Take one Weetbix.
Take an Aero chocolate bar.
Crumble the Aero over the Weetbix.
Voila!

AEROBIX !

The correct way to weigh yourself

  I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years.

Another of those LOW FAT, NO CARB, NO SUGAR, but Full of Flavour dinners

The picture quality is just awful here

Yuck! <sigh>... well I don't have a posh camera, just a cellphone!

Anyhoo, the fritter's were a cinch to make and really delish

We used:

Approx 1 1/2 measuring cups frozen corn (obviously you can use fresh or tinned if you like)

4 medium courgettes washed and grated

1/4 grated onion

a good spoon of our chilli/garlic/ginger+coriander paste

about a 1/2 cup of grated cheese (personally I wouldn't use it again - I don't get the point)

1/2 cup of flour (ja I cheated!)

1 egg beaten

Stir all the ingredients together then heat your skillet. We obviously use Spray n Cook susta's, then add spoonfuls of the mixture. Cook on a low to medium heat so they have time to cook whilst they brown. This mix made about 6 or 7 I think.

Season/marinade your fillet as you like; we use lemon, garlic, chicken spice and then show the fillets a little olive oil. Again the skillet is given a shot of SnC, then we cooked the fillets until charred and delish!

As can be seen from the photographs, I hastily chopped some onion, tomatoes and a little feta, squeezed a little lemon and EVOOil over the top and voila, din-dins was served!

Obviously, you can add to or take away any of the ingredients mentioned here to suit your mood/taste-buds/energy levels.

It was pretty good I have to say.

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
Inspirational Quotes on Mother’s Day by: Lin Yutang, Chinese writer

A poem for Mum

Everything Mom

How did you find the energy, Mom
to do all the things you did,
to be teacher, nurse and counselor
to me, when I was a kid.

How did you do it all, Mom,
Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,
Yet find time to be a playmate,
I just can’t comprehend.

I see now it was love, Mom
That made you come whenever I'd call,
Your inexhaustible love, Mom
And I thank you for it all.

Did you know: Mother's Day History

The origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans.

But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher.

Earliest History of Mothers Day
The earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.

Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honor of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome.

Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday.

History of Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday
The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.

On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally children brought with them gifts and a special fruit cake or fruit-filled pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs and people in other nations have observed similar days.

Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Tenneva Jordan

History of Mother's Day: Julia Ward Howe
The idea of official celebration of Mothers day in US was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Julia Ward Howe suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mothers Day and should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous Mothers Day Proclamation, written in Boston in 1870. She also initiated a Mothers' Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in Boston and held the meeting for a number of years. Julia tirelessly championed the cause of official celebration of Mothers Day and declaration of official holiday on the day. Her idea spread but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday now celebrated in May.

History of Mother's Day: Anna Jarvis
Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mothers Day in US. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mothers Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers.

Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mothers Day from her own mother Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An activist and social worker, Mrs. Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.

A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mother’s word and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mother’s desire of having a mother’s day. Growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honor her mother soared her ambitions.

To begin with Anna, send Carnations in the church service in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her mother’s favorite flower and Anna felt that they symbolized a mother’s pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mothers Day holiday. The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
Inspirational Quotes on Mother’s Day by: Oscar Wilde

History of Mother's Day: Present Day Celebrations
Today Mothers Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. People take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. The day has become hugely popular and in several countries phone lines witness maximum traffic. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, cards and others gift to mothers on the Mothers Day. The festival has become commercialized to a great extent. Florists, card manufacturers and gift sellers see huge business potential in the day and make good money through a rigorous advertising campaign.

It is unfortunate to note that Ms Anna Jarvis, who devoted her life for the declaration of Mothers Day holiday, was deeply hurt to note the huge commercialization of the day.

As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Inspirational Quotes on Mother’s Day by: Ezekiel 16:4 

The 12 Best Things My Mother Taught Me

My mother is an awesome teacher, the first and best one I ever knew. When I was growing up, she used words to guide me. By the time I became an adolescent however, she no longer needed words. She taught by her example.

