My family in the 1950-1960s

When I vistied my Nan in Yorkshire at the weekend, she showed me photos of my Grandad, Dad and Aunty during the 1950's and 60's. My Aunty, aged about 14 or 15 in the photo below, looks beautiful with her incredible beehive. The clothing that both her and my Nan are wearing were hand-made from scratch by my Nan.
It conjours all sorts of images in my head - my little working-class Yorkshire family scraping by on my Grandad's earnings down the mine, my Nan staying at home as a classic housewife, raising the children and making the clothes that they wear. She would write off to different pattern companies, getting the latest dress designs, so her children could be in fashion.

ATP New York

I went to New York for about 10 days for the second ATP NY which took place at Kutshers, in upstate New York. We came in a week early, to get acclimatised and to relax/party before the intense working weekend begins!

Nichole took some really great polaroids which have nabbed and uploaded here:

 

Snapshots from summer

My favourite photos I took this summer with my Holga camera.











All photos © me.

All Tomorrow's Parties Preview Screening

Elderflower cordial

I realised maybe I should post the recipe for the Elderflower cordial I made from scratch, for the Madhatter's tea party a few weeks ago. I only discovered this recently - you'll be surprised how many times in London you have probably walked past an elderflower bush and not realised that these beauties are what make the gorgeous cordial.



It's so simple!

Ingredients

* 1.5 litres of boiling water
* 1 kilo of white granulated sugar
* 20 large elderflower heads (if they are small, pick more)
* 4 lemons
* 55g of citric acid

Method:

1. In a Pyrex bowl (or deep saucepan) pour the boiling water onto the sugar and stir. Leave to cool, stirring every now and then to dissolve the sugar.
2. When cool add the citric acid, the lemons (zested and sliced) and the elderflower heads.
3. Leave to steep for 48 hours.
4. Strain twice through sterilised muslin
5. Using a jug and funnel carefully pour into hot sterilised* bottles

*to sterilise the bottles, wash and rinse the bottles and place them upside down in a cold oven. Set the temperature to 160c (140c fan-assisted). When the oven has reached the right temperature turn off the heat. The bottles will stay warm for quite a while. Sterilise the lids by boiling these for a few minutes in water.

Thanks Fiona!

Look out for elderflowers on your daily travels. They are usually around from May-July. You could also use them to make jam (matched nicely with gooseberry) or champagne or jelly.


Top image © me.

Winners vs. Losers

Hamburg

All photos © me.