Spring

 

Easter is my second favourite time of year after Christmas. The flowers are blooming, the nights are getting lighter, there's an abundance of chocolate and hot cross buns, we have chicks, lambs and bunnies and everything is pastel pinks, yellows, baby blues and pale greens. Best of all, there is the promise of sunshine and warmer weather. What's not to love? These flowers were growing wild at the side of our road - the last of the snowdrops next to crocus' and mini daffodils. How gorgeous? Though it's not the best photo, sorry.

I've had a great week of healthy cooking and eating. I made some granola breakfast biscuits which were full of oats, nuts and seeds, they were very good. And I also made a Mediterranean vegetable tray bake with sweet potatoes, spice, chick peas, feta cheese and garlic mayo. It was absolutely delicious. The boys had it in wraps, I just had it alone. So nice! It seems to have done the trick though and I've lost a little weight this week. Hooray! 

I have a rotator cuff injury. My arm has been sore for months but I thought it would just get better, but it got worse. Physio said it's my age and hormones! Of course, great, just great. I have exercises which will hopefully fix me soon. As long as I remember to do them - which is also because of my age and hormones! 

Decided it was time for a visit to Newcastle. I'm probably driving there as you are reading this. Can only manage a quick flying visit as I've been cited for jury service next week and need to be back in time. It's my third citing as I was excused the first two times. I've done it before, years ago, and I'm excited. I hope I'm picked. Anyway a little visit is better than a no visit. A catch up with my family and friends - precious times. Make memories when you can as you just don't know what's round there corner.

I hope you all have a lovely Easter long weekend. Don't eat too much and remember the clocks go forward - lose an hour's sleep! Boo.

Find out what gives you joy and go there.

Journey over

 

I flew to Latvia alone, spent thousands of pounds, had major surgery and lost over 5 stones and this week I thought my weight loss journey had ended., tragically.

Just before France I was down to 11st 1lb - so close to the 10s I could smell it. But after a week skiing and an amazing time in Edinburgh I'd put on 2lbs. Ok, understandable. But then Tuesday morning another pound on - 11st 4lb! Now this will happen and is normal when I reach my lowest weight but I thought I had another 3 months yet. My surgery pals tried to convince me it was a blip. I still feel restriction when eating meals but eating biscuits, chocolate and crisps go down so easily. Ages ago my hairdressers told me about one of her customers who had a gastric band about 20 years ago, and she can't eat proper food since - just sweets and treats. I thought (like you?) that for someone with obesity issues this was very convenient. However, I can now tell you this is so true! And can prove it...

So, I went to see Mr Google, and had a sleepless night Tuesday absorbing the internet.

I was reminded about the life time 'rules', that I shared with you last year. Here's a reminder -

- Protein. Um, yeah, I just eat food, I need to prioritise protein. I don't even drink my protein isolate nowadays.

- Eat slowly. This was always going to be a problem. I eat super fast and always have. It runs in my family. I started to practice eating slowly before surgery and Mark was always reminding me to show down. I need to do better!

- Chew properly. Chew? What is this phenomenon?

- Don't consume fizzy drinks. But the tonic in my gin is fizzy? And prosecco is super fizzy! Ok ok ok, I'll get my spoon out again and stir them flat.

- Don't eat and drink together. I don't drink that much (should drink more) but I haven't really separated my beverages from my solids for a few weeks now. This is an easy one to fix, I just need to remember. 

Anyway, Thursday morning I was 11st 2lbs. So maybe there is joy still to be had. I'll follow the rules more closely and keep you all posted! 

This week's picture was me wearing my Xmas t-shirt for the first time, so wanted the giver to see it. I'm not skinny, nor slim, not thin but I think I'd say trim. Very happy. By the way, it looks like I'm hoovering. I wasn't. I was just holding the hoover tube for Mark whilst he took my picture! Of course. Ha ha ha

No friendship is an accident.

Trip advisor

 

I want to share my couple of days in Edinburgh but without sounding like a TripAdvisor review, so I shall apologise for failing in advance. 

