tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25839300280418663512024-03-05T08:45:15.606+00:00rhianglea place where I put all my thoughts and stuff.rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-10898337191518468282020-12-08T13:39:00.005+00:002021-10-06T17:18:55.051+01:00Lunchtime ramble #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl-aE7M7W5J866wS-WZqtMdXLu0jTRxfiG9aj5BdiS9uxN39Bewc-7lQS6jpLF3LIRCPDyl_AH22rG7pS3M3uzegWxyAwAzpNBNlgYLJ1CnalD3Qt9deWX_XBdWi4wkaI1LFMKqDbsw/s1920/beach-1834329_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A pineapple sitting on a beach in front of the ocean. The tide is in so the bottom of the pineapple is getting wet, but it's sunny so it's having a great time." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl-aE7M7W5J866wS-WZqtMdXLu0jTRxfiG9aj5BdiS9uxN39Bewc-7lQS6jpLF3LIRCPDyl_AH22rG7pS3M3uzegWxyAwAzpNBNlgYLJ1CnalD3Qt9deWX_XBdWi4wkaI1LFMKqDbsw/w640-h424/beach-1834329_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Hey everyone. I have nine minutes left of my lunch break so I thought I'd write down some of my thoughts because that's what a blog is meant to be sometimes.</p><p>I'm sipping on a beautiful smoothie from the cafe around the corner. I think I intended on getting a hot drink when I walked through the door, but I always end up getting the same thing (chai latté, if you're interested) so I went real rogue. The smoothie menu on top of the ice cream freezer, which should've been equally as unappetising seeing as it's 4 degrees outside right now, drew me in with its fruity flavours scribbled in colourful chalk and I went for the most summery option there is: pineapple, mango, and coconut milk. I have no regrets because it's gorgeous, but it is reminding me of cocktails by a pool in the summertime, probably somewhere in Spain, France, or Greece. I could've done with being transported there yesterday, as I can't remember a day when I felt as cold as that indoors. It turns out that working from home involves an unhealthy amount of sitting down if you're not careful, and that doesn't pump the blood around your body all that well. I was doing starjumps in the kitchen and occasionally wining "WHYYYYYY", before realising we have pets in the house and they have bodily warmth they can share with me.</p><p>My lunch break is over now! Maybe I'll do more lunchtime rambles as it's quite therapeutic.</p><p>R x</p>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-74055538106160140732020-11-08T17:36:00.003+00:002021-10-06T17:08:00.089+01:00TV and films to watch in Lockdown 2.0<p>Here in England, it's Day 4 of a four-week lockdown.</p><p>Some of us are blessed with beautiful countryside to explore at our doorsteps, others aren't, and some (like me) aren't <i>too</i> far away from some greenery, but the energy needed and amount of people you'd likely have to pass to get there is too much for a daily visit. </p><p>Staying inside is therefore a given for most days, and TV and films are a wonderful way to entertain yourself and get through tough times. I thought I'd list some I've been enjoying in case anyone out there reading (hi) needs some inspiration, and because I mostly watch Netflix I have chosen a selection from there (but they might also be on other streaming services too!):</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">My big ol' list of things to watch (November 2020 edition)</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PczeQUTHYbBJOiIzG0YX2YNLSm7RaFCnjD4Y2UBJ7JB3M0ajLTf__QWHl_5PSK0wqSYETLfz6GVd5kn7h30sp_DmyxlAQuGbbeOqzKgo6AXghcIPk7VoTHRJBBJFKcU_wdKpSNwq0g/s1920/pexels-jeshootscom-1040158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PczeQUTHYbBJOiIzG0YX2YNLSm7RaFCnjD4Y2UBJ7JB3M0ajLTf__QWHl_5PSK0wqSYETLfz6GVd5kn7h30sp_DmyxlAQuGbbeOqzKgo6AXghcIPk7VoTHRJBBJFKcU_wdKpSNwq0g/w640-h427/pexels-jeshootscom-1040158.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Dramatic, beautiful fiction series</h3><div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>The Queen's Gambit</b></h4>A brilliant, beautifully shot series set in the 1950s/60s, based on a book of the same name by Walter Tevis. It's about a girl who grows up to become an amazing chess player, and I won't spoil it any further!<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Interesting documentaries</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics</b></h4>Starring Sting, Sarah Silverman, and many other funny people talking about their experiences with psychedelic drugs.<div><h3><br /></h3><h3>Feel-good entertainment/makeover series</h3></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Magic for Humans</h4>MAGIC. For humans. But especially for Susans. I love this show.<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Queer Eye</h4>OF COURSE. Pure heaven telly. And there are five seasons of beautiful makeovers to catch up on if you haven't started.<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Floor is Lava</h4>When I describe Floor is Lava to myself, it sounds more stressful than feel-good: three small teams of people try to scramble their way across obstacles to an exit whilst trying to avoid falling into a pit of bubbling hot lava. But it's fun and exciting, and it might even be a motivation for some people to exercise more so they can, too, hoist themselves across monkey bars over hot lava. I just ate crisps while I watched it – you can do that too.<br /><div><h3><br /></h3><h3>Adventure films</h3></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</h4>My most recent watch on this list! The best Spider-Man movie in my opinion.<br /><div><h3><br /></h3><h3>Romcoms</h3></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Holiday</h4><div>I love romcoms and I'm not afraid to say it. This is a classic and it's also really great to watch as we approach CHRISTMAS. I usually don't do Christmassy things before December as a matter of principle but 2020 has been terrible so Bring. It. On.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Easy A</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">A brilliant literary-based movie, like a lot of late 90s romcoms are (see: 10 Things I Hate About You; Clueless). On that note...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Clueless</b></h4></div><div><h3><br /></h3><h3>Reality TV you can lose yourself in</h3></div></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Selling Sunset</h4></div><div>Warning: it's addictive. In summary, this show is about people selling big beautiful houses in Los Angeles. I mostly started watching to see the architecture/pools/giant closets but stayed for the drama.</div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Instant Hotel</h4>Couples who own holiday apartments/houses visit each others' places and rate their stay, and there's a winner at the end. It gets heated and there are loads of Aussie accents to bask in.<br /><div><h3><br /></h3><h3>Comedy/stand-up</h3></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">James Acaster: Repertoire</h4></div><div>I haven't watched this recently but I couldn't miss it off the list. I'm 99.9% sure James Acaster is my favourite comedian of all time. He makes me weep tears of ridiculous joy.</div><div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>There's so much more online, and in physical form, if you're feeling fancy, but this is just a quick list that I might add to in the future if I can remember what I've watched aside from Gossip Girl for the eighth time.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you're cosy! x</div><div><br /></div><div>PS. I'm taking a break from Bake Off blogs for a bit, as 2020 hit me hard! But I am still enjoying watching without typing, and using my hands to eat popcorn/snacks instead!</div><div></div></div>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-6563083211952953972020-10-11T16:41:00.007+01:002021-10-06T17:58:16.122+01:0035 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 11 Episode 3<p> This week was Bread Week. No wonder I'm feeling like an absolute loaf. 🍞</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.redd.it/zt3hc8wfad631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A corgi sat next to a loaf of bread, looking quite similar." border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="750" height="339" src="https://i.redd.it/zt3hc8wfad631.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two perfectly baked loaves.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />In case you've forgotten what went on before we encounter week numero four, here's a bullet-point summary with a fine dusting of witty jokes over it.<br /><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>It's tiiiiiime to bake some fliiiiiippin' bread, oh yeaaaaaaah. I must confess: I have never made bread in my life. Not even in lockdown. I refuse. I am defying the status quo, the contemporary hipster Western social norm of desperately churning out sourdough. Once I tasted Tiger bread from the supermarket aged 5 I knew I could never reach those heights.</li><li>As if the word 'bread' wasn't a scary enough request, the bakers are starting off with the task of making 'soda bread'. Specifically, one sweet and one savoury.</li><li>Mark with a 'K' is making sausage and stout soda breads. Interesting. Particularly because, at the time of writing, I am currently eating sausage and it's confusing my brain as to whether this bread idea appeals to me. There's too much sausage in the air.</li><li>Linda is opting for cheese, chilli and coriander for her savoury soda bread, which sounds awesome. I am in fact one of those humans that likes coriander (in moderation).</li><li>I swear it has been five minutes, and already Marc with a 'C' has buttermilk all over:</li><ul><li>his face</li><li>his bench</li><li>the floor</li><li>his shirt</li><li>his hair</li><li>his ears </li><li>pretty much everything.</li></ul><li>Hermine is combining smoked salmon and gruyere cheese – a classic. </li><li>Peter is using <b>ginger beer </b>to flavour his sweet soda bread. Yes please, get in my belly.</li><li>Are Peter and his brother Andrew twins? They look very similar.</li><li>Bake Off has been around for more than HALF of Peter's life. Holy moly.</li><li>Dave is also adding gruyere cheese, but he's going for bacon instead of salmon. I don't know why, but something tells me that might be a safer bet. Maybe because I think of sourdough as crusty and chewy, and bacon would make a great crispy partner. 🥓</li><li>Linda is being very cute and adding Mak's (last week's departed baker) honey to her bake. Luv u, Linda. 🍯</li><li>Noel's look is giving me LIFE. Shades, leather jacket, cool black shirt with white illustrations on it. Yees.</li><li>Agh! A chunk of Peter's bread just fell off. He could just borrow some of Mak's honey from Linda to glue it back on. Yeah. Solid plan.</li><li>Judging tiiiiiiiiiime. Laura's soda breads look gorgeous, but they're a bit too much like playdough. They needed more time to bake.</li><li>Paul and Prue are l-o-v-ing the salmon Hermine added to her savoury bread. SO much so that it's HANDSHAKE TIME! Ohhh yeah. Paul ain't holding back anymore. Turns out she also made some bangin' sweet bread with fruit that she'd soaked for weeks. I wasn't sure if that much dedication was even allowed?! What a queen.</li><li>[Insert Technical Time jingle here.] Six rainbow bagels! Now this is something I'd like to be able to whip up at short notice. Instant mood lifter. Yes, exactly Prue! "Happy bread." 🌈<br /></li><li>Sura is making me nervous because she's wearing a long-sleeved pale top, and she's kneading the food colouring into the dough with her sleeves getting in the waaaaay.<br /></li><li>All the bakers' hands are looking like my hands after I dye my hair without gloves on, ie every time.</li><li>Hermine is my new favourite baker.</li><li>I've just realised that this is perhaps the most current television I've watched for ages, as it has actually been filmed during COVID times/lockdown. Five minutes left!</li><li>Dave has done surprisingly shit. *</li><li>I love Peter, but my love for him has unfortunately not managed to go back in time and save him from his overproofed, flat bagels.</li><li>Lottie has got some major self disappointment going on. She doesn't look chuffed with hers.</li><li>I think Marc with a 'C' has the best bagels overall. Maybe he'll win the challenge?</li><li>* Confirmed! Dave has come second-to-last, while Rowan took last place. In third is Mark with a 'K', second is Marc with a 'C'... and MY LADY LINDA HAS COME FIRST! YES LINDA!</li><li>If things weren't random and complicated enough, today's Showstopper Challenge is a 'large decorative bread plaque' to illustrate the thing that the bakers are most grateful for.</li><li>I feel like, in these types of challenges, you have to lie a little bit. Because if the thing you're most grateful for is – I dunno – wisdom, or something really vague or complicated, you don't wanna do that. So I feel like some people will 'dumb it down' a bit and go for something like 'My Favourite HAT'. 'The Earth'. 'Books'.</li><li>Hermine is going to make a brioche with focaccia. All of the breads. It sounds really good, but it doesn't sound like she'll have enough time. She's relying on blasting it in the freezer, instead of the usual cooling overnight method, which is a bit risky, surely.</li><li>Laura and Matt are going to take Paul to the theatre apparently. Fun fact: I have seen two shows in the West End – Wicked and The Sound of Music. Wicked was on a school trip to London, and I remember seeing that Matt from Busted was in the cast and I was more excited about that than anything else that day. The musical overall was great but my experience was totally overshadowed by his majestic presence.</li><li>Rowan is using pre-soaked pear. I don't know what it has been soaked in, but it sounds good to me. Hopefully not something like brine. Hopefully something like honey instead.</li><li>My voice recording method failed me so I don't know what I thought in the last bit leading up to Judgment Time, but let's pretend it was genius and chuckle-worthy.</li><li>Rowan's big tree creation was okay but overall needed more proving and more salt. I think it looks good! Especially compared to when he made the tiny waistcoat biscuits. Maybe he just needs a bigger canvas. 🎨</li><li>Marc with a 'C' and Sura are contenders for Star Baker this week according to the little judges/presenter chat.</li><li>Time to find out! Star Baker iiiiiiiis.... Marc E! Who is Marc with a 'C'. Yaaaaaaaay.</li><li>And going home is... Rowan. He should've gone last week in my opinion, but from what he made this week, I feel like he could've improved a lot if he'd been given a few more chances. Ah well. Until next time!<br /></li></ol><p></p>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-80895927058504756472020-10-05T18:57:00.003+01:002021-10-06T17:59:23.556+01:0041 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 11 Episode 2<p>AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT. It's time for Episode 2. As I worked late on Tuesday night this week, I missed the live version of Bake Off, and it's taken until today (Sunday) to get round to watching it. Sounds simple enough, but actually this has taken some supremely careful navigating of Twitter to avoid spoilers. My technique (pure luck) was successful, as I can confirm I don't know who won or who lost this week. So let's get on with it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1WVeBE5Nck27FbDtClg9qAoa2fPMFqKlHT2f0G9mbSdYjXJflFDbuS3QpFpQiQQ8ymZ1QoWXFZQBJWtr3MvCpv2-FwbJRBnOu-S-kUOJ9c81vjL-FQoAl6MhSGyMGiqQRsACN7s8Qg/s1920/florentines-292462_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A pile of delicious looking florentine biscuits, topped with caramelised almond slices." border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1WVeBE5Nck27FbDtClg9qAoa2fPMFqKlHT2f0G9mbSdYjXJflFDbuS3QpFpQiQQ8ymZ1QoWXFZQBJWtr3MvCpv2-FwbJRBnOu-S-kUOJ9c81vjL-FQoAl6MhSGyMGiqQRsACN7s8Qg/w400-h300/florentines-292462_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As a reminder, it's Biscuit Week, and Loriea left last week.</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The first challenge the bakers have this week is to make 36 chocolate florentines. I think they're those crispy caramel almond biscuits with one half dipped in chocolate, but I can't quite remember.</li><li>Even though I don't like dark chocolate, I think Paul has a point about it being the best chocolate to use as florentines are so sweet.</li><li>Ooooh ma gawd. Peter is making sticky toffee florentines, while Sura is using pistachio, rose water, almonds, and pistachios. Both, please.</li><li>I've just eaten a ginger biscuit so Linda has me sold on her use of crystallised ginger.</li><li>So many people are using mango – Dave, Hermine, Mak – the list goes on. It's a good job it's delicious.</li><li>Hold. The. Phone. Dave hasn't been my favourite up until right this minute, purely because he owns a Shiba.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L1DqvFLAao_Vv6ioAo3-1wWCfZp0H4TvMK8wgni8mPtzX8FwQLiFVPWSdcOPwTEq41NdQWAhq6sFRvhOGHTBIkvk8Z1enBKXg2oqqfRFxU1W3c2e2ys9He8ueRKYZqLQvGc64FI5QQ/s1920/shiba-inu-3083766_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A very happy, relaxed Shiba Inu dog." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L1DqvFLAao_Vv6ioAo3-1wWCfZp0H4TvMK8wgni8mPtzX8FwQLiFVPWSdcOPwTEq41NdQWAhq6sFRvhOGHTBIkvk8Z1enBKXg2oqqfRFxU1W3c2e2ys9He8ueRKYZqLQvGc64FI5QQ/w400-h266/shiba-inu-3083766_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Laura is making salted caramel florentines with milk chocolate. I approve.</li><li>Lottie is dedicating her quarantine florentines to her grandparents who she hasn't seen for months. #InTheSameBoat.</li><li>I wonder what the best technique is because some people are using silicon bun trays, some people have got metal bun trays and some people are using totally flat trays.</li><li>Hermine is using ruby chocolate. I've only had ruby chocolate once and it was on a KitKat. It was a bit odd.</li><li>Rowan's florentines look a bit like mini pizzas.</li><li>Peter is dipping his florentines in caramelised white chocolate (yes please).</li><li>All of a sudden, Hermine seems to be on the edge of a breakdown. She's violently stabbing her florentines to get them out of their tins and wailing about chocolate. CAN SOMEONE CHECK ON HERMINE PLEASE (without getting accidentally injured)?</li><li>It's time to get judge-y. We've got good "snap"s from Expresso Dave, one of the Marks, and Linda. A couple of dodgy under-baked goods in the mix.</li><li>Rowan's waistcoat-shaped florentines are a bit messy. He has great ideas but he's definitely not good enough yet to pull them off.</li><li>I can't work out if Prue's losing her voice. I think it's sour-cherry induced – every time she has a sour cherry she can't get her words out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2017-winner-Prue-Leith-1113787.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prue tucking into a baked good, wearing a jazzy colourful top as per usual." border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="590" height="226" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2017-winner-Prue-Leith-1113787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>HANDSHAKE ALERT. A Hollywood Handshake for Lottie, who quite frankly has grossed me out by saying she might never wash her hand again. We are in a PANDEMIC, Lottie. No silver fox baker from the North West, or anyone for that matter, should be believed to be virus-free. How weird would a handshake have felt though? I'm honestly quite glad to be free from that gesture.</li><li>Time for the technical: 12 coconut macaroons, 6 drizzled with chocolate and 6 piped with mango curd. Easy peasy then.</li><li>I don't think Dave is on the same wavelength as Matt. His macaroon joke has just fell extremely flat, and if you'll forgive me I'm just going to go and cringe myself into a hole in the ground.</li><li>EVERY TIME it bamboozles me that the judges think it's okay to just say "bake" for the final instruction in the Technical. I would just be listening out for everyone else's estimates. "Right, so Mark's saying seven minutes... but Jo's saying fifteen... ELEVEN IT IS."</li><li>Judgment time. Laura's are tasty but a bit too squishy. Meanwhile, Sura's lack of uniform florentines has been noticed, and she's reacting a bit like that girl in the purple t-shirt... the meme. This one (thanks, internet):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn-img.scalabs.com.au/uzjYWz5uFA99H9ilh_BLtPqAA1Dq0GhZ05-Iow7qAZM/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdy1o/aXQtcHJkLnNjYWRp/Z2l0YWwuaW8vbWVk/aWEvMTYyNjYvc2lk/ZS1leWUtY2hsb2Uu/anBnP3ByZXNldD1N/YWluSW1hZ2U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Side Eyeing Chloe: a classic meme." border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://cdn-img.scalabs.com.au/uzjYWz5uFA99H9ilh_BLtPqAA1Dq0GhZ05-Iow7qAZM/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdy1o/aXQtcHJkLnNjYWRp/Z2l0YWwuaW8vbWVk/aWEvMTYyNjYvc2lk/ZS1leWUtY2hsb2Uu/anBnP3ByZXNldD1N/YWluSW1hZ2U" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Dave aka Shibe Owner aka Expresso Man has done really well. The judges also liked Linda's florentines, although she overmixed the mixture a bit too much. There are so many things that could go wrong!</li><li>Peter has some very pale florentines. Paul and Prue are impressed with the presentation though, which has saved him from being in last place – that's Rowan.</li><li>Mak places third, Nuts Man is second, and Dave is the winner!</li><li>We've had another break, and now it's time for the Showstopper. A very simple (I jest) 3D biscuit table setting of a memorable dinner the bakers once had. It's like the whole 'This is actually a cake' thing, but instead of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vWXjKXtLnU" target="_blank">a single clove of garlic, a tin of cat food, or a tube of toothpaste, </a>the bakers need to recreate an entire meal landscape with biscuit ingredients.</li><li>Lottie is making a Viking Valhalla setting featuring brandy snap. Yum.</li><li>Dave's idea of a Mexican table setting looks gorgeous. I'm hoping he can pull it off, which he likely will as he seems to be on a roll this week.</li><li>Sura is a clever bean – making extra in case anything breaks. She might have just saved her own butt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-29-at-20.31.23-9e82.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sura leaning on her baking bench, chatting to Noel who is wearing an oversized yellow jumper with a smiley face on it." border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-29-at-20.31.23-9e82.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>I should really plan when I'm going to eat when I watch this show – ideally, I'd have something cooking in the oven while I watch, but lately I haven't got the energy to make anything that takes an hour and a half!</li><li>I appreciate and relate to Lottie's quiet singing of "I just want to curl up in a ball and die quietly". I think my housemates might hear me singing something similar to this as I wander around the house on a weekday. Lottie, if you're reading this, let's collab.