Have a great day people

Tuesday 30th June 2021

Only you can change your own life.

Everything hurts, my hands, my legs, my back, all of me but I'm still happy!  Yesterday was a great day at the huddles, a difficult day for my brother on the sorting my house out front, but at least England won the football ay!  I have a feeling today isn't going to be any easier for him!

To top it off Elle once again got a new account blocked on Facebook even though the way we set it up should've meant she would be okay, which sadly looks like someone is doing it to her, heartbreaking with everything else that's going on in her life. 

Last day of June, now I gained 3lb yesterday at my weigh-in, no surprise there at all with the food that's been consumed in this house.  Terry wanted KFC last night, I had some chicken out the freezer, I'm so over deep fried chicken and other such food, if I ever get any semblance of order back in my kitchen, I will cook some proper food.  Ooo actually I'll have a cottage pie today from the freezer with a few peas, that can be zapped in the microwave.  I've also got some crusty cobs to make cheese and onion cobs and he can have a bacon sarnie for his breakfast. 

In huddles this week, we're talking all things food, love seeing food finds and finding out ways to save money and make things keep longer, I'll blog it all on Sunday once we've done them all.  

Oh I've also got my sisters Lasagne recipe to type up onto our website and work out the calories, it'll be ridiculously high, but for a treat now and again, it'll be more than worth it. 

For now though, I've got to go to get some stuff for Terry so he can sort my plumbing out, my plumbing hasn't been right for a long time, I've been having to put sink unblocker stuff down on a monthly basis, my washing machine leaks when I use it, so thankfully he's fixing it before I end up with major issues, it's a bit job too which is putting back everything else he wanted to get done.  I'll be happy if he manages to finish decking and living room, all the other stuff will have to wait, he's not a machine and we can't pause time his flight back is the 8th and he wants everything done for the 6th so we can celebrate moms life on her birthday.  

Tomorrow is the first day of the second half of the year, if you've not done great the first half, why not draw that line and get started on taking care of you, only you can do it, we can support you and just think it's not about having to lose X amount of stones, it's about losing one pound at a time.

Here's to a great day, be kind, be caring and enjoy life. 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Decking or a Helipad?

Tuesday 29th June 2021

I think you should keep going just to see what happens!

Another productive day in the Longsden house, I spent the morning doing some cleaning of the house, planning the huddle for this week and walking the dog, then the afternoon in the garden with my brother where we got lots done and had a good laugh.

My decking is gonna be massive, it's going to come out 6.4 metres from the house and it'll be the width of the garden, I can't wait to see it all finished with my furniture on, the same furniture I jet washed the other week and is now covered in sand, sawdust and muck lol, all be worth it in the end.  We've (well mostly Terry) must have dug out 2 large skips of soil/sand and gravel, no wonder we're sleeping well!  I managed to get to bed before ten last night, I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Oh and just so I don't feel left out, I went over on my ankle yesterday and fell on my backside and have a lovely bruise on foot now, clumsy ain't I.  

A busy day ahead, huddles galore, we're loving them, Elle was working on getting us banners yesterday for the new Wednesday one, exciting times for sure,  It's great to be able to do what our members want not what someone else thinks they want!  

I've defrosted some Tandoori chicken thighs from Penn Road Butchers for today, I need a vegetable in my life or a bit of salad, my body and my skin is telling me!  I'm going to make a conscious effort to drink water today.

Can you believe we're almost half way through the year, last day of June tomorrow, a week today would've been moms birthday, we're going to celebrate her life in my new garden knowing she'd be made up for me getting my life in order and knowing my brother is taking care of me. 

Right I'm gonna go and shower cos my brothers talking to me and I can't multi task these days. 

Here's to another good day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Pray the rain stays away!

 Monday 28th June 2021
Clutter isn't just the stuff on the floor, it's anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living. 

Monday already!  Finally got to bed before midnight (only just) and had about seven hours thankfully.  My job this morning is to hoover everywhere to get rid of the sand in the house, then if it rains Terry can come in and do the glossing.  There's been a lot of digging out to be done, but he's getting there, the boards are ready to go on nearly depending on the weather. 

We're having a very frustrating time trying to get Elle back on Facebook, she was removed 2 weeks ago now for 'being under age' and she's supplied relevant proof but heard nothing and you can actually get to chat or talk to anyone, it's ridiculous.  She's tried to make a new account and that got blocked instantly, so yesterday I set an account up with the name happy owl so she could just use it in our group and within 3 posts it was blocked!  She's got enough going on in her life at the minute with being made redundant in December, doing 3 jobs to help pay the bills and now her husbands in intensive case, she doesn't need all this hassle at all!

We had a lovely zoom yesterday though still with our Happy Owls and that set us up for the day, we're opening another morning huddle at Wimborne Road on a Wednesday 9.15-10.30, so that's good news, we're up to six now, it starts July 7th, take a screen shot of our huddles and share it for us to help us promote, especially as Elle can't access Facebook to do it. 

Food wise, oooo we had Chinese last night, it was epic, me and Terry were in the garden, he's working I'm sat going through the menu adding things as we decide, then I noticed the total and said 'Terry, I think £50 for two of us is a bit high, what can we do without' :) oh we love food we do, we did cut it back and now have leftovers for today woo hoo.  I am looking forward to getting back to normality with my eating though I won't lie, can't wait for my house and garden to be lovely, to be able to make something healthy for lunch and eat it in the garden on my new decking hopefully in the sunshine!

Okay, another short one, got jobs to do so I don't feel like I'm slacking whilst he's working.  Here's to a great week!  Mwah, luv ya xx

Love me x

Night ay morning!

Sunday 27th June 2021

Become more aware of what's really worth your energy.

I don't know how people cope with going to bed after midnight regularly, my eyes are tired, but it was a great night so all worth it!  Good food (my sister made us her amazing lasagne, good wine (after good lager!) and good company.  One of Terry's lads, Alex came to help with the garden and together we bagged all the rocks, sand and soil up whilst Terry gone on with doing the thing he's doing for the decking, I don't know the professional term, but it's the foundations for it all.  Anyway we had a brilliant afternoon/evening, it was lovely seeing them catch up and bond, I came in and left them to it eventually.

