THE NEW ME.... NANCY IS CAT OF THE DAY ON ST DAVID'S DAY (DAY 38) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Daffodils yet to shine in the sun

An unintentional earlier start than normal yesterday.  Woke up at 1.30am and never went back to bed, carried away with paperwork and e-mails.  Luckily I was on the ball during our 2 1/2 hour journey down to Swanage to attend a talk at the 'Purbeck Literary Festival'.  http://www.purbeckliteraryfestival.info/

We'd put Nancy (pussycat) out for some fresh air.  She was well annoyed, grumbling, with ears back and a cob on.

As we were an hour early we parked up in a small car-park near to the seafront and had a mini-picnic that Taff had made.  Super yummy, and super welcome with some hot coffee to warm us up.  Luckily there was also a public toilet as I was bursting, as we had not passed any major service station on the way down. 

Eventually found the Arts Centre, hidden away in a small pedestrianized cluster of buildings, of the main rind-roadette.  Arrived at 10.15am for a hot drink to discover the lights were out, the heating was off, and no coffee.  There'd been a power cut in the town.  'Thank goodness we'd had our picnic' I thought.

The talk started at 10.30 on the dot.  A very well organised event, and interestingly useful talk by the great Freda Lightfoot.  A lovely lady, and straight talker, she's what they call in the publishing world  a 'hybrid' author.  Traditionally published from the 80s with various publishers and now a self-publisher in e-books, and has written over 40 sagas and historic novels.  She gave some really useful tips and advice and was easy to talk to.  Also met a lovely lady called Mary, who was starting out in self-publishing.   Hope she does well as it's a tough business and a lot of hard work.

Thankfully the lights came on at 11am.  By 12.45 I was supping hot coffee.  Sadly I refrained from having biscuits  They even had 'Rich Tea', my favourite.

Drove back at 1pm and discovered a much easier route. 

Arrived home to find Nancy had forgiven us after some biscuits, string playing and lovings.

Fell asleep watching the TV at around 6pm.  Woke up at 7pm and went to bed.

Arose today to discover that Nancy's going to be cat of the Day today in US time (so will have to wait a few more hours to see her pretty face pop up).  http://catoftheday.com/  A great present for Taff as it's St David's Day and as a Welshman Taff will be celebrating in one form or another.  It would usually be watching Wales play in the 6 Nations Rugby, but I don't think it's on, so it will probably be the snooker instead.

What I ate yesterday (Day 37)

Snack
1 glass hemp milk
1 cup tea + honey
3 mini potatoes with salad cream
2 tsp mashed potatoes and vegetables
2 tsp chipotle sauce
4 tsp Greek style yoghurt

Breakfast
Fried mash & veg in butter
1 mug tea + honey
1 glass water

Brunch and Lunch
Picnic - 1/2 hard boiled egg, small new potatoes, coronation chicken (chicken in a curried Greek style yoghurt), cherry tomatoes, Cheddar cheese.
Coffee + sugar
Coffee + sugar

Dinner
Chicken escalope in a white sauce
Salad - cucumber, apple, celery in red wine vinegar
Wine + elderflower pressee
1 glass water

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... I LOOK LIKE A PIEBALD HORSE (DAY 37) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Dry-fried egg & bacon with mushrooms & tomatoes on a bed of chipotle passata

 



Yesterday morning was an 'up in the air' day.  As well as updating our website, which took me an age, I needed to trawl through our photos to find one of Taff.  There were none, other than a great one of him in a musketeer's outfit that I'd made for my stepson - Taff was the model!  Thus booked some time with my better half to take some photos. 

Dennis, a lovely red-headed washing machine expert took a look at our leaking machine but sadly couldn't find any faults.  Gremlins again!

Had to send another e-mail to our website host as he's ignoring us. I can't be doing with unprofessional people. 

Cleaned for a client in the afternoon, in addition to a little decluttering. Saw a pair of cuckoo birds up a tree, which was amazing.  And that was it, that was my day.

