Day 18 ~ The Fart Factor and Other Choice Bodily Functions.

'ello Me Loverlies

It has been a windy one today. In more ways than just the weather!!!

Anyone who has, or who has lived with or lives with someone with a digestion issue, knows there are some kinds of side effects. These side effects tend to come with an increasing interesting aroma, and thier own signature tune.

 Yeap I am today I am talking about every 10 year olds favourite subject:~ Farts. Or rather breaking wind if you are in polite society. In fact just about every place in the world and every school even every family have thier own names for them. A few of which I will list later just for giggles.

You have to remember that no matter when or where it happens it can highly embarressing, especially for someone who comes from a more "straight- laced" family. There is alot of bad press that goes with these bodily emissions and those who have issues with these problems tend to end up spending most of thier days hiding away from others. On the flip side of this however if you come from a more open minded and accepting family not to mention tolerant, you could find yourself in the situation of either spending half your life being giggled at or if you are lucky start a family after dinner tradition. This last one is more likely in a family of boys.

Whatever walk of life you come from, I don't care who you are, you have all done it. Those of us who live with the possibility of these eruptions throughout the day have learned mostly to have a sense of humour behind closed doors and tend to get mightily embarressed in public or in company, especially if it is a ripper.

My advice in these situations is this:~ Be thoughtful, caring, tolerant, and remember how you felt the last time you let a stinker rip in public. Don't let the person who did it feel bad or awful because trust me they already do. Get a few candles, light those or some incense or an oil burner but do it in such a way as not to show the person that they have offended. Trust me there is nothing you could make them feel worse than they are doing to themselves right now anyways. Oh yes and above all get a sense of humour and keep it.

Lets be honest here Farts are funny, they levitate some atmospheres far more than a stand up comedian because there is something still inside us from our childhood when all bodily functions were funny that makes us want to naturally giggle. So do it but not in a laughing at them way especially if they are very obviously upset by the fact it has happened. Please make light of it in any way you see fit.

NEVER embaress anybody on purpose. Apart from being completely nasty remember people have long memories and you leave yourself wide open from when it happens to you!!!

The following has been brought to you by www.fartnames.com Yes someone actually put together a site  naming names. In this list is the list of types of Farts, any other info click on the link and have a peek for yourself, sometimes it helps to find silly names to be able to find the funny side of a thing.

The Fart Name List

The Alarm Fart - This is a good fart for the beginner. It is easy to identify. It starts with a loud unnaturally high note, wavers like a siren, and ends with a quick downward note that stops before you expect it to. It sounds like something is wrong. If it happens to you, you will know right off why it is called the Alarm Fart. You will be alarmed. The alarm fart however is rare.

The Amplified Fart - This is any fart that gets its power more from being amplified than from the fart itself. A metal porch swing will amplify a fart every time. So will a plywood table,and empty fifty gallon drum, a tin roof, or some empty cardboard boxes if they are strong through being amplified in this way can be called an Amplified Fart. These are common farts under the right conditions. For example, if you're sitting on an empty 55-gallon steel drum.

The Anticipated Fart - This one warns that it is back there waiting for some time before it arrives. A person who is uneasy for a time in a crowd and who later farts at a time when they think no one will notice has farted an Anticipated Fart.

The Back Seat Fart - This is a fart that occurs only in automobiles. It is identified chiefly by odor. The Back Seat Fart can usually be concealed by traffic noise as it is an eased-out fart and not very loud. But its foul odor will give it away, due to the way air moves around in a car. It is often followed by someone saying, "Who farted in the back seat?"

The Barn Owl Fart - A familiarity with owl calls is helpful in identifying this fart. Almost any morning if you get up just before daybreak you can hear one of these birds talking to himself. It's a sort of a crazy laugh, particularly the way it ends. If you hear a fart that has about eight notes in it, ending on a couple of down notes, and it sounds maniacal, you have heard the rare Barn Owl Fart.

The Bathtub Fart - People who would never in their life know one fart from another, who would like to act like fart don't exist, will have to admit that a Bathtub Fart is something special. It is the only fart you can see! What you see is the bubbles. The Bathtub Fart can be either single or multiple noted and fair or foul as to odor. It makes no difference. The farter's location is what does it. Maybe there is a kind of muffled pong and one big bubble. Or there may be a ping ping ping and a bunch of bubbles. The sound I should point out depends somewhat on the depth of the water, and even more on the tub. If it is one of those big old heavy tubs with the funny legs you can get terrific sound effects. While one of the new thin ones half buried in the floor can be disappointing.

The Biggest Fart in the World Fart - Like the great bald eagle, this fart is pretty well described just by its name. This can either be a group one or a group two fart and can occur just about anywhere. I heard it one time, a group two identification, in a crowded high school auditorium one night, right in that silence that happens when a room full of people has stopped singing the Star Spangled Banner and sat down. It came from the back. There was not a soul in that room that missed it. A fart like that can be impressive. The most diagnostic characteristic of the Biggest Fart In The World is it size.Fart freaks who go around showing off, farting like popcorn machines, and making faces before they fart or asking you to pull their finger and then they fart, never have what it takes for this one, which is rare even among your most serious farter's.

The Bitburr: Sounds like just that--you're walking and the initial explosion "BIT!--" during one step is followed by a more gentle release of the rest of the volume during the next step: "brrrrrr..."

The Bullet Fart - Its single and most pronounced diagnostic characteristic is its sound. It sounds like a rifle shot. The farter can be said to have snapped it off. It can startle spectators and farter alike. Fairly common following the eating of the more common fart foods, such as beans.

The Burning Brakes Fart - A silent fart identified by odor alone. Usually and adult fart, occurring while the adult is driving a car or has a front seat passenger who farts. The Burning Brakes Fart actually does smell a little like burning brakes, and seems to hang around longer than most farts Which gives whoever farted a chance to make a big show of checking to see if the emergency brake has been left on. When he finds it hasn't you know who farted. A common automobile fart.

The Car Door Fart - Either a group one or a group two fart. Very tricky. It is meant to be a concealed fart. A matter of close timing is involved, the farter trying to fart at the exact moment he slams the car door shut. It is usually a good loud fart. It is one of the funnier farts when it doesn't work, which is almost every time. It is a desperation fart and not too common.

The Celestial Fart - Not to be confused with the Did An Angel Speak Fart, which is simply any loud fart in church. The Celestial Fart is soft and delicate, surprising in a boy or an adult. It is probably the most shy of all farts and might be compared with the wood thrush, a very shy bird. It does not have the sly or cunning sound of the Whisper Fart. It is just a very small clear fart with no odor at all. Very rare.

The Chicken Soup Fart: One day I had chicken soup for lunch at work and then stopped off at the gym after work. When it came on, I eased it out, covered by the gym's muzak. It smelled exactly like chicken soup. A few feet away some woman sniffed and said; "Is somebody cooking?" I had to turn to the wall to hide my laughter.

The Chinese Firecracker Fart - This is an exceptional multiple noted fart identified by the number, and variety of its noises, mostly pops and bangs. Often when you think it is all over, it still has a few pops and bangs to go. In friendly company this one can get applause. Uncommon.

The Command Fart - This fart differs from the Anticipated Fart in that it can be held for long periods of time waiting for the right moment. Unlike the Anticipated Fart, it is intended to be noticed. Harold Tabor recently held a Command Fart for the whole period in history class and let it go right at the end when the teacher asked if there were any questions.

