Finally seeing the right track getting closer

MuffinTops

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

Hope you have a nice day out with your friend! Bike if you can be bothered!!

Love that tortilla wrap idea, I might try it!!

Definitely try the wraps. They're such a nice break from sandwiches etc. I don't eat meat, but I do use meat free mince/quorn chicken and meat balls. With the quorn chicken I use sweet and sour sauce with stir fry veg. Meat free mince has bolognese sauce and normal mince complimenting veg and I add grated cheese and spinach with the meatballs. Just in case you need an idea to start you off.

I should bike it, although I've now agreed to go out on friday night (it's a free night with drinks and food provided) so it will depend on the time I get home to what time I can set the alarm for!

MuffinTops

debtfree2015 wrote: »

sounds good - make the museum last as long as poss, less money spending!

That wrap sounds nice, I used to take left over spag bol into work, warmed it up in a microwave, also cupasoups with added croutons that Id buy seperately, or crackers with cream cheese, tuna salad, left over pasta bake, chicken wraps when there were leftovers from sunday dinner etc....I could never resist the 3pm chocolate though! x

I'll be walking around really slowly I think and taking in everything. By Monday morning I should be an expert on all things museumy

We used to have a microwave here but they're banned now as we're not allowed hot food at our desks. It's such a shame as I used to have porridge but it's not very nice made with hot water from a zip tap (no kettles either).

The 3pm chocolate bar is calling me right now. I need to move to Spain where siestas are encouraged for that boost rather than a short sharp sugar rush to get through the rest of the day.

MuffinTops

Today is turning out to be another NSD day - the first of the week. I brought in Breakfast and Lunch so no spending there, and I met a friend for lunch but just for a catch up rather than a spendy lunch.

I did have a little epiphany today though. Because we don't have microwaves at work I started buying the pots of porridge with sweet cinnamon in to work with me to save spending money in the canteen. But they cost 99p each, when not on special offer, whereas 2 slices of toast at work comes to 70p. A saving of 29p a day and less to carry on my bike! But I don't want buying breakfast to detract from NSD's so I've decided that on a Monday I'll buy myself breakfast for the week and put that weekly total aside. That way, the rest of the week can go on NSD's.

That's not cheating NSD's, is it? If I have other days in the week where I have to spend then I'll put breakfast money aside from there too so that I don't always have to spend on Mondays. Am I going over the top now, or is this just what I should always have been doing and now it's getting clearer and I'm more aware???

I've been invited for a free night out on friday which I've decided to accept (which isn't like me. I'm not much of a socialite these days). Food and drink is being laid on for our department by a very kind ex employee and I think that my social awkwardness can be worked on if I go. I used to be really gregarious and outgoing, but in the past year or so I've just lost that completely. I'm sure I can "get it back" and going out with the department will be a good push forward. I'm fine on a 1-1 basis, or a very small group so I have somewhere to start again.

MuffinTops

Yesterday turned out to be a little more eventful than I'd hoped! I had a small incident on my bike which was just that as I moved around a bend there was a car overtaking another and so coming at me on my side of the road. Now I can honestly say that normally such things don't bother me too much but in this instance I wasn't able to slam my brakes down immediately as I was on my drop bar bike and had my hands resting on the top. Fortunately, the car saw me and screeched to a halt and moved back across to his lane. All ok. But I've lost my nerve on that bike now! So I've moved to a flat bar bike (brakes very accessible) and will take the drop bar out on leisurely weekend rides to get more experience with it (it's a new bike).

Yesterday I brought in 2 wraps but only ate one so had the spare one for my lunch today. Still nice a day later, so that makes preparing lunches easier.

I've still been going over the breakfast debate! Because I cycle in I'm usually starving hungry when I get here, which is why I've opted for toast or porridge, but I think I may bring in a serving of cereal with me each day and leave some milk in the work fridge. That will be cheaper and easier because there's something psychological with me about handing money over for a purchase every day, even if it came from a different day's budget. Besides, toast with butter and jam every day of the week isn't the best nutritional choice. Yawn!!!!

Well, time to get on with some work I think!

LondonGirl252

That sounds really scary on your bike!!! Glad you're OK though, I love the idea of cycling to get around London quicker but the roads and amount of traffic terrify me!

The cereal option will be cheapest and maybe have the toast as a treat occasionaly on days that will be spendy anyway? I wish I liked milk or id have cereal everyday too right now I have beans on toast everyday which is 45p from my canteen allowance

debtfree2015_2

Glad you're ok Muffin, that must have been a shock!