We also had a fantastic morning at the huddle, what a great chat, 'praying for a poo', was such a funny conversation, you had to be there but honestly I absolutely love being in them with Elle and all our members, so much it looks like we're going to be starting a Wednesday morning one in July, we're gonna talk about it this morning. 

Terry's just surfaced, I've got the huddle zoom at 9, so I need to get myself 'awake', it's half 7 now so I'm okay for a bit.  I honestly do not care what the scales say on Tuesday, I've enjoyed having my brother here and indulging, I can get my healthy back when he goes home.  My fitbit needs charging but I have no idea where the charger is, this house is upside down, I can't find a thing.  It needs a good hoover as there's sand everywhere being trod in from the garden, it's impossible no to.

Anyway, short and sweet this morning, we need a cuppa this end, so enjoy your day, another busy one this end for all concerned, but we've got to sober up first, let's just say the recycle bin was emptied Wednesday and it's full already!  

mwah, luv ya 

love me x

Gonna be a working weekend

Saturday 26th June 2021 

Remember why you started.

I didn't wanna get out of bed this morning, but Alexa was so loud, I can't work out why her alarm noise is louder than the volume it's set at, but if I could reach her I'd strangle her, there's just no need for that volume. 

Ah I just sorted that issue, went on google for a search and apparently it's standard that alarms and notifications are louder, they're set separately, so I've gone into sounds and turned her down and changed it from 'Jazz' to something calmer. 

Another busy, productive day in the Longsden household, my sciatica is proper playing up, my legs are constantly aching, similar to what I called growing pains when I was a kid just constant, but painkillers are dulling it for now.  I also go to go get the curtains I chose and have a walk round B&M's and TK Maxx and got a couple of accessories for the living room, can't wait for that to be finished, but there's lots to do and the inside stuff can wait for a wet day, the weathers been kind really, it starting really chucking it down at half seven last night but I was glad as it meant he had to stop and rest, he's a bloody machine but one that's in an awful lot of pain constantly, getting old sucks!  But then again it's better than the alternative. 

I've got the huddle this morning which is gonna be a lovely rest and break from it all, I'll need to find a quiet place for the zoom tomorrow and to do some computer work, so I might go hide in my bedroom where it'll hopefully be a little quieter and calmer. 

Just made us both a cuppa and he's making me proper belly laugh, saying he's at 'Bev's boot/borstal camp', gotta get my work done ain't I! 

I'm gonna go cos we're chatting so can't concentrate.

Mwah, luv ya 

love you

It's a very, busy house!

Friday 25th June 2021

Stop trying to be like everybody, you don't even like everybody!

Oh what a day yesterday, lovely huddles, I just enjoy them so much, so relaxed, conversations about so much more than weight loss.  I managed to go and have a look round Matalan and Dunelm and bought my first none food shopping from an actual shop in well over a year and I didn't have to think about Alfie cos Terry had him, although he wasn't impressed with me when I got back ;) 

Got back on night to find them in the garden doing the decking stuff so I grabbed me a drink and went and joined them, Terry and I were out there till 2am burning the fence panels and lifting slabs ready for today!  We missed the last delivery from KFC so ended up eating donor kebab burgers and garlic bread at who knows what time!  OMG those burgers from Iceland £3 for 4, 200 calories each are amazing!  

It's all coming together, I've just ordered my new curtains to collect later, the ones I've took down are such good quality, hand made using Laura Ashley mtaerial 228 length and fill a 300cm window look amazing but they won't go with the new colour scheme, maybe I'll try and sell them. 

Right he's finally in the garden earning his dinner, I need to get dressed and try to get some order in the kitchen, wash up etc, we did have fun playing fire last night lol, we ended up having to shower before bed cos we stank of smoke, slept like babies though both of us!  

Deckings being delivered today YAY, he's doing the footings or whatever its called at the minute, I've just been called to carry the cement, I have a feeling I'll be the lacky all day so I'm gonna get off.  

We've just enjoyed a bacon sarnie to set us up for the day, wish me luck! 

Oh this is what the garden looked like yesterday when I got home from work, watch this space!

mwah, luv ya,

Love me x

Love seeing men at work!

Thursday, 24th June 2021

Be you, the world will adjust.

Ah I love the chaos of work getting done!  I'm sitting on a chair in the doorway because my living room was decorated yesterday, it looks amazing, only the gloss to do now, he got the ceiling and walls done yesterday as well as sorting out the window frame which was a mess.  I've gone for a bold colour, especially as everything in my house is white or magnolia, but until it's finished and the furniture's in place etc, no pics.  

Decking stuff is hopefully coming Friday, Monday latest so that's coming along nicely, I'm not gonna lie, I'm looking forward to having to go to work today to escape the craziness, I know they'll be 3 at least in the garden today prepping the ground or whatever it is they do, so  I'm best out of it.  

I nipped to Ikea yesterday with my sister as I had to pick up supplies from B&Q and Travis Perkins and thought Alfie will be okay as he's not alone!  Erm wrong, apparently he barked all the time I was gone!  Damn that dog, I was hoping to be able to go here, there and everywhere why Terry was here and get all those little errands done that I haven't been able to do because I have a neurotic dog who has separation issues since mom died!  

I need curtains, so other than Ikea, Next and Dunelm, where can I look folks as I want to feel and see them, ordering online isn't the best is it as you don't really know what they're like.  

Foodwise, there wasn't any proper meals eaten yesterday, I had a sarnie for my tea, leftover piece of cold tandoori chicken with cold pilau rice for breakfast (wrong I know!) then I ate 2 small packets of scratchings from the bag of 6 that arrived in my shop which I bought under the false belief that I was getting them for my brother, saying 'oh Terry likes scratchings!'  If he doesn't hurry up and eat them they'll be gone.  I did have a fruit scone too, it was lush.