The Common Fart - This fart needs little description. It is to the world of farts what the house sparrow is to the world of birds. I can see no point in describing this far any further.

The Crowd Fart - The Crowd Fart is distinguished by its very potent odor, strong enough to make quite a few people look around. The trick here is not to identify the fart but the farter. This is almost impossible unless the farter panics, and starts a fit of coughing or starts staring at the ceiling or the sky as though something up there fascinates him. In which case he is the one. Very common.

The Cushioned Fart - A concealed fart, sometimes successful. The farter is usually on the fat side, sometimes a girl. They will squirm and push their butt way down into the cushions of a sofa or over-stuffed chair and ease-out a fart very carefully without moving then or for some time after. Some odor may escape, but usually not much. Common with some people.

The Did An Angel Speak Fart - This is any loud fart in church. This fart was first called to my attention by my father. He probably read about it somewhere. For fart watchers who go to church, this is a good one to watch for as this is the only place it can be found.

The Dud Fart - The Dud Fart is not really a fart at all. It's a fart that fails. For this reason it is strictly a group one identification fart, because there is no real way you can identify a fart that somebody else expected to fart but didn't. It is the most private of all farts. In most cases the farter usually feels a little disappointed.

The Echo Fart - This is a fart that can be wrongly identified. It is not some great loud fart in an empty gym or on the rim of the Grand Canyon. The true Echo Fart is a fart that makes its own echo. It is a two-toned fart, the first tone loud, then a pause, and then the second tone. Like an echo.

The G and L Fart - This is one of the most ordinary and pedestrian of farts, known to everyone. Certainly it is the least gross. If you have not already guessed, G and L stands for Gambled and Lost. One of the most embarrassing of all farts, even when you are alone.

The Ghost Fart - A doubtful fart in most cases, as it is supposed to be identified by odor alone and to occur, for instance, in an empty house. You enter and smell a fart, yet no one is there. People will insist that only a fart could have that odor, but some believe it is just something that happens to smell like a fart.

The Hic-Hachoo-Fart Fart - This is strictly an old lady's fart. What happens is that the person manages to hiccough, sneeze, and fart all at the same time. After an old lady farts a Hic-Hachoo-Fart Fart she will usually pat her chest and say, "My, oh my," or "Well, well." There is no reason she should not be proud, as this is probably as neat an old person's fart as there is.

The Jerk Fart - The Jerk Fart is a fart by a jerk who smirks, smiles, grins, and points to himself in case you missed it. It is usually a single-noted, off-key, fading away, sort of whistle fart, altogether pitiful, but the jerk will act as if he has just farted the Biggest Fart in the World Fart.

The John Fart - The John Fart is simply any ordinary fart farted on the john. It is naturally a group one identification, with the sound, whatever it was, somewhat muffled. If it is all the person's trip to the john amounted to he will be disappointed for sure. Common as pigeons.

The Lead Fart - The heaviest of all farts. It sounds like a dropped ripe watermelon. Or a falling body in some cases. It is the only fart that goes thud. Except for the odor, which is also very heavy, it could be missed altogether as a fart. What was that, you might think? And never guess.

The Malted Milk Ball Fart - Odor alone is diagnostic and positively identifies this fart. It smells exactly like malted milk balls. No other food works this way. It is rare.

The Oh My God Fart - This is the most awful and dreadful stinking of all farts - a fart that smells like a month-old rotten egg - as the Oh My God Fart. If you should ever encounter it, however, you may first want to say, oh sh*t, which would be understandable.

The Omen Fart - This is the adult version of the Poo-Poo Fart. About the only difference is that the farter will not say anything. He will just look kind of funny and head for the john. This one is easy to spot if you pay attention.

The Organic Fart - Sometimes called the Health Food Nut Fart. The person who farts an Organic Fart may be talking about the healthy food he eats even when he farts. If he is heavily into health foods he may even ask if you noticed how good and pure and healthy his fart smells. It may smell to you like any other fart, but there is no harm in agreeing with him. He is doing what he thinks is best.

The Quiver Fart - A group one identification fart only. When you fart, it quivers. If it tickles, then it is the Tickle Fart. If you have to scratch it, then it is the Scratchass Fart.

The Rambling Phaduka Fart - You must not be fooled by its pretty-sounding name, as this is one of the most frightening of all farts. It is frightening to farter and spectator alike. It has a sound of pain to it. What is most diagnostic about it, however, is its length. It is the longest-lasting fart there is. It will sometimes leave the farter unable to speak. As though he has had the wind knocked out of him. A strong, loud, wavering fart, it goes on for at least fifteen seconds.

The Relief Fart - Sound or odor don't matter on this one. What matters is the tremendous sense of relief that you have finally farted. Some people will even say, "Wow, what a relief." Very common.

The Reluctant Fart - This is probably one of the oldest farts known to man. The Reluctant Fart is a fart that seems to have a mind of its own. It gives the impression that it likes staying where it is. It will come when it is ready, not before. This can take half-a-day in some instances.

The Rusty Gate Fart - The sound of this fart seems almost impossible for a fart. Is is the most dry and squeaky sound a fart can make. The Rusty Gate Fart sounds as if it would have worked a lot easier if it had been oiled. It sounds like a fart that hurts.

The S.B.D. Fart - S.B.D. stands for Silent But Deadly. This is no doubt one of the most common farts that exists. No problem of identification with this one.

The Sandpaper Fart - This one scratches. Otherwise it may not amount to much. You should remember that if you reach back and scratch, it automatically becomes a Scratchass Fart. Common.

The Shower Fart: These are a lot worse than bathtub farts, due to conditions of humidity and heat. George Carlin once said that you can tolerate the smell of your own farts, but shower farts are the exception to that rule.

The Skillsaw Fart - A truly awesome fart. It vibrates the farter. Really shakes him up. People back away. It sounds like an electric skillsaw ripping through a piece of half-inch plywood. Very impressive. Not too common.

The Snart: This is a fart that you succeed in suppressing so as not to not to offend, but then a sneeze jars it loose.

The Sonic Boom Fart - The people who believe in this fart claim it is even bigger than the Biggest Fart In The World Fart. The Sonic Boom Fart is supposed to shake the house and rattle the windows. This is ridiculous. No fart in the world shakes houses and rattles windows. A fart that could do that would put the farter into orbit or blow his crazy head off.

The Splatter Fart - Unfortunately the Splatter Fart exists. It is the wettest of all farts. It probably should not be called a fart at all.

The Stutter Fart - If you think stuttering is funny, this is a very funny fart. It is a fart that can't seem to get going. The sound is best described as pt,pt,pt-pt,pt-pt-pt,pop,pop-pop-pop-POW! It is usually a forced-out fart that gets caught crossways, as they say, and only gets farted after considerable effort.

The Taco Bell Fart - The Taco Bell Fart is far richer and full-bodied than your ordinary Junk Fart and takes longer to build up. Sometimes hours or even a day. But it will get there. And it will hang around after, too. Even on a windy day.

The Teflon Fart - Slips out without a sound and no strain at all. A very good fart in situations where you would rather not fart at all. You can be talking to someone and not miss saying a word. If the wind is right he will never know.

The Thank God I'm Alone Fart - Everyone knows this rotten fart. You look around after you have farted and say, "Thank God I'm alone." Then you get out of there fast!

The Tickle Fart - A group one only and one of the easiest to identify. Usually a slow soft sort of fart. If you like being tickled this is the fart for you!


