Rachel's Manky Veg Curry

Well, as promised in my post yesterday, here is the recipe for my deliciously entitled mouthwatering Curry...

Normally, I turn the Manky veg from the depths of my fridge drawers into Manky Veg Soup. But as I mentioned a couple of posts ago, Summer is happening RIGHT NOW in little Ol England! So I was not really in the mood for soup. I also had in the back of the fridge a Tupperware container containing coconut milk. I was pretty sure I was on the cusp of making coconut cheese but on closer inspection, it was still liquidy.

Now if you want to make my recipe, I apologise for the random quantities - it was a case of cut the major mank away and weigh what was left! I used an online calorie counter to work out values! The official serving quantity for my curry is sh*tloads!!

Here we go!
What I used.(  Calories in brackets are for raw product ) 
 227g red onion - roughly chopped. ( 81)
215g jersey royals - roughly chopped. (159)
364g cauliflower - roughly chopped ( you get the idea?). (123)
86g leek - roughly chopped. (18)
231g swede ( rutabaga for my US Blogpals ) - thinly sliced ( ha haaaa ) . (55)
193g green and red pepper - roughly chopped. (28)
( tip of thumb - optional ) * ( calories unknown )
117g carrot - roughly chopped. (35)
240g chickpeas - the drained weight of a 400g tin. (305)
400g tin chopped tomatoes. (88)
200ml reduced fat coconut milk. (154)
200ml cold water. (0)
2tblespns  generic curry paste ( I used Pataks mild ) . (184)
137g mushrooms - quartered. (17)
60g semi frozen petit pois ( best if discovered accidentally left out of the freezer after making the tea for the HG!!) .(31)
20 sprays of one cal spray. (20)
Large oven roasting tray (0)
BIG frying pan with lid (0)

Here's what I did
Rummaged carefully in depths of drawer and see what can be salvaged.
1. Heat large roasting tray in oven while roughly chopping the veg.
2. Add the root veg to roasting pan and spray ten times with spray, roast for ten minutes
3. Add rest of veg, spray again and roast for five minutes
4. Heat generic curry paste for three minutes in large frying pan
5. Add roasted veg, tomatoes, chick peas, coconut milk and water.
6. Bring to boil, add mushrooms and seasoning, reduce to simmer
7. Cover with a lid and simmer til veg is soft ( well cooked - most of it was soft to start!!!!

8. Add peas five minutes before serving.


Done!
Total calories = 1298
Total weight = 2220g

Serves 5 = 260 cal per portion, portion size is 444g
Serves 4 = 325 cal per portion, portion size 555g

You could easily stretch this to 8 good portions!

*whilst roughly chopping the pepper, I was a tad rough and ( the squeamish should look away now ) the knife slipped 3/4 way through the tip of my thumb in a nice slice. My tummy just turned over re living it! It eventually stopped bleeding and a plaster is currently holding it together!

Other things that I have to tell you;
The Y6 bowling trip was fun. My daughter passed her first year of Uni with flying colours and she's been offered a part time to fit in with her studies job! Off to bed for me now! Am shattered!

What do you do with your Manky veg?

Cross Country Japes and a recipe!

Well Blogvillers, I've had a marvellous weekend! 

I finished work on Thursday, finished packing and then my firstborn and I boarded the train to take us cross country from the North West Coast to the North East Coast. The reason for our mini city break was she had to hand back the keys to her Halls on Saturday 13th July OR ELSE!! 

Now, all by herself, ( am I almost surplus to requirements? ) she's sorted out her house to rent next year with carefully chosen friends, which also happens to be within 5 minutes walk of her Halls best friends and the Flat 15 boys. Her house let begins September, the Hall's pairs started July 13th. Because they are very lovely girls they said my girl could store her kitchen stuff, bedding and books there till September, rather than drag it all back here and then back again! 

