Counting down

On Sunday Himself flies up to Sydney to start his first week of work in 9 months. 

He will miss this ....

 

He has found a studio apartment just around the corner from where he will be working so I can go and stay with him and he will be able to make it a bit of a home from home.

I have struggled having him home for so long, as much because of how hard he found the experience of job hunting.  I am going to really miss him and need to be mindful of my state of mind so I don't slip back into depression.  I have lots of sewing projects planned.   I have two dogs to walk twice a day.  I have gym 3 times a week.  I bought a book today on how to draw.  Two is living here now and will require feeding.  And I have good friends to catch up with during the week.  I should be fine.  :)

And of course I have two of these ...

 

I am most surprised with this whole cutting out wheat/sugar thing.  I don't crave either.  Today Himself and I went for coffee and I had a slice which is mainly nuts and sugar (from habit not need or desire I later realised).  It was disgusting but used to be my fave.  It was waaaaaay too sweet.  Last night we went out for dinner and I had my favourite ever panna cotta for dessert which I have never found too sweet but .... ew.  A friend has given me her recipe for panna cotta which only has 50gms of sugar.  I will give it a go but think I can almost remove the sugar. 

Wheat ... I have had a little bit of bread now and again (see habit above) but the next day I have symptoms which I used to put down to too much wine but I haven't changed the amount I'm drinking (one thing at a time and that's next on the list).  The best bit?  I'm not constantly looking for something to eat or thinking about my next meal.

Oh, to live a life where I don't have to count anything, don't think of food all the time and don't crave "healthy" stuff  (bread, pasta, etc).  I think I might have found it.  But I'm not setting anything in stone just yet.  I've learnt THAT lesson before.

AT LAST

HIMSELF HAS A JOB!!!!!

It's an 8 month contract in Sydney which will be difficult but long time readers will know that we've done this before.  And this time the kids are grown up and only one (actually Two who has swapped with Three) is home!

Also, this time I'm not working so will be able to go and visit him if I can get the dogs in kennels.

HUGE relief.

I know that it's only 8 months but at least this time we will know the end is in sight and he can start sourcing sooner rather than later and he will have experience in a slightly different area.

I have been reading this blog for a while after reading her comments on Chris' blog.  I had been struggling with the whole weight loss thing and was trying to work out why diets so rarely work - not just for me but for anyone.  I have had a real lightbulb moment.  It's not about low carb, it's about wheat free.  With my nursing background I always want research/evidence based facts and Karyn provides some wonderful links ... that provide links .... and so on. 

Early, early days yet but stay tuned.

photos cos I can

Who has the most gorgeous spotted tummy?

Steak anyone?

 (Himself was browning a piece of Wagyu beef to roast and it was deeeelish!)

Feline lurve.

Sunrise from the balcony. 

it's been that kind of week

There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.
unknown



Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.                
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat. 'We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.' 'How do you know I’m mad?' said Alice. 'You must be,” said the Cat. 'or you wouldn’t have come here.'

Lewis Carroll The whole world's mad except me an' thee and I'm not so sure about thee. anon

Photos, memories, stuff and A RECIPE (as requested!)

I was going through photos and found these.

This was Bonnie as a wee pup.  Yes, I "pinked" her!  I didn't have a daughter. 



Angus got to the bed and decided that the mattress was good to play with.  And then Tom decided that this would be a good place to sleep. 



I had forgotten how tiny Bonnie was and, in comparison, how big was Tom.

I think The Stig is a big boy but he is nothing yet. 

I love The Stig and The Ninja and they are always making me smile but, jeez, I miss Tom and Sheba.  More than any other pets we've had.



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So.  Himself is still on the job hunt.  He missed out on another last week after the company decided to employ from in house.  But he was a close second.  Cold comfort.

Another interview today with an agency so now we wait to see if he gets to client interview and then, please please please, a job offer.

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I have a new personal trainer.  I LOVED my old one but she took another role.  The new one, though, will get results.  She won't take any shit and I am good at shit!!

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Lime Cheesecake (adapted from Women's Weekly Old Fashioned Desserts)

250g packet plain sweet biscuits (I use Marie or arrowroot)

125g butter, melted

250g cream cheese, softened

395g sweetened condensed milk

(I didn't say this was low fat, did I?)

2 teaspoons finely grated lime rind (be careful not to get the pith cos it's far more bitter than lemon pith and lime rind seems to be finer than lemon)

80ml (1/3 cup) lime jiuce

1 teaspoon gelatine

1 tablespoon water

Blend or process biscuits until misture resmbles fine breadcrumbs.  Add butter and process til combined.  Press mixtureevenly over base and side of 20cm springform tin, place on oven tray and refrigerate for approx 30 minutes.

Whilst chilling, beat cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer until smooth.  Beat in condensed milk, rind and juice and beat til smooth.  (Make sure you get all the mixture off the bottom of the bowl or you'll have to rebeat later cos it will be lumpy)

Sprinkle gelatine over water in small heatproof jug.  Stand jug in small saucepan of simmering water and stir til gelatine dissolves.  Cool 5 minutes.

Stir gelatine mixture into lime mixture. Pout mixture into crumb crust.  Cover and refrigerate til set or overnight.

I have found the lime makes it a bit more grown up than lemon but I love them both.  How could you not with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk?!

Now to cook baked mushrooms with a beetroot and almond salad for dinner.



Call me Priscilla

Himself interviewed yesterday for a position that had his name written all over it.  Yet again he came in "a close second".

This is getting really hard.

And on that note we're out for dinner with friends.   Every fortnight we go to a different house and take either dessert or starters.  The host does main.  Tonight I'm Queen of the Dessert.  Lime cheesecake - requested by the host.  One of those accidents that turned out well.  I was making the old philly cream cheese lemon cheesecake (courtesy of Women's Weekly) and didn't have enough lemons so used limes!  The rest, as they say, is history.

Saturday

Himself is a bit brighter today.  There is a job in the wings.  Unfortunately this is the pattern.  Abject misery ... applies for job ... gets put forward ... waits for response ... mood a bit better ... goes for interview ... mood very positive - starts to plan life around job ... gets rejected ... falls further than before.

Today we went to Ikea to buy some floor lamps for Mum and Dad so she can see to knit and he can change his hearing aid batteries.

Then we came home and I started sewing prep.  Drew up 2 patterns and then cut out 8 garments which I'll start tomorrow.  Most will be quick and easy. Then I shall start fiddling a bit more with my crafty stuff. 

Last night I finished reading Chocolat.  I didn't see the film (part of me wishes I had but I loved the book so would have hated to be disappointed).  A friend has lent me a stack of the author's books (read "they're on my bedside table and I'm too lazy to go and check the name!") and I can't wait to read the sequel and then the others which aren't related.

I love doggy school but I'm hoping it's going to be miserable in the weather department tomorrow so I can get a bit of sewing in before we have to go and see mothers.  Even better would be if Himself went and saw his mother on his own (with dogs!!).  Then I will go and see mine.

The Stig is helping me type so will go and do something else.  He helped me cut out patterns today.  Just as well I had him pulling out the pins or I might have cut a straight line!