THE NEW ME.... TIME FOR A SPRING CLEAN (DAY 45) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Squeaky bubble

Woke up to music on my music memory scratchpad.  A good sign, that means spring has sprung. 

Had a usual hectic day yesterday doing paperwork and spring cleaning (which could take a few weeks) in between practicing with Nancy for Jelly Belly Friday!

Went to a client's yesterday afternoon, cleaning and organising, moving the project forward with the aim to reduce stress for said client.

Didn't really eat much yesterday as ran out of time. Did drink a few mugs of tea. Unfortunately Taff (better half) keeps adding sugar instead of honey.  Will have to move the sugar somewhere else.  I wonder if that's why I've got ulcers on my tongue?!?!

What I ate yesterday (Day 44)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 glass water
1 mug tea + honey

Breakfast
Squeaky bubble - fried mashed potato (in coconut oil) with spring onion, smoked bacon, lettuce
1 glass water

Lunch
2 mugs tea + sugar
1 glass water
4 slices coconut flour cake

Dinner
Chicken escalope in a cream sauce
Fried potatoes + tomato sauce
Salad - cucumber, cherry tomatoes in red wine vinegar, olive oil & seasoning plus apple
1 glass water
Elderflower pressee + wine


 Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... A LIFE OF ADVENTURE (DAY 44) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Coconut flour cake

 



As most of the bank statements had arrived in the post, yesterday was month end in the accounting world of the Jones'.

Started early which meant I still had some daylight left to clear my head and go to the bank and do a bit of health-food shopping. 

Much that I'm a qualified accountant and done it full-time (in the past), doing accounts is never as exciting as our new lives now.  I'm now outside the box, having many varied, sometimes unrelated, projects running along at the same time, and able to used not only my business skills but creativity as well.  The latter I find exciting.  Being self-employed also means that I can start work early in the morning when no-one else is up, and get most of the bulk done by lunchtime.  I'm also able to spend more time with Taff (better half), even if we are in different rooms most of the time.... and of course keep fluffball Nancy amused. 

Talking about Nancy (who's rubbing her head on my foot whilst sitting on the filing, as we speak), her story was in 'Chat' magazine yesterday.  She really is becoming a superstar.   She and her story have been in the local 'News' newspaper, the 'Daily Mail' online, 'BBC Radio Solent', 'Cat of the Day 1 March 2014' and now 'Chat'.  Luckily the stardom is not going to her head.

Have received some positive responses about Taff's book, 'Tales of Nancy Jones'.  We (I, Taff & Nancy) are so pleased that they are doing well as it means, as a result of the sale of every book, an amount goes to the RSPCA Stubbington Ark 'Paws 4 Help' appeal http://www.paws4help.org.uk/ to help raise money for a new cattery for the lovely felines currently housed awaiting a home.

Still on the diet.  Experimented with almond flour (ground almonds yesterday) which was a disaster.  Did make some coconut flour cake though which was a success.  Yum.  I think I'll have a piece in a moment! :)

What I ate yesterday (Day 43)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 mug tea

Breakfast
Oats, banana, apricot, Brazil nuts, milk
1 glass milk

Lunch
1 glass water
4 tsp homemade chilli

Snack
5 almond flour cake-balls
1 glass water

Dinner
Chicken escalope in a white cream sauce
Coleslaw - carrot, lettuce, onion in Greek style yoghurt & dash of salad cream
Rice + grapes
1 glass water
Elderflower pressee & wine

Happy Friday:)

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME.. . SPRING CLEAN (DAY 43) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Homemade chicken curry

 



Planned on going to the cinema yesterday as it was 2 for 1 Orange Wednesday.  Alas, ran out of time.

Worked until late morning.  Then, as it was a sunny day, Taff (better half) and I decided to revamp the shed and install a large shelf to put all our bits and bobs on and create some more surface area.  I was Taff's assistant.  Six hours later we were done.  The wood we'd got cut from B&Q fit like a glove.  The 'new look' also gave us a chance to declutter and get rid of anything we didn't need.  In fact we've got a car-boot full of stuff to go to the recycling centre.  So yesterday was a real spring clean.

Our friend, who we gave the pancakes to as a surprise the previous day, popped round for a bite to eat and giggle.  He loved the pancakes and was well chuffed.  He'd never had savoury ones before, so thought the cheese and chilli pancakes were a nice change.

Accounts day today :(  Then I should be able to start weeding some lever-arch files over the next few days.