The journey from Lancashire, up through Cumbria to Carlisle must be one of the most picturesque in the whole wide world. I tried to share this via the art of twitter, however lack of signal muted me somewhat! 

The train from Carlisle to Newcastle is just as pretty but there are no less than 12 stops. It stops at every Farm shed, village and gate. If a sheep were to fart,  the train would stop! Anyway we arrived safely around 8.30pm.

Arrived at the flat and there were screams all around resonating off the walls at their first reunion for 6 weeks. I spied a huge hug off a Flat 15 boy who is in all her FB photos but who is 'NOT the boyfriend MUM!! '

The girl and her friends had planned to celebrate the non boyfriend's birthday so they got ready en masse and then went out!! Leaving poor old muggins here re cleaning the flat and packing stuff away! In fact I'd finished and was in bed before they even left! The youth of today! 

Early next morning, one set of parents arrived and much hustle and bustle ensued until the next parents came. Between us all the girls were packed away and cleaned and tidied, sadly wiping away the traces of their year there. 

We spent a lovely afternoon shopping in the 'Toon'. I can now say I've sat in every waiting area in every fitting room in every frock shop in Newcastle! We had tea out too - in a pub! So decadent! Back to the flat for last minute packing and to bed. Saturday morning arrived and all to soon we had to make the journey in reverse. This time with a massive suitcase, an overnight bag and the child's coffin sized Fencing bag. In fact, a bloke stopped us on our way to the station to ask if we had a body in there. "In this ( 30C) heat?" I retorted! 

 The stench would have been horrific - I was already dreading the great unwashed on the train! 

 

We got on a blissfully empty train. Secured the body bag and the Mini Cooper sized suitcase and sat at a table. Two minutes before the train left a 'yoof' and his hound got on. A gurt big black sheep dogesque/collie/wolf type thing. It was panting its rank stenchy 'beef tripe for tea last night 'breath all over me. The 'yoof' chose to NOT WALK DOWN THE CARRIAGE  to where there were seats a plenty BUT TO SIT ACROSS THE AISLE. 

Rex was told to sit down. Rex had NO interest whatsoever in sitting down. Actually Rex was interested in everything but sitting down. Rex had a look down the train as far as his lead would let him. Rex then turned his attention to us. We soon made the mistake of cooing over Rex who really was a cute beast! Rex licked my arm from wrist to pit in one big lollopy luck. He then climbed bit by bit onto my daughter's knee! He tried to lick her face. Rex clearly adored us. Trouble is, we are both allergic to Rex type coverings. Also as the weather has finally turned tropical, a real life fur coat wrapping was not a tempting scenario! The yoof eventually pulled Rex back to him and tried to settle him. I was trying now to to wretch at the slight tang of my new 'beef tripe for tea last night' perfume. We spent the next one hour and thirty minutes avoiding eye contact with Rex. The minute our eyes met he made a leap for us!  I was STARVING, but the consequences of opening a delicious chocolate and raspberry cereal bar were far to dodgy to risk! 

They travelled all the way back to Carlisle with us! Eventually Rex lay down, just as we were pulling into the station. 

This is Rex, do not be fooled. He was only pretending to be asleep. He made a lunge for me just after I took this!! Isn't he gorgeous!! 

Today I made a curry, using up all the manky veg languishing in the fridge. Normally I make manky veg soup but as I said, Summer finally arrived! So I set about making a vegetable curry. I have written a full on calorie counted recipe too! 

My dish is named 

'Rachel's Manky Veg Curry'

I will post it tmrw as I've waffled on enough and it's way past my bedtime. 

The Year 6 treat tomorrow. We are taking them bowling. The Treat is definitely NOT for us staff! I will be glad to be home !

Posting from afar...

This post is written far from home. In a quiet Hall of Residence in Newcastle city centre. 

Things I have done today ... 

1.Cleaned a student bedroom, sorry, re cleaned it- it'd been done once!! ( actually it wasn't that bad - my child was brought up well ahem, and it just needed a final wipe round. Same re the kitchen. 

