It Starts with Food.

I have embarked on my 'Whole30' in the hope that it will make a difference and that I can discover if something I am eating is contributing to the inflammation in my body that is causing so much pain.

It is not a diet as such, you cut out some core food items for 30 days and then reintroduce them, one day, rest for a few days and then another.... to see if they have any detrimental effect. (A very basic summary)

I have drawn out my 'body' chart, highlighting all the areas that are problematic for me and also written out a list of 'symptoms' and will compare that at the end of the month after having cut out:

Sugar

Alcohol (not a problem for me as I don't ever drink any)

Grains

Legumes/Pulses

Dairy

Carrageenan, MSG, or added Sulphites

I won't post everything I eat on here, but thought I would post the first day...

Spinach/Chard from the garden - love how I can still pick fresh greens at this time of year!

Chopped up with some tomato and then mixed in with two beaten eggs.

Scrambled egg, spinach and tomato breakfast.

Cold chicken, salad and freshly cooked beetroot for lunch

Salmon, sweet potato, potato, brussel sprouts, beans and cauliflower for dinner.

Also had a couple of apricots and nectarines during the day.

Fresh clean sheets on the bed.

Percy basking in the sunshine yesterday which was quite a contrast to New Year's Day when it absolutely poured down with rain.

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.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

What a beautiful day it has been today - the perfect day for 'Birthday Boy', myself and the two dogs to spend at Audley End. I think the temperature today must have been pretty close to 30 degrees Celsius. 

The dogs enjoyed the day as much as we did.

Percy giving me a big 'smile' - he is always happy, except perhaps when he has had enough of being pestered by Stanley.

Stanley is another happy boy.

Both dogs were loved to bits by three lovely children who spent some time sitting with them and giving them cuddles.  Percy especially enjoyed lapping up the attention.

Another stop - this time in the shade.

Profile shot.  It was Stanley's first big outing out - he has just been going on short walks 'around the block' with us until today.  He was a perfect traveller, and settled down to the just over an hour journey there and back.  He was very good the whole time we were out as well.  What a star!

Of course no day is complete without some flower and bee photography.

This was a perfect ball shaped dahlia - so pretty.

Some unusual gourds being grown.

Wish my pumpkin looked like this - mine amounted to...nothing!

Friday Flowers and what not.

A very wet and dreary Friday, so what better way to spend it than a bit of sewing now I have cleared my sewing table which is in our conservatory.  After last nights failed attempts today was much more successful.

Elsewhere in the house.

Fortunately I picked some roses yesterday before the rain today.

I also changed the table cloth to something bright and cheery - which just happens to match the roses!

I also took a few photos of the flowers yesterday

This one was taken today, but many look a lot soggier!

A few days ago...

'What's that?!

Huh?

'It's a ghost!'

Arghh!  You're kidding me?!  Where?

What really happened next....

Ah sweet Percival.

Bliss.

Little Stanley is growing fast and has his second vaccination last week so we can take him out next week.  Let the lead training begin!