I thought with all these cooking programmes and all these wonderful chefs working so hard to get us cooking I would take it on myself to be a bit creative with the family dinner. I thought I would surprise my teenage boys by not just dumping mashed potato on their plates but piping lovely swirls on, just like they do on the telly.

So out came my piping bag, yes I do have one, a bit like me it doesn't get out much but it's still functional. Popped my mash into it, screwed the biggest nozzle on that I could find and piped away. It was all going well until I realised my nozzle probably wasn't big enough and I pushed a bit hard. The bag burst at the seams and the bit of mash that was left burst out at super speed from my piping bag. I looked everywhere thinking it must be on the floor or up the kitchen walls but the potato had landed quite nicely onto my plate like as if the process had been wonderfully choreographed. So the boys had swirls and I got a massive dollop of potato. I'm thinking I may need to practice a bit more.

This inspired my verse for today. Enjoy...........

I piped my mashed potato like a Masterchef winner
all excited, looking forward to our dinner
I presented it to my son
who said 'whatever have you done?'
I've piped the mashed potato!

It's hard to impress a lad
teenagers look at you as if you're mad
I probably expected too much
a round of applause, a fanfare or such
But I piped my mashed potato!

Wallace and Torode would have showered me in glory
straight through to the next round would have been my story
Presentation a ten
and get to come back again
Because I piped my mashed potato!

Cooking it has it's disasters
no need for stitches or plasters
But my bag was overloaded
and across the kitchen it exploded
Maybe I shouldn't be piping mashed potato

The mash it busted from the seams
like my trousers after the dish of my dreams
My nozzle was too thin
the whole thing ended up in the bin
But I managed to pipe some mashed potato

I may try again another day
a bigger hole I'll have underway
Fancy dollops and swirls I shall make
my bag I will try not to break
The next time I pipe my mashed potato

Although it ended in a bit of a disaster I really enjoyed it. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. I just wished I had filmed it. You see all these you tubers creating fabulous culinary delights but maybe I could be the learner cook who just creates the mistakes but gets there in the end. What's a bit of mash over your camera eh?

Thanks for reading today, do come back again. I will be returning tomorrow with Free From Friday which is a look at my gluten free diet. It's all going on here!

​Take care for now.......

My new Fitbit is the inspiration for my verse for today. I have already written about my new friend here getting-fit-with-fitbit.html and we are still getting on fine. It's certainly getting me fitter so thats a good thing but it can rule your life a little.........


You are ruling my life
by telling me my troubles and strife
The water I'm not drinking
to the app I've got to be linking 
Fitbit you have a hold of my life.

It's good though to be moving a lot more
I'm walking like never before 
You nag me every hour
Leave me alone for five minutes I'm having a shower!
My Fitbit is ruling my life

You tell me the floors I have climbed
and everything is perfectly timed
Recording my hours of sleep
REM, light sleep and deep
Even in slumber you are ruling my life

Thanks to you I know the calories I've burned
and you give me the awards I have earned
No prizes for big cheesecake
I fear for the alarm you would make
Fitbit you are ruling my life.

I love you as you show me the light
my fitness and weight loss are in sight
I admire your critique 
but thank god you can't speak
Fitbit you can carry on ruling my life.


That's it it's buzzing so I'm off for a walk, got 10,000 steps to do ya know!!.....thanks for reading, come back tomorrow for Free From Friday.

Take care for now.....byeeeeee. 

Lemon Drizzle Cake, gorgeous eh? I have not got that function built into my brain that says 'no Sue from the Brew, you cannot eat that because you are on a diet'. I get a bit excited when I see gluten free as well as it can be rare sometimes and of course you all need to know about this cake. It's research at the end of the day really, isn't it? Please say yes. 

My verse for today is about this naughty adventure I went on with the cake! Enjoy.....

What ever did happen to my diet?

The cake it did fall in my gob
it was something I just could not stop
The lemon was drizzlin'
my mouth was a sizzlin'
What ever did happen to my diet?

A latte to accompany my cake
a rest, a sit-down, take a break
All frothy and milky
and positively silky
Whatever did happen to my diet?