Oh, did discover that my black leggings, that had previously got bleach on them, which I'd dyed with  black Dylon (fabric dye) hadn't fixed.  My legs currently look like a piebald horse, even after several scrubbings in the bath.  Never happened before.  Ooops!  Good job I'm not a model and doing a photo shoot today.

It's raining again. 

What I ate yesterday (Day 36)

Snack
1 mug tea + honey
1 glass hemp milk
1 slice gluten free cake

Breakfast
1 dry fried egg
2 pieces dry fried bacon
Poached mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in chipotle passata
1 glass water

Snack
4 tsp chilli slop - homemade chilli with mashed potato
1 mug tea + honey
1 slice gluten free cake

Lunch
Chilli slop
1 mug tea + honey
1 glass milk

Dinner
Chicken escalope in a white sauce
Fried potatoes
Salad - cucumber, apple, red pepper in red wine vinegar
1 glass water
Wine + elderflower pressee

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.... GIRL POWER ROCKS! (DAY 36) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Crumbly Pompey Jack with banana topping

 



Although it was Orange Wednesday yesterday, we couldn't find an appropriate film for us to see at the cinema hence we had another busy day instead.

Did some paperwork and managed to do a couple of hours of writing until the sun came out at lunchtime.  Then I had a go at sawing the buddleia (butterfly bush) which had become overgrown and out of control.  It is now in a controlled state.

By the time I'd helped a friend sort her paperwork and bills, we just managed to take the garden rubbish to the tip (Recycling Centre) before closing time - Our council no longer takes garden rubbish away :(

Did 15 minutes of patchworking as the light started to fade, then made a gluten-free cake (Pompey Jack with banana topping), and chilled watching TV with Taff (better half) before going to bed.

Have just updated our website with some exciting information.  Taff's new crime trilogy is now available as e-books worldwide.  http://www.pamandtaffjones.com/newbooks/ Nancy Jones (our pussycat) and I are very proud of him; particularly as he's written about an empowered female heroine.  Girl power rocks!



What I ate yesterday (Day 35)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 mug of tea + honey
1 tsp homemade chilli mince
1 banana
3 very small potatoes in chipotle sauce
2 tsp chilli mince

Brunch
2 slices turkey + Greek style yoghurt
1 1/2 slices ham + Greek style yoghurt
1 glass water

Dinner
Chicken escalope
Fried potatoes (in coconut oil) with tomato sauce
Salad - cucumber, apple and orange pepper in red wine vinegar
Wine + elderflower pressee
2 slices of Pompey Jack

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... ALWAYS WRITE DOWN THE DETAILS (DAY 35) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet





Breakfast - oats, sultanas, Brazil nuts, banana, milk

 



Another ridiculous day on paperwork. I don't know where it all comes from.  This time I caught up on my 'Awaiting a Reply' and 'Things to Do' folders.  Gone were there days where people used to reply to your e-mails.  Now they just ignore them.  So had to resend a few. 

Surprise surprise, the gremlins struck again.  This time it related to our fuel supplier.  A couple of weeks ago we'd changed tariffs to a fixed rate until 2015 and were expecting paperwork to confirm the change, in the post.  As we'd not had confirmation I rang them up.  The change had not happened.  Luckily I had the telephone number, date, name of the person I'd spoken to, and tariff details (once a PA, always a PA).  Therefore the fixed tariff was agreed to be backdated to 1 February.  So now the paperwork's in 'Awaiting a Reply' again.  It feels like all I seem to do is shuffle paperwork.

I did receive some good news though.  A potential new website host (as recommended by Gary Paul De La Cour Renouf - the amazing woodturner from the Square Tower Crafts Event on Sunday) phoned me up after only a few hours having sent his company an e-mail.  Though more expensive than what we're used to, he was professional to speak to and the real deal.  Have to go through the finer details today and contact our existing host (that should be fun!) for additional info, but fingers crossed our hosting issues may soon be resolved.  Needless to say, still haven't heard from the potential new host that I contacted over a week ago.  Rhubarb rhubarb.