</li><li>Oh nooooo! Rowan's jug has cracked. It is not Rowan's week.</li><li>This challenge/episode is almost over, and I honestly couldn't say who has done the best. I haven't seen what Dave's made yet though, so he could have secretly smashed it.</li><li>It's judgment time, agaaaaaain. Rowan is up with his... erm... 'functioning' lighthouse with a flashing light. I'm not convinced. Neither are Paul and Prue, but they're okay with the flavour. A dodgy-looking but tasty lighthouse.</li><li>Marc with a 'C' has a squishy biscuit creation, but the judges don't mind too much.</li><li>Hermine is ROCKIN' at presentation, but the taste of her bake hasn't wowed anyone.</li><li>Nuts Man has too much coffee in his showstopper. To avoid calling him Nuts Man for eternity, I've just done my <a href="https://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/bakers/">research</a> and found out that Nuts Man is in fact Mark with a 'K'.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.stylist.co.uk/images/app/uploads/2020/09/29123723/medium_70302_2_s4_ep2_the-great-british-bake-off-ep2-8.jpg?w=1200&h=1&fit=max&auto=format%2Ccompress" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noel leaning on Mark's bench and smiling while Mark continues to bake." border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://www.stylist.co.uk/images/app/uploads/2020/09/29123723/medium_70302_2_s4_ep2_the-great-british-bake-off-ep2-8.jpg?w=1200&h=1&fit=max&auto=format%2Ccompress" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Okay, Dave's Mexican biscuit table setting THING looks so good. Just the colours he's used alone are beautiful. But it tastes great too, apparently. I wouldn't be surprised if he got Star Baker this week.</li><li>Lottie's Viking bake did alright – I think she's got through to next week. </li><li>Mak and Rowan are contenders for the boot this week. I'm not sure who has shown more promise. Perhaps Rowan because of his bonkers ideas? I like Mak a lot more though.</li><li>Dave did it! Star Baker! Bravo!</li><li>Awwwwwhhhh, Mak's going. Poop.<br /></li></ol><p></p>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-51267446966892060192020-09-26T15:35:00.003+01:002021-10-06T18:00:22.977+01:0075 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 11 Episode 1<p>Bake Off is back. My blog is back because Bake Off is back. CAN I GET A HECC YEAH FOR 2020 – oh wait it's still a total disaster?! Of course it is. But I hope this stint of me getting back into typing my thoughts out about a baking show and Noel Fielding's shirts within it helps as some sort of medicine.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/XMgCFjsCSARxK/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="500" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/XMgCFjsCSARxK/giphy.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a very attractive gif to celebrate.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />As a petit disclaimer, I didn't do a Bake Off blog in 2019. And if I have to think of an excuse, I think it was because I'd just started a new job and thought I'd give myself a bit of a break. We all need a rest from typing/screens every so often, and so last year I just revelled in the baking loveliness without thinking too much.</p><p>But it's 2020 now. There are many thoughts flying around the universe and not enough of them are about baking, so I'M BACK, BRIOCHES.</p><p>The story begins on 22 September 2020, after a briefing from some blond guy...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t9HA6jU2jqKEzbyal-WDQymY0PSX5Zj-UYOkcqwQxO4hPYbfmT5BmxMyWEoFxG2ssHzVi_O-YNNayV-y71xQYkmbvt15C6VHEj-JTehYjOSP6Idq-KtgXzIH0BEGU3sNIlcJWijvFg/s2048/IMG_9256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t9HA6jU2jqKEzbyal-WDQymY0PSX5Zj-UYOkcqwQxO4hPYbfmT5BmxMyWEoFxG2ssHzVi_O-YNNayV-y71xQYkmbvt15C6VHEj-JTehYjOSP6Idq-KtgXzIH0BEGU3sNIlcJWijvFg/w400-h300/IMG_9256.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Okay. What was that?! Potentially the best opening to a show ever? We just watched the 'Prime Minister' addressing the nation about COVID and, erm, they nailed it.</li><li>For some reason, I assumed that Bake Off was filmed last year when there wasn't Coronavirus, but apparently not cos they're all in a little bubble. It's quite sweet that they've actually dedicated themselves to doing that.</li><li>Theme tune time. I've just realised I've got to learn everyone's names and I didn't do enough revision pre-viewing.</li><li>Matt Lucas is going full Humpty Dumpty with his egg head and spotty shirt.</li><li>Okay, the first challenge is to make a Battenberg cake. And then when you cut it open it needs to reveal a design... as if Battenberg wasn't difficult enough.</li><li>If I'm being honest, I wasn't sure about Matt Lucas' new presenter spot, but already his narration is quite calming. I have therefore accepted this as reality.</li><li>Loriea, a radiographer, is making a bubblegum Battenberg with artificial flavouring (of course). Paul doesn't seem very chuffed about it, but I'm not sure how else you would get bubblegum flavouring. Maybe he just loathes bubblegum. IT'S A BRIGHT BLUE CAKE, PAUL. HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT THIS. I need it. I get out of self-isolation tomorrow so maybe I'll treat myself with a Battenberg. What if they're all sold out?!</li><li>Laura, who doesn't like Battenberg but is crafting a raspberry and coconut one, has a fish tank in her garden with giant fish. Very cool.</li><li>Lottie (aka the baker with piercing eyes and quite a lot of eyeliner) is a pantomime producer and does yoga. I can vibe with this person. She's like a Southern version of Jessy Barden. Anyway, Lottie is going for rhubarb and custard, a solid choice.</li><li>Dave is a security guard, so I don't want to get on his bad side but he did just say "expresso martini". It's ESPRESSO please, Dave. Thank you.</li><li>I wonder how many times he's going to say "expresso". I really don't think I'll be able to deal with it more than once.</li><li>One of the Marks (Marc with a 'c') has a very cute dog and is making a sour cherry, chocolate and walnut Battenberg which sounds kind of good but also just reminds me of Black Forest Gateau straight away which I'm not a top fan of.</li><li>I've been listening to Sleep Stories on the Calm app (shout out to Cillian Murphy's one about Ireland) and listening to Noel commentate then just made me think it would be really nice for him to do one. Maybe I should tweet him about it.</li><li>There's a young guy called Peter with a bright orangey-red shirt. He's an Accountancy student. Nice. What's even nicer is he's making a gluten-free bake because his brother is gluten intolerant. What's even nicer than that is he has a Scottish accent.</li><li>Ohhhhhh no. There's an overflowing cake from Sura. But it's okay because she WALKS HER CAT. She's making an orange and lemon Battenberg which sounds very refreshing and will look very cute because she's going to add marzipan fruits on top. I'm a bit worried for her though as she seems quite flustered.</li><li>Second Mark is here. He's making what sounds like the best Battenberg, with pistachio and orange and cardamom. This is the Mark with the red jazzy shirt, which Noel I imagine is admiring.</li><li>Noel's shirt is currently a pineapple with circles cut out of it. It's way more complex than that, but that's the best my brain can do right now.</li><li>We're now with Red Glasses Cord Man, who seems like a very spiritual and dramatic guy. He's trying to build a Battenberg temple. If he manages to construct this, it'll look good, but I'm confused just looking at the design.</li><li>I've just discovered his name is Rowan. Rowan with the Red Cord.</li><li>We've got a Linda, who lives near the beach. She's making a Battenberg in the shape of an ambulance as a tribute to her cousin. With raspberry buttercream... oh my god I'm so hungry.</li><li>Mak is making an East Indian Battenberg. Why do I feel like several mums and grandmas watching are going to have a crush on Mak?</li><li>Rowan has gone absolutely insane for this first episode in terms of cake design. He's brought a box with levels in that he's trying to shape his cake to. It seems waaaaaaay over the top for episode one.</li><li>Oh no. Not only has Rowan got a ridiculous structure he has to build, but he's not fully cooked the cake. He's trying to resolve it in the microwave. Is that a thing? Don't microwaves make things gooier?!</li><li>Ah but then there are mug cakes.</li><li>OH NO. Rowan says the temple might have to go. What is he going to have if he doesn't have the temple? Just some weirdly-coloured lines of cake and no theme?! GOD FORBID.</li><li>Lottie and Noel are gonna be buds.</li><li>Sura's bake looks really cool. Rowan's has evolved into a kind of unicorn cake with a tiny baguette on top of it.</li><li>We're back after the break, and it's time for me to do a half-arsed review of the results because I've already missed a few while reading tweets about Bake Off by Innocent Smoothies.</li><li>Paul isn't chuffed with Laura's plain sponge. She needed to jazz it up.</li><li>Linda's attempt at an ambulance looks a bit like a beige bus as she didn't manage to get the green and yellow stripes on the side.</li><li>Loriea has overdone it on the bubblegum flavouring, and the cake is dry. Nooooooo.</li><li>Ooooooh Lottie has put her bake in a giant sweet wrapper. That's pretty cool.</li><li>The magic-flute-unicorn-baguette by Rowan is up. He claims it's a 'deconstructed temple'. Rowan, no.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eil52gpXsAI8bfO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eil52gpXsAI8bfO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Sura has pleased the judges, despite Paul listing good things like he was about to say something bad at the end.</li><li>Time for the Technical now! Six miniature pineapple upside-down cakes, where each cake has one pineapple ring. I wonder if this is harder or easier than making one giant cake.</li><li>One of the Marks has a voice that sounds a bit like James Acaster's.</li><li>Noel is trying to encourage the bakers to be kitchen nightmares. Noel Fielding's Kitchen Nightmares. </li><li>God, I really want a SMEG fridge. Our fridge is just white and dull. I want my fridge to be green. Be right back, let me just make a couple of thousand pounds and replace the fridge.</li><li>OH, MAMA. Right before the break, Sura knocked Expresso Man's cakes onto the floor, just before he put them down on the judging table. Absolute nightmare. Noel's dream is coming alive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/fJCbIfZH6mT0k/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="500" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/fJCbIfZH6mT0k/giphy.gif" /></a></div><br /></li><li>It's judging time. I feel like they've seen the disaster buns as they've gone to the other end of the table first.</li><li>Thumbs up for Lottie and Rowan. Mak's are a little bit doughy. Laura's has some overpowering caramel.</li><li>Peter looks like what I expect Christopher Robin to look like in real life.</li><li>Sura is probably feeling really guilty because hers have done really well. But Expresso Man's are okay as he had one left standing to be judged. Lucky Dave. OOOOH SURA GOT FIRST PLACE, WHAT! She's not even celebrating, out of guilt!</li><li>It must be so strange to go from being locked down with your family to being locked down in a competition with twenty strangers, four presenters, and some production crew.</li><li>Part of me is a massive introvert, but I would like to be able to hang out with that many cool people.</li><li>The Showstopper now. The challenge is to make a cake bust of a celebrity hero. I don't know who I would pick... I mean my instant thought is Amy Winehouse, but that's just making life hard for myself because she's got extremely tall hair. I might as well go for Marge Simpson at that rate. </li><li>But then again, you want it to be recognisable because otherwise you'll get penalised if it doesn't look like the person...</li><li>Someone has gone for Ziggy Stardust, while another has gone for Bob Marley – a blue, green and yellow version that reminds me of Handsome Squidward.<br /></li><li>Laura has chosen Freddie Mercury, which is pretty cool. Apparently, when she did a test run, his head exploded. Very reassuring.</li><li>I've never heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bennett-Coverley">Miss Lou</a> but she sounds like a very cool lady.</li><li>Sura is making David Attenborough, and someone else is making Charles Darwin. A theme!</li><li>Lottie has a pencil behind her ear, which either means she's extremely annoying or overwhelmingly cool, and I feel like it's the second option.</li><li>Even though I have cake mix in, I still haven't bothered to actually make a cake to watch Bake Off with. It literally just requires water and oil. I'm having a hot chocolate right now though so that is some sort of effort, maybe.</li><li>Loriea will be using ginger and mango jam which sounds amaaaazing.</li><li>Peter is making a Chris Hoy cake, so he can avoid recreating both hair and eyes. Clever.</li><li>Oh woooooow. Hermine is going to make Lupita Nyong'o. If she pulls this off that'll be one beautiful cake.</li><li>Is it bad that I don't know who Bill Bryson is?</li><li>One hour to gooooooooo. It's getting stressful now. OH NO ONE OF THEM HAS ROLLED OFF. IT'S FREDDIE MERCURY'S HEAD.</li><li>Chris Hoy has a bit of a small head. David Attenborough's got a MASSIVE head. It's kind of like a caricature.</li><li>Bob Marley (Handsome Squidward) is looking alright. Freddie Mercury is looking quite cool and goofy but Laura's just got her hands on her head and she's not doing anything. A mood.</li><li>BLESS YOU, PETER. He's offering to help people.</li><li>Freddie Mercury has a bit of a hunch now.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hXryY3ZFFOMcdkKkYOGumU_XK-8=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21903646/TELEMMGLPICT000240037035_1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqBYMlWmNSsYKmyFVDYjgrQBGMyU79XnqbbDp2EpN56c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hXryY3ZFFOMcdkKkYOGumU_XK-8=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21903646/TELEMMGLPICT000240037035_1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqBYMlWmNSsYKmyFVDYjgrQBGMyU79XnqbbDp2EpN56c.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>OH NO. DAVID ATTENBOROUGH COLLAPSED (not in real life, I repeat <u>not</u> in real life). What is happening with Sura? I feel like she's got some cursed energy for this first episode.</li><li>Rowan has made this ridiculously good cake bust <u>but</u> he promised choux buns and he hasn't delivered. Paul is not impressed.</li><li>I hadn't picked up that Lottie is making a Louis Theroux cake. A winner in my eyes, but apparently he's overbaked. And Bill Bryson is too dry. </li><li>Handsome Squidward aka Bob Marley hasn't ended up with any facial features apart from a nose. Apparently, he's very tasty though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1600861283830-screen-shot-2020-09-23-at-111548.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="800" height="211" src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1600861283830-screen-shot-2020-09-23-at-111548.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Peter/Chris Hoy has SMASHED it. I can sense Paul is trying not to give out a Hollywood Handshake too early. He resists.</li><li>We have a mint and strawberry Tom DeLonge from Expresso Dave, which tastes a bit like toothpaste apparently. Hmm.</li><li>Lupita does not look like Lupita. Oh dear. But Hermine has made the most beautiful edible shirt I've ever seen. It looks so real.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/gbbo-lupita-cake.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=680&h=356&crop=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="680" height="209" src="https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/gbbo-lupita-cake.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=680&h=356&crop=1" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li><li>Darwin has gone down well, while Miss Lou looks a bit more like E.T. than herself. She's also way too spicy for Paul and Prue's liking.</li><li>Now we're onto Sura's David Attenborough, having a nap on a roll of something after collapsing earlier. Thumbs up from the judges.</li><li>They love Laura's cake too! I now have no idea who they're going to send home. Maybe it's Linda, but I like Linda. I wonder if it'll be one of the Marks because there are way too many currently to keep track of.</li><li>Time for Matt Lucas to announce Star Baker. I assume it's Peter. Yaaaaaay, it is! Christopher Robiiiiiiiin. </li><li>And going home iissssss.... Loriea?! Oh noooooo. What?! I thought she did okay-ish?</li><li>Okay, Rowan totally has a crush on Peter. And next week is Biscuit Week.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/1ngQorBCDcUFy/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/1ngQorBCDcUFy/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li></ol>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-26542560401346224572020-06-05T18:19:00.001+01:002021-10-06T17:17:31.174+01:00As you might have noticed...Hey blog readers, of which I predict are about zero at this point due to me being rubbish in regularly posting!<div><br /></div><div>All zero of you may have noticed that I never finished my Road to 10k series, and in all honesty, I never actually made it to that 10k. I still haven't.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like a lot of things, had it not been for this pandemic, that goal would've been reached (I hope). But it's pretty pointless dwelling on that when I could focus on positive things I've found during this weird stint in time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Continuing that train of honesty, I've felt overwhelmed by social media lately. At times, it can seem full to the brim with:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>videos of police brutality in America</li><li>articles about climate change</li><li>and general despair.</li></ul><div>So I'll be limiting my intake from now on, and putting that time and energy I would usually spend mindlessly scrolling apps into positive things, like:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>educating myself more on BLM issues (<a href="https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/">resources here</a>)</b></li><ul><li>my next read will be <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/So-You-Want-Talk-About-Race-Ijeoma-Oluo/9781580058827">So You Want to Talk About Race</a> by Ijeoma Oluo</li></ul><li><b>regular yoga and stretching</b></li><ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene">Yoga with Adriene</a> is my fave and makes free calendars to follow day-by-day</li></ul><li><b>dancing!!!</b></li><ul><li>aw yeahhhhh! if you know me, you might know that my dancing is usually some form of waving my hands in the air and singing along, probably to subconsciously distract from the fact that I have no moves. well, this is <b>no longer my problem </b>thanks to the GORGEOUS Ryan Heffington. At the time of writing this, he's doing live dance workouts 2-3 times a week on his Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ryan.heffington/">@ryan.heffington</a>). I recommend them if you want to feel a bajillion times better.</li></ul><li><b>lovely live radio </b>(Radio 1 is my go-to at the mo)</li><li><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rhi.artiste/">illustration</a></b></li><li><b>wine, chocolate biscuits, pizza, cute videos of dogs, really realllllly enjoying those cups of tea, and laughing</b></li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoVgJbF8iqUSusnDU3I8ENkM8C_OeZueZ9ZSLrOl2m-y0AGR07sI60YxGytrL1DP0HxweUas73rg9okGY-Lshi1LrW572Il7bCqENEn7YEprc-q2os7GXOLzKR4BedNmoFvcLv_2LJw/s579/Screenshot+2020-06-05+at+18.12.45.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A digital illustration of a cup of tea in a red and yellow mug, on a white and blue patterned coaster. The mug is steaming as it's full of hot tea." border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoVgJbF8iqUSusnDU3I8ENkM8C_OeZueZ9ZSLrOl2m-y0AGR07sI60YxGytrL1DP0HxweUas73rg9okGY-Lshi1LrW572Il7bCqENEn7YEprc-q2os7GXOLzKR4BedNmoFvcLv_2LJw/w366-h400/Screenshot+2020-06-05+at+18.12.45.png" title="A good cuppa" width="366" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Things I have laughed at in the week just gone include:</h4><div>Chris Stark and Scott Mills on Radio 1; our neighbour's cat being chonky and adorable; Lie to Me (a TV series on Prime); messing around on Animal Crossing; and my fab friends and family.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading x</div>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-75742508280310700262020-04-15T21:34:00.000+01:002020-04-15T21:34:46.614+01:00Weeks 6 and 7 of Rhi's road to 10kHello there! If you're feeling perceptive today (whether you've spotted the title of this blogpost yet or not) you may have noticed that I didn't update you last week with my running progress.<br />
<br />
If I'm honest, I can't quite remember the reason for that, but it was probably related to one of the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Lockdown-related stress</li>
<li>Work-related stress</li>
<li>Low energy levels</li>
<li>I was playing Animal Crossing instead</li>
</ul>
<div>
I did in fact run as planned last week, but I just didn't post, and there's that. I'm very sorry and I <strike>won't do it again</strike> am not making that promise because sometimes life gets in the way, and that's okay! The weekend I'm writing this on is a bank holiday, and with more time on my hands I'm finding myself more relaxed, happier, and having more time to tune into myself. And that includes blogging. :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In three words, the past two weeks of running have been:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>gloriously-sunny</li>
<li>bendy (in terms of swerving around people and crossing roads to remain at a minimum of 2m distance from humans)</li>
<li>upbeat</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iP_a8GdR0cyFAosuIgpe8Lus26G2DelKBRwvfoWz4L-n1scg9WBnV-tiyarqFEuVMJR0ubMptdznSv7EpyDFM1MoWMzLQrKOySRMZYWvV27iklEg9l0wt2ti6Z7rv9BBZhSEqGRNxw/s1600/flower-2131133_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iP_a8GdR0cyFAosuIgpe8Lus26G2DelKBRwvfoWz4L-n1scg9WBnV-tiyarqFEuVMJR0ubMptdznSv7EpyDFM1MoWMzLQrKOySRMZYWvV27iklEg9l0wt2ti6Z7rv9BBZhSEqGRNxw/s640/flower-2131133_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_803374395"></span><span id="goog_803374396"></span><br />
<br />
If I were to add another word to that list, it would be <b>therapeutic. </b>Running for me lately has become a way to clear my head, and reflect on how much progress I'm making through sticking with something and working towards a goal. And that goal is 10k. I haven't reached as far as 7k like I did before lockdown, as the whole avoiding-people thing is tricky in a busy place like London, and I have feelings of at least mild anxiety whenever I leave the house. It might be that I choose to postpone my 10k for this reason, in COVID-19 Events Postponing fashion, but for now I'm going to keep going, in a sensible way, and run early in the mornings.<br />
