Word of the Week -Hungry

 

For a few weeks now I have been trying to lose weight. It was going ok but this week I have just been constantly hungry and wanting to eat all of the time. It doesn’t help when the goodie shelf at work is right behind me. I have no doubt that there will be a gain this week. I hope to get back on track again at the weekend. Maybe it is the cooling temperatures and the office is not the warmest place to be. I will need to plan a bit better to eat more protein as that does seem to fill me up for longer.

Matthew is a typical teenager and is constantly hungry. He is more of a savoury snacker and it is almost impossible to get him to eat vegetables. For the first time after a college open evening, he had a foot long Meatball Marinara from Subway and still had room for a cookie and a packet of crisps. I only just managed to eat my Steak and Cheese salad.

Craig has been coming home hungry most days mainly because he has been so busy that he has not had time for lunch. Unfortunately, on a couple of these evenings he has had to grab a quick snack before having to go out again. He hasn’t eaten properly until he returned which was generally about 10.00pm. Luckily he is also out two nights where he will be having 3 courses (though he doesn’t eat dessert he generally manages a couple of starters from people who don’t want them) and a pile of cheese and biscuits.

Emma has been the only one who has not said anything about being hungry. Mind you she is at home during the day and can get what she wants. She is eating her main meal earlier as she has been starting work at 5.30pm.

Linking up with Anne at Raisie Bay

Favourite things about Autumn

I love Autumn. After the heat of summer then the cooler temperatures are a welcome relief. I do prefer the cold to heat because it is easier to try and warm up then it is to cool down. Autumn is the perfect season for Hygge which is something I can definitely relate to.

 Colours

Although the green of the English countryside is beautiful there is something about the colours of Autumn that is stunning. The reds, oranges, yellows and browns especially when the weather is sunny can take your breath away. This is the time of year when I find myself taking more photos of the scenery and wishing I was better at photography. My photos do not seem to do justice to the landscape. Visiting New England in the Autumn is on my travel bucket list just to admire the scenery.

                                                (not a photo of mine)

Comfort Food

Warm casseroles, soups, freshly baked bread, slow cooked stews and roasts are all things I look forward to in Autumn. Not quite as stodgy as Winter comfort food but still warming and wholesome. I tend to enjoy spending time in the kitchen in Autumn and having the smells of warm delicious food as soon as you walk in the door is a treat for the senses.

New TV shows

During the spring and summer I don't watch a lot of television, but come October there is a number of shows that catch my eye. I tend to spend October and November evenings recharging my batteries ready for the Christmas rush. This year I am watching 'The Great British Bake Off', 'All Creatures Great and Small', 'The Yorkshire Shepherdess' and new this year is the remake of 'Darling Buds of May'. The good thing is because they are only short runs then by the time the Christmas madness kicks in these will have finished and I will be ready re-join the world and get into the spirit of Christmas fully.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I only discovered this a couple of years ago when some friends were visiting from America and raved about it. It is not as sweet as some of the others that get released nearer Christmas and is a lovely treat after a long walk or when watching fireworks. I don't get the cream put on as I am not a fan of whipped cream on drinks.

Jumpers, Hats and Gloves

I don't know about you, but I find it so much easier to warm up then to cool down. Jumpers are perfect and the right one can feel like a hug when you put it on. Hats, scarves and gloves are invaluable. I never used to wear hats and scarves but since having the dog I have invested in several hats as hoods don't quite keep your head as warm and also come off with the wind. Gloves are perfect when you cannot put hands in coat pockets as you are holding a lead and my hands seem to get colder easier than when I was younger. I have now got pairs for driving and when I am going out and not walking the dog.

Cosy Nights in

This time of year is perfect for staying in and recharging your batteries ready for the Christmas season. It is the time to snuggle under blankets watching TV, reading and relaxing as the nights draw in. The darkness makes me just want to stay home and not rush around as I tend to do during the summer as the days are longer.

Candles

The glow of candles adds to the cosy feeling on a night in. The light adds warmth and welcome to a room that no other light source apart from a real fire can do. It also hides a multitude of sins when it comes to cleaning if you are feeling a bit slovenly.

Walks

The crisp freshness of the air at this time of year makes me want to get out and go for walks in the countryside. In summer it can get to hot and sweaty but Autumn is perfect where you can layer up without the bulk needed in Winter. It is probably the season where you can be the most stylish when out wearing colours that match the scenery. Hot drinks and soups in flasks are perfect when it is time for a break to enjoy the view.

What are your favourite things about Autumn?

Menu Planning Monday 11th October 2021

 

Things are getting busier at the moment as groups start to re-open. We have 2 college open events this week with Matthew, Craig is out at various masonic Lodges three evenings this week, I am at the W.I twice this week, one monthly meeting and one craft club and Emma goes to London with her boyfriend Sam to the premiere of the short film he made in August as part of the the National Youth Film Academy. I am also on a course on Saturday to learn how to make a pair of capri trousers. It is good that things are going back to how they used to be but I do miss the time we had to spend together. It is inevitable that this was going to happen and needed to happen after the last 18 months.

