Jack's mini break to Costa del Sol
/Jack was in Spain over the weekend to celebrate his final studio hand-in for this academic year!
Congrats Jack!
A few pics below.
Rugged Snowdonia
/I have returned from an experience-and-a-half in rugged Snowdonia! It was a trip full of contrasts, adventure and some challenge.
The first five days I spent in a lovely warm environment surrounded with all my home comforts whilst taking part in the next module of my yoga teacher training. The next five days saw me (and Jimi, who joined me) thrust into a raw, rugged mountainous landscape, which brewed a storm - the epic finale taking place on the last night of our camping holiday!
We DID have a fantastic time - all be it very wet and windy! And - amazingly - the tent stood up to the gusts of wind: much helped by the architectural skills of Jimi. He worked out a system to strengthen the tent structure with string and some heavy slate to stop it blowing away.
Here are some snaps from our adventure….
Karen
Emma returns from America
/A selection of American themed photographs from my road trip to the deep south (Nashville, Memphis, Clarksdale and New Orleans)
Congratulations to Danny and Sarah
/Here are a few unofficial photos from Danny and Sarah’s wedding.
Thailand’s summer season with temperature hitting the 40’s
/“In case you’ve all been deliberating where I have been for the last three weeks, it’s safe to say that I haven’t done a Katie Price and had a secret nose job and/ or bum lift, but just been holidaying around Thailand.”
Turns out that the months of April and May are Thailand’s summer season with temperature hitting the 40’s. Never the less, Matt and I had a great time exploring and enjoyed absorbing the spiritual ambiance, culture and the food. We started in Bangkok, travelled up to Chiang Mai on the sleeper train and then flew down to Phuket to meet friends for a wedding. Who’d have thought I would be ceilidh dancing in Thailand in the middle of a thunder storm, or embracing the task of a shower on a moving train!
Lovely family trip to Cornwall
/Some pictures from Suzanne’s recent family holiday to Cornwall where she visited the Eden Project and Padstow.
And she brought us back some….
“Fudge and Shortbread from the Eden Project
And Rick Stein Cookies from Padstein… I mean Padstow :0)”
Congratulations to Paul and Laura!
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Congratulations from us all to Paul and Laura on the safe arrival of Emily James Leo. Emily was born on Wednesday 15 May at 11.11pm, weighing 7lbs 3oz. All home and doing well J
The winner of our Baby Leo sweep stake is………………Amanda who correctly guessed the day and wasn’t far off the weight guessing 7lbs.
Congratulations to Matt & Helen!
/Congratulations to Matt & Helen on the safe arrival of James William Slinn born 22.41 on Friday 29 March weighing 81b.8.
Tony returns from New Zealand!
/“So I just spent 3 weeks pushing our company JLR credentials in New Zealand, looking for new work as part of the JLR Global rollout!. I’m sure we can do better than this JLR in Auckland after all! (Lucia– I’ll send over my expenses shortly) ”
“Unsure that all my expenses would be covered by the company, I did a little sight-seeing too. ”
Team challenge at Bath Escape Rooms
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Locked rooms - secret codes - riddles!
To keep the social rhythm going we are proposing a team outing to the Bath Escape Rooms sometime after work. We thought it would be a great opportunity to collectively use our brain cells whilst having fun unlocking the secret codes!
The concept: Race the clock trying to solve clues to reveal the combination of a lock that opens a chest! Inside is hidden another clue that contain hints on how to read the next. This leads to another mystery within another mystery within another mystery…. Sounds fun right..?
It turns out there are two escape rooms in Bath offering similar activities but slightly different experiences. Each room offers a different difficulty level, can hold between 2-6 people and games can vary between 60 minutes to 3 hours.
Interested? Look out for an email soon with more details and vote YES! We will gauge interest and organise the detail.
Cost: We will book the type of room and difficulty level depending on the number of people coming. Approximate cost: £10 per person.
Happy pancake day!
/The humble pancake!
Here is the perfect pancake recipe - apparently! From BBC goodfood
A creative twist?
Gin and tonic pancakes
Ingredients
For the syrup
250ml can gin & tonic
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 lemon , juiced (and zest for garnish)
For the pancakes
200g self-raising flour
1 egg
2 tbsp caster sugar
250ml can gin & tonic
oil for frying
Method
To make the syrup, pour a can of gin & tonic into a saucepan along with the sugar and lemon juice and reduce for a few mins until syrupy. Set aside.