<h3>
Week 6</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>3.53km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>25:17 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>7:10 / km</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 2</h3>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li>Distance achieved:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 5.00km</span></li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">38:00 (minutes:seconds)</span></li>
<li><b>Pace: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">7:36 / km</span></li>
</ul>
</h4>
</div>
<div>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This run really sucked at the start, but I got speedy at the end! Perseverance prevails!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Today I did a long walk instead: </b>9.9km, 98m elevation gain, over 1h 18m. These are all number-y nonsense to me, but I enjoyed the really long walk chatting on the phone and listening to a good podcast.</div>
</div>
<h3>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<br /></div>
</h3>
<h3>
<b>Week 7</b></h3>
<div>
<h3>
<b>Day 1</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li>Distance achieved:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 3.89km</span></li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">27:42 (minutes:seconds)</span></li>
<li><b>Pace: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">7:07 / km</span></li>
</ul>
</h4>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
<b>Day 2</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
</div>
<h4>
<ul>
<li>Distance achieved:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 3.29km</span></li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">25:56 (minutes:seconds)</span></li>
<li><b>Pace: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">7:52 / km</span></li>
</ul>
</h4>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
<b>Day 3</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b>Today I did a Fitness Marshall workout instead: </b>five songs' worth of dances equaling about 20 minutes of pure pop-fuelled exercise. I am so uncoordinated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been challenged to do that 5k challenge thingy, so I'll be smashing that soon. Overall it's good to see that my average pace is solidly below 8:00 / km now!</div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-36263935232501256732020-03-31T11:47:00.000+01:002020-03-31T11:47:22.706+01:00Week 5 of Rhi's road to 10kI've written a new song and it goes like this:<br />
<br />
<i>Quarantine is weird</i><br />
<i>Quarantine is weird</i><br />
<i>I'm cleaning everything around me</i><br />
<i>Quarantine is weird</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I've watered all my plants</i><br />
<i>And rearranged my lamps</i><br />
<i>I'm running out of things to clean cos</i><br />
<i>Quarantine is weird...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Potentially lots more verses coming soon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JKYeXf2nis-jlDTRfG6ymfZK06QnD3Sg2JxJXEvJe25uwU2aXUA2wXC-Hk2TaOB7kHuXEd6l2TV1Pb8rx3ii1ApdyGh0OFlIwwS7O9PzYCC-FgzgKs6YBJ9voJWAQZS0a77D0FMvJg/s1600/flowers-3344915_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JKYeXf2nis-jlDTRfG6ymfZK06QnD3Sg2JxJXEvJe25uwU2aXUA2wXC-Hk2TaOB7kHuXEd6l2TV1Pb8rx3ii1ApdyGh0OFlIwwS7O9PzYCC-FgzgKs6YBJ9voJWAQZS0a77D0FMvJg/s640/flowers-3344915_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1279321595"></span><span id="goog_1279321596"></span><br />
<br />
Anyway Week 5 of my training has ended, hasn't it. Isn't that fancy. The world is still upside down but imma keep running.<br />
<br />
In three words, Week 5 of training was:<br />
<ul>
<li>windy</li>
<li>stealthy</li>
<li>long</li>
</ul>
Here's the rundown:<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 30 minute run + 10 minute surge</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>5.05km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>31:10 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>6:10 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>A speedy run! I ended up skipping the 'surge' I was meant to do at the end because who's got the mental energy for dodging humans at full speed?! This social distancing thing isn't being followed by everyone in the park, lemme tell ya. Got some "best estimated" personal records though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh3ZgV8DscxQcHo2_3qiwd116M2fNXn9qt0I4cle4RubaslRZY3Ehe9ZmGrz0lJ_6JV_dTGlVO-ZUaouZMNiQAMrrKqGyKZl1hkji7k-9gvXoGXXserhKWtVHgjngrdEgw2Fv33Rhbw/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-28+at+17.58.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="325" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh3ZgV8DscxQcHo2_3qiwd116M2fNXn9qt0I4cle4RubaslRZY3Ehe9ZmGrz0lJ_6JV_dTGlVO-ZUaouZMNiQAMrrKqGyKZl1hkji7k-9gvXoGXXserhKWtVHgjngrdEgw2Fv33Rhbw/s320/Screenshot+2020-03-28+at+17.58.33.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
Day 2</h3>
<div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute run, plus 6 x 100m sprints</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>4.59km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>33:23 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>7:16 / km</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Thoughts: </b>A slower pace this time, so that Peaches the pup could run with us (and so I could keep up too!). As I mentioned, the park is a busy place right now, but at least that brings life some variety, and on Day 2 of this week, we were brought a ferret. Off lead. I don't think Peaches could quite see it slithering along the path as it was pretty camouflaged, but she was a bit spooked. As for the sprints, I managed four in total. SPRINTING IS HARD.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZWyfda_pD_wPNnNUwZr_YxuQr2ULb8MN1vtDrrvjUu6sNML6W572UDqdVDVlwFmZo_Oqei2Dih99wQF-Khwh7Tu13hxDe9ljugpZ8-VDuEUluOU6DtqayQ6ksg8jniJs48hpgbY4fA/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-28+at+18.01.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZWyfda_pD_wPNnNUwZr_YxuQr2ULb8MN1vtDrrvjUu6sNML6W572UDqdVDVlwFmZo_Oqei2Dih99wQF-Khwh7Tu13hxDe9ljugpZ8-VDuEUluOU6DtqayQ6ksg8jniJs48hpgbY4fA/s400/Screenshot+2020-03-28+at+18.01.34.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Peaches the pup sensing something was up (it was, in fact, a man walking his pet ferret)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h3>
<br />Day 3</h3>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 60 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>6.8km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>1:00:01 (hours:minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>8:50 / km</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Thoughts: </b>I made the mistake of running away from the wind at the start of my run, which made the second half difficult as heck as I was running towards it at my most tired. <b>Ugh. </b>This was the first time I've deliberately headed out for a 60 minute run, and it was daunting. Admittedly, I walked some hills and occasionally some flat bits too, both to catch my breath and make sure I was keeping my distance from humans in the park and on pavements. So it wasn't a continuous run, but dammit I tried my best. I used a guided run from the Nike Run Club app ('1 Hour Run' I think it was called) - my favourite parts were when the narrator asked quick fire questions to distract my brain, like "what was the last thing you ate?" and "ketchup or mustard on hotdogs?". Okay I can only remember the food-related ones.<br />
<br />
All in all, it was a weird week. But fitting in my three runs helped a lot. Onto Week 6!<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-33088415473333389122020-03-23T22:56:00.004+00:002020-03-23T22:57:25.305+00:00Week 4 of Rhi's road to 10kHi there. It's Week 4 of my training, and I'm sorry to report that the weird vibe of last week has only gotten weirder. At the time of writing, we've just gone into Coronavirus-induced lockdown in the UK. It won't be too weird for me, as I've been doing what the lockdown demands for about a week now, but still - my training might get WEIRD. Luckily the local park is still open, so for now I'm carrying on with my original workout plan.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3VZLTpTDiYulhEK-OpPKRPs7-d8Jco18chTTRtDof3J_ZmPBAQbWI7IRPGCA_60gDBAm3TN795vhaZXbAGTBLfbZyW8gDVJ88USuDDMFDaehvXZI1WIiDcE-PpUAhnzej0HMNt8EUg/s1600/shoes-1260718_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3VZLTpTDiYulhEK-OpPKRPs7-d8Jco18chTTRtDof3J_ZmPBAQbWI7IRPGCA_60gDBAm3TN795vhaZXbAGTBLfbZyW8gDVJ88USuDDMFDaehvXZI1WIiDcE-PpUAhnzej0HMNt8EUg/s400/shoes-1260718_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Hans-2/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1260718">Hans Braxmeier</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1260718">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In three words, Week 4 of training was:<br />
<ul>
<li>welcomed</li>
<li>sunny</li>
<li>progress</li>
</ul>
Here's the rundown:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>2km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>12:50 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>6:16 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This was a bit of a short one, but I'm seeing a vast improvement in my ability to maintain a quicker pace as the days go on. Noice. Also faster than I managed last week, and I thought last week was groovy! I do love a good lunchtime run too. They're always enjoyable, and motivate me for the afternoon ahead.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 2</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Walk stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>Stretching my legs before work</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>4.20km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>54:03 (minutes:seconds)</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>A lovely walk in fresh air.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
<h4>
Walk stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>Stretching my legs before work</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>4.73km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>58:48 (minutes:seconds)</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>A similar stroll around the park. For a bit longer, and a bit further distance.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 4</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 60 minute run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>5.4km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>45:11 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>8:22 / km</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Thoughts: </b>I meant to do a full hour here, but that turned into 45 minutes in my brain, and I ain't sorry. It's darn tricky trying to keep a regular pace whilst also staying two metres away from everyone in a popular London park! So I even walked some of this (that's why my pace is slower than what I've been managing lately).<br />
<br />
Stay safe and indoors, if you can xxx</div>
</div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-32215331226976153912020-03-19T07:26:00.001+00:002020-03-19T07:26:46.631+00:00Week 3 of Rhi's road to 10kHello everyone. What a weird time this is. I'm currently sat on my bed, writing this blog post, reflecting on my running progress last week, when everything seemed relatively normal and relaxed. Fast forward 7-ish days later, and I'm worrying about breathing in public. <b>Breathing.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIJNJ67VkunNtwZ-z7nS_hKqAezHVEdYmHIt5VOfGCkNDY1BcRV281S6LTg6iu-o8A4Km9qm5zYFNZRSvQTens1W9D4dHJ4cfiyo1t97NNHR-lAqbZSvWAUp6xChJNYsFTtcr_rnspA/s1600/lotus-4312128_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIJNJ67VkunNtwZ-z7nS_hKqAezHVEdYmHIt5VOfGCkNDY1BcRV281S6LTg6iu-o8A4Km9qm5zYFNZRSvQTens1W9D4dHJ4cfiyo1t97NNHR-lAqbZSvWAUp6xChJNYsFTtcr_rnspA/s400/lotus-4312128_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_631407025"></span><span id="goog_631407026"></span><br />
Note to self: I need to do that. Anyway, let's reflect on the runs I did last week.<br />
<br />
In three words, Week 3 of training was:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>condensed</li>
<li>fun</li>
<li>fast</li>
</ul>
<br />
Here's the rundown:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>2.64km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>19:30 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>7:23 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This was a zoom-y run around my neighbourhood. I zigzagged around streets and paced myself. Nice.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 2</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>5.26km (2.92km* + 2.34km**)</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>34:25 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>6:46/km*, and 6:41/km**</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This second, double run - if you will - was the day after my first run of the week. I'm not sure what possessed me to do this, but I guess sometimes you get addicted to goals. And running. It was GoodGym, so of course I loved it. We moved various supplies to a nearby nature reserve, and even had a laugh with some local passers-by who were evidently embarrassed by the amount of toilet rolls they were carrying past us.<br />
<br />
I always love going to <a href="https://www.goodgym.org/" target="_blank">GoodGym</a> sessions. Writing this makes me quite sad, since as of the time of writing, GoodGym group runs are cancelled until further notice. It makes sense, but it's the one thing I do regularly that I know keeps me in good spirits and health, and I enjoy running with everyone in my group so much. I'll miss it and will cherish it even more when it starts up again. Until then, solo isolated runs and home yoga it is.<br />
<br />
Would like to add that I'm enjoying how it's getting easier to run at a faster pace now!<br />
<br />
*Running to the task<br />
**Running back from the task<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmX1jmZSU84JO-fEq0TcqFpm5GMqeWiLYwMo3cpXtdFZ8Ox_DNEq20j5bMFjaapGc3XyLitk1YfqYyYqe-22NTFqpPhzDY-4Eb7MB0vXRXldSG0RA5Ka83fT_zW37_cDuRlwsBsHTsQ/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-19+at+07.22.07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="927" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmX1jmZSU84JO-fEq0TcqFpm5GMqeWiLYwMo3cpXtdFZ8Ox_DNEq20j5bMFjaapGc3XyLitk1YfqYyYqe-22NTFqpPhzDY-4Eb7MB0vXRXldSG0RA5Ka83fT_zW37_cDuRlwsBsHTsQ/s640/Screenshot+2020-03-19+at+07.22.07.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, you can see where I sprinted my butt off to the finish line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">... was sort of planned, and didn't happen. Partly due to lazing around at the weekend, and partly due to not wanting to go out of the house if it wasn't necessary. But fresh air is necessary in my eyes. So I did end up going for a walk in the local dog park, and we met a HUGE fluffy husky named Charles. Sadly I didn't get a picture, but I would have had to stand about four metres away to fit his whole body in the shot, HE WAS SO CHONKY. (We love you, Charles, thank you for accepting our pats... not so much for almost flooring one of us).</span></h4>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Week 4's blog will be up soon!</span></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-75915941461464379122020-03-08T19:15:00.000+00:002020-03-10T22:36:17.223+00:00Week 2 of Rhi's road to 10kBonjour! It's the end of my second week of running regularly, and it feels good.<br />
<br />
In three words, Week 2 of training was:<br />
<ul>
<li>rainy</li>
<li>busy</li>
<li>again, sunny-and-kinda-awesome-at-the-end</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcemEdEbRrWr_QPly_OpVLI1mmxbwrAE42KyNU1GgwRmpcgKkhznYuNJtq8LM6v_nWj8XrGvZ0FZeoxWvN05AFy68Yyfd9EGNd67gurHw2EOI7ybKBmY_-f2vraXricJGC0S-8suPFg/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-08+at+19.01.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="715" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcemEdEbRrWr_QPly_OpVLI1mmxbwrAE42KyNU1GgwRmpcgKkhznYuNJtq8LM6v_nWj8XrGvZ0FZeoxWvN05AFy68Yyfd9EGNd67gurHw2EOI7ybKBmY_-f2vraXricJGC0S-8suPFg/s400/Screenshot+2020-03-08+at+19.01.38.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hello swans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's the rundown:</div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>1.8km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>14:43 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>8:11 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This run was very early in the morning. To be honest, I hated it. I did <b>not </b>wanna be out there. It was cold. There's also a weird energy before the workday when everyone's trudging to their cars/public transport. So I scuttled on back home before too long. But as usual, I did feel good afterwards.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 2 (yoga day)</h3>
</div>
<div>
This week was very busy, and very rainy, which resulted in me not squeezing in a run in the middle of the week. I need to get myself a good waterproof running jacket so rain isn't an excuse for me anymore!<br />
<br />
Instead, I did some lovely yin yoga as recommended by my fellow yogis at work:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UR469yFLX2w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UR469yFLX2w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 45 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>7.01km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>43:13</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>6:10 / km (!!!)</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>Woah. This was waaay zoomier than expected. I managed to get 6 personal best times on Strava, including running 5km in 30 minutes - which this slow poke has never managed before. I enjoyed my adventures through not one but <b>two </b>London parks, and saw some very cute dogs in the second one for good measure. So overall, I'm glad I risked going outside after some temperamental weather earlier. I treated myself to some flapjack and mango juice afterwards.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Week 2 done. Let's GO, Week 3!</div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-60417239116592006032020-03-02T20:00:00.002+00:002020-03-10T22:36:08.059+00:00Week 1 of Rhi's road to 10kHiya. It me. I've come up with a really original title for this series of blogposts as you can see. It's so original that I think I have a desperate need to change it right this second but until I come up with something better... that's what you're gettin', pardner.<br />
<br />
In three words, Week 1 of training was:<br />
<ul>
<li>windy</li>
<li>cold</li>
<li>sunny-and-kinda-awesome-at-the-end</li>
</ul>
<div>
Here's the rundown:</div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>2km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>14:57 (minutes:seconds)</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>7:27 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>This first run could have gone a lot better. It also could have gone a lot worse. It turns out that, in February, when it's flipping cold and grey and windy outside, my body does not want to get out of bed on time to run leisurely like an organised individual, so I ended up:<br />
<ol>
<li>scrambling around in my room trying to get a shift on, and</li>
<li>cutting this run short by 15 minutes in order to jump in the shower and arrive at work on time.</li>
</ol>
I also hesitate to call this a 'run', because while I was quite speedy at times, I also stopped to walk at least twice (spot the dips in the graph below). Yeah, that's right. IT'S SCIENCE TIME AND IT'S ONLY DAY ONE, OH YEAH.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCu9DLTDU2LbCyq06DSNVmN52YPVq3OEZsKiYh-DoYQtw5JdbOzmuEln6FuyTWQVLTRL_P0u5O1UwJdEN8GdTJEsB8S_9_v2VWKG-huOoFGYDY4Z4pXKyyDXLB8eY9QqTJ6WX0GQQ6w/s1600/Screenshot+2020-02-25+at+21.26.04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="927" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCu9DLTDU2LbCyq06DSNVmN52YPVq3OEZsKiYh-DoYQtw5JdbOzmuEln6FuyTWQVLTRL_P0u5O1UwJdEN8GdTJEsB8S_9_v2VWKG-huOoFGYDY4Z4pXKyyDXLB8eY9QqTJ6WX0GQQ6w/s640/Screenshot+2020-02-25+at+21.26.04.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Strava for this beautiful mountainous diagram. As you can see, my pace is VERY consistent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 2 (rest day)</h3>
</div>
<div>
Aside from work, I made hake stir fry, washed some towels and started the last season of Grace & Frankie. I was too lazy to go to the shops to buy eggs so I didn't make pancakes even though this was Pancake Day. I'm fully aware I am a disgrace.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I haven't decided whether I'm going to keep up writing about my rest days as this could get quite off topic. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. Hold on to your suspense boots.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
</div>
<div>
<h4>
Run stats</h4>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 20-30 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>3.26km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>26:47</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>8:13 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>I used the Easy Run guided audio run on the Nike Run App for this, and it worked a treat. I ran slow and easy and never ran out of breath or turned beetroot-coloured. A top tip I used for this run (and on every run I can) is to drink lots of water beforehand. That way, I don't get a painful stitch within the first five minutes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 4 (rest day)</h3>
<div>
I'm tired and my hips hurt. Well, they did this morning, and I know it's because of my run. They're hyper-flexible, so they're tricky b*stards. Can anyone recommend some good post-run stretches for hips?</div>
<br />
<h3>
Day 5 (rest day)</h3>
</div>
<div>
Another normal-ish day of work. But I did end it in the V&A at the Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition, which was pretty cool.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 6 (meant to run today, didn't)</h3>
</div>
<div>
I woke up at 2pm, so y'know. I didn't go for a run in my sleep, if you catch my drift.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 7 (meant to be a rest day, actually became a run day)</h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Yesterday didn't go to plan, so I made up for it today. <b>Big</b> time. Here's the all important...</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>...run stats</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Goal: </b>A 45 minute 'easy' run</li>
<li><b>Distance achieved: </b>7.21km</li>
