Bryony - Perfectly Imperfect

• Foodie • Lincolnshire UK • Sarcastic • Awkward • Raising 4 children solo • Memes

[bryonyashaw]

Parenthood: the art of doing everything several times.

[bryonyashaw]

Vanilla Sponge with Berry Compote & Creamy Buttercream 🍓✨

A soft, fluffy vanilla sponge layered with a glossy berry filling and finished with smooth, creamy buttercream!

INGREDIENTS -

Sponge

• 200g unsalted butter, softened

• 200g caster sugar

• 4 medium eggs

• 200g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp milk

Berry Compote

• 250g raspberries or strawberries (fresh or frozen)

• 60g sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp cornflour + 1 tbsp cold water

Buttercream

• 250g unsalted butter, very soft

• 500g icing sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2–3 tbsp milk

METHOD -

1. Sponge:

Preheat oven to 170°C (fan). Line two 8-inch tins.

Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.

Gently fold in flour, then add vanilla and milk.

Divide between tins and bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden.

Cool completely.

2. Berry Compote:

Heat berries, sugar and lemon juice until bubbling.

Stir in cornflour mixture and cook until thick and glossy.

Leave to cool fully - it should be thick and spreadable.

3. Buttercream:

Beat butter for 3-5 minutes until pale and fluffy.

Add icing sugar gradually, mixing well.

Add vanilla and milk until smooth and spreadable.

4. Assembly:

• Place one sponge on your board.

• Pipe/spoon on a buttercream dam around the edge (this stops the filling leaking).

• Spoon the berry compote into the centre.

• Add the second sponge on top.

• Apply a thin crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes.

• Finish with a thicker layer of buttercream.

• Decorate with piped flowers in soft pinks and white 🌸

[bryonyashaw]

Two weeks of Easter halfterm stitched together in crumbs, colour and chaos - woodland egg hunts, afternoon tea treats, baking-and-decorating marathons, sensory play explosions, McDonald’s fuel stops, cinema session, Lego kingdoms, mocktails, milkshakes, Easter crafts and imaginative play. A whole season of small joys with the kids - threaded, of course, with the meltdowns and parenthood moments that remind me not every part of motherhood is pretty or poetic and that's part of the story too.

[bryonyashaw]

Spring has fully arrived at Rand Farm Park, Lincolnshire, and the barns are alive with the rhythm of lambing season and new life! 🌸

Heat lamps glow over fresh straw, ewes settle into their pens and newborn lambs take their first shaky steps within minutes of entering the world. Visitors can watch the whole process - from bonding and feeding to the careful checks the team carry out to make sure every lamb is warm, dry, and thriving. The air was a mix of soft bleats, warm hay and that unmistakable early‑spring light pouring through the barn roof. After a long winter, the whole farm feels like it’s waking up again, full of new life and new energy. You can fuel up at the cafe too!

📌 Rand Farm Park, Rand, Lincoln, LN8 5NJ

What you’ll see this season:

• Ride the heights of their Skyrider

• Practice your aim at archery

• Take a tractor ride

• Play silos, go-karts, fun golf and more outdoor play!

• Indoor play areas with slides and balls you can target at people!

• Indoor lambing – as a lowland Lincolnshire farm, Rand lambs earlier in warm, straw‑lined barns

• Heat lamps glowing to keep newborns warm in their first hours

• Newborn lambs taking their first steps within minutes of birth - there was a live birth when we were there!

• Bottle‑fed lambs getting extra care from the farm team plus you can take part in feeding them too

• Live demonstrations and explanations from staff throughout the day - like being able to hold the guinea pigs and bunnies

The Farm has a huge variety of residents! Whether they are in the Big Barn, the outdoor paddocks, or the "small furry" section, here is a list of the animals you can meet:

​The Big Barn

• ​Sheep & Lambs: Seasonal newborns + the famous Swiss Valais Blacknose.

• ​Goats: Anglo Nubians, Pygmies and Golden Guernseys.

• ​Cows: Jersey and shaggy Highland cows.

• ​Pigs: Friendly residents and seasonal piglets.

​Field Friends

• ​Donkeys & Ponies: Look for Charlie the donkey and Billy the pony.

• ​Alpacas: The curious paddock residents.

