Monday 8 February 2016

Four NGTs to go!


An NGT by the way, is something a work chum invented years ago. She deemed it a 'Nasty Get Up'. 
Meaning a get up for work is less pleasurable than a weekend or holiday get up!! I've 4 NGTs left ( as I've already got up today ) and then it's half term! Not that I'll lie in and sleep.Always wide awake at 6am! 
Six weeks of school gone! I was supposedly supposed to be eating more healthily and *should* be at least 6lbs lighter. This isn't the case! Ah well, let's start again! Today's menu involves a healthy bran flake breakfast, fruit for break, manky veg soup from the freezer for lunch and a yogurt, more fruit for break and I've all the fresh salady stuff bought at the weekend for a lovely crisp whopping salad with baked potato and gammon. We shall see how I get on today! One day at a time! 

My weekend was full of lots of things I like. 

On Friday night I went out for a meal with work. I was brave. Believe it or not, at my tender age of Eternally 28, I have NEVER ever ever had a Caeser Salad. I've never fancied it. Never made it. Never ordered it. I've never had an anchovy either, despite my Twitter chum Nigel telling me on his telly programmes that they add a depth of flavour to dishes. 

Let's just say, I won't be having an anchovy again, much preferring a shallow flavour to my meals! 
 £10.95 got me a fancy saucer sized plate, delivered to me under a cloche. The cloche was filled with smoke, so that when it was dramatically lifted off by the waitress, my hands and face were instantly scented, for the evening, like my lounge fire when we are burning wet logs. On the plate was lettuce, sliding around in a creamy emulsion. A teeny smoked chicken breast sliced, some (5 tiny ) croutons and two cold soft boiled eggs. I didn't take a photo so you could not see it. I couldn't see any signs of anchovy. 
I wish I'd ordered the chicken, leek and ham pie that I was originally going for, but changed my mind because I make it at home and besides, I was going to be A. Sophisticated. Brave. Girl. 
We had to wait a while for all of us to get served so by the time everyone's meals had arrived, my short term memory loss had fully kicked in. I started eating. It wasn't delicious. I leaned over to my friend and complained that my lettuce was fishy!!! 
She laughed and called me an unprintable name! Gently reminding me about the anchovies!! Ahh they must be in the dressing! Well, it was rank. I'm never ordering that again. Two others had ordered it too. One had asked for no anchovies. The other said, she'd left her anchovies as they were quite big!! I looked at her in horror. The thought of eating slivers of that stinky rotten fish has kept my tummy churning Everytime I think of it! 
I should trust myself and what I know. I don't like fish, never have. It's too fishy! I will eat brown shrimp, prawn, tuna, fish fingers and an odd chip shop fish but that is it! Disgusting stuff should stay in the sea! 
Next time, I'm having pie! 

I started the tapestry! We went to Skipton in the pouring rain on Saturday. It was worth it though, because the HG bought me a tapestry frame that is a roller one. The square frame I'd made from my interlocking frame kit meant that my short stubby arms would struggle greatly! Infact, thinking about it, I'm rather like a T-Rex! Imagine one of those trying to do needlework! 
Next I think, I'll be after a frame to stand on the floor. I'm getting more and more Pride and Predjudice by the day. I'll have to make myself a crinoline frock to wear whilst I stitch! 

Much rugby has been watched and sworn at! The fantastic 6Nations has begun. While it's been on I've sewed

Also, I've cast on 136 stitches and begun the waist of the HG's jumper. I had to get some new wire needles as I didn't have any of the size I needed and no way would I get all the stitches on my straights. It's going to take me ages! 

And as I sit here at 7.26am, in a quiet house, I can hear the faint cries of  next door's baby. I've not heard him as yet, they'd planned a home birth - she was 6 days overdue and I rather think Ollie ( they knew he was a boy )  has actually just been born!! There was silence, then *that* sound of a baby crying who has just been born, and all is quiet again! Well done that new Mama X 

So I can pass in the little hat I made for him later on! Ahhh it's made me all smiley! 

This photo of my ornamental sundial is for Suzanne. It's 14 years old and I can't remember where I got it from, but I wanted something different to sit on my back hearth. 

It's about the size of a largish side plate. 

Miss 21 is now over halfway through her trip. She sent us a postcard. It took days to get here. That's all. Days. 

It's flanked by two of my winter cherished teddies! I went mad for these back in the 90s! Bloody daft dust collectors - but I still get them out from time to time. I've a china cabinet FULL of them! Here are my other four winter ones. 

And that's all I've time for now. The bin men are here, it's my 8 O'Clock  start and I'm not even dressed yet!!! 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *don't wanna go* Radiostar xxx



31 comments:

  1. I have a floor standing tapestry frame, it is the best (other than my wool winder!) craft tool that I have. You can work SO much more quickly! If you can get one I recommend it! xx

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    1. I'm not happy Ning it's a good ask for my birthday present! I'll have to wait until June though!

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    2. My fingers are useless at typing!! I have no idea now what I meant to write, but those first few words were not it!!!

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  2. So no good suggesting you should try my favourite homemade tuna and anchovy pizza then.... (P.S. that little hat is very sweet.)