To make the pancakes, put the flour, egg, sugar and a pinch of salt into a bowl, pour in the other can of gin & tonic and whisk the batter until smooth. Lightly oil a non-stick pan, set over a medium heat, add two spoonfuls of batter into the pan and cook for 1-2 mins on each side. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with the syrup drizzled over and finely grate over some lemon zest.
Recipe from bbcgoodfood.com, February 2018
Vegan pancakes
Ingredients
125g gluten-free plain flour (we used Doves Farm)
egg replacer, equivalent to 1 whole egg (we used Orgran No Egg) mixed with 2 tbsp water
250ml hemp or coconut milk
sunflower or rice bran oil, for frying
orange segments and agave syrup , to serve
Method
Put the flour in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in the Orgran egg replacer and a quarter of the milk.
Use an electric whisk to thoroughly combine the mixture, then beat in another quarter of the milk. Once lump free, mix in the remaining milk. Leave to rest for 20 mins. Stir again before using.
Heat a small non-stick frying pan with a splash of oil. When hot pour a small amount of the mixture into the pan and swirl around to coat the base – you want a thin layer.
Cook for a few mins until golden brown on the bottom, then turn over and cook until golden on the other side. Repeat until you have used all the mixture, stirring the mixture between pancakes and adding more oil to the frying pan as necessary.
Serve with an orange wedge and a drizzle of agave syrup or filling of your choice. This mixture keeps for a few days if you store it covered in the fridge. Give it a good whisk before using.
Recipe from BBC good food
Creative moments and more from Chris!
/So after about 6-8 months of grafting on evening and weekends – trying to figure out print sizes, mounts and matting proportions, suppliers, expenses and profits etc and then potentially tax and self-assessments….and a whole load of photoshopping…
I have finally managed to open my etsy shop selling prints of my paintings! Please feel free to take a look, and feel free to share (and buy lots of stuff…if you want!)
www.etsy.com/shop/christopherdjones
Very cold in Slovakia!
/Here are some beautiful pictures from Lucia’s recent trip to Slovakia.
Christmas in Venice
/“It was amazing being in Venice at Christmas. As it is Winter it is not busy, so I had the plenty of time to take things slowly and enjoy the city. ”
SRA Day of Christmas 2018
/What a brilliant day!
A big thank you to Emma and all those involved in organising the day. And thank you to the Partners for their generosity.
We raised £60.50 for Christmas Jumper Day, a campaign which supports Save the Children - thanks to everybody for getting involved. Some festive snaps follow!
Secret Santa
Christmas party
News from Jane...
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“Evie is going to be a big sister :0)
We’re expecting a baby in June next year.
Sorry there are no cakes in the kitchen, but I’m sure Monday bake-off and festive treats are adorning the kitchen a-plenty at the moment.
See you on Friday evening at the party!”
Ben Fogle talk in Bath
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From Karen:
There were a few of us at the Ben Fogle talk last night in Bath. I personally found it fascinating to hear about Ben’s journey through life to where he is now.
Ben often gets referred to as an adventurer or a broadcaster, but actually he sees himself as a ‘story-teller’, communicating his adventures through different media such as books and TV.
There is another chance to catch Ben Fogle in Bath on 2 March 2019.
Back from Oz!
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It’s only Spring!!
David is gently resurfacing from melting Oz heat and jet lag. Here are some pictures from his latest trip.
Australia
A bit of sun for you
View from the hotel!
Brisbane growing skyward
Sydney by night
Singapore
Hotel
View from the hotel
Gardens
Festive dates for your diary
/Starting this month - there is a host of festive venues and activities to enjoy in Bath! Here’s a selection to get you in the mood!
Christmas lights - Bath
16 November
Kicking off the festive activities, the warm glow of twinkling Christmas lights will signify the start of the late-night shopping offer across the city.
Christmas lights - Bristol
15 November
This year enjoy more festive lights, festoons and Christmas events in the city centre.
17 November
A spectacular theatrical Christmas light switch-on at the Mall at Cribbs Causeway. Not forgetting the Mall’s Winter Wonderland which opens on the day.
Nordic delights at SouthGate Bath
15 November - 7 January
Head to SouthGate Bath for what is billed as a magical Christmas shopping experience! Step through the magical wardrobe and enter the enchanted Nordic forest, complete with cosy cabins, forest glade and winter woodland animals.
