Tag Archives: musings

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open…John Barrymore, Author

Now isn’t that just the truth you can just be sitting, watching the world go by and something, anything no matter how small unfolds in front of you and you give an involuntarily smile, it makes you happy… we can all find those little moments on a daily basis and put them all together and looking back we have had a pretty happy day.

Something out of nothing, just a brief moment in time that made you happy, a child’s smile or when they put their little hand in yours, baby birds newly hatched… the wonders of nature, a lovely view or a pretty flower, when your cake rises and your dumplings are fluffy….me…I’m still working on that one!

So many moments in our day too numerous to mention but nevertheless make for a happy day. Sometimes it all gets caught up with our day-to-day chores or work what we think is mundane, boring, same ole, same ole.

That unexpected moment, those precious moments that catch you unawares smile and be happy.

The moral of this story is that happiness can be found in many guises, lots of small bursts of that happy feeling throughout your day however brief, are a bonus.

Happiness means something different to us all, doesn’t it? What gives you that warm, happy feeling Leave a comment and share yours.

See you tomorrow for my A-Z and it the letter I in the middle…Olive…is that Olive Oil Or Popeyes Beau you will have to pop in to find out xxx

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You don’t have to put an age limit on your dreams!

I truly think that is true..in my wildest dreams and imagination I would have never, ever thought I would be doing what I do now or live where I live…..even my thoughts are different to even 5 years ago..maybe this is what I really always wanted but life sometimes overtakes you, gets in the way all sorts of reasons or maybe I just didn’t have the courage…I am certainly braver than I was…I speak about things I would never have before and to strangers…I respond to blogs with an ..I don’t know…maybe abandon….I am definitely calmer…pfffff that’s a relief..not so hot-headed as when I was young…..still don’t like my photo taken ……..I have been reading many blogs lately..some political so I can try to understand some of the things going on in the world..but I also think that sometimes however much you learn or think you understand..some people are just bad, through and through…

I read blogs about what is being put in our food and drink,  again so much to plough through…… once you start clicking on links….so I have decided that rather than becoming paranoid I will do what I think is reasonable for me, for us..my family……some things we eat very rarely or the quantities are so minute..for example…I brine my own ham and baconSAM_6497..why?….well because I have more time to do so…Because I don’t like slimy, processed ham..yuk…so again… research…so much information….do I use ” Salt Petre” or natural brining agents…mmmmmmm well tried celery juice..it was ok and I like celery but not as an after taste in my bacon…..well I deduced from all my findings that for the amount used and the dilution ratio that it wasn’t that much of a risk..my opinion let me say…..the human body can process  small amounts….however if we contracted botulism because I didn’t use it..it’s likely that the human body would not fight that successfully…no brainer really…my opinion guys…so as I don’t eat bacon sarnies every single day and two on Sundays as well as having a shop bought,additive laden BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwich for lunch 5 days a week…..and eat ham or bacon in every other guise  for the remainder of my weeks meals then I’m pretty safe I think.

I read blogs about vaccinations..or one blog that I chanced upon and it presented both sides of the argument/discussion…… again my opinion but the increase in bad cases of measles and whooping-cough lead me to think that immunisation is not a bad thing….again my opinion.

I  also read a previous post on this blog which was about people who ..like me….have lovely island views, dogs, cats, food,etc but no pic of themselves and saying…. “Who are you really?”..it was actually well written and made me think …that in this day and age we have to be really careful who we chat to…so after much deliberation …I have decided that you lot are all grownups and if I post a mug shot of me…..it won’t keep you awake at night …so…..Ta Da!

Blondieaka.

Blondieaka.

Things to do today: 1. Get Up… 2. Survive…..3……. Go to bed!

Well that’s my day sorted!

So I stretched, opened my eyes….sun shining through the window…reached for my little silky number that I put on in the morning…must have slipped to the floor…..picked it up, put it on…and it slipped slowly straight off……no straps….and there they were beautifully displayed on the floor.!

Saang Chai!  I got this sleepy one-eyed look and then it dawned on him..he crept to my feet, literally doing that slidey movement dogs do when they know they shouldn’t have and gave me the baby browns…morning mum..love you….I wonder methinks that on Monday whether he will tell the whole truth and nothing but?…..Just licked it my arsss……..

