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Diary of a Country Girl

Living a country life in wonderful Norfolk. Gardening, cooking and farming – as keen as mustard and mad on dahlias…

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Tag: Great British Bake Off

This cake was no angel…
Baking · Cooking · Food & Drink · Great British Bake Off

This cake was no angel…

1st September 20191st September 2019 Kate1 Comment

On Tuesday I sat down in the snug at 8pm sharp – just as the Great British Bake Off credits began to roll. You see, I’ve decided to attempt each and every technical bake on this year’s show after doing so for the first time last year and loving it. I was paying more attention… Continue reading This cake was no angel…

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a_countrylife

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Life in the Norfolk countryside
🌸 Gardener
🐄 Farmer
👩‍🍳 Cook
As keen as mustard & mad on dahlias…

a_countrylife

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Jun 21

Open post by a_countrylife with ID 18097067398949595
As many of you may know, I am taking part in the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run again this year.

The tractor is up and running, the decorations are appearing - first and foremost a personalised number plate!

This year, more than 180 women and their tractors will take part in the event which is two weeks today!

I’ve been volunteering with the run for eight years now helping with press coverage and this will be my fourth year behind the wheel.

The event has raised more than £1.36 million to date for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal and this year we’re hoping to smash through a grand total of £1,500,000!

The 20-mile route will take us through south Norfolk and north Suffolk on Sunday 5th July.

I am proud to be joining this merry band of formidable women and know that all of them have their own stories of motivation.

Many are cancer survivors, but all of the women have been affected by cancer in some way - throughout our lives it affects us all in some shape or form.

The run does so much more than raise vital funds, it creates a support network for so many, it brings light and laughter to people at times when there may be little, it raises awareness and just maybe, it makes women check their breasts for anything out of the ordinary.

It certainly did make me check mine. Because of the run I do make those regular checks. I remember one year cycling home from the run to write about it and as I sat at my computer, I checked my breasts and found a lump. It was terrifying but thankfully turned out to be a fatty cyst.

I will be taking part in the run, thinking about the strength of the hundreds of participants that have taken part over the years and my treasured Aunty Betty who died of breast cancer.

I will be doing it with a huge smile on my face - hoping not to hold the convoy up or stall the tractor!

If you would like to donate I have a fundraising page and the link is in my bio above. A huge thank you to everyone for their support! Xx

As many of you may know, I am taking part in the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run again this year.

The tractor is up and running, the decorations are appearing - first and foremost a personalised number plate!

This year, more than 180 women and their tractors will take part in the event which is two weeks today!

I’ve been volunteering with the run for eight years now helping with press coverage and this will be my fourth year behind the wheel.

The event has raised more than £1.36 million to date for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal and this year we’re hoping to smash through a grand total of £1,500,000!

The 20-mile route will take us through south Norfolk and north Suffolk on Sunday 5th July.

I am proud to be joining this merry band of formidable women and know that all of them have their own stories of motivation.

Many are cancer survivors, but all of the women have been affected by cancer in some way - throughout our lives it affects us all in some shape or form.

The run does so much more than raise vital funds, it creates a support network for so many, it brings light and laughter to people at times when there may be little, it raises awareness and just maybe, it makes women check their breasts for anything out of the ordinary.

It certainly did make me check mine. Because of the run I do make those regular checks. I remember one year cycling home from the run to write about it and as I sat at my computer, I checked my breasts and found a lump. It was terrifying but thankfully turned out to be a fatty cyst.

I will be taking part in the run, thinking about the strength of the hundreds of participants that have taken part over the years and my treasured Aunty Betty who died of breast cancer.

I will be doing it with a huge smile on my face - hoping not to hold the convoy up or stall the tractor!

If you would like to donate I have a fundraising page and the link is in my bio above. A huge thank you to everyone for their support! Xx
...

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a_countrylife

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Jun 17

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Pyramidal orchids, you are a joy to see every, single year. A glimpse of perfection… 

#pyramidalorchid #norfolk #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl #acountrylife

Pyramidal orchids, you are a joy to see every, single year. A glimpse of perfection…

#pyramidalorchid #norfolk #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl #acountrylife
...

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a_countrylife

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Jun 2

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The delight of rain and clouds and lightening in the open Norfolk skies…

#norfolk #lightening #stormchaser #rainatlast

The delight of rain and clouds and lightening in the open Norfolk skies…

#norfolk #lightening #stormchaser #rainatlast
...

40 1

a_countrylife

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May 21

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A new rose to add to the collection, a beautifully fragrant bloom with size and sophistication on her side. Thank you @peterbealesroses for giving us the #katemoss rose. A standout flower at @rhschelsea… 

#rose #chelseaflowershow #katemoss #diaryofacountrygirl

A new rose to add to the collection, a beautifully fragrant bloom with size and sophistication on her side. Thank you @peterbealesroses for giving us the #katemoss rose. A standout flower at @rhschelsea…

#rose #chelseaflowershow #katemoss #diaryofacountrygirl
...

20 1

a_countrylife

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May 11

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Who doesn’t love to revive a folk tradition. Here in Norfolk it’s all about the Barley Queen, a peculiar custom celebrated by @grainbrewery. 

