by other means

Stats tell me that there’s still lots of daily visitors… cyber hugs to you all :D 

flickr might be better for you just now ;) This should change all the time and show most recent public pics: 

www.flickr.com Go to veganfamily’s photostream

Written the little home ed page for vegan family - crammed quite a few photos in there

 …blog goes back to sleep…  or at least presses that snooze button for a while

…maybe not at all. It’s been a wonderful 3 years but I think that’s it now. It’s been very healing and I’ve ‘met’ so many lovely people but all things have their time. I’ve felt a strong need to “de-personalise” our webspace for a while, make our lives private again. May pop back with the odd cake or two in the future, but a break is definitely occurring just now :) Thank you for sharing the ride with us

Firstly, friends of ours are now running a self catering ‘gite’ in the South of France for vegetarians and vegans - it all looks so beautiful: Le Mimosa

Next this fab compilation of recipes, been leafing through it hungrily this morning Has a bit about veganism, then soups, mains, desserts, savoury snacks, side dishes and sauces, cakes and cookies. Here’s Jill’s bit about it:

The books are free to animal sanctuaries to help them to fundraise. They come in boxes of 50 (!) but obviously can be ordered in less or more quantities. They cost £2 each -plus postage/courier - to animal helping groups (again, to fundraise) and for individual sales (presents etc) they cost £6 each from me (includes P&P). This money is then used to help pay for the free postage/courier to sanctuaries.

Anyone wanting to make order enquiries should email me at lucy@veganfamily.co.uk to avoid spamming Jill’s email and I’ll pass it on to her

Went to a really good workshop run by REAP recently - we all learned a lot. Was very interesting to see how they calculate carbon emmisions etc. Everyone more inspired to switch things off ;) I especially loved the brainstorming bit with all the kids - what great ideas they do have

Basic vanilla sponge recipe like this one (minus the choc chips and pecans mentioned there obviously). Blend a punnet of rasps (keep some back for decoration) with a carton of Granovita’s Creamovita (this is really thick like whipping cream) and some icing sugar - fill and cover cake with this It’s VERY VERY good!

Just finished reading ‘Look Me in the Eye - my life with aspergers’ by John Elder Robison. It is a totally fascinating read on several levels. He has had an interesting life, developing amplifiers and special effects for Kiss and Pink Floyd in the past, moving on to the toy industry then eventually starting his own business restoring fine European automobliles. His childhood was harrowing, growing up with a mother with severe mental health issues and a father who became an alcoholic. His younger brother has also written his memoirs of these times in the rather better known Running With Scissors, which I am keen to read now.

Obviously I find John’s views and ideas about aspergers absorbing. I agree so much with what he says about why some kids with asd become very badly behaved or even violent - the way other people treat them leads to a lot of frustration building up. As a child he played some really bizarre tricks on people - incredibly well thought out and clever but quite disturbing too. He hated school, never fitted in and left at 15. It’s at this part of the book that we begin to see him shine. He channels his own talents and expertise into finding work and a life for himself. Never boastful, it seems as if he doesn’t realise just quite how well he has done. It’s rare and special when someone achieves work that they love and makes a good living that way. Thinking of various aspies I’ve known/know, I wonder if they are actually better at managing this than the rest? The ability to think your own way and not take on peer group ideas is strong… hmm… just my own thoughts there.

I loved the latter section of the book where John talks about his relationships in a beautifully logical, slightly bemused way. His love for his son is wonderful and I found it most humerous how he talks about this and everyone he loves. So a fab book all round, much aspergian wisdom dispensed within :D The author’s site is also very good.