@Stomgatz: Thank you for the link to health benefits of pomegranate juice. I do love pomegranate, it enhances both savour and sweet dishes so well and it is a wonderful bonus that they are very good for you. @Miami Refractive: I hope your efforts with the chocolate pavlova turn out well and you enjoy it, it is a delicious dessert. Goodluck!

Thank you so much Sarah. It was pure pleasure to take part and I can't wait for the next challenge!

Thank you, it was down to you that I got to know about the Event. If you look at the time, I barely made the deadline. Yes, I'm back on the blog! Yaay!!

Well with you Vickii, I can certainly believe that! Remember we just about did the same with the Chocolate Banana Loaf. I want to hear about your Pumpkin Pie please so keep me posted. The kids did dress up for Halloween and it was much fun. I just need to get the pictures of the Grandparents as they were the ones who went clicking when the costumes came on. Will certainly post asap. Welcome to the Mac tribe! They say once you start using a Mac, you don't look back. Although you'll need to lose a few of the PC instincts you would have built into your system over your computer literate life span.

LOL! "...damp bread loaves...". I think you've acurately described my feelings too! I've checked out the Leona boots too but I'm wanting my feet/ankles to be snuggled in sheepskin. Please give the feedback when you've tried the Leona boots on, they might be more snuggly than I give credit for.

@ Vickii - Thanks, I know you always have time for the written word so you must also share with me some good books from your book club. It's hard to follow an act like The Help. Just like your Mum some of the other members of my book club went handing it out to all and sundry, as I did. I believe Alone In Berlin is an outstanding book (considering it is translated). It certainly gave me a perspective on the ordinary folk under the Nazi regime that I never ever considered pereviously. Here are more that I have enjoyed in varying degrees but altogether they are very good books. Notwithstanding by Louis De Bernieres http://www.amazon.co.uk/Notwithstanding-Stories-English-Louis-Bernieres/dp/0099542021/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288908574&sr=1-1 The Legend of Colton H Bryant by Alexandra Fuller http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Colton-H-Bryant/dp/1847393314/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288906754&sr=1-1 Solar by Ian McEwan http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Ian-McEwan/dp/0224090496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288907024&sr=1-1 The Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pregnant-Widow-Martin-Amis/dp/0224076124/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288907226&sr=1-1 Past Imperfect by Julian Fellows http://www.amazon.co.uk/Past-Imperfect-Julian-Fellowes/dp/0297855220/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288907309&sr=1-2 @Ekpemi - Thanks. I will certainly consider your suggestion when it is next my turn to suggest a poem. To His Mistress Going to Bed - it is an interesting use of the metaphor of sexual passion to discribe the conquering of the new worlds in the 17th century. I like John Donne very much (though I found it tough in the old days when I had to understand it for academic purposes). I specifically discounted introducing metaphysical poetry to start with at the book club. However, we should be well and truly into the spirit of poetry by the time I'm next up. Nice choice!

Ose, Yes of course, I can remember that cold white Christmas and my suitcase full of condiments and deli products! Hopefully we can feast again really soon. Thanks for the support.

Glad to join the club! Its nice to have a space all my own where I can ramble on about things I like! With a chapter devoted to chocolate cakes you should certainly have Feast on your kitchen bookshelf. I see from your blog that we have done the same chocolate banana loaf. I can't help but wonder if we were doing it on the same day. That would be spooky in a cool way. :-D

Hey Vickii, Yes you CAN master jollof rice. I confess there is an art to it but, it is easily achieved. Once you've tried the recipe above you may decide to tweek it here and there next time. Keep an eye on the heat. Good luck and please do let me know how you get on.