Wednesday 26 December 2012

dietdevil: Striking while the iron's hot!

dietdevil: Striking while the iron's hot!: So Christmas 2012 is over! Thank goodness is what I say - I am definitely team humbug and due to being a bit depressed the last few weeks I...

Striking while the iron's hot!

So Christmas 2012 is over! Thank goodness is what I say - I am definitely team humbug and due to being a bit depressed the last few weeks I have had to drag every ounce of goodwill out of my system to get through it.................and I did!
 
I may have mentioned in previous blogs, but I am planning on giving up meat for 2013. I will eat fish if I feel the need but as I don't really like fish that much then I am thinking it wont be that often. I believe the correct phrase is pescatarian. Martha is joining me in this attempt.
 
We had dinner at the in laws today and also tea today and as Ma in law is a vegetarian there was quite a lot of food that had no meat there and very nice it was too.
 
However, as I tucked into a gigantic slab of pork pie I thought about my forthcoming resolution and decided as from tomorrow the meat is going to go!!!!!
 
I am doing it for ethical reasons.
 
I love meat and I have no issue with eating it. What I do have issues with is the mass production of meat through farming and how the animals are treated these days. I have watched a few videos, spoken to a few people and am going to give it a try.
 
I will miss bacon, pork, chicken, beef, lamb, the lot.
 
Wish me luck!

Saturday 22 December 2012

dietdevil: Off my trolley!

dietdevil: Off my trolley!: So, yeah, ok I've been slack and I am hanging my head in deep deep shame. It is 15 days since I last blogged and I was being ever so good ...

Off my trolley!

So, yeah, ok I've been slack and I am hanging my head in deep deep shame. It is 15 days since I last blogged and I was being ever so good too.
 
It is 3 days until Christmas and never before have I been so disorganised. It's hard when your kids are older. When they're little you can buy big plastic things and colouring books and pens but when they are 15 and 20 it's not so easy.
 
Clothes are totally out of the question - whatever I buy would be met with a polite 'thanks, it's great'  and an exchange of glances between them, jewellery is much the same, make up is a safe bet but they already have tons, is there any need for dvd's and cd's with netflix and iphones / ipods about?
 
So it's difficult and because of this I grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns today and thought I would nail it in 3 shops.
 
 
1. Tesco Extra - basic food and gifts .
 
2. Marks and Sparks - nicer food and gifts.
 
3. Bookers Cash and Carry - we need coal and logs and a large bottle of gin for my father in law.
 
 
Well I managed the first two. Just.
 
 
Martha came to 'help' so I had to strategically place things I had bought her under loaves of bread and coffee ( I was also trying to do a 'normal' shop at the same time) whilst having my ankles bashed and trying to weave my way up the cheese section.
 
Nerves were frayed and tempers were running high. One shopper had the utther audacity to stop and look at her list in front of the mini pork pies and I could feel a dull thudding in my temples begin.
 
The queues were horrific. I stood behind a lady who had literally bought everything. She commented to me at one point 'ooh I bet you wish you had joined another queue now' and I gave what I hoped was a jovial smile but I think was more of a snarl with the odd facial tick thrown in.
 
Why do we do it. WHY?
 
It's 2 days and in our case we are out for both of them so there was really no need for me to panic over the pringles, obsess next to the olives and hyperventilate beside the humous.
 
On the plus side, I have been given heaps and heaps of yummy merlot by customers so I am planning on cracking a bottle open tonight in between resisting the profiterole pyramid that is sat on the top shelf of my fridge.
 
Cheers!
 
 

Friday 7 December 2012

dietdevil: 18 days left and still nowt!

dietdevil: 18 days left and still nowt!: So I am honestly trying!    I have still not bought a single present yet and have no idea what to buy when I eventually do.   Marth...

18 days left and still nowt!

So I am honestly trying!
 
 I have still not bought a single present yet and have no idea what to buy when I eventually do.
 
Martha wants a Mac Book Air ( no chance ) , Hattie wants some Ugg boots ( possibly ) , hubby wants some long johns and dog clippers (!) and I want some new slippers.
 
St Ives is looking very Christmassy and is so cold. We drove round town after work today and I was determined to get a photo of waves crashing onto the rocks at Mann's Head at Clodgy. It took absolutley ages and everytime I gave up a huge wave would come along. I eventually got this ......
 
which I was very pleased with. It may have been cold but the sea was breathtaking.
 
We are looking forward to Hattie coming back home next Sunday. Martha and I went to Truro College last night for eyt another open evening ( no, she still hasn't decided where she is going ) and we had some homemade chocolate truffles. They were delcious.
 
We are going to make some and some mince pies for Christmas.
 
My diet is now non existent but soon it will be January................
 

Wednesday 28 November 2012

dietdevil: We all need a bit of comfort

dietdevil: We all need a bit of comfort: So the diet is still not happening.  I am too cold to eat salad. I want comfort food and therefore tonight's dinner is toad in the hole w...

We all need a bit of comfort

So the diet is still not happening.
 I am too cold to eat salad. I want comfort food and therefore tonight's dinner is toad in the hole with mashed potatoes and onion gravy. Proper homemade toad in the hole with posh pork sausages with apple and sage.
 As they say in St Ives - ansum!
 
As they say in Alnwick - barrey!
 
 
 
Everybody loved it - well when I say everybody I mean myself, hubby and Martha. The spaniels liked the look of it too and I'm sure if the cat wasn't sleeping in the bottom of the airing cupboard in the bathroom then I am sure he would have twitched his nose appreciatively as well.
 
Tomorrow it's quiz night and our team is playing against the most disliked team in the whole league. Their 'captain' is referred to as many things - one of the kinder comparisons is Lord Voldermort. He has been known to cheat, he never buys a drink ( and tuts when we make one of our frequesnt trips to the bar) and at the end of the evening he scoops whatever food is left into his manbag, claiming it's for 'his cats'.
 
I would like to say I am joking but I'm not.
 