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    1. I like tuna if it's tinned, not keen on fresh, but I will DEFINITELY pass on the anchovies thanx

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  3. Your Caesar salad sounds disgusting, the dressing should be served on the side. I never put anchovies in mine, just a few drops of fish sauce, and anchovies should be ground to a paste and not visible. The floor standing frame is a brilliant bit of kit. My younger sister has a couple for her work, she is a died in the wool biker complete with tattoos, piercings and leather but produces the most delicate bits of needlework.

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    1. I keep fish sauce in the fridge, just to add a few drops to my curries! I'm thinking I must get a stand for the floor now! I have no tattoos.

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  4. Love the teddies!!!
    I'd have chosen the pie too. In fact, I might make pie for dinner tonight - you've set me off craving it!
    It's hard to lose weight when everything is dull and damp and cold. I'm sure you will speed up come the nicer weather.
    Hope the day goes well. Nearly half term!
    J x

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  5. Well I'm sat here now imagining a T-Rex with a scowl on her face after tasting fishy lettuce. We've had a rugby & stitchy fuelled weekend too, it nearly didn't happen after the TV picture refused to come on & the speed witch Mike replaced the TV was impressive - ordered - picked up - set-up all in two hours!! Ahhh cute little teddies, I had a thing for Lilliput Lane cottages at one time - equally impressive dust collectors. Enjoy your countdown xx

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    1. We had a heart stopping to moment when the sky box froze. Just before Wales v Ireland. Fortunately the turn it on and off again worked. I love how fast Mike solved your issues!!!! X

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  6. Never mind half term will soon be here, I had to laugh at your delicious sounding meal it sounds vile! I do like fish but I'm not a fan of fish sauces. The tapestry frame sounds great I want one! but lets face it I'm always wanting something. I think your Teddies are cute and how lovely to hear the first cry of a newborn it's made me all smiley too and I wasn't even there. :) xx

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    1. I've been in for a cuddle Linda, 6lbs summat and completely adorable!

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  7. Glad you got a card, it's nice to know how she is getting on. It never pays to act grown up in restaurants, your pie did sound better. I will weigh myself tomorrow morning. BUT I do fancy chocolate, not had any for ages, oh well better find something to do.

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    1. When on a health thing, I can quite easily give up chocolate, but sometimes I think it's best if you have some, if you need it!

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  8. Oh we are so alike. I can't stand fish either. If an anchovy came near me....I'd kill it....lol. I'm OK with cod, haddock and tuna (tinned only)and I don't mind fish from the chip shop if all the batter is taken off.
    I remember those teddies. I used to have a stall in the shopping centre to sell my hand crafted things and used to go to a supplier in Stoke for little things to add to the stall. I always sold out of teddies.
    Hurray for half term. Not sure when ours is but I hope to have Ruby for a couple of days or more-x-

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    1. Seeing as Miss 21 is all great win up, but can't wait for a Ruby of my own!! All the fun, none o f the mess lol

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  9. You are a whirlwind of activity! Love the new babies hat- add my congrats to the new mummy and daddy when you see them :o) I don't mind fish when I'm in the right mood for it (as per eggs) but I would also be grumpy for a £10.95 salad :o( Shouldn't your NGT be NGU?? XX

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    1. The little hat is the only knitted thing they've been gifted! I'm going to do some mittens to match! Thanks for the NGU error! It was very early when I wrote my post! Xx

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  10. You should have had the pie...i did...it was good! That said it was 9:10pm, I think even I would have eaten an anchovy! It was good to see you all though xx

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  11. Even though I'm signed off I've got a NGT day today. Got to get my Lou out of the door by 7:40. Will wake him in five. It takes him HOURS to get ready and I have to be a right nag puss! x

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    1. Is he at *that* age where they emerge from their room in a cloud of Lynx said strong not it'd knock out an elephant?

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    2. Ffs bloody autocorrect. *a cloud of Lynx, that strong, it'd knock out an elephant.

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  12. I should also be lighter 2 weeks into my diet, but it's not happening here either :( Urgh anchovies. The only time I've used them is at school in Domestic Science (showing my age there). The teacher insisted the pizza we were making needed black olives and anchovies on it, very adventurous back in the 80's. The anchovies ruined an otherwise delicious pizza and nobody would eat it.
    The little hat is so cute, have you seen the little chappie who will be wearing it yet?
    I love your sundial, it's exactly the sort of thing I need to just finish off my fireplace. Will have to see if I can find one on my travels. xx

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    1. I've had a quick squizz on eBay and there's a few that are similar - a nice chrome one for £22!
      Yes I've had a cuddle with little Oliver. He's adorable! I did Domestic Science too! So you must be '28' like me!! X

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  13. OMG You've been in my boys room!! Lynx Peace is the flavour of choice in our house! Mixed with Eden's vanilla which although strong is rather more palatable!
    Anchovies, no thank-you!

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  14. I love your tapestry (or what it will turn into). Caesar salad here is not as fishy as you describe yours to be. I'm not a big fan of a lot of fish, but husband LOVES anchovies on pizza. When we order two pizzas, and he has anchovies, we ask for two separate boxes, rather than that one big box, so the anchovie fumes don't attach themselves to the other pizza. -Jenn

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    1. I think I would make your husband eat his pizza out on your porch!!!

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