Summer Solstice Sensation

Carmen

Hi everyone,
I'm baaaack!
Just a quick hello before this storm cuts off the internet.
I love a good storm, love to watch the lightening, I wish I could catch it on camera!
All's well here, I hope you are all well and keeping up the good work.
Will read back on the posts tomorrow.
Carmen xxx

Carmen

Good morning ladies,
Well, the storm last night really refreshed the garden and the heat and humidity of the last few days has diminished...for now!
The dawn chorus was lovely this morning, birds proberbly pleased they can unearth some goodies now the ground is a little softer :rotfl::rotfl:

LL, so sorry to read you have had to begin another battle with SS! Just keep up the pressure with them, 'they' are getting off lightly. They (SS) depend on families caring for their loved ones knowing that 'guilt' will play a big part, but when the family really need the help SS make them feel as if 'they' are doing them a favour
I'm sorry to rant but I have witnessed so much of this over the years. It all comes down to good management from the top....sorry I am waffling Last thing LL, when you chat to your Dr make sure you tell him about your weeping bouts! :grouphug::grouphug:

OH my! Just noticed the time, meeting a friend in half an hour, will continue later....

lessonlearned

Hey Twinnie - Glad to see you back and feeling better.

Hi Everyone - cold and miserable here today.

Not much news - rather back-achey again. Woke really early - about 5 ish and couldn't get back to sleep, so feeling shattered now. Going to try and have a nap whilst OH is asleep.

Did some SS paperwork this morning, will try and do some ironing. Too cold for the garden:(

Must try and start some exercise today - have missed a few days - probably the reason I've got back-ache, really need those yoga stretches.:rotfl:

Feeling a bit frumpy today - so will try and have a bit of a pamper later.

lessonlearned

Update

Just had a call from OH's case manager at SS, he wants to see us tomorrow with the results of his assessment.

I wonder.:rotfl:

Carmen

......maybe I should have said 'bouts of weeping' twinnie, sounded as if you had another problem :rotfl:sorry
My back is much better now, thank you.
Great finds at the CS well done you.

Good luck with SS tomorrow, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

I had a lovely day with my friend, the weather was poor but we need the rain so badly, ho hum.
Going out for a girly 'posh' lunch on Friday, I have dug out a pair of linen trousers and 'frilly floaty' blouse to wear. Both have been waiting for me to lose weight, they now fit :j:j
I actually put on last week, still going up and down trying to get over this plateau! Why is it, since the Dr told me to try and lose 3 kilo's over four weeks, I have been airy fairy about my eating?
Never mind I have had a good few days to kick start me again.

I don't believe it, the sun has come out and it looks like being a beautiful sunset

Maman, I'm pleased you had a lovely week end with your friends. Have you finished shopping for your holiday, you must be getting excited now it is so close?
Have a nice time tonight.

Mrs W, sounds as if you had a wonderful holiday, sorry to hear about your ankle take it easy.

Top drawer, good to 'see' you again :hello:

Off to take some photo's of the sunset.
Carmen xx

lessonlearned

Weeping bouts:eek:

Oo-er missus.:rotfl:

maman

:wave:

LL, I think it's amazing that SS have got news so quickly, really do hope it's positive. Keeping everything crossed, do keep us posted.

MrsW, heard tonight that a friend broke her ankle in Italy last week. They were having a last walk before going to the airport and she hoped it was just a bad sprain so she flew anyway and then went to A&E when she got back. I'm glad you weren't so badly hurt. My friend is feeling frustrated already at what she can't do!

Carmen, really good news about you getting into the posh clothes for Friday. It's a lovely feeling isn't it? I wore a silk dress to the theatre last Saturday that was 10 years old. I'd kept it 'cos I liked it so much and it's a classic shape. Felt great to get into it again! It's strange how we don't really stick too closely to the eating plan when we know we should. Mine is always sabotaged by going out but I reason that if I didn't go I'd be compromising my lifestyle which I enjoy so much.

That being said, I was very good tonight and had a 'healthy option' from the menu. It was baked fish on tomatoes and spinach with a side of veg and new potatoes. Potatoes were in butter but other than that and the small glass of wine I was pleased. (By the way LL, the copious amounts at the weekend must have run into a bottle and a half at least between lunchtime, the football, dinner and chatting until all hours:o but I did take lots of water with it:))

Shopping almost sorted except for a few toiletries. I concentrated on essentials to replace things that I'd either got rid of as too small or kept and were now ridiculously big. So several pairs of trousers as old ones all falling off, a short sun dress for poolside, and a new bikini. I should be OK for tops as they don't look so bad but I've a free day tomorrow so I'm going to check. The thing is that the sort of strappy, sleeveless things I'll wear next week rarely see the light of day here.

