On A Downward Spiral With The Spiraliser!

This morning, for some reason, I awoke at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep.

Hubby got up at 5.30am, so I went downstairs to make a cup of tea, brought it back to bed with me and after half an hour, managed to doze a little until Hubby came in to say goodbye around 7.10am.

Needless to say I have been a little tired most of the day and am looking forward to a quiet and early evening.

 

 

I pottered in the morning, getting some chores out of the way ...which included finding the final homes for some Christmas presents!

Part way through the morning a friend called, she was visiting the school opposite, and had half an hour before her appointment, so it was a good excuse to make a cuppa.

 

 

A friend I have been trying to meet up with for months finally gave me a lunch date, which neither of us had to cancel!

I went to her house, and had a lovely bowl of homemade soup, it was delicious, and even more so because I hadn't had to make it!

We had a cuppa and catch up her in conservatory, which had underfloor heating, so combined with the glorious sun coming through, we were toasty warm!

 

 

When I arrived home the living room had a group of Teen One's fellow students sprawled out on the floor, with various books, pieces of paper and the like.

They had a team assignment to do today instead of going into Uni and we offered to host it.

I had left out a plate of chocolate panettone, but they must have not been hungry ( what ...a Teen not hungry!!???) as it was still there when they left!

Now I just need to resist the temptation!

Better pack it up for lunches pretty quick I think!

 

 

I decided to try out my spiralizer tonight, to go with the lemon chicken I had in the oven.

Well....I failed miserably to work out how to use it, so it will have to wait for the engineer of the family to come home and see if he can do it!

I must admit I did give in pretty quickly, having assumed it would be easy to do, to discover the carrot had no intention of staying on the spikes!

Then when I brought it near the blade it just fell over....several times...so I just gave up and we had cous cous  instead!

 

 

 

 

 

Someone To Call "Mum"

This morning was an earlier start than usual, Hubby had a doctors appointment at 7.15am, which is great for a worker, not so great for the poor Doctor I guess!

Hubby has blood pressure issues and upon hearing my suspicions that Hubby has sleep apnoea, he decided to up the medication a bit.

We hope this will sort the problem, no one wants to be on medication permanently, but its a small price to pay for good health.

 

 

Teen One had to go to Uni for a couple of hours as part of her PE curriculum...probably her least favourite sessions!

Teen Two and I went to see my Monday Recycled Teenager and then our usual visit to Morrisons.

Hubby had asked me to get some more baby lotion, which has been really successful in sorting out his cracked hand, which can get very messy and sore at this time of year.

The Doctor has in the past given him all kinds of steroid cream to help, but simple baby lotion has done the trick.

I picked up a bottle on special offer for 80p, feeling rather pleased it was cheaper than usual, then when I passed the reduced gondola imagine my excitement (I know, sad isn't it!) to see the same bottles reduced to 25p!

The reason they were reduced was because a bottle of something blue (fabric softener I reckoned) had spilt all over them, leaving the bottles gungy.

Well all it took was a quick wash in warm water and they were good as new!

One wonders why supermarkets don't do that simple job themselves, it would save a lot of wastage and profit, however I was more than happy to benefit!

 

 

 

Due to a spillage over the weekend, my oven was looking rather embarrassing, so using the Poundland Oven Pride, I bagged up the shelves, sprinkled some of the liquid on the door and bottom of the oven...

 

 

...I cracked on with some laundry and other bit and bobs, then a couple of hours later....

hey presto...all gleaming again!

 

 

Part way through the afternoon my late neighbour's son called round with some daffodils....he always used to give his mum the first bunch of daffs he saw, as he leaves, he often says

"see you later mum"

I am young enough to be his daughter, but it does make me smile when he says it, I can only think he misses calling someone mum!

 

 

Tonight we met up with friends for a belated birthday meal.

It was good to spend time with them, and a lovely treat not to have to cook.

I had fish and chips, and was very good, leaving most of the batter and not having a dessert!

The weigh in for last week's Military Diet stayed at 3lbs.

Of course I would have loved to lose the "up to" 10lb, but that was never going to happen.

I am going to have Weds Thurs Fri as my three days of "fasting" this week, as I am out for lunch tomorrow ...again!

