Healthier, wealthier and wiser – My DFW diary!

Marty82

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hi Marty :wave:

Happy new diary, have subscribed so will be looking out for you

Rosa xx

Thanks Rosa, welcome along!

Do you have a diary too? Will have a nosey if you do!

Marty82

prettypaula wrote: »

Hey Marty

i now understand why you "get" the issues im having with my GP. I think there is far to much stigma attached to mental illness and in fact newsnight last night (worth a ctahc up on iplayer!!) had a large segment on bi-polar and the advances in science recently that you may like to see.

i hope you are feeling good today. Not too good but good.

Stephen Fry is my idol and he suffers from bipolar. his autobiographies may also interest you, the man is a genius.

happy new diary and if u want any help meal planning just shout

Evening Paula,

You are very right about the stigma of mental illness but I think it is slowly getting better. Currently only two of my friends and my employer know about my condition but I do plan to tell more people once I'm "better" as I'll be able to say I have the condition but look I'm fine! Trust it to be the one night I miss Newsnight, because I was painting, to be the edition that has something of interest to me! Will definitely check it out on iPlayer, thanks. Stephen Fry is amazing and I keep meaning to read his autobiography. I would borrow it from the library but I'd have to pay my fines first as I'm even in debt to them! Lol.

I am feeling good today which makes it annoying that I woke up so late. Really need to make sure I'm up earlier as have to check my exact debt figures before the CCCS advisor phones. That's one coat of paint on all the living rooms walls and I think I might get away with leaving it like that but will check again in daylight to be sure.

Meal planning help would be great, thanks, as so far I only have Quorn lasagne and pork stir fry written down.

prettypaula

right then, give us a list of stores/freezer please!

:money: and any dislikes :cool:

Marty82

Phew, painting done and now lying on the sofa, which is in the middle of the rooms with all the other furniture to avoid paint splashes, with a huge mug of tea. I am such a “tea jenny” and I love my double sized Eeyore mug to drink it from.


If I can get away with just one coat then I will be able to return two tubs of paint to B&Q which would be a great bonus. Have “borrowed” a huge tub of magnolia to freshen up the hall and spare bedroom from my parents and will try to get away with using the “value” white emulsion for the utility room although it is rather thin. I'm hoping I have enough Satin wood paint to do the skirtings and am going to beg on Freecycle for spare kitchen and bathroom paint to finish the patch in the kitchen.


Talking of Freecycle; I haven't had any luck in receiving any of the items that I've been interested but will stay on the look out or perhaps just be bold and ask for the things I need! I also need to list my sofa, the one I'm lying on, as available for others to collect as I am expecting a delivery of my new sofas on Thursday. I know what you're all thinking; why is he spending money on sofas when he is in debt? Well I'm thinking the same but they were purchased in a moment of madness while having a “too good” day. Having said that I do need new furniture and they were a Groupon bargain; £250 for a three seater AND a two seater sofa plus £20 delivery. I bought them on the one credit card that I have that is usable but paid it in full when the bill arrived so I don't feel quite so bad.


The reason I am redecorating is to firstly do something positive on the days that I am able to and secondly to get the place in a fit shape to possibly take in a lodger. The extra income from this would be a great help for paying off my debts, In the past I have rented the room out to friends who have given me cash in hand but this time I don't know anybody who needs a room so will have to do it officially. I have lots of research to do on getting the place ready, the legal matters, the tax and benefit implications etc so any help would be much appreciated.


Had a visit from another engineer so he could quote for the boiler repairs. I have the feeling it is going to be pricey and am worried the charity won't be able to cover it. Will try not to dwell on this and will cross the bridge if or when I come to it.


Tuesday's positives


One coat of paint on all living room walls
No spend day
LARGE cashback confirmed by Quidco. Not saying how much until it is paid as don't want to chance fate but will post once I get it


Tuesday's negatives


Woke up too late
Boiler still playing up
Cat wailing all the time; I reckon she's in heat

Marty82

prettypaula wrote: »

right then, give us a list of stores/freezer please!

:money: and any dislikes :cool:

Awe - bless you! Coming up; give me five minutes!

Marty82

Freezer


¾ bag garden peas
1 ½ bag mixed vegetables
1 bag stir fry vegetables (400g)
1 bag stir fry vegetables (650g)
1 bag sliced peppers (500g)


7 chicken breasts with bacon and redcurrants
2 500g packs diced chicken
4 chicken breasts (1kg)
Whole chicken
11 southern fried breaded chicken breasts
Pork loin (462g)
Pork stir fry (400g)
Beef joint (1.13kg)
9 tuna steaks
1 bag Quorn mince (300g)


12 brown rolls
4 white rolls
Scraps of bread


Fridge and fresh


Potatoes (2kg)
Carrots (1kg)
2 nets clementines
2 bags apples
3 oranges


1 pint skimmed milk
250ml half fat crème fraiche
1 tub cottage cheese with poneapple
Non fat yogurt (1kg)