Mouthful of ulcers yesterday.  Don't feel run down so must be lacking something in my diet.  Will try to eat more fruit and drink less alcohol.

What I ate yesterday (Day 42)

Snack
1 glass milk
Homemade chicken curry
1 slice turkey & yoghurt
1 banana

Brunch
1 mug tea + honey
1 glass water
Chicken curry + lightly fried celery, courgette, mushrooms, spring onion

Dinner
Some-a dinner (some of this and some of that) - Sliced beef, turkey, fried potatoes, tomato sauce, olives, cucumber, pickled beetroot, cherry tomatoes, sausage
1 glass water
Wine & lemonade (ran out of elderflower pressee)
4 dried apricots

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME.... PANCAKE DAY (DAY 42) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alochol diet

Gluten free pancake

 

Another constructive day again!  Must be on a roll, or it's due to having a relatively refreshing weekend-off to relax the old swede (brain).

Managed to do some writing for most of the day.  Still to do our annual weeding with regards paperwork though. :(

Also helped out a neighbour-friend with some weeding/gardening as it wasn't raining.  Then invited two other neighbour-friends round as well and we had lemon & sugar pancakes and a glass of wine to celebrate Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day.  OK so our souls weren't cleansed, but it was nice to sit around and have a chat and giggle.

As I'm addicted to pancakes, a few years ago Taff (husband and better half) made me 10 pancakes, each with a different filling - starting off with savoury and ending up with sweet.  So we did the same for another neighbour-friend who was working late; although we did limit the quantity to 4.  Applewood smoked cheese to start, followed by meatball chilli, then traditional lemon and sugar and finally banana and honey.  Hope he liked them!

OK, so I didn't go to the gym yesterday, I did gardening instead.  Might go this morning.  We shall see.

What I ate yesterday (Day 41)

Snack
3 tsp meatball chilli - homemade meatballs chopped up and mixed with a passata-chilli sauce
1 cup tea
1 glass milk

Brunch
Fried potatoes & tomato sauce
Cherry tomatoes - lightly steamed
Mushrooms
2 pieces smoked bacon
1 dry fried egg
1 mug tea
1 glass water

Brunch



Afternoon snack
1 gluten free pancake with lemon and sugar (bad girl, should have used honey)
1 glass wine

Dinner
1 slice beef + natural yoghurt
Elderflower pressee & wine

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... LEMON PAMLOVA (DAY 41) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Lemon Pamlova

A constructive day yesterday. 

Managed to do the filing with Nancy's help, then some writing.  A new neighbour friend popped in for a cuppa.  Called Dennis, the washing machine fixer again as the machine was leaking.  After putting a wash on an hour before his arrival, sadly he found no leaks.  20 minutes after he left, the damn thing leaked.  It's always the way!  Have to monitor it and do some statistics before Dennis comes out again to see what part of the cycle the leak occurs.

Made 6 mini lemon Pamlovas (the name was Taff's idea :)) - a small pavlova meringue filled with homemade lemon meringue pie filling, topped with cream.  Although I used castor sugar for the pavlova, I did substitute some of the sugar with Stevia for the filling.  Taff had 1, then distributed the remainder to neighbour friends which brought a smile on their faces.  Did warn them they were an experiment and the filling might be a  little lumpy.  Taff, the chief taster downed his straight away, so they can't have been all that bad.  Realised that the original lemon meringue pie must have been an old fashioned recipe, as managed to use up the 3 egg yolks left over from doing the pavlova, thus no wastage but no custard.

Had some TV time with Taff and Nancy watching the second episode of 'True Detective' starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.  Also finished watching The Voice.  Went to bed later than usual hence why I've got up slightly later today.  Shan't be going back to bed now, which means I can crack on with writing.

Diet going OK.  Almost choked on a piece of fatty gristle from some sliced beef.  Must have been the cow getting its own back.

What I ate yesterday (Day 40)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 mug tea + honey
1 slice cooked beef and Greek style yoghurt

Breakfast
1 mug tea + honey
1 glass water
1 gluten free pancake topped with bacon and applewood smoked cheese

Snack
1 homemade meatball
3 slices beef + Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water

Lunch
2 slices turkey
2 slices beef
Cherry tomatoes
Chipotle
1 hard boiled egg
Roule cheese
1 glass water
1 mug tea + honey

Dinner
3 slices beef + Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water
Elderflower presse + wine

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... THE AMAZING PEPERONI PIZZA - GLUTEN & MEAT FREE (DAY 40) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Gluten free, meat free, peperoni pizza

 



Another busy day yesterday, even though we were having the weekend off.