I hope tomorrow night's buffet consists of something soggy and it makes it harder for him to scoop.The venue we are playing at is not renowned for its' culinary fayre and last time I recall we had deep fried polenta and chips with curry sauce.
 
Not an egg sandwich in sight - maybe tomorrow would be a good day to resume my diet?

Tuesday 27 November 2012

dietdevil: Paws for thought

dietdevil: Paws for thought: So November officially sucks. You wake up and it's dark and it never really gets light all day. In exactly 4 weeks time it was be 'C' and I...

Paws for thought

So November officially sucks. You wake up and it's dark and it never really gets light all day. In exactly 4 weeks time it was be 'C' and I still haven't bought a single present. I nearly bought one last night but managed to restrain myself. Plus, if the world is going to end on December 21st I really don't want to spend any money on anything until the day after...............if there is a day after, obviously. I also wont be putting my tree up before then either and the thought of Freddy the shredder and a tree in the same room is slightly worrying.
 
 Speaking of the spaniels, Mutley was having his morning play and started limping again this morning. He was apparently fine on his walkies this afternoon but is now looking very sorry for himself.
 
He can barely put his saw paw to the ground so it looks like another trip to Gemma the vet tomorrow.
 
Even Freddy knows that his partner in crime isn't up to his customary wrestle and romp so is sitting quietly. It's a sad day for the four legged members of our house today.I hate it when the animals are ill - they cant tell you how much pain they are in and those big brown  eyes are tugging on my heart strings.
 
 
All the brownies are now gone but my fruit bowl remains full. I know I know I know that I need to get a grip and start eating healthily, but I just feel so uninspired at the moment.
 
Fat club is a dim and distant memory  - I just need to find my mojo. The problem is, with the weather as it is all we wear is thick leggings and baggy jumpers so waistbands don't come into the equation.
 
I miss my massive SW breakfasts. I even miss my swiss roll and couscous cake.My only social engagement in the next week is the book group 'C' do a week from now so I could really try and have a virtuous few days until then.
 
Or........I could ask Martha to make some more brownies.
 
Hmmm.
 
 
 
 
 

Monday 26 November 2012

dietdevil: Brownies. storms, cardies and twitter!

dietdevil: Brownies. storms, cardies and twitter!: So I haven't blogged for a few days. It's wet , it's miserable and I have been eating brownies so I haven't had the time or the inclination...

Brownies. storms, cardies and twitter!

So I haven't blogged for a few days. It's wet , it's miserable and I have been eating brownies so I haven't had the time or the inclination to put finger to keyboard.
 
Oh I also had to have a bloodtest today and whilst in the doctors I glanced at the stall that the old ladies run.
 
 It has EVERYTHING!
 
 Books, bric a brac, and hand knits a plenty!
 
 
It reminds me of the 1970's but in a good way. The 3 old dears were having a blast - sitiing in their special chairs, having a good old yarn and selling the odd plate or scarf. It's my friend and fellow blogger Leanne's dream job and I thought of her when I was snapping this pic of the handknitted cardies for today's blog. The old ladies were very suspicious and I think if there had been a security guard there then he would have been called. I obviously would have shown him my cotton wool and plaster dressing and pleaded insanity.
 
Most of Cornwall seems to have flooded apart from St Ives. On saturday night there were dozens of photos on Facebook of towns and villages under gallons of water but barely a sprinkle in our town.
 
I was indoors warm and cosy anyway with a gigantic brownie to keep me company. Martha made them and I have to say they were DEEELISH. There was a  lot of butter and sugar involved so I have avoided my scales for a few days now.
 
Now on to Twitter! I have fallen in love with it. Today alone for example, I have interracted with several friends and have declared war on Christopher Maloney's supporters ( well one of them, and she started it ) and it's fab! If anyone wants to follow MEEEEEEE! then please do .
 
I love writing and I love chatting so it combines both of them perfectly.
 
And incase you were all wondering about my 'diet'?
 
I too have been wondering where my mojo has gone.............I have been suffering from stress and anxiety recently ( dont be fooled by the chirpy exterior ) and any food to hand has been going in my mouth. I know I feel worse for it but am not in the right place at the moment.
 
I can still see my toes so that's good.
 
I can also still see some of that naughty brownie in the kitchen - god help me.

Sunday 18 November 2012

dietdevil: Thank goodness for the pudding!

dietdevil: Thank goodness for the pudding!: So I like beef and I like olives. I do not like beef olives.  Mine were a complete and utter flop. The beef unwrapped itself from aroun...

Thank goodness for the pudding!

So I like beef and I like olives.
I do not like beef olives.
 Mine were a complete and utter flop. The beef unwrapped itself from around the sausages and ended up in crispy swirls nestled in between the carrots. Oh and I had forgotten how much I dislike beef sausages too so maybe logically it was a non starter from the outset :(
 

Luckily Martha had gone to her grandmother's house and made a blackforest bread and butter pudding which softened the blow of the horrible main course.
 
I am now having a glass of wine and waiting for X factor to start.
 
I have been given some helpful advice from a friend today and have a few positive plans for the future.
 
It's the second leg of the mini quiz league tomorrow night that will determine whether my team ( I can't remember the name we gave ourselves but think it may have been 'the no hopers'  ) get to go to the star studded final. Seeing as we came second bottom last week, this is not very likely.
 
I think it's more likely that I will attempt to cook beef olives again.

Saturday 17 November 2012

dietdevil: Och aye the nooooooooooo

dietdevil: Och aye the nooooooooooo: So my Mammy is from Scotland and I have very clear memories of some of the meals she cooked for us when I was a wean . Stovies, mince and...

Och aye the nooooooooooo

So my Mammy is from Scotland and I have very clear memories of some of the meals she cooked for us when I was a wean.
Stovies, mince and totties and gallons of proper broth and as I recall everything came with bread and proper butter - of course if there was jam or ham on the bread it would have been called a piece.
 I would like to point out right here that looking back on my childhood menu may give me some indication of why I have a weight problem, hmmmm!
 
