Dear Diary: 09/04/1999 (aged 14)

Didn't do anything until 6 when I went all the way over to Selina's just to get ready for Nina's party (which was excellent by the way). Rachel was the murderer. She was really showing off. She won't stop talking about Michael and James.

Dear Diary: 07/04/1999 (aged 14)

Today was Chessington. Which was good although we had to wait ages in the queues. We went on Samurai, the new ride - v. good. Later was Legends. Catherine and Rachel got off with Paul and Nigel (Rachel's 1st time!). This gay bloke kept staring at me then I got asked to dance by this disgusting boy with his collar up. Basically it was boring!

Dear Diary: 05/04/1999 (aged 14)

Today we went to Sutton 2 get our passport photos done. Lisa was such a cow + her comebacks R awful. I got a navy skirt 4 Legends. Rachel phoned, she loves a boy called Michael. She saw Rich + Billie in Bournemouth. I begged Mum to let me have a 3rd hole but she said not 4 a while. Not fair! 2morrow ice skating!

Recipe: Moroccan Tagine

This is a much simpler version of to Antony Worrall Thompson's BBC recipe which replaces lamb with vegetables. This is such a delicious Sunday dinner and will serve 4 or keep in the fridge all week.

Ingredients:

2 tsp ground pepper

1½ tbsp paprika

1½ tbsp ground ginger

1 tbsp turmeric

2 tsp ground cinnamon

One handful of sultanas or raisins

One handful dried apricots, chopped roughly

1 onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped

1 can chickpeas

1 courgette, chopped into 1 inch pieces

Half a butternut squash, chopped into 1 inch pieces

1 can chopped tomatoes

200ml stock (vegetable, chicken or lamb all fine)

Large handful chopped coriander

3 tbsp clear honey

1. Mix the spices together. Sprinkle half over the butternut squash and courgetter and retain the other half

2. Fry the onion gently in olive oil until soft (do not brown). Add the remaining spices and stir

3. Add the garlic, butternut squash and courgettes and fry on a medium heat until the veggies have warmed through and are beginning to brown

4. Add the fruits, chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, stock and honey and bring to a simmer

5. Cover the pan/wok with lid or foil and simmer for half an hour, until the butternut squash is cooked through

6. Uncover and simmer for a further 10 minutes to reduce the liquid

7. Serve with couscous prepared to your liking (I add lime zest and coriander). Garnish with plenty of coriander

Top Ten Perfumes (w/c 10/05/1999)

1. Tommy Girl
2. Eternity
3. Fetish
4. Exclamation
5. Adidas Womans
6. So...?
7. CK One
8. CK Be
9. Quiddity
10. Hugo Woman

Fave places in London: Franco Manca

In normal circumstances I would wholeheartedly recommend this place BUT I don't want it to get any more popular, so yeeuugh - stay away! These fresh and lovely pizzas and made with slow-risen sourdough and local ingredients.

Gorge gorge gorge gorge gorge.

After 2.5 years in Brixton, I finally braved the queue (on my birthday, no less) at around 1pm and it was worth the wait!

The queue moves very quickly and the dude in charge is aaall over the table situation. We were given a menu to look at while we waited, which was great as it was a really difficult choice!

The fact that they have about 8 choices, with a couple of specials on the board is a testament to how uncomplicated but 'fresh' this restaurant is.

I had the ham and wild mushroom which was heavely. My sister had the chorizo/meaty one - she did comment that 'it's a bit too much chorizo for this time of the day', but this is my review, not hers :-)

Dear Diary: 09/05/1999 (aged 14)

It's only 2.15. I've got a headache. Got up at 10.30 for Church. I can't believe Selina and Danielle were smoking. Lisa's back from Devon. There's this really good programme on T4 called Real World. I'm glad SATs are over.

Fave places in London: Lamb & Flag Pub

It's tucked away but signposted, and is a really lovely, authentic historic pub, right in the heart of Covent Garden but within easy reach of Leicester Square/Strand.

There is a large selection of ales (although I went for a Simmons cider) and plenty of standing room out the front for the summer time. Upstairs there is a large area of tables/booths and chairs and I BELIEVE they serve food - the ketchup bottles on the table were an indicator - although I haven't eaten there yet.

