Now we're both in Sweden for Christmas and New year! More blog posts soon.

Kiran
xx

Im back!

First of all, I want to wish Kiran all the best of luck tomorrow, I know you will do awesome baby, kick some ass! :)

What have I been doing recently? Well, not too much to be honest - most works done and Ive mainly rested and been a little with people in Liverpool. On Wednesday I got a seminar though, which is the last thing for the year and I better make sure I know my Fascism till then. From a football viewpoint, the weekends been terrific, with Arsenal winning, Chelsea drawing and Manchester United losing to Aston Villa, my second favourite team.

A minute or so ago, I also ate up the last penguin salt liquorice that I took with me in September, the plan was to make it last by eating just one a day till the 20th when I go home but I just couldnt restrain myself! Being the liquorice craving Scandinavian that I am, I emptied the can, and the line of thought basically went: I can eat two, because I wont eat any when being with Kiran the coming weekend, I can eat one more because Im going out on Tuesday, What the hell, Ill just finish up the whole jar!!! :D aaaaah SAAALTLAKRIIITS!!

So now theyre gone. Better hope I can make it without them for the rest of the week.

Asos buying extravaganza

As a reward for the manic revision I bought myself some stuff from Asos as a christmas present to myself ^^:

I love the teal/ petrol colour and the back detail. Im inseperable from the colour green as I think it looks great with Indian skin - even Martin whos interest in fashion is fleeting, notes i suit dark strong colours like purple, black, dark blue, red and dark green.

I have another dress in this shape and it fits amazingly well (especially on my curvy frame), will look great with black tights and my hair put up. Its also slinky and silky and good colours on it. I could wear it with bare legs but I think thats slightly overkill and Im a bit self conscious about my legs (I have excema scars from when I was younger). Perfect new years dress - very striking and different looking.



Black satin jumpsuit - Ive always wanted one and as a vet student who wears boiler suits for a living, I think a sexy slinky one would go down a treat.


Jean leggings - comfy and would go well with my t-shirts.

Exam tomorrow

Wish me luck please.

Ps note how long the hair is now - i just straightened it and blimey!


Puss puss. Goodnight xx

Oh fuck. The exam. Fuck. Im screwed. Where is my family and all my friends when I need them?

Revision revision

Kids - a word of advice. Dont take up veterinary medicine. You will go a bit mad and end up making a den from your bed, piles of notes and whatever junk food there may be.

Observe:

My new glasses

After an hour and a half's careful deliberation I have new glasses. The Osiris ones where way to big for my face but I draw the line at kids glasses (which they tried to sell me!)

But I now have a nice toroiseshell brown/ gold FCUK pair
and a dark blue/ black Red or Dead pair


What does everyone think? By the way my eyesight has improved so much so that the optician said she thinks I wont need glasses in a few years time. My prescription has gone from 1.60:1.50 to 1.50:1.50.

video of the day

My desk

Thank you Malin and Jonas for the lovely card and picture of Baby Mathilda. It has pride of place on my packed desk next to my pictures of the twins. It made my day to read it and I was very touched by it. :)

video of the day

Baby presents

I am extremely demotivated by revision at present, so Im going to start it in a bit as opposed to forcing it. Instead I have decided what to get my beautiful nieces for Christmas. This is a bit tricky as there are 2 of them and I dont want to treat either of them differently. Buying 2 of everything is a costly endeavor though. And I dont think dressing them identically is cool.

.

Never must it be said that Auntie Kiran has anything other than great style and taste. Im also trying to subtly get them into animals ^^. Ps regarding niece number 3; she has already been bought Christmas pressies and providing Uncle Martin sends them soon, they should be there for Christmas.