Here are a few of her most memorable teachings:

Spend quality time with your Creator-Redeemer every day. Talk to Him constantly, praise Him, ponder His blessings, and ask    Him questions. Make sure to listen for His answers.

Don’t tip God. Give liberal offerings. God will take care of your every need. Remember the Almighty’s promise: I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!? (Malachi 3:10, NLT).*

By the time you retire, make sure you have saved at least R6, 000 for each year of your life. You may use that money to invest in IRAs or other funds, but save. Save. Save. (How I hated remembering that mandate during my shopping-for-fun expeditions, but it helped.)

Eat healthy meals. Never skip breakfast. Fruit and vegetables are daily essentials. Yes, even turnips and papayas, if that is all you have.

Exercise regularly. Find an activity you really enjoy. Do it often, be it walking on snow-laden trails or swimming in danger-infested waters.

Walk a mile, figuratively, in somebody else’s shoes. You won’t begin to understand unless you’ve been there. Empathize. Empathize.

Knowledge is never lost, and learning is exhilarating.

Be a good friend; warm, trustworthy, affirming, and loyal. Remember your friends? special days with a phone call, card, or visit. Whenever possible, give your presence - it's always better than a present.

Become the best person you can possibly be. Some women don’t need to get married, but what we must all learn is to become the right person. (Mother was right. I discovered that I don’t need to dredge each pond to kiss every frog in search of Prince Charming. What I need to work on is being a wonderful me.)

Whatever you do, do it well. And happily. A smile is the world's least expensive facelift.

It is better to be kind than to be right.

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.
Inspirational Quotes on Mother’s Day by: Unknown

Many thanks to:

Joanna Fuchs http://www.poemsource.com/mother-poems.html

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pictures+of+mothers&FORM=IGRE2#focal=bb6768f7a8394e95c762209186bf44c4&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.a-healthy-balance.com%2Fimages%2Fmother_nature.jpg for the awesome picture of mother nature

adapted and edited from http://www.womenofspirit.com/index.php?id=52 from the writings of Glenda-Mae Greene, a retired educator, who taught in colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. She is the author of Green Pasture Moments for Frazzled Urban Dwellers. Now she and her mother share a house in Palm Bay, Florida, where they are actively involved in women’s prayer circles and Sabbath school classes at their church.

Low Fat, Low Carb, doesn't have to equal Zero flavour. This is one of our weekly meals (um ja, I know it does get boring knowing what we are going to eat each week, but every now and then, I live dangerously and change the spice on the chicken woohoo!).

This time, the chicken breasts were marinated in chilli, garlic, lemon and then liberally doused with portugese spice and oven baked.

Mini-me/Who then disrobed said chicken breast of all skin and delicately dismembered the flesh from the bone. The furballs get the bone and the best part, the skin, goes in the bin! Ja, neither the dogs nor I, get a look in. Skin; you know that crispy, fatty, most nomalicious part of the chicken? It's a case of "sorry for you" and then I am almost positive I can see an evil glint in her eye and a hint of a secret smile as she drops that tasty little morsel into the bin!

I made the pasta (all 25 corn pasta spirals - ja, I counted) the usual way, and then when it was cooked, added it into a pan that I had sauteed red onion, garlic and aubergine. I also steamed broccoli and baby marrow which went in, and added in fresh tomato and feta just before plating. I made a dressing of white wine vinegar/avocado oil (net a splash you understand).

All in all, a pretty good meal and no I didn't rummage around in the bin for Mini-Me/Who's roasted chicken skin!

Okay I did, but unfortunately when I checked, Mini-Me/Who was way ahead of me and had hidden it in a pile of old magazines that had been thrown away. How do I know this, because I found it sandwiched between pages 96 and 97 of an old Cosmo when I did trash duty the next morning! 

A Boer from the Free State walks into his local bar and to his surprise finds a little Japanese man sitting in his regular chair.
"Kleingat, you sommer sitting op my stoel" he angrily shouts. Before he
knows it the Jap is up and knocks the farmer flying.
After the farmer recovers he asks: "What the blerrie hell was that?"