My friend Rosina is also from North of the border and I love talking to her about the meals she cooks too. The other week she told me about 'beef olives' and I had never heard of them before but I haven't lived with my mother since 1987 so I may have forgotten.
 
According to wee Rosina it's basically beef sausages wrapped in beef ( I can feel a meat sweat coming on ) but I have just looked for the recipe online and there's all sorts of high falluting other ingredients. I will cook it Rosina style. Tescos were doing beef sausages on special offer so I have loads in my fridge and I am looking forward to how it turns out. Rosina is alwso having some of them.
 
Other things my mother did that were very Scottish were - putting salt on her porridge, make a lot of scones almost every day ( pronounced to rhyme with 'gone' and not 'stone' ) and there was always a steamed pudding on the go.
 
I often wonder what Hattie and Martha will tell their kids about meals I have cooked. Martha is notriously fussy about what she eats and will often whip something up herself rather than eat what I am having. In all fairness, frylited healthy chips or lasagne with a cottage cheese topping instead of creamy white sauce may be appealing to someone that goes to fat club but not so appealing   to someone that doesn't have to.
 
I like food and I find it interesting. I genuinely enjoy hearing about people's favourite dishes from their youth and however much we try to recreate them, it never quite tastes the same.
 
My Mum's stovies were to die for and I have only attempted them once and they just weren't as good.
 
 She also did a mean bread and butter pudding the 'scottish' way, filling the dish of bread, butter , sugar and sutanas with custard and baked until it set. It always had a thick skin on it and that, to me was the best part.
Oh and it was never served with cream or anything that fancy - it was always milk, which incidentally was what we always poured onto warm apple pie.
 
Of course, back in the day, we all had full cream milk didn't we? I remember my Granny being horrified when she tried skimmed milk - I think she only tried it once and thought it was water with some white powder stirred in.
 
I will give you all the verdict on my beef olives tomorrow. I may have  a back up meal just incase it all goes horribly wrong!



Friday 16 November 2012

dietdevil: Where the hell is the cress?

dietdevil: Where the hell is the cress?: So last night our quiz team faced its weekly humiliation and got beaten by even more points than ever. I so wish I paid more attention to c...

Where the hell is the cress?

So last night our quiz team faced its weekly humiliation and got beaten by even more points than ever. I so wish I paid more attention to current affairs, history, geography, sport etc etc and all the things that  true quizzer should know.
 
But I don't.
 
I did however get my 'individual' question right. The subject was the 90's and as I was having babies in the 90's I watched a lot more telly and read the newspapers I was fairly confident.
The question was - who was Kurt Cobain's wife?
 
There was a 6 pointer on football - we got NIL points. There was a ten pointer on Oscar winning films - we got 7 and there was a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 question where we actually got a respectable 4 points - the answer to that was Bradley Walsh.
 
I only really go for the grub and the banter. I even missed dinner last night in anticipation of some lovely egg sarnies and I was gutted to see that they weren't your bog standard egg and cress ones but fancy egg and coleslaw. There are some things that shouldn't messed with and egg sarnies are one of them.
 
Today has clarified how much I hate my job. I would like to say that I only hate it sometimes but I genuinely do hate it at least 80% of the time. I basically spend a LOT of time correcting other people's mistakes and I resent doing this as I have shizzle of my own to do. By 11 am this morning I had had quite enough and just wanted to run down Back Road West screaming and frothing at the mouth.
 
I am making another proper homemade meal tonight - roast pork. I have even made yorkshire puddings and I also made the mistake of weighing myself too.
 It wasn't good.
 
I blame the fancy sarnies - coleslaw weighs much more than cress.
 
And it was Courtney Love, incase you didn't know.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

dietdevil: Hej Sverige! and pies.

dietdevil: Hej Sverige! and pies.: So it's interesting to see who reads my blog. It would appear that the Brits and the Americans like me and it always gives me a thrill to s...

Hej Sverige! and pies.

So it's interesting to see who reads my blog. It would appear that the Brits and the Americans like me and it always gives me a thrill to see a new country appear on my list of who has read it. My blog buddy Leanne always seems to attract the more obscure foreigners whereas I seem to be a magnet to basically the western world and occasionally the odd Japanese person .
 
I was thrilled to see that Sweden are reading it! I like Sweden because I like the Eurovision song contest and Abba and Roxette and I used to love it when Hale and Pace did the sketch about frisky Swedes in the sauna. I don't want to change what I blog about but it would be nice to keep my Scandinavian readers so I shall just do as I have always done and basically write a lot of nonsense about diets, books groups and naughty dogs.
 
I promised my hubby that I would make a pie today and by dinnertime I really couldn't be bothered. It's a lot of fussing around for something that I can buy from Tescos at half the price - and if I get a Tesco 'finest' one it will probably taste nicer. BUT - I still did it. It has chicken, bacon, sweetcorn and mushrooms in it and it is looking mighty fine. The pastry bit was touch and go and it kept splitting and I had flour EVERYWHERE so I hope he appreciates it.
 
He took Maddie to the vets today for her booster jabs and the vet has said she 'would like' Maddie to lose a kilo. I have noticed that she is getting a bit broad recently and she is infamous for nicking the cat food at every given opportunity but I am not sure how we are going to do this. Dogs are stupid - and will eat and eat until they are sick so I think a smaller cup of dried dog food in her dinner and a longer walk each day may be in order.
 
Martha has gone to Truro to see the Christmas lights being switched on - oh god, I have mentioned the 'C' word. I now need some wine........................and a slice of that pie,

Tuesday 13 November 2012

dietdevil: Happiness is.............a dog called Mutley

dietdevil: Happiness is.............a dog called Mutley: So life is a bit hard for me at the moment. My diet has gone to pot, my belly is getting bigger and I have all sorts of things that I need ...