Now on with revision of bacteria:

Video(s) of the day

Crispy chicken wings

In the spirit of Martin's favourite woman (Gizzi Erskine), I have decided to put up another recipe for him to use should the need arise. I actually commend his choice of crush - she looks great, dresses really really well and cooks nice, easy to copy food. So well done Martin for showing sense and judgement. Anyway this is how to make crispy chicken wings: Add the zest and juice of one lemon, to 2 tablespoons of oil in a jug. Add tarragon (or mixed herbs if you haven't got tarragon) and season with salt and pepper. Pour over a box of chicken wings (Sainsburys basics do a pack of about 10 for £1.53). You can leave this to marinade for a day if you like. Place on a baking tray and sprinkle the marinaded wings with paprika ( quite a lot of paprika). Cook in the middle of a hot oven for 20 minutes and then move the wings to the top shelf for 5 minutes to get a nice crispy skin.



Serve with chips, green stuff and ketchup (yes Martin, ketchup!)

The christmas rat

uhhhhhh so tired - am off to bed now. Goodnight. Martin should tell me what hes gotten me for christmas I think.

Video of the day

Oh no....

Just woke from the worst nights sleep . Was truly awful, all night tossing and turning and woke up with a racing heart and mad anxiety. Today of all days when I really needed a good nights sleep behind me.

Todays timetable:
9-10am: Antimicrobial resistance 2 (Principle lecture)
10-11am: Treatment of bacterial infections 1 (Principle lecture)
11-12pm: The prokaryotic empire strikes back (Principle lecture)
12 - 1pm: Lunch
1 - 2.30pm: Clinical microbiology practical
2.30 - 4.30pm: ISF preparation
4.30 - 5pm: Endocrine and renal ISF
5pm - 12am: Revision and lecture write ups

My Christmas plans

As many may already know Im headed for a snowier place this Christmas this year, but before I go Ill spend a few days with the family and then Martin and I will have a mini english Christmas which I will plan and cook for. I intend to make this as much like my own family Chrimbo as possible but with a few twists. This will take place on the 18th/ 19th December prior to the trip abroad. Ive already put up my idea for intended festive decor on the blog. But we're also going to have crackers and lots of food. For the past 2 years ive taken care of the family dinner but for our christmas we're going to have something a bit different - some sort of Scando-Indo-English crossover. Im even feeling generous enough to make canapes. This is served on christmas eve.

Canapes - Scandinavian smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis, baked pears with cheese, cheese fondue
Starter - creamy mushroom soup with tarrogen
Main - Roast duck, roast potatoes and honey parsnips with thyme carrots, sprouts with pancetta, pigs in blankets and gravy
Dessert - Yule log and cream
Post dessert - indian sweets

As this is a meal consumed over almost a whole day from about midday till 10 at night, it honestly isnt as much as it seems. I promise Martin, I wont make you get fat. We can also watch films all day (old films like Breakfast at Tiffanys and Its a wonderful life), watch the Queens speech and Christmas top of the pops.
Included in this day of non stop eating and lazying about are mulled wine and boxes of quality streets and toffee.
On Christmas eve I tend to go out and party with Nav so we can go out to Leicester Square and have a small club night.

Day after, ice skating maybe? :)
I look forward to this provided I get some help with the cooking.

Work finished for tonight. Is there anything better than a cup of tea? I think not. Or ogling a very good looking man? Nope. Im free of endocrine revision and have a head full of hormones. My brain has stopped for the night.

Heehehehee

Teehehee revenge for something Martin did - cant think what though ^^. He'll probably do something to warrant this eventually. :)

Video of the day

Harry Enfield and chums make sure women stay in their place.

Laaaaazy Saturday.

Aaaah, Gizzi Erskine, a wonderful woman who cooks lovely food indeed; Though I must say Im lucky to have a girlfriend that can top her in both looks and I believe as well, cooking. :)

I have not done much of importance at all today, besides paying bills I guess. Last essay has been handed in, that was the last major assignment for the year, now there will just be focus on revising, but that Ill do laaaater... I spent the day missing breakfast and dinner, sleeping and watching football. Feel happy about the resut in both games I watched, Arsenal beat Stoke and Barcelona of course beat Deportivo. Must say I'm more excited over Arsenals win as I'm mainly a Gunners fan and the Premier League is more competitive than La Liga. But of course it lits up your Saturday when Ibra scores as well.