<li><b>Moving time: </b>1:02:21</li>
<li><b>Pace: </b>8:40 / km</li>
</ul>
<b>Thoughts: </b>Well, I was pretty psyched. I was a bit naughty, in a good way, because I ran for longer than I should have. 17 minutes longer. In total, I managed over 7km and this is my longest run to date - <b>ever. </b>Admittedly, I walked most of the hills (not all!), and was kinda slow. Especially when I got lost at the far end of the park. But my victory was helped along by that confusion in the end, as I just ran until I knew where I was! Which turned out to be the far end of Kentish Town.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0NtD5elTsJUod2YMECL9zxLDxK2ovCTD6QOriNQEMhd3nIkPDVyTU6OYkO7nl3vAUT2G2VBgfLTL3nHb8YaPfnDrpgiGKppvc51TEmpysoXWOJ8FVqfwCHySO5eBGMWuTqH4aZmC7Q/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-02+at+19.54.05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="597" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0NtD5elTsJUod2YMECL9zxLDxK2ovCTD6QOriNQEMhd3nIkPDVyTU6OYkO7nl3vAUT2G2VBgfLTL3nHb8YaPfnDrpgiGKppvc51TEmpysoXWOJ8FVqfwCHySO5eBGMWuTqH4aZmC7Q/s320/Screenshot+2020-03-02+at+19.54.05.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there wasn't a floating left arrow, I just don't have the energy to crop this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Week 1 done. Here's to Week 2!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
PS my hips hurt</div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-77081518654410749262020-02-24T21:31:00.000+00:002020-02-24T21:31:24.107+00:00Couch to... 10k?!HEY BLOG. This year, I'm going to run ten kilometres. And I've decided to track how it all goes, with the whole training malarkey, up to the point that I actually run the distance in an <b>official, real-life</b> <b>race</b> in May.<br />
<br />
Of course, this is my first 10k, so I'm not really going to be getting into the 'race' element. It'll be more of a survival mission, frankly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z3ZbIzCIImSc310SuSpce9rrdB8_Be1Tddfnf1P__JsjsZd8UdsFBGyjM1J8EnMtd24qa7igaWGOqigkHLNu8wsvYyFCFuLA-fa9RAOURcomNO4Mc6rdhBBYHDjjLxllkDoVmzELeA/s1600/jogging-4211946_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z3ZbIzCIImSc310SuSpce9rrdB8_Be1Tddfnf1P__JsjsZd8UdsFBGyjM1J8EnMtd24qa7igaWGOqigkHLNu8wsvYyFCFuLA-fa9RAOURcomNO4Mc6rdhBBYHDjjLxllkDoVmzELeA/s640/jogging-4211946_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/wal_172619-12138562/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4211946">wal_172619</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4211946">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To give you an impression of where I'm at right now, so I can maybe do a bit of a before-after thing, at the moment I run:<br />
<ul>
<li>1-2 times a week</li>
<li>2-5km at a time, depending on the day/weather/my mood/how many motivating doggos I see along the way</li>
<li>quite slowly</li>
</ul>
<div>
I did the wonderful NHS <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/" target="_blank">Couch to 5K program</a> (which I recommend to anyone wanting to get into running/a bit more fit) a few years ago. And now running is something that keeps me physically, and mentally, in shape...*<br />
<br />
... to the point where I feel off if I haven't done it in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
Now, I know I can reach 5k in one go, but it's not always easy, so <b>double</b> that is a real challenge for me. And that's one of the reasons why my brain came up with the idea of shuffling my body across 10k in 2020. I'm not ready yet, but I will be (I hope!!!), and for anyone else thinking of doing a similar thing, I hope this turns out to be a truly inspirational tale.<br />
<br />
As long as you can cope with your inspirational tales containing a degree of complaining, wacky leggings and detailed descriptions of dog-spots.<br />
<br />
<b>Watch out for my account of Week 1 soon...</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Especially because I like pizza, and my office has a regular influx of TimTams.</span></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-11228320311605636552019-05-21T20:55:00.001+01:002019-05-21T20:55:30.884+01:00Rhi Review: Game of Thrones FINALE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/69/5c/6a695c6ae90c8fa813706af626674969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/69/5c/6a695c6ae90c8fa813706af626674969.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's time. Game of Thrones is officially saying <i>adieu</i> to our screens, <i>au revoir</i> to our Monday mornings at 2am (that's if you're reading this in the UK, and you're motivated enough to stay up that late), and finally <i>fonas chek </i>(which I am told means <a href="https://glosbe.com/en/mis_dot/goodbye" target="_blank">'goodbye' in Dothraki</a>). For those of you who have read my reviews of The Great British Bake Off, I'll be typing my thoughts in a similar chronological fashion, but probably in paragraph format because this isn't scones, tarts and soufflés. This is dragons, fire, death, castles, ships, dusty faces, and potentially an even more horrific (lack of) appreciation of the importance of character development. Let's get going, shall we. <i>(It goes without saying that this blog post contains spoilers).</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The episode kicks off with Tyrion walking at the speed of a hungover fresher on a university campus trudging to the shop to buy some milk, that they're not even sure they need. We now see Greyworm, naturally maintaining a strong loyalty to his Queen, Daenerys, who in the last episode we saw go absolutely bonkers and blast dragon fire at innocent people like there was no tomorrow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://memegenerator.net/img/images/11823340/khaleesi-funny-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="800" height="235" src="https://memegenerator.net/img/images/11823340/khaleesi-funny-face.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fast forward to hungover, milk-seeking Tyrion now trudging over some concrete. Oh wait, he's found Jaime's hand! And his face. Next to Cersei's face. After some rather unconvincing crying, Tyrion slams some rock onto some more rock and then cries a bit more. Okay.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hello, Arya. Hello, Jon. It seems that Jon is also going to buy some milk. <b>If</b> the road to the shop selling milk was lined with speared guards and the doorman of the shop was a guy called Greyworm whose boss was a mad, murderous platinum blonde lady.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's right, Daenerys. Drape your flag over the wall and yell. YOU GOT IT, GURL. "The war is not over". Yeah, this does not feel like it's going to end well. I think Arya agrees with me judging by her expression.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.melty.fr/article-3582983-facebook-f8/game-of-thrones-saison-7-arya-stark-sansa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://media.melty.fr/article-3582983-facebook-f8/game-of-thrones-saison-7-arya-stark-sansa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
:o :o :o TYRION HAS THROWN HIS DAENERYS BADGE ONTO THE FLOOR! How on earth can the army see that he's just done that?! Are there some giant screens like it's Wembley Arena or something?! Anyway, if Jon walks away from her now, maybe she'll realise she's an arse. Excuse my Dothraki.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"She's everyone's queen, now." "Try telling Sansa." OOOOOH. I completely forgot that Sansa is still floating around.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>[Break numero uno]</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
It's interesting to watch Jon trying to justify Dany's actions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I zoned out a bit (not a great sign) - we're now at the point where Dany looks like she's about to get her mitts on the Iron Throne, accompanied by some weird music and mad eyes. Here comes Jon, hopefully 'bout to cause some eMoTiOnAL tUrMoiL. Dany is such a joker - "I know what's good" - hahahahaha. "We break the wheel together" - vomit, vomit, EURGH NOOOO STOP KISSING HER JON... Oh my god. What the F***. HE FLIPPING STABBED HER!!! WHAT THE HECK!!! Get off that flipping ledge, Jon, there's a dragon comin'. And I can't tell if it knows you did it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The dragon is now melting the Iron Throne. It is turning into lava. Going, going, gone. So that's it then?!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ydraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Drogon-Melting-the-Iron-Throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="800" height="210" src="https://ydraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Drogon-Melting-the-Iron-Throne.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>[Break numero dos]</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
We are now on a stage-type thingy, with Arya, Sansa, Yara, Greyworm, Tyrion, the Onion Knight, Brienne, Bran, and that dude who Arya got with (plus a few others). I'm not really sure how they all got wherever they are, or how they knew to go there. Ooooh, we've got one of the Senior Lords in the country talking. Who apparently doesn't like being told to shut up. Aha, they're voting on who they think should rule the seven kingdoms. Before Tyrion casts his vote, he's naturally going to potter around doing a speech. He's picking Bran. Now there's a very cheesy succession of 'Aye's. Or 'I's. Not from Sansa though - she's deeming the North an independent land. "Bran the Broken", what a title. I'd also like to add that it seems like Greyworm has found out about the Jon-Dany stabby-stabby and I have absolutely no idea how.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>[Break numero tres]</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
That break was really hard; there was a pizza advert. I am now very hungry. They're off to Naath. Maybe Greyworm will remember that Missandei would have wanted him to be an actually decent dude. Arya gives so little hoots about this whole thing that she's going off the grid. A true sign of how cheesy this all this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/Q8l3aVDWxDHHi/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Q8l3aVDWxDHHi/giphy.gif" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
STARK SYMBOLISM! Arya, Sansa and Bran all watching Jon hop into a lil' boat.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brienne is now being cute and writing the story of Jaime's life. If only he'd not been a total buffoon and gone running to Cersei. Who, by the way, died way too easily having been such a hardarse ('scuse my Dothraki again).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now we're in a room with the Onion Knight (also known as Ser Davos), Tyrion, Bronn and Sam. Sam has predictably written A Song of Ice & Fire. This part of the episode is also very slow-moving. Sansa, Arya and Jon are all walking somewhere. Arya seems to be on a ship, and Sansa in a church. Everyone is bowing down to Sansa. WAIT. THERE'S FLIPPING DIREWOLF INTERACTION. Okay, so they gave us like three seconds of it. Nice one, lads.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xULW8zNbE12Q6OtqO4/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xULW8zNbE12Q6OtqO4/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Got it. Sansa is now the Queen of the North. Not a bad title, if I do say so myself.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well! We're in the last minute now. And I have to say that I used to feel a lot more connected to, invested in and excited about Game of Thrones until this season. It feels like a lot of people feel similarly, and whilst the petition to remake the series does seem a bit ridiculous and far-fetched, I can't help but feel that it could have had much, much better storytelling. It's almost like it was written first as a series of books or something.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>images via <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/69/5c/6a695c6ae90c8fa813706af626674969.jpg" target="_blank">1</a> <a href="https://memegenerator.net/img/images/11823340/khaleesi-funny-face.jpg" target="_blank">2</a> <a href="https://media.melty.fr/article-3582983-facebook-f8/game-of-thrones-saison-7-arya-stark-sansa.jpg" target="_blank">3</a> <a href="https://ydraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Drogon-Melting-the-Iron-Throne.jpg" target="_blank">4</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/Q8l3aVDWxDHHi/giphy.gif" target="_blank">5</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xULW8zNbE12Q6OtqO4/giphy.gif" target="_blank">6</a></i></span></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-90257891894765405832019-02-12T19:25:00.001+00:002021-10-06T17:28:29.091+01:00That Wooferendum I went to in October and forgot to post about<i>It may be February now, but what better time than this awkward, gloomy tail-end-of-winter month full of office lurgies, sporadic showers and concerns about whether we should take our hat and gloves out with us everywhere to LOOK AT PICTURES OF DOGS. Happy belated Wooferendum, everyone.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RYxE9W36JpwoFTOxf59apqv6ad_Ln-kDb1oPdxGaLk8-2QAfzCkAY4tThLulIPCAMdp3JS_RPcfBIpy5EywtlMKr0ubr4tqntd1ZOcHdO4RO7DL9BAguj2AdWJnIGJGNpWIE1j3vow/s1600/IMG_20181007_140729730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A tiny, tiny dog, next to a Converse shoe for context. The dog is on a yellow lead." border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RYxE9W36JpwoFTOxf59apqv6ad_Ln-kDb1oPdxGaLk8-2QAfzCkAY4tThLulIPCAMdp3JS_RPcfBIpy5EywtlMKr0ubr4tqntd1ZOcHdO4RO7DL9BAguj2AdWJnIGJGNpWIE1j3vow/w400-h235/IMG_20181007_140729730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On 7th October 2018, hundreds of canines took to the streets of London to bork and walk with a purpose. That purpose was to protest <b>against </b>Brexit/<b>for </b>a vote or say on the final 'deal', and in solidarity, their people plus many fellow humans went for walkies with them (myself included). I don't really like getting caught up in politics most of the time, but this opportunity to "do something" about the current situation with many floofs involved was too cool to miss.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKnxxEtvxHqdsAENPCmQtDWWzA-D4vUJ9mQMjyuK5vuXdIA_0zl3fAityrE4sebRjLaqC_mBMG2yfVJ4bVOmOAJz0ysf1r-B4Map_Jm14UTkEwa26SVq_OVzztxmldYQ1nZZwQjN_Bw/s1600/IMG_20181007_140912068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A fluffy dog laying on the ground next to their human who is standing up. They are both wearing big EU flags." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKnxxEtvxHqdsAENPCmQtDWWzA-D4vUJ9mQMjyuK5vuXdIA_0zl3fAityrE4sebRjLaqC_mBMG2yfVJ4bVOmOAJz0ysf1r-B4Map_Jm14UTkEwa26SVq_OVzztxmldYQ1nZZwQjN_Bw/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_140912068.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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On arriving at Piccadilly Circus, before I knew it there was a suspected marcher in sight:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP65wgkcgEx48NgcqItlSTh_22bEo6t4fPQAsIIkd-ZFN65p4esiT1JhMgWRwbbnA-GzSKQ_8Af6D9SJfSrZKkRU70ivZ-gEBnhE7PNFEESw7mCQdpmad31KRuwAXjkMq8MamvVNFteQ/s1600/IMG_20181007_115014675.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A small brown dog pops its head around the side of a concrete building in central London." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP65wgkcgEx48NgcqItlSTh_22bEo6t4fPQAsIIkd-ZFN65p4esiT1JhMgWRwbbnA-GzSKQ_8Af6D9SJfSrZKkRU70ivZ-gEBnhE7PNFEESw7mCQdpmad31KRuwAXjkMq8MamvVNFteQ/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_115014675.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spot the pupper<br />
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Despite this promising start, I pottered on down to Waterloo Place just before noon on my todd and felt like a bit of a lost lemon who'd forgotten how to talk to people I didn't know (somehow in London this task feels 20x trickier). The first greeting I got was by a doggo, who began to use me as some kind of prop so she could get a better view of her surroundings without even a "bork" hello. It's safe to say that I did not mind. In fact, I insisted on a <strike>hand</strike>pawshake so we knew we were on good terms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa6RnR-0FWAxY_ShB75MJqFJ4YObCyYVwLhaK8zFfdS6_fNS5xlsqASYNgC6Bzb7tt_QksJQ14OBNWZGkTe4WHZOlcU7JKjtK98aD1R5gg5iufVZe5VTosUQ1AhEbnjJpuZzBoD-xow/s1600/IMG_20181007_120117843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A big beige dog next to a slightly smaller black dog. The black dog is on its back legs and is putting its front legs on my shorts for balance." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa6RnR-0FWAxY_ShB75MJqFJ4YObCyYVwLhaK8zFfdS6_fNS5xlsqASYNgC6Bzb7tt_QksJQ14OBNWZGkTe4WHZOlcU7JKjtK98aD1R5gg5iufVZe5VTosUQ1AhEbnjJpuZzBoD-xow/w400-h300/IMG_20181007_120117843.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafVX_36kfFPu2Mmokap0VhVPr-RlMScwPQr16zBWSJyPB5cnBWEFje-XSC7msHzBQrRO61MyDuLjKf1lCgHuXSQ3PR2yGPygYhFxplmz6C7TB2D-48b_OzropvHk7aoJ1qF3O98MFXg/s1600/IMG_20181007_120140702_BURST001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A collie dog wearing a sign that says "Collies think Brexit is for wallies."" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafVX_36kfFPu2Mmokap0VhVPr-RlMScwPQr16zBWSJyPB5cnBWEFje-XSC7msHzBQrRO61MyDuLjKf1lCgHuXSQ3PR2yGPygYhFxplmz6C7TB2D-48b_OzropvHk7aoJ1qF3O98MFXg/w240-h320/IMG_20181007_120140702_BURST001.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CzcT8yt_rwjvDAurYlwTbrD_hVlxzl1ctd24CuxymDDAa2124v2NT3YIR9kP7qJbyeNv6FVMtLgNbpu9w8ObiDNJ1NGpqn-GXSTH1B5ddCSohM30LxNaqx3wTVmOONQsEIklxO78Ng/s1600/IMG_20181007_120328809.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The collie with the sign is looking up and smiling." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CzcT8yt_rwjvDAurYlwTbrD_hVlxzl1ctd24CuxymDDAa2124v2NT3YIR9kP7qJbyeNv6FVMtLgNbpu9w8ObiDNJ1NGpqn-GXSTH1B5ddCSohM30LxNaqx3wTVmOONQsEIklxO78Ng/w240-h320/IMG_20181007_120328809.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The next canine I saw was evidently a very important lady, a voice for her people in fact. She had a lovely 'Collies think Brexit is for wallies' sign which she most definitely painted herself of course, and as a bonus, her owner had some very nice boots.</div>
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The next twenty minutes were a whirlwind, I tell ye. While we waited to set off on the march, I met a m-u-l-t-i-tude of woofers. Woofers in coats:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF5XBgB__zWw8I2xvXZDU_satZjTfkdPPVWeOjmacSWa66tVBQKYPP0k0h2kFdKYORJ5E_PO4gvWk9lHaq35cKa7AEb5O_UZK4B1cLEzW4DbJ0VboDyQ8qKQjhy1LAhzM6uqetaW-EQ/s1600/IMG_20181007_120250025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A meeting of three dogs. The dog in the centre is wearing a red tartan coat." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF5XBgB__zWw8I2xvXZDU_satZjTfkdPPVWeOjmacSWa66tVBQKYPP0k0h2kFdKYORJ5E_PO4gvWk9lHaq35cKa7AEb5O_UZK4B1cLEzW4DbJ0VboDyQ8qKQjhy1LAhzM6uqetaW-EQ/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120250025.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<strike>Woofers</strike> sausages in jumpers:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3CtDQyRzuJYBxwXYZNkPzHEqlw_2Q1FGfEwUgkI5W7ugzQTwQ2cPQBLgd6CkHef4jnbPP0PDGe-bKq-5rQyBaqKvI1DDhW-0Ad0voYDlBGYkdtEnGccrlEE7EVCOBBSRx-zybC9pcQ/s1600/IMG_20181007_124353531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A dachshund dog looking right into the camera. It's so small that the camera is very close to the ground." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3CtDQyRzuJYBxwXYZNkPzHEqlw_2Q1FGfEwUgkI5W7ugzQTwQ2cPQBLgd6CkHef4jnbPP0PDGe-bKq-5rQyBaqKvI1DDhW-0Ad0voYDlBGYkdtEnGccrlEE7EVCOBBSRx-zybC9pcQ/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_124353531.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNrdViZK-9mSqn12TBkxO2f2Zw28Zo2hHD-ZPe3VhMYR6oWxrgiVPsTvsq06L1VYEibIzJpyf_s88UFgcoNL5VFz789sEGh9ixpsPuiiTRT7oM30ljcEOkwTrAVBGg0RPuyVvg03YxA/s1600/IMG_20181007_120541106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A dachshund dog wearing a woolly argyle jumper. The dog is getting pets from nearby humans." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNrdViZK-9mSqn12TBkxO2f2Zw28Zo2hHD-ZPe3VhMYR6oWxrgiVPsTvsq06L1VYEibIzJpyf_s88UFgcoNL5VFz789sEGh9ixpsPuiiTRT7oM30ljcEOkwTrAVBGg0RPuyVvg03YxA/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120541106.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And even a tiny queen in a bow tie! Meet <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daphnethewondersossige/" target="_blank">Daphne, the wonder sossige</a>. I wasn't aware of her 8000+ Instagram follower fame when we met, but I was still in awe of her smol majestic presence. What an honour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCfEncr80olawAsQNZoGO71SJ5R6uxPpDmKTTQJ17D3A7z_EdkPVoze6hmBbFGKJOWD3z1T2YFdYFdoo0q8Oy7SMCBWPTjN_jh96d7NnoeVvpzVKnU-kBQNFozk0IefjRHhBMyN8SaQ/s1600/IMG_20181007_120704431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Daphne the wonder sossige wearing a fabulous union jack bowtie." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCfEncr80olawAsQNZoGO71SJ5R6uxPpDmKTTQJ17D3A7z_EdkPVoze6hmBbFGKJOWD3z1T2YFdYFdoo0q8Oy7SMCBWPTjN_jh96d7NnoeVvpzVKnU-kBQNFozk0IefjRHhBMyN8SaQ/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120704431.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPn3pzt1I5zSilNZpMjO6lprci4S4U4Ait_g5mWoPIBzetwFuQZgi0uwR06sI32kZ3geWNejpRMsF3jzt5bVKr8pdK-V5t04qiruxdTeGj_FvvG_RN098-9U7AXCLOxBjVwxBXGCRhw/s1600/IMG_20181007_123109308_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Daphne the wonder sossige and her owner." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPn3pzt1I5zSilNZpMjO6lprci4S4U4Ait_g5mWoPIBzetwFuQZgi0uwR06sI32kZ3geWNejpRMsF3jzt5bVKr8pdK-V5t04qiruxdTeGj_FvvG_RN098-9U7AXCLOxBjVwxBXGCRhw/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_123109308_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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It wasn't just small doggos, however. Peering through the crowd, I managed to track down the big borkers on the square, including a Bernese mountain dog, something resembling a huge mop with a tongue, a pure GIANT, and some inus of various types:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghScPZ7qqrOqnjmFV2xO4SzbyNK-oWwTXkhpRXwbaOFu7EslipqNx_6nu2x6wTdiqPWZViQDgtlD-KCmboBEUvlzRI1G4ojlmTyJQCKLacqt6u51AOuumbXD-Mq9UgYWEUXJaCytmQgA/s1600/IMG_20181007_120349377_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A smiling bernese mountain dog." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghScPZ7qqrOqnjmFV2xO4SzbyNK-oWwTXkhpRXwbaOFu7EslipqNx_6nu2x6wTdiqPWZViQDgtlD-KCmboBEUvlzRI1G4ojlmTyJQCKLacqt6u51AOuumbXD-Mq9UgYWEUXJaCytmQgA/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120349377_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjU4mEkclfEagl_TsZKX8L4lpquOoneYdXCjhn9rrs8fHliYM1lcBq7Z9lny2Z962AyaMoy3W_mKRDUCF57Rdk8qMMn0aiKjIy0tB5ZGqLMtXhMzntD8DNDe-W8itZs_rU39CJTo3hA/s1600/IMG_20181007_123345499.