Not feeling very well today, it’s just a cold, I’ll get over it and I imagine today was the worst bit. I didn’t have much to write when I sat down but dropped by John’s first to see if he’d posted. I learned the sad news that Denver Doug has passed away. I dropped in and out of his journal more so back when I first started reading oldgreypoet and he commented regularly enough for me to smile when I saw his name. He was one of the gang over at Johns and one of the people who’s name was very familiar for his witty and thoughtful comments when I was only learning what the whole journaling/blog business was all about. He struck me as somebody extremely special and my heart goes out to all those who will miss him. I can only imagine, when I think of how close I feel to my friends on the internet, what some of you may be feeling tonight.

Night all, x

Yuck. I gots a colds, snuff, bibble, glurp. Nah, it’s not that bad. I’m glad it’s broken, it’s been tickling and threatening ever since Thursday, today I can finally blow my nose and accept that it’s a real head cold and I’m not going to be able to skip past it.

Benny received his application form for the position of Office Administrator for the Yeats Society in Sligo. He would love to do it, and we’re crossing fingers and toes and thinking positive thoughts.

I spent ages this evening creating a second and hopefully improved version of the afore described ‘Fire Puddle’. I didn’t cook the yellow split peas enough, but I did enjoy getting to use my curry leaves and garam masala. The adventures in Indian style cooking continue.

Bleh. Can’t concentrate.

*If anyone has lost the other url, or I neglected to give it to you by accident, please don’t hesitate to email me

Oh soo tired today, well, flat, perhaps an anticlimax sort of feeling. I’ll blog in the morning, provided I’m in better form. It’ll be over at the other blog

I’m feeling a little bit better today, I think it’s starting to sink in. Just barely.

I was quite pleased with how the shopping went, I’ve been hoping that having time off would allow me to spend more time on planning out our weekly meals in advance so that we could have more variety and less waste and also eat more healthily and cheaply. The cut back in meat is definitely starting to show in the receipts. I was spending in a week what I do now in a fortnight not so very long ago. So this weeks menu starts with a wild mushroom risotto (we bought organic additive free mushroom stock cubes in one of the specialist food shops yesterday, along with some curry leaves which I’ve been dying to try and a small pack of garam masala), next is spicy falafels in a kebab style with pita bread, vine tomatoes and guacamole (and probably oven chips, we quite like the McCain’s ones if you douse them with vinegar half way through cooking, Benny’s tip, yummy if you like vinegar and keeps them sort of fluffy). Then we’ll have some chunky veg and Asda’s version of Quorn mince in a tomato pasta bake, followed the next day by bean wraps with grated red leicester, wilted spinach humous and finely chopped red onion. The weekly favourite, Tuna Pasta Surprise (onion, tomato, garlic and bell peppers partly puréed for the sauce, slow cooked for as long as possible), and lastly, my brand new creation, mixed bean spicy tomato enchiladas with aubergine, fresh spinach and a creamy cheese dressing, baked in the oven with a crispy cheese topping.

I am excited by this menu, rather than the usual slightly bored and wishing I was doing something about it feeling that I’ve had when it’s come to meal times this last while. Benny is a great cook but finds it difficult to visualise or imagine what a recipe will taste like, for anything he’s made before he’s a pro, but finding inspiration is difficult for him. I’m glad I’ve discovered my inspiration again and now I’m showing him how to prepare these new type of dishes which he can modify and adapt to his hearts content. He loves the new food too, and I have to say, as cliched as it might sound, I actually do feel a lot better for eating it. We had a fry up (cooked on the Foreman) this afternoon and I haven’t felt right since. The fat just seemed to sit in a huge ball in my stomach ever since and with all due respect, I didn’t particularly like having to re-taste my dinner all evening.

I’m sorry if this is somewhat repetitious, I know I was talking about some of these things last week when I made them first, but I’m tired. Actually, that’s a good point, I think I’ll head to bed. Just because I don’t strictly have to get up at any time I’m determined to keep getting up at work time. Plus, I have a busy day tomorrow, one part of which I’ll discuss on the other site tomorrow, the other is going to start the process of signing on. Not a big fan of yucky paperworky bureaucracy’ishyness, but it has to be done.

And so to bed,

Night all

Yesterday was very strange as expected. I couldn’t write about it last night, maybe I’ll make mention of it tomorrow, but it was a mixed bag of emotions anyway. We went for a couple of pints last night, not too many, and after a very unhurried morning of doing F all, we headed into town. I got curry leaves, garam masala, a garlic crusher and some little glass tea light holders in Pennys.

I’m just feeling washed out and deflated today. Hopefully a few pints and some joviality down the local will sort it. It was a tough few weeks in all.

Yah. When my writing comes out this general and blow by blow it’s time to call it a day. I’ll be alright, I’m just sad about something, but I’ll deal with it.

Happy Saturday all

…and you have to be able to guess why. M’fraid I gots nufink to say tonight, and I’m straight to me bed, via a detour to, eh, attend to that which needs attending. Will report in the morning, all is well,

Night!