I looked at the cake and it said
'I can see ya gal who likes to be fed'
I dug in my fork
cut cakes don't really talk
Whatever did happen to my diet?

It really tasted so good
I am so fond of a pud
I lose my concentration 
give in to the temptation
Whatever did happen to my diet?

Calories galore but there I sat
cake is great when you're having a chat
There's always an excuse
for all this abuse
What ever did happen to my diet?

So back on the plan I must go
eliminate cakes and gateaux 
Oh it just stinks
Mr Kipling will be gutted me thinks
Whatever will happen with my diet?

I'm off to have a serious word with myself and maybe sit on the naughty step or go out for more cake, ha ha oops!

Thanks for reading. I will be back tomorrow for Free from Friday so join me then.

​Take care for now........

It isn't very summery at the moment. We seem to be experiencing a lot of rain and cooler temperatures, much too cool for August. This may be my fault. as the temperatures seem to have plummeted ever since I bought an oscillating fan from the last heatwave we had a few weeks ago so I may have jinxed the summer. Not used it since I bought it, typical eh? It is sitting in my living room just longing to be used. 

Hey it could be super hot though just like the rest of Europe, may have to be careful what I wish for as that is the extreme of summer. Sitting here writing this post though this morning it does seem to be brightening up slightly so fingers crossed everyone lets hope we get a bit of summer after all. 

This inspired me to write my verse for today, hope you like it.......

Where Has The Summer Gone

It's more like bloomin' autumn
August needs a big kick up the bum
The sun I believe has shone
but where's the blinkin' summer gone?

We should be doing some sweatin'
but instead we are doing more frettin'
Got an umbrella anyone?
Oh where has the summer gone?

Cool and cloudy it seems every day
looking very dodgy as some would say
The dark clouds have jolly well won
but where has the summer gone?

The rest of Europe have got it hot
maybe we should be thankful for what we have got
School holidays the kids are upon
So where is the summer? Just where has it gone?

I believe it is coming our way
brightening up, maybe today
A day trip we're going on
So prove to me summer's not gone

I'll just have to wait and see
if the high temperatures are meant to be
Is this weather just all a complete con?
Or is the summer really all gone?

It's the typical British way
get on with it, come what may
Thicker stuff we are said to be made from
I don't believe it's all over, and this summer has all gone.

Optimistic eh? Well a bit of positive thinking doesn't do anything any harm, lets just hope. 

Thank you for reading today, join me again for Free from Friday tomorrow. 

Take care for now.

We all went out for a walk the other day. Yes I managed to drag two teenagers out for an afternoon out. It was lovely to spend some time together in between the huffs and puffs, and classic teenage grunts. They were a bit reluctant because I had prized them away from their gadgets and favourite things to spend time with mum. 'The fresh air will do you good' I said, they look at me as if to say they would rather suck vintage mouldy pickled eggs.

I think they secretly enjoyed it, I know I'm loved as they tell me every day. It is hard though to organise days out in the school holidays especially at this age as they like to do their own thing now and I totally understand. When they were little I could just scoop them up, pop them in the car and take them everywhere. The thing is that now I suppose I can just take myself off and have a bit of independence but I like my time with my boys. My eldest will go as he loves have a walk but I don't believe in making them do anything they don't want to, I was going my own way at their age but you forget don't you?

This gave me my inspiration for my verse today, I hope you enjoy it..........


Walk with Me

Walk with me boys
just now and again
Before you become older
turn into young men

Walk with me lads 
it's not really a chore
The locations I choose though
maybe a bore

Walk with me chaps
it's good for us you know
Before my knees give in
and I'm living in a bungalow

Walk with me my son's
it's time I enjoy
Time is so precious
no need to be coy

Walk with me guys
for soon you'll fly the nest
I can then stop annoying you
yes, finally a rest

Walk with me now
as you make me so proud
One of you so quiet 
the other one SO LOUD

Walk with me you two
as memories are made
These moments remembered
life's footprints are laid


Family can mean good friends and lovers too. So enjoy your family time in which ever way you spend it. Make the most of it as family time is precious time. 

Thanks for reading, join me tomorrow for Free from Friday.

Take care for now......