I love a scratching (proper ones not those puffed up things), these are only 107 calories for a 16.5g bag, worth it for a salty treat. 

Terry had his first call to make sure he was in isolation, he almost missed is as the radio was on full blast and the dog was barking, oh and he didn't know where the landline phone was either!  I honestly think now, it's madness that he has to isolate, he's tested negative, like most people walking round out there, then all the football fans (don't even get me started on that).  He's got to do a test today and another one on day 8 those cost £200 on top of his overpriced flight compared to previous years.  

Then there's wood!  Because of covid, the cost of wood has already gone up 3 times this year apparently, so my fence panels are gonna cost probably £4 more each, my decking, well lets just say, if Terry had been able to do it the week after the very first lockdown as planned, we'd be able to have a party with the difference it's costing.  Luckily I'm saving thousands on the labour cos it's my 50th birthday present and he's my brother so he loves me. 

The house is very loud, I'd say it feels more so because I'm used to being alone now, but no, it's not that, it's just very loud, he loves his music and then talks over it ;) I had to go to bed last night but bless him, he kept going until the walls were finished, he's not a great sleeper, which is rubbish for him but great for getting my work done!  

I need to top up his lager stash, it's on offer in Tesco and Morrisons, so that's a check the fridge job this morning, see how much he needs to last to the weekend. 

Here's to a busy day, I'm thinking Chippy or KFC for tea possibly so that I don't have to try and clear the fridge which is full of half the living room!  We shall see.  

Mwah, luv ya, 

love me xx 

Yay to weight loss

Wednesday 23rd July 2021

What if you simply devote the rest of the year to taking care of yourself?

Well the first half of my day was all about our Happy Owls Huddles, even I lost weight again, that's 11 1/2lb since we started back in April, I probably started in May ;) but I was chuffed with another pound as it took me down into the next stone bracket.  We've got so many members saying since they've switched to calorie counting, they're losing weight and most of them were enjoying 'zero / free' foods on other plans, proving there ain't now such thing!

We were talking about kiwi fruits on our huddle zoom a couple of weeks ago and I mentioned the skin was good for you and one member said she ate the skin, which got the reaction you're probably having but it is an excellent source of fibre and vitamin E.  This Sunday, Jane tried one whilst we were on zoom and she agreed it wasn't as bad as she'd expected, so yesterday Joan tried one in the workshop as did I and I've got to say, I liked it, no worse than the furry skin on a peach, and I've added both to my shopping basket for the week ahead. 

My brother's here and we enjoyed our first takeaway of his trip, so it was Indian last night and it did not disappoint!  This was my plateful, I didn't leave much, it was delicious. 

 

My plan for the time he's here is to eat sensible at breakfast, fruit and yogurt, it's in my supermarket delivery today and eat whatever it is he fancies for dinner and take whatever the scales say, then sort it out when he's gone.  

Well I can see today being busy, I have a feeling I'll be running lots of errands to get supplies for Terry to make my house lovely, he has white paint to get him started, he ain't got time to waste lol.

Not much in my head this morning, so I'm going to go make him a cuppa and start our day, poor Alfie's shattered after a day of huddles and a night of Terry, bless him, he'll sleep for a few more hours I think before he'll want a walk. 

Now to decide on what colour paint for the walls! 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

The silence is about to be shattered :)

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
Other things may change, but we start and end with family.

YAY, today's the day my bro arrives, I'm really looking forward to seeing him, I've tried not to get excited in case, for whatever reason, he couldn't get here, but covid test past, he's set to fly in this afternoon for 10 days of self isolation at my house with nothing to do but my 'jobs' (mwah ha ha).  Joking aside, I'm so looking forward to seeing him, it's been so damn long, I'm getting emotional just thinking about it, he didn't get to say goodbye to mom, although I think we both knew the last time he did see her was likely to be just that!  We will celebrate her life on July 6th, her birthday and laugh and cry together no doubt.

He's only gone and broke his foot!  He's been working with a broken foot for about 4 months and he finally got it xrayed yesterday when he went for his covid test, if you will fall off roof's what can you expect!  he's still doing my jobs, we'll put a bin bag over that boot whilst he's working in the garden!  

He called me yesterday afternoon and caught me watching Mamma Mia 2 and having a little cry at the end, I'd just done both films back to back, love them and they remind me of mom.  He soon cheered me up, not that I'm sad, was just having a mom moment, so many happy memories thankfully that I let them squash out the horrid dementia ones. 

My fitted cupboards in the back bedroom are almost complete, he came last night, he just has to do the 'caulking' which is that white stuff round the edges apparently :) they look great and they're gonna hold a lot of stuff!  That's what I can be doing over the next week whilst my bro's working doing stuff.  

Food wise, I ended up having trout yesterday with the rest of the potatoes and peas, I love trout, haven't had it for ages and my lovely sis got me some from Aldi, it was so good!

I added a few more recipes to our https://www.behappyowls.com/blog website, you can sign up to the blog/recipes so that you get notified when a new one is posted, I think that's what happens anyway lol, it's all new to me!  If you've ever made a recipe I've posted and it's not on there, remind me of it so I can find it and upload or if you have an awesome recipe that needs to be shared, I'll credit check you on it of course. 

Alfie and I enjoyed two walks yesterday, the second was on the park over Bloxwich after I collected his ear drops, I thought it was the least I could do as I knew he was gonna hate me all afternoon because I had to give him a bath, he does not like getting wet and to let me know, as soon as he escaped he ran round jumping on the guest bed soaking wet!  Little shih tzu!

Got huddles at Stubby Lane  today, bro should arrive between the two, so I'll leave him for a couple of hours to catch his breath.  

Looking forward to a very, very good day and possibly a KFC later depending on what he fancies as his first meal of his stay! 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Happy Summer Solstice

Monday 21st June 2021

The week is yours - own it!

