Article - A year without sex
Posted on Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 11:13 by Michelle
I found this article thought provoking and wanted to share it, but loved the comments at the end.
|Posted in (RSS)
down the scale
Posted on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 10:53 by Michelle
I bought a bike off eBay, it's going to cost me a bit of initial outlay, hat, gloves, shed to keep it in, and soft saddle, but hoping to enjoy some lovely bike rides during the summer.
My weight continues on a steady downward slope, I'm feeling much more energetic and have loads of stamina. On the downside I've developed spots :( and twitchy legs.
If you have a couple of hours go and listen to Gary Taubes lecture on Good Calories, Bad Calories - gives an alternative view on why fat people and insulin, it's a very intersting lecture.
|Posted in Yes, I'm FAT! (RSS)
Coconut Oil
Posted on Wed, Jun 03, 2009 at 11:45 by Michelle
Low carb eating is going very well. I've become a coconut oil addict, and it really does seem to be just melting the fat off. It's very expensive though. I can get it from the Asian Supermarket for £1.80 for 500g, but it spits like crazy in the frying pan, it's fine to make up some little treats with though.
Coconut oil chocolates
- 5 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1 Tbsp Cocoa
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- handful dessicated (grated, unsweetened) coconut
- Stevia to sweeten
- Mix all together, split into small cake liners and put in fridge until hard.
Katie is really enjoying eating these, although when Charlotte tried them she was gagging, "ugh, they just taste like fat". Charlotte hates the feeling she gets from fatty food when it coats her mouth and lips, she was funny to watch though.
I'm trying not to get too hung up on the weight, as I'm a strong
supporter of size acceptance and Health
at Every Size, but I feel so great, full of energy and vitality
eating very few carbs and the side effect is that I'm losing weight so
it's all good.
This afternoon is my cycling group. the weather is lovely, so I shall lather up with sun screen put on my 3/4 length gym tousers and enjoy the breeze in my hair, and hope this time I don't have to push the bike up more than one very steep hill.
| Edited on: Wed, Jun 03, 2009 11:49Posted in Recipes (RSS), Yes, I'm FAT! (RSS)
Easter Holidays
Posted on Tue, Apr 07, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
The kids are back for their Easter break, and get a whole month at home. I love having them around and being able to spend some time with them.
Unfortunatley they don’t feel the same, they are at an age when they don’t want to hang out with me, and going away to school means they don’t have friends locally. I always try to find things for them to do when they are home, but have to admit, it’s like dragging teeth getting them to do anything. I had a chat with them yesterday when I told them I'm going to stop offering activities, I find it quite stressful trying to find things they'd enjoy then presenting it in an attractive way. I informed them they are capable of discovering entertainment for themsleves and that I will happily taxi them along to the things they want to do.
Today I have an appointment at the gym to start a new membership, our local council run gyms are very good. Although the one clsoest to me is old and shabby, there is one not too far off that is a lovely modern gym. As a student it's very reasonable at £13 per month, and £17 if I want to use the classes and pool. I may take the full package as the new pool (Sunderland Aquatic Centre) is spectacular, and has a lovely diving pool with diving classes for youngsters.
I have a free range turkey that I bought on Christmas Eve (when they were marked down) that I must get out of the freezer today for our lunch on Easter Sunday. We may have that on Saturday though, as thank goodness the boot sales are back on, and my Sunday afternoon meandering can start again.
|Anniversary
Posted on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
| Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:04
I've kept this blog going for a year.....
The entries have been somewhat sporadic depending on what has been happening for me, but a whole year! I could barely believe it when I read back over the posts.
I love to read other people's bogs, as you can see from my blogroll at the side. I may glance at a few others, but those blogs get my full attention. My current favs are Fussy and The Discomfort Zone, I like the style of these, they are both well written, entertaining and even occasionally educational.
My plan for the next 12 months is more of the same. I need to write more content and learn to write better.