"Zat martial art from my country Japan " replies the Jap and strolls off
in a stroppy way.

The following day the farmer finds the Jap in "his" seat again. The
farmer goes: "You is alweer sitting op my stoel" and again the Jap
knocks the farmer out with some nifty Kung Fu. On regaining
consciousness the farmer asks: "What the blerrie hell was that?"

"Zat Karate from my country Japan" and as stroppy as ever ambles off.

Now the farmer is dik die moer in .........

The next day the farmer finds the Jap sitting in "his" chair again! "So,
you is alweer sitting op my stoel. Vat So"

and he knocks the living daylights out of the Jap with one blow.

The little Jap comes around after some time and asks the farmer what was that?

The farmer replies: "That, my china was a bliksemse Isuzu 2.8 litre
turbo diesel bakkie se wheelspanner......also from your country Japan .

Just in case you are in KZN, especially the midlands; it's as dry as three month old biltong that's been left in a paper bag, or maybe a frekked frog that's been lying out in the sun for a few weeks, or um, well you get the idea.

But seriously fires are a big problem at this time of year , please be super careful.

Have an ama-zing weekend though, whatever your'e doing :-) xxx

picture thanks to someone in Canada

IT’S FAT FREE, ZERO KILOJOULE AND ZILCH CARBS PLEASE OR I DON’T EAT IT!

Sjoe this has been a challenge. Mini-me (that’s my youngest Who), has made an incredible effort to become “less” than quite literally, and has succeeded where I consistently seem to fail; that is to lose some of those wondrous bits of gorgeousness that float about ones (well, me) ample person. I am of course talking about flab susta’s, but of course you already knew that.

So here’s the thing, Mini-me/Who does NOT eat carbohydrates after lunch, or before if possible, she does NOT like oil or butter and if a vegetable tastes sweeter than normal, she accuses me of doctoring it!

Initially I baulked at this method of cooking. I mean seriously, any susta who has read my blog, knows I am the Queen Susta of all things FAT! I honestly feel life is too bloody short to bother about a glug of oil here or a dollop of butter or cream there, because let’s face it; FAT EQUALS FLAVOUR!

Now I have always secretly hoped that I looked exactly like Ms. Nigella in the kitchen, who makes “fat” look sexy, JA she seriously does! I mean who else can pour a tub of cream, wiggle her perfect eyebrow at the TV screen, then smile her secret smile with perfectly made up lipstiffies and then still wear the same tight fitting skirts and cardigans every episode (even after she films herself picking leftovers out the fridge in the middle of night). I bet she wear stilettos too, you know the ones, very high, very red, very “Jimmy-Choo”, and somehow she manages to pull it all off. You know I bet she smells like chocolates and cinnamon… hmm, very hard to live up to.

Anyway, back to all things non-fat, non-kilojoules, non-carbohydrate!

It has taken me a while to embrace all that is NON-everything I have to say. What I do need to mention here though, is that it works just fine. It has taken time and I still find myself sneaking in an extra slosh of XVOOil or just a little extra butter when I think Mini-me/Who isn’t watching, but 99% of the time, I stick to the plan. Well Mini-me/Who’s plan actually.

I thought I’d share our white sauce invention with you. No you can’t call this Béchamel silly, coz there is any flour or butter. Thick milk would be more accurate I should think. Sounds delicious huh? LOL actually its rather good!

a traditional Bechamel sauce

Here is how:-

INGREDIENTS

Around 500ml SKIM/NON/ZERO/NIX/NADA/F-ALL FAT MILK

+-3 spoons of cornflour or more depending on how thick you want your sauce

Garlic

Chilli flakes

Herbs

Salt (low sodium please. I mean DUH! What else)

Use your stove top or micro-golf to heat the SKIM/NON/ZERO/NIX/NADA/F-ALL FAT MILK, Now stir in your cornflour that you dissolved in a little milk or water. Take it back to the heat and cook until it thickens.  You can add a bay leaf in to the heating milk if you like.

