Twitter

People love Twitter, and people hate Twitter. I love it. If it wasn't for photographs, I could give up Facebook in a heartbeat. But you'll have to prise Twitter from my cold dead hands. I'm not a prolific tweeter. I generally bore myself so goodness knows what other people think. However. I love reading it for a variety of reasons. It's the first thing I read when I wake up in the morning - it keeps me up to date with what's going on in the world. It's also like sitting on a bus filled with particularly amusing, insightful individuals. You don't have join in if you don't want, you can just listen, soaking it up. But when you want it, Twitter gives you a voice.

I know there a problems with Twitter. There's a representative from all walks of life, and some are, unfortunately, downright unpleasant. Nevertheless, there are problems with everything. I think it's worth looking for the positive side in the case of Twitter. Follow the right people, and your day can be brightened in 140 characters or less. I've put together a list of people that brighten my day on a regular basis.

Some are obvious that I'm sure lots of  you follow already. Others aren't. Maybe I'll persuade you to give one or two of them a look.

In no particular order, here we go!

1. David Lebovitz

I know you've heard of David Lebovitz. I know you read his blog. You just have to have done. He's a former pastry chef turned author. He's an American who lives in Paris, and has a complicated relationship with the French. His blog was the first blog I ever read, and it is wonderful. His tweets capture the tone of his blog perfectly and give you insights into his day to day life. He has a fantastic sense of humour and tweets food photographs that will make you drool.

2. Miranda Keeling

Miranda Keeling is an actress who has done a lot of radio work, along with a respectable amount of TV and film. I've got to be honest with you, I had to google that. I have no idea how I came across her Twitter - I think someone on my feed re-tweeted her. But ever since I followed her, I haven't looked back. She tweets observations about people in the world around her. I don't know how she does it, she must be the most observant person because she notices tiny little things and then tells a beautiful story in a tweet. I can't recommend following her enough, really. If you pick one on this list, pick her.

3. Hugo Rifkind

Son of Conservative MP Malcolm Rifkind, Hugo is probably not an obvious choice. He clearly didn't have to take a difficult path to where he is - Cambridge educated he now works for The Times, amongst other publications. I can't really explain why I like to follow him, I think I like his tone. He's into politics, popular culture and having a good time, which sounds pretty ideal to me. Some people seem to think he's a bit of a privileged idiot that fell into a job other people would give their back teeth for. I can see that. I can. But give him a chance.

4. Caitlin Moran

Caitlin Moran is mouthy, crude and doesn't know where to draw the line. She's completely crackers. She's also a wonderful person, and, I'd argue, the biggest influence on feminism since Germain Greer. Developing it from the angry (deservedly don't get me wrong) women of the past she has found a funny side. She points out that "it's frequently hilarious to be a woman" and runs with that point - anywhere it takes her. I mean anywhere. I don't agree with everything she says, but you do you agree with everything your best friend says? If you take away all the trappings and believe women should be equal to men, then you will love her. Fantastic to follow on her own, you get a whole new level of brilliance if you follow people she regularly tweets. Grace Dent, India Knight, the aforementioned Hugo Rifkind, so many people. Just dip your toe into the pond, I promise you won't regret it. 

5. Louise Brealey

Definitely best known for playing Molly in the BBC's Sherlock, Louise Brealey is actually so much more than this. A writer and journalist, she's generally just a really good follow. A personal highlight for me (and most of the twitterverse) was #hotmanintree. Although not deep, meaningful writing (which she is most certainly capable of), the appearance of a tree surgeon outside her window caused wild excitement and made for an excellent live tweeting session. Follow her for humour paired with real intelligence. And for good conversations with Caitlin Moran.

6. Ross Macpherson

Ross Macpherson is a Teaching Fellow in a school of engineering. This sounds dull, but is far from it. I came across him at a talk of his I attended on "the Physics and Philosophy of Time Travel" and subsequently followed him. On Twitter not in real life - that would be creepy. I'm not really sure where he pulls most of his Tweets from, they are remarkably random, but they make for great reading.

