by Glotime | May 15, 2017 | Featured, GloWellness
How many shows have had their central theme set in the ‘local’ pub or bar, where the World’s problems are put to right. Corrie with the Rovers Return, Eastenders with The Queen Vic and Cheers of course in its own domain, to name but a few.
The Australian movie Crocodile Dundee where the leading man played by Paul Hogan, is astounded at his newly realised ways of the Western World, and the idea of paying for therapy. Back home he gets his free of course, as he just goes down to the pub in his ‘local’ outback, shares his problems with the other lads and hey presto ‘no problem’.
We all laughed at this simplistic notion, with our sophisticated worldly hats on, but many of us are going back to sharing our problems at ground level in our local stomping ground, to get some sense of belonging back into our lives.
Whether male or female and at whatever age, the sharing of information is the most powerful in the flesh, and over a pint or glass of wine. If you don’t drink, then a glass of any kind will do – it is more about the interaction of dialogue than the drink itself, and the ambience of an area designated to share experiences good and bad and get to know each other out of working hours and without the intervention of social media.
The ‘local’ has been around in some form or other for centuries, and is responsible for the making and breaking of relationships, the sharing of life events, the interaction of politics and debates, and just general banter and keeping communities together.
It prevents loneliness, and keeps members of a community aware of others needs and social gatherings, and even somewhere to hang out when you need some emotional support, similar to Australian friend, even without giving away your inner secrets. It is incredible what a bit of social banter can do to give you a clear head for problem solving, even with a hangover.
A good friend recently lost her partner and moved solo with her dog to a new area so that she would be memory free of her previous life, only to find that she was really isolated and felt she had made a mistake in moving to the new location.
On one of her doggie walks, she stumbled on an old pub just minutes from her cottage, beautifully renovated in the style of its origins, and on investigation discovered the local community not only in her sphere of conversation, but as an ongoing social event that she attends a couple of times a week. We are not holding our breath, but even think she has met her new partner. Such is the power of the ‘local’.
One ‘local’ we would heartily recommend that is near to the Glotime office is The Black Horse in Fulmer, http://www.theblackhorsefulmer.co.uk/ which is well worth a visit, even if you have to travel. It also has gorgeous suites if you want to stay overnight, and the food is fantastic. You will receive a warm welcome from the friendly bar staff, and even if you are a lady alone, you won’t feel out of place. Many just go there with their laptop or after work, and others just to chill with their family and friends.
We would like to hear from you if you would like to share your ‘local’ experiences with us, as you are bound to have one wherever you are.
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by Glotime | May 12, 2017 | Celebrity, Featured, GloKitchen
Bake it Better Week: 22-28 May 2017
GloTime.tv are proud supporters of GOSH
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Registered charity no. 1160024
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND HELP ‘BAKE IT BETTER’ FOR
GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN’S CHARITY
*Charity calls on the nation to “Get Your Bake On” and raise vital funds for GOSH*
Bake it Better in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is back this summer and the charity is encouraging amateur bakers to cook up some vital cash by hosting a bake sale between 22-28 May. Whether you’re a complete kitchen novice or a star baker in the making, every penny raised will make a huge difference to seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
The leading children’s charity is challenging budding bakers to create tempting treats to sell at home, in the office, at school or in their community, all to raise vital money for GOSH. To kick-start Bake it Better week, the charity has put together a free fundraising kit for every host which is jam-packed full of bunting, cake toppers, posters, celebrity and patient recipes, baking themed games, stickers and top tips to ensure every bake sale is a sweet success.
Money raised will help Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide world-class care for young patients and their families. It could fund pioneering medical research, state-of-the-art medical equipment, support services for patients and their families which includes parent accommodation so mums and dads can stay close by, and help the rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital.
Laura Savory, Head of Community Fundraising at Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity, says: “Whether you’re a whizz in the kitchen or just starting out, you’ll be part of a team of bakers who are joining in the fun and raising money to improve the lives of seriously ill children cared for at GOSH at the same time. Every bake sale, no matter how big or how small, will help us make a real difference to GOSH’s young patients from right across the UK, and help us support their families too. So please roll up your sleeves, get your bake on and sign up!”
Richard Burr star of The Great British Bake Off gives you this wonderful recipe, all in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, a moist Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cake.