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A giant dog that looks like a mop, on a red lead." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjU4mEkclfEagl_TsZKX8L4lpquOoneYdXCjhn9rrs8fHliYM1lcBq7Z9lny2Z962AyaMoy3W_mKRDUCF57Rdk8qMMn0aiKjIy0tB5ZGqLMtXhMzntD8DNDe-W8itZs_rU39CJTo3hA/w400-h300/IMG_20181007_123345499.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPxcccsL5lYTLGB064nnBgpP_cWnoAucNc2nH7pWiuYwmwBzHXl2AnP9uFwMVp9KT5682dWXkb4vlzXyjWmyNaSCBR-3wPn2t2dlsCEWNf73-5wGwDh39mceSNWSqslJv4PdcV1JQTA/s1600/IMG_20181007_122030557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A huge dog wearing a Brexit-related sign giving its paw to a friendly human." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPxcccsL5lYTLGB064nnBgpP_cWnoAucNc2nH7pWiuYwmwBzHXl2AnP9uFwMVp9KT5682dWXkb4vlzXyjWmyNaSCBR-3wPn2t2dlsCEWNf73-5wGwDh39mceSNWSqslJv4PdcV1JQTA/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_122030557.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s7OexXePFJXYu5DN8my3LSJLTiKh7VaDjxO5WfP_tPBV9l3GyNjfVZB0KOkDhjVtbMoSh8hCnV96d1S7buVMKzfuO97KxytmLD2FVal5msThgLrrCdYupgOl943o-NnSSgsuHj_hUg/s1600/IMG_20181007_120432309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="""" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s7OexXePFJXYu5DN8my3LSJLTiKh7VaDjxO5WfP_tPBV9l3GyNjfVZB0KOkDhjVtbMoSh8hCnV96d1S7buVMKzfuO97KxytmLD2FVal5msThgLrrCdYupgOl943o-NnSSgsuHj_hUg/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120432309.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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But the REAL pure unadulterated joy came when I encountered the corgis of the march. First came <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fredthepembrokecorgi/" target="_blank">Fred, a very friendly pembroke chap</a> with a very friendly owner. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fA8ESfsRmbrO9bSqNn1FPHE7vv9B6uEUK0PjjV_9wYQ52rLHefYcNR22_chHuxZmc20hfwKbfwalaO8JUg9vPJf6OeRM7Iu2jXMUXj2OAUHL1oidNdgKllXe4QvywHzmNpF7h-upJg/s1600/IMG_20181007_121947627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fred the corgi with his tongue out." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fA8ESfsRmbrO9bSqNn1FPHE7vv9B6uEUK0PjjV_9wYQ52rLHefYcNR22_chHuxZmc20hfwKbfwalaO8JUg9vPJf6OeRM7Iu2jXMUXj2OAUHL1oidNdgKllXe4QvywHzmNpF7h-upJg/w382-h400/IMG_20181007_121947627.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs-oPDyNY4zE8eStSNzanoqGeIQWC5DhQy5OrmbYEzsLBIGKLBxUNMeCYlXU60GyDSQ3aZG-EKVaz0y_k6nl-jyPGzmDBc9r_k6weDMxxzLycvRRKpd1jPKe616c8P9YQ-Rpdj4IMvQ/s1600/IMG_20181007_123131846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fred the corgi smiling into the camera, again with his tongue out. He is so cute." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs-oPDyNY4zE8eStSNzanoqGeIQWC5DhQy5OrmbYEzsLBIGKLBxUNMeCYlXU60GyDSQ3aZG-EKVaz0y_k6nl-jyPGzmDBc9r_k6weDMxxzLycvRRKpd1jPKe616c8P9YQ-Rpdj4IMvQ/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_123131846.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And secondly, Mishka. I have to say, Mishka's owner was and probably still is the COOLEST lady I have seen in, well, ever.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2qMY_2oWIhvKEjFL-rBaeZ5V_azcTvGr5hy9agz1vY6dR6MFSKodypCXCWAgwNe13nP2H0VSVhhs7M0CC1QtPN40ymEt3ZoZ8mq9aSy4kSsjGL7X5qR7Z_re02uevdwMhd7O-I0REw/s1600/IMG_20181007_122245535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mishka the corgi sat next to her owner in front of a monument in London. Her owner is very stylish and is holding a sign that says "We've been sold a pup"." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2qMY_2oWIhvKEjFL-rBaeZ5V_azcTvGr5hy9agz1vY6dR6MFSKodypCXCWAgwNe13nP2H0VSVhhs7M0CC1QtPN40ymEt3ZoZ8mq9aSy4kSsjGL7X5qR7Z_re02uevdwMhd7O-I0REw/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_122245535.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Mishka, it turns out, was rather excitable and happy to meet others (maybe a bit too much, *ahem*).</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dywXwnC3Yl6mnVtglesW-g715Owyd7Soyu2v-URF5MsqdAzOXBGPDgpD5bZ8nbB1fk6BWwjtoBo2kfOIivjlg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Apart from the march itself, of course, I witnessed the greatest event of the day: the corgis meeting one another.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzSE91EH3qvSzyIxULX5zk-rE6hJV8anfoA8hQ3lXdAhF7UfFP9t5r8n7gXa-FMD0JsvT9ct-jMZuVJMALlHpd00oX8TGlgztJQxHevL8wN51073FsuwoVE6vIKwNiW1618Oy2fjivg/s1600/IMG_20181007_123247595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fred and Mishka the corgis meeting." border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzSE91EH3qvSzyIxULX5zk-rE6hJV8anfoA8hQ3lXdAhF7UfFP9t5r8n7gXa-FMD0JsvT9ct-jMZuVJMALlHpd00oX8TGlgztJQxHevL8wN51073FsuwoVE6vIKwNiW1618Oy2fjivg/w320-h283/IMG_20181007_123247595.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And at some point, we actually started marching. That makes it sound like we were swinging our arms and yelling, but instead there were some chants with delicious puns in, a semi-famous lady with a fluffy white dog and some very careful walking alongside small paws. We eventually arrived outside the Houses of Parliament and listened to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVA-J029CEM" target="_blank">a shouty man</a> shout about things before Alistair Campbell turned up with his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and got mixed reactions.</div>
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All in all, it was one of the coolest and weirdest events I've ever turned up to. Going on my own, although nervewracking, turned out to be a groovy move as I got chatting to lots of fascinating people (and pups). <u>10/10 would march again.</u></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some behind-the-scenes bloopers to finish off with...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4TLRVaXTjmiCpFdIDJQ8i0YZmdMGRE_UaBVLbYp1OOcq5nlcfHiTZ5M4YtBgVN00Mnj-qsBQe5uwTx_GrODQurWQntE4FUMdAjDSIyVQQa5oIQsCx1RRyux_svTbiGw2PeLSiVwnkw/s1600/IMG_20181007_120512488.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A scruffy grey dog shaking its head." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4TLRVaXTjmiCpFdIDJQ8i0YZmdMGRE_UaBVLbYp1OOcq5nlcfHiTZ5M4YtBgVN00Mnj-qsBQe5uwTx_GrODQurWQntE4FUMdAjDSIyVQQa5oIQsCx1RRyux_svTbiGw2PeLSiVwnkw/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_120512488.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shaking off the rage</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8l21Ivp3DrMjA8EDuz86W3X7bvI0Sy4Rok2JEezgm3pXWgBPGoS9B3KmgM1M0XYvrilR7OyRL-nE42s7ejJtWupn4C_fNIV2wUyxuBIipYTOm_25CAVaRcKl4-bee51tr_BrJACBdA/s1600/IMG_20181007_130058490.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A french bulldog with two political stickers on its butt." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8l21Ivp3DrMjA8EDuz86W3X7bvI0Sy4Rok2JEezgm3pXWgBPGoS9B3KmgM1M0XYvrilR7OyRL-nE42s7ejJtWupn4C_fNIV2wUyxuBIipYTOm_25CAVaRcKl4-bee51tr_BrJACBdA/w300-h400/IMG_20181007_130058490.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">politi-butt</td></tr>
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rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-76025365941388480552018-11-08T22:11:00.001+00:002021-10-06T17:33:17.250+01:0037 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 10 (THE FINAL!)Here we are... It's Kim-Joy vs Rahul vs Ruby in the 2018 final of the Great British Bake Off, and since I only watched the semi-final two days ago, the competition is very much on my radar.<br />
<br />
I'm ready, I'm excited, I wish I had a baked good by my side, etc.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Cute little reviews of all three bakers' Bake Off 'journeys'.</li>
<li>Noel's Final shirt is wonderfully handsome today, I must say.</li>
<li>Aaaaaaaaand <b>challenge uno </b>(the signature!)<b> </b>of the Final: donuts. Worryingly, Rahul has never eaten a donut before finding out about this challenge. He's also planning on wacking buttercream <b>on top... </b>hmm.</li>
<li>Ruby's mum pulling on the heartstrings there - I SHALT NOT CRY 7 MINUTES IN.</li>
<li>Noel is definitely channeling The Hitcher with that cheeky donut around the eye.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is so wonderful. And she's so talented that a visiting wasp is trying to get it on with one of her fondant bees.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrL3sSRX4AUFzjC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kim-Joy's bumblebee donuts, decorated with little bumblebees." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrL3sSRX4AUFzjC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Kim-Joy's Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/kimjoyskitchen/" target="_blank">@kimjoyskitchen</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>RAHUUUUUL. His bright yellow fruity donut filling has splodged everywhere, argh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/bake-off-donuts-1038514.jpg?r=1540923161250" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rahul checking on his donuts in the fryer." border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" height="236" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/bake-off-donuts-1038514.jpg?r=1540923161250" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Judgment time! P&P are picking up on Kim-Joy's inconsistent donut sizes, but they are <b>loving </b>the flavours and everything else.</li>
<li>Ruby has made some gorgeous galaxy and rainbow-themed donuts. Sadly the galaxy ones don't have enough filling inside... if any at all.</li>
<li>Rahul has had a hit with half of his donuts, and the other half are too stodgy in texture.</li>
<li><b>Challenge dos... </b>the bakers are heading outside! The technical is six pitta breads on the campfire with three dips - a babaganoush, something else, and something else with pepper in it. Aren't you pleased I'm not the official narrator of this episode?</li>
<li>"My eyebrows are gonna be running down the side of my face" - a very 21st-century makeup worry, but a valid one nonetheless (from Ruby).</li>
<li>I love how relaxed Kim-Joy is being. She's making me feel so calm and it's the flippin' final! What did she have for breakfast? Because I want it.</li>
<li>This is a really exciting Technical for sure, but it isn't half confusing.</li>
<li>Wouldn't be surprised if after this I saw a trailer for the Great British BBQ Off or similar.</li>
<li>Time's up! And it's blind judging time. Rahul did some great work in general, while Kim-Joy has blown Paul's socks off with her spicy dips. With Ruby doing well too, it's confusing to predict what the end result will be...</li>
<li>In third, Ruby. Second, Rahul. And FIRST IS KIM-JOY!</li>
<li>The world starts their day with coffee and tea, Rahul starts his with a glass of milk.</li>
<li><b>Challenge numero THREE </b>(the last one!!!): an 'incredible' landscape dessert. Ooooooh.</li>
<li>Four and a half hours for this baby. And I think Paul has had a fresh trim for the occasion.</li>
<li>While Ruby is making a fairytale dessert world, Kim-Joy is crafting her version of the Lost City of Atlantis.</li>
<li>Rahul is rambling on about his Ph.D., but I'll allow it as his Edible Rock Garden sounds rather lovely.</li>
<li>OKAY. So one of the mason jars near Rahul's stovetop exploded...! There's glass all over the shop, and I think the stress is really getting to this boy (as well as the jar).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbblwPaRSB9qI_b5UjXvVZM5_STOBhCxxtXVP_HqfaYiNqI6op" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paul and some of the bakers' facial expressions." border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="292" height="236" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbblwPaRSB9qI_b5UjXvVZM5_STOBhCxxtXVP_HqfaYiNqI6op" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Rahul is getting the 15 minutes he lost back as a gift from P&P. Nice.</li>
<li>HAHAHA. "Rahul, one word to describe yourself," Noel requests. "Depressing."</li>
<li>He is seriously letting himself go in the final...</li>
<li>Ruby's got her concentration face on. She's also almost creating fire.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is so composed she's painting seahorses. I love her.</li>
<li>Rahul has somehow made some magical cacti stand up... and time is now up for everyone.</li>
<li>After the break, it's time for the huge Bake Off picnic party. Woohoo!</li>
<li>And now the judging... Prue and Paul are loving the flavours of Ruby's showstopper. Some overcooked bits, but overall a good bake.</li>
<li>Rahul is up now. Despite his hideous-looking swamp and choux bun rocks, compliments are a-flying. He pulled it off despite his stress radiating through the screen.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy's Lost City has a beautiful combination of colours, but Paul has said that it "falls a little bit flat" in terms of excitement/variety.</li>
<li>Anyway, let's ignore all that waffle/cake as it's now 8 minutes until the end of the episode which means we find out who the winner is very soon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpkveN9pQIM0QfgmCrjur0tHfBThDbpWEO8tgo4o1NnVel16B6Cg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rahul awaiting the results with baited breath, his hands over his face." border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpkveN9pQIM0QfgmCrjur0tHfBThDbpWEO8tgo4o1NnVel16B6Cg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>The judges, Sandi and Noel have stepped out with huge bouquets and they're about to announce the winner...</li>
<li>It's... dun dun dunnnnn... Rahul!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXfRWfXiZ6Iyorlq3m1og7Dt-pm7-oeVYRplh20PYox119026O" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rahul lifts the Bake Off trophy." border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXfRWfXiZ6Iyorlq3m1og7Dt-pm7-oeVYRplh20PYox119026O" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Right... sorry if this is controversial, but this just confirms to me that the last few weeks have been super fishy! Kim-Joy was and is my champion <3</li>
</ol>
<div>
Image <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrL3sSRX4AUFzjC.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/bake-off-donuts-1038514.jpg?r=1540923161250" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbblwPaRSB9qI_b5UjXvVZM5_STOBhCxxtXVP_HqfaYiNqI6op" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpkveN9pQIM0QfgmCrjur0tHfBThDbpWEO8tgo4o1NnVel16B6Cg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXfRWfXiZ6Iyorlq3m1og7Dt-pm7-oeVYRplh20PYox119026O" target="_blank">via</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-90961261524004842282018-11-06T22:19:00.001+00:002021-10-06T17:29:23.527+01:00The Power of Podcasting for Storytelling | A course on FutureLearn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJxlqe9Ll5jWe-3X53fKrwa3jFnP3yyCNAhJWs0MFh3MQPGxN6TDi80tDnYpl5Mo-RnQq86MTLXy_vvf_eRWUc7Ltf4uEpcZjji7gD-EOZASSzKtHYfouajnZ_ucwv1FchqkfNf03uA/s1600/microphone-2618102_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJxlqe9Ll5jWe-3X53fKrwa3jFnP3yyCNAhJWs0MFh3MQPGxN6TDi80tDnYpl5Mo-RnQq86MTLXy_vvf_eRWUc7Ltf4uEpcZjji7gD-EOZASSzKtHYfouajnZ_ucwv1FchqkfNf03uA/s400/microphone-2618102_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of you who know me may know that I have a thing for Radio. Me and Radio go way back - we have history - and somewhere along the way I got involved with Podcasts too. Whoops! How naughty.<br />
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<h3>
An online course adventure!</h3>
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<b>Today</b>, I have embarked on a very exciting 'journey' <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes, that word is euurgh but I'm using it here and that's final)</span>: a <u>free online course</u> called <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/podcasting" target="_blank">'The Power of Podcasting for Storytelling'</a> on <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/podcasting" target="_blank">FutureLearn</a>. It's being taught by the University of Wollongong and the people who are teaching the course (the 'educators') have suggested that we use a blog to keep track of our <b>thoughts/ideas/reflections</b> throughout the course. As a sort of "personalised process journal you can continue to build as you become more familiar with podcasting processes". Sounds groovy.<br />
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<h3>
Me + podcasts</h3>
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A bit of background for those less in the know: I have made radio shows before - <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/BailriggFM/playlists/rhis-rhially-rad-radio-show/" target="_blank">you're welcome</a> - but never podcasts. I only really got into podcasts in 2016 after I met a handsome boi, who I listened to <a href="https://stownpodcast.org/" target="_blank">S-Town</a> with. After some other recommendations, I soon enough ventured into the podcast-scape, as it were, and began to regularly listen to podcasts that were specific to my own range of interests, not just true crime/documentary but also:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Funny interviews/chat </b>(Anna Faris is Unqualified, Jenna & Julien Podcast)</li>
<li><b>History</b> (Myths and Legends)</li>
<li><b>Gender politics/feminism</b> (The Guilty Feminist)</li>
<li><b>Design</b> (99% Invisible)</li>
<li>...and even <b>Meditation</b>/<b>Sleep</b>! (Sleep with Me)</li>
</ul>
<br />
I listen to/download my podcasts from Spotify now (except Jenna & Julien's which I watch via YouTube). I did use to have a separate podcast app, but in the end, my phone memory had a paddy and only one app could stay - I chose the one that gives me music too!<br />
<br />
Looking forward to learning more about how podcasts are made and used for storytelling.<br />
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Watch this space xrhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-29873603439279316982018-10-29T22:41:00.001+00:002021-10-06T17:30:25.295+01:0050 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 9Bonsoir pals. Or bonjour, depending on when you're reading this. I'm typing this on Sunday evening as I've had a rather busy week, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. What I'm not enjoying is the departure of warm weather, but then again the only reason it has stuck around this long is global warming... so <b>there's that</b>.<br />
<br />
Episode NINE, how did we get to this?! <span style="font-size: x-small;"><strike>by starting with episode one and then seven more, Rhiannon</strike> </span>Anyhoo, on with the show... it's Patisserie Week... and the semi-final!<br />
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<ol>
<li>Still not over Manon leaving.</li>
<li>So from that cheeky preview, we already know Sandi is going to cry when she announces who's leaving us at the end of this episode. Genuinely glad they've given me an hour to prepare myself.</li>
<li>I'd just like to announce that Noel is wearing my most favourite of his shirts yet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/10/24/TELEMMGLPICT000178763008_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq9ib4wCbGPGgIbG5MT518GzepFsdpyoBPRlNLqKxJpjg.jpeg?imwidth=450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="250" src="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/10/24/TELEMMGLPICT000178763008_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq9ib4wCbGPGgIbG5MT518GzepFsdpyoBPRlNLqKxJpjg.jpeg?imwidth=450" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
</li>
<li>The first challenge today is <b>madeleines</b>. Yum yum yum. Génial.</li>
<li>Ruby has seemingly just welcomed a slaughtering from Paul.</li>
<li>Lots of talk about "humps".</li>
<li>Briony is making mojito and espresso madeleines. Meanwhile, unsurprisingly, Kim-Joy is making orange bunny madeleines. Wahoooooo.</li>
<li>Hmmm. All the bakers are using "the baking powder method" which Paul & Prue say isn't the best way to get that "hump". I'm just smiling and nodding at this point.</li>
<li>It's quite weird how they force the bakers to explain things to the camera. Kim-Joy <u>literally just</u> admitted she had no idea how to make a good madeleine, and yet here she is giving us viewers some advice. *ahem* scripted *ahem</li>
<li>To be fair, hers do look fantastic.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/2kXB8NweY1TbzG44qQ/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="266" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/2kXB8NweY1TbzG44qQ/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
</li>
<li>Rahul & Ruby have both used unfrozen raspberries, which I think is a problem likely due to bonus unwanted moisture.</li>
<li>"I'm gonna get absolutely annihilated", "...oh god what an atrocious mess - these are the semi-final quotes we want to hear, Ruby.</li>
<li>Here some the judge-y boi 'n' gril. And Rahul's up first. Oooh, they do like his raspberries after all!</li>
<li>Hahahaha yes! Briony is telling Rahul to smile; his nerves have frozen his mouth into a permanently worried slope.</li>
<li>Ruby's flavours are great, but the form is not. Meanwhile, Briony's "humps" are "not bad". There's a lack of mint and lime in her mojito ones, but the espresso ones have gone down a treat.</li>
<li>Here's Kim-Joy's bunnies... and they were a hit! The lemon ones not so much.</li>
<li>Fantastic. Rahul does not understand the "hump" innuendo. Now, if Noel and Sandi were allowed to </li>
<li>Challenge dos: <b>torta setteveli. </b>Lots of things altogether and a freezer is needed. Okay.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.scribblelive.com/2018/10/23/3909fe6b-9267-4ae5-89e8-3721147fd8fa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="599" height="222" src="https://images.scribblelive.com/2018/10/23/3909fe6b-9267-4ae5-89e8-3721147fd8fa.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
</li>
<li>So now I've seen what it looks like and I have officially been romanced by this cake. Holy moly. If anyone pulls this off, I'd be inclined to send them some sort of medal.</li>
<li>Maybe I'll just settle with one of those cards that play Celebration by Kool & the Gang when you open it.</li>
<li>Mmm praline crunch.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is losing the will to live at this point. She's never made a chocolate mousse. But bless her, she's trying.</li>
<li>CMON KIM-JOY. YOU CAN DO THIS.</li>
<li>Noel literally repeated what I just said. Uno minutooooooooooooooooo.</li>
<li>And BLAM. Time is up on the technical.</li>
<li>"It's like a pair of incontinence pants" - a nice compliment for Briony's torta from Paul.</li>
<li>Ruby's torta <b>looks </b>beautiful, and inside it's great too. Awesome.</li>
<li>Not enough mousse in Kim-Joy's, but the rest of it was good!</li>
<li>Wahooooo! Kim-Joy came in second place! I'm so pleased for her.</li>
<li>Rahul totally flopped with rubbery chocolate and came last. Ruby, on the other hand, smashed it! Yeah!</li>
