Thursday 25 March 2010

Things I Love Thursday

Curry filled birthday celebrations, massage, playing bass and feeling like a rock star, vegan chocolate, making a conscious effort to relax, good news for friends, enthusiasm, being back in control, hair cuts, being in tune with friends, Grapefruit juice, stretching, big sunglasses with green frames, being invited out for lunch, my phone, knowing you are wanted, vitamix solutions, sleep.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Watch my hands

On Sunday I went for my annual visit to the Vitality Show with Mimi. Last year’s show wasn’t brilliant stall wise but the talks, workshops and demonstrations were good on the whole.

This year our plan was to get there for 11am so that we could go to a hula hoping workshop. Our plans were somewhat challenged due to non-running trains and a bus replacement service. After looking a number of different routes and taking in account Sunday bus services we finally hit upon one that would get us there on time.

All was going well. The weather was good. The buses were running on time. Then our train didn’t move for an hour due to an accident. We arrived at the vitality Show an hour and half later than anticipated.

The show wasn’t particularly good. There seemed to be fewer stands than in previous years. There were no Nairs Oatcakes, Redwood foods, Colour Me Beautiful or Lara bars. We were totally ignored at the Black Tower wine stand (maybe we looked to young to buy alcohol!).

On the plus side lunch was amazing. We’d been planning to take a packed lunch as food at these venues is often fatty and overpriced. As a result we were thrilled with the selection on offer at the Crussh. The Japanese Noodle Salad was just the kind of food I wanted to eat and the price was very reasonable.


We always make a point of having a massage and this year tried seated Zen shiatsu. I found it quite relaxing. I was pleased to be told afterwards that all my major organs were in good shape (apparently you can tell from checking pressure points). The guy also told me that I carry all my stress in my hands.

I’m inclined to think he has a point here. My hands do have a tendency to shake if I am very nervous or stressed. Or they become very cold. My Belly Dance teacher is always telling me to relax my hands.

The big question is how do I relax my hands and will this reduce my stress levels? Or do I need to reduce my stress levels and this will relax my hands?

The day must have done us some good. We both felt more ‘vital’ than usual on Monday morning.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

What's in my lunchbox this week?

I’ve been trying to shake off a bug that been doing the rounds. Consequently lunch this week contains lots of garlic since I vaguely recall reading somewhere that garlic is good for that type of thing. In any case it all tastes delicious.

Clockwise from top right:

Mushrooms Рthis is Saut̩ed mushrooms and green beans from VwaV minus the green beans. I thought afterwards that I could have subbed broccoli but it does fine by itself. I will make this loads in the summer if I ger a good bean crop.

Kale – Garlicky Kale with Tahini dressing from VwavV. I added some Kombu I had lying around to make it more delicious. It did. I love this and could eat bowlfuls of it. The dressing I added to the potatoes instead of the Kale.

Boiled potatoes with Tahini dressing. I don’t usually bother with dressings but I’m finding more enthusiasm for them. The Vitamix helps with this as well.

Rhubarb – baked Rhubarb with a bit of homemade apple flapjack sprinkled over the top.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Things I Love Thursday

More joy in the abundance of my life in the past week:
Just asking (with the expectation of receiving), water and lots of it, looking good on film, having a fridge full of interesting food, sunshine, exchanging amusing text messages, light at the end of the tunnel, getting our first seeds planned for this year’s vegetable crop, having dinner prepared for me, contemplating the difference between English punk and American punk, making excellent vegan chocolate cupcakes with choc mousse filling, Dear Heart actually eating two of said cupcakes, winter warmers, desk tidying, planning for music festivals, tuning your instrument, bagels, the sweet of flowering bulbs just outside the bedroom, the sweetness of friends when you feel poorly.

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