Love the sound of the sunset. I had a lovely drive this evening on my way out. Deliberately avoided motorway and took the back roads, countryside is looking beautiful despite lack of rain. Do you live somewhere very scenic Carmen?

Sleep well all.

MrsWoolfe

Morning Ladies and Lurkers!

Fingers crossed for you today LL!

How did your pictures come out Carmen? I have so many pictures of sunsets, but never get tired of taking them so pretty..I think my favourite one is one I took years ago from the roof of my Granny's house back in Mauritius- maybe because it's always been one of my favourite places as kids it was like our "secret" meeting place lol!

Maman that silk dress sounds lovely- such an amazing feeling getting back in to old favourite clothes isn't it? My weight loss seems to have stalled at the moment, but I suppose at least I'm not putting any on I guess...I think I've hit that plateau/wall where I usually start to let things slide, must hold firm this time or I'll be back to blobdom in no time:mad:

was DH's birthday yesterday and had a bit of a panic as the things I'd ordered hadn't come through yet (whole saga of ordering and then being told things were delayed/out of stock and having to get other things quickly) but one of the things did come during the day so at least he had something to open phew! I suggested going out but as we'd eaten out so much over the holiday he said he'd rather eat in, so I offered to cook anything he'd like fully expecting him to suggest steak & chips/Pie/etc...instead he asked for my twist on a keema curry which is packed full of pulses & veg, I guess he has a new favourite meal:D

Ankle is getting better slowly but still need to rest it a lot so no exercise still, but hopefully I'll be able to get back on the bike in a couple of weeks, in the meantime I'll just have to try and be extra good with food:A

Hope everyone is having a good day!

MrsWoolfe

lessonlearned

Hello Everyone

First of all let me get the good news out of way. SS have come up trumps with a very generous care package. We are so very lucky here and I am extremely grateful. I know I gave the guy a bit of a hard time on Friday but I think it was due to my stress levels being through the roof:o.

My sister came today and she said spotted instantly how wound up I was and how stressed I seemed.

Anyway we've now got two person handling calls for early morning and each night for the getting up and putting to bed. I simply couldn't do it physically any more - it's agony some days. We've still got 25 hours for his PA's so hopefully I can get a job now or start my little business or at least get a life - meet a friend for coffee/lunch now and then, that kind of thing.

They also agreed to part fund any respite care on a "as and when" basis. We only have to contribute £75 per week for this.

I know it's only delaying the dreadful day when he will have to go into residential care but at least he gets to stay at home for a while yet.

Without wishing to appear either selfish or rather a wimp - I really have reached the end of my tether and don't think I could have continued much longer. It's kinder on DS2 as well, he always feels guilty if he wants to go out in the evenings and at 25 that's just not fair.

My sister hasn't seen OH for 2 weeks and she noticed that he is much changed mentally - confusion, memory problems etc. I was beginning to fear it was my imagination.

Well this week the healthy eating has been blown out of the water, what with lack of sleep and stress I've suffered from the munchies bigtime. I've tried to snack sensibly but don't think the WI will go well tomorrow. Oh well, in the grand scheme of things a weight gain won't be the end of the world and I'll try and get back in the groove.

Managed a bit of the bike yesterday and the multi-gym, eyebrow tidy and manicure so not too bad.

Carmen and Maman :T:T:T:T to you both on getting into your favourite posh clothes - such an achievement - bet it feels really good. Well done.

The sunset photo's sound great - it's true the countryside is really looking pretty at the moment. Although I love "abroad" I do think the British Isles take some beating at times. So much variety in a relatively small area and always so green and lovely - this sceptered isle and all that:).

Glad to hear your ankle is bearing up Mrs W Is your keema curry a low fat/low cal - if so post up the recipe. I need to start making proper low cal curries - not just the jar versions - not very nice really.

Definitely agree with you Maman - lifestyle changes are only acceptable if they improve your lifestyle. No good feeling deprived and miserable.