Wide awake since 3am, enough said!  It's Summer Solstice, so summer has 'officially' begun, let's hope it's a sunny one full of fun and laughter, shame we're not out of 'lockdown' completely, we may as well be from photos I've seen on Facebook, so many people already behaving as if we are, yet it's costing a fortune to get my brother here because of having to pay for tests and expensive flights!  

Moving on, can't change those things so no point giving them my time and attention, we had a lovely chat on zoom yesterday morning, got to talking about tinned tuna because everyone seems to have some in their cupboard and what you can use it for other than the usual pasta bake, although I've not had one of those in a very long time, I do like a tuna melt though, not had one of those for a while either, so it's on my 'to eat' list now.  We did find this recipe that looks delicious https://downshiftology.com/recipes/baked-tuna-meatballs/

I later cooked my chicken chow mein on a live in our facebook group, such an easy recipe, I always add more soy sauce than it says to because I like a stronger flavour Chicken Chow Mein (behappyowls.com) it was very filling too, the dog ate the chicken and I got the noodles!  He does that when I have a takeaway too.

For breakfast, I'd used up some of the cooked new potatoes, cut them into smaller pieces, added a bit of butter to a frying pan, threw them in with a couple of diced spring onions, yellow pepper and a few slices of salami cut up, really tasty topped with a fried egg.  Today I'm going to make corned beef hash with the leftovers. Corned Beef Hash (behappyowls.com) 

I've enjoyed cooking from scratch again and realising it doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming, those noodles took 20 minutes max, the breakfast probably less than that.  

My last quiet day today for a few weeks hopefully, I'll get my tidy on this morning and have a clear up, get some work done and after being awake at stupid o'clock, I'll be having an early night! 

Diet wise, it's going to be a few weeks of damage limitation, I'm okay with that, I'll call this time my summer holiday lol, I have not holiday plans for the foreseeable so why not. 

Here's to a cracking good week, busy huddles, happy members and more sunshine than rain. 

Mwah, luv ya 

love me x

La Dolce Far Niente

Sunday, 20th June 2021
Find your happy place and spend more time there. 

Yesterday was another great day, cracking morning at the huddle, over 60lb lost on our scales and a really great chat had by all, I love it when you go to start the meeting and they're all so engrossed in their chatting they don't shut up.  

Alfie's got himself a Saturday routine, as soon as we get back, he won't come in the house until he gets a walk, so that's what we did, he took me to my sisters, so we had 20 minutes there, before continuing his walk so it was well after noon by the time we got back and I wanted a chicken dinner, so I got started on that, but I was already hungry, which mean I grabbed a ham sandwich.  

My 'diet' could've been better thought through and planned but it wasn't, I've realised because Terry's coming Tuesday and we'll be having some takeouts, in my head I'd already gone into 'holiday' mode.  I'll knock that on the head for the next few days, today is Chicken Chow mein for dinner, I've also got leftover new potatoes, so gonna do something with some of them for breakfast I think, I'm wishing I had bacon as I'd fry the two together, but I can have them with eggs instead.  

After eating too much before my dinner and whilst putting it out, I ended up leaving half of it on the plate, then enjoyed an afternoon snooze.  Watched a film on Netflix, Fatherhood with Kevin Hart, I love him and it didn't disappoint.  

Bed by half 9, didn't think I'd sleep because of my nap, but hell yes I did, it's now 6am, raining outside and I'm in my happy place.  I love my home, I'm gonna love it even more in a few weeks time if all goes to plan, Terry gets here and all my work gets finished, can't wait to see all the thoughts in my head become real. 

What to do today?  Well I'm start it with our weekly huddle zoom, they'll be a dog walk hopefully, depending on weather and Alfie's mood.  I'll do the chow mein as a live video I think, then I can see me doing mostly nothing for the rest of the day, perfect day again. 

I enjoy doing nothing!  There are so many people who struggle with this concept, how many out there are working themselves to the bone either to pay for stuff they could maybe do without or to save for a future that might never happen.  Don't get me wrong, it's great working and saving for your future, but don't forget to enjoy the present.  

I remember reading Eat, pray, love years ago and in it someone said something about how we work really hard all week so we can lounge about in our pj's all weekend and watch others living life on tv, whereas Italians have the art of doing nothing down! They call it 'La Dolce Far Niente' literally translated 'sweet doing nothing'.  You can't beat it, just enjoying sitting and watching the trees through the front window, the birds in my garden, listening to my dog snoring, I love it. 

I know feel the need to go to Italy! 

 

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.  

I'll leave you with that thought....

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Have a great day x

Saturday 19th June 2021

Time is precious, waste it wisely.

I woke up at 4am this morning, I can always tell when I ain't rolling over and going back to sleep and this morning was on of those, so I got up, had a glass of water and came down to put the kettle on.  I love it that I don't have to rush, I leave for our Saturday huddle around 8 and that's too early but I always have been too early for everything, it's part of who I am. 

Yesterday was one of those that just seems to disappear and pass without much being done, V popped over twice to get the remainder of her stuff from my summerhouse from when they moved house, I had an hour on the phone to Terry, watched a bit of that zoom thing I'd signed up for and that was about it.  I do remember getting emotional a couple of times and thinking about mom, I haven't done that for weeks, but I felt the feelings and memories I had for her rolling down my cheeks, I'm not sure what triggered it, but I was looking for something in my old blogs and something I'd written didn't help, for a moment I was back there reminded of how horrid dementia was and what it did to her, oh and how long it actually went on because this was a good five years ago.  It's all part of the grieving process isn't it and I'm blessed to have had such a wonderful mom in the first place.

I need to tidy up this weekend, ready for my visitor :) this time next week, he'll be doing my head in lol, he's already said he wants KFC, fish and chips so I'm not seeing a weight loss on the horizon for me whilst he's here, but it'll be worth it.

I got my beansprouts, well my sister got them for me, so I can make my chow mein now Chicken Chow Mein (behappyowls.com) will roast the chicken today for a dinner and then make it with the breast, nom nom.  I'll also add a few more recipes to the blog this weekend, it'll give me something to do, although I've got not doing anything down to a fine art! 