My prediction last week was right and for next week I predict just 2lbs down.

 

 

 

 

 

What...Trust A Barber?

 

This morning was white and frosty when I opened the curtains, hard to believe it wasn't snow!

As usual we had church first thing...

 

 

 

 

...followed by roast beef, now I don't know if it is because I had a fairly limited and bland diet most of the week, but this joint of beef tasted out of this world!

I have to confess to not sticking to the diet, but still being restrained.

Since Eve's pudding is one, if not THE most favourite desserts of all times for me, I did have a small spoonful, and could have had much more...if not the whole thing!

 

 

The afternoon was our usual games fest of Rummikub, Rummikub Word and the Scrabble.

Grandma hasn't been out since her little op on Tuesday, so she really enjoyed the day of being entertained and waited on.

 

 

On our way to church in the evening, I was shocked to see a man sleeping in the doorway of one of the shops nearby.

Whilst there are rough sleepers a plenty in the centre of town, I have never seen one in our neighbourhood, it was quite a shock.

After the service we have a cup of tea, so I made a large one with plenty of sugar in it, in a disposable tumbler, then bagged up some biccies, found a small booklet that shared some Bible truths about salvation and also the value of a soul to God.

On our way home we drove passed the shop front and the man was still there.

Not wanting to offend him in any way, I said we had seen him earlier and wondered if he would like a cup of tea....which he gratefully received and wished us a pleasant evening.

He seemed quite an intelligent man and one wonders how someone like that ends up in the freezing cold in a shop front.

Needless to say I am grateful for my warm house and bed on a night like tonight and feel rather sad that just a short walk away someone is having a very different experience.

Some years ago Hubby brought home a homeless person to his parents house.

They were very gracious and allowed the stranger to stay the night, gave him a warm meal etc,

sadly by morning he had disappeared and they were never sure if he didn't leave empty handed either.

 

 

Back home it was haircut time for the fellas.

No prizes for guessing which is Hubby's and which is Teen Two's!

I did have to laugh at Teen Two....as I was doing his hair, wishing I had some idea of how to actually style hair, rather than just use to trimmers, I said to him

"You've never been to a real barbers before have you...maybe we should do it one day as  a treat?"

An alarmed response came back..

"Are you kidding, I wouldn't trust a stranger to do my hair, he might ruin it!"

I did try and explain that the barber only did what you asked them to do, but he wasn't having any of it!

If only I had as much confidence in my barbering skills as he has!

 

 

 

 

 

Drilling Into Dust!

 

Yesterday afternoon Teen Two carried a large sheet of ice home from the pond, he was delighted to see it still in one piece this morning!

 

 

We had our usual slow start to the weekend, but for me it was minus the ginger biccie!

How good am I!

 

 

Hubby decided to make a start on a long overdue job....putting a new bath panel on.

Since our existing bath is peach ( I know I know!) there is no hope of getting a matching one, but a tongue and groove white one would blend in I felt.

Since waiting for the job to come to the top of the list, I have put up a white shower curtain, which looks naff...but does hide the mess underneath.

We decided to drive out of town to get one, it meant easier parking and few more interesting shops to look at.

With the panel bought, it was off to Dunelm Mill for a mid morning treat...

hot choccie and the works for the Teens...

 

 

 

...bacon bap and coffee for Hubby...

 

 

 

...hot water for me!

And I even asked the assistant to take away the lotus biccie she popped on the side!

This can't last!

 

 

 

We discovered there was a Home Bargains opened just a few units away, so after a browse round that and a few bargains bagged, it was back home to the  Red Thai butternut squash soup I had made earlier.

By that time I was really ready for something I can tell you and I did indulge in a small piece of fresh tiger bread.

 

 

One of the bargains we brought home today were these coat hooks.

We have long since outgrown the original coat hooks I bought when the Teens were small and its one of those jobs we have been meaning to tackle, but never remember!

Poor Hubby spent longer on this "quick" job than you can imagine...drilling into our walls is like drilling into dust, its always a nightmare.

 

 

Anyway, its all done and now filled with their coats...its hard to imagine that this little stand held six adult sized coats...its no wonder it was always falling over!

