Weather influence in my garden

Bad weather has made an impact in my garden. I am sure this is happening in most English gardens.

Fruits in my garden:

Cherries:
We generally harvest cherries the end of June. So far they are very green, so I think we will have to wait a couple of weeks more.

Green cherries

Strawberries:
The strawberries are growing slowly. The general season in the UK is from May to August. We had our first edible and sweetie strawberry yesterday (24th June). My daughter had the privilege to pick it, she was so happy!

First strawberry picked by Cuchi

More to come

And more!

Flowers in my garden:

Roses:

I have more than fifty pink roses in my garden, they have flourished quite late this year. Last year, they were out in May.

Bleeding heart:
This flowers come out in the Spring, around March or April. I still have some flowers at the end of June. They are gorgeous!

There are more to come: tomatoes, pears, peppers, beans, but they are just growing little by little.

Tip of the day: Healthcare abroad

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Summer holidays are almost here and I am getting ready for it.

I have registered my daughters for the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). With this card while you are visiting an EEA country or Switzerland, you can be treated as if you were a National, so this means healthcare reduced cost or sometimes free. This doesn't cover private treatment, so it is always safe to have a travel insurance as well. Also, this doesn't cover situation when the patient goes abroad specifically for treatment.

Never is too late to apply for it. As your kids receive an NHS number when they are born, you can immediately apply to avoid forgetting it. In any case, I got mine in 12 days, so it's not bad at all.

The most important thing: It's FREE!!!

For more information:
www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

Cheer for England in the Euro Cup 2012

To celebrate and to cheer for England in the Euro Cup 2012, I have prepared a cheesecake similar to the one I made to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. However, I am not putting blueberries, only raspberries. The decoration represents the English flag.


I have made this cake with my daughter, see the recipe here.

England flag cheesecake

Raspberries!

Euro Cup 2012

Finally Friday, end of the last half-term of the academic year in England. So what do the next few days have for us?

Euro Cup: a couple of weeks of football (soccer) starting today and finishing on the 1st of July.

Just had the pleasure to watch a bit of the game Poland-Greece, my daughters "allowed" me to have the TV on with Football. Can't believe this helped to make Cuchi play with Boo-boo. Well, lets see if they "allow" us to watch England or Spain matches!

After the Euro Cup:

• Wimbledon (tennis): From 25th June to 8th July we will be delighted with the great stars: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray.
• Olympics: starting on the 27th July we will enjoy the Olympic sports until 12th August.

And there is much much more!

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee

As many British and not British who live in the UK, we are doing "something" to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. I am not into Monarchy, but like to celebrate and be part of the celebration, especially when we get one more day holiday!

We have watched the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3rd June. Today 4th June we went down to the park but it was very windy, we are going to have an afternoon tea consisting of: tea, scones with jam and butter, pastries and finger sandwiches. I have prepared this special cake to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, it has a Union Jack decoration on top. The recipe is very easy!

My daughter (dressed in white, blue and red) trying to eat the cheesecake!

Easy Diamond Jubilee Union Jack cheesecake

Later in the evening after the girls go to bed, we will watch the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace.

Girls and I have dressed in blue, red and white!

What have you done during the long Bank Holiday?

Vegetarian lasagna al forno

I decided to make this lasagna al forno today and the girls absolutely loved it!

Click for the recipe.

Source: Susana Suarez

Source: Susana Suarez

It was not a cold day so it suited perfectly! Garnished with tomato and baby spinach salad and a great Chianti!

Ready Parenting tip of the day #7: Do not forget!

Sometimes we are just running around doing lots of stuff that forget little, but important, things.


The following has happened to me and to many people, so I have tips to avoid it from happening again:


Buggy crash:


What happened?
I left my Maclaren buggy by the boot of the car while I was putting the girls in their car seats. I forgot about the buggy, turn on the car and started to reverse it. Craaash! Fortunately, I didn't damage the buggy but I got the lesson.


Tip:
I will always open the boot before putting the girls in the car, in that way I will remember I have to put something in!

Locked out:


What happened?
I got locked out a couple of times and once my baby was inside! Fortunately, I have family living close by so I could get in.


Tip:
My father encouraged me to keep the keys in my pocket all day. I am doing it unless I have no pockets, but most of the times I have them!




Hope these tips are useful!