Small & Fuzzy

• ​Poultry: Freshly hatched chicks, chickens and ducks.

• ​Small Furries: Cuddly rabbits and guinea pigs.

A lovely, educational day out to entertain the family!

[bryonyashaw]

International Women’s Day began in 1911, sparked by women who were done being silent. Factory workers, teachers, mothers, activists - women who marched for fair pay, safety, dignity and the right to shape their own futures.

The suffragettes carried that fight with ferocity. They organised strikes, chained themselves to railings, endured arrests, hunger strikes, and force-feeding - all to win the simple right to vote. They weren’t fighting for privilege. They were fighting for personhood.

Their courage reshaped history, but the work didn’t end with them.

International Women’s Day exists because equality is not a given - it’s something generations of women have had to demand, defend and rebuild again and again.

Women deserve equality because they are human.

Because their ideas build nations.

Because their labour holds families and economies together.

Because their creativity, leadership, and resilience push the world forward.

Because no society can call itself fair while half its people are expected to shrink.

Women are amazing not because they endure hardship, but because they transform it into progress.

Because they nurture and innovate.

Because they rise and bring others with them.

[bryonyashaw]

Walking into The Savoy feels like stepping straight into London’s most glamorous time capsule. It’s been here since 1889, dreamed up by theatre producer Richard D’Oyly Carte, who decided the city needed a hotel as dramatic as his operas and he wasn’t wrong. From the glowing green sign outside to the marble columns and gold detailing inside, everything feels like it’s been designed to make you slow down and soak it all in.

A few things learned while I was there:

• Opened in 1889 – the first luxury hotel of its kind in Britain

• The first hotel with electric lights and lifts - very high-tech for Victorian London

• A favourite of Monet, Churchill, Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe - the guest list is basically a history book

• A mix of Edwardian, Art Deco and theatrical design - every corner feels like a film set

• Not photographed here but it's home to the iconic red lift - glossy, jewel-toned, and straight out of a Wes Anderson scene. One of the original lifts, kept beautifully preserved.

• The Beaufort Bar sits on the old cabaret stage - it used to host performances!

The photos don’t even cover half of it. The glowing chandeliers, the stained-glass dome, the palm trees tucked between marble columns, the wrought iron marked “1889,” the moody red-lit bar with its cheeky cocktail menu, the seasonal displays, the branded butter, the immaculate breakfast tables… Every space feels like it’s been styled with intention. Even the slippers have that signature Savoy green trim!

Breakfast was its own little adventure. I tried chia seeds for the first time - gave them a fair chance but absolutely not for me. However, the egg white omelette more than made up for it - so yummy! Light, delicate, topped with microgreens… The kind of dish that looks like it’s been plated with tweezers and tastes even better than it looks.

📌 The Savoy Hotel, Strand, London, WC2R 0EZ, United Kingdom

It sits right on the Strand, with its private road Savoy Court leading up to that iconic green sign. Perfectly placed between Covent Garden, the Thames and the West End.

The whole place has this mix of history, theatre and quiet luxury that just wraps around you. It’s iconic for a reason.

[bryonyashaw]

Some days you’re conquering the world before lunch - juggling kids, cooking, clearing, and keeping the whole show moving. Other days the only adventure you’ve got in you is a blanket fort, a shared pizza and a film everyone can agree on. Both versions count. Both versions are real. And somewhere in the middle is the reminder we all forget: self‑care isn’t just bubble baths or productivity hacks. Sometimes it’s getting things done, sometimes it’s letting everything slide. Busy can be care. Lazy can be care. Showing up as you are is enough 🖤

[bryonyashaw]

15 creates and bakes!

I enjoy cooking and trying various ways of getting those nutrients in for the kids. Here are 10 creates and 5 bakes:

1. I used leftover turkey and pork which I made into fajitas, I also roasted pumpkin and tofu. For these fajitas I use tinned tomatoes, tomato purée and blended in pepper, radish, onion, kale and used seasoning

2. Cheese and rice stuffed peppers, teriyaki sea bass, lightly dusted yellow fin sole and tempura cod

3. I enjoy making homemade burgers as I can add whatever I want to it and I try various things - these burgers are turkey mince, black beans, egg, kale, spring onion and stuffed with mozzarella

4. Chicken fajita style one pan dish (all the veg added) with 'cheat' grains and avocado

5. Cajun chicken thighs (blended veg in) with packet couscous and I felt snacky so bought tempura prawns with sweet chilli dip.

