To new beginnings. To the pursuit of...somethingness.

Karmacat

Hope you have a nice day today with MrC, Cheri - and Maty, thats a *really* good point.

needingaccountability

What a nice idea, have a lovely day taking MrC's troubles off his mind. :T

MrsMoo2U

Not much to report here. Feeling really, really fed up and grumpy with myself. Fed up with work and really want to do something different but not sure what.
I sat at my desk today staring into space for best part of an hour trying to think about how to write one silly paragraph. Words failed me. At which point i gave up and switched the computer off.
Tonight I took Moo on a very long walk out of the village via a new road. We had a lovely walk and found streams and new forests, bulls in a field and a farm that sells eggs, how lovely. I cant believe that I have never walked that way before. Proper rural it was.

Budget is squeaking by. Sold my really lovely tiffany lampshade on ebay. Bloomin £3.40 (similar one sold for £20 last week and I had 7 watchers in the end so decided not to end it in the hopes there would be a bidding war.):( I am not going to waste any more time on ebay. So if you hear me say ebay kick me up the arris. Well unless I suddenly find the fountain of knowledge as to what makes a fortune. I really dont understand how people make their fortunes on there.

MrsMoo2U

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
- Abraham Lincoln

What a miserable person I was yesterday PAH to being miserable. People dont care when you are miserable but it is good to annoy people with your happiness so today I have made the decision to be happy!

After reading Hypno and Souk's diaries yesterday I have decided to work out what percentages of my income go to what bits of my life now and where I expect them to go in the future. I still have the flat up for sale so hopefully that will sell soon enough and then I will be much happier with where my percentages lie.
I guess that once the flat sells I should technically be a mortgage free wannabee and not a debt free wannabee.

So I am asking the universe to send along a lovely buyer in the next two weeks (ok that is time specific but I need to be specific with the universe) because that will be just about enough breathing space.

Karmacat

Hurray to deciding to be happy, and sending time-specific requests to the universe - lovely stuff! And what a gorgeous walk! Sorry it was so bad yesterday, and the Tiffany lamp and all, but you've kicked it off well.

((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

Souk08

Morning Cheri, that sounds like a great thing to ask for! I heard a great saying about happiness once 'You have to bring your own happy hat, no one else will do it for you!

Cheery_Daff

Pah to feeling miserable indeed! Glad to hear you sounding a little more positive and cheery this morning xxx

Pippilongstocking

Oh cheri - I'm glad you found proper rural and egg place but (()) to feeling bleurgh. We're all there often, that why I love here

Onwards - we'll get there - we just breathe in and out, and do it again until we don't have to think about life sometimes (concocted from a bad remembering of sleepless in seattle) - arm in arm - we'll put our best foot forward - come on..................

On day I'm hoping peedie and Moo will have a proper adventure (oh and we'll be there too!)

xxx (((( )))) xxx

MrsMoo2U

Thanks ladies. Souk you are so right I love that saying. This morning I put my happy hat on. Not really feeling it yet though but I am determined to work on it. After all it has taken some time for all the mood hoover to finally suck that list bit of positivity from me so I cant get it back in a flash. I have a lovely home in Austria to look forward to and I am determined to start doing something with my "free" time other than walk Moo. I have come to realise that not having set hours in work is causing me to miss out on so much. All of the courses and groups that I want to join are lost because I end up working evenings. I need to work out some kind of balance me thinks. Pippi, it was indeed a lovely walk and yes Peedie and Moo would have great adventures together.

MrsMoo2U

Recipe for non veggies as MG thread and FW thread both looking for nice indian recipes. This is one of my favourites to cook when I have visitors, goes down really well Be prepared it takes a lot of effort but is divine. I now have people requesting it when they come
Preparation and cooking time 54 hours (not all of it working most of marinating and in the oven!) Serves 8

Raan (leg of Lamb marinated with spiced yoghurt)
Ingredients

• 3kg/61b leg of lamb
• 125g/4oz fresh root ginger (chop and peel)
• 12 large garlic cloves crushed
• 5 tbs lemon juice
• 2tsp cumin seeds
• 2tbsp cardamom seeds
• 8 cloves
• 1tsp turmeric
• 11/2 tsp hot chilli powder
• 1Tbs salt
• 150g/5oz unblanched almonds
• 4tbs brown sugar
• 300ml/10 oz yoghurt
• 1/2 tsp saffron
• 2tbs boiling water

Method

• stab (it wouldnt let me put p**ck:rotfl:) lamb all over and make several deep slits in flesh
• place in deep roasting pan
• put ginger, garlic,lemon rind and juice, spices and salt in a blender (or pestle and mortar) and blend to a smooth puree
• spread puree all over the meat and set aside at room temp for 1 hour
• Next put almonds, 2 tbs of suger and half yoghurt into blender and blend ot smooth puree.
• transfer puree to a bowl and stir in remaining youghurt.
• spread mixture all over the lamb on top of spice puree
• cover the pan and put into the fridge for 45 hours (yes you read that right)
• Preheat oven to 220 (Gas 7) and roast for 1 hour.
• remove lamb from fridge and allow to come to room temperature one hour before Sprinkle remaining sugar all over
• put pan into the oven and roast for 20 mins then reduce temp to 180 (gas4) and roast for 1 hour
• reduce temperature to 170 (gas 3) cover the pan and cook baste occasionally for 4 hours (yes 4 hours).
• Remove from oven and transfer to large piece of foil. Cover completely and return to the oven.
• Skim the surface of the cooking liquid to remove any scum and astir in saffron. Place the roasting pan over a high heat and boil briskly for 15 - 20 mins until reduced by half
• Remove lamb from oven, serve on a warmend dish with the sauce spooned over the top

It really is worth the effort so do try it for a special occasion.