The hilariously over-optimistic goals I am setting myself in 2010....

mrs_robinson_3

Thanks for the update - am liking the sound of the personal training

Made mistake of weighing myself today - never do - on someone else's scales - can it be tru I have gained 6lbs? I never put on weight, and hadn't really noticed I had TBH. So now want to re-weigh on scales I normally use - also not mine (don't have any), to be sure. But just in case, am cutting out as many carbs as I can, as CANNOT, just CANNOT gain weight. So think your sushi plan is good.

Onwards, upwards etc

Mrs R

juicyjackieb

Well done Hannah - its nice to hear things are on the up!

Mrsrobinson - ignore thos scales if your clothes still fit who cares? My fella says I look better "with junk in the trunk"

dalleDF

Junk in the trunk is all good Jackie!

So I went on a date with that boy, but it didn't go well. He was extremely self absorbed and even bossier than me, and let me tell you, I don't like being bossed! So back to the drawing board on that one. More frogs to kiss.

brizzledfw

Better luck next time..you could always go and see the new Disney Princess movie (can you tell I have 2 DDs!) ..The Princess and the Frog..she has a great time as a frog..lots of adventures and still gets her dream of financial independence:rotfl:!!

elantan

Hey Hannah have just read your diary ...laughed out loud at some bits ( and woke the people up i am working with) thanks for the good read ...sorry to hear about the dream job ... and am loving the love conquests ...incidently a lentil dahl recipe wouldnt go a miss i have not got a clue on how to make the stuff

dalleDF

Hi guys. Thanks for encouragement re frogs!

Green lentil dahl recipe below. I usually double up the portions and make a big pan full. It freezes really well for lunches.

Punjabi green lentils with deep brown onions and garam masala


SOURCE: adapted from Vicky Bhogal’s ‘Cooking Like Mummyji’

PREPARATION TIME: about 5 min

COOKING TIME: about 40 min

CUISINE: Indian, Punjabi

SERVES: 4 as a side dish, or 2 – 3 as a main



INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whole green lentils

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

a small pinch of brown sugar (optional)

1 tbsp ghee / vegetable oil

1 heaped tsp of cumin seeds

1 small yellow onion, sliced thinly (or chopped finely, if you wish)

2 cloves of garlic

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

2 – 3 birds eye green chillies, sliced

1/4 tsp Punjabi garam masala

chopped coriander for garnish (optional)



METHOD:

1. Put the lentils into a pan with 2 cups of water (for now, you might need more later if you want it runnier). Let it boil, and skim the scum from the top. Now add turmeric, and continue cooking until soft. When the lentils are soft, add the salt. Add a pinch of sugar if you want now. Add some warm water if you like your lentils less thick or even soupy. (Vicky leaves her lentils whole, but I like to mash some of them up to make the dish creamier.)

2. To make the tarka, first pop the cumin seeds in some hot ghee. First, heat the ghee or oil (it’s hot enough when it starts sizzling when you insert a wooden spoon in it), and then add the cumin. Fry for a few seconds, until the cumin releases its fragrance (watch out, it burns quickly). Then, add the onion, sprinkle it with salt, and fry until golden brown. Now add the chillies, ginger and garlic, and fry for some more, until they soften and loose their raw flavour. If the ginger starts sticking to the pan, add a little water and scrape off. (I usually chop the onion first, then while they’re frying, prepare garlic, ginger and chillies, and add it as I go.)

3. Pour the onion mixture into the dhal and stir through, leaving some tarka on top. Now add the garam masala.

4. Garnish with coriander if using, and serve with some chapattis or rice.



Enjoy!

elantan

ooohhhh thankyou that hits my veggie taste buds nicely ...will be making it soon ...i love the mse recipes they are soo good and so cheap ...

hows trix today? ...trix can you tell i am an old fart lol

dalleDF

It's a good recipe actually, cheap and nutritious. Trix today are all good. Have had some family visiting so it's been a nice day. Went to a museum to look at brains in jars. Educational, a bit gross, and most importantly FREEEEE!

dalleDF

Feeling a bit down today. I saw an announcement about the person who beat me to my dream job having now taken up the post. Am considering sending him abusive emails, or possibly a load of pizzas that he didn't order. That would show him. But no, am going to rise above it and concentrate on my own impending change of job. I am still not looking forward to it but I must grit my teeth and think of the money.