 

 

Whilst Hubby was busy drilling, I made an Eve's Pudding for tomorrow's dessert...

 

 

 

...and the Teens cleaned out the gerbils cage....which meant they could run around in the little play pen for a while.

This always brings lots of laughter to the household, watching them scurry around, investigating their surroundings.

One of them found a paperclip ( probably from yesterday's craft I was preparing) and carrying it around in his mouth like a bone!

They decided it wasn't really safe for him, so took it off him, but one wonders what he thought he could do with it!

 

 

Tonight we are off to a bible study out in the country,  the Teens are looking forward to  catching up with some friends and needless to say so will we.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Really Is Bizzare!

 

 

This morning was a run of the mill kind of morning, cleaning to be done, shopping to be got in,

and also a visit to Grandma to make sure she was ok.

 

 

 

 

As I arrived the postman came with a box of flowers...from her very thoughtful daughter in Kent, to mark the ninth year since Grandad died.

In many ways it seems like much longer than that, another lifetime ago.

Needless to say he is very much missed.

Grandma was a little better today, but not up to going out, so I offered to do some shopping as I was on my way to Lidl's and she thoughtfully had prepared a list all ready for me.

However, as everything on the list was branded ( Elnet Hairspray, Andrex quilted loo roll etc) and no alternatives were permissible, it meant going to another supermarket as well, which just adds to the time, but never mind, it was a lovely sunny day to be out in and got me out of finding anymore housework!

 

 

 

 

After some pottering in the afternoon, clearing paper work from behind clocks, cups and goodness knows where ( and a few laundry loads in between!) I settled down to finish the activity for tonight's Friday Club.

Our story was of when Jesus called His disciples to "come and follow me."

As several of them were fishermen, I had thought we would try and make some fishing rods and using magnets make a fishing game.

The little magnets were tied securely inside some netting and used as the "bait"

 

 

This was then taped to a straw ( I used some giant ones I had bought in Devon at Christmas)

Teen One had cut out cardboard fish, which the children would decorate, then add a paper clip to the fish's nose.

Sadly I forgot to take my camera tonight, but it was a huge success!

Some of the children had no idea how magnets worked and were amazed when their fish took the bait!!

Some of them drew an ocean floor on some spare paper to put the fish on, what a great idea!

I did make sure the parents were aware of the small magnet incase they had any younger children at home...rather a hazard if swallowed!

 

During juice time we let the children try out the giant straws for drinking...it was a howl!

Most of them worked out pretty quickly that they would need to put their cups on the floor...but I guess they didn't realise it would take a lot more sucking than usual!

They were worth the 50p for sure, and we still have loads left.

A few wanted to take one home, so no doubt the fun will continue a little longer.

 

 

It really was chilly tonight, and I had to laugh when one of the little lads came rushing in....

....."Brrr" he said....

"I'm frosted!!"

 

 

Tonight is our usual Chocolate Night and we have enough from Christmas to take us through to the summer I expect!

Teen Two chose this for his treat...which he very kindly shared round.

I broke my diet to give it a go....

well....in Teen Two's word

"It really is bizzare!"

 

His auntie will be glad to know he loved it!

I will stick to Cadbury's Dairy Milk!

(When I am not on a diet!)

 

 

Off The Wagon So Soon!

 

So this morning was the half way weigh in of the Military Diet, I was pleased to see that in three days I had dropped three pounds!

The idea is to spend the next four days at 1500 calories of my choosing and then by the end of the week up to ten pounds could be lost.

I am going to have to be good for the next three days, as today was not a good day!

 

 

A friend had asked to take me to lunch as a belated birthday present, and it seemed rather churlish to turn her down!

It was an all you can eat Chinese buffet and the choice was out of this world!

I think I was fairly restrained though, I kept to a select choice, avoiding the chips, onion rings and most of the deep fried foods, just having a crabs claw and sesame prawn toast from the fried section.

The desserts were very small and simple which made life easy,

an inch square of coffee mousse cake and tincy sponge roll with cream inside and a very small scoop of ice cream.