Those 12 months have gone over quickly though, some things have stayed the same, but many have changed.
- I bought a car off eBay, it's a rubbish car and I've spent more on it at the garage than I did buying it, but it’s still just about going.
- I began training as a podiatrist, that was completely out of the blue but something I had wanted to do and although I like it.it’s not going to get me to the states :(
- I've been back to Peublo Ingles, another amazing experience and I won’t leave it so long next time.
Anniversary
About Me
Posted on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
This is a blog about my life; studying, cooking, eating, traveling and doing it all the cheapest way possible.
I'm just a normal woman, mum, grandma, housewife.
A lifetime ago I had my own high earning business, and at first I loved it, I liked being at the sharp end, the adrenaline and more probably power that came from doing something exciting everyday.
Because I was self employed I had to work a lot of hours. Then I started to notice I couldn't hold a conversation with anyone because my phone would ring. I couldn't sit down to a meal and eat the whole thing without having to answer a call midway. I didn't like what it was doing to my family, my business had became more important than everything else, so I sold it.
What a culture shock we were in for, we downsized very, very quickly. We went from being able to buy anything we wanted to having to justify every purchase.
During those initial dark months The Old Style Money Savers were my lifeline, they helped me learn to cook and bake my own bread.
This mantra from Martin lewis became my own and was the one biggest thing to help me save money, it’s still something I think of when I want to buy something.
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The other great help is deciding between want and need, I need to pay the mortgage and buy food, I don't need beer, a laptop or a mobile phone although I want all of those things.
Everyone's wants and needs vary of course, some people do NEED a car/laptop/mobile for work. So my mantra is altered a litle from "Do I need it", to "can I manage without it", and I find there is very little I can't manage without.
My one weakness is justlifying my purchases, can I manage without it, mmm yes, probably, but as it costs £200, I can save that over a year just by using it. This is an area I have to be very strict, it is the area I know I cheat when I want something.
| Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:04Holiday Plans
Posted on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
I'm almost at the end of my year, being back in school is great the year starts late September and ends in May. I'm hoping to use some of the time out of school to travel and have already started looking for cheap flights into the states I'm not bothered where I land as my plan is to find people to stay with and couchsurf as much as possible. At first I hoped to do it by public transport, but the more I look at homes the less I think that's going to be possible and I may have to hire a car. I'd prefer to buy a small van which I could sleep in, should a couch not be available.
I need to investigate how feasible that is and start making some definite arrangements. I'm very excited about it, I hope I get in though I know I have an unpaid speeding ticket...
| Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:05Trains, kids and getting older.
Posted on Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
When I travel to see the kids it is always by car, but my lift had a training course in Essex next week and it would have been madness to drive home, then back to Essex for the course. I could have not visited, it's only 2 weeks until they come home, but I try to squeeze every second of possible contact with them that I can. So I went there in the car, and came back in the train, which is where I am writing this. I was very lucky, I booked it last minute and it was either not very busy, or it's a particularly cheap route. For some reason the regular fare was £36.50 and 1st class £36.00 So I'm sitting in 1st class where there are lovely big seats and lots of leg room, as well as complementary tea/coffe, still and sparkling water, and nice cookie type biscuits. There are only 3 other people in the whole carriage so I have a table all to myself, and although I like car trips, I love traveling by train, even in regular class, it's nice to be able to walk around, to go to the loo, and to get a cup of tea, play a game off cards with the kids, or write my blog, or watch a movie on my laptop. All off the National Express East Coast trains have free wifi, making it a very pleasant journey indeed.