Now you can add any number of goodies to the white sauce that you fancy. One has to jazz up the sauce I think, it’s pretty bland otherwise. We are partial to chilli and garlic, so we dollop in a spoon of that, then in goes a little white pepper and salt. You could use mustard too if you like with a grating of nutmeg.

If you need to make a cheese sauce, then just add in your grated cheese and stir.

Now, if are a serious gourmet, perhaps this method will fill you with absolute horror and you'll be tut-tutting and shaking your head in disgust, but it’s all I am allowed, so to me it’s food gold!.

We pour a little of this sauce over steamed veg which in themselves don’t offer an advanced taste experience so the addition of a little of our NON sauce with a scant grating of mature cheese, turns plain steamed veg into something quite edible!

Broccoli, courgettes, and cauliflower (with liberal doses of spinach) are our vegetables of choice at present in case you were interested.

Now say after me: Butternut is the new potato, Butternut is the new rice, and Butternut is the new pasta. I’ll be honest; this was the most difficult changeover of all. I dig my tatties, I really dig rice, and I adore pasta! Sniff!

We buy bags of them (sadly the ones in our garden have all been gobbled up) and frankly I am surprised my hands aren't stained a permanent orange!

We steam them, mash them, roast them, boil them, blitz them, grate theme, smile at them lovingly and generally treat them like the orange gold that they are!

I shall blog our dietary escapades from time to time, share recipes and hopefully (don’t hold your breath) a photo or two.

P.S. My Mother (God Bless the woman!) invited Mini-me/Who and I over for dinner last nite and served gravy with dinner. I got so excited I nearly wet myself and had to keep snatching back my fingers from the gravy dish – I haven’t had gravy in over a month so other dedicated Gravy eaters might understand… sigh

Chocolate soup with whipped cream

It’s cold, brrrrrrrr and I feel like chocolate so there!!

Chocolate soup – NOMALICIOUS!!!

Serve with or without a big plop of whipped cream on top, this smooth-as-velvet soup makes the perfect ending to almost any meal. It's like a cup of rich hot cocoa in a bowl, so a little is all you need. And you can make it in advance; it's just as good chilled.

EDITED 26.04.2010

5-1/2 cups (US) = 1.182.941 ml) milk (if it makes you feel better use skimmed/nonfat milk)

1/2 lb or around 225/230grams) semisweet (70% or use your favorite) chocolate, grated, or semisweet chocolate chips, plus a little bit extra for garnish

2 tsp (this is about 10ml I should think) flour

2/3 cup or (85grams) (granulated sugar

4 egg yolks (which is about 72grams if you use large eggies) (I even managed to find out about this hee-hee) 

Weight of One Large Egg:

In Shell = 57 grams

Without Shell = 50 grams

White Only = 30 grams

Yolk Only = 18 grams

thank you to http://www.joyofbaking.com/eggs.html

1 cup (250ml) heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks

In a large saucepan, bring the milk and chocolate to a boil over medium heat. Place the flour in a small glass measuring cup or bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the hot chocolate milk to the flour, and stir to combine. Add this mixture back into the soup as it boils. Stir in the sugar and remove pot from the stove.

Place the egg yolks in a heat-proof glass measuring cup, and beat lightly with a fork. Add 1/4 cup of the hot soup to the eggs, and beat vigorously with a whisk to combine. Then add the egg mixture back into the soup pot, whisk vigorously, and return the soup to low heat only long enough to warm it.

Pour the soup through a fine-mesh strainer to catch any bits of coagulated egg. Serve hot, in small bowls, with a dollop of whipped cream and a bit of grated chocolate. Or chill the soup for several hours and serve cold.

Thank you to:

http://www.soupchick.com/2010/03/recipe-for-chocolate-soup.html

Adapted from the New York Times Bread & Soup Cookbook, a cookbook from the 1970s, this recipe serves 8.