Id love a siesta. In france they have a 2 hr lunch break, their lunch is like the equivalent to our dinner its huge, 3 courses, then their dinner is small and light eg sandwich, toast, soup & fairly late 7-8pm as lunch really sees you through the day. I really used to notice the difference in my energy levels when we were over there for projects, it would be a shock to the system coming back after a few days over there.

RE breakfast, you could treat yourself, ie 2-3 mornings order porridge or toast, the rest of the time have cereal.

I do have an idea if you prefer porridge, when dd was a baby, I had this zipped 'jacket' for her bottles that would keep them hot for hours.
If you got milk to boiling point right before you leave the house and put it into a flask or bottle that can fit in a jacket - depending how long your cycle to work is it may still be hot by the time you get to work, or even try a small flask. If not maybe instant milk - not sure how that would turn out Im not keen on instant milk in tea, but may be ok in porridge.

I like cereal in the summer, its the cold milk I love, but in the winter do prefer porridge to warm up, I think porridge is more filling too.

Have fun deciding x

MuffinTops

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

That sounds really scary on your bike!!! Glad you're OK though, I love the idea of cycling to get around London quicker but the roads and amount of traffic terrify me!

The cereal option will be cheapest and maybe have the toast as a treat occasionaly on days that will be spendy anyway? I wish I liked milk or id have cereal everyday too right now I have beans on toast everyday which is 45p from my canteen allowance

It's surprisingly less scary than it sounds. I think drivers are so used to cyclists now that it's part of their driving awareness. If you ever decide you'd really like to ride and want some "help" I think we work quite close to each other so I'd be happy to go for a lunchtime ride with you to help build your confidence. I'm not far from Barbican/Moorgate/Farringdon.

I do struggle on the breakfast front, so thank you for the advice. beans on toast sounds like a great start to the day. Is that 2 slices of toast or just 1?

MuffinTops

debtfree2015 wrote: »

Glad you're ok Muffin, that must have been a shock!

Id love a siesta. In france they have a 2 hr lunch break, their lunch is like the equivalent to our dinner its huge, 3 courses, then their dinner is small and light eg sandwich, toast, soup & fairly late 7-8pm as lunch really sees you through the day. I really used to notice the difference in my energy levels when we were over there for projects, it would be a shock to the system coming back after a few days over there.

RE breakfast, you could treat yourself, ie 2-3 mornings order porridge or toast, the rest of the time have cereal.

I do have an idea if you prefer porridge, when dd was a baby, I had this zipped 'jacket' for her bottles that would keep them hot for hours.
If you got milk to boiling point right before you leave the house and put it into a flask or bottle that can fit in a jacket - depending how long your cycle to work is it may still be hot by the time you get to work, or even try a small flask. If not maybe instant milk - not sure how that would turn out Im not keen on instant milk in tea, but may be ok in porridge.

I like cereal in the summer, its the cold milk I love, but in the winter do prefer porridge to warm up, I think porridge is more filling too.

Have fun deciding x

Thank you DB. I have tried flasking porridge in but it turns to a thick gloopy goo. A friend of mine brings hers in and adds extra milk or hot water so maybe I should try that. Thank you for reminding me.

I could also boil a couple of eggs and meat free sausages and throw them in a small food flask too on other days. It's all sounding easier to deal with now as I do get caught up in the little details sometimes. x

LondonGirl252

MuffinTops wrote: »

It's surprisingly less scary than it sounds. I think drivers are so used to cyclists now that it's part of their driving awareness. If you ever decide you'd really like to ride and want some "help" I think we work quite close to each other so I'd be happy to go for a lunchtime ride with you to help build your confidence. I'm not far from Barbican/Moorgate/Farringdon.

I do struggle on the breakfast front, so thank you for the advice. beans on toast sounds like a great start to the day. Is that 2 slices of toast or just 1?

Thanks very much! I might take you up on that one day, yes we are close I'm nr Liverpool St

Depends, most days just one as it is quite filling but some days I do have 2

MuffinTops

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

Thanks very much! I might take you up on that one day, yes we are close I'm nr Liverpool St

Depends, most days just one as it is quite filling but some days I do have 2

I do mean it too. You know where I am, just PM me and we can arrange a little bike ride. Even if it's months down the line. I love cycling and was so nervous to start with, but a friend helped me out and I've never looked back so always happy to pay it forward.