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)



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)