The kitchen is smelling divine…roasting shallots and steak braising in Cotes du Rhone…it’s been a week of trying out new recipes…and the hit has to be the deluxe carrot cake made with walnuts and crystallized ginger.

I do love winter, a time to snuggle in a kaleidoscope of coloured jumpers. The latest one is bright orange and is already growing rapidly on the needles. John thought the bargain of the week was a pair of BRIGHT orange shoes, reduced from £55 to £5 so I duly paid up, worrying just when I was going to be brave enough to venture out. Then I saw the wool and thought the matching jumper would complement the white jeans. Oh I am just a little cottage industry and my fingers are working away as the TV keeps me amused.

I remember ages ago I was told that posh coffees were saving women’s bones. Trendy lattes are apparently the ideal supplement of calcium that we need. Now, I have discovered The White Russian, and I feel my bones might just have an extra boost! Very nice it is too…Kahlua, vodka and milk.

Was desolated on Sunday when I marched back to the Boot Sale and couldn’t find my figurine. The seller wasn’t there either, so maybe she wasn’t a professional dealer…I shall go back again this week, just in case.

Did eat a haggis this week and thought kind thoughts of friends with whom I shared previous Burns Celebrations with. Memories of dancing in Hanoi, and teaching children in Doha, Kiev and Hanoi about a wee sleekit courin timorous beastie etc. I made so many children paint a portrait of the handsome Rabbie, and was most impressed in Kiev when my pretty Ukranian assistant launched into ‘My love is like a red red rose’. Burns is huge in Russia and was a must in all primary schools!

Went to see the Black Swan…what a traumatic story…I seem to be obsessed with ballet this year. When the film ended everyone just sat there stunned. It took a few minutes for us to all to get up and out! 

My family are all on the move. John is off to Spain for a week’s skiing with his two sons…hopefully it will give him a break from his worries. So long as there are no other breaks!

Gerry is in Washington, Chicago and New York, to give a presentation initially, then just relax for a few days with Cathal in New Jersey and check out the Sopranos!

Natasha is busy busy doing lots of overtime. Her programme, Rasta Mouse is due to be aired on 31^st Jan on CEBees or something. Children’s BBC at 4.30pm. I do hope it is a success…they certainly have worked hard on it.

And Nick is leaving in 2 weeks time. He is going back to Australia, after a 2 and half year stint here in Edinburgh.

Listening to all their chat and plans and reading Shantoram (set in India) I feel very much like the armchair traveller. But do I care? Not a bit!

I am content and John Lewis is delivering some new curtains for the back bedroom and I have 2 jumpers on my needles and am wearing the completed one…spring is on its way and so is evening and I shall have a white Russian (for my bones) and think good thoughts of all those at home or abroad!  La la la for auld lang syne!