Ollypj

LATEST ARTICLES ( 598 )

• I Love Film

  

  I’m not a great believer in that the dawn of a new year is the perfect time to make changes. By all means, it’s possible but it too often feels like an excuse.... Read more

  Posted on 19 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Dursley Hills

  

  One week ago, I took a stroll around the southern Cotswolds. Today, I’ve been out with The Ramblers on a more mid-range Cotswolds meander, beginning and ending... Read more

  Posted on 18 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Sun on the Southern Cotswolds

  

  My first walk of the year, last weekend and it was a little further from home than what I’m used to. It’s always nice to visit new places (especially those... Read more

  Posted on 17 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Shepherd’s Pie At Night

  

  It was Monday evening; a slow start to another all-too-familiar week. I needed something to pick myself up and I found that in the challenge of baking my first... Read more

  Posted on 16 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Cooking with Chicken

  

  Having already made a few successful roast dinners (for one person) using a pack of plain chicken breasts, I decided, last week, to have a go at a couple of... Read more

  Posted on 14 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• New Year’s Eve Walk

  

  It was the final day in a year from which I can retain many positive memories with great feelings of personal achievement. As someone who isn’t overly social an... Read more

  Posted on 08 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Air Frying (with a Halogen Oven)

  

  Over the weekend, I received a air-fryer attachment that quite simply allows me to fry foods in my Andrew James 12lt Halogen Oven and in manner that’s... Read more

  Posted on 05 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Friday Night Casserole

  

  Staying with this food theme for another day; I pleasantly pleased with a casserole I concocted on Friday night.Time to burn.A week earlier, I’d bought some... Read more

  Posted on 04 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Banana Bread #2

  

  My first attempt wasn’t all that bad. But instead of simply rehashing the routine of the very same recipe, I decided this time that I would attempt a recipe tha... Read more

  Posted on 03 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• One Glass Shelf

  

  It was Christmas. I was cleaning the bathroom, focused, at this moment, on the Ikea Fullen mirror I installed only a few months ago.One mirror. Wiping the... Read more

  Posted on 02 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Sunday, Sand and Winter Sun

  

  Welcome to 2015!I spent almost every minute of daylight yesterday crossing the Mendip Hills and arrived back home shortly after darkness had fallen. You’ll get... Read more

  Posted on 01 January 2015 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Baking Banana Bread

  

  It wouldn’t be Christmas if there wasn’t a cake in the works!While I’m not actually a huge fan of the traditional Christmas Cake (although, that’s not to imply... Read more

  Posted on 30 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Bathroom Bedlam (Part 4)

  

  This is the concluding part to all the repair work I’ve been carrying out in the bathroom. I still have to repaint a couple of strips on the walls beside the... Read more

  Posted on 28 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Winter Solstice (Eve) Walk 2014

  

  A Merry Christmas to one and all! My own festivities don’t begin until later in the day and so, I find myself with some time on my hands. Read more

  Posted on 25 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Bathroom Bedlam (Part 3)

  

  This post has been coming for too long. I’ve been delaying and postponing in in the hope I’d be able to write it as a conclusion to this DIY project… Right... Read more

  Posted on 13 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Mist Upon the Mendips

  

  It’s taken almost a fortnight for me to write about this one; my most recent walk. It seems that dark nights (particularly with the colder weather) are less... Read more

  Posted on 11 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Daylight, All Night

  

  It was a only a few years ago when I revamped the lighting within my workshop with a series of daylight-coloured bulbs. Sources online had suggested these... Read more

  Posted on 08 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Chocolate Raisin Cake

  

  Two of my favourite ingredients baked within the same oven! This was the same cake I baked during an unofficial ‘Cake Day‘ with a friend back in October – see, ... Read more

  Posted on 04 December 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Staying Local

  

  I’m fortunate to be able to call upon the Mendip Hills as part of my local landscape but last weekend I set off on a walk that was even closer to the home, as... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Roast Dinner for One

  

  One thing I’ve missed since leaving home is the regularity of roast dinners. I hadn’t honestly given much thought to making my own until I start trying new... Read more

  Posted on 24 November 2014 HOME, HOME IMPROVEMENT