Five on Friday - on Saturday!

Yes a day late to join in  with Amy's  'Five on Friday' 

I have had a pretty rough week health wise coming down with the dreaded lurgy.  Generally I never get ill, and yet this is the second time in four months!  Not good.  Anyway I think I am on the mend now so hopefully can get back to my 'plan' of things to get done before my trip home to New Zealand to visit my parents and family.

1:  Knitting

My week has been spent either in bed, or sitting in the lounge with a blanket round me while knitting and watching Netflix!  What have I been knitting?  Dolls clothes!

2:  The Garden

The little Blue Tits were very active the other morning and I caught this one while sitting in the lounge - not the best of pictures as taken through our very dirty patio window.  

The NZ Magnolia has buds on it.

3: Books

I finished another book.  I really enjoyed this.  Written in a time where children could really be children, all the bells and whistles and hoops and 'health and safety' rigmarole was not yet in force this couple offered holidays on their farmlet for young children.  They say it how it is and as such it is quite a laugh.  I understand a TV programme was produced lightly based on it.  I have never seen the TV programme and don't think I would want to as I would imagine the BBC or whoever would produce it would 'PC' it.   I picked this one up in a charity shop.  Toying with whether to get any more in the series or just lave it with having read this one.

I'm currently reading this book:

I had to venture out today to get some groceries.  Our supermarket has a second hand book rack and they ask that you donate £1 per book you choose for a local charity.  Sometimes I am able to pick up a book or two that looks interesting. I haven't seen any for a while, but I did pick up two today.

4: Snacks!

While on the Whole30 way of eating my husband has been bemoaning the fact that he has been missing crisps (potato chips) and so I made him some - the healthy way.  

Very simply done in the microwave they turned out surprisingly good.

I also made some sweet potato crisps as well.  Needless to say they soon disappeared.

5: Dinner

Finally I decided to cook something a little different tonight:

Cod with citrus-ginger glaze

Grilled Asparagus with lemon zest

Baked sweet potato

Glazed carrots & parsnips

Broccoli - to add some green!

Okay so I am not so good on the 'display' part of the meal, but it tasted pretty good.

Three Weeks In

Well three weeks in to the Whole30 and I can't say I have noticed any difference at all really, apart from less headaches - and the two I have had have not required medication.  I think for those that live a diet rich in sugar, wheat, dairy etc, would notice a difference, but in all honesty we aren't eating a lot differently from what we normally do.  

Pain levels are still the same.

Oh and I have caught some virus - a kind of cold I guess, the throat is not the best.  I never normally get ill and this is the second I have had in six months, so not impressed!

I finished 'The Outrun'  I wish I could remember which blog I read who recommended it, so could say thanks as I really enjoyed it, but I can't seem to find the post among the blogs I read regularly. Strange as I was sure I knew who did recommend it.  Anyway in the off chance they may read this (I don't think my readership is especially high), thank you.

Beautifully written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the nature and wildlife on the islands.  A completely different book from what I normally read, but very lyrical and gentle in many ways, despite the gritty subject matter cleverly interwoven throughout the book.

I can't believe this is the only photo I have taken so far of the garden this year!  Mind you it could be something to do with the fact the garden just looks a mess at the moment!

Stanley is growing up fast and is quite the character and he just loves being outside and getting into mischief!

One month today I will be home in New Zealand again and I am looking forward to seeing my family.  A year between visits is way too long, but then so is the journey, and at least I am able to get back.  I am certainly looking forward to some warmer weather!

New Years Eve!

Here we are about to head into the New Year - I am always hopeful that it will be a good one, Happy and Healthy and this time I am hoping it will be the year that I have less (or even better NO) pain.

Some photos from my garden this week - we have had some lovely frosty days where the blue sky has been prominent but the last few days have been damp and very foggy/misty and as such grey.

Crisp frost still on the ground late in the afternoon.

Water droplets on roses.

It is amazing to still see some of my roses bravely blooming in December!

I haven't posted photos of our Christmas Table yet.

Similar food to last year

The Sailor and his Fiancee were absent this year as they are having to work on their ship.  Our younger son did join us though which was nice.  My Mother in Law and her partner of course always join us for the day.

I made my trusty Pavlova for desert as that has become a traditional part of our Christmas meal and a firm favourite along with the fresh fruit salad I also make.

I almost had a bit of a disaster with the Pav though...in fact I DID have a disaster.  I woke later than intended on Christmas Day - the first Christmas morning we have not had at least one of the boys with us - and got up and turned the oven on to pre-heat it ready for the turkey and forgot the pavlova was in there cooling from the night before!  After some time I smelt something burning - that's right, the pav!  Result = Ruined Pavlova!  So I had to make ANOTHER one!  Fortunately that one turned out okay and although Christmas dinner was slightly later than originally intended all was well.

In the evening my Aunt and Uncle joined us as usual.

We had a bit of a laugh opening presents.  My Uncle is always fun to buy for as he has a hobby and we always try to get him something new for it.

During the week it has been lovely to see the sun shining in on the Christmas Tree and its decorations

Such a cheery sight in the morning with them sparkling in the sunshine.

I am still waiting on my Christmas present from my husband - Amazon let him down this time.  It is a Haley Westenra CD - I guessed from questions he asked me the other week, although I don't know which one.  Seems it has gone missing.

Tomorrow I will be embarking on my Whole30 in the hope that it will help the pain problems.  I am not starting just because it is the New Year, but rather because it is a Monday, the first of a month - so easier to know exactly what day in the 30 Day period it is - and because it is after Christmas and all the celebrations and extra food that come along with it.  If it works and one of the eliminated food groups is what causes or contributes to my pain I will very happily be able to cut that out completely - time will tell and I will know more next month.

Someone looks exhausted!

To all I wish a Very Happy and Healthy New Year, stay safe if you go out and celebrate.

Five on Friday

I thought I would join in with Amy's  'Five on Friday' 

As the theme also seems to be Christmas  and I have just started decorating this week, I thought well, why not?!

Initially I didn't really want to put a tree up this year...but on Wednesday I needed some distraction from pain so I thought just go for it, and before I knew it I had both trees up and decorated!

1:  Our Lounge.

Just a few of the decorations we have collected over the years.  All have special meaning and significance.

2:  Outside

The decorating outside hasn't really started yet as my husband has been unable to put the lights up this week due to work commitments so they will have to wait until Monday when he will have a bit more time.

From outside looking in, this Nativity Scene was made by my older son when he was about 7 years old if I remember rightly.  (or possibly younger)

This snowman was our last year's bargain at 75% off!

3: Dining Room

On my writing bureau

On top of the wall unit.

4: Kitchen Doorway

5: In my Garden

Not Christmassy, but still gorgeous to look at, it amazes me that I still have some roses and a Hebe blooming at this time of year.