Sugar-Free Chocolate?

Wow, has it really been months since I last blogged about chocolate? Blimey!
You'd think with the amount I eat, I'd a) be fat b) have blogged about more by now ;)

This post has been ready to go for a while actually, but I had lots of other things to post about - such as everything I went to during Brighton Fringe - and then I, uh, forgot. Oops.

Anyway, I was on a health kick a few months back and decided to try out some chocolate that used alternatives to sugar. Here's how I got on...
 

Balance Milk Praline

With sweetener from Stevia plant.

I decided to try this as I wanted to test out some chocolate that was sweetened with something other than sugar. Of course I have nothing against sugar, but was curious to see if there was much difference.

This bar is made by Belgian company Klingele Chocolade, so of course the chocolate is lovely! It doesn't smell as strongly as some other bars I've tried, nor is it as sweet - so evidently stevia adds a more subtle sweetness to chocolate.

Something I really liked about this bar was the fact I can really taste the nutty flavour of the praline. Whilst I don't like chocolate with big pieces of nut in, I enjoy praline!

Overall this is a great little chocolate bar and it was all I could do not to gobble it all up before writing this!

Say What? Five TEDx Talks to Improve Your Conversation

Have you ever chased a YouTube Paper Trail?

You watch one video, and then another catches your eye, and then another, and before you know it, the afternoon is gone?

We all do it, don't we!

The other day, I ended up doing this with TEDx talks, and ended up watching enough that I can make another post relating to this goal:

062. Watch 100 TED/TEDx talks

This time the talks had an ongoing theme: speech.
I've always felt horribly inadequate when it comes to conversing with my fellow human beings, so these proved to be an interesting, eye-opening bunch of talks. Having watched them, I feel I've learnt something.

So here's my pick of five TEDx talks to improve your conversation...

The science of analysing conversations, second by second | Elizabeth Stokoe | TEDxBermuda

This is where my YouTube Paper Trail began--after I clicked on a Facebook link to this video!

Fascinating talk about how conversations can be analysed, and how the study of recorded telephone conversations helps businesses to alter the way their telemarketing schemes are carried out. The study of conversation can help us to understand each other when we speak, and avoid problems in communication!

In Which I Meet Queen Victoria

Sir John Cordy Burrows, chillin' in the shade. What a casual pose.

At the end of June I needed to go to Brighton, so decided to finally follow the Sculpture Trail whilst I was there. This is, of course, a goal from The List:

040. Follow the Brighton Sculpture Trail

Hooray!
The trail includes both traditional and modern sculptures, and some that I barely consider to fit in the 'sculpture' category!

So then, ready for a virtual tour of some of Brighton's most notable sculptures? Follow me!

Sir John Cordy Burrows (above)
Sculptor: Edward Bowring Stephens

This guy was the mayor of Brighton four times: 1854, 1857, 1858 and 1871. Must have been a pretty good mayor, huh?
According to the Sculpture Trail information (which I'll link to at the end of this post), the statue originally stood in a different place, close to the Royal Pavilion, but was moved to its current position in 1984. I had difficulty finding this one, as it's pretty much lost amongst the trees!

Victoria Fountain, aka the Seagull Bath

Victoria Fountain
Sculptor: W. Pepper

Sorry, But I'd Rather Be Walking A Llama

I've been following Mama's Losin' It! for a few months now, since it was recommended to me, but until this point, haven't participated in Mama Kat's 'Writer's Workshop' linkup.
Partly because I've always been tired when reading my blog feed, partly because I've become terribly allergic to interacting online. But that absolutely has to change, and so this week, I'm participating!


Anyway, from this week's prompts, I've chosen:

1. List 7 things you'd rather be doing this summer

Seems appropriate considering the general theme of this blog, right?

At the end of last year, I made a list of goals I'd like to achieve for 2015.
I thought 'Hey, doing these will be a breeze!'

Evidently I didn't count upon factors such as introversion, anxiety, depression, and of course lack of money and transport. How silly of me!

Anyway, some of those goals are things I would rather do this summer, but for some reason or other don't have plans for as yet.
So what would I rather be doing this summer? I'd rather be walking a llama...

Cream Tea, Finally!

Around a month ago, I ended up going to this wonderful cafe in Hove, Sussex. (I know, I should have posted about this ages ago!)
I don't usually go to this area, but went there with a friend who had an interview along the street. Whilst she was being grilled by prospective employers, I popped into Violet & Doily to see what they had to offer!
I was not disappointed...