Right I think that is quite enough about Farts for one evening. Jsut remember it is a natural function and can tell us how healthy our gut is, or isn't which ever the case may be. If you live with someone or are someone with a digestive issue take note of your farts. They may be an early warning to go see the Quack.

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox  

Day 16~17 Himself having tests and me pretending to be brave for him.

Evening Loverlies.

Sorry I have been very lax the last few days. Between me giving myself food poisoning and Himself going in for tests at the hospital today the last few days have been bordering on chaotic. Not in the fun way either.

So due to the nature of tests that those of us with digestive issues love to have and quacks like to send us for there is alot of swallowing of nasty substances to make our bodies explode and remove everything from inside us. It is a joyous time for us and not one that we care to share with those we love. Quite frankly most of us tend to hide , somewhere near the vicinity of the nearest convenience and set up camp for the next few hours.

Note to loved ones of people with digestive issues having this treatment :~ Just make sure they are keeping up their fluids and haven't passed out from dehydration, or flushed themselves away. Clear fluids are allowed so make sure you have supplies of their favourites. I don't suggest getting bottles and bottles of soft drink, but it is included on the list and if it makes them feel better to have such a treat why the hell not !!!  This stuff tastes like a salty vanilla syrup so giving them something of a treat afterwards is a good thing.

Oh and make sure you have a good supply of soft loo roll, yes it is an extravagance but they will thank you for it, even if you just buy a 2 pack. The other option of course is to have wet wipes the kind for grown ups not for babies. Trust me they WILL love you forever if you sort out supplies.

In as much as your partner will probably tell you don't worry about eating in front of me, it is really hard to do that when you know they can't, might I suggest a cup of soup or something similar if you can't slip away from them long enough to grab something more. This will help belay any feelings of guilt and will help your peace of mind. You can't look after your partner if you don't look after you.

Be aware that your partner may not want to come to bed when you do. There are lots of issues here to consider.
1. Their embarrassment if anything happens in bed because they got their foot stuck in the blanket and they can't move fast enough. 
2. Nerves
3. Fear
4. Not wanting to keep you awake with their tossing and turning due to the 3 above points.

It is very hard as the partner of someone going through this not to have that "Are you ok" look on your face from the moment it starts. Thrust me all that will happen is that they will retreat further away from you and you will end up feeling guilty that they are hiding their true feelings and wellness due to you being too pitying. Or you will feel pushed away and then feel resentful. Save yourself the bother. When they are around show them the face you want them to see. Happy smiling you. Nothing creepy!!! Just you though. If you need to hide "the look" go to the bathroom or the bedroom and give yourself a minute to get yourself back together.

Give yourself some jobs to do around the place. Different people have different stress jobs. Here are the top ones in case you haven't decided on yours yet.

1. Cleaning ~ Many people tend to start cleaning or stress spring cleaning. Vacuum if you must or do the dishes on your own or something but don't start a full spring clean. You won't finish it and you will jsut get annoyed with yourself that you started.

2. Baking/ Cooking ~ Some of my best recipes have come about this way. However some of the most nasty accidents have been caused this way too. Watch your fingers and No deep frying!!! seriously your mind is elsewhere so if you are baking put on a timer.

3. Chopping Wood/ Gardening ~ Boy does this work off the stress energy. If you are lucky enough to have a wood fire get in some kindling and get the logs cut for your winter store. If it is winter and you aren't a baker or a cleaner try 4 or 5 they're warmer!!!

4. Play Video/Computer Games ~ There is nothing in this world like blowing up aliens for stress relief. I suggest not playing something you get frustrated by so no major thinkers just grab a game that you can zone out on.

5. Hand Crafts~ If you don't have one you do, try something new or try upcycling something you already have.

6. Running/Swimming/Sports/Exercise ~ If you are so inclined, run, jog, go for a walk, use a punching bag, swim miles whater is your thing, do it.

(This one is at the bottom because this is not my thing and not one that I would turn to EVER not even in a pinch!!!)

These things are all ways of keeping yourself busy. Well at least your hands busy if nothing else. Just for the record, keeping your hands busy does not mean busy on your partner. You do this and all your hard work goes out the window. Trust me you won't be having any for months if not years after if you try anything during this kind of trial.

Your partner as well will probably go into either hyper activity mode or curl up in their cave. Don't make them come out of it curl up on the couch with them and watch a movie. If that isn't an option just make sure they are fine and check on them once in a while, get on with your own stuff and let them deal with this their way.

Last thing in the evening, make sure your grab bag is ready, you know your bag of goodies to keep you occupied whilst waiting. That is if you don't want to grab a drink or anything. A grab bag is important, it will contain the things you do when there is lots of waiting to be done. If you knit or crochet or do hand stitching bring that. A book or magazine is always a good idea, change both for parking meters and a cuppa as most hospitals don't do change or card machines. Oh and if you smoke make sure you have everything you need. Hospitals don't sell them EVER!!! Trust me ... I have to smuggle them in or pinch them of the doctors if I get low!!!

Shush with your comments on that little nugget I let you in on!!! You can't give up everything all at once. Ask Charlie or Robert they will tell you the same thing!!!!

Anywho that is the low down on what to do for you and your partner when they are going in for tests. This is important. All of it. I might seem like I am making light but honestly it pays to be prepared and aware of what to expect and how to cope.

So anyways right now I am off to curl up with my Loverly Himself. Who by the way said the quack for very gentle and bought him brekky afterwards!!! He was a bit put out that normally it is dinner first, but in these circumstances who's complaining.

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

Days 14 and 15 ~ A weekend of contemplation

Hey there Loverlies

So this weekend has been a rough one. Somethimes recovery from such an attack can take some days. it truly isn't fun and anyone who says stupid things like, "you'll be fine", "get up and shake it off" or even "it can't possibly be as bad as all that", truly is lucky enough never to have experienced giving birth. Quite frankly that is what it is like.

Thankfully afrter a weekend of being banished to the couch and not eating anything I truly shouldn't I am definately on the mend. Now all I have to do is stop beating myself up about it. I am a grown person and I know better. However food like anything in life we get used to and to change it completely from what you are used to what youa ren't is like telling a 50 a day smoker to quite in the middle of thier first fag of the morning. It is not something that is done that easily.

Even Aunt Em in Spiderman 3 reminded Peter that the hardest thing to do is forgive yourself. It truly isn't that I find it hard to forgive myself, I just keep nagging  myself. Not something that ever worked for my "mother" you think I would learn from that!!!

Apparently not though. I talk to friends all the time and really let them have it when they neggie talk to themselves. You would think that it might be a bit easier to let myself off. However I think it is a bit like kids, we have all the patience under the sun for everyone elses kids but ours. We expect so much of them and ourselves because of the standards we set for ourselves and for them. This too is a lesson I have learnt over the last few years and it is a very hard one. I guess it is partly why I am so hard on myself because I bottle it all up and neggie myself into a corner until I find it hard to come out again. Seems to only happen every now and again but I think with everything that has happened over the last few weeks I really have let myself have it.

The problem is with that though it gets into the situation of you dragging up everything else that you haven't properly let go of, compounding the issue until you may as well crawl under a blanket and not come out because quite frankly that is all you are good for. That is of course until you wake up one morning and really snap yourself out of it.

Something I shall be sorting out in the morning I think. Right now I am sick of myself. Sick of being sick, sick of doing nothing, and sick of my head not working because it won't snap back into gear after the last couple of weeks, oh and to top it off staying in my pj's, letting the house go to pieces and not doing any work whatsoever for 3 weeks. Enough is Enough I say!!!

