What a Year.....Climbing Back on the Wagon

Maryland_Cookie

Long time lurker, first time poster to your diary MT. Just wanted to pop in and say hello, really love your writing style and enjoy reading your diary. We are the same age, and I’m very dog broody....I have to make do with family and friends dogs until I get my own! So I love ready about your puppy.

I’m also trying to lose a stone, I used to love running and reading how well you are doing is spurring me on!

I love spinach and chick pea curry, or you could whizz the chick peas up to make hummus. I love the BBC food website. Have you looked at Jack Monroe’s books/website, cooking on a bootstrap some great recipes on there.

I’ve just finished reading The Breakdown by BA Paris, it was really good if you fancy a good book whilst the weather is dire.

mumblingtaff

Thank you Honeysuckle and Maryland - some fab food suggestions. I'm a reluctant cook, find it quite stressful but it usually turns out ok. Edible at least.... I'll have a look at the BBC site and Jack Monroe's website - I follow her on Twitter so don't know why I didn't think of that!
Thank you too for the book recommendation. I need to get back into reading.

Have just pottered about and done a short dog walk this evening - spoke to mum too. No issues at home thankfully.
Quite tired now - might have an early night - 11,500 steps done today, not as good as the last few days but it has chucked it down.

Buffythedebtslayer

Mumblingstaff I wish I had your energy!

and you are so organised! I have no cooking suggestions beyond egg and chips

XX

Honeysucklelou2

If you have chance to catch a glimpse of the Riverford cookbooks, they are full of veg based dishes. That's where the courgette, chick pea and coconut curry was found. Riverford is a organic veg box company, over quite a few counties I think.

mumblingtaff

Thank you Honeysuckle and Buffy! I'm a rubbish cook but feel the need to get a bit more organised and domesticated.

Woke up feeling a bit rubbish, but took the woofer for a 2km walk and felt a bit better afterwards.
Then met a friend to do a 5km run - struggled at the beginning but got into it after a while. Glad I did it now but am physically tired today. We went for a brunch afterwards and they insisted on paying so double bonus! Tried to be good and just had a small veggie breakfast and diet coke.

Next door are having a new boiler fitted and part of the installation is partition wall cavity insulation, which they're doing now. I had the external walls insulated last year but this is extra free adjoining wall insulation - can only be a good thing. It's a bit noisy but will be over soon and they only had to survey my house not do any work in it (it's a semi detached).

Will go to the cinema this afternoon/evening to see Midsommar - just waiting to hear what time we're going.
It's not raining yet but will be later so it's something to do to stop me going round the twist!

Discovered the BBC Sounds app this morning whilst walking the dog - there's loads of good podcasts on it. Listened to the start of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - I read the book a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. Will investigate other things once I've finished that. All good and free!

mumblingtaff

Morning all....
It's dry and sunny!!!! Hurrah!!! Hope the dam holds for those poor people in Derbyshire. Looks dreadful. Fingers crossed for them.

Have been to the park with the woofer this morning - he was very naughty and ran back to the car towards the end - nearly gave me a heart attack, I was like Usain Bolt running after him! He knows he's done wrong (even though I didn't shout at him) and is now very quiet. Will take him out on the lead in a bit to make sure he doesn't develop a "thing". He's a lovely little thing but doesn't have any road sense yet - I was petrified! No harm done though.

Went to the cinema with my friend last night - had a quick drink then saw Midsommar - oh my god!! What a disturbing film! It's properly odd and very trippy - came out not knowing what to make of it really. Not one for those of a delicate disposition.....

Next door are finally having their boiler fitted so there's lots of banging and bashing going on. Hope it doesn't last too long.....

Not sure what today will bring yet - hopefully the weather will hold so I can spend plenty of time outdoors. Have cleaned the wooden floors and whizzed the Hoover round downstairs so the house is tidy for now at least.
Need to book a hair appointment and an eye brow tint and tidy so will sort that today. Will think about what I need to take to Wales and do a bit of ironing over the next day or two. Might also pop into the vet to weigh the dog when I'm passing - just interested in how much he's grown over the past few weeks.

mumblingtaff

Had a nice day so far.
Decided mid morning to make the most of the dry weather and get out and about so have been to a local dog friendly pub for a sandwich and diet coke for lunch (£6 from my purse spent) and then did a long walk along the river and round a lake. Had a lovely time in the fresh air and it's completely tired the pooch out. He's flat on his back snoring now.

We also popped into to vets to weigh him and he's just under 5kg now - doubled in weight in the last 10 weeks or so. I was concerned that he's very skinny underneath all the fluff but the practice manager, who also breeds cockapoos, said he was perfectly fine and healthy and will fill out. He's eating well so I suppose it's a case of the rest of him catching up with his height. Nice to be reassured though and didn't cost a thing

I've also managed to get my eyebrows done - a tint and tidy for £10. They were desperate for a going over though...at least it looks like I've got eyebrows now My sister shaved them off when I was a child and I've never really had full eyebrows since!
I've booked a hair appointment for two weeks time when I get paid. Might get a quick fringe trim in the meantime though - starting to look like my own shaggy dog

Just a mini moan - I dropped the bag of stuff off at the charity shop and didn't even get a thank you. Grrrr!!!! Now I don't expect a trumpet fanfare but the common courtesy of a small thank you is just good manners. All I got was "leave it there" as she turned away.... They won't be getting my donations again
Not earth shattering in the grand scheme of things but it did annoy me. Rant over!

crazy_cat_lady

MT!!!! :D:D
I am such a stalker, but I have found you again. I'm really rubbish at looking for new diaries, but I had been wondering if you were about, then suddenly I saw that you'd posted on another diary I subscribe to.
What a few months you've had! Sorry about your old doggo - I had tears in my eyes reading it and I don't even know you other than on here - I know how important he was to you. But sounds as though you're having a whale of a time with pup.
I am pleased that you've given XOH the boot. In my opinion he's never shown you the respect that I think you deserve, but it's easy for me to sit here in judgement when I haven't lived your life and have made such a mess of my own. Really good on you for going to Cornwall on your own and having a good time.
I have subscribed and will carry on stalking you. Hope you don't mind.

mumblingtaff

Don't mind at all CC!!!
I've just read yours too ... You've had a rubbish time too - why is life so bloody complicated sometimes???
We'll get there... Onwards and upwards - one step at a time.
I listened to a Eddie Izzard podcast ages ago - it was all about running and mental health but is applicable to anything. He said that you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other - doesn't matter how fast or how far, just keep going forward. Wise words....

mumblingtaff

Morning - up at about 5.30 as pup needed a wee but was then wide awake - he's fast asleep again....

Some good news - have weighed this morning and have lost 3.5lbs since last weekend . It could have been more but the end of the week wasn't as strict as the beginning. Still, it's given me the motivation to carry on.

Going to walk the dog and go for a run and then see what the day brings.
A mini triumph for me though - my Fitbit watch strap broke yesterday and rather than buy a new one I've managed to fix it with the help of some ageing superglue found in the kitchen drawer