of them finally got their act together and that the heroine did own her issues and sort them before the HEA, that makes me happy. The whole book also made me want a puppy!

Archangel’s Shadows – Nalini Singh

I’m upfront about my ‘Nalini Singh book crack problem’, so I was going to read this straight away. Good points, Asian heroine, serious lack of stereotypes, the world building is moving along. Bad point, I thought that the reason h/h couldn’t be together and how that was resolved was all a bit handwave-y but I’ll give it a pass.

Raging Star – Moira Young

The last of the Dustlands trilogy. I love Saba’s voice, that she’s honest with herself, even as she lies to try and keep a grip on the life she has and the good opinion of others. Some of the plot felt a little to convenient and I’m always, if not exactly happy, glad when there are actually horrible consequences for the heros. All of three of the books would make good Christmas presents.

Posted in Books, Reading in 2014 | Tagged Archangel's Shadows, books, Dustlands, Maybe This Christmas, Moira Young, Nalini Singh, Our Lady of the Streets, Raging Star, reading, reading in November 2014, Sarah Morgan, Suddenly Last Summer, The Glass Republic, Tom Pollock | Leave a comment

Thankful

Posted on December 2, 2014 by nicdempsey

Last Thankful post for this year, before I get into the individual days, I want to talk about living an authentic life, what that means to me and how it makes me happy.

It started a couple of weeks ago with Krissie’s tweet

I am losing patience for bullshit. Is this what getting older feels like? I kinda dig it.

— krissiebentley (@krissieb) November 17, 2014

and my reply

@krissieb in my experience yes. I just can't be doing with it any more. It's amazing now easy and more authentic life becomes!

— Nicola Dempsey (@nicdempsey) November 17, 2014

My capacity for anything remotely approaching fuckwittage, has diminished to almost nothing over the last couple of years but the choice of words were unusual, I’m not someone who uses the word authentic in relation to my life….well ever…I’m English and generally emotions are best kept private or you know for the blog!

I’ve had a couple of unexpectedly deep conversations about life, work and friendship this month. Helene kicked it off through a conversation about her family and her place in it, about what she wants to tell people about her parents and how she wants to tell it. We talked about our family dynamics and culture. About what constitutes a tragedy and attitudes to setbacks as well as good things in our lives. About need to know and the need to tell. About the power of privacy as well as the power of not caring what others think. It’s hard to know as an adult what a teenager might find useful, but if I could instil one thing into H (and the others) as she grows, I’d wish I could teach her how to work out what is nonsense and to distinguish what is hers and what belongs to other people.

Because for a long time. I internalised other people’s nonsense and I let their insecurities and fears colour my opinion of who I was. I really would have been so much happier and nicer if I’d understood what was mine and what was theirs and acted accordingly.

Once I took responsibility for my nonsense and started to distance myself from other people’s, life became easier. I’m a better friend for it too, I can call friends out when it’s needed and be called out in turn but without drama because I recognise the limits of my ability to change people and situations to the way I’d wish them to be. That also means that I can support people better because I realise what I can do to help and what just isn’t within my power to change.

As a result my circle of friends is a bit smaller and but my life feels much bigger and more authentic. It took a good long while to get here but I’m really thankful (see what I did there?) about it.

On to individual days of thankfulness in November

Tuesday 25 November

This is a repeat photo, because I didn’t take a photo on Tuesday but I did go to the doctors to get a repeat prescription and talk about sprained ankles and rehab. Everytime, I go to the doctors or dentist or hospital, I’m just so thankful for the NHS and vision of the people who founded it.

Wednesday 26 November

I wanted to read something different. I have a house and a Kindle full of books. I’m so thankful for being able to read, for a society were it’s expected that women and the working classes should. For the ability to walk into a shop, buy a book and lose myself in another world.

Thursday 27 November

I’m going to join the gym around the corner from the office, because work subsidise it and it’s right there. Even if I go and walk on the treadmill for a bit, it’ll be good for me! I am thankful for the benefits that come with my job!

Friday 28 November

Dinner at Jo’s and time with interesting people and Ms T!

Saturday 29 November

Another evening with friends and their children for a late Thanksgiving. It was Stef’s anniversary today and I opted to spend the day with people, not alone. Getting to know these two tiny humans and watch their ‘dancing’ was a good thing.

Sunday 30 November

Busy morning cooking and time with my family. Watching Oli work out that his Grandma and Aunty Nic are also on ‘team Dempsey’ was fun. As well as the exploding sprinkles! It was a really good day and lovely to spend time with Ben and Laura too!

Posted in Thankful | Tagged 2014 thankful, Thankful | Leave a comment

Life Happened – Moving, Anniversaries and Roast Dinners

Posted on December 1, 2014 by nicdempsey

It was a big week chez Dempsey.

On Monday we moved Ma.

I was responsible for putting the bed and the shelves together..

I did an alright job!

Ma hired two men and a van and with Ben it was a quick easy job. Ben took me home and I have never been so glad to have a brother that drives a cab.