So in a few minutes I shall be returning to bed, and with any luck I shall wake up a new me. That is the plan, and I really do hope that it happens cos I really am completely sick of myself right now. I can well imagine you are too and you have every right to be.

So its off to bed for me.

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

   

Day 13 ~ Recovery Day and a Day I Didn't Let Myself Off Easily

Hey There Loverlies!!!

Today has been a serious recovery day for me, even though I spent half my day at the local charity shop which I do every Friday morning. I was going to give myself the day off but i decided that after the self inflicted state I had put myself in then I wasn't going to let myself get off that easily. I wanted to remember what it is like getting around in that state for the day, so that is what I did.

After not sleeping very well and finding it very hard to move all night because of the pain I was in, I got myself ready for the day. Unfortunately jsut before I was about to leave my body decided to really punish me and a change of clothes was required. And yes I still went in.

I was however really good for brekky and had some Choccy Soy Milk and Blueberries for Brekky and the only cows milk I had all day was in my coffee at work so not too bad.

Lunch was a salad sandwich with wheat free bread. The nice one. There are some AWFUL breads out there and for reasons that completely baffle me they are still on the market when these other breads are out there that have the taste and texture of wheat breads without the brick lining.

Anywho i have really taken it easy today and I am still recovering. In fact Himself has been trying to bounce me into bed to rest for the most part of me being home. In the next 10 or so minutes he will be getting his wish and I shall go and hide under the blankey and pretend like I am feeling much better so he will let me get up tomorrow. (Just kidding Hunny I know you are reading this!!!)

So was it worth the consequences, Yes it was. I know have a much better handle on things and a much deeper understnding of myself and just what my body is going through and I don't think i will be forgetting this one for quite some time to come.

So another step in the journey and a very steep and painful not to mention embarressing step or steps have been taken over these last couple of days.

Sometimes I think we have to learn the hard way before we really take things seriously. It's kind of like giving up drinking or anything else, there are always going to be bad days and days you trip up. However we all learnt to pick ourselves back up as kids and for the most part we learnt to run with our feet leaving the ground instead of scuffing our shoes with every step.

Oh and never forget to forgive yourself when you do. 

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

Day 12 ~ The Day Before Pay Day And A Lesson In Why I Am Doing This

 Hello Me Loverlies,

Today is the day before payday, and we well I am out of supplies. Not a good situation. Normally I would be ok after a week or two's detoxing off the meat, dairy and wheat to have a day where things could be a little more loose on the strings. 

Apparently not anymore. 

For anyone reading this for the first time. I have IBS. The kind of IBS that doesn't like it when you eat meat, dairy or wheat. In fact today it really hit home on how bad it has gotten. As I had run out of supplies and it is the day before payday, instead of being sensible and taking it easy and maybe hitting the soup I made a couple of days ago (even though it is boring to have the same thing a few days in a row) I made a spicy mince with cowboy pancakes. This mince was spicy enough Himself couldn't even cope. This was due in the most part to me accidently opening the cayenne in the wrong way (the dumper not the shaker) and not having anything to level out the flavours. 

I was going to just have a plain pancake .... but I didn't. Being the kind of person I am I gave Himself the plain one with homemade Blackberry Jam on it and me ... well I had the Spicy Mince and boy am I paying for it. 

I am now writing this desperately trying not to cry. I am also desperately trying not to curl up in a ball and sob like a little curl who has just had her favourite doll decapitated by an evil kid from down the road. (This actually happened so I know what I mean). 

I am going to get graphic in the next bit because this blog is about honesty. So if you can't cope with graphic detail. Go read the fluffy bunny bedtime stories instead for a minute and maybe come back tomorrow. I won't think any less of you. MWAH!!! xox 

My body rejected it all. In the most explosive of ways. In fact it is still rejecting it in the most explosive of ways. From top and bottom. My stomach feels like I am in the throws of labour and I am quite frankly feeling like I ate a side of pig. You know like on Man V Food. (Hideous Show by the way, vile waste of food and horrific example to kids). This is not fun and is my body's way of telling me "ENOUGH WOMAN!!!". Definately time to listen and take this alot more seriously than I might have been. 

In fact I have even gotten into my pj's because my gut is so bloated right now that my jeans which are 2 sizes too big, are actually tight now. So are my pj's which are big enough to fit not only me but Himself inside them. (Yes we tried and yes it was funny). This is a really bad sign. This means that I have a build up of something nasty, bordering on Skunk Butt which is normally Himself's department (He being a severe Chrones sufferer). This is something that will take at least 48 -72 hours to get better IF I completely detox on clear fluids for the next few days. 

So in an effort to try and be a bit more normal I have indeed put myself back BEFORE the beginning when I started this journey. In fact last time I was this bad I was admitted in hospital, however I refuse to go because I know what to do and now is the time to really be serious and do it. There is nothing they can do there that I can't do for myself here in the comfort of my own home and for alot less money and not taking up much needed resourses and without being pumped full of drugs. Which quite frankly I can do without. 

Since I took myself off all the drugs I was on for my back last year and 3 days later was off my crutches and able to walk straight again I have no intention of going back to taking 30 and up tablets a day to fix something that I could've avoided in the first place. 

So me now I am off to the living room to curl up with a mug of home made Nettle Tea with honey. I am going to jsut curl up and not move for a while and hopefully I can get rid of what I have done to myself without any more permanent damage. 

So until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

Day 11 ~ Being teased by snow again and I really don't want to eat salad!!!

Hey there Loverlies

TODAY IS FREEZING!!!! Yes yes it is and even snowed a little.... well pretended to anyway. The way I see it is if it doesn't settle it isn't really snow it's just pretty white rain. Yet again teased by the weather, the rest of the country is knee deep in it and we are looking as if we are in sub tropical somewhere else during rainy season (except for the cold).

Today I searched the house high and low and all that was in were 2 bags of salad. I have to admit in these lack of temperatures the last thing on my mind is a salad. So I had to get creative. For some weird reason it worked. The 2 bags of salad ended up as an amazing veggie broth soup. The colour of which was amazing. a deep magenta.

Even when I was working as a chef the only time I managed a colour like that was by an accident with a red cabbage (We will save that story for again I think). Don't you just love accidents. I do the best dishes always come out of accidents. I mean look at Bakewell Tart, an accident an amazing wonderful accident that is loved by everyone everywhere now to the point we can't even remember what it was she messed up in the first place!!!!

So anyway this soup I ended up with was incredible. Of course I added a few things to the salad, like onions and spices. All in all though it was basically what was in the bag because at the end of the day that is all we have in the house.

I am loving the fact I can have hot chocolate though. I am truly not sure I could get through this week without it. Home made Soy Milk is great for lots of things, coffee is not one of them. Also since it doesn't go well in tea and black tea is not something I have ever really picked up on except with honey. I am leaving it for the Hot Chocolate. I have seen that Almond Milk is readily available now so I might give that a go in coffee. I figure I like a bit of nuttiness in my Java so maybe this would be a good compromise.

Although you know what that means. It means that I am going to have to start making my own. Not such a bad thing I guess, except price wise. We shall see though how much they are wholesale and see if the price is comparable. Sometimes buying bulk straight from the wholesaler is the best way to go. Put a little aside each week or so and eventually you have enough to buy a big sack. then start again, or even work out what youa re going to buy in bulk and how long it will take you to get through it. Then make a rotating list and buy one large bag of whatever every week or fortnight or whenever you do your shopping. That way you cut down your outlay.

