2010 In Review

Top Albums

Daft Punk's Tron Legacy soundtrack
Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Cee-Lo - The Ladykillers
LCD - This Is Happening

Hot Chip - One Life Stand

Gogol Bordello - Trans Continental Hustle

Top Films

Kick-Ass

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The Social Network

Winters Bone

Top TV shows

Boardwalk Empire

Doctor Who

Chuck

Downton Abbey

Sherlock

Top Books

Terminal Worlds by Alastair Reynolds

Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science by Jim Al Khalili

ECONned: How Unenlightened Self Interest Damaged Democracy and Corrupted Capitalism by Yves Smith

The Restoration Game by Ken MacLeod

Other things I have enjoyed this year is my visit to Florence & Rome, Italy with my sister in August and seeing the wonderful Royal Ballet perform 'Onegin' in October.

Was also delighted to of celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday in September.

The Worst Things of 2010

British politicians

Politicians in general

Politics

New Years Eve Cat Blogging


Heidi

George

Heidi, George and Me would like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year!

Boxing Day Blogging


George in the bread basket

the Original Sachertorte, brought back from Vienna by my parents recent visit to the city

My niece beside our Christmas tree


Holding one of her presents (from me)

Christmas Day Blogging

Wines to go with our Christmas dinner

Christmas Day Blogging

Roast Beef Marinated in Red Wine


before the topside of beef goes in the oven

Ingredients (serves 6)
2kg beef scotch (rib-eye) fillet
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups red wine (such as shiraz)
1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 red onions, peeled, thickly sliced
horseradish sauce, to serve

Method
Trim fat and sinew from beef. Tie with cooking string at 2cm intervals to help beef keep its shape during cooking. Rub beef with pepper.

Combine wine, mustard, garlic and bay leaves in a deep ceramic dish. Add beef. Turn to coat in marinade. Refrigerate, turning occasionally, for 4 hours or overnight if time permits.

Preheat oven to 200°C. Remove beef from marinade. Pat-dry using paper towels. Heat butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add beef. Cook, turning, for 5 minutes or until browned. Set aside.

Combine remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Add onions. Toss to coat in oil. Arrange onions in the centre of a lightly greased roasting pan. Place beef on top of onions. Roast for 55 minutes for medium rare, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes for medium and 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours for well done.

Remove from oven. Cover with foil. Stand 15 minutes. Remove string. Slice. Serve with onions and horseradish.

Festive Friday Christmas Eve Cat Blogging


George with his pressie

Heidi doing her impression of Mary, complete with star! No room at the inn either.

Festive Ballet Blogging

Festive Blogging

Monday Classical Music Blogging

Friday Cat Blogging


George

Heidi

Saturday Music Blogging

Friday Cat Blogging


Heidi

George

Friday Music Blogging

Friday Cat Blogging


Heidi relaxing beside the heater

George having a good go at the scratching post