Short one this morning, you've all got way more to be doing on a Saturday morning than reading my drivel, enjoy your day xx

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

I got that Friday feeling.

Friday 18th June 2021

Today is a good day to TRYumph!

Another great day yesterday, lots of certificates and happy members, there's such a great atmosphere in all the huddles, it's a pleasure to go to 'work', I posted this on facebook last night and it really is how I feel; 

What a difference a year makes  thanks to everyone who's helped me feel so, whether your family, friend or foe, you've all played your part in getting me here and here is where I want to be 

I've forgotten all the pain that mom and I went through and I rarely think about it, when I do think about mom it's with fondness, I actually went to log into her Facebook profile this morning as I set it up in the first place and I couldn't remember the password, when I went to reset, it told me the account had been memorialised!  Thankfully I've remembered the password and have accessed it, there's nothing on there that I don't already have somewhere else so it wouldn't have been the end of the world, but it was still a shock to see.

I did a little cooking demo in our huddle fb group yesterday, well it was a recipe for a lentil dhal type thing she once cooked for me, well I'm sorry but it was tasteless and I couldn't save it as much as I've tried to add stuff since, it's still boring!  Just goes to show, no every recipe goes to plan, I'm just glad I only wasted about £1 worth of ingredients, so not the end of the world.  

I ended up having a egg and chip sarnie for tea, I had heartburn most of the day yesterday, it started as soon as I ate breakfast, which was banana and yogurt and a cup of tea, which I'd had the two previous days so who knows why I was blessed with heartburn, I get it about once a month regardless of what I eat so maybe it's hormonal, or maybe it's something I eat the day before and I can't remember. 

I've got a Marlie's masala from the freezer to enjoy today, she's not posted any menus for a while, so I'm glad I found this one.   

I think I'll spend some time on the new website today behappyowls.com that'll fill a few hours!  I've got a craving for chicken chow mein, I'll have to get me some beansprouts, think I have everything else I need, I could have one with the leftover chicken when I make a dinner Sunday, wonder if the Co-op sells them.  

I better enjoy my last quiet weekend before my bro arrives, I am looking forward to him being here though and I'm really looking forward to my living room being finished!  It's going to look so good, I'm excited for painted walls and all the things we've talked about - eek.  The back bedrooms almost complete too, then I can fill all those cupboards with stuff lol, I actually want to put my wool in one of them, as I don't think it'll do it any good, living in the alley/shed long term, at least I won't have to buy any wool for a very, very, long time so I'll have plenty to fill my time this winter.

Apparently today is both International Picnic Day and International Sushi Day, so you could celebrate them by eating sushi in the garden!  I love a bit of sushi, not sure of the forecast for today though, I know rain seems to have been forecast for the foreseeable which sucks!  

Oh Alfie was a tinker yesterday, he was in everyone's face barking as if to say 'I'm Here!', it's cos he's had that injection so hasn't been scratching, so slept better, too much damn energy now lol, but he has his very own pushchair now, thanks to the love Lisa who dropped it off yesterday morning, so kind of her and he's gonna love it.

I'm waffling this morning a little, well I waffle all the time but I have not specific subject to focus one, it's Friday ain't it, I'm always full on relaxed on a Friday morning and my brain don't wanna work.  

Oh I've just remembered I signed up for a zoom event today, it's 9-2.30!  I'll sit in on most of that because I think I can get a lot from it, so that's most of my day sorted.  I better get off then, get stuff done before it starts!

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

 

Chose to - meh!

Thursday, 17th June 2021

Champions keep playing until they get it right.”

I took Alfie to the vets yesterday for a check up, he has a skin condition and his ears play him up, he scratches and bites his feet and it drives both him and me bonkers, the vet said he's in pretty good nick for his age, he as old age arthritis and I think it was non specific dermatitis or something like that, basically they don't know what causes the irritation and it's too bloody difficult to test for all the different possibilities!  His solution was better ear drops, wash him once a week in his medicated shampoo (he'll love that not) and an injection once a month to ease the itching/scratching and biting, thankfully because of his pet plan I pay, I get 50% off, but it's still gonna cost about £55 a month - ouch.  I'll find it though because I haven't seen or heard him scratch, itch or bite since we left the vets, how bloody good is that!

This is why people don't consider before they have pets, they ain't cheap!  I already pay £28 a month for his pet plan and £30 every 6-8 weeks to have him clipped, then he expects to be fed too! :) He's worth every penny though, my little pal, he's been a cracking dog for the last 11 years, the first dog I had from puppy, that I was actually responsible for anyway, we had dogs as kids but they were 'family' pets, then I always had rescue dogs, that come with all kinds of issues don't they, but Alfie's been a dream, never destructive, always chilled, unless he's barking at ya for attention, he does that to new members at our huddles!  

The rest of my day was spent on zooms with friends, then sorting out the summer house so my brother doesn't got mental at me when he sees the state of it when he gets here Tuesday, yay my bro is coming and I'm so looking forward to it, I haven't seen him in forever and I just want a big hug, then he wont' have time to hug me again, his to do list is too long :) don't worry though I'll feed and water him lol.  He can't go anywhere either, he's trapped here for 10 days self isolating, so he'll work non stop cos he'll get bored otherwise.  Joking aside, I love how when we chatted about my living room the other day and I started telling him my ideas, he knew immediately what I meant without me having to go into real detail and draw or send photos, even the wall colour, he knew and him just saying, 'I know what you want, I can see it in my mind', left me knowing he absolutely did.  I've not wanted to get anyone else to make it because I knew it wouldn't be as good as Terry could do and would cost a ridiculous amount of money for lower quality goods. 