I have to admit I am looking forward to the day I don't have to worry anymore. Keeping the cupboards full has always been something that has tormented me for as long as I can remember after leaving home. Probably due to the kids. I never wanted them to go without. I figure I always thought that it didn't matter what else we didn't have as long as there was food on the table, everything else would come in time. I guess for me it was a measure of success as a parent, or even as an adult.

There have always been times when things were lean and this need to have the cupboards and freezers full became more obsessive. There have been times where the kids ate and I went without because that is what you do as a parent. So now being an adult and with only Himself's girls staying over every couple of weeks I am finding it terrifying again not having anything in the cupboards. Not as scary as it would be if they were over this weekend but scary enough. I find myself counting the days until pay day (Friday) and praying we can get through without the lights and heating going out.

If anyone tells you that things are getting better. Tell them to spend some time in the real world.

Ugh I am at it again....

I am going to stop this ranting now and go off and keep sewing my new rug cos my floor is freezing and I would like to feel my toes again really soon if that is ok

Have a fabbytastic day/evening

Until Tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

 

Day 10 ~ Wow double figures!!

Hey there Loverlies ...

So we/I have made it into double figures. I have to admit it has been hard but this is a good sign... I think if it had been too easy at the beginning I don't think I would have coped with any issue had it come up later on.

So yesterday was really hard... no food I thought in the cupboard. Loads of meat and cheese and bread and all the things I can't have but none of the things I could. So bleak is definately a word I would use to describe it.

I did however come out the other side. I found some TVP "chicken" chunks and made myself a chilli "chicken" mix and had that with spicy potato wedges. I made it look and taste as similar as what Himself had as I possibly could so I didn't feel as I was eating something completely different.

I think the big turn around point for me was making myself hot chocolate. Yeap Homemade SSoymilk with Dutch Cocoa Powder and  honey and spices just hit the "Thankyou Goddess" spot. After that the evening went pretty well. Leading to a pretty damn good day to be honest.

Although I don't have any bread of my own in the house I have managed to survive eating the noggins of Himself's bread.  Thankfully. Cos I am a toast addict. Of course as soon as payday rolls around I will be getting my own. Until then I will cope.

I did end up remembering that I made some soup earlier this week and there was some left, which was a good job really since it is absolutely freezing out there right now. I am convinced it wouldn't feel quite so cold if it was snowing. However it isn't and it is freeezing !!!

Tonight Himself has rehersals for alocal play so I am here playing on Facebook and plaiting fabric to make a rug for our living room / craft group room. Oh you didn't know I work here too. Oh yesh I do I am jsut taking some time out until February 1st to get my head back together then it is all systems go. Including re-vamping my other blog.  Oh you didn't know about that one either ???

Well it's here The Bloo Pixie and it is the things we get up to in craft groups and all sorts of recipes we are trying out and such like. With a healthy amount of ranting as well because it kind of goes hand in hand with crafting. You know sitting around with your friends and setting the world to rights.

Anyway that will be coming back too. Will I be getting rid of this one??? Not on your life!!!! This blog is about a more personal journey that I am taking right now. It is here for those who are like myself forced into a journey of changing everything they know and love and dramatically changing the way we eat. It is about being a little beacon that says You are Not Alone!!!

Anywhooo enough of my rants ... I am off to go plait some more fabric. I really want to get this rug finished for the living room. Then I can start the one for the hallway.

Anyway today is a good day. It has to be because we can't allow ourselves to stay in the funk forever. The candles run out and you end up burning your fingers on matches.

Have a great evening/day
Until Tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

Day 9 ~ Reminding myself this is a journey not the destination

Hello Me

I know there is nothing in the house right now and that things seem a bit bleak. As much as you really want to give up right now you won't because you know you are doing the right thing. Ok so for the next few days to bulk out your meals youa re going to have to revert to animal based proteins other wise you won't be eating at all. Well just remember that its ok and you are still making do with what you have and can have.

You have been doing well up until now and this is a blip. Life is full of them remember that. Not everyday is going to be shining and beautiful. There are going to be days where you want to walk out in traffic. But you won't. You won't because you know this is a blip. You won't because there are people around you who you care about too much and who care about you. You won't because this is a journey and all good journeys have bumps in the road and pot holes and curves and lumpy bits. This is ok ... it is just a journey.

No one every said life was going to be easy and even for those with everything they are still on thier journey and most are still missing something. Remember that sometimes we have to stop at the scary diner in the middle of nowhere when we break down and it is never as scary as it is in the movies. There is never some weird guy collecting girls ponytails.

Don't listen when others say this isn't normal. Remember Mortica Adams, "What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly".

Remember those who speak against you want you to fail so they don't feel so bad about themselves. There is jealousy everywhere you turn and youa re now surrounding yourself with people who will help build you up, those who no longer serve as a lesson or a warning are gone leaving room for those who you need to bring some light into the world. Those who support and protect you as you do them.

Just remember, this journey is a long one and if you stumble now and again or come across road blocks remember to take your passport. It may take time while they go through your undies but at least eventually you will get through the checkpoint.

xox Love and Light xox

Day 8 ~ I am seriously considering hibernation as an option.

Hey there Loverlies

Am here today wrapped in my pj's and blankey and with hot soup and stuffs even piched Himself's slippers and I am still freezing.

I don't think it would be so bad if it was actually snowing, or even if the snow was still on the ground. But its not and there isn't so we are freezing for nothing. Apart from the fact it is winter and that tends to be the reason for everyone freezing themselves to death in January at the top end of the world. Of course hearing from my family that they are boiling and that the internet has been down due to the heat waves doesn't help. If anything it proves I am where I should be cos there is no way on earth I could cope with the heat like that.

Today I have had to think really hard about what I have been able to do. Partly because my fingers are so frozen that slicing and dicing are off the books. The other reason is a little scarier. Our gas and electric are nearing when we need to top them up so we are saving them for emergencies and doing everything all at once to make sure everything is done as it should be. You see here in the UK we still have Pre Paid Electric and Gas meters. Not in all homes but definately in ours. So if we have no money for top ups it doesn't get topped up. Due to me playing in the kitchen yesterday I can't do it today. Not until Himself is home and then we need to decide how we are cooking dinner stove top or oven.

We aren't the only ones having to make this decision especially whilst the snow is about. Gas heating costs £2 per hour to run. Electric storage heaters cost around 80p per day each to run. As you can see this can add up very quickly and cause serious hardship in many homes. The issues we face right now are those which are faced due to people changing the reason they are our leaders. Up until the 50's our PM was a public Servant who happened to become prime minister ... thier career was in public service NOT politics. Now things are the other way around. WE are stuck with a bunch of over paid upper middle class morons who haven't a clue about the realities of life.

Well anyway enough of my rant, it's not like it will change anything especially where they are concerned.

So today stuck between a rock and a hard place. Really need to make hot food but unable to cook it for as long as required. Our wood fire apparently has been blocked up higher up the chimney so that is completely out as an option as well. Personally I feel this should not be allowed. If a house has a wood fire in it it should be kept up to code for times like this where people need them not only for heating as they are far more effective than radiators stuck on the wall hidden behind furniture, but also for cooking. If our wood fire was unblocked we would have a pot on it all day long ready for anyone who needed to grab a cup of something hot. even roasting food or making pie fillings or jacket spuds. All perfick for a wood fire.