This year, maybe because I am (or not?!) ‘a woman mature in years and wisdom’ I was asked to take on the roll of Barley Queen to bless the barley crop and the beer it has made. Who was I to say no?!

I’ve written all about it on my latest blog…

#norfolk #folklore #diaryofacountrygirl #barleyqueen #countrylife

Who doesn’t love to revive a folk tradition. Here in Norfolk it’s all about the Barley Queen, a peculiar custom celebrated by @grainbrewery.

This year, maybe because I am (or not?!) ‘a woman mature in years and wisdom’ I was asked to take on the roll of Barley Queen to bless the barley crop and the beer it has made. Who was I to say no?!

I’ve written all about it on my latest blog…

#norfolk #folklore #diaryofacountrygirl #barleyqueen #countrylife
...

65 3

a_countrylife

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May 1

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May Day, and what a glorious day. Time to enjoy the crab apple blossom while it is here…

#blossom #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #crabapple #mayday

May Day, and what a glorious day. Time to enjoy the crab apple blossom while it is here…

#blossom #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #crabapple #mayday
...

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a_countrylife

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Mar 31

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Picking wild garlic. A smashing time of year, the first foray into foraging and home grown goodness for supper… 

#wildgarlic #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #homegrown #garlic

Picking wild garlic. A smashing time of year, the first foray into foraging and home grown goodness for supper…

#wildgarlic #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #homegrown #garlic
...

20 2

a_countrylife

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Mar 5

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Hello spring… 

Gosh, how I’m enjoying sunshine on my skin.

#spring #sunset #norfolk #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl

Hello spring…

Gosh, how I’m enjoying sunshine on my skin.

#spring #sunset #norfolk #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl
...

35 3

a_countrylife

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Jan 7

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This is just me, realising a long-held dream to ice skate in nature…

When I worked at @wordsworthgrasmere I was constantly inspired by Wordsworth’s penchant for taking to the ice when the lakes froze over. I would often gaze at his rudimentary ice skates in the museum with wonder, imagining what freedoms skating outside on ice would offer the soul. 

So ten years ago, when I found a pair of 1960s ice skates in a charity shop, I whisked them home with dreams of one day experiencing the sensation. Alas, in the decade that followed, winters have been mild and open expanses of water have remained fluid. 

It took until this week for my long-held dream to emerge and shine, as my beloved pond heard my calls and froze solid overnight. 

With all the vigour of Wordsworth, I took to ice ‘as clear as steel’ to ‘give my body to the wind’. I beamed - so joyfully happy and momentarily lost in my own paradise.

Living and breathing Wordsworth and his romantic persuasions during my time in Grasmere has constantly inspired me. This vivid spot of time on the ice will stay deep in my memory, retaining a renovating virtue to nourish my mind and spirit. This is what life is all about.

#WordsworthGrasmere #iceskating #diaryofacountrygirl #wordsworth #norfolk

This is just me, realising a long-held dream to ice skate in nature…

When I worked at @wordsworthgrasmere I was constantly inspired by Wordsworth’s penchant for taking to the ice when the lakes froze over. I would often gaze at his rudimentary ice skates in the museum with wonder, imagining what freedoms skating outside on ice would offer the soul.

So ten years ago, when I found a pair of 1960s ice skates in a charity shop, I whisked them home with dreams of one day experiencing the sensation. Alas, in the decade that followed, winters have been mild and open expanses of water have remained fluid.

It took until this week for my long-held dream to emerge and shine, as my beloved pond heard my calls and froze solid overnight.

With all the vigour of Wordsworth, I took to ice ‘as clear as steel’ to ‘give my body to the wind’. I beamed - so joyfully happy and momentarily lost in my own paradise.

Living and breathing Wordsworth and his romantic persuasions during my time in Grasmere has constantly inspired me. This vivid spot of time on the ice will stay deep in my memory, retaining a renovating virtue to nourish my mind and spirit. This is what life is all about.

#WordsworthGrasmere #iceskating #diaryofacountrygirl #wordsworth #norfolk
...

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a_countrylife

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Jan 3

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A portrait of a snowy, sunny day…

#snow #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #snowdays #silhouette

A portrait of a snowy, sunny day…

#snow #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #snowdays #silhouette
...

28 1

a_countrylife

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Jan 1

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Hello 2026!

What a sunset to mark the new year…. 

#sunset #norfolk #norfolkskies #diaryofacountrygirl #countrylife

Hello 2026!

What a sunset to mark the new year….

#sunset #norfolk #norfolkskies #diaryofacountrygirl #countrylife
...

38 3

a_countrylife

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Dec 1

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It may be the first of December but the peppers are still loving life in the greenhouse!

#peppers #advent #diaryofacountrygirl #homegrown #norfolk

It may be the first of December but the peppers are still loving life in the greenhouse!

#peppers #advent #diaryofacountrygirl #homegrown #norfolk
...

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Recent Posts

  • A folk tradition revived: The Blessing of the Barley Queen
  • What shall I do with all these figs? (A recipe for fig and orange jam)
  • Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run – I’m hooked!
  • Pink Ladies Tractor Run – clutch control mastered (maybe)…
  • Pink Ladies Tractor Run – racing towards £1million…

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