Much to Mark's chagrin we took the train. He'd rather drive but I like the train. And it was cheaper than fuel and parking. We also got to drink gin! I made a lovely little train picnic with nice bread, tikka chicken, hummus with bread sticks and crudités, crisps, grapes, cherries, strawberries dipped in chocolate, olives (yuk) and nuts. First night we went to the Yotel. We've stayed in a pod at the ones in Heathrow and Gatwick and they're spot on for a between flight snooze. And Edinburgh didn't disappoint. A much bigger room than a pod with mood lighting and a big TV. We went to the cinema to see Wicked Little Letters. A joyful film based on true events. Lots of big swear words - I didn't think swearing had been invented in the 1920's lol

On Monday we went to the National Portrait Gallery (somehow I've never been before). It was fab although a couple of the paintings were truly terrible - I could literally paint better. However I dropped my brand new knitted headband which Ellie gave me for mother's day only the day before! It couldn't be found.

Second night was The House of Gods. I was so excited as I've wanted to stay here for ages. And it was brilliant. Room was very small (but I knew this) and we upgraded from the tiny cabin room. It was all dark with velvets and brocade. Red, gold and purple. Cushions and throws and sashes and swags. Check in was in the cocktail bar with a glass of prosecco. Our room had a four poster with a red light running around the top. The TV was a mirror at the end of the bed. The coffee machine was hidden behind another mirror. Our package was Treat me Like I'm Famous - unlimited prosecco brought to our room by our prosecco butler (just press a button in room), the biggest pizza I've ever seen (I managed one slice), £40 tab for the cocktail bar, midnight snack (well, between 9pm - 1am) of glasses of milk, sweets, popcorn and a warm chocolate chip cookie that was the size of a dinner plate! It was delicious. Breakfast in bed (various bagels) with mimosa's - because unlimited prosecco the night before is just not enough! Only a couple of issues - the room was very hot (engineer for air conditioning called for the next day) and when I didn't like my first cocktail (tasted of marzipan, yuk yuk yuk) the barman kindly said he'd change it for me and add vanilla instead of the almond stuff... But then charged me for it. 

Before our train home we popped back to the gallery just in case they had found my headband (though they promised to email if they found it) and they had! I was very very happy to have it back.

Great few days and can't wait to go to the new House of Gods in Glasgow (opening any day now) for my birthday. Yes, already booked. 

Oh and by the way I put on 2lb in France. First gain since surgery so thrown me a little. And no surprising I've yet to lose any since all the fun in Scotland's capital! Must get back to basics next week. 

When you love what you have, you have everything you need.

Breakfast hamper

Cocktails in room. Not needed lol.

The pizza!

Yotel

Train picnic

Other people

 

Now I do have an A-level in psychology. And Ellie is currently doing a Masters degree in the the subject but I'm not going to psych my blog this week, I'm merely talking about facts as I see them. 

Since I've had my surgery I've very much noticed that there have been lots of different reactions from all my friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. Some were very worried before hand and asked me lots of questions, including the ins and outs of what happened under the knife. Most of these people have been supportive and excited for me. Others are curious and ask me questions but more about how I'm feeling now and what I can and can't eat rather than the gory surgery details. A few weren't very impressed that I had surgery in the first place and were negative - they don't mention it at all now. They pretend it never happened. Some congratulate me on my weight loss and how good they think I look while others just say nothing even though it's pretty obvious that I've lost weight. I've been lucky and no one has ever said anything rude or hurtful to my face, though I know some of my surgery pals have had this to them. I don't really mind how people react as I'm sure they have their reasons. The only thing that annoys me are the ones who know I've had surgery but just completely ignore my weight loss but hey I'm happy, very happy so you won't upset me. Maybe they think I'm fed up of everyone telling me how great I look now? Lol. Who knows?

Skiing this week has been great. Just out with Mark and my BiL (Ellie and my sister have spent their days away from the slopes this holiday) I'm a fair weather skier so only out two days. First day there was lots of low clouds (see picture below), some sun at the very top, it was snowing for a while and also had pea soup fog which wasn't too good but I coped admirably. And yesterday we had sunshine all day. It was fab though I did fall on my bum, and slid down the slope for half a mile until I came to a graceful stop. The picture above was me changing my goggles for the constant changes of light conditions on Monday. I swapped the goggles while stopped for coffee. Didn't realise they were upside down until I put my helmet back on. The boys insisted on taking a picture of me looking like a goon!! The bottom picture is from the top of the top (3226m altitude) a long queue for the cable car but was stunning.

Thank you to my hubby and BiL for looking after me on the snow.

On Sunday (Happy mother's day to all you mothers) Mark and I are going to Edinburgh. We're staying at the House of Gods which has been on my list for ages. I'm super excited. I'll tell you all about it next week. Whoop whoop

Kids are like farts, you don't mind your own. Alan Carr