Makes me wonder about Raw Foodists how they cope in winter. I could be quite happy going down that route in summer but no way in winter. eating warm food helps keep your body temp up from the inside out. I am sure they have thier side and that is fine but for me hot food is needed in winter.

Anywhoo I finally found some meals I had made before Kissmass last year so I defrosted them. Luckily being rice based they will quickly heat up either in the oven or even on the stove top if I toss them quickly on a high heat.

It just goes to show that saving left overs can be a life saver. It doesn't matter who you are or what your diet is.

Tonight's dinner then in my case is going to be what our family calls a "mickey" its a fried rice with veggie mince and any else you can find to chuck in. This one was one we made a while back to use up some old stock and soybeans and other bits and pieces. Sorry no pic again apparently the camera and the pc haven't as yet sorted out thier differences. Hopefully soon we can sort it out.

I do however really think that hobernation is the best option for me in winter though. I can't do alot because there really isn't much to do. I am constantly freezing and tired and grumpy. Me thinks there is something of the hibernator in me. Is all good though we are on the downhill stretch towards Spring and i even saw early primroses the other day, so not long to go.

Until tomorrow then

Take care of yourself

xox Love and Light xox

Oh and if you actually want me to write out some of these recipes let me know. I am always happy to share

Day 7 ~ A Day for Soup and the Discovery That We Need a New Camera

Day 7

Wow has it honestly been a week already???

Well it has been a heck of a week and not one I'd like to repeat in a hurry. However I have to say that this week has taught me alot. It has taught me that if you love someone it is ok not to like them. If you like someone you don't always have to agree with them and finally that jsut because you promise yourself or someone else something that you are going to do, it doesn't mean you haven't done it if you pass the job to someone else and you have to forgive yourself and see the bigger picture as well. Sometimes you passing that job onto someone better qualified for the task is your way of keeping that promise so you really can't feel guilty forever.

This morning I woke up and had a massive side effect to this who vegan wheat free thing. My pj's literally almost fell off me. No what i mean by that is I have to hold them up to walk, move or wiggle. Now I am not a little tiny thing and never truly have been but this is new and I do appreciate it. I don't see any reason to become stick thin which is the stereo-typical look for vegans. For one I would look terrible!!! and for two there is no need for it. When there is such a balanced diet out there there is absolutely no need to look like a skellington. For me in particular I wouuld look awful, my body isn't made to be skinny. Never has been and never will be. I like my curves. My curves likes me too !!!

Anywhoo I figured after all that i should do something about food. Our stores are down right now. Without much of a way until the end of the week to do much about it so what I do have is going to have to make bigger meals and go further. This task is always easier if you have rice or something to mix with everything but when I say our stores are low I mean rock bottom and to be honest I am worried. Hey ho stuff happens and we get on with things.

So today i decided to make a Honey Roast Pumpkin Soup and some Oaty Hotcakes to go with it. The soup is something I have loved making for years. However I have mostly made it with cream up until now so I decided today to try making it with some of the Raw Soy Milk left over from yesterdays milk making session. This was so that I could condense the flavours of the soup 3 times and add new flavours at each stage. It worked too. If I had added the cooked Soy Milk the chances are it would have split and I really didn't want that to happen.

Oh the Oaty Hotcakes btw are simples. Just use raw oats and blitz them with some cornflour in the food processor  until you have a powder. Something a little like that breakfast cereal they pass off as smooth porridge. then add your soymilk or rice milk or almond milk whichever you choose you prefer. Just remember though that the Oats will soak up the liquid very quickly.

Oh I would show you pics and hopefully one day I will add them in, only we have had a mishap, Himself's phone is our camera and for some reason it has decided it is no longer talking to the pc. I think they might have had a tiff so we are going to leave them alone to work it out between then and if they don't, we shall have to have a mediation session with the two of them and get them to work things out in a way that they can work together!!!

Anyway enough of my rambling for one evening. Time for my pit me thinks.

Have a great day

xox Love and Light xox

Day 6 ~ Three ways with Soybeans and ripped off by the snow maker.

Hello Loverlies.

Last night or rather this morning I was poking my nose at the window like an excited puppy until I saw the first flurries of snow. 1.30am I finally got dragged off to bed. Happy times, it was soooo pretty I couldn't bring myself away from the window. Needless to say I woke up 10 minutes before I was due at the charity shop and slip slided my way through the sluch to get there on time.

This was the view out of my front door this morning.

 Awesomely pretty. Almost gone now though. Booooo!!!

Anywhoo after spending the morning in my favourite shop in the world I felt more like my old self again. Bout time I reckon!!!

Thankfully I felt able to tackle the kitchen and get onto the making of the Soymilk. The great thing about making Soymilk is that it doesn't have any of the additives that other brands do. Mine is a traditional recipe that is just the beans and water. Not hard I can tell you.

Basically all you do is soak your beans over night and then how ever many beans you have use 4 times the amount of water. Not I tried something different today. Instead of using the food processor and doing cup sized batches I put the whole lot in the pot and used the hand blitzer wand thingy. Much better result!!! Smoother grits and a thicker milk. Loads and loads of froth to scoop off the top as well. You have to remember to do this otherwise it makes the milk go weird.

In the past I have always found it difficult to find something to do with the froth. The grits are easy there are hundreds of things to do with those. The froth however has always felt like a waste. I hate waste, there is no need for it. Today feeling all adventurous and finally hungry I mixed it in with my stirfry to make up the base of the sauce.

The great thing about this is that caught in the froth were little bits of the grits and the froth melts into a thinner consistency of Soymilk making a loverly base for a quick stirfry with ginger, garlic and chilli. It was just what the quack ordered and I felt much better after it. Protein hit was very satisfied and not feeling bloated after eating is great. Strange but great. 

I know some of you may understand my last statement and some of you may not. At Christmas it is known as "turkey belly" most other times "meat sweats" neither are comfortable and neither are fun. You sleep like a python after it has consumed a sheep. You wake up a couple of hours later finding it very hard to move. For people like me with IBS you lay there curled up in a ball for a goodly few hours trying to beg forgiveness from your tummy promising you will never do it again. Kind of like the morning after a night on the town. 

It does take some getting used to not feeling that way after every meal. You almost get so used to it that not feeling it can be equated with still being hungry, but you truly aren't. You get to the point where instead you are so full you could puke and that is much nastier. Trust me. Anyone who is doing what I am doing has done it. Yes including me. It is not attractive. Once you have made the connection with what you are doing though something clicks and when you have eaten your brain finally learns to say. "You are actually done now". 

I had a massive win today. Apart from being able to eat and realise what was happening. I made 3 things from one teeny bag of Soy Beans. Not only did I make the Soymilk, as a result I ended up with nearly 2 Kilos of Soy Grits AND I even by accident, first time ever, made Yuba. Boy did I do a dance when I realised I had made my very first ever proper sheet of Yuba. 

For those who don't know about Yuba it is the skin that forms on the top of the Soy Milk when it is cooling. Kind of like the skin on custard. Only this stuff can be used like Spring Roll Wrappers. I realise that I only have one but hey it is a start and I am proud of it. I am even thinking of using it tonight to make something for myself with as part of dinner. or maybe I will save it and dry it ready for when I have others to add to it. I am still deciding. Either way it is my first Yuba and I am sooo proud of it. I might even call it George! HAHAHAHA!!!

Right so here is the picture of my 3 triumphs today. Soy Milk in the bowl on the left. Soy Grits in the bowl on the right and "George" the Yuba on the plate at the bottom.