Caught up on the mountain of ironing and phoned a washing machine guy to come out on Thursday to replace the rubber doings which has perished, resulting in water all over the floor.

Oh, ran out of elderflower pressee, so had more wine than normal.  Must stock up.

I have a feeling today is going to be a good day.  I might actually have time to do some writing.  Hurrah!

What I ate yesterday (Day 34)

Snack
1 cup tea + honey
1 cup tea + honey
1 mug tea + honey
1 tsp homemade chilli

Breakfast
Oats, brazil nuts, sultanas, 1 banana, milk

Lunch
Chilli slop - homemade chilli combined with mashed potato (Taff's new creation)
1 glass water

Snack
1 mug tea + honey
1 slice of ham
Greek style yoghurt

Dinner
Turkey curry - cooked in a passata and coconut sauce
New potatoes
Salad - cucumber, courgette, pepper in red wine vinegar
3 dried apricots
3 dessert spoons of cream
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....I DREAM OF A FLAT BELLY (DAY 34) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

Breakfast - mash and beans

A fairly constructive day with paperwork and planning yesterday. Ordered a new set of business cards, having had a refund from my previous order due to poor quality. 

Looking at all the lever arch files at the moment.  The place looks like a tip.  Must get down to doing my annual weeding to create more space.  Think I shall do a file a day, like I did last year and see how we go.  Should be done in a year!?!?

Continued to construct the WW1 patchwork quilt, but the stitching looks like a dogs dinner, so will start again today with matching thread, where possible.  Also realised that I'd got my calculations wrong.  Looks like I only need a few hundred hexagons rather than a almost three thousand.  At least it now becomes more manageable.  Thank goodness for small mercies.

Was going to do some gardening this afternoon but alas it's raining... again.  What a surprise.

Oh, went to the gym.  Not sure how I'm going to get my belly and bust reduced.  The bust I can cope with - even though it's a pain trying to get a big enough bra to fit me, from normal high-street shops, due to my broad back) - but I would like to have a flatter belly that doesn't make me look like I'm pregnant!

Diet going OK.  Ate a tin of cannellini beans in passata.  Thought I'd be windy, but not a peep (unlike standard baked beans).  Excellent, that means I can have my own version of baked beans without the after effects. :)

What I ate yesterday (Day 33)

Snack
1/2 pint milk
1 glass water
1 large tsp mashed potato
1 dessert spoon cannellini beans in passata
1 glass water
1/2 tin of cannellini beans in passata

Breakfast
Mashed potatoes fried in butter with spring onion, cheese & lettuce
1/2 tin of cannellini beans in passata
1 mug tea + honey

Snack
1 mug tea + honey

Lunch (take-out)
4 pieces garlicy ham
Small tub of Greek style yoghurt
1 pint milk

Snack
1 tsp homemade chilli (mince + passata + green pepper....)

Dinner
Chicken tikka - marinated and grilled in Sharwoods curry paste + Greek style yoghurt
Lettuce
Lemon
Cherry tomatoes
Cocumber
1 glass water
Wine + elderflower presse

Signing out

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 CREATIVE DAY (DAY DAY 33) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet



Fruit by Gary Paul De La Cour Renouf

Worn out with business and paperwork I had a lay-in until 5ish, after 8 hours sleep.  Sick of looking at the pile of paperwork I decided that I would ignore it just for one day, as without a doubt it would not miraculously disappear.

Watched an odd film on BBI iPlayer called Synechdoche with Philip Seymour Hoffman and other great actors such as Samantha Morton (a Nottingham actress of which I'm a big fan who I remember on UK TV from the early-mid 90s)... whilst I did some knitting.  Knitting is such a slow exercise. Even 3D origami and patchwork grows quicker. 

Started constructing my WW1 themed patchwork quilt.  I haven't cut all the pieces yet, however I thought it wise to construct a 'flower' shape to see if it was feasible.  Fortunately, having already cut about 1500 pieces, I created my first section, chuffed.

