Happy Birthday Grandad!

Well, tonight we had a friend over for dinner. I made macaroni cheese with ham and sweetcorn and profiteroles. Unfortunately I have a blocked nose so couldn’t taste most of it but it seemed to go down well.

I tried to fix a puncture in my bike tyre earlier but it seems that the patches I had were just too past their best. I’ll go and get some more tomorrow and try again. 

Busy day today. Work was constant paced and I did a spin class at lunchtime. 

When I got home I made my friend a crocheted Aubergine, to go with her crocheted Banana. (Don’t ask!!)

Well, last night I used my friendship cake mix, ‘Herman’ to make the most scrumptious Swedish Cardamom Buns! :o)

I found the recipe here. Me being me, I substituted ground cardamom for fresh, which I peeled and ground a bit. I also ground the almonds myself, for a crunchier texture. 

Definitely not SW friendly, but we’ve all got to live dangerously sometimes, plus once they’re gone, they’re gone!

We’re off to see friends for the weekend, Mike and Laura, so I’m taking the bulk of them with me to share.

So, the carpet got shampooed yesterday and looks great now. (The dining room not so much as it’s filled with the living room!)

We’ll put it all back later tonight.

Yesterday, Alison gave me Herman, a portion of friendship cake. As we’re away this weekend I may just have to cook him tonight. I’m thinking dark choc chip ginger cake. Not very Slimming World friendly but I can syn it. (No syns used yet, today!)

Okay, so I’ve been really lax in not posting for the last 2 days… My excuse is that I’ve had a headache for the last 3 weeks and I’m not in work this week so my usual routine is broken!

I went to the doctor’s today just to make sure the headache isn’t something sinister. I have to say that he was the best GP I’ve ever seen for being a) Friendly b) Not rushing me, and c) Having a sense of humour. Result! It turns out that it’s just the end of a very long migraine and I can self-medicate with the usual painkillers. (Basically, I can deal with the line ‘live with it’ because he took the time to explain his reasoning and was good with it!)

It’s a good thing that exercise doesn’t make it any worse because I went to spin class today and then went to the gym afterwards. :o) 

I also washed the sofa cover today, after spilling tea all over it. D’OH.

Jess came over for a natter, too. We need to do it more often, it was good just to chill and talk about anything and everything! 

Went for a sports massage at lunchtime. The running theme was: ‘Does this hurt’, ‘A bit but not too much… OW!’

Feeling better now - a bit more relaxed. :o)

Lazy night tonight with a friend as the other half is staying away, ready for The National Winter Ales Festival on Friday.

A friend came over to stay last night and cooked this recipe to say thanks. I’d really recommend it - NOM! 

I managed to do a little bit more tatting last night and really hope I get to do some more tonight. I’ll post some more pics up when there’s more to show.

I also ordered the Carpenter’s Star quilting pattern from here today. Don’t know when I’ll have time to make it but I liked it and it was cheap so it will get filed! Need to get a freehand needle for my sewing machine now.

Today’s gym results:

Bike: 30mins on random - 20k (350 cals, apparently!)