28 Apr 2013

A nice night out in Cucina

We didn't just choose Cucina for our wedding because it was handy. We love it there. We went for a few beers and a pizza last night. Yum (Cucina pizza with extra chillies). Forgot to take a picture though :(


27 Apr 2013

First signs of 'head clearance'

I've not cooked for MONTHS. Probably 12. There's not really been space in my head to think about recipes and as for going shopping for fresh ingredients...well no chance! A combination of can't be bothered, and what's the point,when we're in a hotel all week, has made me feel disinclined to go shopping for food.

So I was rather surprised when I managed to whizz up a celery and onion soup, and to cook some samosas which we'd made a few months ago, and frozen. A lovely fresh lunch. All home made. Yes, even the samosas!

It was so nice to be stood at the cooker again. I started whistling!

The beginning of the...beginning!

Not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of the next adventure. This coming week is my last week in IBM after 25 years (and 7 months). I thought I'd be more traumatised than this, but I'm so so SO looking forward to a bit of a chilled out existence for the next 12 months.

For the last couple of weeks, since I was sure I was going to be leaving and the paperwork was all going in, I've been drawing up a list of things which I'd like to do whilst I'm off.

Some of the things are practical - trips with Mum, Bo, Janey, Dad. Some of which are already booked! These, and other things, will fulfill my aspiration for this year of spending more time with the family.

Some of the things are lifestyle oriented - dust off the bike, train for a 5k run, walk more.

Some are just things I have needed to do but not had time - so some clearing out at home, visits to the charity shop to get rid of old clothes, decorate some of the house, get the garden under control. They're quite modest goals but I'm excited because they're things I've not had time to do for a few years.

I said to Dan last week that when I'm off, I'll be running the house on a bit of a food budget; we're lucky that we don't actually have to worry too much about what we spend on food, but, I've set myself a bit of a challenge to eat more healthily and having seen Jack Munroe on BBC Breakfast this morning, I'm inspired to get as LOW as I can go with the budget!