As I am not having any tea and had no biscuits at Parent and Toddlers, and just plain toast for breakfast, I am hoping this wont affect things too much, but I will be very good for the next few days.

 

 

 

My friends daughter and little granddaughter came, she certainly enjoyed the ice cream!

 

 

Teen One enjoyed showing her the view from the ceiling to floor windows.

Little One is at the stage of answering everything you say to her,

so she was repeating "cars!" after Teen One pointed out the cars, so sweet!

 

 

 

At Parent and Toddlers this morning, our craft table had woolly sheep to occupy them.

 

 

Teen Two rang on his way home from college to say he was going to play with the ice on the pond,

as I  had to go to the chemist for Grandma a little while later, I did a detour to see what he was up to....I was amazed to see him decorating a nearby tree with the sheets he had pulled out!

It looked really attractive, glistening in the sun, although this shot doesn't do them justice.

I also admired his dedication to his art....to make the holes for the branches he was using a finger and thumb to melt the ice and create a perfect hole!

I would never have thought of that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Three Of "The Military Diet"

 

So, day three of the "Military Diet" and quite honestly, its not been too bad.

Have there been hunger pangs...yes

have there been food cravings...yes

am I looking forward to tomorrow...yes

But...all in all, its been the easiest diet I have ever been on, no messing around with food, buying in unusual items, weighing, keeping count, measuring etc, its been a doddle.

Now, just to see if it actually works!

I know for sure I will not lose ten pounds, because I didn't have to make that drastic a change to my eating habits, its not as if I gorge on cakes, chocolate, crisps, takeaways etc, but I do have way too many excess pounds ( yay stones!) to lose and its not going to be an overnight, or three day fix, but, if this kick starts it, then I would consider doing it on a regular basis until I was down to a more reasonable weight, but lets be honest, that ain't never gonna happen!

But losing a few pounds here and there does mean over the decades I don't go up a size, I just have loose clothes, tight clothes, or just about right clothes!

 

 

My friend popped in for lunch (unexpectedly) and as I was on the road when I heard, I popped into Tesco and bought a pack of chocolate eclairs...and didn't have one...wasn't that will power!

However by 3pm I was really hungry, and as my dinner tonight consists of two tins of tuna...and that's it.....I broke into one of them!

I had spent the morning pottering before going for a blood test, she was a lovely nurse and I never felt a thing!

I then had to run some errands, check in on Grandma, who is doing fine, but not finding sitting comfortable.

I took her in a couple of custard tarts as a treat...nothing like a little something that you like when you aren't feeling too grand aye.

My friend and I had a chit chat and she was most impressed with my will power!

If I lose enough weight this week, she will try it as well.

We are meeting up for a belated birthday meal on Monday so that will be the weigh in confession time.....which is going to be interesting as another friend has invited Teen One and I out to a Chinese All You Can Eat Buffet, tomorrow for lunch!

I will however be restrained, but most certainly will be enjoying the explosion of flavours in my mouth!

 

 

This afternoon Teen One offered to make dinner, which was great given that I cant indulge in it!

She also did some piano practise, which hasnt happened in months, it was great hearing the familiar tunes again and also great to see her keeping up her skills.

She no longer has piano lessons but of course her teacher is hoping she will return to it one day when Uni studies have settled down.

 

 

I have been on a bit of a cupboard clearing exercise since the New Year.

Monday I sorted the under the stairs cupboard, and today was the turn of the plastic box cupboard.

Both these cupboards get done regularly but both get full to bursting really quickly,

just in case you are in any doubt...this is the "after" picture!

Every bottom has a lid and I have decided to keep them together, although it means not so many can be fitted in, it will mean no minutes of frustration looking for a particular lid and ending up with half the contents of the cupboard falling out as I search for one!

 

 

I now have a kitchen bin full of lids that didn't have tubs to go with them....they did when they went into the cupboard, so just where the bottoms always disappear to is a mystery!

I also have a carrier bag of tubs with no lids!

They are going to church as they are ideal as glue pots etc.

 

There is something very satisfying about having clear and tidy cupboards ( although I appreciate for some that cupboard is still rather full!) if only we could keep them that way!

It's this "being a collector of useful things" that's the problem!