Apart from football, I've been watching South Park and realised how much I've missed doing that, it's been ages since i watched. There has also been some chatting with my strange friend John about wars and computer games. All in normal order as far as us two are concerned.

I might go out into the night to get Indian food, but only if i REALLY find the strenght to. Otherwise the lazy evening will go on, and since football was a big part of this entry, here is a strange picture of my idol Olof Mellberg. It is not what I expected from him, but we all know he is very straight and manly, so either he was just making it clear to the Englishman, might be Rooney, that he needed to man-up, or it was just an accidental touch.

Martin's favourite woman

I cant believe I forgot to put up any of these but this is Martin's latest crush. He is completely in love with her - and better than anything else she can cook. For some reason things involving stilton cheese and meat.

To put on weight or not put on weight?

I am aware that I am slowly but surely putting on more weight. With the Christmas season soon upon us, this merely heralds the start of increased 'stocking up for winter'- as Martin so charmingly puts it. So if Im putting on weight during exam season I will definately be a lot bigger come next year.

Even though I am healthier than ever, eating proper meals and snacks and working out regurlarly I am still putting on weight. Where is it coming from?
Probably those sugar laden chocolate pancakes with triple choc ice cream. But I will not give up snacks and sugar, or lying in bed. I choose weight and KFC.

New glasses time

Now that my student loan will be through its time for me to finally have an eyetest and get some new glasses. Im very taken with some of the Osiris pairs at Specsavers and maybe spending a little more money on them initially will encourage me to look after them better.



I love the Osiris range - nice chunky frames which look reasurringly solid and tough. All nice shapes and colours. Id like to buy them all :). I love rectangular frames glasses - they suit me more than other shapes. The last time I tried to buy glasses at Boots all the opticians in the place showed up, mostly all 50 year old women and started going "Those are much better dear, such a lovely shape, they suit you so well". I hoping to avoid a repeat of that situation.

By the way under Guy's oppressive heating regime I am now ill. He refuses to have the heating on most of the day except for 2 hours in the morning and 2 at night. This is making me ill. This is a ridiculous viewpoint for a man who will pay £80 on a shirt but not heating. I even said that my parents will make up any difference on the bill for the next week and a half. The unreasonable idiotic fool.

Last night

Last night I went out with the SOAS Cricket club, whereupon I engaged in some manly bonding with the all male team. They attempted to get me drunk by buying rounds (they failed - only one 15 year old member got exceptionally drunk on two drinks) and one gave me a cigarette which was quite nice. All the members were nice but they were just like Martin and all his mad friends - they all did History, politics, economics and linguistics etc etc. Artsy boys.

I guess I am now the inagural female member of the SOAS cricket team. We hope to set up an all females XI London league within the next 2 years and to go on a tour of Sri Lanka and India next September. Ill see where this all goes but its a nice wayof meeting people and avoiding the catty vet crowd.

Drowned out cricket social :(

Durban clash delayed

Covers still on at Kingsmead ahead of final ODI of series

Kingsmead: ODI in doubt

Heavy rain in Durban has delayed the start of the fifth and final One Day International between South Africa and England.

The covers are still on at Kingsmead as they have now been for several days, and the groundsman has predicted he will need at least an hour-and-a-half to get the ground fit for play.

With further rain expected during the afternoon, the chances of play are extremely doubtful. No decision has yet been made as to a possible start time.

England currently lead the series 2-1 following their emphatic seven-wicket win over the Proteas in Port Elizabeth last Sunday.

A washout would mean the tourists become just the second side after Australia to win a limited overs series on South African soil.

Thank you Martin...this is your fault.

Marry Me Alex Kapranos

If Alex, the lead singer of Franz Ferdinand asked me to run away to Glasgow to keep his sexy accent company and eat Greek food I would - It would be goodbye Martin, I am away to spend time with a half Greek Scot who can make wooden furniture and sing to me in Glasweigian.