So, around lunchtime Taff (husband and better half) and I went out as I have a couple of pieces to write.. the first reviewing a café the second reviewing an exhibition or similar event.  Reviewing a café or restaurant for me is a tough one, as we rarely frequent such places.  Why?  Because we can cook better food at home which costs a quarter of the price. 

My first review for the month, a couple of days ago, was to be a well-known (to the local area) cakery/tea-room.  Our second visit to this posy joint advanced a little further this time.  We actually sat down at a table for two, in this extremely noisy environment with no drinks or cake menus, as telepathy was required.  After 5 minutes of frustration we left, as before.  I don't like doing bad reviews so I thought I'd try another venue about a mile down the road in a popular café area yesterday.

First impressions were good, myriads of cakes and breads arranged to dazzle the eyes and salivate the taste buds.  Yet the experience was cosy but posy, again frustrating, with no menus at all, dead flowers in a vase, limp warm salad, the incorrect order, no milk for the tea, poor attention to detail, a dirty toilet and overpriced.  I shall go no further.  Taff said I shouldn't feel bad about doing a bad review.  I suppose he's right as perhaps the only way we will get decent food in the UK is to constructively comment. 

Disappointment for wasting £9 for 1 tea, 1 coffee and some bland quiche with limp salad leaves, we went to The Square Tower http://www.squaretower.co.uk/crafts_in_the_tower.html.  We met the lovely Diana Wren (a ceramist)

 

.... and some other familiar and new faces in addition to Gary Paul Del La Cour Renouf (an amazing wood turner) and Ian Newman (a gold leaf and cut-glass expert creator plus heritage restorer).  Such a lovely atmosphere, chatting with people possessing amazing talent, in a 15th century building (also a wedding venue) that also had a warm and cosy vintage tearoom at affordable prices.  Sadly, spent up on a budget, we put the tearooms on hold for the following month, even though I was extremely tempted with the smell of hot soup wafting through the venue.

A little more positive, dropped some flyers off at the local museum which we call Camelot and returned home to patchwork, a visit (chat and jangle) from our friend, some tasty soul-food, TV and bed.

What I ate yesterday (Day 32)

Snack
1 glass milk
Applewood smoked cheese + 6 olives
1 mushroom dipped in Mr Naga chilli paste
1 glass water
1 mug tea +  honey
3 small pieces cooked potato pieces with salad cream

Brunch
1 cup earl grey tea
1 mouthful of quiche
2 limp salad leaves
Vinaigrette

Dinner
Turkey escalope
Fried potatoes
Tomato sauce
Salad - cherry tomatoes, red pepper, courgette, cucumber, red wine vinegar
1 glass water
Wine + elderflower presse

Signing out

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... HURRAH, I'VE LOST OVER HALF A STONE IN A MONTH (DAY 32) - A gluten free, natural sugars, less alcohol diet

A celebration treat of pavlova

 



So, it was a month yesterday that I started the diet.  It's a month today that I got weighed.  I've lost 8 pounds, just over half a stone in a month, and I'm really chuffed.  I've also lost 1 inch off my neck, 2 1/2 inch off my mid-thigh, 1/2 inch off my mid-upper arm, and 2 1/4 inches off my hips.  Strangely my bust and waist have stayed pretty much the same.  Taff puts the latter down to visceral fat and having been a wheat belly for so many years.

My plan for this month is to go to the gym more and do more abdominal and waist exercises. Not sure what I can do for the bust though!

Oh... and drink less alcohol.

What I ate yesterday (31)

Snack
1 glass milk
1 slice ham + yoghurt

Lunch
Approx 8 chips
1 glass non alcohol ginger beer

Dinner
4 home-made meatballs (no bread) in passata
Rice with peas and sweetcorn
Small new potatoes in butter
Small piece of home-made pavlova with cream and strawberries (bad girl with the sugar!)
 - half the size of the piece in the photo above
1 glass water
Wine + elderflower presse

Signing out

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)