Geo walk

Last week, I had a day off work so decided to go for a geowalk with a colleague. She was apprehensive as she hasn’t done much walking and we were planning to cover 12 miles. But she needn’t have worried. The weather was glorious; the views and the landscape varied and the terrain was forgiving. .We found 18 geocaches in all sorts of cunning hides and interesting locations. As they were only a short distance apart, they acted as “milestones” to aim for, which kept our motivation levels high. We had a great day and we both achieved something positive.

11 March - Illuminating Hadrian's Wall

Today I was late for work but for an unusual reason. I’m one of the illuminators on Hadrian’s Wall at the weekend and Radio Cumbria wanted to interview people.  The organisers contacted me to ask if I would agree. I was quite nervous so prepared a few notes on why my family wanted to be involved.  In actual fact it was just like speaking to someone on the ‘phone.  Hopefully, I didn’t sound too inane. I’m really looking forward to the event on Saturday.  It’s going to be a great celebration and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.

Blaeberry Bannocks

Blueberries were on offer in the market yesterday. While cycling home with my haul, I thought of the bilberry bannocks my mum used to make following Auntie Bessie’s recipe.  Auntie Bessie was a redoubtable Scottish lady (she regularly cycled from Glasgow to Blackpool on a 3 speed bike) who baked bannocks after gathering wild bilberries from the moor.  When I was growing up and the bilberries were ripe, it was “all hands on deck” until we picked enough for making jam, pies and bannocks. Bannocks are like scones and are delicious with a cuppa.  I just had to make some.

Blaeberry Bannocks

(or Bilberry/Blueberry/Whinberry/Myrtleberry…..… or any sort of berry bannocks)

Bannock mixture

10oz SR Flour

3oz Butter

2oz Caster Sugar

1 punnet fresh blueberries – wash, dry and toss in flour.

milk to mix

Lemon topping

2oz icing sugar

2tbsp lemon juice

zest of half lemon

walnut sized knob of butter

Pre-heat oven to 200 degreesC or Gas 6

1.         Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs.

2.         Stir in the sugar and the blue berries

3.         Add the milk a little at time, stirring gently to form a soft dough.  Don’t crush the blue berries as you clump the dough together.

4.         Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.  Gently pat and shape the dough with         your hands into an oblong about 8 inches by 6 inches and about half an inch thick

5.         Cut the dough into 4 squares and then cut each square into 2 triangles.

6.         Put the 8 triangles onto an un-greased baking sheet and bake for 15 -20 mins until   golden brown.  Leave to cool on a cooling tray

7.         While the bannocks are cooling, blend the lemon juice, icing sugar and zest   together.  Add the knob of butter and zap in the microwave for about 50 seconds            on        high power.   Leave to cool as it will thicken.  Brush the thickened syrup over the          top of the cooled bannocks.