Nancy (pussycat) stayed in most of the day.  I think she'd eaten too much 'Doubly Delicious Felix', or had a furball stuck in her throat, as she puked some of it on the piano.  I didn't mind, these things happen.  I wish she didn't feel so guilty about it and want to rush straight outside afterwards.

Because I thought the weather was going to be like Saturday i.e. wind free with sunshine, I motivated myself to go in the garden and do some weeding.  Unfortunately it was freezing, damp and really windy.  However, several bags of weeds later, I was done.  I even managed to weed some of a neighbour's garden before the rain set in.  In fact the rain was in for the day.  I'll have to make some spongy waterproof kneepads though, so my knees don't get damp and cold.

Took the bags of weeds to the local recycling centre, did a bit of shopping and then chilled out doing some patchworking whilst watching Zathura.  Very similar to Jumanji, even with a Bradley Pierce lookalike of Zona Bobo.   Losing interest, we changed channels and watched 'Invincible', an inspirational film based on a true story about Vince Papale, the American footballer, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Taff (better half) and I had seen the film at the cinema when it was first released.  It's still good the second time around, though shattered with gardening I had to retire early to bed.

Taff must have ended up watching the Welsh Open Snooker Championships, as he's just told me that Ronnie the Rocket O'Sullivan won, with a 147 on his last frame.  He is one amazing dude.

Still on the diet, though dreaming of lemon meringue pavlova ( a new invention I want to create, though has probably been done before by someone else).  Taff did make me an amazing pizza though.  He used a gluten free pizza base we'd got in the freezer.  He then added passata, chipotle peppers and applewood smoked cheese.  It was AMAZING, like peperoni but without the meat.

Dying to find out whether Matthew McConaughey has won an Oscar for his part in The Dallas Buyers Club.  Sadly the info on http://oscar.go.com/ isn't up to date yet.  The suspense is killing me!

What I ate yesterday (Day 39)

Snack
1 glass water
1 mug tea + honey

Breakfast
2 gluten free pancakes with lemon and honey (homemade)
1 glass water
1 mug tea + honey

Lunch
Fried vegetable mash, in butter with tomato sauce
1 mug tea + honey

Dinner
Gluten free pizza with cucumber, apple & Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water
Elderflower pressee with wine


Must fly, filing to do, then a kip again, then all day writing.

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)

THE NEW ME... LIVING WITH AN INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR (DAY 39) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet







 

Miss Nancy Jones

First of all Nancy (Miss Nancy Jones), Taff and I would like to thank everyone for the positive support that Nancy has received for being 'Cat of the Day' http://catoftheday.com/.  Luckily, even though she is now an international superstar, it has not gone to her head.

Taff was well chuffed when Nancy woke him up to tell him of her good news.  On St David's day of all days.  :)  So, Nancy was on the computer throughout the day tweeting and facebooking whilst we chilled-out.  We decided to have a weekend off for a change (although being self-employed, you never really get a weekend off, what with e-mails and other paperwork).

Went to Waterlooville, a town not far from Portsmouth and had a look round the pre-loved charity shops for ideas and inspiration.  Then off to a table-top sale at a local church.  Returned to Nancy with tail high wanting lovings (strokings and kisses).

I watched a film called 'The Devil's Double' whilst I did some patchworking.  Taff watched the 'Welsh Open' snooker championship. 

After having some grub (cooked by Taff), which was delicious, we watched an episode of Stan Lee's Superhumans.  Shattered, still recovering from an early start on Friday, I went to bed early.

Hopefully the weather might be nice today so that I can do some weeding in the garden and mow the lawn.  Nancy will also be able to play outside too.  Then it's patchworking for me.  Taff will read (probably My Visit to Mars by Tuesday Lobsang Rampa) and watch the snooker final - O'sullivan and Ding.


What I ate yesterday (Day 38)

Snack
1 glass water
4 tsp chipotle
1/2 pint milk
Home-made chilli
1 cup tea + honey

Breakfast
Gluten free pancakes with lemon & sugar
1 glass water

Lunch (take-out)
5 slices beef
1 pint milk
1 small tub Greek style yoghurt

Dinner
Bangers & mash with beans (cannellini in passata)
1 glass water
Elderflower presse & wine





Bangers & mash with beans

 

Pam
:)

Writer, creator and thinker
http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/
Mummy of Nancy Jones (star of 'Tales of Nancy Jones' children's book by Taff Jones)