<li>It's time for the showstopper: a <b>Parisian window</b>. Mmm, this includes a mille-feuille (for the non-French/those who don't know, that means 'a thousand leaves' and it's basically a vanilla slice).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/AMKSRvfLEwXlu/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="500" height="163" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/AMKSRvfLEwXlu/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
</li>
<li>My god. It's the showstopper and there are still over 20 minutes left to go of the episode! Is this normal?!</li>
<li>Mmmm bright red lemon and raspberry eclairs are on their way from Briony.</li>
<li>Hmmm. Now Rahul is playing it rather safe with his ideas. This could go very much in his favour, or very much not. We'll see.</li>
<li>Briony is a force to be reckoned with today.</li>
<li>Ooooh. Ruby is making a flowery window display themed 'window'.</li>
<li>I can't imagine how pressured the bakers feel when they realise they're behind on time. I say this because Briony is desperately trying to catch up.</li>
<li>Briony is already aware that her pastry isn't cooked enough. Luckily she's been blessed with the Kiss of Noel so I'm sure she'll survive.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy looks very at home being covered in bright yellow icing.</li>
<li>Duhnuhnuhnuhnuh, duhnuhnuhnuhnuh... x24. Aaaaaand time's up! Ruby looks like she's just done a marathon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/HwmDZaI4YEeZ2/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="405" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/HwmDZaI4YEeZ2/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
</li>
<li>God Paul is going for the criticism on this one, jeezus. "Looks very dull" - thanks Prue, I'm sure Kim-Joy is chuffed.</li>
<li>In summary, that was <b>okay</b>. Now here's Ruby.</li>
<li>P&P are impressed with the flakiness of the puff pastry. Meanwhile, Rahul is looking like he's just been forced to eat a raw lemon.</li>
<li>Fancypants Paul doesn't like unglazed fruit. Who would've thought it?</li>
<li>Seriously what is up with Paul's fancypants today?!</li>
<li>Too thick and chewy bakes for Briony. And raw pastry in the mille-feuille :( The judges liked the flavours though, although it seems like Briony used salt instead of sugar...</li>
<li>Let's go, Rahul. OOOOH. Blummin' 'ell Paul is going to TOWN with his criticism, dear LAWD.</li>
<li>"Messy", "boring", "hideous but tastes amazing". Really starting to think this was a setup now.</li>
<li>Right, so Rahul had some absolute disasters today... Noel is announcing Star Baker today. It's....: <b>Ruby!</b></li>
<li>Sandi is now starting to cry after saying she won't cry. Going home is... Briony. NOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAT THE... NO!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/briony-e1540323241477.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=896&h=800&crop=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="800" height="356" src="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/briony-e1540323241477.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=896&h=800&crop=1" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
Well frankly I'm happy because Kim-Joy is still in <3 and next week's the <b>final!</b></li>
</ol>
<div>
Images <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/10/24/TELEMMGLPICT000178763008_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq9ib4wCbGPGgIbG5MT518GzepFsdpyoBPRlNLqKxJpjg.jpeg?imwidth=450">via </a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/2kXB8NweY1TbzG44qQ/giphy.gif">via </a> <a href="https://images.scribblelive.com/2018/10/23/3909fe6b-9267-4ae5-89e8-3721147fd8fa.jpg">via </a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/AMKSRvfLEwXlu/giphy.gif">via </a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/HwmDZaI4YEeZ2/giphy.gif">via </a> <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/briony-e1540323241477.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=896&h=800&crop=1">via</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-37686600540858239702018-10-22T19:18:00.002+01:002021-10-06T17:44:53.675+01:0058 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 8What is this? Me, BLOGGING ABOUT A BAKE OFF EPISODE BEFORE THE NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY ON TELLY? Christ almighty. Maybe the cheese I ate today has given me super-on-time powers.<br />
<br />
This week, it's Bake Off's first-ever Danish Week. I'm excited simply because danishes are delicious. And I'm sure the ones bakers make this week in the quarter-final will be brilliant. I hope.<br />
<ol>
<li>Okay, so how cute is this? The bakers are all wearing Hawaiian shirts in tribute to John.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/6Q3M4BIK0lX44/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A little boy crying as he speaks to a reporter." border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="360" height="260" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/6Q3M4BIK0lX44/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>No, Rahul. Croissants are not Danish.</li>
<li>Challenge uno: a rye bread. And making open sandwiches with it.</li>
<li>Can we ban Paul from trying to pronounce Danish words, please? Sandi's on the show, for Danes' sake.</li>
<li>YES RAHUL. He's bringing the smoked salmon, I'm already a fan of whatever he's making. Which by the sounds of it is everything on earth on a sandwich.</li>
<li>'Smorrebrod' (imagine the accents on those vowels please) is what Paul was trying to say. I heard "smurbrur".</li>
<li>Paul is so bad at this. He winces because Ruby isn't adding enough water to the dough, yet he says "I'm not going to tell you [what you're doing wrong]". YOU JUST DID, PAUL.</li>
<li>Briony's bringing a tomato swan. And anxious feelings over kneading in front of Monsieur Hollywood.</li>
<li>Paul can stop with the Danish accent, Briony can stop with the New York one. Thanks.</li>
<li>Manon's doing goats cheese & strawberry, and then gorgonzola & pear. Sounds potentially scrummy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oEdvd3wdDHPoJn6mY/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A dog licking the air, otherwise known as doing a mlem." border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oEdvd3wdDHPoJn6mY/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>I don't even like tomatoes but I want those flippin' swan tomatoes.</li>
<li>Now Kim-Joy is rocking the ingredient choices. Smoked salmon AND cheese. Aw yee.</li>
<li>Hahahahaha. Manon trying to sweet-talk Paul into giving hints to Rahul. Not sure that'll work.</li>
<li>Rahul already thinks he's going home! DUDE!</li>
<li>I got through a really nice spelt sourdough loaf last week and I already want to go and buy another.</li>
<li>"How do you make a sandwich look good?" You put <b>smoked salmon </b>in it, Ruby.</li>
<li>THE TOMATO SWAN, NOOOOO! It fell to its near-death.</li>
<li>Judges were fans of Briony's first bake. As for Manon's, P&P think there's a lack of savoury flavours. And somehow Manon has made a French dough!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/great-british-bake-off-rye-bread-1556794.jpg?r=1539701559896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Smashed avocado, boiled eggs and other treats on top of sourdough." border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="590" height="202" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/great-british-bake-off-rye-bread-1556794.jpg?r=1539701559896" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Briony's sandwiches are too big for their breaded boots.</li>
<li>Rahul "tried too hard". Ouch. That's not a nice comment to have, especially for Rahul's mind.</li>
<li>Briony is also suffering. EMOSH :(</li>
<li>Challenge 2: 14 Dani<span style="font-family: inherit;">sh "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">æbleskiver"</span> with cinnamon-spiced apple & a strawberry jam dipping sauce. Wot.</span></li>
<li>Manon knows what they are! Hallelujah!</li>
<li>They look like small round donuts. And sound extremely tricky to make.</li>
<li>Noel has very kindly pointed out that what Rahul is stirring looks like baby sick.</li>
<li>Buttermilk is going in. Ahaaaaa - Manon's sister dated a Danish dude. Some excellent familial luck there.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78509.623x402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandi assisting Manon with her baking." border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="623" height="257" src="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78509.623x402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>I swear Noel is injecting more and more of his weirdness into every episode.</li>
<li>Sandi is the new Paul. As a Danish lady, she's the one who knows what's what... the most.</li>
<li>And the tiny balls are ready to be judged! I'm getting distracted by Prue's amazing dress with animals all over it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78507.623x402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noel helping a baker whilst wearing a very jazzy shirt that says "Oh boy" all over it." border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="623" height="257" src="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78507.623x402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Briony has <b>smashed </b>the texture, while Ruby hasn't won the judges over.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy has done... okay, I'd say. Meanwhile, Rahul has burnt his tiny balls. Ahem.</li>
<li>Rahul in fifth, Manon in fourth, and Ruby in third. Kim-Joy is in second, which means that Briony won this challenge!</li>
<li>NOW Rahul has something to be worried about.</li>
<li>Time for the Danish showstopper. At this point, the judges are clueless about who'll be going home and who'll be crowned Danish champion.</li>
<li>They're making a huge cake... caynmarn?! ARGH, DANISH WORDS.</li>
<li>3 confectionery making skills need to be included. Can 'baking' count as one?</li>
<li>Briony is making a cake ('Kagekone' apparently) for her Nana Pat. Cute.</li>
<li>Ruby is making one in the shape of her sister (I think). Looks complicated and wonderful.</li>
<li>Rahul is making an Indian King 'Kagemand'. Okay, the word has changed. I'm confused.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78504.1426x713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78504.1426x713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>So is Paul - Rahul is covering his crispy pastry with buttercream and Paul ain't a fan.</li>
<li>Manon is using Nougatine, hooraaaaay. I think she needs a lie-down.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is a true ARTIST. She's using white chocolate and creme-pat. I think I've figured out that 'kagemand' is the male version of 'kagekone' - I am extremely slow and didn't hear most of what Sandi said at the beginning.</li>
<li>I wonder how big these constructions are going to be. Depends on the proving time I guess.</li>
<li>WOW. Manon's is h-u-g-e.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.spot.im/v1/production/fqvjda2rkjkb19xoghei" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" height="236" src="https://images.spot.im/v1/production/fqvjda2rkjkb19xoghei" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Kim-Joy has given in and started baking after just 15 minutes of proving. I feel like this might come back and bite her in the pastry butt.</li>
<li>Rahul's look beautiful in my eyes but he has other ideas (of course).</li>
<li>Briony has had a taste test from Noel. Result!!!</li>
<li>Oh nooo. Rahul overdid it - there's burning smells in the tent...</li>
<li>What a nightmare. Maybe Kim-Joy did the right thing after all.</li>
<li>From what I can see here, I don't think Kim-Joy nor Briony is going home.</li>
<li>It's the moment of truth. Ruby's up first - the judges would've preferred an apricot glaze on top, but they like the rest.</li>
<li>Manon did not impress. Yikes. Meanwhile, Kim-Joy's bake is stunning...</li>
<li>...yet underbaked. Oh, bless her. Ohhhh. Okay, I'm crying at Bake Off. CAN SOMEONE HUG HER, PLEASE?! WHY IS NOONE GOING OVER?!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpqFk3EWwAA54OG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kim Joy: Kim-Joy smiling. Kim Sad: Kim-Joy crying." border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpqFk3EWwAA54OG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can't find who made this GIF but I got it from <a href="https://twitter.com/Kjshaw91/status/1052300335509856257" target="_blank">this tweet</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>After that deeply emotional moment, Briony's bake has shocked Paul's taste buds into overdrive with sherbert but he's feelin' sweet about the rest (eyyyyy).</li>
<li>"Very dry, really dry". "Nice flavour". "Mmm". Rahul nailed the 'sweets' but not the pastry.</li>
<li>All except Ruby and Briony are absolutely devastated. I have no idea which one of them is leaving.</li>
<li>Right. Here we go. Star Baker this week is <b>Ruby!</b></li>
<li>Noel is about to tell us who's leaving... it is... <b>Manon. </b>Ummmmm. Not sure how I feel about that. Shouldn't it have been (dare I say) "very dry, really dry" Rahul? <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;">edit: Twitter seems to agree!</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
Images <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/6Q3M4BIK0lX44/giphy.gif" target="_blank">1</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oEdvd3wdDHPoJn6mY/giphy.gif">1.5</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/great-british-bake-off-rye-bread-1556794.jpg?r=1539701559896" target="_blank">2</a> <a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78509.623x402.jpg" target="_blank">3</a> <a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78507.623x402.jpg" target="_blank">4</a> <a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78504.1426x713.jpg" target="_blank">5</a> <a href="https://images.spot.im/v1/production/fqvjda2rkjkb19xoghei" target="_blank">6</a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpqFk3EWwAA54OG.jpg" target="_blank">7</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-53320404038697077362018-10-18T20:56:00.003+01:002021-10-06T18:01:59.053+01:0053 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 7It's time for the week of Bake Off that's apparently 'controversial' but really shouldn't be 'controversial'... <b>vegan week!</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Noel is <strike>dressed up as</strike> watching someone dressed up as a cow dance about. Excellent content already.</li>
<li>What absolutely FIRE outfits this week!!!</li>
<li>Tartlets for challenge uno. Half one flavour, half another - both with <b>vegan-friendly shortcrust pastry</b>. All that in two hours!</li>
<li>There's some vegan margarine, coconut oil and other bits and bobs flying around.</li>
<li>Mmmmmmm falafel & hummus tartlets for John! Fantastic!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l4Ki8J3FuiXUJAt0s/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A gif of crisps surrounding a bowl of hummus with a smiley face on it. Text around the bowl says "Home is where the heart is."" border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="400" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l4Ki8J3FuiXUJAt0s/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Briony's popped open the bubbly. Hellooooo.</li>
<li>Ruby's sharing the <strike>love</strike> nutritional yeast. Meanwhile, Kim-Joy's getting the ol' tofu out.</li>
<li>Baking beans in the tins & we're blitzing the tartlet bases... edges?! Crusts, that's it. The crusts are being blitzed.</li>
<li>John's current shirt is my favourite of his yet - dark blue and covered in bright yellow lemons.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GBBO-Episode-7-RX7-SIG-Signature-5-copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="John using a food processor." border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="650" height="281" src="https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GBBO-Episode-7-RX7-SIG-Signature-5-copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Caramelised onions hellooooo. And Manon's making mushroom & bechamel tarts, delicious. This all sounds great, I hope they turn out okay...</li>
<li>On go the vegetables, yoghurt (for Rahul), various herbs and spices. Ruby's got a blowtorch out to burn her tomatoes for some reason.</li>
<li>And finitoOooOooooo!</li>
<li>I feel like this is a week of learning for everyone involved.</li>
<li>Paul is a fan of Manon's coconut pastry. Prue reckons the ratatouille ones had some tough pastry, but overall good.</li>
<li>Despite Ruby wanting "punchy" tartlets, the judges weren't impressed with the lack of flavour. Nooooo.</li>
<li>Over with Rahul, his tartlets are POETRY (says Prue). What a compliment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohs7OH85fwJnYWkGQ/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="""" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohs7OH85fwJnYWkGQ/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>John, on the other hand, is better off sticking to... well... not vegan tartlets.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy now - Paul has found a new love: coconut pastry. The judges are impressed, and Kim-Joy's got a handshake! How cool.</li>
<li>Challenge dos: <b>vegan pavlova</b>. Mmmmm. Is this even doable? I hope so. Just in case I ever go vegan for some reason. Pavlova is the queen/Frida Kahlo of desserts.</li>
<li>The bakers' two discs of meringue have been crafted and bobbed into the oven for an unspecified amount of time.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy - if you follow what everyone else does and everyone follows what you do, YOU'RE ALL SCREWED.</li>
<li>Time to flip them meringues... iiiiinteresting. Kim-Joy's in particular.</li>
<li>Varied results on this bake. Prue's appreciating Briony's effort to make a meringue tower.</li>
<li>Second place for this challenge is Manon and in first Rahul!</li>
<li>Now it's time for the Vegan Showstopper. Apparently, I've lost track because next week is the quarter-final!</li>
<li>Rahul vs. Manon for Star Baker. I think Kim-Joy is safe, but everyone else (i.e. John, Ruby, Briony) = in danger.</li>
<li>This last challenge is a huge cake. I wasn't listening properly to Sandi so I don't know about the rules other than it has to be vegan and huge.</li>
<li>Paul & Prue's expectations are way too high if you ask me. Although I do hope everyone smashes it because vegan baking is great.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is making a fox-themed cake with lemon and LAVENDER (oooooh) flavours. Yes please, yum.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018101063281/great-british-bake-off-vegan-week-reaction/0-298-663/kim-joy-sandi-toksvig-t.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandi and Kim-Joy." border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018101063281/great-british-bake-off-vegan-week-reaction/0-298-663/kim-joy-sandi-toksvig-t.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>John's making one inspired by Only Fools and Horses. All the dads across the country giving approval rn.</li>
<li>Briony sticking to gender stereotypes here assumin' roses are girly. Alright then.</li>
<li>Manon's wacking out her coloured spices for her 3-tiered spice apple cake. Meanwhile, Rahul is sighing a lot and doubting himself as usual.</li>
<li>Awwwww Rahul is making a coconut and caramel cake in honour of his grandma. Is he being sponsored to win the<b> Resident Cutie award</b> or wot?</li>
<li>Chocolate & lemon sponges with raspberry and chocolate for Ruby. It sounds a bit wacky but I like it.</li>
<li>We've hit the halfway mark and Rahul is blending things all over himself.</li>
<li>Manon's making beautiful pink roses that match her hair. N'awww.</li>
<li>I'm getting very nervous at these wonky cake constructions.</li>
<li>Ruby, nooooooo! That does NOT look stable. And that's the bottom layer... She's getting assistance from fellow bakers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/57dc5ba03bd579bc1ed6eab6/5bbd2b98e252c7b2e3a7a61b_vegan-plantbased-gbbo-veganweek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A cake disaster! Four bakers help as a cake struggles to stay standing." border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="800" height="222" src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/57dc5ba03bd579bc1ed6eab6/5bbd2b98e252c7b2e3a7a61b_vegan-plantbased-gbbo-veganweek.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.</li>
<li>Blummin' heck.</li>
<li>OH NO. THE - NO - Ruby's cake has just collapsed after everyone's left the tent. Oh, man.</li>
<li>Well, with Ruby crying herself to sleep trying to nap off stress somewhere (probably), it's now judgement time. Briony's up first.</li>
<li>"A very nice cake!" Yeaaaaaah she's not going home this week.</li>
<li>John's animal print cake is up now. "Looks hideous" but tastes good. Not bad then.</li>
<li>Now Manon's looks gorgeous. On the outside. The inside looks quite dense and stodgy. "Looks great, tastes awful". The opposite of John's then, yikes.</li>
<li>KIM-JOY. Her cake is absolutely beautiful. Pastel colours, gorgeous fox biscuits, wow. I'm excited about the lavender sponge. Hooraaaaay they like it!</li>
<li>Rahul's drizzle has let him down - a soggy... cake.</li>
<li>Now for Ruby's... collapsed... thing. Luckily both the chocolate and lemon bits taste good.</li>
<li>Surely she won't be leaving if her cake(s) tasted good?!</li>
<li>Well, now we're finding out that Prue rates Ruby's cake above Manon's.</li>
<li>Paul now says Rahul vs. Kim-Joy for Star Baker...</li>
<li>KIM-JOY! I think this is her first SB! Aawwwww.</li>
<li>Now for the elimination. Going home is... John. Well, I'm giving him serious major credit because I never thought he'd get this far, and he's done amazingly. Au revoir John et tes chemises INCROYABLES.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Images: <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l4Ki8J3FuiXUJAt0s/giphy.gif" target="_blank">1</a> <a href="https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GBBO-Episode-7-RX7-SIG-Signature-5-copy.jpg" target="_blank">2</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohs7OH85fwJnYWkGQ/giphy.gif" target="_blank">3</a> <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018101063281/great-british-bake-off-vegan-week-reaction/0-298-663/kim-joy-sandi-toksvig-t.jpg" target="_blank">4</a> <a href="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/57dc5ba03bd579bc1ed6eab6/5bbd2b98e252c7b2e3a7a61b_vegan-plantbased-gbbo-veganweek.jpg" target="_blank">5</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-91674546330836913992018-10-15T20:21:00.001+01:002018-10-15T20:21:30.896+01:00My mission to watch the 100 greatest movies of all time beginsSo anyone who's enquired into my movie knowledge will know that I'm not very clued up on the classics. After trawling through various lists online entitled things like '100 MOVIES YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY WATCH BEFORE YOU DIE', I've found a less seriously-titled list called <a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies/" target="_blank">'The 100 Greatest Movies' on Empire</a>. I'm not going to give myself a time limit (ain't nobody got <span style="font-size: xx-small;">ironically </span>time for that). But I'm just going to do my best to catch up with a classic every once in a while, and who knows. Maybe I'll watch them all.<br />