Happiness is.............a dog called Mutley

So life is a bit hard for me at the moment. My diet has gone to pot, my belly is getting bigger and I have all sorts of things that I need to sort out but am playing a waiting game. I go to bed, I sleep, I wake up far too early, I worry and then I fall back to sleep for an hour before I have to get up and face all the problems again.
A phrase I often use to friends going through a bad patch is 'nothing lasts for ever' and this is true. Things will get better and I have lots to be thankful for so I will no longer dwell on the negative as from now - well for today anyway!
 
My 18 month year old springer Mutley came along 2 months before the dear Daisy died last year. Maybe it was a premonition by myself and my hubby but he has been a blessing in disguise.
 
 
I love my doggies and out of all 3 of them Mutley is definitely the happiest. Maddie is a little bit 'special' and Freddy is a puppy and is too busy  often eating lightbulbs and shoes to settle down for long but Mutley is a big cuddly lump.
 
Just look at the photo and tell me that a dog can't look happy?
 
You can see it in their eyes - the devotion and the ? , well the LOVE - I don't care what anybody  says.......it is 100% true!
 
I adore the energy that they have for each new day - nothing bad from the day before is carried over - each new morning heralds the start of another canine adventure .
 
This is why they are man's best friend and no matter how low I feel I know there will always be a wet nose to nuzzle into me and nudge me out of my gloom.
 
Tomorrow is another day and I shall approach it 'springer' style.
 
Woof.
 

Monday 12 November 2012

dietdevil: back to 3

dietdevil: back to 3: So today we waved Hattie off................   She's not back til Christmas and I am feeling very low. I am glad that she is happy and...

back to 3

So today we waved Hattie off................
 
She's not back til Christmas and I am feeling very low. I am glad that she is happy and loved being at uni but a few days is never enough to say all the things I want to say to her. Yes, I cried and to be honest, an hour after she has gone and I am still crying.
 
 
On a slightly jollier note I am playing in a quiz tonight at The Western Hotel. The ultimate prize tonight is £2000 and a star studded final and free pasties beckons. I went along to watch the final last year up in the wooky wilds of St Austell and I seem to recall there was a LOT of people in anoraks and some relatively famous people there.
 
Bearing in mind it is teams of 4 and we only have 3 mambers and none of us know anything whatsoever about sport then I am not holding my breath............

Sunday 11 November 2012

dietdevil: Jane Harris - I salute you!

dietdevil: Jane Harris - I salute you!: So today was another quiet Sunday and we had a lovely family roast at The Sheaf. I am stuffed as full as a bandit's rifle and can't move. Th...

Jane Harris - I salute you!

So today was another quiet Sunday and we had a lovely family roast at The Sheaf. I am stuffed as full as a bandit's rifle and can't move. This is just as well because I was up til the early hours finishing this book......
 
Now as you all know I LOVE books but I have to say that this is one of the best I have ever read. I wish I could keep it quiet until it's my turn to choose again at book group but I can't..... I want everybody to read it and talk about it NOW!
 
It is rare that a book leaves me this hungry for more but this one has done it good and proper.
 
Jane Harris manipulated me and my thoughts on the central character from the start and left me unsure as to what to think at the end. If I say anymore it will give the plot away, but pleeeeease any bookworms reading this blog - read it and get in touch.
 
On another note, Hattie goes back to Cardiff tomorrow and I am sad to see her go. I will not miss the noise she makes or the fact that she brought home a traffic cone last night from her drunken shennanigans in Falmouth.
 
I am a geek so I have calculated it will be 40 days until she is back for Christmas. I will be counting those days and will be finding somewhere to dispose of the offensive cone which is currently in her bedroom.
 
 

Saturday 10 November 2012

dietdevil: I love Kahuna burgers!

dietdevil: I love Kahuna burgers!: So today we had a little bit of mother and daughter bonding time. I love having Hattie home!   We went to the Hub Bar on the harbour an...

I love Kahuna burgers!

So today we had a little bit of mother and daughter bonding time. I love having Hattie home!
 
We went to the Hub Bar on the harbour and on the recommendation of my friend Celeste I had a kahuna burger.
 
Oh my goodness it was DELICIOUS.
 
So was the sundae that I had at Moomaid of Zennor afterwards.
 
I will not be having any dinner tonight and I will not be going near my bathroom scales either.
 
I have however done a Tesco shop and have bought lots of fruit and yogurts so I have every intention of behaving myself tomorrow.......actually, not tomorrow as I am off for a cheeky carvery at lunchtime but Monday is another day.
 
Sometimes life gets on the way of all our best laid plans and I don't intend spending precious time with family by eating lettuce leaves.
 
When Hattie goes back to Cardiff on Monday and I am bereft then I will open the salad drawer in the fridge.
 
The weather is miserable and the town is empty and it is 3pm on a Saturday afternoon . I am too full to move so I shall politely excuse myself from the room and sneak off and resume reading my book.
 
When that's all I have to do then I feel happy.

Thursday 8 November 2012

dietdevil: Reunited and it feels soooooo go-ooood!

dietdevil: Reunited and it feels soooooo go-ooood!: So today Hattie came back! I had a surge of motherly pleasure when the train approached..........   and hugged her as much as she wou...

Reunited and it feels soooooo go-ooood!

So today Hattie came back! I had a surge of motherly pleasure when the train approached..........

 
and hugged her as much as she would allow.
 
It is 50 days since I last saw her and as she pointed out - she was a teenager then but now she is the ripe old age of 20!
 
She is here until Monday. I had forgotten how noisy she is and she had forgotten how exciteable the spaniels are. She is currently lying on the floor and Mutley and Freddy are climbing all over her.
 
Today Freddy chewed up  a picture that I had taken ,enlarged and printed and had planned on framing for my Mum for Christmas. My friend Simon suggested that I could send her it and say it is a jigsaw.
 
Hattie has got to do lots of uni work tomorrow and is staying in the house. I am relieved about this because no matter what obstacles I remove from the lounge, Freddy always manages to find something to vandalise.
 
It is wonderful to have her back even if it is only for a few days.

Wednesday 7 November 2012

dietdevil: Life's a beach!

dietdevil: Life's a beach!: So I haven't blogged for ages.......well it's actually about a week and the reason??? Well I've had nothing much to blog about and have bee...

