Round #32 of Photo Roulette

The theme for Round #32 of Photo Roulette is LOVE.

GlobeTrotterGirls are hosting this week’s Travel Photo Roulette! The Travel Photo Roulette was started in November 2010 by Jeremy from LivingTheDream as a way for travel bloggers to showcase their best photography. For each round a new theme is chosen, and independent travel bloggers are asked to submit their photos. Then a winner is chosen to host (and judge!) the following round.

More info about Photo Roulette at round #32's Host: Globe Trotter Girls

Love Birds

Swans were the first thing that popped into my mind for this week's Photo Roulette submission, because of their close association with Love.

This association has been leveraged on many an official US stamp. Usually with mirror images of swans gazing into each other's eyes, to form the image outline of a heart.

Why are Swans associated with Love?

Well besides the obvious easy visual association of the heart shape, Swans are renowned to mate for life -- and mating for life is quite an achievement, and a true testament of Love.

Royal Ownership

It's a common misconception that the Queen owns all the swans in the UK. But actually she only has the prerogative right of ownership for all the Mute Swans in England and Wales. Mute Swans are the quietest of all swan breeds and the least well-traveled. They don't migrate, making them the only breed of Swan to be a UK permanent resident.

My Entry for Photo Roulette Round #32

My entry for the Love round was taken a few weeks ago, while I was in Norfolk, England. I spent 2 weeks in the countryside, taking daily walks with my mum and her dogs, with my trusty camera. It was a great opportunity to photograph a local family of Mute Swans; Mum, Dad, and 3 Signets.

CAPTION: This Mute Swan had been diving below the water to feed, and then swimming around with it's feathers all fluffed up to dry in the sun. As a member of the Lonely Hearts Club, he's cruising a local river in Norfolk England, looking for a mate.

Visit the Travel Photo Roulette Round #32 "Love" at the Globe Trotter Girls host site and see the other entries

My Review of Perking the Pansies the Book

Meet Jack Scott

If you’re an avid Pansy fan, like me, this year you’ve watched Jack Scott evolve.



His metamorphosis from an anonymous pansy logo, to a monochrome rendition, to a colourful but incomplete puzzle, had nowhere else to go but – fully exposed! And today, visitors to his daily blog, Perking the Pansies, are greeted with a full-colour photograph of Jack gazing wistfully into the distance.

So although he had finally revealed himself – he’d yet to look us in the eye.

Until now!

It doesn’t get any more in your face than penning a personal memoir of a journey into the unknown with the one you love. In Jack's case, that’s his move from cosmopolitan London to Ignorati-laden Turkey, with his civil partner – Liam.

Story time with Jack

When I settled in to read “Perking the Pansies” – the book, I didn’t just plonk myself down and fire up my iPad to read my advance copy. I donned snugly clothes. Plumped up the cushions. Turned off the phone. Poured a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, and settled in for the duration. I was anticipating an Event, and I got it.

Raising the Bar

As an expat myself, I devour Expat Memoirs with predictable frequency. I love reading about far-flung adventures, where brave souls step into the unknown; throw caution to the wind; and expose themselves to ridicule, by writing about it for all to observe and critique.

Over the years, I’ve read a few clunkers. The worst offenders are those that stitch together a patchwork quilt of blog posts, with a rusty needle and mismatched thread. It’s easy to capture a blog reader’s attention for a couple of paragraphs, but it takes an author to lead us through chapters that ignite our imagination.

Evolution of Jack Scott

Not only has Jack's avatar evolved, so has his writing style.

“Perking the Pansies” – the book, isn't just Jack's blog on steroids. Yes there’s the familiarity of Jack-the-Blog peppered in this tome, but he takes us on a effortless journey of one well written chapter after another. There's nothing patchwork here. Instead, Jack delivers a well thought out, well developed literary expedition, that left me glowing with admiration at his transition from random blogger to eloquent author. I can't heap any more praise on Jack and “Perking the Pansies” – the book, without gushing.

And we Brits don't gush!

Top 5 Metaphors

For those of you who follow my Bodrum Travel Blog, you know I have a penchant for Top 5 lists, so in honour of the launch of Jack's first book, I've put together a Top 5 list of metaphors to describe my comparison of "Perking the Pansies" the Blog and "Perking the Pansies" the Book:

Top 5 Metaphors: Blog vs Book:

1. Whereas Jack's blog is tipsy small-talk, over cheap warm plonk and soggy canapes; Jack's book is a candle-light dinner, and a heart-to-heart with a trusted confidant



2. Whereas Jack's blog is a endless bucket of salty popcorn you absent-mindedly snack on between meals; Jack's book is a dark chocolate truffle you roll your tongue, to prolong the experience



3. Whereas Jack's blog is face-puckering tequila, a suck on a lemon and lick of salt; Jack's book is a full bodied Bordeaux, maturing and breathing in a crystal cut goblet



4. Whereas Jack's blog is a frantic knee-trembler with Tabitha the Tart, Jack's book is a post-coital embrace that lingers 'til dawn



5. Whereas Jack's blog is an erratic spin on a dodgem carousel, Jack's book is a memorable limo ride with leather-clad seats

Big thanks to Jack for a great chauffeured journey through his Pansy field.

