It's Bank Holiday Weekend !

Here in the UK we have a Bank Holiday Weekend, which for many means a nice three day break from work. Time to see family, friends ... perhaps do some gardening, visit a local event (Covid regulations allowing). Whatever you may be doing I wish you a happy weekend, with some good weather. How about enjoying this colourful vegetarian salad with cucumber strips, semi-dried tomatoes, peppers, cheese and seeds sometime over the weekend!

Crunchy Mozzarella Salad

Ingredients
Serves Two
100g lamb's lettuce (sometimes known as Corn Salad), or baby spinach leaves, or a mixture of both
½ cucumber, cut into ribbons using a vegetable peeler
100g semi-dried tomatoes in oil from a jar (reserve 1 tbsp. oil for drizzling)
1 yellow pepper, de-seeded and cut into thin strips
125g ball light buffalo mozzarella, cut into slices
2 tsp pumpkin seed
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Method
1. Put the salad leaves, cucumber, semi-dried tomatoes and pepper in a large bowl and toss together.
2. Divide the salad between two serving plates.
3. Divide the mozzarella equally between the plates.
4. Scatter with pumpkin seeds and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and oil from the tomatoes.
5. Tuck in and enjoy ...
Recipe from an original idea here

"Nine things you might not know about bank holidays
Everyone loves a long weekend. An extra 24 hours to switch off, watch three-part specials on the telly, supervise a slow roast or, if you're lucky, a barbecue whilst hiding under a golf umbrella.
But who invented these extra days off? Why are they called bank holidays? And why are there not one, but two, in May? Read on for some surprising facts.

1. The August bank holiday wasn't always late
This August bank holiday was initially introduced as a way to give us all a chance to make the most of the summer. But it didn't always fall on the last Monday of the month. Up until 1971 it always took place on the first Monday of August. It was eventually moved as it clashed with the traditional two week shut down that many companies went through in the summer.

2. We used to have 33 of them
Up until 1834 there were 33 public holidays in the U.K., consisting of saint’s days and religious festivals. But some spoil sport considered this to be excessive, so in 1834 the number was reduced to just four.

3. Yes, we have a banker to thank for them
It was liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock who authored the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which made these four public holidays official.

4. They used to be called St Lubbock's Days
For a while some called the first bank holidays “St Lubbock's Days” after the banker Sir John Lubbock. Funnily enough that didn’t stick. It was rumoured that Sir John Lubbock was so keen on cricket he chose the bank holiday dates to fall on the days when village matches were played in his home county! True or not, the masses were ecstatic with the holidays.

5. The place in the world with the most public holidays?
The country with the highest number of public holidays is India, with a whopping 21 days! In comparison, England and Wales only have eight public holidays in total: New Year, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, late May bank holiday, August bank holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

6. We almost have the least amount of public holidays in the world
The only country with fewer public holidays than us is Mexico, coming in with just seven days. ¡Ay, caramba!

7. May Day bank holiday was almost moved to October
In 2011 parliament debated replacing the May Day bank holiday with a different holiday in October. This would have spread out the bank holidays a bit more evenly throughout the year. These plans were scrapped.

8. There is a second bank holiday in May originally because of Whit Monday
The second bank holiday in the month of May exists because it used to be held on the day-off in the Christian calendar after Whit Sunday or Pentecost. Whit Sunday always falls seven Sundays past Easter Sunday. Since 1971 however, this bank holiday has always been held on the last Monday of the month.

9. The second May bank holiday wasn't officially named
When the second bank holiday in May was moved to the last Monday in May back in 1971, it was never given an official name. Unlike the May Day bank holiday, or the August bank holiday, this holiday tends to either be called the Spring bank holiday or the Late May bank holiday. Whatever you call it, it's a good opportunity to take some away from your normal routine."

Words above from here

Looking ahead to 2022

There will be an extra Bank Holiday to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022

Dear reader, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes!

However, not all the recipes ideas featured in this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan