I pushed myself hard, made my heart beat fast and perspired a little too and achieved 15 laps (3 kms) in 30 minutes.
Afterwards I felt amazing!
It was tinged with a little sadness on seeing someone that was me not so long ago. She managed a few laps at a slow pace and in every step she took you could see the pain she suffered. I wanted to hug her.. tell her that all she had to do was keep coming back to walk a little and soon the pain would begin to disappear and her smile would broaden and there would come a day when she actually walked faster than someone else and one day she would realize there was no pain… and she’d cry with happiness..
It was with apprehension that I set foot on it as it had been several months since I had last been and some of the weight I had lost had piled back on too… (at the moment I am back up to 244 lbs which is 25 lbs up from my victory day weigh in of 219 lbs)
I needn’t have worried!
We decided for the first time back I’d walk 30 minutes at a moderate pace (which normally worked out at 12 laps in 30 minutes which is about 2.5 km). We walked at a brisk pace and completed 13 laps in 30 minutes and then did a few cool down laps.. I hardly broke into a sweat and felt EXHILARATED!!!
There is no doubt in my mind that the key to getting healthy and strong is not only eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, peas, beans, nuts and non-processed or minimally processed foods (like wartime rationing) but also taking regular exercise such as brisk walking especially if you can feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair! It’s all rather simple really..
With possibly having to return to the UK in 3 months time I REALLY want to get back on track and greet my Mum and Dad weighing 100 lb less than when I last saw them 8.5 years ago. I may be greeting them with growing my grey hair out but I’ll be healthier and stronger and I’m sure they will be very happy to see that..
We await to hear from Canadian Immigration, the results for our PRRA. It’s our last chance of not having to leave Nova Scotia here in Canada. Realistically we know the chance of that having a positive outcome is very slim so I’ve been making what practical plans I can, should we have to return to the UK this summer.
One of these plans is to sell our home, our only asset in the world, the sale of which will clear the debts run up trying to survive here in Nova Scotia, with no job (or government assistance) and fund a return to the UK. Without the support of my family and friends I don’t think we would have ever made it through- thank you x
The good news is that our house is under offer. That is a huge relief..and I’m so pleased who it is going to.
So now it’s time to once again, plan another journey into the unknown…I really thought finally I had found my Nirvana but obviously it was not meant to be and the road still beckons.
After having lived in isolated or rural locations for 17 years, something by the way I have really enjoyed, I’ll be leaving the last 8 years of my life behind to live in a diverse, cosmopolitan city with lots of history, a very large student population, beautiful surroundings…. the home of Robin Hood, Nottingham.
I want my children to have the opportunity of experiencing city life, being independent, building their own lives and being productive members of the community, they will have lots to offer. Pity we couldn’t offer that in Nova Scotia..
We will have a busy few months ahead planning our next life, I’ve just forgotten how the UK works, I’ve been away 8.5 years and have never returned once. I’m rather scared of all the responsibilities I have for so many lives and for the choices I am having to make.
If there is one burning light at the end of the tunnel, it is that I will see my parents again. I’ve missed them so very much.
I’ve come across a TV series that ran in the UK two years ago and I’ve started to watch it. I just had to share it with you in case you missed it too!!
I’ve re-created 109 recipes from the 1940s home-front to date…
The static page that I update with the latest recipes is HERE
Hope you enjoy the historical culinary journey below and thank you for continuing to visit my blog and for having a go yourself at the recipes, in particular schools using the content as part of the national curriculum..
The cupboards were pretty bare today and I didn’t want to do a round journey of 40 minutes by car to visit our nearest store. I found lots of potatoes and carrots so it was relatively easy to find a “1940s British Wartime Recipe” based on these…. “Carrot Roll”.
My initial thoughts were….gahhhh… sounds bland but infact, with plenty of seasoning and some dried herbs sprinkled over, it was very tasty and looked rather nice too! I happen to like potatoes a LOT so cooking this until the outside was nice and crispy, really added to the flavour and kept my love affair with the humble spud alive.
As always, being a dietary vegan, I used a lactose free margarine.
Enjoy this, its economical and yummy! (and serves 8 for around $1.00 or 70 p)
Carrot Roll
8 potatoes (chopped, boiled and mashed with lots of margarine and seasoning)
2 large carrots grated
2 or 3 tablespoons of oatmeal/porridge oats (toasted)
teaspoon of Marmite (or other savoury seasoning)
salt, pepper and dry herbs
margarine or butter
Method
Grate the carrots into a saucepan and add a little water (about 5 tablespoons) and bring to a simmer
Add oatmeal and marmite
Simmer for 5 minutes until tender- set aside to cool
Flour some foil or parchment paper and place 3/4’s of the cooled mashed potatoes in a oblong shape about 1/2 inch thick
Place the carrot mixture along the centre longways and dot margarine along the top.
Bring the mashed potato up along the sides and add the rest of the mash over the top and shape and completely cover the carrot filling. Add extra seasoning and dried herbs
Place on baking tray and cook in moderately hot over at around 220 c for about 40 minutes until the outside is lightly browned
Allow to cool down for 30 minutes before slicing
Serve with green veg and a meaty gravy (I use a meat alternative for my meat ration and made a meaty style gravy with some of that)
Had some ups and downs, my current life is pretty chaotic and the emotions which go with them and I’ve had a little weight gain again. Not much but still…. I’m up to 240 lbs and not happy with that but not overwhelmed with it either. My psyche is still craving to become healthier and anything else is not an option, I just need to start focusing on my goals and working hard towards them again.
I’m off out now, I have a little cleaning job to do for a friend and I’ve packed organic oatmeal and some apple puree for lunch and then I pick up my youngest daughter Em from Heartwood Leadership Camp where I hope she has had an awesome time since she went away on Tuesday. And then she is attending the Leaders of Today Spring Summit next week
I decided that at 47 years I was no longer going to reach for a bottle of hair dye and instead embrace my silver hair
Deciding to go grey has been totally liberating… to acknowledge that I’ve found enough inner peace and strength to now endure, in my immediate future, at least a year of very weird looking hair while things grow out AND to look forward to a wild mane of silver (no I won’t be cutting my hair short in a nice tidy bob) has made me feel good about myself.
A number of things inspired me to finally take the leap into weird and wonderful hairdom. First, my curly, raven haired Facebook friend Naomi (who proudly showed the world her emerging skunk stripe) and secondly, all the BEAUTIFUL women on this “Grey and Proud” group on Facebook..
“Long hair is typically equated with unrestrained sexuality … while grey hair is associated with being past it. … This uncanny brew in a woman is clearly a bit much for some people.”
“Her appearance sticks a finger up at the idea we women (and increasingly men too) have to look very precisely groomed to get any respect.”…. (about Mary Beard)
Yesterday had the first viewing of my home and accepted an offer
OK so I’ve had a pretty good track record in selling all our previous homes myself BUT despite the very attractive asking price aimed at a quick sale, my mind was full of self doubt. My Hobbit home had grown tired, needed many repairs and refurbishing and quite frankly my very honest list of repairs totaling $10,000, sent out to all potential viewers, was sure to deter ALL but the very serious.
But the interest came in thick and fast and I awarded the first viewing to a lovely, positive gentleman who had consistently shown interest in the property in the weeks prior to it being ready to view and yesterday he took a tour and was able to see the potential and appreciate the BEAUTY of our private and tranquil location overlooking a small private swimming/row-boat lake.
He offered EXACTLY the figure I wanted and needed and I knew it was a sign to shake on it and call the lawyer.
So now we move forward and I’m keeping my fingers crossed…