Climb aboard, your own journey awaits....

You can read a sneak peak of Perking the Pansies on his Jack Scott Info site

Purchase it at Amazon.co.uk:

Or click on this link to visit Amazon.com

My Welcome to London Hug

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Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines Launch Party

Royalty in Motion

There's an event currently underway that exemplifies this concept, over at Facing 50 with Humour. Where you'll find Royalty, Coutiers, Courtesans, and many rooms filled with random riff-raff welcome guests.

What am I talking about?

Well head on over to Facing 50 with Humour and find out:

The Queen in question - is Carol, and she's hosting a Launch Party for her King -- in the shape of her book "Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines"

If you feel a little nervous about heading to a party when you don't know the hostess, let her introduce herself:

httpv://youtu.be/k-poeXa6OgU

What are you waiting for? It's the party to be seen at. Yes I know - she has a huge house, but I can give you a quick tour so you can fit in once you've arrived:

Head to the Lounge: and cast your vote for your favourite babe in the MINI SKIRT competition. P.S. show your support, and vote for me:

Contestant #5 - Clever and cute. Here with her twin sister doing their best to boost sales for me.

Head to the Snug: judge the jokes and cast your vote for your favourite comedian

Head to the Library: to snuggle in a comfy chair and read a few chapters of "Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines", or head next door to the ? Room to find out how the judges have reviewed Carol's book.

By now you're probably thirsty, so head to the Kitchen, where all of Carol's blogger friends have congregated. Yes, I'm there too, and you can click on my name under the surfer chick logo to visit my Bodrum Travel Blog.

Roving Jay

I'd better stop eating the canapes, or I'll never fit into that bikini again!

When you fancy a wander, head out into the Garden or Play room to mingle or play some games.

And don't worry if you don't recognize anyone, there's a funky new blog roll installed, and you can chat with other guests while your mingling.

This is going to be a Fab party... and don't forget... vote for me in the Lounge, and I might even fetch you a drink from the kitchen.

© Feature Photo of Gold Lame Mini

http://www.rovingjay.com/mini-skirts-and-laughter-lines-launch-party/

Blogging in Pajama’s

What’s in a name?

Pajama’s. PJ’s. Jammie’s, Jim-Jams. There’s many names for those comfy lounge pants, and when you look for a dictionary, you’ll come across the original Asian, and modern European definitions:

1. Loose-fitting trousers, usually of silk or cotton, worn by both sexes in the Orient.
2. Night clothes consisting of loose-fitting trousers and jacket.

The word Pajama, originates from two Persian words - pāy (leg) + jāma (garment), and when I wear pajama’s, I favour cotton striped draw string pajama bottoms with a plain cotton top.

And I must confess — for me, Blogging has a heightened sense of decadence, when I blog wearing pajamas.

Blogging about Pajama’s

I’m not the first blogger to write about the past-time of blogging in pajama’s. In fact, in 2005 a group of influential bloggers got together to create Pajamasmedia, which was in response to all of the negative publicity about Bloggers spending all day in their Pajama’s.

I came across a couple of noteworthy posts and one video on Blogging in Pajama’s (links below):

1. What kind of pajama’s do you blog in? by Dave Nalle
2. Blogging in pajama’s, fact or fiction? by Barbara Swafford
3. Why I blog in my Pajama’s by Elysa Rice’s video

But I was surprized about how little content was written about the topic – because to me, Blogging and Pajama’s go together like – Bonnie and Clyde or Strawberries and Cream.

So if Elysa Rice is right, and being in loose Pajama’s let’s creativity flow from us, what would your ideal set of Blogging Pajama’s look like?

Pajama for setting the mood

There are so many themed blogs out there, I’m sure there’s a complimentary set of Pajama’s for every niche. Here’s a couple of recommendations:

For those writing a French Travel or Fashion Blog, how about this Light Blue Eiffel Stretch Lounge Set to get you in the Parisien spirit. With a fashionable scoop neck and empire waist, this cutting edge PJ’s, will have you supplementing your blogging diet with a croissant and Cafe au Lait. Only $122 from Glamorous Los Angeles

Whether you’re an English Rose, or somebody with a green thumb - how about these Red Rose traditional flannel Pajama’s to encourage your blog posts to bloom. A bargain at only $234 from Liberty of London.