This pub is VERY popular with Thursday/Friday after work drinkers and the very narrow bar area can feel very tight. I was last there last night (Monday), and it was absolutely fine.

My only real gripe is the harsh, bright lighting upstairs. I came for a relaxing drink and catch up with a friend so we sat upstairs, but the lights are as bright as a toilet cubicle which just made it feel a little less 'chilled'.

Other than that, a very endearing place.

Recipe: Coconut Fish Curry

I saw this on Saturday Cookbook and thought it looked  easy and delicious so decided to recreate it. It tasted so good, I had to share it!



Serves 3/4

Ingredients:
Enough white fish for three people (cod, sea bass, monkfish), skinned, deboned and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, sliced
1 chilli, chopped
Thumb sized piece of ginger, grated
2 tbsp tumeric
2 tbsp tamarid paste
1 lime
Handful of coriander, chopped

1. Sprinkle fish with tumeric, set to one side
2. Fry onions gently until soft and coloured
3. Add chilli, ginger, coconut milk and tamarind, bring to the boil and add the fish
4. Turn down heat and simmer for a couple of minutes until fish is cooked through and flakes apart
5. Serve with rice and a wedge of lime, sprinkle generously with coriander

Dear Diary: 08/05/1999 (aged 14)

I was tired this morning from Lisas Ninas Lucys party. It was good. Party was good. Selina + Danielle were smoking. Catherine got off with 2 boys. Danielle with 2. Nina with 1. Katie B with 1.

Top Ten Boys (w/c 03/05/1999)

1. Shane Filan
2. Nick Carter
3. Josh Jackson
4. Rich Neville
5. Scott Robinson
6. Jack Ryder
7. Nicky Westlife
8. Dave Moffatt
9. Matt Le Blanc
10 Leo DiCaprio

Fave places in London: Lupita

The food here is really tasty and the waiters and waitresses are always very friendly (especially the guy who comes across as the manager - so friendly and welcoming! I've been about four times now, and have never been disappointed.

I always go for the same dish - the torta with ceviche, as this is the place I first ordered ceviche (after I saw Nigella make it!) and it's really delicious. The coolness and acidity of the fish compliments the crunchy tortilla perfectly. They could give you a bit more for the price, but the small-ish sizes of the dishes leave plenty of room for desert!

Now I really love the churros here, but the dessert menu itself is no match for Wahaca up by Covent Garden, which does AMAZING dolce de leche ice cream with dark chocolate chips and a larger variety. Saying that, there's still a decent choice at Lupita.

This restaurant is often busy but I have always managed to get a seat. I like it a lot.

Dear Diary: 31/10/2000 (aged 15)

I am letting my top hole close up and it hurts A LOT!!

It is Halloween, and there are floods all over England, not really around here but lots and lots and lots of rain. The ariel photos on the news look like 1 big puddle. Ooh, dinner's ready. I hope there's more rain, I know its selfish but its EXCITING!

Love,

Katie
x

Fave Places in London: Satay Bar

Satay Bar is a bar (no way!) and restaurant next to the Ritzy cinema in Brixton. It offers a delectable array of pan-asian food including Thai, Vietnamese, Singaporean and Chinese in a very funky and modern setting.

The food here is incredible! The portion sizes for the mains are huge, and you always know anything you choose will be lovely. I always find it difficult to decide what to have as the menu looks so very appetizing. My particular favourites are the red Thai king prawn curry, the Big Belly Pad thai, the hot Tom Yum Yum soup (which they have taken off the menu!!) and the lamb massaman curry.

As indicated by the name, the starters menu offers a large variety of different satays, from chicken and peanut to tempura vegetable.

The cocktails are fantastic and taste that little bit sweeter before 8pm during Happy Hour.

I love this place, but always book as it can get VERY busy on a Friday/Saturday night (when I didn't book, I waited 90 minutes - it was worth it though :-)

Dear Diary: 19/02/1996 (aged 11)

Woke up at 8 and stayed in bed till 9. At 11 we went to Sutton to get a cheque and then we went to PC World. Mum picked up the wrong printer but the man was helpful. Miche came over and we printed a calendar each and rules for our room. So did Lisa.
Mum and Lisa say I'm grouchy so I'm going to mensruate [sic]! Oh no!

