Earthgirl gets back on track!

EssexHebridean

Hi EG - you're still going strong and motivated then!

I go through phases of finding cooking really hard work.....Stuart has made a good suggestion there with bulk cooking though - things like Bolognese sauce can be taken out of the freezer in the morning on "busy" days and then just popped into a pan to heat through and the pasta cooked when you get in at night. We've cut down dramatically on takeaways - Friday night always used to be "takeaway night" but this is now far more occasional (although I've slipped a bit over the past few weeks) - again the batch cooking has helped here as I have done some curries and we often have one of those on a friday night now with rice, and just stop in at the indian for a naan bread. Having something like that makes all the difference as the naan gives it that special edge without breaking the bank. You could do the same with chinese - batch cook sweet and sour or something and maybe just stop at the shop for the rice?

I'm jealous of your allotment - we had a great one when we were living in London but they're just not as good or as convenient out here - and if it's not very local, getting yourself to go can be a challenge! We do as much as we can with our balcony and bit of garden - but there are limits!

Not sure if you already visit, but get yourself over to Old Style if not and take a look on their boards - lots of motivation there for meal planning, home cooking etc. :cool:

earthgirl

Thanks EssexHebridean for the encouragement! I am determined to improve and stick to a meal plan this week.

Had a reasonably productive weekend, but it was pretty stressfull too. My OH was attacked on Saturday night, completely unprovoked from behind, he had his hands in his pockets. His injuries are not too bad, but his arm is twice its normal size I think he fell on it as he couldn't get it out of his pocket in time. I really wanted him to go to hospital but he won't incase they put him in plaster and he can't work (self employed). He does seem to be a bit better today.

I am so mad and upset, why do these people do it? I'm also mad at his mates - off duty police! - who didn't call the on duty police, or make him go to hospital.

Also had a horrible day at school - finished off by being told to f off, and feel so stressed out sorting out exams and admin as my boss is off. Been comfort eating as well- had 2 choc bars already!!!

I've come here as I enjoy reading your diaries, and it seems to turn things back around for me and get me back on track!!

So now I'm going to

- do some business work DONE
- cook a meal - no takeaways DONE
- stop comfort eating - take loads of fruit tomorrow.DONE
- relax and calm down!DONE!!

This week Im going to
-Not get a takeaway
-go swimming and not have any more chocolate
-overpay the mortgage
- complete 10 hours website work
- get final xmas presents wrapped and cards written.

Lynn11

Earthgirl = hope you have a better day tomorrow and a better week, since you have had it bad so far. Surely things can only get better now. At least you have only 2 more weeks to go before xmas break up at school.

StuartGMC

Earthgirl
Sorry to hear of the violence, hope it was a one-off. You've had a bad few days, so it's good to see you are looking to focus on positive aspects now. Fingers crossed there is a better time now leading up to the Christmas break.

EssexHebridean

Oh my there are some real ...well, I don't think the word I wanted to use would go through the forum's language filters....out there, aren't there. I really hope your OH is OK - he should go nto hospital to get the arm checked out as he'll miss far more work in the future if it's not fixed as it'll continue to cause problems. I know that's easy to say from the outside though - I do sympathise with his thinking.

Tell you what - let's both commit to cook properly every night this week - no takeaways for either of us. I find it sometimes helps to have a "buddy" on stuff like that as neither of us will want to let the other down by having to admit to having lapsed. I've started OK - we had meatballs in tomato sauce with rice tonight - it's a meal that MrEH loves and he's been poorly today so it was a bit of a treat for him. I've also got some rabbit out of the freezer to make a rabbit stew for tomorrow night - that'll go in the slow cooker overnight tonight. I've not thought any further ahead than that though so I'd best get my thinking cap on! I'd like to get the freezer run down a bit actually so I need to start coming up with uses for some of the stuff in there. I have an egg white left from tonight which I might make into a meringue topping for some fruit for tomorrow night's pudding.

Re the chocolate thing - the more you ban yourself from eating it the more you'll want it - swim a few extra laps or do ten runs up and down the stairs instead.

gallygirl

Earthgirl - sorry about your rotten few days, here's hoping tomorrow brings a change. Don't let the little beggars get you down - only a little while till Xmas hols.

I'm inspired by cooking challenge - chicken stir fry tomorrow night unless I have a meal at lunchtime (at client's expense ) in which case already made soup & sandwich.

evab_2

Hope your oh is OK, I'd be annoyed at his mates too!

setmefree2

SmlSave

Poor Earthgirl and her OH, (((hugs))) to you. I hope he feels better soon and the arm is ok.

Hopefully this means the bad days are gone from December and the rest will be fine.

Let us know how the cooking goes, I'm trying to empty my freezer so its soup all the way now!

earthgirl

:T Thanks everybody

I love this board everybody is lovely! :beer:Thanks to all who posted a few words of comfort it means a lot when people wish you well when you feel so low.

Had a much better day today - worked on what IS under my control instead of what isn't. So been swimming, ate healthily and drank loads of water. Also had a nice day with my pupils and didn't get stressed out with any behaviour or exams or admin worries - I'm just going to do what I can. The horrible boy who told me to f off had a very boring day outside the heads office, poor lamb;) .

OH seems to be improving and has promised to go to the doctors today as his arm is dark purple and still twice the size. He refuses to go near the hospital.

EH - I would love a buddy on my 'cook meals every night' challenge! You are right I will not shirk my responsibilities if someone else is doing the challenge with me. Thanks!

I also need to clear out the freezer, cooking a NY's eve meal for 12 so will probably need the freezer space at the end of the month. (I am cooking, we are splitting the cost.)

EH you seem to cook some lovely things though! My meals are rubbish in comparison! I warmed through a steak and kidney pie (oops for 30p) with some chips and beans, and that was me cooking!! I used to spend a lot of time on the OS board, so after I have used up all my freezer stuff I will head over there again to get some new recipes.

Tonight I have defrosted some HM ratatouille and will do a pasta dish with this. I always get the oops yoghurts on a Friday so one of them will do as dessert.

I think what will help me will be to plan a few days in advance, and then try for a whole week! One of my problems is I am working far too much, leaving the house at half six and not back till gone eight every night, so I need to get organised in advance!!

Today Im gonna -
- Plan for next week incl. tutoring
- complete progress reports
-set cover work for when I am switching classes to teach exam classes.
- complete 2 tutorings
- cook pasta
- relax! or as twinklie calls it and I may be cheeky and adopt "downtime"