2.Folded millions of items of clothing, despite the fact my child has 'nothing to wear'. 

3.Sat in EVERY changing room in EVERY frock shop as my child beavered away furiously to put right the national clothing deficit she seems to believe she exists in. 

4. Paid for a very lovely skirt and two tops for my clearly over indulged offspring- though it was for her birthday AND she got 10% off with her student card! 

5. Went to the pub in the day time! 

6. Ate out at afore mentioned pub. 

7. Wrote this post while clearly shattered girl child snoozes on the sofa! 

Train home tomorrow - I'm hoping its as quiet and peaceful as the journey here! Ill let you know! 

What things have YOU done today? 

1 2. 1 2. 1 2

No, I'm not testing testing. It's the last time this repetitive date will happen. Someone ( about 45 people so far ) on Twitter told me!

Well this week, my HG and I celebrated 20 years together! I had started a post full of stats to the amount of actual time that equated to. But I got bored! In a nutshell, it is a LONG time!! The secret to our success so far? 19 years of being engaged!!

It's the Infant Nativity at work today; we KS2 folk get to watch the dress rehearsal - so no lesson planning for me today! I have masses of assessments and paperwork to do though - so the doddle it appears to be, actually isn't so.

Christmas Tree update : My firstborn STILL hasn't returned home from uni, so my tree is still in the loft :-(. Friday is the day when my cupboards/fridge will be emptied locust style, we will run out of loo roll, the electricity meter will start whirring madly, and teenage calm will be lost!
On the plus side I will be finally able to watch The Vampire Diaries!! I have it stored on the planner. It's ( one of ) my guilty pleasures! Looking forward to a Girly TV fest with my girl.

Looking forward to putting my tree up too! I love it almost as much as my children! Infact, when it's up and they are being typical teenagers, don't ask me to choose!!

Baby it's cold outside, so wrap up warm, stay safe and I'm going to trot out my favouritest ever joke!

Two snowmen in a field. One says to the other,
"Can you smell carrots?"

Post 202 - your requests!

Hey bloggy chums,
 Another post  - it's only post 202!

Again thank you for reading - I have gone over the 10k mark!! That's bonkers!

Also thank you for the lovely heartfelt comments on my last  post. I never speak of what happened, only to a few. I lay in the wee small hours  of the 17th and the words just popped into my head, so I quickly scribbled them down. You know ( fellow bloggers ) how those words then need out. So I shared them with another, then I felt brave enough to go public. I am sure it's all part of some crazy healy thing but I did it. I DIDN'T post it for a mass outpouring of sympathy -  it was never intended for that and that is what I shy away from THE LOOK, telling people can get you,but the comments I have had ,ARE comforting and I   do hold them  dear in my heart.So  Thank You, for taking the time to read and to comment xxx you know who you are xxx

So your requests for my next post. An odd mixture - but here goes....

Dear Frugalmummy, ( go read her blog folks, it's awesome! )
Re Christmas Preparations...

When my children were small, I would begin my Christmas shopping for them in January. I would squirrel away bargain finds all year, NEVER spending full price on their toys and clothes. They never knew. In fact I think I'd be hard pressed to think of something they ever had that I paid full price for!

Fast forward to the present day, I still hunt for gifts as and when for my little nephews and nieces, however, as I've lost brain power over the years, I forget that I've got things and find them after the event - so they get them for birthdays etc! Last year, I knit Lisa's Madeleine a stripey jumper and a matching one for her dolly!

 

 

This year, I have not had much time to think about Christmas so far, apart from reading your blog FM!  Pesky 'full time' work gets in the way!

Because the teenagers are just that, presents have been half sorted in the way that she got new Fencing gear and he has got a new road racing bicycle ( NB I am not happy about this new hobby that will surely end in tragedy ) I hate that I don't have to send things to Father Christmas anymore the same way.

