Life and Times of JJ

Life, Loves, Travels and Photos Taken Along the Way

iCheat….sorta

  05/02/2016       JJ      Add Comment

Bank holidays are notoriously lazy and this morning started no differently that Saturday and Sunday morning this week.  I didn’t have that much time though as we had plans to visit Southend-On-Sea to see my husband’s dad for lunch.

Lunch was lovely – we went to Roslin Beach hotel and I enjoyed a lovely rib-eye steak followed by yummy steamed treacle pudding.  No chocolate, no wine (although I really would have loved a nice Pinot Noir!).

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I’ve been watching a new TV show on Netflix which is kinda quirky – iZombie.  I am enjoying it – I think it has to be tagged as a guilty pleasure.  I did fancy a wee snack and reached for brioche (being all off chocolate and that!).  After a yummy bite I noticed the chocolate chips!!

Let us see if we can get through the rest of the week without any further slips!

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Cut it Out!

  05/02/2016       JJ      Add Comment

I’ve made a decision.

My husband has no faith in my ability to stick to my decision which is either going to have 1 of 2 results:

  • I’ll stick to it to prove him wrong and win (although there is no real prize)
  • I will cave within the week.

The decision is that until the 2nd June I am having no alcohol, no chocolate and no crisps.

Cocktails

No More Cocktails……

It seems a bit foolhardy to try to cut out 3 vices but I feel like it may be a good challenge.  Watch this space…

General

Exploring Photoshop

  01/03/2016       JJ      Add Comment

I love taking photographs and will be the first to admit that I am not that creative or talented but I have managed to take a few pictures that Steve and I like.  In my blips I have always (until today) published pictures straight out of the camera.  With exception on filters from iPhone pictures but anything to improve the mobile phone pics doesn’t really count….I think.

For Christmas I received a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements.  I do also have the book in the “for Dummies” series to help me with the software as I do expect it to be a bit tricky.

I used it for the first time today to do some basic editing and I was so surprised at the  difference the software can do to an image.  Below is a picture I took when walking along by the Grand Union Canal last week before New Year.  Initially you can see that the water in the image is quite dull and greyish.  The shadow of the tree is also just lacking in colour.

Pram in Canal - original

Pram in Canal – original

By using some of the simple controls to fix the image in photoshop in colour, lighting and balance the water is richer and you can see the green in the reflection of the trees on the water surface.  I wasn’t applying any intelligence but have just started to play around and so far I think I like what I can see and also how much more able I feel to be able to affect the images with more than the camera settings, or hoping it is a sunny day when I’m out snapping.

Pram in Canal - Photoshopped

Pram in Canal – Photoshopped

I am excited about trying to learn more and produce really interesting and fun images.  Wish me luck!

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Winter Warmers

  12/30/2015       JJ       Featured Imageazul-silver      Add Comment

Today’s dinner time menu was a delicious dish from Ultimate Slow Cooker by Sara Lewis called Gingered Beef with Bay.  It worked out really well and I served it with carrots and mash potato.

I am still trying to get used to the new slow cooker which is part of the function of Steve’s new pressure cooker.  It is quite a versatile machine but with so many options and buttons I have to admit to finding it quite a change from the simple on/ off type pressure cooker that we had before.  I accidentally set a timer that, rather than being a timer for cooking time, the timer function serves as a timer to set a delay on when to start cooking.  Luckily I had a nosy in at the pot after an hour of cooking time and realised that the cooker was not quite umm.. well cooking.  It was taking slow cooking to a whole new level.  It was found early enough to resolve and job done.

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I do love slow cooking – the dishes are about 20 mins prep time and then you just stick it in the pot and let it go for hours – the result normally being delicious flavours which feel almost effortless in the making.

In other news my sister has confirmed she has started watching “How I Met Your Mother” and that she loves it!  Glad I make a good recommendation to her.

Cooking

How to Blog…or not…

  12/30/2015       JJ      2 Comments

I will start by saying I am not actually looking to be a “blogger”.  For the past 5 years I have been a reasonably active user of  Blipfoto.  With there being a lot of uncertainty over the future of the site, in looking for a replacement it seems this may be the best option for me.

Things I plan to cover and write about:

  • My two gorgeous cats!
  • My love of cooking and baking (even those very unsuccessful attempts)
  • My love of photography (even though I am certainly no expert)
  • My love and experiences travelling with my lovely new husband!Rosie Nibbler

I have been reading some guides on blogging and I know I will not be following those rules but this is ok as I am not aiming to be followed as an expert on anything (see all the statements in parentheses I mentioned on the things I would write about) and I am not aiming to earn money as a blogger.  To be honest I am not quite sure how that would work but hey ho!

I can see the following pro’s of this approach:

  • Not feeling like I have to try to post something everyday like on blip (not that I managed this)
  • Limited to one photograph a day

Hope that anyone that stumbles across this enjoys my musings.

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