Life's a beach!

So I haven't blogged for ages.......well it's actually about a week and the reason??? Well I've had nothing much to blog about and have been having a few 'personal issues'.
 
I am making it sound all very mysterious - I am not getting divorced, I have no life threatening illness ( I hope ) and the world still turns so all is not lost.
 
 
I have many positives .
 
 I live in a beautiful place and hope to always live here, I have healthy and happy children and I am made from a combination of sturdy Northumbrian / Scottish stock so it's onwards and upwards for the future. I have said many a time to friends when life has kicked them in the teeth ''nothing lasts forever'' and I will take heed of my own advice and try and remain chipper throughout a tense and stressful period of my life.
 
Enough of this already - I'll tell you what I've been up to for the last few days.
 
Well........Martha went to Cardiff to stay with her sister and had a 'Wale' of a time, she did lots of shopping, ate Hattie out of student house and home and then came back and made the house not so quiet again.
Hattie is back for a long weekend tomorrow and it's 7 weeks since I have seen her and I can't wait!
 
We played the quiz against a team where the captain is a Harold Shipman lookalike and LOST as usual - but never before have I wnated to win so much. That man is VILE - I reckon Dr Shipman was probably a better laugh on a night out  and I so wish we all hadn't had that extra round of drinks because then surely we would have won???
 
It was book group last night which is my favourite night of the month! I was being all healthy and ate grapes instead of -
 
Chocolate cake
Lemon cake
Dips
Crispy type things
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Meringues
Egg sandwiches
Nachos
Quiche
Olives
Sausage rolls
 
Wasn't I good? Oh I also drank grapes as well - in the form of a cheeky little merlot which was very nice.
 
The book we read 'The Forgotten Garden' by Kate Moreton provoked quite a reaction, Most of them liked it but Leanne, Jan and I didn't. Jan found a cracking blog about it today and I agree with everything that this blogger wrote. I am still chortling at the fairy tales in the book being likened to 'lumps in mashed potato' - I wish I had penned that phrase!
 You see that's something else I have to aim for and look forward to - getting my blog quoted and linked by other bloggers.

When that happens, I know that my life  will be on the up and in the meantime  some positive vibes would be good.
 
 
Thank you.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

dietdevil: Cheesecake..................yummmmmmmmmmm

dietdevil: Cheesecake..................yummmmmmmmmmm: So I knew having that slab  I mean slice of baked cheesecake was a mistake yesterday. It's the first thing I thought about this morning and...

Cheesecake..................yummmmmmmmmmm

So I knew having that slab  I mean slice of baked cheesecake was a mistake yesterday. It's the first thing I thought about this morning and nothing was going to stop me from making one of my own.

I went on the BBC Good Food website and found what was basically the easiest recipe and this was the result. I made a basic vanilla cheesecake and sprinkled raspberries over the biscuit base and then sieved and drizzled pureed raspberries over the top before  baking it.
 
I have just sampled some and it is delicious! I had to go out and my hubby said that Martha had been 'hanging round the fridge' while I wasn't it but now it is well and truly ready to eat.
Martha goes to Cardiff tomorrow so I am going to get her to eat as much as possible before then. I have promised my neighbour Gill a slice and my friend Leanne who is I believe, making coffee cake today and  we are going to do an illicit cake swap tomorrow.
 
''But what about the diet?'' I hear you all roar!
 
I am not 'in the zone' today. Depending on how much of this bad boy is left and how much coffee cake I get in exchange there is every possibility that I will not be in the zone tomorrow either.
 It's true and it sucks.
 
It is also Halloween today. I have got a poster saying 'no trick or treaters' to stick on my door primarily because I dont want the dogs barking every 2 minutes.
Mutley has already eaten a lightbulb today and I have spent the afternoon finding big lumps of glass and I feel that a few ghouls and witches may tip him over the edge. My friend Loraine has her grand children visiting though and has asked if they can come down so I have said yes but only to them!
 
Back in the good old days in Northumberland we would carve turnips 'bagies' and stick a candle in them and go and ask for a 'penny for halloween'.  A couple of days later we would dress an old teddy in rags and go and knock on the same doors and ask for 'a penny for the guy'.
There was no pumpkins, no fancy dress and possibly quite a lot of blood lost during the bagie carving but it wasn't the Americanised commercial bonanza that it is now.
 
 I think that it's sad that everything has become all American.
 
Even baked cheesecake is Amercian .................but that is one thing I will forgive.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

dietdevil: What a cracking day!

dietdevil: What a cracking day!: So it's October half term and the town is packed. I had a wander around and snapped this pic from the top of the steps beside the Pedn Olva...

What a cracking day!

So it's October half term and the town is packed. I had a wander around and snapped this pic from the top of the steps beside the Pedn Olva Hotel.
 
The sea is of the deepest blue and the sun is out. Everyone seems relatively happy and it was nice to be out in it for a while.
 
I didn't leave the house yesterday on account of my migraine - or was it because I had 2 huge glasses of merlot on Sunday????
 
Martha is getting excited about going to stay with her big sister in Cardiff on Thursday and I am still trying to get my head round some much needed healthy eating.
 
I have just had a slice of baked cheesecake from the Cornish deli in Chapel Street so it's not going too well today. I am hoping it will click into place at some point in the next few days but at the moment I have too many things happening in my head ,
 
Tomorrow is another day - I skived off fat club this morning as I think a plus sign in my book would have dented my already fragile ego.
 
Onwards and downwards for the future - I hope.

Sunday 28 October 2012

dietdevil: I don't know what time it is

dietdevil: I don't know what time it is: So  as the clocks went back last night  we technically gain an extra hour. Dogs and cats do not understand this concept so I was up even ...

I don't know what time it is

So  as the clocks went back last night  we technically gain an extra hour.
Dogs and cats do not understand this concept so I was up even earlier than ever. Hattie also apparently doesn't understand this either as she texted me to ask what time it was when she woke up.
 
