julicorn's journey

Karmacat

Yep, big holiday plans don't really work, do they - even smaller ones can come a cropper, as everyone currently in Spain can testify. 

German islands - Julia Bradbury did a walking holiday thing on a German island, or was it a string of them?  **slinks off to google maps too**  Yes, I knew it had a coastline - Hamburg is where the Beatles served their apprenticeships, after all!

julicorn

South_coast said:

*slinks off to look up German islands on Google maps* - I did at least know it had a coastline though!

Your balance is looking amazing. Not long until you've halved that original mortgage!

Thank you, and yes, half is at least in sight! I think we should get there spring next year or so, so not too long now

julicorn

Karmacat said:

Yep, big holiday plans don't really work, do they - even smaller ones can come a cropper, as everyone currently in Spain can testify. 

German islands - Julia Bradbury did a walking holiday thing on a German island, or was it a string of them?  **slinks off to google maps too**  Yes, I knew it had a coastline - Hamburg is where the Beatles served their apprenticeships, after all!

Very true! Ah well, at least we if we are stranded in Germany, we can head home with my parents and work from there - not ideal, but better than having to find accommodation and all that. 

And yes, that's right! She did one on Ruegen I believe, which is quite close to the one we are going to (Usedom). I think what adds to it is that most of the larger German islands are in the Baltic Sea and used to belong to the GDR / East Germany, so even less of a chance of anyone having come across that. It's a beautiful area, lovely sandy beaches, quite sheltered because most of the Atlantic waves get sort of blocked off by Denmark, so tends to be quite calm and relatively warm. The coast on the Western side is a lot more exposed to the elements, also a lovely landscape but a bit less of a traditional beach holiday feel. 
 
Speaking of beaches, we just went on a nice walk along the seafront here by the Brighton/Hove border. It's always nice and quiet on Sunday mornings, even when the weather is lovely, so we sat on a bench and watched some baby seagulls splash about in the sea. I still actually quite like seagulls, but that's a very unpopular opinion around here Went to Caffe Nero after to get our free drink for the week, a nice new routine for sure.

Today, I'm going to put together a meal plan for when we have money again (1st of August - right now, we are well and truly YNAB broke and will need to use what we got in the cupboards instead). I impulse-bought another cookbook last night which should arrive today, and because I have way too many cookbooks I barely ever use, I decided that for the next few weeks/months, I want to pick a cookbook each week and cook 5 dinners from that cookbook in that week. I've been cooking so much more since lockdown started (that was usually Mr julicorn's job, but he's quite enjoying the change), so I might as well use the recipe's I've got already! I might post the plans here if anyone's interested.   

South_coast

I like seagulls too, they're part of living by the sea (although even I get irked when they poop on my car). I never quite get it when people move to the coast and then complain about them - er, they were there first and it's not like you didn't know about them before you moved there! They don't help themselves though in endearing themselves to the human race - a bit less nicking food and going through the bins and they'd get themselves a much better reputation 🤣!

julicorn

Very true, but anywhere else I've lived it's been rats rather than seagulls going through the bins, and at least seagulls mostly stay out of people's homes I think they're almost doing us a favour in that way, the alternative is worse!

Sistergold

Julicorn

Speaking of beaches, we just went on a nice walk along the seafront here by the Brighton/Hove border. It's always nice and quiet on Sunday mornings, even when the weather is lovely, so we sat on a bench and watched some baby seagulls splash about in the sea. I still actually quite like seagulls, but that's a very unpopular opinion around here Went to Caffe Nero after to get our free drink for the week, a nice new routine for sure.

Today, I'm going to put together a meal plan for when we have money again (1st of August - right now, we are well and truly YNAB broke and will need to use what we got in the cupboards instead). I impulse-bought another cookbook last night which should arrive today, and because I have way too many cookbooks I barely ever use, I decided that for the next few weeks/months, I want to pick a cookbook each week and cook 5 dinners from that cookbook in that week. I've been cooking so much more since lockdown started (that was usually Mr julicorn's job, but he's quite enjoying the change), so I might as well use the recipe's I've got already! I might post the plans here if anyone's interested.   

Hello
Yes meal plans would be nice, please post as you go along if you can. I want to start getting into meal plans. I also have millions of cookbooks. I am now just trying not to buy anymore! I have told myself that I have to cook every recipe I have on the bookshelf if not I don’t ever buy another book . I don’t think though I will be able to go through every recipe but at least thats helping me not buy any more. 

Used to go to Brighton just to walk on the peer and have ice cream. I also loved going to Bournemouth. The Brighton peer was the one which caught fire some time ago or did it not? Was it rebuilt? Might be confusing with another peer catching fire! Have not been to Brighton in years now. Really lovely town though I must say. It has its own charm and character I found!  

Lucky you for staying there! 

Xx

julicorn

Cheers @Sistergold! Brighton has 2 piers, the Palace Pier / Brighton Pier which is still open, and another one (the West Pier) which has been closed for a long time (at least since the 80s I think?) and then burned down in I think 2003. There's still bits of the burned pier in the water, but more and more gets washed away every year, and in every major storm. 

Last night we made hummus out of what we had in the cupboard, which included making our own tahini - surprisingly easy, and it genuinely turned out nicer than store-bought hummus! We'll keep using up random bits and bobs we have in the cupboard this week because YNAB will tell us off if we do any shopping before Saturday, but I've ordered ingredients for the week following that. This is what's on the meal plan, starting next weekend:

Breakfast: I want to give porridge a go, I've never really liked it so far (it probably doesn't help that it's called 'oat slime' in German ). We're going to try fried banana, hazelnut & chocolate porridge, and also stewed strawberry & peanut butter porridge during the week. I'm hoping that will also keep me full for longer, when I have cereal or toast or even yogurt with fruit I'm usually starving by around 11. 

Dinner: I've planned in 5 different dinners, most should be fast-ish to cook:
- Corn chowder
- Lasagne
- Sun-dried tomato and broccoli pasta
- Punchy peanut curry
- Nasi Goreng (I'm especially excited for this one, it was one of the few ready meals I had a fair bit growing up, and I must have not eaten any in at least 15 years! Mr julicorn has never tried it. I hope it lives up to my hype.) 

Lunch: The above all make 4-6 portions each, so there should be plenty of leftovers to see us through. 

The recipes are all from the cookbook I got yesterday, it's called Plants Only Kitchen by Gaz Oakley. I like it so far, there's lots of pictures in it and the recipes look simple enough, but I shall report back  

Karmacat

Oat slime I throw in all sorts to my porridge - peanut butter, honey, linseed, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, cinnamon, those are regulars, plus ashwagandha and anything else I fancy

julicorn

Nice one @Karmacat ! I think I need to start of with really fancy porridge to get over my porridge phobia, and then slowly work my way down to slightly simpler options Can't go wrong with cinnamon & sugar though I'm sure. 

Sistergold

I do love sun dried tomato!