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Don't you just love the summer (ok, that's a slight exaggeration in Scotland just now because the weather's been colder than usual!). The summer fruits are starting to taste really good and so it's time to make pavlovas. Several years ago I was given a tip on an easy pavlova recipe and I decided to share it.

I use the whites of three eggs and a full cup of caster sugar; a tiny pinch of salt; a teaspoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of vanilla essence or extract.

To make the meringue, I place half the sugar in a very clean bowl, add the whites of eggs and the tiny pinch of salt (actually, it's more like a few grains of salt on a teaspoon). Whisk these ingredients together to form stiff peaks of meringue (it's possible to turn the bowl upside down and the meringue stays in the bowl!) After this stage, add the rest of the sugar slowly, making sure it's incorporated evenly. Finally add in the vinegar and vanilla essence.

I usually make individual pavlovas - placing a tablespoonful of the meringue on a greased paper. Make a little hollow in the meringue so that you can later fill it with fruit and cream. Depending on how generous you are with your portions, you can get 8/9 portions of pavlova. I cook mine in an electric fan oven at 120C for approximately an hour. Allow to cool. You can store these for several days so this is one great recipe you can do in advance of a dinner party.

Be creative when you decorate the pavlova - strawberries and/or raspberries are traditional, but all sorts of other fruits make a great accompaniment for this. I try and add a dash of strawberry or raspberry sauce for some additional color - but plum compote would also look dramatic.

Since 1989, we've been developing our range of Celtic Jewellery and have found that Celtic Cufflinks are a particularly popular gift for the best man - or indeed the groom - for traditional Scottish weddings.



We stock Celtic Cufflinks, mainly in sterling silver - but are happy to accept orders for them in 9ct gold.

Hi, folks - I thought I'd drop by and tell you about the chemo day - I'm happy to report that it all went well and so far, I haven't had much in the way of a reaction.

For those who are facing this, the routine seems to work something like:

• Have a blood test to make sure that your health is ok to start chemo.


• Next day, see doctor who checks results and then writes prescription for chemo.


• Following day, check into the day ward to receive chemo. Firstly I was given anti-sickness drugs, piriton (an antihistamine) and a steroid, then the first chemo drug (in my case taxol) which took slightly over three hours to run in. Then some saline to flush through the line, followed by the second chemo drug (mine was carboplatin) - and finally a last flush of saline to make sure I got all the drug through into my body.
  
  I found that the piriton made me sleepy so managed to have a nap for a half hour which relieved the stress for me. Because it was my first treatment, Sandy came with me - and I'm sure he found the stress much higher than I did. I had no discomfort when the drugs were dripping into me and, fortunately, I didn't experience any reaction to the regime. Because the drugs are so well designed nowadays, I have been told that many people get through this without any major stress - however, your experience might be different and the nursing and medical staff keep an extremely close eye on you. If you do experience any problems, you have to report them immediately and attention is given straight away.


• The whole procedure took us from just before 9.00 am till approximately 4 pm. We were given tea, biscuits and sandwiches during the day - the drugs do affect my tastebuds so I'm finding that a little strange as I do like my food :) - I was sent home with some steroids and anti-sickness drugs - a 3-day supply which I am taking diligently, and was warned that any fever-like symptoms, eg a temperature over 38C required me to go straight to A&E because my resistance will be lowered and any infection would take hold very quickly. Armed with a child's digital thermometer, I will probably check twice a day (although so far I am fine!)

I know I have been extremely fortunate so far - and I hope this continues throughout the treatment. The medical care has been great - and I have nothing but praise for the way everything has run. I will pop by from time to time to update this; I think that knowing what you might be facing eases the stress a little - I have been talking this over with some good friends and I know that their love and care and sharing of information helped me through this.

Best

Margaret

This has been quite a year for me - a whole lot of "firsts"! I'm also managing to do the rounds of all the local hospitals - you have no idea how complicated the NHS is becoming in the Argyll area. (OK, it's probably not complicated if you work in the NHS, but as a patient, there are some logistical challenges which, at the very least, prevent boredom from taking hold.)

I have debated about making my story public, but I made the decision that it might help someone avoid health problems by talking about this. Last November, when visiting the nurse for a regular blood pressure check, I also asked her to do a smear test as I was experiencing slight (and I mean slight and generally intermittent) spotting, although I have passed through the menopause. Her reaction was to refer me straight away to the Gyn clinic at the Vale of Leven Hospital and, a few days later, I had a hysteroscopy to remove a couple of polyps. At that point, it became clear there were further problems and that I would need a hysterectomy.

Fast forward to 25th January (Burns Supper??) - oh well, that was the day I had the hysterectomy at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. I was so lucky; I had practically no pain and have made a good recovery from the bikini-line incision. I feel really well - in fact, I feel a total fraud. However, it turns out that the pathology reports have found an endometrial cancer. I have been told that it has been caught really early and that the chances of it returning are low; despite this, I am attending the Beatson clinic at the Gartnavel Hospital to have a course of chemotherapy (4 sessions), followed by three zaps of radiotherapy. This, I understand, is a precautionary measure to catch any rogue cells which might have escaped the hysterectomy.

You would expect that that would be sufficient - however, while performing the hysterectomy, the surgeon found a lump of tissue in my pelvis which might be a third kidney, fatty tissue or potentially a tumour. I was told that some kind of scan would be done to determine which of the options was the correct one - although the lump didn't look cancerous, you can guess that my mind is discussing the possibilities. The appointment for the MRI scan has come in and, spookily enough, it's in the Inverclyde Hospital at Greenock. This is almost the full set of hospitals in the area!

Today, I decided I would get ready for the chemo which starts next week. I have been longing to get us a luxury down duvet - and it occurred to me that this would be a real treat and I would get it today. First of all, I went to Helensburgh to take some photographs with my new camera (Canon Powershot G11)- hence the picture at the start of this blog post. Then I got into the car and pointed it in the direction of Loch Lomond Shores where I had seen a Hungarian Down Duvet on sale. I was really careful as I drove up to the top of Sinclair St and then my mind drifted to the treatment at the Beatson. I speeded up - and then was stopped by the local police speed trap. So, blow me, I now have three points on my licence and a fine of £60. Where are all the flashing headlights when you really need them?? Radar Laser Speed Detector anyone??

Seriously, though, I had to ask the police to guide me out of the car park where they did the paperwork - and it really goes to show that it is a dangerous stretch of road, near the Skating Pond in Helensburgh. They were right to book me and I should have been paying more attention. 42mph in a 30mph zone is just careless. I can't afford any more mistakes like this.

Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh in Gaelic (Gaidhlig)) is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.


The town's population is approximately 9,000 out of a total population of 26,370 for the whole of the Western Isles. The civil parish of Stornoway, including various nearby villages, has a population of approximately 12,000.[2] Stornoway is an important port and the major town and administrative centre of the Outer Hebrides. It is home to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) and a variety of educational, sporting and media establishments. Christian observance of the Sabbath is an important aspect of the town's culture.





Hotels in Stornoway - book early to get the best deals available.