I have done very little today other than invoice people and complain about how cold it is. It is now 5.55pm and it's pitch black. I want wine but I never drink before 6pm so I will wait another 5 minutes.
 
I am also back on my 'diet' again after having eaten anything and everything yesterday. I honestly don't know what got into me but today I have been angelic.
I think it was the fact that my scales said +3 this morning that spurred me into action. I will need a miracle to lose that 3 pounds before Tuesday but if I lose one of them I will be content as I had initially set myself a target of a pound a week ansd that means I am bang on track.
 
Lovely roast pork for dinner tonight with potatoes , carrots and lovely lovely SPROUTS and some wine and the X Factor - that's what cold dark Sundays are all about.
 
I also have a bar of Cadbury's bubbly minty chocolate whcih I am hoping Martha will eat or the dogs will steal.....................

Saturday 27 October 2012

dietdevil: Keep calm and don't shout.

dietdevil: Keep calm and don't shout.: So today the town is busy again. Yesterday Island Road looked like this .................     and it was right at the bottom of it th...

Keep calm and don't shout.

So today the town is busy again. Yesterday Island Road looked like this .................

 
 
and it was right at the bottom of it that I had a 'set to' with 2 obnoxious  men and one incredibly stupid woman.
 
For thos of you that aren't familiar with Island Road, it leads to the most sought after car park in town but most people don't know that there is room for 2 lines of traffic. The left hand line is for people that want to use the carpark and the right hand one for people want to drive round the corner and exit town.
The ISW ( see bold above ) was parked somewhere in the middle and was talking to one of the OM from the car in front, no doubt probably bemoaning the fact that there are no muti storey carparks or Asdas on the harbur. We were peeped at by  the other OM who was trying to access Island Road from the narrow sliproad 3/4 down on the left. I mouthed to him that we couldn't get passed the ISW and he rolled his eyes and mouthed something back. I then got out of the car and asked ISW if she minded 'pulling in a bit' as we needed to get past and we weren't going to the carpark.
The first OM yelled 'yeah alright alright' in mockney gangsta stylee ( I think he thought he was in a Guy Ritchie film ) and I then mouthed back to OM number 2 to stop peeping when he didn't even know what he was peeping at.
 
ISW sort of moved and as we scraped our car around hers I told OM number 2 that it was two lanes and hardly 'rocket science'. He yelled at me to smile and I think may have called me a miserable cow.
 
He's right - I am a miserable cow and on days like this am more than happy to be one.
 
St Ives has small windy roads that are not built for Chelsea tractors or aggression - the Cornish take their time and do everything 'dreckly' and it's sad to see bully boys and driving and parking 'experts' littering the streets.
 
It is also bloody cold.
 
I kept checking the temperature on my iphone last night and St Ives was 6 degrees. My hometown Alnwick was zero degrees and had snow and Cardiff was 2 degrees and as Hattie was our and about I kept hoping that she had wrapped up warm.
 
I have a headache, I have eaten ice cream, I am tired and tonight I am having fish and chips.
 
I know I know I know that I was trying my hardest but after the stresses of today I think only fried food and alcohol ( merlot) will placate me...............oh and X Factor too.
 
The clocks go back an hour too so technically that means an hour extra in bed.
 
I am going to explain this to the spaniels later - in between mouthfulls of the red stuff and mushy peas.
 
On a jollier note - this is what anyone arriving in St Ives would have been greeted with today.

Friday 26 October 2012

dietdevil: Oh I would love to...................but I can't

dietdevil: Oh I would love to...................but I can't: So today has been freezing in St Ives, even by my Northumbrian standards and I wrapped up warm. I have a husband that is incapable of shu...

Oh I would love to...................but I can't

So today has been freezing in St Ives, even by my Northumbrian standards and I wrapped up warm.
I have a husband that is incapable of shutting any door in the house and the atmosphere is decidedly frosty....and not just dur to the weather.
 
On my rounds through town we parked in Island Square right next to the cafe that Martha worked in during the summer.....'Olive's'
 
I really wanted to go in and have hot coffee and a big slab of squidgy cake but as I am still in my angelic phase at the moment I resisted.
In the summer Martha would often come home with gigantic scones and massive pieces of sticky lemon gateau and prawn and cream cheese baguettes and ham ploughman sandwiches on granary bread and I just wanted to eat them too. I never did but who knows what next summer will bring..........
 
It's the sort of weather that you need
1. a warm hearty meal
2. a warm hearty glass
of wine
and as Martha is cooking spag bol and I have already supping on some merlot, then I am taking my own advice.
 
School also broke up today for half term - this means that I can have some lie ins next week - hurray. I could have done with one today - I woke up at 5 am and didn't fall back to sleep until after 6 am and then I had a bizarre dream that Hattie was on the USA X factor and got through to boot camp which was at her friend Poppy's house.
 
I can't even blame the cheese for my odd dreams, as after 'feta-gate' from last week I have laid off it as much as possible.
 
I will be having some with my spag bol however, no doubt in between screaming
''SHUT THE ****ING DOOR''
 
 
 

Thursday 25 October 2012

dietdevil: Canine Kray Twins

dietdevil: Canine Kray Twins: So today my back is a bit better depsite the fact I could feel something wobbling about inside me where the sore bit is.  It felt like a ...

Canine Kray Twins

So today my back is a bit better depsite the fact I could feel something wobbling about inside me where the sore bit is.
 It felt like a wobbly tooth. I can be a bit of a hypochondriac sometimes and had convinced myself that I had some form of alien life form growing in me and I would end up in the tabloids or be the subject of a Channel 4 documentary. Whatever it was has disappeared and my back seems to be on the mend at last. I am glad about this - I don't like taking painkillers and I don't particularly like smelling of Deep Heat or walking around as though I have had a toilet type accident.
 
Work was busy today and I got on with doing some invoicing. There was only me and the spaniels at home and I left them alone for 5 minutes.
They were very quiet.
 
This was why ............................
 