Soi dogs_street dogs-Saanchai

Pretending to be asleep with one ear cocked

He is now snoozing at my feet now without a care in the world..

Today I am sorting out my e-mail and my media …and of course WP reader…

Because guys I do read your blogs, well most of them ..like everyone the odd blog is not for you..but I do read most and they are great…I have met some wonderful people….and some not so ……I like happy blogs..blogs that help me, blogs that teach me something I didn’t know…blogs that make me laugh, blogs that make me cry and realise how lucky I am……

So why am I lucky?? I have wonderful children and grand children who I love with a passion….I live in Paradise……except for the ANTS who are the bane of my life ..I have had pest control who are probably wishing I had never signed that contract..the odd scorpion..Scary the daughter in law just wacked it…HARD…

Spiders galore…..gekos and lizards..they are ok….beautiful butterflies and birds and fish and the pesky termites who were eating my kitchen cupboards…ha ha but not any more..thanks to pest control..they got that bit right..but to be fair we do have lots of ants…oh and the odd Cobra or two….and it’s warm..we get spectacular storms……and POWER CUTS……The electric is the worst..cables everywhere..and just a drop of rain and of it goes…tomorrow it’s  off 9-4..

How do I know that as all the announcements are in Thai……but this one ..they must have listened to me was in the paper!

So tomorrow….sun allowing, it will have to be the beach folks …. That OF COURSE was  10521879_10152472184109865_5630515386234439606_nSAM_6522SAM_5120.

Then and this is now I have swapped the beach for rural Thailand so it is lakes and waterfalls… and water buffaloes…

Water Buffalo- Red Lotus Lake

But today…I am also pickling onions……

Onions- pickled-home cooked-from scratch

Home made pickled Onions

Pickled Onions:

Ingredients:

  • 2 lb Pickling Onions, peeled.
  • 11/2 pints pickling vinegar…I use white vinegar or a mix of apple cider and white vinegar.
  • 2tbsp Pickling spices or your mix…again I mix black, white peppercorns, coriander seeds.

2 days before mix 2pts water with 4 oz salt pour over onions, cover and keep in cool place. I keep in the fridge due to the heat here.

Let’s get Pickled:

Firstly drain the onions and pat dry. Pack into sterilised jars layering pickling spices as you go then pour vinegar over the onions making sure they are completely covered. Store for 4-6 weeks and they ready…They are the crispest onions I have eaten, far better than shop bought and generally don’t get to 4 weeks let alone 6 weeks as they get dipped into …men!

Enjoy!

Well  that’s me…. done the first two…bit early for bed…well maybe a siesta…….and then a sundowner x

I hope you enjoyed this revamped earlier post..One of my first…Sorting my media out …Headache and all my fault…

Until next time have a lovely day xxx

About Carol:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I cook with have to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

Thank you for reading xx

 

 

 

 

I won’t be impressed with technology until I can download FOOD!

Wow…. what a thought that is…just imagine trawling through your food blogs and coming upon this recipe that jumps out at you and ” You want it now” …….that just screams….  Eat Me !

You look in the cupboards and you have everything bar one item to make that dish, it’s chucking it down with rain, rush hour or the gas man is coming…..awwww damm and blast!

Just imagine if you could press a button and voila…it’s there ..right in front of you…

Come on ladies and gents it ain’t happening yet but I can tickle your taste buds with these delicious recipes. A lovely Thai Green Curry and Chocolate brownies although as I couldn’t get proper chocolate here..cos I don’t know if you are aware but to stop chocolate melting they add something and it’s nasty..yuk

So what I have done is made brownies normally…. no coconut flour and will try to get proper chocolate and make a batch for my next food blog….. we can then compare…good idea or what ..a double lot of brownies to sample…..mmmmmmm can’t be bad in my book….

Chocolate Brownies:

SAM_7073

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil…I used Coconut Oil but can use vegetable or other oil of your choice.

1 cup sugar.

1/2 Cup flour.

1/3 cup cocoa ( unsweetened)

1/4  tsp baking powder.

1/4 tsp salt.

1 tsp vanilla extract.

2 Eggs.

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Method:

Put all ingredients except for eggs in food processor and blitz.

Beat eggs together and add to mixture, combine well.

Stir in walnuts if using.