And if you’re an active Mommy Blogger, what better choice than an Mommy and Me set of Turquoise Moroccan Paisley pajama’s, with a lace trim to channel your feminine side; patterns to hide the juice spills; with an aura of faraway places to release you from the monotony of household chores. This set can be snapped up for $178.

And if your blog is a little bit racy … there’s only one shop to head to – Victoria Secret.

So whether your a niche blogger, an avid blogger or a sparadic blogger – is there an attire that gets you in the mood to blog more creatively?

© Feature Photo sharing.wishtvBlogging in Pajama's

Spicy Cauliflower Florets in 6 easy steps

Bite size cauliflower florets coated with spices

Served with a yogurt dip

During our last trip to Turkey, we purchased a red spice mix from the market. We’re not sure what’s in it, but it’s really versatile for all recipe’s you want to add a kick too.

I love cauliflower, and there’s a mediterranean restaurant round the corner from my Corporate Castle, that does a Fried Cauliflower dish, served with tahini, in a pitta wrap. It is delicious.

I decided to guess at the ingredients, tweak it a little, and make it my own.

Below is my recipe for Spicy Cauliflower Florets served with a yogurt dip.

Ingredients	Spice Coating Ingredients
2 Medium sized heads of cauliflower 150ml of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Juice of 1/2 lemon	A couple of heaped t-spoons of Red Spice Turkey Mystery Mix 1/4 t-spoon Ground Turmeric 1/4 t-spoon Curry Powder or Coleman’s English Mustard Powder 1/2 t-spoon of Smoked Paprika Sprinkle of Poppy seeds Salt and Pepper to taste Couple of drops of Truffle Oil Depending on you spice-tolerance, you can adjust these spice quantities as desired, or replace them with your favourites.

Step by Step Instructions:

Heat oven to 400

1	Cut the Cauliflower into floret-size pieces. Cut the florets off the stalk with a sharp knife, rather than pulling it apart manually. TIP – small ping-pong ball size: Make them too small and they’ll disintegrate in the oven. Make them too big and it’ll take ages to bake.
2	Pour spices in a bowl, and add 1/2 of the oil
3	In small batches, toss the cauliflower in your bowl and coat it with the oil and spice mix. Once they’re coated, move them to another bowl. Continue coating the rest of the cauliflower in small batches. Add the remainder of the oil as needed.
4	When all of the cauliflower is coated. Place it on a baking tray, and sprinkle it with the lemon juice.(I just dip my [clean] fingers in the lemon juice and drip and flip it onto the cauliflower — save a little bit for your yogurt dip.) If you prefer, you can add the lemon juice to the oil & spice mix — but I prefer the more sporadic lemon taste I get from the flicking, rather than a uniform lemon taste on it all.
5	Bake the Cauliflower in oven for 45 minutes to an hour.Shake the baking tray up a bit every 15 minutes or so. After 45 minutes, check for done-ness, and continue cooking until tender.
6	Serve with a yogurt dip (great to balance out the fiery nature of the cauliflower): 8 oz of Turkish or Greek Yogurt 1 spring onion, chopped really fine 1 clove of garlic Little bit of the lemon juice left over from the cauliflower Couple of pieces of chopped roasted red pepper (if you have it) Chop onions and roasted red peppers. Mix all ingredients into the Yogurt. Pour into a small dish, and serve with the cauliflower

Enjoy.

We just finished eating 2 cauliflowers! Yum!

Spicy Cauliflower Florets in 6 easy steps

My blog has moved

Thanks for visiting... my blog has moved to the outside world... please follow one of these links:

www.rovingjay.com for my expat life in LA
www.bodrumpeninsulatravelguide.co.uk for Travel information and tips about Turkey

Warm Olives with Orange, Fennel Seed and Paprika

Post reproduced from: http://foodshethought.blogspot.com/search?q=tapas

Warm Olives with Orange, Fennel Seed and Paprika

They bought a cup or so of Italian or Spanish olives from the olive bar at Whole Foods. Sprinkled liberally with paprika and fennel seeds, olives and some juice are placed on a wide layer of aluminum foil.

Jennifer shaves off wide slices of zest from a ripe orange and places them around the olives while Felicia snaps in the back.

Fold the foil securely around the olives and bake at a low temperature.

Voila! Warm, paprika'd olives with a slight taste of citrus and fennel.

I was amazed at the delicious simplicity. Already planning my next party, these are definitely on the short list for crowd pleasing and easy to make appetizers.
Baked Olives with Orange, Fennel Seed and Paprika:
Serves 4
1 cup Spanish olives
2 strips orange peel
1 tsp fennel seeds
½ tsp paprika
Pre heat your oven to 325 degrees. Make a double layer of foil and add the olives and orange peel on one half of the foil.. Sprinkle with fennel and paprika. Ingredients can be adjusted according to preference. Fold the foil in half like a book over the ingredients and fold over edges to seal. Bake 8-10 minutes or until warmed through and serve.