6. BBQ Chicken drumsticks, corn on the cob, coleslaw and sweet potato fries.

7. Cottage Pie - one of my favourite things to blend in vegetables as it just hides in there! I use boiled bones off a chicken to make the stock too and I then make batches of it to put in the freezer as it freezes well for another day.

8. Pork noodles - packet stir fry veg (I added onion and pepper extra) chow mein sauce, pork already presliced and seasoned (because sometimes its good to just chuck it all in without effort) there is also duck Bao buns

9. Chicken sausages, frozen veg (easy) and potatoes and parsnips with lashings of gravy

10. Same with the burgers I also make meatballs - these meatballs were beef, onion and egg with a homemade tomato sauce which I used tinned tomatoes, seasoning, onion, courgette and peppers. There is also wholewheat spaghetti and pre-made garlic bread

11. Apple crumble - comfort food especially during winter

12. HUGE brownie - my son and I felt like something sweet so made a brownie and doubled the recipe. It used 4 eggs, flour, sugar (all the usual ingredients) chocolate melted and mixed in, cadbury chocolate chopped and threw inside and finished with white chocolate sprinkles

13. Biscoff pastry pies - was an experiment

14. Seasonal ginger biscuits

15. Biscoff caramel cheesecake, so good!

[bryonyashaw]

Family estrangement is quietly reshaping how we understand kinship.

In cultures that once held blood ties as sacred and unbreakable, more people - especially adult children - are choosing distance over duty. The old script of “family is forever” is being rewritten by those who’ve lived through emotional harm, deep value clashes or unmet expectations.

Estrangement isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s a slow fading - a reduction in contact, a quiet emotional distancing or a mutual understanding that the relationship no longer feels safe. In other cases, it’s one-sided - a single person choosing silence after years of trying to reconcile irreconcilable differences.

But the truth is, there are always layers we can’t see. Every relationship holds private histories, subtle shifts and unseen efforts that outsiders can never fully understand. What looks like distance might have been built over years of pain, misunderstanding or self-preservation.

For some, cutting contact isn’t rebellion - it’s survival. The decision to step away often reflects a growing belief that love should be earned, not assumed. Everyone has the right to choose what’s best for their mental and emotional wellbeing, even when that choice doesn’t align with tradition or expectation.

Not all relationships are healthy simply because they’re bound by blood. People can be toxic - intentionally or not - and recognising that truth doesn’t make someone cruel, it makes them self-aware. Every person deserves peace and sometimes protecting that peace means walking away.

For some, the parent or carer has truly tried their best and that’s all they could do, yet the person stepping away is still doing what’s right for them - and that’s all they can do. Both realities can coexist.

And yet, there’s a contradiction here too. People want to protect their peace but they also want to defend themselves - to explain their side, to be understood. Estrangement doesn’t always offer that closure. It’s a deeply complex subject, shaped by emotion, memory and perspective.

For those left behind - who may not fully understand the silence - there is grief too. A quiet mourning for a bond that no longer holds. We cannot always see the full story from the outside. There are always two sides, and sometimes, both are carrying pain.

[bryonyashaw]

Grief and Loss: you’re not alone.

Grief is not just about death. It can follow the loss of health, home, relationships, identity, dreams or community. It can be loud and overwhelming, or quiet and invisible. It can arrive in waves, or sit beside you like a shadow.

There is no “right” way to grieve.

There is no timeline.

There is only the truth that something - or someone - mattered deeply.

If you are navigating grief, please know: you do not have to carry it alone. Support is out there and it’s okay to reach for it.