<br />
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<br />
As I'm not a <b>total </b>amateur, here's a list showing what I have watched:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Amelie</li>
<li>Titanic</li>
<li>Good Will Hunting</li>
<li>Arrival</li>
<li>Lost in Translation</li>
<li>The Princess Bride</li>
<li>Shaun of the Dead</li>
<li>The Exorcist</li>
<li>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (I think)</li>
<li>The Social Network (HOW ON EARTH DID THIS MAKE THE LIST, jeeeesus)</li>
<li>Spirited Away</li>
<li>Captain America: Civil War</li>
<li>Toy Story</li>
<li>Rear Window</li>
<li>Hot Fuzz</li>
<li>The Lion King</li>
<li>Singin' in the Rain</li>
<li>Ghostbusters</li>
<li>Star Wars: Return of the Jedi</li>
<li>Avengers Assemble</li>
<li>Donnie Darko</li>
<li>La La Land</li>
<li>Forrest Gump</li>
<li>American Beauty</li>
<li>E.T.</li>
<li>Inglourious Basterds</li>
<li>Reservoir Dogs</li>
<li>It's a Wonderful Life</li>
<li>Trainspotting</li>
<li>Drive (<b>REAL HUMAN BEAN</b>)</li>
<li>Eternal Sunshine...</li>
<li>Saving Private Ryan</li>
<li>The Departed</li>
<li>The Shining</li>
<li>Guardians of the Galaxy</li>
<li>Schindler's List</li>
<li>The Usual Suspects</li>
<li>Taxi Driver</li>
<li>Seven</li>
<li>The Matrix</li>
<li>LOTR: The Two Towers</li>
<li>Jurassic Park</li>
<li>Inception</li>
<li>LOTR: The Return of the King</li>
<li>The Godfather Part II</li>
<li>Back to the Future</li>
<li>LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring</li>
<li>Star Wars Episode IV</li>
<li>Jaws</li>
<li>Raiders of the Lost Ark</li>
<li>Pulp Fiction</li>
<li>Shawshank!!!</li>
<li>The Dark Knight</li>
<li>Star Wars Episode V</li>
<li>The Godfather</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
And what I'm yet to conquer:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Stand By Me</li>
<li>Raging Bull</li>
<li>The Terminator (how have I not watched this?!)</li>
<li>The Prestige</li>
<li>No Country For Old Men</li>
<li>Predator</li>
<li>Leon</li>
<li>Rocky (yup)</li>
<li>True Romance</li>
<li>Some Like It Hot</li>
<li>Oldboy</li>
<li>A Clockwork Orange</li>
<li>Fargo</li>
<li>Mulholland Dr.</li>
<li>Seven Samurai</li>
<li>Memento</li>
<li>LA Confidential</li>
<li>Whiplash</li>
<li>Pan's Labyrinth</li>
<li>Vertigo</li>
<li>Psycho</li>
<li>Once Upon A Time In The West</li>
<li>Lawrence Of Arabia</li>
<li>The Silence of the Lambs</li>
<li>Interstellar</li>
<li>Citizen Kane</li>
<li>Gladiator</li>
<li>One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest</li>
<li>There Will Be Blood</li>
<li>12 Angry Men</li>
<li>Mad Max: Fury Road</li>
<li>John Carpenter's The Thing</li>
<li>The Big Lebowski</li>
<li>Casablanca</li>
<li>The Good, The Bad and the Ugly</li>
<li>Heat</li>
<li>Terminator 2</li>
<li>Apocalypse Now</li>
<li>2001: A Space Odyssey</li>
<li>Die Hard (YES OKAY I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS 'XMAS CLASSIC')</li>
<li>Fight Club</li>
<li>Aliens</li>
<li>Alien</li>
<li>Blade Runner</li>
<li>GoodFellas</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>55% - not bad!</b><br />
<br />
Wish me luck!<br />
<br />
Image <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oKIPsgVPHyPPG5p3a/giphy.gif" target="_blank">via</a>rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-50537693506162307532018-10-15T19:48:00.002+01:002021-10-06T17:50:05.722+01:0047 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 6A double whammy of a knockout last episode, where we lost Terry & my future self/indirect spirit guide Karen. This week it's pastries, which can only surely mean that we're in store for at least one soggy bottom. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">we miss you Mary B</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>While Vegan Week (Episode 7) starts live in real-time as I'm writing this, I am as ever behind on telly. Yet again I am determined to avoid spoilers (which will be easy to do as I plan to watch Episode 7 immediately after this one muahahaha <span style="font-size: xx-small;">edit: I failed at this</span>).</li>
<li>Challenge uno: samosas! Yum! 6 sweet and 6 savoury with a tasty dip. <b>Easy</b>.</li>
<li>I prefer spring rolls myself. A sweet samosa though, that sounds good.</li>
<li>John is making chicken & pesto samosas, and orange and vanilla creme patissière samosas. Ugggggh suddenly I want this ramen I'm eating to taste like pesto and orange simultaneously <span style="font-size: xx-small;">actually maybe not</span></li>
<li>Paul giving Rahul's momma the biggest respect. Respecc.</li>
<li>Briony is going for beetroot/port & peanut butter/cheesecake. That last one though. Mmm.</li>
<li>Dan's hazelnut & banana bad bois sound so good.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is getting spicy and them apple chai sweets... GIMME. Everything everyone's making sounds epic and I can't handle it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/fy0gLJtIkZj8I/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A lady fainting." border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/fy0gLJtIkZj8I/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>I think I could handle it better if I could just sample some. By some, I mean all of them. Every <i>single </i>one.</li>
<li>Don't lose ya cool, John.</li>
<li>Over in Dan's corner, he's got sloppy pastry. Yikes.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy is WURKIN' the eyeshadow again. Inspiring me to get funky with my lids tomorrow.</li>
<li>Time's up! Briony definitely absolutely does not have a samosa in her mouth.</li>
<li>Judgement time - Ruby's savoury samosas are spicy as hecc and crispy. Sweet ones are beautiful too. HH-worthy even!</li>
<li>Here's John. Beautiful flavours. And beautiful appearances over with Briony. Paul is a big big fan.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy has made Pythagoras Theorum samosas. I likey. Judges half likey.</li>
<li>Dan... has made bread. Whoops. Yeeeeeeeah, not great for him.</li>
<li>Rahul... I think he's done it again. YES. P&P are mega fans. Raita? YES. PAUL AND PRUE HANDSHAKES HOLY CRUD.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Prue-Leith-and-Paul-Hollywood-congratulate-Rahul-1535451.jpg?r=1538514147420" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandi celebrates as Paul gives Rahul a handshake." border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="590" height="225" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Prue-Leith-and-Paul-Hollywood-congratulate-Rahul-1535451.jpg?r=1538514147420" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Manon now. Bit dry, she's understandably disappointed.</li>
<li>Challenge dos - the technical. "A lot to do" apparently. And the challenge iiiiiiis: 6 "puits d'amour". Wells of love. C'mon innuendos C'MON. IT'S RIGHT THERE.</li>
<li>No advantage here - Manon has not made these romantic wells before.</li>
<li>Erm, okay, John. He just drank the egg whites and set off a salmonella alert across Britain.</li>
<li>Ruby accidentally blobbed 6 circles of creme pat onto <b>each </b>'puit' instead of one. Some nifty creme pat smoothing needed here.</li>
<li>All of these look beautiful. Even Dan's. I think I just like creme pat a lot.</li>
<li>Over they go, the wells of love, to the long ass table. Paul and Prue look down in a judging manner because they are judges and that's what judges do.</li>
<li>"Crispy base but a little bit dark" - Paul on Manon's wells, 2k18.</li>
<li>"Fantastic" for John, flat but flavourful for Kim-Joy, "bland" and "burnt" for Ruby - ouch!</li>
<li>A firm but tasty creme pat by Rahul. Dan, meanwhile, hasn't actually made wells. They're more like fried eggs of love.</li>
<li>Rahul in third, John in second and WOAH. Briony in first!!! What is happening?! She is sm-ash-ing it this episode. What the hecc.</li>
<li>Rahul (obviously) and Briony are being recognised by the judges as the top baking beans in this episode. Lotsa people are in the dangerous red zone, but we still have the showstopper to go...</li>
<li>Challenge tres: a banquet pie, suitable for a Tudor banquet & shaped with the bakers' own hands.</li>
<li>The bakers are making a variety of pastries here, all hoping to get the niftiest textures.</li>
<li>I always forget how Bake Off involves savoury ingredients half the time.</li>
<li>Briony's using venison as well as savoury rye pancakes to save her from getting a soggy bottom.</li>
<li>Chicken curry & nigella seeds for Ruby. Rahul's being a sneaky starlet over in his corner with a curry plan too.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78262.1426x713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandi smiling at Ruby." border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78262.1426x713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Awwwwh. Briony is making a croquet pitch/Alice in Wonderland pie. Meanwhile, John and Noel are stuffing their faces with flying saucers and having sherbert-induced nostalgia.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DohrhLkXgAE4Y8Y.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An illustration of Briony's bake." border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DohrhLkXgAE4Y8Y.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Dramatic. Banquet. Baking. Music. Dundundundun, dundundundundundun, dundundundun, dundundundundundun.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy's got polka dots, and Rahul has created a<b> butterfly</b>. Now it's time for the judging.</li>
<li>Whilst Kim-Joy's looks great, some of the dough was a bit thick. Rats.</li>
<li>Ruby smashed it with her curry banquet pie. As for Rahul's... it looks incredible but is rather wet inside. I spoke too soon! The judges really liked it.</li>
<li>John's dragon is delicious but not looking great. Also a bit on the wet side.</li>
<li>Now for Dan's 'Salmon Coulibiac'. This looks... like an actual fish. Prue is put off by this, but I'm hoping it tastes fantastic. Aghhhhhhhhhhhh. It's raw. Noooooo.</li>
<li>P&P are very impressed with Briony's bake. Needed more sweet potato and less meatiness, but overall the judges were impressed. Surely Briony's going to cry if she wins Star Baker.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6b742f8d074f76660a915238357c74ca7fe9ed13/0_4_3171_1903/master/3171.jpg?width=700&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3f3bf71c23deadb6cb28010e193f97ba" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paul giving feedback to Briony." border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6b742f8d074f76660a915238357c74ca7fe9ed13/0_4_3171_1903/master/3171.jpg?width=700&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3f3bf71c23deadb6cb28010e193f97ba" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Some debating of the bakers' standings, and here comes the results...</li>
<li>Sandi's announcing that the Star Baker of this week is Briony! Yes!</li>
<li>Departing us is... Dan. Gosh, I did not expect this until maybe last week. I genuinely thought he was the dark horse of this series but now I'm realising that it may in fact be Briony. Hmmm.</li>
<li>Actually, that's enough baking madness for one evening. <strike>*fast forwards to 7 days time & hasn't watched tonight's*</strike> I WILL watch it & blog about it tomorrow I promise xo</li>
</ol>
<div>
Images: <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xULW8DcQMhlZFs6baU/giphy.gif" target="_blank">1</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/fy0gLJtIkZj8I/giphy.gif" target="_blank">2</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Prue-Leith-and-Paul-Hollywood-congratulate-Rahul-1535451.jpg?r=1538514147420" target="_blank">3</a> <a href="https://gbc-cdn-public-media.azureedge.net/img78262.1426x713.jpg" target="_blank">4</a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DohrhLkXgAE4Y8Y.jpg" target="_blank">5</a> <a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6b742f8d074f76660a915238357c74ca7fe9ed13/0_4_3171_1903/master/3171.jpg?width=700&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3f3bf71c23deadb6cb28010e193f97ba" target="_blank">6</a></div>
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rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-36376713833769072802018-10-06T17:45:00.001+01:002021-10-06T18:02:05.455+01:0053 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 5Bonjour, baking-loving friends. I've been avoiding rumours about this episode like the plague, and now I'm about to watch it I'm slightly on edge. Luckily I'm calming myself with a praline Magnum (not sponsored <span style="font-size: xx-small;">obviously</span>, just in love with them) & my fourth cuppa of the day. Here goes!<br />
<br />
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<br />
<ol>
<li>I wonder why the UK's overall fashion sense isn't bursting with wild patterns yet. Bake Off's garms do not reflect the wider population. It's almost as if most people don't watch this baking competition TV show to pick up fashion advice - pfft.</li>
<li>So there's still nine bakers left after Terry's illness in the last episode. Yet again, the tent is set in some beautiful sunny grounds in the middle of the countryside and yet again I wish I was lying on that grass with a G&T and a picnic.</li>
<li>LET SPICE WEEK COMMENCE! Hope things don't get too <b>hot </b>in the tent. Or too <b>chili </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I'm here all season</span>.</li>
<li>"Lost in spice". Okay, Sandi has already beaten me on the pun game.</li>
<li>Challenge uno - a ginger cake suitable for a "family tea time". Fantabulous.</li>
<li>Mmm, a honey and apricot ginger cake with honeycomb from Briony. Paul's freaking out as she's just using ginger in the cake and nowhere else. In other words, Paul needs to calm down.</li>
<li>Manon suddenly has bubblegum pink hair and I LOVE IT. TRES CHIC.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Manon-Lagreve-Instagram-GBBO-star-poses-in-selfie-1524575.jpg?r=1537906113546" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Manon doing the peace sign in a selfie with light pink hair." border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Manon-Lagreve-Instagram-GBBO-star-poses-in-selfie-1524575.jpg?r=1537906113546" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Dan's using lemon and ginger, a classic cold remedy. I'm sure that's what he's going for.</li>
<li>Phwooooooar. Rahul is making a bonfire-inspired cake with caramel bits and bobs. Can we invent smell-o-vision already? Or better yet, taste-o-vision?</li>
<li>It's Rum time for Ruby. She's taking the opposite approach to Briony and using ginger practically everywhere so it (hopefully) definitely comes through.</li>
<li>Manon keeping it real having not practiced because work was busy. P-r-e-a-c-h sistah.</li>
<li>Karen's getting boozy too, with brandy completely replacing milk in her batter.</li>
<li>Erm. Okay. Has Dan accidentally made... <b>cheese </b>did he just say?!</li>
<li>Dan, nooooo, don't lose your dark horse flame. Arrrgh he's having to start again. <span style="background-color: #f6d5d9;">Would </span>you brie-lieve it?</li>
<li>TERRY! Terry is back with a bang, aka a pear and ginger cake. Sounds scrumptious.</li>
<li>As Sandi is handily telling us, more time in heat = less ginger flavour in the end. I did not know this.</li>
<li>Hooray! Kim-Joy is also going for pears, as well as a salted caramel drizzle and a little gingerbread house on top. Cute (as expected).</li>
<li>There is ALWAYS time for a cuppa, as John is proving here in this here episode. Let us learn from this, children. Always. Time. For. A Cuppa.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/25/GBBO-Episode-5-signature-challenge-RX5-SIG-8-copy_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqwg7Mh4lqmzbK-ZLqRae1p1k0J65g_OmQEkZijAK_PdU.jpg?imwidth=450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paul giving feedback to John." border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="250" src="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/25/GBBO-Episode-5-signature-challenge-RX5-SIG-8-copy_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqwg7Mh4lqmzbK-ZLqRae1p1k0J65g_OmQEkZijAK_PdU.jpg?imwidth=450" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Seriously digging Manon's hair. What's French for bubblegum again?</li>
<li>Bubble-gum. Okay, cool. Time for an ad break.</li>
<li>And now the judging. John won Prue over with his golden balls.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ee09c2e4b05875be7e96eb/t/53f5f738e4b01f35ef6dfcf8/1408628537553/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The golden balls presenter holding a golden ball." border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="431" height="277" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ee09c2e4b05875be7e96eb/t/53f5f738e4b01f35ef6dfcf8/1408628537553/" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>TOO MUCH BOOZE?! Wow okay. Maybe Karen took it too far... somehow.</li>
<li>Ruby has done well with this first challenge, and Rahul with his stem ginger got a cheeky HH (Hollywood Handshake of course). Erm, he's apologising because Paul said it's "too good" - Rahul, STOP.</li>
<li>Apricot and ginger not working in Briony's bake, while Terry's trundling along. Meanwhile, Kim-Joy has made a cute-as-heck gingerbread house and a g-o-r-geous cake. HH! Yesssss Kim-Joy. I think that's her first.</li>
<li>Here's Dan now. Eeeesh not good.</li>
<li>Blummin'ell Paul... Three handshakes in one challenge! Keep your... gloves on! Manon got that third one.</li>
<li>Now it's time for the Technical: 2 batches of 6... maamoul. Those are Middle Eastern pastries, and bakers have to make 1 walnut batch & the other filled with date paste.</li>
<li>"Mastic" resin is involved. Don't mind me, just trying to work out what the heck Paul is saying.</li>
<li>Rosewater and cinnamon are also involved. Count me in. And cardamom, hellooooooooo.</li>
<li>Oookay. I think Karen has got the shapes mixed up. Not sure how fussy the judges will be about that. Maybe if they taste great she'll be forgiven.</li>
<li>Manon has just blown icing sugar across her pastries - surely ce n'est pas hygiénique.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Bake-Off-1525678.jpg?r=1537950371909" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="""" border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" height="236" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Bake-Off-1525678.jpg?r=1537950371909" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Turns out Terry wacked his temperature up too high and the oils inside his bake(s) melted. Oops.</li>
<li>Seems like Rahul will get the top spot (I think). Kim-Joy, Ruby and Dan are all positive too.</li>
<li>In last/ninth place is Karen. Karen don't you dare leave my life. Don't you DARE.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy in fourth, third is Rahul, second is Dan aaaaaaaaand Ruby smashed the Technical!</li>
<li>Struggling to fight the feeling that Karen is going out now. Especially because it's likely that two people are leaving this week.</li>
<li>Paul the handshake-keen lad in blue (who apparently Sandi & Noel are now crushing on) says Karen, Terry and Briony are in the <span style="color: red;">red </span>zone. The bad heading-for-home zone.</li>
<li>The Showstopper is a "spiced biscuit chandelier". Casual. Standard.</li>
<li>Where are they going to hang them from?!</li>
<li>Lots of cinnamon going on. Karen is using liquorice (blegh).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1be2150229fda4d87bd272173661ba898d1859a8/0_355_3500_2100/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c8bc9ab8ba5a46dea8af35ac626bd69a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="""" border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="300" height="240" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1be2150229fda4d87bd272173661ba898d1859a8/0_355_3500_2100/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c8bc9ab8ba5a46dea8af35ac626bd69a" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Oooooh, Manon is making an art deco-style chandelier. With chocolate and tonka bean flavours. Sounds rather cool, doesn't it.</li>
<li>Oooooh. Another "oooooh", sorry. Briony is crafting a turmeric latté chandelier.</li>
<li>Rahul, are trying to break yourself? 150 biscuits and the most beautiful proposed biscuit chandelier illustration, possibly of all time? This boy likes piling pressure onto his own shoulders. And then saying sorry repeatedly when he absolutely aces pretty much everything.</li>
<li>Dan's got some beautiful butterflies.</li>
<li>Pretty sure people keep saying "cardamo<b>n</b>" instead of "cardamo<b>m</b>". Bonjour je suis the spelling police.</li>
<li>Let the chandelier construction begin! Kim-Joy is <i>impressively </i>calm right now. Everyone else has been rather audibly freaking out.</li>
<li>Time for the dreaded judgment bit... thing. Paul is impressed with how Manon's looks but the taste isn't strong enough. Same with Dan's.</li>
<li>Ruby's looks beautiful, like a peacock chandelier. Tastes alright too.</li>
<li>Rahul has made a rather gorgeous thing with, yes, 150 biscuits. Paul <b>loves </b>it. And what he needed, Paul, was more time, not your disapproval of anything that's not sheer perfection, m8.</li>
<li>Here's Kim-Joy. "Exquisite!" Very well-deserved praise.</li>
<li>Since Prue isn't here, it's just Paul who has to decide which two people are going home. And he's made it clear that he doesn't want Noel or Sandi's contributions.</li>
<li>KIM-JOY WINS STAR BAKER! Awwww. I'm so happy.</li>