Cards are already bought, in fact thanks to my careful January sales shopping over the years, I have not needed to buy any for three years and I think I still have a good couple of years left! I'd love to make my own, and have amassed a bit of crafty stuff, but reality is I haven't got time to squeeze in an extra hobby!. I have completely cut down on who we send cards to too.  I wasn't organised enough to write my cards for Yorkshire as requested by my Ma In Law - she's gone over on a visit this week - another christmassy fail!!

I have a joint of pork and a joint of beef in the freezer - bought when they were 'whoopsed.' I have a jar of cheap as chips mince meat ready to spruce up to luxury homemade with the addition on alcohol and apple. I have marzipan. bought dirt cheap to put in some mince pies. I've even bought some ready made pastry when they were selling it off for quickness at Christmas! I will get more and more excited as it gets nearer, as I put my tree up. After having a frugally bought half price black artificial one for years I have mentioned I'd quite like a real one this year..... but common sense and the purse strings will prevail no doubt! I may even, for the sake of frugalness NOT buy another bauble this year. ( Even though I have seen THE most exquisitely darling purple and silver glass ball!)

 

Dear Chippy Chin Off Twitter,

Re The NHS...

 

What can I say. It has looked after me well for the most part. It employs a lot of my friends. Because it's there we don't think about it.

I cannot fault it. It's the same as business I think, because the smallies who make it work and actually matter the most ( And I don't mean this a a derogatory name ) as the most dedicated team on earth. It's the big wigs who are paid the most, who sit on their thrones in their offices dictating rules about something they in REAL part know nothing about. Most people would say the NHS is in rapid decline. This is undoubtedly due to cutbacks. Not cutbacks in the 'high up' 'high falluting' managers and their PRs dept, but cut backs on the shop floor where life and death is taking part and where it really actually matters. Good Old Florence Nightingale harped on about cleanliness and it's importance. My mum will tell of the days of scary matrons who inspected their own  wards and each ward had a band of cleaners who worked round the clock. Now one poor cleaner will have lots of wards to do, in not much time and for not much money. Indeed, when my darling Nanna was in hospital, there was blood spots on the floor ( not even hers ) for three days. I was monitoring it. I watched, in that elderly unit, as two nurses tried their best to manage 16 beds split into two wards. These patients were desperately needy. One frail,elderly gentleman, clearly suffering from dementia would take to wandering about. When he was found he would resist the nurses ( female ) and they would struggle to return him to bed. I am not being sexist, but he was a big man and strong. Those nurses were tiny. They shouted at him. He was a danger to himself  they said he's already fallen and banged his head. They used to have chairs where patients could sit in front of the nurses station - with carefully tipped seats and a table attatched making it harder for them to get out. But this, apparently, abuses their human rights and  these safety seats are now outlawed. If that was my Grandad, I'm pretty sure I'd prefer him to be in a tipped seat in full view of the nurses desk, rather than wandering around and falling and breaking his hip/fracturing his skull/scaring/upsetting other partients etc. A nurse who worked with the elderly told me this. If I am not right, then do let me know.

 

Last year, when I was gravely ill, I believe I was mixed up in a great big waiting list fiasco - meaning that scans and tests I was due for came late - or myself had to chase up. Now I am aware, that the outcome could have been very different and you would be having one less blog to read. Once I was in the right care path on the whole I was looked after very well. Mainly by the nurses again. I did not have any worries about how I was going to pay for this treatment and tests. We do have to pay for prescriptions - but if you need medication for life threatening illness - this is free.

 

I think that the main differences between UK and USA  ( and to be honest I am basing most of this on documentaries and ER !! ) is that because you pay in the USA they work backwards from worse case scenario. So, in the  USA present with a headache, get MRI/CAT scan to rule out brain tumour etc then get tablets for headache.

But in the UK - get tablets for headache, come back in a month. 12 months down the line get sent to check for brain tumour - when it's too late. That is my opinion.