I also spent a few hours on the internet building our new website, the happyowls.co.uk was put together for me by someone else, but it was also 'my' website, rather than ours.  I wanted a fresh start, plus WW made me remove all the ww related content so I had to change it all anyway (sorry to my old members who still follow ww, I can't put the points on things anymore for you).  Anyway, trying to redo it was causing so many issues and wasting so much time that I decided to start from scratch with a new web address because we are now Be Happy Owls anyway, I love learning how to do new things and using wix.com made it much easier thankfully. It's going to need many, many more hours but I will be able to get all the recipes back on there in blog form, so they'll be searchable, as well as other blog articles.  If there's anything you would like to suggest we put on there, let us know.   It's all new at the minutes but here's the link www.behappyowls.com, don't mention it to Elle till I see her, it's a surprise ;) and as she's been removed from Facebook, she's not seeing my blog either.  I'm saddened that someone felt the need to cause her issues by reporting her for being underage!  She's had to prove who she is, by sending documents, it can take up to a week and she can't remember the email address she used when she set up the account which is causing more issues.  I do hope it gets sorted as all her photos are on that account, how awful would it be for her to lose everything because of petty,, sad people. 

Food was simple yesterday, I ate the cauliflower cheese for lunch, had banana and yogurt for breakfast and then I had a small pizza out the freezer one of those snack ones from Co-op which are only 259 calories, I topped it with a few olives (19 calories) and 3 slices of pepperoni (47 calories) really enjoyed that.  Then I got peckish so had a packet of noodles (271 calories) with an egg (76 calories), that was lush, I just cracked the egg into the noodles about a minute before they'd finished cooking.  

Looking forward to our sit down huddles today, it's so lovely chatting and catching up with everyone, I would've so missed the social aspect if we hadn't have set up on our own.  Now I don't want to really talk about leaving WW but I will say this to those who keep saying 'we chose to leave', there's a bit difference between choosing to do something and being put in a position where you had no alternative, if you'd like to discuss that with me, give me a call and I'll explain it.  I need to earn X amount of money a month to pay my bills, we're not quite there yet with our Huddles, but I wouldn't have been anywhere near if I'd have stayed because of the changes.  

Moving on...

I'm all about moving forward now, I want a simple life, a happy life, an easy life and I believe I've earned it and so has Elle, she doesn't tell anyone that'll listen her problems like I do :) but she's had more than her fair share over the last few years.  

Let's have a terrific Thursday shall we, we've had a little rain to freshen the air, as I get older, I can't handle those really hot temperatures, I'm not complaining though, I sit in the shade.  I need to go get dinner out the freezer, what shall I have....

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

  

Lost 2lb didn't I!

Wednesday 16th June 2021 

The way you speak to yourself matters.

Another great day at the huddles yesterday, lots of smiles and success, it's just so lovely to be in a room having a natter with others and enjoying being at work again.  It was my weigh day and I lost 2lb so I was really chuffed, now to keep it going, I wanted half stone by the next bank holiday so 5lb to go!   

I nipped to B&Q but it was too hot to walk round and concentrate with a mask on, just horrid, I once again have a crazy kind of respect for all the NHS workers and all workers to be fair who are having to wear them all day long, I can't wait to be rid of them, they're stopping me shopping as there's no pleasure in it at all when you can't breathe properly.

I then did a live video in our Be Happy Owls Huddle private facebook group whilst I made my lunch which was cauliflower cheese and pulled pork.  I made my own white sauce and wanted to show how easy it was, I used 

450ml skimmed milk 153 calories 

40g low fat spread 136 calories 

40g flour (I usually use plain but only had self raising and it worked fine) 141 calories 

Total calories 430, feeds 4 at 107.5 calories 

Put it all in a pan together and stir constantly whilst it heats up to boiling then turn down to medium until it thickens. 

To make it into a cheese sauce, I added tsp dijon mustard (9 cals), 60g cheddar (250 calories) and 20g parmesan (83 cals), 

I made two cauliflower cheese, one large one that will be a complete meal and the one below which I had with sweet bbq pulled pork, 40g of cheddar was enough to cover both dishes.  There's also a portion of cheese sauce left which I might have on a bowl of pasta as a meal too.  Oh and a large portion of cauliflower is only 35 calories so you can afford to spend all those calories on a delicious cheese sauces. 

I'd rather have the pulled pork without the sauce if I'm honest it was a little too sweet, although it would be nice with a bit of hoisin on it, a lot of calories in that small portion, over 300. 

 

I had a simple tea though, so it all balanced out in the end. 

The paint samples I got from B&Q aren't what I want, the one is a too dark, the other is the virtually same colour as the plaster which made me smile, I don't want walls the colour of the plaster it is now!  I can see me ending up with magnolia!  I'd got the idea of a white with a hint of brown, but meh after a few months when it starts to get dirty, it'll be like magnolia anyway won't it. 

Another hot day ahead, I've got a zoom with V this morning and a trip to the vets, so I better get going and get ready for my day.  Here's to a great day, Wednesday already and halfway through June, absolutely crazy! 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Tracking Tuesday again!

Tuesday 15th June 2021 

Don't let yesterday take up too much of today.

Well I had a brilliant day yesterday, I really made Monday matter, started it off with a walk with Alfie, he lasted about 15 minutes before giving up and getting in the pushchair, then I had a good half hour walk before I picked him out to see if he was up for another little walk.  We'd clocked 5k steps by the time we got home which was great. 

Next I went to work on getting the plaster off the cornices in the living room, I'm glad to say that my back is okay this morning, my knee on the other had, not so much, it's full of inflammation, hey ho!  After hoovering and mopping the floors, I wasn't in the mood to sit, so I decided to trim the bush that was getting out of control by the house.  By the time I'd finished, I'd cut it all down because it was covered in green fly and I got carried away, more bags of greenery to get rid of!  I also came away with a blister on my thumb - ouchy - it's been a long time since I've done manual work obviously.

Oh I went through my freezer and did an inventory of food, I will not be buying anything other than fruit, veg and bread for the next week, my brothers due next Tuesday, or I'd have said longer.  He'll want treating with all I'm going to be having him doing. 