Dear Diary: 04/03/1996 (aged 11)

Today I woke up at 7.45 and had a chocolatine. Yum. Went to Michelle's house and went to school. Alex B. was a nutter as usual. Had maths group and English where we had to write a "Disaster at Sea" story. Had science. Came home and Louise was round. Had a shower and went to bed.

Blogosphere: Week 6

This week I have been mainly hiding my face. A funny suncream reaction on hols has caused a plethora of angry spots to set up shop on my face. I have a new found sympathy for the acne prone, it's horrible.

Luckily Grey's Anatomy season 7 has been keeping me entertained; I've just finished it. I think it's one of my favourite seasons, I love how the characters (especially Bailey and Sloane) have developed and there are just enough gripping moments to keep you locked to the screen.

The Grey's Anatomy motto in our house is 'Just one more episode!'

What music have I been enjoying this week? Perhaps unexpectedly, I'm a fan of post-hardcore and am enjoying 'Raised by Wolves' by Falling in Reverse and 'Hey Baby, Here's That Song You Wanted' by Blessthefall. If My Chemical Romance and Bullet For My Valentine had a baby, it would be called Falling in Reverse. I've hit the nail on the head with that comparison!

I also adore 'Sixteen Saltines' by Jack White and am also enjoying 'Black Heart' by Stooshe - very sultry and soulful and they have great voices.

I wasn't sure if this was a piss-take, but it's not. Yuck yuck yuck, Kate Nash, what is this?? *Ears bleed*

Dear Diary: 31/12/1999 (aged 15)

I can't believe it's less than 24 hrs till we pass from the 20th century to the 21st, from one millenium to the next. I'm so lucky to be living in this era. Today I did my paper round in the pouring rain and in Epsom I got purple sequin horns a purple fluffy bag, shoes (silver) and a South Park desk diary. Mum got me 2 more Bacardi Breezers to go with the Bucks Fizz.
Looking forward to tomorrow! It's gonna be the best EVER! See you in the new year. I'm gonna show this to my children + grandchildren. This is gonna be the party of a lifetime. I hope it's good! See ya!

Love Katie xx

Annoying London folk!

1.       People who stop as they come off the escalator – WHAT!?

2.       People who walk straight to the front of the bus queue – RUUUDE!

3.       People who drop litter in plain view of everyone else – NAASTY!

4.       People who get to the tube ticket machine, then start rooting around for their ticket – COME OOON!

5.       People who run across the road in busy traffic – INSANE!?

6.       People who put their bag on the bus seat and don’t make eye contact – BAGGY!

7.       People who join the bar queue after you then shamelessly shout their order above everyone – AAASSHOLE!

8.       People who look like they’re eyeing up your bag – SWIPEY!

9.       People who get on the bus to ask the driver for random directions – LAAAZY!

10.   People who walk in front of you smoking with no consideration of those downwind – GROSSIE!

Blogosphere: Week 5

Returned from holiday late last night! I had a great time, despite the 7.10am screeching toddler next door and the questionable hotel food. The weather was stunning, the pool clean and refreshing and the sea crystal clear. I have inadvertantly visited Malia and Ayia Napa in the past 6 weeks because my hotels were nearby. Definitely too old now.

 

I had a sorry case of the post-holiday blues today *cue music*, beginning at half five this morning when Lisa's blasted cat started scratching at my door. Not cool, Millie, not cool. What's with the weather here!? I've spent a week developing a nice golden tan, returning to a London where Ugg boots and coats are out and about. De-press-ing.

There was one ray of sunshine in my day - I won the Apprentice sweepstake at work! Nice one, Ricky Martin. I didn't watch one episode (I don't like the confrontation!) but heard he was a bit of a doofus, a wrestler who thought he was the 'reflection of perfection'. Puke. Anyway, I took my winnings and spent the evening making chocolate cupcakes for my colleagues. Man, they are such a great bunch and I love to spoil them.



I booked a hair appointment for Saturday afternoon and am looking forward to it. Think I'm going to go back to blonde (from Ombre/the grown out roots look) for the summer, with an inch off the end. I like to have enough length for a 'gym ponytail' nowadays, after a decade of the choppy bob too short to do anything with. Happy days!