Ingredients
For 2 x 7″ sponges
- 200g plain flour
- 225g caster sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 175g unsalted butter
- 50g peanut butter
- 25g cocoa powder
- 2 1/2tsp baking powder
For the buttercream
- 200g icing sugar
- 150g peanut butter
- 100g unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp milk
For the ganache & finish
- 300ml double cream
- 300g dark chocolate
- 50g peanut butter
- 2 tbsp milk
- packet of Reese’s mini peanut butter cups
Method
N.B. I have made this cake using 7″ round tins but it would work with 6″ or 8″ tins too – you may just have to adjust the cooking time
- Grease and line your tins with baking parchment
- Pre-heat the oven to 180oC / fan 160oC / gas mark 4
- For the sponges, cream together the butter, peanut butter and caster sugar with an electric hand whisk
- Beat the eggs into the mix
- Mix the baking powder and cocoa powder into the plain flour – you’ll need to sieve these together, as the cocoa powder and baking powder can clump together
- Fold these dry ingredients into the mix with a silicone spatula
- Divide the mixture evenly between the two cake tins (about 440g in each if you’re weighing your tins) and smooth the surface with an offset palette knife
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a cocktail stick poked into the centre comes out clean
- Allow the sponges to cool in their tins for 10 minutes before taking them out and putting them on a cooling rack
- To make the buttercream, add the butter, peanut butter and icing sugar into a bowl and beat slowly with an electric hand whisk until you have a smooth mix – you may need to add a little milk to get a smooth enough consistency to spread
- Meanwhile, make the ganache by breaking the chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Put the cream into a saucepan and heat until just before it starts to simmer. As soon as it’s reached this point, tip the cream into the chocolate and mix. If it starts to split (i.e. go greasy and bitty-looking) then add around 2tbsp of warm milk and this should bring it back. As the ganache cools it will begin to thicken up, making it easier to apply
- I used my cake cutter to cut each sponge in half horizontally so that there were four thin layers in the cake. If you don’t have a cake cutter, you can use a large bread knife (watch your fingers!) or just have two layers instead
- Build the cake by spreading layers of buttercream between each of the four sponges with an offset palette knife
- Coat the cake with ganache and smooth with a palette knife. If the ganache starts to split as you’re spreading just put your palette knife in very hot water, dry it and continue smoothing
- Gently heat 50g of smooth peanut butter on the hob and drizzle this over the ganache on top of the cake. Use a cocktail stick to swirl the peanut butter and ganache together, creating a marbled effect
- Decorate the sides of the cake with Reese’s mini peanut cups (or other sweets of your choice) and make a peanut butter lover very, very happy!
Our thanks to Richard and Great Ormond Street Hospital for this recipe
For more information, and to sign up and request a Bake it Better fundraising kit, visit http://www.bakeitbetter.org/
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by Glotime | May 11, 2017 | Featured, GloWellness
As we come into Fostering Fortnight once again, we learn that 9,070 new foster families are needed over the next year alone, in order to meet the needs for the thousands of children who are both vulnerable and at risk of being abused or neglected.
Caring families, couples or individuals who feel that they have the capacity to give time to one or more of these children are urgently needed.
If you are able to offer the time and dedication to care for a young person, then you may be on the brink of an amazing new life challenge and rewarding career.
Being a foster carer does indeed work both ways, and this was verified when we spoke to Debbie and Mike Reynolds who have adopted one child and fostered several over the years. ‘We are commended by so many people for the life changing work we have carried out with our foster children, but the rewards for us totally outweigh the work we have done and it is an incredible experience to make a difference to a child’s life and turn it around.’ Said Mike.
Debbie told us ‘We are mum and dad to some incredible children, some of whom are now at University and working in great jobs, something we have been able to offer them with advice and support over the years.’
Debbie and Mike have taken on some very challenging young people, which turned their lives around – just as they tell us, by offering them life choices and making them aware of the outcome.
If you are considering a career or life change in a career in fostering – the rewards will be incredible for you too, and you will be supported 24/7 by the Fostering Agency of your choice.
TACT offer some amazing support with excellent on-going training, access to the local fostering team, local support groups and social events and a generous salary and benefits package.
If you have been thinking about fostering for a while, contact your local TACT office, and find out how you can begin to embark on the career that will change both your life and that of a vulnerable child.
Fostering with us
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