October round-up and faves

Drum roll, please, as October exits the building. Can you believe that we are close to, not just the end of another month, but of another year. I certainly can't and I spend quite a bit of time wondering where all the days went. I lived them, of course, but it doesn't always feel like I did. Perhaps, by now, I should stop being surprised at the fleeting nature of time - but it gets me, every time.

Life lately:

Date night in Valletta

It's not often that my husband and I go out on dates. I am not sure why but probably because I feel guilty leaving our son at home and he's generally good company (even if he is a teenager) so, more often than not. he tags along. But he had a party earlier this month , so we were free to do out thing (sans the guilt). Since both my husband and I love to take photos, we spent a good couple of hours wandering around Valletta and doing just that. Every time I visit our capital city I am surprised by all the changes that have taken place in a short period of time. It's not all good. But it is what it is. When photographing Valletta, I like to find quiet little corners where I can take the time to look up and around without having to contend with crowds.

 

 

We stopped for coffee at Lot 61. This small coffee shop is located in a side-street behind the Grand Master's palace and close to Is-Suq, so it's in a very central area. I can confirm that the smell of coffee inside the shop was mouth-watering.

Lot 61, 30 Old Theatre Street, Valletta

Later on we had supper at the Queen Victoria Pub. The portions were generous and the food was good - although the fish and chips my husband ordered could have done with a small side salad and my halloumi salad was supposed to have a sour cream dressing but the stuff that was on my plate was definitely mayo. Apart from that, the prices were fair and the dark wood, copper panelling and dim lighting made for a charming Victorian ambiance.

The Queen Victoria City Pub, Suite 20, South Street, Valletta

 

Pink October

Pink October serves as an annual reminder, dear readers, to get yourselves checked. For women over  40 a mammogram every 2 years is recommended. Younger women can opt for an ultrasound if they would like to get checked out. Early detection can save lives and I have 2 friends who are survivors: one was diagnosed in her early 40s; the other in her late 30s. For any Maltese readers, the Health Department offers free mammograms to all women between the ages of  50 and 67. Please make use of this service.

Some of Valletta's more prominent buildings were all lit-up for Pink October.

 

Our garden

As the weather slowly (very slowly) cools down and we get more rain, some of the  plants in our garden are blooming again. It's a joy to see the vibrant colours Here are some recent photos.

 

Autumn recipes

One small trick I use to pretend the weather is cooler than it really is is to cook seasonal dishes like soups. These two recipes for slow cooker chicken tortilla  soup and butternut squash soup are excellent. I included 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes to the butternut squash soup recipe to give it an extra kick but made no other changes. We all loved it and I was instructed to double the quantities next time so that we would have left-overs. These cheese scones would make an excellent accompaniment to this soup or skip them and include some crusty bread to keep the meal lactose-free.

Favourite links:

1. Even though I am not a fan of Halloween, here is a list of 5 spooky books you might want to read. 
2. Read Sarah's review  of the best fall candles.
3. Lisa (aka The Sequinist) writes a very candid post about how to cope with extreme anxiety and shares some tips on  how she addresses it in a medicine- and alcohol-free way.
4. Taste of France shares the urban jungle of Montpellier. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold.

My favourite Instagram photo of the month ...

is of beautiful Killarney National Park in Ireland by Aga Glowala.

Until next time ... I hope you're all enjoying some wonderful autumn days.

Linking to Not Dressed as Lamb's #SHAREALLLINKUP