Indeed, when Lisa first took Harry with her concerns about his rolling eyes and his apparently unseeing unfocussing eyes at 8 weeks old she was STILL sent away to 'wait and see' for two weeks. I lay awake some nights thinking what if Id have made her take him to A&E that day when I noticed it. What if they made her wait longer. Would the outcome have been much different - we'll never know. What I do know is that once diagnosis was suspected and confirmed, Harry was treated at lightening speed and really we cannot fault the NHS at all. There are children being flown in from all over the world to Birmingham for treatment. Which is confusing because I know of at least three cases of children over here currently raising money - a LOT of money - like £500,000 to fly to America to get treatment that isn't available here.

But I feel awful when I see on twitter etc that my US chums are in a dilemma about going to see a medic because of the cost and what will happen to their medical insurance. For even minor things.  Now I DO want to live in America - but admit the NHS is a BIG bonus of the UK!

 

Dear Jane and Chris,

 Re Poutine...

At first I was going to say you put your lips together and lower your chin and look up through heavily lidded eyes. Then I read your comment again!

 

Then I guessed it was something to do with putting goosefat on a chest to ward off a cold but no....

 

If my googling is correct I will say that

 

Poutine is actually available here, but under a different name. It is mainly used by a certain demographic after a particularly good night out where lots of alcohol has been consumed.Indeed it is something consumed but not a liquid. It's origins are not water based.  I have partaken of this but only in part. I am fairly sure it is not one of your 5 a day and too much would definitely be a bad thing. That is all. If I say anymore I think I will fail your challenge! How did I do???!!

 

 

Dear Amanda ,

Re Education....

 

I think you know that Education is something quite close to my heart! Seeing as being part of it pays my wages! I hate the way things are changed by people who have NO IDEA what goes on in the classroom, every single day. The way they expect more and more, but  by taking more and more taking money away, these expectations are unrealistic. It's also demoralising. The way some parents bring up their children is outrageous. I have written about my 'bowl of soup kids' before.  Each year I want to bring more and more children home, give them a hot bath, delouse them, wrap them in soft fluffy towels, give them homemade bread  and a bowl of soup in front of my warm fire and read them a bedtime story. ( I could swear I heard Hovis music in the back ground whilst I typed that last sentence!)

 

 

**** News just in*****

 

She survived the first few weeks. She looks exactly the same and everything!!

The daughter came home from Uni. Without any dirty washing. She is very popular. We were hard pressed to fit into her tight social calendar! We enjoyed three hours of her Friday night after she got here. This consisted of me Spanish inquisition style firing twentygadzillion questions at her about her new exciting life in Newcastle. She sat on the HG's knee ( always was a Daddy's girl)  and gave me the bare minimum answers she could get away with ,as she was glued to the TV. " I haven't watched any telly for five weeks Mum!" was her explanation! She then went to bed. The lure of her freshly laundered everything,- quilts, sheets and PILLOWS too ( I love my new black shinies - see about five posts back! ) , must have been too much to resist.

 

On Saturday, we went out shopping  - though as it's #FQstoptober I hardly spent anything at all. We went out for a late lunch and on getting home she promptly got ready to go out! She stayed out at her friend's house, came home briefly this morning to change and has now buggered off out with the beau. I call him this to wind her up! Muuwahahahaaa! I am not sure what time she is back. She is staying at home tonight and her train is early in the morning. It's been fabulous to have her home. My house felt all complete on Friday night and it felt like it was smiley.  It won't be long til Christmas at all, when she will be back for a few weeks. I can't wait. TREE UP AND MY DAUGHTER BACK!!

 

So here was Blog post 202.  It is very long and rambly - my fingers ache from the typing! I've just joined a BlogsRus Facebook page. I am so chuffed to little bits that Donna from Mummybird chose to invite me! So if you land here via that group please do say hello. I'm going to try and faff about with this google+ thingy wotsit. And goooglefriends - please come follow - there's only two in my little box thingy down there \/ and one of them is ME!