It is our taxpayers money that's being used for things other than road maintenance after all, so go right ahead and make a stand; utilise the pothole in your street why dont you!

I know, it's been an age, but at last I feel I am sitting up straight enough to put together a sentence or two

Puhleeze scuzie!

What I do want to know is how I went into hospital for an operation of the nether regions and came out with the memory capacity and concentration capabilities of a very small flea! Add to that constipation and a stomach that appeared to have completely collapsed in on itself, and well, you get the picture!

Anyhoo, alles is nou rectum and I am back in action so to speak.

I have missed your blogs terribly and cannot wait to page through your posts.

Congrats to Ninatjie with your book and website, what a talented lady you are xxx

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

PORTRAIT OF A FRIEND

I can't give solutions to all of
life's problems, doubts, or fears.
But I can listen to you and
together we will search for answers.

I can't change your past with all its heartache and pain,
or the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your
feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand
that you may grasp it
and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, success,
and happiness are not mine;
yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, or to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from
falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you,
talk to you, and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
but I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
but I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.

I can only love you and be your friend.

Author Unknown

I am booked in for my wee operasie this Monday coming, so won't be around for a few weeks after that.

Take care everyone

Chat soon

xxx

Valentine, oh Valentine,

I smaak you stukkend, say you'll be mine.
You're my morning, my sunshine, my moon and my stars,

You're my airfreshener from O.K. Bazaars;

You're my beaded love-letter, my breeze in the night,
You're my coffee, my Cremora, my Blitz firelight.
You're my Crime-Stop, my Tracker, you're my AZT,

My pap, Mrs Ball's chutney, my Nando's for free;

You're my lambchop, my dewdrop, my partner in crime,

My chillie, my pepper, my vetkoek sublime.

The list is endless and this isn't all,
You're my Lotto jackpot, my dop and my zol.
You're my 4X4 when the road is so hilly,

You're my Floro margarine that butters my mielie.
I smaak you, my bokkie, so please be my life,

'cause, Baby, you're the Tomato Sauce on the slap chips of life!

Happy Valentine’s Day  

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own home.
Give love to your children, to a wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor.
Mother Teresa

For a bit of history direct from Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day - much thanks)

Saint Valentine's Day^[1] (commonly called Valentine's Day^[1][2][3]) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.^[1][3] The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.^[4]

“There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.”
Alice Adams 

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.^[6]

The earliest surviving valentine is a fifteenth-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife, which commences.

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée…

—Charles d'Orléans , Rondeau VI, lines 1–2 ^[29]

At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415.^[30]

Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-1601):

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

—William Shakespeare , Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

Modern times

In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained scores of suggested sentimental verses for the young lover unable to compose his own. Printers had already begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches, called “mechanical valentines,” and a reduction in postal rates in the next century ushered in the less personal but easier practice of mailing valentines. That, in turn, made it possible for the first time to exchange cards anonymously, which is taken as the reason for the sudden appearance of racy verse in an era otherwise prudishly Victorian.^[31]

Paper Valentines being so popular in England in early 1800s, Valentines began to be assembled in factories. Fancy Valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in mid 1800's.^[32]. In the UK, just under half the population spend money on their Valentines and over one billion pounds is spent yearly on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts, with an estimated 25 million cards being sent.^[33] The reinvention of Saint Valentine's Day in the 1840s has been traced by Leigh Eric Schmidt.^[34] As a writer in Graham's American Monthly observed in 1849, "Saint Valentine's Day... is becoming, nay it has become, a national holyday."^[35] In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Her father operated a large book and stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English valentine she had received, so clearly the practice of sending Valentine's cards had existed in England before it became popular in North America. The English practice of sending Valentine's cards appears in Elizabeth Gaskell's Mr. Harrison's Confessions (published 1851). Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary." The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend in average twice as much money as women.^[6]

Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.^[4] The mid-nineteenth century Valentine's Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow.^[5]

“Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
Elizabeth Browning

The rise of Internet popularity at the turn of the millennium is creating new traditions. Millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine's Day greeting messages such as e-cards, love coupons or printable greeting cards.