Spent some time today reading through the MSE forums to try and kick start my motivation to sort out my debts and generally improve my life. I paid £2 off my Egg loan, now literally have £5 left until payday. I have a big box of electronic stuff like random cables and jacks that I might get some money for on ebay if I can only figure out what they all do. That is my task for tonight. I sold something else on ebay recently but it brought in less than I was expecting. Oh well, every little helps I suppose.

Have scrutinised the budget this month and luckily I have some money coming in from an unexpected source which should help me break even, although it is going to be a very tight month again. Even my good clothes now have holes in, so I really need to try and put some money aside for a few bits towards a new work wardrobe next month. God knows where that's going to come from. Am also worried that because I start my new job mid-month, I might miss the cut off date for payroll. This would mean I have to survive the month on 2 weeks wages from the old job, which will be really tough. But then I would get a lovely big pay packet in May. But I have just got myself straight with the dreaded payday loans and I don't want to have to rely on them again, but if that happened it would be my only option. Have emailed HR to see what the situation is.

On the plus side, I realised today that this month's debt repayments will take me down to about £7.5k. My debt was £12k at its worst, and I have also added another £3.5k to it for my laser eye surgery (totally worth it, by the way), so in theory my total debt at its highest was £15.5k. This means I have paid off half of it. It has been a long hard slog, especially as it has only really been going down in the last year. Before that I was paying off credit cards and then spending on them again, so pretty much never managing to make a dent, but paying a fortune in interest. At least all but the emergency CC have now been consigned to the dustbin. Read the MSE Roll of Honour to remind myself how great it's going to feel when I can finally say I am debt free. And I am going to do it in 2010.

dalleDF

Right, I have had enough. I am feeling fat and sluggish, and my silhouette is very much like that of Homer Simpson. I am getting back on the wagon. I have not smoked for two days, I have not consumed alcohol for one day, and I have been to the gym a grand total of once. And I only stayed for half an hour because I got a stitch almost immediately. But I will try to keep my momentum going. Tomorrow I shall go to the gym for at least half an hour before work.

Have made some bolognese with beans and peppers and things in it which should do me for a week's worth of lunches. Also have some crap like fishfingers and whatnot in the freezer (not healthy but at least I am stocked up with some type of food).

Have also been looking into something called intuitive eating to try and curb my mindless scoffing. It is actually the simplest, most obvious principle ever, which is 'eat when you're hungry'. The idea is that we eat just because food is there, or because we're bored, anxious, whatever, or because it's dinner time etc. Instead we are supposed to eat when we are actually physically hungry, whatever the time, and only eat until we are nicely full, not stuffed, and not necessarily when we have eaten everything on the plate. I really struggle with this because I was brought up to believe you had to finish everything on your plate. And I quote: "There are babies starving in Africa so don't you dare waste your dinner!". And so on. So I am trying to listen to my body and what it wants. But unfortunately today it wanted flapjacks and crisps.

On the MSE front, am having slight cashflow issues because money I was expecting has not yet materialised. However, on the plus side, I am going to be starting my new job in time to make the payroll, so I don't have to struggle on 2 weeks wages during May, which is good.

My lovely father bought me a new handbag and a smart work shirt, so I am now feeling a bit more prepared for taking on my role of Queen B*tch at my old shop. Honestly, that's the job title on my contract.

In romantical news, am being haunted by the ghosts of bad dates past. I can't imagine why as I spelled it out pretty darn clearly for the last one, yet he is still calling me. I have decided I am probably dead inside because I much prefer being emotionally unavailable, or, even better, alone rather than with these losers. Tomorrow I am going to the shops to buy a tartan blanket and about 18 mangy cats.