8. Sue Perkins

You definitely know who Sue Perkins is. You watch the Great British Bake Off don't you? She's hilarious just follow her.

Compiling this list made me realise I have a very weird sense of humour and that most of my recommendations appear to share it. I love my Twitter feed, but perhaps it's time for a few new faces - who are your Twitter favourites?

P.S. You can follow me on twitter too! @MurrayMint92

Icing Inspiration

I've been thinking about my Christmas cake. It's sat on the top shelf in a cupboard in the kitchen, and it's taking all of my will power not to pull it down and ice it now. Sadly it's over 4 week and four hundred miles South until the day. But I've been roaming Pinterest for decorating ideas, and I thought I'd share with you what I've found so far.

Disclaimer: All images are from Pinterest - if you know who they belong to I'll happily credit them or take them down.

I love the draped snow effect of this one, and it's all just so fun in general!

My Mum loves deer, so this would be right up her street. But I have no idea how I'd do the tartan look. I guess I could do it in another colour but the tartan is so lovely - any suggestions?

A Christmas tree made of stars! How lovely! The silver ball bearings could be coloured for real decorations.

I really love the 3D trees on this one, and the glitter. But I probably wouldn't bother with the cut out shapes round the outside, I don't think they add that much to the cake.

I love love love this. I only have one layer, but it could definitely look as good. But how does one create this magical effect? Lots of little dots of icing? No idea.

RETRO! I wouldn't do this I don't think, but so fun, I couldn't leave it out.

We're coming in to the real contenders now. This wreath is beautiful, although I would need to get my hands on a holly cutter. I could maybe do it with real holly leaves from the garden, which would match the table centre piece beautifully, but it wouldn't be as satisfying to cut into - having to take the greenery off first.

I think this is maybe more of a winter cake than a Christmas cake, but I can think of a few ways to make it a bit more festive. The bunting could be red and green, or could be mini paper chains. Or, it could even be winter leaves to make a little garland. I'd definitely use rolly icing too, not butter cream. You can't beat rolly icing and marzipan on a Christmas cake.

Finally, the winner I think. Although my point about rolly icing still stands, the rest of it is so beautiful and simple. I'll have to source a snowflake cutter, but that shouldn't be too hard. If I make the snowflakes a few days ahead, they'll be ice and stiff so they stand up just like in the picture. Have you got any ideas about what you're going to do with your Christmas cakes yet?

I Capture the Castle

One of the wonderful things about living where I do is the abundance of beautiful castles right on the doorstep. This is one of my favourites, Crathes Castle. It's a 16th century castle and inside has unique  Jacobean rooms, with painted ceilings and their very own ghosts...

There's no cameras allowed inside, except to take photos of the spectacular views, but outside is a different story. The castle has 530 acres of grounds, and the absolute best bit of all is the walled garden, which itself is nearly 4 acres! I've visited a few times, most recently Ben and I went with my parents when they were up here on holiday. I think the Autumn colours may see the gardens at their most beautiful of all.

There's a brilliant story about the hedge you can see in the background of this picture. In the 80s, a gardener was giving it a trim, and found a wine bottle in the hedge. A 200+ years old wine bottle! They think it had been dumped in the hedge during a particularly alcohol fuelled party. I think this creates a wonderful link between the past and the present, it makes the past a bit more real don't you think?

There's a little information board about the Lady that designed the gardens, which I wish I'd taken a photo of. She was lovely, her picture is beautiful, and the gardens were a wonderful gift to leave for future generations.

This is my favourite place to visit near where I live - where's yours?

Christmas Cake Part 1, Baking

This post was due about a week ago, but I got stuck down by tonsillitis and have been lolling about in bed for days without the energy to do anything in particular. Now I'm pleased to say the antibiotics have worked their magic, I've upgraded to the sofa and it's time to talk about Christmas cake.

Everyone has their own quirks when it comes to Christmas cake - when to make it, what to put in it, how often to feed it - this is just my preference. Late October/early November is, in my opinion, the perfect time to bake it. It's the time of year when I feel Christmassy enough to start to prepare for Christmas, but not to actually start celebrating - I like to save that for December. The odd whiff of Christmas is enough just now - and baking this cake doesn't half give you a good whiff.