Bath on ice and glow in the dark mini golf
16 November 2018 - 6 January 2019
Get your skates on and head to Royal Victoria Park for a spin on Bath’s festive outdoor ice rink. This year’s Bath on Ice is set to be bigger and better than ever – the rink will be a massive 39% larger. When night falls, head to the Mini Golf Course next door to enjoy some glow in the dark mini golf, before grabbing a wood-fired pizza and a festive tipple at Moguls Alpine Bar.
The Lodge
22 November - 9 December
At the epicentre of Bath Christmas Market is the pop-up Lodge in Stall Street. Brought to you by Bath Ales and Framptons Café Bar and Kitchen, The Lodge offers a rustic and festive atmosphere to relax in. Enjoy locally-brewed beers and warming mulled wines as you unwind after a busy day!
Après Ski Bar at Abbey Hotel
21 November – 22 December 2018
No, you’re not in the Alps, but you’ll feel like you are at the Abbey Hotel’s Après Ski Bar! Step into the snow-topped Alpine lodge or snuggle up outside under a woolly blanket and enjoy hearty food and a steaming mulled wine.
Bristol Christmas Market
9 November - 23 December
Located in the very heart of Bristol City Centre, the Christmas market is home to over 50 unique stalls, as well as entertainment from the likes of Santa and reindeer visits in December. Visitors can enjoy heated seating, delicious drinks and live music in our Jäger Barn Bar, and also try their hand at the much-loved sport of curling for some competitive fun.
Bath Christmas Market
22 November - 9 December
Regularly voted as one of the most popular Christmas Markets in the UK!
As you wander around the Market, keep an eye out for charming recycled-plastic decorations. This year, Bath Christmas Market are working with Christine Leech, Creative Director of Marie Claire Runway Magazine, to transform discarded single use plastics into creative Christmas decorations, with the help of local pupils of Widcombe Junior School.
Discovery card holders can use their card to obtain discounts and offers on produce from stallholders.
Festive family artisan market
Saturday’s throughout Bath Christmas Market
Queen Square will host a Festive Family Artisan Market. From a Kids Café and festive storytelling to Christmas arts and crafts workshops and face painting, there will be plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. With glass-blowing demonstrations from Bath Aqua Glass, tasty street food and local makers from Bath Artisan Market, there will be lots of activities on offer for adults too!
Shoppers’ carols at Bath Abbey
24 November, 1 and 8 December
Rest your weary legs and enjoy some festive cheer at one of Bath Abbey’s shoppers’ carol services. Enjoy an informal service with traditional carols.
Bedminster lantern parade
6 December
The annual Winter Lantern Parade will light up the streets of Bedminster, starting from the Tobacco Factory for the first time. Lanterns are expected to come in all shapes and sizes at this truly magical event.
Lantern parade - Bath
9 December
The Walcot lantern parade is happening again this year. There is an opportunity to attend a free workshop and make a lantern and then be in the procession. More details here.
Kingsmead Square festive street food market
Thursday - Sunday throughout Bath Christmas Market
Some of the South West’s most exciting street traders will come together at Kingsmead Square for a seasonal street food market. Treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal and sip on a glass of mulled wine or cider whilst enjoying live music from exciting local artists.
Peter Pan at Theatre Royal Bath
7 December - 7 January
This year's pantomime at Theatre Royal Bath is J.M. Barrie's much-loved tale of Peter Pan. Starring Paul Nicholas (Eastenders, The Real Marigold Hotel, Just Good Friends), Rebecca Wheatley (Casualty), and Bath favourite Jon Monie, and featuring flying and exciting special effects.
Much-loved carousel
From 14 December
Enjoy a whirl on the beautiful Victorian caraousel, which returns outside the Pump Room on Stall Street in December.
Carols by Candlelight
19 December at St Michael’s Without
20 and 21 December at the Pump Room
Bath Bach Choir’s much-anticipated annual festive event: three evenings of joyful Christmas music-making, conducted by Nigel Perrin and including carols from local children’s choirs and young virtuoso instrumentalists.
British Heart Foundation session
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Thank you to all the people that attended the British Heart Foundation training today to learn more about CPR, using a defibrillator and putting somebody into the recovery position. We hope you found it useful as well as interesting.
Here is some follow-up information to help consolidate what we were shown.