<li>The two people leaving the tent are... Karen and Terry. The right decision(s), but bless them both. Such lovely humans.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Images via <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjq7pXKlrcW7V_Ei41lVK7HzHoh-cyryT_AEJehvgAM7Ek0ey6AkeesRQDLgrVg3KNNU_cgwqQjIlC1ISHO1g-w4w6HOvRkccDNbnHNPG8S1yMH2nNhfOuwwLByloDceMnQGVcRsvNEs/s640/GBBO+Episode+5+Show+Stopper+RX5+SS+10+copy_HLL.jpg" target="_blank">1</a> <a href="https://s2-ssl.dmcdn.net/sJzZI/x720-QFU.jpg" target="_blank">2</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Manon-Lagreve-Instagram-GBBO-star-poses-in-selfie-1524575.jpg?r=1537906113546" target="_blank">3</a> <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/25/GBBO-Episode-5-signature-challenge-RX5-SIG-8-copy_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqwg7Mh4lqmzbK-ZLqRae1p1k0J65g_OmQEkZijAK_PdU.jpg?imwidth=450" target="_blank">4</a> <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ee09c2e4b05875be7e96eb/t/53f5f738e4b01f35ef6dfcf8/1408628537553/" target="_blank">5</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Bake-Off-1525678.jpg?r=1537950371909" target="_blank">6</a> <a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1be2150229fda4d87bd272173661ba898d1859a8/0_355_3500_2100/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c8bc9ab8ba5a46dea8af35ac626bd69a" target="_blank">7</a> <a href="https://www.foodheavenmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/GBBO-Episode-5-Show-Stopper-RX5-SS-21-copy.jpg" target="_blank">8</a> <a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/fc8c111a4f391239212b980f7adadd4b/5C4AC860/t51.2885-15/e35/41398164_146132562999115_5441133748834181434_n.jpg" target="_blank">9</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-67598622610600384482018-09-24T22:53:00.003+01:002021-10-06T18:02:11.258+01:0057 Thoughts I Had Watching the Great British Bake Off - Series 9 Episode 4Episode numero 4 calls for Dessert Week. Just from a preview, I'm already googling all the shops in the universe to find out where Noel's shirt is from so I can wear it for the rest of 2018. Should probably buy more than one in that case... heck it, <span style="background-color: orange;">I'll have ten.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8xoD5NgX9lPBB6VhzJhfZg--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/03ee65d59d6dabb5ed102d526f50732d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sandi, Prue and Paul." border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8xoD5NgX9lPBB6VhzJhfZg--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/03ee65d59d6dabb5ed102d526f50732d" width="400" /></a></div>
*ahem* anyway, there's an episode of baking to review so let's crack on.<br />
<ol>
<li>Meringues, chocolate, breakages... all to come in the next 58 minutes.</li>
<li>Karen is sporting a gown of pure elegance, mustard chic.</li>
<li>Turns out Terry is poorly this week :( Best wishes, mustachioed sir.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/3/2018/08/terry-bake-off-0e985e7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Terry smiling." border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/3/2018/08/terry-bake-off-0e985e7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Challenge numero uno: a meringue roulade. In other words: a rather posh sugary cylinder.</li>
<li>Paul is (from outside of the tent) warning that "there's nowhere to hide". So a typical Bake Off challenge, then.</li>
<li>Manon is getting her cherries out for her first-ever meringue roulade. Bonne chance.</li>
<li>Over in Briony's <strike>corner</strike> area, it's Treacle Tart Town. Woot woooooot.</li>
<li>Awwwwww. Kim-Joy is making a roulade with a lovely design. I've forgotten what it was but just trust me when I say that it's lovely.</li>
<li>John, in his wild <b><span style="color: orange;">orange</span> </b>Hawaiian shirt, is getting fruity. Naturally.</li>
<li>Rahul could enter a competition for the Biggest Worrier right now and automatically make the top five.</li>
<li>Dan is off for mango, strawberries & coconut - sounds delicious.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Dan-Beasley-Harling-snaps-Noel-Fielding-1019456.jpg?r=1537305529528" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noel and Dan." border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" height="236" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Dan-Beasley-Harling-snaps-Noel-Fielding-1019456.jpg?r=1537305529528" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Ruby is playing the Liverpool card especially for Paul and making a pina colada masterpiece. Very scouse. Now, this is a roulade I could get behind.</li>
<li>If Rahul gets a handshake, Noel will commence Situation Piggyback. C'mon Rahul!!!</li>
<li>So the bakers have all got their meringues out. Now for the custard and fillings, and we've still got the rolling to go.</li>
<li>How nervewracking must this be?! Aaaaaaaargh.</li>
<li>Manon is having a crack-related problem. Over with John, we've got some mango science experiment happening. Aaaand it's over. Let's get them roulades judged.</li>
<li>P&P are big fans of Ruby's bake as well as Kim-Joy's, even though it's a bit thick and messy.</li>
<li>Hooray! Despite Manon's crack mishap, she's done well.</li>
<li>In his cautious approach, Rahul failed to bake his for long enough. We'll have to wait a bit longer for the piggyback I'm afraid.</li>
<li>Karen's bake is too soft while Dan has <b>aced </b>it. HANDSHAKE. HANDSHAKE ALEEEEEEEEEEEEEERT <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(which is such a legendary thing that it was on HQ last night)</span></li>
<li>Briony did okay<b> </b>but not great... JOHN THOUGH! JOHN GOT A HANDSHAKE! IT'S HANDSHAKE CITY! aka Pewdiepie's worst nightmare. Oooooh, can we get him on Celebrity Bake Off and get Paul to give him loads of awkward handshakes continuously?! Yes?! Cool.</li>
<li>Technical time: a raspberry Blancmange plus biscuits. The Blancmange looks terrifying and a bit gross but I remember having it somewhere and it being nice. It also isn't spelled how I would expect it to be.</li>
<li>There's a big classic jelly-type mold for each baker and they've all gone in the fridge now. Time for biscuits!</li>
<li>"Bake". That's all it says. I would run away.</li>
<li>So Karen and Sandi are agreeing that food should not be "that colour" (pale green) but as a huge fan of the French fig leaf cake, I beg to differ.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/0e/6c/5e0e6cd88b9232498303a5c0dab955dc.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close-up of a swedish princess cake." border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/0e/6c/5e0e6cd88b9232498303a5c0dab955dc.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is the closest thing I could find (called a <a href="https://www.passionforbaking.com/blog/2017/06/27/a-classic-swedish-princess-cake-klassisk-prinsesstarta/" target="_blank">swedish princess cake</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</li>
<li>I'm now trawling the interwebs to find a picture of the legendary fig leaf cake and it's nowhere to be found (just the above :( ).</li>
<li>The moment of truth. The bakers are flipping their Blancmanges and trying to shift them out of their molds. Eeeesh they're all melting! Apart from Briony's it seems.</li>
<li>Karen is seriously struggling... and time's up. I was just about to say they all look similar but that is a total lie. Here goes the blind judging.</li>
<li>Rahul has smashed the pink wobbly thing but not the biscuits. Meanwhile, John has aced both! Possible Star Baker for him this time?</li>
<li>Ooooh - saying that, Dan has done great also.</li>
<li>Manon is in last place and let's whizz to 3rd: John! 2nd place is Ruby and that means in 1st is Dan! Cmooooooooooon.</li>
<li>Oh, Kim-Joy don't cry! Noooo. She thinks it's the end of the road for her.</li>
<li>Time for the pre-showstopper banter brigade. The top four are Rahul, Ruby, John, and Dan. The rest are in trouble apparently which isn't cool.</li>
<li>Karen is looking s-c-a-r-e-d. I love her, she can't leave. I won't allow it. I will go back in time and stop that potential nonsense.</li>
<li>A melting chocolate ball dessert... that's the showstopper.</li>
<li>Hold. The. Phone. Briony is making an amaretto and blood orange... wait for it... sticky toffee pudding tart... surrounded by white chocolate. Heck yes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/18/GBBO-EP-4-979_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdGtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpg?imwidth=450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noel with his arm around Briony." border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="250" src="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/18/GBBO-EP-4-979_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdGtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpg?imwidth=450" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>When Paul admitted she's making his favourite tarts this week, Briony's "oh good" in response was incredibly telling in that it was high pitched. And shaky.</li>
<li>Blahdy 'ell. Ruby is making a cool golden egg with pistachios. Hallo.</li>
<li>Awww. Dan and the giant peach! I love it. His voice is going all high too, maybe it's something in the tent air.</li>
<li>What is Kim-Joy doing? Is she making... space turtles... okay the answer is yes. It's a turtle galaxy with cocktail umbrellas. IT ME.</li>
<li>Ohhhhhhhhhhh. White chocolate has a lower melting point so the bakers who have opted for that could be in trouble.</li>
<li>Raspberry liquor come throooooooooooough. Yes, Karen.</li>
<li>Oh, Rahul. AN OPERA CAKE?! With coffee crème anglaise... this sounds divine.</li>
<li>These look incredible - oh no, the first breakage! It's Ruby's :(</li>
<li>John the Ultimate Babe is coming over to help make the cream for Ruby. A baking angel.</li>
<li>Time is up. There's been disasters and successes and it's all to play for. Now some delicious ads before they're judged.</li>
<li>Here we go. And John is wearing a tutu to match his cake decoration - absolute brilliance. Thumbs up from P&P.</li>
<li>Bit of a thick sickly tart from Ruby. Eesh.</li>
<li>Rahul's chocolate didn't melt too well but P&P are l-o-v-i-n-g the taste. Definitely doesn't matter about the meltiness then.</li>
<li>Briony's is a deconstructed chocolate globe. Whilst it looks pretty awful, they liked the taste... I don't think she'll be going home.</li>
<li>Time for Dan to shine. Mmm fresh peaches and caramel. Get in mah belly.</li>
<li>Manon's bake is stunning and so is the dessert inside. Heck, maybe it <u>is</u> Briony going home. Has Kim-Joy been up yet? I don't think so...</li>
<li>Here's Karen's... mmm raspberry liquor, heLLO. Prue loves it but Paul wanted more alcohol, that's unusual.</li>
<li>Kim-Joy. Wowee. AWWW! THE TURTLES! The boozy orange turtles.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i2-prod.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/article15170570.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2018-09-18-at-211605jpeg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kim-joy's bake. The little turtles surround the chocolate on the plate." border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="615" height="298" src="https://i2-prod.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/article15170570.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2018-09-18-at-211605jpeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yessssssss</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</li>
<li>So it seems like a bit of a weird atmosphere... I think they might not send anyone home. I have a sneaky feeling they'll wait until Terry returns.</li>
<li>AND THE STAR BAKER IS DAN! Hooraaaaay.</li>
<li>C'mon Noel. Tell us it's noone... it is! A Bake Off first?! Amen.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/38/980x490/landscape-1537348494-bake-off-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Manon and Ruby hold Briony's hands. Briony looks very relieved!" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/38/980x490/landscape-1537348494-bake-off-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the relief on her face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</li>
</ol>
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Images <a href="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8xoD5NgX9lPBB6VhzJhfZg--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/03ee65d59d6dabb5ed102d526f50732d" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/3/2018/08/terry-bake-off-0e985e7.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Dan-Beasley-Harling-snaps-Noel-Fielding-1019456.jpg?r=1537305529528" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/0e/6c/5e0e6cd88b9232498303a5c0dab955dc.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://s1-ssl.dmcdn.net/r-mNt/x480-QOs.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/tv/2018/09/18/GBBO-EP-4-979_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdGtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpg?imwidth=450" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://i2-prod.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/article15170570.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2018-09-18-at-211605jpeg.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/38/980x490/landscape-1537348494-bake-off-2.jpg" target="_blank">via</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583930028041866351.post-71519894540985283952018-09-17T20:55:00.001+01:002021-10-06T18:02:44.325+01:0068 Thoughts I Had Watching GBBO - Series 9 Episode 3So it's Bread Week this week. Let's see what shenanigans the GBBO crew get up to.<br />
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<a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018090561953/great-british-bake-off-cake-week-weather-conditions/0-293-986/gbbo-terry-t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018090561953/great-british-bake-off-cake-week-weather-conditions/0-293-986/gbbo-terry-t.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li>I have high hopes for Rahul this week. Hopefully, he'll pull it out the bag once again!</li>
<li>Bread Week seems like it's gonna be an eventful one.</li>
<li>Duhnuhnuhnuhnuh, duhnuhnuhnuhnuh, duhnuhnuhnuhnuh, duhnuhnuhnuhnuh, BONG.</li>
<li>Sandi is going sport-chic this week while Noel is dressed... seemingly as a bee.</li>
<li>Quite a few of the bakers are a bit nervous about Paul and it being Bread Week, seeing as he's such a bread expert (or so they say).</li>
<li>Yep, Noel looks like a human character in the Bee Movie.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Just googled the Bee Movie and there are actually humans in it - oops. This is where I announce that I've never seen the Bee Movie (sue me).</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Karen is sporting a red beret and looking rather French. More so than Manon, dare I say.</li>
<li>The first challenge is 12 sweet buns which must be baked with their sides touching. So it's kind of like a big free-for-all, you rip a bun out of a collection of buns <span style="font-size: xx-small;">ummm... yeah.</span></li>
<li>Three hours on the clock and GO.</li>
<li>Damn, Karen is looking <b>so cool </b>today. Terry is also looking fantastic with a very well groomed 'stache and a pink shirt.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Paul-Hollywood-leaves-fans-in-uproar-over-Karen-criticism-1503473.jpg?r=1536699983884" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="590" height="225" src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Paul-Hollywood-leaves-fans-in-uproar-over-Karen-criticism-1503473.jpg?r=1536699983884" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>So they're obviously making buns... getting the dough to rise... you can tell I know a lot about making buns from how I'm writing.</li>
<li>I've just realised what Karen's done - she's dressed up in a French outfit deliberately. This is how much faith I have in Karen's wackiness. Is it even possible to love her more than I already do?!</li>
<li>Kim-Joy! She's going to be using a special technique... tanzon?! I have no idea. Anyway, it's supposed to make the buns all fluffy and wonderful inside. Both Prue & Paul don't know what the technique is so it must be funky.</li>
<li>Ohhh she's gone to the Travelling Man shop in York. AW HER BOYFRIEND WORKS THERE. Awwwwwwwwwwww.</li>
<li>Pistachio, cardamom & lemon choux buns. Those sound really really good. I've never really had an urge to have a choux bun but I would definitely jump at the chance to have one of those.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Manon is making Chelsea buns - they're apricot, cranberry and something else. They sound nice... and fruity.</li>
<li>Dan is making a spiced orange Chelsea bun. These sound very autumnal, with brandy-soaked sultanas. I'm not a massive fan of sultanas but if they're soaked in brandy then I would probably give them a try (just maybe).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could only find human Brandy gifs, soz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Everyone <b>kneads </b>to take their time. Hahahahaha.</li>
<li>What is it with Bake Off bakers & living with people who wear the same clothes?</li>
<li>Antony is making a breakfast-themed Chelsea bun selection. I see some golden syrup going on, hello.</li>
<li>Ooooh. Terry's using some Amalfi lemons. Exotic.</li>
<li>It's time for the dough to prove itself.</li>
<li>Vanilla, cinnamon, carrots, dates...?! Ruby seems to have everything in her Chelsea buns. Still some bitterness from her about the "forest floor" comment. And rightly so.</li>
<li>Raisins, pistachio & balsamic strawberries for Briony. Yes pistachio come throooooough.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Oh my god, Karen is literally wearing all the colours ever EXISTING in her little behind-the-scenes clip. She is basically me but older.</li>
<li>Yes that's right, Sandi. Karen does win best dressed. Amen.</li>
<li>I do believe Jon is repping the same Hawaiian shirt as last week. Consistency, I like it. He's making Cardiff City salted caramel & pecan Chelsea buns with marshmallow...</li>
<li>So before I watched this episode, I saw an article about Rahul basically being the resident cutie of this season and I CALLED THIS. I knew this would happen. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thank you, thank you very much</span></li>
<li>HE BAKES TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS. OHHH. This week his friends are receiving mango & cranberry buns. They look truly beautiful. And now I'm going to have to find a Chelsea bun at the weekend. This is what Bake Off does to me.</li>
<li>Under-proving and over-proving are both disasters. There seems to be an impossibly small window for perfection.</li>
<li>Five minutes left! Karen's buns look really good. Aaaand I'm now realising the innuendo potential of this challenge.</li>
<li>I believe there was a deliberate effort this season to make less innuendos to, y'know, not 'offend' people. I'm kinda missing them to be honest.</li>
<li>Antony has taken to the floor. Literally. He's sat there staring into the distance, not even at his oven.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li>Karen's got the gold spray out. Queeeeeeeeeeeen.</li>
<li>It's BunsOut time. Kim-Joy's has weak flavours, Manon has made tasty yet overdone buns... oh and Dan has <b>another </b>handshake! Wow, he is kicking some serious b u t t.</li>
<li>An orange Chelsea bun just sounds really heccin' good.</li>
<li>Antony's bake is 'dry', Terry has indeed pulled it out of the bag and Karen is championing her repeated decision to use Bakewell flavours.</li>
<li>Jon's are overbaked and Rahul's are hella messy (but delicious - mango chutney!).</li>
<li>Super happy for Terry right now.</li>
<li>Time for a very short technical: eight non-yeasted garlic naan breads. This sounds easy but also incredibly hard at the same time. Speaking of time, they have one hour.</li>
<li>Ruby is aggro-stressed, if that's a word. I've made it a word now. "They are what they are," she says. Well yes, they are.</li>
<li>Somehow time is up and everyone's naans look great. I think.</li>
<li>Ruby has skimped out on the garlic and Jon has used too much. Argh!</li>
<li>Manon's are more like pittas, Dan's are HUGE and Rahul didn't cook them enough. Neither did Briony. And Kim-Joy's are inconsistent - double argh!</li>
<li>Kim-Joy came last. Zooming up to the top three, we have Manon in 3rd, Jon in 2nd and TERRY in 1st!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Time for the judges' discussion sesh. Up there at the tippity top are Dan and Rahul, the resident cutie/serial apologiser. Embodying the true British way of life.</li>
<li>Now it's the showstopper: a tiered korovai. What on earth is that?!</li>
<li>Oh, thanks Sandi. It's an Eastern European sweetbread. At least three tiers are required but it can be any shape whatsoever and it has to be based on a celebratory event.</li>
<li>This is a five-hour challenge - that's ridiculous.</li>
<li>Ruby's korovai is for her parents. It has apricots & almonds and looks like it's going to be amazing. I like how Prue said "I think it's possible" and Ruby said "thank you".</li>
<li>Oh my god. Kim-Joy is making a <b>cat wedding korovai. A KITTOVAI. </b>Bloody'ell. And they have names: Roffles and Raffles...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Dan's making gay bread. Sounds like a hit recipe.</li>
<li>Jon is going full Welsh on this one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Manon has a family tattoo... her whole family have the same one?! I think that's a bit too cool for... the Earth.</li>
<li>Still mega proud of Terry.</li>
<li>Okay, saying that Terry now seems to be having a mild disaster. I think I've jinxed his baking through time travel somehow.</li>
<li>"You look like a breadstick" - Noel Fielding, 2018.</li>
<li>Time's up! Kim-Joy's cake wedding is so cuuuuute. Paul is looking at it like "what the frick". A bit underproved but good says Paul, I'd see that as a good result.</li>
<li>Rahul has pulled it out of the decoration bag once more. Wow.</li>
<li>Right, I have to say this. I now don't like it when Paul says "that's really, really good" because I just think it's going to be another handshake. THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IS LOST, PAUL.</li>
<li>Dan's bake = b-e-a-utiful. A bit plain tasting, though.</li>
<li>WOAH. Hold the baking horses. Paul said he could eat Ruby's WHOLE korovai *ahem*</li>
<li>So Terry's is really underbaked. For the second prove he waited 15 minutes and it should've been... wait for it.. two <b>hours</b>.</li>
<li>A real mixed <strike>bread</strike> bag indeed.</li>
<li>Aw, Rahul! He got Star Baker! Awwww. Hopefully he'll start believing in himself now.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Leaving today is... Antony says "just say it"... oh it is him! Ohh. Paul did just tell him that he loves him, how wholesome.</li>
<li>Breaking news for the end of the episode though: Rahul says "now I think I can bake". HERE WE GO.</li>
</ol>
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Images <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/2018090561953/great-british-bake-off-cake-week-weather-conditions/0-293-986/gbbo-terry-t.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm1oi1iWwAECyy0.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/secondary/Great-British-Bake-Off-2018-Paul-Hollywood-leaves-fans-in-uproar-over-Karen-criticism-1503473.jpg?r=1536699983884" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/kaykbaNAsPyaA/giphy.gif" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/TastyOblongIaerismetalmark-size_restricted.gif" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article13228071.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/0_The-Great-British-Bake-Off.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/what.gif" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm1SadEXcAYKHzj.jpg" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/09/11/21/gbborahul-copy.jpg?w968" target="_blank">via</a></div>
rhianglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01938900279060218116noreply@blogger.com0