Strawberry jam
Marmalade
Low fat mayonnaise
Grated parmesan
Raspberry salad dressing
Caesar salad dressing
Salsa
Honey
Stem ginger
Wholegrain mustard
Strawberry drinking yogurt


2 bagels
2 mini naan breads
6 brown pittas


Cupboard


Long grain rice
Paella rice
Penne pasta
8 dried noodle blocks
4 straight to wok noodle blocks
Couscous
1 ½ boxes lasagne sheets
Udon noodles
1 bag red lentils


4 tins chopped tomatoes
2 tins red kidney beans
2 tins green beans
3 cartons passata
1 tin baked beans


2 tins pineapple pieces


2 tubes tomato puree
1 jar Ragu white sauce
1 jar Basics curry sauce
1 tin Heinz tomato soup
1 tin Weight Watchers chicken noodle soup
1 jar sweet and sour sauce
1 jar Chicken Tonight creamy curry sauce
1 fajita kit


2 mini tins tuna with tomato and herb dressing
3 mini tins tuna with mango chutney


Oxo cubes (Beef and chicken)
Knorr cubes (Ham and chicken)
Beef gravy granules
Chicken gravy granules
Breadcrumbs
Popping corn
Olive oil
Sesame oil
Sunflower oil
Tabasco
Soy Sauce
Salt and pepper
Curry powder
Chilli powder
Most herbs and spices


Self raising flour
Sauce flour
Yeast
Golden caster sugar
Icing sugar
Hermesetas
Splenda
Baking powder
3 large bags bread mix
Poppy seeds
Croutons
Various dried fruit (can't tell whether currants, sultanas or raisins)
Vanilla extract
Mr Men and Little Miss cupcake mix
Love Hearts fairy cake mix


Banana Nesquik
Hot chocolate sachet
1 bag hot chocolate curls
Jelly sachets (2 lemon/lime, 2 strawberry, 2 blackcurrant)
Cacao powder (not cocoa powder)
2 jars Cadbury's Highlights (1 fudge, 1 orange)
2 bottles ice cream sauce (1 toffee, 1 chocolate)
Porridge oats


Coffee (instant, ground and beans)
Tea bags
Fruit tea bags

RosaBernicia

Hi Marty

I don't have a diary - yet - keep dithering about starting one and then getting distracted. Will let you know if I do get round to it!

You might also be interested in an autobio I read at the weekend - 'An Unquiet Mind' by Kay Redfield Jamison. She's a professor of psychiatry who studies mood disorders... and is bipolar herself. Fascinating read and a great insight from both angles.

Also re furniture etc might be worth checking if you have a branch of Emmaus near you? Not entirely free, but very cheap and a very good cause.

Rosa xx

Marty82

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hi Marty

I don't have a diary - yet - keep dithering about starting one and then getting distracted. Will let you know if I do get round to it!

You might also be interested in an autobio I read at the weekend - 'An Unquiet Mind' by Kay Redfield Jamison. She's a professor of psychiatry who studies mood disorders... and is bipolar herself. Fascinating read and a great insight from both angles.

Also re furniture etc might be worth checking if you have a branch of Emmaus near you? Not entirely free, but very cheap and a very good cause.

Rosa xx

Well you seem to be doing well without a diary; £1500 is quite an achievement. What kind of things have you changed in your life to manage this?

I have heard of that book so your personal recommendation has bumped it up my list.

No Emmaus near me (nearest is Glasgow) but it sounds like a brilliant charity. How did you hear about them? The British Heart Foundation has a large electrical and furniture shop here so I'll try there or a local charity called Instant Neighbour who also sell furniture.

The_Dragon

One possibility from the freezer is a quick casserole - this is what we do but you could adapt for what you have!

1kg Frozen casserole beef
1 kg frozen casserole veg
1 bottle red wine
1 cup water (used to swill the red wine bottle out! no point wasting any :rotfl:)
cloves
cinnamon stick

shove it all in a big casserole dish, bring to the boil and shove in the oven at 150 for about 4 hours or until the meat is tender.

I was thinking you could do something similar with the diced chicken and the frozen veg, use chicken stock and some dried herbs. Serve with either mash or rice

Marty82

The_Dragon wrote: »

One possibility from the freezer is a quick casserole - this is what we do but you could adapt for what you have!

1kg Frozen casserole beef
1 kg frozen casserole veg
1 bottle red wine
1 cup water (used to swill the red wine bottle out! no point wasting any :rotfl:)
cloves
cinnamon stick

shove it all in a big casserole dish, bring to the boil and shove in the oven at 150 for about 4 hours or until the meat is tender.

I was thinking you could do something similar with the diced chicken and the frozen veg, use chicken stock and some dried herbs. Serve with either mash or rice

Mmm, sounds yummy although I'd just as easily drink the red wine. Will try doing some kind of casserole with the chicken as it's the season for warming dishes like yours.