Pour batter into 9 x 9 greased and floured pan.

Put in pre heated oven on 350( 175) and cook for 20/30 mins until shrinks away from sides of pan.

Remove from oven, cool and cut in squares. I sieved icing sugar on the top of mine.

Taste test: These are the first Brownies I have made for ages… the sponge is quite light but was more brownie like the following day. I prefer a more gooey, chewy brownie but they were ok.

Thai Green Curry:

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts cut into cubes.
6 Thai egg plant. cut into quarters……They are the larger ones in the pictures.
SAM_7044 SAM_7045 SAM_7046 SAM_7048
sm bunch small egg-plant ( optional) Pea like size in Picture.
5/6 stems of Thai sweet basil (pick of leaves)
Large can or two sm cartons of coconut milk.
10 straw mushrooms quartered or use button mushroom.
Method:
2/3 tbsp curry paste( maybe start with 11/2) I don’t know how hot you eat curry.
Cook with tiny amount of oil to release flavour, add tbsp fish sauce cook for 2 mins slowly add coconut milk and simmer gently.
Add chicken, cook on simmer for 20 mins then add vegetables and Thai basil cook for further 20 mins serve with Steamed or boiled rice.
11889504_10153277334104865_2790896918943462311_n
If you are making veggie curry just omit chicken and add carrots and broccoli or veg of your choice.
When we had our restaurant, chef always put extra veg in mine as she knew I liked veg so can add to chicken curry as well if you like although that is not the norm just how she did mine.
You can use beef or pork instead of chicken if you like but will req longer cooking.
Garnish with sprig Thai basil and extra sliced  chilli… if req.

Don’t give up. Normally it is the last key on the ring which opens the door! by Paulo Coelho.

There never was a truer saying and it’s fits my youngest to a T. In her words if she mucks up it’s like a train wreck……

She has led a turbulent life this beautiful, clever, amazing girl of mine. She has 3 beautiful girls who are polite, charming and do so well at school. They are an absolute credit to her, she is one amazing mummy.

I write this because for one reason or another she didn’t do well at school. But I believe with the amazing support she has had from her sisters and brother she has turned the proverbial corner.

She is going to back to learning and  will be studying Forensic Science. It has been a hard slog for her to get to this point she has retaken exams and just finished a massive essay on Forensics which she has cried over and said she was setting her sights too high but she has done it.

You are an amazing young women and we are very proud of you and you will find that key which will open that door for you my beautiful girl.

So chin up….and step up and away you fly……it will be incredibly hard work but you will do it we know you will. It’s just that you are taking the long way round and not the scenic route.But success will be even sweeter.

Love you more than you know as we do ALL our children……..

Thank you for reading my blogging friends it’s a big difference to my usual blogs but I just had to tell her she could and would do it.

Chocolate brownie cooking tomorrow so back to recipes for my next blog…..love you all be happy xxx

Some days you just have to create your own sunshine!

Well so far all’s well on the sunshine front but another severe weather warning has been posted!

No small boats to go out..means no fresh squid for salad but hey ho I can live with that, we have had enough drownings this season because people don’t heed the warnings  or the Red Flags…… does a red flag not mean the same in any language on a beach?  or they presumably think they are strong enough swimmers…some will never learn will they? So I can forgo my squid as long as everyone is safe.

Saang Chai is settling in well he is finding plenty to chew but I will let him relay that in his own blog on Monday folks. If you haven’t read his very first blog( I am told ) it’s very funny then drop by you won’t want to miss an episode.

OHHHH I can see some big clouds looming which means rain soon and more ants, I am over run with them got 3 big ant nestsSAM_7032 in my garden I think they like it here, 2 termite ones, this weather is certainly making them want to nest build and make the grass grow…. Methinks it’s time to call a man who can!

Wow sunshine again…….SAM_7041Here I am sitting in my office looking out , one minute it’s sunny and the next we have rain. So methinks best get to market before the heavens open because I’m sure they will..it’s Thai Green Curry  tonight if you would like the recipe let me know…I will be posting it on my next recipe blog along side Brownies made with Coconut Flour they look yummy ( in the picture) will they be yummy ? Will let you know for sure.

Bye for now have a lovely weekend , have fun, stay safe if you are swimming and you see a red flag…Love you all….   🙂