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I'm hoping to get the kids comfortable with traveling on their own, and then it would be very easy for them to come home for a weekend instead off us traveling there. Unfortunately they have much better things to do than spend time with me. Charlotte has been at home for 3 weeks (suspended) so I didn't see her for dust once she got back to the school. As Chris's girlfriend was away for the weekend so he was happy to come out and spend a bit of time with me. I had the use of another parents house while she was away over the weekend, and that was way better than staying in a hotel or B & B. The time I get to spend with them goes so quickly, but I can see that for them it's not really quick enough. It makes me sad to see that way too soon, they'll be gone and it will be Christmas and birthdays only, and to make me question if I have done the right thing giving the bulk off their childhood over to Summerhill.
| Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:05Posted in Family (RSS), Summerhill (RSS), Travel (RSS)
to upgrade or not to upgrade
Posted on Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 10:41 by Michelle
Nokia 5800
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Nokia N95
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My contract with o2 is up, it has been quite an expensive contract for the last few months £35 per month, which is for 600 minutes, 1000 texts and unlimted browsing. I had an 18 month contract and a better rate for the the first 12 months, but I had to pay the full price for the last 6 months. With my contract up for renewal there are negotiations to be had. I like O2 as I've always found them to offer the best prices and recently their customer service has improved 100%.
My options are,
- keep this tarrif and have a new handset Iphone or Nokia 5800 at no charge. £630 (18 month contract)
- change to another pay monthly tarrif, and have £150 credited to my account £480 (18 month contract)
- change to the simplicity tarrif, pay £20 per month for 600 mins, 1200 texts and unlimited web. £360 (month to month, but over 18 months)
I use most of the minutes I have right now, and I'm definitely using the web bolt on a fair bit, so the above compare well. For me it's ultimately all about the £££'s making it a no brainer especially as simplicity is month to month and not a long term contract, should something better come along it will be a snip to change.
As a geek though I did want to upgrade my phone, I know how the Iphone works and all the reviews I read said the Nokia 5800 was superlative to the Iphone in everyway. I had O2 send it out, (I know that you have 14 days to see if you like it, but 1 was enough) and I sent it straight back, it is nice enough, but does not compare to the interface of the Iphone. I use my N95's camera a lot, it takes fantastic high quality photos, it is 5 megapixel and has a Carl Zeiss lens, for a phone it takes lovey pictures. It's a bit clunky, but it's my phone, camera, calendar, alarm clock, nightlight, and has a nice interface for facebook, and I'll be making do with it for a while longer.
I use most of my minutes talking to the kids when they are away at school they are also on O2 and I recently learned of the O2 favourite places, I tried to put a link but the O2 site is playing up, anyhoo with a £10 top up you get 500 free minutes to any landline (say no to 0870) or other O2 number, which means the kids can now phone me instead of dodgying my phone (hanging up before I answer so I call back).
4 free O2 Pay & Go Sims are available here.
to upgrade or not to upgrade | Edited on: Fri, May 15, 2009 12:05
Posted in Geek Alert (RSS)
Back from my trip
Posted on Sun, Mar 08, 2009 at 20:04 by Michelle
I had a great time in Peublo Ingles, it was everything I remembered and more. The Spanish studfents were all teachers. There is a government initiative in some parts of Spain to get some other lessons taught in English. So we had people who taught PE, Art, Technology and Science, they were such a creative bunch of people and so full of life and vitality that they made it a great week for me.
After meeting and talking with so many people I have a theory that Peublo Ingles gives many people the opportunity to be the person they'd like to be all the time. Having so many intense conversations over a one week period is a life changing experience for many. It gives you a lot of time to reflect, on life and happiness and also to discuss it with virtual strangers.
It is a very abnormal environment, but so friendly, welcoming and inviting, that it is very easy to open up. As you walk around the village and see everyone talking it looks like a retreat or therapy centre, and I'm sure there's a lot of therapy going on.
There were 34 people there in total, and I got on well with most off them, (out of 34 people there is going to be at least one odd ball), but there was one woman that I didn't get much chance to talk with over the first few days, when we did start chatting we really hit it off, and I know I've made a friend for life. She lives in the UK so we'll get together again soon to catch up.
| Edited on: Sun, Mar 08, 2009 20:11