This made me smile a lot last night, I haven't seen those kind of numbers for a very long time, look at those active minutes!  Look at the calories I burned, love it, especially as lower down the screen it told me I'd done 28 minutes of sport (145 calories), this was when I was cutting down branches and also it clocked the walk burning 218 calories.  Alfie also took me out for a second walk, V nipped round and as she's leaving he's followed her but continued walking down the road, so I got his lead and collar and he walked me all round the park, no pushchair needed, he's like the rest of us, has good days and bad days with his joints, I'm giving him YuMove dog supplements, that will hopefully help ease those joints once they kick in, although it says takes up to 6 weeks, he's been on them about a week.

Foodwise I was good too, had banana and natural yogurt for breakfast, I love full fat natural yogurt, it tastes so creamy.  Then I didn't eat till five on the afternoon, I had these chicken and chorizo skewers, wouldn't buy them again, although in their defence I didn't cook them the best, I left them too long, but I'd rather make my own with thigh rather than breast.  Those were the leftover spuds from the day before and a roasted pepper, which initially I'd put in whole because I was going to stuff it with rice but remembered the spuds whilst it was all cooking.  

 There was too much chicken for one meal, it should've served two, I thought Alfie would poke his nose in but he didn't so I made a Focaccia cob for tea time with the leftovers and had them with a packet of french fries rip off's which I have to say are yak but I keep bloody eating them because they are there, so I'm taking them to the huddle this morning to see if anyone actually likes them and to get rid. 

I've got one Focaccia cob left so I'll eat that today, no waste in this house.  I've took out a bbq pulled pork from the freezer, which I'm going to have with rice, I will have rice lol, I also have a cauliflower that needs using, mmm might make a cauliflower cheese, yeah, ooo might make do a FB live in my group to show people how easy white sauce is to make, as not everyone makes their own. 

Had a lovely natter in the garden with Julie too, I love that people can just pop round and we can have a cuppa and a natter, well I had a G&T actually, more T than G, very much deserved after all the work I'd done, blooming hot sun though.

Right, let's have a tracking good Tuesday,  I'm off to make me a cuppa, have a shower and my breakfast, not necessarily in that order! 

Mwah, luv ya

Have a great day 

Love me x

Make Monday Matter

Monday 14th June 2021

Amazing things happen when you try.

Yesterday I took Alfie out when I'd finished my blog, we left the house as we always do, him on his lead and me pushing a doggy pushchair, Tracey had let me have for a few days to see if he'd be okay in one.  Usually Alfie is either in the mood to walk or he isn't, in which case he walks as far as the shops, does his business, then sits down and watches the world go by.  I need to walk more and he doesn't like being left alone so the pushchair was hopefully going to be the solution, so when it was evident he wasn't in the walking mood I gave it a go, lifted him up and put him in and started walking, well he seemed happy sitting there, watching the world go by, being able to people watch as is his hobby without having to do anything!  We did a loop of the drive which is a mile, then went round the block, then had a natter on the corner with my sister, I will try him again this morning.  If I can add a mile a day to my movement, it's got to help hasn't it.  I won't say anymore, as I've got to build my activity levels up a bit at a time.

The rest of the day was very relaxed, the most I did was a load of washing and I cooked me a bit of dinner, oh I nipped over the coop as well to get bananas after seeing Karen eating bananas on toast on our zoom catch up.  It was really good too, definitely have again, but not today, the breads gone green!  

I had cod in butter sauce with new potatoes and asparagus which was delicious, then other half of the new potatoes, I'm going to make a potato salad with today and have it with the rest of the mozzarella cheese for lunch.  I've also took out the chicken and chorizo skewers to defrost, might have them with some rice. 

My plan today, after we've had our walk, is to go through my freezer and do an inventory of what's in there, the cupboards too, so I can start planning some meals with them, rather than keep buying more!  

I'm also going to wash down the cornice in the living room, if my neck/back can cope with it, before it gets too warm!  Then I'll take the rest of the day as it comes.

I hope to make Monday matter, get stuff done, my first pint of water has been drunk and I'm feeling good.  

My feet feel great this morning, I treated myself to a nice foot bowl last night whilst watching a bit of tele, then I put on the pedi cream that Vicky had got me, it's made a difference in just one application, so I'm impressed.  My heels get really dry this time of year, they start to crack so if I can prevent that, happy days.  A lovely lady on the zoom asked if I was still doing my skincare routine yesterday because she said my skin looked good, I am, again stuff from Vicky, it's not just really good, it's cheap too which matters, I've tried stuff in the past and paid a lot of money for it and it's not done much so to get something that actually works at a price I don't mind paying - happy days. 

Okay, I'm off, have a great day, I'm going to, 

mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Owls, foxes, it's all happening here!

Sunday 13th June 2021

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

What a brilliant morning at the huddle yesterday, it just keeps getting better, I love seeing faces I haven't seen for so long or ever, rebuilding or building relationships with people who you're on a level with and who you get is just the best and then having a good laugh as well as tacking the tough topics too in a safe space is so needed right now.  

I didn't do a fat lot the rest of the day, gave a neighbour a lift back with her shopping from Aldi, had my cupboards fitted in the back bedroom, they're nearly finished, he's just got to cut out the pieces to go round the sides of them so they are 'fitted' in the alcove, I will have no excuse for not having everything out of sight once they're complete. 

I must of fell asleep in front of the tele before 8!  I woke up and went to bed, warm night so lots of tossing and turning, 17 times restless, 3 times awake, Alfie woke me to go up the garden, can't complain as he needed to pee.  Even with 52 minutes awake/restless I still managed over 8 hours :) I'll take that. 

It's nice and cool so I'm going to try and get him to walk this morning, there was no walking by him yesterday, although he is getting better about not being right by my side and he went for a nosey around in the garden at the church.

This week we've talked about lots in huddles but we've challenged our members to start their day with a glass of water, I was asked why a couple of times and as much as I wanted to say "because I said so" :) but the real reasons include the fact we dehydrate in the night, more so in this heat, and we need to rehydrate, our brains are mostly made up of water so let's help that get going in the morning too. Drinking water in the morning can help flush out all the toxins that stores in your body overnight. As you drink water, it naturally stimulates movement in your bowels and also helps regularise your morning spree to the bathroom!  During the night, your body repairs itself and casts out all the toxins in the body. As you drink water on an empty stomach in the morning, you will surely flush out these harmful toxins, leaving a fresh and healthy body.  