The rest of the week passed as weeks do, I had a doctors appointment where we talked about my sleep issues and the doctor confirmed that I wasn’t being a wimp but had actually sprained my right ankle, it’s been hurting for a couple of weeks, he thinks I sprained it and then went over on it again. The lovely thing about having had the same dr since you were a teenager, is that he knows my right ankle is weak and just tells me what I need to do to help it because he also knows that I don’t expect miracles!

I went to work, didn’t sleep as much as I wanted to and got to Friday. I saw godchildren 2 to 5 on Friday but they were all good. I then went to Jo’s for dinner and to deliver godchild no 6 an advent calendar.

Jo’s friends Sally and Mark were also there for dinner, which was really good fun!

So much fun, I ended up staying the night. On Saturday morning after reading Esio Trot to Ms T and having coffee, I went home, shopped and eventually ended up at Kathy and Adam’s for Thanksgiving. It was the children’s first Thanksgiving, I would show you photos but there’s still a photography bam because of the adoption which is just as well because I’m not sure those two ever stop moving and this is probably the best one I got all evening, it’s a self portrait from their youngest!

On Sunday, staying in bed was what I really wanted to do.

Ideally, I'd like to spend all day alone at home, reading. That's not an option so it's time to get out of bed.

— Nicola Dempsey (@nicdempsey) November 30, 2014

However, I pulled on my big girls pants and got out of bed (at 7.30am) and sorted myself out. We had lunch it was good, Oli managed to shake sprinkles everywhere (by accident) and a good day was had by all. It’s hard for Oli being the only child in the family but he copes really well, Ma and I bought him the same advent calendar that I bought for Ms T!

Ma stayed the night but we were both so tired it was an early night!

And that was the week. This week is all go, there’s a trip to the OXO Tower with Ma and Christelle, dinner with Jane, my work team Christmas lunch, volunteering at the allotment and Ma’s birthday. It’s exhausting just thinking about it!

Posted in How I Live | Tagged dairy, how I live, Life Happened, recap, the week in review, what I did | Leave a comment

What I Ate

Posted on November 29, 2014 by nicdempsey

Last week was still about not spending money on food and using up what I had. I did spend some money, I bought the beef for tomorrow’s lunch because I had a voucher for money off that was only valid up to Monday and I bought some apples and clementines because I was missing fruit. No other food shopping has been done, so this week has been the week of soup and things in the freezer. On Saturday, I took the frozen lentil bolognese from the freezer, mixed it with the leftover lentils and vegetable stew in the fridge covered in mashed potato for a veggie cottage pie. I also made a loaf of bread. Half of that came with me to Ma’s on Sunday night for bacon sandwiches on Monday.

On Monday night I had some of the leftovers for dinner with peas and green beans from the freezer. I used the rest of the pie, with more green beans and peas for lunch on Tuesday. Tuesday night I had Aubergine, Olive and Tomato pasta bake. This was the leftovers from one of last week’s dinners. And those leftovers were lunch on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night I ate butternut squash soup and bread. For garnishes I used greek yoghurt, cheese, roasted chickpeas, chopped kale and roasted squash seeds. Guess what I had for lunch on Thursday?

On Thursday night, I planned to have pork steak and cous cous salad but I forgot to take it out of the freezer so it was soup again. There was a work lunch on Friday and on Friday night, Jo asked me to dinner. I had planned sausage pizza and remembered to take it out of the freezer. I had sausage and eggs for breakfast this morning and I’ll keep the pizza dough out for Oli, in case he decides that he doesn’t want to eat a roast dinner (which he did last time I cooked for the family!)

Breakfast all week was greek yoghurt and pear honey.

I also took the last of the vegetables in the fridge and made a parsnip, carrot and ginger soup, which is in the freezer for next week. I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself, I still feel that there is loads of food in the house although I have run out of some staples and the freezer is much emptier than it was. It’s also made me think about how I plan my meals and cook. Food over the last two weeks has been more fun, I’ve been more creative and thoughtful about it. This week, I’m at K&A’s for Thanksgiving (shifted to Saturday) and hosting my family for roast dinner on Sunday so there will be a fair amount of shopping, I’ve made a list and it comes to about £50, but that gets me vegetables, a huge batch of taco chilli, and all the spices and beans and household stuff that I need to replenish as well as dinner for Sunday. I’m planning on spending that and then until Christmas, I want to spend no more that £5 a week on vegetables and work with what food I have at home. I will be doing some Christmas baking but that will be separate from my food budget. After a month of not shopping, I’ve become really aware of how often I just pop into a shop because I need one thing and I buy loads. I want to break that habit and just be more aware of how much I consume.

Posted in Food, How I Live | Tagged cooking, Food diary, how I live, no shopping, what I ate | 4 Comments

Friday Night Cocktail Re-visited

Posted on November 28, 2014 by nicdempsey

There was no cocktail drinking last weekend or this week. Because of the lack of cocktails in my life, there isn’t a new FNC to share so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some old, much loved November appropriate drinks.

Sloe Gin and Tonic