Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Sailor

TTSS: a notebook on life.

  • In need of a name

    A belated post of sorts yep, but I was lucky enough to be given this beautiful vintage record player as a Christmas gift. She was generously given to me by someone special whom not only tracked her down, but painstakingly restored her; taking her to bits and soldering, de-rusting her amongst more laborious tasks I’m…

  • Breakfast of champions

    Yesterday I took to the kitchen to recreate M1lk’s/Salad Days, Offal Nights Kurdish Baked Eggs. Daunting though the task felt – thanks to a gazillion ingredients and it being something entirely new – the complicated-seeming recipe was not only super-easy to make, but utterly delicious too. I heartily recommend swapping your fried favourites for these…

  • Hey lovers, Hey haters

    May today bring you sunshine, smiles and togetherness. Happy Valentine’s Day, tinkers x

  • Fresh outta the frying pan

    Sunday morning. I’m hungry. The boy? ‘Hungry’ doesn’t even touch the sides. In order to satisfy our rumbling bellies, we headed to M1lk in Balham, the one-time greasy spoon ‘Bistro’ which I’d tried, tested and hated. Thankfully, new owners have taken over the corner-cafe and despite it dripping of ‘hip’ – more undercuts than you…

  • “Sometimes love isn’t firecrackers, sometimes love just comes softly”

    The focus of my recent admiration has been well and truly honed in on one brand and hush now, don’t tell anyone, please, but it’s a wedding brand – The Lane. It’s their mixture of well-chosen photography that you can relate to, plus words that simply charm my inner hippie to the ground. I very…

  • To new beginnings

    This post happens to feature one of many firsts: the first of the year; the first published (or at least, written) from my phone; and the first created using wifi – and at that, intermittent wifi from the sandy shores of Palolem Beach, Goa. It’s my fifth night here and I could confidently say that…

  • Love to one and all

    It’d be fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been testing. I’m hesitant to say “rough” but little things known as ‘challenges’ have come thick and fast. Perhaps it’s my own fault for being too quick to say that 2012 has been good to me. I’m hoping that yesterday sees the end…

  • It’s the grand finale: Bakemas day 12

    The great bake has reached its pinnacle! 12 whole days of indulgent treats have passed and it’s fair to say that our belts are now being fastening a little looser. Ahem. Bringing The 12 Days of Bakemas to a sugary finish is Mikaela (left), pictured below with Lilly helping out to show off M’s Man-Sized…

  • Bakemas has not been forgotten…

    …merely its coverage paused due to illness; yuck. Here’s what been happening in the Eco Office while I’ve been away (I think – no, I know –  I’ve been sorely missing out). Day 7 of Bakemas Holly with her Bakewell Tart, Amanda and her Gingerbread Cookies, and Edith with her double chocolate biscuits. Day 8…

  • The 12 Days of Bakemas – we’re half way there

    Following on from yesterday, Charlotte,  the Eco Office’s PR Guru, crafted Pesto Palmiers (much neater than mine, I must say). Lilly, our buying assistant extraordinaire, whipped up festive-hued “I Have No Ideas” – we pressed her to give her white chocolate creations a name, so she did.

  • Bakemas – Day 5

    As we march towards the half-way mark of The 12 Days of Bakemas, today saw Zoe and Yours Truly as the girls with the goods. Zoe went for a savoury number – homemade sausage rolls – and on a similar pastry-based slant, I tried my hand at Liberty London Girl’s Nutella and Toasted Nut Palmiers.…

  • The 12 Days of Bakemas – Day 4

    As The 12 Days of Bakemas continue, it’s safe to say we’re in full festive swing here at the Eco Office. Today, it’s Kris and Caroline’s turn to showcase their sugary treats. Kris (left) made the South African-inspired Chocolate Crispies and Caroline; homemade cookies – one batch of gingerbread and another of chocolate chip. Delicious……

  • Bakemas, Baby – Day 3

    Today Laura and Paola took over from Claire and Fiona for the third instalment of The 12 Days of Bakemas. On a Monday afternoon, I think we were all in need of a pick-me-up and the girls did us proud – Laura with the curious, yet totally delicious Mint Bark (an American, crispy, peppermint biscuit) and…

  • The 12 days of Bakemas – day 2

    It’s the end of the week, it’s Christmas (almost), and we’re feeling festive hunger pangs in the eco-office. Thankfully, as day two of The 12 Days of Bakemas is upon us, Claire and Fiona have whipped up quite the sugary-sweet feast. Today we have Blondies with Pecans, and Melted Snowmen to fill our faces with…

  • Introducing The 12 Days of Bakemas

    Today marks the beginning of two-and-a-bit weeks worth of toothsome delights in the eco office – a.k.a. The 12 Days of Bakemas.  This involves different members of the team baking on a daily basis and sharing their hand-crafted goodies amongst the rest of us greedy lot. It’s important to mention that this is not a…

  • Telling tales of adventure

    A few years back I met a tall, utterly modest girl named Hannah. She soon scurried off from the brand we worked for, swapping the London 9-5 to cross continents upon the back seat of a sand-sprayed motorcycle. She explored the sites of, and drew inspiration from, her surroundings and with nonchalant strength, endured –…

  • Music to move you

    This song, a certain someone, a slow dance. Can it get any better?    

  • Bright lights, big city

     

  • Things I’m grateful for

    It’s been quite a while since I last posted about the things I’m grateful for. Great start at a regular feature there, soldiersailor. However, here I am, thinking about the last two weeks that have been action-packed and fun-filled. My, there are a plethora of things that I’m thoroughly thankful for. Here goes… wonderful friends, from countries far and wide…

  • In the company of legends

    Last night we dined on seared trout, sipped ginger beer and spiced rum, and shaked, rattled and staggered rolled as the Classic Rock Magazine Awards played out in London’s Roundhouse. A good friend and I sat amongst famous faces including everyone from Vic Reeves to Status Quo and the phenomenal Billy Gibbons of ZZ top…

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