Anyway off to start dinner - DS2 off today so we can eat a bit earlier. Moussaka.:)

Bye for now - hopefully I should be able to sleep better tonight now that everything is sorted. xx

MrsWoolfe

That's wonderful news LL:j!!! That really opens up so many possibilities for you, and hopefully with you getting more respite and help- the time you do spend with DH will be better too as you won't be so tired and worn out. Am so pleased it's worked out well:D

For the curry I'll hold my hands up and admit I am pretty fussy when it comes to curry- My Dad was an amazing cook and curry was his best dish- seriously my cousin used to do a almost 3 hour bus journey once a month so he could come and eat it lol! So I was thouroughly spoilt when it comes to curry- being Mauritian our curries are slightly different to Indian/Bangladeshi curries but not too far off.

To keep the fat/calories down I often use turkey mince or a mixture of turkey with red meat- if you really want to use just red meat- Lamb is best but beef works well too a trick my Dad used was to empty the meat into a colander sitting on a plate once it's browned- kinda gross but the fat drips through and you can then pop it back into the pan reducing the fat content but keeping a lovely flavour.

OK for the Keema Curry you need:

Vegetable/sunflower oil
mince
1 Cup lentils (black is better but the puy or green ones work too- they tend to be cheaper and I think they taste better) you can vary the amount of lentils to taste- try it and see how you like the texture first- also you can use soya mince to bulk out the mince whilst making it a bit healthier too.
1 large potato diced
1 Cup frozen peas
2 onions chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 piece ginger
Thyme - If you have fresh thyme then a good handful, if using dry about 3tsp
3-4 Cardamon seeds (crush to open)
2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cumin
Coriander
4/5 Curry Leaves- if you can get them- try looking in the frozen world food section they sometimes have frozen curry leaves in tesco)
3 Tbspn Curry Powder
1/2 chillis to taste - you can use either dry or fresh

Before you begin boil the lentils for a few minutes then drain and set aside,

1. finely chop the ginger and garlic- if possible crush into a paste.
2. Heat some oil in a pan (med-High heat) and add the cinnamon, cardamon, cloves and ginger and garlic.
3. Once the pan and spices start sizzling add the meat and brown, then remove from the pan- If you want to cut down a bit on the fat content you can put the brown meat into a colander at this point and a lot of the fat will drain, this may change the taste a little but not too much.
4. If needed add a little more oil to the pan and turn down to a medium heat and add the onions to the pan and soften.
5. Add chillies and curry leaves, then add curry powder and stir well to create a sauce- if the curry powder has been open for a while lightly toast in a dry pan to bring the flavour out, you can also mix this with warm water to start the sauce before adding to the pan if you find this easier.
6. At this point, if you are using fresh coriander chop up the stalks finely and add to the pan- the leaves will be added later just before serving.
7. Add the meat and potatoes and stir well making sure that they are completely covered by the sauce- add the thyme and let simmer for 5-10 minutes- add water if it starts to get too thick and keep stirring, and then add the frozen peas.
8. After another 10 minutes add the lentils, turn the heat down to low, add salt to taste
9. Allow to simmer whilst stirring and adding water if needed for another 20-25 minutes, if you can leave this for longer do, the longer you let it simmer the better, I usually try and let it simmer for around 45 minutes to an hour if I have time.

Add Coriander and serve.

If using red meat I often add some mango powder and/or tamarind if I have some. I also will add in any veg I have that will work- yesterday it was some carrots- doing a quick spiced cauliflour alongside is good too...

sorry it was so long- it's one of those things that I do by instinct really so had to really think through each step...

With curries- Mauritian ones at least, I start with the basics as I was taught- onions, garlic, ginger and chillis- that's the base for most Mauritian dishes- then the curry powder, I would reccomend starting with that and then trying out adding different spices to the mix to figure what you prefer- also when time is of the essence- I have to say I'm a fan of the Patak's spice pastes- it's just the spices crushed and preserved in oil- so if you don't add too much oil when cooking too not too bad for the waistline- instead of using cream (my Dad would shrink in horror at cream in curry lol) I use lots of tinned tomatoes cooked down or softened onions blitzed up to thicken--- ooh and one last tip- if you make it too hot by mistake pop a big piece of uncooked potatoe in the pan and let it simmer for 10mins- don't know why but the potato absorbs the chilli heat....

I bet you're regretting asking me for that recipe now aren't you:D should have warned you I'm a total foodie and love cooking.....

hope you are all having a lovely day!

MrsWoolfe