 
Poor old Teddy has now well and truly had it. I'm not sure who he originally belonged to, but he literally had the stuffing ripped out of him. Maddie spaniel was not involved - it was entirely down to the gruesome twosome. Although the photo is blurry and you can't see Freddy's face properly, I can assure you that there was not a trace of guilt whatsoever there. It's a good job that those dogs are loveable as they do try my patience...............all of the time.
 
Today I also went to school to see Martha's form tutor. I was informed at 3.30 that I had an appointment at 4.30 by the girl that Ms C assures me is 'so well organised, mature and sensible'. All good things were said and I have to say when Martha was discussing her forthcoming history project  I was amazed that this  eloquent, self assured and confident young lady was the same surly little madam that I live with. It's the same when I hear Hattie discussing her uni work and psychology - I wonder who this educated young woman is and I have to remind myself that they aren't babies anymore.
 
I think I still have quite a bit of work to do with my 4 legged babies.....................
 
 

Wednesday 24 October 2012

dietdevil: The best toastie ever!

dietdevil: The best toastie ever!: So my back is still sore and I had a busy day so what better way to start it than with a lush big meaty bacon toastie? I have to sing ...

The best toastie ever!

So my back is still sore and I had a busy day so what better way to start it than with a lush big meaty bacon toastie?
I have to sing my hubby's praises here - I may make lovely dinners but his breakfasts are the best. I am so focussed at the moment and I want my half stone award next week so I am 101% going for it.
 
I really can't see how people can not have breakfast. When I get up and have a couple of coffees I just need to have something to eat ( or break the fast ) and a slice of toast just doesn't do it for me.
 I generally like to wait until Martha has gone off to school so I can munch on whatever delights have come out of our kitchen in peace. Anything involving bacon is generally good but if I have none then I will downgrade to some beans on toast, or at worst some porridge.
 
I treated myself to chicken salad from the deli for lunch and dinner is going to be bacon and mushroom carbonara with lots of rocket and the rest of the wine that I didn't finish last night.
 
I know I am talking about food a lot at the moment but I like food and I am genuinely interested in it and what to do with it. As I have also mentioned before, if I don't keep it nice and varied then I will fall off the diet wagon which is the last thing I want at the moment.
 
Martha had an appointment with the orthodontist and needs to have what he alarmingly called 'tracks' , or braces, but she will have beautifully teeth at the end of it.
Back in the 1970's and 1980's very few people had any sort of cosmetic dentistry as I recall but these days it's just a matter of course.
 
Speaking of tracks, I also bought Martha a train ticket to go and visit her big sis in Cardiff for a few days next week as it's half term holiday. Martha likes Cardiff because she likes shopping and when she went there last time they went to what she described as 'the best cinema ever' which I presume she was referring to the plushness and cleanliness - sorry, but the one in St Ives is neither plush or clean - it's just there!
 
I hope they do a bit of sisterly bonding when they are together and no sisterly scrapping.
 
It will be odd having a child free home but it will give me the chance to watch what I want on telly and to experiment on the hubby with some more recipes. .

Tuesday 23 October 2012

dietdevil: Week 2 , another pound off and not a chip in sight...

dietdevil: Week 2 , another pound off and not a chip in sight...: So today was my second weigh in at fat club since I rejoined a couple of weeks ago and I lost another pound! That is now a total of 5 - woo...

Week 2 , another pound off and not a chip in sight!

So today was my second weigh in at fat club since I rejoined a couple of weeks ago and I lost another pound! That is now a total of 5 - woo hoo, hooray, go meeeeeeee.
 
I know a pound doesn't seem much BUT ( male readers avert your eyes ) it's my dreaded time of the month and a week in which I never normally lose so I am feeling very proud of myself.
So proud infact, that I haven't succumbed to the temptation of the chippy round the corner, which it has to be said, is my normal haunt on a fat club night. Instead we are having lamb steaks with carrots and onions done in the slow cooker, mustard mash and broccoli and peas and it's all healthy and the only 'naughty' to pass my lips tonight will be a couple of glasses of the red stuff.
 
This however is medicinal - my back was much better this morning and I was doing really well until I bent down to remove the slow cooker from the cupboard and lo and behold 'TWANG' it went again.
 
I know it will be ok in a couple of days but I really don't want to take any more painkillers. They make me feel sick and quite depressed so I'm going with the theory that the wine will either numb the pain or will make me too drunk to care.
 
I have planned my meals ahead for the next few days and have girded my loins for another busy weekend. It's half term next week so there will be the usual influx of autumn visitors to our little town and then that will be it until the next mob arrive for C********. I refuse to use the 'C' word, but I'm guessing you all know what I mean.
 
I also had the pleasure of having a very long chat to Hattie tonight. It's a standing joke that since she went back to Cardiff we have hardly heard from her. I miss her but this is good. If she wasn't settled and happy and was on the phone or skype every 5 minutes then I would be worried but she genuinely seems to be loving life up in CF24 and if she's happy.............then I too am happy.
 
Martha may be going up next week to join her for a few days. She visited her last April and loved it. Despite having gone up to Cardiff myself several times now I have never really had a proper look round so I am hoping to go up for a cheeky couple of days  in November for a visit and to see why everyone seems to love this city.
 
In the meantime I shall continue eating healthily, will try and not twang my back and will avoid the chippy at all costs .....................probably!

Monday 22 October 2012

dietdevil: Paul and Mary rock!

dietdevil: Paul and Mary rock!: So The Great Birtish Bake Off finished last week and we are all missing the cakes..............and Mel and Sue, and of course Paul Hollwood...

Paul and Mary rock!

So The Great Birtish Bake Off finished last week and we are all missing the cakes..............and Mel and Sue, and of course Paul Hollwood and Mary Berry.
 
The BBC know they are onto a winner and tonight they are televising Paul and Mary doing some baking instead of commentating. The whole nation has gone baking crazy!
 
My Mum used to bake all the time, but then again, everyone did back in the good old days. Scones, rock buns, fairy cakes, quiches, flans, you name it - all homemade and nothing was shop bought.
 
