This week has been fairly calm, with a few social activities thrown in, which is always nice and breaks the week up a little.
On Wednesday, my sister was here to work for me and, as part of her plan, we were going to do one of our community litter picks, which I organise (date, invitation sent, provide all the gear and collection bags).
When we were due to leave at 10.45 am, it was pouring with rain. As I hadn’t had an email from anyone confirming they were going to be there, I decided the coffee machine looked considerably more appealing and made myself a coffee instead.
Then there was a knock at the door.
It was a neighbour asking whether the litter pick was on. I explained my decision, and he told me he’d just come from the meeting place and that no one else was waiting there. That seemed to confirm I’d made the right call, so I went back to enjoying my coffee.
Then my phone rang.
It was somebody at our meeting place asking where I was and telling me that there were three other people waiting there with her!
Oops!
I polished off my coffee rather swiftly, and we rushed up the road. By then the rain had blown over, and it turned into a really nice event, with about five of us collecting litter and then seven or eight of us having coffee together in one of the cafés at the shopping parade afterwards.
I always really enjoy these events. It’s lovely to have the opportunity to meet neighbours, have a chat and find out a little bit more about them.
On Thursday evening, I’d organised a social gathering for my fellow trustees at the organisation I’m a trustee for. You’re probably beginning to spot a pattern here – I’m the organiser! 😂
We went back to the Rising Sun, a venue we’d used for a meeting in January, and enjoyed a really lovely meal. There were just six of us this time, which gave us another chance to chat and get to know one another a little better.
The food was really nice – and you know that, coming from me, it must have been above par! 😂 I chose pan-fried duck breast with a citrus sauce, dauphinoise potatoes, green beans and carrots, and it was delicious.
I even managed to swerve the dessert menu, opting instead for a floater coffee, which went down very well. I did, however, have a bottle of 4% fruit cider with my meal. It’s all about balance!
I wheeled into town in my wheelchair but, now that the evenings are beginning to draw in, Mike very kindly came and collected me afterwards.
I’m feeling rather bereft now because both of my sisters have disappeared off on their holidays. My younger sister (the one who helps me at home) has gone off to China for three weeks. That feels like an eternity!
My middle sister, meanwhile, is in Cornwall for two weeks, climbing with her husband -something they both really enjoy and do on a regular basis. She had knee replacement surgery in June, so this trip is a real test of endurance and whether she’s still got what it takes to climb up cliff faces;
Rather her than me!
Judging by the photographs she’s been sending, though, she’s doing all right.
Saturday brought yet another social occasion: our local neighbourhood summer picnic, held just across the road from where I live, on the university grounds.
Everyone takes along food to share, and we spend the afternoon having a natter and catching up with neighbours. Then, as tradition dictates, we have our annual game of rounders – odds versus evens. I made some really simple cheese and tomato pinwheels, using shop-bought ready-rolled puff pastry, tomato pesto, herbs, grated Mozzarella, Cheddar, and Parmesan.
I did manage to limit myself to a single bite of homemade carrot cake (my absolute favourite!).
Each year, as the neighbours get older, this gets funnier. Most are in their 70s and 80s – but we do have a few younger newcomers, which is just as well.
This year, some of our more elderly players were allowed to use a runner – otherwise known as their grandchildren. 😂 The neighbour has an attempt at hitting the ball (often they miss!) and then their grandchild sprints off around the posts on their behalf.
I have absolutely no idea what the final score was, but that really doesn’t matter. It’s always great fun.
We’ve enjoyed some lovely sunshine this weekend, and I’ve been making the most of it, as I believe the weather is about to turn a little colder.
Something else has also been keeping me rather busy over the past 48 hours. Somebody reading this post will know exactly what I’m referring to here, but I’m planning to keep that a secret for now… All will be revealed in due course… 😉
Okay, on to Mounjaro and my progress update.
I took my third 7.5 mg injection of Mounjaro on Friday and, finally, I appear to be experiencing some appetite suppression and a reduction in food noise. Hurrah!
Its effects are still not as strong as they were when I was taking this dose originally, but we’re well on the way to getting there.
In the meantime, here’s my weight report…
Weight this week: 55.60kg (8st 10.6lbs)
Weight last week: 55.85kg (8st 11.2lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: -0.25kg (-½lb)
100% – 6 months 26 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)
I mentioned in my last blog post that I’d be sharing some salad ideas. Over the coming weeks, I plan to share some of my favourite salad recipes. From quick everyday lunches to more substantial salads that make a complete meal, these are the kinds of dishes I never seem to tire of.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a recipe with you — and this one has quietly become a regular in our kitchen over the past few weeks.
My healthy Christmas dinner this year was a gorgeous nut, leek and mushroom wellington, served with sweet roasted carrots and parsnips. It’s a naturally vegetarian dish, and with a tiny tweak it becomes fully vegan too.
Another good week… I’m a little late posting an update as I have been celebrating my birthday (63!) and my sister and brother-in-law are staying for five days. They live about a 3-hour drive away, so we are treating their stay as a mini-staycation and have been enjoying days out. We were joined by my daughter and her boyfriend for two days – they travelled all the way from Leeds (about 4 hours away) to join in the birthday celebrations.
Of course, there was (birthday) cake, homemade butternut squash spiced cake. I enjoyed one slice, and the rest was eagerly consumed by everyone else over the staycation.