Oh and the other best thing about making your own Soy Milk, You can turn it into Tofu without much hassle. Project for tomorrow me thinks whilst making some bits for work as well.

It feels good to be getting back on track. 

Have a great day 

xox Love and Light xox 

Day 5 ~ It's fixin' to be a blizzard out there!!!

Hey there anyone who is out there reading this ramble of mine.

Yesterday was hard but we shall draw a line under it and start again. Today I haven't been a good girl and I am paying for it in spades.

Due to not feeling like cooking yesterday but being forced to make the decision to eat. I hot the local shop after the bread was marked down and got a loverly cob loaf.... yes it was loverly and yes I am now paying for the fact that I ate it. *whispers behind hand* with goat's cheese.

So ok yes I have been bad, I have my own consequences to that. Those I have to live with. As i said yesterday this is a blog about my journey. Not the destination and not my life as a saint because I really am not one in anyway shape or form. I am just human like everyone else.

Tonight however I feel a little better. Maybe it is because we have snow coming or maybe because I had an hour long chat with my real mum this morning and talking about her and my son coming over for Kissmass this year which would be AWESOME!!!!

Perhaps it was even because I have made a decision not to tolerate anyones game playing any more no matter how close to each other we are. Sometimes you have to protect yourself to be able to get on with things, get stronger and heal before dealing with thier crap. Yeah I said it Crap Crap Crap Crap Crap !!! my blog you don't like it go read Storytime With the Fluffy Bunnies!

This evening it is eerily quiet, no ambiant sound is around and town is feeling like it is about to dump 10 tonne of snow on our heads.  Which apparently it is at about 3am !!! YAY!!! I am very excited about this I love the snow. More than anything in life that can drop on our heads it is up there with autumn leaves for me.

So there we have it I feel better so I start taking better care of me. This means I popped into the local shop and found a wonderful pot of Thai Veg Curry. Yes it was marked down but hey that meant I could afford to grab some Soy Milk as well. Yes I know I am supposed to be making it. I figure since the snow is about to hit that will give me something to do during the blizzard. It also means I can have a cup of coffee now without doing more harm to myself.

Tis a good plan !!!

This evenings agenda is play a few games, warm up my Thai Curry and sit in front of Triple D and slob out for the evening. No more beating myself up because I had a bad couple of days. Plan for the next few days depending on the weather and get back on the preverbial horse.

So thank you for your understanding.  Thankyou for reading my ramblings and thankyou just for being you.

xox Love and Light xox 

Day 4 ~ In which I find myself learning how to open a door again.

Hey there.

Today has been one of those days that you truly have to forgive yourself for. If you don't learn to forgive yourself then no-one can do it for you and you end up thinking you have failed and give up. I am NOT giving up. I just had a bad day.

Unable to get my head together today I did manage to sort out a reference I was supposed to write a week ago and get that delivered and then promtly took a very large box to the chemist and said "Here have it all back I don't need it anymore". I toddled up the road and decided to pop into the local charity shop and forgot how to open the door.

This is a door I use at least 4-5 times a week. A door which has a very beautiful handle of brass and although a little sticky in winter very normal to open. Today though, I forgot how. After 3 attempts of walking into it I finally saw the handle and decieded it might be a good idea to try and turn it. I did. The door opened.....

Everyone of course is giggling and taking the Micky and I decide it is probably a good idea to hobble off home where I am probably safest at this stage....

On arrival home I trip up the lounge step. You know the one you walk up without thinking every single time you enter the room .... I had forgotten it was there.

In view of this I fled to the safety of a friends house and stayed there until about 10 minutes ago. When I decided it was probably a good plan to let them have thier life back for the remainder of the evening. 

As you can see today is not a day I should be let loose in the kitchen. Not only for my own safety but everyone else's as well.

So tonight I know you are going to be mad at me but right now, I am not cooking, what I am doing is allowing myself the day I need to sort my head out.

We are due for severe weather here over the next few days with big snow YAY!!! and tomorrow I am having to head out on my own to talk to the bank and get supplies in whilst we still can.

Whatever else happens over the next couple of days I know that I have stuff to do in the kitchen. My Soybeans are now loverly and soaked and ready to turn into milk and other yummies. So with any luck now my head appears to be returning to normal again this evening. 

I would like to thank everyone for thier patience with me. This is a journey and not the destination. If anyone is looking for the destination pleasse come back in 5 years time when I might have gotten it right. For now I am me and I am doing the best I can in some pretty interesting circumstances right now.

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox

 

Today has been tough and yes I have been naughty but isn't that life ???

Hey there Loverly person who has taken time out of thier day to read my ramblings.

Today has been a bit tough. Today is the day of my "mother's" funeral and since I couldn't attend it, it being in Australia and me being in Devon, Himself and I did our own thing down at the river instead. Needless to say today was not a very good foody day. Not because I cheated but because I jsut didn't want to eat.

Brekky was a chore and the thought of putting my head into gear and actually cooking was really not on today's agenda. Help was at hand with some choccy soy pots and choccy soy milk. Brekky of champions I say. It was for me this morning anyways. One thing that I love about them is that I don't end up with that horrid mucousy bloated feeling after eating them. For me that was always the issue and having to ignore it so I could get down the nomminess that choccy milk tends to have.

When we got back from the river I felt the need to pick. I'm not really that good at sitting down with a whole meal I never really have been. Probably because of the whole meat sweats thing and the bloated feelings afterwards. Although this seems to be dissipating somewhat since I changed my diet, today was not the exception. So I broke out the last of my rice cakes and slathered marmite all over them. Yeah well love it or hate it that is your choice. Me, I don't care where it is from or what variety it is I am addicted and always have been and no doubt always will be. For this afternoon it hit the spot. That kinda crunchy knowledge of safe food feeling that gives you a hug at the same time as you curl up under your blankey to watch "Triple D" and make your wish list of places to go when the opportunity. Although I have to admit as much as I would LOVE more than anything to visit these places the amount of pain I would be in after indulging, I would have to think seriously about whether it is worth it or not.

Yes I am still deciding !!!! 

Anywhoo, this evening Himself and I have decided it is probably a very good idea to actually eat something proper this evening. I figure I may as well get in the kitchen and rustle something up. In all honesty though really don't feel like it. Would be just as happy curling up and having a bucket of coffee instead and pretending like I actually had dinner. However I decided to be good. Not good enough to go from scratch but good enough to chuck a whole lot of stuff I made with stuff someone else made and make it into something. Yeap that just about covers it.

Our fridge at the moment looks like a desert. A desert of lots of open packets and left over this and that. Lucky for me I am the Queen of left overs and am able to very quickly put together a bunch of this and that to resemble something along the lines of a Chunky Veggie Mince Bolognaise or there abouts. You see Saturday I had wonderful friends come to visit so I made a Ratatouille as part of the Veggie options. I had plenty left so after cooking off some Onion, Carrot and Celery, I tossed in Garlic, Veggie Mince and diced the last 2 rashers of the Fakin Bacon and chucked that in and then dumped in the left over Ratatouille. Sorted!!! 

I thought to myself this would go great with rice or pasta. Then I looked in the cupboard. Yeap I had my Mother Hubbard moment and realised it was bare. I did manage to remember though that we had a couple of big potatoes so in the oven they went to bake and here I am writing this with little more than a loverly waft of a smell floating through the house. 