 

Till the next post - cheerio petals xx

University's Eve

5.20am

Friday has come round all too soon. One proper day left at home. I'm a bit* raaaar that I have to go to work and spend it with other people's children, not my own. At 3.20pm I'll be hot footing it home. At approx 3.22pm I shall be home!

*I'm a LOT raaar.

I know she will be back before I know it with mountains of dirty washing. I know it'll be fine. I know it'll be the best years of her life. I know I've been working her whole life to get her to this point. See everyone, I DO listen. And thank you to everyone who has listened to me whine n whinge on. I'm pretending to myself, she's just going on another Scout Camp. This, I can deal with!

Her Dad, my HG ( Hunter Gatherer ) who doesn't say much, is struggling too. He spends his whole days at work thinking about his little girl, wondering if she'll be alright!
*rolls eyes* Daddy's Girl.
If she's wanted it, even when cruel, hard Victorian Mama has said no, never, not in a million years, Daddy has got it for her!!! ( Then moaned at her for not putting stuff away- she can't put it away, dear reader, there is too much sodding stuff!! )


Our poor, left behind son is going to feel the weight of all this parental attention!!! He'll be dragged out of his lair and have to take the role of both kids!! *sniggers*!!!! Please note I won't make him wear full make up and short skirts to go to school though! Hmmm nor will I fill his room with teenage girls!

He doesn't say much, obviously taking after the strong silent type his father is, but I'm sure he will miss her too.

They've been good siblings. She's completely bossed him about his whole life, apparently he swears at her on the way to the bus stop in a morning. The way she can strop n boss, I'm not surprised. I think I'd be swearing at her on the way to the bus stop.

But they've always been together. Even this summer, gone shopping, cycling, walking etc. They gave me a heart attack when they let go of the bar, when they were hanging upside down together, on a scary ' people die on those things ' extreme ride of terror at Camelot a fortnight ago! ( I videoed this on my phone, I am screaming louder than the people on the flipping ride! )

So he will be left at home. He takes his GSCEs this year. If all goes to plan, I'll be recycling this post in three years time, if he's been as successful as she at Sixth form.

You think I'm maudlin and whinging now??? You just wait til then!!!!


Here is one of my favourite photos of them. Playing together in one of our favourite places. It's a bit blurry, but that's to help you imagine seeing it through my tears!!!!

I hate to admit it, but my mother was right, the time has flown by and 'they are not babies for long' but they'll be my babies forever. I've already told work colleagues that if I'm not in on Monday, it's because I'm at Uni, under the bed in a tiny room in Newcastle!

No doubt I'll be back on my blog to regale you with The Move. I have NO idea how we are going to get it all in the car :-/

PS please keep little Harry chops in your thoughts today. He's gone for his four weekly Exam Under Anaesthetic. No more tumours, no new growth is what we want to hear.

One week to go...

Again I'm here on my phone. How lazy of me but I have genuine excuses.

I cannot get to the laptop ( which needs to be permanently on charge ) as there is the European University Stuff She Needs To Take With Her Mountain* in front of the desk. It's alarming at how it's lava is spilling down the stairs too.

Every day it's like an episode of The Krpton Factor as I try to manoeuvre safely round the house.

Students really do need everything.

£98 a WEEK is what her accommodation costs.

This is the lowest budget option too!! More than my mortgage. She is in a four bedroom flat with her own tiny room, sharing a kitchen, lounge and bathroom with three other girls.

Modern technology means that the girls have already 'met' and chatted on Facebook. One has a microwave, mine has a slow cooker, hoping that one of the others has a toaster! But how fantastic is it that they can forge friendships from the beginning? This makes me less intensely stressed somehow!

So that £98 pays for her room, heating, electricity, security and insurance. Internet is included too.