Now some members said does it start your metabolism, the truth is your metabolism never stops, but googling this morning, I've found plenty of websites that suggest it does boost it but also websites that counter argue that, including this one Drinking Water in the Morning: Does It Have Benefits? (healthline.com).

Why did Elle & I challenge members to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning?  Main reason was so that they'd drunk at least one glass of water that day, water is good for us end of, by drinking that one glass, it might make them think about drinking more, or remind them they're getting their healthy on so they'll make wiser choices that day.  We all get so busy in the day, I know many people will go for hours without a drink, knowing we've got them to drink at least one glass is a start, if they can make it a daily habit, happy days, reducing their caffeine intake a little would be a bonus.  I have naturally reduced by caffeine intake over the last lockdown period because I stopped drinking in the day as no one was offering me a cup, now I only have one or two a day, usually in the morning and this week since drinking the water, it's been one maximum. 

I have just full on had a conversation with a fox!  Yeah, I know, I've been a crazy cat lady for years feeding the cat that's not my cat and his ginger mate but this fox knows me by sight now, as sometimes when he comes to the back garden I'll be in the kitchen and he'll see me and back off, then if I go out with Alfie first thing he stares before running.  This morning, I've just seen him through the front window as I'm typing and he was being annoyed by a magpie who was following him and picking on him lol, yeah he was, the fox was just looking for food so whether they were trying to keep him away from something I don't know.  I went to get a tube of webbox for him and when I opened the front door, he was stood across the road, I held the tube up so he could see it, put it in the dish and went back inside, a minute later he walked over and got it and took it home!  I know different people have different opinions of them, but I'm a fan of all creatures and we've encroached on their territory so in my eyes, if I feed him, he ain't gonna kill another creature to be fed.  

Right I need to get off, got a zoom this morning with lovely people, wanna fit a walk in beforehand, here's to a good, very possible lazy day ;) xx 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

 

Early morning, ready for our huddle

Saturday 12th June 2021 
Good vibes only, do you, be you, for you

.

4am wake up this morning, feel fresh as a daisy though on 6 hours and once works done this morning, I'm free to chill out and do things at my leisure so it's all good.

My sister nipped round yesterday and we ended up ordering KFC, then I remembered I was trying to lose weight this week lol, but once I checked the calories, it was all good.  732 calories for 3 pieces, with a bit of salad and I was sated, I'd had a 15% discount with free delivery from JustEat and they had a £15 double bucket matchday offer, so 10 pieces of chicken and 10 hot wings, no sides or chips - perfect.  I really don't like their chips so I was okay with that and I don't like the hot wings so Anne took them too. 

 

This was all I ate yesterday, I had another piece cold later on but no more food, I wasn't hungry, I did enjoy some wine and a bit of tv, but I'm not going to eat 3 meals a day if I'm not needing it, some days I wake up famished, others not hungry at all, so I shall listen to my body. 

I was tagged in a post yesterday about weight loss groups and one lady was recommending me the other wasn't impressed with me at all :), I didn't comment, what other people think of me is none of my business.  It wouldn't do us all to be the same, now me, when I don't like someone, which to be honest I can't think of anyone I don't like, there are people I prefer to be around but I haven't got the energy for bad feelings, but if I take issue with someone, I always question why, I ask myself what did they do and did I have anything to do with their behaviour, or could something have been going on in their world to make them behave in such a way.  I don't assume everything is about me or they are just horrible people.  Who would we be without our stories ay, those tales we make up in our heads that we don't really know are truth.  You know the sort of thing, someone ignores you in the street or someone doesn't comment on your Facebook post and you think 'what have I done to them', so you start making up all these reasons in your head, when the truth of the matter could be they didn't see you because they were rushing or the were so preoccupied with the crap that's going on in their world they were away with the fairies.  Maybe they didn't see your post on Facebook or they were just scrolling past and not really paying attention, or again just overwhelmed by life.  We really shouldn't take everything so personally. 

Yeah life is so much easier and more enjoyable when you don't hold grudges, resent people or stew over things.  Let that stuff go! 

I know over the last year or two, I have been downright rude at times with people, particularly when walking the dog and they asked after mom, "How's your mom?", me "SHIT" and I'd carry on walking.  Why, because I was exhausted and going a little crazy, does that make me a bad person?  No, it makes me someone who was trying to survive a situation.  I withdrew from life a lot, let's not forget the start of lockdown, I spent a good 3 months locked up with my mom and no one came to the house as I was scared for mom, not even my sister set foot in the place.  

I honestly think I ended up with some kind of PTSD after that, I'd forgot how to socialise, how to communicate with people, how to interact in society and I wasn't the only one.  When I did have to leave the house, if anyone got close to me I was snappy with them because I was terrified that my mom would catch covid from me being out, I remember when a member told me she had covid and she'd been to get weighed, I full on went over the top with my reaction, but at the time, I didn't feel I was overreacting, hindsight is a powerful thing. 

Ah, I've just seen 2 foxes just strolling down the street from my living room window, see they don't have none of this thinking malarkey, they just sleep all day, wake at night and go looking for food!  They don't go round unfriending each other on Facebook lol, I never do that btw, but occasionally, I've realised others have done it to me and it makes me smile because it's so much easier than actually talking to the person if you have an issue isn't it.  Can you imagine pre Facebook, if you'd seen someone in the street and said, "oh don't talk to me, I've unfriended you!"  Again, it all takes too much energy, my Facebook profile is 100% public anyway, there's no such thing as private on social media, hence I don't unfriend folk. 

Well, I'm ready for my day, I'm looking forward to our Be Happy Owls Huddle this morning, I've got a bit of cold KFC left which I'm going to make a bap of later for lunch, I'm peckish this morning so might have egg on toast, we'll see.

Have a wonderful weekend, be nice, be kind, be happy 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx