Casa Mexico, Suffolk.

As you can imagine, one of the things I miss most about living in Mexico is the food.  Mexican food is simply amazing:  the colours, smells, flavours.  Genuine Mexican food is very underrated, it's a million  miles away from the Tex-Mex and Old El Paso we are led to believe is what Mexican's eat every day.  Because of this, it can be really hard to find authentic Mexican products in England and even harder when you live in rural Suffolk.  However, last year Casa Mexico opened up in Stonham Aspal, a small village here in Suffolk.

We finally got round to visiting the shop last week and stepping inside the former pub was like arriving back in Mexico.  It's a treasure trove of all things truly Mexican.  It stocks all kind of Mexican goodies: from glassware to art to groceries.  

We, of course, headed straight to the food section of the shop! It brought back so many happy memories and cravings for authentic Mexican food.  There were fresh flour tortillas, corn tortillas, tinned salsas, refried beans, dried fijoles, totopos, sweets... so many delicious goodies!  I could have easily bought one of everything but instead I limited myself to a few bits and pieces, ready to make a Mexican bank holiday feast.  

The owner explained to us that they used to live in Guadalajara for 15 years and all of goods were bought in Tonalá (which is where I used to work out there).  It's so nice to be able to chat about Guadalajara here in England as it's something that we've had to almost leave behind.  

Everything was very reasonable priced, considered it has to be imported from the other side of the world.  We picked up tortillas, totopos, salsa and sweets for around £6.  I will definitely go back to visit this little slice of Mexico in sunny Suffolk! 

Five things I'm looking forward to

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, it can sometimes be difficult to stay in a positive frame of mind.  During the summer, you have days of sunshine and time to relax outside after a day at work.  During the winter, it's almost as if everyone holes themselves up after 6pm, and understandably so as the temperature drops and the days shorten.

Although I do like our contrasting seasons, I sometimes fall into the autumnal or wintery cycle of go to work - sleep - go to work.  I like to give myself little things to look forward to during these colder times of the year (I'm going to try and leave out the big December C word... for now!).

#1 Bonfire Night.  What's not to love about Bonfire Night?  A great British tradition that's steeped in history.  For me, Bonfire Night is a great opportunity to get together, wrap up in your scarf, hat, gloves, don those welly boots and watch a mediocre fire work display in a school playing field.  Everyone is in good spirits and is a perfect excuse to start eating wintery comfort food... Stews, sausages, root vegetables... Yum!  

#2 Jumpers.  A simple pleasure but for me, it's extremely satisfying to snuggle in an oversized jumper and a comfy pair of jeans.  No more goose pimply arms or not knowing whether to take a cardigan or jacket, from now on, I will have as much skin as possible covered up!

#3 Satsumas.  I know we can pretty much get any fruit or vegetable all year round now but I love it when wintery fruits and vegetables come into season (minus swede, parsnips and sprouts.. eurgh.) and satsumas really make me feel wintery, and they are so cheap at the moment.  A great way to stave off all those winter illnesses too!

#4 Autumnal sunsets (and the chance to see a sunrise that's not at 5am!).  Autumnal sunsets are beautiful, the past couple of evenings, the sky seemed to be full of burnt oranges, blood reds and the night draws in an intense black.  The colours seem more vivid and intense and the light throws spectacular shadows and fascinating silhouettes,  Beautiful!

#5 The weather.  This may seem like an odd one:  I haven't experienced a British winter in a while now and I still haven't forgotten the relentless heat of Mexico so I'm looking forward to being tucked away inside the house when it's windy and rainy outside, curling up with a hot drink and a good book.  Fingers crossed the snow holds off for a while longer...

What are you looking forward to?  

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Red Rose Chain's Wuthering Heights

Red Rose Company theatre company has been around for many years now and I have always wanted to see one of their productions.  I knew that they put on Shakespeare plays in Rendlesham Forest during the summer and pretty much every year, I have hummed and harred about getting tickets and then before I knew it, it had whizzed through July and August and I had missed the productions.

But not this year, I'm pleased to say!  I managed to pick up tickets from Groupon to see their production of Wuthering Heights at Jimmy's Farm in Ipswich, and I was thoroughly impressed.

I will be honest and say that I have never read the Emily Bronte classic but I was aware that it is a dark, brooding, Gothic tale that centres around one of literature's most famous couples, Heathcliff and Cathy, a story that seems perfect to be reenacted with the sun setting over a forest.

It seems that Red Rose Chain's productions have moved from Rendlesham Forest to Jimmy's Farm and upon arrival at the farm, we knew that we were in for a very special evening.  We arrived at around 6.30pm; parking was effortless and we walked along side the animals to the edge of the forest, all the way guided by extremely helpful, friendly, and polite staff.  The pathway into the 'theatre' snaked through the woodland which was to be lit up with twinkling fairy lights, setting the mood.  You already felt as if you were miles away from the usual humdrum of daily life.  We were told we could sit where ever we liked; there were three stands, and an area for you to bring your own seats in front of the stage.  There was a bar on site and many people were enjoying picnics (such a great idea - wish we had thought of that!).  The cast members were already in costume and character, chatting to audience members, which gave the production a lovely intimate, familiar feel.

The set was very simple, but the backdrop of the forest meant it was stunning and eerie enough for this brooding story.  The actors and actresses were simply phenomenal, it was a very small cast and they were simply outstanding.  I was worried that I would struggle with the dialogue but the story and production was so involving that I could not take my eyes off the stage.  The first act was very, very dark but interestingly, the second act managed to lighten the atmosphere amongst many deaths and other despair (no spoilers!).  As the sun set, the stage and play became even more haunting and this added to making this an unforgettable experience.

Red Rose Chain seriously impressed me with this production.  I am very disappointed that I won't be able to make it to their other production, Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors this summer.  They are an independent company based here in Suffolk and I feel that by setting plays in such unique environments, they are making theatre accessible to all.  Sitting in the forest, surrounded by woodland and the sounds of nature is a million miles away from the sometimes stuffy and very regal theatres that Bronte and Shakespeare would usually be set in.

A wonderful way indeed to spend a summer's evening!  Check out Red Rose Chain's website.

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