There are some families, however, who choose to find other means of honoring Saint Valentine on this special day. Many of these traditions involve bonfires, for fire is said to represent passion.

“Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.”
Peter Ustinov

Asia

Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day is celebrated in some Asian countries with Singaporeans, Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine's gifts.^[40]

In Japan, in 1960, Morinaga, one of the biggest Japanese confectionery companies, originated the present custom that only women give chocolates to men. In particular, office ladies give chocolate to their co-workers. One month later, on March 14, White Day was created by the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association as a "reply day", where men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Unlike western countries, gifts such as candies, flowers, or dinner dates are uncommon.

In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14 (White Day). On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of Feb or March go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles (??? jajangmyeon) and "mourn" their single life.

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. In Chinese, Valentine's Day is called (simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; pinyin: qíng rén jié).

“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined... to strengthen each other... to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.”
George Eliot 

Similar Asian traditions

India

In India, in past Valentine's Day has been explicitly discouraged by some of the Hindu fundamentalists, mainly the Shiv Sena, the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad.^[44][45] Since 2001 there has been each year violent clashes between shopkeepers dealing in Valentine related items and Shiv Sena die-hards, who oppose it as "cultural pollution from the west".^[44][46] Especially in Mumbai and surrounding areas Bal Thackeray and others sent out signals before the day warning people not to have anything to do with Valentine.^[47] Those who violate this are dealt with harshly by baton-holding brigands of Shiv Sena who lurk in public places especially parks, chasing young people holding hands and others suspected to be lovers. In many parts of south India couples who are found in parks and other public places are immediately forced to marry on the spot by the Shiv Sena and other similar activists.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, in 2002 and 2008, religious police banned the sale of all Valentine's Day items, telling shop workers to remove any red items, as the day is considered a Christian holiday.^[46][48] In 2008 this ban created a black market of roses and wrapping paper.^[48]

Pakistan

The Jamaat-e-Islami political party has called for the banning of the holiday, and has called it "a shameful day. The people in the West are just fulfilling and satisfying their sex thirst." They claim that the holiday is an insult to Islam.^[49][45] Despite this, the celebration is increasingly popular^[45] and the florist shops expect to sell great amount of flowers, specially red roses.^[50]

In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones.

Thanks to http://www.stvalentinesday.org/valentines-day-fun-fact.html

Valentine’s Day Song

Valentine Valentine
Valentine Valentine
Gooshy Gooshy Gooooooooooo
Valentine Valentine
Always saying I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 Poetry

How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being an ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the Breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Elizabeth Barret Browning

And for me, one of my favourite quotes …

How come when you mix water
and flour together


you get glue?..

and then you add eggs


and sugar...

and you get cake?






Where did the glue go ?


NEED AN ANSWER?


You know jolly well where it went susta!


That's what makes the cake

Stick to your *ss

I love pickled fish, just love it, however, have any of you ever bought the tinned one? <groan>

It's just awful; the fish itself is hard and tasteless, the sauce is runny and without the lovely tangy flavours once associated with the product and boy is it expensive.

The Woolies brand is okay, but for me, not flavourful enough and pretty pricey.

I would just love to make a tray and was wondering if anyone would be prepared to share their special resepie with me?

Thanks so much :-) xxx

LEMON CHICKEN

Working people frequently ask what my wife and I do to make our days interesting. 

Well, for example, the other day we went into town and went into a shop.  We were only in there for about five minutes.

 When we came out, there was a Metro Cop writing out a parking ticket.  

We went up to him and said ‘…come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?'  

He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.  

I called him a Nazi turd.  He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tyres.  

My wife then called him an anal moron.  He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first . 

Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes as the more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote.  

Personally, we didn't care.  We came into town by bus and the car had a Julius Malema Supporter sticker on it.  Now that we are retired we try to have a little fun each day; it's important at our age.