This means that we are not really going to sit down and eat as a family at all this week which is something that I have always tried to do as often as possible. I am still doing a menu plan as it helps with me staying on track with trying to lose weight but it just means that I won't be cooking for as many so there will be leftovers that I can use for lunch or freeze for future weeks.

Menu Plan

Monday - Marigold Soup  (Mary Berry recipe)

Tuesday - Burgers, Fries and Salad

Wednesday - Sausage and mash

Thursday - Subway

Friday - Haddock Casserole

Saturday - Lentil bolognese

Sunday - Cottage pie with Cauliflower mash

Weather

A pretty good week temperature wise considering the time of year. I am looking forward though to single digit temperatures.

What I am watching

This is the time of year that I probably watch the most TV. There is 'The Great British Bake Off', 'All Creatures Great and Small' and last night 'The Larkins'. I am trying not to compare this to 'The Darling Buds of May' which I love. Some of the characters personalities are very different from the original and there are new characters introduced. I think I will still enjoy it if I see it as totally different from the original.

Currently crafting

After finishing the shawl and the knitted tee shirt it is back to the Courthouse steps blanket. I would like to get this finished before winter kicks in so I can snuggle under it in the evenings. I am also starting to make my Christmas cards this year using sets from various places. I have craft club on Thursday where we will be making poppies and on Saturday I will be on a workshop to make a pair of capri trousers. Although I have made dresses before I have never made trousers before and I wanted to learn how to fit them properly.

From the camera

Craig and I took Penny for a walk to Rivington near Bolton. A lot of restoration work has been undertaken in the past few years to the area as it used to belong to the Lever family who had a house there. I hope to go back in a few weeks once the leaves have started to change colour.

Linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and Katy

Hope you all have a good week.

Deborah

New bedding

 Matthew has finally got his new bed after some delays with delivery. He has gone from a single bed to a double bed so he needed some new bedding. He only wanted blue so off I went to Dunelm to see what they had. Although they had lots that I liked they were a bit feminine for Matthew so I ended up with a very plain set that I knew he would like.

I also needed some new bedding as one set of mine has loads of pulls in it where Penny has caught her claws and my earrings have caught the pillow cases so this is what I have bought.

As Matthew needed two sets I then went to look in B &M and found another plain set. This however feels amazing. It is soft and silky and feels very snuggly. Ideally I would have liked to have got a teddy bear feel set as Matthew likes to be warm and cosy in bed (he even uses his electric blanket in summer) but they only had pink or cream, neither of which he would have appreciated.

I am also going to look for some Christmas bedding this year. Each year I think about getting some but never get round to it. I think it is because I am a bit fussy over the design I want and have not quite found the one that meets my requirements. Perhaps I should be a little less picky. I also want Emma and Matthew to choose their own but they do not want to come shopping with me to look for one.

Word of the Week- Learning

 

The first week back in school is almost complete and I am sure Matthew has done lots of learning. Judging from the amount of homework he has been given, lost time is being made up for. 

I have also had lots of learning this week as I did the exam and practical assessment for the course I have been studying. There were lots of new things for me to learn as it is a completely new field for me work wise. I was worried that nothing was sinking in and I would completely freeze and go blank during the exam. Luckily, I had managed to obtain some past papers and examiners report and worked out some model answers using the materials I had been given. To my great surprise and relief have the questions on the exam paper had appeared on the previous papers and the others were on topics that I had felt more confident in.  As soon as I read the questions and saw familiar questions I relaxed and although I know I probably still won’t get full marks on the questions I should have done enough to at least pass.

The practical assessment although not easy involved using your common sense. I had to identify hazards in the workplace and write a report. Some were obvious just be looking around but some I would not have identified if I had not undertaken the learning first as I was not familiar with the type of hazards that could be involved in the work the company undertakes. 

I now have to wait until the 17^th November to get my results and see if I learnt enough on the course.

I also have some fun learning coming up over the next month as I have signed up for two dressmaking workshops, one to make a dress and the other is to make a pair of trousers. Although I can follow a pattern and make my own clothes I have had trouble with facings and zips so I am looking forward to learning how to do those properly and improving my finishes.

One thing I have realised is that my learning style has changed. Whereas once I could just read something now I find that being shown how or having a go at doing something works better for me. This is probably why I felt I like struggled with the course for work as it was just reading.

I enjoy learning new things especially if it is something I am really interested in. Learning something doesn’t have to be a big thing. It could mean you learn the meaning of a word or you learn something about somebody or how to do a small DIY job. I hope by keeping my brain active it will slow down any future age related decline of my mind which is my biggest fear of getting old.

What have you learnt recently and how did you learn?

What I have been reading -July and August

 

I completely lost track of what I was posting and it wasn’t until last week that I realised I had not posted what I had read in July. This was probably because I was away from home. I did pretty well over the last two months considering it was the school holidays. I am keeping on track with my two books a month minimum but my list of books to read isn’t getting shorter as I keep adding to it. Also I have been reading series so the other books have had to be added.

 

So in July I read

 Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

BLURB- Revenge is a dish best served warm...High-flying public relations supremo Agatha Raisin has decided to take early retirement. She's off to make a new life in a picture-perfect Cotswold village. To make friends, she enters the local quiche-making competition - and to make quite sure of first prize she secretly pays a visit to a London deli. Alas, the competition judge succumbs after tasting her perfect quiche, and Agatha is revealed as a cheat and potential poisoner. Definitely not the best start. So Agatha must turn amateur sleuth - she's absolutely got to track down the real killer!

I watched the TV series starring Ashley Jensen and really enjoyed it. This was made as a pilot and I haven’t been able to watch it so I bought the book. Agatha is like a modern day Miss Marple. It is an easy read but like most murder mystery investigations by amateurs there is a sudden lightbulb moment about who the killer is. Also you have to ignore the actions of the police and how much information they divulge.

As it worked out cheaper to buy 21 books from The Book People than it is to buy them individually I have 20 other Agatha Raisin books to read. A bit like binge watching a box set. I won’t exclusively read them but they are on my bookcase ready to go.

 

The Viscount who Loved Me

BLURB -1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.

And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
—Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry—he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

 

The second of the Bridgerton series, this time concentrating on Anthony. As with the first book, this one focuses on the relationship between Anthony and Kate. The outcome is obvious and this series is beginning to feel a bit like a Mills and Boon book. I miss the other characters playing more significant roles. I have the third book in the series but I am not sure whether I will rush to read the rest. Saying that I am looking forward to the second series when it finally hits our screens. For once, for me, the series is better than the book.

 

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

BLURB-Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.

Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.

Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design—especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open—bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.

This was the book club choice and I wasn’t too sure about this one when I first started reading it but I persevered through the first few chapters and ending up enjoying it. I wouldn’t say Sam had lived an extraordinary life in the obvious sense but he had put up with a lot of discrimination and bullying and was still a good man. His mother had a great influence on his life giving him the strength to cope with everything and that is clearly shown in how the book ends.

In August I read

The Midnight Library

BLURB-Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?

 This was my choice for book club based on Emma’s recommendation and I have to say it was a very good recommendation. I could not put the book down and it is a book that I read thoroughly rather than with some that I have just skimmed over. It makes you think about your life and what might have happened if you had made a different choice. It was also universally liked by everyone else in the book club (which rarely happens) and lead to some good discussions. This book is my favourite of the year.

 

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet

Retired PR boss Agatha Raisin is enjoying life in her pretty Cotswold village of Carsely. It even seems likely that the attractive new vet, Paul Bladen, has taken a shine to her. But before romance can blossom, Paul is killed in an accident with Lord Pendlebury's horse. Only the circumstances are rather suspicious.

Agatha decides she must once more play amateur investigator. And this cloud has a silver lining - she can persuade her usually stand-offish neighbour, James Lacey, to become her partner in the quest. As usual, Agatha is quite prepared to rush in, heedless of the lurking menace to both James and herself.

I took this book on holiday with me as it is set in the Cotswolds and it was fun to see some of the places mentioned. It was a perfect holiday read, though I did find it irritating that Agatha is so desperate to have a man in her life. She comes across as being capable, independent and strong willed. I suppose she is a bit fed up of having had to look after herself for most of her life. I think that theme is going to run through the rest of the books if the TV series is anything to go by which spoils it slightly. Miss Marple was never desperate.

Menu Planning Monday 6th September 2021

 

It’s back to school this week and Matthew is going into Year 11. How quickly these high school years as passed. It does not seem 2 minutes ago that he was going into his last year at primary school.  I always feel a ‘back to school’ excitement with regards to my life and that it is a fresh start and the beginning of new routines to improve my life.

 As part of that life improvement I am starting a diet. Since the beginning of lockdown last year and with the job change where I am not moving around as much as I used to, the weight has crept up to the point where I am now almost as heavy as I was when I was pregnant with Emma. I am not looking to rapidly lose weight but I am determined that this time next year I will be 21lbs lighter. I have signed up with Second Nature which is purely online as I need the accountability of a group. I was doing Slimming World last year but I found that I wasn’t losing any weight, in fact I had started gaining.

Menu Plan.

With the diet in mind.....

Monday – Fish and Chips ( I know not a great start, but it is a W.I. meeting and I had forgotten I had ordered it)

Tuesday- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Wednesday – Cajun Salmon and Salsa

Thursday – Spicy Lamb Patty and Greek Salad

Friday – Chicken Fajita Bake

Saturday – Mexican Pork Bowl

Sunday – Steak and Vegetables

 

What I am looking forward to

Seeing how Matthew got on with his first day in Year 11.

Finishing the memory book I have been doing with my WI craft group.

Making an Autumn themed wreath for my door.

Getting back into a regular blogging routine.

 

The Weather

 Not quite autumnal yet :(

Looking around the house

 Trying to get back into a regular cleaning routine. After cleaning downstairs yesterday I need to clean my bedroom and the bathroom. Matthew also needs to do his room. At the weekend I want to start decorating Matthew’s room to make it a bit more grown up. We are also getting a double bed for him.

Hope you all have a great week and good luck to all of those with children going back to school.