Cheese on Toast and Recycled Menu

Hi friends,

It was a terrible stormy night. Warwickshire has got sunshine this morning but still very windy and my old cottage has been making a squeaky noise…oh dear.

Cheese on toast for breakfast. Someone gave me a block of cheese for Christmas and I did some experiment with it. From right, it is, with ketchup, French mustard and English mustard.

Verdict? It has to be French.

Early lunch. Another recycled menu. Chicken from yesterday’s roast but quickly cooked with different sauce and left over vegetables were cooked in consommé soup which I made the other day.

Pudding, again, left over cakes from Christmas…

Breakfast on Boxing Day

Hi friends,

Hope you are having a good Christmas break. We had relatively good weather yesterday and so far it looks beautiful outside.

My prayer goes to those who are out of electricity in the flooded areas over Christmas.

As you know, I spent my childhood in Far East and experienced typhoons every year whilst I was there. I can tell you that the storm we had over the weekend was as bad as typhoons.

My breakfast this morning.

This is the recycled menu from yesterday’s meatloaf. As I feel my stomach and body are bit heavy, I ate tomatoes with balsamic vinegar. Vinegar always helps me when I feel tired because of its alkaline nature.

I enjoyed it…..

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all Merry Christmas.

Have good one!

JUNO XXX

Curry and Apple Crumble

Hi friends,

After the horrible storm, we have got sunshine this morning. How’s your area? Hope everything is OK with you all.

Brunch.

And pudding. 

Unpractical Woman and Weather Warning

Hi friends,

Oh my God! What is happening in this country?

Hope you are OK and your families and houses are not affected by this weather.

I actually went to Waitrose in Stratford in this weather to get some foods this morning. I now admit that it was an act of madness.

When I went out, it was just drizzling, not seriously raining. By the time I arrived there, it became so windy, almost, stormy. I could not find a parking slot as it was already really busy. I gave up using their own car park. Instead, I parked my car in a local car park next to it. I was nearly blown away when I was queuing for a ticket.

Waitrose was chaotic with the last minute desperate shoppers including me.

I only needed soya milk, eggs and some bread but it took absolutely ages for me to reach a till.

Thankfully, I could come back without any troubles but I feel absolutely exhausted. The BBC is now telling us that our area has got “amber” warning and urge us to stay at home unless otherwise you absolutely must.

I was supposed to have lunch with my friend in Warwick today but we decided to postpone our catching-up as he pointed out that it is rather suicidal to go out in my car when weather is that bad. Just like its owner, it is a good looking car for its age, but absolutely hopelessly unpractical.

His remarks made me laugh. Yep, I agree with him that I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to practicality and it seemed that I was the only shopper in a dress and high-heels in Waitrose in this weather!

Should I change my image to be a woman like his car, Land Rover Defender? It looks its best when it is covered with mud and cow pads……..NO WAY!!!

Today’s breakfast.

 

De-clattering life! - Books

Hi friends,

I visited a lovely friend who lives in one of those lovely Cotswolds villages.

We talked about my trip to Austria, how we are going to spend Christmas, and the effect and benefit of space clearing.

Space clearing is my hobby….well, it Is getting like habit now. I recently read an inspiring book about it and succeeded to get rid of well over 200 books. It was almost scary that I kept such a big number of books I no longer read in this small house.

I read anything from great Shakespeare to silly Chick Lits. If I don’t have anything to read, I start reading Warwickshire local bus time tables! How sad is that?

There are number of books discussing about space clearing. They tell you how to sort out things by the frequency of usage, such as, if you have not used a thing for more than 2 years, then, take it to a charity shop. This book is different. It asks you whether an object in front of you would give you any excitement or inspiration.

Also, it promotes clearing by not space but by category. For example, we clean kitchen, living room, bed room, bathroom etc. This book tells us to sort out clothes, shoes, bags, books, plates, cups….every single stuff you own in your house. It even mentions about empty boxes of electric appliances and coins left on a window sill!!

According to the author, it has to be done at once. We don’t need to do it every day. Just concentrate on a category you decide to sort out and do it quickly but thoroughly. Take them all out from where they are and make a pile or mountain of them. See the mountain of stuff you collected in the past and pick things up and feel each of it.

If you have no special feeling attach to it, get rid of it. It will only become burden in your life and prevent you from moving forward. If you have good feeling with it, decide the “home” place where it should be.

It might sound rather ordinary but it has few good points I can adapt and practice.

I still own about 50 books. God knows how many times I read Pride & Prejudice and I can talk about Caroline Bingley for England by now but I still read the book. On the other hand, there are lots of books I completely forgot that they are in the bookcase.

I just don’t know why I bought a book called “Anti-aging 60 tips from 50”. I am not even 50 yet but it seems I got the book when I was still in my 30s. Why? I haven’t got a foggiest idea what triggered me to waste money on this.

Will I read it when I hit my 50^th? I don’t think so, as the contents will be so out of date and there should be far better solution by that time.

Now, I only have few books I simply adore and that’s enough.

Plates and cups will be my next target! ;-)

   

Shops in the Christmas season in Stratford-upn-Avon

Hi friends,

Today is my last shopping day before Christmas! Lots of people must be having the same thoughts and Stratford was absolutely chaotic from early morning.

Ladies, it seems sale has already started in high streets but I ordered few things for myself online. Nothing special but I know they would be rather handy next year. I will show you when they are delivered. Wait and see….

This is nostalgic window display I found in a sweetie shop in Stratford-upon-Avon.

And the Christmas shop. They sell Christmasie stuff throughout the year. Not sure how they survive in the non-Christmas period but it is always good fun to visit for browsing. 

Freebie from Weleda

Hi friends,

When I came back from Austria last night, a squashed envelope was left at the door step and I found these inside.

They are free gifts from Weleda. I participated in their customer survey in November and they gave me £5 discount code in return. I did not have an opportunity to use the code and it expired. I don’t know whether they might have noticed that but they gave me these which cost more than £5.

Normally, a company give you freebie or discount when a product gets close to its “sell-by-date” but these are OK until October 2014.

Wow, I am impressed, Weleda. 

Rice Omelette Breakfast

Hi friends,

I had been away for 4 days and found my cottage as cold as a fridge when I was back last night. Luckily, the weather has been mild this year comparing with the one we had last year, so my cottage became habitable quickly. Phew.

Today’s big breakfast with consommé soup.

As my fridge was almost empty, I used this packet. Carrot and Coriander Farafel.

Although coming from a packet, I have to say, it was tastier than I expected.

And my speciality, rice omelette. It contains tomato and onion flavoured fried rice. Yummmmm…..

Beware! - E-mail from HM Revenue & Customs

Hi friends,

Just a quick note to advise you not to touch the spam e-mail pretending that they are from HMRC – Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

I received 2 e-mail from HMRC advising me that I am eligible to claim tax refund of £1200, then the following day, similar message but the claimable amount became £645. Oops, it was reduced quickly! How stingy!

My dear ladies and gentlemen, this is the extract from the real HMRC’s homepage regarding such frauds.

HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email. If you have any doubt that an email you receive from HMRC is genuine please do not follow any links, disclose any personal details or respond to it. Please forward it to HMRC atphishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk then delete it.

If you are not sure, think about following;

1.How did tax men know your e-mail address?

2.If it is genuine, you get a letter, not e-mail.

3.They don’t ask you to disclose credit card details on line.

    4. Do you really think tax men are that generous?

Christmas 3D Lighting Show and Rooftop Restaurant in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Hi friends,

I went to Stratford-Upon-Avon to watch 3D Christmas Lighting Show at Shakespeare’s Birth Place yesterday.

It is about projecting image on to the building like this and actors perform some famous scenes from the Shakespeare’s plays such as Romeo & Juliet. It was jolly good pre-dinner entertainment.

It is free and takes place every day from 17:00 – 18:00 until 19^th December. Good time slot between Christmas shopping and dinner, isn’t it?

Ever-so-wonderful MK was with me yesterday. Hence the romantic setting.

Rooftop Restaurant.

This is a sleek venue on the top of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. They do good seafood. As you know, I am allergic to fish, so this is the comment coming from MK who, like myself, enjoys good foods and wine more than anything.

He had salmon and sea bass, whereas I had soup and braised beef. As it was early night and we both have to get up early to catch a flight in the following day, he picked a bottle of light Rosé for us. The dinner was fabulous. As for dessert, MK chose cheese board and my choice was, off course, chocolate!

Their chocolate Crème brûlée was as gorgeous as my dear friend.

What a treat!

Udon Noodle Breakfast

Hi friends,

Another dark day. Although it is not raining, it has been so windy, almost stormy since yesterday.

Hope everything is OK around you.

Today’s breakfast. Udon Noodle & Inari Sushi.

After heavy Christmas dinner, I cannot face to another piece of meat. Udon is easy to digest. 

Available from all major super markets, such as Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Duchy's all butter minced pies and other bad sinful stuff

Hi friends,

It seems that I am gaining weight again like a kid growing every day. OMG. This is what I got after Friday’s dinner.

Duchy’s all butter minced pies and savoury snack for cheese…

When it comes with “Duchy’s”, “Organic” and “All Butter”, who has got a will to resist?  

Also, I received another food parcel from Germany yesterday…

After all, it is Christmas!

I will think about the consequences after 2^nd January……......in 2020.

Environ Hydrating Oil Capsules

Hi friends,

At the tender age of forty-something, I will look horrendous if I eat and drink a lot and stay late. 

Unfortunately, it is the theme of the month but I cannot stay so awful as a lovely jubbly man is taking me out for dinner tomorrow. Now, I only have 1 day for an emergency fix.

My dear ladies, here’s our Godsend. Environ Hydrating Oil Capsules.

Simply divine….

With Love from Middle of Nowhere...

Hi friends,

We always joke about myself living in the middle of nowhere but I doubt how many of you are taking it seriously. Here we go, folks, this is the nearest post box from my cottage.

It gives me a chuckle, as there is really nothing or what so ever.  

I posted cards today, but God knows when our good old Pat collects them… 

Breakfast cum Lunch & Bread Rolls

Hi friends,

How’s your Christmas preparation going on? I made bread rolls this morning to practice. Someone is coming to my place for Christmas lunch. Nothing is better than warm homemade rolls, don’t you think?

This is my breakfast cum lunch this morning.

And bread rolls. Needs more practice...

Then, my Christmas preparations. It cost me fortune!

I still have cards to finish…..oh dear. Time for a cup of tea?

Today's Breakfast and Hanuta

Hi friends,

It is depressingly dark today and my fridge was equally depressing being almost empty.

I have to go shopping but I cannot stand the crowds. Although we still have nearly two weeks, it looks packed everywhere. However, I must go shopping to keep my minimum dignity as a member of civilised society…..yes, I ran out loo paper this morning. Oops!

Today’s breakfast made out of sorry looking vegetables and last eggs.

Followed by Hanuta. They were procured by a wonderful person and hand-carried by an equally fabulous person from Germany in return of English pride “Charbonnel et Walker” champagne truffles. It has become our Christmas tradition.

They are simply unstoppable once you open a packet and I still got bagful.

I am now scared of wearing a tight dress I chose for today’s Christmas dinner…..

Cute!!

Hi friends,

Aren’t they cute?

I love going to garden centres this time of the year. You can see this window display in Melbricks just off A46 near Birmingham Business Park, near Coleshill.

Nowadays....

Hi friends,

Hope you are doing well. Things have gone bonkers around me and as a result I did not have much time to update my blog.

However, I am still keeping my healthy diet and take big breakfasts every day.

Got another training session today at one of those nice sleek conference venues. They normally come with unlimited supply of refreshments and loads of biscuits and finger cakes….I have to watch out my calorie intake with great will power.

My apologies for neglecting you in these days. Will contact you soon.

Take care and God bless you. XXX