27 July 2009

Homemade Cheesecake

I have just made a vanilla cheesecake. I usually make it on a sponge cake and either orange or lemon jelly. This time, however, I have made it with a kick... Firstly, I moisted the sponge cake with a splash of Martini Bianco, poured the cheesecake mixture and let it set in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then, I decorated the cake with blackberries Slawek and I had picked from bushes in the Springfield Park on Sunday. Finally, I poured some jelly on top... I am now waiting for the cheesecake to cool down in the fridge... I really hope it will be yummy :)

22 July 2009

Strange frames of mind...

I turned on a computer and checked my emails this morning. Except of several scam messages, I have not received anything important. I then clicked on my blog's icon. The main page of my blog opened, I clicked on New Post icon. I was starring at the monitor for good 20 minutes and I finally realized I was not able to come up with any topic to jot down. Even though there are so many things I would like to write about, so many thoughts I would like to share, somehow I just could not come up with any sensible subject.

I have not been in a very good mood lately and I think this fact greatly affects my thinking processes...

I have promised myself not to bore anybody with my swinging moods and uneven frames of mind. I do not really want to write about the reasons... why something happened... why something has not happened... why something has influenced the way I am... and what I would love to happen in order for my mood to go back into its original, happy place...

Yet, I write this blog to share my thoughts, whether they are happy or not-so-happy thoughts, with whoever wants to read them. On the other hand, however, I write this blog for my own pleasure and satisfaction. Of course it is great when other people read my posts, find them interesting and come back to read more. It means that what I do, what I think and write is interesting enough for somebody to keep coming back. But if I think about it, I really write this blog for myself. Why? I don't know... Maybe it is because it makes me ME... Maybe it is because I want to record some of the things that happen in my life and read them in few years time... Maybe sharing my thoughts and my experiences with virtual strangers is what really drags me into writing and exposing myself to the world... I actually like reading other peoples' blogs... it creates a sense of virtual voyeurism... And I like when people read my posts as well... What is it called? A virtual narcissism?

Anyway... I started off with a general wonderment of whether I should write about my low mood and ended up writing about the reasons behind writing my blog... It simply shows how disconnected I have been lately...

Ok, I have made up my mind. I am not going to write about what is bothering me... about my problems however serious or not serious they might be... or about my roller-coaster mood. I will keep it to myself... It is better that way...

8 July 2009

The Last Goodbye...

Michael Jackson's memorial service held yesterday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was a very touching way to say goodbye to the greatest entertainer that has ever lived on our planet. Many people paid tribute to the King of Pop... friends, colleagues, family members... It was all very emotional and moving...

Michael's brother, Jermaine, sang Smile, one of Michael's favourite songs from Charlie Chaplin's movie Modern Times. I think, for him, it was a perfect way to say goodbye...

Of course everybody is saddened by Michael's death as he has passed away too soon... But we should be grateful... we should be grateful that we have got to see his extraordinary talent grow over the years... we should be grateful because we have been able to witness his undeniable genius...

Michael's irresistible musical legacy will never be forgotten... let's never forget what his life, music and performances were all about... and let's smile every time we hear Billy Jean, Black or White, Thriller, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Man in The Mirror... let's smile every time we watch him dancing in his videoclips... let's smile every time we see him doing "the moonwalk" in recorded live shows... let's smile and think that he was the best and always will be...


Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...


If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...


Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...


Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...


If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just smile...


That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just smile...



written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons in 1936
music composed by Charlie Chaplin
sang by Michael Jackson in 1995