She totally deserves to be treated and spoiled. I am told over and over at how lovely, generous and kind hearted she is. She worked hard for this. Her whole family are so very proud of her.

( Yes of course she drives me insane sometimes, and let's not forget the fact she has been tidying her room for 7 years - I'm hoping for miracles when she's on her own!) ( But equally I will not be there to see it, therefore cannot nag about it!)

She has been spoilt by her lovely Nanna ( my mum ) who bought her new bedding, kitchen utensils, pillows, an iron, matching sets of knives, pads of paper, cleaning up stuff, a colander, microwaveable bowls ..... And stuff I can't remember. It's like the Generation Game. Her lovely other Nanna,( Dad's mum ) who is just as indulgent, will buy her the Student Railcard and a journey or two home. The money she was lucky to receive in her congratulations cards has been spent on the Fresher's Week pass(£55) and Student Union Card (£12).

She is having a purple theme, she's told me! We took her to Dunhelm Mill and got the few bits - few bits !!!!!!! - she needed from there. Including a delightful little lamp for £7. Lovely purple shade. Her quilt and a bedding set were kindly donated from her other Nanna and Grandad with a large bath towel.

Calling in at Sainsburys, we picked up some fabulous new pens and pencils etc all with 80% off. She is also taking all the old stuff from sixth form with her. Plates etc are from us. Pans are either going to be a new cheap but decent set ( I hate false economy ) or the set we gave away to Nanna if she doesn't actually use them!!!

The biggest outlay so far ( excepting the Uni fees themselves ) has been the book list. But with careful sourcing and shopping around I'm confident we made some good buys.

I will furnish her with the basics; pasta, toothpaste, shower gel, loo rolls and porridge. After that, anyone going to see her will take food parcels. She is going to get a job over in the North East where she is headed. She will have to. Her maintenance loan grant thingy will almost be used up on her accommodation. We will help as much as we can, but our income has gone down. Losing her child benefit for one !!!!!! Sorry am laughing at myself there!

Today's mission is to try and get everything into one area of the house. Take stock and see what's missing. She will buy certain things there as and when she needs them. Like an airer, maybe a pop up wardrobe cupboard etc. Tupperware boxes and anything else she can think of. Although I did say not to buy too much as eventually it'll all have to come back again!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If anyone out there has been through this, what is that ONE thing that was either the best thing they ever got/was essential that's not on my list/total waste of money that never got used?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Keeping myself busy with practical things means I shouldn't have too much empty head space to dwell on the fact that she is going. ( uh oh - my nose is doing that prickling feeling thing, when your eyes water and you are going to cry.) The nightmares I've been having are horrendous. I cannot really get my head round it. I don't want to. Yet I know she is ready. Even though she has only been eighteen for three short months, I know I have raised a smart, independent, confidant girl. She can cook a whole array of things. She CAN clean thoroughly. She can shop smartly, knowing what's a good buy.

The photograph I have chosen to go with this post is a Sunrise shot, from our Holiday appartment in Wales. I've chosen it because it symbolises a whole new world is opening up for my daughter.
(Wow, that's a bit deep from me!!)

Now I just have to set her free ( ish - I will be texting and writing and visiting and ringing etc ) and hope she continues to choose well and set her standards high and is successful and happy. What more could I wish?


Love from
A melancholic mama *wipes solitary tear rolling down cheek*

* photos of EUSSNTTWHM to follow!

13

Just thirteen sleeps till my precious daughter flees my safe, nurturing, loving nest. I well up just even thinking about it.

It seems worse somehow that I will be part of the team that will take her and abandon her ( with full equipment list; bedding, fluffy towels, crockery, a slow cooker, pots, pans, cutlery etc ) to the harsh, cold reality of the North East.

Dark and brooding is it's skies, bleak, lonely, cruel. ( pause for dramatic effect and maximum sympathy ) Group hug please!

Pass the tissues.....