Christmas Cake 

225g Plain flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Mixed Spice

200g Butter

200g Dark brown sugar

2 tbsp Black treacle

1 tbsp Marmalade

1/4 tsp Vanilla Essence

4 Eggs (free range)

800g Mixed Dried Fruit

250g Chopped mixed peel

200g Halved glacé cherries

Brandy

1. Put the plain flour, salt and mixed spice in a bowl and set aside.

2. Cream the butter and the dark brown sugar.

3. Add the treacle, trying not to get into the stick mess I managed!

4. Also add the marmalade - make it a generous tablespoon - the orange is delicious with the fruit.

5. Mix in the eggs until you have a sloppy batter.

6. Remember the flour mixture from step one? Mix that in now. Then remove from the free standin mixer if you've been using one. If you haven't, I bet you've got better arms than me!

7. Add the mixed dried fruit and combine. Then the peel, then the glacé cherries. Some people use almonds, but I like to up the fruit instead, I think you get enough of an almondy taste from the marzipan when it's eventually rolled on top.

8. Grease and line a 20cm baking tin, all the way up past the top of the edge of the tin! This is one cake you don't want sticking.

9. Pour the batter in, making sure to make a little dip in the middle so you get a lovely flat top. Bake in the oven at 150C/Gas Mark 2 for... well - it seemed like forever here. I wouldn't recommend starting your Christmas cake at 8pm on a Sunday night if your oven is as slow as mine. Probably three hours, but if it still isn't done after that, check it every twenty minutes - you don't want it to dry out! If the top starts to catch pop some tinfoil over it. Every time you open the oven, take a quick second to inhale the fantastic Christmas smell. If that doesn't put you in a good mood, I don't know what will.

10. When it comes out, poke some holes in it and drizzle over a generous amount of brandy. Do this every week until the week you want to ice it - then hold back.

Just before Christmas there will be Christmas Cake - Part 2, Icing, coming your way. I still haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do with it, there's so many options!

Here's what I did last year - I'm going to go more adventurous this year I think!

A Week in Pictures

I thought I'd share my week in pictures, Friday to Friday.

At a friends flat-warming on Friday, rooms were themed, with a dance room, conversation room, cake room, and camera room - this is the result of out trip to the camera room...

In town on Saturday I bought Ben some winter clothes. The boy is so unequipped for the cold, especially when you consider he's lived in the frozen North for three and a bit years! Then it was ceilidh time. For those of you unfamiliar with the time, a ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic party, where folk music is played. set dances are danced and traditional food is served. When I first moved here I hated them, but now that I know some of the dances I enjoy them a lot. Warning - the light did extremely strange things to my photos!

Sunday was a definite duvet day, that ended with me making my Christmas cake (blog post to follow!)

Monday. Back to real life - lab life. This week I was photographing barnacles I've been keeping - I'm trying to find ways to inhibit their growth so they don't grow on the bottom of boats. It's as dull as it sounds.

Computer problems are about all I can remember of Tuesday really, along with essay marking and meetings. I had to go all the way home because I'd picked up the wrong laptop charger in my rush to leave the house. Although it put me in a pretty bad mood I took the chance to go for a crunch in the autumn leaves.

On Wednesday there was a debate about the cinema, but the weather was so foul I did a bit of baking prep for Halloween and then we ended up crawling under a duvet and watching Homeland. We're halfway through the second series, and are absolutely hooked! 

Thursday - Halloween. An average day and we had people round in the evening. We at our body weight in cheese and cake and played skeleton Jenga. We know how to party in this flat! 

Friday meant a boring morning in the lab where I was measuring my barnacles from photographs, but a lovely lunch at the international food market and a screening of the Johnny Lee Miller/Benedict Cumberbatch Frankenstein at the local picturehouse. 

And what were my wild Friday night plans I hear you asking? I sat in bed editing an ad-pack for the magazine and answering emails. And then I fell asleep half way through writing this post, before I even watched Graham Norton.

What did you get up to this week?