These days, sadly, it's cheaper to buy and I think this is a shame but with this show receiving record viewing figures then I think doing it at home is now all the rage.
 
I rarely bake, apart from 'cakes' for fat club, ie, swiss rolls and couscous cakes and they don't really count. My hubby was a chef for years and makes a mean pastry but doesn't. Martha however, does bake quite a lot and often runs off to the kitchen to whip up a quick banana loaf or some cupcakes.
 
I have just looked up the god like Paul on Wikipedia and what I found quite interesting was that he initially went to art college and trained as a sculpture.
 
One finalist on the show was finishing his medical degree and spent the summer baking bread in restaurants.
 
Another finalist on the show finished his law degree but has moved to Europe to train in pattisserie.
 
Is it a dormant desire in many people to be creative with eggs, butter and flour? I'm sure the job satisfaction would me fantastic and certainly more interesting in being a lawyer.
 
Baking is the new black!
 I'm not sure I will attempt it. I'm not patient enough and I think we all know what I would do with all the delicious fruits of my labour....................

Sunday 21 October 2012

dietdevil: Feeling too sorry for myself to blog properly

dietdevil: Feeling too sorry for myself to blog properly: So today I have spent most of it in bed catching up on the sleep that i didn't get last night due to my back being sore.   It is still...

Feeling too sorry for myself to blog properly

So today I have spent most of it in bed catching up on the sleep that i didn't get last night due to my back being sore.
 
It is still sore and I am feeling very sorry for myself.
 
The painkillers are making the pain subside but are also making me feel sick.
 
I have nothing of interest, nothing witty, or any tales to write today but am hoping normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Saturday 20 October 2012

dietdevil: Ouch............

dietdevil: Ouch............: So today I was talking to the lovely Debbie that works for me on a Saturday and she was saying how she has had trouble with her back recent...

Ouch............

So today I was talking to the lovely Debbie that works for me on a Saturday and she was saying how she has had trouble with her back recently. I have suffered from lower back pain since I was 13 and have actually got a bit of a wonky spine but thankfully I don't suffer from pain that often now...................until today.
 
No sooner had Debbie gone, I walked into the lounge and 'twang' my back went. I am in agony. I have pummelled it, I have sat in a hot bath, I have taken extra strong painkillers and I am now stinking of this..............
 
 
 
I have my hot water bottle at the ready, I have told the spaniels to curtail any boucing around on me and I am umming and ahhhing about whether to have booze or painkillers later. I'm thinking both. It will help me to get through X factor, and , as someone on facebook suggested, all the acts will sound great.
 
My day started badly when I had a very curt message left by the owner of a holiday property we look after to ''ring me now''. I did ring her straight back and no sooner had I said hello then my ear was blasted with -
 ''WHAT THE F*** IS GOING ON?''
 
Apparently the guests that departed this morning had reported a blocked toilet to the agent which had  then flooded the whole of the downstairs carpet. I told her that I knew nothing about this and she carried on shouting that ''they must have f***ing done something to my f***ing toilet'' and when I enquired as to if she would like me to go and have a look she then screamed ''yes I f***ing would, that's what I f***ing pay you for''. It's times like this that I wonder what the hell I am doing in the job I am in.
 
If my back hadn't been hurting ( as well as my eardrum ) I think I would have told her to go away, or words to that effect  but I was remarkably calm. This woman is one of life's assertive types ( I am too ) but there is a thin line between being assertive and being downright rude.
 I am currently  mulling it over but will be composing an email to her later today to express my upset at how she spoke to me. Although I appreciate she was cross, it was nothing I had done wrong and nothing the poor young girl that works in the agents office had done either - she too had had a similar ear bashing.
 
It's all part of life's rich tapestry - there's good and bad wherever you go but I think she should have maybe calmed down and taken a deep breath before ringing anyone.
 
Thinking about it, I may email her after an explosive cocktail of Nurofen and merlot ....................I too can swear like a trouper and my punches will not be pulled.

Friday 19 October 2012

dietdevil: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmerlot..............

dietdevil: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmerlot..............: So today was Friday and as Fridays go it wasn't too bad. I was given a thank you bottle of wine by some friends for a couple of favours I h...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmerlot..............

So today was Friday and as Fridays go it wasn't too bad. I was given a thank you bottle of wine by some friends for a couple of favours I have done them and very nice it is too.
 
If  I could eat and drink whatever I liked and be sylph like then merlot would be my preferred drink over everything else - I love it, and preferably a nice Australian or South African one .
 
I am now half way through week 2 of being a born again Slimming Worlder and so far so good. I made something with chicken tonight which should have meant the meat was marinated in honey and various other spices and sauces etc but I had no honey so I did what I do best - IMPROVISE!
 
I love trying out new recipes and it's very rare that I stick to the exact quantities, I just look at the ingredients, throw them all together and hope for the best. Nine  times out of ten  it works - and the times that it doesn't work?......... I make a mental note not to try it again.
 
My issue with Slimming World and other 'diet' organisations is basically that a lot of the food they suggest you eat is utter crap. I love love love trawling the net looking for interesting things to do with my food and more often than not, most recipes can be adapted to healthy living.
 
My favourite food website is the BBC Good Food Website - there are billions of recipes on there, lots of them I have tried and loved - it just usually means to any dieter, to leave out that cheeky couple of tablespoons of oil of butter and the rest is generally ok.
 
I spoke to Hattie earlier and she is coming home in less than 3 weeks for a long weekend. I cannot wait to see her! It is now a whole month and 2 days since we took her back to Cardiff and I am starting to get withdrawal symptoms. I'm not sure she feels the same as she is now 20 and very independent and living the uni dream, but I just want to give her a huge hug.
 
And on that note, I shall have myself another glass of the red stuff.

Thursday 18 October 2012

dietdevil: This will cheer you up..........errrrr...........w...

dietdevil: This will cheer you up..........errrrr...........w...: So today has been crap. I really dont want to write why on here, but suffice it to say there was incompetence on a gigantic level from a gi...