~~

UK Support Services

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or loss, these organisations can help:

1. Cruse Bereavement Support - Free, confidential support via phone, email, or local groups. Helpline: 0808 808 1677.

https://www.cruse.org.uk/

2. The Good Grief Trust - Brings together over 1,000 UK bereavement services and peer stories to help you find the right support.

https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/

3. Mind - Bereavement Support - Practical advice, self‑care tips, and links to specialist organisations.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/support-and-self-care/

4. NHS - Help with Grief - Guidance on symptoms, coping strategies, and where to get professional help.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/

5. Samaritans - 24/7 listening service for anyone in emotional distress. Call free on 116 123.

https://www.samaritans.org/

~~

💛 Grief is proof that love existed. You are allowed to feel it, speak it and seek help to carry it.

[bryonyashaw]

[bryonyashaw]

[bryonyashaw]

HALF TERM STARTS HERE

No school. No schedule. Just a week of movement, mess and survival logic. From swimming to snacking, chores to crafting, every activity builds rhythm, connection and calm. Whether it’s lazy days or busy ones - this is family time, in all its chaos and care.

[bryonyashaw]

🕷 Midnight Cherry Layer Cake

A gothic showstopper of black chocolate sponge, oozing cherry preserves, and white vanilla frosting—finished with a glossy dark chocolate drip. This recipe yields two 8" layers, rich with Dutch-process cocoa and optional cayenne for depth. Frost generously, let the cherry filling bleed and serve by candlelight on spiderweb lace.

Recipe here ⬆️

[bryonyashaw]

Mac & Cheese Recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4–6):

• 250g macaroni (or any short pasta)

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp plain flour

• 500ml milk (whole or semi-skimmed)

• 150ml double cream (optional for extra creaminess)

• 200g mature cheddar, grated

• 50g mozzarella or Gruyère, grated (optional - for stretchiness)

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional but adds depth)

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Topping (optional):

• 50g breadcrumbs

• 25g butter, melted

• Extra grated cheese

Method:

1. Cook the pasta

Boil the macaroni in salted water until just al dente (about 1 minute less than the packet says). Drain and set aside.

2. Make the roux

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to form a paste.

3. Add the milk

Gradually whisk in the milk (a little at a time) until smooth. Simmer gently for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens.

4. Make it cheesy

Stir in the cream (if using), then add the mustard, nutmeg, and grated cheeses. Mix until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Combine

Stir the drained pasta into the cheese sauce until well coated.

6. Optional bake

Pour into an ovenproof dish. Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and extra cheese, scatter on top, and bake at 200°C (180°C fan) for 15–20 minutes, until golden and bubbling.

Variations:

• Add crispy bacon bits, caramelised onions, or roasted broccoli.

• Use a mix of cheeses - Cheddar, Red Leicester, and Parmesan work beautifully.

• Stir through hot sauce or smoked paprika for a little kick.

[bryonyashaw]

Baby‑Led Weaning and Purées - you don’t have to choose one

When it comes to starting solids, parents are often told they need to pick a side: baby‑led weaning (BLW) or spoon‑fed purées. The truth? You can blend both approaches to suit your baby’s readiness, your family’s lifestyle, and your comfort level.

💡 Baby‑Led Weaning (BLW)

- Starts around 6 months, when baby can sit upright, grasp food, and chew

- Involves offering soft, finger‑sized foods (think avocado slices, cooked carrot sticks, pasta)

- Encourages independence, coordination, and joining family meals

💡 Purées

- Smooth, blended foods made from single ingredients (e.g., peas + water, sweet potato, apple)

- Great for early tastes, especially if you want to introduce flavours one at a time

- Can be thinned with breast milk, formula, or cooled boiled water for the right texture

Why combine them?

- Some babies love self‑feeding but still enjoy a spoonful of purée between bites

- Purées can be a gentle way to introduce allergens or trickier textures

- BLW foods help develop chewing skills and self‑regulation, while purées ensure variety and nutrition

Tips for a safe, happy start

- Always supervise eating

- Avoid choking hazards (whole grapes, nuts, hard raw veg)

- Keep milk feeds alongside solids until at least 12 months

- Expect mess — it’s part of the learning process

Whether your baby’s first bite is a soft broccoli floret or a spoon of silky pea purée, the goal is the same: exploring flavours, textures, and the joy of eating together.

[bryonyashaw]

Autumn in full swing: coats zipped, snacks deployed, chaos summoned. The leaves are golden, the puddles deep and someone’s always dressed for a haunting. It’s not just a season - it’s a survival ritual with pumpkins 🎃