Of course by the time you read this it will have piccies and I shall have scoffed my dinner so worry not I haven't forgotten those who need to see.

2 hours later.....

Well you aren't going to believe this but I am going to tell you anyway. Before Himself went out I turned off the stove all i left on was the oven with the Jackets in there, but the hob was all turned off and I KNOW it was turned off because the light was out. Popping onto FB for a moment I started talking to a dear friend and decided to call her. When I got intot he living room it was filled with smoke. I ran into the kitchen to find that filled with smoke and my dinner was burnt to within an inch of its life!!!!

Just to prove here is the pic !!!

Pretty heinous huh !!??!!

So that put paid to that little adventure and to be quite honest I can't be bothered trying again now. It seems the wicked pixies are at it again in my kitchen and I am not best pleased!!!

As I write this I am now sitting here munching on a celery stick being dipped in veggie gravy because quite frankly I am NOT going back intot hat kitchen tonight.

Sorry to end on such a note but I think today for me is a bit of a write off, to be expected I suppose but hey ho, tomorrow is another day and we can try again then. Until then take it easy. don't beat yourself up if you are having a bad one, these things happen to the best of us, because at the end of the day we are but hooman well that's the theory anyways.

Tomorrow I am playing with Soybeans and having a bash at making a few things like my own Soymilk and other such lushious bits and pieces.

Oh and yes I have found another  interesting little titbit for us when it comes to labelling. In an effort to find out if the Veggie Mince had wheat in it, I decided it would be a very good idea to read the label. Something I probably should have done at the beginning before purchasing. This is what I found ....

On one hand the ingredients list shows no mention of Wheat at all. However in the Allergy advice it does. I will be calling the company int he morning to find out exactly what this means. my theory at this point is that it is made in a factory that also makes items with Wheat in them. Until this is clarified tomorrow I can't be entirely sure. I haven't had any adverse effects from it, to be honest however I burnt most of it and have had less than a handful of the entire packet so probably not enough to actually do any damage should it have been labelled incorrectly. Either way answers tomorrow.

Until then

xox Love and Light xox

Day 1 ~ I know I said I'm not a rabbit but my purse says otherwise !!!

Ok so Day 1...

Here we are and yes it's Monday. Due to things happening around here I am in absolutely no mood to really do any experimenting. In fact if I wasn't given "the look" from Himself eating wouldn't be on the menu at all. I got away with pj's though Yay ME!!!

So brekky, I have never really been a cereal person. The thought of soggy things in my mouth makes me want to gag. I did however last year rediscover porridge but it was something I could only bring myself to eat occasionally. I was also brought up in a house where a cooked breakfast was the norm. I always made sure that my kids had a cooked breakfast with the options of cereal and fruti as well. No I truly am no saint and at the same time I did breakfast I used to put the meat on for dinner that way there was no waiting later on. Of course living in Australia for many years it was way too hot to cook later in the day as well.

The last couple of years I have been able to decide whether I could be bothered or not to eat breakfast and quite frankly the answer has been No I Can't. I have had to think about this more recently though. The thing that convinced me that my body needed to eat more regularly was pulling all nighters to get work finished in time for Christmas deliveries. by morning I was starving to the point where my stomach was literally eating itself, not quite as bad as those in 3rd world countries but enough to make me understand that if my body doesn't eat for 12 hours it is truly going to make me pay for it. Dry heaving is not pleasant but definately a self inflicted consequence.

So this morning I decided to be sensible. This for me meant I really needed a proper cooked breakfast. Since bacon and eggs are off the menu I had to think about what I was going to do. I used to be the breakfast chef at a restaurant in Canberra where they serve the most wonderful veggie breakfast and I thought well why not. So I did. So into my pan went mushrooms and faking bacon. and into a side pan went some gorgeous fresh zucchini with garlic "butter". To be honest I was a bit worried about the "bacon" the one that the leading brand makes to be honest is horrid and dry and is like picking your teeth with a piece of card. However I found myself a generic brand the other day and it works beautifully. I am not entirely sure it is wheat free but I had no major issues with it later on. I will recheck this later however just in case.

So day starting well and very happy to have it go along the way it did. not feeling much like doing very much today but got on with some poster designs etc for work so I could at least feel a little like I was doing something with my time.

2pm came around all too quickly and that knawing feeling was attacking me viciously. I really didn't want to go to any effort, so as luck would have it there was salad left over from Saturday in the fridge saying to me all I need are some warm mushies. So that is what I did. Thick sliced muchrooms with thyme, onion and some balsamic vinegar and it was great!!!

I know it probably doesn't look as fabbytastic as it actually tasted but I really didn't care. Mind you all those loverly fresh colours really did bounce about alot better in life than in this picture and I made a discovery. I actually like red peppers better than green ones. I'm not sure I had really paid that much attention before to the difference in flavours of the different colours, but they are there and very distinctive if you take the time to find out.

This afternoon was pretty uneventful. I spent a little time in reflection over the events of the last few days and thinking about my family in Australia as they gather around each other over the next couple of days. It is good to know sometimes that no matter how far away they are and how far apart you have been that there is always a chance to put things to rights and start afresh again.

Of course this evening I had to think about Himself. No matter what happens around here dinner is a together thing, which can be interesting when you have to consider he is the opposite of me. Himself has Chrones and the kind of Chrones wheere veggies for the most part are out of bounds. His doctor calls it the teenage diet. I call it the carnivores dream hahaha. It did all work out though. I have to admit I have been a little addicted to the foody channels again over the last couple of days, especially the Asian style food shows. Coupling that with something Nigel Slater did with greens I decided on my dinner of choice.

Fresh Mixed Greens with Vegetarian Oyster Sauce.

Can I just say before everyone jumps down my throat for over cooking the veg. I was taken away from my dinner before this was taken to check on some emails. So it continued to cook itself. It was alot greener before hand!!!

Yes I know as well that Vegetarian Oyster Sauce is a bit of an oxymoron but it is out there and available at Asian Grocery Stores and Health Food Shops etc. or even the internet. Just look for it it is so worth it. 

I am on a bit of a Mushroom bender today. Possibly because they are what I have and I don't have alot in the way of veg protien just now in the house. Also possibly why I am on the rabbit thing jsut now. Of course that's my excuse and I am sticking to it but we all know I am just having a lazy one just now.

I have however in my cupboard at the moment some Soybeans which I will be making into milk and other bits and pieces in the next couple of days when I get a bit better on track. Yes I will share what I do as this is what we are all about.

I know today hasn't been all live action but some days it truly isn't and today is one of those days. The other issue right now is funds and right now I can afford the veg but getting hold of the additions is something I will have to take a week at a time for now. Having one person who can only eat Meat, Dairy and Wheat and one who can have everything else can lead to some interesting shopping choices. It also can make it difficult on the budget side of things. We are managing at the moment though thankfully. Being as I tend to make everything from scratch helps too. Less processed items to purchase.

I know everyone says it is cheaper to eat healthy but let me tell you something. NO IT ISN'T. It is highly expensive and can cause great issues to families on lower incomes. So before any of you start judging those with packets of chicken nuggets and chips in thier trolley think about the cost of them versus the cost of the chicken breast and the potatoes and I think you will have a bit of a shock. Especially if you price up organic and free range.

Right now I am a rabbit and proud to be one. Soon as we get more organised this will change. In the mean time my journey is a basic one and one I can handle in my everyday life and budget.

Anywhoo enough of my ranting. Have a wonderful day and just remember....






xox Love and Light to all xox