I will content myself with moulding Martin into Alex Kapranos. Did I say moulding? Sorry I meant persuading Martin to be more like him.

Im happy again

After a minor drama involving my phone, a bathtub and water I rang home once it had dried. God, how much have I missed Nav. She brings so much sanity and clear thinking into a world gone mad. Even though shes crashed a car she is absolutely fine and has found a house. Which I 'must' go and see. Its small allegedly, though i know this means its a pretty respectable size. She sounds happy which means Im happy. She is one of the very few people I care about and who's opinion and approval mean something to me. She was so happy to hear from me. Even about my problems with a certain friend who has somehow turned on me and a certain flatmate who has a problem with heating and bitching. And about all my plans and such. Intercalating next year hopefully into endocrinology and reproductive biology, taking a studentship in the summer and submitting for the endocrinology undergraduate prize essay. She takes an interest in my day to day life in a way my mum and dad just dont and even encourages me to do whatever I want. I told her about my new interest in keeping fit (cricket, climbing and going to the gym) and how I had put myself up as editor of the uni magazine (fingers crossed). Nav is also an ice queen and dresses amazingly.

How much Ive missed her. (Martin finds her very attractive btw, Ill put up pictures of her from when I go home between the 14th and 18th).

Tickling slow loris

Egg free omlette

My first egg free omlette - cheese and mushroom. Not too bad, :).

Completely untrue view of my future profession

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232217/Why-Im-ashamed-vet-shocking-expose-profession-puts-pets-painful-unnecessary-treatments-fleece-trusting-owners.html

I have to say this makes me very sad and couldnt be further from the truth. Disgusting.

Im sniffling like mad now as well. Thank you Martin.

More pictures

Siiiiiiiick :(

I have gotten a severe cold and have spent most of the day sniffling and trying to work on the essay on the Spanish empire, due on friday. I guess 550 words is a good start though, rest of tonight will be devoted to tomorrows seminar. Great week to get sick.


But one the bright side, I have recieved a gift for Kiran that I ordered from the US today. It is a so called "bottle necklace", basically a little glass bottle with nice looking beads and other sparkly things in it. It was Kiran who found the website, but she let me customise a necklace for her, and this nice woman made it in the end. Some pictures of how it looks like can be seen below.

Kiran cooks

This is a little how-to for Martin. So he can learn how to make Indian food. This is the recipe for saag keema (spicy minced beef with spinach) You will need, 500g mince, 3 cloves of garlic (cut small), 1 small onion (diced), tinned tomatoes, cherry tomatoes (halved), spinach (roughly cut), salt, pepper, ground cumin, ground garam masala, tumeric powder and hot chilli powder optional


Soften the onion and garlic in oil. Add cumin, salt and pepper.











Add the mince and brown off on a mid high heat. Drain off fat after mince is completely brown.










Halve tomatoes and add to mince along with tinned tomatoes








Add tumeric, masala and cumin to taste. Also chilli if you like it hot








Add spinach








And there you go! Saaag keema. Serve with Naaan, bread, salad, yoghurt, anything really. I had to ring up my grandma to find out how to get it right and she was very detailed and precise in her instructions. However, very displeased that I was making such a small amount of keema (half a kilo is apparently a very small amount!).

Dinner tonight

Tonight I think I'll cook an Indian keema. Bit low on ideas but I have mince in the fridge and Im missing spicy food and home cooking. Need to ring grandma and get a good idea of what to put in. I'll put the recipe up later - its quite easy to make as it uses the standard Indian base of onions, garlic, garam masala, jeera and tumeric. When I make Indian food I end up comparing it to grandmas and it ends up being a little disappointing.

Looking at Christmas

Managed to get all of the heart lectures done today. :) Now Im really really tired. But Ive had the chance to look at xmas stuff and plan what to get people. Which makes me happy.

I was hoping Martin and I could have a mini Christmas before Sweden. Have been looking at a few things to decorate my room for the small celebration. Hope its not too traditional ^^.